“Are you trying to lure it through business?”
I nodded at Jeon Gil-san’s words.
“Yeah. It seems Sang-an Sword has been talking about retiring and starting a business since a few years ago when he borrowed money. People at Man Geum Battlefield lent him money because they respected his reputation and will.”
I shook the gathered documents about Sang-an Sword as I spoke.
“I’ve heard of ronins retiring to start businesses often.”
“Living by the sword is harder than it seems. He’s over forty now. It’s about time to consider a second life.”
It’s like a sports player who should start thinking about retirement.
How long can one keep living by the sword? Ho Ga-Jang doesn’t seem to treat people as well as before. Maybe it’s time for a new life.
I was starting to glance at a business I had no interest in before.
“Does that guy have the nerve to fly off with the money?”
“If he’s decided to retire, it might be worth a shot. Even if Sang-an Sword flees somewhere, if rumors spread about a gray-eyed ronin with black hair showing up, collectors from Man Geum Battlefield will stick to him. But if he changes his name and transforms into a businessman, he’ll be hard to find.”
“Indeed…”
“The money he borrowed is a huge amount, but it’s not enough to live on for life. He’s said he has no intentions of farming since the Musu Village days—definitely not planning to start a farm. So what’s left?”
“Only business, right?”
To deceive someone, you must understand them.
Especially, it’s good to know the desires they hold. Desire can make the wisest act foolishly.
“I might not be able to pry the wolf’s mouth open myself, but I can make it throw up.”
I tempt it with what it desires the most. I’ll make it move according to my intentions.
Even a renowned ronin from Hubei Province can be reduced to a puppy in front of a snack.
———
I locked the wolf in my pen.
Not knowing it’s bait, the wolf enjoyed the food I provided for days.
“By the way, you said you’re doing big business?”
A few days later, after giving plenty of time to digest the bait, Sang-an Sword’s words were as expected.
“Haha, big business? I’m just working hard to make ends meet.”
I forced a sheepish smile and waved my hand dismissively.
“I’ve heard otherwise?”
Sang-an Sword questioned me, as if knowing I was aware of everything. Perhaps he didn’t realize I’d told him everything.
“Well, it’s not quite big business yet; I’d call it a unique venture.”
“A unique venture?”
“Brother, are you interested?”
He smiled gently and directly hit the nail on the head without making me feel bad.
“No, it’s not that I’m necessarily interested in the business itself—just curious about what my little brother is up to.”
The wolf seemed embarrassed, as if struck at an unexpected timing, and began rambling. He didn’t even realize his true feelings were pouring out.
“Would you like to come see it?”
I asked, with an innocent expression as if I didn’t care about his reaction at all.
“See it?”
“How could I ignore the curiosity of my respected brother? If you have time, I’ll show you around.”
I had no particular thoughts, but since you’re interested, I felt obliged.
I naturally led his unintentionally revealed true feelings in the direction I wanted.
“Are you sure? You seem busy.”
Cho Cheol couldn’t hide the desire to see it, but he appeared to hesitate, looking apologetic.
“I have plenty of time to spare for my brother.”
“Ahaha… If you say so, I’d like to take a look.”
Of course it’s fine. Why would I keep you in my guest room?
Pretending to have no ulterior motives, I casually offered to show him the business.
——
“This is the core of my business.”
I need to secure investments. To entice someone wanting to start a business, I have to stimulate their greed. So how do I do that?
“Pigeons? No, carrier pigeons.”
All I needed to do was show the business with investment potential.
Just like how a stone bed supposedly generates vitality simply by lying on it, I need to make it seem miraculous.
“Yeah. That’s right. Gugu should greet.”
In the room with the Qi Hands, I introduced the familiar Gugu that Im Ha-yeon left behind.
“Gugu!”
“Could it really understand human language?”
As Gugu greeted Sang-an Sword, Cho Cheol looked at me, as if he had never seen such a thing before.
“It’s more than that. Gugu, dance!”
“Guwuu.”
Why’s this little guy acting so annoyed? He’s acting like a lazy soldier who hates going through training. Come on, do what the officer says.
“Are you telling me you just got some experience? Show the guest your charm!”
Does even a pigeon sigh? Gugu, seemingly resigned, lowered its head and then spread its wings wide.
“Guwu! Guwu! Gugu!”
“Whoa! A carrier pigeon can dance too? Could it be a familiar?!”
Cho Cheol couldn’t close his mouth at Gugu’s performance.
