The ship we were riding gradually began to slow.
Just then, the captain approached and spoke.
“We’ll be in Luoyang in one hour.”
He was letting us know in advance, which also meant we should start gathering our things.
If we waited until the ship was about to dock and rushed to pack, we might disembark late or leave something behind.
“Thanks to you, it was a comfortable journey.”
“Ha ha ha, please don’t mention it. How could words ever repay the debt we owe you for saving our Young Lord?”
I smiled awkwardly.
“And our Young Lord has sent a message for you.”
He held out a letter.
I accepted it, unfolded it, and smiled faintly.
It was a letter full of worry, urging me to be careful, and telling me to contact the Luoyang branch of the Baekyeom Merchant Group if I ever needed his help.
What a good person, truly.
Before long, the ship we were riding arrived at Luoyang’s dock.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Please travel safely.”
Since the ship had carried only our party, we had been able to make the journey in peace.
But from here on, we needed to stay alert.
“We’ll rest here for one day, then return to the Alliance.”
At Team Leader Won’s words, I nodded.
“Understood.”
Personally, I wanted to hurry straight to the Murim Alliance, but the hour was already late, and we needed to check the horses’ condition.
Of course, my River-Crossing Horse and those of my companions were still perfectly lively, so we could set out immediately if we had to.
I was debating which inn we should stay at when a thought suddenly came to me, and I made my decision at once.
In any case, we were acting under the Alliance Leader’s orders, so it didn’t matter if he had eyes and ears there.
No, in fact, I intended to use that very thing.
“Everyone must be tired, so let’s stay there.”
When Team Leader Won saw where my hand was pointing, he flinched. It was the most expensive inn near Luoyang’s dock.
He spoke to me in a low voice.
“Ahem, ahem. It does look good to me as well, but… how about somewhere else?”
I knew exactly what he was worried about.
“If you’re concerned about the lodging fee, there’s no need. I’ll pay for it.”
“B-but…”
“Please don’t worry too much about it. We’re only staying for one night. Besides, the activity funds you received from the Alliance can’t be that generous, can they?”
“Ahem, ahem. That is true.”
No matter how much money the Murim Alliance had, it also had just as many places where that money needed to go.
They would have provided a decent amount for activity funds, but it probably wasn’t enough to justify staying at a luxurious inn like this.
“What do the rest of you think?”
At my question, the team members swallowed hard and only watched Team Leader Won’s expression.
The inn I had chosen was the sort of place used by wealthy merchant groups or important figures from powerful families.
Of course they wanted to accept my offer, but they had no choice except to read their superior’s mood.
Watching them, I inwardly gave a small laugh.
“You’ve all worked hard all this time. Shouldn’t you stay somewhere like this for at least one night to recover from your fatigue? And if I don’t properly treat the Great Heroes who have looked after me all this time when I have the chance, then when would I ever be able to do so?”
In the end, Team Leader Won gave in to my persuasion.
“Ahem, ahem. Then we will gratefully accept.”
At those words, the team members cheered.
Even if Team Leader Won wanted to refuse out of pride, refusing in this situation would only cost him even more of his team members’ trust.
There was no way he could reject my offer.
Besides, he probably wanted to spend a night at an inn like this too.
And so, we entered the Golden Guest Inn, the most expensive high-class inn near Luoyang’s dock.
“Welcome.”
“We’d like to stay for the night.”
I hadn’t chosen this inn simply because I wanted to rest somewhere nice.
There were several reasons.
One of them was that, as a top-tier inn, the martial artists guarding this place were naturally of a high level, and most of the guests staying here had clear, reliable identities.
Until I delivered the Golden Buddha Statue to the Alliance Leader, I couldn’t let down my guard.
The real one was inside my Hidden Vault, but since Team Leader Won had the fake one, it needed to be kept safe as well.
The fake Golden Buddha Statue was also part of my plan.
If we lost it, I could get another one, but that would be troublesome.
This place probably had the Murim Alliance’s eyes and ears, so word of our arrival would likely have already reached the Alliance Leader.
Even so, at least while we were here, he wouldn’t try any schemes.
If a theft occurred at an inn like this and the culprit wasn’t caught, the inn’s reputation and trust would fall straight to the bottom.
If that happened, they would no longer be able to gather information on important figures here.
Before entering the tiger’s den, a man ought to rest comfortably.
Still, I wonder what kind of face the Alliance Leader will make when he hears we’re staying here.
That night.
The Alliance Leader was listening to a report.
