The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 600

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

The Youngest Son of the Eun Hae Trading Company Chapter 600

Chapter 600. Haenam Island (2)

The Mu Clan Trading Company was a place that vanished without a trace one day in my previous life.
Countless people suffered losses because of it.
Those who received goods from the Mu Clan Trading Company were bewildered, but the real problem lay elsewhere.
They failed to receive payment from those who should have paid after delivering goods.
The damage was so severe that some businesses went bankrupt, and others even took their own lives.
When closing a merchant company, it was customary to announce it at least a month in advance and settle affairs properly, but they disappeared in a single night.
The Imperial Palace launched a rigorous investigation into the matter, but strangely, that investigation ended inconclusively.
Fortunately, our Eun Hae Trading Company had no connection to them, so we suffered no losses.
Now that I think about it, that was around the time the famine ended.
So that would be roughly a year from now.
Since it wasn’t entangled with our company, I hadn’t given it any thought whatsoever.
But the fact that I’ve come to know about this matter now makes me think that even Heaven was angered by what happened back then.
So it’s telling me to resolve it.
Looking at the information that’s come out so far, I can make a reasonable guess.
The Mu Clan Trading Company must have been the place where corrupt officials from Guangdong Province and Haenam Island converted the grain they embezzled into money.
When the famine ended and taxes were collected, they must have pocketed far more than they should have.
The Emperor was furious at their overstepping, and must have dispatched a large force of Imperial Guards and Geumui Guards.
Those with connections to the Imperial Palace received word and quickly dismantled the Mu Clan Trading Company.
Since the local officials cleaned everything up beforehand, there was nothing the Imperial Guards and Geumui Guards could do when they arrived.
There was no evidence.
The fact that they haven’t been caught until now means their ledgers are spotless.
The ones who suffered were the innocent parties.
Truly despicable bastards.
But now that I’ve come to know about this matter, I can’t let it slide so easily.
I won’t leave it alone.
I steeled my resolve and bowed to the Shop Attendant.
“I see. Thank you for telling me.”
“Please, don’t mention it. Haha. I’m delighted to have been of help to the Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster.”
“….”
I’ll have to give up on hiding my identity.
I smiled bitterly and fell into thought once more.
Since I’ve learned of the Mu Clan Trading Company’s existence here, I need to make my move there first.
Unlike Haenam Island, Guangdong here is on the mainland.
If they sense anything amiss or receive word from Haenam Island, there’s a possibility they could flee immediately.
When hunting prey, one must block the escape routes while driving them forward.
Otherwise, the prey will simply flee.
Moreover, I had received a direct order from the Emperor to strip away all the ill-gotten wealth these merchants had accumulated.
Therefore, I could not allow them to escape.
After finishing our meal, we left the Inn and headed toward the Mu Clan Trading Company.
Near the Mu Clan Trading Company, Jin Yu Warrior quietly joined us.
– Is this the place?
– Yes. I confirmed that the person who was following us entered here. But how did you know to come to this location?
– It appears the Mu Clan Trading Company is where the grain bearing Lee Pil Warrior’s tracking scent was sold.
– I see.
Exchanging silent signals, I surveyed the Mu Clan Trading Company.
From that place, I sensed the aura of the Black Path mixed with the stench of blood.
In other words, this matter involved more than just corrupt officials tangled together.
Was that why the Murim Alliance used the excuse of non-interference in government affairs and refused to get involved?
Based on all the circumstances so far, it was certain that the Murim Alliance had connections with both the Black Path and the Blood Sect.
There was one more thing I was certain of.
If I eliminated the Mu Clan Trading Company, someone would be quite displeased.
Isn’t this what they call killing two birds with one stone?
Excellent.
I headed toward the entrance of the trading company.
It wasn’t yet so late in the evening that a visit would be considered rude.
The Gate Keeper who spotted us asked a question.
“What brings you here?”
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company. Though I have no prior appointment, I came seeking to meet with someone who conducts grain transactions here.”
“Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master, you say….”
“Could you be the Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster?”
“Yes, that is correct. Though it is undeserved, that is indeed how I am known.”
At my words, they quickly bowed their heads to me.
“We greet the Great Swordmaster.”
“Please, come this way.”
They courteously guided me inside.
This title certainly proves useful at times like these.
