Siege Battle (1)
GeumMyeong Security headquarters. The door to Yu Sil-jang's office swung open, and Choi Team Leader stepped inside.
Yu Sil-jang tossed him a fresh business card without so much as meeting his eyes, looking thoroughly annoyed.
"Hey, Choi Team Leader. Promotion. You're Section Chief now. Handle it."
"Thank you, Director. I'll give it my all."
"Sorry I can't give you time for handover. The guys follow you okay?"
"Yes. Of course."
His crisp responses pleased Yu Sil-jang. He listened well and got the job done, but he was a bit too by-the-book. As Jeong Section Chief's right-hand man, he handled the team fine, but he lacked that raw charisma or respect that made men follow out of loyalty. A minor flaw, perhaps. With 1st Team's Jeong Section Chief, Woo Team Leader, and Kang Team Leader all dead, though, there was no one else in operations fit to take overall command.
"Good. Good. You're in charge of 1st Team now. Head to DongYang Department Store. Bring me Han Si-rin."
"Understood. But what if Han isn't at the department store?"
"Drag her ass back if you have to. She'll come running when you start smashing the place up, won't she?"
Han Si-yeon had vanished without a trace. Could her little sister really have nothing to do with it? Beat the truth out of Han Si-rin, and she'd spit out where her big sis was hiding. Bonus if Min Cheol-woo popped out too.
Could Han Si-rin abandon the department store? No way in hell. After grinding for over ten years to finally build a solid base, ditching it would mean crawling back to being a penniless beggar on the margins. Stir up enough shit, and she'd come slithering out, hands up, offering her sister on a platter.
"You did kendo, right?"
"Yes. I'm a kendo practitioner."
"Take this sword."
"Whoa, you sure?"
"Yeah. Use it however. Wear it out, then bring it back. Breaking it in a fight's fine. Lose it or let it get taken? You're dead."
"I'll keep that in mind, Director."
Choi Section Chief let out an "ooh" and accepted the sheathed sword reverently with both hands. Even without drawing it, the perfect balance and weight screamed quality. He slid it out a bit to check the blade—gray steel, unmistakably high-carbon super steel. This thing had to cost over ten million won, easy. More than grateful, his hands shook.
"I'm taking my direct team to check the airbase."
"Safe travels, Director."
With Choi Section Chief still murmuring "oohs" behind her, Yu Sil-jang threw on her coat and left the office.
GeumMyeong Group controlled most places, but not military facilities. Slim chance, but she couldn't rule out Min Cheol-woo cozying up to the NIS and slipping out via military airbase. She'd gotten flight schedules for today's and tomorrow's transport and refueling planes from her general contacts. A quick visit to the base would confirm.
Not anyone could pull that off—only a military vet like Yu Sil-jang.
"Tsk..."
Choi Section Chief's hand trembled slightly on the radio.
Sudden promotion to section chief and command of 1st Team. Unprepared, but his long tenure showed—he stayed remarkably calm, unflappable.
Did he see this coming? No way. Who could've predicted Jeong Section Chief eating a grenade in his own home? Or getting orders to storm one of Seoul's biggest department stores and nab the president?
Sudden promotion, sudden op. But Choi Section Chief didn't flinch. This wasn't his first rodeo. Stick around this company long enough, and you went numb to it all.
"Tomorrow 0700, we surround DongYang Department Store. Roadblocks under pretense of film shoot. All broadcast chopper takeoffs grounded. Arm light except Assault Team 1—we're gearing up heavy."
"Heavy enough you can't fit a finger on the trigger."
Department store guards packing revolvers? Piece of cake. No point lumbering in overgeared and slowing down—hit fast, clean up, snatch Han before she bolts.
But "what if" demanded one heavy assault team. Unexpected heavy fire could pour out anytime. That's why Assault Team 1 got the good chow and supplies—they led the charge.
"And the runaway?"
"Nah."
Family's family. Gig with another team happens. They'd beaten the betrayal out of him good—Choi felt a twinge of pity for the sniper.
"No more delays. Start roadblocks."
"Lucky bastard."
0600. Roadblocks went up around DongYang Department Store. Film shoot excuse—unplanned, but no red tape. Most things sorted with money; the rest with more money.
Half of 1st Team deployed, encircling. They'd taken hits, but over 100 strong. Plenty to take a department store.
"Patch me to Han Si-rin."
"Yes."
"Han Si-rin, DongYang Department Store president. It's me."
"Come out. Let's talk."
"If you wanna call it that. Told 'em it's a blockbuster with explosions, but I don't wanna actually blow shit up. Save your staff too... She hung up. Fucking chink bitch. 2nd Assault, breach now."
Vehicles rolled into the empty streets. No windows on the store—entries were front, back, parking garage, roof. Seal 'em with seven-man teams, it'd hurt, but firepower and numbers would crack it.
1st Team advanced on the front, using slow-moving vehicles as shields.
"That structure's weird."
Never noticed before, but DongYang Department Store was oddly shaped. H-form from above, front and back entrances deep-set behind walls. And no windows, right? But holes dotted the walls. Not quite windows without glass... gun ports?
"Shit! Pull back!"
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Barrels poked from the holes, spewing fire and deafening roar. Machine guns!? Not chink guards—where the fuck did they get machine guns!?
"Pull out now! Cover 'em! Smoke grenades—why the fuck not? Pop 'em! All of 'em! Don't save shit!"
Front, right, left—20-plus couldn't budge against the storm. Return fire useless; muzzles peeked from ports, untouchable. Vehicles punched through like paper—not pistols, rifles. Even 100 men would die.
Back entrance mirrored it. Late anti-tank guys shot walls—no dice. How thick were they!?
"What the... it's a fucking fortress."
DongYang had always been called ugly since opening. Tiny footprint, skyscraper construction costs. Building a fortress? Watching the lead team get mulched, Choi could only laugh in disbelief.
"Pull from front and back. Hit the roof first."
Fortress meant sealed roof? Luck—no, open with trees like a proper store.
UH-1 choppers lifted per orders, hovering over the cordon. Below: smoke, black plumes, screams—pure warzone. Look different, it'd pass for a gritty film set. "Holy shit"—pilot's eyes bulged.
Infrared lock? Glitch, right? Had to be—calm down. Then whoosh! Rocket streaked from roof, exhaust blazing.
Choppers split, banking hard down. Rocket curved, slammed #1's tail—boom! Spinning wreck crashed front, engulfed in flames.
"Hah... miss Jeong Section Chief."
#2 fled instantly. Fuuuck—is this what Jeong dealt with? Choi's head spun.
No fixing this. "Helmets up. I'm leading Assault 1 in. I'll draw fire—rescue pilots from crash site."
Shing—the gray sword slid free, elegant and chilling. Even sheathed, its aura unnerved; drawn, it hinted at countless kills.