Chapter 5. How to Get a Job Easier Than a Cake (2)

On the day of the interview.

I took out the clothes I had saved, put them on, and after perfectly finishing my shave and haircut, I visited the Baegun Escort Agency.

As I entered the agency, a servant in decent attire came out and guided me to the inner courtyard.

"This way, please."

The inner courtyard of the Baegun Escort Agency, which I was entering for the first time, was quite pleasant. Despite being a branch, several servants were cleaning, and the tea they served was not bad at all.

'This is better than I thought.'

I upgraded my assessment of the Baegun Escort Agency from a medium-sized company to a promising small enterprise. At the very least, it seemed that there would be no worry about delayed salaries.

People who had arrived earlier were interviewed one by one, and finally, only I was left. After waiting for about an hour, a servant guided me to the main hall.

In the main hall, there was a large table that could seat dozens of people, and a young woman was seated at the head of the table.

The head of the escort team from the previous escort mission was sitting to her left.

'A woman higher than the head of the escort team?'

This is a good sign.

In an escort agency, the head of the escort team is usually in a high position. A single escort mission can involve moving tens of thousands of silver taels, and the head of the escort team is the one responsible for the entire operation. It's a position that can't be low. In modern terms, it's at least a team leader level.

Therefore, when talking about the scale of an escort agency, they usually mention the number of heads of the escort team rather than the number of escorts.

The number of heads of the escort team is what determines the level of the escort agency.

But a woman in a position higher than the head of the escort team?

There can't be many of those.

I bowed respectfully and made a fist salute.

"It's an honor to meet you. My name is Seong Rajun."

The Martial Arts Alliance grants the title of "Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes" (九龍七鳳) to 16 promising young martial artists in their 20s every five years.

It's like the Rookie of the Year title in baseball.

And the reason the Baegun Escort Agency is well-known in the martial arts world, despite its size, is because it has one of the "Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes."

The last of the "Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes."

And the third daughter of the Baegun Escort Agency's owner.

Baek Feng (白鳳) Baek Reunghwa

"Are you Baek Reunghwa?"

Of course, she must be from the founding family, right?

* * *

"Do you know me, sir?"

Baek Reunghwa asked with a puzzled look.

Her slightly furrowed brow, expressing her curiosity, was truly artistic.

I've heard that the "Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes" are also known for their looks, and it seems to be true. If she were a beauty like this, just showing her face in a video would make her a millionaire YouTuber.

"If I didn't know the famous Baek Feng (白鳳) Baek Reunghwa, a member of the 'Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes,' I wouldn't be a martial artist. It's truly an honor to meet you in person."

"Hmm. I see. Please sit down."

As I praised her reputation and took my seat, the interview officially began.

"First, what is your name?"

"My name is Seong Rajun. The meaning of my name is to follow a net. My grandfather had a dream where he threw a very large net, and it floated down the river. When he followed it, he found a large carp inside. Soon after, I was born, and he named me accordingly."

I fluently explained the origin of my name according to the script.

Actually, this is a story I made up. The real reason is that my grandfather misread the family register and gave me the wrong name. I was supposed to be Seong Seung (昇) instead of Seong Rajun (羅), but my grandfather made a mistake while reading the family register with his poor eyesight. That's why my middle name is different from my younger brother's.

If my grandfather had only made a mistake with my brother, he would have had to live his whole life with the name "Ramen." It's truly a pity.

Hearing my fluent explanation, Baek Reunghwa looked a bit surprised.

"I see. That's a good name. It follows a dream."

"Yes. That's why I strive to become a person like a large carp."

The head of the escort team seemed to have decided to play the role of a mere figurehead.

After all, it's like a team leader interviewing a parachuted executive from a chaebol family. What could the team leader say?

Baek Reunghwa continued with her questions.

"I heard you are from Goryeo. But Goryeo has been gone for quite a while, hasn't it?"

"Yes, that's correct. You know well. However, people are not familiar with Joseon, so I just say Goryeo."

"Hmm. I see. I understand. Where in Joseon are you from?"

"I'm from Hanyang. I'm a native."

"Then let me ask you. Why did you come all the way to Ming?"

I had a pre-written story for this.

I started to recite it fluently.

"Actually, I really wanted to visit Ming once. One day, while I was with a diplomatic envoy..."

After listening to my five-minute-long story about leaving Joseon, she nodded in understanding.

Actually, I fell into a manhole on my way to the interview and woke up in the martial arts world, but I couldn't say that.

So, I had prepared a thorough script in advance.

In this world, people who lack such details are bound to get into trouble.

Especially for someone like me, a foreigner, it's even more important. It's easy to arouse suspicion just by being there. Any small mistake can lead to suspicion, and once an incident occurs, it's likely to be blamed on me.

Think about it.

If a factory catches fire and the suspects are a foreign worker named Hassan and a Korean named Park Chunbae, who would be suspected first?

Of course, Hassan would be the first to be suspected.

