Connections Are a Merchant's Wealth - 4
"Grandma, are you crazy? If you had that kind of money, you should've thought about going to the hospital first!"
The girl shouted. I got lucky. I'd managed to glean some useful information.
"How many more years do you think I'll even live...?"
"Even a few more years—you have to live them!"
"No, you stubborn kid. Siwoo's mom told me everything! She said you've been skipping classes lately and disappearing every day? And if you fail the exam... you might get expelled?"
"You heard that? Damn... that lady and her big mouth."
"You think I don't feel bad about spending this money? I saved it up to send my little girl off to get married, but still... you need to graduate..."
The girl bit her lip, looking wronged.
"To begin with, why do you think I skipped classes? It was all to work part-time and save up for your treatment! And you don't even know that!"
"Don't do useless things— if you're a student, study!"
"Fine, whatever! I can pass the expulsion exam on my own. So don't worry about it, Grandma!"
I'd gathered enough intel. Letting them keep fighting wasn't good.
"Let's all calm down first..."
"Calm down? Now? Get out—quick!"
I swallowed my frustration and forced a smile.
"Um... ma'am. Let me talk to your granddaughter for a bit. Why don't you go inside and rest?"
"Aigoo, I'm so sorry. This stubborn girl takes after her mom—such a strong will..."
"It's fine. Just wait a moment."
The girl yelled, looking indignant.
"No, I have nothing to say to this guy!"
"Stop yelling your head off and listen to the teacher! Please, sir... take good care of her."
"Yes, of course."
I went into the small room with the girl.
"She has sharp ears?"
"Close the door, and she won't hear. Hurry up and finish your nonsense so you can leave. Scram! Ugh... arghhh...!"
She couldn't hold back her anger and clawed at her hair.
"Ah... sorry. Thinking about it, you're not at fault, mister. You just came to sell stuff and got an earful..."
"That's not important. Let me sum up the situation first."
"Situation?"
"Your grandma's sick and needs treatment money. You're working part-time to save up for it. Right?"
"Y-yeah. That's right. Thanks for kindly sorting out this shitty situation."
She glared at me sullenly.
"Old folks are stubborn."
"So?"
"If I just say I won't sell and leave, she'll grab my pant leg and force the money on me to buy anyway."
"Ah, so that's it. You see me in this mess and still insist on selling that gun? Wow, you're nuts. You'll make a killing in business~."
"Well, I'd love to give it away for free, but if word spreads, it'll be a headache... and I have partners, so that's not really up to me alone."
"Don't beat around the bush. You're still gonna sell that gun. I don't need it. I can pass the damn expulsion exam with my own skills anyway!"
"Sure you can."
Given her situation, paying tuition seemed unlikely. She was a scholarship student at the Academy. And getting a scholarship to attend meant she had skills far above the average student. A mere expulsion exam? She'd breeze through it.
"Your grandma having that money... it's not such a good thing. Even without me, some other peddler or scammer will take it all."
"So you're gonna take it? Wow, what a bold con artist."
"Yep, that's right. And that ten million won, plus some of my own cash..."
I quickly calculated how much I could invest in her. The Gremlin pistol business was booming. I had plenty of cash on hand. A chunk of it for future gains? No big loss.
"Roughly forty million from my pocket. Fifty million total."
"Huh?"
Her eyes filled with confusion.
"That should cover the treatment, right?"
"O-of course it would. More than enough. But why would you give me that kind of money?"
"Not giving—lending. Pay it back in five years."
"What insane interest are you planning to gouge...!"
She backed away warily, hunching defensively.
"I could say no interest at all, but if that makes you uneasy, fine. Three percent a year. Fifteen percent over five years. Interest comes to one point five million."
"One... one point five...?"
"Why the shock? It's not that much."
"How is that not much?! Sure, I'm super grateful, but—"
She got mad, looking wronged. I couldn't understand why.
"It's pocket change. In five years, you won't be a hunter?"
"Ah."
"You'll graduate the Academy, right? Think a hunter would sweat over that amount?"
Hunters make bank. Academy grads even more so. Even I, a lowly gatherer, was raking in more than I could've dreamed before. Hunters? Way more.
