Backroom Deal (4)
My words made Jinho hyung shoot me a glare.
"Seo-ho."
"What?"
"Can't you just comfort me at a time like this?"
I gave an awkward smile at his grumbling.
Jinho hyung, seriously... You should ask someone who can actually comfort you for that.
The one who brought Sister Hyang-ok here was me.
.
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
Today was finally the last day of the Heavenly Dynasty's sparring tournament.
The Dae Nok warrior would face off against Jegal Yu-a, the young lady of the Jegal Clan, and since Jinho hyung had forfeited, his opponent would advance by walkover.
And in the afternoon, Sister Hyang-ok would finally take the stage.
I left Yeonpung Inn early in the morning and headed straight for the Ji Clan manor.
As I approached the main gate, the gatekeeper asked,
"What brings you here?"
"I'm here to see Young Master Ji Kyung-hwa. Tell him Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group has arrived."
"Understood."
The gatekeeper summoned a servant to relay the message, and soon the servant came running back.
"The young master says to come inside."
I entered with my entourage.
Today, I'd brought Seo-hyang, the branch manager, Jin Yu warrior, and I Pil warrior.
I'd brought Seo-hyang because we needed to draft a contract here today.
She was the one managing my contracts at the moment.
Of course, this one would be a secret deal, but Seo-hyang was trustworthy.
But the place I was led to wasn't a reception room.
This was...
The door opened, and Young Master Ji Kyung-hwa emerged.
"Please, come in."
"I haven't kept you waiting, have I?"
"Not at all. Please, enter."
The room I'd been shown to was a conference hall.
Inside weren't just Young Master Ji Kyung-hwa, but also men who appeared to be his grandfather and father.
"I am Ji Jung, lord of the Ji Clan."
"I am Ji Hyun-cheol, young lord of the Ji Clan."
Just as I'd expected.
I didn't fluster and offered a clasped-hand salute, greeting them in return.
"Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group greets you."
As my greeting ended, Young Master Ji Kyung-hwa spoke up.
"I told my grandfather and father about the deal we discussed yesterday. This isn't something I can handle on my own."
"I figured as much."
"I hope you aren't upset that I informed my elders without your permission first."
"Why would I be?"
This was within expectations.
It was just a matter of whether they'd consulted after my visit or beforehand.
Even as the grandson of the clan lord, he couldn't decide such a major clan matter alone.
That was why I'd said I would visit the manor in person.
But informing them ahead like this had saved me some trouble.
I turned to the clan lord and young lord, asking,
"Since Young Master Ji has explained everything, I needn't elaborate. Have you made your decision?"
"We have. We have no intention of accepting your proposal."
The clan lord's firm reply.
Well, it wasn't entirely unexpected, though I'd rated the odds low.
"I see. May I ask why?"
"Our house is an old, established family of Shaanxi. We're not about to be swayed by some lowly merchant just because we're short on funds."
"You're refreshingly blunt. I figured you'd beat around the bush with some face-saving excuse."
"Now that you understand, be on your way."
At that curt dismissal, Young Master Ji Kyung-hwa cried out desperately.
"Grandfather! Please reconsider!"
"Quiet."
The clan lord barked at Young Master Ji Kyung-hwa, then turned to me with a surly glare.
"What are you waiting for? Out."
"Before I go, may I ask two things?"
"Make it quick."
"Have they made any other offers?"
"No."
"That's a relief. When I tracked them down, they were already dead, and the cave they'd been in had collapsed. Likely to cut off loose ends."
Their expressions turned strange at my words, as if wondering what on earth I was talking about.
I continued.
"On the way back, though, I got curious. Why would the Ji Clan, which had always focused solely on martial arts, suddenly dip into business?"
"......"
"Even if there were circumstances forcing your hand, you'd normally seek advice from a merchant acquaintance for such ventures. But from the looks of it, you didn't. You shun merchants as lowly, so it seems you lack the eye to spot a good one."
He glared at me.
"Are you insulting me?"
"Perish the thought."
I pressed on calmly.
