The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 334

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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 334

Chapter 334. This Is Most Troublesome (3)

The catalyst for all this began when the Provincial Inspector of Guizhou sought out the Imperial Palace’s Public Works Department to construct a new building in the province.

“Your Excellency, why do you look so troubled?”
“It’s nothing serious… I need to procure something, and I require a capable merchant guild. Do you happen to know of a suitable one?”
“What sort of item do you need, if I may ask?”
“I need some ice, you see.”
“Ice? In the middle of summer, sir?”
“Haha, rather sudden, isn’t it? Let’s just forget I said anything.”
“Ah, might I offer a recommendation?”
“What do you mean?”
“I happen to know of a capable merchant guild that could procure such things.”
“Which one?”
“They recently established a branch in Beijing. It’s called the Eunhae Trading Company, and their Small Guild Master is so remarkably… well, so remarkably capable that I cannot speak highly enough of them. Haha.”

Upon hearing this, the Provincial Inspector of Guizhou went directly to the Eunhae Trading Company and placed a commission.
What made matters worse was that Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company, actually brought real ice.
If that ice arrived safely in Guizhou, I would have no face to show Maeyeom.
Then, by chance, I overheard a conversation.

“Did you hear? There’s supposed to be a magical artifact in that box?”
“A magical artifact?”
“Yes. An ornament that emits cold energy around it, supposedly keeping the ice from melting.”

Upon hearing the accounts of those who had accompanied the Provincial Inspector to the Eun Hae Merchant Guild North Sea Branch, Pyeong Tak found himself entertaining a thought he should never have entertained.
It was the theft of that artifact.
Without that artifact, the Eyes would melt away in an instant under the scorching summer sun.
‘I can simply claim negligent management, void the commission, and recommend that we entrust the task to Oseong Trading Company instead. Hehehehe.’
With that thought in mind, Pyeong Tak quietly made his way onto the ship deck and surveyed his surroundings.
Fortunately, no one was there.
‘Well, it’s the Hour of the Ox right now—between one and three in the morning.’
Since the boat was moving through calm waters, the sailors paid little attention to anything.
He entered the cabin where the cargo had been stored. Fortunately, there were no guards stationed there.
And indeed there wouldn’t be, since everyone aboard the vessel was part of the Provincial Inspector’s entourage.
With no risk of theft, there was no need for guards.
Inside that cabin sat a box containing the Eyes.
He carefully opened the box.
Creak—
The sound was louder than expected, and he flinched.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead as he looked around, but he sensed no unusual presence.
‘Phew…’
He exhaled in relief and finished opening the box, discovering a small ornament hanging from the inner box’s surface.
‘There it is!’
He reached out and took the ornament.
He briefly considered pouring water into the inner box to melt the Eyes, but quickly reconsidered.
The small box had bells attached to it, and touching them would certainly cause them to jingle and ring.
‘How unnecessarily thorough.’
In any case, without the artifact, the Eyes would melt away.
He placed the ornament inside his sleeve and closed the box.
As he left the cabin and was about to throw the ornament into the river, he hesitated.
‘It would be wasteful to discard such a martial family treasure! Yes, I should put this to good use.’
It was an artifact that dispersed cold energy.
Wasn’t it perfect for weather as hot as this?
Especially since summer in Guizhou was unbearably scorching.
Thus Pyeong Tak returned to his quarters, hoping his crime would remain buried in the depths of darkness.

