Chapter 229
At that moment, Jang Mok-hwa suddenly smiled and spoke.
“I found something interesting.”
“What is it?”
Yong Yeo-hong asked very cooperatively.
From the passenger seat, Jang Mok-hwa looked toward the back seat through the rearview mirror.
“Han Myeong-ho has always described himself as selfish, saying that everything good he’s done so far was just an act to make himself look human.”
Baek Sae-byeok, who was driving, calmly cut in.
“He’s from the Wasteland Wanderers. As a pseudo-human who isn’t exceptionally strong, the fact that he’s survived until now and even made it into Redstone Market means he definitely didn’t live a kind or innocent life.”
Baek Sae-byeok had once used similar words when evaluating himself.
Jang Mok-hwa nodded.
“I understand. In the early days, he was probably a rough and cunning person too. But look at him now. Don’t you see it? After playing the role of a knight for so long, the way he thinks about problems has completely changed. He even said that an evil heart is a terrifying thing, and that it would be better to leave this place before that happens.”
Recalling this, Yong Yeo-hong asked in surprise,
“Did the act become real?”
Jang Mok-hwa smiled.
“You could say that. He’s practically a textbook example for studying how behavior influences psychology.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
Seong Geon-woo asked with a smile, his mask off.
Jang Mok-hwa rolled her eyes slightly as she replied.
“If it weren’t a good thing, I wouldn’t even consider reporting that we should recruit him.”
She then tilted her head and looked at Baek Sae-byeok.
“Little White, how did you end up coming into contact with our company?”
After hesitating briefly, Baek Sae-byeok answered,
“I applied.”
“What?”
Jang Mok-hwa exclaimed in shock.
Seong Geon-woo, imagining the situation with interest, asked,
“Did the company set up a street stall in Weed City with a banner saying ‘Pangu Bio Recruitment Center’ or something?”
Jang Mok-hwa was about to scold him for such nonsense, but instead closed her mouth. She had thought something similar herself.
Baek Sae-byeok shook his head.
“I joined a relic hunter team. I wanted to take on missions that required a certain number of team members. After completing several missions, the team leader asked if I wanted to join Pangu Bio.
It was only after passing the basic test and entering the underground building that I learned the truth. A relic hunter who knew the Black Swamp Wasteland well had recommended me to the company. Even the recruitment conditions that relic hunter team set for new members were tailored exactly to me.”
Jang Mok-hwa nodded.
“I see. I thought you’d run into one of the company’s task execution teams, fought them, bonded with them, and then joined.”
As they talked, their jeep headed neither too fast nor too slow toward the church on the northern boundary of the ruined city.
After meeting Song Ha-gyun, Jang Mok-hwa first relayed a rough summary of her conversation with Han Myeong-ho.
After hearing everything, Song Ha-gyun sighed and spoke.
“In my view, Captain Han is a truly human person. It’s a pity…”
It was unclear whether he was lamenting Han Myeong-ho’s decision to leave in the end, or his own inability to state his position to the bishop or muster the courage to persuade Han Myeong-ho to stay. Jang Mok-hwa simply sighed along with him.
Then Song Ha-gyun shook his head and smiled.
“No wonder he always said he didn’t want to settle here whenever I told him to meet a good person in Redstone Market and make this place his home. There was a reason.
He said that a sheriff inevitably has many enemies, and he couldn’t put his wife in danger.
That’s why he said he’d only think about it after the village guard was fully established, a security law everyone could recognize and follow was set up, and enough wealth had been accumulated—after stepping down from the position of sheriff.”
It seemed that Han Myeong-ho had avoided even the idea of marriage, fearing that those close to him might discover the scales on his body.
“Liar!”
Seong Geon-woo muttered with slight agitation.
Jang Mok-hwa understood why he reacted that way. Seong Geon-woo had believed that Han Myeong-ho, like himself, had chosen not to have a family for the sake of a fair and safe world.
Of course, Han Myeong-ho had never said anything like that himself.
“At the very least, Han Myeong-ho worked extremely hard to maintain order in Redstone Market and fulfill his duties as sheriff and captain of the village guard,”
Jang Mok-hwa said consolingly.
At that moment, Yong Yeo-hong suddenly thought of a question.
“Then why didn’t he even consider marrying a pseudo-human before coming to Redstone Market? In Ashland, isn’t it much better for two people who can support each other than struggling alone?”
If he had married a pseudo-human, he wouldn’t have been despised for it.
While the others pondered the answer, Baek Sae-byeok said calmly,
“Pseudo-humans didn’t meet his standards.”
Jang Mok-hwa was slightly surprised, then deeply agreed.
“That makes sense.”
Although Han Myeong-ho was clearly a pseudo-human, deep down he considered himself a true human. Naturally, other pseudo-human groups would never catch his eye. At most, his feelings toward them were limited to pity, familiarity, or empathy. Marriage with them had probably never even crossed his mind.
In a sense, Han Myeong-ho was also a kind of racist—his stance simply leaned toward humans, while he felt a natural compassion for other races.
Yong Yeo-hong, quietly recalling the image of the fish-people, showed an expression of understanding. Compared to marrying a fish-person, living alone almost seemed preferable.
As the conversation drifted further off course, Song Ha-gyun quickly steered it back.
“So, in your view, Han Myeong-ho doesn’t seem like the type who would sell information to the Pseudo-human Alliance?”
Jang Mok-hwa answered as if she still couldn’t be certain.
