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Chapter: 13
The guest hall of the Jeong Family Estate was shrouded in silence.
Jin Cheong-un sat with an indifferent expression.
Jeong Soso looked visibly uncomfortable.
Across from them sat Baek Seogun.
Slurp.
Taking a sip of tea, Baek Seogun discreetly glanced at Jin Cheong-un from the corner of his eye.
He looks a lot more normal than I expected.
It was completely different from what he had heard from the Black Tiger Gang members locked in the prison cells.
Each of them had been beaten so badly they were practically half-crippled, and their stories differed in many ways. Yet there was one thing every single one of them agreed on.
“That guy’s insane.”
But the Jin Cheong-un before him was simply a handsome man with an unusual aura.
Still…
His face feels strangely familiar… Am I imagining it?
Baek Seogun gently set down his teacup.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Baek Seogun, Chief Steward of the Black Tiger Gang. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“I am Jin Cheong-un, master of the Cheongun Martial Hall.”
A moment later, Jin Cheong-un casually added,
“The pleasure isn’t mutual.”
…Maybe he really wasn’t normal.
Suppressing a cough, Baek Seogun smiled amiably.
“Haha. It seems I’ve come rather abruptly.”
“You certainly did. Right at mealtime too. Of all days, today was the one day I skipped lunch.”
“…”
Baek Seogun stared at him for a moment.
I can’t figure him out.
Normally, he adjusted his approach depending on the person.
But this man gave him no clue whatsoever.
Contrary to expectations, he didn’t seem hot-tempered. Yet neither did he seem cautious. There was simply something… off about him.
From long experience, Baek Seogun knew that in situations like this, the best course was to skip the preliminaries and get straight to the point.
“I’ll ask directly. I heard there was recently some conflict between you and members of our gang.”
“It wasn’t a conflict.”
“…?”
“I beat them up.”
“…”
The unexpected answer left him speechless.
As Baek Seogun hesitated, Jin Cheong-un naturally took control of the conversation.
“So that’s why someone as important as the Chief Steward came personally?”
“That’s correct.”
Suddenly, Jin Cheong-un slowly looked around him.
“Did you come alone?”
“…”
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Baek Seogun swallowed.
What exactly does he mean by that?
There really was something about this man.
Whether it was powerful backing, wealth, or martial arts.
“Haha… Since I’ve come to resolve a problem, surely there was no need to bring a crowd.”
“You came to resolve a problem?”
“First of all, I owe you an apology.”
“…?”
Baek Seogun bowed his head slightly.
“Our gang has been expanding its business rather hastily lately, and it seems some of our subordinates handled matters a little too aggressively.”
“…”
“I hope you understand that their actions do not reflect our Gang Master’s intentions. Please accept this as a token of his apology.”
Baek Seogun quietly handed a neatly folded medicinal packet to Jeong Soso.
“I heard your younger sister suffers from a chronic illness. These are rare medicinal herbs that are excellent for strengthening the body.”
“Th-thank you.”
“Think nothing of it.”
Jeong Soso accepted the gift almost absentmindedly.
This was far more unexpected than she had imagined.
She had expected them to storm in and threaten them, not act so politely.
Just then—
“However.”
Baek Seogun’s demeanor shifted naturally.
“You are aware that the issue of the debt still remains, aren’t you?”
“…”
“According to our records, after deducting the iron coins, the Jeong Family Estate still owes six hundred seventy taels and four nyang of silver.”
Jeong Soso jumped in shock.
“Four more nyang? It increased again?”
“Well… that’s the nature of a donkey-roll loan. I’m merely reading what is written in the ledger.”
“…!”
“To explain our position first, we have concluded that the Jeong Family Estate is incapable of repaying this debt. That is why I’ve come today.”
“We can repay it! Please don’t worry!”
“Everyone says that. But according to the records, your repayment date has already been delayed seven times. I’m sorry, but we can no longer take your word for it.”
Jeong Soso was left speechless.
“The contract states that after ten defaults, ownership of this estate, which was put up as collateral, will be transferred to us. Were you aware of that?”
After wetting his throat with tea, Baek Seogun continued.
“So… what do you intend to do?”
His tone remained cold, businesslike, and calm.
M-Master…
Without realizing it, Jeong Soso looked toward Jin Cheong-un.
Baek Seogun also turned his attention from her to Jin Cheong-un.
Then Jin Cheong-un spoke.
“If you borrowed money, you should repay it.”
“…?!”
“…!”
Not only Jeong Soso, but even Baek Seogun stared with wide eyes.
“What?”
“Haha… That’s quite unexpected.”
“If you borrow money, repaying it is only natural. And if you can’t, then naturally you’ll lose whatever you pledged as collateral.”
