When Heo Un—no, Clerk Heo Un—was officially assigned to the Trade Pavilion with Pavilion Lord Yeon’s permission, I had engaged him in casual conversation.
“Clerk Heo, what would you say is your greatest strength? Something you believe you have a natural talent for?”
“Hmm… If I had to choose just one thing, it would be memorization.”
“Memorization?”
“Yes. I remember everything I see once. You may find that hard to believe.”
“Not at all. I believe you completely. I know you’re not one to lie, and that’s truly a remarkable talent.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Well, let me be frank. Since you’re missing a leg, you’ll likely face certain difficulties in your work.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
“But if your abilities are recognized, people won’t mind such things. In fact, they might seek you out even more.”
“…”
“I believe you can become that kind of person. Since you said memorization is your specialty, once you’re working at the Trade Pavilion, take some time to read and memorize the ledgers there.”
“Understood.”
“It would be wise to start with this year’s ledgers for our main trade goods—silk, for example. Those records will prove useful and valuable in many ways.”
I recalled my conversation with Heo Un and chuckled quietly to myself.
Just as I had advised, he had read and memorized the silk-related ledger.
Meanwhile, Pavilion Lord Yeon, still looking bewildered, asked again.
“You remember it? As I recall, that was a total of two hundred…”
“I believe it was approximately two hundred and ninety pages.”
At the clerk’s words, Pavilion Lord Yeon continued.
“Right, two hundred and ninety pages. And you’re claiming you remember all of it?”
The murmuring around them didn’t cease.
It was likely because Heo Un’s words sounded like empty boasting.
‘Now’s my time to step in.’
“Pavilion Lord Yeon, what do we have to lose? Why not at least test him?”
“Very well. Since we need to restore the records anyway, having him attempt it is one approach.”
Heo Un settled down at the prepared workspace, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
After about twenty counts,
Heo Un opened his eyes, picked up a brush, and began writing down what he remembered on paper.
Swish, swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish,
Swish, swish, swish, swish,
As they watched, people’s eyes began to widen. The clerks responsible for the silk trade, in particular, looked ready to fall over backward.
“It’s… it’s real… he actually remembers everything!”
“Good heavens!”
Watching this unfold, I smiled triumphantly.
This was the primary reason I had sent Heo Un to the Trade Pavilion.
It was a way for him to make an impression on everyone at once and earn their recognition.
Of course, I also didn’t want to see the Trade Pavilion clerks suffer needlessly.
And even with all their efforts, they wouldn’t have been able to fully restore the ledger.
Is this what they call sweeping the yard and finding money?
Heo Un is a key figure in the soon-to-be-established intelligence unit.
For him to secure his position there, it’s better to have the recommendations and acknowledgment of many people rather than just my unilateral endorsement.
And so, Heo Un wrote down the ledger’s contents without hesitation, while the other clerks, without anyone’s instruction, quickly replenished his ink and paper.
Nearly one shichen (roughly two hours) later, Heo Un set down his brush. By then, a neat stack of papers had accumulated beside him.
“It’s finished. I’ve written down everything I remember.”
The clerks checking his work were amazed. The who had made the original mistake was particularly moved and exclaimed.
“It’s exactly the same as the ledger I saw!”
But Pavilion Lord Yeon didn’t let it pass so easily and ordered a second verification.
“First of all, you’ve worked hard. But we need to verify this. As I mentioned before, request cooperation from the other pavilions and gather the materials.”
“Understood.”
“And check whether it matches what Heo has written.”
I returned to my office.
I couldn’t be away for too long.
Since Pavilion Lord Yeon had ordered additional verification, it would take time for the confirmation to be completed.
It was a natural course of action for the Pavilion Lord of the Trade Pavilion, so I quietly accepted it.
Since Heo Un’s ability was certain, after this incident, Pavilion Lord Yeon would also come to trust his memory.
I focused on my work with a relaxed mind.
.
.
.
That evening.
I went to look for Heo Un, but he hadn’t returned home yet.
“Is he working late?”
