The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 270

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 270

Chapter 270. The Noble Heir (3)

“So you’re saying you’ll allow me to mobilize the Murim Alliance’s forces whenever I need them?”
The League Master nodded at my question.
“That’s right. I heard something from Kang—or rather, Namgung Kang—about how running a merchant guild sometimes requires mobilizing armed forces.”
His words left a bitter taste in my mouth.
After all, in my previous life, one of the things Namgung Kang had done by mobilizing the Murim Alliance’s forces was to have me killed.
But I didn’t let it show.
“For example, it’s necessary when the Green Forest Bandits cause trouble.”
Was our Eunhae Trading Company the Green Forest Bandits? You bastard?
But I swallowed that rage and nodded with a worried expression.
“Yes, I understand. Those situations can certainly feel overwhelming.”
“Of course, even if you’ve mastered the Heavenly Frost Sword and reached the pinnacle of martial skill, there may be tasks too great for one person alone.”
“That’s true.”
“Even with Il-geom Jin-cheon and the forces under the Eunhae Trading Company, facing a large bandit group wouldn’t be easy.”
So in that short time, he’d already learned that Go Il-pyeong served as our External Chief Manager.
The Murim Alliance truly lives up to its reputation.
“That’s why I’m offering this. I’ll grant you the right to mobilize the Murim Alliance’s forces once.”
Just once—but the right to command the Murim Alliance’s forces was an extraordinarily valuable gift.
“But wouldn’t mobilizing the Murim Alliance’s forces require substantial expenses?”
“Ah, a true merchant—your approach is different indeed.”
The League Master broke into a hearty laugh and nodded.
“The Murim Alliance will bear all those costs.”
Wow! He’s really pulling out all the stops.
I couldn’t possibly pass up the chance to command the Murim Alliance’s forces for free.
And these are forces, not merely a unit.
Forces consist of over a hundred members, while units are smaller in scale.
When I went to Henan at So Hyup’s request, the White Thunder Group that Ma Jang-ju sent as investment to the Murim Alliance was a unit of about twenty members.
Ah…
Now that I think about it, Sa-gu and half of the White Thunder Group lost their lives to us back then.
That thought lifted my spirits considerably.
Well, if I mobilize the forces, my every move might come under surveillance… but even so, refusing this would be foolish.
“With such generous words, how could I refuse? I understand. I’ll remain in Luoyang until the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament concludes, as you’ve said.”
“Thank you.”
“And I should prepare some gift for Seo-woo as well.”
“No, please. I merely followed my lord.”
“I understand your position, but we cannot help but express our gratitude to you as well.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Seo-woo Warrior ultimately agreed to accept a substantial sum of money.
Just then, a voice called out from outside.
“League Master, dinner is ready.”
“Haha, has it gotten so late already? Let us go and dine.”
“I must admit, I’m quite hungry. Hahaha.”
Seo-woo Warrior and I followed the League Master toward the dining hall.
The senior officials of the Murim Alliance were seated there, and we shared a pleasant meal together.
The spread was quite lavish and exquisite.
I had my suspicions, but it appeared no poison had been added to the food.
My wariness stemmed from the fact that the Murim Alliance was precisely the sort of organization that would resort to such tactics.
It was possible they refrained from such methods because I had agreed to their terms without resistance.
Or perhaps they avoided such underhanded schemes because one of the senior officials present was someone I knew.
In any case, I owed a debt of gratitude to Jegal Family’s Grand Elder and Dang Dae-jung, both of whom were present at this gathering.
I would need to repay them later.
“Ah, but what becomes of those two warriors from earlier?”
The two senior officials who answered my question had worn grim expressions since before.
“Ah, those fellows?”
“Having committed such a blunder, how could they possibly take the stage again? Tsk!”
“So we’ve disqualified both of them.”
“I see.”
“Ah, but now that I think of it, there is something you must do for us.”
The League Master continued speaking calmly.
“We intend to bring you both onto the martial stage and introduce you to the spectators. How grateful must those whose lives you saved be? We should give them the opportunity to express their thanks.”
His words flowed as smoothly as a mountain stream.
.
.
.
After the meal concluded, the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament resumed.
Before the matches began, the League Master ascended the martial stage.
“The Alliance offers its apologies to all our esteemed spectators. Regarding the incident that occurred this morning….”
Yet with the cunning of a seasoned martial artist, he deftly shifted the blame away from the Alliance’s negligence and onto the two warriors themselves.
“However, Heaven has not abandoned our Alliance, and has sent us young heroes instead. Allow me to introduce them: Great Hero Eun Seo-ho and Great Hero Seo-woo.”
He gestured to us, and we ascended the martial stage with confidence.
“Roaaaaaaaar!”
“It’s the Sword-Tongued Female Hero!”
“Sword-Tongued Female Hero! Sword-Tongued Female Hero!”
“White Blade Sword Master! White Blade Sword Master!”
“….”
The crowd cheered and chanted the names of Seo-woo Warrior and myself.
Hmm, Seo-woo Warrior was originally called the Hundred Strikes Swordsman, so being called the Hundred Strikes Hero is acceptable enough…
But why do people keep calling me the Seon Hyeop Mi-rang?
No matter how many times I hear that title, I can’t seem to get used to it.
I smiled bitterly to myself and observed the crowd’s reactions.
The tragedy from this morning had already faded from memory, and seeing people cheer for the newly emerged hero, I realized the Murim Alliance’s scheme had worked perfectly.
Speaking of heroes…
When one becomes a hero, many demands follow. That’s why many people find the position of hero burdensome.
But I was always a figure of the Merchant Guild.
So I made a deal with the League Master to remain in Luoyang only until the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament ends.
In other words, my role as a hero lasts only until the Yongbong Martial Arts Tournament.
And honestly, there’s quite a lot to gain through the name of hero.

