The Mine in Hapbin Prison
Hapbin Prison
Time flew by in a flash.
Two weeks had passed since the completion ceremony.
During that time, Taeju had practically lived at the factory.
There was just too much to do.
He hadn't even gotten a chance to stay at the hotel he'd booked.
Right after the ceremony, he'd prepared ample samples of Taehong's Vitality Surge and Fresh Flesh Growth and sent them off to the Food and Drug Administration along with the application.
By now, they were probably undergoing ingredient analysis.
Securing materials was also progressing smoothly—herbs from the Jirisan Monster Defense Legion and pre-orders from the New Seoul herb market.
Baek Seoyeonn had handled all of it.
What would he have done without her?
The awakener officers acting as his escorts had taken care of the miscellaneous errands too.
Taeju focused solely on new drug production.
Under his direct supervision, any batches that fell short of the expected efficacy were scrapped entirely. He enforced rigorous inspections until only perfect products emerged.
The result? High-quality goods were steadily piling up.
All stored in the warehouse.
'Exhausting. So exhausting.'
Taeju sat alone in the factory break room, taking a brief rest.
'Maybe check the infinite storage?'
He'd already read the letter from Dang Gunak.
Profuse thanks for the gifts.
Going forward, he could send items or not—it didn't matter—but if he did, no need for ultra-premium stuff; just new things would do.
'Don't talk nonsense, Dokseon.'
No way.
He'd prepared only the absolute best.
Even while handling factory work, he'd made time for department store runs.
Pondering gifts for Dang Gunak was pure bliss.
He'd bought about ten more of those wristwatches from before.
Other immortals in the celestial realm might want one too—perfect for gifting.
Not ultra-luxury brands.
True high-end pieces required months-long waits even for orders.
So, the priciest and best available off the shelf.
Multitaps for generators, snacks for movie nights—essentials covered.
And then, while shopping, he spotted a game console.
'Huh? Why didn't I think of game consoles?'
So he bought one.
Extra controllers, a ton of game titles—physical copies and downloads. He even asked Lieutenant Colonel Do Minsu to procure another elite mana crystal generator.
But would leisurely immortals in the celestial realm even want to game?
Unlike passive movie-watching, it required active controller use—and frustration from tough games could stress anyone out. Immortals probably wouldn't care for it.
Picture stern, lofty immortals huddled around a PlayStation or Xbox? Unimaginable.
Plus, some titles involved stealing cars, running over people, robbing banks.
Thievery games for immortals?
Ridiculous.
They might frown at it.
Game console on hold, then.
'Send it next time.'
Instead, more tablets loaded with movies and dramas—everything downloadable.
Any content unfit for immortals? Dokseon could just skip it.
Taeju opened his infinite storage.
There, in the corner, the shared warehouse.
Not sparkling now.
But he knew the sign when it did.
Open and send then.
But.
"Huh?"
The shared warehouse looked a bit bigger.
"...It really grew."
About 50% larger than before.
'Perfect.'
Room for more gifts now.
Right then!
Bzzzzt...
A thrilling buzz in his mind.
'No way?'
Sparkle, sparkle.
"Yes!"
Real-time connection—talk about luck.
What's inside this time?
The warehouse held a letter, five peaches, and a jar of sloshing liquid.
Five celestial peaches!
The kind only immortals ate.
But the jar?
No time to waste.
He swiftly cleared it out and crammed in prepped gifts.
Bigger space meant more room.
No game console, though.
'Time for the letter?'
It brimmed with envy from other immortals over Taeju's gifts—especially the watches. Dokseon was now the celestial realm's ultimate insider.
"Heh heh, good call buying those watches."
The letter revealed the jar's contents too.
'...Celestial Liquor?'
For real?
Immortals' brew?
'Insane!'
Outdone again.
What now?
Receive one gift, get tenfold back; ten, and it's a hundredfold.
Think carefully.
No more random shopping sprees.
'What to send next?'
Taeju's weightiest dilemma.
'Can't hog these celestial peaches and liquor alone.'
Good people got him this far.
Baek Seoyeonn went without saying; Baek Changhoon and Jang Suncheol holding down Gurye in his stead; Oh Jinhyeong and his division commanders, ever reliable; Baek Hongpyo nurturing orphanage kids.
People to journey with to the end.
Suddenly!
Riiiing!
Smartphone call.
Imperial Intelligence Deputy Director Moon Kyungshik.
Mine-related, probably.
Taeju answered.
"Hello?"
- "Hello, Chairman Kim Taeju. I hope business is going well?"
"Thanks to you."
- "If you're not too busy, care to join me on..."
Deployment request.
Perfect timing—major tasks wrapped.
He knew that, no doubt.
"Yeah, nothing pressing."
- "You're at the new factory? Sending a chopper now."
"I'll wait. Come on over."
Time for fresh air.
Catch a mine while at it.
※ ※ ※
Thwop-thwop-thwop!
Taeju rode the chopper with Imperial Intelligence agents.
En route, Moon Kyungshik briefed him on Sergei the mine from Leaders Club.
"Interrogation's ongoing, but he won't crack. Tracing his movements in the Empire as a last resort."
Mines operated solo or organized.
If Sergei belonged to a group, they'd pursue to dismantle it entirely.
"So, tailing Sergei's trail?"
"No. Prison bound."
"...Prison?"
Chopper destination: Hapbin, northern New Seoul suburb.
Once called Harbin in pre-fall China.
Samhan Empire crimes fell into three categories.
By normals, by awakeners/compatibles, by mines.
