The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 206

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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 206

Chapter 206. Yangyang Martial School (5)

I placed the contract on the table and spoke.
“Doesn’t something about this seem odd to you?”
“Which part are you referring to?”
“This contract itself. The Previous Estate Lord and the Previous Chief Manager must have drafted this, correct?”
“That’s correct.”
“While a Chief Manager might do such a thing, it would be unusual for an Estate Lord to write a contract like this. Isn’t it strange that someone managing countless people and lands would create a contract consisting of merely a single line?”
Ha Pyo-doo nodded at my words.
“Indeed, it is peculiar. The Previous Estate Lord was known to be a wealthy man in this region. And someone handling that much wealth would typically maintain proper form, even when drafting a contract as a gesture of goodwill.”
Ha Pyo-doo shared my suspicion.
Since he was an Escort Master senior to my Master, he must have seen many such contracts.
That’s why he immediately grasped the intent behind my words.
“I understand he was quite meticulous. And furthermore….”
Ha Pyo-doo continued.
“The Previous Chief Manager wasn’t a fool who knew only martial arts, either.”
Yeom Chief Manager also nodded upon hearing our conversation.
“Now that you mention it, it truly is strange.”
I spoke while examining the contract.
“There’s a possibility that something is hidden within this contract.”
We began scrutinizing every corner of the document meticulously.
Yet no matter how thoroughly we searched, nothing unusual was discovered.
There were no sections with different thickness, no hidden characters visible, and the contract’s wording contained no hint of wordplay—it was genuinely straightforward and intuitive prose.
“Sigh….”
I exhaled deeply, set down the contract, and gazed at the ceiling.
“This is difficult. I’m certain there’s something here….”
“Indeed.”
Ha Pyo-doo and Yeom Chief Manager also leaned back in their chairs, appearing somewhat fatigued.
Perhaps I’d been staring at the paper for too long? My vision was blurred with afterimages.
There’s definitely something here—I cannot give up now.
If I surrendered at this point, I would never achieve my goal of establishing the Greatest Merchant Guild Under Heaven.
I refocused and examined the contract once more.
Upon seeing where the seals of the Previous Chief Manager and Previous Estate Lord were stamped, I rubbed my eyes.
Were the afterimages still lingering in my vision?
No, it wasn’t an afterimage.
The small dot on the Estate Lord’s seal mark was ink that had dripped….
No, that’s not it.
This isn’t ink that simply dripped from the brush.
Typically, once all matters are coordinated and there’s nothing left to revise, the contract is finalized and sealed with a stamp.
Of course, it’s possible the seal was impressed where ink happened to drip from the brush.
But this isn’t a trace of spilled ink.
The pattern of accidentally spilled ink differs from that of an intentionally placed dot.
In other words, this small dot on the Manor Lord’s seal was deliberately marked.
Now that I think about it, the Manor Lord’s seal has quite an unusual shape, doesn’t it?
The two men looked at me and asked carefully.
“What have you discovered?”
“Isn’t this strange?”
I pointed to the Manor Lord’s seal and shared my thoughts, and both men nodded in agreement.
“Now that you mention it….”
“It certainly is peculiar.”
“But this seal here. The pattern does seem quite unusual.”
“Is that so?”
It felt familiar somehow.
I was certain I’d seen this pattern somewhere before….
As I rotated the contract this way and that for about an hour, examining the seal’s design.
“…!”
In that instant, it felt as though lightning struck my mind.
I suddenly understood what the seal’s shape represented.
“I understand now.”
“Yes?”
“This seal’s design—it depicts West Lake and the surrounding region.”
At my words, Ha Pyo-doo and Yeom Chief Manager tilted their heads and peered at the seal, and as they slowly rotated the contract to examine it, their expressions shifted to one of astonishment.
“Remarkable!”
“You’re absolutely right!”
This was thanks to my extensive research of the West Lake region during my previous life for business ventures in Hangzhou.
I had traversed this area countless times, observed it firsthand, and even created detailed maps of it.
“Then this dot marked here….”
I nodded and spoke.
“Yes. There’s likely something hidden at this location.”
.
.
.
Though we had found the clue, we decided to postpone searching for it several days hence.
Since outsiders had arrived, the Manor Lord’s people might be watching this place closely.
