Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 345

345. The Invisible War (4)

“Did you call for me?”

“Yes, there’s something you must do.”

Hyang immediately lowered his voice, sensing the unusual gravity in Sejong’s expression and tone.

“What is it that I must do, Father?”

“I need an accuser.”

“Pardon?”

Sejong handed Hyang a report. After receiving it and assessing the situation, Hyang asked Sejong,

“Are you going to interrogate this person, who appears to be a former eunuch from Ming, after capturing him?”

“No, I plan to silence him. With Joseon’s current strength, contending with Ming would only result in losses. Furthermore, the existence of the Milwi [a secret royal organization] must not be revealed.”

“In that case, there’s no need for an accuser, is there?”

Sejong explained the reason in response to Hyang’s point.

“It’s because of how we’ll handle the collaborators. Even if we deal with the spies from outside quietly, we must set a precedent of judging the internal collaborators according to the law.”

“Ah….”

Hyang let out a small exclamation at Sejong’s words and immediately followed up with a question.

“Is it because of autocracy?”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s question.

“There are the court and ministers, but the king makes all the decisions. Even if the existence of the Milwi is hidden like this, the ministers will vaguely sense it. Then they will be cautious, and what will happen then?”

Hyang immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“Even if someone like Jie or Zhou—a tyrant—emerges and runs rampant, they won’t be controlled.”

Sejong nodded at Hyang’s answer.

“That’s right. That’s why we must protect the last bastion of the rule of law. The last defense of the officials who must prevent the monarch’s tyranny is the rule of law.”

Understanding Sejong’s intention, Hyang bowed to Sejong.

“I will surely carry out your command, Father!”

“Thank you.”

As the atmosphere between father and son warmed, Hyang, remembering something, asked Sejong,

“But what if the ministers try to oppress the monarch with the rule of law as their weapon?”

“Like Ryu Jeong-hyeon did in the past?”

“…Yes.”

Sejong answered firmly to Hyang’s reply.

“A monarch who is pushed around by his subjects is not qualified to be a monarch. Historically, a proper monarch overwhelms his subjects not with force, but with intellect and eloquence.”

“…Yes….”

Hyang suddenly felt sorry for his descendants.

* * *

The next day, Hyang, having arrived at Area 51, summoned Seong Pan-sul.

“Did you call for me, Your Highness?”

Seong Pan-sul looked very nervous at the summons from someone he and others like him would rarely meet directly.

Hyang’s face, looking at Seong Pan-sul, was colder than ever.

“Chief Seong Pan-sul.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Why did you do it?”

“Yes? What….”

At Pan-sul’s bewildered expression, Hyang added briefly.

“Im Dae-soo.”

“Gasp!”

As soon as Hyang mentioned his brother-in-law’s name, Pan-sul immediately knelt on the floor.

“S, s, save me, please!”

“Those who work in Area 51 should know the obligation to maintain confidentiality, shouldn’t they?”

“I have committed a crime worthy of death! It was just the alcohol that was the problem!”

* * *

Those working in Area 51 were obligated to maintain strict confidentiality. However, as Area 51 grew larger and the families of those working there gathered in one place, this clause had largely faded.

It was common for those coming to Area 51 from other regions to hold a feast when they left their hometowns.

“I’m going to Area 51 in Hanseong!”

Even after entering Area 51, it was difficult to easily realize the seriousness of maintaining confidentiality.

This was because those who commuted to and from Area 51 together were neighbors as soon as they stepped out of their gates.

As they became neighbors, they often had drinks together, and it became commonplace to share all sorts of stories—from personal matters to the work they were in charge of.

Hyang, having received related reports, wore an unavoidable expression and muttered.

“I heard that confidentiality went to the moon even in Los Alamos [referring to security breaches at the famous research site]? Is it unavoidable? Or is it better than a situation where the owner of a pub is coding?”

In the end, Hyang and other high-ranking officials in Area 51 also allowed some convenience.

-It is permissible to reveal that you work in Area 51.

However, the crisis came to Seong Pan-sul because of what he had said while drinking with his brother-in-law, Im Dae-soo.

“Brother-in-law! That Iron Horse of Hanseong [likely referring to a train or advanced technology]! I made it!”

