I can’t show them that I’m flustered.
I played innocent and asked.
“What do you mean, asking for forgiveness?”
“Actually, we’re… spies planted in the Eunhae Merchant Group.”
Palgap and the escorts made shocked expressions.
As if they’d never expected this at all.
Yes, I understand.
In my previous life, I didn’t know either.
No, not just me—even External Chief Administrator Go didn’t know.
They’d truly fooled everyone completely.
In a way, that ability is still something impressive.
They’d hidden their true nature like that, then stabbed me in the back at the critical moment, putting both me and the merchant group in a difficult position.
So when it was revealed that they were spies, External Chief Administrator Go felt terribly sorry toward me.
Since they’d become my escort guards on his recommendation.
And he even stepped down from active duty out of responsibility.
It was truly unfortunate that someone of External Chief Administrator Go’s caliber had to step down from active duty.
Anyway, their betrayal of me happened much later than now. It was when I was twenty-six years old.
They’d hidden their identities well until then, so why are they suddenly revealing their identities so readily like this?
It was completely unexpected and flustering, but I didn’t show it and maintained a calm expression.
Finding out their intentions was important first.
“I was wondering when you’d tell me…”
So I first hinted that I already knew.
And to hear their reasons, I needed to shake them up a bit.
As expected, they were startled by my words and stammered.
“Y-you already knew?”
“S-since when exactly…?”
“Don’t you think you moved rather carelessly?”
“…”
Not enough yet? Should I shake them up a bit more?
“So, what did Deputy Merchant Lord Bang of the Jinse Merchant Group offer you?”
“…!”
“…!”
At my words, they were shocked.
They were spies planted by the Jinse Merchant Group, or more precisely, by Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu.
The Jinse Merchant Group was currently considered Hubei Province’s number one merchant group.
Together with us and the Hongnang Merchant Group where Young Master Han Baek-geon served as deputy merchant lord, we were grouped as Hubei Province’s three great merchant groups, but there was still a gap between us.
Of course, it would be reversed before long.
I suddenly recalled what had happened in my past life.
Until they stabbed me in the back, the Eunhae Merchant Group and Jinse Merchant Group had been fiercely competing for the position of Hubei Province’s number one merchant group.
Unable to withstand the business difficulties from the famine at the time, Hubei Province’s best tavern eventually went up for sale.
An auction was held to acquire that tavern, and the Eunhae Merchant Group lost at the auction.
The problem was that the bidding difference was just ten silver taels.
Considering the tavern’s price, a ten silver tael difference could only mean internal information had leaked out.
And those ten silver taels were clearly meant to mock us.
If that hadn’t been their intention, even knowing the information in advance, they would have added at least a hundred silver taels more for appearance’s sake.
Only then was it revealed that those two were the traitors.
The Jinse Merchant Group obtained that tavern and once again pulled ahead of us, but those two never received their compensation.
Because Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu pretended not to know them, they suffered hardships and died.
Judging by their reaction at the time, they seemed not to have thought Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu would abandon them.
That’s why their current behavior was even more incomprehensible.
They should still firmly believe in Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu right now.
“Money? Or a high position?”
The two warriors exchanged glances, then Warrior Bae-cheol spoke first.
“If we performed our assigned tasks well, we were promised a squad leader position in the Jinse Merchant Group’s military division. And if we accomplished something big, we were promised appropriate monetary compensation as well.”
So it was both.
“I see. I was wondering when you’d confess, but this is sooner than expected.”
This time, Warrior Go Ju-sang answered.
“Because we realized the Jinse Merchant Group has no future.”
No future?
It’s still a thriving merchant group though?
Perhaps sensing my expression, Warrior Go Ju-sang continued.
“The Eunhae Merchant Group rose from the bottom ranks of the Hundred Great Merchant Groups to fortieth place in just five years.”
That’s right.
“Moreover, the process was completely unexpected. Though our insight may be limited, we’re not ignorant of such trends. At this rate, it’s only a matter of time before you enter the Five Great Merchant Groups Under Heaven.”
“But the Jinse Merchant Group is different. The current deputy merchant lord who became the successor is not someone who can lead the merchant group to higher places.”
