Chapter 95
Chapter 95
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Moving (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
We decided to move based on Myo Hyang's suggestion, but we couldn't go right away.
First, we had to get the family living there to leave, and we also had to sell our current house.
I couldn't be sure, but it would likely take at least a month.
‘By then, our extra mouths to feed will be gone too.’
Since I'd already been paid, it wouldn't be a huge problem if I just abandoned them, but if something went wrong and they ended up dead, the value of the house I bought for five gold nyang could plummet.
Then and now, houses where someone has died are hard to sell.
Besides.
‘Now that the security in Black Snake Road has stabilized, I could get half as much more—no, twice as much.’
That's right. Thanks to ‘my desperate efforts,’ the security on Black Snake Road had stabilized immensely.
Naturally, the price of real estate in the area soared, and thanks to that, I could expect a considerable profit.
‘If I get a skilled real estate agent, I should be able to sell it quickly.’
That's why I was about to visit the best agent I knew, the wife of Squad Leader Lee, Mistress Bok, who had introduced me to the house on Black Snake Road.
"Leave it to me. I'll sell it for a higher price than anyone else."
Myo Hyang showed great confidence.
"But, Sis, how are you going to act as a broker...?"
"Don't worry. I know many wealthy people. If I just spread the word, a few of them will surely show interest."
"You know people like that? How?"
"Huhu, have you forgotten what my former profession was?"
"Ah..."
That's right. Myo Hyang's former profession was a top-class courtesan who played the seven-stringed zither for the wealthy.
I heard she was so incredibly popular that you had to make a reservation at least a month in advance just to hear her play the zither.
Having lived that life for several years, it was only natural she knew many wealthy people.
However.
"I'll just leave it to Mistress Bok."
The thought of her, no longer a courtesan but my sister, going to see them didn't sit well with me.
As if guessing my thoughts, Myo Hyang said with a wry smile.
"Surely, you don't think I'm going to sell my smiles, do you?"
"..."
"Don't worry. That will never happen. They'll probably be begging me to sell it to them."
I didn't know where this confidence came from, but since my business partner wanted it so badly, I had to agree.
"…Alright. I'll give you twenty percent of the profit, so you can give it a try. Don't push yourself too hard; it's okay if we don't make a huge profit."
"Huhu, thank you for trusting me."
Leaving Myo Hyang with her meaningful smile, I left the house.
‘I'll go see Mistress Bok in about a week.’
After all, the more agencies you list it with, the faster it sells.
* * *
A short while later.
Before heading to work, I stopped by the Jo Family Merchant Guild.
Since the owner had changed, I needed to coordinate the moving schedule.
‘Hmm, how should I bring this up?’
Evicting tenants is never an easy task.
They might refuse to leave for no reason and demand compensation.
Or they might genuinely be unable to move due to their circumstances.
Moreover, for the people currently living at the Jo Family Merchant Guild, the head of their family had died only about three days ago.
To tell them the guild has been sold and they need to vacate, in the midst of all that, seemed like something a sociopath would do.
‘How would I know? I've never done this before.’
On top of that, in my two lives, I had never once rented out a property, which made it even more awkward.
As I paced in front of the gate, trying to figure out how to kick out the Jo family members...
"Isn't that Mujeon?"
Wi Ji-pung's voice reached me.
In fact, this was to be expected.
The Black Dragon Martial Hall was right across from the Jo Family Merchant Guild.
"Ah, Brother Wi Ji."
"What are you doing all the way out here? Come on in and have some tea."
"I'm busy right now..."
"You must have business at the Jo Family Merchant Guild because of the late Old Man Jo. In that case, you should definitely come in. I have something to tell you."
What is it? Did something happen to that family?
"Alright."
I followed Wi Ji-pung into the hall master's office.
Seeing him serve tea that was on the more expensive side of cheap, it seemed the Black Dragon Martial Hall was steadily progressing.
"What did you want to talk about?"
"Ah, about that."
Wi Ji-pung began to tell me about the Jo family.
"So, you're saying they're fighting over who gets the money from the sale of the merchant guild?"
"You have no idea. They were fighting so viciously. Yesterday, they were even swinging knives. I thought it was a fight between martial artists. If I hadn't been watching, something terrible would have happened."
"But why would they do that?"
At my question, Wi Ji-pung frowned and said.
"I was curious myself, so I looked into it. The second son is claiming half as his share. Thanks to them, the Golden Scale Bank is in a tight spot."
"Why is that? They can just give it all to the first son."
The concept of property in this era is a bit different from modern times.
The family's assets take precedence over individual wealth.
Because of that, inheritance was often passed down exclusively to the eldest son.
The problem was.
‘Well, it's a sum worth ten billion won in modern currency. It's only natural to be greedy.’
The second son, who had given up on the idea of inheriting the merchant guild, was now faced with an enormous sum of money.
Even if he took half, it was a fortune far greater than the value of the guild itself.
"It's because the two brothers go to the bank every day and cause a scene to prevent the other from taking the money."
"...That does sound awkward."
Even the Gold Dragon Hall couldn't just kick out customers.
Wi Ji-pung said with a slight smile.
"Since you're here, you should solve it."
"Pardon?"
"If it escalates to murder, it'll become your problem anyway, won't it? You should handle it now if you can."
He wasn't wrong.
Besides, if this matter was resolved quickly, the Jo family would leave the guild, which aligned with my own goals.
"As you said, Brother Wi Ji, I suppose I should step in."
"Good thinking. But do you have a way?"
