SERIES: Return Of The Divine Thief
CHAPTER: 22
The next day, the Heumju Merchant Guild was bustling with activity even before the sun had risen.
This was because esteemed guests from the main house of the Nannyeong Yu Clan were scheduled to visit in two days.
The servants and workers of the guild were twice as tense as usual, completely absorbed in cleaning and organizing.
All sorts of rare ingredients and silks were being brought in without a moment's rest.
And in the office of the guild master, the center of all this commotion…
Muryang, wearing the mask of ‘Yu Jinman’, sat in the seat of honor, silently looking down at the busy scene.
‘Not bad.’
His ‘impersonation of Yu Jinman’ had already surpassed the realm of mere acting.
From the moment he had changed into Yu Jinman’s clothes the previous night and spent the night in his bedroom, he had become the guild master of the Heumjin Merchant Guild himself.
Neither the maids who greeted him at dawn nor the general manager who came to deliver the morning report—no one noticed that the master before them was an impostor.
Of course, there was a reason this audacious plan could succeed.
‘Fortunately, there were no masters here.’
Muryang lifted his teacup, slightly extending his pinky finger, just as Yu Jinman habitually did.
A human-skin mask.
It could deceive one's face, but it couldn't change the subtle differences in physique stemming from a person's bone structure, nor the aura of internal energy flowing from within the body.
If there had been even a single master in this guild who had reached a certain level of proficiency, he would have immediately noticed the foreign aura.
‘Why didn’t those bastards from the Yu Clan post a single guard on this important source of funds?’
Muryang tapped the armrest of the chair with the same rhythm as Yu Jinman. Tap, tap… tap.
‘Were they trying to avoid arousing the suspicion of other factions by deliberately not placing a master here? Or were they afraid of betrayal?’
Either way, it was an incredibly fortunate turn of events for Muryang.
He was in the middle of reviewing documents, recalling the memories he had stolen, when he heard urgent footsteps from outside, followed by the shout of one of the executives, Ma Daechim.
“Guild Master! This is a disaster!”
“Enter.”
Ma Daechim had no inkling that the person before him was not Yu Jinman.
To him, Muryang spoke in Yu Jinman’s soft yet irritated voice, chiding him.
“Do not make a scene.”
At that, Ma Daechim realized he had been rude and hastily bowed his head.
“My-my apologies. However, a message has just arrived from the main house.”
“From the main house?”
Muryang leaned his upper body slightly forward, the posture of one listening to a report.
“Yes. The guest who was scheduled to arrive in two days… it seems it will be Young Master Yu Hosang.”
“……Hoh.”
The corners of Muryang’s mouth lifted crookedly, just like Yu Jinman’s.
‘Yu Hosang…’
He had never seen him in person, but he knew who Yu Hosang was.
He had spent all of last night going through Yu Jinman’s study and had confirmed the letters exchanged between them.
The eldest son of the Nannyeong Yu Clan.
The very reason he had decided to impersonate Yu Jinman was now walking right into the tiger’s den of his own accord.
Unaware of Muryang’s inner thoughts, Ma Daechim continued anxiously.
“What should we do? I’ve heard the Young Master has a picky palate and is especially fond of rare antiques. Shouldn’t we prepare a gift right away?”
“There is no need to worry.”
Muryang reassured him in Yu Jinman’s gentle voice.
“I have already prepared a ‘gift’ that the Young Master will surely like.”
“Ah! Y-You have, sir!”
“You just focus on the banquet preparations so that there is not the slightest neglect in welcoming our guest. Do you understand?”
“Yes, yes! I will keep that in mind, Guild Master!”
Ma Daechim, relieved that his worries were for naught and once again marveling at the guild master’s meticulousness, withdrew from the office.
Alone in the room, a cold smile spread across the face of Yu Jinman.
‘A gift, you say. Yes, I must prepare a very special gift.’
Of course, he had no intention of giving treasures like gold, silver, or antiques as a gift.
Its true nature was a massive and cruel ‘trap’ that would swallow the entire Nannyeong Yu Clan.
All preparations were complete.
Now, all he had to do was wait for the prey to walk into the trap on its own.
* * *
Two days later, the main gates of the Heumju Merchant Guild swung wide open.
Muryang, wearing the mask of ‘Yu Jinman’, led Ma Daechim and all the key figures of the merchant guild to line up before the main gate.
The tension of welcoming a distinguished guest from the main family was palpable on their faces.
Before long, with the clamorous sound of horse hooves in the distance, a procession of indescribably lavish carriages came to a halt before them.
One could guess the stature of the procession's master just by the imposing aura of the warriors escorting the carriages.
“Heavens, the road was so rough I thought I was going to die!”
The first to alight from the carriage was a young man extravagantly dressed in expensive silk clothes.
Yu Hosang, the eldest son of the Yu Clan.
As if to show how arduous the long journey had been, he patted his lower back and discontentedly breathed in the unfamiliar Heumju air.
“Young Master. You’ve had a difficult journey.”
Muryang bowed deeply, speaking in the voice of ‘Yu Jinman’.
Seeing Muryang, Yu Hosang’s expression softened as he spoke.
“Hah. Compared to what was happening at the main house, this journey was nothing.”
His voice was filled with discontent.
Yu Hosang was the eldest son of the Yu Clan, and he was old enough to become the next head of the family.
However, due to his hooligan-like nature, the family head, Yu Geon, had yet to officially grant him the title of ‘Young Lord’.
Of course, he was still the most likely candidate as he performed his minimum duties, but Yu Hosang himself was going mad with frustration over the situation.
His younger brothers were also rising through the ranks, after all.
His discontent eased slightly upon seeing Yu Jinman, who served him with the utmost respect.
