The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 18

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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 18

Chapter 18. Recruit the Master Craftsman (1)

My Master and Jeong Jo-jang clasped their fists in gratitude, and I descended from the carriage to offer my respects as well.
“Thank you for escorting us this far.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“Please convey my regards to Jang Chae-ju.”
“Of course. Haha. Safe travels to you.”
“Yes.”
The Green Forest Bandits of the Odong Mountain Hideout gathered their tools and began making their way back.
“Let’s fill our bellies with meat and wine today!”
“I’m going to eat so much I’ll burst!”
“That’s the spirit!”
“Wine! Wine! Wine awaits us!”

Watching them depart with such enthusiasm, my Master spoke.
“It seems wise that you provided them with passage fees.”
“Yes, I’ve settled a debt this way.”
At my words, Jung Chung asked.
“What debt, sir? Jang Chae-ju has already decided to regard you with great favor….”
“Even so, his subordinates need to receive something in return, or they won’t listen well to Jang Chae-ju’s orders, will they?”
“I see.”
My Master smiled and spoke.
“I thought we wouldn’t cross Odongsan until tomorrow, but we’ve made remarkably swift progress.”
“At this pace, we should arrive at Geumson Village by this evening.”
We had crossed Odongsan a full day ahead of schedule, which was fortunate for me as well.
The sooner I could achieve my objective, the better.
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.
.
Creak, creak.
Clatter, clatter.
The sounds of wagon wheels and horse hooves echoed through the quiet road.
After traveling for some time, a village began to appear in the distance.
A settlement gradually came into view ahead.
“It’s fortunate we arrived at the village before sunset. We won’t have to sleep under the stars.”
At Palgap’s words, Im Gyeong-bin Officer, who sat at the front, spoke.
“But you mustn’t let your guard down simply because you’re staying at an inn. In some ways, an inn demands even greater vigilance than sleeping under the open sky.”
“Really? Why is that?”
At Palgap’s question, I found myself speaking without thinking.
“You must suspect everything—whether poison or sleeping powder has been mixed into the food I eat, whether those seeking to steal the cargo are hiding in the guest room. All of it.”
“Then sleeping outdoors would certainly put the mind at ease.”
“Honestly, that would be more comfortable, but we still need to stop at certain inns that do business with the Eunhae Trading Company or the Changin Escort Agency. They’re places where all manner of news flows through.”
I chuckled softly as I answered.
“If my expectations are correct, the inn we’re heading to now is one that works with the Changin Escort Agency, so there shouldn’t be much to worry about.”
“I understand this is your first escort mission, yet you seem quite knowledgeable.”
At Im Gyeong-bin Officer’s words, I felt a moment of panic.
Of course I knew these things well. I had experienced them during all the escort missions I had accompanied before.
But now, I shouldn’t have known them at all.
“Ah, well, I learned it from my elder brothers.”
“I see.”
“And I also learned from Chief Manager Yeo Chu. He taught me quite harshly, actually.”
“Hmm.”
At my hastily added explanation, Im Officer’s expression hardened, and he spoke with something like sympathy.
“You’ve endured much.”
“Hahaha.”
Gradually, the pace of the escort procession slowed. We were entering the village.
I gazed out at the village through the carriage window.
A village situated beside the mountain pass that connects Hubei to Jiangxi Province.
Thanks to its location roughly this distance from the Ganjiang River, it was spared from flooding and had become a place where merchants actively came and went.
After all, it would be troublesome if goods became soaked from water damage.
And there was also the geographical advantage of effectively blocking the occasional river pirates.
A marketplace opened here daily, trading not only in local specialties of Jiangxi Province like dried freshwater fish, but also in goods from the southern regions that came upriver along the Ganjiang—sugar and tea among them.
This marketplace was called the Geumson Market.
It was named for the ships laden with valuable goods that came here to trade.
Thus, the village itself was called Geumson Village.
This was the village where the craftsman who created the wooden puppets lived.
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“Whoa, whoa!”
As the merchant procession came to a halt, I descended from the carriage.

