The Granddaughter of Manhyang Escort Bureau Hides Her Magic - Chapter 85

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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 85

“A branch office… do you mean the Chang’an Branch?”

“That’s right.”

Groans erupted from here and there. Everyone was flustered.

“Isn’t the Chang’an Branch temporary?”

“The merchants have been demanding it. They say that because it’s a temporary branch office, they can’t entrust their packages even when they want to. They subtly blamed me, asking if we’re neglecting Chang’an. I had nothing to say.”

Who would dare blame the Lord of the Nation?

It was merely an excuse he made up because he wanted to remove the word ‘temporary’ hanging in front of the Chang’an Branch.

“You saw the chief accountant too, didn’t you?”

“Yes… well…”

Ha Ilju trailed off.

Though the Lord of the Nation was exaggerating, it was true that Chang’an’s merchants had expressed the necessity of Manhyang Express’s Chang’an Branch.

However, they couldn’t just hand out branch offices recklessly just because someone wanted one.

When a branch office was established, the main office had to provide support too. That’s why they only permitted branch office establishments in places where profitability was somewhat guaranteed.

Come to think of it, even allowing a temporary branch office in Chang’an now was a great privilege.

“Father, no, Lord of the Nation.”

At this rate, it seemed like Shin Ah would become both an official Escort Warrior and even the Chang’an Branch manager.

So Baekrim, whose insides were boiling with anger, quickly opened his mouth.

“Shin Ah is only ten years old. She’s not yet at an age to take charge of and manage a branch office. Though what the child has been doing lately is admirable, giving her a branch office when profits aren’t even coming in properly… Excessive rewards could be poison to the child. So how about we pretend this discussion never happened?”

Though he pretended to care for Shin Ah, So Baekrim was simply annoyed that Shin Ah would become a branch manager when even So Mando was still just an apprentice Escort Warrior who hadn’t gone on a single escort mission yet.

There wasn’t a person in the room who didn’t know his dark and twisted inner thoughts.

But it was also a somewhat reasonable point.

Shin Ah was young. And she had only shown the growth potential of the Chang’an Branch; whether she would continue to succeed or collapse was unknown.

So Hyeokho glanced at So Baekrim and looked at Ha Ilju.

“I’m curious about the chief accountant’s thoughts.”

The person with the quickest calculations here was the chief accountant.

So Hyeokho ordered Ha Ilju to calculate the profits that the Chang’an Branch would bring.

Ha Ilju, who had been stroking his chin and pondering seriously, opened his mouth.

“In my view, the Chang’an Branch is…”

* * *

Cheongpungru in the rear garden of Secret Garden Pavilion.

Red lanterns were hung in a row on lines crossing the rear garden to brighten the dark night, and boats carrying candles floated on the small pond.

And a lavish feast was prepared on the pavilion.

The faces of those sitting around it were all bright, and laughter never ceased.

Though music was missing, it was truly a celebration.

Among them, the one with the brightest face was Shin Ah, the protagonist of this celebration.

“Congratulations on your official promotion, Escort Warrior!”

Juhwa performed a formal bow and placed a small bundle beside Shin Ah’s knee.

“This is my gift.”

Then Mugyeol’s expression darkened as he waited for his turn to greet her. It was because he was the only one empty-handed.

He didn’t know he should have prepared a gift for such an occasion. Mugyeol, who had no intention of excusing his ignorance due to his youth, hung his head low.

“I’m sorry, Miss. I didn’t prepare a gift.”

What if Shin Ah was disappointed? He was so worried that he couldn’t bring himself to lift his head and look at her.

He had money that Shin Ah had given him, and he could have asked his teacher to let him go buy a gift briefly… Mugyeol’s shoulders kept shrinking.

But how could Shin Ah not know Mugyeol’s feelings?

She smiled briefly and took Mugyeol’s hand.

“Mugyeol, you don’t need to give me a gift. Because.”

I owe you my life.

No. I don’t want to diminish your sacrifice with the word ‘debt.’

‘So let’s call it a gift.’

Shin Ah thought her second life began with Mugyeol.

If he hadn’t confronted the Imugi, if he hadn’t fed me the Imugi’s inner core.

‘The current me wouldn’t exist.’

“I’ve already received enough.”

“What do you mean? When? From whom?”

Mugyeol, who had no memories of his previous life, found Shin Ah’s words puzzling.

Mugyeol’s expression with his eyes wide like a rabbit was amusing.

Shin Ah smiled and said.

“From you.”

