“Half as payment?”
Geum Cheonbang could not hide his surprise. It was as unreasonable a demand as his own reckless request.

“In cases like this, the usual fee is about one-tenth, and even at most, that fraction to handle the work.”
“That would be if the opponent were ordinary.”
Geom Mugeuk raised the stakes even further.

“Actually, even if you gave me everything, it would still be a benefit to the family head.”
“What kind of sophistry is that?”
Then Geom Mugeuk raised his voice and said with conviction:
“If you do business with the Geumryong family, you must pay back your debts.”

The words echoed loudly in the hall, pleasing to hear.
“No one ever gets away with cheating the Geumryong family.”

Thinking about all the money not collected for all kinds of reasons, if only it were so, one could not help but smile.

Attracted by such reassuring words, Geum Cheonbang naturally lent an ear to the next statement.

“What if there’s even a rumor that Baekseonbang paid their debts?”

What need was there to say more? An incredible rumor indeed.

“If that happens, no one will ever think of defaulting on the Geumryong family again.”

Geom Mugeuk looked Geum Cheonbang in the eyes and asked,
“How much do you think that reputation is worth?”

Even the quick-thinking Geum Cheonbang could not answer easily. Considering not only the present but the future, it was priceless.

“Of course, all this applies only if you actually collect the money from them?”

At Geum Cheonbang’s words, Geom Mugeuk answered with confident eyes:
“I will collect the money, and I will take only half of it as my fee.”

The phrase “half as much” became “only half,” but Geum Cheonbang felt no discord.
He even felt pleased by this concession.

“I am making a special concession because of my daughter.”

A hint of curiosity flickered in Geum Cheonbang’s eyes. He thought this was proper. Yes, when dealing with someone, this was how it should be — shamelessly bold yet persuasive.

Maybe? He briefly thought it might actually collect the money.

But soon dismissed the thought.

He knew Baekseonbang well.

Most people think of them as cruel, emotional, and reckless—unreasonable, ignorant brutes.

At first, Geum Cheonbang thought so too, but now he knew the faction leader was a clever man. Their revenge and legal extortion were all thoroughly calculated.

Though thinking he was no match, his curiosity was piqued — this young man’s attitude was impressive. Such boldness was rare these days.

“What if you fail to collect?”

She expected him to say he would return the two million nyang he received from her.

“If I fail, I fail. Do you think I can easily get money your family head couldn’t?”

Pulling himself into the matter, Geum Cheonbang could not rebut. He admired Geom Mugeuk’s response.

“You will take half?”

The money was already unrecoverable. Even taking one and a half million nyang out of three million was a gain.

Moreover, if he truly collected it, as the interest said earlier, he would gain a reputation more valuable than money.

Baekseonbang would probably settle and send him back quietly. They owed the Geumryong family, so they wouldn’t escalate things.

If they broke his spirit, it would be easier to recover the two million nyang in the future.

Thus ended Geum Cheonbang’s calculation.

“Good, I will give you half.”

Geum Arin, who had been watching, could no longer hold back.

“No!”

She wanted to avoid intervening knowing her father was angry with her, but if she didn’t stop it now, it would be too late later.

“Do you realize how dangerous this task is?”

Geom Mugeuk calmly looked at her and said,
“You know how much two million nyang is. And you also know that one and a half million nyang is a large sum. To earn big money, you must take big risks, right?”

Geum Cheonbang liked those words. He hated people who wanted to make money without risk. Big money required big risks.

Geom Mugeuk’s gaze shifted from Geum Arin back to Geum Cheonbang.

“Indeed, to make money, you must dive into the fight. As soon as we arrive, money will pour in.”

Geum Cheonbang responded to Mugeuk’s confidence with calmness.

“Whether money or blood will pour out, we won’t know until it’s over.”

The two looked at each other. What could have been a probing first meeting had turned into a major promise.

“Then I will collect the money and report back.”

Geom Mugeuk bowed politely to leave, but Geum Arin said,
“Wait outside for a moment. I have something to discuss with Father.”
“Very well.”

When Geom Mugeuk left the main hall, only Geum Cheonbang and Geum Arin remained inside.

Geum Cheonbang already guessed what his daughter wanted to say.

“You know he will never succeed, don’t you? Yet you sent him on this mission to punish me. That’s too harsh.”
Geum Cheonbang responded coldly,
“You’re the harsh one.”
“What do you mean?”
“It means you brought trouble back home.”
“The Silver Galaxy Guild Master pulled them in to strike at my organization. I couldn’t just stand by.”

Strictly speaking, it was a matter of life and death.

Her life was at ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) stake, yet he was angry about money!

She bit back words threatening to burst from her throat. She had been wrong to spend two million nyang without permission.

“You should have come straight back to the family and consulted me when you found out.”

Geum Arin had something to say in response.
“But then the brothers would seize on that and say she couldn’t handle it alone and hid in Father’s arms.”
“It was still reckless. What if the person who planted spies in our family was the Silver Galaxy Guild Master?”
“Is there such a noisy spy in the world?”

Geum Cheonbang said no more.

Geum Arin left after her final words.

“He’s not trouble; he’s a blessing. Even if you threw that blessing into the gutter.”

She left the main hall.

Her chest was tight. Not just anywhere, but Baekseonbang.

Geom Mugeuk waited for her outside the building.

“Are you really going through with this?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded and began walking. The two walked side by side, talking.

“Do you know what kind of place Baekseonbang is?”
“What kind?”