[Yeoshi Inn]

The inn was operated by a family bearing the Yeo surname, and it was a place where I had received considerable kindness in the past.
Here, I could trust completely.
“Welcome. We’ve been expecting you.”
At that moment, a middle-aged man hurried out from inside.
His name was Yeo Chu.
The proprietor of this inn.
Born in autumn, they say that’s why he was named Yeo Chu?
“It’s been a long time. It seems like nearly a month has passed.”
At my Master’s words, the Yeoshi Innkeeper responded warmly.
“That’s right. It’s been a month and two days since you last visited. Ah! And this must be Jung Chung, the squad leader?”
At his words, Jung Chung’s expression showed surprise.
“You still remember my name? It feels like it’s been nearly three years.”
“You’re a valued guest, so of course I must remember. Haha.”
That was the Yeoshi Innkeeper’s specialty.
Even someone he’d seen once ten years ago—he could recall their name and distinctive features with such precision it was almost eerie.
He greeted the people who had come on business from the Sefung Division and Sangyu Division by their exact names.
“And Lim Officer Im Gyeong-bin…”
He rolled his eyes slightly and smiled, cupping his fist in salute.
“This is your first time at our humble inn, isn’t it?”
“That’s correct.”
I returned the salute and spoke.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, an officer of the Jaegyeong Pavilion. This is my attendant, Palgap.”
“I see. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Yeo Chu, the proprietor of this inn.”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
“Please, come inside. I’ll prepare water for washing and food to fill your bellies.”
In truth, during escort missions, we refrained from washing as much as possible. It was to protect our skin from the harsh winds and dust.
Still, it was necessary to wash away the accumulated grime periodically.
We entered the inn and were each assigned guest rooms.
Three people were assigned to each room, and the same applied to the cart laborers.
I heard that at other escort agencies, the cart laborers stay ten to a room, but the Changin Escort Agency was generous in that regard.
In the future I had experienced, when I formally became one of the branch leaders following my Second Brother, I was able to meet the head of the Changin Escort Agency.
Through conversation with him at that time, I learned the art of commanding people, and I was impressed.
Treating the cart laborers well wasn’t mere kindness—it was a means to efficiently work them… no, to employ them effectively.
In the long term, that approach was far more profitable.

Click.
Palgap opened the door, and the two Guard Warriors entered first, scanning the room before speaking.
“All clear. We’ll be in the adjacent room, so please rest comfortably.”
I and Lim Officer entered the chamber.
At the sight of the meticulously maintained room, I found myself smiling without thinking.
Suddenly, memories of my stays here came flooding back.
None of the beds in this inn were fixed installations. They arranged the sleeping platforms according to each guest’s needs.
Having received word from the advance party beforehand, three beds were already set up in the room with quilts laid out.
I spoke to Lim Officer.
“I noticed earlier that there’s a communal bathing area here. Will you be using the shared bath?”
At my question, he nodded.
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Then please go ahead. I’ll bathe separately.”
At my words, Lim Officer’s expression brightened as he replied.
“Then I’ll be going.”
As I watched him leave, memories of the past surfaced in my mind.
‘That was my own selfishness.’
Wanting to grow close with the Trading Company’s employees, I had bathed with them in the communal bath.
But that had been my mistake.
I had only made them uncomfortable instead.
I mustn’t repeat such errors.
“Palgap, go ask them to prepare a private bathing area for me.”
“Understood.”