As Baek Seogun smiled brightly, Jeong Soso looked at Jin Cheong-un with a sense of betrayal.
Jin Cheong-un tilted his head.
“What?”
“B-but… you said you’d help us…”
“That’s a different matter.”
“…!”
“Borrowing money whenever you like and then deciding you’ll only repay it when it’s convenient for you is shameless. Frankly speaking, what crime has the lender committed?”
Jeong Soso froze.
Her voice trembled with disappointment.
“I wasn’t even the one who borrowed it! My father did! And the Black Tiger Gang bought up our debt from someone else and arbitrarily raised the interest until it became this!”
Baek Seogun narrowed his eyes.
“Miss Jeong. Even so, that is legally—”
“You still have to repay what you owe.”
Ironically, it was Jin Cheong-un’s interruption that caused Baek Seogun to stop speaking.
“If you have your own circumstances and feel wronged, that doesn’t mean you can live however you please. If you only ever act according to your own convenience, do you know what you’ll eventually become?”
“…I don’t.”
“You’ll become people like the Black Tiger Gang here.”
“…!”
“If you want to become a proper adult, then you have to take responsibility for what is yours. Unless you want to live like these Black Tiger Gang fellows.”
His unusually stern tone made Jeong Soso’s eyes tremble.
Meanwhile, Baek Seogun, who had just been hit by a verbal blow out of nowhere, frowned.
“Master Jin, your words are a little—”
“Of course, that doesn’t mean handing over the estate is acceptable.”
Baek Seogun paused.
“…What did you say?”
“Let’s do this instead.”
Leaning slightly forward, Jin Cheong-un wore an incredibly confident—and shameless—expression.
“The debt is too large. Cut it down a little.”
“…?”
“We’ll repay the money, so stop eyeing the estate.”
Baek Seogun’s face twisted.
Struggling to maintain his composure, he replied,
“That joke has gone too far.”
“I’m serious.”
“That… would be difficult.”
“Even if it’s difficult, make it happen somehow.”
What the hell is this bastard trying to do?
Baek Seogun’s face became completely serious.
“Let’s not play games. Won’t you regret this?”
“Oh, since we’re all familiar with one another.”
Jin Cheong-un grinned.
“Then let’s be blunt. You targeted this estate from the very beginning.”
“…!”
“As far as I know, causing disorder among the people with schemes like that doesn’t end with just a few lashes.”
“What exactly are you implying…?”
“Your interest rates ignore national law entirely. You arbitrarily decide repayment dates. And using an estate this large as collateral for such a ridiculously low valuation…”
Jin Cheong-un suddenly tilted his head.
“Actually… is that contract even legitimate?”
“O-of course it’s legitimate!”
“Oh, you startled me. Why are you getting angry?”
Is this guy mocking me?
Jin Cheong-un shrugged.
“I suppose I went a little too far with that last part. If something that unfair really happened, everyone in town would have gone crying to the government office… or perhaps the Martial Alliance.”
Baek Seogun’s eyes widened dramatically.
Why? Why is the Martial Alliance suddenly involved?
Who exactly is this guy?
Had that strangely sloppy demeanor been nothing but an act?
Baek Seogun looked at Jin Cheong-un with a grave expression.
After standing there silently for quite a while with a face as if he’d bitten into a bug, he finally spoke.
“…The proposal you’ve made isn’t something I have the authority to decide.”
“I see.”
“I’ll withdraw for today. I’ll return after discussing it.”
“Ah, let me see you out.”
Though he wanted to refuse, Jin Cheong-un had already stood and opened the guest hall door.
Following him with an unpleasant expression, Baek Seogun suddenly asked,
“…Master Jin, just who are you?”
“Didn’t you just say it yourself? I’m a martial hall master.”
“I heard you used to be a martial artist.”
He prided himself on judging people well.
It was fortunate he had come personally. Had he simply sent subordinates after underestimating this man, things probably would have become complicated.
“I was just an ordinary escort warrior.”
“An escort warrior…?”
“The pay was terrible, and the work was dangerous. I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I quit.”
…Had he simply been fooled by the man’s unusual aura? Just an escort warrior?
Baek Seogun glanced sideways at Jin Cheong-un.
Once again, that strange sense of familiarity surfaced.
His face kept bothering him.
Click. Creak.
“Take care on your way.”
Even as Jin Cheong-un opened the gate for him, Baek Seogun couldn’t shake that feeling.
Just before stepping outside, he turned around.
“Master Jin… have we met somewhere before?”
“…?”
“Think carefully. I’m certain we’ve crossed paths somewhere…”
Jin Cheong-un narrowed his eyes and casually took half a step back.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in men.”
