Chapter 151: A Gift
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The moment Hui Bu-yong picked up another piece of steaming pork with a smile full of triumph.
CLICK-
With the sound of footsteps, the lattice door opened and a figure appeared.
“Hm? Hall Master. Grilled pork from the morning – isn’t that hard on your stomach?”
An elderly man in his sixties dressed in blue – it was Chief No Gong, the second-in-command of Red Cat Merchant Guild.
“What do you mean, I’m fine. The thought of that dog-like pig bastard from that other trading company making a tearful face made me suddenly crave food.”
Having said that, Hui Bu-yong chewed and swallowed the pork.
Soon No Gong sat down on one of the chairs at the dining table and spoke in a meaningful voice.
“They made their move just now.”
At that, Hui Bu-yong’s dark brown pupils sparkled.
“Pfft. How delightful. They only just realized the fire’s fallen on their feet.”
“Once they grasp the surrounding market situation, they’ll respond while accepting losses. I expect an announcement from Azure Hound Merchant Guild by afternoon.”
“Right. When they follow our lead and lower prices across the board, that’s when we send people to each market and buy everything up. We just need to resell what we bought at cheap prices again without trying to make profit. Until Azure Hound Merchant Guild is exhausted and collapses… To the point they’re utterly overwhelmed.”
Hui Bu-yong’s red lips drew an even more vivid smile.
The same loss strategy, but the results would be different.
Red Cat Merchant Guild planned to buy up all the various products Azure Hound Merchant Guild put into price competition and supply them again at drastic discount prices.
On the other hand.
Azure Hound Merchant Guild would obviously pay purchasing costs to their suppliers to supply the various products that sold out.
Hui Bu-yong intended to keep pushing this way to exhaust the other party’s available operating funds.
Secretly buying up what Azure Hound Merchant Guild put out while also securing supply quantities from trading partners… A perilously risky method that no other place would even dare attempt.
The only reason such a bloodletting operation was possible was that she had secured a large quantity of precious goods that would bring in more money than what was going out right now.
The various treasures Cheol Ryu-heun had entrusted at the very beginning, plus the Meteoric Iron chunks she had obtained recently.
Thus there was no big problem for Red Cat Merchant Guild.
Of course, all of this was a plan Cheol Ryu-heun had laid out in advance.
-Azure Hound Merchant Guild has been profiteering through market cornering many times. This time, Red Cat Merchant Guild will give them a taste of their own medicine in reverse.
-Heehee. Yes! Sounds good.
-The method is simple. Get products from trading partners at existing prices, supply them cheaper to surrounding markets, and capture the hearts of both sellers and buyers alike.
-Ah… Then the most important thing would be adjusting so the final sales price doesn’t rise.
-You catch on quick. That’s right. Put conditions on each store. Tell them you’ll give them various products they need at drastic prices, so they should sell lower than existing prices for a set period. In other words, like small profits and quick turnover.
-Right, I understand what you mean. The set period means until Azure Hound Merchant Guild runs out of strength and completely collapses… Is that right?
-Yes. Don’t stint on money and manage each store so their stock doesn’t run out, then when the time comes, make price adjustments back to existing levels. Then neither the sellers nor buyers will have major complaints.
-Yes. A simple-minded method of crushing with money, but… The effect will be direct. And since our Company’s financial losses will be fully compensated thanks to Sect Master Cheol, it couldn’t be better. I’m newly realizing the fearsome power of money.
-This is just the first stage. I’ll write out the rest of the methods separately.
-So cool! Take me! Sect Master Cheol, no, Master!
-Pass.
-…
Hui Bu-yong recalled that conversation briefly, then looked at No Gong and said.
“Business flourishes when word of mouth spreads. When that happens, it’s a battle of who can supply the quantity more smoothly… We’ll seize the advantage with money, but they’ll pour money into their suppliers while swallowing tears and taking losses.”
“Yes, Hall Master. By the end of this fight, our Company will monopolize the market supply network.”
“By the way, has the official document from the Wuyang government arrived yet?”
“Actually, that’s what I came to report.”
“Ah! It came?”
