The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 315

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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 315

Chapter 315. In Lanzhou (2)

I was the one who found myself flustered by this turn of events.
Why on earth was he here?
The Gate Keeper caught sight of him and quickly bowed in greeting.
“Second Young Master, you’ve arrived?”
Could it be…?
He greeted me and asked, “Have you finished your business already?”
“I… Is Bang Hyo-myeong Elder perhaps here?”
“Yes? He is our father.”
“…”
“….”

I found myself seated across from the child’s father in the Bang Estate’s Guest Reception Room.
His name was Bang Eun-seok.
He was the Second Son of Bang Hyo-myeong Elder.
“So you came to meet my father?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“I never imagined that your business was to meet our father. Do you have a connection with him?”
“I simply came to know of him through someone. Haha. But is there something the matter?”
I asked because the atmosphere of the Bang Estate seemed somewhat unusually lively.
“Ah, yes. There was an event at the family. That’s why I hurried up from Kaifeng as well.”
“If I may ask, what business do you conduct in Kaifeng?”
“I serve as Deputy Administrator of the Prefecture.”
A Deputy Administrator was essentially the second-in-command of a prefecture. With a rank of Junior Grade Five, it was quite a prestigious local position.
“But why would someone of your standing venture out without even a single guard? The times are treacherous enough as it is…”
“I cannot privately employ others for my personal affairs, can I? My father would scold me for it.”
“…”
Then I sensed someone’s presence beyond the door.
He had arrived.
The door opened, and an elderly man who appeared to be in his sixties entered.
“Did you ask to see me?”
I rose quickly and cupped my fist in salute. “Yes, that is correct. I am Eun Seo-ho of the Eunhae Trading Company, paying my respects to you, Elder.”
“I am Bang Hyo-myung. It is a pleasure to meet you. Please, be seated.”
“Yes, that’s correct. Eun Seo-ho of Eun Hae Trading Company greets you, sir.”
“So your name is Bang Hyo-myung. Nice to meet you. Please, have a seat.”
“Thank you.”
At his suggestion, I settled back into my seat and cast a glance at the man who had entered with him.
He paid no attention to my gaze, standing beside the door with his eyes fixed solely on Bang Hyo-myeong Elder.
He appeared to be a guard, and his martial prowess seemed to be at the peak stage.
Having sensed the level of my party and myself, he looked thoroughly tense.
“So, why did you ask to see me?”
At that question, I quickly turned my gaze back to Bang Hyo-myeong Elder.
“In truth, I sought an audience with you because I was entrusted with delivering a letter.”
“A letter?”
“Yes.”
I handed the letter to Bang Hyo-myeong Elder, and he received it.
“Please open it. I must confirm that you read the letter yourself.”
At my words, he tilted his head curiously and tore open the letter.
And upon seeing its contents, his face twisted sharply.
“Damn it.”
With his contorted expression, he looked at me and asked.
“Do you happen to know the contents of this letter?”
“I do not. How could I know when I haven’t read it?”
“Yes, seeing your bright expression confirms you haven’t read this letter.”
“What?”
What did my bright expression have to do with whether I’d read the letter beforehand?
He thrust the letter toward me curtly.
“Read it.”
I received the letter again and read it.
It began with greetings from the Emperor to Bang Hyo-myeong Elder, his old friend and subordinate.
And then came resentment about his departure, followed by….
[Did you think leaving like that would be the end? You old fool. Did you never imagine you’d be summoned by imperial decree like this?] —somewhat childish remarks like these….
The ability to write such things meant they were quite close. Yet with an age difference of some twenty years, could they still be old friends?
Well, that aside.
[One of my subordinates, a Jinying Warrior of the Geumui Guard, is in dire straits. I would appreciate it if you could resolve that matter first. He has gone missing, and I cannot locate him anywhere.]
The Emperor was asking Bang Hyo-myeong Elder to find the Jinying Warrior.
I had only thought the Emperor was displeased by the Jinying Warrior’s disappearance, but I never imagined he would be this concerned.
[I trust that you will be able to find him]
And from the letter, I could feel the Emperor’s firm faith in Bang Hyo-myeong Elder.
The problem was….
[The one who brought this letter is quite an amusing fellow, so it would be entertaining to have him around. Therefore, find the Jinying Warrior together with him and bring him back.]
A sigh escaped me unbidden.
Damn it.
I thought my task would end once I delivered the letter… but it hadn’t.
It wasn’t over until it was truly over.
“Now that’s an expression worth seeing.”
“You’re more mischievous than I expected.”
“So tell me—what makes you so remarkable that you’d carry such a letter?”
He turned his head to glance at his Second Son and continued speaking.
“Honestly, I never imagined you’d be the one to bring that person’s letter. No one carrying such a document would have the presence of mind to leap into the rapids to save a child.”
Ah….
In truth, I hadn’t been carrying the letter at that moment.
I’d placed it in the Secret Vault just to be safe.
Still, I do carry an inkstone in the pouch the Emperor gave me, and it’s proving to be rather inconvenient.
Ah, my thoughts have wandered elsewhere.
“Moreover, you’re not an Imperial Official or a Warrior—you’re a Merchant, and a famous one at that, known as Seon Hyeop Mi-rang.”
“I feel the same way.”
“In any case, I express my gratitude for saving my grandson.”
He continued speaking.
“But… it seems you brought the letter in secret. Are you being pursued?”
“…That’s true, actually.”
“So that’s why you refused when my son asked you to stay.”
Bang Eun-seok, who had been listening to our conversation, asked with a bewildered expression.
“What are you two talking about? Who sent that letter? More importantly, wasn’t this person someone Father had a connection with?”
At that question, Bang Hyo-myeong Elder sighed and asked me.
“How much should I tell him?”
“I’ve heard nothing of it.”
“I see.”
Bang Hyo-myeong Elder nodded and spoke to his son with a complicated expression.
“That person I served for so long is calling upon this old body once more.”
“What? Then…?”
“As you just heard, the situation is not favorable. So for now, maintain strict household discipline and vigilance.”
“Understood.”
Having given those instructions, he retrieved brush and ink from beside him and wrote something, then handed it to his Second Son.
“Take this. Give it to your Elder Brother and tell him to proceed accordingly.”
“Yes.”
“Then, go.”
At those words, I was taken aback.
“Pardon? Right now? Can you leave without saying anything to the rest of the family?”
Seeing my reaction, Bang Eun-seok smiled and spoke.
“He’s always been unpredictable anyway, so we’ve grown accustomed to his sudden disappearances. Still…”
He continued.
“Not once has he ever spoken a false word.”
In his tone and expression, I sensed a profound trust.
.
.
.
About an hour later.
Bang Nosa departed with us, accompanied by his attendant and guard warrior.
Despite the sudden nature of our departure, the attendant and guard warrior showed no signs of surprise—it seemed this was simply how Bang Nosa conducted himself.
Still, he seemed to be moving with unusual haste.
“Pardon me, Elder. I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Is there a particular reason for such urgency?”
“What kind of question is that? We don’t know when those pursuers might catch up to us.”
Bang Nosa’s words held merit, but this situation was different.
“Actually….”
I explained to him in full detail how I had thrown off the pursuers.
“They should be tracking toward Guangdong Province by now. Though by this point, they may have realized they were deceived and begun pursuing us again.”
Bang Nosa sighed at my words.
“You.”
“Yes?”
“Couldn’t you have mentioned something like that earlier?”
“My apologies. You were moving so decisively that I didn’t have the chance to speak.”
That was true. Bang Nosa had been moving so swiftly that there had been no opportunity to tell him.
“Ahem.”
Bang Nosa cleared his throat.
“Well, what can we do? We’ve already left the house after explaining everything.”
True enough.
At that moment, Palgap spoke to me in a low voice.
“Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t you feel as though you’re looking into a mirror?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Nothing at all, sir.”

