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“Where is this?”

“This is the estate I’ve recently purchased. It will be the headquarters of the new merchant guild we’re establishing.”

“Oh! So the merchant guild is finally being created.”

“It may be nothing, but I wanted to show you first.”

“How can you say it’s nothing? Isn’t this a historic place for us? The story that starts from this estate could become legendary.”

I looked at the estate with an emotional expression.

Seeing me more moved than he had expected, Gong Su-chan became greatly touched as well.

“Have you decided on a name for the merchant guild?”

“You should name it, Young Master Byeok.”

“No, didn’t I entrust this matter entirely to you, Chief Gong? You should name it.”

Then Gong Su-chan pondered for a moment before cautiously suggesting a name.

“Then how about naming the merchant guild Supreme Star (Taeseong) Merchant Guild[1]? Although it’s a small company now, it means that it will become a great star illuminating the world in the future.”

“Excellent! Let’s go with that.”

The name of the merchant guild was decided. Somehow, I felt excited at the thought of creating my first merchant guild.

“Now, shall we go in?”

I followed Gong Su-chan into the estate.

The interior was very modest yet neatly built. There were buildings in three directions around a small training ground at the center.

The central building was the largest, while the buildings on the left and right were about half its size. I looked around each one. Everything was to my liking without any issues. Well, since the meticulous Gong Su-chan had carefully purchased it, there was no reason for any problems.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“It’s nothing. I just bought a property with the money you gave me.”

Gong Su-chan replied humbly.

“It’s not my money, it’s our money.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Gong Su-chan smiled faintly at me. Knowing my words were sincere, the emotion in that smile must have been joy.

Afterwards, we discussed how to run the merchant guild. I entrusted everything to him.

The better the leader, the less they interfere with the details of their subordinates’ work. The only thing a leader should do is find talented people and place them in the right positions.

Before leaving the estate, I handed him a ledger. It was the one I had obtained from Ya-cheon’s secret storage.

“By the way, take a look at this.”

“What is this?”

“It’s a secret ledger of an organization. Could you review it when you have time?”

“Understood.”

Gong Su-chan carefully received the ledger.

Belatedly, Gwang-du came to the estate.

After looking around the estate with all sorts of fuss, he rolled up his sleeves and started a thorough cleaning.

“When it comes to cleaning, it’s this Gwang-du, right?”

He wasn’t ashamed of the fact that he had been a servant. Rather, he was proud of it.

“If I hadn’t been a servant of the Byeok Clan Sword Manor, how could I have met you, Young Master?”

How could I not cherish Gwang-du when he’s like this?

“You fool, hire people to do it. You’ll get sick if you try to clean this big place alone.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“Of course.”

“I’m touched.”

“I also wish the estate was a bit cleaner.”

“Ah… it would have been better if you hadn’t said that last part.”

“Hahaha.”

***

Although we had the estate, I still stayed at the inn.

I visited on the first day, but for the time being, Taeseong Merchant Guild needed to be nurtured as a merchant guild unrelated to the Byeok Clan Sword Manor.

Gong Su-chan also planned to operate secretly from behind the scenes rather than taking direct action.

In the afternoon, Baek Pyo came to see me with two people.

“I have people to introduce to you.”

The people he introduced were Baek Pyo’s right-hand men, Yang Cheong and Myeong-do. They were fellow guard martial artists from the Alliance Protection Regiment who had become Baek Pyo’s subordinates after quitting.

“This is my lord.”

Yang Cheong and Myeong-do couldn’t hide their surprise when they saw me. It seems Baek Pyo hadn’t given them any prior explanation about me.

They were shocked by how young I was, but at the same time, this gave a strange sense of mystery.

The person Baek Pyo trusts is this young? Then there must be something truly extraordinary about him, right?

Such thoughts were evident in their expressions. Of course, this was only possible because of their absolute trust in Baek Pyo.

“I’m Yang Cheong.”

“I’m Myeong-do.”

Baek Pyo emphasized his trust in them once again.

“They are like my arms and legs.”

In that case, I had only one thing to say.

