The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 189

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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 189

Chapter 189. Imperial Silk Delivery Competition (2)

While I was lost in thought, someone approached me.
It was Gold Manager, one of the two chief managers.
“Excuse me, I have something to tell you.”
“Yes.”
I asked Seo-woo Warrior, who had been guarding my side, to step back for a moment.
Seo-woo Warrior created some distance between us.
Though his gaze never left me.
“What is this about?”
“Does the Third Small Guild Master… desire the position of Merchant Guild Leader?”
“What?”
Was he asking if I wanted the position of Merchant Guild Leader right now?
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly as I said. I’m asking whether you have any intention of becoming the Merchant Guild Leader.”
Gold Manager continued.
“Although the Third Small Guild Master has become the representative of this matter, from the beginning until now, the First Small Guild Master has worked hard to prepare for this. I cannot accept the Third Young Master reaping the rewards without effort.”
Ah, so that’s why he had been subtly hostile toward me since I became the representative of the Imperial Silk Delivery Competition instead of Eun Jung-ho.
Eun Jung-ho must be pleased.
To have such a loyal supporter.
Now that I think about it, in my previous life, Gold Manager was also a steadfast supporter of Eun Jung-ho.
His abilities were outstanding—he eventually rose to the position of Chief Manager.
But he had one flaw.
He was excessively sharp-edged about things he didn’t believe in, or about things he felt obligated to protect.
What he needed to protect now was Eun Jung-ho’s credit.
When I let out a soft chuckle, Gold Manager’s expression turned fierce.
“Why are you laughing? Do you find my words amusing?”
“Ah, my apologies. It’s not that your words are funny, Gold Manager. It’s because I share the same thoughts.”
“What?”
Gold Manager blinked at my words, bewildered.
“The same thoughts? What do you mean…?”
“Though I’ve taken over this matter from Eun Jung-ho, I have no intention of claiming the credit for myself. This credit belongs entirely to him.”
“I heard that the Third Small Guild Master was the one who first asked the Merchant Guild Leader to take on this task. If you have no ambition for the position of Merchant Guild Leader, then why…?”
“Because the situation required one of the direct line to attend as the representative. I actually wanted to entrust it to the Chief Manager, but there was such a regulation.”
“…”
“And aside from Eun Jung-ho, I know the most about silk. Think of it this way—imagine Jin-ho had taken this position instead.”
At my words, a sigh escaped from Gold Manager’s lips.
He knew it too—that Eun Jung-ho fell short in this particular area.
“Well, he does have a talent for bonding with others over drinks and extracting information skillfully. That’s certainly a valuable ability, but this competition involves the Imperial Court.”
“….”
“Eun Jung-ho has worked himself to exhaustion for this matter, pouring all his effort into it. I came here to ensure that his dedication doesn’t go to waste. So.”
I spoke with a slight smile.
“Don’t misunderstand me. I dislike restrictive positions like that of Merchant Guild Leader.”
With those words, I headed toward where Seo-woo Warrior was stationed.
I understood why Gold Manager would misinterpret things this way.
My three brothers and I are all Small Merchant Guild Leaders.
That meant we were competitors with one another. Father and Grandfather had both risen to become Merchant Guild Leader by winning in such competition.
In such circumstances, I had not explicitly declared that I would step down from my position as Small Merchant Guild Leader.
My brothers and I had already reached an implicit agreement, and I thought the people of the Merchant Guild had caught on to some degree.
But it seemed some had not.
Well, I had been making quite a spectacle of myself, after all.
That said, I had no intention of restraining myself.
The more I made a show of myself, the higher the Eunhae Trading Company would rise.
I should make it clear one of these days.
That I had no interest in the position of Merchant Guild Leader.
With that thought, I spoke to Seo-woo Warrior.
“Let’s go in.”
“Understood.”
I entered my chamber and asked Palgap to summon the Head of Changin Escort Agency.
“Did you call for me?”
“Yes. Please, come in.”
The one accompanying us this time was Song Bo Pyo-du.
When I offered him a seat, Palgap brought tea.
“Pyo-du, to be honest, you must be frustrated right now?”
“Pardon?”
“We were making good progress when suddenly rocks appeared in our path, then logs, then a wasp nest. I’m certainly annoyed by it.”
Only then did Song Bo Pyo-du nod in understanding.
“I feel the same way. It’s not something I’d call a major incident, but it’s certainly irritating.”
“This degree of interference is clearly deliberate. Do you have any suspicions about who might be behind it?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know.”
“In any case, if this continues, I’ll lose my patience. And while the methods so far have been petty, we can’t know what form the interference might take going forward, can we?”
“That’s true.”
“After thinking it over carefully, I believe the culprits are likely those traveling ahead of us. They must have realized we’re following behind and orchestrated these incidents.”
“Indeed, that’s a reasonable deduction.”
Here, I allowed myself a slight smile.
“So I was thinking—what if we taught those people a lesson?”
“Do you have a plan?”
Instead of answering, I extended my hand to Palgap and received the map from him.
I unfolded the map and pointed to a specific location.
“If you look here, there’s a shortcut path. It’s narrow and treacherous, so most people avoid it. But if we can get through that route, we can overtake them.”
“I’m already aware of that path. And don’t worry. They’re all worked up to their limit by now.”
After all, the Changin Escort Agency people suffered the most from their interference.
With that, we finalized our plan and departed early the next morning.
Around midday, we altered our route as planned.
Since I had already given the managers a heads-up, there were no objections.
The Changin Escort Agency side also appeared to have settled matters beforehand, their expressions resolute.
We pressed forward diligently and passed through the shortcut path.
Though the path was treacherous, everyone was mentally prepared, so we managed to rejoin the main road before sunset.
“I surveyed the surroundings, and there are still no signs of a large merchant caravan having passed through.”
“It seems we arrived earlier than expected. Truly impressive. The Changin Escort Agency is excellent.”
“Haha. Thank you. Since we have plenty of time, it would be wise to prepare for an early campsite.”
“Understood.”
We finished preparing the campsite with practiced efficiency and ate dinner.
If my prediction is correct, those annoying fellows should be drawing near by now.
As we rested, I sensed movement from far away.
Given that it was dozens of people rather than just one or two, it had to be either a merchant caravan or an escort agency.
Finally, a highly likely suspect had appeared.
They approached gradually, then stopped at one location.
By now, Song Bo Pyo-du must have sensed their presence as well.
I needed to scout them secretly, but….
Since my martial skill level was a secret, I should send either Seo-woo Warrior or Jin Yu Warrior.
However, Song Pyo-du asked an unexpected question.
“Will the Small Guild Master also go scout them?”
“Pardon? What do you mean by that?”
When I played dumb, he spoke in a low whisper.
“The Palace Master told me.”
“…!”
“He asked me to serve you well.”
The fact that he called my Master the Palace Master meant he was from Snowwind Palace.
He smiled lightly and spoke.
“So you don’t need to hide anything from me.”
“I see.”
In that case, there was no need to entrust this task to other guards.
I moved quietly with only Jin Yu Warrior, Song Pyo-du, and myself.
.
.
.
Crackle, crackle-crackle.
The sound of wood burning in the campfire drifted toward us.
A group of men sat scattered in clusters around a carriage, and from the flag hanging from it, I could discern their identity.
They were the Jinga Merchant Caravan, one of the trading companies from Hubei Province like ours.
I signaled silently, and the other two concealed their presence as we approached them.

