I turned to my father and asked.
“Is there a location you prefer?”
“You were the one granted the right to choose. The decision should be yours.”
“I’m worried I might choose poorly and cause trouble for the merchant group.”
“So you mean to shift the responsibility onto me.”
Instead of answering, I gave him an awkward smile.
“And you think you would choose poorly? Everyone here would laugh if they heard you say that.”
“Ahem.”
I cleared my throat and turned away, only to see Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun snickering.
This was embarrassing.
“Understood. Then I’ll choose the location.”
I walked over to the scroll hanging on the wall.
It was a map depicting the Murim Grand Assembly’s commercial district.
If there was one location that could be called the crown jewel of the entire district, it had to be this one.
I raised my hand and pointed to a spot with my index finger.
“I’ll take this location.”
It was a spacious area where several different roads converged.
In other words, it would see an enormous amount of foot traffic.
Everyone nodded at my choice.
Their expressions said they had expected nothing less.
However, I hadn’t chosen that spot simply because it was in a prime location.
There were several other excellent locations besides that one.
“That location is…”
Just as I had expected, the official in charge of allocating the commercial district’s plots looked troubled.
“Is there a problem?”
“I sincerely apologize, but could you choose somewhere else? That plot has already been assigned.”
“What are you talking about? The Alliance Leader clearly promised me the first choice of any location in the commercial district. How could someone have already claimed it? I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me!”
Faced with my protest, the official let out a weary sigh before answering.
“That plot was claimed in advance by the Baekcheon Merchant Group.”
Exactly.
I had chosen that location because I already knew the Baekcheon Merchant Group would claim it.
They had chosen this exact spot in my previous life.
Former Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang’s younger brother currently headed the Baekcheon Merchant Group, but Namgoong Gang was undoubtedly controlling everything from behind the scenes. There was no reason their choice would differ from what it had been in my previous life.
I made no effort to hide my disappointment as I continued.
“It isn’t as though I don’t know what kind of merchant group the Baekcheon Merchant Group is. Still, the Alliance Leader made me a clear promise. How could this have happened without my knowledge? Did the Alliance Leader break his promise to me? Or does the Baekcheon Merchant Group stand above the Alliance Leader?”
At my question, the official and everyone who had accompanied us exchanged uncomfortable looks.
There was no answer they could safely give.
If the Alliance Leader had broken his promise, it would stain his honor. If the Baekcheon Merchant Group stood above him, it would undermine his authority.
I looked around.
While the people from the other merchant groups quietly whispered among themselves, the Merchant Lord of the Baekcheon Merchant Group was nowhere to be seen.
Well, the Baekcheon Merchant Group had been established with investments from the Murim Alliance’s senior members. They probably believed that backing made them untouchable.
I turned back to the official.
He stood there with a deeply troubled expression, lost in thought.
It was understandable.
If he handed me the plot assigned to the Baekcheon Merchant Group, there was no telling how severely he would be reprimanded later.
Now, should I finally achieve the real reason I had deliberately chosen the Baekcheon Merchant Group’s location?
Taking their plot had never been my true objective.
It wasn’t impossible for me to seize the location now, but there was no reason to go that far.
I only needed to use this situation to secure an even greater benefit.
Besides, there was another reason that particular plot should be avoided this time.
“Very well. I’ll choose another location.”
The official’s face immediately brightened.
“I would be extremely grateful if you did.”
“However, I expect compensation in return.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m accepting a loss and surrendering the location to the Baekcheon Merchant Group. Is it unreasonable for me to ask for compensation?”
The official released another sigh.
“No, it isn’t. What compensation do you want?”
“Allow the Eunhae Merchant Group to operate two temporary shops during the assembly.”
As a rule, whenever the Murim Alliance hosted an event like the Murim Grand Assembly, each merchant group was allowed to operate only one temporary shop in the commercial district.
Some tried to circumvent that rule by temporarily separating a blood relative from the family and pretending they represented a different merchant group. However, the competition for admission was so fierce that such a flimsy trick would never succeed.
The plot fees were also substantial, so a shop had to be run properly if it was going to turn a profit.
“And waive the plot fee for one of those locations.”
The official considered my proposal for a moment before nodding.
“Very well. However, the second location will be selected fairly through the lottery.”
Perfect!
I inwardly cheered as I answered.
“Yes. That will be fine.”
I then chose another prime location a short distance from the first.
A short while later, my father drew a wooden token from the lottery and received a plot near the entrance to the commercial district, some distance from the location I had initially chosen.
