Silence falls like a heavy curtain
Sitting idly won’t protect the bookstore from the world.
To safeguard the bookstore from the tidal wave of debt repayment, I must confront the creditors.
“Please, have a seat.”
Following the head of guards’ guidance, we were led into a room in the mansion of Lady Tang’s grandfather.
The room, furnished with expensive decor, seemed to be meant for receiving guests, but certain commotion had left several pieces damaged or with signs of missing ornaments.
“I apologize for only being able to offer this cheap Americano.”
As I brushed my finger over the dust where an ornament used to be, the head of guards returned with tea looking somewhat apologetic.
“We normally would provide refreshments ourselves, but it seems all essential staff have left, as I heard.”
“It’s alright. I appreciate you taking the time to serve us despite the chaos.”
Does it really matter whether the coffee is made with expensive beans when I consume it with a taste of sugar? I politely accepted the Americano.
“Haha. It’s rare to see such a kind young man nowadays.”
The head of guards looked at me with pride.
“I realized I hadn’t properly introduced myself yesterday. I am Kang Yoon-ho, a negotiator from Joseon.”
“He is my friend.”
Lady Tang chimed in, grinning, clearly enjoying herself. Seeing that amusing face made me feel like pulling a prank.
“A friend? But I haven’t received this month’s friendship fee!”
In a slightly baffled tone, I questioned her introduction.
“Friendship fee? What’s that?”
“In Joseon, you need to pay money every month to keep being friends.”
“Uh, how much do you need to pay?”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Gee! Do you really want to play around with me?”
Lady Tang’s face flushed, and she playfully smacked my back.
“Ow! Ouch! Hey, I’m spilling coffee!”
With a smile, I desperately tried to catch the spilling coffee with my mouth and signaled her to stop hitting me.
The Americano doesn’t even have sugar in it. My mouth is bitter, and my back is sore.
“Hahaha. It seems you two are quite the close friends. At first, seeing how friendly you were, I thought you brought your fiancée!”
The head of guards gazed at Lady Tang as if he were watching his grown granddaughter’s cute antics.
At this, Lady Tang paused her playful smacking, glancing at me shyly, almost as if embarrassed.
Why the sudden modesty that doesn’t suit her?
“Sir, may I ask how the debt repayment is currently being handled? Are you responsible for it?”
Lady Tang inquired, her face slightly flustered, clearly still irritated from our earlier banter.
“No, I’m merely a representative. The responsibility and authority lie with the heir, who is your mother. Of course, it does pose challenges as the heir is currently unavailable, making it difficult to handle the debts.”
The head of guards shook his head, responding to Lady Tang.
“That jerk really is something.”
Lady Tang openly displayed her irritation towards her mother, who always seems to drag in trouble.
“If you were younger, I would have asked you to watch your language, but now I feel like joining in on the conversation.”
The head of guards sipped from the tea he had brought, as if trying to swallow his own curse.
“Is there anything I can assist with?”
Lady Tang asked cautiously.
“On the contrary, I should be the one assisting you. Since you’ve appeared, all the power is now in your hands rather than mine. While it’s fortunate that you have come during such unfortunate times, I am truly worried about what the debtors may do to you.”
The head of guards looked at Lady Tang with concern.
This world lacks a system for priority repayment. One can only predict what creditors might do to Lady Tang in their desperate attempts to reclaim their money.
Then we must control the variables to make predictions possible.
“Could you invite all the creditors to the mansion at the same time?”
I spoke to the head of guards with a serious expression, as if scheming a plan.
“It seems you have a clever idea. But usually, creditors won’t comply easily.”
“Please inform those gathered that they will receive reimbursement that day.”
“Oh? Such a plan… ”
The head of guards seemed taken aback, his mouth opening in surprise.
Right now, Lady Tang is merely prey waiting to be devoured. But even that prey holds a right.
That right is the ability to choose who will consume her.
In a world without priority repayment, Lady Tang can dispose of her assets with the right she possesses and decide who to feed first.
Of course, even so, prey remains prey. No matter what rights one holds, if left as is, the bookstore will be consumed by another.
To protect the bookstore, we need to set the stage.
“I have thought of a way.”
“Whoa! That’s quite a strategy! But how will you resolve the current issue?”
As I divulged my plan for the debt settlement to the head of guards, I began strategizing what comes next.
————–
As I expected, once I mentioned priority repayment, all the creditors gathered at the mansion.
Let’s execute the plan.
This gathering must not merely become a place for begging or pleading for mercy. We cannot solve this problem relying solely on the goodwill of others.
I, we must lead the negotiation.
“Hello. I am Kang Yoon-ho, the spokesperson for the full power representative of the Baek Family regarding debts today. Prior to our discussions, please give a round of applause for Lady Tang, who arranged this gathering.”
As I ascended the podium and pointed to Lady Tang, she awkwardly greeted the debtors.
Of course, it wasn’t a friendly atmosphere, and the debtors naturally didn’t applaud.
I emphasized her importance without needing the applause; that sufficed.
“Lady Tang is the daughter of the absent heir of the Baek Family, designated as the full power representative.”
With this introduction, Lady Tang bravely faced the creditors.
“When are you going to repay us?! Speak up! Don’t just stand there brazenly!”
“Aren’t you just a shameless debtor? Someone drag that thieving brat over here!”
“Is that girl really going to repay my money? Pull that haughty girl here!”
Some creditors, whom I had been monitoring, got furious and ordered their guards to bring Lady Tang forward.
Some creditors enjoy beating the debtor first then shoving a knife for the money.
Just as I expected.
With Lady Tang looking young and seemingly defenseless, they saw an easy target. I knew from what the head of guards told me, so I just watched calmly.
The guards hesitated with the unexpected orders, but when no one intervened, they drew their swords and approached Lady Tang.
“If you come any closer, you’ll regret it.”
Lady Tang spoke with a murderous intent loud enough for those seated to hear. Good job, Lady Tang. Her acting has improved.
“You pathetic girl! Guh!”
Quick strike of the hidden knife. That saying about hands being faster than the eyes holds true. I couldn’t even see her hands. Lady Tang’s stealth technique stabbed the guard crossing the line.
“That brat! Guh… cough…”
Others who had approached, startled by the sudden assault, reacted similarly. All of them collapsed, trembling and scared.
“Couldn’t see my hands?”
“Instant paralysis poison?! If a family can handle such toxins in their stealth techniques, they can’t… be.”
“With that powerful stealth technique, considering her hair color…”
With Lady Tang’s potent debut, the creditors and guards began to stir.
“You are the descendant of the Sichuan Tang Family! The renowned disciple of Tang Geoh! And the daughter of the Seong Family! Lady Tang! Please refrain from crossing any lines or acting recklessly!”
I emphasized her lineage, stamping out their suspicions.
“Her hair is purple! And her eyes are green! She must be from the Sichuan Tang Family!”
“Indeed, it’s definitely the Sichuan Tang Family!”
“I-I didn’t send those guards! My guards acted on their own!”
The debtors looked at Lady Tang with a mix of fear and surprise.
In the world of martial arts, mutual respect derives from fear of the other.
In overwhelming relationships, no attempts to converse will succeed, only pleading for mercy becomes the norm.
To ensure conversation happens, a mutual respect must first exist. With Lady Tang’s heritage and martial prowess, she must have instilled enough fear in them.
The first step of my plan is a success.
Now, let’s shed the master-servant relationship altogether.
“Before we discuss the debts, I first clarify that Lady Tang is a full power representative, not the debtor.”
With calmness, I announced the shocking fact they absolutely didn’t want to hear.
