Chapter 70. The Pope is a Smuggler(?) (1/2)

Chapter 70. The Pope is a Smuggler(?)

ED: Chrysanthemum

Cho Ryu Hyang’s father, Cho Mu Ryung, quickly returned home. He was returning to prepare his employees in order to deliver the massive amount of materials the church requested him to take.

If this job proceeds smoothly, Cho Mu Ryung’s company would easily become the biggest company in the mainland.

The rewards he would be receiving from Gongson Chun Gi were just that big, Cho Ryu Hyang, too, knew that.

That was why he was staring at Gongson Chun Gi. Gongson Chun Gi felt the boy’s gaze on him and opened his mouth as he touched his cup of tea.

“What, do you think we gave your father too much of a reward?”

“Yes.”

The reward for this job was too much as compared to the job itself. Cho Ryu Hyang could easily see that there was a hidden intent within the job itself.

Gongson Chun Gi didn’t deny it. He smiled calmly as he kept talking.

“You’re right. The reward for this job is too big, but it was worth it, which was why I spent so much money on your father.”

Gongson Chun Gi looked over to the artificial lake next to him while Cho Ryu Hyang sat there in silence.

“Normally, I would’ve brought the people from your family as soon as possible. That would be the proper thing to do according to the tradition.”

“……..”

Tradition. That word came to Cho Ryu Hyang quite heavily.

“What do you think would happen if an outsider became the Heir of the church? You think everyone’s going to be happy about it? Right now, they’re happy because a Heir has been chosen, but when time passes, they’ll come back to their senses and think strange things. Before that, we must take your family into the church.”

Cho Ryu Hyang nodded. It made sense. The power of the church was actually quite immense; It was so big, in fact, even Cho Ryu Hyang was unable to see its true size.

If that immense strength was used on an outsider like him, there was no question that it would make many of the people of the church angry. Gongson Chun Gi began to laugh loudly.

“But how can something like that be done forcefully? If it’s a stubborn person like your father as well, if I try to force him into the church, he’ll reject us even more. That’s why I used my head a little.”

Gongson Chun Gi was planning on taking them in by building their trust with various jobs first.

It would take quite a bit of time, but Gongson Chun Gi still decided to use it. That was the most kindness Gongson Chun Gi was able to show to Cho Ryu Hyang’s parents.

“Since I would be able to stick my people to them as bodyguards from time to time, it’s like catching two birds with one stone.”

Cho Ryu Hyang nodded. He knew how much kindness his teacher was showing to his family.

“Anyways, don’t worry about the matters regarding your family and the church, after all, I’m thinking as much as I can to integrate them here.”

Cho Ryu Hyang decided to follow his teacher’s words. But there was still one thing he was curious about.

“I have a reason for calling you out here today, actually.”

Cho Ryu Hyang became a little anxious. They were going to go into the topic now. Gongson Chun Gi looked at Cho Ryu Hyang with a playful face.

“You should know, too, but the church will go out into Sichuan in the near future. This will be a big event. Personally, I don’t really like events like this.”

Cho Ryu Hyang silently agreed. Gongson Chun Gi was uninterested in things like conquering China mainland. Actually, he was just too lazy to do it.

A person like that, trying to extend the influence of the church into Sichuan? This didn’t really fit the Pope’s personality.

Gongson Chun Gi began to complain as he brought his teacup to his mouth. It was as if he had been thinking the same thing as Cho Ryu Hyang.

“It’s because we became too big.”

“…….”

“The church is at its biggest size since its creation. We became far bigger than we were in the past. That brought us problems we had never encountered before.”

“What is it?”

If it was a problem of this massive organization, it wouldn’t be a small matter. Gongson Chun Gi paused for a while under Cho Ryu Hyang’s gaze, then put his thumb and index finger together to form a circle.

“It’s money.”

“…….What?”

Money problems? The church? When Cho Ryu Hyang stared at Gongson Chun Gi with a confused face, Gongson Chun Gi began nodding slowly as he talked.

“The Popes that came before me did all they could in order to expand their influence to the mainland. There was much sacrifice in the process of this; however, we earned a lot in return. We came back with valuable goods and earned massive amounts of money from the areas we conquered. Other than that…….”

Gongson Chun Gi stopped talking, then looked behind Cho Ryu Hyang and grinned.

“There’s the old man who’ll explain everything for you.”

When Cho Ryu Hyang turned his head, he could see a thin old man approach them. Cho Ryu Hyang remembered seeing the man at the coronation ceremony.

‘I think they called him Jeon Bak (錢搏: money-grubbing ghost)…….’

The mysterious old man was one of the eight guardians of the church and managed the financial matters of the church. He held the title of the Fighting Gold General (金鬪算將).

“You called for me, your Holiness?”

“Ah. Let me introduce you first. This old man here’s Jeon Bak. He’ll probably become the person you fear the most in the church.”

Gongson Chun Gi smiled evilly towards Cho Ryu Hyang as he introduced Guardian Jeon.

“He’s really annoying, so be careful.”

“…….Aren’t you supposed to say things like that when the person you are insulting is not around, your Holiness?”

When Guardian Jeon protested with a small pout, Gongson Chun Gi puffed up his chest and spoke loudly.

“What, am I wrong?”

“It’s not really wrong, but you’re supposed to say those kinds of things behind my back.”

“Kekeke, only weaklings do that sort of a thing.”

Guardian Jeon opened his mouth and closed it, then turned towards Cho Ryu Hyang.

“My introductions were quite late. It would be good if you could address me as Guardian Jeon.”

“My name would be Cho Ryu Hyang.”