The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Chapter 111: Bookstore (3)

After several days of investigation and analyzing various variables with Mr. General Manager, we reached a conclusion. I declared that conclusion to the creditors.

“What nonsense is this!”

“Are you playing a joke on us now?”

“Miss Hwarin is the full agent. All actual authority and debt are held by Miss Hwarin’s mother, who is absent.”

I stated a firm fact to the angry creditors.

“So! Her mother ran away! Then her daughter should pay!”

I knew they would say that. That’s what they all thought coming here. But you see, there’s a difference between their claims and reality.

“For Miss Hwarin to be a debtor, her grandfather would have had to pass on the inheritance through direct inheritance succession. But how can she receive a direct inheritance succession when the inheritor is still alive? Such a law does not exist in this country’s legal system.”

Direct inheritance succession. For a granddaughter to inherit, the inheritor, being her parents, must not be alive. Thus, Tang Hwarin cannot inherit the debt in the first place.

“Think you’ll have the upper hand if this goes to trial?”

“The legal system? Do you know how much debt I’ve collected on behalf of those who fled in the night? What a joke!”

Of course, reality was different. If the world operated according to the law, would there be such things as inviolability of government officials or the martial world? The law was distant, and fists were closer. The angry creditors looked like they were about to rise up against us any moment.

I looked at them and laughed inwardly.

“If you wish for a debt lawsuit, let’s go to the government office together. If you prefer a sword fight, I will bring an observer from the Sichuan Tang Family.”

They might be frustrated, but both the law and fists were on our side.

“Don’t. Don’t. You’ll definitely lose the lawsuit. The judge here received help from Baek Gajang when he was in trouble.”

“The Sichuan Tang Family, that’s a bit… Right?”

My words caused the creditors to become agitated and start murmuring among themselves.

According to Mr. General Manager, Yichang’s judge was an official sponsored by Tang Hwarin’s maternal grandfather. Although debt was a personal issue, the trial would be very fair if it went to court.

Moreover, as evident from her appearance, Tang Hwarin possessed overwhelming bloodline power. Of course, being an illegitimate child posed a problem, but they wouldn’t know that, and the fact that she was a disciple of Tang Geoho remained unchanged.

This was why connections by blood, location, school, and even parachute appointments were important.

“Wait! I thought the granddaughter inherited the bookstore! Then didn’t she receive the direct inheritance succession, and hence the debt too?”

One of the creditors raised his hand and pointed out a loophole in my logic. I was hoping he wouldn’t.

“How can she only inherit the debt and give up on the inheritance? Miss Tang Hwarin plans to give it up right away.”

I said something I didn’t mean, as if asking why they were questioning the obvious.

To escape from a superior-inferior relationship, we had to make it unknown what we wanted. Only then could we make it seem like they were the ones who wanted something.

“Tch! So you’re saying she won’t pay? Why did you invite us here then?”

“To settle the debt.”

“What?”

“Originally, Miss Tang Hwarin has no responsibility or obligation. YThe Miss has the ability and background to endure your anger. However, the Miss is here out of a sense of duty to accurately settle your debts.”

Legally, by background, and even by force, you couldn’t mess with Tang Hwarin. But here she was. Impressive, right?

I continued to transform Tang Hwarin from a debtor to a lady with noble responsibility.

“Everyone, anger is temporary, but financial loss is forever. Miss Tang Hwarin is here, having recently lost her maternal grandfather and with her mother gone, to fulfill her moral obligation. Let’s all calm our anger and give her a round of applause, shall we?”

Hurry and clap to acknowledge that we are equals in solving the same problem.

Clap Clap Clap!

It was a momentary change; all creditors were clapping, but differently than before.

‘I’ve removed the superior-inferior relationship. Now it’s time to make the other party feel inferior.’

With the superior-inferior relationship gone, our claims could now prevail. I was ready to unveil a plan for debt repayment that was simple yet hard to conceive in this world.

“I plan to dispose of all assets of Baek Gajang through an auction.”

“An auction? It’s not an old painting or book, why an auction?”

