Chapter 82
Chapter 82
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Chongmyeong Island (3)
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"How much did you say it was just now?"
Na Ham asked with a look of utter disbelief on his face.
"Ten thousand nyang of gold."
Unlike the astonished Na Ham, Yi Ja-gon spoke as if it were no big deal, like it was nothing to get worked up about.
"That seems excessively inflated."
At Na Ham's words, Yi Ja-gon instead turned serious.
"Inflated? This is a reasonable price we've carefully considered. You know how valuable the goods we've prepared this time are."
"No matter how valuable, there's a limit. Ten thousand nyang! That's enough to buy a whole castle."
He felt like flipping the table right then and there, but Na Ham exercised maximum patience and continued the negotiation.
"Even if you added up every single transaction happening here right now, you wouldn't reach ten thousand—hell, not even a thousand nyang."
"Hahaha! Whether it's a thousand or even a hundred nyang, it has nothing to do with this deal."
"That's exactly why it's too much. Plus, no one else would buy it but us. Have you heard what happened to Cheongmun and Namsabang, by any chance?"
Na Ham issued a veiled threat in a subtle tone. But Yi Ja-gon, who had risen from the slave markets since childhood to become the chief steward of Hongik Merchant Group, was no pushover.
"I heard they were all shredded to pieces. If they'd still been around, I would've asked for at least fifteen thousand nyang at minimum. What a shame. Hahaha!"
"……."
Na Ham stared at Yi Ja-gon with a face that screamed, What kind of person is this?
"Shall we take a break? You probably need some time to think it over."
Without even waiting for Na Ham's permission, Yi Ja-gon halted the talks and left his seat. It was borderline insulting, but Na Ham didn't react. With Gu Cheon-myeong watching, all he could do was grit his teeth and endure.
The negotiation resumed after about an hour had passed.
"So, have you given it some thought? The sun's already setting. I can't give you much more time than this."
Yi Ja-gon sat down with a sly, smirking grin.
As Na Ham, on the verge of exploding, moved to take the seat opposite him, Gu Cheon-myeong grabbed his shoulder.
"Stand down, Captain. I'll handle it from here."
Na Ham flinched but didn't argue, stepping back obediently.
The moment Gu Cheon-myeong stepped forward, the smile vanished from Yi Ja-gon's face in an instant.
It doesn't even look like a superior-subordinate relationship. Treating the Red Blood Squad Captain like a subordinate... just as the deputy leader said, this guy's no ordinary fellow.
Just moments ago, Yu Wol had warned that the true master of the Red Blood Squad might not be the captain they called "Captain," but this young man before them.
Yi Ja-gon had dismissed it—he'd once glimpsed the Red Blood Squad Captain from afar, even if just once—but he now realized he'd been wrong.
Have they been propping up a figurehead all this time? Then, as the deputy leader said, is he the real Red Blood Squad Captain?
Questions piled up with no answers.
As Yi Ja-gon agonized over how to proceed, Yu Wol was scrutinizing Gu Cheon-myeong closely.
Yu Wol had delegated all negotiations to Yi Ja-gon and stepped back, but he'd been watching Gu Cheon-myeong intently ever since the talks nearly fell apart.
The moment negotiations broke down, the escorts around Gu Cheon-myeong—who exuded an extraordinary aura at first glance—revealed a menacing atmosphere. It was so murderous that even Yu Wol tensed up completely.
That terrifying pressure they'd been emanating vanished in the blink of an eye, as if it had never been there. And Yu Wol had clearly seen it: Gu Cheon-myeong giving them a casual nod.
Yu Wol's expression darkened as he observed Gu Cheon-myeong.
I suspected, but I wasn't certain. And that one...
Yu Wol's gaze shifted past the escorts standing protectively around Gu Cheon-myeong to Gu Jong, who lounged casually with arms crossed.
The middle-aged men's skills seemed formidable enough, but the aura subtly emanating from Gu Jong was on another level entirely. Even Gu Cheon-myeong, now openly radiating his presence as if he'd decided to make it known, felt oppressively heavy.
"You said ten thousand nyang of gold?"
Gu Cheon-myeong asked.
"Y-yes, that's right."
Yi Ja-gon was smiling, but cold sweat dripped down his face. Anyone could see he was overwhelmed.
"Five thousand nyang."
"W-we can't do that."
"Lives are on the line here. You'd best think carefully before answering."
A wave of terror crashed over him at Gu Cheon-myeong's indifferent tone, but Yi Ja-gon desperately shook his head.
"We can't let it go for that price."
