One Leg and a Loud Mouth
Having heard the whole explanation, the crew's faces remained utterly unbothered.
And it wasn't hard to understand why they were so unfazed.
Won-goo's Services moved around Gong Won-goo as its center. It wasn't a group of stubborn mules charging off on their own whims, but neither was it the type to share every last detail with everyone. Ask, and you'd usually get an answer. But unless something was truly critical, the unspoken policy was to keep it to yourself.
"Any questions? Not seeing that Ah-bal was shacking up with Respect—that one's on me."
"How is that your fault, Director?"
"If you throw an incident out there, you watch it more closely. It's a mistake, Jo Mu-sa. But we're not in bad shape right now. With a dungeon as our ace in the hole, we can afford to stay put in the Shelter for a while. If it comes down to giving up Buri Island, lying low and waiting for things to settle is an option too."
"That is not our goal, though, is it not? More dangerous things will keep crawling out of the woodwork, so should we not be preparing rather than resting?"
For the first time in a while, Mu Beob-sa wore a genuinely serious expression.
"You're not wrong. I merely say there's no need to walk the dangerous road when we don't have to. Which is why I've gathered everyone."
Swish.
Jeon Hye-ji raised her hand.
"If we borrow Baek-seol unni's help, couldn't we find them faster than the other gangs?"
"How many times have you met her that she's 'unni' now?"
"Would it be difficult?"
Hye-ji stared back with bright, sharp eyes.
"It's possible. But as I said, there's also a chance we run into the gang itself."
"Th-then..."
"Su-won, go ahead."
"If, if it gets d-dangerous, we c-could just r-run—"
"So your answer is let's check it out first?"
"Ye-yes, sir."
"That's not a bad option either. But this one I'm going to leave to the crew's judgment. Here's why: every incident before this, I read the momentum and we moved along that momentum. This time, with Buri Island, the momentum slipped once. From here on out, I'm not in a position to just do whatever I want. I've given you the outline, so talk it over. I'm going up for a smoke. When I get back, we vote."
* * *
Won-goo returned, having finished his leisurely smoke break.
"So, the vote?"
"No vote, Hyeong-nim. We've decided to go."
"What? Hyun-seong, did you beat them into it?"
"N-no, sir! We decided peacefully!"
"Really? You're sure?"
Won-goo studied the crew's faces.
"Well, come to think of it, none of them are the type to fold just because this guy glares."
"Everyone agreed. We'll simply search without making contact with Ah-bal."
"If we do run into Ah-bal, the old folks handle her. That's manageable, right?"
"I—"
"I know your situation, old man. But buying her time to run off somewhere, that much you can do."
"That much is possible."
"Then it's settled. Everyone gear up. Think of it as a quick drink run. We made good money lately, remember? This time we're seriously just taking the temperature of the place. If it feels wrong, we pull out immediately. Got it?"
"Yes, sir!"
The crew moved straight for Baek-seol's place. She was just lining up a dart throw when they arrived, and the moment she saw Won-goo walk back in, her shoulders sagged and she let out a long sigh.
"Now what?"
"Cheonchu Mountain. Can you do it?"
At that, Baek-seol's eyes darted upward for a split second before coming back down.
"The Nero Family?"
"Bingo. The Nero Family warehouse keeper ran and hid up there, didn't he? When it comes to Cheonchu Mountain, our Baek-seol is the best, no? No prep needed. Quick in and out."
"You're going in knowing about Ah-bal and Respect teaming up?"
"I know. That's why I'm just taking the temperature."
"That's..."
Baek-seol started to say that's dangerous and swallowed the words.
Going by the Won-goo she'd always known, it would absolutely be dangerous. But everything he'd shown her recently was a string of incidents proving that his abilities had been badly underestimated all along.
This man isn't the type to jump into a losing game.
"Fine. Pay me generously."
"You know I always take care of you."
"I'm only doing the guiding. You understand?"
"Of course that's how it has to be."
* * *
Baek-seol was a truly capable pathfinder. The moment they entered Cheonchu Mountain, she noticed how many visitors had come through recently.
"Capable indeed. I can see why the Director only ever calls for Baek-seol."
"When did I ever only call for Baek-seol?"
