I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 67

< Stepping According to the Script 1 >

Moyong Hui and Peng Donghu were staring at Chief Inspector Chui Gae with deeply furrowed brows.

“What Namgung Hyosin said is true, but the interpretation is different.”

“What do you mean by interpretation? If it’s a fact, it’s a fact!”

Peng Donghu was annoyed by Chui Gae’s cautious words, which sounded like a play on words.

“When Jo Gwangyun connected the courier companies in Henan to build a new logistics system, the Mukdo Association kidnapped Jo Gwangyun… no, it was kidnapping. They kidnapped him and pulled him into their business.”

“Business? Are you saying the Mukdo Association did business too?”

Moyong Hui was surprised by the incongruous pairing of the underworld and business.

“Yes. They extorted a portion of the profits from one courier company and an illegal gambling den run by gangsters in Gaebong.”

“Didn’t the Beggars’ Union just watch? They should have nipped it in the bud!”

“In theory, yes, but it’s not that simple. The Mukdo Association doesn’t engage in official activities; they just extract some funds. If we stop them, the minor factions affiliated with the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts sects] in the areas controlled by the underworld will all be attacked by the Mukdo Association.”

Moyong Hui nodded at Chui Gae’s explanation.

“We should turn a blind eye to them trying to make some money to live. Good job. Continue.”

“Yes. Anyway, Jo Gwangyun seems to have a very special talent for making money. When the kidnapped Jo Gwangyun made quite a lot of money, the Mukdo Association hardly interfered and rather increased his authority.”

“So, you mean they gave full authority to a guy who does his job well?”

“You can almost say that. Because now there’s no one in Gaebong related to the Mukdo Association. They’ve all withdrawn.”

“Completely?”

“Yes.”

Moyong Hui sighed deeply.

“This is a problem. Jo Gwangyun and the Changryong Gate are now stuck.”

“That’s right. Now it looks like they’re offering money voluntarily, not being forced to.”

“Hey, just because they withdrew doesn’t mean they’ve let go, right? If they said the Mukdo Association’s masters would come and kill him if he didn’t give them money, Jo Gwangyun would have no choice, right? He’d have to give them money…”

“In-law, the Changryong Gate is already affiliated with the Murim Alliance. If there was any coercion, they should have told us. Hiding it is a big problem.”

Although he didn’t show it, Moyong Hui’s vision was darkening.

The Changryong Gate’s donation to the Murim Alliance came from Jo Gwangyun’s pocket, and Jo Gwangyun also gave money to the Mukdo Association.

Not only did they watch Jo Gwangyun’s business expand to the entire Jungwon region [the Central Plains of China, often used as a metonym for the civilized world], but they even sought the understanding of each sect, so the Murim Alliance leader ended up fostering the Mukdo Association’s source of funds.

It’s not the Namgung family that will step down from the Alliance Leader position and be unable to set foot in the Murim Alliance for several years, but the Moyong family.

“Alliance Leader, there’s one thing we need to confirm.”

“What is it?”

“After the Mukdo Association withdrew from Gaebong, no one knows whether Jo Gwangyun gave them money or not.”

“That’s right. He was forced to give money, but if he hasn’t given a single penny since becoming a member of the Murim Alliance, then it’s fine, right?”

Peng Donghu clapped his hands, and his face brightened, but Moyong Hui remained gloomy.

“What’s certain is that he’s connected to the Mukdo Association. Even if he cut off the relationship, how can we prove it? We drove the Namgung family that way. Jo Gwangyun is even worse. He definitely gave money.”

Without solid evidence, suspicion is truth. There are no exceptions.

Frustrated, Peng Donghu complained to Chui Gae.

“Are you just going to watch? Shouldn’t we take some action?”

“What do you mean?”

“What if the Beggars’ Union guarantees it? That Jo Gwangyun cut off ties with the Mukdo Association a long time ago.”

Before Peng Donghu could finish speaking, Chui Gae jumped up.

