NOVEL NEXT Chapter 85
The interrogation by Galbijong began. He skillfully gathered information, and Jaemi Son helped him. With Jaemi Son on the task, it felt like wings had sprouted on a tiger’s back; the work was remarkably smooth.
Jaemi Son, being well-versed in the local geography, understood roughly everything the Il-domun guys were saying. With that, he pinpointed the business’s location.
So, we dragged the terrified Il-domun guys around, figuring out the locations of their establishments.
As we did that, low-level traders glanced our way, muttering nervously.
“Wh-what’s that…?”
“Aren’t those Il-domun guys?”
“But they look like a mess.”
“Why are they being dragged around?”
Though they were low-level traders, if they lack perception, they can’t even eat this much. Soon, the traders began to catch on to the situation.
“Ah! Il-domun has fallen!”
Bingo.
“Jaemi Son. Galbijong. Spread rumors about us in this chaos.”
“Hehehe, good idea.”
“Understood!”
Galbijong shouted as if delivering a stirring speech.
“Il-domun has been taken over by our Nachal faction!”
“We now represent the righteousness of the orthodox sect!”
“Orthodox? Ah, got it.”
You can’t leave that out.
“Our orthodox Nachal faction has driven away the wicked black sect and restored the righteousness of the orthodox sect, so traders, rest assured!”
Our Nachal faction is part of the orthodox martial world…!
“Orthodox…?”
“Nachal faction?”
“So, are you saying the orthodox Nachal faction attacked Il-domun?”
“What’s going to change…?”
While eavesdropping on the traders’ conversation, we kept spreading rumors about ourselves.
“Il-domun has fallen! Now it’s the world of the orthodox Nachal faction!”
This should be enough.
The impression that newcomers came, smashed Il-domun, and took their place would have been firmly implanted. Plus, with the rumor of orthodox spreading, everyone would soon learn.
That’s how the overall investigation around the business area was completed.
* * *
After the rough business investigation concluded, we took a time to discuss.
“Galbijong. From now on, I plan to run this protection business like a proper orthodox sect.”
“Like a proper orthodox sect, you say?”
“Exactly. Our Nachal faction doesn’t belong to the black sect. We’ll act proudly as part of the orthodox sect.”
“How exactly?”
The black sect’s protection money is just extortion, but the orthodox protection fee is, quite literally, true protection.
“We won’t extort money. We’ll only collect legal protection fees. From now on, traders paying us protection fees will be thoroughly protected. However, if they don’t pay, we’ll completely ignore whatever happens to them.”
This is the principle I’ve set.
“Hm… This is definitely different from the black sect’s practice of constantly extorting money and causing a ruckus. But will it even yield a profit?”
“The profits might be a bit lower, but it’ll be stable. Plus, it feels more orthodox. Trust will be built.”
“I understand.”
“We’ll proceed to sign contracts for the agreed protection fees on set dates. Definitely, the profits will drop a bit, but let’s build our reputation while acting as part of the orthodox sect.”
“I will carry on with that.”
There’s a lot to organize moving forward.
We need to subdue or eliminate any remnants of Il-domun and promote our orthodox Nachal faction to gather martial artists.
Using those remnants, we’ll contract with low-level traders for protection fees and start collecting. We also need to set up our training curriculum for martial artists.
It sounds tough when said in words, but I’m from modern Earth. I can call this type of administrative work my specialty. Plus, with military experience, I should be able to manage somehow.
* * *
“Uh, truly amazing… To wipe out Il-domun in less than a day. I’m greatly impressed.”
“Hehe, Gang Leader. Just seeing your face makes me smile.”
“What do you mean?”
“Originally, I would have cried first, but now I’m smiling.”
“Is, is that so…?”
Perhaps feeling anxious from my sudden remark, Gang Leader shrank slightly. But there’s nothing to worry about now. This guy is our honorary member.
“The information on Il-domun was precise. Thanks to that, we could strike easily.”
“That’s great to hear. So, you no longer oppose our faction?”
“Of course not! We are now business partners!”
“Aah!”
Finally, seemingly relieved, Gang Leader relaxed his expression.
How tough it must have been for him. Having to endure a lot because of the fictional character Jeolgyu Nachal I played, but finally, he could shed that past.
Well, we met under unfortunate circumstances, but it’s time to think about the future.
“Let’s do well moving forward.”
I extended a hand.
“Indeed…”
Gang Leader accepted the handshake.
“Then, I’ll ask for your help with promotion.”
“Promotion?”
“Our Nachal faction has taken down Il-domun. We are orthodox and deeply detest the black sect. Thus, please promote that we’re looking for allies to sweep away the black sect. Your opening is good at those.”
“Spreading rumors sounds doable, but…”
He seems a bit reluctant, but there’s no way he can refuse now.
“That’s all I need. And for the next information. Please tell me about Jagwipara and Jangsa Bang.”
