Chapter 69
Translator: penny
Chapter: 69
Chapter Title: I Didn't See It Coming, But He's a Truly Frightening Man
“Lord Governor, allow this humble girl to pour you a drink first.”
“No need~, let me pour for you.”
“Heh heh, no rush—I’m not going anywhere.”
How long had it been since he’d last savored drinks flanked by beauties on both sides?
The position of provincial governor was one of abundant wealth and overflowing power. Yet Yi Ga-seong had only rarely indulged in such lavish drinking like this—so rare he could count the occasions on one hand.
It all came down to reputation.
As governor, he was a figure revered by all the common folk of Honam Province. And it wasn’t just them.
Even the officials dispatched from the capital, and the governors of neighboring provinces.
Truly, it was a seat with eyes and ears everywhere.
But right now, he had rented out the entire Maehyang Pavilion. Aside from the staff, there were no other guests.
This place was managed by the Hao Gate, no less. They were ironclad when it came to secrecy, so there was no worry of tonight’s events leaking out.
In other words, all he had to do now was enjoy himself.
“Haha! I’m in such high spirits today! Come on, pour me another.”
For a moment, he forgot that this gathering was meant to be a meeting with the Supreme Bandit Chief.
After about half an hour of mindless drinking...
“Lord Governor, a message from the Supreme Bandit Chief.”
“Oh...”
His servant approached and reported, his senses slightly dulled by the alcohol.
‘This won’t do...’
He wasn’t usually one to lose control like this.
But it had been ages since his last drink, and with the courtesans pressing in playfully, he’d let his guard down.
‘Nearly embarrassed myself in front of that lowly scum.’
Yi Ga-seong told his servant to wait a moment, then straightened his appearance. Soon enough, he managed to restore himself to much the same state as when he’d first arrived.
‘The clothes are a bit wrinkled, and the hat’s slightly askew, but that’s nothing...’
After all, the man he had to face now was the Supreme Bandit Chief.
What were bandits, anyway? Just mountain thugs, right?
Having grown up in luxury, Yi Ga-seong had never laid eyes on one in his life, but he could roughly picture them from books.
‘Burly brutes draped in tiger hides.’
Compared to that savage image, his own slightly disheveled look was practically that of an immortal, or so Yi Ga-seong thought.
But the moment the door opened...
“Show him in.”
“Yes.”
Creak—.
‘...Huh?’
“Pleased to meet you, Lord Governor. I am Muyeon, the one serving as Supreme Bandit Chief.”
Yi Ga-seong doubted his own eyes for a moment.
‘Am I so drunk I misheard? The man who just walked in... is the Supreme Bandit Chief?’
Hair neatly tied back in a single bundle, pristine white skin, a slender yet subtly muscled frame, and immaculate, high-quality robes.
Above all, that refined beauty that could have rivaled the kingdom-toppling beauties if he’d been born a woman...
This didn’t look like the Supreme Bandit Chief at all. Had some young master from the righteous sects wandered in by mistake...?
Stunned by the utterly unexpected appearance of the Bandit Chief, Yi Ga-seong nonetheless quickly collected himself and returned the greeting, as he couldn’t very well ignore it.
“...P-pleased to meet you. I am Yi Ga-seong, Governor of Honam Province.”
“It’s an honor to meet the great lord who labors tirelessly day and night for Honam Province.”
The Chief was impeccably polite, too. It was only natural for one’s heart to warm to someone already pleasing to the eye who also behaved with perfect decorum.
Yi Ga-seong nearly felt a surge of fondness for the Chief before snapping back to his senses and gesturing to the seat.
“P-please, sit. Let’s talk while seated.”
“Then I shall presume upon your kindness.”
Every movement of the Chief was calm and light, almost womanly in its grace. Yi Ga-seong couldn’t help but feel flustered, having expected some hulking brute.
Especially his attire.
Yi Ga-seong was dressed in robes befitting a governor’s dignity, but they were somewhat rumpled from his recent binge.
Such wrinkles might be overlooked at a drinking party, but somehow, seeing the Chief’s spotless and pristine outfit made him feel utterly outclassed.
But...
“Lord Governor, might this lowly one offer you a drink?”
“...Y-yes, by all means.”
Whenever Yi Ga-seong felt that twinge of inferiority, Muyeon would humbly position himself as the lesser, treating him with utmost courtesy.
