The Start of Change in Gurye
Finally, the Imperial Army's Jirisan Monster Defense Legion operation—a grand subjugation—had been officially announced in the media.
In truth, subjugation operations by the military in monster-dense areas weren't anything special.
Even now, grand subjugations were underway somewhere in the Empire.
However, there were regions where large-scale operations were impossible for certain reasons.
The Jirisan jungle was one of them.
And the reason? Absurdly enough, mosquito poison.
Just imagine awakeners and mana compatibles turning into mana rejectors like that—anyone could grasp how serious the problem was.
But things had changed now.
They could neutralize the mosquito poison.
Gurye citizens were buzzing with excitement.
Gurye had developed to the point where its economy rivaled that of a major city.
The hub for monster byproducts.
Gurye, Hamyang, Sancheong, Namwon... hundreds of raid teams entered and exited Jirisan daily.
Most of the harvested Jirisan monster byproducts flowed through Gurye for distribution.
Even byproducts from monster-dense areas outside Jirisan came to Gurye.
Why? No taxes on monster byproduct sales.
But development had its limits.
The infamous "Gurye Risk."
Just when the city started thriving and life got comfortable, monster waves struck like thieves in the night—destroying infrastructure, claiming lives, and resetting everything to square one.
A chronic plague.
Gurye citizens lived with a ticking time bomb at their side.
But now, hope had dawned.
The Jirisan jungle grand subjugation operation.
The citizens prayed fervently for its success.
And amid all this...
A major announcement from Standing Committee Member Ji Gwangin on Gurye local radio.
"From now on, we plan to permanently remove the boundaries between the castle and the city. Anyone can visit the castle without permission starting immediately. And for convenience in travel, we'll build a bridge over the artificial lake..."
This was just as shocking as the subjugation operation.
The castle hadn't been completely off-limits before.
During waves, they'd temporarily opened it on humanitarian grounds for citizens without shelters.
But this was different.
Not temporary—permanent.
Gurye citizens welcomed it, but castle residents did not.
Outraged by Ji Gwangin's decision, residents stormed the autonomous committee building in protest.
"I paid a fortune for my castle apartment! You gonna take responsibility if prices crash?"
"Ji Gwangin, you bastard! Get out here!"
"Who gave you the right to make that call?"
"Chairman Min Dongyeol, what's your stance?"
Even the regular committee members were in an uproar.
"It's invalid! Invalid!"
"This needs a full committee vote."
"Since when did Gurye Free City turn into a dictatorship?"
"Let's show 'em our power! Restore those crashed house prices!"
Castle residents and regular committee members joined forces.
The closed doors of the autonomous committee building swung open.
A flood of people poured in.
It was nearly a riot.
"Withdraw the castle opening immediately!"
"Time to show 'em what real force looks like."
"Commoners waltzing into our neighborhood? You'll answer for any crime that happens!"
Windows shattered, furniture splintered.
Chaos.
That's when it happened.
Nogodan Guild Master Lee Jeonghak and the vigilante awakeners charged in, weapons drawn.
"Oh! Guild Master, perfect timing. Arrest Standing Members Ji Gwangin and Min Dongyeol right now."
"We're filing abuse of power charges."
"Can you even call that sane? Opening the castle?!"
"We'll all die at this rate!"
"Yeah, house prices have already tanked by nearly half."
But Lee Jeonghak wasn't on their side.
"Arrest all the rioters!"
The vigilantes moved in perfect formation at their guild master's command.
"Huh? Why grab me?"
"What the—? Out of nowhere?"
"Lee Jeonghak, you're in on it too?"
But Lee Jeonghak was resolute.
"Use force if they resist. I'll take responsibility."
Only then did the castle residents halt their rampage.
Their belief that they could do anything and stay safe had vanished.
Facing real violence head-on, they turned meek.
"...I-I didn't mean to wreck the place."
"This was just a protest to fix a wrong."
"If you'd talked to us first, none of this would've happened."
"Let's talk it out instead."
They realized something was seriously off.
All three standing members were aligned?
No way.
Lee Jeonghak had a bad relationship with Min Dongyeol and Ji Gwangin.
The three conspiring for this?
"What are you waiting for? Arrest and detain them now!"
"Wha—?"
"In broad daylight, breaking the law like—"
"Agh! Hey, you bastards! Don't you know the law?!"
"Do you know who I am? My cousin's a central government official!"
The rioters were Gurye's power players.
Those who'd divided society, enjoyed privileges, and holed up in the castle during waves, letting others sacrifice.
They were arrested by the vigilantes and thrown in holding cells.
A sight ordinary citizens had never seen.
Change had begun in Gurye.
This was just the first step.
The groundwork for a new Gurye Free City was laid.
Taeju planned to lay low and hunt until things quieted down.
Time to gather giant half-moon bear bile sacs.
His poison core had reached 6th stage, but his body's enlightenment lagged.
He'd train hard to catch up.
The Jirisan grand subjugation was coming up too.
Today, he'd gone hunting in the Jirisan jungle and returned home.
It was the new house he'd moved into recently.
Baek Seoyeonn had called his old place unfit for the chairman's dignity and built this grand one—not far from the Taehong Bio factory.
A spacious garden, meticulously landscaped lawn and greenery, a shallow pond with fish and a fountain, all secured with ironclad defenses. A two-story mansion.
"Is that the Chairman?"
"Yes, sir. Hard work out there."
"We'll prepare dinner right away."
"Thanks. Oh! You all ate already, right?"
