The Mad Dog Inspector of the Martial Alliance

Chapter 98 : Ghost King (1)

"Isn't five days too short?"

Yang Gwan asked while slurping his noodles. It hadn't even been half a quarter of an hour since he had soothed his upset stomach with thin rice gruel, but he was eating well.

Eating well was a very good thing. But Jang So-gil frowned at Yang Gwan's unkempt, shaggy, and long hair.

"If you have time to worry about me, go and get your hair trimmed. You're not a beggar, what kind of look is that?"

"It was three months of closed-door training. My hair can get a little messy."

"Your face is also very worn out. Apply some golden wound medicine generously. You look so bad that I can't even tell if you're a mountain bandit or a Dharma protector."

"W-what's wrong with my face? And golden wound medicine is for wounds."

"That's true. Golden wound medicine is not a medicine that cures an ugly face."

"..."

"And your face was originally like that even before the closed-door training. I had forgotten that."

This human?

Yang Gwan flared up in anger.

"To be honest, Young Master So... are you really the person who went into closed-door training with me?"

Jang So-gil's hair was glossy. His skin was like white snow, without a single blemish. Yang Gwan's hands and face were cracked like a turtle's shell, but Jang So-gil was as smooth as a mirror.

They had definitely done the closed-door training together, so how could he be the only one like that? Did he do something in secret?

Jang So-gil snorted and replied.

"This is the power of the Sima Collection Record."

"What?"

"The Sima Collection Record is the pinnacle of the life-nurturing methods passed down through the generations of the Sima family. If you abide by the essentials of the Sima Collection Record, practice the Sima Divine Art, and engrave the lifestyle habits into your body, you can always maintain a consistent body condition. It is truly a function worthy of being called a divine art."

"Well, that's a very useless function."

"Useless, what a stupid fellow. Do you think there is a better life-nurturing method than pursuing mental stability by maintaining one's beautiful appearance and making the body into its most ideal form to always be in a healthy state!"

"Is there a need for a martial artist to care so much about his appearance? Does that make you stronger, does it make your body faster?"

"To think you're only interested in getting stronger, this is why you martial artists are... tsk, tsk."

What a great function this was. As Jang So-gil clicked his tongue and looked at him pitifully, Yang Gwan urged him with a thorny voice.

"Stop changing the subject and just tell me what you're going to do. Isn't five days too little time?"

"If we do it the way we've been doing it until now, then of course five days is too short."

The collection method so far was as follows. First, they would gather information broadly and indiscriminately, and from the information gathered, they would sort out the gems and stones to decide on a target. At this time, the standard for gems and stones was the amount of the opponent's embezzlement.

Once the target was decided, the next step was to investigate around the target or, if necessary, make direct contact to gather more detailed information. As a result, if the opponent's corruption became certain, they would strike at once and collect the money in the name of the Martial Alliance.

To go through all these processes, it would naturally take a month as a matter of course. In the days when he had to gather information on his own, it had taken him half a year to find out the corruption of the Hakseo Escort Agency and create a reason to collect. Even now that he could use informants, it had taken him well over five days just to gather basic information before leaving for the Western Great Mountain.

"Isn't there not even enough time to gather information in just five days? I know that much now."

"You are right. It's ridiculously insufficient. But it doesn't matter if we change the method."

"How so?"

When Yang Gwan asked back, Jang So-gil leisurely asked back.

"Have you finished your meal?"

"What? Yes. Well, I've pretty much finished."

"Then let's pack our things and go. It would be better to show you directly what to do."

* * *

Jang So-gil strode through the streets of Luoyang. Yang Gwan followed behind Jang So-gil, two steps away, scratching his head.

'What on earth is Young Master So going to show me?'

There was no destination and no particular purpose. He could tell from Jang So-gil's walk. Seeing him walking aimlessly, looking around here and there, it was clear that this was his first time here.

Jang So-gil, after walking aimlessly, suddenly struck up a conversation with a young woman at a street fruit stand, asked her how business was these days, and then bought an apple with a smiling eye.

He took a firm bite of one. And threw the remaining one. Yang Gwan, catching the apple, asked.

"Young Master So, is this your first time here?"

