451 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

.451 The Second Test - 5 "Trying to entice him with a business deal?" I nodded at Jeon Gil San's remark. "Yeah. A few years before Sam Angeom borrowed the money, he was going around saying he wanted to retire and start a business. Even the Mankeum Financing trusted his reputation and determination and lent him money based on it." I said, waving the documents about Sam Angeom that I had gathered. "I've also heard that it's quite common for ronin to talk about retiring and opening a business." "Living by the sword is tougher than people think. Plus, he's over forty now. It's about time to consider a second life." It's akin to how athletes need to contemplate retirement. How long can someone truly live off a swordsman's life? Even the Hoga Clan doesn't seem to treat him like they used to. Perhaps it's time to think about living a new life. He wasn't originally interested in business, but he started to get tempted little by little. "And this guy just took off with the money?" "If he truly decided to retire, it might have been worth trying. No matter where Sam Angeom fled, if rumors spread about a ronin with black hair and gray eyes, the debt collectors from Mankeum would certainly come after him. But if he changed his name and transformed into a businessman, he'd be harder to track down." "Indeed..." "Though the borrowed amount is substantial, it isn't enough to live idly for a lifetime. He learned the sword because he didn't want to merely farm after the Musuchon days, so he doesn't have plans to go into agriculture. So what's left?" "Business." To deceive someone, one must truly understand them. Especially their desires. Desires can make even the wisest foolish. "Even if I can't pry open the wolf's jaws myself, I can certainly make it regurgitate." Dangle the thing it craves the most in front of it. Make it move according to my designs. Even the most renowned ronin in Hubei Province can be reduced to a puppy before a treat. ——— I trapped the wolf in my enclosure. Without realizing it was my bait, the wolf had relished the food for a few days. "So, I heard you're planning to start a big business?" A few days later, after giving him ample time to digest the bait. Sam Angeom uttered the words I expected. "Haha. Big business, you say? I'm just trying to make a living," I replied, waving my hand dismissively with a modest smile. "But that's not what I heard," Sam Angeom pressed as if he'd seen through everything. Little did he know, I had laid it all out for him. "It might be peculiar rather than large because it's unique." "A peculiar business?" "Brother, are you interested?" Smiling gently so as not to offend, I pierced directly to the point. "I wouldn't say I'm interested in the business itself, but I'm curious about what my younger brother is up to." Caught off guard by the unexpected timing of my probing, the wolf stumbled and ended up revealing his true intentions, unknowingly. "Would you like to have a look?" Feigning disinterest in his reaction, I asked in a friendly manner. "A look?" "How could I just let it pass when a respected elder is curious? If you have the time, I'd be happy to show you around." I wasn't really intending to show him. But since you want to see it... I naturally steered his revealed interest in the direction I wanted it to go. "You're busy, but are you sure it's okay?" Jo Cheol couldn't quite hide his desire to see but pretended to apologize, checking my reaction. "I'd make time for you anytime." "Haha... If you insist, I'll shamelessly take a look." Of course, it's fine. Why else would I keep you in the room I run? Pretending to have no ulterior motives. Pretending to concede willingly to a hometown elder's request, my actual aim was to introduce the business naturally. ---- "These are the very foundation of my business." To secure investment, it's essential to pique the buyer's interest. But how should one do that? "Pigeons? No, messenger pigeons." The answer is simple: demonstrate a business that seems worth investing in. Just like displaying a jade mattress that allegedly radiates photon energy, or a stone bed supposedly infused with the sun's essence from the tri-galactic system, making you feel valiant just by lying on it. "Yes, that's right. Say hello, Googoo." In the room with the pigeons, I introduced Googoo, a mystical creature left behind by Hayeon Sojeo. "Googoo!" "Could it possibly understand human speech?" As Googoo greeted Sam Angeom, Jo Cheol stared at me incredulously, like he was witnessing something incredible for the first time. "That's not all. Googoo, show us the feather dance!" "Goooo." Why is this bird pretending to be burdened? It's acting like a disgruntled senior soldier. Hey, if the officer says to do it, you must do it. "Gotten too comfortable, have you? We have a guest, show