164. Daegu Reclamation Operation (1)
Yuna's words weren't mere empty talk, it seemed. From that day on, Heo Jin-ho was discharged from the hospital, underwent rehabilitation training to recover his atrophied strength, and simultaneously began preparations for the Daegu assault operation.
Of course, the Balhut Cult couldn't dispatch military forces directly, aside from the police units led by Han Seong-geun. Jeong Dong-gun, who commanded the main forces, was tied up on the Ulsan front, the Gyeongju Defense Division couldn't be spared for the cult's home base security, and the navy in Pohang was useless for an inland city like Daegu.
But troop shortages weren't much of a concern anyway.
"Heh. When did you round up my subordinates?"
"SNS and surveillance-type awakeners did the heavy lifting."
The main force for the Daegu operation wasn't the Balhut Cult's troops—it was the Daegu forces that Heo Jin-ho had personally raised. After his defeat, the Balhut Cult had gathered the scattered remnants from across the region, equipped them with cult-forged gear, and whipped them into fighting shape.
All the cult needed to do was provide supporting police units—and with Jin A-yeon among them, it was borderline overkill.
"And this too."
"So Bahamut Bullets. The mysterious rounds from the rumors."
Not only did they supply weapons and protective gear crafted by Balhut Cult artisans, but for a decisive victory, they even committed their ultimate weapon to the Daegu reclamation. Every police suppression round—Bahamut Bullets—was distributed to Heo Jin-ho's men, leaving him staring at the fabled cult ammo with a hollow laugh.
The debt piling up is insane. What the hell do they want in return? Seriously.
He knew full well this wasn't pure goodwill; it was all on loan. Support like this meant massive demands after Daegu's liberation. Clearing that debt would be beyond him alone—it'd mortgage his future and Daegu's too.
But without their help, I wouldn't even get a shot.
Still, Heo Jin-ho just chuckled wryly without pointing it out. Sure, admitting it outright would highlight how burdensome the cult's aid felt. But without it, he'd be doomed to a pathetic end, remembered as Foolish Warlord #1—the idiot who trusted the untrustworthy and got betrayed. His name would be community fodder forever.
Just getting this chance is enough.
Teaming up with the Balhut Cult to become a founding hero? That could salvage his tarnished honor, flip his loser status to victor. Plus, with this level of investment, the cult wouldn't betray him—they'd hate wasting the asset.
"Hey, old man. Those look pretty slick."
"Must've been treated well. Time to earn my keep. You lot the support troops helping me out?"
To lock in that asset value, the Daegu op had to succeed. As Heo Jin-ho sighed under the tension, a voice piped up beside him. Turning, he saw Jin A-yeon greeting him casually, geared up in combat protective suit and weapons—not her police uniform.
That's when it hit him: she was his support. Scratching her head irritably, she spoke up.
"Yeah. Us cops are here to help crush the thugs who've holed up in Daegu. I'm the captain leading this crew."
"You're the commander? Younger than I thought."
"Hah. Don't let the looks fool ya—I'm the one who reclaimed a whole city."
He'd figured her for high rank, but this was next-level. Despite straddling girl and woman, she exuded the charisma to lead an organization. Heo Jin-ho eyed her in surprise as she puffed out her modest chest, boasting of her feats.
"Quite the celebrity, huh. Late on intros—I'm Heo Jin-ho."
"Jin A-yeon."
"Jin A-yeon!? The Fukuoka hero, here? Small world."
He'd pegged her as cocky at first, but that name changed everything. He bowed, reassessing her as a bigger deal than expected. Everyone on the peninsula knew Jin A-yeon.
The awakener compared to Kim Su-ho. Never thought she'd show up here. The Balhut Cult can deploy heavyweights like this?
She'd vanished after leaving Japan—joining the cult was a shock. Seeing such firepower firsthand, Heo Jin-ho truly grasped the cult's might, curiosity piqued about their post-Daegu moves.
"Eh, feels more like I got dragged in like a nose-ringed calf."
Jin A-yeon had only become police special forces captain because Han Seong-geun begged her—she'd rather focus on Ulsan. If anyone else had pointed at her, she'd have crushed their finger.
"Hah. Either way, heard you're a level 20+ superhuman like Kim Su-ho. That's a sure win."
