The Poison Demon’s Strategy for the Martial Tower Chapter 70

Chapter 70: The Stick, The Carrot, and The Stick (1)

[Past Life, Gangho, Chengdu, Sichuan Province]

Back when I was the top dog of Chengdu's back alleys.

I was locked in our family's punishnt room, rubbing my throbbing right fist.

Creeak—.

The door opened and Father walked in, asking.

"Did you get into a fight again?"

"Yes."

"Who was it this ti?"

"The Dark Tortoise Pavilion Master's son."

"Isn't that boy five years older than you?"

"Five years? He told two. He lied to ! No wonder he didn't go down in one hit."

I clenched my fist, bitter about being deceived, and Father looked at like he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Did you absolutely have to fight?"

"He wouldn't listen to the boss. Like age is so kind of rank—he picked a fight with every other word."

Father let out a long sigh.

It seed he'd made up his mind to teach this troubleso son of his the art of managing people.

"Seon. Do you know what the foundation of managing people is?"

"The carrot and the stick."

"That's right."

Father nodded.

Knowing this was guidance rather than a scolding, I straightened my posture.

"Explain it further."

"It's my understanding that the ideal way to manage people is to use a powerful stick to seize the upper hand first, and to give the carrot only occasionally—but generously when you do."

"Correct. You've learned well."

"I read all the books you gave ."

"How diligent of you."

Father ruffled my hair.

This ti I was the one to ask.

"But Father, why don't you wield the stick very often?"

"Did it seem that way to you?"

"Yes. I've seen the carrot many tis, but I've rarely seen you deal harshly with the servants, the branch sects, the affiliated schools—or even the sects of Sichuan Province."

Father clasped his hands behind his back.

"After reading about the carrot and the stick, what did you think of it?"

"I thought it was right."

"I thought differently."

Father gazed at the distant sky and continued speaking.

"I thought it described a hypocrite. Soone who tornts people with the stick, then occasionally pretends to be kind. Isn't that all just an act?"

"I suppose it could be."

"The book I gave you likely says this: that when managing people, there are two strategies—the carrot and the stick."

"That's correct."

"But did that book say you must use the carrot and stick at the sa ti?"

"……"

I thought for a mont, then shook my head.

"No, it didn't."

"Exactly. If there's no need to use the stick, it's right not to. I decided to use only the carrot whenever possible."

"……"

"They call this place Gangho because blood flows like rivers—yet this father of yours wants to believe."

Father bent his knees to bring himself to my eye level.

"That the nature of people is good."

"……There are so many wicked people in the world."

Father tousled my hair gently as I continued to tilt my head in doubt.

"Then let's at least live righteously ourselves. Virtue accumulated will always return as fortune."

"I suppose so?"

"Even if not in my lifeti, it will return in yours. Heaven isn't quite as indifferent as people think."

As Father spoke, sunlight fell upon him from behind, making him look as though he had a halo.

Even to young ears like mine, it was the wisdom of a man who had reached a higher plane.

"What should you do now?"

"I'll go see that boy. I'll apologize and give him the carrot."

"How admirable."

Father patted my head and brought his lesson to a close.

Back then, I believed Father's words were right.

It wasn't until our family later fell from grace that I ca to understand just how indifferent heaven truly was.

And the hand I stretched out when I first stepped into Gangho held nothing but the stick.

***

[Red Dragon Gate Conference Hall]

Fear is certainly a convenient tool.

The mont I cracked the powerful stick, the Elders couldn't even et my eyes.

Wind howled relentlessly through the broken window.

The Elders' shoulders hunched on their own.

Pressing people without relief dulls productivity, so it's necessary to pair pressure with appropriate rewards.

Fear not, my sheep.

This shepherd will lead you to green pastures.

I asked them.

"Why are you all sitting there looking so vacant?"

"……"

"Are you scared?"

I singled out one elder.

His na was Lee Geum-son. With his gloomy look, he was quick with numbers.

He was also Lee Won-ryong's cousin and one of the few elders Lee Won-ryong actually trusted.

For a thug, he had quite a ticulous nature. Unusually enough, he'd graduated from a university with a degree in taxation—an elite in his own right.

Thanks to that, he'd previously been in charge of managing Red Dragon Gate's finances. But grievances had grown during the process of absorbing the assets of Oseong Faction and other gangs into Red Dragon Gate.

In the end, he'd been held responsible, and the financial managent duties had since been passed to another Elder.

"Tell . What are you afraid of?"

"……It's nothing."

"Nothing? Co on. Say it. It's fine."

Elder Lee Geum-son bowed his head but I pressed him for an answer.

"Say it."

He could avoid answering no longer.

