Connections are everything, even in the vast Central Plains.

Let’s say I’d had a pile of cash before I met Hwa-rin. Would I have been able to set up Daseogak and run it successfully with just that?

Sure, I probably could’ve clawed my way up and gotten Daseogak on track. But as a black-haired barbarian, I’d have had to deal with endless jealousy and pressure from every side just to stay afloat.

The reason I managed to settle in Yichang so well wasn’t just my own skills—it was thanks, in large part, to the legacy of the Baek Family that Hwa-rin inherited.

And that legacy wasn’t just the building that became Daseogak.

The Baek Family was one of the wealthiest and most respected households in Yichang. Baek Family Head, known for his countless acts of charity before he passed. Hwa-rin, being his granddaughter, carried that weight behind her. That was her true inheritance.

The best example? The whole Tang Clan Storm piracy scandal.

Sure, in terms of basic decency, Tang Clan Storm should’ve been published through Daseogak, who supported Ho-pil from the start. But when has the world ever run on justice and reason?

If I were just some nobody black-haired barbarian who suddenly showed up in Yichang, and those shady bookstores claimed Tang Clan Storm was public property, I wouldn’t have had many cards to play.

But Daseogak wasn’t just some barbarian’s shop—it was the property of the Baek Family’s granddaughter.

In the end, the people of Yichang sided with Daseogak. Sure, I pulled a lot of strings behind the scenes, but the knockout blow? That came from Hwa-rin’s identity as the Baek Family’s heir.

But now, Hwa-rin’s gone.

Of course, it’s not like people are going to pretend they don’t know me all of a sudden. Everyone knows how close we were. Still, when it comes to something like urgently finding a new employee, will anyone step up like it’s their own problem?

There’s no denying it—when Baek Family’s granddaughter Tang Hwa-rin asks for help finding staff, people react differently than when it’s just some guy who used to hang around with her.

Sure, I can still ask the Daseohoe regulars, but it’s time I tapped into some new networks.

I looked down at the black coin in my palm, engraved with the character for ‘Corruption’.

A Black Coin.

Given to me by Mr. Wang, the cloth merchant from Chilgok County.

He told me how to use it too—said Hao Clan would handle just about any request if I presented this. It’s basically a VIP membership card.

Not like I’d ever go ask Hao Clan to find out the color of some princess’s underwear in the palace or anything. I never had a reason to use it, so it’s just been sitting in a corner gathering dust.

Never thought I’d end up using it to hire staff.

Wonder what Mr. Wang’s up to these days.

Back when I was in Chilgok, aside from So-hee, the closest person I had was Mr. Wang.

He lent me performance space, shared meals with me, chatted when we both had time, and sometimes we’d drink together over dinner.

I should send him a letter when I get the chance.

-----------

"I’ll take you to the Branch Leader. This way, please."

The Hao Clan guy who’d rushed off earlier came back, flustered, and led me to a lavishly decorated room.

"So, you’ve come. Have a seat. Are you the Black Coin?"

The middle-aged man, who looked like the Yichang Branch Leader, offered me a chair.

"Haha. I’m not a black coin, but I am black-haired. Name’s Kang Yun-ho."

I answered his question with a light joke and sat down.

"I’m the Yichang Branch Leader of Hao Clan. So, what brings the most famous bookstore owner in Yichang to my doorstep?"

As expected of an information broker—he recognized me by face alone. This’ll move quickly.

"I’m here hoping to get some capable staff for Daseogak."

I showed him the Black Coin as I explained.

"You brought a Black Coin just to ask for help hiring bookstore staff?"

He picked up the coin, examined it closely, then looked at me like I was insane.

"I only showed the Black Coin to prove my identity. I’ll pay for the service separately."

The Black Coin isn’t an all-you-can-use pass—it’s more like a one-time VIP coupon.

Mr. Wang told me one of the ways to use it is to verify my identity and then pay for the actual service. Just flashing it and getting treated like royalty is good enough right now. I’ve got the money.

"Since you came with a Black Coin, I can find you some errand runners for free at least."

Glad I brought this thing. Connections matter, after all.

"Really?"

"If the Black Coin’s real, yes."

His voice suddenly dropped, calm and heavy.

"You think it’s fake?"

It felt like I’d tried to use my friend’s member card at a big-box store and the cashier just caught me.

