698 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"A provocation against Man-geum Jeon-jang, is it?" He gingerly lifted the dirt-stained books with two fingers. Dangga Fengyun. Fengyun Hero's Story. Certainly, these were the novels I had written. "Back then, you readily nodded when I proposed to buy out all the stocks from each bookstore. You didn't seem to have any ulterior motives, and yet now you've come out like this..." I thought I maintained my composure, but clearly, I hadn't. The head of the branch was noticeably flustered, painstakingly explaining each detail of the situation. "What are you doing just standing there?! Capture the bookstore owners immediately!" "We'll move at once!" "Wait." I halted the warriors of Man-geum Jeon-jang, who were about to spring into action at Gil San’s outcry. "What?" Unfamiliar emotions simmered deep within me in response to this type of provocation I had never faced before. Hold back. It's easy to respond to a simple provocation with anger, but business doesn't run on fury alone. Before resolving the doubts surrounding me, I took a deep breath. "No matter how weak Man-geum Jeon-jang's influence may be in Honam Province, if they've openly provoked us, there must be a reason. They must be confident about something." The mind must stay cool, because boiling emotions narrow one's vision. This might not be a mere emotional squabble. Understanding the reason before taking action won't be too late. "It might be an attempt to drive out Man-geum bookstores from Ak-yang." "It certainly shows determination." They even went to the trouble of splattering filth everywhere. "Kang Gong-ja-nim, the opponents are native merchants of Ak-yang. If you react to a trivial provocation, you might have to face all of Ak-yang's merchants." Un Yeop offered a direct but earnest correction, sensing that I had somewhat calmed down and attempting to defuse the overheated situation. "I understand. That's why Man-geum Jeon-ju, himself, didn't push expansion into Hubei Province." The expansions across Hubei and Honam Provinces aren't like a corporate branch sprouting up in a different city. Administrative regions change, handlers change, connections change, and one must endure the wary eyes of locals viewing outsiders with suspicion. It's like a foreign automobile company establishing a branch in the Korean market. Local pushbacks were issues we absolutely had to prepare for. "Regardless, this is an incredibly important book to Yun Ho, you know!" "But why?" I asked Gil San, who was expressing anger on my behalf. "Huh?" "If they didn't want it, they could've just said no. Why take the risk and provoke openly against Man-geum Jeon-jang?" I wasn’t ignorant of the bookstores’ difficulties. Coming in, slicing up their pie wasn't enough, now we're seizing popular books too? It'd make them understandably furious. I was ready to negotiate. Yet they chose to respond with a provocation. "Aren't they basically telling us to 'get lost'? They might want to sell their own novels." "I just joked around, saying that if they continue to be stubborn, I'd resort to coercion. But by giving us justification?" "Oh? You're right..." We're not powerless. Though business ethics are a thing, we do have the authority to enforce our rights. However, once disliked, we might have to pull out of Ak-yang due to the merchants' solidarity against us. Thus, I initially sought negotiation from an ethical standpoint. Giving us justification to overturn everything? No matter how much I think about it, it’s strange. "Maybe they don't perceive it as a risk?" The vice-director, Un Yeop, cautiously brought this to my attention. "They might believe they have firm backing, which makes sense in a way." The long-standing bookstores may be paying specific factions for protection money, or perhaps there's an influential official involved. "Moreover, I think they might be unaware of Kang Yun Ho Gong-ja-nim’s presence." Un Yeop suggested a perspective I hadn't considered. "They don't know me?" "We only set foot in Ak-yang yesterday. Plus, the bookstore you visited today has sent their books out correctly. Whereas, those the branch manager visited sent back piles of filth." Indeed. The bookstore I visited stamped their agreement on the contract and sent the books without issue. I thought the branch manager could handle the rest, so I sent him. If Un Yeop is correct... "They're provoking the branch manager, not me?" "I think that might be the case." So they don't know I'm in Ak-yang. True enough, we arrived in Ak-yang only yesterday. I haven’t shown my face at any public event. What I thought as provocation towards me could actually be directed at the branch manager. Perhaps they were unaware of the heir directly nurturing the Honam Province branch, mistaken in assuming it’s the usual act of strangling competing businesses. What’s the answer? ‘I'm lacking the information to grasp the situation.’ I hadn't expected trouble to arrive a mere day after arriving. I toyed with the Hao Moon token in my pocket. Should I reach out to Hao Moon and ask them to gather intel? It’ll take days to resolve. With the opponent having made their move, merely enduring it would damage our reputation. Should I make a calculated countermeasure, or attempt dialogue first? As various thoughts flitted through my mind, I finally noticed the anomaly around me. ‘Huh...?’ Cheon Gil San, Vice-director Cheon Un Yeop, the branch manager of Ak-yang, the bookstore staff, and even the warriors of Man-geum Jeon-jang. Everyone was silently staring at me. Waiting for my decision. "Gil San." Yes. I understand now. A chuckle inadvertently escaped me. "Yes, why?" "Who am I?" "Suddenly? The guy with three fiancées?" "No... not that. Here and now, who am I?" Gil San’s expression was momentarily confused, but upon seeing my serious face, he answered promptly. "You’re the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang." T1NrUTkreFYvQUZ1VEE0bGdJSWROOG5WRmdYeUFpQkpiUi9IcU1odkdXT1pmOTcrdHlEMjl2ZmtSZU1BY3lDRA Right. Despite the continuing surrealism of this reality, it brought a smile to my face. "Un Yeop." "Awaiting orders, Kang Gong-ja-nim." As the vice-director knelt on one knee, the warriors of Man-geum Jeon-jang instantly followed suit. Awaiting the command of Man-geum Jeon-jang's heir with bated breath. Yes. I am no longer the Black-haired Madam of Chilgok-hyeon, nor the Black-haired Manager of Uichang. I am Kang Yun Ho, the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang. And so. "Inform them that the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang wishes to arrange a meal with the bookstore owners of Ak-yang." Today, it was time to step forward with the confidence of an heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang. --- In a tavern in Ak-yang, a bookstore owner, his face full of fear, spoke to the gathered bookstore owners. "Are you sure about this? We're dealing with Man-geum Jeon-jang." "It's not Man-geum Jeon-jang itself, but just the Ak-yang branch. We shouldn't be scared of a small shop like that," another owner said with a reassuring smile, but worry was evident in his eyes too. "Even so, it's a quick ride from Wuhan through the waterways." "Didn't we already discuss everything? We have backing, so what's there to fear?" "Those darn Jin-Ga..." "Shush, hush! Someone might hear us!" Startled, one merchant quickly covered the mouth of the frightened bookstore owner. "Don't worry too much. We're not doing this for someone else, but to benefit ourselves!" "It feels like we've stepped into a mess..." "Anyway, it's absolutely secret. Keep it to yourselves." The bookstore owner sighed deeply at the others, whose words were unconvincing. "Still, we're dealing with Man-geum Jeon..." "Ah, you've gathered here." "Who...?" The bookstore owners turned, puzzled, toward the warrior who suddenly burst through the tavern door. "We're from Man-geum Jeon-jang." "We, we have no business with you!" "You guys pressured us to give up our well-selling books! We were just responding!" Despite their bold words, the bookstore owners retreated like prey meeting a predator, pressing themselves against the corner. The warrior stood his ground, stating his purpose without advancing further. "Don't be so frightened. We've come to extend an invitation to dine." "What?" "The heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang, Kang Yun Ho Gong-ja, wishes to dine with the bookstore owners." "The heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang? What are you talking about?" "The offer made to you today was directly from the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang. It's clearly written on the documents given by the branch manager." One bookstore owner produced the contract he hadn’t managed to discard, verifying the warrior’s words. "It’s true!" "What did you say?" "Here, Kang Yun Ho!" The contract, dismissed alongside the filth, clearly bore the name of Kang Yun Ho, the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang. "Kang Gong-ja found your response amusing, leading him to extend this dining invitation." "Is the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang truly here in Ak-yang?" "Ha! We have no interest!" "What are you trying to pull, troubling honest merchants?" "Think carefully." The warrior, though stationary, fixed a stern gaze on the merchants yet to grasp the situation. "What?" "The offer you received bears the name of Man-geum Jeon-jang’s heir, Kang Yun Ho. Your response involved throwing his dear friend's book into a pit of filth." "Uh..." The gravity of the situation hit home. As the warrior’s displeasure simmered, the bookstore merchants' expressions hardened. "I think I've heard the names Kang Yun Ho and Ho-pil before." "Me too." Those selling Ho-pil's novels would surely know the tale of Ho-pil and Kang Yun Ho. How did Kang Yun Ho become the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang? Even before the bookstore owners could be astonished, the more pressing fact was that the gift meant for the Ak-yang branch manager had inadvertently reached the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang. "You only have one opportunity to meet Kang Gong-ja as a guest. There won’t be another." "..." What thoughts ran through the mind of the heir of Man-geum Jeon-jang when he saw his friend's book disgraced? What must he think of them? "What will you do?" Refusal wasn't an option.