TGHD Ch 37

At the grandfather’s answer, Ryubeom sighed softly. Twenty years ago? That was much further back than he had expected. It might have been when he was born or even before he was born.

The Jeokdan family’s accident was around twenty years ago, so the timing matched, but Baekyeong seemed to have mentioned that the forces were recently gathered…

Could Baekyeong’s sense of time be blurred from living in the mountains? Or was it that, being young, Ryubeom perceived the period as long? As he speculated, Ryubeom suddenly felt a surge of emotion. He never thought of himself as young, but now, thanks to a certain someone, he did.

He glanced at Yeohwi and then shook his head. Perhaps the evidence of the evil spirits’ movement wasn’t related to a landslide. Maybe he had been too fixated on landslides, narrowing his perspective.

Still, he decided to check out the landslide from twenty years ago.

“Do you remember where the landslide occurred?”

The grandfather slowly recalled and shared the details.

Although it had been a long time, there was a reason the grandfather remembered the landslide. Near the site of the landslide, there had been a ‘villa.’

A beautiful villa near the valley.

The location was so good that you could look down at the valley from the villa’s yard. The villa owner visited only briefly during the summer, leaving it empty most of the year. So, the grandfather and his friends often went there to relax. They couldn’t enter the villa building but could wander around the yard.

So, after the villa was destroyed in the landslide, he remembered it because he missed going there. Fortunately, no one died in the accident…

Following the grandfather’s directions, Ryubeom cautiously examined the area. The building had already been demolished, leaving no remnants. Naturally, there was no trace of the evil spirit’s energy.

“It seems no one has been here for at least a few years.”

As Yeohwi said, it felt desolate. There was no trace of the evil spirit, just an empty clearing in the mountains.

However, Ryubeom meticulously searched the ground. He stomped on the leaf-covered and dirt-covered ground, then groped with his hands. He didn’t mind getting his hands dirty at all.

After a long search, Ryubeom finally discovered something.

A rectangular door on the ground. The door was firmly locked, but opening it was no challenge for Cheon Ryubeom. He simply tore off the door and sighed as he looked below.

“A basement warehouse…”

He had found a similar basement warehouse near the mansion where the Jeokdan family lived, and there was one here at the villa as well. It was an empty space with no signs of being used as a shelter or storage, not even nail marks on the walls.

And… a piece of pottery found on the floor.

Yeohwi also seemed to recognize the commonality with Uisom Mountain, scanning the space with a subtle expression.

“Hmm, it looks like something was forcibly sealed and then turned into an evil spirit.”

“What on earth was suppressed here? Uisom Mountain is quite far from here, so what connection is there that similar basement warehouses exist…”

Ryubeom muttered, feeling the wall.

And the same scene unfolded in Doseung-eup, Chungbuk. There had been no recent landslides, and the last disaster was fifteen years ago. This too wasn’t recorded, so Ryubeom narrowed it down by asking the residents, and once again found an underground warehouse near a collapsed villa.

Although the size and shape of the warehouse differed, the state inside was similar.

“What is this…?”

Ryubeom was confused after examining the empty space. The fact that similar underground warehouses existed not only in Uisom Mountain but also in other places was surprising, but it was difficult to link the locations with common features. In broad terms, the only commonality was that they all belonged to wealthy individuals. Owning a villa already indicated they weren’t ordinary families.

Through a real estate agent, it was confirmed that the land where the villas once stood was owned by entrepreneurs. Learning from the experience when Yeohwi took him to the real estate in Hyojomyeon, Ryubeom handled this himself. Showing the Cheon family crest made it easy to identify the owners.

However, the commonalities were still vague. While Jeokdan Corporation was in heavy industries, the villa in Jeonnam belonged to a food company and the one in Chungbuk to a banker. Other than being large companies familiar even to Ryubeom, who knew little about society, there was no clear link.

Moreover, the two companies, excluding Jeokdan, were still thriving.

“Were those bound in the basement taking revenge on the families?”

“They could be preparing for revenge, but a lot of time has already passed.”

“Should I directly ask what was hidden in the villas in the past…?”

“Well, the Cheon family’s influence is great, but that answer won’t be easy to obtain.”

Yeohwi smiled subtly, and Ryubeom nodded awkwardly, realizing it was a light-hearted comment. Meeting the heads of major companies wouldn’t be easy. Even if he brandished the Cheon family crest, as he wasn’t an elder, the likelihood of them sparing time for a single clan member was low.

Reflecting on the past Cheonho Foundation event where notable company figures gathered, Ryubeom thought it was a remarkable and significant occurrence.

