The Outcome of the Outing (1)
That afternoon.
After work, I headed to the general store in the study.
The old man greeted me warmly when he saw me.
"Hello, sir."
"Well, if it isn't my benefactor!"
"Huh? Benefactor?"
"Thanks to you inviting me to the banquet, I was able to catch that damn bastard, so of course you're my benefactor."
"I only invited you to the banquet, sir. If anything, we were able to catch the fleeing culprit thanks to you, so you're the real benefactor."
At my words, the old man let out a hearty laugh.
"Then shall we just agree we're each other's benefactors, since this won't end otherwise?"
"That sounds good."
At that moment, the old man spoke to the bodyguard next to me.
"You there."
"Ah! Yes, sir!"
"What's your name?"
Knowing the old man was the respected senior of the Murim, the Ghost Mask officer, the guard quickly clasped his fists and responded.
"I am Yeo Eung-am."
"Alright, Warrior Yeo. It doesn't feel right chatting without some refreshments. Take this money and go buy some."
Yeo the bodyguard looked at me, and I nodded.
"Go ahead. Sir here is a powerful master, there's nothing to worry about."
"Understood."
"Take the servant with you. It'll be hard to carry everything alone."
"Yes, I understand."
Palgap and the bodyguard left the store, and I turned to the old man, tense.
There had to be a reason he sent both of them out.
Perhaps to talk about something they shouldn't hear.
The old man opened his mouth.
"Was it you who did that to the Black Wine Gang Leader?"
So that's what he wanted to talk about.
There was certainty in the old man's gaze.
Making excuses here would only make me look like an amateur. Besides, the man before me was no gossip.
I hadn't even known in my past life that he was the Ghost Mask officer.
I smiled lightly and replied.
"How did you know?"
"Your internal energy has a cold nature. And near where the Black Wine Gang Leader was strung up, I could sense remnants of internal energy with the same cold nature."
"I'm not the only one who's trained in ice arts, am I?"
"True. But the decisive clue was that you didn't kill him. And you even turned the gold and silver treasures you took from him into silver taels and distributed them."
"..."
"Now, how many people in Sungyang District do you think have that much silver taels on hand?"
"I'm still only fifteen years old. How could someone my age possibly have so much money…?"
"I heard you're the one who hired the craftsman who made the Self-Dancing Doll?"
"..."
I was momentarily at a loss for words.
Barely regaining my composure, I let out an awkward laugh and asked,
"How did you find that out?"
"This store is a place where all sorts of rumors from the world flow in."
He's not planning to tell me.
Still, with him knowing this much, I had nothing more to say.
"Besides, seeing how you didn't get greedy after witnessing such a fortune made me certain. I remembered you—who once bought something from me."
I straightened my clothes and bowed with cupped fists.
"I heard what you did, sir. That you stopped the authorities from taking the silver I distributed. Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. I simply disliked how the officials tried to seize that money."
"Hahaha."
"We can't completely compensate the victims, so I believe your way was the best."
"I thought so as well. There's no method that can satisfy everyone."
The old man nodded at my words.
"You're right. There's no such method. To realize that at your age!"
I bowed again with cupped fists.
"And thank you also for mobilizing the soldiers to swiftly track down the assassin who targeted my elder brother's life."
"That was only possible because their crimes warranted military involvement."
"Even so, gratitude must be given where it's due."
The old man chuckled at my words.
"If you say so, I'll accept your thanks."
He gestured toward the chair in front of him.
"Have a seat. It's a pain looking up at you like this."
"Yes, sir."
I didn't hesitate and sat down.
"Ah, by the way, my servant is aware of what I did."
"Is that so?"
"It just happened, by chance. Haha."
Just then, Palgap and the bodyguard returned with the refreshments.
"Thank you for the food."
As we enjoyed the snacks, we chatted about various things. Though the topics were light, the old man's insight was truly remarkable.
"Sir, are you planning to continue running this general store?"
"That's what I'm pondering. The wave of juniors who'll come looking for me is one problem… and that Provincial Inspector brat is bound to show up too."
"Excuse me? The Provincial Inspector?"
"Ah, that kid used to work under me. He earned great merit and rose through the ranks—now he's the Provincial Inspector of Hubei Province."
"Ah…"
But the one who told me about the old man wasn't that Provincial Inspector, it was someone else.
"Do you have a lot of juniors in high positions?"
"Not to brag, but yes, quite a few. Some are in the military, others in the Imperial Secret Guard and Imperial Eunuch Intelligence Bureau."
Gasp!
An Provincial Inspector holds judicial authority over an entire province.
On top of that, juniors in the Imperial Secret Guard and Imperial Eunuch Intelligence Bureau too?
Now that I see it, this old man is truly a big shot!
A mighty master, renowned, with wide connections.
And he's retired, with plenty of time.
I couldn't let such a talent slip through my fingers.
Someone like him should be the Advisor of the Merchant Group!
From the perspective of a merchant group, the authority is the biggest concern.
If the officials are on your side, it's reassuring. But once they start obstructing you, it's a nightmare.
That's why so much "grease" gets applied to officials.
If this general store's old man becomes an advisor to the Eunhae Merchant Group, he would be the ultimate shield.
I had to find a way to persuade him.
Suddenly, I realized I didn't know the old man's name.
"Sir, I should've asked this sooner. I apologize for asking so late."
"What is it?"
"May I ask your esteemed name?"
"It's been a while since someone asked that."
The old man smiled and answered.
"My name is Hwangbo Hui."
The fact that he gave me his name means he's quite fond of me.
And to think he's from the Hwangbo family!
I'll have to grow even closer to him moving forward.
***
Time passed quickly.
Eun Gil-Sang, the leader of the Eunhae Merchant Group, looked out the window.
It was a time when spring had fully settled in.
