The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 43

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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 43

Chapter 43. The Jegal Family Estate (5)

Someone moved stealthily through the Jegal Family Estate, shrouded in the darkness of night.
Soon they arrived at a place devoid of people and opened a door.
A man waited for them inside.
They approached him and bowed their head slightly.
“I apologize for being late.”
“No, I only just arrived myself.”
When the figure raised their head, their identity was revealed—Jegal Yu-ah.
And the man standing before her was Jegal Yul, her father.
Though father and daughter were meeting, there was a reason they had to avoid the eyes of others.
It was a situation no one else could be trusted with.
When he sensed the ominous current flowing through the estate, his daughter came to him.
She had always been a perceptive child, but he was surprised she had noticed it.
It meant she was far more perceptive than he had anticipated.
What surprised him even more was her proposal to act in order to lower their guard.
Thus, father and daughter were each gathering information about the suspicious forces from their respective positions.
Jegal Yul gazed at Jegal Yu-ah’s left arm, bound with a splint and bandages, his expression filled with remorse.
“I’m sorry. Because of your incompetent father, you even had to deliberately break your arm…”
Jegal Yu-ah had deliberately sustained the injury to evade watchful eyes.
If she were to rest at her residence under the guise of injury, the surveillance would naturally decrease.
“But that fellow went too far, didn’t he? Even so, to actually break your arm!”
Jegal Yu-ah let out a soft laugh.
“It’s fine. It’s not actually broken. Young Master Eun turned out to be a truly good person.”
“What? Then…”
Jegal Yul asked with surprised eyes.
“You mean Young Master Eun Seo-ho helped you?”
“Yes.”
“But there would be no reason for him to apologize voluntarily just for that…”
“Young Master Eun Seo-ho already knew. That I was acting. And why I was doing it.”
“How could he possibly know? Even your father didn’t see through your act…”
“I’m not entirely sure either. I suspect there’s something an outsider’s perspective can see that I cannot, but I have no idea what it could be.”
Jegal Yul pondered for a moment before asking.
“This won’t interfere with our plans, will it?”
“It shouldn’t. Considering he saw through everything, played along with my pace, and even took the blame to help me.”
“But that means he wants something in return…”
“Eun Seo-ho said he didn’t want things to become bothersome.”
“He helped for such a simple reason?”
Jegal Yul’s eyes narrowed.
By his understanding of common sense, it made no sense whatsoever.
A letter had arrived from the Murim Alliance today.
The contents of that letter were simple.
[We request that you comply with the will of the Murim Alliance]
But what lay beneath was anything but simple.
And the consequences that would result from complying with the Murim Alliance’s will were equally complex.
‘How could someone wearing a human face commit such acts?’
Thus, just as his father refused this, he as House Master was also refusing it.
Those currently operating in the shadows within the estate were certainly those who sympathized with the Murim Alliance’s intentions.
The messenger who brought the letter was waiting for a reply.
Though he knew a guest had arrived at his father’s residence, he wanted to send the messenger away as quickly as possible.
He did not want the messenger lingering in the estate even for a moment.
So he informed his father of this, and at that moment, his father released a killing intent.
The problem was that the guests were not martial artists.
He quickly deployed a qi membrane to protect the one called Yu So-ak, but he was slightly too late to do the same for the young master called Eun Seo-ho.
Yet that young master remained composed.
Facing the killing intent of his father, a supreme master, as if nothing had happened at all….
This was why Jegal Yul was curious about Eun Seo-ho’s intentions.
“In any case, Father. Based on my investigation so far, Uncle Myung seems suspicious.”
“Jegal Kyung also showed suspicious circumstances.”
The two of them shared their opinions.
The reality of the shadowy rat operating in darkness was becoming increasingly concrete.
“The problem is, we have no evidence.”
“That is indeed the problem.”
.
.
.
On the way back from a midnight stroll.
Jegal Yu-ah exhaled a long sigh.
She had realized the sinister movements permeating the estate when she was nine years old.
What they desired was likely the estate itself.
To achieve this, it would be necessary to eliminate the bloodline of the House Master.
Truthfully, she had little attachment to the position of lesser house master or House Master.
But she hated seeing her father sacrificed in the process. She despised even more the thought of the family being destroyed by them.
She loved the Jegal Family Estate far too much.
When she was five years old, cradled in her grandfather’s arms in Josa Hall, she heard of the achievements her ancestors had accomplished, and from that moment, she fell in love with the Jegal Family Estate.
Thus, she could not simply stand by and watch those who sought to destroy such a family.
So she performed the role of a scatterbrained, witless madwoman—utterly unconvincing, yet flawless in its execution.
Her performance was perfect, and no one had ever seen through it.
But then…
‘He saw through it.’
How startled and shocked she had been in that moment!
Even aspects of herself she didn’t know had been exposed.
‘He’s quite an unusual young master in many ways.’
It was then.
“I thought you might come this way.”
“Oh!”
She jumped at the sudden voice, her heart leaping into her throat.
“Please don’t be alarmed. I am Eun Seo-ho.”
Upon learning his identity, she placed a hand over her chest to calm herself.
“I have something urgent to discuss, and it felt awkward to seek you out at your quarters.”
“What is it you wish to discuss?”
At her question, Eun Seo-ho smiled wryly and spoke.
“I need you to cause a disturbance at the Jae-an-won.”

