Retribution (5)
The next morning.
As promised, I headed to the exchange house near Taegyeong County.
[Geumsan Exchange]
It was a reliable establishment that hadn't gone under even by the time of my death in my previous life.
In fact, our Eunhae Merchant Group had considered entering the exchange business ourselves but soon deemed it unprofitable and dropped the idea.
The main source of revenue in the exchange trade was interest from lending money.
Compared to the usurious rates of the infamous Salt King Gang, their rates were reasonable, so quite a few people used them.
They also issued bills of exchange to pay or receive money on behalf of clients.
Given the nature of handling money, they inevitably needed martial strength.
They had to hound defaulters or chase down those who ate and ran.
Thus, the caliber of the warriors they employed greatly influenced the exchange's creditworthiness—much like with escort agencies.
Geumsan Exchange's high credit and longevity stemmed from that.
Above all, the owner was a Super First-rate warrior.
A typical Super First-rate warrior was on par with the sect leader of a major sect.
Who would dare default on someone like that running the place?
Moreover, each branch had messenger birds, allowing swift transmission of important news.
"Oh! You've come."
"Good day, Branch Leader."
As I approached the Geumsan Exchange, Ma Jangju was waiting out front.
He looked quite anxious, probably worried I wouldn't show.
As if I would.
Separately from planning to strip him bare, credit was credit.
"My apologies for being late."
"No, no. I just arrived myself. But the exchange hasn't opened yet."
It was that early.
I'd deliberately suggested this hour, though...
Even Ma Jangju's influence couldn't force the Geumsan Exchange to open early, so here he was, waiting.
He must be desperate, fearing I'd halt transactions.
"It's cold out—how about a cup of tea at that teahouse over there while we wait? They'll open soon enough."
"Sure, why not?"
"I'll treat you today."
"No need. Let me cover it."
"I insist. You've treated me to fine tea before—my turn today."
We entered the teahouse chatting amiably.
Being so early, we were the only customers.
Even if others came, Ma Jangju's escort warriors exuded such menace that no one would approach.
Locals would recognize him and turn right back around.
His infamy was that notorious.
We savored tea and snacks while chatting idly.
"Oh, did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"Word is, the Geumsan Exchange nearly got robbed the other day."
"What?"
"A thief broke in."
"..."
What I'd said wasn't a lie.
A thief had indeed infiltrated the Geumsan Exchange and nearly cleaned it out, but the owner intervened, foiling the attempt.
That was a year ago.
Afterward, they tightened security even more.
But I deliberately omitted the aftermath, planting a seed of unease in Ma Jangju.
"That's why I'm thinking of switching exchanges."
Then Palgap approached.
"Young master, the Geumsan Exchange has opened."
"Ah, has it?"
I stood and said, "Shall we?"
"Let's."
We entered the Geumsan Exchange.
"Welcome. The Geumsan Exchange, where we treasure our customers' money."
I handed the clerk a token issued by the Geumsan Exchange. "I'd like to make a withdrawal."
"Yes, how much would you like?"
"Two thousand three hundred nyang in gold taels."
"..."
The clerk looked momentarily flustered but quickly composed himself.
"Apologies, but our branch doesn't have that much cash on hand. We'd need to request it from a nearby branch."
Ma Jangju's face darkened; Murim Alliance reps were due that afternoon to sign investment contracts and collect funds.
Of course a single branch wouldn't hold such a sum.
That's why I hadn't requested in advance.
"I was planning to withdraw too..."
Ma Jangju mainly used this exchange as well.
But without the cash, they couldn't even issue bills.
Bills required matching reserves at the issuing branch.
"How much do you need, by chance?"
Ma Jangju stated his amount.
"Hm, for that sum, it'd be tomorrow evening at earliest. Do you... need it in cash?"
Ma Jangju answered without hesitation.
"Of course!"
Issuing bills meant no immediate cash outflow, so it was feasible—and safer.
In emergencies, they could request a payment freeze.
But my earlier teahouse remark gnawed at him.
That tiny seed of doubt I'd planted was devouring him now.
"The Murim Alliance folks are coming just after lunch, I hear."
I told Ma Jangju, "Explain the situation to the Alliance, give them bills for the full amount, and have them return tomorrow for cash. They'll understand."
"Hm... that could work."
"And if the Alliance sees you're routing through Geumsan Exchange for the bills, they'll leave satisfied."
"Then let's do that."
The clerk cautiously asked, "Shall we deliver the funds directly to the payee on our end?"
In other words, issue a third-party bill.
But with doubt rooted, Ma Jangju wouldn't accept.
"No. I'll handle delivery myself."
This put collection duties on the exchange in case of default.
"See you tomorrow, then."
