The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 616

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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 616

Chapter 616. The Vanished Letter (3)

I slipped quietly into the drinking gathering of the Baekpa Trading Company delegation.
And I naturally continued the conversation.
“Congratulations. I heard that the Baekpa Trading Company also made quite substantial profits this time.”
“Haha, thank you.”
“Not quite as much as the Eunhae Trading Company, but we still earned a respectable sum.”
At that moment, someone interjected with a grumble.
“But what good does it do? Everything belongs to the nation anyway, so we’ll only receive a pittance as compensation.”
“That’s the problem.”
“Damn it! We do all the work while the Empire reaps the rewards.”
As if that were a signal, complaints began pouring from the mouths of several merchants.
I listened to their grievances while carefully managing my expression.
Sigh. You there.
It seems you’ve forgotten entirely what the Empire did to make this trading expedition possible.
I am no different—I do not hesitate when profit is at stake.
Yet the reason I say nothing against this state-sponsored trading expedition is precisely because it was necessary.
First, the Empire agreed to pay us for the goods we sell to foreign nations.
And they also promised to compensate us for the labor of acquiring grain through these sales.
Because it was a trading expedition sponsored by the Empire, foreign nations like the Dae-Wol Kingdom and the Marae Seo Kingdom readily granted official permits for large-scale transactions.
Moreover, we received the special privilege of trading alcohol even during the liquor prohibition, allowing us to gain considerable profits.
The Baekpa Trading Company loaded alcohol onto their ships as well.
If several years pass like this, we can establish a firm foothold in maritime trade going forward.
In other words, even looking at the present, it’s not a loss—and considering the future, it’s absolutely profitable.
Tsk. Yet they don’t think of such things and are blinded only by immediate gains….
But I did not let such thoughts show.
“That must have been quite frustrating for you.”
“Hehehehe, it’s fine. A capable merchant knows how to profit even in such circumstances.”
“Are you suggesting there is another method?”
At my question, the Baekpa Merchant Guild Leader nodded.
“Please, I beg for your guidance.”
As I bowed deeply, he seemed pleased and answered readily.
“Simply offer a small gift to the Daewol Merchant. And… the rest you must research on your own. One shouldn’t try to easily discover another’s trade secrets, you know. Hehehehe.”
“….”
I suppressed a sigh that was about to escape.
I already knew what method was being used. I merely needed something concrete to confirm it.
Everyone looking at me and snickering made it abundantly clear.
This wasn’t just a method from my previous life—it was commonly used among those engaged in maritime trade.
The current trading expedition involved taking goods sold for ten silver taels in the Empire, selling them abroad for a higher price, and using the profits to purchase grain and bring it back.
But here, the Empire’s merchants were employing a loophole.
There would be no problem if they sold goods to merchants from Dae-Wol Kingdom or Marae Seo Kingdom for twenty silver taels.
The issue arose when they officially recorded it as eighteen taels on the documents.
This was possible because merchants from Dae-Wol Kingdom weren’t subject to their nation’s control.
Since there was no reason for them to comply without incentive, they offered gifts to smooth things over.
Even after giving gifts, a considerable amount of money remained.
Given the substantial volume of goods being transported, this sum was far from negligible.
Using this undisclosed money, they loaded tax-exempt provisions onto the ship and returned to the Empire.
Tax exemptions didn’t apply to goods traded by individual merchant guilds.
The problem was that if they brought back the same goods the nation needed, it became difficult to distinguish which items were exempt from taxation.
They exploited this loophole to import goods for the guild without paying taxes.
Given the scale of this trading expedition, there were likely people the Emperor had planted among them, so they must have noticed something suspicious.
Sigh.
Now that it’s clear they’ve committed illegal acts, I should issue a warning as the Emperor commanded.
If they still don’t understand, well, that’s their own doing.
But why did the Emperor entrust this task specifically to me?
And so secretively at that.
A moment of doubt crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it.
.
.
.
Dawn broke.
I immediately sought out Ak Dae-in and requested a private audience.
“Regarding the letter you provided before, I wish to request your assistance based on its contents.”
“I see. What would you have me help with?”
Ak Dae-in listened to my explanation, smiled, and nodded readily.
“Of course I should help with such a matter.”
Ak Dae-in readily agreed to my request.
I moved to another location, changed my clothes, and wrapped a mask covering the area below my nose.
I also altered my eye expression using the Divine Transformation Technique.
