Episode 152 No. 471 Correspondence Table (2)
The man standing in the way was clearly a Nokrimdo. In other words, he was a bandit.
And as if to prove his guess right, other green forest trees emerged from the grass one by one and joined him.
Also, judging from the presence and gazes from all directions, it was clear that they had been camped here for some time.
“… … .”
The group’s tense gaze was focused on the heads.
In this performance, there were three Pyo-du-level officials, including Ko Hyeon-woo, and among them, Kang Pyo-du was practically the person in charge.
Although he lost to Ko Hyun-woo in the non-competition, he is incomparable in terms of experience as he has been eating Pyo-guk rice the longest.
“Follow me.”
Kang Pyo-du stepped forward, bringing several of his followers with him.
Their appearance as they trudged towards the opposing camp even seemed careless at first glance.
Then, a middle-aged man with a messy beard from the other side came out to greet them.
Compared to other Nokrimdos, he was more aggressive, and he was the owner of Nokrimchae located on this hill.
“Kang Pyo-du, it’s been a while.”
“Have you been doing well?”
“We’re always the same. Isn’t it better when nothing happens?”
Chae-ju was whining, saying that if something bad happens to Nokrim-do, it’s either death or injury.
The group of Ronin thugs were on edge, not knowing when a battle would break out, but when they saw the two people talking to each other as if they were old acquaintances, their spirits suddenly slackened.
The rat asked.
“Is that it? They send it off after collecting the toll.”
“I guess so.”
“I’ve heard of it, but this is my first time seeing it in person.”
The relationship between the sign and the green forest.
It’s not like the train goes down the same road more than once or twice, and it’s not like it comes across green spaces or waterways more than once or twice.
They may have fought each other when they first met, but continuing to bleed is detrimental to both sides.
Therefore, it became customary to pay a reasonable toll to pass through.
Just like the briefcase that Kang Pyo-du is handing over now.
Chae-ju asked while accepting the gift.
“But today there seem to be fewer signs than usual. There are too many signs… … .”
“I’m moving something that’s that important.”
“It’s an important item… … . Is it time to make a killing?”
Chae-ju asked playfully.
Even though I am a green hermit who has to constantly collect tolls, if the wagons contain enough wealth to live off of without having to commit robbery my entire life,
The balance that has been maintained so well up to now may collapse.
However, Kang Pyo-du’s reaction was calm.
“There is no rule that says that important things are always expensive.”
“Haha, that’s true too. We wouldn’t be willing to gamble against numbers like that either.”
From Chaeju’s perspective, this parade will feel threatening because the number of escorts is twice as many as usual, and each of their skills seem formidable.
I don’t know if I can win, and even if I do, the damage will be huge.
Still, if the prize is worth it, I’ll risk my life for it, but as Kang Pyo-du said, it may not be of much use in terms of money.
In that case, it is better to maintain friendly relations and collect tolls.
The slightly heavier weight of the forearm than usual may have also contributed to that decision.
Chae-ju asked, pointing over her shoulder with her chin.
“Are you planning to cross that hill today too?”
“If you’re going to do it, it’s probably better to take a familiar route.”
“… … If it were me, I would think about it again.”
Kang Pyo-du asked, as his tone, which had been friendly throughout, suddenly became serious.
“Why is that so?”
“I haven’t heard from Geoungchae in a while. The men I sent on errands haven’t come back either.”
Geoungchae refers to a mountain vegetable that is located on the mountain pass next to the Pyohaeng Pass.
Since they were like neighbors, there was frequent contact between the two mountains, so when news suddenly stopped, it meant that something ‘bad’ had happened on the other side.
Kang Pyo-du gave an example with a serious attitude.
“Thank you for letting me know. I will consider it carefully and decide on my next steps.”
“Okay then. You guys, let’s go!”
Chaeju led the Nokrimdos and left the place like an ebb tide.
Instead of starting the parade right away, Kang Pyo-du called the other Pyo-du together.
Cho Pyo-du, who has a slightly shorter career than Kang Pyo-du, and our Ko Hyeon-woo. Ko Pyo-du.
Mr. Kang summarized the situation briefly.
“—If something like this happens at Geoungchae, there is a very high possibility that something will go wrong while crossing the next pass.”
“But don’t we have much of a choice?”
It was Joe Pyo-du who said this.
He continued.
“We need to deliver the goods as soon as possible, and we don’t have time to take a detour.”
“Hmm… … . But shouldn’t safety come first?”
Do you push through at the risk of failure, or do you play it safe even if you miss the deadline?
A situation where Kang Pyo-du and Jo Pyo-du have conflicting opinions.
At that moment, Go Hyun-woo, who had been listening quietly, opened his mouth.
“Is it okay if I give my opinion?”
“Tell me.”
“If this is the goal of those occupying Geoungchae, they will not let us go even if we have to take a long detour.”
“What I’m saying is that one way or another, a battle is unavoidable.”
“Yes.”
Of course, Go Hyun-woo only said what was written in the strategy book.
