The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 140

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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 140

Chapter 140. The Gathering of the Top Hundred Trading Companies (2)

Luoyang, situated in Henan, stands as a vital crossroads connecting the Central Plains and Guanzhong, while simultaneously serving as a crucial military stronghold.
Mountains and rivers encircle it on all sides.
The abundant harvests from the sprawling plains surrounding the region rendered it a prosperous land, making Luoyang as resplendent as the celebrated cities of Hangzhou and Suzhou, symbols of urban splendor.
Furthermore, it is where the Murim Alliance has established its seat.
From my perspective, the Murim Alliance appears to have chosen Luoyang precisely for these geographical advantages.
At present, I travel toward Luoyang by carriage.
The autumn foliage along the way made the journey far from tedious.
Though not for me—for Palgap.
“Oh! Look at those crimson leaves over there, absolutely stunning!”
“Mm.”
“Goodness! I’ve never seen such beautiful foliage before.”
“Mm.”
Throughout the journey by carriage, I could not set aside my work for a moment.
Father, too, likely peruses documents the entire way, as I do.
At that moment, Seo-woo Warrior, riding alongside the carriage on horseback, spoke.
“We shall soon reach Dabie Mountain.”
Dabie Mountain is an immense peak spanning three regions: Anhui, Henan, and Hubei.
There exists something I may obtain in this very place.
However, the time is not yet ripe, so I intend to acquire it upon my return after concluding my business.
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After traveling for approximately ten days, we finally arrived in Luoyang.
As lodging was not provided, we had to secure accommodations at an inn separately.
Thus, when the final date and location for this gathering were announced, the Eunhae Trading Company swiftly dispatched someone to reserve rooms at an inn.
The inn where we would lodge this time is the Songbi Inn.
Father spoke as he entered the inn.
“I recall when I first attended the Top Hundred Trading Companies gathering, I did not know that one must reserve an inn in advance—my father found himself in quite a predicament.”
“Given that it is a gathering of the Top Hundred Trading Companies, surely many people would flock to the city.”
“Indeed. Fortunately, the guild leader of another trading company, learning of our circumstances, graciously offered us several rooms. Thanks to his kindness, we were spared the indignity of sleeping in the streets.”
“What a generous trading company that was.”
“You shall meet them soon. They are called the Myungmyung Merchant Guild.”
“Ah! Are they not one of the Three Great Trading Companies of the World?”
“Indeed.”
The Myungmyung Merchant Guild is one of the Three Great Trading Companies of the World, operating across the entire Central Plains.
Their primary trade goods are ceramics and spices, and they rose to prominence among the Three Great Trading Companies by monopolizing the pepper trade.
It was then that Yu Dae-ik, my father’s chief deputy, approached us.
“I’ve confirmed the rooms.”
“Thank you.”
The middle-aged man who had come with Yu Dae-ik bowed respectfully.
“I am honored to meet the Merchant Guild Leader. I am Song Baek, the proprietor of the Songbi Inn.”
“Eun Gil-sang of the Eunhae Trading Company. We appreciate your hospitality.”
“Of course. Allow me to show you to your rooms.”
The Songbi Inn was quite substantial, and seeing the proprietor personally attend to us suggested that operating such a large establishment was no trivial matter.
The guest rooms extended to the fourth floor, and our accommodations were on the third.
The warriors of the Eunpung Corps and the trading company staff who had accompanied us would lodge on this floor and the fourth.
Some might object to staying above their superiors, but this arrangement was for my parents’ safety and mine.
In a world where masters of martial arts traverse rooftops, one must be cautious.
The top floor, where one could enter directly from the roof through a window, was inherently dangerous.
While the room arrangement was entirely logical, it presented a problem for me.
I had things to retrieve from Luoyang under cover of night.
After a moment’s consideration, I devised a solution.
“Father, I would prefer that my guards occupy the room directly above mine.”
Unlike the Eunpung Corps, my personal guards provided close-range protection and should have originally occupied the adjacent rooms on either side.
“That way, should anything arise, they can quickly enter through the window from above.”
“That makes sense.”
Thus, Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior took the adjacent rooms, while Lee Pil Warrior and Seo-woo Warrior occupied the room above.
Palgap and my father’s attendant shared quarters, completing the room assignments.

