Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: The Value of Real Estate (2)
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Hanzhong.
The most strategic point of the Nine Dragons Fortress and the city most coveted by the Ten Demon Alliance.
Nestled by the Han River, its soil is fertile, and its geographical value is immense, as half of all goods traveling between Sichuan and Yunnan pass through Hanzhong.
However, its location is a bit ambiguous... While it lies on the border of Sichuan and Shaanxi, it technically belongs to Shaanxi.
That is why the first Lord of Nine Dragons, despite having effective control over Hanzhong, ceded the fertile lands to the west to the Righteous Path Alliance.
This was a move to preemptively block any future territorial disputes.
After the rights were settled, Hanzhong experienced dazzling growth alongside the Nine Dragons Fortress.
Befitting its strategic location, Hanzhong was bustling with merchants flocking from all over the Central Plains.
Merchants even came from as far as Qinghai and Gansu, territories of the Ten Demon Alliance.
Where people gather, money is sure to follow.
This was especially true when most of those gathering were merchants, veritable money fiends.
Eyeing such wealth, people emerged who acted as brokers for these merchants.
These were the Hanzhong merchants, or "Hansang" for short.
In recent times, the Hanzhong merchants have amassed such great wealth that they are hot on the heels of the merchants from Shanxi and Anhui, known as the two great merchant guilds of the world.
And the one backing these Hanzhong merchants and providing them with capital was none other than the Gold Dragon Hall. In other words, the Ten Thousand Gold Bank.
“Wow...”
Standing before the Hanzhong branch of that very Ten Thousand Gold Bank, I couldn't help but be amazed.
And for good reason. The branch was much larger than the main headquarters in the Nine Dragons Fortress.
It was as if this place were the main office.
It was probably because this was the home base of their main clients, the Hanzhong merchants.
‘They say the Gold Dragon Hall's fortune amounts to three hundred million taels...’
I found myself unconsciously overwhelmed by the sheer majesty of the world's greatest bank—in modern terms, a global bulge bracket firm.
The thought of having to be nice to Geum Pil-dae came to me naturally.
“Senior?”
“Huh? Oh.”
“What are you doing? Aren't you going in?”
“Ah, right. Let's go in.”
I had left the others at the inn and came to the Ten Thousand Gold Bank's branch with Jeok Hwa-ran.
It was because no matter how hard we looked, we couldn't find the land described in the deed.
“...The document seems to have been written a very long time ago. The landmarks used as reference points have changed, making it impossible to decipher.”
Even Myo Hyang, the self-proclaimed real estate expert, had expressed her difficulty.
That's why I decided to seek help from the Ten Thousand Gold Bank, with Jeok Hwa-ran leading the way.
*Hubbub.*
When we opened the door and entered, the branch was filled with all sorts of people.
Most of them appeared to be merchants who had come to borrow money.
‘They've got some nerve, borrowing money like this.’
For reference, the interest rates in the martial world were beyond insane.
How insane? You'd be called a saint for lending money at a 20% annual interest rate.
Naturally, the rates at the Ten Thousand Gold Bank weren't much different.
When I looked into a loan before buying a house on Black Serpent Road, they quoted me 30%, calling it a special preferential rate exclusively for employees of the Nine Dragons Fortress.
If I hadn't been a warrior of the Nine Dragons Fortress, they probably would have quoted me a 50% annual rate.
Anyway, the important thing right now wasn't the high-interest rates, but getting information about my land.
Jeok Hwa-ran strode up to the warrior guarding the branch.
Judging by his neat attire, he seemed to be serving as a security guard.
“I'm here to see Elder Geum.”
“...Elder Geum? To whom are you referring?”
Perhaps because of her luxurious clothes, he treated Jeok Hwa-ran with utmost respect.
“Who else could it be? The Gold and Silver Divine Hand, Great Warrior Geum Do-myeong, of course.”
“...As you know, young lady, Great Warrior Geum Do-myeong is the branch manager here. You cannot meet him without an appointment.”
At the security guard's... no, the security warrior's words, Jeok Hwa-ran chuckled softly and said.
