Chapter 24
Chapter 24
24.
Law of Exchange
Is there some law of exchange in this world that I don't know about?
Just as Yeon Ja-seong, a good person, came to visit, some unwelcome bastards showed up, as if to balance things out.
Two men in matching outfits blocked my path, and the younger one asked me.
"Are you Luzhu Lee Jaha?"
I shook my head and replied.
"No, I'm a Shop Assistant."
The man sighed upon hearing my answer.
"...I am Hyeokryeon Hong, a messenger from the Black Cat Clan. I have come to deliver a message from my superior."
"The Black Cat Clan again?"
While observing the two men's energy, I noticed that one of them was carrying a large bundle wrapped in cloth.
The bundle likely contained either unusual Weaponry or unique hidden weapons.
If not, it would contain a person's head.
Hyeokryeon Hong spoke in a stiff tone.
"Geumbong Kakju of our clan wishes to see you."
"Who is Geumbong Kakju? I don't want to see him, so tell him no. Judging by the name Geumbong, he sounds like a money-grubbing, smelly middle-aged man."
Hyeokryeon Hong didn't react much to my harsh words.
I actually already knew about the man called Geumbong Kakju.
His name was Ban Sa-ung.
I had never met him, but I had heard his name often.
Ban Sa-ung, the Geumbong Kakju, was the guy who got Dismemberment after being caught by the Inspector for secretly embezzling funds from the Black Cat Clan.
In short, he was a money-crazed bastard.
Geumbong Kakju was a key figure in the Black Cat Clan, in charge of matters related to the clan's interests, so he was a senior member regardless of the Martial arts ranking. He was a unique individual who had been promoted to Kakju at a young age because he paid a lot of money to those above him.
Therefore, it was no exaggeration to say that all the damage Ilyang Prefecture suffered later was due to this guy's orders. Because he pushed his subordinates hard, those subordinates squeezed the powerless in a chain reaction.
A person who makes money in the Heukdo is synonymous with having cruel skills. Moreover, I know that Ban Sa-ung has also accumulated wealth through murder-for-hire, which is unrelated to the Black Cat Clan's affairs.
Ban Sa-ung was the guy who did all sorts of things that deserved criticism.
Such guys were abundant in the Heukdo, so it wasn't surprising.
Hyeokryeon Hong spoke to me soothingly.
"Since we sent an invitation instead of assassins, it would be best not to refuse. After I leave, assassins will come next. Luzhu Lee Jaha."
Hyeokryeon Hong seemed amused by the fact that he was using honorifics with me, as he chuckled while speaking.
"A dead end, huh."
"That's right."
"When does he want to see me?"
"He's hunting not far from here. The sooner, the better. You should depart with us by this evening at the latest."
I was curious about what was in the bundle, so I asked.
"What's that you're carrying? It looks like you brought it to show me."
"Ah, I should show you."
Hyeokryeon Hong looked at the man holding the bundle and gestured with his chin. Then, the man stepped forward and lifted the cloth, revealing what was inside.
It contained the heads of people I hadn't expected.
It was Jeonpung and Han Gook.
It seemed they had brought the two bastards' heads as a threat, but such threats didn't move me at all.
"To kill my drinking buddies so carelessly."
Hyeokryeon Hong said.
"Those two concealed the incident that occurred in Ilyang Prefecture, even though they knew about it. Thanks to that, our grasp of the situation was delayed, which is a great crime. After torturing them, we found out that the reason was absurd. They said that you only made them drink, Luzhu, is that correct?"
When I nodded, Hyeokryeon Hong grinned and said.
"That saved you, Luzhu. Geumbong Kakju found that part interesting. The reason he didn't send assassins right away is because he became interested in you."
I briefly considered whether I should kill the two men on the spot or let them go.
Just as I was thinking about killing them, the guard carrying the box suddenly grabbed Hyeokryeon Hong's shoulder and used his Martial arts to retreat.
Thump, thump, thump...
The sound of their footsteps was loud, as if they were in a hurry.
Hyeokryeon Hong created some distance and then said.
"Luzhu? We only came to deliver a message. You have a very strong murderous aura."
"Such a fuss..."
I looked at the two men and said.
"After killing Jeonpung and Han Gook so cruelly, you expect me to go when you call? I have no intention of walking into my own grave."
Hyeokryeon Hong scratched his head and replied.
"If you're afraid, then run away. There are quite a few who ran away because they didn't want to get involved with the Black Cat Clan. If that happens, there won't be any innocent killings in Ilyang Prefecture, so it's a win-win situation."
In other words, it was a notice that if I wanted to continue acting as the boss in Ilyang Prefecture, I would have to bow down to the Black Cat Clan.
If I ran away and didn't show my face in Ilyang Prefecture, they would spare me.
"Run away?"
Hyeokryeon Hong grinned.
"Yes."
"A man can't do that."
Hyeokryeon Hong asked.
"What will you do? Shall we give you until evening? Or will you leave right away?"
The Black Cat Clan was skilled at handling things, negotiating as if there was no way out.
When I remained silent, Hyeokryeon Hong said.
"For the record, we won't drink with you, Luzhu."
"Too bad."
Perhaps anyone affiliated with the Black Cat Clan would never drink with me again.
If the Black Cat Clan came out like this, there was nothing I could do.
I had no choice but to meet them.
I spread my arms as if to show them my attire.
"It's difficult to visit in this state. Let me change into some decent clothes before we go together. After all, I'm going to meet someone who's said to be a big shot in the Black Cat Clan, so I need to dress properly. Right now, I look too much like a Shop Assistant."
Hyeokryeon Hong nodded.
"That's true. You do look like a Shop Assistant."
"..."
"Lead the way. We'll follow."
