Silver Light Merchant Group (5)
"What do you mean, no silk or raw cotton?"
Yi Jeong-gap felt despair crash over him like a plummet into the abyss upon hearing the news from Butler Kang.
He had been certain they were on a roll, poised to rake in massive profits, only for supplies to vanish.
"F-First things first! Have you sent letters to all our trading partners?"
"Yes, we explained the urgency... but somehow, that mysterious lady from Myeong-ryeong bought it all up."
That mysterious lady—Jeong Se-in—had been scouring not just Hubei Province but also Henan, Shandong, and Shanxi for days, snapping up silk and raw cotton in bulk.
"Damn it! They broke the exclusive distribution deal with us?"
"Well... she paid two or three times the market price."
Yi Jeong-gap blinked in confusion at the words.
Could this be... a plot aimed at me?
His instincts screaming, Yi Jeong-gap immediately dispatched someone to verify with Lady Hye-ryeong once more. She was no fake or impostor—the fourth wife of the Hubei provincial governor, confirmed.
-Are you doubting me now?
They barely stopped her from exploding in fury at the reckless suspicion, her rage barely contained.
The time and gold spent just to placate her were no small sum.
The once-lively Silver Light Merchant Group now hung in heavy silence and desolation.
"We have the contract signed, right?"
Yi Jeong-gap asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.
His gut screamed trouble, but if it was a massive deal, better to cut losses while he could.
Incompetent he might seem, but he was a merchant at heart—sharp in such judgments.
"Yes, and... it's stamped with the provincial governor's official seal. No backing out now."
As Butler Kang spoke, Yi Jeong-gap felt the sky itself shatter.
The contract stipulated massive penalties—dozens of times the value—if delivery missed the deadline. Worse, as tribute for an imperial audience, it would tarnish the governor's honor irreparably, potentially costing his head.
"Ugh... S-Seok Family Village won't help?"
Yi Jeong-gap turned to his last bastion, but...
"You know they don't meddle in official matters, blood kin or not."
No dice there either.
As Butler Kang said, the Seok Family strictly upheld the unwritten rule of no interference between officials and martial artists. For merchants vulnerable to imperial or bureaucratic whims, it was unavoidable.
"Can't we at least borrow some silk and cotton?"
Yi Jeong-gap pleaded tearfully, but they balked at "imperial tribute."
No interference meant steering clear entirely, not currying favor.
The Seok Family's stance came via letter:
Tribute to His Majesty the Emperor is always meticulously recorded with its source and purchase details.
Therefore, our manor is in no position to provide any assistance. We ask the Silver Light Merchant Group leader to understand with broad magnanimity.
"Argh!"
Even the trusted Seok Family drawing a line made cold sweat pour down Yi Jeong-gap's back.
Three days had passed communicating with them. Lady Hye-ryeong's deadline was ten days out; his bold promise, just seven.
Damn my loose tongue!
Yi Jeong-gap wanted to travel back and slap his reckless mouth, but that was impossible.
"Butler Kang! Any other way?"
Yi Jeong-gap had no choice but to consult him.
"There is one method."
"What is it?"
"Find that mysterious lady... and buy it back at several times her purchase price."
Butler Kang's suggestion made sense.
No clue who she was or why she bought it all, but if she hadn't left far, they'd steal it if needed.
"Yes! That's it!"
Yi Jeong-gap's eyes lit with mad hope at this unexpected lifeline.
Even if I take a loss now, keeping my word to Lady Hye-ryeong is priority!
His growth threading the needle between legal and illicit in Hubei hinged on the governor's favor.
Tarnish that honor—especially before the Emperor? It meant his downfall, his empire crumbling.
"Find her, no matter what! By force if necessary—bring her here!"
Thus began Yi Jeong-gap's frantic hunt for Jeong Se-in, fire at his feet.
* * *
It was the sixth day since promising delivery to Lady Hye-ryeong.
"Leader! We found her!"
Good news finally flew to Yi Jeong-gap, hollow-eyed and pacing anxiously.
Butler Kang brought it himself.
"Really?"
"Yes, we've brought her here. Shall we meet?"
Heaven's grace? It went smoothly; Butler Kang escorted her straight to Silver Light Merchant Group.
Of course, it was all Hyeon Yucheon and Jeong Se-in's scheme.
"Yes! Bring her in!"
