Sebin’s Merchant Lord, In Gang-su, spoke to me.
“Thank you. I was able to keep my life thanks to you.”
Yeah, that was true.
When Geon-seong confessed everything after confirming that Ghost Hand Sword was dead, everyone else had been busy, so only Young Master In had been there with him.
That must be why he came to see me in person once things settled down.
At that moment, Palgap stepped up with good timing.
“I brought some tea. Why don’t you wet your throats while you talk?”
“Ah! I didn’t even think to offer you a seat. Please, sit.”
We sat down around the low table.
This time, Geon-seong hadn’t disguised himself as Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun just to steal a silver plaque.
What he was really after was Merchant Lord In Gang-su’s life.
That’s why he’d looked at me with relief instead of resentment.
“We interrogated the head of Yeong Trading House and dug out the reason. He held a grudge because we took the inkstone supply he’d been courting.”
He tried to kill someone over something that petty?
Of course, this is a world where people kill over things even pettier than that…
Still, if he’d hired a Peak warrior like Ghost Hand Sword, he could’ve just used him for the assassination. Why bother with all this disguise nonsense?
But when I saw the middle-aged warrior standing beside Merchant Lord In Gang-su, that question answered itself.
He was a Profound master known as Great Rock True Sword.
Profound experts are rare enough that even big sects or martial families might only have one or two.
I only learned why someone like that was content to serve as Merchant Lord In Gang-su’s escort in my past life.
It was a common enough story: Merchant Lord In Gang-su had once saved his life, and in return, he swore to spend the rest of his days guarding him.
For decades since, he’d stayed at his side without his resolve ever wavering, solid as a rock. That steadfastness earned him the title Great Rock True Sword.
With someone like that standing guard, what assassin could realistically take Merchant Lord In Gang-su’s life?
But there was one place where he couldn’t bring his escort guards: the assembly hall of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven.
That gathering was built on mutual trust. They didn’t even bother with simple belongings checks.
Which meant that if someone smuggled a dagger inside and suddenly attacked Merchant Lord In Gang-su, he would have no way to defend himself.
Even if I hadn’t seen through Geon-seong’s disguise, this assassination still wouldn’t have succeeded.
Because in my past life, Merchant Lord In Gang-su had died of old age.
And honestly, once someone reaches Profound, calling them just a normal human is a stretch.
Even without me, Great Rock True Sword would have sensed Geon-seong’s killing intent and taken action.
But now that I thought about it, Yeong Trading House hadn’t been wrecked in my previous life…
Did Geon-seong die without ever confessing back then?
Merchant Lord In Gang-su continued.
“All of this was thanks to you seeing through that man’s identity and forcing a confession out of him. I want to properly repay that debt. Is there anything you want?”
Anything I want, huh…
The other person was the Merchant Lord of one of the greatest merchant group under the heavens.
Of course there was a lot I wanted. But squeezing him here and now would be a waste.
“I’m fine. I only did what I naturally should have done, so how could you talk about repaying me for it? For me, the fact that this meeting ended safely, that I was able to save my friend in time, and that Merchant Lord, who firmly supports our merchant world, is unharmed—that’s enough of a reward.”
“Hoho, I think I understand why people call you Handsome Young Hero.”
That title still didn’t feel like it belonged to me.
When I made an awkward face, he laughed heartily and spoke.
“Very well! If you ever find yourself in need of my help in the future, come find me anytime. I’ll gladly lend a hand.”
Merchant Lord In Gang-su rose from his seat and turned to my father.
“Since I’m already here, I should at least get a cup of tea from this Merchant Lord as well.”
“That would be my honor. Our merchant group takes pride in our tea.”
Father left the room with Merchant Lord In Gang-su. Naturally, a broad smile hung on his lips.
Opportunities to sit and talk with the Merchant Lord of one of the greatest merchant group under the heavens didn’t come often.
But Great Rock True Sword didn’t follow behind him. He stayed where he was.
He quietly looked at me, then spoke.
“I had no idea Deputy Merchant Lord Eun’s realm was that high.”
“…!”
As expected of a Profound master, he’d seen right through my level.
But he didn’t say anything more about my skill. Instead, he clasped his fist and bowed.
