Monopolizing Fortunes (99)
Monopolizing Fortunes (99)
"What are you trying to pin on me now?"
"You picked Su-ran between the two, didn't you?"
"What?"
"You figured that if I didn't give you the Makya Blade, Su-ran would come to you, didn't you?"
"I don't want the Makya Blade, and I don't want Strategist Ha either. Satisfied?"
"Then what the hell do you want?"
"For you to stop coming to find me and bothering me, Alliance Leader."
"You're the one who walked away leaving the Makya Blade behind, so I came!"
"You wouldn't give it to me!"
"You still should have tried!"
"That's what I'm saying is a bother!"
Sparks flew in Hwangmi Dal's eyes.
"The Makya Blade is a bother? You're telling me you treat the Makya Blade—the greatest blade of all time, a blade like my other self—like that?"
Hwangmi Dal, who had come all the way here to get angry over a blade he himself had refused to hand over, was clearly not normal either.
Hwangmi Dal set the box containing the Makya Blade down on the table.
"Fine. One year—no, six months. Use the Makya Blade for six months, and if it still feels like a bother then, give it back."
He had clearly been thinking one year when he came here, but as the words came out, one year felt too precious, so he had cut it down to six months.
"How about I just give it back now and we never see each other again—"
"Just use it! Once you use it, you'll understand the Makya Blade's true worth!"
"No, what are you, some pushy peddler? And what are you going to do if I say I won't give it back?"
"Huh?"
"You hadn't thought that far?"
"Hmph! I can think about that when the time comes."
"You haven't even thought six months ahead? The Northern Unorthodox Alliance runs smoothly purely thanks to Strategist Ha, I see."
"Which is exactly why you'd better not get any ideas about taking Su-ran with you."
"I told you I don't have any!"
"Hah! You're a man too, so there's no way you don't. And you've seen her face, haven't you?"
"I've seen it, but—"
"Then it's settled. I'll tell you where there's a sturdy tree with a good view from Su-ran's room. If you hang yourself there, Su-ran might just find you in time. They say only the brave win a beauty, so if you want Su-ran's heart, you've got to stake your life."
He was an old man who barely listened to a word anyone else said.
"Oh? Alliance Leader!"
Ha Su-ran, who had been entering the dining hall with Namgung Seol-rin, came running over in surprise.
"If you were looking for Do Tong-dal, you should have sent word."
"I was going to contact you after I finished my business."
Namgung Seol-rin, catching Do Tong-dal's gaze, turned her head sharply away, letting him know her feelings still hadn't settled.
"So Do Tong-dal accepted the Alliance Leader's terms?"
"Accepted without a word of argument."
Do Tong-dal's protest of "I never accepted anything—" was cleanly ignored.
"That fellow secretly coveted the Makya Blade too."
Ha Su-ran spoke to Do Tong-dal.
"Three years is a long time, so use it in the meantime, and let's discuss what comes after when we get there."
"Huh? Three years?"
"Yes. Why?"
"That old swindler's been running a con on me to the very end! He said six months!"
"Depending on the negotiation, the period can be extended or shortened. And what do you mean, old swindler? I am the Alliance Leader of the Northern Unorthodox Alliance!"
"Looks like someone gathered up every shameless corner of the unorthodox factions and made an alliance out of them!"
"Shameless! Shameless, he says!"
"It is shameless! You promised Strategist Ha three years, and then with the person in question absent, you quietly shaved it down to six months?"
"Ah, whatever, whatever! It's already been settled at six months, so that's the end of it!"
Do Tong-dal snatched up the box holding the Makya Blade and hugged it to his chest.
"Just watch me give it back in six months."
"H-hey, that's not what we agreed."
"I never promised to give it back, did I?"
"That was something we were going to discuss at the time—"
"See you then."
Ha Su-ran let out a long sigh. Just from this scene alone, she could easily guess how things had proceeded.
"Alliance Leader."
"Yes? Have you thought of a good way to make sure we recover the Makya Blade from that thief in six months?"
"What did I tell you about Do Tong-dal?"
"That he's a sneaky bastard? A shameless, underhanded bastard?"
"I never said any such thing."
"Looking at him now, that's exactly what he is."
"I said he possesses a formidable mind, so we should avoid making an enemy of him if at all possible."
"Did you?"
