Chapter 275
Chapter 275
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 275
Chapter Title: King Maker (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The effect of deploying courtesans to distribute flyers was far more powerful than I had imagined.
A buzz of conversation filled the air.
“You know, now that I look at it, the Red Dragon Hall Master has done a tremendous amount for the Nine Dragons Fortress.”
“You can say that again. He’s a true hero of our time.”
“I’ve misunderstood the Red Dragon Hall all this time. They are heroes who risk their lives to punish those devils from the Ten Demon Alliance…”
“I’ve made up my mind. I’m voting for the Red Dragon Hall Master to be the Vice Lord.”
“Of course! Who else is fit to be Vice Lord if not him! Am I right?!”
“Hear, hear!”
“Indeed!”
“Candidate number two, Jeok Sa-jung!”
“Candidate number two, Jeok Sa-jung!”
They looked like a congregation of fanatics.
This was the scene at a tavern in a corner of the city.
‘The grassroots sentiment is starting to shift.’
The reason elections are called the flower of democracy.
It’s because everyone gets to cast one vote, and one vote only.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a person of power, a wealthy merchant, or a homeless beggar.
That’s why the support of the common people, who held a significant portion of the twenty-six thousand votes, was so crucial.
“Ooh.”
Watching the scene, Myo Hyang’s eyes widened coyly as she let out a sound of admiration.
“I was wondering what you were up to… This is truly impressive, isn’t it?”
“It’s not that impressive. I just mobilized some beautiful courtesans to hand out flyers.”
“That’s what makes it so impressive. You accomplished it simply and reaped great rewards.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. More importantly, you’ve changed the entire image of the Red Dragon Hall, which will be a great help to your future ventures. You’ve gained an enormous advantage.”
*Trickle.*
Myo Hyang filled my cup with wine as she spoke.
“So, did you have fun with the courtesans?”
“Huh?”
“You said it yourself just now. That you mobilized courtesans.”
“Ah, no. I just saw their faces. I didn’t talk to them or touch them or anything…”
*Clink.*
“So you’re saying if the circumstances were right, you would have liked to touch them, talk to them, and have some fun.”
“That’s not what I meant. Hwa-ran was watching me with her eyes wide open!”
“My goodness. So if Lady Jeok hadn’t been there, you were planning to party wildly.”
“No, really…”
And so began the first marital spat of our married life.
***
Meanwhile, at the Gold Dragon Hall Master’s quarters.
Having witnessed the storm stirred up by the Red Dragon Hall, the Gold Dragon Hall Master, Geum Geuk, summoned his closest aides: the Vice-Chief and the General Manager of the Ten Thousand Gold Emporium.
“…Do we have a countermeasure?”
“We are… in the process of preparing one, my lord.”
At the Vice-Chief’s reply, Geum Geuk turned to the General Manager.
He could feel a burning, almost blazing, desire in the man’s eyes.
“General Manager, what about you?”
“My apologies. I never dreamed the Red Dragon Hall would make a move like this…”
Geum Geuk cursed inwardly.
‘These useless parasites…’
He had every right to be furious. The monthly salary for the Vice-Chief and the General Manager was a whopping two gold taels. It was only natural for him to be disappointed when they failed to demonstrate any competence despite receiving such a hefty sum.
‘Should I just kick them out?’
The impulse surged, but he shook his head.
Even if he fired them now, he had no alternative. It was better to deal with this matter first and then let them go.
‘Maybe I should just give up…’
Geum Geuk mulled it over for a moment before shaking his head again.
‘No. How could I give up on an opportunity like this without even trying?’
The martial world saw him as a mere warehouse keeper, not a warrior. He was at the bottom of the inner fortress hierarchy, which led to constant disregard and virtually no say in the Hall Masters’ meetings.
These were the humiliations quietly endured by the Gold Dragon Hall, said to have amassed the greatest wealth under heaven.
Nevertheless, the Gold Dragon Hall had no choice but to cling to the Nine Dragons Fortress, for this was a turbulent era where strength was valued more than money.
With so much to protect and so little power to do so, the Gold Dragon Hall had to stick with the fortress, for better or worse.
But if he could just secure the position of Vice Lord, everything would change.
After all, no one was unafraid of a disciplinary inspection.
Besides, his chances of being elected weren’t small.
