Tales Of The Nine Dragons [EN]: Chapter 98

Ninth Dragon Chronicles (98)

After explaining the Nine Dragon Tower to Hyuk Ji-seok, Hwa-rin toured the businesses operated by the Nine Dragon Association with him.

“There are many businesses. It seems like all the brothels and inns in Sanyang County are owned by the Nine Dragon Association.”

“It just turned out this way. Still, it’s a bit better since the sales are decent.”

Hyuk Ji-seok, who visited Osong House with Hwa-rin, felt something slightly different from other brothels.

“This isn’t just a place to satisfy primal instincts.”

There are red-light districts in the Central Plains, and every city has such places.

Those places are simply for men to relieve their lust, but Osong House looked a bit different from those red-light districts.

“Think of it as a hygienically clean place that also serves alcohol. It’s like removing the exploitative practices from a *Hongru* [traditional Korean restaurant with female entertainers].”

“Does their profit also go to the Nine Dragon Association?”

“Of course. We handle the rental of the rooms and the liquor sales here.”

Hyuk Ji-seok tilted his head.

“The courtesans earn their own money and pay monthly rent for the rooms they use. And if a guest wants a drink, we sell the alcohol and snacks.”

“Then, you don’t take a cut of the courtesans’ fees like other pimps?”

“No. However, the courtesans working here eat at the inns run by the Nine Dragon Association and buy clothes, accessories, cosmetics, and trinkets from our fabric stores, so the profits ultimately benefit the Nine Dragon Association.”

Hyuk Ji-seok looked at Hwa-rin. It was the first time he had seen a business structure that generated revenue by circulating money within its own network like the Nine Dragon Association.

“Amazing.”

“We’re helping each other earn a little more.”

“I heard there are more brothels.”

“The owners sold them to me because they thought they would go bankrupt when the Nine Dragon Tower opened. I’m thinking of remodeling some into accommodations for the Nine Dragon Tower staff and turning others into inns for travelers.”

“Isn’t there already an inn?”

“If many people come, the current inn won’t be able to accommodate them all.”

“Hmm…”

“I’m also considering converting some brothels into simple inns for sleeping and others into restaurants that only serve food and alcohol.”

“Then the inn and restaurant should be relatively close.”

“They’ll be within a reasonable distance, and I’m thinking of putting a few retail stores in between, but I’m waiting for someone to offer their store for sale.”

“Amazing. If you expand like this, won’t Sanyang County become the Nine Dragon Association’s territory?”

Hwa-rin smiled brightly.

“That’s the ultimate goal. That’s how the Nine Dragon Association will be secure. Now, let’s go to the inn and have a meal. Our head chef is very good at cooking.”

Hwa-rin took Hyuk Ji-seok to the Nine Dragon Inn. Hyuk Ji-seok noticed many people greeting Hwa-rin happily along the way.

‘Despite his young age, he’s winning over the locals. The story I heard at that inn about the Nine Dragon Association leader seems to be true.’

He remembered the story that portrayed Hwa-rin as somewhat unconventional but kind, hardworking, and helpful to the community.

“Mother, if you’re sick, please see a doctor, get a diagnosis, and take your medicine.”

Hyuk Ji-seok observed that Hwa-rin spoke comfortably with everyone he met, but he followed a consistent set of social rules.

He addressed older people as “Father” and “Mother,” and those who appeared younger as “Uncle” and “Aunt.” He used informal speech with most young people.

He used honorifics for officials, business owners, and those who genuinely deserved respect, often individuals who had worked diligently in their fields to earn the title of master.

“Have you arrived?”

As they entered the Nine Dragon Inn, the manager came to greet them.

“This is the newly appointed Commander Hyuk Ji-seok. He will be responsible for the safety of our Nine Dragon Tower.”

“Ah, hello? I’m Son Wook, the manager of the Nine Dragon Inn.”

“I’m Hyuk Ji-seok.”

“Our leader may have some eccentricities, but he takes good care of his people.”

“I’ve noticed that even in the short time I’ve been working here.”

