Chapter 192: v8c17 - One-Man Army
Volume 8 Chapter 17 – One-Man Army
Read it only at Nineheavens.org
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The person who was guiding the Red Venom Spider, who had been appointed as the general manager of the administrative block, said with a warm smile.
“How is it? Aren’t the facilities extremely wonderful?”
He nodded his head repeatedly in admiration at the private night-duty room prepared for the Red Venom Spider.
“Wow, there is nothing missing! Fitting for the Sword Family, all the furniture is of the highest quality! At this rate, you could practically live here!”
“…Ah, yes.”
He had spoken out of envy for the treatment and hospitality the Red Venom Spider was receiving, but for some reason, those words sounded like a curse to her.
‘This luxurious night-duty facility, could it be…!’
She thought, hiding the expression of rising fear.
‘It doesn’t signify the Eldest Young Master’s intention to have no plans of letting me go home from the very beginning, does it…?’
At that moment, there was a voice urgently looking for her.
“Administrative Director!”
She, who was not yet accustomed to her new position, came out of the night-duty room belatedly and answered.
“I am here. What is the matter?”
The messenger, who ran over panting, handed a note to her.
“It is an urgent dispatch!”
* * *
‘He hasn’t even started yet?’
Repeating Yeon So-hyeon’s words in his mind, Kong Yo let out a dry laugh.
While understanding it as a mere expression of confidence, on the other hand, it was difficult to hide his anticipation of what kind of move the boy before his eyes would show next.
“The Eldest Young Master must have also heard the report, but as I went around the families of Luoyang this morning, it was not as though there was no harvest at all.”
The families that held grudges against the Second Young Master.
The families that had crossed paths with him.
Therefore, it was a story about the families that wished to cooperate with Yeon So-hyeon.
“Yes. Even now, there are those who are contacting us secretly.”
“Since many hands make light work, would it not be helpful to meet them as well?”
It was spoken because it was a moment when even a single ally was sorely needed.
“Well. As Dean Kong must have already predicted…”
Yeon So-hyeon shook his head.
“Even if we meet them now, they will cooperate beneath the surface, that is, in a way that does not show outwardly. And that is while taking all the credit they can.”
Influential families are being dismantled, and blood and flesh are flying.
In such a situation, to raise one’s head and proudly engage in full cooperation was, in fact, equivalent to saying one would enlist on the battlefield.
“…I suppose that would be the case.”
Just as Yeon So-hyeon said, Kong Yo had already predicted that much.
“It is obvious that after participating so passively, if by some chance the tide of the war turns favorable and their safety is guaranteed, only then will they run wild.”
“That is correct.”
Yeon So-hyeon raised his teacup, moistened his mouth with a sip, and continued speaking.
“And then, when it comes to rewarding merit later, they will try to strip us down to our very skin.”
Kong Yo, who visualized those offensive sights in his mind, wore a displeased expression.
“…But is there any other way?”
“There is.”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled over his teacup.
“We just need to seize the upper hand in this war without receiving a single bit of their help.”
Watching Kong Yo’s white eyebrows twitch, Yeon So-hyeon leaned his back comfortably against the chair.
“If that happens, those who were crossed with the Second Young Master in the first place will grovel flat before us.”
For them, in order to hop onto the bandwagon of Yeon So-hyeon’s faction, which has belatedly seized the initiative, any choice other than giving up their very livers and gallbladders to flatter us disappears.
Yeon So-hyeon showed his teeth and smiled brightly.
“Rather, only after paying a massive ‘coward’s fine’ will they be able to set foot in our camp.”
“Haha, just listening to the Eldest Young Master’s words makes me feel completely refreshed, but…”
At those words, Kong Yo repeatedly stroked his beard.
“Was not this discussion originally for gathering even small amounts of power to increase the troops to resist?”
He swallowed dry saliva and asked Yeon So-hyeon.
“Could it be that the Eldest Young Master believes we have a chance of winning with only our current forces?”
“That is…”
At the moment Yeon So-hyeon opened his mouth, there was a respectful knock on the office door.
“Eldest Young Master.”
It was the Red Venom Spider.
“I am sorry for interrupting your conversation, but an urgent dispatch has arrived.”
As if the content was unusual, her complexion was not good.
As Yeon So-hyeon, who had asked Kong Yo for understanding, gestured while remaining seated, she approached and politely handed over the note.
“Division One of the Business Support Group has declared the suspension of support fund payments for the Valley of Sin business.”
