When the Black Moon Rises - Side Story 7
Side Story 7
The Left State Councillor’s confidant left the residence before dawn with the men under his command.
To complete the task while the capital was still in disarray, they had to hurry, even without a direct order from the Left State Councillor.
He divided his subordinates into groups of two or three and instructed them,
“Go throughout the capital and spread the rumors again. You must also mention Minister Jung’s death and make it as sensational as possible.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Finish the task by the late morning, and return by late afternoon at the latest to… the residence tonight…”
“But, sir…”
One of the subordinates approached quietly, his eyes gleaming. His left earlobe was split, likely from an old sword wound.
“We will carry out your orders without fail, but we've done a lot for you, sir. Why aren't you keeping your promise? It’s about time you shared even a sliver of that deathly energy with us.”
“What?”
“Isn’t that right? If it weren’t for that promise, would we have handed over the deathly energy so readily? Even ignorant fools like us know how auspicious it is.”
“You said you would ask the Left State Councillor, but there’s been no word. We’re so frustrated…”
“Stop whining like women. The Left State Councillor wants Minister Jung’s daughter to come to him willingly. How can I trust you with important tasks if you act like you've accomplished something just by completing a few steps without any results?!”
“The Left State Councillor is not one to break a promise. He said he would give it to us, and he will, so if you can't wait patiently and only complain, then leave!”
The subordinate bowed his head at his words.
However, his expression was still full of discontent.
The confidant tried to appease him.
Killing this man wouldn’t be difficult, but he still had a lot to do, and losing manpower would only make things more troublesome.
“Just be patient a little longer. The Left State Councillor will soon…”
Just then, officials began approaching from afar. The Left State Councillor’s confidant signaled his subordinates and quickly hid between the walls.
Fortunately, they weren't coming for them; it seemed they were posting notices.
As if worried someone might miss it, the officials meticulously pasted the notices every twenty paces. Then, still holding a stack of papers, they disappeared.
As the Left State Councillor's confidant and his subordinates waited to make sure the officials were completely gone, someone passing by stopped in front of a notice and examined its contents.
Then, as if confused, tilted their head.
“A joint Funeral…?”
By midday, most of the people in the capital had uttered that strange phrase at least once.
Some were moved by it.
“Oh my. To think they’re including us in the state funeral for the late Queen and Crown Prince.”
“But is that allowed? This has never happened before… And Minister Jung’s name is there, too. He really did pass away.”
“…Indeed. Despite the rumors, I thought he had simply run away, afraid of the rain ritual.”
“But why a joint Funeral all of a sudden? They already took our families’ bodies to the Lake of Blood; what are we supposed to use for the rites now?”
“Well, they say there are still corpses everywhere outside the capital. Perhaps that’s what it means.”
“But they were all cleared away after the rain.”
“No, you need to read it to the end. It says we should bring an item frequently used by the deceased.”
“An item? Are they replacing the bodies with items? I’ll have to look for something.”
As everyone murmured while reading the notice, someone spoke in a harsh voice. It was the well-built man with the split earlobe.
“Are you all going along with this? I don’t like the look of it.”
“What’s wrong?”
“They forcibly took our bodies and threw them into that blood lake, claiming the disaster was to blame, and now they think we’ll be grateful to be included in the state funeral with the Queen and Crown Prince? And Minister Jung, too. They called him a criminal and wanted to hang him, and now they’re offering a Funeral? What a joke.”
“Are you crazy? The palace gates are right there; do you want everyone to hear you?!”
“Did I say anything wrong? They took my mother's body by force, and I couldn’t even see her face one last time. And now what? They’ll hold a Funeral if we bring an item she used? I don’t need a state funeral; just give me back my mother’s body! I’ll bury her myself in a sunny spot.”
“Even so, you can’t…”
The surrounding people nervously looked around, worried about any passing officials.
However, the memory of the devastating drought was still a painful one, and those who had lost loved ones didn't want to contradict the man’s outburst.
In the end, everyone dispersed from in front of the notice with expressions of indifference.
‘Yeah, he’s right. If they want to hold a Funeral, let them. What’s the big deal?’
Their lack of interest was palpable.
The Left State Councillor's confidant, hidden from view, observed the scene, his expression still dark despite things unfolding as planned.
‘But why a Funeral all of a sudden? And intentionally including Minister Jung's name in the notice feels odd. Could it be… His Majesty’s intervention?’