Though I was already famous, my reputation had grown even greater due to my performance at the Martial Arts Grand Conference Friendly Tournament and my actions saving people in Luoyang.
I had thought there would be no risk of being turned away at the door, but they welcomed me even more warmly than expected.
While waiting in the Guest Reception Room drinking tea, someone soon entered.
“It is an honor to meet you. I am Wang Seok, Chief Manager of the Mu Clan Trading Company.”
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
We exchanged respectful greetings and took our seats.
“What brings the Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster to visit at this hour?”
“Ah, I must depart for Haenam Island soon, so I have little time and came at this hour despite the intrusion.”
“Haenam Island, you say?”
He asked with subtle curiosity.
“If I may be so bold, might I inquire what business brings you there?”
“It concerns the Merchant Guild. I’m afraid I cannot elaborate further, and I hope you’ll understand.”
Among merchants, information is power.
Sometimes it means the difference between life and death, so refraining from such questions is an unwritten law.
Yet he asked so readily, which meant he wasn’t a true merchant.
Or perhaps his suspicions about me hadn’t fully dissipated.
“Of course, of course! I apologize for my rudeness.”
“Not at all. Thank you for understanding.”
I continued.
“The reason I’ve come to your esteemed guild is that I dined at an inn nearby today, and the rice was exceptionally fine. Of course, the Head Chef’s skill in preparation played a role, but truly excellent rice begins with the grain itself.”
“Ha ha ha, yes, quite right.”
“So I wish to purchase that rice.”
“You do?”
“I’m looking to acquire about twenty thousand sacks. Is that possible?”
“Twenty thousand sacks, you say….”
He swallowed hard.
He was likely calculating the profits he could make from such a transaction.
“Y-yes, it’s possible.”
“How much per sack?”
“Five silver taels per sack.”
Considering the standard price in normal years is one silver tael per sack, this was quite expensive.
However, since it’s harvest season now, prices have dropped somewhat.
And when merchant ships return from foreign trade laden with vast quantities of grain, prices will fall even further.
“A reasonable price.”
“Our guild prides itself on being conscientious.”
I suppressed the urge to laugh at his confident assertion.
Truly conscientious guilds never speak such words.
“I’ll take your word for it. First, might I see a sample?”
“Of course. Please wait a moment.”
He left and soon returned with a measure of rice.
“Here it is.”
I pretended to examine the rice, and at that moment, Lee Pil Warrior sneezed beside me.
“Achoo! Ahem, my apologies.”
That was the signal.
This rice had come from a sack coated with tracking scent.
“The rice is indeed excellent.”
“Of course. That old man’s eye for rice is….”
“Pardon?”
“Ah, I was referring to the Chief Manager of our Eun Hae Trading Company who procured the rice.”
I was deflecting, of course.
When I was really talking about the Haenam Sect Leader.
“Very well. Let us draw up a contract.”
“Normally, a deposit of half the transaction amount would be standard practice. However, as you know, sourcing rice of this caliber is extraordinarily difficult. Therefore, I must request full advance payment to secure the supply.”
“You’re asking for the entire amount upfront as a deposit?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“Hmm…”
As I pretended to deliberate, he grew anxious and hastily offered an alternative.
“In that case, our trading company will provide collateral.”
“Collateral, you say?”
“Please wait a moment.”
He left the Guest Reception Room and returned carrying a single box.
He opened it and showed me its contents.
“This is it.”
Inside lay a large golden toad.
“This should be more than sufficient as collateral for this transaction.”
“Hmm…”
When I did not immediately accept, he asked with concern.
“Does it not meet your approval?”
“I was just reminded of something that happened before. Our trading company once accepted a gold artifact as collateral much like this one. After we completed the transaction and returned the collateral, the other party claimed it was counterfeit and demanded compensation for it.”
I continued gently.
“I wonder if something similar might occur here…”
“Haha! Absolutely not! We would never engage in such dishonorable conduct.”
“I’m relieved to hear it. That incident was so infuriating that our trading company mobilized all our connections to expose their crime, and that company…”
I smiled coldly.
“Well, the process of dealing with it was quite tedious.”
“Haha.”
He laughed heartily again and continued.
“You need not worry. Even if this collateral were somehow replaced with a counterfeit, our trading company would not pursue the matter.”
“You don’t trust our trading company? Replaced with a counterfeit, you say?”
