The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 220

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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 220

Chapter 220. Karma Returns (9)

Soon, the Eun Pung-dae Fourth Squad I had summoned arrived.
“You called for us?”
Myeong Bu-seong, the squad leader of the Eun Pung-dae Fourth Squad.
A man from the Yunnan Region who wielded a large curved blade with considerable skill.
But what distinguished him far more than his weapon was his face.
His visage was so grotesquely menacing that even crying infants would cease their wails, only to convulse in shock—and when paired with his deformed curved blade, the effect was absolutely devastating.
Yet he was truly a sincere man with a gentle heart.
In any case, he made his living entirely on that one face, and I found him perfectly suited for intimidation work, which I employed him for regularly.
One might argue it was cruel to assign such tasks to someone with such a tender disposition, but Myeong Bu-seong Squad Leader never refused.
When I had asked him about this in my previous life, he had smiled and replied.

“A show of force means we don’t have to swing our blades and kill others, doesn’t it?”
“That’s true. A show of force is merely intimidation.”
“That’s precisely why I enjoy this work. That’s why I deliberately practice my frightening expression. Hahahaha!”

That was the kind of man Myeong Bu-seong Squad Leader was.
“I have a task requiring a show of force.”
“That’s my specialty. Leave it to me, Small Guild Master.”
At my words, he cupped his fist in salute and grinned wickedly—which only made him look even more terrifying.

