I Will Start Doing Business In Jungwon From Today [EN]: Chapter 95

“Then, does Brother Jo have a different take on this?” Lee Geon asked cautiously.

“Isn’t the situation strange enough to warrant a second look? Of course, I don’t know their exact intentions yet, but…”

Considering the Black Moon’s usual behavior, Jo Gwang-yun was relieved simply by the fact that their actions were odd. *At least they won’t rush in and kidnap me right now, so I have time to prepare,* he thought.

“Does Brother Lee know the Guild Leader’s inner circle well?”

“Inner circle…” Lee Geon paused for a moment and shook his head. “There’s no real ‘inner circle’ like you might think. The Black Moon isn’t like the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans]. Do you think the Guild Leader would tolerate anyone’s blunt advice? Their head would be rolling if they said anything even slightly unpleasant.”

“What about Grand Master Lee Hak-lin?”

“Grand Master Lee is different. Even the Guild Leader has to tread carefully around him. It’s not just his martial arts; he has a large following. He also coordinates the Black Moon’s overall operations.”

To Jo Gwang-yun, Lee Geon’s assessment carried a completely different weight. *Isn’t he the de facto leader?* he mused. *Well, he’s still just a subordinate. How many practical managers lead groups under tyrannical chaebol [a South Korean business conglomerate] chairmen? Even so, no employee considers such a manager the leader. No matter what anyone says, the chairman is the leader.*

“Then, the relationship between the Guild Leader and Grand Master Lee might be a bit strained?”

Lee Geon shook his head firmly. “The Guild Leader trusts Grand Master Lee immensely. And Grand Master Lee has almost no worldly desires. He avoids alcohol and women and doesn’t crave wealth. He’s a true martial artist who spends most of his time in the training room.”

Jo Gwang-yun recalled something Lee Geon had said long ago.

「Grand Master Lee Hak-lin’s nature and the place he belongs to may be fundamentally different.」

A de facto leader of the Black Moon who doesn’t possess the typical traits of one. *Perhaps this statement might be the key to navigating these difficulties,* Jo Gwang-yun thought.

“Brother Lee.”

“Yes?”

“I might have to ask you for a very difficult favor.”

Lee Geon nodded without hesitation. “Tell me anything. I’m already in this with you, aren’t I?”

“First, go back and say you couldn’t find me. I’m going to Gyeyang for work.”

“Gyeyang, you mean the Imperial City?”

“Yes. It’s difficult for Murim people to enter the Imperial City, right? That alone will buy us some time.”

“I will. Is there anything else?”

“We need to secretly spread rumors within the Black Moon.”

“Rumors?”

“Yes. That the Black Moon Guild Leader has made a pact with a righteous sect to strike the Azure Dragon Gate and divide the Jo family.”

“What? How could that be?”

“It’s just a rumor. As you know, rumors must seem like they originated from the outside. That way, the source can’t be verified.”

When Lee Geon looked doubtful, Jo Gwang-yun elaborated, “The timing is very strange. It feels like it was planned in advance.”

“Timing?”

“Yes. After I fought the Namgung family, many aristocratic families in the Murim Alliance see me as a thorn in their side. Even if the Black Moon attacks the Azure Dragon Gate now, no sect will come to their aid. In such a moment, the Black Moon aims for the Jo family? I know it’s just a rumor, but I can’t shake off the suspicion.”

“Ah…”

Lee Geon also became suspicious of the convenient timing.

“It’s a situation where it wouldn’t be surprising if the Guild Leader, who doesn’t overthink things, was seduced by someone from the orthodox faction, so the rumor will gain traction.”

“Then, what’s your plan after spreading the rumors?”

“I have to make the rumors a reality. And I have to create individuals who will be in trouble the moment the rumors turn into reality.”

At that moment, Lee Geon thought that the Guild Leader would regret not dealing with Jo Gwang-yun decisively. Now that he’s given him time, Jo Gwang-yun will find a way out and might even stab them in the back.

