I grinned as I stared at the elixirs laid out in front of me.
This was why I’d driven the price up without hesitation at the Phantom Market’s auction.
I could earn more than that off them anyway.
And it wasn’t like I’d be the one paying that money in the end.
Right then, I sensed Escort Guard Jin Yu’s presence.
“Lord, it’s Jin Yu.”
“Come in.”
The door opened and Escort Guard Jin Yu stepped inside.
“He’s been dragged off by people from the Phantom Market.”
“I see.”
Then it was time for the North Sea Ice Palace to step in.
“Oh, and once word got out that he’d been taken by Phantom Market people, the hired mercenaries started running away.”
I’d expected that.
Mercenaries worked for money; they weren’t the sort to stick around out of loyalty to their employer.
So when we kidnapped the guards who’d been protecting him earlier and explained the situation, they ran without even looking back.
“That’s very good.”
With the troublemakers gone, we could wrap this up quickly.
“Then I’d like you to handle one more thing.”
“Please give the order.”
“Pass a message to the Young Palace Lord. Tell her to capture a man named Im Cheong-mil and take his statement. Just tell him there’s no one left who can threaten his life now.”
“Understood.”
“And the moment she secures that statement, tell her to go to where that Mr. Cho was taken and take custody of him.”
“Yes.”
I’d used the Phantom Market to drag him down into hell, but I had no intention of handing him over to them.
He was someone who’d harmed the North Sea Ice Palace.
So of course it was only right that the North Sea Ice Palace handled his fate.
When Bing Hae-rin heard Eun Seo-ho’s message, she smiled faintly.
The idea of handing the man who’d done that to the North Sea Ice Palace over to the Phantom Market’s owner didn’t sit well with her either.
So naturally, she had to demand custody.
She ordered her disciples,
“Go bring me Im Cheong-mil. Right now.”
“Understood.”
Shouting their acknowledgment, the disciples rushed out of the inn, and before long they returned with Im Cheong-mil bound and under guard.
As soon as he saw Bing Hae-rin, he trembled and slammed his forehead to the floor in front of her.
“Th–this humble merchant… Im Cheong-mil greets the North Sea Ice Palace’s Young Palace Lord.”
“So you know who I am. And you still thought you could pull a stunt like that…”
She spoke in a cold, flat tone.
“Did you really think we wouldn’t know the trick where someone pretends to appraise elixirs left in their care, then swaps them with fakes?”
It was a method Eun Seo-ho had told her about.
When that truth came out of her mouth, his face went deathly pale and he bowed even lower.
“I–I beg your pardon. This foolish merchant has committed a capital crime.”
Watching him, Bing Hae-rin recalled something Eun Seo-ho had said.
“Interrogations are always most effective when you mix the whip and sweets in the right proportion.”
Which meant it was time to put the whip away and bring out the candy.
“However, our palace is aware this wasn’t something you did entirely on your own. Haven’t you traded with us for a long time now?”
Bing Hae-rin’s voice softened.
“Lift your head and look at me.”
At her words, Im Cheong-mil cautiously raised his head.
“When I visited before, I noticed something odd. There were far too many warriors at your merchant group. Were you being threatened?”
“That is…”
“Tell me. Otherwise, how could we take any circumstances into account?”
“…”
“The people who’d occupied your house all fled at once, didn’t they? You won’t come to harm now, no matter what you say.”
At that, he nodded and spoke.
“It was about two months ago. That man barged into our merchant group with people of terrifying skill. He subdued all of our warriors in an instant and then threatened me. He said if I didn’t obey, he’d kill me and the rest of my family, and he’d violate my wife and daughter.”
His voice shook as he continued.
“To be honest, my own death wouldn’t have been an issue. But my father passed away early, and my mother suffered raising me alone. I couldn’t let her die in misery. And what crime have my wife and children committed?”
“So you did as they ordered.”
Im Cheong-mil nodded.
Bing Hae-rin pointed to the wound on his neck and spoke.
“This wound, he gave it to you, didn’t he? It’s not the sort of wound you could inflict on yourself with a blade.”
“That’s right.”
He wiped away his tears as he spoke.
“I dare to beg you. Even if I was threatened, the fact remains that I deceived the North Sea Ice Palace. So please, let the punishment for this matter fall on me alone. Spare my family and my merchant group. They’re innocent.”
Im Cheong-mil bowed his head again.
