Solo Swordmaster – Chapter 111

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Manager Jung glanced around, sensing an opportunity. Like a rabbit eyeing a clover, he pounced.

“Eugene?”

“Yes, Manager?”

“About your friend…”

“It hasn’t been a month yet.”

Manager Jung deflated like a rabbit caught by a predator, his words cut short by Eugene’s swift reply.

“But that busy work of his could finish early, right? He could find time to visit a friend, even if he’s busy…”

Manager Jung couldn’t seem to let it go, testing the waters with a hopeful tone. Eugene laughed cheerfully.

“Manager.”

“Oh, are you thinking of contacting him?”

“Your customer’s waiting. Stop slacking and get to work.”

“……”

Ah, the plight of a manager, forced to be a saint in front of customers.

Eugene watched Manager Jung trudge off to make coffee, then muttered,

“The manager’s too impatient. It hasn’t even been a week since Partner said he couldn’t come.”

Eugene understood.

Since Limon’s announcement, customers constantly asked about their joint performance. Everyone from local business owners to guild scouts hounded Manager Jung for Limon’s contact information.

It was natural for Manager Jung to be desperate for Limon’s return.

Of course, the biggest reason was probably Manager Jung’s own withdrawal symptoms from not hearing their performance.

Still, Eugene had no intention of sympathizing with him.

“I’m the one who wants to see him the most.”

More than a drug addict craving a fix, more than a lover separated from their beloved, more than a debtor waiting for payday, Eugene longed for Limon. Or rather, his playing.

‘But I have to be patient.’

She suppressed the urge to call Limon and beg him to play.

Limon was her partner, an equal, not someone she could impose her desires on. And for some stranger to demand a performance from Limon?

As much as she loved music, she valued freedom of expression even more. It was unacceptable.

“Greetings, Eugene.”

A man wearing sunglasses greeted her familiarly. It was Moon Cheon-yeop, and Eugene instinctively frowned.

“Mr. Moon, what are you doing here again?”

“Don’t be so cold. It’s not like I’m not allowed to be here.”

“You’re not.”

Moon Cheon-yeop froze.

“…Hahaha, you’re quite the joker, Eugene. There’s no such thing as a cafe that turns away customers.”

Whether due to his thick skin or growing immunity, Moon Cheon-yeop quickly recovered and responded smoothly.

Eugene eyed him suspiciously.

She wanted to kick him out…

“Isn’t that… a threat?”

“Now, now, what threat? I’m just giving you some friendly advice as a regular customer of this cafe.”

‘Liar.’

Eugene muttered inwardly.

She had seen how Manager Jung had threatened Moon Cheon-yeop before, warning him about the cafe getting a reputation for being picky with its customers.

Her voice turned cold.

“So, what’s your order?”

“I’d like to order a contract with you, Eugene.”

“We don’t have that on the menu.”

“Then we’ll just have to make one, won’t we?”

Moon Cheon-yeop said smoothly.

Despite his brazen attitude, Eugene remained calm. She was too used to this by now.

“Mr. Moon, I’ve told you countless times. I’m not interested in a contract.”

“People change their minds.”

“Not me.”

“Oh dear.”

Moon Cheon-yeop clicked his tongue at Eugene’s unwavering refusal.

It was truly baffling.

WIM Guild was a giant in the industry, the undisputed top entertainment guild in the country, a place most musicians would kill to join.

For her to refuse an offer from him, who had nurtured Claire, was something he would normally punish severely. He had only been patient because he recognized Eugene’s talent.

But his patience was wearing thin.

“It seems you still don’t understand what WIM Guild is, Eugene.”

“Should I?”

“You should if you want to survive in this industry. WIM is sponsored by Midas.”

Speaking with feigned kindness that masked his arrogance, as if teaching an ignorant child, Moon Cheon-yeop smirked slightly.

“Do you understand what that means?”

“What does it mean?”

“It means I can make things very difficult for you if I choose to.”

It wasn’t an exaggeration.

Midas.

The Golden Monarch’s guild, possessing wealth comparable to the Seven Dragons Association.

Their influence, wielding both the power of an absolute being and immense wealth, was unmatched among the Ten Great Guilds.

If Midas made a move, they could bury any musician, regardless of their talent or background, musically, socially, or even physically.

“So, stop playing hard to get. No other guild will take you if I’m involved.”

Moon Cheon-yeop spoke confidently.