"Yes."
Back at the inn, I had lunch and handled business.
Around shinsi (3-5 p.m.), Jin Yu Warrior reported in.
"The Murim Alliance rep has left."
"Did they take the bills?"
"Yes. They signed the investment contract, took the bills, and went. They balked at first, but accepted once we offered Geumsan Exchange bills."
"Did you catch the amount?"
"Yes, ten thousand gold taels."
"..."
Palgap and the escorts gasped.
A true fortune.
It showed Ma Jangju had scraped together every asset he could.
The next day, we arrived at the Geumsan Exchange around evening.
With the exchange visit today, meeting Han So-hyeop was postponed to tomorrow.
Ma Jangju brought even more escorts than yesterday.
Naturally—he needed maximum protection for ten thousand gold taels.
We withdrew the cash.
Ten thousand taels weighed a staggering six hundred twenty geun.
A large pig was about one hundred sixty geun—this was like four pigs.
Hence the massive cart.
"Then, we'll meet tomorrow morning at Han So-hyeop's martial hall."
"Got it. Head straight back after?"
"I'll stay another four or five days. Father's orders to buy up local shops—and you cleaned out today's cash here, right?"
"True."
"So, we wait for the exchange to restock."
"How much do you need that you'd wait days?"
"More than today."
"..."
He coughed awkwardly, realizing Eunhae Merchant Group's wealth dwarfed his expectations.
Frogs in a well, truly.
Even as the realm's richest, how did he compare to a mid-tier among the Hundred Great Merchant Groups?
"See you tomorrow."
Ma Jangju departed for Ma Clan Manor with his escorts.
Confirming they'd left, I told Seo-u Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior, "I'm counting on you."
"Don't worry."
"This is nothing."
Ma Jangju and his escorts headed to Ma Clan Manor with the gold.
"Heh heh heh..."
Inside the large cart, Ma Jangju couldn't stop grinning at the chests of gold across from him.
Nearly his entire fortune.
And it was a seed that would yield immense wealth.
Too fixated, he missed the shift in his escorts' eyes.
"Branch Leader, best to rest there awhile."
"What? Why rest now?"
"The road's iced from the cold... A broken wheel would be disaster."
"Hm... fair enough."
They decided to camp till dawn.
While they bustled about, Ma Jangju stayed in his cart, eyes glued to the gold—and averse to dirt.
As the warriors whispered secretly outside, night deepened.
"Zzz... Snore... Mmm..."
Tense all day or perhaps from the drugged tea, Ma Jangju slept soundly.
So soundly, he didn't notice the escorts carrying him out and dumping him on the ground.
Then they drove off with the cart.
At that moment.
Seo-u Warrior, Jin Yu Warrior, and I watched from behind a tree.
Whoa...
Things were getting interesting.
—What now?
To Seo-u Warrior's sound transmission, I replied via transmission.
—Recover it, obviously.
I glanced at Ma Jangju snoring on the ground. I'd considered betrayal, but not wholesale like this.
With true loyalty, this wouldn't happen.
We tailed the escorts and soon reached their stop.
"No fair! Why's my share so small?"
"Hey! Hands off, you bastard."
"I drugged Ma Jangju."
"Forgot I suggested the rest stop?"
A crossroads, as I'd predicted—they were dividing the loot, bickering over merits for extra shares.
Futile.
Not a coin would go to them.
Distracted by the fight, they ignored their surroundings.
I transmitted to the escorts.
—Let's go.
Donning our smiling-face masks, we charged.
"Wh-who...?"
Clang!
One sensed us, but too late.
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
He took a scabbard to the neck and collapsed.
The others drew swords in panic—futile resistance.
Outnumbered but mere first-rate warriors against three peak experts? No chance.
We subdued and knocked them out in seconds.
Sparing their lives? They had crimes to answer for.
Under Ma Jangju's banner, they'd bullied locals.
That's why I planned recovery en route—not at the manor, sparing innocent servants.
Here, suspects narrowed to escorts.
These thugs had robbed, eaten free, injured folks, even assaulted women.
They deserved the suffering.
And they handed us evidence on a platter—perfect.
We planted more proof, stashed the gold in my secret vault.
Ah, tomorrow's gonna be fun.
Finishing up, we returned to Ma Jangju, now awake and horrified.
He grasped the situation, rushed to the county office, briefed the magistrate, and—with aid—returned to Ma Clan Manor.
Lucky the office was nearby.
.
.
.
The next morning,
Heading to Han So-hyeop's with Ma Jangju, we went to Ma Clan Manor.
He waited anxiously.
Spotting me, he clutched my robe, pleading desperately.
"Young Branch Leader Eun, save me!"