“If Martial Artist Baek trusts them, I trust them too. Let’s get to know each other over time.”

“Yes!”

I smiled with satisfaction. What we needed most right now was talent.

We needed trustworthy people.

No matter how much money we had, no matter how many martial artists we gathered, if they weren’t led by the right people, it would be just a number. It would be like a mirage that disappears with a single blow.

When we were alone after sending the two away, I finally handed Baek Pyo a letter.

“Here, take this.”

It was a letter that Jeong Yeong had entrusted me to deliver when I left the house in Shandong.

Baek Pyo’s eyes welled up as he read the contents. He must miss his wife and son.

He looked at me with warm eyes. The letter probably also mentioned how my mother was treating them like family.

“What’s wrong? Is there something bad written about me?”

Baek Pyo was flustered by my joke.

“No, how could there be?”

Baek Pyo was someone who didn’t get jokes. He’s probably still feeling awkward around me.

Anyway, it was too early to finish the emotional moment. I had more to give him that would move him.

“Here, take this.”

I handed him a leather pouch. Baek Pyo was shocked when he casually looked inside. It was full of promissory notes.

“It’s three hundred thousand taels.”

Baek Pyo was surprised once again. Although he must have seen large sums of money many times while guarding the Alliance Leader, this was probably the first time he had seen it so closely and directly.

“Use this money to create an elite sword unit.”

“An elite sword unit?”

“The number doesn’t matter. Whether it’s ten people or a hundred. But it must be the strongest organization that can absolutely carry out any given order.”

Baek Pyo looked down at the money he was holding. Some intense emotion flashed across his face. The thought of creating such an organization must have made him clench his fist involuntarily, and he was also deeply moved that I had entrusted him with such an important task and given him such a large sum of money without hesitation.

“Yes, please leave it to me.”

That wasn’t all I had to give him.

I took off the Heavenly Creation Sword I was wearing at my waist and handed it to him.

“What is this?”

“It’s a gift. Use this sword from now on.”

“Isn’t this the sword you’ve been using?”

“Thanks to you, haven’t I gotten a better sword?”

Baek Pyo also knew well that there was no better sword than the Asura Bright King Sword in this era.

“May I draw this sword once?”

When I nodded, Baek Pyo drew the sword.

Sring.

Baek Pyo was surprised when he saw the blade. What came out of the ordinary scabbard was far from ordinary.

“It’s a famous sword!”

His voice trembled.

“But it feels like I’ve seen it somewhere before.”

“Famous swords often give similar feelings.”

I had only used the Heavenly Creation Sword for a few months, and that was a long time ago. Moreover, it had been modified, so Baek Pyo couldn’t recognize it. The fact that he even felt it was similar was proof of his keen eye.

“I can’t accept such a precious sword.”

Baek Pyo tried to hand the sword back. I pushed it back, saying,

“The person leading the strongest organization should have at least this level of sword.”

“Young Master!”

He still refused to accept it.

“You’re right, this is indeed a precious sword. But it can’t be more precious than you. I’ll be honest. This isn’t a gift, it’s a shackle. A shackle to keep you by my side. Even after going this far, won’t you accept my heart?”

He couldn’t refuse anymore. At this moment, Baek Pyo was sincerely pledging his loyalty.

I had treated his wife and child like family. On top of that, I had entrusted him with a huge sum of money that could support several generations, and now I was giving him a priceless sword.

How could he not devote his loyalty to such a person?

“I gratefully accept the shackle you’ve given me.”

***

This time, I called for the spies Jin and Su.

To be honest, I still don’t fully trust them.

Of course, they had earned big points with me by excellently completing the mission I had given them earlier.

But that didn’t mean I could trust them completely. After all, they weren’t people I had chosen myself, but ones introduced by Jung-yeo.

So I decided to share trust. There was no need to put them through too big a test.

“It’s fifty thousand taels.”

Even that was an enormous sum, so the two were shocked.

“Use this to build an intelligence network. Of course, I know it’s impossible to create an intelligence network across the entire Central Plains with this money. For now, focus on building the organization centered around Shandong and Wuhan.”

