Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Part 17: Investment
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The Deputy Treasury Chief forced a smile, swallowing the six curse words that had risen to the back of his throat along with his tea.
“Interest-free and unsecured is just too difficult a condition, wouldn’t you agree? If you were to make short-term repayment a requirement, then somehow…”
“Repayment in ten years.”
At the absurd demand, the Deputy Treasury Chief let out a long sigh.
‘This body of mine isn’t one to fall for such shallow tricks.’
He judged that Yeon So-hyeon’s demand was meant to provoke him, the one who had been grinding on his nerves until now.
Having drained the rest of his tea in one gulp, he spoke in a subdued tone.
“I know it’s rude, but it seems the Eldest Young Master needs to face reality a bit more squarely.”
Yeon So-hyeon replied with feigned innocence.
“Is that so?”
“I’m afraid it is. As a direct blood relative of the Luoyang Sword Clan, Your Lordship can’t help but have a unique sense for money matters.”
“Hmm. Go on.”
He lifted the teapot and poured tea into his own cup as he continued.
“Your Lordship’s name has been circulating quite a bit among the elders of the main family lately. Elder Yeom is expanding his influence beyond his original league at a rapid pace, achieving results that are hard to believe from someone who’s just emerged from seclusion.”
Yeon So-hyeon wore an intrigued expression.
“Around now, I’d expect something like ‘and yet’ to come up.”
The Deputy Treasury Chief gave a wry smile.
“Exactly. And yet, your stake in the main family is still far too small. Your Lordship can stir things up personally thanks to your innate brilliance, but… well…”
Irritating as the Deputy Treasury Chief was, his analysis was remarkably accurate.
“To be frank—though it might offend—you have virtually no forces that can be said to be firmly under your influence. In fact, not just in terms of the main family overall, but compared to…”
He glanced cautiously at Yeon So-hyeon before choosing his words.
“…compared to your other brothers’ stakes, you still have a long way to go.”
“True enough.”
As Yeon So-hyeon readily agreed, he continued his analysis with a lighter heart.
“Moreover, Your Lordship holds no share in the main family’s businesses at present. And the prospects for the venture you’re personally pursuing don’t look all that bright either. Not to mention you haven’t yet proven your commercial goods…”
“You think so?”
“I know Your Lordship possesses many outstanding talents, but commerce is… well, it’s something that still needs proof, wouldn’t you say…”
He twisted his words while sneaking a peek at the Eldest Young Master’s reaction.
“Well, suddenly shifting the business location was a good move, and securing larger external investments is positive too. I’ve heard rumors you’ve invited the Great Selection Merchant Association. But…”
“But?”
After a moment’s hesitation, the Deputy Treasury Chief sighed and spoke frankly.
“No matter how fast construction goes, full operations won’t begin until after the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering at the earliest. To shorten the timeline, you’d need the Sword Clan Construction Division’s help, but their rates are too high to be feasible. And crucially…”
He trailed off after spilling it all out.
“No, never mind. Anyway…”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled.
“Crucially, you mean my brothers’ sabotage will sink the business. Isn’t that right?”
“…Yes.”
The Deputy Treasury Chief smacked his lips.
“In any case, that’s why an interest-free, unsecured loan with ten-year repayment is impossible for Your Lordship…”
Yeon So-hyeon cut him off with a nonchalant expression.
“I’ve heard your analysis well.”
“Ah, yes. Then…”
At that moment, the Treasury Chief, who had been sitting with eyes closed, spoke up.
“You’re requesting five times the loan amount?”
The Deputy Treasury Chief started to interject.
“Treasury Chief? That’s…”
“Indeed.”
The Treasury Chief opened his eyes and met Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze at his response.
“What about ten times the amount?”
The Deputy Treasury Chief jumped up.
“Treasury Chief?! That’s outrageous…”
The two ignored the Deputy Treasury Chief’s outburst and continued their conversation.
“Ten times. Terms?”
“Not a loan, but an investment.”
“…Did you hear my analysis? This venture is obviously doomed to fail…”
“There will be profit sharing, but no interference in management or audits.”
“…Such unreasonable terms?!”
The Treasury Chief nodded.
“Understood.”
“Very well. In appreciation of the Sword Family Treasury’s sincerity, I’ll forget about the delay issue.”
“My thanks.”
The Deputy Treasury Chief threw himself across the table, shouting.
“Wait! Please wait a moment!”
He cried out toward the Treasury Chief.
“As Deputy Treasury Chief of this treasury, I must exercise my veto right on such a risky investment!”
The Treasury Chief replied in a firm tone.
“I’ll take full responsibility for this. I’ll approve this investment plan under my own authority.”
“…You’re saying you’ll bear all the responsibility yourself, Treasury Chief?”
“Indeed.”
The Deputy Treasury Chief subtly retreated from the table.
“…If the Treasury Chief’s resolve is that firm, then as your subordinate, I have no choice but to comply.”
He skillfully hid the smile creeping up his lips.
With the Treasury Chief marching to his own grave, there was no reason left to stop him.
If he were dismissed, the next Treasury Chief would be himself.
As the Deputy Treasury Chief fell silent, the Treasury Chief addressed Yeon So-hyeon.
“I’ll personally ensure you receive this investment capital as soon as possible.”
“My thanks.”
As the Treasury Chief rose from his seat, the already-standing Deputy Treasury Chief first bowed toward Yeon So-hyeon.
“Then, we’ll take our leave here…”
The Treasury Chief, stepping back from his chair, bowed deeply to Yeon So-hyeon.
It was so polite and proper that it left even the Deputy Treasury Chief speechless.
“Thank you for making use of the Sword Family Treasury, Eldest Young Master. Please continue to do so in the future.”