I did this to ensure my face remained hidden.
Exposing my identity while accusing them would likely create enemies for me in the future.
Ak Dae-in marveled at my disguise.
“Wow! You look like a completely different person.”
“It’s merely a small skill.”
“You’re quite resourceful. Since preparations are complete, let’s depart.”
Ak Dae-in personally led soldiers toward the harbor, and I followed as if I were his aide.
“Everyone, stop!”
“What is the matter?”
Han Haeng-su approached with an unpleasant expression, his stomach still churning from the excessive drinking the night before.
“I’ve come to conduct a search for goods not covered by tax exemption. Any items listed in the ledger you submitted will be exempt—everything else will be taxed. Do you understand?”
“Ah, yes. But a search? We’ve never had such a thing happen before, have we?”
“What are you saying? Isn’t it the law that all foreign trade goods are subject to taxation?”
“That is true, but this is so sudden….”
“Previously, we didn’t conduct searches because we needed to distribute goods to the people as quickly as possible. But now that the harvest has just ended, we have some leeway, so we’re simply following proper procedure.”
Ak Dae-in spoke with firm resolve.
“Search for any goods that differ from the report!”
“Yes!”
At Ak Dae-in’s command, the inspection began immediately.
I examined the items unloaded from the Baekpa Trading Company’s ship, but I could only be bewildered.
What? Why isn’t it here?
The items unloaded from the ship were identical to those listed in the report.
This shouldn’t be possible.
Then I saw the Baekpa Trading Company Leader nod toward someone.
Toward whom…?
I quickly glanced in that direction.
The one nodding back was a soldier from the Namgyeong Regional Command with a fairly high rank.
Ah….
So that’s why the Emperor secretly sent me a letter through Ak Dae-in.
We had made our preparations quickly and raided the harbor, yet they learned of this information through an insider and prepared accordingly.
If we’d had just a bit more time, we would have completely destroyed the evidence.
But this was still a time when the evidence hadn’t been completely destroyed.
I examined the area around the ship and discovered a rope hanging from the ship’s side, letting out a quiet laugh.
So they hid the evidence this way.
“What is this rope?”
“That’s the rope for the anchor.”
“For an anchor rope, it seems rather thin.”
I pulled on the rope, and the faces of the Baekpa Trading Company men began to change.
Soon, hanging from the end of the pulled rope were… sacks of grain.
There is a method called salt water selection.
It’s a method of removing dead seeds before sowing rice—soaking them in salt water so concentrated that only some eggs float, a technique used before planting.
Of course, prolonged soaking isn’t ideal, but that’s a matter of germination rates.
If it’s rice for consumption, it doesn’t matter, so they hid the evidence by submerging it in the sea this way.
“Retrieve all the rice at once!”
“Yes!”
As the soldiers under Ak Dae-in’s command moved into action, I began examining the ship.
Rice takes up considerable volume, so they brought it like hiding trees in a forest, but there must certainly be other things hidden on the ship.
The Daeyeol Kingdom’s specialty goods include things like water buffalo horns and pepper.
These are items that sell at high prices even in the Empire.
You’re telling me you came here without any desire for such things?
You need to speak sense.
Since it’s a small quantity, it must be hidden somewhere on the ship.
And the places where such items would be hidden are….
Tap tap.
I approached one side of the ship and tapped on the wall.
Indeed, I could hear the hollow sound of empty space inside.
Drawing my sword, I pried up one of the wooden planks forming that wall, and a hidden compartment came into view.
Bingo.
The space was filled with water buffalo horns.
I spoke to the soldier who had followed me.
“Confiscate all of these.”
“Yes, sir!”
Everywhere I touched after that, goods came tumbling out.
There were water buffalo horns on the other wall as well, and sacks of pepper were stashed in the ship’s hold.
The amount we extracted from the ship was considerable.
As I carried these items outside, the Baekpa Trading Company merchants, whose complexions had already been poor, turned absolutely ashen.
Seeing this, Ak Dae-in interrogated them sharply.
“What is all this?”
“W-well, you see….”
“There’s no mention in the report of the rice hidden in the seawater or these items.”
“….”
“As I said before, personal goods not listed in the report are subject to taxation. The rice is one thing, but water buffalo horns and pepper… what is the tax on these?”
I answered immediately.
“Luxury goods such as these are taxed at ten percent of the current market price. And when caught at inspection, a surcharge is applied, making the total tax ten times the original amount.”
“I see.”
Ak Dae-in spoke to the merchants gathered around.
“If any of you have brought in anything illegally, confess now. Then, just this once, I will reduce the surcharge from ten times to five times the original tax by my authority.”
Ak Dae-in turned his head and looked at the Baekpa Trading Company as he spoke.
“That doesn’t apply to you, however.”
“….”

