To Catch the King
In the current era, wizards lined up knights in the vanguard while they comfortably raised their staffs from the rear. It was common practice to chant long incantations, complete a magic circle, and sweep away enemies in a single instant.
But in the ancient past, wizards naturally had to be skilled in close-quarters combat to deal with monsters and demons rushing at them from all directions.
Otherwise, they would die.
Archmage Trevalier.
He was a specialist who could blow away even high-ranking knights with his bare hands in such chaotic brawls.
Because he had spent most of his long years of magical training alone, he often had no choice but to face hordes of enemies single-handedly, without any assistance.
Bandits closing in to plunge their daggers, archers raining arrows from afar, and occasionally, monsters attacking from beneath the earth or high in the sky.
To survive such complex, chaotic battles, Trevalier had to be prepared for every conceivable situation.
His magic, forged literally in the wild, served as an incredibly powerful foundation when he later transcended his limits.
Fighting on a river, like the situation he faced now, was also something Trevalier had plenty of experience with.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom!
For some time now, urgent drumbeats had been echoing continuously from the central flagship flying the flag of the Jinseong Express Agency.
"Water bandits four hundred jang ahead—nearly a kilometer!"
"That flag... it's the Eighteen Water Bandit Strongholds! Specifically, the Flood Dragon Stronghold!"
"Their fleet consists of five galleons! And... and over twelve wedge boats!"
"They're swarming from the l-left too! Three galleons! That flag... that's the Yama Stronghold!"
"They've appeared on the right as well! Three galleons on this side too! It's the Blood Wolf Stronghold!"
Shouts erupted from all directions alongside the furious thrumming of drums.
The experienced sailors aboard the galleons scrambled to adjust the rigging, desperately trying to steer the vessels, but it was futile.
In the middle of the vast Yujanggang River, which stretched as wide as an ocean, this place was nothing short of a playground for the water bandits.
There was simply no escaping them once they set their sights on a target here.
"By simple math, we are outnumbered more than two to one!"
"They're too close to flee! They must have hidden their ships behind a nearby uninhabited island before ambushing us!"
"Agency Head, your orders!"
Jin Yu-seong, the head of the Jinseong Express Agency known as the Gentleman's Sword, had not left the vicinity of the crucial iron carriage since the escort mission began.
His three grown sons had been handling all other matters.
But faced with a crisis of this magnitude, he, as the representative of the agency, had to step up and make the call.
"How did they know to appear at this exact time and place? Not on dry land, but in the middle of this vast river."
"That is..."
As dismay flickered across everyone's faces, the agency head called out to the middle-aged man beside him.
"Manager Seo."
"Yes, Agency Head."
"What do you make of this situation?"
"...I fear there is a traitor within our ranks on this escort."
Manager Seo bowed his head with a grim expression. Jin Yu-seong nodded, his brow furrowing slightly, and turned to address a man standing by the deck railing with an expressionless face.
"Indeed, it makes no sense otherwise. What do you think, Great Hero Namgung Min?"
"My thoughts align with yours, Agency Head."
Namgung Min, the client of this escort and the Heaven-Shattering Sword, showed no change in expression even as the water bandits swarmed like ants.
Now that the moment had arrived, he simply felt a sense of resignation—what was bound to happen had finally happened.
Observing Namgung Min's calm demeanor, Jin Yu-seong let out a silent sigh of relief.
If the Namgung Clan is truly uninvolved in this leak, then perhaps the enemy's forces aren't as overwhelming as they seem.
Here in Myeongju, at least, no large-scale troop movement could escape the eyes of the great Namgung Clan.
Even if there were, he believed it wouldn't be happening right now.
Though the river bandits have appeared from three directions, most of them are mere small fry.
In a clash of this scale, what ultimately mattered was the number of peak masters.
Fortunately, the number of peak masters Jinseong Express Agency had mobilized for this escort was a whopping ten.
A force of this caliber was overwhelming enough to annihilate a decent mid-sized sect in an instant. He had to utilize the concentration and dispersion of force wisely.
The only variable... is that we are on water, not land. If we lose, there is no retreating.
As that thought crossed his mind, the Gentleman's Sword's gaze sharpened.
Seeing them swarm like this, they certainly wouldn't turn back for a few polite words or a meager toll. A swift decision was required.
"We will divide the forces on the flagship as quickly as possible. Except for myself and the First Pavilion Master, all masters will transfer to the other galleons."
They had established a contingency plan before setting sail.
"Third Pavilion Master, take the designated masters and move to the right galleon. Second Pavilion Master, verify your list and move with your masters. Heaven-Shattering Sword, please accompany the Second Pavilion Master to the left galleon."
