NABC Book 6: Chapter 10
Book 6: Chapter 10
Book 6: Chapter 10
Second Miss stood under the bright moonlight, roughly scratching her head.
“Damn. I ended up losing him...”
From the beginning, she hadn’t expected ‘that Life-Stealing Devil Sword’ to easily engage in a duel with her.
Nevertheless, regret was still regret.
“That fellow doesn’t deserve the name of being a member of the same ‘Sword Forest’.”
“Second Miss.”
A calm voice came from behind her as she grumbled.
“If you’re planning to stay the night, shall I prepare a bed for you?”
It was the voice of the Head Maid, Jung-ah.
“Hmm. I don’t really care about a bed, but...”
Second Miss slowly turned around and looked at her younger brother’s Head Maid.
“How did you find me standing in such a remote place?”
The place she had reached while chasing Life-Stealing Devil Sword was already so remote that it was embarrassing to call it the garden of Wongak Pavilion.
At her question, the Head Maid smiled enigmatically in the darkness.
“It’s because I’m the Head Maid of this Wongak Pavilion.”
Second Miss Yeon Seo-rin felt as if the Head Maid’s eyes were emitting a golden light.
“I felt something was strange from the beginning...”
Yeon Seo-rin rubbed the goosebumps that had risen on the back of her neck and said,
“You...”Vissit for updates
Her gaze became as sharp as a blade.
“What exactly are you?”
***
Dozens of days ago.
Seongdo, Sichuan Province.
The Prefect governing Seongdo under the Emperor’s order asked his daughter, who was about to embark on a long journey,
“...Do you have no intention of returning?”
In recent times, it was a conversation that had been repeated several times between the two.
“...”
Sanggwan Nanhwa merely nodded with a stiff expression, without giving a specific answer.
“...I see.”
The Seongdo Prefect had to accept that he now had no choice but to send his daughter out into the rough and tumble world.
“Will you seek refuge with 4th Young Master of the Sword House?”
“...Yes. 4th Young Master of the Sword House is someone who can sufficiently exert influence in Sichuan.”
At those words, the Seongdo Prefect nodded his head but brought up something that had been bothering his mind.
“In case, though I don’t know if such a thing will happen...”
Facing Sanggwan Nanhwa’s puzzled expression, the Seongdo Prefect continued.
“If you have the chance to meet the Eldest Young Master of the Sword House, make sure to meet him.”
“The Eldest Young Master...?”
Sanggwan Nanhwa put aside the term ‘Swordless Expert’ for now.
There must be a reason for her father, who was considered timid by those around him due to his overly cautious personality, to bring up the Eldest Young Master.
“I haven’t had the personal opportunity to know that Eldest Young Master, but...”
Sanggwan Nanhwa’s eyes deepened at her father’s ensuing words.
***
Present.
Wongak Pavilion, Eldest Young Master’s Office.
“Eldest Young Master. Do you perhaps remember Elder Ju, who served as the Imperial Scholar at the Imperial Court?”
At Sanggwan Nanhwa’s words, Yeon So-hyeon lightly tapped his knee.
“Of course. Of course I remember him.”
He was someone Yeon So-hyeon had steadily maintained ties with since childhood through letters and such.
“Then that person is...?”
Sanggwan Nanhwa nodded.
“Yes. I heard that person was my father’s benefactor.”
Only then did Yeon So-hyeon, understanding why Daseollang had so readily accepted his invitation instead of 4th Young Master’s, make a wry smile.
“...It seems that person embellished my image with nonexistent words.”
“...At first, I also thought it was a hard-to-believe story.”
“By any chance, do you have the business plan for that joint venture?”
“Of course.”
At Sanggwan Nanhwa’s question, Yeon So-hyeon readily took out a stack of documents.
“We’re not accustomed to competing in political power.”
Receiving those documents, Sanggwan Nanhwa said,
“If the Sword Houses power players saw us, we would undoubtedly appear merely cute. But...”
Daseollang passed the documents to each other, reviewing the business plan Yeon So-hyeon had established.
“As businesswomen, we can predict the prospects by looking at a business plan.”
They raised their voices at each other, whispered, widened their eyes, and even clapped.
Yeon So-hyeon gave Daseollang ample time to review his plan and exchange opinions.
After the cup of tea placed in front of him was emptied, Sanggwan Nanhwa spoke as the representative.
“The business plan has sufficient prospects.”
Yeon So-hyeon smiled brightly.
“Just sufficient?”
Sanggwan Nanhwa smiled.
“If we refine this plan, it will become perfect.”
At that confidence, the smile on Yeon So-hyeon’s lips deepened.
“Not everything will unfold according to plan, right? Especially with the opposition’s interference being no joke.”
Smiles appeared on the faces of Daseollang.
“Like we said, we’re weak in political fights.”
“Isn’t it the representative, the highest leader, who should resolve such matters?”
“Only then can we subordinates freely demonstrate our capabilities.”
Yeon So-hyeon burst into laughter.
“Good. Very good.”
Daseollang laughed with him.
“Actually, seeing Emei Sect wielding such power in Sichuan yet only managing that much, we were so dumbfounded.”
“All they do is make threats and seize shares.”
“It was good that they moved the declining temple in the mountain valley to Seongdo.”
“And it wasn’t bad that they ventured into the academy business and conducted a matchmaking business for the women they produced through nun classes.”
“They secured considerable influence among the upper class through the matchmaking business. But that was their limit.”
“No matter how much they’re hyped up, in the end, it’s the limit of what an old-timer with a rigid mind can come up with.”
The tall Daseollang, An Song-gyeong, made a mischievous expression.
“We were in the accessory business because it had the lowest entry barrier as a first business.”
“To be with the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword House in Luoyang...”
Sanggwan Nanhwa smiled at Yeon So-hyeon with confidence.
“We’re also happy to get this ‘real opportunity’. So please take good care of us from now on.”
She added briefly.
“Representative.”
Yeon So-hyeon clapped his hands, greatly delighted.
“Good. Then, since it’s late today, let’s retire for the night. We’ll gather again in the morning...”
His voice trailed off.
“No! This is the right way to do it here!”
“No, it’s not?! Are you sure you’re looking at the same business plan as me?!”
“Hmm. To be able to conceive such a plan...”
“As expected of Luoyang. It’s incomparable to the peaceful land of Sichuan.”
Daseollang was already engrossed in the task of refining and enhancing the business plan.
Seeing her friends like that, Sanggwan Nanhwa showed a slightly awkward smile.
“It seems everyone’s blood has rushed to their heads because the Representative’s business plan is so fascinating.”
Yeon So-hyeon laughed heartily and called the maids to provide Daseollang with ample refreshments and drinks.
‘Daseollang.’
He observed Daseollang engaging in heated discussions, forgetting their fatigue, while taking a step back.
‘In previous history, they were the ones who got caught up in this incident, lost members, but still succeeded again in the end.’
And in his last memory, the legendary company that made it to the bottom of the top ten business groups in the Central Plains and dominated an era.
‘With this, another horse is ready.’