Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: The Value of Real Estate (4)
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The next day.
I visited the Hanzhong Branch to verify the lease agreement signed by the previous Branch Master’s predecessor.
Naturally, the current Branch Master and the other executives of the Hanzhong Branch resisted.
“Are you sure you can handle the consequences?”
But at Jeok Hwa-ran’s quiet threat, they backed down as if nothing had happened.
Thanks to her, Myo Hyang, Jeok Hwa-ran, and I were able to quietly examine the documents in the branch’s archives.
“By the way, where did Lady Cheong go?”
“She left at dawn, saying she was going to buy medicinal herbs. Said there were some she could only get here…”
Honestly, that Cheong So-so is of no help whatsoever.
“Tsk… tsk, tsk.”
When I thought about how Jeok Hwa-ran was using her background and abilities to help me, I couldn’t help but compare the two.
‘She’d be perfect if only she had a kind heart…’
Seeing as she was given a powerful background and skills but only a tiny heart, I guess the gods are fair after all.
I grumbled internally while sifting through the mountain of documents with the two of them for about two hours.
“These are so old, it’s hard to find anything.”
“*Cough, cough.* It’s so dusty, too.”
The two women, who had been helping diligently, began to complain, unable to bear it any longer.
“Hmph… I thought we were here to have fun, but all we’re doing is work…”
“I know, right? Making us work so hard without even treating us to a nice meal… Isn’t this just too much?”
“Myo Hyang…”
“My Lady!”
The two joined forces and started their own little labor strike.
“Senior! What is the meaning of this?!”
“That’s right! If you’re going to make us work, pay us a proper wage!”
“W-Wait. You two followed me here on your own…”
But my excuse was nothing more than a hollow cry.
“I’m done!”
“Me too!”
Unable to contain their anger, the two of them simply dropped what they were doing.
‘Dammit…’
There was still a warehouse full of documents left.
Without them, there was no telling when I’d finish.
‘Tsk, I have no choice.’
I had to offer them compensation.
“Alright. Tell me what you each want.”
“Take us to the Moon Scent Pavilion when we’re done!”
“And buy us the most expensive and delicious things on the menu!”
“…”
The Moon Scent Pavilion was considered the most luxurious tavern in Hanzhong, a city famous for its wealthy merchants.
In modern terms, it was the equivalent of a Chinese restaurant in a five-star hotel.
Naturally, it boasted insane prices, and it was a place I would never normally go.
But.
‘Once I get the three hundred thousand nyang, I could buy the entire Moon Scent Pavilion.’
Resolving the strike was the priority, so I yelled, “Okay!”
Thanks to that, the two women, their morale soaring, diligently searched through the documents.
“Found it!”
Around sunset, we finally found the contract.
Upon immediate inspection, its contents were more or less what I had expected.
First, the Hanzhong Merchant Guild shall lease ten thousand pyeong of land managed by the Hanzhong Branch for one hundred years.
Second, in return, the Hanzhong Merchant Guild shall cooperate fully with the Hanzhong Branch. This cooperation includes providing food supplies and information in the event of foreign invasion or famine.
Third, should the Branch require the land in the future, it may be reclaimed at any time.
Branch Master of the Nine Dragons Fortress’s Hanzhong Branch, Gwa Wi.
Guild Master of the Hanzhong Merchant Guild, Yeo Ga-gwang.
The clause that caught our eye was the third one.
The one stating that the Branch could reclaim the land.
Of course, the process wouldn't be easy.
“Even if we request its return, they won’t listen.”
“What if the Branch itself takes the lead?”
“Then it might be worth a try, but that’s not going to happen.”
“Why?”
“The Hanzhong Branch has been around for a hundred years. The Hanzhong Merchant Guild was established around the same time. They’ve been in bed together for so long, they must have a mountain of dirt on each other.”
Jeok Hwa-ran’s explanation made me nod in agreement.
Nothing is more terrifying than a former ally turning into an enemy.
If the Hanzhong Branch were to turn hostile toward the Merchant Guild, all sorts of hidden corruption within the Branch would undoubtedly be exposed.
Given the martial world’s emphasis on organizational culture, they wouldn’t have pocketed the bribes alone. It was obvious that everyone, from top to bottom, would be strung up together like fish on a line.
“Still, isn’t there a big difference between having grounds to argue and having none at all?”
