Chapter 11
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Meeting the Yun Merchant Leader
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In his previous life, Gwang-il had already visited the Yun Merchants' main headquarters multiple times.
He even had experience coming and going from the Yun Merchant Leader's office several times as the Sect Leader's disciple.
Naturally, he knew the internal structure and pathways like the back of his hand.
Even though it was a very distant memory, to him—who had ascended to the supreme realm of the Flower Mirror—it remained as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.
'Lucky.'
Just then, Gwang-il arrived before a secluded chamber deep within the office building and nodded inwardly upon sensing the presence inside.
If the busy Yun Merchant Leader had been away on business, things wouldn't have wrapped up so neatly afterward.
But that faint worry vanished cleanly in this moment.
He had finally cornered his target properly, after all.
'No idea what the other one's deal is, though.'
The man sitting directly across from the Yun Merchant Leader appeared to be quite an important guest.
'That's why he pulled all the guards?'
The old man, who usually surrounded himself with an excessive number of escorts, had none today—which had seemed odd.
Thanks to that, Gwang-il had slipped through the empty building easily. Not a bad outcome for him.
'It'd be nice if the one with him deserved killing too.'
No matter how ruthless the Dark Heaven Emperor's hands were said to be, he wouldn't slaughter innocents without reason.
The moment he dispelled his concealment like an invited guest and boldly revealed his presence, a flustered aura erupted from inside the secret chamber with a clatter of overturned furniture and chairs.
Until just moments ago, the man hadn't sensed a thing.
Still, he seemed to be at least first-rate caliber.
'Makes me even more curious what he's about.'
Slam.
The instant he threw open the door without hesitation, a fist came flying straight at his face.
Gwang-il casually sidestepped it and took in the two men inside at a glance.
'This is unexpected.'
A young man his age, face taut with tension, quickly retracted his missed swing.
"Grandfather! Get back quickly!"
He was the Yun Merchant Leader's only grandson and sole heir—the Young Division Leader of the Yun Merchants.
Someone Gwang-il was fairly acquainted with, even.
'And I forgot this guy's presence?'
Had he erased it from his mind because it was so insignificant?
Startled by the unexpected lapse in memory, Gwang-il furrowed his brow instinctively.
That was when—
"You bastard! Who the hell do you think you are barging in here! And there's no one outside...!"
"Enough. Sit down."
The Yun Merchant Leader urgently calmed his agitated grandson, who was unleashing a torrent of curses, then offered Gwang-il a seat with a face full of amusement.
"You sit too. You're even more impressive than the rumors suggested."
"......Do you know me?"
"How could I not? You're the hidden dragon who obtained the founding ancestor's legacy during closed-door training and rose to become Point Cang's top expert overnight."
"......"
A sticky, slimy displeasure crawled down his spine.
It was clear proof that the current situation was far from ordinary.
As if—
'No way... he targeted me from the start?'
He felt utterly filthy, like a mere pawn on someone else's chessboard.
Just as that uncomfortable mood threatened to erupt into violent pressure—
Sensing the ominous shift, the Yun Merchant Leader hurriedly added an excuse-like follow-up.
"Let me explain everything! I can clear it all up. So please hear this old man out first before you judge."
"......"
"There aren't any experts in our Yun Merchants' headquarters who could handle you anyway. Even across all of Yun-nam Province, I'm not sure there are. Or am I wrong?"
It was logical persuasion: if you intend to kill me, you can do it anytime, and no one can stop you—so at least hear me out.
Gwang-il's mood, which had soured from the crude schemes, now twisted into displeasure of a different sort.
"Interesting. Let's hear it, then."
"Gr-Grandfather! That guy's...!"
Gwang-il pulled out a chair with deliberate nonchalance and sat—an act of blatant rudeness.
The Yun Merchant Leader firmly grabbed the Young Division Leader's collar as he nearly exploded in outrage at the insolence.
"I told you to sit! The fate of our Yun Merchants rests on this moment!"
"G-Grandfather...?"
"Be quiet for now. You'll get your chance to speak when the time comes."
"Or his head might fly off first."
"W-what?!"
Gwang-il poured tea into a prepared empty cup with an indifferent expression, took a casual sip, and glanced at the Young Division Leader.
"Depending on the Yun Merchant Leader's answers, his life or death will be decided right here."
"This insolent bastard...!"
"Hey!"
"Y-you...!"
The Yun Merchant Leader finally soothed his grandson, who was snarling in barely contained fury, wiped the cold sweat beading on his forehead with his sleeve, and quickly flashed a friendly smile.
"Please understand. He lost his parents young, so his devotion to this old man is just that fierce..."
"And someone like that kidnapped the children of Iron Sword Gang's lowly smiths? Even dragging in black path scum to do it?"
A cold sneer and a biting jab tossed out.
He half-expected some excuse, but the response was utterly unforeseen.
"Half of that's right, but the other half is wrong."
"...Wrong? What's wrong?"
"It's true our Yun Merchants' funds flowed to those shameless scum. But it wasn't my will as the leader."
"Ha! So that's your excuse...? You expect me to believe that?"
"There's a backer. One so powerful and terrifying that a mere old money-grubber like me couldn't resist."
"?!"
'A backer?!'
A backer?
It was a shocking statement that upended Gwang-il's plans—from provisional judgment on the Yun Merchant Leader and Yun Merchants all the way to the roots.
'...The Yun Merchants had a backer?'
Was he referring to the Beast Palace?
At this point, with at least nine years until their invasion?
'No way.'
Of course, preliminary operations could involve anything.
But this was too soon, wasn't it?
So it made no sense.
Then who? What group dared to target Point Cang from behind the Yun Merchants?
