Chunggyeongseong's Sword Vault (2)
I headed to the Luoyang branch.
"Welcome, sir."
Eun Jung-seon, the branch manager of the Luoyang branch, came out personally to greet me.
He was a distant relative sharing the Eun family name, but unfortunately, he would pass away a few years from now in my previous life.
The cause was illness.
By the time treatment began, it was already too late.
This time, I had to prevent that.
He needed to stay on as the Luoyang branch manager without dying.
In my previous life, the new branch manager who replaced him had sold the Eunhae Merchant Group's information to the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
When we caught on and tried to apprehend him, the Baekcheon Merchant Group got wind of it and eliminated him first, leaving us unable to press charges.
To prevent such a mess, treating Branch Manager Eun Jung-seon's illness in advance was the best solution all around.
"Branch Manager, are preparations for the move complete?"
"Yes, more or less."
"Then, as I mentioned before, you can start moving to the new branch tomorrow."
At my words, the branch manager asked cautiously.
"Is... is it really okay? That place is known as a haunted manor..."
He lived in Luoyang, so he would have heard all about its infamous reputation.
"Did the workers who cleared and repaired it recently report seeing any ghosts?"
"W-well, no, but..."
"Don't worry. I stayed there myself for several days and never saw a thing."
Just a little weasel spirit beast.
"It seems the ghosts that haunted it have moved on elsewhere. Or maybe Heukbaek Musang took them away. Either way, it's our good fortune."
The branch manager nodded at my words.
"If you vouch for it so confidently, sir, I'll trust you."
"Honestly, it's far better than this place. Better location, more space, and much more comfortable facilities."
That manor alone was ten times larger than the current Luoyang branch.
"So spend this winter there. Once the weather warms, we'll begin full-scale construction. Think of it as some expansions."
"Understood. I'll prepare as you said."
"And I need to head back to Beijing now."
"Already?"
"Yes. I've finished everything I needed to do here. Time to move on to the next task."
"Very well."
"And..."
I called out toward the entrance.
"Healer! Come in."
With that, the door opened, and the physician I'd brought with me entered.
"Young Master, why the sudden physician...?"
"I was worried about your complexion, Branch Manager, so I brought in an expert."
"Doesn't our branch have its own resident healer?"
One of the Eunhae Merchant Group's signature benefits was having physicians dispatched from the headquarters' medical hall stationed at each branch.
"I know."
And that resident physician examined everyone in the branch monthly.
Yet Branch Manager Eun Jung-seon only realized his illness late and died—meaning the physician was in on it with someone.
And that physician had quit just before the branch manager's death.
Cashed out and bolted.
The replacement who came after assessed the branch manager's condition but it was too late.
I said gently.
"Still, it's not a bad idea to get a second opinion sometimes. And this is the renowned physician famous in Luoyang. You know him, right?"
"Of course."
"So, let's have him take your pulse."
Convinced, he nodded.
"Please, take good care of me."
"Ahem. First, stick out your tongue."
The physician examined his eyes and tongue, tilting his head before starting the pulse diagnosis.
As his expression hardened, the branch manager asked anxiously.
"Is something wrong?"
"Whew... If you'd left this untreated, it could have been dangerous."
"What?"
"There's a problem with your liver."
"Our resident physician said there was nothing wrong..."
"Sounds like some quack playing doctor. Missing symptoms like these? Tsk tsk. If he were my apprentice, I'd tan his hide with a staff right then."
"......"
Branch Manager Eun Jung-seon bit his lip.
He'd led this Luoyang branch all this time. He couldn't possibly be oblivious to what this situation meant.
"Can it be treated, then?"
"It's not too late yet. It'll take some time, but full recovery is no issue."
"That's a relief. Please, handle it."
I added my piece.
"Don't worry about the cost—use the best herbs and treat him properly."
The physician nodded.
"Got it. I'll go gather the necessary herbs, then."
"No need."
The branch manager shook his head.
"No need to trouble yourself. I'll come to you directly."
"If that's how you want it, perfect. Just come prepared."
With that, the physician left, leaving just me and the branch manager in the reception room.
Silence hung for a moment, broken first by the branch manager.
"Young Master, when did you notice?"
"Notice what?"
"That I was ill."
"I found out recently. You seemed unaware yourself, so I casually asked the branch physician, but he brushed it off. That's why I brought in another."
"...I'm sorry."
"It's fine. Just get better soon."
He fell silent at my words, then spoke.
"Young Master, when you said you 'casually asked the branch physician,' does that mean you've already figured out the rest? That our branch physician deliberately neglected my illness?"
"......"
"I'm sorry for troubling you with my management failure. And I want to handle this myself. Please allow it."
I replied softly.
"The Luoyang branch manager is Eun Jung-seon."
Understanding my meaning, he answered.
"Thank you."
"Then I'll head back to Beijing as planned tomorrow. Take care of your treatment."
"Yes. I'll report back soon."
I rose from my seat.
He'd handle the rest himself. Branch Manager Eun Jung-seon had the ability for it.
This would wound him, but he'd weathered plenty of storms before.
And it was a problem he needed to resolve personally.
Like how soil hardens after rain, the Luoyang branch needed to bond tighter through this.
Only then would it stand firm against interference or temptations from the Baekcheon Merchant Group and others.
The next day.
My group and I set off for Beijing.
I needed to deal quickly with the matter of the sword vault I'd acquired in Chunggyeongseong.
And the timing was perfect now.
