The Merchant Lord's Unshakable Confidence
Merchants bound for the Middle Kingdom. Watching them, Baek Man-hwan, head of the Baek Man Merchant Group, brimmed with profound anticipation.
'This is just the beginning... Through this trade expedition, our Baek Man Merchant Group will rise as the undisputed dominant force ruling all of Joseon!'
The Baek Man Merchant Group already wielded the greatest influence among Joseon's merchants. It was precisely because of this that they could virtually monopolize this trade with the Middle Kingdom.
Though it had consumed seventy percent of their available funds to make this happen, even that seemed like pocket change when weighed against the boundless profits it promised.
Of course, even so, staking everything on a single trade run was an insanely risky move that could uproot the very foundations of their empire. Long-distance trade always carried the perils of accidents and failure—it was essentially a massive gamble. Pouring all resources into one venture was a straight path to ruin.
Yet, setting aside such basic tenets, Baek Man-hwan was utterly convinced that this venture carried no such risks.
'This isn't mere trade—it's a tribute procession accompanied by an imperial envoy. With the kingdom's own army providing escort, what is there to fear?'
The greatest threat in long-distance trade was, without doubt, bandits. Large merchant caravans always hired escort warriors, but in Joseon, where private armies were forbidden, there were inherent limits to their scale.
However, when traveling alongside an official envoy like this, no bandit would dare even approach.
Having spent a lifetime as a merchant, he knew full well the bandits' nature—they prioritized safety far more than one might think. They, too, risked their lives in their trade, so they chose their targets carefully.
While they might tangle with a typical caravan's guards, facing a fully armed national army? Forget robbery; they wouldn't even dream of getting close.
In other words, for this Middle Kingdom trade deal, the primary scourge of all merchants—bandits—was effectively a non-threat. That alone made failure virtually impossible.
Barring some freak catastrophe like the sky flipping over or the earth swallowing them whole, success was guaranteed.
With such flawless victory assured, and visions of the rewards to follow dancing in his mind, Baek Man-hwan turned to gaze at his beloved concubine, Aero, standing beside him. Her face betrayed a mix of eager hope and lingering worry.
Like it was her own affair... Well, it was her husband's business, after all.
Yet seeing Aero's expression brimming with such genuine sincerity, Baek Man-hwan naturally rested a hand on her shoulder.
"Everything will go smoothly. No need to worry."
"Y-yes... Of course... it will, right? It has to..."
"Naturally. I stake my name, Baek Man-hwan, on it. So don't fret so much."
Aero had voiced concerns about this venture from the start.
Spending his money was one thing, but did they really need to involve the Han family and inflate the scale? That was her point—worry that tangling with a prestigious house might backfire.
But Baek Man-hwan had dismissed it outright. No major issues there.
What the Hans had demanded were all luxury goods with volatile markets and high risks. Sure, luck could yield huge gains, but from a trader's perspective, beyond the staples with steady demand, they weren't exactly welcome cargo.
They'd taken a minor hit at the end, but compared to the overall profits, it was negligible.
'Refusing to request herbs or provisions despite such heavy investment proves they don't know this business. We do need to watch for info leaks, though...'
Vowing to root out any traitors swiftly once this wrapped up, Baek Man-hwan lightly pulled the still-trembling Aero into an embrace.
"Come, let's head inside. What a fine day this is. Shall we share a bed for once?"
"...Yes, my lord..."
Over the past few months, absorbed in work, Baek Man-hwan hadn't even shared her bed.
Thinking it was high time to enjoy his lonely wife's company, he clasped her hand tightly and led her into the estate.
*
'...It'll be fine... It has to be...'
In the inner quarters of Baek Man-hwan's mansion—a sprawling palace befitting one of Joseon's wealthiest men—Aero tried to soothe her persistent unease as she slowly disrobed in the deepest chamber.
Truth be told, a flicker of anxiety lingered in her heart about this trade run.
Her husband, Joseon's premier merchant lord, was so confident of success that she had no doubt it would succeed.
The problem was that the beneficiaries wouldn't be just the Baek Man Merchant Group. That man... Han Taeyang and the Han family stood to gain as well.
The Hans had made the largest investment outside of Baek Man itself, so the bigger the profits, the bigger their share.
She'd urged avoiding entanglement with the Han family, but Baek Man-hwan had brushed it off and proceeded anyway. Even handing over the luxury goods mid-negotiation had deepened her worries.
'It'll be okay... It will... It's my lord's business, after all... Nothing bad will happen. Like he said, their picks could even lose money if luck sours. Sure, my involvement boosted their odds a bit, but still...'
Desperately pushing aside her fears, Aero stripped down to her undergarments.
She then began her long-overdue bedding with the "lord" sitting before her.
'It's been so long... To finally share a bed with my lord again...'
How much suffering had she endured these past months, toyed with by that man's hands?
Though guilt toward her husband still gnawed at her, she hoped tonight might let her set it aside, if only a little.
Undressing Baek Man-hwan, she slowly began licking his manhood.
"Haaah... Haaaah... Slurp... Schlurp..."
Her technique, honed by bitter "experience," had grown far more skilled.
At least she'd gained something here, she thought wryly, as she diligently worked to stiffen her lord's member.
But...
'...What's this? ...Why... why isn't it getting any bigger?'
No matter how she serviced it with her mouth, it refused to swell further.
As puzzlement crept in, Aero belatedly realized something.
'Was it... always... this small? ...Was my lord's thing... only ever... this size?'
It couldn't even compare to Han Taeyang's.
Shock mingled with an unwitting tinge of disappointment, hardening her expression.
'N-no... What am I... What am I thinking right now? How could I compare him to that man in this moment?'
Forcing her emotions in check, she looked up at Baek Man-hwan, who gazed back with a satisfied smile.
"Heh heh... Seems my wife was famished too. Come here. Tonight, I won't let you sleep!"
"A-ah... Yes. P-please... do that, my lord."
Baek Man-hwan spoke with brash confidence.
Somehow feeling him smaller than usual today, Aero lay back anyway, preparing to receive him.
"Haaah! Hngh! Hngh!"
Grunting some battle cry or another, her lord thrust in as always.
But...
Feeling the sensation inside her, Aero's bewilderment only grew.
'Wh-what... is this...? Just... just this much...? ...Why... why do I feel... nothing?'
The very sensation that once brought her supreme pleasure.
Now, only emptiness surged through her, not ecstasy.
Horror—chilling, profound—joined the shock, leaving Aero unable to think for a moment.
'Me... what's... happened to... me...?'