Chapter 465: I Have to Find Out the Amount

TL: FoodieMonster007

Yong Jamyeong laughed out loud. When was the last time he had laughed so heartily?

He had to wonder. Did he have some money? Asking this question to the wealthiest man in the Central Plains was no different from asking the Demonic Cult Leader, "Do you know any martial arts?" And the person who made such a joke was the current Young Cult Leader of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

While building the Milky Way Trading Company, he had always been wary of martial artists. Among them, he was most cautious and guarded against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. He felt that if trouble ever broke out, negotiations with them would be impossible. They were beings who seemed like they would surge forward like a tidal wave.

Then, new information about the Demonic Cult had arrived. It was news about this young man standing right before him, the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult.

The information that came in secretly was truly astonishing. Stories that were hard to believe were true. Even as he heard report after report that the Young Cult Leader was different from the demonics of the past, he had thought, how different could he possibly be? A demonic is a demonic, after all.

However, this Young Cult Leader, whom he had met in person, was different. He was completely different. He was an even more special person than the rumors suggested.

"How much would be enough?"

At Yong Jamyeong's question, Geom Mugeuk smiled and replied.

"The more, the better."

"That's the one thing I'm good at."

At his humble words, Geom Mugeuk said something unexpected.

"However, you don't actually have to give it to me."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You just have to pretend to give it."

Yong Jamyeong guessed Geom Mugeuk's intention. He meant that they only needed to leak the information that the Milky Way Trading Company had given a large sum of money to the Western Blade Sect.

"And the question of 'how much would be enough' is something the other party should be hearing, not you, Director."

Yong Jamyeong was impressed with Geom Mugeuk. It was only a moment ago that he had asked to be allowed to stay here. And so, he had been granted three days. In other words, in that short moment, Geom Mugeuk had come up with some kind of plan.

The most extraordinary Young Cult Leader in history.

He was certainly living up to his reputation.

"Young Cult Leader."

"Yes, Director."

Now was the time to formally express his gratitude.

"Thank you."

If it weren't for Geom Mugeuk, he would never have realized that Geom Woojin was his benefactor. If he hadn't asked to hear the old story, if he hadn't asked to see the portrait, if he hadn't seen Geom Woojin's likeness in Geom Mugeuk. He would have never known that Geom Woojin was his benefactor.

Knowing this was what Yong Jamyeong meant, Geom Mugeuk smiled.

"I'm with the richest man in the world, and I get a 'thank you' even when I ask for money."

Yong Jamyeong liked Geom Mugeuk. The Demonic Cult Leader's words, that it wouldn't be a bad thing for him either, now he understood them completely. No, it wasn't just 'not bad'. If he continued to maintain a good relationship with a Young Cult Leader like this, it would be a great help not only to himself but also to the Milky Way Trading Company.

That must have been why these words came out so naturally.

"Those three days start from tomorrow."

For him, every single day was precious.

"The Milky Way Trading Company is plotting something."

The proof was that the head of the Milky Way Trading Company had appeared here in person. The circumstances made it look like the Milky Way Trading Company and the Western Blade Sect were joining hands.

At Geum Arin's words, her bodyguard Lim Hyuk nodded silently.

"The people of the Western Blade Sect are no ordinary figures."

Lim Hyuk recalled Hwi, who had appeared after dropping his concealment. He had never seen such incredible concealment arts. It was the pinnacle of the art, something only those who had trained in it could recognize.

Then, he remembered what Hwi had said.

"Do you want to protect your master? Then stop. Your thoughts, your actions. And shut your mouth."

He had meant it as a warning not to act rashly in that manor.

For some reason, he kept feeling that it was a warning that should be applied to this entire affair.

"That must be why the Director of the Milky Way Trading Company came in person."

She thought of the man named Geom Yeon, and the way his father and uncle had acted. They were not ordinary. The presence his father exuded, in particular, was difficult to describe in words.

"If they've joined hands, then my subordinates were ultimately taken down by the Milky Way Trading Company."

This was a different matter from them simply getting into a fight with some murim sects by chance. It meant that the Milky Way Trading Company could be behind this incident. Of course, the possibility was slim.

If that were the case, they wouldn't have let them leave the manor so easily that day.

"We'll hear from the family."

He had already reported to the family that the head of the Milky Way Trading Company was moving alone.

"I can't just wait until we hear from them."