“Understood. To be honest, I heard that place is chaotic too. Il-domun got wiped out in one hit.”
According to Gang Leader, the two black sects also seem to be in disarray. Of course, I couldn’t gather all the precise information, and I only found out about the number of heads and the headquarters’ location.
However, the numbers might change a bit. Since our Nachal faction declared the destruction of the black sect by wiping out Il-domun, the fearful ones must have fled.
Or perhaps the two factions might form an alliance.
Whatever it is, it’s not a problem.
Just as we wiped out Il-domun, we can do the same with the others.
* * *
At the Nachal faction headquarters.
I sat in a chair placed in the yard.
In front of me were some guys kneeling with their heads bowed. I asked Galbijong, who was standing nearby, for an explanation.
“These guys are the remaining ones. Il-domun is irrelevant now and has expressed a desire to turn over.”
“Is that so.”
I looked over the kneeling guys in front of me.
No matter how positively I phrase it, they looked like irredeemable trash, resembling thugs. They’re beings who would struggle to survive outside of the black sect.
“You all. Did you say you wish to abandon Il-domun and return to our Nachal faction?”
“Y-yes!”
“Why is that?”
“Seeing the skills of Jeolgyu Nachal Dae-hyeop, I’ve seen the light! It seems better to serve Dae-hyeop than the Lord of Il-domun!”
“That’s right!”
“Honestly, I only joined Il-domun out of necessity…!”
The scared guys trembled and answered.
I must really intimidate them.
“Are you the only ones left?”
“Yes!”
In reality, there are quite a few survivors from Il-domun. Not everyone was killed that day. But there are no prisons, and keeping them all captured was impossible, so I left them be, and it seems the rest fled, leaving only these four.
Anyway.
Now is the time when I need manpower. These guys may be trash from the black sect, but they might still be of some use. They should know a thing or two about this area.
Since they won’t accomplish much alone, let’s accept them for now and keep an eye on them. If they harbor sinister thoughts, I can remove them. If not, then I can keep utilizing them.
“Geunhyeop. What’s your decision?”
Jaemi Son asked.
“I’ll accept them.”
I made a clear decision.
“I will take you in.”
“Thank you, Dae-hyeop!”
“You may be trash from the black sect… but as Buddha said, people can change. From now on, work hard for the orthodox martial world.”
“We will do our best!”
The four immediately pressed their heads down.
But their names… well, whatever.
Names don’t really matter.
“Good. You are now reborn. You’ve cast off the background of being trash from the black sect like a shell and have been reborn as seedlings of the orthodox martial world wanting to know justice and harmony.”
“Ah…”
“So, I am like your parent. Because I’ve given you a new life.”
“Y-yes?”
“For that reason, I will give you new names.”
“…”
They appeared taken aback.
But I couldn’t hold back.
At present, I could say I am a co-leader of the Nachal faction. To put it simply, I wield authority. This means I have power.
And with power, I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“There are four of you. Over there. Step forward in order of strength or seniority. The one who was the eldest brother goes that way.”
“Uh, um… understood.”
The guys lined up.
“Alright. Then from the first one. From now on, your name will be Mundoh.”
“Uh?”
Mundoh!
I’m naming them!
To be honest, ever since hearing about Il-domun’s Mundohs, I couldn’t contain myself. These guys are now Mundohs.
“Mundoh is the surname, and the name is Il. Then you’re Mundoh-Il. You’re Mundoh-Sam. You’re Mundoh-Sa. Got it?”
“Y-yes…?”
“Um…?”
“My name is Mundoh-Sam…?”
Mundoh-Il.
Mundoh-I.
Mundoh-Sam.
Mundoh-Sa.
A perfect naming sense.
“Great. This name has been established. But I still can’t trust you completely. So, as a sign of your submission to me… let’s correct your way of speaking. You all. From now on, when responding to me, you need to reply like this: Mundoh! Understood! Got it?”
Silence.
“What does that…?”
“Yes?”
Though they pretended not to understand,
“Hurry!!!! Obey me!!!”
“Wh-wh-what!”
“Quickly! Did you get it, or did you not!!!!”
As I snapped and shouted in a panic, consciousness seemed to strike them, as they trembled and shouted.
“Mundoh! Understood!”
“M-Mundoh! Understood!”
“Mundoh! I got it! No! Mundoh! Understood!”
With that, four Mundohs were born in our Nachal faction.
What a joyous occasion, what a joyous occasion.
“Kyuh…!”
Wait, sh*t. But this is so funny. Are they really doing this just because I told them to? Ugh, it’s hard to hold back the laughter.
As I bit my lip to suppress the laughter, I issued a command to the Mundohs.
“Alright then, Mundoh. For now, clean up the yard.”
“M-Mundoh! Understood!”
“No, I mean! At times like this, you need to respond with: Mundoh! Cleaning! That’s how it should be!”
“A-ah, I understand… Oh! Mundoh! Cleaning!”
“Good!”
Perfectly done!