“A casino?”
The Andong Kim main house.
Kim Hyunwoo, who’d been adjusting his appearance in the mirror, raised his voice upon hearing the servant’s report.
“Is that confirmed?”
-Yes. Though the land usage is registered as a welfare facility, we’re certain. Both the structure of the building under construction in the central commercial district and the goods entering the surrounding warehouses indicate…
“Hah.”
Kim Hyunwoo cut off the communication as if he’d heard enough.
He recalled Kim Changwoon’s passing figure and twisted his lips.
“I wondered what scheme he was plotting when he talked about charity work, and it turns out he’s doing gambling?”
Crawling on the ground unable to obtain mere wealth.
How utterly vulgar.
Having spat that out, Kim Hyunwoo immediately dismissed his interest in Changwoon.
“If one has sufficient power and authority, that sort of wealth can be obtained anywhere.”
The proof was himself.
Major corporations wanting to sponsor him and aristocrats wanting to join forces with him were lined up.
He’d had to weigh the entrepreneurs who’d visited him at the welcoming ceremony and choose whose sponsorship to accept.
He’d recalled the distinguished figures from aristocratic families he’d met at the face-to-face meeting and pondered which among them to include in his ‘plan.’
All of that was thanks to the prestige of phase power he’d displayed at the face-to-face meeting.
“Young Master.”
While he was sneering at Changwoon, his guard Hocheol approached at an opportune moment and spoke to Kim Hyunwoo.
“All the guests you invited have arrived. They’re waiting at the arranged location.”
“Are there any who didn’t attend?”
“Young Master Jo Seonghwan of the Pungyang Jo clan. And several other aristocratic young masters declined attendance. They cited having ‘other schedules’…”
“Hmm.”
Those who’d aligned themselves elsewhere instead of with him.
The focal point was probably Jo Seonghwan, that fellow.
‘He was the one who lasted longest against me at the face-to-face meeting venue, so he must have thought it was worth trying.’
And the basis of that impious thought would be because of that girl who’d knocked him down at the banquet hall.
Since a common wretch from the streets had humiliated him, they must think it’s not impossible for themselves either.
They must be harboring such audacious thoughts.
“Pathetic things.”
While he was muttering that, the automatic door that had detected Kim Hyunwoo slowly opened.
Whrrrrrr—!
What appeared beyond the door that split to both sides was a banquet hall filled with splendid decorations and food.
The corporate representatives and aristocrats who recognized him immediately bowed their heads in respect.
“Thank you all for attending.”
Having responded with light greetings, Kim Hyunwoo slowly walked into the banquet hall.
Those he’d summoned were there not as the Andong Kim clan, but as Kim Hyunwoo personally.
He’d also added that it was a ‘personal’ event not reported to Lord Kim Jungheon.
In other words, those gathered in this banquet hall had come to find him with all of that in mind.
‘Those who decided to invest after seeing my power and potential, not the clan’s reputation or Father’s halo.’
Not Father’s people, but completely my people.
While examining the composition of those gathered in the banquet hall, a satisfied smile crossed Kim Hyunwoo’s face.
‘This is just the beginning.’
Something he couldn’t yet tell anyone.
Yet simultaneously, a task he definitely wanted to accomplish someday.
For the sake of his ambition.
“Keuuu—!”
Pyeongwoon Tavern, completely empty without a single customer.
After finishing a bowl of well-prepared seolleongtang on the table, a groan came out naturally.
Kuuuh, pok, yeees.
This is what makes being Korean in Joseon worthwhile!
“By the way, that Mooyoung fellow completely trashed your mechanical arm. How much does this cost? I know a good technician on the lowest level—should I introduce you?”
“N-no! It’s not an expensive item! You don’t need to worry about it…”
“No, no. Since we’re going to do big things together, I’d feel bad just letting it pass.”
Dolsoe, who’d become noticeably more polite after revealing my status as a noble.
But he must be getting curious by now.
Breaking Dolsoe’s arm guarding the door, smashing surveillance cameras.
After appearing so menacingly, why was I now suddenly settled in the tavern wolfing down seolleongtang?
The reason was simple.
After hearing my plan, the proprietress had abruptly said, ‘Why don’t you have a meal first?’
Since a big job had suddenly arrived, she probably wanted some time to think.
After waiting like that for some time—
“Suddenly visiting and bringing such a big job—it’s like a bolt from the blue sky.”
The proprietress who’d brought a tray full of melons sat down across from me.
“Should I get that guard of yours some makgeolli?”
“No need.”
“Why? Can’t you drink?”
“I don’t drink alcohol while on duty.”
“My goodness, what a proper gentleman.”
That brief exchange with Taewoong sitting beside me was momentary.
“So, what our Young Master is saying…”
The proprietress who’d poured a bowl full of makgeolli she’d brought along started warming up to the main topic.
“You’ll make a gambling den for those noble aristocrats up there?”
“That’s right.”
“In other words, you need my help for those high and mighty noble aristocrats to play with money?”
I bit into a piece of melon from the tray and spoke.
“I can’t just take any random person to run Joseon’s largest gambling establishment. But I also can’t personally hire all those numerous employees one by one.”
“And whether the people hired that way would be proper humans is also uncertain, isn’t it?”
“Exactly. So I’d like you to operate the casino we’ll be newly establishing.”
If you have money, you can obtain people.
But if you’ve had experience operating even a corner store, you’d know.
Starting work in a region where you have not a single connection, with only money?
It’s possible.
But the cost-performance doesn’t work out.
