Black Flame Dragon Reveals Himself (5)
The massive merchant groups that divided the world among themselves could no longer be seen as mere traders buying and selling foodstuffs. They were a force unto themselves. A market in their own right. Entities that gripped and shook the lives of millions, practically the world itself.
Especially the Eunha Merchant Group, which had grown its bulk by handling national-scale logistics centered around Beijing and its deep ties to government officials. It was inseparable from the power in the capital. The other three great merchants, like the Wang family, found the Eunha Group burdensome precisely because of this colossal power fused with it. Unlike the martial world, separated from the government, the merchant world was inextricably linked to it.
If even the three great merchants felt this way, smaller groups couldn't even breathe easy around the Eunha Group. No matter how tied they were to a massive sect. Once they stepped into the world of commerce, money decided superiority.
'He knows that, doesn't he...'
Wang Soso let out a sigh as she watched Jin Sowoon happily tilting his cup, having beaten the Eunha Group's warrior black and blue, claimed this annex, and even had a lavish spread of drinks laid out.
Was it possible to down drinks so casually in the heart of enemy territory—after picking a fight with the enemy, no less?
"...Jin oppa. You okay?"
"Hm? What's not to your liking? Want me to call the manager?"
"N-no, that's not it."
Wang Soso shook her head vigorously. Each time he bellowed for the manager, his inner energy made the whole Eunha annex rumble. It wasn't about being ignored or not—it was that he acted like he had no shame at all.
Unable to say it outright, she quickly changed the subject.
"Um, Jeong Sogun. He's a senior at the academy, right? I heard that in the Murim Alliance, getting ahead means relying on seniors' evaluations or pulls from above... Is it okay to go this wild?"
"Getting ahead?"
Jin Sowoon tossed back his cup like it was the most trivial nonsense, not worth a second thought. It only made Wang Soso's insides burn more.
"Yeah. I heard great connections are essential for rising in the Murim Alliance."
"Connections, huh..."
"In the end, everything in the world comes down to people, right?"
Her own father was a prime example. There were folks he looked out for without expecting material returns—heads of great sects, friendly officials, skilled artisans, or their foremen. Whenever big or small events hit them, Wang Geumsan carved time from his packed schedule to visit, congratulate, console, or encourage. Wang Soso had heard since childhood, drilled into her ears, that 'people' were the most important thing in business.
But how could oppa...
Unlike Wang Soso's eyes shaking in confusion, Jin Sowoon calmly refilled his cup and spoke.
"Connections don't just form because you treat someone well."
He downed another shot.
"First, you gotta be on their level or above. That's when connections form."
"What... what do you mean?"
"If you don't have a position they respect, no connection forms in the first place."
Wang Soso nodded instinctively as she reflected on connections through Jin Sowoon's words. Come to think of it, all the ties her father had built were possible only because of the Wang family's standing.
As Wang Soso sank into thought, Jin Sowoon continued.
"No matter how much I grovel to Jeong Sogun, he won't pull me up. He'd sooner use me."
"But you're throwing a fit?"
"Heh, not quite a fit. They started it."
He'd practically been waiting for them to pick a fight, hadn't he? The question bubbled up, but Wang Soso didn't interrupt. Listening to him felt like uncovering hidden secrets of the world her father never shared.
"What if... you wanted help from Jeong Sogun? You'd need to build that connection, right?"
"Why bother forging ties with someone inconvenient? Just give him what he needs, take what I need. Done."
"..."
Simple. Crystal clear. Transactions only need mutual needs met.
But applying that to Jeong Sogun was another story. As he said, the guy lacked nothing—looks, skills, background.
Arrogant, sure, but no one at his level could be blamed for it. He truly wanted for nothing.
Wang Soso cautiously voiced her inner doubt.
"But... he doesn't need anything."
Transactions require having what the other wants.
Jin Sowoon paused with his cup to his lips, then grinned ear to ear.
"Then..."
As his lips parted slowly, Wang Soso held her breath without realizing.
"...make him need something."
"..."
The words hung in the air, but with Jin Sowoon, it felt entirely plausible.
'W-what...'
