Joseon X-Files - Secret Book
Episode 3
Aww...
Take this.
Cheon, these fellows here are from Hanyang, you know?
Can you... Can you hear me?
Get up, will you? How long have you been there?
Who are you?
I thought I told you not to allow anyone in?
I am Kim Hyeongdo of the Office of Inspector-General.
We were led here by talebearing regarding a particularly odd patient...
I am Park Daesu of the Royal Dispensary.
And what could a Royal Dispensary officer be doing here...
After taking a glance at him, you still can't imagine why?
What kind of ailment is this?
Would it have come to this, if I could describe its nature?
As it could spread to anyone making contact with him,
I suggest you leave.
At the very best, he will only have about a month to live.
When he perishes, an autopsy may finally answer our questions.
It's a curse!
My death was planned from the very beginning!
They might...
be plotting to get rid of us all.
Covet that, and its heinous curse will be upon you!
- WITH S2 Presents -
JOSEON X-FILES: Secret Book - Episode 3: The Curse of Shilla's Gold -
Aigoo! There she is.
So have you seen that man?
A Royal Dispensary officer was all too eager to see us out,
so I could not see much.
But what on earth happened to him?
We still don't know any details,
but there might be a connection with this.
It's a local record of all the bizarre occurrences over the years.
It's all about odd births.
Odd births?!
Be it livestock or humans,
this region has seen its share of peculiar births over the years.
Then, are you suggesting that he was born that way?
No, he's only been suffering from that as of late.
By "as of late," you mean...
Right after that curse made its mark.
Ahh, I apologize...
Water... Can I have some water?
- Curse, you said? - Yes, curse.
That's what this record suggests.
So what on earth are we talking about here?
Recently, a thousand-geun* gold bullion was discovered in the area.
*1 geun = approx. 222 grams
The first to discover the gold was exactly that man in the cave.
Seemingly,
that man named Cheon Seokbeom had a bizarre dream one night,
directing him to where the bullion had been buried.
Not only Cheon, all the petty officials who came into contact with the gold...
have been manifesting strange reactions ever since.
So all those officials are in the same condition as Cheon Seokbeom?
That's what is even stranger,
as Cheon was the only one to be so severely affected.
It's a curse! I was cursed...
Despite discovering that gold,
Cheon only alerted the authorities two months after the fact.
He clearly attempted to appropriate the gold,
but when he discovered its effects on him, that's when he reported it.
By then, his face was already starting to be ravaged.
So the gold was responsible for doing that to him?
That is for us to discover.
By now, the gold would have reached the capital.
After passing through the Board of Taxation,
it will probably be pledged to His Majesty as a tribute.
There is somewhere we need to go.
Up there where you see those stakes,
that's where the gold was found.
Are you perchance seeing ghosts, Magistrate Jang?
I sure am.
Two on the left, and another two on the other side.
- What are they doing there? - Enough with that palaver, will you?
Aigoo... Where do you think you're going?
Should I not verify what is there?
But, wait!
Ehh... You as well?
It would be wiser to remain here.
No need to worry.
Take a look.
It's not even a beach,
but the entire place is surrounded by sand alone.
I suggest you observe it from here.
Ahh... really, you people...
So why take us here in the first place?
Didn't she just tell you that the gold was cursed?
What, cursed?!
Sure, then, let's suppose a curse inhabits those premises.
Now that the gold has been removed from there,
wouldn't it be like getting rid of a rotten tooth?
The curse's ominous energy might still be haunting that place.
Wouldn't that be all the better?
We had no way of knowing the true nature of that curse,
but now I shall take the opportunity...
to experience that energy firsthand.
You only say that because you don't know what you're dealing with.
That is...
There's no convincing him...
You've finally realized that?
And you call this a curse?
Naeuri!!
So... What happened?
You lost your senses there.
What did you feel?
What are you referring to?
About that energy which assaulted you.
What can I say...
I really can't explain,
but it suddenly felt as if something was possessing me...
Enough.
No need to make it up.
Have you always been so stubborn?
You're lucky it was only this much.
I'll get going, then.
Where are you going?
Cheon Seokbeom...
has perished.
That Dispensary officer is doing an autopsy on his body.
All his blood has putrefied,
clogged and stiff like fresh animal blood,
while all his major organs were in a state of decay.
