Mission: Operation Vacuum
Kang Hyeonseong scanned his surroundings.
After the suspicious individual interviews, back in the auditorium where the examinees were chattering away, the people he was looking for were nowhere to be seen.
Kim Jun, Sa Yeonggyo, and Lee Taeseop.
Gong Yunju was near the podium, chatting with acquaintances.
Kang Hyeonseong glanced at the entrance.
Armed guards stared sharply into the auditorium.
Snippets of conversation from nearby examinees drifted over.
"Heard the rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"They say there's an accomplice to the villains."
"An accomplice?"
"Don't freak out. They say one of the examinees is the accomplice... Know who?"
"Who? Spill it!"
"Kim Jun."
"Kim Jun? No way."
"I thought it was bullshit at first too, but evidence keeps piling up, apparently. And that magic circle sucking our life force? Even all of us together couldn't break it. But Kim Jun shattered it in one go. Even if it was the Cheonroegeom, that's fishy. Turns out, it was set to stop at a specific time."
"Isn't that a stretch?"
"Stretch my ass. Compared to a carrier passing the awakening test, it's nothing. What if there's an organization systematically helping Kim Jun? Explains everything, right?"
"Yeah, maybe."
More and more examinees gathered.
The talk shifted from "No way" to "Maybe" to "We got totally played."
One examinee pointed at Kang Hyeonseong.
"He was with Kim Jun. He should know better than us, right?"
An examinee who'd never stood out during the awakening test stepped forward, facing Kang Hyeonseong.
"Kang Hyeonseong, what do you think? Is Kim Jun a villain accomplice? Or do you still believe he's just some innocent carrier?"
"I, uh..."
His mind split in two. He knew he should speak up about what he'd seen with his own eyes, but he also knew how these people would treat him.
Then a guard shouted.
"We're moving to a safe location now. Follow instructions."
Kang Hyeonseong quickly stood and headed to the entrance.
The examinees took his action as confirmation. If even Kang Hyeonseong accepted it, Kim Jun was undeniably a villain's accomplice to them.
"Examinees."
Yoo Min-jeong whispered.
The guild master nodded, confirming the people climbing the stairs. Kim Jun wasn't among the examinees escorted by armed guards.
Right now, there was no way to find Kim Jun without alerting the guards. Go Cheolmin looked at Bang Su-cheol.
But even the veteran investigator had no clever ideas.
"I'll go."
Yoo Min-jeong said.
"Go where?"
"If I blend in, I'll look like an examinee."
Having rushed straight from training, Yoo Min-jeong looked no different from the exhausted test-takers.
"Then me too."
Choi Muhyun stepped up.
"No. You two are as famous as Kim Jun. You've been on broadcasts too much. They'd spot you instantly."
Go Cheolmin said.
That was his reason for refusing: as Yoo Wan-seop's daughter and Choi Min-su's son, no examinee or guard could miss them.
"I'll go."
Yeom Sang-taek said.
Go Cheolmin stared at him in surprise.
"No one knows me. I'm average. People don't even recognize me on the street."
Go Cheolmin glanced at Bang Su-cheol. They both agreed Yeom Sang-taek was perfect for the job.
"Think you can pull it off?"
Go Cheolmin asked.
"It's what I have to do."
"Got it."
After some advice from the master and investigator, Yeom Sang-taek slipped out of the empty office, hugging the wall toward the emergency stairwell entrance. As he reached for the door, it burst open first—a guard emerged.
"I, uh, had to hit the bathroom real quick."
The guard eyed him but soon clicked his tongue and nodded toward the stairs.
"We've told you no solo movements how many times?"
Yeom Sang-taek bowed slightly and blended into the examinees. A few glanced over, but no one recognized him. Relieved, he climbed slowly—then heard a friend's name.
Yeom Sang-taek was speechless at the story.
An accomplice to the infiltrating villains!