After all, this old man from a collateral branch was one of the few steadfast allies who supported his bid to become the next family head.
“It seems you’ve had many frustrations. Please, come inside. I have prepared a very special gift for you.”
At the word ‘gift’, Yu Hosang’s face finally brightened.
“As expected, Elder Jinman, you’re the only one I can count on!”
He followed Yu Jinman to the banquet hall, anticipating a feast of Heumju’s famous delicacies and beauties so stunning they would make his eyes pop.
And why wouldn't he? In all his previous visits to the Heumjin Merchant Guild, Yu Jinman had never once disappointed his expectations.
But the scene in the banquet hall he arrived at was somehow strange.
A grand table lavishly set with delicacies from land and sea.
That was certainly what he had expected. However,
that was all there was.
‘…….’
The beautiful courtesans who should have been there to pour wine and flirt coquettishly were nowhere to be seen.
In the desolate banquet hall, only he and Yu Jinman were seated.
Yu Hosang couldn’t hide his bewilderment.
Still, he couldn’t bring himself to openly ask, ‘Did you not call for any women?’, so he forced a smile and raised his cup.
“Haha. With such fine food and fine wine….”
He glanced at Yu Jinman filling his cup and spoke indirectly.
“Doesn’t this spacious room feel particularly lonely today, Elder?”
At the blatant complaint, Muryang smiled with Yu Jinman’s characteristic gentle smile.
Of course, he knew exactly what the man was talking about.
“Haha, how could I not know what is on your mind, Young Master.”
He placated Yu Hosang as he filled his cup.
“But for today, you must be patient. You must first see the real ‘gift’, one that cannot be compared to those trivial courtesans.”
“A gift? Something other than this banquet?”
Yu Hosang’s eyes gleamed.
Thinking that perhaps a rare antique he favored had been prepared, he asked in a voice full of anticipation.
But Muryang’s next words were completely beyond his expectations.
“Isn’t it about time the Young Master became the ‘Young Lord’?”
“……!”
At those words, the anticipation that had filled Yu Hosang’s face just a moment ago vanished completely.
He slammed the cup he was holding down on the table with a thud!
The term ‘Young Lord’ was a thorn that pricked his most painful spot.
“Are you going to get on my nerves too, Elder?”
He suddenly began to pour out his pent-up resentment.
“That’s right! I caused a lot of trouble when I was younger! But that’s all in the past! Now I’ve gotten my act together and I don’t shy away from any dirty work…!”
His voice trembled with injustice.
“My father has no intention of appointing me as the Young Lord! Isn’t he being too harsh! I don’t know if he doesn’t trust me, or if….”
He clenched his fists.
“Lately, seeing him entrust all the important tasks only to that second brother, that third brother… It really makes my blood boil! If those bastards return after achieving even the smallest merit, he praises only them!”
Muryang listened silently as Yu Hosang poured out his resentment.
Like the only adult who was on his side.
When Yu Hosang stopped, breathing heavily, Muryang quietly poured wine into his cup.
“How could I not understand your feelings, Young Master. The family head should know how much you are suffering.”
He sighed and soothed Yu Hosang.
“But it’s not as if there’s no way.”
“A way? What do you mean?”
“What if you were to achieve something so great… that even the family head would have no choice but to acknowledge you, and surprise him completely.”
But at those words, Yu Hosang simply shook his head.
“How could such a thing exist? Every matter in the family, big or small, eventually reaches my father’s ears. It means that whatever I do, I’m in the palm of his hand. Surprising him is impossible.”
As if he had been waiting for this, Muryang smiled at Yu Jinman's smile.
“What if it were a big score that even the family head doesn’t know about yet?”
“……!”
Yu Hosang’s eyes widened.
He looked at Muryang with an expression of disbelief.
“Elder… surely, you don’t have something you haven’t reported?”
His voice was a mixture of bewilderment and faint anticipation.
Muryang reassured him.
“Do not worry. This is all just this old man’s small token of loyalty to make you the Young Lord.”
“…….”
“Even if, by some chance, things go wrong, no harm will come to you, Young Master. All of this will be something that I, Yu Jinman, did on my own authority. You, Young Master, need only think of the glory that will come when this succeeds.”
Yu Hosang swallowed dryly.
This old man from a branch family was staking his life for him.
He would probably want something after he became the family head, but as long as he could become the head, he was willing to give anything.
And if he demanded something too unreasonable, he could just be dealt with quietly.
He asked in an excited voice.
“What is it! This big score you speak of!”
Muryang lowered his voice and spoke secretively.
“I’ve recently made contact with a large merchant guild from the Northern Martial World. They want to purchase our ‘special medicine’ in large quantities… and on a regular basis.”
“In large quantities, from the Northern Martial World?!”
“That’s right. The goods in the Heumju warehouse won’t be nearly enough. We’ll have to scrape together everything, even the stock at the manufacturing facility.”
Yu Hosang’s mind began to race.
The inventory of counterfeit medicine was currently the main family’s biggest headache.
But to not only get rid of all of it, but also open up a new, massive distribution network in the north?
‘With this…! With this, even Father will have no choice but to acknowledge me!’
He couldn’t hide his excitement and asked.
“Then, what do I need to do?!”
Muryang spoke as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
“You just need to write a single letter in your own hand, Young Master.”
“A letter?”
“Yes. Stating that ‘all goods in the medicine manufacturing facility are to be transferred to the Heumju Merchant Guild.’”
Yu Hosang beamed and laughed as if it were no big deal.
And why wouldn't he? After all, for security reasons, all of the Yu Clan’s medicinal goods were already distributed exclusively through the Heumjin Merchant Guild.
“Of course! I’ll write it for you right away!”
He accepted, confident of his success.
Watching him, Muryang concealed a merciless, chilling smile behind his mask.
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