The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 11

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 11

Chapter 11. Continuing the Thread of Fate (2)

If that were the case, then Baek Ruju’s attendant hadn’t died of illness—he’d likely been murdered.
But then, what exactly were they investing so much effort into Hwa Yeon Pavilion for?
I pondered briefly, and the answer came swiftly.
This place was one of Hubei Province’s five premier pleasure houses.
Fundamentally, it was a location where countless people came and went.
And with so many talented courtesans, it was perfect for gathering information on those wealthy and cultured enough to frequent such establishments, those who wished to flaunt their status and refinement.
Moreover, it was ideal for spreading rumors among them and recruiting them to their cause.
In other words, this place had been planned as a secret branch of the Murim Alliance.
In the future I’d experienced, there was a reason the wealthy of Hubei Province had been mysteriously favorable toward the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Trading Company.
They’d been subtly recruited right here in this establishment.
I barely suppressed the urge to laugh.
I had just prevented this place from becoming a secret branch of the Murim Alliance.
At the same time, a chill ran down my spine.
I’d merely prevented the fire at Jaegyeong Pavilion, which would have dealt a severe blow to the Eunhae Trading Company.
Because the documents in the Document Storage Vault hadn’t been destroyed, there would be no debt written off.
Yeochang’s Officer had survived, and his family would be safe.
Yeochang’s Officer had his life saved.
The man who should have been on night duty that day remained unharmed, and In Dae-su Officer, who would have eventually submitted his resignation out of guilt, would now build a happy family.
Honestly, I’d only thought things through to this point.
But the consequences of preventing that fire had twisted far beyond what I’d anticipated.
I didn’t know how far the ripples of my actions would spread.
But one thing was certain.
It would not be favorable for the Murim Alliance and Baekcheon Trading Company.
That satisfied me.
“Young Master?”
A voice broke through my reverie.
The Guard Warrior who’d followed me was looking at me with a puzzled expression.
“Ah, my apologies. Let’s head back now.”
“Yes, sir.”
We returned to the Office, and I reported everything I’d discovered to Father.
“And there was a strange symbol on the wall—a pattern combining clouds and peach blossoms. It’s undoubtedly the mark of a group trying to deceive and manipulate the world.”
At my words, Baek Ruju cried out in alarm.
“That, that’s absurd! That’s simply the emblem of Doun Trading Company!”
“Doun Trading Company?”
I feigned ignorance and played dumb.
“….”
Father’s gaze turned cold.
“Doun Trading Company… so it’s a merchant guild after all.”
Father looked at Baek Ruju.
“You understand that mercy demands a corresponding price, yet you still keep your mouth shut?”
“That is… well….”
Baek Ruju hesitated, but under continued pressure, he finally spilled everything.
“…It happened that way. I don’t know the details about them at all! I simply accepted because they made such a proposal!”
“Tsk, tsk.”
Father clicked his tongue at his words.
This man Luzu must have frustrated him with such shallow thinking.
Father then issued instructions to Go Chief Manager.
“Hand him over to the authorities.”
“Understood.”

