Chapter 507
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 507
Chapter 507. The Successor (1)
The reception room of the Beijing branch.
Poet Song Rok was sitting across from me.
I had arranged this meeting because he said he had found something at the competition earlier.
“I'm sorry you must be hungry after judging all day.”
“It's fine. This is much more important than that. Besides, we can't talk about this in the dining room.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Poet Song Rok took a piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to me.
“Among the poems submitted by the participants today, I found one with a similar mark to the one written on the wall. This is the poem.”
I read the poem. However, I couldn't see any similarities.
“I don't understand.”
In response to my honest answer, he explained.
“The poem written on the wall was probably written in an unfamiliar style to hide the author's identity. They must have been clever enough to plan something like this.”
He continued.
“But I believe that poems are a reflection of a person. The proof is in their habits.”
“Habits?”
“Yes. No matter how hard you try to write something unfamiliar, your habits will inevitably show. This is especially true when writing poetry on the spot, such as in a poetry contest.”
“I see. Could you explain in more detail?”
“Of course.”
He pointed to each of the two poems and explained them to me one by one.
After hearing his explanation, I finally saw the similarities between the two poems.
“I see! What is the name of the person who wrote these poems?”
“His name is Cho Saeng, from Anhui Province.”
“Anhui Province...”
“However, the preliminary round is not over yet, so we need to look at them a little more closely. There may be others who have written similar poems.”
Today was the third day.
The preliminary round would last for two more days.
“I see. I will leave it to you until then. Let's go eat.”
I took him to a nearby tavern.
The streets of Beijing were crowded with people, and there were no seats available in the taverns or brothels.
The emperor will be pleased.
This is exactly why he held this poetry contest.
We need customers to make money so we can pay taxes.
There is a saying that
fear establishes power, but food maintains that power.
I agree with that saying.
No matter how powerful you are, if you stand in front of hungry people, you will eventually be trampled underfoot.
And the emperor knows that very well.
.
.
.
On the way back after dinner.
I sent the poet Song Rok back to the Beijing branch first, and then headed for Otong Street.
I wanted to review this case from the beginning.
A contract killer with the martial arts skills of the Namgung Clan...
I couldn't think of anyone. There was no such case in my previous life.
Even if there was, the Namgung Clan would have dealt with it before I heard about it.
Then how could we catch him?
Master Jin demanded that the Namgung Clan take responsibility and catch him.
However, I had no intention of trusting them alone.
If they couldn't catch him, they would frame someone innocent and execute them.
They were the kind of people who would do that.
They were people who would sacrifice others for their own honor and profit.
I had to catch the real culprit, if only to prevent such a sacrifice.
Soon, we arrived at the place where the poet Na Jeong-soo had died.
The area was still cordoned off, and imperial guards were standing guard.
The case had not yet been solved.
One of the imperial guards recognized me and bowed respectfully.
“You must be working hard.”
“Don't mention it. We're just doing our job.”
They seemed well disciplined.
As expected of the imperial guard.
I began to look around again.
The bloodstains had been mostly wiped away.
Come to think of it, it had rained a few days ago.
Hm?
I suddenly felt something strange.
When I was here last time, I didn't notice it because of the strong smell of blood...
I could feel an energy that I hadn't felt before.
Ah! The energy is coming from over there.
I crossed the rope barrier and focused my eyes on the sword marks on the wall.
This is definitely... the energy of the Black Sword.
Something is strange.
There are clear signs that the martial arts of the Namgung Clan were used, but why is there a black aura?
In any case, this is also evidence.
Perhaps I didn't notice it before because the blood scent was strong and there were so many people coming and going.
But now, only a few imperial guards are standing guard, so even a faint aura can be felt.
The marks left on the wall are sword marks made when the poet Na Jeong-soo was pressed against the wall and his body was torn apart with a sword.
While wielding the sword, he must have unconsciously left a strong aura behind.
It was a good decision to come here today.
The next day.
Master Jin, who visited the Beijing branch, gave me a book.
“What is this book?”
“Didn't you ask me for this the other day? You wanted a list of the people who insulted the poet Na Jeong-soo in his critical poems.”
“Yes, that's right.”
“This is the list.”
“Is this the list?”
“As you can see, there were so many names that it took some time to compile them into a book.”
“Thank you.”
I took the list and opened it.
Since the poet Na Jeong-soo was from Anhui Province, most of the poets on the list were also from Anhui Province.
Then Master Jin-yeong said,
“Ah, Mister Namgung is also on that list.”
Is this guy really that bold?
How could he live in Anhui Province and criticize the poems of the son of the Namgung Clan Head?
“But in the case of Mister Namgung, it seems that his clan warned him.”
“I see. But did the victim accept the warning?”
“He had a good reputation, but it's difficult to survive in Anhui Province if you fall out of favor with the Namgung Clan.”
“That's true.”
Namgung Yang was a illegitimate son and the son of the seventeenth wife, so he seemed insignificant, but there was something he didn't know.
Namgung Yang was the son who was favored by the Clan Head.
I found the name of the person Song Rok mentioned on the list.
Cho Saeng of Anhui Province.
There it is.
Below that, it was written how he was disgraced because of a poem he wrote.
I memorized his name and gave the clasped hands greeting to Master Jin.
“Thank you for the information.”
“You're welcome. I'm glad I could help. If you work hard, I will also benefit.”
That was true, but it was a burden.
That means if I slip up, Master Jin-yeong will also suffer.
“Hahaha. I will do my best.”
After briefly explaining the situation, Master Jin-yeong left.
I went into my office and read the book carefully.
The more I read, the more I sighed and laughed bitterly.
Wow... Na Jeong-soo was a real piece of trash.
I know people like him well.
When you live as a merchant, you inevitably encounter people like him.