Chunggyeongseong was in Yunnan, so once spring passed, even traveling would be exhausting in the heat.
I had no issue with heat or cold, but the others traveling with me weren't so lucky.
Upon arriving in Beijing, I immediately sent Yi Pil the warrior to request a visit from Jin Yeong Daehyeop.
Fortunately, that evening, Jin Yeong Daehyeop arrived.
"Greetings, Daehyeop."
"Didn't you say you were going to Luoyang? Back already?"
I nodded.
"Yes. A grave matter came up, so I rushed back to see His Majesty."
"I see. Then let's go at once."
"Yes."
We headed to the imperial palace and were granted an audience with the Emperor.
After performing the utmost courtesies, the Emperor asked me.
"Your expression looks grave... What is it?"
Grateful for the direct question.
I pulled a scroll from my bosom and said.
"Please look at this first."
An eunuch approached, placed the scroll on a tray, and presented it to the Emperor.
The Emperor unrolled it.
"Hm..."
His face hardened as he realized the content was far from ordinary.
"Explain this."
"Yes."
I quickly laid out the whole story.
"I went to Luoyang to secure land for expanding the Eunhae Merchant Group's Luoyang branch. And I bought a plot with a haunted manor."
"That haunted manor—it's quite infamous, isn't it?"
"Yes."
Even the Emperor knows of it.
"What possessed you to buy that place?"
I conveyed the facts as they were.
But I omitted that it sat on a vein pulsing with pure energy and that the guarding ghost was actually a weasel spirit beast.
"Prime location, and dirt cheap. I stayed there a few days to test it—no issues. So I bought it."
I continued calmly.
"But being long abandoned, it needed repairs everywhere. During that, I found this. The content was so shocking I came straight to Beijing."
"Indeed, as you say, this is no ordinary item. Whoever wrote it has been after Chunggyeongseong's sword vault for ages, plotting that heaven-defying atrocity... Hoo."
His deep breath showed how furious he was.
"So they carried out this heaven-defying plan."
"That's what I think."
"Seeing this makes me grateful to you anew. Without you, horrors would have unfolded in Chunggyeongseong."
Like Prince Ju-hyeon dying under torture, for instance.
Tok, tok, tok.
The Emperor drummed his fingers on the armrest, deep in thought.
Tok.
After about fifteen minutes, his fingers finally stopped.
"I have a question for you."
"Please ask, Your Majesty."
"Are you free right now?"
"...Pardon?"
I reflexively questioned, but soon grasped his intent.
"I am ready to go anywhere at Your Majesty's command."
Searching Chunggyeongseong's sword vault—I needed to be part of it.
Confirming what lay inside might unravel mysteries from my past life.
And frankly, I was curious.
Why was the Blood Cult so obsessed with excavating it?
Meanwhile, the Emperor continued.
"In your view, how many people are needed to explore this sword vault?"
"About a hundred should suffice. Too many could hinder more than help."
"Not just brute force, I assume?"
"Correct. Including trap experts and mechanism specialists—that number."
"Understood. You're dismissed."
Pardon?
"What are you waiting for? Out."
A clear dismissal—no room for more words.
I performed the courtesies and withdrew quietly.
Hm...
The Emperor has much to ponder, it seems.
Back at the Beijing branch, I spent my days handling routine work as usual.
Too many pressing matters to focus solely on Chunggyeongseong.
"Young Master, Jegal Chief Steward is here."
"Show him in."
I'd formally appointed Jegal Cheon-du Gong as chief steward.
The martial hall wasn't built yet, but he was overseeing its overall setup—better to give him a title for efficiency.
Once built, he'd serve as chief steward and instructor.
"Here's the basic framework."
"Good work. So now we just need to recruit fitting instructors."
"Yes. Come spring, construction ramps up—we'll be busy."
Beijing winters were brutal.
Nearest the empire's northern border—unavoidable.
All work halted in midwinter, including the martial hall.
Spring would bring a frenzy, plain as day.
That's why Yunnan’s Chunggyeongseong had to be before spring.
Last audience, it seemed he'd command an immediate expedition.
Is he verifying if the sword vault truly exists?
Or personnel issues?
Questions arose, but I set them aside.
Not just anyone—the Emperor himself was handling it. He'd manage fine.
As I'd said before, aside from his fearsomeness, if picking one person to entrust a task, it'd be him—truly exceptional.
About a fortnight passed like that.
In the interim, I exchanged several letters with Father via Gold령.
Updates on securing new Luoyang land and starting the move, planned spring expansions, Beijing martial hall progress, and so on.
Father replied with trusting words.
"Haunted manor or not, if it were truly haunted, you wouldn't have chosen it. Above all, you who value people most wouldn't pick a problematic place."
Father knows me well.
"Sent Captain Yong and crew to Hainamdo this time. Starting construction based on the blueprints per your advice. The palace dispatcher says handle it themselves."
If he's heard the rumors, that official will tread carefully.
Hainamdo wasn't cold—construction now was fine.
Looking forward to the naval base and Eunhae docking there.
Captain Yong and company would be thrilled.
"Come home when you have time. We need to discuss your marriage."
As Father said, time to visit.
We could exchange marriage details via Gold령, but some things needed face-to-face.
"Kkwi!"
I gave Gold령 some silver.
It was a hefty sum, but considering the speed, it was a bargain.
But that was our little secret.
Then Palgap's voice rang out.
"Young Master! Jin Yeong Daehyeop is here."
Finally, the time had come.