Now that we had Hwa Yeon Pavilion in our grasp, the question became how to operate it.
“Still, I wonder if we should continue holding onto Hwa Yeon Pavilion.”
Yu Chief Manager nodded at Father’s words as he reviewed the account ledgers.
“Shall we put it on the market?”
“That won’t do!”
At my urgent cry, both men looked at me in surprise and asked.
“Why not?”
“My apologies. It’s just that….”
I trailed off and my mind raced rapidly.
I had barely prevented a secret branch of the Murim Alliance from taking root in our company’s front yard, and if we put this pavilion on the market, all my efforts would be wasted.
But I couldn’t say that directly.
Eventually I would have to tell them, but not yet. So I needed to provide a suitable reason.
“Hwa Yeon Pavilion will be important for the Eunhae Trading Company to use. We mustn’t sell it.”
“Important to use?”
“Yes. Isn’t it crucial for us to understand what our customers desire?”
“That’s true.”
“And evaluating the goods we sell is important too.”
Yu Chief Manager grinned widely at my words.
“I believe I understand what you’re saying, Young Master. So you’re proposing we use this Hwa Yeon Pavilion as a place for gathering information and promoting the Eunhae Trading Company.”
Yu Chief Manager was indeed exceptional. He grasped my meaning instantly.
“Yes. And to generate word-of-mouth as well.”
“That’s a sound idea. However, we lack expertise in pavilion operations. How do you intend to handle that aspect?”
“We should retain Seo Chief Manager in his position. He has managed Hwa Yeon Pavilion well thus far, and he will continue to do so.”
Father nodded slowly as he listened to my words and those of Yu Chief Manager.
“Hmm. What are your thoughts, Yu Chief Manager?”
“If we intend to continue operating it, he is the most suitable candidate. He enjoys a good reputation among the employees, and his abilities in managing the establishment are well-recognized.”
Yu Chief Manager continued.
“Looking at the ledgers, I can see it clearly. A ledger never lies, after all.”
“Very well. Let’s proceed with that.”
“Thank you.”
I nodded in acknowledgment of his gratitude.
Thus, Hwa Yeon Pavilion came to serve the same role as it had in the future I had experienced.
Only its owner had changed.
From the Murim Alliance to the Eunhae Trading Company.
In that moment, I recalled a method I had employed before.
“And what if we provided our company’s silk to the courtesans free of charge so they could have garments made?”
“To the courtesans? But…”
“This is the Blue Pavilion. The courtesans here are not those engaged in such trades, but rather accomplished entertainers. So there should be no cause for concern, Father.”
“That’s true enough.”
When I operated the Eunhae Fabric Shop, I had provided silk free of charge to the renowned courtesans and entertainers of the pleasure quarters and entertainment houses.
They were women who captivated men through beauty and talent.
Fine silk naturally appeared even more exquisite on them, and through this, the Eunhae Fabric Shop had reaped considerable profits.
At my suggestion, Father looked toward Yu Chief Manager. After a moment’s thought, Yu Chief Manager nodded.
“There is merit in this. People are naturally drawn to beautiful things.”
That statement explained everything.
“I should consult with Yeon Gak-ju about this later.”
I was certain my proposal would be adopted.
Father was truly a good man.
Operating a trading company meant walking through a merciless forest devoid of blood or tears.
Yet Father was able to manage the Eunhae Trading Company well because he listened carefully to those around him.
And when decisions were necessary, he made them decisively.
Just as he had with acquiring Hwa Yeon Pavilion and turning Baek Ruju over to the authorities.
Yeochang’s Officer was also turned over to the authorities, though Father had made a request for leniency regarding him.
Father wished to help them establish themselves in their new circumstances if they desired to build new lives.
Truly, Father was a good man.

Yeochang’s Officer and I were granted leave.
It was a reward for successfully completing this operation, and we received a generous bonus as well.
When Father granted me leave, Yu Chief Manager’s expression suggested he had much to say.
With all the additional work created by the proposal I’d made, and now that I—designated as his assistant—was taking leave, his frustration was evident.
But the leave was a right granted to me.
I pretended not to notice his silent plea for me to forgo the leave and help him instead, and gratefully accepted it.
.
.
.
I returned to my room and lay upon my bed, lost in thought.
‘Fortunately, nothing went wrong this time, but….’
A sigh escaped me.
Though I possessed martial arts knowledge, I had to continue feigning ignorance of them, and that frustration gnawed at me.
Had my martial arts abilities not been a secret, I would have rushed forward to subdue the Masked Intruder we encountered at Hwa Yeon Pavilion.
And I would have pursued them.
I could have at least discovered where they were headed.
The loss of that opportunity was deeply regrettable.
To freely employ martial arts in the future, I needed to demonstrate the process of learning them.
Besides, it was beneficial to begin martial arts training at a young age.
Had my martial arts been stronger, I would not have met such a pitiful end. I would not have been forced to watch helplessly as those who followed me perished.
There was no reason to delay learning martial arts any longer.
Now that the urgent matter was resolved, I needed to seek out the master who had taught me martial arts and ask him to become my teacher.
He was the Head of Changin Escort Agency, which maintained a cooperative relationship with the Eunhae Trading Company.
Was he still serving as the Head?
Then something suddenly came to mind.

