### Chapter 23: The Port Trap
When the Crown Prince and his crew were walking off into the streets of Hanyang, the Crown Prince turned to Woon.
“So, when are you people going off to have a drink with the Chief State Minister?” the Crown Prince asked.
“Well, I’m not going,” Woon replied bluntly.
“Oh, and don’t misunderstand—it’s not out of loyalty to anyone. I just don’t like being ordered around by a group of old geezers.”
The Crown Prince smiled and asked them, “Have any of you heard about the Karkhu tribe?”
“Yes,” Chae-woo replied.
“They live in the Hamgyong wilderness. Their soldiers are extremely strong, and—”
Pung cut him off mid-sentence.
“I also heard that they have strange abilities.”
“They are light-footed, which means they can outrun anyone, and their healing abilities are beyond match,” Woon added.
“You speak as though you know them,” the Crown Prince remarked.
“My father taught me,” Woon replied.
“Your father indeed knew far too many things for a mountain hunter,” the Crown Prince interjected.
“Meanwhile, prepare yourselves for tonight. I hope we catch those port officers.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” they replied.
Meanwhile, at the Hanyang port, three officers gathered in their office.
“Why did you call us out at this time of day?” the second officer asked.
“Hear me out. I’ve brought us another venture—some businessmen,” the first officer replied.
The third officer interjected, “You know it’s too risky! The head of the merchant guild already told us that we shouldn’t deal with outsiders. What if—”
The first officer cut him off.
“We’re guards, and we have legal backing as officers. Plus, it’s just a one-time thing.”
“How much is he paying for the swords, spears, and arrows you’ve gathered here, plus this map?” the second officer asked, pointing at the contraband.
“And who are they?”
“I don’t know who they are, but they’re paying well—a deposit of five hundred silver taels, and we can extract even more from them,” the first officer replied.
“No, that’s too risky,” the third officer insisted.
“Trust me. We do it once, share the money amongst ourselves, and nobody will ever know,” the first officer urged.
“Besides, all of us have gambling debts. If we don’t pay up, you know how it ends.”
“Only this once, without the union,” both officers agreed.
“Of course,” the first officer replied as they sat down to finalize their plan.
That same night, around the Hour of the Pig (10:00 PM), the Crown Prince, Woon, Chae-woo, and Pung arrived at the gisaeng house.
They waited over drinks until Mr. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Park arrived and handed a letter to the Crown Prince.
“What does it say?” Pung asked.
“He says we should meet him at the port of Hanyang,” the Crown Prince replied.
They exited the gisaeng house.
The Crown Prince handed a wooden box to Mr.
Park to carry as they mounted their horses.
When they arrived at the port, they were greeted by the port officers.
Chae-woo subtly rode apart from the main group.
“You’re here, *Nari*,” the first port officer said.
“Of course. We agreed on three days, and those three days have arrived,” the Crown Prince replied.
“Where are the weapons and maps we agreed upon?”
“What do you need those for?” the second officer asked.
“Didn’t your colleague tell you that our agreement involved asking no questions?” the Crown Prince countered.
The first officer cleared his throat.
“Well, *Nari*, we agreed on no questions between us, but my colleagues were not there when we made that deal.”
“So, are you asking for more money?” Pung asked sharply.
“Don’t take it like that, *Nari*,” the first officer replied smoothly.
The Crown Prince signaled to Mr.
Park, who stepped forward and handed over the wooden box.
The moment the officers opened it, their jaws dropped at the sight of the silver.
“Do you like it?” the Crown Prince asked.
“Of course, *Nari*,” the officers replied greedily.
“Well, enjoy it, because more surprises are on the way,” the Crown Prince said with a subtle smile.
“Now, where are the weapons?”
The officers lifted the heavy lid of a large wooden chest.
Inside lay swords, military maps, and various pieces of army equipment.
“Very nice,” the Crown Prince noted.
“Take the weapons and leave,” the first officer said.
“We will be on our way, and if you need us again, you know where to find us.”
As the officers turned to leave, the Crown Prince called out, “Remember I told you I had more surprises?”
“Yes, *Nari*?” they asked, turning back.
Pung let out a sharp whistle.
Instantly, Chae-woo and the detachment of soldiers he had positioned in secret surged forward, surrounding the entire port.
The officers were trapped, while the remaining royal guards moved in to raid the illegal contraband operations across the docks.
“You’ll find out soon enough,” the Crown Prince replied.
“Have them taken to the Royal Bureau of Investigation!” he commanded.
Chae-woo and the soldiers swiftly bound the three port officers and prepared to transport them.
“Mr. Park, you go with them,” the Crown Prince added.
“Y-yes, *Nari*,” Mr.
Park stammered, following the guards in absolute terror.
Turning to Pung and Woon, the Crown Prince said, “Let us go and inform my father.”
As they rode toward the palace, Pung asked, “Your Highness, why the sudden interest in the Karkhu tribe? You asked about them earlier.”
“Don’t think too much about it,” the Crown Prince replied evasively.
“For now, let us focus on the matters at hand.”
Upon reaching the palace, the Crown Prince met with the King and briefed him on the night’s raid.
The following morning at the royal court assembly, the King addressed the gathered ministers.
“Late last night, the Crown Prince and the *Saheonbu* arrested and detained a group of port officers who were aiding smugglers and bringing illegal weapons into Hanyang. Therefore, we shall all proceed to the Royal Bureau of Investigation, where they are currently held. I shall oversee the interrogation myself.”
“Yes, *Jeonha*,” the ministers answered in unison.
When the King and his ministers arrived at the Royal Bureau of Investigation, the three port officers were loudly denying all charges.
“*Jeonha*, believe us!” one of them shrieked from the torturous leg-screwing chair.
The King raised his hand, and the torturers immediately stopped.
“Are you claiming that you were framed by the men I sent?” the King asked coldly.
“Yes, *Jeonha*!” the three port officers cried out.
*Bad mistake,* the Right State Minister thought to himself, shaking his head in silent disbelief.
“So… you mean my son framed you?” the King asked softly.
“Yes, *Jeonha*!” the three officers wailed—just as the heavy reality of their words sank in.
They froze, trembling violently.
At that exact moment, the Crown Prince walked into the hall accompanied by his guards: Pung, Woon, and Chae-woo.
The port officers began to shake uncontrollable panic as memories of the previous night’s deal flashed through their minds.
Beside the guards, Mr.
Park fell flat to the ground in terror.
*So he was the Crown Prince all along!* Mr.
Park realized internally, his heart pounding against his ribs.
The Crown Prince looked down at the officers and smiled faintly.
“I told you officers that I had another surprise for you.”