“Tell him the fourth child of the Red Dragon Hall has come to see him. I'm sure he'll meet me then.”
Naturally, upon hearing Jeok Hwa-ran's identity, the security warrior was astonished and rushed off.
Jeok Hwa-ran pressed her head against my arm. It was like a puppy bringing back a ball and asking if it did a good job.
“Good girl.”
*Flush!*
Just as I was praising her and patting her head, an elderly man came rushing out from the back.
‘As expected, the Red Dragon Hall holds all the cards.’
The foundation of investment is information.
And when it came to the ability to handle that information, no group could match the Red Dragon Hall. Thus, the Gold Dragon Hall was always the one in need.
It was only natural that he, a man of high standing within the Gold Dragon Hall, would take a subservient posture toward Jeok Hwa-ran.
“Lady Jeok is here?! Where! Ah, there you are. It has been a long time, my lady.”
“It has been a while, Elder Geum.”
“But why is your face so red...? Have you perhaps caught a cold?”
“I-It's nothing. I just have a slight fever...”
“That won't do! Please, come in. I will prepare a medicinal tea that will knock out a pesky cold in one go.”
“Before that...”
Jeok Hwa-ran glanced over at me.
At that, Elder Geum looked me up and down.
“Hm? And who might you be?”
“Greetings. I am Jin Mujeon, Squad Leader of the First Squad, Outer Hall, of the main fortress.”
“Jin... Mujeon? Could you be the Fighting Dragon they say lent a hand in killing the Killing Demon Mad Ghost?”
“I am humbled, but that is what my comrades in the martial world have taken to calling me.”
For reference, saying "my comrades in the martial world... call me such-and-such" when introducing your title is a form of humility and etiquette.
If someone were to just state their title upfront, they'd likely be bad-mouthed behind their back as an ill-mannered brute.
“Hah! To meet a rising star like this. A true pleasure! I am Geum Do-myeong.”
“I have heard much of the Gold and Silver Divine Hand's renown. When I was young, I heard the tale of your heroic deed of single-handedly wiping out the Five Mad Dogs, and I was filled with admiration.”
Heard it, my ass.
I only knew because Jeok Hwa-ran had hastily filled me in before we came.
I didn't even know who these "Five Mad Dogs" were.
Since their name had "dog" in it, they were probably some second or third-rate scoundrels from an unorthodox faction.
But with a single pleasantry like this, I could earn a great deal of favor.
“Hahaha! To think there is a junior who knows of my hollow fame from the past. What a joyous occasion. Come, come, come inside. I shall treat a junior I haven't seen in a long time to a cup of tea.”
No matter how much I called it a hellish Murim, this was, after all, the land of Confucius.
So, I followed him and had some tea for a short while.
“Um, if it's not too much trouble, I was hoping I could get some help finding this place.”
I showed the land deed to Geum Do-myeong.
“We are all family in the same fortress. What is there that I cannot help with? Let me see it.”
And then.
“This is...?!”
After checking the document, he was startled.
When that happens, it's usually one of two things.
Either an incredible jackpot, or an utter bust.
“To think you were the owner of this land...”
I asked back in a trembling voice.
“Where is this land located?”
“...W-Well, that is...”
“Elder Geum, we don't have much time. Please.”
When Geum Do-myeong hesitated, Jeok Hwa-ran urged him on in a firm tone.
“...It's the marketplace.”
“The marketplace?”
“I'm referring to the market street in the very center of Hanzhong Fortress. It is where all the goods of the world gather.”
Jackpot!
It was a jackpot.
Enough of a jackpot to startle Jeok Hwa-ran, the youngest granddaughter of a tycoon's family, who was right beside me.
Was it because I was so shocked?
I was left not only speechless, but breathless.
“Gaaack...”
*Thump, thump!*
Noticing my distress, Jeok Hwa-ran quickly patted my back.
“Phew.”
Just as I managed to let out a breath, Geum Do-myeong spoke as if he'd just remembered something.
“However, there may be a problem with asserting your land use rights.”
“What? What kind of problem?!”
“First, according to the document, the land is certainly yours, Fighting Dragon, but...”
