Absolute Regression

Chapter 466: But Why Does It Feel Like We Lost?

Geom Mugeuk smiled at Geum Arin.

“Sorry for smiling again.”

Though he said he was sorry, it was clearly a smile meant to provoke her. She didn’t realize it. Every word, every smirk from Geom Mugeuk carried his calculations.

“I’m not joking around.”

As she spoke with a serious face, only then did Geom Mugeuk also erase his smile.

“You’re asking sincerely?”

“Yes, I’m serious.”

From Geom Mugeuk’s mouth, a number she hadn’t expected came out.

“Thirty thousand nyang.”

Geum Arin asked again, a puzzled look on her face.

“Did you say thirty thousand nyang?”

Did they really sell them out for only thirty thousand nyang?

Geum Arin thought these martial artists, strong in martial arts but ignorant of the world, had been deceived by the Galaxy Trading Company. Knowing this in advance was a gift from the heavens.

“Did they say your worth was only thirty thousand nyang? You’ve been tricked!”

Geom Mugeuk didn’t waver at all. Rather, he gave her a curious smile.

From that expression, Geum Arin realized she had misunderstood something.

“You didn’t sign the contract with them for thirty thousand nyang, did you?”

“Of course not.”

“Then what does the thirty thousand nyang mean?”

“It means if you want to hear how much they offered, you need to pay thirty thousand nyang.”

Geum Arin’s face froze in an instant.

Meanwhile, Geom Mugeuk calmly explained the reason behind the thirty thousand nyang.

“You spoke as if you could offer more money than the Galaxy Trading Company. Then shouldn’t you at least show the willingness to pay thirty thousand nyang just for the question? That way, I can trust you.” Ȑ𝐚NÓᛒЕṣ

Geum Arin was at a loss for words. She could have argued that thirty thousand nyang was too much for just a question, or snapped back saying he should just refuse to answer if he didn’t want to.

But that would come off as pathetic. From the start, it was wrong to expect to receive such critical information without any cost.

This man in front of her might look easy to deal with, but he absolutely wasn’t. Just look at how calmly he backed her into a corner.

As she watched Geom Mugeuk empty his cup, saying they should just drink, Geum Arin sent a sound transmission to Lim Hyuk.

—Go to the exchange and bring me thirty thousand nyang.

—My lady, we’re already investigating the Continental Trading Company, so we’ll find out the amount anyway.

—I know. This isn’t the price for a question. It’s the price of momentum. Bring it.

—Understood.

A moment later, Lim Hyuk arrived at the scene and handed her a promissory note.

He had retrieved thirty thousand nyang from the exchange. The funds for running the secret organization were supported by the Golden Dragon Family. But since that money couldn’t be spent without permission, this amount now was purely from her personal funds.

“Here it is. Thirty thousand nyang.”

Geom Mugeuk apologized with a regretful expression.

“Looks like I’ve hurt your pride. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not about pride.”

“Then what is it about?”

“I’m showing my sincerity in wanting to bring you over to our side.”

Her instincts were whispering to her to win this man over.

It was because she sensed a grave threat—the kind where, if this unreadable man became an enemy, no expert from her clan would be able to stand against him.

This was the kind of man who could smile at ease like this and then, saying “It can’t be helped, can it?”, stab her dead in an instant.

“Now tell me.”

As he quietly stared at her, Geom Mugeuk named a price.

“Two million nyang.”

An enormous amount indeed.

“If you want to hire us, you’ll have to pay two million nyang.”

It was a staggering figure, but Geum Arin showed no sign of surprise, as if she had expected it to some degree.

“You’re not surprised.”

“Because I think you’re worth that much.”

She tried everything she could to remain in Geom Mugeuk’s good graces.

“Did the Galaxy Trading Company offer two million nyang? Or did you ask for that much?”

“No. The money we received from the Galaxy Trading Company was one million nyang.”

“Then why is it two million now?”

“To break off a deal with them and start a new one with you, we have to ask for double. That way, we at least have a proper justification, don’t you think?”

Looking her straight in the eye, Geom Mugeuk asked a follow-up question.

“Can you pay two million nyang?”

Geum Arin couldn’t answer.

If it were something she could decide on her own—

—I’ll pay. From this moment on, you’re mine.

She might have actually said that.

Even if they didn’t live up to the money, she would’ve said it. Because her instincts wanted it that badly.

But the final decision-maker in this matter would consider the sum outrageously excessive. No matter how much she emphasized their importance, they would never approve that kind of money.

As if he expected that response, Geom Mugeuk returned the thirty thousand nyang.

“Why are you giving it back?”

“I only wanted to see your resolve. Money wasn’t the goal.”

Having returned the money, Geom Mugeuk was the first to rise from his seat.

“Well then, let’s meet again sometime.”

He even paid for the drinks before leaving the place.

Left alone, Geum Arin drank the liquor in front of her.

Her instinct telling her she had to secure him, and the reality that she couldn’t—it all tangled up her heart in turmoil.

Sensing her mood sinking, Lim Hyuk sat in the seat Geom Mugeuk had just left.

