483 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

EP.483 Event - 1 A deep silence permeated the room. It wasn’t just simple quiet. Sometimes, when faced with an outcome no one expects, people are rendered speechless. Tension and shock. Everyone gathered couldn’t help but stare at one person, frozen, wondering what the result would be. ‘I initiated this test hoping they would learn a lesson.’ Even Mankeum Jeonju found it hard to open his mouth easily. The problem Jang Noya presented to the successor candidates was both a test and a lesson. Investing with limited funds to earn money is incredibly difficult. Lending money and getting it back is equally challenging. Always be cautious. Even if you become the successor of Mankeum Bank, he hoped the unchanging lesson would be engrained. The same applied to Kang Yunho. ‘I really only wanted to confirm if he is truly the one to succeed me.’ That child could seize the unsolvable ledger. If then, offer advice. Find something more valuable than money from others. For some, honor, pride, power, family, or life is more precious than money. Identify weaknesses and exploit them. If you grasp my advice and return having witnessed all sorts of dirt, you will succeed in at least one thing. Even if it's just one success, it would prove you are worthy to succeed me. Even Mankeum Jeonju couldn’t foresee the current situation. Indeed, who could have predicted? Only one person. Only the one who declared they would prove themselves, stared back with burning resolve in their black eyes. ‘Baek Ga, oh this sly Baek Ga. Even if you come from the afterlife to beat me to death, I must have this child.’ Mankeum Jeonju could barely contain his trembling heart. He thought, despite aging and accumulating ample wealth, that he had lost all greed. Yet, faced with this treasure, he couldn’t keep his wits about. He always felt guilty towards his friend who had left first. But no matter how much he thought, he couldn’t give up. Ultimately, Jang Noya could only offer a mix of envy and apology to the friend who had gone ahead. ‘I merely tossed a piece of advice.’ What if I impart everything I’ve learned throughout my life to this child? How would it turn out then? "Is there a need for any more testing?" Emotion burst forth from Mankeum Jeonju’s mouth. ———— "Father, what’s that all about?!" The words from Mankeum Jeonju’s mouth were what everyone present was silently hoping he wouldn't say. "I asked if there is any need for further testing." Mankeum Jeonju asked the question again, almost declaring to those gathered. "Grandfather!" "Father! How can you say that?!" "Which of you has done as much as that child?!" No one could answer Mankeum Jeonju’s question. "I gave that child a small sum, and he released a carrier pigeon across the boundless skies. In just half a year, people in Wuhang are paying good money to order delivery meals without hesitation." "That, that was–!" "All of you gave up on the unsolvable ledger, but this child went ahead with it. And today he brought about something even I wouldn’t confidently claim to achieve." "……!" Father. Grandfather. To say it’s a task even he wouldn’t confidently claim to achieve. The gathered froze, unable to believe the praise that came from Mankeum Jeonju’s mouth. "Father! Give us another chance! You promised a third test!" "Grandfather, just once! Give us one more chance!" It couldn’t end like this. Mankeum Jeonju’s daughter and his grandson barely composed themselves to earnestly plead. "Do you have confidence to surpass that child in the third round?" The returning words were cold. "……." "Can you show the competence in the third round that this child showed in the first and second?" "That, that’s……!" Today, they had clearly seen the skills of the person they had belittled as just another black-haired barbarian. Can my son really show such ability? Would he perform as well in the upcoming test set by his grandfather? He barely managed through the first two tests. Faced with Mankeum Jeonju’s question, all were left speechless. "What about you?" "I will simply prove myself once more." Mankeum Jeonju almost couldn’t suppress his smile as he saw Kang Yunho answer without hesitation. "Do you truly think another test is necessary?" "……." At this rate, it would just slip past. Mankeum Jeonju’s successor position might slip past. This must be stopped. But how? Despite feeling frustrated, those gathered found no justification to argue. "Move aside!" An unexpected voice