"In any case, since the two of you reached an agreement at six months, let's set this matter aside to discuss again in six months. If you want the Makya Blade back in six months, you'll have to pay a price worthy of it."
"I have to give that bastard something else? When I'm lending him the Makya Blade—a blade like my other self—for six whole months? That's completely unfair."
Do Tong-dal muttered.
"The Alliance Leader's life as the rental fee for a good sword for six months. Well, I suppose that's about what it's worth."
"How could I possibly like a wretch like that!"
"I never asked you to like me!"
"That's exactly why it's so irritating! I'm Hwangmi Dal, one of the Ten Greatest Masters Under Heaven and Alliance Leader of the Northern Unorthodox Alliance! If I lined up the people trying to get on my good side, they'd circle the Central Plains three times! What makes you so special that you play hard to get?"
"Then go spend time with those people! Why do you come here and bother me?"
"I didn't come because I wanted to!"
Won Dae-yeon slipped into the conversation.
"Let's stop there. If we go back to the beginning of this conversation, I think we'll be listening to the same thing all night."
"Tch! Anyway, why is someone like you hanging around with that good-for-nothing thug? If you've got nowhere to rest your head, shall I set you up with a suitable position in the Northern Unorthodox Alliance?"
Won Dae-yeon was making a name for himself as the Greatest Hero Under Heaven, but there was no law saying he couldn't take a place in an unorthodox faction.
And someone of Won Dae-yeon's caliber could certainly receive treatment at the level of Elder or higher in any sect in the martial world.
"How many times do you think I've received such offers since earning the epithet Twin Swords of Escaping Death?"
"I wouldn't have been the first."
"At least thirty times. Among them was even the position of second-in-command of a fairly large sect. But the place where I dropped anchor is here. The Red Tiger Society, the Underworld of Hangzhou."
"Which is exactly why I'm asking why you became a thug."
"What's wrong with being a thug? Unlike the martial world, this place has such clear black and white. I love it."
"Where's the white in the Underworld? It's all pitch-black bastards."
"That's even better. Even if I swing blind, I never have to worry about my sword striking the wrong person. And besides—"
Won Dae-yeon's gaze turned toward Do Tong-dal.
"Coordinator Do is here. Wherever he is, that's where I'll be."
Hwangmi Dal shook his head from side to side.
"What on earth is it about that fellow that makes people gather around him like this? As far as I can see, he's just an insolent street punk with his guts hanging out past his ribs."
Won Dae-yeon answered with a smile.
"If that's how the Alliance Leader sees him, it's because Coordinator Do wanted to be seen that way."
"Oh?"
Under Hwangmi Dal's newly appraising gaze, Do Tong-dal whispered to Won Dae-yeon.
"Stop saying weird things."
But it was already too late.
"Is that so? Fine, then I'll watch a little longer."
"By watch, you mean—?"
"I'll know after traveling with you for a few days."
"No, why are you following me around! Does the Alliance Leader of the Northern Unorthodox Alliance really have that little to do?"
"The work was always Strategist Ha's to begin with. I just show my face when necessary. I have plenty of time."
"Then spend that time on something else!"
"At my age, if I can't spend my own time as I please, I've wasted my life."
As Do Tong-dal sprang to his feet, Hwangmi Dal asked.
"Where are you going?"
"That's none of your concern, old man."
"Old man? Even so, the form of address—"
"If you don't want to be called old man, then don't follow me!"
Hwangmi Dal quietly rose to his feet.
"Refreshing, at least."
The others were just as curious about Do Tong-dal's destination, so Namgung Seol-rin asked.
"Where are you going?"
"I should accomplish what I came to Fuyang for."
Leaving the dining hall, Do Tong-dal turned his steps toward the Sangmun Society headquarters. Behind him, Namgung Seol-rin, Won Dae-yeon, Ha Su-ran, and Hwangmi Dal trailed along in a line.
A daughter of the Namgung Clan, the Greatest Hero Under Heaven, and the Alliance Leader and Strategist of the Northern Unorthodox Alliance were all accompanying him to strike at the Fuyang Underworld—a small town if ever there was one.
'Anyone watching would think we were off to fight a great war of the martial world.'
Do Tong-dal casually asked Ha Su-ran, who was walking on his left.
"How long does that old man plan on following me around?"
"That depends on the Alliance Leader's mood."
"Even if he's Alliance Leader in name only, doesn't the Northern Unorthodox Alliance have work for him?"
