Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 698

698. Sixty-First Birthday (5)

During this time, the Milwi [secret organization under the King] were also facing their own headaches.

The Deputy Commander, who oversaw the Milwi in place of the Naegeumwi Commander [Royal Guard Commander], rested his forehead on his hand as he looked at the report.

“Those guys who went to the Northern lands… did they go there to work, or to do business? It’s already killing me that we don’t have enough people to work, and now they’re asking for more support…”

The Deputy Commander was deep in thought, facing the support request sent by the Milwi agents dispatched to Liaodong Fortress in the Northern lands.

* * *

Starting with Liaodong Fortress, brothels disguised as Milwi branches were gradually establishing themselves in various cities in the Northern lands.

These established brothels soon turned into havens for the wealthy in the area.

Some of the more well-known cities already had Chinese-style brothels, but they were mainly places for prostitution and gambling.

However, the performances by the gisaengs [female entertainers] skilled in singing and dancing, and the Empire’s soju [Korean distilled spirit], which had a different flavor than baijiu [Chinese liquor], turned the wealthy into regular customers of the brothels. This was partly due to the unique flavor of soju, but the fact that soju was the Empire’s liquor also played a significant role.

“The most prominent people in the Empire drink this soju, right?”

“We have nothing to lose, so let’s drink it!”

“Of course, what are we lacking!”

“Yeah, yeah! We are capable enough to drink soju and enjoy music and dance at a brothel!”

The wealthy in the Northern lands felt compelled to become regular customers of the brothels to protect their pride.

Thanks to this, the Milwi became busy. Or rather, Seoul Enterprise, which ostensibly started the brothels in the Northern lands, became busy.

The capital for opening the brothels in the Northern lands came from the Imperial Family, and the acting entity was the Milwi, but this was a top secret. Therefore, among the Milwi executives, those with relatively clean records and who would not be suspected of having financial power even by the National Tax Service were appointed as founders to start the company. In addition, to avoid further suspicion, they even received investment from investment funds.

Of course, since most of the funds came from the Imperial Family, Hyang even drew up a thorough side agreement with the Milwi as the target.

“Although it is true that I provided the money, it is clearly the property of the Imperial Family.”

Hyang made excuses like this to draw up the contract, but her real intention was slightly different.

‘Enterprise, or rather, the entertainment industry, can generate enormous profits if done right. Why would I just release a goose that lays such golden eggs? I have to seize it! Awesome! I’ve secured some slush funds!’

The problem arose as Seoul Enterprise, which was created in this way, began to generate large sales faster than expected.

Immediately, the issue was securing the ginyo to work in the newly established brothels.

The retired ginyo contracted by the Enterprise were training a considerable number of child ginyo, but it would still take a lot of time for them to be ready.

And, the tastes of the wealthy in the Northern lands were becoming more discerning than expected. Therefore, it was certain that operating the brothels mainly with Ipae ginyo [second-rate gisaengs], as initially planned, would be problematic. This was because it would become difficult to grasp the trends of the wealthy and influential people in the Northern lands, which was the purpose of Hyang and the Milwi in establishing the brothels in the Northern lands.

Therefore, the Milwi agents belonging to the Enterprise had to move busily. They frequented the brothels where the Ipae ginyo, who were slightly lacking to be called Ilpae [first-rate gisaengs] but had outstanding talent and beauty, were located, wearing out the doorsteps. While diligently persuading the head ginyo and the sponsors, they chased after the Ilpae ginyo who were nearing retirement.

“Oh my! You’re telling me to go to that Northern land? Is this guy crazy? What do you take me for!”

The Ilpae ginyo who heard the offer initially refused strongly, saying this, but the recruiters persistently clung to them.

“Ah! Think about it! You’ll have to retire soon anyway! But if you suffer for only about 2-3 years in the Northern lands, you can make a fortune! You have to think about your retirement! And, if you retire there, you’re guaranteed a position to train the child ginyo!”

After persuading them so diligently, several Ilpae ginyo boarded the iron horse [train] to the Northern lands.

The recruiters did not stop here.

They visited the Banga [households with gisaengs], which had ginyo skilled in singing and dancing, negotiated diligently, signed contracts, and sent the ginyo to the Northern lands.

The efforts of these recruiters brought about an unexpected butterfly effect.

“The Northern lands are making money, you say?”

-Seoul Enterprise is raking in money in the Northern lands!

Rumors like this began to spread throughout the mainland, and the sponsors and head ginyo who owned brothels, and the Banga who had decent ginyo, began to seriously consider entering the new market.

What fueled this was the ‘Comprehensive Entertainment Center’.

Several cities in the Northern lands had also passed the installation standards for the ‘Comprehensive Entertainment Center’, and soon the Comprehensive Entertainment Center was established. The Comprehensive Entertainment Center, which was established in the Northern lands, soon gained immense popularity and swept away money. If the brothels swept away the money of the wealthy, the Comprehensive Entertainment Center became a place that swept away the money of not only the wealthy but also the common people.

As a result, the Banga who owned ginyo began to think more seriously.

-Setting up a brothel or giving ginyo to a brothel carelessly will tarnish the family name.

-However, if you raise your name in the Comprehensive Entertainment Center, you will raise the family name.

-The problem is that the competition is fierce in the mainland. On the other hand, the competition is not yet fierce in the Northern lands.

-Then, it may be better to actively raise your name in the Northern lands and then try to enter the mainland in reverse.

The Banga, who derived this conclusion, began to actively seek out and educate young girls who had beautiful looks and talent.

The difference from the past was that the slaves had almost disappeared, and the ginyo had also obtained the status of commoners. Therefore, the Banga had to draw up contracts with the parents of the young girls they wanted to recruit. Of course, the staff of the Jeonjang [government office handling legal documents] had to always be present at these contract signings due to tax and legal issues.