“…Event?”

Ryubeom’s expression turned subtle. Feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, he pondered deeply while Yeohwi casually spoke.

“Let’s investigate a bit more. I’ll contact Guil and ask. I’m not very familiar with this area or corporate matters.”

It was already deep into the night. They had left early in the morning after hearing from Baekyeong, but despite investigating all day, there was no clear answer. While Ryubeom usually conducted thorough investigations without feeling impatient when searching for Sagwido, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of sorts this time.

It wasn’t that he lacked information, but the connections were vague and unsatisfactory. It felt less like a wild-goose chase and more like Baekyeong had intentionally sent him far away.

While Yeohwi called Guil, Ryubeom sought more information from the residents.

Earlier, he heard from a lady running a restaurant near the mountain about the location of the past landslide. Given the restaurant’s long history, he wondered if she had seen anything related to the entrepreneurs.

“I have an additional question. Do you know anything about the villa’s owner? Did they do anything specific there, bring anyone else, visit at certain times…?”

Ryubeom asked cautiously. He felt very apologetic since the initial question was during the busy dinner time, but thankfully, the restaurant owner was now relaxed on the sofa as the rush had passed.

She responded indifferently, mentioning how she was too busy to keep track of mountain events.

But then, she suddenly stared intently at Cheon Ryubeom as if realizing something.

Clap! She clapped her hands and spoke.

“Oh! Someone asked about this before!”

“…Pardon?”

“Ah, it’s been over ten years already. I was closing the restaurant at night when a man suddenly came in asking if I knew where the villa in the mountain was and if people went in and out…”

She nodded repeatedly, lost in the memory. Especially recalling the last thing the man said.

“After I answered him, he thanked me, saying the restaurant was closed so he couldn’t eat, but he gave me plenty of money for a taxi instead, telling me not to drive home that night since it was late and the buses had stopped.”

At that time, the lady had actually thought of just taking the money and driving herself. However, feeling uneasy, she took a taxi instead… That taxi took a different road from her usual route, and a large sinkhole had opened up on the road she typically used.

“If I had driven myself that day, I would have had an accident. Hearing the news the next day gave me chills.”

Ryubeom blinked slowly at her story. So, someone had asked about the villa in the past as well?

“…Have you met that person since then?”

“No. I wanted to thank him, so I tried to find him, but I had no luck. I even went to a local shaman’s house, but they just told me to let such encounters pass.”

“Do you remember anything about that person?”

“Hmm, he had a very handsome face? Honestly, I answered his questions because his face was so fair and nice-looking. Ah, I also saw him leaving the store with a tall woman…”

Shaking her head, she added that seeing him was a refreshing change from her husband, who often scratched his belly at home. Ryubeom awkwardly laughed at her somewhat frivolous story.

At that moment, Yeohwi waved from outside the store. The glass door was open, and as the lady remarked on another handsome face, Yeohwi spoke.

“Young master, I think Guil has found something.”

* * *

Ryubeom thanked the shop lady and stepped outside.

“Yes, sir.”

As soon as he received the phone from Yeohwi, he heard Guil’s greeting. The sound of flipping through documents and clicking a mouse accompanied it, as if he was checking something.

Guil got straight to the point.

“I looked into the place you’re searching. At first, I didn’t understand what it was either, but after asking around, I found out that it’s quite common for entrepreneurs’ villas to collapse.”

“…There are other collapsed places too?”

“Yes. It seems that not only villas but also main houses and second houses built in the mountains frequently collapse. It’s unlikely that wealthy people would build flimsy structures. Maybe someone with a grudge against the company is committing acts of terror…”

After the buildings collapsed, no matter how much they searched, they couldn’t find any clues related to terrorism. Guil muttered in a puzzled tone.

“There are precautions being spread around as jinxes. They say not to build more than a few kilometers away from residential areas, that having a large rock nearby is ominous, or that it’s bad if the house is near a valley. It’s almost like feng shui…”

These stories were circulating secretly among entrepreneurs. Even though it was the collapse of private villas and second houses, it wasn’t something that was publicly announced.

No one had died in these incidents, but even without casualties, the collapse of buildings owned by the families of entrepreneurs was enough to become a rumor. It created a negative image, suggesting that the company was cursed or hexed. Such rumors also affected the company’s products and stock prices.

Superstitions often accompany unexplained disasters.

“For the past twenty years or so, at least one building has collapsed every year. So there were even stories about ghosts…”

“Consistently?”

