65. I Always Watch Over You (3)
The Hwi-yeong Merchant Group, sailing smoothly through the merchant world like a ship with the wind at its back, came to an abrupt halt. That didn't mean the caravan had quieted down, though. Eunuchs pouring out from the Eastern Depot were tearing the place apart, keeping things just as hectic as before.
"Group Leader."
"Yeah."
"Why don't you head inside and rest? I'll keep watch over the caravan."
"Keep watch? Like that changes anything. They won't compensate us for a single broken item anyway."
"True enough."
The eunuchs truly acted as if doing the empire's business gave them free rein to rampage. No one knew when bullying merchant caravans on someone's orders had become official state work.
"You should've stayed inside yourself, Chief Clerk."
"I'm not just any clerk—I'm the acting chief. And I have my own duties to attend to."
Ah, right—the staffing expansion plan and new org chart. I'd assigned it myself and still managed to forget.
"What a mess, anyway."
We could only stand there, arms crossed, watching the eunuchs ransack the place.
Some documents and desks got damaged in the shuffle, but they didn't care one bit.
I could see why Jo Chung-heon wanted me to go inside. He figured it'd pain me to watch strangers trash the caravan I'd poured my blood and sweat into.
But I believed times like this called for facing the situation head-on. This was the phase of lying low in the reeds and tasting bitterness. Fearing it meant we couldn't hit back later.
"How long is this gonna take?"
When I asked a nearby eunuch, he scowled irritably.
"It'll end when it's time. Why so many complaints about a national affair?"
"Just curious about the end time."
"We're doing the empire's work, and you can't even fetch water or snacks?"
Jo Chung-heon's face darkened more than mine at the eunuch's words. We'd all heard how arrogant the Eastern Depot was, but experiencing it firsthand was new. The Hwi-yeong Merchant Group from my previous life had never tangled with them.
I whispered to Jo Chung-heon to go buy some water and food outside. He shot me a "you serious?" look, but I just nodded.
Soon enough, he returned with the goods, and the eunuchs lit up. Even the grumbling one softened.
"See? Neither of us wants this. A little consideration goes a long way."
Like you'd show consideration if someone was looting your house. But different words came out of my mouth.
"First time seeing Eastern Depot folks in action, so I didn't know. Won't happen again—eat up and carry on. And if you could handle the goods and papers a bit more carefully, I'd appreciate it."
"Of course, of course. This back-and-forth builds rapport."
With the pricey spread out, their moods improved. I sidled up, picking at the food with my fingers to ease in.
"Eastern Depot must have a ton of people. You're throwing so many at a place with nothing to find. How many are there, exactly?"
"Beats me. Even the Admiral probably doesn't know. Only one Grand Eunuch does."
The Grand Eunuch—head of the Eastern Depot, top eunuch serving right beside the emperor. Made sense for a special ops group to be shrouded in secrecy.
"Heard Eastern Depot meddles in the murim too, so lots of experts among you."
"Ahem. Yeah."
Flatter their ego as masters, and they eat it up. Of course, not all eunuchs were pretty like castrati singers—not in my eyes, anyway. I just wanted to punch them.
"Someone of Admiral rank must have some serious skills, right?"
"Eh, we don't ask about each other's stuff. It's secret. You're awfully curious about the Eastern Depot. Wanna lose your manhood? Got a guy who does it real clean."
"No, no. Just rare to meet Eastern Depot folks, so lots of questions. Sorry if I overstepped."
"You did. But you seem decent, so I'll tell you."
One snack and I'm "decent." Food really was the best way to butter people up.
"The Eastern Depot? Dangerous place. I said we don't pry into each other, right? Know why?"
"Special ops thing?"
"That too. Real reason? Don't wanna get attached. Eastern Depot guys vanish anytime."
The eunuch grinned creepily.
"We get all sorts of missions, mostly shady stuff off the books. Never know when you'll die. And if you do? Depot avenge you? Fancy tomb? Nah. You just disappear quietly."
"That so?"
"Yep. That's the Depot. So don't piss off the Admiral. Killers vanish, killed vanish—poof."
"Scary stuff."
"Right?"
I hugged my arms and shivered dramatically; the eunuch laughed. That androgynous cackle never got easier to hear.
I nodded along vaguely after that, then slipped back to the group leader's office.
"Group Leader, you're more impressive than I thought."
Jo Chung-heon was resting there after his errand.
