Became a God-Level M Chapter 231

Chapter 231: Comrcial World War (2)

A business the Myriad Gold Manor couldn’t touch.

Could there really be such a thing in the Central Plains of this era? With that doubt in their minds, everyone turned to look at Lee Seowon.

Lee Seowon continued in his characteristically indifferent yet composed tone.

“The first is delivery. It was sothing the Innkeeper had also been planning. Now is the perfect ti to begin. It’s also essential for Seong-un Inn to continue existing as an inn.”

“Explain in detail.”

“Inn or not, an inn must sell food and alcohol to be called one. New ventures are fine, but if we want to preserve the identity of the inn, we need to do delivery. For this, we’ll need help from Chef Han Seong-chun, Hero Jang Gwang, and Red Cliff Escort Agency.”

Lee Seowon cleared his throat and resud.

“The frontlines of the Western Borders, located even further west from Sichuan Province. That area is filled with military units dispatched by the state and many wanderers. Because they’ve gathered from all over the nation, they struggle to adapt to the intense flavors of Sichuan cuisine.”

Lee Seowon not only knew everything but also had a clarity of speech that heightened his audience’s focus.

“Chefs must create dishes suitable for delivery. Simple things like rice balls won’t do. They must be tasty and not spoil easily. It’s even better if it’s sothing hard for other inns to replicate.”

Seo Yu-gyeom nodded.

He had morized all the secret culinary techniques of the Imperial Kitchen thanks to his past, so with Han Seong-chun’s help, it was certainly doable.

“We’ll utilize the waterway of the Yangtze River, which stretches east to west. The Red Cliff Escort Agency’s distribution network spans all land routes based on the river, so delivery is more than suitable. Therefore, Hero Jang Gwang will command the Shui Stronghold’s subordinates and deliver food to each frontline. He’ll essentially act as an escort leader.”

“General Manager Lee, do you believe delivery will escape the reach of Myriad Gold Manor?”

In response to Jin Seong-un’s question, Lee Seowon answered firmly.

“Of course. The influence of the Myriad Gold Manor doesn’t reach the frontlines along the Central Plains’ borders. Those areas are too barren to be considered comrcial hubs.”

In other words, there was no reason to build a foundation in places with no custor base in the first place.

Lee Seowon continued.

“Especially in the independent region of Sichuan, that’s even more the case. In reality, most of the Ten Great Trading Companies of the Central Plains have ties with Myriad Gold Manor. Only Hwa-un Trading Company of Sichuan is truly independent, without even the slightest association.”

Everyone nodded.

Sichuan had always been such a region.

Surrounded by high mountain ranges, and even its cuisine and music culture were vastly different from the rest of the Central Plains.

“Oh, and there’s one more important thing. Once our business starts thriving, other inns will try to imitate us. That’s just how business works. When that happens, Hero Jang Gwang can ‘subtly demonstrate’ his power while delivering food.”

Just when it seed like an odd suggestion, the quick-witted Moyong Hyeon grasped the idea and spoke up.

“You want us to support the frontlines with force? That’s actually a good idea.”

Lee Seowon looked at Moyong Hyeon with a face full of emotion.

Finally, soone who understood the bigger picture had entered the inn.

“That’s right. The soldiers and wanderers at the frontlines are mostly third-rate or second-rate martial artists. The presence of a peak-level master like Hero Jang Gwang and the battle-hardened Shui Stronghold would be overwhelming.”

While delivering food, they could also help ease the troubles at the frontlines.

The re fact that masters regularly visited would bring great stability to the battlefield.

And if the food tasted good on top of that?

There would be no reason for them not to order delivery.

“This is the first venture.”

Everyone nodded, and Moyong Hyeon even clapped. Among a place filled with peak-level and master-level martial artists, the general manager had seed rather ordinary—until now. It was clear he didn’t belong in such a small inn.

With a face now brimming with confidence, Lee Seowon continued with the next plan.

