Chapter 287
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 287
Chapter 287. Invest Boldly (5)
When I went outside as Pal-gap told me, I saw a familiar face standing there.
It was the Peng Clan Head's aide.
“The Clan Head asked you to come to the Walled Church.”
.
.
.
A moment later, I was facing the Clan Head at the Wall Church.
“Are you leaving today?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I can't stop you. You're a busy man.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
The Clan Head looked at me quietly.
“Even though you did it for business, I appreciate it.”
His words sounded heavy, and I bowed my head with clasped hands.
“If you need my services in the future, please come find me.”
“I will.”
The Clan Head nodded and picked something up from the table and threw it at me.
“Take this.”
Shwaaah!
It seemed like he had put a little too much of his inner arts into it, as if he had some ulterior motive.
Tak!
I caught it lightly.
It was a small box.
“What is this?”
“What do you mean? It's a deal. You said to come find you if you needed a deal, right?”
“What?”
“It's a magic potion. It's so effective that it can save your life once when you're on the verge of death.”
That means it's a magic potion that's priceless, but you just said it's a trade?
I smiled and clasped my hands together.
“What do you want in return?”
“Find my second son, Pang-sung. Find him for me.”
“What?”
I asked without thinking.
It was a completely unexpected request.
“Your second son was driven out by your eldest son...”
“That's right.”
It was the same request as Young Master Peng.
However, there was a difference from when he asked me to find his uncle.
Unlike him, who was uncertain, there was something confident in the Clan Head's eyes.
“But even if I look for him, I don't know if I can find him. To be honest, he may already be dead...”
“No! He is alive.”
The Clan Head said firmly.
What? Does he believe he is still alive because he feels sorry for his son?
My question was quickly answered.
“Because I'm the one who helped him escape safely.”
“What?”
I really didn't expect this.
I thought he was just a father who stood by and watched his two sons fight...
“I knew about Moon-yi's crimes, but I did nothing because that was what Sung-yi wanted. He said he didn't want to cause trouble for the family... He said he just wanted to disappear from this family and live a quiet life.”
“Then do you know where he is?”
“If I knew, would I give you that dagger and ask you to do this?”
“...”
The Clan Head sighed.
“One day, Sung disappeared from the safe house I had prepared for him. Then a samurai came to me and told me that Moon had attacked and escaped safely.”
Perhaps the servant Choo-seon was involved in that incident.
“And... he left a letter for me.”
The Clan Head sighed.
“He asked me to forgive him for leaving without saying goodbye. He said that if we ever meet again, he might not recognize me because he will have changed so much.”
In other words, he decided to change his appearance.
“Then how am I supposed to find him? Even his family won't be able to recognize him...”
“First, look at his back. There is a mark on his back that only I know about, not even he knows about it.”
It seemed that something had been engraved on his back when he was born.
“And he told me about that mark. He said that mark is proof that he is Pang-sung... He must have done that because I didn't know about the mark I engraved on his back.”
“Then can you tell me what that mark is?”
He nodded and drew something on a piece of paper, then threw it at me as he had done before.
Chop!
I caught it and unfolded it.
“Did you see it?”
I looked at it for about ten seconds, and then, just as the Clan Head spoke, the paper caught fire.
“Clan Head! That's dangerous.”
“It's more dangerous for that paper to be leaked.”
“Ah... Yes.”
By the way, what is the meaning of telling me the mark on my second son's back and this promised mark?
As if he knew what I was thinking, the Clan Head said.
“I trust you. Even under my pressure, you didn't reveal the details of your deal with Kang-woon.”
“Isn't that because you took my circumstances into consideration?”
“Took your circumstances into consideration?”
The Clan Head looked as if he had heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.
“I was genuinely trying to encourage you at the time. No matter how skilled you were, you would have revealed everything you knew.”
Huh... This old man?
It's a good thing Hyun-ryong moved at that moment. If he hadn't, you would have seen something you shouldn't have.
