165. Daegu Recapture Operation (2)
There was a saying: he who rises by the sword falls by the sword.
"The time has come to purge the agents who still can't forget the old government. I've given them plenty of time already, but they're still hung up on Heo Jin-ho."
The raider—no, warlord Gyeon Gwan-im, who had seized power from Daegu's provisional government, clearly had the chops to reclaim it. Surviving as a raider and rising to warlord in this apocalypse meant he had the foresight to see the future, the raw combat prowess to command bloodthirsty awakeners, and the cunning strategies to outmaneuver Heo Jin-ho, who had built his provisional government on personal strength alone.
The purge isn't too late yet. I've spent too much time testing the loyalty of my followers, but the fleeing Heo Jin-ho won't dare challenge me.
He had exploited the fragile internal bonds of Heo Jin-ho's transitional government with exquisite precision, launching a decapitation strike aimed solely at the command staff. Naturally, the loosely connected organization crumbled under the traitors Gyeon Gwan-im had swayed, suffering a crushing defeat in his meticulously planned operation and forced to abandon Daegu.
"B-Boss!"
"Hm? What is it?"
And Gyeon Gwan-im hadn't bothered pursuing Heo Jin-ho. It wasn't mercy—personally, he harbored no deep grudge worth killing for, and there was no need for ruthless pursuit. A leader stripped of his Daegu stronghold had no path left but to wander as a refugee, and to survive as one meant turning raider. Gyeon Gwan-im knew that truth down to his bones. The moment Heo Jin-ho did, all the reputation and credit he'd built would twist into infamy, stripping him of any claim to warlord status.
The worst-case scenario is some fool with a screw loose lending Heo Jin-ho enough troops to retake Daegu. But is that even possible? It's high-risk, high-reward—you'd have to account for Heo Jin-ho's betrayal too. Too dangerous; pass.
The real concern was external aid letting Heo Jin-ho regroup, but Gyeon Gwan-im dismissed it. No sane lunatic in this apocalypse would lend troops to a warlord like him, and even if they did, they'd be fools to forget the risk of betrayal. Heo Jin-ho's army could turn on them in an instant. Logically, no one would loan him the forces to retake Daegu.
"Th-That is..."
"Report calmly."
So, a warlord's priority was purging or recruiting the old provisional government's remnants—recruit the loyalists, ruthlessly exile Heo Jin-ho's diehards. He could've executed them publicly to cow Daegu's citizens into submission, but with overwhelming force secured, Gyeon Gwan-im saw no need to erode public support with such theatrics. First, it meant he was serious about establishing himself as a warlord on the peninsula, with a genuine vision for ruling Daegu. Second, he had no intention of governing through terror; this was his foundation now, and he aimed to build it properly.
To challenge Kim Su-ho, I need Daegu's power. What the hell is happening now?
To gain the strength to face his nemesis—the man who'd driven him to this point—he had to swallow his burning rage and bide his time. Yes, this warlord was a defeated rival to Seoul's hero Kim Su-ho, a prime awakener once personally checked by him, a loser of the era who'd never truly shone under that restraint.
Had things continued, he'd have ended as a wandering refugee, a true failure. But by sheer luck, Kim Su-ho's political downfall gave him a second chance. Scarred by forced defeat in Myeongdong, Kim Su-ho had abandoned managing peninsula warlords with real potential. Gyeon Gwan-im, once leashed, seized his shot in this losers' revival round and won.
"Uh, th-that..."
"What? If it's minor, handle it yourself. I'm busy."
Even now, to celebrate his successful coup, he threw a lavish party using Heo Jin-ho's stockpiles—for the conquest's meritorious retainers and internal collaborators. It legitimized his takeover as a conqueror and rewarded betrayal handsomely to prevent it among his own ranks. He hadn't forgotten his duties as a peninsula power player; he executed them diligently.
Kim Su-ho... I'll kill you myself!
It was the vendetta of a revenger, hell-bent on returning to Seoul and slaying the hero who'd blocked him. But for someone fueled by vengeance, he never imagined karma rebounding so swiftly.
"It's an attack! Heo Jin-ho's back!"
"Hah? No way. He scraped together his remnants for a hopeless fight? Perfect."
He reacted like it was unbelievable at first. But soon, grinning like it was good news, Gyeon Gwan-im figured Heo Jin-ho had rallied his scraps for another shot at power—a golden opportunity. Crushing him here would solidify the usurper regime and break the will of any hidden resistance.
