The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 382

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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 382

Chapter 382. The Ghost Marketplace (1)

A short while later.
Not a single one of the Green Forest Bandits who had attacked us remained standing.
“It’s finished.”
At Ha Cheol Pyo-du’s words, we nodded.
“Then, let’s go.”
“Yes.”
Among the bandits, many lay dead, and countless others were wounded too severely to move.
But that was their own doing.
None of this would have happened if they hadn’t laid hands on us.
I sensed the presence of a few others hiding in the distance. The absence of killing intent suggested they weren’t here to attack us.
They must have come to observe how the situation had unfolded.
This would certainly add to the Eunhae Trading Company’s fearsome reputation among the bandits of this region.
A reputation earned among bandits becomes a formidable shield and sword. They learn to keep their distance when they know the cost of interference.
I gathered my energy to shake off the scent of blood clinging to my body, then boarded the carriage.
And I spoke to Seo Hyang.
“It’s over. You’re safe now.”
“Ah, is that so?”
“The scene outside is rather unpleasant to witness. It would be better to open the windows later.”
“I understand.”
Neither Seo Hyang nor her maidservant had likely ever witnessed such a bloodstained scene before. Exposing them to it now could leave them traumatized.
In time, traveling with me, they would inevitably encounter such horrors. But it was better they grew accustomed gradually.
I myself had struggled terribly when I first witnessed such brutality.
When I took a life for the first time, the aftermath haunted me for quite some time.
Of course, I knew these women weren’t weak-hearted. Rather, their strength of spirit allowed them to endure such hardship without losing their will to live.
Seo Hyang’s maidservant, too, possessed a strong heart—that’s why she chose to serve her mistress.
“We’re departing.”
“Yes.”
Soon the carriage I rode in began to move.
.
.
.
Once we entered Hebei Province, our journey became considerably easier.
Being close to the capital, the roads were well-maintained and security was excellent.
Which meant we could afford to relax our vigilance somewhat.
Walking in tension all day long is truly exhausting.
At last, we arrived at the Eunhae Trading Company Beijing Branch.
“Gwak Vice-Manager! Welcome back!”
“We’ve been waiting!”
“Do you know how much we struggled without you?”
Having heard news of our visit, the staff of the Northern Sea Branch came out to greet us.
Yet somehow, they seemed far more delighted to see Seo Hyang than me.
“It’s been so dreary without you.”
“Things really come alive when you’re here.”
Ah… it wasn’t the same at all.
They were far more pleased to see Seo Hyang. I spoke with a sullen expression.
“How disappointing. Don’t you see me?”
“Ha ha, how could that be?”
“My elder brother is here too…”
“Oh? The Second Sub-unit Leader has come as well? But…”
Yeochang’s Vice-Lord tilted his head in confusion.
“Your face looks much worse than when we last met.”
It was only natural—we’d fought several battles on the journey here, and we’d been conducting continuous group sparring matches.
From what I could tell, Jin-ho’s greatest ordeal was probably writing up the combat review reports…
That’s when Ha Pyo-doo spoke.
“The journey was quite difficult. Since what we brought was grain…”
“Ah, I see.”
“Then it’s no wonder you’re exhausted.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
I smiled inwardly and spoke to the Eun Branch Manager.
“We plan to rest here briefly before departing for the Northern Sea again.”
“Understood. I’ll make note of that.”
“And since we’ve stopped by Beijing, I should handle some business before we go. I’ll come to the office shortly.”
With that said, we each headed to our quarters.
Since the Beijing Branch had been built with the future in mind, it was spacious enough to provide plenty of rest areas.
I entered my quarters, and before washing, I spoke to Palgap.
“Palgap, do you think Gwak Vice-Manager would come to work today?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Then go tell her: don’t think about coming to the office today. Eat something and just get some rest.”
“Understood.”
“This is an order, and I’ll check myself whether she sleeps or not.”
Seo Hyang was more stubborn than I’d thought.
Without being this firm, she would definitely come out and work.
The journey from Hubei to Beijing was no easy feat. And the journey ahead would be the same.
No matter how much martial arts she was learning, overexertion leading to illness would be far more costly.
So today, taking a proper rest will actually increase work efficiency.
Then why don’t I rest?
Because I’m the Lord. Damn it.

