The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 693

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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 693

Chapter 693. On the Way to Deliver Wedding Invitations (3)

Bok Yun Sub-leader spoke with admiration.
“My, truly the Eun Small Merchant Leader possesses remarkable vision. I could never imagine such a thing myself.”
“You flatter me. It is merely a consideration for myself and our trading company.”
“Yet that is no simple matter.”
He continued to express his amazement.
“Ah, forgive me! I’ve kept you standing far too long, a guest from afar. Please, come inside!”
“Thank you.”
Seo Hyang and I entered the Gwangjun Trading Company together.
A moment later.
We were served refreshments in the Guest Reception Room.
“But what brings you here? Have you come again to travel to the Northern Sea Ice Palace?”
“That is partly true, but I came for another purpose.”
I answered thus while withdrawing a crimson envelope from my robes and presenting it.
“Hmm? What is this…? Could it be?”
“Yes. I am to be married this time.”
Though I’ve said this many times already, why does my face burn so?
Bok Sub-leader opened the wedding invitation I had presented and laughed heartily.
“Hahahaha! So the Eun Small Merchant Leader is finally taking the step!”
“Indeed, that is the case.”
“My congratulations. May I ask who the bride is?”
“She came with me.”
At my words, he momentarily wore a dazed expression before speaking.
“She came with you? Could it be!”
I gestured toward Seo Hyang beside me and spoke.
“Here—I am to marry Gwak Vice-Manager.”
“Ah! As I suspected!”
“What?”
“In truth, it was not unexpected. Hehehehe. The way you looked at each other was far from ordinary.”
What? Did I do that?
“In any case, my congratulations. I shall make certain to attend.”
After spending a pleasant time with Bok Sub-leader, I met with the Gwangjun Trading Company’s Merchant Guild Leader that evening.
The Merchant Guild Leader expressed his gratitude to me and, as I requested, introduced me to farmland.
And the next day, I purchased the farmland I had been shown and, bringing the families of the bandits I had brought with me, headed toward that farmland.
“This is the land where you shall cultivate your crops.”
“Thank you. I’m truly grateful.”
“To be honest, am I not the one who killed your families? And I brought you here to work the fields, so you need not thank me.”
“Please don’t speak ill of yourself intentionally.”
But it’s the truth….
Liaoning turned out to be better for farming than I expected, so if they work diligently, they shouldn’t struggle to survive.
“And we do not resent the Great Hero. If we climbed a mountain we were told not to climb and died, would we resent the mountain? We resent the one who urged us to climb it.”
Now that I think about it, that’s what Palgap said.
The one they resent is not us, but the dead leader who incited them to attack us.
If they think of it that way, then I’m satisfied.
Then should I head to the Northern Sea Branch now?
I hope nothing troublesome happened there.
.
.
.
The next day.
We set out toward the Northern Sea again.
Bok Yun’s Spouse felt disappointed, but we both understood how busy we were.
“I’m not sure if they’ll adapt well to that land.”
I shook my head in response to Palgap’s concern.
“They’ll adapt fine. They were farmers from the start.”
“That’s true, but what I’m worried about is whether other bandit groups might attack them.”
“Ah, about that.”
I chuckled softly.
“I have a solution. I’m planning to handle that matter while visiting the Northern Sea Ice Palace.”
“What method is it?”
“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you already, would it?”
“…Only you find it unfun, sir.”
