The loan shark is not rich.
While someone playing with money might say they have no cash, most loan sharks are closer to being small-time self-employed people who earn a living by doing rough jobs.
If you’re a merchant running a guild, a government official receiving a regular salary, an innkeeper who owns a tavern, or a renowned master in the Martial Arts World, you seek places like the Man Geum Battlefield because you have credit and repayment ability.
Those without credit or insufficient repayment capabilities seek out loan sharks, but people in this category are more likely to default on payments. Collecting debts becomes a must.
Collecting debts is not easy for either party—it’s a tremendous source of stress for both sides.
Why would a wealthy person become a struggling loan shark? They could easily run another business or set up a battlefield to consult with trustworthy people for loans.
Loan sharks are ultimately mostly small-time self-employed individuals, and those struggling need a creditor to lend money.
“I just need to lend money to the loan sharks at the gambling house.”
There’s no need to risk lending to a gambler. If I lend to a loan shark, they’ll take care of lending it to the gambler themselves. Whether the loan shark loses or earns money is of no concern to me.
“Loan sharks have to pay back the principal and interest to the lender anyway.”
After all, loan sharking in the gambling house is a high-return profession. The money is a kind of ‘business expense’ for the loan shark to keep operating at the gambling house.
If I can pocket all that money, this exam will be a piece of cake.
“You want to become the lender to the gambling house loan sharks? Hey, Kang Yoon-ho! You can’t just casually say you’ll do that. That field is incredibly fierce. One wrong move, and you’ll get stabbed! Hyang-a, talk some sense into your fiancé.”
Maybe it’s because they’re well-acquainted with the gambling house dynamics. When they heard my plan, Gil-san furrowed his brow and exchanged glances with Miss Zhuge, as if signaling her to dissuade me.
“Ah, um… if it’s Master Kang, it should be okay.”
Despite the fact that Miss Zhuge wouldn’t dissuade me.
“It’s a gambling house. Who could feel safe with this guy…”
I get your concern, but.
“It’s okay. I’ve got it all figured out.”
“What?!”
It hasn’t been long since the Do-mun incident dismantled things.
Of course, the gamblers didn’t disappear; however, those directly or indirectly linked to the Do-mun interests were all wiped out.
Miss Zhuge wouldn’t have said it’s alright for no reason.
“It hasn’t been long since the gambling house reopened, so the loan sharks are just getting started. Bringing it up shouldn’t be too difficult.”
The Il-gu brothers, who received full authority over the gambling house from Miss Ha-yeon, won’t have to care about anyone’s opinions.
“Yes. It’s definitely possible. But the lender of the gambling house is named after the lord, is that okay?”
“When Miss Ha-yeon comes back, we’ll just say I used it as an emergency fund for half a month.”
I could clearly picture Miss Ha-yeon’s snobbish expression as she said that.
“Miss Ha-yeon is the lender at the gambling house? Wasn’t she on a trip? What do you mean by the ‘lord’? How exactly does that work?”
Gil-san, I’ll explain later.
“From tomorrow, let’s just charge 5 fen interest daily for half a month.”
The exam is the priority now.
“5 fen?!”
Il-gu replied in surprise.
“Why? Is it too much?”
“If the lender takes 5 fen from the loan sharks, the loan sharks will have to demand even higher interest from the gamblers. I don’t know how much money you’ll have on hand for the gambling house, but if the interest is too high, they won’t be able to manage it all.”
“That is quite a sum.”
After all, it’s a business; if the interest is too high, can any single gambling house handle it all?
“Wouldn’t it be wise to check out other gambling houses as well?”
While I was deep in thought, Sam-gu, the youngest Il-gu brother, spoke up.
“Other gambling houses?”
“Ever since the Do-mun folks collapsed, all gambling houses in Wuhan are being managed by the lords. Meeting them could be an option.”
“Since the damage from the Do-mun incident was significant, they’re likely seeking resources to restore their gambling houses…”
No matter how thick they are in relationships, when money is involved, things change.
It hasn’t been long since the Do-mun incident ended. Many from the Hao-mun also perished, with considerable property losses.
Being the leaders of a group, there’s not much room for concessions.
That’s quite the dilemma.
Huh?
I felt a tug on my sleeve and turned to find Miss Zhuge observing me keenly.
“Ma-master Kang! I think your idea is the best one.”
Did she sense my hesitation? Miss Zhuge gripping my sleeve firmly and said that.
“Then I’ll go meet them.”
Alright. If Miss Zhuge recognizes it as the best idea, there’s no need to hesitate.
————
“That much is obviously doable!”
“Really?”
“I can’t let the youngest down and not assist with something like that!”
