Chapter 110 - The Bookstore - 2 Without leaving my seat, I may not know the world, but protecting the bookstore is possible. In order to safeguard the bookstore amidst the tide of debt repayment, it

Chapter 110 - The Bookstore - 2

Without leaving my seat, I may not know the world, but protecting the bookstore is possible.

In order to safeguard the bookstore amidst the tide of debt repayment, it's necessary to confront the creditors.

"Please, take a seat."

Following the steward's lead, we were guided to a room in Baekga Manor, which was the residence of Dang Hwarin's maternal grandfather.

The room, evidently meant to host distinguished guests, had fine furniture, although the aftermath of recent turmoil was apparent with some pieces damaged and decorative items missing.

"I'm sorry for only being able to offer such plain Americano."

While tracing the dust where a decorative piece once was with my finger, the steward apologized and brought over the coffee from somewhere.

Usually, this is something the house staff would see to, but the fact that the steward himself brought it suggests that most personnel must have left the estate, just as I heard.

"Not at all. I'm grateful for the hospitality in such pressing times."

Is the coffee valued by the price of the beans or by the taste of the sugar added? Politeness in my gesture, I took the Americano coffee from the steward.

"Heh, such a rare sight, a young man these days."

The steward remarked with an impressed look as he watched me.

"It seems I didn't properly introduce myself yesterday. I am Kang Yoonho, a storyteller from Joseon."

"He's a friend."

Dang Hwarin introduced me with a proud grin spreading across her face. Caught by her amusing expression, I was suddenly in the mood for mischief.

"A friend? I haven't yet received this month's friend fee, though."

I questioned her with an innocently perplexed voice, as if questioning why she would introduce me as a friend without paying a friend fee.

"Friend fee? What's that?"

"In Joseon, you have to pay each month to keep being friends."

"Really? How much do I have to pay?"

"Are you actually believing this?"

"Ugh! Seriously, are you nuts!"

Dang Hwarin faced flushed in an instant as she smacked my back with her hand.

"Ouch! Ouch! Watch it, the coffee's spilling."

While I unsuccessfully tried to sip the spilling coffee and appealed to her to stop hitting me, my mouth grew bitter without sugar in the Americano and my back ached.

"Heh-heh-heh. It looks like we have a close friendship here. Initially, I thought you two were betrothed due to your intimate conversation on the way here."

The steward gazed at Dang Hwarin as if watching his grown granddaughter's endearing antics.

At his words, Dang Hwarin ceased her furious back-smacking, took a seat away from me, and glanced at me with what seemed a bashful expression.

Out of character, she suddenly became demure.

"Steward sir. Could I ask about how the debt repayment is proceeding? Are you the one in charge?"

With her face still slightly flushed from rage at my teasing, Dang Hwarin cautiously inquired about the issue from the steward.

"No, I am merely a representative. The responsibility and authority naturally lie with the heir, your mother. Of course, her absence complicates addressing the debt."

The steward shook his head side to side as he answered Hwarin's question.

"That damn woman."

Dang Hwarin expressed her unfiltered anger toward her mother, who seemed to attract trouble wherever she went.

"If you were younger, I would have suggested you clean up your language, but now I can sympathize with wanting to use those very words."

The steward took a sip of his tea, as if trying to suppress the curse that almost slipped from his lips.

"Is there anything I can help with?"

Dang Hwarin hesitantly asked if there was anything she could do for assistance.

"Rather, it's me who should help. Since you are present, Miss, all authority transfers from me, the acting representative, to you. Fortunate as it is for you to have appeared amidst our predicaments, my worry is not slight regarding what the creditors might do."

The steward looked at Dang Hwarin with a concerned gaze.

In this world, there's no such thing as priority claims. It's impossible to predict the lengths the creditors will go to claim their debts from Hwarin first.

Then, it's time to control the variables to make it predictable.

"Would you invite all the creditors to Baekga Manor at one appointed time?"

Sipping my tea, with a calculative expression, I reached into my chest and shared the strategy with the steward.

"It seems you have a sharp plan in mind. However, the creditors are unlikely to follow instructions easily."

"Please tell them that we'll start repaying those who gather on that day."