Did they really think that?
But then why did they believe in him until the end in my previous life?
Let’s set that aside for now.
The Jinse Merchant Group’s current successor was the second son named Bang Wu, and he couldn’t be called a good merchant.
He was a very cunning and despicable person with a personality that didn’t care about means and methods.
On the other hand, the Jinse Merchant Lord was someone even I acknowledged, a person held in high esteem.
It was truly curious that a son like Bang Wu came from such a person.
Anyway, because we failed to obtain that tavern, our merchant group’s growth momentum slowed temporarily.
But it just took a bit more time—our merchant group eventually surpassed the Jinse Merchant Group.
And I repaid Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu for what he’d done to us.
As a result, Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu stepped down from his position as the Jinse Merchant Group’s deputy merchant lord.
If you’re a merchant, you should compete fairly like a merchant—if you use such petty tricks, that’s what happens to you.
“Anyway, we’ve decided to surrender to the Eunhae Merchant Group. A bigger ship is better, isn’t it?”
However, they didn’t reveal why they came to evaluate Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu so lowly.
There’s something there.
Still, switching to a bigger ship…
I understood the case of Chief Administrator An Suk who worked at Manor Lord Ma’s house in Taigyeong County.
He’d been suffering under Manor Lord Ma, and Manor Lord Ma was a ship about to sink.
But the Jinse Merchant Group is still a fairly sturdy ship.
Then there’s only one answer.
Something must have happened because of things that changed from my previous life, and because of that, they must think staying put won’t work out either way, so they’re switching like this.
Heh!
How cute.
But I have no intention of trusting them.
According to their words, it means they could move to any other force larger than ours.
It’s not like the target of their loyalty disappeared or anything—they’re just switching ships for their own personal safety.
Betraying once is difficult, but betraying twice is easy.
However, if I don’t reel in the big fish that came into my net without me even trying, I’d be a fool.
“Anyway, coming to me instead of going to Father or the External Chief Administrator means you’re asking for a chance.”
“That’s correct.”
“Yes.”
They nodded.
“Good. Then I’ll give you a chance.”
I smiled.
Warriors Bae-cheol and Go Ju-sang looked at Eun Seo-ho smiling at them.
Combined with that handsome face, it was a fatally attractive smile, but they found that smile frightening.
The two warriors had been planted in the Eunhae Merchant Group for the Jinse Merchant Group, and their mission was to directly observe and report on unusual matters regarding the Eunhae Merchant Group.
However, their reports weren’t very useful.
They would need to become escort guards to key figures to report something important, but just being warriors in the Eunpoong Division meant they couldn’t obtain secret information.
In other words, what they reported was always old news.
They gradually came to realize it.
That Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu thought they were useless.
When they were trembling with fear that they’d be abandoned at this rate, an opportunity came to them.
The Eunpoong Division’s Fourth Squad they belonged to ended up working together with Eun Seo-ho.
Thinking they could finally obtain something worth reporting, they began observing Eun Seo-ho.
However, since he secretly moved around only with his escort guards, they couldn’t find out the details.
What they could find out was that Eun Seo-ho was the one who brought down Ma Jeong.
They couldn’t find out exactly what methods he used, but that’s what the circumstances suggested.
All while putting forward that attractive smile they were seeing now.
Moreover, he seemed quite close with the Embroidered Guard.
What kind of place was the Embroidered Guard?
An organization directly under the imperial family, possessing both excellent martial arts and power.
In that situation, if they were caught being spies sent by Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu…
Their future was set. They definitely wouldn’t even be able to collect their bones.
However, it was true that saying so would hurt their pride.
“Let’s abandon them before we’re abandoned.”
“That sounds good.”
“If we present our value… he won’t coldly cast us out.”
“I think so too.”
So they came to confess like this, but he already knew they were spies!
‘He really is a frightening person. I’m glad we came clean early.’
Fortunately, as they’d thought, Eun Seo-ho said he’d give them a chance.
“…”
However, Eun Seo-ho didn’t continue speaking and just quietly looked at the two warriors.
‘Why isn’t he saying anything?’
