The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 75

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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 75

Geumwa Trading Company dealt with expensive goods frequently enough that their security was thorough.

Second-rate and third-rate warriors hired with expensive money guarded the front, and the head of security was a peak-level expert.

Before entering the trading company, they conducted identity verification as well as body searches. Having passed through all those procedures meant these weren’t people to be taken lightly.

Knowing this, Oh Bangja had agreed to hear them out for now.

Yuhyeon suddenly thought this might be an opportunity.

“Manager Oh, it seems there’s some misunderstanding on your part, so we should have a conversation.”

Oh Bangja’s eyes sharpened with intensity.

Yuhyeon naturally turned his gaze away to avoid Oh Bangja’s eyes and looked at Shin Ah.

“Would you like to come inside?”

Please.

Desperation overflowed from Yuhyeon’s eyes as he looked at Shin Ah.

* * *

It had been truly a long time since Yuhyeon received guests in Geumwa Trading Company’s guest room.

With a long table between them, Yuhyeon and Oh Bangja sat on the inner side, while Shin Ah sat on the opposite side.

Behind Yuhyeon stood people related to Geumwa Trading Company, while behind Shin Ah stood Juhwa, Chilseon, and Mugyeol.

Geumwa Trading Company’s guest room was extremely lavish, as if boasting of its past glory.

The gold-embroidered table cover, chairs with jade beads embedded in the armrests, and blue porcelain in the storage cabinets all indicated Geumwa Trading Company’s prestige.

‘But these are merely past glories.’

Shin Ah’s assessment was harsh as she caught the scent of dust.

‘This legacy will disappear before long too.’

While moving to the guest room, Shin Ah recovered a fragment of forgotten memory.

It was her connection with that scholarly-looking boy, Geum Yuhyeon.

Manhyang Express had been involved in the incident that caused the precarious Geumwa Trading Company to collapse in an instant.

About 10 years later, the young head of Geumwa Trading Company barely obtained a chance to save the company and requested an escort mission from the escort agency.

The package was expensive fur pelts, items he had risked his life to obtain by seeking out the Xiongnu tribe living in the Northern Steppes.

At the time, he couldn’t even pay the contract fee for the escort mission, but Geum Yuhyeon begged Baekrim to please help him just once.

Naturally, Baekrim didn’t even give him a glance.

‘Escort Warrior! Please, just help me once!’

As that desperate voice came to mind, a corner of Shin Ah’s chest throbbed.

It was where her conscience resided.

‘He had asked me too.’

Yuhyeon had knelt down and banged his forehead against the dirt ground, desperately pleading for them to take on the escort mission just once.

‘I refused too.’

At that time, she neither had the skill nor the qualification to go on an escort mission to the north.

And that day, Yuhyeon wrapped the fur sample around his body, set it on fire, and ended his life.

Later, she heard that he had run around everywhere trying to save the failing company, and that he had a good eye for goods.

‘If he went as far as seeking out the Xiongnu tribe, he had drive, and if he managed to get samples from those people, he had good skills. It’s truly regrettable.’

If I had helped him then, would Geumwa Trading Company have been rebuilt?

She couldn’t guarantee that, but at least you would have lived.

She felt unnecessarily sorry.

‘So I’ll help you once.’

Shin Ah made up her mind generously.

“Shall we hear what happened?”

As soon as the servant brought tea, Yuhyeon opened the conversation.

“Before that, let’s introduce ourselves. I’m So Shin Ah of Manhyang Express.”

The name Manhyang Express, and the surname ‘So’.

Both Yuhyeon and Oh Bangja flinched simultaneously.

So Hyeokho of Manhyang Express didn’t interfere privately in Chang’an’s affairs and was generous to the people here.

But blood is thicker than water.

When it came to matters involving blood relatives, there was no telling how he might react.

‘So that was it.’

Understanding why Shin Ah’s group had been able to safely cross Geumwa Trading Company’s threshold, Yuhyeon nodded inwardly.

‘This is serious though.’

If the other party was truly ‘So Shin Ah’ of Manhyang Express.

Yuhyeon looked at Oh Bangja.

At his questioning look asking if he had ever heard the name ‘So Shin Ah’, Oh Bangja shook his head.

‘Madam Dang rarely tells us about the escort agency’s affairs…’

Oh Bangja’s expression slightly soured.

His dissatisfaction with Dang Mihee, who treated him like a dog while never telling him anything clearly, suddenly surged up.