After washing up, I made my way to the dining hall on the first floor, where those who had already cleaned themselves were already seated at the tables.
“Officer Im, please come sit here.”
Jung Chung gestured toward an empty seat, and I took it.
“What would you like to have?”
That expression on his face—he clearly wanted to recommend something delicious.
Well, I should live up to his expectations.
“What’s particularly good here?”
“This place is known for meat fried in rapeseed oil and dumplings with Chinese yam—they’re specialties here.”
“Then I’ll have those.”
Now that I thought about it, wasn’t Jiangxi Province famous for its liquor?
Yet despite having stopped at an inn, there wasn’t a single bottle of alcohol visible on the tables.
It was an unspoken rule among the escort agency that even when staying at an inn, one would not touch a drop of spirits.
Just then, the Shop Attendant approached to take our order, and while we made conversation, the dishes arrived.
Meat fried in fresh rapeseed oil and steaming dumplings wafting fragrant wisps of steam.
“Please, enjoy.”
I picked up a dumpling and took a bite.
“Ah…”
“Delicious, isn’t it?”
“Yes, truly delicious.”
It was a taste I had longed for.
Ever since the Yeoshi Innkeeper passed away and his son inherited the place, this flavor had strangely disappeared.
But tasting it again now, I could truly feel that I had returned to being fifteen years old.
After filling my stomach somewhat with the dumplings, I asked a question.
“When do we depart from here?”
“We’re planning to stay here for about four to five days.”
Those who set up stalls and conduct business at Geumson Market are small-scale merchants.
A trading company of the Eunhae Trading Company’s caliber dealt in such large volumes that they didn’t engage in such petty transactions.
There are two typical methods that trading companies of considerable standing employ.
The first method is for trading companies to coordinate their conditions in advance, then meet at one location to exchange goods or hand over merchandise in exchange for payment.
The second method is to post the trading company’s name and the items they wish to trade on a board outside the inn.
When other trading companies see this and express interest, both parties set a date to negotiate.
The trading method we would employ this time was the former.
Had it been the latter method, a manager of the second or third rank from the Sangyu Division would have accompanied us to oversee the product transactions and negotiations.
After confirming the trading company’s schedule once more, I spoke to my Master and Jung Chung.
“I apologize, but would it be alright if I moved separately for a while tomorrow?”
Tomorrow I planned to go search for the Craftsman of Wooden Puppets.
Jung Chung nodded readily.
“Actually, the Stronghold Master had already given instructions about this. He said to guarantee you personal time since you have private matters to attend to.”
“I see.”
Father, as expected.
Father is the best.
Jung Chung continued speaking.
“However, he also attached a condition that you must travel with a Guard Warrior without fail.”
Since this was not something I could control, I answered obediently.
“Understood.”
After finishing the meal, everyone began moving about to attend to their respective duties.
Someone had to stand night watch to protect the goods, and the horses needed to be fed as well.
Those not assigned to night watch retired to their guest rooms early.
My task was to record the details of the transaction, and since I planned to move early tomorrow morning, I intended to retire early as well.
– Young Master.
At that moment, I heard someone calling me in my mind.
A familiar telepathic voice.
It was my Master’s telepathy.
– Tonight, I will come to fetch you.
Not understanding what he meant, I looked toward my Master, and he sent me a telepathic message with a faint smile.
– You need to cultivate, don’t you?

Damn it, so much for an early night.
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Thud, thud, thud.
My footsteps echoed loudly through the darkness.
A dark corridor.
I walked through it, feeling my way along the walls with my hands.
Thump.
Before I knew it, I had reached a dead end.
No, that wasn’t right.
It was a door.
Creak.
The hinged door in my hand swung open, and beneath the faint glow of a lamp, I could make out the interior of the room.
Three corpses lay scattered about, lifeless.
From their arrangement, they were undoubtedly a family.
And among them, someone was crouching down, sobbing.
I approached the figure.
In an instant, they grabbed my wrist, and startled, I let out a scream.
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.
.
“Ahhhhh!”
“Young Master, what troubles you?”
“Hmm?”
I turned my head. Palgap was watching me with a worried expression.
“Did you have a nightmare?”
“…I suppose so.”
“Shall I prepare a calming medicine for you?”
“It’s fine. Just bring me a bowl of cold water.”
“Very well.”
Palgap descended to the first floor, and I gazed down at my wrist.
Then I recalled the one who had grasped my wrist in that dream.
Though I couldn’t see his face, I sensed who he was.
The Craftsman of Wooden Puppets—the one I had failed to save in the future I had experienced.
As he gripped my wrist, he had spoken clearly.
‘This time, you must….’
I could sense what words would follow.
‘Save me and my family.’
I clenched my fist and made a vow. This time, I would save the Craftsman of Wooden Puppets and his family.

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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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