Emperor Namgung Mu of the Thousand Years - Chapter 38

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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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#038

 

“Not something like a needle, but something thick and sharp, the kind used in cattle slaughterhouses.”

 

At my answer, the Sword Master’s brow furrowed slightly.

 

“Hah, what’s with the awl? Are you going to do some sewing with it?”

 

“I read in an old document that a very small number of butchers in the countryside, for efficiency’s sake, instantly kill massive cattle and pigs in slaughterhouses using only an awl, not even a hammer. More efficient than a knife, they say—wouldn’t that make you curious? Of course, I’m not planning to kill people. I’m just curious, that’s all.”

 

“…Where does some precious young master get off spouting nonsense from books he doesn’t even understand? I thought this was just a simple order for some sewing awl—”

 

“I’ll place the order.”

 

I cut off the Sword Master’s words like a blade.

 

“The awl’s material should be black steel and cold iron in a seven-to-three ratio. If the black steel ratio is too high like these alley workshops commonly do, the awl tip will easily break under impact. Fold it at least twelve times, and can you do differential heat treatment? I trust that a workshop in this alley can naturally handle that much.”

 

Instantly, all playfulness vanished from the Sword Master’s face.

 

The other workshop masters murmured among themselves.

 

“…How does a rich family’s young master know such things?”

 

Without pause, I continued speaking.

 

“The center of gravity should be toward the handle. Precisely at the point where three finger joints wrap around it. Stability when gripping in reverse is important. Make the handle from tanned shark leather. The passage about it not slipping from your hand even when covered in blood or sweat left quite an impression. Ah, all of this was also something I saw in books.”

 

“…What the hell are you.”

 

The Sahacheol Workshop’s Sword Master stared at me intently.

 

His eyes wavered.

 

He looked me up and down while faintly whispering.

 

“…Books? Don’t make me laugh, bullshit. There’s absolutely no way books containing such practical knowledge could exist…”

 

And I, in the blind spot where Steward Gam behind me couldn’t see, turned my palm hidden between my fine clothing sleeves to show him.

 

“…”

 

He definitely saw it.

 

For an instant, as if magnetized, the Sword Master’s gaze fixed on my palm.

 

My palm, though it couldn’t compare to that of my previous life, was a hand that had been brutally crushed and hardened through the process of training, with calluses built up.

 

It was definitely not the hand of a rich family’s young master.

 

There’s even a saying that a skilled craftsman can deduce a person’s habits and entire life just by looking at the shape of their hands.

 

And if it was him that I knew.

 

I thought he would see even more than that.

 

I said.

 

“So, the order. May I continue?”

 

The laughter of the workshop masters surrounding me grew subdued.

 

“…I was mistaken.”

 

The Sahacheol Workshop’s Sword Master at their head looked at Steward Gam behind me.

 

He looked at my palm.

 

He stared into my eyes.

 

After that, he spoke in a calm voice.

 

“…Now that I think about it, it’s knowledge you could see in books. Right.”

 

I smiled and nodded.

 

“That’s right, books.”

 

And he gestured to his subordinate beside him.

 

Taking paper and brush, he said.

 

“Additional orders? According to that book, you couldn’t possibly need just one.”

 

His eyes no longer looked at me as a greenhorn.

 

I nodded my head.

 

“Three. Two to hold in both hands, one to hide on my left thigh. The weight and balance of all three must be perfect without even an inch of error. Additionally—”

 

He nodded.

 

“I’ll need items for chaotic battles.”

 

I raised my hand to show him as I continued speaking.

 

“The iron gauntlets fitted to this hand must have each finger joint move independently, and the back of the hand and edge should be weighted with iron cores heavy enough to break bones. I’ll wrap chains over them. Make the length seven ja, and attach a weight to the end so I can swing it like a whip if necessary.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

“That’s it for Sahacheol Workshop, next is Taesim Workshop.”

 

With all eyes focused on me, I looked at the female owner of Taesim Workshop standing beside the Sahacheol Workshop’s Sword Master.

 

“I need medicine.”

 

The Taesim Workshop owner asked back with a smile.

 

“You order a whole bundle of equipment like you’re going to war, and now you want medicine? Haha, interesting. Are you going on some rough hunt? What kind of beast is it? Planning to catch wild boar?”

 

“It could be wild boar, or it could be beasts that walk on two legs and speak.”

 

At my retort, she snorted as if incredulous.

