Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: A Personal Organization (3)
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“You can do this, right?”
Cheong So-so, the mad scientist of the martial arts world, smiled brightly as she looked down at her super cricket, Cheong-a.
*Chirp, chirp.*
As if understanding her words, the cricket chirped in a high-pitched tone.
‘A cricket that understands human speech…’
It was a mysterious sight, no matter how many times I saw it.
“Let’s go!”
Cheong So-so exclaimed confidently.
My original plan was to borrow Cheong So-so’s Cheong-a, conquer the cricket fighting scene of Nine Dragons Fortress, and print some money at the same time.
However, since Cheong-a wouldn't listen to me at all, I had no choice but to ask for her cooperation.
*Chirp!*
Borrowing someone else's Pokémon to fight with was a tough business, after all.
“Hehehe, but it’s been a while since I’ve done some cricket fighting. My blood is boiling.”
Well, seeing Cheong So-so so happy, I guess it’s fine.
In any case, not long after we set out, we arrived at the largest gambling house in the Outer Fortress, located on Black Snake Road.
“Squad Leader, what brings you all the way here?”
The doorman of the gambling house rushed over to greet me.
“What? Did I come somewhere I’m not supposed to be?”
“Heavens, no! We are honored by your visit. Please, come in.”
In the martial arts world, where official authority is often a mere formality, gambling houses weren’t illegal.
The same was true in Nine Dragons Fortress, which prided itself on a relatively strict legal system.
However, the gambling houses also did their best to operate within certain boundaries.
They prohibited minors from entering and didn’t accept bets beyond what a customer could handle. They even barred regulars who showed signs of addiction.
It was ironic for a casino to promote healthy gambling, but thanks to that, they had come out into the open. I suppose it was a win-win for both the Fortress and the gambling houses.
*Hubbub.*
As I opened the door and stepped inside, the first thing that struck me was the sheer scale of the place, incomparable to the gambling houses in Hanzhong.
As the gambling house was much larger, far more people were enjoying the games than in Hanzhong.
There were various games like dominoes, dice, and mahjong, but they were of no concern to us, so I paid them no mind.
Our purpose was cricket fighting.
“Let’s hurry!”
Cheong So-so pointed toward a corner.
“Tsk, tsk…”
I clicked my tongue, watching her unabashed excitement.
It seemed I’d have to send a letter to the Cheong family soon, warning them that something terrible would happen if they didn't rein in their daughter.
As I watched for a moment, the cricket fighting referee approached and spoke to me.
“Would you like to place a bet?”
“We came to participate in the cricket fighting…”
“I see. Please give me the name of your participating cricket, and I will call it after this match ends.”
“It’s Cheong-a.”
“A blue cricket, I presume. Very well.”
And so began the legend of the blue demon that would conquer the cricket fighting world of Nine Dragons Fortress.
* * *
*Chirp!*
*Stab.*
*Kiek.*
“Cheong-a, victory!”
First win.
*Chrrk. Chirp!*
*Crunch.*
*Kegh.*
“Cheong-a, victory!”
Second win.
Cheong-a’s victory parade was endless.
It was truly the greatest under heaven.
In every match it entered, it killed the opposing cricket in a single blow. The title of ‘greatest under heaven’ was not an overstatement.
This continued for an hour.
“...Cheong-a, victory!”
By its eighth win, no one else would enter a cricket against it. By its tenth win, no one would even bet against Cheong-a.
They all knew that victory belonged to Cheong-a.
And then.
“Th-The Blue Demon…! Cheongma!”
It even earned the grand moniker of Cheongma, the Blue Demon.
*Chiiirp! Tuuul!*
As if sensing the crowd’s fear, Cheong-a raised its antennae triumphantly.
It was a sight so absurd it could make one’s soul ascend to the heavens, but for today, I decided to be generous and let it slide.
“We won again!”
Thanks to Cheong-a, we had made a fortune.
The amount was a staggering three nyang of gold. In modern terms, that was close to three hundred million won.
After giving Cheong So-so her one-nyang share, we were left with a net profit of two nyang.
