The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 93

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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 Eunhae Trading Company – Chapter 93

Chapter 93. Eun Jin-ho, Missing (1)

I headed immediately to the Eun-wol Pavilion.
Though I had the credentials to enter the Eun-wol Pavilion, my Grandfather—who rarely visited—accompanied me this time.
There, my Father and Eun Jung-ho explained the entire situation to us.
Eun Jin-ho had departed on a trading expedition to Yunnan at the end of the sixth month.
When enough time had passed for his return and he still hadn’t arrived, we grew suspicious, and then a letter came from Yunnan.
“You know we have staff stationed in Yunnan who handle our pu-erh tea transactions, don’t you?”
“Yes, I’m aware.”
Our company rotated personnel through that post to manage the pu-erh tea trade.
“We received word that he would arrive soon, but no matter how long we waited, he never came. So we sent a letter of inquiry.”
Only then did we realize something had gone wrong, and we immediately notified the Changin Escort Agency, he said.
Naturally, the Changin Escort Agency called an emergency assembly.
They had already sensed something was amiss, and now our company had confirmed their suspicions.
At once, both the Changin Escort Agency and the Eunhae Trading Company dispatched search parties to Yunnan, and they returned just today.
“So you’ve confirmed that Eun Jin-ho and his entire party have gone missing?”
My Grandfather posed the question, and my Father answered.
“Yes. We’ve confirmed they stayed at the Eulrim Inn in Yunnan. But after that point, all trace of them vanishes completely.”
The Eulrim Inn was the second inn one would stay at if moving quickly after entering Yunnan, or the third at a normal pace.
“I see.”
He exhaled heavily.
“I have no words of reproach. Please comfort Eun Jin-ho’s mother well.”
“Understood.”
.
.
.
I returned to Mun Gok Hall.
“Young Master, perhaps you should bathe first.”
“Yes, that’s a good idea.”
I washed myself with the warm water Palgap had prepared, then immediately lay down on my bed.
Something felt wrong in my heart.
The news of Eun Jin-ho’s disappearance felt like a lie.
Perhaps the shock struck me harder because in my previous life, Eun Jin-ho had never gone missing.
According to my memories, Eun Jin-ho hadn’t gone on this pu-erh tea expedition.
Instead, he had accompanied my Grandfather to celebrate Seon-il Elder Brother’s past examination success.
But because I had traveled to Shaanxi Province, Eun Jin-ho ended up going on the pu-erh tea expedition instead.
So my actions caused things to spiral out of control, and that’s why Elder Brother Jin-ho went missing.
I bit my lip.
I had resolved to change the future while causing as little harm as possible to those around me.
And yet….
The severed head of Elder Brother Jin-ho, which had been inside that box, flickered before my eyes.
Elder Brother Jin-ho, who had begged for only his own life to be spared….
“Young Master, even if you have no appetite, you must eat this evening… Ugh! Young Master! Why is there blood coming from your mouth?”
Palgap, who had entered my room, made a fuss and quickly brought a handkerchief to wipe my lips.
It stung.
I didn’t know where Elder Brother Jin-ho, who was now missing, was or what suffering he was enduring, yet here I was, aching over a bitten lip….
My expression must have been quite terrible.
Palgap spoke to me.
“My father used to say that if you stay cooped up in a room thinking about this and that, you become strange. It would be good for you to go out and get some fresh air.”
.
.
.
A short while later.
I came out to the Marketplace Street.
It was to get some fresh air, as Palgap had suggested.
If I only worried in my room, I felt I might make some strange decision.
Yet even as I breathed in the fresh air, the thought kept nagging at me—was it right for me to be doing this?
“Should I go back?”
“Already, sir?”
“I came out, but it’s difficult.”
Memories of times spent with Elder Brother Jin-ho were soaked into every corner of the Marketplace Street.
That was when it happened.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”
“Oh!”
I quickly offered a greeting.
“I greet you, sir.”
It was the Old Man from the Miscellaneous Goods Shop. For some reason, today he was at the Marketplace instead of his shop.
“What brings you here, sir?”
“What brings me here? I’m on my way back from buying dumplings.”
Now that he mentioned it, he was carrying a bamboo basket in his hand, and the aroma of dumplings wafted from it.
Then.
Growl.
My stomach rumbled loudly, and at that sound, the Old Man chuckled.
“What were you doing that you’re wandering around at this hour without even eating dinner?”
“Well….”
“Never mind, follow me. I bought plenty, so I’ll give you a dumpling or two.”
The Old Man shuffled toward the miscellaneous goods shop, and I scratched behind my ear.
Did I have no choice but to follow?