 

“Oh my, how scary. Young master, save such trivial jokes for the brothel. So, what medicine do you really need? Should I give you some ointment for scratches?”

 

I ignored her sarcasm and went straight to the point.

 

“One container of Golden Wound Powder for external injuries.”

 

“Golden Wound Powder, the good kind… yes, yes.”

 

She still answered halfheartedly while opening her ledger. But at my next words, her hand hesitated for the first time.

 

“Twenty Detox Pills of decent quality for internal injuries. Five each of Death-Feigning Pills to hide one’s pulse, and Pressure Pills to make the heart beat and reduce pain when strength is exhausted. That should be enough.”

 

The smile disappeared from the Taesim Workshop owner’s face.

 

Of course it did.

 

What I had just rattled off wasn’t the kind of items a simple hunter, bodyguard, or amateur would seek.

 

“W-wait a moment. So what did you just say?”

 

“Also for wound disinfection, strong white liquor and silk cloth. Please also prepare plenty of suturing needles and sinew thread made from animal tendons for stitching wounds.”

 

“You’re going too fast—”

 

“If you can’t remember, feel free to ask me to repeat it as many times as needed. But this is that Taesim Workshop in this very alley—surely you don’t need me to go that far?”

 

“…”

 

The Sahacheol Workshop’s Sword Master, who had taken the first order, chuckled.

 

The Taesim Workshop owner, who had been glaring at the Sword Master, bit her lip.

 

“Next, the fabric section’s tailoring.”

 

Finally, I looked at the tailor. The slender man was already beside me, even holding paper in advance.

 

“Judging by the level of your orders, I thought you would surely call on me as well.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

While Taesim Workshop lacked awareness, this person seemed to have the sharpest intuition, even more so than the Sahacheol Workshop’s Sword Master.

 

“I’ll need an outer garment. In the style of a cloak, it must show no trace even when wearing all the weapons I just ordered underneath. The fabric should be sturdy but appear to be ordinary cotton cloth.”

 

“You’ll also need iron plates to line the inside, I presume.”

 

The tailor pointed to the vital points on my body.

 

Heart, solar plexus, both shoulders.

 

“Correct. With thin but solid iron plates.”

 

“Supply is limited, so I’ll fit you with hundred-fold steel.”

 

“Good. Arm the feet as well. Reinforce the toe, instep, and heel of leather shoes with thin steel plates so that just stepping can crush bones.”

 

“Understood. Don’t worry. Everything will be prepared without problems.”

 

“Then—”

 

Having finished all my orders, I turned around.

 

I spoke to Steward Gam, who stood there looking almost bug-eyed.

 

“Please provide advance payment to these craftsmen, Steward.”

 

“Ah… uh… yes. Of course.”

 

“And.”

 

I said to Steward Gam as he reached for his purse.

 

“If you just keep the promise you made before entering, I’ll use these items to move with full effort for everyone’s benefit. Of course, you don’t have to keep it. I just ordered things I was curious about after reading books… I don’t really know what I ordered anyway.”

 

The three craftsmen behind me showed expressions beyond disbelief, bordering on disgust, but ultimately said nothing.

 

Steward Gam swallowed.

 

“…Forget everything else, I’ll ask just one question.”

 

“…What is it?”

 

I find myself getting nervous too.

 

They must have noticed something anyway, so maybe they’re proposing additional conditions.

 

In the tense atmosphere, Steward Gam spoke.

 

“Where exactly can I see that book? I’d like to take a look at it myself. It seems really interesting.”

 

“…I’ll find it for you when I return to the main house.”

 

“Well, there’s something I need to tell you.”

 

The Sword Master hesitantly interjected into the conversation between Steward Gam and me.

 

“The difficulty level you’ve proposed seems more challenging than expected the more we consider it, so we think it might take two days to complete… Would that be alright?”

 

“Two days?”

 

“Well, ahem. We’d rather not make anything at all than make something half-heartedly.”

 

The Sword Master glanced around at the other craftsmen once before looking back at me.

 

The other craftsmen were nodding in agreement. But what was certain was that their current attitude wasn’t the contemptuous, mocking one from the beginning – though their tone might be the same, there was respect and acknowledgment beneath it.

 

I said.

 

“That’s fine, but it’s taking longer than expected. No matter how much effort you put in, based on what I know, I judged it to be a level and quantity that could be prepared sufficiently in one day.”