"Heh. Such a strategy..."

The steward was visibly impressed with my suggestion.

Right now, Baekga Manor was nothing more than prey, waiting to be devoured. But even prey has at least one right.

The right to choose who devours it.

In a world without priority claims, using Hwarin's rights, we can dispose of the assets and choose who to feed first.

Regardless, prey remains prey. Without action, the bookstore would end up in someone else's clutches.

It's time to set the stage to protect the bookstore.

"I have thought about a method like this."

"Hmm! A method like that? But then, how would you solve this problem?"

While explaining my plan for debt settlement, I began strategizing with the steward for future events.

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Just as I predicted, when the priority repayment was mentioned, all the creditors gathered at Baekga Manor.

'Let's proceed as planned.'

This meeting must not become a place for begging or seeking mercy from our creditors. We can't depend solely on the kindness of others to solve this problem.

I, we, must take the lead in this negotiation.

"Good day. I am Kang Yoonho, appointed as the spokesperson for the acting representative of Baekga Manor's debt. Before we proceed, I would like you all to welcome Miss Hwarin with applause for organizing today's meeting."

As I gestured towards Dang Hwarin next to me from the platform, she awkwardly greeted the creditors.

Naturally, their response was not to applaud, given the lack of a warm atmosphere.

Having directed their attention to her importance with my emphasis, it was enough.

"Miss Hwarin is the representative with full authority of Baekga Manor, standing in for the heir who is currently absent due to an unfortunate incident."

Following my introduction, Dang Hwarin confidently faced the creditors.

"When are you going to pay us back? Speak up! Don't just stand there shamelessly!"

"We wouldn't have enough even if you groveled! How dare a debtor stand there so insolently! Someone, drag her here by the hair!"

"That wench is going to pay back my money? Bring the brazen girl here to me!"

A few of the creditors I had my eye on were angrily ordering the guards to drag Dang Hwarin forward.

Among the creditors, there are those who take pleasure in beating a debtor before shoving a blade in their face and seizing their money.

'Just as expected.'

They must think Dang Hwarin looks easy to bully because she seems young and child-like. I watched them silently, forewarned by the steward.

The guards hesitated at the unexpected command but drew their swords and approached Hwarin when no one objected.

"If you come any closer, you'll get hurt."

Dang Hwarin's voice contained a deadly chill that even those seated could hear. Hwarin is doing well. Her acting has improved.

"A mere woman dares to—urgh!"

A speedy hidden weapon release. Is this what they call 'the hand is quicker than the eye'? I can't even see her hand. Dang Hwarin's concealed weapon pierced the guard who crossed the line with a mocking precision.

"You wench! Ghurk..."

The other guards who tried to advance, shocked by the preemptive strike, were all equally incapacitated, falling to the ground soiling themselves after a single hit from the concealed weapon.

"You didn't see that coming?"

"Instant paralysis poison? A family dealing with such poison in their hidden weapons... surely not."

"Such formidable techniques. Now that I think of it, her hair color is?"

A single exposé from Dang Hwarin and both the creditors and guards began to stir.

"She carries the bloodline of Sacheondang family! She is a disciple of the renowned Great Knight Danggeo Ho! The daughter of the Sacheon Clan! I request that you refrain from any further disrespectful comments or rash actions towards Miss Dang Hwarin!"

I emphasized her surname as I reintroduced her to confirm their suspicions.

"Her hair color is purple, and her eyes are green too! It's definitely the Sacheondang family!"

"It was the Sacheondang family all along!"

"I, I didn't order the attack. My guards acted on their own!"

The debtors looked at Dang Hwarin with eyes mixed with fear.

'In the world of martial arts, mutual respect is born out of fear of the other party.'

In an overwhelming creditor/debtor relationship, attempts at dialogue fall flat, and only mercy can be begged for.

For dialogue to be effective, mutual respect must be in place. As planned, her lineage and martial arts should instill sufficient fear in them.

The first phase of the plan has passed.

Now, it's time to cast aside the creditor/debtor relationship itself.

"Before discussing the

debt today, we declare that Miss Dang Hwarin is not a debtor but the representative with full authority."

I calmly declared this shocking fact that they would most certainly not want to hear.