Chapter 70
Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: A Capable Man..., But No Love for Him.
"Don't worry, it's just an ordinary bandit—Episode 70 (70/178)
[EP.70] A Capable Man..., But No Love for Him.
"Yes, the noodles are ready."
"Bring out some food quick!"
"Ah, yes! Coming right up!"
"Hoo...."
The inn was packed with people.
It was a happy situation where the owner, So-un, was helping the waiter carry out food because there were too many customers, but So-un couldn't just smile about it.
And that was because....
"Hey, when's a table gonna open up?"
"Just a little longer, please...."
"Ah, how long have we been waiting already!"
...there were simply too many customers.
The inn that So-un ran wasn't that big to begin with. Even so, over the past few years, he'd had no major trouble running it.
The neighborhood where his inn was located didn't have many people, so aside from a few regulars who came often, no one else stopped by.
But that changed when the mountain paths in Hunan Province were opened up.
Merchants using the mountain roads started stopping midway for meals or lodging, and some even tried selling goods here. The once-quiet neighborhood became bustling, and the inn overflowed with people.
"No cutting in line, you bastard!"
"Bastard? You just call me bastard?"
"H-Hey, don't fight here!"
That meant more money, sure, but it also meant endless noise.
Feeling like this couldn't go on, So-un endured a warlike day and finally caught his breath around midnight.
"Boss."
"...Yeah?"
With the customers gone, the waiter slumped over a table and pleaded desperately.
"...Can't we hire more people? I can't even remember how many tables I cleared today alone...."
"...If there were people to hire, we would. I know you're exhausted, that's why I'm helping out."
"...No, it's not that—there are just too many customers to handle. Shouldn't we expand this little shack of an inn?"
Expanding the inn.
As a businessman, he had some ambitions. This influx of customers might be a heaven-sent opportunity.
If he expanded and hired more staff, he could make profits incomparable to before.
But....
"...Where's the money gonna fall from the sky?"
...Even with more customers now, they were just barely breaking even.
There was no way he had the big money needed for expansion.
"Can't we borrow from some money lender or something?"
"When did this backwater ever have money lenders...."
"Ah...."
Even if there were, those stingy lenders wouldn't loan easily.
Unable to seize the opportunity despite it being right there, So-un could only sigh.
That was when it happened.
Creak—.
Even at this late hour around midnight, a customer pushed open the door. So-un reflexively stood up to greet him.
"...Welcome. ...Or at least that's what I'd like to say, but customer, the kitchen's closed for meals. Rooms are all full too. Sorry, but...."
"Ah, I'm not here for a meal or a room."
"Then...?"
"Could I speak with the owner of this inn?"
"I'm the owner. What can I do for you?"
"Ah, you're the owner?"
Upon hearing "owner," the customer broke into a friendly smile and extended his hand.
"I'm from the Hao Clan."
**
So-un's hand trembled slightly as he looked at the contract in front of him.
"So, what you're saying is... you're lending us money to expand the inn...?"
"That's right."
"We haven't even decided how much to expand... or how much it'll cost, and yet..."
In response to So-un's words, Mun-seok pulled something from his bosom and handed it over.
"This is...."
"It's a quote from the Construction Division under the Hao Clan. We've designed an inn about three times the size of your current one."
"Three... three times!"
"Not just three times the size—the facilities will be much better too. We at the Hao Clan estimate you could earn at least four times your current revenue."
"...!!"
The Hao Clan never lied about money matters.
That meant expected profits of at least four times current, maybe more.
'If that's possible....'
So-un spun happy visions in his head before snapping back to reality.
'No, wait! Don't fall for it—stay sharp!'
The Hao Clan he knew wasn't a charity. This could all be a scam targeting his inn.
So-un slowly read through the contract. Watching him, Mun-seok smiled and continued.
"Sign this, and we'll pay the construction costs right away. The Construction Division will handle the work. Plus, we'll provide waitstaff from the Hao Clan for your bigger inn."
With Mun-seok's kind face and these perfect terms, So-un found it even harder to believe. Then, reading the second line of the contract, he spotted something off.
"...The maximum repayment period is only two years. That's awfully tight— what happens if we can't pay?"
"It's in the clause right below. The longer repayment takes, the more shares of your inn the Green Forest takes."
"Gr-Green Forest? Suddenly...?"
So-un panicked at the sudden mention of Green Forest, but Mun-seok kindly explained.
"You can think of the Hao Clan and Green Forest as partners. The Green Forest came up with this business plan."
