Chapter 410
The Youngest Son of the Silver Sea Trading Company Chapter 410
Chapter 410: The Long-Awaited Harvest (5)
Hao Clan's Hangzhou Branch.
The place was in an uproar.
This was because Cheongpa, whom they had forcibly brought there and locked up in a prison, had disappeared.
All that remained in her place were broken bars.
That meant someone with extraordinary skills had broken in and taken her away.
Bang!
“Who stole Cheongpa?”
The branch manager's anger was so intense that everyone remained silent, as if they had been fed honey.
Then,
“Branch manager! Branch manager!”
Someone rushed in and shouted.
“They say that Cheongpa Ru has appeared at Cheongpa-ru.”
“What? Cheongpa-ru?”
“Yes. According to our informant, Cheongpa Ru was able to return with the help of Eun Seo-ho, the captain of the Hao Clan who took over Cheongpa-ru.”
“So, they ignored our warning after all.”
Yeon Yeon, the branch manager of the Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch, said with a fierce expression.
“Then we'll make him regret it, just as we warned him. Gather all the information you can find on Eun Seo-ho and those around him.”
“Yes!”
* *
I heard about the Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch from Dong-ah So-yi.
The branch chief's name is Yeon-yeon.
She was a courtesan who became the head of the Hao Clan's branch.
“I understand that you will stop at nothing to get the information you want.”
“You mean she is persistent. And greedy.”
“That's right. I hear she is very money-oriented. She is said to be very selective about information that can make her money.”
Yeon Yeon...
I asked about her because she was someone I had never seen in my previous life.
That meant she was the person who was the head of the Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch before the person I knew became the head.
Well, I guess so.
The head I knew must be working hard right now.
According to him, the previous head was stabbed to death by his subordinate.
I thought that the current branch manager named Yeon Yeon must have made a lot of enemies.
“But you're not facing an individual, you're facing the Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch. It's very dangerous.”
“It doesn't matter. I know exactly how they're going to hurt me. At worst, they'll gather information about me and try to shake me up.”
I chuckled.
“But I haven't lived my life carelessly.”
Information about me?
Go ahead and gather all you want.
It won't do you any good.
In the meantime, I will make them pay for threatening me and touching what is mine.
They touched what is mine first, so why can't I touch what is theirs?
Early that morning.
I left Cheongpa-ru.
I asked Seo Woo-musha to escort Cheongpa-ru so that I could target him again at Hao Clan.
I only took Jin-yu musha with me.
I asked for their understanding, saying that I had to do something in secret, as the other escort musha might feel resentful.
Thanks to the trust I had built up over time, they readily agreed with me.
“Even we can see that Jin-yu is the best man for a secret mission.”
“How could we hold back our liege?”
“If something happens to your liege, Jin-yu, we will die.”
“I will do my best.”
I walked down the alleyway, remembering that conversation.
“It's already the hour of the tiger (3-5 a.m.).”
“Yes, it is.”
I sighed without realizing it.
I slept well tonight.
We arrived at the Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch.
Under their management, there are five small branches, from the first to the fifth.
I looked around.
There were people watching us, but with their skills, it would be difficult for them to notice us.
We sneaked inside and took out the golden bell.
“Shh...!”
I quickly covered the bell's mouth and sent telepathy to Geum-ryeong.
“Be quiet!”
“Kui...”
“Find the branch's safe. It's full of money and expensive items.”
“Kui!”
Geum-ryeong wiggled his hips and led us forward.
We saw a safe with a mechanical lock, and security guards were standing guard in front of it.
But it didn't matter.
“Geum-ryeong, can you get inside?”
- Kui!
Geum-ryung nodded.
- Then go inside and take everything in there and put it in my bag. I'll give you a gold coin.
Geum-ryung was excited and jumped into the safe. However, the guards in front of her did not see her.
That was one of Geum-ryung's special skills.
No matter what was in front of her, she could pass through it if she wanted to. That's why she was able to move so quickly.
Spiritual beasts are truly amazing.
A moment later.
Geum-ryung came out of the safe and approached us.
Did you move everything inside?
Yes!
