The Heavenly Demon Cult’s Strongest Maid - Chapter 277

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 31

Yu-un and I opened our eyes wide and searched around for the five-petal emblem.

“What? Why isn’t it here?”

Contrary to our expectation that we’d find it quickly, we just wandered around the bustling district in circles, wasting precious time.

It doesn’t make sense that there’s no Haomun in a big city like this.

Could it be that the marking is different here?

“Miss, over here!”

Just then, Yu-un called me from inside an alley.

Absurdly enough, the petal emblem we couldn’t find at inns, taverns, or tea houses was drawn in a corner of an old wall.

“We were searching all the wrong places.”

It was fortunate we found it eventually, but with no people around, I wondered how to make a request.

We decided to wait for now.

‘Someone will approach eventually.’

Sure enough, before long, a man quietly approached and stuck close.

Yu-un placed his hand on his sword hilt and blocked him.

At that firm warning, the man immediately stepped back.

“I’d like to drink some fragrant five-coin tea. Where can I get some?”

When I spoke up, the man pointed to a narrow, dirty path and said,

“This way, Miss.”

…Miss?

Does this man know who I am?

“Has Haomun been watching me by any chance?”

“We’ve been preparing since we heard the sect leader’s niece was coming.”

It was entirely possible for Haomun, which has eyes and ears everywhere.

But then, couldn’t you have acknowledged me sooner?

You just watched me wandering around uselessly?

I couldn’t complain to someone I’d just met, so I pouted and followed the man.

After winding through the narrow path for quite a while, we finally reached our destination.

From the outside, it looked like just an ordinary house.

“Boss, I’ve brought them.”

When we opened the door and went inside, a middle-aged man was sitting in a rocking chair, basking in the sun.

“Good work, Beongae.”

“I’ll go back out now.”

The man called Beongae nodded to Yu-un and me, then returned the way we came.

“I’m called Jokjeobi, and I’m in charge of Luoyang.”

The man got up from his rocking chair and introduced himself.

“…That’s quite an unusual name.”

“Is it?”

“I’m not sure how to address you.”

Mr. Jokjeobi, Uncle Jokjeobi, Boss Jokjeobi.

They all sounded strange.

“Address me however you’re comfortable. For orphaned pickpockets like us, names aren’t particularly important.”

The Weasel Leader smiled broadly and guided us to the inner chamber.

“It’s cheap tea, but would you like some?”

“I’ll drink it if you give me some.”

For someone who used to be a maid, that much was easy.

Shortly after, he brought out two cups of steaming tea.

“It’s delicious.”

Yu-un nodded beside me as if agreeing with my words.

“It seems your refined taste is similar to ours.”

“Is there anyone in this world who isn’t precious?”

“Haha! That’s true! I think I understand why the sect leader took you as his niece.”

Though it wasn’t particularly funny, the Weasel Leader laughed heartily.

“Now let’s get to the point.”

We needed to hurry if we wanted to catch Gong Ya-chi before he completely disappeared.

“You must know about the massacre at Jinheung Trading Company.”

“You wouldn’t be from Luoyang if you didn’t know that.”

“There’s one survivor. Please find that person. His name is…”

“Gong Ya-chi.”

Suddenly, a little boy burst out from a back room and mentioned Gong Ya-chi’s name.

The kid casually dragged a chair in front of me and plopped down.

He was a boy with two red dots under his right eye that strangely caught the eye.

“This is the sect leader’s niece. Pay your respects.”

Despite the Weasel Leader’s words, the boy just stared at me quietly with bright, clear eyes.

Are you trying to have a staring contest?

But this big sister doesn’t have time for that.

“I’m Seolha. What’s your name?”

“Muk-mul.”

“…Muk-mul?”

After Beongae and Jokjeobi, now it was Muk-mul.

Isn’t Muk-mul a bit too much for a little kid?

“You don’t need to look at him so pitifully. He’s called Muk-mul because his head is exceptionally sharp.”

Perhaps my thoughts showed on my face, as the Weasel Leader offered what wasn’t quite an excuse.

“But why are you trying to find Gong Ya-chi?”

“Do I need to tell you the reason too?”

“It’s not that, but that person disappeared. There’s been no trace of him since Beophwa Gate.”

So Haomun knew about it too.

“Is he a ghost? How can a person disappear without a trace?”

At the Weasel Leader’s words, the Little Boy Muk-mul let out a deep sigh.

“Can’t you see the obvious? It’s identity switching.”

Oh, you figured that out too?

The little guy is pretty good.

“So can you find him?”

“No. If I’d been watching from the beginning maybe, but it won’t be easy now.”

