Book 14 Chapter 8

Ash Pile

"Tch, too late already!"

An Myung-hoo, with his nine-foot iron heart and iron eyes, clicked his tongue and surveyed the surroundings.

Desolate. Empty. And pitch black.

That was the only emotion he could feel from this scene.

Everything had already been reduced to ashes and scattered everywhere; what more emotion could he possibly feel? However, in truth, there was one more emotion he felt besides emptiness. It was anger.

"Inspector Ahn, we've searched every room thoroughly, but we found nothing."

The rooms themselves were barely more than charred beams and mud walls. The report from his adjutant, Lee Myung, who had rushed over, was not surprising as he had expected it, but he couldn't suppress his overflowing rage.

"Of course, how could anything be left intact after such a thorough burning!"

He grumbled, kicking at the innocent debris of the burnt-down manor.

Special Investigator of the Just Heaven Alliance's Shaanxi Branch! That was his title.

"Tch, I rushed here like a madman after receiving the 'Special Express' red letter from the branch, and it's already too late…"

The emergency summons bell rang out the moment a carrier pigeon flew in! It was the first 'Red Scroll' to arrive since he had been stationed at the Shaanxi branch.

He hastily assembled troops and rushed through the night, but all he saw was the flame of a fire demon painting the night sky red, and hundreds of people bustling about in a frenzy to suppress it. All they could do was watch with their fingers in their mouths, their efforts in vain.

The scene had been burned so cleanly and boldly that only a vast expanse of ashes remained, as if to mock them.

'I raced here without rest, switching to the fastest horses immediately after receiving the letter… are they going to ruthlessly cut off the tail once it's exposed?'

It was a chillingly cold and swift judgment.

It had been a long time since he had seen his old friend. While regular contact was possible through carrier pigeons, he didn't even know himself where his friend was or what he was doing.

"Haven't you found any passages or secret storage areas yet?"

"The search party is scouring the entire building meticulously…"

His adjutant trailed off, indicating that the results were not promising.

"…It seems we'll have to call the Commander."

"Is it my turn again?"

He clearly showed his displeasure.

"I apologize."

His adjutant quickly apologized. If their abilities were superior, there would be no need for the commander to step in. However, apologizing so openly made the one who had been reluctant feel awkward.

"It's fine, it's fine! If I'm eating the alliance's food, I have to earn my keep. In fact, that's why I'm here. But next time, I hope it doesn't come to my turn. I want to boast that I have capable subordinates too!"

"I am ashamed."

The reason An Myung-hoo, at the young age of thirty, could become the investigative officer in charge of Shaanxi Province was due to a special ability he possessed. That ability was his very reason for existence.

"Well then, let's earn my keep…"

What he took from his waist was a short iron rod, only about as thick as a finger. However…

*Poof!*

*Rustle!*

With a swing of his hand, it transformed from a rod into a long 'iron needle' measuring 'nine feet' in length.

"Now, let's go!"

He strolled as if on an outing, piercing the iron needle into the ground.

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Thump! Thump!*

The iron needle burrowed into the ground as if piercing cotton balls. Even a swampy area with a mushy bottom wouldn't yield this easily.

"Crushed gravel… sand… there's nothing much around here."

Adjutant Lee Myung followed behind, his eyes shining.

Nine-Foot Iron Needle Spiritual Sight Exploration Method (九尺鐵針靈視探査法)

Earth Observation (地觀)

Lee Myung marveled at the technique, as he always did. It wasn't just about sticking the iron needle in. In the short time it took to insert and pull it out, his superior could see exactly what was beneath his feet, as if he were looking with his own eyes.

That's why those who knew An Myung-hoo called him 'Nine-Foot Iron Heart Eye' (九尺鐵審眼), likening him to an eye at the tip of an iron needle. And the nine-foot, dark iron needle he now wielded was his benefactor, the one who made him who he was today.

