Chapter 34
Translator: penny
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Squeezing the Eun Merchant Group
Actually, there was no need to even look at this ledger.
From the start, what I wanted wasn't the money, but time.
I pretended to skim through the ledger while pricking up my ears to eavesdrop on their entire conversation.
'Hmm, a month, huh.'
Still, that wasn't enough time.
I'd even revealed my internal energy to drag things out as long as possible, but if they were speaking so confidently...
'No way, is that bastard Chu Munrak coming then?'
They seemed to have something solid to rely on.
And that was probably his master.
Chu Munrak was a filthy lecher who lusted after beauties regardless of gender and had even eyed me in the past—a bastard I'd love to tear apart—but regardless, he was an elder of the Four Black Alliance.
'Tch, the Four Black Alliance, huh.'
That's right.
This guy wasn't some random thug; he was a 'true master' holding an elder position in the Four Black Alliance.
For reference, I knew exactly the level of the Four Black Alliance elders all too well.
I'd entertained them back in my Lecherous Demon days, and later on, I'd even killed a few.
And recalling those memories...
'They'd still piss me off even now...'
At my current level, it would be tough.
But that didn't mean I could just back off here.
Who am I?
Mok Jimyeong.
My pride wouldn't allow me to run off scared from some mere Four Black Alliance elder.
'Tch, but pride doesn't pay the bills.'
To be honest, I hadn't anticipated Chu Munrak himself showing up.
The Four Black Alliance was one of the colossal forces that divided the Central Plains martial world alongside the Murim Alliance.
Would an elder from such a place really move personally over just one woman?
'Is the old geezer really losing it?'
It was behavior that didn't make sense by my logic.
Even before my regression, no one but me was that insane.
If there had been, I'd have smashed their head in right away.
'Anyway, this ledger is a total mess.'
I'd only meant to pretend to look, but old habits from my usury days kept drawing my eyes to the contents.
And once I did, the inconsistencies stood out everywhere.
Deliberately falsified entries and missing amounts.
They probably thought they'd made it look convincing, but did they really think I'd fall for it? I'd seen ledgers like this a hundred times.
If there's hidden money, I sniff it out no matter what. If not, I make it appear.
To eyes hardened by that lifestyle, the full picture came into view in an instant.
'Hmm, roughly 700 gold taels over the past year...'
If they could just track down this hidden cash, the Eun Merchant Group could bounce back right away.
They'd really raked it in.
But I cleanly gave up on that money.
'It probably all flowed to the Four Black Alliance.'
No matter how bold I am, chasing down the Four Black Alliance for this cash was impossible.
Especially since it wasn't even mine.
I'd have to check the rest myself.
"Deputy manager! Deputy manager, where are you!"
I infused my voice with internal energy and shouted. Im Jungdo came rushing over in a fluster.
"Wh-what's the matter, young master?"
"I can't tell just from the ledger. I'll inspect everything personally, so guide me."
At my words, he glanced around cautiously before speaking up.
"I have my own duties, so perhaps someone else..."
"Want to die?"
At my firm tone, he grinned awkwardly and made excuses.
"...It's too risky to leave it to anyone else. I'll guide you personally!"
Like that Jang guy earlier, this bunch at the Eun Merchant Group were quick on the uptake.
Or rather, they had killer survival instincts.
I dragged him around, scouring every corner of the Eun Merchant Group.
No matter how much Im Jungdo tried to hide things, he couldn't fool my eyes after I'd already checked the ledgers.
"Hey, where's the silk here? It's listed in the ledger—why's it missing?"
"Well..."
"Don't want to die? Do it right."
I checked Im Jungdo's room and even Eun Taehyeok's.
Midway, Eun Taehyeok shot me dissatisfied looks, but with Im Jungdo beside him, he kept his mouth shut.
We spent a good while verifying the inventory, from promissory notes to land deeds.
Valuing what could be sold off...
'This... if handled right, they could recover without folding.'
Roughly 500 gold taels could be scraped together.
They say even a rich family takes three generations to ruin.
The Eun Merchant Group, on the brink of collapse, had quite a bit stashed away.
'Of course, only if they sold off the entire Eun Merchant Group signboard.'
But hey, that was something.
I'd wondered why Eun Taehyeok kept glancing at the staff—he must've planned to hand over Eun Garyeon to revive the merchant group.
If they could just clear the debts to the Four Black Alliance and Red Serpent Sect, they could make a comeback anytime.
"Um... young master? Have you checked everything?"
"Yeah. More assets than I thought. Looks like I can easily get my 10 gold taels."