There was talk Kim Jun was trapped somewhere below. Biting his finger, Yeom Sang-taek glanced around, then deliberately tripped, tumbling down the stairs.
Pretending to sprawl out, he smeared "accomplice" in blood at the stair's edge.
"You okay?"
A guard approached.
Yeom Sang-taek sat up, making a pitiful face.
"I, I left something behind."
"Get it after lockdown lifts..."
"Yeonggyo unnie told me to bring it. Can you take responsibility, sir?"
"Yeonggyo unnie?"
"The association president's granddaughter."
The guard hesitated, but the decision was made.
"Then hurry back."
"Of course."
Yeom Sang-taek rushed down the stairs.
Yoo Min-jeong glanced at the emergency stairs, ears perked.
Just in case Yeom Sang-taek got caught. The silence suggested no one had spotted him.
Thank goodness. Sang-taek might be pissed, though.
A faint smile crossed her lips.
Pink Team appeared endlessly on news and Raider shows—thanks to Kim Jun's constant drama. Mostly him front and center, flanked by Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun, and Skyla.
Yeom Sang-taek lurked in the back like a spectator, or worse, half off-camera. He'd gripe about it, wondering why clients of the Crazy Buffer ignored him.
The stairs stayed quiet.
Instead, voices approached from the corridor corner.
Yoo Min-jeong signaled the master, then ducked into an empty office.
"Sergeant, this is total dogshit training, right?"
"Hang in there. Opponent's Jushin."
"Even Jushin’s going too far. They order a sweep of W2-A, then ten minutes later shift to W3-D, then cancel and RTB."
"Not just Jushin. Medici Team."
"I know. Just venting. Special Enforcer's their leader, right?"
"Saw him once. Man, total viper."
"What happened?"
"Later."
The two guards turned into the stairs, footsteps heading up.
Yoo Min-jeong emerged, mind troubled.
Kim Se-wi, leading Medici Team, had played a big role in forcing her father Yoo Wan-seop out of Jushin. Officially retired, but Jushin brass and core members made him leave—Kim Se-wi led the mood.
She reported to the guild master.
"Special Enforcer precedent exists, no issue. But Kim Se-wi bothers me."
Go Cheolmin said.
"Same here."
Bang Su-cheol knew the rumors too.
"First, check what Sang-taek left."
Go Cheolmin headed to the empty stairs.
"Here."
Bang Su-cheol said.
Go Cheolmin and Pink Team rushed to the investigator by the stair corner. "Accomplice" was scrawled where he pointed.
Red... blood.
"Accomplice? What’s that mean?"
Choi Muhyun asked.
Bang Su-cheol's face darkened as he looked at Go Cheolmin, who already knew and stayed silent.
"Villain's accomplice."
Yoo Min-jeong said.
Hwang Myeong-su gasped, clamping a hand over his mouth.
Sa Yeonggyo paced between a glass display case and the wall.
A storm raged in her head.
...Accomplice?
Kim Se-wi had presented evidence: Kim Jun as villain accomplice, tied to terrorist group Puritan.
Does this even make sense?
Sa Yeonggyo thought and rethought. Memories of Kim Jun flooded back—he'd risked life against wax dolls, saved examinees. A villain crony? Her instincts screamed no, he wasn't dangerous.
Caught between facts and belief, she wandered.
Mistake in investigation?
Humans err. Rekl in Kim Jun's bag? If accomplice, no way he'd leave it.
Unless someone else's bag.
Someone else's?
She considered, then shook her head.
No. Uncle's too sharp for that.
First met Kim Se-wi at seven, maybe younger.
Always smiling.
Smart, strong, great humor. He'd pull candy from pockets like magic for her.
Fought in practicals, against rampaging wax dolls—but Kim Jun? Met him today.
One day too short for trust. Can't beat decades.
Right, what am I thinking?
Results clear.
Kim Jun: villain accomplice, criminal. Must see and think so.
Why so hard?
Sa Yeonggyo sighed, exiting the director's office. Two guards by the water cooler approached—their duty: protect association president's granddaughter.
