Chapter 176
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: Ilwol Corporation (Pump-and-Dump Stock) (4)
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"Riyeon-ah. How many first-years aren't coming?"
"There are five in total. How should we handle them?"
"Tell them they'll get penalized on their credits if they skip."
"......Is that allowed?"
"Allowed? It's just a scare tactic, just a bluff."
Discussing the student council's major task—the Mount Hua school trip—with these capable talents somehow made me feel like I'd become some grand strategist myself.
"The first-year leaders will be Baek Riyeon from the supervisory hall, plus Tang Narin...... Tang Narin...... Hmm......"
"Eek!"
Canceled.
There were some useless lumps around too.
"......Riyeon-ah. Among the first-years, anyone reliable we can use?"
"......"
"Why no answer?"
"......"
"R-Riyeon is still a total loner toooo......"
......There was one lump with excellent administrative skills but who still struggled badly with people.
"......Anyway, something else first. Status on the snacks, rations, and inn bookings?"
"Yup, 200 portions, all prepped! In Hweumyeon County, I've booked eight decent-sized inns in advance—places with similar facilities so nothing slips."
Narang's the only one I can count on......
I took a moment to savor that capable pocket, then turned away.
"Why?"
"Nothing......"
That capable pocket's face, lacking even basic communication skills.
Today's student council room was as peaceful as ever, Paeki—no, Narang and all.
Rindorindo, rindorindo......
"Unhak. Contact the Club Federation president and borrow some manpower. About three for first-year supervision, two for second-years."
You always outsource when short on hands.
"Got it. But will that guy cooperate easily?"
"If not, tell him you'll snitch to Sister Seol."
"That'll definitely work."
"Alright, meeting's over. Everyone dismissed. Report any issues via chat."
"Yeees──"
"Understood."
"Yay, woo-hoo......!"
"Eep."
I watched the three head off to work and the lone pocket flee, with her backup pocket trailing behind.
"Haa."
Before I knew it, Luri had climbed up my body, sticking to me like a cicada. I stroked her head and sorted my thoughts for a bit.
At first, I thought climbing that needlessly tall rocky peak without even plum blossoms was insane.
But the Mount Hua trip had a solid justification.
The Blossom Sword Branch.
Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua staked their pride on this epic showdown once a year.
It was usually around October, but last year's cancellation meant a massive event this year.
The reason it was the Blossom Sword Branch?
Partly because my personal fondness leaned toward Zhongnan over Hua, but mainly because Zhongnan had won big two years ago.
Well......
For me, the shortened schedule was a definite plus, and I'd even pay to watch the fights.
But with first-years suddenly added, my duties as president had doubled—a minor issue.
......Not that minor, honestly.
"Stop pressing down with your butt like that. My back hurts."
"Tch."
I corrected Luri's rotten habit of slyly shoving her soft butt right into my navel by picking her up and setting her down.
Then I reviewed the full itinerary again.
Five days, four nights. Round trip about 300 li.
Day 1: Walk from Xi'an to Hweumyeon County. Rest upon arrival.
Day 2: Climb Mount Hua, tour the Mount Hua Sect, then descend.
Day 3: Watch the Blossom Sword Branch from Hweumyeon County.
Day 4: Afterparty with guidance sessions from Mount Zhongnan and Mount Hua martial artists.
Day 5: Walk back from Hweumyeon County to Xi'an. Disband upon arrival.
Nothing special about the schedule.
"But it feels ominous somehow."
"Huh?"
"......Nothing."
My crisis sensor was blaring inside.
It was clearly peaceful on paper, but my gut said it wouldn't stay that way.
"Ugh...... Urgh......!"
Back home.
I clutched my neck and collapsed at the utterly shocking news.
That vague foreboding from earlier had become reality so soon......
"Sect Leader. At this rate, we'll take massive losses."
"Th-thank you, Chief Officer Kwak....... We need to renegotiate before it's too late......"
"......But so much capital's already invested. Recovery might be......"
"......"
Chief Officer Kwak, who'd managed my business with me since the Ten Thousand Gold Treasury Fortress days, delivered the dreadful news.
I immediately hopped the wall and stormed the filthy Demonic Cult's lair.
"Greetings, my husband!"
"Who's your husband! Whoaaah!"
The awkwardness of every Demonic Cult martial artist I locked eyes with dropping to their knees didn't even register right now.
I had one goal.
Creak.
Bang──!
"Oh my, Geum darling, I'm not ready yet──"
"Wh-what in the world happened......!"
