A brief silence filled the train.
Raven continued to gaze calmly at Seo-rin, while the girl seemed to be waiting for a response to her words.
A few moments later, Raven finally spoke up.
"You're right," he said calmly. "Everything you said makes sense. It's even too reasonable to dismiss."
"So?"
"That's why I never intended to turn these items into ordinary commercial products."
Silence.
Han-Minji lifted her head slightly.
Seo-rin, too, looked at Raven more intently.
"These items aren't meant to be reproduced haphazardly. They aren't meant for mass production. And they're certainly not meant to compete with items already on the market."
She looked Seo-rin straight in the eye.
"Precisely because they're difficult to make in the Central Plains, their value is even higher."
Seo-rin was silent.
"Imagine," Raven continued, "the Eunha family introducing a foreign object that no one has ever seen before."
"Not for immediate sale?"
"No."
"So?"
"Show it off."
Raven smiled faintly.
"Let people see it. Let them ask where it came from. Who made it. And how to get one."
Seo-rin's expression slowly changed.
"People won't ask about the price right away," Raven continued. "They'll ask… who has access to something like that."
Seo-rin narrowed her eyes.
"You're not selling the item."
"That's right."
"You're selling its uniqueness."
"And its reputation," Raven added.
She paused for a moment, then continued.
"Things are just things. Anyone can have them. But what if only a handful of people can get their hands on them?"
He tapped Karin's bag.
"It's that scarcity that sets their value apart from other things."
Seo-rin was silent for a moment.
But instead of being immediately intrigued, she asked another question.
"But what if someone really wants to buy it?"
Raven raised an eyebrow.
Seo-rin continued.
"If the item is truly unique and rare, ordinary people might just see it as something interesting. They might not necessarily be willing to spend money on it just because it's different."
She leaned forward slightly.
"So what about certain people or groups who are actually able to buy that item?" Seo-rin asked.
Raven fell silent for a moment.
"Is this kid testing me?"
From the way Seo-rin asked, it was clear she wasn't just looking for an answer. She wanted to see if Raven had truly thought through the consequences of his own plan.
Raven finally gave a faint smile.
"Even without me explaining it, you actually already know the answer."
Seo-rin's expression shifted slightly.
"From the very beginning, I've made three things clear."
Raven raised one finger.
"First, this item doesn't need to be reproduced directly. The process and methods of its creation are too complex to simply force."
She raised her second finger.
"Second, this item must not be mass-produced. Its rarity is actually part of its value."
Then he held up his third finger.
"And finally, we're not competing in an existing market."
Raven looked Seo-rin straight in the eye.
"We're the ones who will create the market."
Seo-rin didn't interrupt.
"So, if someone comes along with that much money, don't just hand it over right away."
Seo-rin frowned slightly.
Raven continued calmly.
"If anyone who can afford it can get it, the item won't be scarce anymore."
He paused for a moment, letting his words sink in before continuing.
"Let the original product remain in its place. If anyone wants it, make them wait."
"Why do they have to wait?"
"Because that's exactly what drives up its value."
Raven's gaze grew sharper.
"If demand is too high, we don't have to meet it all. Choose specific buyers, set a quantity, and then sell only when you think the price is right."
Seo-rin began to understand what he meant.
"So you're intentionally limiting sales?"
"It's not just about limiting them."
Raven gave a small smile.
"We make them feel that getting the item itself is a privilege."
He leaned back.
"And as long as the original product remains in our hands, we can take our time learning how to make it."
"So the product they're buying is..."
"Just think of it as being of the same type as the original product," Raven replied calmly. "It's not a fake. Just a version made to closely resemble the original."
Seo-rin nodded slightly.
"Once you start to understand how it's made, then you can create your own version. It doesn't have to be exactly the same. It just needs to have similar functions and appearance."
He looked at Seo-rin.
"The original product remains the rarest item. Meanwhile, subsequent versions become items that can be sold more widely."
Seo-rin fell silent, processing what he meant.
"That way," Raven continued, "people who can afford the first product will still feel like they're getting something special, while we don't have to risk the entire business just to fulfill a single request."
Raven then shifted his gaze to Karin's bag.
"For the initial stage, don't worry about the general public. They're not our target audience."
His gaze returned to Seo-rin.
"Our main focus is on the wealthy. Nobles, prominent families, or anyone with enough money to buy something simply because it's rare and looks expensive."
She paused for a moment.
