The True Identity of the Elk Bandit Leader
Finally, after completing every last preparation, the Kether Mercenary Group office officially opened its doors. Though it was still a small outfit, we popped a bottle of champagne in front of the entire crew, confident that one day it would grow into something formidable.
Our first client was, naturally, the Lion Heart Unit. I visited their headquarters, signed a formal contract with Adelia, and agreed to receive a base salary plus performance bonuses for each bandit subjugation until the purge of Nobern’s outlaws was complete.
“It’s finally beginning. I look forward to working with you.”
“Hmph. Don’t get complacent just because we’ve signed a contract. We’re simply using you.”
Adelia’s arrogance remained firmly in place. Her ever-compatible adjutant Sinclair was no different.
“Keep Lady Adelia’s words in mind. You and we are not equals; the hierarchy is clear. In other words, the Kether Mercenary Group is merely a subcontractor. Heh heh heh.”
Well, since we were the ones being hired, the description wasn’t wrong, so I saw no reason to argue. After exchanging the paperwork, I promptly handed Adelia every piece of information I had on a man named Watnek.
Watnek was the corrupt loan shark I had glimpsed during my one and only attendance at a bandit leaders’ meeting. He was also the bastard who had hired the assassin sisters Edda and Rita to kill Adelia.
“Investigate Watnek and everyone connected to him thoroughly!”
The Lion Heart Unit immediately launched a full probe. It turned out he was a moneylender who controlled a criminal syndicate operating inside the city. Once Adelia received solid evidence of his crimes, the Kether Mercenary Group joined forces with the Lion Heart Unit and wiped out Watnek’s entire organization in a single decisive strike.
“Did you hear? Last night, Watnek’s whole crew got absolutely demolished.”
“By who?”
“The Lion Heart Unit and some group called the Kether Mercenary Group.”
“I know the Lion Hearts, but what the hell is the Kether Mercenary Group? Never heard of them.”
“You don’t know? That new mercenary outfit that just set up in the back alley over there.”
After the Kether Mercenary Group and the Lion Heart Unit completed their first official joint operation, our name slowly began to circulate among the citizens. Who exactly were these suddenly appeared Kether mercenaries? What made them worthy of working alongside the Lion Heart Unit? And who was their leader, Kang Hyun-woo—his age, his background, his birthplace? Interest in all of it surged.
Moreover, once we officially opened, visitors finally started coming to the previously quiet Kether office. Some mercenaries peeked in to see if we were recruiting. Neighborhood residents dropped by to chat idly with Kelly over tea before leaving. Most of all, once word spread that we were working with the Lion Heart Unit, merchants swarmed like hyenas drawn by the scent of money.
Suppliers from every field—weapons, armor, bedrolls, boots, combat uniforms, bags, tents—offered to sponsor equipment. Merchants promised daily deliveries of snacks, fruit, and sweets if we signed exclusive contracts. Even neighborhood women offered to handle all our laundry if we hired them.
I turned every single one of them down. We had only just started; the sudden flood of people was dizzying. More importantly, I knew full well that our current popularity came entirely from riding the Lion Heart Unit’s coattails. We hadn’t earned any of it through our own strength yet. Accepting favors or rushing into contracts now would only create unnecessary complications.
The attention we were receiving was almost entirely thanks to the Lion Heart Unit’s halo. The merchants and nobles offering sponsorship were clearly speculating, betting on the Lion Hearts rather than on us. Accepting their goodwill under those conditions would have been dangerous. So I refused them all.
I wanted to form contracts only with people who were genuinely drawn to the Kether Mercenary Group itself. And to meet those kinds of people, we simply had to work harder and prove ourselves. Still, there was no denying that the sudden wave of interest after crushing Watnek’s organization had boosted morale for both me and the crew, making everyone throw themselves into the job with greater passion.
During a meeting with Adelia at Lion Heart headquarters, I laid out my blueprint for sweeping the bandit groups.
“As far as I know, there are currently six bandit groups active in the Nobern territory. Each leader also has their own alias.”
