The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 636

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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 636

Chapter 636. A New Venture (3)

At those words, Hwang Gon blinked.
“Huh?!”
He was startled out of his wits. And for good reason—the man he’d believed to be Craftsman Sohn until moments ago had an entirely different face.
“You’re not Craftsman Sohn!”
“That’s correct. This is my guard, Yeo Eung-am Warrior. But Yeo Warrior, why are you here?”
At Eun Seo-ho’s question, Yeo Eung-am Warrior spoke.
“This man offered me money to assassinate my lord. Ha! I have my own people to take bribes from—how could he make such a request of me to kill my own master?”
“What? Is that true?”
As Eun Seo-ho asked in apparent shock, Seo-woo Warrior and Jin Yu Warrior descended from the tree and drew their blades, facing him directly.
Hwang Gon’s guard rushed forward from where he’d been standing at a distance, but he was no match at all.
Seo-woo Warrior alone was at the pinnacle, and Jin Yu Warrior was beyond the pinnacle.
Hwang Gon’s guard, overwhelmed by their presence, asked with a pale, drained face.
“Young Master Gon, did you truly intend to assassinate Eun Seo-ho?”
“Th-that’s not! When did I ever—”
“Didn’t you say you were purchasing Craftsman Sohn? Weren’t you meeting with Craftsman Sohn right now?”
There was reason for Hwang Gon’s guard to ask this. He’d been kept at a distance, so the other man’s face hadn’t been clearly visible to his eyes.
“Believe me! I was certainly trying to meet Craftsman Sohn. It was to obtain information about the Eun Hae Trading Company’s jewelry business from him.”
“Then why is someone other than Craftsman Sohn here?”
“That is…”
Hwang Gon was in distress.
And understandably so—purchasing someone from another merchant guild for information was entirely different in severity from attempting to assassinate a Small Guild Master from another guild.
“Do you have proof?”
At Eun Seo-ho’s words, he was flustered. Because he had no evidence.
From the start, this was business that couldn’t leave traces.
And so he found himself inescapably saddled with the crime of attempting to murder Eun Seo-ho.
If Eun Seo-ho formally reported this to the County Office, he wouldn’t face execution, but he’d receive many lashes and owe substantial compensation to Eun Seo-ho’s side.
Then he would be expelled from the Hwang Clan Trading Company.
If he was fortunate, it would end with paying massive compensation and being cast out by his family.
The caution with which he’d moved now became poison to him.
And seeing how Eun Seo-ho appeared at just the right moment, descending from the tree, it was unmistakable.
He had fallen into a trap.
‘Damn it! Damn it! Ahhhhh!’
He screamed silently within himself.

* * *

I suppressed a quiet chuckle as I regarded Hwang Gon before me.
So this was the man who had bribed Craftsman Sohn back then and silenced him—the true assassin.
In my previous life, I had confirmed that Craftsman Sohn had been compromised, but I never pinpointed the exact culprit.
However, there were several strong suspects, and Hwang Gon was among them.
Now he was a dragonfly caught in the web I had woven.
He could flutter his wings all he liked, but escape was impossible.
I had asked the Yeo Eung-am Warrior to use the Divine Transformation Technique to assume Craftsman Sohn’s appearance and pretend to be him.
I needed bait, certainly, but I couldn’t use the defenseless Craftsman Sohn as bait.
And so he had walked directly into my trap.
The Yeo Eung-am Warrior and I had steered the conversation as planned, making it seem I was the target of assassination, and just as I predicted, he confessed his true crime to escape the charge of attempted murder.
“So you weren’t trying to assassinate me—you were attempting to bribe Craftsman Sohn to extract information?”
“That’s right!”
“Then you admit to attempting to bribe Craftsman Sohn?”
“I admit it!”
“I see. Thank you for confessing so readily.”
“…What?”
His eyes blinked, and then realization dawned on him as he cried out.
“Wait—surely you didn’t plan from the start to extract a confession about bribing Craftsman Sohn!”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
In truth, even with his confession, there was no severe legal penalty I could impose.
Bribing someone to obtain information was considered theft, and theft carried only compensation proportional to its severity.
Moreover, since it was merely attempted, the compensation would be minimal.
And such matters were common enough that the County Government would likely grow weary and urge a settlement.
This was precisely why the Merchant had desperately claimed he wasn’t trying to assassinate me, but rather to bribe Craftsman Sohn.
I could have pressed forward and charged him with attempted murder, but I chose not to.
If I set my mind to it, I could fabricate charges without detection, but such methods were dishonorable.
Though Hwang Gon deserved worse, I refused to punish him through cowardly means.
Yet I had no intention of accepting merely a pittance in compensation from him either.
This was the man who had murdered not only Craftsman Sohn but his son as well, fearing the crime would be discovered.
I smiled wickedly and spoke to Hwang Gon.
“Go and tell your Merchant Guild Leader this: since you struck first, do not resent what comes next.”
My purpose in extracting his confession was twofold—to identify the culprit precisely and to establish justification for self-defense.
I had no need for such dishonorable methods; I was more than capable of crushing him.
Since he had confessed to striking first, he could hardly resent the consequences that would follow.
But what were the odds that Hwang Gon would return and faithfully relay my words to the Merchant Guild Leader?
In my assessment, none whatsoever.
Once it became known that his actions had caused this catastrophe, his position would weaken or collapse entirely, so he would do everything to conceal it.
Rather, it was far more likely that the Guard Warrior would be the one to reveal it.
What decision would the Merchant Guild Leader make, I wondered?
Well, that aside—now I needed to visit Eun Jung-ho.
Since he was the one overseeing the jewelry business and bearing responsibility for it, I should consult with him about this matter.

