The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 216

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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 216

Chapter 216. Karma Repaid (5)

The next morning.
I made my way to the Geumsan Money Lender near Taekyung County, as promised.
[Geumsan Money Lender]
In my previous life, it was a trustworthy establishment that never collapsed, even until my death.
In truth, I had once considered whether the Eunhae Trading Company should venture into the money-lending business, but I soon concluded it lacked practical merit and abandoned the idea.
The primary source of income in the money-lending trade came from the interest charged on loans.
Compared to the usurious rates known as Yeom Wang Debt, the rates here were reasonable by any standard, which is why so many people patronized the establishment.
They also issued promissory notes, disbursing or collecting money on behalf of clients.
Because the business involved such monetary dealings, martial strength was an absolute necessity.
After all, they had to pursue those who defaulted on debts and apprehend those who fled with borrowed funds.
Thus, the caliber of warriors maintained by the money lender significantly influenced the establishment’s credibility—much like the Pyoguk.
The Geumsan Money Lender’s high reputation and longevity were precisely because of this.
Above all, the proprietor was a supreme martial master.
Typically, a supreme martial master held a rank equivalent to the Sect Leader of a major sect.
With such a person operating the establishment, who would dare attempt to default on their debts?
Moreover, each branch maintained carrier pigeons, allowing them to transmit important information with considerable speed.
“Ah! You’ve arrived?”
“Welcome, Manor Lord.”
As I approached the Geumsan Money Lender, I spotted Ma Jang-ju waiting in front.
He appeared quite anxious—clearly worried that I might not show up.
As if I would do such a thing.
Regardless of my intention to thoroughly fleece Ma Jang-ju, honor was honor.
“My apologies for the delay.”
“Not at all. I only just arrived myself. Though it seems the money lender hasn’t opened yet.”
It was still quite early in the morning.
I had deliberately suggested we meet around this hour, but…
The Geumsan Money Lender was a place beyond even Ma Jang-ju’s influence, so he couldn’t pressure them to open early. Thus, here we waited.
He was clearly eager, worried I might withdraw from the transaction.
“The weather is cold. Would you care to have some tea at the Tea House over there? By then, they should be opening.”
“Hmm, that sounds reasonable.”
“Allow me to treat you today.”
“No, I’ll pay for it.”
“I insist. I’ve enjoyed your fine tea many times before—today, I shall be the one to treat you.”
With such pleasant conversation, we entered the Tea House.
Since it was such an early hour, we were the only guests present.
Well, even if there had been other patrons, the murderous aura emanating from the Guard Warriors accompanying Ma Jang-ju would have kept anyone from approaching.
In fact, anyone from this region who recognized Ma Jang-ju would have turned back the moment they entered the Tea House.
His reputation was that formidable.
We enjoyed refreshments while exchanging idle pleasantries.
“Ah, but did you know about this?”
“Know what?”
“I heard that Geumsan Money Lender nearly got robbed recently.”
“What?”
“A Thief apparently broke into Geumsan Money Lender.”
….
What I had just said was not a lie.
A Thief truly had infiltrated Geumsan Money Lender and nearly succeeded, but the establishment’s master had been present, so the crime ultimately failed.
That had happened a year ago.
Since then, Geumsan Money Lender had begun implementing even more rigorous security measures.
But by deliberately omitting the rest of the story, I had planted a seed of unease in Ma Jang-ju’s mind.
“So I’m considering moving my funds to a different money lender.”
At that moment, Palgap approached and spoke.
“Young Master, Geumsan Money Lender has opened.”
“Ah, is that so?”
I rose from my seat and said:
“Shall we go?”
“Let us do so.”