"For them, price isn't the only consideration. As long as you can make them believe that the item is unique, high-quality, and only available through certain channels, they'll come on their own."
Seo-rin narrowed her eyes again.
"Okay… I'm starting to understand how this business works."
"Good. But that's only part of the process."
Raven continued calmly.
"Now we're getting to the most important part. First, you have to introduce an original product to the public. Not just spread rumors, but make people actually see and get to know it."
Raven kept her gaze fixed on Seo-rin.
"Think of it as building a brand."
"A brand?"
Raven gave a faint smile.
"That's a term from where I'm from. Simply put, you build a product's identity until people recognize and remember it."
He glanced again at Karin's backpack.
"Once that identity is strong, people won't see it as just another item. They'll recognize its unique characteristics and know where it comes from. That also prevents others from simply copying it and taking its place in the market."
Seo-rin listened intently.
"So, don't sell it right away. Let them see it. Let them talk about it. Make them curious about the item, about who made it, and why only a few people have it."
Raven looked at Seo-rin again.
"Once that curiosity has taken hold, information about the item can serve as the basis for setting its price."
Seo-rin fell silent for a moment, processing the explanation.
"And after all that?"
"Only then can you start producing it." Raven shrugged.
"Little by little. Start with the version I mentioned earlier. Sell it in limited quantities, then keep refining the product until it gets closer and closer to the original."
"That way, you won't have to risk a large amount of capital right from the start just to pursue a production process you don't yet understand."
Seo-rin remained silent, as if she were sorting through the entire strategy Raven had just explained.
"You just need to make sure of one thing."
Seo-rin looked up.
"Don't let their curiosity fade."
Seo-rin fell silent.
Raven then added in a light tone,
"If the first attempt fails, the loss won't be too great. You can still fix it and try again."
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Just one chance to make the Eunha family the ones who 'know first' about goods from places they don't know about."
She tilted her head.
"So, what do you say?"
Seo-rin didn't answer right away.
"It seems…" she finally murmured, "everything is already pretty clear."
A small smile appeared on her face, though there was a bit of cold sweat on her temples.
"And I have to admit, this is a business that could be profitable for us."
But deep down, her mind was racing.
"He's even thought this far ahead..."
Seo-rin looked at Raven.
"But I just wanted to test him."
From the start, she hadn't fully intended to make a deal. She just wanted to know if Raven truly understood what she was offering.
But the young man didn't just answer her questions.
He even offered solutions to problems she hadn't even had time to think about yet.
"This man is truly beyond my expectations."
Seo-rin slowly leaned back.
"But what about your benefit?"
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"My benefit?"
"Yes."
Seo-rin's expression grew more serious.
"From everything you've explained, I feel like our side is the one getting the biggest benefit."
Raven answered without hesitation.
"Access to information and connections."
Seo-rin furrowed her brow.
"Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Are you sure?"
"Isn't that enough?" Raven replied in a flat tone.
Seo-rin fell silent for a moment.
"I don't think so."
Raven looked at her again.
Seo-rin continued calmly,
"You're offering us something with the potential to generate huge profits. In exchange, you're only asking for information and connections!"
She shook her head slightly.
"If that's all, this deal feels way too one-sided."
Raven smiled faintly.
"Hm."
Her expression shifted slightly.
"You're an honest merchant, aren't you?"
Seo-rin replied immediately,
"No."
That answer left Karin, Lisa, and Hana—who didn't understand their conversation—exchanging confused glances, while Raven raised an eyebrow.
Seo-rin continued,
"It's more about my business ethics and principles."
Raven fell silent for a moment.
Then he chuckled softly.
"In that case, just keep it."
Seo-rin frowned.
"Keep what?"
"The part you think is still lacking."
Raven leaned back in his seat.
"I'll make a few requests later."
Seo-rin stared at him for a few seconds.
"A few?"
"Yes."
A faint smile reappeared on Raven's face.
"You were the one who said this deal was too one-sided, right?"
Seo-rin fell silent.
For the first time since the conversation had begun, she felt a twinge of regret for having said that.
Silence fell once more.
The wagon's wheels creaked softly on the dirt path, while the steady sound of horses' hooves could be heard from outside.
A few seconds passed.
Then, a faint smile slowly spread across her lips.
It was no longer the smile of a girl who was merely curious, but rather the smile of a merchant who had finally found a profitable opening.
"All right," she said slowly.
"With that, we have a deal."
