Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Hanzhong Branch (2)
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Three days later, just as the Hanzhong Merchant Guild's affairs were getting on track, Jeok Hwa-ran prepared to leave.
She had decided to travel with Jeok Sa-jung and the other members of the Red Dragon Hall on their way back.
“If it weren’t for the Red Blossom Pavilion, I would have gone back with you…”
Jeok Hwa-ran grumbled as she said her goodbyes.
“I’ll see you in three months, senior. I’ll look after the house while you’re gone.”
“Wait…”
Why are you looking after my house?
I wanted to question her right away, but the watchful eyes of Jeok Sa-jung and his assassins made me just nod my head.
“There’s no one else but me, right?”
Jeok Hwa-ran’s eyes widened as she asked again.
“R-Right. Thank you.”
Jeok Sa-jung watched her with a smile that suggested he found her absolutely adorable.
They say even a hedgehog finds its own young beautiful; it seemed the world's greatest killing demon was utterly smitten with his youngest granddaughter.
“Then, I’ll be in your care from now on.”
Jeok Sa-jung offered a farewell laden with multiple meanings.
It surely included the hope that I would lead the Hanzhong Merchant Guild well, making it a fine investment for the Red Dragon Hall.
And that was something I wanted as well.
It was an excellent deal: the Red Dragon Hall would invest funds and information to make money, and the Hanzhong Merchant Guild could fill its financial gaps.
“The pleasure is all mine.”
With them providing the money I lacked and real-time, up-to-date information, failure was not an option.
A smirk.
Smiling with satisfaction, Jeok Sa-jung turned his head.
“Your name was Myo Hyang?”
“Yes? Yes!”
“I hear you’ve taken on the role of the guild’s general manager?”
“Yes…”
He handed her a small note and a silver token.
“This shows the location of our contact point in Hanzhong and serves as proof of identity. If you ever need help, feel free to stop by. We will do our utmost to assist you.”
“Thank you.”
“Heh heh, well then, I’ll see you in three months.”
Jeok Sa-jung pulled on the reins, turning his horse around.
Once he was some distance away, Myo Hyang chuckled softly and muttered.
“Hmm, I don’t really need something like this…”
“What?”
When I turned in surprise, Myo Hyang smiled sweetly and said.
“Oh, did you hear that? I meant to say it to myself.”
She whispered very quietly.
“I’ve already decided to work with Hall Master Yong. It’s always better to receive information from multiple channels, isn’t it?”
“…”
The more I saw of her, the more I wondered if she was the same Myo Hyang I once knew.
* * *
“Yaaawn!”
“Aren’t you going home?”
Seeing Cheong So-so wake up late, a nagging remark automatically slipped out.
“Oh my? Are you telling a woman to go back all by herself? On that dangerous road?”
“You could have gone back with the Red Dragon Hall. Or with Master Yuk Hak.”
“What’s the point of going to a house with no one to cook for me? I don’t want to guard an empty house by myself, either. Ugh, maybe I’ll sleep a little more?”
Without even thinking of tidying her unwashed, disheveled hair, Cheong So-so flopped down in the middle of the courtyard.
Her clothes were so unwashed that what was once white had long since turned ivory.
‘She seemed perfectly normal when I first met her.’
The last two weeks at the inn must have transformed her lifestyle into that of a complete slob.
*Snore. Wheeze.*
Paying me no mind, she fell asleep again. I couldn’t help but shake my head.
‘Should I just send her back to the Cheong Family Stronghold?’
Just as I had that thought.
*Shaaa.*
My body reacted instantly to a murderous aura flowing from somewhere.
“You fiend, what were you trying to do to So-so while she was sleeping?”
It was Yuk Hak.
“Do what? I was just about to leave because the sight of her is so unpleasant.”
“…You weren’t planning any funny business?”
“Look at this state she’s in. Sir, would you be interested in someone who looks like a beggar?”
“Ahem, she’s just pretty is all…”
“Yeah, yeah, you can dote on her all you want, Sir Yuk. I’m off to work, so you two slackers can just keep eating and sleeping well, as you do.”