A strange feeling she'd never sensed from the exceptional people her father introduced her to. Wang Soso grew even more curious.
"...Sorry for asking so much."
Jin Sowoon nodded pleasantly, his eyes crinkling into half-moons with a relaxed smile.
"Anyway, oppa. The Great Heaven Merchant Group has to keep trading with Eunha, right? You'd need to maintain connections... What's your plan?"
"Where do connections come from?"
"...Respect."
"And where does respect come from?"
Wang Soso started to say money or status but shook her head. Plenty with high ranks or wealth didn't earn her father's respect.
Watching her, Jin Sowoon set his cup down and murmured low.
"Fear."
"...Pardon?"
"You don't even need to be above him. Just..."
Jin Sowoon's eyes flashed. Wang Soso swallowed unconsciously.
"Plant the fear that messing with you might bring massive harm. That alone pulls respect from anyone."
"But... if trade with Eunha falls through..."
"To a merchant lord, credit is life and limb. They'll empty their coffers to keep it. Especially if it's their screw-up that started it? Imagine how low their reputation plummets."
In that instant, chills raced over Wang Soso's skin. No threat, no killing intent—yet it felt like glimpsing a forbidden abyss.
'It was all planned from the start.'
She'd thought he'd changed when he showed his skills at the entrance trouble. The old Jin Sowoon from a minor sect like Tae-eul Gate wouldn't have acted that way. Now with Tae-eul Sword Emperor's arts back and academy top spot, some change was fine.
But hearing this, no. Jin Sowoon hadn't acted on ego from start to finish. He'd moved with ruthless calculation.
Come to think of it...
[Agh! Should've sat that bastard in the Wang seat when he went off to that martial spirit/psycho fest! Agh!]
Her father would lament like that on drunken nights. She knew Jin Sowoon's brilliance, so she'd brushed it off, but his sighs over this were far longer than over other missed talents.
'Did I fail to see Brother Jin properly?'
The carefree Jin Sowoon swaying with drink suddenly looked like someone new.
"Why stare like that? Something on my face?"
"N-no."
"You sneak some booze behind my back? Your face is red."
"What?! What kinda talk is that to a lady? I don't do that!"
"Hahaha."
As Wang Soso bristled, a voice came from outside.
"Young Master Jin."
More polite than ever.
"Time to join the banquet."
Wang Soso glanced at Jin Sowoon. He set down his cup and grinned.
"Shall we go collect some respect, then?"
Wang Soso's heart swelled with anticipation for what he'd do next and its results.
Then.
"But that warrior..."
Jin Sowoon paused rising, tilting his head oddly.
"Doesn't he sound pushy?"
"Pardon?"
What on earth? He'd been the politest of anyone since entering Eunha.
"Not the tone—the words. 'Time to join.' Like we're forced to, right?"
"..."
Uh... that's a stretch...
Before Wang Soso could speak, Jin Sowoon strode over and flung the door open.
BAM!
The warrior outside, having overheard, was pale as a ghost.
"Y-young Master Jin, that's not—"
Jin Sowoon grinned at him.
"Should've asked if we'd join first."
The warrior squeezed his eyes shut in resignation, and Jin Sowoon's voice boomed through the annex again.
'What? Part of the plan too?'
But he looked too enjoying for that—maybe just her imagination?
# We followed the warrior's guidance to the banquet hall.
Entering the banquet hall for the first time, I had to struggle to hide my surprise.
'Bigger than Tae-eul Gate's grand training ground?'
And that was an outdoor structure. This indoor hall, with its roof and ceiling punched open for openness, was overwhelmingly grand.
Plus.
'This isn't the end?'
Railings on the second and third floors overlooked the hall. Government officials and Eunha bigwigs watched from there.
Overwhelming enough, but at the hall's end loomed a door twice the entrance size. Baffling purpose—I glanced at Wang Soso.
"Soso, know what that door's for?"
"Hm, probably to bust open if the hall's too cramped, expand space. Likely for entertaining VIPs too."
"..."
Fill a hall this size with people? For VIPs, make a separate annex?
"Folks who fart and own the room cling hard to seats. That door's built higher than the hall floor, right?"
