Chapter 64: Chapter 64
* * *
Jang Geon and Yang Goeng led their respective horses and headed toward the bustling district of New Sichuan. Yang Goeng, leading the way, looked a bit anxious.
“I don’t know whether that horse bandit bastard has already made the trade or not.”
“You’re going without even knowing that?”
“Up until yesterday evening, the transaction definitely hadn’t taken place. They said the horse bandit was being greedy.”
From those words, Jang Geon noticed that Yang Goeng’s informant was a member of the black market. Otherwise, there was no way he could know such minor details.
The two soon arrived at an inn. The inn, which had opened right in the middle of New Sichuan, had quite a lot of people coming and going, eating food, enjoying dishes, or drinking liquor. It didn’t look like a place for illicit trading at all.
“Trees should be hidden in a forest, and people should be hidden among crowds. To avoid the eyes of the Martial Alliance, the Imperial Army, and other ancient noble clans, they conduct transactions unobtrusively in a place like this. These black market fellows use their heads pretty well.”
Yang Goeng said so while sweeping his gaze across the inside of the inn. Then he boldly took a corner seat and ordered food.
Raising a tea cup served before the food, he took a sip and spoke to Jang Geon sitting opposite him.
“Do you see those five guys gathered in the right corner? Don’t look too obviously.”
Over there, five rough-looking men were smoking tobacco heavily while playing dominoes. However, what actually caught Jang Geon’s eyes were the people eating food and drinking liquor around the table pressed against the wall. Jang Geon also naturally took a sip of tea and spoke.
“Are those the black market’s guards?”
“Hehe, as expected, you recognize them. The black market fellows don’t skim off half as a fee for nothing. They find transaction targets, provide hiding spots and guards, so they take that much. Maybe I should have done black market work too.”
“What are you going to do now? Are we going to raid them blindly right here?”
Yang Goeng smirked and answered.
“Ayy, that’s not it. Then we’d be chased not only by bounties from the black market, but also by the clueless Martial Alliance. For now, let’s watch from here and look for an opportunity. If possible, it’s best to wait until tonight, put on masks to raid them, or steal it quietly.”
It meant that just as the black market moved quietly without drawing attention, Jang Geon and Yang Goeng should also avoid making a scene. Certainly, if they recklessly rushed in now and caused the Martial Alliance or the Imperial Army to find out about the treasure map, it would be bad for the two of them who had no backing.
A moment later, the waiter brought food and liquor. The two naturally began eating as if they had merely come to eat that food. It happened to be lunchtime as well. Receiving a liquor cup poured by Yang Goeng, Jang Geon asked in a low voice.
“That treasure map, is it really genuine?”
“Why do you ask that? Do you think the black market would step up like that for a fake?”
“If the black market was certain the treasure map was genuine, they could just dispose of those horse bandits themselves and take the treasure map.”
Yang Goeng shook his head.
“The black market does not leave New Sichuan. They place all their influence in this city of New Sichuan and don’t extend a finger outside it. That’s because their identity is a coalition of certain merchants trying to avoid taxes. Such illicit transactions are ultimately just one means of laundering that money. And even if buried treasure is found, to liquidate all of it, one will eventually have to go through the black market anyway, right? Then the black market gets half of that treasure without lifting a finger.”
It meant there was no need for the black market to exert extra effort right now. Even if the treasure map was fake, they would take half the transaction amount; even if it was real, liquidating that treasure required going through the black market. No matter if it disappeared a hundred years ago, treasure originating from an ancient noble clan was dangerous for ordinary people.
“Of course, if we go a bit further, there is also the method of selling it directly to those with power. They increase the transaction amount to profit, and simply hand over the treasure to that force. This is a clean method even if they profit relatively less.”
Even after that, the two chatted idly about anything while dining. Though their mouths chewed food and babbled on, their eyes were secretly focused on the horse bandits playing dominoes.
Just then, Jang Geon sensed a strange atmosphere. Beyond the black market guards surrounding and protecting the horse bandits, there were individuals among those filling the inn who gave off a peculiar feeling. Once he noticed them, they too were focusing all their attention on the horse bandits and the black market, just like Jang Geon and Yang Goeng.
“Hmm…”
Jang Geon considered whether he should warn Yang Goeng. No matter how he looked at it, they seemed to be after the treasure map just like the two of them. Or had Yang Goeng lured him into a trap?
However, Yang Goeng spitting out curses was faster than that.
“Damn it. This isn’t good.”