He bit his lip and replied.

"There will be an investigation by the Gukmubon and the prosecutors."

He ant the investigation into the death of Hwang Mu-yeol.

"It was a natural death."

"Pardon?"

"A man who deserved to die died—that makes it natural."

I fixed my gaze on Elder Lee Geum-son.

His heart must have lurched—cold sweat broke out on his face as he imdiately bowed his head.

"Y-you're absolutely right! It was Hwang Mu-yeol acting on impulse!"

"Why did Hwang Mu-yeol suddenly charge headfirst out the window?"

"That…… That is—"

My eyes remained fixed on Lee Geum-son. He answered with all his effort.

"B-because he wanted so fresh air?"

"Could be. Does everyone share the sa opinion?"

"Yes!"

All nine Elders answered in one voice.

"So he suddenly charged out the window because he wanted so fresh air……. Goodness. Offer him your prayers. All of you, a mont of silence. May he rest in hell."

The elders bowed their heads. But all of them wore troubled expressions.

I looked back at Elder Lee Geum-son.

"Your expression is still uneasy."

"The…… Pressure from the Gukmubon is severe. Our accounts have been frozen by the Gukmubon, so our financial situation……"

Elder Lee Geum-son brought up money.

And as he did, I caught him quietly glancing at another elder.

It was clear he was appealing to the current financial difficulties in hopes of reclaiming control of the purse strings.

I answered without much concern.

"Ask them to unfreeze it."

Elder Lee Geum-son gave a faint smile and shook his head.

"We've said as much dozens of tis. But the one who froze our accounts is none other than…… The Poison Spider."

"Chief Han?"

"That's correct."

He dropped his head. The other elders chid in one after another.

"The Poison Spider doesn't budge an inch!"

"She's practically chomping at the bit to bring us down! She leaves no opening whatsoever!"

"She suddenly arrested one of my subordinates and has been holding him for three days without even giving a reason!"

I addressed the elders, full of their grievances.

"I'll take care of it."

"What? That's impossible! Even Gate Master Lee Won-ryong and Deputy Gate Master Hwang Mu-yeol gave up on that!"

Ignoring them all, I imdiately called Chief Han.

I put it on speaker so everyone could hear.

"Ah, Chief Han."

At the ntion of Gukmubon Chief Han, the Elders' eyes went wide.

"Oh, it's been a while. Why haven't you been picking up your ph—"

"Before that—there are so accounts belonging to Red Dragon Gate elders that you've had frozen. Is that right?"

"Yes. I ordered it. Funds were flowing into the Black Market."

"Could you unfreeze those for now?"

"……Pardon?"

Chief Han's startled voice.

The Elders listening alongside stiffened.

Poison Spider, Chief Han.

It was common knowledge that once she froze an account, she never unfroze it.

Even after they'd made requests through multiple channels, she hadn't so much as flinched.

A look of ‘you've got to be kidding’ crept into the elders' eyes.

But then.

"Oh, of course. I'll unfreeze them now."

"……!"

The elders' pupils nearly burst from their sockets.

Lee Geum-son was so shocked he nearly leapt out of his seat.

An impossible situation!

One phone call had broken Poison Spider's iron will?!

What they didn't know was this—

That in the past, I had secured a promise from her: if I ever asked one favor, she would grant it without question.

A mont later, Chief Han's voice ca through again.

"Done. Please check."

"Thank you. One more thing. Is there soone from Red Dragon Gate currently being held by the Gukmubon?"

"I'll release him imdiately as well."

"……!"

The elders shot to their feet.

Chief Han continued.

"Where shall I have him sent?"

"Red Dragon Gate headquarters."

"Understood."

"Thank you, Chief Han."

"When will we see each other again? Are you free today, by any chance?"

"I'll be in touch."

Click.

I hung up.

I looked at the elders who had called it a problem and asked.

"Sorted?"

"Haaa…… For it to be resolved this easily……"

Lee Geum-son hung his jaw open and sank back into his seat.

Rather than disappointnt at having failed to reclaim control of the finances—

It was clear he was more in awe of my ability to resolve everything with a single call.

Every elder stared at .

So even let out groans.

"Just who are you to make Chief Han……!"

Taking in Lee Geum-son's astonishnt, I swept my eyes around the room.

"Anyone else have a problem?"

The elders fell silent.

"Go ahead and speak. This kind of opportunity doesn't co often."

"Um……"

The elder sitting at the far end finally opened his mouth.

He had the look of a weasel about him. His na was Jo Je-bin.

Barely in his mid-thirties, he already held the title of director. That alone spoke to his exceptional ability.

