Chapter 64
‘Triad’!
The gangsters who ruled the Liaoning area, boasting a large scale and number of members.
They started with one brothel, but rapidly expanded their power and currently owned one money house (it was called a money house, but it was a vicious high-interest loan business), 17 gambling dens, 34 small and medium-sized inns, and about 50 brothels.
Literally, their beginning was humble, but their end was prosperous, a powerful violent group with potential.
“Haha. What’s so difficult about the interests of mere gangsters being involved?”
So-ah burst into a dry laugh at the sight of Chief Jang speaking with a serious face.
So-ah was a martial artist.
He could send gangster-like people to the afterlife with a single finger, so it was natural for him to find it funny.
But,
“It’s not something to be taken lightly. Of course, with the young hero’s martial arts, you could easily wipe them out, but if they disappear overnight, what about all the employees working in the brothels, taverns, and gambling dens? The Triad has become a force that not only surpasses gangsters but also controls the economy of Liaoning. If you wipe them out, an unemployment crisis will blow up.”
“Hmm…”
So-ah hadn’t thought that far.
“Come to think of it, that makes sense.”
“Is that all? Not only is the amount of back money they give to the government offices enormous, but the entertainment business is also a legitimate business. If it’s not supported by systematic management and experience, it’s bound to fail nine times out of ten. That’s why our escort agency hasn’t even looked in that direction.”
‘It won’t be easy… but.’
For some reason, So-ah felt a sense of competitiveness.
“To think that evil gangster bastards are enjoying all the wealth and glory. This world is going crazy, really.”
“What can we do? That’s the reality.”
“Chief.”
“Yes, Young Master Jin.”
“I have no intention of giving up on this.”
“Are you really going to do that?”
“Yes. You know our family’s situation, don’t you, Chief? We’re called one of the Five Great Families, but we have no source of income, so the wealth in our storehouse is about to run out. And can the members of the great Moyong Family work under someone else? We’re martial artists, after all.”
“Hoho, that’s right.”
“The Triad. I will take it over.”
“Young Master Jin!”
Chief Jang’s heart pounded.
It was a somewhat absurd statement.
But if So-ah said it?
‘Young Master Jin might be able to do it. No, he will definitely do it. Keke. As expected, my prediction was right. Young Master Jin is changing the Moyong Family!’
He thought that even this seemingly impossible task could be accomplished by So-ah.
Also, he was pleased that his judgment to support the Moyong family even after the death of the God of War was correct.
“In that respect, Chief.”
“Yes! Young Master Jin.”
“The request fee you mentioned before, haha.”
So-ah rubbed his hands together and smiled mischievously.
‘If there’s a downside, should I say he’s a bit shameless? Hohohot. But he has to have this side too. Of course, of course.’
Chief Jang accepted even that with pleasure and said.
“I was thinking about it anyway. I have to give it to you. Of course, I have to take care of it.”
“Hahaha. As expected, the Chief is magnanimous.”
So-ah held out his hand abruptly.
***
‘Stingy… stingy. Damn it!’
The amount Chief Jang held out was a whopping five gold ingots.
Considering that the financial situation of the Liaoning Escort Agency was quite solid, it was an enormous amount.
But,
‘He could have been a little more considerate.’
It seemed that human greed really had no end.
In the past, So-ah would have been astonished with his mouth wide open at five gold ingots, but because he had the experience of touching the phenomenal thousand gold pieces of 30 gold ingots at the North Sea Ice Palace, five was not enough to satisfy him.
‘Still, this is enough for the initial investment!’
So-ah was confident.
Although he was naturally optimistic, his momentum had soared to the sky through this journey to the North Sea.
It couldn’t be helped.
Because the Bone and Marrow Cleansing through the intake of the ‘Great Purity Ultimate Divine Pill’ was enough to elevate So-ah that much.
Even so, So-ah’s body was overflowing with power recently.
Since a martial artist had gained power, it was natural for his confidence to soar with the momentum of the rising sun.
“Chief Jang. I have a favor to ask.”
“Please speak.”
“Is there anyone who is well-versed in the entertainment business?”
“What kind…?”
