The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 254

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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 254

Chapter 254. Crushing Defeat (1)

To be honest, I am a merchant, not a philanthropist.
And a merchant never conducts unprofitable business.
The reason I am extending favors to Man-suk Student now is to make him entirely my own person.
The Academy Master of Apricot Flower Academy and Man-suk Student’s Teacher said it—he knows how to pass.
That statement means he possesses cunning and resourcefulness.
Simply being intelligent is different from possessing cunning.
I felt this clearly in my previous life.
Those with cunning produce better results than those who are merely intelligent, and they have greater potential to climb higher.
And Man-suk Student, as expected, grasped precisely what I wanted.
“Then, shall we have a serious conversation?”
“Yes.”
This was not a conversation to be had in such a place.
“Is there a quiet place where we can speak?”
At my question, Yun Byeok Scholar, who stood beside me, spoke.
“There is a quiet tea house nearby.”
“That will do.”
I asked Palgap and Seo-woo Warrior to look after the surprised innkeeper and the children, then headed to the nearby tea house.
It was indeed a quiet tea house, just as he had said.
“Actually, the tea at this place… lacks flavor. But since the tea house owner is also the building owner…”
I understood the situation well enough.
“Still, it is quiet and secluded, so we often come here when we need various conversations. My father uses this place as well.”
“If I may ask, what does Spring Commander do?”
“He owns quite a few boats.”
“I see.”
In other words, he held a position similar to that of a Manor Lord of an estate.
The fact that such a person frequented this place meant it was truly excellent for quiet conversation.
We ordered suitable tea, and shortly after, it arrived.
I took a sip of the tea.
Ugh!
Just as Yun Byeok Scholar had said, it truly lacked flavor.
But since I had not come here to drink tea, it did not matter.
“Man-suk Student.”
“Yes.”
“Our Eunhae Trading Company’s scholarship program provides support to the individual applicant alone. However, upon reflection, I realized that the circumstances surrounding that person are difficult, and supporting only the individual seemed pointless.”
I looked at Man-suk Student.
“So I’m planning to establish a system to support their livelihoods.”
“Support their livelihoods, you say….”
“Not just tuition and living expenses for themselves, but also housing and living costs for their families.”
I continued.
“Man-suk’s Aunt and siblings’ current residence will be provided as a rental arrangement. Additionally, I will provide thirty silver taels annually for living expenses.”
“And in return, you expect my loyalty?”
“Precisely. All of this support is contingent upon Man-suk Student’s unwavering loyalty to me.”
Of course, through the scholarship system, I had already cultivated favorable relations with many scholars toward the Eunhae Trading Company.
But there were times when I needed something more—absolute loyalty and unconditional assistance—and it was while contemplating this that I learned of Man-suk Student’s circumstances.
In essence, it was a contract where both parties fulfilled each other’s needs.
“First, you must pass the civil service examination. Then, climb as high as you possibly can.”
I continued.
“What do you say? Can you do it?”
“It’s not particularly difficult.”
His face brimmed with confidence.
We negotiated the specifics carefully. If he continued receiving support after assuming office, it would likely constitute bribery.
So we structured it as generous support only until he obtained his position—a sort of strategic concealment of our arrangement.
After concluding our discussion, we made our way back to Man-suk’s Uncle’s residence—or rather, what was now my property.