They are people who only pursue their own reputation and self-satisfaction.
But they don't care if the people around them shed tears of blood.
The people around them are nothing more than tools for their own reputation and satisfaction.
Should I say it's good that someone who only caused harm to those around him died?
But I'm not sure if that's true for his family. Even someone like him could be a precious son, husband, and father to his family.
Although that's rarely the case.
“Lieutenant Kwak.”
“Yes.”
“Please bear with me a little longer, even if it's frustrating.”
“What?”
She tilted her head for a moment, then realized what I meant and replied with a smile.
“I'm fine. Don't worry about it.”
“I'm sorry.”
The group from Guizhou Province was still in Beijing.
The reason was that they wanted to take care of some business they had accumulated while in Beijing and watch the poetry contest.
This meant that they would be staying for another month or so.
However, I knew the real reason.
It was so that he could see Miss Seo Hyang one more time before returning.
However, he had not been able to find an opportunity because Master Dong Hyuk-soo was always by her side.
If it doesn't work out, I'll have to create an opportunity somehow.
At that moment, Pal-gap entered the office.
“Young master.”
“What is it?”
“Elder Namgung Gunji sent someone. He would like to have dinner with you tomorrow evening, if you are available.”
“Dinner together?”
“Yes. He wants to thank you for taking good care of Mister Namgung.”
That's just a cover...
Elder Namgung Geonji's thoughts and actions were obvious.
He must feel bad for ignoring me.
The former Clan Head of the Namgung Clan, who is also the leader of the Martial Alliance, gave me the title of Xian Xie Mi Lang, but he ignored me, so he is afraid that his actions will be seen as disrespectful to the Alliance Leader.
That is why he is trying to appease me in advance.
The Namgung Clan members act arrogantly as if they fear nothing in the world, but they are very conscious of the Alliance Leader's feelings.
“What shall we do?”
“Tell him I'll meet him.”
“Yes, sir.”
Pal-gap left the office. At that moment, Miss Seo-hyang asked cautiously, “Are you sure it's okay?”
“What's not okay? I'll just go listen to what he has to say and come back with some food, right?”
I had no intention of telling the Alliance Leader about this in the first place.
I have no reason to meet the Alliance Leader.
At that time, I did it because it would make things easier if I put the Namgung Clan Elder in his place.
“That's...”
Seo Hyang hesitated and then said to me.
“It seems that the Captain has a strong dislike for the Namgung Clan.”
“...Did it seem that way?”
“Yes. It feels as if you are looking at your enemy from a previous life.”
“...!”
I was startled by Seo Hyang Soja's words.
Her words were too accurate.
How did she know that? Does she have the ability to read past lives?
I calmed my confusion and asked her back.
“Why do you think so?”
“Well... Whenever you look at documents related to the Namgung Clan or hear stories about them, you always grip the armrests of your chair tightly.”
“....”
Thankfully, Bingjing's eyes can't see past lives.
“I don't know what your circumstances are, but please don't be too anxious.”
Why did her words make me feel so relieved?
“I understand.”
The next day.
It was the fourth day of the poetry contest.
Tomorrow would be the end of the first round of the poetry contest.
Today was the day Namgung Yang Mister would participate.
So, it would be better to show my face, if only for our evening meeting.
“Pal-gap.”
“Yes, young master.”
“I'm going to the competition venue today.”
A short while later, I arrived at the competition venue. Then, I watched the preliminary round of the poetry contest.
It was a little past lunchtime.
Huh?
The poem I hear now...
Thanks to Song Rok's explanation, I understood.
It was a poem with a similar style to the one written on the wall.
Is there someone else besides Cho Saeng who can write a poem with a style similar to that poem?
I looked at Song Rok.
He also seemed to have noticed this, and his expression became serious.
Does that mean there are two suspects?
No, three.
After lunch.
Another poem was composed during the resumed preliminary round.
It also had a similar style to the poem written on the wall.
.
.
.
Today's competition is over.
I approached Namgung Yang Gong, who was walking slowly.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Ah! Master Seon and Master Dae!”
As Chun-il said, Namgung Yang Gong's poem was terrible. So, naturally, he was eliminated from the preliminary round.
“Compared to the others, my poem is...”
“Does it matter whether it's good or bad? Isn't it more important how sincere your poem is?”
I comforted Namgung Yang and sent him telepathy.
- You're a better actor than I thought.
- Do I look really disappointed?
- Yes.
- I didn't know I had a talent for acting.
That's right. Namgung Yang, the young master, was acting.
Since other members of the Namgung Clan were nearby, he had to look disappointed so that his explanation that he came to Beijing for the poetry contest would be believable.
That way, no one would suspect anything.
“I heard that your uncle invited the Master to dinner tonight. Would you like to join us?”
“No, thank you.”
I declined politely.
“I am the organizer of this competition, so I have some things to take care of.”
“Then I'll see you later.”
“Yes.”
I glanced at his back, then turned around and approached Mister In-gyeong of the Seobin Trading Company.
I wanted to wrap up today's business.
Then I returned to the Beijing branch and met with the poet Song Rok to discuss the poem I had heard earlier.
“I'm really surprised. There are other poets who have similar habits. And there are two more of them.”
“So now there are three suspects?”
“Yes, that's right.”
“Just in case, please keep working on it until tomorrow.”
“I will.”
I let out a sigh.
It was truly a mystery.
It was time to head to my appointment, so I decided to think about it later.
.
.
.
A short time later.
I arrived in front of a brothel.
Of course.
I didn't expect to meet him at a tavern in the first place. He likes women, so it's only natural that he would go to a brothel.
But isn't he worried that information will leak out through the courtesans?
“This way, please.”
Following the waiter's instructions, I went up to the top floor and stopped in my tracks.
Huh?
What is this feeling I'm getting...