The Doomed Fief’s Dying Lord (19)

On the way back from the site, I recalled the first time I persuaded the two of them.

Argument.

Intimidation.

Business pitch.

That’s how it started at first.

It hadn’t been long, but it already felt like a memory.

Those were troublesome times.

‘The business pitch was easy, but other things were the problem.’

But something gripped my consciousness at that moment.

’…Wait, business pitch?’

Why did that word suddenly seize me?

I thought it over carefully.

One minute, five minutes, ten minutes.

Standing there in a daze, thinking and thinking.

The nature of my suspicion revealed its outline.

“Right! I just had to persuade them!”

Not being able to repay debt on time.

That outcome doesn’t always lead to ruin.

First, your credit score drops.

Then late fees are attached.

And after that?

Is that when one becomes officially a defaulter?

No, no;

Even then, an opportunity is given.

A chance to explain oneself.

When I was an employee.

I once visited a client who wouldn’t pay.

“Your payments are already six months overdue. We’ve kept sending goods. When will you actually pay?”

“I’m sorry. We’re trying everything we can, so just until next month…”

“That’s the same line I’ve heard for half a year!”

“Hehehehe*…”*

The client manager only laughed hollowly at my outburst.

“We’ve had a relationship through our dealings…”

“Because of that relationship we’ve indulged you until now. Are you really going to throw away that trust?!”

How about that.

Doesn’t it sound like I’m cornering the client manager?

It might seem strange for an assistant manager to browbeat a manager.

But did that make me the one in charge?

Not at all.

In debtor-creditor relations, the debtor is always the dominant party.

Why?

‘Because you have to collect the money!’

In the end, the debtor is the one who must be forced to pay.

If the creditor takes a “take it or leave it” stance, we can’t do a thing.

Even if you sue and bankrupt the client, it’s the same.

We’d get nothing and lose the client.

“Anyway, these toxic debtors don’t owe only us. There are plenty lined up trying to collect money before us.”

Those were my team leader’s words when he sent me to collect.

The team leader also said this.

“Jungwoo. To be honest, it’s fine if you don’t get the money. If they had it, they’d have paid already. Go scare them a bit. We’re not going to sue anyway. They all know that.”

“Wha…? They know?”

“Yes. We could have the legal team grind the client down—would take about three years. You’d have to drag through tedious court battles. But do you think we’d break even after pouring in time and money?”

That was the moment I realized the true power dynamics between debtor and creditor.

“I can’t believe I forgot that!”

I shouted as I returned to the site.

Denabi already has many debts overdue by one or two years.

Debtors outside the domain are probably thinking like this.

‘We don’t want the headache of court fights! Please get back on your feet financially and pay us back! We’re begging you!’

They never intended to bankrupt us immediately.

I informed Izack and Pietro of this.

“So we just need to let them know we have the will and ability to repay our debts! Then we can obtain military forces to raid the Dungeon without bankrupting the domain!”

“But young master. How do you plan to prove our capability to them?”

Pietro asked.

Even the elder asked the obvious!

“What else do we have besides what we’re doing right now?”

“I see, indeed.”

“Izack taught me. I’ve already persuaded you all. Didn’t you all think my business pitch was reasonable?”

Pietro let out a laugh.

“Hehehe*.”*

“Ah… was I wrong?”

I got a bit scared for no reason.

But Pietro shook his head.

“No, I’m not mocking. I just thought the young master has finally realized it.”

“Realized it?”

“You seemed to think people followed you for other reasons—not because you’re outstanding, but because we have reasons… or because we depend on you.”

“That is…”

It was hard to deny.

I still thought that way.

“But if the young master’s plan truly had no merit, no one would have followed you. They would have tried to protect Denabi in their own ways, as they always have.”

“Pietro…”

A pang struck my chest.

Honestly, I couldn’t know.

Why he would say such things.

Whether I was truly worthy of that trust.

I froze in place.

Then Pietro spoke.

“So go, young master. We’ll do our work. You do yours.”

I clenched my fist.

Then I struck my chest with that fist and said.

“I will definitely return leading a thousand troops!”

“Hoho. If you bring that many, we’ll really go bankrupt.”

Pietro joked with me.

Izack also seemed to show a faint smile.

The delegation for hiring troops was formed in an instant.

There wasn’t a day to waste.

At first I thought of sending Avenger.

But I decided it would be better if I went myself.

Even as I boarded the carriage, Avenger worried about me.