"Heo Jin-ho's provisional government was a pushover anyway. We beat him back then too. Now he's back like a whipped dog, but they've got zero chance. No need to fear."
Best of all, the odds were overwhelmingly in their favor. He'd triumphed over the vastly superior provisional government with smart tactics before. This was brute force now, but numbers favored Gyeon Gwan-im, Heo Jin-ho was the attacker, and they held defense. Hold the line, and it was victory. He headed to prepare with glee, eager to burnish his prestige—
"N-No remnants! At least 500 awakened soldiers incoming! Fully armed!"
"What?"
The scale dropped his weapon from numb fingers. Sure, the provisional remnants could've numbered over a hundred; he'd chased some off himself, so 500 rallied wasn't impossible. But all awakened soldiers? Perfectly equipped?
What nonsense was this?
"Don't bullshit me! Where'd elite troops like that come from?!"
"Th-The Balhut Cult, boss?"
"Insane! You think they'd loan crazy elite forces like that!? They're totally nuts!"
The problem was, against Gyeon Gwan-im's common sense, the Balhut Cult was that insane—and who could've guessed Heo Jin-ho would recreate Gyeon Hweon's legend by borrowing from them? The force capable of it was right next door, and the peninsula power player with the chops was back for revenge.
"Damn it, shoulda crushed him outright!"
Realizing the gravity, Gyeon Gwan-im summoned his lieutenants and geared up for war. He lamented Heo Jin-ho's tenacity—not that Heo had nearly folded to one decapitation strike. That shock loss had shattered his will, but unexpected aid from the Balhut Cult gave him a comeback shot.
As they prepped defenses, Heo Jin-ho's main force reached the gate he'd fortified.
"Go Jun-woo! You traitor! Come out and face judgment! No mercy for betrayers! Resist if you dare—if you've got the guts to face our wrath!"
"H-Heo Jin-ho!?"
The gate's defender, traitor Go Jun-woo, gaped like hell had reopened. His only choice was to guard with his life... but
Wh-What do I do!? What now!?
Lee Hyun-ah had picked this visionary-less hack, after all. He hadn't thought past the betrayal reflex. Pure spinal instinct.
"What're you doing!? Prep for battle! He won't forgive us now!"
"R-Right!"
As Go Jun-woo scrambled, he felt Heo Jin-ho's fury head-on—just one wall away. Betrayer facing the betrayed. Go Jun-woo, riddled with guilt, whipped his men into defense, knowing no forgiveness awaited.
But Heo Jin-ho caught the spreading unrest among the troops.
"Listen! All except Go Jun-woo—your sins are light; I forgive you in the Lord's name! Join Go Jun-woo in ruin, or seize your chance to live!"
He flipped it, urging Go's men to betray him.
Chaos rippled through the ranks. Not everyone had signed on for Go Jun-woo's treason; low-rankers dragged in dazedly included the wronged. Heo Jin-ho offered them pardon. Even officers pondered selling him out for mercy.
"Lies! All lies! You think words mean shit in this apocalypse!? God? Faith? In this world!?"
"You took the provisional government's trust and spat on it—got a lot to hide, huh? How much did they pay you? For all that, did you ever reward your hardworking men properly!?"
Go Jun-woo was scum unfit for humanity, beast material—trusted by the provisional government, yet betrayed. He'd lived high as a traitor exec, but ask if his complicit underlings got equal treatment? Better not. The men's murderous glares told his life story.
"Daegu citizens who hate pointless fights! I'll give you pardon! Betray Go Jun-woo now, and I'll overlook your role!"
Heo Jin-ho doubled down, promising amnesty for the coup. Faces atop the gate shifted.
"Hah! Then dump you later! You think—you—wait. Why the faces?"
Gazes turned on Go Jun-woo. Sensing it, he scanned desperately, despair dawning. He backed away, trying to hold them off—but useless. One step back from him, one forward from them.
"Stop. Stop. You actually believe that crap?"
"Then why should we trust you?"
Would Heo Jin-ho honor it? Doubtful. Desperate to breach, he was tossing blank checks. But the defenders owed Go Jun-woo no loyalty either. If credit mattered, fallen Heo Jin-ho ranked higher than outsider usurper Gyeon Gwan-im.
"Never liked you from the start. You're the one who betrayed good treatment from Heo Jin-ho. Go Jun-woo."
"To survive, betraying you seems faster."
So the infighting erupted in seconds.