“What if I give you a clue?”

“A clue?”

The boy’s expression became serious.

“It depends on what kind of clue… but how much will you pay for the commission?”

“How much do you need?”

“The more the better, don’t you think?”

“What?”

I burst out laughing.

The young kid trying to negotiate with me was both admirable and cute.

“Hey, Muk-mul! What kind of way is that to talk to the sect leader’s niece! Even if you’re young, that’s going too far. Have you no fear?”

The Luoyang branch leader, the Weasel Leader, looked at me with a forced smile as if asking for understanding.

Then the Little Boy Muk-mul slammed the table.

“You said money transactions should be clear even between family!”

“This, this brat…!”

“Being clear is good. So how much?”

I had no intention of using it for free either.

I would collect on the Sect Leader Uncle favor later with something much bigger than this.

“Five taels of gold.”

“You’re nothing but a highway robber, aren’t you?”

In Korean terms, that was a whopping 100 million won.

“You’re not going for express service?”

He was saying this knowing I was in a hurry.

“Express service is originally expensive, you see.”

So do it if you want to, don’t if you don’t want to – the little boy shrugged his shoulders.

What’s this kid going to become when he grows up?

Whatever he became, it seemed like he’d occupy a high position in Haomun.

“Fine.”

I readily opened my money pouch.

It wasn’t that I didn’t feel bad about the money, but if I could catch Gong Ya-chi, I was willing to pay even more.

“Miss, please put it back. If you do this, meeting the sect leader will be… Ahhh!”

The Weasel Leader, who had been declining saying it wouldn’t do, screamed and hopped around.

He’d definitely been kicked in the shin by Muk-mul from under the table.

“What about clues?”

Muk-mul himself asked me about clues in a calm tone.

Now that I looked at it, this kid seemed to be the Haomun Luoyang branch leader no matter how I saw it.

Or maybe the behind-the-scenes power?

I had these idle thoughts as I held out my hand.

“Missing one joint of the left pinky finger.”

“There’s also the possibility of using a prosthetic. And?”

“Sa Mun-geon, Hwang O-dok, Un Hak-bi. There’s a high possibility he’s using one of these names.”

Gong Ya-chi was a master of disguise.

When he received missions, he would change to new names and switch human skin masks while operating in the shadows.

Because he preferred unusual aliases, it wasn’t relatively difficult to recall them.

“Since it’s been a day since he disappeared, he probably went quite far by now. I’ll try expanding the search area to Eonseo, Maengjin, and Icheon.”

“No, he’ll be in Luoyang.”

“…What’s your reason for being so certain?”

When I told him the location following the aliases, suspicion arose in the little boy’s eyes.

“You know the saying that it’s darkest under the lamp?”

“Yes.”

“He’s someone who was in a confused state and then suddenly disappeared. Plus, he’s the only witness to this incident. Everyone including me will be desperately searching for him, right?”

“So by reverse psychology, he changes his name and face and stays in Luoyang?”

“That’s how he survives.”

In the original work, Gong Ya-chi hid around well with that pattern.

His martial arts skills weren’t that outstanding, but he was a master of cunning, you could say.

“One more thing. He likes gambling.”

He said there was nothing better for killing time.

“How about it? Is it possible within today?”

“One hour will be enough.”

Oh my, look at this kid.

I really liked how confidently he guaranteed it.

“Lastly, there’s something most important.”

“Please tell me.”

“Just find him.”

“You mean don’t touch him at all?”

“Yeah, absolutely don’t lay a hand on him.”

If the prohibition activated, I might lose Gong Ya-chi before I could even try anything.

His death ending was truly the worst-case scenario for me.

“Just identify his location and report to me immediately.”

“Is there a particular reason it has to be that way?”

The little boy who had been tilting his head soon looked at me with a knowing smile.

“There must be a prohibition on you. Or maybe a poison.”

He figured that out from just a few words I said?

He really wasn’t an ordinary kid.

“Anyway, I understand. I’ll tell them to approach as carefully as possible. Well then, I’m busy so I’ll be going.”

Just as he had appeared on his own, the little boy went back into the room without even saying goodbye.

“Hey, hey! Such rudeness!”

The flustered Weasel Leader bowed to me and apologized instead.

“I’m sorry, miss. That kid is smart and has a good heart, but his manners are a bit…”

“It’s fine.”

What was important to me was catching Gong Ya-chi.

With this opportunity, I had to somehow cajole him and find out Tam-rang’s identity.

It was a bit disappointing that the first batter wasn’t Eok Mun, but Tam-rang was also a big catch from my perspective.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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