Chronicles of the Lazy Sovereign Chapter 195

# 195

Taejonbirok Volume 8 Episode 20

Chapter 51: The Lazy Man Takes on the Work (5)

Although it was something he couldn't say to others, Jo Hyeon thought that being a soldier was a job very similar to being a conman.

Whether they are soldiers or conmen, they all do the same thing in that they deceive others and take advantage of them.

From the other side, the great soldier looked like a huge fraud.

If there is a difference, is it that a conman deceives his opponent for his own gain, while a soldier deceives his opponent for a greater good?

In any case, the virtues that a soldier must have are similar to those that a conman must have. He must know how to talk more persuasively than anyone else, and he must be able to accurately understand what the other person wants.

In particular, you must be good at sweet-talking.

This means that you have to know how to make the situation seem like it is a good thing for everyone to hear, and cleverly take advantage of it in the process.

Jo Hyeon considered himself a great conman. That assessment was not wrong at all was proven by the fact that the world recognized Jo Hyeon as a great soldier.

but…….

Jo Hyun was now looking ahead with a slightly sad and bewildered expression.

Who is the hardest type of person for a con artist to fool?

Smart person?

no.

Smart people don't even think that someone could try to fool them because they know they are smart. If you dig into that, there is a downside to it: they are easier to fool than stupid people.

So, are you a meticulous person?

Since meticulous people are very suspicious, they don't change their minds easily if they don't see a weakness in the other person. It may be hard to deceive someone at first, but once you start deceiving them, they are the ones who fall for it more easily than anyone else.

So who are the people who are really difficult to fool?

Until a little while ago, Jo Hyun had thought that the type of person who never stopped suspecting others was the most difficult to deceive. No matter what you say, even if you say the truth, deceiving someone who tries to find fault with you first is as hard as selling umbrellas on a dry day.

But at this moment, Jo Hyun's thoughts were changing.

The hardest person to fool in the world is this fucking lazy bum right in front of him.

“I’m not going, I’m not going.”

Wi Yeon-ho was waving his hands while lying on the bed.

'At least take your head off.'

As I watched an arm emerge from the rolled-up blanket and gently swing itself around, I felt like I was looking at some kind of bug rather than a person.

This does not mean that Wi Yeon-ho is like an insect, but rather that his visible appearance resembles that of a caterpillar with tentacles.

“……Would you like to listen for a moment?”

“Even if I listen, nothing will change, but listening is a waste for both of us. Since you are a senior soldier, you are a busy person, so I feel like I am committing a sin when I see you wasting your time. I am not that clueless.”

I see

It seems like the concepts you know and the concepts I know are a little different.

As far as I know, when an adult comes and tries to persuade you, I don't think it's sensible to lie in bed and listen while wrapped in a blanket.

Jo Hyun drank tea to suppress his anger that was about to burst out. He felt like praising himself for his preparedness in preparing the teapot in advance, knowing this would happen.

“……I know what you mean, but this is important to me too. It means it’s not a waste of time.”

"is it so?"

Wi Yeon-ho slowly lifted his head out of the blanket.

Then a small smile appeared on his lips.

“Ugh.”

What is the criterion for distinguishing laughter from ridicule?

Jo Hyun was seriously contemplating something he had never thought about before. Even if the other person laughs, if the person receiving it cannot receive it with a pleasant laugh, isn’t that a form of laughter?

Now, Wi Yeon-ho was just smiling brightly without any intention of belittling, but Jo Hyun couldn't accept it at all.

How can we call laughter a laughter when the intention behind it is so vivid as, 'If it's that important, why don't you say something? I don't think the result will change, though.'

The ability to excite the person across from him just by smiling was a talent that only Wi Yeon-ho possessed. It was a definite ability that Jo Hyun-i guaranteed and verified.

“I think it’s a waste, but if that’s what you think, then so be it. Then go ahead and say it.”

“…….”

Jo Hyun turned his head and looked out the window.

‘What kind of wealth and honor do I want to enjoy… … .’

Are you saying that I have to coax and comfort this little green brat?

It was a tragedy that his wife was still nagging him because he couldn't even take care of his children properly due to the busy construction schedule, and he had to comfort a child younger than his grandson.

“So… this isn’t a bad story for you either.”

"oh!"

Jo Hyun clenched his fist.

It is very sad and heartbreaking that the situation has come to this, but it doesn’t change the fact that we have to somehow lure that bastard Wi Yeon-ho into the martial arts competition hosted by Cheon Eui-ryeon. Somehow.

“Think about it carefully. What do you think is the most important thing in martial arts?”

“Strength.”

Have you ever seen such a wicked and brutal person?

How can a person who grew up receiving education from a prestigious school give such an answer without thinking for even a moment?

If it were a normal review index, the word 'negotiation' would come out right away!

Well, that's okay. But it was an answer within the expected range.