Therefore, we should refrain from any actions that might alert them.
I left the Chief Manager’s office and, guided by Yeom Chief Manager, decided to tour the various areas.
Hmm, the entire building looks quite worn down.
Soon enough, we witnessed the caretakers tending to the children.
“You seem rather busy.”
“Indeed we are. Haha.”
Though this place bore the sign of a Martial Hall, it simultaneously served as a sanctuary for raising children.
In other words, a considerable number of the children growing up here were still in their toddling years, barely able to walk steadily.
Despite having five caretakers, it was evident that hands were still stretched thin to manage all the children.
The infants still confined to their beds were manageable enough, but those who had just begun to move about simply could not stay still for a moment.
“Would it be alright if I helped out a bit?”
“Are you certain?”
Yeom Chief Manager spoke with concern.
“To be honest, the children won’t listen well. And they cry at all hours… I honestly can’t even tell why they’re crying….”
Why does he remind me of a father exhausted by childcare?
“Not that I dislike the children or anything….”
“Yes, I understand. I comprehend.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
“In any case, I have no schedule for today, so let me help out.”
Palgap and I approached the children. Yeom Chief Manager then explained to the caretakers who I was.
“Ah! You’re that benefactor from back then.”
“We can’t thank you enough.”
“We’re grateful that you’d help us, but are you sure? Caring for children is harder than it seems.”
“Yes, I’m fine with it.”
I needed to meet Great Sword Chun-il and gather information, but that was something to do at night.
Since I had nothing to do until dinner, I might as well earn some goodwill this way.
“Then we’ll trouble you.”
“If possible, it would be wonderful if you could play with them in a way that tires them out quickly. Otherwise, they won’t sleep well at night.”
“Ah….”
I nodded.
“If they don’t sleep at night, it harms their growth. I understand.”
After hearing a few precautions, I approached the children.
There were… twenty-three children in total. They ranged from four to six years old.
I approached them with a gentle smile.
“Hello.”
“Uh….”
“Ah….”
As a stranger approached, the children flinched momentarily, but soon they came running over.
“Ah, hello.”
The way they twisted their bodies while greeting was quite different from what I’d observed earlier.
They’re being well-behaved?
As I glanced at the caretakers with confusion, they all wore expressions of utter bewilderment.
Why are they acting like that? Isn’t it good when children are well-behaved?
Palgap muttered beside me in a barely audible voice.
“As expected, this world is a filthy place where even children only brighten their faces.”
“Hm? What did you say?”
“It’s nothing, sir.”
I tilted my head in confusion before turning my attention back to the children.
“Today, you’ll play with me.”
Then I asked Palgap to bring me a gourd and some string.
I took them, tied the gourd with the string, and spoke to the children.
“From now on, you’ll try to catch this gourd. The children who catch it will receive delicious candied hawthorn as a reward.”
“Wow!”
“Then let’s begin!”
As I swung the gourd just barely out of the children’s reach, they scrambled about trying to catch it.
“Come on, try to grab it here.”
“Wahhh!”
“Hiyah!”
“Ooh!”
“It’s here!”
Whenever it seemed the children might grow frustrated from the difficulty, I lowered it slightly so they could actually catch it.
“Wow! I got it!”
Once one child managed to catch the gourd, hope gleamed in all their eyes.
After playing with the children for about two hours, the exhausted ones began to show.
But I was perfectly fine.
Even if playing with children could be tiring, my physical stamina and inner energy as a martial artist easily compensated for it.
Even after reaching the peak of my cultivation, my Master’s teachings never neglected physical conditioning, so now I could hang from a tree for three days and four nights without growing weary.
Hmm…
Should I thank my Master?
With such thoughts, I adjusted the game so all the children could catch the gourd.
I had always intended to give candied hawthorn to every child anyway.
Candied hawthorn is a snack made by skewering hawthorn berries on sticks, coating them with sugar syrup, and letting it harden.
Of course, since the sugar must harden to eat it, it can only be consumed during the cold winter months.
Originally, this region of Zhejiang Province is warm, so candied hawthorn can only be eaten in the depths of winter, but this time the weather turned cold early, and merchants selling candied hawthorn have already begun to appear.