Knowing Midas’s power better than anyone, he was certain that even the haughty Eugene wouldn’t dare refuse his offer this time.

“So?”

“…What?”

“What’s your point?”

Eugene tilted her head, asking again as if she didn’t understand.

“Whether your connection is Midas or you can make things difficult for me, what does that have to do with my singing?”

‘Is this girl really an idiot?’

Moon Cheon-yeop was dumbfounded.

He had deliberately made the threat, intending to offer favorable contract terms if she complied and to teach her a lesson so she wouldn’t have any second thoughts later. But instead of being intimidated, she seemed to not even understand his threat.

He began to doubt her intelligence.

“Try it, if you can.”

“Try… it?”

But the moment he met Eugene’s eyes, Moon Cheon-yeop forgot everything.

“I don’t care if you mobilize Midas and bring the Golden Monarch himself, or if you try to kidnap me and make a snuff film.”

Her calm, blue eyes, as clear as a lake, hid a fierce storm within their depths.

“My songs are mine. I won’t give them up.”

How could he describe it? A mother bird protecting her eggs? No, it wasn’t that fragile.

It was like a lioness ready to tear apart anything that threatened her cubs, or a dragon guarding its treasure, willing to burn everything to protect it.

Fierce, intense, and deadly.

Her unwavering conviction, bordering on madness, sent a chill down Moon Cheon-yeop’s spine.

*‘Am I… being intimidated?’*

Moon Cheon-yeop faltered.

He was a high-level player himself, backed by WIM Guild. He was used to intimidating others, not being intimidated.

To feel threatened by an unknown musician, unregistered with the Player Association… it was unbelievable.

“My, you’re a woman of principle.”

But after the initial disbelief faded, he felt the familiar sting of being disregarded, the anger and humiliation he always felt when his self-proclaimed importance was ignored.

“However, Eugene, I suggest you reconsider. Decisions made in youthful passion often lead to disastrous consequences.”

It was an ultimatum, a blatant threat to reconsider or face the consequences he had just outlined. But Eugene was unfazed.

She simply replied coldly,

“I decide my own disasters. Not you, Mr. Moon.”

Moon Cheon-yeop frowned at her sharp retort.

“You’ll regret this.”

“Many have said similar things to me. But nothing has changed.”

“That’s because they weren’t me.”

“You think so?”

A dangerous aura emanated from Moon Cheon-yeop.

Eugene met his gaze unflinchingly.

Just as the atmosphere between them turned hostile, a man rushed over, having witnessed their confrontation upon entering the cafe.

“Manager Moon! Are you threatening Eugene again?”

Moon Cheon-yeop replied nonchalantly to Kim Seungjun,

“Now, now, Producer Kim. Threatening? Don’t say things that could be misunderstood.”

“You were just looking at Eugene with a murderous expression!”

“I just had something in my eye. Don’t exaggerate.”

“And you expect me to believe that?”

“Whatever you believe, Producer Kim, I was simply having a pleasant conversation with Eugene as a manager of WIM Guild.”

“Ugh…!”

He was from WIM Guild.

‘Don’t spread baseless rumors if you don’t want to suffer the consequences.’

After subtly threatening Kim Seungjun, Moon Cheon-yeop stood up.

“Anyway, I’ve said my piece. I’ll be taking my leave.”

As if completely disinterested in Kim Seungjun, Moon Cheon-yeop turned his back.

Looking directly at Eugene from behind his sunglasses, he muttered,

“I wish you well, Eugene.”

“I’ll be fine, even without your concern, Mr. Moon.”

“Hmph, I hope so.”

Leaving behind an ambiguous chuckle, whether it was a sneer, a scoff, or a mocking laugh, Moon Cheon-yeop departed.

Kim Seungjun hurried over to Eugene.

“Eugene, are you alright?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Well…”

Kim Seungjun hesitated, recalling the unsettling rumors surrounding Moon Cheon-yeop.

He was unsure whether to share the information, which could easily be grounds for a defamation lawsuit.

Eugene chuckled.

“Never mind.”

“What?”

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about it.”

She would be fine, regardless of who Moon Cheon-yeop was or what he was planning.

Speaking casually, Eugene handed the menu to Kim Seungjun and asked abruptly,

“So, what’s your order?”

“……”

“Oh, and by the way, you don’t have contracts on the menu, do you?”

Eugene gave a perfect customer service smile as she watched Kim Seungjun’s expression turn strangely apologetic.

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