Chapter 362. Baekyeom Merchant Group (3)
Lifting my head, I saw a familiar face.
It was Ho Gyeong, the grandson of Ho Ju-sin, the host of this banquet and head of the Baekyeom Merchant Group.
"Of course. Please, have a seat."
Drag.
At my words, he sat down.
He was known to be exceptionally sharp.
Though the Baekyeom Merchant Group had weakened somewhat due to an incident midway through, it had climbed back up under Ho Gyeong's leadership as the new head, even vying for a spot among the three great merchant groups of the world alongside ours.
Come to think of it, old man Ho Ju-sin had doted on young master Ho Gyeong immensely.
To the point of saying, "With Gyeong here, I can close my eyes in peace."
But why choose this seat of all places? There were empty spots elsewhere.
At that moment, branch manager Han Baek-geon chuckled and spoke up.
"Looks like this seat caught your eye."
"Ah, yes."
He nodded in agreement.
"There are many people here I'd like to get close to."
Everything was fine, but why say that while looking right at me?
The meaning in his gaze was clear.
He wanted to befriend me.
For someone praised as clever to seek friendship meant I could be of use to him.
It made me proud, knowing our merchant group had grown so much.
Ah, what bliss.
But I couldn't get complacent here.
The throne of the world's greatest merchant group would be ours in the future.
"Excuse me."
Well-dressed servers began placing dishes on the table.
Dumplings stuffed with fish meat.
Spicy stir-fried clams and mild stir-fried clams.
Sea cucumber dishes and shrimp dishes.
Duck dishes and roasted chicken.
And spicy steamed chicken.
"Oh? Isn't this seosiseol clam?"
"It's just coming into season."
True enough—seosiseol clams were eaten from late autumn until just before spring.
A dozen or so other dishes filled the table.
"Please, dig in."
"Thank you. I'll enjoy it."
I reached for the spicy steamed chicken first with my chopsticks.
It reminded me of the steamed chicken I'd had at Geumgye Pavilion last time.
Let's see how this tastes.
I bit into the steamed chicken.
Hm...?
It wasn't bad, but... it felt utterly ordinary.
Geumgye Pavilion's version really was the pinnacle of steamed chicken.
I should take my parents there the day after tomorrow.
With that thought, I moved my chopsticks to other dishes.
"It's a shame we can't serve alcohol due to the liquor ban," Ho Gyeong said.
Branch manager Han Baek-geon picked up the thread.
"I've heard much about Shandong's famous liquors. Made with clear water from Mount Nolsan, they're said to have a deep aroma that clears the mind the more you drink."
"Exactly."
Ho Gyeong nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Please visit sometime. Once the ban is lifted, I'll treat you properly."
The meal stretched on for quite a while.
The purpose of today's gathering wasn't just conversation and bonding—it was also for exchanging information.
In that sense, it was highly enlightening.
Hearing stories from members of other merchant groups with different main products was fascinating.
Before I knew it, lunch had come and gone, and it was nearing the end of the Shen hour (3-5 p.m.).
"Hahaha!"
A booming laugh echoed from where the merchant heads were gathered.
"Today, I'll show you our Ironworks!"
I had a pretty good idea who it was.
Ho Ju-sin, head of the Baekyeom Merchant Group.
Ho Gyeong gave an awkward smile.
"Grandfather must be in high spirits."
Followed by a mutter.
"Though it's disrupting the Ironworks' atmosphere..."
I glanced around, but his voice was so soft that I seemed to be the only one who'd heard.
Thanks to that, I learned something.
Ho Gyeong was as straight-laced as they come.
Above all, he cherished the Ironworks.
He knew it well.
The Ironworks was what had built the Baekyeom Merchant Group—it was their essence.
That's why, in my past life, he could steady the faltering group and get it back on track.
"Come on! Anyone curious about the Ironworks, follow me! Hahaha!"
Someone asked at his words.
"Does that mean the banquet's over?"
"Oh? Right!"
He headed to the drum and beat it.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
And so the gathering of the hundred great merchant groups concluded. I glanced at my waist.
The silver plaque still gleamed brilliantly.
I'll put it to good use.
I grinned and quickly tucked it into my pocket.
"Alright, let's go!"
"I-I'm sorry, but I should head back. My deputy mentioned something urgent..."
"Ah, my apologies. I got carried away. Anyone with pressing matters, feel free to leave first."
"Then I'll..."
With that, several merchant heads exchanged farewells and departed.
They were all busy people, after all.
They had work back at their lodgings or meetings to attend.
Moreover, everyone knew that when Ho Ju-sin got excited, he'd show off his Ironworks—meaning most had toured it several times already.
Father approached and asked.
"Seo-ho, what about you?"
Of course I had to go.
There was a high chance someone acting on the Murim Alliance's orders would cause trouble during our tour.
The Ironworks wasn't open to outsiders otherwise.
"I'd like to take a look."
"Alright. Enjoy the tour. Oh, and leave your outer robe with Palgap on the way. It's quite the hassle in there."
A short while later,
A few merchant heads, most of the branch managers, and young masters followed behind Ho Ju-sin.
Namgung Kang Merchant Group's head excused himself for urgent business.
He'd probably bought off the perpetrator anyway, so he wanted no connection.
