Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 178

Ninth Dragon Chronicles (178)

“Brother, it seems the relationship between the Lord of the Nine Dragons and Prince Heungchin is quite… special. Is there a chance things might go wrong?” Hwa Saeng-bang asked, his voice laced with worry as Hwa Jeong-su entered the inn and took a seat.

“What are you talking about?” Hwa Jeong-su questioned, a hint of annoyance in his tone.

“I mean our attempt to seize the Nine Dragons Guild, and the fact that we bribed the Seokcheon Clan to assassinate the Lord of the Nine Dragons.”

Hwa Jeong-su’s expression hardened. “Don’t talk nonsense. If we deny it, the Lord of the Nine Dragons can’t prove anything. Besides, his life won’t last much longer anyway. So, be especially careful with your words and actions.”

“Understood, Brother. But what did the Lord of the Nine Dragons mean earlier? Selling fields?”

Hwa Jeong-su hadn’t yet informed his younger brothers about the negotiations with the head of the Daeri Family, so they were unaware of their precarious financial situation.

“It’s no secret in Sangrim [a major commercial district] that our situation isn’t good, and the reputation of our merchant group has deteriorated. We can’t borrow money based on the group’s name or my reputation anymore, so we had to provide collateral. We entrusted the fields to the Daeri Family as collateral. But there’s no need to worry. As long as we can secure the funds, we can buy back the fields at any time. And even if we don’t, we have priority in purchasing the crops from those fields, so it’s a completely harmless deal for us.”

“Did you sell *all* the fields?”

“We didn’t sell them; we entrusted them and borrowed fifty million gold *nyang* [a unit of currency]. With that money, we repaid the debts from the mainland battlefield and managed to secure some spare funds.”

“Ah, so when is the repayment due to the Daeri Family?”

“Why do you need to know that?”

“Now that our second brother is gone, shouldn’t I try harder to help you, Big Brother, in his place?”

Although not as reliable as Hwa Jeong-guk, Hwa Saeng-bang was diligent in the tasks given to him. However, whether due to his lack of foresight or slow thinking, he was somewhat dull when it came to making his own judgments and taking action, so he wasn’t highly trusted. But now, Hwa Jeong-su had no choice but to rely on Hwa Saeng-bang’s help.

“I appreciate you thinking that way. We borrowed it without interest, so the term is short. We need to repay half, twenty-five million gold *nyang*, in three months, and the remaining half three months after that.”

“Twenty-five million gold *nyang* in three months is not a small amount.”

“Indeed. That’s why we need to meet Prince Heungchin and persuade him to allow us to supply grain to the Heungchin Royal Guards. Whether we can persuade him or not will determine whether our merchant group takes an easier or more difficult path.”

“I will do my best to assist you from the side.”

“Yes. Hearing you say that gives me strength.”

“Brother, I will help too. Just give me any task.”

“Alright, I’m counting on you too, youngest. Let’s order some food and have a meal.”

Seo Dae-yeong, who was eavesdropping on their conversation, looked at them with pity.

“Poor people, do they even realize they are being played in the palm of the Lord’s hand?”

It occurred to him that Hwa-rin was quite a cruel person.

“Perhaps it’s fortunate for them that they don’t know what the future holds.”

* * *

“Really? Is the financial situation of the Hwamyeong Merchant Group that bad?” Hwa-rin asked, feigning surprise.

“That’s what the merchants are saying. And Hwa Jeong-su mentioned that they borrowed fifty million gold *nyang* from the Daeri Family and have to repay it in installments over three and six months,” Seo Dae-yeong confirmed.

Hwa-rin was casually writing in the guestbook, but after listening to Seo Dae-yeong’s explanation, he realized that the Hwamyeong Merchant Group’s financial situation was worse than he had thought.

“Then they’ll go bankrupt soon.”

“That might happen, but the merchants say that they can repay the money borrowed from the mainland merchants with the money they got from the Daeri Family, and then operate the merchant group with the remaining funds. When the repayment date to the Daeri Family approaches, they can borrow money from the mainland merchants at interest to repay the Daeri Family, which would allow the merchant group to continue operating to some extent.”

“So, they’re doing a high-risk revolving loan.”

“That’s right. If one thing goes wrong, they could collapse, but if one thing goes right, they could recover.”

“What do you mean by ‘one thing goes right’?”