As she said, stairs—ten more—led up to it.
"Sitting up there gives a clear view down. Perfect for dancer shows. That's why it's attached."
Real world has money rotting away, huh. I looked at Wang Soso anew.
"How do you know all that? Been here before?"
"No, first time. Wang family has similar buildings, so I guessed."
"..."
Right. She's from filthy rich stock too.
"Oh, better call you 'senior brother' here. You're here as Tae-eul Gate..."
"Nah, stick to oppa."
"But..."
"Drop the formal crap between us."
"...Really? Okay?"
She'd loosened up after my small earnings brag, clearly. Treating her like a neighborhood little sis. Time to upgrade to real little sis level.
Wang Soso's face showed flustered kinship.
"...But everyone's cold."
Obviously. After the entrance ruckus. Powerhouses frowned at my brute look; weaklings feared guilt by association, avoiding eyes.
"Where do we sit?"
Asking the statue-still warrior beside us, he flinched.
"May I guide you?"
"Why make me ask twice?"
Fl inch. He hastily gestured with both hands—to the front row, prime seats.
There, should've started with that.
"Now you're working right."
"Yes... Manager must've pulled strings. W-well, enjoy."
The warrior bolted, scared I'd speak. The initial silence upon entry faded; music and dancers resumed, folks pretending we weren't there.
Problem was, they acted like we truly weren't.
"No one's coming over."
"Hm?"
"Nah. Thought someone'd at least introduce themselves."
Officials and merchants, maybe not—but Jianghu warriors often gush hot-blooded. Some might pick fights to save the host's face...
Not a one.
Then.
"Father ordered no issues."
A slender woman's voice. Turning, there was dazzling Jeong Soeul in palace robes, not last night's brain-melting red but white embroidered with gold thread—like a celestial fairy.
Yet her skirt flashes of long legs stirred men's hearts plenty.
"Pleased to meet again, Young Master Jin."
She bowed gracefully. I rose, returning cupped hands.
"Likewise."
Oddly, she acted like the prior mess never happened.
"I've awaited today eagerly."
"Hah!"
Wang Soso snorted in disbelief, but Jeong Soeul ignored her.
"As I felt before, you're deft with people."
"Naturally... Men like you think I've dealt with many, so some call me whore."
I'd aimed for sly fox, but this woman... always this blunt?
Wang Soso's venomous glare softened to rabbit-wide shock at her raw words.
"But you truly stirred my heart first."
"What?!"
I scowled unwittingly. Not words from future 'Silver Phantom' who'd eclipse her brother for Eunha.
Seeing my fluster, she covered her mouth with her sleeve, shoulders shaking.
"Oh! I finally startled Young Master Jin."
Jeong Soeul burst into giggles. What the hell is with this woman?
"More importantly... what was that? 'Problem'?"
"Father's upset over your journey here, so he told others to behave."
So not restraining me—but pulling others back? Endless mind games.
"I see."
"Hmm... Not even surprised?"
"Surprised by what?"
"Most would feel burdened or flustered."
I shrugged casually.
"Why burdened if I did nothing wrong?"
Jeong Soeul's eyes seemed to flash.
"Fun indeed. Still..."
She leaned close, whispering.
"I hope you don't push too far. Broken toys don't spark possession."
She bowed lightly, then sauntered to another table, chatting amiably.
"...What'd she say?"
"Told me not to get cocky, or I'll break."
"...Huh?"
As Wang Soso's glare reignited to speak—
"The Merchant Lord enters!"
The warrior's bellow echoed. I turned to the entrance, curious.
My seat was front row. So where's the lord sit?
But folks stared forward, not entrance. The massive door at the end creaked open.
"Ha... haha."
I couldn't help a dry laugh at the sight.
It revealed a flashier inner space than the hall, per Wang Soso. Twenty-ish at octagonal tables. And at the head, the Eunha lord seated regally.
Whoa... fuck, look at those pricks?
They'd turned the whole hall into their spectacle, banqueting among themselves.
The warrior shouted again.
"I'll call names now. Approach in order to greet the lord!"
As if the most natural sequence. These bastards set up a real show.