The Precious Baby of the Bandit Leader Chapter 79

‘A split is forming from the inside.’ 

 

Most of the people were moved by the child returning during the day, but that didn’t mean everyone sincerely agreed.

 

There were clearly those who harbored resentment in their hearts yet failed to show it on the surface. 

 

‘The reason I said I couldn’t join His Highness was because of this too.’

 

Jeon Bongjin swallowed a faint sigh inwardly.

 

He, too, had once set his heart on joining the Chief, whom he held in high regard and trusted as a comrade to whom he could entrust his back. 

 

However, everything was twisted because of that child.

 

And now, as he had expected, cracks were forming from within. That fact made him feel even more uneasy.

 

‘But… since it has come to this, it can’t be helped.’

 

Jeon Bongjin firmed his resolve.

 

These were the people who had locked him in a cage. 

 

And he had family members in the Yeongnam region whom he absolutely had to protect.

 

That wasn’t all.

 

Before coming here, he had left several family members behind at the base, and they were surely waiting anxiously for his return. 

 

In the end, even if just to escape this place a day sooner.

 

Jeon Bongjin had no choice but to join hands with the traitor in front of him.

 

“Tell me in detail what preparations you are making.”   

 

As Jeon Bongjin lowered his voice and showed a more cooperative attitude, Ji Hakseung smiled slyly.

 

“There are quite a few people in the mountain stronghold who share my will. After you arrived here, General, everyone realized they had been deceived all this time. However, it is beyond our power alone to rescue the General. Therefore… we have decided to borrow outside help.”

 

“Outside?”

 

“Yes. The family members at the General’s home base—the righteous bandits of the Yeongnam region.” 

 

Flash—! 

 

Jeon Bongjin’s eyes instantly turned fierce.

 

He tightly grabbed the wooden pillar. As if he would crush it at any moment, he pressed him with clenched teeth.

 

“What do you intend to do… with my family members.”

 

“Do not worry. We merely sent a messenger to the base.” 

 

Ji Hakseung’s eyes glinted.

 

“We informed them of the location of the mountain stronghold where our ‘Seolhwa’ resides.”

 

“!”

 

Thud. Jeon Bongjin’s hand let go of the pillar.

 

For a band of righteous bandits, the location of their hideout is their very lifeline. To reveal that to an outsider was, in itself, 

 

A token of betrayal. 

 

‘A perfect traitor.’

 

He had already turned his back on the organization. And it was obvious what such a man wanted. 

 

“We sent the message this evening, so the news will reach the Yeongnam region within half a month.”

 

“And then?”

 

“The problem is the difference in power. The fortress personnel are far more numerous than the General thinks. Even if the bandits swarm here while the General is absent….” 

 

“I know. It is not easy to handle His Highness’s skills.”

 

Jeon Bongjin also knew well.

 

This was the place Kim Gangdu, that is, the Chief, was most familiar with.

 

From his personal skill to his military strength. 

 

There was almost no one in the entire country who could handle him.

 

Even if his family members came, the result was obvious.

 

Defeat. And annihilation.

 

“Therefore, I would like to make one proposal.”

 

Ji Hakseung carefully continued his words.

 

“We can still catch up and turn the message back right now. So, how about we do it like this.”

 

As Jeon Bongjin glared at him with fierce eyes, Ji Hakseung slowly unraveled his words as if to humor him.

 

“First, through the General’s subordinate, we will inform the Prime Minister of the location of the Seolhwa’s mountain stronghold. And… right before they attack this place, we will release the General.”

 

The calculation was to escape while the Prime Minister was dealing with Kim Gangdu.

 

If that happened, Jeon Bongjin’s side could escape without any damage.

 

“However, I ask for one promise. Please accept us at the General’s base. If you do, we will gladly cooperate.”

 

“Accept you?”

 

Jeon Bongjin’s face hardened.

 

It was exactly as he expected.

 

Those who harbored resentment towards Kim Gangdu but lacked the power to face him head-on intended to move their mountain stronghold.

 

“What is it that you want… by coming to our organization?”

