Jang Pyeong, the Deputy Merchant Master of the True Martial Merchant Company.
When he had been dying of illness, it was Jeok Rihyeon who brought him home, treated him, and saved his life.
Afterward, Jang Pyeong became a loyal subordinate who would do anything for Jeok Rihyeon.
He also possessed exceptional business acumen, yet for some reason, he had always refused to take the Merchant Master’s seat.
When Jeok Rihyeon asked why, Jang Pyeong answered that he was not fit to occupy such a position.
So Jeok Rihyeon ultimately made him Deputy Merchant Master and granted him authority nearly equal to that of the Merchant Master.
Even then, Jang Pyeong never abused that authority. He followed the Merchant Master’s judgment, exercising his own authority only when the Merchant Master chose the wrong course, and then only to minimize the damage.
“Jang Pyeong. You know my son, don’t you?”
At Jeok Rihyeon’s words, Jang Pyeong smiled as he looked at Jeok Wigang.
“Eldest Young Master. It has been a long time. I wonder whether you still remember me.”
“I do. You used to buy me sweets all the time when I was little.”
“Ha ha. So you do remember. You have grown so much. I heard the news as well. You passed the imperial examination, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“And what about an official post?”
“What official post? I need to help the family.”
“After studying so hard and passing the examination, don’t you think it is a waste?”
“Not at all.”
“Goodness. That is remarkable. I could never do that. I would think it far too wasteful.”
“Family comes before an official post.”
“What brings you here today?”
At Jang Pyeong’s question, Jeok Rihyeon cleared his throat and spoke carefully.
“Ahem. Well, it is this... Wigang says he wants to grow the True Martial Merchant Company. I thought I would let him take charge of it.”
“Oh! We would welcome that, of course. Who would turn away a man who passed the imperial examination? Besides, as the eldest son of the family, he ought to be put in charge of something and learn to run it. You made a good decision. However...”
“What is it? Is there something you find objectionable?”
“Nothing of the sort. It is simply that the Company is not in a very good state at the moment. I am concerned that the Eldest Young Master may end up suffering because of it.”
“Why should you feel sorry? The responsibility for all of this belongs to me, the one ultimately in charge.”
“Goodness, Gate Master. How could this be your fault? You trusted me with it, and this incompetent fool failed to manage the Company properly.”
Jeok Wigang, who had been listening to their exchange, spoke up.
“The Company is struggling. That is why I stepped in. Do not worry. From now on, it will continue to prosper without any more trouble.”
Jang Pyeong burst out laughing at Jeok Wigang’s confident declaration.
“Ha ha ha ha! As expected of the Eldest Young Master! I will serve you faithfully and make the True Martial Merchant Company the greatest merchant company in the Central Plains.”
Jeok Wigang grinned.
“I look forward to working with you, Uncle Jang.”
“Pardon? Uncle? Please just call me Mister Jang, as you did when you were younger.”
“I cannot do that. You are practically family to us, Uncle Jang. Right, Father?”
“Of course. Others may not know it, but Pyeong is no different from family to us.”
Jang Pyeong looked deeply moved by their words.
“I am truly honored that you would say so. But calling me Uncle... Eldest Young Master, that is too much.”
“That settles it. I will call you Uncle from now on, so I will be relying on you.”
“E-Eldest Young Master...”
“Come now. Do you think you can change Wigang’s mind? I cannot, so just accept it.”
At Jeok Rihyeon’s words, tears filled Jang Pyeong’s eyes. He bowed his head.
“Thank you.”
“Take good care of my son from now on.”
“Do not worry. I will serve him with everything I have.”
*****
Jeok Wigang became the Merchant Master of the True Martial Merchant Company.
Jang Pyeong gathered the Company’s senior staff and courteously introduced them to him.
Yet even as they listened to Jang Pyeong’s introduction, the executives wore expressions full of dissatisfaction.
Jang Pyeong frowned at the sight.
“What are those looks? You are standing before the newly appointed Merchant Master.”
Only then did the executives relax their expressions.
“They are merely nervous because it is their first meeting, Eldest Young Master. Ah, no—Merchant Master.”
“It is all right. I am young and inexperienced, so naturally all of you will have doubts about my taking this position. Rather than boast a hundred times about how well I will do, I will prove it myself and earn your recognition.”
“Ha ha ha! As expected, you are remarkable. I, Jang Pyeong, will fully support and assist you, Merchant Master.”
“Thank you.”
“Now then, everyone, introduce yourselves to our Merchant Master.”
At Jang Pyeong’s prompting, a man seated at the very front rose to his feet. He wore scholar’s robes.
“I am Jang Taero, the Chief Administrator of the True Martial Merchant Company. I oversee administration and logistics.”
With Jang Taero leading the way, the others rose in succession and introduced themselves.
“I am Song Daeyu, head adviser in charge of intelligence and market analysis.”
“I am Han Yurim, the bookkeeper who manages the Company’s accounts.”
After everyone had introduced themselves, a huge man rose from the last seat and clasped his hands in salute.
“I am Ha Muhyeon, Chief Escort of the True Martial Merchant Company.”
Jeok Wigang asked him, “How many escort guards do we currently have?”
Ha Muhyeon sighed.
“We have fewer than thirty escort guards remaining. We have only five escort captains to command them as well. We can barely put together a trading run.”
“So that is the biggest problem.”
“Yes. If a merchant company cannot send out trading runs, that is fatal.”
