Chapter 9: Stop the Jaekyung Pavilion Fire (5)
At those words, Eun Gil-sang looked toward Yu So-ak.
He was asking whether it was all right for the courtesan present to hear this.
Yu So-ak nodded at his glance.
"I'll explain it in your stead."
"Yes, I'll listen carefully."
"In truth, the payment for Hwayeon Pavilion's transactions has been overdue for eleven months now."
"……."
I listened to Chief Steward Yu's words while recalling the future I had experienced.
When some incident occurs, the one who stands to gain the most is often the culprit.
Among the three suspects narrowed down back then, one was Hwayeon Pavilion.
In fact, even at that time, I had learned that Hwayeon Pavilion had been delinquent on a substantial payment for nearly a year.
And the reason behind it, too.
But I couldn't reveal that I knew all this now, so I feigned ignorance and asked,
"Pardon? They haven't paid for nearly a year? No, more importantly, why haven't you reported it to the authorities?"
"It's because of this contract."
Chief Steward Yu unfolded the document labeled [Hwayeon Pavilion] and showed me the contract bound with it.
"Please look at this clause."
I glanced at the spot Chief Steward Yu indicated.
Clause: If Hwayeon Pavilion fails to pay the Eunhae Merchant Group for goods for more than one year, ownership of Hwayeon Pavilion shall transfer to the Eunhae Merchant Group the day after the final payment due date.
That was why the Eunhae Merchant Group had turned a blind eye to Hwayeon Pavilion's delinquency for nearly a year.
However, in the future I experienced, the Eunhae Merchant Group never took ownership of Hwayeon Pavilion.
Not only that, but they also never recovered the overdue payments.
Because this ledger and contract had burned, leaving no proof of the transactions.
Thus, what had only been suspicion in the future became certainty now.
"But, Chief Steward."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Has Hwayeon Pavilion declined that much lately? Enough to delay payments for nearly a year?"
"Not at all. It's still one of the five great pleasure houses in Hubei Province."
"Then……?"
"I couldn't understand why they hadn't paid until Asung Pavilion's agent informed us. It turns out they're running an illegal gambling den. But the profits are meager, so they're short on funds."
"I see."
Father let out a sigh.
"Still, what should we do about this? Even if we report it to the authorities, no fire actually broke out, and it's hard to pin direct orders on Asung Pavilion's agent……."
Father was right.
But I couldn't let it slide.
Those damn bastards.
To eliminate us, they didn't just destroy this one document—they torched everything to avoid pinpointing a suspect?
The damage I saw back then was immense.
We suffered the hard work and the losses to boot.
And when we demanded even half the overdue amount, they mocked us: "Did we ever do business? I don't remember that."
Father and Chief Steward Yu nearly collapsed from shock.
And they even lectured us: "So manage your affairs better next time."
Ah, just thinking about it raises my blood pressure.
Calm down.
Anyway, I couldn't let this go.
There might be no damage now, but in the future I lived, the Eunhae Merchant Group suffered it all.
As long as I remembered, it couldn't just vanish.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind.
Hwayeon Pavilion could fall entirely into the Eunhae Merchant Group's hands with just a nudge.
Would they really stake everything on this alone?
No way.
That's when I noticed the date of the final payment due: five days from now.
I asked cautiously,
"The Asung Pavilion agent I saw seemed extremely cautious. No one could have imagined he'd set the fire. So why today, of all days, did he choose to strike?"
Chief Steward Ko answered,
"He told us himself. They ordered him to burn it by today, without fail."
From Chief Steward Ko's words, I grasped the implication.
"Doesn't that mean if this fails, they'll try another way? They're buying time to prepare a backup plan."
"Ah……."
"They did this because they don't want to pay. Do you think they'd settle up now? And if they had the money, they wouldn't have delayed this long."
At my words, not only Chief Steward Yu but Father and the others widened their eyes.
"You're right."
Sangyu Pavilion's Yeon Pavilion Master spoke up.
"Next time, they'll likely resort to any means necessary."
"Then what should we do……."
Silence fell for a moment.
That's when I stepped forward.
"Father. May I offer a word?"
"What is it?"
"We need to set Jaekyung Pavilion on fire."
"Set it…… on fire?"
Not only Father but Chief Steward Yu looked baffled.
"What do you mean? Have us start the fire?!"
"Hohoho!"
Laughter rang out then.
"Our youngest young master has devised a brilliant scheme."
It was Sangyu Pavilion's Yeon Pavilion Master.
Her eyes sparkling, she continued,
"It's the ploy of using the false to confound the true. Right?"
"Yes, Pavilion Master Yeon. We need the false to obscure the truth."
"We need an explanation."
At Sepung Pavilion's Jeok Pavilion Master's words, I carefully outlined my proposed ploy of using the false to confound the true.
As they listened, everyone's lips curved upward, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
"And in the end, we swallow Hwayeon Pavilion whole."
