Each Fends for Themselves or United as One
Uh... ngh.
Jinhyuk slowly opened his eyes on the creaking wooden bed.
The lodging in the inner fortress's government office was a hundred times better than the dirt floors for regular slave soldiers, but to a body spoiled by modern mattresses, it was still a disappointingly meager bed.
Judging by the angle of sunlight filtering through the bars, it was too late for morning and too early for noon—right in that awkward mid-morning slot.
Jinhyuk sluggishly propped himself up.
Out of habit, he glanced at the corner of his vision, and a translucent system window popped up with its mechanical text.
> Taste/Smell Loss Remaining: 07:48:32
"Ah... this life is seriously cursed, for real."
He ruffled his tousled hair and forced himself to his feet.
He'd figured eight hours of sleep would shake it off, but seeing over seven hours still left made irritation surge up.
"This isn't some isekai hospital stay—what the hell? Slept eight hours and my nose still feels stuffed? System devs are legendary trash."
On the table beside the bed sat breakfast prepared by head chef Biho.
Too much time had passed; the braised pork porridge had gone cold, its pale oil layer congealed on top, and the pickled mustard greens beside it crunched with chill.
Jinhyuk spooned a bite of porridge but soon grimaced and shoved the unsatisfying meal aside.
Chewing just the cold oil film with no scent or flavor was pure torment.
Right then, Adjutant Beom Dal, waiting outside, entered cautiously with a steaming basin.
He gauged Jinhyuk's mood and spoke in utmost deference.
"General, you've risen? It seems Biho's meal didn't suit your palate. Likely because your senses are heightened right after forming your dantian."
Beom Dal quickly added congratulations to lift Jinhyuk's spirits.
"Congratulations once more! I heard you assisted Hwang-yeonggam, Dogwi, and Dok-an in absorbing Daeseol-ung's essence yesterday. Now that you've properly formed your dantian, this is a great fortune—not just for you, General, but for our entire Black Wolf Army! Your bed must have been uncomfortable as the dantian settled; please wash your face with this warm water first."
Beom Dal set down the carefully heated washbasin.
Jinhyuk plunged his face deep into it.
The warm water melted away the north's biting chill, finally steadying his mind.
"Ah... now I feel alive. Nose and tongue are dead from this inner energy crap, though—mood's still shit. Beom Dal, everyone gathered?"
Jinhyuk asked while toweling off.
Beom Dal, standing by, bowed deeply.
"Yes, General. Not just the Black Wolf Army, but the other faction leaders are waiting in the inner fortress meeting room."
Jinhyuk plunged his face deep into the basin again.
The warm water melted away the north's biting chill, finally steadying his mind.
He wiped his face with the cleanest cloth available and checked the old bronze mirror.
Still a lowly slave soldier.
No fancy imperial officer uniform—just decent red leather armor over rough linen.
Throwing on a crude overcoat from Han Noya made him look less like a general and more like a young sergeant who'd rolled through battlefields, scarred but surviving.
"Ah... now I feel alive. Nose and tongue dead from inner energy—mood's shit. Beom Dal, everyone gathered?"
"Yes, General. Black Wolf Army troops and the other faction leaders are waiting in the inner fortress meeting room."
Jinhyuk adjusted his crooked overcoat and clicked his tongue.
"General my ass... still look like an unemployed guy at reservist training. Let's go."
The inner fortress meeting room door swung open, hitting him with the icy tension between factions that could never mix.
Baek Unhak of Jeonggidae, who roamed the east outskirts on his lone path.
And Sama Ung of Heuksa-dae, peddling beast hides from the west for personal gain.
They'd always dismissed Jinhyuk's Black Wolf Army like cows eyeing chickens, but with the Great Wall garrison sealing the gates and cutting backroom deals, they were suddenly isolated.
Beast meat they could eat till it bored them, but grains, salt, liquor—the Central Plains supplies for human living—were now cut off.
They'd watched Han Noya's dozens of wagons roll into the inner fortress warehouse.
Last night's aroma of proper mixed grains, veggies, and spices had rocked the entire Outpost.
Meanwhile, Black Wolf hunters Gwiyeong and Cheolgeo chatted casually with Manma-gwang's demonic cult remnants, slapping shoulders and exchanging greetings.
Jinhyuk sat at the head and spat in Korean.
"Hey, Beom Dal. Those Manma-gwang kids must be wiped from casting spells—call Biho, heat up yesterday's leftovers. Feed the ones who suffered with us, not those monk wannabes."
Beom Dal caught Jinhyuk's words perfectly and subtly summoned Biho with orders.