"Whenever trouble arises on Cheonchu Mountain, is it not always Baek-seol you seek out?"
"Did I? I suppose I might have."
"So you admit it. She points out the exact spots and guides us straight there."
"Well... she does good work. Shame she's limited to Cheonchu Mountain."
Baek-seol, who'd been leading the way, spun around sharply.
Had they been heard?
"Director. It looks like they've holed up near the abandoned school."
"Okay. One moment."
Won-goo looked back at Hye-ji. Thanks to all the Coins she'd absorbed, there wasn't the slightest trace of fatigue on her face anymore.
"It's fine."
"You're sure?"
The abandoned school was where Jeon Hye-ji's father had died. There had been other incidents, but if anything weighed heaviest on the crew, it was that.
A survivor who'd been grinding through this world for years would shrug off something like that. But someone newer to the grind could break down over the smallest thing.
So Won-goo, unexpectedly, was always meticulous about this sort of thing.
"Every time we come in here, I think the same thing—isn't the layout of Cheonchu Mountain just bizarre?"
"Which is exactly why you're not supposed to come in without a pathfinder."
Won-goo answered Jo Mu-sa while pulling out a cigarette and clamping it between his lips.
"Director. The gangs don't seem to have found this spot yet. Barely any signs anyone's gone in."
"Okay."
"Hold on."
Just then, something burst out of the forest.
Right as the crew was about to set off.
"What the hell is that?"
A tall, naked woman, drenched in blood.
Her left ankle had been severed, and she was hopping forward on one foot.
"Isn't that a part of Ah-bal?"
"Hyeong-nim. I believe it's Ah-bal."
Blood-soaked and naked, she wasn't easy to identify at a glance. But that face was so impossible to mistake for anyone else's that everyone recognized her instantly.
Short-haired Ah-bal had the textbook model's physique. Not the muscular kind—a runway model, long and lean.
Nearly 180 centimeters tall, with narrow shoulders, a small face, and endless limbs.
Then the woman hopping on one foot crumpled face-first into the dirt.
"Hey, hey. Everybody act like you didn't see anything."
"Sir?"
"We didn't see her. We just walk past. Keep moving. We mind our own business and nothing else—"
Won-goo waved his hands, urging the crew along. And at that moment, a shrill voice pierced his ears like a needle.
"Hey! Gong Won-goo! You son of a bitch! Why are you pretending you don't know me? You and me, we—"
"What is this crazy woman saying? I told you not to say that! Nothing! Nothing ever happened!"
At that, Ah-bal, who'd been struggling to haul herself up off the ground, flashed a grin.
"Right. Gong Won-goo, you dog-bastard. Hyun-seong-ah. Kkakdugi! Lee Hyun-seong! You're not gonna greet me?"
"Yes, Nuna-nim! It has been a while!"
Lee Hyun-seong bowed his head deeply.
"Does this look like 'a while' to you? Why are you so stiff? Che-se, why have you become such a piece of shit?"
Then Lee Hyun-seong looked at Gong Won-goo.
"Hey. Go help her up."
Won-goo pressed a finger to his temple, a headache already blooming.
* * *
"Hey! Get back!"
Won-goo told the crew. By the time her leg was fully bandaged, she took a long drag on a cigarette.
"Don't breathe in the secondhand smoke. That one's strong."
One of the extremely potent cigarettes Baek-seol carried as emergency stock.
The moment Ah-bal inhaled, her whole body began to shudder. On top of that, her eyes flushed red in an instant, like someone with a nasty eye infection.
"Dr-drugs. Give me some drugs."
"Those are strong too."
"If I ask, you give. What, are they precious?"
Won-goo jerked his chin, and Hyun-seong hurriedly fetched some painkillers and tossed them over.
Still seated, she caught the pill bottle with her good foot, flicked it up, and snagged it out of the air with her hand.
Then, like shoveling in crackers, she crammed handfuls of pills into her mouth and started swallowing.
"You'll make yourself sick."
"Have you ever seen someone get sick from taking medicine?"
Ah-bal trembled like a junkie in withdrawal—all because Baek-seol's cigarette was simply that strong.
