Soon, a warrior from the Eunpoong Division arrived, just as I’d summoned.
“You called for me?”
This was Fourth Squad’s Squad Leader, Myeong Bu-seong (鳴富盛).
He was from the Yunnan region and known for wielding a massive curved saber.
But more notable than his weapon was his face.
So terrifying that even crying babies would stop crying and start seizing.
When paired with his grotesquely large saber, the impact was overwhelming.
Still, he was a sincere and soft-hearted man.
He made a great impression during shows of force, so I often used him for that very reason.
Some might say it was cruel to make a gentle person do such work, but Squad Leader Myeong never minded.
In my past life, when I once asked him about it, he smiled and said:
“Isn’t a show of force better than swinging your sword and killing someone?”
“That’s true. It’s just intimidation, after all.”
“That’s why I like doing it. I even practice scary expressions on purpose. Hahaha!”
That’s the kind of man Myeong Bu-seong was.
“We’ll need a show of force.”
“That’s my specialty. Leave it to me, Deputy Merchant Lord.”
He cupped his fists and grinned—making him look even more terrifying.
We headed for Lord Ma’s manor.
“Ahem. Well then, what’s this sudden visit without notice?”
Lord Ma was still trying to act composed.
But that ends today.
“Lord Ma, you’ll need to vacate the manor.”
“What? Vacate the manor? What are you talking about?”
“I have use for the property.”
“Didn’t you say you only wanted ownership last time?”
“I did. But, Lord Ma, owning the manor means I’m the master of this property. And the master has the right to evict its residents.”
“…”
“Am I wrong?”
“…”
He couldn’t deny it.
“J-just give me a little time! When I receive returns from the investment into the Murim Alliance project—”
“Haven’t you heard the news yet?”
“News? What news?”
“They say the White Thunder Squad members transporting your investment funds have gone missing.”
“What?”
“So the Murim Alliance hasn’t received the funds. The project hasn’t even started yet.”
“…”
“Anyway, that’s the situation. So please, vacate the manor.”
“I can’t do that! I’ll find funds elsewhere if I must!”
“Can you? Do you have any assets left to offer as collateral?”
At my mocking question, Lord Ma’s face turned red.
“What arrogance is this?!”
“What, it’s the truth, isn’t it?”
His eyes flared with rage, then glinted ominously.
“Guards! Arrest those bastards immediately!”
“Yes, sir!”
I didn’t need to hear his thoughts to know what he was planning. He wanted to detain me and take the contract I held.
Typical villain behavior.
In fact, I’d provoked him on purpose, hoping he’d show his true nature.
Wow. He’s simple-minded as ever.
The guards rushed toward me, but my escort guards weren’t average warriors.
Thwack—!
Crash!
“Urgh!”
“Gah!”
In an instant, the tide turned.
The only warriors Lord Ma had left were Second-rate at best.
All the First-rate warriors were locked up at the county office.
Naturally, they were no match for my guards.
“We held back this time, so we didn’t even draw our swords. But next time, who knows? My guards are incredibly loyal.”
“G-Get more guards right now! Slaughter them! They’re just six people!”
He still hasn’t grasped the situation.
I looked outside and shouted loudly.
“Squad Leader Myeong!”
The gates burst open, and Myeong Bu-seong entered with his team.
“Gasp!”
“Eek!”
At the sight of Myeong’s terrifying face, the remaining guards instinctively backed away.
Lord Ma was no different.
“Really, Lord Ma. What were you thinking? I’m the Deputy Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group. Did you think I only brought six guards?”
“…”
I walked up to him and said,
“So? What will it be? If you leave quietly now, I’ll overlook what you just tried to do.”
“…”
He shut his eyes tightly and spoke.
“I… I’ll leave.”
“Good decision.”
“But still! Even so, how can you suddenly throw me out like this? Where am I supposed to live?”
“That’s why I’ve prepared a small house for you.”
“A house?”
“I’m not that heartless.”
Lord Ma sighed and said,
“Fine. I’ll tell the household to pack our things.”
“Oh, there’s no need. You and your people can leave with just the clothes on your backs.”
“What?”
“Have you forgotten? From the smallest pebble in this manor, everything belongs to me. Even the clothes you’re wearing now are technically mine. Still, I’ll let you keep what you’re currently wearing.”
I continued.
“When I looked through your investment contracts earlier, I happened to see the employment agreements as well. According to those contracts, if you’re unable to pay wages properly, the agreements are automatically nullified.”
At that, Lord Ma turned to look at the Chief Administrator.
Thanks to the commotion, he was already present. He nodded.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“And the conditions under which wages can’t be paid are threefold. First—”
The Chief Administrator picked up my words and explained.
“If wages are unpaid for three months. Second, if there’s no successor to Lord Ma’s position. Third, if the ownership of the manor changes.”
I smiled.
“Then, Chief Administrator, does our current situation fall into one or more of those categories?”
“Yes, it does.”
The Chief Administrator kneeled before me.
“My name is An Suk. I’ve worked here at Lord Ma’s manor for forty years.”
That means he served since the previous generation.
“If you’ll grant this old man a chance, I’ll serve you with all my loyalty. Please make a contract with me.”
Yes. Sometimes, switching to a new ship before the old one sinks is the wise choice.
I walked up to the Chief Administrator.
“It’s a cold day. Please, don’t kneel.”
“Not until the new master accepts my request.”
“Alright. I accept. Now, stand.”
