The meal took place in a rather natural atmosphere. No, that's how it looked on the surface. However, Ilryong, Imwoe, and Sambong couldn't tell if the dumplings and noodles were going into their noses or their mouths.
Were they swallowing the food, or was the food swallowing them? Watching them force down their meal, Seolhwa brought up the main topic.
"You're all part of the Red Dragon Squad, aren't you?"
Even though it was a simple question, the three men's bodies trembled noticeably.
"Yes, yeees."
Ilryong replied, bowing his head.
"Which squad?"
"The 16th squad."
"The 16th squad..."
Seolhwa examined the energy of the three men. Although they were a bit foolish, their martial strength was quite decent. Except for Sambong, Ilryong and Imwoe were at the first-rate level.
They were comparable to the members of the Red Dragon 11th Squad. 'The fact that they're in the 16th squad... Is it to avoid drawing attention?'
While the standard of the Red Dragon Squad is high, the identities of these former bandits must not be revealed. So they were placed somewhere in the middle.
Which meant.
'So it's true they were allowed to join even though they knew they were bandits.'
"The 16th squad must be full of guys like you, right?"
"Yes...? Guys like us, you mean...?"
"Bandits. You guys."
"...!"
"Bandits who have infiltrated Namgung. Shamelessly running rampant and collecting a salary from Namgung, is that like stealing from Namgung?"
At Seolhwa's words, the three men's faces turned pale. The three of them were living as Namgung warriors, but they had no pride or sense of belonging as a Namgung person. The three still thought of themselves as bandits, and believed they were stealing money from the foolish Namgung.
However.
"How did you know..."
"H-how could that be?"
Sambong cut off Ilryong and shouted.
'This fool...!'
Thinking it and actually admitting it are two different things! Sambong hastily added.
"W-we are not bandits anymore. We don't even remember when we washed our hands of it. Now that we are warriors of Namgung, we live only for Namgung...!"
"Living for Namgung, I see. Then you won't do that kind of work at all anymore?"
"Yes, yes. Of course! It's been a long time since we became new men. Right, big brother? Yes?"
Sambong shot a look at Ilryong, who was tilting his head, not grasping the situation.
"Huh? Uh, well. Yes. That's right. That's about it."
Fortunately, Ilryong wasn't completely clueless. Relieved, he looked at Seolhwa, but she sighed as if disappointed.
"Really? I had something I wanted you to do."
"... Yes? Something... to do?"
"I need someone investigated."
"Khaha! Investigating is our specialty...! Keuk! Ouch, you bastard! Why'd you step on my foot!"
It was Sambong who had stepped on Ilryong's foot to stop him from talking. Seolhwa looked at Sambong. Sambong laughed awkwardly and swallowed dryly.
'Identity'.
He had realized something while being part of Namgung. Those with the Namgung name were crazy about their 'identity' as Namgung. So, one wrong word and you're dead.
If it was discovered that they had no pride in Namgung, they would die.
"Ryeong."
Seeing Sambong, who still hadn't let down his guard, Seolhwa called for Ryeong. The three men were astonished.
'Since when...?'
Who knew when he had appeared, but a warrior in a black robe stood behind the child. When the child held out her hand to the warrior, the warrior took a heavy coin pouch from his bosom and carefully placed it in her hand. The child tossed the coin pouch onto the table.
A glittering yellow light could be seen through the slightly open gap.
'G-gold...!'
Sambong quickly raised his head and looked at Seolhwa.
"Does this make you feel a little more willing?"
"... What is it that you want from us...?"
It seemed they were finally willing to talk. Seolhwa smiled brightly again and rested her chin on her hand.
"Your despicableness. Your craftiness, and your cunning?"
"... Yes?"
What did that mean?
"Are you telling us to quit being Namgung warriors...?"
"No. You have to remain in Namgung. Didn't I tell you before? The reason I'm letting you live is because even scum like you are, 'for now,' part of Namgung."
"Then..."
"If you want to live, then continue living as Namgung warriors. And from that position, do what I tell you. In return, if you do what I ask well, I'll give you double the salary you receive."
"...!"
The three men's eyes widened. The salary of a Namgung warrior is not small. It's ten times what a common laborer earns.
That was the reason the three men, despite feeling stifled in Namgung, couldn't leave. 'She'll give us double? Is this for real?'
Seolhwa pushed the pouch of gold towards the three men.
"How about it, tempting, isn't it?"
The three men swallowed hard, staring at the yellow light visible through the gap in the pouch. After all, the only choices they had were death or money. Their lives were in this child's hands, so she wouldn't leave them be if they didn't listen, would she?
"W-we'll do it."
"We're confident in one thing, and that's being despicable!"
Finally, Imwoe nodded.
"Whose background should we investigate?"