To avoid such suspicion, I need to thoroughly emphasize from the beginning that "Hassan is not the type to set a fire." To do that, I need to pay attention to such detailed parts.

I had already created the names of my childhood friends from my hometown when I joined the Joseon Alumni Association.

After listening to my long, fabricated story, Baek Reunghwa nodded.

"I understand. I heard you bought your military service. Where did you serve?"

"In a land of fire and ice, a place called Yeoncheon. Sigh, just thinking about it gives me goosebumps. It was so tough that everyone called it the 'Four-Wheeled Vehicle Unit.'"

"Four-Wheeled Vehicle Unit?"

"Yes. They called it that because after completing the service, everyone's legs were so damaged that they had to ride in a four-wheeled vehicle."

I happily chatted about my embellished military story while preparing for the next question.

I realized that when I said I had served in the military, everyone was amazed. It was rare for someone to have served in the military in Ming, as military service was not mandatory.

So, what is the biggest advantage of someone who has served in the military?

Thorough obedience to orders? Strict adherence to hierarchy?

No, those are not the points to emphasize.

At least not to Baek Reunghwa.

People who are born into higher positions, so-called "golden spoons," generally take loyalty for granted.

So, emphasizing such points won't be seen as an advantage. It's like saying, "I have arms and legs." What's the point of emphasizing something so obvious?

Instead, it's important to talk about something more practical.

"Thanks to such experiences, I can read maps."

The most useful skill I have.

It's called map reading (讀圖法).

* * *

"Thank you. We will hire you. We'll see you at the agency in four days."

"Yes, thank you."

Seong Rajun bowed deeply and left the interview room. After he left, there was about 15 minutes of quiet silence.

Baek Reunghwa was the first to speak.

"What do you think, Head of the Escort Team?"

"Better than expected. I didn't trust him much when I heard he was recommended by Sima Yu, but he surprised me. Especially his ability to read maps is excellent. Many of my direct subordinates can't do that."

Jang, the head of the escort team, spoke honestly about his thoughts.

In this era, being able to read a map is a remarkable skill. In some cases, it might even be considered a secret technique.

Unlike modern maps, the maps of this era are difficult to read, even for basic directions.

In such a world, the ability to determine one's position using triangulation, read a map, and find the correct path is a rare and valuable skill.

However, Baek Reunghwa focused on a different aspect.

"I was amazed by his eloquence."

"Eloquence?"

"Yes. Think about the other escorts we interviewed today. How were they?"

Jang, the head of the escort team, recalled the interviews.

There were people who trembled and couldn't speak properly, people who didn't even know what they were saying, and people who blurted out raw expressions that confused everyone. It was a complete mess.

It's a natural outcome, considering they had no education and had only used their bodies to survive.

But Seong Rajun was different, very different.

He spoke eloquently and naturally, with a cultured attitude, and engaged in conversation. His ability to tell his experiences in an interesting way was truly remarkable.

Jang, the head of the escort team, nodded.

"Indeed, he is different."

"He might have come from a noble family in Joseon."

"If so...?"

It's common for fallen nobles or royal family members to flee to other countries to save their lives.

Baek Reunghwa lowered her voice cautiously as she recalled something.

"I heard there was a coup in Joseon recently."

"Then this person...?"

Jang, the head of the escort team, was startled. Getting involved in the political issues of another country was something he wanted to avoid.

Although it's a foreign country, Joseon is a powerful nation closely allied with the Great Ming Empire.

If a royal family member of such a country gets involved with the Baegun Escort Agency, it's something to be avoided at all costs. If the King of Joseon sends an assassination squad to eliminate a lost royal family member, or if he makes a special request to the Emperor...

Jang, the head of the escort team, shivered at the thought. It was an unimaginable nightmare.

If such an incident were to occur, the Baegun Escort Agency could face serious trouble.

But Baek Reunghwa, trying to reassure Jang, said,

"It's possible, but I don't think his position is that high. Royal family members have a natural dignity that can't be hidden, even in their movements."

Her sharp eyes had already dissected every detail of Seong Rajun's behavior.

Baek Reunghwa had seen royal family members several times from a distance. They are educated from birth to carry themselves with countless meanings in every step and movement.

Such movements can't be hidden.

By her standards, Seong Rajun was not likely to be a royal family member. He had culture, but not the level of dignity that would be expected.

"Perhaps he's from a family of moderate status. He mentioned serving in the military, so... he was likely a military official. He might have been caught up in the coup, leading to the downfall of his family, and fled alone. That would make sense."

Baek Reunghwa was writing her own story.

Jang, the head of the escort team, nodded in admiration of her excellent deduction.

"I hope we don't get involved in any troublesome matters."

"As the saying goes, 'a needle in a haystack.' If we're careful, it should be fine. Such talent is hard to find. It would be a shame to let him go."

"Then, shall we hire him?"

"Of course."

A smile played on Baek Reunghwa's lips.