We entered the Geumsan Money Lender.
“Welcome. This is Geumsan Money Lender, where we treasure our customers’ funds.”
I presented the token issued by Geumsan Money Lender to the clerk and spoke.
“I’d like to make a withdrawal.”
“Of course. How much would you like to withdraw?”
“Two thousand three hundred taels in gold.”
“….”
For a moment, the clerk’s expression grew flustered, but he quickly composed himself and replied.
“My apologies. Our branch currently doesn’t have that much cash on hand. We’ll need to request it from a nearby branch and have it brought here.”
Since someone from the Murim Alliance was coming this afternoon to sign the investment contract and collect the funds, Ma Jang-ju’s expression had soured considerably.
It was only natural that a single branch wouldn’t hold such a substantial sum.
That’s why I hadn’t requested it in advance.
“I was also hoping to make a withdrawal….”
So Ma Jang-ju primarily used this Geumsan Money Lender as well.
But without sufficient cash currently in the branch, issuing a promissory note was equally impossible.
Promissory notes couldn’t be issued arbitrarily—the branch had to hold the equivalent amount in actual funds when issuing one.
“May I ask how much you require?”
Ma Jang-ju stated his desired amount.
“Hmm, for that sum, we’d likely need until tomorrow evening. Should I… provide it in cash?”
Ma Jang-ju answered without hesitation.
“Of course!”
If a bill of exchange were issued, immediate cash wouldn’t be necessary, so a promissory note could be issued instead.
In fact, that would be safer.
If anything went wrong, one could simply request a payment suspension.
But the words I’d spoken at the Tea House earlier were gnawing at him.
The small seed of doubt I’d planted was now consuming Ma Jang-ju entirely.
“But the Murim Alliance said they’d arrive just after noon today….”
I spoke to Ma Jang-ju.
“Why not explain the situation to the Murim Alliance, give them a full bill of exchange, and then return tomorrow to collect the cash? Given these circumstances, the Murim Alliance should understand.”
“Hmm… that’s a reasonable approach.”
“And if the Murim Alliance hears that Geumsan Money Lender is backing the bill of exchange, they’ll leave with peace of mind.”
“Then let’s proceed that way.”
At that moment, the clerk asked carefully.
“Then shall we have our branch directly transfer the funds to the place where the bill of exchange is presented?”
In other words, he was asking whether to issue a third-party bill of exchange.
But Ma Jang-ju, now firmly gripped by the seed of doubt I’d sown, would never accept that.
“No. I’ll deliver it personally.”
This way, Geumsan Money Lender would assume the role of debt collection.
That is, if default occurred, Geumsan Money Lender would collect on his behalf.
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Indeed.”

I returned to the Inn and was working through lunch.
Around the Hour of the Monkey—mid-afternoon—Jin Yu Warrior arrived with his report.
“The Murim Alliance representative has departed.”
“Did you receive the promissory note?”
“Yes. We drafted the investment contract and received the promissory note before he left. He initially seemed reluctant, but once we suggested issuing it through Geumsan Money Lender, he agreed without further objection.”
“Did you happen to see the amount?”
“Yes, sir. It was ten thousand taels of gold.”
“….”
At those words, Palgap and the other guards gasped audibly.
That was truly a staggering sum.
It was clear that Ma Jang-ju had liquidated every last coin of available assets he possessed.

The next day, we arrived at Geumsan Money Lender again around evening.
Since we were at the money lender today, I postponed our visit to Han Small Sect until tomorrow.
Ma Jang-ju arrived with even more Guard Warriors than the previous day.
Well, to physically transport ten thousand taels of gold, one would need to scrape together every available escort.
We withdrew the funds.
Ten thousand taels of gold amounted to a staggering six hundred and twenty-five catties.
Considering that a large pig typically weighs around one hundred and sixty catties, the weight was truly enormous.
Roughly equivalent to four pigs’ worth of weight—which is why we brought a massive cart.
“Then I understand we shall visit Han Small Sect’s Martial Hall tomorrow morning.”
“Understood. So you’ll head straight back after Han-ga Martial Arts School?”
“I expect to remain here for another five days or so. I received Father’s orders to acquire the shops in this vicinity, but Geumsan Money Lender has exhausted all available funds today, hasn’t it?”
“That’s true.”
“So we must wait for the money lender to replenish its cash reserves.”
“How much more could you possibly need to wait five days?”
“More than what we withdrew today.”
“….”
He cleared his throat at my words.
His expression revealed that he had just grasped how vastly greater the Eunhae Trading Company’s wealth truly was than he had imagined.
It struck me anew—he really was a frog in a well.
No matter how wealthy the richest man in the prefecture might be, how could he compare to our Merchant Guild, positioned in the middle ranks of the Hundred Greatest Merchants of the Land?
“Then I shall see you tomorrow.”
Ma Jang-ju departed toward Ma Family Estate with his Guard Warriors.
Once I confirmed their departure, I spoke to Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior.
“I’m counting on you both.”
“Have no concerns, sir.”
“This is nothing—hardly worth mentioning.”

