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“Water fortresses!”

The massive ship was impossible not to notice.

The faces of the people who saw the gigantic black ship adjacent to Plum Blossom Island quickly turned pale blue.

Of course, water fortresses, as they are known, are not beings who recklessly slaughter or harm others.

Just as bandits do not bother to descend the mountain and raid homes, bandits also do not touch those who set foot on land. It was a rule of thumb that the water fortresses were kept for survival.

But no matter how much, water fortresses are still water fortresses!

The sight of water fortress forces occupying Plum Blossom Island, which people had used to traverse until now, was enough to scare everyone.

“Is- Is this really okay?”

“Why is Mount Hua allowing this to happen? If we leave like this, Plum Blossom Island will really fall into their hands, won’t it?”

“…Is it possible to do business?”

There was only one reason why people did not run away immediately after seeing that scene.

This is because most of the people here are merchants. Those who used Plum Blossom Island and those who filled the city adjacent to Plum Blossom Island were mostly merchants and their families.

And the rest were those who came to do business with such merchants, meaning if they fled this place, they would have to find a new way to make a living.

Abandoning one’s home is not as easy as it sounds. Thus, they could only pace anxiously.

“I- I think they’re coming this way.”

“What?”

Everyone opened their eyes wide at someone’s shout.

The ship, which was on the border of Plum Blossom Island, slowly turned its bow toward the dock.

“What do we do? Should we flee now?”

“What else are we going to do if we run away? If we can’t do business anyway, won’t we all starve to death? In that case, it would be better to endure and die.”

“There’s no way cobwebs will form in a living person’s mouth, right? But we still have to make ends meet.”

“I can’t leave. You guys go if you must.”

Those with a plan had already removed their goods from the warehouse. But even so, they couldn’t easily leave this place.

There may be no worries for merchant guilds that can sustain themselves in Gangbuk, but for those who make a living through trade with Gangnam, it is no exaggeration to say that everything is at stake on Plum Blossom Island.

“Le- Let’s just listen for now. Don’t water fortresses have a principle of not harming those on land?”

“Dammit, do you really believe that? Have you forgotten that a village near the riverside was devastated by the group of water fortresses bastards?”

“That’s true, still…”

“Principles of Evil Sects are like earrings on the ear or rings on the nose. How can something that changes as it pleases become a principle?”

“Then what should we do?”

Even as the people were struggling to figure out what to do, the huge black ship was getting closer and closer to the dock.

Eventually, the ship began to slow down and started docking at the dock.

Gulp.

There was a moment of silence. The sound of someone swallowing dry saliva sounded like thunder.

From the impossibly high ship, a group dressed in blue water fortress uniforms jumped down and swiftly occupied the pier area.

“Back off!”

“Step back immediately, if you don’t want to lose your head!”

Merchants scurried back at the threat of water fortresses.

“N- No, wait a minute. I have something to ask…”

“This idiot!”

In the midst of this, when one merchant tried to speak firmly without backing down, one of the pirates raised his Amiza.

But just as the merchant’s throat was about to be pierced.

“You puuuuunk!”

A thunderous roar erupted. The pirate holding Amiza hardened like a stone on the spot.

“I’m, I’m….”

From the high deck of the ship, a man slowly revealed himself.

Black, long beard with a magnificent figure.

Just seeing the black robe embroidered with a golden dragon was enough to guess the identity of the man.

“Bla- Black Dragon King.”

The fierce eyes of the Black Dragon King sparkled with intensity.

He was naturally tall and imposing enough to instill fear in people. And when such a person even exudes anger, some of those watching felt their legs give way beneath them.

“Didn’t I tell you not to harm the people?”

“B- Black Dragon King. I was just…”

“You worthless mongrel!”

The Black Dragon King jumped off the ship with a thud and slowly approached the pirate. And all of a sudden, he grabbed him by the collar.

“Spa- Spare me….”

“Go cool off your head!”

The Black Dragon King picked up the pirates with one hand and threw him away.

The pirate hurled through the air, he screamed as he plummeted into the middle of the Yangtze River. After the splash, silence fell.

‘Pe- People….’

‘Is that the strength of a human?’

Merchants looked at Black Dragon King with their mouths open, unable to believe what they had just seen.

“Hmph!”

The Black Dragon King surveyed his surroundings. Thankfully, his glare wasn’t directed at the merchants, but at the pirates.

“I say it again. Anyone here who harms the people will pay the price. Those who strike people will have their arms cut off, those who cut people will have their heads cut off, and those who kill will be turned into a state where they can neither live nor die, so that he can fill the stomach of the river fish!”

“Yes! We will keep it in mind!”

The Black Dragon King nodded as if he was satisfied.

“From now on, this place will be managed by us, water fortresses. Everything else will proceed as before!”

One of the merchants, who was suppressed by his momentum, plucked up courage and raised his hand. His whole face was covered in cold sweat.

“What is it?”

“B- Black Dragon King. Does that mean… we can use Plum Blossom Island like before?”

“Yes!”

The Black Dragon King announced in a booming voice for all to hear.

“In the name of Black Dragon King, I declare there will be no plunder in this Plum Blossom Island! We will protect you!”

“Then, then the fee is….”

“Hmm.”

The Black Dragon King frowned.

Unlike Im Sobyong, who jumped at the mention of money with his eyes lit up, the Black Dragon King was still displeased with the idea of talking about money out of his mouth.

One of the pirates, guessing his inner thoughts, quickly opened his mouth.

