Chapter 50
“Ugh…”
The man from the Hong family, whose hand had been shoved into his mouth, dropped his head, unable to speak properly.
“This is nice. See? How much better it is when things are quiet.”
In the sudden calm, Cheon Mujin smiled refreshingly as he looked at Eugene.
“So, where were we in our conversation?”
“I said I wanted to join the Mupung Corps, Your Highness.”
“Hmm… you want to join the Mupung Corps…”
Cheon Mujin stroked his chin thoughtfully and tilted his head.
“Why? Why go out of your way? With your skills, you could be treated well anywhere.”
Top-tier, barely. Not the absolute best, but comparable to a veteran in combat. Depending on the family or sect, he could even become a grand master.
Yet here he was, serving as a mere escort for a rookie, and now he wanted to leave that job for the Mupung Corps.
Although calling it a direct unit under the Cheon family’s eldest prince sounded grand, it was essentially a newly formed, underdeveloped combat unit.
Moreover, because Cheon Mujin had wasted so much time, many of the sect’s strong members supported his younger sibling, Cheon Mu-yang.
There was no clear reason for an outsider to want to join the Mupung Corps.
Cheon Mujin’s skeptical gaze met Eugene’s, who, after a brief pause, finally spoke.
“I want to live like a proper human being.”
“What does a proper human life mean to you?”
“I want to be recognized for my abilities.”
“So… what you’ve been doing until now hasn’t been recognized as skillful?”
“Yes.”
Eugene nodded firmly and looked coldly at the Hong family man.
“I’m done working next to someone who drools over my body, targeting only me.”
“Ugh! Ugh!”
The Hong family man seemed to feel wronged, but sadly, no one here cared about his grievances.
“That’s not really an answer to my question. How does quitting your previous job relate to wanting to join the Mupung Corps?”
“May I be honest?”
“Of course.”
“I thought you were the only one who could accept someone like me, who came from the Hong family.”
“So, you mean you had no other choice?”
“I just thought it was an opportunity I had to seize.”
Cheon Mujin smiled at the steady gaze Eugene held on him.
“By the way, you never introduced yourself. What’s your name?”
“Gum Yoo-jin.”
“…Gum Yoo-jin?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Cheon Mujin mulled over the name briefly and nodded.
“Accepted!”
“…That was really unexpected.”
“Why? The choice is His Highness’s.”
“Hmph! Both of you just can’t keep your eyes still, can you?”
“Hmm, not really.”
“Not really my foot!”
Unlike Do Woo-jin, who tried to hide it, Yuhyeonhwa openly kicked Baekwoo’s side, still frustrated.
“Your Highness, I really didn’t expect this! You chose someone just because of her figure!”
Gum Yoo-jin, with long bangs covering half her face, wore a loose-fitting martial uniform that concealed her entirely, yet her figure was unmistakably elegant—something Yuhyeonhwa lacked as she was still growing.
“How can the first official choice for a bodyguard be a complete stranger?”
“Well… it’s His Highness’s decision…”
“Senior Do!”
“Hmm, well, I don’t know either.”
Yuhyeonhwa finally sat down, pouting.
“Even though he has a beautiful fiancée… why choose someone like that as a bodyguard? Am I not trusted yet? Am I not skilled enough?”
As Yuhyeonhwa sulked, unaware if Gum Yoo-jin noticed her, Eugene strode confidently to Cheon Mujin’s room.
“Your Highness, are you in?”
“Yes, come in.”
Gum Yoo-jin opened the door cautiously and shivered.
“Cute, isn’t it?”
“Qyu?”
Cheonghwa, perched on the table and acting cute toward Cheon Mujin, tilted her head in curiosity.
Eugene shivered slightly but returned to a neutral expression and stood by the door.
“I will begin my duties now.”
“Alright. Nice to work with you.”
Cheon Mujin, playing with Cheonghwa in one hand while reading a report with the other, clicked his tongue lightly.
“This seems complicated. Gum-so, no… Gum, the bodyguard.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“The Hong family sent a formal protest letter.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“No, you don’t need to apologize. You accepted the job knowing this already.”
Cheon Mujin laughed lightly at Eugene’s apology and crumpled the Hong family letter, tossing it aside.
“No need to worry. You’re giving proper treatment to someone who deserves it.”
“I… understand?”
“Just ignore the chatter. By the way, could you open the door?”
“Yes.”
As Eugene opened the door, the person outside awkwardly lowered their hand.
“…The bodyguard has changed.”
“That’s right.”
