The Martial Alliance (1)
The next morning, I found myself sipping tea with Galsaryang at Blue. He looked completely different, having shaved his long beard and hair and applied some subtle makeup.
“The tea here is exceptional,” I remarked.
Galsaryang nodded enthusiastically. “Once you taste it, you can’t help but come back.”
“Is that the only reason?” I teased.
“What do you mean?” he asked, puzzled.
I glanced over at Ban Seojeong, who was standing by the kitchen. Galsaryang seemed a bit flustered.
“I see what you’re getting at, but it’s a misunderstanding,” he insisted.
“Is it?”
“Yes.”
Despite his firm denial, I could tell he wasn’t being entirely honest. Matters involving Ban Seojeong were not so easily dismissed. From what I could see, Galsaryang had feelings for her too. I hoped to bring them together somehow.
Galsaryang shifted the conversation, looking around the room. “The Tianwang Society’s operations are impressively meticulous.”
The place was bustling with patrons, but in truth, they were all members of the Tianwang Society. The society was on high alert, and this place had become a sort of command center. Who would suspect that such a detailed operation was underway in this seemingly ordinary setting?
Customers came and went, and amidst it all, information was reported and disseminated seamlessly. It was all so natural that even knowing what was happening, it was impossible to tell when and how the information and orders were exchanged.
I had left the task of monitoring the Yangjeong Society’s movements entirely to the Tianwang Society. I had made it clear how crucial this mission was, and Ban Seojeong was handling it with utmost caution. She kept us updated in real-time with the incoming information.
Thanks to her, Galsaryang and I were able to sit in the operations room, receiving live updates.
Ban Seojeong approached with a teapot. “How’s the tea?”
“Excellent,” I replied.
“I’m glad to hear that.” She set down a fresh pot and reported, “The Yangjeong Society is being escorted by Guangyue Leader Ju Cheolryong and Iron Flag Leader Ok Dangchu. Elite members from both groups are on the move.”
The mention of Guangyue and Iron Flag caught both Galsaryang and me by surprise.
“Manipulating the Martial Alliance’s organization at will?” Galsaryang frowned. Such a thing should never happen.
“Ju Cheolryong must not be forgiven,” he said. His betrayal, leading the most powerful group within the Martial Alliance, had a domino effect on the other organizations. The entire structure crumbled because someone who should never have betrayed did so.
“I’m curious. What drove Ju Cheolryong to turn?”
“What else could it be? Money, power, or a love affair,” Galsaryang speculated harshly. There was no sign of guilt or hesitation when Ju Cheolryong betrayed. It didn’t seem like his family was held hostage or that he was blackmailed.
Regardless, with the elite of Guangyue and Iron Flag, they were a formidable force.
“There were other experts too, but we couldn’t identify them.”
“Were there any elders among them?”
“No elders were reported.”
I inquired about Cheonsoseon, but there was no mention of anyone with such a distinctive appearance, suggesting he wasn’t involved either.
After finishing her report, Ban Seojeong picked up the empty teapot and stood up. As she walked back to the kitchen, she glanced back and said, “Galsaryang, you look much better like this. You look younger. You should keep this look.”
Galsaryang’s face turned a shade of red. If he were a bit younger, I might have teased him, but now I was more determined to bring the two together.
“It seems the leader of the forces behind this isn’t present,” Galsaryang noted.
“That fact worries me even more,” I replied.
He wouldn’t have entrusted this mission solely to Ju Cheolryong and Ok Dangchu. If neither the elder nor Cheonsoseon was involved, it meant another powerful expert was in play, suggesting they had more formidable forces at their disposal.
Honestly, with so much power at their fingertips, I couldn’t understand what more they could possibly want.
We received a report that the carriage carrying the Yangjeong Society had entered Wuhuan.
I hoped they would stay somewhere easy for me to infiltrate. A secluded place where a fight wouldn’t easily draw attention would be ideal.
And before half an hour had passed, the awaited report arrived.
“The carriage carrying the Yangjeong Society has entered the Martial Alliance.”
“They’ve entered the Martial Alliance?” Galsaryang and I were taken aback by the unexpected news. It felt like a punch to the gut.
But soon, I understood. If Machulgun was the target of the grand ritual, this was indeed the safest and most strategic choice.
“Now I see why they used Ju Cheolryong and Ok Dangchu.”
“Hiding the Yangjeong Society and the child deep within the Martial Alliance, protected by the experts of the forces behind them, will make extracting the child extremely difficult.”
With the Martial Alliance warriors and the forces behind them, they would be doubly, triply protected.
Even for me, sneaking in and retrieving the child quietly wouldn’t be easy.
“This will be a challenging operation,” Galsaryang predicted.
He went further, speculating, “The grand ritual will likely take place within the Martial Alliance.”
Their moves had caught us off guard.
“Conducting the grand ritual within the Martial Alliance won’t be easy, will it?” I questioned.
Galsaryang replied, “There’s one place that comes to mind. As soon as I heard they entered the Alliance, I thought of it. It’s the most difficult place to infiltrate from the outside and the most suitable for conducting the grand ritual.”
“Where is that?”
“The secret chamber of Mabonggi in the Alliance Leader’s Hall. It’s where he shared pleasures with women. It was also used as a secret training ground by the Heavenly Alliance Leader.”
Of course, I knew where that was. It made sense. It was such a discreet place, perfect for conducting the grand ritual.
Galsaryang gazed intently at the distant Martial Alliance building through the window.
“You must enter there as well,” he said.
Since I had left the position when the new general of Justice Hall was appointed, I had no official way to enter the inner circle.
