Black Corporation: Joseon

Chapter 322

When the dimwitted boy, who hadn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet, raised his voice demanding to be let into the research institute, the guard at Gwanghwamun became perplexed.

“Listen, young master. Do you know where this is? This is Gwanghwamun, the main gate of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where His Majesty the King resides. It’s a place where you’ll be in big trouble if you make reckless remarks. Now, go back home.”

At the guard’s words telling him to leave, Kim Dam took out bundles of papers from the load carried by his servant and held them out.

“These are the solutions to the problems presented by the research institute! And this is a letter of recommendation! Since the talent the Crown Prince desires has come on his own, please let me in!”

“Oh, my…”

As the guard stood there, unable to do anything in response to Kim Dam’s bold answer, the gate captain, who had been watching, stepped forward.

“Listen, young master. What do you think you’re doing, causing such a commotion in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, where His Majesty the King resides?”

“A talented person who has solved the problems presented by the research institute to recruit people has come, but isn’t it causing a commotion by blocking him? Let me in at once!”

“Well…”

Even the gate captain had a dumbfounded expression at Kim Dam’s remark. He wanted to kick Kim Dam’s behind and chase him away, but he couldn’t do that since the research institute was mentioned. He was afraid of the repercussions if Kim Dam was truly a necessary talent for the research institute.

After all, the research institute and Area 51 were organizations directly under the Crown Prince.

However, he couldn’t just let Kim Dam in either. The palace was not a place where just anyone could come and go.

“What should I do…”

As the gate captain pondered to find an answer, he saw the bundle of papers Kim Dam was holding and reached a conclusion.

“The young master says he is a talent who will work at the research institute and asks to be let in, but not just anyone can enter the palace. However, things may change if the research institute makes a decision. Did you say that bundle of papers contains the problem solutions?”

“That’s right!”

“Give them to me. I’ll take them to the research institute. Can you wait quietly next to here until the research institute makes a judgment?”

In response to the gate captain’s question, Kim Dam licked his lips and answered.

“It seems like a formality, but I will follow those words.”

“Then give me the solutions and the recommendation letter.”

“Here they are.”

The gate captain, receiving the thick bundle of papers and the recommendation letter from Kim Dam, opened the bundle to examine the contents just in case, but immediately closed them.

The numbers and symbols filling the papers made his eyes dizzy.

Quickly folding the bundle of papers again, the gate captain looked at the recommendation letter and gave a wry smile. On the envelope containing the recommendation letter, the words “Self-Recommendation Letter” were written in large characters.

‘Indeed, his boldness is unmatched in the world!’

Forcibly suppressing his laughter that was slowly leaking out, the gate captain spoke to Kim Dam.

“I will relay this to the research institute, so wait here.”

“I understand.”

***

As the gate captain entered with Kim Dam’s solution book and self-recommendation letter in hand, the ministers who had finished the morning meeting were heading towards Gwanghwamun.

When the gate captain politely saluted upon seeing the ministers, the ministers lightly responded and asked a question while looking at the bundle of papers in the gate captain’s hand.

“Did someone come again with a petition?”

“No, sir. There is a young master who came wanting to enter the research institute.”

“A young master?”

“He did boast that he was a talent absolutely necessary for the research institute, but… The judgment will be up to the research institute.”

At the gate captain’s words, the ministers nodded.

“That’s right. It’s a shame. Good work.”

“Thank you.”

The gate captain, who saluted again, walked with a swaying gait towards Eastern Palace.

Watching the gate captain’s back as he headed towards Eastern Palace, the ministers clicked their tongues and grumbled.

“What kind of lunatic is trying so hard to enter such a den of demons…”

“Indeed. The friends who used to be normal when I saw them before have all gone crazy over numbers these days… Tsk tsk tsk!”

“They were all talented people…”

Grumbling like that, the ministers crossed the threshold of Gwanghwamun and saw Kim Dam standing on one side.

“I suppose that’s the boy.”

“Oh my, at such a young age before even having his coming-of-age ceremony…”

As the ministers took turns clicking their tongues at the sight of Kim Dam wearing a black hat and looking at them, Kim Jeom walked up to Kim Dam.

“Are you the one responsible for making the gate captain take action?”

“That’s right.”

