The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 57

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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 57

Chapter 57. Catching the Rat (2)

In response to Hyang-ok’s words, my Uncle shook his head and spoke.
“I understand your feelings, but the time is not yet right.”
“The time is not yet right?”
“Well, I find what young Eun Seo-ho has in mind rather intriguing.”
At my Uncle’s words, Hyang-ok’s gaze turned toward me.
Ugh.
Hyang-ok is currently an outer disciple of the Ami Sect.
In truth, when the Trading Company’s young heirs enter a martial sect as outer disciples, it is to leverage that sect’s prestige and backing.
Hyang-ok became an outer disciple of the Ami Sect for this very purpose, but as I had thought before, she was far better suited to be a warrior than a merchant.
And I know what the future holds.
When a master of the Ami Sect saw Hyang-ok, they recognized that she possessed considerable talent in martial arts, so later, despite being an outer disciple, she would even learn the martial techniques taught to formal disciples.
In any case, the more Hyang-ok refined her martial prowess, the sharper her aura became with each passing day.
Of course, if we were to spar, I would emerge victorious.
But regardless of that, I simply found her intimidating.
“Something intriguing? What is it?”
It was then that my Uncle spoke.
“Hyang-ok, shouldn’t you greet Eun Seo-ho first before that?”
At my Uncle’s words, Hyang-ok said with an “Oh my!”
“I’m sorry, I forgot to greet you.”
I waved my hand.
“It’s fine. We’ve already seen each other’s faces, haven’t we?”
“Then will you tell me the method you’ve thought of?”

