Chapter 156
Chapter 156
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 156
Chapter Title: Hanzhong Merchant Guild (2)
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“Jin! Don't just stand there, give me a hand!”
“Ah, yes!”
“When you're done with this, unload the cart over there and pull the weeds growing along the wall.”
“Yes.”
“After pulling the weeds, go to the market and bring back two sacks of rice. Just say the Hanzhong Merchant Guild sent you, and they'll know.”
“Understood.”
“And after you bring the rice, don't forget to fill the jars with water.”
“…Yes.”
“And chop some firewood in your spare time.”
Am I some kind of slave?
A surge of irritation rose within me, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.
“Hehe, of course.”
Because right now, I wasn't the Fighting Dragon, Jin Mujeon, but Jin Mumu, a day laborer for the Hanzhong Merchant Guild.
“I'll see how you do today and decide whether to call you back, so work hard.”
“You can count on me. Hehehe.”
‘The moment this is over, I'm going to ruin this bastard and throw him in prison.’
As a Squad Leader of the Outer Hall, I was sworn to protect ordinary people who didn't know martial arts, but this bastard was an exception.
They say the steward is more fearsome than the master. He was just a low-level butler in charge of managing the servants, yet he acted like a general.
“Don't just stand there gawking, move it!”
*Grind.*
I gritted my teeth and glared at him.
Still, what could I do?
I had to stick around the Hanzhong Merchant Guild until I found evidence.
“Yes! Yes! I'm on my way!”
I replied and immediately ran toward the cart.
The loose clothes I wore to hide my muscles were cumbersome, and the human-skin mask I'd borrowed from the Underworld Sect felt stuffy, but my speed was still far greater than that of the other servants.
“Here, let me. I'll carry it. Hehe.”
“This fellow is strong as an ox, isn't he?”
“A talent! We've got a real talent here!”
Thanks to that, I was able to befriend the other servants I worked with.
After spending the entire morning moving cargo from the cart, pulling weeds, and filling jars with water, it was finally lunchtime.
“Lunchtime. Here, have some of this.”
“Ah, yes, thank you.”
As I was resting in the shade, an old servant approached and handed me three dumplings steamed in leaves.
The rule was not to provide lunch to day laborers, but it seemed they were making an exception because I had worked hard.
As proof, the other day laborers were resting in the shade without anything to eat.
Not that it was much—just floury dumplings with a filling the size of a mouse dropping.
*Chomp, chomp.*
Still, hunger is the best sauce, so they were quite edible.
What should I call it? A nostalgic taste that reminded me of my days in the Black Dragon Hall?
“You must have been starving. Here's some water, have it with your food.”
“All the physical work made me a little… Thank you.”
“I can imagine. It was like watching my younger self, back when they called me the 'Labor Master'. Ah, that means the supreme master of the labor world.”
“...”
After his pointless remark, the old servant asked with a feigned serious look.
“Say, have you ever thought about joining the Hanzhong Merchant Guild? If you're interested, I could put in a good word with the Seventeenth Manager.”
“The Seventeenth Manager…?”
“He's the one who manages the servants here at the guild. Didn't you meet him this morning?”
“Ah.”
It was the bastard who'd worked me like a slave this morning, the one on my kill list.
“But if there's a Seventeenth Manager… is there a Sixteenth Manager, too?”
“Of course. There are eighteen managers in total, from the Grand Manager down to the Seventeenth Manager.”
What kind of place has as many managers as servants?
“So, what do you say?”
At the old servant's question, I bowed my head in the most pitiful posture I could manage.
“If you would, I'd be indebted to you for life.”
He thumped his chest and replied confidently.
“Just leave it to me.”
It was the beginning of Jin Mujeon's first-ever life as a servant.
* * *
Five days.
That was how long I'd spent working as a servant at the Hanzhong Merchant Guild.
During that time, I threw myself into my work, not shying away from any dirty task.
It was only natural. That was the only way I could move around as much as possible without arousing suspicion.
Of course.
“Ugh… cleaning the latrines…”
It wasn't easy.
Anyway, as time passed, I managed to blend in perfectly with the Hanzhong Merchant Guild.
