****
The doors of the Zhu Hai Escort Agency, which were always flung wide open, were now firmly shut.
In the heavy, somber atmosphere, the agency's top leaders hurried into the meeting room one after another.
Bang Seo Hong, the agency leader guarding the room with bloodshot eyes, lightly rapped the table to silence the rowdy mood.
"Their demands just arrived."
"How much are those bastards asking for—no, more importantly, who the hell did this?"
Chief Escort Bang Chuk demanded in an angry voice.
Bang Chuk, Bang Seo Hong's younger brother, was nearing sixty but still active in the field. His fiery temperament matched his exceptional skills, making him quite famous in escort circles.
"Gold Tiger Stronghold."
"Gold Tiger Stronghold? They got smashed to pieces not long ago. I heard they were left in ruins."
Bang Chuk asked with a baffled expression.
"Seems the stronghold leader who was away has returned. He's planning to rebuild the ruined mountain base."
"Hah! That guy's completely insane!"
"What's there to say? See for yourself."
Bang Seo Hong handed over a crumpled letter, creased and refolded so many times it was covered in wrinkles.
Bang Chuk snatched it and scanned it quickly, his face changing colors several times.
"These goddamn sons of bitches! Not a small sum, but this much money!"
The already wrinkled letter was torn to shreds in Bang Chuk's hands as he failed to contain his rage.
"How much did they demand to get you this worked up?"
Unlike Bang Chuk, Bang Gon—already retired and enjoying his later years—glanced at the scattered scraps and asked.
Bang Seo Hong answered in Bang Chuk's stead, who was still seething.
"One hundred gold nyang."
The meeting room froze in an instant.
"Hah! That's just telling us to drop dead."
Bang Gon let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
The Zhu Hai Escort Agency didn't even make thirty gold nyang a month. After expenses, pure profit was far less. One hundred gold nyang was a fortune that would take years to earn.
"But we can't just ignore it. The cargo they took is one thing, but our captured men's lives are at stake."
Bang Seo Hong's face had darkened from the stress.
"How many prisoners?"
Vice Agency Leader Bang Il Sam, seated across from him, responded to Bang Gon's question.
"Two escorts, thirteen guards, and twenty porters, Uncle."
"That's a sizable caravan. The cargo's value must be considerable too."
"Yes. It was consigned from the Water Dragon Merchant Association's sub-branch in Soheung."
"Water Dragon Merchant Association? Don't they have their own Water Dragon Escort Agency? Why us...?"
Bang Gon looked shocked.
"Their operations have expanded lately. It's beyond what Water Dragon Escort can handle alone. They've been doing business with us for a while now."
"I see. No wonder they dare demand that much. It's Water Dragon's cargo."
"It's troubling. Honestly, one hundred gold nyang is more than we can bear."
"We have no choice. Worst case, we lose the cargo, but we must save our men."
Bang Il Sam inwardly sighed at Bang Seo Hong's firm stance.
They could scrape together one hundred gold nyang by exhausting every resource. But how long they'd struggle with debt afterward was anyone's guess.
"Brother's right. Cargo can be compensated somehow, but lives can't be brought back. If we abandon the men who served Zhu Hai Escort, who would work with us in the future? Losing people means losing everything. We have to save them. As long as they survive, we can always make a comeback."
Everyone in the room nodded vigorously in agreement with Bang Gon.
"Why are you so quiet?"
Bang Seo Hong asked Bang Chuk. The hot-headed one who seemed ready to charge ahead first was unexpectedly silent.
"Do we really have to negotiate?"
Bang Chuk growled.
"What do you mean?"
"Negotiations have their limits. This is just surrendering everything with a white flag."
"Our men are in their hands, so we have no choice..."
"Let's rescue them."
"You mean attack them?"
Bang Seo Hong asked, startled.
"Hmph! Why not?"
"No. Think about how furious Gold Tiger Stronghold Leader No Geuk must be after seeing his ruined base. We could endanger everyone. Even if we succeed, who knows how many we'd lose in the process."
"Saving our men is obvious. But Brother, think about it. If we let bandits walk all over us like this, how can we run an escort agency? This world preys on the weak. Even if we take some losses, we have to show we're not pushovers."
"But..."
Bang Seo Hong tried to counter but couldn't find the words.
He knew from years of experience leading the agency that Bang Chuk wasn't entirely wrong.
After a moment of silence, Bang Seo Hong polled the room.
"What do you all think of the Chief Escort's idea?"
