Chapter 168 Chapter 169 Debt Collection
Banquets have forever been the theme of socializing among the upper class.
On the outskirts of Marin City, a “hunting banquet” is taking place in a manor. The morning’s hunt is coming to an end, and it is time for the banquet segment to share the spoils.
On the sunny, lush green grass, servants are busy processing the rabbits, deer, and wild boar hunted by their masters. They bleed them out, skin them, coat them with honey, and roast them over charcoal, sprinkling spices over them repeatedly.
Nobles who just participated in the hunt gather around a round table covered with a white cloth, enjoying pre-meal pastries and drinks. Many of them are dressed in brand new hunting outfits; they are mostly merchants and guild leaders, controlling the local trade and flow of money.
They are not skilled hunters and rarely exercise. Hunting was originally a major hobby for knightly nobles, allowing them to not forget some military skills even in times of peace. The city’s rich are a new aristocratic class still imitating the social practices of knightly nobles.
But they excel in hunting gold coins.
Young Master Is presides over the banquet, inviting them for this reason. Everyone speculates that Young Master Is intends to support Kaslan.
Those present are well-informed and know that Jenna has been invited to heal Young Master Is. In many people’s eyes, this represents an alliance between the two families, perhaps even a marriage.
The guild leaders and merchants gather around the round table, waiting for today’s host to arrive. After finishing the hunt, Young Master Is has gone inside to bathe and change clothes.
During the short wait, the merchants engage in idle chatter and gossip.
“Have you heard? The former hero of the Sanctuary, the one who killed the Demon King a few years ago, has a love child now.”
“Really? I heard that Kaslan drunkenly mentioned his daughter was going to marry someone named George. How could he possibly have a love child?”
“He is undoubtedly the most womanizing hero in history. After returning from the Demon World, he picked up a succubus maid. It is said that he hosted a grand water-based orgy in Shalin City to celebrate the liberation of slaves, attended by over a hundred female slaves.”
“Really? Can he handle that many?”
“He is a hero, supported by a succubus, undefeated in battle, and he has literally ‘screwed’ a mother green dragon to death.” It was said as if he had witnessed it firsthand. “Every time he returns to White City, he brings back the prettiest woman he meets along the way, settling her in a four-story house in White City. Some claim he has eighty-five lovers there.”
“Then why does Jenna still want to marry him?”
“Who knows? The moment girls see George, they lose their strength; why bother with so much else?”
Young Master Is, who is far inside the house, hears it all clearly under his extraordinary abilities.
With a sharp “crack,” the crystal cup filled with pale golden wine shatters in his hand, cutting into his palm. Bits of glass and blood drip onto the luxurious carpet beneath his feet.
Young Master Is seems to feel no pain, his eyes fixed on an oil painting in front of him. The painting depicts a handsome shepherd by a riverside encountering a fairy washing in a pool; the two fall in love at first sight, with the shepherd chasing after the flying fairy, a look of happiness on his face.
He stares at the porcelain white fairy, burning with rage, gripping the dripping shard of crystal and stepping forward. He raises his hand, aiming the sharp edge at the fairy, and slashes down hard.
The sharp edge of the shard stops just before the painting.
Taking a deep breath, he sets down the crystal shard and raises his uninjured right hand to caress the fairy’s chest in the painting.
Meanwhile, the guests at the table outside wait in growing impatience.
The topic has shifted from the initial gossip of “George having eighty-five lovers” to “Enlek was originally female, having disguised herself as a man for years, now calling herself Shia,” and finally to rumors about Kaslan’s property issues.
Kaslan’s financial crisis is well known to everyone present.
“Kaslan’s goods are all rotting away in the warehouse, and it’s a waste for him to hold on to the trade permit. Will he be able to pay this year’s fees?”
“I heard he bought an alchemical potion permit again; he must be pinning all his hopes on that.”
Local merchants have united various guilds to form a chamber of commerce. Only those with a chamber permit can use the port for maritime trade and sell related goods. Sometimes, the prices of goods sold locally are also predetermined.
If one does not comply, they will be boycotted by the entire chamber; no workshop will sell materials to someone who has been boycotted.
“He somehow amassed a bunch of magical potions, completely disrupting the market.”
“Who knows how many gold coins he still has? He owes me five thousand gold coins.”
“Same here.”
“Kaslan has invested in merchant ships four times and has lost everything; he is on the brink of collapse.”
A melodic voice breaks through, belonging to Young Master Is, wearing a golden mask that covers half his face. Dressed in green hunting gear with a feathered hat, he appears sharp and professional.
Almost everyone smiles and turns to face the organizer of the banquet.
Young Master Is holds out a plate of strawberry cake, smiling at everyone, and says, “He is heavily in debt and has even mortgaged his land. I found out he has even borrowed against the same piece of land twice. If you don’t hurry to collect the debt and auction off his remaining assets to cover your losses, you risk losing your hard-earned money.”
This blunt and bloody statement resonates with all the creditors present. Everyone understands the harm in a bank run. If they collectively press for repayment without extending the terms, the golden goose that could have repaid them might end up dead on the floor.
