009_ Nakyuan's Boundary (1)
Heo Kyung-tae closed his eyes and said nothing. His eyelids twitched faintly—the mask was on the verge of slipping.
The officers behind him glared at me, veins bulging angrily in their necks. They were pissed that their superior was being mocked right in front of them.
Not yet. I needed to stall a little longer.
The moment this conversation started, I'd powered up all four blue drones inside the house and briefed the Han sisters and Im Jui on what to do next. I'd told the sisters to grab the anti-materiel rifle and a regular rifle and wait on the rooftop. Im Jui was to stand by at the front door, ready to charge out at any moment.
Right now, I wasn't just seeing Heo Kyung-tae and his gang through my own eyes—I had the feeds from all four drones too.
In the Reconstruction Government, higher ranks generally meant stronger awakeners. The Han sisters had confirmed that for me. Sure, there were exceptions—people who climbed the ranks through overwhelming charisma, reputation, or skills beyond raw power—but guys like these, who couldn't even tell right from wrong? The stars on their shoulders proved that military strength was the biggest factor.
In other words, these field-grade officers and Heo Kyung-tae were at least on par with Gwak Dae-hoon—or stronger. Nibbling at them with hit-and-run tactics could drag this into a prolonged fight. I had to break their momentum in one decisive blow.
"Putting on quite the show."
"What?"
Heo Kyung-tae snorted in disbelief. "We've already got all the intel on you."
"What intel?"
"You control two drones that fly around in the sky. They shoot spheres that melt human skin and bone—and each one can only fire two shots. Right?"
"..."
A lot of info on me had leaked out.
"Only two shots? Did you see that yourself?"
"If you could fire more, you would've chased down those stragglers and wiped them all out."
He had a point. Back then, I didn't even know about the plasma cutter function, and I had no way to pursue them on foot.
"How long to recharge that liquid? A week? A month?"
The enemy had already pieced together a ton about my drones. His men kept their eyes on the sky, vigilance unbroken. The second they spotted a drone, they'd scatter in all directions.
"Did your homework, huh?"
"Just cooperate. If you drag this out, we'll have to smash through that glass barrier. That'd hurt both sides—and I don't want that."
They were dead wrong on three counts. First, they thought they could break this glass with brute force. Second, they had no idea I could drone-multitask during a chat. And third—they assumed my drones were sky-bound gunners.
Actually, I'd launched them hugging the ground, skimming low and fast around the barrier's perimeter, closing in slowly from behind. Too fixated on the air, they never dreamed of a ground approach.
Just a bit more... just a little longer.
"No other choice."
"Agreeing to negotiate?"
"Thinking positive."
Assuming he'd broken me, Heo Kyung-tae leaned back with a smug grin. "No—I need a firm yes now."
I hung my head low and muttered, "Fine. I'll cooperate. Bring the water tank and batteries when you're ready."
"Smart call. Seen too many die pointlessly over pride. No need to feel down."
"We're done. Get out."
Heo Kyung-tae still had more to say, stepping right up to the barrier. "If you'd bowed properly on entry, this attitude wouldn't fly. Stand up, salute with respect, then dismantle this glass."
"Sigh..."
Heo Kyung-tae nodded to O Jung-ryeong, who rounded up all the soldiers in one spot.
By now, the drones were hidden in the grass, dissolving liquid primed, zeroed in on their backs.
This was the moment I'd waited for.
The soldiers lined up behind Heo Kyung-tae. I rose from my chair, slowly raising a hand to my forehead in salute. My hand trembled.
"Don't take it hard. Serving the Reconstruction Government is an honor. I'll guarantee the lives of those civilians hiding in your house."
O Jung-ryeong smirked like he'd seen this coming.
I looked up, saluted, and bellowed, "Loyalty! Major General! Please pass my regards to the late Colonel Gwak!"
"What?"
Bang!
Eight shots of dissolving liquid rocketed from the four drones. They scattered midair, detonating and spraying corrosive hell everywhere.
"Scatter! Scatter!"
Drunk on overconfidence, they'd clustered like idiots with guards down. They got drenched.
Sizzle...
"Gaaah! Argh!"
"Kwaaaah! Fuck! Fuuuuck! What the hell is this?!"
