The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 462

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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 Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 462

Chapter 462. The Meaning of Advice (2)

A short while later.
We reconvened in the conference room and decided to execute my proposal.
With the assistance of Sung Jun-baek, the Branch Manager, we gathered information and made thorough preparations.
Several days passed, and the day of execution arrived.
“Please, take care of yourself.”
We left the Yunnan Province branch with Sung Jun-baek’s farewell and headed toward Chungyeongseong.
Seo-woo Warrior’s experience proved invaluable during that journey.
He had previously been assigned to this region when working at the Pyoguk as Pyo-doo.

“You must never touch the sap of that tree. It’s toxic.”
“That level of poison is bearable.”
“A Grand Hero might endure it, but horses cannot. Are you planning to walk the rest of the way without a mount?”
“….”

“The roots of that grass are quite palatable. If you dig them up and roast them over fire, they’re sweet and worth eating.”
“Is that so?”
“But you must never eat the stems and leaves! You’ll suffer from severe dysentery.”

After receiving help a few times, I stopped contradicting the Seo-woo Warrior’s words from that point onward.
Thus, we arrived safely at Chungyeongseong.
Armed soldiers standing guard spotted us and rushed toward our group.
Clang!
They leveled their weapons and shouted.
“Stand back! Outsiders are not permitted entry to this place!”
However, I dismounted calmly and bowed respectfully to them as I spoke.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company. Upon hearing that a great undertaking is underway in this place, I have come hoping that our humble merchant enterprise might be of service. I humbly ask that you do not treat us with discourtesy.”
At my words, they exchanged glances and whispered among themselves.
“The Eun Hae Trading Company?”
“The Eun Hae Trading Company? Isn’t that the one? The enormously large merchant guild?”
“Why would they come here?”
I offered them gold coins as I spoke.
“I would be grateful if you could relay word of our arrival to those within.”
“Hmph! Ahem, ah, understood.”
One of the soldiers went inside, and after a brief moment, he emerged and spoke.
“They say you may enter.”
“Thank you.”

