The Meaning of Advice (2)
A short while later.
We gathered again in the meeting room and decided to carry out my proposal.
With the help of Branch Manager Seong Jun-baek, we gathered information and prepared thoroughly.
A few days later, the day of the operation arrived.
"Please take care of yourself."
Bidding farewell to Branch Manager Seong Jun-baek, we left the Yun Nam Province branch and headed for Chun Gyeong Castle.
The Seo-u Warrior's experience proved invaluable on that journey.
He had been in charge of this region when he worked as an escort leader for the transport company before.
"You must never touch the sap from that tree. It's poisonous."
"I can handle that level of poison."
"A great hero like you might, but the horse can't. Do you plan to walk after losing your mount?"
"……."
"The roots of that grass are quite tasty. Roast them over a fire, and they're sweet—worth eating."
"Is that so?"
"But never eat the stems or leaves! You'll suffer from dysentery."
After receiving such help a few times, we stopped questioning the Seo-u Warrior's words from then on.
And so, we arrived safely at Chun Gyeong Castle.
Armed soldiers standing guard spotted us and came rushing over.
Clang!
They aimed their weapons at us and shouted.
"Back off! Outsiders aren't allowed here!"
But I calmly dismounted, cupped my hands in salute, and said to them.
"I am Eun Seo-ho, sub-leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group. Hearing that a great undertaking is afoot here, I came to see if I could lend a hand. Please don't treat me poorly."
At my words, they glanced at each other and whispered.
"Eunhae Merchant Group?"
"Isn't that the huge merchant group?"
"Why would they come here?"
I slipped some silver to them and said.
"I'd be grateful if you could pass the word inside."
"Ahem! Fine."
One of the soldiers went inside, and a moment later, he returned.
"They say to come in."
"Thank you."
Following the soldier's guidance, we entered.
I subtly scanned the interior of the castle.
From the faces of those coming and going, I could gauge the situation here.
As I suspected, they looked extremely destitute.
We were led to what appeared to be the castle lord's residence and shown to a guest room.
As we drank tea there, a man entered.
"Pleased to meet you. I am Eun Seo-ho, sub-leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"I am Yeon Yu-mun, the eldest son of the lord of Chun Gyeong Castle."
So this was the castle lord's eldest son.
He looked younger than expected—mid-twenties, perhaps?
Two men stood behind him like bodyguards.
"Is the castle lord away on a trip?"
His eyes flickered for a moment.
But I didn't let on that I'd noticed.
"Does the lord himself need to come for something like this?"
"It might not seem important from your position, but it's fairly significant from mine."
I continued.
"I've decided to lend a hand in Chun Gyeong Castle's great undertaking. It wouldn't do if you later claimed ignorance of my sincerity."
"No need to worry about that."
"I'm a merchant. Leave me a document with a firm guarantee. Ideally, one stamped with the castle lord's seal."
He pondered for a moment, then asked.
"Before that, one question. How did you learn of our affairs?"
"You're underestimating the Eunhae Merchant Group's intelligence network. I'm hurt."
"Ah, my apologies. So, how much support do you plan to provide?"
"Would this much suffice for starters?"
I gave a signal with my eyes, and the Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Yi Pil Warrior set down the box they were carrying.
Thud!
The two warriors opened the box.
It was filled to the brim with silver and gold ingots.
Yeon Yu-mun's eyes widened as he alternated glances between me and the box.
"A-are you serious?"
"Merchants express their hearts with money. Does this convince you of my sincerity?"
Meanwhile, the eyes of the two men standing behind Yeon Yu-mun gleamed with greed.
I kicked the lid shut with my foot.
Bang!
The hinged lid slammed closed with a loud noise.
Smiling, I said.
"But I can only hand it over after receiving a document authenticated by the castle lord himself and stamped with his seal."
"……."
I noticed one of the men behind tap Yeon Yu-mun on the back.
"Of course. But it might take some time."
"I can wait a few days."
"By the way, why are those with you wearing masks?"
One of the men behind—the one on the left—asked that.
They weren't going to let it slide easily.
The masked ones were the Gold Guard great heroes accompanying me.
Since they knew the faces of the Gold Guard dispatched here and their associates, they wore masks.
Of course, this was within expectations, so I replied calmly.
"You're quite interested in my escorts."
"It's a natural question for your guards."
"Merchant group business isn't always aboveboard, is it? I brought them because they might be useful for this."
"That Seonhyeopmirang, you mean? Unexpected."
"I'm working hard to protect my reputation. Reputation makes money, after all. Heh."
"Still, we can't overlook uncertainties. Have them remove their masks and show their faces. Otherwise, no deal."
"What's so hard about that?"
I ordered them.
"Remove your masks and show your faces."
"Understood."
They removed their masks.
But their faces were quite different from their real ones.
They were already wearing human skin masks.
One thing we'd invested the most time and effort in while preparing this plan was those human skin masks.
The knowledge I'd memorized from the study in the cave where the real Dang Yeon-chil was imprisoned during my visit to the Sichuan Dang Clan had proven very helpful.
Using that knowledge, we'd crafted them from pigskin, and they looked quite convincing.
"……."
The two men nodded at the revealed faces.
"Good enough."
"May they put their masks back on now?"
"Go ahead."
At my words, they donned their masks again.
The reason for wearing masks over the human skin masks was that prolonged use of the latter was difficult.
In this hot, humid climate, it caused rashes on the real skin, which was painful, and it could deform the mask.
So the plan was to show their faces to dispel suspicion, then just wear the masks afterward.
"But are they really your escorts?"
The man on the right asked.
Good grief, so damn suspicious.
