He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 122

122. The Mysterious Author

◈ Two weeks later, at the Intelligence Club.

“Good afternoon, Lord Sanderson!”

Someone spoke to Tae-oh, who was relaxing at the club.

He looked up and saw Mr. Dickson, who ran several bookstores in London.

He was the one who had given the most support, calling it a brilliant idea when Tae-oh first said he was planning to start a matchmaking agency.

However, they hadn’t seen each other for a while, as they had been busy with their own affairs for several years.

Tae-oh stood up and greeted him with pleasure.

“Mr. Dickson! It’s been a long time. How have you been?”

“Well, I’m the same as always. Haha.”

“Here, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

As they exchanged greetings, Mr. Dickson said in a serious tone that he had something important to discuss regarding the business.

“You need my help with your business?”

“Yes, I heard that Lord Sanderson has purchased a building on Kensington Street for a matchmaking agency, a cafe, and a clothing store.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Mr. Dickson hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

“I’m actually planning to operate a ‘paid bookstore’ in a slightly different format recently.”

“A different kind of bookstore?”

“Yes, instead of just having rental and sales lounges like other rental stores, I want to create a new cultural space where people can read high-quality books with delicious tea from the cafe.”

It seemed like he was talking about a kind of book cafe.

Even in those days, some very luxurious paid bookstores offered card games and social culture, but it was not the general format.

But Mr. Dickson seemed to be envisioning a rental store linked to a cafe.

“When I went to Lord Sanderson’s T&S Cafe, I saw a fairly large empty store next to it, didn’t I?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Quite a large space was still vacant to the right of the cafe on the first floor of the matchmaking agency.

“I was wondering if we could set up a luxurious bookstore there and connect it so that people can drink the coffee sold at the T&S Cafe right next door. Reading a book while drinking T&S coffee with its amazing taste. Wouldn’t fragrant coffee and books go very well together?”

It would be a common sight in modern times, but in this era, Mr. Dickson’s story was a very unfamiliar and groundbreaking idea.

Originally, Tae-oh was thinking of expanding the cafe, but after hearing Mr. Dickson’s story, it didn’t sound like a bad idea.

“That’s a good idea. The scent of coffee and books would go really well together.”

“Isn’t it? Haha.”

If he paid more attention to the interior and decorated it as a book cafe rather than just a rental store, people who couldn’t get a seat in the cafe could also use it.

And it was also necessary to let the twin siblings, who were now proficient at handling work, operate their own stores independently.

“Mr. Dickson, then shall we take some time to discuss this business plan in more detail?”

“Oh, thank you. Haha.”

Looking at Mr. Dickson, who was happy that things were going well, the writer ‘Logan’ suddenly came to mind.

Somehow, Mr. Dickson, who runs a large bookstore, seemed like he would know Logan well.

“Do you happen to know many novelists?”

“Novelists? Yes, of course. This is my industry, so I know most novelists. But why do you ask?”

“There’s a novelist I’m curious about.”

“Haha. Lord Sanderson is curious about a writer. I’m even more curious to know who it is. Tell me. What’s the writer’s name?”

“It’s the writer ‘Logan’ who wrote the book called ‘LOVE’.”

Mr. Dickson tilted his head for a moment.

“LOVE? Ah, if it’s that writer ‘Logan’, I know him to some extent. Isn’t he a writer who subtly criticizes the hypocrisy of aristocratic society in his content… that is, impure content?”

“Ah… yes. It seems like he has some of that tendency.”

Mr. Dickson nodded and smiled.

“Then, that must be him. That Logan writer has quite a reputation among publishers. He writes really well.

However, due to the content, there are strong likes and dislikes, so there is a great lack of popularity. The distorted thinking in the writing pops out from time to time, making it uncomfortable to read.

However, I heard that there are quite a few readers who follow that writer due to his unique narrative style and sharp writing skills. But why are you suddenly asking about the writer Logan?”

“Ah, I recently read a novel called LOVE and was deeply impressed. It was written by Logan.”

“Is that so? Haha. What was so impressive about it?”

“What should I say? The sentences are simple yet piercing. The deep content that calmly delves into the essence of love and the perspective of looking at it was also impressive.”

Mr. Dickson gave a strange smile to Tae-oh’s answer.

“Huhu, is that so? How old did you think Logan was when you read that book?”

