My Land
It had firmed up nicely, but it was still just a touch soft and squishy. A little more time, and it should be perfect.
Knowing that employees from the 18th Branch had shown up made me antsy despite myself. I wondered what kind of assholes they'd sent.
Paat!
Moments later, I stepped through the mirror passage and emerged into the inner quarters of Jecheon Palace. Opening the door again to step outside, sure enough, Cherubim's intel had been spot on.
A line of sharply dressed men and women in suits stood spread out in front of the palace's main gate, the Hunter Stock Company logo emblazoned clearly on their clothes.
Gulp.
A few of my Safety Planning Department subordinates swallowed hard. The faces of the 18th Branch crew facing us were just as tense. We were all sizing each other up warily.
No need to grovel. Our numbers were about even, after all.
The most standout figure among the suits was the one at the front. A guy with the top two buttons of his dress shirt undone and his black hair slicked back in a pompadour.
He scanned us over and opened his mouth.
"What a ridiculous lineup. You kids playing house or something?"
Probably commenting on our outfits. My team was decked out in the clothes we'd gotten from Sangjo Pyoguk.
His subordinates behind him burst into laughter at his words.
"What, learning some kung fu? Hyah! Hyah! Hyah!"
"Hahaha!"
"A bunch of clowns, that's what they are."
"You filming a movie, you idiots?!"
"Kuhahaha!"
The pompadour guy swept his gaze over us again, sneering.
"Clearing one single stage and thinking you own the place? Matching outfits and everything."
His crew chimed in.
"Right? Then this branch manager pops up outta nowhere saying the 17th Branch stole our stage. We were wondering what the big deal was."
"Thought maybe some hotshots, but nah—just a bunch of morons playing in the sand. Puhaha!"
"Hahaha!"
"Too scared to go deeper, so you pick an easy stage and pretend like 'I'm working~'?"
"Uhahaha!"
"Editor-in-Chief nailed it!"
"Yeah! Gotta be why they're dressed like that joke."
That's when I mulled over what one of pompadour's underlings had let slip. Editor-in-Chief?
"Media and Publications Department?"
"And?"
"What. Trash department."
"……?"
Silence blanketed the area in an instant.
Pfft. Heh heh.
A few subordinates who knew my history with Media and Publications stifled laughs.
"Hey, if you're a journalist, stay at your desk and scribble articles. What're you doing here, Editor-in-Chief?"
"S-Sir... Section Chief."
"They're editors. Mind your manners..."
"Quiet."
I shot my team a sharp glare. These trolling bastards! What, you wanna blab that I'm a section chief? I'll remember your faces— we'll settle up later. One of them was even the guy who'd rushed me earlier and gotten his head bashed in. Looked like re-education was in order from the start.
And sure enough, Editor-in-Chief Han Sang-ho shot back snidely.
"Section Chief? Hmm. This just got a whole lot easier. Heh heh."
But it might not be all bad. If it made him drop his guard, that was plenty.
"Just wipe 'em all out quick, Chief!"
"Yeah! No need for some rep match even."
"Whoa, whoa, hold up. Gotta at least hear what they've got planned, right?"
"Haha. As merciful as ever, Chief."
Pompadour straightened up, looking down at me—Kim Jeongha.
"Hey, Section Chief."
"Yeah? Editor."
"Ha! The balls on this punk, talking to a superior like that."
"You're not my superior."
He smirked.
"Fair enough. First time meeting someone from another branch who doesn't grovel right away—maybe we should introduce ourselves. I'm Han Sang-ho, Editor-in-Chief of the Media and Publications Department, 18th Branch."
Han Sang-ho. A familiar-sounding name.
"Korean by any chance?"
"Korea? The hell's that?"
I shook my head. Can't judge origins by a name alone.
"Never mind. Kim Jeongha, Section Chief of the Operations Control Division, Safety Planning Department, 17th Branch."
"What..."
