Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Uninvited Guest
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Everything was going well.
The number of merchants visiting Hanzhong grew daily, the GNP of its people increased, and public safety improved.
The Hanzhong branch was also running smoothly.
Of course it was.
They had a perfect superior in Jin Mujeon.
“Nine! Dragons!”
Thanks to him, the branch members' salutes grew sharper by the day.
*Nod.*
“Good work.”
Seeing their commendable efforts, I felt a natural desire to do something for them.
‘What should I do to earn a reputation as a good superior?’
A bonus?
‘No. Ja-hwan said the branch's budget is tight.’
A company dinner?
‘Hmm, isn't that a bit common?’
As I pondered for a moment, a good idea came to mind.
‘Life advice.’
It seemed much better than something material.
A lecture from me, a man on the fast track to success, would surely be well-received by the branch members.
Weren't lectures like 'How to Be a Rich Dad' or '20 Ways to Succeed' popular in the modern world?
With a bit of localization, a talk on 'The Mindset of a Master' or 'Become a Peak Master in 10 Years?' would be very helpful.
Having made up my mind, I first visited the strike team.
As I opened the door, the members who had been resting on one side hurriedly got to their feet and saluted.
“Nine! Dragons! All clear on duty!”
“Just lie down. Be comfortable.”
“No, sir!”
“I said it's fine. Lie down. Resting comfortably when you're off duty is a way to preserve your combat strength, isn't it? You can just work hard when you're dispatched.”
However, despite my suggestion, they remained at attention and didn't move.
“N-no, sir. We can rest standing up!”
“Hmph! That's an order. Lie down immediately. Execute!”
“Execute!”
Only then did the strike team members lie down again.
Facing them, who somehow still looked stiff even while lying down, I began my lecture.
“Ahem, the reason this General Manager has come here is to teach you about the mindset of a master. First, what is a master...? You must obtain a divine art, train day and night... then consume an elixir... If you do this, you can become a peak master within ten years, you see.”
When the lecture, which lasted for nearly an hour, concluded, applause erupted.
*Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.*
They must have liked it.
It was only then that I realized an incredible fact.
‘Am I a genius?’
That was it.
I had an incredible talent for lecturing.
The warriors of the strike team were proof. Weren't they all clapping with moved expressions?
Come to think of it, it made sense.
Charisma that draws people's attention with my mere presence.
The aura exuded only by a successful member of the martial world's upper class.
Eloquent and smooth speaking skills.
And even martial arts that had reached the transcendent level.
I wasn't lacking in any area.
‘Should I become a professional lecturer at this rate?’
Just as I was planning my post-retirement life.
*Neigh.*
The ground trembled, and the sound of a horse neighing reached my ears.
“Hm?”
It was customary for visitors, even those on horseback, to dismount at the main gate.
There was only one reason for a horse to enter the branch compound.
“Looks like someone important is visiting.”
I went outside and saw a magnificent golden four-horse carriage, the kind a king might use.
*Clunk.*
‘Why are those people here?’
From the carriage, the Gold Dragon Hall Master, Geum Pil-dae, and Geum Jong-dae disembarked.
In other words, the current and future masters of the Myriad Gold Manor had arrived together.
I was flustered by the unexpected visit, but my first priority was to greet them.
I walked out confidently and stood before them.
“My, my! What brings such esteemed individuals to this humble place?!”
“It's been a while. Squad Leader Jin... no, General Manager Jin now, isn't it.”
“Gasp! You even remembered my name! I'm honored. Hehehe.”
“I didn't expect you to be so happy to see me.”
“What are you saying! Though it's a temporary position, as the General Manager of the branch, how could I not be delighted to meet a pillar leading the Nine Dragons Fortress? Please, come in. It's still cold out.”
“Hahaha, let's do that.”
The Gold Dragon Hall Master laughed and led the way.
After giving a brief nod to Geum Pil-dae and Geum Jong-dae who followed, I quickly hurried to the Gold Dragon Hall Master's side.
Perhaps because a significant number of the branch members were from the Gold Dragon Hall, many rushed out to salute him.
“Nine! Dragons! We greet the Hall Master!”
“...What is that?”
The Gold Dragon Hall Master asked me, expressing his curiosity.
“It's a formal military salute. Can't you feel the discipline and spirit?”