Just then, I heard the sound of a group approaching from a distance.
“That was incredible. To think you memorized all that without a single error.”
“I’m embarrassed.”
“Hey, thanks to you, this guy is still breathing. No matter how hard we tried, how could we have recreated the exact same ledger? He would have been half-dead from Pavilion Lord Yeon’s fury after this was all over.”
“Ugh! Just thinking about it is terrifying!”
Amidst their conversation, there was another sound.
Clatter, clatter.
It was the sound of a cart being pulled.
Soon, two people and a cart came into view.
And on that cart sat a familiar figure.
It was Heo Un.
It seemed today’s events had left a strong impression.
Seeing them speak to each other so casually, he must have made some friends.
I smiled warmly and said to Palgap.
“Let’s come back a little later.”
“Understood, sir.”
We quietly withdrew from the guest quarters and watched as the two clerks helped Heo Un down from the cart and into the building.
Heo Un wore an awkward expression, but it was by no means unpleasant.
After confirming they had departed, I headed back to the guest quarters.
“Is Clerk Heo Un in?”
“Please, come in.”
I opened the door and entered. Heo Un was sitting at the tea table.
“Ah! Deputy Merchant Lord!”
“It’s fine, please remain seated.”
I sat across from him and said.
“Your performance today was splendid.”
“It was thanks to your advice, Deputy Merchant Lord.”
“Thanks to you, the Trade Pavilion clerks were spared considerable trouble. As the Deputy Merchant Lord, I express my gratitude.”
I cupped my fist and bowed my head slightly, and Heo Un didn’t know how to react.
“It’s… a strange feeling, but not an unpleasant one.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s actually the first time I’ve been acknowledged by others like this.”
He scratched behind his ear and continued.
“I’m glad that someone like me can be of help.”
A question suddenly occurred to me.
He must have worked at the Baekcheon Merchant Group for quite some time, so I wondered if he had never been recognized for this extraordinary memory of his.
“By any chance, did the others at the Baekcheon Merchant Group not know about your memory?”
“I didn’t tell them.”
“Pardon?”
“My father… told me not to reveal it carelessly. He said I might attract others’ envy and that I should reveal it when the time was right.”
“When the time is right?”
“He said I would recognize it myself. And when this ledger incident happened, I realized it. I remembered you asking about my talent before, and I felt that this was the moment my father spoke of.”
“But you told me about it before, didn’t you?”
“That’s…”
Heo Un smiled and replied.
“Even if you only saw my father in a dream, you trusted and hired someone like me, so I wanted to repay that trust.”
“…”
In any case, Heo Un’s father, Chief Clerk Heo Won, had known.
That his son would be expelled from the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
And he couldn’t allow his son’s talent to be exploited for the Baekcheon Merchant Group’s benefit.
“By the way, watching you memorize and rewrite that entire ledger earlier made me curious about something.”
“What is it?”
“What are the limits of your memory?”
“That is…”
He looked troubled.
“Actually, I don’t know either. I’ve never encountered a limit yet.”
“Pardon?”
“When I was working at the Baekcheon Merchant Group, I had to examine all the ledgers in the archives, and I still remember every single one.”
“That’s incredible!”
‘Wait a moment.’
‘Did I just hear something extraordinary?’
‘Did I mishear him?’
“Are you saying you remember the contents of every single ledger in the Baekcheon Merchant Group’s archives?”
“Yes.”
“…”
I had thought Chief Clerk Heo Won told his son to keep his talent secret because he didn’t want it used for the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
But that wasn’t it.
When you organize ledgers, you inevitably see their contents. What if the others at the Baekcheon Merchant Group discovered he could memorize everything, and word reached Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang?
Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang would undoubtedly choose one of two options.
Forcibly keep him at the Baekcheon Merchant Group.
Or kill him.
But given his personality, he was more likely to choose death.
So Chief Clerk Heo Won told him to keep it secret to save his son’s life.
Having served Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang for a long time, he would have understood his personality perfectly.
“What’s wrong?”
