"Boss, something big has happened!"
"I'm watching."
"What on earth is this…?"
Gorio stood on the rooftop, arms crossed, overlooking the streets of the Imperial Capital.
An enraged crowd was denouncing the atrocities committed by the people of Yoheim, demanding their capture.
They claimed that an agent sent from Yoheim had attempted to poison the Emperor.
"Could it be true?"
"Even if Yoheim has lost its mind, would they really go after the Emperor?"
"I thought the same, but judging by how the people have risen up, it seems something did happen."
"Those gathered down there are probably thinking the same thing as you."
"Sorry?"
"For things to escalate this much, the poisoning attempt must be real."
"Uh…"
"When the voices are loud, they gain credibility."
The subordinate scratched his head awkwardly.
"Boss, are they really going to capture and kill the people of Yoheim?"
"It's entirely possible."
Gorio was the boss of a violent gang that made its money through gambling and loan-sharking. That's why he had seen the true nature of people up close more than anyone else.
It wasn't difficult to lead someone into corruption.
All it took was a crowd.
What divides when shared is not sorrow, but guilt.
"With a crowd that size, it wouldn't be surprising if something happened."
"What should we do? Should we just stay put and monitor the situation? It's not directly related to us, but I'm still concerned…"
"Wait."
Gorio closed his eyes and fell into thought.
Lately, he had noticed the number of things he had to consider had increased.
In the past, it was all about money. If it was profitable or not—that was all he had to calculate to make decisions.
But now, there were many more factors to consider.
It all changed when he met the third prince of Briol.
"No helping it, I guess."
Gorio opened his eyes again with a bitter smile.
Even as night fell, the frenzy of the crowd showed no signs of calming and spread throughout the Imperial Capital.
Yet the city guards did not move.
That meant the imperial court was allowing this to happen.
So the events that would follow were obvious.
Gorio muttered,
"Surely, they didn't send me here knowing this would happen…"
"Sorry?"
"No, nothing."
He turned around and began walking toward the exit below.
"I'm going to meet with the Imperial Capital Bandit Crew."
The meaning behind those words was clear.
The subordinate bowed his head respectfully to his boss.
"Yes, boss!"
If the Gorio group represented thugs from Briol, the Imperial Capital Bandit Crew was an organization formed by thugs who had crossed over from Yoheim.
Now that Gorio was going to meet them, it meant he intended to support the people of Yoheim.
"As expected of you, boss. Hehehe…"
"Don't get the wrong idea. If Yoheim falls like this, it's obvious who's next. I'm just moving first."
"Y-Yes, of course, you're absolutely right."
"Their boss isn't a fool either, so he's probably already moving."
***
The members of the Imperial Capital Bandit Crew were moving frantically.
"Huff, huff…"
Chaos had suddenly erupted in the Imperial Capital. People from Yoheim were now under threat.
At times like this, it was up to the organization to step in.
That was because they played the role of problem-solvers for the Yoheim community settled in the capital.
Solving the problems of Yoheim people in trouble and receiving protection fees in return was part of their job.
If they backed off now, they would never be able to walk with pride again.
"Is this really going to explode into something serious? Won't it just fizzle out?"
"Who knows. Anyway, the boss told us to hurry, so we're doing it. When has he ever been wrong?"
"He said he could beat Gorio in a fight, but he lost."
"Not that one."
"Other than that, never."
The Imperial Capital Bandit Crew was gathering Yoheim people scattered throughout the city and evacuating them to secret locations.
But the situation was becoming increasingly difficult. The enraged crowd continued to grow.
"There are too many people over there. It's going to be hard to get them out."
"They're just civilians. We should be able to do it, right?"
"Whether they're civilians or gang members, if we're outnumbered, we're screwed."
A crowd had gathered in front of a restaurant run by a chef from Yoheim.
Shouting loudly in front of the locked doors, the mob looked ready to set the place on fire if no one came out.
"When I give the signal, just run for it. They're waiting at the back door."
"It looks dangerous…"
"People keep coming. We don't have time to hesitate."
"Damn it…"
It was then.
