General Maeng and his son stepped outside together, and shortly afterward, two men entered the Jinmusa’s office—men who practically had “I’m a eunuch” stamped on their foreheads.

They were older, with features blending masculinity and femininity into something distinctly androgynous. Their green official robes and round caps had no wings, and their glossy, clean-shaven jaws immediately stood out.

Just from their appearance, it was clear—they were eunuchs.

What is this? Did things go wrong out there?

The eunuchs had supposedly come to take me away, and I flinched.

But General Maeng and his son had just assured me they’d take care of it and send the Dongchang folks back.

「“Don’t be scared, Young Hero So. Seems the Dongchang is just here to protest that we got to you first. But there’s no need to hand you over. The Dongchang and the Imperial Guard are evenly matched in authority—they can’t give us orders.”

“Right, my boy. You startled so easily. My son and I will handle it, so just relax and finish your tea. The Dongchang? Hah.”」

They’d said that since the Imperial Guard got to me first, the Dongchang had no claim.

But now here they were, entering the office—with expressions and body language that told a different story.

I could only stand there awkwardly, unsure of what was about to happen.

“Please, take a seat,” said General Maeng.

One of the eunuchs, with a voice sitting somewhere between male and female, glanced at me and asked, “Hmm? And who’s this child?”

“Ah, this is the young hero who captured a Blood Cult commander,” General Maeng explained.

But the eunuch’s voice sharpened.

“You’re saying you didn’t lock up a criminal in the dungeon, but kept him here?”

“You seem to be misunderstanding something, Chief Eunuch,” General Maeng replied, calm as ever. “The only criminal is the woman from the Blood Cult. This young man is the one who captured her. In fact, to be precise, he brought in the mastermind behind the ambush on Her Highness the Princess. If anything, he should be rewarded, not treated like a criminal.”

That’s right! You tell them, Elder!

As General Maeng said, if anything, I deserved a commendation—not this nonsense about being detained.

But the eunuch insisted, “Still, since the matter hasn’t been thoroughly investigated, isn’t he to be treated as a criminal for now?”

What the hell!? What happened to presumption of innocence!?

Of course, this world was based on ancient China—presuming innocence wasn’t a thing.

I must’ve had a dumbfounded look on my face, because General Maeng gave a sly grin and said:

“You mean to take the sole son-in-law of the Sichuan Tang family to the dungeon and torture him? If that happens, I won’t even be able to drink a drop of water starting tomorrow. But by all means, if you insist, you may take him and interrogate him yourself, Chief Eunuch.”

“S-Sichuan Tang family’s son-in-law!?”

The eunuch’s face turned to panic.

And frankly, so did mine.

Was he seriously offering me up for torture!?

Even as a joke, come on...

Still smiling, General Maeng continued:

“But if you do take the Tang family’s son-in-law—who has committed no crime—and torture him, then from tomorrow onward, not only should you watch what you eat, but you’d best be careful even when you breathe. You know full well what that family is capable of. If they so choose, they can make a man drop dead without anyone knowing why.”

At those words, the eunuch Chief—“Zhang-in Taegam”—snapped.

–Crack!

“Oof!”

“Why wasn’t this reported to me!?”

“S-sorry! That information didn’t reach us either...”

“If the Imperial Guard knows something, why don’t we!? This is unacceptable!”

Apparently, the Dongchang hadn’t known I was the Tang family’s son-in-law.

And judging by his expression, the eunuch was about ready to kill someone over that fact.

General Maeng quickly jumped in to ease the tension and made introductions.

“Come now, let’s all calm down and begin with formal introductions.

Young Hero So, this is Chief Eunuch Wi Chung-heon, head of the Dongchang. And next to him is Yoo Heon, from the Department of Carriages. Gentlemen, this is So-ryong—son-in-law of the Sichuan Tang family and son of the Southern Barbarian Beast Palace Lord.”

“Ah, pleasure to meet you. I’m So-ryong, son-in-law of the Tang family and son of the Beast Palace.”

“Well, well. Son of the Beast Palace too? Pleased to meet you. I’m Wi Chung-heon.”

His voice was now warm, his gaze gentle—not at all like before.

Then, as soon as he finished greeting me, Wi Chung-heon turned to Yoo Heon with a death glare.