“Why?”
“It’s Je Sang-cheon, the successor of the Je Clan! What reason would such a person have to come to a street inn like this?”
At those words, Jang Geon also briefly checked the inn entrance, then subtly turned his body to cover his face. At the inn entrance stood a young man who still looked green, a pretty girl, and Je Un-seong, whom Jang Geon had met at the blacksmith’s shop this morning.
* * *
“…So you made a transaction with the black market.”
Je Un-seong followed behind Je Sang-cheon as he entered the inn, his expression hardening. Did this immature young master know what he was doing?
“I heard transactions with them are expensive but trustworthy.”
“Young Master, I know you want to demonstrate your abilities to the Clan Leader, but to think you would buy an item from the black market. Even if the Clan Leader forgives it, the other elders will not look upon it favorably.”
“Those old men don’t look upon me favorably anyway.”
“Young Master…!”
Leaving behind the bewildered Je Un-seong, Je Sang-cheon strode into the inn. A waiter naturally approached him.
“Welcome, the guests who arrived first are waiting.”
Though flustered inside, Je Sang-cheon showed no sign of it on the outside and followed behind the waiter. Seom Ji-young’s eyes sparkled as if finding Je Sang-cheon handsome, while Je Un-seong let out a sigh.
Following the waiter’s guidance, Je Sang-cheon arrived at a spot thick with tobacco smoke, knitted his brows, and waved his hand. The horse bandits handling dominoes were looking up at him crookedly with tobacco held in their mouths. Looking down at them, Je Sang-cheon asked.
“Are you going to keep me standing?”
Among the horse bandits, a fellow with a large scar over one eye smirked. Then he tossed the dominoes onto the table and gestured to the other horse bandits. At that gesture, the other horse bandits slowly stood up and moved away. Je Sang-cheon naturally sat in the seat opposite the one-eyed horse bandit. However, when Seom Ji-young and Je Un-seong tried to sit behind him, the waiter blocked their way.
“We have prepared separate seats over here.”
The two slightly hardened their expressions, but when Je Sang-cheon gestured, they obediently followed the waiter’s guidance. Of course, even so, it was just the next table right beside him, like the horse bandits. And so, Je Sang-cheon’s group and the horse bandits began their transaction in a corner of the inn, surrounded by the black market’s guard warriors.
The first to speak was Je Sang-cheon.
“Where is the item?”
However, the one-eyed man did not answer those words, nor did he pull out the item to show, but merely blew out a puff of tobacco smoke while staring at him. Je Sang-cheon frowned at the smoke.
“…Are you telling me to show the money first?”
Though the one-eyed man didn’t answer, Je Sang-cheon pulled a paper envelope from his breast pocket and threw it onto the table.
“It’s one hundred taels of gold. As agreed, it’s filled entirely with Imperial small bonds.”
Only then did the one-eyed man rub his nose with a snort and pick up the paper envelope. After checking inside, he smirked subtly.
“This isn’t enough.”
“…What nonsense is that? This is the exact amount we agreed to trade.”
“That was when I didn’t know the person I’d be trading with was the honorable successor of the Je Clan.”
Je Sang-cheon’s expression turned cold.
“Are you acting so brazenly even after knowing the Je Clan’s name? Do you want to be banned from stepping foot in New Sichuan forever?”
“Well, as long as I can get more money, I have no reason to come to New Sichuan again. It’s enough for me to go live in Heavenly Empress City or Gamsan City.”
Je Sang-cheon hardened his expression severely at the words of the slickly smiling one-eyed man. To him, those words felt as though he were insulting the Je Clan as a mere scarecrow that was nothing once outside New Sichuan.
“…I didn’t know the transactions of the black market were so squalid.”
“Haha. Look here, Young Master. The black market merely arranges a safe transaction, while the negotiation at the scene is a matter between the two of us. What more do you expect like a child? So hurry up and hand over more, or get lost right now.”
Frowning, Je Sang-cheon glared at the one-eyed man with angry eyes, then slowly pulled out another paper envelope from his breast pocket and threw it down. The one-eyed man immediately checked inside the envelope and grinned broadly.
“Right, why scowl at each other when you could have just given more?”
“Hurry up and show the item.”
Pocketing the paper envelope in his breast pocket, the one-eyed man glanced subtly around his surroundings. Their voices and figures were veiled by the surrounding black market guard warriors, making them hard to see unless looked at directly. Moreover, the distance meant sound wouldn’t carry well either, so it was a secretive setting.
