Life was like a chess game.

Every decision made, has its consequences.

Martial Kim was too familiar with this philosophy. Many times in his life, be it from cases or even martial arts battles, one wrong move and it could end everything. That is why he always drew on the same principles of Samurai duels.

All it takes is a single move, to end the fight.

One shall stand. One shall fall. Only the smartest warriors will decide the outcome before the first blade is drawn.

So even if Martial Kim had all trump cards in his hand, or even calculated every possible outcomes to corner his enemy. If he was too slow, or made one careless mistake, it’s game over. With all that has happened to Fae Fae, he could not afford even the smallest of mistakes.

That was why he had to share his information to the right people, to come up with a decision strike in the form of a plan back in the Imperial Constabulary of the Capital.

Reactions were...mixed.

“WH-WHAT!?” The Judge bolted from his desk with a scream, “YOU WANT TO ARREST THE TURQUOISE FAMILY!? OH GODS, OH HEAVENS, OH ANCESTORS SAVE ME!”

The Judge of the court was a simple man. Although he worked hard to climb up to where he was today, he was already at the age where he can’t handle any serious cases or surprises. So he didn’t mind just dealing with petty thieves and small time crooks, so long as his job record was clean enough for a worthy retirement. Or, the stress doesn’t make his blood vessels explode.

So when Martial Kim came back with a new suspect in the case, the Judge wanted to collapse in his own office and call it a day.

“Martial Kim!” He squeaked, “Y-you can’t be serious! You DO KNOW who the Turquoise Family are right!? They’re the teachers of so many high ranking people! Hell, even my superintendent's daughter is being tutored by a member of that family!”

The Judge can’t help but panic, racing around his office room trying to find something to grab on and wake him out of his possible nightmare, “The Turquoise have influences up and down the Imperial Cabinet! Even connections within the Inner Courts of the Imperial Palace for crying out loud! Martial Kim, I am just the lowest caste of the justice system – I have zero authority, nor the guts, to formally arrest the entire family! They’re not even in the Capital!”

“Not arrest, your honour,” Martial Kim tried to calm the man down, “To bring them in for questioning.”

“IT’S STILL POKING THE DAMN BEAR! I-I trust your judgment after all you’ve done for the Constabulary, bu-but please consider about my health! I am an old man! I-I don’t want my heart to give out before my youngest grandson could walk!”

Martial Kim expected this kind of reaction.

It wasn’t because the Judge was a bootlicker or the type of guy who buddies up with those in higher power to rise up the rank. He was essentially about to fight an army of lawyers.

So his fear and panic was justifiable.

The Judge gripped at his heart panting, “Fae Fae’s murder was taken place within the Capital’s jurisdiction – my jurisdiction for the love of god! It’s not like I can write a letter to North Cloud City to have THAT family come in to answer a few questions of a murder investigation! They know too many names above my head to have them all sit on my chest like an elephant!”

“If it helps to clarify things,” Martial Kim tried to explain as softly as possible. “It’s not the whole family we need. Just one. Mr. Noonien Turqoise.”

“That’s just as worse! H-he’s the rising star in the Imperial Order! H-he is said to be a running candidate to-to tutor the 11th Young Prince! D-do you want my head to roll off my shoulders at the drop of a hat!?”

“Your honour, please hear me out.”

“I-I am trying, honestly I am!” the Judge started to hack and cough.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Martial Kim said, “I understand your concerns, I truly do. If I had a choice, I too would not meddle with the Turquoise. However, the evidence is clear: Mr. Noonien Turquoise lied about not knowing Fae Fae.”

The Judge shook his head in dismay, “M-maybe he really forgot Fae Fae’s name. I forget names ALL the time. Why just the other day, I forgot the name of one or two old constables that have been in my service since I became a judge of this court house. It’s normal!”

“Martial Yellow Sister and I spoke with the hostess who took part in managing the Governor’s party at Heavenly Gardens. Fae Fae spent the whole night keeping Noonien company. While all the other girls were laughing and having poetry battles with their partners over wine, the hostess remembered Fae Fae and Noonien barely spoke a single word the entire evening.”