The next day, afternoon.
I made my way to Eun Jung-ho’s office.
“Is my brother inside?”
“Yes, he is.”
Eun Jung-ho’s Guard Warrior spoke thus and announced my arrival within, and soon I heard Eun Jung-ho’s voice.
“Come in.”
I entered.
Eun Jung-ho was engrossed in his work. With his existing responsibilities plus the newly launched jewelry business, his plate was overflowing.
“What brings you here?”
“Brother, let’s have some tea first.”
At my suggestion, Eun Jung-ho stretched and rose, then came to the tea table and sat across from me.
“Ah, that’s what I need.”
Just then, an attendant brought out the teapot, and I lifted it to pour tea into Eun Jung-ho’s cup, then into my own.
After taking a sip, Eun Jung-ho asked me.
“So, what’s this about? You wouldn’t seek me out without reason, not when you’re so busy.”
“That’s right.”
I looked up at Eun Jung-ho.
“I heard that a jewelry craftsman named Craftsman Sohn was approached with a bribery attempt.”
“… News travels fast. Yes, that’s true.”
I had instructed Craftsman Sohn to go to Eun Jung-ho and tell him about someone attempting to buy him out.
Since Eun Jung-ho was the one overseeing the jewelry business and had spearheaded the contract with Craftsman Sohn.
Even if Craftsman Sohn had confessed to me, if I were the one relaying this, it would only frustrate Eun Jung-ho.
“So forces opposing us have already begun their interference! This certainly demands our vigilance.”
“Indeed….”
I took a sip of tea and continued.
“It means they’re that nervous. If they didn’t sense a threat, they wouldn’t bother at all.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“Yes. It’s a good thing.”
I smiled faintly.
“After hearing about Craftsman Sohn, I made my own inquiries. And I’ve identified who approached him.”
“You’ve already found out? Who is it?”
“The Hwang Clan Trading Company.”
“The ones running the jewelry business in Beijing?”
“Exactly. It seems they approached him by exploiting the fact that Craftsman Sohn’s son is ill.”
“Right, that’s correct. Craftsman Sohn mentioned his son needs to take Eumdeok grass consistently.”
I nodded in acknowledgment.
“So, what if we provided the Euk Dok Cho?”
“I was thinking the same thing. That way, we solve Craftsman Sohn’s problem and gain the trust of other craftsmen as well.”
As expected of Elder Brother Eun Jung-ho.
“But how did you find out that the Hwang Clan Trading Company did this?”
“I told you. I investigated it in my own way.”
I asked with a smile.
“How did you investigate? Tell me?”
“Ah, no. Ahem, there’s no need to go into that.”
Elder Brother Eun Jung-ho coughed awkwardly, and I chuckled.
“Anyway, they struck at us first—why should we show them mercy?”
“We shouldn’t. So what are you planning?”
I answered with a sly grin.
“Elder Brother, let’s hold an exhibition.”
“An exhibition?”
“Yes. Let’s showcase the jewelry our Eun Hae Trading Company has created through an exhibition to promote it to the people.”
“You’re not promoting it only to the noble ladies?”
“Of course, we need to introduce ourselves to the noble ladies as well. And when we speak about the exhibition there, we should distribute invitations.”
“Invitations?”
“Yes. What if we offer a discount to those who come to the exhibition with an invitation?”
“That’s a good idea.”
“That way, we’ll spread word of mouth and draw in customers from the start.”
I ground my teeth as I muttered.
“How dare they touch the Eun Hae Trading Company! I won’t let this slide.”
.
.
.
Several days passed.
Since there was still no contact from the Hwang Clan Trading Company, it seemed Hwang Gon had not revealed this matter.
Or perhaps even if he had, he intended to play dumb until the end.
If he had come and apologized sincerely, I might have shown some leniency.
Now it was his own doing.
“Seo-ho, let’s go.”
“All right.”
I followed Elder Brother Eun Jung-ho out of the office.
Where we were heading now was a residence in Beijing.
To be precise, it was a place bestowed by the Emperor to Yeon Yu-mun and his wife, and it was also the home where he and his wife, the Imperial Princess, lived.
And for the Imperial Princess’s wedding gifts, the Imperial Court had contacted each merchant guild in Beijing.
Thus, our Eun Hae Trading Company also responded that we would participate.
And at that gathering, we planned to introduce our Eun Hae Trading Company’s jewelry to the noble ladies.
Since we were already planning to attend the noble ladies’ gathering and introduce our jewelry, we should make full use of this opportunity.

