The Beggar Young Master of the Namgung Clan

For a moment, an indescribable silence flowed on the top floor.

For the new owner of the Dragon Pattern Tavern, who had changed a short while ago, to be Namgung Il.

Not only Kang Cheol-woo, but the other people also had a face that could not understand those words.

"Why are everyone's expressions like that?"

"..."

"If it's this quiet, I'm the one who's embarrassed."

Namgung Il said, looking around.

At that moment, a hollow laugh flowed from Kang Cheol-woo's lips.

Perhaps because the remark was so absurd, Kang Cheol-woo was now reacting to those words.

"You're the owner of this place?"

"You have a face that doesn't believe it. But it's true."

"Do you have a way to prove that?"

"..."

"You probably don't. Because it's all a bluff."

Kang Cheol-woo was still laughing as if he were dumbfounded.

That was how absurd the words that Namgung Il had just uttered were.

For that young brat to be a person with power equal to or greater than Su Majin.

Since he had no intention of playing along with Namgung Il's bluff any longer, Kang Cheol-woo continued to speak to the general manager as he had before.

"General manager, hurry up and get this insolent brat..."

Just then, Namgung Il took something out of his clothes and held it out.

Seeing that, Kang Cheol-woo swallowed his words and looked at Namgung Il as if he were displeased.

"What is that?"

"Proof that I am the owner of this place."

"...?"

Proof...?

Seeing that confident appearance, Kang Cheol-woo momentarily had a thought of 'what if', but soon came to his senses and looked at the paper that Namgung Il was holding out.

'Is he trying to bluff until the end?'

Kang Cheol-woo still did not believe Namgung Il.

Although he didn't know what that paper he was holding out as proof was, if he were to firmly deny it, wouldn't Namgung Il be unable to maintain that attitude any longer?

With that thought, Kang Cheol-woo reached out his hand to the paper in front.

Swish—

Just then, Namgung Il slightly pulled the paper back and avoided Kang Cheol-woo's hand.

Seeing that, Kang Cheol-woo frowned and said.

"What are you doing?"

"The person I'm showing this to is not you, but the general manager."

"...?"

"Because you won't know what this is even if you see it. No matter how precious an item is, it only has value when a person who knows its value sees it."

At the tone that seemed to ignore him, Kang Cheol-woo's impression couldn't help but become more fierce.

"...General manager."

Although he didn't know what that was, it was all just a bluff anyway.

As Kang Cheol-woo said that and sent a look, the general manager walked forward and took the paper that Namgung Il was holding.

"...!"

The general manager's expression changed in an instant.

Noticing that change, Kang Cheol-woo asked the general manager with a reluctant face.

"General manager? What's wrong?"

"...This is a certificate of acquisition."

"A certificate of acquisition?"

"Yes, it says that the escort agency head has transferred the management rights of the Dragon Pattern Tavern to another person."

When the general manager said that, Kang Cheol-woo's two eyes couldn't help but widen in surprise.

Kang Cheol-woo immediately snatched the paper from the general manager and read the contents.

As he read down, he saw a name at the bottom.

Discovering that Namgung Il's name was written there, Kang Cheol-woo momentarily realized something.

'Namgung Il?'

Come to think of it, it seemed that the name Namgung Il had come up in the conversation the brats were having earlier.

There was only one place in this world that had the surname Namgung.

Only then could Kang Cheol-woo tell that Namgung Il's family was the Namgung Clan.

'The Namgung Clan? No, no matter how much, the reason why the escort agency head would hand over the tavern to such a young brat...'

Kang Cheol-woo also knew well that Su Majin had a close relationship with the Namgung Clan.

Still, Su Majin would not hand over the Dragon Pattern Tavern just because Namgung Il was a person of the Namgung Clan.

Because Su Majin was a thoroughly calculating person.

Unless there was a part that would be beneficial to him, there would be no such thing as handing over the Dragon Pattern Tavern to Namgung Il.

