{The Sub-Male Lead of the Original Story} 4

Translator : Elizabeth

"Ad-Admiral! Your Excellency!"

"Duke!"

The knights, finally coming to their senses, rushed over with screams. Though some glared at Kang Jin-ho with murderous intent, they didn't dare attack. There was no one brave enough to challenge him after witnessing such overwhelming martial power firsthand.

"Wizard! Use healing magic!!"

"Hurry!"

"Y-Yes, sir!"

The wizards who had been waiting ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inside the ducal mansion ran out, their faces pale. They surrounded the fallen Roan and began to chant healing spells.

"Healing!"

"Recovery!"

A white light enveloped Roan’s body. Kang Jin-ho left the commotion behind and approached Serafina, who was standing there in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a daze.

"Saw that?"

"Yes... Pardon?"

"I told you. There's no problem in front of an overwhelmingly strong person." Kang Jin-ho shrugged. "His teeth are fine, and he'll recover soon, so just wait a bit."

Serafina swallowed hard. She was realizing, bone-deep, exactly who she had contracted with. This man was outside the norm. He was a walking natural disaster to whom neither common sense nor authority applied. He hadn’t killed the ancient demonic beast Fenrir for nothing.

'And if I heard correctly earlier... he even captured Mammoth Prime alive.'

At that moment, Roan groaned and opened his eyes.

"Mmm..."

Thanks to the healing magic, his consciousness returned quickly, but it seemed he couldn't help the ringing in his head.

"Admiral! Are you alright?"

"Are you awake, Your Excellency?"

Amidst the fuss of the knights, Roan stumbled as he rose to his feet. Rubbing his aching jaw, he looked up at Kang Jin-ho. Neither anger nor shame showed on his face. What filled his amber eyes was a clean admission of defeat.

"Haha..." Roan let out a hollow laugh.

Usually, one would be resentful or jealous. But facing a wall that absolutely could not be overcome, he felt only a sense of futility.

"I lost. A complete defeat."

Though he wobbled, he stood up on his own strength. Dusting off his clothes, he bowed his head to Kang Jin-ho. It was a sharp contrast to Kalian of the North, who had stubbornly clung to his honor even in the face of death.

"The rumors weren't an exaggeration. No, they were actually an understatement." Roan clicked his tongue. "To think I couldn't even leave a scratch on your Aura Guard. It's the first time my swordsmanship has felt so pathetic."

"Well, it wasn't bad. Your speed was worth a look," Kang Jin-ho threw out a remark that could have been either a compliment or an insult.

Roan, however, didn't take offense and grinned. "That's comforting."

Roan pulled the crumpled piece of paper from his pocket—the [10% Discount Coupon] Kang Jin-ho had written earlier. He unfolded it as carefully as if it were ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a treasure.

"This is still valid, right?"

"Of course. I guarantee it on the name of the Fist Emperor."

"That's a relief. I've gained something far too valuable to just call it even for a few windows."

Roan seemed to have accepted his status as the "weaker" party. In a world where the strong naturally trample the weak, the North usually held the image of "survival of the fittest." However, the South was just as fierce. Contrary to its bustling, peaceful appearance, the southern seas were a world of constant slaughter and trade wars.

"10%. Considering the cost of hiring the Fist Emperor, this is an absurdly good benefit."

Roan immediately pivoted to practical interests. This was the Southern way—the spirit of the Escar Ducal House, which had built its wealth through commerce and maritime trade.

"Fist Emperor. Forgive my lack of shame, but I must ask." Roan’s eyes turned serious. "I heard you are currently performing a request. Is it possible... to accept my request alongside that one?"

The knights and Serafina’s gazes sharpened. The ruler of the South was asking for help from the man who had just knocked him out. If he was asking right now, there was clearly something major happening.

"A request, huh."

Kang Jin-ho looked back at Serafina. He was a man of principle. He followed contracts faithfully and handled business relations cleanly. It wasn't for nothing that he was known for being worth every penny. His current employer was Serafina Lapis. No matter how big a shot Roan was, his business code dictated he wouldn't sign a double contract without the current employer's permission.

"Hey, Lapis Guild Master."

"Y-Yes!"

"This gentleman wants to hire me. What do you think? Can I do a little side job while solving yours?"

Serafina was taken aback. To think he would seek permission from her to accept a request from the Southern Admiral, the ruler of the South? If she refused, wouldn't the responsibility fall on her?

'Wait.'

Serafina’s emerald eyes darted quickly. An ordinary person would have been terrified by the sudden weight of this decision. But she was a born merchant. Unlike her trembling self from moments ago, her mental calculator began to whir instantly.

'Duke Escar. Ruler of the South. He wants to make a request.'

If so, the Duke would be the one in debt.

'If... I can use this situation?'

Serafina swallowed her dry saliva. She clenched her trembling hands and gathered her courage to look at Roan.

"Um... Your Excellency."

"Speak, Lapis Guild Master."

