The Lady Only Deals With the Real Ones - Chapter 7

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A few hours later.

“Phew….”

I collapsed face-first onto the ledger.

‘It was much busier than I expected for the first day of reopening.’

From people selling items they’d been holding onto to those inquiring about consignment sales, even accounting for the opening rush, it was overflowing.

But this kind of busyness was exactly what I had hoped for.

“The strategy worked perfectly!”

Pawnshops have two sources of income.

‘Purchase’ – buying customers’ items cheaply and selling them at higher prices.

‘Pawning’ – lending money with customers’ items as collateral and receiving interest.

But I determined that to make more money, I needed a new revenue model.

‘That’s why I came up with consignment sales.’

Consignment sales.

Acting as an intermediary by selling customers’ items on their behalf.

While receiving commissions is good in itself, the real value lies elsewhere.

‘I can possess and display high-quality items without spending any of my own cash.’

It was the best strategy I could choose given my currently limited funds.

Because pawnshops are businesses that depend on the items customers bring in.

If the items are good, there are many customers, and if there are many customers, the items they bring become even better.

The more expensive and high-quality the items, the higher the commission I can receive, which is also profitable.

It’s a continuous virtuous cycle.

“It seems Helena has been spreading word here and there. I should thank her properly.”

When she first came in, she clearly showed signs of distrust toward me.

But the attitude she showed just before leaving was completely different.

“As the guild leader of this street, I have no choice but to take a strict stance. But before being a guild leader… I’m also a senior who has walked the path of commerce first.”

Trust had somehow seeped into Helena’s eyes.

“If a talented newcomer is seriously thinking of doing business, I’ll gladly support and help as a senior.”

I could understand Helena’s position. I had even thought from the beginning that her domineering tone might be a false front.

Because I had seen Helena’s entry in Grandfather’s customer ledger.

‘If she really had a bad personality, she wouldn’t have been reelected for five years straight. Wow, they said she was good at her job, and she certainly gives enthusiastic support.’

Helena stamped the [APPROVED] seal firmly on the “Reopening Report” and said:

“Work hard, Guild Member Elisha.”

She called me Guild Member Elisha, not Miss. I had been recognized as a proper member of the street.

I had finished everything there was to do on opening day.

And successfully at that!

‘Grandfather would be happy if he knew, right?’

Grandfather’s handwriting remained in the ledger.

Grandfather’s last words at the nursing home echoed in my ears.

“My granddaughter, Elisha. …Please take good care of the pawnshop.”

Grandfather was a rough and blunt person. He wasn’t someone who would say things like “please take care of it.”

That’s why I couldn’t answer anything at the time. I felt like I might cry at Grandfather’s unusual behavior.

I muttered quietly, as if giving a belated response.

“I’m doing well. So don’t worry.”

‘I miss you, Grandfather.’

After closing the ledger, I looked around the pawnshop with fresh eyes.

The small pawnshop has a total of four floors.

‘Basement, first floor, second floor, attic.’

The basement stores pawned items that must not be exposed to light. Mainly rare books and paintings.

The first floor is where I am now. It’s the space for greeting customers and where most purchased items are displayed.

The second floor is usually locked. It’s like a vault storing items customers left as collateral and weapons or magical tools that require careful handling.

And the attic is Grandfather’s personal space and workshop.

‘Since I dumped the debt-ridden house on Hugo, I was planning to live in the attic for a while. It’s small but has a bathroom and kitchen.’

But?

‘I haven’t finished cleaning it yet….’

I was so busy sweeping and cleaning the customer area and display cases that I haven’t cleaned the attic yet.

Still, that wasn’t much of a problem. For now, I could just spread a blanket under the first-floor counter and sleep there.

‘In my previous life, when I wandered the streets of Moro Duchy, I even slept on the ground. Just having a roof is luxurious.’

Closing time had long passed.

As I stretched and got up, I casually looked out the window.

“….”

And I froze.

“Busy.”

Because some big, dark man was leaning against the window.

What? When did he come? Was he asking if I was busy? And do you know me?

As I creakily lowered my arms that had been stretched up like in surrender, a thought suddenly occurred to me.

‘Could this be someone Hugo sent?’

I had expected him to come within a few days.

But sending someone instead of coming himself?

‘I thought Hugo would come personally rather than risk rumors that Count Hugo sent someone to extort money from a young girl.’

It was unexpected, but I was fully prepared.

I had set up security magic and bought plenty of self-defense magical tools.

I naturally placed one hand on the self-defense spray and the other on a button.

‘When I press the button, iron bars come down while automatically locking all entrances.’

This self-defense magical tool was said to be incredibly painful when sprayed.

Painful enough to incapacitate someone for at least two days if it touches their skin.

I’ll use it immediately if necessary.

I raised my head.

“Yes, that’s right. I was quite busy. I had a lot to do.”

While answering casually, I kept watching the man.

I need to assess the opponent to prepare accordingly.

The first thing I noticed about the man was his broad body, large enough to cover more than half of the big window.

‘Seriously, does a person’s body need to be that huge?’

He’s like a wall.

The black shirt the wall—no, the man—was wearing had several buttons undone.

I could glimpse black markings through the gap, but he didn’t seem to care about covering them.

Rather than appreciating the bold tattoos, thick body filling the shirt, or decadent appearance, a different curiosity arose.

‘Isn’t he cold?’

Well, that’s none of my business.

Whether the guy who came to extort my money is dressed warmly or not.

Past his strong yet sharp jaw and scarred cheek, I looked straight into his eyes.

Gazing into those mysterious eyes that mixed red with ash-gray, I smiled brightly.

“But you don’t have any urgent business, do you?”

“What made you think that?”

‘Oh, this is the first person besides Grandfather I’ve met with such a low voice.’

I shrugged my shoulders.

“If it were urgent, you would have called for me already. But even if you had, it would’ve been difficult for me to help you.”

“Why. Do you pick and choose your customers?”

“No, it’s past closing time. Would you like to come back tomorrow?”

‘He’s not barging in right away. It seems like today he just came to check if Grandfather is here.’

When I answered with a smile, the man’s eyes narrowed.

“You’re the owner of this pawnshop?”

“Yes, as you can see, I’m the owner.”

“Aren’t you a bit… young for this kind of work?”

This kind of work? Young?

I was even more dumbfounded by the man’s next action as he casually made rude comments while looking me over.

He put a smooth red cigarette in his mouth and lit it!

‘What the hell is he doing?!’

I lost my fighting spirit just as I was about to retort.

This is just… where did he learn such manners…?

“Excuse me, this is a no-smoking area.”

My protest was completely ignored.

Ugh, should I spray this or not. I was looking at him with cold eyes when a group of passersby entered my field of vision.

Right, it’s better to have witnesses. What if this man tries to lay those pot-lid-sized hands on me?

I’m not just some random person—I’m an official Guild Member. This man would be messing with an ‘Ashen Street Merchant.’

At the very least, I could make sure Hugo’s Group can’t even set foot on this street.

‘Thinking about it, I could take a hit or two. Kill two birds with one stone and get some compensation money too.’

The man seemed to sense the presence of people too. He half-turned his body to watch them.

Neighborhood folks! Look over here! I was shouting in my mind when, what do you know.

The people who made eye contact with the man flinched and quickly hurried away.

“Walk faster, faster. Keep your head down. Don’t make eye contact.”

“Wow, my goodness. What’s with that face…”

Huh? Face?

What’s so scary about this man’s face that they’re acting like that?

I was genuinely puzzled. What, does he have horns I can’t see?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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