After bathing and eating, I headed to my office.
“I’m coming in.”
As if waiting for my arrival, Yeochang’s Vice-Lord appeared promptly.
“These are the documents requiring your approval, my Lord.”
“There aren’t as many as I expected.”
“I handled the less important matters myself. These are the ones that absolutely require your authorization.”
Well, I had delegated that responsibility to him anyway.
I thought he’d made a wise decision. Otherwise, I’d be buried under a mountain of approval documents.
He glanced at my side and spoke.
“By the way, where is Gwak Vice-Manager?”
“Ah, I told her to rest thoroughly today. If she overexerts herself and falls ill, that would be troublesome, wouldn’t it?”
“A wise decision indeed, my Lord! Yes, that’s the right approach! Ah, if you need any explanations, please call for me.”
“Understood.”
After Yeochang’s Vice-Lord left, I began reviewing the approval documents.
But soon another visitor arrived.
This presence—it’s Eun Branch Manager.
“My Lord, it’s the Branch Manager.”
“Come in.”
The door opened and Eun Branch Manager entered.
“What brings you here?”
“Actually, this letter arrived several days ago.”
He handed me the letter he was holding.
“It’s clearly addressed to the Third Sub-unit Leader, but there’s no sender marked.”
I accepted the letter.
From the envelope marked “[To Sub-unit Leader Eun Seo-ho],” I sensed a familiar presence.
A cold, Northern Sea Ice Palace aura.
This letter is from Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master. I opened it.

[At the Qingfeng Inn near the Beijing Branch, when it becomes the appointed hour, seek out a person named Rin.]