It was potent, and Ah-bal's own resistance was potent too, so the constant push and pull between resistance and intoxication had produced a violent backlash.
"So what the hell happened? Did a Grade 1 monster suddenly spawn? A disaster break out?"
"It was a disaster, all right."
Ah-bal smiled, the corner of her mouth curling up.
"Did I badly misjudge Respect? Or did the bastard recently loot some good gear? You, Agari—not even you should lose to Respect."
"Exactly."
"Then why are you in this state?"
"Because that's not how I lost. I remember clearing out the Nero Family, right up until the crew dinner. Then I woke up with a leg chopped off and tied down, with a few bastards giggling all over me."
At those words, everyone grimaced in horror.
"Something's off."
"What is?"
"Look at you right now. Even after Baek-seol handed over something seriously strong, you're recovering just fine. And you're telling me you blacked out? For that to happen, wouldn't you have to have been force-fed straight-up poison?"
"Shit. You know the answer, so why are you asking, you mutt?"
"Don't swear at me."
"You scared the absolute hell out of me once, you know. Called my taste garbage."
"I remember that. But that bad? So bad you can't tell poison from no poison?"
"I did drink a lot. Smoked a fair bit too."
"Then what... anyway. The contract? Did you sign one?"
"I did sign one."
"You didn't write it up carefully, did you. I distinctly remember telling you to watch out for that."
"You did. And I let my guard down."
"..."
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
"What?"
"Just like you said—I acted tough without knowing fear, and I came crashing down. Isn't that exactly what you predicted?"
"You know, with you, I'll be dying to help one second and want to dump you on the side of the road the next."
"Dog-bastard..."
"And let me say it again: you and me, nothing ever happened. I'm a man with an owner. And you're... not my type anyway. You brat."
Ah-bal raised her middle finger at him.
"Chop it off and eat plenty."
"You know, Agari, it's a miracle you're still alive and kicking. Oh, right—but... didn't you have some kid following you around? Kkobung or whatever?"
"Kkori!"
"Ah, right. Kkori!"
"He's probably dead..."
Ah-bal stared into empty space. Strength gathered in her eyes.
"So I have a favor to ask."
"I think we've helped you plenty already?"
"Help me a little more. Unless you want to get cursed out."
"You've already cursed me out plenty—"
"Shit! Seriously!"
"Ah! Fine, fine. What is it? What is it?"
"Lend me Baek-seol. I need to get to the Shelter."
"Then how are we supposed to get back?"
"You'll figure it out. And the Nero Family warehouse keeper—you came looking for him, right? Found him?"
"Not yet. But we're just taking the temperature. Dragging it out too long is bad news. The gangs are strung out all over the place."
"My, my... our physical therapist, Gong Won-goo. Sapa Boss-nim himself! You've gotten so cautious since I last saw you. Is it because your crew's grown? Or did you get a new sweetheart?"
Ah-bal exhaled a long plume of smoke. She was pointing directly at Jeon Hye-ji.
"There's no trash-talker like you. She's just crew. Does everyone look like that to you?"
"So you have gone soft? Well, not anymore, since I'm gone."
"What?"
"Respect doesn't have me anymore. That much should be enough for you to manage."
"Condition matters too. Our schedule's too tight for an all-out war right now."
"And yet if you actually run into them, you'll fight anyway."
Ah-bal rose to her feet. Baek-seol looked at Won-goo.
"Carry her there?"
"Sure."
Won-goo nodded, and Ah-bal climbed onto Baek-seol's back.
"Baek-seol. Charge him plenty. That woman is rich as hell."
"Stop running your mouth. See you soon, Gong Won-goo. Debts have to be paid."
"Then don't pay it, and let's never see each other again."
Up went the middle finger again.
Baek-seol started moving.
"Oh! One more thing. Respect's crew has a mage. Watch out. She's not a fraud like that old man of yours. She's the real deal."
"Shit! Why are you telling me this NOW?"
"I was out of it?"
"What magic does she use?"
"Elemental. Ice."
"Then the bastard's danger as hell."
"All magic is dangerous, you said. Gong Won-goo. Your words. And you and me, we—"
"Ugh, shit! I told you not to say that!"
Giggling, Ah-bal receded into the distance.