Chapter 044
The door opened, and a woman entered. She was dressed in a simple yet elegant outfit, her hair neatly arranged. Her appearance was striking, but what caught everyone's attention was the aura of authority she carried.
"Guild Leader?"
Was she truly implying she was the head of the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company?
Baek Sugyeong's expression turned peculiar, while So Ssanga, Namgung Somin, and Gal Yerung all looked surprised. Though they shared the same shocked expressions, their reasons differed.
The women were astonished for one reason:
"The Guild Leader of the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company, said to be like a divine dragon hidden in clouds…"
"The Cloud Flower Fairy…!"
"Are you really the Guild Leader of the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company?"
Unlike the three women, Baek Sugyeong didn't understand why they were so shocked. To him, the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company was simply one of the largest trading companies in the Central Plains. In Baek Sugyeong's mind, it was equivalent to a global corporation like Samsung or Apple. Of course, it was surprising that its chairman was sitting before him—a woman who appeared to be barely in her early twenties.
"Let me introduce myself properly this time."
Jin Agyeong stood up without kneeling and gave a polite, formal greeting.
"I am Jin Agyeong, the 23rd Guild Leader of the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company."
"You're really the Guild Leader?!"
At So Ssanga's shocked exclamation, Jin Agyeong's bodyguard frowned.
"She is indeed our company's Guild Leader. Are you doubting her?"
The Guild Leader of the great Heavenly Dragon Trading Company had personally come to meet a scholar like Baek Sugyeong. That alone should be considered an honor.
What kind of company was the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company? It had countless branches throughout the Central Plains, supplied goods to the imperial palace, and maintained deep relationships with Murim sects. It was a mega-corporation. The Xuchang branch even handled logistics for the Murim Alliance, showing the depth of trust they commanded.
The fact that the Guild Leader of such a company had personally stepped into the heart of a competing company like the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company was already a risky venture. Yet, what were these reactions about? Even if Baek Sugyeong was a figure currently shaking the Central Plains.
"You'd better lower that hand."
Baek Sugyeong warned Jin Agyeong's bodyguard, who had naturally placed his hand on his sword hilt.
"Even if you've entered the heart of a competing company and those careless remarks offended you, this is the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company, not the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company."
"H-How dare you!"
As the bodyguard's face contorted, Baek Sugyeong continued. His expression wasn't gentle. Rather, it had frozen as cold as permafrost in a cutting wind.
"And I am Baek Sugyeong. The Auspicious Cloud Trading Company exclusively supplies my works. If the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company has come to make me an offer, maintaining such an attitude isn't advisable."
"T-That's—!"
"Yeongjin, wait outside."
At Jin Agyeong's cold tone, her bodyguard Yeongjin's face hardened.
Leave? Who would protect Jin Agyeong if he left her in what was essentially enemy territory?
"G-Guild Leader!"
"Can't you hear me telling you to wait outside? Should I send you out myself?"
The bumbling demeanor she had shown Baek Sugyeong was gone. Jin Agyeong's ice-cold words, now displaying the charisma of a true Guild Leader, pierced Yeongjin's core.
"…I'll withdraw. I apologize."
Bowing his head deeply and leaving an apology that might have been meant for anyone, Yeongjin departed.
Behind Baek Sugyeong, the three women wore surprised expressions as they watched. They were amazed at how Baek Sugyeong had handled the situation alone, without any need for their intervention.
'Teacher…'
'Owner, how cool!'
'You're tougher than I thought, Teacher Baek.'
Regardless of what the three women were thinking, Baek Sugyeong felt relieved at having removed the obstacle. Had Yeongjin remained, either Namgung Somin or Gal Yerung would certainly have stepped in. Yeongjin's words and actions had been somewhat unpredictable. If he had drawn his sword, an unfortunate incident might have occurred. Baek Sugyeong had prevented that.
Gal Yerung inwardly clicked her tongue.
'I'd like to have the Silkworm Assassin deal with him, but that would cause rumors. I'll have to endure.'
If the opponent had been an insignificant company, she could have arranged a sudden death, but the problem was that they were dealing with the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company. Even the Hao Sect would find it difficult to pull tricks against the largest trading company in the martial world. There was a difference in weight class.
And considering Yanoe's preference for operating in the light, he likely wouldn't want to cause such an incident. Baek Sugyeong probably wouldn't want that either.
Gal Yerung quietly watched the space Yeongjin had vacated.
'I'll remember you.'
Meanwhile, Jin Agyeong stood up and bowed her head to Baek Sugyeong.
