This time, I started something.
An imperial poetry competition.
The main goal of that competition is to utterly humiliate Chu Il-gong in front of everyone.
The Eunhae Merchant Group might be one of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven, but that name alone isn’t enough to move those arrogant scholars.
I recalled my conversation with the Emperor.
“Hmm, a poetry competition, you say… What do I gain from holding that?”
“To start with, money will circulate in the capital.”
“Money will circulate?”
“I’m sure Your Majesty knows I went to Luoyang recently because of the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering.”
“Of course. You came back a hero from there.”
“…Anyway, that’s when I realized it. The reason the Murim Alliance hosts things like the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering is to make money flow through Luoyang. As they say, when people’s pockets are full, complaints stop.”
“That’s the only reason?”
“It’ll also be an opportunity for Your Majesty to discover the kind of talent you’re looking for.”
“Well, anyone who can recite poetry has at least studied the Four Books and Three Classics.”
The Emperor nodded, then spoke.
“But every event needs a budget to run. To secure those funds… Ah! We can charge an entry fee.”
As expected, sharp as ever.
“That aside, what’s your real objective?”
Whew, he really doesn’t miss a thing.
“Lately, I’ve been reading the newly published poetry collections, and a thought occurred to me. Are those poems really written by the people whose names are on the covers? So I’d like to test their authenticity.”
The Emperor’s expression turned intrigued, and he readily agreed.
Then he added,
“I’ve been wondering that myself. And since it’s something that benefits both me and the imperial family, let’s proceed.”
This competition is the result.
What I didn’t expect was that the Emperor would pull the Sebin Merchant Group into this.
Well, they are the number one merchant group under heaven, and they supply the imperial court with the Four Treasures of the Study, so they are perfect for this.
And so this poetry competition became an event hosted by the imperial family and sponsored by the Sebin Merchant Group and the Eunhae Merchant Group.
And, the most important part is forcing Chu Il-gong to participate.
To do that, I quietly bought off one of his close friends. Someone like him would never sign up on his own.
He won’t want his true ability exposed in broad daylight, so he’ll hide behind that lofty scholar act of his and avoid moving personally.
So I had someone around him submit the application form for him instead.
Submitting an application and then not showing up would be deceiving the imperial family.
The punishment would be severe, so Chu Il-gong has no choice but to attend the competition.
Just thinking about it makes me smile.
“Are you really that excited?”
“Of course I am!”
“He was trying to cause serious losses to our merchant group, but you’re still helping him like this because you feel sorry for him… Young Master, you’re really too nice.”
“Didn’t you say I was scary before? Now I’m a good person… Which am I supposed to go along with here?”
Palgap thought for a moment at my words, then answered.
“Honestly, I’m not sure either. Hehe. You can just be both. Both suit you just fine.”
“Yeah?”
So why does that sound like a compliment, but also not a compliment, yet somehow still a compliment?
Still, a good person, huh…
I don’t know. I’ve never really thought of myself as a good person.
The biggest reason I started all this is to get revenge for Internal Chief Administrator Yu So-ak.
And two of the people harmed by Chu Il-gong just happen to be connected to our merchant group.
So naturally, I started thinking this way.
What if someone else related to our merchant group ends up as his next victim?
Better to nip that bud early.
At that moment, Palgap asked,
“By any chance, did you start all this for Internal Chief Administrator?”
“Huh?”
“Didn’t Internal Chief Administrator say so when you went out together last time? That he wanted to become famous through poetry, but when he recited a poem in front of that Chu Il-gong fellow, who was the chief examiner then, he said he had no talent for poetry and that he’d only embarrass themself if he continued.”
I was genuinely surprised at that.
“Wait, you remember that?”
“Maybe it was because the scenery was so nice that day, but it stuck with me.”
Ah… Come to think of it, Palgap’s memory was pretty good. I just didn’t expect he’d remember even that…
Is this also one of the King of Assassins’ talents?
A line from that secret manual I picked up in Luoyang suddenly came to mind.
