The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 742

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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 742

Chapter 742. Tamseo Martial Arts Competition (3)

What is a merchant’s greatest fear?
There are many things, but the most significant would be the dread that one’s own trading company might collapse.
As a merchant myself, I understand that feeling all too well.
That’s precisely why I deliberately opened a fragrance pouch shop—the same business as Samwon Bang.
A shop’s success depends heavily on initial promotion.
So I quietly resolved the troubles of those who purchased the fragrance pouches from behind the scenes.
I asked Geumryeong to help find a ring for a woman who had lost hers, and I cured a child’s illness.
The child’s condition wasn’t serious—he had eaten poisoned fruit from the mountains by mistake—so I was easily able to detoxify him.
After resolving several such matters, I deployed the Information Bureau to spread word of it.
Naturally, the rumors spread in an instant, and as a result, crowds flocked like clouds to the fragrance pouch shop I had just opened.
But I didn’t commit fraud.
Fraud is deceiving people like Samwon Bang does, claiming ‘wishes will definitely come true.’
They claim to have placed talismans from a spiritually powerful Taoist Sage inside, but in reality, employees merely scribbled something on paper and stuffed it in.
That’s why I made sure to always say when selling the fragrance pouches: ‘I cannot guarantee that your wishes will be fulfilled.’
I even posted a large sign in the shop itself: [We do not guarantee results, so please do not place blind faith in this product].
After finishing urgent matters,
I heard the shop was doing well, so I went to check briefly—and I couldn’t help but be taken aback.
“Uh…”
This isn’t just doing well—this is a massive hit.
“No, I only meant to intimidate Samwon Bang. So why is business thriving like this?”
Palgap spoke from beside me.
“Young Master, it seems you occasionally forget your own abilities.”
“Still, would people really flock like that just because of rumors?”
“Would crowds gather from rumors alone? The pouches have beautiful colors, they’re made from high-quality silk, contain premium incense, and the price is reasonable. Wouldn’t you buy them if you were in their position?”
“Ah… now that I think about it, that’s true.”
No matter how good the rumors are, if the product quality is poor, customers’ interest fades quickly.
Still, how will Samwon Bang respond to this?
Will they move as I anticipate?
“Palgap.”
“Yes.”
“Tell the Information Bureau to keep watch on Samwon Bang.”
“Understood.”

* * *

At that very moment, in Samwon Bang.
Those who had nearly died from food poisoning and miraculously survived received unexpected news.
“What? What are you saying? A fragrance pouch shop opened on East Street’s marketplace, not far from our own shop?”
“Yes, sir. But because people have been flocking there, we’ve barely sold any fragrance pouches these past few days.”
“So how many did we sell?”
“At most, only about five a day…”
“What?”
At that report, the Samwon Faction Leader felt the back of his neck tighten.
These were fragrance pouches that normally sold at least fifty or more per day.
And to maintain the shop, at least thirty needed to sell.
But the situation fell far short of that.
He felt a sense of crisis wash over him.
“Damn it! You should have reported this immediately! Why are you only telling me now!”
“I… I did report it from the beginning. But because you were so ill you nearly died, you made such a fuss about not wanting to be bothered…”
“Ah…”
He had indeed nearly died from the food poisoning and had made quite a scene about it.
“Ahem.”
Embarrassed, he cleared his throat and issued an order to dismiss them.
“Go and investigate.”
“Yes, sir.”
He immediately summoned the other faction leaders and convened a meeting.
A meeting to discuss how to overcome this situation.
The faction leaders voiced their grievances vehemently.
“Damn! The audacity! With Samwon Bang watching with wide open eyes, they dare sell fragrance pouches right under our noses?”
“Then who operates that shop?”
“We heard it’s an outsider.”
They never suspected that the shop was operated by the Eun Hae Trading Company.
This was because Eun Seo-ho had deliberately refrained from using the Eun Hae Trading Company’s name.
“First, we should visit that shop’s manager and inform them of the rules of this marketplace.”
“A sound idea.”
Thus they immediately headed toward that shop.
The shop’s name was Manxiang.
Literally, a place brimming with fragrance.
Even before entering the shop, one could smell that fragrance from the entrance.
And since they too dealt in fragrances, the moment they caught the scent wafting from that place, they understood.
That they were using premium incense, not cheap incense like theirs.
Premium fragrance pouches that would belong in the upscale South Street were being sold on East Street.
Though they sensed something was amiss, they deliberately pushed aside their unease.
The sight of so many people queuing to buy fragrance pouches made my stomach turn with irritation.
The nausea I’d barely managed to suppress came surging back.
He pushed through the crowd of customers like clouds parting before wind.
“Get out of the way!”
“What, what is this?”
“Form a proper line.”
“This is ridiculous! Just move!”
“Before something gets broken, step aside.”
They bullied their way past the customers and entered the shop.
Then they began menacing the shop staff with their swagger.
“Get the Shop Manager out here.”
At those words, a woman emerged.
“I am the Shop Manager.”
“Ho? So you’re the one running this place!”
“Business seems to be thriving.”
“But since we’re in the same trade, this shouldn’t be happening.”
Despite their threatening demeanor, the Shop Manager didn’t so much as blink.
“Given this reckless behavior, it seems you want something from me.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“While I’m being reasonable, get out of here.”
“What do you mean? Leave?”
The Samwon Faction Leader responded to her question.
“Having two fragrance pouch shops on East Street wounds our pride.”
“So disappear from here!”
“And if I refuse?”
Crash!
With that, they overturned a nearby display counter and began wreaking havoc.
“What is this madness! I’m calling the Constables!”
“The Constables?”
“Call them! Call them! Do you think we fear mere Constables?”
“The County Government is in our hands.”
“That’s right! Go ahead and call them. Hehehehe.”
That was when it happened.
“How dare you! Where do you get the audacity to cause such disruption!”
A thunderous rebuke echoed through the shop.
“…!”
The Samwon Bang members spun around in shock.
Standing at the doorway was none other than the Inspector of Chongyang County.
“Why is the Inspector here?”
At those words, the Inspector’s expression turned incredulous as he spoke.
“Jihyeon? Yeon? Anyone watching would think Jihyeon is beneath you. Yet here I stand, a man who passed the imperial examinations and received my appointment by direct order of His Majesty the Emperor.”
Jihyeon turned to face his men and issued a command.
“What are you all doing? Arrest every last one of these insolent dogs and throw them in Prison!”
“Yes, sir!”