*When it comes to using his head, making plans, and plotting, even if the entire Black Moon gathers, they can never defeat Jo Gwang-yun,* Lee Geon mused.

* * *

The Chief Inspector shook Lee Geon’s report in his hand. “Are you sure about this? If there’s anything wrong later, we’re all screwed. You know that, right?”

“Yes. I’ve included all the information that our people could gather so far. I’ll continue to gather information, but if it’s too late, I’ll have to submit this as the first report because the Guild Leader won’t wait.”

The Chief Inspector unfolded Lee Geon’s report only after hearing the words ‘first report’.

“Huh? Is it difficult for us to take over the department store or something?”

“Yes. They are all located in the market. As you know, the market is managed by the local government or the province, right? Dozens of merchants operate businesses in the department store. If they all complain to the local government, the administration will definitely intervene.”

The Chief Inspector just blinked his eyes. “What? Isn’t that department store Jo Gwang-yun’s?”

Lee Geon was disgusted that the Black Moon, at this level, would try to take over the Jo family. They didn’t even understand the structure of the Jo family and only had the simplistic idea of seizing their money.

“No. Only the department store building is owned by the Jo family, and the businesses inside are run independently by each merchant. In other words, they’re just renting the space.”

Lee Geon emphasized this so that the Guild Leader wouldn’t entertain any other ideas.

“And the department store only deals with very expensive goods, so the customers are all high-ranking officials or local dignitaries. If we mess this up, we might be stirring up a hornet’s nest.”

The Chief Inspector’s face completely distorted. The thought of reporting this to the Guild Leader made his spine chill.

“Then what about the pawnshops? There are seventeen in total… Is there a problem here too?”

The Chief Inspector thought that they could just raid the pawnshops instead of trying to run them. *Isn’t a pawnshop a place where money is piled up?* he thought. *There are plenty of hidden silver and gold everywhere, so the Guild Leader would be satisfied just by raiding that place.*

“The pawnshops only have the money that came in that day.”

“What?”

It was like a bolt from the blue for the Chief Inspector. *Only a day’s worth of money?*

“The reason why the Jo family’s pawnshops are trusted is because even if a thief breaks in, they can’t steal anything.”

“You bastard! Explain it in an easy-to-understand way!”

The Chief Inspector screamed. The department store is a problem, and the pawnshop doesn’t have any money either. He had no idea how to report this to the Guild Leader.

“Unlike the continental pawnshops, the Jo family’s pawnshops don’t handle money that merchants temporarily deposit. They only keep the spare money of the rich. So, they don’t keep the money in the pawnshop but move it to another safe place every day. No one knows where that place is.”

“Damn it! The department store is no good. The pawnshop is no good either. Hey! Do you want to see me beaten to death by the Guild Leader?”

Lee Geon closed his mouth. He had reported only the facts without lying, so the rest was up to the Chief Inspector.

The Chief Inspector, who had been frowning, slammed the table and shouted, “Let’s catch that bastard Jo Gwang-yun! He’ll know where the money is kept, right?”

As expected, the last resort was the simplest and easiest method, befitting the Black Moon.

“Lee Geon!”

“Yes?”

“I’ll tell Vice-Lord to dispatch some experts, so you go to Gaebong with them and catch that guy.”

“Ah… I haven’t told you yet.”

“What else?”

“Jo Gwang-yun is not in Gaebong. He went to Gyeyang for work.”

“Gyeyang?”

It was bad enough that they didn’t know where he was, but he was in the Imperial City of all places. The Imperial City is a place with strict surveillance. They can’t just run around as they please.

The Chief Inspector felt drained.

“But Chief.”

One of the Chief Inspector’s men cautiously chimed in without any tact.

“Why? Do you have a good idea?”

“Ah, it’s not that, but there’s a strange rumor going around outside. Do you know about it?”

“Rumor? What rumor?”

“It’s about the Guild Leader joining hands with the orthodox faction to plot against the Jo family and the Azure Dragon Gate.”

