**Chapter 17: The Shadow of the Crown**
The Chief Royal Guard led the three new recruits to the East Palace to pay their respects to the Crown Prince.
When they arrived in the training courtyard, the heavy swish of a steel blade echoed off the stone walls.
The Crown Prince was in the middle of a solitary sword drill.
“Your Highness,” the Chief Royal Guard greeted softly, clearing his throat.
Pung, Woon, and Chae-woo immediately bowed low in reverence.
Without a word, the Crown Prince finished his sequence, reached into a wooden rack to draw a second steel sword, and tossed it straight toward Woon.
“You are known as the Armor Ripper,” the Crown Prince commanded, raising his own blade.
“Show me what you can do.”
The Prince lunged forward, swinging his sword in a rapid flurry of strikes.
Woon drew his blade just in time, parrying and deflecting each blow with quiet precision, refusing to strike back.
Watching the dangerous clash, Chae-woo leaned toward the Chief Royal Guard and whispered frantically, “*Nari*… did we do something wrong?”
“Do not worry,” the Chief Guard replied smoothly.
“This is standard procedure for candidates about to join the King’s *Seohonbu*.”
“If you only defend and never strike,” the Crown Prince yelled, increasing the speed of his attacks, “how do you expect to protect the King?”
Woon’s eyes snapped.
Driven by sheer instinct, he shifted his weight, swept his blade forward with terrifying force, and struck the Crown Prince’s guard so hard that the heavy recoil sent the Prince crashing to the stone floor.
Before Woon could take another step, a cold edge rested against his throat.
The Chief Royal Guard had crossed his sword against Woon’s neck, forcing him to freeze.
“You did well, San Woon,” the Prince called out from the ground.
Grinning, he picked himself up and brushed the dust from his fine robes, letting out a ringing laugh.
Woon, Pung, and Chae-woo bowed deeply as the Prince sheathed his sword.
Later that night, the Chief Royal Guard entered the King’s private study, dropping to one knee.
“*Jeonha*,” the Chief Guard began, “there is still very little I have managed to uncover about them. Min Chae-woo is a reliable, standard soldier who genuinely wishes to serve the country. But Lee Pung and San Woon… they are like shallow waters that carry the depth to swallow a mountain.”
The King chuckled softly.
“Is that so? Continue to keep a close eye on them. We will formally establish the office of the *Seohonbu* tomorrow, but until they prove themselves fully worthy, they cannot be introduced to the elite inner circle.”
“Understood, *Jeonha*.”
Across the capital of Hanyang, inside the estate of the Chief State Minister, a secret gathering of high-ranking faction leaders was underway.
“I heard that skilled Japanese swordsmen are living in disguise within Joseon,” the Chief State Minister said, addressing the Minister of War.
“Is this true?”
“*Dae-gam*,” the Minister of War replied in a low voice, “they were captured as prisoners during the fall of Goryeo. I currently have them locked away in a secure dungeon.”
“I shall pay them a visit very soon,” the Chief State Minister declared.
“If I may ask, *Dae-gam*… why visit foreign prisoners?” the Minister of War inquired.
The Chief State Minister took a slow sip of his tea.
“Goryeo has fallen, and Joseon has risen. We shouldn’t keep exceptional fighters locked in a cage.”
“What are you implying, *Dae-gam*?” the Minister of Personnel interjected.
“There is nothing more dangerous than a wild beast left in a cage,” the Chief State Minister replied, his eyes narrowing.
“We shall turn them into our off-the-record warriors.”
“Understood, *Dae-gam*,” the ministers answered in unison.
That same night, at a secluded bay along the Han River, a second covert meeting was taking place.
The Right State Minister, the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Public Works, and the heads of the capital merchant guilds stood beneath the cover of pitch-black darkness.
“*Dae-gam*,” the Minister of Justice reported, “unregistered silver, gold, and regional maps arrived in Hanyang today from Ming traders.”
“Have you distributed the shipments?” the Right State Minister asked, turning to the guild masters.
“Yes, *Dae-gam*,” the head merchants replied.
“Everything has been safely moved.”
“Good,” the Right State Minister said.
“And keep a watchful eye on the Minister of the Royal Secretariat. I do not know what task the King assigned him, but it has been a long time since he left the capital, and no one has seen him since.”
“We will track his movements, *Dae-gam*.”
High officials and state ministers stood in formation to debate state policy and national security.
“It has come to my knowledge that certain merchant groups are illegally importing military-grade iron and weapons,” the King announced, his voice booming through the court.
“Why is this still occurring? Chief State Minister!”
The Chief State Minister stepped forward, bowing deferentially.
“*Jeonha*… perhaps old age is catching up with this old servant. I shall see to it personally that these operations are shut down and everyone involved is arrested.”
“That will not be necessary,” the King interrupted coldly.
“The Crown Prince will take charge of hunting down these rats.”
The Left State Minister immediately stepped out of line, raising his hands in protest.
“But *Jeonha*! The Crown Prince must focus on his classical studies inside the palace walls! He is far too young for such field operations!”
“Yes, *Jeonha*!” the rest of the ministers echoed in protest.
“Enough! Hold your tongues!” the King roared, slamming his hand on the throne armrest.
“If I hear even a whisper of disobedience again, you will be charged with high treason! Come in!”
The heavy double doors of the assembly hall burst open.
The Crown Prince marched into the court dressed in striking royal blue robes.
Directly behind him walked Pung, Woon, and Chae-woo, clad in sleek, pitch-black shadow uniforms.
They halted before the dais, bowing first to the King and then turning to face the stunned assembly of ministers.
“These men constitute the *Seohonbu*, an elite unit I have officially established today,” the King proclaimed, looking over the silent court.
“They answer directly to the Crown Prince. Any obstruction against them is an obstruction against me—and any obstruction against me is treason. Ministers, you will assist them to the best of your abilities.”
“*Jeonha*…” the ministers chorused, bowing low despite the visible tension in the room.
As the morning assembly dispersed, the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of War walked alongside the Chief State Minister down the palace steps.
“Run a full background check on those officers assigned to the Crown Prince,” the Chief State Minister muttered, his eyes fixed on the black-robed trio in the distance.
“Let us see how we can turn them to our side.”
“Right away, *Dae-gam*,” both ministers replied.
The Chief State Minister paused, a dark expression settling over his face.
*The Seohonbu…* he thought bitterly.
*How did the King manage to slip an entire secret unit right past my eyes?*