The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 586

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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 586

Chapter 586. Under-the-Table Dealings (7)

It was then that Hwangbo Ho-myeong spoke.
“I’d advise you not to think you can shake me with that meager tongue of yours.”
Yet Sister Hyang-ok paid no heed and charged forward without hesitation.
Crash!
Her strike shattered the opponent’s guard in an instant.
Was that the Tiger-Subduing Sword Technique?
The name lived up to its meaning—an overwhelming martial art that subdued even tigers.
Sister Hyang-ok’s master, Hae Cheong Shen Ni, specialized in this very technique.
Well, there was nothing for it but to fight.
Hwangbo Ho-myeong’s expression turned flustered, but he quickly assumed a proper stance and prepared himself for genuine combat.
The Hwangbo Clan primarily wielded fist techniques, rivaling even the Jin Zhu-eon Clan.
The Jin Zhu-eon Clan strengthened their bodies through body-hardening techniques to counter cold weapons, but the Hwangbo Clan had no such need.
It seemed their naturally robust frames and superior recovery made such techniques unnecessary.
The Hwangbo Clan had long been renowned for their bold and upright character…
Yet it seemed that tradition had faded considerably in recent times.
Their young master was engaging in illegal match-fixing, after all.
Hwangbo Ho-myeong’s fist drove forward with vicious intent.
But Sister Hyang-ok deftly sidestepped and swung her blade.
Her sword aimed precisely where Hwangbo Ho-myeong’s guard was positioned.
Hwangbo Ho-myeong countered as if he’d anticipated it, throwing his fist toward that very spot.
In that instant, Sister Hyang-ok’s sword technique shifted, and her blade struck true against his guard in a different location.
Crack!
He’d fallen for the feint completely.
Was Sister Hyang-ok’s martial prowess far stronger than anticipated?
Hwangbo Ho-myeong’s expression began to contort.
“Damn! You rat of a woman!”
Ah… that was a mistake to say.
The disciples of the Ami Sect typically wore gray robes, and their footwork was nimble with rapid changes.
Because of this, their hit-and-run techniques were numerous, leading some martial artists to call them this in contempt.
“What did you say?”
“You bastard!”
Naturally, the Ami Sect disciples watching from below the arena, as well as their Sect Leader, bristled with anger.
“Ahem. That does not represent the will of our Hwangbo Clan, so please do not misunderstand.”
The Hwangbo Clan Head quickly drew a line between himself and the insult.
The Friendly Martial Arts Tournament was an official gathering where numerous families and sects had assembled, so a single careless remark could potentially become a major problem.
That was when it happened.
“…!”
Hwangbo Ho-myeong’s body jolted visibly.
And his expression was as if he’d just swallowed sewage.
I immediately grasped what had occurred and smirked.
Sister Hyang-ok….
Did you just unleash a barbed remark through sound transmission?
What Hwangbo Ho-myeong hadn’t anticipated was that anyone skilled enough to appear at this tournament could typically employ sound transmission.
Sound transmission wasn’t something you could block out by covering your ears.
But what on earth had she said to produce such an expression on his face?
He immediately gritted his teeth and charged toward Sister Hyang-ok.
A reckless bull’s rush, heedless of consequence.
However.
Whoosh!
She didn’t meet his charge head-on; instead, she sidestepped effortlessly, and he tumbled right off the arena.
“….”
The match was decided in the blink of an eye.
Geum Yeon-hwa ascended the arena and proclaimed:
“This match is won by Hyang-ok!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
“The Frost Blade Female Swordmaster! The Frost Blade Female Swordmaster!”
As the crowd’s cheers echoed through the arena, Hwangbo Ho-myeong stood dazed for a moment before quickly rising and removing the beeswax he’d stuffed in his ears, then spoke:
“Such cowardice! To toy with me using a three-inch tongue!”
“Toy with you using my tongue? I never opened my mouth.”
“You just used sound transmission to mock me, didn’t you?”
“Do you have proof?”
“….”
Sister Hyang-ok was right.
Sound transmission could only be heard by the intended recipient; no one else could perceive it.
“And even if it were true that I used sound transmission to toy with you, you’d have no grounds to complain. Unlike you, I didn’t block my ears, so I heard you perfectly clearly. You called me a ‘rat-like wench.'”
“I, I never….”
At that moment, Geum Yeon-hwa spoke:
“We all heard it.”
Her gaze was ice-cold, and now that I thought about it, she too was from the Ami Sect.
“….”
And when you block your ears so you can’t hear, you unconsciously speak louder.
That’s why elderly people with poor hearing or the furnace workers tend to speak in loud voices.
So why would he make such a foolish mistake by blocking his ears?
On one side, people who appeared to be from the Hwangbo Clan were shaking their heads in dismay.
In any case, Sister Hyang-ok advanced safely to the next match.

