Chapter 54 — Your Illegality Is Excluded at the End of a Swaying Sword (2)
After it was decided that Donggu would be imprisoned, Jo Jinkyung spoke to him.
"I am well aware that you wish to conceal your identity."
"However, I cannot allow you to keep wearing your mask while you're confined here."
"Understood."
Donggu removed his mask without the slightest hesitation.
Jo Jinkyung and Seo Gyeongsik were both surprised, but neither showed it.
The leader of the eight provinces, who supposedly keeps his identity so carefully hidden...
He removed his mask that easily?
"..."
"..."
Of course, this absurd situation was only possible because neither man knew what the real bandit leader looked like.
And neither had ever met Donggu before.
"Can I go inside now?"
"...Yes."
"However, I cannot allow you to stay with Hong Myeong. Do you understand?"
"Do whatever you want."
...Hah! I simply cannot figure this man out!
Donggu readily agreed to everything Jo Jinkyung said.
The governor found it increasingly frustrating, but he had no particularly effective way to deal with him.
"...Hmph. Very well."
"Then we'll proceed with the hearing as you requested."
"Good."
Donggu was subsequently placed under confinement at the provincial office.
Jo Jinkyung, meanwhile, fell into thought.
Now then, why did that man insist on holding a hearing?
The first thing that came to mind was a legal representative.
Although the leader of the eight provinces was nothing like the rumors suggested, the way events had unfolded made it clear that someone was directing him from behind the scenes.
Jo Jinkyung had no idea what this Mountain Lord was supposed to be.
Perhaps the man was even more influential than he imagined.
And even if that wasn't the case, he could not deny that his opponent had an exceptionally capable strategist.
That stupid thief Hong Myeong certainly won't be conducting his own defense.
The most likely explanation is that they've hired a professional oejibu.
Of course, I'll hold the hearing in exchange for their money.
But they may have something in mind that could catch me completely off guard.
I need to make every possible preparation.
Jo Jinkyung was a corrupt governor.
However, his abilities and experience were very real.
"Dosa, listen carefully."
"Please give your orders."
"Order every oejibu in the region to stay out of this case."
"Also, thoroughly verify the identity of everyone entering from outside. Do not allow any suspicious person to enter."
"And report anyone who has shown suspicious behavior recently."
"As you command."
After careful consideration, Jo Jinkyung decided to restrict access from outside in order to interfere with his opponent's plans.
But he had no way of knowing that the person who would serve as Hong Myeong's legal representative was already in Daegu.
And because that person had arrived on official business, he had escaped the net of suspicion entirely.
Furthermore, Doyul was staying at the home of Seo Myeongjin, the very person directly involved in the case.
Hmph. Go ahead and try whatever you like!
Jo Jinkyung had no idea how much groundwork had already been laid.
Meanwhile, inside the prison, Yeol came to visit Hong Myeong.
"Hyung, I'm here!"
"Yes. What is it?"
"I've told the Scholar everything you told me."
"And instead of Honggak, the Scholar's servant has deliberately allowed himself to be imprisoned!"
"...What?"
"Is that really true?"
Hong Myeong was greatly surprised.
He felt relieved, grateful, and apologetic all at once.
I was afraid Hyung might be imprisoned if he came to the provincial office.
Thank goodness that didn't happen.
But why is that scholar taking such risks for my sake?
Yeol could barely contain his excitement.
"Hyung, wasn't I right?"
"Didn't I tell you that Scholar was different?"
"...Yes. You were right."
A small hope began to grow inside Hong Myeong.
Perhaps...
Perhaps I really can return safely.
In an empty room inside the provincial office, Donggu recalled Doyul's instructions.
"Donggu, your role is extremely important."
"Just give the order."
"Once you're imprisoned, wait for an opportunity to search the provincial office."
"Based on what Yeol told us about the prison, I suspect they'll confine you separately."
Ordinary prisons housed multiple criminals together.
If word spread that the leader of the eight provinces was imprisoned among them, it would create problems for the governor.
And depending on how the negotiations proceeded, Jo Jinkyung might need to bring the supposed bandit leader out again.
So, just as Doyul had predicted, the meticulous governor had prepared a separate room inside the inner office for Donggu.
Hmm. Security will be lighter than in the regular prison, but that can't be helped.
Still, it shouldn't be a problem.
At least as long as Hong Myeong's hearing is pending, he won't dare escape recklessly.
I can decide what to do with him once the hearing is over and I see how things develop.
"Everything happened exactly as Young Master said."
Donggu's role was to investigate the governor's shady activities from the inside.
"Anything will do."
"Gather as much information about the governor as possible, provided you don't cause trouble or get caught."
"Pass the information to me through Yeol."
"If that isn't possible, you can tell me after you're released."
Doyul had considered the situation carefully.
Judging by the storyline, Jo Jinkyung is unquestionably a villain.
And with so many different matters tangled together...
If we dig around, we're bound to find something.
Doyul needed to use every available means.
At that same time, Doyul and Choi Sihyeon were having a conversation at Seo Myeongjin's residence.
"Doyul... are you truly serious?"
"Magistrate, please lend me your strength."
"Even for someone like you, how could you possibly...?"
"It's the only way."
"...You know that as well as I do."
"You really are... impossible to outmaneuver."
Doyul began making his final preparations to win the hearing.
On the day of the hearing, the Daegu Provincial Office was guarded by more men than usual.
Outsiders were also strictly forbidden from entering, which naturally aroused the curiosity of the people watching.
"What's going on? Why have they sealed off the entire provincial office?"
"I heard there's some mighty important hearing taking place inside..."
"Huh? How can they hold a hearing behind closed doors like that?"
One day, the king had suddenly emphasized the importance of the law and issued a proclamation.
"Many people suffer because provincial officials make arbitrary judgments."
"Out of compassion for my subjects and to relieve the grievances of the common people, I hereby forbid hasty judgments."
"Furthermore, all criminal hearings shall be open to the people so that no one is treated unjustly."
After the royal proclamation, the number of hearings throughout the country had increased considerably, and the atmosphere surrounding judicial proceedings had changed greatly.
Naturally, Jo Jinkyung's decision to hold a closed hearing attracted attention.
However...
"The governor must have his reasons!"
Since the people did not know the details, their interest went no further than simple curiosity.
