Chapter 34: Securing Investnt. -01
The smiling face beca serious in an instant.
At the sudden change in expression, not only Ban Hojin but also Seo Joun and Seonwu Bang wore puzzled looks.
However, Ban Hojin soon offered them seats.
“Please, sit first.”
“Thank you.”
“Is it all right if the two of them listen as well?”
“Of course.”
Ban Hojin asked just in case.
Since it would not be easy to ask soone to step aside, he had brought it up first.
“Then please speak.”
When Geum Hoyeon said it was fine, Ban Hojin imdiately got to the point.
There was no need to exchange pleasantries, and the fact that he had co here in person ant, in other words, that it was urgent business.
There was no reason to waste ti on trivial small talk.
“First, I will explain the overall situation. I think it will be easier to understand once you know the circumstances.”
“I understand.”
“Do you happen to know Wall-Severing Blade?”
“Wall-Severing Blade?”
Ban Hojin tilted his head.
It sounded like a sobriquet, but it was the first ti he had heard it.
At that mont, Seonwu Bang, who had been silently listening to the conversation, opened his mouth.
“Isn’t he the stronghold lord of Taeho Stronghold among the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds? He is also the sworn younger brother of Chief Escort Slayer.”
“That’s right. Fortunately, you are familiar with him. That man recently seized the escort goods of the Geum Family Escort Agency. And now he is cunningly exploiting the current situation of our estate. He says he will return the goods to whichever side—myself or the First Young Lord—offers the larger sum.”
“That’s absurd.”
Ban Hojin, who had been listening quietly, made an incredulous expression.
It was no different from a thief saying he would return stolen goods to whoever paid more.
In contrast, Seonwu Bang’s expression grew heavy.
From just that much, he could tell what kind of situation Geum Hoyeon was in.
“He’s a ridiculous fellow. There’s no coercion more shaless than this.”
“The problem is that it works. Considering the prestige of the Geum Family Escort Agency—no, more precisely, the Geum Family Estate—we must retrieve the goods no matter what. But the issue is that Taeho Stronghold is one of the five largest strongholds among the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds, and that he is sworn brothers with Chief Escort Slayer. If things go wrong, we may have to fight not only Chief Escort Slayer but the entire Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds.”
“That’s accurate.”
Unlike Seo Joun, who rely shrugged his shoulders, Seonwu Bang assessed the situation coolly.
This was not simply a matter between bandits and an escort agency.
It was a contest of strength between the Geum Family Estate and the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds.
And Wall-Severing Blade was cleverly exploiting the current situation of the Geum Family Estate.
“In a way, it’s an auction.”
“It would be more accurate to call it an auction under duress. The problem is that neither I nor the First Young Lord can avoid it.”
“I see. So that’s why you’re asking
for help?”
“It’s slightly different. I want Great Hero Ban to invest in .”
At the unexpected words, not only Seonwu Bang but also Seo Joun’s eyes widened slightly.
They had not expected the conversation to flow in this direction.
“An investnt.”
“I have been watching Great Hero Ban’s movents closely until now. I don’t know exactly what your objective is, but there is one thing I am certain of. That you have a picture you are drawing. And that it does not lie within Shaolin.”
Slurp.
Listening to Geum Hoyeon’s words filled with conviction, Ban Hojin took a sip of tea.
However, he did not answer.
Sotis, silence itself served as an answer.
“If you invest in , I will also support what Great Hero Ban seeks to do with all my strength. If I beco the Geum Family Head rather than rely the Second Young Lord of the Geum Family Estate, wouldn’t that be a great help to what you wish to accomplish?”
“It would. But before I give you an answer, there is one thing I would like to ask.”
“Please ask as much as you like.”
“If you resolve this matter, are you confident?”
“If it were just
alone, it wouldn’t even be fifty percent. The position of eldest son carries greater advantages than one might think. However, if Great Hero Ban helps , I believe it can rise to eighty percent.”
At the suddenly heavy topic, not only Seonwu Bang but also Seo Joun swallowed their dry saliva.
They could not easily interject into the conversation.
At the sa ti, both of them felt a question arise.
But neither voiced it aloud.
“Eighty percent. You’re quite cool-headed.”
“I believe being cool-headed is better than being overconfident. I am a rchant, after all. I believe there is nothing absolute in any transaction.”
“That’s true. There are always variables.”
“One thing I can say for certain is that if you invest in , you will never regret it.”
Geum Hoyeon spoke confidently.
Though he was the second son, he had defeated countless competitors to reach this point.
Unlike the First Young Lord, who had been closest to the position of Geum Family Head from the beginning, he had to fight relentlessly just to reach second place.
And the place he seized through that struggle was the second closest seat.
“It will be difficult to give you an answer imdiately here, so I will take so ti to think it over. Given the nature of the matter. It won’t take too long, though.”
“I understand.”
“I will show you to your quarters.”
As the conversation seed to be wrapping up, Seonwu Bang tactfully opened his mouth.
Since Geum Hoyeon had wanted to speak with Ban Hojin first, he had not even unpacked yet.
Using that as a pretext, Seonwu Bang led Geum Hoyeon out of the room.
Seo Joun quietly followed after them.
After finishing his personal training, Seonwu Bang returned to his quarters.
But even after washing up, the conversation between Ban Hojin and Geum Hoyeon would not leave his mind.
One question, in particular, kept resurfacing.
“Wall-Severing Blade could do sothing like that. Even if the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds are nurous, the Geum Family Estate’s strength would be enough to handle them. There’s the Geum Family Escort Agency, and there’s also the option of gathering wandering warriors. But Chief Escort Slayer is not soone they can handle.”
