Chapter 52
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 52
Chapter 52. Rumors Like This (2)
The next day.
A meeting was held at Eunwolgak, and I also attended.
“We found the source of the rumors.”
My father said that and handed me a piece of paper that was in front of him.
“This is a document sent from the Hao Clan.”
As expected, he used the Hao Clan.
We had to go the extra mile because our information could also reach them, but among the information organizations we could use, they were the most reliable.
However, I couldn't help but sigh when I remembered the information we received when we found out where Gongmil was staying.
The enemy's foot soldier picked up the document and opened it.
“It's Sichuan.”
“Yes.”
“And the candidate locations are...”
Information organizations always give you only as much information as you pay for. The Hao Clan is no different; they don't give you accurate or detailed information.
This time, they only told us about a few Trading Companies that they suspected.
I really want to curse them.
They're useless, taking our money and giving us nothing in return.
I calmed myself and looked over the candidates. Then I sighed.
I thought I knew where it was.
Dan Trading Company.
It had to be here.
Yeon, who was looking at the documents with me, said,
“Here it is, Dan Trading Company.”
“I think so too.”
The others seemed to agree.
“It looks like Dan's Trading Company is behind this.”
I chuckled to myself.
“That greedy old man would do just that.”
Yeon Gak-ju continued.
“The question is, where did the surveillance net fail?”
It was one of the trading companies that made decorative dolls, and our company had been keeping a close eye on it.
But you said the surveillance network was breached?
That means either something went wrong at the branch of the Eunhae Trading Company in Sichuan, or the Dan Trading Company moved so secretly that they managed to evade our surveillance network.
“Could they have other accomplices?”
My father nodded at Jung-ho's words.
“That's possible. We can't judge anything at this point... The immediate problem is how to respond to the rumors about the martial artists...”
Everyone sighed at my father's words.
“It's already a business that's been started, and it's a business that will bring in a steady income in the future. Isn't it a waste to just give it up like this?”
He glanced at me as he said this.
It seemed as if he had me in mind.
In fact, the reason why Eunhae Trading Company was able to grow this big was because it valued trust above all else.
To be honest, there was something that our company lacked.
That was the ability to come up with strategies.
In order for Eunhae Trading Company to become a larger trading company, we needed the ability to come up with strategies.
Knowing this, when Jung-ho became the captain of the trading company, I volunteered to be the one to come up with strategies.
It suited me well.
And our trading company, which had been at the bottom of the 100 best trading companies for many years, began to rise to higher ranks.
I like the people of the Eunhae Trading Company.
That's why, for their sake and for the sake of the Eunhae Trading Company, I will take responsibility for devising a strategy this time as well.
That doesn't mean I will betray the trust that the Trading Company values most.
Trust.
That is the virtue that merchants must uphold until the very end, and it is their lifeline.
I looked at my father and said, “Father, may I say something?”
“Father, may I say something?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“I have a good plan.”
I explained the plan I had come up with, and my father and the others nodded in agreement.
“Good.”
“It's not a bad plan.”
The others agreed with my father. Then, Jung-ho said with an admiring look on his face.
“How do you come up with such ideas every time?”
Jeong-ho continued.
“I heard that it was you who came up with the plan to use a fake to catch the real culprit when the former head of the Hwaryeonru set fire to the Jaegyeonggak.”
“Hahaha.”
I scratched my ear.
When I hear praise, my ear itches, so I guess I have a rash from praise.
My father called me.
“Seo-ho.”
“Yes, Father.”
“But in order to carry out the plan you mentioned, there is one thing that must be done first. Do you know what it is?”
“Yes, of course I do.”
I continued.
“We need someone trustworthy to lead this operation.”
“Furthermore, we cannot rule out the possibility that someone from the Sichuan branch has been bribed, so we need someone who is even more trustworthy.”
“You're right.”
“And they must be able to act quickly in response to changing circumstances.”
Chief Administrator Yu sighed at my father's words. And Chief Administrator Jik smiled at Chief Administrator Yu.
Chief Administrator Yeon also chuckled and said to Chief Administrator Yu.
“What can we do? Our assistant is too competent.”
In other words...
“So, Seo-ho, go to Sichuan.”
As I expected, my father ordered me to go to Sichuan.
Sichuan was a place that was practically a natural fortress, and to get there quickly, one had to travel by boat through the treacherous Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, pass through the narrow and dangerous mountain pass of Jianmen, or go through the western jungle of the Sichuan Basin.
Of course, there was also a way to go through Shaanxi, but that would take a long time.
This task must be completed quickly.
In other words, this journey would be a difficult one.
It would be a hundred times better to spend the whole day looking at documents in Chief Administrator Yu's office.
Nevertheless, I had to go to Sichuan.
Even if this task had not been assigned to me, I had already planned to go to Sichuan.
However, now that this had happened, I secretly thought that it was a good thing.
However, my hesitation must have been apparent to the others.
Chief Administrator Go said,
“Actually, sending Jin-ho is also an option. But do you think he will be able to act appropriately in such a situation?”
Hyung-nim Jin-ho is a very kind person, but he cannot tolerate injustice.
You could say that his sense of chivalry and justice was a problem.
“...It would be fortunate if he didn't draw his sword and cause trouble.”
As Jin-ho's sword master, Chief Administrator Go knew him very well.
My father continued.
“The goal of this plan is to handle it as quietly as possible. That way, we won't cause the buyers to feel uncomfortable.”
My father listened to my plan and saw right through it.
The ability to see through the essence of something.
That is my father's greatest ability.
