Childhood Friend of the Zenith – 574 (Part 1)



574 (Part 1)

**Chapter 575: The Miracle of Shaolin**

Like other trading companies that are establishing their presence the Baekhwa Trading Company also has branches throughout the Central Plains.

Of course I’ve heard that there are no branches in areas where the Moyong Clan operates or where the local lord has not granted permission.

Excluding those it would indeed be accurate to say they have branches all over.

And I believe their headquarters is located somewhere in Xi’an.

If one were to ask why the headquarters is in Xi’an when there are many cities it’s probably because the influential Xi’an Mi family is based there.

I’ve never been there myself though.

‘What would I even say if I went?’

Maybe if it were Gu Yeon-seo or Gu Hee-bi it would be different.

But it wasn’t a place for me.

Anyway.

If I were to pick the most influential branch of the Baekhwa Trading Company excluding the headquarters it would naturally be the Henan branch.

It is located in the Central Plains where the Murim Alliance and Shaolin are and it is also where the largest county is found.

This place would be generating far more revenue than the main branch of the Baekhwa Trading Company.

As proof of this the building stood out among the tall structures in Henan.

This also expressed the standing of the Baekhwa Trading Company.

Baekhwa Trading Company Henan Branch.

On the highest floor of the tall guest area.

I was currently there.

In a neatly organized room.

It felt impeccably clean with not a speck of dust in sight.

It was so clean that I felt guilty even breathing.

No even if that weren’t the case it was simply uncomfortable enough to feel that way.

The seat I was in was that uncomfortable for me.

“It’s been a while.”

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I snapped back to reality at the voice that entered.

Gulp. I involuntarily swallowed dry saliva.

I hadn’t taken a single sip of the tea placed before me.

I cautiously looked at the other person and prepared myself.

“It’s been a while Madam Mi.”

The person I was addressing was the captain of the Baekhwa Trading Company and the head of the Gu family.

It was Mi Hyo-ran of the Baekhwa family.

It had been about a year since I last saw her.

The last time was probably around that time.

It was a long-awaited face I hadn’t seen since I encountered her while I was busy with the Gu family.

Of course even if I could have seen her I had been avoiding her.

Hiding my true feelings I spoke to Madam Mi.

“I happened to have business in Henan and came to greet you since I heard you were here.”

Madam Mi nodded at my words.

That was the end of it.

“…”

“…”

Silence filled the room.

The already desolate room felt even more barren.

‘…Should I just get up and leave?’

Should I just say hello and go?

Such thoughts crossed my mind.

I had come for a purpose but I hadn’t anticipated this situation.

I never expected to have a private meeting with Madam Mi out of the blue.

‘I was only planning to say hello.’

Whether in Xi’an or Shanxi.

I had heard that Madam Mi who I thought would be in another region was here as soon as I arrived in Henan.

Honestly I wanted to pretend I didn’t know but I had no choice due to my business.

Knowing that.

‘…Can’t I just handle my business alone?’

I was filled with the desire to just say hello and leave.

That was how uncomfortable I felt.

In some ways Madam Mi was a far more uncomfortable presence for me than my father.

I didn’t even know how to treat her and beyond that…

‘There’s an inexplicable discomfort.’

There was an unknown discomfort.

What should I do?

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Would it really be better to just leave now?

As I was lost in such thoughts.

“Alright.”

Madam Mi broke the silence and spoke.

“I’ve heard the news.”

“…Yes?”

I wondered what news she was referring to at that moment.

“You entrusted the everlasting iron to the Trading Company.”

“Ah.”

Upon hearing Madam Mi’s words I realized.

The chunk of everlasting iron I had obtained from Guangdong.

I had entrusted that to the Baekhwa Trading Company.

What Madam Mi was referring to must be that.

“The quantity is quite substantial. Can you tell me what happened?”

At her words I had to smile awkwardly.

Madam Mi spoke calmly but in terms of quantity it was indeed an enormous amount.

It was a time when everlasting iron was no longer being discovered.

As time passed pure iron had become nearly nonexistent.

Given how much time had passed it was only natural that it had all been used up.

By now the Gu family or the four great families.

Or promising trading companies would likely have only a small amount of pure everlasting iron.

Even mixing that everlasting iron with other metals would fetch an enormous price.

That meant everlasting iron was rare.

Such everlasting iron.

‘Since I brought it in chunks.’

It would be a point of curiosity for Madam Mi as well.

Not just one chunk but several.

I wasn’t sure but the amount I brought might even exceed what was known to exist in the Central Plains.

It was rather remarkable that Madam Mi could ask about it so calmly after seeing that.

“…I had a miraculous encounter in Guangdong. I happened to discover it and it didn’t seem to have an owner so I took it with me.”

I didn’t mix in any lies.

It was obvious that if I tried to lie Madam Mi would see right through it.

Upon hearing this Madam Mi stared at me quietly.

Her gaze was quite burdensome.

At that moment.

“Have you reported this matter to the Alliance?”

Gulp.

I had to swallow dry saliva upon hearing her words.

The reason was that there was a law stating that if such an item was discovered it had to be reported to the Murim Alliance limited to orthodox sects.

Of course I had not reported it.

If I did they would surely claim it was an ownerless item and insist on finding the owner.

“…I did not report it.”

As I provided my answer Madam Mi continued to stare at me silently.

Was she going to scold me about the matter?

Even if that were the case I couldn’t easily brush it off.

‘How did you obtain this?’

It was money I needed for the future. If Madam Mi reacted negatively to this.

‘Then I would have to find another trading company.’

I was thinking of withdrawing the everlasting iron I had entrusted and selling it elsewhere.

As I planned and felt tense.

“Well done.”

“…?”

To my surprise praise flowed from Madam Mi’s lips.

I looked at her with a dumbfounded expression upon hearing her words.

“Have you informed the Clan Head?”

“…I haven’t mentioned it yet.”

“That was also well done. If your father had heard he would have surely reported it to the Alliance.”

As Madam Mi said if it were my father’s character that could indeed happen.

Even if he didn’t like the other party he was a gentleman who would follow the established laws.

He was also a person with little greed which made it even more problematic.

“Don’t worry; I will take care of the entrusted item. You can leave it to me.”

“…Yes thank you.”

I was taken aback by Madam Mi’s reaction.

But since I received the answer I wanted I could feel satisfied.

Perhaps because of that.

Maybe it was because the conversation had opened up but I was able to ask what I wanted to know.

“…Um where is she?”

“You must be referring to the branch manager.”

“Ah yes.”

I was asking about Moyong Hee-ah who had recently taken over as the branch manager of the Henan branch.

I was so surprised when I heard that she had suddenly joined the Baekhwa Trading Company and soon became the branch manager.

She had said she wanted to learn a bit about the work.

‘She was praised for doing well but how well did she do?’

What on earth had she done to rise to the position of branch manager in such a short time?

Madam Mi was not an ordinary person.

It was unlikely that she would have done so without considerable ability.

This meant.

‘Moyong Hee-ah must have done well enough to impress Madam Mi.’

I already knew she was skilled in this field.

But this was surprising even to me.

“The branch manager is currently away on business.”

“Business?”