Chapter 72
The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 72
Chapter 72. Becoming a Captain (3)
I was shocked by the old man's words.
“What? You mean he'll eat me?”
The old man laughed at my words.
“It seems you made quite an impression on His Majesty. I can tell by the way he covets you.”
Those words made me break out in a cold sweat.
There was a reason why the emperor asked my age. If I had been the right age, I would have been taken away and made to work as an official in the imperial palace.
I can't let that happen!
My goal is to become a merchant in the world's best trading company, not an official in the imperial palace.
I must be careful not to catch the emperor's eye from now on.
But how could I avoid being noticed?
No matter how hard I thought about it, it seemed impossible.
But why was the old man saying such things?
I looked at the red silk pouch in my hand.
Could it be?
This pouch must be the most valuable item in the general store.
It was worth more than a fortune.
No matter how much he liked me, it was not something he could just give away as a gift.
I asked him cautiously.
“This pouch... Did he give it to you?”
“He asked me to give you the item I had that seemed most necessary for you.”
“Why?”
“It's in return for helping me purge those spoiled brats and saving the life of the Captain of the Trading Company. It's also an apology for almost killing you. And didn't he say something earlier? He said he'll eat you when you grow up.”
“...So that's why you said it wasn't free.”
He's planning to take me to the imperial palace somehow.
“His Majesty is looking forward to seeing how big you will grow. So this is a gift to help you grow up well.”
I thought for a moment.
This pouch will really come in handy.
If I return it because I feel burdened, I will really regret it and cry.
I decided to take it easy.
If he really wants to take me to the imperial palace, I'll think about it when the time comes. Something will work out somehow.
“All right. Please tell him I will use it well.”
The old man's eyes widened at my words.
“Are you going to take it?”
“Wouldn't it be a waste not to accept a gift?”
The old man burst out laughing at my words.
“Hahahaha! Of course! You are such an interesting guy!”
“I guess I am.”
.
.
.
The next day.
While Pal-gap was busy moving my quarters, I was busy doing the work assigned to me.
Since I was the one who introduced the style book, I was in charge of its production and sales.
The salt retailers were going to gather for my announcement ceremony as a junior captain.
At that time, we planned to discuss the production and sales of the style book. I had a lot to prepare for that.
Thinking that I would become a real junior captain in two days, I felt restless.
Of course, it was a good thing.
Now that I have more freedom, I will be able to achieve my goals more quickly.
The problem is that the Trading Company does not give official vacations to captains.
Well, there is one summer vacation.
All other vacations are gone. Not only that, but there are no days off once every ten days.
Why am I suddenly crying again?
I'm only fifteen.
I guess it's an age when you cry a lot.
* * *
Yoo So-ak's office.
While looking through documents, he noticed the boy sitting next to him.
Seok Il-song, thirteen years old.
He was diligently looking through the documents Yoo So-ak had given him as homework.
To be honest, at first, he didn't understand why he was given such a heavy burden.
However, he soon realized that Eun Seo-ho had assigned Seok Il-song to him out of consideration.
Seok Il-song was a genius.
He never forgot anything he was taught, and he understood ten things for every one thing he was taught.
“Chief administrator, here is your assignment.”
Seok Il-song had already finished the assignment and handed it to Yoo So-ak.
Yoo So-ak looked over the assignment.
The answers were correct.
Seeing that he had written in the format he had taught him, he couldn't believe that it had only been five days since he had started teaching him.
If he continued teaching him like this for a few months, he would be able to fill the gap left by Eun Seo-ho.
“But, to be honest, I think it's inefficient to collect and serve each piece of food from the banquet table.”
“Then do you have an alternative?”
“Why don't we just serve the food on trays and replace the trays when they're empty?”
“That makes sense.”
Come to think of it, that would be a faster way to serve many guests.
Considering the guests waiting for their meals, it wasn't a bad idea.
“I'll have to discuss this with Seungpunggakju.”
“Thank you for listening to my humble opinion.”
“Don't mention it. It's a good habit to keep thinking of new ideas. Now, I'll give you your next task.”
Yoo So-ak gave Seok Il-song another task.
“Hmm...”
One of the reasons he held Seok Il-song in high regard was his keen observation.
He had a quick wit and keen observation that allowed him to come up with efficient ways of doing things.
He was a child who could achieve complete mastery as a merchant or an administrator.
Academically, he was already at the level of a university student at the age of twelve.
Come to think of it, he remembered Kwak Hyung-jin, the eldest son of Kwak Myeong-hyun, Eun Seo-ho's sword master.
He said he was 13 last time, so he was the same age as Seok Il-song.
“He said he was studying the Doctrine of the Mean.”
He heard about Seok Il-song's situation from Eun Seo-ho.
If Seok Il-song's family had not disappeared, he would have been studying the Doctrine of the Mean like Kwak Hyung-jin.
That thought suddenly crossed his mind.
He thought that if Seok Il-song had a good friend who could help him refine his skills, he would be able to further develop his talent.
Then, a desire he didn't even know he had began to stir within him.
The third of the three pleasures of a gentleman, as described by Mencius, is to obtain and educate the talented youth of the world.
Seok-il-song was truly talented, and he wanted to teach him well.
“Il-song.”
“Yes, Chief Administrator.”
“Don't you want to study more?”
“....”
“You can answer honestly.”
“Actually, I do want to study more. But right now, I want to learn my job quickly and repay your kindness.”
“Kindness? What kindness?”
“I want to be of help to Young Master Eun Seo-ho, who helped me and gave me a hand.”
Yoo So-ak was very impressed by Seok Il-song's words.