He wouldn't risk even a hint of suspicion.
Ho Gyeong and his father followed right behind Ho Ju-sin.
Sons and grandsons had to accompany the family head.
Ho Gyeong gave instructions to his attendant, who dashed off somewhere.
Undoubtedly toward the Ironworks.
I could tell without even focusing my inner energy.
He was ordering all confidential items cleared out since guests were touring.
Watching Ho Ju-sin, eager to boast of his achievements, I felt a twinge of pity.
How much scorn must he have endured in his youth to develop such a habit...?
Following Father's advice, I handed my outer robe to Palgap.
I'd planned to anyway, even without it.
Those who'd dined at my table did the same, passing theirs to attendants.
"This is the Ironworks."
After entering the Baekyeom Merchant Group grounds and walking a bit, a door made of black iron came into view.
"Is that door made of hyeoncheol?"
Ho Gyeong nodded at my question.
"Impressive eye."
Whoa...
Making such a massive door from hyeoncheol? Incredible!
It underscored how vital the place was.
"Open the door."
"Yes!"
The burly gatekeeper worked the mechanism, and the hyeoncheol door swung open.
We stepped inside.
But only the invited could enter.
Attendants and guards had to wait outside.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Hammer strikes on metal echoed from all sides.
The air stung with the smell of iron and acrid burning.
The scent of smelting iron wasn't exactly pleasant.
Still, this place looked much like it had in my past life.
I'd visited a bit later back then, so it made sense.
Ho Ju-sin began the tour.
"This is where we smelt the iron. Goods are made here."
Producing wares near the entrance meant quick transport—and hiding the heavily guarded inner areas from view.
A few branch managers and young masters eyed things eagerly, but Ho Gyeong's swift measures meant no secrets would be revealed.
We ventured deeper.
"Whew, good thing we followed young master Eun and ditched our outer robes."
Branch manager Bok Yun nodded along with the others.
It was an iron forge, after all.
No matter how rushed the cleanup, it couldn't be perfect.
We'd all come in fine clothes—snag one, and it was ruined.
Three had already bumped into things and suffered.
Smelting required fire, so even in early winter, sweat poured.
The artisans working here wore sleeveless garb.
"Thanks to Father's advice."
I didn't feel the heat, but I'd thank him anyway.
We pressed on, soon reaching where boiling molten iron was poured into molds.
Artisans placed molds in boxes, covering them with fine soil.
They were preparing the molds for the molten iron.
Not just any soil would do, apparently.
It had to be extremely fine sand—sedimentary soil, gathered where rivers met the sea.
That's why the Baekyeom Merchant Group was based in Shandong, where such soil was plentiful.
And where iron ore abounded.
All mines belonged to the empire, of course, so they bought the ore outright.
"Whoa! Is that molten iron?"
"So amazing."
To the wide-eyed branch managers and young masters, Ho Gyeong explained.
"It looks simple, but pouring molten iron is the trickiest and most grueling task."
"Why's that?"
"The ladle holds over ten geun of molten iron."
"No way—it doesn't look that heavy."
"Try lifting one yourself. You'll gasp."
That's when I spotted a man among them and flinched.
It was the same guy I'd seen with Namgung Kang's head at Geumgye Pavilion.
According to Jin Yu Warrior's intel, his name was Mak Du, one of the Ironworks' foremen.
I observed him closely.
Then someone called to the Baekyeom head.
"Merchant head! Merchant head!"
"Hm? What is it?"
"Officials from the magistrate's office are here about the mines."
"Now? They know today's the hundred great merchant groups' gathering."
"Yes. They said it was urgent and unavoidable."
He frowned, then apologized to the others.
"Sorry for the circumstances. My son will handle the rest of the tour. It was a pleasure."
"Ah, they're asking for both of you."
"...?"
I had a hunch the officials' visit was part of the Murim Alliance's scheme.
Showing up on the gathering day was suspicious enough.
It could be urgent, sure.
But summoning both at once? My instincts screamed otherwise.
"Grandfather, Father—don't worry. I can guide the guests."
"Right, with Gyeong here. We're counting on you."
The two left the Ironworks, and Ho Gyeong continued the tour.
"This is where we melt the iron, and over there, we extract it from ore."
He pointed to one last spot, as if wrapping up.
"And that's a restricted area."
"Meaning there are secrets inside."
Ho Gyeong shook his head at the merchant head's words.
"Secrets? Nothing like that."
"Then why restrict access?"
"You can enter if you want... but it's extremely dangerous inside."
"Dangerous?"
"Yes. You could get burned by stray sparks or ruin your clothes. Burning impurities from the ore creates massive soot. The stench is unbearable—tears stream down your face."
He continued.
"Anyone still want to go?"
Honestly, I was tempted.
The core of ironworking was smelting high-quality iron.
Even the best artisan couldn't make good products from poor iron.
But I didn't want to stand out.
Observing Mak Du took priority.
No one raised a hand.
"Good. You've seen it all—shall we head back?"
He added explanations on the way out.
But inwardly, I couldn't help chuckling.
It seemed friendly, but he artfully skipped all the key details.
No wonder Ho Ju-sin was so proud of him.
Retracing our steps, we reached the molten iron pouring area again.
That was when—