I headed towards the Plum Blossom Brothel with the two men trailing behind me like tails.
* * *
After changing into neat clothes, I told Cha Seong-tae my destination.
"I have to go meet Geumbong Kakju of the Black Cat Clan."
"Geumbong Kakju? Isn't that the money-grubbing murderer?"
Cha Seong-tae looked at me with surprised eyes.
"Yeah, Jeonpung and Han Gook, who came last time, are dead too. Their heads were cut off."
"But you're going?"
"I'm not being summoned, I'm going."
Cha Seong-tae said with an excited expression.
"Is there any need to go alone? I'll gather all the guys. Let's have a war."
I looked at Cha Seong-tae and sighed.
'He's so immature.'
If the people in the neighborhood die or get hurt, aside from being bored, there's no place to eat Gukbap, no place to drink, no place to make Weaponry, and no one to steal clothes from.
I was already lonely just breathing, and if these guys disappeared too, I would have to wear the title of Mad Blade on my forehead.
"Hold back. I'll go alone."
"Are you crazy? You'll most likely die if you go."
Cha Seong-tae suddenly continued with a determined expression.
"I'll go with you, at least."
"Are you serious?"
Cha Seong-tae looked down at the ground for a moment, then replied with a troubled expression.
"To be honest, I'm not serious."
I smacked Cha Seong-tae's head for the first time in a while.
"That mouth of yours, anyway. I'll be back, so stay reformed."
Cha Seong-tae suddenly took off his Long Robe and put it on me. I had been stealing his clothes every time, so this time he was willingly giving it to me first.
I asked.
"Is this also a cherished Long Robe? You have a lot of clothes."
"It is a cherished Long Robe."
"It might get torn."
"You can turn it into rags."
I patted Cha Seong-tae's shoulder and left the room.
"I'll be back."
Cha Seong-tae clasped his hands and said.
"Reformed."
The word "reformed" sounded like a slogan.
* * *
Cha Seong-tae has the task of transforming the three Houses of pleasure that were operating as Blue Towers into Red Towers.
Yeon Ja-seong is sweating profusely to create a new Purple Glow Inn.
Geum Cheolyong is still worrying about making the Mad Blade, the Weaponry he will gift to me.
Jang Deuk-su will make Gukbap today to make a living.
While these guys are doing what they can do...
I have become the One-Man Killing Sect Leader again.
Everyone has to do what they do best.
Hyeokryeon Hong looked me up and down after I changed my clothes.
"You were originally quite handsome. Let's go."
"Let's go, you lackeys of the Heukdo."
"Excuse me?"
"Let's go."
Hyeokryeon Hong tried to say something, but swallowed it back with a groan. His superior's order was to bring me, so Hyeokryeon Hong couldn't ruin things because of personal feelings.
During the walk, the three of us didn't talk at all.
I looked around and opened my mouth for the first time in half an hour.
"Are we going to Jeongho Mountain?"
"That's right. If the Clan Leader were calling you, we would go to the Headquarters, but since we're going to see Geumbong Kakju, we're going to a mountain lodge near the hunting grounds. The Headquarters doesn't allow anyone with uncertain identities to enter at all."
I replied as I knew.
"Because of the other Twelve Divine Generals?"
Hyeokryeon Hong stopped walking for a moment and looked at me.
"Yes, that's right. There are even Twelve Divine Generals who are skilled in Disguise Technique. Now that I see it, you're well-informed about the Martial World. Young Luzhu."
As we climbed the mountain path again, I said.
"When you sell alcohol at an inn, you hear a lot of news."
Hyeokryeon Hong chuckled.
"How would an inn Shop Assistant know about the Twelve Divine Generals? Say something that makes sense."
"By the way, is it okay for someone affiliated with the Black Cat Clan to have a private mountain lodge?"
"Why wouldn't it be? It was a mountain lodge you had before you even joined the Black Cat Clan. He likes hunting, so he has mountain lodges everywhere."
"He was rich."
"He is rich. That's why it's comfortable for us too. When he wants to gather his subordinates to grill meat or rest comfortably for a day, he stays at the mountain lodge."
"The Black Cat Clan Leader would be happy to know."
Geumbong Kakju was going to be killed by the Black Cat Clan Leader later, so I couldn't help but sneer. Hyeokryeon Hong chuckled and said.
"Please refrain from saying such things in front of the Kakju. He has a fiery personality..."
A fiery personality...?
I couldn't help but chuckle like Hyeokryeon Hong.
Geumbong Kakju's private mountain lodge would be used for various purposes.
As Hyeokryeon Hong said, it would be a vacation spot, a place to bring guys to be disposed of by burying or incinerating, and most likely a secret storage place for funds extorted from various places.
It was something that ordinary people wouldn't understand, but the Black Cat Clan was Heukdo.
It wouldn't be strange for the guys belonging to it to do all sorts of bizarre things.
After walking at a brisk pace for about an hour, we finally arrived at the entrance of the mountain lodge.
There was a high Iron Gate in the center, and the walls connected to the Iron Gate were covered in vines, making them difficult to see. It was closer to a fortress with a cliff behind it than a mountain lodge, so if only the Iron Gate was covered with vines, it would be no different from a Safehouse.
It certainly felt like a place to handle shady business.
Hyeokryeon Hong reported in front of the Iron Gate.
"Hyeokryeon Hong, reporting back. I have brought Luzhu Lee Jaha."
The Iron Gate opened without any reply from the inside.
Following Hyeokryeon Hong inside, the atmosphere changed instantly. There were more people inside the mountain lodge than expected, and there was a bonfire in the wide central area.
Next to the bonfire, I could see a sturdy man sitting in a chair.
Just by looking at his first impression, it was very clear that he was a man with no compassion.