 

At those words, the Sword Master and all the other craftsmen flinched.

 

The Taesim Workshop owner beside him spoke.

 

“As expected, you know well. It feels like dealing with someone who’s been in this business for a long time.”

 

“What’s the specific reason for the extra day?”

 

“Since the nearest Sacheon-dang mines have been paralyzed recently, funds aren’t flowing smoothly, material procurement isn’t going well, and obtaining raw materials has been blocked in a chain reaction.”

 

At those words, Steward Gam behind me made a guilty expression.

 

The workshop master, reading my expression, added more.

 

“Since you’re an outsider, Young Master, you might not easily believe us, but when it comes to delivery dates, we absolutely never joke around-”

 

“No, I believe you.”

 

I said decisively.

 

“I don’t know about other things, but I believe that without a moment’s hesitation.”

 

Rather, it was they who were surprised by my words.

 

Rather than believing or not believing their words, I was approaching another truth based on what they had said.

 

‘…It’s quite surprising that the mine problem has been neglected so long that it’s causing supply issues even here.’

 

Their words weren’t lies.

 

In the world of the underworld and this bottom level that’s closely connected to that world, though unofficially, the basic premise is naturally not trusting each other. But even so, minimal credit is absolutely necessary for transactions.

 

Therefore, for survival, in this world of distrust, the credit that’s somehow painstakingly built up once is protected with even more desperate effort precisely because it’s this kind of world.

 

Schedules related to supply and demand are one of those few credits that must be kept.

 

Knowing this principle, I had no intention of doubting them even without the workshop master’s explanation.

 

‘Does it make sense to neglect it for this long…?’

 

No.

 

It doesn’t make sense.

 

The more I think about it, the stranger it becomes.

 

It’s money.

 

Not just anything, but the silver mine responsible for the Sacheon Tang Family’s core funds.

 

No matter how much the Young Master is sick and the family head has lost his mind, talking about ghosts and whatnot, I couldn’t understand why they’re acting so lukewarmly when their lifeline has been blocked for so long that it’s affecting markets beyond the Tang Family.

 

“There’s nothing we can do about the delayed delivery date. Just make sure to keep the two-day deadline.”

 

“Thank you. Instead, we’ll make it with utmost sincerity as a personal apology, not just because you came as a guest of the Tang Family.”

 

With that, the workshop masters busily returned to their respective workshops.

 

“Is this enough to have used up all the golden toad amount?”

 

I set aside the numerous questions that arose in my mind and spoke to Steward Gam.

 

“Oh, look at me. Please wait a moment. I’ll check.”

 

Steward Gam seemed to suddenly come to his senses and quickly calculated using his abacus.

 

Actually, I don’t know whether Steward Gam will talk about what he saw today elsewhere or not.

 

And I don’t know whether he truly caught on or was acting foolishly.

 

But even if he goes and tells others, I’ve already thought of escape routes, and what’s important is that based on this, I’ll decide how to deal with Steward Gam going forward.

 

And if he’s the Steward Gam I know, even though he’s not an orthodox martial artist but simply the person in charge of the Tang Family’s affairs, he’ll understand the weight of what I said.

 

In a way, this situation is bait.

 

Though he appears to be an ordinary old man on the surface, he’s the one who sent a letter to Namgung despite Elder Yi’s opposition.

 

He’s someone who knows how to act boldly when necessary, and not a simple-minded martial artist, but someone who can distinguish between right and wrong.

 

Considering these results, he definitely won’t miss this opportunity to establish connections with a young master of the Namgung Family without additional cost.

 

“Half still remains.”

 

Steward Gam said with gleaming eyes.

 

“So please work hard and make sure to spend it all.”

 

More remains than I thought.

 

Judging by those intense eyes and voice, if I don’t use up the entire golden toad, he doesn’t seem like he’d let me go even if it killed him.

 

“Then there’s one thing that could use it all at once.”

 

“All at once?”

 

“Yes. I’d like to visit the Sacheondang Martial Arts Hall warehouse, would that be alright?”

 

“Of course there’s no problem, but why go to a place where poisons are made? And you’ll spend all the remaining gold there?”

 

“Yes.”

 

I was debating whether to do this until the end, but if money remains, it wouldn’t be bad to build up a favor on this occasion.

 

“I’d like to buy a poison that only the Sacheon Tang Family has.”

 

Right.

 

Especially for that bastard.

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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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