EPISODE 3

I was born here, but even I had to admit that the Badnikers were a dysfunctional family. In this place, people were judged solely on their abilities and achievements. There were no exceptions—not even for the family head's immediate family.

Moreover, the family's insularity surpassed that of others, even to the point of sending a collector after the family head's son.

What was a collector, though?

"C-c-collector. Gulp..."

"Hiik! I didn't do anything!"

The servants beside me screamed, falling into a state of panic. Some turned ghastly pale, while others stuttered, on the verge of collapse.

Such reactions were natural, even if they had only heard parts of the rumors about the Badnikers' collectors.

They were known by many names, including the Badnikers' Executioners, the Iron-Blooded Lord's Fangs, and the Badnikers' Hunting Dogs... However, they were most commonly known as the collectors because their primary role usually involved collecting something.

Collecting is almost a matter of life or death.

First of all, it was obvious that my tendons would be cut if I stayed still.

How did I deal with this in the past?

"C-collector?! A collector is here?

"T-this is impossible...! I am a Badniker! There is no way the family head would've done that...!"

I had escaped reality in this way and run away. Eventually, Kayan caught me and forcibly collected the debt, or rather, severed my tendons.

This was the so-called collectors' role.

The Badnikers were also a family that practiced martial arts, and as such, they were fiercely protective of their secret martial art techniques.

Any member caught leaking these techniques to outsiders could face death, not only the culprit but also those around them.

My family treated me well before the blessing ceremony, so I naturally had knowledge of our prized, secret martial arts.

This was probably the source of the higher-ups' discontent.

The Council of Elders deemed me unqualified to wield our martial arts and intended to stop me from using them any further.

While I felt many things were unfair, the elders viewed their actions as lenient. After all, one would either have all their tendons severed or lose their life.

Naturally, it wasn't my family ties that earned me consideration, but my youth and lack of accomplishments.

What should I do?

I had no intention of simply accepting this. Losing the use of my right arm would reduce my future strength by at least 30%. After all, a significant portion of the Supreme Art of All Time heavily relied on external techniques.

Then how can I overcome my predicament?

I was in a tight spot. My weak physical condition made it impossible to escape from Kayan, and I had yet to cultivate my internal energy. Even if I ran at full speed, he would catch up in seconds.

Why fifteen?

Although I didn't panic, I couldn't imagine anything worse than this situation.

I sighed and glanced at Kayan, who was waiting calmly despite the long silence.

Could this be a collector's last act of consideration, or did he view me as a trapped rat? Either way, I had to buy some time.

"Sir Kayan, it has been a long time."

"Yes. I hope all is well."

I hope all is well?

He could clearly see me lying in the bed, wrapped in bandages.

"You look healthy, but do you have dementia?" I inquired.

"Huh?"

"Just kidding, just kidding." I briefly resolved the situation and then continued calmly, "It seems you came in a hurry. Have you eaten?"

"I ate a bit. I always eat lightly before the enforcement," Kayan replied.

"Have you explored the mansion? I will assign a servant to you, so take your time and look around the gardens..."

"I appreciate your consideration, Young Master Luan. For now, I want to focus on my work."

I sighed inwardly as It didn't work. I hoped to buy some time and devise a plan, but even that wasn't possible.

I didn't expect much, but Kayan proved difficult to sway with words.

One month...

No, things would be much better if I had just one week.

However, for now, my only choice was to keep talking.

Thus, I did. "I see. But as you can see, my condition isn't ideal. It is late. If the enforcement is tomorrow—"

"This might be presumptuous, Young Master Luan."

In that instant, Kayan looked at me, showed the back of his hand, and pulled a sharp dagger from his sleeve.

A maid let out a sharp scream, but Kayan continued speaking calmly, "I have never delayed a collection for even a single day."

I knew these weren't empty words. He was called the Iron-Blooded Collector for a reason.

Kayan started walking toward me at a steady pace. He looked like an administrator carrying out official duties.

Is this really happening?

Were my tendons going to be severed as soon as I returned to the past?

A chill ran through my mind as the possibility I had once doubted now loomed as a reality, closing in quickly.

I looked up at Kayan while still sitting on the bed.

For the first time, this heartless old man stopped and observed me. Though he didn't show it, he seemed puzzled by my unexpected reaction.

Meanwhile, I formulated a quick plan.

"I am not subject to collection," I declared.

Kayan's hand stopped mid-motion. He said, "The family head decrees on the collection, and denying this judgment is akin to defying his will."

"You are mistaken. The family head merely makes the final decision. The Council of Elders determines who should be collected and the extent of the punishment," I retorted.

There was a brief silence.

Kayan's expression shifted momentarily, the change vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. "You're right. However, it is also the family head's decision to delegate authority to the Council of Elders. In the grand scheme of things, it is no different from carrying out his orders."

"Then what if you consider it from a smaller perspective?" I countered.

"You are nitpicking my words. Nothing will change even if you buy time," Kayan said.

"That's right."

My sudden agreement left Kayan confused.

I continued, "Frankly, you can easily subdue me before I can even reach a tissue to blow my nose. You can do it anytime. As such, you have no reason to be hasty, right?"

"I just said I have never delayed a collection for even a day," Kayan said coldly.

"Yes. One day. There is still some time before the day ends."

Kayan quietly stared at me.

He hadn't lived all these years in vain. I couldn't tell what he was thinking. I could only hope that his caution would hold him back.