"Wouldn't I be doing this if I did? Just wait a moment. I'll be back before this tea gets cold."
Because I had the invincible modern logic of splitting it evenly.
Leaving a bewildered Wi Ji-pung behind, I went straight into the Jo Family Merchant Guild.
The two brothers were glaring at each other as if they wanted to kill one another, engaged in a fierce argument.
"Father intended to leave the merchant guild to me while he was alive! What's the problem with me taking the money from its sale?"
"Brother! It's ten thousand silver nyang! Do you really think it makes sense for you to take all that money?!"
I listened for a moment; it was a total mess, as expected.
I stepped between them and said.
"I'm here because a report was filed."
The second son replied as if he had been expecting this.
"That man over there was brandishing a knife! Arrest him at once!"
"What? That man?! You've really lost your mind!"
"Now, now, calm down..."
"How can you expect me to calm down?!"
I quietly picked up a rock the size of my fist.
Crack.
With just a slight squeeze, the rock instantly turned to sand and scattered.
The first son, who had been shouting with veins bulging in his neck just a moment ago, shut his mouth.
The second son also said no more.
"From what I've overheard, this is about your father's inheritance, is that correct?"
"...Y-Yes."
"That's right."
"And the merchant guild was originally supposed to be inherited by the eldest son."
"Correct."
"But now there's a sum of money far greater than the guild's value. Which is why the younger brother is asserting his claim."
"That is so."
The first son's lips twitched as if he wanted to say something.
I picked up another rock, sealing his lips.
"Then the conclusion is simple."
The two men looked at me with questioning eyes.
I delivered my verdict to them.
"Why don't you just split it in half amicably?"
"But!"
Crack.
"Hah, the rocks these days have no spirit. They turn to dust with just a little squeeze. Ah, it seems you have an objection to my ruling. Is there something you'd like to say?"
"...N-No."
As expected, the first son was deeply impressed by my Solomon-like judgment.
"And the younger brother..."
"I wholeheartedly agree with the Squad Leader's opinion."
To think I'm solving civil cases now, not just criminal ones.
Perhaps I should have been a judge in my past life.
* * *
The Jo family decided to find a new house and move out within three days.
One thing was surprising.
"I'm sorry. Looking back, I think I was too greedy."
"Not at all, Brother. I know it was a decision you made for the family."
"My brother!"
"Brother!"
*Hug.*
Once the money issue was resolved, the two brothers' relationship became good again, as if nothing had happened just moments before.
‘Is money possessed by a demon?’
Since the money's source was the Ten Demon Alliance, the greatest demonic group of this era, it might just be possible.
Anyway, all that remained was to sell the house on Black Snake Road.
‘Well, it doesn't matter if we move before it's sold.’
Myo Hyang said she would try to sell it before moving day, but with ample funds available now, it wasn't a pressing matter.
I was planning to finish moving first and then wait patiently.
"Someone already wants to buy it?!"
Myo Hyang had succeeded in finding a buyer in less than half a day.
"I told you to trust me, didn't I? Huhu."
Her unbelievable success made me suspicious.
Could it be? Did she slash the price?
If so, it would make sense that a deal was struck so quickly.
However, my worries were unfounded.
"Don't worry. I got a thousand nyang for it."
"What?!"
"There was someone who offered up to thirteen hundred nyang, but it seemed like it would take longer, so I decided to close the deal at a thousand."
"But, we could have waited..."
Myo Hyang shook her head and said.
"When land prices are on the rise like this, it's more advantageous to sell quickly and reinvest."
"Ah..."
Faced with her expert-like aura, I found myself nodding unconsciously.
Myo Hyang smiled brightly and continued.
"Most importantly, it's someone you know, Squad Leader."
"What?"
"The person buying the house. I'm saying you know them. Very well, in fact."
"Did the Red Dragon Hall step up to buy it?"
Most of my acquaintances are commoners. The only people with the financial means to offer a thousand nyang are Jeok Il, Jeok Hwa-ran, Jeon Muk, and Dan Un.
However, Jeon Muk and Dan Un have zero interest in real estate investment, so I could only think of Jeok Il and Jeok Hwa-ran.
"Wrong. Huhu. Ah, speak of the devil, they're here."
Myo Hyang gave a strange smile and raised her hand to point at the main gate.
When I turned around, I couldn't hide my astonishment.
"H-Hall Master?"
The person who wanted to buy the house was none other than Bukgung Baek.
"But, Hall Master, where would you get that kind of money...?"
"A while ago, the Lord gave me some money. As a congratulatory gift for reaching a new realm."
"Just how much did you receive...?"
"Thirty thousand nyang."
*Gasp.*
At the enormous sum, not just me, but Myo Hyang too was left speechless.
"But he attached a condition."
"W-What kind of condition?"
"The condition was that if I leave the Nine Dragons Fortress within ten years, I have to pay back double."
Only then did I understand.
The Lord had tied down a master of the Hwagyeong realm with thirty thousand nyang.
Thinking about it that way, the thirty thousand nyang started to feel like a small price.
In modern terms, it was like signing a special S-class player from the big leagues for a mere thirty billion won.
‘My Lord, you truly are...’
As I nodded my head in admiration, Bukgung Baek tossed me a small money pouch.
Thud.
"Ten gold nyang."
Just like his straightforward personality, he paid the purchase price immediately.
"...Thank you."
Just as I was expressing my gratitude for the prompt payment.
"By the way, who are those guys inside? I can feel a trace of demonic energy."
He had precisely pinpointed the people under my witness protection program.