The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 681

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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 681

Chapter 681. Killing Two Birds with One Stone (4)

I nodded readily at Luzu’s request.
“Of course.”
Then I rose from my seat and followed her.
She led me to the backyard of the tavern.
If we hadn’t intended to meet in secret, going to Luzu’s room in public would have been unwise.
People might suspect our relationship, and all manner of rumors could spread.
In that regard, the backyard was an appropriate choice.
With people coming and going, no strange tales would arise, yet our conversation would remain beyond the reach of prying ears.
Seeing this, Luzu of Geumgyeru was no ordinary person.
That’s why she’d managed to win over a legendary assassin and married him.
“Thank you for never forgetting our Geumgyeru’s spicy braised chicken and continuing to favor it.”
“Please, it’s only because the food is that delicious.”
“By the way, I’ve been hearing quite the rumors lately. Is it true that the mountain the Eun Hae Trading Company purchased is a whetstone quarry?”
“That’s correct.”
“It seems those dressed in blue are quite distressed about it.”
Those in blue clothes who are distressed….
Who else could it be? Obvious.
“That would be the case.”
The Baekcheon Trading Company had monopolized the whetstone production area and needed to exercise their influence through it, yet now they couldn’t.
“They’re calling it a fox hunt. Tomorrow night at midnight.”
“…I see. Thank you.”
I bowed my head in gratitude.
That was extremely important information.
I’d suspected it, but they were moving this quickly….
If she hadn’t informed me, I would have suffered considerable damage.
So they’re calling it a fox hunt—does that make me the fox?
Well, I suppose they could see it that way.
After all, I’ve been deliberately doing things that irritate them.
Hmm… what should I do?
As I pondered briefly, a good idea came to mind.

After sharing a meal with those dispatched from the Beijing Branch, I sent a telepathic message to Jin Yu Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior.
– I have a request.
– Please speak.
– I’ve heard that tomorrow at midnight, the Namgung Family will launch an assault on the stone quarry.
– What?
– Is that truly the case?
– Yes. So I wish to verify whether this information is accurate. Please use the help of the Information Bureau here in Jinan to confirm it.
– Understood.
The intelligence Luzu from Geumgyeru had provided wouldn’t be entirely false, but I needed to know the details with absolute certainty.
Only then could I formulate a plan with perfect precision.
And so I led everyone toward the stone quarry.
After explaining the overall situation to Haeng-su from the Beijing Branch and Jo Jang from the Eun Pung-dae, I introduced them to those already working there.
The people supported by the Baek Yeom Merchant Guild were still laboring diligently, after all.
After guiding them to their quarters, I returned to the Hwangbo Family Estate.
Just as we were about to have dinner, Jin Yu Warrior and Yeo Eung-am Warrior returned.
“My lord, we have completed our investigation and returned.”
“You’ve worked hard. What is the situation?”
“The information you provided was accurate, my lord. Those concealing their identities are secretly gathering near the stone quarry. Their numbers appear to be approximately one hundred.”
“Most are ronin, but we also observed individuals who appear to be members of the Namgung Family.”
So they weren’t merely hiring others—they were personally taking action as well.
“Then we must prepare a response.”
I called for Palgap.
“Palgap!”
“Yes! You called for me?”
“Could you ask if I might see the House Master? Tell him it’s an extremely urgent and important matter—I wish to meet with him today without fail.”
“Understood.”