“So the Galaxy Trading Company invested a full one million nyang, huh?”

While Lim Hyuk sounded surprised, Geum Arin was calculating things differently.

“No, this means they were swindled by the Galaxy Trading Company.”

“Swindled?”

“If it was a solo job or a mission assigned to one person, then sure, it’d be an incredible sum—even record-breaking. But there are three of them.”

The other two weren’t ordinary people either. One was his father, whose presence was hard to put into words, and the other was his uncle—a master of stealth techniques.

“There might be more of them, but let’s assume it’s just those three. That means it comes out to roughly three hundred thirty thousand nyang per person, right?”

“That’s correct.”

“And you heard what that man said earlier, didn’t you? He believes they’ll take over after eliminating the secret organization. In other words, they’re considering the work that follows. They’re clearly thinking in the long term—at least several years. Let’s say it takes three to four years minimum. That means each of them won’t even earn a hundred thousand nyang. We’ll be using experts of their caliber as much as we want, and on top of that, they’ll take over the profits we were generating. Looked at that way, we’re hiring them at a bargain.”

Lim Hyuk nodded. After hearing her explanation, he realized it wasn’t such an expensive deal after all.

He asked carefully.

“That secret organization the Galaxy Trading Company wants to erase and take it’s place… is it… us?”

He was asking whether it meant their organization.

Geum Arin nodded.

“Yes, it’s definitely us.”

He had suspected it, but realizing that they themselves had become the target still made Lim Hyuk tense.

He thought of Hui’s stealth technique. If he silently approached and tried to kill Geum Arin, could Lim Hyuk truly stop him?

“We’ve got a fire at our feet.”

It had been a while since Lim Hyuk felt the urge to drink.

“What do you intend to do now?”

She didn’t hesitate for long.

“We have to bring them over to our side. If we leave them be, it’s only a matter of time before we’re done for.”

Lim Hyuk couldn’t bring himself to say he’d protect her.

“It’s two million nyang. The family head will never approve.”

“I’ll have to haggle it down as much as possible. I am, after all, a descendant of a trading house.”

At those words, Lim Hyuk knew she was serious. She truly intended to recruit them.

“There’s one more problem. Even if the family head gives permission and we succeed in recruiting them, what about the Galaxy Trading Company? You think they’ll stay quiet after losing them?”

“And if they don’t? Are they going to kill them?”

“The Galaxy Trading Company values its pride.”

But she was certain that the Galaxy Trading Company wouldn’t be able to do anything.

“They value money even more. How much would it cost to eliminate those three? They paid one million nyang for them, so even trying to remove them would cost at least that much, right? And what if they fail? What if martial artists of that caliber swear revenge? How much would it cost to stop them then?”

She shook her head firmly.

“The Trading Company Head of The Greatest Trading Company Under the Heavens would never make a deal that leads to a loss. That means even if we bring them over, nothing’s going to happen.”

It was the reason Lim Hyuk trusted her—because she made such smart and sound judgments.

His final concern was this.

“Wouldn’t the Galaxy Trading Company know that the Golden Dragon Family is backing us?”

That was something even she couldn’t do anything about.

“Do we really have the luxury of worrying about the clan right now? First, let’s focus on saving our own necks.”

Geum Arin poured a drink for Lim Hyuk.

“Just one drink. We should at least have a celebratory toast. After all, we got everything we wanted—drank their liquor and walked away with all the information.”

They even got the money back. They had the information. They clinked their glasses cheerfully—

But the drink Lim Hyuk hadn’t had in a long while tasted bitter.

‘But why does it feel like we lost?’

*         *         *

Yong Jamyeong strolled across the courtyard.

He would walk a few steps, glance at the building, then walk a few more and glance again.

What he was looking at was the room where the Cult Leader was staying.

He wanted to see Geom Woojin. Wanted to talk with him. But he didn’t have the courage to seek him out.

‘Only three days left.’

As he continued pacing the courtyard, Geom Woojin stepped out of the building.

“Cult Leader!”

“Branch Leader Yong.”

Yong Jamyeong’s heart surged just at the sight of Geom Woojin’s face. Who would’ve thought, at his age, that he’d feel this way just seeing someone?

“Are you heading out somewhere?”

“Thought I’d get a bit of fresh air. Care to join me?”

“Wouldn’t I just be a bother?”

“Not at all. Let’s go.”

Yong Jamyeong happily followed after Geom Woojin.

He instructed the three experts from the trading company not to follow but to stay behind at the lodgings. Normally, this would have been unthinkable—but now that it had been revealed that the benefactor he’d searched so long for was the Heavenly Demon, the martial artists obeyed without protest.

The two of them slowly walked toward the marketplace. It was the kind of moment that could’ve been endlessly awkward, but to their surprise, the conversation flowed smoothly.

“How are your children?”

“I have three sons.”

“That can’t be easy.”

Yong Jamyeong had a good idea what Geom Woojin meant by that. He was referring to a fierce succession struggle.

“I don’t plan to pass on the business to my children.”

Geom Woojin gave him a slightly surprised look.

“None of them have the qualities to lead the trading company. And even if one of them did, I still wouldn’t pass it on.”