"Yes, we ate our fill."
The household staff.
Gardener, housekeeper, chef, and short-term part-timers.
All hired by Baek Seoyeonn.
Having competent people under you really made life smooth.
People moving into a big house always worried about heating and cleaning... but not here.
The front door creaked open. He walked the long hallway.
"Chairman!!!"
"Call me Uncle."
"Nah, Dad'll scold me."
"It's fine. When he's not around."
Orphanage alumni, middle and high schoolers.
Teens in the thick of puberty, craving trends and style.
He'd been slipping them pocket money behind Baek Hongpyo's back, but that would've spoiled them. Their compromise: house cleaning gigs.
They rotated daily, cleaned, and got paid.
Of course, he gave them a bit more than what he'd discussed with Baek Hongpyo.
"Here! Take it."
"...This is too much."
"Buy something tasty. Don't tell anyone."
"Got it!"
Taeju headed upstairs.
His private space.
He entered the study with its massive desk, shed his coat, and sat.
Ring ring!
Phone call, right on cue.
"Hello?"
- It's Lee Jeonghak.
"Ah, I was just about to call. Good work out there."
- What good work? We're all in this together.
"Heard there was trouble at the committee?"
- Handled it. Arrested a few and tossed 'em in holding.
There must've been massive backlash.
Losing privileges overnight, house prices crashing—a nightmare.
But it had to be done.
The castle: symbol of inequality between castle and Gurye Free City.
Should some enjoy safety in one city while others live in fear of death?
"Persuade them properly and release if they calm down."
- No can do. Not the type to listen to reason. Their mindset's worlds apart from normal folks.
"Then?"
- Make 'em submit. Show 'em they're just as weak as anyone else.
"Hm. Yeah. Do what you need."
He hadn't forced Lee Jeonghak's hand.
Before meeting Ji Gwangin and Min Dongyeol, they'd had one-on-one talks.
The stress he'd endured, the ostracism from the standing committee, his constant anger—even after the common sense incident, he'd insisted on apologizing again...
Once vented, their relationship warmed.
Lee Jeonghak knew Gurye's issues well.
How rotten the wound had become—needing to be cut out.
They'd shifted from suppression by force to a proper alliance.
First step: open the castle. Next: disband the committee.
Hold elections, pick new people.
After the Jirisan subjugation succeeded.
Taeju chatted a bit more with Lee Jeonghak and hung up.
Tomorrow, prep for the Jirisan grand subjugation.
Not much time left.
The combat units stationed in Jirisan were swamped prepping for subjugation.
Especially logistics—lifeblood of the op.
Once in the jungle, they'd live there for nearly a month minimum.
Top priority: mosquito poison antidotes. And spore poison antidotes, since goral encounters meant mandatory kills.
Taehong recovery potions were essential too—wounds healed fast, back in the fight.
Not to mention combat rations, large tents, sleeping bags... massive budget and manpower for this behemoth op.
So outside observers were a huge pain.
Imperial palace VIPs? Fine. But academy cadets about to graduate? Basically luggage.
Do Minsu, the major dispatched for Taehong Bio perimeter duty, had returned to Hamyang Defense Division.
But his new orders?
"Me? Babysit those greenhorn cadets? Freshly awakened punks?"
"Do me a solid. If those clueless kids get hurt messing around, it'll be a headache. This is as crucial as monster subjugation."
"Whoa! I'm a junior expert. You know my dream's soloing an elite, right?"
His direct superior snorted.
"You? Take an elite? Lucky if you don't piss yourself facing one. Know your place first."
"B-but still."
"I can't even get near elites. That's for lieutenant colonels minimum, or staff officers, division commanders, legion commanders. Oh, and Chairman Kim Taeju's joining too."
As his superior said, the elite monster special raid team was already set.
But Taeju had no intention of joining it from the start.
He figured support team at most.
Though even that'd be competitive.
"We didn't want cadets either, but it's HQ orders. Our division commander lost on seniority."
"Sigh."
"Quit whining and follow orders. I'll hook you up with merit points."
"...Yes, sir."
Do Minsu still looked pissed.
"Minsu, it'll be fun at least."
"Huh? What do you—"
Thud!
Do Minsu caught the file his superior tossed.
"...Cadet profiles?"
"Yup. Flip to the back."
He did.
Then...
"Huh?"
Do Minsu's eyes widened.
Two profiles.
Kim Taepyeong, 23, from Paju Territory. Father: Brigadier General Kim Ungbang.
Kim Taecheon, 22, also Paju Territory. Father...
"F-for real?"
"World's a funny place, huh?"
In the Jirisan Monster Defense Legion, Chairman Kim Taeju was always the hot topic.
Invented antidotes and recovery potions for the military, even soloed three mines.
Everyone was curious, and most knew the basics of his family drama.
"Anyway, those two and Chairman Kim Taeju are strangers."
"Yes, I know."
How could he not?
Intelligence division reports.
Anyone with access knew.
Do Minsu had studied it before his Taehong Bio guard duty.
Why Kim Taeju flowed from Seoraksan Outpost to Gurye. His treatment in Paju Territory.
Now it clicked.
Why he'd been assigned cadet oversight.
"We'll keep you away from Chairman Kim Taeju. Imagine the heartache seeing those two faces."
"Understood."
"Toy with 'em moderately. Just don't cause issues."
"Y-yeah, moderately, moderately..."
For Do Minsu, "moderately" had a wide range.
The Start of Change in Gurye. End