It was a disappointing amount compared to what we made in Hanzhong, but that couldn’t be helped.
In Hanzhong, the gambling house itself participated in the games, but here, with so many customers, the house stayed out of it.
Still, wasn’t this two years’ worth of salary for my boys?
This was more than satisfactory.
Just as I was about to get up, having won as much as I needed…
“…It’s been a while.”
“Indeed, it has.”
The true owner of this gambling house appeared, his head shining brightly.
Who was it?
Who else but the bald Yong Ma-san, the man who controlled the underworld of Nine Dragons Fortress?
“I’d like to have a word with you.”
“I can’t be bothered.”
“I’ve come to make Squad Leader Jin a good offer, so it would be in your best interest to follow me.”
“Most people who approach with a ‘good offer’ first turn out to be swindlers.”
“This is a story as profitable as cricket fighting.”
Well then, I had to go.
“Ahem, where should I go?”
“There’s a room upstairs.”
“Go on ahead. I’ll wrap things up and come up.”
“Understood.”
A short while later, Cheong So-so and I finished up and went upstairs.
“Ahhh… This feels so good… so thrilling…”
Yong Ma-san stared at Cheong So-so with a suspicious gaze.
“Is she alright?”
“Leave her be. She’ll be fine in a day or so.”
“Well, if you say so…”
He cleared his throat and looked at the cricket perched on Cheong So-so’s shoulder.
“It seems to be the same cricket from Hanzhong.”
“You know about it?”
“I heard from the branch manager. He said the Divine Maiden of Blue Flowers created the greatest cricket under heaven using her family’s secret techniques.”
“…How did you know that?”
The fact that she used a secret technique was something only Cheong So-so and I knew.
“The ears of the Beggars' Sect are hidden in every inn under heaven.”
“…No wonder he was so sharp.”
The culprit was the waiter at the inn we stayed at in Hanzhong.
“Anyway, you said you would never sell it, yet you intended to use it for cricket fighting all along.”
“That wasn't the original reason… I needed money, so it turned out this way.”
If I hadn't taken in the former Seventeenth Squad members, I wouldn't have needed to frequent a gambling house.
“Is this because you took in the Three Freaks of the Dang Family and the White Crane?”
The Three Freaks of the Dang Family referred to Yang Gang, Lee Dang-pal, and Ha Jin-hyeong, while the White Crane was Yu So-pyeong’s moniker.
“How did you know about that?”
“To run an underworld operation in the great Nine Dragons Fortress, wouldn't one have to keep an ear on the movements of the Outer Hall warriors?”
Yong Ma-san joked, a gesture that didn't quite suit him.
“Has the matter been resolved?”
“Can’t you see all the money I raked in?”
When I showed him the money pouch, he let out a chuckle.
“My, my. You’ve grown up, haven’t you? Now that you’re doing a little business, a couple of gold nyang seem like nothing to you?”
“It’s just that your shallow thinking is amusing, Squad Leader Jin.”
“Want me to show you how this shallow thinker can crush the Beggars' Sect?”
“You won’t be able to participate in cricket fighting anymore, so what do you plan to do?”
“…”
“Now that you have dependents, shouldn't you be looking ahead instead of just what's in front of your nose?”
Was it because the warm sunlight was heating his bald head?
For some reason, he was making a lot of sense today.
“Ahem…”
“How about you join hands with us and start a business?”
“A business?”
“Indeed. You have three masters who are near the peak and a talent like the White Crane under your wing. Shouldn't you put them to use?”
“That’s true, but…”
Honestly, I was tempted.
It was convenient having the boys do the housework, but that was a job for just one person, wasn't it?
The problem was…
“How do I know you won’t stab me in the back?”
How could I trust these guys?
As I subtly voiced my concerns, Yong Ma-san replied with a dumbfounded expression.
“…If anyone has been on the receiving end, it’s been us. I don’t recall us ever causing trouble for you, Squad Leader Jin.”
“Ah…”
He was right.
“Ahem, I was just saying. Don’t mind me.”