The House Master’s attendant came to find me that night.
I followed the attendant to the House Master’s office.
Upon entering the office, I found the House Master reviewing documents.
His busy demeanor didn’t feel like someone else’s concern.
“Please, sit comfortably. Would you care for some tea?”
“Yes.”
The House Master instructed his attendant to bring tea, but only prepared one cup.
“You’ll need tea as well, House Master.”
At my words, the House Master tilted his head in confusion, but soon nodded and ordered the attendant to bring a second cup for himself.
Shortly after, the attendant returned with tea and poured it for us both.
“Please, drink.”
“Thank you.”
Mm, it truly tastes as exquisite as befits the House Master’s palate.
“So, what brings you here?”
“Since you’re busy, I’ll speak directly to the point.”
“That’s what I prefer.”
“I believe you’ve received reports that suspicious individuals are gathering in Jinan.”
“….”
The House Master regarded me silently for a moment, then nodded.
“That’s right. Such reports have come in.”
“It’s the Namgung Family. They’ve hired ronin to launch an attack and seize the stone quarry I recently purchased.”
“So it was them after all.”
“Then, wouldn’t you wish to take revenge on the Namgung Family?”
“Revenge, you say….”
The House Master drank his tea in one gulp and set the cup down forcefully.
Clang!
“What’s the use of talking about it! They’re the ones who made my grandson what he is now with my own hands!”
“And we must also prevent that stone quarry from falling into the Namgung Family’s hands, mustn’t we?”
“Of course. I’ll provide warriors from the Main House.”
“Thank you.”
“How many do you need?”
“About fifty warriors should be sufficient.”
“…Will that be enough?”
If we mobilize too many warriors, the Namgung Family might catch wind of it.
And the Hwangbo Family’s influence over my stone quarry could grow as well.
After weighing all these factors, that number is just right.
“It’s sufficient. By the way, where is Hwangbo Seon-yu, the Great Swordmaster?”
“He’s probably resting at his quarters.”
“Then please summon him for me.”
At my request, the House Master called for his attendant, and shortly after, Hwangbo Seon-yu, the Great Swordmaster, entered the House Master’s office.
“You called for me?”
“Yes, sit.”
He seemed puzzled to find me present and took his seat.
“I didn’t call you here—it was Seonhyeop Mirang Great Swordmaster who asked me to summon you.”
“Is that so?”
I moistened my lips with tea before speaking.
“Didn’t the Great Swordmaster once reproach himself for failing to be of service to the Hwangbo Family?”
“He did.”
At those words, the House Master spoke.
“You needn’t harbor such thoughts. You’re already doing more than enough.”
“Father…”
Witnessing that tender exchange, I smiled faintly.
“Thus, Hwangbo Seon-yu Great Swordmaster, there is a matter where your assistance is needed.”
“Something I can help with?”
“Yes.”
I recounted the entire situation, and as I spoke, Hwangbo Seon-yu Great Swordmaster bristled with indignation.
“How dare they! These contemptible wretches!”
“Please, compose yourself. This matter demands a level head.”
“Ah, forgive me. You’re right.”
I calmed Hwangbo Seon-yu Great Swordmaster and broached the main point.
“Great Swordmaster, I understand there are Embroidered Uniform Guard Masters stationed in Jinan.”
“Are you suggesting we use other Guard Masters for the Hwangbo Family’s benefit?”
A chill permeated his voice.
He clearly found the notion of leveraging other Guard Masters for his family’s interests distasteful.
I grinned widely.
“Rest assured. Surely you know I understand your reservations.”
“Then?”
“This is precisely what they call killing two birds with one stone—everyone wins, and we gain unexpected benefits.”
“In what sense?”
“As you well know, isn’t His Majesty displeased with the Murim Alliance’s intrusions into the Imperial Palace?”
“Indeed.”
“And the Namgung Family currently leads the Murim Alliance. If members of the Namgung Family were to attack the Guard Masters, what would transpire?”
At my words, Hwangbo Seon-yu Great Swordmaster’s eyes gleamed.
“Such an act could be deemed treason.”
“Precisely.”
I continued.
“In other words, His Majesty would gain leverage to pressure the Namgung Family. Moreover, the Guard Masters who achieve great merit in this matter would solidify the Emperor’s trust.”
“Hmm, indeed. I see.”
“What say you? Does this pique your interest?”
“You…”
Hwangbo Seon-yu spoke with a serious expression.
“I’d like to recruit you as a special appointee to the Geumui Guard.”
“Haha. I’ve heard that story many times before.”
Cold sweat trickled down my back, but I continued speaking with practiced ease.
“However, I’ll graciously accept your sentiment. But we don’t have time for this—we need to move quickly. Shouldn’t we teach that detestable Namgung Family a lesson?”
“Indeed.”
He rose from his seat with a cold smile playing across his face.
“Father, I’ll take my leave now.”
“Go ahead.”
Hwangbo Seon-yu bowed hastily and departed from the House Master’s office.
Watching his retreating figure, the House Master clicked his tongue.
“You are truly a fearsome person.”
“I appreciate the compliment.”
Now, should I make my move as well?