“If only I had returned just one hour earlier back then, my eldest son would not have died.”

In that instant, a chill ran down my spine.
Wait—what day is today?
I counted on my fingers and bolted upright from the bed.
“Damn it. It’s today, isn’t it?”

* * *

Mrs. Gwak of Bamboo Valley prepared to leave early in the morning.
Her husband was the Head of Changin Escort Agency.
Because of this, he was away from home for more than half the year, leaving her to care for the children during his absences.
There were times when the living expenses he provided fell short.
On such occasions, she would take on side work—helping at celebrations or doing piecemeal sewing—to earn extra money.
Today, Master Chang’s birthday celebration was being held nearby, and she had agreed to help with the preparations.
Her hands were remarkably skilled, so she was always the first person called upon whenever such work arose.
“Mother, where are you going?”
She had two sons: Gwak Hyung-jin, her eldest, and Gwak Jun-ha, her youngest.
Gwak Hyung-jin, twelve years old, was her dependable elder son.
“To Master Chang’s house. There’s a celebration today.”
“You look tired, Mother. Why don’t you just rest?”
At Gwak Hyung-jin’s words, Mrs. Gwak laughed and shook her head.
“Tired? Not at all.”
“But you’re going to work. How could you not be tired?”
“It’s fine, truly. I’ll get to eat delicious food while I’m there. I’ll bring something tasty back for you.”
At her words, her eight-year-old second son, Gwak Jun-ha, spoke up.
“I want to eat candied fruit.”
“All right, I’ll remember. Now study with your brother while I’m gone.”
Mrs. Gwak set off toward Master Chang’s House, escorted by her sons’ farewells.
Only the two brothers remained in the house.
“Jun-ha, we should study now.”
“I don’t want to study.”
Gwak Hyung-jin spoke to his whining younger brother.
“Father will be back soon. If you haven’t memorized the Thousand Character Classic by then, you’ll be severely scolded.”
“Fine. Brother, but after lunch, let’s play sword fighting together.”
“That much, well… I suppose I can do that.”
The two brothers sat down at the table used for dining and began their studies.
Gwak Hyung-jin had completed the Great Learning and was now studying the Doctrine of the Mean.
For a twelve-year-old to be studying the Doctrine of the Mean spoke to his considerable intelligence.
Though they did not attend an academy, their father taught them both letters and martial arts.
However, martial training could only be conducted in their father’s presence.
Learning martial arts alone was considered dangerous.
Lunchtime arrived.
Today’s lunch was dumplings.
Each ate one large dumpling, and as promised, Gwak Hyung-jin agreed to play with his younger brother.
The brothers’ play was always the same.
Since their home was surrounded by the Bamboo Forest, the abundant bamboo served as their plaything.
Today, his younger brother Gwak Jun-ha had asked to play sword fighting with bamboo, so Gwak Hyung-jin obliged.
Formal martial training required their father’s presence, but simple bamboo sword play was acceptable.
Clack! Clack! Clack clack!
Though Gwak Jun-ha was four years younger than Gwak Hyung-jin, he possessed an exceptional physical instinct.
He had a natural sharpness that allowed him to exploit openings without thinking.
Their father often regarded Gwak Jun-ha with complicated eyes, but the brothers never understood why.
Crack!
“Ugh!”
In that moment, Gwak Jun-ha’s bamboo sword knocked Gwak Hyung-jin’s weapon flying from his hands.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Brother!”
“It’s fine.”
Gwak Hyung-jin was searching for his fallen sword when his foot caught on something, sending him tumbling forward.
It happened in an instant.
Thud!
“Aaaahhh!”
Gwak Hyung-jin’s scream echoed through the Bamboo Forest.
Gwak Jun-ha, startled, rushed over.
“B-Brother, what’s wrong?”
“Nngh!”
Gwak Jun-ha lifted his brother and froze in shock.
Blood was pouring freely from his brother’s abdomen.
Gwak Jun-ha cried out in terror.
“Help! Someone help! Wahhhhh!”
He was terrified.
It felt as though he might lose his brother.
Especially since their house was situated in a remote, isolated area.
No matter how desperately he called out, no one came, and Gwak Hyung-jin lost consciousness.

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