I have never witnessed such a heinous ailment before.
What could the causes be?
I wonder...
From cholera to cancer, I witnessed every ailment known to man,
but I still haven't figured out what could be behind this.
Then,
if it's truly an inexplicable death,
I suppose a curse might be plausible.
Still, isn't it peculiar?
I never really got the feeling it would be such a swift demise.
Excuse me?
It's nothing, I was merely postulating.
Naeuri!
Ahh... So did you find out?
Yes. The gold was moved to Hanyang over a month past.
Were the officers responsible for the transfer alerted of its dangers?
Yes... Seems that the local magistrate cautioned them personally.
But then it turns out they just carried it to Hanyang without taking any precaution.
Then, this is serious.
Also, seems like a local petty official joined the retinue.
That's a relief.
But...
He still has not made his return?!
Say what?
He's called Bang Junseok or something...
He probably was the closest to that gold, save for Cheon Seokbeom?!
- Board of Taxation -
Considering their peculiar symptoms, we are treating them in secret for now.
We did manage to avoid inquiring eyes by discreetly moving the gold,
but the real issue is how to explain the situation to His Majesty.
Has His Majesty shown interest in this case?
Gold from a thousand years past was discovered, so it's inevitable.
A thousand years, you said?
We speculate the carvings on the gold might date back to the Shilla dynasty.
Historians from the Office of Special Counselors have been summoned,
and are currently researching the origin of such drawings.
By any chance, would you allow us a look at that gold?
A sizable lot, all right.
These drawings are peculiar.
Indeed.
What could they all be looking at?
I can't say.
But where is the piece that should go there?
Where is the missing fragment?
We were curious as well.
So it wasn't there from the beginning?
There were no particular setbacks while transporting the gold.
They merely transferred the entire box.
- Then... - It is likely...
that the local officer who joined the retinue might be behind this.
Then, perchance, did he suffer from...
His condition was much worse than anyone else,
ghastly pallor included.
He remained with the gold for the entire trip.
Naeuri, have a look at this.
And this...
Naeuri!
Naeuri! Is everything all right?
It's all right now.
It would be wiser to see a physician.
First, I need to find that man.
You're in no position to worry about that, first take care of yourself!
We have no time to squander. I have something in mind.
No.
No matter what you might have found out, you can't go now.
The energy from the gold might already have contaminated you.
What energy?!
I told you I have something in mind.
- Magistrate Jang. - Yes.
You take care of finding that missing fragment.
Aigoo... Listen to what she says.
Don't they always say that nobody ever died listening to a woman...
Was it that?
All right.
Shall we also let go of this hand?!
Then, I'll go look for that Officer Bang or something...
Cross a river of no return, and you'll only be walking towards demise.
Don't try to always solve everything on your own.
Because all that it can imply...
is that you have no confidence in the people around you.
All right.
Yes.
That gold is a thousand years old, from the Shilla dynasty.
Don't those carvings prove it all?
Aren't those people staring at the sky?
You fail to believe me even after being presented with clear evidence...
Wake up!
Keep it up with those vagaries of yours!
Listen! I will prove it once and for all!
Wait, wait a moment.
Didn't you say remaining with the gold for so long altered his semblances?
Then, by now we'd probably be staring at something like Cheon Seokbeom.
Like this, uh?
And this.
What's this again?
That's disgusting...
It's the end of the world, all right.
Will this tea help quell my stupor?
Not to mention cleanse away anything beclouding your mind.
I get the feeling you might already be aware of all this.
What?
Even before the administration officials alerted us,
you already were well aware of where that gold had been buried.
The evidence was clear enough not to need any help from them.
And everything we feed ourselves with was borne out of the same soil.
If it's something that can bring harm to both man and beast,
going straight for the source would show you the way.
I wonder how one could be so blessed with notions she still clearly recalls,
while at the same time claiming ignorance of her past.
I wonder as well.
They just...
spring to mind out of nowhere.
What is the matter?
The hell is going on?
Are you all right?
I feel light as a feather, so let us go.
You barely got the chance to rest, where are you going already?
I thought I'd pay a visit to the Office of Special Counselors.
Why there?
Didn't they say historians are researching the origins of that gold?
And since they surely have a rubbed copy of the carvings,
if we go there, wouldn't that help our investigation?
