Free Labor
Sunghwa Island was famous for having the best location among the Eighteen Water Bandit Clans of the Yangtze River.
Suntago, the now-deceased chief of the Gyolyong Bandit Clan, had been notoriously stingy and miserly, but his political maneuvering was nothing short of extraordinary.
By playing the other water bandits against one another, he had managed to monopolize Sunghwa Island for a very long time.
Sunghwa Island was situated in the mid-to-lower reaches of the Yujanggang River.
The island was roughly the size of a decent-sized walled town, making it the largest island in the Yujanggang River.
Naturally, it was a prime stronghold that many other bandit clans had been eyeing greedily.
Sunghwa Island, which boasted a respectable size and fully equipped living facilities, was currently engulfed in crimson flames.
“S-Spare me!”
“Keke! Hey! There goes one! Catch them!”
“Aaaah!”
“That's it! Cry louder, why don't you~!”
Burly water bandits roamed in packs, loading cargo and herds of people onto ships docked at the pier as if they were mere baggage.
Ilyang watched the scene with a cold smile before speaking.
“What are those fellows doing right now?”
“...Judging by the flags, it seems the Yeomwang Bandit Clan and the Hyeolrang Bandit Clan have launched a raid. As you can see, they are plundering the Gyolyong Clan's wealth... and kidnapping our people...”
Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam replied, his lips trembling.
After all, his own family was on that island.
No matter how ruthless a bandit was, family was still precious.
“They move faster than I anticipated.”
“Young Master, please...”
“Do not worry.”
The Yeomwang Bandit Clan and the Hyeolrang Bandit Clan.
These were the very clans that had accepted gold from the chief of the Gyolyong Clan to provide first-rate experts during the raid on the Jinseong Escort Agency.
And now, they were raiding the defenseless Gyolyong Clan?
Without a doubt, they had caught wind of the Gyolyong Clan's current plight.
After all, some of the bandits had sensed something amiss during the previous battle and fled immediately.
The forces that had raided the escort agency numbered well over a thousand.
It would have been impossible to round up every single one of them.
“Since they are behaving like the trash they are, disposing of them will be quite simple. Have the other vessels form a blockade, leaving only the Nata Dragon King to proceed.”
“...I will convey the order.”
Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam rushed over to give the command to the signalman.
The signalman on the deck began waving his flags in tandem with the beating of a drum.
Boom—! Boom-boom—! Boom-boom—!
As the thunderous drumbeats echoed across the water, the remaining ships, excluding the Nata Dragon King, began to fan out widely along the downstream waterways.
Meanwhile, Ilyang leaned his arms on the deck railing and let out a dry chuckle.
I was already wondering how to secure enough labor to construct my Magic Tower.
The seven hundred bandits he had captured earlier were far from enough, so this was a welcome development.
Free labor—and physically robust labor at that—was practically crawling into his lap of its own accord.
Still, the island is larger than I expected.
Ilyang swept his gaze over Sunghwa Island, which was burning in various places.
True to the rumors, the island was so vast that it could not be taken in with a single glance.
Its size is roughly equivalent to a frontier barony back home.
It was perfect.
If it was here...
Though it would require a staggering amount of resources, it was undoubtedly the optimal location to erect a Magic Tower and establish defensive fortifications.
“Shall we increase our speed, Young Master?”
Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam asked, practically vibrating with anxiety.
When the man inquired with a polite expression that contrasted sharply with his rugged, menacing features, Ilyang replied nonchalantly.
“Bring the ship in at maximum speed.”
“Understood!”
The Yeomwang Bandit Clan and the Hyeolrang Bandit Clan.
The raiders easily appeared to outnumber their own forces by threefold, but Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam felt no fear whatsoever.
The reason was simple.
“They are water bandits to begin with. Even if I capture them and work them to the bone, they will have nowhere to go to complain, will they?”
“Hehe, merely sparing their lives would be an act of immense grace, Young Master.”
“Splendid labor indeed.”
Seeing Ilyang's utterly unbothered expression and hearing his casual tone, Ho Sam found himself growing excited rather than afraid.
He eagerly anticipated the fate that was about to befall those fools.
I just hope my family is safe...
The only saving grace for Ho Sam was that when water bandits raided a rival clan, they rarely executed their captives immediately.
Meanwhile, the enemy had long since noticed their approach. The scattered groups of bandits began to gather, wearing expressions of sheer amusement.
“What are those guys?”
“Are they seriously coming in alone?”
“Are they out of their minds?”
They snickered as they watched the Nata Dragon King draw near, but they paid it little mind.
The reason was simple.
The disparity in their numbers was overwhelming.
“Um... Young Master.”
“Yes?”
“The Chiefs of the Hyeolrang and Yeomwang Clans are personally present over there.”
