Awaiting The Dawn

40: The Game Of Ambush

Hisa had never done a kidnapping before, but she figured it wouldn't be too different from catching a rabbit while avoiding a snake nest.

She knew to be quiet, stay light on her feet, and run with the rabbit without being bitten.

Maybe not the best comparison, but it kept Hisa from thinking she was in over her head.

This was her plan, and she could not make mistakes.

The first and most important target was the magistrate. Yan spit on the ground with a grin when he learned they were going to kidnap him.

The man turned a blind eye to every illegal practice done. He was an important member of Kum-ji's circle, responsible for diverting General Guen-Tae and the king's attention to all of Awa's operations.

Breaking into his residence wasn't too hard. It wasn't guarded nearly enough because thus far, there hadn't been a reason. The pirates didn't attack on land, and no one in Awa had dared to mess with him.

That confidence made the whole thing go smoothly.

It was just past sunset, and Kum-ji had set sail for the Kai Empire, taking over half his men with him. The magistrate should have been more cautious.

He was sipping tea in his study, leisurely reading when she found him.

The man hadn't noticed her approach. When he did, all he saw was a young woman with a kind smile. By the look on his face, he wasn't threatened. Confused as to why no one informed him of a visitor, but not threatened.

Hisa took advantage of his slow reaction and knocked him out with Yoon's sedatives, placing a ransom note on the seat before carrying him out the room.

He was so heavy. Not a rabbit.

As soon as Hisa met up with Yan in the hall, she handed the magistrate to him. They got away without trouble.

.

While Hisa and Yan snuck into the residence, the rest of the crew had their own job. Go around Awa and find people willing to help with the later part of their plan. One of the first places they went was a shop Hisa suggested.

That, and a doctor. Yoon would be pleased. For just a couple seconds, Hisa let her mind drift to him.

It didn't take long for all of them to reunite at the ambush spot. With the unconscious magistrate, they waited for officials to answer their ransom.

A group of ten men were spotted in the distance, approaching their spot. Two of them held torches to make it easier to see in the dark. All of them had swords strapped to the waist.

"We have to settle this with as little noise as possible." Hisa reminded them just before they got into position, pulling a cloth to cover the lower half of her face.

"Got it, Boss." One pirate grinned as he sat in his hiding place, the others chuckling and giving their own responses that all ended with 'Boss.' She couldn't tell if it was a joke or not.

It was safer than using names, and this situation made them seem more like bandits than pirates. For those reasons, she let them call her 'Boss.'

It was definitely not because she thought it was just as funny as they did.

While her 'gang' hid in the trees and bushes, Hisa was out in the open with the magistrate tied up and out cold. She'd be handling the ransom diversion.

When the officials stood across from her, she made a hand gesture for the money.

"Return him first." The official at the front of the group demanded with a gravelly voice, the others behind him darting their eyes around and itching to draw out their swords, looking for enemies they couldn't see.