We headed toward the Ma Family Manor.
“Ahem, well. What brings you here without notice?”
Ma Jang-ju still maintained his confident demeanor.
But that was about to end.
“Ma Jang-ju, I’m afraid you’ll need to vacate the estate.”
“What? Vacate the estate? What are you talking about?”
“I have need of this estate, you see.”
“Didn’t you say last time that you only wanted ownership of the estate?”
“That’s true. But sir, owning something means being the master of it. And the master of an estate has the right to order anyone residing there to leave.”
“….”
“Am I wrong?”
“….”
He couldn’t argue with that logic.
“Wait, just wait a moment! Once I receive the profits from my investment in the Murim Alliance’s venture….”
“Haven’t you heard the news yet?”
“News? What news?”
“The White Thunder Group members escorting your investment funds have gone missing.”
“What?”
“So the Murim Alliance hasn’t received the funds yet and can’t even proceed with the project.”
“….”
“In any case, that’s how it stands. So please, vacate the estate now.”
“That’s impossible! I can secure funds from elsewhere!”
“Can you really? Do you have assets to offer as collateral?”
My sarcastic question made Ma Jang-ju’s face grow increasingly red.
“How dare you speak so arrogantly!”
“Why? It’s the truth, isn’t it?”
Ma Jang-ju’s eyes blazed with fury, then gleamed with sinister intent.
“You there! Seize them at once!”
“Yes, sir!”
I didn’t need to guess what Ma Jang-ju was thinking. He planned to detain me and steal the contract I held.
Villains are all predictably alike.
I’d deliberately provoked him with sarcasm, hoping he’d reveal his true nature….
Wow, he really is simple.
The warriors rushed at me, but my Guard Warriors were hardly ordinary.
Thwack—!
Crash!
“Ugh!”
“Gack!”
The tide of battle reversed in an instant.
All that remained of Ma Jang-ju’s guards were second-rate warriors at best.
The first-class warriors are all suffering hardships at the County Office anyway.
Naturally, they were no match for my Guard Warriors.
“For now, I’ve dealt with them without drawing swords as a warning, but I cannot guarantee what will happen next. My Guard Warriors are simply too loyal, you see.”
“N-now, call the other warriors at once! Slaughter those bastards! They’re only six people after all!”
He still hadn’t come to his senses.
I looked outside and shouted loudly.
“Myeong Squad Leader!”
The main gate swung wide open, and Myeong Bu-sung Squad Leader entered leading his group members.
“Gasp!”
“Eek!”
The warriors, seeing Myeong Squad Leader’s terrifying face, unconsciously stepped backward.
Ma Jang-ju was no different from the other warriors.
“Manor Lord, your thinking is quite short-sighted. How could I, the Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company, travel around with merely a handful of Guard Warriors?”
“….”
I approached Ma Jang-ju and spoke.
“What will you do? If you leave quietly even now, I will overlook what you intended to do to me.”
“….”
Ma Jang-ju closed his eyes tightly and spoke.
“I… I’ll leave.”
“A wise decision.”
“But still, how can you suddenly tell me to leave like this? Where am I supposed to stay?”
“That’s why I’ve prepared a small house for you, Manor Lord.”
“A house?”
“I’m not such a heartless person.”
Ma Jang-ju sighed and spoke.
“I understand. I’ll have my household members pack their belongings.”
“Ah, there’s no need for that. You and your household members need only leave with your bodies.”
“What?”
“Have you forgotten? Everything in this estate, down to the smallest stone, belongs to me. Even the clothes you’re wearing are my property. Though I’ll allow you to take what you’re currently wearing.”
I continued.
“And when I examined your investment contracts previously, I happened to see your employment contract as well. According to that contract, if a situation arises where I cannot provide your salary normally, the contract is automatically terminated.”
At those words, Ma Jang-ju turned his head to look at the Chief Manager.
The Chief Manager had come out during the commotion, and he nodded.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“And there are three situations where I cannot provide your salary normally. The first is….”
The Chief Manager took over my explanation.
“When salary is three months overdue, second, when there is no heir to succeed the Ma Family Manor, and third, when the owner of this estate changes.”
I smiled wickedly.
“Then Chief Manager, does our current situation fall under all three cases you just mentioned?”
“It does.”
The Chief Manager knelt before me.
“My name is An Suk, and I have served at the Ma Family Manor for forty years.”
That meant he’d worked here since the previous generation, then?
“If you would grant this old man an opportunity, I shall serve you with unwavering loyalty. Please enter into a contract with me.”
Yes, it was wisdom to abandon a sinking ship quickly rather than cling to it until the very end.
I approached the Chief Manager.
“The ground is cold. Please, rise at once.”
“I shall not rise until the new Manor Lord accepts my request.”
“Very well. Then please stand.”
Forty years of service here meant he possessed intimate knowledge of the Ma Family Manor and, moreover, was well-informed about the affairs of Taekyung County.
He would prove invaluable to me in many ways.
“I shall enter into a contract with you. I look forward to working together.”
“Thank you.”
An Chief Manager finally rose to his feet. I then addressed all those who had gathered in the courtyard.
“Yes, that is how it shall be. Those of you who wish to renew your contracts with me should stand behind An Chief Manager. If you prefer otherwise, you may leave with Ma Jang-ju….”
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Every single employee had positioned themselves behind An Chief Manager. Ma Jang-ju and his household members regarded the employees with eyes full of betrayal, but that was all they could do.
They lacked the funds to maintain their contracts, and the employees had no reason to remain bound to such people.
“Then, Ma Jang-ju and your household members, please follow me.”

The household members following Ma Jang-ju were sparse in number.
They were his distant relatives who had operated the shops I had purchased, so I remembered them well.
Like master, like servant—with Ma Jang-ju in such a state, his relatives could hardly be respectable.
Some had married and then divorced; others had wives who had fled in the dead of night.
When I took over the shops, they too ceased working there and had been remaining at the estate.
They gazed at Ma Jang-ju—no, he was no longer a Manor Lord now.
They looked at Ma Jeong with resentful eyes.
Watching them, I felt a laugh welling up inside. They had lived well by clinging to Ma Jang-ju all this time, yet their greed knew no bounds.
While acquiring the shops they had operated, I learned that their tyranny toward the residents of Taekyung County had been considerable.
Soon we arrived at the house Palgap had prepared.
“We have arrived.”
“Hmm?”
“H-here? Is this it?”
I feigned ignorance and asked in return.
“Why do you ask?”
“Ah, well… Could that small thatched hut ahead be the house you prepared?”
“Yes.”
Before us stood a dilapidated thatched hut.
I had originally intended to prepare a simple hut, but there needed to be one in this vicinity.
So I had no choice but to change course and secure this crumbling thatched hut instead.
“Did you expect some grand tile-roofed mansion then? Have I lost my mind? Why would I willingly incur such losses? I’ve already suffered enough dealing with Ma Jang-ju.”
“….”
“If this place doesn’t suit your tastes, then by all means, find yourself another house. I’ll be taking my leave.”
Without another word, I turned and walked away.
.
.
.
Upon returning to the Ma Family Manor, I immediately sought out An Chief Manager.
“An Chief Manager.”
“Yes.”
“Remove the Ma Family Manor nameplate from the front gate. This place is no longer the Ma Family Manor—there’s no reason for it to remain.”
“You speak truly.”
“But tell me—did Ma Jeong have no brothers?”
At my question, An Chief Manager’s expression grew bitter.
“He had two elder brothers, but they both perished in an unfortunate accident. The shock of their deaths caused the previous Manor Lord to waste away until he passed.”
“I see.”
“However, when those two young masters died, Ma Jeong was nearby.”
“So you have suspicions but no concrete evidence?”
At my words, An Chief Manager silently nodded.
For a Chief Manager who had served forty years to speak thus meant there was certainty—only the evidence was lacking.
Another matter to investigate.

