“Are you looking for a match today?”
“What?”
“Come on, aren’t you going to clean that scruffy beard and smooth down your hair? It looks like you’ve been wrestling with a mop.”
“Stop with the nonsensical chatter!”
At Gwang Jae-ryeon’s roar, Jae Sang-hae flinched. It wasn’t that he was scared, but rather his eardrums were taking a hit from that massive sound wave. While Jae Sang-hae held his ears and groaned, Gwang Jae-ryeon quickly made his escape.
“Ugh, what a foolish guy.”
While watching Gwang Jae-ryeon’s retreating back, Jae Sang-hae let out a sigh. This was a meeting on a whole different level than a matchmaking event. One might wonder just how much effort it took for that guy to clean himself up.
“Do your best. Not that it would matter what you do anyway.”
Jae Sang-hae mumbled to himself.
Gwang Jae-ryeon hurried towards the Gold Iron Workshop. Upon arriving at Mak-yul’s forge within the workshop, he found Mak-yul and an old man waiting.
“Oh, you’re here.”
“Nice to see you. I am So I-ji, the headman of the Gold Iron Workshop.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Senior. I’m Gwang Jae-ryeon.”
Gwang Jae-ryeon quickly bowed to So I-ji. It was only right to show respect to the man who had given him this opportunity, and just one look made it clear that he had spent his life tending to fire and iron.
“Haha, I’ve only seen you pass by from afar, but you truly have the physique of a master blacksmith.”
“Thank you, Elder.”
“So soon, investors will be arriving, so let’s move to the reception room.”
The two men sat across from each other in the reception room.
“Well, since we have some time before the investor arrives, let’s talk about him.”
“Of course!”
“Now… are you aware of the recent chaos in the merchant world?”
“Not really. If you could enlighten me, I’d appreciate it.”
“Then have you heard the rumors about the Jeomchang Faction’s Yeo Il-ye?”
“Yes. The revenge saga of Great Hero Yeo Il-ye is quite famous.”
The revenge tale of Yeo Il-ye from the Red Bamboo Swordswoman had become one of the most renowned stories across the world. A sword-wielding hero taking a stand against prominent figures and powerful individuals embroiled in unknown evil deeds.
How could people not be captivated when what seemed like a tale from a storybook had become a reality?
“The Hwang Gold Clan was one of the leaders controlling Sacheon’s economy. With that clan uprooted, the merchants of the Sacheon Merchant Alliance have suffered both big and small losses… The disruption in Sacheon has spread throughout the Central Plains, causing considerable chaos in the merchant world. Naturally, those who invested their money into the merchant guild are getting uneasy.”
“Indeed…”
“Thanks to this, there have been constant investors wanting to invest in the Gold Iron Workshop. People are calculating that the Gold Iron Workshop, tied closely to the nation, won’t shake from these turbulent winds.”
Gwang Jae-ryeon swallowed hard at So I-ji’s words. Could this be a chance to ride the waves? But negative thoughts filled his head. Isn’t it true that investors pulling money away from regular trading houses are becoming more risk-averse?
Investing in new technologies is the gamble of all gambles. Would cautious investors really have their eyes on the Gold Iron Workshop?
“But here’s the thing. The investor we meet today seems particularly determined to invest.”
“Hmm…”
“I’ve spent my life hammering metal, so I have a knack for these things. Recently, while the iron industry is doing well, this investor feels different from the ones who come riding the wave of current trends. So, I dropped a hint to Mak-yul.”
“So, you are saying you provided me with an opportunity. I’m truly grateful.”
“No need for that. It’s all thanks to your skills. I had been observing from afar when I heard that Mak-yul was sharing his forge with someone else. Seeing you hammer metal made me think that introducing an investor wouldn’t soil my name.”
“Elder…”
Ding-ding.
The bell rang. It was a signal that the guest had arrived. So I-ji quickly recalled what he hadn’t mentioned because of the bell.
“Oh, and there’s one thing you should be careful about. Mind your gaze.”
“…Mind my gaze?”
“Yes. The client will likely be accompanied by a strikingly beautiful veiled lady, so don’t stare too obviously!”
A realization struck Gwang Jae-ryon.
The investor… wasn’t he connected to the Commander of the Golden Guards?
And the stunning veiled woman? Could it be from the Inn?
No way?
Just as a strange intuition slapped Gwang Jae-ryon,
Creak.
