Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#105

“Little brother, have you ever heard of an Amtu-jang? This isn’t something I’d recommend to just anyone.”

“….”

I never thought I’d live to see such a bastard trying to hand over an underground fighting arena.

If you get caught operating one, not only would it be utterly humiliating, but if you’re unlucky, you’d be ostracized as a disgrace to the Jeongpa. And here he is, calling me his precious little brother while trying to casually dump it on me?

And from Namgung Taejin’s completely unbothered expression, I realized once again.

This isn’t his first time doing something like this.

I could see what kind of life he’d lived to reach his current position.

What if.

What if I hadn’t had those three fateful encounters in my previous life and had remained safely in the Namgung Family?

And then, if heaven had fortunately helped me rise to the position of Fourth Young Master?

In the end, I would have been thoroughly used and discarded by Namgung Taejin by now.

According to his plans.

According to the schemes he’d drawn up.

“Oh my, oh my… Just look at little brother’s face. Your complexion doesn’t look good at all. I suppose the negative energy that comes with the word ‘Amtu-jang’ is quite powerful, isn’t it?”

Namgung Taejin leaned back in his chair.

The chair creaked again.

“I understand. I’d feel the same way. Amtu-jang. How frightening does that sound? Especially for an innocent little brother like you. But that’s exactly why I’m telling you this. This is truly an opportunity for you, little brother.”

Right, it’s an opportunity alright.

An opportunity to hang myself when father Namgung Cheonhyeok personally comes to scold me for bringing shame to the family, without even needing the authorities to get involved.

“Brother, an Amtu-jang is an illegal fighting ring, isn’t it? A place where you bring lowlifes to fight each other while people bet money from above. Is my understanding correct?”

“Exactly. This conversation will go quickly.”

Whether Namgung Taejin knew my true thoughts or not, he continued speaking.

“Debtors, remnants of destroyed minor sects, masterless wanderers with nowhere to go. Those kinds of people fight until blood is spilled. The spectators place their bets.”

Namgung Taejin chuckled.

“It’s entertaining. I go watch sometimes too.”

I nodded.

“I see. Are the operating profits decent?”

“That’s where my reason for handing it over to you comes in.”

Namgung Taejin spread both hands wide.

“I have four major streams of income flowing to me. And while the Amtu-jang profits were a great help when they were small and just getting established, for someone at my level, this level of profit is just so-so. If anything, it just brings more headaches. People naturally want to avoid inconveniences as they get richer.”

“So it does make money.”

“It may be pocket change to me, but wouldn’t it earn more than Cheonribang? Given little brother’s current situation, you’re not in a position to be picky about hot or cold rice.”

“That’s not wrong.”

Namgung Taejin clenched his fist.

“Exactly! I want to see little brother Hwi grow. Everyone has their hungry period and things they lack. The capital you accumulate isn’t just simple money—it’s a ticket to enter the higher world more easily and without risk.”

He nodded and continued.

“That’s why we gather money to achieve that. Common people never understand this even if they live their whole lives. Wow, this is actually a truth I learned by paying good money to the Apothecary, and here I am sharing it like this. Little brother, you’re quite fortunate.”

I agree with that truth he claims to have learned from the Apothecary.

Though I haven’t operated a trading company myself, don’t they say all roads lead to the same destination?

But the problem is that he’s using those words as sweet talk while throwing a pile of shit at me.

‘You really have no value worth pitying.’

Anyone with thin ears would be immediately swayed by this natural-born con artist’s words.

No wonder his previous words contained all four elements of the scammers I commonly encounter in requests.

Never tell outright lies.

Appeal to passion.

Extremely exaggerate small facts.

Don’t mention drawbacks unless specifically pressed.

When you persuade someone based on such exaggeration, even suspicious people have no choice but to believe.

Even if they verify separately, they have no choice but to believe since there are no lies.

When confronted later about why the drawbacks weren’t mentioned, they can maintain their justification by brazenly saying, “Oh, I forgot to mention it, but why didn’t you ask?”

In the end, you become blind and have nowhere to complain, which is how all scams begin.

There’s only one way not to fall for this tongue trickery: you must be someone who completely understands this business.

But since that’s impossible for most people, this is the truth of why anyone in any field, at any position, is inevitably exposed to scams.

But conversely, if you surround yourself with capable people in each field as close associates and subordinates before such scams occur, even if I slip up after filtering and filtering, they could warn and stop me from the side.

This was also why I wasn’t simply building martial arts skills but creating a force, making those superior to me into subordinates and gathering them.

“If it’s a recommendation from none other than you, brother, I’m inclined to accept.”

“Really?!”

“Yes, but there’s something I’d like to ask brother Taejin, the only person I trust in this harsh world.”

I take a breath.

“What drawbacks should I know about regarding this? Things I should be mindful of?”