“Yes. But it has been fine for the last ten years.”

For about ten years, buildings kept collapsing one or two a year, leading to increased security. Even though it was just a superstition, many entrepreneurs were quite conscious of it. So they strictly managed safety, deployed security, and even had shamans inspect the buildings, thinking maybe something ‘strange’ was causing the collapses.

But about ten years ago, the commotion stopped.

“Then about three or four years ago, stories started circulating again. The buildings didn’t collapse, so it’s not certain. I apologize. I’m still investigating, so I don’t have much information.”

“Oh, there’s no need to apologize. I’m really grateful for what you’ve found out so far.”

Ryubeom assured him that it was okay and repeatedly thanked him. He was genuinely thankful, not just being polite. The information he got from Baekyeong was fragmented, making it hard to piece together, but thanks to Guil, several elements were connected at once. He even learned about superstitions that ordinary people wouldn’t know.

“Is there anything unusual apart from the villas collapsing? Did anyone witness anything suspicious or were there any signs before the accidents?”

“As far as I know, there’s nothing else. Just the buildings collapsing is already a huge deal…”

“Hmmm, that’s true…”

“Shall I find out the collapsed locations and send you a list? I’ll gather more information and contact you as soon as I find anything.”

“Huh? I would really appreciate that, but…”

Ryubeom was surprised by Guil’s offer. He was grateful that Guil would personally look into information that couldn’t be found just by searching news articles or hearing local residents’ stories. He marveled at the fact that Guil was the CEO of Hn Entertainment, a highly successful company in a business sector.

However…

“Aren’t you really busy lately?”

Throughout the call, Guil seemed to be multitasking, with the sound of a pen clicking and keyboard tapping, and even another person’s voice in the background, as if reporting to him. It was clear from the call alone that he was extremely busy.

Besides being the CEO of Hn Entertainment, Guil was also an elder of the Fox Clan.

“I heard the head of the Fox Clan returned recently…”

“Oh, that… haha, it’s fine. This is originally my job anyway…”

“…What?”

“So, I mean, since you always played with the triplets, I naturally have to repay the favor! You don’t have to worry at all! I even found it quite interesting to investigate.”

Guil awkwardly laughed, claiming that gathering information was very entertaining. Despite running a business for quite some time, he said he was unaware of such stories and felt like he was encountering fascinating ghost tales. Ryubeom thought that no one was as sincere in repaying kindness as the fox family.

Thus, Ryubeom decided to keep this help in his heart.

“Thank you so much. If you ever need my help, please let me know anytime. I’m receiving such a great favor now, so if there’s anything I can help with, I’ll gladly do it.”

It was a promise full of sincerity. Guil didn’t respond to the genuine gratitude, maintaining silence instead of his habitual smile, making Ryubeom look at the phone curiously.

Just as he wondered if there was a connection problem, Yeohwi gently took the phone.

“Seems like Guil might be busy.”

“Oh, I held him up for too long… I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I just… yes, had something to look at.”

Finally, Guil let out an awkward laugh. He said he would organize and send the information via message, and just as Ryubeom was about to express gratitude again, the call ended.

Yeohwi spoke calmly.

“Guil seems to have quite the network from his long years in business. I didn’t think he’d be of any help with Sagwido matters, being afraid of ghosts, but he’s proven useful in this regard.”

“Indeed. If I’d approached it normally, it would’ve taken much longer.”

Feeling deeply thankful, Ryubeom nodded along with the topic. Having only lived within the family and knowing little about the outside world, he would have been overwhelmed if he had searched alone.

“Did you hear anything from the restaurant?”

“Ah, yes… It seems someone else investigated this matter in the past.”

“Really? Did you find out who?”

“No, not yet…”

Ryubeom organized the information he obtained today with a subtle expression. The superstitions circulating among businessmen. Buildings collapsing since about twenty years ago, quieting down around ten years ago, and recently occurring again.

And a man and a woman who seemed to have looked into this information in the past.

Reflecting on the information the lady had shared, Ryubeom looked up at the sky. Night had fallen.

Slowly approaching clouds were covering the full moon.

The next afternoon, a list came from Guil.

Cheon Ryubeom expected to receive the message after at least three or four days, but Guil had organized and sent it much faster than expected. The list was very long and detailed.

Ryubeom was genuinely surprised to learn that the information was collected not only through Guil’s business connections but also through the fox family. Guil mentioned that he had asked people scattered all over the country about the strange phenomena, and while he was concerned that the locations might not be accurate due to the elapsed time, Ryubeom was simply grateful.