The reception room door swung open.
“Welcome, Senior Ho Cheon-an.”
“Good to see you, Headman So.”
“Please, have a seat.”
Gwang Jae-ryon blinked, dazed as he watched the two exchange formalities. At that moment, even the beautiful veiled lady Black Cat in Gwang Jae-ryon’s eyes faded away.
Gwang Jae-ryon’s gaze locked with Ho Cheon-an’s.
“…And you are?”
“Oh, do the two of you know each other?”
“Well, I guess we could say so.”
At Ho Cheon-an’s meaningful words, So I-ji, sensing the tension, hurriedly invited the two to sit. A heavy silence fell upon the four as cups of tea and snacks were placed in front of them.
“Training student Gwang Jae-ryeon.”
“Yikes!”
“Are you here as a representative of the Gold Iron Workshop, looking to attract investment?”
At Ho Cheon-an’s question, Gwang Jae-ryeon started sweating profusely. How should he navigate this situation? He wanted that investment, but he wasn’t even sure if he had a concrete plan ready after actually receiving it.
The odds of igniting that hope were harshly slim.
To Gwang Jae-ryeon, Ho Cheon-an’s inquiry felt like a judgment bench.
A panel that would judge his fence-sitting behavior.
“Um…”
Gwang Jae-ryeon stammered, lowering his head. He thought he’d hammer metal if he managed to secure an investment, but he was also considering becoming a Commander of the Golden Guards to slowly pay off the workshop’s debts if things went south.
Faced with an investor, he planned to persuade them based on the genuine potential of the Gold Iron Workshop, but with Ho Cheon-an as that investor, he couldn’t lift his gaze.
If he failed to persuade the investor, he could always be a Commander of the Golden Guards…
But he knew better than anyone that Ho Cheon-an was aware of his flimsy thoughts.
“Training student Gwang Jae-ryeon, even if I’m your instructor, you’re still a trainee. But beyond that, you and I are currently investors, and you are the one seeking investment, correct? When do you plan to stop keeping your mouth shut?”
Gwang Jae-ryeon clenched his fists.
“I didn’t expect to meet you here, but I’ve already said it. You must carve your own path. Let me ask you again, Gwang Jae-ryeon. Are you here as a trainee of the Golden Guards, or as the representative blacksmith of the workshop?”
Finally, Gwang Jae-ryeon realized.
‘What a fool I’ve been!’
In the end, he realized he was just a coward. Low chances for receiving investment? Nonsense!
He was simply scared.
Scared to abandon the stable and honorable path as a Commander of the Golden Guards to become the heir to a workshop burdened with debt, embarking on the uncertain challenge of developing a new forging technique.
Metal? He wanted to hammer it. New forging technique? He wanted to develop it.
But he lacked the courage.
He couldn’t summon the bravery to leave the position of a Commander of the Golden Guards and become a lost soul practicing spear techniques like Jo Ga-ju. Unlike Kang Chumo-ru, who resumed his position in the Imperial Army, he merely felt paralyzed by fear.
So, paralyzed by fright, he did nothing, muttering excuses to comfort himself that it wouldn’t matter anyway because investments would be difficult – that the grapes were sour.
“…My father discovered a clue for a new steel forging technique.”
It was an unexpected beginning to the conversation, yet all three waited for Gwang Jae-ryeon to continue.
“However, as the research progressed, I began to feel the limits of our current equipment. To create the new steel, we need a high-heat furnace, and for that, we need considerable funds to build new facilities. Naturally, unexpected problems arose when creating something that doesn’t exist in the world.”
“Although we gained experience and technology to create large facilities, the issue was capital. By that point, the workshop’s funds were already tapped, and we were borrowing money from various places. Hence, the Gold Iron Workshop is already in significant debt.”
“Is that so?”
“To be frank, the Gold Iron Workshop has a long history and is already a fully-fledged workshop for a standard level. Its profitability is optimized, and expanding it any further would be at its limit.”
“Investing a meager amount won’t yield any benefits, then?”
“If I may be so bold, that’s correct. It would be better to invest elsewhere. For the Gold Iron Workshop to have investment potential… We’d have to restart the research on the new forging technique.”
“In that case, how much is needed to resume research on that new forging technique?”
“…First, we need to make our initial payments to the surrounding merchants and investors. Otherwise, they wouldn’t allow a workshop spending funds on research for a new forging technique. That first amount would be a hundred golden nyang. Also… we’d require funds to build the new furnace.”
