Chapter 32
Chapter 32
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 032
Chapter Title: Counterattack Direction, Second Strategy Meeting (3)
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3.
[Guard Corps]……?
Kim Gye-sang's explanation boiled down to it being a six-person raid team led by Queen Do Su-jin.
“It's a major raid team that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with [National Army Headquarters].”
“A major raid team, you say?”
“Ah, any raid team with five or more members is called a major raid team.”
The landscape around here must've changed a lot since the Muak-dong conquest…… Or had I just been clueless even before that?
“Again, this is an insane plan.”
Do Su-jin's formal attire and manner of speech.
At a glance, she looked like some highborn lady……
But perhaps it was those eyes of hers, impassively gazing upon all things in the world. She gave off the impression of an extremely cold person.
“What kind of place is the old city district? It's a dangerously perilous spot in and of itself. Perfect for heteromorphs who love ruins to hole up in.”
“So?”
“You say 'so'?”
Instead of continuing right away, Do Su-jin turned to look at me.
“That place alone is dangerous enough, but luring in a giant breed? That's more than sufficient grounds for danger.”
She tilted her head as if demanding an answer.
I had no idea what meaning my response held, but since she was right, I nodded.
“Yes.”
“And now the plan is to lure in not just the giant breed, but its subordinates too?”
“……That's the plan.”
“We were on the brink of total annihilation against Human Wheel, so what do you think the outcome will be against a giant breed?”
I had no choice but to hesitate for a moment.
What game is this woman trying to play with me? Do Su-jin pressed gently for an answer.
“Please answer. I'd love to hear the esteemed opinion of the lead hunter who succeeded in the first conquest.”
“It definitely won't be an easy fight.”
“Put bluntly, it'll be a difficult one?”
The queen let out a cold sigh as she swept back the long hair that had fallen onto her shoulder.
“Fucking hell, what the──”
I stopped Jeong Ha-kyeong as she bristled.
And I responded with a blank expression. Maintaining a poker face against enemies—or most criminals, that is—had been drilled into me during my police days.
“That's right. But what kind of place is the Nightmare Zone? Isn't it inherently precarious like that?”
“True enough. One last question. What success rate do you foresee for this operation?”
“Three out of ten.”
That answer didn't come from me—it came from Choi Uk's mouth.
“If the subordinates get lured in too, maybe two out of ten. Realistically speaking.”
What? Just two out of ten?
Someone drew in a sharp breath, and a heavy silence descended.
This is weird.
What? Two out of ten? Only? Why?
“Eight times out of ten, it's total annihilation.”
Do Su-jin rose gracefully.
“I have no intention of joining some suicide squad and dying a dog's death.”
As Do Su-jin rebelled, an unsettling air flowed through the strategy meeting.
“It's…… a bit low, isn't it?”
The leaders of the mid- and small-sized raid teams began murmuring with their members.
“Yeah, it is, boss.”
“What'll we do?”
My head hurt.
Crowd psychology…… is that it?
Nightmare hunters live close to death, sure, but they're not mad enough to court it.
Two out of ten.
Even for these people, that despairing number was enough to stir fear.
“I thought calling this strategy meeting meant there'd be some groundbreaking, systematic plan. But it's just the bare bones of lure-and-annihilate, with no meat on it.”
Do Su-jin was personally annoying, but she hadn't lobbed any unfair barbs.
She'd merely pointed out reality.
Couldn't blame those agreeing with her. Humans naturally flee when faced with fear head-on.
But it was the same during the first conquest.
What had bound that fear into courage back then was one boy's sincere humanity.
Think.
I don't have what Shin Tae-yeop has.
I need to do what I'm good at. What can I use to turn that fear into courage……? That's when it hit me.
“You won't prepare for any sacrifices? That's a remarkably clear conscience you have there.”
A heavy voice boomed through the chapel.
The man who could intimidate with voice alone…… was, surprisingly, Im Yong-gon.
“What the hell have you been doing in the Nightmare Zone all this time? It's no easy turf. Isn't it a place where yesterday's loudmouths drop dead today?”
“At least the survival rate wasn't down to two out of ten.”
As Do Su-jin retorted, Seo Hwa-yoon crossed her arms and backed Im Yong-gon.
