Plundering the Front Yard (3)
On the second floor of Hong Eun-ru, musicians played lively tunes one after another, and dancers moved gracefully to the rhythm.
I grinned as I watched one of the dancing performers.
I knew her—no, his—true identity.
His name was Chun-il.
He was infamous as a master thief who targeted only the wealthy.
And he was one of the "finds" I planned to pick up in Luoyang this time.
In the future, he would earn the prestigious title of Silver Three Guests.
Because he stole exactly three taels of silver from rich households.
But he was so elusive that his victims often didn't even realize they'd been robbed.
A man famed for stealing anything under the sun had a few signature tricks.
One was disguising himself as someone completely unexpected.
Who would ever suspect a man of dressing as a woman, caking on that heavy makeup, and passing as a dancer?
You could buy the disguise, but mimicking the dance that perfectly? It was downright infuriating.
To liven up the gathering, Hong Eun-ru had invited not just musicians but dancers as well.
There were no serving girls pouring drinks—couldn't have that with all the wives present.
And since this was a Hundred Great Merchant Groups summit, they excluded them to discuss weighty matters in private.
Still, no music or dance would kill the mood, so musicians and dancers were a must.
They'd vetted their backgrounds thoroughly.
The world's top merchant group had done the checks, yet he'd slipped through. His disguise and identity-faking skills were on another level.
Damn, what a flawless getup.
He had a delicately handsome face to begin with, and he was putting it to perfect use.
In my previous life, I'd spotted his disguise because of his mannerisms.
Selling fabrics at the Eunhae cloth shop meant dealing with women all day.
Most customers were ladies buying cloth.
Even if his disguise and dance were perfect, subtle awkwardness in his movements gave him away.
Most people never noticed.
But that awkwardness nagged at me, so I kept watching until I figured it out.
He was the Silver Three Guests, Chun-il.
But I'd promised not to pursue thieves targeting the silver plaque, so I let it slide even after he swiped it.
I'd just been impressed back then. In hindsight, I'd missed the chance to recruit the ultimate security expert.
Can't miss a second chance.
His end wasn't pretty.
Well, no thief gets a happy ending.
Stealing from so many without just cause? He deserved it.
Targeting the rich and powerful just added insult to injury.
So he got a harsher punishment than usual: dismemberment.
He had the skills to escape prison, in my eyes.
But he accepted his fate calmly, even laughing as his limbs were torn off.
Finally free from thieving, he'd said.
Knowing that future, I couldn't just let Chun-il walk away.
And to protect our merchant group from future losses, he needed to become our security advisor.
A massive gold heist was coming up soon.
The dance ended, and the performers withdrew.
Someone stepped onto the stage to explain the summit, drawing everyone's eyes.
I seized the moment to approach the disguised dancer and offer him a cup of water.
"Ah, thank you."
A slightly husky woman's voice.
Voice modulation was one of master thief Chun-il's specialties. Old man to child, any gender—he could mimic anything.
No wonder everyone fell for it.
"They say you're quite skilled."
"You're too kind."
As he drank, I dropped the line casually.
"Three taels of silver."
"Pfft!"
He spat out the water in shock.
"W-what do you mean by that?"
Instead of answering, I grinned.
"But I haven't seen your skills myself, so I'm curious."
I flashed the silver plaque at my waist.
"Here's the deal: show me your skills before the summit ends, or grant me a favor."
"Sorry, young master, but I..."
"Lacking confidence?"
"..."
"I see. No confidence, huh? Well, with security this tight, even you might struggle. Haha."
His eyes sharpened at my words.
"Fine. Don't cry when you lose it."
I chuckled lightly.
The bet was on.
Chun-il's pupils trembled.
How did he know?
Even he thought his dancer disguise was flawless.
He'd even practiced the dances hard to sync perfectly with the others.
Yet this kid had pierced his facade and challenged him to a bet.
Some gambles you just couldn't refuse.
Don't know how he figured me out...
As the summit ended, he'd double-check for any slip-ups. He looked up at the handsome youth who'd issued the challenge.
A chill ran down his spine, the same sensation from when their eyes met earlier.
Just the cold, probably.
He shook off the unease—until a voice called him.
"Hey! What are you doing? We need to start the next dance."
He quickly composed himself and smiled.
"Coming right now."
The Hundred Great Merchant Groups summit wasn't just sitting around eating and drinking.
Officially for networking among the groups, it meant mingling everywhere.