I left the two of them and headed off to work.
The branch was located near the guild, right in the center of Hanzhong.
Befitting the most important branch of the Nine Dragons Fortress, it consisted of dozens of pavilions, each over four stories high. Every single one of them was clearly built to be both magnificent and sturdy.
They were likely built large on purpose to serve as barracks for warriors stationed there in case of war.
The main gate was as massive as those of the Hanzhong Merchant Guild or the Myriad Gold Bank.
As I walked toward the branch, a gatekeeper greeted me as always.
‘This is getting old.’
Honestly, I didn’t see the point of having gatekeepers.
They couldn’t even last a second if bad guys invaded.
Vowing to one day overhaul the entire martial world's gatekeeper system, I approached the man.
“You’re the gentleman who came with the Red Dragon Hall’s young lady. What brings you here today?”
I stand corrected.
The gatekeeper who greeted me could probably last about three seconds, not one.
“I am Jin Mujeon, the temporary general manager for the next three months.”
“Gasp! Then, does that mean you are the great Fighting Dragon, Sir Jin?”
“Ahem, well, my friends in the martial world do sometimes call me that.”
“Incredible! It is the honor of three lifetimes to meet you!”
“Three lifetimes is a bit much…”
*Twitch.*
Confirming the success of my ‘Fighting Dragon’ marketing, the corners of my mouth crept up involuntarily.
As expected, consistent marketing is the only way to build a brand.
“Anyway, may I go inside? I can’t be late on my first day, can I?”
“Oh! My apologies. I will escort you. Please, come in.”
“Haha, the more I see of you, the more I like you. By the way, how old are you?”
“I am twenty-eight this year.”
“…You’re younger than me.”
If you included my past life, I was over forty.
“Pardon? As far as I know…”
“Let’s go.”
“Ah, yes.”
Following him inside, I was greeted by a grand interior.
I had been here before when searching for the contract signed by the branch master from two generations ago, but seeing it as my workplace gave it a new feel.
How should I put it…
It felt like my own world.
After all, until the new branch master and general manager arrived, I held the highest rank.
The problem was.
“Why are there so few people?”
“Ah, there was a major audit recently, and many were summoned back to the main fortress.”
“Ah.”
Well, if the top is rotten, the bottom can’t be clean.
‘They should’ve known when to stop.’
Indeed, too much of anything will make you sick.
From that perspective, the Outer Hall’s system was nothing short of brilliant.
It accepted reasonable payments for simple conveniences but preemptively refused any amount that could cause trouble.
“This is the General Manager’s office.”
“Thank you.”
“I was only doing my duty.”
“If there’s anything else you can explain, I’d appreciate it.”
“Explain, you say…”
“About the branch’s duties and such.”
“Ah. Yes. Understood.”
The explanation was brief.
First, the branch’s primary duty was managing the security of the city of Hanzhong. Same as the Outer Hall’s duties.
However.
“A patrol squad and a strike team…”
With the Ten Demon Alliance poised to act at any moment, a patrol squad composed of swift individuals had to be constantly maintained.
And if a local skirmish broke out, a strike team of powerful martial artists had to be dispatched to send any demons who crossed the line to hell.
The problem was that a significant number of those in the strike team were currently engaged in a work slowdown.
“Why is that?”
“A large portion of the strike team consists of the former general manager’s men.”
“And their origins?”
“…Most are from the Gold Dragon Hall.”
“Well, well.”
That explained it.
The Nine Dragons Fortress, structured much like a joint venture, operated its branches by receiving warriors dispatched from each hall.
In a region like Hanzhong, where the Gold Dragon Hall’s influence was strong, it seemed many of their warriors had been dispatched here.
With me, who was on bad terms with the Gold Dragon Hall, appointed as general manager, the work slowdown was certain to get even worse.
“Summon everyone who is still at the branch.”
If I wasn’t going to do it, fine, but if I was, I had to do it right.
To get this branch running properly, it seemed a good, thorough cleansing was in order.
“Understood.”
“What’s your name?”
