The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 528

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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 528

Chapter 528. The Second Voyage (3)

My instincts screamed at the sight of Geon Haengsu meeting with the Baekcheon Trading Company Manager.
This was something I couldn’t overlook.
I quietly descended to the ground level.
Seeing my expression, Palgap asked.
“What is the matter? Is Geon Haengsu meeting with someone he shouldn’t be?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Are you certain?”
“He’s meeting with the Baekcheon Trading Company Manager.”
Chang-un Warrior reacted to this.
“What?! How… that can’t be! Geon Haengsu! I never would have thought…”
I shook my head at Chang-un Warrior’s lament.
“No, that’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Sir?”
“Geon Haengsu may seem a bit simple on the surface, but he’s actually quite intelligent.”
When meetings needed to be discreet, the usual practice was to choose seats in the tea house that were as hidden as possible from outside view, or to use a closed room.
Getting caught would be disastrous.
Yet the spot where Geon Haengsu sat appeared hidden at first glance, but was actually quite visible from outside.
He had deliberately chosen such a place.
He knew I would pass through this route to the tavern where the banquet was being held today, and he knew approximately when I would pass through here, so he deliberately sat there to catch my attention.
In other words, he was sending me a signal right now.
A plea for help.
I couldn’t ignore such a signal.
I gave instructions to my Guard Warrior and spoke to Palgap.
“Go inside and ask the Shop Attendant for a seat in that area.”
“Understood.”
I entered the tea house shortly after, moving without a sound, and climbed to this floor.
I took the seat behind Geon Haengsu that Palgap had secured in advance.
The conversation between the two men reached my ears.
“This is a very good opportunity for Geon Haengsu.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“Ha! Geon Haengsu, the Eun Hae Trading Company is doing well these days, so your judgment seems clouded. You mustn’t underestimate the strength of the Baekcheon Trading Company.”
“When have I ever underestimated your company’s strength?”
“Isn’t refusing my proposal the same as disrespecting the Baekcheon Trading Company?”
“I cannot betray my company. And be honest—you’re proposing I switch positions because you want the information about the Eun Hae Trading Company that I possess, aren’t you?”
“Of course… I cannot say it is untrue, but rather, I hold your abilities in even higher regard.”
I forced down the rising fury as I listened to their conversation.
Baekcheon Trading Company…
These damnable bastards!
I thought they’d been quiet lately, but they were scheming like this behind the scenes?
I already knew what kind of people they were, but…
I consider competition between merchant guilds natural, and I understand interference and obstruction from rival guilds.
But I cannot tolerate poaching talent in this manner.
Recruiting exceptional talent is difficult enough, but nurturing them is far more arduous.
It is not merely about money, but the time and devotion invested…
After cultivating someone to such usefulness, if they are whisked away, it creates a void in their responsibilities, and for security reasons, all related operations must be completely restructured.
The additional money, time, and effort required for that…
Sigh. Thinking about it only infuriates me further.
So whenever someone attempted to poach our talent through irregular means, I made certain they paid a steep price.
Even when those who had betrayed the Eunhae Trading Company came crawling back, begging forgiveness despite my ruthlessness, I refused to accept them again.
Those who have betrayed once are likely to betray again.
And would the other members of the Eunhae Trading Company who suffered because of them view them favorably?
Rather than allow such a person to poison the atmosphere, it is better for everyone to endure a bit more hardship and cultivate new talent.
After doing this several times, those who would betray the Eunhae Trading Company disappeared entirely.
I continued listening intently to their conversation.
“I intend to bury my bones in the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“My! How old-fashioned your thinking is. The more talented one is, the more they should move to a place that values their worth highly.”
“What good is that? I would merely become a rootless drifter. Besides, it seems Baekcheon Trading Company is quite desperate.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“That you would cling to someone from a rival guild and propose their transfer like this.”
“…You will come to regret refusing today’s offer. Mind yourself on the night roads.”
Now it was my turn to act.
I rose from my seat and approached the table where they sat, speaking as I did.
“Why should one mind the night roads?”
“Eek!”
The Baekcheon Trading Company Manager jumped in fright upon seeing me.
“Why are you so startled?”
“…”
“By the way, you seem quite interested in Geon Haengsu. Surely he said he disliked you… That is obsession and unrequited affection.”
“Pfft!”
Geon Haengsu burst into laughter at my words.
I turned to the Baekcheon Trading Company Manager and asked.
“Is this the will of your Merchant Guild Leader?”
“…”
As expected, he could not answer.
When I previously gathered those with ships from the Imperial Palace to begin trading, Baekcheon Trading Company used Mo Cheong Manager to attempt a scheme that would never have succeeded.
At that time, I passed the evidence to Changhae Trading Company, which then reported it to Ak Young-gyeong, the Military Commander of Nanking.
As a result, Baekcheon Trading Company was humiliated once more, and I heard that Namgung Kang was in self-reflection.
According to what Eun Jung-ho told me after returning from the last Hundred Great Merchant Guild Meeting, Namgung Kang did not attend this gathering.
Instead, the one who attended was Namgung Seok, Namgung Kang’s younger brother.
Well, the position of Baekcheon Trading Company’s leader is not something one can easily relinquish, so Namgung Kang adopted the appearance of stepping back while placing his younger brother Namgung Seok in the leader’s seat instead.
Quite clever, I must admit.
But that does not mean I will abandon my vengeance against Baekcheon Trading Company.
Namgung Kang is a man as cunning and tenacious as a serpent.
Eventually, he will return to the position of leader.
And Namgung Seok, the new leader, is also one of my targets for vengeance.
On that day, with the last of my hearing as I lay dying, I heard it clearly.

