Freeze

The sun rose, and morning came.

Jegal Gil's group thought today would be another busy day investigating the incident.

However,

"The investigation is over. Everyone, prepare to return to the Alliance."

"What? But why so soon..."

The group, who had naturally assumed they would stay for a few more days, couldn't help but be flustered.

They suggested staying one more day, saying they hadn't even recovered from their journey, but Jegal Gil firmly shook his head.

"We've finished our business here, so it's right that we don't overstay our welcome and return quickly. If you want to rest, do so after we get back to the Alliance."

"Sigh. Yes, yes. Who could argue with the Investigator? Well, you heard him everyone? Let's hurry."

Knowing Jegal Gil's personality better than anyone, the group quickly prepared to leave without further complaint.

"Hmm? You're leaving already?"

In the Peng Family's main hall.

Peng Mugang asked with a puzzled expression.

Jegal Gil nodded in response.

"Yes. The investigation is finished, and there's nothing more to learn, so what's the point in staying longer? We have other work to do back at the Alliance."

"Hmm. Is that so?"

Peng Mugang stared at Jegal Gil for a moment before nodding.

"Well, I understand. Then have a safe journey."

"Yes, Family Head. It was an honor to meet you."

With that, Jegal Gil finished his farewell and walked outside.

Peng Seo-jin was waiting for him outside.

"Why are you leaving in such a hurry? It would have been nice if you had rested for at least a day."

"That's what I'm saying."

One of Jegal Gil's companions grumbled in response to Peng Seo-jin's words.

Jegal Gil smiled slightly and said,

"You've been a great help throughout the investigation, Young Master. I hope you stay healthy until we meet again."

Jegal Gil expressed his sincere gratitude.

Peng Seo-jin smiled back and nodded.

"Oh, I didn't do much. You've worked hard. Have a safe journey."

Soon after, Jegal Gil and his group left the Peng Family compound and walked for a while before he suddenly looked back.

He could see 'him' watching from afar.

Jegal Gil gave a light bow in that direction before continuing on his way.

They had a long journey ahead.

But his expression still seemed somewhat complicated.

As if he still hadn't made up his mind.

Hmm.

Yeo Un-hwi, watching Jegal Gil and his group depart from a distance, seemed lost in thought.

In the Murim Alliance Leader's chamber.

"You've returned earlier than expected. Well? Were there any results?"

"After investigation, we found nothing different from what was already known."

"Hmm, is that so?"

The Murim Alliance Leader, Song Il-do, nodded at Jegal Gil's report.

"If you say so, then it must be. I understand. Good work. You may go."

"Yes."

Jegal Gil briefly made eye contact with his brother, Jegal Mun, before leaving the chamber.

"...So in the end, the Scholar Forest Group sacrificed themselves fighting those vicious Demonic Cult bastards."

Soon, the Murim Alliance Elders present began to comment, their faces filled with regret.

"Alas. How pitiful and admirable those young ones were."

"The future, the precious talents who would have supported our Orthodox Martial World, have left us far too soon. It's truly regrettable. So regrettable."

Song Il-do, hearing the Elders' words, also let out a deep sigh.

"We must remember the name of the Scholar Forest Group for a long time to come. Despite their young age, they have become a model for the Orthodox Martial World."

"Yes! Alliance Leader."

Everyone bowed their heads in response to Song Il-do's words.

Meanwhile, only the Murim Alliance's Chief Strategist, Jegal Mun, was looking towards where his brother had disappeared with a puzzled expression.

And a short while later, Jegal Mun headed towards the room where his brother Jegal Gil was staying.

"Brother."

"You must have had a difficult journey."

"Not at all."

"By the way, Gil. Is it true? That there were no other facts different from what we knew?"

Jegal Mun, who had lightly patted his brother's shoulder, got to the point.

He thought there must have been something else to this incident.

That's why he had specifically recommended his brother Jegal Gil for this investigation.

"Of course, I don't doubt your investigation, but I find it a bit questionable. Did the Scholar Forest Group really fight the Black Kill Squad to mutual destruction?"

Jegal Mun asked, looking directly into his brother's eyes.

Jegal Gil nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"Surprisingly, it was true, Brother. And I didn't find any other circumstances beyond that."

"Is that so."

"Yes. Also, since time had passed, there wasn't much investigation we could do. That's why we returned early."

After staring into his brother's eyes for a long time in response to Jegal Gil's answer, Jegal Mun eventually nodded.

"I see. If you say so, then it must be. Alright. I'll take your word for it. Good work."

"Not at all. There wasn't much work to speak of."

"Haha, you rascal. Well then, get some rest. Let's have a meal together soon."

"Yes, Brother."

Soon after, Jegal Mun left the room.

As soon as he did, a deep sigh escaped Jegal Gil's lips.

'I've gone mad. Completely mad.'

Cracks appeared on his usually stoic face.

It was the first time.

Lying to his brother, that is.

He had done it with the determination not to be caught, but it still didn't sit well with him.

However,

'I'm sorry, Brother. I have no choice.'

What he was about to do from now on was a very dangerous task.

