I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 101

< Assassination, Efficient Method 2 >

Lee Hak-lin spent some time touching the massive red pillar next to the bed.

“This is good. You’ll need to spend a bit more money.”

“Pardon?”

“I need to modify this pillar a bit. I have to wait inside it.”

Digging into the pillar and waiting for an opportunity inside?

“Wouldn’t it be better to modify the bed instead?”

“Waiting under the bed and stabbing him when he falls asleep? It seems you’ve been listening to too much nonsense from those storytellers at the inn.”

Lee Hak-lin gave a dumbfounded laugh.

“Do you think the subordinates won’t search this room when the Guild Leader is sleeping in a strange place? They’ll check every speck of dust on the floor. And of course, the bed will be the most thoroughly examined place.”

Lee Hak-lin lightly kicked the bed and said,

“This thick pillar is the most suitable.”

Being able to freely modify the assassination target’s lodging is the best condition for an assassin. Especially waiting by his bedside while he sleeps, it’s a condition where failure is impossible.

“If successful, you must leave through the window without looking back. None of the Guild Leader’s guards should see you. Then I will immediately release the martial artists.”

“Martial artists? Why?”

“We have to deal with all the Guild Leader’s guards.”

Lee Hak-lin was bothered by the idea of killing all the guards, but he didn’t show it.

No one should know about the Guild Leader’s death for the disappearance method to work. If even one person opens their mouth, his place will disappear forever.

“It would be nice if the Guild Leader came alone…”

It was a subtle way of revealing that he didn’t like killing the guards.

“If the Guild Leader came alone, why would we need such troublesome methods? We could just use poison… We can always get a colorless, odorless, and tasteless poison.”

Jo Gwang-yun said with a smile.

That’s true. But he wouldn’t come alone.

Even if the Guild Leader ingested poison, he would notice immediately if he felt anything strange. He could get help from his guards to expel it with internal energy or call a doctor.

Poison is a method that works on those who move alone.

“Alright. Let’s stop with the useless hopes and focus on the realistic problems again.”

Lee Hak-lin said with a stern expression again.

“We’ve set up the method, but the Guild Leader needs to sleep in this room… How are you going to get the Guild Leader to come here?”

“Isn’t he the greatest playboy in the world? This place will become the best pleasure house in the capital. If it has this much splendor, alcohol, and beautiful women, he’ll be curious.”

“That won’t be enough to move him. There are plenty of alcohol and beautiful women in Dongting Lake too.”

“One more thing. I’m thinking of sending a provocative invitation.”

“Invitation?”

“Yes. If he wants Jo Ga-jang [Jo Gwang-yun’s establishment], he shouldn’t use his underlings and come negotiate with me directly.”

“Did you just call them underlings?”

Lee Hak-lin’s eyebrows twitched, and Jo Gwang-yun said with a smile.

“It’s just a figure of speech. Why are you so serious? It’s all part of the plan, the plan.”

Jo Gwang-yun patted Lee Hak-lin’s shoulder once and left the room.

“That guy…!”

Lee Hak-lin was dumbfounded to see Jo Gwang-yun treating him like a friend.

* * *

Moyong Hui didn’t forget to give a word of caution as he left the club.

“No matter what happens, the fact that you were involved in the Silent Ink Society’s affairs must not leak out. You know very well that there are many eyes watching you. If this gets into the Martial Alliance’s ears, I can no longer defend you. Keep that in mind.”

“Don’t worry. The events here will never cross these high walls.”

Moyong Hui seemed relieved to see Jo Gwang-yun full of confidence.

“Hmm, hmm. Then I’ll return to the Martial Alliance. But… before that…”

“No. You must be satisfied with tasting the aphrodisiac once. You know very well that addiction to aphrodisiacs leads to ruin.”

“You heartless bastard.”

Moyong Hui tried to see the beauty’s face one more time, but he turned away with regret at the cold answer he received.

After sending Moyong Hui away, Jo Gwang-yun met with Eumyeongmun again.

“You worked hard last time.”