What on earth was the benefit to the point of giving up the huge sales generated by the Dragon Pattern Tavern... No matter how much he thought about it, Kang Cheol-woo could not know the reason.

"Y-yes! Where is the proof that this is real?"

"..."

"Anyone can write on paper!"

"That's why I didn't show it to a brat who can't recognize its value."

Namgung Il said and looked at the general manager.

"General manager, you know that this certificate of acquisition is real, right?"

"...Yes, this is definitely real."

A clear conviction was felt in that answer.

As if there was some definite proof in the certificate of acquisition.

As Kang Cheol-woo was looking with a gaze that demanded an explanation, the general manager maintained his composure and opened his mouth.

"Please look at the seal stamped at the bottom."

"...!"

"That is definitely the escort agency head's seal."

When Su Majin had acquired the Dragon Pattern Tavern, he had also written a certificate of acquisition just like the one he was holding now.

The general manager had kept the certificate of acquisition written at that time separately, and because of that, he knew exactly what form the escort agency head's seal had.

'...This is definitely the escort agency head's seal.'

In this place, the person who had probably seen Su Majin's seal the most was Kang Cheol-woo.

Because when transporting escort items, the contract always had Su Majin's seal stamped on it.

Although there were cases where there was no seal for trivial escort items, if the cost exceeded a certain amount, the seal was always stamped as proof that it had gone through Su Majin's approval.

Having been focused on the content of the document, Kang Cheol-woo's gaze now went to the seal.

'Then really...'

Just then, the certificate of acquisition that Kang Cheol-woo was holding was quickly snatched from his grasp.

The certificate of acquisition that was now held in Namgung Il's hand.

Kang Cheol-woo looked at Namgung Il with a blank face.

"It's dangerous. Dangerous."

"..."

"Since you might suddenly tear it, I'll take this back."

Seeing Namgung Il, who was smiling leisurely while saying that, Kang Cheol-woo's mood couldn't help but become uncomfortable.

But since he had learned that Namgung Il's words were not a lie, there was nothing more to say.

Looking at Kang Cheol-woo, who was biting his lip, Namgung Il tilted his head.

"What are you doing?"

"...?"

"Why are you still there? Isn't it time for you to get out on your own two feet?"

The opponent was no longer just a student.

Although he didn't know why, he was the owner of the Dragon Pattern Tavern and at the same time, he was from the Namgung Clan.

As he learned that, Kang Cheol-woo changed his attitude as if nothing had happened and said.

"It seems there was some misunderstanding."

"..."

"I sincerely apologize for my previous rudeness."

Kang Cheol-woo said and slightly bowed his head.

Namgung Il, who was just looking at him with an expressionless face.

Kang Cheol-woo raised his head back to its original position and continued.

"As a sign of my apology, I will pay double the price for the liquor my subordinates and I drink today."

"..."

"Although I can't be forgiven for all my rudeness with that, please think of it as a sign of my apology."

The price of liquor at the Dragon Pattern Tavern was quite expensive compared to other taverns in this area.

Moreover, if he thought about all his subordinates drinking, wouldn't the price be enormous?

In any case, as long as Namgung Il was the owner of the Dragon Pattern Tavern, if the sales increased, he would be in a good mood.

Although Kang Cheol-woo thought that he could restore his relationship with Namgung Il with this, the answer that came back next was completely different from his expectation.

"I don't need it, so just get out."

"...?"

"Whether you pay double or triple, as the owner of the Dragon Pattern Tavern, I have no intention of selling liquor to a customer like you."

When Namgung Il said that, Kang Cheol-woo's expression had now become cold.

"...Wouldn't it be better to think about it again? A customer who increases sales like me will be very rare."

"..."

"From a business perspective, I think there is nothing more foolish than not recognizing a valuable customer and letting them go."

"General manager."

As Namgung Il suddenly called, the general manager became tense.

"Y-yes, sir?"

"From now on, never accept that brat as a customer."

