As True as a Dream

Someone thought that Mr. Hongo’s ability to manage the Song Yue Pavilion was so great that he offered to change jobs several times, but was turned down.

 

It was truly an impregnable fortress.

 “If it’s because of the policeman’s death, they can investigate to their heart’s content, but what am I needed for?” “I also brought an invitation from Governor Saito.” 

Yi Ho laughed mockingly at Hongo’s answer and got up from his seat.

 

No matter how uninterested he was in outside affairs, he was the master of Song Yue Pavilion, so he had to do what he had to do.

 

Before walking out the door, Yi Ho rolled down the sleeves of his shirt and buttoned his vest properly.

 

Meanwhile, Hongo retrieved the fox mask he’d placed over his bamboo feet.

 “Hae-Joo.” 

Yi Ho called to Hae-Joo, who had watched the proceedings with bated breath as he placed the mask on his face.

 “I’m not done talking to you yet, so wait.” 

Yi Ho turned and left the private room.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Hae-Joo, who remained alone in the room, stared at the painting on the table.

 

“I thought… it was the real thing.”

 

Muttering to herself, Hae-Joo couldn’t believe her eyes.

 

“You said it was the real thing, Dad…”

 

Hae-Joo remembered the day eight years ago when her father brought her the Guishan Dao.

 

That day, he had gone to the city and was very excited to have gotten his hands on a very old painting.

 

He told her that the painting called Guishan Dao was the real thing and worth a lot of money, but she didn’t believe him.

 

Her father was an eccentric man who claimed that several

“fakes”

that looked like the

“real thing”

were worth more than the

“real thing”

.

 

“Who cares about the real thing when I can make a fake that looks more real than the real thing?”

 

His confidence was always sky-high and impenetrable.

 

So she didn’t trust him anymore.

 

The father he bought for 12 yuan is not the kind of person who would praise the real thing like that!

 

When she didn’t listen to him, her father opened the painting to show her that it was the real thing.

 

Hae-Joo looked at the painting in disbelief and was stunned.

 

It was the terrifying life and darkness that poured out of the painting.

 

Whether she caught a cold from the sudden cold weather or was frightened by the painting, she had a high fever for more than a month and a half that night.

 

When she recovered, the painting was gone.

 

He said he got rid of it.

 

She forgot about it until, after he died, she saw it again while cleaning out a storage room.

 

It was still eerie and repulsive, but fortunately it didn’t shock and frighten her as it had when she was younger.

 

She wondered why it was there if he had gotten rid of it, but didn’t give it much thought.

 

Hae-joo put the painting back into storage and left for Gyeongseong soon after.

 

It wasn’t a good memory, and she didn’t think she would ever see it again.

 

That’s why when she heard the name Guishan Dao at Mrs. Na’s soup restaurant, she didn’t immediately remember it without feeling familiar.

 

She rubbed her hand over a small piece of paper on the table, a dusty reminder of the past.

 

It was the kanji Qi (起) that Yangbu used to use as his marker.

 

According to Yi Ho, the Guishan Dao disappeared from an auction house eight years ago in October.

 

It was also eight years ago, in January, that her father returned with the painting.

 

End of October to be exact.

 

The thought crossed her mind that her father might have stolen the painting from the auction house, but Hae-Joo quickly dismissed the possibility.

 

It takes two days to get from the village to the mansion, no matter how fast you drive.

 

That day, her father left early in the morning and returned at dusk.

 

So where did the painting come from that her father had excitedly brought back as the

“real thing”

?

 

Why did he suddenly get rid of it? Where had the “real thing” gone?

 

Why did he paint the great masterpiece when he said he had gotten rid of the Guishan Dao?

 

Hae-Joo’s head was spinning with questions.

 

What the hell is this Guishan Dao?

 

Why did Ban Yi Ho spend so much money to find it?

 

After settling in a small village, her father said he would no longer do dangerous work and followed the villagers to work in the fields.

 

The forgeries in the warehouse he left behind were just a small hobby.

 

Even before he died, he was devoted to her.

 “Don’t think of taking a risky job to make money from the stuff in the warehouse.” 

He even told her to burn it all down.

 

She valued her life above all else, so she took her father’s wishes to heart.