The letter sent by the Emperor also contained details regarding the disappearance of Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster had headed to Lanzhou, and after sending word that he had arrived, he vanished without a trace.
The task assigned to Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster concerned the recent disappearances occurring in Northern Gansu.
Children had been disappearing one after another in Northern Gansu, prompting local officials to submit multiple reports up the chain of command.
It seems the county and provincial authorities were unable to resolve it themselves.
“I had no idea such a thing was happening….”
Judging by Bang Nosa’s reaction, he appeared completely unaware of the matter.
Then again,
Northern Gansu had a sparse population, and many of its villages possessed a reclusive nature, so communication between regions was not particularly active.
“First, I should search for traces of this Jin-yeong fellow here in Gansu Province.”
“Indeed, we should.”
Our destination was the Geumui Guard’s Private Residence, presumed to be where Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster had last stayed.
As we traveled there, I remained puzzled as to why the Emperor wished to summon Bang Nosa again, and why he had asked him to find Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
From my perspective, he was merely an ordinary elderly man who had retired from office and returned to his homeland.
“It certainly is convenient traveling with someone wealthy. But it seems you’re spending quite a lot on my account—is that truly acceptable?”
Bang Nosa asked this as we departed from the upscale inn, and I responded with a smile.
“Such expenses are trivial to me.”
“Is that so?”
“However, this is not a personal matter but official business. Moreover, I doubt His Imperial Majesty would expect one to use personal funds while conducting official duties.”
At my words, Bang Nosa laughed heartily.
“Haha. Now I understand why His Imperial Majesty said you were an amusing fellow.”
“Is that so? I’m not entirely certain myself.”
“People rarely understand such things about themselves.”
At those words, I tilted my head slightly, and that’s when I noticed Palgap nodding vigorously.
“Palgap?”
“Yes? What is it?”
“It’s nothing.”
….
I was merely stating something perfectly obvious, yet apparently it was amusing. How peculiar.