"The Alliance Leader is the sort of person who does that work if he wants to and doesn't if he doesn't."
Ha Su-ran, too, didn't seem particularly displeased by Hwangmi Dal trotting along after Do Tong-dal.
'Something's wrong with that household.'
Do Tong-dal glanced at the Makya Blade hugged to his chest. He had only meant to tease Hwangmi Dal, but now he felt like he'd taken on a major headache.
'Let's not dwell on it. My shadow's just gotten a little longer, that's all.'
Do Tong-dal made a point of ignoring Hwangmi Dal and Ha Su-ran and quickened his steps. In taking over Fuyang, he had crossed two mountains, and now only one remained.
Do Tong-dal had expected that mountain to appear around tomorrow. The night was too deep for the last mountain to show itself.
But that last mountain, it seemed, was tangled up quite tightly with Sangmun Society Leader Sang Jung-ho.
"You lot! Submit to arrest at once!"
Waiting for them were officials holding six-sided clubs. He had expected the authorities to step in, but he hadn't thought they would mobilize in the dead of night.
Do Tong-dal spotted Sang Jung-ho off to one side, grinning with a self-satisfied face.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kicking away your last chance. You really are something."
After whispering into the head constable's ear, Sang Jung-ho came over to Do Tong-dal.
"I'll admit that you Red Tiger Society people are impressive for having unified Hangzhou and come all the way here. Looking at you, I can see why. But you've underestimated the Fuyang Sangmun Society far too much."
"This is exactly within the expected range."
"What did you say?"
Do Tong-dal swept his gaze over the dozen or so officials lined up.
"You believe the officials can serve as your shield?"
"No matter how high and mighty you are, you're still Underworld. It takes a hawk to catch a pheasant, and there's nothing better than the authorities for catching Underworld thugs. Go on, use that fancy martial arts of yours to beat down some officials? Please, be my guest. I'd love for the entire Hangzhou Red Tiger Society to be wiped out in the flood called the law."
"A thug isn't supposed to hit an official. But do you know what's even more forbidden than that?"
"What?"
"Borrowing the power of the authorities in an Underworld fight. You're a Society Leader of the Underworld—surely you know that unwritten rule."
"Fuck, what bullshit. You're about to die, and you're talking about unwritten rules? To hell with your unwritten rule."
"You think hiding behind the authorities will keep you alive?"
"What are you going to do about it? Look at this picture carefully. You die, and I live. You'll never get out. I've made sure of it."
Whether it was the Seonui Sect or the authorities, both were the same in bleeding the Sangmun Society dry. Until now, direct force had mattered most, so far more wealth had gone to the Seonui Sect, but from now on, that would change.
He didn't like the idea of an Underworld society leaning on the authorities, but Sang Jung-ho had no choice.
Even if the officials sucked him dry of blood, he had to survive today.
"You people won't get out of prison for at least ten years."
At Sang Jung-ho's words, Do Tong-dal grinned.
"See you tomorrow."
"You crazy bastard!"
As Sang Jung-ho withdrew, the officials swarmed forward. In their hands were light-brown binding ropes.
"Tie them up tight! Beat any who resist to death if you like!"
At the head constable's shout, Hwangmi Dal whispered to Do Tong-dal.
"Are you really going to let them arrest you?"
"Would you rather just leave, Alliance Leader?"
If Hwangmi Dal said he was leaving, the officials had no way to stop him. Of course, the same applied to Do Tong-dal's entire party.
But Do Tong-dal had no desire to avoid the authorities. And because Do Tong-dal stayed, Namgung Seol-rin and Won Dae-yeon held their ground as well.
"Strategist Ha, are you just going to stay put too?"
At Hwangmi Dal's question, Ha Su-ran answered.
"I want to see how this turns out."
If the martial world and the authorities were like river water and well water, never encroaching on each other, then the authorities and the Underworld were strictly master and servant.
How would a rabbit that had walked into a wolf's jaws get itself out? That was what Ha Su-ran was curious about.
Beneath that curiosity lay a belief that Do Tong-dal would emerge from the authorities unscathed.
'Because it's Do Tong-dal.'
At her groundless faith, Hwangmi Dal let out a thin sigh.
'That girl's got it bad. Really bad.'
In the end, Hwangmi Dal held his ground too. Meanwhile, the officials busily bound them.
* * *