"Where’d you get it?"

"From someone I know well. They told me to use it if I ever needed something from Hao Clan."

I wasn’t about to spill everything. Kept it vague on purpose.

"Someone you know?"

He didn’t like that. His face said I just told him I heard it from a friend of a friend.

"Is there a problem?"

"A Black Coin is something you only give to someone who’s saved your life, or to family—or someone as close as family."

So, it’s like the Hao Clan’s version of the Remembrance Ring?

"I can’t tell you everything, but I earned it fair and square."

I looked him dead in the eye, and he stared right back, like he was trying to see straight through me.

What? You wanna fight?

If I were the type of guy to crack under that kind of look, I’d have been torn to shreds ages ago. And I’m not ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) lying.

Mr. Wang and I helped each other. I got a space to perform, and he got all the customers I brought in. It worked out for both of us.

And since business was booming, we had plenty of good food and drinks together. That’s gotta count as a life-saving bond, right?

"...First, we need to confirm if this Black Coin is real. This particular one has never been seen outside before. I’ve been trained to recognize it, but this is my first time actually seeing it."

When I didn’t back down, he softened a bit.

So, it’s not just VIP—it’s VVVIP, and even he can’t tell right away?

"Are you saying I can’t use it?"

"The one person in all the Central Plains who can verify that Black Coin is on their way here now."

"So, I just have to wait and see if it’s real or not."

"But you—whether you’re real or fake—I can already check. ...Kang Yun-ho. Bookstore owner of Daseogak. Discovered the reclusive writer Ho-pil and shook Yichang to its core with Tang Clan Storm. Merchant obsessed with money. Known for crazy schemes that leave people speechless. That you?"

Why does everyone I meet these days feel the need to bring up all my bad reviews?

"Add this too—A man of loyalty who’d throw his life away for a friend. A merchant who understands business ethics and protects his writer to the end."

I felt like one of those celebrities who have to go in and edit their own wiki pages because no one else will fix the crap written about them.

"Haha! Alright. You did stake your life going to the Tang Clan and came back, so I’ll give you that. Wait, life-saving bond...? Ho-pil...? Could it be?! Is Ho-pil the owner of that Black Coin?"

He looked like something just clicked in his head and practically shouted.

"I can’t tell you that."

"Heh. So you won’t deny it, huh?"

Yeah, you’re way off.

"......."

I had no idea what the hell was going on anymore.

In situations like this, spelling everything out does more harm than good. Better to keep it vague, let their imaginations run wild. It’ll help me survive this mess.

I just shrugged, neither confirming nor denying anything.

"You really can’t explain exactly where you got that coin?"

"I’m afraid not."

I shook my head firmly.

I couldn’t figure out what this Branch Leader’s real angle was. If it were something minor, he’d at least give me some kind of reason. But he was just demanding explanations without giving anything away.

Usually, that means one of two things.

Either saying the wrong thing is going to get me killed, or he’s hiding something himself.

If I start blabbing now, I could dig my own grave.

"If that’s how you want to play it, then fine. Get in here!"

"Everyone, get in!"

What the hell? Suddenly, over a dozen armed men burst into the room.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

No time to think—just move. I jumped to my feet and pressed my back to the wall, staying out of their circle, and shouted at the Branch Leader.

"Just tell me who gave you that coin. If it’s really who I think it is, I’ll apologize and make it right."

And if it’s not, I’m not leaving this room alive. That’s what you’re really saying, huh?

Yeah, this was one of those things. Say the wrong name and I’m dead.

Mr. Wang, just what the hell did you give me?

...

Okay, focus. First, assess.

Nine guys just came in. Plus the Branch Leader makes ten. They’re all armed, but none have drawn yet.

No way out through the door. Getting to the window means going past the Branch Leader. This is a nightmare. You can’t trust these underworld bastards for anything.

Came here thinking it was just a sketchy job agency. Now it’s turned into a mobster’s office.

"This bastard’s not even looking at the Branch Leader when he’s talking!"

One of them snarled, reaching for his sword.

Bad move, buddy. Faster than thought, faster than sight—I moved like a gambler laying down a trick hand.

"Argh!"

"A throwing knife?!"

Damn right.

One hit. One throwing knife through his hand was all it took.

Tang Clan’s elite throwing knife technique, hammered into me by their warriors for months, right down to the muscle memory of a rookie.