Orchestrating this alone meant Hwayeon Pavilion had already forsaken righteousness.
No mercy for those who abandon righteousness.
Hwayeon Pavilion's Pavilion Master, Baek Bok, was the son of the previous master.
But the world judged that the former master had raised his son poorly.
And understandably so—he was arrogant and willful.
That was bound to happen with no elders to correct him or offer sage advice.
Everyone just flattered him.
As a result, Hwayeon Pavilion's finances steadily worsened.
Money is hard to earn but easy to spend.
This led him to view massive expenditures as trivial, until the steward in charge of finances delivered thunderbolt news.
"What? No money?"
"That's right, Pavilion Master."
"What nonsense is that?"
"It's truly dangerous at this rate. Wages for servants and maids, payments to the Eunhae Merchant Group…… You must cut expenses now."
"Cut expenses? No way!"
"But, Pavilion Master."
"I'm the Pavilion Master of Hwayeon Pavilion! One of Hubei's five great wine houses!"
What did cutting expenses have to do with that? But the steward just listened.
Resisting would bring a whetstone flying.
"We owe the Eunhae Merchant Group, right? Delay that payment a bit."
Thus, they postponed the goods payment, but the problem persisted.
One month, two months—it kept getting delayed.
In that situation, Baek Bok heard at a gambling den he visited that the owner was looking to sell.
"Truth is, this place pulls in decent profits…… but I've got circumstances. So I'm selling."
Even he saw the crowds never thinned.
That meant money.
Thinking he could profit, Baek Bok bought the gambling den on the spot.
But he overlooked one thing: gambling dens are illegal.
The previous owner had skimmed bribes meant for higher-ups, earning their wrath, and was preparing to flee.
Soon after acquisition, officials arrived, and Baek Bok tearfully paid up the bribes.
Those bribes exceeded the den's earnings, forcing him to dip into Hwayeon Pavilion's income.
A month ago, the steward delivered more thunderbolt news.
"Pavilion Master, next month, Hwayeon Pavilion's owner changes."
"Huh? What kinda bullshit is that?"
With a sigh, the steward presented the contract.
"You don't remember. Please look at this."
Baek Bok read the indicated clause.
Clause: If Hwayeon Pavilion fails to pay the Eunhae Merchant Group for goods for more than twelve months, ownership of Hwayeon Pavilion shall transfer to the Eunhae Merchant Group the day after the final payment due date.
He asked the steward,
"How many months overdue as of today?"
"The eleventh month. One month left."
Baek Bok bellowed,
"Why tell me now, you ×× bastard?!"
"I told you! Five times already!"
"I don't know! Never heard it!"
He beat the steward, then headed to his gambling den.
There, drinking, he dove back into gambling.
His woes slipped from his mind.
Then someone approached.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm from the Dowon Merchant Group. I hear you're in a bind."
"Yeah…… What do you want?"
"I've a way to resolve it."
He replied gruffly,
"What're you…… Fine, speak."
"Destroy that contract."
"……How?"
"Burn it."
"What?"
"We'll handle the risky part. Just grant one request."
As expected, no free lunch.
But Baek Bok had no choice.
"What do you want?"
The Dowon man smiled.
"Nothing hard. Trade with our group. Build a wing at Hwayeon Pavilion for our people to stay. Hire those we recommend."
Seemed minor.
Baek Bok had to ask,
"That's really all?"
"Of course. No loss for you, Pavilion Master. But start construction ahead of time."
"Sure. I'll order it now. But if it fails……"
"It won't."
"How can you be sure?"
"We have more than one plan. If the first fails, we use another."
About a month passed.
Then glad tidings reached his ears.
"Heard? Big fire at the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"Yeah! Jaekyung Pavilion burned. Unknown body found charred inside."
"And of all places, Jaekyung Pavilion—key documents all gone."
"Eunhae's in chaos. Contracts with Hubei's wine houses destroyed. Wonder what they'll do."
"Tsk…… Manage better."
Overhearing, Baek Bok smirked.
Dowon had done it right.
And that day.
A final notice arrived from Eunhae.
But the usual amount was blank—rumors of their ledger's loss were true.
Baek Bok roared with laughter.
"Puahaha!"
Not missing the chance, he summoned the steward.
"Bring all receipts and contracts from Eunhae! Every one!"
The steward fetched the transaction records and contract.
Baek Bok tossed them in the courtyard and set them ablaze.
"P-Pavilion Master! What are you doing?!"
The steward gasped, but Baek Bok grinned menacingly.
"We've never dealt with Eunhae."
"Pardon? What do you……."
"You heard and saw. They can't prove the contract. Our debt's gone. Uhaha!"
He thought.
Everything's settled now.
He was wrong.
I stood before Hwayeon Pavilion.
Father and the elders had planned to handle it, but I insisted on coming along.
The five-story pavilion, painted in vivid red lotus hues with ornate dancheong, was gorgeously elegant.
Suddenly, memories of the future I lived flooded back.