“Um… at least in his 40s? Maybe older.”

As if he knew it, Mr. Dickson nodded and smiled.

“Haha. That’s right, I also felt that maturity when I first read Logan’s debut work.”

Mr. Dickson, who smiled and poured the remaining tea into his mouth, conveyed an amazing fact.

“Actually, Logan is a very young person in his mid-20s.”

At that moment, Tae-oh doubted his ears.

“Logan is in his mid-20s? I didn’t hear you wrong, did I?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The writer’s thoughts and experiences are bound to be reflected in the writing.

It contains the knowledge, values, and long-held beliefs that the person has learned while living.

So, you can easily recognize his age and flexibility of thought just by looking at the writing.

Logan’s writing should be at least in his mid-30s, and even if he was over 50, you would naturally nod your head.

But in his mid-20s….

“Have you ever met Logan in person?”

“Well… I haven’t seen him in person. But I’ve known Jayden Cooper, the president of ‘Jayden Publishing’, which Logan has published until now, for a long time. I heard it directly from him several years ago.”

“…….”

When Tae-oh heard that he was in his 20s, Eva came to mind for some reason.

‘Even if Logan is in his 20s, there’s no reason to connect him with Eva, so why am I so nervous?’

But it wasn’t just because of Eva.

While reading five books in a row for two weeks, Tae-oh had already become an avid fan of Logan.

Even if it wasn’t for the Eva issue, he personally wanted to meet and talk to him.

“Excuse me… Mr. Dickson?”

“Yes.”

“Is there any way I can meet Logan in person?”

“Yes? Lord Sanderson? Why suddenly… are you going to meet him?”

“I wanted to have a conversation after reading the book. There are many things I want to ask.”

Mr. Dickson shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but that might be difficult.”

“Why?”

“Logan is such a mysterious person. Except for Cooper, the president of Jayden Publishing, no one knows his face. Of course, I’ve never seen him either.”

Tae-oh hesitated for a moment and asked again.

“Then, is it possible for me to meet the president of Jayden Publishing?”

“Jayden Cooper?”

“Yes.”

“Are you perhaps trying to meet Logan through Cooper?”

“Yes, I want to do that if I can.”

Mr. Dickson nodded.

“Well, it’s not difficult to ask my friend. Moreover, Cooper is a big fan of T&S coffee. I heard he often stops by to buy coffee.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Mr. Dickson picked up a memo and wrote down the address of Jayden Publishing.

“I’ll tell Cooper about it tomorrow or the day after, so you can go to this address when you have time.”

Looking at the address, it was near Paternoster Row behind St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.

◈ A few days later. Near St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, Paternoster Row.

Jayden Publishing was directly connected to the main street, so it was not difficult to find.

Creak-

When Tae-oh pushed open the large iron door, printed papers were piled up here and there on a wide table.

Then, in one corner, he saw a tall man with a blunt face putting printed paper in a box.

When Tae-oh asked him about Jayden Cooper, he silently pointed to the wooden door inside.

Knock knock-

“Come in-”

A gruff middle-aged man’s voice leaked from inside.

Thump-

When Tae-oh opened the door, the narrow room was full of books and printed paper.

A middle-aged man who was diligently writing something with glasses on the bridge of his nose looked at Tae-oh and asked with a surprised expression.

“Who are you?”

Tae-oh took off his hat and bowed politely.

“Hello, Mr. Cooper? I’m Theo Sanderson, introduced by Mr. Dickson.”

“Ah, yes! Lord Sanderson!”

The man ran out without even caring that the glasses he had placed on the bridge of his nose were falling to the floor.

“I heard about it from Mr. Dickson the day before yesterday. For such a famous person to come to a place like this. Please sit down first, haha.”

Tae-oh handed over the item he was holding.

“It’s nothing special….”

“What is this?”

“I heard from Mr. Dickson that you often come to our coffee shop?”

“Haha. Yes, that’s right. I’m a coffee fanatic, and I accidentally tasted it and fell completely in love with it.”

“So, I brought you a small gift, Jamaica Blue Mountain T&S original beans.”

“Oh, this precious thing! Haha, thank you so much, Lord Sanderson. Let’s sit down first, shall we? Let’s sit down and talk.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Jayden Cooper, who received the coffee with a happy face, sat Tae-oh on the sofa.

