Monopolizing Fortunes (135)
Monopolizing Fortunes (135)
"You insolent bastard!"
Hong Seong drew the two swords crossed on his back. Martial artists who used dual swords were exceedingly rare, and it was remarkable that a master like Hong Seong had remained unknown until now.
"Let me show you how stupid it was to attack the Hwangdae Merchant Company!"
As Hong Seong hurled himself forward, Cheong Seong and Muk Seong moved as well. The Three Saints of Hwangdae and the three intruders clashed together.
Do Tong-dal, suddenly left out of the fight, fixed his gaze on one person.
It was him. The one who had left a thick scar on his chest was now fighting Won Dae-yeon.
Won Dae-yeon was holding a longsword that was not his own weapon, but even a tiger without claws would never lose to a mere jackal.
Do Tong-dal leisurely watched the fight.
'At this rate, I've shown off my martial arts plenty and found that bastard too. Not a bad result.'
He had expected Namgung Seol-rin, Won Dae-yeon, and Jang Yu-seom to fight halfheartedly and then withdraw, but the battle was fiercer than ever.
Naturally, the Three Saints of Hwangdae were being pushed back, and of all places, they were being driven toward where Do Tong-dal stood.
Since there was nothing to gain from getting involved in the fight, he backed away toward the forest. It was the forest that lay on the border between the central compound and the outer grounds.
The Hwangdae Merchant Company warriors nearby could not even dare to intervene in the fierce battle between six masters.
As Do Tong-dal was retreating to avoid the fight, he spotted a small figure crouching in the forest.
Even without looking closely, he could tell it was the girl he had met before. The saying that blades have no eyes existed for a reason. Wherever a fight broke out, danger was always present.
That danger became reality.
"Ugh!"
Muk Seong, struck in the chest by Won Dae-yeon, went flying and slammed roughly into a tree. Won Dae-yeon's kick could not have been weak, and Muk Seong's body was tough enough to snap the tree.
Crack!
A tree about seven chi thick broke, and of all places, it was right where the girl was.
By the time the girl perceived the danger, it was far too late to dodge. When fear and despair coexisted in her large eyes, Do Tong-dal moved.
Do Tong-dal barely managed to slip into the space between the tree and the girl.
A sharp branch struck Do Tong-dal's back and snapped off. Do Tong-dal braced both arms against the ground and endured the weight of the massive tree.
Right in front of his eyes was the face of the girl, who had fallen flat on her backside.
"You okay?"
The girl swallowed hard and opened her mouth.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that, mister?"
"This much is nothing."
Do Tong-dal easily shoved the tree off his back. The girl, seeing Do Tong-dal's back, jumped up in alarm.
"You're hurt!"
His clothes were in tatters, so it certainly looked that way.
"Only my clothes got torn."
After confirming the girl had no injuries, Do Tong-dal turned his gaze back to the battlefield.
Won Dae-yeon, who had just kicked Muk Seong, met Do Tong-dal's eyes.
"Let's go!"
As if he had read Do Tong-dal's mind, Won Dae-yeon launched himself first, and Namgung Seol-rin and Jang Yu-seom quickly followed.
Their entrance had been sudden, and their departure was over in an instant. Someone shouted at the warriors standing there dazed.
"Get the wounded to the physician, now!"
The compound instantly became chaotic. Do Tong-dal was about to step into that chaos when the girl called out.
"Mister."
"Hm?"
"We're on the same side now."
At the end of her words, the girl flashed a grin.
* * *
Day broke, but the disorder from the previous night's attack still lingered over the Hwangdae Merchant Company. The gazes of the people repairing the broken buildings and walls slowly gathered in one direction.
"They say that young man fought on equal footing with the intruders who even pushed back Cheong Seong?"
"He's still young, but his martial arts are incredible."
"They say if it weren't for that new recruit, all of the Three Saints of Hwangdae would have died."
"Is that true?"
"They say that warrior caught one of them, and that's how they barely drove them off."
"Well, seeing as dozens were killed and wounded, how hard must the fight have been? Anyway, a real talent has come to the Hwangdae Merchant Company. A real talent."
Do Tong-dal's face burned at the praise coming from all around. Hwang Du-pyeong, walking beside him, tapped Do Tong-dal on the shoulder and whispered.
"Your path to promotion is wide open. Well, with martial arts like yours, it's only natural you'd take a high position. Heh heh heh......"