* * *

I watched as the members of Samwon Bang were dragged away to Prison, bound in crimson cords.
The moment they learned that they were heading to Manxiang, the fragrance shop I’d just opened, I’d quickly sought out Jihyeon and brought him here.
Of course, at first he’d shown some reluctance.

“Why must the magistrate go all the way there?”
“I fear I’ve imposed an unreasonable request. My apologies. However… I happened to hear from the Gold-Clad Guard Masters that they’re currently conducting an investigation into officials who’ve been accepting bribes.”
“Cough!”
“Oh my! Are you quite alright?”
“Ahem, I was merely about to ask the magistrate how to proceed, but my words came out wrong.”

I already knew that Samwon Bang had been paying bribes to Jihyeon and the other officials of Chongyang County.
That’s precisely why Samwon Bang had strutted out so confidently.
Even if the matter went to the County Office for judgment, Jihyeon and Pan Gwan would render decisions favorable to them.
In any case, with my half-threat, Jihyeon came along with me to this place, and as expected, Samwon Bang was causing a scene at Manxiang.
But they dug their own grave.
Jihyeon had revealed that they were in his grasp.
That’s why Jihyeon hastily had them arrested.
Any longer and his acceptance of bribes would be exposed to the entire world.
The shop manager of Manxiang is Ha Hwa, an Information Bureau agent.
She came with Elder Brother Jung-ho when he traveled to Hubei Province from Beijing, so the members of Samwon Bang didn’t recognize her face.
And despite their intimidation, she didn’t blink an eye and moved exactly as I signaled her to.
There’s no place where one can see as many high officials as in Beijing.
Having witnessed countless such officials, how could she possibly be intimidated by a mere rabble from Samwon Bang?
I chuckled as I watched Palgap’s expression.
“Were you really that worried?”
I already knew that Palgap and Ha Hwa were seeing each other.
At my question, Palgap’s face flushed red.
“N-no, sir! I mean, that is to say…”
“Really?”
“…To be honest, I was worried.”
He should have just been straightforward from the start.
“What’s there to worry about? If things had gone south, my Guard Warriors would have stepped in. And you’re here too.”
“That’s true enough, sir.”
I smiled again and spoke.
“Palgap.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
“Ask the Ha-hwa Officer to find out how much damage the merchants caused when they ran amok in the marketplace.”
“Understood, sir.”
“And tell them to distribute those small fragrance pouches we made to the customers.”
Anticipating such an incident, I had already prepared hundreds of fragrance pouches in one-tenth size.
Even if they received something small for free, they would become allies of Manxiang.
Now, shall we move on to the next phase?