At that, Gu Cheon-myeong's gaze shifted not to Yi Ja-gon, but to Yu Wol.
"Can I trust this man with everything? I don't make empty threats."
A sigh escaped Yu Wol's lips.
I thought too simply. If I'd scouted the opponent, I should have considered the reverse as well.
Feeling his response had been careless, Yu Wol grabbed Yi Ja-gon's shoulder.
"Steward, stand up. I'll take it from here."
"Y-yes, understood."
His mind screamed not to, but Yi Ja-gon had no choice but to rise. He instinctively knew he couldn't negotiate properly under the weight of Gu Cheon-myeong's pressure.
"I'm Yu Wol, deputy leader of Hongik Merchant Group."
As Yu Wol introduced himself, a smile tugged at Gu Cheon-myeong's lips. He'd revealed his own name through his actions, so now it was time for the other to do the same properly.
"Gu Cheon-myeong of... the Red Dragon Gang."
Gu Cheon-myeong had briefly considered claiming the Red Blood Squad but instantly discarded the idea and stated his true affiliation. A bit of risk, but if it advantaged the negotiation, he was prepared for more.
"Red Dragon Gang? You don't mean..."
Yu Wol's voice trembled involuntarily.
"That's exactly what you're thinking."
"No way!"
Yu Wol's eyes widened in shock.
"You know what it means for me to reveal my identity. Choose your words wisely."
Believing he'd seized full control, Gu Cheon-myeong leaned back with a relaxed smile.
"That's Chongmyeong Island right there."
Man Chu, riding on Cheol Woo's back, straightened up and shouted.
"See the ships? The slave traders have swarmed in."
"Thanks. The Beggar Union's intel was spot on."
Sima Geon sincerely appreciated the continuous updates from the Beggar Union as he followed Man Chu's guidance.
"Yeah, no thanks to some idiot nearly screwing us over."
Cheol Woo snarked as he set Man Chu down.
"Hey! Enough already. Anyone can make a mistake. We found the trail quick and chased 'em down, didn't we?"
Brain Lightning's face flushed red as he yelled.
"'Quick'? We wasted hours falling for their decoy. If the Beggar Union hadn't pinpointed Chongmyeong Island, what then? This is on you. So, enjoy being called an idiot for a while."
Despite the cooler tone, Brain Lightning grumbled but didn't push back further. He knew from experience it never ended well.
"You should head back now. We'll handle it from here."
Sima Geon told Man Chu.
"Nah, come on. We're this close—gotta see it through."
Man Chu shook his head firmly and marched toward Chongmyeong Island with purpose.
"Everyone, hurry. The message ahead means headquarters has a boat ready."
Worried they'd send him back, Man Chu bolted like a rabbit.
"We just gonna let him?"
Ha Hu-yeon asked with a hint of concern.
"It's the age for adventures. Let him be. What could go wrong with us here?"
Cheol Woo chuckled and slung an arm around Ha Hu-yeon's shoulder.
"If you're worried, watch him yourself."
Ha Hu-yeon subtly slipped out from under the arm.
"Hey, I don't have the skill for that."
Skill-wise, he was confident. But with the priority on punishing Sima Jin's kidnappers properly, he had no reason to babysit an extra tagalong.
"Then, idiot, you're on duty."
"……."
Brain Lightning said nothing, but Cheol Woo turned away as if consent wasn't needed.
"Boss, what's the plan?"
Sima Geon thought for a moment before speaking slowly.
"No need to spare trash like slave traders. But rescuing Jin-a comes first, of course."
"Obviously. Hope some of the bastards who sold me are there too. Would be nice."
Cheol Woo clapped with a chilling grin.
"A fine deal."
Gu Cheon-myeong said with a smile.
The overwhelming presence that had dominated moments ago had completely vanished.
He'd ended up paying an extra thousand nyang over the initial five thousand offer, but he seemed more than satisfied.
"No need for thanks. You saved our face."
Yu Wol, who'd been anxious about pushy demands leading to a breakdown, brightened at receiving a thousand more than Gu Cheon-myeong's first counteroffer.
Yu Wol felt grateful for the concession, but Yi Ja-gon couldn't hide his regret. The moment the opponent shifted from Red Blood Squad to Red Dragon Gang, he'd thought they could demand at least ten thousand.
The problem is we lack the force to protect ourselves.
In a situation where breaking talks and trying to seize by force would mean losing everything, cliff-edge bargaining had its limits.
Damn! Six thousand nyang for just this?!
The regret burned deep. Even earning a massive six thousand nyang of gold from one girl felt like losing a treasure.
"You're the steward, right? You don't seem thrilled with this deal."
