Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: Branch Expansion and Shadowy Raid
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"It might be better to first invest funds into the branches in Seochang, Pajung, and Geumcheon to spread influence evenly across all of Sichuan."
"I'd like to include Ganyang as well. It's at the gateway to Jungkyung, the closest path to Sichuan, so with all the transient traffic, it'll draw quite a crowd."
"Hm, then if we cover any shortfalls from the head office separately..."
In the office of the Myriad Gold Merchant Hall's Hall Master.
Hall Master Geum Hyeon-mong was engaged in lively discussion with Cho Sa-hyeon about their future business direction.
At the heart of their talk was expanding the branches.
The Myriad Gold Merchant Hall still bore the prestigious name of one of the World's Three Great Merchant Halls, and they planned to one day stretch their reach across the world once more.
But it hadn't been long since they'd risen from the brink of collapse to stand tall again.
Rushing to expand too quickly out of greed for that famed title would surely lead to a downfall.
'Above all, Sichuan comes first.'
That was why Geum Hyeon-mong intended to solidify their foothold in Sichuan—where the hall's history was rooted—before gradually branching out elsewhere.
And with Cho Sa-hyeon's help, that plan had taken on far more detailed shape.
After two full hours of nonstop deliberation, as the conversation wound down, Geum Hyeon-mong leaned back in his chair and said,
"Let's take a short break and resume."
"Understood."
Tap tap.
Though he'd suggested a rest, Cho Sa-hyeon continued sorting documents even then, meticulously checking the details.
At the sight, Geum Hyeon-mong clicked his tongue in helpless admiration.
"Don't you ever get tired?"
"It's for my lord, so it's fine. Besides, I don't deserve a break. It was only because of my shortcomings that you had to come all this way."
She spoke firmly, and he shook his head.
"You undervalue yourself too much. How many in the world could manage both the Dark Fragrance network and merchant affairs? Without your help, reconstructing this hall would have taken three or four times longer."
"Not to that extent."
"I mean it."
He was sincere.
She alone seemed worth dozens of overseers.
"If anyone's lacking, it's me. As the man on the front lines of the hall, I was half ready to give up until my lord offered his brilliant solution. Even if the whole world turned its back, I shouldn't have... but the problem was me."
Cho Sa-hyeon listened calmly to his self-deprecating grumbling.
Then, gazing at him, she parted her lips with a faint smile.
"You're already doing more than enough."
"...?"
"You accepted my proposal, earned the customers' trust, and even fractured the Sichuan Province Merchant Alliance. That was truly befitting a master of one of the World's Three Great Merchant Halls."
Receiving the praise, Geum Hyeon-mong fell silent for a moment before replying curtly.
"You're too kind."
Yet the corners of his mouth curved gently upward.
Time passed quietly, and in the ensuing silence, he spoke again.
"Mind if I ask something?"
"I'll decide whether to answer after hearing it."
Geum Hyeon-mong chuckled and asked,
"How did you end up serving my lord? I never imagined any ties to the Divine Cult."
It was a thought that had struck him right after learning his lord's identity.
Everyone knew the Dark Fragrance operated mainly in the Central Plains.
weren't they beings who could never cross paths?
At his curiosity, Cho Sa-hyeon answered matter-of-factly.
"To hide my identity before, I lived in the Divine Cult's front yard."
"...!"
Geum Hyeon-mong's eyes widened in shock.
Indeed, no one would have guessed.
The master of the Dark Fragrance, residing in distant Singang—of all places—the Divine Cult's doorstep, far from the Central Plains.
"Then one day, someone visited the shop I was running in disguise and asked for me outright. He said he'd come on my lord's orders and wanted to hire me."
At first, she'd considered fleeing from the unknown intruder.
But curiosity outweighed fear—who could have uncovered her identity?—so she'd accepted his offer.
"I followed him, fully prepared, and at the end of that path, I met my lord for the first time."
"He even knew your identity. The Divine Cult is something else."
"I prided myself on my information network, but I couldn't keep up with my lord. Now I move as his limb, yet he still catches the big threads I miss."
Hearing the anecdote of Hyeok Mulin and Cho Sa-hyeon, he nodded in admiration and agreement.
"I felt it too. My lord's insight reaches realms beyond ordinary folk."
"He has something different about him. And he entrusts tasks reliably and supports them, making him easy to serve from below..."
As Cho Sa-hyeon expounded at length on Hyeok Mulin, Geum Hyeon-mong smirked inwardly.
Was she always so talkative?
Though they'd handled hall business together for some time, she'd always kept things strictly professional.
Yet the topic of her lord transformed her—it was amusing, and spoke volumes of her respect.
"I agree."
Geum Hyeon-mong nodded, responding appropriately.
Just then, a knock came from outside.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
"Hall Master, a guest just requested to see you. We've seated them in the reception room for now. What shall we do?"
A guest at this hour.
Guessing the identity, Geum Hyeon-mong granted an audience.
"I'll be right there. Entertain them with tea first."
"Yes, sir."