And before long, I discovered a problem.
‘What a rotten world, where even servants are divided by rank.’
Having been here only a few days, I had no way of entering the inner courtyard.
I asked around and was told it was customary to work in the outer courtyard for three years before being considered for anything else.
But I couldn't just wait around to build up seniority.
Every night, I scouted the surroundings, looking for a point where I could force my way through.
‘I should have paid more attention in stealth class.’
If I had, I could have snuck in and searched in secret.
In truth, if this were an ordinary merchant guild, it wouldn't have mattered.
I could have just moved quickly, and no one would have ever noticed.
However, the Hanzhong Merchant Guild was one of the three great guilds of Nine Dragons Fortress. It had dozens of guards, two of whom were even peak masters.
Even for me, barging in recklessly would get me caught instantly.
And then finding the evidence would become a distant dream.
‘That old man, too. I mean, if you're going to call yourself a guardian, shouldn't you have beaten the lessons into me?’
I thought of the Adept of Annihilation, who hadn't whipped my past self into shape.
Truly a useless person in my life.
After scouting the area for two hours while grumbling to myself.
“Who's there?”
‘Dammit.’
I'd been caught by a patrolling guard.
It was a situation where I could easily fall under suspicion.
I quickly raised my hands and showed myself in the moonlight.
Fortunately, it was someone I recognized.
“Huh? Aren't you a servant from the main quarters? What are you doing wandering around at this time of night?”
“My dinner isn't sitting well, so I thought I'd take a short walk…”
“Then why don't you go outside? You could get a beating for wandering around in here.”
“Yes, I'll keep that in mind.”
I immediately turned and headed back to my quarters.
*Snore. Wheeze.*
Listening to the chorus of snores echoing from all sides, my already troubled mind grew even more unsettled.
‘Damn it, I need to finish this quickly and get out.’
The life of Jin Mumu the servant was utterly miserable.
Meals with not a single scrap of meat, ridiculously low daily wages, and disgustingly filthy quarters.
‘They say there's always something worse.’
Compared to this, the hungry life I'd endured in the Black Dragon Hall was heaven.
Wanting to finish the job even a day sooner, I organized the information I'd gathered so far… or not.
I'd just done a ton of dirty work and hadn't found out much at all.
If I had to name one thing.
‘That pavilion in the middle of the inner courtyard. That's the suspicious place.’
I had only managed to identify a suspicious location.
Normally, I would have smashed my way in without a second thought, but if things got too big, word would surely reach the Military Affairs Department and the White Dragon Hall.
Since I had to find the evidence without a trace, I decided to resort to my last option.
‘I'll have to contact the Underworld Sect.’
That is, to request outside help.
* * *
Day seven.
I continued my work as a servant, barely enduring the constant labor, poor conditions, and contemptuous treatment.
In truth, with the human-skin mask on, I sometimes felt my temper flare and wanted to smash everything and run.
‘I'll endure it, if only because it'd be a waste of all the time I've put in.’
I held back as much as I could, feeling it would be a shame to waste the time I'd spent enduring all sorts of humiliation.
“Hey! Jin! Get over here!”
“Yes? What is it?”
“Didn't I tell you to chop the wood yesterday?”
“Huh? You never said anything like that.”
“Did you eat crow meat or something? Why is a young man so forgetful?”
“No, really…”
“This guy is hopeless! Do you want to get fired?! Or should I just beat you and throw you out on the street? Huh?”
*Gulp.*
Well, there were occasional crises.
“Ah, no. I must have misunderstood. I'm sorry.”
“Honestly… Tsk. I'll let it slide this time. Finish that pile over there by the end of the day.”
The Seventeenth Manager, who had been fuming for a while, pointed to a mountain of firewood and spoke.
The pile was so large it looked like it was made from three or four giant trees.
“…By myself?”
“What, you expect me to do it? Who else is here besides you? Hoho, trying to slack off again, are you? This won't do. I'll have to follow you and make sure you do the job properly.”
*Grind.*
I inwardly gritted my teeth at the unjust command.
‘I'm really going to kill this bastard.’
Forget prison. The moment this is over, I'm just going to kill him.