Sects inevitably involve violence and dirty business—which ans soone has to clean up the ss. Bodies, silencing witnesses, things like that.

Elder Jo Je-bin was the one who handled those duties.

He also served as the CEO of a cleaning company founded by Red Dragon Gate.

Up until now he'd been rolling his eyes around the room, having lived by instinct, clearly looking for any opportunity to benefit himself.

"Is there any way to obtain the Chivalrous Hero's Secret dicine?"

"Do you need it?"

"Yes. The disciples under keep asking why only Red Dragon Gate doesn't have the Chivalrous Hero's Secret dicine…… My son is also due to make his ascent to the 14th floor. Ha-hah."

Elder Jo Je-bin scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

I looked at him and quietly opened my mouth.

"That kind of request—I can't make."

A brief silence followed.

"Is…… Is it difficult?"

My expression hardened.

At that, Elder Lee Geum-son shot him a warning.

"You! Can't you tell when to speak up and when to hold your tongue?!"

"I'm sorry…… You seed to be on close terms with Chief Han, so I thought perhaps—. I must have lost my mind!"

Jo Je-bin jumped to his feet and bowed ninety degrees toward .

Lee Geum-son scolded him once more.

"In due ti, we'll be able to obtain it through the Black Market. We're working as hard as we can on that front—so no unnecessary requests and keep quiet!"

"Yes, I will. I'm sorry, Gate Master."

The two of them bowed their heads to .

I shook my head and said.

"It seems there's been a misunderstanding. I can't ask the Gukmubon for the Chivalrous Hero's Secret dicine."

Then I smiled and continued addressing the elders.

"Because there's no need to."

I gave a light wave of my hand to Lee Won-ryong, who stood at the back.

"Gate Master Lee Won-ryong."

"Yes. My lord."

"Give one to each of them."

"Yes."

The personal guard brought out one box each and set them down before the elders.

The elders flinched at the sight of the boxes.

Who knew what grotesque thing might be inside.

But click—.

The mont the Elders opened the lids with trembling hands, they froze.

"Huh-ah!"

"The—the Chivalrous Hero's Secret dicine!"

Everyone turned to stare at .

In front of each Elder, twenty units per box.

A staggering total of one hundred and eighty.

In one stroke, they had co to possess far more Chivalrous Hero's Secret dicine than even Goryeo Sword Sect or Changbai Sect.

"Where on earth did you obtain all of these?"

"D-did you rob the Gukmubon?"

The elders buried their faces in their hands.

The scene before their eyes simply did not compute.

They clamored to ask , and I answered with composure.

"There was no need for that."

"Then how—?"

"I made them myself."

"What?"

"S-surely not!"

"Then, you……?"

Scrape—.

I pushed my chair back and stood.

Every gaze in the room locked onto .

"I am the Naless Hero."

"……!"

My resolute voice rang out like thunder, and the very air around us trembled.

The elders' eyes went wide.

Weathered faces contorted in a blend of shock and joy.

"Elder Jo."

"Yes, Gate Master! No—my lord!"

Jo Je-bin gave a vigorous nod and looked up at .

I tossed him a silk pouch.

Jo Je-bin snatched it and looked inside.

"Is this not a spiritual dicine?!"

"Your internal energy will double in an instant."

"Thank you. My lord! I pledge my loyalty to you for my entire life—no, my children's lives as well!"

Jo Je-bin bowed to again and again without stopping.

As expected—the sharp one.

The mont he judged there was much to gain from , the flattery ca pouring out.

That's right.

This is how a dark path sect should be.

Whoooosh—!

The wind blew in again.

The sweat that had drenched the relentlessly tense elders scattered and drifted away on the breeze.

Dark path. Thugs.

One of the Three Great Sects—yet they had only ever been looked down upon.

Their faces, now refreshed, wore the look of n who had glimpsed sothing like hope.

Tap!

I struck the desk and called out to all of them.

"I'll take every last one of you."

Swish.

I raised a finger.

"To the very top of the Tower."

The elders answered in one resounding voice.

"Yes! My lord."

A wave of elation swept through the conference hall like a storm through silence.

It must have been an identity none of them could have imagined.

The climber drawing the most attention right now—not just in South Korea, but across the entire world.

The Naless Hero had beco the lord of Red Dragon Gate.

"Now cos the age of Red Dragon Gate!"

"Let us conquer the Tower and seize power!"

The elders, overflowing with elation.

So plotting darkly with gloomy delight, so reading the room a mont before imdiately resorting to flattery—every variety was on display.

I looked at them and smiled inwardly.

These wretched ones and their wretched thoughts.

The carrot was more than enough for now.

It was ti to crack the stick again.