* * *

Looking at Pan-sul, who had turned pale, Hyang continued.

“I said it’s okay to say that you work in Area 51. But I didn’t say to say what you do, did I? You know that, don’t you?”

“S, s, save me, please! It was just the alcohol that was the problem, and because he was my brother-in-law….”

“Even if he was your brother-in-law, shouldn’t you have stopped him from talking nonsense, and reported him if he said or planned anything against the country?”

Hyang’s voice was extremely cold. At Hyang’s words, Pan-sul begged, hitting his head on the floor.

“Oh, Your Highness! My brother-in-law is originally a frivolous person who always makes absurd remarks, so I just ignored him! He’s a man who only goes around gambling dens every day, so I just thought it was nonsense!”

“Isn’t it normal to be suspicious if he comes and talks that nonsense four times?”

“Y, y, yes, it is. But….”

“But what?”

“He’s originally a person who always makes absurd remarks, and although we’re not connected by blood, he’s a relative….”

Hyang replied briefly to Pan-sul’s words.

“I don’t know how much nonsense he used to say, but this time he did it right.”

“Yes?”

“There was a merchant with connections to a foreign country behind him.”

“Oh, dear!”

Only then did Pan-sul realize that this was a real life-or-death crisis, and he prostrated himself on the floor, begging for mercy.

“S, save me, please! Even if I heard those words, I never agreed to them! I swear to the heavens and earth! I never had any wicked intentions!”

“Is that so….”

Having confirmed Pan-sul’s reaction, Hyang immediately threw out the bait.

“Then there’s something you can do.”

“What can I do?”

Pan-sul, having found a glimmer of hope, looked up at Hyang. Looking at Pan-sul’s desperate face, Hyang told him what he had to do.

“Go to the Uigeumbu [the Joseon Dynasty’s supreme law enforcement agency] and report it.”

“Yes? If that happens, my brother-in-law….”

“With that brother-in-law, you, as well as your family, will suffer harsh treatment—things that you can only say went well if you end up as a government slave. Or will only you and your family survive? Choose. I’ll tell you in advance, Father already knows everything.”

At Hyang’s words, Pan-sul fell into 고민 [agony/deliberation]. However, he had no choice. In the end, Pan-sul gritted his teeth and answered.

“I will go to the Uigeumbu and report the treason.”

Hearing Pan-sul’s choice, Hyang immediately got up from his seat.

“You’ve made a good choice. Hey! Gather the soldiers immediately! We must go to the Uigeumbu!”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

At Hyang’s command, the eunuch waiting outside immediately answered.

* * *

When Hyang arrived at the Uigeumbu with Pan-sul, the Minister of the Uigeumbu, who commanded the Uigeumbu, rushed out.

“I greet the Crown Prince!”

“You must be busy with official duties, but the matter is such that I have come here.”

“What is it….”

At Hyang’s words, the faces of the Minister of the Uigeumbu and the officials who followed him stiffened. The fact that even the Crown Prince had stepped forward meant that it was no ordinary matter.

At the Minister of the Uigeumbu’s question, Hyang looked back at Pan-sul, who was standing behind him, and answered.

“I learned from this man’s accusation that there are those who are trying to smuggle artisans from Area 51 to a foreign country.”

“Yes! Are there such heinous people!”

The astonished Minister of the Uigeumbu ordered the Najas [police officers] of the Uigeumbu standing behind him.

“Take that man in!”

“Yes!”

* * *

A little later, a 심문장 [interrogation site] was set up in the front yard of the Uigeumbu.

“Since he trusted me and made the accusation, I must be there too.”

With Hyang strongly insisting, the interrogation began.

“You must confess in detail!”

At the Minister of the Uigeumbu’s command, Pan-sul opened his mouth, trembling.

“I, I am Seong Pan-sul, working in Area 51….”

* * *

“…That is all.”

Pan-sul’s words were over, but the courtyard of the Uigeumbu was silent. The officials of the Uigeumbu in the 심문장 [interrogation site] all had serious faces.

‘It could be dismissed as nonsense from a frivolous person simply aiming for a quick fortune… But if there is no definite line, they cannot 함부로 [recklessly] say such things.’