"...Pardon?"

"The Dragon Pattern Tavern prohibits Kang Cheol-woo's entry. The same goes for the brats who came with him."

Here, Namgung Il's words were the law.

Since the general manager also knew that well, he answered without even needing to think.

"I understand!"

Now, their positions were completely reversed.

Although the person who had been giving orders to the general manager just a moment ago was surely him, now that Namgung Il was giving that order, Kang Cheol-woo was feeling a considerable humiliation.

"If you understand, get lost."

"...!"

"Or do you want to be dragged out?"

Squeeze—

Kang Cheol-woo clenched his fists.

Although he wanted to draw his sword and repay this humiliation if he could, the opponent was from the Namgung Clan and at the same time, a student of the Flying Dragon Academy.

Since Kang Cheol-woo also wanted to avoid any trouble in his future affairs, in the end, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and turn his head.

"Wait."

Just then, Namgung Il called Kang Cheol-woo.

As he turned back at the voice, something flew over Kang Cheol-woo's head.

Clang—

A money pouch that fell into Kang Cheol-woo's hand with a sound.

Namgung Il said to Kang Cheol-woo, who was looking at the money pouch with a bewildered expression.

"You forgot something."

"...!"

"You should know how to cherish money. Take it."

It was a humiliation that could be counted on one hand among the humiliations he had ever felt.

Unable to contain his anger, Kang Cheol-woo eventually threw the money pouch he was holding in his hand hard on the floor.

Clang—

As the money pouch burst, the gold coins inside scattered in all directions.

After glaring at Namgung Il for the last time, Kang Cheol-woo went down the stairs with rough footsteps.

Namgung Il clicked his tongue and walked closer to the gold coins scattered on the floor.

"Tsk, tsk, he doesn't even know how precious money is."

Namgung Il picked up the gold coins on the floor one by one with his own hands.

The other people who were staring blankly at him.

Soon, after picking up all the gold coins that had fallen on the floor, Namgung Il approached the general manager.

"General manager."

"Y-yes, sir!"

"Why are you so nervous? Anyone would think I hit you or something."

Of course, the general manager couldn't help but be nervous.

To think that the customer who had been drinking calmly on the top floor was actually the new owner.

Since he could be dismissed from his position as general manager immediately if Namgung Il's mind changed even a little, the general manager had to look good to Namgung Il no matter what.

"Hold out your hands."

"...Like this?"

"No, with both hands as if you were scooping water from a stream."

"Ah, I understand!"

Although he didn't know the reason, since it was something Namgung Il was telling him to do, the general manager immediately held out both hands.

At that moment, the gold coins that were pouring down onto the general manager's palms.

They were the ones that Namgung Il had just picked up.

"...?"

Why was he giving this to him?

As the general manager was looking with a puzzled expression, Namgung Il said calmly.

"It's for the liquor today."

"...Pardon?"

"Cover it with that. And with what's left, go and get me another bottle of liquor."

Only then could the general manager understand the reason why Namgung Il had given him these gold coins.

"Y-you don't have to do that! The liquor that the owner drinks is of course free..."

"I know."

"...?"

"Still, since I got some free money, it's a waste to just throw it away, right? So use that."

"S-still, it would be better for you to just have it, owner..."

"General manager."

Just then, a slight chill was felt in Namgung Il's voice.

"Why are you talking back so much?"

"...!"

"Until just a moment ago, I had a good impression of you, general manager. Now it's starting to get a little bad."

"I-I'll be right back!"

As soon as he sensed a crisis, the general manager immediately disappeared down the stairs.

After seeing that, Namgung Il said to the other three with a calm smile.

"Now, now, let's continue drinking."

"..."

"Hey—the liquor just got cold because of some weirdo."

Saying that, Namgung Il sat down again.

"Uh..."

What on earth was that brat's identity?

Jeong Hyeon-yeong's contemplation on that only deepened.

(End of Chapter)