Dungeon & Commander (224)
Hwang In-su glanced at Jason.
“I think the same.”
Jason, speaking with unusual clarity and precision, unlike his typical style.
“I agree as well.”
Han Ye-jin quickly jumped in.
Jeong Myeong-ho's face was flushed beet red, as if it might explode at the slightest prod, while he glared at the team leaders.
Hwang In-su frowned.
Jeong Myeong-ho needed to back down.
The problem was that this arrogant captain prized his pride above everything else. If he wasn't sharp enough—if he chose to ignore the bloody consequences just to save face—blood might splatter everywhere.
Keeping Blue Lightning as part of the expedition would make it tough to recruit Ju Shin's Mars. That alone put Jeong Myeong-ho in a corner where retracting his decision would be hard.
A clash between the captain and the team leaders.
It wouldn't end cleanly.
Hwang In-su turned to Mun Jong-seong, his old friend and Pacific Team's main tanker. Mun Jong-seong caught the team leaders' intent right away and signaled his team members to move.
If they slipped out of this fight fast, Pacific Team's strength would stay intact. As long as the team was safe, Hwang In-su could escape this hellhole without a scratch.
Water Creation kept expanding, steadily encircling Jeong Myeong-ho's body.
It was a powder keg, one spark from detonation.
“How about reorganizing the teams?”
It was Kim Jun.
Jeong Myeong-ho's eyebrow twitched.
“What?”
“If Blue Lightning agrees, we could redistribute them to Pink Team, An Seong-ho Team, and Medusa Team. That counts as officially joining the expedition, but it reduces the team count by one, so everyone's happy, right?”
Kim Jun explained swiftly.
Hwang In-su's jaw dropped.
It was a brilliantly cunning proposal.
Dissolve Blue Lightning as a team, then split its members across the others. Jeong Myeong-ho couldn't object if it let him snag Mars.
As far as Hwang In-su knew, it didn't violate any rules. A clever loophole, but nothing scandalous.
“Ahem, not bad.”
Jeong Myeong-ho grasped it immediately.
Kim Jun turned to Do Jin-yong.
“That work for you?”
“...Yeah.”
Do Jin-yong nodded. He knew full well that rejecting it meant a humiliating boot from the expedition.
Water Creation vanished.
Jeong Myeong-ho's face returned to its usual pollock-pale hue.
“I'll leave the assignments to Team Leader Kim. Keep it quiet—no noise.”
“Yes, sir!”
Kim Jun threw a playful salute.
Somehow, that broke the tension completely.
Hwang In-su couldn't tear his eyes from Kim Jun.
Kim Jun had nearly unleashed a bloodbath. If he hadn't opposed Blue Lightning Guild's expulsion, the standoff with Jeong Myeong-ho never would've ignited.
That tragedy ended before it began—thanks to Kim Jun's reorganization gambit, averting a brutal showdown.
This guy's straight-up selling poison then peddling the antidote. What the hell is he?
Hwang In-su's mood soured.
Process be damned—Kim Jun had seized control of the situation. Worse, everyone had seen it. Not just the team leaders, but the rank-and-file raiders too. They'd get the significance.
With that one decisive move here today, Kim Jun scored an incalculable win.
The trust of those low-rank raiders. Dozens stole glances at him, their faces lit with admiration and respect—unspoken, but plain.
If the captains and leaders had thrown down, these grunts would've suffered most. They'd be the ones spilling the blood.
Of course they'd feel grateful to the guy who stopped it cold.
That grated on Hwang In-su most of all.
Still, he masked it with a friendly smile and sidled up to Do Jin-yong.
“Sorry about that, Team Leader Do. As sub-captain, I dropped the ball—let this mess happen.”
“...Nah. That was all the captain's call. Not your fault.”
Hwang In-su eyed Kim Jun.
“Team Leader Kim, you've got my respect—again. We'd have been in deep shit without you today.”
“Just got lucky.”
“Lady Luck must love you. Looking forward to working with you.”
“The favor's mine. Keep an eye out for us, yeah?”
Even after defusing the crisis, Kim Jun didn't gloat—not a hint. It only fueled Hwang In-su's irritation. Experience had taught him guys like this were the scariest.
He'd dig deeper into Kim Jun first—then decide: crush him, or bring him on board.
If the kid fit in his orbit, a talent like that would be gold.
But if his vessel dwarfed Hwang's?
Smash it with a hammer.