Once they use up all fifty thousand taels, I plan to support them with another fifty thousand. The total amount I’m thinking of supporting is three hundred thousand taels.

Their trustworthiness and evaluation will change depending on how they handle this task.

“We have trustworthy people.”

“I also have a few people in mind.”

I nodded and said,

“Once you form the organization, I’ll create a separate force unit to support the intelligence organization.”

I plan to create an organization to support the intelligence organization, separate from the one Baek Pyo is creating.

“Oh! Thank you.”

The two were even happier than when they received the money.

When I first gave them orders, I also took care of their safety. This was in the same vein, so the two were moved.

I know. For an organization to function properly, these people need to be well taken care of. If you lose in intelligence warfare, even several times the military power can be pushed back at once.

“I believe the intelligence organization is the most important organization.”

At my words, the two showed both gratitude and determination.

“We will never betray that trust.”

“Good.”

The two left the inn with the fifty thousand taels.

***

Lastly, I took care of Gwang-du.

“Is there nothing for me?”

“There is.”

Gwang-du’s eyes sparkled.

“I knew it! Our Young Master is the best! What is it? Is it a spirit pill this time?”

“Something better than a spirit pill!”

“Ooh! Did you bring the inner core of a spirit beast?”

“Even better than that.”

As I said this, I picked up a wine bottle I had placed on one side of the room.

“Don’t tell me… is there Hollow Sky Jade Liquid in there… no way, that can’t be, right?”

“Let’s just have a drink together.”

“Good grief! Just alcohol? Everyone else gets money, swords, trust, and I just get alcohol?”

“I wanted to give you more, but I’ve given everything away.”

“Sure, I know. Aren’t you the one with the philosophy that if you save things, they turn to shit?”

He pouted, but Gwang-du wasn’t upset at all.

Having a drink together at the end, isn’t that valuable enough? No, he thought he might be receiving the best treatment.

We shared a drink and talked about things we hadn’t properly discussed before.

“Are the Clan Leader and Madam doing well?”

“As always.”

“How about Song-hee?”

“She’s doing well. Seems like she’s grown a bit taller too.”

“Kids grow so fast at that age. It hasn’t been that long, but I miss everyone. Oh, how about Manager Gwan? Still a training bug?”

“If you keep going like this, you’ll soon be worse than a bug.”

“Damn! I’m starting dawn training again from tomorrow!”

When we had almost finished a bottle of wine, Gwang-du, emboldened by the alcohol, cautiously asked,

“…Is Miss Do doing well?”

“Do Soon? She’s become even prettier.”

Gwang-du downed his drink in one go.

“I still don’t think it’s over.”

“I decline any consolation.”

“It’s not consolation.”

“In what way?”

“Actually, you came on too strong too quickly. If it wasn’t love at first sight for both of you, you should have approached more cautiously.”

“I think so too. But what’s the use? It’s all over now.”

Gwang-du sighed and admitted.

“Because you didn’t end it messily. You could say there’s still a chance.”

“Isn’t it already too late?”

“People’s hearts change a dozen times a day. Would a woman’s heart be any different?”

Gwang-du’s eyes sparkled.

“What should I do now?”

“You have to show her. Show her how you’re changing. Make Do Soon think like this: Does this person have this side to him? Did this person have such abilities? Like that.”

“Like you, Young Master?”

Ah, I guess that’s what it is. To Gwang-du, to Hwa-rin, to everyone.

“Yes, like me.”

Gwang-du sighed and said,

“Relationships are too difficult.”

“Yes, they are difficult.”

It was a moment when I changed from an advisor to a sympathizer.

“Do you think I can do well?”

“Why does that matter? What’s important is that you try.”

When I held out my cup, Gwang-du clinked his cup vigorously.

A new hope bloomed on Gwang-du’s face. Yes, he’s still young. He should live with such a face.

I don’t just need subordinates who are strong. I want my subordinates to be happy because of me. I hope they become like the wind that never gets caught in the net of misfortune.

I hope that’s the path I’m taking.