‘This man... he’s really... quite something...’
Yi Ga-seong nearly let his heart sway toward Muyeon...
“Oh, the wine you’re drinking now is far too humble for a lord governor like yourself. Here, something far finer...!”
“N-no, that’s not necessary...!”
...only to snap back to reality.
‘Nearly fell for it.’
He’d almost let himself be swayed by something so trivial.
He couldn’t let appearances deceive him. No matter how refined, polite, and handsome the man before him seemed, he was still just the leader of thugs who preyed on the common folk.
“Let’s set the drinks aside and get to business. Why did you invite me here?”
“......”
Yi Ga-seong regained his cold rationality and shot back sharply, as if to say, speak if you have something to say.
Muyeon smiled brightly at the sight.
“As expected, Lord Governor, your devotion to Honam Province is something I can’t hope to match. Very well, straight to the point. You must have received word from the Martial Alliance as well?”
“...Indeed.”
It had been more notification than communication, but Yi Ga-seong had recently learned of the Martial Alliance’s intent to withdraw from Honam Province.
“The Martial Alliance has acknowledged our bandits’ domain and pulled out of Honam Province. Thus..., we bandits wished to pay our respects to Honam Province’s great lord, the Governor.”
“...Haha, Honam Province as bandit territory.”
Thud!
Yi Ga-seong slammed the table, forcing his expression into the fiercest scowl he could muster, then pressed on sharply.
“Bandits may dress it up with fancy words, but you’re nothing but a mob of mountain thugs. Do you think I, as governor, will stand by while such pests who torment the common folk claim dominion over Honam’s martial world?”
This was Yi Ga-seong seizing the initiative with deliberate force. But Muyeon merely smiled as if unperturbed...
“Haha, it seems there’s a misunderstanding that we bandits oppress the common folk.”
“Misunderstanding?”
“Please, have a look at this.”
...and pulled something from his robes.
It was a pristine ledger, which Muyeon handed to Yi Ga-seong with an explanation.
“This is the official report compiled by the Martial Alliance’s inspectors on our bandits.”
In truth, it was a forgery transcribed from the spies’ notes and passed off as official, but Yi Ga-seong had no way of knowing.
Yi Ga-seong took the ledger and read...
“Hmm...”
...his eyes widening slightly.
It contained nothing but positive evaluations of the bandits.
“And please, take a look at this as well.”
While Yi Ga-seong read, Muyeon produced another item and handed it over.
“...What’s this?”
“This is an assessment by the Hao Gate on the potential gains Honam Province stands to reap from the new mountain roads we’ve opened.”
“...!”
The Hao Gate were sharp with numbers and masters of commerce. Knowing they’d compiled it, Yi Ga-seong eagerly opened and read it.
And then...
“...Opening these mountain roads brings gains like this?”
“There may be some exaggeration, but not a single lie.”
...unlike the Martial Alliance report, this one left him utterly astonished.
If what was written here held true, Honam Province would rival Anhui, Shaanxi, Hubei, and Sichuan within mere decades.
“Honam Province’s fortune is your fortune as Governor. If the province prospers, the capital will sing your praises.”
“......”
It was obvious.
The governor’s duty, when boiled down, was to make Honam Province a land of wealth and plenty.
Succeed in that...
‘...and I could aim even higher than governor.’
Yi Ga-seong found himself deep in thought.
“You seem troubled.”
“......”
The Martial Alliance viewed them favorably, the common folk spoke positively, leaving room for Honam’s revival.
Up to here, there was no need to hesitate.
The problem was...
‘Why bandits, of all things... why them...!’
The bandits’ ill-reputed name made it hard for Yi Ga-seong to commit.
Muyeon watched him quietly, then beckoned to the servant guarding the door. The servant stepped out and...
“...What’s that?”
...returned carrying a massive chest.
Seeing the box large enough for several sacks of rice, Yi Ga-seong voiced his puzzlement...
“...A modest token of my esteem. I hope it aids your decision, Lord Governor.”
...but Muyeon merely smiled.
‘No way...’
Yi Ga-seong wasn’t oblivious.
He swallowed hard as the chest came right before him.
“Go ahead and open it.”
“......”
At Muyeon’s permission, Yi Ga-seong wasted no time reaching for it. Inside the open chest...
“Huh?”
...was nothing.
