Chapter 363
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 363
Chapter 363. Baekyeom Trading Company (4)
In front of him, four blacksmiths were struggling to carry a furnace filled with molten iron.
Seeing this, Ho-kyung stopped in his tracks.
It was only natural. He had to let them pass first.
But
“Uh!”
One of them lost his footing and fell.
The problem was that the spot where he was expected to fall was right where Young Master Ho-kyung was standing.
“Ugh!”
“Young Master!”
Everyone was startled and focused on that.
But I saw it clearly.
A man named Makdu took a metal ball out of his pocket and rolled it toward the men carrying the furnace.
Was this the author's intention?
To kill Ho-kyung by disguising it as an accident?
If you want to shake up the Trading Company, wouldn't it be better to start a fire or something?
At that moment, something crossed my mind.
“Thanks to Kyung, I can rest in peace. He is truly a treasure to our Trading Company.”
What if Ho-kyung dies in an accident?
Damn it!
Now was not the time to think about that.
The molten metal in the furnace was about to engulf Ho-kyung.
He was acting as a guide and keeping a slight distance from the others, so they wouldn't be caught up in it, but thanks to that, I was certain.
That Makdu's target was Mister Ho-kyung.
With molten metal that hot, there wouldn't even be a body left!
Of course, he wouldn't survive.
If I step in now, I can save him, but if the Martial Alliance finds out about my level of skill...
In a split second, countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he soon let out a laugh.
Is that important right now?
Someone is about to die right in front of me.
Damn it!
I rushed to Mister Ho-kyung, wrapped him in one arm, and at the same time, unleashed my inner arts toward the boiling molten iron.
Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
“Ah... Yes. I'm fine.”
He looked stunned. No wonder, considering what had just happened.
Clang.
Thud.
Clang.
The blacksmiths who had been holding the furnace let out sighs of relief and sat down where they were.
It was probably because their mistake almost killed the Trading Company's next heir.
In fact, it wasn't their fault.
If it weren't for me, they would have lived with guilt for the rest of their lives.
The punishment must be given to the one who committed the crime.
I looked at Makdu, who was panicking over his failure and trying to leave, and said, “Subdue him.”
“What?”
“What?”
“He rolled a metal ball toward the blacksmiths carrying the furnace.”
Hearing this, the nearby blacksmiths rushed toward him.
He waved his hands in panic.
“What are you doing? I didn't do anything!”
“Be quiet, you bastard!”
“I'm innocent!”
The blacksmiths searched Makdu's body and found iron balls in his pants pocket.
“Look at this bastard!”
“Huh!”
“That's...”
“With this evidence, you still think you're innocent?”
“This looks like the iron we produce at our ironworks.”
“Did we make iron balls too?”
With no excuse left, Makdu quietly bowed his head.
Blacksmithing is a very dangerous job.
After narrowly escaping death several times, it was only natural that they would become foul-mouthed.
They had to protect each other's safety, even if it meant resorting to such measures.
Today, I was able to see for myself how foul-mouthed blacksmiths can be.
It started with the four blacksmiths who brought the furnace.
“Are these iron balls on the ground?”
“I thought something was slippery, but it was because of the iron balls you rolled around!”
“Hey! You bastard! You son of a bitch!”
“You bastard! You son of a bitch!”
Ugh...
It felt like my ears were bleeding.
But it was only natural for them to be so harsh. I would have done the same.
No, that's not true.
If it were me, instead of cursing like that, I would have gotten back at them.
Ho-kyung, who had regained his composure, said.
“Call Ho-cheol-dae right now.”
“Yes!”
Ho Cheol-dae is the military force of the Baekyeom Trading Company.
“Hik!”
At those words, his face turned pale.
He must have realized that he couldn't get away with it now.
At that moment
Makdu grabbed the iron ball from the blacksmith in front of him and put it in his mouth.
He intended to swallow the iron ball and kill himself.
Don't!
I took the dagger from my bosom and threw it at him.
“Kuh!”
My dagger struck his hand, and his attempt at suicide was unsuccessful.
I approached him, retrieved the dagger, and subdued him.
Ho-kyung Gong, who had followed closely behind, said to those around him, “Mister, please bind him and gag him.”
“Gag and tie him up.”
“Yes!”
The blacksmiths rushed over and gagged him, then stopped the bleeding from his wounds with another cloth and tied him up tightly.
“You've caused trouble again.”
I shook my head slightly at Ho-kyung Gongja's words.
“No, it's not your fault.”
I was slightly surprised.
It was because he regained his composure faster than I had expected.
That must be why he was able to revive the Baekyeom Trading Company.
Besides, as the successor to the world's best trading company, he must have faced threats of assassination and kidnapping.
He said to Makdu.
“I will not interrogate you now. If I do, I will kill you.”
“...”
Makdu bit his lip in frustration.
Meanwhile, Ho Cheol-dae, wearing iron armor, rushed over.
“You called me? What is going on?”
Ho Cheol-dae's team leader was shocked by the situation.
He saw molten iron solidified on the floor and several blacksmiths holding down a man.
“This man tried to assassinate me.”
Ho-gyeong explained the situation to him and gave a concise order.
“Interrogate the criminal thoroughly and find out who is behind this. There must be someone who incited him. Find out who it is, but don't kill him.”
“Yes, sir!”
Half of Ho Cheol-dae's men dragged Makdu away, while the other half began to question the blacksmiths.
Meanwhile, Ho Kyung bowed his head to me with clasped hands.
“Thank you so much. You saved my life.”
“No, I only acted to save your life.”
“I will never forget your life-saving deed.”
I bowed my head in humility.
“By the way, I was really surprised. I didn't know that Captain Eun was such a skilled martial artist…”
Well, he did freeze the boiling metal in an instant.
