Chapter 26

Chapter 26 — Two Cases, One Jurist (2)

"Young Master? What's wrong?"

Doyul suddenly froze while hurrying to prepare for the trip to Eonyang County.

...No matter how I think about it, something doesn't add up.

One question kept circling through his mind.

Why is Jeongmu personally joining the defense?

If the criminal proceedings were being held in Yeongsan, that would be one thing.

But he was going all the way to Eonyang just to represent the hunters?

...At a time like this?

Something feels wrong.

Why would he deliberately leave Yeongsan right now? Is it really just because of a personal grudge against me?

Doyul shook his head.

Thinking back on Jeongmu, he wasn't stupid enough to let his emotions drive him into reckless behavior.

The Ibang's corruption has come to light.

That means attention will naturally turn toward Park Jeongdo too, since he's the final owner of the stolen land.

Jeongmu must have anticipated that.

So why leave Yeongsan now?

"...Young Master?"

"Give me a moment. I need to think."

Doyul formed several hypotheses.

Maybe he's worried his role as the instigator will be discovered, so he volunteered to act as their representative?

It wasn't impossible.

But it didn't seem particularly likely.

Doyul suspected Jeongmu had hired the hunters.

However, nothing on the surface directly connected him to the murder.

Then how could anyone prove the hunters had been ordered to do it?

Realistically, only through a confession.

That meant Jeongmu had little reason to feel threatened.

He would have instructed the hunters to repeat the same story over and over.

As long as they stuck to that explanation, the chance of Jeongmu being implicated was almost nonexistent.

And even if he was worried the hunters might betray him, this still doesn't make sense.

Suppose he feared that the hunters would panic and confess that someone had hired them.

Then escaping before he was exposed would be the more natural choice.

If he fled while the criminal proceedings dragged on, catching him would be practically impossible given Joseon's undeveloped criminal investigation system.

No matter how I look at it, if his own safety were the priority... there's no reason for him to voluntarily go to Eonyang.

For an oejibu like Jeongmu, hiding his name and assuming a new identity wouldn't be especially difficult.

So that theory wasn't convincing either.

And Park Jeongdo probably wouldn't have allowed him to leave Yeongsan for some purely personal reason.

"Then let's look at it differently."

"...Yes?"

Doyul stopped.

"...What if Jeongmu had a reason that made going to Eonyang absolutely necessary?"

After working through the possibilities, Doyul arrived at one hypothesis.

From that, he organized his thoughts into three conclusions.

"...Maybe this is because of me."

"What have you been talking about this whole time?"

"Let's go, Donggu."

"Huh? Y-Yes?"

First. We finish the criminal proceedings as quickly as possible, in case something happens back in Yeongsan.

"My thoughts are organized now."

Doyul strode toward Pasu and Seoko, who were wrapped tightly in ropes.

"...Y-Yulli? Is there something you wish to say?"

"Hey."

The moment Doyul smiled at them, the two men felt an indescribable chill.

"W-Why... why are you looking at us like that?"

Second. If Jeongmu intends to walk voluntarily into the jaws of death... then I'll make sure he pays the proper price.

"...I'm going to make you an offer you won't be able to refuse."

"An o-offer?"

And third.

Doyul had caught sight of one small possibility.

...Maybe Lee Isu's role will reveal itself sooner than I expected.

Meanwhile, Magistrate Choi Sihyeon of Eonyang County was reading the letter from the Governor of Gyeongsang Province with a peculiar expression.

[To Magistrate Choi Sihyeon of Eonyang County.

An official of Yeongsan County has died on Mount Yeongchwi. Examine those connected to the incident carefully so that no innocent person suffers injustice. After the hearing is concluded, conduct the second examination in Yeongsan based on the results and render the appropriate conclusion.]

"...Yeongsan County."

Choi Sihyeon set the letter down and quietly repeated a name.

"Cheongheon. No... Kim Jiseok."

A faint smile crossed his lips.

"To think a day like this would come."

Cheongheon was Kim Jiseok's pen name.

