A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
Yuk Eun-hyeong gathered his unit members and called a meeting. They'd lost many in the battle with the paladin order, and some facilities were so badly damaged they couldn't even be used anymore. The meeting was to discuss ways to recover from the damage.
"We're discussing recovery from this battle's losses. And furthermore, relocating our base." Yuk Eun-hyeong scanned the seated members as he spoke. Their numbers had clearly dwindled since before the fight. It felt bitterly painful all over again, but he didn't show it. This wasn't the time to wallow in grief. As unit leader, he needed to focus on rebuilding the mercenary band.
"Speak freely if you have opinions. Anything on recovery."
"I have thoughts on replenishing personnel." One member spoke up the moment Yuk finished, as if he'd been waiting. Yuk nodded for him to continue.
"We could gather volunteers from nearby residents—"
"No." Yuk cut him off decisively before he could finish. The member faltered, staring blankly at him. Yuk gazed impassively at a distant mountain.
The member frowned and spoke up. "Why not? Plenty of locals are sympathetic to our mercenary band. Even a few would..."
"Forgot why the paladin order attacked us this time?"
"..." The member shut his mouth at Yuk's words.
Yuk had once tried recruiting locals into the mercenary band to expand it. The Papal Court hadn't liked that and used the convenient excuse of "illegal proselytizing" to mobilize the paladins. Trying to recruit residents again might bring them charging back.
"Besides, the locals won't join us anyway. They saw us get crushed without a fight."
"..."
"Until now, our band played the role of neighborhood watch, protecting them. But now we're the threat. Things have changed." The members fell silent. It was all true. Yuk's band had earned the locals' trust by shouldering their protection. But under the Papal decree, they'd become a criminal group on par with terrorists. Recruiting locals was no longer viable.
"Sticking to a small elite force isn't a bad idea."
Another member spoke up. Yuk shook his head.
"We're not elite. We're just few."
"...Then we train to become elite..."
"Train... Yeah, training..." Yuk muttered, clutching his head. Turning existing members into elites through training was ideal for manpower shortages, but reality didn't allow it. Poor training without proper setup was just labor. Securing a training ground was an issue, but first, they needed safe shelter.
"No suitable place..."
"Couldn't we ask the cult leader? He'd provide a place to stay or train, whatever."
"No face to ask for more help. No justification." Yuk gave a bitter smile. Last time the paladins attacked, the leader had stepped in to drive them off and heal the wounded. They'd already incurred a huge debt; begging again was impossible. No justification, even before shame.
"...The leader left without even hearing our greetings last time. Means I've lost his trust."
Plus, Yuk hadn't informed the leader of the attack in time, disappointing him. The silent nighttime departure was surely related. Begging without trust would just get a cold refusal.
Bzzz—! Bzzz—! Then Yuk's pocket vibrated. He pulled out his phone. No signal here, yet it rang fine. It was the phone from Lee Jin-seong, Seoul Order executive.
Yuk checked the caller and winced before answering. "...Yes, cult leader."
The members tensed at his words. No one knew why the leader was calling. Yuk swallowed hard, waiting.
After long silence, a voice came through.
"Yuk Eun-hyeong executive. No time, so briefly."
"..."
"You're worried about the base and recovery. I can handle it all."
The leader spoke as if reading Yuk's mind. Yuk glanced around instinctively. Was the leader nearby? No sign.
The leader continued urgently.
"In exchange, one favor. Send a fast runner here. Don't ask why."
"...Understood."
Click. The call ended abruptly after Yuk's reply. The members stared blankly. Yuk clutched the phone, still dazed.
In the silence, one member spoke up boldly. "What did the leader say...?"
"Uh... well." Yuk pocketed the phone. "...A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has come our way. Who's the fastest runner here?"
*
"Nice to meet you. I'm O Hui-jin. I'll be something like your mentor during the dispatch training."
"Do Seon-woo."
O offered a handshake. Do took it. Not large-built, but his grip rivaled Captain Han Dae-ho's. His greeting was relaxed, not arrogant. Likeable at first sight.
They got in the car for long-term missing persons search in northern Gyeonggi. O drove. Do, in the passenger seat, spoke.
