The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 388

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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 388

Chapter 388. The Ghost Marketplace (7)

I smiled faintly as I gazed upon the spirit medicines laid before me.
This was precisely why I had bid so generously at the Ghost Marketplace auction.
After all, I could earn far more than this amount.
And I had no intention of paying for it myself.
At that moment, I sensed the presence of Jin Yu Warrior.
“My lord, it is Jin Yu.”
“Come in.”
The door opened and Jin Yu Warrior entered.
“He has been taken away by the people of the Ghost Marketplace.”
“I see.”
Now it was the Northern Sea Ice Palace’s turn to act.
“Ah, and upon hearing the rumors that he was taken by the Ghost Marketplace’s people, the mercenaries have begun to flee.”
I had anticipated this.
Mercenaries work for coin, not loyalty to their employers.
That’s why when I had his guards kidnapped and extracted information from them, they fled without a second glance.
“Excellent.”
With the obstacles removed, I could proceed swiftly.
“Then I need you to handle one more matter.”
“Please speak.”
“Relay this message to the Lesser Palace Mistress: capture a man named Im Cheong-mil and extract his testimony. Tell her that he no longer faces any threats to his life.”
“Understood.”
“And as soon as that testimony is secured, go to where Cho has been taken and secure his custody.”
“Yes.”
I had used the Ghost Marketplace to send him to his doom, but I had no intention of handing his custody over to them.
He was someone who had harmed the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Therefore, it was only proper that the Northern Sea Ice Palace handle his disposition.

* * *

Upon hearing Eun Seo-ho’s account, Bing Haerin smiled coldly.
The idea of handing over the perpetrator to the Ghost Market’s owner did not sit well with her, given her position at the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
Therefore, she had every right to demand custody of the culprit.
She issued orders to her disciples.
“Arrest Im Cheong-mil immediately.”
“Understood.”
With those words, the disciples rushed from the inn, and before long, they brought Im Cheong-mil back in custody.
The moment Im Cheong-mil laid eyes on Bing Haerin, he trembled violently and prostrated himself before her.
“Y-young Palace Master of the Ice Palace, Im Cheong-mil pays his respects.”
“So you know who I am. Yet you dared attempt such deception…”
She spoke with an icy tone.
“Did you truly believe we would remain ignorant of your scheme—appraising the spiritual medicines entrusted to our disciples only to substitute them with counterfeits?”
This was the method Eun Seo-ho had revealed to her.
Upon hearing this truth from her lips, his face drained of color, and he bowed his head in submission.
“I-I am deeply sorry. This merchant deserves death for such crimes.”
Watching his reaction, Bing Haerin recalled what Eun Seo-ho had taught her.

“Interrogation, by nature, works best when the whip and the sweetness are properly balanced.”

Now it was time to set aside the whip and extend the candy.
“However, our palace understands that this was not an act of your own volition. You have been a long-standing business partner of ours, after all.”
Bing Haerin continued in a gentler tone.
“Raise your head and look at me.”
At her words, Im Cheong-mil cautiously lifted his gaze.
“I noticed something odd during my last visit—an unusual number of warriors stationed at your guild. Were you being coerced?”
“That is…”
“Speak freely. Only then can we consider extenuating circumstances.”
“…”
“Those who occupied your residence have all fled at once, have they not? There is nothing to fear now in telling the truth.”
He nodded and began to speak.
“About two months ago, a man of terrifying skill arrived at my guild with his subordinates. In an instant, he subdued all our warriors and threatened me. He said if I did not obey his commands, he would kill me and my family, and dishonor my wife and daughter.”
His voice trembled with emotion as he continued.
“Truthfully, I would not begrudge my own death. But my father passed away early, and my mother suffered greatly raising me alone. I could not allow her to meet such a tragic end. And what crime have my wife and children committed?”
“So you complied with their demands.”
Im Cheong-mil nodded.
Bing Haerin pointed to the scar on his neck and spoke.
“This wound—it was inflicted by him, was it not? This is a scar one cannot inflict upon oneself with a blade.”
“Yes.”
He wiped his tears as he spoke.
“I humbly beg your mercy. Though I acted under coercion, I have deceived the Northern Sea Ice Palace, and this is an unforgivable crime. I ask only that the punishment for this matter fall upon me alone. Please do not harm my family or my guild. They are innocent.”
Im Cheong-mil bowed his head once more.
Bing Haerin regarded him with complicated eyes, recalling what Eun Seo-ho had said.