While hiding in the alley and observing the situation, members of the Imperial Capital Bandit Crew suddenly noticed a group of shadows approaching them.
"Uh…"
Everyone froze.
If you lived in the back alleys of the Imperial Capital, there was no way you didn't know that man—Gorio, leading his crew, was approaching.
"Those bastards…!"
The Gorio group was the gang of those Briol punks who had recently taken control of the Imperial Capital's underworld.
Even in full force, they were hard to beat. In this emergency, if they were attacked, there was no chance of winning.
Enemy or not, to storm in while they were saving lives? What trash.
No wonder people said their collection rate was high for loan sharks—even without credit checks.
"Damn it…"
"That bastard's got no heart…"
Members of the Imperial Capital Bandit Crew clenched their fists and prepared for a fight.
"Shit, this is…"
"We need to move fast…"
"This is insane…"
Meanwhile, Gorio kept walking steadily toward them.
"Where's your boss?"
He asked while pulling on his signature black leather gloves. Rumor had it that if you wiped them with a wet cloth, dried blood would smear red onto the surface.
"W-We don't know. You piece of shit."
"Oh?"
"You cowardly bastard."
"Can you take responsibility for those words?"
"There's nothing to take responsibility for. Come at me if you want, you bastard!"
"Who said anything about fighting?"
"What?"
"Do we look like we came to fight?"
"W-Well, obviously, yeah?"
"What are you talking about…"
Gorio glanced back. His gang members twisted their already scary faces into sneers and smirks.
Even Gorio flinched for a moment before correcting himself.
"I suppose we do look like that."
"..."
"But we didn't come to fight."
"Then what?"
"Do you want us to clear out those people?"
"What?"
"We're not planning to stay long, so get them out quickly and run. Then we'll disperse too."
Only then did the members of the Imperial Capital Bandit Crew realize.
Gorio had come to help them.
"W-Why on earth would you…?"
To that question, Gorio, usually expressionless, faintly lifted the corner of his mouth. It was rare for him to smile.
He turned around and spoke.
"That restaurant… the owner makes damn good food."
And Gorio started walking toward the crowd without hesitation.
Even when he fought, he never rushed. Instead, his crew shouted and charged forward all at once.
The members of the Imperial Capital Bandit Crew now understood why Gorio was called the Night King of the Imperial Capital.
"Damn… that's badass…"
"Let's move, quick!"
"Yeah."
"Charge!"
Thus, the Gorio group and the Imperial Capital Bandit Crew spent the night running to rescue the besieged people of Yoheim.
At first, it was just the two groups, but later, the Seagull Crew from Bursen and the Light and Salt Crew from Liberda, along with countless small and mid-sized groups, joined in.
"How are there so many gangs in the Imperial Capital?"
"Well, it is where people from all over the continent gather…"
But they couldn't save everyone. Some Yoheim people were dragged out and beaten, and there were even deaths.
The city guards expressed deep concern about the current situation, but that was all.
The madness, whose origin was unknown, spread rapidly.
Not only the Imperial Capital but the entire Empire was seething with hatred toward Yoheim.
In the midst of it all, a certain piece of news arrived.
The Empire's 5th Knight Order, which had been on standby in secret, was now marching past Yoheim's borders, heading toward the royal capital.
The disparity between the two nations was obvious.
People believed Yoheim wouldn't be able to hold out for long.
Now, Yoheim's fate was like a candle in the wind.
***
The Empire's 5th Knight Order reached the dense forest surrounding Yoheim's royal capital.
"We need to earn merit before Sir Graham and Yalta arrive."
Separated from the main force, they had been tasked with utilizing their mobility to launch a surprise assault on the royal capital.
If the operation succeeded, they could bring down Yoheim with little to no sacrifice.
"The Yoheim bastards are weak anyway, so it's fine."
"Once we kill a few, they'll settle down."
"Why not just capture the king while we're at it?"
The atmosphere was optimistic.
Yoheim's national power was but a speck compared to the Empire. There was also a clear gap in the quality and size of their armies.
More than anything, they were one of the elite knight orders of the Empire.
They were confident that they could break through, even if Yoheim had several times their number.
