The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 716

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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 716

Chapter 716. Chung-ui Hall (3)

As I pondered this, I spotted several familiar faces.
First, there was Kwon Eul Grand Hero, the younger brother of Kwon Jik Grand Hero.
When I smiled at him, he nodded lightly and returned the smile.
And… ah, there he is as well.
Another familiar face.
Song Cheong—the man who had dared to tease Seo Hyang during the Chungyeongseong incident, stirring my displeasure.
I offered him a smile, but he went pale and stiffened his entire body.
Hmm, was I too harsh before?
But that was of his own making, so there’s nothing to be done about it.
Had he targeted only me and not teased Seo Hyang, I wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.
Or rather, if he hadn’t provoked me at all, nothing would have happened.
Perhaps the reason these Gold-Clad Guard Masters are showing such a reaction is because of Song Cheong.
Well, it doesn’t matter.
Since they’ll follow the instruction well even without their spirits being broken from the start, it’s good that I don’t need to exert myself unnecessarily.
I addressed them.
“As I introduced earlier, my name is Eun Seo-ho. I serve as the Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company.”
“I welcome you all on behalf of those here.”
In response to Kwon Eul Grand Hero’s words, I cupped my fist and spoke.
“Thank you for the welcome. Then may we proceed directly to the instruction?”
“Of course.”
At this, I gestured to Palgap, who hung the diagram he had been holding on the wall.
“As you can see here, a merchant is one who operates with the purpose of selling goods and obtaining profit. What matters here are three things: the goods, the profit, and the movement.”
The Grand Heroes listened intently to my explanation, and some took notes with brush and paper.
“These three elements cannot be ranked by superiority or importance, and if even one is lacking, then that person is not a true merchant.”
I continued my explanation in this manner.
After some time had passed, one of the Gold-Clad Guard Masters raised his hand.
“I have a question.”
“Yes, but what should I call you?”
“My name is Kang Yeo.”
“Kang Yeo Grand Swordmaster, then. What troubles you?”
“How much longer must we study theory? Why can’t we just go out and practice instead?”
“No. You cannot.”
I spoke while looking not only at Kang Yeo Grand Swordmaster but at everyone present.
I could see several of them growing restless in their seats, their bodies shifting with boredom.
True enough, the Gold-Clad Guards are from the martial traditions.
Those accustomed to constant physical labor often find it unbearable to sit still and absorb knowledge through listening—it’s a common affliction among such men.
While I’d selected the more intellectually capable among the Gold-Clad Guards, they were fundamentally creatures of action rather than contemplation, preferring movement to the study of texts.
“Theory holds greater importance than most realize. Without understanding the principles, how can knowledge translate into proper action?”
I continued.
“Now then, let us verify whether you’ve absorbed my explanations thus far. Answer the question I pose correctly, and I shall grant you a quarter hour of rest.”
Their eyes brightened at my words.
“Consider a merchant named Gapdol who resolved to profit from selling salt. Seeking to understand how to generate profit, he traveled to the salt production areas and purchased salt directly from the master craftsmen at cost price, then journeyed to the most distant location from the salt ponds to sell it. Yet he ultimately ruined himself. Why?”
In response to my question, they raised their hands one by one, each offering their own answer.
“He failed to account for transportation costs.”
“Incorrect.”
“The salt dissolved in the rain during transit.”
“Incorrect.”
Various answers came forth, yet none struck the mark.
I revealed the correct answer to them.
“The Empire currently enforces a salt distribution law. Under this statute, only the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild may conduct wholesale operations, and all retailers must purchase salt exclusively through the Imperial Direct Merchant Guild.”
“Ah….”
Their faces fell blank at my explanation.
“This is the power of theory. Without understanding it, no amount of wealth or determination will yield anything but ruin.”
I smiled wickedly.
“Since no one arrived at the correct answer, we shall continue the instruction.”
The Gold-Clad Guards’ expressions darkened with disappointment.
I pressed on.
“Henceforth, I shall pose unexpected questions during the theoretical instruction. Should you fail to answer properly, we shall repeat the same material.”
“When will the lesson conclude then?”
“When we have completed all the theory that must be learned.”
“Does that mean the instruction has no set end time?”
“Precisely. Should you follow along well, we may finish this evening, but if not….”
I smiled faintly.
“We shall conclude at dawn tomorrow.”
“Sir?”
If they failed to master what needed learning, we would simply continue through the night. So be it.
The Gold-Clad Guards were fundamentally martial cultivators—a night or two without sleep would hardly trouble them.
Nor would it trouble me.
I must provide instruction commensurate with the coin received. Such is the merchant’s way.
Besides, there existed another reason for conducting theoretical instruction until dawn.

