The Richest Man in History (2)
The procession of the Ten Shadows was unlike any other day.
Typically, they moved discreetly with just one or two bodyguards. But today, they made no effort to hide, bringing along all their martial artists.
Each person arrived with at least a dozen, sometimes even dozens, of warriors. These were not just any fighters; they were the strongest among those under the Ten Shadows’ command.
They divided the estate into zones, guarding it as if it were a fortress.
The Ten Shadows were uneasy about this meeting.
The sudden declaration of bankruptcy was understandable. The Blood Merchant was dead, and the night market had closed. But the abrupt reversal of the bankruptcy and the call for an emergency meeting was baffling. Rumors that defied comprehension were circulating.
Convinced that something was amiss, they each brought their most formidable subordinates to the meeting.
Once they confirmed that they all shared the same concerns, they felt a sense of relief.
They entered the guest hall.
Inside, the Dark Merchant and the Dark Overseer awaited them.
The Dark Merchant knew that their lives depended on the outcome of this meeting. From afar, the Wall Brigade was surely watching the estate.
If they failed to persuade the others, the Wall Brigade would kill him and the Dark Overseer, and torture the remaining eight Shadows to extract money. It would take much longer, of course. That’s why the task had been entrusted to him.
“How have you all been?”
“Thanks to you, we’ve been well. But it seems the Merchant and the Overseer have been through a lot.”
“As you know, the recent bankruptcy issues have been anything but peaceful.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
After the formalities, they all took their seats.
“Everyone is busy, so let’s get straight to the point. I’ll tell you why I’ve called you here today.”
All eyes were on the Dark Merchant, tension palpable in the air.
“You all know by now that the Heavenly King has succeeded in the Great Law and become a martial god. A ruthless and merciless one at that.”
Everyone nodded. It was common knowledge that he had swiftly taken control of the Martial Alliance, using brutal methods.
“He took over the Martial Alliance in less than ten days. He’s returned not as a man, but as a monster.”
The Dark Merchant recounted the events of that day, amplifying the fear of the Heavenly King.
“That Heavenly King is targeting us. Not just targeting, but aiming to seize all our wealth.”
He emphasized the word “all,” as today’s battle was one of halves versus wholes.
His words prompted them to glance at one another. They seemed to have heard similar things.
The Dark Fifth Shadow asked calmly, “Is this revenge for past events?”
They all knew about the attempt to hire the Wall Brigade to eliminate the Heavenly King and the Celestial Line.
“With absolute power, revenge is tempting. But his true motive lies elsewhere.”
“What do you mean by true motive?”
“He needs an enormous amount of money right now.”
The Dark Merchant explained that the Heavenly King was up to something, having set up a workshop beneath the Alliance Leader’s residence.
Some were visibly shocked, while others seemed less surprised, likely having gathered their own intel.
For the Dark Merchant, this was advantageous. He didn’t need to prove the truth of his words.
Of course, he wasn’t speaking only the truth.
“He supposedly told the Celestial Line that after taking everything from us, he’d skin us alive, salt us, and hang us at the Martial Alliance’s gate.”
Naturally, no such declaration had been made. But it was a lie that couldn’t be easily verified. It was plausible enough.
The Dark Merchant was adept at blending truth with falsehood.
“We should have killed him before he succeeded in the Great Law.”
The Dark Merchant sighed with regret.
He had always exuded the confidence of a strong leader. His exceptional abilities had kept him in the Merchant’s position for twenty years. But today, his usual composure was replaced by anxiety.
The Dark Overseer, who had been listening quietly, chimed in.
“If we do nothing, we’ll all be doomed. With his immense martial prowess and control over the Martial Alliance, it’s only a matter of time before he finds us.”
The Dark Third Shadow, seated across, asked the Dark Overseer pointedly, “Is the rumor about you related to this?”
“What rumor?”
“That your collection has appeared on the black market?”
The Dark Seventh Shadow interjected, “I’ve even heard you’ve sold off other assets.”
Indeed, the Ten Shadows had formidable information networks.
The Dark Overseer nodded, admitting readily, “It’s not a rumor, it’s true. I’ve sold my collection and several businesses. More than half of my assets are gone.”
Again, a mix of truth and lies. It wasn’t just half, but all of it. Yet no one here could know that for sure.
The revelation that the rumors were true left everyone stunned.
Among the Ten Shadows, he was known for his exceptional talent in amassing wealth. For him to sell off half his assets? Why?
The Dark Merchant provided the answer.
“I instructed the Overseer to sell. We needed half of our assets in cash.”
Their shock deepened. But the real bombshell was yet to come.
“I, too, have sold half of my assets.”
Some were surprised, others nodded knowingly. There had been rumors about the Dark Merchant liquidating his assets.
By answering honestly, the Dark Merchant maintained their trust. Lies should be reserved for critical moments, wrapped in unverifiable details.
The Dark Fifth Shadow spoke on behalf of everyone, “What on earth is going on?”
“To hire someone.”
“Who?”
“The Wall Brigade.”
The unexpected name left them all astounded.
“The Wall Brigade?”
“Yes. The ones who killed the Blood Merchant and shut down the night market in two days. Our enemy, the Wall Brigade.”
The room was already reeling from shock, with little left to surprise them.