“I am Geum Ja-hwan. I was originally part of the strike team, but I’ve been serving as a gatekeeper recently due to the lack of personnel.”
“…I see.”
A short while later.
*Whoosh.*
When I arrived at the grand training ground in the center of the branch, about fifty warriors had gathered.
Most of them seemed to be in charge of security, as they carried ropes for binding criminals at their waists.
Looking down at them, I asked Geum Ja-hwan.
“What is the total number of personnel at this branch?”
“One hundred and fifty. However, fifty have been recalled to the main fortress.”
“So, fifty people didn’t show up?”
“Yes.”
“Who are they?”
“The entire twenty-man patrol squad and the entire thirty-man strike team.”
“Where are they?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked where those bastards are.”
“…Over there.”
At my question, Geum Ja-hwan pointed to a pavilion standing in a corner.
*Thud.*
I immediately used Flying Heavenly Wind to soar through the air and land in front of the building.
*Crack.*
As I kicked down the door, dozens of eyes shot toward me.
Sensing the tense atmosphere, the men inside immediately drew their weapons.
“Oh? You’re even drawing your weapons?”
I leaped and landed right in the middle of them.
“Well, I guess it doesn’t matter.”
I was planning on giving them a thorough beating anyway.
*Crackle.*
The moment I made up my mind, the War King Energy in my body began to run wild, spreading a magnetic force.
“The punishment for insubordination will now begin.”
“You look like the temporary general manager…”
*BAM! CRACK!*
I kicked the chest of the first man who spoke.
His body shot out like a cannonball, smashing through a wall.
“…”
The sudden event plunged the inside of the pavilion into silence.
“Are you just going to stand there?”
I said, looking around at them.
“Whether you resist or not, something’s going to get broken. Wouldn’t you feel less wronged if you at least did something?”
“Damn it!”
The men drew their weapons and charged.
‘Not bad.’
As they were the elite strike team of the Hanzhong branch, their skill level was quite high.
I was expecting a company of misfits, but this was more like a company of A-listers.
‘I’ll have to take this seriously.’
A moment of carelessness could lead to utter humiliation.
*Shhwing. Swish.*
Golden glows flew at me from both sides.
They were Golden Flame Swords, rare items used by the warriors of the Myriad Gold Bank.
*Papapat.*
After parrying the blades with hands cloaked in the force of the War King Arts.
*PAANG!*
I unleashed the War King Thirteen Strikes forward.
*Crack. Crack.*
“Gah.”
“Kugh!”
As soon as I confirmed that the four men in front were neutralized, I launched a lightning-fast middle kick.
*BAM!*
The man who took the full force of the blow to his side was sent flying like a baseball hit by a bat.
Of course, my opponents were the elite strike team of the branch.
They launched a sharp counterattack of their own.
*Slash. Slice.*
Golden Flame Swords flying from the front and back cut into my waist and back.
But even so.
“Heh heh, surprised?”
As long as I had the Dragon Scale Armor, they couldn’t even scratch my skin.
No money, no life. Money, life.
This was a truth of the martial world I had recently come to understand.
It was only natural that those who possessed treasures would survive.
From then on, the flow of the battle turned completely in my favor.
*Clink. Clang.*
Their soft swords couldn’t leave a single scratch on my Dragon Scale Armor.
“He’s wearing protective armor! Aim for his lower body!”
They belatedly identified my weakness and swung their swords, but.
*Thump.*
I used the War King Step to easily evade their strikes.
“Gah!”
*Whoosh!*
“Hoh.”
There seemed to be an ace among them, as a golden sword aura flew toward me.
It was a level above a first-rate master, though not quite at the peak.
It was the best sword strike I had seen today, but.
*Kwoooosh!*
It was nothing more than prey for my War Dragon Energy.
As their sword aura was blocked by my protective energy, the men began to drop their weapons one by one.
*Clink. Clang.*
“We’ve lost.”
“We will accept our punishment.”
They were showing their intent to surrender.
This all happened in less than half an hour since the fight began.
The problem was.
“You want to fight bare-handed?”
I had no intention of stopping.
And so began my first day of work at the branch.