Chapter 202
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: Seo Moon-gong's Three Recommendations
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Seol Hwa-un's question had Seo Moon-gong speaking up eagerly.
“Heh heh heh, it's supposed to be a secret, but I'll let you in on it specially, Fortress Lord. The first is the third young master of the Tianxia Merchant Consortium, Lee Yeo-hae.”
The Tianxia Merchant Consortium was recognized by merchants everywhere as the world's greatest trading house.
Its master, Lee Bok-sim, had three sons, and the youngest was Lee Yeo-hae.
He oversaw silks among the vast array of goods handled by the consortium, revolutionizing their distribution and generating immense profits.
It was a well-known story in the trade world, so Seol Hwa-un was familiar with it.
“Lee Yeo-hae makes sense. Who's the second?”
“The young master of the Continental Money House, Yong Myeong-an.”
The Continental Money House, alongside the Central Plains Money House, effectively dominated the entire money-lending business in the Central Plains.
Its promissory notes were trusted almost as much as gold or silver.
But the name Yong Myeong-an was unfamiliar to Seol Hwa-un.
“The young master? Son of the current Continental Money House master, Yong Tae-han?”
Seo Moon-gong nodded.
“That's right. But Yong Myeong-an himself is hardly known, so this is probably your first time hearing of him, Fortress Lord.”
“I see.”
“I only caught a glimpse of him by chance... but that's a long story, so let's skip it for now.”
“......”
“The third is a man named Pyo Rip-dong.”
Another unfamiliar name.
The three shared a common trait: though Seol Hwa-un didn't know the details yet, they were all around Seo Moon-gong's age.
“Pyo Rip-dong? What's his affiliation?”
“He doesn't belong to any specific group. Hmm... hard to sum up in one word. I'd call him an eccentric genius.”
A glint appeared in Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
“Really?”
“Don't get me started. I clashed with him once before...”
Seo Moon-gong trailed off, staring straight at Seol Hwa-un.
“Seeing how interested you are, Fortress Lord, it looks like you're not planning to hand the trading house over to Strategist Yu.”
Seol Hwa-un shrugged.
‘He's quick on the uptake.’
“Exactly. The Chief Steward has plenty on his plate already.”
Seo Moon-gong looked regretful.
“Fair enough. Even someone as capable as Strategist Yu couldn't juggle everything. It'd be a shame to tie down a talent like that to just running the trading house.”
“You've nailed it.”
“Tch, since we're at it, I'll lay it all out. I recommend Pyo Rip-dong for North Heaven Fortress's trading house leader.”
The other two were already established pillars of the merchant world with set futures, leaving little room for recruitment.
“If you can bring him into the fold, Fortress Lord, North Heaven's trading house rising to one of the Central Plains' Ten Great Merchant Houses wouldn't be a pipe dream.”
Central Plains' Ten Great Merchant Houses.
The Central Plains were vast, teeming with countless merchant houses. Ranking in the top ten was a monumental achievement.
Most of the Ten Great had deep histories and legacies.
Yet here was Seo Moon-gong claiming one recruit could put them on equal footing.
Seol Hwa-un was inwardly surprised, knowing Seo Moon-gong didn't toss words around lightly.
“That exceptional, huh?”
“Indeed. Though this assumes North Heaven's capabilities play their part. No matter how brilliant Pyo Rip-dong is, he can't do it alone.”
“Hm.”
“I actually tried recruiting him for my own house once, pulled out all the stops. Failed miserably.”
Seo Moon-gong, ever hungry for talent, had wooed Pyo Rip-dong with every sweet word and incentive, to no avail.
“He was impossible to read. No idea what goes on in that head of his.”
“If it's not too rude, could you tell me what efforts the young master of House Seo Moon made to recruit him?”
“Sure, if you want.”
Seo Moon-gong found it odd but answered readily.
“......”
A glint sparked in Seol Hwa-un's eyes after hearing the full account.
‘So that's how it is...’
He could now picture what kind of man Pyo Rip-dong was.
‘Might actually be recruitable if I play it right.’
“One issue, though.”
Seo Moon-gong doused the enthusiasm like he'd been waiting.
“Recruitment aside, the guy's like the wind—damn near impossible to track down. Even the Beggar Clan would struggle.”
“Any other info besides his name to help find him?”
Seo Moon-gong shook his head.
“Sorry. I don't know much myself. Just that he dabbled in grain and salt trading for a bit.”
‘If even Seo Moon-gong says that...’
Seol Hwa-un sensed finding Pyo Rip-dong wouldn't be easy.
‘Hmm. Still, worth putting out feelers with the Beggar Clan.’
The two then chatted idly.
In the midst of it, Seol Hwa-un picked up on something off about Seo Moon-gong.