A merchant guild run by some nameless merchant.
A merchant guild run by a merchant who bears the title of hero.

Which guild inspires more trust? There’s no need to ask. And which guild do the Green Forest Bandits avoid? That’s equally obvious.
I smiled at the League Master’s face, and he returned a benevolent expression.
The League Master must be thinking, “I’ll make good use of you.”
So I’ll respond in kind.
I will use the gift bundle and the title of hero that the League Master has given me well, wearing them down through constant use.
And what the League Master has given me will one day become a sharp blade aimed at the throats of the Murim Alliance and the Baekcheon Trading Company.

We exchanged greetings on the martial arts arena and descended. The League Master instructed us to watch the matches from the side.
But I politely declined.

“I appreciate the offer, but I wish to watch the matches from my parents’ side. They seem quite worried about recent events, and having a son who has earned the title of hero beside them will allow them to watch the matches with peace of mind.”

How could I stop my son from showing filial piety?
And so Seo-woo Warrior and I returned to our original seats and watched today’s martial arts competition.
Sister Hyang-ok’s match had been delayed, but fortunately it was held today after all.
Her opponent was a young master of the Hwangbo Clan.
The moment I saw the Hwangbo Clan Young Master, I could discern his level.
And I also understood that he’d only passed the preliminaries thanks to match-fixing.
For such a person to defeat my sister, who possessed exceptional talent and worked diligently, was impossible from the start.
Even with the Hwangbo Clan’s superior martial arts and innate spiritual power, the outcome was already decided.
My sister’s sharp blade targeted the Hwangbo Clan Young Master’s vital points, and the match was decided in just one hour after it began.
“Ami Sect’s Hyang-ok wins!”
“Waaaaaah!”
“Magnificent! The Sword-Tongued Female Hero!”
Amid the spectators’ cheers, Sister Hyang-ok descended from the martial arts arena with confidence.
The matches continued after that, and thus the second day of the main tournament drew to a close.
That evening.
The moment I returned to the inn, I collapsed onto the bed.
“Phew… I’m exhausted…”
Today was truly exhausting. Actually, it had been exhausting since yesterday.
The bone powder and lime dust, materials for the wound-healing medicine, suddenly sold out early, so I was running around in all directions. Then after requesting Chun-il to contact the Ancestor, I prevented the accident that occurred at the martial arts arena, negotiated a tug-of-war with the League Master, and…
Of course, my stamina could endure three sleepless nights without issue, but mental fatigue and physical fatigue are different things.
Especially that negotiation with the League Master… it was truly exhausting.
It wasn’t because of the content of the negotiation itself.
I’ve conducted far more fierce and tense negotiations than that—would those exhaust me?
I was now reaffirming that I was definitely strong in practical situations.
Well, in any case, I endured today well.
Creak—!
That was when it happened.
“Young Master! Young Master!”
Palgap rushed in, shouting urgently.
“The warriors from Huashan Sect and Jongnam Sect are being excommunicated!”
“What? What do you mean?”
“The two warriors who caused the accident this morning, sir! The Murim Alliance is now deciding to excommunicate them!”
Ah, now that I think about it, in my previous life, those two martial artists broke their swords because of that accident.
Now I understand.
They didn’t break their swords. Their swords were broken.
The Murim Alliance needed to impose severe punishment on the two warriors to cover up their own guilt.
That severe punishment is excommunication.
Fundamentally, when excommunicated, one’s dantian is sealed. One cannot use the martial arts one has learned.