“For example, someone who drinks well, knows the courtesans of the brothels well. A playboy who has a lot of connections in this field, so to speak.”
“Aha. Not a playboy, but there is a great woman.”
“A woman?”
“Yes. She was originally the owner of a brothel called ‘Cheong-a-ru,’ but it seems she borrowed money from the Triad’s money house because of her excessive luxury. So, now she has lost her business and is living in alcohol and gambling, but she was once a resourceful businesswoman who ruled the night streets of Liaoning. She is the woman named Yuk Jeong-ran.”
At those words, So-ah snapped his fingers and shouted with joy.
—Snap!
“That’s great. It’s a good sign, a good sign. Haha.”
“Why is that?”
“I’m thinking of hiring that person.”
“Aha!”
“First, I need a justification to break the heads of the Triad guys… no, to deal with them, right?”
“That’s right.”
“I have a plan. Where can I meet that person?”
“I heard that she lives in the Hall of Joy (a gambling den run by the Triad). I heard she plays dice gambling and mahjong.”
“I understand for now. I’ll come back later to let you know the progress.”
“I believe you will do well. If there is anything I can help with, please let me know at any time.”
“Thank you, Chief.”
Although he did not hand over the desired amount, So-ah, feeling grateful for Chief Jang’s kindness, left the Liaoning Escort Agency.
***
—Moyong Family, Family Head’s Office.
“So-ah.”
“Young Master Jin!”
First, So-ah returned to the family and urgently met with his uncle and the chief steward.
He intended to report on the matter of the Liaoning Escort Agency and at the same time announce his rough plan.
“I received five gold ingots from Chief Jang as the request fee. Now we have a total of 35 gold ingots. This is enough money to start a small money house.”
“Hoho… since I became the family head, this is the first time I’ve had so much money!”
“That’s right. Young Master Jin! You’re really amazing.”
They couldn’t help but praise So-ah’s achievement.
35 gold ingots.
Converted to silver, it was a whopping 17,500 taels.
Of course, this was also a drop in the bucket compared to other prestigious families that had accumulated wealth for dozens of generations, such as Namgung, Tang, and Zhuge, but for the Moyong family, which was desperate for every penny, it was no different from a windfall.
“Even so, it’s a pittance compared to other prestigious martial arts families. These days, even a mouse’s tail is long.”
“Kekeke! Our great disciple, anyway, your eloquence is amazing.”
“Hoho, that’s right. Young Master Jin is not only outstanding in martial arts and appearance, but above all, his eloquence and schemes are the best!”
Moyong Baek and the chief steward were happy no matter what in front of the large sum of money.
Just then,
“But you don’t have to worry. Now our family will also be able to design a solid financial plan.”
As So-ah spoke with eyes full of confidence, Moyong Baek asked with anticipation.
“Hah… So-ah. Have you come up with a secret plan?”
“Yes. I just came up with it while talking with Chief Jang, but…”
So-ah began to explain his plan in detail.
“Hah! That’s right. We can wipe out the cruel gangsters without losing face!”
“The working environment of the people of Liaoning who work hard at night will also be improved!”
“Is this it, Chief Steward! In addition, we can even wipe out the corrupt officials. Amazing. It’s really amazing, So-ah. Hohohot!”
Moyong Baek and the chief steward clicked their tongues and looked at So-ah with eyes dripping with honey.
“It’s nothing, Chief Steward. Uncle. And please take care of what I asked for.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll tell Teacher Po right away. He’s been teaching Confucianism as our family’s tutor for 10 years, so he’s like family. If it were a bad thing, I might not know, but since it’s a good thing, he’ll listen.”
“Then, I’ll be going.”
“Alright. Don’t overdo it.”
“Young Master Jin. If there is anything you need me to do, please call me at any time.”
“Yes, sir!”
***
Hall of Joy.
This place, which had a name that perfectly matched a gambling den, was owned by the Triad and boasted a scale that was one of the top three in Liaoning.
Mahjong and dice gambling were the main attractions, and upon entry, each person had to order a bottle of alcohol and a dish, so those without money could not even enter.
“Ahem!”
So-ah entering the Hall of Joy.
He had dressed up for the first time in a while.