‘As with any business, the biggest problem is people after all.’
Friends you’ve known since childhood.
An uncle you know.
A respected elder renowned in the region.
A network built up over long years while being verified—’connections.’
The Park Bokja before my eyes was precisely the person who could fulfill that part.
Small-scale gambling dens scattered throughout Hanseong.
And the ‘proprietress’ Park Bokja sitting across from me was a big player occupying more than half of those numerous gambling dens.
“What, you don’t want to do it?”
“If I said I didn’t want to, would my neck even be safe?”
Impudence was thoroughly mixed into her polite tone.
She wouldn’t particularly refuse, but she didn’t want to either.
Well, that made sense.
Among the commoners living in Hanseong, where would you find someone without resentment toward nobles?
“Keuuu—!”
Park Bokja downed an entire bowl of makgeolli placed before her.
She who’d been making a complicated face the whole time looked toward me with shining eyes.
“Let me ask just one thing.”
“As much as you want.”
“Why me?”
She continued speaking.
“It’s true I’m running gambling dens fairly large-scale, but there are quite a few people who do business better than me.”
With the information network I possessed, I could visit much larger organizations to collaborate.
And if I did that, I could make big money much more easily.
“Yet why did the Young Master specifically visit this hole-in-the-wall and harass someone like me?”
The reason for visiting Pyeongwoon Tavern specifically, not somewhere else.
Well, it was simple.
I picked up another piece of melon and opened my mouth.
“The orphanage in the district directly above.”
“…!”
“You’re funding that, aren’t you?”
At the single phrase that flowed from my mouth, the expressions of both the proprietress and Dolsoe who’d been guarding the door changed.
“Why are you suddenly bringing up an orphanage that has nothing to do with anything?”
Clear hostility.
Confirming that made me feel much more at ease.
Should I poke once more just to be sure?
“I’m just worried about it. I know you’re quite famous in this field, but… it’s difficult to operate with just brokerage commissions and the businesses your friends run. Right?”
“Young Master.”
When I stimulated her with an appropriately grating tone by involving the children, an immediate reaction came.
“If by any chance you think to threaten them by laying a hand on that orphanage… those kids.”
Unlike me speaking in a light tone, the proprietress’s voice calling me was utterly rigid.
“Then I won’t stay quiet, regardless of whether you’re from a power clan or whatever.”
An expression showing not just hostility but even killing intent.
Seeing that, laughter flowed out naturally.
‘Right. You need to react like that.’
To react like that even knowing it’d be certain death to charge at me.
As expected, that person was the very ‘proprietress’ I’d met in my past life.
Someone who’d lived their entire life in the underworld.
Yet because of that, while knowing the dark side of this Joseon best, they maintained their distinctive humanity.
And a righteous person who’d been gruesomely murdered by nobles’ hands for preserving that humanity.
They were an ideal talent for the business I’d be conducting.
“That right there.”
“…Yes?”
“The reaction you just showed is the reason.”
Some media outlet once broadcast a news article saying a hundred thousand kids were starving to death in Hanseong.
Do you know what the Administration said came out as their answer after going through a royal court meeting?
[Since this year’s newborn count is two hundred thousand, there’s no problem in population statistics]
[It’s a process where the overheated birth rate problem is naturally resolving itself]
[There’s no need to change existing budget plans]
It really couldn’t have been a warmer answer.
Moreover, since no one raised objections even after hearing such an answer, it could truly be called the true appearance of the 22nd century advanced nation Joseon.
‘When the high officials who personally look after the people with care are in this state and condition, welfare policies or support projects couldn’t possibly function properly.’
Yet in this hellish Joseon that’s reached this point, someone specifically uses their own money to operate an orphanage?
Without any support?
There are only two types of people in this Joseon capable of that.
Either insane.
Or only insanely kind-hearted suckers.
‘And those kind-hearted suckers will be absolutely necessary for my plan.’
Park Bokja making a bewildered expression.
Watching that, I handed her a data chip.
And the moment the proprietress’s eye scanner recognized the code engraved on the chip, her expression changed moment by moment.
“This is…?”
“It’s the true form of the ‘casino’ you’ll be operating.”
The casino’s operational plan and expected revenue.
The scale of compensation to be given to the proprietress herself and subordinate employees.
A plan showing where revenue earned from the casino would be spent and a list of derivative businesses that would proceed afterward.
After confirming all of those, the proprietress’s eyes trembled.
‘She’d quickly realize this isn’t ordinary work.’
Before entering here, I’d destroyed all the surveillance cameras and recorders inside this tavern.
Why?
Because I didn’t want my face exposed?
If that were the case, I wouldn’t be sitting here eating melon.
The plan I’d handed over had long since exceeded the level that could be called a big job.
Myself leisurely chewing melon and the two guards protecting my side.
Seeing them, Park Bokja would be able to realize without difficulty.
That I’d had no intention of letting her go from the start.
“If it’s according to the plan that came out here, Young Master, you’re now…”
“…”
Having noticed that, the proprietress forcibly moved her mouth that wouldn’t drop open.
“Are you saying you’re plotting treason?”
“Treason. Don’t use such ominous words.”
Yoo Sanghyeon too, and this person too.
Why do they all make it sound like I’m doing something bad?
“I’m preparing a revolution.”
Hello! If you any questions and if you found any errors on my translations, please do @ me on our discord server (@_dawn24) since I might miss your comment here. FYI, you can periodically check my Patreon page where I usually uploaded the completed version of the novels that I translated (including regular and advanced chapters), they come with a discounted price too!
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