“Hmm, I see. I should try implementing it in our Gold Dragon Hall when I return.”
“An excellent idea. I will teach you the entire set of drills, including the salute, later.”
“If you help, all the better for me.”
Hahaha.
Puhuhu.
After entering the General Manager's office in such a pleasant atmosphere.
I immediately took out a teapot.
I didn't know its name, but I'd heard it was the most expensive white tea at the branch.
Of course, the man sitting before me was the wealthiest man of this era. Even though I had prepared something rather expensive, it was unlikely to suit his palate.
Nevertheless, the reason I bothered to take out the tea was.
“Since it's cold, I will heat up some tea for you.”
“There's no need—!”
*Sizzle.*
Because I needed to seize the initiative.
After all, they weren't guests, but uninvited ones.
Holding the teapot with both hands, I channeled the War King's energy.
The iron teapot began to glow red-hot, and soon, steam started to rise from it.
*Pour.*
“Please, warm yourselves up first.”
“...”
The Gold Dragon Hall Master, Geum Geuk.
The transcendent master, known as the Heavenly Gold Sword for cleaving the world with gold, feigned a surprised expression.
It was only natural.
What I had just demonstrated was a profound technique that surpassed the True Samadhi Fire.
It also consumed an immense amount of internal energy.
If it weren't for the two bottles of Snow Yin Essence I had downed in one gulp during my fight with the Killing Demon Mad Ghost, I wouldn't have even been able to attempt it.
Geum Geuk's gaze sharpened as he watched my display of dominance.
But that sharp look vanished in an instant.
He let out a hearty laugh and casually lifted the teacup to his lips.
“I'll drink it well.”
“It's nothing, really. Hehe.”
As I replied, rubbing my hands together, he spoke with a smirk.
“Do you have any idea why I've come?”
“Goodness, how could a petty man like myself possibly know the intentions of a great Roc? I am simply delighted to see you, Hall Master.”
In fact, I knew.
Now that I was on extremely bad terms with the Gold Dragon Hall, there was only one reason he would visit me.
To persuade me to cut ties with the Red Dragon Hall and join the Gold Dragon Hall. What else could it be?
I knew full well, but I played dumb.
And I intended to keep playing dumb.
“This fellow, he's pretending not to know.”
“Pardon?”
“Hahaha, so, how is the agreement with the Red Dragon Hall? Is it going well?”
“Yes.”
“I see. My branch here sent word. They said the growth of the Hanzhong branch and the Hanzhong Merchant Guild has been outstanding recently.”
“Yes.”
“If you're amenable, our Myriad Gold Manor would like to help the Hanzhong Merchant Guild. Just as we did in the past.”
“Pardon?”
“My dear man, there's no use pretending. I came here knowing you are the true master of the Hanzhong Merchant Guild.”
“Pardon?”
“As you know...”
“Yes.”
“Due to a recent, unfortunate incident...”
“Pardon?”
“So, what I'm trying to say is...”
“Pardon?”
As the conversation went in circles, Geum Geuk began to misunderstand.
“He really doesn't know a thing.”
A very serious misunderstanding, at that.
“Now I see it clearly. It was the Red Dragon Hall that swallowed the Merchant Guild. This fellow is just a puppet moving on their strings. Hahaha! To think that I, Geum Geuk, have been played by Jeok Sa-jung. How humiliating!”
He said, rising from his seat.
His eyes were incomparably colder than before.
“You should thank Hall Master Bukgung. That is the only reason I haven't killed you.”
To his statement that he was sparing me because he feared Bukgung Baek, I replied with a small smile.
“Pardon?”
* * *
Not long after the three men of the Gold Dragon Hall left in anger, a flustered Geum Ja-hwan came running.
“The Hall Master's aura was unusually intense.”
“Let him be. He's just fuming by himself.”
“Will you be alright?”
“Well, what's he going to do if he gets angry?”
Hearing my response, Geum Ja-hwan asked in disbelief.
“The Gold Dragon Hall is one of the nine pillars of the Nine Dragons Fortress. If you intend to make an enemy of them, I must advise against it.”
“An enemy? Hardly... After seeing him today, I realized. The Gold Dragon Hall Master isn't capable of it.”
“What do you mean...?”
No matter how much his main business is handling money, he is still a martial artist who lives on the edge of a blade.