–Grit.

“You didn’t know this either, did you? When this is over, gather every last one of the Dongchang. I won’t let a single soul off the hook. How dare the Imperial Guard know things we don’t—how humiliating...”

Clearly, the Dongchang couldn’t tolerate being behind their rivals in intelligence, even within the secret police.

Of course, General Maeng only knew because of his personal relationship with me.

I looked at him.

He was grinning like a mischievous kid.

His son was also grinning ear to ear.

They seemed absolutely delighted by the sight of their rivals getting scolded in person.

“Come now, let’s leave the blame for later. We’re all here for the same reason, are we not? Let’s put our heads together and talk.”

“The same reason?” I blurted out.

General Maeng nodded and looked to Wi Chung-heon for confirmation.

“This is an internal palace matter, but since this young man captured a key member of the Blood Cult, I believe it’s appropriate to discuss it with him here.

After all, he shares our goal of eradicating the Blood Cult and the Five Venoms Sect. ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) He may know things we don’t.”

The two eunuchs exchanged glances and nodded.

“As long as you vow never to speak of this outside these walls.”

“Of course.”

“Very well. Then let’s begin.”

“Yes. First, we must establish why our goals align—only then can we truly cooperate.”

They were both heads of elite secret police organizations, and it showed. The conversation was highly structured and precise.

General Maeng’s son—one of the top figures in the Imperial Guard—began the explanation.

“We confirmed through the woman captured by this young man, the one who led the Bloodshade Unit, that Еunuch Heo is connected to the Five Venoms Sect, which now acts as a front for the Blood Cult.

I assume you both know the Bloodshade Unit was the intelligence wing of the Blood Cult during the chaos twenty years ago?”

“We do.”

“Additionally, Young Hero So informed Commander Ak that the Five Venoms Sect has absorbed the Blood Cult entirely. We at the Imperial Guard believe  Еunuch Heo is a serious threat to His Majesty, and we were preparing to eliminate him.”

The two eunuchs nodded at that.

But surprisingly, it wasn’t Wi Chung-heon who replied—it was Yoo Heon, the one who got slapped.

“From the Dongchang’s perspective, even if Еunuch Heo and the woman he brought into the palace aren’t affiliated with the Five Venoms Sect—it doesn’t matter.

Our position is the same. They must be eliminated.”

“...What?”

Еunuch Do had no hesitation speaking of quietly erasing Еunuch Heo.

He explained why he had to eliminate the man.

“The hierarchy among eunuchs is paramount. And during the emperor’s procession, he dared to disrespect me, then took it upon himself to escort His Majesty to his own brothel.

Furthermore, within the Naemyeongbu hierarchy, he keeps pushing the woman he brought in into His Majesty’s bedchambers—causing immense unrest among the other consorts and concubines.

So whether or not he and this ‘Baek Beauty’ are with the Five Venoms Sect, they must be. This isn’t just Dongchang’s decision—it’s also a request from the madams themselves.”

Once again, like during the whole affair with the princess, it was clear—secrets in the palace get people killed.

Earlier, when they casually said, “Just don’t speak of it,” I figured it wasn’t a big deal.

But now?

Who in their right mind would dare repeat this outside?

This imperial palace stuff... it’s terrifying.

I shuddered at Еunuch Yoo’s blunt words.

That’s when General Maeng’s son spoke up again with his usual calm demeanor.

“I understand your point. But rather than fabricating crimes, it’s better to confirm the facts.

Young Hero So, are you certain that woman is the Bloodshade Unit commander?”

“I captured and interrogated her myself.”

“Any chance she lied?”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“None. We used a poison that forces confession—twice for cross-verification.

Moreover, she’s practiced Blood Cult martial arts. Her elevated blood pressure and internal qi patterns are unmistakable—undeniable proof.”

“Then it’s solid,” the eunuchs nodded, visibly reassured.

At the mention that she confessed under Tang Clan poison, trust sparked in both the eunuchs and the Maengs.

However, there was still something that bothered me, so I voiced it.

“I don’t know whether this ‘Baek Beauty’ is with the Five Venoms Sect or not.”

I knew Еunuch Heo was with them—but not her.

Even though they seemed ready to condemn her regardless, I couldn’t help but mention it.

