Delivery workers don’t just drop off food at the mansion and call it a day.
Even in this martial arts dating game world, once they step into the mansion, they’re treated like guests.
They can ask to take a break or be served a glass of splashing water. They might even wait around just to collect their dishes.
Everything is optimized for learning the internal affairs of the mansion.
“This area for the guards is well-known among the delivery guys since they often order late-night snacks.”
With a few additional comments from the delivery workers, the layout of the mansion quickly took shape.
One by one, the delivery workers pointed out places in order and started explaining what each one was for.
“This area has medicinal herbs that are commonly used, like licorice.”
“The building near the entrance stockpiles herbs that will be sent to the pharmacy the next day.”
“The outer courtyard has been organized quickly, but has anyone been to the inner courtyard?”
Several hands went up.
“The innermost building of the inner courtyard is where the pharmacy owner and his wife stay.”
“In the two side buildings, the pharmacy owner’s second and third wives reside.”
“Looks like the pharmacy owner has quite the abilities.”
Three wives, huh?
“He’s running a big pharmacy, after all. He can afford three wives with the profits.”
“There’s a precious herb storage room in the building to the right of the inner courtyard. No one in our group has likely entered there since it’s strictly off-limits.”
If the elixir was stolen, it’s probably in the inner courtyard storage.
“Does anyone know what the remaining building is for?”
As I gathered information, I felt like I could achieve 100% of the ‘mapping’ achievement, so I inquired further about the uncharted building.
“That building is where several young concubines of the pharmacy owner live. Unlike the wives, they don’t occupy an entire building but share a single building with rooms.”
“Three wives and concubines too?”
“Yes. If you enter, the room on the right is where a gray-haired concubine lives; she’s the pharmacy owner’s favorite. She used to be a courtesan and has quite the charm, especially when she shakes her butt to show off. Ugh…”
One delivery worker muttered as if the image of the concubine was still lingering in his mind. How does he know so much?
“Have you all actually been inside the concubines’ rooms?”
Usually, guards wouldn’t let people go in so easily.
“Ah! Hahaha. That’s…”
“What is it?”
“The pharmacy owner isn’t squishy like me…”
Oh my goodness.
“This guy is embarrassing all Joseon people!”
“Hey, regain your dignity!”
The other delivery workers reprimanded the one who had a ‘heated moment’ with the concubine in outrage.
“No, no, why! I wasn’t seducing her! She just said it’s good for the body while giving me some candy-like thing! Suddenly my body gets all fired up, and with that tempting look, how could I resist!”
Candy that makes your body feel fired up?
Just as I was about to ask more, the angered delivery workers beat me to it.
“What? Using the power of a potion? Oh, what a disgrace to Joseon!”
“You can’t even satisfy one ordinary Central Plains woman?”
“They say black hair should be naturally strong! Relying on a potion is cowardly!”
Why are they angrier about him taking the potion than about him being with a concubine?
“No…”
“Be careful if you want to avoid ending up as a corpse in the street.”
I hardened my expression and scolded him sternly.
If kids end up getting hurt from this, they might grow up with prejudice and start thinking they can stab a decent bookstore owner.
“Yes. I’m sorry, Club Leader. I won’t let this happen again.”
The delivery worker, instantly transformed into a coward, bowed his head frantically.
——————-
“Thank you all for your hard work.”
Now we knew who lived where, what was being stored, and how many guards were around. The mansion infiltration map was quickly completed.
“It’s no big deal!”
“After we’re done today, ask the innkeeper to set a banquet table in my name.”
“Thank you!”
“Can I have beer and sweet and sour pork?”
“Do whatever you want.”
“You’re truly the Club Leader!”
As I dismissed the delivery workers from my office, Im Ha-yeon sighed lightly and approached me.
“Someone has to go through hardships to create this. How did you think of these things?”
I smiled triumphantly and opened my mouth.
“This is why one must stand in a position to utilize people.”
“Judging by the circumstances, it’s highly likely the elixir is in the concubine’s room.”
“It seems like they stole it to use as an aphrodisiac.”
They had said the physician made an elixir that could be sold to middle-aged men and third-rate warriors. It must be true; Joseon ginseng is well-known for promoting blood circulation and has a reputation as an aphrodisiac.
Enhancing internal energy, healing wounds, tonics, aphrodisiacs… in this world, it’s practically a miracle elixir.
“We’ll start by searching the concubine’s room and also peek into the inner courtyard storage room where they keep the precious herbs.”