That was a good location as well, so the outcome was more than satisfactory.
.
.
.
The next day.
We headed to the commercial district early in the morning and erected tents over our assigned plots.
As I watched the employees and supervisors prepare the shops, I approached my father and quietly spoke.
“Father, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”
“Go ahead.”
“I believe our merchant group should establish another branch in Luoyang.”
“Do we not already have a branch in Luoyang?”
“Father?”
He knew perfectly well that wasn’t what I meant.
My father cleared his throat, as though to make it clear that he had only been joking.
“Ahem. Yes, of course. What scale did you have in mind?”
“Considering Luoyang’s size and location, shouldn’t it be at least half the size of the Beijing Branch?”
“Given our merchant group’s current scale, expanding our branches is certainly feasible. The problem will be securing suitable land.”
It was the same problem we had faced in Beijing.
“I’ll search for an appropriate property.”
“Do so. Once the Murim Grand Assembly ends, I will return to Headquarters and discuss the matter with the Pavilion Lords.”
“Yes.”
By then, the tents had been fully erected, and the employees began displaying our merchandise.
My father and I started on the work that required our personal attention.
“It seems we’ll be doing business beside each other. Let us work well together during the Murim Grand Assembly.”
“The pleasure is mine. I look forward to working with you.”
We needed to greet the merchant lords and senior supervisors operating the temporary shops around us.
Establishing those relationships would allow us to exchange assistance whenever the need arose.
Since we were operating two temporary shops this time, we had that many more people to visit and greet.
“Seoho.”
“Yes, Father?”
“Did you deliberately arrange for us to open two temporary shops?”
I answered his question with a faint grin.
“It was something I thought of on the spot.”
Not entirely on the spot, of course.
“It seems we’ve greeted everyone we need to. I’m going to take a look around the commercial district.”
“Go ahead.”
After receiving my father’s permission, I began touring the commercial district.
The merchandise offered by the various merchant groups was remarkably diverse.
Some sold food, some sold women’s accessories, and others offered tailoring services.
Naturally, since this was the Murim Grand Assembly, a large portion of the shops sold weapons, Golden Wound Medicine, and other items martial artists commonly needed.
“Deputy Merchant Lord Eun.”
“Ah, Deputy Merchant Lord Bok.”
While walking through the district, I encountered Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun of the Gwangjun Merchant Group.
They were preparing to sell several horses, along with saddles, stirrups, and other riding equipment.
Perhaps because the Gwangjun Merchant Group specialized in trading horses, the saddles and stirrups they produced were renowned for being both comfortable and durable.
“Have you finished preparing your temporary shop?”
“Yes. I was just looking around the area now that the preparations are complete.”
“Would you mind if I joined you?”
“Of course not.”
Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun joined me, and before we had gone far, we encountered Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang of the Hongryeon Merchant Group.
The Hongryeon Merchant Group primarily dealt in weapons.
From their perspective, the Murim Grand Assembly had to be one of the most lucrative opportunities imaginable.
“You’ve brought a great many fine weapons again this year.”
At my remark, Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang quietly nodded.
A young man who had been watching us hurried over and offered a greeting.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Sa Cheol, the Hongryeon Merchant Lord’s second son.”
“I’m Eun Seoho, Deputy Merchant Lord of the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
“I’m Bok Yun, Deputy Merchant Lord of the Gwangjun Merchant Group.”
“My brother isn’t much of a talker, but he’s a good man.”
“That’s perfectly fine. I already know him well.”
At my answer, he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
“Ah, now that I think about it, the two of you must have met him at the Hundred Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven. Seeing you walking around together, I assume you’ve finished dealing with your urgent business.”
“Yes, we have.”
“We were taking the opportunity to look around the commercial district.”
“Then this works out perfectly! Please take my brother with you.”
He pushed Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang toward us. The fact that Sa Gang obediently allowed himself to be pushed suggested he wanted to join us as well.
“Certainly.”
“Brother.”
Sa Cheol leaned closer and whispered into his ear.
“Try to speak more and build a relationship with them. They’re both important people worth knowing.”
The whisper was probably too quiet for Deputy Merchant Lord Bok Yun to hear, but I caught every word.
A martial artist’s hearing was sensitive, after all.
He certainly took good care of his older brother.
And so, Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang joined us as well.
“Your younger brother is quite outgoing.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have another younger brother?”
“Yes.”
“What is his name?”