Guards' boots echoed loudly in the hall.
"What's up?"
"Suspect escaped."
"Suspect...?"
"That carrier bastard."
Sa Yeonggyo nearly laughed.
She schooled her face. Deep down, thrilled. Kim Jun wouldn't get caught easy.
Guards blocked her path to the office entrance.
"Orders to protect Sa Yeonggyo."
"No need."
"Cooperate with orders. That room's safe."
As one grabbed her wrist, it exploded.
Metal whip cracked the guard's jaw.
He crumpled. The other raised his gun, but transparent whip coiled him, slamming into the wall. He hit the floor unconscious before landing.
"I hate people touching me."
Whispering at the fainted pair, Sa Yeonggyo stepped into the hall.
She hid in empty offices or rooms at guard footsteps.
Am I becoming an accomplice too?
Sa Yeonggyo scratched her cheek.
Association president's granddaughter as criminal suspect, interrogated? Leaked to press? Chaos.
Grandpa might laugh off her antics again. Mom, prioritizing guild over kids, would rage more than usual.
Twisted mom face? Kinda wanted to see.
Creeping down the hall, Sa Yeonggyo hid at voices ahead. Peeking through a door gap, familiar face.
Taek-su oppa.
At Jangyang Academy learning Raider basics, she'd envied Jeong Taeksu's weird ever-present dirt.
Once begged all day for some; he looked mortified.
Later realized special, whined to mom why no such item in family.
Jeong Taeksu: Medici Team tanker.
The man beside him familiar too.
Medici's Yoo Gwanho? Silent, but dungeon beast-mode dealer?
Why two Medici Raiders in locked-down HQ? What's in those big metal bags?
Head tilted, Sa Yeonggyo tailed them.
Jeong Taeksu set the silver-gray metal case on the table, pressed a button. Hiss of air, then click—lid popped open.
"Heh."
Custom case held items bought with all his dungeon earnings, neatly arrayed.
First, red-glowing ring to right middle finger. Searing heat pierced—worth it. Beloved Automatic Boom Ring.
Ring auto-absorbs mana; full charge glows red. Punch wall: massive blast, even thick ones gone.
"You're up today."
Jeong Taeksu caressed green-brown necklace, donned it.
Refreshing energy spread from neck—moan escaped. Rival-bid 1.2 billion won for Ganek: boosts recovery, no skill needed. Perfect.
Breguet Black Edition on right wrist. Beyond timepiece, mana booster.
5% claimed, felt higher.
Useless in dungeons, but great for clubbing girls: Santorin earring, left only.
Then Armani Special set.
Sight-enhancing special sunglasses, shock-absorbing special suit, speed-boosting special shoes.
Jeong Taeksu's proud dungeon style.
Glanced at Yoo Gwanho. Psychopath killer silently checked gear.
Pressed hidden case button: floor slid silent, revealing compartment. Grabbed gray ring among many, pocketed.
Secret space vanished.
Heh, prep is key. Dual Ring'll claim Cheonroegeom. Just need luck. Can't let team leader or psycho steal. Prime chance.
Unlike Taeksu's luxury overload, Yoo Gwanho's bag had plain association-standard gear.
"Tsk tsk."
Advice ignored, pig to pearls. Impressive he thrived with it.
Jeong Taeksu set another bag on table. Item thrill faded.
Password: click, opened.
Thirty apple-sized glass orbs. Inside: dormant Magic Creepers, ready to rampage.
"Angry Root."
Formal name aside, all called 'em that.
Checked watch: op 30 min out. Sigh, eyed Yoo Gwanho.
Yoo Gwanho handed small test tube from pocket.
Two tiny cores inside.
Swallowing hard, Jeong Taeksu carefully slotted into Angry Root bag groove.
Lyrium and Plantum mana would wake Creepers in 30-35 min max. Absorbed cores: hell unleashed.
