The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 68

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

Chapter 68

Chief Go’s curiosity was quickly resolved.

“Shin Ah asked me to. She said she didn’t want others to suffer because of her.”

Hyeokho’s expression, which had briefly hardened, softened gently. Those watching him stirred for a moment.

“And one more thing.”

Everyone focused their attention on Hyeokho.

“I’m appointing Shin Ah as an apprentice escort warrior.”

The air in the room rippled for a moment.

Soon, the first person to regain his composure spoke up.

“An apprentice escort warrior? Miss Shin Ah hasn’t even completed her education at Bogukgak yet. This goes against the escort agency’s principles.”

It was Ha Ilju again. He opposed Hyeokho’s words once more.

Hyeokho raised one eyebrow.

“If one can only become an escort warrior after receiving education, then we’d have to dismiss most of Manhyang Express’s escort warriors.”

Training escort warriors through education was for efficiency, not an absolute requirement.

In reality, Manhyang Express also recruited capable escort warriors, held irregular examinations for selecting escort warriors, or specially recruited those with outstanding martial arts.

Just as there wasn’t only one path, there were various ways to become an escort warrior.

“My thinking was shallow. However, Lord of the Nation, doesn’t apprentice escort warrior mean you intend to recognize her as a full escort warrior someday?”

“That’s right.”

Ha Ilju looked toward Chief Go. His eyes were asking for help.

Chief Go, who had worked with him for decades, knew well what Ha Ilju was worried about.

“Lord of the Nation, all of Manhyang Express’s escort warriors have pride. It’s natural since they’ve proven their abilities. But if Miss Shin Ah, whose achievements are meager, becomes an escort warrior, morale will be broken.”

“Shin Ah’s achievements are meager?”

Anger crept into Hyeokho’s voice. Ha Ilju quickly said,

“As an escort warrior, as an escort warrior. We all know well that Miss Shin Ah has mysterious abilities.”

Seeing that Shin Ah had survived a month in the mountains, she must have some mysterious abilities, Ha Ilju surmised.

Huu, Hyeokho composed his emotions. Whenever Shin Ah was mentioned, his emotions swung wildly.

‘It’s probably because I feel sorry. This reaction is also a result of my incompetence.’

Reflecting on his past mistakes, he spoke to everyone.

“Whether she has ability or not is something we’ll see in time. Shin Ah will prove it herself. I’ll appoint her as an apprentice escort warrior, but if the occasion arises to appoint her as a full escort warrior, I’ll discuss it with you all then.”

If I’ve compromised this much, accept it.

When Hyeokho spoke with subtle pressure, responses of “Yes,” and “Yes” were heard.

After that, simple reports followed, and soon the meeting was adjourned.

“Jang Mu, stay behind.”

After confirming that Chief Go and Ha Ilju had left and the door was closed, Jang Mu sat back down.

“How is the Yuwongak Master doing?”

“He’s organizing an escort mission to transport two thousand sacks of rice to Cheonghae.”

It was an escort mission requested annually by the Mangeum Trading Company of Hanam, but given the unusual scale of rice, there was much to be concerned about.

However, the timing was a bit early. Above all, didn’t Hyeokho have something he specifically assigned to Baekrim?

“What about the investigation into what happened during the heir selection test?”

Jang Mu closed his mouth. He had nothing particular to say.

Although various suspicions related to the heir selection test remained unresolved, Baekrim only went through the motions of investigation as if everything had been resolved as soon as Shin Ah returned.

Understanding the silent answer, Hyeokho commanded,

“Bring in the Yuwongak Master.”

* * *

Standing in front of Wolhwa Hall, Baekrim rubbed his sweaty palms vigorously on his clothes. Then he quickly adjusted his attire, worried that his clothes might have wrinkled.

“Tell him I’m here.”

After conveying the message to the servant, the door to Wolhwa Hall opened shortly after.

Baekrim gulped. He felt nervous just standing in front of Wolhwa Hall, even though he had done nothing wrong.

This was all because So Hyeokho was strict.

‘Father has been particularly harsh with me since I was young.’