Choi Sihyeon and Kim Jiseok had grown up together as childhood friends.

But Choi Sihyeon had always harbored an inferiority complex toward Kim Jiseok, who was perpetually one step ahead of him.

"...You were always just a little faster than me."

Choi Sihyeon was undoubtedly talented.

But Kim Jiseok had always been more outstanding.

The Choi and Kim families had maintained close ties for generations.

At times, they competed.

At other times, they cooperated.

Sometimes the two houses were one another's closest allies.

Other times, they were bitter rivals.

Because that family history had continued for generations, the adults had drilled one thing into Choi Sihyeon from childhood.

"You are the eldest son of our family. You must be superior to the eldest son of the Kim family."

But Choi Sihyeon lost to Kim Jiseok in nearly every area.

He struggled desperately not to fall behind.

Yet deep down, he had always known.

"I've managed to cling to your heels until now, but at this rate... the gap between us will only grow wider."

A painful memory surfaced.

"Tsk. They say the younger brother never surpasses the older, yet look at this difference. If only Choi Sihyeon had even half his younger brother's ability...."

"What a cruel fate. The younger brother overflowing with talent died young, while the incompetent elder brother survived."

The year Kim Jiseok and Choi Sihyeon took the state examination, Kim Jiseok placed third and earned the title of Tamhwarang.

And astonishingly, the person who took second place as A-won...

Was Choi Sihyeon's younger brother, Choi Siyoon.

Choi Siyoon had been the pride of the Choi family.

He even earned the king's favor and, after being recognized for his intelligence, was appointed a Pilsun responsible for teaching a royal prince.

But...

Choi Siyoon died young not long after beginning his official career.

After that, everything changed for the Choi family.

Once the promising genius died, everyone's attention shifted toward Choi Sihyeon in the worst possible way.

"Forget his younger brother. He even loses to a friend his own age, yet that man is the eldest son of our family!"

All of Choi Sihyeon's inferiority complex came to focus on Kim Jiseok.

He had to fill the void left by his younger brother.

Just once.

Even if only once...

He wanted to defeat Kim Jiseok.

He needed to prove his own worth.

"...This is a perfect opportunity to leave a good impression on the governor."

He clenched his hand.

"Yes. This is only the beginning."

Kim Jiseok had undoubtedly established the foundation of the investigation.

But Choi Sihyeon wanted to rebuild the entire case from scratch.

"I'll erase every trace of your work."

Even though the Ibang was only a low-ranking local official, the death of any government official was serious enough to be reported to the royal court.

Choi Sihyeon saw this as the perfect chance to make his own name known.

Thinking of his younger brother, he muttered softly.

"...I hope news of me reaches you as well."

He had always wanted to be a brother Choi Siyoon could be proud of.

Even now, that feeling had never disappeared.

At that moment...

"Magistrate, the criminals and official sent from Yeongsan County have arrived."

"Bring the official in immediately."

Doyul had arrived in Eonyang at precisely the right moment.

Wanting to understand the situation as quickly and accurately as possible, Choi Sihyeon summoned him at once.

"I greet the Magistrate of Eonyang. I am Kang Doyul, currently serving as yulli of Yeongsan County..."

Choi Sihyeon shot to his feet.

"...S-Siyoon!"

"...Excuse me?"

Doyul looked at him in confusion.

But Choi Sihyeon stared at Doyul in utter shock.

Y-You... why are you here?

The official Kim Jiseok had sent...

Looked astonishingly similar to his dead younger brother.

Kim Jiseok, unusually for him, couldn't maintain his expression.

"Tell me. Just what do you think you're doing?"

"Magistrate, I truly have no idea what you mean."

"Haha..."

...Just how far did this filthy scheme extend?

Park Jeongdo smiled crookedly.

Kim Jiseok couldn't unclench his tightly balled fist.

"I asked what you think you're doing."

"My, my. This isn't like you, Magistrate. No matter how brilliant a genius may be... I suppose youthful temper is unavoidable."

