The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 195

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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 195

Chapter 195. The Imperial Silk Procurement Competition (8)

We suppressed our presence and crept as close as possible.
If I had to explain this operation in one sentence, it would be: “There was no kidnapping.”
At first, I considered seeking the Emperor’s assistance, but I quickly abandoned the idea.
Without clear evidence, it would only cause unnecessary commotion and might cost me the Emperor’s trust.
The Imperial Silk Procurement Competition could be suspended or cancelled.
That couldn’t happen—not when the Eunhae Trading Company was ahead.
I came to Beijing to lead this competition to success on behalf of Eun Jung-ho.
For the future, the Eunhae Trading Company had to win this competition.
Therefore, the competition had to continue.
Of course, this didn’t mean I would simply let this slide.
How could I? They had done this on my birthday, of all days.
After Namgung Bo drank the bitter cup of failure in the competition, I would make certain he paid the price.
We approached without being detected, observing the movements of those inside.
Then one of the kidnappers opened the door, apparently to check on Geum-suk Chief.
This moment, when everyone’s focus wavered, was our opportunity.
– Now!
Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior burst forward simultaneously, and I followed close behind.
“Wh-what…”
“Gack!”
We showed no mercy with our blades.
These were kidnappers, and even if they weren’t, they belonged to the Black Path.
Not practicing the martial arts of the White Dao faction didn’t automatically make one part of the Black Path.
They were of the Black Path because they committed all manner of wickedness.
Therefore, I felt no hesitation in cutting them down.
Moreover, silencing these kidnappers was essential to completing my plan.
I didn’t want to stain our hands, but this time it was unavoidable.
Whether it was because the kidnappers’ skills were inferior or because ours were superior, the matter was resolved in an instant.
I tried to wipe the blood from my blade, but there was no need—not a single drop of blood clung to my silver sword.
Truly a magnificent blade.
As I opened the door and entered the chamber, I saw Geum-suk Chief and an Eunpung Corps Warrior bound to the pillars.
“Are you both unharmed?”
“…!”
The two of them, upon seeing me, widened their eyes in utter shock.
Seo-woo Warrior then approached and removed the gags from their mouths.
“Small, Small Guild Master?”
“Small Guild Master!”
“I’ve come to rescue you.”
At my words, their eyes grew red with emotion. Was this really something to be so moved about?
Hmm…
Well, it was something worth being moved about.
When Seo-woo Warrior cut the ropes binding their limbs, they became free.
“You’ve endured much.”
“We apologize, Small Guild Master.”
“We failed to properly protect Chief Manager.”
I shook my head at their words.
“Given the caliber of your opponent, there was nothing you could have done. And I should be the one apologizing. Hyung-su was targeting me, after all. I’m sorry you suffered because of me.”
“Please don’t say such things. Just as you belong to the Eunhae Trading Company, so do I.”
At Geum-suk Chief’s words, I chuckled inwardly.
Hearing such words from someone who had once shown hostility toward me, I found myself thinking that the world’s affairs were quite amusing.
“I’ll hear the details later.”
With the two warriors supporting them on either side, we left the room.
Fortunately, their limbs were intact, so they were soon able to walk on their own.
We quickly cleaned up the place.
We threw the corpse into the house and erased the bloodstains and our footprints.
Then I poured oil that I had prepared in advance evenly throughout and ignited it with a fire starter.
Whoosh—!
The fire caught instantly, consuming the house.
“Let’s return now.”
Though I had rescued the two of them, I couldn’t go directly into the Yeonjun Trading Company like this.
I was supposed to be in my room right now.
“From now on, please listen carefully to what I say.”
I instructed Gold Manager and the warrior on how to behave, and asked Jin Yu Warrior to watch over them discreetly.
“Then, I’ll see you later.”
“Yes.”
I quickly vaulted over the wall and entered the Yeonjun Trading Company. Thanks to the Shadowless Step technique, I was able to enter my room without anyone noticing.
“Phew…”
Then I changed clothes and opened the door with a worried expression.
“Gold Manager still hasn’t returned?”
“Ah! Young Master!”
Palgap looked at me with his eyes, asking a question.
Did things go well?
I smiled faintly and nodded while outwardly putting on an act of deep concern.
“Was Gold Manager really kidnapped? What should we do?”
The perceptive Palgap relaxed while pretending to earnestly comfort me.
That was when it happened.
“Huh? Small Guild Master. Why are you out here?”
Gold Manager approached my quarters.
“What? Gold Manager? Weren’t you kidnapped?”
“Kidnapped, you say?”
“Someone came by earlier and left me this letter.”
I showed him the letter, and as Gold Manager read it, he trembled violently.
This wasn’t an act.
“Damn those bastards!”
“It seems someone was playing a prank.”
“Still, I’m relieved that Gold Manager returned safely.”

