The wagons and carriages bore the elegant banners of the Juhwa Merchant Group, along with the emblem of their escort agency.
The Juhwa Merchant Group was similar in scale to the Eunhae Merchant Group.
Soon, members from both groups exchanged names and greetings.
They then began to confirm the details of the trade.
"As agreed beforehand, these are 500 bolts of premium silk from Sacheon Province."
"And here are 500 geun of White Tiger Silver Needles from Fujin Province. Additionally, we've brought 800 geun of sugar from Guangxi, as per the contract."
[T/L: Geun is a traditional Korean unit of weight; 1 geun ≈ 600 grams.]
A member from the Sunset Pavilion asked,
"May we inspect the condition of the White Tiger Silver Needles?"
"Of course, you should."
"Then we will examine the silk."
"Please do."
Both sides inspected each other's goods to ensure there were no defects.
To judge the quality of tea, one must brew and taste it directly.
After brewing and tasting the tea, the Pavilion Member from the Sunset Pavilion smiled faintly and nodded.
"It's good."
I could also tell the tea was of high quality from the taste.
Likewise, the Juhwa Merchant Group examined the silk we brought meticulously and nodded in satisfaction.
Thus, the trade was completed smoothly without any issues.
That was when it happened.
Someone came running into the open ground where the trade was taking place.
It was one of my personal guards.
He had been carrying out a task I assigned—his sudden appearance could only mean something I feared had come to pass.
But then—
In his arms clung a small girl I recognized.
Her name was Gong Rae, the younger sister of the child who created the Self-Dancing Doll.
People around us looked puzzled by the sudden turn of events.
I quickly ran to him and asked,
"What happened?"
It was Gong Rae who answered.
"Young master! Please help! My family's been taken!"
"What?"
"People said Father stole something, and they took away Mother and my brother!"
The guard added,
"She's telling the truth. People from the Jingyeon Merchant Group forcibly took Master Porter Gong's wife and son."
Jingyeon Merchant Group.
Hearing that name made my anger flare again.
In truth, when I caught the thief who stole from Master Porter Gong yesterday, I had felt something was off.
From our conversation, I could tell Master Porter Gong was a very cautious man.
So I checked, and sure enough, the money pouch had a strap. He would've tied it securely to his body.
Even so, the thief had gone so far as to cut the strap to steal it from him.
There were others around he could've stolen from more easily, yet he targeted Master Porter Gong specifically.
What's more, the thief had a disappointed look.
He should've been scared about what came next, but instead, he looked regretful. That struck me as odd.
With that uneasy feeling, I headed to the local government office, slipped a small "gift" to one of the officers, and asked him to keep watch on the thief.
Sure enough, that very night, things went sideways.
One officer tried to kill the thief, but the officer I had watching him caught wind of it.
As the situation escalated and others arrived, the corrupt officer slit his own throat with a dagger and committed suicide.
After that, the thief confessed everything.
"I-I only did what I was told! They told me to steal it when Master Porter Gong got paid..."
"So, who told you to do it?"
"It was... Hwang from the Jingyeon Merchant Group."
Jingyeon Merchant Group.
Hearing that name again reignited my fury.
"But why did that officer try to kill the thief?"
"That guy was neck-deep in bribes from the Jingyeon Merchant Group. He had promised to get me out of there, but then… That bastard!"
So, the officer committed suicide to avoid punishment once his bribery was exposed.
"I also overheard someone from the Jingyeon Merchant Group talking about how they were very interested in Master Porter Gong. Hehe."
"...?"
"I heard them say they had other methods if this one failed."
Hearing that, I sent one of my guards to secretly watch Master Porter Gong's home.
Sure enough, the Jingyeon Merchant Group made their move.
I turned to Team Leader Jeong Chung and spoke politely.
"My apologies, but I need to excuse myself for a moment."
"What's the matter?"
I explained the situation to Team Leader Jeong Chung.
After some thought, he consulted with his Martial Master.
Then he called the Vice-Leader of the Third Unit of the Silver Wind Squad and instructed him to bring half of the squad to accompany me.
"It seems we'll need a show of force. Go with the Vice-Leader."
Surprised and grateful for the unexpected help, I bowed deeply.
"Thank you."
"This is only natural. Think nothing of it."
"Then, I'll be on my way."
.
.
.
I immediately sent out warriors to investigate the situation.
Meanwhile, I asked Gong Rae for the full story.
"But how did you avoid being taken?"
"I hid."
"You hid?"
"Yes. When they took Mother and my brother, I climbed up onto the roof and hid there."
"The roof? Why?"
"People usually don't look above their heads. It's hard to see up there."
"That's true."
"They turned over pots and cauldrons and everything, but they didn't find me."
"You even thought to hide? That's incredible!"
"If I got taken too, there'd be no one left to ask for help. Our family is just me, my father, my mother, and my brother."
Moved by her words, I patted Gong Rae on the head.
"You did well. Because of you, I know what's going on."
"After they left, I came down from the roof and met a kind warrior."
"I see."
I had been so focused on Gong Mil that I hadn't realized his sister, Gong Rae, was just as clever.
In that short moment, she grasped the situation and found a safe place to hide.
'So, because of that bastard from the Jingyeon Merchant Group, the lives of children who could've had a bright future were trampled.'
My anger flared once more.
At that moment, the warriors I sent to investigate returned.
"Young master, we've learned the situation."
"Yes, what's going on?"
"They're saying that Master Porter Gong stole money from the merchant group. Unless he repays it, they'll sell his family."
At those words, Gong Rae shouted,
"That's not true! Father would never do that! He always tells us to live honestly!"
I placed my hand on her head and said,
"You're right. Your father would never do such a thing. So don't worry, stay here and play with Palgap."
