The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 602

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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 602

Chapter 602. Haenam Island (4)

A forest cottage nestled deep within the woods.
It was one of the Geumui Guard’s private residences.
Inside, a man hung suspended in the air, bound and unconscious.
The tendons and muscles of his limbs had been severed.
When Jang Won Grand Master discovered the letter hidden in his possession—correspondence meant for those he was conspiring with—his fury consumed him, and he personally severed the man’s limbs.
“We could simply bind him with restraints, surely….”
“No. A member of the Geumui Guard could easily break through any binding and escape.”
“….”
Well, when he put it that way, there was no arguing with it.
Still, standing here like this made me feel as though we were the villains.
But this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened.
I nodded to the Yeo Eung-am Warrior, and he splashed water onto the bound man.
Splash!
The man regained consciousness and opened his eyes, quickly grasping the situation and crying out.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“What is the meaning of what you’ve done?”
Jang Won Grand Master threw the letter the man had been carrying directly at his feet.
Thud!
The man’s eyes trembled as he saw the letter fall to the ground.
“So it was you, Mo Gyeong, all along! The Investigators dispatched here all died because of your treachery! Hah!”
Ah, so the man’s name was Mo Gyeong.
The name Eul-ja must have been some sort of code.
“….”
“Why did you do it?”
“Why do you ask, sir?”
“I simply wish to understand your reasons.”
Mo Gyeong answered without hesitation.
“Why, for money, of course. Hehehehe. They paid quite handsomely, you see.”
“You betrayed the Emperor and your comrades for mere money?”
“Mere money, you say?”
He laughed mockingly.
“With enough money, one lives well and eats well. Does loyalty to the Emperor or faith in one’s comrades put food on the table?”
“….”
“Does it not?”
This won’t do.
At this rate, Jang Won Grand Master’s face is turning so red with rage that he looks like he’ll burst a blood vessel and die first.
I stepped forward and spoke.
“Of course, money is paramount, and loyalty to the Emperor or faith in one’s comrades doesn’t put food on the table, does it?”
“Ah… indeed, you communicate well, perhaps because you’re a merchant.”
That remark meant he already knew who I was.
It was fortunate that I had him kidnapped and confined beforehand. I nearly had my identity exposed to them.
I should thank Seo Hyang for this.
I lifted my head and smiled at him.
Behind me, Jang Won Grand Master’s expression showed betrayal at my words.
“But even if one has plenty of money and lives well, can that truly be called living well as a human being?”
“What?”
“If one disregards such things and only thinks of eating and living well, how is that different from a pig in a pigsty?”
– Oink? Oink!
Yes, you’re saying you’re not like that?
You’re Han Ho-su, who understands morality?
Very well then. Indeed you are.
I slipped my hand into my sleeve and patted Geum Ryung-i’s rear affectionately.
“We are called human because we understand our duty as humans and act upon it. Is that not so?”
“….”
He could not readily offer a rebuttal to my words.
“Now then, answer my question, would you?”
I continued.
“Who was the recipient you intended to deliver this letter to?”
“….”
“Answer me, please.”
“It’s simply something I wrote for my own collection.”
Unable to contain himself any longer, Jang Won Grand Master swung his fist at the man’s face.
Thud!
“Ugh!”
“Let’s do this the easy way.”
“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean.”
At this, Jang Won Grand Master drew his blade and drove it into the man’s thigh, twisting it mercilessly.
“Aaaahhh!”
Goodness, that must hurt.
But why won’t he open his mouth?
Is it stubbornness?
Or perhaps he’s hoping to avoid a worse fate.
The bigger this becomes, the harsher his punishment will be.
He’s hoping his sentence won’t escalate from beheading or hanging to something as gruesome and cruel as dismemberment.
Ah! Then I could end his life before that….
“Be careful! The Merchant could bite off his own tongue.”
Crack!
Crunch!
Heh… Quite a fearsome person. Chief Jang.
He just smashed the man’s teeth with his fist.
“Ugh….”
Chief Jang spoke as he watched the groaning man.
“As a member of the Geumui Guard, you should know this—there’s no one in the world who can match us when it comes to torture, yes?”
“….”
His eyes darted about wildly.
“The ship to Haenam Island departs tomorrow, so we still have plenty of time, and this place is isolated. Yes, let’s have some fun.”
.
.
.
A short while later.
I renewed my resolve once more.
I would never do anything to incur the displeasure of the Geumui Guard.
This was because Mo Gyeong had revealed everything in just one hour.
“Tsk! He couldn’t even last an hour! He was unfit for the Geumui Guard from the start.”
Excuse me….
Isn’t it remarkable that he lasted an hour at all?
In any case, thanks to this, we managed to grasp the identity of the person he had been trying to contact and the circumstances surrounding the matter.
First and foremost, it was crucial that the County Magistrate of Seomun County was involved in this affair.
Of course, I had suspected as much, but having suspicions and having concrete evidence are two different things.
We even obtained a confession.
We locked him in the prison here. Though small, the Geumui Guard’s Private Residence did have a prison.
Then we returned to the inn and drafted an interim report on this matter.
At the same time, we also prepared a request for reinforcements.
We would need support to thoroughly investigate the Mu Clan Trading Company and Seomun County.
“Chief Jang.”
“Yes.”
“Select the fastest messenger and deliver this letter to the Provincial Military Commander of Hunan Province.”
“Understood.”
Though there was a Provincial Military Commander in Guangdong as well, I requested reinforcements from Hunan Province because I had to consider the possibility that he might be involved in this matter.
Of course, that was the worst-case scenario, but I couldn’t simply dismiss it.
In any case, I had to proceed on the assumption that the Imperial Officials in Guangdong Province could not be trusted.
Secret Imperial Guard units were waiting in Hunan Province, and the Geumui Guard had also been dispatched there.