* * *

There was a man.
His name was Young-po.
A regular-rank employee and chief manager of the silk division at the Eunhae Merchant Guild Sichuan Branch.
A fairly high position within the branch.
Since he frequently visited places where silk was auctioned or sold, it was only natural that he formed connections with the Dan Clan Merchant Guild.
After all, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild was also extending its reach into the silk business.
Then one day, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild approached him, suggesting they share a drink at a fine establishment.
He had intended to refuse, as it would be troublesome if others saw him visiting a Gisaeng House with someone from a rival merchant guild.
But the Dan Clan Representative guided him instead to a “back entrance” accessible only to those receiving VIP treatment.
There, he was entertained by courtesans of breathtaking beauty and enjoyed a lavish drinking session.
Before his eyes lay delicacies he had never seen before, accompanied by rare and precious wines.
As the courtesan coquettishly poured his drink, her charm gradually clouded his judgment.
Yet he remained uneasy.
Such treatment never came without a price.
He asked the Dan Clan Representative who had brought him here.
“So, what is it you want from me? Surely you wouldn’t treat me this way without wanting something in return?”
“Ha ha ha, such words between us? How could you say such a thing?”
“Tell me plainly.”
When Young-po pressed further, the man smiled and spoke.
“Nothing major. I’m simply curious about some internal matters of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“What do you mean!”
The man continued to smile as Young-po bristled.
“Think about it. What good does such loyalty to the company do you? You’ve brought millions of silver to the guild, yet how much of that has come to your hands?”
….
He extended a pouch toward him.
“What is this?”
Young-po opened the pouch and was startled. It was filled with silver coins.
“I cannot accept this.”
“Did you enjoy the hospitality you received today?”
….
He could not answer.
It had been so wonderful he thought it must be paradise itself.
“Such pleasures—money can provide them.”
….
“And such hospitality—your superiors all enjoy it.”
….
“Come now, you feel guilty! There’s no need. You’re simply gaining profit in exchange for information you possess. How is that different from the Hao Organization?”
“Well, that may be true, but….”
“Of course it is.”
When Young-po returned home, he gazed at the silver coins in the pouch, recalling all that he had experienced that day.
I found myself wishing I could live that way too.
The next day, he returned to the Gisaeng House.
Naturally, the establishment lavished attention upon him with his considerable wealth, and intoxicated by the sensation of drifting through clouds, he lost all sense of reason.
Pleasure is truly a terrifying thing.
Before experiencing it, one might not understand, but once tasted, breaking free from it required a resolve most people simply did not possess.
Young-po ultimately joined hands with the Dan Clan Merchant Guild to satisfy his desires and feed his greed.
At first, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild’s requests were trivial matters.
Merely petty information—how many bolts of silk the Eunhae Trading Company required, where those silks were being transported, and such trifles.
Yet the intelligence they sought grew ever more substantial, and Young-po’s ambitions swelled in tandem.
Then one day, an order descended from the Eunhae Trading Company headquarters in Hubei.
It commanded him to monitor the Dan Clan Merchant Guild and report any suspicious activity immediately.
Naturally, he passed this intelligence along to the Dan Clan Merchant Guild as well.
Shortly thereafter, a Group Member reported to him.
“Chief Manager, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild’s movements appear suspicious.”
“Is that so? I’ll investigate further and report to my superiors, so focus your efforts elsewhere.”
“Understood.”
Using this as pretext, Young-po demanded generous gifts from the Dan Clan Merchant Guild.
The Dan Clan Merchant Guild, expressing their gratitude, presented him with gifts more generous than he had anticipated.
At this point, he believed his future held no complications whatsoever.
Not long after, the Eunhae Trading Company fell into crisis.
Unfavorable rumors about the Jamu Doll Company began circulating, causing sales to plummet.
The culprit behind these rumors—the Dan Clan Merchant Guild—was quickly identified.
Naturally, the Branch Manager of the Sichuan Branch, who had been monitoring the Dan Clan Merchant Guild, was deeply displeased.
Though chaos erupted, fortunately the connection between Young-po and the Dan Clan Merchant Guild remained undiscovered.
‘Could I be exposed like this?’
Anxiety began consuming him.
Yet he could not abandon the lavish life sustained by the Dan Clan Merchant Guild’s gifts.
In the midst of this, rumors of unknown origin began spreading.
Tales that the Jamu Dolls contained souls, and that these souls brought great wealth to their owners.
Thanks to these rumors, the Jamu Doll Company’s sales recovered, or so it was said.
Afterward, he received word from the Dan Clan Merchant Guild requesting a meeting.
.
.
.
A secluded forest estate.
It was a private residence Young-po had secretly prepared for himself.
Naturally, he had hired warriors to guard it.
Three warriors stood watch over the place.
“You’ve arrived?”
“Yes.”
He answered with an air of superiority to the Warrior who bowed before him.
“Nothing unusual happened?”
“Nothing of particular note, sir.”
“Well done.”
He entered the estate, and the Warrior’s eyes watching his retreating figure burned with hatred.
‘If only I hadn’t consumed that poison….’
Meanwhile, Young-po clicked his tongue as he stepped into the estate.
‘Truly, guarding wealth is arduous work. I’ve had to employ three Warriors for this.’
He was far more meticulous than one might expect.
The fact that he remained undiscovered thus far spoke volumes of his thoroughness.
His ascension to a regular position at the Eunhae Trading Company at such a young age was itself proof of his competence.
With countless treasures stored within the estate, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn’t attempt to steal them.
