Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Green Forest Conference (5)
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The day after winning the Green Forest Conference.
Cheongun spent the night in the lodging personally prepared by Jin Muhyuk.
Lian had thrown a fit about the possibility of poison in the food or someone setting the place on fire at night, but Cheongun paid it no mind.
He didn't think Jin Muhyuk was the type to pull such dirty tricks.
And sure enough, nothing happened throughout the night. It was a quiet, serene evening.
The next day.
Jin Muhyuk, sitting across from him, asked,
"...So, what are your plans now?"
Cheongun took a sip from his teacup and said,
"Hand it over."
"...? Hand over what?"
"The winner's prize money."
Jin Muhyuk snorted and replied,
"No need to worry about that. I'll hand it over before you leave. That's not what I'm asking. You beat me, after all. If there's anything you want, just say it."
"Don't mess with me anymore."
"...Understood. Is that all?"
"As if."
Cheongun fell into thought.
"Hmm, what to do. I hear Green Forest is a world where the strong rule. If you're strong enough, it's only natural to devour those above you and take their position."
"Spot on."
"So, does that make me the Green Forest King from now on?"
Jin Muhyuk nodded.
"If you want it, take it. No—do take it."
"Why would I?"
"You're stronger than me, aren't you? Heaven and earth know it. Everyone saw it with their own eyes. It would put my mind at ease if you took charge of Green Forest."
Cheongun furrowed his brow.
What? Why is this guy being so agreeable?
"But I have one request."
"A request?"
Jin Muhyuk nodded.
"My men may be simple-minded brutes, but they're not evil at heart. They know righteousness and chivalry. They only chose this path because they were uneducated and poor. If you tell them to quit banditry, they will. If you tell them to start a new life, they will. So please, don't abandon them."
Disappointed by Jin Muhyuk's mundane reaction, Cheongun clicked his tongue.
Why is he so boring to deal with?
He had expected a meltdown at the thought of giving up his throne as Green Forest King, but Jin Muhyuk accepted the outcome so cleanly that it deflated him.
"Hmmm."
Cheongun sank into thought.
These guys are bandits.
In other words, taking from others was their way of survival.
Of course, he had no intention of understanding or sympathizing with that. Life at the bottom of the Central Plains, with nothing to its name, wasn't worth pitying—everyone's lot was equally miserable.
The environment might breed villains, but that didn't justify their evil deeds. Part of him wanted to just kill them all.
But he couldn't just slaughter them wholesale. Even if he did, new bandits would spring up, driven by the same reasons, wielding their blades.
Above all, mass killing didn't sit right with him.
When he had fallen into this game world, borrowing someone else's body, losing his family, friends, modern civilization—everything—and left to survive alone in this unfamiliar land.
Out of hunger, out of desperation to live, he had cast aside his humanity and followed his instincts. He had killed countless foes.
Of course, only those who deserved it, and nothing felt as refreshing. But he didn't want to become a murderer slaughtering those with potential for redemption.
A surge of irritation hit him.
Damn it, why am I even agonizing over this?
Cheongun spoke in a sigh-tinged voice.
"Hey, Jin Muhyuk."
"I'm listening."
"Sorry, but I have zero interest in being a bandit chief. I'm a martial artist, and I have my honor."
...Honor exists?
There was much he wanted to say, but Jin Muhyuk listened silently.
"You say you know righteousness, but true righteousness points your blade at the strong, not the weak. You claim to know chivalry, but true chivalry is a shield for the powerless, not a spear to rob them."
Cheongun's cold, piercing gaze impaled Jin Muhyuk.
"So you're neither martial artists nor people. You're just beasts that walk on two legs."
"..."
"Blaming your environment? Starving and had no choice? Bullshit. How many in this world starve more than you yet never touch what's not theirs? How many go hungry without spitting on others' rice, freeze to death without stripping others' clothes? And what are you? A little hunger, and you grab a sword. A bit of cold, and you raid homes..."
Jin Muhyuk's face paled.
"The real reason is different. You hate honest labor, find studying a hassle. It's easier to wave a sword and threaten for a free meal. That's all there is to it."
"That's..."
"So, like I said. You're not weak—you're filthy."
"..."
For a moment, Jin Muhyuk bristled.
What could the uneducated do but take to the mountains?
Those were the only options in sight.
But reading his eyes, Cheongun smirked and continued.
"Too dumb to know better? More bullshit. Being dumb and being filthy are different things."