Geum Arin’s expression said, “I knew this would happen,” as she described the ones she didn’t want to think about.

“It’s a gathering of the worst humans. Not mere local hooligans, but top-tier experts. Especially the faction leader is known as an unparalleled master.”

Geom Mugeuk silently walked on.

“That’s not all. What’s truly scary is that if one is killed, the others swarm to take revenge. They kill friends and family without mercy.”

This widespread revenge was why Baekseonbang was a symbol of terror—and why they deserved death.

“How have such people survived so long? Has the Martial Alliance done nothing?”
“They never leave evidence. If someone leaves proof, they remove him to cut off any leads. So only rumors remain.”

In a previous life, Baekseonbang was eradicated by the Martial Alliance. They found evidence of their evil deeds, attacked, and the faction was wiped out after fierce resistance. Many masters of the Martial Alliance were injured or killed.

Seeing Baekseonbang in this life forging a connection with him, Geom Mugeuk felt anew that those destined to die would die.

“Did you hear me? They kill even innocent families.”
“My family is fine.”

Geom Mugeuk smiled and added,
“They’re too fine, that’s the problem.”

Geum Arin knew where that confidence came from.

“I know you trust your father, but…”

After a moment of silence, she made a firm decision.

“Fine, then I’m coming with you.”

It was a life-risking decision, but she was immediately refused.

“Do you want to get ripped off even more?”
“What do you mean?”
“If you go, will they just let it be? They’ll pick a fight and hold you hostage, then demand money from your father to get you back.”

They were capable of that, no argument possible.

“What about you? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. My father won’t give them a penny.”

A joke in such a situation? She thought Geom Mugeuk was too carefree. It would be better if he explained his thoughts calmly, but he headed in a different direction.

“Where are you going? The guest hall is this way.”
“I have somewhere to go. See you later.”

Geum Arin watched Geom Mugeuk’s quick steps and sighed, understanding why he said those things.

How far can you trust me?
How much will you make me worry?

That night, Geum Arin came to Geom Mugeuk’s quarters.

Though late, he was awake.

“Am I disturbing your sleep?”
“It’s fine, come in. We’re busy people at night.”
“Huh?”

Geom Mugeuk only gave a cryptic smile.

Geum Arin entered and saw bottles on the table. He had been drinking.

“Will you have a drink?”
“Please.”

She really felt like drinking. She never dreamed she’d face such things after returning to the family.

“Did you contact Father and Uncle?”
“What contact?”
“About Baekseonbang. You should inform them.”

She asked, half expecting he wouldn’t go alone.

“You’re not planning to go alone, are you?”

The three of them thought it dangerous even to go together.

“I’m going alone.”

Geum Arin was shocked. Seeing his calm eyes, she knew he wasn’t joking.

She downed the drink she had received earlier and set the empty cup down with a clack.

“A two million nyang drinking party.”

A joke about it being the last time she’d see him, a joke that was no joke.

“Okay, say you’re the unparalleled master I don’t know.”

Could be. He had killed Jeonnak and made the money worms obedient.

“Still, you have to make a plan. There are a hundred of them. Who to visit first, what to say, what if they don’t pay willingly. No, they definitely won’t, so how to respond. You have to think ahead.”

“I have a plan.”
“Or at least find their weak spot, right?”
“What?”
“I said I have a plan.”

Only then did she notice the papers piled on the table. On top was written ‘Baekseonbang.’

“What’s this?”
“Information about Baekseonbang.”
“Where did you get it?”
“I bought it from an informant.”

In fact, this data came through Eunwol. The Seomseo branch of Eunwol had naturally investigated Baekseonbang, a faction on the watchlist.

“When?”
“Just went out and bought it.”
“Can I see?”

Geom Mugeuk nodded, and Geum Arin examined the materials.

It really was data about them: who the faction leader was, what martial arts they had, who their underlings were, how much they trusted each other, personalities, assigned roles, and their crimes.

More than that, it detailed how much money they borrowed from which guilds, how much was defaulted on, and what businesses they ran with that money. They were involved in all kinds of interests and made huge profits.

“The informant sells such detailed info?”
“If you have money, there’s no info you can’t get.”

She felt ashamed. She had come to him only to say ‘make a plan’ without bringing this info herself. If she really worried, she should have bought this data and given it to him. She was a worrywart who didn’t act, not an intelligent person who didn’t act.

“So, have you made a plan?”
“I have.”

No one could rival that straightforward answer.

“Tell me.”
“It’s a secret.”

Seeing this, she dared to hope he really would collect the money.

“But I have a favor to ask of you.”
“What is it?”

The favor was something she never expected.

“Go to the guilds and sects listed here and tell them you will collect the debts Baekseonbang owes. But take half as your fee.”
“What?”

Startled, Geum Arin jumped up. Truly surprised, she stood abruptly.

“They’ll trust you more than me.”

She was dumbfounded, unable to respond, while Geom Mugeuk continued.

“I could keep all their money. But this is a better way. You get the reputation of finding their money, they recover unrecoverable debts, and I get half the profit.”

Geom Mugeuk pointed out that for her, this matter had a different meaning.

“This will play a big role in making you successor. Your reputation in Seomseo will rise greatly.”

Geum Arin could see he was sincere.

“You really plan to collect all that money from Baekseonbang?”
“All of it. I’ll collect money owed to anyone who wants it.”
“It’s impossible to collect our own money…”

Suddenly a thought struck her like lightning.

“Don’t tell me…”

It was the most surprising moment since meeting Geom Mugeuk.

“You intend to kill them all.”