"......"

Kim Jiseok struggled to contain his anger as he looked down at the mountain of written agreements spread before him.

"You want me to believe these transactions were legitimate?"

"I merely paid the proper price and purchased the land."

"You cannot possibly claim you noticed nothing strange."

Kim Jiseok's voice sharpened.

"You have acted as the leading local notable of Yeongsan for years. Are you saying you felt no suspicion at all when buying land registered under other people's names?"

"Magistrate."

Greed shone in Park Jeongdo's eyes.

"When a starving man buys rice, does he stare at the seller's face?"

"When a man who hasn't had a drop of water in three days gulps from a bowl, does he first ask which well it came from?"

"...Insolent."

"I was thirsty."

"I was hungry."

"I needed land."

"So I bought land."

Grit.

Kim Jiseok had already found it strange that Jeongmu suddenly left Yeongsan.

Now that events had unfolded this way, the pair's intention was obvious.

They waited for Kang Doyul to leave, then opened the lawsuit to finish everything in his absence.

No matter how strong Kim Jiseok's suspicions were, no matter how convinced he personally was that corruption had taken place...

If Park Jeongdo possessed clear documentary evidence, even a magistrate could not simply ignore it and impose his own conclusion.

And Kim Jiseok's term was nearly over.

He was practically a tiger whose fangs had already been pulled, preparing to return to the royal court.

His opponent, meanwhile, was the most powerful local notable in the region.

Trying to crush him through sheer authority could create an even larger problem.

To resolve this matter, Kim Jiseok needed a wise judgment that anyone could accept.

That was why he had intended to discuss it with Doyul and seek his advice.

But...

"Strange rumors have been spreading throughout the county lately, haven't they?"

He hadn't expected Park Jeongdo to act this openly and this quickly.

"I am very curious about where those rumors originated."

Park Jeongdo continued casually.

"I cannot simply remain silent either. I worry that unnecessary misunderstandings may arise."

"So I have come to request your official confirmation, Magistrate."

He gestured toward the documents.

"Confirmation that the land I purchased for proper payment was acquired lawfully."

"..."

The truth of the land fraud hadn't even been fully investigated because the Ibang's death had intervened.

If Park Jeongdo obtained a judgment first declaring that his purchases had been legitimate...

...Then even if it is later proven that the original transactions between the villagers and Jeongmu were fraudulent, recovering the land from Park Jeongdo will become far more difficult.

Everything about it was precise.

And vicious.

"I submit this petition requesting confirmation that my purchase agreements with Jeongmu were lawful."

Park Jeongdo smiled.

"Naturally, you will accept it."

Grit.

"...Wait until the proper date is set."

"I hope the wait will not be too long."

Park Jeongdo smiled unpleasantly.

Hahaha! That bastard Kang Doyul has only just reached Eonyang.

It will take him quite some time.

And even after the criminal proceedings begin, it's not as though they'll finish immediately.

A grin kept trying to escape his lips.

Jeongmu will be there to cling to every detail and waste as much time as possible.

Yes.

That insignificant murder case can end however it likes.

By the time Kang Doyul returns, everything here will already be finished!

Park Jeongdo lowered his head slowly, wearing the benevolent smile of a respectable yangban.

"I believe I have said everything I came to say."

"I shall take my leave."

"I will await your decision, Magistrate."

"Please use your wisdom to clear this unjust suspicion surrounding me."

"..."

Kim Jiseok could say nothing.

There was a limit to how long he could delay the case.

And he wasn't confident he could postpone the matter until Kang Doyul returned.

Left alone in his office, Kim Jiseok sighed deeply.

"...Kang Doyul."

"If you were here... how would you solve this?"

He paused.

"No. What good is thinking about that now?"

Kim Jiseok carefully reread the agreements and petition Park Jeongdo had submitted.

Then he sank into thought.

"...I can only do what is within my power."

Delay the proceedings for as long as possible.

Buy as much time as he could until Doyul returned.

For now...

That was the best Kim Jiseok could do.