Seonwu Bang furrowed his brow.
Chief Escort Slayer was not rely the leader of bandits.
He was one of the masters who dominated Murim.
The reason the infamous general stronghold lord of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds was still alive was simple.
It was because he was so strong that no one could easily kill him.
He was not at the level of the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, but aside from them, there were few martial artists who could confidently say they could defeat Chief Escort Slayer.
“And yet the Green Forest Great Lord is a master even the Wolf Kings cannot guarantee victory against.”
Though he called himself the Mountain King, no martial artist truly regarded him as a king.
The reason was that the martial prowess of the Green Forest Great Lord was clearly insufficient to be compared with the Murim Ten Kings.
However, it was by no ans a realm that could be taken lightly.
Yet, when Geum Hoyeon asked Ban Hojin for help in a matter where that man might step in, Seonwu Bang could not understand it.
“Could it be that the Second Young Lord thinks Hojin can deal with the Green Forest Great Lord? Or is he just one of several cards? But if that were the case, his expression had been far too serious.”
Seonwu Bang muttered, his brows deeply furrowed.
Judging by how he spoke of investnt and the like, there was no way he was taking Ban Hojin lightly.
Rather, to anyone’s eyes, he looked as though he were desperately clinging to Ban Hojin, and that was why Seonwu Bang could not understand it.
Knock, knock, knock.
“It’s . May I co in?”
“Ah, please co in.”
While he was still mulling over the unresolved question, a familiar voice ca from beyond the door.
At that sound, Seonwu Bang rose to his feet.
“I saw the light was on as I was passing by, so I ca in.”
“I just finished training.”
“You seem to be working harder these days.”
Seonwu Cheong, having co to his son’s quarters, asked with a kindly smile.
Yet, a hint of mischief flickered briefly in his eyes.
“I was thinking I’d need to put in at least twice the effort to catch up.”
“Don’t overdo it too much. Your body isn’t yours alone.”
“In that sense, there’s sothing I envy about Hojin as well.”
“Hehehe.”
At the sight of his son speaking half in jest, half in earnest, Seonwu Cheong chuckled softly.
However, Seonwu Bang did not know.
That Seonwu Cheong had once harbored the sa thoughts.
“Even so, I don’t intend to turn away from it. I also want to grow the family more than it is now.”
“How far are you thinking?”
“I want to enter the Five Great Families.”
“Hm!”
Seonwu Cheong’s pupils widened.
It was a higher goal than he had expected.
But he did not throw cold water on it.
Anyone could have goals or dreams.
“It will be difficult, but I want to try. Rather than giving up in advance because it seems impossible, I want to go as far as I can first.”
“Yes, a true man should have at least that much ambition. If there’s anything you need, say it. I’ll do anything I can.”
“What I have now is enough.”
“By the way, it really is impressive. The epithet Divine Dragon wasn’t given for nothing. Even though I only ca to see you, the visitors coming by have completely changed.”
Seonwu Cheong subtly gauged Seonwu Bang’s reaction.
Since they were friends, he might be all the more sensitive about it.
However, Seonwu Bang instead smiled as if pleased by those words.
“He’s amazing. Almost too much for
to call him my friend. To be honest, at first I couldn’t believe it. Despite his personality, he’s also quite unpretentious.”
“Just looking at his appearance, he seems like he’d be very prickly, but he’s surprisingly easygoing.”
“But he clearly separates public and private matters. Really, razor-sharp.”
“A man ought to be like that. That’s far better than being wishy-washy.”
Seonwu Cheong nodded firmly.
Being cold and decisive was better than being indecisive.
In that regard, Ban Hojin was a rather intriguing figure.
He was twenty years old, yet he did not feel like twenty.
“I’ll take that as advice for
as well.”
“As long as you understand. More importantly, it’s good that so many guests are coming, but I’m also a bit worried. They all want to et Young Hero Ban.”
“I heard that nearly all the rising juniors from around Nanjing have co.”
“That’s right. And the finishing touch was today. To think there’d even be a connection with the Second Young Lord of the Geum Family Estate.”
“It may be troubleso, but the decision belongs to Hojin.”
Seonwu Bang said carefully.
He was not unaware of his father’s situation, but that did not an he would blindly arrange etings.
And those who ca visiting would also be aware, to so extent, of the circumstances here.
So it was right to listen, but to let Ban Hojin make the decision.
“Do you think I don’t know that? The closer the relationship, the more you must keep what should be kept if you want it to last. I have no intention of causing trouble for Young Hero Ban for the sake of our family’s benefit.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you for what? That’s only natural. Isn’t he your friend? Perhaps soone you’ll walk with for the rest of your life. Friends are precious. I an true friends, not ones who calculate interests.”
“I consider myself fortunate as well. That Hojin approached
first.”
Seonwu Bang recalled their first eting at Shaolin.
Ban Hojin, who had co up to him freely with a bright smile.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Alone in the room, Ban Hojin tapped the table with his finger.
The more he thought about it, the more interestingly the situation was unfolding.
“To think things would work out like this.”
There had been a reason for maintaining ties with the Geum Family Estate.
eting Iron King Samugung had been a coincidence, but Ban Hojin had turned that coincidence into a fated connection.
He had thought that if they could receive the Geum Family Estate’s assistance in the war against the Four Tyrants of the World, it would be a great help to the Orthodox Martial World.
Yet, the situation had unfolded in a rather intriguing way.
“To think it would turn out like this. This is sothing I can’t not take.”
Reviews
All reviews (0)