166. Sanggyeok Courthouse Assault (1)
At the end of the internal strife, Go Jun-woo was betrayed by his own subordinates, ruthlessly subdued, and dragged before Heo Jin-ho.
Watching Go Jun-woo being hauled out powerlessly, covered in blood from his fierce resistance, Heo Jin-ho glared at him with eyes that screamed, If this was going to happen, why did you betray me? With Go Jun-woo's capture, the checkpoint he'd been guarding fell into the alliance army's hands.
Passing through the now-wide-open gateway, the path straight to Sanggyeok Courthouse—one of the Daegu Metropolitan City Hall buildings Heo Jin-ho had used as his main base—lay exposed before them.
"Straight ahead like this, and we'll hit Sanggyeok Courthouse. Let's move fast."
The road to Sanggyeok Courthouse was essentially wide open. Unlike the Ulsan battles, there were no natural defensive lines in the area the alliance army was advancing through.
"What a ragtag bunch."
Jin A-yeon, remembering her fights against the Immortal Cult, opened her mouth in hollow disbelief at how effortlessly they'd reclaimed the checkpoint. Anyone witnessing this would think the Immortal Cult clashes were true faction-against-faction wars by comparison—this was just too pathetic. They'd seized the most critical stronghold without a fight. In the Ulsan war, how much strategy and brute force had the factions poured into capturing such points? Unlike the Immortal Cult, which had repeatedly pushed back despite losses and shown the will to reclaim key positions, losing one here had flung open the path to their heart. No wonder Jin A-yeon felt deflated.
"I've lost to rabble like this too."
Heo Jin-ho bowed his head in shame at Jin A-yeon's cutting words. Yeah, he'd been defeated by scum like this, washed up all the way to Balhut Cult territory after his downfall. He'd seized a new chance, borrowed troops, and become a key player in the Daegu assault—but seeing the guys who'd beaten him act so disgracefully made shame inevitable. At least the new warlord who'd taken Daegu was a contender for Korea's throne; facing him would be a different story.
"Alright, let's get ready, yeah? You lot—prepped?"
"Yes, sir!"
But like she hadn't forgotten to grind that salt, Jin A-yeon deployed her forces, stationing police units in each sector and beginning to squeeze the provisional government hunkered in Sanggyeok Courthouse. It was a tightening encirclement—no matter where they fled, pursuit would follow. This was her vow to personally capture the usurper who'd stolen Daegu. Naturally, that movement was reported to Gyeon Gwan-im.
"This is trouble."
Gyeon Gwan-im, who'd expected Go Jun-woo to hold out longer, looked flustered as he tracked the police movements. They weren't just scattering to form a loose siege. Some units, under his call-up order, were blocking roads to Sanggyeok Courthouse—his main base. No external reinforcements could reach them now. They'd have to defend with whatever was already inside. Gyeon Gwan-im was at a severe disadvantage. Worst of all, what he feared most was...
Plenty of chance my men betray me now.
As a warlord and raider with years of experience, he knew oaths of loyalty were hollow words. If things turned even slightly sour or lives hung in the balance, his subordinates would forget their vows in a heartbeat and bolt to save their skins. From now on, he'd have to watch for betrayal too.
"If we hit a weak spot in the encirclement, escape is possible. But..."
He considered abandoning Daegu without regret and fleeing. That means giving up all my forces scattered across the city. It would mean forsaking his subordinates' lives—his foundation as a warlord. Losing that power symbol, more precious than life itself, would summon backstabbers for sure. Having thrived as a usurper, he was hypersensitive to betrayal.
Damn it, they're already wavering. If I run now, I'll die to a knife in the back!
He could sense it: fleeing without fighting meant death right here. Pride gone as a warlord meant certain betrayal from his men. He'd risen because of his strength and victories; one defeat planted doubts. Doubts bred suspicion, suspicion bred betrayal.
"Encirclement's up. No holes left. Commander Jin A-yeon."
"Rat trap's set. Time to squeeze, bro."
"Got it."
But breaking the encirclement with the forces at Sanggyeok Courthouse was another issue. Sensing the alliance's resolve to crush the warlord—and that failed escape would worsen their odds—he decided.
"We'll rely on the defensive line. This fortress Heo Jin-ho built isn't bad."
The warlord chose to hunker down using Heo Jin-ho's defenses. By holding the core firmly, he bet on potential reinforcements over the siege—or at least a slim chance of victory. One win, and the neutral Daegu factions waffling in indecision might swing his way. So he needed just one successful defense.
"Damn it. Not field battle—using my defenses as-is?"