* * *

The next morning at dawn.
The Commander-in-Chief stepped out into the Training Ground of Chung-ui Hall, rolling his shoulders.
“You’ve arrived, sir?”
The Gold-Clad Guards in the Training Ground quickly bowed respectfully to him.
“Good morning. Though it seems fewer people have come to the Training Ground than usual.”
He surveyed the Training Ground and let out an exasperated sigh.
“A Gold-Clad Guard must never neglect their training! Yet what in the world is this?”
At this, one of the Gold-Clad Guards spoke carefully.
“Sir, those who haven’t arrived yet are currently in an educational session.”
“An educational session?”
“Yes, sir.”
He pointed toward a building.
“In that conference room, sir.”
The Commander-in-Chief, upon seeing that location, nodded slowly.
That conference room was where Eun Seo-ho was conducting his educational sessions.
“But they started the education this early in the morning?”
“No, sir.”
“No? What do you mean?”
“The education didn’t start at dawn—rather, the education that began yesterday morning still hasn’t ended.”
At those words, the Commander-in-Chief’s mouth fell open.
“What, what did you say?”
He quickly made his way toward that conference room. Because it was summer, the windows left open gave a clear view inside the room.
Twenty Gold-Clad Guards, their expressions filled with fierce determination, focused intently ahead.
And Eun Seo-ho, still wearing a smiling face, continued conducting the education.
At the sight, the Commander-in-Chief unconsciously took a step backward and returned to the Training Ground as if nothing had happened.

* * *

I glanced toward the window, sensing a presence there.
Who could it be?
But that aura soon receded into the distance.
Ah… it seems the Commander Dae-hyeop was quite worried about me.
By then, dawn was already breaking far in the distance.
In the end, I had pulled an all-nighter.
I observed the Gold-Clad Guard Masters once more.
Their intense, focused gaze burning with concentration. Heh heh heh.
Their focus was at its peak.
I had decided that all the Masters must answer my questions before we could move forward to the next topic.
Naturally, this slowed the pace of instruction considerably, which is why the lesson extended to this hour.
Tap.
“This concludes the theoretical instruction.”
“Uhhhhhhh!”
“F-finally, it’s… it’s over.”
“Ughhhh.”
Before my words had even finished, they all collapsed onto the wooden table in the conference room.
“I always thought the Commander-in-Chief was the most terrifying… but I was wrong.”
“This is truly a narrow escape from death.”
Listening to their words, I continued speaking.
“Then, you should conduct today’s training, shouldn’t you? The Commander Dae-hyeop just visited a moment ago.”
“….”

After the lesson ended, I made my way to my quarters.
During the instruction period, I was to lodge and eat at the Chung-ui Hall.
My assigned quarters was the Separate Quarters.
I had requested it from the Commander Dae-hyeop and obtained it.
“I shall perform energy circulation meditation. Please serve as my Dharma Protector.”
“Yes.”
After completing the energy circulation meditation and opening my eyes, my body and mind felt refreshed.
Well then, shall I get moving?
Though it is still before mealtime, I have matters to attend to.

