Official Games and Pirate Onslaught
Of course, he had no idea it was fake.
“No! Something this precious!”
His eyes widened, and his mouth gaped open in a goofy grin.
“Are you sure I can really accept this?”
“Of course.”
I flashed a sly smile on purpose.
“Truth be told, I was racking my brain over what to give the Branch Lord when I unexpectedly came across this.”
Then I smoothly continued.
“By any chance, do you know of a merchant group called the Mu Clan Merchant Group in Seomunhyeon across the way?”
The Branch Lord flinched at my question.
“Hm? Uh... Is there such a place?”
Pretending not to know when he clearly did...
“Before coming to Hainan Island, I stopped at an inn where the rice was exceptionally good. When I heard it was from the Mu Clan Merchant Group, I bought twenty seok of their rice. And as an advance payment of one hundred thousand nyang, I took this as collateral.”
“Collateral means you have to return it later, right?”
“No problem. I can just pay them its full value in cash.”
“What magnanimity!”
“I'm grateful you see it that way.”
“I wonder if I really deserve something this precious.”
“You more than deserve it, my lord.”
“Ahem, well then, I'll gratefully accept it.”
He pulled the box toward himself and broke into a warm smile.
“If you have any discomfort during your stay on Hainan Island, feel free to come to me anytime.”
“Your words alone are thanks enough.”
Alright, I'd created a friendly atmosphere with the fake golden toad. Now it was time to collect my due.
“That said... I'm a bit worried the county magistrate where I'm staying might take offense that I came to see you first.”
“Which county are you staying in right now?”
I told him the county, and the Branch Lord nodded.
“Indeed, he might. He's awfully petty like that. But don't worry. I'll write you a letter of introduction for him.”
He immediately fetched brush, inkstone, and paper from nearby, wrote the letter, and handed it to me.
“If anything comes up, just give this to him.”
“Thank you.”
I read the letter.
It was basically an order not to hold back any support for me, but reading between the lines, it meant:
'Mess with Seonhyeopmirang, and you won't even leave bones behind.'
Perfect. That settled the issue with the county magistrate.
“By the way, could I ask one more favor?”
“What is it?”
“I'm planning to visit that Chen fellow you mentioned earlier. Wouldn't an introduction letter from you make him treat me better than just saying you sent me?”
“That makes sense! Very well, I'll write you one.”
“Thank you.”
Chaehong Merchant Group's leader, Cheon Cheon-man... I needed to look into him too.
With the letter and introduction in hand, I returned to the inn.
The Hainan Sect disciples who had stayed to look after me rushed out to greet me.
“Welcome back, Great Hero!”
“Yes, I'm back.”
But their expressions suggested something had happened.
“What happened?”
“Well...”
One of the disciples sighed at my question.
“This morning, the county magistrate stopped by. He threw a fit, saying you insolently came here without paying respects to him first, then left.”
Just as Seo-hyang had predicted.
Since I already knew, I nodded calmly.
“I see.”
“Yes. And he demanded you come see him personally.”
I chuckled.
“Let's go right now.”
Best to handle annoyances all at once.
And so, we headed straight to the county office.
“What brings you here?”
I told the gatekeeper,
“I'm Eun Seo-ho, vice leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
At my introduction, the two gatekeepers gasped.
“You're that Seonhyeopmirang Great Hero?”
“So they call me.”
“Please wait a moment.”
One gatekeeper hurried inside, then returned with a troubled look.
“My apologies. The county magistrate says he has too much official business today and can't meet you.”
Such outright snubbing—it's been a while.
He was openly showing his displeasure toward me without a second thought.
What official business at this hour? And a busy official personally visits my inn in the morning?
I smiled and said,
“Well, nothing to be done. I came because the Branch Lord told me to after I saw him today...”
I took the letter from my bosom.
“This is a letter from the Branch Lord for the county magistrate. Please deliver it to him.”
“Understood.”
“Then we'll be off.”
We turned and headed back to the inn.
To the county magistrate, the Branch Lord was practically two ranks above—a direct superior.
Once he read that letter, he'd probably shit himself.
.
.
.
.
The next morning.
Rain pattered steadily from dawn, so I listened to it while circulating my qi in my room and did some light training.
Before, after seeing me train indoors, she had wanted to do the same, so I'd taught her a few simple methods.
We trained together in the room, then went downstairs for breakfast when the noise outside grew rowdy.
Hm? What's going on?
The inn's errand boy rushed over to me.
“G-Great Hero Seonhyeopmirang. The county magistrate is here to see you.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“How...”
“Prepare a quiet room.”
“Yes.”
Soon, the county magistrate entered the inn, and I went out to greet him.
“Vice Leader Eun Seo-ho pays respects to the County Magistrate.”
“Ahem, ahem. Good to see you.”
“What brings you all the way here? I tried visiting last evening, but I heard you were tied up with official duties...”
“Ah, that matter's all settled now.”
“I see. You must have worked late—have a seat.”
“I'm fine. So, you met the Branch Lord yesterday?”
“Yes. Since it's my first time here, wasn't it proper to pay respects to the Branch Lord overseeing all of Hainan Island first?”
“Y-Yes, quite right.”
“I hope it didn't offend you...”
At my question, he waved it off.
“Not at all! Why would I? Haha! I'm not that narrow-minded.”
The Branch Lord called you petty, though?
“Do you plan to visit the Branch Lord again anytime soon?”
“Not at the moment, but business might take me there.”
“R-Right. If you need anything, just say the word. I'll help with all my heart. And...”
He lowered his voice.
“Put in a good word with the Branch Lord for me.”
“Of course. I'll just tell him exactly what happened, right?”
“Y-Yes. But people make mistakes unintentionally sometimes. Don't you think?”
“Yes, indeed.”
