482 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

EP.482 Paper Mill - 16 I have defeated the final boss. No, I have turned the final boss into my drinking buddy. In a speedrun with a one-month time limit, once you clear the final boss, there’s no need to complete the side quests. No side quest could come close to the glory of defeating the final boss. But then again. "So, do the other officials who borrowed money from Mang Geum Jeon Ju have to repay it too?" Instead of me taking the time to clear the remaining side quests, wouldn't it be a different story if the final boss took care of them himself? I won't ask for favors just because we've become drinking buddies. There's no need to ruin my relationship with the Landlord over completing side quests. Then how should I proceed? “It turns out that the Landlord isn’t the only one who reached out to Old Mister Gu Juk. Upon my investigation, it was confirmed that many officials rushed to Mang Geum Jeon Ju at that time.” I simply needed to shift the focus to the Landlord’s own need for action. The registers didn’t have only the Landlord’s name on them. Starting from the magistrates, to the Dongji, officials working directly under the Landlord, and even the local governors and their aides. Many officials’ names were listed, most on similar dates. "That's right. When I borrowed money for the Landlord's matter, other officials also borrowed money from Mang Geum Jeon Ju." Even for the Landlord, whose hobby is amassing wealth, it was significant enough of an amount that he rushed to Mang Geum Jeon Ju. Naturally, for the officials under him, though differing in scale, it was an amount that weighed heavily. "That's why it's necessary for other officials to repay as well." "Do you mean I shouldn’t be the only one repaying?" I nodded with a concerned expression. If they borrowed for the same reason, one method of repayment should suffice. “Doesn't the Chief Inspector have a keen eye? Surely, thinking the outcome is too simple, he would investigate on his own. When he does, he'll easily catch on that I’ve been investigating Mang Geum Jeon Ju for the past few days.” In truth, I hadn't conducted any investigation at Mang Geum Jeon Ju. "Uh-huh..." “Of course, any evidence about the Landlord borrowing money will vanish. Mang Geum Jeon Ju, after all, protects customer information more zealously than their own lives, especially if the customer isn’t a bad debtor. However…” “The others who borrowed money during this incident may become the focus.” Exactly! The Landlord looked at me with surprised eyes, as if sobering up. "Yes. They will certainly seek them out for interrogation. Among them might be those who, unaware of the Landlord’s lifetime dedication to Hubei Province, speak thoughtlessly to save themselves, or perhaps there are those who think there’s much to gain even if they suffer a little hardship if the Landlord isn’t present.” Once the adversary realizes their peril, aggravate their fears even more. Anyone aiming upwards in an organization will inevitably gather competitors and adversaries. “Some names are already flashing through my mind.” “You must act quickly before this matter concludes. Once a wolf gets a taste of meat, it will pursue other prey before forgetting the taste.” If you don’t move first, others will come for you. There are wolves waiting behind, seizing any opportunity; competitors always smiling beside you, ready to exploit any chance. I decisively fanned the flames. "Indeed...! Without your advice, things might’ve gone terribly wrong! Thank you! Truly, thank you!” "As they say, a drink is better shared, isn’t it?" To the Landlord, my advice likely seemed like innocent counsel from a strategist without ulterior motives. Among the Chief Inspector, Landlord, and officials, I'm giving pure advice for my drinking buddy, staying clear of political battles. Though in reality, I get all the rewards. "Right! Exactly! Drinks taste better shared! Ah, do you think it should be repaid within a few days?" "I’ll do what I can, but ten days is the most we can stretch it.” “Hehe! Great! I’ll send my men to demand payment! If they don’t have money, tell them to sell their wives’ undergarments if they must!” “Bring them to me, and I’ll make sure to settle the undergarments too!” “How reliable! How did I find such a drinking buddy! It must be the good karma I’ve accumulated with Buddha! Here, have a drink! I think I should bring back the courtesans I once dismissed!” The drinking session with the Landlord ended successfully. ————— “Hey, Magistrate! Hurry and repay the money borrowed from Mang Geum Jeon Ju!” “What?” Though the final boss began bustling about, a small problem arose. ‘Can he collect it all within ten days?’ Time is tight. I can’t avoid this. Might as well stir things up since I’ve started, and claim all the remaining rewards. “They said to visit in person to receive the repayment confirmation certificate? Didn’t they say it was all settled before?” Taking this opportunity to have the final boss move at my whim, let’s make the hero do the same. I immediately sought out Chief Inspector Jung Moon Won. “Since I’m not an employee at Mang Geum Jeon Ju, it seems there was a misunderstanding. Apparently, you need to get a separate repayment confirmation certificate.” “Ah, I see.” “They insisted you must come in person to collect it, so I couldn’t do it for you. I apologize.” I bowed deeply to Jung Moon Won, appearing genuinely apologetic. “No! Come now! Aren’t we closely acquainted? No need to apologize over something like this. I’ll head over right after work today.” “Thank you.” That very day, the Chief Inspector went to Mang Geum Jeon Ju to get the repayment certificate. “What? Master Kang, are you saying that if the Chief Inspector comes by, we should offer him tea and keep him as long as possible? I mean, it's not hard…” “Bring him to the guest room and delay as long as you can, then issue him the token confirmation only after. Please take care of this.” Unaware that Jeon Woon Yeop, the governor’s son, was holding him up at Mang Geum Jeon Ju at my request. The officials, unaware that they were drawing the Chief Inspector's attention, had walked right into Mang Geum Jeon Ju. It was like a fox entering a rabbit hole. "The Chief Inspector actually went to Mang Geum Jeon Ju?!" "I told you to repay it quickly! What are we going to do now?" The great rabbit exodus began. "If I take it to the Landlord, he'll sort everything out, right?" "Yes. As long as you bring it within three days..." "Damn! Bring the land deed!" "But I was going to give this for my daughter's wedding–" "Is our daughter's wedding in ten years what we should be worrying about now? If we don’t repay it quickly, our daughter will end up an orphan!!!" Through various channels, amusing conversations reached my ears. The Landlord was pressuring them from above, and the news of the Chief Inspector’s actions was spreading. Soon, those entwined with the Landlord’s corruption would be bringing money to me. ‘I thought it would end with just a few officials repaying their debts.’ I greatly underestimated the combined power of the final boss and the hero. "What? The Chief Inspector is investigating debtors at Mang Geum Jeon Ju who have borrowed money and not repaid it?" "Exactly! It's as if he wasn't satisfied with the Landlord and is looking to take in officials under another pretext!" "Would he detain people just for failing to repay some money?" "I don't know; it's Jung Moon Won we're talking about! That mad dog, Jung Moon Won! He already transported the Landlord to the capital; would anything else scare him?" "I borrowed quite a bit from Mang Geum Jeon Ju. What should I do?" "Tomorrow, your seat might be in the interrogation room instead of here." "Can't you be more mindful of what you say?!" "I'm saying it because it's you! I heard magistrates and other officials are hurrying to repay their debts! There are rumors that the Landlord is trying to resolve things somehow!" "Wh-what?!" "They say the Chief Inspector will act within a few days! You better move quickly too!" Once a whole organization starts stirring, rumors inevitably spread. The Landlord moved, corrupt officials underneath stirred, and with the Chief Inspector in motion, uneasy officials scrambled to the Landlord for help. ‘And why did the martial artists running sects in Wuhuan repay their debts, too?’ I have no clue how the rumors spread like that. The negligible crowdfunded effort by myself, Lady Jegal, and Lady Hayeon, which handed the Landlord’s corruption ledger to the Chief Inspector, rippled out into such a massive butterfly effect. Thank you, nonetheless. Thanks to the combined efforts of the final boss and the hero, I reaped a sweet reward. —————— "No, this can't be right!" A pleasant astonishment echoed through the room. "There must be some mistake!" "It must have been some ledger other than the forbidden ledger!" "You just heard it! Magistrates, governors, and even the Landlord!" "What the heck is going on?!" "Father! There's got to be some trick! How could they have collected from all those listed in the ledger?!" Indeed, there was deception involved. A deception that led everyone to pour my drinks with a smile. "I’ve verified everything. There isn't a single lie in these reports." Jeon Woon Yeop, who checked over the documents I provided earlier, declared to everyone that not a single word was false. "What on earth..." With just a word, the noise disappeared, and all eyes turned toward the massive rock. Everyone, including myself, noticed it. The solid rock was trembling. The rock, which had stood tall through the storms of time atop the mountain of Mang Geum Jeon Ju, was shaking. Even the renowned Mang Geum Jeon Ju couldn’t close his gaping mouth. "How on earth did you manage this?" The expression on Mang Geum Jeon Ju’s face was worth the month of effort. It was entertainment enough. There was no need to elaborate. No need to boast about the outcome. I had only made one promise to Mang Geum Jeon Ju. I shall prove myself worthy of being Mang Geum Jeon Ju's successor. Thus, I had but one thing to convey to Mang Geum Jeon Ju. I offer this as my apology. In return for apologizing for his daughters' rudeness, Mang Geum Jeon Ju had given me this advice. "I merely shook what you taught me to value more than money." Thanks to his teaching, I had grown this much. It was enough to say it with a smile. ________ Are there really any readers reading this besides me? Or i am talking to myself all these chaps? Anyway if there are please reply to my comment under this chap. If you don't want to no problem but it will be great to know i am not alone in enjoying this masterpiece