“Please take care of it. And before you go, I have something to tell you.”
I shared my instructions with Im Ha-yeon and sent her off to the pharmacy owner’s mansion.
—————-
“The quantity in the concubine’s room was small. Most of it was in the inner courtyard storage.”
Im Ha-yeon placed a paper-wrapped elixir on the desk.
Korean ginseng candy. It really does say that on the paper.
“I was surprised at the amount. But why did you tell me not to bring it out?”
I instructed Im Ha-yeon not to bring the elixir even if she found it.
“If the missing medicine gets sold at the acupuncture center, that’s a problem too.”
For me, returning it would be the end. But the pharmacy would realize they were robbed, leading to a conflict between the pharmacy and the acupuncture center.
Since I need to keep getting my money from them, it’s better to handle this neatly.
“What should we do then?”
“We need to plan an elixir confiscation scheme. One that would really give them trouble.”
While I promised the victim half of the elixir as compensation, that was insufficient.
Didn’t a great sorcerer with the same charges not say that villains have no human rights?
At the very least, if a thief gets caught, it’s only normal to compensate them double.
“Seeing you say that makes me feel a bit sorry for the pharmacy owner.”
Im Ha-yeon eyed me warily to see what trick I might be plotting.
“I called for Sam-gu and Il-gu while you were away for tomorrow.”
“Are you going to demand it face-to-face?”
“I’ll have you keep an eye on the guest house tomorrow. I’ll handle the rest.”
We were both busy.
This time, I have to move with the motto of minimal action and maximum happiness.
————–
“How did you get in? Hey! Don’t handle the medicinal herbs carelessly!”
The next day at the pharmacy. I went up to the third floor, where they handle valuable medicinal herbs, and grabbed a ginseng labeled as Joseon ginseng.
“This isn’t Joseon ginseng. Why does it say it’s Joseon ginseng?”
“Sir, what do you mean? That is Joseon ginseng.”
From the expression on his face, he clearly knows.
“This is not Joseon ginseng; it’s from the Central Plains! Selling such low-quality herbs at a high price? What a trash pharmacy!”
Like mixing flour with other grain powders to inflate the product, it’s nothing new for merchants to scam buyers for profit.
In the whole of Joseon, there are few who can assess ginseng better than I can, so don’t try to teach me about Joseon ginseng!
“What the hell are you saying, you barbarian?!”
“What? What did you just say to the Club Leader?!”
“Huh? Where did you…ugh!”
The eldest of the Sam-gu brothers, a walking golem, lifted the employee by the collar with one hand.
“This punk!”
“Ahhh!”
In an instant, the employee was pinned against a pillar.
“What are you doing?!”
As the pharmacy became chaotic, a middle-aged man appeared with a frown.
“Are you the owner of this pharmacy?”
“A Joseon man? Yes, that’s right.”
The moment he saw my black hair, he dropped the honorifics. Typical Central Plains person.
“You were rude to a customer who came to buy medicine. You need to train your staff.”
The pharmacy owner seemed to be gauging the situation, glancing back and forth between the three muscular men and me, before opening his mouth again.
“What kind of medicine do you want? If you don’t cause any more trouble, I’ll let you have some of the good stuff.”
“The kind of medicine you’re well aware of.”
I said with a smirk, raising one corner of my mouth.
“The medicine you know well?”
The pharmacy owner’s head tilted in confusion.
“Korean ginseng candy.”
“…Did that Joseon acupuncturist send you?”
The pharmacy owner finally seemed to realize my purpose for visiting and frowned.
“I am the leader of the Joseon compatriots’ association, Kang Yoon-ho.”
I went all out, spreading my arms and tilting my head slightly to look down on the pharmacy owner with a condescending stare.
The intimidation will come from the Sam-gu brothers behind me.
“The conversation is over. Whether you’re an association leader or whatever, it’s none of your business.”
While the pharmacy owner might say anything, I casually handled the fake ginseng labeled as Joseon ginseng while using my Small Wheel Mental Image Technique.
“Looks like Korean ginseng is precious. This is fake ginseng! This is fake ginseng! Where on earth is the real Korean ginseng?!”
My loud voice echoed throughout the pharmacy building.
“What is that guy talking about?”
“He says the Korean ginseng sold here is fake.”
Normally, people wouldn’t care what a barbarian says. But saying the Central Plains ginseng is fake? That’s something they can’t easily ignore.
