Hwang Garyeong sighed and gripped the sword in his hand. Like riding a tiger, there was no turning back now.
They crept quietly toward Artisan Gong’s house.
At Hwang Garyeong’s signal, the martial artists they’d brought with them rushed into the house.
But then—
Fwoosh!
Crackle!
Torches lit up brightly around Gong’s house, and armed guards appeared from within.
The warriors from the Jinkyeon Merchant Group were thrown into confusion.
So were the Merchant Lord and Hwang Garyeong.
Step, step, step.
Someone walked out of the house.
It was Eun Seo-ho.
With my hands calmly clasped behind my back, I looked at the Jinkyeon Merchant Lord.
His face twisted in panic, then burst into fury.
“Wh-what the hell… Damn it! This was a trap!”
I shook my head.
“A trap? No, it was just a precaution. I felt a chill down my neck earlier, you see. Just in case, I called in guards to stand by—and you came right on cue.”
I pointed at the Jinkyeon merchant warriors.
“But fish-skin robes and Watersplit Sabers? So the Jinkyeon Merchant Lord is the leader of the river bandits?”
“T-this is…”
Flustered, the Jinkyeon warriors tried to hide their Watersplit Daggers and Sabers—but it was far too late.
“What a shock! Jinkyeon Merchant Lord! You were a bandit all along!”
Constables who had been hiding behind Gong’s house appeared.
Among them was a constable captain.
Because of the recent incident where a bribed constable tried to kill the thief, the captain had little choice but to accept my request for support.
So while I’d sent Palgap to buy dinner, I’d also sent letters summoning Squad Leader Jeong Chung and the constable captain here.
“W-what are you talking about! Bandits? This is all just—”
The Jinkyeon Merchant Lord tried to make excuses in a panic, but the captain wasn’t hearing any of it.
“Silence! You planned an assault dressed like that in the middle of the night, and you expect us to believe you?”
He looked around and shouted,
“Arrest them all!”
A fierce battle broke out, but it didn’t last long.
The Jinkyeon warriors weren’t particularly strong, and we had the numbers.
‘Looks like the history of the Jinkyeon Merchant Group ends here.’
But I didn’t feel the slightest bit of guilt.
They brought it on themselves.
And thinking back to the crimes this merchant lord committed in my previous life, the world would be better off without him.
I approached the constable captain, gave a respectful martial bow, and said,
“I’ll leave a thorough investigation in your hands.”
“You have nothing to worry about.”
And so, the captain took the bound Jinkyeon Merchant Lord, Hwang Garyeong, and their men back to the county office.
“Now then, shall we return as well?”
.
.
.
With Artisan Gong’s family in tow, we arrived at the Ye Clan Inn.
My master and Squad Leader Jeong Chung were waiting for me in the first-floor dining hall.
As soon as I entered, both of them rushed up to ask,
“What happened? You even asked us to call for the constables!”
At Jeong Chung’s words, I offered a polite martial bow.
“Forgive me for causing concern.”
“It’s alright. You returned safely, that’s all that matters. Still, what exactly happened…”
Just then—
Neighhh—!
A horse’s cry rang out, and a woman burst into the inn.
“Perfect timing! Everyone’s here! You said you found a craftsman who can make the doll?”
Despite riding hard, her tied-up hair was still pristine.
The valiant woman of the Eunhae Merchant Group, Pavilion Lord Yeon Dami, had arrived. I was shocked.
Though I had sent a letter about the artisan to Father, I never imagined she’d come herself.
Everyone was stunned by her sudden appearance.
“G-Greetings, Pavilion Lord!”
“Greeting, Pavilion Lord!”
She strode straight toward me, and I stepped forward to greet her.
“Greeting, Pavilion Lord. You mean you rushed over just after reading my letter?”
She nodded.
“As soon as I read that you found someone who could make the puppet doll, I couldn’t just sit still. So where is this artisan?”
I pointed beside me, and she immediately turned and approached Artisan Gong, eyes lit up.
“Ah! So you’re the artisan!”