The leaders exchanged glances before speaking up all at once.
Various opinions flew, but the most supported was to negotiate while watching for a chance to rescue the prisoners. Considering Gold Tiger Stronghold Leader No Geuk—one of the top bandits—they'd seek aid from nearby martial clans or families. If no help came, they'd scrap the rescue.
Bang Chuk insisted he could handle it alone, but his view was rejected.
<><><>
No Geuk had returned to Gold Tiger Stronghold exactly ten days prior.
When contact cut off and he sent men to check, his rage and sense of loss were indescribable.
Yet he couldn't return immediately. The situation around the vacant leader of the Eighteen Bandit Strongholds had escalated rapidly.
No Geuk supported Five Dragon Stronghold— a prime contender for leadership—while aiming to elevate Gold Tiger Stronghold among the Eighteen.
His plans crumbled when his base burned. Now it was a matter of survival.
With everything lost, No Geuk knelt before Five Dragon Stronghold Leader Neung Cheong Kang, offering himself as a subordinate. He played a key role in Neung Cheong Kang's rise to bandit overlord.
Recognized for his merits, No Geuk secured a protector position and, with permission, briefly returned to Gold Tiger Stronghold. Though razed, he wanted to uncover what happened and who was responsible for bloody revenge.
Back at Gold Tiger Stronghold, No Geuk immediately dispatched men to investigate.
Many survivors from the fall had been captured but released, making clues easier to find than expected.
The problem: even they didn't know their saviors. The only info was two men attacked, one huge with a foul face.
"Hoo!"
No Geuk sighed.
Sitting in a shabby shelter—a few pillars, patched roof of crude thatch and woven reeds—his figure looked utterly pathetic.
"Stronghold Leader."
He turned at the cautious call, having stared at the ashen ruins.
"Found them?"
"I'm sorry. We're searching desperately, but no leads."
Guard Captain Kwak Jeung-san bowed shamefacedly.
"Damn it! Time's running out..."
Counting days, No Geuk realized Neung Cheong Kang's deadline was days away and bit his lip.
"Zhu Hai Escort? Delivered properly?"
"Yes. Confirmation received."
"Hmph! They must be scrambling like their feet are on fire by now."
No Geuk sneered, eyeing a box nearby.
Last night, from One Star Merchant Group—hit before Zhu Hai—he'd gotten goods and ransoms from captured merchants. Not matching his Zhu Hai demand, but satisfying enough.
Bandits, escorts, and merchants had a symbiotic relationship of sorts.
They clashed roughly but avoided total ruin, keeping lines. But now, with Gold Tiger Stronghold fallen and Five Dragon Stronghold dominant, such bonds meant nothing. One big score, then leave.
"Don't wait—send eyes and ears every two hours. Keep the pressure on so they can't think straight."
No Geuk said with a cold smile.
The tactic first used on Flame Flower Escort Agency.
They folded without resistance, paying full.
One Star Merchant Group too, and now Zhu Hai. With days left at the stronghold, dragging it out gained nothing.
'Worst case, they might send a rescue team. No big deal anyway.'
No Geuk knew Zhu Hai might not comply meekly.
No negotiation, or secret rescue—he considered both.
No worry. His guards alone might struggle, but they weren't alone here.
No Geuk's gaze turned to the former entrance.
Just then, a bearded man led three elders and over twenty men through the collapsed gate.
No Geuk rose slowly.
He'd earned protector status through submission, but couldn't sit for Neung Cheong Kang's eldest son and new chief patrol of the bandits.
<><><>
"...That's the situation so far. Please trust our agency and wait a little. We'll bring everyone back safely."
Vice Agency Leader Bang Il Sam bowed politely to the gathered families informed of the disaster.
Families gripped by anxiety and fear over losing loved ones bombarded him with questions.
Bang Il Sam repeated vague assurances of doing his utmost, as carefully as possible.
Resentment built in their faces and attitudes, but none raised voices. Fear of harming rescues or future ties kept them in check.
"Are you pursuing other options? Like sending a rescue team."
Sima Ho, who'd listened grimly, finally spoke up.
Bang Il Sam's brow furrowed slightly at the question.
With Gold Tiger spies possibly lurking, he couldn't detail plans. After a troubled pause, he replied slowly.
"That could be an option, but first, we're prioritizing negotiations to resolve this."
Bang Il Sam thought his concise answer fine, but suspicion flickered in his eyes.
"May I ask who you are?"
Doubt laced Bang Il Sam's gaze and tone.