Did same for second metal box—familiar, quicker.
"Whew, done."
Stepped back, wiped sweat.
Just transport boxes to spots.
Them two handling.
Then voice behind.
"That's... Magic Creepers, right?"
Yoo Gwanho flung Jackknife motionless. Straight for intruder's throat—but Metal Whip coiled it midair, flailing.
Jeong Taeksu recognized Sa Yeonggyo.
"What's that?"
She asked.
"You. Scared me."
"Asked what's that."
Sa Yeonggyo eyed the bag.
"Toy."
Jeong Taeksu reached to close it.
She advanced to check; he blocked.
Now she noticed: rings, watch, necklace, jacket. High-end for efficient dungeon fights, survival boost.
Why gear up here?
"What're you doing here?"
"Uh, complicated. Leave this to us, you head safe..."
"Explain."
Force in Sa Yeonggyo's eyes.
Awkward grin from flustered Jeong Taeksu; relief as he looked past her.
"Didn't expect you here, Director."
Sa Yeonggyo turned slowly. Eyes widened, mouth agape. Impossible person—ghost?
"...Mom?"
Jushin CFO, Association President Sa Gyeongbaek's daughter-in-law Gu Mi-yeong glanced at bag, stood before daughter.
"Congrats. Picked as Raider Queen?"
"Th-thanks. How'd you get here? Lockdown sealed it."
Gu Mi-yeong stepped closer.
"Ever seen me unable to go where I want? I go anywhere. Now, let's go."
"Where?"
"Home."
Sa Yeonggyo eyed Magic Creeper bag.
"Sudden urge to meddle in Jushin? Thought you hated it, fled to Africa. Soloing boring? Want truth? Join Jushin, live as member."
Mom hit weakness dead-on.
"I, I..."
"Or come home."
Mom exited to hall.
Sa Yeonggyo peeked bag once more, followed.
Mom waited in elevator. Sa Yeonggyo stood beside.
Down it went.
"Gate in HQ?"
"Why?"
"Taek-su oppa geared like dungeon dive. Magic Creeper bag too."
"Drop it."
Mom didn't look.
Stopped at underground garage. Butler Lee Chung-wan opened car door.
Mom took plush backseat.
Sa Yeonggyo eyed mom, then open elevator door.
"Not getting in?"
Sigh, she boarded beside mom. Car headed down, not up.
"Operation Vacuum?"
Mom eyed her slowly.
"My girl's grown. How'd you know?"
"...Dad's diary."
"Hm, your dad's sentimental. Shouldn't write that in diary."
"Not contamination spread. Why Vacuum? Guards, examinees there."
"Examinees moved. You're last."
"No, more."
"Kim Jun? Not examinee anymore. Villain accomplice, fugitive suspect."
Mom cold.
"Still need due process... Can't Vacuum-kill!"
"You've changed. Opposed Africa dispatch, but Grandpa right? Or awakening test made you defy mom?"
Sa Yeonggyo faced mom squarely.
"What's the real reason?"
"Emergency surgery."
"...What?"
"Doubt you'll get it, but try. You're my daughter, disappointing or not."
She eyed Sa Yeonggyo, then away.
"Truth: Kim Jun's solid kid. Hardworking, talented, battle sense top-notch. If Jushin Raider, I'd welcome arms wide, groom like Yoo Wan-seop. Jushin golden age extended decade. That good.
But sadly, not Raider. No aptitude. Born worm, live as worm. Natural order. Refuse? Fine. Problem: luck lets him fly.
Bigger issue.
Other worms think: look, flying. We can too. Method exists. Proof there. Find it. Fly.
That's happening.
Filthy worms striving to soar. Not bad—world changes, commoners expand limits.
Got it?"
Mom smiled softly at daughter.
"...He's no worm."
"Understood. Next."
Butler floored it. Car rocketed at wall.
"Mom?"
"Fine."
Impact: no crumple, into dark tunnel. Spotlit long road, still speeding.