Then let's go to the other branch.
*
It was morning.
The Hao Clan branch in Hangzhou was busy gathering information about Eun Seo-ho.
“Hwangjo just brought some information.”
“Let's see... You've done quite a lot of research. Make sure you get paid for your hard work.”
“Yes, sir.”
In order to obtain information, they had to pay a corresponding price.
The Hao Clan was an organization made up of people who gathered to exchange information for money.
And since they were doing everything they could to gather information about Eun Seo-ho, the cost of obtaining information was not insignificant.
“Oh, I don't have any money in my wallet. Chief administrator! Fill my wallet.”
“Yes, sir.”
The chief administrator of the Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch headed for the safe to fill his wallet.
He manipulated the mechanism and opened the safe.
Clank.
At that moment, the chief administrator froze.
Thud.
The wallet fell from his hands, and his body began to shake.
Seeing his strange behavior, one of the guards asked, “What's wrong?”
“Why are you doing that?”
“It's gone...”
“What do you mean?”
“The money is gone! There's not a single penny left!”
“What?”
They tilted their heads and looked inside the safe.
“We have to go to the branch manager immediately!”
The chief administrator hurriedly ran to the branch manager.
“Branch manager! We have a problem!”
“What is it?”
“There is no money in the safe!”
“What kind of nonsense is that? There is no money in the safe?”
Branch manager Yeon frowned.
“Are you trying to make fun of me?”
“How dare I make fun of you, Chief Administrator?”
Seeing the serious expression on the chief administrator's face, she stood up.
“Go see.”
She headed toward the safe with the chief administrator and entered it.
“What is this? Isn't this the safe?”
“We are already inside the safe.”
“What?”
“We are inside the safe.”
“....”
Startled by his words, Yeon-yeon looked around. But all she could see was dust.
Without a single coin, everything had disappeared.
“Who on earth did this!”
While she was still in shock, someone called out to the branch manager.
“Branch manager! We have urgent news from the main branch. You need to go there immediately.”
“...Tell them to come back later.”
“We can't do that. They say that all the money in the safe was stolen last night!”
“What? The money in the safe was stolen?”
Yeon-yeon blinked her eyes. First the branch office, and now the safe at the main branch office had been robbed.
That was when it happened.
“Branch manager! It's a disaster. The safe at the main branch has been robbed!”
“Ha. Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha.”
She burst into laughter as if she had lost her mind.
She couldn't believe the current situation.
“It can't be that even the O Branch was robbed, right?”
There is an old saying.
“Don't say ‘can't be’ because it might happen.”
Upon hearing the news that even the O Branch had been robbed, Yeon-yeon collapsed on the spot.
“Branch manager!”
“Are you okay, Branch manager?”
She regained her composure and nodded.
“I'm fine.”
She knew who was responsible for this situation.
“Eun Seo-ho! He's definitely behind this!”
She didn't know what he had done, but she couldn't just let him get away with it.
She gave orders to the branch members.
“Bring me all the information you've gathered on Eun Seo-ho!”
“Yes!”
She began to thoroughly examine all the information on Eun Seo-ho in order to counterattack him.
Although she had only started her investigation a short while ago, she was quite skilled and was able to gather a lot of information.
“He was awarded the title of hero by the Martial Alliance. His name is Sun Hyuk-mi. But even heroes have their flaws!”
Then, she couldn't hide her confusion.
“Wait, what is this? Eun Seo-ho is friends with the Royal Guards?”
“Yes. He is said to be close with a high-ranking member of the Royal Guards named Jin-yeong.”
“....”
She bit her lip and flipped through the documents.
Then she picked up a piece of paper and her eyes widened.
“What? When Eun Seo-ho was being disciplined by the Ministry of Revenue, a classmate from the Royal Guards intervened and put pressure on the Ministry?”
“Yes. The Minister of Revenue himself stepped in and welcomed Eun Seo-ho.”
“...
She bit her lip again and looked through the information.
”He often visits the North Sea?“
”Yes. He established a branch of the Eunhae Trading Company in the North Sea and has accompanied the Palace Head of the Northern Sea Ice Palace."