* * *

When I awoke, it appeared to still be early dawn.
I immediately performed a brief breathing exercise to circulate my inner energy.
Since reaching the pinnacle realm, that time had grown even shorter, and now it was quick indeed.
Still, I couldn’t neglect physical training.
My Master believed that as one’s realm advanced, physical conditioning must develop in tandem.
He held the position that without such balance, problems would inevitably arise from the discord between inner power and body.
I agreed with him entirely.
Thanks to my Master’s teachings, I had never experienced adverse effects from such disparity between body and inner power.
At that moment, Jin Yu Warrior entered.
“Did you rest well?”
“Yes. Good morning to you.”
“I have news for you. Last night, one of the Provincial Inspector’s deputies took that ornament.”
They must have thought no one was near the box containing the eyes, but would I truly have left the box unguarded?
Hardly.
Publicly, I dismissed the guards, but secretly asked Jin Yu Warrior to protect the box.
And during the day, I would elevate my perception to watch over it myself.
Openly guarding it would invite complaints that I didn’t trust them.
Now I had a legitimate reason to guard the box openly.
But who was the culprit? The Provincial Inspector’s deputy?
“Well, that’s something I never anticipated.”
Then why would he do such a thing?
We had done nothing to offend him. And yet he would risk so much to undermine us?
No matter how I considered it, there was only one reason for such audacity.
He had been bribed.
Most likely by one of the merchant guilds in Guizhou.
By chance, the government officials had led me to take this commission, but otherwise I would have entrusted it to one of Guizhou’s merchant guilds as I had in my previous life.
Then the answer was obvious.
They planned to blame us for negligence, break the contract, and secure it for themselves.
But they had underestimated me far too much.
As I smiled wickedly, Palgap beside me flinched and asked.
“W-why are you smiling so frightfully?”
“What do you mean?”
“…Never mind.”
I rose from the bed and spoke.
“Shall we catch the culprit then?”
“But if he threw that ornament into the river, wouldn’t there be no evidence?”
Palgap worried thus, but my thoughts differed.
“He won’t have thrown it away. He’s likely thinking of it as proof of a martial family treasure.”
If he had discarded it without hesitation into the river, he would be someone worth acknowledging—someone I’d want to recruit.
“Well then, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
As I stepped out of the cabin, Seo-woo Warrior and Myeong-jong Warrior, who were on guard duty, followed me.
We entered the cabin where the box was stored and opened it. The artifact was truly gone.
I took a deep breath and let out a loud cry.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
Those aboard the vessel came rushing to the cabin one by one.
“It sounds like something happened here?”
“What is the matter?”
“Eh? Small Guild Master? Are you alright?”
As they entered the cabin, I cried out with a panicked expression.
“This is terrible! The artifact! The artifact has disappeared!”
“What? The artifact?”
“The object that disperses cold energy—the artifact I speak of.”

This matter was immediately reported to the Provincial Inspector, who turned pale and rushed over at once.
“What do you mean? The object that disperses cold energy has vanished?”
“Truth be told, I had restless dreams last night. Just to be safe, I woke at dawn and immediately came to check on the artifact’s condition. But… the object had disappeared.”
I spoke with a dejected expression.
“I trusted everyone aboard this vessel and did not even post guards. How could such a thing happen…?”
Before anyone could question my negligence, I struck first.
“I was too careless. I should have posted guards after all!”
At someone’s rebuke, I laughed inwardly.
It was exactly as I had anticipated.
“When I suggested posting guards, wasn’t it you who said I didn’t trust them?”
Who else could it be? The very person who asked this question.
“Ahem, ahem…”
He withdrew with an embarrassed expression.
Then someone spoke.
“Perhaps river pirates infiltrated us last night.”
“That is impossible. This stretch of the Yangtze River has almost no river pirates.”
“That may be true, but…”
“Moreover, if river pirates had infiltrated, they would have taken other valuables or attacked someone. They would not have bothered to enter this cabin and open only a seemingly ordinary box.”
The one who had suggested the river pirate theory turned red in the face and coughed awkwardly, looking away.
The Provincial Inspector spoke with a troubled expression.
“In any case, I must apologize. I am sorry.”
“Not at all. How could this be something for the Provincial Inspector to apologize for?”
“Thank you.”
The Provincial Inspector sighed, then suddenly realized something and exclaimed.
“Wait—if that artifact is gone, doesn’t that mean the ice is melting?”
“That is fine.”
“Huh?”
He questioned my words.
“It’s fine? What do you mean by that?”
“I mentioned ‘Preparedness prevents peril.’ Beyond that ornamental object, I’ve implemented several additional measures, so the ice won’t melt quickly. However, that object is necessary to transfer it in perfect condition.”
“A blessing in disguise, then. But we still need to find it.”
“Yes, sir.”
I bowed respectfully as I spoke.
“I apologize for the presumption, but judging from the fact that only that object was taken from the box, there are two possibilities. First, the crime was targeting that object itself. Second, the crime was intended to cause the ice to melt.”
I continued.
“Regardless of the intent, this is someone trying to harm you. We must find the culprit.”
“Of course. How dare they attempt such a thing when I’m so desperate to preserve the ice!”
Pojeongsa clenched his fist, his expression filled with rage.
“May I conduct a search to find that object?”
“You have my permission.”
“Thank you.”
“Then I shall begin searching the cargo now. Everyone, please gather on the ship deck.”
At my words, everyone gathered on the ship deck. I had my guards watch over them.
I began searching the cargo directly with Pojeongsa.
Or rather, I pretended to search.
Because I already knew where that ornament was.
While conducting the search,
“Oops!”
I deliberately stumbled.
“Oh, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“Be careful.”
“My apologies. It seems my foot caught on something.”
At my words, Palgap beside me interjected appropriately. As expected, he’s quick-witted.
“The floor is smooth, so what could you have caught on?”
As he spoke, Palgap examined the floor and tilted his head.
“Hmm? This floorboard is slightly raised.”
The cabin floor was constructed by joining long planks together.
But the plank Palgap pointed to was slightly lifted.
Of course, it was so slight that everyone would have overlooked it.
Then Palgap’s expression turned to surprise.
“What? Why is there frost here?”
“Frost?”
At those words, I quickly pried up that section of floor, and I was able to discover the ornament inside.
“My goodness!”
“Why is the ornament here?”
“It seems it was hidden somewhere on this ship. Who uses this cabin?”

