Chapter 29: My Beginning Is (5) (1/2)
Chapter 29: My Beginning Is (5)
Translator: Hwarang
Editor: Coyo
Kw.a.n.g Du lowered his voice and remarked, “Considering that it is someone who is going to be our financial officer, his house seems a bit run-down.”
This place was really about to fall down at any moment. It seemed as if I found the wrong place.
“It’s all right if the person inside is reliable. Go call him.”
“Yes”
Kw.a.n.g Du used a loud voice, “Is anyone inside?”
Then a man in his mid-thirties opened the door. He was tall and skinny, unshaved with unkempt hair. He had the look of a homeless middle-aged man.
Kw.a.n.g Du quickly whispered in my ear.
“I think this person is also a bit run-down.”
I comforted him by saying “All we need is for his head to be in good shape.”
“Are you teacher Kong?
“Teacher? What teacher? But I am Mr. Kong. Why did you come here?”
“Elder Jong from the Byuk clan recommended you to us.”
Kong Su Chan was a bit surprised. He would have never expected that Elder Jong introduced him to us.
“Come in, please”
We entered a small room. This room had books lying around everywhere.
“Excuse me but may I ask you what your relation is to Elder Jong?”
“He is my master”
Kw.a.n.g Du and I were both surprised. Never had we expected that someone like Elder Jong would raise a disciple.
“How is my master?”
“He is well.”
“That is good. But why have you come here?”
“I am the heir of the Byuk Clan, Byuk Lee Dan and I need a financial officer, so I came to see you.”
He questioned me with an unexpected expression.
“So you want me to become your financial officer?”
“Yes, since your master recommended you.”
“Did my master tell you why I live in slum like this?”
“No.”
“So that’s how it is...”
“Everyone has their own secrets and problems.”
I didn’t question him but he said it anyway.
“I killed a person. I killed the person who hired me.”
He got up from his seat. It seemed as if he didn’t want to talk anymore.
“Please return home. I will not see you out.”
“I don’t think that will be necessary. I am not a weak person that will go down after getting hit a few times.” I stared at the confused Kong Su Chan and said, “I am sure he was someone who deserved to die.”
If not, he wouldn’t be in a place like this. If he killed someone innocent, he would be atoning for his crime somewhere else. And he would never admit something like this with his own lips.
“How was your previous master?”
He never expected me to say something like this. He answered me with a dazed expression.
“He was someone who deserved to die.”
“Then you did well by killing him.”
“Do you mean you don’t care about what happened?”
“Yes.”
“This is the first time. Everyone else criticized me after I said I killed a man.”
“It wouldn’t be a problem for me. But I have a question for you.”
“What is it?”
“Are you ready to start your work?”
After some silence he replied, “You trust me?”
I shook my head.
“It would be a lie if I told you I trust you since I don’t know anything about you.”
“Then why do you want to bring me with you?”
“Because I trust the person who recommended you to me.”
On top of that I trusted in my fate. Since Elder Jong personally came to me and told me about this person, I knew that this was fate.
“Will you come with me?”
“Let me ask you something as well?”
“Ask as much as you want.”
“What is the goal that you are trying to achieve?”
“To make the Byuk Clan the number one clan in all of the Central Plains.”
There was a moment of silence again.
Then Kong Su Chan said with a fire in his eyes, “I will come to you tomorrow with my things.”
“Thank you.”
After we got outside Kw.a.n.g Du said something, “It seemed as if he caught your attention.”
“Refres.h.i.+ng, isn’t it? A financial official who reeks of blood.”
“Anyway, he needs to be good at his job, right?”
“Will he be though?”
“What?”
“He is an interesting one. He didn’t ask me what his pay was or where he will live but he asked me what my goal was.”
“Then why did you pick someone like him?”
“If my goal was to become the strongest in San Dong then I would most likely need a reasonable financial officer. But since my goal is the Central Plains I need a financial officer like him.”
Kw.a.n.g Du acquiesced and said, “It’s hard.”
“There is nothing hard about it. If he is not cut out for it we just need to fire him and get another financial officer.”
“But that’s so cold.”
“It’s cool-headed.”
I didn’t even start my grand plan yet.
I knew what it meant to contest against those who were driven mad by power. It wasn’t something that people who follow a dream could contest against. They will crush anything that comes their way and trample on any dream.
To defeat them I must become colder and calmer than them.
The next morning Kong Su Chan arrived in front of the Byuk Clan’s gate with all his belongings.
After taking a bath, putting on new robes, being cleanly shaven and getting a haircut he looked a whole different person.
While he was unpacking his things Elder Jong came in.
“So you came?”
Kong Su Chan gave a bow to his master.
“It’s been a while.”
Through this I could tell that something happened between these two.
But all business aside the look that Elder Jong had on his face was a kind look that was welcoming his disciple that he hadn’t seen in ages.
Then Elder Jong told me, “Bring some wine.”
“Yes, of course.”