Chapter 170
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 170
Chapter 170. Bok-Yoon (3)
The small table that Pal-Gap threw hit him from behind, and my bodyguards rushed over and pointed their swords at his neck.
The situation was over.
I ran to Pal-Gap.
“Are you okay? Are you dizzy or nauseous?”
The quick-witted Pal-gap understood what I meant and replied.
“I'm fine thanks to the antidote you gave me earlier.”
Merchants like us never know when we will encounter injustice.
That's why we always carry some antidotes with us, and I gave Pal-gap the one that seemed most appropriate.
The assassin who had been working as a servant for Captain Bok-yoon was taken away, and we returned to the inn.
Captain Bok-yoon was staying at the same inn as us, so he came back with us. The Gwang-joon Trading Company was located about two days away from the inn, but he had some business to attend to in the area.
That night.
When I went down to the first floor of the inn, I saw Captain Bok-Yoon sitting there. Next to him, his bodyguard was looking at him with a worried look.
“Are you all right?”
When I approached him and asked cautiously, he shook his head heavily.
“I'm fine... It would be a lie to say that. Perhaps because it was the betrayal of someone I trusted, it hurts more than I thought it would.”
I know how you feel.
In my previous life, I was betrayed by someone who was supposed to be my bodyguard.
Now it is time to repay that Karmic Retribution.
“Still, I must thank you.”
He stood up and bowed to me with clasped hands.
“Thanks to you, I was able to save my life today. If you had not revealed the identity of my attendant, I would have been killed without a chance. Thank you once again. I will surely repay your kindness.”
He then bowed his head.
“And I apologize for causing your attendant to be poisoned.”
“It was just an accident. Don't worry about it. And he didn't eat that much poison, so he has completely recovered.”
“Even so, he was poisoned, and he's already recovered?”
“He's a very strong man.”
He let out a hollow laugh, sat down, and said with a serious expression.
“There are more than one assassin after me right now. I don't know why they are so desperate to kill me.”
“...”
“The head constable just left. The assassin who was captured earlier confessed that my real attendant is already dead.”
That was the real reason why Captain Bok-Yoon was sitting there looking so gloomy.
“I'm so sorry that he died because of me. If I hadn't made him my attendant, this wouldn't have happened…”
He understood how he felt, but he didn't want him to beat himself up too much, so he pulled up a chair and sat down in front of him.
Clatter.
“If you think about it that way, there's nothing in this world that you don't have to feel sorry about. It's the assassin who hurt your servant who was minding his own business who should feel sorry, not you, Captain Bok.”
“...”
“So pull yourself together. If you break down here, you'll lose even more face in front of your dead servant.”
He nodded at my words.
“You're right, Captain.”
His eyes sparkled with renewed vigor.
Yes, this is what it takes to be my friend.
“To be honest, I've always hated making a big deal out of things, so I've kept quiet, but I feel like this will only lead to more sacrifices from the lower ranks.”
It seemed that this incident had been a turning point for Captain Bok-Yoon.
I asked him.
“Do you have any idea what it might be?”
“Of course.”
He nodded heavily.
It was probably a rival within the Trading Company or one of their competitors.
From here on, it was up to him.
“I hope everything works out well.”
“Thank you.”
He clasped his hands in gratitude and changed the subject.
“By the way, you're going to the North Sea.”
“That's right.”
He remembered what I had said at the tavern earlier.
“Our work is done, and we are about to return to our hometown. Our hometown is on the way to the North Sea. Would you like to accompany us?”
Even though he had been to Yingling, he didn't know the area as well as the locals.
In that situation, the offer from the local deputy captain was a good one.
Of course, there would be annoying assassins trying to kill him, but they were just flies, and flies could be swatted.
The next morning, we left the inn.
I was able to get to know him better while traveling with Captain Bok-Yoon in a carriage.
I also learned some useful information.
For example, what to be careful of when encountering nomadic tribes and how to find your way when lost in the grasslands.
He was indeed a captain of a trading company who maintained close relationships with nomadic tribes.
The end of our journey with him was approaching.
“That is the Gwangjun Trading Company.”
“I see. It is truly enormous.”
“Yes, since we mainly deal with horses, we need a lot of space.”
The scale of the trading company overlooking the hill was so enormous that Captain Bok-Yoon smiled and nodded.
“So that's why your headquarters is located in a place like this, away from the bustle of the city.”
“Yes. The land is cheaper here, and it's easier to find food for the horses.”
Captain Bok-Yoon invited us to stay the night, and I gladly accepted.
We had come this far, and I didn't want to refuse his offer or spend the night outdoors.
When we entered the headquarters of the Gwangjun Trading Company, we met Bok-Yoon's father, Bok-Im-Gil, the head of the company.
“Oh! Who is this? Isn't this Eun-Ho, the captain of the Eunhae Trading Company?”
“Yes, how have you been?”
He remembered me from our previous meeting in Luoyang.
He replied with a hearty laugh.
“I am doing well. By the way, I received a message from my son. Thank you again.”
“Not at all. I was just lucky.”
“You are still as humble as ever. By the way, what brings you here from Hubei?”
“Actually, I was on my way to the North Sea.”
“The North Sea?”
He looked puzzled but didn't ask any further questions.
He probably knew that he shouldn't ask too many questions.
“It will be a long journey. Please rest here for a while.”
“Thank you.”
The captain of the Trading Company told his servant to guide me and my party.
I followed the servant and thought that I would be able to sleep well tonight thanks to him.
This is going to be interesting.
Now that Bok-Yoon has arrived safely at the headquarters, a full-scale battle with those who ordered his assassination is inevitable.
They will soon realize that they have awakened a sleeping tiger.
* *
Bok-Im-Gil spoke with Bok-Yoon in his office.
“I'm glad you're safe.”
“Captain Eun was a great help.”
“Yes, you told me. But how did you meet Captain Eun?”
Bok-Yoon explained everything to his father.
“I see.”
“By the way, have you ever met Captain Eun?”
“I met him at the last Baekdae meeting. As far as I know, he is the only person who protected the silver plate during the recent games.”
“You mean that silver plate?”
Bok-Yoon had also attended the meeting, so he knew how difficult it was to protect the silver plate.
He had attended the meeting twice, but he had failed to protect the silver plate both times.
“Yes, he is a remarkable person. Try to get to know him if possible.”
“I already did on the way here. He is the first person my age that I can talk to.”
“Is that so? When I met him before, he didn't seem like someone who would open up easily, but it seems like he likes you quite a bit.”
“That's good. I like him too.”
Bok-Yoon smiled sincerely, and Bok-Im smiled back.
“By the way, I found out who was after you.”
“I think I know too.”
“Who do you think it is?”
“The Three Axes Trading Company, isn't it?”
“That's right.”
They were a trading company operating in the same region of Liaoning, and their main product was also horses.
However, their origins were slightly different. They started out as three black swordsmen who had fled from far away.
They grew rapidly and threatened the position of the Gwangjoon Trading Company. However, their ambitious project was pushed aside by the Gwangjoon Trading Company and ended in failure.
That must have been a blow to the pride of the Three Axes Trading Company, so they must have come back with a vengeance.
“The assassin who was after me confessed. He said he would be given 100 pieces of gold if he took my life.”
“That's the only place with enough money and the determination to go after you.”
“That's right. No one knows the Black Sword as well as the Black Sword itself.”
“That's right. That's the kind of thing they would do.”
Merchants do not resort to cowardly tactics because they know the consequences would be severe.
How could anyone trust the goods of someone who would resort to hiring assassins to harm a rival trading company?
However, perhaps because they were from the Black Sword Clan, the Three Trading Companies seemed to think that as long as they weren't caught, they would be fine.
“I have no intention of letting this go. They will pay the price for what they have done.”
* * *
That afternoon, I went out with my bodyguards.
This was because there was a market here, probably because the headquarters of the Kwangjoon Trading Company was located nearby.
It was my habit and hobby to visit the market when I stopped by a village to analyze the commercial situation.
It was my habit and hobby to look around the market and analyze the commercial situation whenever I visited a village.
“Pal-gap, let's go.”
“Yes.”
I was worried that Pal-gap might be angry about what happened last time, but fortunately, he understood the situation.
He was even grateful that I had saved him.
I went out with my bodyguards, and the Gwangjun Trading Company assigned a samurai to accompany us as a guide.
“That is the largest market in this village.”
“I see.”
As it was a remote area with a harsh climate, daily necessities such as paper and grain were expensive.
“The silk made from San-nu is very beautiful.”
“Of course. That's why it's so expensive.”
Silk made from San-nu is considered the highest quality silk.
It is a wild species, so production is low, but it is much stronger and has a better luster than silk made from silkworms.
Of course, it is extremely expensive.
That is why San-nu silk is the most expensive of all the silk in Sichuan.
That is why, even considering the transportation costs, the San-nu silk from this area is cheaper than the San-nu silk from Sichuan.
As they were talking and looking around the market, they heard Seo Woo's telepathy.
“Someone is following us.”
Then I heard Jin-yu's telepathy.
“They don't seem to be assassins, but we're being followed.”
I felt it too.
I could sense the repugnance of the Black Path.
It seemed like they had been following us since we left the gate of the Trading Company earlier.
I wondered what their purpose was.
I deliberately entered a narrow alley, and suddenly, a group of people stood in front of us.
One of them stepped forward and clasped his hands in a greeting.
“Are you Captain Eun Seo-ho? Someone would like to see you.”
“Who is it?”
“You'll know when you see him.”
“Tell him to come here himself.”
At my words, the group erupted in anger.
“How insolent!”
“So you're going to go just because someone in this dangerous world called you?”
“Our superior ordered us to bring him here by any means necessary. You're the one who drank the punishment wine.”
At the same time, they drew their weapons.
Chang!
Chae-chang!
Since they drew their weapons first, we didn't hesitate.
But do they know?
We have three skilled warriors on our side.
.
.
.
A moment later,
all of those who had surrounded us were lying on the ground.
“....”
The warrior who had accompanied us as a guide stood with his mouth agape.
“Are you surprised?”
He nodded cautiously, and I smiled and said, “Please don't spread the word.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“We will wait here, so please report to the county office.”
At my words, he immediately ran to the county office.
Meanwhile, I kicked one of the men lying on the floor in the side.
Puk!
“Ugh!”
“Now, answer me. Who sent you?”
“....”
“Do you want to be stabbed in the side?”
“....”
Words won't work.
I signaled to Jin-yu, and he raised his sword and held it to the man's side.
The man trembled and confessed.
“It was the captain of the Sambu Trading Company.”
Sambu Trading Company... I remember that.
In my past life, when the Gwangjun Trading Company withdrew from the Baekdae Trading Company, it was the newcomer to the Baekdae Trading Company.
I didn't like them because of their dirty methods, and now I know why.
The fact that they had so many black-clad warriors means that the Sambu Trading Company is also black-clad.
They would have been defeated by the leader of the Bok-Yoon Clan anyway, but now they have provoked me.
So it's not meddling on my part to help them.
A moment later
The head constable rushed over with his men, arrested them, and took them to the county office.
I also headed to the county office with them.
Then, I showed Ji-hyun my inspection officer's badge and said,
“This matter will be reported to His Majesty the Emperor.”
That was enough.
My actions were not an abuse of power. The emperor had personally ordered me to be his eyes and ears.
Now that they're in my hands, I might as well make good use of them, right?
Besides, they're not worth dirtying our hands.