Who told you they might have a rubbed copy?
Actually, I have quite an acute sense of smell.
I could smell their handiwork on that gold a mile away.
- Office of Special Counselors -
What brings you here?
Vice Counselor Choi, by any chance?
That would be right.
Have a seat.
I was told you're researching the gold recently brought to the Board of Taxation.
That's right.
I found some peculiarities I hoped you could bring to light for me.
Did your research reveal anything of note, by any chance?
And if I told you,
would you believe me?
What?
Never you mind.
Naeuri. Regarding those carvings...
I wonder what the people in those drawings could be staring at.
A look at that gold should give you the answer?!
What I was trying to say...
Are they not all looking at the sky?
That's obviously the case.
But what I'm really curious about...
is the reason behind those carvings.
That gold has lain dormant under the sand for a millennium.
No historical documents at our disposal could ever suffice to explain that,
and even if we could indeed continue our research, it would still be fruitless.
Without the missing fragment,
we could not even formulate a theory on what those carvings represent.
I suggest you leave.
I have little time for such hollow chatter.
What?
If you'll excuse me.
Perchance, do you often come into contact with that gold?
It's merely exhaustion from spending too many sleepless nights,
so you may leave.
You are only hampering my research.
- Where is he? - That way.
- Public Sanitarium -
Everyone, out!
All right.
I will handle him firsthand.
But... Naeuri!
Why is the Office investigating a mere golden bullion?
I have yet to tell you, have I?
Talebearing suggests that ominous energy pervades that gold,
not to mention that anyone coming into contact with it...
manifests peculiar ailments afterwards.
I knew it...
Excuse me?
It's nothing. You may leave.
Your Excellency.
Ohh... Physician Park.
How is his condition?
He's on the verge of demise.
He is now too weak to be self-sufficient.
With him coming here of his own volition,
seems like I shouldn't have squandered your time sending you on his trail.
No, don't say that.
Naeuri.
Good, I laud your efforts.
Don't mention it. If it can only help you...
Sure, I shall never forget your meritorious service.
But,
meseems those people might have gotten a hold of this all.
Ohh... Naeuri... Was just about to tell you...
That Bang Junseok is at the Public Sanitarium at the moment.
Did you find the missing fragment?
Uh? He didn't have it?!
Have you at least asked him?
Ohh... Him? He's barely breathing in there, how could I ask him?!
Bang Junseok.
I know you have it!
Where is the missing fragment?
Tell me, where is it? Hurry up and tell me!
- The... g...g...old... - Speak clearly, will you?
Who has that missing fragment?
The... The... phys...
Speak clearly, will you? Who has that missing fragment?
Look.
Move out of the way!
This won't do.
Hold him for me, his life is at stake!
Stay put!
Seems like Park Daesu had told them to alert him...
if they found anyone with such ailments.
What could have led him to abandon a patient on the verge of death...
just to visit the Office of Special Counselors?
What?
On our way out from meeting the Vice Counselor,
I noticed Physician Park was entering the Office.
Even if he thought there was no hope for Bang Junseok,
why would he need to visit the Office at that time?
Park Daesu was present when...
Cheon Seokbeom and Bang Junseok perished.
So you're suggesting he's responsible for Bang's death?
If that's indeed the case,
it can only mean he killed him right under our watch,
by using poisonous needles to elude our attention.
That kind of poison can only be noticed after a day,
so by the morrow we'll be able to find out.
So you think Park might have the missing fragment?
Or else...
Vice Counselor Choi could.
Ohh... It's you.
You don't look too well.
- No, it's nothing. - Have a seat.
We have plenty to discuss.
So you wanted to find out where that ailment might come from?
Yes.
There was an instance of a local magistrate suffering from inexplicable fits...
of headache, nausea and hemorrhage after dealing with similar material.
That's right. It's all related.
The gold fragment you brought me is the key to a shocking secret.
What secret are you referring to?
It is not just gold, in truth.
The gold is a mere coat hiding something completely different.
Then...
Take a look.
- Anything comes to mind? - I can't say...
A saucer of some kind, maybe?!
It is said such a thing appeared in the skies, a thousand years past.
People were in tumult because of it.
What we're dealing with is part of that flying object.
That gold, you mean?
No... Not the gold.