“The Hwamyeong Merchant Group is the best in grain distribution, so if they supply grain and other food supplies to places with many people, they could prosper. For example, if they impress Prince Heungchin and get the job of supplying grain to the Heungchin Royal Guards.”

Hwa-rin scoffed. “That’s not going to happen. Do they think they can take what’s mine by using my blood ties?”

Seo Dae-yeong blinked, wondering if he had misheard Hwa-rin. “Why?”

“Since when has supplying grain to the Heungchin Royal Guards become a matter for our Nine Dragons Guild?”

“Why, do you dislike it?”

“No, it’s just that I haven’t heard you mention it, Lord.”

“Of course not. I haven’t even brought it up yet.”

“But why does it become our business?”

“Because I want it to be. If I say it’s mine, it’s mine.”

Seo Dae-yeong wore a dumbfounded expression. There were times when Hwa-rin acted like a child throwing a tantrum, and those times were truly hopeless.

“Understood. I’ll go and prepare for that separately. But can we even get the grain? I heard that the grain we buy from the Traviel Kingdom is used by the Pallo Army and our Nine Dragons Guild.”

“We’ll have to figure that out. I heard the Hwamyeong Merchant Group sold their fields?”

“Are you going to buy them?”

“If we can buy them at a cheap price, it’s good, isn’t it?”

“It seems the Daeri Family is planning to return them to the Hwamyeong Merchant Group.”

“That’s only a problem when the Hwamyeong Merchant Group has money. How can they buy them back when they don’t have money?”

Seo Dae-yeong suspected that Hwa-rin had other intentions and asked, “Are you planning to destroy the Hwamyeong Merchant Group?”

“Should I let those bastards live? They hired the Sword Demon of Massacre to kill me. The Sword Demon of Massacre is lurking around me, looking for an opportunity. Would you leave those bastards alone if you were me?”

“That’s crazy. But didn’t you and the Sword Demon of Massacre agree to be like brothers?”

“I agreed to treat him with respect as a senior.”

Seo Dae-yeong couldn’t understand why the Sword Demon of Massacre, Baek Jeong-in, would accept the commission to kill Hwa-rin, so he asked, “But why did he accept the commission?”

“How would I know what that guy is thinking? But when we fought head-on, I had the advantage, so it seems he’s testing the waters to see who’s stronger in their respective fields. The more famous a person is, the narrower their mind tends to be.”

“Like you, Lord?”

Hwa-rin glared at him, and Seo Dae-yeong flinched and shrank back.

“You just take care of the tasks I give you.”

“But why are you so concerned about the affairs of the Imperial Palace? Weren’t you going to distance yourself from the Imperial Palace?”

“That’s what I was thinking, but… people’s hearts aren’t as cold as they think. Still, it’s about my father’s affairs.”

Seo Dae-yeong looked at Hwa-rin with a questioning gaze.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

He wanted to tell him to think about what he had done so far, but he quickly shook his hands and replied, fearing that he would find fault and torment him. “No, it’s nothing.”

“No, my ass. Your facial expression says you’re telling me to think about what I’ve done.”

Seo Dae-yeong was startled that his thoughts had been exposed.

“I met the fifth brother last time and heard his story, and I also met Uncle Yeongchin and heard his story, so that’s why. And after meeting those in charge of Dongchang [Eastern Depot, a secret intelligence agency] and the military’s intelligence and asking about the situation in the Imperial Palace, there are a few things that bother me.”

“I don’t see it.”

“I’ve been active in places reeking with the stench of blood, so my senses are good in this area. And General Gun Sang-cheon, the commander of the Heungchin Royal Guards, said this…”

“What did he say?”

“Why are there only three brothers of His Majesty: Prince Yeongchin, Prince Heungchin, and Prince Yongchin?”

“Why is that strange?”

“I have eight older brothers and five older sisters. If His Majesty had many consorts and produced children like this, then my grandfather must have produced at least that many, if not more, siblings.”

“Ah…….”

“So, after looking into it a bit, I found out that if His Majesty is healthy, he usually appoints the Crown Prince between his mid-thirties and forties.”

“I know that too.”

“Right. The eldest brother is thirty-three years old now.”

Seo Dae-yeong looked at him with a questioning gaze after hearing Hwa-rin’s words, and Hwa-rin nodded.

“The brothers and sisters came out to inspect each province last time.”

“That’s right. Is that why you met the Fifth Prince?”

