The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 667

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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 667

Chapter 667. The Emperor’s Secret Decree (8)

After meeting with Seong Sub-leader, I made my way to Jocheon Palace.
The moment I had been waiting for had finally arrived—the time for settlement.
I had intended to settle accounts yesterday, but the Crown Prince instructed me to return today, so here I was heading to Jocheon Palace.
I entered the Crown Prince’s Office and bowed respectfully in greeting.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, I pay my respects——.”
“There is no need for such formality with me going forward.”
“But Your Highness——.”
“That is an order.”
Well, that suited me fine. I had grown weary of maintaining such courtesies every time I visited.
I bowed respectfully and took my seat before the tea table.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince. The reason I have come——.”
At that moment, a sheet of paper unfolded before me.
“Is it done?”
I accepted the paper and examined it carefully.
It was a certificate proving that the Eun Hae Trading Company had become the official supplier of Iron Goddess of Mercy statues to Jocheon Palace.
Perhaps it was because he resembled the Emperor, but his handling of affairs was swift and decisive.
As I thought this and began to roll the paper to tuck it into my sleeve, I noticed a smile playing at the Crown Prince’s lips.
Surely not?
I unfolded the paper again and examined its contents more carefully.
“The supply period is six months?”
“Indeed.”
“But——.”
“Think carefully. I said the Eun Hae Trading Company was selected as the supplier of Iron Goddess of Mercy statues, but I never specified for how long.”
Now that I thought about it… that was true.
Suddenly aware that the Crown Prince was truly the Emperor’s son, I found myself smiling involuntarily.
“What is this? That smile?”
Yet the Crown Prince seemed to find my smile laden with meaning.
“I am relieved.”
“Relieved of what?”
“Seeing that you grant my requests while maintaining firm control, I felt assured about the future of this Empire.”
“May I take that as a compliment?”
“Yes. It is indeed a compliment.”
I smiled.
“The fact that you’ve signed this certificate with your own hand means you understand the value of what the Crown Prince possesses and know precisely how to use it.”
At the very least, he wouldn’t be a foolish emperor.
“If you’re this wise, I’m not sure why you’d need my counsel at all.”
At my words, the Crown Prince’s expression stiffened slightly.
“Hmm… Does that mean you’re willing to abandon your position as my advisor?”
“Please don’t misunderstand. Why would I abandon such a position? Hwangbo Elder requested it of me, and the Emperor himself gave me this pendant.”
I continued.
“Rather, I’ve come to realize I need to cultivate my abilities further. Only then can I offer Your Highness truly worthwhile counsel, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Ha! You’re going to cultivate your abilities further there?”
“Yes.”
I nodded.
To be honest, I’d grown a bit complacent, but taking a blow from the Crown Prince just now had sent a thrill through me.
It wasn’t so much that things hadn’t gone my way, but rather I’d come to realize there were still many mountains to climb before I could transform the Eun Hae Trading Company into the First Under Heaven Trading Company.
Yet somehow, the Crown Prince looked utterly exasperated.
“What? You’re going to cultivate your abilities further? Just how much are you planning to squeeze out of me?”
“Squeeze out? Your Highness.”
I smiled gently and shook my head.
“I was merely concerned I wouldn’t achieve my goals at this rate.”
Then I rolled up the certificate again and tucked it back into my robes.
Watching me, the Crown Prince asked.
“Tell me—are you sulking because I only ordered a six-month supply?”
“…”
To be honest, that wasn’t entirely absent from my mind…
After all the effort I’d put in!
“Your hesitation tells me that’s exactly why.”
“Ahem. No, that’s not it. Once our company delivers high-quality Tieguanyin, we can renegotiate the contract after six months, can’t we?”
I continued.
“I understand it as Your Highness’s gracious instruction not to rest on our laurels, but to continue striving.”
After thinking for a moment, the Crown Prince extended his hand toward me.
“Let me see that certificate for a moment.”
I tilted my head in confusion but withdrew the certificate from my robes and handed it over.
“Here it is.”
The Crown Prince wrote a character meaning “ten” in the middle of the sixth month written on the certificate.
“For the next sixty months, I’m counting on you.”
.
.
.
Returning to the Inn, I asked Geumryeong to send a letter to my father.
“Young Master, I’ve brought the tea.”
Palgap opened the door and entered. As he set the tea on the table, I noticed the colored thread bracelet that Cheong-su Taoist had given him before was around his wrist.
“You’re wearing that bracelet quite often.”
“How could I disregard the sincerity of the one who gave it to me? It’s certainly not because I’m afraid of ghosts.”
“Fair enough.”
I nodded and continued speaking.
“Still, it’s reassuring. Ha Hwa seems unafraid of ghosts, which is good.”
I still remembered something she had said during a brief conversation we’d had before.