“To be honest, the Northern Sea Ice Palace cannot be said to bear no fault in this matter.”
“You’re saying we bear fault?”
“Yes. Why was Im Cheong-mil Merchant Leader targeted? It was because the Northern Sea Ice Palace conducted exclusive trade with him.”
“That is….”
“Frankly, I would target Im Cheong-mil Merchant Leader myself.”
“….”
“Had the Ice Palace conducted trade with multiple parties, would he have become a target for extortion?”

She was right. Which meant….
“We can discuss your punishment later. First, I need to know more about who orchestrated this. Who is he? That bastard I’d like to tear apart?”
“He is someone who resides beside our merchant guild. His name is Cho Seok.”

* * *

One of the buildings owned by the proprietor of the Guimae Antique Shop in Liaoning.
Brutal torture was taking place there at that very moment.
“Where exactly did you move the genuine spirit elixir? Huh?”
“I handed it to the man wearing the goblin mask… Aaaaagh!”
“You’ve tarnished the honor of our Guimae Antique Shop!”
“I, I’m truly wronged… wronged, I tell you!”
Cho Seok seemed ready to go mad and jump out of his skin.
Though one might expect the pain of bone-deep torture to become familiar, it only intensified with each passing moment.
Whenever he lost consciousness during the interrogation, they would splash water on him and forcibly revive him multiple times.
He wanted to beg them to just kill him instead.
That was when it happened.
“Sir, there’s a problem.”
“A problem?”
“Yes. Someone from the Northern Sea Ice Palace has suddenly arrived, demanding custody of the merchant.”
“What are you talking about?”
The Auction Director furrowed his brow and spoke.
“Bring them inside first.”
“Yes! Where should I bring them?”
That was when Cho Seok cried out.
“I, I’ve met the Lesser Palace Mistress of the Northern Sea Ice Palace before. Just now, I definitely purchased spirit elixirs from the Lesser Palace Mistress!”
At this, the Auction Director spoke.
“Bring them to this room.”
“Understood.”

Shortly after, Bing Haerin arrived at the scene.
Upon seeing her, Cho Seok cried out in a desperate voice.
“P-please, save me! Didn’t I purchase spiritual medicines from the Young Palace Master just moments ago?”
I despised the Northern Sea Ice Palace, but now it was his only lifeline.
Yet he did not know.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace never let those who had harmed them off lightly.
“Is what the merchant says true?”
Bing Haerin nodded and replied.
“Yes, it’s true. He purchased spiritual medicines from me for twenty-five thousand silver taels. But all I know is that fact—I have no knowledge of what he did with them.”
She continued.
“Perhaps he intended to swindle others just as he did to our Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“…!”
At those words, Cho Seok felt his heart plummet.
If that were true, it meant his involvement in this affair had been exposed.
“He coerced the appraiser into switching the genuine spiritual medicines we had entrusted for appraisal with counterfeit ones.”
“Indeed!”
The Auction Director nodded gravely.
“A habitual criminal, then.”
“Therefore, the Northern Sea Ice Palace demands custody of this individual who has brought harm upon our sect.”
“….”
The Auction Director swallowed hard.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace.
To those living in Liaoning, near the Northern Sea, it was an object of both reverence and fear.
The owner of the Ghost Market inspired fear as well, but the Northern Sea Ice Palace was in a different league entirely.
If the Northern Sea Ice Palace were to break its silence and expand into Liaoning, it could easily crush the owner of the Ghost Market.
Moreover, the Blood Sea Dark King, owner of the Ghost Market, had repeatedly said one thing.
If one wished to prolong one’s life, one must never offend the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace’s authority was absolute in this place.
Yet they could not simply hand him over.
After all, this man had dared to defraud goods, tarnishing the reputation of both the Ghost Market and the Blood Sea Dark King.
“So then, let us resolve this peacefully.”
As those words left her lips, a chilling aura emanated from Bing Haerin.
After a moment of deliberation, he proposed a compromise.
“Then, to resolve this peacefully, how about we sacrifice one of this wretch’s arms?”
“Very well.”
The moment Bing Haerin consented, the Auction Director drew his blade and severed Cho Seok’s arm.
Slash—!
It happened in an instant.
“Aaaahhhhh!”
Cho Seok screamed in agony.
But Bing Haerin, her expression cold and impassive, pressed the blood vessel to stop the bleeding, then spoke to her disciples.
“Don’t forget to gag him as well.”
“Yes!”