"I'm just a new recruit who barely got in."
"What does seniority matter in the martial world? If you're strong, that's all that counts."
The single night's battle had instantly elevated the new recruit Do Tong-dal into an important figure of the Hwangdae Merchant Company. Why else would even Hwang Du-pyeong be sucking up to him?
"Warrior Bae Cheong-dong!"
Do Tong-dal, belatedly realizing that the name 'Bae Cheong-dong' referred to himself, turned his head. A young warrior in his early twenties was running over, out of breath.
"Who......?"
Before Do Tong-dal's question could finish, Hwang Du-pyeong answered his curiosity.
"That's Seo In-sik, who attends the Company Head."
Seo In-sik, having rushed over, delivered his message.
"The Company Head urgently seeks Warrior Bae!"
"Me? Why?"
"How would a lowly one like me know?"
Thinking, 'What a spineless fellow,' Do Tong-dal told Hwang Du-pyeong he would be back.
Hwang Du-pyeong shouted after Do Tong-dal.
"If they offer you a high position, don't refuse—grab it with both hands!"
He had shown useful martial arts the previous night, but that alone would not earn him a high office.
The residence of Company Head Jang Bu-ok was situated in the deepest part of the company. The main hall was as large as a small courtyard, and the corridor was so long one would tire from running down it.
In front of a door carved with a turtle pattern, Seo In-sik announced their arrival.
"Send him in."
Seo In-sik opened the door and gestured for him to enter. From the corridor, Do Tong-dal had already sensed that four people were inside the room.
Jang Bu-ok and the Three Saints of Hwangdae stood watching Do Tong-dal. Do Tong-dal bowed lightly and asked.
"For what reason have you summoned me?"
Jang Bu-ok spoke.
"To commend your merit, and......"
Muk Seong cut off Jang Bu-ok's words.
"And to ask some questions about suspicious matters."
Do Tong-dal was not particularly curious about Jang Bu-ok's praise.
"Suspicious matters......?"
"You came to the Hwangdae Merchant Company the day before yesterday, correct?"
"That's right."
"And last night, the company was attacked by intruders. Doesn't that strike you as a coincidence?"
"Was I the only person who first entered the Hwangdae Merchant Company the day before yesterday?"
Seeing no answer, it seemed they had not looked into that much. That told him they were simply probing.
"As you know, I fought the intruders with my life on the line. Just like every warrior who was there last night. If the Company Head's praise is actually suspicion, then I have no reason to remain at the Hwangdae Merchant Company."
As Do Tong-dal turned to leave, Jang Bu-ok called out.
"Wait! What a hot-tempered fellow."
"Where is it acceptable to treat someone like an enemy instead of giving them a reward?"
"We've suffered a great blow, so our nerves are on edge. Please understand. The reason I called you is to bestow a reward for your merit."
Do Tong-dal turned back with an indifferent expression.
"I only did what had to be done."
"A capable man like you should be doing more important work."
"What kind of work?"
"Something like guarding a person of importance."
"A person of importance—who......?"
Instead of answering, Jang Bu-ok called for Seo In-sik outside.
"Are you out there?"
"I await your command."
"Escort Warrior Bae Cheong-dong here to Hyehwa Pavilion."
Jang Bu-ok said to the bewildered-looking Do Tong-dal.
"You'll know when you get there."
Following Seo In-sik, they arrived at Hyehwa Pavilion half a ke later. It was a modest building. Do Tong-dal spotted a girl crouching in the pavilion's yard.
"Oh?"
Do Tong-dal was about to greet her as an acquaintance, but Seo In-sik bowed first.
"I greet the young lady."
The girl, turning her head at Seo In-sik's greeting, beamed at Do Tong-dal.
"You came."
Seo In-sik, receiving Do Tong-dal's gaze, said.
"This is Young Lady Jang Yeon-seon, whom Warrior Bae Cheong-dong will be guarding starting today."
"By any chance, the Company Head's daughter?"
"That is correct."
If they were entrusting him with her protection, she would have to be of at least that status.
"I'll take my leave, then."
Seo In-sik, having admirably fulfilled his task of guiding, hurried off. Do Tong-dal turned his gaze to Jang Yeon-seon, who was staring blankly at the ground.
"Do you know why these ants live so diligently?"
"Because that's how they're made."
