Chapter 302 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

Facing Off – 4 "What kind of woman is that!!?" An unexpected blow struck her. Lim Ha Yeon returned to her lodgings and cried out as she pounded on the pillow atop her bed. "I made up my mind and went to face her!" She muttered as she hugged the pillow, as if nursing her resentment from the verbal beating she'd encountered. She hadn't intended to get into a hair-pulling fight. The regional branch was crucial for her and his future. He was working hard for her, and sabotage was never her intent. She had another purpose for meeting Jae Gal Hyang. 'It's about showcasing the disparity.' What did it matter that she was the youngest daughter of the Jae Gal family? Who was prettier? Who was more essential to his business, and who suited him better? She was determined to clearly highlight the difference. Thus, by deliberately positioning herself by Kang Yun Ho's side, she intentionally blocked Jae Gal Hyang’s approach. Lim Ha Yeon's plan was somewhat successful. The woman she thought was a sly fox turned out to have the shy demeanor of someone who couldn't even order a drink properly. Until that statement was made, she secretly felt a slight sense of victory. So grown-up looking. "You think I look so mature?" Who would've thought she'd take a jab in this manner? You're telling me I look old. In just a few words, Jae Gal Hyang undid the careful grooming Lim Ha Yeon had prepared early that morning. A well-timed, definitive strike during a momentary lapse. It was the kind of counterattack worthy of a descendant of Jae Gal Gong Myeong, who once supported Shu Han. You're also older than me by a year. The woman named Jae Gal Hyang didn't cease her assault. On any other day, she might not have reacted strongly to being called an older sister. But given they were both of marrying age, especially with a man present that caught her interest, it was a different story. Faced with successive blows implying she looked old and was older than Jae Gal Hyang, even the resolute Lim Ha Yeon couldn't help but waver momentarily. "Was she actually just putting up a facade?" Feeling frustrated, Lim Ha Yeon impulsively squeezed the pillow between her arms. Could it be, as Ha So So suggested, that Jae Gal Hyang truly was a cunning vixen? I'm younger by a year and prettier, and in a year's time, I could do even better than you. Was that what she was insinuating? In Lim Ha Yeon's now shocked state of mind, Jae Gal Hyang's words and actions could only be interpreted as provocative. The man's response only fueled Lim Ha Yeon's anger towards Jae Gal Hyang. "Ugh. Why would he defend her in front of me!" She was aware. She knew he was someone who actively stood up for those in distress. Yet here she was, right in front of him. How could he shield another woman? Maybe that vixen was feigning vulnerability on purpose to elicit his protective instincts! “Don’t let your guard down. Never!” She wasn't a woman to be underestimated. Remembering today's events, Lim Ha Yeon reignited her fighting spirit. ********** Days passed since the Da Seo Gak branch's construction was finalized and the management team from Yichang was welcomed. The branch was finally on the verge of its grand opening. "The rain just keeps pouring, doesn't it?" Gazing silently out the office window, Lim Ha Yeon commented with a tone of concern. "It started last night." "I'm worried since the books from Yichang are supposed to arrive today or tomorrow." "Indeed. With the management staff training the selected employees, the only thing left is for the books to arrive." Once the books are organized and the flow for the employees is set, the Da Seo Gak branch can finally open. "The turbulent waters of the Yangtze become rough in this bad weather. I wish they'd dock at another port and come tomorrow." "Even if they arrive, it could be problematic. Even a single drop of rain on a book could spell disaster, no matter how well they're covered." Moisture and paper are inevitably at odds. The rain must cease before the books arrive. "We'll just have to trust the Seo Cheon Pyo Guk to handle it well." Surely, there's no match for the expertise of professionals, no matter what two amateurs like us discuss. "Lord, you have visitors." While discussing plans with Lim Ha Yeon, one of the attendants knocked on the office door. Visitors? Who could it be? Perhaps someone from the Golden Pavilion? "Let them in." "Kang Gong Ja-nim." As the attendant opened the door, a sturdy middle-aged man appeared behind him. It wasn’t someone from the Golden Pavilion bearing a job. The visitor wasn’t someone from the Golden Pavilion with a task, but rather someone familiar to me since my first day in Wuhuan. "What brings the Seo Cheon Pyo Guk Branch Chief here?" It was the Wuhuan branch chief of Seo Cheon Pyo Guk, who had provided us with numerous help. He looked quite pallid. Had he been caught in the rain? His hair was soaked with rainwater. Why would someone of his stature brave the rain to come all the way here? "..." The branch chief hesitated to immediately speak to my question. That expression of choosing his words. The atmosphere isn't promising. Surely. "Branch Chief, could it be..." "I'm sorry. The delivery was stolen." Bad premonitions never fail to hit the mark. —————— "The escorts and managers aboard were found dead." The situation was more serious than I'd imagined. "Was it pirates that attacked?" Even a small boat can carry goods with magnitudes greater than a normal person. Had avid readers of Ho Pil's 'Dangga Fury' without money opted for a path of banditry? "About that... The ship was found this morning at the Yangtze's port." My speculation was lightly off the mark. "At the port? Didn't you say they were found as corpses?" If they had been attacked, it should have been on the river, not at a docked port. "The ship had reportedly docked safely last night. A worker, suspicious of the silence, found the bodies hidden as morning came." "Were there any survivors?" "The sailors' bodies weren't found. However, traces indicated goods were moved right after docking." Could