But before Raven could reply, Seo-rin spoke again.
"But this agreement… is limited to just the two of us."
Raven narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
Seo-rin straightened her back. Her tone turned serious again.
"Even though I'm a merchant, my position in the Eunha family is still limited. I don't yet have the authority to manage the family's main trade operations."
She glanced briefly at Han-Minji before looking back at Raven.
"A deal this big—especially one involving the family's products and reputation—ultimately requires the head of the family's approval."
"Your father?"
Seo-rin nodded.
"Yes."
Raven let out a short sigh.
"So is all of this for nothing?"
"No."
Seo-rin's reply was immediate and firm.
"I'll make sure it's not for nothing."
She paused for a moment, then continued.
"It's true—the chances of my father accepting the products or methods you're offering to integrate into the family's main business seem slim."
Seo-rin took a slow breath.
"The Eunha family already has its own business ventures, built and passed down by previous family heads over the years. Herbs, medicines, raw materials, and various spices. All of these are the legacy that has shaped the Eunha family name to this day. They're not just mere commodities."
Her tone grew slightly more proud.
"That has become our family's identity. Just like other merchant families that have their own signature products."
She looked back at Raven.
"But my father always told us one thing."
Seo-rin gave a faint smile.
"A merchant isn't judged by what goods they sell, but by how they run their business."
Her answer sounded simple, yet full of conviction.
"Products can vary. Markets can change, too. Even goods that sell like hotcakes today might be unwanted tomorrow."
Seo-rin gazed out the window for a moment.
"But as long as a merchant is able to read the situation, spot opportunities, and devise the right strategy… they'll always be able to find a way to turn a profit."
Raven fell silent.
Seo-rin's voice sounded even more resolute as she continued.
"That's why my siblings and I were given the authority to run our own businesses as part of a test."
Raven raised an eyebrow.
"A test?"
"To prove which one of us is capable of managing a business well."
Seo-rin looked back at Raven.
"And worthy of inheriting the position of head of the Eunha family."
Raven remained silent.
On one hand, she was beginning to understand. Seo-rin wasn't just talking about a new business venture to make a profit. She was trying to build something that could shape her own future.
"So, what if your father refuses?"
"I'll still go through with it."
Seo-rin's answer sounded resolute.
"Not in the name of the Eunha family. I'll use a business channel under my own control."
Raven fell silent for a moment, weighing her words.
Then she gave a faint smile.
"Not bad."
Her gaze fixed on Seo-rin.
"I'm really starting to like merchants like you."
Seo-rin suddenly fell silent.
"Uh… like me?"
Her voice came out softly.
A blush slowly spread across her face, reaching her ears. She quickly averted her gaze back out the train window.
Raven furrowed his brow.
"What's wrong?"
"Uhm? No… nothing."
Seo-rin shook her head quickly, trying to hide her face. Raven kept staring at her for a few seconds, but finally let it go.
"In that case, I'll leave this matter to you."
"O-okay."
Seo-rin's voice sounded a little shaky.
The conversation fell silent again. Though a flush of red still lingered on her face, Seo-rin slowly regained her composure.
But a moment later, she looked at Raven again. This time, her gaze was a little softer.
"But… when it comes to business, there's one thing that's still bothering me."
Raven glanced at her briefly.
"What?"
"I feel like I haven't been able to repay everything you've given me."
Seo-rin looked at Raven.
"From this deal… to saving my life."
Raven remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"That's why," Seo-rin continued, "I want to add one more thing."
She paused for a moment.
"I'll give you some funds."
Raven's eyebrows raised slightly.
"Just think of it as an investment."
"An investment?"
Seo-rin nodded.
"You've already saved me."
Her gaze then grew more serious.
"And I can see that you're no ordinary person."
She looked Raven up and down for a moment, as if appraising a valuable item.
"A martial artist with abilities like yours..."
A small smile appeared on her lips.
"Not a bad investment."
Raven was silent for a few moments.
Then he nodded.
"All right."
"I accept."
The conversation ended without a handshake or any grand oaths. For both of them, the words they'd agreed upon were enough for now.
In the world of Murim, especially when it comes to trade, an agreement isn't considered fully finalized simply because the two parties have given their consent. Seo-rin still had to present it to the head of the Eunha family. Once approval was granted, the terms of the agreement would be recorded and witnessed by Han-Minji and several servants inside the carriage.
That way, no party would be able to dispute the contents of their discussion later on.