“Yes. It was the construction permit. Now the branch establishment will also proceed smoothly. And they say they’re also positively reviewing the government supplies delivery bidding contract with the Wuyang government.”
“…!”
“I was surprised too. Since we’d already purchased the site for the Wuyang branch at quite a cheap price thanks to Sect Master Cheol, I honestly wasn’t expecting the government supplies delivery bidding contract as well…”
Hearing No Gong’s words, Hui Bu-yong nodded and murmured.
“Goodness… To make even that County Magistrate there cooperate like this – what an amazing person.”
“Isn’t it a kind of reward for doing honest business unlike Azure Hound Merchant Guild? Hoho.”
At that moment, the lattice door opened again and a young man entered.
“Hall Master, Chief Supervisor, a distinguished guest from Yiyang has arrived.”
A faint smile spread at the edge of Hui Bu-yong’s mouth.
“Ha, arrived right on time.”
Then she met No Gong’s gaze and let out a meaningful voice.
“We’ve put the noose around the pig’s neck… Now is it time for the limbs?”
“When they’re reeling after getting hit once, we should deliver another decisive blow.”
“Indeed.”
Having raised one corner of her mouth, Hui Bu-yong set down her chopsticks and stood up.
* * *
Dark Sword Fragrance Mun Bin stared at a set of clothes spread out on his office desk and was inwardly impressed.
‘It’s amazing no matter how many times I look at it. To think I’d see this with my own two eyes…’
A long robe entirely pitch-black as if painted with ink, with a large goblin pattern embroidered on the back.
Unlike ordinary robes people wore, it was closer to the form of a battle robe a general would wear.
Soon Mun Bin’s hand touched the edge of that garment.
It was soft.
Also.
It was thin.
It seemed like it would just tear if he pulled with force.
However… He knew well.
That the black battle robe before his eyes was a legendary divine weapon that was impossible to damage in any way.
Ink God Robe.
One of the so-called Ten Heavenly Weapons, from ancient times it also had the alias Heavenly Goblin Ink Garment.
The Ink God Robe was an extraordinary object said to neither burn in fire nor get wet in water, and could even block the energy of fine swords and renowned blades.
Though its unfathomable abilities, which could be called divine power, varied greatly depending on the owner’s talent and aptitude, that was truly the nature of all Ten Heavenly Weapons.
Only when one reached a certain basic level of martial arts would some of the hidden powers begin to awaken.
Mun Bin thought while touching the Ink God Robe.
‘Impervious to fire and water, impervious to blades… According to old records, the Ink God Robe’s outstanding abilities aren’t limited to just that. Those who succeed in handling the two divine powers contained within – the Phosphorus Fire Energy and Ghost Phosphorus Energy – can have will-o’-wisps arise automatically in any dangerous situation, simultaneously performing the essence of offense and defense to protect their bodies…’
Though the origin of who first made it and how was unclear, its amazing power had been amply proven throughout the long martial history.
The only divine weapon said to have mercilessly pierced through the Ink God Robe and left wounds on its owner was the Divine Martial Sword.
Though of course that was natural, since it was a sword called the foremost of the Ten Heavenly Weapons and the supreme lord of all weapons under heaven.
The person who had last owned the Ink God Robe in history was Ghost Fire Sword God Jong Ri-yung, one of the supreme masters of the unorthodox martial world two hundred years ago.
At the time, he handled the divine powers of Phosphorus Fire Energy and Ghost Phosphorus Energy and boasted nearly invincible might.
However… In his lifetime, he was once defeated while wearing the Ink God Robe, receiving major cut wounds in several places on his body – and that opponent was the Blood God who owned the Divine Martial Sword.
Mun Bin scrutinized the Ink God Robe carefully.
‘Hmm, there’s not even a small scratch. It seems to have restored itself over time.’
The Ink God Robe’s mysterious restoration ability was very famous, and it was first known about during the Heavenly Demon’s era.
A full thousand years ago.
At that time, the Heavenly Demon had wielded the Divine Martial Sword and made a large hole in the Ink God Robe, but it subsequently returned to its original state and became known to the world.
