More Than Expected (2)
At my words, Father asked again.
"A secret deal?"
"Here's the document."
I pulled out the contract I had made with Hideout Leader Jang Dae-Soo and handed it over. Father took it and began to read.
"..."
As he read through the contract, Father's eyes widened.
"Is this true?"
"Yes."
"You're saying Odong Mountain really has Snow Soul Herb, White Tiger Ridge Herb, and Snow Ginseng?"
"That's correct."
I took a small paper pouch from my sleeve and held it out.
"To be certain, I brought back a sample."
Pavilion Member Yeon opened the pouch I placed on the table and quickly picked it up.
He took out the spiritual herb samples I had gathered and examined them.
His hands trembled.
"Th-This… These are real… real spiritual herbs…"
Merchant groups ranked high enough to enter the Hundred Merchant Alliance all have their own specialized products.
Currently, our group's main focus is medicinal herbs.
That's why I had been able to find the spiritual herbs used to cure my illness in my past life.
Children of the Eunhae Merchant Group receive systematic education in medicinal herbs from a young age.
Even so, distinguishing them without having seen the real thing is difficult.
Father, seeming puzzled, asked,
"But these herbs haven't entered the group in the past ten years—how could you tell?"
"If you remember what you studied well, it's not too hard to distinguish."
I answered with a smile. Father looked doubtful but let it go.
"But what if these weren't spiritual herbs? Why would you make such a secret deal?"
He scolded me, as I had expected.
I had already prepared an answer.
"If others discovered them first, they would take them, wouldn't they? So I judged it necessary to secure priority."
"That's not the issue. Jang the Hideout Leader might use this to pressure the group."
"Ah, that's fine."
"…?"
"If you look at the fifth clause, it says, 'Neither side will blame the other for unavoidable causes preventing the transaction.'"
I continued,
"When I asked if it was okay even if they weren't spiritual herbs, he clearly said yes, so I included that in the contract."
"Ah… So that's what that clause is for."
"Exactly."
That clause was inserted to prepare for doubts from Father and others, but what I found on Odong Mountain was undoubtedly spiritual herbs.
Pavilion Member Yeon had just verified them.
"This trade will be conducted in secret. Please keep that in mind."
"The sweeter the fruit, the more bugs gather."
The only reason this trade could stay secret, despite involving spiritual herbs, was because they were spiritual herbs.
Sources of spiritual herbs and spiritual medicines are usually kept secret, and all parties in such trades implicitly agree to this.
"Anything else to report?"
Father asked, and I shook my head.
"No, sir."
"Then you may leave. We have more to discuss."
Eunwol Pavilion.
After Eun Seoho left, Eun Gil-Sang let out a dry chuckle.
"I thought he just had a bit of talent, but I was wrong. He's a lucky one too. His first field mission and he brings back a huge treasure."
At those words, Chief of External Affairs Go Ilpyung spoke.
"That's true, but luck and talent alone wouldn't have made it possible. According to Squad Leader Jeong Chung and his members' reports, the young master is very clever. Of course, it was Jin Gyeon Merchant Group's own fault, but the way he lured them into a trap and dealt with them proves it."
"He's also very bold."
Pavilion Master of Sunset Pavilion, Yeon Dami, added.
She was holding a sample of the spiritual herb Eun Seoho had collected.
"To think he made such a proposal to the hideout leader of Odong Mountain!"
"A true merchant never backs down in front of profit."
Everyone nodded at Go Ilpyung's words.
"But,"
At that moment, Pavilion Master of Breeze Pavilion, Jeok Byeongcheol, spoke.
"Why do you suppose the young master made that artisan part of his personal division?"
"Well, since the group hadn't approved the deal yet, he likely had no choice but to make it personal. The situation was urgent."
Go Ilpyung replied, and Jeok Byeongcheol smiled and continued,
"But he never once said he'd transfer that affiliation to the group. As if he had planned it that way from the beginning."
At that, Yeon Dami let out a small laugh.
"Our elder is quite sharp."
"Isn't he?"
At Go Ilpyung's comment, she nodded.
"He's right. That's why I had to negotiate with the young master instead of the artisan."
"He must've had a hard time then."
Yoo So-Ak added,
"Negotiating with you, I mean."
"…It was difficult."
But Yeon Dami's expression was strange.
"I'm the one who had a hard time."
"Pardon?"
"He's not ordinary. I don't think he ever learned negotiation skills, but he's clearly a natural."
"Ha ha, that's how great he is. Our group's fortune!"
"Indeed. Ha ha ha."
As everyone laughed, Jeok Byeongcheol's eyes sparkled.
He was curious about Eun Seoho's true intent behind all this.
That evening.
Daaeng— Daaeng— Daaeng—
Ten bell chimes rang out.
It was the sound marking the beginning of Yushi (5pm–7pm), and also the end of the workday.
Tap.
I put down my brush and said,
"Chief Manager, it's the end of the day."
He looked regretful, but when I accepted the offer to assist Chief Manager Yoo, I made my conditions clear.
So he had no choice but to nod.
"Go ahead and get off work."
Thanks to my hard work today, the workload had significantly decreased.
As I got up, I said to Chief Manager Yoo,
"You should also try not to overdo it. It's better for your health."
"I'd like to, but the work never ends…"
He cleared his throat mid-sentence. Anyone could see the work had lightened a lot.
"Hmm-hmm, very well."
"Then, see you tomorrow."