"Yes. It's my first time."

"What kind of collection are you going to do in a place you're visiting for the first time?"

"Are you really a man who practices the Buddhist path? How can you have so little patience?"

"Then at least tell me what you're looking for."

"It's nothing special. Let's see, ah. Here it is."

Jang So-gil's steps stopped in front of a shop that sold bowls. On the wooden pillar at the entrance, Vaisravana, who was said to ward off calamities and protect wealth, was engraved.

He didn't know who the owner was, but he must be a person who offered Buddhist prayers. Thinking so, Yang Gwan shifted his gaze to the side. Next to it, the 'Wu Meng' plaque, the symbol of the Martial Alliance, was hanging, which meant that this was a merchant guild directly managed by the Martial Alliance.

"Is this today's target?"

"I don't know."

"What?"

"Let's go in first."

It was getting more and more interesting. Jang So-gil, without a care, strode into the shop.

Watching him, Yang Gwan was surprised for a different reason.

"No way, Young Master So didn't kick the door!"

"...What on earth do you think of me?"

"To put it nicely, I think of you as a complete scoundrel."

"To put it badly, what is it... No, never mind. Is the owner here?"

A man approached with short steps. He was an ordinary man, the kind you would see a hundred of a day while walking down the street, but as the owner of the shop, he opened his eyes wide and walked confidently.

He cupped his fists and replied.

"Welcome. Is there anything you're looking for?"

"The ledger."

"...What?"

"Bring me the ledger for the past three months."

To the bewildered man, Jang So-gil shook the plaque. It was the golden plaque that symbolized the authority of the Martial Alliance Leader.

Seeing that, the owner, who had turned his head and looked at Jang So-gil's face once more, was greatly alarmed and corrected his posture, bowing his head.

"It was the Ghost King-nim. Please, please wait a moment. I will bring it."

The owner ran in a hurry. His urgent momentum was as if he were being chased by a tiger.

But momentum was momentum.

"Ghost King?"

Yang Gwan tilted his head. Jang So-gil's face turned slightly red.

To think that the nickname 'Ghost King' had spread throughout the central plains, as Sima Hui had said with a laugh, it must be true.

Jang So-gil, feeling embarrassed, hit Yang Gwan, who was looking at him as if asking for an explanation, on the head with a 'chalssak'.

Next to Yang Gwan, who had an aggrieved look, the owner of the shop, who had run over, out of breath, bowed his head and handed over the ledger.

"Here it is."

"Wait a moment."

The ledger book was quite thick. Jang So-gil quickly skimmed through it.

When a little less than a quarter of an hour had passed. Jang So-gil nodded his head and returned the ledger.

"It's clean without any problems. May your business prosper."

"Thank you. I will pray for the Ghost King-nim's long life and health."

"Gh-Ghost King, what..."

The owner's eyes were full of goodwill. Jang So-gil turned with a 'hwik' and quickly left the shop.

Yang Gwan, who had followed with short steps, asked again.

"Was this place not the target?"

"I didn't set a specific target. It's a shop I'm seeing for the first time. The ledger was quite clean, so he's a rare conscientious person. The goods are also good, so it would be good to get some bowls from there next time."

It was a leisurely tone. Yang Gwan finally understood what Jang So-gil was doing.

"Don't tell me you're just going into any directly managed shop of the Martial Alliance and checking them out at random?"

"Whether you're quick-witted or slow-witted. You are right. I just went in anywhere."

Yang Gwan was greatly surprised once again. It was because it was such an inspector-like thing to do.

Certainly, it had been strange until now. Wasn't an inspector's position originally for this kind of work? It was more strange to come barging in, kicking and smashing the door, yelling for money, and getting into fights.

It felt like things were finally going the right way. But there was also a feeling of 'now of all times'.

"No, that... It's not a wrong thing to do, but. Isn't it bad in many ways to work like this?"

"What's bad about it?"

"If you go in and investigate like this and it's only sound shops, you won't be able to collect two thousand taels in five days, will you? The villains might hear the rumor that the inspector is going around and shrink back and hide. Wouldn't it be more effective to gather information and do a targeted investigation like before?"

"This fellow, did your eyes go crazy after hearing the story of the Zixia Divine Art..."

