Dungeon & Commander (180)
Jeong Yongmin let out a sigh and headed to the bathroom.
The security guards waited outside.
Having pulled down his pants and sat on the toilet, he pondered who would make a good replacement while waiting for his stomach to settle. The higher up you climbed in this massive organization, the more power you had to place people you trusted under you.
'By rights, it should be the deputy head of Security Division 2, but that prick's too cocky. The deputy head of Division 3 would be better. Though there might be some backlash... Maybe I should strip Division 2's deputy of his position while I'm at it? Show everyone what I'm capable of, and the rest will shut their mouths.'
Thud. Thud. Dull thumps echoed faintly.
Strange. Jeong Yongmin opened his mouth.
"Sergeant Han?"
No answer.
Then came the sound of someone entering the bathroom. Footsteps stopped right in front of where Jeong Yongmin was sitting.
"Which bastard dares..."
The door exploded.
Jeong Yongmin stared at the grinning man standing there, words failing him.
"Y-You...?"
"Whew, what a stench."
Bang Su-cheol pinched his nose. As he stepped aside, No Il-seong and Kwon Jae-hong charged at Jeong Yongmin.
Security Company Commander O Tae-cheon stomped his feet in frustration while watching the situation center screen.
Not only had Choi Min-su—the pillar of Cheonhondan, the strongest tanker—breached the barrier, but he'd punched straight through the building's outer wall, sealed by the lockdown.
With no precedent, he had no idea how to respond, and the division head who needed to issue orders had vanished without a trace.
First Platoon Leader Major Kim Seong-jin approached.
"...We looked, but we can't find where the division head went."
"Did you look properly?"
"I'll check again."
"Hurry."
"Yes, Company Commander."
O Tae-cheon glanced at the Security Division 1 staff.
Deputy Park Dong-cheol and Agent Yoon Kyung-ah met his eyes but quickly looked away. In a crisis, issuing orders meant bearing responsibility if things went wrong.
The section chiefs of Security Division 1 reacted the same. No one stepped forward.
'No need for me to take the bullet in this atmosphere.'
O Tae-cheon leaned back in his plush chair and checked his watch.
Finally opening his eyes, Jeong Yongmin saw a massive TV. A man in armor wielded a sword against a monster—it took him a moment to realize it was a video game.
'Where... am I...?'
Bang Su-cheol grabbed a beer from the fridge, sat down in front of him, cracked it open, took a sip, and eyed the Security Division 1 chief.
"You with us?"
"...You!"
Furious, Jeong Yongmin tried to stand, but his wrist hurt.
Handcuffs. One on his wrist, the other linked to the sofa armrest.
Turning his head, he spotted the Mobile Strike Team members sitting or standing nearby, watching him.
It all became clear.
"H-How dare you touch me? Are you insane? Just wait. I'll make sure you all rot at the bottom of Haegok—I swear on my name."
"I've never liked you. Wondered why, but now I get it. You can't tell shit from bean paste."
Rage boiled over, but Jeong Yongmin analyzed his situation with unusual clarity. Why had they kidnapped him? They wanted something.
He remembered Bang Su-cheol's state.
No hope of promotion. Isolated as an outsider, even from close colleagues. Practically ostracized in Investigation Division 1. Despite his stellar skills, how furious and frustrated must he be?
Jeong Yongmin looked at Bang Su-cheol.
"I can make you head of Investigation Division 1."
Bang Su-cheol's eyes changed.
"How? With Security Division 1 under your thumb?"
"I'll be deputy security director soon. You know what that means."
"Director's line?"
"Exactly. If I ask, the director will listen—and that means the investigation director can't refuse either."
Jeong Yongmin recognized the Mobile Strike Team behind Bang Su-cheol. They were in on it out of their own grudges.
He offered to elevate the strike team directly under the director. Strike Team Leader Nam Jun-sang's expression shifted instantly. No one could refuse such a sweet deal. Who stands firm against money and power?
Bang Su-cheol and Nam Jun-sang exchanged glances. Jeong Yongmin figured they'd talk privately, but they didn't.
Bang Su-cheol uncuffed him.
Rubbing his wrist, Jeong Yongmin forced a smile. Once he escaped, those promises would be trash. He'd use every authority to dump Bang Su-cheol, Nam Jun-sang, and the entire strike team into Haegok.
"One more thing?"
Bang Su-cheol asked slyly.
Jeong Yongmin nodded, cursing inwardly.
"Shoot."
"Who're you putting in Investigation Divisions 2 and 3? While you're at it, tell us your personnel plans."
Jeong Yongmin smirked. He knew why Bang Su-cheol asked.
Who became section chief shifted the political landscape. Interest in fellow chiefs before even becoming one? The guy had a knack for office politics.
Poor bastard. Swollen with dreams, clueless about what was coming.
Jeong Yongmin named two men tied to him—loyal to the death on his word.
He even revealed key Security Division posts. Truth was his ticket out.