“I understand. Then we need to get escort captains and guards in place first.”
He said it as casually as though he were pulling candy from his pocket. Ha Muhyeon frowned.
“This is not a problem that can be solved simply by hiring people. Escort guards protect the cargo. It is not work just anyone can do. The escort captains who command such guards must also have extensive experience with trading runs. Only then can they respond quickly to unexpected situations. People like that are difficult to find. This is not something that can be filled in a short period.”
“I was not speaking lightly either. The True Martial Merchant Company is what supports the True Martial Sect. How could I treat it lightly?”
“Then I am relieved. You made it sound too easy, so I offered my advice.”
“I can see how it may have sounded that way. Thank you for the advice.”
Jeok Wigang accepted his advice without taking offense. That alone made Ha Muhyeon think a little better of him.
“No, thank you for hearing me out.”
“I told them to come here by tomorrow. Chief Escort, see them for yourself and make your own judgment.”
“Tomorrow? Are you saying you have already recruited people?”
“Yes. It is the most urgent matter, is it not?”
“I-I understand that, but did I not just explain? This is not something that can be decided so easily.”
“That is why I am telling you to see them and judge for yourself.”
Ha Muhyeon immediately withdrew the favorable impression he had formed of Jeok Wigang.
At the same time, he lamented inwardly, convinced that the future of the True Martial Merchant Company was growing dim.
How much chaos would this immature brat cause after taking the Merchant Master’s seat?
There was nothing he could say for now.
Even if he objected, it would be useless.
Jang Pyeong, the power behind the True Martial Merchant Company, was supporting Jeok Wigang.
The other executives might have their own misgivings, but they would follow along.
“Very well. When the escort guards you summoned arrive tomorrow, I will inspect them and make my judgment.”
“Take them and put out the immediate fire first. You said there were four trading runs that needed to depart at once.”
“That is correct. Once I see them tomorrow, I will report whether they are fit for a trading run.”
“No. You can trust them. Begin preparing the trading runs to depart at once.”
“Merchant Master!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Ha Muhyeon finally raised his voice.
“Chief Escort! You stand before the Merchant Master. Watch yourself!”
“Deputy Merchant Master!”
Ha Muhyeon felt as though he would choke to death from frustration.
Then Jeok Wigang spoke.
“You do not know me well enough yet, so of course you are frustrated. But I am the Merchant Master. Could you trust me with this, at least for now?”
Ha Muhyeon stared at him for a moment before eventually nodding with a resigned expression.
“Very well. I accept your command.”
“Then make every preparation so the trading runs can depart tomorrow. You all know this better than I do, but the longer they are delayed, the greater the Company’s losses will become.”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, everyone nodded.
He was not wrong.
“Understood. Then we will prepare the trading runs.”
“Yes. Please do.”
The executives filed out in a group. Jang Pyeong then spoke to Jeok Wigang.
“They are only acting that way because this is their first meeting. Please do not take their behavior too much to heart.”
“I am not hurt.”
Jeok Wigang grinned.
“It cannot be helped. They know nothing about me. But that will not happen again. Before long, they will believe anything I say.”
He was overflowing with confidence.
Perhaps a little too much confidence.
“Confidence is good, but too much of it becomes arrogance, Merchant Master.”
“You do not find me entirely reliable either, Uncle Jang.”
“N-No, that is not what I meant...”
“I will show you. Trust me and watch.”
“Understood, Merchant Master.”
The truth was that Jang Pyeong did not fully trust him.
But he decided he would believe in him for now.
*****
The next day.
Ha Muhyeon looked over the gathered men with a bewildered expression.
He had come to the place Jeok Wigang had told him to visit, only to find it full of men with vicious, intimidating faces.
The moment Ha Muhyeon saw them, he instinctively understood one thing.
Every person here was stronger than he was.
That was why he was startled.
Men like these would never become escort guards.
Assuming he had come to the wrong place, he asked cautiously.
“E-Excuse me. You are not here because the Merchant Master of the True Martial Merchant Company summoned you, are you?”
At his question, the men snapped their heads toward him and glared menacingly.
Ha Muhyeon hurriedly added, “Ha ha. My apologies. It seems I have mistaken you for someone else...”
“Are you the Chief Escort sent by the Merchant Master of the True Martial Merchant Company?”
“Y-Yes, I am.”
At his answer, every man sprang to his feet and shouted in booming voices.
“We are applicants for escort guard positions with the True Martial Merchant Company! We look forward to working with you!”
“R-Really?”
“Yes! Just give us the chance! We will work hard!”
They stood at rigid attention.
“Escort work is difficult. Are you truly certain?”
At Ha Muhyeon’s question, the man at the front asked with a grave expression.
“Are we not good enough? Everyone gathered here is at the supreme level.”
Supreme-level martial artists.
So he had not been mistaken after all.
“Should we have brought people at the Transformation Realm?”
Ha Muhyeon nearly leaped out of his skin.
“What? W-What are you talking about? How could Transformation Realm masters work as escort guards?”
“It seemed as though the Chief Escort was not satisfied with us.”
“Not satisfied? You are far more than enough.”
Only then did the men smile.
“Ha ha ha! Chief Escort, you had us worried. We were afraid we might not pass.”
“So you are hiring us, right?”
A dreadful sense of foreboding came over him, as though he might be killed on the spot if he said no.
“Of course. The honor is mine.”