Bing Hae-rin, Young Palace Master, has already arrived.
Anyway, the hour of the dog…
That naturally refers to the Hour of the Dog (戌時: 7 to 9 PM).
Tonight will be quite busy.
.
.
.
Night fell.
I headed to the Qingfeng Inn with Jin Yu Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior.
It’s a familiar place since I occasionally visited it while working at the Beijing Branch.
The vegetable porridge here was such a delicacy that people lined up from morning just to eat it.
I had tasted it several times myself, and each time I couldn’t help but marvel at it.
Upon entering the Qingfeng Inn, there weren’t many people eating.
Given the hour, there were only a few people having late meals or midnight snacks.
“Welcome!”
The Shop Attendant greeted me.
“Is there someone named Rin here?”
The Shop Attendant answered my question.
“Ah, I was already asked to help with that. Please sit and wait for a moment.”
“Understood.”
I nodded and headed to an appropriate seat, while the Shop Attendant went upstairs.
Shortly after, I sensed Bing Hae-rin, Young Palace Master, descending.
Her expression remained as cold as ever.
And the orchid fragrance emanating from her was unchanged.
I rose from my seat and cupped my fist in salute to her.
“It’s been a while since we last met.”
“Indeed. Shall we step outside?”
I nodded at her suggestion and followed her out of the inn.
The place Bing Hae-rin, Young Palace Master, led me to was familiar.
The location where I had spoken with the Guizhou Provincial Governor.
I suddenly recalled that moment.
The fact that she came here suggests she’s being cautious about security…
And I’m also curious about the aura of that Shop Attendant earlier—it was the aura of a Northern Sea Ice Palace Disciple.
I opened the conversation lightly.
“It seems the disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace are scattered in more places than expected.”
“That’s correct.”
She nodded.
“Since the Northern Sea is located in such a remote place, we are naturally uninformed about external matters. So my disciples are working hard to gather information from the outside world.”
She continued.
“It appears you noticed the aura of that inn’s Shop Attendant.”
“That’s correct.”
Bing Hae-rin, Young Palace Master, exhaled a long sigh.
“I’ve heard the rumors. You brought an enormous quantity of grain, didn’t you?”
“News travels fast.”
“First, I want to express my gratitude for taking on such trouble for the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“Not at all. As the Lesser Palace Mistress of Seolpung Palace, it’s only natural.”
At my words, Bing Hae-rin, Young Palace Master, nodded slowly.
“As expected, you really did become a Lesser Palace Mistress. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted her congratulations with a light fist salute.
“But there must be a reason you came to such a remote place?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“I’m displeased that suspicious organizations have learned about the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s situation.”
“Suspicious organizations?”
“Anyone, really. The Northern Sea Ice Palace has more enemies than we’d like. Every time we emerge in the Kangho, we stir up bloodshed, so our web of debts and grudges is quite complex.”
“I see. But I’ve never heard in my lifetime that the Northern Sea Ice Palace has emerged in the Kangho.”
“You’re right. However, while gratitude can barely last fifty years, resentment can easily endure for a hundred.”
“….”
I couldn’t refute such truth.
There were quite a few who lived as enemies for generations because of ancient grudges.
“Moreover, many seek the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s supreme martial techniques.”
“It seems a more difficult place than I imagined.”
I realized once again the purpose of Seolpung Palace’s existence.
Seolpung Palace was the place that first blocked those who targeted the Northern Sea Ice Palace at the entrance to the Northern Sea.
“However, the letter I received stated that the grain supply was not proceeding smoothly. I’d like to know the detailed circumstances.”
At my question, she answered with a complicated expression.
“You know we primarily obtain grain by selling spiritual medicine, don’t you?”
“Yes. I’ve heard of it before.”
“But….”
She frowned and spoke.
“The spiritual medicine we gave to the merchants is apparently counterfeit.”
“What?”
“They say they can’t buy counterfeit spiritual medicine, so we have no way to obtain grain.”
The Northern Sea Ice Palace would never pass off counterfeit spiritual medicine.
Then the problem lies with the merchant who appraised it.
“Is this a merchant you’ve been dealing with continuously from before?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“That’s why even after we took back the spiritual medicine from him and had it appraised elsewhere, we got the same result.”
Bing Hae-rin spoke.
“I had the elixirs appraised at several establishments, yet they all returned the same verdict. As a result, the Ice Palace’s grain reserves dwindled to nothing, and I had no choice but to turn to the Lesser Palace Mistress….”
“Please, just call me the Small Guild Master.”
“Yes, I asked the Small Guild Master for assistance. After all, merchants understand merchant affairs best.”
“I see how it came to pass.”
Certainly, the merchant who first appraised the elixirs seemed suspicious given the circumstances, yet there was no concrete evidence.
Had the other establishments declared the elixirs genuine, it would be different, but they too all confirmed they were counterfeit.
The disciples who brought the elixirs were somewhat questionable as well, but there was no need to voice such suspicions now.
“Then, would it not be possible to bring different elixirs?”
“The elixirs we provide are not common commodities. This time, considering the steep price of grain, we sent rather expensive ones. The most precious can be obtained only once in a hundred years, and even the cheapest requires at least a month to procure.”
“I see. It must be quite difficult indeed.”
“So we had no choice but to bring gold and jewels in hopes of securing grain….”
“It must not have been easy.”
“No.”
The famine had been that severe.
Moreover, those who possessed grain now would surely seek to exploit this opportunity for exorbitant profits.
“We are procuring and sending what we can in small quantities, but it remains woefully insufficient.”
“Such circumstances. Since you say it is urgent, let us first transfer the grain we have transported.”
“Yes.”

The next day,
we departed at once.
We had originally planned to rest for several days before setting out, but according to Bing Hae-rin, the Young Palace Master, the situation was grave.
Bing Hae-rin, the Young Palace Master, quietly joined us the day after our departure.

That evening.
We made camp for the night, and I asked Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master a question.
“You mentioned the merchant who claimed those elixirs were counterfeit was from Liaoning, correct?”
“Yes.”
Liaoning… a remote frontier difficult for most to navigate, but not for me.
My old friend is the one who controls the merchant network in Liaoning.
“I find that merchant from Liaoning highly suspicious. The most likely scenario is that he switched the items he was tasked to appraise with counterfeits.”
“I thought the same thing. That’s why I secretly investigated his quarters, but there were no elixirs anywhere. And there’s no evidence they were ever distributed.”
“Is that so?”
Then I need to investigate this myself once more.
Bing Haerin is a warrior, and a warrior’s eye sees differently than a merchant’s eye.
If I still cannot find them, the likelihood they’ve already been distributed is considerable.
Bing Haerin said there’s no evidence of distribution, but there is one place in Liaoning where such things could be secretly moved.
I’ll pay that place a visit after all this time.
Well, it’s rather an interesting place.

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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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