Daldal: Main story

Chapter 130

"Open the gate!"

Late afternoon. Guests entered Chae Ga-won.

Shortly after a thunderous call, the gatekeeper appeared, opened the side door, and inquired about the visitors' purpose.

"Why have you come?"

Men armed with arrows and swords confidently revealed their identity with a strong voice.

"I've come for the bounty."

They identified themselves as bounty hunters.

"But why only two of you?"

The gatekeeper, with a skeptical expression, questioned. When pressed, one of the bounty hunters gestured with his chin to something behind. There, an old cart revealed itself.

The gatekeeper's complexion turns dark as he recognizes that the thing inside the cart is a corpse.

"Are you sure, the person's dead?"

"....Unfortunately, Yes."

"...Perhaps it's best to abandon any schemes. Our Young master is in a foul mood, and it's not easy to stay unharmed."

"Oh! Scheme? How dare you assume things about us!"

The bounty hunter menacingly drew his sword, as if he might strike the gatekeeper then and there.

However, the gatekeeper didn't blink an eye.

"Just expressing concern for your well-being."

"Enough with the worry. Open the gate!"

"...Wait."

Reluctantly, the gatekeeper closed the side door. Soon, the bounty hunters confidently entered through the wide gate. The gatekeeper ushered them into the large courtyard with a hint of hesitation.

Glancing around the desolate courtyard, the bounty hunters exchanged meaningful glances. The rumors of an attack by a band of assassins seemed true, evident in the charred pillars, shattered remnants of decorations strewn across the ground, and severed branches torn from once-lush trees.

The most noticeable was the empty space where a once-grand house stood, now reduced to a common heap of ashes.

After a while, Chae Ga-won, the owner they had been waiting for, appeared. The bounty hunters expressions tensed as they faced Chae Yoon-sa, a man rumored to be not just a handsome face but also someone to be reckoned with.

"Nice to meet you, sir"

The bounty hunters greeted first. Chae Yoon-sa ignored the greeting and went straight to the point.

"I heard you came for the bounty."

"Yes. We've captured the runaway slave you posted a reward for"

The larger one proudly declared, pointing to the carriage they had brought.

A subtle twitch betrayed Chae Yoon-sa's otherwise composed demeanor.

The bounty hunters mentioned finding the corpse near the river area and speculated that the person had likely drowned based on the condition. Chae Yoon-sa, intending to verify the body, walked towards the carriage. One of the hunters discreetly blocked his way, prompting a piercing gaze from Chae Yoon-sa.

The obstructing hunter cleared his throat awkwardly, citing the need to receive half the payment before confirming.

Chae Yoon-sa smiled coldly, instructing a servant to bring the money. The servant ran and returned with a heavy sack of coins, and as Chae Yoon-sa tossed it to the ground, a cascade of golden coins spilled out like earth.