“Enough with the embarrassing talk. Call the head chef. I want to introduce Commander Hyuk and have him show off his skills for the first time in a while.”

“I understand. Please have a seat and wait.”

The manager pointed to a table and went into the kitchen. When the two sat down, the head chef, Cheon Beom, came out.

“Say hello. This is Head Chef Cheon Beom, who will be working with us at the Nine Dragon Tower. And this is Commander Hyuk Ji-seok, who will protect our Nine Dragon Tower.”

After introducing the two, Hwa-rin asked for a delicious and skillfully prepared dish. Head Chef Cheon Beom acknowledged the request and went to the kitchen, telling them not to worry.

“He’ll be in charge of the kitchen at the Nine Dragon Tower when it opens.”

“Then what about this place?”

“Someone is learning to cook under Head Chef Cheon Beom, so he’ll take over here.”

After waiting for a while, the server brought alcohol and simple dishes.

“The head chef said he’ll make the dishes in order. Please enjoy a drink and conversation in the meantime.”

“Thank you.”

“There are quite a few people working at the inn.”

“Our inn is the most successful in Sanyang County, so we need a lot of staff. I’ve hired over a hundred people since I came to Sanyang County.”

Hyuk Ji-seok was surprised to hear that there were over a hundred employees.

“Is it that many?”

“Three inns, five brothels, two fabric stores, two loan shark businesses. And if you include the people hired at the Nine Dragon Tower, which hasn’t opened yet, it’s over a hundred. If you include Sangnam County and Hwaeum County next to it, it’s probably about a hundred and fifty.”

A hundred and fifty people was a significant number.

“Then how many people are you planning for the security team?”

Many people were needed to protect that many people.

“The more, the better, but we have to consider the expenses, so I’m thinking of about fifty people. With days off, at least forty people should be working, and about ten people can rotate on their days off, right?”

“Are you saying that I should manage that many people?”

Hwa-rin nodded.

“Including the existing personnel, Commander Hyuk will have to manage at least seventy or eighty people.”

“I thought this would be easy, but it seems I’ve been properly caught.”

“I’ll treat you well in return.”

“How will you treat me well?”

“I’ll allow Commander Hyuk to live comfortably as long as he doesn’t commit murder, robbery, theft, or fraud, and doesn’t interfere with his work. Oh, and of course, I’ll give you a decent salary.”

A smile appeared on Hyuk Ji-seok’s face at Hwa-rin’s words.

“Then please take good care of me, Leader.”

Hyuk Ji-seok decided to settle down in the Nine Dragon Association.

Hwa-rin treated Hyuk Ji-seok as the security commander in charge of the safety of the Nine Dragon Association, and as the first thing to give him the treatment befitting his rank, he treated him with respect.

“I look forward to working with you too, Commander Hyuk!”

* * *

The first thing Hyuk Ji-seok did as the security commander in charge of the Nine Dragon Association’s security was to bring the surviving members of the Hyeonmu Unit to the Nine Dragon Association with Hwa-rin’s permission.

To empower Hyuk Ji-seok, Hwa-rin also gave him a martial arts manual.

The cover was stiff paper, as if it had been recently written, and on the outside, it said: “Cloud Record, Heavenly Beauty Sword Manual, and Twelve Repelling Techniques.”

Looking at the martial arts book, it seemed that Hwa-rin had written it himself and given it to Hyuk Ji-seok.

“After mastering all the martial arts, teach the Heavenly Beauty Sword Manual and the Twelve Repelling Techniques only to the leaders of the martial artists who protect our main estate and businesses. And have the leaders teach the Twelve Repelling Techniques to the members.”

Hyuk Ji-seok looked at Hwa-rin, wondering why he was making things so complicated.

“I think we need to differentiate them. The members only need to learn enough martial arts to protect the businesses, but the leaders and above must learn martial arts that can resolve conflicts with other martial artists. I believe this is the only way to ensure everyone’s safety.”

Hyuk Ji-seok roughly scanned the martial arts recorded in the manual.

“The Twelve Repelling Techniques seem to be excellent martial arts. They seem capable of holding their own even against ordinary martial artists.”