Just because they lacked ability didn’t mean they lacked ambition.

Maybe the wealth was too substantial? Even if his sons weren’t the ones grasping at it, Yong Jamyeong knew all too well how those around them would nudge and prod. That was why he intended to declare openly that he would leave nothing to anyone.

“I’ll divide the wealth so they can live comfortably for generations, but I’ll forbid them from having any involvement in the trading company. The business will be handed over to someone who knows it best, someone I can trust to manage it. After all, the livelihood of so many people working for the company—and their families—is on the line.”

Geom Woojin looked at him and spoke calmly.

“You’re admirable.”

There was sincerity in his praise. How could he not know how difficult a decision that must be? Yong Jamyeong was a man whose thoughts matched his reputation—noble and wise.

In response, Yong Jamyeong revealed his honest feelings.

“If I had a son like the Young Cult Leader, I would’ve passed down my entire fortune as well. He’d handle everything on his own, and do it well. In that regard, I truly envy you, Cult Leader.”

When was the last time he had revealed his heart like this? Especially when it came to his children, he couldn’t easily speak to anyone.

“He’s still a reckless and thoughtless brat. So please, Branch Leader Yong, keep a close eye on him from now on.”

He said it as if he were worried, but Yong Jamyeong could sense Geom Woojin’s pride in his son. As a father himself, how could he not recognize that feeling?

At that moment, a cart approached from up ahead.

Their eyes naturally turned toward it.

It was a donkey-drawn cart, and an elderly man was holding the reins. In the rear compartment sat an adult and a child. The adult was Geom Mugeuk, and the child was the old man’s granddaughter.

“Here, it’s finished.”

What Geom Mugeuk handed over was a small wooden doll he had carved.

Considering he had quickly made it with a dagger while walking through the marketplace, it was quite well crafted.

“I love it!”

The child cheerfully accepted the wooden doll.

As the cart passed by Geom Woojin and Yong Jamyeong, Geom Mugeuk got off.

“Take care!”

He said goodbye to the child. As the cart moved farther away, the child waved while holding up the doll.

After sending off the cart, Geom Mugeuk explained to the two men.

“Oh, the cart got stuck in a pit, so I helped them get it out.”

Yong Jamyeong looked at Geom Mugeuk with new eyes.

It was one thing to help pull a cart out of a ditch, but to go as far as making a toy for the child riding in it—that wasn’t something just anyone would do.

Yong Jamyeong glanced at Geom Woojin. The look in his eyes said, "You really get involved in everything, don’t you?"—but it was clear he was pleased. That’s what made him enviable.

“Where are you two headed?”

“Just out to get some fresh air with the Cult Leader.”

Geom Mugeuk could imagine how much Yong Jamyeong must’ve wanted to create this moment. And how difficult it must’ve been to make it happen.

“How did things go with your task?”

They had gone to the Continental Trading Company and made it look like they had received a full one million nyang. Once that information was leaked, the woman came to them.

“I asked for two million nyang. Of course, if we consider Father’s value, I should’ve asked for a billion.”

Yong Jamyeong was quietly surprised. That remark practically meant the opponent had already been completely drawn in.

“You make more money than I do.”

“Unfortunately, this money has to be shared.”

Geom Mugeuk said to his father.

“We’ll split the money evenly in three this time.”

Came Hui’s voice from the air.

“I’m fine.”

With his personality, there was no way he’d dare accept the same share as his father.

“You must accept it. It’s the money they offered to hire all three of us as a group.”

Again, Hui’s firm refusal echoed.

“I don’t need it.”

“I know. That you’re the most highly valued escort in all of the martial world.”

Hui had probably never heard anyone say such a thing to him before.

That was exactly why Geom Mugeuk said it—on purpose. For someone with unmatched skill who had never once had the chance to boast. For someone who’d never even been given the opportunity.

Saying they’d split the money this way was their way of showing gratitude. It was the only chance to offer some kind of material reward to the one who had risked his life for his father.

“In the escort world, you’re the Heavenly Demon and the head of the Galaxy Trading Company, right?”

“Please don’t say that.”

It had been a long time since Hui’s voice sounded flustered.

Seeing that, a faint smile appeared on Geom Woojin’s lips as he looked at Geom Mugeuk. You rascal, that’s enough teasing—that kind of smile.

“You’ve made a fortune already, and I know you never have time to spend it. That’s exactly why you should take it. Even if you don’t have time to spend it, you can live with the satisfaction of knowing: I have this much money I could use if I wanted to. That’s the kind of comfort you live on. Ah, and once Father steps down from the position of Cult Leader, you should retire too, and live life spending freely.”

After a pause, Hui responded.

“I will serve the Cult Leader until the very end.”

That meant even if his father stepped down as Cult Leader, Hui would remain at his side until death. Hui was truly the embodiment of loyalty.

Finally, the father who had been listening silently stepped forward.

“Take it.”

There was no need for persuasion. With just that one word, Hui could no longer refuse.

“Understood.”

Then, he gave his son a task. This too was a gesture from father to Hui.

“So make sure you get as much as possible.”