A new Self-Dancing Doll had been released.
The newly released doll this time was of Xi Shi, one of the Four Great Beauties.
Which meant, of course, that three more dolls would be released in the future, and there would be plenty of people eager to collect the full set of the Four Great Beauties.
"That kid really… he's got talent."
Eun Gil-Sang smiled with satisfaction as he looked over the sales report for the Xi Shi Self-Dancing Doll.
Once again, it had sold out in a single day.
Eun Gil-Sang still remembered the words of his grandfather, who had passed away long ago.
"Gil-Sang, a true merchant possesses three qualities."
"Three qualities?"
"Yes. The ability to spot a profitable product, and the guts to act on it."
"Huh? But you said three."
"I did. There's one more, and it's the most important."
"What is it?"
"It's luck."
"Pardon?"
"You need luck on your side. That's why people say a true merchant is chosen by the heavens."
"That's kind of disheartening. Are you saying that no matter how hard someone tries, without luck, they can never be more than an ordinary merchant?"
"Is that how you see it?"
"Yes."
"Then imagine this: say luck comes your way, but you're not in a position to receive it. How would that feel?"
"I think that'd feel even worse."
"Exactly. That's why we work hard—to reel in that luck. If you work hard, you might be able to reel in that luck even once. But if you don't try, that luck will never come to you."
"So that's what you meant."
"Gil-Sang. Fortunately, luck came to me, and I was able to grow the Eunhae Merchant Group to where it is now. But whether luck will come during your time, I can't say."
"Because only the heavens know?"
"Exactly. Just like you said, only the heavens know. But still, I hope you won't slack off in your efforts. If your hard work lays the foundation for your son to catch that luck, then you'll have done your duty as a great Merchant Group Leader."
Discovering the craftsman who could make the Self-Dancing Doll, acquiring him, and thinking of ways to turn it into massive profit—there was no doubt about it.
Eun Seoho possessed all three traits required of a true merchant.
"If my mission is to build the foundation so that my children can become true great merchants, then that's what I'll do."
Just then—
"Merchant Lord, Chief of Internal Affairs Yoo So-Ak has arrived."
At the bodyguard's words, he turned his head and answered,
"Let him in."
The door opened and Yoo So-Ak entered.
He was a talent Eun Gil-Sang had discovered on a trip to Beijing.
After taking his post in the Merchant Group, Yoo So-Ak had practically thrown himself into work.
He had a lot of work to begin with, but it almost seemed like he was trying to forget what had happened in Beijing by immersing himself in it.
Because of that, he always looked exhausted, though recently his complexion had started to improve.
'Has he begun to forget what happened in Beijing? Or is it because Seoho is doing so well at work?'
Either way, it was a good thing.
He'd been worried about Yoo So-Ak's health for a while.
The man had been piling up fatigue to the point where it felt like he might collapse at any moment.
"So, what's the matter?"
"The schedule for the special holiday for the Finance Pavilion Members has been finalized, and these are the approval documents."
Eun Gil-Sang accepted the paperwork Yoo So-Ak handed over.
These were documents concerning the one-day special holiday granted to the employees of the Merchant Group.
A reward for their efforts during the Vice-Leader Appointment Ceremony.
"Um, Merchant Lord."
"What is it?"
"Is Young Master Eun Seoho included in this as well?"
"Surely, he was included? Even if he's just a Special Trainee, he's still officially part of the Finance Pavilion, isn't he?"
"I… did include him."
"Then why ask?"
Yoo So-Ak spoke in a voice tinged with emotion.
"Because it's hard to work without him."
At those words, Eun Gil-Sang burst into laughter.
"To think the same person who once insisted he could manage everything on his own would say that! Truly a day to remember. Hahahaha!"
Yoo So-Ak let out a sigh.
"I never expected it either. But… he's just that good at what he does."
"You know, out of all my sons, Seoho is the only one you've ever praised for being good at work?"
"..."
"That means you really like him. But I can't just exclude Seoho from the holiday. Jinho is getting a holiday too. But if you're saying this…"
Eun Gil-Sang narrowed his eyes and said,
"Surely you're not planning to give up your special holiday again?"
Avoiding his gaze, Yoo So-Ak replied,
"There's just so much to do…"
"You gave up your Winter Solstice holiday too. No, you gave up the last one as well."
"There was a lot to do then too…"
"Do you think it's the end of the world if you collapse from overwork? Who do you think will take care of the mess if you fall?"
"Well, there are other capable—"
Yoo So-Ak trailed off mid-sentence.
He realized that the question Eun Gil-Sang had asked wasn't one expecting an answer.
"That's an order. Your request to give up your special holiday is denied."
"M-Merchant Lord."
"You're banned from entering the Finance Pavilion! And taking other documents home is also forbidden."
Eun Gil-Sang handed back the paperwork and added,
"Go revise it with your own vacation included. You said it's hard to work without Seoho, right? Then just rest together."
"..."
***
Today, too, I had a very fulfilling day.
The only unusual thing was when Chief Yoo came in with a gloomy expression and kept sighing while amending the paperwork he'd brought for approval.
Watching it, I couldn't help but wonder what had happened.
Chief Yoo amending documents?
That had never happened before—not once in all the time we'd worked together.
Despite the busy schedule, I was really looking forward to this special holiday.
On that day, I was going to lie down and just sleep.
Really, I was just going to sleep.
The moment martial arts training was over, I would bathe, get in bed, and not get up.
"You've returned, Young Master."
Palgap greeted me.
"Yeah."
"What would you like for dinner tonight?"
"Let's keep it simple. Just dumplings and tea should be fine."
"Understood."
Palgap bowed his head and added,
"Ah, there was a message from the Merchant Lord to visit him briefly tonight."
"Father?"
What could it be about?