I’ve never seen any villain kick away an opportunity to appear virtuous.

Especially one who’s about to pull a scam.

If I seemed smart, this method would actually raise the other party’s guard and wouldn’t work at all, but since I’m currently the Central Plains’ greatest mark, it’s fine.

Namgung Taejin waved his hand dismissively.

“Well, if we’re talking about drawbacks… Right. It’s small, but since little brother is worried, I’ll tell you everything. It makes money but management is annoying. There are about forty guys belonging to that Amtu-jang. Even if the arena business doesn’t go well, you have to consistently clothe, feed, and house these bastards. Plus there are medical expenses when they get injured, and when they die, you have to handle the cleanup discreetly.”

“Oh my, I see. But seeing how the Amtu-jang keeps running, it must not be a big problem.”

Namgung Taejin, who seemed somewhat anxious about my responses, drinks continuously while speaking.

“That’s right. Little brother knows something after all. Actually, we also have to watch out for the authorities these days. We operate in secret, but I especially have to be careful with my body lately.”

Realizing he’d said too much, he naturally covers it up.

“I’m the Third Young Master, after all. Little brother, you understand my position, right? When you become a big shot like me, you get scrutinized from all sides. The concern about authorities is because I’m running it, but if someone inconspicuous like little brother operated it, it probably wouldn’t matter.”

“Of course. Someone like me who’s already fallen behind in the Young Master competition is different from you, brother.”

So this is why he wants to dump this on me.

He’s under some kind of pressure because of the Zhaoxiang Stronghold incident.

And in the current situation, it seems like from the Third Young Master’s perspective, he’s cleaning house for his next big venture, for entry into the higher world, hastily pruning anything with even slight risk while simultaneously selling everything off to gather every bit of money.

It’s dangerous when he strikes while I’m unaware and defenseless, but when I know all the risks, they’re just reference points, slightly inconvenient obstacles.

I don’t believe a word of what that bastard says about the authorities.

But if I do what I’m thinking, none of it matters anyway.

“I don’t know much, but trusting only in you, brother, I’ll accept that as well.”

“Good. Well done.”

Namgung Taejin cleared his throat.

“So about the price for that, little brother, how much are you thinking?”

“…Excuse me?”

“I think this should fetch at least three gold ingots, unlike Cheonribang. Of course, even this is incredibly cheap.”

I put on a deliberately shocked expression.

“One gold ingot?! Since you spoke that way, I thought it would be at most a hundred silver coins like before, or that you were giving it to me for free!”

Namgung Taejin burst into laughter.

“Haha, little brother’s jokes. Well, little brother doesn’t know how the world works.”

Then he spreads both arms wide.

“The scale there is really big. Plus there are about forty guys who can use swords. Their skills are truly exceptional. How cheap it is to hand that over at this price. Go grab anyone around and ask them. Forty sword-users verified through life-and-death battles for one gold ingot. Plus there’s a training ground and facilities.”

“Ah, it was that large in scale? Then I won’t do it.”

“What?”

Namgung Taejin’s face crumples.

And his drunken face rapidly turns bright red.

“After we’ve been talking so well until now, suddenly? Little brother Hwi, are you messing with me right now?”

“I didn’t know the scale was that large. And above all, you know my situation perfectly well, brother. There’s a limit to what I can earn from pig farming. And also… Ah.”

I spoke urgently as if suddenly realizing something.

“I’m afraid it won’t work. When I think about the drawbacks you mentioned earlier, my heart sinks and I just can’t do it. The authorities? Managing fifty kids there? Oh my, that’s too burdensome for me. I have a weak heart.”

Namgung Taejin’s pleasantly flushed face from drinking seemed to sober up instantly.

He must have thought ‘Oh no.’

A wave of belated regret must have crashed over him like a tide – why did I mention those drawbacks as if I were possessed?

His expression became urgent.

“No, brother. Those things I mentioned before were exaggerated expressions to tell you to be careful, and it’s actually not that dangerous and much easier than you think! This is an opportunity I’m giving you, so why can’t you accept it? I’m telling you, I’m looking out for you right now…”

“Oh my! What’s easy for a heroic figure like you who handles big matters would be different for me. I can’t even manage one person properly and stutter when I speak. If you doubt it, ask Namgung Cheon or the servants at the annex.”

“Gah…!”

I said decisively.

“Since it’s such a big deal, just sell it to someone else at a high price instead. I’m sorry that this incompetent brother cannot accept the grace you’ve offered.”

Then I looked to the side and added like a soliloquy.

“Ah… I really wanted to accept it. Aah… I’m frustrated because I don’t have money. If only I had money, even though there are those drawbacks and I’m scared, I would have taken it over immediately and lived up to your expectations. Aah, this pathetic situation of mine is shameful. If only I had the heroic spirit that doesn’t fear drawbacks, I could have lived up to your expectations!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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