I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 14

“Hold on a minute! What is the meaning of this? I arranged this meeting because I heard the Silent Path Society had something important to say, but all this ‘important talk’ amounts to is insulting our Five Dragon Sect?”

It was hard to tell if his impulsive nature was a characteristic of thugs or martial artists, but Wi Dal’s energy was formidable.

I was a little scared, but I couldn’t show it. Hiding my true feelings was something Jo Gwang-yun had learned through experience.

“Testing and observing is my job. How can I work with someone who gets upset over trivial things?”

Jo Gwang-yun said with a smile, then slowly stood up and addressed Yang-cheong. “Let’s go. I’ll have to report that taking over Gaebong [a district or area] will have to be postponed for a while.”

Yang-cheong didn’t know Jo Gwang-yun’s intentions, so she awkwardly shifted in her seat.

“Sir, Foreman Wi and his deceased sworn brothers had a special bond. He hasn’t completely let go of those painful memories yet, so isn’t it natural for him to be angry?”

Another man defending Wi Dal. Maybe the one holding this organization together wasn’t Wi Dal, but that guy.

Jo Gwang-yun watched the man carefully before plopping back down in his seat and saying, “Is that so? Was my joke too much?”

“More than that, I’d like to hear what you said again. ‘Big plans’ and ‘taking over Gaebong.’ What did you mean?”

Jo Gwang-yun glanced around at everyone before speaking to the man. “Then I’ll tell you the Silent Path Society’s important story.”

Everyone except Wi Dal, who was still frowning, began to stare at Jo Gwang-yun. Including Yang-cheong.

“Our Silent Path Society sees Gaebong as an unclaimed gold mine. So, we’re going to make this Gaebong our Black Road’s [a term for the underworld or criminal network] base, but we don’t want to reveal it on the surface. It’ll only provoke the orthodox sects [established martial arts schools]. So, we’ll need someone to act on behalf of our Silent Path Society, right?”

“Are you saying you want to put our Five Dragon Sect on the front lines…?”

“Good, you understand quickly.”

Jo Gwang-yun wore a satisfied expression. But no matter how small the organization, the leader of that organization has a deeper range of thought.

“Hmph, bullshit!”

Wi Dal snorted.

“Are you telling us to be cannon fodder on the front lines? You want us to shed blood and sweat to lay the groundwork, and then you’ll stroll in and take all the credit? Do I look like a fool who can’t see through that?”

He could get emotional and speak informally. But he didn’t stop the informal speech once he started. That meant he looked down on me. That guy was someone you shouldn’t work with.

“What changes if you see through it?”

“What?”

“You know what it means to reject our offer, right?”

Wi Dal bit his lip at the blatant threat.

“Are you saying you’ll eliminate our Five Dragon Sect?”

“Don’t say such gruesome things. The Silent Path Society isn’t a group of murderers. Why would we kill over a hundred innocent back alley kids?”

Jo Gwang-yun waved his hand with a smile, then raised a finger and pointed at Wi Dal.

“Replacing the head is our method.”

It was a dangerous attempt, but it was also necessary.

If someone other than Wi Dal had stepped forward when I first provoked him by mentioning his sworn brother’s death, there would be no need for this attempt.

The fact that no one got angry when the object of their loyalty was insulted was proof that this organization wasn’t bound by loyalty or deep brotherhood.

Moreover, only Wi Dal had raised his voice during the provocation, and his subordinates had actually frozen up. That was fear, and it couldn’t be explained by any other emotion. The head of the Five Dragon Sect was a tyrant.

As Jo Gwang-yun expected, no one stepped forward this time either. Only Wi Dal’s face turned red and blue.

“Is that so? Let’s see this great method of the Silent Path Society right now.”

Wi Dal slammed his sword hilt on the table and stood up. He looked ready to start a sword fight right there.

The room became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, and Jo Gwang-yun was sweating, afraid that the sound of his own heart beating in fear would be heard.

“That’s… you’re really putting me in a difficult position…”

He leaned back in his chair and scratched his head to hide his trembling fingertips.

“If you want to fight, wait a bit. I’m not a swordsman.”

“What?”

Not only Wi Dal but everyone else stared at Jo Gwang-yun with their mouths open.

“Surprised? Think about the size of the Silent Path Society. It’s natural to have guys who use swords, guys who use fists, and guys like me who use this, right?”

Jo Gwang-yun tapped his forehead with his finger, and the man who had been showing courtesy next to Wi Dal muttered in a low voice.

“A strategist…?”

Confirming that his eyes had changed, Jo Gwang-yun spoke to Wi Dal again. “Since I don’t know martial arts, it’ll be easy to kill me with one strike. But listen to the rest of the Silent Path Society’s message before you draw your sword.”

Wi Dal must have had some experience in the martial world. Since I said I didn’t know martial arts, he couldn’t draw his sword and only trembled.

“Once Gaebong is cleared, the Five Dragon Sect will become a member of the Silent Path Society. Of course, you’ll also have jurisdiction over Gaebong. And we’ll support you within a range that doesn’t attract attention when you clear Gaebong. We don’t want rumors spreading.”

“Support…? A master from the Silent Path Society? Or financial support…?”

He kept catching my eye. He was the most realistic of the guys here.

Jo Gwang-yun wanted to ask the man’s name, but he held back. A section chief from headquarters doesn’t directly ask the name of a small mart employee in the provinces.

“How would I know that?”

“Pardon?”

“Isn’t the correct procedure to first establish a plan to take over Gaebong and then request what’s lacking from headquarters, no, the main society?”

“Ah…!”

Jo Gwang-yun liked employees who were quick to understand. It was the same now. I need to find out more about that guy and make him my own if he’s useful.

Jo Gwang-yun slammed the table and stood up.

“That’s all I have to say. I can go now, right?”

He gestured to Yang-cheong and strode out without hesitation. He was afraid that Wi Dal would draw his sword and block his path, but he wasn’t stupid enough to do something reckless.

Who wouldn’t fear the Silent Path Society’s retaliation?

Pretending not to see Wi Dal glaring and grinding his teeth, the two of them breathed a sigh of relief as they left.

As the tension eased, Yang-cheong asked, “Dongsaeng [term of endearment for a younger brother or male friend], what are you trying to do? Are you really going to make those guys fight each other?”

“We have to make them fight if there’s a chance of winning. But, Nuna [term of endearment for an older sister or female friend], who was that guy who kept answering next to Wi Dal?”

“Ok Gang-il. He’s like the second-in-command of the Five Dragon Sect. His martial arts aren’t that high, but he’s smart. He’s the one I talk to the most about work.”

More than being smart, I like that he takes on the work. If he’s a responsible person who does a lot of work, he’ll know the financial situation well and know the taste of money, right?

“Is that so?”

As Jo Gwang-yun’s eyes changed, so did Yang-cheong’s.

“What is it? What are you plotting?”

“He seems like someone I can talk to, so I’m going to pressure them through him.”

“Again?”

Yang-cheong shook her head.

“Don’t stir up trouble. It’s too dangerous.”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t you see today? Even though they knew I didn’t know martial arts, they couldn’t do anything. Doesn’t that mean they’re that afraid of the Silent Path Society? The way those guys treat Nuna will change now.”

As Jo Gwang-yun said with a smile, Yang-cheong’s face also brightened.

But the two of them were filled with different thoughts.