Looking at him with a complicated expression, Bing Hae-rin recalled more of Eun Seo-ho’s words.
“Honestly, the North Sea Ice Palace can’t claim to be entirely blameless in this.”
“We’re at fault?”
“Yes. Why do you think Merchant Lord Im Cheong-mil became a target? It’s because the North Sea Ice Palace chose to trade exclusively with his merchant group.”
“That is…”
“If it were me, I’d target Merchant Lord Im Cheong-mil too.”
“…”
“If the Ice Palace had been trading with several places, would he have become a hostage like that?”
It was true. Which meant…
“We’ll think about your punishment later. First, we need to know who masterminded this whole affair. Who is it? Who’s the bastard I ought to tear apart?”
“He lives beside our merchant group. His name is Cho Seok.”
One of the buildings owned by the Phantom Market’s master in Liaoning.
Right now, brutal threats were echoing through that place.
“Where did you stash the real elixirs, huh?”
“I handed them to the ones in goblin masks… aaaargh!”
“Because of you, our Phantom Market’s reputation took a hit!”
“I–I really… I really didn’t do it on purpose…!”
Cho Seok felt like he was about to lose his mind.
You’d think a person would get used to the pain after a while, but it only got worse instead.
Every time he passed out under torture, they splashed water on him and forced him awake again and again, to the point where he just wanted to beg them to kill him.
Then it happened.
“S–sir, there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Yes. The North Sea Ice Palace suddenly showed up and they’re demanding custody of this man.”
“What are you talking about?”
The auction manager frowned, then said,
“Bring them inside for now.”
“Yes, sir! Where should I have them wait?”
Right then, Cho Seok shouted,
“I–I’ve met the North Sea Ice Palace’s Young Palace Lord before! I just bought those elixirs from her earlier!”
At that, the auction manager said,
“Bring her here.”
“Understood.”
A short while later, Bing Hae-rin arrived.
Seeing her, Cho Seok cried out in a desperate voice,
“P–please spare me! Didn’t I just buy those elixirs from you, Young Palace Lord?”
He hated the North Sea Ice Palace, but right now they were his only lifeline.
But he didn’t know.
The North Sea Ice Palace would never let anyone who’d harmed them walk away unharmed.
“Is what he said true?”
Bing Hae-rin nodded as she replied,
“Yes, it’s true. He bought elixirs from me for twenty–five thousand silver taels. But that’s all I know. I’ve no idea what he did with them afterward.”
She went on.
“He might’ve tried to swindle others the same way he did the North Sea Ice Palace.”
“…!”
At those words, Cho Seok felt his heart drop into his stomach.
If she was saying that, it meant this whole thing had been exposed as his doing.
“He threatened us into swapping fake elixirs for the real ones we’d consigned to be appraised and sold.”
“Of course!”
The auction manager nodded vigorously.
“So he’s a habitual offender.”
“Therefore, the North Sea Ice Palace demands custody of the one who harmed our palace.”
“…”
The auction manager fell silent, thinking.
The North Sea Ice Palace.
To the people living in Liaoning near the North Sea, that place was an object of both reverence and fear.
The Phantom Market’s master was terrifying as well, but the North Sea Ice Palace was on an entirely different level.
If the North Sea Ice Palace broke their silence and marched into Liaoning, someone like the Phantom Market’s master could be crushed underfoot without much effort.
On top of that, there was something the Phantom Market’s master, Blood Sea, had repeated many times.
If you want to live a long life, never provoke the North Sea Ice Palace’s wrath.
That was how absolute the Ice Palace’s reputation was here.
But even so, they couldn’t just hand him over.
This fool had dared to cheat them, staining both the Phantom Market’s and Blood Sea’s names.
“So, let’s resolve this peacefully.”
As Bing Hae-rin spoke, a chilling aura poured off her.
After wrestling with it, he suggested a compromise.
“Then, for the sake of a peaceful resolution, would you be willing to let us have one of his arms?”
“All right.”
The moment Bing Hae-rin agreed, the auction manager drew his sword and chopped off Cho Seok’s arm.
Slash–!
It happened in an instant.
“Ggyaaaaah!”
Cho Seok screamed in agony.
But Bing Hae-rin simply pressed a pressure point to stop the bleeding, her face cold, and spoke to her disciples.
“Don’t forget to gag him.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
When I returned to the Gwangjun Merchant Group, Palgap was busily packing luggage.