it be the sailors? While it's rare, accompanying members sometimes turn into bandits. As I gazed at him with curiosity, the branch chief confirmed that neither the ship nor its sailors belonged to Seo Cheon Pyo Guk. "I don't know how to offer you my condolences. For something so dreadful to occur in the heart of Wuhuan." "I apologize. All the Da Seo Gak books scheduled to arrive today have gone missing." I paused to study the branch chief who bowed his head once more. What will happen to my books? Do you understand how much was spent on materials and labor? The branch opening is imminent. Yelling would be foolish. No current altercation will make a difference. What matters now are future measures and compensation. "You've suffered dearly, but there’s no need to bow your head. Are you searching for the culprit?" Suppressing my desire to grab him by the collar and shake him, I asked as if I were a magnanimous person. The branch chief lifted his head, staring at me in surprise at my composed demeanor. "We are searching for the missing sailors, but if this was premeditated, finding the culprits seems unlikely." "Why is that?" "Seo Cheon Pyo Guk is an outsider in Wuhuan." The chief's response was filled with unease. "I've heard you're frequently restricted by competing entities." Hubei Province is not the domain of the Tang family. This is Wuhuan, the capital of Hubei Province. Even if Seo Cheon Pyo Guk is a guild under the Tang family’s umbrella, they're forced to yield to other sects or guilds that dominate Wuhuan, where numerous martial arts factions vie for power. "This incident pertains to the guild, not a sect matter. They will likely watch on with glee and stand by." Today's incident doesn't involve a sect being attacked. It's a martial delivery mishap, giving other sects no reason to intervene. They might even view it as an opportunity to drive Seo Cheon Pyo Guk from Wuhuan and choose to remain indifferent. "It's troublesome with the branch opening just around the corner." Having assessed the situation, let's pivot to discussing compensation. I nudged the conversation with a wry smile. "We truly apologize. We are to blame for entrusting this task to us. The Wuhuan Branch will compensate you separately." It's not just any guild; since Seo Cheon Pyo Guk is guaranteeing it, their assurance must be solid. The concern now is that a delay means the opening may not align as planned. "The loss must be substantial." After steadying my thoughts, I inquired of the branch chief once more. "I'm considering resigning after resolving this matter." "Why should the Wuhuan Branch Chief take responsibility for something beyond your sending branch?" "This shipment was a project I planned from start to finish. We had rented a whole ship for the first time from the Wuhuan Branch, intending to impress our clients." The chief revealed that he aimed to publicize a significant deal that he'd consolidated into one shipment as a successful achievement. This hugely ambitious project, prepared in Wuhuan, has led to a significant loss, culminating in disaster. This might actually dissolve the team. "Indeed, the losses must be immense." "We will compensate the clients, but our influence in Wuhuan may diminish because of this." While money can be regained. Trust cannot. Failing such a large deal in one move, Seo Cheon Pyo Guk's foothold in Wuhuan will undoubtedly shrink. Anticipating the difficulties ahead, the branch chief wore a bittersweet smile. "I hope it resolves smoothly." "We intend to reward anyone who discovers the whereabouts of the shipment. I must visit other clients, so I'll take my leave now." After offering repeated apologies, the chief vanished once more into the rain. ——————— So things seemed to be going smoothly lately. To think that the books meant to fill the Da Seo Gak branch disappeared in an instant. An unforeseen event. Still, there's no point in my wallowing because of this unexpected mishap. Let's think this through. What’s the best course from this situation? "What should we do? The opening is just days away." Lim Ha Yeon, after waiting patiently as I mused over our situation, finally spoke up. "The 'Tang Family Chronicles' should have enough copies available in Yichang. If we send a letter again, we can open the branch, albeit a bit delayed." “What about the other books?” “Buying them through the Golden Bookstore is the best method. If I wring Jun Gil San a bit, he'll cough them up willingly.” If we stick to the original plan I mentioned at the Gold Pavilion, we should be able to open, even if slightly delayed. Out of all the options I pondered just now, this was the most straightforward. “You aren’t actually planning to do that, are you?” Telepathy, indeed. Lim Ha Yeon asked, her eyes crinkling with a knowing smile, as if she could see right through me. Having her by my side from Yichang to Wuhuan, it's no wonder she’s come to predict my moves. I chuckled at her expression before responding. "Alternatives are discussions for after exhausting the best approach." There is time before the scheduled opening. That means there's an opportunity to pursue the best path. "I figured you'd say that." Lim Ha Yeon nodded at my words. It feels like we're increasingly in sync. I grinned and rose from my seat. “Let’s track down the stolen shipment. If we find it, we can open the branch immediately and collect the promised reward from Seo Cheon Pyo Guk, which makes it worthwhile.” Moreover, if Seo Cheon Pyo Guk's expansion into Hubei is blocked, my plans to expand business along the Yangtze River would be compromised as well. Locating the missing goods is the best and only course. “Have you already thought of a way?” “I aim to achieve what even the great Seo Cheon Pyo Guk cannot.” I looked at Lim Ha Yeon, a slight smirk on my face. Because I have an ace up my sleeve. “You have something they don’t?” Lim Ha Yeon’s confident smile resembled that of a partner drawing the perfect card from a fellow gambler’s hand. Exactly. That’s the way. “Call upon the Sam Gu brothers, who oversee the dock unloading.” I possess the eyes and ears of Wuhuan.