Dungeon & Commander (233)
Do Jin-yong found it utterly horrifying.
In the end, he joined in moving the simulator. It was so heavy that it had him gasping for breath right up to his chin.
He couldn't believe that Kim Jun and Choi Muhyun had hauled this thing by themselves. Choi Muhyun made some sense—he was a tanker with a solid build—but skinny Kim Jun? Where the hell did that kind of strength come from?
Kim Jun tossed him a bottle of water.
The cool liquid made him feel alive again.
Do Jin-yong voiced his curiosity.
"How're you planning the team setup? With three team leaders joining, Pink Team's gotta change too, right?"
"Sent three people out."
Kim Jun said.
"Sent them? Where to?"
"Three teams."
Do Jin-yong got it.
Three team leaders had come here, so three members were being sent to other teams in exchange.
"Who?"
"Go Cheolmin, Sa Yeonggyo, Yoo Min-jeong."
"...What?"
Do Jin-yong was stunned. He'd looked into the members when he learned he'd be joining Pink Team.
Go Cheolmin had been Uramata's guild master and a famous tanker back in the day. It was shocking enough that such a guy had become a regular team member in Pink Team, but sending that top-tier tanker to another team? Unbelievable.
And Sa Yeonggyo and Yoo Min-jeong, no less!
The granddaughter of the Association President and Yoo Wan-seop's daughter.
That wiped out 80% of Pink Team's firepower.
Do Jin-yong glanced at Kim Jun's profile.
'This guy's insane. Totally lost it.'
Then came the sound of a truck.
Kim Jun stood first and headed out, with Do Jin-yong and Choi Muhyun following. The truck was loaded with tables, chairs, cabinets, file boxes, a full-length mirror—random stuff that could pass for moving-day clutter.
Two people climbed down from the truck.
Skyla and Yeom Sang-taek.
Go Cheolmin, Sa Yeonggyo, and Yoo Min-jeong were out... and these two were staying on the team.
Do Jin-yong let out a sigh.
"Hey, Do Team Leader. Long time no see? Oh, wait—you're not anymore. Anyway, good to see ya."
Skyla stuck out her hand.
Do Jin-yong took it reluctantly. She had a rep as a reporter who hounded people relentlessly until she got what she wanted.
"Where're An Seong-ho and Bang Yun-a?"
"On their way, probably."
"Loosen up. Banmal's Pink Team tradition."
Skyla poked his arm and grabbed a basket of odds and ends, heading into the warehouse.
Kim Jun and Choi Muhyun were hauling a massive fridge. Do Jin-yong grabbed a heavy table whole and followed.
They'd moved about half the load when An Seong-ho and Bang Yun-a arrived.
Do Jin-yong glared at An Seong-ho.
"Why're you so late?"
"What's this?"
"Can't you tell?"
He tossed gloves at An Seong-ho and grabbed one side of the large mirror. Quick on the uptake, An Seong-ho lifted the other, and they carried it inside together.
Bang Yun-a stood with arms crossed, frowning at the bustling workers.
Do Jin-yong knew her temper well. She yelled first and swung fists if things didn't go her way. Deciding to join Pink Team must've bruised her pride already, and training in a dump like this? Infuriating.
He'd had no choice himself.
To stay team leader... he'd even had to play dead.
So if someone else threw a fit in his place, watching might just ease this frustration.
"Kim Team Leader, a word."
Bang Yun-a called out.
Kim Jun wiped his sweat with a towel and approached. Do Jin-yong pretended to move stuff nearby, ears perked.
"What the hell is this?"
"This is the new Uramata Raid Center. Soon as we unpack, training starts."
"You're kidding."
Her hand went to her hip. Voice rising.
"Dead serious."
Kim Jun grinned.
Even under her death glare, his smile didn't fade.
'This guy's got balls. Not even flinching in front of that Bang lady.'
He turned at footsteps—An Seong-ho and Choi Muhyun had grabbed loads and sidled up. The 'triple tankers' exchanged knowing looks.
"Raids a joke? Team reshuffle a prank?"
Bang Yun-a bellowed.
Even Skyla and Yeom Sang-taek paused inside to watch.
Do Jin-yong pulled out a 50,000-won bill and whispered.
"Bang Team Leader's bailing—50k on it."
"Staying—50k."
"Me too, on staying—50k."
Choi Muhyun and An Seong-ho, quick with their cash, clearly didn't grasp how viciously crazy Bang Yun-a could be.
"What looks like a joke?"
Calm question.
Maybe that eerie tone made her rage seem even fiercer.
"Look around! This a raid center? It's a warehouse—a factory annex. What're we doing here? Forget the reshuffle. I'm out."
Bang Yun-a stormed toward the entrance without a backward glance.
