Black Corporation: Joseon

Giovanni’s request was immediately brought to Sejong through Hyang.

“‘Will learn and practice,’ he says… What do you think?”

“He must have made this decision based on what he’s seen and felt while coming to Hanseong.”

“Will he be useful?”

“Since he’s not completely ignorant, we won’t have to teach everything from scratch, and he shows strong enthusiasm for learning. He should be quite useful, especially given that we have much work but not enough people.”

“Hmm…”

As Sejong stroked his beard contemplatively at Hyang’s words, Hwang Hui posed a question to Hyang.

“Isn’t there a possibility he could be a spy targeting the secrets of the research institute and Area 51? While those who came before might have had purely academic enthusiasm, we must consider that may not be the case with those arriving now.”

The ministers all nodded at Hwang Hui’s point.

There had been previous attempts to recruit craftsmen from Area 51.

***

That case remained unsolved because while all the involved Joseon merchants were captured, the Ming nationals had completely vanished. Despite blocking and searching all nearby ports, the Ming suspects were never found.

The case ultimately remained unsolved, but the ministers had looked at Sejong and Hyang with suspicious eyes.

It’s rather suspicious. They’re too calm despite the severity of the situation.

Even considering Ming’s involvement, their composure is too suspicious.

After much deliberation to solve these questions, the ministers finally reached one conclusion:

-His Majesty has another hand we don’t know about!

“What should we do?”

When the ministers asked, Hwang Hui responded indifferently.

“What can we do? Since His Majesty wishes to keep it hidden, we must pretend not to know even though we do.”

“Still, we should confirm the facts…”

“Do you have multiple lives? Besides, has His Majesty used this hidden hand to oppress us?”

“…”

Eventually, the ministers had to pretend not to know, as Hwang Hui suggested.

And Sejong had roughly sensed this situation.

Thus, both king and ministers ended up pretending not to know what they all knew.

Similar incidents occurred several times afterward. However, unlike the unsolved Area 51 case, these incidents targeted private merchant groups, and any arrested Ming nationals were immediately sent back to Ming.

Though not by sea, but by land.

Most of these deported Ming nationals disappeared in the Liaodong region.

When the Ming court inquired about this, Joseon’s answer remained consistent.

“According to our records, they were perfectly fine until they left our borders. Why suspect innocent people?”

Finally, frustrated by having “plenty of circumstantial evidence but no physical proof,” Ming had no choice but to formally request to Joseon.

“We strongly request they be returned by sea.”

“We can do that since the superior country wishes it, but you’ll pay the shipping costs, right?”

“Damn it! Fine!”

“Prepaid or collect?”

“Argh!”

This was relatively mild since Ming was the superior country, but with Japan, such cases ended in immediate execution without even notifying the shogunate.

***

Due to these incidents, Hwang Hui had raised his concern.

Hyang immediately responded to Hwang Hui’s point.

“First, we’ll handle that monk Giovanni and his companions as a package deal.”

“A package deal, you say?”

“Yes, if even one of them wishes to leave, we’ll send them all back. Of course, we’ll conduct thorough searches before their departure.”

“Ah…”

The ministers all nodded at Hyang’s response.

Everyone knew that this Western monk Giovanni had spoken with the monk who had arrived earlier. Even if confidential information had leaked during their conversation, binding Giovanni’s entire group to Joseon would prevent any complete escape.

Hyang continued his explanation:

“Also, even when assigning work, we’ll mostly limit them to theoretical research. That’s actually where we’re most short-staffed. We’ll minimize their participation in actual field work, just like now. Currently in Area 51 and the research institute, only two Westerners are involved in everything from fundamental to applied technology: Raphael and Pietro, the glassmakers.”

After Hyang cited the example of these two men who had completely settled in Joseon and established families, Hwang Hui contemplated briefly before addressing Sejong.

“The Crown Prince’s measures seem sufficient for now. Though of course, we’ll need to maintain control over them.”

Hyang immediately responded to Hwang Hui’s words.

“Using the ‘evangelization’ issue should make control easier.”

It’s still an era where the state yields to God, after all.

Sejong and the ministers all looked at Hyang with eyes full of amazement. They all shared the same thought:

What a ruthless fellow! The kind who would roast you, boil you, and then use your remaining bones to make pottery!

***

Three days later, Giovanni visited Hyang’s office with a tense expression after being summoned.

“You called for me?”

“His Majesty has made his decision.”

Giovanni’s face grew even tenser at Hyang’s response.

“Then…”

“He has granted conditional permission.”

“By conditional permission, you mean…”

“No evangelization, acceptance of mail censorship, and unified residence status for your entire group.”

“By unified residence status…”

“Either everyone stays, or everyone leaves.”

At Hyang’s firm answer, Giovanni fell into deep silence.

