"Sorry, But I Can't Trust Those Words.."
"Sorry, but I can't trust those words."
Phoenix nodded in agreement with Haneulseong's statement. There were still too many shortcomings for blind trust.
"Exactly. So what would it take for you to believe me?"
"Anyone can win with words. You're definitely S-rank, that's clear, but I've never heard a thing about you. Why don't you tell me about some proper battle credentials you've got?"
"Explaining that would take all day and then some—probably drag on until the Hero Association's heroes show up. Just trust me. Blessed are those who believe."
"...You're impossible to reason with."
Haneulseong removed his fedora. Beneath the brim, his forehead bore several vicious scars snaking across it.
"Fine. Say you handle those two. But do you have the forces to take on the remaining 152 heroes?"
"Hey, hold on. I think there's some huge misunderstanding between us."
Phoenix twisted the corner of her mouth in a blatant sneer laced with provocation.
"No matter how many heroes come crawling up, Cheonghwadan can handle them alone. Even if Gwanggeom tags along, we'd win."
"You're either possessed or stark raving mad."
The shaman-looking man stormed out into the aisle, bristling like he wanted to sprinkle salt everywhere.
"What? Beat Gwanggeom? If you've got that kind of power, what're you doing here? Go to Shin Seoul right now and lop off some hero heads."
"Puhuhu. That's why I'm telling you straight for smooth communication."
Phoenix snapped her fingers. Flames blocked every door leading out of the main chamber.
"There's only one reason we're asking you to join us as subordinates. We're taking over all of Seoul—don't think you can swoop in later for a share. Got it?"
"Join Cheonghwadan, fight with us, and we'll recognize your control over your territories afterward. But the lands of those who run will be claimed by Cheonghwadan."
"Kgh..."
At Jo Deok-bae's follow-up explanation, the shaman froze in place, unable to advance or retreat. His tightly gripped fan looked ready to crumple under his grip.
"Gangseo's mongrel already tucked tail and fled. The others too. So, what'll it be? Fight us head-on, or run?"
"Stand against the heroes with this force? Impossible."
Haneulseong slammed his fist on the desk behind him. Shards of splintered wood rained to the floor.
"Tomorrow, heroes will swarm from Shin Seoul, and the villains will all scatter. When has a revolt in this land ever succeeded? They always get crushed by the state. Same here!"
"Revolt? You're giving yourself higher marks than I thought, Haneulseong."
Phoenix tapped the podium.
"We're villains. Bandits who seized abandoned Seoul. Those who refused entry to Shin Seoul and broke free from Seon Ui-cheol's rule. Isn't that the essence of the villains left in Seoul?"
"Sure, some are like that. But we're different. Different."
Haneulseong's voice rose in fervor.
"Did the government give a damn about Seoul's residents when they abandoned it? No! They ditched the citizens again! Blew up the bridges even with people crossing! You think those bastards will treat us holdouts like citizens if they come back? Hell no. We ditched the law and took up arms to protect ourselves and survive!"
"Don't you distrust the government a bit too much?"
"I know Seon Ui-cheol well. He's no saint. If we seize Seoul, he'll reclaim the ownerless land and redistribute it to Shin Seoul loyalists. Use the Pine Tree Unit to crush the original Seoul citizens."
"I get that."
The meeting had devolved into a verbal sparring match between the two faction leaders: Phoenix of Cheonghwadan urging them to fight, and Haneulseong of the villain alliance hesitant to judge rashly.
"We have to fight, sure. If there's something worth protecting, fight for it. But we can't just blindly trust you and throw all our turf's people into danger. We—"
"Alright. Here's the deal."
Phoenix clapped to draw eyes.
"I'll lend you core weapons. Beacon! How many spares do we have?"
"80 rifles, 30 swords."
"Send 'em all. You know how to use them, right?"
"You sure? That'll draw attention."
The silent rock monster piped up. Phoenix waved it off casually.