"Those Yoheim guys don't even know how to swing a sword properly."
"Just charge in. That's all it takes."
The knights laughed as they spoke.
There was some truth to their words.
But they had forgotten something. War isn't always about pure brute force clashing head-on.
Especially not in mountain warfare.
"All right, everyone, move in."
Under the command of the 5th Knight Order's commander, the knights stepped into the forest.
At that moment, a faint sound echoed.
Fweeeeeee—
The 5th Knight Order spotted an arrow soaring high into the sky.
It ascended at a steep angle, leaving behind a sharp cry like a bird's screech.
It was the whistling arrow, the first arrow that signaled the start of battle.
Knights who had never seen such a tool before stood still, unsure of how to respond.
"What's that?"
"It's making a sound."
"There must be forces inside."
Either way, it meant the enemy was in the forest.
The entire knight order drew their swords.
Few of them felt nervous. They all thought it was just a matter of playing tag in the woods, hunting down the enemy and cutting them down.
Then it happened.
Someone collapsed.
"Huh?"
All eyes turned. An arrow was lodged through the open gap in a helmet. The sudden attack left everyone frozen.
But that wasn't the end.
"Everyone, be careful!"
"Be on alert!"
Another knight was struck down by an arrow.
In the blink of an eye, two knights were dead. Everyone quickly assumed defensive stances and began scanning their surroundings.
"What the hell? Arrows?"
"There was no sign of anything…"
"Damn it…"
The 5th Knight Order's commander shouted,
"Everyone, be on alert! Watch out for arrows!"
"Yes, sir!"
The sky was blanketed with leaves, casting a shadow over the entire forest, making it impossible to spot the enemy.
Though startled by the ambush, the 5th Knight Order's commander still underestimated the enemy.
He gave his orders.
"Fine, we'll sweep the area. Form groups of three and scour the forest. Kill anything on sight."
"Yes, sir!"
At his words, the knights quickly formed groups and spread into the forest.
The commander, who remained at the rear, collected the bodies of the two fallen knights. One had been hit in the eye, the other in the neck.
Knights of this caliber almost never fell to arrows. And yet, silent arrows had snuffed out their lives.
Too precise to be chalked up to chance.
A bad feeling crept up his spine.
"Commander, is something wrong?"
"No."
He forced himself to shake off the unease and looked up.
It was still daylight.
Though it was a forest, visibility wasn't severely limited. He decided to place his trust in the knight order's strength.
The commander of the 5th Knight Order called over his adjutant.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
"These are the ones who tried to poison His Majesty. The Yoheim bastards deserve no mercy."
And with that, he stepped deeper into the forest.
The tall undergrowth obscured his vision, while thick leaves rustled in the wind, interrupting his hearing.
Tree roots tangled along the ground kept snagging at his feet.
Progress was difficult.
"They really live in a godforsaken place…"
The 5th Knight Order's commander grumbled, swinging his sword irritably. The brush blocking his path was cut away in large chunks.
At that moment, an arrow flew toward him.
He instinctively swung his sword and deflected it.
It had some mana infused in it, but not at a particularly high level.
The issue was that it came without a hint of presence.
It felt as if an invisible sword had been swung.
"Damn it…"
If attacks like this kept coming, even skilled knights would be at risk.
He shouted,
"Watch for arrows! They make no sound! Stay alert in all directions!"
His voice echoed through the forest.
Replies came from here and there. Feeling slightly reassured, the commander resumed walking forward with his adjutant.
The adjutant said,
"Commander, I think I saw something over there earlier."
"What?"
It was in the direction the previous arrow had come from.
The commander nodded.
"Let's go."
"Yes, sir!"
The two of them picked up the pace and started running.
Suddenly, the ground felt like it was giving way.
"S-Stop!"
The 5th Knight Order's commander quickly kicked off the air and leapt backward, but his adjutant lacked the same level of training. He fell straight down with the collapsing ground.
It was a trap.
The commander licked his lips and stepped forward.
"D-Damn it…"
The adjutant's body had been skewered like a hedgehog by sharp bamboo stakes embedded in the ground.
He looked up.
Suddenly, the forest felt far too vast.
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