"Understood."
As everyone busily prepared to transfer, Jin Yu-seong's eldest son—the First Pavilion Master, and the only one of the three brothers to have crossed the threshold into the peak realm—spoke up cautiously.
"What shall we do with the vagabonds we hired?"
To the First Pavilion Master's question, Jin Yu-seong, standing on the deck and directing with cold efficiency, replied calmly.
"They will face the Flood Dragon Stronghold in the vanguard. Their role is to buy us enough time to subjugate the Yama and Blood Wolf Strongholds on either side."
"...Understood."
Everyone on the flagship knew that the Flood Dragon bandits approaching from the front were the largest and most notorious. Without a doubt, they were the core of this ambush.
Yet, no one objected to the strategy of placing the galleon carrying the vagabonds at the very front. After all, that was exactly what they had been hired for.
"While they draw their attention and buy us time, we will swiftly break both of the enemy's wings as planned."
The plan from the very beginning had been simple: if an ambush or battle occurred, throw the vagabonds into the most perilous position, preserve the agency's core forces as much as possible, and quickly carve out a breakthrough.
The vagabonds will likely all die. So what? That was their job. There was no need to feel guilty.
Although the exact strength of the Flood Dragon Stronghold was unknown, they would have at least three peak masters. After all, they had six known peak masters in their ranks. While it was unlikely they had deployed all of them, in the worst-case scenario...
They might have brought all six.
If the attackers knew exactly what the cargo was, it wouldn't be surprising if they had mobilized their entire force. And if all six had indeed come?
Even throwing the vagabonds as bait might not be enough to keep us safe.
If the Flood Dragon Stronghold had gone all out, it meant the Yama and Blood Wolf Strongholds had likely deployed a significant number of peak masters as well. Jin Yu-seong shook his head to dispel the worst-case scenarios cropping up in his mind.
Regardless, I must make the best choice available right now.
Jin Yu-seong's sole hope was that even if the vagabonds were wiped out, they would hold back the Flood Dragon Stronghold for as long as possible.
If only they can hold out until we clear the Yama Stronghold on the left.
Combat on the water was different from combat on land. No matter how overwhelming the Flood Dragon Stronghold's forces were, the vagabonds could still cling on like rabid dogs.
Please, just hold out...
Praying silently, the agency head maintained a stoic expression as he dispatched an escort warrior to the lead galleon carrying the vagabonds. The final order was delivered.
"Are—are they out of their minds?"
"They want our single ship to block six of the Flood Dragon Stronghold's vessels?"
"And never mind the galleons! What about those small boats over there?"
Upon receiving the agency head's final order, the vagabonds leaped to their feet, shouting in outrage. Even if they understood the gravity of the situation, this was a blatant death sentence.
Senior Escort Warrior Jang Guk-du, who had transferred to their galleon, tried to remain calm despite his pale complexion. "This is merely a demand to fulfill the original contract as agreed upon when you accepted the subcontract."
"But this is going too far! Look at the sheer difference in numbers! And you're on this ship too, so if we go down, you're dying right alongside us!"
Yang Cheon-jo brandished his spear, pacing the deck in a frenzy. Jang Guk-du averted his gaze and replied grimly, "There is no other way. It is the Agency Head's command. We must obey."
"What kind of bullshit is..."
Senior Escort Warrior Jo Chang, who had been stationed with the vagabonds on this ship all along, offered a bitter smile to the furious men. "I am truly sorry. But I will be fighting alongside you here, so please understand."
"Anyone can see we're being used as sacrificial pawns! Am I right?"
As Yang Cheon-jo's hand trembled violently against his spear, the middle-aged vagabond carrying a broadsword—the Cruel Blade Jang Geoi (Song Gwang-sik)—who had been listening quietly, stepped forward. He asked in a low, heavy voice:
"How long do we have to hold out against these bandits to survive?"
"Uh... well..."
Jang Guk-du hesitated. Honestly, he had no idea if reinforcements would arrive in time, but he couldn't bring himself to say that.
"...You will likely need to hold out for at least one double-hour."
"What? A double-hour? Stop talking nonsense! We won't even last the time it takes to eat a meal!"
"If there are even one or two peak masters over there, we'll be slaughtered in an instant. Do you realize that?"
"...It is the Agency Head's command. The time has come to honor your contract."
Jang Guk-du repeated the same words like a parrot. It was clear confirmation that there was no other way out. The vagabonds' faces contorted in despair.
Except for Ilyang, all the bronze-plaque vagabonds here were first-class masters. (Jang Geoi—or rather, Song Gwang-sik—was a peak master, but he was hiding his true strength.)
