The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 261

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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 261

Chapter 261. The Dragons and Phoenixes Gather (1)

Se Bin Sub-leader spoke to me.
“I’m grateful. Thanks to you, I was able to save my own life.”
Yes, that was true.
When Geun Seong confirmed that Ghost Hand Sword was dead and confessed the details, only In was present since the others were busy.
So after things settled down a bit, it seemed he came to visit me directly.
That’s when Palgap stepped in with quick wit.
“I’ve brought tea. Why don’t we talk while refreshing ourselves?”
“Ah! I didn’t even offer you a seat. Please, sit down.”
We sat down in front of the low table.
Geun Seong’s disguise as Bok Yun Sub-leader this time wasn’t merely to target the silver token.
What he truly aimed for was Se Bin Sub-leader’s life.
That’s why he looked at me with eyes of relief rather than resentment.
“I interrogated the leader of Yeongsi Merchant House and discovered why he did it. He harbored a grudge because we took over the inkstone production area that he was investing in.”
He tried to kill someone over such a trivial reason?
Of course, this was a world where people killed for even more trivial reasons than that…
Still, if he’d hired Ghost Hand Sword, who was a peak-level warrior, he could have simply assassinated through him instead. Why…?
But looking at the middle-aged warrior standing beside Se Bin Sub-leader, my question was answered.
Geo-am Jingeom—called by that name, a supreme master of the highest caliber.
The supreme level was something only one or two people possessed even in most sects or martial families.
I learned the reason why such a master was satisfied serving as Se Bin Sub-leader’s guard warrior in my previous life.
It was a common enough story—Se Bin Sub-leader had saved his life, and to repay that debt, he’d sworn to protect him for the rest of his days.
For decades after that, his resolve never wavered, and as he stood like a rock beside him always, the title Geo-am Jingeom was bestowed upon him.
With such a man at his side, how could any assassin possibly take Se Bin Sub-leader’s life?
But there was one place where guard warriors were not permitted—the Assembly Hall of the Hundred Great Merchant Guild.
It was a gathering built on mutual trust. Therefore, even simple inspections of belongings were not conducted.
Precisely because of this, if someone concealed a dagger and attacked Se Bin Sub-leader, he would be defenseless against it.
However, even if I hadn’t noticed Geun Seong’s disguise, this assassination would not have succeeded.
In my previous life, Se Bin Sub-leader passed away from old age.
And frankly, from the supreme level onward, one could not be called an ordinary human.
Even without me, Geo-am Jingeom Great Swordmaster would have sensed Geun Seong’s killing intent and taken action.
But in my previous life, Yeongsi Merchant House didn’t become completely ruined…
Did Geun Seong ultimately die without confessing?
Se Bin Sub-leader continued speaking.
“All of this was possible because you discovered that man’s true identity and enabled him to confess. I truly wish to repay you for this. Is there anything you desire?”
What I want…
The other party is the Sect Leader of the Greatest Under Heaven Trading Company.
Of course, there’s much I could ask for. But forgoing it now would be a loss.
“I am content as is. I merely did what was naturally required of me—how could I expect compensation for that? For me, the greatest reward is that this assembly concluded safely, that I could rescue my Old Friend in time, and most importantly, that you, the Sect Leader who steadfastly supports this merchant realm, remain unharmed.”
“Haha, now I understand why people call you Seon Hyeop Mi-rang.”
That epithet still feels unfamiliar to me.
As my expression grew awkward, he laughed heartily and spoke.
“Excellent! Should you ever need my assistance in the future, come to me without hesitation. I shall aid you with utmost gladness.”
The Sebin Merchant Guild Leader rose from his seat and turned to my Father beside him.
“Since I’m here, I should partake of tea with the Sect Leader.”
“Of course. Our trading company takes considerable pride in our tea selection.”
My Father departed toward the guest room alongside the Sebin Merchant Guild Leader, his face radiant with smiles.
An opportunity to converse with the Sect Leader of the Greatest Under Heaven Trading Company was not something easily obtained.
However, Geo-am Jingeom Great Swordmaster did not follow the Sebin Merchant Guild Leader, remaining in place.
He regarded me quietly before speaking.
“I did not realize the cultivation level of Eun Small Merchant Leader was so formidable.”
“…!”
As expected of a supreme master, he had discerned my realm of cultivation.
Yet he said nothing further about my abilities, instead cupping his fist in gratitude.
