Chapter 861: Improving (1)

Vroooom...

A cute-looking tiny white hatchback was struggling to drive up a hill.

Lee Hyeon-Ju furrowed her brow while depressing the accelerator.

‘Is it already time to change my car?’

The road leading up to the Martial Assembly HQ was as steep as it could get. As Lee Hyeon-Ju had been with her favorite ride for practically forever, it was easy to notice how it had started struggling more and more lately.

“Urgh... This unnie is still having financial issues, okay? Please hold on for two more months. Please!”

Lee Hyeon-Ju never had to worry about her finances in the past. But the events of the past few months taught her what it meant to be frugal.

In a way, she was responsible for bringing this situation upon herself.

She had all the right to claim Lee Jung-Geol’s massive wealth as her inheritance. Sure, all of her grandfather’s ill-gotten hidden funds would’ve been returned to the Assembly, anyway. However, what about the wealth he had accumulated legitimately? Lee Hyeon-Ju had all the right to inherit it.

However, she shoved all that money into the Martial Assembly's coffers without any regret whatsoever. That was because, to her, money wasn't important.

What could she do with all that money, anyway? Fool around for the rest of her life pretending to be happy?

‘What a laughable notion that is.’

Humans couldn't do that. No, wait. Maybe some people could do that, but not Lee Hyeon-Ju. She'd rather use her own skills to prove her worth instead of letting the fatness of her bank account speak on her behalf.

If she had gobbled up Lee Jung-Geol's wealth back then... Would she have gotten a job in the Assembly? No, it would've never happened.

Lee Hyeon-Su would've never stopped monitoring her, and Lee Hyeon-Ju would've wallowed in shallow luxury for the rest of her life. It'd be a life far removed from the martial world.

The mere thought of that alternative reality sent a chill down her spine.

Lee Hyeon-Ju only got to earn her freedom by unhesitantly discarding everything. And now, she went beyond simply enjoying her freedom to gain a high-ranking position in the Assembly. She even earned a sense of pride, a sense of fulfillment, from her work, too.

...If it weren't for one minor thing ruining her vibe, that was!

“Why do I have so many credit card expenses to pay?!”

Her wages disappeared as soon as they were deposited into her bank account, only leaving behind a hint of what things could have been. There were many goodbyes in this world, but nothing would be as painful as this particular type of goodbye!

To think it’d be a flitting goodbye with the one she ardently wished to meet! What a tragedy this was. Yes, it had to be a tragedy!

It wasn’t as if her annual salary was pitiful, either. Among her peers doing similar work as her...

‘Actually, I don’t think anyone in my age group is doing similar work as me...’

In any case! The amount of money being deposited into her account every month easily dwarfed what fairly successful people in Lee Hyeon-Ju’s age group received. The problem with this arrangement was, though...

Lee Hyeon-Ju's spending habit was also far worse than that of her peers!

She'd freak out at the monthly credit card bill and hurriedly pore through the statement, but the conclusion remained the same every month. Her problem lay with her mouth, which couldn't keep her sweet tooth in control, and her eyes which couldn't look away from pretty things.

Her hand obediently swiping her card was guilt-free in this situation!

“How am I supposed to get by this month, I wonder...?”

A layer of warm, salty moisture quickly clouded her vision.

At least there was a small respite from this financial storm. And that was the Martial Assembly providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner for free. At least Lee Hyeon-Ju didn't have to worry about where her next meal would come from.

Considering her wasteful spending habit, not paying for her meals wouldn’t have left much of an impression on her strained bank balance. Still, it was better than nothing.

Lee Hyeon-Ju parked her car at the Assembly’s parking lot and exited the vehicle. The first thing she did was scan her immediate surroundings.

“Hmm...”

There weren't that many black luxury sedans here. That could only mean all the 'important' folks who loved to waste fuel in big cars hadn't arrived yet.

‘They all deserve to get the boot, though!’

Kang Jin-Ho and Lee Hyeon-Su unleashed a cruel reign of terror and suppression on the existing directors and elders of the Martial Assembly. However, those working for these elders and directors—in other words, leeches that clung to their bosses to suckle on all the delicious honey—weren't as heavily restricted in comparison.

“Director Choi... You’re more naive than your age suggests.”

Director Choi’s expression crumpled.