A short while later,
after washing in warm water and changing clothes, we descended to the first floor for dinner.
While we waited, Father and Mother came down as well.
Since Yu Dae-ik had already ordered the food, the dishes arrived promptly.
They were primarily specialties of Luoyang—stir-fried pork dishes and broth made with various mushrooms and shredded radish.
We enjoyed the meal thoroughly.
Seeing that it tasted delicious even to our Hubei palates suggested the cook had considered our preferences.
I felt pleased by such thoughtful consideration.
As we sipped tea after finishing our meal, Father spoke.
“Now that I think about it, this is your first gathering of the Baekdae Trading Company Alliance, and there’s something I haven’t mentioned.”
“Yes? What might that be, Father?”
“In fact, there’s one amusing entertainment at the Baekdae Trading Company Alliance gatherings.”
“Entertainment?”
“Yes, each participant receives a round silver token resembling a coin. You wear it at your waist and enjoy the gathering.”
I already knew of this entertainment.
In my previous life, when I attended the Baekdae Trading Company Alliance gathering with Eun Jung-ho, I had enjoyed this very entertainment.
But since this knowledge was new to my current self, I maintained an attentive posture.
“And when the gathering concludes, those who have kept their silver tokens receive them as gifts.
“Kept their silver tokens?”
“Yes, during the gathering, the silver tokens vanish so skillfully that no one knows who took them.”
Mother laughed at Father’s words and spoke.
“Your father and brothers, of course, and even I have never managed to keep mine.”
“It seems quite difficult. But could it be… that the merchant guild hires thieves for this?”
“Exactly as you say.”
This entertainment originated long ago from the wisdom of a certain merchant guild leader.
This gathering brought together the leaders and associates of the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World.
With treasures and valuables abundant, it was an excellent opportunity for thieves to make a fortune.
Though guards protected the gathering thoroughly, to master thieves, guards were irrelevant.
When unsavory incidents occurred due to thieves, the merchant guild leader hosting the gathering eventually came up with a solution—he attached a large notice.

[All participants in the gathering shall wear one silver token at their waist. Steal if you can.
I shall say nothing of stealing the silver tokens.
But if you steal anything else, I will certainly find you and have you apprehended.]

This was a sort of challenge, and it ignited the competitive spirit of the thieves who gathered to prey on the big fish.
Thus, during the gatherings of the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World, it became customary for thieves to target only the silver tokens.
In my previous life, I lost the silver token twice.
Without realizing it, I developed a stubborn determination, and after researching various methods, I managed to protect the token from then on.
I recalled the memory of those silver tokens I obtained back then being quite profitable.
More than that, I was far more interested in the thief who stole the silver token with such elusive skill.
In my previous life, I was only focused on not losing the token, but now that I think about it, I had missed a truly valuable opportunity.
It was an opportunity to recruit the greatest security expert.
There’s a saying that ten men cannot stop one thief, because those ten are not thieves.
Just as a serpent knows the serpent’s path best, a thief knows the thief’s methods best.
So this time, I was thinking of recruiting a master thief.

