The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 227

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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 227

Chapter 227. Jin-ho’s Wedding Banquet (2)

I couldn’t let them see panic on my face.
I feigned ignorance and asked casually.
“Asking for forgiveness, you say?”
“In truth, we are… spies planted within the Eunhae Trading Company.”
Palgap and the guards wore expressions of utter shock.
As if they had never anticipated this.
Yes, I understand.
In my previous life, I didn’t know either.
No, not just me—even Go External Chief Manager didn’t know.
They truly deceived everyone flawlessly.
In a way, that itself was a kind of talent.
They concealed their true nature like that, and at the critical moment, they struck me from behind, causing trouble for both me and the company.
So when their identities as spies were exposed, Go External Chief Manager felt terribly sorry toward me.
After all, they had become my guard warriors on his recommendation.
And he even stepped back from the front lines out of responsibility for it.
It was truly unfortunate that a figure of Go External Chief Manager’s caliber had to withdraw from active duty.
Anyway, their betrayal of me happened much later than now. It was when I was twenty-six years old.
They had hidden their identities so well until then—so why were they suddenly revealing themselves so readily now?
It was unexpected and unsettling, but I didn’t let it show, maintaining a composed expression.
First, I needed to discover their true intentions.
“I was wondering when you’d tell me…”
So I hinted that I already knew.
And to hear their reasons, I needed to shake them a little.
As expected, they were startled by my words and began stammering.
“Y-you already knew?”
“H-how long have you known?”
“Don’t you think you moved rather carelessly?”
“….”
Not enough yet? Should I shake them a bit more?
“So, what did the Small Guild Master of the Jinse Trading Company propose?”
“…!”
“…!”
They were horrified by my words.
They were spies planted by the Jinse Trading Company—more precisely, by Bang-u Sub-leader.
Jinse Trading Company is currently considered the top merchant guild in Hubei Province.
Including our Eunhae Trading Company and the Hongnang Trading Company where Han Baek-geon serves as Small Guild Master, we’re grouped as the three major merchant guilds of Hubei Province, though there’s still a gap between us.
Of course, that gap will reverse before long.
Suddenly, memories from my past life surfaced.
Before they struck me from behind, the Eunhae Trading Company and Jinse Trading Company were locked in fierce competition for the top position in Hubei Province.
Unable to endure the management crisis caused by a poor harvest at the time, the finest tavern in Hubei Province eventually went up for sale.
An auction was held to acquire that tavern, and the Eunhae Trading Company lost the bid.
The problem was that the difference in the bids was merely ten silver coins.
Considering the tavern’s price, a difference of ten silver coins could only mean that internal information had leaked out.
And those ten silver coins were clearly meant to mock us.
If that hadn’t been their intention, they would have added at least a hundred silver coins more out of propriety, even knowing the information beforehand.
That’s when those two were revealed to be traitors.
By obtaining that tavern, Jinse Trading Company surged ahead of us once more, but those two never received their reward.
Because Bang-u Sub-leader pretended not to know them, and they suffered hardship before dying.
Judging by their reaction at the time, they never expected Bang-u Sub-leader would abandon them.
That’s precisely why their actions make even less sense to me.
They must still have trusted Bang-u Sub-leader implicitly.
“Was it money? Or a higher position?”
The two warriors exchanged glances, and Bae Cheol Warrior spoke first.
“If we carry out the orders well, we were promised the position of Jo Jang in the Jin Se Merchant Guild Military Force. And if we accomplish something significant, we were also promised appropriate financial compensation.”
It was both, then.
“I see. I thought you might confess much later, but this is faster than expected.”
This time, Go Ju-sang Warrior answered.
“We realized that Jinse Trading Company has no future.”
No future?
They’re still doing well as a merchant guild, aren’t they?
Sensing my expression, Go Ju-sang Warrior continued.
“The Eunhae Trading Company rose from the bottom of the Top Hundred Merchant Guilds to fortieth place in just five years.”
That’s true.
“Moreover, the process itself was entirely unexpected. Though our insight may be limited, we’re not ignorant of such circumstances. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before you enter the Five Great Merchant Guilds of the World.”
“But Jinse Trading Company will not. The current successor who became Small Guild Master is not the person to lead the guild to greater heights.”
They really thought that?
Then why did I trust him so completely in my previous life?
Let me set that aside for now.
The current successor of Jinse Trading Company was Bang Woo, the second son, and he could not be called a good merchant.
He was a cunning and despicable man with a character that knew no bounds in his methods.
In contrast, the Jinse Company Master is someone even I respect—a man of considerable influence.
It was almost strange that such a man could have a son like Bang Woo.
In any case, because we failed to obtain that tavern, our guild’s growth momentum slowed temporarily.
But it only took time; eventually, our Eunhae Trading Company surpassed Jinse Trading Company.
Moreover, I repaid Bang-u Sub-leader for what he had done to me.
As a result, Bang-u Sub-leader stepped down from his position as Sub-leader of the Jinse Trading Company.
If you’re a merchant, you should compete fairly and squarely—resort to such petty tricks, and this is what happens.
“In any case, we’ve decided to surrender to the Eunhae Trading Company. Wouldn’t a larger ship be better, after all?”
However, they did not reveal why they had come to view Bang-u Sub-leader so poorly.
There’s something more to this.
Switching to a larger ship, then…
I understood the case of An-suk Chief Manager, who had worked at Ma Jang-ju’s house in Taekyung County.
He had been suffering under Ma Jang-ju, and Ma Jang-ju’s ship was on the verge of sinking.
But the Jinse Trading Company is still a fairly sturdy vessel.
If that’s the case, there’s only one answer.
Something must have happened because of how their circumstances have changed from before. They must have realized that things can’t continue as they are, so they’re switching ships.
Hah!
How amusing.
But I have no intention of trusting them.
By their own logic, if a larger force exists than us, they can move there whenever they please.
It’s not as if their object of loyalty has disappeared or anything—they’re simply switching ships for their own safety and comfort.
Betrayal once is difficult; betrayal twice is easy.
But if I don’t pull this big fish that’s fallen into my net without my intention, I’d be a fool.
“In any case, the fact that you came to me instead of going to my father or the External Chief Manager means you’re asking for a chance.”
“That’s correct.”
“Indeed.”
They nodded.
“Very well. Then I’ll give you that chance.”
I smiled.

