Blackmail (1)

Baek Yisoo continued to sit on the grass next to the barn. He stroked his chin in deep thought and got up. The sun was setting, it was almost dark, and that meant that the guards would be coming out soon.

He didn't know when, but he would be dealing with the most talented daughter of the Baek Family. As far as he could tell from the system's movements, the missions were only motivation and reward for her. What she needed to do had not changed.

If he wanted to achieve something, he had to have his own identity. In other words, he had to get his freedom. Normally, slaves could buy their own rights and gain their freedom after working hard enough. But this was not the case for Baek Yisoo. Born slaves like him were seen as the property of their immediate family.

After thinking for a while, Baek Yisoo sighed, got up from the grass and walked towards the ward. On the way, he suddenly paused.

What he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

[Mission Series #1]

Under the Oak Tree

Description: When Baek Iseul and Namgung Bong make love under the oak tree, they are not thinking about Baek Jin Ae, whose heart is full of hope. Place the quest items in Baek Iseul's room to blackmail him.

Completion Condition: When Baek Iseul is Convinced

Mission Reward: Free Stat Points x5, Exp x10, Seduction Points x30

It would be wrong to say he wasn't scared. There was no guarantee that Baek Iseul would not kill him in a sudden fit of rage. If he didn't play his cards right, if he didn't choose his words properly, it was hard to see the next day. That's why Baek Yisoo was scared.

[Note: It is recommended to pay attention to your smell and appearance to increase your persuasiveness!]

The system's warnings aside, Baek Yisoo was thinking about what to do.

"Open the Inventory."

When he opened the inventory, he found several new items. In addition to the two Image Stones, there were Koo Mihyun's Clothing Set, the Target Coupon, and two items he had just obtained.

[Mysterious Letter]

It was an elaborately decorated letter. When Baek Yisoo opened the letter, he saw nothing inside. The description didn't say anything either. So he thought about it for a while and finally placed an Image Stone inside.

Apparently, this was going to be used to add some mystery.

Baek Yisoo put the letter back in the inventory and looked at the other item. It was a red-colored, thin-waisted small bottle.

[Thin-Waisted Red Bottle]

Description: A thin-waisted vial containing a powerful Qi Poison. The person who inhales it cannot use their inner energy for several hours. He becomes debilitated.

When he saw the ingredients, a plan began to take shape in his mind.

'I don't have much time. I have to get into the mansion before the guards come out.'

He took running steps towards the well. After drawing a bucket of water from the well, he came to the ward and started to clean his body with the help of a wire. He scraped his skin thoroughly so that the smell would disappear. He even went further and swiped the plant oils from Kwang-su's secret stash.

When he realized the smell had finally disappeared, he paused.

'We've taken care of the smell, but how do I get into the mansion?

The mansion was like a fortress. Every courtyard was guarded by guards. So it was impossible to sneak in. Even though Koo Mihyun's Clothing Set gave him stealth, it made him look like a peacock. It was only useful when hiding somewhere.

Baek Yisoo thought. It was difficult for a slave to enter the mansion. He had only entered a few times in his entire life. Luckily, he knew which courtyard the third young lady was staying in. The Chinese Plum Courtyard was the young ladies' courtyard. No one was allowed there except the maids.

Right now, only the second and third young ladies were staying there.

As Baek Yisoo was thinking, he thought of something.

After casually putting his clothes on, he hurried to the laundry room. There were several maids in the laundry room. Baek Yisoo hid to the side and waited for them to leave. A few minutes later, when the maids left the laundry, Baek Yisoo went inside. 

He still had time.

He took the dirty clothes from the laundry basket and put them on. Then he took out a spray bottle from one of the cleaning supplies on a table and washed it in the water. He straightened his clothes and looked at his reflection in the water. He was average except for his face. He was skinny and had a small body type. This made him look three or four years younger. His hair was badly damaged due to poor quality nutrition. It looked like a rooster feather. His face was disproportionate, not even average. His teeth and thin lips fit a profile from the lower strata of society.

'That's why my charisma is negative.'

With such an ugly face, he couldn't seduce a Gwisin, let alone Minji.

'They set the standards too high, man.'

"Open the Profile."

Baek Yisoo hurried out of the laundromat and glanced at his profile.

Name: Baek Yisoo

Level 1

General Points:

Life Points: 303/303

Inner Energy 10/10

Form Points: Breath 1, Health 1, Strength 1, Appearance 1, Charisma 1 (-1)

Statistics Points: 6

Ability Points: None

Seduction Points: 11

Skills

-None

There were five Form Points. Health, strength, and appearance types gave clues as to what they were from their names. But there was no information about Breath and Charisma. Stat points were very valuable, so Baek Yisoo was not going to conduct an unnecessary experiment. 