“Wheeee!”
“Hahahaha!”
“Giggle giggle!”
Palgap was playing with the children, and he was certainly versatile.
The children laughed as though they had never wept, playing merrily with Palgap.
Only Man-suk’s Aunt and a few of the older children remained anxious.
“You’ve arrived?”
Seo-woo Warrior bowed to me.
“Has anything unusual occurred?”
“No, nothing of particular note.”
I nodded and spoke to Man-suk Student.
“Explain the situation to your Aunt.”
At my words, he approached his Aunt and explained everything from beginning to end.
“So that’s how we were able to continue living in this house.”
“Then I can live in this house too?”
“Of course, Aunt.”
“You’ve saved us!”
Man-suk Student said.
“No, Aunt. You showed kindness to me and my siblings—how could I ever forget such grace? You are no different from my own mother. So I shall continue to honor you as such.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
Though my Uncle had agreed to take in Man-suk’s Siblings, the one who truly bore the burden was her.
She prepared meals, did laundry, and cared for the children—all the work fell to my Aunt.
Yet she had tended to them faithfully all this time without a single word of complaint.
Now she was receiving her reward.
“But Aunt, where is my Uncle right now?”
“I’m not entirely sure. He said he found work and left yesterday, but….”
“I’ll go look for him.”
“We’ll search together.”
As the conversation unfolded, Yun Byeok Scholar raised his hand.
“I’ll take a moment to visit my father.”
“Very well.”
I left the house with Man-suk Scholar and began searching for his Uncle.
Since it was a modest Coastal Village, it wasn’t difficult to learn where Man-suk’s Uncle had gone.
When we found him at the location we’d tracked down, we discovered a man drenched in sweat mending nets.
“Uncle!”
“Huh? Isn’t this Man-suk?”
“What are you doing here?”
“Well, you see… we’re setting sail soon, so I was preparing.”
At that moment, a Giant Man standing nearby shouted.
“We’re busy, so why all the chatter….”
He caught sight of me and flinched.
“W-who are you?”
It seemed he was reacting to the clothes I wore. This is precisely why one cannot ignore appearance.
Though inner character is said to matter most, people pay far more attention to what they see on the surface.
“I’ve come from the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“The Eunhae Trading Company? Where is that… Gasp! Y-you’re a company official?”
“Yes.”
His demeanor became respectful.
“Hehe, what brings someone of your station to such a humble place?”
“I know someone here. Would it be possible to speak with them for a moment?”
“O-of course.”
Thus we were able to converse with Man-suk’s Uncle.
Man-suk’s Uncle’s name was Man Jin.
“Uncle, my Aunt is very worried right now.”
“I’m truly sorry to your aunt. I was foolish. My eyes were blinded by temptation….”
Seeing him exhale a deep sigh, it was clear he was reflecting on his mistakes.
“Ah, I haven’t mentioned this yet, but… it seems I’ll be able to provide for your siblings after all. So there’s no need to worry.”
“…Uncle.”
“I won’t be able to return home for about a month. So go back and tell your aunt that.”
At those words, Man-suk shook his head.
“Uncle, that house is no longer yours.”
“Well, that is… the ownership has changed, but…”
My uncle’s face grew hesitant as he answered.
Something felt off.
Here was a man willing to board a boat to reflect on his mistakes and resolve the situation.
How could such a person remain so composed knowing his own family was being cast out?
Moreover, the way he spoke with such confidence about being able to care for Man-suk Student’s siblings—it was definitely strange.
I asked, puzzled.
“Did they perhaps agree to let you continue living in that house?”
“Ah, yes. That is… in exchange for me boarding the boat, I agreed not to touch the house or its furnishings…”
“That’s not true!”
Man-suk Student cried out in shock.
“When I just arrived at my uncle’s house, it was already in complete chaos. The Debt Collectors were overturning the furnishings, and my aunt, cousins, and my siblings were about to be thrown out!”
“What, what did you say?”
“If the Small Guild Master here hadn’t been present, I don’t know what would have happened…”
I smiled and replied.
“In any case, that house is currently my property.”
“…”
“And I have settled all the debts you incurred. In other words, there is no reason for you to work here.”
“Is that truly the case?”
“It is.”
“Why do you show me such kindness?”
Having suffered once before, he seemed to have grown cautious.
“Because Man-suk Student here has agreed to pay the price.”
“…”
He was left speechless by my answer.
I spoke to the Debt Collector managing this place.
“I have already repaid his debts with interest. I’m curious why he’s still working here.”
Behind me, Seo-woo Warrior emanated a chilling aura.
“Eek! P-please wait a moment!”
He quickly sent someone away, and upon hearing their report, he approached with an obsequious smile.
“Hehe, it seems there was some misunderstanding. Please, go ahead.”
And so I led Man-suk Student’s uncle toward that house.
Something was definitely suspicious.
The way he fell into gambling through instigation, the way he believed they’d let him continue living in the house he’d gambled away and went to board a boat—all of it was strange.
Could it be…?
I asked Man-suk Student’s uncle.
“About the gambling house where you gambled this time.”
“Yes? Ah, yes…”
“Was it an establishment that existed from the beginning?”
“I’m not entirely sure either, but I heard it appeared suddenly about three or four months ago.”
“Have many people lost money there?”
“From what I heard while working there earlier… it seems to be doing quite well. Some of my old friends were there too.”
“Did those friends encourage them to gamble?”
At my question, he nodded.
In any case, we returned home, and I witnessed Man-suk’s Uncle kneeling before Man-suk’s Aunt, desperately pleading with her.
In the meantime, I spoke to Jin Yu Warrior.
“It seems suspicious forces are involved.”
“I believe so as well.”
That nauseating sensation I’d felt earlier.
It was unmistakably the aura of the Black Path.
Naturally, it wasn’t strange for Black Path members to be involved in a gambling house.
But this was an ordinary fishing village—not particularly populous, nor wealthy.
In other words, they wanted something else.
Probably… people.
Since it was common for people to be sold into debt from gambling without raising suspicion.
“I’ll investigate.”
“I’m counting on you.”
.
.
.
That night.
Jin Yu Warrior’s investigation results confirmed my suspicions.
“…Thus, a group arrived four months ago and opened a gambling house, causing many to fall into debt. And judging by the gambling house’s methods, it appears there was a coordinated organization behind it.”
“As I thought.”
“About one-fifth of the village’s able-bodied men are in debt, and they’re scheduled to depart by boat in half a month.”
How perfectly my predictions aligned with reality.
Once they boarded that boat, they would never return.
Then they would claim the boat sank and the men perished, forcing the remaining families to sell themselves to pay off the remaining debts.
What would become of this village then?
It was painfully obvious.
But wasn’t gambling illegal?
With the situation this dire, I couldn’t understand why Jihyeon, who governed this village, wasn’t intervening.
I’d look into that later—for now, I needed to resolve this matter.
Of course, Man-suk and his family were safe, so I could simply ignore this and leave without concern.
But problems might arise later.
If the Emperor learned of this, he might interrogate me: “You’re telling me you didn’t notice what was happening back then?”
The situation was serious enough that I couldn’t honestly claim ignorance.
And if I lost the Emperor’s trust because of it…
Ah, I didn’t even want to imagine it.
In truth, there were various other reasons, but if I had to name the greatest one, it would be that I’m meddlesome and my conscience still stirs within me.
However, I didn’t particularly relish the attention this might draw to me.
As I pondered this, a sudden thought came to mind.
Ah, that would work.
Just then, I sensed a familiar presence approaching Man-suk Student’s house.
Turning my head, I saw it was Yun Byeok Scholar.
“Have you already returned from home?”
At my question, he nodded. But his expression was far from bright.
“It seems something troubles you.”
“The damage caused by the gambling house is greater than I expected.”
He explained the full circumstances.
“My father told me that among those who work on our family’s boats, a considerable number have been ruined by gambling.”
“So it wasn’t merely Man-suk’s Uncle’s problem alone.”
“No.”
He nodded.
“My father even reported this matter to Jihyeon, but apparently no real measures have been taken.”
So that’s how it is?
Then was it due to intimidation? Or bribery?
“So my father investigated it himself, and he said it appears the pirates are involved.”

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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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