He decided to check each location one by one. The plan was to see if all of them had underground warehouses. Although the three places he had inspected earlier were all empty, he might find something unresolved somewhere.

Thus, Cheon Ryubeom unexpectedly embarked on a nationwide tour.

The locations on the list were spread across the country, and the fields of business varied as well. There were companies in automotive, telecommunications, construction, and more. In addition to businessmen, there were also some public officials’ families, including prosecutors, politicians, and government officials.

After inspecting the listed locations over several days, the expected result emerged. Every place had an underground warehouse. Most of them contained broken pottery pieces.

Yeohwi asked.

“Do you have any guesses about the identity of the evil spirits? If they went to the extent of creating underground warehouses to seal them, they likely sought some benefit.”

“Actually, there are ways to gain benefits from various yokai or ghosts, so it’s not certain. There are many methods of exploitation. Moreover, it includes not just companies but public officials, so it’s ambiguous. If I had to guess, it might be related to wealth and glory… goblins?”

Ryubeom spoke with uncertainty. There were several candidates, but he couldn’t narrow it down to just one.

“It’s certain that only Jeokdan was an exceptional case. Only their business failed, and nearly all of the family died. The other places are still intact…”

Ryubeom recalled the time when he clashed with the evil spirit in Uisom Mountain. The leader’s energy was close to that of an evil deity, but the rest had mostly weak energy. What was the difference? It would be good if Jeon Seunghyeok woke up, but the frail human had not yet regained consciousness since he fainted.

The search continued afterward. While traveling, Ryubeom kept staring at the list received from Guil, almost as if he was trying to memorize it. He knew nothing about businesses, but he kept feeling an odd sense of unease.

Finally, they arrived at the last location.

The disturbances that occurred twenty years ago had ceased, and the stories had started circulating again about three years ago, but there were no further building collapses. Only slight tremors were reported in the area.

Nevertheless, Guil had managed to locate the exact place through his connections and conveyed it to Ryubeom, who found an empty building there. Unlike the previous buildings, it hadn’t collapsed, but it seemed completely abandoned after the tremors. The building was desolate, with even the windows left open, allowing dust to accumulate inside.

Meticulously inspecting the area, Ryubeom found yet another underground warehouse, with a familiar interior.

“Was there an incident that caused the evil spirits’ activities to stop? Why was there a gap of several years…”

Yeohwi asked while turning around, noticing Ryubeom’s extremely dark expression. The atmosphere around Ryubeom, who was feeling the wall, had sunk low.

Recalling that Ryubeom’s expression had been worsening as they checked each location, Yeohwi asked.

“What’s wrong? You don’t look too good.”

“Huh? Oh, it’s nothing, really…”

Ryubeom tried to manage his expression belatedly, but Yeohwi had already noticed everything. Narrowing his eyes and giving him a look that demanded an answer, Ryubeom had no choice but to speak.

From the beginning, when he was investigating the locations mentioned by Baekyeong, he had a strange sense of déjà vu. And that feeling became more pronounced when he received the list from Guil. Although he was unsure, as he checked each place and searched for related information, a connection became apparent.

“It might sound random… but I met all the people related to this list.”

Ryubeom muttered in a somewhat confused tone.

“At the Cheonho Foundation anniversary event.”

* * *

At first, it just felt like the names were familiar. Since they were famous companies and high-ranking officials, he thought he recognized them.

So, Ryubeom didn’t connect the dots easily, but the sense of déjà vu kept lingering. He realized this morning that during the foundation anniversary event, all the related entrepreneurs had attended, along with some high-ranking officials and politicians.

At that time, Ryubeom sat next to the head of the family, receiving their courteous greetings. For the first time, he looked at them directly, shook hands, and greeted them. Until then, Ryubeom had known nothing about the Cheonho Foundation’s business. No one told him about the family’s business because he wasn’t recognized as a member. He only knew that the elders oversaw the foundation’s business.

Recalling those memories left Ryubeom feeling confused, and Yeohwi’s expression turned subtle as well.

“Hmm. But the Cheonho Foundation is associated with almost every company in Korea.”

“To that extent…?”

“Yes. You know how symbolic tigers are in this land, right? It’s said that any business backed by the tiger family is bound to succeed.”

Ryubeom sighed. As Yeohwi said, all sorts of political and business figures desperately contacted the tiger family, and Ryubeom had taken on security duties at those meetings.

“People would pay tens or hundreds of millions to attend Cheonho Foundation events. Not only do they want to impress the tiger family, but the event itself becomes a place for networking.”