Though their momentum had declined slightly recently, Manhyang Express was the pride of Seomsu. Moreover, Manhyang Express’s prestige was high, and people’s interest was immense.

Due to the large-scale heir selection test held recently, lately it was impossible to have a conversation without mentioning Manhyang Express.

Naturally, stories about the So family clan of Manhyang Express also circulated.

Not only Baekrim, Cheonrim, and Hyeon Hwa who married far away, but also the names of Mando and Ilbi were known.

Mando and Yuhyeon even had an indirect connection. The teacher who had taught Mando had also taught Yuhyeon.

‘He didn’t speak well of him though.’

But this was the first time he’d heard the name Shin Ah.

Recently there had been talk that the escort agency head had found his missing granddaughter, but he couldn’t be certain that was the child before his eyes.

Then was that child lying?

‘She’s too confident.’

If it was a lie, that child would become a legendary con artist who could buy and sell nations with just a few words.

Doubt was clearly revealed on Yuhyeon’s face, who wasn’t yet skilled at managing his expressions.

The experienced Shin Ah read his thoughts at once.

“You seem not to believe me. Shall I send someone to the escort agency to have it confirmed?”

Yuhyeon instinctively shook his head, then straightened his posture and smiled. Then it seemed as if Cheongmok incense was coming from somewhere.

His gentle impression and refined bearing were perfect for charming women.

‘Still, he can’t match our Mugyeol though.’

For some reason feeling proud, Shin Ah puffed out her chest.

“I was just surprised because I hadn’t heard the name before, not that I was suspicious, Miss So.”

Yuhyeon decided to trust Shin Ah for now.

He judged that being deceived by trusting would cause less damage than the harm he’d receive if it turned out to be true after not believing.

“My introduction is very late. I’m the head of Geumwa Trading Company, Geum Yuhyeon. Now, would you tell me why you sought me out?”

“Please call me Escort Warrior So. My jaengjeasu has something to say.”

Shin Ah gently corrected Yuhyeon’s words and looked back at Juhwa.

“Juhwa, would you like to speak?”

To start the story from the encounter with Byeongjin’s group, Juhwa was the right person.

Meanwhile, Shin Ah observed Oh Bangja and the others.

Juhwa detailed everything that happened at Soso Restaurant, how they beat her, and even the fact that they attacked Shin Ah.

Yuhyeon swallowed hard several times while listening to her story.

“To think they committed such acts in Geumwa Trading Company’s name, it’s utterly deplorable. I’ll apologize on their behalf.”

Yuhyeon’s face turned red as he bowed his head.

Just before entering the guest room, Yuhyeon had confirmed the identities of those Shin Ah had brought.

According to Oh Bangja, they were people used as contractors by Geumwa Trading Company.

Strictly speaking, they couldn’t be considered part of Geumwa Trading Company, but since they were people receiving compensation from the company, it was difficult to avoid responsibility.

They even extorted protection money using Geumwa Trading Company’s reputation.

After much deliberation, Yuhyeon opened his mouth.

“What is it that you want?”

“Company head, isn’t that just a one-sided claim from their side? We should also hear what our people have to say.”

Oh Bangja quickly interjected.

Yuhyeon clenched his fists tightly.

Since when had street thugs become people of Geumwa Trading Company?

“It won’t be much different from what we’ve said.”

Juhwa twisted her lips.

“Even so, there’s no reason for Geumwa Trading Company to compensate for the damages they caused. It’s merely their misconduct.”

“This is disappointing, really.”

Shin Ah pouted her lips and furrowed her brows.

“Even if you’re merchants, I thought you’d know about morality, but you’re nothing more than money-grubbing beasts in human form. Geumwa Trading Company… I know it wasn’t like this in the old days. Right, Uncle Chilseon?”

“Yes, the previous head of Geumwa Trading Company was especially careful to ensure people wouldn’t suffer because of the company’s business. He severely punished those who committed wrongs while impersonating Geumwa Trading Company.”

Chilseon, who had run an unlicensed street stall to earn money for his daughter’s medicine, knew this well.

When Geum Yeo, Yuhyeon’s father, was the head of Geumwa Trading Company, there was no ruthless extortion of money from small shops under the guise of protection fees, nor monopolizing transportation using hired muscle.

Yuhyeon’s face reddened at being openly compared to his father.

He bit his lower lip hard before releasing it and spoke.

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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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