Even when he made the same mistake as Cheonrim, he was scolded a hundred times more severely. At least that’s what he thought.

Cheonrim rarely made mistakes in the first place, making the comparison meaningless.

And Hyeokho was simply trying to educate Baekrim as the eldest son, being both the escort agency head and the head of the So Family Clan. The idea that he was particularly harsh was Baekrim’s complete misunderstanding.

‘I’ll never raise my son by crushing his spirit!’

However, Baekrim refused to acknowledge this fact even at his mature age.

He moved forward, freely pitying his unhappy childhood.

“Father, I’m here.”

Is he sleeping after calling for someone?

Hyeokho sat motionless with his eyes closed.

“Um… Father? Should I come back later?”

“How is the pursuit of the escaped bandits progressing?”

Baekrim, who was about to sit down, hesitated. His face briefly hardened. But soon he answered with a casual smile.

“We’re pursuing them diligently. But it’s not easy to catch their trail. They must have been quite extraordinary in their ability to appear and disappear like ghosts.”

His tone was infinitely light.

How could he so easily speak of his own incompetence?

Hyeokho’s chest swelled greatly with anger.

“More importantly, Father, while going on this escort mission for the Mangeum Trading Company, I thought I’d visit the Sacheon Dang Family after a long time.”

Impudently, Baekrim changed the subject before Hyeokho could say anything.

“Yuwongak Master, do you think this is a private meeting? I ask again. How is the pursuit of the bandits progressing?”

Baekrim’s heart sank at the voice filled with anger.

“Father, no, Lord of the Nation. We’ve already investigated them as much as we could. Rather than using many personnel to pursue them, wouldn’t it be better to go on one more escort mission?”

“You mean you half-heartedly did what I assigned you?”

“That’s not it. I’m saying this because Shin Ah has returned safely.”

“An escort warrior does not forget kindness. What does that mean in reverse?”

“An escort warrior forgets kindness?”

“You foolish boy!”

Baekrim’s heart shrank at the thunderous roar.

“It means an escort warrior does not forget grudges.”

Due to the nature of their work, escort warriors were inevitably connected through profit relationships with various groups including Murim, trading companies, and the dark path.

This meant that conflicts were bound to occur inevitably. Conflicts in Murim led to bloodshed and bred grudges.

For escort warriors to leave grudges unresolved was to plant seeds of trouble that would surely explode someday.

If defeats and humiliations suffered on the road weren’t avenged, they would become prey for others.

Who would entrust packages to an escort agency that was looked down upon by others?

Therefore, grudges held by escort warriors were debts that absolutely had to be repaid for the sake of credibility.

That Baekrim had been unaware of this all along was pathetic.

Hyeokho clicked his tongue, openly showing his disappointment in Baekrim.

“You’re hopeless as a pavilion master, as an escort warrior, and as Shin Ah’s uncle. How old are you? How many years of experience do you have as an escort warrior? Do I still have to teach you such things? If that position is too much for you, step down right now!”

Baekrim’s face turned pale. He quickly knelt like a child and begged.

“F-Father, I was wrong. I’ll work harder.”

“Harder?”

Shin Ah’s voice saying she would do well echoed in his ears, and her cute and lovable image flickered before his eyes.

How spirited and reliable she had been.

In contrast, looking at Baekrim kneeling and trembling made his chest feel stuffy.

“Yes, harder. Won’t everything work out if I work hard at everything?”

“Do well, not just work hard! You are Manhyang Express’s representative. But how is it that you don’t know what even Shin Ah knows!”

Baekrim bit down hard on the inside of his mouth.

He felt humiliation and shame at being compared to a mere ten-year-old child.

At the same time, resentment toward Hyeokho surged up, and hatred and anger toward Shin Ah boiled over.

‘Shin Ah is the problem.’

I recalled the words Dang Mihee had once whispered to me in the Bed Chamber.

‘Yes, that bitch is the problem.’

I should have dealt with her this time, but I missed a good opportunity. However, opportunities always come again.

So Baekrim ground his teeth fiercely.

He would drive out Shin Ah, that thorn in his side, as quickly as possible.

He made that vow.

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