If he hadn't joined the Just Heaven Alliance, everyone who knew him agreed he would have become a more skilled (?) professional tomb robber. His abilities were that outstanding.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

The earth-packed ground wasn't the only thing helpless before An Myung-hoo's nine-foot iron needle. Even the pitch-black stone walls were pierced with holes as if they were soft tofu, with astonishing ease, as the black iron needle passed through them. Nevertheless, not even a micro-crack appeared around the holes. It seemed effortless for him, as if he didn't need to exert any strength. It was a clear indication of how profound his internal energy was.

Nine-Foot Iron Needle Spiritual Sight Exploration Method (九尺鐵針靈視探査法)

Stone Penetration Observation (石透觀)

It was a technique to penetrate stone walls or floors and perceive what lay beyond.

"This place is full of mechanical contraptions!"

As An Myung-hoo pierced through the stones with a single iron needle, he discovered remnants of them everywhere.

"Even with the arson causing chaos, it's impossible for so many people to have disappeared completely, deceiving the eyes of the openness and the alliance! There must be traces left somewhere."

It had only been three days since the incident that shook the entire province. It was impossible for all the personnel listed in the reports to have erased all evidence and hidden themselves in such a short time! There was definitely a secret passage yet to be found.

Of course, he didn't harbor the naive expectation that the passage would still be open. Based on his experience, expecting such a rudimentary mistake from such cunning individuals was wishful thinking. He needed to untangle the clues from elsewhere.

"According to reports, some kind of large-volume cargo flowed into this place. Its contents haven't been revealed yet, but it was clearly stored somewhere. And then it was moved somewhere else…"

His instincts whispered to him that discovering the contents of that cargo was his top priority.

"Find it, even if you have to plow the land and demolish every building! I can't show my face if this is left unresolved!"

"Understood."

"Should I investigate the Central Express Agency? But they wouldn't transport something suspicious in such an obvious manner, would they?"

The most troublesome part was the mutual non-disclosure agreement between the express agency and the client. It was an additional contract added at the client's request, but for something as suspicious as this, it would undoubtedly have been signed. Regardless of what kind of place it was, for an express agency, the confidentiality agreement with the client and the credibility of the goods were paramount. Even with the authority of the Just Heaven Alliance, they wouldn't easily reveal it. Moreover, if the other party was the Central Express Agency, there was nothing more to be said.

"This is troublesome…"

The Central Express Agency, renowned as the top express agency in the martial arts world. It wouldn't be an easy opponent.

*Tick!*

An Myung-hoo felt that sensation when he had been digging around in all directions with his iron needle for about half an hour. It was a fleeting sensation that was faintly transmitted through the nine-foot needle. However, his senses, sharpened by years of training, did not miss that brief and subtle signal.

The spot where the nine-foot iron needle was currently embedded was about five *jang* away from the old warehouse site of the manor, in a secluded patch of grass.

A thrilling current surged up his spine and towards his head. With this feeling, he was sure.

"Found it!"

An Myung-hoo exclaimed in triumph with a triumphant smile, speaking in a low voice.

The opening mechanism was conveniently broken. It took nearly half an hour of digging with his subordinates before they could finally enter.

The interior was entirely a stone chamber built with massive stone blocks. The craftsmanship was exquisite, not the work of an ordinary artisan.

"What! Just as expected!"

As expected, the stone chamber was empty. And surprisingly, it was spacious. Now, they had to find what had been left behind in this empty chamber.

"Bring 'Dog Nose'!"

He commanded.

He was a very short, petite man. In contrast, his nose was disproportionately large and long for his small face. His nostrils seemed to be three times the size of others. That's why he was known more by his nickname than his actual name.

"What is it, Dog Nose? Did you catch a good scent?"

An Myung-hoo asked, urging him, as Dog Nose crawled around the stone chamber, sniffing.

