No one could speak.
The declaration that came from Hyunjong was too shocking.
Those who understood what Hyunjong was saying could not close their gaping mouths, and even those who had not fully grasped the situation were too intimidated by the atmosphere to dare to speak.
"Now, the sect leader!"
"What do you mean, sect leader?"
The uproar erupted suddenly.
Merchants with faces flushed red shouted angrily, but Hyunjong's expression did not change at all.
A coldness that was rarely seen on his face pressed down on the merchants.
"I mean it literally."
"B-but…!"
"We have no idea what this situation is…."
At that moment.
"Silence."
The cold voice of Gong Munyeon silenced the merchants.
The gazes of Hyunjong and Gong Munyeon intertwined in the air.
"Sect leader."
"Speak, Gong Luju."
Although his attitude had not changed, many things had shifted.
Hyunjong no longer maintained his relaxed demeanor, and the softness that had been customary in Gong Munyeon's expression had vanished.
"It seems you are taking this too lightly."
"You call this a joke?"
"Indeed."
The two men's gazes locked in the air.
Normally, Hyunjong would have brushed it off lightly, but at this moment, he did not yield an inch.
"If the position of the sect leader of the Great Volcano seems so idle that you can joke around, that is unfortunate."
Gong Munyeon pressed his lips together.
His mouth, usually composed, was now twisted.
"According to this ledger, most of the businesses of the Harmony Merchant Alliance belong to the Great Volcano. If we cannot present proof that we have compensated the Great Volcano fairly and taken over the business, we would have no right to complain if our property is confiscated."
"You know well."
"However."
Gong Munyeon smiled.
But that smile felt distinctly different from the ones he had shown until now.
It was an awkward smile, as if forced.
"That is only true if this ledger is genuine, isn't it?"
Hyunjong glared at Gong Munyeon in silence.
But Gong Munyeon continued, undeterred by the gaze.
"How can we prove that this suddenly appeared ledger is authentic?"
"What you mean is…."
Hyunjong narrowed his eyes.
"Are you saying that the Great Volcano is presenting false evidence?"
"The Great Volcano would not do such a thing."
Gong Munyeon took a slight step back.
But that did not change his attitude.
"However, could it not be that the Great Volcano is also deceived by this false ledger? If the authenticity of this ledger cannot be verified, we cannot trust it."
"Indeed!"
"That is a very reasonable statement!"
The merchants supported Gong Munyeon's remarks.
Hyunjong, who had been quietly observing them, slowly nodded his head.
Then he turned to Hyunyoung.
"Jae-gyeong Gakju."
"Yes, sect leader!"
"What do you think?"
"They have a point."
Hyunyoung, the Jae-gyeong Gakju, answered without changing his expression.
The merchants cheered at his response.
"So what should we do?"
"Sect leader, the discussion has gone awry."
"Hmm?"
Hyunyoung smiled brightly as he spoke.
"Determining whether the ledger is genuine or not is not our job or theirs. The place to settle such matters is the government office, is it not?"
"That is correct."
Hyunyoung continued, "Therefore, we have already entrusted half of the ledger to the Harmony government office for verification of its authenticity. If the ledger is confirmed to be genuine, the government will personally confiscate their business."
Gong Munyeon widened his eyes.
"Y-you have already entrusted it?"
"Indeed. Why? Is something wrong?"
Hyunyoung's calm response chilled Gong Munyeon's body.
Cold sweat began to bead down his back.
'We’ve been had.' If they had been in Harmony, they could have countered.
But now they were at the Great Volcano.
If the government soldiers rushed in to occupy the businesses while they were absent, there would be no way to respond with only those who remained.
'That bastard!'
Flames sparked in Gong Munyeon's eyes as he glared at Hyunjong.
Hyunjong had called them to the Great Volcano with this very intention.
Showing the ledger directly to the merchants and settling the matter was merely a distraction.
What they truly aimed for was to separate them from Harmony.
"When did you entrust the ledger to the government?"
"Two days ago."
"…This."
Gong Munyeon gritted his teeth.
Two days was more than enough time to verify the ledger.
Although he claimed to have entrusted half, how could a ledger be compared in halves? The ledger in the box had surely already been reviewed.
This meant that the government soldiers were already prepared to determine the authenticity of the ledger and confiscate the businesses at the foot of the mountain.
The Harmony government office had always been friendly to the Great Volcano.
If the sect leader had mobilized the connections of the Great Volcano to apply pressure from above, it was clear what the Harmony governor would do.
By now, chaos would have erupted.
"Sect leader!"
A furious voice escaped from Gong Munyeon's mouth.
But Hyunjong was no longer the generous sect leader he once knew.
"Lower your voice."
A solemn aura radiated from Hyunjong's entire being.
Gong Munyeon, who rarely flinched or panicked in front of others, could not help but shrink back at the overwhelming presence emanating from Hyunjong.
The name of the Great Volcano.
The weight of that name, which now only remained on the surface, was unimaginable coming from someone who bore it.
"You have no right to speak."
Hyunjong's cold gaze fixed on the merchants.
Unable to withstand the weight of his stare, some lowered their heads and avoided his eyes.
"A true friend is one who extends a hand in difficult times. There is no need to treat those who draw a blade when times are tough as friends. Leave. If you go down to Harmony, everything will be over. Originally, I should recover everything you have, but…."