“I don’t think so…”
What a sulky bastard…
“So, what kind of business are you proposing?”
“That’s for you to decide, Squad Leader Jin.”
“You made the suggestion without any ideas?”
“It’s a business for you, Squad Leader Jin. Naturally, you should be the one to decide.”
“Hmm…”
He wasn’t wrong.
Since it was a place for my boys to work, I should be the one to choose the venture.
As I was lost in thought, Yong Ma-san spoke.
“Let me know when you’ve made up your mind.”
For some reason, the bald man was particularly annoying today.
* * *
That night.
I couldn't fall asleep easily, mulling over what Yong Ma-san had said.
‘What should I do…’
I had enough capital from the money I won today.
The problem was what kind of business to start.
If I chose the wrong venture and it failed miserably, I would not only lose the two gold nyang of capital, but the respect the former Seventeenth Squad members had for me would surely plummet.
On the other hand, if it was a great success, the two gold nyang would multiply several times over, and their respect for me would soar.
I shot up from my bed and took out paper, an inkstone, and a brush.
*Scribble. Scribble.*
I wrote down random words that came to mind and then tossed the papers into the air.
That’s right.
It was the method Masayoshi Son, the chairman of SoftBank, used to choose his ventures.
The papers that had flown high began to flutter down one by one.
“Damn it all.”
I picked up all the papers that had fallen to the ground and crumpled them up.
Every single one of them had landed face down.
It was as if it was a sign not to start a business at all.
“Should I just forget about it?”
It seemed like living as I am now would be fine too.
After a moment of contemplation…
“I’ll just sleep on it and think again tomorrow.”
I lay back down on the bed.
A person needs sleep for their brain to work properly.
The next morning.
I called over the Three Freaks of the Dang Family, who were diligently working while wearing aprons.
A truly great leader never ignores the opinions of their members.
I asked for their thoughts.
“How about selling boiled pork slices?”
“We could brew and sell alcohol.”
“Pois…”
I had forgotten that just because there’s a great leader, it doesn’t mean all the members are equally great.
But I wasn’t disappointed.
“…Where’s So-pyeong?”
“He went to the market to buy groceries. He should be back soon.”
I still had our ace, Sopyeong-mon, who was once called the White Crane and had been expected to become the next Grand Chancellor.
“When he gets back, tell him to come to my room.”
“Understood.”
A short while later.
“You called for me?”
“Oh, come in, come in.”
As soon as Yu So-pyeong entered, I explained what had happened the day before.
“Hmm… so you’re thinking of starting something in earnest.”
“Not really starting something. Just trying to do something so we can all eat and live well together.”
“Still, it’s a good thought. Every organization needs a solid source of funding.”
“Like the eight Halls of the Inner Fortress?”
“Exactly.”
Each of the eight Halls of the Inner Fortress had its own source of income.
Like the Silver Dragon Hall’s escort agency and the Gold Dragon Hall’s banking business.
However, the Black Dragon Hall alone relied on the income from the Black Dragon Martial Arts School, which was on the level of a neighborhood gym.
“Huh? Why are you suddenly crying?”
“I just thought of some pitiful people… I’m fine now, please continue.”
“Yes, so if we’re going to do this, it’s best to go big… but as you know, we lack both money and manpower.”
“The money is sufficient. We can borrow manpower from the Two Immortals Gang.”
“Then things will be much easier.”
Yu So-pyeong nodded and continued speaking.
His expression was deeply meaningful.
“What my lord desires is not simply to make money, but to build a solid power base.”
“No…”
I just need to earn enough to pay you guys your salaries…
“Oh, it seems I’ve hit the nail on the head. My apologies. It seems a habit from my days as a scholar remains. My lord.”
He seemed to be under a serious misunderstanding.
But as I listened, he wasn't entirely wrong.
If I was going to start a business, it would be good if it did well.
“So, about that. There’s some information I heard recently…”
He lowered his voice, as if worried someone might overhear.
“Mutter, mutter.”
Listening to the information, I channeled my inner Archimedes and shouted.
“Eureka!”