“Not all of them, but this one is a familiar. The rest are just obedient carrier pigeons.”
“I’ve heard it’s impossible to train a familiar without exceptional skill.”
Sang-an Sword looked at me up and down, as if inspecting a rare talent.
“I happened to have the chance to acquire the skill. Gugu! Destruction Laser!”
“Gugu?”
“Can’t use it yet? You need more training.”
Even the other familiars can raise levels and have offspring. You need to step up your game too.
“Gugugugu! Gugu!”
Gugu pecked at my head as if asking what kind of nonsense I was talking about.
“Ouch! Haha.”
“You seem to get along well. So, are you placing food orders with these pigeons?”
“I see you heard. Yes, they are my treasures.”
“I’ve never heard of such a method.”
“That’s something only I can do. Because of that, ordering takeout in Wuhan has become synonymous with the Yun Gi Inn, and vice versa.”
As I gave commands, the pigeons moved in perfect unison. While they weren’t as capable as Gugu, it would surely seem magical to the average person.
“Ha! I should have spent the time training in martial arts to raise carrier pigeons.”
Sang-an Sword clapped his hands in admiration as he watched the Qi Hands.
I presented a business idea dazzling enough to catch one’s eye. But brother, are you considering investing in this business? I still wasn’t ready to discuss that.
“How could my business compare to Sang-an Sword’s reputation? I’ve got more to show you, so let’s head to another venue.”
What I planned for today wasn’t just the Qi Hands.
——
“Quite a fine carriage you’re riding in.”
As soon as Sang-an Sword stepped into my carriage, he kept glancing around inside.
“Since I have many businesses, I often travel by carriage. I went a bit overboard.”
“A carriage like this isn’t what you call going overboard…”
Of course, it was purchased by Miss Zhuge. There was no need to mention that.
A con artist doesn’t ride around in a shabby cart for no reason.
What kind of income could he possibly have from his business? The way he presents himself is part of his income.
If someone is driving an expensive carriage, would they dare default on their debts? It subtly leads to a misunderstanding. Not even he knows how much he truly earns.
I’m glad I made him ride in the carriage. Sang-an Sword’s gaze towards me shifted dramatically.
“Look out the window. Just in time, one of my delivery staff is passing by.”
“Where? That guy in the straw hat—was he one of your delivery staff?”
“Yeah. He’s learned Light Body Movement, so he can deliver orders quickly. Nowadays, takeout is becoming a daily routine in Wuhan.”
“Ha. Looks like business is booming. Just in a short while, I’ve seen three delivery staff.”
Well, that’s because I intentionally had them stationed there.
“I have a great business idea, so you should invest. It’s a surefire scam, but still insufficient to scam someone out of one’s life savings.”
‘You need to show real business thriving right before their eyes if you want to entice them further.’
With carrier pigeons soaring in the sky and delivery staff bustling about, I calmly gazed upon it all from my luxurious carriage.
What do you think? You want to ride that success wave too? Without me needing to say anything, Sang-an Sword was already fixated on the passing delivery staff.
——
“This business isn’t yours, is it?”
Having presented a great business idea and a flourishing operation, it was time to show a chink in the armor.
An opportunity for the investor to dig deeper.
“I supply the carrier pigeons and the delivery staff, while the innkeepers run the businesses.”
I explained the franchise method upon arriving at another store.
“Ah, so it’s similar to if you supplied the raw materials for silk, and then they make and sell silk here!”
“Exactly, brother! Your understanding is extraordinary.”
“Your business acumen is impressive.”
From the business concept to its success, all culminating in the franchise model—Cho Cheol looked at me with a glimmer of awe in his eyes.
“It’s a newly started business, so I’m still trying to keep up.”
“Haha, thanks to all of this, I’m getting a taste of what it feels like to see money.”
The franchise owners kept praising me while standing beside Sang-an Sword.
I never directly told him to invest.
I’m not hogging it all for myself. Just look at the people next to me. It’s a method of sharing with others. If you invest, you can enjoy the same returns.
I only hinted indirectly.
“You can keep elevating your status, but you won’t soar.”
But Sang-an Sword could feel it. He too could rise into the sky.
“Not even a single person can replicate this…”
“Brother?”
“Uh, oh.”
Had he just visited the stars of success? Sang-an Sword looked at me in shock.
“I need to get moving for this business, so I’ll have to take my leave.”