Jang Yeon-seon wore that same seemingly innocent smile.
"You're smart, too, mister."
"From the looks of it, you're the one who wanted me as your guard......?"
"You really are smart. Do you not like the position of being my guard?"
"The order's been given, so I'll do it whether I like it or not."
"Wouldn't it be better to join forces with me, if only to bring down the Revenge Society?"
"The Revenge Society?"
"Why are you pretending not to know? You even used a false identity to get in."
"What is the Revenge Society? The name is certainly easy to understand."
Jang Yeon-seon narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"You really don't know?"
When Do Tong-dal nodded, Jang Yeon-seon asked.
"Then why did you sneak into the Hwangdae Merchant Company?"
"Sneak in? Who said......"
"If you hid your identity and got hired, you sneaked in! Should I go tell my father right now that you used a false identity?"
It was certain that Jang Yeon-seon had discovered his false identity. Otherwise, she could not speak with such conviction, repeatedly.
"How did you know I used a false identity?"
"I can tell at a glance. My eyes are very good."
"It seems your eyes aren't the only thing that's good."
Jang Yeon-seon tapped her own head with her index finger.
"This is good too."
"Just what kind of group is this Revenge Society?"
"You first, mister. Why did you infiltrate the Hwangdae Merchant Company?"
"Well, the Hwangdae Merchant Company is......"
He had been about to say, 'Because there's plenty to steal,' but Jang Yeon-seon cut him off first, saying, 'Don't even try to tell me you came to steal.'
Do Tong-dal, staring at Jang Yeon-seon, asked.
"Do you really want the Hwangdae Merchant Company to be ruined? Your father is the owner."
"He's a scarecrow. A pathetic puppet who would even swap out his own wife if the Revenge Society ordered it."
Her voice carried a rage rarely seen in a ten-year-old child.
"Don't tell me your mother......"
"I don't think we're close enough to be sharing personal stories."
The more he saw of her, the more audacious she was.
"Is your goal for the Hwangdae Merchant Company to be ruined?"
"I want to destroy the Hwangdae Merchant Company, and the Revenge Society too, of course."
From what she said, it was highly likely that the Revenge Society was a hidden power.
"How do you know about such things?"
"Because adults think I'm just a child. They've talked openly in front of me since I was three."
"You remember things you heard at age three?"
"I think I've talked about myself enough. Now you talk, mister."
From what he could guess, Jang Yeon-seon's birth mother had been cast out over something related to the Revenge Society. Given her rage, the woman might even be dead.
If it was revenge for her mother, he could understand Jang Yeon-seon's fury.
'How should I explain this?'
After deliberating, Do Tong-dal decided to simply be honest. If Jang Yeon-seon had any intent to harm him, simply revealing that he had used a false identity would have been enough.
"Actually, I came from the imperial palace."
Jang Yeon-seon was startled.
"The imperial palace? You mean the palace where the emperor lives?"
"Yes."
"Ohh! That completely defied my expectations."
Do Tong-dal was not curious about Jang Yeon-seon's expectations.
"You know the First Prince died, right?"
"There's no way I wouldn't know about such a major event."
"The trail of the one who killed the First Prince led here, to the Hwangdae Merchant Company."
Jang Yeon-seon's surprise continued.
"The Hwangdae Merchant Company killed the First Prince?"
Do Tong-dal shook his head.
"No. It probably isn't that. I simply want to make the Hwangdae Merchant Company the culprit. More precisely, the hidden power that controls the Hwangdae Merchant Company. From what you've said, that sounds like the Revenge Society."
"This is getting interesting. You're planning to pin the blame on the Revenge Society and have the imperial palace subjugate them?"
"That's right. To make the plan succeed, I need to keep holding onto the Revenge Society's tail."
"Oh? Was last night's attack your plan too, by any chance?"
"To catch the attention of the higher-ups quickly, I had to show off strong martial arts."
"You put some thought into it, didn't you?"
Jang Yeon-seon, who had been thinking about something, asked.
"Then the imperial palace will attack the Hwangdae Merchant Company?"
Seeing that she had thought that far, Jang Yeon-seon was clearly no ordinary intellect. Considering she was ten, it was astonishing.
"Before long. Which is why you and I need to go into town."
"Why into town?"
"Showing off strong martial arts alone is a bit weak. I need to rack up more merit."
* * *