“What’s truly frightening isn’t ghosts—it’s the malice of people.”

I had agreed with her words then.
At my remark, Palgap blinked his eyes rapidly before his face flushed red.
“Do you find it amusing to tease me, sir?”
“Yes.”
…
“That doesn’t mean I tease just anyone. I only tease those I trust and rely upon.”
As I gently coaxed him, Palgap broke into a smile again.
“By the way, Young Master, what became of your visit to Jocheon Palace today?”
“Ah… Our Eun Hae Trading Company has agreed to supply Iron Goddess of Mercy for sixty months.”
“That’s wonderful news. However….”
Palgap tilted his head in confusion.
“Why sixty months? Isn’t that usually just called five years?”
“There are circumstances behind it. Why? Do you want to know?”
“No, not at all, sir.”

After finishing my business, I went to meet Seong Sub-leader.
“Welcome.”
“I’ve brought dinner.”
“Thank you.”
Palgap, who had followed me inside, placed dumplings and tea on the table.
“Please, help yourself.”
Since I couldn’t move about freely and had been confined to the inn room, I’d decided to make do with simple meals like this.
Regular meals weren’t digesting properly for me.
Watching him endure such hardship, I realized that his resilience was precisely what allowed him to establish himself so firmly within the Baekdae Trading Company Alliance.
I watched Seong Sub-leader as I ate the dumplings. He seemed to have something on his mind.
“Is something troubling you?”
“Pardon?”
“You appear to have something weighing on your mind.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
He smiled awkwardly and continued.
“The truth is, I must replace two of the three Haeng-su tomorrow, but I haven’t yet decided which ones to replace.”
“I see.”
“If I’m going to replace them anyway, it would be most effective to replace the one who serves as their leader, but I have no way of knowing who holds that position.”
He looked at me.
“So I wished to ask for your assistance, Eun Small Merchant Leader.”
“You’re asking me?”
“Yes. Of course, I’m not asking for help without compensation. I will give you one-tenth of the net profit from this trading expedition.”
I couldn’t help but be taken aback internally.
Pepper is quite an expensive luxury item with substantial profit margins.
Therefore, one-tenth of the net profit was a considerable sum.
“There’s no need to go to such lengths.”
“On the contrary. As a merchant myself, I know well when money should be spent. And by my judgment, now is precisely that time.”
Faced with his firm resolve, I sighed and picked up a dumpling as I spoke.
“Very well. I shall look into it.”
“Thank you.”
.
.
.
After dining with Seong Sub-leader, I made brief preparations and descended to the First Floor.
Many people had gathered there, conversing in small groups.
Among them were the Haeng-su from Mingming Trading Company, and they were drinking tea and talking at a small table in the corner.
I approached the table where the Ship Captains had gathered.
“Small Merchant Leader.”
“How was your meal?”
“Excellent. Compared to meals at sea, dining on land is always a feast fit for royalty.”
“At last, we set sail the day after tomorrow. Are you nervous?”
“Of course.”
“Isn’t departure always thrilling for a man of the sea?”
“Indeed.”
I called for Palgap.
“Palgap. Distribute these to everyone.”
“Yes, understood.”
At my command, Palgap distributed the items from the basket, one to each person.
They were palm-shaped wooden tokens.
“What are these?”
“I had them made to encourage all of you as we prepare for departure. Each token is worth half a silver tael.”
“What?”
Everyone was startled by my words.
Half a silver tael was a considerable sum—enough to purchase half a sack of white rice even in these lean times.
“However, its value expires after today. So you may use that money tonight to buy whatever you wish, within the limit of half a silver tael.”
“May we purchase goods as well?”
“You may, but goods cannot exceed half of the total amount.”
“Understood.”
“Write the usage and amount on the back of the wooden token, and I will settle payment later. I have already informed all the shops in Nanking, so feel free to use them freely.”
“Thank you.”
Then the managers from Mingming Trading Company asked.
“Are we receiving them as well?”
I nodded.
“Once we board the same ship, are we not all comrades?”
….
I clapped my hands.
Clap, clap!
“Now then, everyone go out and enjoy yourselves.”
“Yes!”
They left the inn in small groups, pairing off.
Their faces radiant with joy at this unexpected windfall.
Among them were the three managers from Mingming Trading Company.
There was a reason I sent them out despite this expenditure.
To learn more about them, they needed to be away from the inn, in other places.
And it served to encourage our own people and the ship captains as well.
As I watched them depart, I spoke.
“Seo-woo Warrior, Jin Yu Warrior. Both of you, come out with me.”
“Yes.”
“I shall follow.”