I smiled bitterly to myself.
I had originally intended to hide my true abilities, but I had no choice.
I couldn't just leave Ho-kyung, the Confucian scholar, to die.
If I didn't save him for the sake of my own goals, that would be putting the cart before the horse.
I have a goal to avenge the Martial Alliance.
But that is because I am human, and I am angry at their actions and want revenge.
I didn't want to give up my humanity for that.
“Hahaha. You flatter me.”
I said so and bowed my head.
Then something fell from my sleeve.
It was the trinket I had given to Geum-ryeong.
When I was commissioned by the Gui Zhou City Police Chief, I bought some trinkets at a flea market. I wanted to disguise them as antiques and preserve her eyes.
I bought a few extra just in case, and when Geum-ryung looked at them with desire, I gave her one.
Why did you give this to me?
Kui!
I heard Geum-ryung's telepathy in my head.
You didn't make a mistake, you did this on purpose?
I immediately examined the toy.
The blue part of the toy was broken. It looked like Geum-ryung had deliberately bitten it.
Ah! I see what she means!
I realized what Geum-ryung was trying to do.
What a clever girl.
Are you a genius?
I'll have to give you gold instead of silver later.
I picked up the trinket and looked embarrassed. Bok-Yoon, the junior leader, asked from beside me.
“What is that trinket?”
I pretended not to be embarrassed and replied casually.
“It's nothing.”
Then Captain Sa-gang said,
“It looks like a magical item.”
“Could it be a magical item that contains cold air?”
I sighed and replied to Captain Hanbaek-geon's question.
“Yes, that's right. How could I possibly freeze molten iron in an instant? I just used the power of this item.”
“What an amazing artifact!”
“I've heard of such artifacts before.”
The few remaining captains nodded in agreement. Among them was Sa-gu Cheol, the father of Captain Sa-gang.
As a place that produces weapons, it is extremely important to have a steady supply of iron.
Baekyeom Trading Company was their most important client, so they would have gladly visited to strengthen their relationship.
They would also take the opportunity to learn some new techniques.
Saguchul, the captain of the trading company, saw that the raw stone in my hand was broken and said,
“Oh no... It looks like it has reached the end of its life.”
“I think so.”
“Our trading company makes weapons, so we know very well how hot molten iron can get. If it was hot enough to freeze all that iron at once, then that tool was probably at the end of its life.”
I said with a clasped hands greeting.
“Still, I think it was worth it to save a person's life in exchange for this tool. After all, isn't human life more important than anything else?”
I smiled.
“Even though we lost the tool, I am satisfied.”
“Huh...”
“You are truly a Master.”
“...”
The captains and Masters all began to praise me.
“That's right!”
“There is a reason why everyone calls you a Master.”
“It is reassuring to have such a hero in our Trading Company.”
“You are truly Master Xian.”
“...”
Please, spare me the title of Master Xian.
There are times when I need the help that title brings, but when I hear it spoken to my face, I feel like I'm going to break out in hives.
Anyway, I'm glad.
Thanks to the toy that Geum-ryeong dropped at the right moment, today's incident was attributed to the weapon rather than my skill.
“I'm really sorry. Because of me, a precious weapon has been destroyed.”
Ho-gyeong looked genuinely sorry.
“It's okay. I think this artifact came into my hands for a reason, perhaps to save Mister Ho today.”
“Captain...”
“This artifact has simply served its purpose. Thanks to it, Mister Ho's life was saved, so I'm sure it's happy too.”
Wow...
Even I think I'm really good with words.
Now it's time to wrap things up.
“Anyway, today was a big day, so we'd better go and rest our minds and bodies.”
The others agreed with me unanimously.
“As Captain Eun said.”
“Let's stop looking around the ironworks here.”
“Go and rest.”
That concluded our tour of the ironworks.
I was satisfied with how I had thwarted the plot of Captain Namgung Kang.
Soon, we passed through the iron door of the ironworks and stepped outside.
“Young master!”
“Liege!”
Ho Cheol-dae had rushed inside. Therefore, the attendants and bodyguards waiting in front of the door hurriedly checked on their lord's safety when they came out.
Pal-gap and my bodyguards did the same.
“Are you all right? What happened?”
I smiled at their question.
“I'll tell you later.”
Seo Woo, who was watching me closely, said.
“Fortunately, you are not hurt.”
“Yes.”
Then Pal-gap said.
“But why did you burn your clothes?”
Huh?
Pal-gap pointed to my clothes, and I was at a loss for words.
“Well, it's just that... Ha ha ha. Why did the hem get burned?”
Then someone interrupted.
“Don't be too hard on him. It's thanks to your Liege that this place isn't a funeral home right now.”
The person who approached us was Damshim, the head of the Trading Company.
He was the father of Damjin, the junior captain who had been mocked by the rowdy young men earlier, and the captain of the Mudo Trading Company.
He was one of the people who had visited the ironworks with me earlier and watched me in action.
He smiled and said,
“I was very impressed today. And thank you for helping my son.”
He knew that Damjin, the captain of the second division, had been in trouble earlier.
“I will not forget your kindness.”
Then, Damjin, the captain of the second division, who was standing a little behind, bowed his head to me with his hands clasped together.
“I will cherish my connection with you. And I will never forget your kindness earlier.”
After exchanging greetings with them, I looked around. Ho-kyung Mister was still tidying up the area.
I approached him.
“Why aren't you going inside yet?”
He smiled bitterly at my question.
“I have to finish what I started. I'm not seriously injured.”
“....”
Why did his words sound so sad?
We had foiled Captain Namgung Kang's plot today, but that alone would not be enough to defeat him.
He would surely cover his tracks.
That was why it was important to have witnesses here.
“Actually, I have something to tell you.”