MBCH 39

Chapter 39……………………………………..

Yoshihara cackled, convinced of his victory.

{I knew it—you’re a rebellious Joseon native! Daring to carry a gun as a mere Korean…. No more excuses now!}

His voice thick with rage, Yoshihara kept the barrel trained on Dowoon even after hearing his own name called.

Gone was the superficial politeness he had shown before; he now spoke in crude, informal tones.

But there wasn’t a trace of tension on Dowoon’s face. If anything, he looked annoyed—almost bored.

{Inspector Yoshihara, was it?}

{Today’s the last day you’ll wriggle around like a loach, you Korean.}

{Wriggle around? Wasn’t it you who secretly followed an innocent man walking peacefully down the street?}

{Don’t play dumb! What innocent Korean carries a gun? And I caught you lurking around the residential district of imperial citizens like a rat!}

Yoshihara bared his teeth threateningly, but Dowoon remained unshaken. He let out a small, incredulous laugh.

{Y-you’re laughing? You-}

{Ah, it’s just so absurd.}

{How dare you speak casually to a police officer of the Great Japanese Empire!}

{Weren’t you the one who dropped the formalities first?}

There was no reason to show courtesy to someone who offered none.

{And I’m no rat. After tailing me all this way, this is all you’ve got? What’s so remarkable about carrying a gun?}

{Shut up! This proves you’re a rebellious Korean!}

{You’ve made a mistake. This gun was licensed by the homeland.}

Dowoon twisted the pistol to show its side so Yoshihara could see. The seal of the Governor-General’s Office was engraved there.

Yoshihara’s pupils trembled violently at the sight.

{H-how…?}

{Unlike you, I enjoy the trust of the Governor-General’s Office.}

Speaking in deliberate indifference, Dowoon let out a silent sigh of relief.

This wasn’t the untraceable gun Rita had given him a few days ago.

“Whatever are you doing?”

“Just a moment. Wait. Aha.”

“Jackpot.”

The gun pointed at Yoshihara was the one Dowoon had taken after knocking out a constable on the train to Sinuiju—the constable’s gun, bearing the Governor-General’s seal.

Of course, unaware of that fact, Yoshihara had no choice but to believe Dowoon possessed an officially licensed firearm.

{I-I never heard that you had an authorized gun…}

{Strange. The higher-ups were informed. Did you not hear? Ah—perhaps they didn’t bother telling you?}

At Dowoon’s calm words, Yoshihara’s face flushed red and blue.

It had been a probing remark, but apparently mentioning the “higher-ups” had struck a nerve. So he must have done something to fall out of favor.

Smirking, Dowoon pressed the attack.

{Or perhaps you’ve lost their trust? So you’re trying to pin this flimsy evidence on me?}

{Shut up, you Korean! Shut up!}

{Seems I hit the mark. I’m merely a loyal businessman serving the homeland. And even if you arrest me, it won’t erase the fact that you’ve fallen from favor, Inspector.}

{You insolent-!}

Enraged, Yoshihara released the gun’s safety as if he had lost his mind. It was a clear threat—he would shoot if pushed.

But Dowoon didn’t so much as blink.

This reckless man could never truly be a threat.

The momentum had already shifted. There was no backing down now.

{Can you really shoot?}

{You think I can’t?}

{A military policeman pointing a gun at a civilian—hardly acceptable. Can you truly pull the trigger?}

Yoshihara’s hand wavered wildly at those words.

From the start, his plan had likely been to intimidate Dowoon into talking. But if he actually injured him, matters would become complicated.

After the March First Movement, Japan’s policies had changed. The era of ruling through indiscriminate terror was over.

At least on the surface, killing a civilian without due process could earn the Governor-General’s displeasure.

Even aiming the gun as he was now could become a problem if discovered.

Under Dowoon’s steady gaze, Yoshihara slowly lowered the barrel.

Just as expected. He never strays beyond his limits.

With a satisfied smile, Dowoon lightly tapped Yoshihara’s shoulder and whispered low.

{How about letting go of this obsession with me? If you can’t treat it alone, I’ll introduce you to a good doctor I know, Inspector. Obsession is an illness.}

{Y-you bastard-!}

{Well then, I’ll be on my way.}

Still wearing that cold smile, Dowoon tucked the gun back into his inner pocket and turned his back.

He could feel Yoshihara’s fury burning behind him.

The smile vanished without a trace.