* * *

Bae Cheol Warrior and Go Ju-sang Warrior watched Eun Seo-ho smile toward them.
That handsome face made his smile devastatingly attractive, yet they found it terrifying.
The two warriors were planted in the Eunhae Trading Company for the Jinse Trading Company, and their mission was to directly observe and report on peculiarities within the Eunhae Trading Company.
However, their reports had proven largely useless.
Had they become bodyguards to key figures, they might have reported something important, but as mere warriors of the Eun Pung-dae, they could not obtain confidential information.
In other words, all they reported was old news.
They had begun to sense it themselves.
That Bang-u Sub-leader thought them worthless.
Just as fear gripped them that they would be discarded, an opportunity arrived.
The Eun Pung-dae Fourth Squad, to which they belonged, was assigned to work alongside Eun Seo-ho.
They began observing Eun Seo-ho, thinking this time they might finally uncover something worth reporting.
But he moved discreetly, accompanied only by his bodyguards, so they could learn nothing concrete.
What they could discern was that Eun Seo-ho was the one who had ruined Ma Jeong.
They couldn’t determine exactly what method he’d used, but the circumstances suggested it.
That attractive smile he now displayed so openly was the evidence.
Moreover, he appeared quite intimate with the Geumui Guard.
What kind of organization was the Geumui Guard?
Directly under the Imperial Court—an organization possessing both exceptional martial prowess and power.
If they were exposed as spies sent by Bang-u Sub-leader in such circumstances….
Their fate was sealed. There was no doubt they would be utterly destroyed.
Yet admitting this much wounded their pride.

“Let us abandon him before we are abandoned.”
“That seems wise.”
“If we demonstrate our usefulness… he won’t coldly cast us aside.”
“I share that assessment.”