shattered the silence in the room. Everyone turned their heads to the loud voice of a woman coming from outside the door. "Y-you can’t go in right now!" "I’m going to see my father! Move aside now!" "You know exactly what kind of meeting is occurring inside right now." "That’s why I’m telling you to move! Quickly step aside!!!" "Please wait a moment longer……." "What’s all this commotion!" With Mankeum Jeonju’s bellow, the door to the room swung open, and the source of the commotion stepped inside. "Father!!!" "Nahnok, what brings you here?" Jang Noya asked his daughter who appeared suddenly. "My child, who came to his senses and worked so hard!!! It’s all because of you!!!" Jang Noya’s daughter, Jang Nahnok, shouted at her father with a face full of grievances. "If you wanted to address dissatisfaction with the first test results, you’re a month late." Nahnok’s son was eliminated in the first test. Regardless of how much the daughter complained, the successor position is stern. Jang Noya spoke coldly to his daughter. "Huuhhh!" Nahnok collapsed to the ground at her father’s words. "Crying won't change anything." "Because of you! Because of you!!! Because of youuuuu!" "What on earth happened?" Jang Noya was taken aback by the sorrow and grief pouring out from his daughter, something he had never heard before, and he asked in surprise. "Lord Jeonju!" The chief manager hurriedly entered from outside, approaching Mankeum Jeonju with a startled look. "Yes?" "It’s…." The chief manager whispered the recent news that had just been received into Mankeum Jeonju's ear, explaining why Jang Nahnok had suddenly burst into the meeting location. Suddenly, Mankeum Jeonju's eyes widened in surprise. “This conversation will be postponed to another day,” he declared, dismissing his children from the room. *** "What on earth is happening?" Everything was going smoothly, and then suddenly it stopped. “Kang sir. Could you please stay behind for a moment?” Before I could make sense of the situation, Jeon Wooneop asked me to stay. “Kang sir?” “You go ahead. I’ll catch up shortly.” Being the only one asked to remain, I wondered what could be happening. Could this mean the test is already over? I told Miss Jegal to go on without me and followed Jeon Wooneop. ——— “Have a cup of tea first.” “To think you'd prepare it personally, Elder. I’ll gratefully accept.” I accepted the tea made by Mankeum Jeonju. It seemed he had something to discuss. He had put a lot of effort into preparing it. While it didn't taste as good as the tea brewed by Miss Hayun, the quality of the ingredients deserved a 4 out of 5 rating. Until I finished my tea silently, Mankeum Jeonju did not say a word. Surely, you're gazing a bit too intently, aren't you? A male guest might find it hard to visit often due to the pressure. I’ll have to deduct 0.5 stars. “……Do you feel disappointed?” Once I set down the teacup, Mankeum Jeonju asked expectantly. Why, do I feel slighted for not being named the successor right away? “Is it regret?” That was my question to ask. I replied with a provocative expression to Mankeum Jeonju. “Haha, amusing answer indeed.” Mankeum Jeonju laughed and lifted his teacup. “You must have your reasons. Though a mere youngster like me can’t fully grasp your intentions, you are not one to proceed with matters carelessly.” Mankeum Jeonju nodded with a wry smile in response to my reply. “The girl who interrupted just now is my eldest daughter. The first child I had with my late wife.” “I had the opportunity to meet her previously.” Mankeum Jeonju nodded, acknowledging my words, and continued speaking. “I wasn’t Mankeum Jeonju right from the start. I had ambition, but I had many mouths to feed, and although I was young, I had little to my name. I had to work tirelessly.” “…….” “On the day I returned home after earning a considerable sum of money, my young eldest daughter did not recognize me.” “How unfortunate….” As I murmured sympathetically, Mankeum Jeonju let out a small scoff. “There are times when a man must make a choice. I chose to be a firm provider rather than a kind father. Naturally, my eldest daughter took on the role of another mother to the younger daughters. As time passed, I arranged a good marriage for her to express my apologies.” “Now that your daughter has her own child, she will surely understand.” The grievances felt towards parents in childhood tend to be understood as one grows older. Whether my consolation touched him or he found it amusing that a young