Pioneering City Nap'an (2)
The Empire's pioneering legions were tasked with battling beasts on the front lines while expanding territory.
A coveted position that every Imperial Army commander dreamed of.
There were plenty of opportunities to rack up merits, and without any major incidents, external interference was minimal.
They were granted broad authority.
To the point where, upon successfully pioneering and establishing a city, that city fell under the military's jurisdiction.
It was akin to ruling a fiefdom.
Even so, ten million won for a single ring was too much.
Especially when he himself stayed in the rear, pushing obedient private guilds to the front.
'From what I've heard, the ten million won seems limited to adapters or awakeners...'
Time to confirm for sure.
After subduing the Oasis Guild members, Taeju immediately called someone who would know.
Geum Suhu, the palace secretary, was aware of it too.
"Even if it's legal, you can't sell copper rings that expensive."
Taeju detailed what he'd heard from Oasis Guild's Jucheol-yong.
Geum Suhu's rage exploded.
Agh! My ears are ringing.
Taeju hung up.
Click!
A moment later, the phone rang again.
Just as expected.
Taeju chatted with Geum Suhu a few more minutes before hanging up.
The next day.
Colonel Kwon Chiyeol stared in disbelief at the phone that had just rung.
"What?"
What the hell is this bullshit?
Today was collection day, no less.
He was just about to send his underlings to the Oasis Guild.
"Haha, have you lost your mind? Popped some pills?"
It was so absurd he burst out laughing.
Was the dog he'd been using turning on its master?
Click!
Colonel Kwon Chiyeol's face twisted.
Something had definitely happened.
The guy wasn't bold enough to pull this off alone.
Someone was behind it.
'Grim reaper? ...Not the Imperial Army.'
All pioneering cities in the Gobi Plains were under military control.
Then a private guild eyeing the city? Or a master-rank villain.
'Doesn't matter who.'
Daring to mess with the Imperial Army MPs?
Colonel Kwon Chiyeol summoned his subordinate.
"You called, sir?"
"Mobilize all troops. We're heading to Nap'an now."
"A—all troops, sir?"
"Yes, officers, NCOs, privates—everyone! Full combat gear, assemble!"
The MP unit was independent from the legion.
Stationed midway between the pioneering cities of Barun and Nap'an.
They handled admin and public safety, but in emergencies, they fought beasts too—stocked with awakeners, adapters, and cutting-edge heavy weapons.
The base went on full alert.
Trucks and APCs loaded with soldiers streamed toward Nap'an.
'What bastard...'
Originally, the military handled Nap'an's admin and security.
Pioneering wasn't just pushing out beasts.
To claim it as human territory, people had to settle.
So incentives were needed to draw population: farming plots first, priority land buys once stable.
Most who came were displaced refugees without IDs.
Issuing papers one by one took time.
But you couldn't just let in anyone unchecked.
Some control was needed.
So as a stopgap, they issued rings engraved with serial numbers.
Initial fee: a mere 50,000 won—to cover the ring cost.
Once the city stabilized, the Gobi Plains Pioneering Legion pushed west.
Residual beasts left to private adapters and awakeners.
Thus, rings were sold to incoming adapters and awakeners in Nap'an.
Handled by Colonel Kwon Chiyeol.
Price: 100,000 won.
That's when profits started.
Falsify some docs, and it was untraceable cash.
Raid teams could hunt in relative safety, so they paid up.
Military-approved.
All legal so far.
But Kwon wasn't satisfied.
How much cash were adapters and awakeners raking in?
The plains teemed with profitable beasts.
Just watch for venomous scorpion-types, and hunting was easy.
Elite beasts mostly cleared by the legion.
Pup-sized mutant sawtooth ants yielded shells rivaling plastic; black-furred goats had premium meat rivaling spore-venom camel-deer.
But the jackpot? Aerial beast, the three-eyed pine hawk.
Hard to capture alive, but once you did, the price was insane.
Especially breeding pairs—priceless.
Tame and hatch eggs successfully, and you could tame three-eyed pine hawks.
If you had the skill, that is.
Raid teams flocked for the big score.
Kwon used Oasis Guild as his front for the ring scam.
Prices crept up: double, triple, fivefold, tenfold...
Until one ring hit ten million won.
Kwon eyed his post-discharge future.
Cousin in the Imperial Assembly;
Funded his politics for a nomination promise.
Plus his own campaign cash.
Money was pouring in.
Then this blows up?
'Fucking pricks.'
Whoever it was, they wouldn't get away.
In rundown Nap'an, the "city center" was one spot: around the Oasis Guild's five-story building.
Long line of adapters and awakeners out front.
Thanks to the massive banner on the building wall.
Overpriced Rings: Refunds in Progress
Every raid team active in Nap'an gathered.
They'd thought the prices outrageous anyway—free money? Grab it.
From inside the fifth-floor office, Taeju watched through the glass.
Suddenly, Ibaek sauntered over to Taeju's side.
"Find anything?"
"Yaaaw... "
"No scent?"
"Meow!"