“I, Dan Yul, express my gratitude to Eun Small Merchant Leader. Thanks to you, I was able to honor my oath. I shall not forget this debt.”
Then he turned and followed the path the Sebin Merchant Guild Leader had taken.
I scratched the back of my neck.
Somehow, I had incurred favors from two remarkable individuals.
Ah!
Now that I think of it, there’s one more task I must complete.
It is to save the life of a man named Geun Seong.
Chun-il had asked me to do whatever I could to preserve his life.
“Excuse me, Great Swordmaster.”
I quickly exited the guest room and called out to Geo-am Jingeom Great Swordmaster.
“What is it?”
“I’ve just remembered something I wished to tell the Sect Leader.”
.
.
.
Obtaining custody of Geun Seong proved easier than anticipated.
Though he had kidnapped Bok Yun Sub-leader, he received leniency for acting under duress and for exposing the mastermind behind the scheme.
Both Bok Yun Sub-leader and I had also petitioned on his behalf.
I went directly to the Sebin Merchant Guild, retrieved him, and brought him back to the inn.
The moment Geun Seong entered my room, he fell to his knees before me.
Despite his body being weakened from harsh interrogation, blood was seeping onto the floor where he knelt.
It must hurt quite a bit.
“I’m truly grateful that you saved my life and protected my sister as well.”
“I merely kept my promise. But what do you intend to do going forward?”
“….”
He hesitated for a long while before finally opening his mouth.
“Just….”
“You’re thinking of just continuing to live as you did before?”
“…!”
Seeing him flinch, I’d struck a nerve.
“Truth is… at this point, theft has become so ingrained in me that I can’t simply turn over a new leaf.”
That was just like Chun-il.
And if Chun-il’s words were true, it would be a shame to simply let him go.
“Then, why don’t we change the target of your thievery?”
I had Chun-il as a fine example of redemption. Since things had come to this, there was no harm in taking him under my wing.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’m your lifesaver, am I not?”
“That’s true.”
“Then, steal information for me.”
Thus, I gained another member of the Information Bureau under my command.
.
.
.
A few days later.
I left the inn together with Father.
Today was the day the Murim Alliance would hold the ‘seat selection’.
The Murim Alliance had designated a commercial district centered around the venue where the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament would be held.
And they would lease spaces to each merchant.
The Murim Alliance claimed this was to prevent merchants from entering disorderly and causing numerous damages.
But from my perspective, it seemed the Murim Alliance was simply bitter that merchants were reaping all the secondary profits from a tournament the Murim Alliance itself was hosting.
If they truly wanted to prevent disorder, shouldn’t they refrain from collecting booth fees?
Yet the Murim Alliance collected substantial fees from participating merchants.
What could the merchants do when the Murim Alliance demanded it?
They could only comply.
At least they sent patrol units to provide protection.
Truth be told, my mood wasn’t particularly good right now. Because the location for the seat selection was the Murim Alliance itself.
I had known beforehand that the seat selection would take place at the Murim Alliance.
I’d been there several times in my previous life.
But it hadn’t felt quite real back then.
However, as the day of seat selection drew closer, the reality began to sink in gradually.
The pressure of knowing this was where those who had killed me in my previous life worked was far greater than I had anticipated.
My hands and feet grew cold, and cold sweat began to trickle down my skin.
Damn it, here we go again.
But it was Father who pulled me back from the brink.
“Sigh, so this day has come once more.”
Even at a glance, his voice carried unmistakable displeasure.
“Just thinking about how arrogantly the Murim Alliance warriors will carry themselves makes my blood boil.”
At my gaze, Father exhaled deeply.
“Ah… you wouldn’t know since this is your first time. But you’ll understand soon enough. Just how insufferably proud the Murim Alliance truly is.”
Thanks to Father’s words, memories from my previous life began surfacing.
From the seating arrangements at the Martial Arts Tournament to every transaction we conducted through the Murim Alliance, their attitude was absolutely infuriating.
They treated us as though they were reluctantly associating with lowly merchants obsessed with money.
Yet without us merchants, they would actually be in dire straits.
The memory I’d forgotten while tensing up about visiting the Murim Alliance where those who killed me worked suddenly resurfaced, and that fury pushed aside my anxiety.
“But you must never act recklessly. Endure and endure again. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Sigh! How bitter it is that we only lose when we clash with them.”
“…”
For even Father—so composed—to react that way, they truly were… insufferable bastards.