“We certainly covered a lot of ground today.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Let’s eat already. Our work doesn’t end once we’ve had a meal.”
“That’s true enough.”

They appeared to be Cart Laborers.
While they ate their evening meal, we waited with calm patience.
Information could always be gleaned from such moments.
After about an hour had passed, the conversation we sought finally began to emerge from their lips.

“But do you think it’ll be alright?”
“What will?”
“That trading company following behind us.”
“Ah… the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“No matter how much they want to undermine the Changin Escort Agency, having the Eunhae Trading Company as our traveling companion—don’t the higher-ups fear the consequences?”
“Would this even be possible without the Pyo-doo’s approval?”
“So then, the Jinga Merchant Caravan is also…?”
“From their perspective, the Eunhae Trading Company is a formidable rival. If they simply fail to arrive on time, they eliminate a competitor without lifting a finger.”
“I suppose, but honestly, it frightens me.”
“Is there any evidence that we did it?”
“…There isn’t.”
“Then why are you trembling like that? Just eat your meal.”
“You bastard! There’s a limit to how composed you can be! The Changin Escort Agency is one thing, but what kind of people is the Eunhae Trading Company?”
“And what would you have us do about it? Without evidence that we were involved, if they take issue with such trivial interference, all they’d accomplish is revealing their own pettiness to the world.”
“Sigh, you certainly have a way with words.”