Seeing Cheon Yuri with her hair neatly bundled in Luri style nearly cooled my rage for a second.
No, snap out of it.
"Why have all the trade routes to the Western Regions ground to a halt!"
Not long ago.
I'd handed over near-monopoly distribution rights for Silk Road imports practically for free.
In exchange, I'd infused massive funds into Ilwol Corporation on demand......
Just earlier.
Word came that logistics were paralyzed due to local issues.
Silk Road Coin.
Delisted......!
"Oh dear, already betrayed us?"
"Already? Betrayed?"
What?
Did she predict this?
My brain spun at full speed.
This wasn't just a simple delisting.
It was the pump-and-dump crew's meticulous scheme.
"Yup, no worries for you, Geum darling. Just some petty internal succession squabble? Anyway...... It'll sort itself out soon."
"Soon as in when?"
"Hmm. Three years? By then, my training might let me handle it?"
"Gahk......"
My neck stiffened again.
This wasn't mere anger.
It was a soul-deep wail......!
"You okay? Want to touch my chest?"
"Y-yes...... N-no! What the hell does that mean!"
Damn.
Almost fell for it.
As I poured my spirit into resisting that colossal temptation I'd never escape in eons approaching 0.69 seconds.
Creak──
The door opened again.
"Geum Sihyeon!"
"Not the time for games."
At my cold tone, Luri pouted and fired a Heavenly Demon Death Beam before plopping her butt down on my lap with a familiar squelch.
The hostage walked right in.
"Hoo...... If you don't explain honestly, I'll commit unspeakable acts on Luri."
"Oh my, oh my my. Sounds delightful?"
"Eep."
......
Not this one.
"If you don't explain honestly, I won't lay a finger on Luri. No more lap time either."
"Nooo!"
Luri let out a furious pueeng.
"Haa...... That'd suck......"
......This mother-daughter duo.
What the hell do they think I am?
Anyway, my not-quite-threat worked.
"Well, before I became cult leader, there was a rival?"
Cheon Yuri spilled the Demonic Cult's secrets.
In summary.
She and the previous leader's bastard son had a huge showdown for cult hegemony. After the bastard lost, he founded the Blood Cult and rallied hardliners for independence.
I knew the gist, but now more details on the players.
"But he won't quit, so he's probably the one blocking the trade routes now."
"......What's that bastard's name?"
"Cheon Siu."
"A man?"
"Yeah."
What.
Why does an unfamiliar guy's name......
Feel so familiar?
Just my imagination.
"Hoo......"
I pulled out the hidden calm Geum Sihyeon from my heart and reequipped it, steadying my mind.
Investment ironclad rule.
Don't cling to sunk costs.
My precious assets were already sucked into that trash stock Ilwol-whatever, on the brink of delisting.
So......
Time to collect some collateral.
"......Hand over the Heavenly Demon Divine Art manual."
"Huh?"
"And anything valuable—treasures, hard assets, bring 'em all......!"
"Yup, the two most precious gems from the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult are sparkling here? That enough?"
"Everything except people......!"
"Tch."
"Tch."
Don't give the exact same reaction with the exact same face......!
.
.
.
The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's Xi'an branch training hall.
In the end, I couldn't hold back my injustice and inscribed the Heavenly Demon Divine Art into my dantian.
I half-expected Heavenly Demon Death Beams to fire off immediately.
"......That's it?"
No Death Beam, not even a Heavenly Demon Cuddle Step pbo.
She didn't scam me on the martial art too, did she?
"Yup. The rest of the insights? Over there at Heavenly Mountain's Heavenly Demon Cave. Left everything there."
"Ugh, urgh......!"
Damn it......!
You vile, evil mother-daughter con artists......!
Qi Deviation surged for a moment.
"Urgh, u...... St-stable......"
But as qi reversed, the Heavenly Demon Divine Art in my dantian welcomed it with a 'What the hell, dude!' and wrapped it in reverse-heavenly energy—a bizarre phenomenon.
......
Good is......
......good, right......?
"Mount Hua it is, they say."
"Yes, Leader."
Listening to his subordinate's report, the Azure Heaven Society Leader gazed vacantly at the sky.
Blossom Sword Branch, huh.
Mount Hua and Mount Zhongnan's names uttered together.
Truly shameful before the ancestors.
Mount Hua was the place for sword debates, discussing the supreme martial arts under heaven.
Thus.
The wrong, the twisted.
Must be set right.