Chapter 627: I Am a Man Accustomed to Killing
Chapter 627: I Am a Man Accustomed to Killing
Who had called for whom?
The White Dragon Unit Leader prayed he had misheard.
"What preposterous nonsense is this!"
After his sudden outburst, the White Dragon Unit Leader turned to look at Jin Ha-gun, who had walked up to stand beside him.
"Is that true?"
He asked with a sliver of hope that it was all a mistake, but Jin Ha-gun’s reply was like a bolt from the blue.
"It is."
The White Dragon Unit Leader’s heart sank. The Demon Extermination Squad was supposed to have come in Hanwolgaek’s stead.
‘Hanwolgaek needs to get here, even if he’s late.’
If Hanwolgaek arrived and attacked before any words could be exchanged... Everyone knew how much he loathed the Demonic Cult. If a fight broke out like that, the Demon Extermination Squad would be forced to help Hanwolgaek. No matter the reason, they wouldn't take the side of the Demonic Cult.
‘Please, just show up!’
It was a plea he wouldn't have made if he knew Hanwolgaek’s current situation.
The White Dragon Unit Leader wasn't the only one shocked. Gwak Yeong and the branch warriors were equally stunned. The First Young Master had called the Demon Extermination Squad Leader?
Only Ho-myeong, who had sent word to Jin Ha-gun through Tongcheon Pavilion on Geom Mu-yang’s orders, had known this beforehand.
Gwak Yeong’s gaze shifted toward the Demon Extermination Squad Leader. As a member of the Murim Alliance, she knew better than anyone what kind of person he was. He was the grandson of the Murim Alliance Leader and his most likely successor.
The Demon Extermination Squad he led was the absolute elite of the Murim Alliance. Because of this, the highest quality weapons from the Iron Workshop were always issued to them first.
‘You called a man like that? He’s not the type to just come because someone tells him to. Who on earth are you?’
Gwak Yeong stared at Geom Mu-yang in shock. The person who answered her silent question was Jin Ha-gun. He addressed the White Dragon Unit Leader.
"Unit Leader Do, do you know who this man is?"
"I do not."
Jin Ha-gun spoke calmly. "He is the First Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult."
The White Dragon Unit Leader gasped in surprise—or rather, he feigned it.
In truth, he already knew his opponent was Geom Mu-yang. If the man had been an ordinary demonic practitioner, he would have handled it himself instead of waiting for Hanwolgaek.
The person truly shocked by those words was Gwak Yeong.
‘That man is the First Young Master of the Demonic Cult?’
That meant he was the older brother of the next Heavenly Demon. The fact that the Cult’s succession struggle had ended peacefully had once been the talk of the Murim.
She truly hadn't imagined it. To think the man she had been traveling with was the First Young Master... She had shouted at him and even pestered him to save her life. She had acted that way toward a man who could have been the Heavenly Demon.
‘I mean, really! If he had such an incredible status, he could have mentioned it. Didn't he want to brag and say, "This is who I am"?’
If they had been alone, she definitely would have said that out loud.
Geom Mu-yang greeted Jin Ha-gun first. "It has been a while."
"Have you been well?"
Jin Ha-gun showed proper etiquette to Geom Mu-yang. This greeting wasn't for the First Young Master of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult; it was for Geom Mu-geuk’s brother.
"Thank you for coming."
"Of course I had to come."
Jin Ha-gun suddenly recalled what Geom Mu-geuk had told him during the Three-Party Meeting.
— My brother is naturally blunt. He’s a lot like you.
Do I really resemble him that much? He couldn't tell yet, as he had never spoken with the man privately. He had found it unexpected when he received the missive from Geom Mu-yang. He seemed like the type who wouldn't contact him no matter what happened.
The missive had explained the situation: an organization was forging and selling the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult’s hidden weapons, and his pursuit of them had led him here.
However, regardless of the reason, their entry into Wuhan was something that shouldn't have happened. No matter if the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult was on a mission, Wuhan was a strictly prohibited zone for their operations.
If the existence of Geom Mu-geuk hadn't acted as a buffer, the atmosphere right now would have been far more hostile.
The White Dragon Unit Leader did not miss this opportunity.
"Captain Jin, what is your relationship with the First Young Master of the Demonic Cult? You two seem quite close."
There was a clear venom behind the question.
‘You called the Demon Extermination Squad Leader? I’ll make sure that move backfires on you.’
The White Dragon Unit Leader poked at Jin Ha-gun’s greatest weakness.
"If it becomes known that Captain Jin is close with the First Young Master of the Demonic Cult, the Orthodox warriors will be greatly disturbed. Does the Alliance Leader know about this?"