* * *
At that moment, in the conference room of One Angle Hall.
One Angle Hall had many annexes that Yeon So-hyeon had closed off as unnecessary in the past, and this conference room was one of them.
Now impeccably refurbished by the maids, the center of the conference room held a massive rectangular conference table.
Three people who had arrived early were chatting.
“What a cool eyepatch!”
As Yeom Baek-ha exclaimed in admiration, Se-ah fiddled with her eyepatch, looking embarrassed.
“Thank you…”
“By any chance, where do you get eyepatches like that? Do you use a different one every day? Are they custom-made? Do you have a specific workshop you go to?”
Se-ah answered flustered by Yeom Baek-ha’s barrage of sparkling questions.
“Ah, yes. I mostly commission the artisan directly…”
Se-ah asked cautiously.
“Is there someone around you who needs an eyepatch…?”
Yeom Baek-ha beamed.
“No! I want one for myself!”
“Yes…?”
“You look so cool, Pavilion Master Hyunwol! With your long limbs and that poised, cool demeanor—you’re exactly the image I aspire to in the future! I’m in awe!”
Though not much difference in age, there was a vast gap between Se-ah, who had succeeded bare-handed on Luoyang’s streets, and Yeom Baek-ha, who had been confined indoors by chronic illness.
“Ah, yes. Haha…”
Unsure what to say, Se-ah instinctively reached for her pipe.
“Kyaa!”
“…Pardon?”
Yeom Baek-ha’s eyes sparkled twice as brightly.
“That pipe! That pipe is the perfect finishing touch! Where do you get it? To become like you, Pavilion Master Hyunwol, do I need to smoke a pipe too?”
Having regained her health and now able to see the world, Yeom Baek-ha’s curiosity had lately been exploding.
“No, that, um…”
Se-ah, who had completely lost her usual calm and cool demeanor amid the relentless questions.
The beautiful woman sitting beside her covered her mouth with her sleeve and laughed gracefully.
“You must be pleased, Pavilion Master Hyunwol.”
At her words, Se-ah swallowed a sigh inwardly.
She wasn’t without subordinates who admired her, but this was the Yeom Elder’s only daughter and the Luoyang Sword Clan’s law enforcer.
‘Dealing with merchants stuffed with a hundred sly foxes each would be easier…’
“And this is…?”
As Yeom Baek-ha’s attention shifted to the woman who had come with her, Se-ah let out a sigh of relief.
“I am the lowly Seolimcheong~. It’s an honor to meet you, Law Enforcer.”
Her soft, lilting speech wove in coquettishness so naturally, perfectly matching her dazzling courtesan attire.
“You’re a courtesan…?”
Fascinated by the glittering accessories, Yeom Baek-ha asked, and Seolimcheong smiled alluringly, hand over her mouth.
“One who sells her talents to survive, so something like that, yes?”
“...?”
For Yeom Baek-ha’s sake, Se-ah supplemented the explanation.
“She’s someone the Eldest Young Master hired for this business plan. A proper introduction would be best when he’s present.”
“Ah, I see! Then she’s the one I heard about before…”
Just then, the conference room door burst open, and a man came rushing in panting.
“Huff huff, I’m not late, am I? Not tardy?”
Se-ah gave a bewildered look at the man gulping down the cold water brought by a maid.
“No, Advisor Yeon. What on earth is that outfit…?”
Yeon Ha-eung, dressed in European noble attire, scratched the back of his head, and the gold wig loosened from his run flopped off.
“No idea why, but it’s suddenly all the rage in Luoyang’s social circles lately…”
“Ooh! Social circles! I want to go too!”
“Haha! As the Law Enforcer, you’d be the star of any soiree.”
“Advisor Yeon! Advisor Yeon! Can I try outfits like that there too?! The weird wig as well?”
“Trust me! I’ll prepare as many as you like personally! There are cute ones for young ladies too!”
“Kyaa!”
Now the noise had doubled.
Se-ah sighed inwardly for the umpteenth time, then voiced a sudden question.
“…Advisor Yeon. Did you run through the clan grounds in that getup?”
“Yes? You can’t use carriages inside the main family grounds, so to avoid being late, of course I had to run. No helping it, right?”
Yeon Ha-eung looked at her as if wondering what the problem was.
“...”
Se-ah gave up thinking and leaned back.
Amid the endless chatter of Yeom Baek-ha and Yeon Ha-eung, she felt like she was suffocating.
“Hee hee hee. This meeting is far more entertaining than I expected~.”
Beside her, Seolimcheong laughed with evident delight.
At that moment, the voice of a waiting maid came from outside the conference room.
“The Fourth Young Master of the main family and Elder Yoo are entering.”
Everyone rose from their seats at the announcement.
The door opened, and the Fourth Young Master entered the conference room with Elder Yoo.
Hong Dok Ji-ju followed behind them.
“Whew, we’re a bit late…”
The Fourth Young Master, Yeon Bi, who had been about to greet them, stopped and surveyed the gathered people.
“...?”
Yeon Ha-eung, in his European noble attire, looked at the Fourth Young Master as if asking what was wrong.
Then a woman in the most extravagant courtesan garb smiled softly, hand over her mouth.
His gaze turned to Yeom Baek-ha.
“…Ah, this outfit. Lately, more people have been recognizing me, so I thought I’d try it.”
Yeom Baek-ha was wearing One Angle Hall’s maid uniform.
The Fourth Young Master tilted his head briefly, then clapped as understanding dawned.
“Aha!”
He grinned brightly and said to Elder Yoo.
“Elder Yoo! Shall we hurry and change into something else too?”
“...”
Elder Yoo let out a deep sigh.