us a trick." Could pigeons sigh? Googoo seemed reluctant but eventually drooped its head and spread its wings wide. "Goo! Goo! Googoo!" "Wow! A messenger pigeon that dances? Is this a mystical creature?!" Jo Cheol was left speechless by Googoo's performance. "Not all of them, only this one. The others just follow orders well as messenger pigeons." "Taming a mystical creature is no easy feat. It requires exceptional skill," Sam Angeom remarked, scrutinizing me with the keen eye of one observing a prodigy. "I happened to get lucky enough to learn by chance. Googoo, power beam!" "Googoo?" "Still can't do it, huh? You need more training." Creatures next door can rotate crops and even have kids. You need to level up too, Googoo. "Googoo! Googoo!" Googoo pecked gently at my head, looking at me like I was nonsensical. "Ouch! Haha." "You two seem quite close. Do you use these pigeons for delivery orders?" "You've heard correctly. Yes, they're my treasures." "That's an entirely novel approach." "Only I can pull this off. As a result, when it comes to delivery food in Wuhuan, people think of Yungi Inn, and Yungi Inn means delivery food." At my command, the pigeons moved seamlessly, performing a routine. Not at the level of Googoo, but certainly impressive enough to bewilder any lay observer. "Haha. I ought to have learned pigeon-raising instead of martial training." Sam Angeom clapped softly with admiration at the sight of the pigeons. I presented a business idea flashy enough to widen his eyes. But older brother, do you think he’s ready to invest in this venture? I wasn't about to reveal my intentions just yet. "This pales in comparison to Sam Angeom's renowned name. I have more to show you. Shall we move to another location?" Today's plan wasn’t just about the messenger pigeons. —— "Quite the impressive carriage you're riding." The moment Sam Angeom boarded my carriage, he took it all in, clearly impressed. "With multiple business locations, I often find myself needing to travel. So, I splurged a bit." "It’s not every day you see someone affording such a carriage as a mere splurge..." Well, that was thanks to Jegal Sojeo. No need to mention that, though. Conmen don’t ride in fine vehicles without reason. How much is that person making from his business? The image an individual projects becomes the perceived worth of their business. Would someone riding such a fancy carriage cheat me out of my money? It subtly misleads others. Little do they know the reality behind the earnings. I'm glad I made sure he rode the carriage. The gaze Sam Angeom sent my way shifted significantly. "Look outside the window for a moment. Our delivery folk are passing by." "Which ones? All those wearing straw hats are from your delivery team?" "Yes. They're skilled in light-foot techniques, allowing for swift deliveries. These days, delivery has become a staple of Wuhuan’s lifestyle." "Haha. Business must be good. To see three delivery men passing by so quickly." Of course. I had them strategically placed. A strong business idea exists here, so you should invest in me. It's a classic con method, but it’s not enough to swindle a life-changing sum. ‘When you show prospects your actually thriving business, their greed grows stronger, doesn’t it?’ Messenger pigeons soaring above, delivery workers bustling around. And as their boss, I leisurely observe it all from a luxury carriage. How is it? Don’t you want a piece of that success? Even without me pointing it out, Sam Angeom couldn’t take his eyes off the passing delivery workers. —— "This business isn’t entirely yours?" After showcasing a promising business idea and its success, it's time to reveal a gap. A gap the investor can dive into. "I supply the carrier pigeons and delivery workers, while the customers run their businesses," I explained the franchise model upon reaching another location. "I see. It's like you supplying raw silk, and the people here weaving and selling the finished silk!" "As expected of you, brother! Superb understanding." "Your business skills are remarkable." From the idea, to the thriving business, to the franchise model. There was even a hint of reverence in Jo Cheol’s eyes. "It’s a business that just started. It’s bustling." "Thanks to you, I am seeing money in ways I never dreamed of these days!" The franchise owner beside Sam Angeom continued to praise me. I never directly ask for investment. I’m not hoarding everything. Take a look at the person next to me. It’s a shared approach. If you invest, you'll earn the same. I let them know this indirectly. "No matter how much you praise, I won't fly up to the heavens." But Sam Angeom could sense it. That he could soar to the skies as well. "Something no one else can replicate..." "Brother?" "Oh, oh." Had he just returned from a star of success? Sam Angeom looked at me, startled. "I need to move