But with their lives on the line, they had no choice.
"What would it take to earn your trust?"
"If they bark like dogs……."
"Number Six."
"Yes!"
At my call, one masked figure stepped forward.
We couldn't use the great heroes' real names, so we'd assigned numbers from One to Six.
And Number Six was the great hero So-un, whom I'd soundly scolded before.
"Kneel and bark."
At my command, he knelt.
"Whoa……."
But he hesitated and didn't do it right away.
Slap!
I struck his cheek with my palm and gave him a cold glare.
"Planning to embarrass me in front of them?"
"S-sorry! Please forgive me, Sub-leader!"
"I'll give you one more chance."
"Woof! Woof!"
Great Hero So-un barked like a dog before me, and I grabbed his chin, lifting it as I said.
"Don't disappoint me again."
"I won't forget."
Fear of me still lingered in his eyes.
Seo Hyang So-jeo's advice had been spot on.
I said to them.
"Their training is incomplete, so they acted shamefully. Is this enough?"
He nodded at my question.
"No room for doubt now."
"Rise and return to your positions."
"Yes!"
Great Hero So-un quickly stood and went back to his spot.
"So, how long until we hear back?"
Yeon Yu-mun replied.
"It won't take long. He'll return in a day or two."
"Then you can arrange lodging for us in the meantime, right?"
"Naturally. But…… investing in us—what are you thinking?"
"Merchants think only of profit. We don't care about right or wrong when it comes to gains."
.
.
.
A short while later.
We were shown to our lodgings.
It was a separate annex within the castle lord's residence.
I spread my senses widely to check for eavesdroppers.
Confirming no one was around, I saluted the So-un Warrior.
"You did well. It must have been quite humiliating."
"For the mission, what does my pride matter?"
A fine attitude.
"Everyone, keep the human skin masks on until tomorrow."
"Understood."
This time, it was Great Hero Kwon Jik who replied.
Due to the importance of this incident, they'd agreed to use formal speech with me even in private.
To avoid any slips.
By the way, when I'd asked Yeon Yu-mun, "Is the castle lord away?" the emotion in his eyes had been anger.
And the men behind him had acted like puppeteers.
I asked Great Hero Kwon Jik.
"Those men behind Young Master Yeon earlier…… Gold Guard?"
They nodded at my question.
As expected.
I pieced it together.
This affair wasn't orchestrated by Chun Gyeong Castle.
The castle lord's side had simply been blackmailed by them.
But the empire razed it, and the lord met a gruesome end.
Whoa…….
What utter scum!
They'd exploited and discarded this place for their own gain—vermin not worth spitting on!
The Emperor must have been too enraged by his son's death to judge clearly.
What father stays sane after losing a son?
But at some point, he learned the truth.
I didn't know the full details of Crown Prince Juhyeon's death, but I remembered the Emperor coming to Yun Nam to perform rites.
Eunhae Merchant Group staff dispatched there had sent letters about it.
Now I understood why he'd gone all the way to Yun Nam for the rites.
A form of atonement, but what good was that?
The dead wouldn't return.
Moreover, the punitive expedition by King Seongbo had cost the Eunhae Merchant Group dearly.
We couldn't supply boycha, and were even drafted for logistics.
So this time, I had to set things right without a repeat.
But one thing puzzled me.
Why did I sense the aura of black path practitioners from them?
Chun Gyeong Castle, the castle lord's residence.
Yeon Yu-mun stood in the center of the most luxurious room there.
"Well done. Keep it up, and you won't end up like the castle lord."
At those words, Yeon Yu-mun bowed his head and bit his lip.
He recalled the events from a month ago.
Imperial envoys had arrived, and fearing they'd plunder as before, everyone was on edge.
But this time, a crown prince was with the envoy, and he noticed their atrocities.
Terrified of the consequences, they threatened the castle lord with weapons and declared.
The castle lord naturally protested the absurdity, and as a result, his left arm was severed, and he was imprisoned.
Thus, he became their puppet, obeying their commands.
"By the way, can we trust that Eun Seo-ho?"
"Worried?"
Not caring that Yeon Yu-mun was there, they conversed openly.
"You heard it in the palace too— he's favored by the Emperor. And his companions are suspicious."
"True, the Gold Guard main force should arrive soon."
"Not Gold Guard. Those proud bastards barking like dogs before a lowly merchant?"
"Yeah, impossible."
"Exactly. No matter if he's called Seonhyeopmirang, he's still a money-grubbing merchant at heart."
As they talked, they turned to the man seated at the head.
"So, what do you think?"
The man at the head looked up at the question.
"I don't see the possibility either."
"Then we accept the support?"
"Yes. That money will greatly aid our great undertaking."
Only then did they address Yeon Yu-mun.
"You still here?"
"……."
"Leave."
"Yes."
Yeon Yu-mun left the room with a bitter expression.
As he headed to his quarters, hiding his grief, he encountered a handsome young man.
A beautiful face under the moonlight.
It was Eun Seo-ho.
"Ah, we meet again. I was admiring the moon."
"I see."
"If it's not too presumptuous, I'd like to tour the residence."
Yeon Yu-mun nodded.
Honestly, he didn't want to go inside in his current mood. And since they'd decided to accept Eun Seo-ho's support, it seemed fine.
They strolled the grounds, exchanging light conversation.
As they walked by the pond, Eun Seo-ho's sound transmission reached him.
— So, where is the castle lord imprisoned right now?
Startled by the transmission, Yeon Yu-mun whipped his head around.
"As I thought, you…… Urk!"
But he couldn't finish. Eun Seo-ho had kicked him into the pond.
Splash!