‘The fact that they are artisans from Area 51 means that it cannot be overlooked.’

After 고민 [deliberating] for a moment, the Minister of the Uigeumbu came to a conclusion.

“Your Highness, it seems that we must arrest that Im Dae-soo.”

“Please do so. And shouldn’t we inform Father right now?”

“I will report it immediately!”

The Minister of the Uigeumbu immediately took action.

“Seong Pan-sul, listen. Where is the 투전판 [gambling den] that Im Dae-soo frequents?”

“South of Cheonggyecheon….”

Having confirmed the places where Im Dae-soo might be through Pan-sul’s statement, the Minister of the Uigeumbu immediately ordered the 도사 [police squad leaders] and Najas [police officers].

“Immediately arrest that Im Dae-soo! Search the house where he lives, the 투전판 [gambling den], and the house of Seong Pan-sul, where his sister lives!”

“Yes!”

“The 지사 [royal messenger] must immediately report to His Majesty!”

“Yes!”

With the words of the Minister of the Uigeumbu, everyone in the Uigeumbu moved busily. Hyang, watching the armed soldiers leaving the Uigeumbu and the 지사 [royal messenger] with a hurried face running towards Gyeongbokgung Palace, muttered quietly.

“Finally, the show has begun.”

* * *

Meanwhile, the officials gathered in Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace] were horrified by the 급보 [urgent report] that the 지사 [royal messenger], who entered Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace], had reported.

“How can there be such a heinous thing! Your Majesty! We must immediately confirm the truth of the matter!”

“All those involved must be arrested without exception!”

Sejong, with a serious face, nodded each time the officials made strong statements. As Sejong listened to the officials, he looked back at the 지사 [royal messenger] and asked.

“So, what is the Uigeumbu doing now?”

“They have set out to arrest the man named Im Dae-soo. As soon as they arrest him, they will 심문 [interrogate] the truth of the matter and the 뒷선 [backers].”

“If we are not careful, the mastermind may hide. Handle it as quickly as possible.”

“I will obey the command!”

“And bring all reports to me immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Then I will look forward to good news.”

“Yes.”

The 지사 [royal messenger], having received Sejong’s command, immediately took his leave and left Geunjeongjeon [the main hall of Gyeongbokgung Palace].

After sending the 지사 [royal messenger] out, Sejong asked the officials.

“Where do you think the 뒷선 [backers] are?”

At Sejong’s question, the officials closed their mouths. Everyone was convinced that the 뒷선 [backers] was Ming. However, Ming was Joseon’s 상국 [suzerain state]. If a high-ranking official of the country 함부로 [recklessly] suspected or slandered the 상국 [suzerain state] in a public place, it could become a political problem, so everyone was silent.

In the end, the first to speak was Sejong.

“I do not know why the 상국 [suzerain state] is using such a petty trick.”

Lee Maeng-gyun, horrified by Sejong’s remarks, immediately opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty, the 뒷선 [backers] has not yet been revealed.”

Sejong scoffed at Lee Maeng-gyun’s words.

“Humph! Do you think the 왜국 [Japan] can use the technology of the artisans of Area 51? Where else is that possible besides the 상국 [suzerain state]?”

“That is true, but….”

Sejong’s words were 정론 [the correct argument]. Thanks to this, Lee Maeng-gyun 흐렸다 [blurred] his words with a difficult face.

At that time, Maeng Sa-seong opened his mouth.

“People tend to pursue convenience. It is human to abandon 도리 [moral principles] while pursuing convenience.”

“Are you saying that the 상국 [suzerain state] also abandoned 도리 [moral principles] because of that?”

Maeng Sa-seong immediately answered Sejong’s question.

“That is correct. If we proceed formally according to 도리 [moral principles], it will take a lot of time and money. However, they thought that they could reduce both time and money by abandoning 도리 [moral principles].”

At Maeng Sa-seong’s words, Sejong and all the officials nodded. Sejong, who was nodding, asked Maeng Sa-seong.

“Then, what should our Joseon do?”

“We must show that we are not 호락호락 [easy to push around]. Therefore, we must let them know that following 도리 [moral principles] is 오히려 [on the contrary] beneficial.”