The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 686

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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 686

Chapter 686. The Forged Receipt Incident (4)

We took turns eating lunch while keeping watch over the estate.
During that time, there were no significant movements.
Whoosh!
Then a black hawk flew down and perched on Hwang San Estate Lord’s shoulder.
“Ah! You’ve arrived?”
And then came an approaching figure.
The black robes he wore resembled those worn by the two Guard Warriors who had disguised themselves as security personnel.
That’s why the official name of the security division protecting the Geumsan Money Exchange was the Black Robed Ghosts.
He was the leader of those Black Robed Ghosts.
“I greet you, Estate Lord.”
“Thank you for your efforts in coming.”
The Estate Lord turned his head toward me and spoke.
“Please report on the situation.”
“Ah, yes. Jin Yu Warrior.”
At my call, Jin Yu Warrior immediately gave a detailed report of the situation inside the estate.
“There are approximately one hundred fifty people inside the estate, and about seventy to eighty of them, roughly half, are warriors. Additionally, there are approximately five peak-level warriors.”
Five peak-level warriors meant this was deliberately orchestrated.
That many would be at the elder level in a mid-sized sect, so there was no reason for five such masters to be in a remote estate like this.
“And it appears the master craftsmen are working under the surveillance of the warriors, while what seem to be their families are separated by gender, living together in two separate chambers.”
“I see. They’re likely being coerced.”
It’s true that many commit crimes willingly, using their own skills.
But there are also those who become criminals against their will, forced by circumstances involving their families.
This case appears to be exactly that sort of situation.
“What shall we do, Estate Lord?”
The Black Robed Ghost Leader asked, and the Estate Lord answered.
“Squad One and Squad Two will strike, Squad Three will protect the craftsmen, Squad Four will rescue the families, and Squad Five will establish a perimeter.”
“Understood.”
I asked the Estate Lord.
“Will you proceed at night?”
“Why would we need to?”
His words carried the confidence that it mattered not whether they struck down the enemies in daylight or darkness.

