🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 38
“Ire.”
“Yes?”
“Give me Ire and go prepare a venue.”
At the Third Young Master’s words, the head of the Jiangsu branch rolled his eyes.
‘Didn’t I tell them not to come find me and cause trouble?’
Would that bold young lady even come looking for him?
“Is it difficult?”
At the Third Young Master’s cold gaze—sharper than a drawn blade—the branch leader let out a dry laugh.
“Of course not.”
If he said it couldn’t be done, he would surely end up paying a painful price. His instincts, honed from surviving among the demonic faction’s underworld, whispered as much.
“I will prepare it within a day.”
Leaving the man who was bowing and rubbing his hands together behind, the Third Young Master left.
Even after the door to the secret room closed, the branch leader stood still for a long while before collapsing into his chair.
“This is troublesome.”
He opened a drawer within reach.
Inside were documents containing everything from the Geumrin Merchant Group’s family tree to recent incidents. As he flipped through them, he let out a deep sigh.
“There is something suitable to trade with, at least.”
The problem was how to meet Geum Seolha.
Fortunately, his worry was resolved before even a moment passed.
Rrrrkk.
A massive stone wall carved with intricate patterns rotated. From beyond it appeared figures that made the branch leader’s eyebrows twitch.
“Eh?”
Faces that should not have been seen in this place were standing there.
“Am I seeing things?”
“Have you already gone senile, Branch Leader?”
At Adorang’s mocking tone, the branch leader’s mind snapped awake.
“No—hey, you, what do you think this place is, bringing guests in here?”
Veins bulged on his forehead. This was the secret chamber of the Hao Clan’s Jiangsu branch. A place that should only be opened for special clients meeting in absolute secrecy.
“Have you gone mad?”
His voice was so cold it seemed he might kill Adorang on the spot.
“You really shouldn’t say that to someone whose brain works as well as mine.”
“Your brain works well? By bringing people here?”
Instead of calming down, the branch leader grew more enraged as he looked at Geum Seolha and Adorang.
“Is this not how it’s supposed to be?”
“Cough!”
“Still, the entrance was a bit complicated. This place is better than the secret room we spoke in last time.”
At her subtle jab about their previous meeting place, the branch leader quickly spoke up.
“This is a room reserved for long-term clients.”
“Not for highly profitable clients?”
“Long-term clients are usually the profitable ones.”
It was shameless—but not entirely wrong. Geum Seolha nodded lightly.
“Then I suppose I’ve been guided correctly.”
“Hm?”
The branch leader caught a flash of something in her words.
“Are you here to make a request?”
“A request that shouldn’t be too difficult for you.”
“People who say that usually don’t make easy requests.”
“Then I’ll be the first exception.”
Geum Seolha did not yield in the slightest.
The branch leader stroked his chin.
‘A request, huh.’
Now he understood the situation. Adorang, smug as ever, shrugged in the background—annoying, but at least one thing was clear.
“You should think carefully. The minimum fee for requests here starts at gold coins.”
“As long as it’s worth the price, I can pay.”
“I heard most of your assets are frozen.”
The branch leader looked doubtful, as if questioning whether she could really afford it.
Geum Seolha clicked her tongue.
“What are you talking about? You still owe me money. That’s not even silver coins—it’s gold coins.”
“Cough.”
“And even if my inheritance is frozen, do you really think I’d be broke enough to have nothing in hand?”
She reached into her robes and tossed something.
The branch leader caught it reflexively—and his eyes widened.
“High-grade jade.”
The moment he confirmed it was valuable, his tone immediately became respectful, and his demeanor turned fawning despite his rough face.
Geum Seolha looked mildly displeased.
“Even if I’ve been treated poorly, I am still a direct bloodline of the Geum family.”
“Direct lineage.”
“It’s not like I’m in such a poor situation that I can’t even pay a Hao Clan fee.”
“Even so… you’ve tolerated a lot of mistreatment within your family.”
At the subtle jab about how she had endured such treatment, Geum Seolha gave a crooked smile.
‘That’s because the original Geum Seolha intended to live quietly without touching those things… she was simply too passive.’
But she was different. If she was going to be targeted anyway, it was better to give them a reason.
“That’s because I didn’t need to before.”
“And now?”
“My people have been wronged and are suffering. There’s no reason to keep enduring it.”
Her eyes flashed with undeniable vengeance and intensity. The branch leader immediately stepped back.
“Well, fair enough. Honestly, even if you start showing your abilities, there’s not much benefit for us.”
“Because not only the aunts, but also the uncles would interfere?”
“And it wouldn’t stop at interference.”
His tone suggested all kinds of trouble would follow. Geum Seolha merely smiled.
A precise assessment.
‘The original Geum Seolha likely tried to live carefully to avoid exactly that.’
But she could not live so obediently.
If she would be targeted anyway, she might as well give them a reason worth fearing.
“That’s right. So this time, I intend to strike first.”
“Let me warn you, the head of the Geum family is a den of dragons and tigers.”
Despite his worried tone, his eyes showed deep interest.
“Is it more dangerous than martial clans?”
“It’s not a matter of being better or worse. The risks are simply different.”
Unlike martial clans that wield force and train in martial arts, the Geumrin Merchant Group ruled commerce.
“Do you think the saying ‘money can even make ghosts work’ exists for nothing?”
Geum Seolha tilted her head.
“I didn’t expect you to start complaining before even hearing the request.”
“It’s because dealing with the head of the Geum family is troublesome.”
“This isn’t a direct conflict. So stop exaggerating.”
“Very well. What is the request?”
The branch leader’s eyes sharpened.
Geum Seolha glanced at him, then at Ha Do-woon. At his nod of approval, she spoke.
“You’ve probably investigated me quite a bit.”
“That’s necessary when dealing with a client.”
“Then you must also know about my surroundings.”
“What exactly are you asking?”
“I won’t waste time. Do you know about Hong Yeong-ryeong?”
“How could I not?”
The branch leader’s eyes gleamed.
As long as the Geum family head was watching, investigating direct bloodlines was dangerous.
‘But their associates are a different matter.’
Instead of directly investigating them, he pieced together information from their connections.
“Do you also know about the bribes exchanged between those supplying goods to the Geum family and their contacts?”
“That is not something you should normally know… but yes, we do have some grasp of it.”
“Good.”
Geum Seolha brightened, sensing the conversation would go smoothly.
“Hooh. So you intend to target them?”
“I need to herd the rabbits.”
“Then my role is to seize their financial lifeline?”
She nodded.
Thanks to Madam Baek’s assistance, Hong Yeong-ryeong currently had no money in hand.
“That’s right. They only have valuable goods now. It will take time to liquidate them. Tighten that pressure.”
“Wouldn’t they just trade those goods instead?”
“That wouldn’t be bad either. Either way, it will strain their relationships with those they’ve been dealing with.”
It was already a fragile alliance built on money. Remove the money, and cracks were inevitable.
“Once people start talking, someone—whether Hong Yeong-ryeong or the aunt—will have to take responsibility.”
“So it will just end in scapegoating.”
“That’s fine.”
She was not trying to grasp everything at once. This was enough for now.
“Put them in a position where they might take the fall for everything and be expelled—they won’t obediently accept it.”
“So you want them to cause a disturbance.”
A sinister light flickered in the branch leader’s eyes.
When it came to schemes and conspiracies, he was no amateur either.