Han Sang-ho's eyebrow twitched suddenly.
"Safety Planning Department?"
His face twisted like he'd misheard. I found his reaction pretty novel.
"What's wrong? No 'department'-level divisions in the 18th Branch?"
"……."
"……."
His underlings exchanged uneasy glances.
"Rep match means sending reps from each side for a one-on-one, right?"
Han Sang-ho's expression hardened. My guess had hit the mark.
He clenched his fist tight.
* * *
A department-level division?
Never crossed my mind. No idea what Media and Publications upgrades to.
I'd had a chance to find out. The 18th Branch's Media and Publications Department Head was on the verge of promotion.
Or rather, he'd had the chance.
Until he raided the 39th underground floor and snagged a spirit beast's inner core.
I backstabbed him, killed him, and took it.
That's how I'd become editor-in-chief. And scored these gauntlets too.
With these gauntlets, no one can stand against me.
The department head spot stayed vacant after that, but it'd be filled soon. Assuming equal ranks, anyway.
I'd tested them on peers from other departments already.
Hell, even against a department head, I'd win. If I went all out, life on the line.
But a department-level division?
Han Sang-ho gripped his fist harder. He steadied his shaking resolve.
No. Bluff. No way a section chief drags his whole department here alone.
They'd brought their full Media and Publications crew too, hedging against any heavy hitters.
Has to be bullshit. That's what he concluded.
But there's a way to check if it's true.
A brilliant idea hit him.
"Before we negotiate, mind if I ask something, Section Chief Kim?"
"Shoot."
"How far's the 17th Branch cleared?"
"Probably on Floor 17 right now."
"Ha!"
Han Sang-ho's lips curled smugly. His crew too.
"What? Floor 17?"
"Total noobs!"
"We're coming back from Floor 39!"
"Chief! Just crush 'em!"
"Crush! Crush! Crush!"
And yep, the Safety Planning guys up front tensed up, swallowing hard.
Han Sang-ho spoke, utterly relaxed now.
"Heh. Rookies. Here's a proposal: send out your strongest guy."
He'd almost said "your department," but switched it up.
Just in case.
Even if bluffing, the casual delivery meant a department-level might really exist in 17th Branch.
"Isn't that the rep match you mentioned?"
"We'll count it as a win if we take two, you one—considering you cleared the stage."
"Don't act generous. Come at me."
With that, the section chief before him swallowed a glowing golden orb.
That’s…?
* * *
The moment I downed the Awakening Orb, Han Sang-ho's eyes sharpened.
"You sneaky bastard!"
And sure enough, like he'd guessed what it was, he charged.
"All on them!"
Someone yelled.
"Waaah!"
"Kill 'em all!"
"Show these 17th Branch rookies who's boss!"
"You 18th pricks!"
Didn't matter who started it. Full clash was expected.
All that mattered was who survived this turf.
This played right into our hands anyway. They'd mocked our gear, but ours were straight-up artifacts from Sangjo Pyoguk.
Only Han Sang-ho over there had real gear. As editor-in-chief, couldn't let my guard down.
Especially with my divine power tapped out.
That's why I'd stalled till the orb fully ripened.
Now it melted, trickling power into my dantian bit by bit.
Han Sang-ho's fist, wrapped in red gauntlets, flew straight at me.
A fragment of Shibun Heukgap shot out to block it.
Kang!
"Neat armor."
He sneered, then kicked off the ground and retreated fast.
"One step."
"……?"
He stepped again.
"Two."
Thud.
"Three."
Then he clenched his fist.
That instant—
Pang!
"……!"
Air exploded around the blocking fragment. Cracks spiderwebbed across it like drought-parched earth.
Guessed the gauntlets were artifacts. But their power? Unknown.
I gritted my teeth. Durability must've taken a hit from the Jecheon Palace Lord fight.
"Nine left? Surrender now, and I'll put it to good use. Heh heh."