“Is this a message for Seok?”
“Yes. Namgung Seok, the new leader, is currently at Eunhae Trading Company.”

There is no need to dwell on why Namgung Seok was there, nor do I wish to.
I do not wish to think about it.
In any case, Namgung Seok, the new leader, has only just ascended to his position.
Even if he had been working beforehand, he could not yet have fully grasped the guild’s operations, so for him to already be attempting such schemes makes no sense.
In other words, the manager before me is acting independently.
The reason is obvious.
When a new leader takes office, establishing a notable achievement early on earns far better evaluation than usual.
But to undertake such actions unilaterally… if I were him, I would dismiss him immediately.
“I will lodge a formal protest with Baekcheon Trading Company regarding this matter.”
“That is… well…”
At that moment, the manager hurled the teapot at me and quickly threw himself out the door.
Crash!
The thin window shattered, and he landed on the ground below.
Thud!
“I have been waiting for you.”
Clang!
Clang-clang!
“Wh-what is this…! Ugh!”
He was subdued by the Guard Warriors I had stationed to watch the surroundings.
I had known he possessed martial skill, and I would never conduct my affairs so carelessly.
“Did you think I came alone?”
“Ah, are you looking for your guards? They are already in the same predicament as you, so do not worry.”
“…!”
I issued orders to my Guard Warriors.
“Take him to the County Office.”
“Yes, sir!”
I had no intention of letting a Baekcheon Trading Company representative set foot inside the Eunhae Trading Company.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Tell Luzu at the Tea House to send me the bill for the window.”
“Understood, sir.”
Palgap deftly caught the teapot mid-air and set it down gently as he answered.
“But must we bear that expense? Wasn’t it the Merchant who broke it?”
Geon Haengsu’s words prompted Palgap to respond.
“There’s no need to worry about that, sir. Who is our Young Master? He’s a man who never suffers a loss, not even a single copper coin. So you can rest easy.”
It sounded like praise, yet somehow it felt like an insult.
Well, never mind that.
I turned to Geon Haengsu with a question.
“When did the Merchant first approach you?”
“He suddenly came up to me on the way to the Banquet Hall and asked to talk.”
He let out a sigh.
“I refused him several times, but he was so persistent that I had no choice. Fortunately, I was able to choose the location.”
“So you deliberately sat here?”
“You saw right through me!”
Geon Haengsu laughed as he spoke.
“I may not have much life experience, but men like that tend to be troublesome afterward. I couldn’t be sure what he might do if I refused him outright.”
“You handled it well. Very well indeed.”
“If you are the Third Sub-unit Leader, you would surely find me. Haha.”
He laughed awkwardly and scratched his cheek.
My instincts had not deceived me.
Geon Haengsu was a talented man.
“Ugh…”
He suddenly shivered, as if seized by a chill.
“Are you unwell?”
“No, I’m fine. It’s just a passing chill, nothing more.”
He had keen instincts.
I smiled gently and spoke to him.
“Then let us proceed to the banquet.”
“Yes, sir.”
.
.
.
Moments later, all those I had invited gathered in the Banquet Hall.
The table was laden with abundant dishes, and I rose from my seat to greet them.
“Please enjoy the meal, and I look forward to a successful trade this time as well.”
“I will do my best.”
They began eating with evident pleasure.
As the atmosphere grew richer, I excused myself from the table for a moment.
This banquet is for them, after all.
By stepping away appropriately, they’ll enjoy themselves all the more.
The true purpose of tonight’s banquet comes later, so I should let them revel in celebration until then.
But a voice called out to stop me.
“Small Guild Master.”
It was In Haengsu, one of the managers from the merchant vessel division.
“You called for me?”
“Yes.”
He approached me.
“Since the Small Guild Master dislikes roundabout questions, I will ask directly.”
“Please speak.”
He asked me with a determined expression.
“What is the true purpose of this banquet?”
“True purpose? I’m not sure what you mean.”