Under the soldier’s guidance, we proceeded inside.
I discreetly surveyed the interior of the fortress.
From the faces of those passing by, I could roughly discern the situation of this place.
As I had suspected, their circumstances appeared quite dire.
We entered what appeared to be the Fortress Lord’s residence and were shown to the Guest Reception Room.
As we were drinking tea there, a man entered.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
“I am Yeon Yu-mun, the Elder Son of the Fortress Lord of Chungyeongseong.”
So this man was the Fortress Lord’s eldest son.
He appeared younger than I expected. Perhaps in his mid-twenties?
Behind him stood two men, positioned as if to guard him.
“Is the Fortress Lord away on business?”
For a moment, his eyes wavered.
However, I did not reveal that I had noticed this.
“From your position as the young master, such a matter might not require the Fortress Lord himself to appear.”
“That may be true from your perspective, but from my position, this is quite an important matter.”
I continued.
“I have committed to lending a hand in Chungyeongseong’s great undertaking, and it would be troublesome if you later claim ignorance of my sincerity, would it not?”
“There is no need to worry about that.”
“I am a merchant. Please provide me with a document confirming this commitment. Ideally, one bearing the Fortress Lord’s seal.”
He pondered for a moment before asking me a question.
“Before that, I’d like to ask one thing. How did you learn of our business?”
“You seem to underestimate the intelligence network of the Eun Hae Trading Company. That wounds me.”
“Ah, my apologies. So I’m curious—how substantially do you intend to contribute?”
“Will this suffice as a starting point?”
I gestured with my eyes, and the Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior set down the boxes they’d been carrying.
Thud!
The two warriors then opened the boxes.
Within them, silver and gold coins filled to the brim.
Upon seeing this, Yeon Yu-mun was startled, his gaze darting between me and the boxes.
“Is this… genuine?”
“A merchant expresses sincerity through coin. Surely this demonstrates my earnestness, does it not?”
Meanwhile, the eyes of the two men standing behind Yeon Yu-mun gleamed with avarice.
I closed the lid with my foot.
Bang!
The hinged box lid shut with a resounding crash.
I spoke with a smile.
“However, this can only be delivered upon receipt of a document bearing the Fortress Lord’s personal signature and seal.”
“….”
I observed one of the men standing behind tap Yeon Yu-mun’s shoulder.
“Of course. Though it may take some time.”
“I can wait several days.”
“But tell me—why do those who came with you wear masks?”
It was the man on the left among those standing behind who posed this question.
They wouldn’t let this pass easily, as expected.
Those wearing masks are the Gold-Clad Guard Masters who accompanied me.
Since the Gold-Clad Guards and Dongchang operatives stationed here would recognize each other’s faces, they wear masks.
Of course, this fell within my expectations, so I answered without hesitation.
“You take considerable interest in my guard detail.”
“A natural question for those serving as your escort.”
“The affairs of a merchant guild aren’t always conducted in complete propriety, are they? These individuals exist for such purposes, and I brought them along as they seemed necessary for this matter.”
“You mean Seon Hyeop Mi-rang? That’s unexpected.”
“I spare no effort to protect my reputation. Reputation, after all, translates to profit. Hehe.”
“However, we cannot simply overlook uncertainties. Have them remove their masks and show their faces. Otherwise, this transaction is void.”
“What difficulty could there be in that?”
I issued them an order.
“Remove your masks and show your faces.”
“We obey.”
They removed their masks.
Yet their faces appeared considerably different from their true visages.
They had already donned face-altering masks beneath.
One of the things that took the most time and effort in preparing this plan was that human skin mask.
When I visited the Sichuan Tang Family before, the knowledge I acquired from reading in the study within the cave where Dang Yeon-chil was actually imprisoned proved quite helpful.
Based on the knowledge I gained then, I made it from pigskin, and it turned out quite convincing.
“….”
The two men nodded at the revealed face.
“Well done.”
“Then may we put the mask back on now?”
“Yes, do that.”
At my words, they put their masks back on.
The reason they came wearing masks despite having the human skin mask was because wearing it for long periods was difficult.
The hot and humid climate not only caused eczema on the original skin, causing considerable pain, but also damaged the shape of the human skin mask.
That’s why we show their faces like this to dispel suspicion, and from now on, the plan is to simply wear masks and go about.
“But, are you really my guard?”
The man on the right asked that.
Damn, they’re really suspicious.
But since their lives are on the line, I suppose there’s no helping it.
“How can I earn your trust?”
“If you bark like a dog….”
“Number Six.”
“Yes!”
At my call, the Masked Intruder stepped forward.
Since I couldn’t call the masters by their real names, we decided to assign each a number and address them as Number One through Number Six.
And Number Six was So-un Dae-hyup, who had received quite a scolding from me.
“Kneel and bark.”
At my words, he knelt down.
“Wa….”
But he hesitated and couldn’t do it right away.
Smack—!
I slapped his cheek with my palm and sent him a cold glare.
“Are you trying to embarrass me in front of these men?”
“I’m, I’m sorry! Please forgive me! Small Guild Master.”
“I’ll give you another chance.”
“Woof woof! Woof woof!”
So-un Dae-hyup barked like a dog before me, and I lifted his chin as I spoke.
“From now on, don’t give me reason for disappointment.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Fear toward me still lingered in his eyes.
It was good that I followed Seo Hyang’s advice.
I spoke to them.
“His training is still incomplete, so he showed such conduct. Is this sufficient?”
I nodded at my question.
“That’s more than enough to dispel any doubt.”
“Rise and return to your seat.”
“Yes!”
So-un Dae-hyup quickly stood and returned to his place.
“So how long will we need to wait?”
Yeon Yu-mun answered my question.
“It shouldn’t take long. He should return within a day or two.”
“Then, you can at least arrange a place for us to stay during that time, can’t you?”
“Of course. But… investing in us? What are you thinking?”
“All I think about is profit. We merchants don’t hesitate when profit is on the line, do we?”
.
.
.
A moment later.
We were guided to our quarters.
It was a separate building within the Fortress Lord’s residence.
I spread my senses widely to check if anyone was eavesdropping on our conversation.
Confirming no one was present, I bowed to So-un Warrior.
“You’ve endured much. That must have been quite humiliating.”
“For my lord’s sake, what does my pride matter?”
A most admirable attitude.
“Everyone just needs to maintain the facade until tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
This time it was Kwon Jik Grand Hero who answered.
Due to the importance of this matter, we had decided to maintain formal speech even when alone together.
We couldn’t afford any careless mistakes.
Anyway, when I asked Yeon Yu-mun earlier if the Fortress Lord was away, the emotion that flashed in his eyes was anger.
And the men standing behind him moved like puppets.
I asked Kwon Jik Grand Hero.
“Were those men standing behind Young Master Yeon… the Geumui Guard?”
They nodded at my question.
Just as I thought.
I understood the situation.
This incident was not orchestrated by Chungyeongseong’s side.
The Chungyeong Castle Lord’s faction was merely being coerced by them.
Yet they were laid waste by the Empire, and the lord met a gruesome death.
Damn it.
These worthless bastards!
They thoroughly exploited and discarded this place for their own gain—dogs that deserve to be torn apart!
At that time, the Emperor, blinded by the rage of losing his son, would have been incapable of sound judgment.
What father could maintain his sanity after his son’s death?
But at some point, he must have learned the truth.
I don’t know much about the series of events surrounding Prince Ju-hyeon’s death, but I remember the Emperor coming to Yunnan to perform a memorial rite.
The Eun Hae Trading Company staff stationed in Yunnan had sent correspondence about it.
At the time, I wondered why the Emperor would travel all the way to Yunnan to conduct the rite, but now it made sense.
It was his way of apologizing, but did it truly matter?
The dead don’t return to life because of it.
Moreover, the Eun Hae Trading Company suffered considerable losses from Seongbo Wang’s subjugation of Chungyeong Castle.
Not only did we lose the supply of pu-erh tea, but we were also conscripted for material requisitions.
So this time, I had to set things right to prevent such calamities from occurring again.
But there was something I couldn’t understand.
Why did I sense the aura of the Black Path emanating from them?