Jin So-hee glanced at Gum Yoo-jin as Cheon Mujin shrugged.
“You chose a capable one well.”
Then she turned and took her seat.
“The investigation results are in.”
“You mean the Vigilance Corps?”
“Yes. Take a look first.”
Cheon Mujin received the report and studied it carefully.
“They’re meticulous in handling their work.”
“Yes. They hardly left any records at all.”
“So they control their subordinates with confidence.”
Those engaging in illegal work don’t create records to avoid evidence. Yet, meticulously kept records prevent theft and help subordinates work efficiently without suspicion.
Some subordinates even copy records as insurance for future betrayal.
That records were entirely absent meant one thing:
“They weren’t subcontractors—they were direct subordinates. Unbelievable.”
When the top and bottom trust each other fully, they can work without records. Issues are addressed after the fact. Normally impossible in illegal operations, yet here it happened.
“This is ridiculous.”
Cheon Mujin tapped the table, laughing bitterly. He hadn’t expected this kind of connection to break.
“You’re not scolding me?”
“Huh? About what?”
“Isn’t it more realistic that I couldn’t find them rather than the records being gone?”
The emotion in Jin So-hee’s calm gaze was clear: guilt.
“You live too earnestly, that’s the problem.”
Cheon Mujin nudged Cheonghwa with his foot.
Qyu!
Cheonghwa immediately leapt onto Jin So-hee’s lap, softening her expression slightly.
“It’s likely there were no records because you never neglect your duties. No need for unnecessary suspicion.”
“…Thank you for trusting me.”
“Eh, it’s nothing. But there might still be clues even if records weren’t kept.”
Jin So-hee’s face stiffened as she stroked Cheonghwa. After a pause:
“Nothing definite yet.”
“Right. So the report won’t have anything concrete. Just give me what you suspect.”
“Those who didn’t trust the Vigilance Corps filed multiple missing person reports directly to the Execution Unit.”
“Ugh… bad feeling already. And the reporters?”
“All missing.”
Cheon Mujin clicked his tongue and leaned back.
“So the Vigilance Corps likely covered up the disappearances?”
“Highly probable, but…”
“No evidence?”
“Yes.”
Cheonma City is vast. Tracking all missing people was impossible. But the problem was this happening on a large scale.
“It’s like being blind and deaf.”
“Sorry. It was the Execution Unit’s fault.”
“No need to blame your team. The real incompetence lies above.”
Cheon Mujin stood up.
“Return to your unit and continue your work. Don’t overexert yourself.”
“You’ll search for the missing personally?”
“The Cheon family’s pride aside, the work must be done. And the Third Young Master has no authority that matters here. If necessary, I’ll run until my feet sweat.”
Smiling, Cheon Mujin patted Jin So-hee’s shoulder lightly; Cheonghwa climbed onto his shoulder.
“You can rest here if you want. No one will disturb you. Read, sleep, rest. Overworking wears you out.”
As Cheon Mujin and Gum Yoo-jin left, Jin So-hee, alone in the room, glanced at the bed.
‘Since the owner allows it… maybe a short rest?’
“Is it alright to have an outsider in the room?”
“Outsider? That’s an odd way to put it.”
Cheon Mujin waved his hand.
“She’s not an outsider; she’s my fiancée. If she wants to rest in my room, she can.”
“…She’s your fiancée?”
“Yes. Eventually we’ll marry. Why do you look relieved?”
“If someone that beautiful is the partner, I feel less concerned.”
“Oh! Haha! Honest, I like that.”
She seemed like someone who had escaped harassment at a previous workplace.
“I won’t force anything, so don’t worry. I’m grateful to those who deserve it.”
“Eh?”
Grateful? For what?
Cheon Mujin didn’t answer Eugene, instead focusing on searching for the missing. It would take weeks, possibly, but if they caught a culprit, it could make the work easier.
At the usual inn, Cheon Mujin ordered food as usual. After finishing the meal from a smiling woman:
“Oh, you’re the young master I met yesterday?”
As she approached, Gum Yoo-jin stopped her.
“Freeze.”
The woman paused, looking Gum Yoo-jin over with a calm expression.
“Oh? So that’s why our young master seems so composed. You really understand women.”
Seeing Gum Yoo-jin’s curves, jealousy and anger flashed in the woman’s eyes.
Cheon Mujin grabbed the woman’s shoulder. She smiled. Then,
“KYAAAAA!”
A scream pierced the air as she knelt. Cheon Mujin’s cold voice followed:
“Apologize. You are no one to mock a woman like her.”