The reason I give candied hawthorn to the children is that hawthorn berries have the effect of preventing colds. Additionally, it’s a food good for fatigue recovery and skin beauty.
Of course, it’s also because hawthorn berries are the only fruit remaining in winter, but with these benefits, that’s why it’s made into candied hawthorn.
And it tastes sweet and tangy too.
Sitting with the children eating candied hawthorn like this wasn’t so bad either.
After confirming the children had finished their candied hawthorn, I stood up.
Now that they’ve eaten, they need to move again.
If they eat without moving, they’ll gain weight and their bodies will become sluggish. That wouldn’t be good for learning martial arts.
Clap clap!
“Well then, shall we try a different game?”
“Yes!”
.
.
.
As the sun began to set, I noticed the children growing drowsy from exhaustion.
It was only natural after hours of running about.
Seeing this, the nursemaids put the children to bed, then approached me with expressions of gratitude and emotion.
“To think you played with them so thoroughly!”
“You’re truly remarkable.”
“We’ll finally get some proper rest tonight.”
“Haha.”
I felt embarrassed receiving praise for simply playing earnestly with them.
“But are you alright? Aren’t you tired?”
I smiled and replied to her question.
“I’m fine. This is nothing, really….”
I glanced toward the room where the children slept, then asked the nursemaids.
“By the way, for a Northern Sea Ice Palace operation, there aren’t as many children as I expected.”
I had heard the Northern Sea Ice Palace was quite substantial in scale.
“It can’t be helped—most women of the Northern Sea Ice Palace don’t marry.”
While the Northern Sea Ice Palace doesn’t forbid marriage, those who enter the palace do so with their own circumstances.
That’s why they don’t think about such things as marriage.
“Even when a woman does meet a man and marry, in most cases the child’s father raises the child…but sometimes that’s impossible.”
The nursemaid’s expression turned bitter.
“The child’s father dies, or….”
Abandons them.
“Anyway, I’m worried. Moving in this freezing weather….”
“Indeed.”
“I’m concerned the children might catch cold.”
Having worked here for so long, they understood the situation well.
That the Martial Hall had to relocate during winter.
Now that I thought about it, the Manor Lord seemed even more unreasonable.
Knowing this is where children are raised, yet demanding they move in the dead of winter—was he in his right mind?
This winter was so bitterly cold that even West Lake’s waters had frozen solid.
West Lake, situated in a warm region and rarely freezing, was completely iced over.
.
.
.
That night, I slipped out of the Martial Hall in secret.
Then I walked quietly around West Lake, savoring its tranquil beauty.
West Lake has what is known as the Ten Sights of West Lake. One of them is the Broken Bridge in Remnant Snow.
Snow accumulates on the bridge, making it appear as though the bridge itself has been severed.
However, snow has become exceedingly rare these past years, so this sight will not be seen for some time.
Still, even in this bitter cold, there are those who venture out on boats to admire the scenery.
As I gazed upon the landscape, a familiar presence quietly approached.
“It has been a long time.”
It was Great Sword Chun-il, now a member of our Merchant Guild Intelligence Division.
Turning around, I saw a man whose face bore no resemblance to the one I knew.
Even his voice had changed.
His disguise technique truly was remarkable every time I witnessed it.
He began his report to me quietly.
“The current County Magistrate’s name is Sung Jun. While his abilities fall short of the Previous Estate Lord, he is not entirely incompetent, or so it is said.”
“I sense something troubling.”
“Indeed. Whereas the Previous Estate Lord commanded considerable respect, the current Magistrate is driven by greed, and his reputation suffers accordingly.”
As I suspected.
The world is full of those who serve beneath the Ministry of Household Affairs with questionable motives.
“The Previous Estate Lord, Sung Ji-myung, was said to be a remarkable man of both exceptional ability and great virtue. The current prosperity of the Sung Family Guild is largely the fruit of his era.”
“I see.”
“This incident appears to stem from the current Estate Lord Sung Jun’s ambitions. He intends to launch a new entertainment business venture.”
Wait—he intends to “launch” an entertainment business “anew”?
That means the Previous Estate Lord never involved himself in such enterprises.
If he had earned wealth in Hangzhou, it would have been natural to pursue such ventures, so why did he not?

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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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