“Geom.”
Gang, Cheol, Geom… Put the three children’s names together in order, and they formed the phrase “Steel Sword.” (TL Note: 강철 (gangcheol) = steel, 검 (geom) = sword)
Well, their father must have had his reasons for naming them that way.
Judging only by what I had seen today, the second son, Young Lord Sa Cheol, appeared to have more of the qualities expected of a merchant lord.
However, Deputy Merchant Lord Sa Gang hadn’t been chosen as the heir simply because he was the eldest son.
I had witnessed his accomplishments in my previous life.
He lacked skill in dealing with people, but he possessed unshakable resolve and the drive to push forward without ever compromising on quality.
He could have increased his profits by adjusting the quality of his goods depending on the customer, but he never resorted to such practices.
As a result, the Hongryeon Merchant Group’s reputation steadily rose.
Eventually, people agreed that anyone buying a weapon should purchase one from the Hongryeon Merchant Group.
A weapon from the Hongryeon Merchant Group even came to be regarded as the finest gift one could give to someone taking their first steps into the martial world.
Another surprising fact was that Young Lord Sa Cheol never coveted his brother’s position.
That alone showed he was an impressive man in his own right.
By the time we finished looking around the commercial district, I had begun to feel hungry.
“We’re all getting hungry. Shall we have a bowl of noodles?”
They nodded at my suggestion.
Still, where had everyone else gone?
I had heard that Deputy Merchant Lord Han Baek–geon, Deputy Merchant Lord Dam Jin, and Young Lord Ho Gyeong had all come here as well.
Suppressing my disappointment, I entered a noodle shop within the commercial district.
“Welcome!”
“Four bowls of meat noodles, please!”
“Yes! They’ll be ready shortly.”
Before long, bowls of meat noodles were placed on our table, and we began eating.
These are surprisingly good.
The Escort Guards seated at the neighboring table were practically inhaling their noodles, so I clearly wasn’t the only one who enjoyed them.
“Are the noodles to your liking?”
The man who addressed us was someone I had seen during the allocation of the commercial district’s plots.
He had stood in a corner looking completely lost, so my father and I had approached him first, introduced ourselves, and offered him a few pieces of advice.
It seemed this was his shop.
“Yes. They’re excellent.”
“Thank you for helping me back then.”
“It was nothing. Merchants should help one another whenever they can, shouldn’t we?”
“But the Eunhae Merchant Group is a major merchant group.”
We ranked fairly high even among the Hundred Great Merchant Groups Under the Heaven, so he wasn’t wrong.
However, that wasn’t what mattered.
“Large or small, a merchant is still a merchant. Besides, do you think every major merchant group started out that way?”
At that moment, I noticed a woman carrying bowls of noodles with a sword hanging from her waist.
“Who is that woman?”
“Ah, she’s my daughter.”
The father was an ordinary merchant who had never learned martial arts, yet his daughter had already become a first–rate martial artist.
That was unusual.
“My daughter still has much to learn, but she possesses a degree of talent and is studying under a martial arts academy. When she heard the Murim Grand Assembly was being held, she asked for permission to come and broaden her horizons.”
He continued with an awkward smile.
“She’s my only child, and she grew up without her mother. I was too worried to make a decision, so the Academy Master visited me personally and suggested that I open a shop in the commercial district.”
“I see.”
“That’s why she’s helping me here. The martial matches haven’t begun yet, after all.”
“Your daughter has an admirable character.”
“Thank you.”
The reason I was paying such close attention to her was the inscription carved into her sword.
Grand Bestowal.
It carried the meaning of bestowing generously upon others.
That sword would later belong to a heroine whose name became famous throughout the martial world.
In that case, this Murim Grand Assembly must be where her tragic story began.
The story went that her father lost all the money he earned while doing business in the commercial district. He pushed himself too hard trying to recover it and ultimately died at the hands of the thief who had stolen it.
His daughter then set out on a journey of vengeance to find the thief, and it took her many years to finally complete her revenge.
Both the father and daughter seemed like genuinely good people.
People like them didn’t deserve to suffer such a cruel ordeal.
I asked him a question.
“It seems you may have overextended yourself somewhat to secure a place in the commercial district…”
“You have a frighteningly sharp eye.”
He gave me an awkward smile.
He had probably borrowed money from the Academy Master to fund this venture.
That debt was likely why he had pushed himself so desperately to recover the stolen money.
“May I offer you one more piece of advice?”
–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