Yeohwi explained that almost every company wanted to be connected to the Cheonho Foundation, making it difficult to establish a special causal relationship based on the current list. In other words, if the only color in the world were red, finding a red ball in any pocket wouldn’t be surprising.

“However, if they approached the tiger family at the event first, they were likely deeply connected to the foundation…”

From the moment they were linked to the Cheonho Foundation, they weren’t small companies, but there were certainly levels even at that event. They had either built a long relationship before the foundation was established or had invested heavily. Someone who had just started a connection with the Cheonho Foundation wouldn’t easily approach and greet the tiger family.

Indeed, those who greeted Ryubeom at that time were all well-known figures. Contemplating Yeohwi’s words, Ryubeom emerged from the warehouse. It seemed further investigation was needed.

At that moment, Guil called.

“Young master, there’s another place where a landslide-like event occurred a few days ago.”

“Did a building collapse?”

“No, it’s not that… It just looked like a landslide occurred. They were told to inspect the mountain at a certain hour, and it was witnessed then.”

“Huh? They were specifically instructed to inspect?”

Ryubeom was surprised. It was already a significant task to provide the list, yet they continued to investigate through the family members. He was amazed that they were specifically instructed to inspect the mountain at a particular time. While fox Suin were sensitive to detecting such events, it was still impressive…

“Haha, the more information we gather, the better…”

Guil laughed awkwardly. Although Ryubeom appreciated his help, it was astonishing how actively he was assisting. Could this case have genuinely piqued his interest? He was also grateful for the extensive help from the fox family.

Ryubeom then moved to the location Guil mentioned. It was a mountain near Uisom Mountain.

It was then that Ryubeom realized what Guil meant by ‘it looked like a landslide occurred.’

There hadn’t actually been a landslide on the mountain. But there were traces of something huge passing by. As he examined the familiar tracks, Ryubeom recognized that the leader, the evil deity, had been there. There were also some footprints of subordinate evil spirits.

And then he found a silver mirage in the air. On this cloudy day that looked like it might rain, the silver energy was even more noticeable.

“I’ve never seen this before, what is it?”

“The evil spirits in Uisom Mountain suddenly disappeared, remember? The next day, while investigating the area, I found this silver thread. I don’t know if it’s a trace left when the evil spirits disappear or a sign from someone who rang the bell…”

As Ryubeom explained, he slowly touched the mirage. It was so faint that he couldn’t feel any particular energy. It was just faint and barely there.

Ryubeom, regrettably watching it vanish like a mirage, looked around. But no matter how meticulously he searched, there were no signs of a collapsed building, nor was there any building in the vicinity. Had the spirits grown weaker over the years of inactivity and couldn’t collapse buildings anymore? But the evil spirits he met in Uisom Mountain seemed very powerful…

Ryubeom hesitantly followed the traces of the spirits.

“It seems the path is cut off here…?”

But the traces disappeared at a cliff. Perhaps they had moved somewhere else around here, as another silver mirage appeared. Regretting the lack of clues, Ryubeom approached the cliff to check the area and discovered something below.

A huge traditional Korean house.

Whether it was newly built or not, the wooden pillars and tiles looked new, but the traditional design gave it a classic feel. The building was too large to be called a villa.

…Could the evil spirits have been trying to enter that mansion?

Ryubeom focused and looked down, but there was only so much he could see from above. Moreover, there were no signs of any conflict at the mansion. Did the location just happen to overlap by chance? But this was the only building in the vicinity…

“Is there any way to investigate that house…?”

“Young master, you can’t trespass.”

“…Saying it like that makes it sound like I often trespass. I have no intention of doing so.”

“Oh, really? I must have misunderstood. So how are you going to get in?”

“Well, maybe…”

A little while later, Cheon Ryubeom stood in front of the mansion.

He boldly rang the doorbell and politely greeted the servant who came to the gate. With the utmost cautious attitude, he spoke.

“Do you perhaps have any misfortune in the house?”

Yeohwi’s expression turned incredulous. He seemed to be wondering what on earth Ryubeom was doing, but Ryubeom was serious. It was a skill he had learned from the grandmother he met at Uisom Mountain a few days ago.

The servant also looked at Ryubeom in bewilderment, as if wondering why someone who seemed normal was acting this way.

“What are you talking about…?”

“Have you recently heard loud thumping noises at night? Strange howling sounds that don’t seem like typical wild animals.”

