Chapter 683
Chapter 683
Chapter 683. The Forged Draft Incident (1)
What awaited me after returning to Beijing was not only the people, including Hyung Jeongho and Miss Seohyang.
"Young Captain, please approve this." (Employee)
"What should we do about this?" (Employee)
"Um, please handle this first." (Employee)
Right, I would have been disappointed if there had been no work waiting for me.
Thus, as soon as I returned, I washed, ate, and immediately began working.
Two days passed in an instant like that, and I was finally able to catch my breath.
Miss Seohyang had handled a great deal of work in my place, and yet it was still this much…….
If Miss Seohyang had not been here, I really would have been in serious trouble.
And Mister Yeon Juhyeok's contributions had also been great.
While I was away, Miss Seohyang must have trained Mister Yeon Juhyeok rather harshly, because now his ability and speed in handling work had become no less than Miss Seohyang's.
After finishing the work I had to do today, I headed to my quarters, and as soon as I washed, I lay down on the bed as I was.
Wow! Today was another truly exhausting day.
"Kkui!" (Geumnyeong)
At that moment, Geumnyeong's voice was heard. When I turned my head, Geumnyeong was wriggling in through the window.
She could pass through the wall, but she was doing that because, if she did, she would get hungry quickly.
I rose from my seat and received Geumnyeong with both hands.
"You're back?" (MC)
"Kkui!" (Geumnyeong)
Geumnyeong was on her way back after delivering a letter to Master.
Among the things Elder Hwangbo Hwi of Ghost Face Cannon had passed down to me this time, there was also an introductory martial arts manual of Seolpung Palace.
And as the Young Palace Head, I had a duty to tell Master, who was the Palace Head, about this.
Of course, before that, it was because Master would be very pleased if she saw this.
So how could I not tell her?
I placed Geumnyeong on the bed and untied the reply from her tail.
Then I read that reply.
[The news Young Captain sent is certainly joyful news. Choseolhui is also a martial arts manual this Master learned in my younger days. If I had my way, I would rush to Beijing immediately, but it is regrettable that I cannot do so now because I am in the middle of a mission.]
The contents of the letter seemed calm, but seeing the handwriting, I could tell Master's feelings.
Should I say it looked like she had tightly pressed down the urge to dance?
[Once I finish my mission, I will go to Beijing. I also have reason to meet His Majesty, so I am not going there deliberately.]
She is coming to meet His Majesty the Emperor again…….
Lately, Master seems to be doing various things under His Majesty the Emperor's orders, but she does not tell me what they are.
[If you come to Hubei before then, please send me a letter through Geumnyeong. This Master is always worried about her disciple. Please sleep at least three si-jin a day.]
Master, I too would like it if I had the time for that.
[Choseolhui is an extremely important foundational martial arts manual. Therefore, I hope Young Captain will also examine it many times and learn it perfectly.]
I had been given homework.
The latter part was a simple greeting mixed with asking after my well-being.
Master was still doing well.
"Kkui?" (Geumnyeong)
At that moment, Geumnyeong bit my hem with her mouth and tugged.
"Hm? Why?" (MC)
"Kkui? Kku!" (Geumnyeong)
Ah…… if I sent her on an errand, shouldn't I give her the errand fee?
As expected, she never forgot the errand fee.
I chuckled and took out one silver coin, and Geumnyeong hugged the silver coin and rolled around on the bed.
As expected, her love of money was as consistent as ever.
By the way, it was about time I received compensation from the Emperor for the work I had done for him during this trip to Jinan.
Even though two days had passed, the Emperor had not summoned me.
In other words, he must have realized my intention and was being considerate by letting me rest.
But even so, he could not try to skip over the reward he ought to give me.
The people dispatched from the Beijing branch would return before long, so when that happened, I should contact him through Master Jin Young.
Because I had to formally proceed with supplying whetstones to the imperial family.
The next day.
After eating breakfast and just as I was about to start working.
Bang!
The door opened and Palgap entered.
"Young Master! An urgent guest has come." (Palgap)
"An urgent guest?" (MC)
"They say they have come from the Geumsan Money House." (Palgap)
From the Geumsan Money House? What is this about?
Since the place I belonged to was a Trading Company, we did maintain close ties with money houses, but for a money house to come first thing in the morning like this was not necessarily only a good thing.
It was highly likely that some problem had broken out.
I tilted my head, rose from my seat, and headed to the reception room.
Rattle.
When I opened the door and entered, a familiar-faced man was sitting there, drinking tea with a grave expression.
"It has been a long time, Vice Head Bo." (MC)
"Ah! Young Captain!" (Vice Head Bo)
At the very top of the Geumsan Money House was the Money House Master, and beneath him was the Young Money House Master, his successor.