“They may be able to handle third-rate and second-rate martial artists, but they will be overwhelmed by first-rate martial artists. First, they lack internal energy (*qi*), and second, their understanding of martial arts is somewhat lacking.”

Hyuk Ji-seok nodded in agreement with Hwa-rin’s assessment.

“Unless they are children growing up within the organization, teaching martial arts to the martial artists we are recruiting now only requires that level of skill. However, the leader-level martial artists must become integral to the main estate. If they learn these martial arts, they will overcome at least one obstacle that was previously blocking them, depending on their individual abilities.”

“Thank you. I will do my best to learn it.”

“And burn the manual after you have mastered everything.”

“This?”

Hwa-rin tapped his head with his finger and said.

“This is to prevent the martial arts of the main estate from being leaked to outsiders. You never know what people are thinking, so some of the people you teach may have bad intentions and try to steal the manual.”

Hwa-rin’s concerns seemed a bit extreme, but Hyuk Ji-seok nodded, thinking there was no harm in following his instructions.

“And you can teach more martial arts to people who are truly talented. However, I hope you will do so under the condition that they become members of the main estate.”

“I understand. I will do so.”

“You can discuss other matters with Chief Manager Seo.”

Hyuk Ji-seok decided to follow Hwa-rin’s instructions.

After receiving the martial arts manual from Hwa-rin, Hyuk Ji-seok devoted his time to learning the martial arts, while Hwa-rin continued to select martial artists.

As time passed and the martial artists who would work at the Nine Dragon Tower were selected to some extent, one of the former Hyeonmu Unit members of the Jeongcheon Alliance joined the Nine Dragon Association.

“Really?”

“I made a quick decision and left the Jeongcheon Alliance, but everyone else is still uncertain.”

“Then contact them and tell them to come to the Nine Dragon Association if they want to work without worrying about being watched.”

Hyuk Ji-seok decided to embrace the former Hyeonmu Unit martial artists and reported to Hwa-rin, who supported his decision and told him to do as he pleased.

A few days later, the members of the Hyeonmu Unit came to the Nine Dragon Association and all became members. Hyuk Ji-seok selected them as the leaders of each group and had them protect the Nine Dragon Tower alongside the martial artists selected by Hwa-rin.

Each group consisted of ten people, including the leader.

Two groups were assigned to protect the Nine Dragon Pavilion, and one group was assigned to protect each of the Mae, Nan, Guk, and Juk pavilions.

They first learned the layout of the Nine Dragon Tower and practiced the *Hapgyeok* Formation [a coordinated battle formation] inside the Nine Dragon Tower in case of a large-scale battle.

The Nine Dragon Association continued to recruit martial artists, and Hwa-rin continued his work.

The Nine Dragon Tower, after many ups and downs, finally opened and received its first guest, Lee Do-baek, the lord of Seoseong Province.

Lee Do-baek, the lord, visited the Nine Dragon Tower with his aides and listened to Hwa-rin’s explanations. He was satisfied, and the corners of his mouth turned upward.

“Many people are already paying attention and saying that it will greatly help local development. What do you think?”

“I think so too. I’m planning to integrate Sanyang, Sangnam, and Sangju counties into a single commercial district.”

“Three counties?”

“Yes. It’s also close to Henan Province and Hubei Province, so we’re thinking of forming a commercial district where people can come and go frequently by opening playgrounds, restaurants, or other attractions that represent not only the Nine Dragon Tower but also each county. We’ll start there, but I think many provinces in the Central Plains will also create similar attractions.”

“Hmm… Then won’t we lose tourists to other provinces?”

“That may be the case, but since Seoseong Province has a legal gambling house, it will attract more attention than other provinces for now.”

Lee Do-baek nodded.

Even if they can copy everything else, it will be difficult to get legal permission for a gambling house. For now, Seoseong Province, which can legally offer gambling with the same amenities, may have a slight advantage.

Hwa-rin leaned closer to Lee Do-baek and spoke in a low voice.

“I’ll make sure to advertise using the Hao Gate [a powerful and influential organization], so don’t worry too much.”