“Orthodox faction?”

The Chief Inspector straightened up, leaning back on the chair.

Lee Geon, who was quick to notice, cautiously began to back away little by little. He had experienced the consequences of the Chief Inspector’s expression several times.

As expected, the Chief Inspector punched the man who had mentioned the rumor in the face without saying a word. Although it was a sudden punch, the man gritted his teeth. He knew the Chief Inspector’s personality: if he screamed or groaned, the punching and kicking would be several times worse.

After a long and merciless beating, the Chief Inspector said, panting, “If you utter that kind of nonsense one more time… I guarantee you, that day will be your memorial day.”

The Chief Inspector felt a little relieved. However, the sight of the member lying in a bloody mess reminded him that his own appearance would soon be like that in front of the Guild Leader, and his relieved heart hardened like a stone again.

* * *

The Chief Inspector’s report and the rumors. Lee Hak-lin considered these things alternately and made a decision. He didn’t want to keep circling around anymore. A frustrated heart and a complicated mind didn’t suit him.

Lee Hak-lin headed straight for the Guild Leader’s residence.

“This is Lee Hak-lin.”

“Come in.”

Opening the door and entering, Lee Hak-lin saw that the Guild Leader’s residence was a mess. Several maids were terrified and diligently cleaning and tidying up, but the bloodstains on the floor were not easily erased.

Hyeok Si-mok, the Guild Leader, opened his mouth towards Lee Hak-lin, who frowned. “The Chief Inspector was just talking nonsense, so I beat him up a few times.”

*If it wasn’t just one time but several times, the Chief Inspector would have died on the spot,* Lee Hak-lin thought.

“Should we appoint a new Chief?”

The Guild Leader nodded. “You put a suitable guy in that position.”

“Yes.”

When the Guild Leader waved his hand at the maids, they quickly left the residence.

“So, have you finished investigating me?”

“Yes. There wasn’t much. Just a cruise on Dongting Lake [a large, shallow lake in northeastern Hunan Province, China]. Was there anything else?”

He said it casually, but Lee Hak-lin’s lips were burning.

The Guild Leader seemed surprised by the unexpected answer but soon burst into laughter. “Hahaha. Yes. You have to be like this, Hak-lin. Keuheuheu.”

Lee Hak-lin waited silently until the Guild Leader stopped laughing.

“Should there be something else?”

The Guild Leader, whose laughter had disappeared, spoke first. “Yes.”

“Why is that?”

“The fact that you suddenly want the Jo family, and the ominous rumors circulating outside… it’s not normal.”

“Rumors? Ah, the one about me joining hands with the orthodox guys to push the Azure Dragon Gate and divide the Jo family?”

“You already know.”

“I have ears too.”

“Rumors are circulating among the Black Moon factions; shouldn’t we block them?”

The Guild Leader shook his head briefly. “Leave it alone. How can you block the spread of rumors? And rumors are just rumors. They’ll die down like a fading flame.”

“Is it really just a rumor?”

“This bastard, really…”

The Guild Leader frowned as Lee Hak-lin continued to harp on the same thing.

“If you came in with a bang, say what you want to say! Don’t play word games; it doesn’t suit you.”

Lee Hak-lin was unshaken even by the Guild Leader’s loud voice.

“Please tell me the real reason why you suddenly want the Jo family. I don’t think you’re someone who covets wealth. Am I wrong?”

“I thought you were a guy who silently does what I tell you without questioning it. Was I wrong?”

Lee Hak-lin answered without hesitation. “You’re not wrong. But this matter has too many problems for me to ignore.”

“Since when have you been thinking about the aftermath and moving? You look more like a strategist than a martial artist these days?”

“Guild Leader. You still haven’t told me the reason.”

Hyeok Si-mok, the Guild Leader, briefly answered Lee Hak-lin’s persistent question, which sounded almost like an interrogation. “Have I ever left a rising star alone?”

End