Daegu Frontline (2)
Governor Heo Jin-ho had no intention of letting Gyeon Gwan-im slack off after freeing him from prison and his men. He immediately summoned them, gathering everyone in one place. Gyeon Gwan-im and his subordinates, dressed in the uniforms of Serabeol-issued agents directly under the Daegu governor, stared at Heo Jin-ho with weary expressions. After all, what they needed after mana-sealing handcuffs and prison wasn't grueling labor—it was a warm rest.
"I'm assigning you to guerrilla duty. You know what that entails, right?"
But Heo Jin-ho, still not fully trusting Gyeon Gwan-im, decided to test him first.
"Nah, no clue... Whoa, whoa, easy there. Just kidding—lighten up, buddy. Yeah, yeah. Wipe out the undead in the Daegu outskirts and squash the pest bugs bothering the city while you're at it. Something like that, right?"
Gyeon Gwan-im, exhausted and retaliating against the summoner, pretended ignorance at first. But as Heo Jin-ho's face darkened menacingly, he switched tones, explaining the current Daegu situation and their guerrilla role. "Exterminating undead" or "bugs" in the outskirts really meant subduing bandit warlords no different from petty tyrants. Both were essential for Daegu's security, but as the most dangerous external missions, hardly anyone volunteered.
Gyeon Gwan-im whined a bit about being thrown into such peril, but Heo Jin-ho nodded approvingly at the theatrics and pressed on.
"You know damn well and just played dumb. Cut the testing games."
"Sorry about that. I might buy Jin A-yeon, but trusting Governor Heo Jin-ho? Still a ways to go."
He warned against more tests, but Heo Jin-ho couldn't stomach it—Gyeon Gwan-im bluntly admitted he couldn't trust the governor's abilities yet. Truth was, it wasn't Heo Jin-ho who'd brought him down, but Jin A-yeon's prowess. No countering that. Without her volunteering, the Daegu reclamation op might've gone sideways, and Heo Jin-ho's plan could've failed outright.
More than anything...
"Even leashed as we are, if your command sucks, we're all dead anyway, right? So take this little test as friendly advice."
From Gyeon Gwan-im's view, he was staking his life on these missions. A crap commander meant his hard-won freedom would vanish pointlessly. Overly bold or risky moves were necessary to boost his survival odds—even if it tanked Heo Jin-ho's favor. He could always rebuild trust by proving himself.
Evidently.
"So? Now what?"
"Looks like you're clamping down on autonomy, so fine, I'll play along. Any hard rules I can't break?"
Heo Jin-ho acknowledged the logic, letting this slide. Gyeon Gwan-im accepted him as governor in turn, then affirmed he'd follow the rules laid out.
"Rules? Yeah. No looting—dump that bandit mindset now. And no swiping issued supplies on the sly."
"Obviously, now that I'm climbing ranks in a proper outfit. But damn, someone here is fencing gear?"
"Yep."
Human society meant corruption everywhere—not just Daegu, but Serabeol too. Endless greed led to endless military supply scandals, siphoning frontline rations. Serabeol and Daegu knew, but lacked manpower to police it all. For now, binding Gyeon Gwan-im's crew via contract kept them honest.
"Gear support?"
"You'll get it. But no Bahamut Bullets yet."
Not a death sentence, then. Under Heo Jin-ho's watch, Gyeon Gwan-im's unit scored quality gear first. Serabeol's famed magic kit was off-limits for now, though.
"Trust issue, huh. Fair—I wouldn't demand loyalty from a fresh ex-con either. So... if I prove my loyalty to Serabeol?"
"Then I can supply Bahamut Bullets at my discretion. Based on merits. Pay too."
Gyeon Gwan-im nodded understanding, securing the promise. Even as virtual slaves, wages fired up motivation.
"Don't forget that."
Good enough for now. Gyeon Gwan-im reminded Heo Jin-ho as he took the mission and headed to Daegu's outskirts.