"So if Green Forest takes shares... that means if we can't repay, they'll seize the inn?"
The words "Green Forest" made So-un shrink back warily. Even if they'd reformed, people still saw them as black path thugs who stole from commoners.
Seeing So-un's fear grow, Mun-seok smiled even more amiably.
"...The Green Forest doesn't do things rough like that. Look at the next clause. Even if you take the full two years and can't pay, they can take at most half the shares."
"Half the shares means...."
"If you can't pay, they'll gradually take shares until after two years, they're co-owners of the inn."
"...Co-owners?"
Sure, family businesses sometimes shared names, but co-owning with outsiders was utterly foreign.
'Is this okay?'
Being new to this, So-un was thoroughly confused. Mun-seok whispered soothingly.
"It's just co-owner in name—the Green Forest won't meddle much in operations."
"Then...."
"They'll just take half the profits."
"......"
Even if Green Forest took half the profits, he'd still earn more than running this shack now.
From that angle, co-ownership didn't seem so bad.
Just....
'Sharing the name with Green Forest, though....'
...The problem was their reputation.
Green Forest were bandits at heart—partnering with bandits made him uneasy.
"......"
Mun-seok quickly picked up on it. To seal the deal, he spoke slowly.
"By the way, haven't the tribute payments to black path factions gone down lately?"
"Ah..., yes! Right. The protection racket guys said half is enough now—I was wondering what was up. But how did you know...?"
"The Green Forest has unified the black path factions under them. Sign this contract, and you'll get safe protection from the Green Forest. If you don't sign... well, I'll leave it there."
"......"
Even without the rest, So-un could guess.
This was blackmail, plain and not-so-simple.
Don't sign, and Green Forest underlings might come knocking.
"......"
So-un squeezed his eyes shut.
He had no choice but to sign. For profit, business sense... and to avoid threats.
"I'll... sign the contract."
"Good choice. The Construction Division's waiting—we can start tomorrow. Heh, we'll make the fanciest inn in Hunan Province at top speed."
Hearing that, So-un signed with trembling hands. It was clearly a great deal, yet it felt like eating bitter herbs through tears.
Mun-seok watched with sunken eyes.
'Another one down.'
Even with four times the revenue, So-un could never gather the construction costs in two years.
He'd lose shares bit by bit, and exactly half after two years.
Sure, even as co-owner, So-un would live better than now.
Still, Mun-seok couldn't shake the feeling he was doing something bad.
**
Thud.
"Here, I grabbed a few contracts as a test."
"......"
I couldn't help but be a little shocked at the five or so contracts in front of me.
After all, Mun-seok hyung had gotten them all in just one night.
"...Wait, it's only been one night, and you already got contracts signed?"
When I asked in surprise, Mun-seok hyung answered casually.
"I dabbled in moneylending back in the day...."
"......"
'Wait, didn't this guy say last time he worked at a brothel when he was young...?'
Moneylending too?
Mun-seok hyung's talents were starting to scare me.
"Seriously, Uncle, why aren't you the Hao Clan Leader? You seem way more capable than the current one. That guy's only good for poison... oh wait, can't even use that anymore. Totally useless...."
"Hey—!!"
At my words, Mun-seok hyung glared at me, uncharacteristically furious.
"You're only able to boss the Hao Clan around like this thanks to the Leader! How dare you speak such blasphemy!"
"Joking, joking."
He even had exceptional loyalty. Way better than my other subordinates who just eat and shit.
"Anyway, the Hao Clan has plenty of moneylending experts besides me. Mobilize them all, and we can get as many contracts as you want in a month."
"You're so confident, it puts me at ease. Well then... I gotta go."
"Already?"
"Got plans with the shitheads."
"Shitheads?"
"It's a thing."
I stood up and brushed the dust off Mun-seok hyung's shoulder.
Meaning: take care.
"I won't be coming down from the mountain for a while. Handle things well in the meantime. Any issues, come up the mountain path."
"...Not coming down for a while, huh... Got it."
"Don't go dying of old age while I'm gone."
His face twisted at that.
"...I'm only eight years past forty...."
"Forty-eight's grandkid age. Aigoo, poor Mun-seok hyung. So busy with work you never married...."
"......"
Mun-seok hyung used to wear a fake smile everywhere, but now his gaze toward me sharpened with real venom.
Whatever— it meant he was starting to take me seriously.
Grinning at the positive sign, I headed out.
"See ya, Uncle."
"Hoo... Take care."
After our final goodbye, I headed to the bandit stronghold.