The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel-Chapter 267: Proposal - 2

How many joints does a human body have?

I didn’t know the exact number, but it seemed like adding a couple more joints to the scoundrel in front of me might actually benefit the world.

I locked eyes with Im Ha-yeon, who wore a baffled expression, and gave her a nod.

Jeon Gil-san. Today, I’ll turn you into a custom-made mutant with a few extra joints.

“Wait! I’m not here to steal your business!”

Jeon Gil-san, perhaps sensing the shift in atmosphere, shouted in a panicked voice.

“I know all about the thuggery you pulled in Yichang! We should start by fixing that lying mouth of yours.”

Im Ha-yeon was already lifting her heels like she was about to lunge. Jeon Gil-san hastily crossed his arms into a clumsy defensive stance and cried out again.

“I may have threatened competitors in Yichang, but I never forcibly took over their businesses! Even when I tried to recruit Writer Ho-pil, I promised a generous reward, didn’t I?!”

Im Ha-yeon looked at me, seeking confirmation.

“He did say that.”

I nodded, albeit reluctantly.

“Haah. If I don’t clear up this misunderstanding, this conversation is going nowhere.”

Jeon Gil-san let out a deep sigh like he was trying to calm his nerves, then looked straight at me.

“What misunderstanding are you talking about?”

“I never asked my family to take revenge on Daseogak.”

Jeon Gil-san suddenly dropped that unexpected statement with a serious look.

“You never asked them to?”

Is this bastard really lying to my face?

“I mean, even I’m not stupid enough to drag the Sichuan Tang Clan into the mess I caused in Yichang. I lost in business—so I intended to set aside personal feelings.”

“But I lost Daseogak.”

I glared at Jeon Gil-san, silently demanding an explanation.

“Haah. I only explained the situation to my mother. I had to tell her why I failed in Yichang, didn’t I? But I never imagined she’d go running off to tell my grandfather.”

“Lies! Then what was all that tiger talk just now?!”

“Kuh! That, that was! It just felt good to say it in the moment! And come on—if a tiger cub gets bitten, would the mother tiger just sit still?!”

You said you were setting aside personal feelings.

Embarrassed that he’d just admitted to bluffing, Jeon Gil-san’s face flushed red.

“And now you expect me to believe you after all this?”

“I swear it’s true! I have no desire to spend the rest of my life paranoid about choking and collapsing while eating! This was entirely orchestrated by my mother and grandfather! I had nothing to do with it!”

Jeon Gil-san desperately flailed as if trying to prove his innocence with his entire body.

Looks like the trauma from getting wrecked by the Sichuan Tang Clan left a scar on this bastard. So, he's claiming ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) this all happened because of his mother's apron strings. That’s his angle.

— I knew that punk would get thrashed eventually!

I remembered the hearty laugh of the Guild Leader of the Ten-Thousand Gold Merchant Guild when he heard his unruly grandson got wrecked.

Come to think of it, the Guild Leader didn’t bring me to Wuchang just to avenge his grandson.

Sure, the whole thing started with this bastard, but he was just the trigger. The real reason was something to do with the Baek Family.

“I was just about to write a letter to Sichuan...”

Because I’m pissed that you were the one who triggered all this. I casually placed a sealed letter with <Tang Clan of Sichuan> written on the envelope onto the table.

“I told you, I had nothing to do with it! I really didn’t!”

Jeon Gil-san stood up, his face drained of color, and shook with indignation.

“Even if that’s true, it changes nothing.”

“Haah... fine! Even if I’m not at fault, I’ll take moral responsibility.”

“What do you mean, moral responsibility?”

“This business. I’ll buy it at a generous price.”

“You’ll buy my business... at a generous price?”

“This food delivery system using homing pigeons—I believe it will bring a revolutionary transformation to the food industry in Wuchang. I was wondering who came up with such a brilliant idea, and to think it was you! Out of moral obligation, I’ll pay the full amount written on this promissory note. Isn’t that more than fair?”

Jeon Gil-san handed me a familiar-looking promissory note.

“Hm? This is...”

It was identical to the one I received from the Guild Leader of the Ten-Thousand Gold Merchant Guild. Even the amount matched.

“Well? Does this make you consider selling?”

“It’s a large sum, but not enough compared to what I invested into this business.”

I shook my head at the overly confident Jeon Gil-san.