"Got it. Sorry for the trouble today. Please keep your word."
"Of course. I always honor my promises."
Stepping out of the strike team lounge, Jeong Yongmin barely held back laughter.
Unbelievable—the idiots actually believed promises extracted under duress!
Fearful they'd catch on, he walked slowly, casually. After two corners, he bolted.
At the situation center, Jeong Yongmin called out.
"Major O!"
O Tae-cheon glanced over with a sour face.
Irritated, Jeong Yongmin was about to snap when a familiar voice crackled over the speakers.
―H-How dare you!
―Pardon the rudeness. Don't get too mad. Though you probably will anyway.
The playful tone was familiar too.
'The director... then Bang Su-cheol. No way that bastard dragged the director into it?'
Crashing sounds. Groans.
―Borrowing your phone, Director. Always grateful for your generosity.
Bang Su-cheol.
―He there yet?
No Il-seong from the strike team.
―Who?
―That dumb division chief.
―Oh, Jeong Yongmin? Probably. He'd have run scared.
―What face'll he make when he realizes everyone heard him?
Laughter followed.
Jeong Yongmin trembled. Those bastards—he'd make them pay.
Only then did the Security Division 1 chief realize the room's mood. His handcuffed confessions had broadcast to everyone via speakers.
He'd vowed to purge most of them—they were furious.
'Damn.'
Skyla stepped out of the studio and called the guild master again.
Still no answer. Same for Yoo Min-jeong and Choi Muhyun. She hadn't even tried Yeom Sang-taek.
A sigh escaped her.
The PD approached.
"Five minutes to air."
Skyla nodded.
With the lockdown, Queen & King had swiftly switched formats. From light entertainment predicting awakening test scores and examinee backstories to hard news on the lockdown breaking developments—National MC Cha Yeong-woo's smooth handling kept it seamless.
Skyla still appeared as an expert panelist. She'd resisted bolting to Association HQ multiple times, convinced her role was here.
She entered the studio and took her seat.
The front monitor showed the glowing Association building under lockdown. Zooming in revealed the crumbled barrier and hole in one side.
Choi Min-su's trace, where he'd yelled, "Villain there!" and broken through.
No camera caught the villain.
Some staff suspected Choi Min-su used a villain to infiltrate, but no one voiced it—words meant accountability.
Her phone buzzed on her lap. She glanced: unknown number, spam likely. Ignored it, but a text followed.
Shocked, Skyla called back immediately.
―It's me, Investigator Bang.
"You're really inside the Association?"
Skyla stood and stepped out of the lights. The PD glared, but she brushed it off.
―Yeah. Where are you, Skyla?
"At the station."
Skyla briefly explained staying for the program.
―Heaven's on our side.
Laughter in his voice.
Skyla listened quietly. She learned why she couldn't reach the guild master or Pink Team, and insane details on the underground operation.
Her jaw dropped.
"Causing another broadcast incident?"
The PD's voice was sharp-edged.
Understandable—he'd sweated today. Skyla decided to gift him.
"Look at me."
Dragging the PD outside, she revealed partial internal events. Knowing broadcast dynamics, she held back the full story.
"...That certain?"
His voice trembled.
"I have a source inside."
"Hm."
The PD pondered.
Skyla watched with a smile.
Broadcasters always conclude one way. No missing this scoop. For pressure, she called Daily Raider editor Choi Yeon-hee beside him.
Partial reveal to her too. Choi Yeon-hee's veteran poise outclassed the PD—write the article now.
"...Let's do it."
The PD's words.
Skyla returned to her seat. A journalist her whole career, she'd never broken a scoop live—always print or online.
Briefed by the PD, Cha Yeong-woo faced the camera.
"News from Dungeon Association HQ: regarding examinee Kim Jun, who passed the awakening test fully. Skyla."
Cha Yeong-woo turned slightly toward her.
Deep breath steadying her, Skyla nodded at him, then stared into the red light.
"I'll now report on Uramata Guild examinee Kim Jun and the Association lockdown. Viewers, this will shock you. Judge for yourselves."
Skyla detailed the Honor Hall souvenir ceremony chaos: wax dolls rampaging, examinees nearly dying, saved by Kim Jun, Sa Yeonggyo, and others' wits.
PD's face bloomed—the ratings spiked.
Next: Uramata Guild breaching the villain-triggered lockdown for their examinee. Illegal, yet she framed the guild master's decision beautifully.
Climax.
Skyla relentlessly detailed the horrific underground operation, playing Bang Su-cheol's recording file live from her phone.
PD's jaw dropped. He'd never imagined this—might not have aired if known.
Wrapping up.
"Ju Shin pulls the strings on all this illegality. Proof: Ju Shin's Medici Team Leader Kim Se-wi appointed special executor. Ju Shin must come clean. This has been Skyla from Uramata Guild."
Five seconds after Skyla finished, the stunned PD cut to commercial.
Skyla couldn't stand. She knew exactly the storm she'd unleashed.