Yet, in front of his own sons, he admitted he couldn't act because he feared Bukgung Baek.
And he did so against me, someone far below him in status.
What does this mean?
“I don't know if it's because he has too much to lose, but his heart is filled with fear.”
It means he's not a martial artist, but a merchant.
I called out to the bewildered Geum Ja-hwan.
“Ja-hwan.”
“Yes.”
“Are you a man of the Gold Dragon Hall, or a man of the Hanzhong branch?”
“I don't understand the reason for your question.”
“If you're a man of the Gold Dragon Hall, keep your mouth shut. If you're a man of the Hanzhong branch, let me curse out the Gold Dragon Hall Master.”
“What if I were to answer dishonestly...?”
“I'm asking because I trust you.”
“...I am a man of Hanzhong.”
“Not of the branch?”
“When I was young, I came to the Hanzhong branch with my father. This place is as good as my hometown.”
“A man of your hometown... A good answer.”
“Thank you. But why did you ask...?”
I said, downing the tea before me in one gulp.
“Just curious.”
* * *
That evening.
“I was so nervous, I thought I was going to die!”
Myo Hyang clung to me after I returned from work, pouring out her complaints.
“Was it that bad?”
“Yes, if it weren't for Great Warrior Yuk and the warriors from the Red Dragon Hall, those Gold Dragon Hall bastards would have definitely caused some trouble.”
Yuk Hak, who had been staying at the inn for a while, vowing to protect Cheong So-so, had returned to his position as a guest warrior for the Hanzhong Merchant Guild.
He didn't say it, but he must have realized how futile it was to stay by the side of a complete freeloader.
“It's a good thing Brother Yuk was there, then.”
“Yes, but the atmosphere was still unbelievably tense. You should have seen it for yourself, Squad Leader.”
“Aigoo, so when peaceful methods didn't work, they decided to get rough, huh?”
“I think so.”
“Weren't you scared?”
“I told you, I was so scared I thought I was going to die.”
Myo Hyang fussed, subtly leaning her head on my shoulder.
Maybe because she was in a new place like Hanzhong, but her physical contact had been getting bolder lately.
‘Th-this is surprisingly...?’
I glanced down and caught a glimpse of Myo Hyang's ample bosom.
“Ahem, if people see...”
I called out to Myo Hyang, feeling like something might happen if we stayed like this any longer, but.
“Hmph... Hmm.”
Myo Hyang just made a sound like a cat's purr and linked her arm with mine, pretending not to hear me.
I was frozen as if hit by a crowd control spell.
As that awkward moment stretched on.
“Oh? What are you two doing here?”
Our resident freeloader, Cheong So-so, approached, roughly combing her messy hair with her fingers.
Myo Hyang shot up like a lightning bolt and straightened her clothes.
“I have work tomorrow, so I'll be heading in for the night.”
“R-right. Then I should probably get some rest too.”
As I walked to my room, I heard Cheong So-so's disappointed voice.
“I just woke up, you could have stayed and played a little longer...”
I couldn't help but shake my head.
* * *
*Rumble.*
Waking up late and heading to work, I spotted the golden four-horse carriage followed by fifty members of the Gold Dragon Hall.
Trailing behind them, Old Man Geum, the head of the Myriad Gold Manor's Hanzhong branch, was being dragged along.
‘...What a shitshow. An absolute shitshow.’
He must have borne the full brunt of Geum Geuk's fury after he returned empty-handed.
As I was watching the procession, I saw some familiar faces and spoke to them.
“Where are you going?”
“Hup! Nine Dragons!”
They were the warriors of the strike team, most of whom were from the Gold Dragon Hall.
“We came out to escort them to the border.”
“Why?”
“Well... it's something of a custom, sir.”
“Is that so?”
The strike team leader answered, glancing at me cautiously.
“From now on, I will report to you in advance.”
It seemed he was bothered by having moved the warriors without permission.
‘Should've done that from the start.’
I clicked my tongue inwardly but shook my head on the outside.
“No, it's fine. Go on. It's good to catch up with old comrades.”
“Yes, sir! Nine Dragons!”
However, assigning the strike team as an escort was an excellent choice.
“The entire strike team has not returned.”
Because their failure to return let me know that something had happened to the Gold Dragon Hall Master.