“This business cost that much to set up?”

Jeon Gil-san widened his eyes, like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you in one go.

“Goo-goo, come here.”

“Goo-goo!”

At my call, Goo-goo flew from the cage to the table in one clean motion.

“So this is the spirit-trained homing pigeon that’s become the talk of the town.”

Let me show you why it’s making waves.

You ready, Goo-goo? After exchanging a glance, I performed the hand signs I learned from Im Ha-yeon.

“Goo-goo, roll left! Roll right! Backflip!”

Goo-goo performed the tricks one after another in the tight space on the table—worthy of a paid performance.

“Ooooh. It really understands commands this well. Ugh! That little bastard just pooped!”

“Goo-goo-gut!”

Goo-goo, perhaps sensing the situation, did another backflip and flung poop at Jeon Gil-san.

No matter how you look at it, Goo-goo really is a spirit beast.

“As you can see, training a spirit-trained homing pigeon like this costs a fortune. If you factor in the initial investment, the amount written on that promissory note doesn’t even come close to covering the principal.”

“Gghhh... then how about this—I’ll pay double the amount written there, and include a pigeon trainer as part of the deal.”

“Double?!”

That was a jaw-dropping amount.

“But there’s a condition. We’ll write up two contracts.”

“What are you talking about now?”

“It’s a bit complicated. I’ll pay the money first, and once you’ve received it, you stamp the contract as if you sold the business at the original price.”

“You want me to sign a side contract? Why?”

If he’s really going to take over the business, there’s no reason to go that far.

“There’s family business involved. That’s all you need to know.”

“Double, huh...”

It was enough to take over and renovate two inns. Definitely a substantial sum.

“With that much, even if you can’t recreate Daseogak in Yichang, you could start a decent bookstore. You’ve still got Storm of the Tang Clan, and your debts would be gone. You could bounce back. What do you think? Isn’t that enough for moral compensation?”

It was a tempting offer. But something felt off.

This guy said he didn’t care about business and just wanted to live off his parents’ money. So why is he trying to buy a business?

If your opponent dangles bait in your face, you shouldn’t just focus on the bait—you should figure out why they’re dangling it.

Why this situation? Why did he come to make such an offer?

To take moral responsibility? Out of fear of the Tang Clan? No. Those are secondary. He didn’t even know I was here until now.

I combed my mind for clues.

Jeon Gil-san—grandson of the Ten-Thousand Gold Merchant Guild Leader. The promissory note—same as mine. And now a side contract. If he needs to prove something to someone, that might make sense. He mentioned family business, too?

I had a hunch.

“Do I need to decide now?”

I asked, intentionally wearing a conflicted expression.

“You’ll need time to think, of course. The first debt review deadline isn’t far off... but I think three days is doable.”

Debt review deadline? My hunch was solidifying.

“If I come to a decision, I’ll send someone to Manggeum Bookstore.”

“I’ll be waiting for your good news.”

Jeon Gil-san nodded and stepped back.

“Shall I sprinkle salt?”

“Goo-goo! Goo-goo!”

Goo-goo stuck his butt out toward the direction Jeon Gil-san had disappeared, as if still angry.

“That’s enough, Goo-goo. No more poop!”

“Goo-goo...”

Don’t act disappointed.

“Young lady Ha-yeon, could you drop by the Hao Clan for a moment?”

“The Hao Clan? Why?”

“There’s something bugging me. I need information.”

If my hunch is right, then this deal must not go through.

“Got it. I’ll be back soon.”

---------------------

Im Ha-yeon returned with information from the Hao Clan faster than I expected.

“So the Guild Leader of the Ten-Thousand Gold Merchant Guild gave his grandsons the same test as me...”

As I thought. I muttered quietly to myself in the office.

The information Im Ha-yeon had brought revealed that the grandsons of the Guild Leader had recently started new businesses.

Why are his grandsons taking the same test as me?

No—that’s the wrong way to look at it. I need to ask why I’m taking the same test as them.

Suddenly, I remembered something the Guild Leader said when we first met.

“...No way. That can’t be it.”

He knows about my relationship with Hwa-rin. There’s no way it’s that. I let out a short laugh at the absurd thought and shifted my thinking.

Most likely, what his grandsons are undergoing now is the successor test for the Ten-Thousand Gold Merchant Guild.