She had to find out for herself what the relationship between the Milky Way Trading Company and the Western Blade Sect was, and why the head of the Milky Way Trading Company had come here himself. The situation here could be over before that.

"What are you planning to do?"

"I have to find out what's going on through that man, Geom Yeon."

Lim Hyuk looked at her with a worried expression. She had always handled her assignments well until now and certainly had an extraordinary side for her young age. But this time, he had a bad feeling.

Geum Arin could feel Lim Hyuk's concern.

"I know. He's not an easy opponent."

She thought of Geom Mugeuk. When she thought of him, the first thing that came to mind was his smiling, joking face. She knew it is always the strong who smile. Geom Mugeuk's smile came from a place of leisure, and that leisure came from strength.

Just then, a subordinate came and reported.

"Geom Yeon and the head of the Milky Way Trading Company are on the move."

"Just the two of them?"

"Yes, that's right."

"Where to?"

"The Continental Bank."

Geum Arin immediately guessed the reason. What other reason could there be for a merchant and a martial artist to go to a bank? The Milky Way Trading Company must be transferring money to the Western Blade Sect.

She ordered her subordinate.

"Find out secretly how much money was exchanged. You must find out the amount."

That afternoon, Geum Arin came to Geom Mugeuk's residence.

"What is it?"

"I came because I have something to tell you."

"Come in."

"It's stuffy. Let's go for a walk."

Geum Arin refused to enter the house. She knew the Director of the Milky Way Trading Company was still staying here. And this man's father was here too. That place was a tiger's den.

Geom Mugeuk readily accepted her proposal.

"Fine, let's do that."

It was precisely this kind of attitude, the reason she felt she might be able to get something out of this man.

I have to use this man's confidence. I need to stick a straw into that confidence and suck out only the humility. Because when humility disappears from confidence, it becomes arrogance.

The two slowly began to walk toward the market. She walked a little distance away from Geom Mugeuk.

"Why are you walking so far away?"

At Geom Mugeuk's question, Geum Arin answered.

"Have you forgotten? The last time we met, we were trying to kill each other."

"Let's be clear. It wasn't 'each other'. It was a situation where you were trying to kill me."

"The blood of my subordinates is probably still on your sword."

"Because you tried to kill me first."

"Well, you survived, didn't you?"

She was cautious with every word, focusing her entire mind. She had never dealt with this type of person before and had to be on high alert even when he made a single joke.

"But there's one strange thing."

"What's strange?"

"As you know, I ran into the head of the Milky Way Trading Company that day. Their Trading Company's martial artists should have done a background check on me by now, but there's been no movement."

She was probing to see if the Milky Way Trading Company knew about her existence.

In fact, she knew that the bodyguard of the Milky Way Trading Company's head was ironclad and would always investigate any unknown person who made contact.

"I already told them about you."

"What did you say?"

"You heard me that day, didn't you? That you're a woman with good fortune when it comes to food."

When Geum Arin made a dumbfounded face, Geom Mugeuk smiled and added.

"I told them you have a personal connection with me. So, out of consideration for me, they won't investigate you."

Geum Arin paused in her steps for a moment. Naturally, Geom Mugeuk also stopped.

"We have an ill-fated connection."

She deliberately didn't say anything nice to Geom Mugeuk. He had said she had a personal connection with him, which meant he had a favorable impression of her. In times like this, it was better to be cold.

As expected, her opponent did not take it as an ill-fated connection.

"Isn't it too early to tell? Our meeting isn't over yet."

The two started walking again. She subtly stuck a straw into her opponent and took a sip of his humility.

"The Director of the Milky Way Trading Company came to see you personally. You're a more incredible person than I thought."

At that, Geom Mugeuk looked at her with a strange smile. At times like this, his gaze felt as if it could see right through her heart.

"I think you're the more incredible one."

"What do you mean?"

"Didn't you come to see such an incredible person without any fear?"

Such an incredible person? It seemed her earlier words had properly sucked out his humility.

"Why did you come to see me?"

"To be honest, dealing with someone like you is a burden for me too. However, since something has happened, it needs to be concluded one way or another."

As they talked, the two entered the marketplace.

Geom Mugeuk was the first to make a suggestion.

"Let's have a drink."

It was the very suggestion she had been hoping for, but she played hard to get. To get information from her opponent, she couldn't show her eagerness. She had to approach this strategically.

"We're not exactly on terms to sit and drink together."

This was also part of her confidence. A woman's confidence that a man wouldn't refuse just because she played coy like this. The men she had dealt with until now could be handled with a sword, so this charm had been unnecessary.