 

Even when she went to the small village to get the Guishan Dao, she didn’t think that she was violating his wishes.

 

It would be dangerous to give the painting to anyone who wanted it as a reward!

 

Besides, she believed that the Guishan Dao was the real thing, so there was no need to get involved in any shenanigans.

 

But the bottom line is this.

 “It was a fake…” 

Her lips curled into a smile as she looked down at the wretched footstool with the cut off ears.

 “Find the real Guishan Dao, and that’s all your responsibility.” “Where the hell am I supposed to go to find the painting…” 

A look of frustration crossed Hae-Joo’s face as she was overwhelmed by her own frustration.

 

She had no choice.

 

The debt of life, the light of loss, and the debt of responsibility.

 

She had said that she would take responsibility if the painting was not authentic.

 

She had already said that she would do everything in her power.

 

She meant it.

 

Now it was kill or be killed.

 

***

 

Hongo’s office.

 “[If you have any suspicions about the investigation, please feel free to tell me, I will cooperate fully].” 

Lord Sasaki nodded with a solemn face as he faced the fox-masked Yi Ho.

 “[From what I hear, there’s something called a “Curse in the Song Yue Pavilion.”]” 

To Inspector Sasaki’s casual tone, Yi Ho replied lazily.

 “[That’s what pompous people who like to draw attention to themselves say].” “[Is this something that hasn’t happened?]” “[It’s hard to say, given all that has happened].” 

Yi Ho’s red lips curved gently.

 “[You’re saying that even though you’re the master of Song Yue Pavilion, you don’t know about it?]” “[I’m sorry. You know, curses are such a mysterious phenomenon, I can’t explain it in words, but I have this idea. This land has been passed down from generation to generation, and I wonder if some ancestral deity is looking out for its descendants. Funny, isn’t it, in this day and age].” 

Inspector Sasaki frowned sharply at Yi H’s ridiculous comment.

 “[Are you joking with me, Mr. Ban].” “[Of course not, I was being serious].” 

Yi Ho leaned back against the back of the velvet sofa and struck a “serious” pose.

 

Then he picked up the coffee cup in front of him and took a sip, ignoring Inspector Sasaki’s glare.

 “[Sir, you should try it. Our coffee tastes very good].” 

YiHo brought the cup of coffee to his lips once more and hid the sarcasm in the corner of his mouth.

 

He regretted that he hadn’t left all his valuables in the secret room with enough to cover his tracks in the future.

 

The hostility that this man, Inspector Kawamata Sasaki, so openly displayed in his attempt to crush him slowly stirred the animal instinct within him.

 “[I hear you have an invitation for me?]” 

Not wanting to waste any more time, Yi Ho struck first.

 

Then, to his displeasure, Inspector Sasaki fished an envelope out of his stomach and held it out to him.

 “[Next Saturday, there is a birthday party for His Excellency the Governor General, why don’t you show your face then, Chairman Ban, didn’t you also miss the previous welcome party for His Excellency the Governor General, saying that you weren’t feeling well?]” “[Oh. Then the gift should be in cash?]” 

Yi Ho, who was flipping the envelope around in his hand, curled his mouth into a tight line and asked.

 

Inspector Sasaki’s already unpleasant face twisted in displeasure.

 “[Chairman Ban, what do you mean?]” “[It’s just like you heard, didn’t you mean something like that?]” “[… Is there any good in tearing off your face like that, Mr. Ban?]” “[Of course not, I am a businessman and prefer practical talks. How much should I prepare to satisfy His Excellency, the Governor General?]” 

Before Yi Ho could finish his sentence, Inspector Sasaki slapped the table roughly.

 “[Chairman Ban, watch your mouth, you’re so arrogant you don’t know what time it is!]” 

Inspector Sasaki glared at Yi Ho with such ferocity that he looked like he was about to wield a bayonet.

 

But Yi Ho’s gentle smile was all that remained.

 “[There’s not much of a background.]” “[You don’t know where to look if you want to do business on the streets of this city, you don’t know where to be loyal, you don’t know how high in the sky you are, and you’re going to get yourself killed!]” 

Inspector Sasaki raised his voice as if he were the master of the house, his forehead furrowed.

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