Monopolizing Fortunes (38)
Monopolizing Fortunes (38)
The life Do Tong-dal had lived and the life he was living now had certainly diverged. Originally, Jo Gwang-un should have died at the hands of Go Pil-seon.
But because the Black River Blade Sect had brought in Baek Chang-gi, Go Pil-seon had ended up dead instead.
"This throws off my calculations."
He had eliminated Jo Gwang-un, but he had planned to slowly gnaw away at Jo Chi-un, who had lost both strength and trust.
Yet the Red Tiger Society had suddenly found itself in the position of a wild dog caught between tigers.
Wang Chil, who had come to deliver the news, asked.
"The Red Wind Sword Sect won't hold our Red Tiger Society responsible for Go Pil-seon's death, will they?"
"They will."
"But it was the Black River Blade Sect that killed Go Pil-seon."
"And that same Black River Blade Sect is aiming for the Red Tiger Society."
"What?"
"If that weren't the case, why would Baek Chang-gi have been with Jo Gwang-un? To move a master of Baek Chang-gi's caliber would take several hundred nyang of silver, and there's no way Jo Gwang-un had that kind of money."
"So you're saying that mad dog made some kind of deal with the Black River Blade Sect?"
"Of course. The Red Wind Sword Sect won't stand by and let its enemy, the Black River Blade Sect, get what it wants. In the end, Hangzhou will become their battleground."
"Good grief! What are we supposed to do about this? The Red Tiger Society is going to get smashed to splinters."
He meant scattered to the winds, but as usual, Wang Chil had only gotten two of the characters right. The man was nothing if not consistent.
"Jo Gwang-un has sided with the Black River Blade Sect, and Jo Chi-un has sided with the Red Wind Sword Sect, so it's only a matter of time before the Red Tiger Society splits in half."
"But the Society Leader is Jo Chi-un, so it wouldn't be a clean split. How much of a stake does Jo Gwang-un even have?"
"It's no longer a question of Jo Chi-un versus Jo Gwang-un. It's become a question of the Red Wind Sword Sect versus the Black River Blade Sect. Which side do you think is stronger, boss?"
"Wouldn't the Black River Blade Sect have a slight edge?"
"That means Jo Gwang-un has the edge. A lot of people will probably think the same way."
"Haah—! That bastard Jo Gwang-un does ten years in prison, gets out, and now he's running the Red Tiger Society into the ground. Which side are you going to stand on?"
"Before that, we have to decide whether to watch the fight or try to stop it."
"And if we wanted to stop it, could we?"
"Once we decide, we'd have to find a way."
Wang Chil said in a low voice.
"Wouldn't stopping it be better? It's not right for family to be cutting each other up, is it?"
"All right. I'll think about it."
* * *
Jo Chi-un stood with both hands clasped respectfully in front of him. The seat that had originally been his was now occupied by Ha Chae-eun, Hall Master of the Bohyeon Hall, who had come from the Red Wind Sword Sect.
Behind Ha Chae-eun, three disciples of the Red Wind Sword Sect stood like a folding screen. Jo Chi-un and Hwang Seon-jung could barely breathe under the pressure the four of them exuded.
"So Deputy Hall Master Go died because of the four hundred nyang of silver you were supposed to pay."
To be precise, it had been because of his pride, but Jo Chi-un didn't have the nerve to say that precisely.
"Th-that... you could say that."
"Did you pay those four hundred nyang?"
"Since Deputy Hall Master Go passed away, I haven't yet...."
"Then that money can be given to the bereaved family as funeral expenses."
This was one matter he couldn't simply let slide.
"But it was money given on the condition that my problem be resolved."
Ha Chae-eun's already small eyes narrowed further.
"Are you saying that since the problem wasn't resolved, you won't pay?"
"Th-that's not it...."
"Then prepare it. And three days from now, people from the main sect will come to take over the Red Tiger Society. Prepare for the handover."
Jo Chi-un's heart sank.
"T-take over the Red Tiger Society...?"
"For the time being, our Red Wind Sword Sect will run it. Given the situation, it seems the Black River Blade Sect is aiming for the Red Tiger Society, so you could say we're protecting it."
"Th-then how long do you intend to stay?"
"Until Deputy Hall Master Go's death is avenged."
That meant there was no set end date, and ultimately, the Red Tiger Society would be taken from him, whether by the Red Wind Sword Sect or the Black River Blade Sect.