I sat at a quiet corner table, savoring food and tea while watching Father.
He was deep in conversation with other merchant lords, laughing heartily—but his eyes were sharp.
Mother was upstairs with the other wives.
I needed to mingle too.
Lots of heirs were here, not just the lords and ladies.
But time was plentiful, and I wanted a break.
Stamina was fine, but mental fatigue was real.
Meeting Baektian Merchant Group's Namgung Gang had been pretty intense.
"I'll get you fresh hot tea."
"Thanks."
I smiled at the server. Then he spilled the teapot.
"Ah, sorry!"
Nearby servers rushed over, scolding him.
"What the hell?"
"Watch it!"
"It's fine."
He bowed repeatedly, apologizing.
"Your clothes are wet, young master... Let me wipe them."
He pulled out a cloth and dabbed at my robes.
I whispered in his ear.
"Three taels of silver."
"...!"
He bit his lip.
When had he ditched the dancer guise for server? Impressive.
If I hadn't cultivated the Taiyin Binghai Divine Art, I'd have fallen for it.
Even his qi felt different.
No wonder armed guards always failed against him.
The Taiyin Binghai Divine Art excelled at sensing qi.
Master had said its perception tapped into a person's fundamental essence.
At least it didn't reek like black path qi. Small mercies.
They cleared the mess, changed the tablecloth, and reset the food.
I stayed put—it was perfect for quietly observing.
Someone sat beside me.
Sagang Subordinate Leader.
His gaze said he had something to say.
"Something on your mind?"
"Thank you."
"Pardon?"
I tilted my head at the sudden gratitude.
"Yesterday's hairpin."
Ah, got it.
"Mother liked the hairpin I gifted you yesterday."
So she'd worn it for an important day like today.
Come to think of it, Mother was wearing the belt I'd given her too.
Feeling bashful, I scratched my cheek.
The hesitant Sagang spoke up.
"She cried."
"..."
His mother had been that moved?
I ventured, "Was it... your first gift to her?"
He nodded.
Ah...
No wonder she cried.
First gift from her son in twenty years.
"A reward."
"No need. It wasn't a big deal—what reward?"
"..."
Then—
"Ah! There you are."
Han Baek-geon Subordinate Leader approached.
Good face.
He was two years my senior, heir to Hongnang Merchant Group.
From Hubei Province, freshly promoted to subordinate leader.
"Sorry I missed your inauguration."
"No worries. I know you're busy."
He glanced at Sagang and me.
"But chatting this long with Gang? Wild."
"Nothing wild about it."
"Haha, talking to that mute brick wall always leaves me frustrated."
Saying it to his face—they must be close. Sagang didn't react.
I smirked.
"Words aren't everything. Understand their intent, and conversation flows easy."
Han Baek-geon went "Oho!" in admiration; Sagang looked touched.
Why those reactions?
Another youth approached.
"Baek-geon."
"Ah, you too! Meet Eun Seo-ho, subordinate leader of Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Pleasure. The famous Eun subordinate leader, in the flesh! Thrilled."
"Likewise."
I greeted the upbeat guy. But my greetings didn't end there.
"That's him, the Eun Seo-ho subordinate leader?"
"The Automaton Doll guy?"
"Ah, the one who made the self-playing zither!"
"The wind-powered fan inventor—that young master?"
"Seonhyeopmirang?"
All my exploits that famous?
They whispered, then gathered around, and greetings left my throat sore.
By the time I noticed, our table was the hub for all the heirs.
Useful intel flowed; I memorized it all.
Chit-chat naturally shifted to silver plaques.
"Why no plaque?"
"Sigh... just lost it."
"No way!"
"Vanished like smoke."
"How do they snatch just the plaque...?"
I smirked, subtly kicking under the table.
Thud!
Faint sound, drowned by music.
Pretty tough.
Taking my infused kick without a peep.
Right now, master thief Chun-il hid under our table.
When had he slipped in...?
I'd kicked him the moment he neared for my plaque.
The spill must've been setup for the big play.
Tablecloth seemed big for a reason.
But hiding under a cloth to steal? Cliché.
To these heirs? Revolutionary.
I knew his qi, so blocking him was child's play.
I thwarted seven attempts total.
I saw others lose theirs but couldn't warn them—against the rules.
"Guard your own property." That spirit.
Makes sense.
Summit winding down; our bet nearing end too.
Thwack!
Eight down.