“Oh! I misspoke. In any case, regardless of what happens, we will not mention the collateral again.”
“Could you put that in writing?”
“Of course.”
With the contract finalized, I handed over a promissory note on the spot.
It was for a staggering one hundred thousand silver taels.
“By the way, do you happen to know much about the pearls of Haenam Island?”
“Not particularly, but what is this about?”
“My wife, who came with me this time, expressed a desire for jewelry made from pearls.”
“I see. In that case, I suggest you seek out Cheon of Haenam Island.”
With the transaction complete, I rose from my seat and left the Mu Clan Trading Company with the golden toad in hand.
Since Geum Ryung-i remained silent, it was certain the item was counterfeit.
That meant they intended to flee before conducting any proper transaction.
It was about time they made their escape anyway, and I had essentially given them the push they needed.
But it didn’t matter.
“Jin Yu Warrior.”
“Yes.”
“Monitor them, and the moment they withdraw funds from the Geumsan Money Exchange, inform me immediately.”
“Understood.”
Just then, Jang Won Grand Master called out to me from behind.
“Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster.”
“Please simply call me Eun Small Merchant Leader. That title feels somewhat burdensome.”
“If that is your preference… very well. Eun Small Merchant Leader.”
“Yes.”
“What exactly are you thinking? Our purpose is to investigate the Mu Clan Trading Company, is it not?”
“That is correct.”
“Yet you conduct transactions with them instead! And you provide such a substantial sum as advance payment!”
I could understand his confusion—without knowing my intentions, it would seem incomprehensible to hand over one hundred thousand taels as a deposit.
I explained calmly.
“It may be difficult for you to comprehend, but this is my method of investigation.”
“…?”
“Perhaps it is a method only possible because you are a merchant.”
I regarded him quietly.
The uprightness I sensed from him reminded me of a pine tree standing resolute.
In other words, I detected not a trace of the Black Path’s aura about him.
For that, I was grateful.
The one assisting me directly was no traitor, unlike during the Yunnan Chungyeong incident before.
But that did not mean there were no traitors among the others.
If the problem existed only on Haenam Island, the dispatched investigators would not have been eliminated so swiftly.
It meant there was a Geumui Guard here in collusion with them.
Well, the history of those who betray for personal gain is long indeed.
“Chief Jang. There is something I wish to ask you.”
“Please speak.”
“Do you know all of those dispatched to this place?”
“Of course.”
“Then, is there no one among them who seems suspicious?”
At my words, his face hardened.
“Are you suggesting there is a traitor among us? That is deeply offensive. We are those who serve the Emperor with loyalty. How could you speak such insulting words…!”
“Have you not heard of the Yunnan Chungyeong incident?”
“…”
My mouth closes, unable to offer further rebuttal.
So you already knew.
Of course you did. The Emperor mentioned arranging for them to witness the tragic fate of those conspirators as a warning.
Even if you hadn’t seen it directly, you would have heard the accounts.
“Then why do you challenge my words?”
“….”
“As Chief Jang said, I suspect the existence of a traitor. Otherwise, it would be impossible to identify and swiftly eliminate those dispatched in disguise with such precision.”
I continued.
“Paradoxically, it’s precisely because the Geumui Guard’s capabilities are exceptional that I’ve detected the presence of a traitor.”
“….”
Watching his wavering eyes, I could see he had already harbored such suspicions himself.
His defensive posture just now stemmed from self-loathing over entertaining such doubts.
A good man, truly.
“But Chief Jang is no traitor.”
“How can you be certain?”
“I can simply tell. If I must explain—I see no glint in Chief Jang’s eyes of someone scheming to betray me.”
He furrowed his brow and asked.
“Is that why you requested I not speak of Eun Small Merchant Leader inside the inn?”
“Precisely.”
I made the same request of the Inn Owner. His aura was clear, so he was not complicit with them.
“Now, to answer the question you posed earlier. They currently suspect me. By conducting this transaction directly, I’ve completely dispelled their suspicions. And.”
“And what?”
“Simultaneously, I was able to enter their midst with confidence and observe. Moreover, I’ve set my own snare.”
.
.
.
We returned to the inn.
The Inn Owner told us he had secured passage on a boat heading to Haenam Island.
The next day around noon, Jin Yu Warrior rushed back and reported.
“My lord, they’ve made their move.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————