Ha Chae-eun rose to his feet and said.
"Don't even think about siphoning off the assets. You'll lose your head."
* * *
"This isn't what we agreed on!"
Jo Gwang-un protested, but Baek Ju-il, Hall Master of the Haryong Hall from the Black River Blade Sect, didn't even bother to acknowledge him.
"I never made any agreement with you."
"With Deputy Hall Master Baek...!"
"He got stabbed in the stomach and is receiving treatment. Once he's fully recovered, you can talk to him again."
Jo Gwang-un ground his teeth, but it was already water under the bridge. He had never intended to drag the Black River Blade Sect into this fight.
He had received Baek Chang-gi's help on the condition that he would pay five hundred nyang of silver once he became Society Leader of the Red Tiger Society.
But the matter had snowballed, and now it had reached a point where Jo Gwang-un could do nothing about it.
"In any case, we'll make you the Society Leader of the Red Tiger Society in name."
They were making him a scarecrow while pretending to be generous. Jo Gwang-un decided to accept.
If he had stayed put, he would have been nothing in the Red Tiger Society anyway. If they were going to let him be Society Leader even in name only, what was so bad about that?
"At least give me a decent monthly salary."
* * *
He didn't know why the various Branch Chiefs had come looking for Wang Chil. The Coordinator's role was to coordinate problems arising within the Red Tiger Society, but Wang Chil wasn't the only Coordinator. And this wasn't a matter they should have brought to Wang Chil in the first place.
"What on earth was the Society Leader thinking, bringing in the Red Wind Sword Sect? Isn't this just sticking our heads into the tiger's mouth?"
"We broke the unwritten rule that the Underworld doesn't bring in martial arts factions, and look at the mess we're in now!"
"If the Red Wind Sword Sect takes over the Red Tiger Society, we'll all clearly be kicked out. Does the Society Leader have a plan?"
"There's no guarantee the Red Wind Sword Sect will become the owner of the Red Tiger Society! If the Black River Blade Sect that Jo Gwang-un brought in wins, they'll be the owners!"
"I heard quite a few of our people have already gone over to that side!"
The number of Branch Chiefs who had come to Wang Chil to vent had reached ten.
"Why are you all coming to me about this!"
When he shouted, the Branch Chiefs' gazes all fixed on Wang Chil.
"That's because Coordinator Wang is the most trustworthy."
"Exactly. You've always looked out for us the most."
It was true that he had given them favorable treatment because Do Tong-dal had told him to win people over.
"And you're also close with Deputy Branch Chief Do."
So that was the real reason. Since Do Tong-dal was too difficult to approach, they had all flocked to the more approachable Wang Chil.
"Coordinator Wang, please step in and resolve this situation. You're the only person in the Red Tiger Society we can trust right now."
He had heard things from Do Tong-dal, so he couldn't just keep saying he couldn't do it.
"I'm looking for a way, so you all just focus on your own work."
After he had soothed the Branch Chiefs and sent them away, this time four Elders, including Han Dong-san, came to see him.
These were the Elders Wang Chil had been diligently greasing the wheels with. As soon as they sat down, Han Dong-san spoke up.
"Does Deputy Branch Chief Do have a secret plan to resolve this situation?"
"Why are you coming to me? Why don't you go ask Tong-dal?"
"Well, you're easy to talk to, but Deputy Branch Chief Do is somehow...."
"What's so uncomfortable about an eighteen-year-old kid?"
"You find him perfectly comfortable?"
"It's not that I find him perfectly comfortable... but that guy is definitely strange, isn't he?"
"Deputy Branch Chief Do being strange is old news. The fire at our feet right now is the Red Wind Sword Sect and the Black River Blade Sect. If this goes on, the Red Tiger Society will be blown to pieces, and we'll all be thrown out onto the street."
"If you want to point fingers, you should go to the Society Leader and Jo Gwang-un who made things this way. Why are you doing this to me?"
Han Dong-san glanced at the other three Elders and then said in a low voice.
"Does the Society Leader who made this mess even deserve to be Society Leader? So we're trying to put someone else forward as Society Leader."
"Who?"
"You."
"What? Whaaat—?"
"Why are you so surprised? Like someone who's never even considered it."
"I haven't! Honestly, Tong-dal did say something like that, but is that the kind of thing that actually happens in reality?"
"It's happening right now. The four of us here have decided to put you forward as Society Leader."
