The old steward, whose name was Jo, dragged me back to bed. My muscles felt like boiling jelly.
"Young Master, please rest," Jo begged. "We'll sell Miss Lin's sword. That should get us about ten thousand stones."
"No," I growled, forcing myself to sit up. "Ten thousand won't even cover the interest for the next hour."
I looked at the System screen floating in the darkness of the room.
> [TIME UNTIL NEXT INTEREST COLLECTION: 00:42:15]
> PENALTY FOR DEFAULT: Extraction of 10 years of lifespan.
"Jo, bring me paper, ink, and the 'Snow Fang' sword."
"But, sir… you can't even hold a pen."
"Do it." My shout carried an authority that startled even me.
When he brought the materials, I used every ounce of willpower to activate a basic System function that didn't cost money: [APPRAISAL].
> [ITEM: SNOW FANG SWORD]
> Quality: Silver Rank (Damaged).
> Defect: The ice rune matrix has a microfracture at the base. 30% of the cold leaks out, injuring the user's hand.
A bitter smile spread across my face. That was why Lin Chen wore thick leather gloves. Not for style, but for protection.
"Jo, send a message to the City Merchants' Guild," I said, dictating while sweat poured down my face. "Tell them Han Seo-jun has a method to repair Silver-rank weapons without using a forge."
"What?" Jo nearly dropped the ink. "That's impossible. Only Master Alchemists in the Capital can—"
"Just send the message. Set an auction: the right to learn the technique goes to the highest bidder. Starting bid: two hundred thousand stones."
"Sir, Lin Chen will come tomorrow with her older brother to kill you. No one will want to negotiate with a dead man."
"On the contrary, Jo," I laughed, even though my chest ached. "Merchants are vultures. If they believe I hold something valuable, they'll make sure Lin's brother doesn't touch me until I hand over the technique."
Jo ran out, shaking with nerves.
I was left alone with the broken sword. I knew nothing about alchemy, but the System had a section called [ASSET MARKET].
I searched quickly: "Soul Adhesive for Silver Rank."
Cost: 15,000 stones.
I could buy it with the reward I earned from defeating Lin Chen.
> [PURCHASE COMPLETE]
> Balance: -1,000,165,000 Soul Stones.
A small glass vial appeared in my hand. Inside was a bright blue liquid, pulsing like a heart.
_If I repair this sword and sell it at the auction, I won't just pay the interest… I'll have capital for the next Skill Loan._
Suddenly, a loud crash shook the mansion. It wasn't Lin Chen's brother. It was worse.
A fat man, dressed in silks so heavy he could barely walk, entered escorted by two Level 2 guards.
"Han Seo-jun," the man said, wiping sweat from his face with a silk handkerchief. "I am a collector from the 'Golden Fang' Guild. I've come for your left leg as an initial payment on this month's interest."
I looked at the vial in my hand. Then I looked at the collector.
"You're early, fat man," I said, trying to hide the tremor in my hands. "But if you take one more step, I'll smash this vial of Divine Essence right in front of you. And believe me, your boss will kill you if you let that fortune spill onto the carpet."
The collector froze. Greed flashed in his eyes.
The game had begun. This was no longer a fight of swords.
It was a negotiation for my life.