As Ho Sam offered his cautious warning, Ilyang gestured with his chin toward a lavishly decorated tent pitched on one side of the pier.
“I assume that bald fellow sitting in front is one of the chiefs?”
“Yes. The bald one is Gok Su, Chief of the Hyeolrang Bandit Clan. And the obese, middle-aged man in the red robe sitting in the grand armchair opposite him is Seol Bun, Chief of the Yeomwang Bandit Clan.”
Gok Su, the bald chief of the Hyeolrang Clan.
Seol Bun, the fat chief of the Yeomwang Clan.
They were certainly easy to tell apart.
Though Ilyang was not yet aware, the two chiefs had mobilized every single first-rate expert remaining in their respective strongholds for this raid on the Gyolyong Clan.
Three from each clan, including the chiefs themselves.
They had assembled a total of six first-rate experts.
Taking advantage of the Gyolyong Clan's sudden collapse, they intended to absorb the prime territories previously held by the Gyolyong Clan, while simultaneously plundering its treasury to seize as many riches as possible.
With the Gyolyong Clan's chief dead, this was the ultimate opportunity.
To the Yeomwang and Hyeolrang Clans, this situation was nothing short of picking up free money lying on the ground.
In any case, the two bandit chiefs also spotted the Nata Dragon King rapidly closing in.
“Well, those fellows arrived sooner than expected, didn't they?”
“Keke, indeed. And we haven't even decided how to divide the waterways yet.”
The Yeomwang Clan of the upper reaches, and the Hyeolrang Clan of the lower reaches.
They had already reached a tentative agreement to completely swallow up the Gyolyong Clan's territory.
The only problem was that they had spent nearly half the day arguing over the exact boundaries.
Neither side was willing to yield an inch.
“Sigh, I will concede an additional thirty percent of the spoils I claimed this time. In exchange, grant us the territory from here to there. It is merely up to the Pyeong-an-ri stream, is it not?”
“Hoho... What a disappointing proposal. The waterway connecting to Pyeong-an-ri is clearly closer to our Hyeolrang Clan.”
The bald chief of the Hyeolrang Clan, Gok Su, stroked his hairless head and glared as if the suggestion were utterly preposterous.
The fat chief of the Yeomwang Clan, Seol Bun, looked back at him with an expression of sheer disbelief.
“Are you truly going to be like this? Honestly, we arrived here first, did we not?”
“Puhaha! What a hilarious fellow. If we are dividing things by who came first, then as your senior in this region by many years, shouldn't you listen to me? What generation are you anyway?”
Yeomwang Clan Chief Seol Bun stared at Gok Su, who was suddenly pulling rank. His chubby cheeks quivered with rage before he spat a thick glob of phlegm onto the ground.
“*Ptooey!* Damn it, it's because you're so greedy that you went bald, you old bastard.”
“What did you say?”
Bald.
This simple word was the one thing Gok Su loathed hearing more than anything else in the world.
Instantly, the Hyeolrang Chief's eyes narrowed into fierce, predatory slits.
“You... what did you just call me?”
Grind—
Gok Su ground his teeth, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.
Unbothered, Yeomwang Chief Seol Bun gave his protruding belly a light, mocking pat.
“Why? Does calling a bald man bald offend you so?”
“You miserable swine, you must be begging for death!”
“Puhut. Try me, if you think you have what it takes.”
“Fine! Let's see who bleeds today!”
Slam—!
Clang, clang, clang—!
Hyeolrang Clan Chief Gok Su slammed his palm onto the table and stood up, prompting the surrounding bandits to draw their weapons in unison.
The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife.
Yet, the obese man in the red robe, Yeomwang Chief Seol Bun, merely rose from his seat with a leisurely smirk, licking his lips.
“But do you truly have the confidence, baldy?”
“You son of a bitch, still running your mouth?! Today, I will personally rip that pig snout of yours wide open!”
While the two chiefs locked horns in their blatant war of nerves, the Nata Dragon King carrying Ilyang had nearly reached the Sunghwa Island pier.
Yet, the Hyeolrang and Yeomwang Clans still paid absolutely no attention to the vessel's arrival.
Once I get rid of this bastard in front of me, everything is mine!
Both chiefs were harboring the exact same thought.
After all, this was a golden opportunity to expand their respective territories threefold.
From the very beginning, neither had any intention of letting the other leave in peace.
Sssssss—
As the two men, both highly ranked even among first-rate experts, unleashed their full martial aura, their materialized pressures clashed violently in midair, creating a chilling sound like burning air.
Right then,
Creeeeak—
Thud—!
Without encountering any resistance or attacks, the Nata Dragon King docked smoothly at the pier and lowered its gangplank.
From the ship, a slender boy with delicate, handsome features, dressed in a black silk robe, began to stroll down as if taking a leisurely walk in a park.
Following closely behind the black-robed boy were Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam, looking slightly tense, and Gong Jeol-gang.
“The pier is larger than I anticipated.”
“Yes, indeed. The former chief of the Gyolyong Clan invested heavily here to facilitate trade with the local salt merchants. He personally dredged the riverbed sand to construct this pier.”
“Oh? Suntago, was it? He did quite a few useful things before his passing. Had I known, I might have bothered to build him a proper grave.”
As Ilyang smiled with satisfaction, briefly reflecting on Suntago's unwitting contributions to his cause, Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam swallowed hard at the sight of that bright smile and quickly continued his explanation of the island.
“If you look over there, there are fields stretching along the riverbank. The soil here is remarkably fertile, yielding a substantial harvest. It is more than enough for the island to be entirely self-sufficient.”
“That is excellent news. The conditions are far better than I expected.”
“Yes, Sunghwa Island is widely considered the finest stronghold in the entire Yujanggang River. The only drawback is that a major flood occurs every few years, submerging half the island... but we have always accepted that as an unavoidable risk.”
“A river flood is a trivial matter. I can easily remedy that, so you need not worry about it in the future.”
“Oh! That is wonderful to hear. We suffered immense losses every time the waters rose.”
Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam patiently detailed every aspect of Sunghwa Island to Ilyang like a dedicated personal butler.
They paid absolutely no heed to the murderous aura radiating from the surrounding bandits.
Dumbfounded by their nonchalant attitude—as if they had merely come for a scenic tour—the bald chief of the Hyeolrang Clan, Gok Su, finally spoke up with a bewildered expression.
“Look at these absurd bastards.”
“Did they come here to buy real estate?”
Yeomwang Chief Seol Bun also glared at Ilyang, his eyes flashing with lethal intent.
Meanwhile, Ilyang, who had casually strolled right into the middle of the two chiefs' negotiation grounds, seated himself comfortably on a wooden chair and spoke.
“So, you two are the masters of the Yeomwang and Hyeolrang Clans? I had been meaning to pay a visit to our neighbors anyway, so this works out perfectly.”
“Has this crazy brat lost his mind? Hey, Ho Sam! Who the hell is this kid?”
Hyeolrang Chief Gok Su shouted, but Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam did not even spare him a glance.
“Hey, Ho Sam.”
When called once more with gravity, Ho Sam finally turned his head reluctantly.
“Why do you call me, Chief Seol Bun?”
“I asked who this little whelp is! Did that old fossil of a Gyolyong Chief have a secret grandson hidden away somewhere?”
Ho Sam, renowned for his sharp wits and impeccable survival instincts, cast a cautious glance at Ilyang.
He was silently seeking permission to answer on his behalf.
When Ilyang gave a faint nod, Ho Sam cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and stood tall behind Ilyang's chair before speaking with absolute clarity.
“This is our new Chief of the Gyolyong Bandit Clan. He shares no blood relation whatsoever with the former chief.”
“Do you honestly expect us to believe that nonsense? A mere brat is the Chief of the Gyolyong Clan? Are you mocking me right now?”
Ho Sam blinked blankly at Gok Su's furious retort, then casually spat back,
“Do I look like I am in the mood for jests?”
“W-What? 'You'? Did you just address me as 'you'?”
Gok Su's jaw dropped in sheer disbelief.
Back when Suntago was alive, Ghost Cloud Guest Ho Sam was a nobody who wouldn't have dared to even look Gok Su in the eye.
Though Ho Sam was rumored to be an exceptionally skilled navigator among the water bandits, that was the extent of his reputation.
His martial arts were barely at the first-class level, meaning he usually kept his head low and remained as quiet as a dead mouse.
For such a man to look him dead in the eye and speak to him as an equal was beyond absurd—it was downright insulting.
Then, Ho Sam spoke again.
“Show proper respect to our new Chief first. Only then will we extend our courtesy to you.”
“Ha... This bastard has truly lost his mind. Hey, Seol! Did you see that? Even a worm like him dares to look down on me now.”
The fat Yeomwang Chief, Seol Bun, was already clutching his belly, his eyes crinkling with malicious glee.
“Pfft! Puhaha! You miserable bald geezer! What a pathetic sight you are. Keke, how does it feel to reap what you've sown? Isn't it absolutely thrilling?”
“...”
Faced with Seol Bun's blatant mockery, Gok Su slowly stroked his bald head, his lips curling into a strained, menacing grin.
“Grrr... I know our line of work lacks proper hierarchy, but I believe this is crossing the line.”
His pride had been utterly dragged through the mud in front of his subordinates.
His lips trembling with rage, Gok Su scratched his head vigorously.
The moment the man's sleeve fluttered, Ilyang's right arm moved.