Working here for forty years meant he knew everything about the manor and likely had deep knowledge of Taegyeong County as well.
He’d be useful in many ways.
“I’ll contract with you. I look forward to working together.”
“Thank you.”
Only then did Chief Administrator An rise to his feet. I turned to speak to everyone now gathered in the courtyard.
“Well, that’s how things are. If you wish to renew your contracts with me, stand with Chief Administrator An. If not, you can leave with Lord Ma—”
I chuckled to myself.
All the workers stood behind Chief Administrator An.
Lord Ma and his household looked at them with betrayed eyes, but that was all they could do.
They had no money to maintain those contracts, and the workers had no reason to keep following them.
“Then Lord Ma and your household, please follow me.”
Those who followed Lord Ma were few.
They were his nephews, and I remembered them because they used to run the shops I’d acquired.
Like uncle, like nephews. With someone like Lord Ma, there was no way his relatives would be any better.
Some were divorced, some had wives who’d run away in the middle of the night.
After I took over the shops, they’d stopped showing up to work and had stayed at the manor.
They looked at Lord Ma—or rather, Ma Jeong now—with eyes full of resentment.
I couldn’t help but laugh inwardly at the sight.
They’d lived well off him until now, and they still wanted more?
When I was acquiring those shops, I heard about the atrocities they’d committed against the locals of Taegyeong County.
Soon we arrived at the house Palgap had prepared.
“Here it is.”
“Huh?”
“R-right here?”
I feigned ignorance and asked again.
“What’s the matter?”
“N-nothing… That small old house over there… is that the one you arranged for us?”
“Yes.”
Before us stood a rundown, crumbling old house.
Originally, I wanted to find a shack, but there weren’t any nearby.
So I settled for a nearly collapsing cottage instead.
“Did you expect a grand tile-roofed mansion? Am I crazy? Why would I put myself at a loss? I already took a loss dealing with you, Lord Ma.”
“…”
“If you don’t like it, go find a place to live on your own. Well then, I’ll be going.”
Without another word, I turned and walked away.
.
.
.
Back at the manor, I immediately looked for Chief Administrator An.
“Chief Administrator An.”
“Yes.”
“Take down the plaque that says ‘Ma Manor.’ This place isn’t Ma Manor anymore, so there’s no reason to leave that hanging.”
“You’re absolutely right.”
“By the way… Does Ma Jeong have any siblings?”
At my question, Chief Administrator An gave a bitter look.
“He had two older brothers, but they died in an unfortunate accident. The former Head died soon after, from the grief.”
“I see.”
“But at the time of the two young masters’ deaths… Ma Jeong was nearby.”
“You’re saying there’s suspicion but no evidence?”
Chief Administrator An silently nodded.
If someone who worked here for forty years says that, it means it’s certain—only the proof is missing.
One more thing to investigate.
As night fell, the weather grew colder.
Ma Jeong shouted to his nephews,
“What are you doing? Light the fire, now!”
“We don’t know how to light a fire!”
“Also… how do we cook rice?”
There was firewood and rice, but none of them had ever started a fire or cooked before.
They tried fumbling their way through it…
“Damn it!”
That’s when Ma Jeong said,
“That arrogant bastard said it, didn’t he? If we don’t like it here, go find a place to live.”
“Yes, he did.”
“Who are we? We’re the rulers of Taegyeong County! Why should we live in this filth?”
“You’re right.”
“If I remember right, the Min family’s house is the best one around here.”
Aside from Ma Manor, a few other wealthy families existed in Taegyeong County, and the Min family was one of them.
Of course, Min had always bowed his head to him, so Ma Jeong spoke with confidence.
“From today, we’ll live there.”
“Yes.”
They left the rundown house and headed for the Min residence.
“Ahem! Min, are you in?”
“Who is it?”
A servant opened the door.
“Go call Min.”
Recognizing Ma Jeong, the servant ran inside, and Min himself hurried out.
With a proud look, Ma Jeong said to him,
“Leave this house.”
“What?”
“We’ll be living here starting today. Leave. Oh, and have your servants and maids stay to take care of us.”
“…”
“What are you waiting for? Move it!”
At that, Min instinctively started to bow.
But then he noticed Ma Jeong’s burned and dirt-stained clothes.
The man who always kept himself spotless was now a mess.
‘It’s true!’
He remembered the words of the handsome young man who’d visited earlier that day.
“Lord Ma will come here tonight and tell you to move out. He’ll say he’s going to live here.”
“What?”
“Just listen. He’s no longer the Head of Ma Manor. I own everything now. The warriors who protected him are gone. He’s got nothing.”
“Then… what should I do?”
“Throw a bucket of water on him and beat him up. What are you so worried about?”
“B-but…”
“Don’t worry. I’ll leave one of my escort guards here. He’ll protect your family.”
If what he said was true, there was no reason to tolerate Ma Jeong’s behavior any longer.
How much abuse had they endured over the years?
Did Ma Jeong really think all that resentment would just disappear with silence?
Min braced himself and went to the water jars.
The weather was cold, and thin ice had formed on the large jar.
He scooped up water and threw it right at Ma Jeong and his nephews.
“Ugh!”
“Pwah—!”
Soaked by the frigid water, they blinked in shock.
“You damn thugs! Who do you think you are?! Get the hell out!”
“Y-you dare… Guh!”
Smack—!
Ma Jeong couldn’t finish his sentence.
A bucket had slammed right into his face.
–TL Notes–
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