What is concealed under that golden coating.
Under it?!
If only we could melt that gold, we would find out what that is.
A look at that, and those varlets won't be able to keep denying it.
Naeuri...
By "those varlets..."
Everyone treating me like a deranged buffoon!
That day of a thousand years past, that object truly appeared.
So even you don't believe me?
I mean...
What is it that appeared in the sky?
That immense lump of light!
Didn't the same thing appear in Ganseong as of late?
Wasn't that just a mendacious complot?
It was no complot.
It's the truth, nothing but.
Naeuri.
I...
do believe you are right, but...
Why, afraid supporting my claims will bring forth your demise?
No, I just...
I just feel such absurdities...
Ahh... I...
What did I just hear, "absurdities"?!
Ahh... No, I just...
My ears cannot be lying! You said "absurdities"!
Forgive me, Naeuri.
I spoke in heedless vain, belittling your benevolence.
Why would commending an illustrious physician be considered "benevolence"?
Forgive me, Naeuri. I shall never...
Then again, a man of science like you would certainly...
be led to believe that.
Don't mind it.
- Just sit. - No, I'm fine.
That's that.
Did you ask the blacksmith?
Ahh... Yes.
Here it is.
Seems like it's from a reliable source.
Let's see...
But that inspector might be fomenting suspicions about this.
What are you trying to say?
In haste, I was forced to use poisonous needles yesterday.
Naeuri...
You two will trail that man.
We shall meet at Gwangtong Bridge in two hours.
Aigoo... Here you go.
An immense light falling from the sky...
Immense light?!
There.
I'm sure the missing fragment is there.
You go get the inspector.
I'll remain here.
He told me, more or less.
Of course the price will depend on what kind of size we're dealing with.
You know how things are in this trade, stolen goods and all.
I shall spare no expenses, so you needn't worry.
Wow... Now that's a big fella!
Magistrate Jang... Here!
Na...Na...Naeuri!
- There... We... We... - I know, I know already.
You go alert the capital bureau and escort them to the blacksmith.
The bureau?!
I'll explain later.
Just hurry up!
Yes, then... Capi...Capital... Yes! Capital Bureau!
- Is it here? - Yes.
- But... - Let's get going.
I don't think we should enter.
What's that supposed to mean?
We must leave this place right now.
What's wrong with you?
Are you hiding something from me?
Let's talk later, and...
Is it because of what is inside that fragment?
Uh?
Tell me.
Are you hiding anything from me?
I... can't say.
I can't remember right now.
So you really are planning to conceal this from me all the way?
Let's just leave for now.
Afraid I won't.
I will have to see that.
No matter what it turns out to be!
If it's anything that can shed any light on the master's lamentable demise.
I beg you... Don't.
You must leave this place!
No.
I cannot do that.
This... This is too dangerous.
That gold bullion which was brought to the Board of Taxation.
Ohh... The Shilla dynasty one?
I see you were already aware.
It had been hidden quite meticulously, I hear.
Didn't it explode?
His Majesty ordered to make sure this does not repeat itself.
But...
it turns out that what was carved on that fragment...
resembled some sort of saucer flying in the sky.
Does it perchance have anything to do with that light?
What do I owe that curiosity to?
Vice Counselor Choi died in mysterious circumstances.
And the fragment disappeared in the explosion.
I wonder, were you aware...
of what was hiding inside that fragment?
What else could gold be?
Don't you obsess over this.
Or maybe you purposely did that to hide something...
Who knows...
Ever seen...
something like this?
"Back in the Shilla dynasty,
an immense light graced the skies,
causing death and despair."
That is Vice Counselor Choi's theory.
If that rubbed copy you have is indeed real,
he could have just shown you the fragment itself.
Why only leave behind a copy, and get rid of the gold?
I still wonder myself why he did that.
Anything left to say?
I want...
to discover what I still know nothing about.
And that includes you.
It is...
exactly the same feeling I have.
It feeds itself eating their flesh.
Be it human or animal, that creature enjoys tormenting them until death.
What did you call it?
Seems like someone did witness one of them.
Does that look like what you saw?
Really?
You've seen that?
Then, do you know what it might be?
What happened there?
I suddenly saw a blinding light.
I saw it with my own eyes.
What are you referring to?
That creature.