Years of fighting had turned the fringes to wasteland. His men, silenced before Heo Jin-ho, now voiced doubts at the grim sight.
"B-boss. We signed the contract like you said, but... this okay?"
Daegu's core was livable; the edges were undead and bandit hell—no man's land. Scorched earth reeked of rot, assaulting noses, threatening vomit, screaming turn back if you value your life.
"Damn straight. Felt that mana when we signed, didn't you?"
"B-but a bluff..."
"Bluff? Get real. The folks who make Bahamut Bullets? They can whip up a binding contract easy."
He warned his fidgety subordinate firmly, breaking down magic's mystic power. Serabeol, birth-giver of Bahamut Bullets, handled bindings like child's play. Most nodded, convinced—but doubts lingered.
Gyeon Gwan-im spotted it and doubled down.
"Plus, weaker versions are already in civilian use. No doubt. This? Military-grade—way stronger."
"Then..."
"We're golden if we hold up our end. Break it? Can't save you."
Civilians used them too? Heads bowed in resignation. Gyeon Gwan-im soothed: safe if compliant, but he'd bail on betrayal. Same boat as them, really.
"Swear absolute loyalty to the governor?"
"Nah. Loyalty to Serabeol's Dragon Priestess—the true absolute. Earn her freedom for us... that's plenty."
The sub asked about Heo Jin-ho; Gyeon Gwan-im redirected to Serabeol. Heo was just one governor—the contract was Serabeol's doing. Their real threat? Serabeol's whims on life and liberty.
"Plus, rebel here? Jin A-yeon shows, game's over."
No escape. For the holdouts, he dropped the ace: Jin A-yeon.
Her solo charge on their courthouse stronghold during reclamation, crushing them all. Unforgettable.
"Eek!?"
"J-Jin A-yeon!?"
Terror gripped them at her name—trauma incarnate, reaper from hell.
"Right. Dodge her wrath: missions, no bitching. Time to prove our worth to Serabeol."
They needed merits to evade judgment. Outskirts seemed barren, but Gyeon Gwan-im was ex-bandit. He knew their psyche, tactics inside out.
And sure enough...
"Hit 'em!"
Leveraging old knowledge and contacts, he pinpointed bandit packs, turning them into merit fodder for his rise.
"G-Gyeon Gwan-im!? You're alive!?"
"Thanks to you lot! Now you're my merits!"
Pre-lord days, he'd absorbed similar crews. Back to basics.
The bandits gawked at his brazen raid. Captured by Serabeol—how? Why attack? What "merits"?
"M-merits!? What the—?!"
"Just die!"
They wanted answers; he gave fists. Capture, drag to Heo Jin-ho—talk later. Efficient.
Thus, Gyeon Gwan-im swiftly...
"Damn it all."
"Boss. All rounded up."
"Good. Use their intel net—lure more."
He hijacked their comms, mapping bandit nests. Bandits networked for trades, info—he exploited it.
In days, dozens captured.
"Here. All the easy catches, nabbed. Proof enough?"
He delivered them, looted goods sorted, itemized lists pristine—to Heo Jin-ho.
"Hah. Skills intact."
Heo Jin-ho praised the pest purge but stayed wary. Betrayal someday. He scoured lists for flaws.
Compare all you want. Geas Scroll keeps me clean.
Damn. Where's that bandit streak?
But Geas-bound, no skimping—perfect records. Untouchable.
"There. Loyalty proven-ish. Gear up my boys, Governor."
Cocky, demanding. Calculated: merits earned it.
"...Fine."
Heo Jin-ho sighed, conceding. No flaws; basic decency demanded it.
Someday I'll nail you. Find betrayal proof, milk you dry, discard clean.
Grab my weakness? Fat chance. I'll be Serabeol's loyal hound! You're just a governor.
Both schemed internally to topple the other—chaotic, but end-times healthy rivalry.
...Probably?