What ‘legitimate’ place would accept someone who has been excommunicated? Moreover, even if one conceals their origin, once they use that martial art, their origin will inevitably be revealed.
So the only place where that martial art can be used is the Black Path.
If they continue to use martial arts learned in such a place, it brings shame upon their original sect.
How could they hide their resentment toward the sect they originally belonged to?
In any case, stripping martial arts from those who have spent their entire lives mastering them is taking away everything.
That’s precisely why they fear expulsion so greatly.
Honestly, what fault could they possibly have?
If anyone is at fault, it’s the Murim Alliance for trusting the formation and taking no other precautions.
Yet instead of reflecting on their own mistakes, they shift responsibility onto two promising young people!
This is absolutely infuriating! This damn Murim Alliance!
I spoke to my Guard Warriors.
“Let’s head to the Murim Alliance.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
Shortly after, I arrived at the Murim Alliance.
Recognizing who I was, the Murim Alliance quickly opened a path for me, unlike when seating arrangements were being made.
Well, this is good.
Soon I reached the place where the conference was being held.
The two Warriors who had caused the incident this morning had both hands fixed in stocks.
Was this to prevent them from escaping?
From inside, I could hear the elders deliberating.

“Then shall we proceed with expelling them….”
“That would be best.”
“We need to make an example to deter others.”

It was worth rushing over the moment I heard the news from Palgap.
There was still time.
I dropped to my knees in the courtyard and cried out loudly.
“Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company has a request for those who lead the Murim Alliance!”
At my shout, the doors to the conference hall opened.
Startled by my appearance, everyone came pouring out.
The League Master in particular asked me with a puzzled expression.
“What is the meaning of this? A request? More importantly, why are you on your knees?”
“Sect Leader, I have a request.”
“Rise at once!”
“No. I will not rise until you hear my request.”
At my resolute demeanor, the League Master tilted his head and asked.
“What exactly is this request of yours?”
“This morning, please hand over to me the custody of those two warriors who nearly caused great harm to the spectators.”
“Hmm?”
Was my demand unexpected?
They all looked at me with expressions of surprise.
“To be honest, the crimes they committed are grave sins that cannot be washed away by ordinary punishment.”
“Indeed.”
Indeed, my foot. You damnable fools.
I spoke with solemnity etched across my face.
“In my view, their expulsion is already decided! However, they did not harm anyone because of my intervention.”
I continued.
“Furthermore, they are still immature and could not overcome their competitive spirit, which led them to commit such acts. How could I simply stand by and watch those with such promising futures be expelled?”
“…”
“Therefore, as the one who prevented that incident, I have come forward to prevent their expulsion.”
I lowered my head and continued.
“Please, I humbly ask for your understanding.”
“…”
It was then.
“League Master, to be honest, I think expulsion is too harsh.”
“I agree as well.”
“Are you protecting your own people?”
From those words, I could tell that the two people who had just spoken were from the Huashan Sect and the Jongnam Sect.
The League Master pondered for a moment, then asked me.
“If I hand over their custody to you, what do you intend to do with them?”
“I intend to teach these two the heart of a true hero. And if they overcome this trial and become heroes, will it not become an opportunity for the Murim Alliance’s compassion and its reputation to spread throughout the entire martial world?”
I gave them words that suited their tastes, so hurry up and agree.
My knees are killing me.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————