Chapter 217
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 217
Chapter 217. Karma (6)
Seeing him looking as if his world had collapsed, I tilted my head and asked.
“What on earth is going on?”
“Well, it's just that... I've been robbed.”
“What? You've been robbed?”
“Well...”
Ma Jang-ju explained the whole story.
“Those ungrateful people stole my money and ran away.”
“What? Did you catch them?”
“Fortunately, I was able to catch them. I was worried because they were first-class warriors, but they got into a fight and their Qi Dispersing Poison wore off, so I was able to catch them easily.”
I was the one who used the Qi Dispersing Poison.
I had secretly taken some that was used at Jin-ho's ceremony to become a captain, and I took this opportunity to use it.
“That's good.”
“But... they still won't tell us where they hid the money they stole. Even though we're interrogating them quite harshly.”
“They're tough guys.”
I heard that Jihyeon was once insulted by the Chairman's bodyguards.
No wonder they're torturing them so badly.
From the guards' perspective, they must be going crazy. After all, they didn't get a single coin.
But this is karma.
The people who suffered at their hands suffered much longer.
“They say they were attacked by three robbers wearing masks, but three people couldn't have carried that much money. The horses and carriages are still here, but there are no traces of other carriages.”
“They must be lying to get out of this situation.”
“That's what I'm saying.”
Chairman Ma sighed.
“Actually, I promised to give the Martial Alliance an investment by the end of this month. But now, with this situation...”
Chairman Ma was still holding onto my clothes.
“So, I was wondering if you could lend me some money?”
“Money?”
He nodded vigorously in response to my question. So vigorously that I was afraid he would break his neck.
“Didn't you say yesterday that you had more than 10,000 nyang?”
“But that is to buy up the shops in this area. If I use it for personal purposes, my father will severely reprimand me.”
“Is there no way?”
When I remained silent, Chairman Ma looked even more desperate and pleaded with me.
“I beg you. Please save me.”
“....”
I pretended to think about it for a while.
I was starting to get impatient, so it was time to speak first.
“Ah! How about this?”
“Do you have a good idea?”
“I have some shops nearby. How about you buy them?”
“You mean your shops, Chairman Ma?”
“Yes. You said you wanted to buy a shop, so it would be a good deal for both of us.”
“How many shops do you have?”
“I have three.”
“I would like to see the details, such as the size and sales.”
At my words, Ma Jang-ju's face lit up, and he hurriedly said, “Then let's go inside.”
“Chairman, I would like to visit the martial arts academy first.”
“Hmm, I understand.”
We headed for the martial arts academy.
“Um, is the principal here?”
Ma Jang-ju called out first, and soon the gate of the martial arts academy opened and a familiar man poked his head out.
“Hello, Chairman. What brings you here today?”
When he saw me standing next to Ma Jang-ju, his eyes widened.
“What? Aren't you Master Purple Mist Pills?”
“It's been a long time, Master Han.”
“Please come in.”
Soon, the gate opened wide, and we entered the martial arts academy.
“Father! Mother! We have guests.”
Soon, a middle-aged man and woman came out.
“This is my father and mother.”
“I am Han Su, the head of the martial arts academy.”
Han Jae-ik, the young master, looked more like his mother than his father.
And the principal looked exactly like Han Jae-in, whom I had seen before when she was dressed as a man.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, the captain of the Eunhae Trading Company. I have a connection with a young master from the North Sea, so I decided to visit this village while I was here.”
“Ah, Jae-ik told me. You helped him when he was being chased by Seol-pyo in the North Sea.”
“We must help each other.”
Han looked at the head of the Han family and saw that he was still having trouble moving.
“You don't look well. What happened?”
“Ah, that...”
“Hm.”
Ma Jang-ju cleared his throat and interrupted.
“Some thieves broke in the other day, and I was injured in the commotion.”
“I see. I'm sorry to hear that.”
He already knew everything, but he pretended not to.
How shameless.
But then again, he couldn't say that it was his doing.
I glanced around the house.
When I had come to leave a letter earlier, Han Gam-gwan had been in a terrible state.
I was glad that I had come before it was too late.
So I put the things that seemed necessary into a bag and threw it in with the letter.
And because I wanted this situation to improve even a little, I mentioned Master Han to Chairman Ma.
Perhaps because of that, Han Gam-gwan's condition was much better than before.
I said to Chairman Han.
“You're not feeling well, so you shouldn't be out in the cold. You should go inside and rest.”
“Thank you for your consideration. I will take my leave now.”
We headed for the reception room, and Master Han's mother brought us tea.
As a martial arts academy, there should have been maids to do such things, but because of Chairman Ma, it seemed as if there was no one else there.
“The tea tastes good, perhaps because you brewed it yourself.”
“Heh heh. I will drink it with gratitude.”
Ma Jang-ju coughed awkwardly, and Master Han smiled and said,
“This is the tea you brought as a gift the other day.”
“You are a kind chairman.”
“Yes. He is a very kind chairman.”
Did Ma Jang-ju understand the meaning behind Master Han's words?
While Master Han and I were chatting happily, Chairman Ma was restless.
I had to quickly secure the funds, but he had no intention of getting up.
In fact, he was deliberately not getting up.
He wanted me to feel the feelings of Master Han's family, who had endured each day with their hearts in their mouths.
That must be exactly how Ma Jang-ju feels right now.
The amount of money he needs to borrow is enormous, and if he can't get it in time, he'll find out why Geumsan Battlefield is known for its high credit rating.
His mouth must be dry and his heart must be pounding.
Now he can understand a little of the pain that Han Ga-mu-gwan went through, right?
Our conversation continued even after lunch, and Ma Jang-ju's face grew darker and darker as time passed.
