111

Chapter 111 - The Bookstore - Part 3

After several days of investigation and evaluating various factors with the steward, we reached a conclusion. I declared that conclusion to the creditors.

"What kind of nonsense is this!"

"Are you playing around with us now?"

"Miss Hwa Rin is merely the plenipotentiary. The actual authority and debt are held by her mother, who is currently absent."

I firmly stated the facts to the angered creditors.

"That's the thing! Her damn mother ran off! So her daughter has to pay the debt!"

I knew they would say that. That's probably what everyone here was thinking. But there's a difference between your claims and reality.

"For Miss Hwa Rin to inherit the debt, her maternal grandfather would have had to pass on the legacy through representation. But how can representation take place when the rightful heir is still very much alive? Such a law does not exist in the legal code of this nation."

Representation. For a granddaughter to inherit, the direct ascendent, or parent, must not be alive. Therefore, Miss Dang Hwa Rin cannot inherit the debt from the beginning.

"Are you playing word games with us? Do we look easy to fool?"

"Do you think you'll have the advantage if this goes to court?"

"Legal code? How much debt did I take on behalf of those who ran off in the night! What a joke!"

Of course, reality is different. If this world operated by the law, would there be such things as spheres of unchecked power or martial law? The law is distant; fists are near. The irate creditors looked ready to rise up against us at any moment.

I looked at them and smiled inwardly.

"If you wish for a lawsuit concerning the debt, please accompany me to the authorities. If you prefer to resort to violence, I will bring an arbitrator from the Sacheon Dang family."

You may feel wronged, but both the law and might are on our side.

"Drop it. Drop it. You'll lose any lawsuit. The local magistrate has received help from the Baek household in times of need."

"Sa-Sacheon Dang family… that's a bit much, right?"

The creditors began to stir and murmur among themselves at my words.

As I had heard from the steward, the local magistrate had been sponsored by Miss Dang Hwa Rin's maternal grandfather. While debt is a personal issue, it's assured that the case will be treated with utmost fairness if it goes to court.

Furthermore, as evident from her appearance, Miss Dang Hwa Rin has overwhelming power in her lineage. There may be issues since she is technically a bastard, but they are unlikely to know that, and the fact that she is a disciple of Dang Geo Ho remains unchanged.

This is why connections of blood, relations, and school, even the 'golden parachute', are so important.

"Wait! The granddaughter inherited the bookstore! Doesn't that mean she accepted representation, thus inheriting the debts?"

One of the creditors pointed out a loophole in my argument, which I had hoped they wouldn't notice. But there's no helping it.

"How can one inherit assets without assuming the associated debt obligations? Miss Dang Hwa Rin is fully prepared to renounce the inheritance."

I spoke as if it were an obvious question to ask.

To escape the superior-subordinate relationship, we must hide our desires. They must believe that they are the only ones with something to gain.

"Tsk! So you're saying you won't repay? Then why did you invite us here?"

"To settle the debt."

"What?"

"Originally, Miss Dang Hwa Rin has neither responsibility nor obligation. She has both the resources and background to withstand your anger. However, she is here solely out of a sense of duty to accurately repay everyone's debt."

You legally, background-wise, and even through force, cannot simply mess with Dang Hwa Rin. Yet, here she is. Impressive, right?

I transformed Dang Hwa Rin from a debtor to a noble young lady endowed with a high sense of honor as I continued to speak.

"Ladies and gentlemen. Anger is temporary, but financial loss is permanent. It's saddening that her grandmother has recently passed away and her mother has disappeared, but you have before you Miss Dang Hwa Rin, who stands here to fulfill a moral obligation. Now let us all calm our rage and give her a round of applause, shall we?"

Hurry and applaud so that we can acknowledge each other as equals in solving this problem.

— Clap, clap, clap!

In stark contrast to earlier, all the creditors clapped in an instant.

------

'The superior-subordinate relationship has been abolished. Now it's time to turn the tables.'

With the situation ripe for our assertions to be accepted, I was ready to unveil a simple but unconventional strategy for settling the debt.

"All assets of the Baek household shall be disposed of through an auction."

With the situation ripe for our assertions to be accepted, I brought forth a simple but unconventional strategy in this world for settling the debt.

