The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 507

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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 507

Chapter 507. The Successor (1)

The Guest Reception Room of the Beijing Branch.
Song Rok sat across from me.
He had mentioned discovering something at the competition venue earlier, so I arranged this meeting.
“You must be famished after judging all day. I apologize for the inconvenience.”
“Not at all. This is far more pressing, isn’t it? Besides, we couldn’t discuss such matters in the dining hall.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Song Rok withdrew a sheet of paper from his robes and handed it to me.
“Among the poems submitted by today’s participants, I discovered one bearing similar markers to that poem written on the wall. This is the poem in question.”
I examined the poem, but I could discern no obvious similarities.
“I’m afraid I don’t see it.”
He offered an explanation in response to my honest admission.
“The poem on that wall was deliberately written in an unfamiliar style to conceal the author’s identity. Whoever planned this clearly possesses considerable intellect.”
He continued.
“However, I believe a poem is a reflection of the person who wrote it. The evidence lies in their habits.”
“Habits?”
“Yes. No matter how one tries to write unfamiliarly, habits inevitably emerge. Especially during a poetry competition like this, where verses are composed on the spot, such habits become even more pronounced.”
“I see. Would you mind explaining in greater detail?”
“Of course.”
He placed both poems before me and pointed out each element methodically with his finger.
As I listened to his explanation, the commonalities between the two poems became apparent.
“Remarkable! What is the name of the person who composed this poem?”
“He is called Jo Saeng, from Anhui Province.”
“Anhui Province, you say…”
“However, since the preliminaries are not yet complete, we should investigate further. There may be others who have written similar poems.”
Today was the third day.
The preliminaries would continue for two more days.
“Understood. Please continue your diligent work until then. Now, let us go dine.”
I accompanied him to a nearby tavern.
The streets of Beijing teemed with people, and even the taverns and pleasure houses were packed beyond capacity.
The Emperor would be pleased to see this.
This was precisely why the poetry competition had been organized.
With patrons came commerce, and with commerce came taxes.
There is a saying.
Fear establishes power, but sustenance maintains it.
I too agree with that sentiment.
No matter how formidable one’s power, it will eventually be trampled beneath the feet of the hungry.
And the Emperor understands this far too well.
.
.
.
On the way back after finishing the meal.
I sent Song Rok ahead to the Beijing Branch, then headed toward Otongga myself.
I needed to retrace this case from the beginning.
Someone using the Namgung Family’s martial techniques to commit contract murders….
Nothing comes to mind. There was no such incident in my previous life either.
Even if there had been, the Namgung Family might have dealt with it before word reached my ears.
So then, how should I apprehend this person?
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster demanded that the Namgung Family take responsibility and capture the culprit.
But I had no intention of relying solely on them.
If they couldn’t catch him, they would frame some innocent person as the perpetrator and execute them.
They were certainly capable of such things.
People who cared nothing for others’ suffering if it served their honor and interests.
To prevent such innocent sacrifices, I had to catch the true culprit.
Soon I arrived at the place where Na Jung-su Poet had died.
Cordons still surrounded the area, and Imperial Guards stood watch over it.
The case remained unsolved.
One of the Imperial Guards recognized me and bowed respectfully.
“You must be working hard.”
“You’re too kind. We’re simply doing what must be done.”
Their discipline was impeccable.
They were truly worthy of being the Empire’s elite Imperial Guards.
I began examining the surroundings carefully once more.
Much of the blood traces had been washed away.
Now that I thought about it, there had been rain a few days ago.
Hmm?
I suddenly sensed something strange.
When I came here last time, the blood scent was so overwhelming I didn’t notice….
But now I felt an aura I hadn’t detected before.
Ah! That aura is coming from over there.
I crossed the cordons and focused my eyes, carefully examining the sword marks etched into the wall.
This is definitely… the aura of the Black Path.
Something doesn’t add up.
The traces clearly show the Namgung Family’s martial techniques were used, so why is the Black Path’s aura clinging to this place?
Regardless, this is also evidence.
I suspect that before now, the thick scent of blood mixed with the constant flow of visitors had masked it.
But with only a handful of Imperial Guards stationed here now, even the faintest traces of energy became perceptible.
The marks left on the wall were sword slashes created when Na Jung-su Poet’s body was pinned against it and torn apart by a blade.
The wielder had unconsciously, unknowingly, infused their energy so powerfully into each strike.
Coming here today was the right decision.