Well, if I had opened my mouth at that moment, I wouldn't be standing here now.
But... even if Hyun-ryong hadn't moved, I wouldn't have said anything.
Trust is a merchant's life.
“You're being too harsh. I'm just an honest merchant.”
“How would I know that? Are you honest, or are you just pretending to be?”
“...”
I have nothing to say.
“Anyway, I hope you will live up to my trust.”
“I understand.”
If I let this slip, I'll never live to see another day.
Not that I would ever do such a thing.
“So you believe he is still alive.”
“Of course! With his abilities, he would be able to protect himself and live well.”
“Then should I find your second son and bring him to you?”
“No.”
What does that mean?
“All I want is to confirm that he is alive and well and to convey my message to him.”
“...?”
“The message I want you to convey is...”
The Clan Head picked up the envelope on the table and threw it at me.
Swoosh!
Thud!
“It's written there.”
He threw it at me with all his strength three times already...
At this point, isn't this just personal?
I muttered to myself as I examined the envelope.
This time, it was completely sealed, leaving no trace when I opened it.
“I understand. I have one more question.”
“Why? What else do you want to know?”
“Have the results of the interrogation of those who were captured this time come out?”
“Why are you asking that?”
“I contributed to capturing them, so I think I have the right to hear about it, don't you think?”
The Clan Head nodded.
“That's true. We haven't found out anything yet, but if we find out anything, I'll let you know.”
“Thank you. I have one more question.”
“What is it?”
“Where is the samurai who delivered my second son's letter?”
“Didn't you already meet him?”
“What?”
“The guy standing next to Kang-woon is that samurai.”
“...”
That explains why Young Master Peng Gang-un treated that servant so strangely.
“I see. I have one last question.”
“What is it?”
“What is the name of this Dan-hwan?”
.
.
.
After leaving the wall shrine, I had to try hard to keep a smile from appearing on my face.
I couldn't help but feel good after receiving such an incredible elixir as a deposit.
Its name is Je-Yul-Hwan.
It is said to have been created by one of the Five Great Doctors.
It must have been difficult to obtain... But then again, someone like the Clan Head of the Peng Family would be capable of it.
I returned to the guest quarters of Young Master Peng Gang-Woon, where I had been staying.
Young Master Pang Gang-un was waiting for me, and I greeted him.
“I will be on my way.”
At my words, Young Master Pang Gang-un bowed his head with clasped hands.
“I will never forget your kindness.”
There were many people watching. It was not wise to mention business in such a place.
I bowed with clasped hands and said, "It was my pleasure.
“I was simply showing my sincerity to the hero who graced my birthday banquet with his presence.”
“I would like you to stay longer. I feel like I haven't treated you properly.”
“Even if you say so, I must decline. I must go back to my work now.”
“That's why you can't catch me.”
“Don't forget that the Eunhae Trading Company is always behind you, Young Master.”
I sent him telepathy.
It meant that he should not forget our deal.
He flinched at my telepathy, but soon smiled and looked at me.
“Of course. I won't forget.”
The eyes of Captain Peng Gang-woon were full of determination and conviction.
I left him behind and left the Peng Clan.
.
.
.
My temporary residence in Beijing was closer to the Peng Clan than I had expected.
That's why it only took me half a day to get there.
As soon as I arrived, I was surprised to see an unexpected face.
“Huh? Master Jin?”
“Hahaha! You finally came.”
“Why are you here?”
“I was waiting for you, and His Majesty the Emperor ordered me to take you to the palace as soon as you arrived.”
Can't I just sleep for an hour?
It was only natural, but I had to say a quick hello to Ho and go to the imperial palace with Master Jin.
.
.
.
As we entered the imperial palace, Master Jin asked me, “The dinner you suggested earlier. Did you use us?”
“The dinner you suggested earlier. Were you using us?”
Well, I would have been stupid not to notice.
I admitted it without hesitation.
