Chapter 131
Around the Hour of the Rat (11 PM - 1 AM).
Wi-ji Chan, having received a summons, visited his father's quarters.
On the table in the Cult Leader's room, there was a simple spread of snacks and a bottle of liquor.
"Sit."
"Yes, Father."
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle…
As Wi-ji Chan sat down, the Cult Leader, Wi-ji Gang, poured liquor into his son's cup.
"Let's have a drink."
"Yes, Father."
Wi-ji Chan found it unexpected.
Because the Cult Leader usually did not drink much.
But today, Wi-ji Gang wanted to have a quiet drink with his son.
"Chan-ah. My heart aches."
"...Why do you say such a thing?"
"Because you greatly resemble your deceased mother."
"...Father."
"I admired her gentle heart and beautiful mind, and I truly loved her."
'Father...'
A look of bewilderment appeared on Wi-ji Chan's face.
An unexpected, sincere confession from his father.
'He has never shown this side of himself before.'
But he soon realized why his father was saying such things.
"But Chan, you. You must never resemble your mother."
"..."
"You are the Vice-Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult, and in the future, you must reign over the world as the strongest master. To be unrivaled in the forest of swords and blades, kindness and a soft heart are not a gain, but a loss."
"...Father."
"Investigating the White Lotus Cult was a good thing. But to try to wage an all-out war with them is an overreach of your authority."
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle...
Wi-ji Gang once again poured liquor into his son's empty cup.
Gulp—
Wi-ji Chan drank the liquor in one go and said in a low voice.
"I did it out of concern. If we leave them be, who knows what kind of disaster will return later?"
At that, Wi-ji Gang patted his son's shoulder.
"Do you think it's only once or twice that such a force has emerged in the martial world? It happened in this generation, as well as in the previous and the one before that. But no force has ever been able to unify the martial world. Not even our cult."
"Father..."
"Also, the political situation is like a living creature. Now, our cult is displaying its might with great power, but we don't know when we will fall into ruin. In the beginning, the masters of the martial world were the Orthodox Path weaklings. You must know that."
"But..."
"Also! Your grandfather was the greatest master of his time. Moreover, he was on close terms with the God of War, who was the strongest in the Orthodox Path, so he could be safe, but you and I are different. Right now, even the secluded masters holed up in the Council of Elders are secretly dreaming of restoring the cult. Furthermore, the Orthodox Path may turn us into a public enemy at any time under the banner of 'Annihilate the Demonic Cult'."
'Ah...!'
A deep ripple spread through Wi-ji Chan's heart.
Because he had never seen such a sincere side of his father before.
"Chan-ah. I am afraid. Not only is the burden of the Cult Leader position so, but I am afraid that I will not be able to protect you. Do you know? Since the founding of our cult, there has never been a case where the bloodline succession has continued for more than three generations. In other words, a reorganization of the cult's power could happen in this generation."
"..."
"That means your death and mine."
In an instant, Wi-ji Chan, leaving his heavy heart behind, looked at his father's face.
On his face, there was not a speck of pretense or falsehood, but truth, desire, and a faint fear.
"Father. My thoughts were short. I apologize for acting rashly, putting forward my youthful ardor and a clumsy sense of justice."
He couldn't help but admit it.
Although he had vowed never to bend his will, Wi-ji Chan felt an indescribable bitterness at the sight of his father, who looked so drained for the first time in his life.
"But Chan-ah. That doesn't mean I'm going to just watch the White Lotus Cult. When the time is right, I will definitely annihilate them."
"Father..."
"Now, the martial world will be divided into three. In that process, we must maintain our position at the top."
"If you mean the division of the world into three..."
"Our cult and the Martial Alliance. And the White Lotus Cult. Of course, the external forces and the secluded old masters are like the sand of the Yangtze River, but on the surface, it will be so. Always keep your ears open and your mouth closed, and be cautious. The fate of a hundred thousand cult members rests on your shoulders."
Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle...
Once again, the cup was filled with liquor.