And there were various departments, and among them, the one related to us was the First Money House Department.
It was not a place for personal transactions centered on small amounts, but a place that dealt in large sums with wealthy manor masters, high officials, nobles, or trading companies.
Since we met and conversed once every few months or so, if we were close, then we were close.
Although we met for work-related conversations, still, if you meet that often, you are close, I suppose.
"Please make yourself comfortable. I do not know whether the refreshments suit your taste." (MC)
"I was just thinking they were extremely delicious." (Vice Head Bo)
"I will have some packed for you when you leave. Please share them with your department members when you return." (MC)
"Thank you." (Vice Head Bo)
He took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
It was not yet hot enough weather to sweat, though?
He let out a sigh and began speaking.
"The reason I have come like this is because, among the drafts of the Eunha Merchant Guild, identical drafts were discovered." (Vice Head Bo)
"Pardon? Identical drafts? There is no way such a thing could exist, is there?" (MC)
When issuing a draft, the number of the issuing branch and the issue number are always written on the draft.
That is why there cannot be such a thing as identical drafts in this world.
"That is correct. Identical drafts should not exist." (Vice Head Bo)
"Wait a moment." (MC)
I raised my hand and said,
"If they are identical drafts, then perhaps…… are they forged drafts?" (MC)
At my question, he nodded.
"It seems that way." (Vice Head Bo)
This was something that had not happened in my previous life.
"But is the Geumsan Money House's anti-forgery technology not said to be the best?" (MC)
Thanks to that, it was able to operate numerous branches.
If not, merely confirming the serial numbers of drafts would take considerable time, so it could not have grown this much.
In any case, after the money is paid, that draft is sent back to the place that issued it.
In the process of inspecting the returned drafts like that, they must have discovered the forged draft.
"We take pride in that, but……." (Vice Head Bo)
He too took out the drafts with a troubled expression and held them out.
"Please look for yourself." (Vice Head Bo)
I received the drafts and compared the two drafts.
"……." (MC)
And I had no choice but to be shocked.
Because they were truly identical without the slightest error.
Even the devices meant to prevent forgery were identical.
"Could it be that your money house's anti-forgery technology has been leaked?" (MC)
"We investigated under that suspicion, but that was not the case." (Vice Head Bo)
He continued speaking.
"First, the money wrongly paid out this time was processed as a loss on our side, but the problem does not end here." (Vice Head Bo)
"They will continue using forged drafts from now on." (MC)
"That is correct." (Vice Head Bo)
I too had no choice but to grow serious.
This was not only a problem for the Geumsan Money House, because our Eunha Merchant Guild's money was being withdrawn with forged drafts.
That meant it would become a loss for the Eunha Merchant Guild until the real draft corresponding to the processed payment appeared.
This applied to others as well.
Huh?
At that moment, I sensed a strange energy from the draft I was holding.
"Perhaps…… the draft on the right is the fake one?" (MC)
"Pardon?" (Vice Head Bo)
Vice Head Bo blinked and said,
"How did you know?" (Vice Head Bo)
"Ah! Does that mean a method to identify fake drafts has been found?" (MC)
If he said that, it meant he had identified the fake draft.
At my question, he shook his head.
"That is not it. We identified the fake because that draft was a special case." (Vice Head Bo)
"A special case?" (MC)
"It was a fact that came out during the investigation, but there was testimony that when that draft was written, an employee accidentally spilled tea on the draft paper. So when we matched the tea stain with the stain in the draft issuing ledger, it fit exactly." (Vice Head Bo)
"So that is how you learned this one was fake. Which means there are likely quite a few you have not yet discovered." (MC)
"Hoo…… that is correct." (Vice Head Bo)
I looked at the fake draft in my right hand.
The energy of the Sura Blood Cult could be felt from this draft.
It was not at the level of having briefly passed by, but at the level of having been in that place for quite a long time.
Come to think of it, the Sura Blood Cult must be having quite a hard time because of my actions.
I had a suspicion that, since their funding sources had dried up, they were doing this to raise funds for their activities.
Of course, even so, doing something that harmed so many people could not be tolerated.
Then again, if those bastards thought about such things, would they have done the things I had witnessed until now?
In any case, this matter had to be resolved no matter what.
This matter would cause tremendous damage to the commercial world.
And the Eunha Merchant Guild was also in danger of suffering great damage immediately.
"But really, how did you know?" (Vice Head Bo)
"That is……." (MC)
I set the two drafts down and said,
"For some reason, this side gives me a bad feeling." (MC)
"……Pardon?" (Vice Head Bo)
"When I hold this side here, I definitely feel dirtier." (MC)
He made a bewildered expression.
But what could he do when I said that was how it was?