“We need quick cash! Just sell it quickly at a fair price to those in need. Why go through an auction!”

The backlash from the people was expected. In this place, auctions were a method used for trading old books and paintings.

In modern times, it was a rational method for a debtor to sell assets through an auction to pay off debts, but appealing to their rationality was also problematic.

“They would want to acquire Baek Gajang’s assets at a bargain price.”

People know what’s rational, but if irrationality and unfairness benefited them, they naturally chose that.

An auction was a method that wouldn’t benefit those who wish to acquire Baek Gajang’s assets at a bargain. But I had considered this situation as well.

I pulled out a book and raised it high for everyone to see, then started reading from it.

“The fabric store at the crossroads was taken over by Mr. Lee, a creditor here. He managed to reduce the debt by about 70% of its market value. Had he collected 30% more, he could have cleared all of Mr. Ok’s debt.”

“What? Mr. Lee? Is that true?”

Surprised, the man known as Mr. Ok pointed at Mr. Lee and asked.

“Ah, no. My intention was merely to quickly dispose of profitable items.”

“That scoundrel! He claimed he hadn’t received a single penny!”

“The 500-year-old celadon from Baek Gajang was taken by Mr. Choo, but he only accounted for nearly half of its market value. And then there’s the store at the ferry terminal…”

I recounted the assets that were unjustly taken, as organized by Mr. General Manager.

“Spit it back out!”

“Why should I spit it out, you scoundrel!”

The scene quickly escalated into a scuffle.

“Stop! What a disgrace!”

A sharp-faced elder shouted, causing the warriors beside him to swiftly calm the situation.

I had planned to enjoy the fight a bit longer and then intervene with the guards I had hired in advance, but alas.

“As you’ve heard, there have been numerous instances where it was possible to pay off more of the creditors’ debts, but it didn’t happen. Fortunately, the disposal of Baek Gajang’s assets has only gone so far. To prevent such situations in the future, we propose disposing of them through a public auction! Those creditors who agree, please raise your hands.”

I spoke, using the Soyun Sim Sang Gyeol technique to ensure my words reached the ears of the scuffling crowd. Then, people sat back down and began to exchange glances, pondering.

“Is the auction a good idea?”

“It does seem like a good idea.”

Hard to outright oppose, wasn’t it? Humans were creatures tormented by the knowledge that others might benefit from unfairness and injustice.

Come on, raise your hands. Let’s make this simple.

“Hehehe. An interesting fellow has come up with a clever solution. Good. I’m in favor.”

The sharp-faced elder who had quieted the scene laughed and was the first to raise his hand.

“No! Now that I see him! Why is he here…”

“If he’s in favor? Absolutely in favor!”

“Me too!”

“Me too!”

“In favor!”

Who could it be that people were so surprised? As the elder raised his hand, one by one, others started raising their hands until everyone did.

“Hehe. Even if the auction clears some debt, there will still be debt remaining. What do you plan to do about that?”

After the creditors lowered their hands, the first elder who had raised his hand asked me.

He’s right. Even if we received the full value through the auction, it wouldn’t be enough to clear all debts.

‘This is it.’

I had prepared up to this point for now.

It wasn’t just about volunteering to organize this event. It was about being able to roll out the logic today because of the atmosphere. If there’s any debt remaining, Tang Hwarin could be harmed.

Even if she gave up the bookstore and managed to clear all debts, a woman with a skin disease and a black-haired barbarian would have to wander the world penniless.

The bookstore must be preserved.

And do so by cloaking my personal desires with noble responsibility.

“I will take responsibility.”

I said to the elder with a firm expression.

Declaring to take on what doesn’t need to be taken on.

“Take responsibility? For what?”

“Of course, for the remaining debt. But!”

I said we would take responsibility, even though Tang Hwarin isn’t responsible for the debt. However,

“But?”

“Only for half of the remaining debt. On the condition that she inherits the bookstore left by Miss Hwarin’s maternal grandfather, we will take responsibility for that half.”

A condition that seemed to offer little reward to others.

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