Chapter 366. The Council Hall of the Regent's Office 2
Youngwoo spoke slowly.
"I have a request. Arrest whoever was behind this and punish them according to the law. And I would like to be informed of the result."
His voice was not loud.
Yet each word seemed to strike the pillars of the hall and return.
"At the very least, arrest the one who planned it, the one who gave the order, and the one who commanded the men on the ground."
Youngwoo looked around the room.
His gaze touched each face briefly.
"Of course, I assume there are people in this room who were involved as well."
Several men flinched.
Even the crackling of the brazier suddenly seemed loud.
Youngwoo continued in a low voice.
"It is truly regrettable that things have come to this. But it would be difficult to discuss anything else before this matter is corrected. I understand such things take time, but I would prefer that it not take longer than one day from now."
He turned toward Go Youngchang.
"Arrest them regardless of rank or status. And please do not cut off the tail or put forward an innocent scapegoat."
Go Youngchang's face hardened.
Go Hoewon kept both hands on his knees and pressed his lips together.
The younger officers exchanged uneasy glances, while the clerks kept their eyes fixed on the ledgers.
Youngwoo rose from his seat.
The chair scraped across the floor, the sound dragging through the hall.
Then, with internal power behind his voice, he growled low.
"Do you understand?"
Everyone in the hall shuddered at once.
It felt as though a tiger had let out a low roar right beside them.
No one answered immediately.
"If you do not handle it, I will do it myself.
Investigation is not my specialty, so I imagine I will be rather clumsy and rough about it.
I would prefer that innocent third parties not get dragged into the process."
Go Youngchang slapped the table.
A sharp tak echoed through the hall.
"Are you threatening us?"
Youngwoo looked at him with his mouth slightly open and his eyes widened in exaggerated surprise.
Their gazes met.
Go Youngchang soon lowered his eyes.
He could not bear to hold Youngwoo's stare for long.
Youngwoo's gaze was straight and deep as a blade.
That terrifying line of intent seemed to pierce all the way into his soul.
Youngwoo slowly nodded.
"Yes. I am threatening you. If you do nothing, prepare yourselves. I will administer justice personally."
Then he stood abruptly.
No one in the council hall dared stop him.
Youngwoo opened the door and walked out.
As he was leaving, he turned his head toward Go Hoewon.
"Ah. I told you to clear everything out, but there is still some trash left behind. You will have it cleaned up completely before evening, won't you?"
Go Hoewon gave a grave nod.
Something had gone badly wrong.
This man was supposedly an officer from Goryeo, yet instead of moving within the rules and procedures of officialdom, he behaved like some rough martial wanderer from the jianghu.
But behind that roughness lay the actual strength and resolve to cut people down.
That was what made him frightening.
Go Hoewon rose and followed him outside.
When Youngwoo came after him, Go Hoewon hurried to explain.
"We moved as quickly as we could, but there was not enough time. Once the sun rose, I ordered everyone to stop what they were doing and leave."
Youngwoo nodded.
"Thank you. It is good that we will not have to clash again. Ahaha."
The laugh was light.
The meaning was not.
Go Hoewon understood that perfectly.
He slowed his steps slightly and said in a low voice,
"I ask for your forgiveness and understanding."
Youngwoo let out a long breath.
"Whew. Let us talk about forgiveness after the necessary work has been done. Asking for understanding while doing nothing is too much. I want to see visible signs of reflection, actual improvements, and a detailed plan for what will be done afterward."
Go Hoewon lowered his head.
He was at a loss.
He had not committed the deed himself.
Yet he was now in a position where he had to bear responsibility for all of it.
Go Youngchang would never admit that he had given the order.
And Go Hoewon could hardly denounce him as the culprit either.
At least for the moment, military power in Liaoyang was in Go Youngchang's hands.
He had originally served as Xiao Baoxian's personal military officer.
No one knew Liaoyang's military affairs better than he did.
He knew the troops inside the city, the gate towers, the warehouses, the weapons stores, even the names of many of the soldiers stationed at each gate.
That knowledge had been crucial in driving Xiao Baoxian out.
In effect, he was now the leader of the rebellion in Liaoyang.
Balhae was the cause.
The sword was in his hand.
Go Hoewon knew that.
And because he knew it, he could not speak the man's name here.
Youngwoo's demand was not unreasonable.
Assassins had emerged from a house that had taken him in as a guest.
He was merely demanding that those behind the attack be identified.
But if the trail led directly to the man who held Liaoyang's military power, then exposing the truth would split the city's new order before it had even begun.
After a long silence, Go Hoewon answered,
"Understood. I will do so."
The real problem was that Yi Youngwoo clearly understood all of this and was threatening them anyway.
He had formalized the matter and demanded a public resolution despite knowing exactly where the trail might lead.
And if they failed to act, he had deliberately created the impression that he would take personal revenge.
If that was not a threat, what was?
Youngwoo stopped in the middle of walking away and turned around.
"Every matter needs a deadline and someone responsible for it. By this time tomorrow. General Go Youngchang would be suitable as the officer in charge. I would rather not hear anyone later claiming that this person was there or that person was not."