"I just found it awfully strange. You disdain merchants as base yet started a business to make money. Isn't doing business what merchants do? For a clan venturing into trade to shun merchants... doesn't that strike you as odd?"
"Th-that's..."
He knew it didn't make sense, even to himself.
"And it's even stranger that you'd refuse to deal with merchants but join hands with the unorthodox paths."
The clan lord looked flustered.
"What are you saying? The unorthodox paths all of a sudden...?"
"So you knew who they were?"
"They were subordinates of a manor lord from Henan Province. They came to help after hearing of our plight."
"Does a typical manor lord instruct people to kill during a friendly spar?"
"...What are you talking about? We just set victory as the condition."
The clan lord seemed genuinely puzzled.
I shook my head and fixed Young Master Ji Kyung-hwa with a steady gaze.
The clan lord and young lord, sensing something amiss as well, turned to him.
Unable to bear their stares, Young Master Ji Kyung-hwa dropped to his knees.
"I'm sorry! Grandfather! Father!"
He bowed his head low and shouted,
"There's something I haven't told you both. They secretly summoned me to an abandoned manor on the outskirts of Luoyang and threatened me. They ordered me to kill my opponent on the sparring stage."
"What?"
"What do you mean, Kyung-hwa?"
"They said if I didn't follow their orders, there'd be no debt repayment."
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"They ordered me to keep it secret. They said even if I told anyone else, they'd withdraw the offer to repay our debts."
"......"
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you sooner."
So that's how it was.
That explained their odd expressions when I'd mentioned the men's demise.
"After the young master's match, I tailed them and learned they were from the unorthodox paths. So a famed orthodox clan had allied with them, becoming their puppets."
The clan lord waved his hands in bewilderment.
"W-we had no idea!"
Well, ignorance let you act so boldly.
I pulled a letter from my bosom and placed it on the table.
"I found this where they were."
The young lord approached first and picked it up.
He read it, then squeezed his eyes shut.
"What's it say to get that reaction?"
Instead of answering, the young lord handed the letter to the clan lord.
The clan lord read it and sighed deeply.
"Ha! Unbelievable!"
Then, with a puzzled look, he asked,
"But why give this to us?"
"I could submit it to the Murim Alliance, of course."
That would spell the end for the Ji Clan.
No other faction would forgive a clan that allied with the unorthodox to sabotage the grand assembly.
That's why they were reacting this way.
"But I'll hand it over to the Ji Clan instead."
"Why?"
"Who knows? I just feel like it."
"Are you expecting us to accept your proposal in exchange for this?"
I chuckled at the clan lord's words.
"That'd be blackmail, wouldn't it? No different from those unorthodox scum who threatened your clan."
"......"
"If it doesn't make sense, chalk it up to me being a merchant. And merchants never chase short-term gains alone."
I continued.
"Now for my second question. Without accepting my proposal, do you have a way to settle your debts?"
The clan lord fell silent for a moment before speaking reluctantly.
"Truth be told... I was thinking of pleading with them one more time. But now that I know the truth, I see how ridiculous that was."
"I see."
I rose and offered a clasped-hand salute.
"Then farewell."
"Where are you going?"
I smiled at their words.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't deal with a lowly merchant like me? And you told me to leave. I've got my answers to both questions, so I should be on my way."
With no lingering attachment, I turned and left the conference room.
"Let's go."
I led my entourage out of the Ji Clan manor.
Then I asked Jin Yu warrior,
"Did you scout around? Spot anyone you know?"
I meant, was there anyone from the Alliance Lord in the Ji Clan.
That's why I'd brought Jin Yu warrior.
He shook his head.
"No one."
"Good. Less work for us."
Then I Pil warrior spoke up.
"Still, I didn't expect we'd leave empty-handed."
"Empty-handed?"
I chuckled.
"No need to worry. I half-expected this. And we've lost nothing."
Even if I couldn't get a hold on the Ji Clan, it cost me nothing.
Instead, I'd pocket the five million nyang of silver they were supposed to get back.
Seo-hyang asked at my confident words,
"Will they reach out?"