Although there were various calculations behind his actions, his Ten Thousand Gold Emporium was, at least publicly, an organization dedicated to helping the poor and providing relief.
Geum Geuk calculated that he had a much better chance than the aloof Blue Dragon Hall Master, who floated high above the clouds, or the Gray Dragon Hall Master, who was busy swinging a pickaxe in a mine.
He hadn’t even considered the Red Dragon Hall, who were shunned by the people.
But once the race began, the landscape was different.
The name of the Red Dragon Hall Master was echoing throughout the outer fortress.
“Ugh…”
Just as Geum Geuk clutched his head, feeling the position of Vice Lord slipping through his fingers with every passing moment.
“Who is it?”
“It is I, Jong-dae.”
“Come in.”
Geum Geuk’s second son, Geum Jong-dae, had come to the Hall Master’s quarters.
“You don’t seem to be here for a simple greeting… What is it?”
“Family Head… no, Father. I have come to ease your worries.”
“Ease my worries, you say…”
This was the same Geum Jong-dae who had once tarnished the Gold Dragon Hall’s reputation by getting involved with a woman.
At the time, they had managed to smooth things over with the Hall’s wealth, but from then on, Geum Geuk had kept his second son at a distance. Sensing this, Geum Jong-dae had lived listlessly, as if he had given up on everything.
It was only natural that Geum Geuk’s eyes showed a flicker of interest at this rare visit from his second son.
“Speak.”
“I have recently analyzed the actions of the Red Dragon Hall.”
“And?”
“They are utilizing what they have to the fullest. I don’t know who devised their plan, but they must be a brilliant strategist.”
Geum Geuk frowned and retorted.
“Did you come here just to praise someone else’s subordinate?”
“They say if you know your enemy and yourself, you will win every battle. Must we not acknowledge our enemy to achieve victory?”
Geum Geuk nodded at Geum Jong-dae’s eloquent words.
“…Continue.”
“Since the Red Dragon Hall is making excellent use of what they possess, I came to suggest that we, too, should make good use of what we have.”
“…What do you mean?”
“What is the strength of our Gold Dragon Hall? Is it not our wealth, which surpasses all others?”
“So?”
“If they used women to entice the people, why don’t we use money?”
“Are you suggesting we waste our money?”
“It would not be a waste at all.”
“Why not?”
“Consider the history of the Gold Dragon Hall. We joined the Nine Dragons Fortress because we lacked strength, and to build that strength, we bought martial arts manuals and taught our warriors. We essentially bought martial power with financial power.”
“…”
“If so, can’t we also buy political power with financial power?”
At Geum Jong-dae’s suggestion, Geum Geuk and the other two men exchanged glances.
The Gold Dragon Hall’s new election strategy was about to begin.
***
“I was thinking, what if we put the Red Dragon Hall Master’s face on the flyers…”
“The Hall Master’s esteemed visage, you mean?”
“Wouldn’t it be good in many ways? It would feel more personable than just text. It would also have the advantage of being more eye-catching.”
“Ye-yes, but to do that, the manpower required…”
“If that’s the case… I suppose we have no choice. We’ll have to give up. Since I’m here, I might as well see the Red Dragon Hall Master before I leave.”
“Summon the artists at once and prepare to carve a woodblock with the Hall Master’s esteemed visage! Right now!”
“Ye-yes, sir!”
At the cry of the Head of Flyer Operations, a warrior shot out like a bolt of lightning.
“They say the Red Dragon Hall is known for its lightness arts, and it’s truly as rumored.”
Seeing a low-ranking warrior move with the speed of Sonic made me wonder if I should have my kids train in lightness arts as well.
‘You have to know how to run to fight properly.’
Safety, after all, was the top priority.
As I was mentally drafting a new curriculum, the warrior who had gone to check on the other candidates’ movements returned.
“Th-this is terrible! The Gold Dragon Hall is throwing money around!”
“…Huh?”
A moment later.
I went outside to assess the situation and witnessed a ridiculous scene.
“I, Geum Geuk, will be a Vice Lord for all of you!”
The Gold Dragon Hall Master, perched atop a large palanquin.
Following him were a hundred warriors, showering the common folk with money and flyers.
“Please remember number four.”
“It’s number four. You must vote for number four.”
“If the Gold Dragon Hall Master becomes the Vice Lord, good things will happen often!”