But the steadfast demeanor of Cheon Ryubeom made the servant hesitate. He was about to call the security to kick him out but then flinched and turned back. With his experience from clashing with the evil spirits in Uisom Mountain, Ryubeom could accurately describe their movements.

“I dreamt last night that a great misfortune was pouring over this house like a landslide. I couldn’t just pass by…”

The unique trustworthiness exuded by the tiger Suin was successfully influencing the servant. The servant hesitantly looked back at Cheon Ryubeom and the mansion, unsure whether to report this inside.

Yeohwi whispered to him.

“You’ve gotten quite good at lying.”

“I’ve learned a lot from the person I travel with.”

“…?”

Yeohwi gave him a puzzled look, pointing at himself as if to silently ask, “Are you talking about me?” Ryubeom just shrugged.

At that moment, someone walking in the yard showed interest in them.

“Who is standing there still?”

“Oh, sir. It’s nothing important. I was just about to send him away…”

“Oh my! Isn’t this the young master?”

Just as the servant was about to handle the situation himself, the person responded. He was a man in his 60s with graying hair and a stocky build. His face was slightly flushed, perhaps from having a drink earlier.

Ryubeom blinked slowly, recognizing the familiar face. Yeohwi clicked his tongue and suddenly turned around. Meanwhile, the man quickly approached Ryubeom and greeted him.

“It’s been almost a month, and you look even better!”

Speaking heartily, he extended his hands politely for a handshake. The servant, looking surprised, stepped back. Ryubeom responded to the man’s handshake and realized who he was.

He was Kyung Jaehwan, a presidential candidate.

When Cheon Ryubeom last handled security for an event, all the elders attended, and even the head of the family walked in to greet this influential political figure. During the Han River mermaid incident, Kyung Jaehwan had been the most vocal advocate for revising the Suin Protection Act.

“I regretted not being able to greet you properly at the event, but it’s great to see you here. By the way, what brings you to this place?”

Ryubeom carefully chose his words. The servant had seemed intrigued by the talk of unusual phenomena earlier…

“Recently, I sensed some ominous energy around here. I came to check, and it turns out it’s your mansion.”

“Ah, I see. You are very kind.”

Kyung Jaehwan nodded and laughed heartily.

“Actually, the elders visited earlier.”

“…The elders?”

“Yes, the elders of the tiger family. Since my house is close to Uisom Mountain and the atmosphere around has been unsettling, they came to check and set up a protective barrier in the center of the garden. So, there’s no need to worry!”

Ryubeom blinked. Were the elders so closely connected to this man that they would come here personally?

“What did the elders do?”

“They set up a protective barrier in the center of the garden.”

Looking very reassured, Kyung Jaehwan beamed. Ryubeom checked the center of the garden where he pointed. A tall post with densely inscribed talismans stood there. Even from a distance, it emanated strong energy.

Ryubeom recalled the elders showing interest in solving the Sagwido issue at Uisom Mountain. Although their motive was to take credit, it seemed they now regarded the Sagwido issue as the responsibility of the tiger family, unlike before. Since it was known that the Cheon family was addressing the problem, they felt it should be handled properly.

Was that why they came here to check? As Ryubeom pondered, Kyung Jaehwan gestured toward the mansion.

“I shouldn’t keep you standing outside. Please, come in. By the way, who is this with you…”

Kyung Jaehwan’s gaze shifted to the person next to Ryubeom. Ryubeom suddenly flinched, realizing he had forgotten he was with Yeohwi. Since Kyung Jaehwan was closely connected to the family, it would be problematic if he discovered he was with a fox Suin.

But when he looked back, Yeohwi’s attire had changed. The ornate robe had transformed into a plain coat, and a hazy veil covered his face. It was the perception-dimming technique he had seen during the mountain fortress festival.

“He’s someone who happened to accompany me. Anyway, thank you for inviting us in. I’ve always thought the house was beautiful, and I’m glad to have this opportunity.”

Ryubeom quickly stepped forward. Fortunately, Kyung Jaehwan didn’t seem to notice anything strange and nodded. With his striking appearance concealed, Yeohwi looked like an ordinary companion or attendant. Just a bit taller.

Naturally, Kyung Jaehwan focused more on the Cheon family member, smiling and gesturing them inside.

* * *

In a separate room that felt like a sitting room, Ryubeom was served tea.

“Chrysanthemum tea…”

“It’s a specially sourced tea. I hope it suits your taste.”

Chrysanthemum tea was a common choice among the elders at the main house. Familiar with the taste, Ryubeom felt almost as if he were back with his family. Perhaps it was sourced from the same place?

