The God of Death and the God of War - Chapter 84

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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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Evil Hegemon Martial God

 

Chapter 84

 

“…It really is salt.”

 

Hwang-no lightly tilted his palm.

 

Salt crystals fell like fine sand with a rustling sound.

 

Just because salt crystals are fine doesn’t mean they’re all high quality.

 

But as they say, what looks good tastes good too, so naturally when salt particles are this small and refined, their value increases.

 

‘The taste and quality are at an incredible level.’

 

People commonly think salt is just salty, but surprisingly it contains various flavors.

 

The division between low-grade salt and high-grade salt is precisely due to these flavors.

 

The salt extracted from this waste rock boasted the finest, most luxurious flavor.

 

In other words, it was a product with tremendous market potential.

 

‘To extract this from waste rock that’s thrown away.’

 

When Hae-yeon’s solution is sprinkled on waste rock, salt remains along with intense heat.

 

Hwang-no had just tasted a bit of the freshly made salt, and from that alone he was convinced that salt made from waste rock was equal to or superior to commercial salt.

 

‘It’s at a level that puts government salt to shame.’

 

Government salt, also called public salt, referred to salt sold by the state.

 

Since salt was a monopoly item, it was called government salt because it was sold by government offices.

 

Even though this government salt was a state-guaranteed product, its quality was disappointing.

 

The reason people sought private salt, or smuggled salt, instead of government salt was precisely this.

 

Therefore, smuggled salt occupied a considerable portion of the salt market.

 

And if something had excellent marketability and price competitiveness in the midst of this?

 

It wouldn’t be unreasonable to say it could dominate the smuggled salt market.

 

‘Admirable girl.’

 

How much effort must she have put in to create this salt?

 

Hwang-no unconsciously smiled as he looked at the sleeping Hae-yeon.

 

Hae-yeon must have been quite exhausted from her research, as she reported the essential matters and then immediately fell asleep as if collapsing.

 

“I told you, didn’t I, old man?”

 

Just then, Jeok-un spoke.

 

When Hwang-no looked up, shifting his gaze, Jeok-un grinned and said,

 

“That girl would definitely succeed. Look, she did it.”

 

“…!”

 

Jeok-un spoke as if showing off.

 

Though it was a playful attitude, for Hwang-no listening, he couldn’t just casually brush it off as a joke.

 

‘I feel it anew, but he truly is an amazing person.’

 

Jeok-un was, how should I put it, like Mount Tai.

 

When you see it from afar, you think, ‘Ah, so that’s about how big it is.’

 

But just as those who climb Mount Tai are shocked by its vast mountain range and height,

 

The more you saw and knew about Jeok-un, the only word that came out was ‘amazing.’

 

A clear aspect of this could be seen in the commentary about Jeok-un.

 

-The Black Heaven Mad Dragon? Need I say more? Isn’t he someone mad about fighting?

 

-He’s a madman, a madman… He doesn’t discriminate when choosing opponents to fight.

 

Yes, outsiders generally regarded Jeok-un as a madman and kept their distance.

 

They saw his martial prowess as remarkable, but believed he lacked deep and profound schemes.

 

‘But the reality is different. The Geumhwang Sangga matter was like that, and now even Hae-yeon’s matter….’

 

Without profound schemes, how could such insight emerge?

 

And what about that seemingly reckless decisiveness?

 

Therefore, Jeok-un was truly a mysterious lord.

 

‘What kind of plans might he be making for the future?’

 

It’s not easy to guess.

 

But Hwang-no thought,

 

Whatever it might be,

 

Even if it were something that would shake and overturn all under heaven,

 

‘He will definitely accomplish it.’

 

Hwang-no was certain.

 

* * *

 

“Huh? You want me to handle all this salt?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“So, so you mean to s-sell it…?”

 

“Should I donate it instead?”

 

At Go Bok-gil’s repeated question, Jeok-un clenched his fist.

 

It was the price for making him repeat the same words.

 

“Ugh….”

 

Go Bok-gil was afraid of the fist, but apparently couldn’t just accept it, so he made a groaning sound.

 

“Then what should we do? Should I go sell it myself?”

 

All of this started the moment he mentioned how to handle the salt they had produced.

 

As soon as that agenda came up, Jeok-un pointed to Go Bok-gil without a moment’s hesitation.

 

“But how can I handle such an important matter…”

 

“Hey now. I’m asking you because it’s you, Bok-gil.”

 

Jeok-un spoke with a grin, but there was firm resolve in his words.

 

Don’t even dream of refusing.

 

“Hic….”

 

In the end, Go Bok-gil accepted while crying.