“Yes. And…”
When Yeon So-hyeon spoke without any particular intention of hiding it, the Red Venom Spider, who had been sparing her words because Kong Yo was present, opened her mouth.
“Following that, it is said that the Business Support Group has submitted a request through the Sword Family Bank to retrieve the full amount of support funds they had invested in our side.”
A request to retrieve the support funds.
Meaning they would make us spit back all the money invested so far.
“These fellows…”
Kong Yo’s drooping eyelids trembled.
“Following the creation of a gap in administrative power, are they now going to apply financial pressure…?”
The Second Young Master’s side’s will to completely dry up and kill the business that would become the foundation of Yeon So-hyeon’s power was clearly being revealed.
“…Even if we somehow retrieve all the funds scheduled to be invested in Walnut Village, it does not even amount to a quarter of a quarter of the sum the Main Family intends to demand.”
The Red Venom Spider spoke with a calm expression, trying hard to conceal her face.
“Furthermore, even the Walnut Village project, which the Eldest Young Master used his wits to prevent the Main Family from touching, will end up being stopped along with it.”
Although it was a calm expression, her anger underlying it was clearly felt.
“…Our Kong Family will try to exert some influence, but it will be difficult to significantly affect matters within the Sword Family.”
Kong Yo clicked his tongue.
“Furthermore, it seems the Second Young Master’s side did not move targeting only that.”
The Red Venom Spider nodded.
“If the Sword Family Bank decides to retrieve the support funds in accordance with Division One’s request, all banks in and out of Luoyang will sever transactions with us.”
The decision of the Sword Family Bank was the decision of the Luoyang Sword Family, and a bank that would not comply with that decision could not be found in this vicinity.
“Mmh.”
“Mmh…”
Unlike the two people who had stiffened as they fell into worry-filled thoughts, Yeon So-hyeon was perfectly calm.
“Il-ryeong.”
As he gestured, Il-ryeong, who had been waiting, brought a small metal box and handed it to the Red Venom Spider.
That metal box was sturdy, and even a heavy padlock was hung on it.
“What is this…?”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled at her.
“It is the amount from disposing of the Lee Family’s merchant group.”
Astonishment appeared on the Red Venom Spider’s face as she opened the box with the key received from Yeon So-hyeon.
“T-This amount…?!”
Having checked the bank notes filling the metal box, she shouted to Yeon So-hyeon.
“Did you receive the entire sale amount from them in a lump sum?!”
Originally, when such a huge amount of money was exchanged, it was rare to see bank notes passed in a lump sum.
Because no matter how much cash a family piled up, there was a limit to the amount they could mobilize immediately.
“Thanks to that, we did not get the proper price, but I had a feeling something like this would happen.”
Expressing gratitude with a glance to Il-ryeong, who was tilting the teapot to pour tea, Yeon So-hyeon spoke in a leisurely tone.
“In the first place, splitting and selling the Yi merchant group was partly to prevent Evil Tyrant Heaven from pressuring the purchasing families, but it was also to receive the entire payment on the day of the transaction.”
‘You must have all brought plenty of bank notes, right?’
The words Yeon So-hyeon had uttered at the first transaction meeting had not been a mere joke.
The families of those gathered at that spot were not of a scale to swallow that huge Yi merchant group in a single bite.
However, because that merchant group was appropriately split by Yeon So-hyeon, all procedures, up to receiving the transaction payment in a lump sum, could be completed.
“Such a thing…?!”
Listening to the Red Venom Spider’s exclamation that was close to a scream, Yeon So-hyeon expressed satisfaction with the aroma of the tea with a pleased expression and continued speaking.
“Furthermore, since the disposal of the assets the Lee Family had piled up at their main house is also taking place, we will soon be able to receive that amount as well.”
The bundle handed over by Lord Cheong, the patriarch of the Cheong Family, would be at the headquarters of the House of Benevolence and Love by now, being laundered through various means.
“Added all together, it will be around this amount.”
Checking the amount Yeon So-hyeon wrote down and handed over on a note, the Red Venom Spider’s face turned white and stiff.
“So even if the situation of having to spit back all the investment funds actually occurs, you will not have to worry for the time being.”
“With this amount…!”
The Red Venom Spider quickly nodded in agreement.
“Even if the Business Support Group tells us to repay all the investment funds so far at once, we can easily repay it!”
She shouted, unable to hide her excitement.
“If this is the case, we will rather be able to completely detach the Main Family from the Valley of Sin business!”
That meant that, like Walnut Village, the Valley of Sin would also completely escape from the influence of the Luoyang Sword Family.
“Hmm.”