‘He's fidgety... holding something back.’
Seo Moon-gong was trying hard to hide it, but to no avail.
Seol Hwa-un realized this hesitation was the real reason for his visit.
“Young master of House Seo Moon, you have something important to tell me, don't you?”
“......”
“I haven't forgotten the Jaso Pills you gave me. So speak freely, no need to worry.”
“Haa.”
Seo Moon-gong let out a deep sigh and spoke with effort.
“Truth is... I came to ask for your help with something, Fortress Lord.”
It was the first time Seol Hwa-un had seen him look so troubled.
“For some time now, my house's caravans have been ambushed by unknown assailants.”
“......!”
“And it's the ones handling trade with the North Sea Ice Palace getting hit hardest.”
Seol Hwa-un's eyes flashed.
“Tell me everything.”
It wasn't mere banditry for goods. The escorts and even laborers were slaughtered.
Investigators yielded nothing, and the attacks continued.
Realizing the gravity, Seo Moon-gong had quietly dispatched his elite warriors, and those caravans went unscathed—as if the attackers knew.
He withdrew them once things calmed, and the raids resumed in force.
He couldn't deploy elites every time.
One suspicion stood out immediately.
“A mole?”
“That's what I thought. I investigated all suspects thoroughly, but they all came up clean.”
“......”
“There must be something I'm missing. But widening the net explodes the number of people to check. It'd paralyze my house's three merchant groups entirely.”
The three merchant groups were under Seo Moon-gong's direct oversight.
“......”
Seol Hwa-un sensed a subtle inconsistency in the tale.
“Young master, you haven't told House Seo Moon about this?”
Seo Moon-gong gave a wry smile.
“You caught that, huh. No, I haven't.”
“......Mind if I ask why?”
Truth be told, this was routine for a major merchant house.
House Seo Moon, among the world's top three, wouldn't flounder over something like this.
“To be honest... it's pride.”
Since coming of age, Seo Moon-gong had never failed in any venture as a merchant.
That became his pride and solidified his position in House Seo Moon.
His succession as heir was all but assured.
But when it came to caravans, he was an obsessive perfectionist.
He loathed exposing any flaw or mistake—even to his own family.
That's why no rumors had leaked yet.
“You're fine showing this side to me?”
“Guess so. You're not a merchant, Fortress Lord, so it's oddly comfortable. Plus, with the targeted caravans and all, I had a hunch it involves you.”
“I agree.”
Targeting North Sea Ice Palace routes was suspicious indeed.
After sorting his thoughts, Seol Hwa-un spoke.
“Alright. I'll handle it.”
Seo Moon-gong's face lit up.
“Really?”
“Best to keep it quiet, right?”
Seo Moon-gong nodded.
“Imposing as it is... that'd be ideal.”
“Got it. Hand over your investigation files.”
“Of course.”
Seo Moon-gong pulled out the prepared documents from his bosom.
* * *
After Seo Moon-gong departed North Heaven Fortress, Seol Hwa-un quietly summoned Yu Gongsun.
“You called, Fortress Lord?”
“Yes.”
Yu Gongsun, reading his expression, said,
“I heard Seo Moon-gong visited. Something come up?”
Seol Hwa-un chuckled.
“Sharp as ever. Yes.”
He relayed everything Seo Moon-gong had shared.
Yu Gongsun frowned after reviewing the documents.
“Hmm. This feels ominous. The files reek of conspiracy. Definitely beyond what Seo Moon-gong can handle alone.”
“I think so too.”
Reading Seol Hwa-un's mind, Yu Gongsun said,
“Might be a plot aimed at our palace. Still going?”
“All the more reason. Letting it fester will only worsen.”
“Hmm.”
“There could be a massive shadow pulling strings behind them. I plan to wrap this up swiftly and cleanly.”
“Wise, but...”
“So I'll take a small team, resolve it fast, and return.”
“Understood. Who will you bring?”
Yu Gongsun asked with subtle hope, but Seol Hwa-un replied coolly.
“I'd love to take the Chief Steward, but with fortress duties piling up, that's not feasible.”
Yu Gongsun would soon be swamped again preparing the new trading house.
Without a talent like Pyo Rip-dong yet, he had to stay.
“Shame, but I agree. Then who...?”
Eom Mu-hwi and Dong Ho-won came to mind first, but they lacked experience for this.
The North Wind Brigade Leader and his brigade were the most suitable in skill and savvy.
Even a select few would suffice—no need for the whole unit.
But with Seol Hwa-un away, he couldn't strip the vice leader too.
Yet Seol Hwa-un had already decided, without hesitation.
“They've had time to settle in by now. Time they earned their keep.”
“You mean...”
“I'll take the two gluttons.”