* * *

The Samwon Bang faction leaders and sect leaders limped back to their headquarters.
They should have remained locked up, but they were able to leave after paying a fine.
However, they had to endure corporal punishment for charges of intimidation and insulting the county government.
“Ow, my backside.”
“I thought I was going to die.”
“Faction Leader, Sect Leader, welcome back!”
“We’re relieved you’re safe.”
The Samwon Bang managers greeted them, but their expressions seemed troubled.
“I apologize for bringing this up now, when you’ve just returned from such hardship…”
“What is it?”
“Our losses continue to mount. If the situation doesn’t change within two or three months, we’ll go bankrupt.”
“…”
Suddenly, the back of my neck began to feel tense.
“Bring the ledgers.”
The faction leaders and sect leaders gathered in the conference room.
They examined the ledgers and grasped their current financial situation, confirming that the manager’s words were true.
“What are we to do?”
“Why don’t we just burn down Manxiang?”
“That won’t work. I heard earlier that the Changin Escort Agency’s escort warriors are stationed all around Manxiang.”
“And if it’s discovered that we did it, this time it won’t end with the county government or the magistrate. We could even have the matter escalate to the Imperial Inspectorate.”
“What if we spread rumors that Manxiang’s fragrance pouches bring misfortune?”
“They’re already famous for bringing good fortune. Do you think that will work?”
“Then what are we supposed to do?”
“That Silent Guest cost us dearly.”
We paid three gold coins each to hire the Silent Guest, an assassin and fixer.
But after the Silent Guest said he would attend Eun Seo-ho’s wedding, he disappeared, and we assumed he had fled.
“Shh! That matter is confidential!”
“Ah, my apologies.”
It was at that moment.
“Sir, we have a visitor.”
“A visitor?”
“Yes, Eun Seo-ho, the Small Guild Master of the Eun Hae Trading Company, has arrived.”
“…!”

* * *

I stood before the Samwon Bang.
This hospitality was rather lacking, wasn’t it?
Leaving a guest standing outside the door like this.
An establishment of Samwon Bang’s stature surely had a proper reception room.
Then the door creaked open.
Squeeeak.
The door opened and someone emerged—one of the Sect Leaders of Samwon Bang.
“Ah, it has been quite some time. I had matters to discuss, so I took the liberty of seeking you out.”
“Is that so? Ahem, do come in.”
He guided me to the reception room, and soon the Faction Leader entered as well.
Hmm… not even offering tea.
Well, it matters little.
“I pay my respects to the Faction Leader.”
“Ahem, yes. Be seated.”
I took my seat, and the Faction Leader sat across from me.
Four Sect Leaders flanked him on either side.
“So, what brings you here?”
I withdrew a single sheet of paper from my sleeve and presented it.
“What is this?”
But I did not answer. The Faction Leader unfolded it and began to read.
Soon his eyes trembled violently.
“What, what is the meaning of this? Damages compensation?”
“Your organization caused quite a considerable disturbance at one of our Eun Hae Trading Company’s establishments.”
“What are you talking about? When did we ever cause a disturbance at an Eun Hae Trading Company establishment?”
“Manxiang.”
“…!”
“That Manxiang, which sells fragrance pouches, is a shop opened by our Eun Hae Trading Company.”
At my words, the color drained from the faces of the Faction Leader and the four Sect Leaders seated beside him.
“That, that shop belonged to the Eun Hae Trading Company?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
“But, but there was no marking anywhere indicating it was an Eun Hae Trading Company shop.”
“We deliberately refrained from posting such markers. Without the Eun Hae name, we could obtain an accurate assessment of the situation, could we not?”
I continued speaking.
“In any case, fifty silver coins should suffice, as written there.”
“W-what! Fifty silver coins?!”
“That is the cost of the damages your group caused while creating a disturbance at Manxiang. If you do not pay within four days, I shall go to Ji Hyeon Dae-in and report you. What will you do?”
Only then did the Samwon Faction Leader seem to grasp the situation, speaking desperately.
“Please, spare us! If we compensate fifty silver coins now, we shall starve! Do you not pity the employees of this Sangbang?”
“It seems you are a person of compassion, Master Bangju.”
“Is that not a natural sentiment for any human being?”
“Then why did you send a Silent Guest to my wedding?”
“…!”

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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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