Thanks to that ability, our Trading Company has been able to come this far.
“So go ahead.”
My brother Jeong-ho interrupted.
“Actually, I want to go, but you're busy.”
“....”
After all, Jung-ho must be busy with his new business venture.
The most reliable person.
Someone who can adapt to any situation.
Someone with sufficient authority.
The least busy person.
I was the only one who fit all of those descriptions.
That's why he knew I would go.
“And since it was your plan, you know it best. Don't you agree?”
My father nodded at Jung-ho's words.
“Go ahead.”
“Yes, Father.”
* *
Sichuan Province.
The head of the Dan Trading Company was listening to a report in his office.
“As a result, Eunhae Trading Company is unable to sell the martial artist dolls, which seems to be causing them significant losses.”
“I see.”
“By the way, that was a brilliant move.”
The Dan Trading Company's response to the losses caused by Eunhae Trading Company's martial artist dolls was simple.
They would prevent the Zamu dolls from being sold.
To do this, they spread rumors about the Sect Leader of Emei.
The Zamu dolls were so elaborate that they looked like real people.
That is why people believed the rumors that they contained human souls.
Those who felt uneasy did not buy the dolls. They followed their own judgment.
“It's all thanks to him that this was a success.”
“That's right. He let us know that the Eunhae Trading Company was watching us.”
“And he even turned a blind eye to our actions. We have to make sure he gets his share.”
“Let's do that. But keep in mind that we must not give him any information about us.”
“Of course.”
Once a traitor, always a traitor.
“But the problem is how Eunhae Trading Company will respond.”
“Eunhae Trading Company will abandon this project.”
“They invested in it. Will they just abandon it so easily?”
“Rumors are not so easy to quell. The rumors will continue to follow the martial artist, and then the government will launch an investigation, won't they?”
“Ah!”
“The captain of the Eunhae Trading Company must know that. Will they continue with the business?”
“That's right. But what if they don't shut down the business?”
“Then the government will investigate, and in the process, we will learn how to manufacture the key parts.”
“Ah!”
That was exactly what had hindered them in the process of replicating the martial artist dolls.
The manufacturing method for the core parts.
“With that, we can make dolls that look similar.”
“Then won't we be eating our own words?”
“You might think so, but as long as they don't look human, it won't matter.”
He smiled slyly.
“People are simpler than you think. As long as they look different, they think they're different.”
“Oh! I see! That makes sense!”
Captain Dan and his second-in-command smiled.
A bright future lay ahead of them.
* * *
Clop, clop.
The sound of horse hooves could be heard regularly.
I am now riding a horse toward Sichuan.
The carriage I am supposed to ride, along with the luggage I will need in Sichuan, is coming from behind.
The reason I am riding a horse to Sichuan first is not because the carriage is uncomfortable.
It is to carry out my plan and at the same time check on the branch of the Eunhae Trading Company in Sichuan.
If anyone from the Dan Clan had joined forces with the Eunhaesang Trading Company, they would inform them of my arrival.
That could interfere with my plan.
Therefore, I requested that my trip to Sichuan be kept a secret.
My father agreed that I was right.
I went one step further and headed for Sichuan ahead of them.
“Oh, young master. When are you going to take a break?”
I turned my head slightly and asked Pal-gap.
“Why? Is it hard?”
“My butt is numb.”
“You ride well for someone who says that.”
I chuckled.
A valet and a servant are strictly different.
A servant is someone who assists his superior at his side, so he must learn various skills to suit his role.
Even though Pal-gap looks clumsy like a bear, he is the son of a high-ranking official at Eunhae Trading Company.
My grandfather recognized Pal-gap's qualities as a servant early on and raised him to be my servant.
Therefore, he was skilled at horseback riding and knew a little sword fighting.
At that moment, a warrior from the Eunpungdae who had followed to escort me said,
“As Pal-gap said, it would be better to take a short break.”
The Eunpungdae was following us in case of an emergency.
Two of them, warriors named Yeo Eung-am and Lee Pil, were assigned to escort me.
By the way, the warrior Yeo Eung-am often acts as my bodyguard.
“If you don't rest at the right time, you will have a hard time in Sichuan.”
Well...
Sichuan has a very hot and humid climate that makes people feel exhausted.
That is why hot and spicy food has developed there.
“Let's take a short break then.”
“Yes.”
We decided to take a short break under a tree in front of us.
“Whoa.”
We arrived at the tree and tied our horses to it. In the meantime, Pal-gap quickly spread out a mat.
“Please sit here.”
“Thank you.”
“Would you like some dumplings?”
Come to think of it, I was a little hungry. And who knows what might happen once we arrive in Sichuan.
So we should eat now while we have time.
“Let's eat.”
“Yes.”
I offered dumplings to Yeong-eung and Lee Pil as well.
The four of us were sitting around eating dumplings and tea.
Suddenly, I felt something unpleasant.
It was a feeling of disgust.
It was the same feeling I had when I went to the Jegal Clan.
That meant there was a Taoist in the vicinity.
I immediately stood up and grabbed the sword sheath at my waist.
Seeing my action, the two bodyguards also put their hands on their swords.
“What are you doing?”
“It seems like there's someone nearby.”
At that moment, Yeo Eung-am closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and said,
“Over there.”
He pointed to the place where I had sensed someone's presence.
“What should we do?”
The best thing to do here was to leave quickly.
It would not be good to get into a fight and end up getting hurt.
So I was about to leave.
“Help me!”
That is, if I hadn't heard a child's voice.