So the Provincial Military Commander or the Imperial Inspectorate of Hunan Province would direct them to thoroughly investigate Guangdong Province.
Then what was I to do?
I need to go to Haenam Island and settle things there.
.
.
.
The next day.
I woke early in the morning.
Since it was the day I would depart for Haenam Island, Palgap bustled about from dawn onwards.
I headed toward the Musi Trading Company with my Guard Warriors.
The Gate Keeper greeted me warmly, and I was ushered into the Guest Reception Room with courtesy.
After waiting there briefly, Wang Seok Chief Merchant hurried in.
“What brings you here so early this morning?”
“I came to inquire about the progress of the grain purchases.”
“Rest assured. Everything is proceeding without any issues.”
Proceeding without issues? That was nonsense.
His eyes already betrayed him.
“I depart for Haenam Island today.”
“Ah, so you’re heading out now.”
“Yes. Since I secured the boat later than expected, it appears I’ll need an additional three or four days beyond the original schedule.”
“I see.”
“On my way back to Beijing, I’ll stop by again. I’d appreciate it if you could have the twenty thousand stone of grain we contracted for ready by then.”
“Understood. I’ll have everything prepared so you can take it with you immediately.”
“Then I’ll take my leave now. It’s almost time to depart.”
I rose from my seat, and he bowed respectfully.
“Travel safely.”
I left the Musi Trading Company.
This should give the Geumui Guard and Golden Army enough time to advance from Hunan Province.
“Ah, Myeong-jong Warrior. Let’s stop by the marketplace for a moment.”
“What for?”
“Gwak Vice-Manager asked me to purchase something. I need to get it.”
I bought what she had requested at the marketplace.
It was none other than an umbrella.
Given that she asked me to prepare this, perhaps rain was coming today?
Returning to the Haega Inn, I headed to the harbor with Jang Won Grand Master.
“Welcome. We are honored to serve the Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster.”
The sailors’ eyes as they looked at me were filled with goodwill and admiration.
They had mentioned being from Haenam Island, hadn’t they?
“We shall do our utmost to serve you.”
“Thank you.”
We boarded the vessel, and it set sail immediately.
“From here to Haenam Island takes approximately two to two and a half hours.”
By land, it meant a distance close enough to visit and return in a day’s outing.
“Is the sea route to Haenam Island treacherous?”
The Sailor answered my question.
“For the time it takes, the passage isn’t particularly smooth. The winds are fierce, the waves are rough, and there are reefs. However, those of us with sufficient experience can navigate around such dangers. Haha. So you need not worry.”
“I’ve heard that quite a few ships traveling to and from Haenam Island run aground.”
“Yes, it’s truly a lamentable matter.”
“I heard that because of this, the relief provisions and funds the Imperial Palace sends to Haenam Island often fail to arrive properly.”
“That’s correct. In fact, many sailors and ship owners volunteered at the time. They said they would transport the grain and repair materials without compensation.”
“Without compensation, you say?”
“Yes. It’s work for Haenam Island—how could we refuse? But then….”
He glanced around cautiously before leaning in and whispering to me.
“The higher-ups didn’t entrust the task to us, but instead gave it to complete newcomers.”
“What! Is that so?”
“And what was the result? They became water ghosts, didn’t they? Moreover, all those precious goods sank into the sea… Alas.”
“My goodness! That’s truly unfortunate.”
I sighed along with him, wearing a sympathetic expression.
Because those goods ended up in some villain’s belly instead.
“So the people of Haenam Island were on the brink of starvation when the Haenam Sect Leader arrived with an enormous quantity of grain, and the Haenam Sect’s ship owners rushed forth to transport it to Haenam Island. Thanks to that, the people of Haenam Island were spared from starving to death.”
“Are things well now?”
“Yes. Since Haenam Island is a place where farming goes quite well and there’s abundant fruit, things have improved since we passed that crisis.”
“That’s truly fortunate.”
“The Haenam Sect Leader said that the Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster heard of Haenam Island’s plight, shed tears, and made a generous donation.”
Ah….
“Thanks to that, I was able to support my family as well. I don’t know how to repay such kindness.”
“I merely did what needed to be done.”
Only then did I understand why the sailors looked at me with such eyes.
Because they had received practical help from the donation I gave.
This is rather embarrassing.
I had done it for the purpose of establishing a mooring point for the Eunhae Trading Company on Haenam Island, yet they were so grateful.
In any case, according to the Sailor’s account, there were more than one or two suspicious things.
Complete newcomers, he said….
Could it be?
“Is it possible that many outsiders have entered Haenam Island recently?”
“Outsiders… Now that you mention it, I’ve started seeing people I hadn’t seen before not long ago.”
Just as I suspected.
I smoothly changed the subject.
“I see. By the way, I’d like to have a pearl ornament made as a birthday gift for my lady wife, and I was recommended to seek out Cheon on Haenam Island. Would it be alright to visit him?”
“He does handle pearls… but I would recommend you seek out Yeon instead.”
From his expression, though he said nothing, it was clear he had some reservations.
“Is there some problem with Cheon?”
“There’s no issue with Cheon himself… but he’s been bringing in a large number of outsiders recently, and they’ve been causing some trouble, which is rather bothersome.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. He brought them in himself, but he hardly paid any attention to the problems they caused. Only after the Haenam Sect issued a stern warning did they finally settle down, but honestly, I’m not pleased with the situation.”
There’s something going on here!
“Could it be that they… are martial artists?”
“Yes. He hired them to protect the pearls, he said.”
Then I should pay this Cheon a visit.
Just then, a Sailor took a bowl and headed toward the bow, placing something inside it and setting it aflame.
Red smoke began to rise from it.
“What is that?”
“It’s a signal indicating this ship is returning to Haenam Island.”
“I see.”