* * *

The Chungyeong Castle Lord’s Residence.
Yeon Yu-mun stood in the center of its most lavish chamber.
“Well done. If you continue as you are, you won’t meet the same fate as the Fortress Lord.”
At those words, Yeon Yu-mun lowered his head and bit his lip.
In that moment, he recalled what had happened a month ago.
Imperial envoys had visited, and he had been anxious, expecting them to plunder as much as they always did.
But this time, an Imperial Prince was among the delegation, and the Prince had discovered their atrocities.
Fearing what lay ahead, they threatened the Fortress Lord with weapons and spoke.

“From today onward, we have decided to establish a new nation with this place as our base.”

Naturally, the Fortress Lord protested that it was absurd, and as a result, he was imprisoned with his left arm severed.
And he became a puppet, forced to obey their commands.
“By the way, can we trust this Eun Seo-ho?”
“Why? Are you worried?”
They conversed openly before Yeon Yu-mun as if he didn’t matter at all.
“You heard it yourself when you entered the Imperial Palace—that he’s favored by the Emperor. And the ones who came with him are suspicious too.”
“True, it’s about time the main force of the Geumui Guard arrives.”
“It can’t be the Geumui Guard. Those proud bastards barking like dogs before a lowly merchant? Impossible.”
“Well, that would be ridiculous.”
“So no matter what they call Eun Seo-ho—even if it’s Seon Hyeop Mi-rang—he’s just a merchant obsessed with profit, that’s all.”
Those conversing turned their heads to gaze at a man seated at the head of the table.
“So, what do you think?”
The man at the head seat lifted his gaze.
“In my assessment, there’s no such possibility.”
“Then, we’re accepting the support?”
“Yes. With that money, it will be a tremendous help to our great cause.”
Only then did they address Yeon Yu-mun.
“You’re still here?”
….
“Leave.”
“Yes.”
Yeon Yu-mun left the room with a bitter expression.
Heading toward his quarters while concealing his anguish, he encountered a young nobleman.
A beautiful face standing beneath the moonlight.
It was Eun Seo-ho.
“Ah, we meet again. The moon is so beautiful I was admiring it.”
“Is that so?”
“If it’s not presumptuous, I’d like to see more of this residence.”
Yeon Yu-mun nodded at those words.
Honestly, he didn’t want to go inside feeling like this either. And since they’d decided to accept Eun Seo-ho’s support, there seemed to be no problem with it.
Thus they strolled through the residence, exchanging light conversation.
While walking beside the pond, Eun Seo-ho’s voice transmission reached him.
– So, where is the Fortress Lord being held captive right now?
At that voice transmission, Yeon Yu-mun was startled and whipped his head around.
“So you really are… Ugh!”
But he couldn’t finish his words. Eun Seo-ho kicked him into the pond.
Splash—!

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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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