Karmic Retribution (3)
Ma Jangju ruled over Taegyeonghyeon like a king because he had the power to do so.
And where did that power come from?
From his wealth, as the richest man in Taegyeonghyeon.
So, naturally, that wealth had to be stripped away.
How could he be toppled quickly and effectively?
As I pondered, Jin Yu Warrior spoke up.
"Um... there's one more thing I need to report."
"Ah, yes. Go ahead."
"I was curious about their conversation, so I infiltrated and overheard it."
"What?"
"There weren't any experts stronger than me, so it wasn't too difficult."
True enough. Jin Yu Warrior was at the peak realm.
There might be several first-rate warriors there, but no peak experts.
"They're saying the Murim Alliance is making a big investment to establish an escort agency. They recommended investing in it."
"What did Ma Jangju offer in return for his investment?"
"Ten percent of the profits."
"...Isn't that too low?"
"The investment amount doesn't seem that large."
Hmm, so Ma Jangju was more cautious than I thought.
Still, I had a good idea what escort agency the Murim Alliance was setting up with that investment.
In my previous life, they'd jumped into the escort business and failed spectacularly.
The Baekcheon Merchant Group didn't need an escort agency in the first place. With the Murim Alliance's backing, they already had plenty of their own martial strength.
But the business must have looked appealing, or maybe they were jealous of other thriving agencies, because they started one anyway.
That agency was the Baekun Pyoguk.
At first, Baekun Pyoguk drew escort requests from across the nation because it was staffed by Murim Alliance warriors.
But escort work is fundamentally about transportation and protection services.
In other words, you have to respect the client merchants making the requests—and sometimes grovel a bit.
These were Murim Alliance warriors who strutted around with their heads held high even in everyday life.
Bowing their heads? Unthinkable.
In the end, friction arose everywhere, and they went under in just half a year.
A total disaster.
They couldn't even recover the principal, of course.
It was such a shocking failure that it stuck vividly in my memory.
I asked Jin Yu Warrior,
"Did Ma Jangju accept the proposal?"
"Yes. They're signing the contract in five days."
Suddenly, a great idea struck me.
"Palgap. Set up a meeting with Ma Jangju."
.
.
.
The next day.
I stopped by a nearby fabric shop and bought luxurious silk robes and accessories to outfit the group.
Naturally, I dressed flashily too.
Then we mounted our horses and rode boldly to the Ma Clan Manor.
Moments later, upon arrival at the manor, the gatekeeper asked,
"Where do you hail from?"
Palgap stepped forward.
"This is Eun Seo-ho, vice leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Ah! We've been expecting you."
The gatekeeper bowed his head promptly.
"Please wait just a moment."
He rang the bell by the gate, and soon a servant came running out.
"It's Eun Seo-ho, the vice leader."
"Yes, this way, please."
We handed our horses to the gatekeeper and followed him to the reception room.
Along the way, I subtly surveyed the Ma Clan Manor.
It seemed like some effort had gone into decorating, but honestly, it wasn't beautiful.
It wasn't harmoniously arranged—just expensive stones, woods, artworks, and such thrown together haphazardly.
And the expressions of the servants and maids everywhere showed no joy at all.
They looked like they were just grudgingly getting by, day by day.
This place truly had no dreams or hope.
Tsk, I clicked my tongue inwardly as I entered the reception room. Soon, a maid brought tea and snacks.
Whether they wanted to flaunt their wealth even to me, every item was top-shelf expensive.
About an incense stick later.
The door opened, and a man entered.
He was a pot-bellied middle-aged man with half his head bald.
He'd grown a long beard to look stylish, and wore costly silk robes.
Grease glistened on his face, screaming that he ate and lived well.
I rose and greeted him with a cupped-fist salute.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Eun Seo-ho, vice leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"I'm Ma Jeong, lord of the Ma Clan Manor. Glad to meet you. Have a seat."
"Thank you."
He stroked his beard and said,
"I hope the refreshments suit your taste."
"I never expected to be served Dragon Well tea—one of the finest—let alone the premium grade, here."
"Hahaha! You know your teas."
"Basic knowledge for a vice leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Indeed. I know the Eunhae Merchant Group well. You're booming these days. I was surprised, frankly—a vice leader like you requesting a meeting with me."
"Truth be told, I'm thinking of opening a shop nearby. It only makes sense to pay respects to the wealthiest local magnate first, right?"
"Hahaha. What a polite young merchant."
"You're the very first on my list."
"Well done coming here."
He seemed pleased that I, the Eunhae vice leader, was deferring to him, grinning nonstop.
Just as I'd hoped.
Only when he's in a good mood does rational judgment slip.
"To commemorate our meeting, I prepared a small gift."
"A gift?"
"Yes."
I nodded to Palgap, who placed the small box he was carrying on the table.
"A token of my sincerity."
Ma Jangju opened the box and tilted his head.
"What's this?"
"Unroll it. It's a painting I went to great lengths to acquire."
He unrolled the scroll.
"It's by an artist named Mun Baek. He's all the rage in Beijing these days—even high officials and nobles struggle to get his works."
"Oh? Really?"
His face lit up at my explanation.
I sipped my tea, hiding a sly smile. The painting was fake, of course.
Just something I'd scribbled myself.
