The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 229
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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 229
Chapter 229. Jin-ho’s Wedding Banquet (4)
I continued speaking as I regarded Bang Jin Prince.
“Simply have him use a medicine that causes stomach upset.”
“What are you saying? You’re not preventing the use of a medicine that causes stomach upset?”
“Because that’s the only way to bring down Bang-u Sub-leader with certainty.”
I smiled wickedly.
“So won’t you entrust this matter to me?”
“Eun Small Merchant Leader, you want me to entrust this to you?”
“Yes. After all, your purpose and mine are the same. And I have some confidence in handling such matters.”
A man of Bang Jin Prince’s stature would surely have heard of me.
“I’ve heard much of your reputation, Eun Small Merchant Leader… but then why did you summon me?”
“Well naturally, you need to know these circumstances to prepare, don’t you?”
“I see… So you’re saying you’ll handle this matter, and I should prepare to bring that fellow down from his position as Sub-leader and take his place.”
I nodded.
“Exactly. If we’re not careful, someone entirely unsuitable could become Sub-leader.”
I’d heard he had several half-brothers.
“That must not happen.”
He clasped his fists toward me with a determined expression.
“Then I’ll be counting on you. I’ll leave this matter in your hands and prepare myself. I’ll take my leave now…”
As he and his entourage departed, only our group and Black Frog remained.
I made a proposal to Black Frog.
“Will you do something for me?”
“….”
“If you refuse my proposal, I’ll lock you in a room surrounded by mirrors for the rest of your life.”
A threat disguised as a proposal.
Yet I felt no hesitation in making such a threat to this man.
He was the sort of person who deserved it.
The first medicine he ever created was one that destroyed others’ appearances.
Perhaps it was his way of venting his rage at his own grotesque form onto others.
That psychology of “since I became ugly, you must become ugly too.”
This man deserved such treatment.
Moreover, in my previous life, our family nearly suffered greatly from a medicine he created.
In other words, even if not for this opportunity, he was someone I would have captured and punished eventually.
“What will you do?”
“….”
Black Frog still showed no sign of opening his mouth.
It seemed he was testing whether my words were true or false.
“Since there’s no response, I suppose we have no choice.”
“Ah, so that’s why you ordered a room filled with mirrors, Young Master. Now I understand the reason.”
As expected, Palgap was quick to catch on.
“So we just need to put him in that room?”
“We could tie him to the pillar in the center of the room.”
And Lee Pil Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior had also become perceptive after spending several years with me.
“Would it be acceptable to wager on how many angles he can endure?”
“The mirrors hanging in that room are all of the highest quality, so they reflect incredibly well….”
“I’ll do it! I said I’ll do it! So please, I beg you, don’t lock me in that room!”
Finally, Black Frog let out a deep sigh and declared his surrender.
He asked with a resigned expression.
“What do you need me to do?”
“It’s not particularly difficult. You just need to pass counterfeit medicine to Bang-u Sub-leader.”
“That’s all I need to do?”
“And have him prepare as much antidote for stomach ailments as possible.”
“…I understand.”
However, I knew Black Frog’s nature well.
If I simply let him go, there was a high likelihood he would reveal Bang-u Sub-leader’s scheme to him.
And there was also a high chance he wouldn’t comply with my request willingly.
Why did I think that?
Because Black Frog was someone bound together by a twisted defiance against the world.
And he would likely think that he could simply escape and hide again.
So I planned to place shackles on him to prevent such actions.
“Jin Yu Warrior.”
“Yes.”
“Watch him, and if he tries anything else, run him through with your sword.”
“Understood.”
“….”
“So let’s do this properly, shall we?”
“Ah, I understand.”
Black Frog answered with a miserable expression.
I wanted to turn him over to the authorities immediately, but not yet.
.
.
.
A few days later.
At last, it was Jin-ho’s wedding day.
Guests who had traveled from various places had been arriving for several days, and today everyone had arrived.
Later, Jin-ho will go to Ha Young Lady’s residence and bring her back to the Eunhae Trading Company.
Normally, the wedding ceremony should take place at the bride’s home, but the space was too cramped to accommodate so many guests.
Hosting the banquet at the Changin Escort Agency felt burdensome as well.
The Changin Escort Agency was established by survivors of the Snowwind Palace, which had been annihilated, and there was nothing to gain from revealing its true identity.
Clang, clang, clang, clang!