"They're disposable prototypes anyway. Useless junk once the core energy runs out. And do you think they will have time to worry about core weapons?"
"Fair enough."
Beacon tapped his watch, issuing orders to his men. The shaman, fanning his face, asked from his returned seat.
"What's the catch for helping this much? You're not doing it for free. Telling us not to freeload later and join now?"
"I said it from the start. Giving you a chance to join Cheonghwadan. We want to consolidate forces without the hassle of fighting. Like that Architect guy here."
"It's architect."
The Architect shrugged as his eyes met Haneulseong's.
"Not a bad deal for me. They'll protect our people."
"I see. That's how you convinced him."
To the man stuck at the A-rank threshold, the next realm. To those craving safety, security. Haneulseong pulled his fedora back down.
"...Fine. We'll form a united front. But we won't take orders from you."
"That's as far as it goes for now? Okay, got it. But..."
Phoenix bit her lower lip, smirking.
"You'll need Cheonghwadan's help. Call us anytime you need our command."
April 12, 2020, 1 PM — Guro Cheonghwadan Hideout.
"Why'd you lie like that, Boss?!"
Kim Ji-hwa slammed down his spoon and yelled at me. I paused with my spoon halfway into the ice cream.
"Wasn't a lie."
"What do you call that if not a lie?! Even if you're strong, Snow Flower Princess?! The world's top water-affinity user and strongest ice mage!"
Kim Ji-hwa looked ready to lose it. I scooped up some ice cream and popped it in my mouth.
"Ice melts if you heat it."
Three sets of eyes locked on me. I pointed my spoon at myself.
"All battles boil down to matchups. The seven mana affinities and their counters. Even the toughest boss turns dumb if you hit its weakness. Same for kaijin."
"If it were that simple, why has humanity been getting wrecked by monsters all this time?"
To Cheon Ga-eul's question, I split a flame into seven.
"They haven't figured out mana affinities yet. It'll hit academic papers in 2-3 years, but who's clued in now? Field heroes kinda know it bodily—like fire heroes getting owned by water ones."
"So fire-affinity Boss can beat water-affinity Snow Flower Princess?"
To Kim Ji-hwa's question, I wagged my spoon side to side.
"Levels beat affinities. Higher mana rank wins, unless it's a hard counter. Been an S-rank fire mage before?"
"Fair point, but... Can Phoenix beat Fire Fist and Snow Flower Princess too...?"
I clicked my tongue at Kim Ji-hwa's worry.
"Obviously. Otherwise, I'd scrap the plan and flee Seoul for another country. Anyway, mana affinities next time. Back to war council—how to draw the frontlines."
I extinguished the table flames and pulled up a screen. Seoul's map in full view.
"Government hyped this op big-time. So they'll come via these two main routes."
"Bypassing Gwanak Mountain?"
"No chance from Incheon or Gangwon?"
"Possible, but it's daytime. Heroes are human—they'll bus down highways from Shin Seoul to Seoul's edge. Restart high-speed rail maybe."
Another screen popped up. The enemy kindly listed every participating hero.
"2 S-rank, 12 A-rank, 27 B-rank, 51 C-rank, 60 D-rank. D-rank are basically logistics/medics, so 92 combat-ready. Minus the two S-ranks, 90 to face."
"...This looks insanely lopsided."
Jo Deok-bae rubbed his neck.
"What're you on about? You gonna smash 'em solo?"
"Jo Deok-bae, who said I'm soloing? We've got Cheonghwadan."
My flames spread across the screen.
"Guerrilla war, urban combat with Seoul as the stage."
"Turning all Seoul to ash?"
Cheon Ga-eul snapped. Cooperating with Cheonghwadan on condition of rebuilding Seoul, she clearly disliked wrecking it. But no issue.
"Smash Seoul flat. Feed Architect time and mana, he'll fix it. Cores overflow anyway—short? Quick raid upstairs."