I'll shatter both his kneecaps with a Jin Mujeon special low kick and pulverize every bone in his body with the Thirteen Strikes of the War Dragon.
‘I'll finish him off by unleashing Explosive Death Force on his temples.’
However, this plan of mine was thwarted before it could even begin.
“I've come on the orders of the Sect Leader. I am Chil-taseok of the Underworld Sect.”
“...”
Because the man who had followed me, claiming he would supervise me, had revealed his true identity.
“Wait.”
Isn't this going too far, even for allies?
I'm sure I even told them I was going to the Hanzhong Merchant Guild when I borrowed the mask.
Just as I was about to confront him, he pressed a finger to his lips.
“One wrong move and everything will be for naught. Please, start chopping the wood.”
“But…”
“Hurry.”
“Tch.”
*Thump. Crack.*
As I began chopping with the axe as he'd said, his explanation followed.
“My rudeness until now was to avoid revealing my identity. Please forgive me.”
“…Fine.”
“Don't reply, just listen. We can't have anyone overhearing our conversation.”
“With telepathy…”
“I apologize. My internal energy is too shallow, I don't know how to use telepathy.”
My disbelief soared to the heavens, but I was the one who needed help, so I kept my mouth shut and nodded.
“I hear you suspect the pavilion in the center of the inner courtyard. Is that correct?”
*Nod.*
“I assume you are aware that it's heavily guarded.”
*Nod.*
After a moment's thought, he spoke.
“Tonight, I will create a chaotic situation at the guild. Will you be able to infiltrate during the confusion?”
*Nod.*
“Then it's settled. However, after this, I will no longer be able to remain at the Hanzhong Merchant Guild. This means it's your last chance. Please keep that in mind.”
After he finished speaking, I saw him about to turn away, and I quickly called out to him.
“Manager!”
“…What is it?”
“I'll spare you this time, so take care of yourself. Think of it as living a second life.”
“...”
Because a gentleman never withholds forgiveness.
* * *
That night.
When the sun had set and the full moon hung high in the sky.
A great fire broke out in the pavilion where the guild master and his family resided.
"Fire—!"
It was clearly the chaos Chil-taseok had spoken of.
The problem was.
*Fwoosh. Boom!*
Whatever he had done, the flames were so fierce they threatened to burn down the entire guild.
“Put out the fire!”
“Inform the Outer Hall that there's a fire!”
It was only natural that everyone in the guild, from the servants to the guards, rushed into the inner courtyard to fight the fire.
As I watched the scene, hidden at the base of the wall.
“What the…”
A group of men in black masks swarmed over the wall.
One of them, who met my eyes, gestured to me.
“Shh.”
It was Chil-taseok.
“Let's go.”
“…Wait, what are you doing?”
“I still have work to do.”
At his signal, the men with him broke down the door to the Hanzhong Merchant Guild's warehouse and began looting.
In a world without severance pay, it seemed he was trying to make a haul.
“...”
I told him to cause a distraction, not to commit robbery.
And right in front of me, an officer of the Outer Hall in charge of security.
*Shake, shake.*
I quietly shook my head and unleashed the Flying Heavenly Wind.
When I reached the roof of the pavilion, I could see over a hundred people moving ceaselessly, dousing the buildings with water.
‘It's chaotic.’
*Tap. Tap.*
Thanks to the commotion, I was able to move about twenty paces and reach my target pavilion without being detected.
*Crash.*
I carefully scanned my surroundings before smashing through the roof and entering the pavilion.
But.
‘What? Why is there nothing here?’
Contrary to my expectations, the inside was completely empty.
This was a total bust.
As I was sinking into despair, a loud shout came from somewhere.
“We have orders from the Guild Master to protect this place from the fire!”
“Yes!”
It was a shout that confirmed my suspicions were correct.
Otherwise, there was no way they would send precious manpower here while the guild's assets were burning down in real-time.
Then there was only one answer.
‘It means it's somewhere hidden from sight.’
There must be a hidden space.
Sure enough.
When I expanded my senses, I felt something beneath my feet.
‘People?’
The problem was that it was the presence of dozens of people.