Manjae Faction (4): Midnight Assault
Deep into the night. We were hunkered down on the rooftop of a building near Cheonho Pharmaceuticals.
"Shay, you ready?"
"It's just a hunch, but yeah, they'll show."
...But they didn't. Fortunately, Shay didn't gripe over the radio. I let out a long yawn, wondering if we should take turns catching some shut-eye.
That's when Blackie's voice crackled through from monitoring the cameras.
Vehicles pierced the darkness, gathering one by one in front of Cheonho Pharmaceuticals.
"Got eyes on them."
I gripped the rifle Shay had handed me this time, thinking to myself. Ah... sniping really is the best. This setup was a suppressed sniper rifle with a night-vision scope and subsonic rounds. Not quite as good as my first gun, Evergreen, but still a classic.
I shouldered the rifle and pressed myself flat against the rooftop. Through the scope, I spotted six cars parked in front of Cheonho Pharmaceuticals. Doors opened, and nearly twenty guys piled out.
Soon Shay's report came in.
"Let's just watch for now."
I had no idea why a bunch of gangsters had shown up. As we observed, one of them popped the trunk. Inside a wooden crate, packed in foam, was some round object.
"These crazy bastards..."
"Shay... cops are gonna swarm this place. Prep an exit route."
Before I could explain, the gangster yanked the pin from the round object and hurled it toward the Cheonho Pharmaceuticals building.
BOOM!
"Shit..."
The bomb detonated, and the twenty or so gangsters started pouring into the building. ...We hadn't prepped for these guys, but if they kept this up, they'd ruin our plan to draw out Seibul.
No real meaning to it, but channeling the spirit of Cheonho Pharmaceuticals' CEO Ibitu, I radioed Shay.
"For now, stop them from lobbing any more grenades. Light 'em up."
I exhaled halfway, held steady, and squeezed the trigger. Target: the gangster about to pull a grenade pin.
Thwack!
A dull thud, like a plastic clump hitting the ground. The bullet slammed into the hand gripping the grenade.
"Argh!"
"What the—? Someone's here!"
The panicked gangsters ducked behind walls or drew pistols. I prioritized the most dangerous ones.
Thwack! Thwack!
Dropped the guy about to spray the street with his pistol, then the one stubbornly trying to chuck a grenade. With Shay providing cover fire, most hunkered down, not moving.
Then someone stirred.
Thwack!
Fired the sniper, but it ricocheted off what looked like metal plating. Peering closer, about five guys had rushed deep into Cheonho Pharmaceuticals. Trajectory... they were heading for the server room.
No choice—I set the rifle down and radioed Shay.
"Keep supporting from there."
"Yeah, gotta see this myself."
I bolted down to the first floor. Whatever the Manjae Faction was after, sniping wouldn't cut it for confirmation.
"Blackie, drive the car for me."
I hopped in and was about to move when a chill hit me.
"Freeze. Step out slow."
A pistol gleamed through the window. Fucked up... Still, I casually rolled down the window.
"Who the hell are you?"
"We're the ones you've been looking for."
Three guys blocked the front of the car. Only one had a gun—lucky break. He pressed it to my head.
"Do what we say nice and easy, and you'll—"
Was jamming guns to heads the trend these days? "Yeah, got it..."
Pretending to comply, I shoved his wrist hard.
Bang!
Bullet hit the dashboard. While he panicked, I yanked his arm inside the car.
Thud!
"You little... shit..."
His head neared the window—I smashed it with my elbow. Meanwhile, the other two fumbled for their guns in shock. Perfect—gun right in front of me. I used his grip like a stock and fired at the pair.
Bang! Bang!
"Gah!"
"Argh!"
One more for the jaw-wobbling guy, then I snatched his pistol.
"Blackie, let's roll. Sitrep?"
"Tail 'em. Tell Shay to clean up these clowns."
I glanced at the guys on the ground. But the car wouldn't budge forward. Blackie sounded troubled.
"What? How do we chase?"
"No way..."
I knew what she meant without her saying it. I slid into the driver's seat. Manual override for emergencies.
I muttered under my breath. "...Did this in Chase Field."
Worked the gearshift and floored it.
Crunch!
"Ugh..."
"Yeah, nothing..."
Couldn't admit I'd smashed into a wall from stomping too hard. I eased the wheel, pulling onto the street.
"Nav briefing!"
Swallowed hard and slammed the pedal. The car accelerated sharply onto the road. Thank God Seoul's population had dipped—late-night streets were emptier than expected.
Soon I spotted the convoy.
"What do ya mean? With this... Agh!"
Swerved to correct, gripped the pistol left-handed, leaned out the window, and fired.
Bang!
"This is... trickier than it looks..."
Bang! Bang!