Loud music echoed through the Eunhae Trading Company from morning onward—a custom meant to drive away malevolent spirits with its boisterous sound.
As expected, Jin-ho’s wedding banquet drew quite a number of martial artists.
Some came through Go External Chief Manager’s connections, but it seemed Jin-ho had formed considerable friendships with others after earning the renowned title of Cham Ho Chang-woong.
All of them had come to attend the wedding banquet.
The guests enjoyed the feast, eating and drinking in celebration.
Black Frog faithfully carried out my proposal.
In fact, as I had anticipated, he initially attempted to flee.
However, after Jin Yu Warrior struck his thigh with a throwing blade, he abandoned his escape, or so I heard.
And apparently Jin Yu Warrior said something to him, though I’m curious what exactly he said to make Black Frog give up on fleeing.
Regardless, what mattered was that he had carried out my proposal.
At that moment, I caught sight of Bang-u Sub-leader conversing with Father.
He had come in place of the Jinse Company Master, who was bedridden.
On the surface, he appeared utterly courteous and well-mannered, but knowing his true nature, I could only shake my head.
Yes, continue with your pretense.
Your end is drawing near.
* * *
Bang Woo smiled as he exchanged greetings with Eun Gil-sang, the Merchant Guild Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company, observing the banquet hall brimming with guests.
‘It was worthwhile to stockpile so many remedial medicines as Black Frog suggested.’
If all these people rushed to Jin-se Pharmacy to purchase medicine, the profits would be immeasurable.
Moreover, his still-precarious position as Small Merchant Guild Leader would become firmly established.
At that moment, he spotted a familiar face among those dressed in the attire of Eunpung Corps warriors.
It was Bae Cheol Warrior and Go Ju-sang Warrior.
They were the ones he had personally planted as spies, and they were also the ones who had directly executed the plan to administer the stomach-upsetting medicine in the food.
‘They only bring useless intelligence, but at least this justifies placing them as spies.’
Frustrated by how little useful information Bae Cheol Warrior and Go Ju-sang Warrior had been gathering, he had eventually planted another spy.
Moreover, in the Jaegyeong Pavilion, the most crucial division among the various branches of the Eunhae Trading Company.
‘Though still an apprentice now, if he advances and becomes a formal Officer in the future, he should be able to bring me worthwhile intelligence.’
As he contemplated striking a blow against the Eunhae Trading Company, laughter escaped him unbidden.
‘This is truly killing two birds with one stone.’
If he could establish Jin-se Pharmacy’s success and solidify his position as Small Merchant Guild Leader while simultaneously crushing the Eunhae Trading Company’s momentum, it would be perfect.
To him, dreaming of inheriting the Jinse Trading Company, the foremost merchant guild in Hubei Province, the rapidly growing Eunhae Trading Company was a thorn in his side.
But then… something felt amiss.
It was now approaching the time when stomach ailments should manifest, yet no one displayed any such signs.
‘What is this? By now, people should certainly be experiencing stomach troubles…’
Yet even when Eun Jin-ho arrived with the bride, and even as the wedding ceremony proceeded into the night, not a single guest showed any symptoms of stomach distress.
His complexion had turned deathly pale.
He had invested considerable funds into manufacturing the remedial medicines now stockpiled at Jin-se Pharmacy.
He had spent his own money to produce these medicines to elevate his standing, yet…
Particularly, to manufacture them cheaply in large quantities, he had created remedial medicines with short shelf lives, so if no one fell ill today, he would have to discard them all.
‘My… my money…’
Realizing he had squandered a vast sum into thin air, he collapsed where he stood.
* * *
I watched Bang-u Sub-leader, who was being supported by those around him with a pallid complexion, and smiled with satisfaction.
Heh!
So this is what happens when you mess with the Eunhae Trading Company. Then why touch us at all?
And to think he tried to lay hands on our guests.
Bang-u Sub-leader must have concocted this scheme to tarnish the Eunhae Trading Company’s reputation.
I’ve worked so hard to build our reputation to this point—there’s no way I’m letting that slide.
Unlike the guests who were merrily enjoying the banquet, Bang-u Sub-leader’s face looked absolutely ghastly.
Anyone watching would think he was the tragic protagonist who once yearned for Ha Young Lady before she was taken by Jin-ho.
The reason I didn’t explain things in detail to Bang Jin Prince last time was actually to gauge his abilities.