"Frankly, I don't get why you're broke now. Gatherers make good money."
"They don't hire minors..."
"Ah."
Anyway, my plan stayed the same.
"You need money now. You'll be a hunter someday, but your grandma's treatment can't wait. Right?"
"Y... yeah."
"We'll take that ten million from her hands and get her to the hospital."
I flashed a sly grin.
"Grandma gets the satisfaction of 'using her hard-earned ten million for her granddaughter.' You get her to the hospital. Everyone wins."
You can't bulldoze an elder's stubbornness head-on. It's unrealistic. Better to pretend to honor their will, then us young folks sort it out.
"So... what do you get out of it, mister?"
"Pardon?"
"You're... taking a loss. No reason to go that far for me..."
That was the look of someone who couldn't trust kindness. Who suspects everyone instead of accepting fortune. With types like her, no tricks. Be straight and honest about my gains.
"First off, I sell that item, right?"
"Ah."
"Something you'd never buy. Ten million gets me seven pistols and three hundred rounds."
She didn't know, but the cost was zilch. Not near-zero—literally nonexistent. This deal nets me seven million. Payment later, sure.
"Second, it's safe. You're an Academy student; I know who you are. And you'll definitely pay back later."
Barring some tragedy losing limbs, she'd be a hunter at least, gatherer minimum. Both need clear identities. And pay well. Zero chance I wouldn't recover in five years.
"Third, I buy your goodwill."
"My goodwill? You're kinda crazy, mister..."
"Securing a hunter's favor? Worth the spend."
"Oh, that kind of..."
I didn't know what she imagined, but I meant it literally.
Hunters don't fall for cash easily. Not because they're above money—regular bribes won't tempt them. They make filthy rich. Gift sets like hanwoo or ginseng? Just 'thoughtful token' at best.
To her in five years, fifty million's chump change. Can't buy loyalty with it. But to her now? Lifesaver. For a precious life.
Short-term: Turn a scholarship kid to my side. Long-term: A solid hunter ally...
For just forty million? Profit. No loss.
"Give me your account. I'll take the cash and deposit fifty million."
"F-for real?"
"Yes. Keep the gun as a souvenir. If you're confident, better to skip the shooting exam and ace what you know."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"Th-thank you, mister. You're such a good guy... and I suspected you, just some shady seller... sob..."
"It's okay. Don't push yourself too hard. Keep at the Academy."
"Really... thank you..."
Her crying was touching, but I was getting tired. Wanted to wrap up and go home.
"Account number—quick."
"Y-yes..."
After finishing, I came out with the sniffling girl.
"Teacher, done? What did you do to make her cry like—"
"No, Grandma. He's just... such a kind person. It touched me."
"Really? Then that toy gun—"
"Yes. Sold. Seven pistols, three hundred rounds."
"Aigoo, thank you. Thank you..."
I couldn't fathom why a seller like me got 'thank yous,' but I smiled and nodded.
"Yes, ma'am. Take care. I'll be off."
"Yes..."
As I opened the door, she grabbed me.
"Mister."
"Yes?"
"My name's Lee Ji-an."
"...And?"
"Just remember it! You talked all that about goodwill, but were gonna leave without even memorizing my name?"
I already knew—from the transfer. But that wasn't what she wanted, so I smiled and nodded.
"Got it. Here's to the long haul ahead, Lee Ji-an."
"Yes!"
She beamed through tears. Felt rewarding. Like I hadn't wasted the cash. /////
"Ugh..."
Yuha bit her lip hard, glaring at her phone.
"I want a gun too..."
She had the five pistols he'd given her. But it wasn't enough. Some students had ten. Others fifteen. Yuha couldn't stomach others having more.
Of course, she'd texted Isu. But his reply was cold and firm: Call your parents like the other kids.
"Should I... call Mom?"
Anxiety about bothering her busy mom mixed with temptation for more guns.
After agonizing, she picked up and dialed.
"Mom! Yeah, it's me, Yuha. Nothing big, but there's this thing I really want... think you could help?"
Unaware what that call would unleash.