The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 107

* * *

 

Meanwhile, after capturing the traitor Jo Byeokho.

 

Following a conversation with Dupil who suddenly appeared, Jeon Bongjin decided to return to the mountain stronghold.

 

Thereafter, he had to disclose the entire situation to his comrades, including Im Gyesu who had come to rescue him, and persuade them. 

 

“Then, are you saying that child… is the current King’s daughter? If this fact becomes known, there will be no small amount of backlash within our ranks as well.”

 

Im Gyesu raised his voice in shock. Then Jeon Bongjin explained quietly, but in a clear voice.

 

“Of course, I also thought so at first. However…”

 

He looked around at those who had been imprisoned with him once, and continued in a serious tone.

 

“You also experienced it together, so you know… nothing is certain yet. They say there is a mark of royalty, but we cannot definitively conclude that she is the current King’s daughter based solely on that. We don’t know where surviving royal bloodlines might be hiding, and even if… that child is the current King’s daughter, she was already an abandoned child.”

 

Firmness had somehow seeped into his voice.

 

“If she was a child the current King cherished and tried to protect, would he have left her like that?”

 

Im Gyesu couldn’t hide his conflicted expression.

 

Even if that were the case, this was a decision uncharacteristic of Jeon Bongjin. 

 

Jeon Bongjin was always cautious, and never jumped in if he judged there was even the slightest danger.

 

“I simply cannot understand. Chief… why did you change your mind so?”

 

It was a sincere curiosity rather than suspicion.

 

Jeon Bongjin fell silent briefly. And finally revealed his inner thoughts.

 

“…That child gave me a flower.”

 

“…Pardon?”

 

“The hand she held out was trembling. She must have been terrified… yet even so, she gathered her courage. Saying she wanted to protect her uncles, and her father.” 

 

He recalled that child in the prison, offering him a flower with a small hand and earnestly pleading in a trembling voice.

 

“I started this work to protect the innocent. However…”

 

Jeon Bongjin pressed his eyes shut for a moment.

 

“…Leaving a scar that will never be erased in the heart of an innocent child… I found myself asking if going that far aligns with what I aim to do.”

 

As he stopped speaking, the surroundings became quiet. As if no one could easily refute it.

 

“If you are an adult, act like an adult. You must protect the children, the future. I finally… realized that simple truth again.”

 

Im Gyesu couldn’t say anything.

 

But there was still a hint of subtle anxiety and vigilance remaining.

 

“…I understand those feelings. However, the problem is that people don’t think that far.”

 

Im Gyesu dropped his head with a deep sigh.

 

“With just a single connection to the current King… people create a target for hatred. Whatever the truth is, it doesn’t matter to them. They only look for a reason to throw stones at someone.”

 

Jeon Bongjin didn’t refute it. Because he also agreed.

 

“Therefore, we must strictly keep this matter a secret at our level.”

 

At that firm remark, Im Gyesu couldn’t refute any further and shut his mouth.

 

It was true.

 

The deposed Crown Prince Kim Gangdu had also kept this fact a secret for a long time. In other words, it was the same now. If they don’t tell, no one will know.

 

But Im Gyesu still had a somewhat uneasy expression.

 

“…Even so. I still feel uncomfortable.”

 

He muttered lowly.

 

“How can we trust that person. A guarantee that the child is truly harmless… who can give it. This too, might be a trap set by the Prime Minister.”

 

At that time, Dupil took a step forward.

 

And rummaging through his clothes, he carefully took out a letter.

 

“This is a letter written personally by His Highness. Read it.”

 

Im Gyesu stopped for a moment.

 

He received the letter with hesitant fingertips and carefully unfolded it. In neat handwriting, sincere sentences containing long-ago memories entered his eyes one by one.

 

To persuade Jeon Bongjin and his subordinates… the letter written down personally by the deposed Crown Prince Kim Gangdu.

 

And, Im Gyesu’s gaze reached the last paragraph.

 

[…I remember what you all have done. I have not forgotten a single thing about what you did with me on the battlefield a long time ago. You all risked your lives to protect this land that day. Therefore, I sincerely ask you to gather your strength once again this time. For the commoners who are being persecuted and suffering even at this moment.]

 

Im Gyesu’s eyes wavered endlessly.

 

At that time, he was merely a rookie soldier.

 

But in the middle of the battlefield, he remembered clearly seeing the back of the deposed Crown Prince Kim Gangdu taking the lead before anyone else.