"How so?"
"Feeding those bastards who deserve to be chewed up."
"Keep it down—they'll hear. Eastern Depot eunuchs all train in martial arts."
"Eep."
He clapped a hand over his mouth, then whispered.
"So, how long?"
"Who knows."
"It's been half a month already. They're rereading the same papers."
"Papers aren't the point. Stalling is."
"That's why it's infuriating—it's so obvious."
He started raising his voice, then glanced outside warily.
"Infinite Merchant Group's linked up with publishers in Soju and Hangzhou, mass-printing the Twelve Bandit Forms."
"Figures."
"They're eating our market share."
"Yeah. Oh, and tell Cheonsabang to cut back on staff. We barely have anything left to sell anyway."
"Got it. Our warehouse is empty now. Theirs? Stuffed with Twelve Bandit Forms."
Infinite Merchant Group was riding high now, just like Hwi-yeong two weeks back. The Twelve Bandit Forms were still selling like hotcakes.
"They've cornered the Twelve Bandit Forms market completely."
"Yep. Cutting other products to ramp up production."
"They're hell-bent on crushing us."
"If not for the Depot tying our feet, they'd be no match."
"Nah. Even with our underworld connections, they outnumber us."
I chuckled dryly. Jo Chung-heon's sweet talk was a novelty. Sure, he was upright, but every merchant knew how to gild the lily.
From his view, I should be fuming. Business booming, then Depot stalls us, rival surges ahead.
"Chief Clerk."
"Yes."
"No festival lasts a full year."
"Pardon?"
"Be right back."
I headed out, whether he got it or not. I'd chatted up the eunuchs enough—it was time to slip away.
Truth was, I'd been waiting for the right moment. Their surveillance had kept me pinned till now.
Outside, I spread my qi sense. People glanced my way; I felt their presences. First day with the Depot Admiral, eight tails. Now? Just two.
Half a month of clocking in, doing nothing but watching eunuchs—natural they'd slack on watch.
"Whew."
I ducked into an alley, then unleashed Cloud Mist Step at full speed.
No eunuch could match that swift lightness skill. I darted through alleys, shaking them off, and escaped cleanly. Qi sense confirmed: no tails.
Lighter-hearted, I headed to the Black Dragon Sect. Even the grunts recognized me.
"Ah, isn't that the Hwi-yeong Merchant Group leader?"
"That's me. Sect leader in?"
"Yes, go on up. He's waiting."
Waiting? I didn't send word.
Up in the sect leader's office, Mun Il-ji lounged in a massive chair. I grinned on sight.
"Suits you, sect leader."
"Wouldn't have without you."
He grumbled, standing.
"Waiting forever—why so late?"
"Heard about it, right? Hwi-yeong's getting hammered by the Depot. Too risky till now."
"Yeah, heard. Lots saying you'll go bust."
I smirked. Folks would think that—a newbie caravan marked by the Depot? Done for.
"If that bankrupted us, we'd have folded ages ago."
"Depot's no joke, though."
"Tough, sure. Anyway, where is it?"
"Man, you give me headaches."
He shoved the bookshelf aside, revealing a hidden iron door and stairs down.
"Black Dragon Sect always had this?"
"Crooks like us always do."
"Not some palace dungeon."
I grimaced, descending slowly, groping walls—no night pearls here.
At the bottom, groans and musty stench welcomed me.
"Ugh, uuuuh...."
"Real torture chamber."
I frowned at the man chained by arms from the ceiling.
His limbs broken, face a bloody pulp—ghastly. Mun Il-ji wordlessly kicked his shattered shin.
"Aaaargh!"
The man thrashed, screaming. I scanned around.
"No sound leaks, right?"
"As if. I beat him when bored—no one's heard a peep."
Mun Il-ji grinned wickedly.
This was the former Black Dragon Sect leader—the one who'd fed Mun Il-ji Heart Corruption Gu and puppeted him. Karma for getting pummeled now. But I had business with him.
"Hey."
No response—lost in agony. I eyed Mun Il-ji; he reflexively cocked his fist.
"Krah!"
Fist cracked the man's jaw in an instant.
"Ugh, uuuugh."
Blood and spit drooled. Barely any teeth left.
"Answer, you bastard."
"Y-yes... un-understood."
"What'd he say?"
"He gets it."
I nodded, yanking his chin up.
Time for questions.
"Heart Corruption Gu. Where'd you get it?"