Since the Chinatown mine incident, Ibaek could sniff out mines too.
Spirit beast trait? Or from eating that lead immortal? Maybe both.
"Checked everywhere else too?"
"Meow."
"Good work."
"Yaaang!"
What would he do without this guy?
Nap'an was bigger than expected.
Searching for mines solo would've taken all day.
But Ibaek handled it—huge time-saver.
'Wrap this up quick and hit the field.'
Got dragged into this mess; hadn't hunted properly.
Gobi Plains crawled with scorpion variants.
All venomous, each with unique toxins.
Five-meter giants, sub-centimeter micros, stealth assassins in camouflage.
Mine hunt aside, harvesting venoms for his poison essence was a key goal here.
Schedule was tight.
He'd left Paju to trusted hands, but too long away disqualified him as lord.
Right then!
Vroooom!
Vehicles kicking up dust from the plains horizon.
'They're here.'
The corrupt soldiers Jucheol-yong mentioned.
Screech!
Hundreds of troops piled out of trucks.
"Disperse them all!!!"
An awakened officer in dark shades barked orders with his baton.
Civilian adapters and awakeners in line resisted.
"What's this about?"
"I need my money back!"
"Fuck, the army thinks they're hot shit!"
"Hey? Did you just hit me?"
Futile.
Awakener or not, no match for fully armed troops.
And the military had awakeners too.
They scattered.
'They'll barge in soon.'
Taeju lounged on the sofa, waiting.
Thud thud thud!
Boots on stairs.
Moments later,
Bam!
The office door burst open.
Click clack! Ratchet! Rack!
Dozens of muzzles trained on sofa-sitting Taeju.
In strode the MP commander, twirling his baton.
Colonel insignia, nameplate: Kwon Chiyeol.
Kwon removed his shades and said,
"Where's Jucheol-yong?"
"No idea. Around somewhere."
"...Huh?"
Only now scrutinizing Taeju properly.
"You're not Oasis Guild."
"Obviously not."
"You?"
"What?"
"The one behind this shit."
"Yeah, I told them to refund the rings."
"Fucking pup..."
Kwon tilted his head.
Knew they were coming yet didn't flee?
Something up his sleeve?
Unfamiliar face, no awakening tattoo even.
"Weird, huh? You're no awakener. And not that famous TJ Chairman Kim Taeju either. What makes you so bold?"
"Well... I am Kim Taeju."
"Hahaha."
Kwon snorted derisively.
"Sure, you're Kim Taeju."
"Believe it or not, up to you, but..."
Taeju stroked Sam-baek's head as it yawned on his lap, continuing,
"You're just an Imperial Army colonel."
"So?"
"Billions in cash is too big a bite for a mere colonel. That rank all that special?"
Kwon shrugged like it was nothing.
"You never served?"
"Nah. Did my time."
"Then you know: it's not rank, it's post. Depends on the billet. Generals tremble before me."
"No way! What if a real general hears?"
"Meow!"
Sam-baek seemed to agree.
Truth was, Taeju had zero intention of brawling with Kwon here.
Save face; let the military handle military matters.
"Hey, General? You hear that? MPs make generals quake."
"Nyaaaaang!"
Suddenly!
Bang!
Door to the adjoining room flew open.
Out stepped uniformed Imperial Army officers.
"Yes, I heard everything. So I'm a bit shaken."
All in dress uniforms.
One had three stars: Pioneering Legion Commander, Major General Seo Gangjin.
...Huh?
Colonel Kwon rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
'Why's the legion commander emerging from there?'
Panicking.
Rub harder—still Seo Gangjin.
And not just him.
Legion staff, division commanders—all generals, all masters—glaring coldly like they wanted to devour him.
His legs buckled.
Adjoining room—they'd heard every word.
And seen the current scene.
'What now?'
Kwon's brain raced.
Find a way out.
Summary execution possible here.
Desperately,
"M-Major General, s-see, uh, my cousin's on the Imperial Assembly Defense Standing Committee—"
Seo cut in coldly.
"I know. Assemblyman Kwon Changyeol."
"Ah! You know him!"
Kwon's face eased slightly.
"He's always struggling for the Empire's sake. I know I messed up, but for the Empire..."
"Raised political funds?"
"Yes, exactly! All from patriotic zeal—"
Seo smirked.
Turning to Taeju,
"Chairman. Truly sorry. All my oversight."
"Hard to pick good subordinates, yeah."
"I feel it deeply."
"Don't worry about Kwon Changyeol. Probably arrested by now."
"That scum's nothing. Just beg forgiveness for troubling you."
Kwon couldn't process.
Calling his Defense Committee cousin "scum"?
And why was Major General Seo bowing 90 degrees to this kid, apologizing?
Chairman? Wait...
"R-real Kim Taeju?"
Seo's fury erupted.
"Shut it! Not a name for your rotten mouth!"
"...Uh, uh."
It was Kim Taeju.
Hero of the Great Wall War, Paju lord, Gurye lifelong mayor, Empire's rising sun.
'It's over.'
Kwon collapsed to his knees.