“That’s true.”
As Myo Hyang said, the difference was huge.
This was the martial world, which lacked not only civil litigation but any systematic judicial system.
Even the smallest loophole could be exploited with the help of a powerful figure.
And who might that powerful figure be?
Who else but my spiritual father and soulmate, Bukgung Baek?
He was a man whose stock was rising daily, having reached the transcendent realm and sent one of the Ten Demon Alliance’s top three masters to the next world.
If he stepped in, the Hanzhong Merchant Guild would have no choice but to whimper and retreat.
“But if the Hanzhong Merchant Guild moves, they’re ruined.”
This was the biggest problem.
In modern times, they wouldn’t be able to move because of the established infrastructure, but this was a martial world set in medieval China.
The only infrastructure to speak of were wooden pavilions.
It would cost a lot of money, but if they built new shops and moved, that would be the end of it.
No matter how high the moving costs, it wouldn't amount to three hundred thousand nyang.
‘At most, maybe thirty thousand nyang?’
“It’s frustrating, but I think we need to find another way. Or maybe consider lowering the price to some extent…”
“No.”
Of course, that didn’t mean I was willing to take a loss.
“Pardon?”
“I have a way.”
I called the two women closer.
“Everyone, gather around.”
* * *
“He’s still at the Branch?”
“Yes, it seems he’s looking for the contract at the Branch.”
“And Branch Master Jang just let him?”
“I suspect Lady Jeok must have threatened him.”
“That shameless bastard. After taking so much, he should know how to act!”
*Thump! Clatter.*
Yeo Dong-jo slammed his hand on the table in frustration.
He had boasted that they would move, but how could the Hanzhong Merchant Guild, of all places, just run away?
It was absolutely out of the question.
Most importantly.
‘Not now.’
There were personal reasons he couldn't disclose.
*Tap, tap.*
As Yeo Dong-jo, deep in thought, tapped on the table, a young merchant stepped forward and asked.
“If he’s confirmed the contract, he might ask the Branch to step in and reclaim the land. I believe we need to prepare for that.”
It was a valid point, but Yeo Dong-jo’s expression didn’t change.
It was a reaction befitting a man called the Iron Merchant for his iron-like countenance.
“How much money have we poured into the Hanzhong Branch over the past ten years?”
“…I believe it’s at least ten thousand nyang.”
“And we have more than enough proof of it. The laws of the Nine Dragons Fortress are incredibly strict, so unless they’re willing to go down with us, they won’t make a move so easily.”
At Yeo Dong-jo’s rebuttal, an older merchant stepped forward this time.
“As they say, it’s better to be safe than sorry. I hear that the Fighting Dragon, Jin Mujeon, is a rising star watched closely by the leadership of the Nine Dragons Fortress. Furthermore, his contributions in the wars against the Southern Heaven Palace and the Ten Demon Alliance are not insignificant. A man like that could potentially involve high-ranking figures from the Fortress.”
“A valid point.”
Yeo Dong-jo nodded and continued.
“Why don’t we just kill him?”
“…!”
Everyone present was visibly shocked by his proposal.
It was only natural.
No matter how powerful the Hanzhong Merchant Guild was, their opponent was a warrior from the Nine Dragons Fortress, one of the Two Powers among the Five Hegemons of the World.
Moreover, wasn’t he a rising star watched by the Fortress’s own leadership?
One wrong move could lead to the utter devastation of the Hanzhong Merchant Guild.
“You all look frightened.”
But Yeo Dong-jo’s thoughts were different.
“Isn’t he the one demanding three hundred thousand nyang? Rather than lose that money, wouldn’t it be easier to just kill him?”
“We might be able to negotiate the price down. Or moving to another location could be an option,” the old merchant interjected again.
The old man, who had spent decades in the world of commerce, was known within the Guild for his cautious nature.
“How much do you think we can lower it to?”
“Half, or perhaps even less…”
“One hundred and fifty thousand nyang… I still think killing him is better.”
“Guild Master! Do you truly intend to endanger the Guild?!”
“We just have to kill him without a trace, don’t we?”
“…I cannot agree.”
Yeo Dong-jo glared at the old man, then clicked his tongue and said.
“It seems Grand Merchant Mo Geuk wishes to rest.”
At his words, warriors of the Hanzhong Merchant Guild rushed out and seized Mo Geuk’s arms.
