I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 4

“When did you prepare all this?”

“I investigated the basic data while doing security escort missions over the past year, and I referenced the experiences of accountants and security escorts. I wrote it in my spare time when I didn’t have security escort missions…”

“Understood. I’ll pass it on to the Lord. You may leave now.”

“But, shouldn’t you see it directly…? Ah… Yes. Then I’ll be on my way.”

Jo Gwang-yun held back what he wanted to say. He knew that the Lord would definitely summon him upon seeing this report.

No matter how wise Lord Mu-Gwang is, he lacks the knowledge to fully understand the contents of the report. The knowledge of the future that he has never learned.

* * *

“Was it Jo Gwang-yun, you said?”

“Yes, my Lord.”

Bang Pyeong must have delivered the report properly. In less than half a day, Lord Mu-Gwang urgently summoned Jo Gwang-yun.

“Did you write this book as well?”

Mu-Gwang stared at Jo Gwang-yun with an indifferent expression for a moment, then tilted his head.

“I’ve heard that you know how to read, but if you can write such extensive content, it means you have studied quite deeply… Why are you working as an accountant here? Was there a major conflict in your family, perhaps?”

He’s asking if I’m a guy who barely escaped from a family that was exterminated for being involved in treason.

“I am not from a family worthy of being called a clan. I was just lucky enough to meet a good writing teacher and avoid being ignorant.”

Lord Mu-Gwang knows very well that almost all the accountants in the security escort agency have a story. Most of those stories are about dire poverty, but with the document Jo Gwang-yun wrote, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to suspect him of being a descendant of a fallen noble family.

“Since there’s no way to confirm, I have no choice but to believe you. Anyway… what is this? I understand that you’re completely overhauling the security escort method, but I don’t understand it. In particular, explain in detail what the concept of a central collection point is.”

“Did you understand everything else?”

“Roughly. I need your explanation to fully understand it.”

If it’s not just boasting, the Lord is much smarter than I expected. But what if it’s just a bluff?

“Do you know that business alliances with various security escort agencies in Henan Province are essential?”

“Of course. To meet and exchange goods for transportation at the midpoint between the two regions, mutual trust is important, and that trust is proven through alliances, isn’t it?”

“Have you also grasped the advantages of exchanging and transporting goods at the midpoint?”

“Half the distance that would take ten days can be done in five days. The fatigue of the security escort is reduced by half, and… wait, it seems like you’re testing me? Haha.”

He’s quick-witted and bold.

He accepts the presumptuous behavior of a mere young accountant with a laugh.

“That’s right. If it’s an alliance between two security escort agencies, only one midpoint is needed. But you need to form alliances with several security escort agencies in Henan. The midpoint of several security escort agencies. That is the hub… no, the central collection point. As the scale increases, there will be several central collection points.”

“Hmm…”

Mu-Gwang, who was stroking his beard while listening to the explanation, turned over Jo Gwang-yun’s report and continued asking questions.

“Depending on the location of the central collection point, there are areas where the transportation distance actually increases, aren’t there?”

“The transportation costs of each security escort agency are different, so should we collude on transportation costs?”

“The sizes of carts and carriages are all different. This also seems like it could be a problem?”

As expected, wisdom and intelligence didn’t differ much even in different eras. Lord Mu-Gwang pointed out the realistic problems without missing a beat, and Jo Gwang-yun explained the solutions in detail with the knowledge he already had.

The conversation between the two continued late into the night, and finally, a very important question came from Mu-Gwang’s mouth.

“Okay. If things go according to what’s written on this paper, there’s no problem for all the security escort agencies in Henan to make a great profit. But what about you?”

“Pardon?”

“What benefit do you get? You said you worked hard on it for almost a year, right? Surely you didn’t create this purely for the development of Henan’s security escort agencies, did you?”

He pressed down on the thick plan with the palm of his hand and said.

“So, you mean that since the business plan is in your hands, you don’t need me? This is disappointing.”

Jo Gwang-yun tapped the plan that Lord Mu-Gwang was holding down with his hand and said.

“I can’t believe the Lord, who has a great reputation in Jeong-Yang, would do this… Who would even imagine it?”

“What? Hahaha.”

Mu-Gwang slapped his forehead and laughed heartily. It’s a laugh that’s not cowardly.

“If you wanted a few coins, you would have said your opinion verbally. But the fact that you wrote such an extensive plan means you’re not going to end it with just a few coins, right?”

He’s both smart and quick-witted.

A smile appeared on Jo Gwang-yun’s face.

“I will be responsible for the operation of the central collection point. Independently, that is.”

“The operation of the collection point…?”

Lord Mu-Gwang reopened the plan, carefully examined the collection point section, and then nodded.

“I see. As more security escort agencies join, the most important point in Henan will be the central collection point. No wonder… The reason why the operation plan of the collection point was described more vaguely than other content. You’re not ordinary after all.”

“Of course, I will share the operating profit of the collection point with you, my Lord.”

“In return, I’ll have to pay the cost of building the collection point, right?”

“Considering the profits of the Mu-Gwang Security Escort Agency, it’s not a big burden, is it?”

At that moment, Lord Mu-Gwang’s eyebrows twitched.

“Did you rummage through all my underwear?”

“There’s no need to rummage… You can easily guess just from the number of security escort missions.”

“You figured everything out in a year?”

It only takes a few days to figure out the accounting of a simple business like a security escort agency. To Jo Gwang-yun, who used to read complex consolidated financial statements of subsidiaries and parent companies like reading a fairy tale book, the ledger of a security escort agency is like a cash book or a household account book.

But now he had to be humble.

“How can I know everything? It’s just a guess.”

Mu-Gwang, who straightened his raised eyebrows, took out one of the several books and pointed to a specific name.

“Well, looking at this, I can’t say you know everything.”

“Pardon?”

“This place, which dominates the northeast of Henan, is a place to be avoided rather than allied with.”

The place he pointed to had the four letters Gyeong-An Security Escort Agency written on it.

“But my Lord. As you said, Gyeong-An is the largest in the northeast region of Henan. If you exclude that place…”

“Gyeong-An is known to be associated with the Black Road. If you’re not careful, you’re likely to get caught up in nasty business. It’s dangerous.”

Black Road (黑道) [Heidao, a term for the criminal underworld, similar to the Yakuza or Triads].

Among martial artists, they are similar to gangsters or Yakuza.

Jo Gwang-yun couldn’t distinguish what was different about the martial arts they used from the orthodox sects, but he knew that their temperament was terrifyingly cruel.

“Why, of all places…”

“Yes, why the Black Road. What do you think? Is this plan still useful even if you exclude Gyeong-An Security Escort Agency?”

“Some revisions are unavoidable, but it doesn’t affect the big picture.”

It’s the first step towards a distant but grand goal.

It’s not a step to be stopped because of gangster bastards.

And you avoid poop because it’s dirty, not because you’re afraid of it.

* * *

End