“Is a full-survival conquest even possible? If you've got a method like that, it'd be great if you shared it instead of hiding it.”
Think.
Faster.
Even a little.
“Whatever. Tell 'em to tuck tail and run.”
The one hurling that scorn was [National Army Headquarters] leader Choi Jeong-gyun.
“Bitches like that never have courage, conviction, or conscience. Right as rain.”
“What did you just say?”
“See? Wasting your breath growling.”
Something flashed in my mind.
What if we incorporate 'that tactic' into this strategy?
“Planning to betray us? Then don't muddy the waters—take your pathetic cowards and scram already.”
As Choi Jeong-gyun provoked, a sharp silence flowed, then Do Su-jin spoke with a sigh mixed in.
“A man with less conscience than anyone lectures on conscience. Hilarious. I mean that sincerely.”
“What?”
Plenty of potential. No, overflowing. The answer's here now.
“You were a major general once, but now you call yourself leader. How many ranks did you fast-track thanks to the war?”
Tension crackled in the air.
As I finished my thoughts and looked up, Choi Uk was silently observing the situation.
Having questioned their ultimate resolve, he was waiting for the irresolute to drop out on their own?
“Even without a conscience, there's a limit. Did you get your officer training from a gacha game?”
“Everyone? Let's calm down for a──”
Kim Gye-sang tried to mediate, but Choi Jeong-gyun's face was already beet red, ready to burst.
The next moment.
Choi Jeong-gyun shot up from his seat and drew his pistol from his waist.
“I'm not the type to tolerate insults! I won't tolerate it! How dare a bitch like you insult Choi Jeong-gyun?”
“Who said anyone tolerates it?”
It was almost simultaneous.
Raid members from both sides growling and reaching for their weapons, and Jeong Ha-kyeong grabbing my shoulder.
“Let's go. These two idiots have ruined the meeting.”
And as I raised my hand and opened my mouth.
“I have one proposal for this operation strategy, Leader.”
The pandemonium turned to silence.
In that hair-trigger quiet, Choi Uk looked at me.
“What is it?”
“I propose a method to raise this lure operation's success rate to four…… or even five out of ten.”
“Five out of ten?”
I wasn't a congressman.
Not a prosecutor or judge, nor a general. I was just a cop, once part of the police special forces.
What I was good at was the tactics I'd learned to death in that role.
“Mind explaining?”
I took a brief breath.
The die was cast here and now.
“Of course. I suggest applying the [Refugee Escort Formation] to this lure operation.”
[Refugee Escort Formation].
The raid members began murmuring. Not because they didn't know what it meant.
They learn it in the military, in reserves, in civil defense.
The question was why this out-of-left-field content was coming up.
“The [Refugee Escort Formation]……”
Kim Gye-sang was the first to speak.
“That one? From the North Korea nuke crisis civilian evac…… right?”
“Correct. Precisely, it's a tactic devised assuming a scenario where all electronics fail due to a North Korean nuke.”
I paused briefly to emphasize what came next.
“Much like our current situation.”
Kim Gye-sang furrowed his brow, then let out an exclamation. Smart guy—he got it right away.
[Refugee Escort Formation].
This formation was designed for military and police to escort isolated civilians in urban areas to safe zones.
Simple, yet powerful.
The basic shape is a wedge (▲).
Troops divided into three teams: [Scout Team], [Support Team], [Refugee/Command Team].
[Refugee/Command Team] in the center.
Safest position.
[Support Team] positioned to envelop that [Refugee/Command Team].
[Scout Team] positioned to envelop that [Support Team].
Roles are simple too.
[Scout Team] fires a flare upon spotting threats. [Support Team] just repels the confirmed threats.
Yes. The key is the [Scout Team] and illumination rounds.
“What the hell does that even mean?”
Choi Jeong-gyun asked, as if unable to comprehend.
Not a surprising reaction.
It's so simple—and taught in the military—that it's often dismissed as nothing special.
But I know.
How powerful this formation is. Because.
“This formation was originally a high-end one used by the world's top special forces. It's just simplified to fit military and police realities.”
“How do you know stuff even I don't? And without being able to search on a brainphone, no less.”