“It’s not my fault. The carriage driver ran off with it! I’m the one being wronged!”
The pharmacy owner tried to throw out desperate lies, possibly wanting to quickly drive me away.
“There’s no compensation if the thief ran away? Is that what you mean?”
“Exactly.”
“How odd.”
“What’s odd about it?”
“I feel like a thief is nearby.”
The one who stole it is you! I looked at the pharmacy owner, smirking as if I knew everything.
“This guy!”
“This guy?!”
“Enough!”
As the pharmacy’s guards and the Sam-gu brothers reached for their swords, I raised my hand to immediately stop them.
“Everyone, put those down. I am not here to start a fight. If you return my family’s stolen elixir or provide compensation, I’ll wash my hands of this matter.”
I made my final negotiation offer.
“You, a Joseon scumbag, are getting carried away with bringing your goons here!”
Of course, I didn’t expect him to go down easily.
“I’ll give you until tomorrow. You can reflect and decide whether to bring the elixir back or the compensation, whatever you choose.”
I casually patted the pharmacy owner’s shoulder, who glared at me, and then left the pharmacy.
——————-
“Looks like he didn’t come after all.”
Even the next day, the pharmacy owner didn’t show up.
“Brother, I mean, Club Leader! Just say the word and we’ll break the pharmacy apart!”
“This is utterly disrespectful to you, Club Leader!”
“That’s right! Thanks to you, we’re thriving at our coastal post. We have recruits who can handle internal energy, so just give the command, and we’ll mobilize!”
The Sam-gu brothers were getting restless, acting as if they had been wronged, ready to spring into action.
“Let it be.”
“Club Leader!”
Even if gangsters exist in Korea, they’re considered necessary for maintaining order in the underworld as long as they don’t cause trouble. But if foreign gangsters run rampant in Korea, what use would the police be?
Those who draw swords easily tend to die easily.
“But Brother!”
“Let’s use the boys instead.”
This was already within the range of my predictions.
Now it’s time to move on to the next phase of my planned scheme.
“Gather all the boys and have them meet up.”
“Not those guys. I’m talking about the Joseon laborers.”
“Huh? But they’re not fighters. What are you planning to do with them?”
“I have my reasons.”
Very good reasons!
*
“You mean the big pharmacy on the main street?”
At a guesthouse in Wuhan, a black-haired worker was having a cheap drink of huangjiu while chatting with other Central Plains people.
“That big pharmacy on the main street?”
“Right. Apparently, they mix fake medicines when making their potions.”
“What?!”
“Is that true?”
“Oh! I heard about that too. But I was told they mix in rotting herbs instead of fake ones.”
Another Joseon person chimed in, drinking his huangjiu, adding to what the previous Joseon had said.
“Now that I think about it, I think I had diarrhea after taking a tonic from that pharmacy!”
A Central Plains person seemed to have a revelation. In reality, it was a symptom caused by illness, but they wouldn’t know that.
“I’ve been to that pharmacy at times, but I guess I shouldn’t go back there.”
Malicious rumors about the pharmacy were starting to spread. If it were just one or two people, it would have fizzled out quickly. But this time was different.
As if someone planned it, malicious rumors began circulating in clusters around the pharmacy.
“They say they mix that in the medicine.”
“That stuff?”
“Poop!”
“Last time, they forced me to pay for a more expensive medicine when they said they had no more herbs! These guys might be doing it on purpose.”
“I’ve been a regular there for years; how could they do something like that?”
Haven’t you heard? The innkeeper of the black-haired guesthouse said that he recently asked the pharmacy owner why they were selling fake Joseon ginseng, and the owner couldn’t say a word!
“What?! They swindled us with that expensive Joseon ginseng?!”
“They’re selling that expensive stuff at that price! How could they sell decent medicine?”
“The pharmacy owner is just after money, now that he’s got three concubines in his old age.”
“They even charge twice the price for licorice and angelica compared to other pharmacies.”
Although there are Joseon people living in Wuhan, they don’t confine their conversations to just Joseon people.
The gossip jumps from a Joseon person to a Central Plains person and then to another Central Plains person in Wuhan.
The opponent was not an honest pharmacy but one that deployed near-fraudulent practices for profits.
Malicious rumors began to spread rapidly.
“Gahhh! You little brat!”
“It took you a day to show up after I gave you a deadline!”
Soon enough, the furious pharmacy owner found his way to Kang Yoon-ho.