“Huh? What does that have to do with—”
“Even if I were… you wouldn’t be my type.”
For a brief moment, Baek Seogun froze.
Then his face twisted in fury.
“Y-you insolent…!”
“Travel safely. Oh, and thanks for the medicine.”
“You—!”
“And while you’re leaving, take those bodyguards pretending to be ordinary passersby with you. What are they doing lurking around someone else’s house?”
“…!!”
Bang!
The front gate slammed shut.
Baek Seogun stood there blankly, staring at the closed gate.
The disguised gang members hurried over.
“Chief Steward! What’s wrong?”
“…”
Baek Seogun slowly turned his head.
Looking at them with complicated emotions, he quietly asked,
“Were you hiding properly?”
“Huh? Ah… of course we were.”
“…”
“Is something wrong?”
“…Nothing. Let’s go see the Young Gang Master.”
Without another word, Baek Seogun began walking.
Their destination was the VIP room of Cherry Blossom Pavilion, the only luxurious tavern in Cherry Blossom Village.
“Young Gang Master. It’s the Chief Steward.”
The moment Baek Seogun opened the door—
Crash!
A wine bottle suddenly flew across the room and shattered against the wall.
“I told you the drink tasted stale! Why are you still talking so much? Looks like you need another beating before you understand!”
“I’m sorry! I’ll bring another one! P-please spare me…!”
The tavern’s top floor had become a complete mess.
Several workers from Cherry Blossom Pavilion lay sprawled on the floor before a drunken young man, their bodies covered in bruises.
“Young Gang Master, what exactly is going on here?”
Hearing the stern voice, the young man paused.
“…Ah, you’ve returned already.”
The young man, Yeop Gun-pyeong, the Young Gang Master, turned around with an expression that had instantly gone cold.
“It’s nothing. All of you, get out. Be grateful our Chief Steward is here. He’s the reason you’re still alive.”
“Th-thank you! Thank you!”
The tavern workers hurriedly fled the VIP room.
Baek Seogun roughly kicked aside the debris and sat down.
There were bloodstains scattered all over the floor.
I left him here just to quietly drink…
He couldn’t even stay out of trouble for that long.
Or perhaps… considering the circumstances, this was actually the better outcome.
“Anyway, did things go well?”
Baek Seogun answered in a heavy voice.
“They did not.”
Yeop Gun-pyeong paused briefly before curling up the corner of his mouth.
“Oh? Just what kind of man managed to make our esteemed Chief Steward lose face?”
“…”
“I told you from the start—we should’ve simply crushed them.”
“He’s no ordinary man. I’ll report everything to the Gang Master first and investigate that martial hall master’s background before making any decisions. You should return as well.”
At that moment, Yeop Gun-pyeong’s expression stiffened.
“We came all this way over one insignificant martial hall master. Wouldn’t returning empty-handed upset Father?”
“…Young Gang Master? What do you mean by that?”
“I’m merely expressing my concern. Come now, you’ve worked hard today. Have a drink.”
For some reason…
The crescent-shaped eyes of the notorious troublemaker gave Baek Seogun a very bad feeling.
The Jeong Family Estate.
Jeong Soso hesitated awkwardly, avoiding Jin Cheong-un’s eyes.
“Master… has the guest left?”
“Guest? Go throw salt after him.”
“Huh?”
“Why do you look so surprised?”
“B-but… salt is expensive…”
That’s what you’re worried about?
This girl is strange too.
“More importantly, Master… I’m sorry for talking back earlier. Now that I think about it, everything you said was right.”
“Hm? Talking back?”
“Huh? Earlier… when I looked at you with that disappointed expression…”
“That hardly counts as talking back. You’d at least need to throw punches and curse me.”
That would practically be betraying one’s master.
Without realizing it, Jeong Soso let out a laugh.
Perhaps, in his own way, her master had been looking out for her.
“Let’s hurry and eat. Is there meat? Finally, there’d better be meat. There absolutely has to be meat.”
…No, maybe it wasn’t consideration after all.
Nodding, Jeong Soso answered,
“It only needs to be reheated. But… do you really think the Black Tiger Gang Master will accept your proposal?”
“He might.”
Or he might not.
Trusting the Black Tiger Gang would be even harder than trusting a con artist.
“Do you have somewhere else to stay for a while besides here?”
“If it’s only for a few days, I think we can stay at the inn where I work. But… why?”
“I need to go somewhere. So don’t stay at home for a while. Go stay at that inn.”
“Where are you going?”
Jin Cheong-un answered as casually as though he were simply going for a stroll around the neighborhood.
“The Black Tiger Gang.”
“…!”