Soon we arrived at the Murim Alliance.
Clang!
The Gate Keeper crossed his spear to block our path.
“State your identity and purpose of visit.”
“We small merchants have come for the seating arrangements. I am Eun Gil-sang, Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company, and this is Eun Seo-ho, our Sub-leader.”
“More merchants again. What scraps do you think you’ll find that you keep crawling over here like this?”
My teeth clenched at those words.
These bastards!
If even a mere Gate Keeper could sneer like this, what of those in higher positions?
Damn it.
“Well, we must eat somehow, mustn’t we? Haha.”
“Your identification tablet.”
“Ah, yes! Here it is.”
Father and I presented our identification tablets, and after confirming them, they tossed them back as though discarding trash.
“Go on in.”
“Thank you.”
Speaking in casual tones to someone of Father’s standing—what shamelessness!
Have they no manners whatsoever!
Still, there are merchants they dare not treat so carelessly. Namely, Namgung Kang and the Sebin Merchant Guild Leader.
Namgung Kang, being both a member of the Namgung Family and one of the Murim Alliance’s senior figures.
As for the Sebin Merchant Guild Leader, it’s because of the Geo-am Jingeom Great Swordmaster standing beside him.
How could a mere Gate Keeper dare show disrespect before a supreme master?
If he wanted to keep his head properly attached, he had no choice but to watch his words and actions.
Ah…
Now that I think about it, I’m a bit envious.
In any case, Father and I headed toward the seating assignment location. Finding it wasn’t particularly difficult.
A large signboard stood prominently there.
Since the attendants and Guard Warriors couldn’t enter, they had to wait outside the assembly hall.
Soon we arrived at the seating assignment venue.
“Welcome.”
“It’s good to see you again.”
Among those gathered here, I recognized quite a few faces. That was because nearly all the members of the Top Hundred Merchant Guilds were assembled, save for one place.
This time there were also people from other merchant guilds besides the Top Hundred, so I was able to make their acquaintance through Father’s introductions.
How long did we wait?
“Ahem! Everyone, quiet down now!”
Then someone’s pompous voice rang out. The moment I saw that face, I nearly failed to maintain my composure.
It was a face I’d seen countless times in my previous life.
A man who worked under the Murim Alliance’s Internal Chief Manager, yet lived under the delusion that he himself was the Internal Chief Manager.
It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
Didn’t he die after being caught embezzling money from the Murim Alliance?
He’s probably still embezzling now.
But I have no reason to inform the Murim Alliance about it. The money he’s skimming is the Murim Alliance’s money anyway.
Behind him, two Warriors brought forward a large barrel. Inside were wooden tokens inscribed with numbers.
“Then, let us begin the seating assignment for the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament’s Commercial District!”
He mentioned several precautions and then spoke to us.
“Come forward one by one and draw a token from the barrel.”
At his words, the Merchant Guild Leaders came forward themselves and drew wooden tokens from the barrel.
Soon it was our turn, and Father drew a token from the wooden barrel.
“Eun Hae Trading Company, Zone Three, Number Twenty-One!”
Zone Three—that’s quite a favorable location.
I glanced around the surroundings. As expected, Namgung Kang was nowhere to be seen.
That made sense, since Baekcheon Trading Company was a subsidiary of the Murim Alliance.
Therefore, their location was already predetermined.
After the seating assignment was complete, we registered our location and paid the booth fee.
Honestly, my hand trembled at the expense.

Several days passed like that.
In the meantime, those who had departed from the Eun Hae Trading Company Headquarters arrived in Luoyang with their goods.
What our Eun Hae Trading Company was primarily selling this time was medicinal herbs.
While there were places that manufactured and sold wound salves or internal injury medicines, there were quite a few establishments that sourced raw medicinal herbs and prepared their own remedies.
We had also prepared tea, bolts of fabric, and thread.
Since drinking tea was a habit among the empire’s people, it was essential to stock it.
And since martial tournaments tended to damage clothing more than expected, we needed materials to repair them.
Once our preparations were complete, the streets began to bustle with people.
For the next five days, registration for the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament was open.
Assessing the number of participants was crucial.
So I headed toward the registration desk.
But in one corner, a group of people were raising their voices.
“So you’re just going to brush us off like that?”
“Why are you blaming innocent people?”
“If you keep this up, we won’t stay silent either!”
But that voice sounded familiar somehow.
Could it be?
I headed toward them and let out a sigh in that instant.

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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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