“So, please put in a good word. Well, I'll be going.”
He gave a quick bow and scurried out of the inn.
He must have been terrified after reading the Branch Lord's letter.
Coming all the way here first thing in the morning, even in the rain.
Indeed, nothing beats crushing power with greater power.
I returned to my room.
Today, I needed to visit that Chen fellow—Cheon Cheon-man.
I had to check out the out-of-town warriors he'd hired to guard his pearls.
No doubt about it.
Just like the Mu Clan Merchant Group's warriors, they had to be tied to the Blood Cult.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Dress extra flashy today. And for Deputy Kwak too.”
“Got it.”
“Tell the escort warriors to wear silk robes as well.”
With full preparations, we set out from the inn.
Even in the opulent, expensive silk robes, Seo-hyang showed no sign of discomfort.
She was the cherished daughter of the Guiju Castle's governor, after all—she was used to such finery.
Since Cheon Cheon-man lived in the south of Hainan Island, we headed south.
On the way, Palgap looked up at the sky and sighed.
“The weather here's nothing like Beijing.”
The south of Hainan Island was even hotter than the north.
Seeing people bustling in the paddies for rice farming felt strangely foreign.
Soon, we arrived at the Chaehong Merchant Group.
It was a respectable three-story building. As we approached, the gatekeepers blocked us.
“What brings you here?”
“I'm Eun Seo-ho, vice leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
Curiosity flickered in their eyes at my introduction.
Perhaps because they were martial artists, my name stirred different emotions in them than in ordinary folk.
“So you're the famous Seonhyeopmirang.”
“I've been wanting to cross swords with you.”
I let out an overt sigh.
As expected, I sensed black path energy from them, but it differed slightly from the Mu Clan group.
No stench of blood.
I told them,
“I never back down from a fight that comes to me, but my leg hasn't fully healed yet, so not today.”
“Your leg?”
Palgap quickly chimed in.
“Haven't you heard? Our Young Master injured his leg saving people from a fire.”
“Ah... Right, so that's what happened.”
“Even better. This is my chance to take down Seonhyeopmirang. Heh heh heh.”
A true black path response.
Did they really think they could take me?
No matter that my full strength wasn't obvious, what I'd shown in the friendly spar alone should be beyond their league.
As I sighed softly and stepped back, my escorts surged forward, radiating killing intent.
Half of my escort warriors were at least peak realm.
“Kuh!”
“Urk!”
Seeing their faces pale under the pressure, I smiled faintly.
“My escorts are quite strong. So, will you guide me to Leader Cheon now?”
“......”
Then a man approached from inside.
“What was all the commotion? An unexpected guest. My warriors were rude. My apologies.”
“They were a bit lacking in manners.”
“Hahaha. I'll give them a stern talking-to later. I'm Cheon Cheon-man, leader of the Chaehong Merchant Group.”
Seeing him slither out of it glibly, I returned the greeting.
“Eun Seo-ho, vice leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“What brings Hainan Island's hero to me?”
I took out the introduction letter.
“I come on the Branch Lord's introduction.”
He read it and nodded.
“I see. Here to prepare a birthday gift for your wife.”
“That's right.”
“My mistake. Please, come inside.”
We followed him in. As I watched his back, I bit my lip slightly.
His guards were mere black path thugs, but Cheon Cheon-man was entirely different.
The thick stench of blood was on another level from the Mu Clan's warriors.
I need to be careful.
He led me to a reception room and served decent refreshments.
The bloody smell from him killed my appetite, but refusing the hospitality would be rude.
Suppressing my disgust, I sipped the tea and took a snack.
“What price range are you thinking?”
“I'd like to discuss after seeing the pearls first.”
“Understood. Please wait a moment.”
He left the reception room, then returned with servants.
The servants placed several boxes on the long table and departed.
Cheon Cheon-man opened them himself.
“First, these pearls go for about five nyang of silver each. And these...”
All the pearls he showed were top quality.
Thanks to the Branch Lord's letter—or knowing I was from the Eunhae Merchant Group—he had no intention of cheating me.
I asked Seo-hyang,
“Which ones does Madam like?”
“Can I pick any?”
“Of course. Anything that catches Madam's eye.”
At my words, Seo-hyang selected a few pearls.
“These ones.”
“Excellent choices.”
“I'd like these made into hairpins. Do you know a good artisan nearby?”
“Of course. I know an outstanding one—you won't be disappointed.”
And so, after selecting the pearls and commissioning custom hairpins, I left the Chaehong Merchant Group.
My mind was a whirlwind on the way back to the inn.
Hainan Island's top official was backing someone I suspected was Blood Cult, and he'd brought in multiple black path warriors.
And across in Seomunhyeon, the county magistrate was colluding with a Gold Guard traitor.
Plus the Mu Clan Merchant Group.
This was shaping up to be big.
Back at the inn, after dinner, I stepped outside.
Stars shone beautifully in the clear sky after the rain.
But the sight left a bitter taste in my heart.
What a mess.
Even if the Emperor's control didn't reach well here, for an entire region's officials to collude in corruption?
Before coming, I'd reviewed records of Hainan Island's tax collections.
There was a huge discrepancy from reality.
They reported far less to the court than collected, pocketing the rest.
Not content, they faked shipwrecks to swallow more.
At this scale, it couldn't just be for personal greed.
That Cheon Cheon-man I'd seen today.
He was undoubtedly one of the central figures.
A Blood Cult member bribing local officials to amass vast wealth for some purpose.
And that purpose was probably...
The Blood Cult's revival?
What was the Alliance Leader thinking, letting them operate?
And if that was the case, then the Branch Lord wasn't the corruption's head?
But my thoughts didn't last long.
“B-Big trouble!”
The frantic innkeeper rushed up, shouting,
“Pirates have attacked!”