Chapter 461
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 461
Chapter 461. The Meaning of Advice (1)
That evening.
We borrowed a room at the Yunnan branch and began our meeting.
“How could this happen...”
They realized the situation and were furious.
“How could you betray His Majesty and your colleagues!”
“This is unacceptable!”
I looked at them quietly. I could understand their anger.
However, I was worried that they would act rashly because of this.
At that moment, Master Kwon Jik said to me,
“In this situation, I am glad that we followed the advice of Captain Eun and came here as his escort. Thank you.”
“Don't mention it.”
I smiled gently, modestly.
“It may not be the right time to say this, but we must put our anger and sadness aside and focus on our mission.”
Then I looked at each of the others and continued.
“If we fail in our mission, His Majesty will be greatly saddened. We don't know about the others, but we must rescue the prince, don't we?”
They nodded in agreement.
“You are right.”
“We are bound by the emperor's orders! We cannot let our personal feelings get in the way.”
In an instant, they gathered their thoughts.
The atmosphere changed in an instant.
I guess everyone who becomes a Royal Guard must have this kind of mental strength.
But still, something felt off...
“Then let's discuss how we're going to get into Chunkyungseong.”
At Master Kwon's words, the other Royal Guards offered their opinions.
However, we couldn't come to a conclusion, so we decided to gather more information and meet again later.
.
.
.
When I returned to my room, Geum-ryung was sitting on my desk.
“Did you just get here?”
“Kui!”
Geum-ryung jumped on the desk.
As Miss Seo-hyang instructed, I have been sending Geum-ryung to her regularly. I should have sent her earlier, but I had no choice but to send her a little late this time.
I patted Geum-ryeong lightly and opened the letter.
[True acting is deceiving even yourself.
Huh? What does this mean?
True acting is deceiving even yourself?
“Kui! Kui!”
Geumryung tapped the desk with her front paws, urging me to hurry. She wanted a coin for running an errand.
“Okay, okay.”
I took a coin from my pocket and gave it to Geumryung, who licked it and rolled around.
Lately, Geum-ryeong had been enjoying the silver coin or gold coin after receiving it, rather than swallowing it right away like she used to.
Does that mean she has more leisure time now?
Suddenly, I remembered something I hadn't been able to say during the meeting earlier.
Prince Joo-hyun is also a descendant of the emperor.
It was possible that instead of taking Prince Joo-hyun hostage in Chun-gyeongseong, they would proclaim him emperor.
Come to think of it, Chun-gyeongseong must be struggling with a shortage of supplies since they are controlling outsiders.
However, it was unlikely that they would give up the supplies they had extorted for this purpose.
At that moment, the silver coin in Geum-ryeong's hand and the idea that had just popped into my head came together, and a plan was formed.
The next day.
After breakfast, I called the Royal Guards together.
When everyone had gathered in the conference room, Master Kwon asked me.
“So, what's going on?”
“First, we have to infiltrate Chun-gyeongseong, right?”
“Yes.”
“I was thinking about it last night and came up with a good plan, so I asked you all to come.”
“Oh, what is your plan?”
“We will provide them with funds.”
“What?”
Master So-un was furious at my words and shouted.
“You want to give funds to those heinous people! Are you out of your mind?”
“Calm down!”
Master Kwon calmed him down.
“Let him finish before you get angry.”
“...I apologize.”
“Continue.”
Hearing that, I smiled and continued.
“Money is necessary for everything in this world. Not to mention, the cause they are fighting for requires a tremendous amount of money.”
“That's true.”
“This happened suddenly. Moreover, they are strictly controlling outsiders, so they must be short on supplies and money. Haven't they been exploited for a long time?”
Everyone nodded at my words.
“In such a situation, if our Eunhae Trading Company contacts them and offers to provide funds, they will be swayed.”
“In other words, you want to use deception.”
“That's right.”
Master So-un, who had been angry at my words, cleared his throat.
“I'm sorry.”
“No, it's fine. From your position, it was only natural.”
The moment I looked at him, I understood the contents of Miss Seo Hyang's letter.
[True acting is deceiving even yourself.
When we enter Chunkyungseong, they will have to act.
As my bodyguards, not as Royal Guards.
And bodyguards are those who follow the will of their liege. If we go in there like this, it will be difficult.
If we're not careful, our lives could be in danger.
That is why Miss Seo Hyang advised me. True acting is deceiving even yourself.
This was the source of my uneasiness.
Therefore, I must make sure of this now.
I looked at him with a cold expression.
“But are you planning to act so impulsively and emotionally even after entering Chunkyungseong?”
“...?”
“You don't have to do that. Everyone here knows your loyalty to Master So.”
I continued.
“If you react like that inside Chunkyungseong, all of our lives will be in danger. If you only look at the result, how are you any different from those who killed the two masters?”
“Don't put me in the same category as them!”
“No. In my opinion, you are the same. I feel sorry for your comrades.”
At the same time, Master So-un drew his sword and swung it at me.
I deliberately scratched him, but he was easier to scratch than I thought.
My bodyguards jumped up.
“Everyone, don't interfere!”
At my command, they bit their lips and quickly stepped back.
I dodged Master So-un's sword.
“Hee!”
Master So-un, completely excited, swung his sword at me again, and the other masters tried to stop him, but he was already half-blind and seemed helpless.
Hmm, is this the level of a master?
This is causing trouble in such a small meeting room.
Bang!
When I opened the door and went out into the courtyard, he followed me.
The bodyguards who had rushed out followed and evacuated the others.
Even so, Master So-un's anger showed no signs of abating.
“You insolent fool!”
“Yes. Now you know how insolent I am?”