 

His complexion, pale as a sheet without a trace of blood, revealed his current state of mind.

 

Understandably so. Getting caught selling smuggled salt meant receiving punishment equivalent to treason.

 

“D-Daeju!”

 

“What.”

 

“The other salt merchants keep quiet about it, but they’re all connected to high-ranking nobles! And behind them is the imperial family!”

 

This was an open secret.

 

Government salt revenue doesn’t go to the imperial family but to the state, meaning money that enters the national treasury.

 

But for the imperial family to live luxuriously and maintain face by giving subjects things like bolts of silk, they need to increase imperial assets.

 

That’s why they use smuggled salt.

 

Just opening a few loopholes brings in enormous funds,

 

And if anyone acts even slightly out of line, they can issue a subjugation order and cut off heads.

 

In short, it’s perfect secret funds with absolutely no consequences.

 

“So?”

 

“So, so don’t we need backing too? If we start recklessly…”

 

Jeok-un cut off Go Bok-gil’s words and interjected.

 

“Who says we don’t have any?”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“Backing, we have it too.”

 

“???”

 

Go Bok-gil blinked his eyes.

 

He’d been living here for quite a while, but hadn’t seen even a low-ranking official, let alone high-ranking nobles.

 

So when did he make connections?

 

‘Ah, could it be he prepared them in advance?’

 

Seeing Jeok-un’s decisiveness, Go Bok-gil misunderstood that he had prepared in advance and said with a brightened expression,

 

“Then, then we also…?”

 

“Right. So prepare to distribute it anywhere. Officially, we’ll handle it as selling waste rock. The melting process will be done at contact points. That’ll be better for security.”

 

“Yes, yes.”

 

Jeok-un issued commands like a storm.

 

Go Bok-gil was so busy understanding and memorizing those orders that he missed the chance to inquire in detail about the backing.

 

“My lord, have you decided on a name for the trading company we’ll operate?”

 

At that moment, Hwang-no asked.

 

At that question, Jeok-un smiled confidently and revealed the name he had prepared.

 

“Seollyeon Guild.”

 

A place that sells salt as white as snow.

 

There was Jeok-un’s arrangement behind naming it this way, but that was for the future.

 

And so, not just in Changsha.

 

It was the moment when a salt smuggling organization that would grasp all the wealth of the Jiangnan region was born.

 

* * *

 

Just as there is sunset when there is sunrise.

 

The bustling Changsha market had quietly settled down.

 

Traces of the celebration banquet held for Jeok-un’s return could only be found in lanterns or scattered paper scraps.

 

Other than that, it was a night in Changsha no different from any other.

 

‘Is this the place?’

 

In the deep night when no one wandered except night watchmen, a mystery person dressed entirely in black robes and hat looked at the manor.

 

What was written on the manor’s nameplate were three characters.

 

It was Baekya Unit.

 

That’s right. This was the Baekya Unit’s manor.

 

‘Let’s go in.’

 

The black-robed figure melted into the darkness and infiltrated the manor.

 

Occasionally workers passed by yawning, but no one noticed the black-robed figure.

 

The same was true for the Baekya Unit members.

 

Finally, the place the black-robed figure arrived at was the heart of the manor.

 

It was the quarters of the leader, Jeok-un.

 

‘Is he sleeping?’

 

The room was quiet.

 

The lights were out, and there were only faint signs of presence.

 

Convinced that the target, Jeok-un, was asleep, the black-robed figure lightly leaped up onto the eaves, then entered the ceiling through gaps in the rafters.

 

‘Here it is.’

 

Finally, with only one last step remaining.

 

Whoosh-!

 

“…!”

 

Suddenly a lamp was lit and light filled the room.

 

‘Where’s the target?’

 

The black-robed figure first checked the bed.

 

The target, Jeok-un, wasn’t there.

 

But at the same time, he was in the room.

 

He was sitting in front of a drinking table.

 

“You’re too late.”

 

As if certain someone would come, there were two cups and two chairs on the drinking table.

 

‘Ha, so he knew I was coming?’

 

As the black-robed figure inwardly let out a bitter laugh, Jeok-un spoke.

 

“Eon Igyeom, or Heo I-gyeom? What should I call you?”

 

The black-robed figure, Eon Igyeom, didn’t answer.

 

He couldn’t be certain that his identity had been discovered.

 

“Dust is falling. Stop fidgeting and sit down.”

 

When Jeok-un spoke irritably, Eon Igyeom silently came down from the ceiling.

 

“Eon Igyeom, sit.”

 

At the command that followed once more, Eon Igyeom bit his lips and removed his mask.