However, Lee Hyeon-Ju continued to mock the older man. “Do you honestly think our current higher-ups would’ve employed me when I have no abilities and no other redeeming qualities? If it was up to you, would you have hired me?”

“...!”

“I'm Lee Jung-Geol's granddaughter, so it's worth hiring me to use me as an advert? I don't see anything wrong with that. Wouldn't you say that's a pretty attractive achievement on my resume?”

Lee Hyeon-Ju’s cold voice left Director Choi speechless, and he could only stare at her in silence.

“That’s how our world operates, Director Choi. A company will only hire people based on their qualifications and potential usefulness. And then... The company will use them. And pay them accordingly. The Assembly recognized my qualifications and usefulness, so they hired me. And I get paid a lot of money for providing my services.”

“...”

“You need to wake up to reality, Director Choi. The era has changed. It's no longer the same era where you can get a cushy job because you belong to the clique of someone important, okay? Anyone occupying a position they are not qualified for will get kicked out. That's the era we live in now. Wouldn't you say that's how things should've been all along?”

Director Choi's lips trembled painfully, then some words finally tumbled out. “You... You're totally brainwashed, aren't you?”

“Think whatever you want, Director Choi. People who can’t win in logic usually resort to ad hominem attacks. So, what’s next? I’m too stupid to understand? Or I’m too young to know how society really operates? I’m being lied to? Or I’m a woman, so I don’t belong in the men’s world?”

Contempt was the only emotion remaining in Lee Hyeon-Ju’s cold glare locking on to Director Choi.

“Stagnant water must be replaced, wouldn’t you agree? Especially water that has no plans to willingly enter a purifier.”

“...!”

“In consideration of the times I used to call you my uncle... Allow me to give you another piece of advice, Director Choi. Stay like that, and you’ll get the chop sooner rather than later. And you’ll never be able to return to our fold. Because that era has ended now. If you wish to avoid that pathetic fate, you should sober up and do your job more effectively.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju didn't wait for Director Choi's response and coolly turned around to leave. She could hear the heavy, angry panting of a grown-up man behind her, but... Why should she care? When that man didn't have the balls to attack her, anyway!

“You...!” Director Choi finally yelled in anger. “You! Don’t think you’re some hot stuff, okay?!”

Lee Hyeon-Ju dismissed Director Choi’s warning. ‘Yes, sure, sure. Whatever you say.’

“One day, you will regret what you did! You hear me!”

Lee Hyeon-Ju didn’t bother to respond. It wasn’t worth her time.

‘What a loser.’

The changing of an era always produced drop-outs.

People usually believed that these drop-outs were weaklings who didn't receive a good enough education, but that wasn't always true. Even those so-called weaklings with no power and no education could try their hardest to keep up with the changing times.

The group of real drop-outs actually consisted of those who boasted abilities that were neither here nor there.

People who angrily asked why they had to change when things were already pretty good for everyone, and people who simply had no choice but to give up something of theirs just to stay relevant... These were the first types of people to fall behind and disappear into obscurity as the era changed.

...Exactly like Director Choi, in other words.

Lee Hyeon-Ju raised her head and stared at the Assembly HQ. That building hadn't changed since she first set foot inside. Nothing about its facade had been altered until now. And its coordinates were the same as before.

Even then, it gave off a different vibe now. This place was supposed to be familiar, yet it wasn't. A home that didn't feel like one.

However, Lee Hyeon-Ju didn’t shy away from this disharmony. Yes, it was different now. It had definitely transformed into something else. But she was ready to acknowledge this transformation and accept it. And then... cling to it even more fiercely. Only then would she be able to make this change her own, too.

She swore to work tirelessly until she could finally shake off the label of 'Lee Jung-Geol's Granddaughter' and be acknowledged as a capable person in her own right. As a martial artist named Lee Hyeon-Ju!

“Fuu-woo...”

Her journey would not be easy. However, that was exactly why it was worth it.

Even if Lee Hyeon-Ju got her start because she was Lee Jung-Geol's granddaughter, that didn't matter to her now. Regardless of her beginning, people would acknowledge her as Lee Hyeon-Ju the person and martial artist once she produced good results.

“Okay, then! Let’s do my best today, too.”

Lee Hyeon-Ju strode inside the building in cheerful steps.