That evening.
Just as my Aunt had said, a celebration banquet was held for my twentieth birthday.
“Congratulations.”
“Congratulations.”
My Uncle and Aunt offered their felicitations and presented me with gifts.
“Ahem, congratulations.”
“Congratulations, brother.”
Seon-il Elder Brother and Seon-mi followed with their own wishes.
Perhaps it was because I hadn’t fallen for Baekcheon Trading Company’s schemes and had successfully rescued Geum-suk Chief.
This birthday celebration felt far happier and more joyful than my twentieth birthday in my previous life.

* * *

The next morning.
After finishing my morning cultivation as always and stepping out of my room, Palgap greeted me.
“You’ve emerged, sir?”
“Yes.”
Today was the day of the final stage of the Imperial Silk Procurement Competition.
Following the documents the Eunuch Official had delivered, I headed to the Imperial Palace with the managers, buoyed by everyone’s encouragement.
When we arrived at the Imperial Palace, several merchant guilds had already gathered.
“Eunhae Trading Company.”
At my words, the Eunuch Official made a mark on the paper he was holding.
My party and I waited briefly outside the Palace Gate. Then, from a distance, familiar faces approached.
They were from the Baekcheon Trading Company.
Why were they welcome? Of course they were.
I would get to see the smugly confident expression on Namgung Bo’s face crumble into bewilderment.
“…!”
Namgung Bo of the Baekcheon Trading Company had been approaching the Palace Gate when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Upon seeing us, his expression twisted into shock. His trembling hands revealed that he refused to accept the reality before his eyes.