Thinking that no one around was watching them, the one-eyed man pulled out a small scroll and extended it. Seeing the scroll, Je Sang-cheon erased his previously frowning face, quickly received it, unfurled it, and checked the inside.
Sitting a short distance away, Je Un-seong let out another sigh at the hasty manner in which he immediately inspected the item. He knew he lacked experience due to his young age, but even so, showing such a defenseless appearance before a mere black market dealer meant the Je Clan’s future was not very bright.
Breathing out a sigh like that, Je Un-seong turned his head. As for the treasure map, he could inspect it himself a bit later; for now, it was proper to be cautious about whether this transaction had truly gone unnoticed. Inside the somewhat crowded inn, customers were all busy laughing, chatting, and eating food and liquor. No one seemed to mind them.
But right then, two people sitting in a corner of the inn caught his eye. Neither of their faces could be seen clearly due to their seating direction and position, but Je Un-seong felt a sense of familiarity from the physique of one of them.
Je Un-seong, who prided himself on having especially sharp eyes even within the Je Clan, immediately recalled the owner of that familiar figure. As well as the short conversation they had shared at the blacksmith’s shop.
“Why is that fellow here…”
The moment he felt an unknown ill omen, Je Un-seong’s complexion hardened and he immediately stood up from his seat. And as if that became a signal, one-third of the customers inside the inn began jumping to their feet. Pulling out bladed weapons like swords and knives from their baggage or under tables, they glared at the table where Je Sang-cheon and the one-eyed man were sitting.
“That’s the item!”
Those who had appeared like ordinary people began rushing at the bewildered black market warriors with drawn bladed weapons.
“Eek—!”
“W-What! What’s going on!”
“A sword fight broke out! It’s a slaughter!”
The commoners who had nothing to do with the sudden attackers or the black market warriors froze in fright upon seeing the gleaming blades and began fleeing.
“W-What on earth…”
“Who are those bastards?”
Inspect the treasure map, Je Sang-cheon and the one-eyed man also stood up in panic. At the same time, the first unidentified ruffians to approach swung their blades at the black market warriors, beginning the battle.
* * *
“…What in the world is happening?”
Seeing Yang Goeng’s genuinely flustered face, Jang Geon could tell that this was something he hadn’t anticipated either. At the very least, it didn’t seem like he was trying to trap Jang Geon.
“Do you have no idea who they might be?”
“I-I don’t know. I blocked all the lines on the Imperial Army’s side, and judging by their skill swinging blades right now, it’s not them. Damn it, then did information leak from the black market side?”
Thanks to the commoners frantically fleeing and the swordsmen fighting while shouting curses and roars, the inside of the inn turned into mayhem. Jang Geon gently pushed the frightened commoners running toward him toward the inn exit while surveying the situation.
Although it was a sudden surprise attack, thanks to the quick reflexes of the black market warriors, no ruffians managed to approach the Je Clan group or the horse bandits. And while they fought, they were quickly fleeing to one side.
Jang Geon tapped Yang Goeng, who was distracted by the swordsmen’s fight.
“Let’s go.”
“W-What? Huh? Those bastards are running!”
Seeing the horse bandits and the Je Clan group vanish into the back door of the inn, the two quickly left the inn by mixing in among the other commoners.
Upon stepping outside like that, the street was extremely congested with commoners fleeing the inn, people peeking inside to see what was happening, people simply walking on their way, and so forth.
“What happened?”
“Don’t block the path! Fuck!”
“Who is it! Who stepped on my foot!”
“Someone call the Martial Alliance people!”
Among those many people, Jang Geon moved toward the alley behind the inn, weaving through them naturally as if he were an eel. However, Yang Goeng got bumped around by people and gradually fell behind.
“A-Ah, no, fuck! Get out of the way, you people! Brother Jang! Let’s go together, Brother Jang!”
Leaving that voice behind, Jang Geon was able to break through the crowd and enter the alley. Unlike the large, wide main thoroughfares, the narrow and intricately tangled back alleys of New Sichuan welcomed him gloomily. Although it was a dark path that respectable people would avoid, Jang Geon stepped inside without any hesitation.
As Jang Geon ran silently without even the sound of footsteps, a certain sound reached his ears. He immediately leaped lightly onto the top of a low wall. From over there, the clashing sound of swords rang out.
Jang Geon ran atop the wall—which was not even half a span wide—as if it were flat ground.