The next day.
Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster, who visited the Beijing Branch, handed me a bound manuscript.
“What is this manuscript?”
“Didn’t you ask me before? For a list of those whom Na Jung-su Poet had insulted through his critical verses.”
“Ah yes, that’s right.”
“Here is their list.”
“Is this the list?”
“As you can see, there were so many that it took time to compile them into a manuscript.”
“Thank you.”
I accepted the list and unfolded it.
Since Na Jung-su Poet was from Anhui Province, most of the poets listed were also from Anhui.
Then Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster spoke.
“Ah, Namgung Yang is on this list too.”
Does this man truly have no fear?
Living in Anhui Province while criticizing the poetry of the Namgung Family Head’s son.
“However, in Namgung Yang’s case, his family apparently issued him a warning.”
“So that’s how it was. But did the victim accept that warning?”
“He had momentum, but falling out of favor with the Namgung Family in Anhui makes survival difficult.”
“That’s certainly true.”
Namgung Yang was an illegitimate son, the child of the Family Head’s seventeenth concubine, so he was likely dismissed as insignificant—but there was something he didn’t know.
That Namgung Yang was a favored son of the Family Head.
I found the name of the person Song Rok had mentioned in the list.
Jo Saeng from Anhui Province.
There he was.
Below his name was recorded which poem had caused him shame and how.
I committed his name to memory first, then bowed to Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster.
“Thank you for the information.”
“Don’t mention it. I’m just glad I could be of help. After all, if you work hard, I benefit from it too, don’t I?”
True enough, but it’s a burden nonetheless.
That statement meant that if I stumbled, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster would suffer the consequences as well.
“Haha. I’ll work diligently.”

After briefly explaining the situation, Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster took his leave.
I entered my office and began reading through the document carefully.
The more I read, the more sighs and bitter laughs escaped me.
Wow… Na Jung-su, this man was truly garbage.
I know such people well.
When you live as a merchant, you inevitably encounter such types.
They are individuals who pursue only their own reputation and self-satisfaction.
Yet they remain utterly indifferent to the tears of blood their surroundings shed.
Those around them are merely tools for their own fame and gratification.
So should I say he died well, having only brought harm to those around him?
But I’m not sure if that applies to his family. After all, even such a person might be a precious son, husband, or father to his loved ones.
Though such cases are rare.
“Deputy Officer Gwak.”
“Yes?”
“Please bear with it a little longer, even if it’s frustrating.”
“Pardon?”
She tilted her head in confusion for a moment, then understanding my meaning, she smiled and replied.
“I’m fine. So please don’t concern yourself with it.”
“I apologize nonetheless.”
The Guizhou Provincial Governor and his entourage had not yet returned to Guizhou.
The reason being that while they were in Beijing, they decided to handle accumulated matters and also witness the Poetry Competition.
It meant they would stay for about another two weeks.
But I knew the real reason.
It was to meet Seo Hyang one more time before returning.
However, he had been unable to find an opportunity because of Dong Hyuk-su Grand Master, who clung to his side persistently.
If all else failed, I would have to create an opportunity somehow.
Just then, Palgap entered my office.
“Young Master.”
“What is it?”
“Namgung Geon-ji Elder has sent someone. He asks if you would be available tomorrow evening for a meal.”
“A meal together?”
“Yes. He wishes to express his gratitude for taking good care of Namgung Yang.”
That was merely the stated reason, of course.
I could see through Namgung Geon-ji Elder’s thoughts and intentions clearly.
He was bothered by having disrespected me.
The previous Namgung Family Head, who is the Murim Alliance Leader, had bestowed upon me the title of Seonhyeop Mirang, and he feared that disrespecting me might appear as disrespecting the Alliance Leader himself.
So he was trying to appease me in advance to smooth things over.
The Namgung Family members act arrogantly without fear of anything in the world, yet they are extremely mindful of the Alliance Leader’s gaze.
“What will you do?”
“Tell him I’ll meet with him.”
“Understood.”
Palgap left the office. At that moment, Seo Hyang asked carefully.
“Will you be alright?”
“What could possibly go wrong? I’ll just go listen to what they have to say, get a meal out of it, and come back. That’s all there is to it, isn’t there?”
From the beginning, I had never intended to mention this to the League Master.
Besides, I would have no reason to meet with him anyway.
Back then, I had done it simply because things would proceed more smoothly if I could suppress Namgung Geon-ji Elder’s arrogance.
“That is…”
Seo Hyang hesitated before speaking to me.
“It seems the Small Guild Master finds the Namgung Family quite… troublesome.”
“…Did it appear that way?”
“Yes. It felt as though you were looking at an enemy from a past life.”
“…!”
I flinched at Seo Hyang’s words.
Her observation was far too accurate.
How could she possibly know that? Does Bing Jing An have the ability to read past lives?
I suppressed my confusion and asked her in return.
“Why do you think that?”
“Well… whenever you look at documents related to the Namgung Family or hear stories about them, your grip on the armrest of your chair always tightens.”
“…”
Thank goodness. Bing Jing An doesn’t see past lives after all.
“I don’t know what circumstances lie behind this, but please don’t be too hasty.”
Why did my heart ease at her words without my realizing it?
“I understand.”