Anyway, for Mun Bin, this was like a once-in-a-thousand-years fortuitous encounter.
To become the new owner of a miraculous object that had completely disappeared since Ghost Fire Sword God Jong Ri-yung…
Suddenly, a pretty face flashed through his mind.
It was White Dream Beauty Gongse Dan-yeong, Tower Master of Celestial Flower Tower.
That was right.
The Ink God Robe before his eyes was something Gongse Dan-yeong had gifted out of goodwill without any compensation.
-Young Lady, are you about to leave now?
-Ah, yes. Hall Master Mun. I stayed well for the night. Thank you.
-Not at all. It was nothing… But, it’s still early – wouldn’t it be good to eat before you leave?
-Heh, I don’t usually eat breakfast… Oh, and please accept this.
-Pardon? What is this?
-Let’s call it a gift commemorating the contract between our two parties.
-A gift…?
-Yes, try unfolding it once.
-This seems to be some kind of battle robe… Hmm… With that large goblin pattern embroidered on the back, it doesn’t seem like an ordinary item.
-That’s right. It’s something hard to obtain with money.
-What do you mean…
-It’s one of the Ten Heavenly Weapons.
-…!
-The Ink God Robe, also called the Heavenly Goblin Ink Garment – a legendary divine weapon.
-Gasp! The Ink God Robe? I-is this really the Ink God Robe!
-Yes, our Tower obtained it recently.
-That’s…
-It’s a divine weapon that doesn’t suit me, so I was thinking of finding a suitable owner for it, and when I happened to receive Hall Master Mun’s proposal, I decided to gift it.
-But how could you give me something so precious…
-Does it burden you?
-That’s… It’s not exactly that, but… I’m not sure if I should accept this. Honestly…
-Please keep it thinking of it as my heart.
-…
-I think it will suit you well, Hall Master Mun.
-Hmm, my feelings right now… Cannot be fully expressed with just words of thanks.
-It’s an item that has left my hands, so please make good use of it.
-Yes… Since my training is still lacking, I’m not sure if I can really handle this properly. But I’ll try. So that Young Lady Gong Seul’s sincerity won’t be in vain…
-Of course, I believe Hall Master Mun will surely be able to awaken that Ink God Robe’s hidden divine powers someday. These days everyone frequently mentions troubled times, don’t they? Wouldn’t it be good to train diligently with the resolve to prepare for that? Heehee.
Mun Bin recalled that conversation and wore a gentle smile.
Why was it?
That both his cheeks flushed as soon as he brought pretty Gongse Dan-yeong’s appearance to mind…
THUMP THUMP.
His heart, newly racing.
Mun Bin belatedly realized his own feelings.
‘Have I… Fallen for her?’
Then, as if to calm what was in his heart, he picked up the Ink God Robe and briefly packed his things.
‘Let me depart for White Peak Sword Sect. First, I need to report on this matter… And while I’m there, I should also ask about aspects related to the Ink God Robe.’
Yes, he had a strong premonition that Cheol Ryu-heun would probably know some method for handling the Phosphorus Fire Energy and Ghost Phosphorus Energy.
* * *
RUMBLE RUMBLE- RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE-!
The shadow of a man and horse galloping fiercely along a forest path.
It was Cheol Ryu-heun and Gal Jung-heon riding on Divine Wind’s back.
Having started running like mad from early morning, he didn’t know how far they had come.
‘URGH…!’
Before the wind pouring fiercely against him, Gal Jung-heon’s eyelids kept fluttering and flipping back, and he felt like his insides were churning and turning upside down too.
The moment he barely held back a dry heave, Cheol Ryu-heun’s nonchalant voice reached his ears.
“Let’s stop taking it easy and start running for real now.”
Gal Jung-heon was dumbfounded.
Taking it easy, what… The person in the back can’t even breathe!
Simultaneously, Divine Wind exploded with white current from his whole body and charged even faster.
BOOM BOOM BOOM, BOOM BOOM BOOM, BOOM BOOM BOOM-!
“AAAAH, AAAAAH… This demonic… Horse…!”