The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 106

‘I must… make him believe me without fail.’

 

Ji Hakseung, kneeling before the Prime Minister, squeezed his eyes shut.

 

And he recalled the events before coming here.

 

The lord he had believed in for a long time.

 

The night he found out that he had been thoroughly deceiving him.

 

Ji Hakseung had to suffer in agony without getting a single wink of sleep.

 

“The reason this lowly one decided to follow the Chief was…! Because I believed the Chief also harbored the same intentions as this lowly one!”

 

A long time ago, he had witnessed the conversation between Pilsuk and the Chief from right beside them.

 

At that time, he didn’t know the reason why Pilsuk was so angry.

 

But now that he finally knew the truth, everything made sense.

 

Chief Kim Gangdu… had hidden the truth from his subordinates for all that long time and kept the enemy’s daughter in his embrace.

 

‘I didn’t want to give affection to such a child. Not even for a single moment. We were all deceived by the Chief.’

 

Ji Hakseung recalled the countless days he had taught the child about medicinal herbs, shared food, and exchanged trivial conversations.

 

The fact that all that time was filled with deception spread into anger.

 

‘How can I follow such a person now.’

 

In the end, Ji Hakseung judged that he could no longer trust Kim Gangdu, and he began to form a faction by gathering those within the mountain fortress who shared his sentiment. 

 

However, the problem lay in the fact that they were people who knew the ‘secrets of the mountain fortress.’ 

 

‘We cannot leave this place. The Chief will never, under any circumstances, let us leave alive.’ 

 

Considering Seolhwa’s strict standards of establishing bases, training, and only accepting those who have passed thorough verification.

 

Within that system, ‘betrayal’ meant immediate death. 

 

Chief Kim Gangdu is such a person. Cold-headed and firm.

 

It was natural.

 

Because otherwise, the mountain stronghold would have been discovered and they wouldn’t have survived.

 

Because of that, Ji Hakseung racked his brain even more.

 

Because he knew better than anyone that it wasn’t a place they could leave simply because they wanted to.

 

So a meticulous plan was needed.

 

The first step of that was none other than Jeon Bongjin. To win him over, persuade him, and form an alliance with him. 

 

Ji Hakseung’s goal was one.

 

To change the King under a true leader.

 

And finally, to take revenge on the current King and the Prime Minister.

 

Thus, Ji Hakseung approached Jeon Bongjin.

 

“If you tell me what I require, I shall grant permission for your entry.” 

 

He accepted that condition, and finally obtained permission. But that wasn’t the end.

 

Ji Hakseung had to immediately prepare for the next move.

 

“Even if General Jeon accepts us… if the Chief comes to execute us, we won’t be able to withstand him.”

 

Kim Gangdu alone possessed combat power incomparable to Jeon Bongjin.

 

The number of people following him was also overwhelming.

 

In other words, it meant the Chief wouldn’t just sit back and watch them… who escaped knowing the location of the mountain stronghold as traitors.

 

‘We must strike first before he makes a move.’

 

Ji Hakseung finally made a cold-hearted decision.

 

“I will report the location of the mountain stronghold to the Prime Minister.”

 

“Wh-what did you say?! That cannot be. Our enemies are the Prime Minister and the current King… how can you say we should borrow their hands!”

 

Jo Byeokho frowned and protested. Then Ji Hakseung narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue.

 

“You fool. Why can’t you see that this is an opportunity.”

 

He looked down coldly at Jo Byeokho and continued.

 

“To rebel, a justification is absolutely necessary. And there must be an opportunity. The reason the Chief is taking such a long time to move is also because results cannot be achieved overnight.”

 

Ji Hakseung’s eyes gleamed.

 

“So we must choose a different path. We pretend to become the Prime Minister’s people and steal information.”

 

“B-but… we might all end up dead if we do that!”

 

“So you’re saying you’d rather die!”

 

When Ji Hakseung lost his temper, Jo Byeokho flinched and curled up his body right there.

 

Ji Hakseung spoke coldly with a coldly hardened expression.

 

“To strike the enemy, we must enter the enemy camp. If we can pretend to be the Prime Minister’s people and steal information, we might even advance the date of the uprising. This is an opportunity.”

 

Sweating profusely, Jo Byeokho hesitated and asked.

 

“Th-then… what should I do?”

 

Ji Hakseung snorted mockingly.

 

“You? You are not of the caliber to be sent to the Prime Minister. I will do that myself.”

 

And then he gave an order.

 

“Go to General Jeon at once. Confirm his intentions once more, take those who share our will, and move to Yeongnam.”

 

“Then, what about the mountain stronghold…”

 

Ji Hakseung nodded and continued speaking.

 

“The mountain stronghold will soon be in danger. This place, the family we’ve been with here… we have to leave them all behind. It won’t be easy, but… that is our only way to survive.”

 

“…Yes. I will follow your orders.”