So that’s why I came to confess, but they already knew we were spies!
‘Indeed, a frightening person. I did well to come clean earlier.’
Fortunately, Eun Seo-ho said he would give them a chance, just as they had hoped.
“….”
Yet Eun Seo-ho said nothing more, merely gazing quietly at the two warriors.
‘Why isn’t he saying anything?’
‘W-what should we do?’
Bae Cheol Warrior and Go Ju-sang Warrior felt considerable pressure mounting.
Just being watched in silence—and yet such oppressive weight!
Cold sweat streamed down their faces despite the chill of evening.
It seemed he was waiting for them to prove their usefulness.
What should they say?
What words would convince him they were worth keeping?
Then Bae Cheol Warrior made his move first.
“Bang-u Sub-leader of the Jinse Trading Company plans to poison the food at the Second Son’s wedding banquet.”
“…!”
Go Ju-sang Warrior stared at Bae Cheol Warrior in shock.
‘What? You’re cutting all ties without looking back?’
They had agreed to switch sides, but he’d intended to keep his options open—not to burn all bridges completely.
When Bae Cheol Warrior made his preemptive move, Go Ju-sang Warrior felt betrayed.
“Go Ju-sang Warrior.”
“Ah! Yes!”
“Is what Bae Cheol Warrior said true?”
The water was already spilled, so he sighed and answered.
“…Yes, it is.”
“Then why did you hesitate to speak? How am I supposed to regard you, Warrior Go?”
Go Ju-sang Warrior grumbled inwardly.
‘If only we’d coordinated beforehand! Damn it! Now I’m the one left out?’
In the end, Go Ju-sang Warrior too had no choice but to reveal a top-secret matter he knew.
“…In truth, there is another spy planted here besides us.”

* * *

I suddenly felt the back of my neck tighten.
Damn it… Bang-u, you bastard…
Just how far are you planning to go?
To be honest, Bae Cheol Warrior and Go Ju-sang Warrior’s attempt to defect from Jinse Trading Company to Eunhae Trading Company was far greater fortune than I’d anticipated.
If I hadn’t learned this information just now…
Ah, just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
But if I let this emotion show, they’ll look down on me.
“Very well. Both of you warriors have proven your necessity.”
As I spoke calmly, their expressions brightened considerably.
“However, how do you intend to prove that this is actually true?”
Bae Cheol Warrior answered my question.
“There is a man called Black Frog on West Street. Bang-u Sub-leader has ordered poison that causes stomach illness from him, so please verify this.”
I turned my head to look at Go Ju-sang Warrior.
“…It’s Ha Byeok Officer from Jaegyeong Pavilion.”
“I see. I will investigate this matter separately. So please refrain from rash actions until I call for you. Simply continue behaving as you normally would.”
“Understood.”
“Then you may go.”
The two warriors left my separate pavilion looking utterly deflated and exhausted.
I glared at their retreating figures until they disappeared into the distance, then entered my chamber and spoke to Palgap.
“Keep everyone’s mouths shut.”
“Yes, sir!”
It was unlikely, but just in case, I was ordering him to ensure that the servants and handmaidens of my separate pavilion didn’t gossip about this matter.
I sat down before the tea table in my chamber and drank the cold tea in long gulps.
Only then did the tension in the back of my neck begin to ease somewhat.
So Jinse Trading Company is trying to ruin Jin-ho’s wedding banquet?
It didn’t happen in my previous life, but this is only natural.
Back then, Jin-ho never married.
What I need to consider now is Bang-u Sub-leader’s purpose in resorting to such despicable tactics.
“Are you alright, sir?”
Palgap entered the chamber and asked carefully.
“Are you alright, sir?”
“Yes. I already knew about this beforehand. Still, you mustn’t betray me. If you betray me, I think I’ll be truly hurt.”
“Why would you say such a thing? If I ever found myself in a situation where I had to betray you, I would simply take my own life.”
Palgap jumped up indignantly, and seeing him like that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Because I knew Palgap was exactly the type to do such a thing.
“But did you really know beforehand? That they were spies?”
At that question, I nodded.
“How did you know?”
Since I couldn’t reveal the reason, I gave a vague answer.
“I just found something suspicious about them, so I was watching carefully.”
At that moment, Seo-woo Warrior, who had entered the room with us, spoke up.
“Regarding Bang-u Sub-leader, I know a bit about him. I have some connections there from when I worked in Pyodo.”
“It seems you’ve heard something.”
“Yes, apparently the apothecary he pursued with great ambition hasn’t grown as well as expected, so he’s been in a foul mood.”

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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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