She bit her lip again.
“What is this... The emperor favors him? He is often summoned to the imperial palace?”
Did she bite her lips too hard? Blood flowed.
Her tightly clenched hands trembled.
There were many things they should not touch, but this was beyond ridiculous.
The emperor himself was the empire.
His eyes and hands, the objects of fear, Dong-chang and the Royal Guards.
The Northern Sea Ice Palace, considered one of the strongest single forces.
And the Martial Alliance.
With connections to terrifying forces, both within and outside the martial arts world, she was beside herself with rage.
"Excuse me, Chief. I think we've messed with someone we shouldn't have.“
”You don't have to say it, I already know!“
At that moment, the chief administrator asked cautiously.
”By the way, there is some money that needs to be paid today. What should we do?“
”Just pay it. Why are you asking me...?"
Yeon-yeon, who had been shouting loudly, was forced to shut her mouth.
He realized that the Hangzhou branch didn't have a single penny.
Due to the nature of the Hao Clan, they couldn't leave money on the battlefield. They had to use cash, and leaving money on the battlefield meant paying a commission, which was a loss.
Furthermore, information about the financial situation of each branch could leak out.
For the same reason, they couldn't borrow money from the battlefield. Furthermore, the Hangzhou branch and the battlefields here weren't on good terms.
That didn't mean they could ask other branches for help.
The Hao Clan was quite independent in each branch.
They needed to borrow a considerable amount of money, and if they did, the other branches would find out what was going on.
Then they would withdraw their support.
They would worry about what would happen to them if they helped us for no reason.
That said, we couldn't ask the Sect Leader for help.
The Sect Leader of the Hao Clan had repeatedly emphasized that the Hao Clan should exist as if it didn't exist.
He said that was the only way to ensure the clan's survival.
But if he found out that we had messed with Eun Seo-ho, who was connected to forces that the Empire shouldn't mess with...
“I'll lose my head!”
When Yeon-eun's thoughts reached that point, her hands began to tremble. She had to fix this situation quickly.
“Captain Eun Seo-ho... Where are you now?”
* * *
Cheongpa-ru.
I was there listening to the waiters calculate the amount of damage.
“So, that comes to about 100 nyang in total.”
“That's right.”
I told them to double it, so it's probably around 50 nyang.
There are several reasons why I told them to double it.
First, it is compensation for mental damage. How anxious must they have been when you caused such a commotion at their workplace?
Second, the damaged furniture contained the dedication and memories of the waiters who had taken good care of it.
By destroying them, we had rendered their dedication and memories useless.
“We have to accept this amount.”
“But, Captain.”
Cheongpa Ru called me with a worried look on his face.
“Are you sure it's okay? The Hao Clan is powerful...”
“The information is frightening, but there is something more frightening than that. Do you know what it is?”
“...?”
I smiled at her as she tilted her head in confusion.
“Money.”
So I collected all the money from the Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch.
At that moment, Pal-gap approached me.
“Young master. Someone from the Hao Clan wants to see you.”
I nodded and headed toward the entrance of Cheongpa-ru.
A man saw me, bowed politely, and said,
“I am from the Hangzhou branch of the Hao Clan. Our branch manager would like to see you. Please follow me to our branch.”
“Tell him to come here himself.”
“What?”
“I have no business with him. Shouldn't the branch manager who has business with me come here himself?”
At my words, he broke out in a cold sweat and bowed his head.
“I will convey your message.”
He hurriedly turned back, and I laughed hollowly at the sight of him.
The Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch manager still had a long way to go before he came to his senses.
Even in this situation, he was still trying to save face.
Did I look that easy to deal with?
“If the Hao Clan's Hangzhou branch cannot pay for the information, is there anyone else who will give it to you?”
“No, there isn't. But then, won't it be difficult for those who make a living selling information?”
“That's why I have a plan. I'm going to spread a rumor in Hangzhou. I'll buy the information from them.”
“What?”
“And in return, I'll provide them with food.”
Even if they have money, they can't get food right now.
And as the saying goes, he who feeds you is your friend.
I'm not a good person, but I'll pretend to be one.