“How much would that amount be?”
“Again… I think we’d also need around a hundred golden nyang for that.”
Gwang Jae-ryeon hung his head. Even he thought it was an unrealistic amount. Who would burn 200 golden nyang on this nonsensical research of a forging technique? The investors from Hebei had long since abandoned the Gold Iron Workshop.
But still…
Let’s do what we can. Gwang Jae-ryeon thought as he set down the bi-do in his grasp.
“Please take a look at this bi-do.”
“Interesting. Is this a bi-do made by you, Training student Gwang Jae-ryeon?”
“Yes. I spent three days working hard to make it. I think it’s quite good.”
Watching Ho Cheon-an fiddling with the bi-do, Gwang Jae-ryeon desperately continued to speak.
“It’s ambitious of me, but I was once expected to become the best craftsman in Hebei. I believe my skills as a blacksmith are not bad. Furthermore, the Gold Iron Workshop has established itself in Hebei for a long time, with rich experience and a decent reputation! If only I could secure the investment, I believe we have the capacity to succeed in the research of the new forging technique!”
Ho Cheon-an set the bi-do down. Gwang Jae-ryeon swallowed hard.
“Training student Gwang Jae-ryeon.”
“Yikes!”
“You haven’t mentioned something to me, have you?”
Gwang Jae-ryeon’s heart sank.
“Let’s say that the research on the new steel forging technique succeeds. From then on, we’d have to forge the new steel to sell. Wouldn’t we start profiting only after that? How many people would be willing to buy unproven new products, no matter how revolutionary they are?”
Gwang Jae-ryeon couldn’t retort, lowering his head.
“Development, distribution, and production are distinctly different processes. If the product is good, dominating the market isn’t difficult, but for that, more investment is needed, and how do you plan to cover those costs?”
“Then… if we could at least pour out ingots, we could persuade investors.”
“Really? Haven’t the investors been burned badly by the Gold Iron Workshop already? In a situation where the entire merchant world is staggering, I doubt aggressive investors are around.”
“…”
Gwang Jae-ryeon had no words and only lowered his head. Ho Cheon-an’s words were undeniably correct. He could toss around empty promises or flowery words as much as he wanted, but he couldn’t find the courage to speak them out loud.
“For clearing the debts of the Gold Iron Workshop, we need 100 golden nyang. To secure personnel and equipment for the new forging technique, we’d need another 100 golden nyang. Also for distribution and market dominance… well, at least another 100 golden nyang.”
Ho Cheon-an’s mention of this unrealistic amount weighed heavily on Gwang Jae-ryeon.
It’s the end.
Yes, the mere expectation of securing hundreds of nyang in investment based on just a few words was the real mistake. There’s no way it could be that easy to receive someone else’s money. It was just a delusion.
As Gwang Jae-ryeon was trying to calm himself down,
“I’ll invest 300 golden nyang.”
At Ho Cheon-an’s words, Gwang Jae-ryeon’s head shot up. The enormous amount Ho Cheon-an had just mentioned left So I-ji with his mouth agape.
“…Why?”
“Because I see potential. Since this workshop conducts business, I don’t think it’s absurd to consider that new technology. Even though it’s overwhelmed with debt, the very fact that it’s still holding on is a testament to the workshop’s strength. Additionally, the quality of the bi-do Gwang Jae-ryeon made also weighed positively in my evaluation…”
Gwang Jae-ryeon gazed at Ho Cheon-an with trembling eyes. Ho Cheon-an smiled back at him.
“I believe more than anything else that Training student Gwang Jae-ryeon will succeed. I’ve seen you and think you are that kind of person.”
“Instructor…!”
Tears streamed down Gwang Jae-ryeon’s face, blurring his vision in an instant.
“Thank you so much..! Thank you! Really, truly!”
He kept repeating his words of thanks.
Feelings of gratitude for receiving hundreds of nyang in investment. A sense of achievement from being acknowledged by his instructor. Regret for putting more burden on Ho Cheon-an by dropping out as a trainee. Relief from the pressure of the workshop’s debts being alleviated. Hope for being able to research a new forging technique. And excitement for being able to work with iron again.
All those emotions intertwined, swelling within him, pouring out as tears.
Ho Cheon-an simply placed a hand on the shoulder of the silently weeping Gwang Jae-ryeon.
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