I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 9

Jo Gwangyun quickly got the hang of riding a horse, constantly pushing for more speed.

The rush of the wind through the horse’s mane, the connection he felt with the animal, and the heightened sense of speed in the open air—it was exhilarating.

He’d never ridden in a convertible with the top down, but he doubted it could compare to the thrill of this.

“Stop! The sun’s going down!”

The booming voice cut through the wind, startling him. Jo Gwangyun hauled back on the reins, bringing the galloping horse to a halt.

A wide smile remained plastered on his flushed face.

“Look at this guy. He looked like he was about to die when we ditched the carriage, but now he’s practically glowing after riding a horse,” Lee Hak-lin commented, a hint of amusement in his voice. He was pleased that his hunch about Jo Gwangyun’s aptitude for horsemanship had been correct.

“I hate sleeping outdoors. I have no intention of using grass as a blanket, so we’ll stay here tonight and leave again before sunrise tomorrow.”

“Yes, Master.”

Jo Gwangyun felt a thrill of anticipation, like the day before a childhood picnic—except this involved horseback riding instead of a checkered blanket and sandwiches.

After several days of travel, they finally arrived in Kaifeng.

As soon as Lee Hak-lin reached the Gyeong-an Escort Agency, he summoned the managers.

‘That woman must be in charge of business, and that skinny guy must handle the agency’s clandestine operations? Or maybe the bearded one…?’ Jo Gwangyun wondered.

Standing beside Lee Hak-lin, Jo Gwangyun discreetly observed the three individuals. They, in turn, glanced at Lee Hak-lin, curious about Jo Gwangyun’s identity.

“This is Jo Gwangyun. He’s the one who built the collection center in Shinnyeong [a town in Henan province],” Lee Hak-lin announced.

The bearded man’s gaze sharpened as he looked at Jo Gwangyun at the mention of the collection center.

‘The bearded guy must be running the escort agency,’ Jo Gwangyun surmised. As someone familiar with the industry, he naturally paid closer attention. He tried to decipher the thoughts behind the man’s eyes.

He detected no immediate hostility.

The manager of the Gyeong-an Escort Agency had visited the collection center, so he must have anticipated that his position might be in jeopardy. The arrival of the man who built the collection center would likely amplify those concerns, yet there was no visible sign of competitiveness.

Either he was a nobody from the start, or he was a master of disguise, concealing his ambition. It was too early to tell.

In reality, Jo Gwangyun was more interested in the woman in charge of business.

He’d heard she was more ruthless than any black marketeer, but outwardly, she appeared to be an ordinary middle-aged woman. She had a slightly thick waist, a round, somewhat puffy face, and wrinkles etched around her eyes.

She wouldn’t stand out if she were making noodles in a back alley of the market.

“Hey, Beard.”

“Yes.”

The bearded man lowered his head respectfully.

“This guy will transform this escort agency into something like the Shinnyeong collection center. Make sure you give him your full support and ensure he faces no obstacles in his work!”

“Yes, sir!”

Lee Hak-lin’s gaze swept past the bowed head of the bearded man and settled on Jo Gwangyun.

“It took two years for Shinnyeong to become established, right?”

“That’s correct, Master.”

Lee Hak-lin’s lips curled into a smile at Jo Gwangyun’s respectful response.

“I’ll give you one year. Make this place bigger than Shinnyeong within a year.”

The unspoken implication hung in the air: failure would be met with severe consequences.

“I will keep that in mind.”

“And Yang Ga-nyun.”

“Yes, Master.”

The woman named Yang clasped her hands together politely.

“Introduce our operations to this guy and teach him the business. If you see any potential, entrust him with some responsibilities. Oh, and the same goes for you. Make sure he learns everything he needs to know about your work. Any sign of unnecessary hostility will be met with swift punishment.”

“I will follow your orders.”

Jo Gwangyun noticed a fleeting expression flicker across her politely bowed face. It was subtle, but unmistakable.

It would be understandable if the escort agency manager, who was essentially being demoted, displayed such an expression. But her position was secure; all she had to do was impart her knowledge. So why the dissatisfaction?

And in front of Lee Hak-lin, no less?

‘That middle-aged woman… there’s something about her,’ Jo Gwangyun thought.

He tried to observe her more closely, but the opportunity vanished as Lee Hak-lin introduced the last remaining person.

“And you must report everything to this person without fail. That means this person holds your life in his hands from this moment on.”

The skinny guy looked at him with an impassive expression. Jo Gwangyun lowered his head.

He was his direct superior… he had a way of making people uneasy.

“That’s enough introductions. Beard, take this guy to his quarters and fill him in on the details. Chu-saeng [Autumn Life], I want to speak with you for a moment.”

So, his direct superior’s name was Chu-saeng.

Jo Gwangyun bowed to him once more and followed the bearded man.

* * *

“Did you say Jo Gwangyun? I’m Woo-yang [Protecting Yang, a common name].”

“Nice to meet you, Master Woo.”

“Master, my foot…”

Woo-yang grabbed Jo Gwangyun’s arm as he was about to bow respectfully.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I was worried I might end up in charge.”

“Is there anything to worry about?”

“This is the Gyeong-an Escort Agency. It’s beyond my capabilities to run it. There are too many responsibilities.”

One of two things… or maybe both. Either he simply followed orders and lived a mundane life, or he feared making a mistake while handling sensitive work under the black market’s watchful eye.

‘There won’t be any power struggles here,’ Jo Gwangyun concluded.

It was easy to control someone whose only goal was to endure, devoid of ambition. He was no different from countless office workers who simply followed orders as long as their retirement was secure.

Jo Gwangyun smiled reassuringly.

“I’ll take full responsibility. Don’t worry about anything and just keep doing what you’re doing.”

Woo-yang’s face brightened, and he brought up the question that was weighing on his mind.

“But what about that Chu-saeng guy…?”

“Ah, Head Escort Yoo?”

Head Escort? The person who held his life in his hands was just a Head Escort?

Woo-yang quickly elaborated when he saw Jo Gwangyun’s confused expression.

“Head Escort Yoo Chu-saeng is different from ordinary Head Escorts. He has nothing to do with our Gyeong-an Escort Agency and works with Yang-cheong [Clear Yang, referring to the woman].”

So, the middle-aged woman was Yang-cheong.

“Anyway, since both of them have nothing to do with our escort agency, you don’t have to worry about them.”

“But I have to report everything to Head Escort Yoo, right?”

“Your predecessor also reported, but Head Escort Yoo didn’t really interfere. He has to report the status here to the Mookdo Association [likely a martial arts organization]… just think of it as a formality.”

“I see.”

Well, how could a martial artist who wielded a sword possibly scrutinize the intricate flow of money?

Jo Gwangyun’s spirits lifted. It wouldn’t be difficult to skim off the top, little by little, from people who were essentially blind to the details.

* * *

No matter how challenging, it was always easier to tread a familiar path.

Transforming the Gyeong-an Escort Agency into a logistics hub in Kaifeng, and further connecting it with the Shinnyeong collection center to create a logistics center for the entire Henan province, wasn’t particularly difficult.

It was a bit challenging in the early stages to educate people who lacked a basic understanding of logistics, but after a couple of months, the project progressed smoothly. Moreover, perhaps due to the prestige associated with the Gyeong-an Escort Agency, forging alliances with other escort agencies, which usually took the most time, was surprisingly easy.

With some free time on his hands, Jo Gwangyun sought out Yang-cheong to gain a better understanding of the commercial district that piqued his interest.

End