A moment later.
We arrived at a residence.
“Where have you come from, and how…”
A Soldier Guard I’d seen at Chungyeongseong was serving as the Gate Keeper, and he hurried over upon spotting me.
“Who might this be? Aren’t you the Small Guild Master of Eunhae Trading Company?”
“Ha, it’s been a while.”
“What brings you here?”
“The Imperial Palace summoned jewelry merchants from Beijing today, and I’ve come in response to that call.”
“I see. Once you enter through there, there’s a waiting area on the left. You can proceed there.”
“Understood. Thank you.”
We went to the place he indicated, and the person there asked about our affiliation and name before recording them.
Upon entering the building, I found the Merchant Guild Leader of the Hwang Clan Trading Company and Hwang Gon were already there.
“…Hmm.”
“Ahem.”
They cleared their throats and turned their heads away upon seeing us.
From the Merchant Guild Leader’s reaction, it seemed he was also aware of Hwang Gon’s situation.
I paid them no mind, and the merchants began being called away one by one.
“Next is Eunhae Trading Company!”
“Yes!”
“Follow me.”
I followed the man who had come to summon us inside.
The door creaked open.
We bowed respectfully before them.
“The merchants of Eunhae Trading Company pay our respects to your esteemed presences.”
“Raise your heads.”
The one who received our bow was Princess Yeoryang.
She had another name by birth, but the Emperor had bestowed upon her the name Yeoryang.
Since I had accompanied her during the Geom Chong incident at Chungyeongseong, this was not our first meeting.
“It’s good to see you, Small Guild Master.”
“Yes. I hope you’ve been well, Your Highness?”
“I’ve always been doing splendidly.”
By her station, she could have spoken to me informally, yet she was treating me with courtesy.
As she extended such warmth toward me, the attention of the noble ladies gathered there shifted to us.
“We cannot waste the precious time of Your Highness and these esteemed ladies, so allow us to first present the items our company has prepared.”
I glanced at Eun Jung-ho, and my brother gestured to the workers who had entered with us, whereupon boxes were placed upon the prepared table.
At this, the Princess and the noble ladies rose from their seats to examine the jewelry upon the table.
“Oh my! Such brilliance!”
“Oh my goodness!”
“How beautiful.”
“Ah….”
They couldn’t help but gasp in admiration. And for good reason—even I had to acknowledge that the craftsmanship of the pieces Elder Brother Eun Jung-ho had prepared was truly exceptional.
There were only a handful of works worthy of such a name.
The eyes of the noble ladies gleamed with desire as they beheld them.
Yet they could not purchase these items here and now.
This gathering was for selecting the Imperial Princess’s betrothal gifts, after all.
To buy jewelry at such an occasion would be an affront to the Imperial Court itself.
But this venue presented an opportunity for us precisely because by showcasing jewelry that captivated these noble ladies, we could later sell to them privately.
And there was one more thing I had prepared.
I retrieved the invitation that Elder Brother had arranged in advance and presented it to the Imperial Princess.
“Imperial Princess, this is a gift from our Eunhae Trading Company to you and the noble ladies present here.”
“What is this?”
“An invitation. Four days hence, our Eunhae Trading Company will host a modest exhibition showcasing the jewelry we have crafted. With this invitation, all items will be offered at a ten percent discount.”
“Is that truly so?”
“Would I, of all people, speak falsehoods?”
“I simply must attend.”
– *Clink!*
Geumryeong’s nose caught the scent of money. That signal meant substantial profits were coming our way.

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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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