528.The highest priority is His Majesty's safety.
The air changed the moment they reached the capital of Gaegyeong.
From the gates onward, the guards' eyes were sharp.
On paper it was peacetime, yet tension was held fast at the spearpoints.
The vigilance stood without movement and endured.
Park Seong-jin reined in his horse for a moment and drew in the air once more.
The breath was thin and edged.
It resembled the air one endures in silence when a fight is about to break out within a household.
"We'll enter," Yoon Dam said briefly.
The soldiers opened the gate.
Each time hooves struck the stone, a dull sound echoed through the passage.
It was the sound of climbing onto stone.
The palace was quiet by nature, but today every sound seemed to jump.
Inside, the palace appeared calm.
Yet beneath that calm, a vortex was exposed.
They were holding on with a single thin membrane, pretending not to see a harsh reality.
The angles of the gatekeepers' waists were different.
Where their gazes lingered was different.
The footsteps of the inner attendants passing through the corridors were unnaturally light.
Everything spoke of matters already in motion.
Park Seong-jin headed toward the central hall.
Yoon Dam led, subtly slowing his pace.
It was a calculated walk to conserve time—
and partly because overlapping thoughts weighed on his steps.
As they reached the hall, a eunuch rushed out in haste.
"His Majesty has summoned Lord Park! Please, come quickly!"
It was a sign that the report had already reached the king.
While waiting briefly, Yoon Dam spoke low.
"We're in a phase of mutual tearing.
The noise will only grow."
Park Seong-jin scanned the surroundings and replied,
"It's not an easy situation."
"No."
"They're checking one another."
"They're watching one another."
A short silence followed.
Yoon Dam spoke again.
"He'll summon us soon."
"After that, I'll submit my first measures."
The hall of state affairs was not Hoegyeongjeon, but Wondeokjeon.
If Hoegyeongjeon was the grand hall for ordinary governance,
Wondeokjeon was the seat of emergency rule.
Today's choice made the urgency unmistakable.
The doors opened.
The king was more restrained with words than usual.
When Seong-jin bowed, the king nodded and motioned for him to sit.
Yoon Dam stepped forward before the throne.
"Your Majesty."
"Park Seong-jin will take charge of responding to armed backlash that may arise in the early stages of reform."
"As previously reported."
The king received the words, then looked at Seong-jin.
"Will you take this on?"
Seong-jin answered at once.
"Loyalty."
"I will carry it out as commanded."
In that short reply, the king saw no hesitation.
Seemingly satisfied, he raised his hand and ordered,
"Lord Yoon."
"Entrust the mission to Lord Park."
The moment they left the royal hall, Yoon Dam beckoned Seong-jin closer.
"Good."
"From here, I'll explain—briefly and precisely."
The corridor was long, and long shadows rippled like waves above and below.
A eunuch passing in the distance caught sight of them, lowered his eyes, and quickened his pace.
"First."
"Remain within the inner palace only."
"For the time being, movement into the city will be restricted."
"Staging points may form at any moment."
"Second."
"Monitor both the Eunuch Bureau and the military."
"They, too, may change their choices."
"There's a high chance variables will emerge tonight."
Park Seong-jin said quietly,
"Then there are already signs of interference."
Yoon Dam let out a short breath.
"All movement carries intent.
Where one lingers and whom one contacts are signals in themselves.
A sudden shift may occur."
Seong-jin asked,
"So it's the pre-organizational stage."
"You judge that even a single spark could spread instantly."
"That's right."
Yoon Dam nodded once.
"Third."
"Take charge of the northern sector between Yeonmun Gate and Sungin Gate."
"It's where shockwaves transmit first if an internal clash occurs."
"For now, that will be your post."
"The northern garden."
"The rear hill of the palace."
"Stand by in that zone and its connected points, and suppress immediately if a situation breaks."
Seong-jin nodded once.
"Fourth."
Yoon Dam lowered his voice to a near whisper.
"When it breaks…"
"…draw the first blade yourself."
A stillness fell between them, so deep that even breath seemed to settle.
"Understood."
"The highest priority is His Majesty's safety."
Seong-jin's reply was firm.
With that single sentence, the outline of the mission locked into place.