Should we stop here?
If Ma Jang-ju can't hold out and faints, I'll be the only one who suffers.
“Ah! It's already this late. I enjoyed our conversation so much that I lost track of time.”
“I enjoyed it too.”
“Then I hope to see you again.”
“Yes, please take care.”
With that, we headed back to the magistrate's office.
“I'm sorry. It's been a long time since we last met, so I lost track of time.”
“Hehe. It's fine.”
“Thank you for your understanding. Now, let's go take a look at the shops owned by the Chairman.”
When we arrived at the magistrate's office, the chief administrator came to the reception room with documents, as if he had been waiting for us.
I looked through the documents with a serious expression.
Of course, I had already finished investigating the shops owned by Magistrate Ma.
I was just looking at these documents for show.
Magistrate Ma owned a pottery shop, a paper shop, and a grain shop.
They were making a steady profit, but considering their size and marketability, it was not very impressive.
It couldn't be helped.
The shop owners were relatives of Chairman Ma.
So, they probably didn't work hard to run their shops and make a profit.
Tuck
I threw the documents on the table and said, "The profit is not very good.
“The profits are not very good. Three hundred nyang for one shop. I can't go any higher than that.”
“But it's not a small shop. Aren't you being too stingy?”
“I'm sorry to hear you say that, Chairman. I calculated the price generously, considering your position.”
“Even so, only three hundred nyang...”
“The shop we bought last time was in better condition than this, but it was only 250 nyang.”
“....
”Besides, I have to report to my father about the shops I bought, and if I don't do it thoroughly, he may doubt my ability.“
”....
Ma Jang-ju looked perplexed.
Even if you combine the three shops, it's only 900 nyang.
Compared to the 10,000 nyang he needed to be flexible, it was a ridiculously small amount.
“Then how about this? I see that you have investments in other places besides shops.”
“That's right.”
“Then transfer the rights to those investments to me. I'll give you double the investment amount.”
“Is that really true?”
Chairman Ma's face brightened.
“Yes. But even then, it's still not enough for 10,000 nyang.”
Chairman Ma's expression darkened again.
“I don't have anything else to sell.”
“What about this manor?”
“What! You mean this manor?”
Chairman Ma was startled by my words.
"Yes. If we include all the valuable items in this manor, it won't be enough for 10,000 nyang, but we'll match it.“
”But if I sell this manor, where will I live?“
”Then our Trading Company will only own the property rights to this manor. Won't you get a return on your investment later? When you do, we'll return the property rights to you.“
”Ah! That's fine."
“And...”
Looking around as if it were a secret, he whispered to him.
“I heard that Chairman Ma invested a large sum of money, so there is no need to gather other investors. Therefore, Chairman Ma will receive a considerable percentage of the profits.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
At my words, Chairman Ma's expression brightened.
He looked as if he already had the profits in his hands.
In fact, this was also part of my plan.
In my previous life, the Baekwoon Escort Agency went bankrupt, and the investors lost all their money.
They invested in the company because they trusted the names of the Martial Alliance and the Namgung Clan.
However, the investment contract included a clause stating that the company would not compensate for any losses, and as a result, countless people shed tears of blood.
In severe cases, some even took their own lives.
But now, that will never happen again.
“What will you do?”
Ma Jang-ju nodded as if he had made up his mind.
“All right. Let's do it.”
Ma Jang-ju and I drew up a contract.
“When can you give me the money?”
“I will give it to you as soon as the money arrives at the battlefield. They said it would take about three days.”
“I understand.”
“Cheer up. Who knows? The warriors who stole the money from you may confess where they hid it.”
“Let's hope so.”
“Then I will be on my way.”
I stood up.
“Oh! Just in case, everything in this manor must not be disposed of arbitrarily. If your father comes here himself, it will be difficult for me to explain.”
“...I understand.”
* *
After Eun Seo-ho left, Chairman Ma Dao burst into rage.
“Damn it! Me! Lee Ma-jeong! How could I grovel to a kid like that!”
He kicked the tree in the yard in anger.
Bang!
The chief administrator, who was standing next to him, hurriedly stopped him.
“Chairman! You can't do that!”
“What?”
“Not that tree. Everything in this estate is not yours.”
Ma Jang-ju quickly stopped kicking and stared blankly into space.
Then, as if realizing the reality of the situation, he let out a cry of rage.
“Ugh!”
* *
I chuckled at the angry cries of Ma Jang-ju coming from behind me.
It sounded like a lion's roar.
Then I fiddled with the contract in my pocket.
Now it wouldn't be long before Ma Jang-ju's downfall.
.
.
.
A few days later.
I handed Ma Jang-ju the 10,000 nyang.
“Here you are. Please sign the transfer document.”
“All right.”
With that, the 10,000 gold coins were handed over to Ma Jang-ju, and all of his property became mine.
I really cleaned him out. Ma Jang-ju is now practically penniless.
“By the way, when are the Martial Alliance coming?”
“I just got word. They're leaving tomorrow.”
Then it will take a day or two.
“I see. But I'm worried that they won't be able to transport the gold safely.”
“Don't worry. Because it's such a large amount, the Martial Alliance's White Thunder Corps will be coming to escort it.”
“The White Thunder Corps! I've heard of them. If they're coming, then I can rest assured. I'll be going now.”
“Yes, please be careful.”
The reason I asked when the Martial Alliance would arrive was to steal some of the gold they were transporting.
Didn't I tell you?
I cannot allow a single penny of my money to go to the Martial Alliance.
By the way, the White Thunder Corps...
On the way back, Jin Yu Musha said quietly.
“Liege, may I take the lead when we do that job this time?”
“What? What is it?”
“Actually, I have a personal grudge against them.”