* * *

As evening fell, the cold deepened.
Ma Jeong shouted at his nephews.
“What are you doing? Start a fire at once!”
“How can we start a fire if we don’t know how?”
“And what about cooking rice?”
They had firewood and rice, but having never kindled a fire or prepared a meal, there was no way it could turn out properly.
They struggled this way and that, but….
“Damn it!”
Then Ma Jeong spoke.
“That infuriating bastard said it—if you don’t like it here, find yourself a place to live.”
“Yes, he did.”
“Who are we? We are the kings of Taekyung County! So why must we live like this squalor?”
“Exactly.”
“If I recall correctly, Min’s house is the finest in this area.”
Besides the Ma Family Manor, there were several prominent families in Taekyung County, and Min’s was one of them.
Since these so-called prominent figures were those who had always fawned over him, Ma Jeong spoke with confidence.
“From today onward, we shall stay there.”
“Yes.”
They left the thatched hut and made their way to Min’s house.
“Ahem! Is Min here?”
“Who might you be?”
The door opened and a servant emerged.
“Summon Min.”
The servant, recognizing him, hurried inside, and Min came rushing out in a panic.
Ma Jeong spoke to him with an air of supreme authority.
“Get out.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m telling you to leave—we’ll be living here from now on. Oh, and since we’ll need attendants, leave your servants and handmaidens here.”
“….”
“What are you waiting for? Why haven’t you left?”
At those words, Min instinctively began to lower his head.
But then he caught sight of Ma Jeong’s clothes, covered in soot and grime.
This was a man who ordinarily prided himself on impeccable cleanliness.
‘It’s real.’
The words that the Handsome Young Man had left when he visited earlier came flooding back.

“Ma Jang-ju will come looking for you today and demand that you leave immediately. He says you’re living here.”
“What?”
“Just listen. He is no longer the Manor Lord of the Ma Family Manor. Everything at the Ma Family Manor now belongs to me. The warriors who protected him are gone. He’s nothing but a pauper.”
“Then what should we do?”
“What’s there to worry about? Just throw a bucket of water on him and beat him soundly before driving him out.”
“B-but….”
“Don’t worry. I’ll leave one of my guards here before I go. This man will protect you.”

If his words were true, there was no longer any need to endure Ma Jeong’s tyranny.
How much abuse had we suffered all this time?
Did Ma Jeong not understand that such resentment, no matter how much it was suppressed and held back, would never simply disappear?
Min steeled his resolve and headed toward the Jangdok Platform.
Given the cold weather, a thin layer of ice had formed on the water in the large earthenware jar.
He drew water from that jar and splashed it over Ma Jeong and his relatives.
“Gasp!”
“Sputter!”
Ma Jeong and his relatives blinked in shock at the sudden deluge.
“You shameless thugs! Where do you get off acting like this? Get out of here at once!”
“Such insolence… Ugh!”
Crack—!
Ma Jeong could not finish his words.
A ladle had struck him squarely in the face.

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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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