But Mun Baek really was famous in Beijing.
Ma Jangju, however, was a frog in a well, living like a king in this tiny Taegyeonghyeon.
He wouldn't know Beijing trends well, and even if he did, it'd just be the name.
He'd never seen a real Mun Baek painting, so he nodded eagerly.
And my acting was pretty good.
"It'll fetch a fine price later. But please, don't show it to others."
"Why not?"
"As I said, even nobles can't easily obtain it. If word got out that a mere merchant like me got one, it'd cause trouble for the one who sourced it—and others."
"Hmm, fair point."
"People of taste appreciate art quietly in private."
"True."
Even if the fake got exposed later and he confronted me, it wouldn't matter.
I could just claim I'd been duped too.
But would Ma Jangju even be in a position to confront me then?
As we chatted idly, I said as if it just occurred to me,
"Oh, right—I heard the Murim Alliance is starting an escort agency business."
"I-is that so?"
Ma Jangju looked slightly flustered at my words. I'd mentioned something he knew about.
"A friend told me. Staffed by Murim Alliance warriors! Sounds impressive, doesn't it?"
"Well... yes."
"I hear investment funds are already piling up. And my friend says he's getting thirty percent of the profits."
Ma Jangju tilted his head.
"Thirty percent?"
"He invested a ton. And... the Na... oh! Sorry."
I clamped my mouth shut.
Ma Jangju tilted his head again.
"What is it?"
"Sorry. It's a secret..."
"Haha, a secret between us? That wounds me."
"It's really confidential. Please pretend you didn't hear. I beg you."
I bowed apologetically, but this greedy man wouldn't let it go.
"You still don't trust me, eh? As proof of my trust, I'll put in a good word with Jihyeon about your new shop."
"...If you insist. But absolutely don't tell anyone else."
"Of course. I'm tight-lipped."
I leaned in and whispered,
"Actually, the Nangong Family is investing too. Is the Nangong Family just anyone? One of the Eight Great Clans, lords of Anhui Province."
"Right."
"So I'm preparing a modest investment myself."
"..."
"If only I had more personal funds. It's a chance to double—no, twenty times your money."
"Hmm..."
This should be enough.
Push too hard, and he'd get suspicious.
But the Nangong Family really did invest in Baekun Pyoguk in my previous life.
They pulled out before the big losses, leaving the trusting investors to foot the bill.
Slippery bastards.
Anyway, their name was perfect bait for Ma Jangju now.
"Oh, one more thing I'd like to ask."
"What is it?"
"Any good cotton fields for sale nearby?"
"Cotton fields?"
"Yes. As you know, we're famous for fabrics at Eunhae. It'd be ideal to produce our own cotton."
"How much do you need?"
"The more, the better. Good price too."
"Hmm, I'll look into it."
"Thank you."
With that, we wrapped up. Ma Jangju saw me off to the gate.
"You rode here?"
"Yes. Carriages feel too stuffy."
"Won't that ruin your silk robes?"
"No worry. If it gets damaged, I'll just make new ones."
"True enough. Safe travels."
"Thanks. It was a pleasure."
We rode back to the inn. Palgap glanced back and whispered,
"Will he bite?"
"Nothing's certain. But the odds are high."
In my view, there was at least an eighty percent chance Ma Jangju would fall for my scheme.
* * *
After Eun Seo-ho left, Ma Jangju fell deep into thought.
Eun Seo-ho's words echoed in his ears.
"My friend says he's getting thirty percent of the profits. He invested a ton."
"Actually, the Nangong Family is investing too. Is the Nangong Family just anyone? One of the Eight Great Clans, lords of Anhui Province."
"If only I had more personal funds. It's a chance to double—no, twenty times your money."
Yesterday, he'd revealed his investment amount to the Murim Alliance envoy and been promised ten percent.
But that wouldn't yield the returns he craved.
Especially since he harbored ambitions to make his name known not just in Taegyeonghyeon, but across the Central Plains.
"Deokbae."
He called his bodyguard warrior, a sharp-eyed favorite.
"Yes, my lord."
"That Eun Seo-ho earlier—was he the real deal?"
"Yes, I'm certain. He mounted his horse without hesitation despite the fine silk, and his attendants and guards rode just as naturally in theirs."
"Really?"
"Fakes usually show awkwardness or sloppiness... but there was none."
"I see."
If so, then as Eun Seo-ho said, the escort business was surely a path to lasting wealth.
A few days later.
As promised, he met the Murim Alliance envoy.
"Here's the contract. Take a look."
Instead of reading, Ma Jangju asked,
"Is... the Nangong Family investing in this too?"
"...!"
The envoy was startled.
"How did you know?"
"...Ahem, a man of my stature has his ears everywhere."
"True... someone like you would."
With confirmation, Ma Jangju steeled his resolve.
"Let's rewrite the contract. I'm investing more."
.
.
.
The Murim Alliance envoy left beaming, promising to bring a new contract.
Ma Jangju summoned the chief steward and declared his intent.
"Pardon? That massive sum?"
"Yes."
The steward worried, but couldn't oppose.
His lord seemed dead set—defying him would end badly.
"B-but even scraping together all the money from the recent cotton sales, we're far short."
"Contact Eun the vice leader. Tell him we have good cotton fields here."
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