The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 74

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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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Chapter 74

The Geumwa Trading Company that his ancestors had carefully built was crumbling down. The warehouse that had been filled with treasures even during his father’s generation was now empty.

Yuhyeon’s heart felt the same way.

‘If I had learned the business earlier, if I hadn’t trusted Oh Bangja, would things be different now?’

Regret wouldn’t change anything.

Then could he at least reclaim the authority of company head from Oh Bangja now and rebuild Geumwa Trading Company from the ground up… probably not.

His burning heart was extinguished with a hiss.

Oh Bangja had completely seized control of Geumwa Trading Company.

The current Yuhyeon was merely a company head in name only.

A few who had followed Geum Yeo were protecting him, but it was literally just personal protection.

Because Oh Bangja had only given them that much of a role.

How many more years could he remain sitting in the company head’s position?

Sometimes Yuhyeon wished Oh Bangja would just kill him.

Then people would at least realize that Oh Bangja wasn’t a loyal servant of Geumwa Trading Company, but merely a greedy parasite.

But Oh Bangja wouldn’t even allow Yuhyeon’s death.

When Yuhyeon refused all food and drink as an act of defiance, he would somehow make him eat, and if he tried to hang himself, every rope in the room would be removed.

Yuhyeon was letting out a hollow laugh while swallowing tea water when it happened.

“How about we purchase about fifty gwan worth of these tea leaves and try distributing them?”

Oh Bangja asked.

Yuhyeon, who had put down his tea cup, raised his head.

“Why are you asking me?”

“Because you’re the company head? Shouldn’t I follow the company head’s opinion for at least the first transaction?”

Yuhyeon let out a snort.

Oh Bangja’s eyes twitched. Lately, Yuhyeon’s empty eyes and that mocking smile had been particularly irritating.

‘He doesn’t even know I’ve kept him from becoming a beggar, and he dares to rebel?’

When a tiger dies, raccoons, foxes, and everything else rushes to claim its territory. Packs of hyenas make a fuss trying to tear at even rotten flesh.

They were the type who could easily devour a tiger cub and more.

Oh Bangja was one of that crowd too.

But instead of tearing at the tiger cub, Oh Bangja chose to claim the tiger’s hide.

And he raised the tiger cub to be an obedient dog. Even one with only a tiger’s hide left had sufficient utility value.

‘Many places trust and do business just because it’s called Geumwa Trading Company.’

That wasn’t all.

At least in Chang’an, he could reign like a king.

Because the company head was a descendant of the ‘Geum’ family.

So he had kept alive someone he could have eliminated early on and praised him as the ‘company head,’ but the ungrateful fool was showing his dissatisfaction.

‘Now you’ve gotten too big for your britches, haven’t you.’

He needed to either thoroughly correct that insolence or make him properly understand his position, but the opportunity hadn’t come easily.

Oh Bangja hid his displeasure and showed a benevolent smile.

“Then I’ll take that as permission and order fifty gwan worth.”

Yuhyeon didn’t even answer Oh Bangja and turned his body away entirely.

“And.”

“You have more to say?”

Yuhyeon’s eyes flashed fierce for a moment, as if asking whether there was more to be stripped from him.

“A marriage proposal has come in.”

Yuhyeon clenched his fist.

“I must have told you. I’m not ready for marriage yet.”

“It’s a very good match. She’s the Inspector General’s sixth cousin, and forming a marriage connection would be of great help to the company’s affairs.”

Now he was trying to make connections in political circles for a big score?

‘He’s being so blatant about using me as a sacrifice?’

Yuhyeon’s lips twisted as he once again realized how Oh Bangja viewed him.

Oh Bangja’s marriage proposal was tantamount to telling him to sell his body.

That much he couldn’t tolerate. Trembling with shame and humiliation, Yuhyeon said,

“Let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.”

“At least meet her once. They think very highly of the company head.”

Yuhyeon sighed.

‘If anyone would just remove that bastard from this room, I’d serve them as a benefactor for life…’

At that moment, it became noisy outside.

“Company head! Geumwa Trading Company head, come out! If you don’t come out, we’re coming in!”

