The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 217

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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 217

Chapter 217. Karma Returns (6)

Watching Ma Jang-ju’s expression crumble as though the world itself had collapsed, I tilted my head and asked, “What on earth has happened?”
“Well, you see… I’ve been robbed.”
“Robbed? You mean someone stole your money?”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying.”
Ma Jang-ju explained the entire situation from beginning to end.
“Those ungrateful wretches stole my money and fled.”
“Such a thing… Have you apprehended the culprits?”
“Fortunately, we managed to catch them. I was worried since they were skilled warriors, but it seems they either fought among themselves or suffered some kind of internal poison that left them unable to use their martial techniques. It made capturing them quite easy.”
That internal poison—I was the one who triggered it.
I had quietly pocketed the one used previously when Jin-ho dealt with the Small Merchant Leader Gong Pyosik, and I deployed it this time.
“That’s fortunate.”
“However… they still refuse to reveal where they hid the stolen money. We’ve been interrogating them quite harshly, but they won’t talk.”
“Stubborn fellows, aren’t they?”
I had heard that Jihyeon had once been insulted by Ma Jang-ju’s Guard Warriors.
So they would certainly pour all that resentment into brutal torture.
From the warriors’ perspective, they must be going mad. After all, they never actually got their hands on a single coin.
But this is karma.
The people they harmed suffered far longer.
“They claim it was stolen by a trio of bandits wearing laughing masks… but transporting such an enormous sum would be impossible for just three men. The horses and carriage are still here, and there’s no trace of any other cart.”
“They must be lying to escape responsibility.”
“Exactly what I think.”
Ma Jang-ju sighed heavily.
“The truth is, I promised to deliver investment funds to the Murim Alliance by the end of this month. But with this situation…”
Ma Jang-ju was still clutching at my sleeve.
“So I’m asking… could you possibly help me secure some funds?”
“Funds, you say?”
At my question, he nodded vigorously—so forcefully I worried his neck might snap.
“Didn’t you mention yesterday that you have over ten thousand gold coins in capital?”
“That money is designated for purchasing shops in this area. If I were to use it personally, my father would subject me to severe punishment.”
“Surely there must be some way?”
As I fell silent, Ma Jang-ju’s expression grew increasingly desperate as he pleaded.
“Please, I’m begging you. Save me from this.”
“….”
“….”
I dragged out the time, pretending to deliberate for about half an hour.
Soon enough, impatience began to show, and it was time for him to speak first.
“Ah! What if we did this instead?”
“What excellent idea do you have in mind, sir?”
“I own several shops in this area. What if you purchased them from me?”
“You mean Ma Jang-ju’s shops, sir?”
“Indeed. Since you mentioned wanting to acquire shops anyway, our interests align perfectly, do they not?”
“How many shops are there, sir?”
“Three in total.”
“I would like to review detailed information about their scale and revenue.”
At my words, Ma Jang-ju’s expression brightened, and he spoke urgently.
“Then let me take you inside right away—”
“Lord Jang-ju, I would prefer to visit the Han Family Martial School first, if you don’t mind.”
“Ah, very well.”