Since he hadn't officially become the successor yet, Jin Ha-gun could be disqualified if he fell out of favor with the Alliance Leader or caused a scandal. He was aiming for that point to prevent the Demon Extermination Squad Leader from acting on his friendship with Geom Mu-yang.
As if the intent had hit its mark, Jin Ha-gun asked Geom Mu-yang as if in protest. "What does that matter to the White Dragon Unit Leader here?"
"I believe the White Dragon Unit Leader has been recruited by that organization," Geom Mu-yang answered.
At those words, the eyes of the Demon Extermination Squad warriors all turned toward the White Dragon Unit Leader.
The White Dragon Unit Leader raised his voice with an air of wounded confidence.
"Even if you are the First Young Master of the Demonic Cult, watch your tongue! To frame me with such a false accusation is an insult to the Orthodox Murim and a slight against our Alliance!"
His voice rang out loudly. He looked at Jin Ha-gun, hoping he would agree. He deliberately mentioned the Murim Alliance. If it became a matter of the Alliance’s honor...?
‘As long as the position of Murim Alliance successor is on the line, the Demon Extermination Squad Leader has no choice but to take my side.’
That was what he believed. Instead of agreeing, however, Jin Ha-gun threw out a question.
"Unit Leader Do, do you know what kind of organization that is?"
"No, I don't."
Jin Ha-gun stared at him intently. "Then why haven't you asked what kind of organization it is? That should have been the first thing you were curious about."
The White Dragon Unit Leader flinched. He had been so agitated that he’d missed that point. Soon, he spoke as if it were trivial.
"It’s obviously an organization created by those Demonic Cult bastards."
Nodding once, Jin Ha-gun asked again. "Who were you waiting for?"
"What do you mean?"
"I heard you when I arrived. You were shouting for someone to come out, weren't you?"
The White Dragon Unit Leader was momentarily speechless. Earlier, thinking Hanwolgaek was there, he had shouted for him to show himself. It seemed Jin Ha-gun had heard it. Who should he say it was?
"I was just pretending someone was there so these people wouldn't act recklessly."
Even though he gave a quick-witted answer, Jin Ha-gun continued to stare at him in silence, prompting him to shout even louder.
"Are you doubting me as well, Captain? Me, who has been loyal to the Alliance my entire life!"
Did he not realize that the more he shouted, the weaker and more suspicious he appeared?
Jin Ha-gun’s gaze returned to Geom Mu-yang. In truth, he didn't know Geom Mu-yang well. Yet, the reason he felt an inexplicable sense of trust was because of Geom Mu-geuk. Because this was the brother Mu-geuk had wanted to save so badly.
"Do you have proof?"
"The White Dragon Unit Leader rented the place where the forged hidden weapons were made."
At Geom Mu-yang’s answer, the White Dragon Unit Leader appealed his innocence once more.
"That is a ridiculous frame-up! To put it bluntly, if I were part of that organization, would I have rented it myself?"
Then, someone spoke coldly.
"Hypocrite!"
Everyone’s eyes turned to Gwak Yeong. Earlier, when she was alone with him, she had realized he was on the same side as those villains.
"And to think I actually trusted you."
Jin Ha-gun, of course, knew Gwak Yeong. She was a rarity in the Iron Workshop and its youngest master; it was impossible not to know her. He also knew that the White Dragon Unit’s search of Wuhan was because of her.
"Master Gwak, how did you get involved in this?"
At Jin Ha-gun’s question, she could hardly find the words. Whatever the reason, she had tarnished the honor of the Alliance. After taking a deep breath, she spoke honestly.
"I made the forged weapons."
Jin Ha-gun found it unexpected. He knew her as someone who would never do such a thing. As it turned out, there was a reason.
"My younger brother was kidnapped by them."
Jin Ha-gun nodded. Having a younger sibling himself, how could he not understand her? However, there was one thing he couldn't grasp.
"Why didn't you inform us?"
The one who answered instead was Geom Mu-yang. "I believe the leader of those people is among the highest ranks of the Murim Alliance."
Jin Ha-gun’s expression hardened. It was hard enough to believe the White Dragon Unit Leader was involved, but someone even higher up?
In this moment, Gwak Yeong hesitated. Should she grab Jin Ha-gun’s hem and beg? Beg him to save her brother? That would be the best thing for her brother’s sake.
However, the promise she had made with Geom Mu-yang held her back. Since the First Young Master of the Demonic Cult had made a promise, she couldn't ask another person to save him.
Right then, Geom Mu-yang spoke abruptly to Gwak Yeong.
"I will only keep the second promise."
The second promise? Gwak Yeong realized he was referring to her plea to save her as well, since he was already saving her brother.
Then what about the first promise? That’s the more important one.
That promise was handed over to someone else.