 

At the question piercing the core, Ji Hakseung shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

 

“Isn’t that obvious. Revenge against the current King and His Excellency the Prime Minister. That is my entire goal. However, we cannot join forces with the Chief who protects the current King’s daughter.”

 

In other words, it meant plotting treason separately with Jeon Bongjin.

 

At his blatant remarks, Jeon Bongjin let out a hollow laugh, ‘Hah.’

 

“What makes you think I would become the leader of a rebellion?” 

 

“Wasn’t the very fact that the General came all the way here already an indication of your intent?”

 

Ji Hakseung smiled affably with an expression mixed with flattery and continued.

 

“As a side note… this evening, my subordinate followed the General’s subordinate who left for Yeongnam. Soon… we will also know the location of the General’s home base. Of course, I don’t mean to offend the General. We have to survive, too.” 

 

A threat that if he didn’t cooperate, they would hand over the location of his base to the Prime Minister.

 

Ji Hakseung smiled slyly and asked.

 

“What will you do, General. Will you accept us?”

 

Jeon Bongjin clenched his fist tightly.

 

He… practically had no choice.

 

After a short silence.

 

As Jeon Bongjin flicked his hand, Ji Hakseung bowed his head and brought his mouth close to his ear.

 

And, whispered again.

 

Their conversation ended there.

 

Rustle—

 

Meanwhile, a man who had been secretly eavesdropping on all of this.

 

Keeping his body low, he quickly ran towards Gaon’s barracks!

 

* * *

 

“He says he could not hear the final conversation.” 

 

This was up to the message delivered by Gaon, who had attached a person expecting Ji Hakseung to do something suspicious.

 

Hearing the story, Du-pil spoke with a voice mixed with a sigh. 

 

“Then that means… the location of our mountain stronghold has already been exposed to Jeon Bongjin’s subordinate at his base.”

 

Because Ji Hak-seung had moved using only a single trusted confidant, it was practically impossible to stop him in advance. 

 

“Do not worry. It is rather a good thing.”

 

Amidst the heavy atmosphere, the Chief suddenly cut off the flow with a low voice.

 

“It is a… good thing, Chief?”

 

When Dupil asked with an expression of not understanding, the Chief calmly opened his mouth.

 

“I expected that a traitor would inevitably emerge one day. However, this incident has given us the chance to root them out. If we can clear out those with shallow loyalty before we undertake the great task, it is for the better.” 

 

“As expected of the Chief. You had already predicted it.”

 

“Yes. In this mountain stronghold, there are definitely still those who find Yeong’s existence unpleasant. The problem is… that we cannot know who among them will actually betray us.”

 

Although six years had passed now.

 

The Chief hadn’t been able to forget the memory of losing Pilsuk, whom he had cherished so much.

 

“I trust you.”

 

He had believed she wouldn’t harm Yeong.

 

However, the result was… betrayal.

 

The Chief eventually had no choice but to send Pilsuk out of the mountain stronghold.

 

That incident left an unhealable wound on the Chief for a long time.

 

And he realized.

 

In the face of problems involving the current King.

 

That he could not completely trust anyone within the organization.

 

Those who pretend to cherish Yeongie on the outside, but heaven knows what they might do on the inside. 

 

Those who couldn’t erase their anger towards that child simply because she was the current King’s daughter.

 

‘And understandably so… since Yeong is the daughter of the one who ruined their lives. Just looking at her would stimulate deep-seated emotions.’

 

That anger could eventually even shake their loyalty to him.

 

However, the problem was that the criteria for a traitor were ambiguous.

 

Someone might remonstrate out of worry for Yeong, and someone might outwardly comply while inwardly sharpening their knife.

 

He had to distinguish that difference.

 

That was what he had to do as a leader.

 

The Chief established a criterion like that.

 

‘Departure.’ 

 

“Those who leave this place themselves, or try to inflict harm on our organization. They are the true traitors. The reason to uncover them has become clear.”

 

The Chief looked back at the two and continued his words.

 

“And… if the location of the mountain stronghold has been leaked, we must also eliminate that root of trouble. For these two reasons—”

 

The Chief spoke slowly with a resolute expression.

 

“We must let Jeon Bongjin go.”