“The Black Dragon King intends to double the existing usage fee. Since the management has changed, naturally the fee should change too!”

Merchants nodded, swallowing dry saliva.

Doubling the fee seemed reasonable enough. Of course, some were inwardly dissatisfied, but complaints should be expressed while looking at the person. No one dared to bargain before the Black Dragon King.

If they try to haggle to save a few pennies, they might have to haggle for their life.

“Go.”

The Black Dragon King gestured forward.

“From now on, this city is also under the jurisdiction of the Eighteen Water Fortress of the Yangtze River. Anyone staying or doing business here must pay taxes to the water fortresses!”

“Yes!”

The pirates rushed forward to take control of the city.

While some were reassured by the water fortresses’ promise to protect them, others lamented the doubling of Plum Blossom Island’s usage fee, and some doubted whether the water fortresses’ word could be trusted.

However, surprisingly few realized that all this signified the first expansion of the Evil Tyrant Alliance toward Gangbuk.

* * *

“The water fortresses have occupied Kugang.”

The slowly turning prayer beads in his hand came to an abrupt halt.

The eyes of Bop Jeong, previously closed in meditation, narrowed slightly.

“…Occupation, you say?”

“Yes, Bangjang, it’s not exactly Kugang, it’s a new city next to it, which has yet to be officially named by the empire…”

“People used to call it Plum Blossom Island.”

“Yes, that’s correct, Bangjang.”

As Bop Kye nodded quickly, Bop Jeong bit his lip slightly.

“It was just a day ago that I heard Nokrim was withdrawing from Plum Blossom Island. And within a day, the water fortresses occupy the island?”

“…Yes.”

“Mount Hua… No, did Nokrim say something to Evil Tyrant Alliance? Otherwise….”

“I don’t know that far. But considering the nature of Mount Hua….”

“…Indeed.”

Bop Jeong closed his eyes.

It is said that when the moment of doubt surfaces, everything seems dubious, and it seems one reason was momentarily shaken. Even if everyone in the world does business with Evil Tyrant Alliance, it would only be impossible for that Mount Hua…

“…How far have the water fortresses advanced?”

“Across the river to…”

Bop Kye trailed off. Bop Jeong’s face turned stern.

“So, they’ve crossed to the north of the river.”

“It seems so, Bangjang.”

“…Not just a temporary crossing, but occupying and declaring it as their territory.”

The eyes of Bop Jeong dimmed for a moment.

“Bangjang. Doesn’t this mean the Evil Tyrant Alliance is declaring its advance to Gangbuk?”

“No.”

“…Yes?”

Bop Jeong shook his head and answered firmly.

“It’s not Sa Evil Tyrant Alliance. It must be water fortresses acting independently.”

“How can you be so sure…”

Bop Kye, who was about to ask why he thought so, soon shut up. If Bop Jeong, of all people, speaks with such conviction, there must surely be a reason.

“But to others, won’t it seem no different?”

Bop Jeong did not answer this question. He too knew that Bop Kye’s words were correct.

As long as water fortresses are affiliated with the Evil Tyrant Alliance, this act will be recognized as the Evil Tyrant Alliance’s advancement into Gangbuk.

And since that land is Gangbuk, it has nothing to do with the Gangnam Non-Aggression Pact that has suppressed the Ten Great Sects so far.

“What a fool….”

Bop Jeong quietly ground his teeth.

Why don’t they understand?

Until now, the Ten Great Sects have been criticized for causing the Yangtze disaster. Therefore, those observing the Ten Great Sects will demand answers regarding this incident.

They will want to know if their reason for not crossing the Yangtze was truly to uphold the pact, or if it was out of fear of the Evil Tyrant Alliance.

And the Ten Great Sects the Five Great Family have no choice but to respond to the demand.

‘This is something we cannot back down from.’

It doesn’t matter what their will is. To assert themselves as the Righteous Sects that uphold Kangho’s order against the Evil Tyrant Alliance, they must inevitably punish those who have invaded Gangbuk.

‘But will the punishment really end in punishment?’

If there is an all-out war against the water fortresses, the Evil Tyrant Alliance will eventually move. If that happens, the flames will spread even further.

“What a stupid idiot… Inviting disaster with their petty greed. This false peace is better than war.”

A person’s name came out of the mouth of Bop Jeong, who had been agonizing for a long time.

“…Chung Myung.”

“Ba- Bangjang?”

“Hoho. Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword… Mount Hua!”

Udeuduk.

The beads in his hand snapped with a crisp sound.

Bop Jeong knows.

This all came from the movement of Mount Hua.

However, Shaolin and Ten Great Sects cannot point out any of the actions of Heavenly Comrade Alliance, due to their contribution to protecting Plum Blossom Island and stabilizing Gangbuk for the past three years.

“Bangjang….”

“Send a message to the Ten Great Sects and the Five Great Family. Tell them to gather at Shaolin immediately.”

“What about the sects that went Bongmun…”

“All sects.”

“But Bangjang….”

“Didn’t I say all sects?”

As Bop Joeng’s voice rose, Bop Kye quickly nodded.

“I will do so.”

“Hurry.”

“Yes!”

After Bop Kye left swiftly, Bop Jeong looked down at his hand. He saw the beads, now miserably broken.

“Hoho.”

A despondent laugh escaped his mouth.

“What a dogfight. Hohoho. Hohohohoho!”

A loud laugh spread coldly at the sound of darkness falling.