“The second is the developnt of a large-scale comrcial district. Do you know what’s happening in Eonsa Prefecture in Henan Province?”

Everyone shook their heads.

Then Lee Seowon said,

“Well, there’s no need for you all to concern yourselves with that. After all, Seong-un Inn has .”

As his explanation dragged on, his tone sohow beca more irritating, but no one dared to interrupt him.

Lee Seowon went on.

“Hot springs have erupted in Eonsa Prefecture. An enormous volu of them. To the west is Luoyang, a city of culture and learning. To the south lies the Sung Mountain of Shaolin, and to the east is the provincial capital Zhengzhou. What does this an?”

“It’s going to beco massive.”

When Jin Seong-un said this, Lee Seowon gave him a thumbs-up. Still, among those present, the only rchants were himself and the innkeeper.

“Exactly. Not just big, but the entire Eonsa Prefecture will beco a tourist city centered around hot springs. The profits from that comrcial zone will be unimaginable. The Imperial Court has gotten involved.”

Lee Seowon explained further.

The Imperial Court planned to entrust the hot spring business in Eonsa Prefecture to a trading company. They had neither the funds nor the reason to develop it themselves.

They only needed to collect taxes regularly once the work was done.

“The developnt rights will be auctioned off. Most likely, Myriad Gold Manor will win it.”

Though he had phrased it cautiously, it was practically a certainty.

After all, only the Ten Great Trading Companies could handle such a developnt scale, and none dared oppose the Myriad Gold Manor.

Lee Seowon continued.

“And the one presiding over this auction will be none other than the Crown Prince, acting as the representative of His Majesty the Emperor. If the Crown Prince personally selects the trading company, even Myriad Gold Manor can’t touch it.”

“But doesn’t the Imperial Court have close ties with Myriad Gold Manor?”

When Jin Seong-un asked that, Lee Seowon answered without missing a beat, as if waiting for the question.

“To be precise, His Majesty the Emperor, currently bedridden, is close to the Myriad Gold Manor Lord, and Princess is close with Ha Joo-myeong. But the Crown Prince has no direct relationship with the Myriad Gold Manor.”

It was difficult for even a princess to directly interfere with the Crown Prince’s official affairs.

If they could secure the developnt rights to the hot spring comrcial zone, they would be able to earn a massive, stable inco for decades to co.

Lee Seowon continued.

“The problem is that His Highness the Crown Prince is still too young, which makes him hard to predict. But I’ll take full responsibility for that. Originally, the scale of the venture was so enormous that we couldn’t even dream of trying, but now it’s at a level worth a shot.”

It was only possible because Hwa-un Trading Company, Red Cliff Escort Agency, and the Jingzhou rchants’ Association had sworn a blood pact, as if they had beco one with Seong-un Inn.

“In any case, to compete with Myriad Gold Manor over the developnt rights, the first priority is to secure as much money as possible…”

Lee Seowon fell deep into thought.

Even if they scraped together every coin they could, going head-to-head with Myriad Gold Manor wouldn’t be easy.

No, to be precise, it was better to say the odds weren’t high.

But as a strategist, he had to find a way, no matter what.

While Lee Seowon remained silent in thought, Jin Seong-un suddenly recalled the words of the rchant King and asked,

“Which is harder to infiltrate, the Demonic Cult or the Imperial Court?”

A question that ca out of nowhere.

And such an outrageous statent delivered in a calm tone left everyone dumbfounded.

But since it was the question of his liege, Lee Seowon racked his brain as best he could and answered.

“Both are close to impossible, but if I had to choose… the Demonic Cult would be easier.”

The Demonic Cult could be infiltrated with strength alone, while the Imperial Court required power as well as influence.

Their innkeeper was an outstanding martial artist and rchant, but he wasn’t a powerholder.

When Jin Seong-un nodded, Lee Seowon sensed a hint of unease and asked,

“...But why do you ask?”

“My master said he hid a treasure there. It should fetch a good sum.”

