Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Final Plan
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‘I've even had my clinic ruined by a love affair. You bastards.’
Two men who claimed to love me dueled until they were covered in blood, right? And one of them was married.
Ugh, it was so tiresome.
‘Anyway, these guys… they’re just a week-long problem.’
There are so many real villains in the world; this is barely an itch.
Before long, they'll be uprooted.
How long will that take?
Probably…
‘Soon?’
* * *
Kanin, the proprietor of the third-largest apothecary in Heuklim. He was currently in a state of extreme agitation.
‘Why the hell isn't it working!’
He had been given a momentous task by the Sinion family, one of the eight noble families of the empire.
Namely, to throw Heuklim into utter chaos.
If he did so…
‘We will grant you the exclusive bidding rights for the large-scale market in the Sinion territory for three years.’
‘We will grant you the exclusive bidding rights for the large-scale market in the Sinion territory for three years.’
He would become the merchant who controlled the entire new, massive market—its master for three years.
What an alluring proposition!
In this Heuklim, becoming number one was a lost cause anyway.
It was all because of that damn wench, Jeok Yunha.
He had always clashed with the woman over every little thing.
She wouldn't stand by and watch as Kanin's subordinate merchants exploited Easterners for unfairly low wages or treated them like slaves.
Kanin was an extreme supremacist.
‘What’s wrong with treating slave-like bastards as slaves!’
Parasites. The kind who gather and chatter in some incomprehensible language.
‘Like insects…!’
A market swarming with such creatures couldn't possibly be clean.
He would succeed in this entire operation.
He would land a satisfying blow against the Heuk family, who put on airs despite being from the Eastern Continent.
And he was set to go to the Sinion territory, a land of opportunity where vast fortunes were buried.
The plan had been going smoothly, but!
The administrative and tax officials, influenced by Sinion, were also on his side.
And yet…
‘…The land ledger and the permits are all perfect.’
‘…The land ledger and the permits are all perfect.’
‘We can't find anything on them.’
‘We can't find anything on them.’
Far from recovering the recently stolen ledger, rumors of the young girl physician who had suddenly appeared spread like wildfire.
The young wench shamelessly boasted about joining hands with Jeok Yunha and went from victory to victory!
‘The fact that Tak Minjae didn't die was also the work of that witch-like girl.’
If only Tak Minjae had died, Jeok Yunha would have been an easy opponent…
The plan to frame the Heuk family was also perfect.
The Sinion family's plan was supposed to be…
‘Am I going to end up taking the fall for this all by myself?’
Kanin's teeth chattered. But it was too late to back out now.
‘Yes, there's still that method left.’
“Someone, attend me!”
Kanin summoned a servant and gave several instructions.
“Tell Peiman to get moving immediately. He'll know what I mean!”
“Yes, sir!”
He sat down again, reassured. Yes, he would tear them down step by step.
“Master, the guests have arrived.”
“Oh, show them in.”
Soon, several people entered his room.
Those who looked frightened or timid were merchants from his merchant association or fellow apothecaries.
And the one wearing a lone robe was a man from Sinion.
“When will this be resolved?”
The man from Sinion revealed his displeasure.
Kanin cursed inwardly but smiled obsequiously.
“My master is displeased.”
“Oh, but of course.”
Kanin held out a thick document.
“Please, why don't you take a look at this proposal? I've tidied up the one you sent over quite nicely…”
“Sent? What did we send?”
Damn them. So they plan to wash their hands of this completely.
Kanin did not lose his smile.
The path to a fortune is a long one…
“Everyone, please gather around. Once you hear the final plan, you will change your minds.”
Yes, he had one last, perfect plan.
A groundbreaking plan that would get rid of both that tiny girl physician who appeared out of nowhere and Jeok Yunha…
“Hmm, what a shame.”
Kanin flinched at the unfamiliar voice.
“It’d be a waste not to use it~”
It wasn't just Kanin. All the merchants, and even the man from Sinion, startled and looked around.
“W-What? What was that sound?”
“Lord Kanin, what is the meaning of this!”