Wi-ji Chan drank the liquor in one go and bowed his head to his father.
"I will keep that in mind, Father."
But his heart was still in turmoil.
Which choice was the right path?
It was a time to wait and see.
***
Moyong Family Estate—
"Chairman Yi. As they say, isn't it in the cups of liquor that go around and around that trust is built? Please have a drink. Hahaha!"
"Aha... Young Hero Jin."
Chairman Yi Kun-hee was originally a person who liked to drink.
But he did not drink before an important negotiation or a matter related to money...
'Since Young Hero Jin is offering, I can't refuse.'
Wasn't the one who was affably offering him a drink right in front of him his son's master, and the most talked-about young hero in the martial world?
Gulp—
In the end, Chairman Yi Kun-hee drank the liquor.
And that was.
'Chairman Yi... you've been caught in the wrong trap.'
'Now we should consider the persuasion complete.'
...seen as prey caught in a dense spiderweb in the eyes of Moyong Baek and the chief steward.
—Come on! One more drink!
—The liquor is going in, straight! Straight, straight, straight!
—Kya! Our Chairman Yi! As expected, you're a real man. Geumjoncheong is not a weak liquor. Your tolerance is amazing?!
Their prediction was spot on.
So-ah repeatedly poured the strong liquor and continued to flatter, heightening the atmosphere.
'Hoho. What a cute young hero. Is he trying to break down my guard like this?'
But Chairman Yi Kun-hee was not unaware of So-ah's intentions.
The self-made man who had built a chaebol family from scratch was none other than Chairman Yi Kun-hee.
He just thought So-ah's efforts to desperately win him over were cute.
"Um... Young Hero Jin."
"Yes? Chairman Yi?"
"Do you know how I, who used to run a blacksmith's shop in a small country village and make accessories, was able to build the Yi family?"
A random question.
But everyone in the room listened to his words.
Because anyone would be curious about the mythical life story of a hero of the business world.
"I dare not even guess. Could you perhaps say a word about that achievement?"
So-ah's two eyes sparkled like meteors as he asked back.
At that sight, Moyong Baek and the others were once again astonished.
'That serious and heavy attitude...?'
'What on earth?'
'Good heavens...'
But the question soon disappeared completely.
By a single word from Chairman Yi Kun-hee.
"Sincerity."
"Sincerity... you say?"
"That's right. Businessmen often use various schemes. Of course, is it only businessmen who do so? It is the way of the world. But I know nothing of such shallow tricks. I only deal with my business partners and treat people with a sincerity based on the essence."
The moment he heard those words, So-ah was inwardly startled.
There was a bone in his words.
Because he had read the thorn hidden between the lines of his words.
'He's no ordinary person. I should have known when he, a chaebol, was dressing so simply. I've met my match, I've met my match.'
Only then did So-ah realize that he could not win over this Chairman with any flattery or stratagem.
They say there is a flying man above a running man.
So-ah's wit and social skills could not match the living industrial worker of the Central Plains.
"Hearing your words, Chairman Yi, I feel ashamed."
"Hoho. I did not say it to reprimand Young Hero Jin, so why do you say you are ashamed? I know well of Young Hero Jin's efforts to welcome this mere merchant. Therefore..."
"..."
"I am thinking of investing in the Moyong family."
***
"I-Is that really true?"
"Chairman Yi!"
"R-Really... really?!"
The eyes of the Moyong family members became as wide as lanterns.
It was inevitable...
Because an unbelievable word had come out of Chairman Yi Kun-hee's mouth.
"Hoho. I am a person who lives by trust. Also, in what safe place could I say such an absurd thing? The Yi family will not spare any investment while Baek-ie is an external disciple of the Moyong family."
The investment announcement of one of the top three chaebols of the Central Plains.
Moreover, Chairman Yi Kun-hee had not even mentioned the limit of the investment amount.
In other words, it meant that he was willing to pay whatever amount the Moyong family wanted.
So-ah's face was colored with joy.