I turned to Palgap.
"Palgap, take good care of her."
"Understood, young master."
Then I asked one of the warriors,
"So, where are Master Porter Gong and his family being held?"
"He's being held at the Jingyeon Merchant Group. They're fairly well-known around here in Golden Boat Market for their ceramics trade."
"They may be known, but compared to our Eunhae Merchant Group, they're still just a small-time operation."
There was no way I was going to let Gong Mil be taken back by that Jingyeon Merchant Group Leader.
Taking the lead, I said,
"Let's go."
"Yes."
***
Gong Duyi had no idea what was going on.
That morning, everything had seemed normal when he arrived for work at the Jingyeon Merchant Group.
Then, suddenly, some higher-up appeared with guards and had him arrested.
The charge: stealing from the merchant group.
He had denied it—repeatedly.
But when they showed him gold ingots they claimed were found in his home, he realized instantly—
He'd walked right into a trap.
"So, you still deny your crime?"
"How many times must I say I didn't do it?"
"Deny all you like, but the evidence speaks for itself!"
"I have no idea what this is about!"
Though Gong Duyi protested strongly, Steward Hwang clearly had no intention of listening.
"Enough. According to our internal regulations, if someone steals, they must repay five times the value of what was stolen. But, seeing as you don't seem to have the money… we've got no choice. We'll just have to sell your family to make up for it."
"What? No, you can't do that!"
Startled, Gong Duyi shouted.
In response, the man handed him a sheet of paper.
"What… is this?"
"If you sign this, you can pay off the debt."
"So what is this, exactly?"
"A Servitude Contract. If you just sign it, everything's resolved."
Gong Duyi was stunned.
He knew very well what that contract meant.
Steward Hwang leaned in and whispered slyly.
"What are you hesitating for? Better to work somewhere familiar than be sold off to some unknown place, isn't it?"
Gritting his teeth—grrr!—Gong Duyi replied,
"So this is because I said I was leaving the group at the end of the month for another one?"
"What nonsense are you spouting? Ha ha ha. Why would we go to all this trouble just for that? Ha ha ha."
"..."
It was clear now.
His mandatory contract had ended last month, and he'd been planning to transfer to another group—this entire scheme was to prevent him from leaving.
"So? Can't sign it?"
"..."
The situation was unbearable.
No one was around to prove his innocence, so to everyone else, he was already a thief.
He felt tears blur his vision, bitterly aware that he was just a powerless potter.
For some reason, the words of that young master from the Eunhae Merchant Group he had met yesterday came to mind:
"It may sound strange coming from someone in a merchant group, but there are quite a few people who'll do anything for money."
And it was true.
Though it felt shameful to say so himself, he was a rather skilled potter.
A potter who brought in money.
That's why they were pulling this stunt.
"But still, our Eunhae Merchant Group prides itself on a bit of conscience. Valuing people is a principle passed down for generations, and I believe in it as well. That's why I offered a 40% share. Any less, and it would feel like I'm robbing you."
The Eunhae young master had said it with shining eyes, full of confidence.
He'd thought to himself: Someone like that—I wouldn't mind entrusting my son to them.
At least then, his family wouldn't have to suffer such humiliation.
But if I become a slave… my children will too…
Tap, tap.
Steward Hwang tapped the table, urging him.
"What are you still hesitating for? Just sign already!"
"..."
"Come on!"
But it was already too late.
His trembling hand moved toward the ink…
BANG—!
Just then—
The door burst open and someone entered.
"I'm here to retrieve Master Porter Gong!"
The sudden light dazzled Gong Duyi's eyes. Through it, he saw a familiar face.
"Wha—? Y-Young master?"
***
As soon as I learned that Gong Duyi and his family were being held by the Jingyeon Merchant Group, I headed there immediately.
"Wh-Who are you?"
"I'm from the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"What?"
"I heard you're detaining someone who belongs to me."
"I'm sorry, what…?"
"Stand aside."
At my command, the warriors pushed the gatekeepers aside and made way, and I entered the merchant group's compound.
The Jingyeon Merchant Group had made a fortune off the Self-Dancing Doll, and they had even moved their headquarters to Kaifeng.
They were considered small before…
And now, they'd grown fat off exploiting a child like Gong Mil.
Shouldn't they, as human beings, have at least treated her with dignity?
At that moment, one of my guards shouted,
"He's in there!"
I rushed over immediately, took down the guards standing watch, and entered the room.
SLAM!
As I flung open the door, I saw two people inside.
One was Gong Duyi.
The other—I recognized.
He was the one who followed the Leader of the Jingyeon Merchant Group around, handling all sorts of business.
What was his name again?
Ah—yes, I remembered.
"Pleased to meet you. Hwang Yeong, House Steward."
"W-Who are you?"
"Speaking informally on our first meeting? That's rather rude, don't you think? Ha ha."
Smiling, I continued,
"I'm from the Eunhae Merchant Group."
"...!"
At the mention of Eunhae Merchant Group, his face immediately stiffened. Then, all of a sudden, he became polite.
"M-May I ask what brings you here?"
"I heard someone under my care was being held here, so I came in person."
I picked up the paper lying in front of Gong Duyi and read it.
"..."
It was a Servitude Contract.
Essentially, a lifetime slavery agreement.
It even stated that the entire family would become property of the Jingyeon Merchant Group.
I ground my teeth.
The accusation of theft had all been for this.
Why go this far?
Because Gong Duyi was valuable.
And because the contract must've been nearing its end.
Just as I'd suspected—utterly pathetic.
[T/L: Read extra 5 chapters: https://ko-fi.com/s/e038c3e76b ]
[T/L: Please support me and read extra chapters: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans ]