Chapter 70
The Youngest Son of Eunhaesang Trading Company Chapter 70
Chapter 70. Becoming a Junior Captain (1)
Before they knew it, the main office of the trading company came into view.
Pointing at it, Seok Il-song said to Seok Il-song.
“Can you see it in front of us?”
“Yes, there is a very large building.”
“That's Eunhae Trading Company. That's where you'll be staying and working from now on.”
“It's amazing.”
Seok-il-song was greatly impressed.
Then, with sparkling eyes, he said,
“Even if it's just me, I'll work hard if I can be of any help.”
Seeing this, his father nodded with satisfaction.
At first, my father expressed concern when I said I would take Seok-il-song with me to work.
He was worried that I was being overly compassionate.
However, I said firmly,
“Father, I am also a member of the Trading Company.”
Hearing my words, my father tested Seok-il-song and allowed him to come with me.
I knew that my father would recognize talent.
In fact, compassion is one of the things a merchant must be most wary of.
If you often postpone payment because you feel sorry for someone or allow late deliveries because you feel sorry for them, you will ultimately ruin yourself.
That doesn't mean you should completely eliminate compassion.
It is one of the human emotions, and to eliminate it would be tantamount to eliminating humanity itself.
However, you must be wary of it.
The carriage we were riding in quickly arrived at the Silver Sea Trading Company.
We got out of the carriage and entered the trading company.
“You're here?”
As if they had heard that we were coming, Chief Administrator Yu and all the other senior members of the trading company were there to greet us.
“Why are you all here?”
In response to my father's question, Sang-yu-gak Yeon replied.
“You've returned from Beijing with great results, so of course we must welcome you.”
“If you had come empty-handed, would you not have welcomed us?”
“Yes.”
“Huh...”
“Just kidding. Ho ho ho.”
Yeon Gak-ju continued.
“Your family is waiting in the reception area. But what about this child?”
When Yeon Gak-jo asked Seok Il-song, I answered.
“This boy's name is Seok Il-song. He is thirteen years old. I plan to keep him at Jaegyeonggak.”
Hearing my words, Chief Administrator Yoo asked with a puzzled look.
“Jaegyeonggak?”
“Yes.”
“Why Jaegyeong...”
I quickly interrupted Chief Administrator Yoo.
“Chief Administrator Yoo, have I ever disappointed you?”
“....”
After thinking for a moment, Chief Administrator Yoo replied.
“No, you haven't.”
“Then please trust me and take him with you. He will thank you later whenever he sees me.”
“Young master... No, since you say so, I understand.”
I handed Seok-il-song over to Chief Administrator Yoo and headed for the back garden. It was time to see my family.
* * *
At that moment, in Beijing.
People were looking at the notice that had just been posted by the imperial guards.
It said that all members of the Dong Trading Company who had attacked Jin Woo-rim, the head of the Trading Company, on the orders of the emperor, had been arrested, and that the pursuit would be called off.
They also said that they hoped those involved would not act rashly in the future.
Among those people was a man wearing a bamboo hat.
“That's good, Elder.”
He nodded at the words of the man next to him.
“Now we can return home with peace of mind.”
“Yes.”
They were Dong Woo-yeok, the second son of Dong's Trading Company, and his men.
“Mister kept his promise.”
“Yes, he did.”
Eun Seo-ho kept his promise.
To be honest, he wasn't sure that Eun Seo-ho would keep his promise.
After all, it was a matter that required the emperor's intervention.
Still, it was the only thing he could believe in, so he fled with a glimmer of hope.
Then, he hid in Beijing.
He took advantage of the fact that no one would suspect him of committing a crime and coming to Beijing.
Now that the room containing the emperor's sacred items had been found, his life on the run was over.
“What are you going to do now?”
The governor smiled bitterly and replied.
“What can a man who has been a merchant all his life do? I have a little money, so I'll start a business again.”
“I'll go with you.”
“Why?”
“I've never learned anything but business. And I don't think I'll end up a beggar if I'm with you.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Yes, it is.”
“All right, let's go. But it will be hard work.”
“Even if I regret it, I will accept my fate.”
And so they left Beijing.
.
.
.
In front of the residence of Captain Jin Woo-rim.
A man stood with a look of despair on his face, listening to the gatekeeper.
“Is that... really true?”
“Yes, it is.”
The man was a messenger from the Sichuan Tang Clan who had gone to the Eunhae Trading Company to find Eun Seo-ho, but was told that he had gone to Beijing. So he returned to the Sichuan Tang Clan to report, then headed back to Beijing, and had just arrived.
However, he heard that Eun Seo-ho and his party had already returned to Hubei ten days ago.
He had no choice but to turn back.
The Sichuan Tang Clan messenger sighed and muttered.
“Oh, why is it so difficult to repay the kindness of our Clan Head?”
The messenger was devastated.
* * *
The Eunhae Trading Company was bustling with activity.
This was because of the preparations for my announcement as the new captain, which had been postponed due to the trip to Beijing.
I practiced early in the morning again today.
My master nodded at me.
“You are a very quick learner. I think you can move on to the third level soon.”
“I'm glad to hear that.”
My master replied to my words.
“But why don't you urge me to progress faster?”
“What?”
“To be honest, the True Snow Twelve Sword Technique is a bit slower than other sword techniques. That's why I often complain about the slow progress when learning this sword technique. But.”
My master looked at me and continued.
“You are not complaining.”
I scratched my cheek in response to his question.
In fact, in my previous life, I had heard about this from Kwak Joon-ha, my bodyguard and my master's second son.
“To be honest, our family's sword technique is a bit difficult to learn. But that doesn't mean you should rush.”
“Rush?”
“Yes. The inner arts accumulated through our family's mental techniques are powerful. That's because they gather extreme energy.”
“I see.”
“That means that powerful inner arts cannot be controlled with mental techniques alone, which is why the Jinseolshik Sword Technique was created, but because we are trying to control powerful inner arts, our progress is a little slow.”
“So, you mean that if you don't learn the sword technique slowly and steadily, you won't be able to control your inner arts.”
“Yes. In fact, the inner arts will rebel and cause serious injury. It's better to have your blood vessels freeze and burst. In severe cases, your entire body will freeze and burst.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.”
That's why I didn't ask.
And in this life, my master is still my master.
I trusted him and entrusted myself to him because I knew he would never do anything to harm his disciples.
However, I was a little embarrassed that my Master questioned my actions.
Should I have asked him?
But I am not one to ask unnecessary questions.
I couldn't tell him what Gwak Joon-ha had told me, so there was only one reason left.
“I just trusted you, Master.”
“You mean me?”
“Yes. You want your disciples to succeed, don't you? So I just trust you and follow you.”
My master looked at me without saying a word.
“Why?”
“You have impressed me, young master.”
“How can you be impressed by something like this?”
“I will guide you with even more sincerity from now on. So, starting today, I will increase your training time by half an hour. Just wake up half an hour earlier.”
What?
That's not right, is it?
“Do you remember the sword technique I taught you? Let's try it again.”
At that moment, I saw it.
Huh?
My master was smiling.
It was the first time I had ever seen my master smile in my entire life.
My master was capable of smiling after all.
.
.
.
That afternoon, I headed to Eunryongjeon.
I had been summoned by Jik Byeong-cheol, the leader of Seungpunggak.
I waited in front of Eunryongjeon for about half an hour, and then the enemy leader approached me with his second-in-command.
As I waited in front of Eunryongjeon for about half an hour, the enemy commander approached me with his aide.
“Greetings, enemy commander.”
“Greetings, Captain.”
“It's not official yet.”
“You will soon become a captain, so there's no need to be shy about the title. Hehehe.”
The enemy captain smiled kindly.
“Let's go. I will show you to your guest quarters.”
“What?”
“When you become a captain, you will be given guest quarters.”
How could I have forgotten that!
When you become a captain, you are given your own guest quarters. It means that you are recognized as an independent member of the Trading Company.
And it was a long-standing tradition of the Eunhae Trading Company for the Captain to personally show the new Captain to his private quarters.
I followed the Captain down the familiar path.
It was the path I took when I became a Captain.
When I first returned to my current life, I had intended to go this way.
Thinking back on that time, I felt a rush of emotions.
Six months had already passed, and I had accomplished a lot.
But it was still not enough.
I had a goal to take revenge on the Baekcheon Trading Company and the Martial Alliance.
And I had to make the Eunhae Trading Company the world's best trading company.
Soon, we arrived at the separate building.
Seeing the separate building where I used to live after such a long time, I couldn't help but smile.
“It's nice, isn't it?”
I nodded in response to Captain Jik's question.
“Yes, it is. I am glad to finally be recognized as someone who can contribute to the Trading Company.”
Captain Jik replied to my words.
“Don't say that. We have been keeping an eye on you since you started working at the Finance Department.”
“Is that so?”
As Jeok Gak-ju spoke, the aide next to him explained the layout of the annex in detail.
The annex consisted of my quarters, the quarters of my attendants and servants, the quarters of my bodyguards, a storage room, a kitchen, and so on.
Even though I lived in the annex, my family gathered together for breakfast.
However, there were times when we ate separately, so a kitchen was necessary.
In addition, the food for the servants and maids had to be prepared here.
“These are the servants who will serve you in the annex from now on.”
I was introduced to my personal servants.
The servant's name was Kyung-sam, and the maid's name was Yeong-yeong.
I would be spending this life with them as well.
“You may move here starting today.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And if you can think of a suitable name for the annex, I will use it.”
“Yes, sir.”
The annex is named by its owner.
The name of the annex is also used to refer to its owner, and the name of Jung-ho's annex was given to him by his grandfather.
He named it Gyeryang, meaning “great talent,” with the hope that my brother would become a great talent in the Trading Company.
Therefore, Gyeryang also referred to my brother.
“Then I will be on my way.”
“Yes, please take care.”
The enemy commander and his second-in-command left my annex, and I looked around the annex again.
“Hmmm! Finally, our young master has received a separate building! I am so moved!”
I laughed at Pal-gap's words.
“That's right.”
“You can say you're happy! Then we will start moving in today!”
Pal-gap was very happy, just as he had been in his previous life.
I returned to my quarters.
This time, an aide was waiting for me with a message from the Chief Administrator.
“Captain, the Chief Administrator is looking for you.”
Now that I had received my private quarters, I had a good idea why the Chief Administrator was looking for me.
A short time later, I arrived at the Chief Administrator's office.
“Are you here?”
“Yes, I came when you called.”
“I called you because now that you are the Captain, you must choose your bodyguard.”
It was just as I expected.
As the Captain, I would have many duties that I would have to perform independently, so I needed a personal bodyguard.
Usually, one would choose their bodyguard before becoming Captain.
Just like Jeon Woo-jin, Hyung-nim's bodyguard.
I became a Young Master unusually quickly, so I haven't picked anyone yet.
“The announcement ceremony is in three days, so please choose someone and let me know by tomorrow.”
“Yes, sir.”
I answered and left the office. I could hear the Chief Administrator's voice from inside.
“What? You still have work to do?”
“You have to take care of this too.”
Hearing the chief administrator's grumbling, I said to Pal-gap.
“Let's go to the training ground.”
“Yes, sir.”
As we headed to the training ground, I thought of the bodyguards I had chosen in my previous life.
They were skilled with swords and spears.
However, I would not choose them.