“I’ve always wanted to have a conversation with you.”

“…With me?”

“Yes, you’re leading the effort to resolve the Sagwido issue. And seeing you thoroughly investigating the recent incident, I feel reassured having you.”

“Ah, yes…”

Kyung Jaehwan’s praise made Ryubeom awkwardly nod. Outsiders wouldn’t know exactly who in the Cheon family was handling the issue, but maybe he knew because he was close to the elders. Instead of feeling happy or embarrassed about being recognized as a tiger, Ryubeom felt more burdened by it.

He intended to respond appropriately and ask about the recent unusual phenomena, but Kyung Jaehwan was already excitedly talking.

“I was really angry when I heard the truth about the mermaid incident. As a human myself, I felt so disgusted with other humans. I can only imagine how angry you must have been.”

Shaking his head in frustration, he clenched his fists tightly.

“I will make sure to voice out on this matter. The Special Act on Suin has been interpreted maliciously. It’s supposed to protect humans, but it ends up oppressing the weaker Suin. We need to move towards protecting them. Aren’t Suin also citizens of this country?”

His passionate talk captured Ryubeom’s interest, and he listened intently. Kyung Jaehwan, originally from the legal field, was very knowledgeable about the laws and also skilled at promoting his ideas.

Protecting the weaker Suin and creating a world where everyone lives together.

Ryubeom recalled how Kyung Jaehwan had garnered significant support by advocating for Suin protection laws after the Han River incident. Both Ilok and Jimyo had talked about this. It was a declaration that won the favor of smaller and herbivorous Suin.

Kyung Jaehwan laughed heartily.

“In the past, the fox family ended the war between Suin and humans with a peace treaty. Now, the tiger family will take a step further to achieve coexistence and harmony!”

Speaking as if sharing a secret, he lowered his voice and cupped his hand beside his mouth.

“The fox head did nothing after making that treaty, right? It’s time for the tiger family to step up as true rulers and also take care of the weaker Suin…”

“I don’t think we should belittle the peace treaty. Stopping the war was significant.”

Ryubeom interrupted, his tone firm enough to make Kyung Jaehwan blink in surprise.

“Well, yes, but they didn’t take any follow-up measures after ending the war…”

“If the war hadn’t ended, there wouldn’t have been any follow-up measures or plans at all, would there?”

“Ah…”

“And I believe the entertainment business is achieving coexistence in line with the times. It’s known that more people have a favorable view of Suin since the business started.”

“……”

“Even if the relationship isn’t great, there’s no need to downplay their achievements.”

With a calm demeanor, Ryubeom sipped his chrysanthemum tea. Kyung Jaehwan initially seemed displeased at hearing a rebuttal from someone younger but quickly managed his expression and nodded.

Although he hadn’t seen Cheon Ryubeom at the Cheonho Foundation event until last year, this year, he had sat next to the head of the family. Moreover, he was quickly solidifying his position by resolving the Sagwido issue. No matter how young he was, a tiger was still a tiger.

“Haha, yes… Indeed. Even without comparing to the fox family, the tiger family’s prestige is unparalleled. I’m deeply moved by your inclusiveness, young master. I have much to learn.”

Despite his tone softening, there was still a subtle hint of comparison, but Ryubeom didn’t bother to nitpick. It would only prolong the conversation unnecessarily.

After feeling uncomfortable on his own for a while, Kyung Jaehwan suggested they take a walk in the garden and show him around the mansion. Wanting to inspect the area from the start, Ryubeom promptly nodded.

On their way out, Ryubeom quietly whispered to Yeohwi.

“…Sorry.”

“For what?”

“You had to hear those unwarranted criticisms. It seems he said those things because he’s close to the tiger family.”

Kyung Jaehwan seemed very close to the elders. If the elders personally came here to set up a protective barrier, it meant he had won their favor. To do so, he would have to flatter them in various ways…

Yeohwi merely gave a subtle smile at Ryubeom’s apology. He seemed about to say something but only moved his lips a couple of times before remaining silent.

As they walked through the garden, Ryubeom subtly looked around.

He intended to check for an underground warehouse but found Kyung Jaehwan sticking too close. Conscious of their earlier conflict, he was being extra courteous, explaining who made the tiles, who carved the statues, and so on.

Ryubeom tried to listen indifferently but soon felt a strange sense of familiarity and began to closely inspect the surroundings. The grand and magnificent appearance of the mansion. Though it was a modern building, it had a familiar structure, even a bamboo grove.

Remembering the chrysanthemum tea he had in the annex, Ryubeom asked.