As I stood frozen for a moment, Heo Un tilted his head.
“Ah, it’s nothing. But have you had dinner?”
“Yes. I ate with my fellow clerks earlier.”
I told Heo Un to rest and left his guest quarters.
That foolish Merchant Lord Namgoong Gang.
What he discarded wasn’t just any treasure—it was a treasure of incalculable value.
After all, the thing a merchant group wants to hide most from other merchant groups is its ledgers.
It’s said that a gentleman doesn’t laugh at others’ misfortune.
But it seems I’m no gentleman.
Because I can’t stop smiling.
So much so that Palgap remarked.
“Young Master, did you swallow wind or something?” (TL Note: It implies that the person is so light-headed and full of nonsensical cheerfulness that they must be filled with air instead of common sense.)
“It’s not that late yet. Let’s go see Gong Mil.”
Seeing the other clerks bring Heo Un in a cart gave me an idea.
‘What if we put wheels on a chair?’
The next morning at the Eunwol Council meeting.
The meeting addressed the matter of the lost ledger at the Trade Pavilion from yesterday.
Unless it was an urgent matter, such issues were usually handled as agenda items at regular meetings like this.
As I expected, Father showed great interest.
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Ha! Here’s a talent with an unexpected skill.”
And he glanced at me. His expression seemed to say, ‘So you knew and brought him here!’
I grinned.
‘I knew, but that’s not the only reason I brought him here.’
“I will observe him carefully. Such a talent would be invaluable in the new intelligence unit.”
“Understood.”
‘As expected, Father understands as well.’
How crucial memory is in handling information.
“Now, let’s move on to the next agenda item.”
“Next is our Eunpoong Division.”
The External Chief Administrator continued.
“Chun-il has reported on the vulnerabilities in our merchant group’s security. I gave him about ten days, and last night he submitted his findings.”
“So, what did he discover?”
“Indeed, the saying ‘it takes a snake to know a snake’s path’ proves true.”
The External Chief Administrator explained Chun-il’s observations, such as the management of ventilation holes and theft risks due to roof structure.
“Here is the report on the matter.”
He handed a scroll to Father.
Seeing the neat handwriting, I could guess whose work it was.
‘Hyeong-jin is working diligently.’
“These all seem to have merit. Discuss the repairs with the Construction Pavilion Lord.”
“Understood.”
“I will do so.”
.
.
.
After the meeting, I returned to my room.
The meeting ended early today, so I had some time to spare.
I lay on the bed and fell into thought.
‘Security…’
Thanks to Chun-il, it seemed I could avoid losses from theft in this lifetime.
‘By the way, what should I do about this?’
Under the bed I was currently lying on were the luminous pearls I’d brought from Luoyang.
Now that winter was approaching, they would be using a charcoal-filled pot called a hang for heating under the bed, so I needed to find a place to store the luminous pearls before then.
And to store the artifacts I would acquire in the future, the warehouse needed to be quite large.
I couldn’t simply carry them all in my pouch.
The pouch had its limitations.
“First, I’ll need a blueprint…”
I rose from the bed and sat at the desk. I poured water into the inkstone and began grinding the ink.
It was the inkstone the old man at the sundry shop had given me as a bonus when I bought the Flying Silver Arrow—Jeong-ho’s Deputy Merchant Lord appointment gift.
The feeling of grinding the ink was pleasant.
A Duan inkstone is a Duan inkstone, after all.
As I ground the ink, I muttered.
“A warehouse… what kind of warehouse should I build… more importantly, where should I build it…”
It was then.
The color of the Duan inkstone changed to a milky white.
“…!”
A chilly wind blew from beside me.
I turned my head and saw a white door that had appeared in mid-air.
“Ah! You startled me!”
Not only was I surprised by the suddenly transformed inkstone, but now a strange door had materialized in mid-air.
Just then, Palgap entered.
“What’s wrong, sir?”
“Uh, ah, no… a door just suddenly appeared in mid-air…”
“Pardon? What are you talking about, sir? A door?”
–TL Notes–
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