“I'm sorry.”
“You should have told us! Do you have any idea how worried we were?”
“I am ashamed. Instead, this time, I will throw a party with no ulterior motives.”
Master Jin-yeong smiled at my words.
Huh? Why are you smiling?
Zing!
Then he slapped me on the back and said,
“Huh! That's not like you!”
“What do you mean, it's like me?”
“Like you? Um, shameless and smooth, but never losing out?”
Is that an insult or a compliment?
“Hahaha. Cheer up. We brought great joy to His Majesty the Emperor with this incident, so how can we be upset about it?”
“Still, I'm sorry.”
“Hehehe, that's why I like you. You're also a very honest person. That's probably why you're called Seonhaengmi.”
Ugh!
I frowned unconsciously at the unexpected nickname.
“Anyway, I think His Majesty the Emperor is calling for you because of that incident.”
Soon, I arrived at the emperor's office.
The court official announced my arrival, and the door opened.
I slowly entered and bowed at a certain distance from the emperor.
“Your Majesty, the Emperor of Eunseoho, I am here to see you. Long live the emperor!”
“Raise your head.”
“I am deeply honored.”
I raised my head and looked at the emperor.
“So, why did you go to the Peng Clan?”
He was very direct.
“To tell you the truth, at my birthday banquet...”
I told the emperor the truth.
Why? The emperor had eyes and ears all over the empire.
He must have already known everything.
As expected, he was not very surprised to hear that I had paid a reward to destroy the group of assassins.
“So you were able to return safely to your clan with the Peng Clan's youngster. And you even mobilized the Royal Guards in the process?”
“But I did what His Majesty wanted, didn't I? This is all for the sake of His Majesty.”
“You're a smooth talker.”
Perhaps... what Master Jin said about you being shameless and smooth-talking is true.
“So I'm going to let this matter slide. After all, you've given me a great gift.”
That's right.
Thanks to you, I was able to easily get what the emperor wanted. That is the support of the Peng Family of Hebei.
In fact, the Peng Family of Hebei was a powerful clan that had enjoyed the trust of the late emperor, and they did not support the current emperor.
Furthermore, when the current emperor appointed the Huangbo clan to important positions, they became resentful and were even more indifferent to the current emperor's policies.
Of course, that did not mean that they were plotting a rebellion, but rather that they simply did not support him.
There were some members of the Peng Clan working in the Royal Guards, but their personal inclinations could not be helped.
In any case, using this incident as an excuse, the emperor gained the support of the Peng Clan and now had the backing of the two major military clans in Beijing.
As a result, his authority was becoming unrivaled, and he was becoming invincible.
“So, if something like this happens again, give me a heads up. If it weren't for someone as smart as me, we would have missed this opportunity.”
“...”
I was speechless for a moment at His Majesty's self-praise.
“You look very tired.”
Thanks to you, I couldn't rest and was dragged to the imperial palace.
By the way, this remark is a sign that I am about to be dismissed.
That won't do!
I was dragged here as soon as I arrived at my residence in Beijing, and I refuse to return home after receiving nothing but empty praise.
I said with clasped hands.
“I've been busy preparing gifts for His Majesty the Emperor, so I haven't had a chance to rest and I'm quite tired. By the way, did you like the gift I gave you?”
“Yes, I liked it.”
I raised my head and smiled.
“Then... no gaepyeong?”
“Huh?”
“Even in gambling, when you win money, you give gaepyeong to the people around you.”
“I heard that the reason for giving a share is because if you don't, you'll be punished.”
“How could I possibly have such a disloyal thought?”
“Hahahaha!”
The emperor burst into hearty laughter as he looked at me.
“You're the only one who would dare to ask me for a share.”
The emperor looked at me with amusement and asked.
“So what do you want?”
I hesitated at the question.
“Well, I think that is something His Majesty should decide.”
“You insolent fool.”
After thinking for a moment, the emperor spoke again.