The Return of the Sw Chapter 35 : Securing Investment. -02

Chapter 35: Investnt Solicitation. -02

Ban Hojin smiled slyly.

The way the situation was unfolding benefited him entirely.

Not now, but in the not-so-distant future, Ban Hojin had planned to deal with the Green Forest Great Lord.

When the Four Tyrants of the World had revealed their ambition to conquer the Central Plains and started a war, the ones who had taken the lead in rampaging about were none other than the Green Forest Great Lord and the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds.

Put bluntly, the ones who had beco the barbarians’ lackeys and cruelly tornted the people of the Central Plains were the bandits.

And that was precisely what the Four Tyrants of the World had aid for.

They possessed power, but in the end the Four Tyrants of the World were forces of foreign lands—barbarians.

Thus, the Four Tyrants of the World had used bandits, water bandits, and the Hao Sect to harass and dominate the Central Plains.

“This is really killing two birds with one stone—no, three. One stone, two birds, and then so.”

The Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds were a force that needed to be cleared out anyway.

Of course, wiping them out would not eradicate bandits altogether.

If that were possible, the state would have already dealt with the bandits and water bandits.

However, if they were dealt with now, it was possible to drastically reduce the damage compared to his previous life.

“On top of that, I can also secure the cooperation of the Geum Family.”

After parting ways at the Seo Family Estate, Ban Hojin had not simply gone to the Northern Sea.

In his own way, he had looked into the internal situation of the Geum Family.

More precisely, the state of the succession struggle.

It was true that the eldest son, the First Young Lord, was slightly ahead, but surprisingly the gap was not that large.

“That ans it can be overturned at any ti.”

Ban Hojin let out a crooked grin.

Even if the gap had been large, it would not have mattered.

Even then, Ban Hojin had been confident he could overturn the outco.

Just as Geum Hoyeon had looked into him, Ban Hojin had also investigated Geum Hoyeon, and a conclusion had been reached.

“At this point, it seems like I’ve let the kid stew just enough. Shall I make a move?”

For Geum Hoyeon, it was a desperate situation, but for Ban Hojin, it was not.

Public opinion did not matter.

In the end, a martial artist proved himself through his own martial might.

That was why soone like the Green Forest Great Lord did not even register in his eyes.

***

“Ugh…!”

Despite being assigned one of the best detached annexes in the Seonwu Family, Geum Hoyeon’s expression was far from bright.

Instead, he paced restlessly around the room.

It was a scene that would have looked distracting to anyone, but the Head of the Escort Unit—the only attendant permitted to remain indoors—silently held his position.

“Will it work? It’ll work, right? If he refuses, it’s really over. There’s no ti left now.”

As if the ground were about to cave in, Geum Hoyeon let out a deep sigh.

If he had been rejected outright when he first brought it up, he would not have been this anxious.

He would have already been moving quickly for the alternative plan he had prepared.

But because Ban Hojin had said he would think it over, Geum Hoyeon had no choice but to wait anxiously.

“Do you think it’s possible?”

“Possible for what?”

“The Green Forest Great Lord is stronger than the Iron King.”

“That’s how the world evaluates it.”

“And the Green Forest Great Lord is not alone.”

The Head of the Escort Unit, who had been silently standing guard, spoke carefully.

The Iron King, Samugung, one of the Wolf Kings, was a master and a powerhouse.

However, he was alone.

In contrast, the Green Forest Great Lord was the Chief Escort Slayer of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds.

With a single word from him, tens of thousands could be set in motion.

It was not without reason that neither the Nine Great Sects nor the Five Great Families moved against the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds.

“Numbers aren’t important. To a true master, numbers are aningless. You know that too, don’t you, Daeju?”

“That is true. However, the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds include Wall-Severing Blade as well, and they are filled with experts.”

“Right. But how many martial artists do you think could handle the Iron King like a child? Even if it’s the Green Forest Great Lord, I don’t think that’s possible. I’ll admit that the Chief Escort Slayer would be stronger than the Iron King. But would the difference really be that big?”

