Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: To Hanzhong
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A few days later.
I came to the Fortress Lord's hall for a formal ceremony.
"...Therefore, I hereby entrust the defense of Hanzhong to the War King Gate."
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
As I accepted the golden plaque, a sort of certificate, the Hall Masters present applauded.
'Why's that old man acting like that again?'
The Red Dragon Hall Master was even tearing up.
For a man known as the Red-Blooded Reaper, an incarnation of fear, his image was completely off.
Perhaps old age was causing his female hormones to kick in.
Glaaare.
In contrast, the expressions of the White Dragon and Silver Dragon Hall Masters were ice-cold.
I hadn't been on bad terms with the Silver Dragon Hall, but it seemed this competition had made us complete enemies.
'That Silver Dragon Spear fellow was a decent guy...'
After living in the martial world for over twenty years, I'd realized one thing.
You can't have everything.
I had to think of it as losing my relationship with the Silver Dragon Hall in exchange for gaining Hanzhong.
As for the White Dragon Hall... well, they were bastards from the start, so that couldn't be helped.
In any case, that wasn't what was important right now.
"Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"I'd like to have a word with you after this... Do you have time?"
"Of course."
There were still last-minute practical matters to discuss.
A short while later.
After the ceremony, I followed the Grand Chancellor to his office.
As I sat down, his female assistant brought us hot tea, as always.
'I miss iced Americano...!'
With summer approaching in the already hot Sichuan, I yearned for the cool iced Americanos I had enjoyed in my past life.
"I've tried a new tea leaf... How is it?"
I'm dying of heat, how could I possibly taste anything?
In the modern world, you'd only order hot tea like this to punish a cheating lover.
"The flavor is deep and rich, more exquisite than even White Hair Silver Needle. The slightly astringent aftertaste is perfection. This is truly a remarkable tea."
"...It's just some green tea I bought at the market."
"No wonder... it did taste rather cheap."
The Grand Chancellor shook his head and drank his tea.
"By the way, why the sudden switch to green tea? You're a man who always drinks the expensive stuff."
Nine Dragons Fortress was the wealthiest of the Five Hegemons, after all.
"Now that I've given Hanzhong away, our tax revenue will decrease. I've decided to tighten my belt."
"...Weren't sixty percent of Hanzhong's taxes spent on maintaining the branch? When you factor everything in, I understand there's not much of a difference, even if you're giving us ninety percent."
"Tch."
The Grand Chancellor looked disappointed.
It seemed he had been trying to create an image of making a large investment in the War King Gate to gain something else.
"What is it?"
Beating around the bush wasn't my style, so I asked him straight out.
"What is what?"
"The reason you asked to see me. You called me because you want something, don't you?"
"...I called you because I have a favor to ask."
Just as I thought.
The Grand Chancellor took a piece of paper from his robes.
And then.
After reading its contents, I couldn't hide my astonishment.
"This is...!"
I was shocked by the completely unexpected content.
"Why have you written down these names? And all of them are from the Yu clan..."
The paper he'd handed me was just a list of names.
"There are too many idle children in the family..."
"No way."
Was this a job request already?
* * *
The Grand Chancellor was persistent.
"I'm telling you, it's not possible. We have a limited budget."
"They're idle now, but they're well-educated."
"Well-educated or not, I'm telling you, we don't have the money."
"Money is something you can sort out later. I'll make sure they're satisfied with a small salary... No. Just feed and house them. You don't even have to pay them a monthly wage."
"How can you employ someone and not pay them? Other places might, but the War King Gate doesn't do that."
Even without labor laws, one had to uphold the human decency of fair pay for fair work.
Besides, the Grand Chancellor's relatives were also Yu So-pyeong's relatives.
I couldn't very well pay the relatives of my most trusted subordinate with "passion."
"Ugh... If only the civil service exams still existed..."
To be honest, I could somewhat understand why the Grand Chancellor was acting this way.
The civil service exams had been abolished.
As a result, the scholarly families scattered throughout the land had been utterly devastated.
Unless their ancestors had amassed a fortune while in public office, they had no choice but to become farmers.
There was nothing more useless in the world than an unemployed scholar.
The Grand Chancellor must have mentioned paying in passion as a way to reduce the number of mouths to feed.
"..."
Seeing his predicament, I accepted his proposal.
"But only one. And I'll be paying a proper monthly wage, so please make that clear."
"Thank you!"
It was hard to flatly refuse a request from the man responsible for the finances, strategy, operations, and administration of my client.
Besides, one person wasn't much of a burden.
"Ah, if possible, please send someone of a lower generation than your son. They'll need to assist with military affairs."
"You mean this one! Hahaha, don't you worry!"
So tiring...
'Sigh, I can't just pretend I don't know.'
The problem was, the commotion didn't end there.
"...What is all this?"
"They're letters for you, Master."
"You think I don't know that? What are they about?"
"What else? They're asking for jobs."
"..."
The Grand Chancellor's newly hired nephew had spread rumors that he'd gotten a job at the War King Gate.
Thanks to him, everyone who thought they were even slightly acquainted with me sent letters requesting employment.
Even.
"Um... There's a patron named Master Hwang who donates a lot of money to the clinic. His nephew recently..."
Cheong So-so.
"The second son of the Yongjin Dyehouse's master is rumored to be very bright..."
And Myo Hyang were getting requests.