Had he missed it? He checked every corner, but truly, the chest was empty.
‘You bastard...’
Realizing he’d been toyed with, Yi Ga-seong roared in fury.
“You—! How dare you mock me—!”
“I’ll fill that chest to the brim with standard silver taels.”
No, he tried to.
“...What?”
This chest... filled to the brim with silver taels...?
Hearing that, Yi Ga-seong’s every thought and movement froze.
‘This huge chest with silver...?’
The Martial Alliance never offered bribes so openly. He’d expected some gesture from these unorthodox folk, but...
‘Not like this, so boldly...’
“Every month.”
“...Huh?”
“Every month, I’ll fill that chest with silver.”
“......”
At those words, the governor turned to stone. Muyeon approached the rigid man and gently took his hand.
“Then let’s get along well from here on. Lord Governor.”
**
Two hours later.
Blind drunk and passed out from fine liquor, the governor was loaded into his carriage in a stupor.
Yet even then, he didn’t forget a final farewell.
“Muyeon, my brother—!! I had... such a blast today—! You must never forget... we became sworn brothers today...?”
“Of course, Lord Governor.”
“Not Lord Governor...! Big brother! Call me big brother..., my little brother Muyeon...! Urp..., I’m drunk.”
“Understood, big brother.”
“We brothers.... from now on, do whatever you want? Huh? This big brother’s got your back to the end. Got it!”
“Thank you, big brother.”
“Ugh..., then I’ll be off...”
I smiled as I shoved him into the carriage—a genuine smile from the heart.
“Take care~ Big brother!”
I waved until the carriage departed, seeing him off.
Once it was gone...
“...Wasn’t that a bit much?”
...Mun-seok appeared behind me, having watched it all, his voice laced with concern.
“Do you know how many silver taels you’ve committed to delivering to that man every month? Why go that far...”
Mun-seok looked baffled by my decision. I replied indifferently to him.
“Because he’s the governor.”
“Even as governor, he’s still an official in the end. As long as you don’t cross lines, he won’t meddle in the jianghu.... Wait, do you?”
Mid-sentence, realizing something, Mun-seok glared.
“Are you planning to cross some lines?”
I clapped Mun-seok on the shoulder and laughed.
“Now Hao Gate really has a lot to do.”
“...What else?”
“You handle Hao Gate’s moneylending too, right?”
“...!”
I continued to the stunned Mun-seok.
“Liquidate whatever funds you can and gather them as cash. Honam Province is about to develop..., and the number of people needing loans will explode.”
Saying that, I gazed up at the towering Maehyang Pavilion.
As Honam prospered, the old would give way to the new, lining the streets. Just like this pavilion I saw now.
But building new structures and renovations cost a fortune. And no one in Honam had enough cash to lend others—except Hao Gate.
“These folks have lived quietly, so they’ll be numb to contracts. You get what I mean? Hao Gate’s good at that stuff—slipping in toxic clauses.”
“...You’re telling Hao Gate to turn to usury now?”
“You talk like you haven’t before. But what I want isn’t usury—it’s equity.”
“Equity...?”
“Yeah, equity. When lending money, add a clause that takes half their stake if they default. Make the bandits co-owners of the businesses.”
“Co-owners..., most won’t accept that.... Hold on.”
Mun-seok stared at me, eyes mixing shock and dismay.
“Then the excessive bribe to the governor... you didn’t...”
“......”
If some commoner felt cheated by a contract and went crying to the officials...
“If trouble arises, our ‘big brother’ will handle it fairly, right?”
“...I never pegged you for such a frightening man.”
I just smiled at Mun-seok’s words.
Truth be told, I had no intention of seizing every commoner’s business this time. I just wanted to embed ourselves deeply, extending the bandits’ dominion down from the mountains.
“Don’t gouge too hard. No need to snatch their livelihoods. Just make everyone in Honam feel like they live under the bandits’ name.”
“No, but why use Hao Gate’s money to take credit for the bandits...?”
“Gonna pull out that ring again?”
“...When the Gate Leader returns, I’ll tell him to take that ring back first.”
“We’ll split the profits with Hao Gate, so don’t worry.”
I placed a hand on the grumbling Mun-seok’s shoulder and headed back inside.
Whatever else, if this plan succeeded, the bandits’ influence would extend down from the mountains.
Like it or not, Honam Province would become one with the bandits.