When the appointed time arrived, the Eunuch Official spoke.
“We shall now enter the Imperial Palace.”
The place we reached following the Eunuch Official was familiar.
It was where the third and fourth competitions had taken place.
While we waited briefly, the Eunuch Official announced that the Empress, the Concubines, the Princesses, and the Ministers were arriving.
We bowed respectfully.
“You may all rise.”
The Empress spoke to us gently.
“This is the final competition. I hope you will all demonstrate your utmost effort and not disappoint me and the other judges.”
As the Empress shifted her gaze, the Eunuch Officials brought forward five tables, and upon each they placed one box—five boxes in total.
Hmm?
These boxes… they seem familiar somehow?
I quickly examined the boxes with my eyes, and soon realized their purpose.
These were boxes for storing silk.
Silk was vulnerable to moisture, so special boxes that allowed ventilation while preventing moisture infiltration were used.
Then this means silk is contained within?
Looking around, I could see that the other merchant guilds had also caught on, their expressions tense.
“The fifth competition concerns appropriate price determination.”
“…?”
“As you’ve all likely guessed, each box contains one bolt of silk—five bolts in total. I will give you half an hour from now. You are to examine the silk inside the boxes and submit prices indicating how much you can supply each bolt for. That is this competition.”
There was a reason the competition theme had not been revealed beforehand.
Had it been announced in advance, the merchant guilds would have prepared accordingly, and then I could not have seen their true capabilities.
But this time too, things differ from my previous life.
In my previous life, the final competition had been about describing the characteristics of each silk.
I recalled that Min Chief Manager from Baekcheon Trading Company had excelled in that competition.
With such thoughts, I observed the managers standing beside Namgung Bo.
The middle-aged man with a mole on his chin was Min Chief Manager.
A talent wasted in Baekcheon Trading Company.
Then the Empress spoke.
“The criterion for this evaluation is appropriate pricing. Now, open the boxes.”
At the Empress’s words, the Eunuch Officials opened the boxes and placed wooden plaques with numbers before them.
“Then begin.”
At the Empress’s command, another Eunuch Official lit the incense to measure time.
The merchant guild people crowded around the tables, and we approached ours as well.
Then I began to examine the silks slowly.
At that moment, a Merchant Guild Representative raised his hand and spoke.
“I lodge an objection.”
“What is it?”
“Among these five bolts of silk, three are Shu Brocade. Doesn’t that give the Sichuan merchant guild that specializes in Shu Brocade an unfair advantage?”
The Empress looked at the other merchant guild people and asked.
“Do you all think the same?”
“Well….”
I stopped Young Manager from our guild from stepping forward.
Young Manager withdrew obediently, though with a puzzled expression.
“You all have much to say written on your faces. But do you think I presented this problem without taking that into account?”
“…My apologies.”
The Merchant Guild Representative retreated with a gulp, overwhelmed by the natural pressure emanating from the Empress.
I knew it would be like this.
I examined the silks again.
Then we moved to our assigned table and began our discussion.
Since there was considerable distance between us, speaking in low voices meant the others wouldn’t hear.
“Small Guild Master stopped me from speaking just now, so I withdrew, but this is unfair. How can three out of five bolts be Shu Brocade?”
Young Manager finally voiced his complaint.
He still didn’t understand.
I smiled with ease and explained to him.
“Young Manager, you shouldn’t look at it that way.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Since you’re also a silk specialist, you must have traveled to Sichuan Province many times to trade in silk.”
“Of course. Well over ten times.”
“How much did it cost you to bring silk back from Sichuan Province each time?”
“Quite a lot. The roads leading out of Sichuan are treacherous.”
“Exactly. But Shu Brocade itself brings tremendous profit to a merchant guild. That’s why merchants brave dangerous roads and venture into Sichuan Province to obtain Shu Brocade from other regions.”
I smiled knowingly.
“That’s why silk merchants in Sichuan Province don’t need to leave the region just to sell their silk.”
“Ah!”
“So how well could those who focus on brokering silk within Sichuan Province understand the transportation process and costs?”
I smiled and answered.
“The Empress said to write down an appropriate price. What do you think that means?”
Seok Chief Merchant smiled broadly.
“The Third Small Guild Master’s insight is remarkable.”
Indeed, Seok Chief Merchant was impressive.
“There’s a reason they gave us half a shichen of time.”
“Exactly. They want us to propose an appropriate price that accounts for the cost of properly protecting and transporting the silk.”
I glanced at the Empress as I spoke.
“The Imperial Court likely knows the approximate costs. Of course, it would be ideal to bring it as cheaply as possible, but if the amount is too absurd, it could backfire instead.”
Gold Manager and Young Manager marveled at my words.
“That’s right! You truly are the Small Guild Master.”
“If it weren’t for you, Small Guild Master, I would have made a grave mistake.”
I offered a slight smile and said.
“Then shall we try calculating it?”

* * *

Meanwhile, Namgung Bo was in a foul mood.
He had been certain that Eun Seo-ho would not appear here, yet there he was, sitting plainly in his seat.
Moreover, Geum-suk Chief, who should have been kidnapped, was standing right beside Eun Seo-ho.
‘How is this possible? This shouldn’t be happening.’
The plan to kidnap Geum-suk Chief and draw out Eun Seo-ho to eliminate him was one Namgung Bo had devised personally.
But he couldn’t act with his own hands.
How could someone from a noble family like himself engage in such crude work directly?
So he had hired those capable of doing such things.
He had given them ten silver taels as an advance and instructed them to take one thousand silver taels that Eun Seo-ho would bring as the completion fee.
After all, they were just merchant guild people with negligible martial prowess.
He had expected those fools to dispose of Eun Seo-ho themselves and pocket the money.
But….
‘How did he manage to deal with all of them?’
Namgung Bo never even considered that Eun Seo-ho had eliminated all the kidnappers and rescued Geum-suk Chief.
He only thought that Eun Seo-ho had somehow persuaded them and escaped safely.
‘Damn it! This ruins the plan.’

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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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