"That old man's that good?"
Kim Ji-hwa looked awkward. Living in Digital Complex next to Dongjak, he'd seen some ability work.
I tsked at his doubt.
"No idea what Dongjak Underground looks like now? Built a whole mini-city underground in 6 years. Most Seoul refugees are there."
Give him mana, Architect builds anything instantly. Cheon Ga-eul jolted like she'd realized something.
"Underground refugee rumors were real?"
"Hiding tight. Architect digs tunnels toward Shin Seoul as mana recharges. But refugees flood in faster than he recovers—stuck building shelters."
"Recruited him with weapons and safety."
"Talked easy."
I tapped the table for attention.
"No sparing facilities. Architect stays in Dongjak till fight's over—no damage to underground as condition. Limit battlefield here and here."
Two red circles on the map: west Guro, east Gangnam-Seocho.
"Guaranteed they'll come that way?"
"Make 'em. Dig traps, bait 'em. Ji-hwa, cores from last time?"
"40 D-rank, 20 C-rank. No B or A."
"...Boss? Not what I think, right?"
Cheon Ga-eul's face paled. I pulled an S-rank core from my pocket and grinned.
"Just mob trainin'. Heroes love grouping monsters; we group heroes, lock the battlefield."
"Turn Gangnam and Guro into monster hell?"
"Round up Seoul's roaches, burn 'em. Perfect spots we control... Evac people first."
I glanced at Cheon Ga-eul. No complaint, bit relieved.
"Haneulseong cooperate?"
"Force it. Monsters rampaging his turf, heroes incoming—he'll fight."
"Support? Just weapons?"
"Yep. Won't take orders. Hold till they beg."
I dotted non-Cheonghwadan districts on the Seoul map.
"Wanted villains, but look close: real baddies like Gangseo mongrel or Gangdong Black Flame Dragon, vs survival crooks like Dongjak Architect. Desperate survivors, not yes-men."
"What about Guro's Beacon?"
"You were a would-be perv. Redeem in Cheonghwadan, Kaijin No. 3."
"Noted..."
I scooped melting ice cream—now creamy. Rich strawberry filled my mouth.
"One ironclad: no killing heroes. Kill one, we get screwed. Seizing Seoul, not weakening Korea."
Kill heroes, China/Japan meddle.
"They'll arrest us, not kill. Not war. Villains lack brotherhood, but heroes? Tight-knit. 'You killed my buddy OO? Unforgivable!'"
"Better take hostages than provoke. ...Yeah, smarter."
"Ooh, hadn't thought of that. Thanks, Cheon Ga-eul. Smart as always."
"Take it back! No hostages—release 'em!"
Beep.
I ignored Cheon Ga-eul's protest, tapping my smartwatch alarm. Already chatting Milky Way—Eun Yu-ha, Yuseong chairwoman—via black market.
Didn't expect her first.
"Look at her hedging both sides."
I went to reply but met Cheon Ga-eul's eyes.
"Who?"
"...Uh, business partner?"
Cheon Ga-eul's glare sharpened. She'd barely reconnected with parents; my casual outreach bugged her. Others shifted uneasily in her chill.
"Ahem! Summary time."
At my cue, Kim Ji-hwa screenshotted the meeting notes.
I cleared my throat, pointing at screens.
"Battlefields: Guro, Gangnam. Lure: monsters. Herd all Seoul monsters there, ambush incoming heroes."
"Core tactic: guerrilla. Cheonghwadan follows my lead. Gangnam: no unrequested support. Command on request. Wipeout fine—keep Dongjak intact."
"Deployment simple: Deok-bae to Guro. Me, Ji-hwa, Ga-eul at HQ in Yeouido National Assembly."
Star on map: Cheonghwadan command post. Where Seon Ui-cheol hunts the Cube—National Assembly.
"Prep time. Time to shock the nation with a backstab."