"I apologize, Master Baek. My bodyguard was disrespectful…"
"A bodyguard's greatest virtues are composure and coolness. I suggest you consider that when selecting your guards."
"I will engrave your advice in my bones."
Baek Sugyeong turned to So Ssanga.
"Guild Leader So. Come here."
"Yes?"
"I'm not well-versed in the business world. So I'll need Guild Leader So's help."
"Ah, yes!"
Jin Agyeong's expression tensed slightly as she watched So Ssanga approach with a face beaming with joy at being able to help.
The guild leader who had grown the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company from what it once was. She didn't appear much older than Jin Agyeong—perhaps only two or three years difference at most.
"…Tch."
The sound of Gal Yerung clicking her tongue was audible, but So Ssanga ignored it. So Ssanga naturally took her place beside Baek Sugyeong.
"I'd like to hear your proposal," Baek Sugyeong said.
"I understand that the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company has exclusive distribution rights for 'Wudang Sword Hero.' Is that correct?"
"It is."
"Then, how would you feel about working with our Heavenly Dragon Trading Company for your next work…?"
So Ssanga's eyes narrowed at Jin Agyeong's words.
"Are you saying you want to poach our Owner?"
"Why not? I think you understand the difference in standing between the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company, which is only now recovering its former glory, and the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company, which has branches throughout the land."
"Ugh…"
She wasn't wrong.
So Ssanga's Auspicious Cloud Trading Company was currently enjoying considerable success in the Hubei–Hunan region, centered around Wuhan—the Huguang Province area. Moreover, they were steadily expanding, establishing branches in Xuchang, where the Murim Alliance had nested, and in Luoyang, the solid territory of the Dragon Gate Li Clan.
Opening a branch in Luoyang, the territory of the Dragon Gate Li Clan, was something even the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company hadn't accomplished. It was indeed impressive, but Jin Agyeong had already concluded that this was due to the exclusive distribution rights for "Wudang Sword Hero."
"You want to collaborate on my next work?"
"Yes. We will spare no support to ensure you can focus on your writing. We already consider your next work a guaranteed success…"
"Interesting."
Since coming to the Central Plains, no one had fought over Baek Sugyeong before. Now he had these three women, but before that, his life had been extremely low-key—a peaceful daily routine.
After "Wudang Sword Hero", Baek Sugyeong's name value had skyrocketed. The pen name Sugyeong was so famous that there was hardly anyone who didn't know it, all thanks to "Wudang Sword Hero". That's why receiving such an offer felt somewhat fresh.
'…It's like a management battle.'
The Heavenly Dragon Trading Company could be seen as a massive management agency. In contrast, the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company was a newly listed company building its corporate strength.
Realistically, choosing the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company would make sense, but…
"Owner…"
Pretending not to hear So Ssanga's call, Baek Sugyeong looked at Jin Agyeong.
"I regret to inform you that I have no intention of contracting with any company other than the Auspicious Cloud Trading Company."
"Do you perhaps have an exclusive contract with them?"
"No, I don't."
Baek Sugyeong stated firmly.
"The Auspicious Cloud Trading Company has been with me, so I want to stay with them until the end… That's all it means. Keeping my word, you might say."
"Why…"
Jin Agyeong looked shocked.
Until she spoke with Baek Sugyeong, she had been confident. The Heavenly Dragon Trading Company could give him anything he wanted. She didn't know how much he earned from "Wudang Sword Hero", but it would be small compared to the wealth of the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company.
His words about keeping his word were also significant.
"It's true that I'm preparing a work set in the Shaolin Temple. The rumors that I'm writing a Shaolin-based novel, stemming from what I said about Shaolin in front of the Alliance Leader, are accurate…"
"Would it be possible for our company to purchase the rights to that work?"
Jin Agyeong looked desperate.
The author of "Wudang Sword Hero", who had performed the miracle of reviving the nearly collapsed Auspicious Cloud Trading Company, was someone the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company absolutely needed to secure.
Was there another author in the current martial world with such strong influence? He was someone who could further solidify the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company's dominance. And he was also one of the few people who had offered advice to Jin Agyeong.
"Transferring the rights to a work that hasn't even been released yet would be unethical. What would you do if I pretended not to know and disappeared?"
"T-That's…"
"I'm not sure about anything else, but it's clear that you're in quite a hurry, Guild Leader Jin."
Jin Agyeong flinched as if struck at a vital point.
Baek Sugyeong spoke calmly.
"There's a saying that business isn't about buying and selling goods, but about buying and selling people. More precisely, it's trading trust."
Baek Sugyeong looked at Jin Agyeong and asked:
"I'm not yet ready to do business with the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company. Is the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company ready?"