Yeon So-hyeon smacked his lips and muttered to himself.
“If we could have sold the Yi merchant group as a single lump, we could have secured a far larger amount…”
Because the total sum of the split Yi merchant group was worth far less than a single Yi merchant group.
Otherwise, the amount from selling the intact Yi merchant group alone would have been more than enough to cover all the funds to be invested long-term in both the Valley of Sin and Walnut Village.
“It is a bit regrettable.”
But that regret did not even register with Kong Yo and the Red Venom Spider.
Because they were too busy marveling at the series of actions Yeon So-hyeon was showing.
“Haha. You are amazing, Eldest Young Master. Having only heard about it, seeing you exert your skill in person like this leaves me speechless.”
“Not at all.”
To Kong Yo, who was shaking his head, Yeon So-hyeon showed humility without even a change in expression.
“It is astonishing…!”
Pulling out an abacus to roughly align and calculate the amounts, the Red Venom Spider shouted.
“The amount really almost matches perfectly!”
Yeon So-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.
“Because I calculated it and handed it over to match exactly.”
“……!”
Even in this situation, Yeon So-hyeon had left a surplus amount prepared for any unforeseen circumstances.
“With this…!”
The Red Venom Spider nodded with a flushed face.
“The sinking of the business all at once due to the suspension and retrieval of investment funds is already as good as prevented!”
Moving Division One of the Business Support Group and causing the Sword Family Bank to move as they intended must have consumed considerable political resources even by their standards.
But with Yeon So-hyeon’s preparation, the possibility of the business blowing away due to financial pressure vanished.
Those political resources, without meaning, were already as good as half-evaporated into thin air.
The Red Venom Spider muttered while flicking the abacus.
“The regrettable part is that while we can protect the business with this amount, continuing progress is impossible…”
Inability to progress the business.
That was the remaining half.
“Ah, Eldest Young Master. I am sorry!”
She, who had unconsciously expressed regret, hurriedly bowed her head to apologize and shut her mouth.
Even if it was half a victory, this was a victory won purely through Yeon So-hyeon’s power.
It was absolutely not a place where she should be making regrettable complaints.
“You say progressing the business immediately is difficult?”
Instead of blaming her, Yeon So-hyeon wore a meaningful smile.
“Eldest Young Master…?”
* * *
The Valley of Sin.
The Eldest Young Master-Fourth Young Master Joint Business Headquarters.
The office of the Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi.
The leader who led the investment delegation from Sichuan that had arrived with the Tea Fan Maidens.
Tang Go-gyu stroked his chin.
“Haha, although I had already received word from the Young Patriarch of our main house…”
Last night. There had been a conversation between Tang Eun-rang, the Young Patriarch of the Sichuan Tang Family, and the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.
Those who were disguised as an investment delegation from Sichuan were, in fact, agents of the Sichuan Tang Family seeking to advance into Luoyang with the help of the Eldest Young Master.
“If you have received word and finished verifying the token, the conversation will be quick.”
The Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi spoke with a smile to Tang Go-gyu, who was called the Sage of the Tang Family.
“Please immediately pay the funds of the Sichuan Tang Family that the Tang Family promised to my eldest brother.”
Tang Go-gyu, who verified the small silver ornament—the token—that Tang Eun-rang had handed to Yeon So-hyeon, nodded.
“Originally, it was not funds to be handed over at this point… but what does it matter. I am merely doing as commanded.”
As he raised his hand toward the back, the person who had been waiting behind went outside.
Prepared for any unforeseen situation, for security reasons, the funds were dispersed and hidden in several locations.
“Soon, the gold coins and bank notes will be secretly transported here.”
At those words, the Fourth Young Master wore a very pleased smile.
Standing silently behind him, Elder Gwak let out a sigh of relief inwardly and transmitted a close sound transmission.
[My Lord. With this, both the Valley of Sin and Walnut Village projects can proceed without any financial issues.]
She had been the one who had broken out in a cold sweat over the powerful counterattack launched by the Second Young Master’s side mobilizing the Business Support Group.
Even though she had heard of Yeon So-hyeon’s plan in advance from the Fourth Young Master, when the counterattack actually came, anxiety had soared deep inside her.
Toward her, the Fourth Young Master Yeon Bi turned around and smiled.
Even without words, and without sound transmission, Elder Gwak could sufficiently feel the meaning.
[Yes, My Lord. This old woman also fully realizes it now.]
That the single existence named Yeon So-hyeon was overcoming the extreme difference in power with the Second Young Master’s side.
He was a one-man army.