He had stopped by a cloth shop and had a white robe made of expensive fabric, and had even wrapped a hero’s turban around his head. His appearance was so dignified that anyone would see him as a young master from a great family.
As expected, as soon as So-ah entered, a waiter ran over and rubbed his hands together, even in the midst of the hustle and bustle.
“Hehe, welcome! Young master. Is this your first time at our Hall of Joy?”
“That’s right. I’m originally from Beijing, but this is my first time setting foot in Liaoning. So, this is also my first time visiting the Hall of Joy.”
“Ah! Beijing! As expected, I thought you had a halo. They say you shouldn’t boast about your fists in Yunnan, and you shouldn’t boast about your money in Beijing. Now I understand. You’re overflowing with nobility, wow! Anyway, I sincerely welcome you to the Hall of Joy, young master!”
What a friendly young man.
‘His smooth talk is no joke. Huhu, I’m hiring you as an employee, you brat.’
The waiter, who looked to be about 18 years old.
So-ah, after marking him in his mind, opened his mouth again.
“They say this place is famous for dice gambling, right? Let me see the biggest table.”
“Oops! I understand. Young master! By any chance, your order…”
“What’s the most expensive thing?”
“Wherever you go in the world, isn’t the most expensive alcohol naturally Geumjoncheong? If you order Geumjoncheong, the best dishes will come with it.”
“Then I’ll have Geumjoncheong!”
“Yes, sir! Young master! This way.”
So-ah, who was guided, soon took a seat at the largest table and chair in the center.
At that, the people who were glancing at So-ah began to whisper to each other.
Of course, So-ah, whose hearing had reached the realm of the divine, could hear them clearly.
“Look at that dandy. Haven’t seen his face before, right?”
“That’s right. The drinks at the Hall of Joy are so expensive, but he’s ordering Geumjoncheong here? He looks like a rich family’s son.”
“As they say, it’s only natural to fleece a sucker.”
“Of course, of course.”
“Keke.”
“Keke.”
The conversation of the people was roughly like that.
In a word, they saw So-ah as a sucker.
As expected, a few men and a beautiful woman in her early thirties with overflowing sensuality slowly sat down at So-ah’s table and,
“Young hero. Would you like to roll the dice once?”
“Hohohot. I didn’t know there was such a handsome young master in Liaoning. Why don’t we play together?”
They approached him openly.
“Let’s do that. Please have a seat. Let’s roll the dice with excitement!”
So-ah deliberately pretended to be a good person.
It was to observe the situation at the Hall of Joy and at the same time, to find the Yuk Jeong-ran that Chief Jang had mentioned.
***
“Oh? Oh my! What is this? It’s a three-of-a-kind. Then I again…”
“Oh my? Why am I like this today? I usually only lose. I had a good dream last night!”
“Wow! Oh, heavenly gods! Do you bestow such a great fortune upon me!”
He won.
And a lot.
Dice gambling was literally a game where you rolled two dice and the person with the higher sum of the two numbers won.
But among them, the highest was a so-called ‘땡’ (ddaeng).
That is, rolling the same number.
Currently, So-ah had gotten a ‘ddaeng’ for the 17th time in a row.
Of course, this was a trick of the eye caused by So-ah’s lightning-fast ‘sleight of hand’.
“Ugh… how frustrating.”
“Haha, great hero. Don’t be so disheartened.”
‘I thought he was a sucker, but he’s a complete pro. Damn it!’
The men and the beautiful woman who had intended to fleece So-ah trembled with anger.
“We’ll be here all day at this rate. Why don’t we bet big once?”
So-ah made a suggestion.
“How so?”
“We’ll raise the stakes. I’ll put all the money I just won on this bet, and you guys will bet double the stakes. How about it? Is that okay?”
“Alright! I’ll bet, and double it!”
The man with the bushy beard, as if he had lost his mind, emptied his pockets and put all his fortune on the table.
Just then,
“Yuk Jeong-ran, you crazy bitch! If you’re drunk, get lost!”
“Just kill me, you gangster bastards!”
A commotion arose from a corner.
So-ah, hearing the name ‘Yuk Jeong-ran’ in the midst of the commotion, shouted with joy.
‘Things are going too well.’