They exchange glances, and one dark-haired alchemical workshop owner speaks up: “Young Master Is, a golden egg-laying goose is far more profitable than a roasted goose.”
“What if the goose can’t lay golden eggs?” Young Master Is smiles, “You’re still feeding that goose, aren’t you? If I’m not mistaken, the other day you lent him five hundred gold coins and agreed to provide two batches of precious alchemical herbs.”
“Yes,” the alchemical workshop owner is shocked; this transaction was entirely semi-secret, and he didn’t expect the other party to be so well-informed. “He has recruited a genius alchemist.”
“But no matter how talented the alchemist is, they must respect their peers. If everyone can easily pull out a box of potions to sell, wouldn’t that create chaos?”
“That requires approval from the peer review committee to enforce penalties.”
“Too slow. How convenient, I also need a batch of alchemical materials; one thousand gold coins.” Young Master Is offers a generous condition, “I’ll cover the breach of contract, but my only request is that you try to pay him back as late as possible.”
This statement hits everyone like a cow mistakenly falling off a cliff into a lake, causing a great uproar.
Young Master Is is not joking; he truly intends to hunt down Kaslan. Just like this morning when he and his pack of dogs hunted a wild boar pierced with arrows.
If the creditors collectively demand repayment and all suppliers cease trading with Kaslan, the pig roasting over the charcoal nearby will have no difference in fate.
But…. Kaslan is not an ordinary wild boar.
“But what about Miss Jenna?” someone asks the question everyone is thinking.
Jenna had privately disclosed her extraordinary level, which is platinum. If everyone could speak well, Jenna could utilize her extraordinary powers and various factions to secure good terms. The imperial army would surely be pleased for a saint to provide some divine spells that could turn the tide.
If pushed too hard, she could tear up the facade and unleash divine spells in front of the creditors’ doors; at least half of those present would lose their homes, and the perpetrator would remain unidentified.
This is also why Kaslan has been able to hold on for so long. As long as his daughter continues to support the family, he can never truly go bankrupt, unless….
“Sadly, Jenna’s extraordinary power has been unstable recently. A few days ago, her mansion burst into light; according to her servants, she went mad, chasing her servants everywhere…. I’m sure everyone knows she has recently refused to fulfill any medical services. She is the most trustworthy devotee of the Sanctuary.”
The implication is clear.
Everyone hesitates to speak.
Young Master Is drops another heavy piece of news: “The Extraordinary Committee is preparing to conduct a mental assessment on Jenna. If she poses a risk of losing control, a squad will intervene to prevent her from endangering the entire city.”
Upon hearing this, everyone feels relieved.
Young Master Is is a member of the Extraordinary Committee. The Extraordinary Committee of Marin City is composed of the Sigma Church and some local extraordinary individuals, equipped with well-coordinated elite teams to prevent any extraordinary individual from going mad and destroying the city.
Additionally, Jenna is an honorary member of the local Extraordinary Committee.
Young Master Is raises both hands and asks, “Who wants to cooperate with me? Please raise your hand.”
“I do.”
“Me too!”
Hands are raised before him.
The lips of Young Master Is, hidden behind the golden mask, curl into a self-assured smile.
He believes that under his pressure, Jenna will submit.
Jenna is truly unfair to him; why must he suffer so deeply for her? Meanwhile, she can discard her true feelings on the ground and willingly become another man’s pet dog?
What gives her the right?
He does not expect Jenna to come to her senses or repent, running into the arms of someone who truly loves her. But she should show some action to apologize to him and repay her debts.
He merely desires fairness.
He thinks this way.
That very day, news of Kaslan’s impending bankruptcy spreads throughout the city.
…
The next day.
Excited creditors block the doors of Kaslan’s mansion, waving various bills and shouting in unison: “Pay up! Quick, pay up!”
The voices carry over the high walls and across the gardens, creating an atmosphere of unrest in the entire mansion; the servants whisper among themselves about the future.
Jenna sits on a stone chair in the back garden, feeling frustrated at the sound.
“Relax, relax,” Jima says, “Adjust your mindset, breathe in, breathe out.”
“The feeling of defaulting is not good.” Jenna breathes and responds, “I didn’t know the money my father sent me was borrowed.”
“That has nothing to do with you.”
She sounds dejected. “I’m an untrustworthy person.”
Jima does not want to see this beautiful girl turn into a monster. She says, “That’s Young Master Is trying to take your family down.”
“I…I understand.”
Although Jenna says so, Jima can still tell that she believes it is her fault for making Young Master Is get disfigured as a child.
Jima says, “Your father has some long-time friends who can help him through for a while; as long as those alchemical potions sell well, everything will be all right.”
Jenna forces herself to calm down and says, “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
At this moment, the noise from the hallway grows louder, coming from the direction of the reception room.
Kaslan’s pitiful cries echo: “I beg you, for the sake of long-time friends, give me a few more days.”
“Three days, just three days, and I can turn things around.”
“Don’t treat us like fools! Pay up! Look at this debt note; your daughter personally notarized it! Is the God of Dawn not trustworthy?” an angry voice shouts, “Where is she! Let her see this note.”
Jenna’s eyes pop open, and she can’t sit still any longer.