"Of course. But as you see, we don't have cash on hand right now, so just a bit more time..."
Im Jungdo was so intimidated by me that he seemed ready to cough up 10 gold taels for real.
For unorthodox folk, paying tribute to the strong was just natural instinct.
'This is heading nowhere.'
I hadn't gone through all this for a measly 10 gold taels.
Sure, it'd be nice to take it... but that wasn't the point right now.
Should I tell Eun Garyeon about this and wipe out all the debts?
That didn't sit right either.
The valuation I'd seen meant squeezing the Eun Merchant Group dry—selling everything, including the name itself.
Do that, and it wouldn't be the Eun Merchant Group anymore.
'Would Eun Garyeon want that?'
On the way here, how proudly she'd boasted about her merchant group.
To her, the Eun Merchant Group wasn't some asset you could sell off and buy back.
If there was no other way, maybe... but
'Even if I told her, I doubt she'd thank me...'
This could really backfire.
Should I up the ante?
Throw a bigger fit?
In that fleeting moment, countless thoughts flashed through my mind.
Just as I wondered if I should play crazy again, salvation arrived.
"No, what are you saying? You lent us 1 gold tael, and now you want 10? There's no such calculation anywhere!"
Eun Taehyeok, who saw the Eun Merchant Group as his own, jumped in.
Im Jungdo glared at him wide-eyed, but Eun Taehyeok shouted again, as if he truly couldn't comprehend.
"I'm not saying no interest at all. But there's such a thing as propriety!"
As Im Jungdo opened his mouth to snap at him, I quickly held out my palm.
At the same time, I released my internal energy, silently pressuring him not to interfere.
'Perfect timing.'
This was the difference between an unorthodox warrior and a merchant.
Unorthodox folk lived by the law of the jungle—martial arts solved everything.
Merchants, even when doing shady deals, had lines they wouldn't cross.
You couldn't demand a million gold taels for human trafficking, after all.
The unspoken rules and boundaries among merchants.
Tenfold interest over two months crossed that line by miles.
I grinned and asked Eun Taehyeok,
"So, how much can you pay?"
"How about 40 silver taels? You've doubled your money over two months, so this should satisfy you plenty."
He seemed convinced it was fair and boldly held up two fingers.
Seeing that, Im Jungdo squeezed his eyes shut.
Yeah, he knew.
A master like me wasn't doing all this for a pittance like 20 silver taels.
"Double? Double, you say?"
"That's right!"
So, what to do in this situation?
Haggle loudly with him again?
That was amateur hour.
And I, the expert,
Thwack—!
Immediately smashed my fist into the face of 'Im Jungdo' right beside me.
"Gahk!"
Im Jungdo, caught off guard by the sudden punch, flew back without any resistance.
I spoke coldly to him as he clutched his face and shot me a wronged look.
"Hey, deputy manager. Your chief steward says he can't pay me."
Im Jungdo immediately glared daggers at Eun Taehyeok.
He was furious but couldn't vent it at me.
In that moment, Eun Taehyeok panicked and alternated glances between us, stammering.
"Th-this... what..."
I slowly walked toward Im Jungdo, ignoring Eun Taehyeok entirely.
"Is 10 gold taels too much? Too much?!"
"No! Not at all..."
I kicked him hard in the gut as he tried to speak.
Thud!
"Heuk!"
Im Jungdo rolled across the floor again.
I slowly approached him once more.
"What did I say? That I'd turn you into a married beggar."
Only then did Eun Taehyeok rush over and grab my arm.
"Young hero—no, great hero! I'm sorry! I was wrong! 10 gold taels. We'll give you 10!"
As expected, Eun Taehyeok feared Im Jungdo more and blindly begged me.
But ending it here would lead to the same dead end as before.
"What? 10 gold taels? Just 10?!"
I shook off Eun Taehyeok's hand and kicked Im Jungdo again.
He was now spitting blood from his mouth and couldn't even think of getting up.
Eun Taehyeok squeezed his eyes shut at the sight and yelled,
"20 gold taels! We'll give you 20!"
The amount doubled in an instant.
Keu, making money is easy.
Why had I ever worried about cash before this?
But this still wasn't what I wanted.
"Hey, chief steward."
"Y-yes!"
I spoke lowly to Im Jungdo, who was at full attention.
"Whenever I settle accounts, I calculate at minimum tenfold."
"Tenfold...?"
"100 gold taels. Got it?"
"A hun... dred taels...?"
By my calculations, that amount was truly impossible.
'Not like I plan to take it anyway.'
For me, causing chaos was enough.