During his journey from Mokpo to Hanseong, and through his meeting with Angelo, Giovanni had gathered considerable information. He needed to send this to the Vatican, but with letters subject to censorship, the best alternative would have been to send back one of his disciples.

However, Hyang’s conditions made both options impossible.

Well, they could all return, including Giovanni, but that would mean only being able to access new knowledge through heavily censored letters in the future. Having come all the way to Joseon thirsting for knowledge, he couldn’t give up and return.

Finally, Giovanni firmed his resolve.

“We will all stay.”

“Is that so? Then people will come to the guesthouse today to move all your belongings. Follow them.”

“Thank you.”

Giovanni bowed deeply in gratitude.

***

While Hyang was dealing with Giovanni’s group, Prince Henry’s associates and the Ministry of Finance’s working-level officials were busy with trade consultations.

“What goods do you desire?”

“Well…”

“For your reference, the items brought by the Mansur trading company and our ships are not all the products Joseon sells.”

Pedro’s hand, reaching for a list in his clothes, stopped at the Joseon official’s words. After a moment’s consideration, Pedro made a request.

“Could we see samples of these items?”

“Of course.”

‘We can properly see Joseon’s goods.’

Upon hearing this, Henry immediately rose from his seat. Curiosity had won over dignity.

***

The Joseon official guided Henry’s group to the sample showroom.

“Ooh…”

Henry’s group let out exclamations of wonder at the various products filling the showroom. While many were familiar from Alexandria, there were also items they’d never seen before.

Henry’s group, especially Henry himself, pointed at unfamiliar products and demanded explanations, which the Joseon officials provided earnestly.

“Ah! That porcelain is quite good, but the Mansur trading company doesn’t handle it. Something about idolatry violating their laws?”

“Ah! They gave up on that because it’s too bulky and takes up too much space.”

“Oh, that! That’s a new product that just came out! It probably won’t reach Alexandria until next year.”

The eyes of Henry’s group, listening to the officials’ explanations while examining the items, were half-crazed.

Not only rare but useful too! This will definitely make money!

We must buy this no matter what!

It’s a new product, a new product! Must buy it no matter what!

Though they wanted to spend all their money right then and there, Henry exercised superhuman patience.

“Are these all the items available?”

“All items handled by the royal workshop and trading companies are here, but for goods handled by general merchants, you’ll need to visit the marketplace.”

“Can we see those items now?”

The official nodded readily at Pedro’s question.

“What difficulty would that be? We can go to the marketplace right away.”

“Whoa…”

Henry’s group kept exclaiming in amazement as they entered the marketplace created in Hanseong’s Bell Street. Every shop displayed various goods. While the items in the sample showroom were luxurious high-end products, most items in the marketplace shops looked cheaper but more diverse and useful.

As Henry was assessing the marketability of various products by sight and touch, his eyes fell on a Joseon gat (traditional hat).

“Is that Joseon’s hat?”

The official nodded and answered Henry’s question.

“It’s a horsehair gat that has become fashionable recently.”

“I see…”

While listening to the official’s explanation, Henry nodded and observed his surroundings. Most wealthy-looking people in the marketplace wore gats similar to what he’d seen. However, there was something different.

“Almost no one has the same decorations or strings?”

Seeing Henry examining both the gats in shops and those adorned with various ornaments and decorated with fancy strings, the official quickly added an explanation.

“A gat’s style isn’t complete with just the hat alone.”

“Is that so?”

Watching Henry nod, the official muttered internally:

No wonder His Majesty is struggling to create laws about this.

***

From the okro and jeongja ornaments attached to the crown of the gat, to the hat strings decorated with all sorts of jewels and precious metals, these were matters of pride for wealthy scholar-officials. Consequently, the okro and jeongja became increasingly intricate, and the decorative strings grew more elaborate.

Eventually, reports that a single gat could cost as much as a tile-roofed house led Sejong to begin contemplating regulations.

“If we leave it be, not only will luxury spread, but there will be more violent crimes targeting these gats. Yet if we ban them outright, merchants will face problems as consumption decreases – it’s quite a dilemma.”

Watching the worried Sejong, Hyang muttered internally:

Men’s obsession with tuning things is the same whether in the future or now… Is this truly instinct?

Hyang pondered, recalling various forms of tuning from the 21st century – from computer water cooling systems to car modifications, and the ultimate king of them all, audio tuning.

****

“May I try it on?”

“Yes.”

After removing his own hat and putting on the gat, Henry whistled lightly.

“Whew… It’s so light!”

It’s light! And while it’s well-ventilated, it also blocks the sunlight effectively!

Taking off the gat and holding it in his hands, Henry examined the decorations around him before turning to Pedro.

“This could potentially shake up European high society.”