“The Do-mun will be managed by our lords for the time being, so don’t worry about those matters.”
“Phew. I was wondering what you wanted when you invited us, but is this all you sought?”
At the gathering of the Hao-mun lords I personally requested, all three lords present at Wuhan nodded willingly in agreement to my request.
“5 fen interest? If the youngest brought this up, everyone, if you want to keep your business afloat, let’s just get this done for half a month!”
“Thank you!”
“If I pass this exam, then I become the successor of the Man Geum-jeon?”
Lord Si-mun seemed already aware of the status of the successor exam as he asked me with a smile.
“I can’t discern the true intentions of the lord, but it seems I will be put in a very favorable position.”
It looks like I’ve secured a favorable position to at least win against the blackened Cosmic Heavenly Demon.
“Wow! From Hao-mun to the successor of Man Geum-jeon! Make sure to share some techniques with the kids later!”
“I’m only here because of the help from all you lords.”
“Haha! If only you could stick to just that!”
After coming to Wuhan under the auspices of Lord Si-mun and resolving the Do-mun incident, I’m now personally challenging for the position of successor at the Man Geum Battlefield.
Lord Si-mun patted my back as though pleased by the youngest’s response.
“Indeed. The fiancé of the successor of Man Geum Battlefield! The lord will surely feel ecstatic upon hearing this!”
“Though I am also the fiancé of another woman…”
My dear Gi-mun Hyang-ju?
“Is it such a big deal for a man to have two wives? Just say ‘Faction regular!’ and call it good!”
“No, just two in the regular faction, right?”
There was a hint of sarcasm in Gi-mun Hyang-ju’s voice correcting Lord Si-mun’s statement.
“Ha ha ha…”
Actually, I have more than one.
“Gi-mun Hyang-ju, why are you being so picky today? Did something happen? You’ve been like that since you arrived!”
Lord Si-mun quietly asked as he seized my shoulder.
“I really don’t know.”
Why is she so grumpy? Surely it can’t be just because of my minor issue with having three fiancées?
“Is it that day?”
How am I supposed to answer that? Oh no. Just now, Gi-mun Hyang-ju’s brow twitched.
“Can you hear everything?”
“Oops! Youngest, lately, are the rumors true?”
Lord Si-mun appeared slightly flustered, then skillfully changed the subject.
“What do you mean by rumors?”
“The rumor that you can see through everything, Ho Pil! The countless murder cases happening in Wuhan you can resolve, and just by looking at the perpetrator, you can read their identity!”
“I’m also curious. Is there really someone born with keen insight among the black-haired populace? I heard rumors that you possess insight, which is why you catch criminals so well.”
Lord Ma-mun Hyang-joo asked with interest.
Was the impact of performing detective shows at the government office that severe? It seems odd rumors are being created.
“It’s a baseless claim. Didn’t I ask you to look into the suspects?”
Even the insight I possess is thanks to Hao-mun.
“No, you know, it’s not just simply attributing everything to help. You are indeed a great detective. You solved the murder case on your own and investigated details about the body, which has nothing to do with Hao-mun.”
“That’s an absurd claim.”
I merely matched the presented pieces of the puzzle. If even those who understand the truth are doubtful, what kind of nonsense is spreading?
“Eh, that doesn’t sound right! Try to guess something about me!”
Lord Si-mun seemed insistent on not giving in.
“What do you mean?”
“Anything! If you can surprise me, I’ll take care of whatever you asked for from start to finish!”
Lord Si-mun personally guarantees that they will oversee the loan sharks. If all I need to do is shock them, then that’s not too bad.
“…I think you should put more effort into maintaining family harmony.”
I shot straight at it.
“What? What does that even mean?”
“Though young concubines need attention, showering too much love can definitely create jealousy in the first wife. While you may not need to sleep together, it would be best to spend time together.”
“What? What?!”
Sure enough, this unexpected insight caught Lord Si-mun off guard.
“Whoa.”
“Hm, is there a new concubine in your life? I wasn’t aware of that.”
The other lords looked at Lord Si-mun as if they were also taken aback.
“How, how did you know?”
Lord Si-mun asked in disbelief.
“Generally, someone who was indifferent about their appearance suddenly taking diligent care implies they have someone to care for. Plus, it’s been some time since you’ve appeared troubled, and I noticed you lost weight. The dark circles tell me you’ve been busy lately. Since Lord Si-mun’s wife is the only one, it must be a young concubine.”
“Y-yeah…”
“There’s a small bruise on your cheek, indicating that someone surely had an issue with you. Further, the scratches indicate that it was done with nails instead of just hands, so it must be a woman; moreover, since the attacking hand was your left hand, it must indeed be your left-handed wife, right? That’s why I said so.”
