"There were plenty of reasons. Their strength, for instance, or the fact that a newly formed adventuring party brought back an enormous fortune. That alone would draw more adventurers here to strike it rich.
"But most importantly—their leader, [Wendy Silver Shield], is the eldest daughter of the Silver Shield Family, the apple of Orion's eye. He commands the Dragon Rider Corps.
"He dotes on his daughter so much that he's argued with the Lionheart Lord several times for her sake.
"And people suspect he might hold a seat among the Masked Lords.
"By doing this, the Red Scarf Gang was obviously doing him a favor."
Hope shrugged, her tone almost mocking those adventurers whom the Masked Lords toyed with—
The treasures they dreamed of were nothing more than bargaining chips in the lords' dealings.
Perhaps all it took was a single word, a slight nudge of those chips, to determine who received a treasure and which party earned its fame.
"So in the end, it's all fucking deals and politics."
Tang Qi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but deep down, he agreed with Hope's theory.
After all, they had already encountered a Masked Lord in the Red Scarf Gang's bunker—even if he had been a doppelganger.
"So we have to take the bunker's shortcut and claim the hoard before they do. Otherwise, forget the scabbard—we won't even get a sip of broth."
Having explained the whole story, Hope finally let out a long breath.
"I've practically talked myself hoarse explaining this to you. Surely you believe me now?"
Tang Qi raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"More or less."
He didn't, actually.
Regardless of whether her story was true, Tang Qi could never fully trust the nonsense a "red weasel" spouted—
Those weasels liked to disguise themselves to catch