 

Swish-

 

“Since when did you know?”

 

“From the beginning?”

 

“…?”

 

“When you’re pathetically leaking energy all over the place, how could I not know?”

 

“…I see.”

 

Jeok-un’s words were actually outrageous.

 

The movement technique Eon Igyeom used was Hwanmilbo, a secret technique of the Eastern Depot.

 

Moreover, he had even used the Eon Family’s technique that completely concealed his energy, so even for a master of Hyeongyeong, detecting his presence would be difficult.

 

Yet Jeok-un had accurately identified him.

 

“What’s your business?”

 

“First, I’d like to apologize for my rudeness. As you know, due to my position, it’s difficult to visit during daylight hours…”

 

Before Eon Igyeom could finish speaking, Jeok-un cut him off.

 

“Well, it doesn’t matter. After all, when haven’t those Imperial Palace bastards acted rudely?”

 

“….”

 

“Anyway, good timing. I just decided on something to make you do.”

 

“-!”

 

Something to make you do.

 

At those words, Eon Igyeom’s eyes sharpened.

 

As could be seen from the words used, the person before him was only thinking of how to use him.

 

‘I need to keep my wits about me.’

 

The information advantage belonged to his opponent.

 

The opponent knew both his identity and what he desired.

 

So he would give what he had to give, but wouldn’t give everything.

 

Eon Igyeom thought this way while raising his guard to the maximum.

 

‘But it might just be coincidence. He might simply be someone familiar with the Eon Family’s energy….’

 

So let’s hide his inner expectations as much as possible.

 

The more he revealed what he wanted, the more he would just be manipulated.

 

Whether knowing Eon Igyeom’s thoughts or not, Jeok-un revealed his business, that is, what he would ‘make him do.’

 

“First, I’m thinking of smuggling salt.”

 

“!!”

 

“I need you to watch my back.”

 

Eon Igyeom unconsciously gaped.

 

He had tried to maintain an expressionless face as much as possible, but it immediately crumbled.

 

‘What, salt smuggling?!’

 

Is this guy crazy?

 

Eon Igyeom had such direct words rise to the tip of his tongue.

 

But he swallowed them down and softened his expression.

 

“Don’t you know that salt smuggling is treated as treason? Moreover, asking someone from the Eastern Depot, which is directly under the Imperial family, to help with salt smuggling? Did you really think I would comply with that?”

 

Jeok-un shrugged his shoulders.

 

“So what? It’s not like you joined the Eastern Depot with thoughts of loyalty to the Emperor anyway.”

 

“!!”

 

Because he had steeled his mental state, his expression didn’t crumble.

 

But he couldn’t prevent his eyes, the windows to his soul, from momentarily clouding over.

 

“After all, you’re just ‘using’ the Eastern Depot to retrieve your family’s treasure, aren’t you?”

 

When you’re not serving the Emperor and Imperial family with sincere loyalty, isn’t it a bit ridiculous to mention being directly under the Imperial family?

 

Jeok-un’s point was simple.

 

So let’s join hands and look after each other’s interests.

 

“…Interests. I believe I’ve already paid the price.”

 

“…?”

 

“The matter of Tongseong County. If I mobilize the government, do you think Tongseong County will remain in your or Sadocheon’s grasp?”

 

Eon Igyeom spoke with a resolute attitude.

 

An attitude that left no room for compromise.

 

If you try to suppress such an opponent, they don’t bend—they break.

 

“What you’re proposing is also nothing but a one-sided claim. In a situation without any evidence, to speak of family treasures…”

 

It was when Eon Igyeom was methodically refuting Jeok-un’s claims.

 

“One essence descends to Geonggung (, ).”

 

“There it separates into soul and spirit, the soul (, )…”

 

Jeok-un began endlessly reciting passages.

 

Eon Igyeom’s expression grew increasingly pale as he listened.

 

“That, that… How, how…!”

 

“Phew. It’s finished.”

 

Eon Igyeom spoke as if letting out a groan.

 

Jeok-un finished reciting all the passages and smiled knowingly.

 

“Now, would this be sufficient evidence?”

 

Eon Igyeom’s eyes trembled violently as if struck by an earthquake.

 

And he had good reason to react so.

 

The passages Jeok-un had just recited were.

 

The backbone and foundation that had supported the Eon Family in ages past.

 

It was the Sohon Simgyeol .

 

But what was even more shocking was something else.

 

‘How does he know the lost latter half…!’

 

What Jeok-un had recited included all of the latter half passages that had been burned away, which even Eon Igyeom himself didn’t know.

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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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