“What’s so hard about carrying two people? It’s fine.”

He didn’t have a hard time, but he was surprised. He thought it was nothing since it was just two people, but one was the leader of the Martial Alliance and the other was a master of the Silent Ink Society.

“I have another job, would you like to hear about it?”

“I have to hear about it if it makes money.”

“How many useful guys do you have?”

“Don’t you have a lot of useful guys in the Changryong Gate [Jo Gwang-yun’s martial arts faction] too?”

“Martial arts are important, but the most important thing is that they must be able to completely hide their presence. Our Changryong Gate doesn’t do secret work, so we’re a bit weak in this area.”

“Hiding their presence… So it’s an ambush.”

“Yes. This time, someone even greater than Lee Hak-lin is coming. It’s the Guild Leader of the Silent Ink Society.”

The man from Eumyeongmun sighed deeply and frowned.

“It’s always something bigger. After Lee Hak-lin, it’s Hyuk Si-mok…”

“I’m not asking you to cross swords with Hyuk Si-mok. If necessary, you have to stop his guards.”

“So, to summarize, you need guys who can hide their presence enough to avoid Hyuk Si-mok’s eyes, right?”

“That’s right.”

The man answered carefully rather than saying it was difficult.

“It’s impossible to completely hide it. But they might be able to pass as warriors guarding the manor. Would that be okay?”

“Warriors in charge of security…”

It’s a huge manor. He also knows that he has deep ties with the Changryong Gate. It seemed like it would be less suspicious to have even guards than to have no one.

“That should be possible. How many are there?”

“I’ll have to go back and check the specifics, but it won’t be more than twenty.”

“Good. Check immediately and send them. It’ll look more natural if they get used to even the menial tasks in advance.”

“Understood.”

The man stood up and bowed.

“Thank you once again for always using our Eumyeongmun. Lord.”

It’s more fitting to say he uses them like limbs rather than patronizing them. But it seems Eumyeongmun hasn’t realized that they’re gradually becoming tainted by the constant large income.

Jo Gwang-yun was planning to use the Changryong Gate to block his escape route.

“Gu Seung. Gather the best of the Hana Association [Jo Gwang-yun’s intelligence network] and bring them here.”

“Yes. Lord.”

“They must catch anyone who jumps over the wall and tries to escape from outside the manor. On the day of the operation, if even one of them escapes this wall, we might become enemies of the Martial Alliance.”

“I will keep that in mind. I will bring the best martial artists.”

After preparing the martial artists to guard the inside and outside, Jo Gwang-yun wrote a provocative invitation to Hyuk Si-mok, who would be the main character of the operation.

Jo Gwang-yun believed in the arrogance and conceit of those with great martial arts skills.

* * *

『I humbly ask for your forgiveness for sending this letter from afar without visiting you in person to express my respect. I, Jo, hope you will understand with your generosity like the sea.

I have succeeded as a merchant, albeit modestly, thanks to your grace, Guild Leader. I have engraved that grace in my bones and have not forgotten it yet.

Jo Ga-jang, which I have built, is naturally yours, Guild Leader, but it is difficult to give it to you all at once.

Also, I cannot deny that I have doubts about how much of your true feelings are contained in what your subordinates have said.

… (Omitted)

I, Jo Gwang-yun, prostrate myself and beg.

I would like to hear your esteemed words at my pleasure house in Gyeyang. It is a place that has not yet been shown to anyone. If you, Guild Leader, would be the first to leave your mark here, there would be no greater honor.

I have prepared sweet wine and beautiful women and am eagerly awaiting the day you come, Guild Leader.

I dare to say that there is no more luxurious place under the heavens than this.

… (Omitted)』

Guild Leader Hyuk Si-mok read the letter and showed a faint smile.

“Did Hak-lin do a good job…? Or is this bastard cunning?”

It doesn’t matter even if neither is true. It’s enough just to see the alcohol business that a rich guy started and to embrace the women of the capital.

Of course, it could be a trick.