The one to inherit the will of the Guild Leader, and the one to inherit the will of the Baek Family Head.

They’re testing for similar capabilities anyway, so giving out different exams must have felt like a hassle.

“If I sell the business for double the original investment, I’d instantly pass the test to grow the money.”

But the real question is whether that amount would satisfy the Guild Leader.

— “Let’s see if you’re truly the one to carry on the will of the Baek family.”

Selling off a newly built business to someone else—then claiming I’ve inherited Baek Family’s will with the profits—would that be enough to satisfy him?

If I were the Guild Leader, I’d poke holes in that story all day. And there’s another problem.

“Goo-goo!”

“Yeah. I have to take care of your master issue too.”

I gently stroked Goo-goo, who had flown to perch on my shoulder, and fell back into thought.

If I sell the business now, I won’t be able to win recognition from the Simun Division. Which means I won’t be able to save Im Ha-yeon.

Selling the business to Jeon Gil-san doesn’t even guarantee the solution of a single problem. It’s a losing move.

On the other hand, if I steadily maintain the business, I might earn twice the principal, and if I squeeze hard enough, maybe even buy Ha-yeon’s miracle.

“It’d be like cutting open the goose that lays golden eggs.”

Why would I sell a business that only I can run?

“Goo-goo-goo?”

Goo-goo stared at me like I’d just insulted him personally.

“No, I wasn’t saying I’d cut you open...”

I chuckled at Goo-goo, who looked at me with utter distrust and retreated into his nest, then turned my eyes to the ceiling.

Selling the business to Jeon Gil-san is a losing move. But now that I’m hesitating, one worry remains.

The delivery business is running well, but can I recover the principal by the deadline?

Will I reach an amount that would satisfy the Guild Leader?

The business is growing, but it’s true that I’m running out of time. It’d be great if there were a way to make money faster.

The problem is—I’ve already used all the funds from the promissory note, so I can’t afford to take new risks.

Wait...

A faster way to make money?

“There is a way to grow my money without spending a single coin.”

Not a losing move—the winning move just came to mind.

--------

My next meeting with Jeon Gil-san happened quickly.

“Have you decided?”

“Double the money is certainly a hefty sum. But if the Ten-Thousand Gold Merchant Guild is involved, it changes everything.”

I grinned like a detective who’d uncovered the whole truth.

“Clicking your tongue already? Did you dig something up? Are you saying you need more money?”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about the side contract. Isn’t that cheating? You think the Guild Leader will just smile and let it slide once he finds out?”

“U-...unless he finds out...” 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Jeon Gil-san mumbled, visibly flustered.

“This is the test he gave to his grandson. Let’s be honest—the Guild probably knows every coin that moves in Wuchang. Are you really sure you can keep it secret?”

“...Wouldn’t it be okay if you didn’t say anything?”

“Haaa...”

You idiot. You absolute dumbass. I couldn’t help but sigh at his pitiful words.

The Guild Leader really wrote this fantasy novel with his grandsons as the protagonists, didn’t he?

This contract never should’ve happened in the first place.

Signing that side contract would mean outright deceiving the Guild Leader.

If I get caught up in some successor fight, I might lose the promise to have my debt cleared out of goodwill. But that’s not why I called Jeon Gil-san here.

I have to pass the Guild Leader’s test. And to do that, I need to use this bastard.

“Back at that drinking party, you said you weren’t confident in business.”

I brought up what he’d said in Yichang.

“I didn’t say I had no confidence...”

Jeon Gil-san avoided my eyes, clearly unable to lie about having confidence.

“So you’re basically saying you’re not confident you can beat the other competitors.”

Don’t try to dodge it now. I drove the cold blade straight into his weak point.

“Kugh...”

Now that I’d stabbed the wound, it was time to apply the ointment.

“What if I told you there’s a business that basically runs itself once you put in the money?”

I dangled a seductive offer before the reckless brat.

“You’re telling me to invest in you? I have to run a business.”

“What I’m offering isn’t an investment—it is a business.”

“There’s no way such a business exists.”

But there is.

He needs to run a business. I need to make money.

So I just need to make him think he’s running a business. And push all the risk onto him.

A business where Jeon Gil-san does all the work, and I pocket the money.

And I had just the plan to suck every coin out of this punk—even if he went completely bankrupt.

“Have you ever heard of... franchising?”

Jeon Gil-san. Become my slave.