* * *

Kang Yeo headed toward the dining hall.
Within Chung-ui Hall, there was a separate dining facility reserved exclusively for the Geumui Guard.
This arrangement existed to prevent any conversations the guards might have during meals from leaking to the outside world.
“Yaaawn!”
He yawned widely.
The training that had stretched from yesterday morning until dawn today had left his mind slightly foggy.
Yet the result was that everything he’d learned would spring forth at the slightest prompt.
‘Completely different from my first impression. He’s truly ruthless. Is that kind of venom what earns the favor of the Higher Authorities?’
He walked while clicking his tongue inwardly.
“Going to grab breakfast?”
At the sound, he looked up to see Hae Gon, a fellow Geumui Guard and his peer in receiving instruction from Eun Seo-ho.
“Yeah. You heading to the dining hall too?”
“Yep, that’s right.”
“Yaaawn! I’m dying of sleepiness. I even did breathing cultivation exercises, but why am I so drowsy?”
“It’s because you’ve been using your mind so much.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
As Kang Yeo spoke, he came to a halt.
“Oh!”
“What’s wrong?”
“Jang So-seok asked me to wake him when it’s time for meals. I almost forgot!”
They headed together toward Jang So-seok’s quarters.
Those whose homes were far away had been provided dormitory accommodations, and Jang So-seok was also staying in the dormitory.
They arrived at the entrance to Jang So-seok’s quarters and called out to him.
“Senior! It’s time to wake up now.”
“”
“Senior!”
Though they called out several times, no sound came from within.
“What should we do?”
“Let’s go inside and wake him. He’ll scold us more for not waking him than for entering without permission.”
“We have no choice.”
They tried to open the door, but it remained locked from inside.
“What now?”
“What about going through the window?”
“The window?”
Jang So-seok’s quarters were on the third floor.
However, they were not so lacking in skill that they couldn’t reach the third floor.
Kang Yeo began climbing the dormitory wall, and a Geumui Guard member who spotted him asked.
“What are you doing right now?”
“Ah, my apologies. Jang So-seok asked me to wake him, but the door is locked, so I had no choice but to do this.”
“Tsk tsk. Even so, are you really using the techniques you learned for your duties in a place like this?”
At my light rebuke, Kang Yeo let out an awkward laugh.
But soon his expression shifted to one of alarm.
“Huh?”
“What’s wrong?”
“The window won’t open. It appears to be locked as well.”
Hae Gon spoke up at this.
“This is becoming problematic. We need to attend the training session that Eun Seo-ho is conducting shortly.”
“Sigh, there’s no help for it. If we don’t attend Eun Seo-ho’s training, the Commander-in-Chief will have our hides.”
He pondered for a moment before speaking.
“Just break the window.”
“Sir?”
“Breaking a window is easier to repair than breaking a door. If Jang So-seok complains, just tell him it was my doing.”
“Haha, thank you.”
Kang Yeo gathered true energy in his palm and tore the window frame apart.
But in the next instant, he went rigid, frozen in place.
“What now? What’s the matter?”
“Senior Jang So-seok…”
“…?”
“He’s hanged himself.”

* * *

I entered the conference room.
The expressions of the Gold-Clad Guard Masters were quite dark and troubled.
And for good reason—Jang So-seok, a Grand Swordmaster who had trained alongside them, had hanged himself in his dormitory at Chung-ui Hall.
In particular, Kang Yeo, the officer who had first discovered the body, wore a vacant expression.
I already knew about the incident.
Seo Hyang had informed me of it.
Anticipating that today’s training would start late due to the investigation, I had driven the Gold-Clad Guards hard, continuing their instruction until dawn.
Still, the atmosphere was worse than I expected.
I had met with Jin-yeong Great Swordmaster earlier, and according to him, the problem was that Jang So-seok had no reason to take his own life.
When there’s no apparent motive for suicide, it’s treated as murder and investigated accordingly. The complication was that his room had been a sealed chamber—both door and window locked from the inside.
A truly vexing situation.
“I have heard what transpired. Please accept my condolences.”
I bowed my head briefly, then straightened and continued.
“However, I believe we must not turn away from the duties we are meant to fulfill.”
“You speak wisely.”
“We completed all the theory yesterday, so over these remaining two days, we shall conduct practical training.”
I spoke while looking at Palgap.
“I will distribute a stone to each of you.”
Palgap distributed stones to everyone.
Ordinary pebbles of the sort one might find on any street, small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand.
However, one of the prepared stones remained. Its owner was not present.
I deliberately spoke to the nineteen present with an energetic tone.
“Sell that stone to a fellow Gold-Clad Guard Master. You have until this evening before dinner, but you may only sell to those of higher rank—never to subordinates.”
They looked bewildered, but I paid no mind.
“I shall present a special gift to whoever sells theirs for the highest price.”
After assigning the task, I returned to my quarters.
Then I entered one of the several rooms in the Separate Quarters.
Creak.
Hearing the sound of the door, the figure on the bed turned his head toward me.
“Are you finding your stay comfortable?”
“Uncomfortable? Not in the slightest.”
His identity was Jang So-seok, the Grand Swordmaster.
The Gold-Clad Guard who had supposedly hanged himself this morning.

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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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