Those lines had repelled zombie waves from other cities; Sanggyeok Courthouse was an impregnable fortress. Maintaining the siege while splitting forces for assault was impossible, so Heo Jin-ho strode out boldly to gauge the warlord.
"Ha! Scared now? This is the opposite of the bold decapitation strike you pulled when I let my guard down! Cowarding out? I've come back from hell for revenge!"
"Loser like you ended up relying on outsiders too! That's betrayal of Daegu! You're no different from me."
With Heo Jin-ho exposing himself confidently, the warlord had no choice but to show his face and boast his survival. Usurper and usurped—the heroes traded barbs on sight. Heo Jin-ho's side taunted if he'd chickened out, claiming no tricks this time. The warlord shot back that Heo Jin-ho was just like him, a traitor to Daegu. No yielding on either side, but legitimacy already favored Heo Jin-ho.
"Betrayal? How can you shamelessly yell that when the ones helping me are fellow Koreans, same as us? What's wrong with borrowing muscle to drive thieves from my neighbor's house?"
"Thief? You calling me a thief?"
It stabbed the warlord's weak spot—usurpation—declaring him no rightful owner of Daegu. And by calling Balhut Cult "fellow Koreans," Heo Jin-ho brushed off his own aid as nothing shameful.
"Yeah, a thief! Teaming up with the dog that bit the master—a sneaky house-robber! If I'd been killed, you'd be no better than a burglar! Right?"
"Pathetic. Pre-apocalypse logic? The weak perish. That's the law of the jungle."
"But I survived."
Not even a frontal victory—it was Go Jun-woo's betrayal that did it. Deserved scorn for cowardice, and had Gyeon Gwan-im won decisively, no stain. But Heo Jin-ho's survival cracked his career.
"My mistake. Should've chased and finished you."
"Too late for regrets."
A minor misstep had hastened his fall.
"Citizens of Daegu at Sanggyeok Courthouse! Is that usurper worth dying for? Think he has a solid vision to protect Daegu? That coward who can't fight fair, resorting to sneaky plots—can he overcome this apocalypse?"
Could such a coward claim a firm vision for the future? Sure, in this end times, cunning survived better than honor. But as a government head, he had to pursue the righteous path—or no one would follow.
"No way! He's just using Daegu for his greed! Why waste your life on him? Fight this mighty force for him? If we take losses, will he take responsibility?"
Heo Jin-ho struck there, convincing them the warlord wouldn't act for Daegu's people. The provisional government agents in Sanggyeok Courthouse began to waver. The old master had returned, and loyalty to Gyeon Gwan-im after just a month...
Damn! Not even a month—can't satisfy everyone physically yet!
He lacked time to convince all of Daegu materially.
"No. I can say it firmly. Because all the goods that'd satisfy you? That bastard's hogging them! Think he'll share that hoard? Nah, he'll claim monopolizing by force is best for ruling Daegu!"
"...Sneaky bastard."
Gyeon Gwan-im should've calmly refuted, but Heo Jin-ho's words rang true. No wealth redistribution for supporters yet—all Daegu's riches were in his hands. He needed that bounty to win loyalty, but challenge came first. Half lies, half brutal truth—Gyeon Gwan-im could only...
"Listen up. Warning you: really gonna fight us? Risk your lives with him to hold this place?"
"........."
He glared murderously at Heo Jin-ho—that was all. In the silence, onlookers realized Heo Jin-ho had won the war of words. The response came quick.
"Surrender! We surrender!"
"Accepted."
Some defenders declared surrender and defected. He could've stemmed the panic with summary executions, but...
"Done talking? So boring. Loser's ravings, right?"
"Ho?"
"We'll settle it on the battlefield. Prove if your claims are empty there."
He skipped executions, feigning nonchalance—dismissing it as loser's whining, no big deal. As a throne contender, executing now would've fueled more unrest. Better to play it cool as leader; the waverers in Sanggyeok Courthouse steadied.
"Prepare for battle! I'll show this loser my wrath!"
"Gutsy guy. Didn't flinch at our forces."
"Yeah. Unlike Go Jun-woo, he's got real skill. Makes my loss a bit less embarrassing."
Defiantly declaring he'd lead personally, Jin A-yeon clicked her tongue, calling him a real piece of work. Any flinch, and masses would've defected—but his bold front halted it, readying for fight. Without Balhut or Immortal Cults, he'd be a true contender. Heo Jin-ho admitted such a foe made his defeat dignified.
"Alright, our battle prep too."
"Yeah."
Combat loomed.