Do Jin-yong figured Kim Jun would chase and persuade her. She'd hurl abuse and bail.
He was wrong.
Kim Jun just kept moving his load like nothing happened.
"Aw, man. Lame. I win."
Do Jin-yong pocketed the cash.
"You sure?"
Choi Muhyun smirked meaningfully and hauled four chairs inside.
Snap.
An orchid leaf broke.
He'd been wiping it with a soft cloth when his grip tightened unconsciously.
Song Si-heon glared at the orchid he'd nurtured so long. Intense urge to chuck it in the trash, but the intact leaves stopped him.
Leaves grow back.
Given time, it could return to normal.
That thought cracked the knot in his mind.
Blue Lightning had nearly been booted from the expedition in this raid. They'd lasted under a minute in the relic adaptation test.
If Kim Jun hadn't suggested 'team reconfiguration,' Cheonroehoe would've faced expulsion's disgrace.
They'd dodged disaster, letting Blue Lightning join An Seong-ho's team for the raid—worst case averted.
When he first heard? He wanted to disband entirely. Better to scrap Blue Lightning and start fresh than suffer humiliation.
That was like trashing the orchid over one broken leaf.
Right—reorganize and restore it.
But how?
One answer.
Replace the team leader.
He'd told Do Jin-yong countless times, clearly. Increase training, focus in sims. Fell on deaf ears.
Do Jin-yong even griped about interfering with his authority.
Leave the rot, and the whole team dies.
Who next for Blue Lightning? By seniority, second tanker Seo Sang-cheol.
Could he handle it? Swapping without proof he'd outperform Do Jin-yong? Wasted time, more chaos.
Then, one person came to mind.
His head cleared.
If that person led, Blue Lightning could surpass Amnesia or Reinforce.
Song Si-heon checked his watch.
One hour—he'd arrive. Nail the prep, and this crisis becomes a blessing.
A knock.
"Come in."
Song Si-heon said.
Second tanker Seo Sang-cheol entered the master room.
"You called?"
"Sit."
"How're the team members?"
"Team leader's suddenly gone, joining An Seong-ho's team for the raid—everyone's confused. But as interim leader, I've got it under control. No worries. When do we head to Gwanpo Guild?"
Eager Seo Sang-cheol.
No raider passes up team leader. He burned for it, no spot available.
"Listen up."
Song Si-heon explained: Do Jin-yong out, Pink Team's member in—Go Cheolmin—as interim team leader.
Seo Sang-cheol's face flushed with rage, glaring at the master.
"Why should I step aside? No leader, so it's mine by right. Why an outsider? Makes no sense."
He was pissed.
Song Si-heon sighed. Understood, but narrow view. Broader perspective, he'd welcome it.
Tedious, but no explanation, no convincing this thick-headed tanker. He'd regret missing this.
"What shape's Cheonroehoe in, you think?"
"Not good."
The tanker met his eyes.
"Frankly, at this rate... we might shut down by year's end. Or early next."
A bit exaggerated, but same outcome—no guilt.
"What? Amnesia, Reinforce are fine, aren't they?"
Seo Sang-cheol's shocked face toad-like. The kind you wanted to squash.
"Sigh, pretty on the outside, rotten within. Both teams."
"I... didn't know."
"Cheonroehoe folds, what happens to you? Lucky, transfer somewhere. But luck needs skill. Right?"
"...Insulting me now?"
Seething, but holding back.
This dumb toad knew his skills wouldn't land better gigs easily. Otherwise, he'd storm out.
God, wanted to yell, "Yeah, looking down on you, asshole. Piss off if you hate it." But that'd close the guild for real.
"Course not. Just letting you know the guild's rough."
"Guild troubles and interim leader... what's the link? No clue."
"You like Do Jin-yong?"
"Huh?"
"Think he's doing his job?"
Silence from Seo Sang-cheol.
Do Jin-yong just yelled "Fighting!"—skipped training, obsessed over hair instead. Half that passion on drills, no mess like this.
57 seconds to wipe in relic test.
Song Si-heon pulled every connection to bury the shame. Proper sim training post-update? At least 2-3 minutes.
Gauging Seo Sang-cheol's face, he handed prepped docs.
Go Cheolmin's active raid records.
Level 5 tanker leader—not top like Yoo Wan-seop, Choi Min-su, Lee Hwan—but steady performer. Exceptional raider.
Raid results proved it.
Stable earnings, minimal injuries—clear strengths. Guilds scouted him hard as leader.
"Impressive. But Uramata tanker. Why come here?"
Song Si-heon glared.
This is why he'd hated tankers since day one. Brainless headbutters. Rare smart ones like Choi Min-su; most like Seo Sang-cheol—no thinkers.