* * *

That evening.
The shops surrounding the Inn where the Eun Hae Trading Company was staying rejoiced at the sudden influx of customers.
“This way, please!”
“At our establishment, we offer complimentary fragrant tofu!”
Those being led by the Shop Attendants hawking their wares scattered in various directions.
Among them were three Haeng-su from the Mingming Trading Company.
“What a windfall!”
“Where should we go?”
Then someone passing by spoke up.
“Isn’t the most famous Gisaeng House in Nanking the Oksu Pavilion?”
“That’s right. If you come all this way to Nanking and don’t visit there, you haven’t truly been to Nanking.”
Their eyes gleamed at those words.
In truth, they knew of the Oksu Pavilion.
It was far too expensive—a place they could never afford to even glance at ordinarily.
But now that they possessed the means, they summoned their courage and made their way to the Oksu Pavilion.
And soon each of them was enjoying themselves with Courtesans in tow.
“But, Im Chief Manager. It seems like the higher-ups have caught wind of what happened last time. Are we really safe?”
“What does it matter if they suspect? There’s no evidence.”
“True enough.”
“If the pepper quality is poor again this time, we’ll face punishment….”
“Can’t we just blame it on poor weather and bad harvests?”
“Since it’s a distant land, they won’t easily discover the truth. Even if it comes to light eventually, we’ll have already pocketed a substantial sum.”
They continued dreaming of making another fortune this time as well.

* * *

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sounds drifting up from below.
Right now, Seo-woo Warrior, Jin Yu Warrior, and I were concealed within Oksu Pavilion.
In truth, this place also served as where information for our Eunhae Trading Company converged.
The ceilings of each room were decorated with silk—intentionally so.
To keep those eavesdropping from being seen.
And those who had guided them here, as well as the Courtesans beside them, were all operatives from our trading company’s Information Bureau.
What they were drinking now was a beverage that resembled alcohol.
There are always loopholes everywhere.
And one such loophole was fruit cordial.
When you ferment grapes or apples together with sugar, you get a sweet and tart liquid that, when diluted with water, creates a tingling sensation remarkably similar to drinking actual alcohol.
Whether because they felt as though they were drinking alcohol for the first time in ages, or because their tension had eased, they were chattering away about secrets without restraint.
And from their conversation, I could discern that the one called Im Chief Manager held a position of leadership among them.
With this much, I could claim roughly a tenth of the profits from Mingming Trading Company’s pepper trade.

On the way back to the Inn.
A figure stood near the entrance of the Inn where we were staying.
But the aura emanating from him was far from ordinary.
– A supreme master of the highest caliber.
At Jin Yu Warrior’s words, I nodded slightly.
I cautiously made my way toward the Inn.
And as the distance between us closed, I felt a familiar energy emanating from him.
The distinctive aura of one trained in Imperial Palace Martial Arts.
– Someone from the Imperial Palace.
I conveyed this to my Guard Warriors through silent transmission as I approached him.
For an Imperial Palace Master of such caliber to seek me out here… what could this be about?
He too turned his head upon seeing me and approached.
“So you are Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master.”
“Yes, that is correct, but…”
“I bring the Emperor’s sacred seal.”
At those words, I immediately knelt and received a scroll from him.
I unfurled the scroll.
“…”
The contents of that scroll were remarkably simple and clear.

[Once your business is finished, do not linger. Depart at once.]

It seems the Emperor is in haste.

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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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