The young bandit lightly pressed a section of the basement wall. With a soft click, one brick sank inward.

A hidden compartment slid open amid the rumbling of turning gears.

Inside sat three chests: copper coins, silver coins, and gold coins. The copper and silver chests were brimming; the gold chest held less than half its capacity.

A quick tally revealed over two thousand copper and silver coins each—but barely two hundred gold coins.

A pang of disappointment flickered through me. Then again… if they were rich, why be bandits? Feeding the whole camp, daily supplies, gear upgrades—it was no wonder they weren’t rolling in wealth.

“Anything else of value here?” I asked, reluctance coloring my tone.

“Valuables?” The young bandit’s eyes widened. He racked his brain—then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, stammered, “Yes! Yes! Yes! My lord, please follow me!”

Whoa. Seriously? A casual question actually paid off.

He led Nina and me to a concealed staircase. Torchlight flickered from wall-mounted sconces as we descended slowly.

At the bottom lay a dungeon—damp, shadowy, reeking of despair. Captives, mostly young men and women, were bound naked. Gruesome wounds marred their skin. The men stood upright; the women were tied with legs spread in a degrading M-shape, eyes hollow, spirits broken. Clearly treated as the bandits’ shared playthings.

“Who are they?”

“Uh… adventurers. Foolhardy ones. We caught them and locked them here.”

No surprise. Adventuring promised quick coin—but without strength, one misstep meant this fate.

Still, I felt no pity. Choices carry consequences.

“My lord, shall I free them?”

“No. Even untied, they couldn’t walk home. The guild will send rescuers after I report back.”

He then guided me to the innermost cell. Spotless. Straw-lined.

A girl lay there—hands bound, mouth gagged, utterly bare. Fresh bruises told a brutal story.

At the sight of me, tears welled. She let out frantic, muffled “Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!” cries.

Recognizing her face, I sighed inwardly. *What a small world.*

“My lord, she’s the merchant lord’s daughter—kidnapped by our boss. Worth a massive ransom.”

“Correct,” I said.

“Then… may I go? I swear—nothing else of value remains here,” he added cautiously, hope flickering in his eyes.

“I never promised to spare you.”

I flicked a finger lightly toward his neck. A thin red line appeared. *Thud.* He collapsed, stiff and silent.

The girl’s muffled cries turned frantic with joy. Had she not been tightly bound, she’d have leaped into my arms.

True enough—the moment I untied her, she clung to me like an octopus, voice trembling with emotion:

“Brother Kuber! You came all this way just for me? I’m so touched!”

A year younger than me, yet she towered a full head taller, curves lush and soft. I nearly vanished into her embrace.

“If you don’t let go,” I wheezed, “this young master will suffocate in your… generous chest.”

“Ah! Oh—forgive me, Brother! I was just… so overjoyed!” She loosened her grip, cheeks flushed.

I finally caught my breath.

She turned to Nina with a warm smile. “It’s been a while, Nina.”

“Likewise, Miss Sephena,” Nina replied with a graceful nod.