[Being able to remember even trivial things and use them at the right time is…]
“Anyway, that’s why you’re a good person.”
Watching Palgap say that, I smiled. I really must have been born lucky with attendants.
Speaking of memory, Clerk Heo Un comes to mind.
He’s working hard in the Intelligence Unit right now, but his memory is honestly on another level.
Just then, I heard Escort Guard Lee Pil’s voice from outside.
“Lord, Branch Chief Eun is here.”
“Let him in.”
At my words, the door opened and Branch Chief Eun walked in with Escort Guard Seo Wu.
Whenever I have someone come in, my escort guard has to stand behind me.
Branch Chief Eun Cheong-in.
He’s a distant relative of ours. He used to be the supervisor running our shop in Beijing and was recently promoted to branch chief.
He’s in his late forties.
He’s older than me and a distant relative, but right now we’re in the positions of Deputy Merchant Lord and branch chief.
The reason I called him here is that when I went to the new construction site of the Beijing Branch not long ago, the guards who were supposed to be standing watch there were nowhere to be seen.
He bowed his head to me.
“So, did you look into what I asked you to investigate?”
I’d given him a two-day deadline when it happened.
Which means that from the time I met Song Rok, it only took two days before they posted the imperial poetry competition notice.
I pride myself on having good drive, but the Emperor is on a completely different, insane level.
I asked Branch Chief Eun Cheong-in,
“So, what happened?”
“Um… I apologize. Theguards who were on duty that day had gone off to drink.”
There was a reason he couldn’t meet my eyes.
His head lowered more and more.
He wasn’t standing guard himself, but the responsibility for oversight still falls on him.
“I truly apologize. It’s a relief nothing happened. Ha ha ha.”
“Nothing happened?”
My voice must have turned sharp, because he flinched.
“Pardon?”
“I wasn’t going to say anything, but it seems you don’t understand how serious this is, so I’ll spell it out. When I went to inspect the construction site, someone was about to hang themself there.”
I didn’t mention that the person was Song Rok. Things like this have to stay anonymous.
He jumped in shock at my words.
“R-Really?”
“If I hadn’t happened to go there that night, that person’s attempt would’ve succeeded. Then what do you think would’ve happened?”
At my words, his face went pale.
He’s worked as a supervisor in the merchant group; there’s no way he doesn’t understand how big of a problem that would be.
“To be honest, I’m not sure if I can keep you on as branch chief.”
At that, he threw himself flat on the floor in front of me.
“I’m sorry! I truly am sorry!”
“Why are you apologizing to me? Frankly, even if everything in the Beijing Branch went wrong, my family and I would still eat well and live well. But the people whose livelihoods depend on this branch would lose their income overnight. Shouldn’t you be apologizing to them instead?”
“…”
“If things had escalated, you and your family would’ve been among the ones losing that income.”
“…I’m sorry.”
That should be enough to snap him back to his senses. I’d swung the harsh whip enough; now it was time to hand him a sweet reward.
“Stand up.”
“…”
“Come on, stand up. The floor’s cold.”
I stood, walked over to him, and helped him up by the hand. Then I held his hands in both of mine and spoke.
“I know how hard you’ve worked to climb all the way up to this position. And I know how capable you are. I’m fully aware how much you’ve gone through.”
I smiled.
“I’m going to assume you let your guard down a little because you were excited about your promotion to branch chief.”
“Ugh! I have no excuse.”
“Because I know your ability and how much you’ve endured, I’ve decided to trust you one more time. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
Firing someone over a single mistake would be too cold-blooded.
Besides, there’s no question about his loyalty or his competence.
“I’ll devote myself completely so that you’re never disappointed again.”
“Construction has stopped now that it’s winter, but work will resume in the spring. So until then, there must be no incidents that cause you to lose your position as branch chief. Please take proper care of things.”
“I will.”
“Oh, and send me the guards who caused the problem this time.”
“Excuse me?”
Branch Chief Eun flinched at my order.
What’s that about?
“Is there a problem?”
“N-no! I’ll send them here right away.”
