Chapter 37 - As If That’s a Rational Suspicion
As If That’s a Rational Suspicion
Translator : Elizabeth
"Using me as your backing and these as your capital?"
Kang Jin-ho gestured with his chin toward the piles of gold bars and gems stacked inside the vault.
"Yes."
Serafina answered without a moment’s hesitation. Her voice was filled with conviction.
"I will make this a deal where we both profit. No—I will make sure it becomes one."
"Hmm."
Kang Jin-ho folded his arms and looked down at her. Originally, he didn't trust merchants. To be precise, he disliked the sort of people who acted as if they’d give up their own organs for profit, only to stab someone in the back later.
But the woman before him was different. There was greed in her eyes, but deeper than that was a venomous ambition. She wasn’t someone destined to be called the Golden Queen in the original story for nothing. That was why he had chosen her.
"Fine. You talk a good game," Kang Jin-ho said. "So? If I invest this, what’s my dividend? 5 to 5? Or 7 to 3?"
In a normal investment, splitting shares was the standard procedure. But Serafina shook her head. She slowly and respectfully knelt before Kang Jin-ho. Though her knees touched the cold floor of the vault, she didn't mind. Instead, she bowed her head reverently.
"Dividend rates are meaningless."
She raised her head again to look up at him. Her emerald eyes reflected the golden light of the surrounding bars, shining brilliantly.
"This capital, and everything I earn from now on, belongs to the Fist Emperor."
"…All of it?"
"Yes, all of it. I am merely a manager tasked with overseeing your assets."
Serafina placed a hand over her heart and made a vow.
"You need not take any responsibility, Fist Emperor-nim." She spoke with heated resolve. "Guild management, headache-inducing politics, tax issues… I will handle all of those bothersome tasks."
"Ho-oh~"
"You simply need to take and use the money whenever you require it."
It was an unconventional declaration—completely debasing herself and ceding all rights to Kang Jin-ho. This wasn’t an investment; it was practically a contract of subordination.
"And if…," Serafina’s voice dropped low. "If I lack the ability and my value drops, or if you ever find me useless… you may discard me at any time."
She had placed her very life in Kang Jin-ho’s hands.
Jin-ho’s eyebrow twitched. 'She’s playing a strong hand.'
Usually, one would try to secure their own portion somehow, but she had defined herself as a tool. However, beneath those words lay a terrifying self-confidence.
"You say I can discard you. You must be confident?"
"I am," Serafina said boldly. "I guarantee you will never have a reason to discard me. I will make myself indispensable to you."
Serafina’s eyes were full of confidence and certainty. At the same time, the venom and ambition were visible. It was a resolve to become such an existence. It seemed as though she believed her existence in this world would have no meaning if she failed to achieve that.
"I will become an existence that no merchant in the world can replace. I will prove that your eyes were not mistaken."
Kang Jin-ho burst into a short laugh. He liked it. He preferred this kind of ambition over someone acting clumsily nice or thinking of pocketing money behind his back. Since she had witnessed his martial power, she wouldn’t dare betray him.
"Alright, fine." Kang Jin-ho reached out his hand. "You pass. Become my wallet."
Become my partner.
"Pardon…?"
Serafina’s eyes widened. She looked clearly flustered.
"Ah, my mistake. What I said and what I thought got swapped. I was about to ask you to be my partner."
Kang Jin-ho spoke nonchalantly. It was a blunt attitude, acting as if the slip of the tongue just now was nothing. At that bluntness, Serafina actually felt a laugh bubbling up.
"Yes, I understand."
She firmly grasped Jin-ho’s extended hand. Her hand was small and soft, but her grip contained a resolute will.
"I will become the thickest, sturdiest wallet in the world for you—one that will never tear."
"Yeah. I’ll look forward to it, Miss Wallet."
Kang Jin-ho smiled back. With this, the contract was established. It was the start of an accomplice relationship bound by desire and profit, transcending a simple employment. However, within Serafina, a hot heat and a different kind of longing were beginning to sprout even further.
"Now then, shall we start sweeping this up?"
Kang Jin-ho pulled a Subspace Pouch from his robe.
"Yes. We mustn't miss a single thing."
Serafina also spread out the pouches she had prepared. The two began to rake in the items inside the vault.
"These are gold bars."
"These are expensive too."
"Really? These gems look quite pricey."