And approximately half a shichen later.
I found myself marveling at the sight of five hundred men surrounding the estate.
“Quite impressive.”
“Our clients’ money is precious, and to protect such precious funds, this level of investment is necessary, wouldn’t you say?”
At those words, I felt a newfound respect for Jeon Jang-ju.
“And most importantly, you revealed their headquarters to us—how could we possibly let our hands remain idle in handling the rest?”
Jeon Jang-ju continued.
“Then I shall depart briefly, so you may witness how the Small Guild Master’s money is protected.”
In that moment.
A killing intent so sharp it made my skin prickle emanated from Jeon Jang-ju.
A black hawk soared from his shoulder, crying out with piercing clarity.
Keeeeee—!
That signal unleashed the Black Robed Ghosts, who charged into the estate.
And I witnessed with absolute clarity the final moments of the Sura Blood Sect members within that compound.
Ah… I made the right choice entrusting my money to Geumsan Money Exchange.
.
.
.
It took less than a shichen to clean up that place.
Given the time invested in locating it, the speed of resolution was almost absurdly swift.
Among those dragged out in complete subjugation was even the man I had tailed.
Their futures are now transparent.
Of course, I felt no pity or regret for them.
There were others more deserving of such sentiments.
Those who had been coerced into forging the receipts.
“My lord, what becomes of them now?”
At Myeong-jong Warrior’s question, I shook my head.
“I’m not entirely certain. That decision rests with Jeon Jang-ju.”
“That’s true enough.”
Then Jeon Jang-ju’s voice came from behind.
“I intend to hear their circumstances and apply appropriate leniency in determining their punishment. In professional terms, we call it mitigating factors.”
“Jeon Jang-ju.”
Despite having participated in combat, not a single drop of blood stained his clothing, nor was a single hair out of place.
Was this the true power of Hwagyeong?
Suddenly, the One-Snake Sword came to mind—he who swore to kill me next time we met.
He too had reached Hwagyeong.
If I am to survive, I must also ascend to Hwagyeong.
Of course, I must reach Hwagyeong for my ultimate goal as well.
“Now that matters are settled, I should return to my post.”
“It’s unfortunate that I cannot detain you further.”
Jeon Jang-ju’s expression was genuinely regretful.
“I have received a great favor from you in this matter, Small Guild Master. I’m not sure how to repay such kindness.”
“There is no favor to speak of.”
I expressed humility.
The fact that I have reached the pinnacle at this young age was not achieved through my own strength and talent alone.
It was possible because of advance knowledge and the help of many people, including Seolpung Palace’s Instructor.
In other words, it is the result of fortune and destiny combined.
In any case, since the realm of Hwagyeong is still distant, the best I can do is cultivate many connections that will protect me.
One of those people is Jeon Jang-ju standing before me.
That is also why I actively involved myself in this matter and created a debt of gratitude.
“To be honest, this matter was about protecting the Eun Hae Trading Company’s funds and my own money. It was also to prevent chaos in the Merchant Guild. If the Merchant Guild falls into disorder, how could we earn money?”
At my words, Jeon Jang-ju nodded in admiration.
“Indeed… you are truly a merchant, Small Guild Master.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Jeon Jang-ju, who had been pondering for a moment, spoke.
“Then let us do this. Should great danger ever befall you in the future, I, Hwang San, will help you even at great cost to myself.”
“What? There is no need for you to go to such lengths.”
Though I said so, this was actually the very words I had been waiting to hear.
“I hope you will not refuse even this.”
“If you insist on it that way, I understand. I will remember that promise of yours, Jeon Jang-ju.”
“Will merely remembering it suffice? Let me write it down formally for you.”
“No!”
I waved my hand.
“Jeon Jang-ju himself is a symbol of trust. And honestly, even if you forget, it matters not.”
He let out a soft laugh at my words.
“Then I must not forget. In that case, keep that whistle with you.”
“Pardon?”
“If you blow that whistle, I will hear it from anywhere and come to you. So use it when you are in urgent need.”
Then I should accept it.
“I accept it gratefully.”
He nodded at my words.
“But will you just leave for Beijing like this? After all, we have worked together as colleagues. It would be better to bid them a proper farewell before you go.”
“Of course. I was planning to ask for your help with that anyway.”
There is a saying that to see a person’s true character, one must observe how they handle their departure.
It means that how one leaves is equally important.
There is nothing more frustrating than having to clean up after someone who has left their work in disarray or failed to properly organize their affairs.
There is nothing good about giving someone cause to attack me or harbor resentment under the guise of this matter.
My way is to leave no opening, no matter how small, for the future.
Though it has only been a few days, I also wish to be remembered fondly by those I have grown close to.
There are also things I need to verify.
.
.
.
I entered the main branch of the Geumsan Money Lender in Hebei Province.
“What?! You! What’s the meaning of this? How can you suddenly take sick leave?”
“Ah, well… I apologize. There were circumstances.”
“Circumstances?”
“I’ll explain that.”
With those words, the Estate Lord approached me.
“Gasp! Estate Lord!”
Those who saw him quickly bowed their heads.
“As you all know, this employee has just returned from resolving the forged receipt incident that was a crisis facing the Geumsan Money Lender.”
“What?”
“What do you mean?”
The employees murmured in surprise.
“In fact, this employee was a member of the Inspection Department that I deployed to resolve this incident.”
“Gasp!”
“Is… is that really true?”
I smiled awkwardly and nodded.
“Yes. That’s how it came to be.”
Before coming here, I had coordinated this explanation with the Estate Lord.
“Now that the mission is complete, I’m returning to my original position. Thank you for your consideration during this time.”
“So that’s what happened. It was really good to see such capable work.”
