Daldal: Main story

Chapter 64

A thunderous explosion sounded, shaking the heavens and earth.

The courtesans, taken aback, covered their ears, shrinking in surprise.

In the midst of it, the lone and composed Jeon Su Gyeom raised his glass, grumbling

"Tsk tsk, these troublemakers lack a decent manner of speaking. Can't be elegant."

The courtesans exchanged mocking glances at his words. Politeness wasn't anticipated from a renowned gambler and notorious player.

Smoke billowed from the discharged muzzle.

Chae Yoon-sa, having confirmed the target's obliteration, lowered his gun. A man observing from behind applauded, praising his skill.

"Indeed remarkable. Handling it so swiftly, even for a first timer."

The gun Chae Yoon-sa held wasn't his usual pistol; it was a shot-gun, a newly developed weapon from the central forge. While sharing the basic foundation with a pistol, its performance surpassed it. If a pistol had a range of two hundred paces, the shot-gun boasted an impressive range nearing a thousand paces.

The difference was large.

"I found it more challenging to handle this than a pistol. The body is lighter, but the recoil is so significant that hitting the target became quite a feat."

"So you're throwing this away on me?"

"No way. Think of this as me finding a better owner who can handle it more skillfully."

It was still a rare weapon in a world with only thirty of its kind. To gift such a precious item to Chae Yoon-sa felt a bit excessive.

"Well, I'll accept it gratefully."

"Thanks for accepting. Please use it well."

"Alright. Now, tell me what the real reason is."

Chae Yoon-sa, judging that the prelude had sufficed, straightforwardly asked about the purpose of the visit. Jeon Su Gyeom didn't come all the way here just to give a simple gift. It was clear from the start that there was another reason at hand.

"Sure. I won't beat around the bush."

Having a deep understanding of Chae
Yoon-sa's personality, Jeon Su Gyeom promptly disclosed the purpose.

"A formal letter arrived from the Central forge."

The person delivering the message bore the name Do Wook, a military official entrusted with the defense of the Northern Rampart, commonly recognized as General Do.

"It was a request for you to personally confirm how dire the situation is."

In essence, he received an order to conduct reconnaissance and report.

"And what are the results of the reconnaissance?"

Having disclosed the purpose, it was time to draw conclusions. Do Wook had an obligation to obtain the results of the reconnaissance to submit a report. Of course, both Chae Yoon-sa and Do Wook were aware that the obtained information didn't necessarily have to be entirely truthful.

"To survive, you'll have to do as you're told."

Expressing such sincerity, Do Wook's emotions were now complicated.

His sentiments toward Chae Yoon-sa were intricate-admiration as a superior, disapproval as a friend, and longing as a comrade.

"I'm not sure how much you know, but Yeonam is facing defeat in the conflict. The situation is more dire than expected, yet His Majesty seems to show a lukewarm reaction. It feels like he's treating you as nothing more than bait to lure back in."