* * *

Ma Jang-ju and his Guard Warrior entourage were heading toward the Ma Family Manor with the gold certificates in tow.
“Hehehehe….”
Seated within the spacious carriage, Ma Jang-ju gazed upon the chests brimming with gold certificates across from him, unable to suppress his continuous laughter.
It was nearly equivalent to his entire fortune.
And it was undoubtedly a seed of wealth that would bring him immense riches.
So consumed was Ma Jang-ju by the gold certificates that he failed to notice the shift in his Guard Warriors’ eyes.
“My Lord, it would be wise for us to rest briefly at that location ahead.”
“What? What exactly have we done that warrants rest?”
“Well… the cold has frozen the roads, and if we continue like this, the carriage wheels may break, which would be disastrous.”
“Hmm… that is a fair point.”
In the end, they decided to stay there until daybreak.
They busied themselves preparing for the night’s encampment.
During this time, Ma Jang-ju remained inside his carriage. He could not tear his eyes from the gold certificates.
And he despised getting dirt on his clothes.
As the warriors outside spoke in hushed tones, the night deepened.
“Snoooore… khhhh… mmmph….”
Whether from the tension of rushing about all day or from the tea he had drunk earlier, Ma Jang-ju had fallen into a deep slumber.
Thus, he remained completely unaware as the Guard Warriors lifted him from the carriage and placed him upon the frozen ground.
And the Guard Warriors simply took the carriage and vanished into the night.

* * *

At that very moment.
Seo-woo Warrior, Jin Yu Warrior, and I were concealed behind a tree, observing this entire sequence of events unfold.
Wow….
This situation is developing in an interesting direction.
– What shall we do?
In response to Seo-woo Warrior’s silent transmission, I sent one back to him.
– We must naturally recover it.
I glanced briefly at Ma Jang-ju lying asleep on the ground. In truth, I had not entirely dismissed the possibility of the Guard Warriors’ betrayal.
But I never expected all of them to betray him like this….
Had Ma Jang-ju maintained a relationship of trust with his Guard Warriors, such an event would never have occurred.

We pursued the Guard Warriors, and soon arrived at the place where they had stopped.

“That’s not fair! Why is my share only this much?”
“What? You bastard! Get your hands off that.”
“I’m the one who drugged Ma Jang-ju.”
“Don’t you remember me saying we should take a break?”

This was the Crossroads where the paths diverged, and just as I’d anticipated, they were dividing the money here.
They quarreled over their respective contributions, each trying to claim a larger share.
Such futile efforts.
Not a single coin would reach their hands anyway.
Fortunately, their bickering consumed their attention entirely, leaving them oblivious to their surroundings.
I sent a silent transmission to the Guard Warriors.
– Let’s move.
We donned the masks we’d distributed earlier and rushed toward them.
Masks bearing smiling faces.
“W-who…?”
Thwack—!
One of them, blessed with keen senses, noticed our approach, but it came too late.
Crack—!
“Ugh!”
He took the pommel of a sword to the back of his neck and collapsed instantly.
Ma Jang-ju’s guards scrambled to draw their blades, but their resistance proved meaningless.
Though they outnumbered us, they were merely first-rate warriors at best—no match for three peak-stage masters.
We subdued and incapacitated them all in moments.
I chose not to kill them, only to render them unconscious, because they bore guilt for their crimes.
They had long tormented the residents of Taekyung County, trading on Ma Jang-ju’s authority.
That was precisely why I’d decided to recover the gold on their return journey.
Had I recovered it once they returned to the Ma Family Estate, the innocent servants and handmaidens would suffer the consequences.
But by recovering it during their journey, suspicion would narrow to the Guard Warriors alone.
Ma Jang-ju’s Guard Warriors had robbed the residents of Taekyung County, eaten without paying, inflicted injuries, and even dishonored women, or so I’d heard.
If anyone deserved to suffer, it was these wretches.
And how convenient that they’d provided the evidence themselves.
We arranged additional evidence appropriately and placed the gold in my Secret Warehouse.
Ah, I can hardly wait for tomorrow.

After handling the matter, I returned to Ma Jang-ju’s side and found him awake, his face pale with shock.
Once Ma Jang-ju grasped the situation, he immediately made his way to the County Office, explained everything to Jihyeon, and with his assistance, returned to the Ma Family Manor.
The proximity of the County Office proved fortunate for Ma Jang-ju.
.
.
.
The following morning,
since I had agreed to visit the Han Small Sect with Ma Jang-ju, we made our way to the Ma Family Manor.
Ma Jang-ju waited for me with visible anxiety.
The moment he saw me, he grasped at my sleeve and cried out desperately.
“Eun Small Merchant Leader, please save me!”

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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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