But it doesn’t matter whether it’s one bastard’s trick or two bastards’ collaboration. I’ll just kill them.

Hyuk Si-mok crumpled the letter and threw it away, then got up.

“Prepare for an outing! Let’s take a look at the place where the Emperor lives!”

Hyuk Si-mok shouted, and a loud answer was heard from outside the door.

“Understood!”

* * *

Carrier pigeons continued to fly into the club according to Guild Leader Hyuk Si-mok’s travel route.

“This bastard is really a playboy. Loafing around… Is he going to arrive next year at this rate?”

Jo Gwang-yun was annoyed, and Gu Seung smiled and said.

“You seem impatient.”

“It’s just a waste of time. I have to stay here and wait for this bastard to arrive, don’t I?”

“Each security agency has informed us in detail that he sometimes moves quickly. So it won’t take that long. But, Lord.”

“Yeah.”

“The Beggars’ Sect is also following him. It seems they’re nervous because the Guild Leader of the Silent Ink Society is moving.”

“It’s probably because of the numbers. They usually moved with less than ten people, but this time there are thirty, so it’s understandable.”

“Then wouldn’t it be a problem if they find out that the Guild Leader is coming here?”

“It’s okay. I’ve already told Lord Go Heum of Gyeongjo Yoon [Capital Defense Command]. They will strengthen the security of the city gates around the time they arrive. Those beggars will never be able to enter the city. So the Guild Leader’s whereabouts will be cut off at the city gates.”

He’s a very trustworthy lord.

“How many from the Hana Association did you call?”

“Fifty.”

“Let’s see the skills of the talents this time. See if they’ve improved a lot.”

“I’ve already confirmed their spirit, and they say it’s worth a try.”

“Tell the disciples firmly. Never be arrogant or underestimate them. They have far superior combat experience. If you judge them by their spirit, your head won’t be intact.”

“Ah, yes. I’m sorry. Lord.”

Gu Seung bowed his head at Jo Gwang-yun’s sharp rebuke.

“I mean to be careful. And have half of the Hana Association wait outside the wall, and if the inside is noisy, join in and eliminate the Guild Leader’s henchmen. Only half remain to catch any possible escapees.”

“Understood.”

Even though he had finished all the preparations like this, the tension and fear did not decrease.

He even suspected that Hyuk Si-mok’s delay was a strategy to make him anxious.

* * *

Since there were over thirty men riding horses with swords on their waists, it was almost impossible for them to pass through the city gates.

As Guild Leader Hyuk Si-mok’s expression began to darken, the escorts’ hearts burned. Just as they were fidgeting, wondering if the Guild Leader would explode, a cart pulled by an ox approached.

“I greet the Guild Leader.”

The old man bowed his head and said.

“I was sent by Jo Ga-jang. I will temporarily keep the swords. If you don’t have swords, there will be no problem passing through the city gates.”

“Hand over the swords?”

“I’m just keeping them for a while. My cart will follow behind, and as soon as you pass through the city gates and enter the market street, I will return them immediately.”

Everyone hesitated to hand over their swords, which were like their limbs, but Guild Leader Hyuk Si-mok casually untied his sword and tossed it into the cart.

“Let’s go quickly.”

At the Guild Leader’s words, everyone untied their swords and threw them into the cart and drove their horses to the city gates.

The beggars of the Beggars’ Sect, who were following them, also hurried their steps, but soldiers with spears grabbed their ankles.

“Get lost! You beggar bastards!”

As the beggars hesitated at the soldiers’ fierce spear tips, a military officer on horseback stepped forward.

“Looking at the knots on your waist, you seem to be from the Beggars’ Sect, but the capital prohibits the entry of martial artists and beggars. You are both, so if you don’t want your heads to fly off for violating the national law, step back. If your appearance is seen in the city, the Beggars’ Sect Leader will be punished for treason.”

The beggars also know the fear of the word treason.

They retreated with a long sigh and had to be satisfied with just finding out the final destination of the Silent Ink Society Guild Leader.

< Assassination, Efficient Method 2 > End