The eunuchs exchanged glances and gave a look as if to say, You sweet summer child.

“You’re worried about wrongly accusing an innocent woman.

But she’s already committed a grave crime, violating the hierarchy of the Naemyeongbu.

The Empress, when alive, extended grace and kindness even to the other concubines.

This woman, on the other hand, ignored the other consorts just because she held the emperor’s favor.

That alone warrants punishment.

And if Еunuch Heo is truly with the Five Venoms Sect, she won’t live long either way.”

Fair enough.

Even if she wasn’t involved, nobody would believe she wasn’t.

Before I could say more, General Maeng’s son looked to the eunuchs and asked:

“Since this was requested by the madams themselves... will Dongchang handle it?”

“If you’ll let us, Dongchang will never forget this gesture,” one eunuch replied.

I tilted my head, a bit confused about this whole “gesture” between Dongchang and the Imperial Guard.

That’s when General Maeng’s voice reached me through sound transmission:

[“The madams asked Dongchang to handle it, so for the sake of face, they need to be the ones to clean it up.

By yielding to them here, we gain a favor from them. It’s a worthwhile trade.”]

Politics... so damn complicated.

I prefer simplicity.

Just as I was thinking that, the two secret agencies finalized their deal.

“Then we’ll hand over the woman. And as for Young Hero So—he’ll be excluded from this matter to avoid complications.”

“Indeed. We don’t want His Majesty suddenly ordering his son-in-law to be interrogated.”

“Would you care what happens to the Blood Cult woman?”

“As long as she’s given a clean death, I have no issue.”

“Understood.”

The discussion ended swiftly.

Soon, the Blood Cult’s commander—Nanhwa—was dragged from the dungeon and handed over to Dongchang.

***

While things were being sorted, I stayed in the office.

By midday the next day, Dongchang Chief Wi Chung-heon, General Maeng, and his son burst into the room—ashen-faced.

I was napping on a long bench and nearly jumped out of my skin.

“So-So-ryong!”

“Young Hero So!”

“Good heavens!”

Their voices echoed in panic as they all shouted in unison:

“Young Hero So! Something terrible has happened!

That Blood Cult commander—she’s dead!”

“What!?”

“Just before questioning began, she suddenly clutched her stomach in agony—her abdomen burst open and she died! Do you know anything about this?”

“Wait... could it be...?”

“You know something?”

At the mention of her stomach exploding, something clicked—Yin-Yang Twin Parasites.

I had heard of it from Nanhwa herself and from Cheong-yu.

Twin parasites that enhance martial power and act as a loyalty failsafe.

When one is captured or betrays the sect, the pair detonates internally.

If one dies, so does the other.

Clearly, the Five Venoms Sect—or what remained of the Blood Cult within it—knew she had been captured and remotely triggered it.

They probably anticipated her capture and had the trap in place.

This has become way more complicated...

“The Blood Cult, now absorbed by the Five Venoms Sect, implanted her with the Twin Parasites.

They must’ve realized she was captured and triggered it.”

“Damn it! Now the evidence is gone!”

“This could backfire! Еunuch Yoo, the one who reported Еunuch Heo, could lose his head!”

According to Еunuch Wi, it could now look like Еunuch Yoo filed a false report out of jealousy.

Everyone sat there, speechless—trying to come up with a solution.

Two hours passed, but no one had any ideas.

As we glanced at one another in silent desperation, General Maeng’s son sighed in frustration.

“If only Her Highness the Princess were here... we could ask her to alert His Majesty to Еunuch Heo’s danger.

At this point, only Heaven’s intervention can save us...”

Bringing the princess in now would mean risking Еunuch Yoo’s life.

There’s got to be another way...

Wait. Heaven’s intervention?

That word sparked a memory—an old legend.

“Elders. I may have an idea. What if... we did this?”

“You have a plan?”

“I do...”

I explained it to them in a hushed voice.

All three men stared at me in disbelief.

“You can really do that?”

I gave them a little taste—just enough to prove it.

Their faces lit up in amazement.

“This—this will definitely work!”

“No one could possibly question it after this!”

“Absolutely brilliant!”

The three of them were overwhelmed with admiration.

And it made sense—it was the kind of thing kings could never ignore.

Plans began forming.

Details followed.

A strategy was born.