“For now, yes. Given the current situation, in terms of motive and position, Han Myeong-ho has no reason to sell out Redstone Market. However, a deeper investigation may uncover new clues, and then the conclusion could change.”
Song Ha-gyun was startled by the airtight answer and looked blank for a moment. After thinking for a few seconds, he suddenly smiled.
“That’s a familiar way of speaking. It’s an expression I often use when reporting to headquarters. From the looks of it, you’re also from some organized faction.”
Only members of a formally organized group of a certain scale would use such official phrasing.
Having exposed herself by revealing no flaws, Jang Mok-hwa smiled awkwardly.
“Relic hunters also learn to be cautious when dealing with clients who have some backing.”
Despite exchanging several lines like this, neither side mentioned whether Han Myeong-ho’s actions should be restricted. It seemed that Han Myeong-ho had already been completely removed from their list of suspects.
“I’ll go back and talk with Han Myeong-ho once more. Maybe I can persuade him to change his mind about leaving,”
Song Ha-gyun said.
Unless you use an affinity ability, that’ll be difficult,
Jang Mok-hwa muttered inwardly, then changed the subject.
“Warning Officer Song, there’s another suspect. I’d like to request a meeting.”
After a brief pause, Song Ha-gyun asked,
“A request for a meeting? Someone from the Underground Ark?”
As expected—he’s sharp. Must be wisdom built from long years of experience,
Jang Mok-hwa thought, then answered honestly.
“Yes. I’d like to meet Professor DiMarco in person, if possible.”
Song Ha-gyun hesitated.
“The Underground Ark holds a fairly high status even within the church. I can’t force them. Still, I’ll call DiMarco’s stewards to the church and talk with them first. If we find any issues, I’ll report it to headquarters.”
“Do you need our help?”
Jang Mok-hwa asked eagerly.
Song Ha-gyun looked them over suspiciously.
“For now, it’s fine. Please wait here.”
They were in a small reception room behind the main hall, furnished with sofas, a tea table, and chairs. Like the hall, the walls were painted red and gold.
Watching Song Ha-gyun leave, Jang Mok-hwa sighed.
“We should’ve gone straight down the elevator and contacted someone from the Underground Ark instead of bringing this up! We should’ve acted first and reported later.”
If not for the video-call system, there would have been many ways to handle it.
“Exactly,”
Seong Geon-woo agreed.
Through repeated experience, he had confirmed that using complex electronic devices prevented him from expanding the influence range of the Reasoning Clown. For now, he could only barely rely on a loudspeaker.
Baek Sae-byeok looked at them in turn and asked as if reminding them,
“Didn’t you do it this way to maintain a good relationship with the Vigilant Sect?”
Recalling the surveillance beyond the door, Jang Mok-hwa nodded with a heavy expression.
“When dealing with a sect like this, it’s better not to act recklessly.”
Fortunately, thanks to her mask, no one could read her expression.
“But you even took down a priest, Team Leader,”
Seong Geon-woo pointed out.
Jang Mok-hwa snorted.
“Is the Anti-Intellectual Sect the same as the Vigilant Sect?”
At the very least, the Malin didn’t seem to enjoy monitoring their territory the way Eidolon did. Besides, the rescue team had never stormed the Anti-Intellectual Sect’s official church.
They were laughing and chatting when suddenly Jang Mok-hwa lifted her head and looked up at a small ventilation grate in the reception room.
“Found you!”
Seong Geon-woo immediately shouted excitedly.
The metal mesh of the vent slid aside, and Biel’s freckled face popped out. The boy looked down with his green eyes.
“Are you guys trying to investigate the Underground Ark? I heard Warning Officer Song contacting DiMarco’s steward.”
Jang Mok-hwa smiled as she replied,
“Do you happen to have any information to sell us?”
Biel gave his signature grin.
“Beg me, and I’ll tell you.”
The moment he finished speaking, Seong Geon-woo sprang up and charged forward. Stepping on a chair, he jumped up and grabbed both sides of the ventilation duct.
Startled, Biel shrank back and retreated far inside, shouting angrily,
“What are you doing?!”
Seong Geon-woo looked up at him and grinned.
“I’m going to tie you up and then beg.”
Biel frowned, utterly unable to understand Seong Geon-woo’s logic.
Jang Mok-hwa showed no intention of stopping them, merely watching with amusement.
Biel retreated quickly and only stopped when he reached another ventilation shaft.
After hesitating briefly while looking at the lighted opening, he spoke loudly.
“I heard the Underground Ark guards talking. They said DiMarco is extremely cruel. No matter what mistake a servant makes, the moment they encounter him or get noticed by him, they’re executed. When he’s in a bad mood, he even kills servants who’ve done nothing wrong.”
Hearing this, Jang Mok-hwa frowned slightly as she resolved a doubt she had previously held.
Why did the Underground Ark regularly purchase servants and train them?
Given its scale, accepting new servants once every ten years should have been more than enough.
Was it because so many servants were dying due to DiMarco’s cruelty that they needed constant replenishment?
Thinking rapidly, Jang Mok-hwa told Seong Geon-woo to come down, then asked the vent again,
“Where are the bodies of the dead servants?”
There was no way that many corpses were piled up in the Underground Ark’s cold storage.
From inside the duct, Biel’s voice echoed faintly.
“There’s another Underground Ark exit toward the mountains. Seems like they’re buried near there.”
One exit was effectively another entrance.
As Jang Mok-hwa was about to continue questioning him, Biel shouted again,
“That’s all I know! You guys got lucky!”
His voice grew more distant as he moved away through the ventilation ducts. The rescue team looked at one another.