Ak Dae-in’s warning proved remarkably effective.
Merchants from other trading companies revealed everything they had been secretly bringing along.
A tenfold penalty tax was indeed terrifying.
Fortunately, the Eunhae Trading Company had nothing to hide.
I had warned them repeatedly.
Thus, those who had deceived the Emperor, including the Baekpa Trading Company, received a harsh monetary warning.
This trading expedition turned out to be fruitless.
Still, it was far better to pay now and learn not to deceive the Emperor.
The Emperor was truly a fearsome man.
I hoped they had taken this warning to heart.
.
.
.
With matters settled, the merchant ships began preparing to depart.
Then Ak Dae-in, who had returned to the Provincial Military Command, came back to the harbor.
“What brings you here?”
“Ah! The Baekbuik Trading Company has made an urgent request. They say a diplomatic issue is about to arise.”
The Baekbuik Trading Company was the one that had traded with the Marae Seo Kingdom.
“May I accompany you?”
“Of course.”
Thus, I headed toward the Baekbuik Trading Company’s ship with Ak Dae-in.
The Baekbuik Trading Company’s ship was in considerable disarray.
Hearing that Ak Dae-in had arrived, Ji Seok-mun hurried down from the ship.
“This humble merchant bows before you, Dae-in.”
“What is the matter? I came because I heard a diplomatic issue might arise.”
“The problem is, a box that the King of Marae Seo was sending to Princess Sinaa has disappeared.”
“What?”
Not only Ak Dae-in but I too was taken aback.
I thought the task the Emperor had given me was completed, yet a major incident had erupted from an entirely unexpected quarter.
“Could it have been left elsewhere? Or perhaps it was never loaded onto the ship?”
Ak Dae-in, grasping the gravity of the situation, asked seriously. Ji Seok-mun shook his head.
“No. It was definitely in my office aboard the merchant ship.”
I stepped forward and spoke.
“Forgive my intrusion, but I have something to say.”
“Not at all. Speak if you have something to say.”
Ak Dae-in’s gaze toward me was generous.
“We need to retrace this matter from the beginning. Ji Seok-mun, would you explain?”
He nodded at my words and began his explanation.
He said that before returning home after completing the trading expedition, he visited again at the King of Marae Seo’s request, and the king gave him a box to deliver to his daughter.
“Inside that box were precious metals and jewels, along with a letter.”
“In other words, you’re saying this is a gift and letter being sent to Princess Sinaa?”
“That is correct.”
Ji Seok-mun continued speaking.
“So I had it brought to my office and ensured that the guards never left their posts for even a moment. However… the box that was definitely there until yesterday morning has vanished this morning.”
“Someone stole the box, then.”
“I believe so as well. That is why I have come to seek your assistance, Dae-in.”
He spoke with a pained expression.
“To be honest, I can replace the gold and treasures that were inside the box with my own funds. Since it was my negligence, I must bear the loss. However, the letter from His Majesty the King is beyond my ability to recover… I beg you, please find at least the letter.”
I asked him a question.
“Do you happen to know the contents of the letter?”
“I do not. I cannot carelessly open a letter being sent to the Princess.”
That makes sense.
“Then who among those aboard knew about the contents of that box?”
“That is…”
He let out a sigh.
“Most of those who were on the same ship knew about it.”
This is troublesome.
Essentially, everyone who had boarded that ship was now a suspect.
The fact that the box disappeared this morning meant the crime occurred sometime between late last night and dawn.
But wouldn’t everyone have been attending the banquet that Ak Dae-in had hosted at that time?
“I’ll need to conduct interrogations. Is there anyone among those who came on the merchant ship whose whereabouts are unclear?”
“No. There is no one.”

Interrogations began immediately.
In the meantime, I boarded the Baekbuik Trading Company ship and headed toward Ji Seok-mun’s office.
Fortunately, since not much time had passed, I could faintly sense the aura of the Black Path.
If that’s the case, then this was the work of a Black Path martial artist?
Hmm?
At that moment, something caught my eye.

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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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