"Yes, these are Black Pearls, rare even among Southern specialties. Seeing how thick they are, they’re top-grade."
Gold bars, gems, and various valuables were sucked into the pouches incessantly. The tower the Charon Merchant Guild had built over years was dismantled in just a few minutes, disappearing into the subspace pouches of Kang Jin-ho and Serafina. Serafina’s pouches became so full that nothing else would fit. Eventually, they only managed to pack everything by mobilizing the subspace pouch Kang Jin-ho carried personally.
"They gathered quite a lot."
Kang Jin-ho tucked the subspace pouch into his pocket. Despite spending massive funds to open something called the Gate of the Abyss, this much still remained. It seemed this vast wealth was only a portion of what the Charon Guild Master possessed.
'If that guy hadn't invested his fortune into the Gate of the Abyss, he would have been known as a much bigger figure in the merchant world.'
But then again, he wouldn't have been able to gather such wealth in the first place if he wasn't in league with the Followers of the Abyss. Thus, such "ifs" were meaningless assumptions.
"Now, let’s head up. That Southern Admiral fellow will be waiting."
Kang Jin-ho wrapped his arm around Serafina’s waist. This time, she didn't act surprised and naturally draped her arm over his shoulder. However, she couldn't help her face turning slightly red.
"Hold on tight."
"Yes."
Shooom—!
Kang Jin-ho kicked off the ground. The two instantly exited the underground vault and soared to the surface.
Up on the surface, the situation was mostly settled. Roan’s marines had completely seized the fortress, and prisoners were being dragged away in chains.
However, the atmosphere was strange. As soon as Kang Jin-ho appeared, the laborers held captive all shrieked and prostrated themselves on the ground.
"Hiek! He has come!"
"Outer God! Have mercy!"
"We know nothing! Please, just spare our lives!"
Their reaction was closer to awe than mere fear. Watching the scene, Roan approached with a grave expression.
"You’re here, Fist Emperor."
"Yeah. Is the cleaning done?"
"Almost finished, but…." Roan scanned Jin-ho from head to toe. His gaze was full of doubt. "Look, Fist Emperor. Let’s speak honestly."
"About what."
"Are you… actually human?"
"What kind of bullshit is that?" Kang Jin-ho frowned.
Roan was serious.
"I interrogated those guys just now. Every single one of them called you an Outer God with one voice. The priest who’s knocked out over there and the Charon Guild Master are testifying that they called you an Outer God too."
Serafina, standing beside them, became equally grave. Having witnessed Jin-ho’s transcendent power earlier, a doubt was blooming in a corner of her heart as well.
"Fist Emperor-nim… could it be, really…?" she asked cautiously. "Are you truly an Outer God? Did I just sign a contract to serve an Outer God as my master?"
"Ha."
Kang Jin-ho let out a hollow laugh, absolutely dumbfounded. He could understand the fanatics spouting nonsense, but he wondered why even the sane ones were acting like this.
"Hey, if I were an Outer God, would I be going through all this trouble? I would’ve destroyed this continent with a flick of my finger. Why would I be acting as a mercenary to earn money?"
"That’s true, but…." Roan muttered, stroking his chin. "But you're too far outside the norm for a human. They say you flew around carrying Mammoth Prime, and you made the Kraken float in the sky before throwing it."
Furthermore, there was a decisive factor for suspicion.
"And even the priest from the Followers of the Abyss, who worship Outer Gods, called you an Outer God, didn't he?"
It was a rational suspicion, to the point where even the listening knights and marines nodded. Logically, the martial power Kang Jin-ho displayed made no sense if he were human. It felt more persuasive to believe he was an Outer God.
"To be honest, I doubted it a bit too. Wondering if your genealogy was from that side," Roan added seriously.
Kang Jin-ho let out a long sigh. These people were impossible to talk to. He slowly raised his fist. If words didn't work, there was a way to make them work.
"Hey, Southern Admiral."
"Wh-what is it?"
"If you weren't my client, your teeth would be getting knocked out right now."
Kang Jin-ho’s voice was laid down cold. Simultaneously, a crack sounded from his fist. Roan instinctively shut his mouth.
"Ahem. It was a joke, a joke. I was just trying to lighten the mood."
Roan quickly averted his gaze and feigned ignorance. As expected, when in front of the Fist Emperor, watching one's mouth was vital for survival.
At that sight, Kang Jin-ho smirked.
'Indeed, there is no medicine better than the rod.'