It wasn't something he could carelessly involve his brother Jegal Mun in.

Soon, Jegal Gil slowly got up and pressed a certain part of one wall in his room.

Then, a section that had looked like an ordinary wall opened, revealing several bundles of papers.

These were Jegal Gil's investigations into the corruption of several Murim Alliance Elders.

One of them contained evidence that could cause tremendous aftershocks.

It was a record of circumstances showing that one of the Murim Alliance Elders was selling top-secret information to the Demonic Alliance.

That person was none other than Jang Cheong, the Chief Elder of the Murim Alliance.

Who would believe it?

The fact that the Murim Alliance began to slowly deteriorate after he became the Chief Elder, a man known as one of the most respected elders in the Murim Alliance.

Jegal Gil judged him to be the very evil that needed to be removed from the Murim Alliance.

But this alone wasn't enough.

He needed something more definitive.

If he exposed this prematurely, he would only end up being marked.

And this rotten-to-the-core Murim Alliance would continue rolling on as if nothing had happened.

So he had been secluding himself to gather more perfect evidence. But no matter what he did, he couldn't see a way forward.

That's how formidable an opponent Jang Cheong was.

Hoo...

Jegal Gil placed the bundles of papers he had collected so far on the desk and examined them one by one.

The road ahead was still far too long.

At least, following the current method.

Then what should he do...

At that moment,

"Oh ho. I never imagined you'd hide it there."

"Wh-Who's there!"

Startled by the sudden voice from behind, Jegal Gil tried to turn his head, but,

Tap. Tap tap.

'Oh no!'

In the moment he had completely let his guard down, his acupoints were sealed.

Now Jegal Gil could neither speak nor move his body.

He had been careless, thinking such a thing couldn't happen inside the Murim Alliance.

"Welcome back from your long journey, friend."

Jegal Gil's eyes widened.

The intruder was a colleague who had become an investigator at the same time as him.

Moreover, it was someone he considered a friend close enough to occasionally share his worries with.

'How! You!'

Jegal Gil glared at him with eyes full of disbelief and anger.

"Now, now, don't look at me like that."

The other man was grinning with an utterly shameless face.

As if mocking Jegal Gil for considering him a friend.

"You think I'm doing this because I want to? If you hadn't mentioned that useless investigation of yours, this wouldn't have happened. I've been the Chief Elder's man from the start."

He knew there were the Elder's people here and there in the Murim Alliance, but to think that one of the few people Jegal Gil trusted was the Chief Elder's man.

It was truly infuriating.

He had been foolish.

He shouldn't have trusted anyone.

"Unfortunately, you're going to die from overwork today. You'll die from suffocation after having a seizure in your sleep."

The man took something out from his breast pocket.

"This is a paralysis poison that will briefly paralyze your mouth and throat. Of course, it's such a small amount that it won't be detected even if they investigate later."

The man was cackling, finding something very amusing.

"Of course, your brother will be very sad. Heh heh. The thought of that smug face of his looking gloomy makes me very happy."

He laughed darkly.

"But don't worry. Actually, your brother doesn't have much time left either. It seems they plan to deal with him before the year is out. They're planning to use a terrible poison to make him waste away slowly, I believe? Hehehe."

Seeing the utterly wicked side of someone he had believed to be a friend until now, and hearing about his brother, Jegal Gil felt like crying tears of blood.

How could these trash call themselves part of the Orthodox faction! How! These bastards!

"Nggghhhh...!"

Though he couldn't make a sound and his body wouldn't move at all, Jegal Gil trembled with rage.

"Hehehe! Truth is, I really disliked you. Your holier-than-thou attitude, acting all high and mighty all the time, it was truly disgusting. Do you know how happy I am that I get to deal with you with my own hands? Hm?"

I considered you a true friend. Sincerely.

Feeling extreme anger and despair at the betrayal, Jegal Gil slowly closed his eyes.

It was all over. Who could he trust now?

It seemed he couldn't trust anyone anymore.

'Become cunning. Like a snake. More than the villains.'

Suddenly, he remembered words someone had said to him.

And then that person's face.

Yes. Perhaps he could trust that person.

Ah. Ah. That's what he should have done.

But it was too late now. For everything.

Tears streamed down Jegal Gil's face as he faced death.

Why did I only realize this fact when everything was about to end! Why!

"Are you crying? Hahaha! So even the great Investigator Jegal Gil is afraid of death. Hehehe!"

The man, who had been laughing for a while, finally stopped.

"But... now it's no longer fun, so let's end this."

The man slowly brought the prepared poison to Jegal Gil's mouth.

At that moment,

"Freeze."

"Wh-Who...!"

The man who was about to administer the poison to Jegal Gil turned around in shock.

In that instant,

Tap tap tap.

He too had his acupoints sealed.

He had received exactly the same treatment he had given to Jegal Gil.

The man who had just appeared there grinned.

"Me? The person trash like you fear the most."

Jegal Gil's eyes widened as he watched this.

Why was that person here...?

It was unbelievable.

It was Yeo Un-hwi.