A clear voice rang out across the company courtyard.

Both Yuhyeon and Oh Bangja’s gazes turned toward the door.

* * *

“What’s all this commotion!”

Oh Bangja and Yuhyeon came rushing out.

“Oh? Are you the company head?”

Shin Ah pointed at Oh Bangja. Oh Bangja’s lips curved up slightly. But that was only momentary, as Oh Bangja stepped aside.

“The company head is over here.”

Shin Ah’s gaze shifted from Oh Bangja to Yuhyeon. A handsome young man who seemed too young to be a company head was standing on the wooden porch.

“You’re the company head?”

Shin Ah pointed at the boy with her finger. It was quite an insolent act, but no one stopped her.

Shin Ah, who had come on strong to seize the initiative, was becoming embarrassed instead.

‘Shouldn’t someone be shouting about how dare I act so insolently toward our company head by now?’

Shin Ah glanced around.

The company people’s gazes were focused not on the boy, but on the toad-like man.

‘I see how it is.’

Shin Ah easily grasped the situation.

‘You’re just a figurehead.’

But it didn’t seem like he wanted to be in that position.

Shin Ah was clicking her tongue, thinking there was another pitiful person here.

“I am Geum Yuhyeon, head of Geumwa Trading Company. Who might you be?”

Yuhyeon showed proper courtesy with a considerably tired face.

‘She came barging in but wants to exchange names, so her character seems decent.’

Having finished her assessment, Shin Ah raised her voice.

“I’m here for damage compensation. I lost a day’s business because of people from Geumwa Trading Company.”

When Shin Ah looked back, Chilseon pushed forward the men he had brought tied with rope.

They all looked terrible. Their clothes were torn to shreds and their faces were swollen.

They flinched and trembled every time Shin Ah spoke.

Yuhyeon looked at them carefully. It was very difficult to guess their original appearance due to the swelling, but he was certain they weren’t familiar faces.

“Our people, you say?”

The men nodded vigorously then made groaning sounds. Their bones ached when they shook their heads.

“Why would you pretend not to know? They said they manage Chang’an shops under orders from the Geumwa Trading Company head. Whether it’s management, tyranny, or tormenting people to death, I’m not sure.”

Shin Ah had had a serious conversation with Byeongjin’s group on the way to the company. Their colorful faces were evidence of that conversation.

‘Do you uncles only do transport?’

‘…….’

‘Mugyeol, I think these uncles’ tongues are tied.’

Each time, Mugyeol’s fist cut through midair. His small but heavy fists flew indiscriminately toward the men’s jaws, backs, striking without regard for target.

‘Mugyeol, you’ll hurt your hand. Look, it’s already turning red.’

‘Then… should I not hit them?’

‘Why are you being so extreme? If you have no teeth, use your gums. If you can’t use your hands.’

Shin Ah gave him a meaningful look.

‘Wooden sword.’

The fact that several of the men wet themselves a little at that moment would remain a secret until death.

The conversation continued.

‘So you guys only do transportation?’

‘…We, we manage shops……’

‘Your voice is too quiet. Mugyeol……’

‘We manage shops! We stop troublemakers who cause problems, and we catch and punish scammers.’

‘For free?’

‘We do receive protection fees……’

Under the guise of protection fees, they extorted money from shops, added their own service charges to transportation costs, skimmed off good items for themselves, and delivered only garbage-quality goods.

Byeongjin’s group weren’t just bad guys—they were scum who used Geumwa Trading Company’s name to comprehensively commit evil acts.

‘Does Yuhyeon know about this too?’

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ah, he doesn’t know.

“Master, there’s no need to listen to such nonsense. Please go inside. I’ll handle this matter.”

Oh Bangja opened the door and grabbed Yuhyeon’s arm. It seemed he intended to drive him away without even listening to Yuhyeon’s opinion.

Yuhyeon looked at Oh Bangja, Shin Ah, and the bound Byeongjin’s group.

This was the first time someone completely unrelated to Geumwa Trading Company had entered the building.

Come to think of it, how did those people get inside anyway?

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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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