“I’ll find a way,” Galsaryang assured.
We returned to the island together. While Galsaryang sought a way to get me into the Alliance, I decided to handle another matter.
“Guangdu, let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“You’ll see.”
“Oh no! I’ve never had good results following someone who says ‘you’ll see.’ You’re not planning to take down the enemy leader as if it’s a casual outing, are you?”
“Heh.”
“Don’t laugh so mysteriously!”
“I have no intention of betraying your desire to live a long and steady life.”
“The ‘no intention yet’ part still sounds ominous.”
“But today’s events might change your life.”
Guangdu’s expression turned serious, then he smiled.
“Thank you.”
“You’re thanking me before you even know what it is?”
“Even if it’s something bad. How often do you get to hear something like that in life? Just having the chance to change your life is something to be grateful for.”
I smiled at Guangdu.
Who says you can’t learn from the young? That’s nonsense.
As you age, you stop thinking like that. Because you realize those words about changing your life are often just pretty phrases.
But such thoughts can box you in, make you fear and dislike change. So much so that sometimes you don’t even realize when your life is changing.
Thank you for reminding me, Guangdu.
I took Guangdu to the Wuhuan branch of the Taeseong Trading Company. We were here to meet Gong Suchan.
“How have you been?” I greeted him.
“It’s been a while,” he replied with a welcoming smile.
“You look well.”
“Thanks to you, Gong Chief, for making me so much money, I have no worries.”
“Ha ha, thank you for saying so.”
Guangdu and Gong Suchan exchanged greetings as well.
“How have you been?”
Gong Suchan smiled at Guangdu’s cheerful greeting. “I always appreciate your bright spirit.”
They had spent time together before, growing close and recognizing each other’s worth. Guangdu was known for brightening the atmosphere and lifting people’s spirits.
After the greetings, Gong Suchan reported on the recent achievements. I had told him not to report monthly, as it could reveal our connection. I trusted him completely, so receiving updates when necessary was sufficient.
The Taeseong Trading Company had established branches throughout the central plains and was generating significant monthly income.
“Here’s last month’s earnings.”
“Not last year’s?”
“Ha ha, no, last month’s.”
Guangdu glanced at the figures and looked at me in awe. “You’re really wealthy, young master.”
“Your eyes seem different from before.”
“How so?”
“They’re sparkling like stars. Your voice is higher and trembling.”
“That’s a misconception! My loyalty has always shone brightly.”
Gong Suchan chuckled at Guangdu’s antics.
“Let’s make those eyes shine even more,” Gong Suchan said, detailing the company’s success.
Last month, they earned eighty thousand nyang. The month before, seventy thousand, and before that, fifty-four thousand. The income was steadily increasing.
Considering the first earnings of the Taeseong Trading Company were thirty-five hundred nyang, it was a remarkable growth.
“It’s all thanks to your trust in me,” Gong Suchan said.
I gave him wings and never interfered. He knew. Even if he squandered all the money, I wouldn’t blame or resent him.
This absolute trust allowed him to fully unleash his potential.
“Indeed. It’s thanks to me for discovering someone as capable as you, Chief Gong. Ha ha ha.”
“I want to grow the Taeseong Trading Company into the greatest in the land.”
I no longer told him to be cautious.
“Leave the rest to me and chase your dreams to your heart’s content.”
“Thank you.”
That didn’t mean he would take reckless risks.
So far, he had invested with meticulous diversification and hadn’t reinvested all the profits back into the company. He understood well that my primary goal wasn’t just to expand the company.
Half of the income was saved separately, ready to support the creation of a new organization at any time. The funds had already exceeded seven hundred thousand nyang.
“It seems the time has come. I’m thinking of establishing a powerful force within the company.”
“Oh, that’s a splendid idea.”
The Taeseong Trading Company was always a separate entity from me. Strengthening its internal power would serve to catch our enemies off guard.
“Do you have someone in mind to lead this organization?”
“Since it’s a part of the company, it should be someone who loves money. Someone whose eyes light up and voice rises at the mention of money.”
Gwangdu was momentarily taken aback.
“Surely, you don’t mean to make me the head of this new organization?”
“That’s exactly what I mean.”
“My goodness! I can’t! I’m not fit for such a role.”
“You are. More than fit.”
“No, I can’t!”
I turned to Gong Suchan and asked, “What do you think?”
“More than capable.”
“Master! Chief!”
Gwangdu was flustered. He had moments of rigidity, and this was one of them.
“Do you know why I want to entrust this to you?”
“Why?”
“Because I trust you the most. You entrust money to the person you trust the most.”
Gwangdu’s eyes wavered.
“I’m just a guy who used to sweep the yard.”
“Now it’s time to sweep away the villains.”
“Master!”
“Gwangdu.”
“Yes.”
My gaze on Gwangdu turned serious.
“You can do it. Protect my money.”
Eventually, Gwangdu’s expression calmed. Perhaps he had always known this day would come. From the moment we first rode in the carriage together, dreaming of the martial world, he might have vaguely anticipated this.
“Understood. I’ll give it my all.”
“Baek Muin will help you get started.”
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“No, it’s I who should thank you for being someone I can trust.”
This is my way of politics and life in this lifetime. Leading not with power and authority, but with trust.
I can’t be certain. Whether this will be enough to overcome them.
There’s a saying that people betray those who treat them well rather than those they fear. That’s why so many rulers have governed through fear. Perhaps that’s how the old man behind the scenes rules as well.
But I believe. I believe this trust can overcome that fear.
The outcome will be revealed at the end of this battle.