A moment later.
I entered the shop, and the Old Man placed a basket of dumplings on the wooden table.
“Eat.”
“I appreciate it, but I’m not in the mood.”
“Your stomach is churning, yet you claim you’re not in the mood? Stop talking nonsense and eat.”
I picked up a dumpling and took a bite.
It was delicious.
Which made me feel all the more guilty.
Right now, Jin-ho probably couldn’t even eat properly….
“You seem to have something troubling you.”
At the Old Man’s question, I laughed awkwardly.
“This is the first time I’ve seen you with such a serious expression. But that look doesn’t suit you, so stop it.”
“I wish I could, but I can’t seem to manage it.”
“So what’s troubling you? Your elder brother has gone missing?”
I was slightly startled by his words, but quickly understood.
The Old Man before me was a master who had operated within the Ghost Face Faction.
He possessed an extensive network of connections and information that I could scarcely fathom.
“You knew?”
Instead of answering, the Old Man sipped his tea and turned the question back to me.
“Do you believe this is your fault?”
“….”
Though I couldn’t discern the Old Man’s intent, his words struck at the heart of my anguish.
So without thinking, I spoke to him.
“If I hadn’t gone to Shaanxi, Jin-ho wouldn’t have needed to go to Yunnan, and then….”
“Tsk tsk.”
The Old Man clicked his tongue.
“The most foolish thing in this world is regretting what has already come to pass. I thought you were clever, but now I see you’re just a fool.”
The Old Man’s rebuke continued.
“Then consider the opposite. What would have happened if you hadn’t gone to Shaanxi Province?”
“Then Jin-ho wouldn’t have gone missing.”
“Besides that.”
“And….”
I couldn’t continue my words.
I had gone to Shaanxi Province to obtain the Bok Si-ryeong herb to save Lady Hong Geum-so’s husband.
Thus I brought back the Bok Si-ryeong herb and restored life to Seo-woo Warrior, Lady Hong Geum-so’s husband.
Moreover, I captured the swindler Shaanxi Scorpion, preventing the chaos that would have befallen Shaanxi Province’s merchant circles.
I burned Je-ung, the artifact that controlled people, thereby preventing the bloodbath that would have ensued.
Three trading companies came under the Eunhae Trading Company’s umbrella, and we gained the ability to conduct direct trade with the tea plantations.
If I hadn’t gone to Shaanxi Province, none of this would have happened.
We wouldn’t have obtained Boksi Ridge, and the Eunhae Trading Company would have suffered significant losses.
The Old Man looked into my eyes and spoke.
“What I’ve learned from living in this world is that life is a series of choices, and no matter what choice you make, regret follows.”
“….”
“But what’s interesting is that things don’t happen solely because of your own choices.”
“What do you mean?”
“For example, what would have happened if your elder brother had refused to go to Yunnan?”
Those who worked for the trading company had the right to refuse assignments, and that applied to Jin-ho as well.
In other words, he could have refused.
“Your elder brother’s choice and your superior’s choice to send him affected this matter. So why do you blame yourself alone?”
“That’s because….”
I had nothing to say. When I thought about it, the Old Man was right.
“They say the foolish regret, while the wise find solutions. Which are you?”
No amount of regret could change what had already happened.
This wasn’t the time for self-blame—it was time for action.
I had already changed many things.
The ripples from those changes would cause unforeseen events, and if I regretted each time they occurred, I would never move forward.
I had made that resolve before, yet here I was again….
Jin-ho’s disappearance had dealt me a greater blow than I’d realized.
That was only natural.
He was family.
Just then, a sound came from someone’s stomach.
Growl.
“…?”
I turned to see Palgap speaking with an embarrassed expression.
“My apologies.”
“Ah….”
I realized then that because I had left without eating dinner, Palgap had also skipped his meal.
That meant the Yeo Eung-am Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior had also gone without dinner.
“I’m sorry. You’re all suffering because of my incompetence. You too, Palgap.”
They waved their hands in protest at my words.
“Not at all.”
“We’re fine.”
“Please don’t concern yourself.”
No, this was clearly my mistake.
I had been so caught up in self-reproach that I’d neglected to care for my subordinates.
“From now on, you must all eat your meals on time. That goes for you too, Palgap.”
“But….”
“This is an order.”
Having spoken with such resolve, I rose from my seat and bowed respectfully to the Old Man.
“Thanks to your rebuke, I’ve come to my senses. I am grateful for your wisdom.”
“Good that you’ve regained your clarity.”
“Then I shall take my leave now.”
“If you’re going, you’ll pay for the dumplings first.”
“Pardon?”
“I said I’d give you dumplings, not that I’d give them to you for free.”
At those words, I let out a soft chuckle.
Because it was true.
The Old Man before me never allowed a moment of complacency.
I placed silver coins on the wooden table, and upon seeing them, the Old Man shook his head.
“Are you telling me to eat only dumplings for over a month?”
“Please enjoy tea as well.”
“I won’t refuse.”
The Old Man gathered the silver coins as he spoke.
“And come by again sometime. I have something to prepare for you.”

* * *

The disappearance of the merchant caravan that included Eun Jin-ho was an unprecedented crisis for the Eunhae Trading Company and the Changin Escort Agency.
Not only were merchants dying or sustaining injuries, but the Changin Escort Agency also had to compensate for the goods.
Moreover, this was a matter of trust.
An escort agency must fulfill its duties under any circumstances, but who would entrust their goods to an escort agency with problems?
And even if the escort agency provided compensation, the problem wasn’t truly resolved for the trading company.
Those who departed on the merchant journey were individuals who had accumulated extensive experience within the company.
Since the Eunhae Trading Company considered people its greatest asset, the loss was immense.
Especially since the merchant caravan included Eun Jin-ho, the Second Son of the Merchant Guild Leader.

The conference room of the Eunhae Trading Company.
Inside the ordinary conference room—not the Eun-wol Pavilion—sat Eun Gil-sang, two Chief Managers, and several Gak-jus.
Before them sat those who had come from the Changin Escort Agency.
“We are truly sorry. This incident occurred because our Escort Agency failed to guide the route properly.”
At the apology from the Changin Escort Agency Leader, Eun Gil-sang shook his head.
“How can we say this is solely the Changin Escort Agency’s fault? Since we still don’t know the full situation, let us hold off on apologies for now.”
“We appreciate your understanding of our circumstances.”
The Agency Leader spoke.
“We intend to dispatch a search party from our side. The search party will be composed of one Escort Master, thirty Escort Warriors, and ten general porters.”
At this, Eun Gil-sang spoke.
“Would it be acceptable to add some of our people to that search party?”
“That would be fine, but if the numbers become too large, it might actually reduce efficiency.”
“You need not worry about that. I intend to add several people from Yunnan Province.”
After concluding the discussion, Eun Gil-sang returned to his office.
“Sigh….”
Seated before the wooden table, he exhaled a heavy breath.
His son had gone missing.
Even when eating, it felt like chewing sand; even when reading documents, nothing registered in his mind.
His wife now lay in bed, weeping ceaselessly.
‘Jin-ho… please, just stay alive.’
He prayed desperately.
Then a voice came from outside—the Guard’s voice.
“The Hyunpung Country Leader has arrived.”
“Seo-ho?”
Eun Gil-sang tilted his head in confusion.
“Let him in.”
Soon the door opened, and Eun Seo-ho entered.
Bowing respectfully, he spoke to Eun Gil-sang.
“Father, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I wish to join this search party as well.”
“What?”

* * *

I looked at Father.
My words had struck him harder than expected. He stared at me without immediately responding, which told me everything.
“Seo-ho.”
Father called my name.
“What are you saying? You wish to go as well?”
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not!”
As I had anticipated, Father’s refusal came swift and firm.
“If something happens to you now, with Jin-ho already missing, your Mother and I….”
“I do not yet understand the weight of a parent’s heart, Father, for I am not yet a father myself. But I know you will grieve. Still, I speak thus because I am capable of finding Elder Brother Jin-ho.”
Father tilted his head, questioning.
“You believe you can find Jin-ho?”
“Yes.”
“What do you mean?”
At those words, I raised my hand to show him.

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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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