 

Jo Byeokho bowed his head and withdrew with a trembling voice.

 

Ji Hakseung also slowly packed his bundle with a stiff expression. And quietly disappeared under the cover of night.

 

That day, after Yeong, Gaon, and Jeon Bongjin left the mountain stronghold.

 

Thus, their true plan began.

 

* * *

 

Kneeling, Ji Hakseung looked up at the Prime Minister with hardened eyes.

 

“I believe it will be hard for you to trust me. However, this lowly monk will definitely prove his usefulness. Please, just give me a chance. This humble subject has now decided… to live as Your Excellency’s man for the rest of my life.”

 

His voice was resolute.

 

But the Prime Minister didn’t even stir. Quietly looking down at Ji Hakseung, the Prime Minister soon let out a hollow laugh and said.

 

“Hiding and trembling in fear under Kim Gangdu, now you look down on me. In this land of the Great Ho Kingdom, there is no one who does not know what kind of person I am.”

 

The Prime Minister raised his hand and slowly stroked his bearded chin.

 

With the corners of his mouth turned up, he raised his eyebrows as if he found this situation amusing.

 

“There is no need for you to prove it. I can just verify it myself. And if your words are false.”

 

Swoosh.

 

He turned his head toward his subordinates.

 

At a single glance, the warriors all rested their hands on the hilts of the swords at their waists. As if to let him know they could draw their swords and kill Ji Hakseung at any moment.

 

“Your life will not remain intact.”

 

At the words laced with murderous intent, a cold sweat ran down Ji Hakseung’s spine.

 

Clenching his fists tightly, he desperately pretended to be unfazed, raised his head sharply, and shouted.

 

“This lowly monk has already decided to dedicate everything to Lord. Do as you will.”

 

The Prime Minister narrowed his eyes, then smiled softly.

 

“Very well. If that is your will, I shall grant your wish. Look here! Bind that man at once!”

 

“?!”

 

It was an unexpected development.

 

Ji Hakseung hurriedly tried to stand up, but it was already too late.

 

Two warriors instantly grabbed both his arms, pulled him, forced him to his knees, and tied him tightly with a rope just like that.

 

“What… on earth is the meaning of this!”

 

Looking down at him struggling, the Prime Minister downed his cold tea and sprang up from his seat.

 

He approached with his hands clasped behind his back.

 

Standing in front of the tied-up Ji Hakseung, he lowered his head and met his eyes.

 

And one word.

 

“Tsk.”

 

He continued speaking with a pathetic look on his face.

 

“Even a dog. A dog never betrays its master. Yet… even if it is that b*stard Kim Gangdu, what would you call one who turns his back on someone he served for so long and comes to me.”

 

Snickering, the Prime Minister bent his eyes and laughed, his shoulders shaking.

 

“It must mean that you are a b*stard worse than a dog.” 

 

“M-my Lord…!”

 

Ji Hakseung’s breath caught in his throat.

 

He had always been someone in charge of medical arts. Because of that, unlike those who took up weapons and fought, he rarely had the chance to directly experience the Prime Minister’s cruelty.

 

But now, he clearly realized.

 

‘I… misjudged.’

 

The Prime Minister was absolutely not an easy opponent.

 

He was not someone who could be persuaded by common sense, justification, or logic.

 

This man… unlike the Chief, Kim Gangdu, whom Ji Hakseung had seen so far, was someone who believed in suspicion rather than sincerity.

 

“There’s no reason someone who betrayed once can’t do it a second time. But if the information you brought is true, it’s worth using.”

 

Swoosh. The Prime Minister turned his head and looked at a man standing silently in a corner of the room.

 

White skin, a slender build. And a man with a cold expression.

 

“Lee Seohoo.” 

 

He was the one called the Prime Minister’s left arm.

 

Unlike Jo Mujin, who was excellent only in martial arts, he was a precious talent equipped with both literary and martial arts.

 

The Prime Minister always kept him by his side, valued him highly, and never sent him to dangerous places.

 

But this time was different.

 

“You go directly… and confirm if Kim Gangdu’s mountain stronghold is at the location this man mentioned.”

 

“Yes, Lord.”

 

Lee Seohoo bowed his head deeply and received the order.

 

Ji Hakseung struggled and shouted.

 

“Lord! If my words turn out to be true… you must let this lowly monk go! Please promise me!”

 

The Prime Minister slowly turned his head again. And looking at him with indifferent eyes, he asked.

 

“Why should I?”

 

“Wh-what?!”

 

“Look here! Drag that b*stard away immediately and torture him! He must know more, so make him spit it all out.”

 

Just as the warriors were about to move.

 

“Ah, and…”

 

The Prime Minister grinned.

 

“Gag his mouth tightly with a cloth just in case he tries to bite his tongue.”

 

“….!!”

 

Ji Hakseung realized once again.

 

That his judgment was wrong.

 

And that single judgment…

 

Would drag him into a suffering worse than death itself.