“Oh my. It seems you haven’t even had your coming-of-age ceremony yet, so wouldn’t it be better to have the ceremony first and then challenge the civil service examination?”

In response to Kim Jeom’s advice, Kim Dam answered firmly.

“They say, ‘Don’t miss a good opportunity.’ When a good opportunity has come, how can I miss it because of a mere coming-of-age ceremony?”

At Kim Dam’s unwavering answer, Kim Jeom looked at Kim Dam again.

‘His eyes are full of intelligence, he seems to be a talent…’

“I have something I’d like to ask the young master. Will you answer?”

“Please ask. If it’s an answer I can give, I will try.”

“Then, looking at the chapter on self-cultivation in the Great Learning…”

Kim Jeom asked Kim Dam various passages from the Four Books and Five Classics.

As Kim Dam answered without hesitation whenever he asked, Kim Jeom received the financial report held by his subordinate who had been following behind him and opened it to a certain part.

“Now, calculate the income and expenditure for this part.”

At Kim Jeom’s request, thrown while covering the answer with his finger, Kim Dam looked at the numbers written in the table and performed mental calculations while flicking his fingers, immediately providing the answer.

“Oh!”

Kim Jeom, who checked Kim Dam’s answer against the actual answer, involuntarily let out an exclamation.

‘It’s correct! Even senior officials in the Ministry of Finance had to lay out an abacus and double-check several times for what he solved through mental calculation! He’s a genius!’

Seeing Kim Dam’s genius, Kim Jeom’s desire began to stir.

“So, who is your honored father?”

“He is currently serving as the magistrate of Yeongju.”

“Is that so? Then you could have submitted it in writing, so why did you come all the way to Hanseong in person?”

“That’s…”

As Kim Dam, who had been answering confidently until now, hesitated, Kim Jeom inwardly exclaimed with joy.

‘I knew it! He ran away from home! What a find!’

Kim Jeom began to gently persuade Kim Dam with a subtle expression and voice.

“I have a proposal for you.”

“A proposal, you say?”

“Yes, why don’t you come to the Ministry of Finance instead of the research institute? I’ll hire you through a special appointment. The Ministry of Finance is also a place where mathematics is important, so you can freely show off your skills. Moreover, it’s the most important national affair, dealing with the country’s finances, so it’s the most important position among important positions. If you work in such a ministry, how pleased would your honored father be? You can boast about your talent and also fulfill your filial duty, so how wonderful is that?”

“I prefer not just doing calculations but seeking the truth hidden within mathematics.”

“Haha! That’s important too. However, isn’t thoroughly managing the country’s finances also a truly important task? What do you think? How much longer until your coming-of-age ceremony?”

“It’s in February next year.”

At Kim Dam’s answer, Kim Jeom’s face brightened even more.

“Not much time left! First, go back home. Come back up after having your coming-of-age ceremony, and I’ll immediately appoint you through a special appointment! How about it?”

“But I…”

“You sneaked up here this time too, right?”

“…”

As Kim Dam couldn’t answer, Kim Jeom began to cast the bait again.

“What is the foremost of filial acts? It is to put your parents’ minds at ease…”

“Stop right there!”

At the sudden shout, Kim Jeom closed his mouth and looked to where the voice came from. There, Jeong-cho was glaring at him with a red face.

“Minister! Do you know what gets the most curses in the world? Secretly snatching away someone else’s possession! A gentleman should not do such a thing and should not even think of doing it!”

“I haven’t even stamped the seal yet, so how is it snatching?”

As Kim Jeom joked, Jeong-cho, who had walked over with big strides, pulled Kim Dam firmly to his side and retorted.

“I stamped the seal! Satisfied?”

“Tsk… If the young master changes his mind, come find me anytime. The door to the Ministry of Finance is always wide open.”

“Minister!”

At Jeong-cho’s shout, Kim Jeom immediately turned his body and disappeared into the Ministry of Finance building.

“That greedy bastard… Tsk!”

Clicking his tongue, Jeong-cho turned to Kim Dam.

“Are you the one who wrote and submitted the answers?”

“That’s right. I am Kim Dam from Yeongju.”

“Nice to meet you. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

Jeong-cho took Kim Dam and headed to the research institute located in Eastern Palace.

***

Those who greeted Kim Dam upon his arrival at the research institute were the researchers, starting with Hyang.

