53. Meeting (2)
"Is that even possible? We in Pohang tried with the navy's help and the survivors north of the Hyongsan River, but we failed."
The university campus representatives shook their heads with dark expressions. It wasn't as if they hadn't poured every ounce of Pohang's strength into reclaiming the city from the zombies. If anything, they'd united with the marines' full might and the survivor camps beyond the Hyongsan River—more than anyone else—and still come up short.
"Yes. But this time, you've got Gyeongju's backing. And despite the failure, you're all still alive, aren't you? Doesn't that prove there's still a chance?"
"...That's true."
Jeong Dong-gun assured them that with Gyeongju's aid, this time would be different. It made sense—if Gyeongju's help was on the table, they could find an easier path to retaking Pohang than before. Plus, Pohang's forces were intact, not wiped out. As long as they lived, opportunity would come eventually.
The university group nodded heavily at Jeong Dong-gun's words.
"We've already secured Geonpo Industrial Road, so we can deploy forces anywhere in Pohang."
"That's right."
Jeong Dong-gun laid out the evidence. They'd locked down three advance routes via Geonpo Industrial Road and were already making contact with the campus through them. Having seen it themselves, the campus side couldn't deny the logic.
With Jeong Dong-gun's confident tone, the university representatives showed signs of coming around. Seizing the moment, he pressed on with unwavering conviction.
"Right now, we're deploying in platoon-sized recon units. But if you want, we can send over a thousand Awakened soldiers into Pohang all at once."
"A thousand? All of them Awakened!?"
A thousand. The claim that the Balhut Cult commanded a thousand Awakened left the university side skeptical. A thousand didn't sound massive on paper, but Awakened changed everything. They'd felt that power firsthand in this apocalypse, so their faces screamed doubt—was this real, or just hype to sway them?
Awakened soldiers, a full thousand, deployable at once... Were they lying to seal the deal?
Bluff. We can only deploy five hundred at a time. But the books do show over a thousand.
Jeong Dong-gun's words were half truth, half bravado. This pitch was strategic exaggeration to tilt negotiations. But the cult did have over a thousand Awakened on roster, all soldiers—fact.
"You can deploy over a thousand soldiers at once?"
"Of course."
This was a lie. The books checked out with over a thousand troops, but they were scattered: guarding Gyeongju's core, securing farms, maintaining supply lines. In reality, the cult could only field five hundred here without issues.
Still, over a thousand soldiers were committed to this war, so Jeong Dong-gun stood tall—this wasn't deceit. Five hundred were already out supporting ops; pull in the outpost reserves, and you'd hit a thousand easy.
"Give us a moment to confer."
The campus called a huddle, eyeing Jeong Dong-gun's unflappable confidence. If they demanded proof, he'd probably deliver. With expectations rising, they huddled to deliberate.
Jeong Dong-gun figured they were hooked.
"Made your decision?"
"Yes. We'll cooperate with the Balhut Cult."
Pohang University Campus had committed. Jeong Dong-gun smiled in relief—he'd completed Bahamut's mission.
"We'll live up to your expectations."
He shook hands with Ha Jin-woo, the campus rep, gratitude genuine. Ha Jin-woo smiled back and gripped firmly.
With the pact sealed, Jeong Dong-gun voiced the cult's request.
"Can you make contact with the other camps? If you introduce us, we can convince them too."
"We can. The navy especially—they're close by. With some pull from us, a summit should work."
Contact with other survivor camps! The Balhut Cult, eager for navy ties, welcomed the offer.
"Perfect. Your help there will make retaking Pohang even smoother."
"First, prove your words. Talks with other camps come after."
The campus had leverage too. As payback for their aid, they demanded a show of the cult's power.
"Ah, I get it—words alone won't fully convince. So how do we prove it to you?"
"Retake the Pohang Steel Industrial Complex 1st District."
Jeong Dong-gun nodded agreement, asking how to demonstrate. Without hesitation, they named a nearby industrial zone—likely zombie-infested, lost to the horde. They wanted the cult's strength for their gain.
"That enough?"
Jeong Dong-gun countered coolly, as if he'd anticipated it. Retaking sites was routine for him; the cult needed that zone anyway. He was thrilled to turn a must-do into trust-building.
"If you fail, our survival gets harder. We're using you to secure ours. It's not just that."
"It's natural to doubt the Balhut Cult."
His words irked them, sounding provocative. They bristled, insisting it was about survival. Jeong Dong-gun realized he'd been too casual, softening his stance.
"...Well, reclamation it is. Absolutely. I hold full authority from the Pontiff and Dragon God. If that's your price for alliance, the Balhut Cult will honor it."
"...Yeah, right."
"Heh. We'll retake Pohang Steel Industrial Complex 1st District by end of day."
He declared it feasible with iron confidence, but the campus dismissed it as empty bluster. They eyed him suspiciously, curt and doubting. Jeong Dong-gun vowed success, bowed farewell.
"A fruitful meeting. Until next time."
"......"
The first summit between Balhut Cult and Pohang University Campus ended. The campus withdrew to base.
Alone in the now-empty tent, Jeong Dong-gun reviewed the talks. A woman entered—the tent doubling as command post.
"Aren't you pushing too hard?"
Son Sang-hee, having overheard, questioned the strain.
"No overreach. It's feasible with our forces alone—that's why I accepted."
"I-is that so?"
Despite her worry, Jeong Dong-gun exuded assurance. They'd already proven it, reclaiming Ironworks Complex Threeway with him and a handful of troops. Full five hundred? Their demand would fall in hours.
"Still, just an industrial zone? I braced for reclaiming this whole sector."
"Th-that's complacency—dangerous."
"Fair point. But retaking places? Routine for us. Daily life."
Son Sang-hee warned against ease; he seemed overconfident, biting off too much. He smiled wryly, insisting familiarity made it safe.
"But trading an industrial reclamation just for brokering other camps? Isn't that a loss?"
She pointed out the imbalance: cult burns manpower and supplies; camps just leverage local ties. With Pohang's anti-zombie networks, it looked like they'd played the cult for fools.
"No. Securing talks with other camps accelerates Lord Bahamut's descent. Profitable for us."
"Lord Bahamut's descent... The Balhut Cult's god, right? He really exists?"
Jeong Dong-gun shook his head, stressing the gain. At the god's name, Son Sang-hee eyed him dubiously.
"Yes. He exists. Truly present in this world."
He smiled bitterly, affirming it.
We were skeptical once too.
He understood her doubt. He'd mirrored it early on, balancing Yu-na's claims with cold realism until Bahamut descended on Gyeongju. The Dragon God walked with the cult still.
"And we're prepping that descent now. 'Descent' means finding the safest deployment window, really."
The cult's endgame: perfect timing for Bahamut's arrival.
"His power's overwhelming. One slip, and Pohang gets swept away too."
Mishandle it, and industrial zones crumble—hence the caution.
"Sounds terrifying."
If true, a scary tale. Son Sang-hee smiled wryly, grasping they had a trump card for Pohang, prepping it carefully.
"Shall we retake their industrial zone as promised?"
"Huh? Just our twelve?"
"More than enough."
The complex fell to Jeong Dong-gun's squad of twelve.