Chapter 486
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 486
Chapter Title: No!
The southern main avenue of the Righteous Heaven Alliance's Luoyang headquarters.
This was the busiest spot in all of Luoyang.
The city's largest merchant guilds had gathered here, and among them, the Luoyang First Merchant Guild occupied the grandest building.
Jeon Merchant Guild.
That was the name inscribed on the signboard.
As the elderly man known as Old Man Jeon from the inn where Ha Mu-baek had stayed slowly walked in, all the workers bowed deeply.
"Greetings, Guild Leader."
Old Man Jeon—Jeon Dok-u—gave a light nod and headed straight to his office on the top floor.
His face was etched with worry.
'He's holding out better than expected...'
Jeon Dok-u scowled.
Little Fortune Inn.
The inn's location in the back alleys off Luoyang's western main avenue was most inconvenient.
They were preparing to build a new structure in the area, but that tiny building refused to sell, stubbornly holding on.
Location-wise, it was a property they absolutely had to acquire.
He had no intention of paying a premium.
In truth, he didn't even want to pay fair market value, but given the circumstances, he had offered exactly that—yet they still refused, digging in their heels.
Time was running short.
So they had resorted to coercive measures, but it was holding firm.
'Damn those laborers.'
The reason lay with the laborers and craftsmen handling construction projects all over Luoyang.
There was no way to keep them away.
Luoyang's laborers and craftsmen formed their own massive union, and if treated unfairly, they went on collective strike.
Forcing them on meals was out of the question—who knew how they'd react.
Even Jeon Dok-u's guild relied on them for Luoyang's big and small projects.
'Should I bring in laborers and craftsmen from outside?'
The union consisted only of locals, so hiring outsiders was an option.
But it would cost too much time and effort.
Not to mention the expense.
To ruin the Little Fortune Inn, they needed zero customers—but the laborers eating breakfast there were thwarting that.
Of course, the inn was still declining bit by bit.
They could barely maintain the status quo without them.
The real issue was the lack of time, as mentioned before.
This pace wouldn't cut it.
Jeon Dok-u halted abruptly before his office door.
It was slightly ajar.
Startled, he rushed inside.
Sure enough, a middle-aged man sat at Jeon Dok-u's desk.
He smirked at Jeon Dok-u.
"Where have you been wandering? I waited quite a while."
Jeon Dok-u shut the door and prostrated himself flat before the man.
"I see the Messenger of the Church."
Fear filled his voice.
"How's the progress?"
"Th-that... one inn is still refusing to sell..."
The middle-aged man's— the Church Messenger's—expression hardened coldly.
"We gave you plenty of time."
His voice was ice.
"The inn's owner is immovable."
Jeon Dok-u trembled as he replied.
"Not skimping to save money, are you?"
The cold voice grew even chillier.
"...That's..."
Jeon Dok-u couldn't answer properly.
Thud. Thud.
The middle-aged man rose and stepped toward him.
He gripped the shoulder of Jeon Dok-u, who was bowed low.
"Jeon Dok-u. Who do you owe your position as head of this great guild to?"
"To the great grace of the Church."
Crack.
Strength poured into the hand on his shoulder.
"Urk."
Jeon Dok-u let out a low groan from the pain surging through his shoulder.
"Yet you're pinching pennies on the Church's event? Do you have a death wish?"
"Kuhhh."
The freezing voice and tightening grip intensified the agony.
"B-but... offering too much premium could draw unwanted attention."
The man's grip loosened at Jeon Dok-u's excuse.
It held some logic, even if it was an excuse.
Rumors of an overpriced sale would attract flies.
So he thought of an easier way.
"Shall I kill them?"
The middle-aged man's question.
"N-no! That would draw even more eyes. The Righteous Heaven Alliance is right there."
Jeon Dok-u blurted desperately.
The man stepped back again.
"Hmm."
He crossed his arms, lost in thought.
The location right under the Righteous Heaven Alliance's nose.
The western side of Luoyang.
Those two factors were key.
The plan was to build a suitable manor there as a hidden dagger to strike the Alliance someday.
It was prime real estate, right behind the main avenue.
They had already bought up all the surrounding land and buildings.
Except for that one.
"Time's short. The Righteous Heaven Alliance cleared the Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest. They'll be distracted for now, but once that's wrapped up, their guard will be up."
"I'll hurry as much as possible."
Jeon Dok-u said, banging his head on the floor.
"Seven days. If it's not done by then, this guild will have a new head."
With that, the middle-aged man vanished.
Jeon Dok-u's face paled.
The meaning was crystal clear.
If he didn't secure the Little Fortune Inn within seven days, he'd be the one dying.
"Fuck."
The curse slipped out involuntarily.
Jeon Dok-u rose and hurried downstairs.
Time was scarce.
He summoned his subordinates and escorts, heading to the laborers' and craftsmen’s union.
The Craftsmen's Guild.
"Here."
At Ha Mu-baek's call, little Gong Hae-jun scampered over.
"Stay another night."
He pulled five taels of silver from his pouch and handed them over.
Gong Hae-jun jumped in surprise at the sudden silver.
"Kid, why the shock? This liquor alone is worth more than half that."
Ha Mu-baek shook the completely empty liquor bottle from the western peak lord.
"The rest covers what you've eaten and drunk so far, and what you will."
