Chapter 28 (1/2)

“Ha! Look at this crazy fella?”

The big player, Jong Risang, of the Jong families’ central special forces unit, made a face of disbelief.

The Biho special forces unit was the military unit of the Jong clan but their main role was to collect the taxes form the Black thieves within the vicinity.

Ever since they were crushed by Cheonma this was their only means of procuring funds.

And surprisingly this method was quite satisfying.

They weren’t largely concerned about getting caught by the regulations either.

As long as they didn’t cross the line all they had to do was close one eye.

There were no issues of being exposed in the future as well.

They simply had to hide their transactions.

But it didn’t mean that they regulated all of the black thieves as they were within the Jong household.

Some of them didn’t care.

Occasionally the black thieves were a bigger force and for these cases, they compromised a deal.

So this method exploited the weaker black thieves.

That was until now.

Today they refused to pay up.

It was ridiculous.

“They refused to pay their dues?”

“Yes. They refused.”

“So what did you do. Just told them okay and come back?”

“What could I possibly do alone. He was too assertive. As if he had someone watching his back.”

Jong Risang smirked.

“Ya right as if. Maybe they managed to scout a professional. Didn’t something like this happen a while ago?”

“Yes, it happened once five years ago. I can’t quite recall the professional they scouted…what was his name.”

“I can’t recall either. Did we cut off one of the blood pack clan lead’s arm? Or was it a wrist?”

“We cut his limbs. The lead now was the second lead then.”

“Yes. That had happened before and they’re doing it again?”

“Well, maybe the professional they scouted is a stronger one.”

“So you were scared to be beaten up by this professional and came back without doing anything?”

“It seemed very real.”

The subordinate did not lose a word.

Jong risang smiled and stood up.

“Let’s go. It’s been a while. So let’s go and remind them who we are with a good beating.”

Just when they were about to make a move another subordinate came rushing in.

Jong Risang’s face froze. He had been another one who had gone to collect their dues.

“My lord, they say they won’t pay their dues.”

“Are you another one to run back here because they were assertive?”

“Oh? How did you know? It seems like they have an ally. They were too confident.”

Before Jong risang could reply another one came running with the same look.

He then realized that something was going on.

“Did all these scums go crazy on drugs?”

***

“My prince, is it really okay to do this?”

“What do you mean?”

“To spread the weakness of the Jong’s household like this it would definitely cause a problem in the future.”

Taesan smirked.

“Problem? What problem?”

“I doubt the Jong’s will sit back and watch if they find out?”

“And how would they know who did it?”

“What? But it was obviously you and I….”

“That’s why we wore masks.”

Gyeongwan was stunned. This was pretending that nothing ever happened.

“But they’ll be able to find out with a little investigation. The fact that you and I were here means something already.”

“They wouldn’t have the mind to.”

Gyeongwan shook his head. Taesan was taking this situation too lightly than he’d thought.

“My prince, a few collective uprising from the black thieves won’t be detrimental to the Jong’s. They may find it a nuisance but will be able to deal with the situation pretty quickly.”

That was the power of an established household.

Had they not risen back up from the shambles that Cheonma had left them in.

“What do you think it means when an elite household earns from the thieves?”

“Huh? I guess…”

“That they are short on money. And will soon topple.”

“But that doesn’t mean much. And will be eventually resolved.”

And besides, it didn’t seem possible that the thieves could fight the Jong’s even after learning of their weakness.

“The pros of the thieves are their numbers. If all of them cause an uprising together the Jong’s will have to split up their forces and that will be their cause of failure.”

Even that didn’t solve the problem.

Even if you knew the opponent’s weakness if you lacked the skill it was completely useless.

You needed a certain level of skill to make use of someone else’s weakness.

“They may win for a short while at the start but it will be difficult to sustain.”

“That is true.”

Gyeongwan looked at Taesan in disbelief as he consented to his rebuttals so easily.

“Isn’t that a big deal.”

“Not a big deal. That’s why we are here.”

Taesan pointed at the place with his chin making Gyeongwan’s eyes grow large.

“The Dongho foundation?”

“Have you heard of them before?”

“It’s the first time.”

“Guess they’re not that famous.”

“No, so why are we…”

“Because they are going to fight with the Jong clan.”

“What?? Them? Why would they fight with the Jong clan? Even if they do are they skilled enough to match up to them?”

“They can.”

Taesan swiftly headed towards the Dongho foundation.

Gyeongwan stared blankly at Taesan’s back before coming back to his sense and catching up with him.

I do trust Taesan and believe he is a genius, but this really didn’t seem like a good plan.

But what could I do, but believe him till the end.

To be honest he wasn’t sure that the Black thieves would do what Taesan told them to do either.

Even though everything didn’t make sense, somehow Taesan made it possible.

***

“What brings you here?”

The guard guarding the gates asked carefully.

Taesan answered with a poker face.

“I’ve come to meet the owner.”

“What? The owner?”

Taesan pointed with his chin.

“Lead the way.”

The guard obeyed Taesan’s orders without himself being aware.

“This…This way.”

A fellow guard looked on as if this was a typical scene.