Chapter 25: Does Your Butt Still Hurt?

“You… what did you do to my sister?”

The girl’s voice was much softer than His had expected.

“Just… took her out to buy new clothes, then wandered around town a bit.”

His looked at Ni Wei with a half-smile.

“What? Is that not allowed either?”

“Hmph! Who knows what you’re up to?”

Ni Wei gritted her teeth, turned around, and prepared to leave the study.

“Anyway, I’ll be watching you!”

“Suit yourself.”

Seeing the girl’s puffed-up expression, His shrugged nonchalantly.

“Oh, by the way, does your butt still hurt today?”

bang!

The study door was slammed shut forcefully.

In the hallway, Ni Wei’s face instantly flushed red.

“Pervert! Big pervert!”

The girl stood outside the study door for a long time before leaving with clenched fists.

‘Damn it!’

‘I really need to think of something!’

‘But to deal with that evil young master, relying on myself alone definitely won’t work.’

‘I have to find someone who can handle him.’

Thinking this, a stubborn flame ignited in Ni Wei’s eyes.

***

“Hey! We know you’re in there! Open up!”

A violent knocking woke Sijina from her sleep.

Subconsciously, Sijina reached under her pillow for the thin money pouch, a bitter smile appearing on her face.

‘This little money is nowhere near enough…’

The girl took a deep breath, steadied herself, then got up and opened the door.

At the door stood a short, stout middle-aged man, followed by two burly attendants.

The three of them standing there nearly blocked the entire doorway.

“Good morning, Miss Sijina.”

“Mr. Weisi.”

Looking at the man before her, Sijina controlled her tone, trying her best to appear calm.

“I thought the repayment deadline wasn’t until tomorrow?”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Weisi pulled a promissory note from his coat pocket and glanced at it.

“Let me see… You borrowed five silver coins from us. According to the contract, you’re to repay ten silver coins with interest within two weeks.”

“That’s right. Today should be the fourteenth day. Doesn’t that mean it’s due tomorrow?”

“Actually, Miss Sijina.”

Weisi put the note back in his pocket and smiled at the girl.

“You borrowed this money two weeks ago in the morning, so in a few hours, the two-week period will be up. According to our rules, we have to find you in advance to prevent you from…”

Weisi didn’t finish, but Sijina already understood what he meant.

“Actually… I’m a bit short right now. I’m still missing some money. Could you… give me a few more days?”

Sijina asked tentatively.

“A few more days?”

Weisi raised an eyebrow, his smile gradually fading.

“Miss Sijina, our Merchant Association values integrity above all in business. When you borrowed the money, you agreed to repay it in two weeks. It’s all here in black and white. If I give you an extension this time, will you ask for another extension in a few days?”

“No, I just…”

“How much can you pay now?”

Weisi cut off the girl, extending his chubby hand toward her.

“I…”

Sijina hesitated.

“At most… fifty copper coins.”

Weisi’s smile completely disappeared.

“Fifty copper coins?”

He repeated it, as if confirming he hadn’t misheard.

“Aren’t you a mercenary? In two weeks, how did you only save that little money?”

Sijina bit her lip and said nothing.

Weisi sighed.

He suddenly recalled what his superior, Mr. Molis, had told him earlier.

That the young master of the Blackstone family had specifically instructed them a few days ago not to trouble this mercenary named Sijina too much.

Although he didn’t know what game the Blackstone young master was playing, judging by this mercenary’s face and figure, he must be…

“Three days.”

Weisi held up three fingers.

“You must repay everything within three days, or else…”

Weisi’s gaze passed over Sijina, scanning the sword leaning against the corner of the room and the half-loaf of black bread on the table.

‘Damn! Being this broke, doesn’t she know to go find a job?!’

“Or else, we’ll take your equipment to settle the debt.”

After finally thinking of a way to collect the debt, Weisi clapped his hands and turned to leave with his two attendants.

“See you in three days, then, Miss Sijina.”

“I… I will definitely pay it back!”

Coming to her senses, Sijina shouted at Weisi’s retreating back.

***

The Mercenary Guild was as noisy as ever.

A few old mercenaries were drinking and boasting around a table in the corner, while the bulletin board was crowded.

Sijina stood at the edge of the crowd, standing on tiptoe to look at the bulletin board.

Sure enough, it was still those trivial little jobs.

Delivering letters, minding stalls, weeding the gardens of the rich…

The highest-paying one only offered eighty copper coins.

‘It seems relying on these jobs alone, it’s impossible to repay that money within three days…’

Sijina sighed and left the Mercenary Guild.

***

The town’s market was livelier than usual.

Sijina threaded through the bustling crowd, her eyes scanning the various stalls.

“Have you heard? The Blackstone family made another move. Now almost all the grain shops and herb stores on this street have been bought up by them.”

“Tsk tsk, that young master sure knows how to pick his timing. These acquisitions were all made at rock-bottom prices.”

Several stall vendors huddled together, counting their day’s copper coins and chatting.

Hearing their conversation, Sijina couldn’t help but stop in her tracks.

‘Blackstone family?’

‘This Blackstone family again!’

She stood still, looking around at the shops on the street. Recent events began to slowly connect in her mind.

‘I can’t afford equipment because the Blackstone family’s actions drove raw material prices sky-high!’

‘And I haven’t been getting good quests because, amid market fluctuations, many merchant associations have cut back on mercenary commissions!’

“Hey!”

Sijina walked up to the vendors and interrupted their conversation.

“The Blackstone family you mentioned earlier—which one is that?”

The vendors exchanged glances.

One slightly older one looked Sijina up and down as if examining a spy.

“Which Blackstone is there around here? Of course it’s Duke Blackstone’s family!”

“Then the young master you mentioned…”

“Oh, you mean Young Master His. He used to be a good-for-nothing playboy, but recently it’s like he suddenly got smart. With a few moves, he’s made a fortune.”

“Little lady, why are you asking this?”

“Oh… nothing.”

Sijina turned and walked away.

‘His Blackstone…’

The girl quietly repeated this name to herself.

‘All the bad luck I’ve been having lately seems to be inextricably linked to this name.’

‘The one who caused me to end up like this—is it him?!’