Grinning like that, all cocky and relaxed—he was already sure he'd won.
Time to switch tactics. Wasting a guardian relic like this was a shame.
Save Egibi-do for now too. One shockwave, and it'd shatter.
I stowed Shibun Heukgap in the mirror and cinched my waist sash tight.
Srrek.
My body turned invisible on the spot. Han Sang-ho panicked hard.
"How many artifacts you shove down your gullet, Section Chief Kim?!"
From stealth, I rushed and struck.
Kang!
But he wasn't editor for nothing—blocked quick with the gauntlet.
I pulled one hand from the hilt and unleashed Blood Impact Beta.
Dark energy gathered at my fingertips, forming long claws.
Slashed diagonally across his skin.
Spurt.
His suit tore, four bloody trails leaking out.
He endured the pain, thrusting the gauntlet my way.
Sensing danger, I leaped back.
He grinned, advancing slowly.
Ziiing—Pang!
Another shockwave blasted from the Sealed Sword.
The barrier shielded me; he clicked his tongue.
"……Tch. You got all kinds of shit."
Shwoong!
Han Sang-ho vanished from sight.
What? Gift?
I whipped my eyes around frantically.
Then—
Thwack!
"Argh!"
Heavy impact slammed my right side.
Pang!
Shockwave erupted, hurling me through the air.
If not for the manager suit, ribs would've snapped.
"Hahaha."
Touch triggers three steps, then boom. Got the gauntlet's gimmick.
Grind.
Vision spun, but the orb's energy spread, clearing my head.
Cool clarity flooded my body.
I circulated Thunder Cloud Heart Knot, stroking the blade.
Pajijijik!
Lightning overlaid the dark sword aura, boosting cutting power.
With the orb aiding, no need to conserve qi.
Push hard!
Paat!
"……!"
Body Thunder Knot flashed me in like lightning. I swung with Black Moon Tyrant Sword essence.
Han Sang-ho smirked.
"No learning curve, huh? Section Chief Kim!"
"Shut up."
"You little—!"
Learning curve? He'd figured the gauntlet, that's all.
Kang! Kang!
Blade and gauntlet clashed, ringing metal.
Orb energy surged, channeling more power into the sword.
Dark aura thickened, denser.
Han Sang-ho's eyes grew desperate.
"Hiding your strength? And you're a section chief!"
"Weird to grow mid-fight?"
"So that was an elixir. Shit..."
He kept trying to create distance.
Wanted to use the shockwave, but point-blank would hurt him too.
Blade power ramped up. Each clash threw his balance wildly.
As expected, he bit down hard.
"Damn it!"
He tanked it, slamming gauntlet into blade—but feint.
I yanked back, thrust straight.
Puk!
"Gaaak!"
Pierced his left shoulder.
He shot his right hand out.
Yeah, like with Blood Impact Beta. Flow the attack, counter.
Black Moon Tyrant Sword, Final Form 4: Twin Moon Gate.
Blade back deflected his incoming path.
Flowed it, then rammed into his torso.
Twin Moon Gate: modern terms, parry to counter.
"Kgh...! W-Wait."
One hand formed a mudra, chanting.
"Negotiate..."
Terror filled Han Sang-ho's eyes.
Chijijijik!
"Ughghghgh..."
His body convulsed, eyes rolling back.
Muscles slackened; his pants darkened at the crotch.
"Filthy prick."
I swung the Sealed Sword horizontally, severing his neck.
Slice—
Roll...
I hoisted Han Sang-ho's head high.
"Han Sang-ho is dead!"
Horror, disbelief, fear, awe, envy, trust, joy... Every gaze locked on me, brimming with emotion.
My choice was simple.
"One prisoner's enough!"
My subordinates roared in triumph.
"Waaah!"
"As you command, Section Chief!"
Savoring the thrill of true Peak expert realm at last.
I bellowed the victory cry again.
"This is my land, you 18th Branch bastards!"