episode_0119

The front of the government office was literally crowded with people. This was because merchants flocked to the government office to retrieve goods stolen by bandits.

Among the looted items, the bandits used items related to food, clothing, and shelter without hesitation, so many merchants suffered damage. There was no chaos in front of the government office to retrieve items looted by bandits.

“Better! This is not my axe!”

“Huh…then what is your axe? This golden ax? Silver axe?”

“No, my ax is a battle ax made of black iron!”

“That wasn’t on the list… First, fill out the damage report and, just in case, fill out the damage claim form as well. For now, I’ll have someone look for it.”

“Eng…It’s an item that needs to be delivered to the Holy Family…”

From those who couldn’t find their items to merchants filling out documents in a corner and workers transporting items after receiving confirmation from officials.

Since I was just practicing at Sima Yan’s mansion for a while, I didn’t stop by the government office, but there was absolutely no war here.

Now that I think about it, has the wood attribute elixir of Cheonyu Sangdan been recovered? Sima Yan is someone who knows that I need to obtain the elixir of the Seven Elements attribute, and he also told me that he would purchase the elixir of the earth attribute from the Heavenly Yu Sangdan instead.

Since distribution of goods is still in full swing, should I wait a little longer?

Thinking about this and that, I entered the government office.

Even inside the government office, there were many officials walking around quickly, each holding a bundle of documents. Everyone had dark circles under their eyes, clearly showing that they had been working all night and overtime for the past week.

When I entered Sama-Yeom’s office, I saw Sama-Yeom leisurely enjoying tea with Hyuk Kirin.

I glanced at the desk and saw that there wasn’t a single document piled up. It is a sight that would make the low-ranking officials rolling to their deaths below shed tears of blood.

“The government office looks quite busy.”

“Yes, it is. I’m busy arresting merchants trying to pick up goods and felons from the Golden Street, and organizing a list of confiscated Yu Ji-gyeong’s property and the Golden Street’s property.”

It seems that Sima Yan is an evil boss. Well, if the governor is going to lead, lower-ranking officials should be going as well.

“So, what is the reason you called me today? Is Hyeok Kirin Daehyeop also joining us today?”

“Yes. It’s easier to work with a martial artist.”

work? When I heard something suspicious, I looked towards Hyukkirin, but Hyukkirin was just looking at me with puzzled eyes.

Sima Yan led us without saying anything. As we headed towards a place with increasingly tight security, there was actually no one at the door. Did Sima Yeon bite someone in advance?

“This place…?”

I wasn’t sure, but I knew right away that it wasn’t an ordinary place. The thickness and material of the wall are unusual. I’m not sure, but I feel like it won’t be easy to break this wall even if I’m a martial arts expert.

The highlight was that door. The sliding door was completely integrated with the wall without a door frame, and the door was made of sturdy metal and had several locks.

Sama Yeom took out the keys from his pocket and began to unlock them one by one.

“This is where the treasures initially confiscated from the Golden Street warehouse are located.”

Is it really a treasure trove?

After using my inner strength to push open the extremely heavy iron door, the panoramic view of the warehouse came into view.

It was a spectacular sight to see the treasures flashing brightly on the shelves arranged in a uniform manner.

As an outsider, I can see everything starting from high-end furniture, fancy clothes, accessories, etc. There were all kinds of valuables, and even I, who was not familiar with these things, could tell that they were not just jewelry or gold jewelry. I don’t think it would be strange if each of the treasures here had a name.

“Oh…”

Hyeok Gi-rin was also constantly exclaiming in exclamation as he examined the items. Unlike me, who has no connection to valuable items, Hyeok Kirin must have some tolerance and insight into these items. Nevertheless, seeing the repeated exclamations of exclamation, it appears to be an unusual item.

“Last time, Ho Daehyup said he was looking for an elixir of the seven elements.”

“That’s right.”

“Cheonyu Sangdan’s three bulbs were purchased for fifty nyang of gold. It will probably arrive at my residence once the Cheonyu Sangdan’s work is completed.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

It would not have been just a half-price discount, so it seems that Cheonyu Sangdan took advantage of it. I felt quite sorry for Sima Yan. I was just saying this to ask you to pay a little more attention…

The task of distributing goods looted by bandits was a very sensitive task. However, I had made some kind of backroom deal with the Cheonyou Trading Company… so it was as if Sima Yan had taken a political risk to grant my request.

Sima Yan pointed to a corner of the warehouse. There were a lot of various medicinal herbs and wooden boxes placed there.

“Please look for elixirs of the remaining properties here. I am completely unfamiliar with the part about elixirs, so I brought it to you personally.”

It was quite an amazing story.

“Isn’t this the coffin warehouse? Wouldn’t that be a problem?”

“Hehe, I am the governor. What are you worried about?”

Sima Yan chuckled and added to the story.

“The property of Seongnakruju Yoo Si-kyung, who had committed all kinds of illegal activities, was neatly confiscated. The value of Giru and other business bonds. Adding up all the illegally hidden funds, the amount was surprising even to me.”