*Sniff, sniff, sniff!*

Dog Nose ignored his superior's question. It seemed as if his highly developed sense of smell made his hearing relatively poor, as if he were protesting. However, An Myung-hoo did not urge him further. It meant that he was concentrating so intently on a certain scent that his superior's words were not getting through.

An Myung-hoo trusted him more than anyone else in the Shaanxi branch of the Just Heaven Alliance. And because he trusted him, he could always use him effectively. Dog Nose also liked his superior, who recognized his abilities. That's why the dog, Wang Gyeon, always followed An Myung-hoo wherever he went.

Perhaps not a speck of dust remained, but there might be something that was not completely disposed of. That was the scent ingrained in objects… The man called Dog Nose was a person with a special ability to detect scents that ordinary people could not. In other words, even in a place where they thought all scents had been erased, he could find traces of even minute amounts of lingering scent.

"Hmm…"

"What? Don't dawdle, tell me quickly!"

He urged him again.

"Inspector! Doesn't Manager Go of the You Hwa Ki Bang seem too greedy for money these days? He seems to want to devour me whenever he sees me."

Although it was a sudden remark made in the middle of an investigation, An Myung-hoo immediately understood what he wanted to say. In other words, his tab was overdue.

'This sly old fox…'

Normally, he could have been punished for dereliction of duty or disobedience to a superior's orders. But he just laughed it off. Having worked together for quite a long time, he could let such a sly trick slide. This was a conversation that could only happen between the two of them, something that wouldn't happen with other subordinates.

"Alright, alright! That's why I told you to stop looking for Maehyang's favors! Are you planning to give her every last copper coin?"

"Heh heh heh…, I'm sorry!"

Dog Nose scratched the back of his head with a foolish expression. It seemed that the main reason he was facing financial difficulties was because of one of the many Maehyangs in this world. Maehyang was one of the most common pet names used in brothels.

"I'll report your achievements and get you a bonus. Don't waste any more time, tell me!"

"I'm counting on you, Inspector, heh heh heh!"

"Come on, hurry up and tell me. Do you want to see me die of impatience?"

Only then did Wang Gyeon begin to describe what he had observed. A sharp glint appeared in his eyes, which had been foolishly twinkling moments before.

"There's a peculiar smell."

An Myung-hoo's eyes sharpened.

"Oh? That's interesting news. What kind of smell is it?"

If it wasn't peculiar, he would have said what kind of smell it was first, as usual. The fact that he was hesitating this much clearly meant there was something.

"I can't be completely sure because the cleanup was too thorough, but the scent of 'it' is strongly present everywhere."

"'It'?"

Then Dog Nose came closer and whispered something in his ear. An expression of disappointment appeared on his face.

"What? Isn't that scent found everywhere?"

To make such a fuss over something like that! He didn't seem too pleased.

However, Dog Nose's expression was entirely serious. His attitude, as if to say "Don't talk nonsense," was filled with professional pride.

"But this is no ordinary item!"

"No ordinary item?"

The remaining traces of disappointment on his face vanished in an instant at these words.

"It seems to have a very high purity, to the point where it's hard to believe it's a common item used by ordinary people."

"Hmm…"

High purity. That meant the item was of high quality and difficult to manufacture or obtain. But that alone wasn't enough of a clue.

"Is there anything else?"

"I can't be sure about this, but…"

"What? Don't hesitate, just tell me!"

"Actually…"

Dog Nose leaned closer to his ear again and whispered something. Was it a secret that others shouldn't hear? As An Myung-hoo listened to his whispering, his eyes widened.

"Is, is that true?"

His complexion visibly changed. The fact that his inner turmoil was reflected on his face, despite his years of training, indicated that he had heard something extremely important.

"It's probably true."

"Even a great power would not be able to obtain such a thing easily."

"That's why it's even more suspicious."

"Why would such a dangerous item be here? And in such quantities… are these guys planning to start a war?"

However, that observation was the least likely.

"Should I investigate those sly, money-grubbing people again…"

But he knew better than anyone that the Central Express Agency was not an easy opponent.