Departure (3)
Mo Cheong flinched at that voice.
He couldn't tell who was calling him, but a powerful instinct told him that obeying it was the only way he'd survive.
It was an intuition honed through countless crises.
"Fine."
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
In an instant, his acupoints were sealed. As he panicked, the mysterious man said,
"It's for hemostasis on your wounds, and moving would be dangerous right now, so I've temporarily sealed your points. We'll release them once it's safe."
From that moment, the sights before his eyes were astonishing.
It was too dark to see clearly, but he could tell he was being carried on someone's shoulder, moving away from his pursuers.
He escaped them in the blink of an eye.
Was it relief at finally being safe, or the accumulated fatigue crashing down? He blacked out in an instant.
When Mo Cheong opened his eyes, he looked around in confusion.
He was in a clean room, covered with a fine blanket.
"Where... ugh!"
He tried to sit up but felt pain and lay back down.
The throbbing in his side confirmed that his near-death experience hadn't been a dream.
Just then, the door to his room opened, and a man entered. An extraordinarily handsome face.
Mo Cheong was startled upon seeing him. He knew exactly who it was.
"Eun... Eunhae Merchant Group's Young Division Leader Eun?"
"Good, you're conscious. How's your body feeling?"
"More importantly... it was you calling for me?"
"Yes. That's right."
"Why me...?"
"I need your help with the Changhae Merchant Group."
Jin Yu Warrior had brought Manager Mo Cheong to Nanjing that morning.
Early May.
Perfect timing.
Mo Cheong was a mess. Wounds from his escape, and...
Well, he'd been fleeing those guys until now—no wonder he wasn't unscathed.
At least he's alive. That's a relief.
Anyway, they called a physician for treatment, bathed him, and changed him into clean clothes.
And as soon as I heard he'd woken, I came right over.
He recognizes me, as expected.
I have gotten pretty famous. Still, showing my face like this is to build trust.
If I hid it, he wouldn't trust me enough to cooperate.
And my proposal isn't a bad deal anyway.
At my words about helping the Changhae Merchant Group, a flash of pity and rage crossed his face.
"So... it came to this. I suspected as much when I was ambushed on my way back after collecting money from the Changhae Merchant Group."
He tried to sit up.
"Please stay lying down. Your wounds haven't healed yet."
"No. I can't express my gratitude from a bed."
He insisted on getting up and bowed to me with a cupped-fist salute.
"Thank you for saving my life. And forgive my late introduction. I'm Mo Cheong, the debt manager for the Baekcheon Merchant Group."
I returned the salute with a bow.
"I'm Eun Seo-ho, Young Division Leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group. I'd be truly grateful if you'd help the Changhae Merchant Group, who were unjustly robbed of their group. And... it's a relief you're alive."
At my words, Manager Mo suddenly shed tears.
"Ugh! I survived like this, but my escort warrior... lost his life. To save me..."
I could understand that feeling.
In my previous life, my guards had sacrificed themselves to save me more than once or twice.
Even on the day I died.
"How can words express such grief? So please understand that I dare not offer empty comfort."
He nodded at my words.
"Then... will you help me? Help the Changhae Merchant Group?"
"Of course. We must. I will."
A moment later.
Once he'd calmed himself, Manager Mo asked me,
"But the Eunhae Merchant Group helping the Changhae... are you two close?"
"No. No relation at all."
"Then why?"
"I like fair competition. It doesn't sit right competing with someone who's fallen into crisis through such cowardly means."
His expression shifted oddly at my words.
What? That face—like holding a warm dumpling in midwinter?
"You're a noble person."
"Noble? Where's a noble merchant? I'm just a businessman."
"Now I see why they call you Seonhyeopmirang."
Ugh!
That nickname again, here of all places.
And I'm not really a good guy. This is for revenge against the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
"Ahem, you're too kind."
"Humble, too. Anyway, how can I help?"
To his question, I replied,
"This all happened because the Changhae Merchant Group couldn't repay their debt to the Baekcheon Merchant Group."
"So you need my testimony that I definitely received the money."
"Exactly."
Manager Mo pondered briefly, then spoke.
"Hm, there's actually a better way."
"What way?"
He explained, folding his fingers.
"When I record in the ledger, after receiving money from the debtor, I get three signatures: mine, the debtor's, and a third party's."
"Third party?"
"Usually the local magistrate of the area."
"...!"
"If the debtor comes to Luoyang, I get the Luoyang magistrate's signature. If I go to them, I get the local magistrate's."
"No one else knows this?"
"Only I see the ledger, so no one else knows. I never mentioned it. Even the debtors don't know—the magistrate's signature comes later. This time, I stopped by the Changhae Merchant Group in Cheongdo on the way back and got the magistrate's signature."
Of course—if the Changhae knew, they'd have gone to the magistrate crying injustice.
Since they didn't, they must not know.
Or more likely, the Baekcheon tampered before that.
Why go through such hassle, though...?
"Were you worried about the debtors?"
He gave a wry smile and nodded.
"Seeing how the Baekcheon operates, I figured that ledger might protect them. It's heartbreaking watching them struggle to repay debts—something to shield them seemed necessary. But to think it'd be used like this."
