By Zephyria Expert in Disappearances and Kidnappings (6)
Seong Mu-yeon received a hefty sum of Gold Coins as an advance payment and was promised an enormous amount of money as a success fee.
“What are you going to do?”
When Baek Ryeo-il asked, Seong Mu-yeon stroked his chin.
“Actually, I have a bit of an idea.”
No matter how large the Demonic Cult was, it was woefully insufficient to form an organization with only insiders. So, they increased their demonic cultist numbers through kidnapping, luring, and brainwashing. It was a task that required considerable care.
Specifically, it had to be subtle enough that the orthodox sect couldn’t openly challenge them, due to the presence of suspicion but lack of concrete evidence.
As a result, there even existed specialized groups that replenished their numbers from the outside.
“You can find those guys anywhere. When they find a suitable target, they start working.”
He grinned.
“If you know how, you can find them in no time.”
He first focused on Seomun Yuha’s activities on the day of his disappearance. With the appearance of the Demonic Cult expert, the investigation progressed rapidly.
Before long, Seomun Yuha’s friends, who had been contacted by Madam Seomun, arrived, and Seong Mu-yeon thoroughly investigated where and what he had done on the dates recorded in Seomun Yuha’s diary through them.
After cross-referencing each statement, he found that a specific place was repeatedly mentioned. It was a certain tavern.
“That tavern is the guy’s area of activity.”
Thus, Seong Mu-yeon headed to the tavern with Baek Ryeo-il. The place itself was nothing special.
“Can we just go in and beat them up?”
“What are you talking about? There’s no need to use such a barbaric method.”
Seong Mu-yeon engraved something on the wall of the tavern. It was a mark that only demonic cultist could recognize.
“It’s a code used by demonic cultist to secretly meet. Because they operate so far beneath the surface, it’s impossible to know exactly who is doing what and where. Anyone who finds this must immediately follow the mark.”
“Oho…….”
The Seomun Clan had been searching for their son for a week, but they couldn’t even find the shadow of the culprit hidden in the darkness. It was possible because he was an insider who knew their habits well.
Seong Mu-yeon connected the marks to a secluded place nearby.
Seong Mu-yeon pulled Baek Ryeo-il, who was standing there blankly. They took their places in the lush shrubs located in a blind spot.
“Now we just have to wait.”
If they caught the guy and interrogated him, they would be able to find out where Seomun Yuha had been sent.
“If I’m right… Young Master Seomun will still be alive. The problem is, we don’t know the purpose for taking him. But we can find that out later.”
“I see.”
The gap in the shrubs was dark and narrow. Small branches constantly poked at their bodies.
Seong Mu-yeon, who was fidgeting with discomfort, turned his head and met Baek Ryeo-il’s eyes, who was so close that their noses almost touched.
For some reason, Seong Mu-yeon felt uncomfortable with the gaze and avoided his eyes.
“Move over a bit.”
“There’s no room here either.”
Seong Mu-yeon wasn’t short, but Baek Ryeo-il was so large that he had to contort his body. As a result, the two men’s shoulders were touching.
Baek Ryeo-il’s breath touched his shoulder. Even without looking, he could feel his blatant gaze out of the corner of his eye.
“So, what are you going to do with the money?”
“Why? Are you getting greedy now? I won’t give you a penny.”
“Seriously… Who’s asking?”
“I can’t just freeload off Mount Hua for the rest of my life, can I? I need to find a house when I’m somewhat stable.”
“Where are you going to go?”
Seong Mu-yeon hesitated for a moment before answering.
“I just need… a small house in a quiet place. I’ll raise chickens in the yard. I’ll open a private school and make a living teaching children.”
The voice that said that was low and quiet. His eyes became distant as if looking into the distance, and a faint smile hung on his lips.
Baek Ryeo-il could easily imagine Seong Mu-yeon shouting at disobedient children and wielding a switch.
In Baek Ryeo-il’s imagination, the house had a low roof and a straw fence around it. During the day, children would be running around in the yard.
When everyone had returned home in the evening, the house would become quiet as if it had never been noisy. Then Seong Mu-yeon would sit under the slanting sunset and open a book.
It was a peaceful and tranquil scene.
The illusion became vivid as if it were unfolding before his eyes. He could even hear the sound of Seong Mu-yeon turning the pages and the sound of the candle burning.
