The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 692

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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 692

Chapter 692. The Road to Deliver the Wedding Invitation (2)

At my words, the Bandit Guide I held trembled in terror and pleaded.
“P-please spare me.”
“Why are you telling me that? We could have slipped in safely and quietly, but you’re the one who screamed and called them all here, aren’t you?”
“….”
“So whether you get hit by an arrow or not, that’s your fault, not mine.”
At my words, his face crumpled in despair.
In truth, I had anticipated he would cry out to summon someone, so I deliberately refrained from gagging him.
It was convenient to have him call people over instead of me doing it.
Just then, someone shouted from above.
“Who are you?”
“Are you the leader of these bandits?”
“No, I’m not the leader. Our leader is….”
At that moment, the man I held captive cried out.
“The leader is dead! This bastard cut off his head!”
“What?”
“That’s why I’m in this mess! So open the gate right now! Don’t attack this guy—open the gate immediately!”
In that instant.
Whoosh!
An arrow flew toward the head of the Bandit Guide I held in my grasp.
I shifted his body, and the arrow embedded itself in his shoulder instead.
Thunk!
“Aaaaagh!”
He screamed in agony.
“Hey! You bastard! What are you doing!”
“The leader is dead, you said? Then the new leader is me.”
“I see.”
A new leader had appeared?
I smiled wickedly and spoke to the Guard Warriors beside me.
“A leader, apparently.”
“Indeed. What shall we do?”
“Deal with him.”
At my command, Seo-woo Warrior, Jin Yu Warrior, and Yeo Eung-am Warrior rushed toward him.
Screeeech!
A barrage of arrows poured down upon these warriors.
However, the arrows were few in number, and they posed no threat to the three Guard Warriors who had reached the pinnacle of martial mastery.
The three Guard Warriors advanced, dodging and deflecting the arrows as they came.
Jin Yu Warrior, moving fastest toward the man who had declared himself leader, severed his neck in a single stroke.
Thus, he lost his life mere moments after proclaiming himself leader.
Perhaps he was among the shortest-reigning leaders in history?
With his death, the arrows ceased, and chaos erupted.
Whether from fear or some other reason, the gate opened.
And so we entered inside.
Of course, suspecting this might be a trap, I kept the Bandit Guide I held in my grip as a shield and remained vigilant.
Those inside watched us with eyes full of dread.
I spoke to them.
“The reason I’ve come is to recover what you’ve stolen from the Gwangjun Merchant Group. If you return these things willingly, I will spare your lives.”
“….”
“What will you do?”
At my words, the Bandit Guide who had been suffering from arrow wounds let out a sharp cry.
“Move quickly! Bring it out from the warehouse! These men are merciless! If you don’t listen to him, we’ll all die! Most of those who went out hunting have already fallen to these men!”
Since he was relatively strong among the bandits, those inside immediately began scrambling to obey his command.
Indeed, in a place like this, the stronger ones would naturally be out on raids.
Among those remaining here, there appeared to be almost no combat personnel.
That explained why so few arrows had been fired earlier.
As I thought this, items began piling up before us.
Horse saddles and ornaments.
These were quite valuable pieces.
How much anguish must the Gwangjun Merchant Group have suffered losing these?
An Elder among them stepped forward and spoke carefully.
“These are all the items remaining here.”
“You haven’t brought everything yet.”
“Pardon?”
“I hear that some of the merchant company’s people were brought here as slaves and are currently being held captive….”
And I added one more thing, looking at him.
“Now that I think about it, Elder, it seems you and I have met before.”
The Elder trembled at my words, fear evident in his expression.
From his reaction, it was certain.
He remembered me.
More precisely, he remembered me moving alongside Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master of the Northern Sea Ice Palace.
And in this Liaoning, the Northern Sea Ice Palace was as fearsome as the Emperor himself.
“I’m currently on my way to the Northern Sea Ice Palace, and I’m wondering what to report to the Palace Master about this.”
At those words, the Elder urgently dropped to his knees and pleaded.
“Please, I beg your forgiveness. Grant me one more chance!”
“Do not disappoint me.”
At my warning, he urgently issued orders to his men, and those who had been bound inside were dragged out.
Roughly thirty people in total.
They appeared to be trading company employees and porters, including Oh Haengsu.
It seemed all those who had learned martial arts were already dead.