“What the…?”
Before my statement ended, Gi-mun Hyang-ju seemed visibly shaken and dropped her pipe.
“G-Great heavens…! You can actually deduce that?!”
“Wait! Could it have been true that you possess insight?”
Somehow it seems they are more astonished now than when I mentioned the Do-mun lord was plotting a rebellion.
“…Well, I did see you the other day.”
They seem sufficiently astonished, and I smiled as I revealed the truth.
“What?”
“When I stopped by to see Lord Si-mun, I asked why there were screams coming from the office. Apparently, your hair was being yanked…”
“No! When did that happen!”
Lord Si-mun seemed to realize he’d been had and stopped me abruptly with an expression of shock.
“Hahaha! Even if I’m just piecing together a performance act, it’s enough to catch someone off guard and get them to confess.”
It was just a matter of matching the puzzle pieces through the information I had, the data I’d observed previously, and what I heard from familiar people today. But you were surprised, didn’t you?
I glanced at Lord Si-mun with a smile.
“No matter how you look at it, that’s not acrobatics… This is becoming quite the show! Come here! Since I lost, let’s enjoy some drinks!”
“Thank you!”
With a little detective show complete, the drinking session went on pleasantly.
—————
“Let’s raise a toast.”
“Pour.”
After enjoying some lively chat with Lord Si-mun and Lord Ma-mun, I approached Gi-mun Hyang-ju, who had quietly been smoking nearby, and raised my cup.
“Also, fill my cup.”
“Thank you.”
Did something perhaps unpleasant happen before this gathering?
My enjoyable detective show had eased her brash demeanor, but somehow Gi-mun Hyang-ju’s tone felt heavy.
Despite being in her sixties, Gi-mun Hyang-ju looks like a beautiful woman in her twenties, so seeing a troubled expression on her face leaves me perplexed.
I drank from the cup and cautiously extended it again.
“Your mother will rejoice.”
Unexpectedly, Gi-mun Hyang-ju uttered a statement that caught me off guard while refilling my cup.
“I strive to be a child she can be proud of.”
“Is there any child more fitting than you? Your mother must be proud of you too.”
Indicating that I’m someone her mother takes pride in.
Alright. Let’s briefly act as though I’m a son grieving the loss of my mother who didn’t live to see her son become the successor of the Man Geum Battlefield.
“Thank you for seeing me in such a positive light.”
Let’s pretend to be a grandson feeling alive simply because his grandmother’s expression brings back memories of his mother.
I received the cup and bowed my head to Gi-mun Hyang-ju. Taking a deep breath loud enough for her to hear, I shivered a bit, feigning that the thought of my mother brought up sadness.
“Oh grandma. You put me in this sad emotional state, now you have to take responsibility.”
“…Hmph. If you’re done drinking, then open your mouth.”
“Ugh!”
Like giving candy to a crying child, Gi-mun Hyang-ju took chopsticks in hand and stuffed food into my mouth.
Was my acting insufficient?
“Tsk. If only your love life wasn’t an issue, there wouldn’t be much to worry about.”
“Lord Hyang-ju.”
After finally swallowing all the food, I spoke.
“While I understand that my mother’s past has left me with scars, it’s certain that a son will not hinder the influx of women…”
So this was indeed due to my love problems.
Gi-mun Hyang-ju knows about Hwa-rin and Miss Ha-yeon. She’s aware of the facts twined between the Tang Family Head and Hyang-a, as well as my situation as their child.
But now, becoming the successor of the Man Geum Battlefield while tied to the daughter of the Zhuge Family? To Gi-mun Hyang-ju, my love problems must seem hopeless.
“I will take full responsibility.”
I too have pondered this matter. But ultimately, the only words I could say were these.
“Not saying I’m sorry is my only saving grace.”
“……”
“Phew.”
Gi-mun Hyang-ju inhaled the smoke from her pipe and exhaled deeply.
“I will fulfill my responsibilities as a man.”
Somehow it feels like I’m standing in front of my supervisor after getting into trouble.
Gi-mun Hyang-ju looked at me with a frown for a moment before intently staring at me.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
Gi-mun Hyang-ju slightly furrowed her brow and seemed to feel the need to say something.
“Okay. I understand that you have a history with your fiancées that I’m not familiar with. Nevertheless, a man must know how to establish boundaries, right?”
“…Huh?”
Gi-mun Hyang-ju’s words carried a hint of annoyance.
What could she possibly mean?
As I listened earnestly while visibly puzzled, she sighed lightly before revealing the unexpected reason behind her irritation.
“Why on earth did you receive the undergarments of one of the courtesans working under me?”