The next day.
It was the fourth day of the Poetry Competition.
Tomorrow would mark the end of the first round of the Poetry Competition.
Today was the day Namgung Yang participated.
So it would be best to show my face at the Competition Venue for the sake of tonight’s meeting.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“I’m going to the Competition Venue today.”

Shortly after, I arrived at the Competition Venue. And I observed the preliminaries of the Poetry Competition.
It was just past noon when it happened.
Hm?
The poem I was hearing just now….
Thanks to Song Rok’s explanation, I could tell.
It was a poem with similar stylistic habits to the one written on the wall.
Besides Jo Saeng, there was another person capable of composing poems with markings similar to that one?
I looked at Song Rok.
He too seemed to have noticed it, his expression growing grave.
So there are two suspects?
No. Three.
After lunch.
Another person’s poem composed in the resumed preliminaries.
That too was a poem with similar stylistic habits to the one written on the wall.
.
.
.
Today’s competition had ended.
I approached Namgung Yang, who was walking along dejectedly.
“You must be exhausted.”
“Ah! Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster!”
Just as Chun-il had said, Namgung Yang’s poem was dreadful. So naturally, he was eliminated in the preliminaries.
“Indeed, compared to the others, my poem….”
“Does skill truly matter? Isn’t what matters how sincere the poem is?”
I comforted Namgung Yang and sent him a telepathic message.
– You’re quite the actor, aren’t you?
– Do I really look that disappointed?
– Yes.
– I never knew I had a talent for acting.
That’s right. Namgung Yang was acting right now.
Since other members of the Namgung Family were present, showing disappointment would explain why he had come to Beijing for the Poetry Competition.
That way, they wouldn’t suspect anything.
“I heard that Uncle invited you to dinner this evening. Will you join us?”
“I’m afraid not.”
I declined gently.
“As one of the organizers of this competition, I have some matters to attend to.”
“Then I’ll see you later.”
“Yes.”
After watching his departing figure, I turned and approached In Gye-sung, the Young Master of the Sebin Merchant Guild.
It was to organize what had happened today.
Then I returned to the Beijing Branch and met with Song Rok to discuss the poetry I had heard earlier.
“I was truly astonished. To think there exists another poet with such similar habits. And not just one, but two more at that.”
“So now we have three suspects for the culprit?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Just to be safe, I would appreciate your thorough investigation until tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
I exhaled a long sigh.
Truly, this was a matter that defied understanding.
It was nearly time to head to the appointed meeting place, so I would set this matter aside for now.
.
.
.
A short while later.
I arrived before a Gisaeng House.
Well, of course.
I had never expected to meet at a tavern from the start. For someone who favors women, a Gisaeng House was only natural.
But wasn’t I concerned about information leaking through the courtesans?
“This way, please.”
Following the Shop Attendant’s guidance, I climbed to the highest floor when I suddenly stopped in my tracks.
Hmm?
This aura I sense now….

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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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