Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: 24. Blitzkrieg (3)
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The interior had been cleared, but it wasn't over yet.
A Jeok-gang and Dan Geum quietly ascended the stairs to scout the outside situation. Though they'd wrapped things up in an instant, the commotion hadn't been insignificant. If there were double or triple layers of guards, they might have been caught. Even if not, they needed to grasp the lay of the land.
So the rest of the team took a moment to stand by.
Wang Baek-gun frowned as he eyed the five corpses the team had dragged into a corner.
"Five in total... that's definitely a lot."
"Yes. It seems the security really has been tightened."
"In that case, the White Horse Lantern might not even be at the officers' mess."
"Who knows. But they still have to eat, right? And from what I hear, it's also a spot where the top brass gathers for meetings on the side. In a situation like this, they'd have plenty to discuss, so wouldn't that make it even more likely for them to congregate?"
"Hm. So, Team Leader, do you expect the White Horse Lantern to be there?"
"Probably."
"Tch. Where the hell have those Ten Cats holed up? We'd know exactly how things stand if they were here. Hey, what do we do now?"
"My take is..."
Wang Baek-gun and Jin Ga-yong murmured quietly, while in the corner, Flying Tiger and Na Mok whispered to each other. Their expressions were a stark contrast—Flying Tiger spoke calmly, but Na Mok looked utterly peculiar as he listened.
Just then, A Jeok-gang and Dan Geum returned from upstairs. They'd come back quicker than expected for a reconnaissance, and trailing behind them were guests descending the stairs!
Sa-myo, whom the team knew well, plus two unfamiliar faces. These three were the Ten Cats that Wang Baek-gun had been desperately seeking.
"Where the hell have you been, showing up only now?"
Wang Baek-gun greeted the guests gruffly, his initial delight short-lived.
But Sa-myo offered his usual affable smile as he greeted them and briefly introduced his companions as "Seventh Cat" and "Eighth Cat."
Then he made his excuses.
"Unavoidable circumstances arose. Up until dawn today, with Team Leader Jin here, everything was fine. But the moment the sun rose... well, the security suddenly got airtight."
"I've heard as much."
"Oh, you knew? Then this'll go quicker. We three had planned to secure this place and welcome you all. But the numbers we had to deal with ballooned. We could've forced our way through somehow, but causing a ruckus would've ruined everything. So we bided our time for the right moment... and that's why we're late."
As Flying Tiger had predicted, the Ten Cats had struggled to take the side gate.
Regardless of the details, Wang Baek-gun's irritation rose at Sa-myo's glib explanation without a hint of apology, sharpening his tone.
"Ha~ So you waited for the perfect chance and got a free ride?"
"Hm, no doubt your Face Pursuit Unit Jeong handed us a golden opportunity. But don't mistake it for us doing nothing, Elder Wang."
"Oh? And what did you do?"
"Well, you see..."
The situation was this.
The side gate had double-layered security. One group inside this cavern, and another around the ceiling hole where sunlight poured in—the upper level equivalent. So if one side got hit and made noise, the other would know right away.
In other words, they had to neutralize both sides simultaneously.
Up until yesterday, there'd been one sentry above and two down here. But with the sudden security ramp-up, it became two up top and a whopping five here.
Caught in a bind, unable to act, the three Ten Cats had been watching closely when the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong struck below. They immediately took out the upper sentries.
In short, without the Ten Cats responding from inside in the nick of time, your Face Pursuit Unit Jeong's ambush would've failed.
By Sa-myo's account, they'd played a crucial role too.
A Jeok-gang, who'd checked the outside, nodded from behind, confirming the tale.
Na Mok, listening to Sa-myo, found it amusing—ultimately, as Flying Tiger said, it was inside-outside coordination that overcame the obstacle.
Yet the firsthand explanation had seemed sloppy and half-assed moments ago.
'Is this what they call "even a sideways path leads to the capital"? Or "riding the coattails"? Hm, but boldly seizing the moment counts too. Hm.'
Wang Baek-gun had no choice but to acknowledge it after hearing the details, so he nodded and backed off.
Then Jin Ga-yong stepped up to extract the intel the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong desperately needed.
"With security this tight, any changes to the plan? What's your take from observing?"
"Big picture's the same, no issue. About half a gak ago, we confirmed the top brass, led by White Horse Lantern, heading to the officers' mess."
"How many?"
"Mad Wind White Horse Lantern, Third Leader Mighty Hero Do-ryung, Escort Captain Wind Belly Poison leading the guards, and Old Tiger Hawk Da-won doubling as their strategist. Four in total."
"...!"
"But with security massively bolstered, factor that in. Normally seven guards around the mess, but now probably ten to fifteen."
The team, led by Wang Baek-gun, breathed a collective sigh of relief.
