Episode 170
“Wow…
Mak Chung-heon was at a loss for words.
The people brought here were not mere escorts. They were said to be quite powerful in the Honam Sangdan, and they had been brought here with the intention of killing Geum Eun-hak, the head of the Geumhwan Sangdan, if the circumstances arose.
I had no idea that they would suffer.
But somehow, the guards’ blades fell in half and fell apart.
It was not even visible how the opponent swung the sword. Looking at the contemplative faces and blank eyes of the guards, they seemed to be astonished as well.
Gulp –
dry saliva passed over.
Cold sweat ran down my forehead.
“Are you ready to continue?”
At Dan Woo-hyeon’s words, the guards retreated behind the main dance.
What are you doing while you sleep?
The sword was already broken and the opponent’s actions were not visible, so it was obvious what would happen if he attacked.
“Kah, put away your sword.”
Even though the sword was already in half, he gave the order to bite even that.
It was something that hurt my pride because the people who were chosen first were Mak Chung-heon’s guards, but I couldn’t help but listen to what they said.
This is because they also recognized that their lives were in a precarious situation on the edge of a cliff.
One by one, they recovered their weapons, looking at Nam Gung-cheon who had drawn his sword with nervous gaze. Only then did the strong pressure of the air seem to be released a little.
Mak Chung-heon turned his back with a red face.
Even being here was painful for him right now.
My pride was completely trampled.
“I’ll just go. “I will never forget the humiliation I suffered today.”
“Please enter, top tier.”
“joy!”
Mak Chung-heon led the guards and left there. As so many people disappeared at once, the room was filled with an empty feeling.
In it, the sound of Geuminhak’s laughter leaked out.
“Ha ha ha ha ha!”
Geum Eun-hak burst out laughing as if he had lost his mind. What was so fun was that there was no sign of it stopping.
Dan Woo-hyeon and Sado Hak Nam Gung-cheon, who were watching, looked at Geum Eun Hak as if they were looking at a crazy person.
In the end, Dan Woo-hyeon, who couldn’t watch, asked.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just that Makchungheon, which seemed like Mount Tai not long ago, now looks like an ant.”
As soon as he finished speaking, he burst into laughter again.
Yes, it really looked like Mount Tai.
No matter how much I looked up, I felt like I couldn’t see the end of it, and I felt like I couldn’t capture the enormity of it all with my eyes just by looking at it.
That was the influence and power of Mak Chungheon that Geum Eun-hak felt.
But now?
The figure, which was like Mount Tai, did not appear to have disappeared anywhere.
Seeing that he was not discouraged even when looking straight into his eyes, the greatness of Mak Chung-heon no longer existed in Geum Eun-hak’s mind.
At that time, Nam Gung-cheon, who was quietly listening to the story, took off his mask, sat down at the table, and poured tea into an empty tea cup.
“That’s what it means to be human. When you see someone who is praised by many people, it feels really high. But if you stand in the same line as him… you start to feel like you were just one person.”
“I think you’re right. “The Makchungheon I felt today was neither huge nor scary.”
“It means your perspective has changed that much.”
At Dan Woo-hyeon’s words, Geum Eun-hak nodded and smiled.
Places make people.
The current Geumeun Crane was created by Dan Woo-hyeon. Because he was there, there was nothing to be afraid of, and because of that, I was able to run further forward.
The golden and silver crane will not forget this grace even after death.
“Okay, next time.”
“Are you next?”
“Alcohol will continue to be sold as per drink. But you probably haven’t forgotten your real purpose, right?”
“Is this Mangeum Sangdan…?”
“Yes… In order to do that, the Golden Hwansang Dan must become the Honam Best Dan.”
At that one word, Geum Eun-hak clenched his fist.
It swallows up the Honam upper part.
Since we already knew that Dan Woo-hyeon was aiming for the Mangeum Sangdan, it was only natural that in order to do so, he had to become the Honam Best Sangdan.
Moreover, the Honam Sangdan is under the Mangeum Sangdan.
If we swallowed that place, we could block at least some of the profits going to Mangeum Merchant Marine.
“You understand what I mean, right?”
“of course.”
“Then… what should I do first?”
In response to Dan Woo-hyeon’s series of questions, Geum and Eun Hak did not hesitate even an inch.
It was something I had planned in my head ever since I first thought about following him, and it was also a task I had to accomplish to prove my abilities.
“We plan to bring the commercial district to the top of Honam. “This includes guest houses, dry goods stores, etc., and even the silk business, which can be said to be their source of money.”
“Please consult with Kwon Moo-jin on that matter.”
“All right.”
Dan Woo-hyeon stood up from his seat.
He didn’t know much about commercial districts or merchants. Because he was a person whose only talent was holding a knife and cutting people.
That is why the entire authority was entrusted to Geum Eun-hak.
I could tell by looking in his eyes.
I can say that because I am confident.
‘What if I fail just in case?’
Dan Woo-hyeon, who was thinking about that, burst into laughter.
Anyone can fail. It was the same for Dan Woo-hyeon.
So there was nothing to blame if I failed. Because there was a lot of time.
“Those guys are going to die soon.”