 

He was truly an existence like a living legend.

 

‘If it weren’t for him… we wouldn’t exist now.’

 

Im Gyesu tightly gripped the letter he was holding.

 

It was then.

 

Pat. Jeon Bongjin quietly approached and placed his hand on his shoulder.

 

“Do not worry. I know what kind of person he is… better than anyone. He did not intend to harm me. Our intentions simply differed. But now, I have decided to share that intention.”

 

A firm strength entered Jeon Bongjin’s fingertips.

 

Im Gyesu recalled the battlefield of that time from the warmth of that hand.

 

The days when he followed Jeon Bongjin… and Jeon Bongjin was following the deposed Crown Prince Kim Gangdu.

 

He possessed such shining eyes, just like right now. 

 

It had been a very long time.

 

Since he faced that look in his eyes.

 

“…I will follow.”

 

Im Gyesu let out a small sigh and nodded. No more words were needed.

 

When they quietly nodded towards each other. Jeon Bongjin turned his body and gave an order.

 

“Let’s return to the main base first, then prepare again. We will return to the mountain stronghold as soon as possible. And Jo Byeokho, bring that man along too.”

 

“Yes. We will follow! Chief!”

 

His subordinates responded in unison with powerful voices. Dupil also nodded, gripping the rope tying Jo Byeokho tightly.

 

Like that, they started moving with eyes completely different from before.

 

Eyes filled with certainty and resolve, not fear and confusion.

 

* * *

 

After preparing like that, it was already midnight when Jeon Bongjin, Kim Dupil, and their group returned to the mountain stronghold.

 

First, Dupil entered the Chief’s barracks and reported the situation.

 

The Chief soon walked outside to welcome Jeon Bongjin.

 

“…I apologize, Your Highness. This humble subject was foolish and arrived this late.” 

 

Jeon Bongjin, having revealed his decision, sincerely apologized and bowed his head before the Chief.

 

However, the Chief, Kim Gangdu, quietly nodded as if he had already foreseen everything.

 

“No. I expected you would return like this, as I know your character and spirit well.”

 

“No. This humble subject was foolish and failed to fathom Your Highness’s great intentions. Please give me a chance to make amends. Please leave the task of weeding out the traitors within the mountain stronghold to this humble subject.”

 

At the unexpected proposal, the Chief narrowed his eyes. Then Jeon Bongjin looked back at Dupil without hesitation.

 

Soon, Dupil nodded and dragged the bound man, Jo Byeokho, forward.

 

“Mmph, mmph!”

 

The face struggling with its mouth gagged was familiar.

 

“I brought back the one who secretly set out saying he would run to General Jeon and follow him. Even before I made a move, the General had already captured him.”

 

As Dupil spoke and kicked Jo Byeokho’s calf, he stumbled and knelt before the Chief.

 

The Chief’s expression staring at him stiffened hard.

 

Jeon Bongjin, who was watching the scene, took another step forward.

 

“If you just leave it to me… I will weed out not only this man but all the other traitors remaining in the mountain stronghold.”

 

“Does that mean you have a clever plan?”

 

The Chief’s voice sank low and heavy.

 

In fact, after intentionally letting Jeon Bongjin escape, he was planning to observe the movements of the subordinates through Dupil to single out the traitors.

 

But knowing the possibility that there might be those who would stay disguised until the end, he was constantly pondering.

 

Jeon Bongjin quietly reached his hand inside his clothes.

 

“This humble subject has a secretly obtained list.”

 

“What did you say?!”

 

The Chief’s eyes widened halfway.

 

Jeon Bongjin took out a piece of paper folded very small and carefully handed it to the Chief.

 

On that paper, the names and numbers of the traitors within the mountain stronghold were written in detail.

 

And, above the name ‘Jo Byeokho’ written at the very end, a thick line was drawn.

 

Not only the Chief, but even Dupil beside him opened his eyes wide.

 

“How do you possess this list?”

 

When Dupil asked in surprise, Jeon Bongjin answered calmly.

 

“When I was here, there was someone who approached this humble subject directly. I found out by asking him directly.”

 

He recalled the moment he faced Ji Hakseung that night.

 

“Tell me the number of people joining you and their names. I must at least know who they are… for me to trust you as well.”

 

Ji Hakseung must not have known.

 

That night, Jeon Bongjin’s heart was already leaning.

 

And…

 

The one who led that change was Seolyeong, that child who offered a single flower with a small hand and asked him to protect her dad and uncles.