Even if you turn around and go back, the result will be the same, and it will take a lot of time to clear the dungeon.
Therefore, I instructed that you give strength to Cho Pyo-du’s opinion.
But even setting aside these unspeakable circumstances, it was a very reasonable opinion.
Jo Pyo-du added a word to the silent Kang Pyo-du.
“Weren’t these ronin recruited with this situation in mind from the beginning? Our forces are by no means weak.”
“… … Hmm.”
“Also, as you can see from Chaeju’s reaction, she won’t bother you unless it’s really serious. Even if she does, I’m sure you’ll be able to handle it.”
“… … I see. Let’s attack from the front.”
Kang Pyo-du nodded.
The parade that had stopped soon started moving again.
I looked at the carriages and thought.
‘Of course, that’s only half true.’
The reason the enemies do not provoke trouble is because they assume that they do not know exactly what the target is.
If the carriages were full of gold and silver treasures and Chaeju had known about it, the Nokrimdo would have also risked their lives to attack.
Likewise, they know exactly what’s inside me.
And I will not hesitate to die to get it back.
* * *
The parade continued on, and for a while there was peace and quiet even as they crossed the second hill.
But when he was halfway over the hill, Go Hyun-woo slowly looked around and spoke softly as if talking to himself.
“I don’t have a good feeling. I think it would be best to be cautious from here on out.”
“… … !”
Go Hyun-woo is one of the most skilled players in this group.
As he warned, others also took out their weapons and began to prepare for battle.
Sure enough, a moment later, several men in black stood in front, blocking the path.
If the people I met at the last pass looked like a green forest at first glance, these people looked suspicious at first glance.
They were all wearing black uniforms with a red flag, making them even more suspicious.
Also, the feeling of presence and gazes from all directions is almost the same as the hill we passed.
The difference is that in addition to the presence and gaze, there is also a murderous aura that makes your skin sting.
Kang Pyo-du looked at the faces of the men in black and hardened his face.
“… … Those who don’t know.”
For Kang Pyo-du, who had passed this intersection countless times, if this was his first meeting, the situation would have taken a turn for the worse in an instant.
You have to negotiate from the beginning, and in most cases like this, negotiations end in failure.
But you never know what’s going on with people until you talk to them.
As Kang Pyo-du nodded to the people around him, Ko Hyeon-woo and several temporary guards followed him as if they were escorting him.
Kang Pyo-du approached the opposing camp, then stopped at a considerable distance and asked a question.
“Hello. I understand that this area is Geoungchae’s territory.”
“I’ll give you a new one.”
The man in black, who appeared to be a general, answered in an emotionless tone.
As expected, something very ‘special’ happened at Geoungchae.
Kang Pyo-du handed over the envelope with a glimmer of hope, even though he already knew the answer he would get.
“That’s right. This is a small gesture of goodwill from our country to the new owner. I ask that you take good care of me in the future, and please step aside for now.”
The man in black accepted the briefcase and nodded without even checking it properly.
“Well done. Now, put down the carriage and get out.”
“… … .”
“Then you will be able to save your life.”
Kang Pyo-du wasn’t at all flustered.
I had already expected this to happen, and it wasn’t the first or second time I’d experienced this while eating Pyo-guk rice.
He answered in a calm tone.
“It doesn’t seem like they’ll spare me even if I leave the carriage and step back.”
If the only goal was to get the prize, there would be no reason to openly reveal one’s will to live like this.
From the beginning, they blocked the march with the intention of killing everyone and silencing them.
“… … .”
The man in black was silent for a moment, then suddenly closed the distance at a terrifying speed.
And then, as if a faint flash of light were flying in,
– Thud—!
It was blocked an inch in front of Kang Pyo-du’s face.
He had been holding a thick sword in his hand for some time.
He is considered to be a top-tier player, so he has some skills.
The next moment, Go Hyun-woo strode forward and swung his sword, but the man in black quickly dodged it, retreated, and sat down in his original position.
It seemed like he had completely avoided it, but the bodies of several black-clad men next to him collapsed instead.
This is because Go Hyun-woo aimed for them and fired his sword in the first place.
“… … !”
Yet, judging by the fact that they didn’t even let out a small scream as they fell, it was clear how harshly they had been trained.
The man in black spoke without even glancing at them.
“Hit it.”
– Ss …
The men in black who had been lying in wait on all sides began to reveal themselves one by one and tighten the encirclement.
Perhaps because of the unique technique, a sound like a snake slithering across the floor echoed throughout the room.
Watching their movements, Jwidol and Eokul said a few words each.
“Kim A-woo, wake up.”
“If you just blankly stare like before, your head will fly off.”
“Yes, brothers.”
And then, naturally, my older brothers took their places on either side of me to protect me.
– Ss …
The distance between the black-clad men and the demons who were moving in unison gradually decreased.
“Kwaaak!”
“bloke!”
“Dead!”
– Chae Chae Chae!
The room was filled with screams, shouts, and the sound of clashing weapons.
