The Free People's Second Leader
She hurriedly tried to activate the Space Diamond.
Slash—
Nam Gyuil swung his dagger, severing the woman's finger—the one with the ring on it.
The finger thudded onto the desk and rolled away, the Space Diamond glinting as it went. Nam Gyuil snatched it up in a flash.
With this, the second Space Diamond was now in his hands.
“Jeong Haram, boss.”
Her subordinates drew their guns. The second leader's name was Jeong Haram.
Nam Gyuil quickly pulled out his pistol and aimed it at her.
“Don't move. Any funny business, and your leader dies.”
Did his threat work? Her men flinched as Jeong Haram became a hostage. They couldn't fire recklessly. One wrong shot, and she might die. Plus, with Nam Gyuil so close, a stray bullet could hit her instead.
Jeong Haram, her finger severed, glared at Nam Gyuil with murderous intent.
“You bastard, who the hell are you?!”
Nam Gyuil smirked.
He replied with a relaxed expression. “Who I am doesn't matter, does it? You're all getting arrested anyway.”
“Damn it, HA?!”
Jeong Haram pressed her severed finger with her other hand to staunch the bleeding. She ground her teeth.
Nam Gyuil gave them one last chance.
“Stay put, and you won't get hurt. Surrender quietly. Last chance.”
Jeong Haram's gang hesitated, their faces showing confusion over what to do.
Nam Gyuil pressed the gun barrel closer to Jeong Haram's head and issued his demand to the group.
“Hand over all your smartphones.”
The members pulled phones from their pockets and tossed them to Nam Gyuil. Probably all burners.
Guess the Free People's core members are the only ones in this hideout.
Low-level grunts couldn't make smartphones. These guys must have gotten burners through a partner organization.
Nam Gyuil stomped every phone to pieces. That cut off all contact between the partner group and the Free People.
Plus, with his tracker on, the police and HA were probably rushing here right now.
Though even if they arrive, it won't matter.
This was an underground chamber buried deep. No entrance or exit—they couldn't get in.
Jeong Haram spat curses.
“You damn bastard, I'll kill you for sure.”
She yelled at her men. “What are you idiots doing? Pull the triggers already. Kill him!!”
Jeong Haram's eyes flashed wildly, burning with resolve to kill him no matter what.
Better to die than get dragged to prison. After jail time, it'd be back to the gates. She never wanted to go there again. Better a quick bullet than being eaten alive by monsters.
Her men's faces hardened viciously, steeling themselves.
Nam Gyuil read their intent from their expressions.
They're gonna shoot.
This would turn into a fight. He could take them all if he wanted, but no need to waste energy.
Nam Gyuil chuckled.
“You forgot something crucial, huh? I don't even need to fight you.”
He held up the Space Diamonds for all to see.
The people there panicked, eyes widening. In the heat of the moment, they'd overlooked it.
This place was inaccessible without a Space Diamond. And among them, only Nam Gyuil had one.
Jeong Haram's gang couldn't escape.
“You're trapped. This is a prison you can't even run from anymore.”
Nam Gyuil activated the Space Diamond.
Her men frantically pulled triggers, but the bullets just hit the walls.
Nam Gyuil had already teleported away.
Their faces turned ashen.
“W-what do we do now?”
One asked Jeong Haram. She had no answer.
The safe hideout no one could find... had become an inescapable prison, squeezing them tight.
“It's over.”
Jeong Haram sensed the end and collapsed to the floor.
Nam Gyuil arrived at another location. This one wasn't buried underground—it was inside a normal building. Windows, computers, electronics everywhere. And people. A lot of them—easily fifty. All armed with pistols or knives.
They didn't suspect Nam Gyuil, disguised as Bae Jeongmin.
“Hey, Bae Jeongmin. What brings you here? Something up? Today's the day we handle Lim Youngsu. You took care of the cleanup, right?”
He'd gotten formal speech from the Free People, but here it was casual. Meant Bae Jeongmin wasn't high up in this partner group.
“Yeah, of course.”
Nam Gyuil replied humbly right away.
Space Diamonds only teleported to other Space Diamonds. And they were all gathered in one spot.
In short, trying to jump to another space just loops you back here.
Escaping with a Space Diamond wasn't an option this time. He'd have to play Bae Jeongmin convincingly and slip out.
Whoosh.
Then, a member emerged from the bathroom.
“Ah, refreshing.”
Nam Gyuil noted the bathroom's location and headed straight there. He sat on the toilet.
Fifty armed with pistols? Tough solo.
Good thing the tracker meant HA and police were en route.