But So-ah was not so naive as to openly ask for money.
"Chairman Yi. Isn't it that an investment must ultimately guarantee a profit?"
"That's right."
"But to just give money without any conditions will by no means lead to a profit for the Yi family."
"Hoho. Do not worry about that. Not only is it sufficiently offset by my son's growth, but the Moyong family is currently considered one of the martial families with the highest growth potential in the martial world. It is my judgment that investing in such a place will ultimately be profitable."
Investment in a martial family symbolized sponsorship.
Therefore, a look of delight appeared on the faces of Moyong Baek and his wife, and the chief steward.
But So-ah's thoughts seemed to be different from theirs.
'Now is the time! It's time to make a move.'
A person has to draw a big picture. That's right!
"Chairman. Instead of that, I would like to make a proposal that is worthy of a real 'investment'."
"...What do you mean?"
"Do you know of the ice spirit stone?"
"Of course I do. Isn't it a rare and precious natural ore that is popular among high-ranking officials and the rich? They say it is only produced in the North Sea."
"That's right. With that ice spirit stone, our family and the Yi family will become one."
"That is...?"
"If the Moyong family's drive and the Yi family's technology and sales power meet? Kya! Isn't this completely alive?!"
'That's right! Why didn't I think of that?'
'So So-ah was aiming for that from the beginning!'
Moyong Baek and the chief steward shook their heads as if they were dumbfounded.
***
After that, So-ah relayed all the stories related to the ice spirit stone to Chairman Yi Kun-hee in detail.
As So-ah's words continued, Chairman Yi Kun-hee was startled, then laughed in disbelief, and then was astonished again, repeating this cycle.
"Hoho. Young Hero Jin is truly a person who defies imagination. So, even before mining the ice spirit stone, you took out a loan of a whopping 1.5 million silver coins from the Daewon Battle Arena and started the construction of the Moyong family's main and annex buildings? And you even recruited experienced miners?"
"Yes. That's about right."
"Hoho... I can't believe it, I can't believe it. I saw Young Hero Jin as naive. I apologize. I have never, I repeat, never seen a person like Young Hero Jin in my life. How can a martial artist have such a business-like disposition? Hohoho!"
Hearing the Chairman's praise, So-ah's face turned red.
He was deeply moved, as if his business acumen, which was boiling in a corner of his heart, had been recognized by an authority.
"Hahaha! So, Chairman Yi. Can we miss this business? Or can we not?"
"Of course not."
"Good. Then we have a deal. When our family procures the ice spirit stones, the Yi family will process and produce them into manufactured goods such as accessories. Of course, it would be the icing on the cake if you could also handle the distribution."
"Good!"
Chairman Yi Kun-hee readily accepted the proposal.
And.
"Young Hero Jin. I will specially minimize the profit for the Moyong family."
"Aigoo! You shouldn't do that. We have to coexist."
The time for the real 'negotiation' had come.
Of course.
'What an unexpected windfall. If I can exclusively distribute the ice spirit stones! I came to give money, but I'm going to make money. Kehkehkeh!'
'What? Minimize the profit? Are you trying to pull a fast one on me? Chairman Yi. No matter how much I respect you, I don't believe a merchant's words.'
Although the two were each filling their heads with sinister thoughts.
"From processing, production, and distribution to handling all sorts of complicated problems, a 5:5 split of the total sales. Isn't this pretty much the same as not leaving any profit? Young Hero Jin? Hohoho!"
"Aww! Chairman Yi. You're a good joker! I thought our Chairman Yi was imitating the leader of the Green Forest Fortress! For your information, the head of the Green Forest Fortress is my sworn brother. They say even the Green Forest Fortress doesn't do such atrocious things these days. Hahahahat!"
"..."
"9:1. Of course, 9 is the Moyong family, and 1 is the Yi family. It's a very reasonable ratio. Hehehet!"
'They say too much is as bad as too little.'
'I lost, I lost.'
'Master...'
The faces of the people turned blue.
(End of Chapter)