“Hm? Who might this be? Isn’t this the Merchant Guild Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company?”
At that moment, I turned my head at the sudden voice.
A middle-aged man was entering through the door, and his clothing appeared quite luxurious from the start.
Father, recognizing him, quickly rose from his seat to greet him.
“It has been a long time, Merchant Guild Leader Sa.”
“Have you been well?”
“Yes, have you been well yourself, Merchant Guild Leader?”
“I have been doing well as well.”
Father approached us with him and what appeared to be a lady at his side, and made introductions.
“It has been a long time.”
Mother greeted them respectfully.
“This is my youngest son and one of the Small Merchant Guild Leaders, Eun Seo-ho. And this gentleman is Merchant Guild Leader Sa Gu-cheol of the Hongyeon Trading Company.”
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Eun Seo-ho.”
“Oh! The renowned Seon Hyeop Mi-rang!”
In Merchant Guild Leader Sa Gu-cheol’s eyes as he looked at me, there was abundant goodwill.
But it was so excessive that it felt burdensome.
“I have merely done what needed to be done, yet I have received an honor far too great.”
I expressed my modesty in that manner while sighing inwardly.
The Hongyeon Trading Company was a merchant guild with its main headquarters in Shaanxi, and it ranked forty-fifth among the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World announced last year.
It was slightly larger than or comparable to our merchant guild.
The Hongyeon Trading Company dealt in weapons.
They supply military supplies to the Imperial Court as well, and have built their trust by manufacturing and supplying high-quality weapons.
From what I heard, the history of the Hongyeon Trading Company was quite unique.
The first Merchant Guild Leader of the Hongyeon Trading Company was originally a warrior.
Displeased that he could not find a sword to his liking, the first Merchant Guild Leader decided to forge one himself and became an apprentice to a blacksmith.
Whether he had more talent in craftsmanship than martial arts, he eventually acquired the skill and ability to forge outstanding swords.
As word of this spread, more and more people began seeking the weapons he created.
As generations passed—the second and third generations—before long, they found themselves among the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World.
My reputation has spread all the way to Shaanxi, of all places.
“Excessive praise? What are you saying? Do you know how grateful the merchants of Shaanxi are to you?”
“Pardon?”
“Aren’t you the hero who captured the Shaanxi Scorpion?”
Ah…
Only then did I understand why Sa Gu-cheol regarded me with such overwhelming kindness.
Was it last summer?
When I traveled to Shaanxi Province to trade in cloth bolts, the Shaanxi Scorpion had defrauded the Eunhae Trading Company.
I am not one to simply accept such treatment.
I captured the Shaanxi Scorpion and turned him over to the County Office.
I laughed awkwardly and replied.
“I was only able to capture him because of the help of many. I did very little myself.”
“Heh heh, excessive modesty is also discourteous, as they say. I know well of your accomplishments.”
He continued.
“Who else would the County Office constables receive weapons from?”
“Ha ha ha.”
There was nothing more to say to that.
“Had that scoundrel continued his schemes, the merchants of Shaanxi would have suffered greatly. You have done a remarkable service.”
Then he spoke to my father with a smile.
“You have raised a truly exceptional son.”
“My son has turned out rather well, I suppose. Ha ha ha.”
Oh, Father.
You’re gilding your son’s reputation.
At that moment, Sa Gu-cheol’s wife spoke.
“The young merchant leader appears to be only about fifteen years old, yet he is truly remarkable.”
Mother replied.
“He has just turned eighteen.”
“Is that so?”
She turned to Sa Gu-cheol beside her and said.
“Now that I think of it, our youngest daughter Yeon-mi is seventeen.”
At those words, my spine suddenly stiffened.
This is dangerous.
I spoke urgently.
“You must be exhausted from such a long journey. I fear we have kept you far too long.”
My father nodded at my words.
“You have traveled quite a distance from Shaanxi. It would be best if you rested and we spoke again tomorrow.”
“Ah, yes, that would be wise.”
After I sent the two of them to the guest room, I finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
I am eighteen years old.
In just a few more months, I will be nineteen.
While marriage at my age was commonplace, I harbored no intention of taking a wife.
My aspirations extended beyond elevating the Eunhae Trading Company to the Greatest Merchant Guild Under Heaven—I was bound by a vow of vengeance against the Murim Alliance and the Baekcheon Trading Company.
Should I marry, my wife would inevitably bear the burden of sacrifice alongside me.
I could not accept that.
The sacrifices demanded by vengeance were mine alone to bear—a weight only I, who carried the memories of my previous life, could shoulder.
It was then that I heard my mother’s voice drifting from my father’s chamber.
“Our Seo-ho seems quite popular, doesn’t he?”
“Of course. He takes after me, so popularity is only natural.”
“When we first met, you were truly impressive. Hehe.”
“Are you suggesting I am no longer?”
“Place your hand over your heart and answer honestly.”
….
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Night descended.
I rose from my bed and retrieved the Heo Mae-gyeong. Using it, I fashioned an illusory form of myself lying upon the mattress.
From the distant streets came the drum announcing the Hour of the Rat—between eleven and one.
“Palgap should arrive soon.”
As the saying goes, speak of the tiger and it appears—Palgap’s voice echoed from beyond the door.
“Young Master, it is I, Palgap.”
“Enter.”
The door swung open, and Palgap stepped inside. His eyes widened in shock at the sight before him—my form resting upon the bed, and another me standing beside it.
“Goodness! What a fright!”
“Why are you so startled?”
“How could I not be? There’s one lying in the bed and another standing right beside him!”
I let out a quiet chuckle.
“Well then, I’ll slip out for a moment.”

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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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