Though with Free People comms cut, they won't know what's coming. Total surprise.
Nam Gyuil opened the toilet tank lid. The flushing mechanism inside. He attached the tracker to the drain lever and closed the lid.
My job here's done.
Hidden tracker—police and HA would raid soon.
Nam Gyuil messaged Jo Huiyeong via app: armed status and headcount here.
He exited the bathroom and left the building casually.
Trap investigation complete. Time for the final op to claim top merit.
A faint smile played on his lips.
Bang!
Someone kicked in the partner group's hideout door.
“What the— what's going on?!”
Members yelled in shock.
Armed police SWAT and HA stormed in, riot shields up.
“You damn— who the hell are you? Barging into law-abiding citizens' workplace!”
The partner boss, Jang Yooncheol, bellowed.
Jo Huiyeong shouted back. “We know you're tied to the Free People. Surrender quietly.”
“Shit. Boys! Fight!”
Jang Yooncheol cursed and drew his pistol.
Bang bang.
They fired. HA and SWAT blocked every shot with shields.
Crash.
Windows shattered as more SWAT poured in. They neutralized members in seconds.
Gunfire echoed inside, acrid smoke filling the air.
Outmatched by fully geared SWAT and HA, the members fell one by one.
Jang Yooncheol hid under his desk, terrified.
Damn, about to get nabbed.
A shot-out member slumped beside him. Then, deadly silence.
All his men dead, him alone.
Jo Huiyeong gave final warning. “Surrender. Don't do anything stupid.”
Jang Yooncheol gnashed his teeth. Surrender meant prison—maybe forever. Gun possession meant heavy sentence. Organized crime? Even worse.
Life without parole, maybe.
He eyed the Space Diamond on his finger. Last hope.
Flee to Free People, bide time.
He activated it.
Jang Yooncheol blinked. He'd meant to flee to Free People via Space Diamond.
Where the hell is this?!
Not Free People—somewhere wrong. Thought maybe Bae Jeongmin's spot, but nothing around.
Confused, a man slowly emerged from the shadows. Two Space Diamonds on his fingers.
“Who are you? Where is this? Screw that—why do you have those?!”
The man smirked at Jang Yooncheol's questions.
“Name's Nam Gyuil. This is Hunter Agency underground training ground. Took these rings from Bae Jeongmin and Jeong Haram.”
“F-fuck.”
Jang Yooncheol got it. Tried escaping with Space Diamond, got lured into enemy HQ.
Bang bang bang.
He fired wildly. Nam Gyuil dodged left and right, Arnian mana body reinforcement making him cheetah-fast.
Jang Yooncheol couldn't aim, just sprayed. Not one hit.
Click, click.
Empty. Pistol dead.
“Damn it, you think I'll go down like this?!”
Jang Yooncheol tossed the gun and drew a dagger.
Nam Gyuil offered last chance. “Surrender.”
“You nuts?!”
Nam Gyuil sighed. Time for the beatdown.
He approached slowly.
Jang Yooncheol rolled on the ashen floor. Teeth broken, eyes rolled back, out cold.
Nam Gyuil hadn't killed him—just beaten thoroughly enough he couldn't fight back.
Soon, 01 Team entered the training ground.
“Whoa, he really beat a guy with a pistol.”
Lee Chanu reacted with awe.
To block any escape through the exit, he'd stationed all of 01 Team there. Hong Shinu's eyes sparkled.
“As expected of Sergeant Nam! Beating a gunman—amazing, sir!”
Nam Gyuil waved it off. “How many times I gotta say it? Can't judge without seeing you fly a plane.”
HA arrived next. Jo Huiyeong eyed the battered Jang Yooncheol, then Nam Gyuil.
Damn impressive. Solved an unsolvable case solo—and led it himself.
She'd sensed he was special, but this was next level.
Now I get why 01 Team's accident-free. All thanks to this guy.
Jo Huiyeong approached. “Good work.”
“Thanks. So, I'm top merit this time, right?”
“Pardon?!”
Jo Huiyeong blinked at the sudden question. She recalled the president's promise: award to top merit.
She paused, hiding surprise. “Wait, you did all the risky solo stuff... for that?”
“Yes. Exactly.”
“Do you always solo cases for merit?”
“Just this once. Normally, flawless teamwork with the team.”
Nam Gyuil joked. Jo Huiyeong chuckled.
“Got it. I'll report you as top merit to command. You earned it.”
“Thanks.”
“But seriously, what're you asking for as reward? President said he'd grant anything.”
“That's a secret.”
Nam Gyuil smirked, pressing a finger to his lips.