‘You are my gift.’

That’s how it sounded to Mugyeol. The child’s ears turned bright red.

Mugyeol fidgeted with his fingers and glanced at Shin Ah.

He wanted to have more conversation with Shin Ah. But the people around wouldn’t leave Shin Ah, today’s protagonist, alone.

“Miss, quickly! Come quickly and explain what happened.”

“Yes! I’m dying of curiosity too. Did you become an official Escort Warrior? Can you now go on escort missions outside Chang’an?”

Following Danmi’s questions, Juhwa also bombarded her with questions, so Shin Ah turned away from Mugyeol.

As soon as Shin Ah’s gaze left him, Mugyeol’s eyes turned dark.

He didn’t like seeing Shin Ah’s back. No, he liked seeing Shin Ah’s back, but he wanted her to look only at him.

And if he got the chance, he wanted to stand beside her.

If he could earn the right to stand by Shin Ah’s side… next, he wanted to protect what was in front of her.

For Shin Ah, who said he alone was enough when he hadn’t given her anything yet, Mugyeol strengthened his resolve.

“Miss, I have something to tell you after the banquet ends.”

Mugyeol, sitting next to Shin Ah, whispered.

“Can’t you say it now?”

“Later… I’d like to tell you privately.”

Since it wasn’t common for Mugyeol to ask for something, Shin Ah readily nodded.

“Alright. But eat this first.”

Shin Ah placed food in front of Mugyeol.

“Miss! Aren’t you favoring only Mugyeol too much?”

Juhwa pouted her lips.

“I’ll take care of you, Juhwa.”

Chilseon took care of Juhwa.

“Uncle, I told them to prepare food to take out. When you leave, a servant will give you a basket, so just take it.”

Shin Ah took care of Chilseon. The caring hearts went round and round.

They laughed and chatted while filling their stomachs for a long time.

.

.

.

So Cheonrim and Ok Chifung left in the middle of the banquet. Both seemed to have urgent matters.

So Cheonrim was very sorry for not being able to stay until the end, but Shin Ah wasn’t disappointed at all.

Just holding a banquet in the pavilion was more than enough to make her happy and grateful.

“You really won’t tell us?”

After So Cheonrim and Ok Chifung left, Danmi, who had been looking for an opportunity all along, asked.

“Tell you what?”

“About the Escort Warrior and branch office, what happened?”

“Oh, that? Well, you all know that the various shop owners came looking for me, right?”

Everyone nodded their heads.

Shop owners had come flocking to buy the short ice storage units.

“Those people told Grandfather that a branch office was needed in Chang’an too.”

“Did the young miss ask you to do that?”

Danmi asked.

How naive, Juhwa snorted.

“The young miss wouldn’t have said it directly. But she planned it, right?”

Juhwa and Danmi, who were the same gender and age, had become friends through their shared fondness for Shin Ah.

At Juhwa’s confident words, Shin Ah shrugged her shoulders.

“As the head of the escort agency, Grandfather made the decision.”

Danmi didn’t ask further. She figured Shin Ah had handled things well on her own.

“Then you’ve become an official Escort Warrior?”

“Yeah.”

“Not an apprentice?”

“An apprentice Escort Warrior being a branch chief never made sense in the first place. I’m now an official Escort Warrior!”

“That’s amazing! Even Young Master Mando from Yuwon Pavilion is still an apprentice!”

Danmi was beside herself with joy.

“Will we get carriages too?”

Juhwa, who had been listening to the conversation, chimed in.

“Since it’s become an official branch office, we’ll receive the same support as other branches.”

Escort Warriors, porters, handcarts, carriages.

Shin Ah answered Juhwa’s question while thinking of the urgent necessities first.

“We can borrow oxen and horses from the escort agency.”

Branch offices far from the escort agency managed their own oxen and horses, but the Chang’an Branch didn’t need to. They could just borrow them from nearby.

This was also an advantage, if you could call it that.

“And this.”

Shin Ah pulled out identification badges from her chest. They were badges proving membership as porters of Manhyang Express Chang’an Branch.

Unlike escort badges that allowed borrowing horses or oxen, porter badges had no special functions.

Even so, Chilseon and Juhwa were overjoyed, clutching their badges as if ready to jump.

Just being able to prove they were Manhyang Express porters earned them considerable respect in Seomsu.

Seomsu merchants would lend money using the badges as collateral, and if problems arose and they were taken to the government office, having these badges made handling matters much easier.

Mugyeol also quietly fingered his badge.

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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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