Yi Jeong-gap figured anyone buying such volumes was a wealthy merchant or noble.
And sure enough?
Jeong Se-in appeared, flanked by men from a distant northern merchant caravan, beyond the border passes.
"We're merchants from Bukhae Province. You were looking for us?"
Jeong Se-in posed as their leader, haughty and teasing.
Merchants from Bukhae Province!
Yi Jeong-gap finally pieced it together.
He'd suspected them at first, but checks confirmed they were legit Bukhae traders. That frozen land of ice and blizzards needed silk, cotton, and fabrics yearly.
In truth, Jeong Se-in had leveraged old Mangeum Clan connections to disguise them.
"Ah, esteemed guests from beautiful Bukhae Province."
Desperate to please, Yi Jeong-gap lavished praise unfit for him—reserved for Seok Family heads.
"Time is gold to merchants. No time to waste—what's your business?"
Jeong Se-in acted aloof, superior.
She knew every detail of Yi Jeong-gap and Hyeon Yucheon's feud, entrusted with revenge—she'd torment him thoroughly.
"Of course, haha! Ahem."
Yi Jeong-gap's face was veiled in Bukhae-style cloth, but fury boiled at words from a woman younger than his daughter.
He forced a smile, rubbing hands obsequiously.
"It's just... you bought up all the silk and cotton around here."
"Yes, Bukhae's weather is brutal, weaving hard—we import yearly."
"I know. But I need those goods too... I'll pay three times your price. Sell to me?"
Yi Jeong-gap offered grandly, as if granting a boon.
"Three times? That's all?"
Jeong Se-in, unmoved, scoffed inwardly.
This fat, greasy old bastard dares harass our Yu-hyeon?
Harboring grudge against Yi Jeong-gap and Silver Light for Hyeon Yucheon, she'd never yield easily.
"Three times seems fair, no?"
Right then—
"If we don't take these, our Bukhae brothers freeze to death! You value lives at just three times?!"
Merchants behind Jeong Se-in, glaring in northern garb, erupted in outrage.
Their logic was ironclad; Yi Jeong-gap and Butler Kang couldn't retort.
"Fine! Five times! Five—that should do it?"
Abacuses whirred in their heads nonstop.
After crunching margins, five times barely broke even.
If they could resell dear to Lady Hye-ryeong.
"...No more to say? We're leaving."
Jeong Se-in feigned fury, rising dramatically.
"Aigoo~ Lady, no—Merchant leader? Please, hear us out!"
Only Butler Kang stepping in stopped her.
He glanced at Yi Jeong-gap.
Breaking even was already a stretch.
"Ten times! Ten—final offer. No more."
Yi Jeong-gap felt cold sweat trickle down his wrinkled brow.
With time short, he'd haggle merchant-style—but he had one day.
Only way to procure that volume: buy from them.
"Hmm..."
Jeong Se-in masterfully pretended to ponder, draining their blood.
"Please... please..."
Yi Jeong-gap unwittingly muttered aloud, sweat like tears streaming.
Could it be more satisfying?
True revenge awaited separately.
"Fine. Ten times it is. But! Gold bars—now."
Yi Jeong-gap felt his soul flee, but exhaled in relief.
"Hoo... Understood."
He thought he'd dodged hell—but Hyeon Yucheon and Jeong Se-in's trap sprang now.
* * *
"Thank you, Bukhae Merchant Group."
Not just Jeong Se-in—Hyeon Yucheon emerged from the caravan wagons, bowing deeply to the helpful northerners.
"No need. We traded with Mangeum Clan before—pleasant times."
The Bukhae merchants nodded graciously.
They truly had past dealings with Mangeum, casually reconnecting with Jeong Se-in.
Bukhae so remote, they regretted not aiding during the clan's destruction—now helping belatedly.
Few, but scattered across the vast Central Plains, were those who cherished Mangeum.
Not just Bukhae Group—more surely existed.
"No need for repayment... but soon, we'll ship silk and cotton to you at fractions of current prices."
Hyeon Yucheon grinned confidently.
"Unnecessary. Market price suffices."
They waved it off firmly, but the real point came now.
"No. It's fine. Soon, Hubei's silk and cotton prices... will crash to the floor."
Skyrocketing from Lady Hye-ryeong and Silver Light's frenzy.
Why did Hyeon Yucheon declare they'd plummet?