"Auction? Like it's some kind of ancient painting, why an auction?"

"It's urgent that we sell quickly to those who need it, at a fair price. Why propose an auction?"

Their objections were to be expected. Here, auctions were a method used for trading items like ancient paintings and such.

In the modern era, it's logical for a debtor who fails to pay their debts to auction off their assets to cover them, but it's still problematic to push this rationale.

'They would want to take over Baek household's assets for a song.'

People would choose their benefit from irrationality and injustice, despite knowing better.

An auction offered no advantage to those who wanted Baek household's assets for a bargain. But I had anticipated this situation too.

I pulled out a book and lifted it high for everyone to see, then began to read aloud.

"The fabric store at the crossroads. The creditor there, Mr. Lee, only asked for about 70 percent of the market value when resolving the debt. If he had received the remaining 30 percent, Mr. Ok's debt could have been fully paid."

"What? Mr. Lee? Is that true?"

The man called Mr. Ok pointed at Mr. Lee in shock, questioning him.

"No, no, it was just about selling off profitable items quickly."

"You bastard! You said you didn't take a single penny!"

"A 500-year-old celadon piece from the Baek household. Mr. Chu took it, but only for about half of its market value, it seems. And for the store down by the docks…"

One by one, I listed the assets that were unfairly taken, according to the list compiled by the steward.

"Spit it back out!"

"You bastard! Why should I spit it out!"

The scene swiftly turned into a brawl.

"Stop it! What a disgraceful scene!"

At the shout of a stern-faced old man, the guards by his side quickly intervened and restored order.

I had intended to let the fight draw on a bit longer before calling in the bouncers I'd hired in advance, but that opportunity was lost.

"As you've all heard, there were many instances where the debt could have been paid in full, but unfortunately, it was not. Fortunately, only a fraction of the Baek household's assets have been disposed of so far. So, to prevent such situations in the future, I propose that we resort to public auctions! Those in favor, please raise your hand."

I used my Voice Infusion Technique to ensure my words pierced through the clamor and reached everyone's ears. The crowd, in turn, began to sit and peer around at each other.

"An auction is a good idea?"

"It seems promising."

It's hard to oppose now, isn't it? People are creatures pained to see others benefit from unfairness and injustice.

Come on, raise your hands. Let's make this easy.

"Heh heh heh. This interesting fellow has brought forward a clever solution. I like it. I'm for it."

The stern-faced old man who had settled the situation was the first to raise his hand with a smile.

"No! Upon closer inspection, isn't that... Why is he here..."

"Wait, if he's for it? I'm all for it!"

"I'm in favor!"

"Me too!"

"I agree!"

Who is he that everyone's so surprised? As the old man raised his hand, the rest followed suit one by one until everyone's hands were up.

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

"Heh heh. Even after settling the debt through auction, there will still be remaining debt. What's your plan for that?"

Once the creditors lowered their hands, the stern-faced old man who had first raised his hand asked me.

He was right. Even if we get a fair price through the auction, it will not be enough to completely clear all the debts.

'This is the last step.'

This is what I have been preparing for up to this point.

It's not just that I had organized this meeting out of a desire to volunteer. All of it led up to this moment where I could drive the atmosphere and unfold my logic. If there was remaining debt, it could bring trouble for Dang Hwa Rin.

Even if the bookstore is sacrificed and the debts are fully cleared, a woman plagued with skin disease and the black-haired foreigner would be left as penniless wanderers.

The bookstore must be protected.

But it has to be done without any apparent personal motives, disguised as noble responsibility.

"I will take responsibility."

I firmly stated to the old man.

I'm declaring my willingness to shoulder a burden that I didn't have to bear.

"Take responsibility? For what?"

"Of course, for the remaining debt. But there is one condition!"

We had said that Dang Hwa Rin had no responsibility for the debt, but now we're declaring that we'll take responsibility for it. However,

"A condition?"

"Only half of the remaining debt. I will take responsibility for the other half,

on the condition that Miss Hwa Rin inherits the bookstore left by her grandfather."

I offered to bear responsibility under the guise of accepting a seemingly insignificant compensation.