“I’ve been to many places while in the military, but things don’t happen suddenly. They explode when things have progressed to a certain point.”

“Hmm…….”

“The fact that the Imperial Palace is quiet now might mean that things are secretly progressing.”

“It’s possible, but His Majesty is so good at politics that the other lords don’t have much animosity. That’s why they’re just fighting over their own rice bowls and not checking or attacking the royal family or royalty, right?”

Seo Dae-yeong had also investigated the situation in the Imperial Palace a lot under Hwa-rin’s orders.

“But the Fierce Tiger Death Squad was attacked and destroyed.”

“That’s…….”

“The Yongchin Royal Guards created special units similar to the Fierce Tiger Death Squad and started training them.”

“Do you think Prince Yongchin has other intentions?”

“I think someone in the Imperial Palace, not Uncle Yongchin, is manipulating things from behind.”

“So, you’re saying that someone related to Prince Yongchin is setting the stage to take over the Imperial Palace?”

Hwa-rin nodded.

“That seems like a bit of a leap. Only His Majesty can move Prince Yongchin. Why would His Majesty be plotting such a complicated thing?”

“Whether His Majesty is involved, or whether the Empress and consorts are involved…”

* * *

“Chase them!” a voice roared.

A group was hurrying to escape, and those chasing them were relentlessly pursuing them.

The ones being chased were wearing red robes, and the ones chasing them were wearing blue military uniforms.

The ones wearing red robes were monks from Soneoeumsa, a temple located outside the Central Plains. They were clearly not locals.

They ran for a while and arrived at Geumcheon-hyeon, not far from Dogang-eon, where the Sichuan Dangg Clan was located. They stopped running and turned to face those in blue military uniforms who were chasing them.

“Hand over what you stole from our sect!” demanded the leader of the pursuers.

The ones wearing blue military uniforms were warriors from the Cheongeui Clan of Sichuan Province. They were not as powerful as the Sichuan Dangg Clan, the Emei Sect, or the Cheongseong Sect, but they were still one of the sects that wielded great influence among the martial artists of Sichuan Province.

“If we were going to return it, we wouldn’t have bothered stealing it in the first place. Kill them!” Among those wearing red robes, a man with tattoos all over his face gave the order, and the warriors of Soneoeumsa standing behind him moved.

“Where do you think you’re going!” The warriors of the Cheongeui Clan also drew their weapons and charged forward.

“Om sera ha. Balkuni. Darikumba……” As their martial clash began, the man with tattoos all over his face began to chant a strange incantation. As the incantation grew longer, the warriors of the Cheongeui Clan began to feel a sudden dizziness.

“Sorcery?” one of them gasped.

The sorcery of the man with tattoos was different from ordinary sorcery. Generally, sorcery requires a medium, such as a voodoo doll or writing written in blood on a stone or amulet, but now sorcery was possible with just the incantation.

“Keoeok!” Unable to properly display their martial arts due to the dizziness, the warriors of the Cheongeui Clan were defeated by the monks of Soneoeumsa, spitting blood and collapsing.

“You bastard!” The leader of the Cheongeui Clan, a senior member, approached the man chanting the incantation with a single leap and struck down vertically with his sword in the air.

*Jjeoeoeoeong.* [Sound of metal clashing]

“Ugh!” As if blocked by a *Bantang Barrier* [a protective magical shield], his sword bounced back with the shock, and he suffered an injury that tore his grip. He landed on the ground and glared at the man with tattoos on his face with a scowl.

“Ariakum, Divanera, Saridaum……” Even though he was attacked, he didn’t think of dodging or retaliating and continued to chant the incantation. Seeing him like that, the senior member bit his lip, gripped his sword tightly, and swung it at him with all his might.

*Jjeoeoeoeong, Jjeoeoeoeong…… Jjeong!* [More sounds of metal clashing]

The senior member swung his sword several times, but each time he attacked, he felt a huge repulsive force as if he were being protected by a solid shield, and he felt his sword bouncing back.

“Damn it.” Unable to endure the dizziness any longer, his knees buckled, and he supported himself on the ground with both arms.

The man chanting the incantation strode up to the senior member of the Cheongeui Clan, who was kneeling on the ground, placed his foot on his neck, and pressed down firmly.

Unable to withstand the force, his face touched the ground, and as he continued to apply pressure, his neck eventually broke, and his head turned.

“Hurry. We must move quickly to recover the treasure of our temple.”