The Line That Must Not Be Crossed
A vibration rumbled through the Baek Ya Department Store. It didn't take long for either Jin Yeon-ah or me to figure out what was causing it. After all, there weren't many things in a massive place like this that could produce a shake like that. Especially not in this dystopian world teeming with assassins.
"So, any idea what's going on?"
That's why Jin Yeon-ah and I approached Lee Seon-hwa, the one who knew the store's situation best. She was sweating bullets, looking flustered at my question. But she let out a small sigh, like she'd resigned herself to it, and answered.
"I'm truly sorry for the inconvenience. From what we've gathered, there's a fight breaking out between outlaws outside the department store right now. We don't have all the details yet, but if you stay inside, it should be handled quickly."
Her words pinned the cause on a brawl between outlaws outside. Jin Yeon-ah tilted her head, puzzled.
"Outlaws? Se-rin, do they ever come into the city like this usually?"
"Not if they can help it. And fighting in the city? That's extremely rare."
Outlaws weren't idiots. Even I, one of the top ones back in the day, kept my head down in the city. Other outlaws picking fights here? That was practically unheard of.
But "practically" wasn't "never," so I didn't rule it out completely. Jin Yeon-ah picked up on that.
"So, what would cause one of those extremely rare cases?"
"Most of 'em are probably when one outlaw's getting personal revenge from another. The target's gonna do whatever it takes to survive."
"Ah, so they couldn't settle it in the Back World and it spilled into the city?"
"Yeah, that's the usual culprit."
The bulk of those rare incidents came down to grudges between outlaws leading to private hits. Those usually went down as ambushes in the Back World. The attackers planned them meticulously, so they wrapped up there. But if the ambush failed, the target bolted for the city to survive, sparking fights out in the open.
"What about the other rare cases?"
"Eh, the rest are so minor it's hard to pin one down... Ah, but there is one that pops up now and then."
"What's that?"
"Happens when Back World factions get their business messed with."
Like that Cheondae Station crew I wiped out with my 150 guys—Back World factions each carved out their territories. Most ran profitable ops, the kind that stayed off the public radar: straight-up criminal shit. Touch one of those, and they'd go feral like rabid dogs. Of course, outlaws dumb enough to try that were rare as hell.
Jin Yeon-ah nodded in realization, letting out an impressed "Oho."
"So, you think it's the revenge type, Se-rin?"
"Probably, yeah. Anyway, what now, miss? Leave it to outside help, or should I step in and clean it up?"
"Right. Hmm... what to do."
She rubbed her chin, weighing the pros and cons of me handling it. But she decided fast.
"I'd love to just wait here till backup arrives... but that'd mean a ton of civilian casualties."
"Looks like they're slinging bombs around like candy. Yeah, probably."
"Can't be helped, then. Baek Ya-seong looks out for the people, after all. Good chance to polish our image too."
"As you wish, miss."
I nodded at her call and turned back to Lee Seon-hwa.
"How many security personnel you got in the store? Ones we can deploy right now."
"Uh, regular guards: about 120. Special forces: around 30. All ready to move."
"Use them to protect the miss. I'll sort out the fight outside."
"Yes?! B-but going alone..."
Lee Seon-hwa panicked at the idea of me going solo, but she couldn't stop me—Jin Yeon-ah blocked her.
"You calling my exclusive assassin weak?"
"N-no, Miss Jin Yeon-ah! I didn't mean—!"
"Then leave it to Se-rin. She's stronger than your 150 guards combined."
"Uh..."
Lee Seon-hwa didn't buy Jin Yeon-ah's obvious exaggeration, but whatever. Didn't matter if she believed it or not.
"Se-rin. You know this, but try to subdue 'em without killing if possible."
"Got it, miss."
I waved back at Jin Yeon-ah waving me off and leaped over the railing, heading straight for the chaos outside the store.
"Kyaaah!!"
"Everyone, run!!"
"You fucking psychos!!!"
Outside the Baek Ya Department Store. Five minutes ago, the street buzzed with lively chatter and laughter. Now? Just screams and sobs.
People fled to dodge random bombs and stray bullets. Not everyone made it clean, though. Some were already hurt in the crossfire, others too paralyzed to run far, hiding nearby. Small mercy: no fatalities yet, just serious injuries. But without quick action, those would turn deadly fast.
Cops and medics were en route, but it'd take at least ten minutes. Despair flickered in the eyes of those stuck, tears streaming down.
"...What a shitshow."
I took it all in and slowly pushed open the department store doors.
Weeeing—
Even in this mess, the automatic doors slid open smoothly, peacefully. I stepped out and eyed the outlaws facing off not fifty meters away.
"One against four? Doesn't look like simple revenge."
One guy with his back to a big van, surrounded by four others. Not a one-on-one grudge match—this was a four-on-one beatdown. That screamed faction involvement.
"Faction business, then."
The four were obviously the faction muscle. Their target looked hopelessly outmatched. Already bleeding from two daggers in his gut, ragged breaths—he was a goner any second. But he held the line against the van, eyes burning with desperate resolve that even gave his attackers pause.
They could've shot or bombed him, but hesitated. Something important in that van, maybe.
"Now I'm curious."
Plenty of time to clean this up. I strolled toward the standoff at my leisure.
Step—step—
"B-Baek Ya-seong...?"
"That's right. Baek Ya-seong's here. Hang tight—rescue's coming."
A citizen hiding behind some planters spotted me and muttered. His eyes lit up at the Baek Ya-seong logo on my uniform. I signaled him to stay quiet and slipped right into the middle of the outlaws.
Step—
"What the—?! Who the hell are you?!"
One of the faction goons bulged his eyes and yelled. I ignored him, heading straight for the van the surrounded guy was guarding.
A guy brandished a dagger at me.
"G-get the fuck outta—!"
"Move aside a sec."
With two holes in his gut, he wasn't stopping me. I sidestepped his wild swing and shoved him down.
Crash!!
"Gahk!"
He hit the ground hard—looked painful, but I was subduing everyone here anyway.
I turned back, hand on the heavily tinted van door.
"Let's see what all the fuss is about."
Rrrumble!!
I shoved it open with force. A nose-assaulting stench hit me first.
"What the—ugh!"
It burned my nostrils on the inhale. The van reeked of vomit-inducing rot. I wrinkled my nose but held my breath and peered inside.
That's when I saw them.
"P-please... save us..."
Five kids, bound in the back seats. Tears streaming as they spotted me and begged.
I couldn't help but exhale.
"...Ha."
The stench hit again, but I didn't flinch this time. The sight before me boiled my blood hotter than any stink.
"Holy shit... these fuckers are next-level scum."
Head heating up, I slowly turned to the faction goons behind me—the van's owners.