Lockdown-proof secret passage.
"Shift view. Imagine Dungeon Association as body. Organs, bones, blood.
All vital, not equal value. Especially head. No head, no function. Head impaired? Useless. Finger? Cuttable, inconvenient but okay.
Body part cancer? Spreading to organs? Cut out. Surgery now."
"Kim Jun's cancer?"
"Worse. Far more contagious. Remove fast. That's Operation Vacuum purpose."
"No way."
Car pierced another wall. New underground garage, up now—night street emerged.
Out of Association.
"You know little. Lived seeing wanted. Want true understanding? Ditch solo dream. Join Jushin, face reality. Then you'll see why Vacuum needed."
Smiling mom pulled phone, called.
"Metal gear budget up 11.5%. Reason?"
Sharp tone—Sa Yeonggyo knew Jushin gear guy's panic. Mom scolded her same way, punished harsh.
"Grandpa knows?"
Mom covered phone, whispered.
"Nothing escapes Grandpa."
Back to call.
Sa Yeonggyo to butler:
"Drop me here."
Butler eyed mirror; mom nodded.
Out stepped Sa Yeonggyo.
Mom didn't look. Car glided away.
Sa Yeonggyo feet on asphalt, butt on curb.
Shocking talk, but less surprise... confusion than expected. Long-avoided truths dumped today. Realized solo pursuit to avoid Jushin cog life.
Become Jushin Raider: freedom gone.
Gear part forever.
Back to Africa: free, but can't fight Vacuum injustice.
Sa Yeonggyo hung head.
Lee Taeseop channeled inner power, ripped vending machine, stuffed soda, OJ, snacks into bag. Never dreamed martial arts beaten into him since kid for this.
At lounge-corridor junction, scouting Kim Jun eyed him.
"Hurry. Coming soon."
"Almost."
Kim Jun and Lee Taeseop hid in emergency stairs.
Soon guards rounded corner, passed lounge. None noted empty machine.
"Short break."
Descending, Kim Jun slowed.
Lee Taeseop nodded, dropped bag, offered juice/snacks.
"Cola."
Kim Jun said.
"Juice healthier."
"You drink that, me cola."
Gulped Lee Taeseop's cola, belched loud. Echo boomed narrow stairs—Lee Taeseop burst laughing.
Bag heavy.
72-hour lockdown? Duo fine.
Then radio crackled.
> Black One to Black Five. Respond. Over.
Kim Jun and Lee Taeseop eyed each other.
"Guys we downed: Black Five."
Lee Taeseop said.
"Means not busted yet."
Kim Jun crunched snack.
"Now what, team leader?"
"Scout situation. Risky, but."
"Risky?"
Lee Taeseop baffled.
Villain accomplice frame-up: hide tight. Yet Kim Jun downed guards, stole clothes/radios, stocked food for siege.
Lee Taeseop freaked, called risky—Kim Jun brushed off, pushed through.
"Risky" from him?
...Ultra mega risky.
"What're we doing?"
Cautious Lee Taeseop.
"Trust and follow."
Lee Taeseop nearly said "no."
Should've said no earlier.
Three near-misses later: vent duct over swarming-guard situation center.
I'm quirky, but this guy's next-level psycho. Follow more, pants rip. Why here?
Head spinning, body crawled simple.
Then gruff voice below.
"What're you? Search started ages ago, still no find?"
Thud.
Kicked by Security Chief Jeong Yongmin, Guard Major O Tae-cheon gritted teeth, endured.
"Sorry."
"Know I put you in command?"
"Yes."
"Then deliver! Useless, what can I do? Keep it up, I'll drown you myself."
"Find them."
Major saluted, exited.
Soon hall roars: pissed major chewed platoon leaders.
Kim Jun peeked vent slit.
Leg-kicker sighed heavily. Newcomer entered: attitude flipped. Hands clasped, approached.
Kim Jun recognized.
Jushin's Intelligence Chief Kim Se-wi!