Thus, he had employed Warriors to guard them.
Yet there remained the possibility that these Warriors might turn on him, kill him, and seize the valuables for themselves.
So he had procured poison and administered it to the Warriors when they came to sign their contracts.
It was a vicious toxin—one that would cause excruciating agony and death within a month without the antidote.
In this way, he held their very lives in his grasp.
The interior of the estate was lavishly appointed.
Precious objects adorned every corner, and gazing upon them filled him with satisfaction.
There was a reason he had come here after so long.
“Is the Chief Manager present?”
This place served as the meeting ground with representatives of the Dan Clan Merchant Guild.
Shortly, an unremarkable-looking man entered.
“Haha! Im Chief Manager, you’ve arrived?”
“Your complexion remains radiant, I see?”
“You jest well. Work has kept me so occupied lately that I haven’t rested properly—my skin has grown rough.”
Yet Young-po harbored no thoughts of retirement.
He understood it well.
The moment he retired, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild would discard him.
As someone no longer affiliated with the Eunhae Trading Company, he would be of no further use.
“So why have you sought me out today?”
“I am displeased with you, Chief Manager.”
“Displeased? What do you mean? I believed I had acted with utmost sincerity toward you?”
“The rumor that the Jamu Doll Company generates profit—surely it was the Eunhae Trading Company that spread it… Have you forgotten your promise regarding this matter?”
“I am wronged.”
He truly was aggrieved.
“I know nothing of this matter. In fact, it appears our Sichuan Branch knows nothing of it either. The Branch Manager was taken aback—how could I have known?”
“Is this truly the case?”
“Of course. Had I known of this, I would have sent word immediately to meet. It is information worthy of a reward.”
“Well….”
Im Chief Manager, the trusted aide of the Dan Clan Merchant Guild Master, observed Young-po carefully.
This man had been fattening his purse with gifts from the Dan Clan Merchant Guild all this while.
There was no way such a man would merely sit on information like that.
He would inevitably seek to stuff more into his own coffers.
‘So he truly didn’t know.’
Watching the greed cloud Young-po’s eyes, the aide smiled inwardly.
The man had talent, despite his station.
If he were promoted from the ninth rank to the eighth, he could extract far more valuable intelligence.
‘Is this why the Guild Master invests such enormous capital? To devour the Eunhae Trading Company?’
Even if the Eunhae Trading Company ranked merely at the bottom of the Top Hundred Trading Companies of the World, it remained a tempting morsel.
And the merchant world had always been a place where the strong consumed the weak.
The Eunhae Trading Company’s failure to contain the rat that had infiltrated their own house was their own fault alone.
“Here, take this.”
He extended the bundle he had brought.
“It seems rather heavy today?”
“The Guild Master asked me to be more generous.”
“Don’t worry. I shall deliver as promised.”
With that, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild Master’s aide departed.
Young-po, now alone in his chamber, unwrapped the bundle.
“Ah!”
The brilliant luster of the gold ingots mesmerized him entirely.
In his rapture, he failed to notice something crucial.
Someone was watching him from above, concealed in the shadows of the ceiling.
.
.
.
Several days later.
He sought out a pawn shop to sell the gold ingots and raise funds.
It was his regular establishment.
Though they charged a steeper commission in exchange for absolute discretion, the security was worth the price.
And there, Young-po heard something he could scarcely believe.
“What? Are you mocking me?”
“Mock you? Why would I mock you?”
“Then what is this? Fake gold ingots? You’re treating me like a fool!”
“F-fake? What are you saying? Fake? These are genuine gold ingots, I assure you!”
In response to Young-po’s protest, the pawn shop clerk scraped the ingot with a needle and showed him.
“Look here. Scratch it even slightly and the gold plating on the surface flakes away, revealing the iron underneath, doesn’t it?”
“….”
A hollow sound echoed in his chest.
They were counterfeit.
On a desperate whim, he pointed to all the gold ingots he had brought and spoke.
“Those as well! Check those too!”
“Of course.”
The result was that all but one were counterfeit.
At first, I was dumbfounded, but soon a slow-burning rage began to rise within me.
‘So this is their way of casting me aside!’
There was no other explanation for inflicting such humiliation upon me.
Yet I had no one to complain to.
If I did, my role as the Dan Clan Merchant Guild’s rat would be exposed.
And I couldn’t confront the Dan Clan Merchant Guild either.
The single genuine gold ingot among the counterfeits conveyed a clear message: ‘Now you will receive only this and remain our faithful rat.’
Already, the Dan Clan Merchant Guild’s leash was around my neck.
If they threatened to expose my role as their rat?
I would have no choice but to submit.
A self-inflicted trap.
Though I had brought this upon myself, I could not simply accept this fate.
.
.
.
Several days later.
People from the headquarters arrived at the Eunhae Merchant Guild Sichuan Branch.
Among them was the Merchant Guild Leader’s third son, a remarkably handsome young man.
One day, Young-po happened to overhear a conversation between Eun Seo-ho and the Branch Manager.

“Initially, we had considered establishing a salted bamboo business here in Sichuan Province.”
Salt and bamboo from Sichuan Province were the materials used to produce salted bamboo, a medicinal substance.
“Unfortunately, we decided to abandon that plan. We received information from above that it was somewhat dangerous.”

The moment I heard that conversation, I knew this was it.
‘You thought you held my leash, but hehehehe. I’ll make you eat dirt!’
If I was to be discarded, then I would be the one doing the discarding.
I immediately sent word to the Dan Clan Merchant Guild to meet.

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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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