because of business, so I'll be on my way." No need to bring up investment right away. If you want to deceive someone, spark their greed while concealing your own desires. Today, I was in the position of a younger brother satisfying an elder brother's curiosity. It was time to wait until his greed grew a little more. "Yes, thank you. I had a fantastic tour." "Feel free to take my carriage back." "What? I have two strong legs, it’s fine." "How could I let you walk? Please, take the carriage. I’ll stop by nearby first, so I can ride later. Coachman! Get the carriage ready." Pushing Sam Angeom as if imploring, he begrudgingly stepped back, not disliking it in the slightest. "Yes, sir!" "Goodness. Thank you." It's me who should be grateful. --- "After such a luxurious ride back, he’d certainly think he could ride the same carriage if he invested in the business." "Frightening fellow..." Jeon Gil San, scratching his arm as if chilled, looked at me. "A business destined for success. Something others can't easily step into. Yet, still in growth. And if they see a hometown brother thriving?" "It makes one want to invest immediately, just hearing about it." "When it’s a genuine business, not a fraudulent one, it’s far harder to doubt, isn’t it? How can you question tangible results in front of your eyes?" And that’s what makes investment scams so terrifying. A castle built on complete lies collapses with the slightest impact. But if physical assets and visible business are present? If you can incite your opponent's desires and obscure their judgment, you can deceive investors to your heart's content. "Your business is certainly alluring, but would he invest so easily? Sam Angeom is currently evading notice." I considered that possibility when planning. "If he doesn't want to live as a fugitive for life." "What do you mean? He's already on the run.” "He can still use excuses. He came to Wuhuan for business. He missed the maturity of the principal due to a little misunderstanding. It might seem like hiding, but he doesn’t intend to escape." "And that excuse would work?" "He hasn’t used a bill yet. It's a sign he’s still contemplating. Given that Mankeum Financing is lending weight to the excuse, it has become a trial task." Mankeum Financing hasn’t suffered a huge loss since it’s not cashed out. The reason Sam Angeom’s name is recorded on the questionable ledger is because the situation is too ambiguous to pin down as of now. "Ah, I see. But owing such a large sum would be troubling.” There’s a possibility he'll abandon the business and flee. But do you think I wouldn’t know that? “Would I place a wolf on my board for no reason?” “What?” “I need to make him think the ship he plans to escape on is already burning.” ** "The more I see him, the more impressive he is..." Sam Angeom, or Jo Cheol, muttered to himself after returning to the inn alone. He was clearly a diligent young man. Furthermore, didn't he say he has the utmost respect for someone like himself who has lived a life of hard work? It wasn't for nothing that he became a successful businessman. The hometown brother had made time out of his busy schedule to satisfy the curiosity of his respected older brother, but truthfully, Jo Cheol's thoughts were elsewhere. Envy. Admiration. And. "Damn... Have I wasted my life?" Here he was, living on the edge as a ronin, risking his life wielding a sword, only to end up a fugitive. Meanwhile, his younger brother from home had become a renowned businessman even in Wuhuan. Sam Angeom, filled with a sense of emptiness and envy, found it hard to swallow the alcohol he had ordered. "He said he would let me join the same business if I invested." Jo Cheol fiddled with the promissory note he held in his breast pocket. The business was just starting to grow, he had said. That meant there was still an opportunity. "If I speak up, surely... No. I shouldn’t make rash decisions yet." He was running, essentially mortgaging his life. It wasn't something to decide lightly. Jo Cheol lifted his glass, trying to drown his tangled thoughts with alcohol. "Damn those Mankeum Financing bastards!" Upon hearing his own muttering, Sam Angeom glanced toward the entrance. "Mankeum Financing? Are you in debt?" "I had to make a stop at the port, and suddenly, those Mankeum folks were calling me over." "At the port? Why?" "Who knows! They said they had to check black-haired folks boarding the ships. Told me to take a good look at myself and then let me go. Seriously, what’s going on?" "What a fuss." For someone, it was an annoying, trivial incident. But for another, it meant something entirely different. "Customer, is the food not to your taste? Should I bring you something else?" "Oh, no, it’s fine." Could Mankeum Financing actually be looking for him? Sam Angeom couldn’t bring himself to drink. His internal conflict was deepening.