“Hmm!”

The Head of the Escort Unit closed his mouth.

One could tell who held the upper hand, but it was impossible to judge the exact gap.

He had t the Iron King, Samugung, before, but as for the Green Forest Great Lord, he had only heard of him and had never faced him directly.

“And who would have thought that a re rising junior could so easily defeat the Iron King?”

“……That really was sothing unbelievable. I saw it with my own eyes and still couldn’t believe it.”

The shock of that day was still vivid.

To the point that, when he closed his eyes, the scene from then rose up clearly before him.

“Besides, both my life and yours were practically saved by Great Hero Ban. And yet you doubt him. Isn’t that a bit shaless?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

The Head of the Escort Unit hurriedly bowed his head.

He had realized too late that he had been thinking only from their own standpoint.

Ban Hojin was not rely holding a sword hilt.

He also held a debt of two lives.

“But he’s not asking

for help outright.”

“Other than the matter involving Young Master Seo, he has not sought out our branch at all.”

“Exactly. Most martial artists, once they get acquainted with , try to use

however they can. He’s really different.”

“I think so too.”

Ban Hojin was completely different from the martial artists they had t so far.

That was why Geum Hoyeon, unlike the First Young Lord, had chosen Ban Hojin.

By now, the First Young Lord was surely mocking him.

But you never knew how the cards would fall until they were laid out.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Ah, Second Young Lord! Great Hero Ban has co to see you!”

“Show him in at once!”

As Geum Hoyeon and the Head of the Escort Unit were reminiscing about the past, a servant’s voice ca from beyond the door.

At the report that Ban Hojin—whom he had been waiting for so long—had co in person, Geum Hoyeon cried out as he straightened his clothes.

“I didn’t co at too late an hour, did I?”

“Not at all. It’s still early. Even if you had co at dawn, I would have welcod you, Great Hero Ban.”

“Thank you.”

“Please, have a seat.”

“I’ll step outside.”

When Geum Hoyeon offered him a seat, the Head of the Escort Unit tried to withdraw tactfully.

But Ban Hojin stopped him.

“It’s fine if he stays. Isn’t he the person you trust the most, Second Young Lord?”

“That is correct.”

“Then I have no problem with it.”

“Thank you.”

Knowing that he was being considered, Geum Hoyeon smiled faintly and signaled to the Head of the Escort Unit with his eyes.

Then the Head of the Escort Unit took his position behind Geum Hoyeon once more.

“Before I give you my answer, there are a few things I would like to ask.”

“Please ask as much as you wish. I will tell you everything I am able to say.”

Geum Hoyeon leaned his upper body forward as he replied.

He looked as though he would tell him absolutely anything.

“Excluding the Green Forest Great Lord and Wall-Severing Blade, can you handle the rest, Second Young Lord?”

“Yes.”

Geum Hoyeon answered without hesitation.

At present, the biggest problem was precisely the Green Forest Great Lord.

The reason Wall-Severing Blade could push the Geum Family Estate this far was because the Green Forest Great Lord stood behind them as backing.

And the reason the First Young Lord could not move rashly was also because of the Green Forest Great Lord.

“This is a matter of personal curiosity, but who is the First Young Lord eting?”

“As far as I know, he is secretly making contact with two individuals among the Murim Ten Kings who do not belong to the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families, as well as the Wolf Kings.”

“Then the First Young Lord’s side must also know that Young Master Geum has co to see .”

“That is likely.”

Geum Hoyeon nodded calmly.

Although the First Young Lord acted as though he had already won everything, Geum Hoyeon knew.

He knew that the First Young Lord was thoroughly keeping track of his movents.

With the Third Young Lord eliminated and only the two of them remaining, it would make no sense for him not to pay attention.

“You must be getting mocked because of .”

“There are many who have eyes yet cannot see properly. And for a rchant, what ultimately matters is the result. Whether one produces results or not—that is all that matters.”

“Who do you think the First Young Lord will bring in?”