I gave a martial salute and headed to my quarters.
"You're back, Young Master?"
"Yeah, I'm back."
"But are you really coming back from working?"
At Palgap's question, I lay down on the bed and replied.
"Yep."
"You've worked hard. But Chief Manager Yoo is too much. Making you work before you even recover from your travel fatigue."
"I'm just too capable."
Honestly, working before fully recovering wasn't too bad for me.
In my past life, it had been completely natural to return to the office and start working immediately after returning.
I just wanted to rest while I still could.
Once I officially became the Vice-Leader of the Merchant Group, taking a break after a mission would no longer be an option.
They say people quit jobs to open small shops hoping for rest, only to find themselves even busier.
So I'm resting now, before becoming Vice-Leader.
Because later, I won't be able to rest even if I want to.
"What would you like for dinner?"
"How about with Master Potter Gong's family?"
"Then I'll prepare accordingly."
I woke to the bell announcing Myoshi (5:00am to 7:00am).
I performed energy circulation breathing exercises and changed my clothes.
While on the trade mission, I had no choice but to train in the evenings, but now that I could keep a regular schedule again, I resumed martial arts training at dawn.
When I opened the door and stepped outside, my master happened to be entering the front yard of my quarters.
"I greet you, Master."
At my martial salute, Master returned the gesture.
He had told me such formalities weren't necessary, but still, he always maintained courtesy toward me.
"Did you get some rest after your trade mission yesterday?"
At his question, I gave a bitter smile.
"I worked."
"…I see."
Master showed a slightly sympathetic expression but then spoke firmly.
"Still, it is not good to skip or reduce your training just because you're tired. Humans are not so weak. If you endure and push through, you will become even stronger."
"…Yes, sir."
Just as I expected.
"Then let's begin training."
"Yes, Master."
Training begins with running.
I strapped sandbags all over my body and ran around the yard.
The front yard of my quarters was fairly spacious, so just running around it left me gasping for breath.
"Huff, huff… so now it's time for horse stance, right?"
At my question, Master shook his head.
"No."
"…?"
"You can train that separately at night. By now, you should be able to build your strength on your own without my direct instruction."
Then he added,
"Starting today, I will teach you sword techniques."
"Sword techniques… sir?"
"Yes."
Master smiled.
"You've built enough foundation now to properly begin learning martial arts."
At those words, I cheered inwardly.
It meant the day I could openly use martial arts was drawing near.
"Starting today, you'll be learning the True Snow Twelve-Form Sword Technique. This sword art was created by drawing inspiration from the nature of snow. The higher your level, the more you'll come to understand how exceptional this technique truly is."
"Just the name alone gives it away."
I replied with a smile.
"I assume it embodies the weight and lightness of snow, the swift motion of snow swirling in a blizzard, and the way it changes when blown by the wind."
At my words, Master's eyes widened.
"Amazing. That's exactly right. How did you know?"
How, indeed?
Because it was a sword technique I learned in my previous life.
"You said it was based on the properties of snow. And snow doesn't have just one nature."
"You're very astute."
Master looked satisfied.
"Also, you'll be learning movement techniques as well."
"Movement techniques… You mean walking techniques?"
Of course, I knew what movement techniques were.
I had learned them in my previous life as well.
But if I acted like I knew too much, it could be suspicious, so I asked despite knowing.
"It's more accurate to say it's about how to move. Whether wielding a sword, a blade, or your fists, fighting means adjusting your movement to match your opponent."
"That makes sense."
"Movement techniques allow you to move your body efficiently. Their value in real combat is beyond words. So you must absolutely learn them."
"Yes, Master."
"The movement technique I'll be teaching you is called the Traceless Steps. It's also a family martial art, and once mastered, you'll be able to walk even on fresh snow without leaving a single footprint."
In other words, it enables one to reach the realm of walking on snow without leaving a trace.
Not leaving footprints has more uses than people think.
I had personally benefited greatly from this technique in my past life.
"First, let's start by learning how to handle the sword."
…
…
Five days passed like that.
I looked down at my palms and let out a sigh.
They were covered in blisters.
Naturally so.
That morning, I had once again practiced the nine basic sword stances, a hundred repetitions each, with a wooden sword.
That meant I had swung a sword 900 times.
Every day.
Master's philosophy and teaching method is all about focusing on the basics.
Which is why my hands ended up like this every single day.
Still, after about a month of this, calluses would start to form.
I knew from experience.
The time when I could truly start using martial arts was drawing near.
But that didn't mean I would reveal my full strength.
I needed to keep the Baekcheon Merchant Group and the Murim Alliance fooled, so I'd have more freedom in my actions.
…
…
While I was working in the Finance Pavilion, I was summoned and made my way to the Eunwol Pavilion. I entered inside.
No one else seemed to have arrived yet. I was alone.
I sat down in a chair at the long table.
Sitting there brought back memories of my previous life. Back then, the seat I occupied had been to the left of Hyung Jeong-ho, who sat at the head.
Here, meetings involving the exchange of tens of thousands of silver taels were held daily.
But now…
Even though it had been my own experience, it all felt like a dream.
The reality that I had to walk the path again to become one of the top three merchant groups in the world made me sigh.
Of course, there had been joyful days.
But running a merchant group wasn't all joy and happiness.
Still, with the memories of my past life, I could move faster this time.
Just then, the door opened and someone entered.
I immediately rose from my seat.