The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 112

At that moment, a chilling aura lingered, where a subtly suppressed murderous intent was even radiating.

 

“Chief! The Vice Captain is here!”

 

Dupil rushed into the tent and shouted. The Captain was the first to react, springing up from his seat.

 

“Let him in.”

 

The chief answered briefly, and the Vice Captain soon entered the tent.

 

He first greeted the captain with the utmost courtesy, then carefully bowed his head toward Kim Gangdu and Jeon Bongjin.

 

“Did you see anything?”

 

At the chief’s question, the Vice Captain raised his head and spoke.

 

“It seems His Excellency the Prime Minister heard the location of the stronghold from Ji Hakseung. But upon seeing the stronghold empty, he seemed to believe they were discovered because that man was careless. He seems to be planning to torture or… kill Ji Hakseung soon.”

 

“As expected… he acted without knowing much about the Prime Minister.”

 

The chief closed his eyes and spoke like a sigh.

 

I looked up at the chief.

 

‘He looks a bit… bitter.’

 

Even though things had turned out this way, Ji Hakseung was a man who had been with the mountain fortress for a long time and had saved the lives of countless people. 

 

I carefully placed my hand on the back of the chief’s hand. Then, the chief warmly grasped my hand without a word.

 

Even without words, his heart was conveyed to me.

 

His heart, which had worried about me so much, and still regarded me with such deep affection. 

 

‘I’m so glad… I was able to return.’

 

When I thought of the stronghold that had now disappeared, a corner of my heart felt empty, but there was something even more important than that.

 

And that was. 

 

‘That where my family is, is my home.’ 

 

Just as I was feeling the warmth transmitted from the chief’s hand with that thought.

 

“More importantly, Captain. We must gather the pirates near the sea and escape immediately. His Excellency the Prime Minister ordered all pirates to be rounded up!”

 

“What?”

 

As the Captain narrowed his eyes, the Vice Captain explained the whole story.

 

“Yes, I heard what His Excellency the Prime Minister said. He believes everything went wrong because of the pirates’ interference. The naval forces might have already mobilized by now.”

 

A heavy silence flowed for a moment.

 

However, the Captain soon placed his hands on his hips as if it was nothing.

 

“Do not worry. Pirates are not so easily defeated.”

 

“But…!”

 

“Yes. Of course, there are those with weak combat power. So, it is time to protect them and form an alliance.”

 

At the Captain’s resolute words, the Vice Captain nodded.

 

This time, the Captain turned his head, looked at the chief, and spoke.

 

“Therefore, I propose right here. The land and the sea joining hands. A true alliance to fight against the injustice of the Prime Minister and the royal family!”

 

“Does that mean… you intend to raise an army centered around Seolhwa?”

 

“Exactly! The so-called Sea-Mountain Alliance!”

 

“It’s the Sea-Mountain Alliance! Uoooh!”

 

As if moved by his father reading his mind, Damho, who was next to him, excitedly shouted along.

 

‘They really are spitting images of father and son.’

 

How could they resemble each other so much? Watching the delightful father and son, a smile crept onto my lips without my realizing it.

 

‘Of course, since I’m not his biological daughter, I won’t look like that with the chief… but since our hearts are a real family… it’s fine!’

 

Squeeze. Just as I was about to become slightly sullen from useless thoughts, the Captain spoke seriously.

 

“As long as you agree, we pirates will cooperate based on trust. We can write an agreement if you want.”

 

Gaon, who was next to him, stepped forward.

 

“Chief, the Captain is the one who saved Yeong from drowning. And he is a benefactor who has helped us until now. There is no doubt he is a trustworthy person.”

 

“…”

 

The Chief spared his words for a moment and made an unfathomable expression.

 

In fact, it was welcome news for him. Because he knew Captain Kang’s true identity.

 

The Captain’s name was Kang Chunsin.

 

Since he seemed to want to hide his identity, he had never said it out loud.

 

He was a legendary military official who commanded the naval forces in the past, that is, before the war where Kim Gangdu was pushed as a hero even broke out.

 

So what kind of person he was had already been proven.

 

The chief looked at the captain silently, and finally rose from his seat.

 

“Very well. I accept your proposal with gratitude. And….” 

 

He looked at the captain, Jeon Bongjin, and Damho one by one and said.

 

“Thank you, all three of you, for protecting my daughter.” 

 

“Haha! It’s fine~ It’s fine! I didn’t do much, this guy did it all~!”

 

“Oh my, what did I even do! Rather, it’s an honor for me to have come this far! Father!”

 

Damho put both hands on his belly button and smiled brightly unlike his young age, answering eloquently.

 

Seeing that, I burst into laughter again.

 

The three people with different areas of expertise looked back at each other in such a heartwarming atmosphere.

 

I watched them warmly, then suddenly jumped up from my seat, raised both hands high, and shouted!

 

“Now we are truly one!” 

 

On this day, the two largest righteous bandit factions and the pirates formed an alliance.

 

It was a historic day that might become the most important first step in changing the world.

 

* * *

 

“As expected… His Majesty came all the way here himself. Then again, I did stay too long this time.”

 

At dawn, before the sun even rose.

 

Park Dohyul, who had returned to his residence, was secretly conversing with a man.

 

“I think I should return to the capital soon. And you did very well in showing your wits with the letter.”

 

Swoosh. At Park Dohyul’s words, the man lifted his head.

 

Under the flickering red candlelight, the man’s face was revealed.

 

“Captain Lee Seohoo.”

 

It was the Prime Minister’s left arm, Lee Seohoo.

 

“Those you disposed of at the ferry dock battle… will all be handled as having died in battle, so do not worry.” 

 

Lee Seohoo bowed his head deeply with an expressionless face. It was a brief movement, but the sincerity within it was clear.

 

Park Dohyul smiled softly at the sight.

 

“If you hadn’t been on my side, many things might have gone wrong by now.”

 

He hadn’t helped with just a few things.

 

It was always Lee Seohoo who secretly passed on the location of the tavern where Yeong was staying, who took care of things so the Prime Minister’s subordinates wouldn’t follow, and who played a decisive role at every dangerous moment.

 

Because the Prime Minister didn’t trust Park Dohyul in the slightest, even though he was his son, after the incident where he protected Yeong in the past.

 

In fact, it was difficult to obtain core information without Lee Seohoo.

 

Park Dohyul suddenly recalled the time he first met him.

 

‘Around the time I started organizing my own secret private army… he approached me first, swore loyalty, and said he would join me.’

 

It was also thanks to Lee Seohoo’s help that he was able to recruit Seo Taeho, who was now his right arm, from the slums.

 

“I still don’t understand. Why you, who were so loyal to my father, ended up helping me and Seolyeong.”

 

“Why on earth are you helping me?”

 

Park Dohyul had asked for the reason several times until now. But he had never given an answer.

 

So he expected there wouldn’t be an answer this time either.

 

“…Is that child’s name… Seolyeong?”

 

For the first time, Lee Seohoo showed a reaction. Park Dohyul was a bit surprised and looked at him with wide eyes.

 

For some reason… a gentle warmth had seeped into the eyes that had always seemed cold and chilly.

 

“It suits her well.”

 

“…Do you know Seolyeong?”

 

At Park Dohyul’s question, Lee Seohoo remained silent for a moment as if choosing his words, then answered.

 

“Since the moment that child was first born into this world…”

 

His voice suddenly trailed off.

 

He seemed to recall a very nostalgic past, then quietly added.

 

“I have been watching over her.”