“So Team Leader Won and Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho’s party have arrived in Luoyang?”
“Yes. That is correct.”
“It’s late, and the horses need rest, so I assume they’re staying at an inn near the dock. Which inn are they using?”
“The Golden Guest Inn.”
“…What?”
“The Golden Guest Inn. That ridiculously expensive inn.”
He furrowed his brows and asked.
“Did we provide Team Leader Won’s party with enough travel expenses to stay at that inn?”
“No. They were paid according to the standard for their original mission.”
“Then how are they staying there?”
“According to a waiter from the Golden Guest Inn, Deputy Merchant Lord Eun Seo-ho paid the full cost of their lodging.”
“…I see.”
In that case, they would arrive tomorrow or the day after.
“I had an outside engagement scheduled for tomorrow, didn’t I?”
It was not an engagement close enough for him to return from quickly.
“Push that back a few days for now.”
“Understood.”
After the Alliance Leader’s deputy left, he rose from his seat and looked out beyond the window.
The wind blowing in through the open window carried moisture with it.
The rainy season would soon begin.
‘I’m rather looking forward to hearing how he answers the question I gave him.’
Depending on that answer, his decision concerning the man would change.
If it was fake, he would deal with things accordingly, and if he had brought the real Golden Buddha Statue, then it would be something to welcome with open arms.
That Golden Buddha Statue was an object capable of solving the problem he was currently facing.
Pleased by how smoothly the situation was progressing, the Alliance Leader smiled.
‘Still, the report was accurate. They said he rather liked high-class inns…’
Morning came.
I went down to the first floor to have breakfast.
When I came down with my companions, a waiter greeted us politely.
“Did you have a pleasant night?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, we slept well.”
“I’ll show you to your seats.”
Following the waiter’s guidance, we divided ourselves among the tables.
Team Leader Won and a few of his team members were already eating breakfast at a nearby table.
I exchanged simple greetings with them.
“What would you like for breakfast?”
The waiter handed us a stiff sheet of paper listing the dishes available for breakfast.
My companions and I each chose what we wanted.
“I’ll have porridge.”
“I’ll have noodles…”
Meals were included in the lodging fee at this inn as well. Once the waiter took our orders and headed toward the kitchen, Team Leader Won spoke.
“A high-class inn really is nice.”
“Yes. That’s why I like high-class inns.”
“We should be able to depart after breakfast. However, even after we arrive, we may have to wait. The Alliance Leader is a busy man, after all.”
“I suppose so.”
I answered that way, but my thoughts were completely different.
Once we arrived at the Alliance, the Alliance Leader would probably summon us immediately.
That was also why I had stayed at this inn.
This inn was one of the places the Murim Alliance paid a fair amount of attention to.
The fact that we were staying here should already have been reported to the Alliance Leader.
In other words, he would also know when we would arrive at the Murim Alliance.
The Alliance Leader still didn’t know whether I was bringing the real Golden Buddha Statue or the fake one.
If what I was bringing was the real Golden Buddha Statue, then it was something he had been eagerly waiting for.
That meant there was no reason for him to delay.
“Team Leader.”
“Yes. Please speak.”
“I believe there is a chance someone might attack us on the way to the Murim Alliance, aiming for the Golden Buddha Statue. Of course, with such valiant Great Heroes here, we won’t be defeated by them, but I’m still worried about the statue. So, how about we do this?”
“Please continue.”
“We prepare a fake that looks exactly like it. Then I’ll carry that fake while we move.”
“A diversion?”
“Something like that.”
After thinking for a moment, Team Leader Won answered.
“That’s a good idea. But can we obtain one right now?”
“Of course. It won’t be difficult.”
“Then let’s do that.”
Thanks to Team Leader Won readily agreeing, I gained a pretext to take out the real Golden Buddha Statue.
“Then I’ll hurry and bring it back.”
At my words, the team members spoke up.
“If you need guards, we’ll escort you.”
“We know Luoyang like the backs of our hands.”
Perhaps because I had let them stay at a top-tier inn, they were showing me even more goodwill.
But it would be troublesome if I went out with them.
“It’s all right. Great Heroes, please enjoy the inn a little longer.”
With that, I left the inn with my companions, and a short while later, I returned with a Golden Buddha Statue tied to my back.
This was the real one I had taken from my Hidden Vault.
“Is that the one you just obtained?”
“That’s right. Shouldn’t this be enough?”
“It certainly appears so. May I take a brief look?”