“...Perhaps the man was shy!?” The Judge then snapped his fingers, “I mean you mentioned before, he’s married AND his the father-in-law was present with him right? Probably keeping an eye on him, you know!”

Martial Kim cleared his throat, “The father-in-law was...too occupied with the entertainment to worry about those details. The hostess also claimed, Noonien and Fae Fae never looked at each other in the eye. They always averted their gazes. And before the party even ended, Fae Fae left early, claiming she wasn’t feeling well.”

The Judge had been pulling at his beard, wrinkling it even more. But after hearing the story, he stopped mid-pull. “...You’re suggesting they actually knew each other?”

Martial Kim added, “We also learned, Noonien Turquoise hired a horse wagon, leaving North Cloud City to arrive in the Capital. About one month before Fae Fae vanished.”

“One month...Hold on hold on.” The Judge waved his hands at this thought, “So two months before she vanished, she was invited to the Governor’s party. Noonien was also there. Then she started to be...sad, acted poorly, her boss in Celestial Dreams wanting a better girl, right?”

After getting a confirming nod from the young master, the Judge went on, “Th-then the month before she vanished, her mood went downhill even stopped taking clients. Now you’re telling me, Noonien Turquoise happened to be in the Capital city – around that same time? Wh-what are the odds, Martial Kim!?”

“I will confess,” Martial Kim didn’t know how to smooth the following words out, “Our allegations are superficial at best.”

“Oh gods give me strength.”

“All we have is ‘convenient timing’. If Noonien hired a decent solicitor, they could easily debunk our theories with ease. The hairpin is our only connection between them, and the fact it is one of a kind is a saving grace for our cause. Otherwise... we have no further evidence concrete enough.”

The Judge wheezed a sigh like a dying balloon, “I-is there anyway we could solve this problem, without losing my job!”

Martial Kim winced.

That...was a dilemma in itself. He knew it wouldn’t be easy to come up with a good enough reason to make their next step. Let alone come up with a plausible, if not enticing, bait for Noonien Turquoise to come alone to the Capital unexpected.

One chance. They had to do this right or all chances will shut their doors in fear.

..........Suddenly, Martial Kim clapped his hands together, spooking the Judge.

“Of course! Why didn’t I think of this earlier!?”

“Wh-what now Martial Kim!? Y-you nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“Fae Fae’s brother!” The young master smiled with hope, “His entire livelihood had been dependent on his sister! No matter how questionable his life choices and character may be, Fae Fae never once abandoned him. Meaning, both siblings would be close, enough to know each other’s secrets to a degree, right?”

“S-Secrets?”

“We believe Noonien Turquoise may have known Fae Fae before they met in Heavenly Gardens Hall of Pleasure, at the Governor’s party... Would the Brother know anything about them?”

“M-maybe?” The Judge uprighted himself in his chair, “Inspector Lee did mention, the Brother seems to know more than he is letting on. Not to mention, we have yet to figure out where he truly got the money from to move up in life...” His face paled, but he pointed out, “Y-you don’t think... Noonien and this unknown benefactor the brother mentioned, are one in the same right?”

Martial Kim answered, “The Palanquin Bearers mentioned masked men attacked and sabotaged their palanquin. Martial Yellow Sister and I also traced who reported them – an anonymous tip. Everything had been laid out perfectly to pin the murder on the Palanquin Bearers. Were it not for our further investigation, Fae Fae’s case may have been closed with them as the culprits.”

“...Then sweeping the whole ordeal under the carpet.”

“Exactly, your honour!” Martial Kim then bowed, “With your approval, please summon Fae Fae’s Brother into the court house for formal questioning.”

“Of course! I-it’s better than poking the bear at this point! Might as well grab the badger!” The Judge then staggered to his feet and called out to the door. “Men!”

When Constables came into the room with a bow, the Judge ordered, “Look for Inspector Lee and give him the order. Summon Fae Fae’s Brother, I want to see that man kneeling in my court room by the end of the day!”

SIR! YES SIR! The Constable then rushed out to deliver the message. Martial Kim could not help a small smile.

The answer to this mystery is only one arms reach away!