After he left, Escort Guard Seo Wu, who’d been standing behind me, asked,
“How do you intend to deal with those guards?”
“I’ll ask why first. If they have a reasonable explanation, I’ll take that into account. But if their excuse is pathetic…”
I smiled faintly.
“They’ll need some ideological training.”
I turned to Palgap.
“Palgap, is what I asked for ready?”
“Of course it is!”
Knowing what I’d prepared, Escort Guard Seo Wu let out a dry chuckle.
A little while later.
The guards entered my office. There were five of them.
The moment I saw them, my blood pressure spiked.
Not just one or two—there were five of them assigned there, and not a single one was on site!
They came in with their heads down, shuffling nervously, clearly aware they’d done wrong.
“I hear you were out drinking that night?”
All the guards assigned to our branches and merchant group are part of the Eunpoong Division.
They rotate duty as a rule, and these ones had been stationed in Beijing for between one and three years.
If it’s been three years, it’s about time for them to return to headquarters.
I asked them,
“Why did you do it?”
“Well…”
“You must have had a reason, right? Don’t tell me you went just because you felt like drinking?”
One of them cautiously opened their mouth.
“We thought it would be fine. Because of the rumor…”
“Rumor?”
“T-that… There’s a rumor that you, Young Master, are using ghosts to guard that land…”
“Because of that rumor, troublemakers wouldn’t dare come near the place. And since no one had come at night for a long time…”
So they figured they could skip their watch because of a rumor.
I let out a long sigh.
“The truth is, if I hadn’t gone there that night, you would’ve found a corpse in the morning.”
“What?”
“Someone tried to commit suicide there.”
All five guards went ghost-pale at my words.
Now they understood just how serious this was.
“If that had happened, you would’ve been kicked out of the Eunpoong Division. Honestly, what you did this time is already more than enough reason to expel you.”
“…”
I felt like I’d figured out the root cause of this mess. Their discipline had slackened.
I’d already scolded and encouraged Branch Chief Eun appropriately, so he’d be fine. The question was how to deal with these guards.
Well, no need to agonize over it.
I’d already decided what to do.
“You’ll all be ordered back to headquarters. Until new guards arrive from headquarters, you’re relieved of all duties. Reflect on your actions during that time.”
“Understood.”
I could hear relief in their voices.
They must’ve thought they were going to get some brutal punishment, but all they got was orders to return and a period of self-reflection.
And “self-reflection” basically means they won’t have to do anything until then. Of course they’re relieved.
A bit early to be relieved, though?
“But if you neglect your martial arts training even for a day, your skills will deteriorate. Isn’t that right, Escort Guard Seo Wu?”
At my question, Escort Guard Seo Wu nodded.
“That’s right.”
“So you’ve committed a serious mistake, and I’m struggling with how to deal with it. If your skills deteriorate on top of that, how do you think the External Chief Administrator will react?”
“…”
Their faces darkened all at once.
They know the External Chief Administrator well enough—how much he stresses that martial arts are the foundation of any escort guard.
“So then. Before you go back to headquarters, your skills can’t be allowed to regress, can they?”
Sensing something ominous, they hurriedly cried out,
“W-we’ll train on our own.”
“Y-yes, we’ll do it properly!”
“And why should I trust that? You couldn’t even properly carry out a night patrol at the construction site of the Beijing Branch.”
“…”
Another guard blurted out in a panic.
“B-but, as you know, when it comes to someone’s personal martial arts…”
“Who said anything about teaching you martial arts?”
“Excuse me?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of basic physical conditioning. For example…”
I grinned.
“Palgap! Bring it in.”
“Yes!”
The door opened, and Escort Guard Lee Pil and Escort Guard Yeo Eung-am came in, struggling under the weight of a large chest they set down on the floor.
Thud!
That sound alone told you how heavy it was.
When Palgap opened the lid, it was packed full of iron weights.
“Put these on and go through the three fundamental basics.”
The moment they saw me grinning, the guards looked at me like they were staring at a fiend from the deepest hell.
–TL Notes–
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