The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 77

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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 77

When I had Mugyeol tell them to bring an adult by informing either Jang Mu, grandfather’s escort, or Chief Go about the current situation, I knew someone would send help, but I didn’t expect Chief Escort Ha Ilju to come personally.

“Well, isn’t this the Chief Escort of Manhyang Express? What brings you all the way here…?”

Oh Bangja greeted him with his words trailing off.

“Ah, our young lady called for me. I heard there was a problem with the tea leaves.”

Ha Ilju glanced at Shin Ah with a slight smile, then immediately examined the tea leaves.

“Ptui, ptui.”

Ha Ilju, who had put the tea leaves in his mouth to chew, wiped his tongue with his hand. Then he glared at the people from Geumwa Trading Company.

“To think of selling this, Unjung Tea Garden must have lost their minds.”

Here, tea wasn’t simply something to drink.

The host would select tea leaves according to the guest’s status, and guests would evaluate the host by the taste of the tea.

Serving tea so expensive it was difficult to obtain was itself a means of displaying a family’s wealth, and serving tea that suited someone’s taste meant that person was held in high regard.

That’s why in the Central Plains, sword fights could break out over a single cup of tea.

To eliminate future troubles, Shin Ah asked Ha Ilju.

“If it were you, how much would you pay for this?”

Since Ha Ilju was treating her as the young lady of the So Family, Shin Ah also spoke comfortably, reading the situation.

“I’m sorry, young lady. Surely you’re not thinking of buying this? I appraised it at your request, but honestly, I wouldn’t put this to my lips even if someone paid me.”

This was sufficient.

“That can’t be right. We need another appraisal. No matter how much you’re the Chief Escort of Manhyang Express, you’re from the same organization as that per… I mean, that young lady, aren’t you? Blood is thicker than water!”

Oh Bangja, now certain from Ha Ilju’s words and attitude that Shin Ah was So Hyeokho’s blood relative, addressed Shin Ah respectfully while arguing about fairness.

This was his last desperate struggle, as accepting the results would put him in great trouble.

This would strain relations with Manhyang Express, but he had something to rely on.

‘I’ll cling to Lady Yuwongak.’

Then Ha Ilju flew into a rage.

“Can you take responsibility for those words? How dare you view me like that! We don’t lie about the value of goods. If you can’t trust me, the Chief Escort of Manhyang Express, then ask someone else. But if my appraisal is correct, you’ll have to give up your tongue!”

Ha Ilju had a somewhat comical appearance with a mole beside his nose, but he was an impressive person who had risen to Chief Escort from the bottom. His nickname “Master Calculator” alone showed his abilities.

Oh Bangja’s spine tingled at the aura he emanated.

Yuhyeon sighed deeply and stepped forward.

While he was pleased to see Oh Bangja getting his comeuppance, he couldn’t stand by and watch relations with Manhyang Express deteriorate beyond repair.

“Chief Escort Ha, this is my oversight for not properly teaching my subordinate, so please forgive him just this once. And Manager Oh, cancel the contract with Unjung Tea Garden immediately.”

“C-Company Head!”

“Don’t say another word!”

Yuhyeon shouted. The trading company people stirred at this resolute side they had never seen before.

Oh Bangja, his face completely crumpled, trembled and left the estate.

Yuhyeon bowed his head toward Ha Ilju, who had prevented financial loss and damage to Geumwa Trading Company’s reputation.

“Thank you.”

“You should thank me for that.”

Shin Ah slipped between Ha Ilju and Yuhyeon, intercepting the thanks.

“The young lady is right. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have come here.”

When Mugyeol, the boy who followed Shin Ah around, came looking for Chief Go, Ha Ilju happened to be passing by nearby.

The moment he heard the full story, he exchanged glances with Chief Go and promptly followed Mugyeol out.

The reason was simple.

It seemed like it would be interesting.

He had been quite bored with the escort agency being so quiet and uneventful. But lately, the escort agency had been coming to life.

And Shin Ah was at the center of it all.

‘Interesting things happen around the young lady.’

Today was as he expected.

“Thank you, young lady.”

Yuhyeon smiled brightly. It was a smile that seemed to bloom like flowers, carrying their fragrance.

Then Mugyeol tapped the ground with the tip of his shoe.

Shin Ah looked back at Mugyeol.

“Was it hard rushing back and forth?”

“No, young lady. That much is nothing at all.”

The conversation between Mugyeol and Shin Ah continued naturally.

The smile at the corner of Yuhyeon’s mouth quietly disappeared. He bit his lip and reached his hand toward Shin Ah.