Gu Cheon-myeong asked Yi Ja-gon. It was obviously teasing, but Yi Ja-gon didn't take it that way under his gaze.
"N-no, not at all. I'm plenty satisfied. Totally."
Yu Wol gave a wry smile at Yi Ja-gon frantically shaking his head.
Few in Hongik Merchant Group matched Yi Ja-gon's guts, yet even he instinctively felt fear. The Red Dragon Gang name carried that much weight.
Or maybe it's not the name, but sensing the savage auras they're hiding.
Yu Wol figured the sharp Yi Ja-gon had gauged just how terrifying Gu Cheon-myeong, Gu Jong, and the rest truly were, like he had.
"Now that talks are done, let's make it official."
At Gu Cheon-myeong's nod, Na Ham's men brought over several large crates.
"Check it."
Yi Ja-gon cautiously opened the crates. They brimmed with gold bars and gold certificates of varying sizes.
"We borrowed what we could from Black Bone Castle, but gold was short. We'll cover the rest with these certificates."
As Gu Cheon-myeong finished, Na Ham handed over dozens of certificates.
"Issued by the Central Battlefield."
"Central Battlefield certificates? Reliable enough."
Even as he said it, Yi Ja-gon inspected each one meticulously for fakes.
After a long scrutiny, Yi Ja-gon gave Yu Wol a slight nod. At the same time, a signal flare shot skyward.
"Your goods will arrive shortly."
Yi Ja-gon gestured for his men to pack the crates.
Moments later, Hongik Merchant Group porters appeared carrying a palanquin. Spotting it, Gu Cheon-myeong couldn't hide his excitement, bouncing in his seat. Yi Ja-gon shot Yu Wol a resentful glance.
See? We should've asked for more.
Yu Wol averted his piercing stare.
"Q-quick, open it."
Gu Cheon-myeong ordered in a trembling voice, eyes fixed on the palanquin his men had practically stolen.
Opening it revealed Sima Jin, fainted and slumped sideways.
"We kept her sedated so the merchandise wouldn't spoil. Please verify."
Gu Cheon-myeong smiled in satisfaction at Yi Ja-gon's explanation.
"She's fine. If the symptoms were obvious, it'd be one thing, but if she's been treated as described, honestly, without top-tier medical skill, no one could tell. We just hope Hongik Merchant Group isn't trying to deceive us."
The chilling warning laced in his calm words made the Hongik porters stiffen slightly. Only Yu Wol and Yi Ja-gon remained unchanged.
"We'd have to be mad to scam the Red Dragon Gang. No worries."
Yi Ja-gon replied, prompting Gu Cheon-myeong's hearty laugh.
"Hahaha! That wasn't my intent. Anyway, good deal. If fate allows, we'll do business again."
With Sima Jin secured—the miraculous cure(?) for his sister's affliction—Gu Cheon-myeong wanted nothing more than to rush back. He gave Yu Wol a brief bow.
"As you say, a good deal. Safe travels..."
Yu Wol's words cut off at a scream from somewhere.
Gu Cheon-myeong's sharp gaze stabbed toward Yu Wol and Yi Ja-gon, suspecting foul play.
"Nothing to do with us. No reason for it."
Yu Wol shook his head firmly. A letter from an unknown sender just before entering Suzhou flashed in his mind, but he played dumb.
Yu Wol and Gwan Seung's eyes met in the air.
[From Ha Hu Clan pursuers?]
[Don't know.]
Gu Cheon-myeong saw their meaningful exchange but said nothing.
"Guess flies are drawn to such fine goods. Any suspects?"
Yu Wol hesitated before speaking apologetically.
"We didn't know at the time, but someone from Ha Hu Clan got hurt securing the item. We heard they were chasing, but we haven't clashed on the way here, so it's not certain."
"Ha Hu Clan?"
Gu Cheon-myeong's confident expression twisted slightly.
If the main house's forces were fully mobilized, no issue. But on Chongmyeong Island, it was just Red Blood Squad and seven elite escorts. Fine for crushing slave traders, but woefully short against a top righteous sect.
Gu Cheon-myeong scanned the surroundings.
The mere mention of Ha Hu Clan sent the watching slave traders into panic. Most were already fleeing. Even the relatively friendly Black Bone Castle pirates fidgeted uneasily.
"No need to worry."
A calm voice came from behind. Gu Cheon-myeong's tense face instantly relaxed. He'd forgotten one of Red Blood Hall's top three experts was right there.
"Haha! I forgot Uncle was here."
Gu Cheon-myeong let out an embarrassed laugh, easing his stiffened expression.