“The only person capable of killing the Heavenly King in our time.”
“You mean to hire him to kill the Heavenly King?”
“Exactly.”
“My goodness! You made such a crucial decision on your own? You should have consulted us first.”
“Of course, I should have. But the situation was urgent.”
“What kind of situation?”
“I’ll be frank. I nearly died recently.”
It wasn’t a lie. He had nearly died meeting the Wall Brigade. He just swapped the target to the Heavenly King.
“I lost nearly all my subordinates to the Heavenly King. I barely escaped with my life.”
The loss of his subordinates was verifiable, leaving no room for doubt.
Everyone was unsettled. They had always operated in the shadows, their primary rule being to remain unseen.
Yet now, their leader had nearly lost his life.
In different circumstances, this would have meant something else entirely. Someone might have eyed the Dark Merchant’s position, seeing his weakened state.
But now, the meaning had changed. The Dark Merchant’s position was no longer a prize to be claimed but a target for their enemy.
“How did it come to this?”
“Information about me leaked.”
“Are you saying there’s a traitor among us?”
The room buzzed with murmurs.
The Dark Merchant spoke up.
“I already know who the traitor is.”
“Who?”
“Sung Wang-bo, he’s the traitor.”
A masterful blend of truth and lies. If the chief steward Sung Wang-bo was the traitor, it made sense that the Dark Merchant had nearly died.
“The information leak wasn’t just about me. Sung Wang-bo sold out all your information too.”
Curses against Sung Wang-bo erupted from all sides. The reaction was far more intense than when the Dark Merchant had mentioned nearly dying.
Once the uproar subsided, the Dark Merchant continued.
“I went straight to the Wall Brigade. I begged him to spare me in exchange for half my wealth.”
Their minds were racing.
“Calling you here was a huge risk for me. Moving on such a large scale could attract the Heavenly King’s attention. But as the Merchant, I couldn’t deny you the chance to survive.”
He cleverly inserted the phrase “chance to survive.”
The Dark Merchant didn’t push them. Instead, he took a step back.
“I’m not asking you to join me. I’m here to inform you of the situation and let you decide. The Wall Brigade can’t protect us all.”
“What do you mean he can’t protect us all?”
“I asked him to save at least a few of us.”
His tone suggested it was out of a guilty conscience for surviving alone.
“So, I secured a promise to save four more. Of course, the condition was to give up half our wealth.”
The Dark Merchant looked at the Dark Overseer.
“I gave the first opportunity to the Overseer. It might seem unfair, but as you know, we have a special bond. I trust you’ll understand.”
This time, he emphasized “first opportunity.”
The Dark Merchant was painting the picture he had envisioned, whether they realized it or not.
“Among the eight of you here, three have a chance.”
They were all taken aback. None had anticipated the meeting would take such a turn.
“The choice is yours. Give up half your wealth for his protection, or try to survive on your own. I’ll give you some time to think.”
The Dark Merchant and the Overseer rose from their seats.
At that moment, the Dark Sixth Shadow stood abruptly and spoke.
“Just one question.”
“What is it?”
“How far can you see, my friend?”
It was a vague question, one that could mean many things.
Yet, the Dark Master answered with unwavering confidence.
“I can see very far.”
It was a loaded response, and the Dark Landlord interpreted it as a sign that there was a plan to reclaim their lost fortune.
After all, the Dark Master and the Dark Idealist were not the kind to let their wealth slip away so easily.
“I’ll join you.”
But the Dark Master tried to dissuade him.
“This will require giving up half of your assets. Think carefully. Even if we do hand over the money, there’s no guarantee he can protect us.”
“I understand. It’s not the Wall Street I trust. It’s your judgment. I trust the leader who has guided us for the past twenty years.”
“Very well. Let’s proceed together, then.”
Just as they were about to move forward, the Dark Strategist sprang to his feet.
“I’ll join as well.”
The Dark Strategist was close to the Landlord. Seeing the Landlord’s resolve, he decided to follow suit.
“Alright, let’s do this. Now we just need one more.”
In a flash, two had joined, leaving just one spot open.
“I’m not sure about this. There’s no need to force myself into it.”
It’s always the same. When pushed, people instinctively resist. But when you step back, they grow anxious.
At that moment, two others stood up simultaneously. It was the Dark Planner and the Tenth.
“I’m in, too.”
“Let’s go, count me in!”
They shouted, looking at each other.
“I stood up first.”
“No, it was me.”
The two were at an impasse.
The Dark Idealist turned to the Dark Master.
“Given the situation, can’t we take both of them?”
“No, we can’t. We promised him exactly five.”
The Planner and the Tenth continued to insist they were first.
The Dark Master couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
This was precisely why he had gathered them all at once instead of meeting them individually.
If he had tried to persuade them one by one, it would have been much harder. They would have been more suspicious and hesitant.
People let their guard down in a group.
The thought of “I’ll just go with the flow” clouds clear judgment. Emotional reasoning like “There must be a good reason for their choice” takes over.
Of course, they could have come to a wiser decision through discussion and consensus. But they could also be swept up by the mood, as was happening now.
It was a partial success.
There were still four who remained unmoved, unwilling to part with their wealth.
The Dark Master stepped forward to mediate between the Planner and the Tenth, who were still at odds.