Normals went to standard prisons; mines got info-extracted and executed sans incarceration. Awakeners/compatibles needed special facilities.
Hapbin housed one for them.
"So, a mine among the villains there?"
"Yes. It's for murderers and special violence offenders. Most captured on-site and held immediately."
"Got it."
Mine vs. villain difference.
Mines used monsterization; villains were plain humans.
Both scum deserving eternal isolation.
But if a mine got nabbed pre-transformation, human form?
Could be imprisoned unaware, biding time like a regular villain.
"...Think you can?"
"Don't worry. If there's a mine in Hapbin Prison, I'll sniff it out."
"Just point it out—we'll handle the rest."
Taeju's outfit: Imperial Intelligence agent style.
Black suit, sunglasses, mask.
Classified op.
Thwop-thwop!
Chopper touched down at Hapbin Prison.
Armed, geared soldiers awaited— all awakeners.
Officers, then.
Moon Kyungshik whispered.
"Huangdo Defense Command's Anti-Mine Special Forces. Always deploy with us."
"Ah!"
Familiar face among them.
'Jeong Yeonhui, right?'
Second lieutenant insignia.
She hadn't clocked him yet.
Warden greeted personally, with awakener guards.
"Welcome."
"Prisoners?"
"In solitary, awaiting."
Intelligence agents, Taeju, and special forces followed the warden inside.
Clang!
Reinforced mana alloy steel door slid open.
Solitary cells lined both sides.
Villain awakeners visible through bars.
Sunglasses-and-masked Taeju scanned each one methodically.
Moon Kyungshik trailed silently.
Kim Taeju was one weird guy.
Sniff out mines by smell?
Hard to buy.
Real ability, or Gurye trio luck?
Taeju finished the rounds.
Urgent, Moon asked.
"Well? Anything off?"
"None among the prisoners."
"...My hunch was wrong."
Taeju smiled faintly.
"But there's a scent."
"Pardon?"
"What did I say earlier?"
"No prisoners."
"Right. No prisoners. But..."
Taeju's gaze shifted past Moon Kyungshik.
To warden, guards, special forces.
Approached one, eyed the nametag.
"Guard Daigo Katsuya?"
"...M-me?"
"Yeah, you. Knew the second I saw you."
"Knew what?"
"How bad the stench is. Checked prisoners just in case, but you're the only one."
"What are you even saying?"
Daigo Katsuya feigned utter confusion.
Moon Kyungshik signaled special forces—situation dawning.
Soldiers encircled Daigo slowly.
Among them, newbie Jeong Yeonhui's eyes widened.
Voice clicked it.
'Ch-Chairman Kim Taeju? Here?'
Hotel visits always "out"—never met.
Enlisted without seeing him.
But no acknowledgment.
Got why the disguise.
Meanwhile, warden and guards backed off at Moon's gesture.
Daigo Katsuya bit his lip, glaring at Taeju.
"You calling me a mine?"
"Aren't you?"
"Don't frame innocents. It's my Japanese roots, right? I'll sue for defamation."
"Innocent? Since when are mines human?"
"Ha! Cut the jokes—"
Whoosh!
"Gah!"
Crack!
Phantom Bewilderment Step closed in; Taeju seized Daigo's throat with his right hand.
"Gurk! Wh-what... h-help... human... plea..."
"Human? Keep saying that."
"Please, gurk! I-I'm not a m-mine... gurk!"
Warden exploded.
"What the hell? No procedure, just assault? Ethnic discrimination! Imperial Intelligence okay with this?"
Moon looked troubled.
Too far.
No heads-up, brute force?
Eyed Taeju: "Uh, release Guard Daigo first, interrogate—"
Taeju ignored.
Hoisted Daigo by the throat instead.
Whoosh!
BOOM!
Chokeslam from Hell!
"Gahk!"
Back-smashing impact; Daigo spewed blood.
Warden and Moon yelled in unison.
"Fuck! Stop him!"
"No! Halt!!!"
Why stop?
Taeju ignored.
Procedure? If he denies to the end?
No arrest, no interrogation.
Hauled up crumpled Daigo.
"Listen. No matter what anyone says, I'm killing you now."
"...Kkh! Y-you bastaaard!"
"If you're human even in death, I go to prison. But..."
"Grrk!"
"Human alive, monster dead? Classic mine trait, right?"
Frustrated agent to Moon: "We stopping this? Give orders."
"...No. Watch."
"But—"
"Trust him."
Taeju raised fist at Daigo.
Hummm!
Gang qi surged from hand.
Then.
Twitch!
Daigo's body shuddered.
Rrrrip!
Guard uniform tore.
Grotesque fur sprouted from bare skin.
"Huh?"
"What..."
"Gasp!"
"No way."
Monsterization activated.
No choice—cornered.
"Kak!"
Simultaneously.
Slash!
Razor claws swiped at Taeju's face.
But.
Grab!
Casual block.
"Denied it? But look."
"Kyaaak! K-kill! I'll kill you!!!"
Snap-crunch!
Taeju twisted Daigo's arm.
Pretzel knot.
"Kaaaaah!"
Then wrapped arms around waist.
Crunch!
Mine captures? Spinal fracture supreme.
"Kek..."
Dead?
Alive, luckily.
"Cr-crazy?"
"...Daigo Katsuya was a mine?"
"Fuck, who was he gonna kill!!!"
Warden at a loss, shocked pale.
Favored subordinate a mine?
Moon same.
Finding it shocking enough, but this easy?
Jeong Yeonhui's eyes sparkled, though.
Chairman Kim Taeju—no ordinary man.
End of Hapbin Prison