A first-class master was formidable enough to avoid being pushed around anywhere and could carry themselves with pride. But before a peak master, they were nothing more than ordinary men. How could they hope to withstand even a single strike from a peak master?
As despair slowly crept over everyone's faces, So Il-hyeon slunk over to Ilyang, who had been leaning quietly against the bow railing, staring ahead with a furrowed brow.
"What is our Little Divine Dragon thinking? You do realize we're all about to die at this rate, right?"
"Well, surely it won't come to that."
At Ilyang's flat, nonchalant tone, Yang Cheon-jo, who had been practically vibrating with anxiety, practically shrieked.
"Aigoo, Father! Do you still not get it? Those bastards don't take hostages! If they catch us, they'll just slaughter us! They won't show mercy like we did!"
Thwack!
"I believe I told you not to speak casually to your father."
"Aargh! You crazy bastard! Are we really playing house at a time like this? We are literally going to die!"
Ilyang turned to look at the panicking Yang Cheon-jo, his eyes cold and sharp. Yang Cheon-jo snapped out of his hysteria instantly, hunching his shoulders and retreating to a corner. The conditioning of his past lessons had kicked in.
Meanwhile, Ilyang turned his gaze to Jang Guk-du. "According to the written order the Agency Head sent earlier, it states that if we block the Flood Dragon Stronghold in the front, our commission will be considered complete. Is that correct?"
"Yes. I even brought the stamped confirmation here. As the final directive of your subcontract, you only need to deal with the Flood Dragon Stronghold."
"Which means we do not have to involve ourselves with the Yama Stronghold and the Blood Wolf Stronghold on either flank?"
He wants to deal with the Yama and Blood Wolf Strongholds too in this situation? Is he insane? Jang Guk-du stared at him in disbelief for a moment before nodding. "We don't have the luxury to do so anyway... and the Agency Head doesn't expect it of you at all."
At Jang Guk-du's confirmation, Ilyang nodded with a faint smile. "Excellent. Then this is worth a try."
"...Do you have a plan?"
His interlocutor was a child who looked barely ten years old. As if mimicking an adult, he wore high-quality black silk robes and kept his hair tied neatly with a black jade hairpin. Yet, such adornments could not entirely mask his youthful face and small stature.
But...
Jang Guk-du thought seriously as he looked at Ilyang's noble features. He had already seen enough of Ilyang's capabilities during the escort. He had disciplined the Blood Wind Spear, Yang Cheon-jo—one of the most prominent figures among first-class masters—as if he were beating a stray dog. Because of this, no one here doubted his strength.
In the Jianghu, strength is king, after all.
Just as Jang Guk-du reached that conclusion, the expectant gazes of everyone on the galleon converged on Ilyang. It was the hope that this genius boy might actually pull off a miracle.
Sweeping his gaze over their desperate faces, Ilyang spoke briefly. "Do you know the phrase To catch bandits, first capture their king?"
"Ah, Father's showing off his vocabulary again. That stuff is too hard for me!"
As Yang Cheon-jo grumbled from the corner, his fierce eyes twitching, Ilyang beckoned with a finger. "Come here now, and I will limit it to a single strike."
"Ah, haha... you heard that all the way over there, Father?"
"Come here."
When Ilyang straightened up from the railing as if to actually grab him, Yang Cheon-jo gasped and made a show of scrambling toward the cabin.
Meanwhile, the Cruel Blade Jang Geoi (Song Gwang-sik), who had tacitly assumed the leadership of the vagabonds, asked, "Is that truly possible? You will only get one shot."
"It is highly probable."
Jang Geoi stared at Ilyang with a solemn expression. For some inexplicable reason, he still couldn't gauge the boy's exact martial realm. Even if the boy were a sorcerer, he should have been able to read his internal energy.
I still can't read him at all.
Perhaps—just perhaps—this mysterious boy was a master on par with the elders of the Namgung Clan.
No, that's impossible.
Still, he was a monster with the mental fortitude to control ten Blood Jiangshi. In a situation like this, betting on him was their only option.
"What do you need us to do?"
At Jang Geoi's question, Ilyang rolled up his loose sleeves, securing them tightly around his forearms, and smiled. "Just draw the enemy's attention. Make as much noise as possible."
"Oh! I'm an expert at that! Leave it to me, Father!"
As Yang Cheon-jo crept out of the corner and began twirling his spear like a flag, Ilyang sighed and muttered softly, "Please throw that one into the most dangerous spot possible."
"Mmh, that is an easy request. I was planning to do so anyway."
With their discussion concluded, the vagabonds watched the massive galleons of the Flood Dragon Stronghold closing in, rallying their shattered fighting spirit as best as they could.