Jang So-gil's fine brow drew a wave, and then, the scabbard of the White Azure Divine Sword hit Yang Gwan's head with a 'kong'.

It seemed like a light touch, but since it was imbued with internal energy, it was surprisingly painful. To the teary-eyed Yang Gwan, Jang So-gil clicked his tongue and said.

"If it was a sound shop, it means that the shop owner did not embezzle, so isn't that a good thing?"

"Well- that's true, but. Kkeu, kkeung..."

"If I go in and don't break anything, it means the world is running correctly, so it's a good thing. If I go in and break something, it means I'm making the world right, so it's a good thing. If the villains hear my rumor and shrink back, isn't that also a good thing? Don't be impatient."

"Your words are very right and correct, but."

Being lectured by Jang So-gil made him feel ten times more aggrieved than being lectured by someone else.

The complete scoundrel who had been kicking and breaking doors, which were meant to be opened with hands, had been living as he pleased until now, and now he was suddenly putting on a serious face and saying the right thing, so it was especially so.

He wanted to refute, but since there was nothing to refute, he felt even more aggrieved. Yang Gwan, out of frustration, beat his chest.

"Aoh, I really shouldn't say anything."

"Now, next is here. Heo, it's quite a large shop."

It was a shop that handled various grains, including rice. The calligraphy of 'Gaha Migok' hanging on the nameplate was impressive; it was full of strength and yet pleasing to the eye. It was easy to see that it had been written by a person famous for their calligraphy.

Jang So-gil grinned. A wonderful nameplate and a large shop. It was a place that Jang So-gil had also heard of by name, as it was one of the largest rice shops in Luoyang.

"Gaha, you say. It's a name I remember because it's interesting."

'Gaha' meant to give more than the specified amount. In other words, it meant to be generous. It was a very good name for a rice shop.

After confirming the 'Wu Meng' plaque, which signified a directly managed shop of the Martial Alliance, Jang So-gil took the lead and entered the shop.

"Is the owner here?"

At Jang So-gil's voice, this time a skinny man came out. Unlike the generous-sounding name 'Gaha', he was a sharp and strict-looking person. He replied bluntly.

"What are you looking for?"

"The ledger."

"What?"

"The ledger for the past three months."

Jang So-gil, who was shaking the golden plaque. It was the same conversation, the same action as the previous shop, but the result was quite different. The owner of the rice shop's eyes shot open, and then he hurriedly stepped back.

"Th-the complete scoundrel inspector!?"

"Yes. I prefer that to Ghost King. Gwan, catch this bastard."

As if he had been waiting, Yang Gwan grabbed both of his arms. The owner struggled to get away, but Yang Gwan did not even budge. It was just that it was overshadowed by Ye-er's monstrous strength, but Yang Gwan's physical strength vied for the top among the Ten Dragons.

"I'm in the middle of official business. Please cooperate."

"Let go! Let go!"

Leaving him, who was just stomping his feet, Jang So-gil looked around the shop. He walked through the densely packed rice and nonchalantly picked up the ledger.

A simple ledger. A quick glance showed that it contained about a week's worth of records. Jang So-gil smiled faintly.

"Today, I'll start with this place."

"Do you have something in mind?"

"The sales volume is good. When business is good, people easily harbor vain thoughts. A shop with poor business has little money to be extorted by the alliance, but a shop with good business has a lot of money to be extorted, so people's hearts are prone to turn to the bad side. Looking at the ledger, I can see traces of manipulation little by little. A fellow who touches a simple ledger is bound to touch a large ledger as well."

"I see."

A needle thief becomes a cow thief.

Yang Gwan, nodding in understanding, slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

"Actually, I also have something in mind."

"Heo? You? What is it?"

"Isn't it that a person who calls Young Master So the Ghost King and acts politely is a good person, and a person who calls him a complete scoundrel is a bad person?"

Yang Gwan puffed out his chest, looking triumphant. It seemed he was proud of himself for having read the situation quickly.

Jang So-gil sighed and waved his hand.

"Stop talking nonsense and just keep a good hold on that fellow. I'll stir this place up a bit."

"Yep."

(End of Chapter)