Geum Do-myeong scratched his cheek and continued.
“I believe the branch master who was managing the land fifty years ago leased it to the Hanzhong Merchant Alliance.”
“What?”
I had run into an unexpected obstacle.
* * *
First things first, you have to see things with your own eyes to understand what's going on.
I took Myo Hyang and Cheong So-so, who had been waiting at the inn, and headed to the place Geum Do-myeong had pointed out.
And then.
“...Congratulations on becoming a tycoon, Senior.”
I couldn't help but marvel at the sight spread out before my eyes.
“Hey! Silk from the Western Regions!”
“We have tea from Yunnan!”
“Inkstones from Anhui! The Sanmun Academy uses them, so the quality is second to none!”
Because on my land stood a market where goods and merchants from all over the world gathered.
And in the center of it all stood a towering five-story pavilion.
Judging by the sign that read "Hanzhong Merchant Guild," it appeared to be the headquarters for the Hanzhong merchants.
Cheong So-so, who had already run off, was looking around in front of an apothecary and shouted.
“Look over here! There are so many precious medicinal herbs! Huh? Is this Goryeo ginseng?”
Myo Hyang stared blankly at our surroundings and muttered.
“...And I was working so hard to earn money to support him...”
I didn't know what she was talking about, but she seemed overwhelmed by the grandeur of the market.
“Hmm, let's investigate the area first. We need to figure out what's going on.”
“You just stay put, Senior. We'll go check things out.”
“It's my land, so I should go.”
“Do you trust Elder Geum from the Ten Thousand Gold Bank?”
“Suddenly?”
“According to the deed, you're essentially an enemy of the Hanzhong merchants. From their perspective, a master has suddenly appeared for the land they've been using for free.”
Jeok Hwa-ran continued, scanning the surroundings.
“And the Hanzhong merchants are the biggest clients and business partners of the Ten Thousand Gold Bank's Hanzhong branch. He's probably already sent someone to the Hanzhong Merchant Guild by now. If you go wandering around in the middle of all this, you'll just be watched and won't gain anything, right?”
“Even with you here, the youngest lady of the Red Dragon Hall?”
“You could say the priorities are different. Our side is a problem that can be resolved with some smooth talking, but for the Hanzhong merchants, it's a matter of life and death.”
“Hmm...”
After hearing Jeok Hwa-ran's explanation, I understood why Geum Do-myeong had seemed so reluctant.
‘No wonder he was so vague...’
As I was feeling troubled, Myo Hyang stepped forward confidently.
“Just trust me. As an expert, I'll find out everything for sure.”
Jeok Hwa-ran smiled faintly and replied.
“There's no need for that, Myo Hyang. I've already ordered someone to gather information. As you know, we're the experts when it comes to intelligence, aren't we? Hahaha.”
Myo Hyang showed a look of indignation at Jeok Hwa-ran's showy attitude.
It seemed she was upset because her moment to shine had been stolen.
Time passed in that slightly uncomfortable atmosphere.
As we waited while drinking tea at a teahouse, an ordinary-looking old man approached us.
Seeing Jeok Hwa-ran's eyes light up, he seemed to be an informant from the Red Dragon Hall.
He passed by our table and dropped three small, folded pieces of paper.
Jeok Hwa-ran quickly picked them up and checked their contents.
And a moment later.
“Things might get complicated.”
“Why? What is it?”
“They say they leased the land through proper legal procedures fifty years ago. For free, no less. And there are still fifty years left on the lease.”
“Damn it...”
It was the worst possible news.
This meant I might not see a single penny until I became a stooped old man.
As I was despairing, Jeok Hwa-ran proposed a solution.
“You want to sell this land and get a huge sum of money, right, Senior?”
“That's right.”
“Then you'll have to negotiate with the head of the Hanzhong Merchant Guild. From their perspective, it would be better to just buy the land outright rather than continue leasing it. The problem is...”
Jeok Hwa-ran took a sip of the tea in front of her and continued.
“The head of the Hanzhong Merchant Guild is a sly old snake. One that's over a hundred years old.”
“This is driving me crazy.”
Why does nothing ever go smoothly?