“Strength. Of course strength is important. But there is something more important than strength in this world. What do you think it is?”

"money?"

“…….”

Jo Hyun was speechless.

“Uh, um, that…….”

At that moment, Jo Hyun's sadness was that he couldn't shout, 'Hey you! How could a guy called Muin say that money is the most important thing!'

Jo Hyun, who had been managing the finances of the military for several decades, could not deny that what Wi Yeon-ho had just said was halfway to the truth.

“That, that’s right! Money is important! Money is very important! But isn’t it true that people can’t live on money alone?”

“Can’t you live?”

“No, you can buy it.”

Even in such a situation, Jo Hyeon couldn't bring himself to lie.

“Of course you can buy it with money. You can do almost anything with money. In fact, it would be correct to say that there is almost nothing in the world that money cannot buy.”

“……Are you here to tell me to stop playing and go make some money?”

“No!”

Where did it all start?

“Whew! Whoosh!”

Jo Hyun took a deep breath.

Talking to this guy made me feel like I was losing myself. It happened to me last time too, and I can't let it happen to me this time either.

If I continue to be manipulated by this kid, I'll lose my nickname, Detective Shin. How can a Detective Shin be someone who can't even handle a child?

“But people can’t live on money alone. Money is important, but people need to know honor.”

“Is it fame?”

“That’s right. Honor!”

Shin Gi-su-sa Jo Hyeon-i clenched her fists and answered.

“And while honor is important, fame is also important.”

“……It’s a bit strange.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I thought that someone like you, the military elder, would say boring things like, ‘How well a person lives is more important than honor or fame.’ But he’s a person who studies abroad.”

Jo Hyun laughed in vain.

“Confucian scholar… I have never thought of myself as a Confucian scholar. I am a person who pursues practicality. Confucianism is not completely far from practicality, but I have no interest in following the words of the ancient sages.”

“Well, I think you’re quite different from the scholars I know.”

“So, to continue the conversation, do you know how important reputation is in living in the world?”

"well."

I wanted to ask, “You started talking about honor, but where did the honor go?” But the kind Wi Yeon-ho did not bother to embarrass the adult.

It wasn't just because it was annoying to have to open my mouth again and drag out the conversation.

“For example, think about where you got into trouble.”

“I am gentle by nature, so I don’t get into trouble.”

“For example! Don’t you say ‘for example’?”

“……I was just telling the truth, why are you so angry? You scare people.”

“Ugh.”

What do you mean, we're not arguing? I'm about to argu with you right now, you son of a bitch!

Jo Hyun desperately suppressed the urge to run outside and scream as he opened his mouth.

“If you get into a fight with someone, you’ll either have to suppress them with force, persuade them with words, or, if not, try to cover it up with money. Either of those things is exhausting.”

“That’s right.”

Wi Yeon-ho nodded as if he didn't even want to imagine it.

“But what would happen if the leader got into an argument with someone?”

"uh?"

“There is no need for any cumbersome process. The moment you say, ‘I am the Sima Qian,’ everything will be resolved in no time. The one who started the trouble will shout, ‘Oh my, spare me!’ and offer compensation. Where do you think this difference comes from?”

“……Appearance?”

Jo Hyeon couldn't say anything and just looked at Wi Yeon Ho with a blank expression.

“That’s the truth. If you pick a fight with that face and that size, you’re crazy. A tiger passing by will look like a cat, so no one in their right mind would pick a fight.”

In that moment, a tremendous wave of persuasion came crashing down.

That's right. No, it's really right. No one in their right mind would pick a fight with Sima Qianshi on the street.

“I, I misunderstood your example. Let’s say your father. Let’s say your father got into trouble somewhere. But what if your father says, ‘I am the Jeonghyeopgeom Wi Jeonghan’?”

“……What should I do?”

“If someone knows the name of Jeong Hyo-geom, wouldn’t they put aside the pros and cons and try to end the situation without conflict? There’s no good that can come from fighting with Jeong Hyo-geom for no reason.”

“Wow, is my father’s reputation that great?”

“Isn’t that the important part right now! You little punk!”

“No, why are you angry…….”

When Wi Yeon-ho frowned as if he didn't understand at all, Jo Hyeon felt as if he was at a loss. Now was the time to appease this troublesome guy, not scold him.

“Your father’s reputation is greater than you think. Didn’t you know?”

Wi Yeon-ho frowned.

“But.”

"huh?"

“You said it was good to have a high reputation, but my father, who has a high reputation, is always getting cursed at by my mother, getting beaten up, and getting kicked out of the room for not being able to pay for food. What good is that?”

Jo Hyun quietly covered his face.

'Oh my goodness, my friend. How on earth have you lived?'

Jo Hyeon was wiping away tears that were flowing without him knowing it, feeling sorry for his junior who was not there.