“Gasp!”
Someone among them cried out upon seeing me.
“Young Master Eun!”
“Welcome. Are you perhaps Oh Haengsu?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“I remember you well. Then please examine your companions. Is there anyone among those brought here who is missing from this place?”
At my question, he looked over those dragged out with him and shook his head.
“There is no one missing.”
“Fortunately, they didn’t play tricks.”
I spoke to Lee Pil Warrior and Myeong-jong Warrior.
“Release them.”
“Yes.”
Then, pointing to the cargo that had been stacked earlier, I spoke to them.
“Take these and leave this place. You two warriors guide them on the way out.”
“Understood.”
“Ma Warrior and Chang-un Warrior, move with them as well.”
They departed with the Gwangjun Trading Company people.
Now then, shall we make our exit as well?
I spoke to the man I had been holding.
“It was a brief time, but it was pleasant.”
“Damn!”
I gave him a light push, and he tumbled forward, crashing to the ground.
And I observed those gathered in that place.
Most were elderly or frail.
If I left them as they were, they would become prey for other bandits.
However… there were quite a few women, more than I had expected.
“Is there perhaps someone here among you who was not originally a bandit?”
“…”
Seo-woo Warrior spoke from beside me.
“Do not hesitate. Our lord is known as Seon Hyeop Mi-rang. He does not harm without reason.”
At this, most raised their hands.
An elder stepped forward as their representative and spoke.
“We were not bandits from the beginning. We were driven from our farmland and became wandering refugees, until we were captured by bandits and forced to live as bandits against our will.”
I looked at the elder.
“I understand you were also with the bandit group previously.”
“That is true. I will not deny what I have done. I was captured by bandits when I was young, and what could I do but stay with them or face death?”
He was right.
Some become bandits out of necessity to survive, but many are forced into banditry against their will.
They expand their ranks and groom replacements to support them when they grow too old to raid themselves.
It’s a repugnant yet tragic cycle.
These families never wanted to become bandits in the first place.
That’s why I couldn’t simply leave them behind.
Sigh… why do I always invite trouble upon myself?
I spoke to them.
“Is there anyone here capable of farming?”
At my question, they looked toward the Old Man, who nodded and replied.
“More than half the people here can farm.”
“If I provide you with land, could you swear to dedicate yourselves faithfully to farming and living off it?”
“That wouldn’t be difficult. We became displaced refugees because we were driven from the lands where we farmed.”
Indeed, these past few years of poor harvests had created countless refugees like them.
“Then what more could we ask for if we could farm again and sustain ourselves? Only… I don’t understand your true intention behind such an offer.”
“There is no hidden intention.”
“Pardon?”
“If we simply left you here, would other bandits leave you in peace?”
“…”
“And if not, you’d starve to death anyway.”
Their faces darkened at my words.
“I don’t spare those who bare their claws at me, but otherwise I show some mercy. That’s why I’m making this proposal.”
I continued.
“I’ll secure farmland for you in this region. Farm there.”
“Is that truly possible? And… is that really all we need to do?”
“In exchange, you must serve me without pay for the next ten years. That’s only fair to recoup the land’s value, wouldn’t you say? After that, we’ll decide then.”
The Old Man nodded gravely.
“We’ll do as you say. Honestly, even if you killed us all here, we’d have no complaint. We’ve violated the greatest taboo of this land.”
Indeed, not touching anyone connected to the Northern Sea Ice Palace was the greatest taboo in Liaoning.
Yet I was curious why they’d broken it anyway.
“Why did you break that taboo in the first place?”
When I asked, the Old Man answered readily.
“The new leader who took command this time was skeptical of the old customs.”
I see.
Customs can sometimes be outdated or obsolete, but not all of them are.
Some must be upheld without question.
“Still, I’m grateful that you’ve spared us despite this.”
“Why thank me? I’m simply an exploitative employer who’ll work you for free for ten years.”
“A truly exploitative employer claims to be a benevolent one.”
“…”
“Then I should prepare to depart this place immediately?”
“Yes, do so.”
Their preparations to leave the wooden palisade proceeded far more swiftly than I had anticipated.
After all, this was merely a temporary shelter for people who spent their lives wandering from place to place.
I led them toward the location where my original party was staying.