man was comforting an elder, Mankeum Jeonju chuckled lightly and continued. “My eldest daughter became a remarkable person, but unfortunately, she was not a very good mother. Perhaps it was because she showed too much concern for her child, compensating for the attention she lacked from her father. Although it didn’t matter much to me; she was married, and it was her family’s affair. However….” Jang Noya’s voice suddenly trailed off as if he couldn’t bring himself to speak of a painful matter, and the cracked door trembled. “Did something happen?” “A moment ago, I heard news that my grandson was found as a corpse.” “……!” “They claim it’s my fault, that he took his life after failing the test.” No wonder he had stopped speaking. A calamity had occurred. I quickly wore a serious expression and spoke. “They say that if a scholar fails the imperial examination and takes his life, is it the king’s fault? Offering someone an opportunity that many never receive in their lifetime, can that be considered a crime?” “Do you truly see it that way?” “Failure is said to be the stepping stone in life. What one learns from failure depends on an individual’s mindset. How can the person who provided the opportunity be blamed for it? Please don’t be too disheartened.” For Mankeum Jeonju, it must have been a shocking event. His grandson chose to end his life because he couldn’t solve the test given by his grandfather. But isn’t it right? To take one’s life because of a test is due to the mindset of the one who does it, not the fault of the one who gave the opportunity. Mankeum Jeonju slowly nodded in agreement with my words. “In that case, please take a look for yourself.” “Pardon? What do you mean by that?” “It’s neither ethical nor proper to handle the successor's affairs during mourning. Once the funeral for my grandson is completed, I will ask everyone to gather again. But before that, I would like you to ensure that there was no injustice in his death.” He's asking me to investigate his grandson’s death? “Elder, although I am known as a famed investigator, this reputation is merely due to a series of fortunate coincidences.” Sadly, I am not the renowned detective who finds themselves in the midst of murders as they walk around, nor am I the one who joyfully rushes at the call of a corpse. “I am asking you to see if there’s any injustice in my grandson's death, not to create a story out of thin air.” Mankeum Jeonju shook his head as if that wasn’t his intention. “What do you mean by that?” “You saw it today, didn't you? Even if you become my successor, my daughters will harbor substantial dissatisfaction.” “Since a black-haired barbarian becoming the successor of Mankeum Bank is inevitable, the dissatisfaction is understandable.” It’s natural for dissatisfaction to arise from a black-haired outsider becoming the successor of one of the most reputable banks in Hubei Province. “But it would be different if you win over my eldest daughter’s heart.” “Pardon?” “She is like a mother figure and the leader among the daughters.” Mankeum Jeonju said with a small smile at me. “……Elder?” “If you gain her support, it would aid you greatly in future endeavors. Isn’t even a marital alliance important?” Wait a minute. Could it be that the reason I was called immediately after the incident wasn’t to express sympathy for his grandson’s death or to find a famed investigator to uncover the case? “You certainly remain a firm provider," I said. As the master of Mankeum Bank, it seemed he had summoned me with my future in mind. “You even appear to know how to look like a caring father now.” Jang Noya's face simultaneously carried the expression of a father concerned for his grieving daughter and that of Mankeum Jeonju, who was seizing an opportunity for my sake. “…….” No matter how I thought about it, he was an impressive person. “So, will you give it a try?” There was no need to ponder what truly lay in Mankeum Jeonju's heart. “I will examine it with utmost sincerity.” Both aspects were genuine. Kindred spirits could recognize each other. _________ Is it just me that is feeling uncomfortable with how Jeonju treats his grandsons? I know that it is supposedly to display complicated side but i am feeling uncomfortable knowing that to the end he saw his grandsons as assets considering how he always acts disappointed around them and doesn't even try to get involved in their life, he justs simply gave up on them like his daughters after confirming that they have no talent