In any case, the entertainment industry, which Hyang dismissed as a delusion with a smirk, was taking hold at an even faster pace.

Excluding this butterfly effect, more and more brothels began to establish themselves in the Northern lands.

And this brought problems back to the Milwi.

* * *

The Deputy Commander, who had been resting his forehead on his hand and examining the report for a long time, soon looked up at the ceiling and sighed deeply.

“Haa~. There are too few people to work!”

The problem of supplying ginyo was also serious, but it was a small problem in the big picture. Even if it wasn’t a brothel belonging to the Milwi, brothels needed people to protect them, and most of those people belonged to the Milwi.

However, this part had become the biggest problem for the Milwi.

From the time of its creation, the Milwi was composed of people from the Geomgye [sword fraternity]. And most of the Geomgye members were Seo-eol [illegitimate children of high-ranking officials] who were blocked from entering government service due to the Seo-eol Restriction. Thanks to this, the fact that it was a ‘secret organization directly under the King’ was the most powerful tool to satisfy their suppressed pride and increase their loyalty.

Of course, there were also those who had problems due to their long lives as Parokho [rogues], but most of them could become excellent agents through ‘personality education accompanied by appropriate physical means’. Those who did not pass the process were immediately expelled and became subject to surveillance.

If there were people who tried to reveal the existence of the Milwi, they would soon be dealt with by their former colleagues.

However, the continuous passage of time and the Gyeongjang [reform movement] had caught the Milwi off guard.

As time passed, many of the members from the early days of its creation retired due to age or returned to administrative positions. In addition, there were also those who steadily lost their lives in the process of armed struggle with those who were targeting the Research Institute and Area 51.

In order to fill those vacant positions, they had to continue to recruit talent, but as the Gyeongjang allowed the Seo-eol to enter government service, problems arose in the supply.

Most of the Seo-eol, who were the optimal talent in terms of knowledge level and martial arts level, had left to become government officials or soldiers, making it difficult to find talent.

Of course, there were still Parokho wandering the streets. However, the vast majority of them were people who had no possibility of being improved through ‘personality education’.

Thanks to this, the Milwi agents had to keep their eyes peeled to find ‘those with a glimmer of hope’ even in the midst of their busy schedules.

“Looking at it that way… the guys in the Northern lands are hateful but also lovely.”

The grumbling words while looking at the ceiling were true. Park Gyu-seop and his comrades, who were sent from the Northern lands that were constantly asking for money even though they were already short on supplies, were very talented.

-They endured the Asura field [chaotic and violent place] called Jeonjang.

-They learned basic martial arts in the military, so they only need to be refined a little more.

-They are familiar with handling firearms and explosives.

-Most importantly, they are also familiar with killing.

The Milwi, who thought they had found a new breakthrough through Park Gyu-seop and his comrades, were delighted, but soon had a difficult expression.

-Most of the military personnel of the appropriate age, especially the veterans of the last war, have mental or physical problems.

-Most of the veterans with excellent education and martial arts skills are from Banga. They cannot enter the Milwi because of the honor of their families.

The second condition was the problem. No family would like their son, who should have worked hard to become a general and raise the family’s honor, to become a Parokho who plays and eats in a brothel. No, it was a problem even if they were made to belong to Seoul Enterprise.

“A guy who should be working hard to become a general is in Enterprise? Go die!”

It was clear that the elders of the family would react like this.

* * *

“Damn…. This is pissing me off….”

When the Deputy Commander, frustrated with the unresolved knot, was swearing, a subordinate carefully handed over a report.

“What is it!”

“Um…. The Ming Dynasty guys are a bit suspicious these days.”

“Ah, damn!!!! Give it to me!”

The Deputy Commander, who snatched the document as if taking it away with curses, examined the document with nervous eyes. However, as he read the contents of the document, the Deputy Commander’s face became increasingly serious.

The Deputy Commander, who examined the document several times, ordered his subordinate.

“Contact the Commander. Tell him I need to see him right away.”

“Yes.”

* * *

Soon, the report in question was delivered to Hyang through the Naegeumwi Commander.

“Hmm…. This looks a bit serious.”

“That is correct.”

“The Milwi… ah…. The manpower shortage is the problem.”

“That is correct. Therefore, the Milwi is earnestly hoping that Your Majesty will come up with a solution.”

“Hmm….”

After pondering for a while, Hyang ordered the Naegeumwi Commander.

“First, have them classify the severity of the issues that need to be addressed. Have the Milwi take charge of the most urgent issues that need to be addressed immediately and the issues that are suspicious and require basic surveillance, and report the dangerous but time-available issues and the issues that require constant surveillance to the Pocheong [police bureau] using appropriate means.”

“Are you thinking of using the Pocheong?”

Hyang nodded at the Naegeumwi Commander’s question.

“Yes. If this happens a few times publicly, a proper counterintelligence division can be established within the Pocheong. It should have been established a long time ago, but I have been making the Milwi suffer too much. And, the problem of talent supply….”

After pausing for a moment and pondering, Hyang soon found the answer.

“Let’s use the military.”

“The military, you say?”

“Yes, people usually say ‘soldiers and generals like fierce tigers’, but I think wolves are more suitable. One wolf is scary, but isn’t it most scary when they move in packs?”

The Naegeumwi Commander nodded at Hyang’s words, and Hyang continued.

“But, there are always those who are like tigers, not wolves. Those who have outstanding abilities but cannot fit in. Let’s use them.”

“However, many of those people are from influential families. It will not be easy to be prepared to be disowned by their families. No, it will be difficult to respond easily even if they are not from influential families.”

Hyang added to the Naegeumwi Commander’s point.

“Say this. Even if you are forgotten by your family, the Emperor will remember you.”