That’s enough. I don’t need to hear any more.
I sent a silent message to the two companions who had come with me, then quietly withdrew.
Returning to our campsite, I summoned all the managers.
Upon hearing my account, the managers displayed expressions of utter disbelief.
“Wait—are you saying the escort agency protecting that Jinga Merchant Caravan orchestrated this entire affair?”
Song Bo Pyo-du bowed deeply in apology.
“I am deeply sorry. This incident occurred due to our escort agency’s negligence.”
I shook my head.
“Raise your head. This matter is not the fault of Changin Escort Agency. If there is fault, it lies with that escort agency harboring such malicious intent….”
“The Daewoong Escort Agency.”
Yes, the Daewoong Escort Agency and the Jinga Merchant Caravan that conspired with them bear the responsibility.”
I paused briefly before continuing.
“And of course, I have no intention of letting this matter slide.”
Seok Chief Merchant cautiously asked at my words.
“What method do you propose? As they said, this incident lacks concrete evidence and amounts to a trivial matter.”
“Indeed. Even if we bring this before the judges, we might only be mocked for our pettiness.”
Their words rang true—the situation was ambiguous and frustrating.
Then a brilliant idea struck me.
“Tell me, do you gentlemen enjoy a bit of mischief?”

* * *

Hoo-hoo. Hoo-hoo.
It was a night when the sound of an owl’s cry echoed through the darkness.
With a campfire crackling to life, the members of the Daewoong Escort Agency and Jinga Merchant Caravan were settling in for the night.
Man Dong, an escort master in his third year of service, stood watch with a colleague escort.
“Ugh, why does… tonight feel so eerie?”
“It’s just because the weather is cold.”
After standing watch for a while longer, my eyelids began to grow heavy.
“Aw, why am I so drowsy tonight?”
“Stay alert! If Song Bo Pyo-du catches you, you’ll be beaten half to death.”
“Ugh!”
They straightened their posture and refocused their gaze outward from the campsite.
Then someone tapped his shoulder lightly.
“What?”
Man Dong turned his head and asked. But his colleague escort countered instead.
“Huh?”
“You just tapped my shoulder. Did you have something to say?”
“What are you talking about? When did I tap your shoulder?”
“Did I imagine it?”
Man Dong tilted his head in confusion and turned his gaze back outward.
After about half an hour had passed, he felt the sensation of someone tapping his shoulder again.
“What’s going on?”
“Huh?”
“You just tapped my shoulder, didn’t you?”
“When did I?”
But his colleague escort merely wore a puzzled expression.
“That’s strange.”
Man Dong scratched his cheek and turned his gaze back outward once more.
After another hour had passed, his colleague escort called out to him.
“I can’t hold it any longer. I need to take care of something. I’ll be right back.”
“Hurry back.”
“Got it.”
And so Man Dong found himself standing watch alone.
Moments later, someone tapped his shoulder again.
The third time now.
Man Dong, unable to contain himself, suddenly whirled around and shouted.
“You bastard! Is this really the time for jokes? Do you think I’m that easy to——”
In that instant, he froze.
There was no one around him.
His colleague escort had gone to take care of his business and hadn’t returned.
Then who?
As that thought reached him, his legs began trembling uncontrollably.
“Hey, I’m back… What’s wrong?”
At that moment, a Colleague Escort who had just returned asked, and Man Dong replied in a quavering voice.
“A g-ghost….”
Then he simply collapsed where he stood.
This terror was not confined to him alone.
The Small Guild Master from Jinga Merchant Caravan, the Pyo-du of Daewoong Escort Agency, and the managers were all losing sleep in fear of the ‘ghost that tapped shoulders’.
Thump, thump.
Sudden footsteps echoed through the darkness, startling those already gripped by terror at the specter’s appearance.

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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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