“I think that’s the most important thing though?”
At my words, Palgap sighed and spoke.
“I won’t ask then.”
Seo Hyang beside us laughed at our exchange.
In truth, the reason I didn’t answer Palgap’s question was because I was still deliberating how to resolve it.
Having the Northern Sea Ice Palace protect the farmland would be most certain, but the Northern Sea Ice Palace would need to gain something for their effort to be worthwhile.
If it becomes a one-sided bestowal of favor from the Northern Sea Ice Palace, it could become problematic later.
Soon we entered the true grassland territory, and the temperature began to drop sharply.
The most important thing to be careful about in this grassland territory is the tribal settlements.
But there’s nothing to worry about.
Most will avoid us the moment they see the Eun Hae Trading Company’s banner.
After all, we caused quite a commotion before, and we’ve also traveled with Bing Haerin, Young Palace Master.
And thanks to the signal whistle Bok Yun gave us, we can also receive help from friendly tribes.
I continued running before finally stopping to change into warmer clothes.
As we drew near the Northern Sea, the weather had shifted from merely cool to genuinely cold.
Once we resumed our journey, we arrived at the Northern Sea shortly thereafter.
“Whoa, whoa!”
The carriage came to a halt, its door swinging open, and I stepped down.
Snow was falling.
Seeing the snow plain with its gentle flurries reminded me of the Ancestor’s Anbae, which I had encountered through Cho Seol-hui before.
“It’s incredibly cold here. Is this the Northern Sea?”
The one asking was Ma Sun-bok Warrior.
“Yes, this is the Northern Sea.”
“Just days ago it was sweltering, yet here snow is falling.”
“That’s why the Northern Sea is called the Land of Mystery. Snow falls here year-round, and in winter it only grows colder—the snow never melts.”
“Working in a place like this….”
I could sense what he was about to say.
“If you’re concerned about Gu Haengsu, there’s no need to worry. He’s already adapted and is managing well.”
“Ah, my apologies.”
“Not at all. It’s only natural to be concerned for one’s superior.”
I offered a gentle smile and entered the Northern Sea Branch’s main hall.
The Gate Keeper standing guard there greeted us.
“I pay my respects to the Third Sub-unit Leader.”
“It’s been some time. How has the branch been?”
“Thanks to your fortune, there’s been nothing of particular concern.”
“I see. Is the Branch Manager inside?”
“He went to a nearby Hunter Village. I’ll send someone to bring him back at once.”
While he sent for the Branch Manager, we exchanged greetings with the Vice Branch Director and took a late meal.
Later, as I sat in my quarters drinking warm tea with Seo Hyang, I heard Jin Yu Warrior’s voice from outside.
“My lord. The Vice Branch Director has arrived.”
Hmm? The Vice Branch Director? Not the Branch Manager?
“Come in.”
The door opened and the Vice Branch Director entered.
“I….”
The moment I saw his face, I knew something had gone wrong.
“What has happened?”
“The Branch Manager and his party, who went to the Hunter Village today, never arrived at the Hunter Village.”
“….”
I had hoped nothing would occur here, yet trouble had erupted once again.
I rose from my seat and spoke.
“Immediately organize a search party. And request support from the Hunter Village as well.”
“Understood.”
“Make haste.”
He hurried out of my quarters, and I began preparing to leave as well.
At that moment, Seo Hyang spoke up.
“Sub-leader. Please take Geumryeong’s saliva with you when you go.”
“Pardon?”
Wait—she was telling me to bring Geumryeong’s saliva? What did that mean?
“And it would be helpful if Ma Sun-bok Warrior accompanied you as well.”
“Understood. Then, I’ll be on my way.”