* * *

When I returned to the Gwangjun Merchant Group, Palgap was busily packing his belongings.
“Hmm? What are you doing?”
“Packing our things, sir.”
“All of a sudden?”
“Yes. Gwak Vice-Manager said we’d be departing early tomorrow morning.”
Gwak Vice-Manager?
So the matter has been resolved successfully.
At that moment, Jin Yu Warrior approached and relayed a message to me.
“He says he will depart first.”
“I understand.”
To bring this affair to a perfect conclusion, we arranged for him to depart first as soon as the Northern Sea Ice Palace secured Cho’s custody.
“And a blue cord has been hung on the third floor of the Yeongryeong Inn.”
It was their signal calling for me.

Shortly after.
I made my way to the Yeongryeong Inn and entered the guest room where the cord hung.
A black curtain was drawn, so we couldn’t see each other’s faces.
But judging by the aura, it was the Auction Director.
As I entered the room, he rose and bowed his head.
“My apologies. In the end, we were unable to procure the authentic items.”
“I see. Truth be told, I also personally tried to obtain those items, but it proved difficult.”
“Is that so.”
I spoke this way to build trust.
“Then we’ll have no choice but to abandon the effort.”
“I’m truly sorry about this.”
“It’s fine.”
At my composed response, he spoke with a note of bewilderment in his voice.
“You seem calmer than I expected.”
“Do I appear calm to you? Haha. If I were being honest, I’d like to cause a scene, but I’m restraining myself. If I cause trouble here, my life would be in danger! Damn it!”
“…You are wise.”
“Well, in any case, I understand.”
“There is something I must ask of you.”
“What is it?”
“Could you keep this matter confidential?”
“Are you concerned about tarnishing your reputation?”
“Well, something like that.”
It was what I wanted as well.
Since I had utilized the Ghost Marketplace myself, keeping this affair secret would save me considerable trouble.
However.
“Just on your word?”
Swish, thud.
He slid something across the long table toward me.
“What is this?”
“It is the Dark Blood Dagger. A rare treasure that conceals killing intent even when one harbors murderous thoughts.”
“This will serve well enough. I accept your proposal.”
“Please visit again next time. I will not disappoint you then.”
“Very well.”
I slipped the dagger into my sleeve and departed from that place.
There had been someone hiding in the ceiling of the guest room I had entered.
There was no way I could have failed to notice it.
He must have been curious about my face. But he could not see it.
Why?
Because I possessed the Face-Concealing Fan, which hid my appearance.
Thus, my business here was concluded.
I wondered what punishment Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, had imposed upon Im Cheong-mil Merchant Leader.
She was cold and detached, yet not particularly cruel.
So she likely settled on a proportionate punishment.
.
.
.
The next morning.
We set out once more toward the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
“Ah, why did that take so long?”
Jin-ho chided me, but I could only smile. This matter was a secret from him, after all.
Had he known, he would surely have demanded to know why I had undertaken such a task without him.
“I simply assisted with some Northern Sea Ice Palace business.”
“Is that so? Now that I think about it, the warriors mentioned that Northern Sea Ice Palace Disciples had arrived. Wait—where is the Young Palace Master?”
“She departed with the disciples last night. She will rejoin us soon.”
“Hmm?”
At my words, Ha Pyo-doo nodded as if he had grasped something.

Soon, the disciples of the Northern Sea Ice Palace appeared in the distance.
We joined up with them.
I approached Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master, and asked softly.
“Why did you do that?”
“Cho Seok harbored a grudge against us. In the past, his father forcibly violated one of our Palace’s disciples, and when our Palace learned of this, we punished him accordingly. It seems he used his family as hostages this time to coerce our disciples into compliance.”
“The son is just like his father.”
“The problem is… he claims someone helped him. Supposedly, this person devised the plan and even provided the counterfeit spirit medicine. But when trouble arose at the Ghost Market, he tried to contact them and they didn’t exist.”
I bit my lip.
His testimony must be true. There’s no way someone like Cho Seok could have orchestrated such a meticulous plan on his own.
That aura of the Black Path I sensed back then—that person must have been supporting this operation.
Tch, they fled the moment things went wrong.
“Ah, and I apologize for mentioning this late, but Seol Seo-yun, the Dharma Protector, is apparently coming to greet us.”
“What?”
Seol Seo-yun, the Dharma Protector… wait, isn’t she Eun Jin-ho’s Mother-in-law?
I need to tell Elder Brother Jin-ho right away….
I let out a hollow laugh as I gazed at the distant haze of dust rising in the air.
Ah, I’m too late.
Sorry, Elder Brother Jin-ho.

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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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