“The merchant vessel division of Eunhae Trading Company is truly a desirable asset. And soon, when the First Sub-unit Leader becomes the Merchant Guild Leader of Eunhae Trading Company, the Third Son, who was once a Sub-unit Leader, will no longer hold that position.”
“That would be correct.”
This is already an expected sequence of events.
“So I’m asking—are you planning to invest effort in the merchant vessel division beforehand and then separate this division to establish independence?”
“…Pardon?”
I couldn’t help but question him in disbelief.
Are there still people who think this way?
“I cannot abide such a thing. If that were your intention, I would stake my life and oppose you to the very end.”
“Wait, wait a moment, please.”
I raised my hand to stop him.
“So you’re saying I’m trying to seize the merchant vessel division?”
“Yes.”
I chuckled and asked.
“Why would I do that?”
“Didn’t you just say? Once I lose the position of Sub-unit Leader…”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Pardon?”
“Whether I’m a Sub-unit Leader or anything else, it doesn’t matter. And if I separated the merchant vessel division, Eunhae Trading Company would never become the Greatest Under Heaven Trading Company—that’s obvious. So why would I do such a thing?”
“You say that, but you’ll strike at the First Sub-unit Leader’s blind spot when he lets his guard down.”
Sigh, such a stubborn man.
As I was about to sigh and respond, someone approached.
“You’re greatly underestimating the Small Guild Master’s abilities.”
Gold Manager approached with a faint smile on his face.
He had originally been in charge of the silk division before volunteering to transfer to the merchant fleet division this time.
And he was also a steadfast supporter of Eun Jung-ho.
When Eun Jung-ho had worked hard preparing the Imperial Palace silk delivery and I ended up taking his place, he had shown me his displeasure.
After that, he came to understand my true intentions.
“What do you mean by that?”
In Haengsu furrowed his brow and asked.
“I’m not sure what you’ll think of me saying this, but the most capable person in the Eunhae Trading Company right now is the Third Sub-unit Leader.”
Gold Manager continued speaking calmly.
“It seems you don’t know much since you joined late, but most of the merchant fleet division is the Third Sub-unit Leader’s work. Without the Third Sub-unit Leader, the Eunhae Trading Company’s merchant fleet division wouldn’t have even gotten started.”
Step, step.
He descended the stone stairs and continued speaking.
“It was originally created by the Third Sub-unit Leader, so what’s the harm in taking a portion of it?”
“Gold Manager!”
In Haengsu shouted, but Gold Manager spoke with composure.
“However, the Third Sub-unit Leader won’t do such a thing. Because the Third Sub-unit Leader’s goal is for the Eunhae Trading Company to become the Greatest Under Heaven Trading Company.”
And he smiled at me with a knowing grin.
“Isn’t that right, Small Guild Master?”
“That’s correct.”
I continued.
“So I’d appreciate it if you refrained from such speculation. And the reason I’ve held this banquet isn’t to gain favor with the senior members in charge of the merchant fleet division, but to offer a warning and counsel.”
“Pardon? A warning and counsel, you say?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
Just then, I saw a group climbing up from below, and I spoke while looking at them.
“They’ve arrived.”
Among them were five people whose appearance was anything but ordinary.
There was a man with his ears cut off, a man with his arm severed, and a man bearing hideous burn scars across his body.
Seeing them, In Haengsu flinched and asked.
“Who… are they?”
I answered with a sinister smile.
“Former pirates.”
“What?”
“I’ve specially prepared them for all of you today.”
Hope allows people to continue forward until the very end.
But what makes them advance ‘safely’ is fear.
In that sense, fear is not meaningless.
Because fear exists, courage becomes meaningful, and hope shines all the brighter.
For that reason, I intend to instill fear in them.

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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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