"But we're not on terms where we can't drink, either. Come on, let's go."

Geom Mugeuk led the way into an inn.

A faint smile appeared on Geum Arin's lips as she followed him in. So far, the plan was going smoothly.

"There are many other taverns, but you seem to like this one."

"Didn't I meet you here? This place is meaningful to me because of you."

Geum Arin flinched at the unexpected words. She stared at Geom Mugeuk, but she couldn't tell if he genuinely thought so or if he was just joking.

"Some drinks over here."

Geom Mugeuk ordered one dish for her and one for himself. After a drink, he asked with a curious expression.

"Let me ask you one thing. Where do you belong?"

"Why do you think I belong somewhere?"

"To be doing this kind of work…"

Geom Mugeuk paused for a moment, and Geum Arin finished his sentence.

"You think I'm too young."

But Geom Mugeuk shook his head.

"No. I was going to say you're not the type of person suited for this kind of work."

"What kind of person is suited for this work?"

"Someone who wouldn't bat an eye at stealing another's family business. Someone who wouldn't hesitate to kill a person who gets in their way."

The corners of Geum Arin's lips curled up slightly as the remark hit home. There was no way a quick-witted woman like her would fail to understand. He was talking about her. He said she wasn't suited for it, but in the end, he was rebuking her.

She was inwardly angry, but she feigned ignorance and changed the subject. She hadn't come to fight, but to get information.

"Your father seems truly amazing. I thought only a martial artist at the level of a sect's Chairman could have a private meeting with the head of the Milky Way Trading Company."

She deliberately praised his father. There was no better way to strip humility from an opponent than by provoking jealousy.

It was just as she had predicted.

"I was the one who suggested we call the Milky Way Trading Company."

"What did you call them for?"

As if it wasn't a big secret, Geom Mugeuk told her.

"The Milky Way Trading Company was secretly looking for a master. A master whose name is not known in the murim. In that respect, my father is the perfect fit. It's been a really long time since he's been active in the murim."

It wasn't a lie. It really had been a long time since his father had been out in the murim.

At this unexpected piece of major information, Geum Arin's mind raced. The Milky Way Trading Company was secretly recruiting a master? But why? The Milky Way Trading Company was filled with numerous masters.

As if he had read her inner thoughts, Geom Mugeuk said.

"I was curious why they needed a master in secret, so I asked them directly."

Geum Arin waited for the answer, inwardly tense.

However, Geom Mugeuk didn't answer and instead drew it out. He called the waiter for more drinks and ordered a new dish. As if he had forgotten what he was saying, he started drinking and changed the subject to the food.

Finally, after a few more drinks, she asked.

"So, why did the Milky Way Trading Company say they were recruiting a master?"

"Ah, did I not tell you?"

By telling the story this way, her suspicion of why he was speaking so easily was dispersed.

"They said there's a secret organization operating in the merchant world. They said they are people who ignore business ethics and disrupt order. They asked us to eliminate them."

Geum Arin was truly shocked but tried hard to act nonchalant. That secret organization was undoubtedly her own. She had expected the Milky Way Trading Company would find out someday, but she hadn't expected them to respond like this.

"Then why aren't they handling it themselves and bringing in an outside force?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Geom Mugeuk said confidently, as if he saw through that as well.

"They intend to take the empty spot left after they're gone."

"That can't be. They're the world number one Trading Company."

Geom Mugeuk drained his cup and said.

"That's probably how they became the world number one Trading Company."

After a moment of silence, Geum Arin asked.

"Why are you telling me these secrets so readily?"

"Because you seemed curious. With this, can we call it a fateful connection instead of an ill-fated one?"

Geom Mugeuk stared intently at Geum Arin.

She had no idea what this man was truly thinking. In any case, she could always verify whether it was true or not later. She decided she had to ask everything she needed to while he was talking so freely.

"How much did they offer you?"

If what Geom Mugeuk said was true, she had to stop them from joining hands. The losses would be far greater than the money used to hire them. No, more than that, her own life was in danger.

Geom Mugeuk, who had been so forthcoming until now, withheld his answer this time.

"Why do you ask?"

"If I offer you more money, you might come to our side, right?"

Geom Mugeuk laughed out loud.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh at you."

He must have thought she was trying to take on the world's number one richest man. Hey, we're in the top three, you know.

"Tell me, how much will it take?"