“Before that, your happiness comes first.”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Only after you are happy can you repay the favor. It makes no sense to repay a favor when you are unhappy.”
In fact, those were the words that Trading Company Head Eun Gil-sang had said to Yoo So-ak.
Until recently, he had been unable to fully follow that advice.
The pent-up anger tormented him.
But then something happened that allowed him to feel happiness.
It was a collection of poems that Eun Seo-ho had written without realizing it.
Thanks to that, he was able to meet his lifelong soulmate, the head of the Jegal Family.
Only then did he realize how foolish he had been.
He thought he couldn't be happy.
He thought he would never be happy.
But that was wrong.
He didn't want Seok Il-song to live in darkness like him.
* * *
I opened my eyes in the annex given to me, bathed in warm sunlight.
Today, I will finally become a captain.
“Did you cough?”
I replied to Pal-gap's question.
“Yes.”
Hearing my answer, Pal-gap brought in a washbasin.
“Here is your wash water.”
“Thank you.”
I quickly washed my face and put on my training uniform. Seeing this, Pal-gap asked,
“But it's the announcement ceremony for the captain, aren't you going to practice today?”
“Of course. Even if it's the announcement ceremony, it's just one of my many days. That's no reason to skip sword practice.”
I was a Hyunryongseong and possessed extreme energy.
The Jinseolshik Sword Technique was originally designed to harness powerful inner arts, but my inner arts were even more powerful and possessed an even more extreme energy.
Therefore, just like a child learning to walk, I had to practice the Jinseolshik Sword Technique step by step every day.
Knowing this, I couldn't skip training.
A short time later, I went out into the courtyard.
The courtyard of the annex I had been given was quite spacious. From now on, this would be where I would train.
“You're out, Liege.”
“Congratulations on becoming the second captain.”
“Thank you.”
Since yesterday, the warriors Yeo-eung-am and Lee Pil had been staying at this annex.
They had become my personal bodyguards.
“Are you here to train?”
“Yes.”
“Today is the announcement ceremony for the captain...”
Pal-gap said from behind me.
“You practice swordsmanship every day. You said that even if it is the announcement ceremony for the captain, it is just one day among many, and that is no reason to skip your swordsmanship training.”
Hearing Pal-gap's words, the two bodyguards looked at me with admiration.
“You are amazing.”
“I admire you.”
Pal-gap, you are completely flattering me.
“I am going to practice my mental technique. Please stand guard.”
It is the job of bodyguards to stand guard when practicing mental techniques. That is why I asked them, and they readily agreed.
“Of course.”
“We obey the orders of our Liege.”
When I finished practicing my mental technique and stood up, my master appeared as if he had been there all along.
“Master, you're here? I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“How are you able to arrive here so precisely every time?”
My master replied to my question.
“You will understand later.”
Then Master looked at the two bodyguards. I quickly introduced them to Master.
“This is Yeo Eung-am and Lee Pil, my personal bodyguards.”
“I am Yeo Eung-am.”
“I am Lee Pil.”
I introduced them to Master.
“This is my sword master.”
“I am Kwak Myeong-hyun, Head Escort.”
“It's nice to meet you!”
“Hahaha! Nice to meet you.”
They greeted each other warmly.
They seemed to know each other. Perhaps they had become acquainted while watching over the trading company's shipments, which were entrusted to Changin Escort Agency.
“Seo Ho, please take good care of him.”
As he said that, Master looked intently at the two bodyguards, and at that moment, their faces turned pale.
Why are they acting like that?
Master turned his head as if nothing had happened.
“Then let's begin today's training. Would you two bodyguards please step aside for a moment?”
It was quite rude to watch the process of teaching martial arts, but they were my bodyguards.
So it was okay for them to stay by my side.
However, they moved quickly without any objection.
Was it just my imagination that they looked like rabbits in front of a tiger?
.
.
.
“That's all for today.”
“Thank you for your guidance.”
“In a few more days, you should be ready to move on to the next technique.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
My master continued.
“Actually, the criterion for advancing to the next level of the Jinseolshik Sword Technique is not your skill in swordsmanship.”
I knew the answer, but I waited for my master to speak.
“It is how well you can control your energy.”
“You mean that I have mastered the energy required for the second technique.”
“That is correct. However, as you know, your energy is immense. Therefore, you must never use more energy than you can control.”
“I understand.”
“And congratulations on becoming the captain today.”
“Thank you.”
My master took something out of his pocket and gave it to me.
“This is a gift.”
It was a small wooden box.
That's what was bulging in Master's chest.
“Open it.”
I opened the wooden box Master gave me.
Inside was a small danhwan with a refreshing scent and energy.
“This danhwan will protect your blood vessels from the cold once.”
I looked up at my master with a puzzled look.
Why is he giving me this?
“Even while you are still training, you are so energetic and active, so how much more energetic will you be when you become a captain?”
“Hahahaha.”
I scratched my cheek.
I didn't know what to say.
“That's why I'm giving it to you. If you ever need to use more energy than you can control, be sure to take this before you do.”
So, my Master was telling me not to die.
“Thank you. I will keep your words in mind. But this looks precious.”
“Of course. It is very precious.”
“I will try not to use it unless necessary.”
“Now you are giving me the answer I wanted to hear.”
After finishing my sword training, I put on my uniform.
I had to eat breakfast with my family.
I had to formally greet my grandfather, parents, and older brothers.
To be honest, I didn't know what would happen today.
All I remembered was the ceremony announcing the appointment of the captain after completing five years of practical training.
Still, I was determined to do my best.