Someone who appeared under the warm candlelight naturally wrapped his arm around Seong Mu-yeon’s shoulder. That person was Baek Ryeo-il himself.
He would ask how disobedient the children had been today, listen to his complaints, and prepare dinner as if he were used to it.
At night, they would lie on the same bed, chattering about what had happened during the day, recalling what they had to do tomorrow, and putting out the candle.
Then he would offer his arm and hug him as he snuggled into his arms. As if they had been doing it for a very long time…
“Hey.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Baek Ryeo-il snapped out of his midday daydream. Seong Mu-yeon was frowning in front of him.
Baek Ryeo-il shook his head to clear the image that had popped into his head.
What an absurd fantasy…
He had never really thought about the future, but the fantasy he had just had was the least likely thing to happen. He chuckled self-deprecatingly.
‘Even if the world collapses, it can’t happen…’
“He’s here.”
At Seong Mu-yeon’s whisper, he looked through the branches and, sure enough, someone was cautiously looking around.
“He looks ordinary.”
The stranger looked like someone who would never dream of being associated with the Demonic Cult.
“Of course. That’s how you can lower your guard.”
“What are you going to do now?”
Baek Ryeo-il’s heart began to race with anticipation. So far, Seong Mu-yeon had been hitting him in the back of the head with unexpected methods. He wondered what method he would use to surprise him this time…
“Go, Baek Ryeo-il! Catch that guy!”
“……What?”
Baek Ryeo-il was dumbfounded and stunned. Seong Mu-yeon hurriedly patted him on the back, urging him on.
“He’s going to run away like this! Hurry!”
“…….”
Baek Ryeo-il felt like he was being taken advantage of for some reason, but there was no time to argue. In the meantime, the man had discovered them and seemed to have noticed something strange and started to run away. Catching that man was the priority now.
Baek Ryeo-il threw himself forward and blocked his escape route.
“Wh-what?
“Are you the one who took Seomun Yuha?”
The man, upon hearing the name, decided to fight. The man took out a weapon from his waist, but his opponent was Baek Ryeo-il. Baek Ryeo-il kicked his wrist and disarmed him in an instant.
“Keuk……!”
“Good job! Good job!”
Seong Mu-yeon’s applause could be heard from afar.
‘That guy…….’
He ended up chuckling.
Thud!
Baek Ryeo-il nonchalantly dropped the unconscious man at the feet of the Seomun Clan head and his wife.
“I-is this him?”
The Clan head and his wife were surprised and widened their eyes when the two brought results in less than a day. Soon, anger surged up.
“Wake up!”
The Clan head tried to wake the unconscious man by splashing cold water on his face. But he only twitched slightly and didn’t get up.
“Honey, will that work? Step aside.”
Madam Seomun lowered herself next to the wet man. And…….
Slap-!
The man’s face turned to the other side. At the same time, he screamed and opened his eyes. His last memory would have been the sole of Baek Ryeo-il’s shoe filling his vision.
“Wh-what, what, what is it!”
“You’re the one who took my son.”
The man turned pale at the sight of Madam Seomun’s fierce face.
“What are you talking about? Where is this?”
Seong Mu-yeon approached and asked.
“Where did you take Seomun Yuha?”
“I can’t understand what you’re saying at all! Are you allowed to do this to someone you’ve caught for no reason!”
He seemed to be planning to pretend he didn’t know anything shamelessly. But Seong Mu-yeon had already searched the man’s belongings and confirmed that he was a demonic cultist.
“Don’t you know who I am?”
“How would I know that! Let me go! I won’t just let this go!”
The man didn’t recognize the Seventh Young Master, probably because he was of low status.
I guess that’s the only way.
Seong Mu-yeon sighed lowly and stood up. He put his hands behind his back, raised his chin, and spoke in an arrogant tone.
“Kneel down and pay your respects. I am Seong Mu-yeon, the Seventh Young Master.”
“…….”
The man’s pupils trembled.
It was a little disappointing that there wasn’t a hype man next to him when he revealed his identity, as it would have been more effective in showing his authority. Baek Ryeo-il wasn’t the type to do such a thing, and the Clan head and his wife were just blinking, so the sincerity was a bit lacking.
The man, who had been gaping for a while, shouted loudly.
“If you’re the Seventh Young Master, then I’m the Cult Leader!”
“…….”
Seong Mu-yeon’s face crumpled miserably.