In that instant, Mugyeol’s eyes flashed as he struck away Yuhyeon’s hand.

Smack.

“Ah!”

A groan mixed with confusion and pain burst from Yuhyeon’s mouth.

The guards drew their swords at the surprise attack on their company head. The harmonious atmosphere changed as quickly as flipping a palm.

Silence fell over the courtyard, and immediately after, Juhwa struck Mugyeol’s back.

“What are you doing? Apologize.”

Mugyeol glared at Juhwa.

He had done nothing wrong. He had acted to protect Shin Ah.

The fault lay with Yuhyeon.

‘Who told him to carelessly reach for our young lady?’

“It’s fine. Rather, I should be the one thanking you. I almost committed a discourtesy toward the young lady. Thank you for stopping me.”

Yuhyeon maturely extended his hand first. However, seeing the unfriendly gaze despite his words, Mugyeol only nodded slightly.

Since the victim himself said it was fine, Yuhyeon’s guards put away their swords.

“Young lady, we still have things to discuss. Shall we move to a guest room?”

Yuhyeon politely requested.

These were the words Shin Ah had been waiting for, but something bothered her.

“Not young lady, but Escort Warrior.”

Shin Ah emphasized once again.

* * *

“What? Shin Ah will handle all of Geumwa Trading Company’s transportation within Chang’an from now on? Everything? Does that make sense?”

Baekrim’s eyes widened like lanterns. The servant who had come to ask about Shin Ah’s news bowed his head.

“I don’t know the details. Shall I find out?”

“How can ‘I don’t know’ come out of your mouth? If you have a head, you should think and calculate. Now, listen. How many shops do you think receive ingredients from Geumwa Trading Company?”

How could the servant know?

As he scratched the back of his head, Baekrim pounded his chest.

“Oh my, how frustrating. It’s easily over fifty. And So Shin Ah took all of that business alone!”

Setting aside how she would handle deliveries to fifty places, he could imagine how this would look to So Hyeokho.

Surely Hyeokho would…

* * *

“Did you hear that Shin Ah made a contract with Geumwa Trading Company?”

“You mentioned it this morning.”

Jang Mu, standing a few steps away from Hyeokho, replied.

“And that although it’s transportation within Chang’an, there are over fifty places to manage?”

“I heard that at the hour of Jin.”

“I see. Then how about this? Shin Ah is the first apprentice escort warrior to secure a contract with a trading company since Manhyang Express was established.”

Hearty laughter followed.

Though he had already heard that as well, Jang Mu only smiled instead of answering.

How long had it been since he’d seen Hyeokho laugh so refreshingly?

Though he was a bit overzealous, I didn’t want to pour cold water on his feelings of affection.

After that, Hyeokho mentioned words like ‘Shin Ah,’ ‘our Shin Ah,’ and ‘the first’ about a dozen times.

“Lord of the Nation, are you that pleased?”

Hyeokho took a deep breath and composed his surging emotions.

“Jang Mu, you must know. What has been my greatest worry?”

“How could I possibly understand the depths and breadth of your heart, Lord of the Nation?”

Jang Mu’s attitude of pretending not to know while knowing wasn’t bad.

Hyeokho’s eyes deepened.

The absence of a successor he could trust to entrust the Escort Agency to.

That was Hyeokho’s greatest worry.

There were Baekrim and Cheonrim, but both had shortcomings for inheriting Manhyang Express.

Baekrim was full of ambition but greedy, and though he had a clever wife, he was wrapped around her skirts and manipulated.

On the other hand, Cheonrim had outstanding skills but lacked ambition, and being overly cautious in everything, he couldn’t make decisive judgments.

Moreover, perhaps because he had spent his childhood at Mount Hua as a lay disciple, he often put chivalry and righteousness before the Escort Agency’s interests.

His grandsons weren’t much different either.

Mando was naturally lazy and violent, while Cheondo, despite earning his Escort Warrior qualification, showed no interest in escort missions.

So Shin Ah’s actions were bound to stand out.

Shin Ah was eager to work for the Escort Agency, and when given opportunities, she produced results.

Food delivery within Chang’an—it was different from what Manhyang Express had been doing, and in some ways it seemed trivial, but most escort agencies started from there.

What escort agency begins by wandering the Central Plains and dealing with merchant groups from the start?

Shin Ah’s contract made Hyeokho, the Escort Agency lord, reflect on his original intentions. That’s why Shin Ah was even more precious to him.

“What do you think, Jang Mu?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you believe Shin Ah will handle Geumwa Trading Company’s work well?”

“…….”

“Speak honestly.”

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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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