“How dare a lowly merchant speak to me like that!”
“Then you should have behaved yourself so that a lowly person like me wouldn't have to say such things to you.”
“I'm not like those people! I'm different!”
“Then behave yourself.”
“Ugh!”
I dodged his attacks and continued to provoke him.
Hmm, is that enough?
“His Majesty the Emperor said that he would grant the same position as the Masters to those who carried out this task. That means that even if I lay a hand on the Masters, it would not be considered treason.”
Of course, there is no such thing in the sacred land.
But the sacred land is already burned to the ground, so how would they know?
I drew my sword and filled it with the energy of Tae-eum Byeonghae Gong.
The third technique of the Jinseol Twelve Swords Technique. Songjeokseol.
It is a middle sword technique that overwhelms the opponent with enormous energy.
“Kuh!”
Master So-un couldn't handle my sword and dropped it.
Thud.
But my sword didn't stop there, and Master So-un ended up flat on his face.
“Huh, huh.”
I crouched down in front of him and said, “Are you ready to listen to me now?”
“Are you ready to listen to me now?”
“Who are you? What are you?”
His eyes were filled with fear as he looked at me.
That was understandable, as he had never experienced such a powerful force before.
Seeing that he had changed his tone from being condescending to respectful, I thought he had come to his senses.
I reached out my hand toward him.
“Get up. A person of your stature shouldn't be rolling around on the ground.”
“Yes.”
He got up, and I dusted the dirt off his clothes. Master So-un couldn't even look me in the eye.
I didn't think I pressed that hard...
Did I let my emotions show a little?
It doesn't matter. He didn't like anything I said anyway, so putting him down like this will make things easier later.
Seo Hyang Miss advised me that true acting is deceiving yourself.
But what if someone can't do that?
The answer is simple.
Force them to do so.
“Master So. I'm going to be serious. It's important to maintain your composure. If you can't do that, then just stay here.”
“No, I'll be careful. I'm sorry.”
I said with a smile.
“Why are you apologizing to me? It was your colleagues who almost got hurt because of your lack of self-control. Furthermore, Master So put me in a very difficult position by swinging his sword at me.”
At my words, Master So turned around and gasped.
This was because everyone was looking at him with dissatisfied expressions or sighing.
“Huh! I'm sorry!”
He bowed deeply with his hands clasped together.
“I will be more careful in the future.”
Master Kwon Jik said in a cold voice.
“I will give you one more chance.”
Seeing this, I nodded and said.
“Let's take a break to clear the air and continue the meeting later.”
“Let's do that.”
As the other Masters headed to their respective quarters, Master Kwon-jik approached me.
“I'm indebted to you once again. To be honest, So-woon is young, so he can be a little hot-headed at times.”
I'm young too.
Ah... But I'm not that young, considering my past experiences.
“I was planning to take you aside someday and teach you a lesson... but I thought now wasn't the right time.”
“That's right. We have to trust each other and work together, so we can't afford to have any hard feelings.”
“I'm sorry for making you play the bad guy.”
“It was necessary. I just thought it was right for me to do it since we're not in the same organization.”
“I really appreciate you thinking that.”
“Don't mention it.”
Master Kwon Jik smiled slightly and said.
“Anyway, I've made up my mind today. I will never be your enemy.”
“What?”
Did he notice my true abilities?
“If I fight you, I won't die from your sword, but from your sharp words.”
“....”
“Next time we have time, teach me how to insult someone so well.”
Is that a compliment?
It is a compliment, right?
“See you later.”
Master Kwon Jik headed for his quarters, and Seo Woo approached me.
“That was really surprising.”
“Yes, but everyone handled it well.”
“That's because we know how skilled you are. And we knew you were provoking them on purpose.”
After all, we've been together for several years.
If I weren't that observant, I wouldn't have lasted this long.
I chuckled and turned around.
“We will be going inside. And you may be separated from me and forced to act with the other Masters. If that happens, please save your own lives first.”
“What?”
“Won't that cause problems?”
“That can be resolved somehow. But what's important to me is you guys.”
They looked touched by my words.
“Of course, if the situation allows, save their lives and help them. I'll make sure you're well compensated.”
I chuckled.
“But don't push yourselves too hard. You understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
* *
The six Royal Guards were gathered in one room.
One of them stood with his head bowed.
“I'm really sorry.”
“It's enough that you know you're sorry.”
“...I won't act rashly again.”
Seeing that So-woon was truly remorseful, no one reprimanded him further.
“Always keep a cool head. Even if our hearts are burning with passion, we must always maintain a cold, rational mind.”
He replied boldly to Kwon Jik's words.
“Yes, I understand.”
When the conversation ended, Cheong-ak asked So-woon.
“By the way, was Captain Eunseoho really that strong? So strong that you couldn't even lift a finger against him?”
At that question, So-woon trembled.
“It was so scary that I don't even want to think about it.”
“Scary?”
“He had an overwhelming presence. The feeling of being crushed was like... it was as if I was standing in front of His Majesty the Emperor.”
“That much?”
“Yes. But when I faced His Majesty the Emperor, I clearly recognized that he was my Liege, but with Captain Eunseoho, it was a little different.”
He continued.
“It felt like I was going to be eaten if I made a mistake. It felt like I was being hunted.”
Hearing this, Kwon Jik suddenly remembered what the emperor had said when he received his orders.
“If you do what he says, most things will go smoothly. But don't try to control him or suppress him like the others. If you do, he will devour you.”
Kwon Jik nodded.
‘The emperor's words were indeed wise.’
It was fortunate that he had heeded the emperor's advice. If he hadn't, he would have been the one rolling on the ground.