I left my quarters.
When I arrived at the Training Ground, the warriors had already completed their search preparations.
“Please, let me go too!”
I heard a shout from beside me, and turning my head, I saw Ma Sun-bok Warrior.
“I heard that Master Gu Pyo disappeared along with the others! I came here hoping to find him, but…”
I turned to look at the Squad Leader who commanded the Eun Pung-dae of the Northern Sea Branch.
Those who lead the Eun Pung-dae at each branch are called Squad Leaders, meaning “small commanders.”
“Was Ma Warrior excluded from this search?”
“Yes. We deemed it too dangerous since he’s still inexperienced and lacks experience in the Northern Sea.”
“I see. However, I would appreciate it if he could participate this time. Ma Warrior is someone that Master Gu Haengsu, who went missing, has been supporting. How anxious must he be, knowing his benefactor has disappeared?”
“You don’t need to explain your reasoning like that. You can simply order it.”
He waved his hand dismissively, but I shook my head.
Just because I’m a Sub-leader doesn’t mean I should issue orders unilaterally.
If I do, it could breed resentment in their hearts.
They had made this decision through what they considered a reasonable process, so if someone above them simply overturned it, who would be pleased?
And so Ma Warrior joined the search party, and we set out from the Northern Sea Branch to conduct our search.
“This is a path traveled for years. I cannot believe the Branch Manager and his party simply lost their way.”
The Squad Leader continued.
“I suspect they may have been attacked by a Spirit Creature.”
I too believed that possibility was quite high.
As we searched the surrounding area, a group approached us.
Hunters.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Oh! You’re here too, Sub-leader.”
“Yes.”
I cupped my fist and bowed my head to them.
“The Branch Manager and his party have gone missing. I would greatly appreciate your assistance.”
“Of course. How could we not help, given the debt our village owes to the Eun Hae Trading Company?”
He was Heuk Cheol the Hunter, the son of the Tribal Chief of the Hunter Village.
We had a connection from before—he had warned us that the Snow Wind was coming and provided us with quarters.
Beside him was his son, Bok-i.
It seemed the Tribal Chief, being elderly, had sent his son and grandson in his stead.
“The timing is unfortunate. Recently, there have been reports of the Child-Cry Bird being heard in the nearby area, and I was about to warn you.”
“The Child-Cry Bird?”
Heuk Cheol the Hunter answered my question.
“It’s a bird that makes sounds like a child crying. It has white feathers similar to snow.”
“Then it must be difficult to spot.”
“So I’ve heard.”
At those words, I could only let out a wry laugh.
“So that means you’ve never actually seen one yourself?”
“That’s correct. Normally, you’d have to venture much further north to encounter such a malevolent spirit creature. It never came this far south because of Seolpung Palace, but it seems the recent power struggles have driven it down here.”
“I see.”
“That creature is about twice the size of an adult, with a beak and talons sharp as blades. It lures people in with the sound of a child crying, and once they draw near, it strikes them down with its beak and claws.”
“So it primarily targets humans?”
“Not exactly.”
Heuk Cheol the Hunter shook his head.
“The Child-Cry Bird’s call sounds like the offspring of whatever creature hears it. After all, isn’t protecting one’s young an instinct shared by all animals?”
“Using that instinct to hunt! It’s certainly no benevolent spirit creature.”
He nodded with concern.
“Indeed. And the Child-Cry Bird creates powerful winds with its wings, obscuring vision and causing loss of balance, making it extremely difficult to engage.”
“I understand. Thank you for the warning. Let’s resume our search.”
And so we began searching again.
It was now mid-June.
The Snow Wind didn’t blow as frequently as it did in winter, but that didn’t mean it didn’t blow at all.
In summer, it blew at regular intervals, so we could simply avoid those times.
According to Heuk Cheol the Hunter, the Snow Wind would blow in two days.
“So we must find them by tomorrow at the latest if we’re to return safely.”
“Understood.”
In truth, I had no such concerns for myself.
Because of the Eun Moo-geom I possessed, the Snow Wind didn’t blow around me.
It was as if the Snow Wind parted around me.
But I couldn’t reveal this to the others.
And I couldn’t search this vast expanse alone.
So, joining forces with the people of the Hunter Village, we continued our search, but the Branch Manager and his party were nowhere to be found.
The continuous snowfall and wind had erased their footprints.
“This is troubling. The sun will set soon.”
“Once the sun sets, the spirit creatures become active. We must hurry to find a suitable place, build a fire, and prepare our defenses.”
At Heuk Cheol the Hunter’s words, I nodded in agreement.
“Squad Leader, the two of you confer and find a place for us to camp for the night.”
“Understood.”
Then Ma Sun-bok Warrior approached me and spoke.
“I… Sub-leader, there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is the matter?”
“I discovered something unusual a moment ago.”
According to what Seo Hyang had said earlier, Ma Sun-bok Warrior’s role would be crucial this time as well.
“Where is that place? Please guide us there.”
Ma Sun-bok Warrior spoke with an uncertain expression.
“It’s possible that what I found might be nothing of importance. If so, I apologize for stopping everyone in their tracks….”
“Not at all. I was thinking of taking a rest anyway, so please don’t worry. And we don’t yet know whether it’s meaningless or not. Besides, what does it matter if it turns out to be useless?”
I continued speaking.
“If you become so anxious that you overlook something important, there will be no way to recover from it later. So I would like you to have more confidence.”
In truth, given his background, it was understandable that confidence came difficult to him.
He had never been in a situation where he could afford to make mistakes.
Yet his powers of observation were genuine.
I needed to instill some confidence in him.
I ordered everyone to rest briefly, then followed him with only my Guard Warriors.
“It’s here.”
He pointed to something with his hand.
It was a Snow Cliff, and the middle section was deeply indented.
“Wasn’t that carved away by the wind?”
Chang-un Warrior’s words made him shake his head.
“That was clearly carved deliberately by someone. The traces of accumulated snow beneath it are proof. If it had been carved by the wind, would there be such a thick pile of debris remaining below it like that?”
Ah, now that he mentions it….
Then who on earth carved this?

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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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