As he went outside, Sadohak muttered those words.
I glanced at Dan Woo-hyeon’s face and saw that he was also smiling a little, as if he was thinking the same thing.
The three people here knew that type of person very well.
They were people who looked down on others because they only believed in their petty power, and they were people who tried to trample on anyone they thought was below them if they tried to overtake their position.
“The escorts’ skills were top-notch. “I’m sure something will happen.”
“Yes, that’s what pigs do.
“How much will your head roll?”
At Dan Woo-hyeon’s question, Nam Gung-cheon and Sado Hak burst into laughter. Now that I think about it, Mak Chung-heon looked like a pig because he was so fat that he couldn’t even hold his own.
How will they pull off this trick?
I was very curious about that.
* * *
Mak Chung-heon, who was grumpy, could hardly calm his anger. How dare gold and silver cranes look upon themselves as equals?
Because Makchungheon had held the Honam commercial district in one hand for a long time, his pride was further hurt.
Moreover, those who were taken as escorts were humiliated without even being able to use their hands. He had such great swordsmanship that if he had tried to kill him without any hesitation, he would have been in big trouble.
“It is clear that he is a master with great skills. “The one wearing that mask.”
The guard captain touched his still trembling hands.
He was so shocked by the blow that he could not swing his sword.
It was a sophisticated technique that could not even be imitated.
“It is a place that should never be easily overlooked because it is located in the Honam area.”
“You idiot! The scandalous family ordered an end to the Golden Phantom Troupe! Even if you don’t want to, you have to clash with them!”
It was none other than a person from Honam Danga who surrounded the Geum and Silver Crane.
Moreover, judging from Geumyun Crane’s behavior, they treated him with deference as if he were his lord, so he had no choice but to clash with them one way or another.
Mak Chung-heon held his head.
“Is it possible that the scandalous family is trying to bury us in mud?”
“No way! How much more money do we give them each year? In addition, we have been doing business for a long time and have built a relationship of mutual trust. “How can you abandon us like that?”
“…Is that so?”
“okay! Don’t doubt the scandal! “He told us to do something because he thought it would benefit us.”
The guard captain groaned.
I had known it for a long time, but Mak Chung-heon’s trust in the scandalous family was great. It was like a loyal subject.
The look in his eyes as if he would sacrifice everything, including his life, if the Chumun family wanted it.
At best, it was absolutely not the attitude towards the trading partner.
As he was thinking about this for a moment, Mak Chung-heon seemed to have come to his senses a little, his eyes shining, and he opened his mouth.
“Who are these people doing business with them?”
“Not only the guests but also those who live in Akyang and have some money drink their alcohol. Of course, the amount is limited…”
Mak Chung-heon lit the bamboo stick in his mouth and took a long breath. A thick white smoke billowed out and filled the room.
“Send the kids to put pressure on everyone. “Remember that if you don’t do business with Honam Trading Company, not Geumhwan Trading Company, you will fail.”
The intention was to cut off all funding lines.
There was no way to destroy one of the merchants.
No matter how good the alcohol you sell, if no one buys it, it is nothing but trash.
In particular, since most of the merchants in Agyang are in debt to Chungheon, there will be no one who will not listen.
Chungheon, who blew out pure white smoke again, took a breath.
“It was a small business anyway, so there wouldn’t be a lot of spare funds… How long can I hold out?”
A deep smile appeared on Mak Chung-heon’s lips.
I promise that I will definitely return the humiliation I received today.
Once you receive an order, you must carry it out.
That was the iron rule of the ronin people, who took money from the top and took care of the rest.
I don’t know whether to call them rogues or gangsters, but with shaky steps, they headed towards Agyang’s mansion.
The number of people gathered together was probably around twenty or thirty.
His sturdy physique, the menacing-looking weapon he held in his hand, his grim face, and his sharp eyes looking around naturally gave people a sense of pressure.
Sure enough, as soon as they entered the street, people started buzzing.
This is because no one knew who these men were employed by.
Since I was a merchant who looked after the affairs of the Honam Merchant Marine, I wondered if some merchant had run afoul of the Honam Chamber of Commerce without knowing it.
But.
“Big….”
“Huh!”
The humans who were supposed to be causing trouble were just circling around and clearing their throats.
Some people were doing different things, and some were looking at the ground as if they were feeling awkward.
The merchants were also surprised at first, but soon concentrated on their own livelihoods and did not pay any attention to these rogues.
“there! “Don’t do anything weird!”
“You damn bastards! “If you keep wandering around, you could get beaten up!”
It was because of the police.
There are police officers all over the streets.
It seems like all the police officers in Akyang were gathered here, and a significant number of them were moving around and conducting crackdowns.
I don’t know if it was for security reasons or some other reason, but it seemed like the police had no intention of leaving this area.
‘What is this?’
‘Why aren’t those bastards going? ‘Is there nothing to do like that?’
No matter how young people were, there were people who should not be touched.
They were government officials. Also, since the merchants were clearly civilians, if they intimidated the police in front of them, they might be ordered to arrest them.
Although he received strict orders from Mak Chung-heon, he had no choice but to waste time in the streets watching the police officers.