“Guild Master!”
The enraged Mo Geuk shouted, but Yeo Dong-jo didn’t even blink. Instead, he spat out a mocking remark.
“Go rest for a couple of months. Everything will be sorted out by then. Perhaps even your merchant group will be sorted out.”
“Do you think the Guild members will stand by and let you treat me this way?”
“We’ll see.”
Yeo Dong-jo looked around.
Despite Mo Geuk, a man respected as a grand merchant, being humiliated, not a single person stepped forward.
Instead, they just lowered their heads.
“Take him away.”
He gestured with his chin, and the warriors dragged Mo Geuk out.
Now, only six remained in the hall.
All were grand merchants who led the Hanzhong Merchant Guild, but none could meet Yeo Dong-jo’s eyes.
The reason was simple.
After becoming the Guild Master, Yeo Dong-jo had taken in many martial artists as his retainers under the pretext of protecting the Guild.
The problem was, he was now using that military power to commit atrocities.
The grand merchants had tried to invite other masters on several occasions, but all had refused.
“Will it be possible?”
It was because of the man standing behind the Guild Master.
They had all fled upon hearing the name of the Iron-Blooded Hegemon, Yuk Hak, a renowned supreme master in the central plains.
“A brat like that is no problem at all.”
“How reassuring.”
“Just make sure you have my promised payment ready.”
“You’re saving us from a loss of three hundred thousand nyang. Of course, we’ll have to pay you properly. Hahaha.”
Yeo Dong-jo laughed, his voice full of confidence.
It was the laugh of a man certain his era would continue.
* * *
‘This is cutting it close.’
It was the second day since Jeok Hwa-ran and Myo Hyang had left on some mission.
Lying in the shade of a tree in the inn’s rear garden, I calculated my remaining vacation days.
‘Seven days.’
I had wasted too much time on the journey here, so my remaining time was tight.
‘If we sleep on the road on the way back, I can save two days. That gives me nine.’
It couldn’t be helped.
I’d have to make the women sleep on the ground.
As I pondered how to avoid getting an earful from the three women, a thought suddenly struck me.
‘If I get the three hundred thousand nyang, I don’t have to go back, do I?’
The house and assets I had in the Nine Dragons Fortress were a waste, but three hundred thousand nyang was worth three hundred billion won in modern currency.
Compared to that, my house and assets in the Fortress were like a single tree in a forest.
In other words, it was an amount I could easily give up.
I felt sorry for Jeok Hwa-ran, who had followed me all this way to help, but to achieve one’s dream, one must also know how to betray.
And.
‘Come to think of it, wasn’t Jeok Hwa-ran the one who recommended I take the land?’
In a way, didn’t Jeok Hwa-ran bring this upon herself?
Thus, with a clear conscience, I reviewed my escape routes.
‘Cheong So-so will be fine on her own, so I’ll just leave her and take Myo Hyang with me.’
After all, I needed someone to cook.
So, where should I run off to?
Siberia? Anhui?
I pondered my destination for a moment before quickly reaching a conclusion.
‘Goryeo.’
Yes, that was it.
It was far from the central plains, and they didn’t even speak the same language.
‘I wonder if I’ll even be able to communicate if I go now? It’s not like the place is teeming with god-like masters, is it?’
I thought about it for a moment, then shook my head.
Language and environment were secondary; they weren’t the most important issue.
‘Right, if I run away this far, they won’t be able to catch me.’
It wasn’t like I was a criminal who had fled after causing great harm to the Fortress.
‘If anything, I worked like a slave…’
I had defended Mount Chang from the Southern Heaven Palace’s attack, rescued the Third Young Master of the Martial Emperor Fortress, and distinguished myself in the war in the Southern Barbarian lands.
And was that all?
In the recent war against the Ten Demon Alliance, I had achieved such brilliant merit that I received the highest honors.
Honestly, after all I’d done, releasing me as a free agent was the right thing to do.
‘Hehehe.’
The thought of spending the rest of my life without working made me laugh.
Just as I was imagining my happy future.
“Who are you?”
An immense presence emanated from behind me.
I turned to see a giant, bald man standing there.
“Are you Jin Mujeon?”
“What if I am?”
“I am Yuk Hak.”
“So?”
“I have come to kill you.”
Damn, making money is a real pain.