"Can't say for sure. But one thing's certain—they're scared shitless right now."
.
.
.
We headed straight to the sparring grounds and joined the rest of the escorts there.
"You're here, young master."
"Yeah."
"How'd it go?"
"It's in progress."
With that, we entered the grounds and took our seats.
"You made it."
"Yes, Father."
I turned to see Jinho hyung staring at the sparring platform with a face full of regret.
Honestly, Jinho hyung's opponent would end up being Jegal Yu-a, the young lady.
And she had a knack for instinctively spotting weaknesses.
It didn't work well against those stronger than her, but against equals or weaker foes, she pinpointed flaws with uncanny precision.
And exploited them ruthlessly.
That was why she was called the Hundred Strategies Cold Sword.
She couldn't possibly miss Jinho hyung's injury.
And she wouldn't go easy because of it.
In the end, he'd lose the match and risk worsening his injury.
But telling him that wouldn't convince him. So...
"Keep it up, and I'll call Sister Hyang-ok."
"Ugh!"
Jinho hyung's eyes lost their regret instantly. Hmm, effective as always.
Then Geum Yeon-hwa, the chief referee, ascended the platform.
"We now begin the Heavenly Dynasty tournament's afternoon preliminaries. First match: the miracle man, wielder of the Storm Sword title—Dae Nok warrior!"
"Wooooaaah!"
Dae Nok warrior climbed onto the platform amid the crowd's cheers.
"His opponent: the Hundred Strategies Cold Sword, young lady of the Jegal Clan—Jegal Yu-a!"
"Wooooaaah!"
The crowd chanted their names.
Both wore seven plaques on their bodies and faced each other wordlessly on the platform.
Doong!
The drum sounded, and the match began.
They circled, probing each other in a tedious standoff. When it ended, Jegal Yu-a struck first.
Her taking the initiative—what was she planning?
Kwajik!
One of Dae Nok warrior's plaques shattered and scattered in her opening strike.
Her assault didn't let up.
Kkaang!
Kkang!
Swords clashed, sparks flying. But Dae Nok warrior, not drawing on hidden power through rage, was merely first-rate.
He couldn't match Jegal Yu-a, a pinnacle expert.
When four plaques remained,
"Raaargh!"
Dae Nok warrior let out a beastly roar and charged.
Here we go.
But Jegal Yu-a didn't clash head-on. She dodged nimbly, dragging out the time.
Ah, she'd already figured it out.
The limit on how long Dae Nok warrior could sustain his power-up.
That's why she avoided direct hits, buying time.
"Raaagh!"
And enraging him to boot.
Not knowing rage fueled his hidden power, she was goading him on purpose.
Just as I'd predicted.
Even after his power window had long passed, he was still fighting at pinnacle level.
Then it happened.
Jegal Yu-a smirked.
Huh? What?
Soon after, Dae Nok warrior's legs buckled.
Jegal Yu-a didn't miss it.
Whirick!
A spinning kick landed in an instant.
Thwack!
Struck, Dae Nok warrior toppled backward.
"......"
There were several ways to decide defeat in friendly spars.
All seven plaques destroyed, or falling out of bounds.
Or collapsing and failing to rise before the referee's count ended.
"One! Two! Three! Four!......"
Geum Yeon-hwa's call rang out.
"Nine, ten! Victory to Jegal Yu-a!"
"Wooooaaah!"
"Hundred Strategies Cold Sword! Hundred Strategies Cold Sword!"
Amid the cheers, Dae Nok warrior was carried off to the medical tent on a stretcher.
I clicked my tongue and stood.
I could guess why he ended up like that.
"Palgap."
"Yes, young master!"
"Grab some dumplings and head to the medical tent. He's probably starving."
"Got it."
I couldn't leave yet. I had to keep an eye on Jinho hyung.
By the way, the Ji Clan lord and young lord watching from the front row—now that was a sight.
If the Ji Clan came asking for a contract, I'd need to add one more clause.
Mental re-education.
And for the instructor... hmm, Sister Hyang-ok would be perfect.