"Here?"
"Still, Section Chief Jeong Yongmin."
"High school grads, but awakening passers different."
Jeong Yongmin awkward laugh.
"Laughing now?"
"N-not..."
Kim Se-wi rolled sleeve, showed right arm. Bandaged, pus/blood oozed—grotesque.
Jeong Yongmin recoiled instinctively.
"That bastard's work. High schooler do this?"
Kim Jun tilted head at arm.
My doing?
Realized late: panic room door jam, Cheonroegeom sparks scorched arm.
"S-sorry."
Bowing Jeong Yongmin.
"Casual thinking why no catch. Not kid—villain accomplice. Attacked Jushin Raider, undermining Association foundation terrorist!"
Kim Se-wi's roar shook ceiling.
All stopped, stared at him/Jeong Yongmin.
Jeong Yongmin glared; back to work.
"...Terrorist?"
Jeong Yongmin asked.
"Puritan ties intel. No proof yet. Catch fast. Seoul terror? Blame on your 'kid' villain? Punished. Worst, Sea Prison."
Sea Prison: villain-proof ocean jail, escape impossible.
Jeong Yongmin paled.
"C-catch now."
"Section Chief, task."
"Say."
Kim Se-wi whispered close; Kim Jun unheard.
Purpose here done, Kim Jun moved; Lee Taeseop followed.
Face in sink, Lee Taeseop's ears rang.
Terrorist.
Puritan.
Accomplice frame maddening; Puritan—terror axis scaring all! Denounced Raider society, bombed subways, planes.
Lifted head, water streaming face.
Teeth ground.
Unbearable.
Out bathroom, eyed scouting Kim Jun.
"Set fire."
"Fire?"
"Unlocks lockdown. Firefighters enter. Chaos escape. Meet dad, expose Jushin/Association plot."
"No unlock?"
"Why not?"
"Evidence-planters, terrorist-framers lift for fire? We die. Guards too."
"..."
Right, angrier. Kim Se-wi would.
"Can't sit."
"How?"
"Cut power first."
"Power?"
Kim Jun closed eyes, extended right hand slightly, focused on Cheonroegeom.
Cheonroegeom floated midair.
Occasional fierce sparks blocked by encasing Spitera dirt sheath. Obeying Jeong Taeksu's will, sword followed like tame pet.
Growing fondness.
No sword training past/future, but owner urge strengthened.
Carry: style explosion.
Dungeon style pinnacle.
Attribute mismatch—no barehand control, but Dual Ring. Heh.
Issue: team leader Kim Se-wi.
Even sans Kim Jun, unlikely yield. Kim Se-wi infamous for obsession.
Rough breaths behind.
Turned: guards red-faced from heavy metal boxes. No inner power, pure muscle—fatigue fast.
Poor bastards.
One guard slipped: box grazed wall.
Jeong Taeksu eyes sharpened.
Shock wake Angry Root? Trouble.
"Hey, careful!"
"...Sorry."
Tsk, hit elevator button. Basement drop simple, but contents—no trust guards.
Doors opened.
First in, checked boxes. Guards set down, wiped sweat, brief rest.
"Huh?"
Guard eyes wide. Jeong Taeksu frowned.
"What?"
"...S-sword vanishing."
Now Jeong Taeksu moved Spitera.
Cheonroegeom half-gone. Dirt gripped tight, but no block summon.
Summon anytime? Want more. Grind bastard, claim sword. Why resummon? Team leader's left hand?
Jeong Taeksu grinned.
Familiar Cheonroegeom tactile quick. Space tore, sword appeared—Lee Taeseop speechless.
Closer: magical.
"Whew."
Tip sparked pop.
"Cheonroegeom cut power?"
"Maybe."
Kim Jun hurled at light switch.
Straight, pierced plastic to wires: sparks flew, bathroom/hall lights flickered. Returned briefly, then total dark.
3 sec: backup gen power, red emergency lights on.