“This Dan Yul offers his thanks to Deputy Merchant Lord Eun. Thanks to you, I was able to keep my oath. I will not forget this grace.”
Then he turned and headed in the direction Merchant Lord In Gang-su had gone.
I scratched the back of my neck.
Just like that, I’d ended up doing great favors for two incredible people.
Ah!
Now that I thought about it, there was one more thing I had to do.
I needed to save Geon-seong’s life.
Chun-il had begged me. Asked me to make sure at least his life would be spared.
“Excuse me, sir.”
I quickly stepped out of the room and called after Great Rock True Sword.
“What is it?”
“I just remembered something I need to say to the Merchant Lord.”
.
.
.
Getting custody of Geon-seong was easier than I’d expected.
He had kidnapped Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun, but since he’d done it under threat and had revealed the mastermind behind it, they showed some leniency.
Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun and I also pleaded on his behalf.
I went to Sebin Merchant Group’s quarters myself and brought him back to the inn.
As soon as Geon-seong entered my room, he dropped to his knees in front of me.
He’d already been battered from the harsh interrogation, and kneeling must have put more strain on him, because blood was seeping into the floor beneath his legs.
That had to hurt.
“Thank you for saving my life and even protecting my younger sister’s life.”
“I only kept my promise. Anyway, what are you planning to do from now on?”
“…”
He hesitated for a long time before finally opening his mouth.
“I’ll just…”
“You’re just thinking of going back to living the way you always did, aren’t you?”
“…!”
Judging by how he flinched, I’d hit the mark.
“Honestly… it’s too late for me to turn over a new leaf. Stealing is already ingrained in my body.”
So he was like Chun-il.
And as Chun-il had said, it felt like a waste to just let someone like that walk away.
“Then change what you steal.”
I already had a fine example of someone who reformed in Chun-il. Since things had come this far, taking Geon-seong in myself didn’t sound so bad.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m your lifesaver, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Then steal information for me.”
And just like that, I gained another member for my information division.
.
.
.
A few days later.
I left the inn with Father.
Today was the Murim Alliance’s day for ‘stall assignment’.
The Murim Alliance had designated commercial zones centered around the site where the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering would be held.
Then they rented out those spaces to various merchants.
The official reason was to prevent merchants from flooding in chaotically and causing all sorts of damage.
But the way I saw it, the Murim Alliance just hated the idea of merchants making off with all the side profits from a martial gathering hosted by them.
If they really wanted to prevent chaos, shouldn’t the stall fee be free?
Instead, the Murim Alliance charged merchants a hefty stall fee.
But what were merchants supposed to do when the Murim Alliance decided things would be that way?
They could only go along with it.
At least the patrol units would provide some protection.
Truthfully, I wasn’t feeling great right now. The place where stall assignments were handled was the Murim Alliance headquarters.
I’d already known that much.
I’d been there several times in my previous life, after all.
It just hadn’t felt real until now.
But as the stall-assignment day approached, it slowly started to sink in.
The pressure of walking into the workplace of the people who killed me in my last life was heavier than I’d expected.
My hands and feet turned cold, and cold sweat began to bead on my skin.
Damn it, it’s starting again.
What snapped me out of it was Father.
“Ahh, this day again.”
Even at a glance, his voice made it clear he wasn’t pleased.
“Just thinking about how arrogant those Murim Alliance warriors will act again makes my blood boil.”
When I looked up, Father sighed.
“Ah… this must be your first time, so you don’t know. But you’ll find out soon enough. You’ll see just how stuck-up the Murim Alliance is.”
Thanks to his words, memories from my past life resurfaced.
Every time we needed to arrange stalls for the martial gathering or do some kind of business through the Murim Alliance, their attitude had been infuriating.
They treated us like lowly merchants obsessed with money, people they had no choice but to deal with.
Yet if we merchants vanished, they’d actually be the ones in trouble.
I’d been so tense about walking into the Murim Alliance—the place where the people who killed me worked—that I’d forgotten those memories, but now they came flooding back, and anger washed away the anxiety.
“But you must never act recklessly. Endure it and endure it again. Understood?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Ha… It’s bitter, knowing that if we clash with them, we’re the only ones who’ll lose.”
“…”
For that serious Father to react like this… those people really were complete bastards.
Soon, we arrived at the Murim Alliance.