The massive question that filled his mind soon spilled out unbidden in words.
"Who is it? That backer."
The Yun Merchant Leader he remembered wasn't the type to risk everything on blatant lies.
No, no one in the world would uselessly court Point Cang's wrath.
'A force pressuring the Yun Merchants, who have an elder of our sect as kin.'
There were naturally places with the power and means.
Even excluding the orthodox sects, the names popping into his head would exceed the fingers on two hands.
But among them, only three or four were free from public face, motive, and practical issues.
"I asked who it is, Yun Merchant Leader."
With the Beast Palace invasion already looming inescapably, he was in no position for impatience or worry.
It was a gravely serious matter that set his nerves on edge.
'Please don't let it be that guy...'
Especially with lingering concern that his old subordinate, growing strong in Gui-jou around now, might be involved—adding subtle anxiety.
But ignoring Gwang-il's tangled thoughts, the Yun Merchant Leader met his eyes firmly and stated his demand first.
Confident he could manipulate this lucky upstart with his silver tongue.
"Before we discuss the backer, give me your firm assurance first."
"Assurance? What assurance?"
"Our Yun Merchants coexist symbiotically under Point Cang's shadow, don't we?"
"Get to the point. My patience isn't that deep, Yun Merchant Leader."
Under the chilling pressure urging him on, the Yun Merchant Leader nodded readily and cut straight to it.
"Forgive my impertinence, but you're just a third-generation disciple. Do you have the authority to handle and take responsibility for this?"
"......"
"This isn't about ability. Everything has its procedures and protocols, doesn't it?"
'This cunning old fox...!'
He had lured Gwang-il here in the first place—now pulling word games? Why?
'Trying to gain the upper hand against me?'
Bind him tight and exploit him at will?
His merchant blood made him a raccoon through and through.
Gwang-il had no intention or reason to play along with such tricks.
He immediately rolled up the writ without a second thought.
His left hand shot out sharply to the side.
Poke!
"?!"
"...!"
Thud!
Rumble!
Gwang-il unhesitatingly jabbed the Young Division Leader's temple, knocking him out cold, then flashed a cold smile at the Yun Merchant Leader—who had leaped up in shock at the sudden turn.
"Seems there's been a misunderstanding, Yun Merchant Leader."
"W-what... what outrageous act is this...!"
"That's what I want to ask. What the hell is this nonsense?"
"?!"
The tone flipped abruptly to crude menace.
Yet it flowed so naturally, as if it had always been that way.
"Listen up, old man. I'll say it once, so open your ears wide and hear me clear."
"......"
"Time is more precious to me than gold right now. If you waste it on these games and wordplay, you'll pay with your sole heir's life."
"How can a disciple of the righteous Point Cang sect be so barbaric...!"
"Think it'll rival you colluding with unknown foreign powers behind our sect's back?"
"Argh! I said coercion! That backer...!"
"You scheming bastard—who do you take for a fool?"
Gwang-il rose irritably and approached the Yun Merchant Leader with slow steps.
"You dare team up with random scum to sabotage our sect's event, then negotiate with me? Have you gone senile?"
"H-how could...!"
"You stupid old coot. Still don't get it? You and the Yun Merchants already betrayed the grace our sect bestowed. Even hiring worthless black path thugs."
"It was the backer...!"
"If you'd just answered when I asked, you could've lessened your sins."
"...!"
"But now what? I'm not even curious anymore."
Kuh!
Struck by how everyone's the same when push comes to shove, Gwang-il suddenly burst into laughter.
Of course, he didn't stop cooking the man with his familiar rhetoric.
"Because of your foolish greed, the Yun Merchants and that Grand Senior Uncle Gwan-jong who backed you will share all the punishment."
"W-wait! That's not it! I'm not...!"
Realizing something had gone terribly wrong, the Yun Merchant Leader's face drained to ashen in an instant.
'A mere third-generation disciple doing this...!'
Stunned by the unforeseen ferocity and threats, he floundered, completely losing his composure.
For a seasoned tycoon who'd spent his life in the merchant world, he looked utterly pathetic and pitiable.
Of course, to Gwang-il—who knew exactly how to handle old raccoons like this—it was just amusing.
"You sure pulled it off nicely, stabbing our sect in the back with other powers."
"No! I said no!"
"Everything fits perfectly, so it'll be easy to wrap up. Kill you here, plop that green kid in your seat."
"!!!"
"Then publicize the Iron Sword Gang mess, throw him and Grand Senior Uncle Gwan-jong into the Underground Thunder Prison."
"H-how...!"
"We'll have to manage the Yun Merchants to prevent chaos in Yun-nam's merchant scene. Annoying as it is."
"!!!"
"For the greater good, no helping it."
"H-heh...! Hehhh!"
Thud!
To an elderly man without a single martial art, the pressure was mercilessly harsh and nightmarish.
And the threats and insults that followed were far crueler.
Unable to withstand the relentless shocks, the Yun Merchant Leader collapsed into his chair.
Having dealt with all sorts of people his whole life, he finally realized too late.
The young man before him was truly dangerous—with full intent and capability to act.
'A mistake. My mistake! I chased off the wolf and invited a tiger...!'
They say even if a family falls, it takes three generations.
Was the empire built by his forebears about to crumble in his hands?
As despair threatened to shatter him—
Gwang-il, quietly observing the shift, tossed out a subtle question.
"Want a chance?"
"?!"
"Considering your past ties with our sect, I'm debating giving you one last shot."
His obsidian eyes gleamed.
A faint coldness flickered deep within.
That irresistible vertigo seduced the Yun Merchant Leader, cornered on the precipice, like a siren's call.