We headed toward the Han Family Martial School.
“Ahem, is the School Master Han present?”
Ma Jang-ju called out first, and soon the main gate of the Han Family Martial School opened, revealing a familiar-faced man who poked his head out.
“Ah, greetings, Lord Jang-ju. What brings you here today?”
He noticed me standing beside Ma Jang-ju, and his eyes widened immediately.
“What? Aren’t you the Small Merchant Leader Eun Seo-ho?”
“It’s been a while, Han So-hyup.”
“Please, come inside.”
The main gate opened wide, and we entered the Han Family Martial School.
“Father! Mother! We have guests!”
Soon a middle-aged man and woman emerged from inside.
“These are my father and mother.”
“The School Master of the Han Family Martial School is Han Soo.”
Han Jae-ik resembled his mother more than his father.
And the School Master bore a striking resemblance to Han Jae-in when she had disguised herself as a man before.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Merchant Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company. Since I had a connection with Han So-hyup in the Northern Sea, I took the opportunity to visit while passing through this village.”
“Ah, Jae-ik mentioned it. He said you helped him when he was being pursued by the Baek Un Escort Agency in the Northern Sea.”
“We must help one another to survive.”
Looking at the School Master, he still appeared to have difficulty moving about.
“Your health seems quite poor. What happened?”
“Ah, well…”
“Ahem.”
Ma Jang-ju interjected with a dry cough.
“Thieves broke in some time ago, and he was injured in the incident.”
“Oh my! Is that so?”
You already know the full situation, yet you play innocent.
How shameless.
Of course, you can’t admit that you ordered it to happen.
I glanced around the estate.
When I’d visited before to leave a letter, the Han Family Martial School had been in a pitiful state.
I was grateful I hadn’t arrived any later than I did.
So I’d gathered some necessary supplies into a bundle and thrown them along with the letter.
And because I wanted this situation to improve even slightly, I’d mentioned Han So-hyup to Ma Jang-ju.
Perhaps that’s why the Han Family Martial School’s condition had improved considerably since then.
I spoke to Han Gwanjoo.
“You’re not in good health, and the cold air won’t help. It would be better if you went inside and rested properly.”
“Thank you for your consideration. Then I shall take my leave.”
We headed to the Guest Reception Room, and Han So-hyup’s Mother brought tea.
For a martial school of such standing, there should have been handmaidens to do such work, but it seemed there were none—all because of Ma Jang-ju.
“The tea tastes excellent, perhaps because you brewed it yourself.”
“Ahem. I’m grateful for it.”
Ma Jang-ju cleared his throat awkwardly, and Han So-hyup spoke with a smile.
“It’s the tea that Ma Jang-ju brought as a gift before.”
“You are a generous lord indeed.”
“Yes. A truly… generous… lord… you are.”
Did Ma Jang-ju understand the barb beneath Han So-hyup’s words?
While Han So-hyup and I conversed with pleasant expressions, Ma Jang-ju sat restlessly.
I needed to provide him with the funds quickly, yet he showed no sign of rising from his seat.
In truth, I was deliberately not standing up.
It was so he might taste, even for a moment, the anguish the Han So-hyup family had endured day after day.
Ma Jang-ju must be feeling exactly that now.
The amount he needed to secure was substantial, and if he failed to gather it in time, he would learn firsthand why the Geumsan Money Exchange had such a sterling reputation.
His mouth would go dry, and his nerves would fray.
Now perhaps he would begin to understand, even slightly, the suffering the Han Family Martial School had endured?
Our conversation continued even after lunch, and with each passing moment, Ma Jang-ju’s face grew darker and more ashen.
Should I end this now?
If Ma Jang-ju collapsed from the strain, only I would suffer the consequences.
“Ah! Look at the time. I was so engrossed in our conversation that I didn’t notice it passing.”
“I enjoyed it as well.”
“Then let us meet again next time.”
“Yes, please take care on your way.”
We headed back toward the Ma Family Estate.
“My apologies. It’s been so long since we met that I lost track of time.”
“Haha. No matter.”
“Thank you for understanding. Now let’s go examine the shops under your ownership.”
As we arrived at the Ma Family Manor, the Chief Manager came to the Guest Reception Room with documents, as if he had been waiting for us.
I examined the documents with a grave expression.
Of course, I had already completed my investigation into the shops that Ma Jang-ju owned.
My reviewing these documents was merely for show.
Ma Jang-ju’s shops consisted of a pottery shop, a paper shop, and a grain merchant shop.
They showed steady profits, but considering their scale and market potential, the returns were rather unremarkable.
It couldn’t have been otherwise.
The shop managers were all relatives of Ma Jang-ju’s family.
So naturally, they wouldn’t have worked diligently or pursued aggressive profits.
Thud.
I placed the documents on the table with a dismissive gesture as I spoke.
“The profits are insufficient. Three hundred silver taels per shop. Nothing more.”
“But surely the scale warrants a higher valuation? Aren’t you being too harsh?”
“I’m hurt by such words, Manor Lord. I’ve actually calculated generously with your interests in mind.”
“B-but merely three hundred taels…”
“The shop I purchased previously had better conditions than this, yet it was valued at only two hundred fifty taels.”
“…”
“Furthermore, I must report my acquisitions to my father. If I’m not thorough, he may question my competence.”
“…”
Ma Jang-ju’s expression grew troubled.
All three shops combined amounted to merely nine hundred taels.
It fell far short of the ten thousand taels he needed to procure.
“Then, what if we proceed this way? I notice here that you’ve made investments beyond just the shops.”
“That’s true.”
“Then transfer the rights to those investments to me. I’ll value them at double the investment amount.”
“R-really?”
Ma Jang-ju’s face brightened.
“Yes. However, even with that, we still fall short of ten thousand taels.”
Ma Jang-ju’s expression darkened again.
“There’s nothing else of value left to offer.”
“What about this estate itself?”
“What! You mean this very estate?”
Ma Jang-ju was startled by my suggestion.
“Yes. If we include all the precious items within this estate, we’ll still fall slightly short of ten thousand taels, but I can make up the difference.”
“B-but if I sell this estate, where am I to live?”
“In that case, our trading company will retain only the ownership deed. Later, when returns from your investments arrive, won’t you have funds? You can repay us then, and I’ll return the deed to you.”
“Ah! That would work.”
“And…”
I glanced around as if sharing a secret, then whispered softly to him.
“I’ve heard that by investing such a substantial sum, you’ve eliminated the need to recruit other investors. Therefore, a considerable share of the profits will come to you.”
“Is that truly the case?”
“Yes.”
At my words, Ma Jang-ju’s expression brightened considerably.
His face bore the look of a man who had already seized the profits in his grasp.
In truth, this too was part of my design.
In my previous life, when the Baek Un Escort Agency’s business collapsed, the investors recovered not a single coin.
They had invested trusting in the names of the Murim Alliance and the Namgung Family.
Yet the investment contract contained a clause absolving them of liability for losses, and through this, countless souls shed tears of blood.
In severe cases, some even took their own lives.
But such tragedy would not occur this time.
“What will you do, sir?”
Ma Jang-ju, having reached his decision, nodded firmly.
“Excellent. Let us proceed with that course.”
Ma Jang-ju and I drafted the contract.
“Then, when can you provide the funds?”
“As soon as the money is available at this pawn shop, sir. I’m told it will take approximately three days.”
“I see.”
“Take heart, sir. Who knows? In that time, the warriors who stole your money might confess where they’ve hidden it.”
“One can only hope.”
“Then I shall take my leave.”
I rose from my seat.
“Ah, I mention this merely as a precaution, but you must not dispose of anything in this estate arbitrarily. Should my father come here directly, it would be difficult for me to justify my actions.”
“…I shall refrain.”