Clack-!
The gate guards crossed their spears to block our path.
“State your identities and purpose of visit.”
“We are merchants visiting for today’s stall assignment. I am Eun Gil-sang, Merchant Lord of Eunhae Merchant Group, and this is Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho.”
“Another merchant group. What scraps do you think you’re going to scavenge that you’re all crowding in here like this?”
My teeth ground together.
These bastards.
If even a mere gate guard felt bold enough to mock us like this, what would the ones higher up be like?
Damn it.
“Still, what can we do? We have to make a living somehow, right? Hahaha.”
“Identity tags.”
“Ah, yes! Here.”
Father and I offered our identity tags. After checking them, the guards practically threw them back at us.
“Fine, go on in.”
“Thank you.”
That fresh-faced brat was speaking casually to a man old enough to be his father?
Did he eat manners for breakfast and puke them back up?
There were, however, a few merchants they didn’t dare treat like that—namely, Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang and Merchant Lord In Gang-su.
Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang was a member of the Namgoong Clan and one of the Murim Alliance’s senior figures.
As for Merchant Lord In Gang-su, he had Great Rock True Sword standing beside him.
Would a gate guard dare act rudely in front of a Profound master?
If he wanted his head to stay attached to his neck, he’d have to watch his mouth.
Ah…
Thinking about it that way did make me a bit jealous.
In any case, Father and I headed for the stall-assignment area. It wasn’t hard to find.
There was a big sign posted.
Attendants and escort guards couldn’t follow us inside, so they had to wait outside the Alliance grounds.
Soon we arrived at the stall-assignment hall.
“Welcome.”
“Good to see you again.”
Among the people gathered here, there were quite a few familiar faces. Almost all the Merchant Lords of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven were here, except one group.
There were also merchants from groups outside the Hundred, so Father introduced me, and I managed to put faces to more names.
I had no idea how long we’d been waiting when—
“Ahem! Everyone quiet down!”
A pompous voice rang out. The moment I saw the face, I almost lost control of my expression.
It was a face I’d seen countless times in my previous life.
He worked under the Murim Alliance’s Internal Chief Administrator, but lived as if he were the Internal Chief Administrator himself.
Been a while.
If I remembered right, he got caught embezzling Murim Alliance funds and died, didn’t he?
He was probably embezzling money now too.
Not that there was any reason for me to report that to the Murim Alliance. The money he was skimming belonged to them anyway.
Two warriors came in behind him, each holding a large wooden barrel. Inside were wooden tags marked with numbers.
“Then let’s begin stall assignment for the commercial district of the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering!”
After rattling off a few precautions, he turned to us.
“Come up one at a time and draw a tag.”
At his words, the Merchant Lords stepped forward one by one and drew wooden tags from the barrel.
Soon it was our turn. Father reached into the barrel and pulled one out.
“Eunhae Merchant Group, Section Three, Number Twenty-One!”
Section Three—pretty good.
I glanced around. As expected, Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang was nowhere to be seen.
Of course. Baekcheon Merchant Group was under the Murim Alliance’s umbrella.
Their stalls were already fixed.
Once the drawing was over, we registered our spot and paid the stall fee.
Honestly, my hand shook from how painful it felt.
A few more days passed like that.
In the meantime, the people from Eunhae Merchant Group’s main branch arrived in Luoyang with the goods.
This time, the main products our Eunhae Merchant Group would be selling were medicinal ingredients.
There were places that sold finished medicines like golden wound salves or internal injury pills, but there were also plenty that preferred to buy the ingredients and make their own.
We also prepared tea, cloth, and thread.
Tea-drinking was a daily habit for citizens of the Empire, so we had to stock it.
And with all the sparring and duels, clothes would get damaged more than people expected. They’d need materials to mend them.
By the time preparations were done, the streets were already packed with people.
Starting today, the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering would be accepting participants for five days.
Counting participants was important.
So I headed for the registration office.
But in one corner, a group of people were raising their voices.
“You’re just going to deny everything like that and think it’s over?”
“Why are you trying to pin this on an innocent person?”
“If you keep talking like that, we won’t stand for it!”
The voices sounded familiar.
No way…
I walked over—and let out a sigh the moment I saw who it was.
–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