A moment later.
Ten people entered the cabin. They were the ones who used this space.
They were not soldiers, but rather individuals with their own respective positions.
Once only such people were summoned, Pojeongsa stepped forward.
“This artifact was discovered in this cabin. And since this cabin is not a place anyone can enter, it means one of you here must have done this despicable thing.”
Pojeongsa began to pressure them.
“Who is it? Who committed this vile act? Speak now, and I will show leniency.”
“….”
Yet no one opened their mouth.
Of course they didn’t.
If they confessed so readily to those words, they would never have committed such an act in the first place.
The Provincial Inspector doesn’t seem to be very skilled at interrogation.
In truth, I already know who the culprit is, but that alone won’t suffice. What mattered was convincing everyone.
Well, I had anticipated they would hide the trinket elsewhere.
Unless they were a fool, they would have expected a search of their belongings and naturally hidden it somewhere else.
But due to the spatial constraints of being aboard a ship, the places where it could be hidden were limited to the cabin where the culprit stayed.
There was always someone everywhere else.
But in this cabin, with fewer people sharing the space and each of them busy with their own affairs, there would have been an opportunity.
The trinket’s role was to narrow down the suspects to those with reasons everyone could accept.
What I focused on was different evidence.
Evidence that was absolutely irrefutable.
“Pardon me, sir. May I say something?”
When he nodded, I stepped forward and spoke.
“This artifact has the property of emitting cold energy. That means the artifact itself contains coldness. Touching it briefly is fine, but prolonged contact can cause frostbite.”
I continued.
“Think about it. You open the outer box and take the trinket. But the trinket is extremely cold. Moreover, while holding it in your hand, you cannot close the box. And if someone sees you with it, that’s also problematic. So you cannot set it down on the floor either. Then what would you do with it?”
“….”
“Everyone, please roll up your sleeves.”
At my words, they rolled up their sleeves, and I examined them as I spoke.
“Since you all live only in hot regions, you may not know this, but the fabric of your clothes is harvested from plants.”
Among plants, there are some with particularly tough bark, and cloth is woven from these to make garments.
Because Guizhou is hot and humid, people must wear clothes with good ventilation to avoid suffering from skin diseases.
“The characteristic of such clothes is that if they freeze, they become discolored and the fabric is severely damaged.”
I smiled slightly and spoke.
“Well, it’s natural that you don’t know, since you’ve rarely experienced cold enough to freeze the clothes you’re wearing.”
“….”
“The answer to my earlier question is here. They put the artifact inside their sleeve.”
The sleeves were all made wide for ventilation, after all.
“That’s why the fabric was damaged.”
I seized one of their wrists as I spoke.
“It’s like this.”
That sleeve was discolored.
I had him. The culprit.

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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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