Chapter 72
The new recruit training ended around that time.
Gongjun said he had explained everything necessary and asked if I had any more questions.
I was about to say no, but then something occurred to me, so I asked just one more.
“Since we already have fans and springs, why isn’t there a steam engine?”
It seemed like the senior Haitai members had gone to great lengths to bring objects from their previous lives. I was curious because it didn’t seem like this world was significantly influenced by them. Could this be another restriction?
“Ah, that,” Gongjun said with a chuckle and explained.
“There’s no engineer among the Haitai.”
“Oh.”
“The spring was just luck, and the white wind machine made by a Haitai from Korea is the most sophisticated machine. Unfortunately, everyone else specializes in chemistry and water, so even making a single mirror involved countless trials and errors.”
Clearly, there were no science majors among the Haitai. I never thought I’d end up apologizing for being in the humanities even after reincarnation.
After satisfying the new recruit’s curiosity, Gongjun reheated the tea and spoke to Ma Heera.
“Heera, how’s Gamseokdo these days?”
It was an information exchange between two Haitai. I straightened up to learn how the seniors conversed.
“It’s still noisy. Too many merchants, lots of tourists. It’s a place where greed runs rampant,” Ma Heera sighed. Despite its material wealth, it seemed quite harsh for the Haitai to live there due to the pervasive stench.
“Anything special? Ah, I heard someone secretly reported something to the court. Do you know anything about it?”
“I don’t.”
“….”
“No, violence is out. If it was a secret report, then only a few would be involved at court, right? That would require Hong Jae-sang’s approval! And he wouldn’t show any sign!”
“Exactly. Better to put it that way to avoid anger.”
Heera lowered her hands, and Gongjun breathed a sigh of relief.
“Do you have any information to share?”
“Information? Hmm.”
Crossing his arms, Gongjun rolled his round eyes and said casually,
“One of the elders of the Hong family recently died.”
I hadn’t expected another Haitai to know about Hong Jaeyoung.
“Was he the one you were keeping an eye on?”
“Yes, that person.”
“Why an elder of the Hong family?”
“You don’t know?”
No, I knew too well. But the panda in front of me, unaware, explained about Hong Jaeyoung.
“He was one of the top five stinking people in this capital.”
“Oh.”
I thought so. No wonder his stench was unusually strong. Clearly, even the Haitai living in the capital had taken notice early on.
“The stench was so bad that whenever a Haitai child was born, they kept them away from him. Otherwise, they’d destroy the house. He’d always cause trouble—out of anger!”
“And the one who caused the major incident? That’s him.”
“Ah, Heera!”
Apparently, Gongjun had seen Hong Jaeyoung up close when he was nine. The stench drove him mad, and he destroyed a perfectly fine wall. Fortunately, his identity wasn’t discovered. The former owner of Manwol Bookstore quickly took him away after realizing it was a child Haitai causing the mischief.
“Gongjun, may I ask your age?”
“Me? Twenty-nine.”
“So the stench has been rampant for twenty years?”
“Yes. Incredible, right? It worsened every year. That’s why I was gathering evidence of corruption to clean him up, but the more I found, the more there was.”
It was just as Huirok had said. He truly was remarkable, though in a bad way.
“I wondered if I should stop, but then other crimes might go unnoticed or victims left without help. So I kept gathering evidence…”
Then suddenly, news came that he was imprisoned, followed by his abrupt death. They hadn’t expected things to end so futilely.
“Well, I suppose he died well.”
Surprisingly cold-hearted.
“Even if punished, powerful people rarely get proper justice.”
“This Hong family member actively supported the death penalty.”
“Even if the sentence is severe, it doesn’t help much. Victims might feel safe temporarily, but fear remains. Powerful people find ways to escape. That fear isn’t unfounded.”
Gongjun said firmly,
“I don’t like that. Someone as evil as a Hong elder is better off gone from this world.”
His cute face made the statement feel even more terrifying.
Ma Heera didn’t say anything, seemingly respecting the opinion even if she couldn’t fully agree. Gongjun didn’t press further and only mentioned how to proceed.
“I plan to naturally reveal the evidence I’ve collected. Then Hong Jae-sang can clean up afterward.”
“Be careful not to be discovered.”
“Of course.”
It seemed Hong Jaeyoung’s matter would end there.
“But why did he die?”
Before Gongjun asked, frowning and puzzled, I raised my hand.
“That person overused life force through magical contracts, so he just… ran out.”
Natural death. Self-inflicted, as they say!
Gongjun and Heera turned to me in surprise, wondering how I knew.
After thinking it through, I realized it was safe to share this info with the Haitai, except for the crown prince and Huirok’s personal matters. I carefully explained:
“Unregistered high-level sorcerer?”
Hearing the full story, the Haitai were appalled.
“Where did such a villain appear?”
“Or maybe we just didn’t notice. Gong family, send letters to all Haitai across the nation. Report any unsolved cases or strange incidents.”
“I’ll start by reading the accumulated records at Manwol Bookstore. There might be things we missed, as Heera said.”
Despite the shock, they methodically decided the next steps. Once the discussion ended, they seemed to regard me with great admiration.
“Clearly, as a lady of a major Odae family, the quality of information she handles is different.”
“Indeed. She’s quite a treasure. I’d like to meet her often. Are you staying in the capital long?”
I shook my head.
“I’m here only for the crown prince’s birthday celebration.”
“So you’ll return soon?”
“Yes. We need to prepare for the wedding.”
“Ah, congratulations. Creating a family is wonderful.”
I thanked them and bowed, promising to send letters even if I couldn’t attend every meeting.
Gongjun lost interest in Hong Jaeyoung.
Leaving the dead to Hong Jae-sang, he focused on other villains. I began to understand why the former owner of Manwol Bookstore had chosen him as successor. Ruthless if needed, precise and decisive—very Haitai-like.
I continued hearing stories of corrupt officials from my two seniors. One gathered more evidence, another investigated different regions’ Haitai.
“At least with the new Public Safety Agency, things are a bit better.”
I perked up at this.
“Previously, even minor crimes had to be handled personally. Now the agency filters some of it.”
Should I brag or not? I couldn’t resist.
“I proposed the Public Safety Agency!”
“What?”
I quickly added, “I only proposed it; the adults established the actual laws and system.”
“Ah! The head of the Hyun family strongly pushed for it, right?”
Gongjun was wide-eyed, surprised.
“Could you explain from the beginning? This is bigger than it seems.”
I drank tea and explained why I devised the agency and involved my grandmother. Gongjun stared as if looking at a rare, extraordinary specimen.
“Do you remember we said that the more good deeds we do, the more power we gain?”
“Yes?”
“There are two kinds of good deeds. One is one-time, immediately rewarded. The other spreads lasting positive influence. Small increments that accumulate continuously.”
I clearly belonged to the latter. The Public Safety Agency would generate ongoing merit.
“Usually, it’s invisible. If someone just designed it like you, only about 0.01% credit at most.”
A mere speck. But as they say, many specks make a mountain.
“The agency is nationwide.”
“Right.”
“When the scope covers the entire country, even tiny merit isn’t negligible.”
Gongjun said I was accumulating mountain-like merit.
“You said your physical growth has stopped.”
“Yes, I won’t grow any further.”
“Then where will all that merit go?”
“….”
“Have you ever felt that your power is overwhelming or that villains seem insignificant, like ants?”
Many times. I couldn’t even count. Thinking back on all the rigorous strength-control training, I smiled in serenity.
Ma Heera, sipping her tea quietly, remarked,
“The strongest Haitai was right before our eyes.”
I realized I wasn’t just a decently strong pup—I was a ridiculously strong pup.