“It will be difficult among the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven. Unless it is the Family Head, it is impossible for the First Young Lord alone to move soone of that level. He may have acquaintances, but transactions are another matter. Even the Family Head cannot confidently guarantee that he can move them at will—so how could the First Young Lord do so? In my personal opinion, he will likely bring in elder-level figures from the Nine Great Sects or the Five Great Families. The two remaining Wolf Kings are also candidates.”

The Ten Great Masters Under Heaven literally referred to the ten strongest individuals in Murim at present.

There was no way such people would heed the request of the First Young Lord, who was neither the Geum Family Head nor a confird successor.

Of course, nothing was absolute, but the likelihood was indeed slim.

To put it bluntly, even if Geum Hoyeon sought them out himself, the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven were not people one could easily et.

“The Wolf Kings, huh.”

“He will likely think one is not enough and aim for two at the sa ti.”

“He’s poking everywhere.”

“That ans he’s so impatient he doesn’t even realize it’s a bad move. He must want to win the competition against

at any cost.”

Geum Hoyeon let out a sly smile.

The anxious look he had shown just monts ago had vanished without a trace.

However, Ban Hojin could see it.

That he was forcing himself to act relaxed.

“Isn’t that the sa for you, Young Master Geum?”

“That’s right. That’s also why I am here.”

“I’m honored. That you’re staking everything on .”

“I believe Great Hero Ban is worth that much.”

Geum Hoyeon spoke in a voice without the slightest wavering.

Everyone cursed him as a fool behind his back.

That was when he said he would seek out Ban Hojin, who was not even on the level below the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven.

Moreover, everyone mocked him.

Saying he had given up the succession struggle.

But Geum Hoyeon thought differently.

He only believed what he had seen with his own eyes.

“Do you believe that I can capture the Green Forest Great Lord?”

“Yes.”

“I’m curious as to why.”

“I beca certain when I saw your reaction earlier. When the na Green Forest Great Lord ca up, everyone was shocked, but you alone showed no reaction. Even though you seed to know who the Green Forest Great Lord was, even if not Wall-Severing Blade. And just now, you asked , didn’t you? Whether I could handle things excluding the Green Forest Great Lord. That was you asking about my capabilities, wasn’t it? Whether I could deal with the rest if the Green Forest Great Lord and Wall-Severing Blade were removed.”

Ban Hojin smiled aningfully.

It was because Geum Hoyeon had read his intentions exactly.

At the sa ti, a conviction arose.

With this level of insight, he could beco the master of the Geum Family Estate.

Of course, the First Young Lord’s abilities would also be outstanding.

One could not enjoy such a position rely by being the eldest son.

All the more so when facing Geum Hoyeon.

“Let’s go.”

“…Pardon?”

“The Green Forest Great Lord. I’ll take him for you.”

“Th-thank you! Truly, thank you!”

Geum Hoyeon, who had maintained his composure until now, finally collapsed at the end.

Yet Geum Hoyeon himself did not realize it.

He was too happy to manage his expression.

“Let’s hurry. We need to retrieve the goods before the First Young Lord, don’t we?”

“I will prepare imdiately—so that we can depart tomorrow morning!”

“Then I will prepare accordingly as well.”

Ban Hojin rose from his seat.

From now on, he would be busy, so he was excusing himself.

However, he could not leave easily.

Because Geum Hoyeon, gripping both of his hands, showed no sign of letting go.

“Please entrust it to

with confidence!”

“Yes, then.”

Leaving behind Geum Hoyeon, whose fighting spirit was fully roused, Ban Hojin went outside.

However, the direction he headed was not toward his quarters.

“I will follow you no matter what, hyung.”

“I don’t think you failed to understand what I said.”

“Of course I understood everything. I was there yesterday when Young Master Geum made the investnt proposal to you, hyung.”

“And you still want to go?”

“Of course.”

Seo Joun spoke as though there were no need for further words.

No—an expression like ‘where the needle goes, the thread follows’ would have been more accurate.

That was how little hesitation Seo Joun had.

“Wall-Severing Blade and Taeho Stronghold are only a part of it. The real one is the Chief Escort Slayer.”