Bandit Groups Active in Nobern Territory
1. Bison, the Wild Wolf of Nobern
2. Kevin the Human Skin
3. Rapilwood of the Two Shadows
4. Hergabudel, the Serpent’s Head
5. Barnelli the Widow Spider
6. Gerduk the Ruffian
“These are the men I met when I attended the leaders’ meeting before. The largest faction belongs to Bison and his Wild Wolves. We’ll leave him for last. The first group we’ll crush is Gerduk the Ruffian. He commands the weakest band among the six, and the path to his mountain stronghold isn’t particularly treacherous. I estimate we can wipe them out in half a day.”
The information on each group was compiled from documents I had seized from the eighth squad’s barracks after the Elk Bandits were destroyed.
Sinclair, who was attending the meeting with us, carefully read through the papers I had distributed beforehand, then looked up.
“Instead of defeating them one by one, why not raid the location on the day of the next leaders’ meeting? We could capture every single bandit chief without expending any effort.”
I shook my head.
“I went back to the meeting site from two days ago. Everything—furniture, supplies, the works—was completely gone. The building was empty. After losing both Chen and the Elk Bandits, they must have gotten scared and moved the location. Or they might have stopped holding meetings altogether.”
“If the leaders’ meeting is still happening, is there truly no way to discover the new site?” Adelia asked, tapping her fingers on the conference table.
I shook my head again and spread both hands.
“Only the chiefs knew the schedule and location, and they’re all dead now. There’s no way to find out. If even a remnant of the Elk Bandits had survived it might be different, but since the entire group has vanished, learning where the next meeting will be held is nearly impossible.”
“If only that Orleans bastard hadn’t interfered, this would have been so much simpler. Even in death he’s nothing but a nuisance.” Adelia frowned slightly and clicked her tongue.
She really must have despised him. Watching her curse the dead man, I smiled faintly. Since the topic of the Elk Bandit Leader had come up, a question I had been holding back suddenly rose to my lips.
Maybe Adelia knew the woman’s true identity?
The reason I thought so was because of something Orleans had said during our fight.
“How does a mere bandit like you possess mana? Are you one of Lady Olivia’s subordinates?”
And when the bandit leader had suddenly called out to Orleans mid-battle, he had responded as if they were already acquainted.
“Hey, Sir Orleans.”
Orleans, in turn, had spoken as though he knew exactly who she was. The most conclusive evidence, however, came from what Unia had told me.
“That woman didn’t seem like a bandit from the start. When the soldiers stormed in, every last one of them addressed her as ‘Captain Olivia’ and treated her with the utmost respect.”
From that I could easily deduce that the bandit leader’s name was Olivia, and the way the soldiers had called her “Captain” suggested she might be a knight.
All right. I made up my mind to satisfy my curiosity and opened my mouth toward Adelia.
“Adelia. Do you happen to know someone named Olivia?”
The moment the words left my lips, Adelia’s previously relaxed expression froze solid.
“How do you know that name…?”
It wasn’t surprise on her face. It was fear. Her eyes stabbed into me with a gaze so icy the entire strategy room seemed to freeze over.
“How do you know the name of that cursed bitch?”
Judging by Adelia’s cold expression and harsh tone, I had clearly touched on something I shouldn’t have. I glanced at Sinclair. She was staring at me with an equally grave look.
“How do you know her? Explain yourself immediately.”
Why are they reacting like this? Why so sensitive?
Both of them were looking at me as if I were a spy. I kept a poker face and answered calmly.
“I heard it from Orleans. Right before he died, he said, ‘So there was an Olivia hiding inside this bandit group!’”
“Is that true?”
“You’re certain?”
Only then did both women finally show genuine shock. A moment ago they had looked ready to devour me alive; now they dropped their guard completely. It was almost comical. Just who was this Olivia that they would react so strongly…?
“What was that woman doing there?”
Adelia pressed me relentlessly about Olivia’s activities inside the bandit group. I answered vaguely, saying I hadn’t been particularly close to her and didn’t know much. Then I cautiously asked about her true identity.
Sinclair answered with a serious expression.
“Olivia is the daughter of Marquis Espera—the political rival of Lady Adelia’s father, Marquis Gregory.”
“A marquis’s daughter?”
I was genuinely surprised. I had suspected she was nobility, but I hadn’t expected her status to be quite so high.