More guards meant more work. But per Sa-myo, they could proceed as planned. Things had been snagging bit by bit, breeding anxiety, but now it felt like pieces falling into place.
Flying Tiger, who'd stayed silent, thought differently.
'Something feels off. They're not baiting us... are they? Or maybe...?'
Flying Tiger scanned Sa-myo with ambiguous eyes and posed a question.
"Sa-myo, so from now on, you'll personally guide our Face Pursuit Unit Jeong into the inner fortress? While your other two Ten Cats draw the enemies' eyes?"
"Exactly. Seventh and Eighth Cat will slip out and stir up a distraction. We've secured some signal arrows from the Yellow Worm Unit—ones that whistle. It'll pull all eyes for sure. We strike when the bandits are in chaos."
"Music to my ears. The Ten Cats from Great Black Cat down have our deepest gratitude."
Flying Tiger nodded vigorously, glancing at the team for agreement. They all praised the Ten Cats as spot on, and Sa-myo humbly demurred, "You're too kind."
As the warm atmosphere passed, Flying Tiger asked as if it just occurred to him.
"Slightly disappointing, though. If the rest from Great Black Cat were here, it'd be perfect... Right, excluding you three, where are the other seven? Wait, Ninth Cat headed south earlier to draw eyes, so six left. Anyway."
Flying Tiger smiled, but his tone was bitterly sarcastic.
Sa-myo's eyes narrowed briefly. This guy had needled him oddly last time too.
Ungrateful brat.
But Sa-myo wasn't green enough to show it. He explained calmly, deliberately enunciating to chide the rudeness.
"Great Black Cat and the others are scattered, fulfilling their duties. Classified, so no details, but spare the speculation."
"Oh~ Classified. Makes me even more curious, but I get it's tough to share."
"...Appreciate it."
"Sure. Whatever's more vital than infiltrating enemy HQ to take the boss's head, secrets stay secret."
"...!"
The Ten Cats' glares sharpened.
Flying Tiger turned away casually, muttering just audibly.
"Knew it."
He flashed a thumb-index circle subtly, side-eyeing the trio's reactions, snickering inwardly.
Look at these guys.
"Deputy Leader, that's enough."
Jin Ga-yong scolded when Flying Tiger wouldn't stop, prompting a shrug and retreat.
Stung by the insolence, Jin Ga-yong glared briefly before turning to Sa-myo.
"Fine. When do we start?"
"Right now?"
"Let's."
Jin Ga-yong agreed readily.
Thus, Seventh and Eighth Cat geared up, bid the group farewell, and exited through the iron gate.
Per plan, they'd descend the narrow path the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong took up, fire signal arrows at a suitable spot, then bolt—about half a gak from now.
The Face Pursuit Unit Jeong's operation had been delayed by over a shichen one way or another.
But with buffer time built in from the start, smooth sailing from here meant no issue linking with guide Old Pine Tree Seo waiting outside.
In essence, after a detour, the plan was back on track.
Provided no further hitches.
"Ahem, Team Leader Jin, shall we get moving too? Signal's due any moment."
By the time Sa-myo spoke, the cavern's mood hung heavy.
Sa-myo understood—the impending battle weighed on the Face Pursuit Unit Jeong—but he disliked the silence. He'd tried injecting cheer, yet Jin Ga-yong's reply landed heavy.
"We must. But first, allow me this rude request, Sa-myo."
"Pardon? What's this suddenly...?"
"Where are the rest of the Ten Cats now?"
"I said it's classified."
"And if I must know?"
"Team Leader Jin! When I say 'classified,' you must've guessed whose orders. Surely a team leader doesn't truly not know?"
Whether Sa-myo was genuinely pissed or pressing authority intentionally was unclear. His tone had turned blunt, laced with mockery.
He shot back at the prodding Jin Ga-yong, and the hitherto quiet Flying Tiger interjected.
"They always pass up kind words for the rod."
"...?"
Slap~
Flying Tiger whipped around lightning-fast, landing a backhand that sent half of Sa-myo's face aflame.
He staggered.
In his half-dazed state, Sa-myo's first thought was: even if unexpected, taking this hit so easily meant it'd been premeditated.
That damned killer.
I'll get you for sure...!
Unfortunately, Sa-myo's vow went unfinished.
Flying Tiger's kicks rained down. The primal agony drowned any thinking.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Flying Tiger pulped Sa-myo in seconds, spat disdainfully, and sneered.
"You mouth off like that and didn't expect a beating? I warned you last time. Loose lips get you killed."
What the hell just happened?
The team watched Flying Tiger's antics in baffled curiosity.
Except Jin Ga-yong, who'd started it, and Wang Baek-gun, stroking his beard and pretending otherwise.