* * *

At my words, Jegal Yu-ah’s expression went blank for a moment, but she soon collected herself and asked me.
“Cause a disturbance at the Jae-an-won? For what reason? Surely I need to know why before I can cause any disturbance.”
“I ask that you not be startled by what I’m about to tell you. So please, cover your mouth with your hand. If you cry out in shock, it will become problematic.”
Her expression grew puzzled at my words.
As I continued to gaze at her intently, she finally covered her mouth with her own hand.
“In truth, while spending time with the Grand Patriarch, I discovered evidence of an attempt to poison him.”
“Wh—mmph!”
As I had anticipated, she was startled.
Fortunately, she had already covered her mouth with her hand. Otherwise, she surely would have cried out loudly.
After taking several deep breaths, she carefully removed her hand and asked.
“Please explain this in detail.”
“Of course.”
I explained to her what I knew of the quadruple-layered poison.
After hearing my account, she asked me.
“But how do you know about such a poison, young master?”
It was the reaction I had expected.
“Operating a trading company means encountering far more unsavory individuals than one might imagine. In my desire to survive, I came to learn such things.”
I continued.
“Beyond this, I find it difficult to answer further questions, so I ask that you refrain from asking. However.”
I offered a faint smile.
“I couldn’t stand by and watch a person die before my eyes, so I’m asking for your help.”
“I’ve heard that merchants move based on profit. So what profit are you seeking, Young Master?”
“The profit I gain would be….”
Considerable.
Quite considerable, indeed.
But I didn’t want to think about that right now.
“It would be peace of mind, I suppose.”
“Is that truly all?”
I didn’t answer, and she let out a sigh.
“Very well. Please explain in detail what I need to do.”
I explained to her in meticulous detail what actions she needed to take.
She was still only fourteen years old, and because I had demonstrated the method myself, she was showing trust in my words about the four-layered poison.
But the others would not.
That’s why I needed someone to inform the others about the four-layered poison on my behalf and prove it to them.
.
.
.
The next day,
Yu Chief Manager and I headed to the Great-grandfather’s Residence again, and we spent time exchanging poetry.
Yu Chief Manager, who had been greatly startled by the Grand Patriarch’s killing intent yesterday, had calmed down surprisingly quickly.
After all, he had encountered martial artists before through his work at the Trading Company and the Court.
I recalled what Yu Chief Manager had said this morning.

“I’m quite all right. I was simply reminded that the Grand Patriarch is also a martial artist. Yesterday’s incident was surely just a momentary lapse.”
“Then I’m relieved.”
“Between acquaintances, minor oversights should be overlooked. Hahahaha.”

So you’ve truly become a real poet.
In any case, both the Grand Patriarch and Yu Chief Manager appeared to be in excellent spirits.
Even now, documents that Yu Chief Manager must handle are likely piling up at the Trading Company Finance Hall.
Judging by how unconcerned he is about this, he must be genuinely delighted.
“Truth be told, when your poetry collection was first published, I assumed it would be merely ordinary. However, since collecting poetry is also my hobby, I acquired it and read it. And I was utterly astonished.”
The Grand Patriarch lavished praise upon Yu Chief Manager.
“I thought to myself—could there truly exist someone in this world capable of composing such exquisite verse? I have several younger brothers myself, but none of them possess any talent for poetry whatsoever. It is truly a pity.”
He continued.
“Therefore, if you would become my younger brother, it would bring this old man great joy.”
“How could someone as inadequate as I dare claim to be the Grand Patriarch’s younger brother?”
“No, no! I truly wish to take you as my brother!”
Watching the Grand Patriarch’s eyes, I stifled a quiet laugh within myself.
He’s completely smitten.
After a moment of consideration, Yu Chief Manager nodded in response.
“To decline further would be discourteous, so I shall accept with gratitude.”
“Excellent, excellent.”
The two of them, having found common ground, had become sworn brothers in an instant.
In that moment, I recognized an opportunity.
“Forgive me, but I have one request.”
“A request? What might it be?”
“This occasion is particularly momentous for our trading company. I would like to preserve this gathering in a painting.”
I bowed respectfully.
“Please, do not reproach me for my excessive ambition.”
“A painting? That is an excellent idea. I too wish to commemorate this day, having gained such a fine younger brother.”
“In that case, might I recommend a suitable painter?”
“Who would that be?”
“There is a man named Heo Cheong who lives nearby, in the vicinity of the Jegal Family Estate. He is said to be quite skilled at painting with remarkable vitality.”
“Ah, I have heard of him as well. A craftsman of considerable talent, indeed.”
I was relieved that my memory had not deceived me.
The Grand Patriarch promptly summoned someone and ordered them to bring Heo Cheong.
Please, let him come.
Only with his arrival can I reveal the truth about this poison we are drinking.
After we finished lunch and were about to resume our poetry exchange, a servant announced his arrival.
“Grand Patriarch, the painter Heo Cheong, whom you summoned, has arrived.”
“Excellent! Show him in at once.”
The door opened, and a man entered.
He appeared to be in his late forties, and remarkably, his hair was white.
“I pay my respects to the Grand Patriarch of the Jegal Family. I have come at your summons.”
“Welcome. What I wish to ask of you is to paint the three of us.”
“Please, explain in detail what you desire.”
“Today, Yu Chief Manager and I have become brothers who share poetry and prose. To commemorate this joyous occasion, I shall commission three paintings of the same scene.”
“As you wish.”
He lifted his head and continued speaking.
“There is no need for you to remain still. Please converse naturally, and I shall capture it in my painting.”
“Then I shall rely on you.”
He promptly arranged his tools, unfurled the paper, and began to paint.
Now the stage was set.
I turned to the Grand Patriarch.
“The teas we enjoyed yesterday were truly exquisite. They lingered in my mind even as I slept. Would it be possible to have them again today?”
“Ah, so you appreciated them as well. And you, Yu Chief Manager?”
“I enjoyed them greatly.”
The Maidservant then brought the tea in the same order as the day before.

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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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