Rounds punched into their trunk. They noticed the tail—they split from the pack. Two rear cars slowed, closing in on me.
Screech! Crunch!
Idiots ramming me. Head spinning, I floored it—pulled ahead before round two. But no time to celebrate. Sandwiched front and back now. They leaned out windows, pistols ready. Lead car pulling away.
"Got it..."
Said it, but no clue. Only instinct: mash gas. Before their shots, I stomped.
Too hard—hit the brake by mistake.
Screeech!
"Whoa!"
Car fishtailed wildly. Stop here, and I'm Swiss cheese. Mid-spin, glimpsed back—gangsters aiming.
Breathed, aimed pistol.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Spinning car, firing pistol. One hit a leaning gangster, two more at drivers. "Gah!" Bullets shattered windshields, blood sprayed. Their cars smashed each other, ricocheted into a streetlight and transformer.
BOOM!
Explosion-like roar—street went dark. Blackie yelped in surprise.
"Hoo... position update."
Body aching from impact. Steadied the car, accelerated again. Heading to Seoul's outskirts. Familiar sights—the abandoned building complex where we'd first been tipped off by the Manjae Faction.
Caught the tail of the lead car.
"Enough running!"
Bit of annoyance, shot the tire. Driving-shooting felt natural now—tire blew instantly.
Pop!
Car crested a dirt pile, flipped. I grabbed the sniper rifle and bailed out. Occupants crawled from the wreck.
There was Choi Manjae, Manjae Faction boss.
"Y-you... Block him, you idiots!"
"Huh?"
Choi bolted. His goons stared at me, guns in hand.
"Drop your weapons and hit the dirt."
"Y-yes, sir!"
They chucked pistols like toxic waste. I kicked them far away.
I tossed cable ties to the prone gangsters.
"Bind each other's limbs in 10 seconds. Go!"
"G-go!"
Confirmed ties, headed inside. Up to the second floor—Choi Manjae was right where we'd first met, but clutching a data device instead of sitting.
"St-stop! One more step, and I smash this."
"..."
"Backups too—even Gong Isa's copy— all wiped. This what you wanted, right?"
Choi screamed, blood trickling down his face.
"It's all that bastard Gong Isa's fault! I did nothing wrong. I followed your orders!"
"G-give me one chance! Or take this and let me go!"
Flailing with the data drive. I dropped the truth I hadn't told the others.
"Uh... I'm not with that Seibul group or whatever."
"What?"
"Wrong guy."
His face twisted.
"No way... then how'd you move like..."
Choi never finished. In a flash, a thick blade erupted from his chest.
"Guhk..."
Heart pierced, he slumped like a puppet with cut strings, blood spraying.
Bang!
I fired at the sudden intruder. Bullet deflected before contact, vanished. Nothing there now.
"Who are you?"
If no one was there, Choi wouldn't be dead. Instinct screamed: real danger.
Dove forward on reflex.
Shing!
Blade sliced air. Spun and fired—something shimmered into view. A mirage-like figure. Thick blade in hand, helmet with red-glowing eyes instead of sockets, glossy black bodysuit.
He spoke—voice like grinding metal, low and rough.
"Who are you? Traitor?"
"Traitor? Who the hell are you?"
No time for chat. Before I readjusted aim, he closed faster than expected. Blocked with rifle—dropped it, backpedaled. Good call: blade sheared it like butter. Chilling thought if I'd just parried.
"Hoo..."
Drew backup pistol anyway.
Bang!
Still missed. Assault resumed. I twisted every which way dodging.
"Ngh..."
Weird foe. Swing slowed drastically, then snapped fast. Dodging hell—clothes shredded.
"Hah... hoo..."
Backing up, realized: few more steps, over the edge. Blue tarp below, but no surviving that blade.
All or nothing.
Charged before he did. He swung on reflex...
Saw this in a football highlight.
Planted feet, launched. Blade grazed back. Spun in, closed distance. No faith in bullets up close, but maybe grapples.
"Hrah!"
All strength—hurled him out. Tarp ripped as he flew. Fired before he grabbed scaffolding.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Emptied clip into connections. Structure buckled.
"Impressive."
He dropped toward ground, tossing a compliment. No way a second-story fall killed him. Watched him flee the building instead of attacking.
Eye contact—promised a rematch.
"Ah... hate to meet again."
Why do bad feelings always ring true? Sigh—then a voice behind.
"B2! You okay?"
"Yeah... probably?"
Shay arrived. Finally felt it was over. Fought that freak too hard? Memories after fuzzy, like drunk.
Woke to Cheonho news. Manjae Faction's stunt spun as gas explosion. Fake internship meant fake commuting.
Days later. Prepping another phony shift—unknown sender text.
Too casual for Conal. Recognized the tone, muttered a teammate's name.
"Shay?"