“Of course, the real big fish is the golden line. What can we say about the wealth of the Golden Family, the best merchant family in Sichuan Province? Not all those who use golden castles have committed sins, so not all of their assets will be taken away, but there are many who have committed serious crimes. The confiscated property is also enormous.”

“The things here are famous treasures confiscated from the Gold Street. Appropriate precious metal crafts, gems, gold, etc. can be washed if stolen, but famous treasures are like a poisoned chalice. If it is disposed of carelessly, it is likely to be identified immediately.”

So, the story was that things that could be considered golden treasures were gathered in this warehouse.

“No, this….”

Hyuk Kirin looks like he has something to say. In fact, if it had been Sama Yeom, the two of them would have given a high five, but by chance, Hyeok Kirin, the princess of the imperial family, was here. Since he was plotting to embezzle government property in front of the royal family, he was bound to be noticed.

“Umm… This is wealth that would not have existed if it were not for Ho Rongin’s plan, so I agree with giving compensation to Ho Rongin, but the method is a bit… no. I won’t say anything. I don’t know about this.”

“Hehehe. No need to worry. It is not uncommon for people to keep it thinking it was an elixir, but when it was actually analyzed, it was just Cheongsimhwan.”

“That’s called embezzlement! Ahhh…! Enough with this topic!”

Hyeok Kirin suffers from remorse over the fact that as a member of the imperial family, he embezzled the government’s property, and Sima Yeom is happy to see Hyuk Kirin’s new appearance.

Well, let’s not think too deeply about this part.

Anyway, Hyuk Kirin and I’s search began.

Hyeok Kirin was testing the elixir while shaking his head or nodding, mumbling something over and over again as if he was feeling remorse.

“Um.”

To be honest, if you asked me if I had the skills to distinguish the properties of elixirs, I would have no choice but to say that I did not. I know that I get a certain reward when I get a certain skill, but I can’t find out if I pile up a pile of elixirs like this and ask what their properties are.

However, there were some properties of elixirs that could be distinguished only by their external characteristics.

“This is confirmed.”

I picked up the elixir and waved it before my eyes. The crystal container, which could hold the size of a thumbnail, contained a solution similar to liquid lead.

This is definitely petroleum. I don’t know what kind of oil it is, but I’m sure it has gold properties.

There were dozens of elixirs, but the rule was that the more luxurious the elixir, the closer it was to shamanism.

“Hmm…this elixir can be said to have yin properties.”

It seems that Hyuk Kirin also found something in the elixir.

“You really need an elixir with certain characteristics of the Seven Pillars, right? The rest have all mixed qualities.”

“Is that so.”

Just obtaining two elixirs was quite an achievement.

“Hehe, other than the elixir of the Seven Elements, you don’t need any general elixirs, do you?”

“It would be nice to have it.”

Basically, the more the more the more the better. But my situation is a little different. The energy of the seven elixirs will remain in your body, and you need to balance them, but taking another elixir is a bit…

Unlike the Jade Juryeongdan, which was obtained legitimately, the elixir here carries a certain degree of risk just by possessing it. And the burden of wartitis is also something to consider.

Is it right for me to be greedy for an elixir that I don’t know whether I will eat or not?

While I was thinking about this, Sima Yan picked up an elixir and handed it to me. I was looking at Sima Yan without even realizing it.

“The Grand Hyeop will take care of it, but please be careful when handling the remaining elixir.”

“….Of course.”

It is true that Sima Yan made a great achievement in the case of suppressing bandits. He took control of the Murim people, gave favor to merchants, and destroyed all those who had amassed wealth by destroying Sichuan Province for 15 years, and returned their wealth to the national treasury.

However, it was also true that he bore various political burdens as well as his exploits. For example, he brought the Tang family to Sichuan Province or actively intervened in the affairs of the martial arts group. Regardless of whether things work out well or not, the fact that Sama Yeom made this choice could have hindered him at some point.

Sima Yan’s offer of the third elixir to me was quite a risky act from Sima Yan’s perspective.

No matter how good you are at cleaning up after things, there are limits to cleaning up after things. If the three elixirs stolen today remain in the world, there remains physical evidence of Sima Yan’s corruption that he stole items from the Golden Family.

Since I said I needed the metallic sonic elixir, you might think it would be disposed of quickly, but the situation is different for the last elixir. There is no guarantee when it will disappear.

To put it bluntly, this elixir could remain for ten or twenty years and serve as physical evidence of Sima Yan’s corruption.

Just as the treasure known as the Chilbo Jadedae eventually caught Mak Yeo Bu’s back.

Sima Yeon was not unaware of such dangers… but does handing over the elixir like this mean that he trusts me that much?

Trust is too heavy and unnecessary.

“You don’t have to look at it that way. I was planning on handing over three elixirs from the beginning.”

I have some doubts as to whether he really intended to do so, but Sima Yan took out three wooden boxes from his sleeves and placed them on the empty seats.

“Let’s go back.”

This is what came to mind when I saw Sima Yan smiling empty-handedly.

I guess this guy wants something from me.