Hyunjong sighed.
"I cannot completely disregard your efforts thus far. So I will allow each of you to take away the equivalent of one cart of goods."
"Now, sect leader."
Even the most oblivious could not fail to grasp how the situation was unfolding at this point.
"I have shown you the utmost kindness."
At that moment, Jae-gyeong Gakju Hyunyoung spoke up.
"Sect leader. These people have insulted the Great Volcano and even attempted to steal its wealth. Not only that, but they also tried to repay the kindness of the Great Volcano with enmity. Such kindness towards them…."
"If a beast tries to bite, if I show my teeth in return, I too become a beast."
Hyunjong waved his hand.
"I have already made my decision, so Jae-gyeong Gakju, do not mention this matter again."
"Yes, sect leader."
Hyunyoung bowed his head.
"Go down. You must see with your own eyes how things have turned out."
Gong Munyeon's face twisted completely.
Showing his teeth, he glared at Hyunjong as if he wanted to kill him.
"Sect leader. You hid a poisonous heart behind that gentle face."
"A poisonous heart, you say…."
Hyunjong smiled lightly.
"If it is a poisonous heart, then so be it. But it cannot compare to yours."
"…I will not forget this debt."
"Very well. Unam, take them away."
"Yes, sect leader!"
Gong Munyeon turned sharply.
Without waiting for Unam's guidance, he began to walk toward the mountain gate.
The merchants, who had been anxiously watching the two, hurriedly followed Gong Munyeon.
They needed to rush down the mountain to see what had happened in Harmony.
Watching the merchants head toward the mountain gate, Hyunjong let out a soft sigh.
"Sect leader! You have worked hard."
"Indeed."
Hyunjong smiled gently at Hyunyoung.
"Now, the Great Volcano is done. It is done indeed!"
"Do not be too pleased. We have only just crossed one mountain."
"What greater mountain could there be? Everything will be fine now."
Seeing Hyunyoung so delighted, Hyunjong could not help but smile.
It had been decades since he had seen the Jae-gyeong Gakju so happy.
Each of them had been carrying heavy burdens on their shoulders.
'This is all thanks to that child.'
It could be said that this was the great fortune of the Great Volcano.
He needed to reward them greatly, but what kind of reward could adequately acknowledge this contribution? Laughter kept bubbling up.
As Hyunjong was lost in thought, his gaze shifted to Yu Jong-san and the other merchants.
"And…."
Those who met the sect leader's eyes immediately lowered their heads.
"You have not lost your sense of righteousness until the very end."
Hyunjong's demeanor was markedly different from how he had treated the other merchants just moments ago.
While he did not lose his severity, he was certainly softer.
"Sect leader. We do not understand how this is all happening…."
"The fact that your businesses belong to the Great Volcano has not changed. Naturally, what belongs to the Great Volcano must return to it. However, I will allow you to continue operating your businesses and receive compensation."
"…."
Yu Jong-san's face became complicated.
While they were better off than those who were now hurriedly descending the mountain, losing their businesses was still the same.
Just like that, Yu Jong-san would become an agent instead of the owner of the fabric store.
"Then…."
Just as Yu Jong-san was about to protest, Hyunyoung subtly spoke up.
"Excessive greed brings disaster."
"…."
"Pressuring others with property that is not yours is also a crime. The Great Volcano has merely given you the opportunity to lessen the weight of that sin."
A sigh escaped.
If all of this stemmed from a forgery, Hyunyoung's words were correct.
'Grandfather.
What on earth have you done?'
He felt a sudden wave of shame.
"Jae-gyeong Gakju."
"Yes, sect leader."
"However, it is true that these people did not betray their loyalty to the Great Volcano and offered help at the last moment."
"That is indeed true."
"Discuss together. See if there is a good direction. The Great Volcano should still be a warm place for friends, should it not?"
"Yes, sect leader. I will follow your words."
Hyunyoung stepped forward and gestured to the merchants.
"Come this way. Let us go to the Jae-gyeong Gakju and discuss the future."
"…Yes."
The merchants followed Hyunyoung.
Their faces reflected a mix of complicated emotions.
As everyone moved away, Hyunjong remained behind, quietly surveying the Great Volcano.
There had not been a day when he did not take in this sight.
But today, the Great Volcano appeared distinctly different from yesterday.
The once desolate and faded buildings seemed to be brimming with vitality today.
'Is everything dependent on the heart?'
No. It would not end merely like that.
The Great Volcano, which had always faced misfortune, had received a blessing after decades.
The flow of things is peculiar; once the direction changes, it is not easy to reverse it by sheer force.
Now that a good path has opened, the Great Volcano will surely change from now on.
Hyunjong believed that.
Perhaps, starting today, the forgotten glory of the Great Volcano might return.
'It must be so.'
A clear smile, free of worries, bloomed on Hyunjong's wrinkled face.
"…That brat!"
And then, a face devoid of wrinkles twisted in anger.
"That fool!"
Flames sparked in Cheongmyeong's eyes.
What? One cart worth? What about the beasts?
"Alright. I will show you what a beast truly is!"
Hyunjong let them go, but Cheongmyeong did not let them leave.