I wanted to follow my temper and tear them all up, but this was the martial world, where connections were everything.
I couldn't afford to make enemies, so I painstakingly wrote letters of refusal.
"...I'm going to curse you."
Of course, it was Yu So-pyeong writing them, not me.
"This mess started because I was trying to get your cousin a job. So write them sweetly."
"Ugh..."
Some people would probably still feel slighted, but for now, this was the best I could do.
'I need to recruit people in Hanzhong, too.'
Hiring locals would give me more room to maneuver.
There would also be warriors from the old branch who had become unemployed overnight.
Wouldn't taking responsibility for them all be the mark of a true king's return?
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Master, how should I reply to the letter from the merchant guild's chairman? It's so long-winded."
"That's for you to figure out."
"I was going to, but he even listed the number of times he's bought you drinks..."
"..."
The world is full of petty people.
* * *
Just as I was finishing up with the job requests and waiting for the day of our departure to Hanzhong, Master Bukgung dropped a bombshell.
"Shouldn't I follow along to protect my weak disciple?"
I had gone to say my farewells since I wouldn't see him for a while, but the moment he saw me, he declared he would follow me to Hanzhong.
"What? Who's weak...?"
"I heard a rumor that you were beaten like a dog by the Iron Mountain Hegemon."
"No, that was a strategic loss. If we had fought for real, it would have been a draw."
"A loser has no right to speak."
"But—"
I could think of about thirty-two hundred counterarguments, but I kept my mouth shut.
The important thing right now was to persuade Master Bukgung.
"Ahem, Master, it would be best for you to remain at the fortress."
"Why is that?"
"That way, you can help if the War King Gate runs into any trouble here."
"Hmm..."
Seeing him ponder, I immediately continued.
"Really, there's no need to think that way... I'll send for you as soon as I'm settled, so please stay here and be our strength. If those bastards from the White Dragon Hall try anything funny, you can stop them."
"..."
"And do you really think I'd just leave you here? Truly, I'll come for you the moment I'm established."
This was a man healthy enough to survive chugging a whole bottle of the Tang Clan's Seven Treasures Soul-Severing Powder.
Even if I were to bring him over later when he was old and frail, it was best to delay it as long as possible.
I'd only just become the Master; I couldn't have a Grand Master looming over me already.
"Oh! Your cup is empty! Please, have another."
Gurgle.
Master Bukgung lifted his cup with a dissatisfied look, but his displeasure soon turned to admiration.
The power of the finest Red Blossom Wine was truly magnificent.
I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Jeok Hwa-ran for sponsoring this expensive liquor.
'I need to drive the point home now.'
Persuasion is best done when the mood is right.
I quickly racked my brain and came up with a reason for Master Bukgung to stay in Nine Dragons Fortress.
"Actually, there is something I'd like you to do for me, Master."
"...What is it?"
"I would like you to look after the War King Gate's headquarters outside the Outer Fortress while I'm gone."
Of course, that was a lie. With ninety percent of the War King Gate moving, what would there be for him to do?
As if he knew this, Master Bukgung tilted his head.
"Please. It's such an important job that there's no one I can entrust it to but you, Master."
"I don't understand. What important work could there be in an empty sect...?"
"Not everyone is going to Hanzhong, are they?"
"Didn't you say you were only leaving a handful of members behind?"
"Yes, and that's precisely what's important. Here's how it works... First, the Hanzhong Merchant Guild's Nine Dragons Fortress branch... and so the training will also... establish a rotational work system..."
I continued my explanation, veins popping on my neck.
I explained so fervently that droplets of spit flew in every direction.
Master Bukgung made a face and subtly moved his cup to the side.
This went on for a quarter of an hour.
Finally, Master Bukgung quietly nodded.
"You're not entirely wrong."
Confident that my powers of persuasion were a gift from the heavens, I refilled Master Bukgung's cup.
"While you're at it, it would be great if you could oversee their martial arts training, too. As our esteemed 'Grand Master,' you could do that much for us, couldn't... you?"
Flinch.
At the words "Grand Master," the corner of my master's eye twitched.
Just in case, I called him that again and became certain.
"Grand. Mas. Ter?"
"Ahem."
This old man was feeling shy.
'He has a cute side to him.'
I felt like I'd found a weak spot.
"Grand Master."
"Ahem! Hmph!"
After a brief cough, Master Bukgung replied in a deliberately serious tone.
"So, you want me to oversee the martial arts of the remaining members?"
"Ah... Yes, and while you're at it, keep an eye on the White Dragon Hall guys."
"That's not a difficult task. No."
As he spoke, he released his energy. I felt my breath catch in my throat, and even the furniture in the room began to rattle.
"Kuhk!"
"Gak."
"Gulp."
Unable to bear it, the former-spy servants sweeping the yard collapsed one by one.
For former members of the Ten Demon Alliance, they were so weak I wondered if they could even do their jobs as servants properly.
"It would be easier to just wipe out the White Dragon Hall entirely."
"Sigh."
Such an extreme statement made me sigh.
After another long round of persuasion, I finally managed to calm Master Bukgung down.
The problem was that his enthusiasm for slaughtering the White Dragon Hall had been redirected.
"Did you say seventy? The number of members remaining."
"Ah... Yes."
"By the time we meet again, they will be warriors on a completely different level."
"..."
It seemed I had pushed some kind of strange button.
Well, I'm sure it'll work out somehow.