“Huh? I-I’m…”
Artisan Gong looked flustered, and I smiled and shook my head.
“It’s not him, Pavilion Lord Yeon.”
“…?”
I placed my hand on Gong Mil’s shoulder and said,
“It’s this one.”
“Eh?”
Her face turned to complete disbelief.
Understandable. I’d be just as stunned if someone pointed to a ten-year-old and called him a master artisan capable of creating such incredible items.
But she was Yeon Dami, after all. She quickly regained her composure and spoke calmly.
“I’d like to see for myself.”
“I understand, but it’s quite late. We’ve just gone through a serious ordeal. Would it be alright if we wait until tomorrow?”
“A serious ordeal?”
At her question, I explained everything.
“Ah! So that’s what happened. I’m glad everyone’s safe. Then let’s rest for now.”
The hour had already passed into Chuksi (1–3 a.m.).
So everyone retired to their rooms for the night.
But even then,
I spent time training with Master.
.
.
.
The next day.
After breakfast, Pavilion Lord Yeon said,
“Now, I’d like to see the artisan’s skills.”
“Of course.”
I turned to Gong Mil.
“It’s time to show us what you can do. Can you make the puppet I described now?”
“Yes.”
“What materials do you need? I’ll get you whatever you want.”
After thinking for a moment, Gong Mil asked,
“Really? Anything?”
“Of course.”
“Then…”
He listed the materials he needed—and one of them caught me off guard.
“Silk scraps?”
“Yes.”
Gong Mil nodded.
“The reason I made this puppet in the first place was because my little sister said she wanted one. I wanted it to look pretty.”
“I see.”
I was about to order Palgap to fetch the materials when Pavilion Lord Yeon beat me to it.
She ordered two Finance Pavilion clerks to bring everything Gong Mil had listed.
The materials were soon prepared.
Gong Mil sat on the floor. He said sitting at a table was harder for him because of his height.
As he began, his expression grew serious, and he displayed an incredible level of focus.
Normally, kids that age can’t focus on one thing for even a quarter of an hour. But Gong Mil had been working for a full shichen (around 2 hours) without moving an inch, completely immersed.
At the same time, it was clear he was thoroughly enjoying himself.
I turned my head toward Pavilion Lord Yeon.
She couldn’t hide her astonishment.
She must’ve doubted me when I first called Gong Mil a master artisan.
But now, seeing him actually crafting the puppet with her own eyes, there was no room for doubt.
A ten-year-old artisan?
It was absolutely unprecedented.
After an hour and a half passed, Gong Mil looked a bit tired but grinned brightly.
“It’s done.”
The puppet he held out looked completely different from the one he had made before.
Though still wooden, it was crafted with far better timber, giving it a more natural finish. He’d also dressed and adorned it with silk, turning it into a luxurious-looking doll.
“This puppet dances on its own at set times?”
“Yes.”
Gong Mil nodded.
“When this axle here turns, this cam nudges the mechanism… then this wheel starts moving, and…”
He went on to explain in detail.
“The puppet’s pretty small, so the axle’s small too. Because of that, I had to set the timing so it only dances once every shikgyeong (一刻).” (TL Note: Every 15 minutes)
“So it dances once every shikgyeong?”
“Right.”
Gong Mil wound the gear hidden in the back of the puppet.
And when an shikgyeong passed—
The puppet began to dance on its own. Its arms moved back and forth in a rhythm, and everyone watching gasped in amazement.
Well, not everyone.
Gong Mil, Gong Lae, and I weren’t surprised.
In my previous life, I’d seen that puppet more times than I could count.
Out of sheer curiosity about how it worked, I even bought one and disassembled it to study its mechanisms.
But I never managed to understand it completely.
That was because the elasticity of the fish bladder used to transfer power to the gears was something no one else could replicate.
If I couldn’t do it, no one else could either.
Even with countless counterfeits on the market, no one had ever succeeded in copying the puppet sold by the Jinkyeon Merchant Group.
Now I think I know why.
That puppet was born from a boy who, despite his limited means, devoted himself to making something beautiful for his little sister. How could people obsessed only with money hope to replicate that?