“What sound, you ask.”
The unfamiliar voice rang out again, tinged with amusement.
At that moment, *drip, drip!* Water droplets fell to the floor.
*Swoooosh!*
“W-Water?”
“Gah! Sir Knight of Sinion, d-do something about this!”
“Don't panic, it's just water!”
Unbelievably, a light rain was falling from the ceiling.
When he opened his eyes again.
Kanin saw a thin curtain of water.
‘The p-power of water?’
And inside that watery veil stood a figure clad in black robes and a cloak.
“Shall I tell you your fate?”
He wore a mask that covered the upper half of his face, but a sly grin spread across his lips.
“That you're all screwed~”
The robed Heuk Biwon smiled brightly.
“W-Who is that man?”
“Lord Kanin, is he one of yours?”
“I-I don't know! He's an intruder!”
With the appearance of the stranger, the meeting instantly descended into chaos.
Kanin shouted with a panicked expression.
“N-No… I've truly never seen him before! I'll call the guards at once!”
“Aww, you can't do that.”
With a light hop, Heuk Biwon kicked the nearest person in the stomach.
“Then there’d be no point in sneaking in.”
A sly smile, a cheerful-sounding voice.
None of it matched the violence.
“Who the hell are you!”
“Eek, how scary!”
Seeing the merchant who was sent flying, the others trembled.
“This intruder, you see, doesn't want much.”
Heuk Biwon grabbed the collar of a charging merchant and, with a swift motion, threw him over his shoulder.
He was an apothecary who was relatively well-built and had been a warrior in his youth.
“What you folks are doing is just too dirty~ I can't forgive people who bully a child!”
“W-What nonsense is this!”
It was a disaster. For the sake of a secret meeting, everyone had left their escorts outside the room.
‘An opening!’
Just then, a merchant who had stealthily moved to the door barely reached the handle.
Or rather, he tried to.
His hand couldn't touch the door. It was blocked as if by a translucent wall.
‘Huh…?’
*Splash.* Along with the damp sensation, his hand was soaked with water.
“Water…?”
That was all the merchant could say.
*Thwack!*
Where the merchant had collapsed, someone slowly materialized.
It was a man standing mysteriously in the center of humming, floating water droplets.
Like Heuk Biwon, he wore black clothes and a black gat pulled down low—it was Heuk Birang, with his extraordinary appearance.
Heuk Birang glared at the remaining merchants with a stern face.
His water ability was also adept at stealth and illusions. Long ago, he used to be mobilized for such clandestine work.
‘It's been a long time.’
Besides, he had volunteered this time, so it was different from back then.
He was getting sleepy, so he needed to finish this quickly. He glanced at his brother with slightly anxious eyes.
‘Damn it. If my older brother goes berserk here, we're all screwed. Surely his madness isn't acting up, is it?’
The two were carrying out a coordinated attack with Biyu.
But as for how they were here, when they were forbidden from going out and couldn't leave due to the tracking incense…
‘There isn't much time.’
Having dealt with most of them in a short time, Heuk Biwon walked forward, his steps heavy.
“Phew, it's tiring to move around after so long.”
“D-Don't come any closer…!”
Heuk Biwon pretended to wipe away sweat as he approached Kanin with a light step.
*Crash!*
Kanin fell right on his rear in fear. His body trembled uncontrollably.
Even the man from Sinion he had trusted was now rolling on the floor, groaning from a single kick to the stomach.
Before he knew it, the floor was slick with blood.
The same blood dripped from the approaching man's hands.
“Mister~ you've really been going at it~ An old man who only picks on the weak, you're a very bad boy. Hm?”
“You, you, what are you? The Imperial family? No. That's not it. Right!”
Kanin's mind finally started working again. It was finally functioning!
“The child… you're on the side of that damn girl physician!”
*Smack!*
Kanin felt a pain unlike any he had ever experienced. He couldn't… breathe…!
“What… who are you calling a girl? You insolent bastard.”
The eyes looking down at him, though their color was indiscernible, were utterly chilling.
“Should I rip that mouth of yours apart?”