That’s what I just threw.

"Is this how Hao Clan treats their guests? Drawing weapons before even asking properly?"

Show fear, and I’m dead.

I grabbed another knife from my belt, staring down the Branch Leader.

"You idiots! I said scare him, not draw steel! I told you he came to Yichang with Tang Clan warriors! Did I, or didn’t I?!"

"We were told!"

"You want us to shut down the Yichang Branch too, just like Wusan?!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

"‘Yes, sir’?! You want us to shut down?!"

"N-no, sir!"

With the Branch Leader’s furious shout, the Hao Clan guys scrambled to sheathe their weapons.

"Manager Kang Yun-ho... are you a martial artist?"

With his people finally standing down, the Branch Leader gave me an almost apologetic look.

"Every man in Jianghu has a hidden ace up his sleeve, just to stay alive."

Truth is, that was my only card.

I pretended to relax, putting the knife away. Against real martial artists, these things are just kitten claws anyway.

"It wasn’t meant to go this far."

The Branch Leader bowed his head slightly in apology.

"What the hell is going on here...?"

What the hell is this coin? Why are you doing this to me?

Just as I shot a glare at the Branch Leader, demanding answers, a woman’s voice rang out from the doorway.

"Who is it? Who’s carrying the Black Coin of the Shadowless Phantom Thief?"

"...What?"

The woman who appeared at the door—yeah, I knew that face.

"Ugh! Kang Yun-ho? What the hell are you doing here?"

That’s my question. Shadowless Phantom Thief?

----------

"It’s real. That’s definitely the Shadowless Phantom Thief’s Black Coin."

She turned the coin over in her hands and confirmed it.

This coin I’ve been carrying? That’s hers? The Shadowless Phantom Thief’s Black Coin?

But wait—she’s right here. So how is it her coin?

"The Black Coin Manager Kang brought... it belonged to the Shadowless Phantom Thief who vanished over ten years ago."

"Vanished ten years ago?"

I glanced at the pink twin-tailed Phantom Thief.

Unless she was running around with magic wands and popping balloons as a kid, she can’t be that Phantom Thief.

"This is a famous story in Jianghu. Over ten years ago, Hao Clan had a rebellion. Most of the top martial artists were either killed or disappeared. The Shadowless Phantom Thief was among them."

Simple explanation, but I got what he meant right away.

"You’re saying I didn’t get this coin from her, but from one of the rebels? Is that it?"

"Or maybe you’re part of the rebellion yourself."

"...Ha."

"Don’t laugh. Answer the question. Who did you get it from? What’s your connection to the Shadowless Phantom Thief? If you can’t give me a real answer, forget the Tang Clan—you’re finished."

The Branch Leader stepped closer, his presence pressing down on me like a weight.

This guy’s no joke. His aura alone was intense. And as he loomed over me, the other Hao Clan guys were all back on edge, glaring me down.

This is bad. She’s not the real Phantom Thief. Not yet.

Come on, Kang Yun-ho. Think. How do I get out of this? Shadowless Phantom Thief... What do I know about her?

Mr. Wang... Who was he? Why’d he give me this coin? Was he trying to screw me over? No, it was probably out of kindness.

What do I know about the Phantom Thief?

She learned her martial arts from her father—the previous Shadowless Phantom Thief. Her father? What did Mr. Wang’s hair look like again? White, with a hint of pink...

Ah. That’s it. That’s exactly it. I’ve got a way out.

"If you won’t reveal who you are—"

"We’ve eaten together. Shared a roof. Hell, we’ve gone to the bathhouse together."

We ate meals at the inn, right? That counts as sharing a roof and a bowl.

I made up my mind and spoke.

"What?"

"I’ve shared a coin pouch with the owner of that Black Coin. We’ve done each other favors, helped each other out."

I didn’t have anywhere else to stash my money, so I left it with Mr. Wang sometimes. He’d even spot me some silver when I needed to exchange, so yeah, technically true.

I looked around, carefully checking their reactions.

"You. What exactly are you to the owner of this Black Coin?"

I can’t just say "we’re close." That won’t fly.

No one hands over a Black Coin for just a casual friendship.

If I hide too much, they’ll just think I’m lying.

So what kind of relationship would shut them up for good?

"The Shadowless Phantom Thief... is my sworn sibling."