“Of course.”
I loosened the cloth wrapped around the real Golden Buddha Statue I had taken from my Hidden Vault and showed it to him. When Team Leader Won saw it, he exclaimed in admiration.
“Incredible. To think you found a Golden Buddha Statue like this in such a short time. This one looks even more real.”
In truth, Team Leader Won had seen the fake Golden Buddha Statue and believed it to be real.
He wasn’t at a level where he could tell them apart.
Yet after seeing this one, he said that. Perhaps his instincts were better than I thought.
“Then may we depart now?”
“Of course.”
And so, we left the Golden Guest Inn and set out for the Murim Alliance.
Since we rode under a flag signifying that we belonged to one of the Murim Alliance’s armed divisions, nothing obstructed us, and we were able to arrive at the Murim Alliance quickly.
We stopped our horses in front of the Murim Alliance, and a guard came out to receive us.
“Stop for a moment. I’ll verify your identities.”
“I am Won Eop, Sixth Team Leader of the Dragon Fang Division.”
He took an identity plaque from inside his clothes and held it out.
“Ten people in total, including myself, have returned safely!”
“Yes. Confirmed.”
The guard returned the identity plaque, cupped his fists, and spoke.
“Congratulations on your return.”
“Thank you.”
“And the people beside you are?”
At that, Team Leader Won said.
“These people are Handsome Young Hero Eun Seo-ho and his party. They accompanied me under the Alliance Leader’s orders.”
“Understood. Then please enter.”
And so, we entered the Murim Alliance.
I tightened my grip on the reins. Honestly, this wasn’t my first time visiting the Murim Alliance.
I had come here during the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering.
But this time, the circumstances were a little different. From here on, I had to strike the Alliance Leader from behind.
If the Heavens were watching over me, then everything would proceed without anything going wrong midway.
We arrived in front of a building and dismounted.
We couldn’t ride our horses deep into the interior, after all.
“Welcome.”
The moment we got off our horses, someone’s voice came from behind us.
When I turned around, a young man was there to receive us. Team Leader Won quietly tipped me off.
“He is the Alliance Leader’s attendant.”
“I see.”
He approached us and cupped his fists.
“You have all worked hard. The Alliance Leader instructed me to bring the two of you to him immediately.”
“Are you saying the Alliance Leader already knew we would arrive now?”
“Yes. The Alliance Leader already knew and has been waiting.”
At those words, I nearly laughed.
It was exactly as I had thought.
“The rest of you, please wait here for a moment.”
We followed the attendant inside.
Whew, I’m getting more and more tense.
Soon, we arrived in front of Alliance Leader Hall.
“Alliance Leader, I have brought Team Leader Won and Handsome Young Hero.”
“Have them enter.”
The attendant turned his head and spoke.
“Please go in.”
Then he personally opened the door for us, and we entered.
The Alliance Leader was waiting for us with a benevolent expression.
He looked hardly any different from how he had during the Dragon-Phoenix Martial Gathering.
We politely paid our respects before him.
“Won Eop, Sixth Team Leader of the Dragon Fang Division, greets the Alliance Leader. I have completed the Alliance Leader’s orders and returned.”
“Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Merchant Group greets the Alliance Leader. It was an honor to carry out your command.”
“You’ve both worked hard. Take a seat.”
“Thank you.”
We sat across from the Alliance Leader.
Judging by the size of the tea table and the many chairs around it, he probably gathered the senior members here for meetings as well.
“Did you face any hardships during this journey?”
At that, Team Leader Won spoke.
“We nearly suffered a serious mishap after mistakenly eating poisonous herbs along the way, but thanks to Handsome Young Hero here, we avoided any great trouble.”
“Something like that happened? Thank you.”
“Not at all. I am only glad my meager skills were of some use.”
“Were there any other difficulties?”
“No. None.”
“That is fortunate. Then hand over the Golden Buddha Statue.”
At those words, Team Leader Won took out the Golden Buddha Statue and placed it on the tea table.
At the same time, I also took out a Golden Buddha Statue and set it down.
“Here it is.”
The real Golden Buddha Statue and the fake Golden Buddha Statue.
Seeing two placed before him at once, the Alliance Leader could not hide his bewilderment.
“Why are there two Golden Buddha Statues?”
I answered.
“I prepared one more, just in case there were people targeting it.”
“In other words, one is real and one is fake?”
“That’s right.”
Now then, did I bring the real Golden Buddha Statue? Or did I bring the fake one?
–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