Chapter 34
Half of the notches Yeonhwa used were spent on drawing pictures rather than letters.
When I asked her to tell me about the Hao Sect, she showed up with blueprints.
As if she already knew what I would do.
‘Either that, or she was testing me.’
If that weren’t the case, she would at least have asked what kind of information about the Hao Sect I needed first.
I snorted a laugh. She really had no fear.
Even after losing an arm, she still pulled tricks like this. At this point it wasn’t deliberate deception so much as a habit.
‘Still, I like that she gets the job done on her own.’
Maybe I could call that a cute quirk. But there was something I needed to confirm with Yeonhwa first.
“How should we handle the central branch?”
I intended to decide what to do based on her answer.
She must have guessed that.
“……”
Yeonhwa looked more cautious than I had ever seen her. Where she normally answered immediately, this time she hesitated and seemed to weigh several responses. Thanks to that, a better-than-expected answer came from her mouth a moment later.
“If you need, we can assign one of our most skilled technicians to you.”
That meant they were willing to accept being accomplices. It was an answer far from the evasive ‘find a way out later’ style of the Hao Sect. At the same time, it was the best offer they could make.
“That’ll do.”
When I smiled, Yeonhwa finally exhaled the breath she’d been holding. She had been tense, trying to read my intentions.
“Shall we proceed as proposed?”
I shook my head. Despite being a decent offer, I didn’t need it.
After thinking, I realized I already had a superb technician. Right.
‘I almost forgot Sahun existed.’
No matter how skilled a Hao Sect technician was, could they be more useful than a shinigami? Thinking back, the blueprints Yeonhwa had given me were practically unnecessary. They seemed to be cobbled together from secondhand accounts by people who hadn’t directly obtained the plans; gaps were visible everywhere. If I asked Sahun, he’d produce a better blueprint in a day.
Further,
‘If it’s Sahun, he could probably extract all the Hao Sect’s info given a day.’
Of course, it might not be that easy. The Hao Sect was a loose network and even their central information group frequently changed location and members to avoid being exposed. If you don’t know where and how they operate, what could even a shinigami do? Then again, maybe I simply didn’t fully understand the shinigami’s abilities.
‘It’s not urgent.’
If the Hao Sect bowed first and brought useful information, there was no need to give Sahun errands right away. At least for now.
‘I can tell him later if needed. For now, have the Hao Sect gather a reasonable amount of intel in advance.’
With Yeonhwa right in front of me, that wouldn’t be hard—just follow them and observe for a few days. I’d discuss it after the Geum-chosahn matter was wrapped up.
“Now, then—let’s talk payment for the information.”
“……Very well.”
Yeonhwa showed the expression of someone who knew this moment would come. So-geum, standing like bodyguard behind her, looked more serious than ever.
I had said several times that I had no intention of giving away the martial art of the Guiheoja for this level of information. I made that boundary clear before starting.
“With this much, I won’t even teach you how to take a single step forward, never mind transfer other martial arts.”
I drew a firm line while mentioning Guiheobo. There was never any intention of handing over the martial art I’d shown. From my perspective it was obvious, but I imagined Yeonhwa would find it awkward. I expected some flustered or embarrassed reaction—yet my prediction was wrong from the very start.
“We at the Hao Sect think the same. Guiheobo is regarded as no lesser than the famous techniques of the martial world. Ascension-level skills can’t be bought with gold. Therefore, we have a proposal for Geum Gongja.”
Oh? Well then.
She nodded at me, urging me to continue. Relaxing, Yeonhwa took out the card she’d prepared.
“For the next ten years, the Hao Sect will provide all the information we hold to Geum Gongja for free. After ten years, Geum Gongja may take Guiheobo from us.”
“You expect me to wait ten years to receive it?”
“Yes.”
Honestly, I hadn’t expected the Hao Sect to make such an offer.
‘This changes the calculation.’
It wasn’t a bad deal. Free access to all their information, and a generous ten-year term on top of that.
‘They prepared terms you can’t buy with money the same way ascension martial arts can’t be bought with money.’
Information can create value beyond money depending on how it’s used. In a sense, Hao Sect had already played their strongest card from the start.
‘This is how determined they are to obtain the Guiheoja.’
If I hadn’t thought of Sahun, I might’ve been tempted to accept right away. But knowing how Sahun could be used, the offer wasn’t irresistibly tempting. Still, it was worth thinking about. Ten years. Even after considering, it was a solid term. The value—even roughly calculated—was beyond imagination. Above all, the fact they valued the Guiheobo so highly felt flattering.