“His Highness the Crown Prince.”

At Jeong-cho’s introduction, Kim Dam immediately prostrated and bowed deeply.

After the brief introduction, Hyang got straight to the point.

“I reviewed the problem solutions you submitted. Out of the five problems, you got the correct method and answer for three, got both the method and answer wrong for one, and got the method right but the answer wrong for one. Take a look.”

At Hyang’s gesture, an eunuch returned the bundle of papers Kim Dam had submitted. The bundle had red writing pointing out the incorrect parts.

Examining the corrections and recalculating, Kim Dam turned to Hyang.

“I think the corrections to the solutions are wrong.”

“The corrections are wrong?”

“Yes.”

“Manager Lee.”

“Yes!”

At Hyang’s call, Lee Soonji stepped forward with a rough breath and answered.

After that, Lee Soonji and Kim Dam engaged in a heated discussion for a while regarding the problems and solutions.

Watching them, Jeong-cho turned to Hyang with a pleased face.

“It seems a quite decent talent has entered.”

At Jeong-cho’s words, Hyang also nodded with a smile.

“It seems so.”

Jeong Inji, who overheard their conversation next to them, muttered to himself.

‘Not a talent, but another eccentric just like Manager Lee has entered, hasn’t it?’

In the midst of that, the heated discussion came to an end.

“I had been thinking incorrectly. Thank you for pointing it out.”

“It’s a mistake that immediately occurs when one’s mindset becomes lax. Therefore, when pursuing a solution, one must always maintain a firm mindset.”

“Thank you for the profound teaching.”

Kim Dam, who expressed his gratitude to Lee Soonji, bowed his head to Hyang.

“Please forgive my rude behavior towards Your Highness.”

“It’s alright.”

“Then, have I failed?”

At Kim Dam’s question, Hyang shook his head with a slight smile.

“You are ranked first among those who have passed so far.”

At Hyang’s words, Kim Dam’s face brightened. With a wide smile, Kim Dam hurriedly bowed deeply to Hyang.

“I am deeply grateful! I will serve with all my heart and soul!”

At Kim Dam’s words, Hyang corrected one fact.

“You won’t immediately start practical work. First, you need to receive education.”

“Education, you say?”

“If you learn and pass a higher level of mathematics, you will be assigned to practical work.”

At the words ‘a higher level of mathematics,’ Kim Dam’s face brightened even more.

“I will do my best!”

“Then first, follow Manager Yi and take a look around the research institute’s facilities. In the meantime, I need to write your certificate of acceptance.”

“Yes!”

At Hyang’s order, Kim Dam excitedly followed behind Lee Soonji. After sending Kim Dam out like that, Hyang turned to Jeong-cho.

“No matter how you look at it, it seems he ran away from home, doesn’t it?”

“It seems so.”

“I should write the certificate of acceptance myself. At least to lessen the scolding he will receive.”

“That would be the best indeed.”

***

Meanwhile, Kim Dam, who was following behind Lee Soonji and observing various things in the research institute, continuously let out exclamations of admiration and asked questions.

“Wow! What is the principle behind this device?”

“What is the equation that becomes the principle of the pressure gauge?”

Whenever Kim Dam asked a question, Lee Soonji answered without hesitation.

“The principle of this… If expressed in an equation…”

While explaining to Kim Dam like that, Lee Soonji opened the door to the last room.

“This is where we are currently putting the most effort.”

“Wow!”

Seeing the scene inside the room, Kim Dam involuntarily let out an exclamation of joy.

On one wall of the room, created by opening up two large rooms, a huge chalkboard stretched from end to end, and all sorts of equations were written all over it.

As if enchanted, Kim Dam stared at the equations and turned to Lee Soonji.

“What is it calculating?”

“They are equations for designing a bridge to be laid across a river.”

“A bridge, you say?”

“Yes. Stone bridges or moon bridges cannot be built over large rivers. So we plan to build bridges using steel and concrete. Those equations are the calculation formulas necessary for its success. If these equations are properly completed, we will be able to build bridges over all the famous large rivers in Joseon, including the Hansu (Han River). That is the current goal of our research institute. If you successfully complete the education, you will also be immediately assigned to this project.”

At Lee Soonji’s words, Kim Dam immediately replied.

“I will do my best!”

***