'Martial artists use breathing techniques to increase their internal energy levels. Breath must have something to do with that. Hm? My charisma seems to have increased a bit.'

Baek Yisoo was thinking while walking towards the mansion.

'Isn't charisma an innate trait? They talk about the Patriarch as a charismatic person. He is the head of the Demon Execution Squadron after all. Ah, he was being called up for duty again the next day...'

Suddenly he paused and looked around.

'Could it have something to do with my clothes?

He was wearing a baju, jeogori and baji, however crude. There was a gap cliff them and slave clothes. If clothes had something to do with charisma, Baek Yisoo would get the answer he was looking for.

'If the Appearance score represents my physical appearance, then Charisma represents my charm and presence. I have six statistic points...'

He was insecure about his appearance.

'It would be best to bet on appearances for now. After all, every book is judged by its cover.'

He was curious to see how much of a change it would be.

Confidently, he arrived at the entrance of the mansion, took one look at the guards and went inside. The guards were about to stop him, but they thought he was a servant and let him pass. Baek Yisoo knew that confidence was the best move in this situation. If he didn't believe he was a maid, how could others believe him?

There was no one in the long and wide corridor. Baek Yisoo breathed a sigh of relief. Except for a few of the maids, no one recognized him. But the more eyewitnesses, the more comfort he felt.

'If I turn left down the corridor ahead and go straight ahead, I will come out into the courtyard. To get to the Chinese Plum Courtyard, I need to enter through the third gate and go forward again.'

The Baek Clan was a mid-high-end clan. As a result, the mansion was very large and complex. If Baek Yisoo didn't want to get lost, he should not linger unnecessarily and quickly proceed to his destination. He walked down the hallway, paying attention to the vases and precious materials.

As he turned left and headed towards the courtyard, he suddenly heard a feminine but authoritative voice.

"Anybody here?"

Baek Yisoo froze in place. For a moment, he dared not make a sound. He had heard that voice several times before. It represented the greatest power of the Baek Clan. All the administrators would have been stunned to hear that voice.

That was the voice of the Baek Clan's madam and administrator!

His first thought was to run away. However, he immediately dismissed that thought. Even though the madam had lost most of her strength, she could not be underestimated. Besides, she sensed he was here, and if he walked away, he would arouse suspicion and get caught.

 'Fuck.'

Baek Yisoo gathered his courage and approached the wooden door from which the voice came. Behind the door, the shadow of a slender and shapely female figure was moving. Baek Yisoo didn't dare to look directly at it. He was worried that she might feel his gaze.

He spoke, keeping as much fear out of his voice as possible.

"At your service, Madame."

This mansion housed more than twenty guards, each of them ranked first. Baek Yisoo had to act as naturally as possible if he didn't want to attract attention.

"Call me Senior Maid Chun Sang-Wee."

"Yes, Madame."

Baek Yisoo bowed and walked away and continued on her way.

Summon the Senior Maid?

'A beautiful way to die..'

Of course, he wasn't going to do such a ridiculous thing.

As he moved down the corridor, the number of servants around him increased. Sweeping the floor, carrying things, and dusting. Baek Yisoo buried his head a little to avoid attracting attention, but he did not slow his pace.

It took him ten minutes to reach his destination room. 

---

Baek Yisoo entered and closed the door carefully. The room was slightly dark, moonlight filtered through the window and illuminated the flower-scented bed. Baek Yisoo changed as soon as he entered the room. He put on Koo Mihyun's clothes, which were black in color.

'I don't know when she will come...'

As he put the other clothes in his inventory, he took out the Mysterious Letter and the Thin-Waisted Red Bottle. He placed the letter carefully on the bed. Then, with the help of his fingernails, he tore off the cap of the spray he had bought from the laundromat and shortened it to fit the bottle.

After carefully closing the spray, he shook it gently.

'Everything is ready.'

He looked at the room again.

Although it gave off an intimidating air, Baek Iseul had bedding covered in pretty floral patterns. Her room wasn't that complicated either. There was nothing but a desk, a bookcase, and a wardrobe.

Baek Yisoo attributed this to the fact that the third young lady was a sect student.

If it wasn't for her sister's 'engagement', she probably wouldn't have even come to the mansion.

'Anyway...'

Baek Yisoo checked the surroundings once more and then went into the wardrobe.