But their rootless loyalty was immediately shaken by the words that followed.
"The Unit Leaders. Find out the weaknesses of the Namgung Outer Hall's martial division Unit Leaders."
"Th-the weaknesses of the Unit Leaders...?"
She wants us to mess with Namgung? Is she serious...? Even if it's the Outer Hall... it's still Namgung?
"It will be hard to find out about Namgung's internal affairs, so don't bother with that. Find out the secret deeds they commit outside Namgung's walls. Among them, you might find the reason why you were able to enter Namgung as warriors."
For mere bandits to become Namgung warriors, one of the martial unit leaders must have pulled some strings. Seolhwa tapped the coin pouch on the table.
"If you do a proper job, I'll give you double this amount. It'll be a year's worth of your salary."
"...!"
"Heok..."
The three men's jaws dropped. A year's salary. That was an amount of money they couldn't have saved even after decades of banditry.
But.
"... N-no, we can't." "You can't?"
"Th-this is...! It's too dangerous! No matter what, isn't it Namgung! We'll lose our heads over this!"
No matter how much money, they couldn't risk their lives.
"If we get caught by Namgung, we'll really die. Namgung isn't stupid, do you think they wouldn't notice scum like us digging into their affairs? We can't make an enemy of Namgung..."
Sambong's expression was filled with a desperate plea to be spared.
Seolhwa nodded. Right.
It could be burdensome and frightening to make an enemy of Namgung.
She understood.
"Ryeong."
Ryeong stepped out from behind Seolhwa and slightly lifted the robe he was wearing. On the part he lifted, the crest symbolizing Namgung's Black Dragon Unit was clearly displayed. To the three men who recognized the crest and were stunned, Ryeong sent a mental transmission. —This person is of Namgung's direct line.
Show your respect. Ilryong, Imwoe, and Sambong stared at Seolhwa with eyes so wide with shock they looked like they would stop breathing. Their heads were trembling.
"N-no way... Young L..."
"Shh."
Seolhwa raised a finger to her lips. The corners of her mouth curved into a gentle arc.
"Feel like working now?"
The three men, who had been staring at her blankly, hurriedly nodded. If someone from the direct line of Namgung was ordering it, how could they be afraid of Namgung?
"The deadline is two days."
"Two days is too shor...!"
"Three times."
"We will do our best!"
"Keep this in mind. I don't care what methods you use. Any method. I don't care how much money it costs, so dig up every last speck of dust."
The three men exchanged glances. Whatever it takes. No matter the cost.
The three of them knew very well what that meant. The three men soon let out meaningful smiles.
"Yes. We will keep it in mind."
On the way back to the family estate. Ryeong kept glancing at Seolhwa, who was crunching on Candied Fruit Skewers. When about half of the Candied Fruit Skewers was left, Seolhwa stopped walking and offered it to Ryeong.
"Want some?"
"No, it is alright."
"Really? You kept looking, so I thought you wanted some."
"Ah..."
Seolhwa crunched on one of the candied fruits.
"It's fine. Say it."
Ryeong scratched his cheek.
"It's just that I found it a little strange, is all."
"What is?"
"The way the Young Lady handled those men just now, and your appearance... it was a little... unfamiliar..."
"Because my actions seemed like someone from the Unorthodox faction?"
Ryeong was startled. Even though he had spoken indirectly, the Young Lady had, as expected, seen right through to his meaning.
"... Honestly, it was unexpected. If it were anyone else, they probably would have tried to capture those men rather than use them. They would have caught them and punished them for every single crime they committed as bandits."
"But I used them, and even persuaded them with money. Is that what was unexpected?"
"Yes."
It would be more accurate to say that it wasn't like a young lady of Namgung. Putting the bandits aside, in that situation earlier, the person who seemed more like someone from the Unorthodox faction was the Young Lady. Chewing and swallowing the last piece of the candied fruit, Seolhwa tossed the stick aside and looked at Ryeong.
"Didn't I tell you? Before I came to Namgung, I was at a tavern."
"... Yes."
"It wasn't an ordinary tavern. It was one of the Unorthodox faction forces pretending to be a tavern."
"Is that so."
"And I was the young master of that faction."
Ryeong's eyes widened in surprise. Because of the rumor that she was raised as a young entertainer, voices of contempt for Seolhwa were rising within the family. A mere rumor about her serving drinks caused such a stir, but she was part of the Unorthodox faction?
And its young master at that?
"Are you disappointed?"
There is no such thing as a clean and honest Unorthodox faction. If there were, they wouldn't have been called the Unorthodox faction in the first place.
The fact that she was the young master of such a Unorthodox faction was a past that was hard to accept for a Namgung person, who lived with the pride of being a warrior of the orthodox Martial World. Ryeong, who had been silent for a moment, finally opened his mouth.