After this, Yoshihara would tighten his net around him even more obsessively.

Sorting through information about the man in his mind, Dowoon slipped back out of the alley.

Chohee took a sip of warm tea.

After the conversation in the reception room, Lady Minamoto had brought her to where the other wives were gathered.

Fortunately, the perceptive women welcomed her—awkwardly, but kindly enough.

After presenting the dress to Lady Minamoto, she had noticeably grown more favorable toward Chohee.

Chohee deliberately kept herself from standing out, listening closely to their chatter while waiting for the right moment to interject.

After all, her ultimate purpose in coming here was to extract information.

{Sakura-san, you’ll be coming to the opera house opening ceremony soon, won’t you? I’ll be so bored without you.}

At Mrs. Hiranishi’s fussing, Lady Minamoto nodded as if it were obvious.

{Hmm. We’ll see. Shige-san has been terribly busy lately, going here and there.}

At the mention of Minamoto’s name, Chohee’s ears perked up.

Busy traveling? Could it be because of the railway project?

{Oh, but you’ll attend the opening, surely. It’s such an important event. He wouldn’t send his wife alone, would he? Minamoto-san’s top priority is always Sakura-san, after all.}

Not to be outdone, Mrs. Daiichi flattered Lady Minamoto. She shot Chohee a sidelong glance with a faintly mocking smile.

{And not just anyone is invited there, so there won’t be any… unpleasant incidents, Sakura-san.}

Her emphasis on “just anyone” was clearly aimed at Chohee, a jab referencing the earlier incident at city hall.

Lady Minamoto’s brows narrowed slightly, as if recalling it.

No—this opportunity can’t slip away.

Clearing her throat, Chohee spoke in a light, innocent tone.

{By the way, Lady Minamoto, you must be fortunate.}

{What do you mean?}

{Since your husband travels so much for business, it must be wonderful when you later travel with him.}

{Hm. Shige-san isn’t that thoughtful. Even when he goes around, it’s usually just near Yuha County. There’s nothing to see there.}

A chill ran down Chohee’s spine.

It had sounded like a passing comment, but it could be a vital clue.

Yuha County… She repeated the unfamiliar name silently to herself, careful not to show it.

Then she subtly steered the conversation elsewhere so Lady Minamoto wouldn’t dwell on what she had revealed.

{Oh, that reminds me—what if you wore this dress to the opening ceremony? Though I do have one concern.}

{Concern?}

{If you wear this dress, you’ll outshine the main figures. All attention will be on you rather than the ceremony.}

Smiling brightly, Chohee offered the best compliment she could muster.

Though Lady Minamoto claimed it was unnecessary flattery, she looked clearly pleased.

Good. That reaction meant her irritation had eased.

Mrs. Daiichi, however, still glared at Chohee, displeased she had dared to interrupt.

Chohee merely returned her gaze with a gentle smile.

Let her glare.

The only one who mattered to her was Lady Minamoto, not Mrs. Daiichi.

The chatter resumed. Chohee listened intently for more useful scraps, but the conversation soon devolved into household matters and gossip.

As the sun set and evening fell, Lady Minamoto rose.

{It seems it’s time to go. It would be rude to linger too late.}

Following her lead, the wives stood. Chohee rose as well.

Though she had only been sitting, tension had left her legs stiff.

She had boldly told Dowoon she would succeed, but in truth she had been filled with fear of failure.

Fortunately, it had gone well.

Outside, rickshaws lined up before the gate, waiting for the ladies.

Chohee raised her hand to take one when Mrs. Hiranishi called out.

{Oh, Lucia Lee, that’s…}

Following her pointing finger, Chohee saw Dowoon standing there.

Arms crossed, he wore the same outfit as that morning.

Had he not gone home—was he waiting here?

Instead of calling out, she quietly observed him. With his downcast gaze and calm posture, he looked like a storybook hero she had read about as a child.

Dowoon spotted her and smiled.

As though the sunset had brushed her too, Chohee’s cheeks flushed crimson.

Thump, thump, thump.

Her heart beat again, oblivious to propriety.

The surrounding wives let out soft sighs at the sight of him.

{My lady, I’ve come to escort you home.}

He extended his hand toward her.

No other husband had come—only Dowoon.

Bidding farewell to the wives casting envious looks, Chohee replied lightly.

“Dowoon, you said we’d meet at home.”

“Still, isn’t it nice to see me here?”

“…It is.”