“Thank you for viewing it favorably.”
I bowed respectfully.
“I’ll organize the work I’ve done and hand it over to another employee.”
“Ah, no. We can organize that ourselves.”
“It won’t take long. Just an hour.”
I immediately began organizing the duties I had undertaken.
And then came lunchtime.
I called over Kang Il, my colleague beside me.
“Do you have a moment?”
“Ah! Yes!”
I guided him to a secluded place and asked him a question.
“Before I disappeared, when you saw the forged receipt, how did you know it was a forgery?”
“…”
“I’d like you to tell me the truth. The reason I arranged this discreetly was to help you.”
Under my persistent persuasion, he finally sighed and answered.
“I also possess the skill to create receipts.”
“What?”
“In fact, my father was the one who made the receipt paper that was supplied to Geumsan Money Exchange. But when he heard that my Grandfather was gravely ill, he went down to our hometown.”
“I heard your hometown is in Anhui Province?”
“That’s correct. My Grandfather, who was supposedly gravely ill, recovered, and my father spent ten years caring for him there.”
“Then how did you manage living expenses?”
“Fortunately, my Grandfather had some wealth.”
“I see.”
“In any case, my father, unable to return, handed everything over to the man who had been working under him.”
Kang Il continued his explanation.
“Ten years later, my Grandfather passed away. And then one day, the Namgung Family Estate came looking for my father.”
“The Namgung Family Estate?”
“Yes. They apparently proposed to my father that he make receipt paper for a certain money exchange. So my entire family, except for me, left to take on the work that the Namgung Family Estate had arranged for them.”
I sensed something off in his words.
When he spoke of his father and family’s whereabouts, he spoke as if recounting something he had merely heard.
“Surely, you didn’t live with your family?”
At my question, he nodded.
“That’s right. I was preparing for the provincial examination in Beijing. My father said he wished there was at least one official in the family, so I took the test, and fortunately I passed the provincial examination and became a county official.”
He bit his lip.
“I learned about the Namgung Family Estate through my father’s letters. But… shortly after, all contact was completely cut off, and I went down to my hometown to search for news of my family.”
“….”
“Sigh… but no one knew anything about my family, and after much effort, I inquired with the Namgung Family Estate, but they also said they didn’t know.”
He continued.
“Then one day, a letter arrived at the place where I was studying. When I opened it, there was a receipt inside.”
A receipt?
“It was a Geumsan Money Exchange receipt made with my father’s craftsmanship. I mentioned earlier that I could also make receipts, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“It’s a skill I learned by helping my father since childhood. Because of that, I could recognize that the receipt was made by my father. At the same time….”
His expression grew pained.
“I could tell that my father had become entangled in a crime. Because on that receipt, written with anti-counterfeiting technique, were these words: ‘This is a forged receipt. If you discover counterfeit money made by my father, please expose it as a forgery so that no damage occurs.'”
That craftsman was truly remarkable.
Surely he must have been under strict surveillance, yet he managed to engrave letters and send them to his son.
It meant he trusted his son that much.
“So that’s why you took employment at Geumsan Money Exchange?”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I thought that if I was at Geumsan Money Exchange, I might discover traces of my father again.”
“I understand.”
“What my father made is slightly different from what the man who inherited the business makes. It’s something only the touch of the hands can discern… but for me, who spent so long handling what my father made, that much is easy. So the moment I touched that receipt, I knew.”
He sighed and continued.
“But when I realized it was a forged receipt, I was flustered and didn’t know what to do… I was grateful when you asked what was wrong.”
“Please don’t mention it. Thanks to you, I was able to resolve this mission. And I’m grateful that you trusted me and told me the situation.”
He asked with a worried expression.
“Um… could any of my family members be among those arrested this time?”
“What are your family members’ names?”
“Ah… my father uses the character for mountain. And my mother…”
At that moment, Jeon Jang-ju approached.
“Jeon Jang-ju.”
He nodded upon seeing Kang Il.
“So there was such a story behind this. My apologies. I happened to overhear without meaning to.”
“No, no. I was planning to tell you about this anyway and ask for your forgiveness.”
“Ask for forgiveness? But why?”
“Because I entered the money exchange with a hidden purpose…”
Jeon Jang-ju spoke with a smile.
“Regardless of your purpose, I am delighted to have gained such a capable employee as you. Rather than dwelling on this, why don’t you come with me?”
“What? Where to?”
“Don’t you wish to see your family?”
“Of course I do, but… surely not?”
“Yes. Your family is currently being protected by the Black Robed Ghosts. Since they committed no crime, they will be released soon. And your father’s case should qualify for leniency, so he will be freed shortly as well.”
“Thank you! Thank you so much!”
I felt a warm satisfaction watching this scene unfold. After all, I had inadvertently prevented a family from being separated and brought them back together.
When I first met Kang Il, he had been reluctant to discuss the Namgung Family Estate.
That was likely because his father had been introduced to work through the Namgung Family Estate.
And in the process of investigating this matter, he probably hadn’t received favorable treatment.
Then could the Namgung Family Estate also be connected to the Sura Blood Sect?
It was certain that the Murim Alliance and the Sura Blood Sect had some relationship, and since the Namgung Family Estate was the leading force behind the Murim Alliance, the possibility was quite high.
The Emperor would be pleased to hear about this.
Though he would tease me for bringing trouble upon myself.

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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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