"Different how?"
"An illiterate farmer shares his last grain with neighbors while his own family starves in famine. A woodcutter who's never cracked a book risks his life to protect merchants from bandits. Even a mute leaps into a burning house to save a child. And you? Just as ignorant, but you grab a sword first. Not dumb—filthy."
"..."
Cheongun drained the last of his tea.
"How old are you?"
"...Thirty-five."
Cheongun laughed.
"Not easy to be like that at your age. Impressive, you filthy bastard. You trash. Shameless vermin calling yourself king or chief while preying on others. Why live like that? Did you eat your age out of your ass?"
"...You're going too far."
"What, embarrassed now? If you know shame, didn't it sting all those years of banditry? Amazing. You rationalize everything with ignorance, but feel shame selectively. You're not ignorant—you're pretending to be."
Jin Muhyuk bit his lip.
Every word was a bone-crushing insult, yet undeniable.
Not just because this boy Cheongun was stronger.
Each phrase was needle-sharp, boulder-heavy.
More flushing than anger.
Jin Muhyuk let out a deep sigh.
"...So, what are you trying to say?"
"Live like humans."
"Does that mean quit banditry and come down from the mountains?"
"No."
"Then what?"
Cheongun slammed his teacup down on the table with a clack!
"Tsk tsk. You idiot. Taking from others isn't the problem. If it were, wouldn't the Justice Alliance collecting protection fees or the escort agencies be thieves too?"
"That's true, but..."
"What's the essential difference? They provide reasonable benefits for what they take, and never force it. Look at you bandits. You offer no benefits and just take money. You even coerce it. Refuse, and you use force."
"Right. You're correct."
"So, if you're taking money, provide equivalent benefits."
Jin Muhyuk blinked dumbly.
"What benefits?"
"You wouldn't know, but look at Green Forest's potential. The seventy-two forts are all in strategic locations."
"True. That's how we collect tolls."
Cheongun nodded.
Exactly.
Merchant caravans knew the forts' locations. Yet they hired escorts to take those routes anyway—because detours were too far or treacherous.
"The Central Plains are ringed by mountains and rivers, with Green Forest claiming the mountains. Half the world is practically yours. So transporting goods or traveling inevitably crosses your turf."
"I know. But what benefits can Green Forest provide?"
Cheongun clicked his tongue.
"You moron. How treacherous are mountain paths? Build and maintain roads, drive out beasts, provide lodging, and charge fair tolls. Store cargo, help transport, act as warehouses. Not extortion by force, but fair pay from those using Green Forest services."
"......Fair pay?"
Jin Muhyuk's eyes widened in shock, utterly unprepared.
"What? Does that even make sense?"
"Why not?"
"No, Green Forest isn't a business..."
"Shut up."
"......"
Jin Muhyuk stared at Cheongun with a blank face.
Build and manage roads?
Not impossible. Not hard. Bandits lived in mountains their whole lives anyway.
Cargo storage? Easy. No safer spots than Green Forest forts in the Central Plains. Even experts shunned deep mountains' bandits.
So, not preying, but helping and getting paid?
Cheongun's unexpected proposal—no, command—left him dumbfounded.
"...Brilliant."
"Right? Something ignorant bandits would never think of."
Cheongun was certain.
If implemented as said, Green Forest would sit on a mountain of money.
Enter: Green Forest Road Corporation.
Of course, service work wouldn't be easier than extortion, but goodwill comes from generosity.
If it rakes in cash, they'd work zealously.
"What about Green Forest's bad reputation?"
"No worry. Rumors of me taking over will spread. And no need for instant fame. Caravans pay tolls as usual while passing."
Cheongun paused, then continued.
"The only difference: before, they paid under threat to pass forcibly. Now, well-paved roads, beast-free, with Green Forest escorts and lodging for comfortable travel."
"Rumors will change naturally."
"Yes. Many will flock drawn by word. Justice Alliance help will spread it faster."
"Nothing for Green Forest to do?"
"Yes. Kill or cripple and expel the notoriously vicious ones, or hand them to officials."
"Not hard. Consider it done."
Then, Cheongun said,
"One last thing."
"What?"
"From now on, I'm the Supreme Green Forest Chief."
At that, Jin Muhyuk let out a hollow laugh.
"You just said you had no intention of being bandit chief..."
Cheongun smiled brightly.
"Forget it."
"..."