"Captain Jin. Please save this woman’s brother."
"!"
Jin Ha-gun was surprised, and Gwak Yeong was even more so.
"I am a man more accustomed to killing people than saving them," Geom Mu-yang said. "Saving people is something you are much better at, isn't it, Captain Jin?"
In that moment, Jin Ha-gun realized that the reason Geom Mu-yang had called him might not have been because of the White Dragon Unit Leader or the mole in the high ranks. He felt that Geom Mu-yang was the type who would have tried to handle it alone regardless.
Yet, he had called him? Perhaps it was because he wanted to keep his promise to that woman. The possibility of the Demon Extermination Squad saving someone was much higher than those who were restricted in their movements.
‘Is this the kind of person you are?’
Their gazes locked. Jin Ha-gun would have made the same choice. A life that needed saving was more important than pride. Perhaps that was why Geom Mu-geuk had said they were alike.
Eventually, Jin Ha-gun spoke calmly. "I understand. We will make sure to rescue your brother."
Since it involved Gwak Yeong of the Murim Alliance Iron Workshop, they had a justification to step in. Gwak Yeong was overjoyed.
"Thank you so much, Captain."
She didn't know if it was rude to Geom Mu-yang to be this happy, but she couldn't hide her joy. The most outstanding warriors she knew were those of the Demon Extermination Squad. Furthermore, she knew better than anyone how chivalrous a warrior Jin Ha-gun was. For her brother’s sake, nothing could be better.
After expressing her gratitude to Jin Ha-gun, Gwak Yeong turned back to Geom Mu-yang. He was still looking at her with a stoic face.
She could feel it. This blunt man had chosen the most certain method to save her brother by setting aside his own pride—and he was a man who seemed to have more pride than anyone else.
‘If my brother returns safely, I will spend the rest of my life forging weapons for you.’
That was the resolution she made in that moment. And she added one more statement for Geom Mu-yang’s sake.
"The White Dragon Unit Leader was recruited by them."
"How do you know that?"
At Jin Ha-gun’s question, she looked coldly at the White Dragon Unit Leader. "Because I saw another side of that man here today."
Since it was a statement that couldn't serve as hard evidence, the White Dragon Unit Leader snorted.
"Captain Jin, that woman has fallen to the demonic practitioners. She might be under a Soul-Seizing Technique, or she might have been threatened. Surely you don't believe the words of those demonic practitioners over mine?"
Jin Ha-gun hadn't made a decision yet. "We’ll know once we investigate."
"Let’s go, then. I will tell you everything."
The White Dragon Unit Leader was secretly relieved. As long as he could leave this place and return to the Alliance, he would save him.
Jin Ha-gun was about to tell Geom Mu-yang to leave the rest to them and go back. He intended to smooth over the matter of his unauthorized entry into Wuhan on his own authority.
Then, Geom Mu-yang said something unexpected.
"Leave that investigation to us."
A silence fell instantly. Everyone knew what those words meant. It meant they would interrogate the White Dragon Unit Leader themselves.
"That is impossible," Jin Ha-gun refused firmly. He could concede on other things, but that was out of the question.
"Once they realize this man has been caught, they will cut all ties." Geom Mu-yang looked at Gwak Yeong as he spoke.
Jin Ha-gun understood. He was saying that the woman’s brother would be the first to die.
"We must follow the trail before that happens."
It was a race against time. They wouldn't be able to torture the White Dragon Unit Leader before his guilt was proven. And if their leader really was in the high ranks as Geom Mu-yang said, the person who cut the ties would never be found.
"Give us just one hour."
Jin Ha-gun looked at the White Dragon Unit Leader standing beside him.
"You’re not really going to hand me over, are you?" When Jin Ha-gun didn't answer, the White Dragon Unit Leader poked at his weakness again. "The moment you hand me over to them, your position as successor is finished. The Demon Extermination Squad Leader handing over the White Dragon Unit Leader to a demonic practitioner—can you really handle the fallout? Absolutely not! I swear on my life! I am innocent!"
Swish.
Thud.
Jin Ha-gun neutralized his pressure points. Then, he spoke firmly to Geom Mu-yang.
"I will give you fifteen minutes."
Geom Mu-yang and the branch warriors took him into the building.
There were countless reasons why it shouldn't be done, but only one reason why it should. Jin Ha-gun followed his instinct—the instinct that this choice was right.
The Demon Extermination Squad warriors knew how dangerous a choice this was. What if the White Dragon Unit Leader was innocent? The aftermath would be catastrophic. However, the warriors, whose bond with Jin Ha-gun had deepened during their escape from the formation, did not doubt his decision.
Fifteen minutes later, Geom Mu-yang walked out of the building, shaking the blood off his hands.
"He confessed."