Shortly after, the boat I was on arrived at Haenam Island.
“You may disembark now.”
“Thank you.”
“Here is the passage fare.”
Palgap offered the fare on my behalf, but the Ship Owner waved his hand.
“No! How could I accept payment from the benefactor who saved my family’s lives and also saved Haenam Island?”
“You must accept it.”
I took the money from Palgap’s hand and placed it directly into the Ship Owner’s palm.
“All things in this world should have their proper price. And your family waiting at home needs to be fed.”
“…Thank you.”
“Then I’ll use your ship again at the promised time.”
“Yes. Even if it’s not then, please contact me anytime you need.”
At that moment, about ten people dressed in martial robes came rushing toward us.
From their attire, they appeared to be disciples of the Haenam Sect.
Two of them stopped in front of us and unfurled a large scroll with a pole, holding it high.
[We welcome the visit of Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster, Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company and Eun Master of Haenam Island]
What? What is this message?
Then four other disciples approached us, scattering flowers from a large basket.
Haenam Island is a very warm place.
Because flowers bloom year-round here, obtaining flowers at this time of year wouldn’t be difficult.
But… this welcome is far too extravagant.
Patter!
At that moment, Seo Hyang opened an umbrella, and now I finally understood why she had asked me to get one.
It really is raining today.
Even flower petals are rain.

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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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