Everyone nearby went wild and rushed forward.
“Mo-money!”
“Thank you! Thank you!”
“I’ll crawl there on broken legs if I have to, but I will definitely vote for number four!”
Although the per capita income in the Nine Dragons Fortress was high, that just meant it was slightly better than other places, not that everyone was wealthy.
Meanwhile, watching the scene made me feel so dizzy that I had to press a hand to my forehead.
“Even during the military regime era, they handed out rubber shoes, not cash…”
What were they thinking, throwing real money around?
Of course, it wasn’t that I hadn’t anticipated the Gold Dragon Hall making a move like this.
I just hadn’t expected them to throw actual money, not just goods.
“Gold. Dragon. Hall!”
“Gold. Dragon. Hall!”
The cries of those struck by the destructive power of cash, chanting the Gold Dragon Hall’s name, echoed throughout the outer fortress.
The Gold Dragon Hall wasn’t the only one to change its campaign strategy.
“Hyaaah!”
*CRACK.*
“Now that I’ve cleared away the tree that was blocking the sun, your crops will dry well.”
“How can I ever thank you… I have nothing to give you, but I’d like to offer you a meal…”
“Hahaha, I appreciate the thought, but I must decline. I just ate. Instead, I would be grateful if you remember to vote for number three on the upcoming voting day!”
“If you have any difficult tasks, just tell us men from the Gray Dragon Hall!”
“What? Your warehouse collapsed? Don’t you worry. If we step in, we can fix it in an hour.”
The warriors of the Gray Dragon Hall had started a door-to-door service.
Flexing their practical, hard-earned muscles from manual labor, they single-handedly solved problems that would have required several workers, earning the immense support of the local women.
The Blue Dragon Hall’s approach was a bit different.
Unlike the Red Dragon, Gold Dragon, and Gray Dragon Halls, they didn’t aim for the grassroots but instead targeted the upper class.
Even their method of campaigning was vastly different.
A renowned master from the Blue Dragon Hall would simply visit a home, have a conversation, and encourage them to vote. That was it.
But its effect was by no means small.
In just two days.
The residents of the area around Nine Dragons Lake, the wealthiest district in the outer fortress, began to whisper the name of the Blue Dragon Hall Master.
Since wealthy households typically employed three or four servants, the opinions of the rich spread to their staff.
Soon, the Blue Dragon Hall’s approval ratings began to climb.
And I confirmed this entire situation through the report from Hao Gallup.
Oh, by the way, I was the one who taught them how to conduct the polls.
“As of now, the Blue Dragon Hall is in the lead. We, on the other hand, have dropped to third place.”
“Then is there no hope?”
“It’s too early to say that. The gap in approval ratings isn’t that large.”
At the Red Dragon Hall Master’s question, I used a Battle Lord Arrow to write out each candidate’s approval rating.
Blue - 31
Gold - 28
Red - 25
Gray - 22
“It’s only a three-point difference. At this rate, we can definitely turn it around in the remaining time.”
“The gap certainly isn’t large. However, the other three are on the rise, while we are on the decline, are we not?”
I nodded at his voice, which was filled with concern.
“That’s true, but I still have another card to play.”
“Another card?”
“Before that, there’s something I’d like to ask you.”
“Speak.”
“Do you want to become the Vice Lord?”
Hearing my question, the Red Dragon Hall Master looked at me as if I were absurd.
“Of course, I do. Why else would I have run for the position…”
“No. That’s not what I meant.”
“Then?”
“I’m asking how much you’re willing to give up to become the Vice Lord.”
“…That sounds like I’ll have to give something up.”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“Your pride. And it will be a very great deal of your pride.”
At the word ‘pride,’ his eyes began to waver.
About a minute passed like that.
The Red Dragon Hall Master spoke with a voice full of conviction.
“…I can give it up.”
“I see. That’s a relief. In that case, could you please dismiss those around us?”
“Very well.”
The Red Dragon Hall Master moved his lips toward the empty air, and the presences surrounding us vanished in an instant.
And then.
*Step, step.*
A man appeared, striding majestically across the Red Dragon Hall.
*Flash.*
A bald head reflecting the moonlight.
It was Yong Ma-san.
“Please, greet him. This is the collaborator who will make you the Vice Lord.”