* * *

After Eun Seo-ho departed, Ma Jang-ju erupted in fury.
“Damn it! I, Ma Jeong, groveling before such a whelp!”
He vented his rage, lashing out with his foot toward a tree in the courtyard.
Thwack!
The Chief Manager beside him hastily restrained him.
“Master! You mustn’t do that!”
“What?”
“That tree—indeed, everything in this estate—no longer belongs to you, sir.”
Ma Jang-ju quickly withdrew his foot, staring blankly into the void.
As reality dawned upon him, he let out a cry of anguish.
“Aaaaaaahhhhh!”

* * *

I chuckled softly at Ma Jang-ju’s furious roar echoing from behind me.
It sounded like the Lion’s Roar itself.
I fingered the contract tucked inside my robe.
It wouldn’t be long now before Ma Jang-ju’s complete ruin.
.
.
.
A few days later.
I handed Ma Jang-ju ten thousand gold coins.
“Here it is. Please sign the receipt.”
“Understood.”
With those ten thousand gold coins passing into Ma Jang-ju’s hands, every last piece of his wealth became mine.
I had stripped him completely bare—Ma Jang-ju was now nothing but a pauper.
“By the way, when does the Murim Alliance arrive?”
“Word just came in. They depart tomorrow.”
That would take a day or two then.
“I see. Though I do worry whether they can transport the gold safely.”
“Ah, don’t worry about that. Given the scale of it, the White Thunder Group from the Murim Alliance is coming to escort it.”
“The White Thunder Group! I’ve heard their name spoken of often. With them, I can rest easy. I’ll take my leave now.”
“Yes, go carefully.”
The reason I asked when the Murim Alliance was arriving was so I could quietly intercept the ten thousand gold coins they were transporting.
I had said it before, hadn’t I?
I would not allow a single coin of my money to reach the Murim Alliance.
As for the White Thunder Group…
On the way back, Jin Yu Warrior spoke quietly to me.
“My lord, may I take the lead when we carry out this task?”
“What? Is something the matter?”
“In truth, I have a personal grudge against them.”

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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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