There’s no need to bring up the investment story right away.
To deceive someone, it’s best to stir their greed while concealing your own desires.
Today, I’m just a younger brother resolving my elder brother’s curiosity. It’s time to wait for his ambition to grow larger.
“Alright. Thanks for the show.”
“You can take my carriage back.”
“What? I have sturdy legs; I’m fine.”
“How could I let you walk? You can ride. I need to stop by nearby first, but you can ride back with me later. Driver! Prepare the carriage!”
I pushed Sang-an Sword back, as if saying I couldn’t let him walk, and he slowly backed down, seemingly not minding.
“Yes!”
“Oh, thank you.”
No, thank you.
—
“Now that he rode back in a fine carriage, he’ll probably think that if he starts a business, he too can ride in the same carriage.”
“What a scary guy…”
Jeon Gil-san looked at me with a shiver, scratching his arm.
“A business that seems bound to succeed. A venture others can’t easily jump into. Yet, still a growing business. And seeing his own hometown brother thriving in it.”
“Just hearing about it makes it feel like an immediate investment is necessary.”
“Unless it were a fake business, it’s hard to suspect it since it’s a real venture. How could anyone doubt the results they can see right before their eyes?”
This is why investment scams are terrifying.
A castle built solely on lies can collapse with a slight shock. But what if there are tangible assets and a visible business?
If you stimulate others’ desires and confuse their discernment, you can easily deceive investors.
“While your business is alluring, do you think he’d so easily invest? After all, Sang-an Sword is on the run.”
I had thought about that when planning already.
“If he doesn’t want to live his life always on the run.”
“What are you talking about? Isn’t he already on the run?”
“There’s still room for excuses. I came to Wuhan for business. There was a minor misunderstanding, and I missed the repayment deadline. I may look as if I’ve vanished but I wasn’t fleeing at all.”
“Does that actually work?”
“He didn’t write a ledger, did he? He’s also pondering over things. Man Geum Battlefield is in a situation where excuses can be made, so it’s become a test case.”
As long as he hasn’t liquidated anything, Man Geum Battlefield hasn’t suffered major losses. The reason Sang-an Sword’s name is still in its accounts is probably that it’s still too ambiguous to catch him.
“Ah, got it. But owing a fortune must still weigh on his mind.”
Of course, there remains a chance he might just abandon the business and flee.
But do you think I don’t know that?
“Would I foolishly let the wolf stand on my board?”
“What?”
“I have to make him believe the ship he rides is on fire.”
“The more I observe him, the more extraordinary he becomes…”
Sang-an Sword Cho Cheol muttered to himself as he returned to the inn.
He looks like a solid young man. After all, hadn’t he just said he respects those who’ve worked hard? He didn’t just become a successful businessman for no reason.
His hometown little brother took precious time out of his busy schedule to satisfy his elder brother’s curiosity, yet Cho Cheol’s true feelings were different.
Jealousy. Impressive. And…
“Good grief… Have I wasted my life?”
Having lived his life as a ronin risking it all, and now becoming a fugitive, while his hometown little brother is a renowned businessman in Wuhan.
Sang-an Sword Cho Cheol felt a mix of emptiness and jealousy as he struggled to swallow the alcohol he ordered.
‘He said if I invest, I’d be part of the same business.’
Cho Cheol began fiddling with the ledger in his pocket. He mentioned the business was just starting to take off. So, surely… an opportunity is still there.
‘If I push for it, I’m sure… No, I shouldn’t rush to a decision.’
He was living life under a dark cloud as a fugitive. This was not a matter to be decided lightly.
Cho Cheol raised his glass to down the growing lump of anxiety in his heart.
“Damn that Man Geum Battlefield bunch!”
Sang-an Sword glanced unexpectedly toward the entrance as his voice involuntarily slipped out.
“Man Geum Battlefield? You owe them money?”
“I went to stop by the port, and those Man Geum Battlefield guys stopped me.”
“Why at the port?”
“I don’t know! They wanted to confirm the black-haired guys boarding ships and insisted on getting a good look at me. And then they left. Jeez, what the heck?”
“What’s going on?”
For someone, it was just a minor annoyance. But for another, it felt like something more significant.
“Sir, are you not enjoying the food? Would you like us to bring something else?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine.”
Could it be that Man Geum Battlefield is looking for him?
Ultimately, Sang-an Sword couldn’t bring the cup to his lips. The turmoil in his heart was deepening further.
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