Chapter 92
"You won't even give me time to think?"
The magistrate said as if he was dumbfounded.
"You just said you would do anything. But after thinking for a moment, you say you need time."
The magistrate licked his lips. In fact, it was a bit of an embarrassing situation. Because he had just said he would grant anything. And if you think about it, what he was doing in return for what he had received was not that excessive.
Since many people had died, he could just say he would find out for sure what had happened. He just had to reveal what had really happened without taking anyone's side. As he was thinking that, Mok Wigun said.
"If you really must, I will give you time."
"Thank you. I'll tell you right away tomorrow."
Mok Wigun said he understood and then stood up from his seat first and thought.
'I've seized the initiative.'
Mok Wigun had deliberately not done as the opponent intended and had observed the situation. The magistrate, perhaps because he thought he owed a great debt, could not strongly object.
Initiative in a relationship is very important. If even a small action is repeated, it becomes like a habit. Mok Wigun confirmed that he had placed himself slightly above the magistrate.
When he went to the old lady's room again, Pyon Juksu had finished the examination and was packing his things.
"Then we will come again tomorrow."
"You've worked hard. Go and take care."
The old lady saw them off with a bright smile. After the two of them left, the magistrate asked his mother. About the proposal that Mok Wigun had made in return for the thousand-year-old fire carp.
The old lady listened quietly and then asked when the magistrate's words were finished.
"What do you think?"
"I'm troubled."
The magistrate wanted to press down on all the powers in this vicinity and seize power himself. To do that, Mok Wigun's power also shouldn't become too strong.
"But I'm more worried about the Huashan Sect. Since many of the martial artists in this vicinity are dead or injured, if the Huashan Sect extends its hand in earnest, it could become their sphere of influence."
The Huashan Sect is a huge sect. Both its financial power and its manpower are enormous. If they were to clash, it would be a really tough fight.
"It's difficult for the government and the martial world to have a good relationship. Because power is not something that can be shared."
Power can only be held by one person.
"But I also have to consider my situation well. How is your condition?"
"It's not good. The death of all the masters is a big blow."
"Then what are you hesitating about?"
The old lady rebuked her son.
"Make the most advantageous choice for you in this situation. What do you think that is?"
The magistrate thought for a moment and then answered.
"I think it's better to take Mok Wigun's side than the Huashan Sect's."
"I think so too. It seems the Huashan Sect is looking to this side, so wouldn't it be good to keep them in check through Young Master Mok?"
But the magistrate was a little worried about Mok Wigun's ability. He was growing too fast, and he couldn't see the end of it. The old lady, who had noticed that he was hesitating because of that, added.
"You can think about the future as it comes and prepare for it. Why are you worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet? Just focus on the current situation."
"I understand. Hearing your words, mother, it feels like the fog is lifting."
The old lady said with a benevolent smile.
"Young Master Mok is a person who will become great. So maintain a good relationship. You're not going to stay in Chang'an forever anyway, are you? The same goes for Young Master Mok."
There is a bigger goal. So if you create a friendly relationship, the situation will get better now, and it will be a great help in the future.
"If you're going to make up your mind like that, I'll solidify the relationship for sure."
The magistrate made up his mind. Since he had decided to cooperate, he would push it hard.
* * *
Lady Jang cheered at the news to come to the government office. She had even checked just in case, and she had heard the answer that it was to sort out a dispute over assets. She had also heard that Mok Wigun would also be coming out.
"It seems they're going to make a conclusion now."
Lady Jang was delighted, saying it seemed to be finally over. The general manager also said he had breathed a sigh of relief.
"After dragging it out for so long, it seems they're finally going to finish it."
When he had heard that Mok Wigun was coming back with the horn of the single-horned great serpent and that the Light Wind Unit members had become a hundred, his heart had sunk. No matter what anyone said, Mok Wigun and the Light Wind Unit had become the strongest force in the vicinity of Chang'an.
"But no matter how strong he is, what can he do about a decision made by the government office?"
And as soon as it was sorted out, he was planning to sell it right away. He had already talked with the Three Thousand Merchant Group to some extent.
"Yes. After selling it to the Three Thousand Merchant Group, that's the end of it. It's a good thing. Because you need funds to grow your power."
But Mok Wipyong stepped forward.
"I'll go too."
"I'm telling you, you don't have to go."
Although Lady Jang tried to stop him, Mok Wipyong shook his head.
"Shouldn't I also take care of the family's affairs now? So I'll also go and see for myself."
"Haha. Wipyong has become thoughtful."
The general manager looked at Mok Wipyong with a pleased expression. He had been worried because he had seemed a little dejected lately. But on the other hand, he was also looking forward to it because he seemed to have become that much more mature.
"Everyone has a time to become an adult."
The general manager was in a good mood because Mok Wipyong, who had been like a spoiled child even after turning twenty, seemed to have grown up a lot. So the three of them headed to the government office in Chang'an with a few attendants.