"Is the request you wish to entrust... by any chance..." Serafina’s voice grew stronger. "Related to the matter I requested of Fist Emperor-nim—that is, the Charon Merchant Guild? Or... is it a matter that would help solve my request?"

A brief silence followed, and the knights, having regained their wits, were appalled.

"How dare she!"

"A mere Guild Master!"

"Has this young girl lost her mind?"

For a lowly merchant to talk back to a Duke as if setting conditions was a blasphemy that would justify losing her head. But Serafina did not back down. Her merchant instincts told her this was an opportunity.

'This is my chance.'

A chance to save her dying guild and perhaps even secure new interests.

"……."

Roan stared at Serafina for a moment. The image of a puppy shivering in fear was gone. Instead, she had the eyes of a thorough merchant. She showed the greed and guts to shove her head into a lion’s mouth for profit.

"Ha." Roan’s lips curled up. He let out a hollow laugh and turned to Kang Jin-ho. "Hey, Fist Emperor."

"What."

"Your client... she's quite the catch, isn't she?" Roan grinned at Serafina. "I thought she was a puppy with her tail between her legs, but she turns into a fox that caught a scent in an instant."

Roan crossed his arms and nodded. "Yes. It's very much related. In fact, our goals might be the same."

Roan’s eyes flashed. "The Charon Merchant Guild. I’ve been having trouble with the forces behind them." He waved the 10% discount coupon from his pocket. "I’m using this coupon right now. Let’s make it a double request, combined with the Lapis Guild’s job."

Serafina kept her expression composed even at those words. Despite hearing about the Charon Guild, she maintained a perfect poker face while looking for an opening. Kang Jin-ho smirked at the sight. He truly had an eye for people. This woman wasn't just a whining weakling. The qualities that would eventually make her the "Golden Queen" were beginning to bloom.

"Fine. Then what about the payment?"

"How much did you receive for capturing Mammoth Prime alive? I'll pay you double that."

"Double the pay for Mammoth Prime, huh..." Kang Jin-ho whistled, intrigued.

Ordinary people would have ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠been blinded by the word "double" and signed the contract immediately. But Kang Jin-ho was different. He wanted to confirm the exact amount. In business, clear numbers were everything.

"Hold on." Kang Jin-ho reached out to Serafina. "Give me the paper and pen."

"Yes, here they are."

Serafina quickly handed over the notebook. Kang Jin-ho scribbled something down. It was the amount of the blank check he had received from Kalian in the North—an astronomical number with a string of zeros that made one doubt their eyes.

"Here, look at this." Kang Jin-ho tore the page and showed it to Roan. "This is what I got from the North. If you double this... do you have any idea how much that is?"

Roan took the paper. His eyes scanned the numbers.

"……."

Silence fell for a moment. Roan’s brow furrowed slightly. It was a massive amount—a sum that forced the Winter family in the North to cough up a significant portion of their annual budget.

"You... actually received all of this?" Roan asked, sounding skeptical.

Kang Jin-ho shrugged. "Yeah. The Grand Duke gave it to me with a sigh of relief, saying it was less than he expected. Well, I cleared out a calamity like Mammoth Prime, so shouldn't I get at least that much?"

"Ha, hahaha!" Roan suddenly burst into a hearty laugh. "Interesting! With an amount this large, the Northern Grand Duke must have shed tears of blood!"

Instead of crumpling the paper, Roan folded it in half and put it in his pocket.

"Fine. I accept." His answer was refreshing, without a hint of hesitation. "An amount like this is no problem for the Escar Ducal House."

In the North, the Grand Duke had handed over that sum with great resolve. But here, they accepted twice that amount as if it were pocket change.

'As expected of the South.' Kang Jin-ho was inwardly impressed.

The North was a barren land. Farming was difficult, and defense spending was enormous due to constant battles with demonic beasts. The South was different. It had endless fertile plains, a mild climate year-round, and above all, the massive wealth earned through maritime trade. Foreign spices and rare gems all flowed into the Empire through the port of Escar.

"It must have been a strain for those Northern bastards. Tsk, tsk." Roan clicked his tongue, radiating the pride and composure of the Southern ruler. If a problem could be solved with money, it wasn't a problem for the South.

"As I said, I offer double the price," Roan affirmed. Then he pulled out the crumpled note Kang Jin-ho had given him again. "Instead, I'm using this."

[Fist Emperor Jin Request Fee 10% Discount Coupon]

The very coupon Kang Jin-ho had written as a joke.

"Double the amount, with a 10% discount applied. Right?"

Kang Jin-ho wasn't the only one with a businessman’s mindset. The Southern Admiral, despite being a Duke, showed a side more akin to a merchant.

"You're a merchant too, I see."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Roan grinned, waving the coupon. "In the South, saving even a single copper is a virtue. I can't miss an opportunity to lower the Fist Emperor's price."

"Fine. We have a deal." Kang Jin-ho nodded.