* * *

It was a moonless night.
As late May approached, the evening air carried no bitter cold.
A group of men moved busily through the darkness.
Their numbers reached roughly a hundred.
Soon they arrived at the entrance of a mountain.
Torches illuminated scattered patches of ground, and I could see a group of men seated in a circle, eating a late meal.
“Venison tastes even better when eaten like this.”
“Indeed it does.”
“This meat tenderizer released by the Eun Hae Trading Company is truly something special.”
A man smiled upon hearing that conversation. His name was Namgung Mok.
He was the commander of the operation to seize the Eun Hae Trading Company’s stone quarry after attacking it, claiming negligent management as justification.
Recently, the Namgung Family had been pressuring the Hwangbo Family by wielding the monopoly rights to the stone quarry that the Baekcheon Trading Company controlled.
Thus, they reacted with keen interest to the existence of a new quarry.
Upon receiving word from the Main House, they immediately ordered him to seize that quarry.
For the Namgung Family, this was decidedly unwelcome news.
That was why the Namgung Family had stepped in, despite this being the Baekcheon Trading Company’s affair.
He spoke to his companion.
“This operation must succeed without fail. If we fail again, our superiors’ disappointment will be immense.”
“That’s certainly true. We’ll probably be abandoned just like them.”
The men he referred to were those who had recently attempted to manipulate Hwangbo Uk and conduct operations against the Hwangbo Family.
They were eventually exposed, and the Hwangbo Family executed them.
However, the Namgung Family simply denied any involvement, claiming ignorance.
Thus, to avoid being discarded like them, success was absolutely necessary.
When the promised time arrived.
Wheeee!
Namgung Mok blew his whistle. It was the signal.
The ronin he had gathered rushed toward the warriors guarding the stone quarry.
“Attack!”
“Kill them all!”
But the people at the stone quarry responded without panic.
“What?”
“Have these bastards lost their minds?”
“Ha! They actually came?”
Clang! Clang!
Crash! Clang-clang-crash!
Soon the stone quarry filled with the sound of cold steel clashing.
That was when it happened.
“Do you even know what you’re doing right now?”
“We’re just doing a job we were paid for. So die quietly, won’t you? Hehe.”
“Damn fools!”
The people at the stone quarry roughly tore off or ripped away their outer garments.
Beneath them, shimmering golden robes were revealed.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh!”
Thanks to the firelight, the attackers could not help but be shocked at recognizing those garments.
And for good reason—those robes were proof that they were the Geumui Guard.
“Daring to attack the Geumui Guard? You must be conspirators plotting treason! Arrest them all!”
“Yes, sir!”
At that shout, the Eun Pung-dae warriors and the Hwangbo Family warriors who had been hiding in the rear came rushing out.
“Uwaaaaah!”
“Protect the Geumui Guard Masters!”
“They’re rebels!”
In an instant, branded as rebels, the ronin faltered in fear.
“What, what is this? What’s happening?”
“We didn’t know!”
Naturally, they turned their resentment and accusations toward Namgung Mok.
“You bastard! You said we just needed to deal with the stone quarry warriors?”
“You deceived us?”
“We’re leaving! Don’t you know the Geumui Guard are people you must never touch?”
As the ronin said, attacking the Geumui Guard was strictly forbidden.
They would face the relentless pursuit of the Geumui Guard above all others, and a bounty would be placed on their heads.
In other words, even if they lived, they would cease to be living people.
And the ronin had no reason to accept a commission from the Namgung Family while taking on such risks.
In an instant, the ronin scattered and fled, leaving only the members of the Namgung Family Estate.
“Damn it!”
That exclamation meant there was no way out of this situation.
If his identity as a member of the Namgung Family were exposed now, nothing could be worse.
Namgung Mok bit his lip and pulled a poison pellet from his pocket.
And just as he was about to put it in his mouth.
Thwack!
“Ugh!”
A hidden projectile pierced through his hand, and the poison pellet fell to the ground.
Whoosh.
And someone stepped on the poison pellet, crushing it to dust.
“Where do you think you’re running off to so cowardly?”
“….”
“You lot are precious spoils to present to the Emperor, so what good is fleeing?”
Hwangbo Seon-yu grinned wickedly as he glared down at them.

* * *

I stood in the stone quarry dressed in the garb of an Eun Pung-dae member.
I wanted to observe everything at my leisure.
And watching Hwangbo Seon-yu press the Namgung Family members, I let out a bitter smile.
I’d never seen him so delighted before.
I clicked my tongue as I observed the opposite side.
That’s why you shouldn’t covet others’ wealth. Tsk, tsk.
Well then, shall we wrap this up now?
I plan to attribute all credit for this matter entirely to Hwangbo Seon-yu.
This incident involves both the Baekcheon Trading Company and the Namgung Family.
If I step forward carelessly and their vigilance increases, that would be troublesome.
For now, I need to appear as merely a capable Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company.
And the Emperor rewards those who perform well by giving them even more work.
So this is also a trick to make the Emperor assign me fewer tasks.
Though I’m not sure if it will work.
– Squeak?
Be quiet. You’re making me sad.

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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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