When they arrived at the government office, Mok Wigun was already there. Lady Jang smiled slyly as she looked at Mok Wigun. She couldn't help but laugh when she thought she had gotten one over on him after he had caused her so much trouble.
"The magistrate is coming in."
Everyone showed their respect, but the general manager thought it was a little strange.
'The magistrate is coming to talk himself?'
Although it was not a small matter, this was not a matter for the magistrate to step in himself. If the magistrate handled all the cases, the magistrate would die of overwork. This case was something that the official in charge could handle. He had a bad feeling about something.
"After listening to my situation and looking into it, there were many problems."
At the magistrate's first words, the general manager was overcome with anxiety.
"Lady Jang, listen."
The magistrate read out the prepared content without hesitation.
"How dare you not only use someone else's assets as your own but also try to change the name."
Only then did Lady Jang, who had noticed that something was strange. A look of bewilderment spread across her face.
"Taking an unfair profit is a crime that is hard to be forgiven, but you tried to make it your own, so the crime is very great."
"Magistrate. That's not it."
Lady Jang stepped forward, saying she was wronged.
"Wronged? Then let's hear your defense."
Lady Jang said it was a misunderstanding. It wasn't that she had used the merchant group as she pleased, but that she had taken care of it instead. Mok Wigun had not paid any attention to the merchant group, and it had become a mess, so she couldn't just stand by and watch. And she claimed that she didn't know about trying to change the name.
"How cunning. Do you think this magistrate doesn't know what you've done?"
The magistrate rebuked loudly with a dignified voice.
"The evidence has already been secured in abundance. The same goes for the witnesses. So don't try to deceive this magistrate!"
At the words that she would pay a greater price if she tried to deceive him further, Lady Jang couldn't even make a peep.
"Lady Jang must compensate for the unfair profits she has taken so far. Also, although she is not a biological mother, a mother coveted her child's assets, so the crime is even heavier. Therefore, hand over the following from the assets you have to Mok Wigun."
And he read out some of the Jang family's assets. Lady Jang was startled and was about to step forward again, but the general manager forcibly held her back.
"Do you think this is the Mok family? If you say something unnecessary here, you'll be in big trouble."
"But how can I just stand by? At this rate, we'll have what we have taken away!"
As the two of them murmured, the magistrate hit the desk with a 'thud'.
"How insolent. How dare you make such a fuss in front of me!"
At the magistrate's words, the soldiers inside moved. At that, Lady Jang also had no choice but to shut her mouth. When the inside became quiet, the magistrate continued to speak again.
"And I cannot but ask about the crime of going against the national law and harming the sound public morals. Therefore, I impose the following fine."
At those words, Lady Jang collapsed.
The situation so far was also outside of Mok Wigun's expectations. In fact, he hadn't even told the magistrate about this case. He had just thought it would be good if the magistrate blocked it to some extent.
But the magistrate had shown a really certain goodwill. Besides, Lady Jang had to pay a considerable amount of fine, so she had suffered a huge blow.
"This can't be."
Lady Jang woke up after all the judgments were over and most of the officials had left. There was no strength in her voice.
"This is not right. I have to appeal and get a retrial.
"Let's go now."
The general manager supported her and urged her. But Lady Jang venomously pushed his hand away.
"How can I just go? Isn't it unfair?"
At that, Mok Wipyong, who was next to her, said quietly.
"That's why I told you to stop. Just accept it."
"Aren't you angry? How can you say such a calm thing?"
Lady Jang's sharp voice. Mok Wipyong, who would have cowered in fear in a normal situation, but today he did not. He just answered indifferently.
"You have to take responsibility for the risk you took. There are things that can't be helped. Mother."
But Lady Jang did not easily accept it.
"Where is that guy? I have to meet that guy..."
Lady Jang, who was looking for the person she had bribed and asked for a favor. The general manager looked around and quickly covered her mouth. And then he said in her ear.
"Do you really want to die? If that fact is known, we'll all die!"
The general manager said that and then released Lady Jang's mouth. And then he glared at her with a cold gaze and said.
"How can you not distinguish between heaven and earth? It's because you were so unreasonable that it has come to this!"
The general manager also seemed to be quite angry.
"If you want to die, do as you please. I won't care anymore."
As the general manager went out like that, Lady Jang collapsed on the spot. It was Mok Wipyong who embraced her.
"Let's go. Mother."
Mok Wipyong supported the staggering Lady Jang. And he slowly took her outside. Mok Wigun muttered as he watched the scene from a distance.
"In a way, it might be better for that family that it has come to this."
Doesn't it feel a little more like a family now? Besides, it was truly amazing that Mok Wipyong had changed.
But now it's really a matter of a family that has nothing to do with him. Since all the problems have been solved, he will never see them again. Mok Wigun immediately moved to meet Yi Jeong-gi. It was because Mok Wigun, who had known that a conclusion would be reached today, had made an appointment.
Mok Wigun, who had met Yi Jeong-gi at Yeseowon, presented the items to be traded, including the Eastern Heaven Merchant Group.
"No. All this?"
(End of Chapter)