"Bit inconvenient now."
Kim Jun said.
Elevator halted midway. Emergency call: dead.
"Bastard."
Jeong Taeksu sure: Kim Jun, Cheonroegeom power cut.
Rage cooled fast.
Prey spunky: fun amps. Ground-feeling safe fool? Disappoint.
Today fun.
Moved Spitera.
Dirt stuck door, shoved: creak, opened. Shock dropped elevator near 2 floors; guards freaked, wall-clung.
Spitera bridged shaft, sparked slow fall. Mana dirt: precise B2 stop.
"Go."
Jeong Taeksu said.
"Bail if want."
Gwon Jun-sang finished briefing.
All mulled strike captain's bombshell, deciding. First: Son Ju-young.
"Can't miss this."
"Today unleash full, no waste gripe. In."
Demo expert Kwon Jae-hong raised hand.
"Mobile without me?"
Jeon Taek-jo.
"Follow captain to hell."
Heo Jong-seok.
All turned to No Il-seong. Gazes: cough.
"You know? Fuck up, all done. Opponent... Jushin. Jushin. Botch: villain accomplice frame."
"Hate? Bail."
Gwon Jun-sang.
"Captain's temper issue. When said bail? Know enemy to fight. Success: reward fat. Duck later... smash."
"Happen, smash together."
Agents laughed.
"Scout first. Me and Il-seong check, standby."
Gwon Jun-sang.
Situation center buzzed.
Mobile Strike uniform matched guards: Gwon Jun-sang entered unchecked. Scanned lockdown screen, ongoing ops talk.
All fixated Jushin's Kim Se-wi op. Power out: system down, chaos worse. No thought of Gwon Jun-sang amid uproar.
Villain invaded 7F Core Country; op centers Honor Hall. Weird. Director right.
Security degraded.
Seniors risked life for facility protect, VIP guard—most left shady. Replacements: ass-kissers over talent.
Field stars, records ignored; promo to bribe/brownnose pros. Culture shift.
Thinkers, order-questioners purged.
You next out?
Such stares felt.
Turned: glaring face known. Security Chief Jeong Yongmin.
"Hey! You!"
Roar: guards eyed Jeong Yongmin, spotted Gwon Jun-sang.
"No control? Let any mutt in? Fix!"
Guards approached at bellow—but Gwon Jun-sang glare: no touch. Knew strike captain prowess.
Self-exited, to gesturing No Il-seong.
Scouted vibe, No Il-seong scanned, to captain.
"Bad. Special Enforcer Kim Se-wi leads; even majors clueless on op. What?"
"Mobile Strike duty: protect examinee Kim Jun. Down to basement sectors."
"Impossible. Clash Guard Company... casualties. Duty fine, not gun on comrades?"
Valid.
"Check team first. Report here. I scout more."
"Yes, captain."
Gwon Jun-sang strolled, hands back.
Some guards recognized, parted.
Most Security honest, diligent. Ditch Jeong Yongmin/Jo Han-geun ilk: old vibe back quick.
Issue: their backers. Jushin empowers.
Investigation Director Seo Yunhyeong smart—lucky. Jushin push: he falls.
Then steel marble rolled, hit shoe toe. Looked up: emergency stairs. Door ajar, familiar face.
Eyes bulged.
"Investigator Bang..."
"Shh!"
Bang Su-cheol finger-lips, beckoned.
In stairs: recognized man behind. Uramata Guild Master Go Cheolmin.
Plus TV-familiar Yoo Min-jeong, Choi Muhyun. Actions revealed Bang Su-cheol's deed.
"Snuck in?"
"Bingo."
Grinning Bang Su-cheol.
"Uramata too."
"Need help."
Serious Bang Su-cheol to point.
"Talk needed. Unsafe here, follow."
Gwon Jun-sang.
Go Cheolmin eyed Bang Su-cheol: trustworthy?
"Hated in Investigation as much as me."