"I see. Then I will take my leave. If anything else happens, I will come find you again." (Vice Head Bo)
"Yes. Please return safely." (MC)
After seeing off Vice Head Bo like that, I returned to my office.
That evening.
I was out for a short while at the pavilion in the garden of the Beijing branch.
I had come all the way here while thinking about how to catch and beat those bastards to a pulp.
Beating them to a pulp was one thing, but the biggest problem was catching them.
But to do that, I had to grab those bastards by the tail, and that was not an easy matter.
It was not as though I worked at the money house…….
Huh?
When a clever idea suddenly came to mind and I smiled without realizing it, I sensed someone's energy approaching me.
And the fragrant scent of plum blossoms brushing the tip of my nose.
If the scent of plum blossoms comes when it is not the season for plum blossoms to bloom, there is only one answer.
"Vice Officer Gwak, what brings you here?" (MC)
"They said you were here, so I brought tea." (Gwak Seohyang)
"You could have had a maid do it……." (MC)
"They find it bothersome, and I was coming this way anyway." (Gwak Seohyang)
"I will drink it well." (MC)
I sat in the pavilion and drank the tea Miss Seohyang poured for me.
"It is delicious." (MC)
"That is a relief. It is tea that Palgap brewed." (Gwak Seohyang)
"Pardon?" (MC)
"He said Young Captain was here and handed me this kettle." (Gwak Seohyang)
"Ah……." (MC)
Palgap's mischievous expression naturally came to mind.
"It seems you have something troubling you." (Gwak Seohyang)
"Yes. That is right." (MC)
I nodded and told her the story I had heard today.
It was a story where security was important, but it was all right to tell her.
Miss Seohyang was not someone loose-lipped, and she was the companion with whom I would walk through life.
She too had a right to know about this problem.
"I see. It certainly is a serious problem." (Gwak Seohyang)
"It is." (MC)
At that moment, the focus in her eyes briefly vanished, then returned.
"Ah……." (Gwak Seohyang)
"What is it?" (MC)
"A very important guest will come tomorrow." (Gwak Seohyang)
Who could it be?
"The Money House Master of the Geumsan Money House will come in person." (Gwak Seohyang)
"Pardon?" (MC)
At her words, I was shocked.
That was because the Master of the Geumsan Money House was a person so elusive that people even said they wondered if he truly existed.
What was merely known publicly was that he was a supreme master.
It was said that in his younger days, he had the money he had gathered stolen by bandits and barely saved his life.
After that, while fleeing with revenge in mind, he encountered a miraculous encounter.
Because of that miraculous encounter, he came into contact with martial arts, and after meeting yet another miraculous encounter, he became a supreme master.
He resolved that he would not let other people have their money taken unjustly like he had, and founded the Geumsan Money House.
Perhaps thanks to that, the Geumsan Money House was operated around a single grand premise.
[The customer's money is precious.]
Should I call it a kind of company motto posted in every branch?
It also lent the money it gathered like that to others in exchange for interest, and the greatest reason the Geumsan Money House grew rapidly was because the recovery rate of the borrowed money was perfect.
The Money House Master was a supreme master, and on top of that, the ones he trained, called the Green-Robed Ghosts, existed, so there was no way anyone could take the money and run.
The reason he fought so hard to recover the money he lent out also stemmed from the company motto that the customer's money was precious.
In any case, to think the Money House Master, who could only be seen when the person who took the money and ran was an expert, was coming in person…….
Was the matter far more serious than I had thought?
.
.
.
The next day.
Palgap informed me of a guest's visit.
"Um…… the Money House Master of the Geumsan Money House has come in person." (Palgap)
Just as Miss Seohyang said, he really has come.
I rose from my seat and headed to the reception room.
When I opened the door and went inside, Vice Head Bo and an unfamiliar man were there.
Vice Head Bo had a tense expression.
Then the person he had brought must be the Master of the Geumsan Money House.
But his aura was no joke.
I almost let out a hollow laugh.
Who on earth said this man was a supreme master?
This man was definitely not a supreme master, but a Profound Realm master.
The Money House Master greeted me first.
"It is our first meeting. I am Hwang San, Money House Master of the Geumsan Money House." (Hwang San)
"Ah, it is an honor to meet you. I am Eun Seoho, Young Captain of the Eunha Merchant Guild." (MC)
"I apologize for visiting so suddenly like this." (Hwang San)
"Not at all. And please speak comfortably. How could you, Money House Master, use honorific speech with me?" (MC)
"No. How could I speak down to a precious customer?" (Hwang San)
Wow…….
He was someone with a perfect business attitude.
By the way, this appearance seemed to resemble someone.
* Kkui? (Geumnyeong)
Geumnyeong, what are you saying?
It is not me. (MC)