Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 489 (Part 2)



489 (Part 2)

“Those skilled in such matters were all experts at draining people’s energy.”

Feeling that the atmosphere might become awkward if I continued I decided to get to the point.

“I came here because I have some items I would like to sell.”

“Oh of course. Please tell me what it is. I will offer the best price for anything…”

Thud thud thud thud-!

“Huh?”

At the branch manager’s words I spilled all the jade wine I had in my arms.

A few glimmering jade wines rolled across the floor and the branch manager’s expression hardened like stone.

He even rubbed his eyes as if he had seen an illusion.

Seeing the branch manager like that I awkwardly smiled and said “Can you buy all of it?”

“… Ah… Uh… Huh?”

I was slightly worried about the branch manager’s malfunctioning expression but fortunately the transaction was completed smoothly.

What a relief.

If I had engaged in trivial banter the Sichuan branch would have been in flames.

Rather he seemed more inclined to give me more than to haggle over the price.

After a little time passed and the situation calmed down a bit.

“Once the items are confirmed to be genuine I will issue a receipt.”

The branch manager was explaining to me while glancing at his shiny bald head.

Perhaps it was because he was faced with such a significant situation. The man who had been rubbing his palms just moments ago was nowhere to be seen.

Instead a slightly sharper merchant was sitting there.

It was undoubtedly the same person but the atmosphere around him changed in an instant.

Could it be that he was so shocked that he couldn’t even feign politeness?

Well it made sense.

‘Bringing dozens of items that would make anyone gasp is quite a feat.’

It was an era where obtaining jade wine was no easy task.

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So bringing it like this would indeed be surprising.

“First of all since the items are what they are… even if you are a young master we must confirm their authenticity so I hope you understand if it causes any inconvenience…”

“That’s fine. Take your time.”

“Thank you for your understanding. And also…”

“Yes.”

The branch manager spoke with a slightly awkward expression.

“If all the jade wines are genuine… it would be quite a burden for the Trading Company to pay the full amount at once…”

“Then let’s just write a promissory note. I don’t need the money right now.”

I intended to keep the funds for future convenience.

I didn’t need a large sum of money immediately.

The problem was that I had nowhere to store it if I received it now.

‘By the way.’

Was the amount too much for the Baekhwa Trading Company to pay at once?

If so it seemed I wouldn’t have to worry much about money in the future.

‘I also need to think of a way to handle the eternal iron later.’

In a few years I would be able to acquire the eternal iron through a connection.

Rather than selling it separately I was thinking of using it to create a weapon.

There was indeed a craftsman who had thought about this.

“I can only express my gratitude for your understanding young master…!”

Perhaps because the conversation was flowing smoothly the branch manager having regained his composure began rubbing his palms again.

Seeing that I held back a frown and asked the question I had been wanting to ask.

“Branch manager.”

“Yes?”

“This is a personal curiosity but…”

“Young master! Please feel free to ask anything! I will tell you everything I know and don’t know…”

“What was the deity looking for here?”

“…”

As soon as I brought up the topic of the deity the branch manager’s expression hardened once more.

“… How do you know that young master?”

Was it something that needed to be kept a secret?

“I ran into the Elder of the deity on my way here. I have connections with the Elder.”

The deity might not think so but at least I did.

Upon hearing this the branch manager suddenly began to sweat profusely.

He seemed quite flustered.

“Haha… young master this is a matter of trust with our clients so I can’t really disclose it…”

“Is that so?”

“Yes haha. Indeed young master you have a broad mind so perhaps you could understand this part…?”

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“Of course.”

I could understand the branch manager’s position. Trust with clients is important.

It is the most crucial virtue that a merchant must uphold.

However.

Click.

I used my finger to gently pull the jade wine that was on the table closer to me.

As the jade wine rolled the branch manager’s gaze followed it.

“Then I’m curious about what you think regarding the trust issue between us.”

“… Young master?”

“If you were to accept all this jade wine and make a deal… my ‘mother’ would be quite pleased…”

As I spoke I felt a strange sensation on my tongue.

I had never used such a title for my mother before.

It was a word I forced out to exert some pressure but fortunately it seemed to have a significant impact on the branch manager.

I could tell just by the sweat forming on his bald head.

“Haha… Y-young master… that…”

“You can just say it lightly as if you’re talking to yourself. Then I would be willing to write a good letter about you and send it to my mother.”

“…!”

“To my mother that is.”

I would write a letter praising the branch manager to my mother.

Upon hearing this I could see the branch manager’s eyes shaking wildly.

“But… if you insist on not saying it out loud…”

I lifted the jade wine with my hand.

The moving jade wine drew the branch manager’s gaze.

At the same time I released my energy filling the room with a heavy atmosphere.

So that the sounds inside wouldn’t leak outside.

“I might want to sell the jade wine at another branch. Isn’t that strange? I wonder why that is… I don’t know either.”

As I said this with a smile I could see the branch manager’s lips trembling.

He was standing at a crossroads of choice.

Trust with clients or the future ahead.

That must be the dilemma he was facing.

‘Good.’

The desire to maintain trust is righteous. If it were an ordinary situation I would have tried to sell my goods to such a merchant.

However I preferred someone who was in a slightly more narrow-minded and selfish position.

The more such a person had power the easier they were to handle.

“Th-that…”

The branch manager was still hesitating.

Seeing him like that I cautiously stood up.

If he said he wouldn’t do it it wouldn’t matter much.

I could find out why the deity came here through other means.

After thinking that far I reached out to gather the jade wine again.

Seeing that the branch manager shouted urgently.

“Wow! Suddenly the deity needs white horse stones I wonder what that could mean!”

“…”

“This is quite… a matter that could be known or unknown. Where on earth am I supposed to find such items! Haha!”

The branch manager shouted while sweating profusely.

Seeing him I sat back down in my chair.

Then I took out the jade wine I had tucked away and rolled it back toward the branch manager.

“You work passionately. You are a talent my mother would appreciate.”

“Oh… no! Haha… I’m just fulfilling my responsibilities while sitting here.”

It seemed he had just easily dismissed that responsibility but I pretended not to notice.

As I was doing that I heard the voice of Shin Noya in my ear.

[You must never go to the unorthodox sects.]

‘Why not?’

[If you fall into that you will surely be the kind of person who will ruin the world. If I… had only my body…! I would have dealt with that villain myself…!]

‘What a frightening thing to say. We’re on the same side Noya.’

[What kind of nonsense is that? Why am I on the same side as you!]

What on earth was he talking about?

‘Anyway the Mount Hua Sect is a place where you can eat meat.’

Even the non-meat-eating Woo Hyuk from the Mu-dang sect had eaten meat.

Even Huang Abulyeong from Shaolin ate meat.

A Taoist can eat meat too what’s the big deal?

Moreover he had said I was a successor and that I had to carry on his will shouting earnestly.

And now he was betraying me.

It was absurd.

I lightly ignored the cries of that wild beast and smiled as I spoke to the branch manager.

“I will tell my mother well. We see each other often.”

“Thank you! Young master…!!”

As I listened to the sound of the branch manager’s palms rubbing together again I had another thought.

‘White horse stones.’

The deity had come to Baekhwa Trading Company looking for white horse stones.

I didn’t know why the deity was looking for such things but…

‘How interesting.’

Somehow the situation had aligned perfectly.

The white horse stones which had become impossible to find after the disappearance of the white-grade demonic beast.

No matter how much money one had it was an item that could not be obtained.

Fortunately I had one.