Bang Su-cheol answered.
"Whole Guard Company basement? For Kim Jun?"
Briefing fired Choi Muhyun up, jumping yell.
Nearby No Il-seong etc. startled, eyed each other.
"Sit."
Go Cheolmin calm.
"Absurd! How Kim Jun accomplice?"
"Sit. Told you."
Go Cheolmin emanated inner power; flinching Choi Muhyun slunk to chair.
Go Cheolmin gut-twisting rage. Wanted storm center, smash Jeong Yongmin.
Reckless days past.
Knew fallout, so arms crossed, eyed explaining Bang Su-cheol.
"Thoughts?"
"Me?"
"Know Investigation. Want to Kim Jun fast. Avoided guard clashes till now, but no time waste. Don't want fight company. What action best... for all?"
Bang Su-cheol eyed burly master. Shoulders shook suppressing fury.
Off. Scale too big for one examinee drop. Accomplice tag, but risks... Jushin overkill why?
Rehashed nagging doubt. Suspicions solidified.
Few reasons: Yeon Ga, Choi Min-su, Yoo Wan-seop... Or Association. Kim Jun bait.
How relay?
Mid guilds'd trade member for Association/Jushin aid, leap mid-tier.
Theirs?
Bang Su-cheol scanned Uramata.
Faces set. Petty gain from truth-dodge won't sway.
Even tipsy good mood.
"Two tasks. First: Uramata to basement."
"Guard Company blind impossible."
No Il-seong.
"7F villain: changes."
Not just him—all straightened, jaws dropped.
Bang Su-cheol grinned on.
"I stir 7F chaos. Mobile Strike deploys: Company can't huddle basement. At least platoon pulled, basement line shakes. Uramata sneaks chaos."
"Viable."
Gwon Jun-sang thumbs-up.
Go Cheolmin inner clap. Bang Su-cheol's turf.
"Second?"
Son Ju-young.
"Who's board? Break big picture. Details post-first. Solo risky, need backup... you."
Pointed No Il-seong.
@
"Why me?"
No Il-seong stacking partitions by window eyed Bang Su-cheol dropping files.
"Logical."
"Spill."
"No options. Captain out, Kwon Jae-hong/Jeon Taek-jo skilled but slow improv. Son Ju-young tenses needless."
"Sigh."
Irrefutable, No Il-seong sighed. Bang Su-cheol lit lighter click.
"Fire here: center knows instant. Mobile intel 1 min, deploy 5. Escape 5 min."
"No 5-min spot."
"Yes."
Grin, tossed lighter.
Files ignited, flame to partitions. Heat hit outer lockdown magic circle: blare shook air.
"Go."
Bang Su-cheol.
No Il-seong sighed again, followed.
Security Chief Jeong Yongmin eyes bulged at siren wail.
"What?"
Whirled glare: Guard Major O Tae-cheon rushed answer.
"7F issue. Massive heat detected—villain possible."
"What? Deploy Mobile Strike. Send guard platoon up."
"Yes."
O Tae-cheon radioed 1st Platoon Leader.
"Major. Pull forces, check 7F. Villain likely. Tell 2nd/3rd Platoon Leaders send too. Over."
> Major, no piecemeal—send 2nd full? 3rd basement hold. We 1st barricade. Over.
1st Platoon Leader Kim Seong-jin Major irked O Tae-cheon.
Dodge danger sly. Rage tempted, but dad recalled: suppressed.
"Do it. Over."
> Relaying. Over.
1st leader's glee faint.
Siren hit: Go Cheolmin checked watch.
Exact Bang Su-cheol time. Cracked door, eyed Honor Hall descent. Barricade guards reacted as planned.
Radio orders.
Grabbed guns, prepped. Villain-terror faces.
Honor Hall/basement paths: seven. Two central stairs, three elevators, two emergency. All barricaded; stairs guards hated.
Desk/chair/partition guards grabbed gear, left.
All 2nd Platoon.
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