Jin Seong-un answered honestly.

Lee Seowon’s eyes widened. He knew Jin Seong-un had inherited the martial knowledge of the rchant King through so miraculous encounter.

‘A treasure left behind by the rchant King?’

Even without calculating, its value was undoubtedly imnse.

As Lee Seowon’s brow furrowed in thought, Seomun Ak and Seo Yu-gyeom, though curious, kept their mouths shut.

They had silently agreed not to pry, especially after witnessing Jin Seong-un use Blood-Demon Art.

But one person was different—Moyong Hyeon.

“What kind of person is your master, Young Hero? I’ve been wondering. Honestly, the sa goes for Chef Seo. Where in the world did you two learn your martial arts?”

It was only natural to ask—two peer-level peak-level masters had suddenly appeared, yet no one knew their background or sect.

Seomun Ak, who for so reason imagined Jin Seong-un’s master to be soone dangerously secretive, fidgeted anxiously and cleared his throat.

Then Seo Yu-gyeom quickly interjected.

“Want to know?”

“Tell .”

Moyong Hyeon nodded casually.

Wearing a subtle smile, Seo Yu-gyeom continued.

“Once you know, it could get a bit dangerous—are you okay with that? I could tell you, but I’m concerned. That said, if you’re willing to risk your life…”

“Oh-ho.”

He deliberately gave off a cryptic vibe.

Moyong Hyeon, seeing this, spoke naturally and smoothly.

“As expected, what matters is the person, not their background. Let’s move on.”

Once again, Moyong Hyeon proved himself a consistent man.

After a brief pause, Moyong Hyeon suddenly remarked,

“But we can still get into the Imperial Court, can’t we?”

Everyone turned to look at him.

The Imperial Court wasn’t so local governnt office—how could one just walk in?

Moyong Hyeon stated calmly.

“My uncle is a Thousand-Man Commander of the Royal Guards. And that’s not all.”

Lee Seowon’s eyes widened.

Now that he thought about it, this scheming inn waiter was the eldest son of the Moyong Clan.

The Moyong Clan claid descent from the fallen kingdom of Yan.

Unless they rebelled, they were granted treatnt nearly equal to that of feudal lords by the Imperial Family, thanks to their generations of loyal service.

A descendant of a fallen dynasty pledging allegiance boosted the authority of the current royal family.

As such, the Moyong Clan had traditionally maintained close ties with the Imperial Court, with nurous civil and military officials active in the central governnt even in the present day.

‘They had no choice but to prove their loyalty even more.’

Lee Seowon understood exactly the nature of the Moyong Clan’s pro-power orientation.

To claim descent from a fallen kingdom, they had to demonstrate even more loyalty than anyone else—otherwise, they risked being accused of treason.

While the other Five Great Clans served the Imperial Family for practical benefits, the Moyong Clan did so for survival.

This was the result of that strategy.

After briefly scanning the atmosphere, Moyong Hyeon suddenly realized sothing and grinned.

“Oh-ho.”

Lee Seowon’s face tensed up.

The privilege of entering the Imperial Court was priceless.

And that cunning Moyong waiter would undoubtedly demand a steep price.

Looking directly at Lee Seowon, Moyong Hyeon spoke in a solemn tone.

“Well, we’re not strangers, and it’s not like I’d charge you money, right?”

That only made Lee Seowon more nervous.

In the comrcial world, those words had a clear implication:

‘The price will be beyond monetary value.’

As Lee Seowon’s lips went dry, Moyong Hyeon finally spoke.

“Half a si-jin break ti after lunch service. Just for .”

As he said that, Moyong Hyeon glanced at Seo Yu-gyeom and Seomun Ak with the subtle smile of a victor.

Lee Seowon’s energy drained out in an instant.

“...Very well.”

At that, Moyong Hyeon clenched his fist and cheered as if he had won a fortune.

It seed the crafty Moyong waiter had adapted to the inn far better than expected.