“Huh? What are you doing?”
“Packing our things.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yes. Deputy Gwak said we’re leaving early tomorrow morning.”
Deputy Gwak?
Then that meant things had been resolved smoothly.
Just then, Escort Guard Jin Yu walked up and relayed a message.
“She says she’ll be departing ahead of us.”
“Got it.”
To wrap things up perfectly, we’d decided the North Sea Ice Palace would leave first as soon as they secured Mr. Cho’s custody.
“And there’s a blue cord hanging from the third floor of Yeongryeong Inn.”
That meant they were calling for me.
A little later.
I headed to Yeongryeong Inn and entered the room with the cord hanging outside.
A black curtain had been put up so we couldn’t see each other’s faces.
But judging from the aura, it was the auction manager.
As I entered, he stood and bowed his head.
“My apologies. In the end, we weren’t able to secure genuine versions of those items.”
“I see. To be honest, I also tried to acquire those items privately, but it wasn’t easy.”
“I see you did.”
I said that to increase his trust.
“I suppose I’ll just have to give up on them.”
“I’m truly sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
At my calm response, he spoke in a puzzled tone.
“You’re more composed than I expected.”
“Do I seem composed to you? Hahaha. In my heart, I’d like to throw a fit, but I’m holding it in. If I caused a scene here, my life would be on the line! Damn it!”
“…You’re wise.”
“Whew, anyway, I understand.”
“I… have a favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
“Could you keep this whole incident a secret?”
“You’re worried it’ll tarnish your reputation?”
“Well, something like that.”
That was what I wanted too.
I’d used the Phantom Market as well, so I needed this incident kept quiet if I didn’t want a headache later.
However.
“For free?”
Scritch, thump.
He slid something across the long table to me.
“What’s this?”
“The Dark Blood Dagger. It’s a rare treasure that lets you harbor killing intent without that killing intent leaking out.”
“This is useful enough. I accept your proposal.”
“Please visit us again. Next time, we won’t disappoint you.”
“I’ll do that.”
I slipped the dagger into my sleeve and left the room.
There’d been someone hiding in the ceiling of the room I’d just entered.
There’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed.
He must’ve been curious about my face. But he didn’t get to see it.
Why?
Because I had the Face–Veil Fan, a fan that hid my appearance.
And with that, our business here was wrapped up.
I did wonder what kind of punishment Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin had given Merchant Lord Im Cheong-mil.
She was cold and composed, and she could be distant, but she wasn’t truly cruel.
So she’d have punished him within reason.
.
.
.
The next morning.
We set out once more toward the North Sea Ice Palace.
“Hey, seriously, why did it take you so long?”
Brother Jin-ho scolded me, but I only smiled. This whole affair was a secret from him.
If he found out about it, he’d definitely ask why I’d done all that without including him.
“I just helped the North Sea Ice Palace with a few things.”
“Yeah? Come to think of it, the warriors did say North Sea Ice Palace disciples showed up. Huh? Where’s the Young Palace Lord?”
“She left last night with her disciples. We’ll be meeting up with them soon.”
“Huh?”
At my words, Escort Chief Ha nodded like he’d figured something out.
Before long, we spotted the North Sea Ice Palace disciples in the distance.
We joined up with them.
I walked over to Young Palace Lord Bing Hae-rin and quietly asked,
“So what was his deal?”
“Turns out Cho Seok held a grudge against us. In the past, his father once forcibly violated one of our palace’s disciples. When we learned of it, we punished him. He did the same this time, using their family as hostages to threaten one of our disciples.”
“Like father, like son.”
“The problem is… he insists someone helped him. Someone who made the plan and supplied the fake elixirs. But when he tried to contact that person after things went bad with the Phantom Market, they said no such person existed.”
I bit my lip.
He was probably telling the truth. There was no way someone like him could’ve put together such a meticulous plan.
That Unorthodox Sect Qi I’d sensed back then — that had to be the one backing this whole thing…
Tch, the moment things went south, they bolted.
“Oh, and I’m late telling you this. Protector Seol Seo-yun is on her way to greet us right now.”
“What?”
Protector Seol Seo-yun… Wait, that was Brother Jin-ho’s mother–in–law.
I needed to tell Brother Jin-ho right away…
But as I stared at the pale dust cloud rising in the distance, I let out a dry laugh.
Ah, too late.
Sorry, Brother Jin-ho.
–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