When lunchtime arrived, I went to find Sister Hyang-ok with Mother.
“Sister, congratulations on advancing to the next match.”
“Thank you.”
Mother then spoke up.
“Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Aunt Baek.”
“To celebrate today’s victory, I was thinking of inviting the Ami Sect members this evening and treating everyone to dinner. Would that be alright?”
“That’s really not necessary.”
“Is it so difficult to buy your niece a meal to celebrate? Later, when your mother hears about it, she’ll complain that I didn’t do such things. Hehe.”
“Then… I understand. I’ll speak with Master about it.”
Sister Hyang-ok went to see Hae Cheong Shen Ni and said that everyone would gather at the Yeon Pung Inn this evening.
“But Sister.”
“What?”
“What exactly did you transmit to the Hwangbo Young Master?”
At my words, Sister laughed and spoke.
“Your curiosity is too strong—that’s your problem.”
“I’m aware of that, but curiosity is curiosity.”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t regret it.”
Sister transmitted to me through sound transmission what she had said to the Hwangbo Young Master earlier.
I immediately understood why Sister had issued that warning.
And why the Hwangbo Young Master had reacted that way.
The Female Swordmaster of Snow Sword…
I don’t know who came up with it, but whoever did really gave her an excellent title.
.
.
.
All of today’s matches had concluded.
After the fourth match ended, the two people from the first match completed their treatment and resumed their bout.
In the resumed match, the Punghap Sect disciple won by the narrowest of margins.
The Biggyeok Sect would be in mourning for quite some time.
My parents and Elder Brother Jin-ho had already returned to the inn.
Since we had invited Sister Hyang-ok and the Ami Sect members, they must have gone ahead to prepare.
I planned to look around the Temporary Shop and then head to the inn.
I’m competing in the martial arts tournament tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean I intend to do any additional training.
As for training, I’m already putting in genuine effort every morning.
And besides, I never intended to reveal my full strength and win the championship.
Of course, if I lose in the first martial arts tournament, the League Master will be displeased, so it would be better to win a couple of matches before being eliminated.
After examining the Temporary Shop and surveying the entire Commercial District, I encountered someone on my way to the Yeon Pung Inn.
“How have you been faring?”
He was none other than Ji Gyeong-hwa from the Jissi Family Estate.
“Yes, I’ve been managing well enough.”
“First, I must apologize for the current situation regarding our family’s contract not proceeding smoothly.”
Well, it’s certainly something that warrants an apology.
But displaying it so openly is something only amateurs would do.
A true merchant must be able to wear a mask when circumstances demand it.
Though I certainly curse inwardly about it.
“Well, what can be done? The situation has become what it is.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
I never said I understood, but… well, it’s all a matter of interpretation.
“But what brings you here?”
“Ah, my grandfather and father have asked me to bring the Great Hero to them.”
I’m displeased that they didn’t come themselves and instead sent for me, but since Ji Gyeong-hwa has made the trip, I’ll let it pass.
“Let us go then.”
I proceeded with him to the Jissi Family Estate, where I was able to meet the House Master and the Small Patriarch.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, a merchant of the Eunhae Trading Company. I pay my respects to the House Master and Small Patriarch.”
“Welcome.”
I took a seat before them.
“May I assume that summoning me in this manner means you are accepting the proposal I made previously?”
At my question, the House Master cleared his throat.
“Ahem, ahem. Indeed.”
“I am aware that you have been busy in various places trying to secure funds for repayment. However, it seems the matter has not been resolved smoothly.”
He avoided my gaze, his answer seeming strained.
Those he would have contacted for borrowing money would be people from the sects and families attending the Martial Arts Grand Conference.
But there was no way they would readily lend such a substantial sum as three million silver taels.
As I mentioned before, the sects and families of the Martial Arts World are not as wealthy as one might think.
Though… the Namgung Family might be different.
“Were you perhaps rejected by the Namgung Family as well? If anyone is the wealthiest at present, it would be them.”
“Ahem, ahem, we cannot bow our heads to the Namgung Family.”
In truth, I already knew that the Jissi Family Estate would not extend their hand to the Namgung Family.
Their pride would never allow them to humble themselves before the Namgung Family.
“In any case, the Main House intends to borrow money from you.”
“First, I must clarify this matter. Do you wish for me to repay your debts on your behalf? Or do you wish to borrow money from me?”
“We will borrow the money.”
So by taking the approach of borrowing money to repay the debts, they won’t end up being absorbed into the Eunhae Trading Company?
It matters not to me.
There is no loss in it for us.
But when you think about it, there’s hardly any difference, is there?