Choi Jeong-gyun narrowed his eyes suspiciously. But as a former major general, shouldn't he know?
“I'm an alum of the police special forces.”
“Oh……?”
Interest lit up in people's eyes. Special forces meant elite combatants.
I hated bragging, but right now, bolstering my credibility took priority.
“Extremely limited visibility is one of the absolute dangers in urban ops. Simply put, a prime cause of abysmal success rates.”
The old city district's no different.
Just called 'old,' but it's still urban.
“This formation's [Scout Team] will enable flexible responses to that danger.”
Implementation is dead simple too.
Just swap the [Refugee/Command Team] spot for a [Bait Team]. Short silence. Then.
“……Thinking about it, that's fucking brilliant.”
“Shit, how'd we miss something this simple?”
“This makes it totally doable, right?”
Explosive reactions.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thrilled by the greater support than expected.
But honestly, I'd just added a spoon to the pot.
This should've been the reaction to Choi Uk's lure-and-annihilate concept……
“I final-propose forming the [Old City Breakthrough Formation] with [Scout Team] 10, [Support Team] 21, [Bait Team] 4.”
But for now.
Let's solidify this momentum.
Eyes quickly focused on Choi Uk at my words. He asked.
“That composition enough?”
“More [Scout Team] would be ideal, but with current numbers, this is optimal.”
“Sadly, it'll drop by one more.”
I tilted my head, and Choi Uk pointed at Seo Hwa-yoon.
“Seo Hwa-yoon's got to handle traps at the induction point.”
“If it's that crucial a role…… no helping it.”
Can't pull from [Support Team] either.
Tuned for giant breed fights in 3-man squads. 9, 21, 4 formation it is.
“Anyone dissatisfied with this composition, or unwilling to join the conquest, you're free to leave now.”
It sounded directed at the crowd, but Choi Uk stared only at the queen. Asking the ringleader of rebellion if she'd defect.
“Your answer?”
“If you'd thought of this, you could've said it sooner.”
Do Su-jin seemed to think Choi Uk and I had rigged this meeting from the start, but she sat back down.
Meaning she'd join the conquest.
“What about the other raid teams?”
“We're in.”
“We'll join too.”
“Count us in.”
Starting with Choi Jeong-gyun.
As the round table went counterclockwise, raid leaders raised hands one by one.
“We'll join.”
And ending with Do Su-jin, eyes converged back on Choi Uk. He said.
“Good. We've got our conclusion.”
4.
After hashing out and adjusting miscellaneous details, we adjourned the strategy meeting.
“[Refugee Escort Formation], huh.”
At the cathedral's main entrance.
Seo Hwa-yoon muttered that, then hooked my neck with her arm.
“Impressive as always! No wonder you enchanted our Ha-kyeong.”
“No. Compared to the strategy devised in <Romance>, it's nothing. ……And I never enchanted her.”
As I slipped out of Seo Hwa-yoon's embrace, she blocked my lips with her index finger.
“I don't like men who play humble, sis here.”
“…….”
“Coming up with something that simple is what's impressive.”
Then Jeong Ha-kyeong, face stern, pried me away from Seo Hwa-yoon.
“What's with the auntie acting like a college girl throwing a tantrum? Get a grip?”
That shifted Seo Hwa-yoon's target to Jeong Ha-kyeong.
Anyway, I'd been talking with Choi Uk, so why'd she butt in……? Right then, Choi Uk spoke from behind.
“I'd originally planned for about twenty to join and do well. You're the star of this strategy meeting.”
Turning, Choi Uk extended his hand.
“My respects to your intellect. This is sincere.”
I hesitated briefly.
The carriage incident still nagged at me.
But Choi Uk was a genius hunter, and we'd need close cooperation going forward. Today's events proved it.
“Please take care of me from now on, Leader.”
So I.
“This is sincere from me too.”
Gripped Choi Uk's hand.
The hand I hadn't gripped at our first meeting. Unlike Shin Tae-yeop's, it was wrinkled and rough.
If the world were normal.
We might've exchanged smiles, celebrated success, toasted victory.
But we didn't smile.
We couldn't, for any reason.
Three days later, we.
Had to survive against the nightmares in this cruel world.