“Small Guild Master! You’ve returned quickly.”
“But who are these people?”
I nodded and offered an explanation.
“They are those who lived alongside the Fire Bandits.”
“What?”
“Why would you bring such people…”
“We should hate the sin, not the sinner. While we killed the Fire Bandits in self-defense, we cannot transfer that guilt onto them, can we?”
My words moved the hearts of those in the Merchant Guild, their faces brightening with admiration.
“Ah, our Small Guild Master truly has a generous spirit.”
Me? Generous?
I felt a prickling sensation at the back of my head and turned to see Palgap staring at me.
His expression seemed to say: ‘What in the world are they talking about?’
What was that look?
.
.
.
Several days later.
We finally arrived near the location of the Gwangjun Merchant Group.
After stationing the bandits’ families and my own party members there, I led only the captive members of the Gwangjun Merchant Group toward their headquarters.
The Gate Keeper saw us and rushed forward in astonishment.
“Aren’t you the Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company? And… Oh Haengsu? No! Gold Manager is here too… I heard you had been kidnapped?”
“The Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company rescued us.”
At those words, the Gate Keeper bowed deeply.
“Thank you so much! Thank you so very much!”
“Is Bok Yun Sub-leader here?”
“Ah, yes! I shall bring him at once.”
He rang the bell at the gate, and soon people came pouring out.
“What is happening?”
“What could warrant such an urgent alert… Gasp!”
They stared at those I had brought, their faces etched with shock.
Like witnessing the dead return to life.
Indeed, had a few more years passed, few among them would have remained alive.
Then Bok Yun Sub-leader caught sight of me and rushed forward with delight.
“Eun Small Merchant Leader!”
“Bok Sub-leader!”
“What in the world is happening here?”
I explained the entire situation to him from beginning to end.
From the attack by the Fire Bandits on the road to rescuing those they had taken.
“In truth, we had been searching everywhere after discovering the bodies of those killed by the bandits and learning of those who had been captured. Yet you not only rescued them but also recovered our goods! I don’t know how to repay such kindness.”
I smiled and spoke.
“Kindness? What kindness exists between us? Am I not your sworn brother, Jin-u?”
“That’s right. You are my sworn brother.”
“Sworn brothers don’t concern themselves with such debts.”
“Still, gratitude is gratitude.”
“If you truly insist, then grant me one request.”
“What is it? Please, speak freely.”
“Could you inquire about farmland available for purchase in this area?”
“Farmland? Whatever for?”
“I intend to provide farmland to the remaining families of the bandits who attacked us, so they might earn their living through agriculture.”
“What?”
His expression shifted to one of shock.
And rightfully so—few men commit such madness as I do.
“The bandits themselves must face justice for attempting to kill us, but their families bear no guilt. Did they choose to become bandits? They were driven from their farmlands and wandered until they fell into this life.”
I continued.
“And hatred begets hatred. I wish to sever that cycle of vengeance, even in this small way.”
No matter how I justify it, the truth remains that we killed their kin.
A merchant caravan traverses the entire Empire in pursuit of profit, and in doing so, enemies are made whether we intend it or not.
So if I can reduce even one blade aimed at us by extending grace instead, wouldn’t that be worthwhile?
That is my honest sentiment.
It may be deception, but it is how I choose to protect myself and the Eun Hae Trading Company.
Yet people call me the Immortal Chivalry Beauty for such selfish calculations—how embarrassing.
– Chirp?
Yes… thank you for comforting me.

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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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