“…Did the elders help build this mansion?”

“You’re sharp! Yes, the elders once mentioned that the Cheon family’s mansion was beautiful, like a place where immortals reside. Ever since then, I always imagined it and modeled this mansion after it.”

Kyung Jaehwan laughed, pleased that the elders had readily given advice.

“The Cheon family’s mansion must be even more beautiful. I’m sure it can’t be compared to this place. I’ve always wanted to visit it someday… but that might be too big a dream?”

Among the Suin families, those adept at spells couldn’t physically approach the main house. Even if they were in the same geographic location, only those ‘permitted’ could cross a special path to enter the main house. The Cheon family’s mansion was also accessible only to direct descendants.

While they hired humans to manage the mansion, they mostly lived within the mansion and underwent strict inspections when entering and leaving. It was said that spells were even cast to prevent internal stories from leaking outside.

As a result, only a handful of humans had ever entered the Cheon family. The tiger family maintained a uniquely mysterious status among the Suin families and could also be described as highly secretive.

Ryubeom tried to recall the humans who had visited the main house in the past.

“…If you get positive results in the upcoming presidential election, there might be an opportunity.”

“Hahaha! Actually, my earnest efforts are all because I want to visit the Cheon family! Of course, my foremost priority is the citizens.”

Kyung Jaehwan laughed heartily, leaning back. Initially, when he mentioned wanting to visit the Cheon family, it was also a subtle way of asking about his chances of success in the election.

Suddenly, Ryubeom felt odd. He had seen humans revere tigers many times, but Kyung Jaehwan’s demeanor now seemed almost like absolute worship. Was he clinging to the Cheon family’s blessing due to his great ambition?

At that moment, a man hurried over to Kyung Jaehwan and whispered something.

“Mr. Oh is going to Dampho Port… around… o’clock…”

Though whispered quietly, Ryubeom caught bits of it. Kyung Jaehwan first tried to send him away, then suddenly hardened his expression and apologized to Ryubeom.

“I’m sorry. There’s an urgent matter I need to discuss briefly.”

Ryubeom nodded readily. In fact, he was grateful Kyung Jaehwan was stepping away.

As soon as he confirmed that Kyung Jaehwan had gone behind the annex, Ryubeom began searching the garden. With the servants stepping back to avoid disturbing the homeowner’s walk, it was easier to look around.

However, the mansion was so vast that finding an underground warehouse wasn’t easy. Even after splitting up with Yeohwi to search, they couldn’t find it.

“Could it be directly under the building…?”

The previous places they checked were relatively smaller, but this one was vast and modern. So, there might be a way to access the underground only from inside the building.

Ryubeom reluctantly checked the pole in the center of the garden. He had thought it was unusual from a distance, and up close, it seemed even more peculiar.

As he slowly examined the pole, which reached up to his chest, Ryubeom’s expression subtly changed.

“…Is this really just a barrier?”

Although the pole was inscribed with spells for a barrier, the energy felt strange. Typically, barriers exude a pure, protective energy, but the more he looked at this pole, the more it felt unsettling. His body instinctively tensed, and he got goosebumps.

Yeohwi also glanced at it and tilted his head.

“It’s not an ordinary barrier. It seems there’s another spell layered inside the pole…”

He added that it was difficult to make an accurate judgment without cutting the pole open to check inside. To get a better sense of the energy, Yeohwi brought his hand closer, then quickly withdrew it with a displeased expression.

“It seems that as soon as the barrier activates, another spell will unfold with it. And it’s definitely not a good spell.”

Even a light touch made him shake his hand in discomfort.

Ryubeom blinked slowly. While his goal was to stop the Sagwido’s rampage and ultimately eliminate them, he felt a vague sense of unease.

Since Kyung Jaehwan seemed quite close to the elders, he might have received a detailed explanation about this object.

Maybe he should subtly probe…

As Ryubeom pondered and moved, he intended to search for the underground warehouse a bit more, but then he faintly heard Kyung Jaehwan’s voice from the other side.

“…That matter… now…”

Oh, this path connects to the back of the annex. The overall structure was similar to the Cheon family’s mansion, but there were differences, and he had taken the wrong path. Just as Ryubeom was about to turn back, a word caught his ear.

“I’ve informed the elders, so it should be resolved soon.”

…Elders? The elders?

As Ryubeom hesitated, Yeohwi looked at him curiously and took a step forward. In a hurry, Ryubeom grabbed and pulled him back. The position was almost like an embrace, making Yeohwi flinch slightly.