He continued with a resolute expression.
"And that ledger... I've hidden it."
Baekcheon Merchant Group.
Division Leader Namgung Gang glared at the warrior's report.
"What? He got away?"
"I-I'm sorry! Just as we were about to take his head, the torches suddenly went out... By the time we relit them, he was gone without a trace."
The trembling reporter was the guard who'd been ordered to kill Manager Mo Cheong.
"Couldn't even take out a weak manager without martial prowess? That hard?"
"I-I'm sorry."
"Sorry doesn't fix it! Don't just say it—show me with actions!"
"H-He... hides like a rat so well..."
"Enough. Get out."
The guard fled the office at Namgung Gang's irritated outburst.
"Useless fool..."
His adjutant spoke up.
"Shouldn't we take some countermeasures?"
Namgung Gang shook his head.
"I know Mo's personality well. He's always been timid, scared of getting hurt. If he wants to live, he won't show his face."
"But..."
"Drop it. No need to worry. Right now, trade with Dai Viet is priority. How's the cargo selection going?"
"Of course. Manager Ji is handling it well."
But he knew.
That Manager Ji Taemun was picking premium items that offered kickbacks.
The reason he kept quiet was simple.
He was getting a cut too.
Just then, something crucial about Mo Cheong flickered in his mind.
What was it? Something very important related to Manager Mo...
Learning of the ledger from Manager Mo Cheong, I moved immediately.
First, retrieve the ledger.
Hm, send Jin Yu Warrior again? Feels like overworking him...
"What're you pondering so hard?"
"Huh?"
"You looked troubled."
I nodded at Palgap's words and shared my concern.
He replied nonchalantly.
"Why worry? We have Geum-ryeong."
"Huh?"
"A ledger won't be heavy, so Geum-ryeong can fetch it."
"Great idea! As expected of you, Palgap!"
Palgap looked displeased at my praise.
"Honestly, I don't like how that Geum-ryeong keeps climbing on me, but I'll acknowledge what's due."
Hey, Palgap?
Geum-ryeong isn't climbing you—it's just teasing. And it's only into money, no ranks. You're imagining things...
But saying that wouldn't get through to him.
"Then go get one of Manager Mo's items."
A moment later, Palgap returned with the clothes Mo Cheong had been wearing.
I tapped the sleeve.
"Geum-ryeong. Come out."
"Kkwi?"
"Want silver? Run an errand."
"Kkwi!"
Its eyes sparkled at "silver."
"The owner of these clothes had a ledger. Bring it."
Geum-ryeong sniffed the clothes, then vanished out the window.
And it returned... in less than an hour.
Wow, it's fast.
"Kkwi!"
Geum-ryeong placed what it carried in its mouth on the desk.
Hm... is the ledger damp from saliva?
"Why carry it in your mouth? You could've stored it in your subspace."
"Kkwi! Kkuk-kwi! Kku!"
Ah, so subspace only for traveling with me or with permission?
You would've if I'd said so?
It was tough carrying it like this?
Oh, my fault.
I scratched my neck.
"Next time, store it in subspace and bring it. Got it?"
"Kkwi!"
"Here, silver."
Geum-ryeong gulped the silver I offered, then slipped happily into my sleeve.
I opened the ledger and examined it.
Whoa, this is huge.
As a list of Baekcheon debtors, it meant people closely tied to them or unable to refuse their demands.
Invaluable intel for us to counter them later.
And there it was—what I sought.
Proof that Changhae had fully repaid their debt.
I stood and headed to Manager Mo.
"Here, found it."
I entered his cabin and handed him the ledger.
Mo Cheong fumbled as he took it.
"Th-this... you found it this fast?"
"I'm pretty capable."
"Impressive. I thought it'd take at least five days, even rushing."
"So this is the ledger you mentioned."
"Yes."
"Then let's proceed properly. Oh, and with this, if you don't want, we'll keep your whereabouts secret."
"I'm fine. But please..."
The weight in that plea.
I nodded calmly.
"Yes."
Leaving his cabin, I told Palgap,
"Tell Changhae's Young Division Leader Song Un I want to see him."
"Got it."
"And I need to meet the magistrate."
That evening.
I met Young Division Leader Song Un at a nearby tavern.
No issue if others saw us—merchants dining together was common.
After a short wait, he entered the room I'd reserved.
"Come in."
"Ah, good to see you."
Song Un looked much haggard. No wonder, with the mental strain.
"Sit."
He sat, and food arrived.
"I'd offer liquor, but the alcohol ban prevents it. Have some tea."
"Thanks."
He downed the tea thirstily.
"Any news lately? Hard to see you."
He sighed, face darkening as he spoke heavily.
"Watching everything I devoted my life to—the Changhae Merchant Group—fall apart... it hurts too much, so I've just been avoiding it."
"I see."
"What can you do? It's come to this..."
Resigned tone.
"Anyway, thanks for remembering and calling a nobody like me."
"Why say that?"
I smiled.
"Truth is, I asked to see you because I found something very interesting."
I spread the ledger before him.
"Recognize this handwriting?"
Song Un's eyes widened at the sight.
"Th-this...!"