Of course, I experienced it once in my previous life, so I have some understanding of Bang Jin Prince’s capabilities.
But I don’t know what his abilities are at this current point in time. Bang Jin Prince only became a Sub-leader much later.
And I also wanted to use this opportunity to determine whether those abilities belonged to the company or to the individual himself.
After all, for the Eunhae Trading Company to become the premier merchant guild of Hubei Province, we must ultimately surpass the Jinse Trading Company.
Thinking such thoughts, I gazed at Jin-ho.
Jin-ho, dressed in his wedding robes, was absolutely beaming.
He’s thrilled, Jin-ho.
And Ha Young Lady, the bride, was also smiling as she looked at Jin-ho.
They make a fitting pair.
“Is that young man Cham Ho Chang-woong?”
“My! What a striking youth!”
“The Eunhae Trading Company Master must be delighted.”
Hearing the voices around me, I felt a sense of accomplishment.
It was because all the effort I’d put in—giving Jin-ho the eternal fragrant incense burner and slaying the Spirit Creature Blood Tiger for the theatrical performance—had borne fruit.
Everyone cares about face, but martial artists in particular are obsessed with it.
Thus they commit either misdeeds or good deeds to make their names known.
In the martial arts world, individual martial prowess is most important, but achievements and reputation are equally vital.
Hmm?
Then suddenly, I felt a familiar yet somehow different aura.
This is… the same aura I felt when I met the Northern Sea Ice Palace Disciples at the Northern Sea Ice Palace Inn before?
When I turned my head toward where that aura was coming from, I saw a figure dressed in white martial robes wearing a bamboo hat.
Fortunately, the person happened to lift the bamboo hat slightly, and thanks to that, I could tell she was a woman.
She was gazing at Ha Young Lady with a tender expression.
No ordinary emotion could produce such an expression…
“…!”
Something flashed through my mind.
Could it be?
Ha Young Lady’s mother?
The probability of a child born between a man and woman both possessing yin-based martial arts having the triple yin meridian was low.
But compared to when only one side possessed yin-based martial arts, the probability was higher.
Now that I think about it, I had never heard that Ha Young Lady’s mother had passed away…
Now I finally understood the reason.
Seeing her daughter’s happiness, she too wore a joyful smile. And then, she quietly disappeared.
The martial techniques of the Northern Sea Ice Palace are formidable.
I recalled hearing once that she deliberately kept her distance to ensure her children wouldn’t be entangled in any troubles because of her.
But the bonds of blood are not so easily severed. Even beasts know the value of their own offspring.
Of course, there are some beasts that are worse than beasts.
As a mother, she had come all this way simply to witness her daughter’s wedding ceremony.
And surely she was curious about the face of the man who would become her daughter’s husband.
Ha Pyo-doo must have sent her a letter.
I scratched behind my ear while looking at Jin-ho.
Ah, Jin-ho.
I should treat Ha Young Lady well.
Otherwise, I might get scolded by a terrifying mother-in-law.
.
.
.
The wedding ceremony had concluded.
And for the newly formed couple, people presented gifts and offered blessings.
At that moment, I heard Seo-woo Warrior’s voice transmission in my ear.
– Bang-u Sub-leader is currently meeting with two warriors.
Interesting, then I should go take a look.
– Where is it?
* * *
Bang Woo stood in a secluded corner, some distance away from the banquet hall.
Before him stood Bae Cheol Warrior and Go Ju-sang Warrior.
“What on earth is going on?”
“What do you mean, sir?”
“Didn’t you say you put the drug in the food?”
“Yes. We did exactly as you instructed.”
“Then why is there no reaction?”
The two warriors answered with expressions of grievance.
“We don’t know anything about that either.”
“Perhaps the drug was faulty?”
“Damn it!”
Bang Woo snapped irritably, his voice sharp with reproach.
“Do you have any idea how much money I’ve poured into you two? I demand results! You’re utterly useless! A worm would be more valuable than you pathetic fools!”
The two warriors clenched their teeth at the contempt. Though Bang Woo had rebuked them before, never had he been this harsh.
Resentment began to kindle within them, unbidden.
Yet they still couldn’t openly defy him, so they swallowed their pride and endured.
“Is something the matter?”
…!
At the sudden voice, Bang Woo flinched.
Turning toward the source of that melodious tone, he saw a strikingly handsome young man.
Bang Woo tensed without realizing it.
‘Could it be… I’ve been discovered?’
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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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