‘They came well prepared.’
Unlike at first, I decided I could at least entertain some negotiation. If they’d proposed one or two years, I would have shut it down and chased them off. Seeing some payoff from the trouble I’d gone through, I started to speak slowly.
“You’ve proposed well.”
Yeonhwa, who’d been tense, brightened considerably.
“Does that mean you accept our proposal?”
Her voice was full of expectation. For her sake, I slowly shook my head. They couldn’t be given what they wanted so easily. After all, of the things they had done in the past…
“I’ll add one condition.”
“Say it.”
Yeonhwa probably didn’t plan to give in easily; she nodded in agreement. But at my next line her expression hardened.
“If I don’t like what you bring me, I want the right to void this offer entirely.”
“You mean……”
“Yes. I mean that the Hao Sect’s ten-year goodwill might be rendered null if it’s unsatisfactory.”
Yeonhwa’s face completely lost control. Despite her efforts to maintain composure, incredulity, annoyance, and even anger showed through. But I wasn’t joking, and I had no intention of backing down.
“Why? Are you not confident you can please me?”
To me this was already a big concession. If they truly pleased me, I’d seriously consider handing over Guiheobo. I’d retreated far from my original stance—that much was true. But Yeonhwa had no way of knowing that; she looked unmoved and couldn’t answer immediately. Gradually she calmed and managed to hold her expression, but she still seemed unable to decide. A careful answer was better than any careless sound. I didn’t hurry her; I intended to wait patiently for her to speak. Unexpectedly, someone else answered first.
“We accept that condition.”
My gaze shifted to So-geum, standing off to Yeonhwa’s side. He had been the one to speak. But his gaze wasn’t on me—it was on Yeonhwa. He’d directed those words to her.
“In any case, we have no other option.”
Some might see that as groveling, but I thought differently.
‘Clever.’
It was a smart move. Was there another way for them to take Guiheobo? They could try to subdue me, or take hostages among my associates to coerce me. Those methods might be attempted, but such paths would never get them what they truly wanted. So-geum had seen the only viable option: negotiate and wait. That deserved praise. And one more person deserved praise.
“I’ll accept that condition.”
Yeonhwa herself—she had accepted. I was a little surprised.
‘It actually worked?’
I had set the condition, but I hadn’t expected it to be accepted so readily. If negotiation failed, I was prepared for a show of force—but that became unnecessary, and I smiled with satisfaction at that.
“Very well. I’ll accept the Hao Sect’s proposal.”
“No backing out now.”
I chuckled at Yeonhwa’s sudden seriousness.
“Am I that fickle? If you don’t trust me, shall we sign a contract?”
“We’d be grateful.”
At Yeonhwa’s request So-geum hurried forward. Apparently, a contract had been prepared. That wasn’t odd—if they made a proposal, a contract should accompany it. But when I read to the final clause, even I was taken aback.
[If the Hao Sect’s work is found to be insincere or inadequate, Geum Gongja may consult with the present party to annul this contract.]
They had added that in advance?
“When I say no backing out, I meant it.”
When I looked up after reading that clause, Yeonhwa was smiling radiantly as if nothing had happened. At that moment I realized.
‘I got played.’
I asked the smiling Yeonhwa—the most beautiful smile I had seen today—one question.
“Did you come intending to cover all my interests from the beginning?”
“In that sense, yes.”
“So you were acting from the start?”
“If you wish, I’ll even offer my remaining arm.”
Her eyes conveyed that she’d been prepared to do exactly that. When I asked why she’d gone so far, her answer came back simply.
“Because this is cheaper.”
Her audacious reply left me feeling vaguely hollow and smiling helplessly. She had a point. If she’d stated this condition from the start, what would have happened?
‘They would have added more conditions.’
Those additional conditions would’ve been even harder for the Hao Sect to accept. Naturally, they would have resisted. Who would have guessed she’d anticipated that and acted from the beginning? This time she’d fooled even me completely.
“This is my defeat.”
I admitted it cleanly. I had lost. Even after being outplayed, I didn’t feel too bad. They were more prepared to accommodate me than I’d imagined, and I’d wasted energy digging a useless well.
“Let’s get along from now on.”
I extended my hand first. At the same time, I reminded myself once more: Hao Sect folks—don’t trust them again.