“Very well. I shall lend you the funds.”
“How much can you manage?”
“How much would you like me to lend you?”
The one who answered my question was the Small Patriarch.
“Four million silver taels. Would that be acceptable?”
As expected.
It was precisely the amount I had calculated by combining the silver I discovered in the cave on the outskirts of Luoyang where they had been hiding, along with the information I possessed about the Ji Clan.
“That would be acceptable.”
I nodded, but then felt something odd.
Wait.
Why are only the House Master, the Small Patriarch, and Ji Gyeong-hwa present?
In matters like this, the Internal Chief Manager who oversees finances should always be in attendance.
Shaanxi Province isn’t so far away that he couldn’t have come.
I asked carefully.
“May I ask why the Internal Chief Manager is not present?”
“We’re currently searching for a new Internal Chief Manager.”
“Has something happened to the previous Internal Chief Manager?”
“Ahem, it turned out he was in league with those who deceived us. So we’ve had him thrown in the Prison.”
“I see. But surely there must be someone who served as Internal Chief Manager before him….”
“We dismissed him.”
“Then why not call him back?”
“He can’t even lift his head out of shame.”
Is it a matter of conscience? Or is it pride?
In my view, it’s the latter.
At least he’s still alive, so that’s something to be grateful for.
“I offer you sincere counsel. Bring that Internal Chief Manager back. He has sustained the clan for many years. If you wish to restore the clan to normalcy now, you need him.”
“…I understand. But if you lend me the money, wouldn’t that make it unnecessary to call him back?”
Tsk, tsk. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
“No matter how much I lend you, the clan’s future depends on how that money is used. If things go wrong, the collateral you’ve pledged could be forfeited.”
“…I understand.”
I moved on to the next matter.
“Now, let us discuss the collateral.”
“Collateral? Is that really necessary? You don’t trust the Ji Clan?”
“Did you anticipate that you would need to borrow money from me?”
“….”
“Isn’t that what collateral is for? To protect against unforeseen risks. And I must confess, I’m rather cautious by nature. Four million silver taels is a considerable sum even for me. But if you repay the debt safely, there’s no problem at all, is there?”
“W-well, that’s true.”
“All of the clan’s assets must currently have collateral claims against them. Am I correct?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“Then we’ll simply change the rights holder of the collateral.”
In other words, if the debt goes unpaid, every asset of the Ji Clan Estate becomes mine.
“The interest will be set at fifteen percent per annum.”
“That… that much?”
“Is that expensive? Visit the Marketplace Street. You’ll find thirty and forty percent rates everywhere.”
“….”
“There’s nothing to worry about. As I mentioned, if you repay that sum in full, there will be no problem.”
Four million silver taels—that’s a truly staggering sum.
Even with relentless frugality, repaying such an enormous debt quickly would be nearly impossible.
Which means they’ll have no choice but to watch my every move for a considerable time.
Even if they don’t want to be on a leash, they’ll inevitably end up on one.
That’s precisely why I say there’s barely any difference in the end.
If they sold this Luoyang residence and lands, they could reduce the debt somewhat, but given their pride, that’s clearly impossible.
“Shall we draw up a contract then?”
I drafted the contract together with the House Master, and after both of us affixed our seals, the agreement was finalized.
“Would you perhaps be interested in reducing the debt?”
“Hmm?”
“I could reduce it by around ten thousand silver taels.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly as stated. It seems the Ji Clan Estate will need time to rally everyone’s spirits so you can overcome this crisis together.”
“Hmm, that’s not wrong, but what’s your motive in proposing this?”
“Motive? Do you see this clause?”
It was the clause stating: [The Ji Clan Estate shall make active efforts to reduce the debt, and Eun Seo-ho shall actively support these efforts.]
“I’m making this proposal based on that clause.”
“Ah, I see.”
“It’s not a bad proposal.”
At the Small Patriarch’s words, the House Master nodded.
“Good. Let’s proceed with it.”
“Thank you.”
With this, I now had the grounds to invite Sister Hyang-ok.

With that, I left the Ji Clan Estate.
Ji Gyeong-hwa, who had come to see me off, spoke.
“Thank you for your patience with us.”
At least this man still possessed clarity of mind. I was grateful the clan’s future wasn’t entirely bleak.
“And thank you for saving our family.”
“It depends on what you do from here on. Your family hasn’t truly recovered yet.”
“I understand that. But we’ve at least extinguished the immediate crisis.”
Ji Gyeong-hwa seemed equally displeased with the House Master and Small Patriarch’s conduct.
“Will you compete in the martial arts tournament tomorrow?”
“I will.”
“Then… I urge you to be cautious. There are troubling rumors about whoever will face the Great Hero.”

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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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