That afternoon.
We arrived at the Geumui Guard’s Private Residence in Lanzhou.
It was an ordinary house, the kind a moderately well-off family might inhabit.
Yet it was eerily silent, as though utterly devoid of life.
I concentrated my senses, but detected not the faintest trace of presence.
“It appears no one is here.”
“I see.”
Bang Nosa replied thus and spoke to me.
“Then be careful and follow only where I step.”
“Pardon?”
I questioned him, but instead of answering, Bang Nosa moved about the premises, examining everything meticulously.
“Cart wheel marks. Something was transported away. No signs of forced entry at the main gate. Yet traces of struggle are scattered throughout the building…”
“…”
“Given the dragging marks, it seems they subdued whoever was here and hauled them away on the cart?”
As he examined various spots, he turned to me and asked.
“What do you make of this?”
“Since there are no signs of a broken door, it appears someone was bribed to open it. Perhaps the corrupted person unlocked it, or was forced to do so.”
“Precisely.”
And the number of attackers doesn’t seem particularly large, yet there are surprisingly few signs of combat. They appear to have been subdued without mounting proper resistance, which suggests poisoning is highly likely.”
“Excellent!”
“Thus they loaded the subdued individuals onto the cart and departed.”
“My assessment aligns with yours. There were likely five people here. Their builds were…”
I couldn’t identify the other four, but one of their builds resembled someone I knew quite well.
Jingyeong Great Swordmaster.
A Jinying Warrior of that caliber should have possessed some resistance to poison.
Yet if they were subdued without even putting up a fight, the enemy’s strength must be considerable.
Bang Nosa had deduced the numbers, builds, and martial prowess of both allies and enemies merely from the traces left behind.
“Still, there’s a chance they remain alive.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because there’s no blood. And the fact they didn’t burn this building, which bears their traces, means they’re trying to buy time.”
He continued.
“The difference between a Geumui Guard Warrior being missing and being dead carries great weight.”
“…”
“Then if they took them alive and time is of the essence, what could that mean?”
In that moment, a horrifying image flashed through my mind.
“We must hurry.”
I began to understand why the Emperor had summoned Bang Nosa again, and why he’d tasked him with finding Jingyeong Great Swordmaster.
Bang Nosa was no ordinary official.
He was an exceptional investigator possessed of keen observation and sound judgment.
“Since they used a cart to transport them, our first course of action should be to inquire about it.”
I examined the wheel tracks of the cart, gauging its size by the width of the ruts.
Hmm? Couldn’t anyone tell just by looking at it?
“A rather large cart drawn by three horses.”
“How did you discern that?”
“Well, I’m the Small Merchant Guild Leader of the Eunhae Trading Company. This much is simple.”
But why did his eyes suddenly gleam with such intensity?
Terrifyingly so…

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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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