While everyone chattered excitedly, the dancing puppet eventually came to a stop.
“This thing will dance again later?”
“Yes.”
Gong Mil nodded and pointed at the wheel.
“One full wind of this lets it keep dancing every quarter hour for about half a day.”
Pavilion Lord Yeon’s eyes gleamed with manic light.
Ugh!
Seeing that look reminded me of her title.
Silver Fox (銀狐).
The Silver Fox of the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Her special skill was being able to instantly gauge how much profit a product could bring.
The gleam in her eyes meant she understood Gong Mil’s value.
“You! Let’s sign a contract with our merchant group!”
At her declaration, Gong Mil gave a sheepish smile and replied,
“I-I already signed one.”
At that, her face filled with confusion.
“What? W-with who? When? Who on earth got to you first?!”
“That ‘who’ would be me.”
I raised my hand slightly and answered.
“…Huh?”
I pulled out the contract from my robe and showed it to her.
“We already signed this.”
The employer named on the contract Artisan Gong signed yesterday wasn’t the Eunhae Merchant Group.
It was me—Eun Seo-ho.
That was something I’d decided on after much thought.
Starting this life over, I’d come to realize the future wouldn’t necessarily unfold the same way it had before.
Which meant I needed to be prepared in case things didn’t go according to plan.
So instead of assigning him to the group, I tied him to me personally.
That way, the profits wouldn’t go to the group—they’d go to me. Of course, sales would be done through the merchant group, so the group would benefit too.
In the end, it meant I’d have access to my own private funds.
Only then would I be able to pursue the various plans I had in mind.
I couldn’t just spend the group’s money however I pleased. Besides, the group’s finances were far too exposed to the public.
“So Pavilion Lord Yeon, if it’s a negotiation you’re after, you’ll be talking to me.”
At my words, a smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
“Negotiating with me… are you sure you can handle that, Young Master?”
“I’ll approach it as a learning experience.”
And thus, negotiations began immediately.
The push and pull between us was intense.
I’d led my merchant group to countless victories in my past life, but Pavilion Lord Yeon was no easy opponent.
In fact, it was Pavilion Lord Yeon herself who taught me the art of negotiation in my previous life.
After an entire two-hour session, I finally secured seventy percent of what I’d aimed for.
Gong Mil would work in a dispatched arrangement, but there was one thing I absolutely refused to concede.
Fixed work hours, guaranteed meal breaks, and time for study.
He was still just ten years old.
He needed to eat well, sleep well, study, and grow.
When the negotiation ended, we exchanged signed contracts.
“Impressive, Young Master.”
Pavilion Lord Yeon smiled with satisfaction.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve lost this badly.”
“It was tough for me too.”
“You say that, but you look pretty pleased with yourself. Hmph.”
“Hahaha.”
“You’re worth mentoring. I look forward to the day you start working hands-on at the Finance Pavilion.”
And the way she looked at me now—it was sharper, more intense than before.
Why did her gaze suddenly make me break into a cold sweat?
Pavilion Lord Yeon rose from her seat.
“Let’s get ready to depart.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
At her words, everyone began to move at once.
The Eunhae Merchant Group Main Office in Sunyang County, Hubei Province.
Having finished her business in Geumseon Village, Pavilion Lord Yeon Dami returned straight to Merchant Lord Eun Gil-sang.
“Ah, Pavilion Lord Yeon. How did it go?”
At his question, she strode confidently into his office and placed the box she carried on his desk.
Then she sat and said,
“He’s ten years old.”
“Huh? What are you talking about? Who’s ten?”
“The artisan who made the puppet doll. He’s a ten-year-old brat.”
“What?”
“I’m not crazy, and this isn’t a joke. I saw it with my own two eyes.”
She opened the box she had brought herself.
“Here. This puppet was made by a ten-year-old artisan. It dances on its own… a puppet doll.”
–TL Notes–
Tired of seeing Ads? Then please support me on Patreon! Any tier of subscription will make it so you won’t get any ads!
If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/InsanityTheGame
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt