Chapter 279
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 279
Chapter 279. An Unexpected Guest (3)
Master Peng Gang-un continued.
“Actually, I have a great-uncle who went missing a long time ago.”
A missing great-uncle?
I briefly recalled the family tree of the Peng Family of Hebei.
I know that a long time ago, the second son of the current Clan Head left home.
And in my previous life, I remember that he did not return until the Clan Head, Master Pang's grandfather, died and his other uncle, Master Pang's eldest brother, succeeded him as Clan Head.
“Since I became an adult, I have traveled all over the empire looking for him, but my skills are insufficient, and I have not been able to find him.”
He bowed his head to me.
“Please find my uncle.”
I was a little puzzled.
Of course, it's not unusual for a trading company to receive requests to find people or items.
In the past, Song Jang-ju also asked our Eunhae Trading Company to find a martial artist.
No one travels across the empire as actively as a trading company.
Of course, the same is true for escort agencies, but their main role is to provide protection and escort services, so they have more restrictions than trading companies.
However, the person he was looking for was a renowned prodigy who had been wandering around the empire for several years.
If even he couldn't find him, how could I?
And there were other questions.
Why was he going to such lengths to find his uncle?
And why did he come to me among all the trading companies?
I decided to try to solve these questions.
“Have you asked anyone else about this?”
“No. This is the first time I've asked anyone else.”
I tilted my head.
He said he hadn't asked anyone else, so why did he suddenly ask me?
I felt that I had to get an answer right then and there.
“Before I accept your request, Master, I have a few questions.”
“Please, ask away.”
I asked the most important question first.
“Why me?”
“What do you mean?”
“Our Eunhae Trading Company is large, but there are many trading companies larger than ours. So why did you choose our company... and why did you ask me instead of my father, the captain?”
If he had asked my father, my father would have told me.
“If you don't give me a clear answer, I will have no choice but to refuse your request.”
After thinking about my answer for a moment, Master Pang opened his mouth.
“Of course, I understand why you would raise such questions. The biggest reason I asked you is because you are someone I can trust.”
He continued.
“Didn't you risk your life to save people during the Dragon and Phoenix Duel?”
“That was because my parents were there.”
“Not only that, but I heard that even though the two martial artists who caused the incident were expelled, you knelt before the senior members of the Martial Alliance and begged for their lives.”
“That was...”
“And I had the opportunity to talk with Miss Jaegal this time. She said that Captain Eunseoho is not only skilled, but also a man of integrity.”
Master Pang looked at me with a straight gaze.
“That's why. Integrity is more important to me than anything else.”
“By integrity, you mean…”
I looked him in the eyes.
“Are you asking me to keep it a secret that you asked me to find your uncle?”
He nodded in response to my question.
“Yes. The Peng Clan must not know that I am looking for my uncle.”
I sighed inwardly.
“That's why you came to see me on my birthday. You had a reason to come.”
“That's right.”
He nodded.
“And if someone from the Trading Company or Eunhae Trading Company comes to our family, it is highly likely that they will discuss support according to the family's wishes, not mine.”
So he took the initiative by coming to celebrate my birthday.
Wait, then you didn't return to your family in Luoyang?
“But how did you know it was my birthday...?”
“Miss Jaegal told me.”
“...”
I let out a slight sigh.
“By the way, why are you looking for my uncle so desperately? Seeing that you want to keep it a secret from the family, it seems that the family doesn't approve of this.”
“That's...”
Master Peng smiled and said.
“I plan to become the head of the Peng Family in Hebei in the future. So, don't I have to show that I care for all my family members?”
No, that's a lie.
There must be another reason.
If that were the real reason, he wouldn't have wandered around the empire for so long by himself.
Master Pang is twenty-six years old.
According to national law, fifteen is the age of adulthood, but most families of a certain size recognize twenty as the age of adulthood.
Our Eunhae Trading Company also considers twenty to be the age of adulthood.
That means he has been wandering for six years...
Honestly, it doesn't make sense to wander around the empire for six years for that reason.
Furthermore, when he answered me, he strangely avoided my gaze. That means that's not the reason he's looking for his uncle.
However, when he said he wanted to become the Clan Head, I saw a sparkle in his eyes, so I think that is what he really wants.
He may have become skilled at hiding his true feelings after six years of hardship, but he cannot hide them from me.
Should I probe him a little?
I thought about it for a moment, but Master Peng did not seem likely to speak easily.
He might even avoid me.
He might say that he misjudged me and leave, disappointed.
Then I would be letting down Miss Jegal Yu, who spoke so highly of me...
Well, I'll find out soon enough.
“You really care deeply about your family. But you've been looking for him for so long and still haven't found him, so I'm not sure I can find him.”
“I'm not asking you to find him.”
He smiled and continued.
“Just let me know if you happen to see my uncle while you're traveling around.”
“That's not difficult. I'll do that.”
“Actually, I want to keep looking for him, but since I won the Dragon and Phoenix Duel Tournament, many people are looking for me. So I'm going to be busy for a while.”
In other words, all eyes would be on him, so he was entrusting the task to me.
I, too, had been treated like a hero and was the center of attention, but it was nothing compared to Master Peng.
“And I have things to do when I return to my family.”
“Then are you going back to Hebei?”
“That's what I plan to do.”
After thinking for a moment, I said to him.
“I happen to have business in Beijing as well. Let's go together.”
I continued.
“If I go to Beijing and leave Master Peng alone, what will the Peng Clan think?”
Master Peng nodded at my words.
“I understand. I can't let a kind person who accepted my request be slandered.”
“And please tell me what my uncle looks like.”
“Oh no! I forgot to tell you the most important thing.”
He took a piece of white silk from his pocket and unfolded it.
Inside, there was a detailed description of his appearance.
The moment I saw it, I realized that my uncle was a very important person to Master Pang.
Usually, descriptions of one's appearance are written on paper, but Master Pang had drawn his on silk.
Silk is expensive, but it is durable and strong, so important records are often written on it.
Moreover, this silk is of quite high quality.
No wonder he spent six years searching for it.
However, I said nothing and looked at the face drawn on the silk.
It was a handsome face.
He was about seven feet tall.
He was quite tall, but considering the large build of the Peng Family of Hebei, seven feet wasn't that tall.
Master Peng in front of me was about six and a half feet tall, but as I recall, he was about seven feet tall when he was fully grown.
That means he's still growing.
It is one of the characteristics of the Peng Family of Hebei to grow tall until the age of thirty. He is already past that age, yet he is still growing!
I wonder if he is taking some kind of special medicine or if it is due to his family's martial arts skills.
He added an explanation.
“You were well versed in sword techniques, but I heard that your uncle's sword technique was also exceptional.”
...You heard?
“Have you never actually seen him?”
“No, I haven't. He left home before I was three years old.”
“Then what about this painting?”
“It was painted by a servant who worked for our family for a long time.”
“When was it painted?”
“When I was about sixteen, I begged him to paint it for me.”
That meant there could be errors in the description of his appearance.
I heard various other details as well.
“I see. How much do you want for this?”
He scratched his ear at my question.
“Isn't it customary for the client to make the first offer?”
“How can I judge the value of this request?”
“As expected... you are a merchant.”
I did not deny my identity.
“Yes. Before I am a hero, I am a merchant.”
“...”
There was a moment of silence, and finally, Master Pang spoke first.
“If I become the Clan Head in the future, I will grant you one request, as long as it does not threaten the survival of the clan.”
He's quite bold.
That means his uncle is very important to him.
“But how can you be so sure that you will become the Clan Head?”
“I intend to become the head of the family, but if I fail... then I will give you the most valuable thing I have.”
The most valuable thing?
“The Green Thunder Pill. I will give it to you.”
The Green Thunder Pill was a precious elixir that was highly valued by the Peng Family of Hebei, and it was given to the most outstanding prodigy of each generation.
However, I shook my head.
“I must decline.”
“What?”
“Did you not say you would give me your most valuable possession? It may be the most valuable thing to you, Master Pang, but it is not to me. And I may find my uncle before you become Clan Head.”
“Then what...”
“Master Pang.”
“Yes?”
“Isn't Master Pang the most valuable thing to you? So, if I find my uncle before you become Clan Head, please be my man for three years.”
He looked slightly taken aback by my proposal.
That was understandable.
I was asking him to be my man for three years.
“I'm a little confused. To be honest, this is the first time anyone has ever told me that I am the most valuable thing to them...”
He scratched the back of his neck and nodded.
“All right. I'll do it.”
“Then shall we draw up a contract?”
So Master Pang and I drew up a contract.
After finishing the contract, Master Pang gave me a clasped hands greeting.
“It was a good deal. I'll be going now...”
“Where are you going?”
“Huh?”
“Until now, we've been discussing your personal request, but now it's time to talk about supporting you, isn't it?”
.
.
.
After finishing my conversation with Master Pang, I immediately went to see my father.
I had to report to my father about supporting Master Pang and returning with him.
“You agreed to give Master Pang twenty pieces of gold every year?”
“Yes, sir.”
“That's not bad. By the way, why did he say he came here himself?”
“He said he didn't want to receive support that suited our family's tastes.”
I silently asked my father for forgiveness.
I'm sorry. I promised to keep the real reason a secret.
Fortunately, my father understood when he heard the reason.
“He is more enterprising and intelligent than I thought. I didn't know there was such a talented person in the Peng Family of Hebei.”
In fact, there is a saying about the Peng Family of Hebei.
They are said to be strong but stupid.
That was because there were few intelligent descendants. However, looking at Master Peng, it seemed that it was because they didn't need to use their brains.
They were protected by their family and could solve most problems with their innate supernatural powers.
“And I decided to return to Hebei with him.”
“Good decision. If you had sent him alone, he would have been scolded.”
My father smiled happily.
“That means it's time to go to Beijing.”
“Yes, that's right.”
“Then what about the two warriors who are training at Eunpungdae?”
“I'll bring them with me next time. In the meantime, I'll ask the Chief Administrator to take care of them.”
After reporting to my father, I returned to my annex.
Next to my annex, construction was in full swing. They were building lodgings for my bodyguards.
I expected the number of bodyguards to increase in the future, so I had them build a large building.
In my previous life, the size of my bodyguard unit kept growing, so I had to expand the building several times.
In any case, the building where the bodyguards would live could be built with the money from the Trading Company.
However, I had to pay for my daily expenses.
“Are you here, young master?”
Pal-gap was all smiles.
I had raised his monthly salary today. And I ended up giving Geum-ryung a silver coin as well.
She had been a little upset.
Ugh, I am so weak-hearted.