“Great Warrior Peng, don’t misunderstand. I’m not reporting the information collected by the Beggars’ Union to the head of the Moyong family, but to the Murim Alliance Leader. The Beggars’ Union is not a subordinate organization of the Moyong family, nor is it in a hostile relationship with the Namgung family. Surely you don’t see me as one arm of the Alliance Leader?”

“Ah, no. I didn’t mean that…”

Chui Gae didn’t want to hear Peng Donghu’s excuses, so he bowed to Moyong Hui and left.

Moyong Hui didn’t even have the energy to blame Peng Donghu.

* * *

Jo Gwangyun called Jegal Mogeon and listened to the results of the leadership meeting. It was exactly as expected.

“That old man Namgung Hyeon must have taught his foolish son well. I wasn’t expecting him to get angry and say nonsense…”

Namgung Hyeon was quick to act.

The rumor that the Changryong Gate was a spy of the Mukdo Association had already spread throughout the Murim Alliance, and even the common people in the counties were gossiping.

“Well, it can’t be helped. We’re just going the way we have to go anyway. By the way… what about what I asked for?”

Jegal Mogeon took out a piece of paper from his pocket.

“I divided it into several grades. It’ll be accurate.”

It was a report analyzing the military strength of the Namgung family and the martial arts level of each individual.

“Wow, Namgung… they’re really strong. Two hundred?”

There were as many as two hundred direct descendants with the Namgung name who could fight with swords.

That’s not all. There were more than three hundred external martial artists who had deep relationships with the Namgung family.

“What are these three hundred people?”

“They’re the ones who learned the Namgung family’s martial arts. It’s similar to the disciples of the Nine Great Sects.”

“Are they loyal enough to the Namgung family to give their lives?”

“Probably.”

Jegal Mogeon thought they were loyal subjects of the Namgung family, but Jo Gwangyun thought differently.

These three hundred people had lived in the shadow of the Namgung family for a long time without great danger. Some of them had simply flattered the Namgung family and received martial arts training as a means of survival.

When their lives are in danger, how many of them will be loyal?

Jo Gwangyun will test their loyalty with a huge number, and these three hundred people will show how easily tempted loyalty can be broken.

“Now, do you feel how high the wall of reality is? No matter how many members the Changryong Gate has, they’ll be annihilated before they even see the faces of the guys with the Namgung surname.”

“Are you just guessing with your head again? That’s always wrong. Anyway, I’ll use this well.”

Jo Gwangyun put the paper in his pocket.

“And I’ll tell you one thing you need to do, so listen carefully.”

“Why should I do it? I don’t owe you anything.”

“Think of it not as a debt, but as repaying a favor in advance.”

“Favor? What nonsense are you talking about?”

“If Namgung wins in this game, Moyong Hui, the Alliance Leader, will also lose power. Then who do you think will protect you, the traitor of the Namgung family? No one. I’m saving your life.”

“So?”

“Since the Namgung family has already branded you as a traitor, why don’t you become a real traitor?”

“What?”

Jegal Mogeon glared. A real traitor?

“At the next Grand Assembly, when the right moment comes, tell the truth. That the murder in Seoan was the work of the Namgung family. Then I’ll take care of the rest. How about it? Not too difficult, right?”

“What’s the Grand Assembly and what’s the right moment?”

“You’ll know it naturally. Will you do me this favor?”

A sigh escaped from Jegal Mogeon’s tightly closed lips.

“I don’t know if it’s a favor or a threat, but I’ll make the decision.”

Jo Gwangyun chuckled as he saw him unable to abandon his pride even in a life-threatening situation.

“Okay. I respect your decision. But you’ll do as I say anyway. Because that’s the smartest decision.”

Jo Gwangyun got up as if he had nothing more to say.

“Then see you at the Grand Assembly. I have something urgent to do, so I’ll get up first. Eat up.”

Jegal Mogeon also snorted and got up. The well-prepared dishes were already cold.

* * *

Chief Inspector Chui Gae, who received the sealed letter, seemed surprised, but quickly regained his composure and quietly left the Murim Alliance.