Just having her sealed victory for Heo Jin-ho. He'd seen superhuman power via Kim Su-ho; when the guy pushed from Seoul Station to Myeongdong, Heo Jin-ho genuinely believed he'd save Seoul. The hype faded after the Myeongdong loss and retreat, but superhuman strength was etched in his mind. He could bank big on her.
"Don't overhype it. Even level 20+ can't solo a real war."
But she warned against overconfidence. Against undead, sure, she could reclaim a city alone. Human vs. human—faction wars? No dice. Ulsan proved it: even with Jeong Dong-gun, Han Seong-geun, her, and Dragon Priestess Baek Seol-hwa, they couldn't fully rout the enemy.
"Spoken like someone who's seen real war."
"Still in one. Faction wars."
"...While we're fixated on Daegu and Seoul, what's going down elsewhere?"
Heo Jin-ho lamented at her grim tone—what the hell was happening on the peninsula? Inter-faction fights? Known, but this brutal?
"More than you'd think. What, you only cared about Seoul?"
"From my spot, zombies don't hit Gyeongju, so no bandwidth for other spots. Focused on Seoul."
Daegu politics prioritized Seoul over neighbor cults anyway. Pohang and Ulsan expansions meant Daegu geared toward Daejeon and Seoul. Raiders from there and elsewhere left no time for Gyeongju anyway.
"Makes sense. We were wide open. Daegu too."
"Fortified key survivor zones, held 'em tight... till betrayal tanked it."
Daegu had mountains for defense, but foes were undead and raiders from nearby cities—not monsters. Controlling every road was impossible; one breach snowballed. So they focused on defensible spots for sieges. Worked till internal betrayal.
"But today, we'll prove that choice dead wrong."
Today, He'd collect on that betrayal.
"Troops assembled. Grateful for the gear."
"Thank the Balhut Cult, not me."
"Will do."
Troops geared in shiny new protective suits and weapons looked elite enough to make Heo Jin-ho doubt his eyes. Were these really his old Daegu interim gov agents? Shaking off doubts as he mounted the podium, he began.
"Today, we march to avenge ourselves on the traitors and raiders who stole our home!"
To every Daegu interim gov survivor, this was pure revenge. Mic-less, his raw voice boomed, crystal-clear to the crowd—explaining why he led.
"We bled to protect Daegu—our home! We preached compromise, cooperation, harmony, peace. Our efforts bore fruit here, small as it was. But traitors and raiders spat on it, stole it. Can you forgive those beasts trampling our meaning? I can't!"
"Can't forgive! Can't forgive!"
Anger twisted to hate; they all felt their efforts wasted, fueling battle will.
"Stripped of even a chance, the Balhut Cult gave us one more. We can't waste it! Bloody payback on the usurpers! Righteous judgment!"
"Judgment! Heo Jin-ho forever! Balhut Cult forever!!!"
Heo Jin-ho seized the crowd's hearts instantly, giving them purpose to fight to the death. As morale peaked, Jin A-yeon marveled beside him.
"Damn. True interim gov mastermind. Got skills, mister."
"Not the talent I wanted."
"Yeah, end times unearth hidden ones mostly."
Where Jeong Dong-gun and Han Seong-geun ruled with precision and discipline, Heo Jin-ho ignited explosive passion for mass fervor. No clear "better," but for short decisive battles, it was his stage. He sighed, lamenting the unwanted gift; she nodded, agreeing apocalypses revealed the undesired.
"Time to roll. Op's starting soon."
"Figure you'll guide us fine."
"Got it."
Maintaining the blaze, Heo Jin-ho and Jin A-yeon headed for Daegu with the troops. Deployment meant assault—and his plan?
"Launch decapitation op. Contact any insiders still with us."
Turn the tables on the beheading that toppled him. Daegu interim gov was his house; no one stops the owner reclaiming it. Link with holdouts forced into collaboration, spark their response for the strike—that was the blueprint.
"Easy in theory. But..."
Theory aside, success hinged on Daegu insiders loyal to him surviving. Jin A-yeon figured any smart usurper would've purged them already.
"Welcome back, sir!"
"No way."
Defying expectations, news of his survival and return spread inside Daegu. His subordinates welcomed their old boss without hesitation.