“Aren’t you overexerting yourself? You’ve been rough on your body lately. I don’t know if you can endure the journey…”

I put my hand on Avenger’s shoulder.

“I’ll be fine. Think of this trip as a retreat and that’s enough.”

“Young master…”

“While I’m gone, you’re the financial advisor. Steward Avenger. Take good care of Denabi.”

“I will fulfill the duty entrusted to me.”

Avenger bowed his head.

‘Yes… I’m really counting on you! A-rank financial advisor!’

Avenger is an awakened A-rank.

And his talent aptitude is financial advisor.

I was sure he’d do my job far better than I could.

In fact, the moment he awakened he came up with a way to save this domain.

Everyone will manage well without me.

‘So now I just have to do well!’

Though that’s the hardest thing in the world.

If I troll at a moment like this, it would be truly irreversible! Lee Jungwoo!

Pull yourself together!

The delegation’s destination was the neighboring domain Limone.

The destination was decided in a short meeting.

Most of the decision-makers of Denabi Castle were gathered at the meeting.

When I first pointed out this place, Ronari expressed doubts.

“Why Limone of all places?”

I explained.

“First, it’s close. It’s also the place that has lent us the most money.”

“Doesn’t having a lot of debt mean relations are that bad?”

“That’s right. From a general perspective, Limone’s view of our domain would be the worst.”

“Then why…”

“But they can’t view us from the general perspective; they must see us from a creditor’s perspective.”

Ronari tilted her head.

“A creditor’s perspective?”

“Ronari. Why do you think creditors hate debtors?”

“Because they don’t return the money?”

“Correct. But that also means, conversely, that if you just returned the money, there would be no reason to hate you.”

I tapped Limone on the map with a triumphant face.

Ronari asked.

“Are you saying Limone’s fundamental desire isn’t to hate us but to get their money… is that what you mean?”

Snap—

I snapped my fingers in affirmation of her words.

“Exactly. The Limone government is desperate to collect money from us. But then we say this.”

As if speaking to the Limone government,

I whispered this to Ronari.

“…We’ll pay you back. If we just succeed in conquering the Dungeon this time.“

Ronari was aghast and said.

“Wow! That’s really petty and cowardly!”

“I’ll take that to mean you have a talent for negotiation.”

“Yes. That’s what you mean, but…”

Ronari trailed off with a bewildered expression.

Then Izack, who had been listening silently, stepped forward.

“There’s merit to that. But the local militia guild here isn’t that large. It will be hard to find elites capable of raiding a Dungeon. How do you plan to handle that?”

A sharp point.

Of course I had an answer prepared for that question.

‘That part is precisely the core of my plan.’

“We’ll request Limone’s regular army, not mercenaries.”

“Regular army…?”

The staff murmured.

The first to voice their dismay was Lord Alejandro.

“You mean to formally request reinforcements from Limone?”

“Yes. And the cost would be repaying part of the debt we owe them.”

Alejandro put his hand to his chin and fell into thought.

After some deliberation, he spoke.

“Denabi is under the same great lord as Limone. They’ve fought together in the Eastern War as comrades. Even so, Limone remains a foreign power. Letting a foreign army set foot on our land is…”

It seemed hard to accept.

Still, Alejandro trailed off.

He was conflicted.

Because Alejandro is a good person before being a good lord.

He’d even accept the domain falling under foreign control if it meant protecting the people.

‘But I cannot accept that.’

Alejandro and the Denabi family.

They are those who have fought for decades to protect Denabi.

Alejandro lost even his wife fighting for Denabi.

The mother of Shane and his brothers,

Beatrice Astrier.

There was a reason she did not appear in this tale.

‘Because she had long since passed away.’

That sacrifice must have left a great wound in Alejandro.

But he has not broken yet.

He is still fighting for Denabi.

If such a man could not remain lord, who would be fit to become lord?

I even thought this.

‘How long could this domain possibly last without Alejandro as lord?’

So I won’t give this domain to anyone else.

I decided that.

I looked directly at the troubled Alejandro.

“Father. I understand your concern.”

“Shane.”

“But Limone swallowing Denabi will never happen.”

Had I ever spoken so decisively before?

Probably not.

But Izack and Pietro told me to believe in myself.

Avenger and Ronari gave me their trust.

If so,

Perhaps, at least this once…

I might have the right to say this too.

“The ones who can lead Denabi, the ones who can protect it to the end, are none other than the Astrier family. Please trust me, Father.”