"P-please! Someone—water! Get water, now!"
It was hell on earth—worse than with Gwak.
True to their rank, Heo Kyung-tae, O Jung-ryeong, and a few officers dodged in that split second. They took splashes but nothing lethal. Heo Kyung-tae's right leg was hit, but as a major general, it didn't fully melt through.
"You fucking bastard!"
O Jung-ryeong drew his military greatsword and hacked off his own shoulder meat where the liquid clung.
For thirty seconds, smoke choked the air amid the sizzle of dissolving flesh and bone, pierced by dying screams. At least twenty had been hosed.
"Major General! We need to fall back—now!"
Heo Kyung-tae stared in shock at his howling subordinates, bones exposed, eyes unfocused. Officers with lighter wounds grabbed his arms, dragging him to safety.
Couldn't let a single one escape. If they slipped away now, even more intel would leak. This ambush was a one-time play—I'd assumed as much.
Once Heo Kyung-tae's crew was wiped out, word would spread: the house with "infinite water and power" had annihilated a major general's squad. Full-scale war might erupt.
If it was gonna leak anyway, better slaughter them all and broadcast that I had the firepower to defend my turf.
I sicced the four drones on the surviving officers, groaning in agony. They plasma-cut straight into their faces.
Zap-crackle!
"Guhk!"
"Gulk."
They crumpled without reacting, blood pouring from eyes and noses, brains fried.
Thud!
O Jung-ryeong smashed an incoming drone with his fist.
"Snap out of it, you idiots! Smash incoming drones with your fists! Get the major general out first!"
His strength lived up to that colonel's rank.
Heo Kyung-tae slammed a palm against the barrier, bloodshot eyes blazing. "It's over. No more negotiations. Next time, I'll bring a real army. Look forward to it."
Propped by a subordinate, he limped into retreat.
"Next time? You still don't get it... there is no next time."
I took a deep breath and yelled, "Jui!"
The front door flew open. Im Jui rocketed toward Heo Kyung-tae at full speed. Simultaneously, thunderous booms from the rooftop signaled the Han sisters opening fire.
They were in full panic now.
Im Jui nodded at me, then burst through the barrier.
Shing!
"And who the hell are you...?"
O Jung-ryeong drew his greatsword, aiming it at her.
Im Jui didn't even register him as a threat, ignoring the blade and awaiting my orders.
"Don't let a single one escape. Ignore the crawlers—take down every runner. Kill if needed."
She nodded. Seeing an opening, O Jung-ryeong charged with his sword.
Crunch!
It was instantaneous. Im Jui sidestepped effortlessly and drove her fist into his throat. Bones shattered; his neck wobbled like jelly. He collapsed.
"Kehk! Guhk!"
He writhed like a bug, vomiting blood in fountains.
One of the two propping Heo Kyung-tae shoved his boss aside and stepped up, face set for death—buying time with his life. His loyalty was respectable, at least.
But resolve meant nothing. Im Jui clamped his jaw with her left hand and crushed it like a vice.
Crack!
Monster grip—the kind that nearly wrecked my drone once. His lower jaw dangled in ruins as her right fist plunged into his chest.
"Gulk."
He'd staked his life but lasted under three seconds, dying with a final gurgle, blood spewing from his mouth as he faceplanted.
Gunfire cracked nonstop from the roof, picking off those crawling to flee.
Everyone was neutralized or dead—except Heo Kyung-tae and his last crutch.
Realizing escape was impossible, Heo Kyung-tae shoved his aide away, dropped to his knees, and raised both hands in surrender.
"I surrender! Stop the attack—I'll surrender!"
Im Jui lowered her fist and looked to me.
"Kill the one beside him. Disable Heo Kyung-tae and drag him here."
"N-no! Stay back, you fuck!"
Crack!
Im Jui dispatched the officer and loomed over the kneeling Heo Kyung-tae.
"I'll surrender. Whatever you want..."
Thwack!
"Guhk."
Ignoring him, she grabbed his hair and started pummeling his face.
"Stop...!"
Thud!
"I'll surrender, please... ugh!"
Thud!
"Pl... ease..."
Thud!
"..."
Bloody pulp in hand, she dragged him by the hair across the ground and dumped him at my feet.