NEFARIOUS

19 / 십구

 Minister Bo Gyeong was completely outraged.

 He scanned over the mess his soldiers and the Bronze Thorns had made. Many were injured, while four of his men died.

 Three gang members had tried to escape from the underground hall, only one succeded, but ended up getting caught by a palace guard. Moreover, he did not quiet understand why the soldiers who'd posted by the exit tried to kill each other. Something must be definitely wrong.

 Kwang Gyeong, his own son, had been standing near him for another task. He stared at the ground beneath his feet, remained unmoved.

 The Minister's men were helping to assist the injured ones, while the others chained the Bronze Throns heavily with steel this time, undoubtedly making them vulnerable as possible.

 One of the gang members responsed with a disgusting snarl. The Serpent, their own leader, was as calm as spring breeze. No wonder he became their leader at the first place.

 "Father-" Kwang commenced, but he stopped himself on the way. By hearing his voice, Bo Gyeong wanted to rip his son's throat for being a fool again in the underground hall. The boy had been here the whole time, yet he couldn't even handle the chaotic scene in this place.

 As commanded, Commander Suk-Ja approached him. He bowed low before saying, "My lord?"

 "Explain," The Minister demanded harshly.

 "A palace guard has made an appearance," Commander Suk-Ja said. "If I recall correctly, three soldiers are bringing him for further command."

 Bo Gyeong pierced his burning gaze into the Commander. "And why didn't you bring him for me?"

 "I was going to take the guard for you, my lord," Commander Suk-Ja glanced at Kwang uneasily. "That is, until Lord Kwang demanded to take charge."

 Kwang shifted uncomfortably in his track. "I can explain-"

 "And then?" Bo Gyeong pressed further.

 "Razorteeth claimed there was a fraud among those three soldiers," the Commander continued. "When I looked at the youngest one, he was indeed unfamiliar. The boy seemed to use the palace guard as a bait for some purpose."

 "You let a criminal talk to you?"

 "It is far more complicated, my lord," said the Commander. "She laughed, and we were all confused. When Lord Kwang asked what made her laugh, she simply replied those three soldiers were decievers, and that the youngest one didn't even look like a fighter. Lord Kwang pressed the soldier to tell the truth, but he dodged the questions easily. In sudden, the criminals broke free and fought the soldiers with their might. The young soldier disappeared with no trace left behind."

 "And the palace guard?"

 There was a twitch in the edge of the Commander's lips. "He is actually a soldier, my lord. Someone has dressed him to act like a palace guard. Moreover, he doesn't appear to remember anything. Some of my subordinates have questioned him with many possible ways, but he becomes more confused instead. It happens the same with the two soldiers as well."

 An old man wearing crimson garments sat on the very edge of the underground hall, his hand chained behind his back, face swollen and shoulders jagged due the turtore he had to face from questioning. There were over three guards circling around him, watching for any suspicious act.

 Bo Gyeong shifted his gaze onto the Bronze Thorns with thoughts swirling in his mind.

 The young soldier might have been a fraud, but it was still a question of how he'd gotten to know about the code, and also why the men who'd come with him ended up having no idea of his presence at all.

 Moreover, in order to enter the underground hall, the fraud soldier must have went two checkpoints from the entrance. There was also an enough amount of soldiers who watched over the Taejo statue. He wouldn't have succeded, unless-

 "Bring the soldiers who post by the entrance," demanded Bo Gyeong. "And those who watch over the Taejo statue as well."

 Commander Suk-Ja bowed, and disappeared from his sight. He later reappeared with ten nervous-looking soldiers.

 They bent forward to give Bo Gyeong a respectful bow. He returned them with a dismissed hand, scanning each of them with fearful gaze. None of them was harmed.

 "Those who guard over Taejo statue step forward," Bo Gyeong commanded loudly.

 Five soldiers took a step forward. They still did not look Bo Gyeong in the eyes. Bo Gyeong approached them to close the distance between them.

 The Ministry of War simply demanded, "Explain."

 The soldiers shifted uncomfortably in his track. None of them dared to speak, until a soldier said, "We have guarded over the statue as the usual, my lord. But afterwards, we heard a word there was chaos in the underground hall-"

 "So you assume no person has visitted the shrine to enter underground beneath?" Bo Gyeong snarled at the soldier, he grabbed him by the chin and dug his cheek hard. "And you think I'll believe this utter nonsense?"

 The soldier gulped nervously. "My lord-"

 "Do you know the consequence of lying, soldier?" The soldier avoided his gaze, not meeting his eyes. The words came from Bo Gyeong were more of a menace than question. "I will tear your clothes, and skin you alive with burning sword. If you are still breathing, I will make my hounds eat you while screaming in pain. The remaining bones will be burned to ash, blown by the wind to the unknown. I will make sure my men do the same to your wife and children and even your whore, they will suffer so painfully until they beg to die themselves. Now, tell me the truth."

 The lower lip of the soldier trembled. A drop of sweat streaming down his forehead. "I don't remember of any intruder, my lord. Only-"

 Bo Gyeong striked his fist into the soldier's nose. He stumbled to the side, but Bo Gyeong threw another punch into his cheek and nose repeatedly. Over and and over and over again. Until his face became swollen and blood pouring down from his nose and broken teeth. The soldier still managed to stand, but his legs wobbled and whole body trembled uncontrollably.

 The Minister looked at the other soldiers, who kept their gaze on the ground. "And you?" Bo Gyeong pointed at a soldier randomly. "Have any word on this?"

 When he didn't speak, Bo Gyeong grabbed him by the hair and hissed to his face, "I am speaking to you, soldier."

 "My lord," a voice came from his side.

 Bo Gyeong turned to face Commander Suk-Ja, he bowed deep before saying, "His Majesty has asked for your presence."

 The Minister pushed the soldier to let go of him. "On what matter?"

 "He wants to speak about. . . some disturbance in the palace."

 Bo Gyeong glanced at the soldiers, his eyes burned at the sight of them. "Question them until they tell the truth, Commander Suk-Ja." He settled his gaze on the swollen-faced soldier, the blood was still streaming out of his nose. "Until then, bring me some useful information."