"Why 'something like' mentor? Not exactly?"
"No official mentor-apprentice during dispatch. Not full paladins yet."
O drove silently until hitting the northern highway.
"Didn't say earlier, but avoid the Northern Paladin Order. Nasty bunch. Bad blood with our Eastern Paladin Order."
"Got it... I'll be careful. But..." Do eyed a notebook in the door pocket. "...You seem very into religion. Beyond Romanica."
"Huh? How'd you... Oh, that notebook." O nodded. "Nothing grand, just a hobby. Knowing enemies helps in many ways. You interested?"
"...A bit in Voodoo. Studied some alone."
"Voodoo's blown up lately. From the mercenary suppression. You know what happened?"
"Yeah, heard the cult leader appeared."
"Spectacularly. Snakes, plants, fire... all sorts of Loa powers. Rumor he used Preservation too."
"Preservation... A Loa name?"
"Ah... yeah. Secret, but I smuggled some forbidden books... haha. Know some exclusives."
O boasted, then regretted oversharing. He rushed to cover.
"Someday, gear to counter Loa powers. Like Seong Yu-da's old anti-spell gas mask?"
"..." Do just nodded silently.
O realized he'd talked too much. Don't yap unasked, or you're a boomer... He shut up.
Awkward silence fell. Luckily, navigation announced arrival soon.
They exited. Overcast midday, dim and chilly wind. O grabbed two radios from the back seat, clipped one on, handed the other to Do.
"Here, radio. Use for anything."
"Got it."
"And if you find a missing person... secure first, report second."
Do nodded, took it. They split for search.
O watched Do go. Speak less than you know. His rule, yet he'd blabbed. Do made him chatty somehow.
"I get why the captain likes him." Nodding, O headed out.
*
After parting with O Hui-jin, I slipped into a quiet, deserted alley I'd scouted. No need for hard searching. I already knew where Jeong Yun-ah was—with one of Yuk Eun-hyeong's members, in an abandoned building Uncle bought for speculation. Bought under fake ID "Lee Seong-jin," so no trace risk.
But finding her right after parting would raise suspicions, seem unnatural. So, evening pickup.
To kill time, I pulled out a book. Then Legba spoke.
[You know quite a lot, don't you.]
"..." I didn't reply. He meant O Hui-jin. Knew plenty, even solid on Voodoo. Wanting anti-Loa gear someday... dangerous long-term. High chance of becoming a real thorn.
Flip. Watch for now. Turned the page. Soon finished. Closed it. Twentieth book in spare time.
Outside, evening. Left the cafe, headed to the building.
Area barren. Broken streetlights, half-built skeletons. No CCTV. Perfect.
Checked time. Two hours till Yun-ah fully conscious. Plenty.
Strolling leisurely—
Caw—! Caw—! Caw—!
Flutter, flutter...
Caaaaw—! Caw—! Dozens of crows swarmed around me. Perched on broken lamps and frames, screeching madly. Noisy. All eyes on me. Pure white irises, eerie.
"...Gu Jun-hyeok."
Flutter! Biggest crow landed before me. Its white eye stared creepily. Gu behind it.
The crow preened with beak, eyed me.
"Nice to see you! Been too long."
"...Speaking properly now. Regained some power?"
"You could say that. Not enough to beat you yet!"
"Talking like you ever will. You'll never beat me."
"We'll see later! Kekeke!" Laughter from crow beak. No smile, just milky stare. Chilling.
Crow tilted head, opened beak.
"Kinda somber for old pals. Can't fake some welcome?"
"Ridiculous. We that friendly?"
"Fair. Then, reunion gift to liven things!" Crow nodded, glanced at building. Pointed wing.
One crow on lamp dove inside. Too fast to react.
Heart dropped. Hands shook. Pulse raced.
"...Don't."
I knew what Gu planned. Desperate plea.
Crow smirked, beak parting.
"Rejection rejected!"
"Don't, you bastard—!"
BOOM—! Building exploded.
"Artistic gift! Kekeke!" Crow mocked, flapped. Others launched skyward.
Sobo's lightning could fry them, but no time. Building ablaze from blast.
"Bosu!" I invoked Preservation power. Charged into flames.
(To be continued)