His Majesty would surely be aware of the rumors surrounding the Minister's daughter. Considering he had even visited her residence personally, it wasn’t an entirely unreasonable guess.
Otherwise, why would His Majesty suddenly change the state funeral, scheduled for a month later, into a Funeral and include Minister Jung?
‘I must report this immediately.’
Meanwhile, his subordinate with the split earlobe was infiltrating another group, stirring up further outrage.
Having confirmed this, the confidant quietly turned into a side street. He hurried towards his master.
And there were others watching him from the shadows, their eyes narrowed.
Swift footsteps silently followed the confidant.
Taverns were the first places to bustle with activity after the rain came and the land revived.
While the crops, ripened by the shining rain, filled people’s bellies, there were those who diligently harvested them and immediately began brewing liquor.
This tavern was owned by one such person.
Thus, it attracted those who were finally able to mourn the deaths of their loved ones and those who, while surviving the long drought, had lost their livelihoods.
For those desperately seeking someone to blame, Seong Ik-gwon and Jung Chihwa were convenient targets.
And in a corner of that tavern sat a man in an ash-grey robe.
The man’s target wasn’t those pouring their anger towards the King into their drinks. He was watching those who approached such people, eagerly agreeing with them or pushing their words to extremes.
After observing quietly, he would occasionally pick out the most fervent ones and take them behind the tavern. Nine times out of ten, they would turn out to be the Left State Councillor’s subordinates.
“You should have just killed that bastard right there. Why did you let him go so easily?”
The one speaking was one of the butchers who had reported the Left State Councillor’s actions. This man, called Deok-gil, had been tracking the kidnapped people for a long time.
“He won’t be able to report back to his master in that state, so be content. We need to focus on our objective. If we lose those we need to catch because of your impatience, will you take responsibility?”
“I’m just anxious, thinking about what might have happened to those who were taken.”
“Don’t be so hasty. Haste makes waste. The more urgent the situation, the calmer you must be.”
The man, who had just recently made a rather embarrassing escape from Jung Chihwa, quietly sipped his drink as he answered.
“But, um…”
“A-Ahem. I meant to say, ‘we,’ Your Highness.”
The man chuckled, noticing the man’s gaze.
“But, Your Highness, is it really alright for me to be sitting here so openly? Butchers aren't supposed to be in places like this. What if someone sees me? I’ll wait in the back like before.”
“It’s fine. It’s darkest under the lamp.”
“When will Palbong return?”
“He’ll be back when he’s finished his task.”
“...”
“What is it? Is there something you want to say?”
“…I still can’t believe it. I was surprised when I thought you were a nobleman associating with butchers, but to think you’re actually Prince Yeong…”
“I told you not to mention it.”
Every time Deok-gil expressed his amazement, the man would stop him, but there was no sincerity in his voice.
‘It always works.’
Whenever he needed to allay the fears and boost the morale of those he worked with, especially when dealing with someone of high status, he would dust off his discarded title and pretend to have accidentally revealed his identity.
He felt no shame in this contrived act.
Not only did things become easier every time he brought up the name “Prince Yeong,” but he also gained looks of admiration, respect, and awe, as if a person of such high standing was helping them with their task.
‘This is what they call killing two birds with one stone, isn’t it? It’s only possible because the fact that I ran away from the palace and am considered dead isn’t widely known. Well, as long as I don't get caught, it’s all good.’
Just then, amidst the rising voices of resentment, Prince Yeong noticed someone whispering.
“About that thing from the other day… how much did they say they would pay for it?”
“Hmm? What? Oh my. You had one?”
“Just tell me how much you’ll pay for it.”
The other person’s voice dropped to an even more cautious whisper.
“Well, I don’t know exactly. But they said to bring whatever we find, and they’d pay handsomely. I received this much last time…”
“Wh-What? That much? They pay that much?”
“Yeah. That’s the smallest one, so bring what you have.”
“Alright. I’ll bring it tonight, so wait for me.”
Someone drained their drink in one gulp and stood up with a cheerful expression. The other person also finished off the remaining liquor and left shortly after.
Watching them leave, the butcher gestured to someone outside the tavern and asked in a low voice,
“Is what they were talking about just now the fragments of the Black Dragon, Your Highness? I hear about them a lot, especially when I'm following the Left State Councillor’s men.”
“...”
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