“Debt?”
“Yes. And now that you have the money, I believe you’re ready pay it back.”
Lee Hyun gulped swallowing his saliva. When his parents passed away, Lee Hyun inherited the 100,000,000 won debt.
It would have been fine if he had done the waiver of inheritance, but at that time Lee Hyun was young and did not know about the law. In addition, his grandma, with the grief of losing her child, did not apply the waiver of inheritance in court within 3 months and the legacy was inherited.
Therefore, Lee Hyun became indebted to the loan sharks for 100,000,000 won. He knew how ruthless they were, but now he had a lot of money. There was no need to be afraid.
“I will repay the debt. How much is it?”
“Repay? Your words are a little short. Well, that’s fine. We treasure our esteemed customers. The money you have to pay is 3,000,000,000 won.”
At the man’s words, Lee Hyun’s temples throbbed with rage.
“Absurd……. The money my father borrowed was clearly 100,000,000 won.”
“Hey, it’s been 8 years. As time goes by, interest piles up.”
“Such a ridiculous thing… I’ll report to the police.”
“Report? Knock yourself out. You think the police will take your side?”
“Police are the people’s cane.”
“Puhahahaha.”
The men laughed at Lee Hyun’s words. In particular the blonde haired man, hearing that absurdness, he put his hand on his forehead and had a good laugh. The man standing quietly behind spoke. Considering the atmosphere, he seemed like their leader.
“Explain to the kid straight up. Do not cause unnecessary trouble.”
“Yes, Hyung-nim. I’m sorry. Well kid, listen carefully. What we are doing does not break any laws. Because we received legitimate interest. To begin with, the interest is 50% of the principal amount per year. Do you want me to calculate? Year 1 it increased from 100,000,000 to 150,000,000, year 2 roughly 220,000,000, year 3 it topped 330,000,000, year 4 close to almost 500,000,000.”
At the calculation report, Lee Hyun felt despair. Debt increased 5 fold in just 4 years. 8 years passed, so it might have been 2,500,000,000, but the time that passed was more than exactly 8 years so it was not wrong to say 3,000,000,000.
Lee Hyun while being harassed by the gang members did not know how much debt he was in. Without him knowing, it accumulated to as much as 3,000,000,000.
Bankruptcy!
Others with a 3,000,000,000 debt would file bankruptcy. Even after bankruptcy you would probably owe a few thousand won. Lee Hyun did not even consider bankruptcy. It costs money just to file bankruptcy. The courts and legal counselors. Paying them money and following the necessary steps, you could enter bankruptcy.
Lee Hyun could not even afford to file for bankruptcy. In fact, even if you had the money, you can’t seriously believe the vicious loan sharks would leave you alone to file bankruptcy.
“We want 3,000,000,000.”
“No, no way.”
“No way? Suit yourself. If you don’t want to we will come again tomorrow to collect. At that time what you have to pay back will increase a little more, but your call.”
The men dressed in black suits exuded confidence. The confidence of free will, the confidence of power.
And also, Lee Hyun knew it was better to repay the debt if he could. In the first place there were no other alternatives, they came knowing he had money. The men laughed with a smirk.
“Poor grandma has been injured and hospitalized, but she sure looks comfortable in the hospital. Much like your little sister in the hallway. Such a beautiful little sister, I bet she could be sold for quite a bit on the island…….”
“Don’t you dare touch Hayan!”
“Relax, nothing happened, yet. Right now, we’re just talking kid. But what if this family of three was admitted to the hospital all at once. It’d be the most touching sight.”
Lee Hyun could not stand the veiled threats anymore. It couldn’t be helped. It would be enough if the men left. Those unable to repay the borrowed money, in the slums he had seen the fates of those with no money to give them. If there was a sin in the first place, it was borrowing money from them.
Not even able to depend on the law, Lee Hyun had to surrender his bankbook. The men received the bankbook on the spot, and pulled out 90,000,000 won in cash from a bag. With it was the IOU for 100,000,000 won written by Lee Hyun’s parents 8 years ago. From the beginning they knew everything and came firmly prepared.
“Thank you. And sorry for your troubles.”
As the men exited the hospital room, Lee Hyun yelled.
“Wait a minute!”
“Why kid? What’s up?”
“Someday, I will surely make you pay for this.”
“What?”
“Because the money has been paid, you guys think this is the end of things. It means later on I will get even with you guys.”
The men were about to laugh again. However, at the sight of Lee Hyun’s eyes, their laughter died before ever coming out.
A young, wild beast. The miasmic embrace of his eyes sent a chill down their spines.
“I see you still have some spirit in you. We need to teach a fearless kid like you about the world.”
The men rolled up their sleeves. But Lee Hyun was not the slightest bit scared, nor did he shrink back.
“Enough. We have already collected the money, don’t do anything unnecessary.”
“But…….”
“Do you really want to make a scene in a hospital?”
“Understood, Hyung-nim.”
The men thundered getting out.
“And kid.”
The casual leader of the men looked at Lee Hyun and gave him advice.
“I am Han Jinsup of Myongdong. Do you really your boldness will work in this poisonous world? If you think it’s unfair, make 3,000,000,000 in 5 years and look for me. Then I will serve you as my Hyung-nim.”
The loan sharks departed. Lee Hyun sat down on the ground helplessly. And at the sound of his little sister crying in the hallway, his grandma broke into a sigh.
After being robbed to the tune of 3,000,000,000, he did not have the strength to do anything. He was slammed by extreme emptiness. However, on the third day after being robbed, he stood up.
There was hope. So he could not sit and hesitate. A smile casually drifted to Lee Hyun’s mouth. Amidst the tears, laughter emerged.
It was but a moment, the touching experience of a large sum of money that seemed to enlighten him just a little about how to live in the world.
‘Right. If I earned once, I can earn twice.”
Lee Hyun was busy. 90,000,000 won was not taken away, but it did not mean he could use it all. Because the house contract was already set, 50,000,000 won was set aside.
Able to cancel, but he would have to pay a penalty. He would rather die than pay the penalty.
Ultimately, the amount that could be used was only 40,000,000 won!
All thanks to the real estate slump in the early 21st century.
Using part of the remaining money, Lee Hyun registered in martial arts halls such as aikido, kendo and taekwondo. He placed himself on a rigorous schedule traversing to as many as 6 places a day. As his body broke down at the various gyms, he mastered martial arts.
The instructors there called him Wild Beast. Building his stamina, he swung his sword all day long enough for blood to flow from his hands.
Virtual reality game!
A place where a person moves their body means you can act like in real life. Then learning martial arts and studying about the game system a little more, would it not be helpful?
Of course, those that learned martial arts would not be completely advantageous. But to be stronger even at level 1, it was better to learn martial arts.