While brewing tea, Mr. Cooper asked.

“Dickson said you wanted to meet the writer Logan?”

“That’s right. He has published his works only at Jayden Publishing so far, and I heard that you, the president, also meet Logan in person.”

Mr. Cooper put the tea he brought in front of Tae-oh and answered proudly.

“Yes, in fact, most publishing companies rejected Logan when he first tried to publish a book. But I liked the writing so much that I started publishing it with difficulty, and we have been continuing our relationship until now.”

Tae-oh immediately asked the part he was most curious about.

“I see. But Dickson said that Logan is in his mid-20s… is that true?”

Jayden Cooper smiled and nodded.

“Yes, that’s right. He’s twenty-five this year.”

“…….”

Tae-oh couldn’t believe it when he heard it from Mr. Dickson, but hearing the actual age from the publishing official he was meeting was even more shocking.

“That’s amazing. To write such a thing at that age… Logan is not his real name, right?”

“Haha. Yes, it’s not. It’s a pen name.”

“Is his real name a secret?”

“Yes. Well, he doesn’t want to reveal his identity. I shouldn’t say this either, but Logan is actually a nobleman with the title of Baron from a prestigious family. Maybe that’s why he’s trying to hide it more.”

“Yes? He has the title of Baron?”

“Yes, huhu.”

Duchess Price said that Eva’s spouse must have a clear title that can be confirmed in the list of nobles.

If Logan is a real nobleman listed in the list of nobles, he met the conditions desired by the Duchess.

“But he’s only twenty-five, is there any special reason why he already has the title of Baron?”

“His father suddenly passed away and he inherited the title.”

“Ah- he inherited the title, not received it.”

“Yes. Well… there were some circumstances in the family.”

Logan’s father was involved in the War of the Spanish Succession [a major European conflict (1701–1714)] and suffered great losses, and then in 1720, he lost almost all of his fortune in the South Sea Company stock bubble [a famous speculative bubble in 18th-century England].

The damage caused by this was so great that he suffered from debt until he died and died miserably.

In the end, Logan, the eldest son, inherited only a small house and a few maids.

“Logan, whose family has no wealth, is actually living on the money from publishing. Even if I tell him to write a little more to suit the taste of the public because it is an income that may be insufficient as a nobleman, he insists that the money is enough.”

It was too early to judge, but the conditions were met one by one like a lie.

“Mr. Cooper, is there any way I can meet Logan personally? I read the book and really wanted to meet and talk to him.”

Mr. Cooper had a slightly troubled expression.

“Actually, quite a few people have come to me wanting to meet Logan in person. But he has never tried to meet them. He finds it very annoying. Of course, I can tell him that Lord Sanderson wants to meet him.”

Tae-oh handed over one more small wooden box he had prepared and said.

“Yes, then please do. And this is also T&S coffee, I would appreciate it if you could give it to Logan.”

“Okay, I’ll definitely give it to him. But please don’t expect too much.”

“Yes, of course.”

◈ 5 days later. Theo Matchmaking Agency, VVIP Special Room.

Tae-oh was waiting for someone in the VVIP room on the first floor, looking at the clock with an anxious expression.

‘It’s past the promised time… can’t he find the way?’

A few days ago, Tae-oh heard very good news from the president of Jayden Publishing. Logan said he would meet Tae-oh.

Logan, who heard the story from Mr. Cooper, frowned and refused at first.

But when he received the coffee and heard the name ‘Theo Sanderson’, he pondered for a while and suddenly decided to meet him.

Mr. Cooper was very surprised, saying that Logan had never tried to meet anyone before.

‘Why isn’t he coming? Has he changed his mind?’

Tae-oh has done countless matches between modern times and the past, but he doesn’t think he’s ever been this nervous.

Knock knock knock-

Tae-oh was startled by the sound of the cafe employee knocking.

“Mr. CEO, a publishing official has arrived.”

Just in case, Tae-oh deliberately didn’t say the word Logan to the employees.

Tae-oh jumped up from his seat, opened the door, and went out.

Thump-

“Huh? Mr. CEO?”

The clerk who was about to open the door had a surprised expression.

“Thank you. Go do your work.”

“Yes, Mr. CEO.”

Tae-oh sent the employee away and quickly said to the man standing behind him.

“Hello, are you the writer? Let’s go in and say hello first?”