With that, Ha Mu-baek stood and walked out of the inn.
"Oh, tidy up the room, will you?"
"Th-thank you! Sir!"
Gong Hae-jun bowed deeply.
He'd never seen silver while working as an errand boy.
He couldn't gauge how much it was.
He rushed to his mother with the five taels, and she gasped in shock.
She'd overheard Ha Mu-baek enough to know it was a hefty sum, but five taels?
"H-husband!"
The innkeeper hurried to the kitchen.
Little Fortune Inn.
Ha Mu-baek glanced at the signboard from the entrance.
It lived up to its name.
At least today, while eating braised pork belly and sipping western peak lord brew, he'd felt a small joy.
"Tch."
That's why he clicked his tongue.
Because of the bastard who ruined that little happiness.
That old coot called Old Man Jeon.
'Something's up with him.'
He'd pegged him as a typical villain.
But just now, the old man had met someone versed in fairly strong martial arts.
Maybe it wasn't so straightforward—perhaps something more complex.
With that thought, he headed to the Righteous Heaven Alliance.
Would things there resolve simply?
Or complicate?
"Already back?"
Heavenly Eye Pavilion Lord Gong Son Dan-gyeong scowled at the news from the front gate.
He'd returned in just a day.
No—past breakfast, not yet lunchtime.
Strictly speaking, not even a full day.
The message arrived, and moments later Ha Mu-baek appeared at the pavilion entrance, then at his office door.
"Conclusion reached?"
The question flew the moment he sat.
A faint but distinct whiff of alcohol lingered.
"You... drank?"
Gong Son Dan-gyeong countered instead of answering.
It was that unusual.
Ha Mu-baek wasn't one to indulge much in liquor.
Drinking at this hour?
"The food whetted my appetite, so I had a glass."
Ha Mu-baek replied curtly.
"Sounds like there's a spot in Luoyang that does Bai Clan dishes well."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong knew Ha Mu-baek favored Bai Clan cuisine.
"Might have to check it out myself sometime."
Ha Mu-baek.
If even he craved liquor, the other dishes must be top-notch.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong naturally thought so.
"But you didn't answer my question."
"I left last night asking to be informed once treatment was decided. Did 'inform me' mean come back and ask myself?"
Gong Son Dan-gyeong pressed with indignation.
"If it were you, old man Gong Son, you'd already have the answer."
Ha Mu-baek replied matter-of-factly.
He too had anticipated as much.
That's why he'd pushed and pulled yesterday to gain the high ground.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong glared at him.
"You seem to have guessed already."
Ha Mu-baek shrugged.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong's face soured in displeasure.
"First, the Dragon Training Pavilion's Fierce Dragon Corps will disband. We'll keep only volunteers from the current first-years, send the rest packing, and halt new recruits."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong had yielded a step.
Ha Mu-baek smiled faintly.
"Service term is..."
Gong Son Dan-gyeong paused.
His expression screamed regret and injustice.
He'd agonized past midnight, securing Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader So Hwi-woong's approval at dawn.
"Four years, based on this year's placements."
He squeezed his eyes shut to say it.
If first-years served four years, the current fifth-years would naturally finish up.
They'd already served four.
"Two years."
Ha Mu-baek countered, and Gong Son Dan-gyeong's face darkened fiercely.
"No!"
Resolute.
No compromise.
"Three years should suffice to wrap things up."
Ha Mu-baek questioned.
Their eyes locked in the air.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze said, we both know better.
"Hoo. Fine. Fine. Three years."
"Good."
He'd tried clinging for even one more year.
Failed.
"Service area is..."
"Southern border of Jiangxi and Hunan Provinces, right?"
Gong Son Dan-gyeong nodded at Ha Mu-baek's words.
His face said, you knew everything.
"Centered on the area closest to Mount Heng."
The Mountain-Crossing Demonic Forest's jiangshi and Blood Cult were gone.
That meant stability for Zhejiang Province—and the Saha Alliance eyeing Jiangxi.
The forces around the forest had checked the Saha Alliance's push into Jiangxi.
With troops now concentrated on the forest incident, Jiangxi's defenses slackened, prompting immediate Saha moves.
Moving the Demon-Sealing Corps from the forest to Jiangxi to guard against Saha was the logical step.
But the Demon-Sealing Corps' reality...
Ha Mu-baek knew.
Only his Fierce Dragon Corps could fill the gap.
That's why he'd stonewalled, insisting on staying at the forest.
To extract maximum gain.
Gong Son Dan-gyeong knew too, hence agonizing over maximum concessions.
Three years.
In that time, tidy up the Demon-Sealing Corps, sort the forest aftermath, and position new forces on Jiangxi's border.
Entrusting it to Ha Mu-baek and the Fierce Dragon Corps meanwhile.
'Truth is, he's the surest bet for that spot.'
The Saha Alliance knew Ha Mu-baek's capabilities well.
Saha Alliance Leader Gong Ya Jang-cheon and Strategist Black Mist Corps Leader Mun In Baek-song especially.
They wouldn't act rashly.
From Gong Son Dan-gyeong's view, Ha Mu-baek staying was ideal.
But Ha Mu-baek had nailed down his refusal from the start.
"Need to clean up the forest too, so we'll move to Jiangxi in a month."
Ha Mu-baek rose, a thick smile on his lips.