Soon after, Black Wolf troops ignored Jeonggidae and Heuksa-dae, serving only Manma-gwang's table with spice-laden dishes and Central Plains liquor.
Jeonggidae and Heuksa-dae got plain water.
Baek Unhak slammed the table first, rising.
"What nonsense is this! A barbarian without martial arts dares defy murim etiquette? Favoring demonic cult scum with Central Plains fare while insulting us with water—utter ignorance and rudeness!"
Sama Ung shoved his chair back, sneering coldly.
"Hmph. Backroom deals cut off, and you think you're our boss? Don't delude yourself. No reason to endure this insult and talk with you. We Heuksa-dae leave now."
Jinhyuk picked his ear and replied curtly in Korean.
"Discrimination? Hey, Baek Unhak. This ain't a civil servant meeting—drop the formal crap. And Sama Ung, your backdoor's blocked, bankrupt yet? No salt or grain, you'll chew beast meat till disease kills you—what balls? Without me, no booze for you. Conscience on vacation, huh."
Adjutant Beom Dal glared sharply at the two leaders and boomed in a heavy, theatrical tone.
"Baek Leader, Sama Leader! Delude not yourselves. The General deems this no jianghu banquet hall nor petty market for haggling! From the moment the Empire sealed the gates, your pathetic schemes ended! With dantians shattered, does that frail pride fill bellies? Serving Central Plains grains to comrades who bled on the front lines is the Black Wolf way—yet you, fattened on self-gain and discarded, dare demand favor? If it irks you, live as strangers once more! We lack surplus to feed the needy!"
Each Fends for Himself / United as One
Jinhyuk tapped the bamboo slip and eyed Beom Dal.
"Beom Dal, tell 'em to choose. Join up, take contract work, or starve. Open the warehouse first."
Beom Dal led the leaders to the inner fortress warehouse.
Under Black Wolf troops' strict watch, the heavy doors opened, revealing stacks of massive grains worth 800 gold, salt sacks, fresh veggies, spices, and supplies.
Baek Unhak and Sama Ung's eyes widened in shock.
In this wasteland abandoned even by the Great Wall garrison, Jinhyuk flaunted not lifelines—but overwhelming wealth.
Jinhyuk tapped a grain sack in the corner, adding coldly.
"That's my answer. Think you last next month without this?"
Jinhyuk turned back to the meeting room without checking reactions.
Beom Dal stayed, delivering the ultimatum coldly.
"Seen enough? That's the General's power. If it irks, return to your factions and fend alone as before. But to join under the General or contract like Manma-gwang for survival, return to the meeting room. The choice is yours."
Moments later, the meeting room door opened; the two leaders reappeared, attitudes shifted.
"Decided? Sit. Busy here."
Jeonggidae leader Baek Unhak stood rigid, biting his lip.
Responsible for 800 orthodox troops, he chose the sole path to secure gains without bowing to a barbarian black path boss.
"I cannot serve you as lord... but for my orthodox men's survival, I'll contract like Manma-gwang. We'll handle east sector beast supply and patrols—deliver the promised supplies."
Heuksa-dae's Sama Ung, leading 800 unorthodox thugs, stared at Jinhyuk then laughed heartily, pulling a chair.
"Unorthodox follow the strong—and those who feed. In this wasteland, one who hauls dozens of wagons? I gladly call you General. Heuksa-dae's 800 stand under Black Wolf banner from today."
Jinhyuk didn't look up, muttering in Korean.
"OK, one contractor, one regular. Beom Dal, now 3,000. Wrap it."
Beom Dal proclaimed the military order.
"By command! Former Heuksa-dae leader Sama Ung becomes Black Wolf provisional battalion commander, overseeing west barriers! Jeonggidae leader Baek Unhak contracts for east outskirts scouting and beast supply, reporting direct to General! From tomorrow, all former Heuksa-dae join Black Wolf training—latecomers face military law!"
Sama Ung fully surrendered command; Baek Unhak preserved pride as a contractor.
Absorbing Heuksa-dae's 800 and 300 non-combat civilians naturally swelled Jinhyuk's direct Black Wolf Army to 3,300.
Jinhyuk mentally tallied the organization.
'Direct: three 1,000-man regiments plus three tech platoons. Add contractor Jeonggidae 800, Manma-gwang 500, Survival Demons 200... totals 4,800. Iron Blood remnants 200 untrustworthy—exclude from forces.'
From leading 2,200 as senior regimental commander, now he held life-and-death over the Outpost's massive force—he felt the weight.
"1,000 per regiment... nearing 5,000, basically an independent brigade. Suddenly a one-star brigade commander. When Great Wall garrison reopens gates, make us untouchable."