The servant departed, and Geum Hyeon-mong rose.
"I'll step out for a bit."
"See you soon."
Leaving the office, he straightened his robes as he walked.
Soon arriving at the reception room, he entered without delay.
And there sat a figure in a bamboo hat, waiting.
Geum Hyeon-mong glanced at the man—hat pulled low over his face—before taking the opposite seat.
"You wished to see me."
The man flinched briefly, then slowly lifted his hat and spoke.
"...Good to see you."
"Well, now."
Recognizing the face, Geum Hyeon-mong let out a surprised breath.
He'd expected over half the Sichuan Hall Masters' Alliance to come crawling, but this one first of all?
"Hall Master Woo. What brings you here?"
It was Woo Hall Master—the one who'd raged loudest at the tavern before.
Having led the fury upfront, he'd come running first now, coughing awkwardly.
"Ahem, I reviewed your proposal back home. More positives than I thought."
"Is that so."
"It was a tough call. Handing over a hall I'd built with my own hands over twenty years isn't easy."
After beating around the bush, he finally got to the point.
"I'll sell you Woo Gyeong Merchant Hall."
Geum Hyeon-mong read the greed in his eyes.
But no reason to refuse.
He called a subordinate at the door and ordered simply,
"Bring it."
Soon the subordinate returned with two contracts, placing them before them.
The signing was quick.
In moments, everything was done.
Woo Hall Master checked the amount on the deed and rose with a grin.
"Thanks. I'll be off."
Geum Hyeon-mong watched his joyful stride out the door.
'Fool. Why can't you see beyond your nose?'
Even with the massive sum now, he wouldn't live easy.
His earliest sale would come out soon enough.
When the alliance's loudest voice was revealed as the first traitor, the rest wouldn't sit idle.
They might hire assassins or wanderers—he'd spend life fleeing or hiding.
'Reaping what you sow.'
Geum Hyeon-mong could see his doomed future clearly.
Moments later, a servant approached again.
"Hall Master, more guests at the gate seeking you."
The first had broken the ice; now they'd all come scrambling.
With so many eager to sell, no need to pay tenfold anymore.
"Bring them in one by one."
Geum Hyeon-mong planned to fracture them completely.
Ensure they could never join hands again, left doubting and destroying each other to the end.
Leaning back comfortably, he closed his eyes.
"Looks like I can sleep easy tonight."
Deep into the night.
Beneath the left wall of the Myriad Gold Merchant Hall's compound, dozens of shadows lurked.
Clad in black with faces masked, they were the Tang Clan's Black Tiger Squad.
Among them, at the forefront with bloodshot eyes gleaming, stood Dang Jong-seo.
He whispered to all,
"Our target is Gwang Ui. Prioritize securing him above all."
His squad nodded silently.
But Dang Myeong glanced at the hall with a troubled look.
Dang Jong-seo noticed and asked immediately,
"Something wrong?"
Dang Myeong hesitated, then spoke.
"Elder, is this really wise? If word reaches the patriarch that we infiltrated a hall run by an ordinary citizen in the holy city, he might hold us accountable for a grave offense."
The Tang Clan of Sichuan was a righteous faction force.
Attacking a civilian business without just cause would spark huge controversy within the clan.
So Dang Myeong's fear of repercussions wasn't unfounded.
"Shortsighted."
But Dang Jong-seo eyed him with disappointment.
"If things stay this way, the Grand Elder selection is over. Think the winner will spare me—the one who slandered and sabotaged them from the shadows to claim it?"
"That is..."
As Dang Myeong faltered, he pressed on firmly.
"The moment I'm not chosen Grand Elder, your lives end too. Focus solely on capturing Gwang Ui."
Dang Jong-seo didn't care about the aftermath, as long as he kidnapped Gwang Ui.
Even if the hall later fingered them, what then?
No one in Sichuan could point at the Tang Clan and scale their walls without permission.
"...Understood."
Dang Myeong replied with a stiff face.
No other way.
Win all or lose all.
Tension mounting as they awaited orders, Dang Jong-seo moved.
Spreading sleep poison beyond the wall, he soon signaled across.
Thud thud!
The poison experts scaled swiftly, subduing the surroundings.
The guards nearby had collapsed from the pre-scattered sleep toxin, so cleanup was quick.
All squad members infiltrated the compound and moved rapidly.
Having scouted Gwang Ui's quarters beforehand, they proceeded swiftly and stealthily.
'Here.'
Reaching the building with three sharp-roofed peaks, they neutralized the guards in seconds.
Struck by paralysis-dosed daggers, the men stiffened without a chance to react; the squad knocked them out fast.
Thus, the Black Tiger Squad assembled smoothly before Gwang Ui's residence, and Dang Jong-seo stepped forward.
'Gwang Ui. This is on you.'
He felt no guilt for his plan to abduct and coerce.
Daring to reject my offer.
No more mercy for the arrogant physician.
Opening the door with utmost care to muffle sound—
Creak—
At that exact moment.
"...!"
A massive shadow loomed darkly over Dang Jong-seo's face.