When he arrived at an inn on the outskirts of Gyunhyeon, Jo Gwangyun greeted him with a polite bow.

“How long have you been here?”

“It’s been a few days. I heard the Murim Alliance is noisy because of me.”

Jo Gwangyun already knew everything the Namgung family had done. Chui Gae was surprised once again, but he didn’t show it.

“If you came, you should have met the Alliance Leader and cleared up the suspicion. Why are you doing such a troublesome thing?”

“I’m clearing up the suspicion now. Please come inside first.”

Chui Gae carefully looked around and went inside.

Jo Gwangyun filled a teacup and handed it to him.

“Let’s get the answer first. What is your relationship with the Mukdo Association?”

“Don’t you know well?”

“Me?”

“Yes. If I had a deep connection with the Mukdo Association, would I have survived in Gaebong? The masters of the Beggars’ Union would have come to find me.”

“We don’t know everything. Don’t beat around the bush and tell me exactly.”

“In the past, when I didn’t have power, I made some money for them. But after meeting the Changryong Gate, I drove out all the underworld gangs in Gaebong. The Oryun Sect and the Nokhyul Gate. Do you know them…?”

Chui Gae nodded.

“I know all that. The important thing is whether you’re still paying money to the Mukdo Association or not.”

“I made it impossible for them to set foot in Gaebong. Why would I give them money?”

Chui Gae carefully examined Jo Gwangyun’s expression, but he didn’t notice any change.

“Are you sure?”

At Chui Gae’s urging, Jo Gwangyun shrugged.

“Look. Even you, sir, are asking me again. But will the Namgung family believe me? Or… what about the Nine Great Sects, who especially hate and despise the evil and underworld? Anyway, my answer is not important.”

Chui Gae couldn’t say anything.

Neither Namgung nor Changryong Gate can prove their innocence.

“Okay. Whatever the outcome, we have no choice but to follow the opinion of the entire Murim Alliance.”

“No. I hope the result I want will come out.”

“Can you make that happen?”

“Yes. It’s possible. If you, sir, give me a little help.”

Chui Gae’s expression hardened.

“Listen. It’s true that I’m paying a little more attention because you’re the only disciple of my old friend. But I don’t have personal feelings about the official affairs handled by the Murim Alliance. Don’t be mistaken.”

“It’s not a difficult task. You checked about me in Gaebong, and as a result of the check, not a single penny of the Jo family’s money flowed into the Mukdo Association. If you just say this…”

“Enough!”

Chui Gae shouted as if he had nothing more to hear.

“Are you telling me to say something that hasn’t been confirmed? You bastard! I’ve lived my whole life eating rough meals without anything, but I’ve never lied from my mouth!”

“It’s not a lie.”

“Saying you know something I don’t know is a lie.”

He’s not flexible for a beggar.

If a request doesn’t work, I have no choice but to use another method.

“The words ‘without anything’ don’t suit you. You have more than 100,000 Beggars’ Union members under your feet, don’t you?”

“What? Under my feet? What do you think of our Beggars’ Union? Although many of us are martial artists, most of them are people with nowhere to go. Taking them in and living together under the sky is the Beggars’ Union. Who is putting whom under their feet?”

“Ah, I see. I misunderstood. I thought the Beggars’ Union was a Murim faction because there were 100,000 members. And since the number of knots on the waist is a sign of status within the Beggars’ Union, I naturally thought there was a distinction between superior and inferior…”

“Only formal disciples who have learned martial arts wear knots. Ordinary members don’t.”

“Then there won’t be many formal disciples.”

“That’s right. Formal disciples are… wait.”

Only then did Chui Gae realize why he was having this conversation. And he realized that Jo Gwangyun’s tongue was unusual.

“You… what are you plotting by saying these things?”

At Chui Gae’s suspicious look, Jo Gwangyun smiled.

“Then would it be okay for me to take in all 100,000 ordinary members of the Beggars’ Union?”

< Stepping According to the Script 1 > End