"That's right, we all think the same. You're the only one who can overcome this crisis."
"Indeed, you're the only one."
The Elders' claim that he was the only one should have had "Do Tong-dal" in place of "you."
"This is so sudden, I don't know what to say."
Han Dong-san drove the point home.
"The current Society Leader has completely lost the trust of the family. You have the support of not only us but also many of the Branch Chiefs. As things stand, the wisest course is for you to become Society Leader and overcome this crisis."
Until the beginning of this year, Wang Chil had been idling away at the Gwanghwa-ro Fixer Office, aiming for a modest but steady life.
But in less than two years—in fact, after only two seasons had changed—how had he ended up as a candidate for Society Leader?
'This is all because of Tong-dal!'
* * *
Do Tong-dal's hands were trembling, and he was drenched in sweat. White nail marks were clearly visible on his palms.
The physician in black packed up the acupuncture needles and said.
"Now you could even hit someone you hate."
"Who's going to come and bump into my fist just because I'm holding it?"
"Judging by your condition, you should be able to bend your arms soon."
Do Tong-dal got off the bed and asked.
"When will I be fully healed?"
"Who said you'd be fully healed?"
"I can even make a fist now."
"If making a fist means you're fully healed, you don't have to come back starting tomorrow."
"So you're saying I won't be fully healed?"
"Who said you won't be fully healed?"
"No, this guy, who does he think...!"
"I told you not to get your hopes up. Big hopes lead to big disappointments. Just take it one step at a time, and you might reach your destination, or you might trip and die along the way. That's life."
"You sure as fuck know how to leave yourself an escape route, like the quack you are."
Namgung Seol-rin held up his coat to help him put it on, and Do Tong-dal's arm twitched upward. The instinctive movement startled Do Tong-dal, Namgung Seol-rin, and the physician in black alike.
But no one attached any meaning to it. They all knew well that no journey is without obstacles.
When they had almost reached Namgyeong-ro, Do Tong-dal's steps came to a halt. They were in the middle of a wealthy district lined with grand tiled-roof houses on both sides of the main road.
"The Society Leader's house is big and nice. The yard must be spacious too."
After giving Jo Chi-un's house a once-over, Do Tong-dal changed direction and headed for the headquarters.
Since things had already come to this, taking a risk to end this situation wasn't a bad idea. If it was resolved well, he could get what he wanted right away.
The three-story building was as large and splendid as a pleasure house. The calligraphy on the signboard reading "Red Tiger Society Headquarters" was clearly the work of a master.
As Do Tong-dal entered, he heard murmuring from all around, and some people hurried over to greet him.
Do Tong-dal accepted their greetings with a smiling face and then went straight to find Wang Chil. Wang Chil happened to be with the four Elders.
"Oh? Tong-dal!"
"What brings you here?"
Wang Chil, Han Dong-san, and the Elders wore expressions that were both glad and bewildered.
Do Tong-dal got straight to the point.
"Please gather the Society Leader and Jo Gwang-un in one place. Make the location the Society Leader's house, since it has a big yard."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"We have to clean up this mess, don't we? Once this is over, you'll be the Society Leader, boss. The Elders have no objections, right?"
Han Dong-san said with a smile.
"That was exactly why we came. We were asking Coordinator Wang to take the Society Leader position."
"Good. I'll be at home, so contact me once a meeting time is set."
"The Society Leader is one thing, but will Jo Gwang-un come just because we tell him to?"
"He's a proud man, so he'll come. If he doesn't, he'll think we'll see him as scared. Figure out how to provoke him properly."
After leaving the headquarters, Do Tong-dal asked Namgung Seol-rin.
"If you fought the top masters of the Red Wind Sword Sect or the Black River Blade Sect, could you win?"
The answer came without a moment's hesitation.
"Yes."
"Then that's settled. Shall we do some martial arts training until they contact us?"
* * *
Since there was no one else to entrust with the task, Wang Chil went himself. Jo Gwang-un had brazenly set up another Red Tiger Society headquarters within the Red Tiger Society's territory. It was a two-story building, and he had even put up a signboard reading "Red Tiger Society Headquarters."
When he entered the first floor, there were quite a few thugs. He saw some who had originally belonged to the Red Tiger Society and then switched sides, and there were also new faces.
Among those who had switched sides, some even greeted him warmly. It was because Wang Chil had never made any particular enemies.
And so he was able to meet Jo Gwang-un without much difficulty.
* * *