It would be great if he could think something like, Luan Badniker always acts like a fool, yet he is behaving as if he has a trump card.Maybe it isn't just empty talk...

The silence lasted longer than I expected. It was good for me, but I couldn't afford to be complacent in this situation.

This man strictly followed orders, so it wouldn't be long before he decided that his opinion was irrelevant.

Before that, I had to amplify the ripples of agitation.

"Sir Kayan, the Badnikers' collection must be carried out with the utmost thoroughness and accuracy. Once it's done, there's no turning back. It won't be too late to reconsider after hearing me out. Afterward, I promise I will accept the punishment without any protest." I added, "In the Badniker name," a statement the family's conservatives would like.

Kayan remained silent and expressionless, but if this was the person I had seen and heard in the family, it would work.

No, it had to work!

After a long silence, Kayan finally withdrew his hand, and the pressure I had been feeling melted away.

"Send out all the servants," Kayan commanded me.

"Yes."

I glanced at the servants, and they fled as if they had been waiting for the signal.

As expected, no one remained by my side.

Kayan then slid his dagger back into his sleeve, took out a pocket watch, and glanced at it. "It's 11:56 p.m."

I remained silent.

"There are around four minutes left until the day ends." Kayan looked at me. "Tell me, Young Master Luan. What is the basis for your claim that you aren't subject to collection?"

For now, the worst—my tendons being severed before I had time to react—had been avoided.

Kayan continued, "If the collection was delayed without any apparent reason... I'll have no choice but to increase the punishment's level."

Naturally, the real struggle to persuade him started now.

***

Kayan Goldan, at sixty-eight years old, had the longest career among the Badnikers' collectors. His final performance still ranked among the top three.

Some people called him the Iron-Blooded Collector, a title earned from his flawless career—never a single mistake.

However, even Kayan never expected to feel this way during this job.

Luan was the Badnikers' stain, the only failure of the Iron-Blooded Lord, the one who had sold the family's treasured sword, and an incompetent individual who had received no blessings.

He was a child born into a Great Family, yet he carried a shame worse than death.

Kayan held no particular regrets about the boy. He only felt a faint sense of pity.

However, after observing Luan's actions following the ceremony, that pity faded into contempt. He found the boy pathetic. Not receiving a divine blessing could be so devastating that one might wish for death.

Kayan came from an ordinary bloodline and couldn't even imagine the level of despair.

But so what?

That didn't change the reality. Luan had to face the harsh truth. If he couldn't accept it, he would never move forward in life.

Unfortunately, Luan stood frozen in place. He then took a step back and vanished from sight.

Since then, even Kayan had forgotten about Luan.

That was the case until he received the order.

Though the mission itself wasn't particularly special, the connection to the family head made it somewhat unusual.

Nonetheless, Kayan had undertaken similar tasks many times throughout his long career. The boy's youth or familial ties wouldn't sway him.

Unexpectedly, the Badnikers' stain, whom Kayan hadn't seen in a long time, greeted him with a completely different attitude.

What was the attitude of those who faced the collectors?

Generally, they denied reality. Sometimes, they rebelled. Occasionally, some tried to negotiate, but their words never made Kayan hesitate.

It was like that until today.

The unsightly Luan, his face swollen and his body wrapped in bandages, said, "Since the Council of Elders sent a collector, it's clear they want something back. Most likely, it is the family's hereditary swordsmanship.

"Of course, it is impossible to make me forget the techniques I have learned, so I assume you would sever my tendons at the very least, Kayan."

"That is correct."

Surprisingly, the boy overwhelmed Kayan right after their first meeting.

Now, he understood why. Luan didn't exhibit the typical reaction most people had when encountering a collector—there was no fear.

No, it was a bit different from losing his fear. It wasn't like he couldn't figure out the situation. If that had been the case, he wouldn't have been able to bring Kayan to the negotiating table.

Luan asked, "Shall we discuss the basic principles then? Why does the Council of Elders want to take away my swordsmanship?"

"As a mere collector, I don't know the criteria the Council of Elders uses for judgment."

"Sir Kayan, looking at you now, you are truly pretentious. Then shall I tell you?" Luan suddenly put on a solemn expression and imitated someone. "The Badnikers' secret technique is wasted on someone who is likely to die after living a miserable life like this."

Kayan remained silent.

"I have tarnished the Badniker family's reputation. I took the treasure sword and sold it... Well, many things may have been said, but this is the real reason." I concluded, "They don't see any potential in me."

Kayan didn't know if this was true or not. No matter how long he worked as a collector, he couldn't know the Council of Elders' private opinions. Still, there was no denying that Luan's words mirrored the reasons Kayan had subconsciously suspected.

"Then let me put it this way: this collection would undoubtedly be a loss for the future Badniker family," I claimed.

"What are you talking about?" Kayan asked.

"To put it simply, you are trying to sever the buds of a giant tree, Sir Kayan."

"That is an arrogant statement," Kayan remarked.

"It is the truth."

Tick.

At this moment, Kayan couldn't help looking at his pocket watch.

The time was already 11:59 p.m.

There was less than a minute left until this day ended. If so, it wouldn't be too late to start the collection right away.

"I need the sword techniques."

"Why?"

Luan declared, "Because I am going to create a new martial art based on this."

The minute hand ticked forward, and the day passed, but Kayan remained still.