‘Wh-what should we do?’
Warriors Bae-cheol and Go Ju-sang were feeling considerable pressure.
He was just quietly looking at them, yet this much pressure!
Even though it was a chilly evening, cold sweat poured down.
He seemed to be waiting for them to prove they were useful.
What should they say?
What should they say to be judged useful?
Then Warrior Bae-cheol made the first move.
“Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu of the Jinse Merchant Group plans to put medicine in the food at the second deputy merchant lord’s wedding banquet to cause stomach upset.”
“…!”
Warrior Go Ju-sang looked at Warrior Bae-cheol with shocked eyes.
‘What? Are you saying you won’t look back now?’
Though they’d decided to switch, they’d planned to leave room. They hadn’t fully decided to turn their backs completely.
In that situation, when Warrior Bae-cheol made the first move, Warrior Go Ju-sang felt betrayed by him.
“Warrior Go Ju-sang.”
“Ah! Yes!”
“Is what Warrior Bae-cheol said true?”
Since the water was already spilled, he sighed and answered.
“…It is.”
“But why did you hesitate to say that? How should I think of Warrior Go now?”
Warrior Go Ju-sang grumbled internally.
‘You could have discussed it beforehand! Damn it! This way I’m the only one left out?’
In the end, Warrior Go Ju-sang had no choice but to reveal the top-secret information he knew as well.
“…Actually, besides us, there’s another spy planted here.”
I suddenly felt a pull in the back of my neck.
Damn it… Bang Wu, that bastard…
Just how far is he trying to go?
Honestly speaking, this attempt by Warriors Bae-cheol and Go Ju-sang to switch from the Jinse Merchant Group to the Eunhae Merchant Group was a bigger stroke of luck than expected.
If I hadn’t just learned this information…
Ah, just thinking about it makes me dizzy.
But if I showed this emotion, they’d look down on me.
“Good. Both warriors have proven your necessity.”
When I spoke calmly, their expressions brightened completely.
“However, how do you plan to prove that it’s true?”
At my question, Warrior Bae-cheol answered.
“On Scholar Street, there’s someone called Black Frog (黑蛙). Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu ordered medicine to cause stomach upset from him, so please verify it.”
I turned my head to look at Warrior Go Ju-sang.
“…It’s Clerk Ha Byeok of the Finance Pavilion.”
“I see. I’ll look into this separately. So don’t act rashly until I call for you. Just act as you normally would.”
“Understood.”
“Then you may go.”
Like that, the two warriors left my separate quarters looking drained and deflated.
I glared at their backs until they disappeared far away, then entered my room and spoke to Palgap.
“Keep their mouths shut.”
“Yes, sir!”
It was unlikely, but just in case, I was telling him to control the servants and maids of my separate quarters so they wouldn’t blabber about this matter.
I entered the room, sat before the tea table, and gulped down cold tea.
Only then did the stiffness in the back of my neck seem to ease a bit.
So the Jinse Merchant Group is trying to ruin Brother Jin-ho’s wedding banquet?
This didn’t happen in my previous life, but it’s natural.
Back then, Brother Jin-ho didn’t get married.
What I need to think about here is the purpose behind Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu of the Jinse Merchant Group using such despicable tricks.
Palgap entered the room and asked carefully.
“Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I already knew about it. Still, you can’t betray me. If you betray me, I think I’d really be hurt.”
“Why would you say that? If a situation arose where I had to betray you, I’d just kill myself instead.”
Palgap jumped up, and seeing him like that, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Because I know Palgap really is that kind of guy.
“But did you really know? That they were spies?”
At that question, I nodded.
“How did you know?”
Since I couldn’t tell him the reason, I deflected vaguely.
“Just, they seemed suspicious somewhere, so I was watching them closely.”
Then Escort Guard Seo Wu, who’d entered the room with us, spoke up.
“If it’s about Deputy Merchant Lord Bang Wu, I know a bit. When I worked as an escort chief, I built some connections there.”
“It seems you’ve heard something.”
“Yes, I heard he’s in a bad mood because the pharmacy he ambitiously pursued isn’t growing as well as expected.”
–TL Notes–
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