132. Gotta Whip Him into Shape.
Mr. Jo froze as if someone had slammed the stop button.
What the hell did I just hear?
Only after her stalled thoughts kicked back into gear did she finally speak.
"Sinuiju—what about it?"
"We're taking it. We'll claim this place."
"If that were possible, wouldn't someone have done it already?"
"It's not about possibility. It's about necessity. Up until now, no one needed to push themselves that hard for Sinuiju."
"But now they do?"
"What I'm planning isn't just necessary. It's something that has to be done."
"I... have no idea what you're talking about. Do they need it or not?"
"If I had to pick one, it'd be the former. But that's not the point right now."
"What is this, some Zen koan? If we don't debate that, what do we debate?"
"Survival. We need to find a way for this village to make it first."
"Worry about your own damn skin!"
Mr. Jo barked, but Kang Moo-hyuk glanced down at himself and brushed it off casually.
"Sure. Looks like I've still got some time left."
Mr. Jo opened her mouth for another retort, but hunters who had heard the commotion came rushing up the stairs. She quickly shifted into Hyeon Jeong-geon's form.
"Boss, what's going on?"
"Nothing. Forget it and head back down."
"Got it. Oh, and I brought that thing you asked for. What should I do with it?"
"Oh! You got it quick."
"Who do you think I am? Heh heh."
"Bring it here."
A moment later, the item carried up to the attic was a cane.
Hwang Dong-soo examined it with satisfaction, then offered it to Kang Moo-hyuk politely with both hands.
"It's made from ebony wood that grows in the Makyung. Tough, resilient, and resistant to moisture."
"Thanks. I was having trouble just standing otherwise."
"Kang, boss! 'Thanks' what? This is Makyung ebony! This stuff's pricey. Whoa, look at that grain—must be at least ten years old. Hard to even find, let alone snag. How'd you track it down?"
Mr. Jo took the cane from Kang Moo-hyuk's hands, appraising it with exclamations of awe.
Kang Moo-hyuk sat up in bed, snatched the cane back, and shoved Mr. Jo aside. Leaning on it, he tested his weight.
"Nngh..."
With great effort, he stood and took a few steps, then nodded.
"Good."
"That's your review? You're leaning on Lord Ebony here."
"Mr. Jo."
"Yeah?"
"Coming here means you crossed right through the heart of the Chinese hunters' camp, right?"
"Yeah. Wasn't flying, after all."
"Did you get eyes on their movements? Anything suspicious or out of the ordinary?"
"Suspicious? Hmm..."
Mr. Jo retraced her infiltration route in her mind.
"Heard a lot since more of 'em were up than you'd expect at dawn. But they don't speak my language, so who knows what they were yapping about."
"A lot of hunters awake?"
"Yeah. Not like they pulled all-nighters or anything—just up early? Sharpening weapons and such. Busy little bees."
Kang Moo-hyuk turned to Hwang Dong-soo.
"You said Cheon Deok-su's group commissioned the hit on Hyeon Jeong-geon and me, right?"
"Yeah. Nakhoa Guild told Deok-su's crew to drag us in by noon tomorrow, dead or alive."
"That means they gave orders to their puppet in the prison village... and then prepped separately."
"They were gonna storm in if we weren't delivered? Grab us themselves."
Kang Moo-hyuk shook his head at Mr. Jo's guess.
"Ryeon Jeong-mun wouldn't sit idle. From what you told me, Hwang Dong-soo hunter, the prison village hunters aren't pushovers. The Chinese outnumber them, sure, but these folks hunted the Makyung with crap gear. They've tangled plenty with non-Sinuiju Chinese and Russian hunters—plenty of experience. Plus, it's their home turf. Even if the Chinese win, they'd take heavy losses."
"No need to come in here at all. Comms are cut, fully surrounded. Better to give us more time without spilling blood."
Hwang Dong-soo added his explanation. As he finished, a chill ran down his spine.
"Boss... you don't mean..."
"Yeah. Looks like they've got other plans."
"Other plans?"
Mr. Jo scowled. She'd caught the implication too.
Hunters don't sharpen blades for nothing. They'd have prepped weapons before heading out. Sharpening again without fighting—and nearly all of them? Meant a big battle loomed.
"Mr. Jo, I need you to scout outside the village one more time."
"Outside?"
"Check the enemy's movements."
Mr. Jo swallowed dryly at Kang Moo-hyuk's firm tone, already labeling the Chinese hunters as enemies.
"This ain't double pay territory. Shoulda been triple."
"I'll make it better than double—with this as your fee."
Kang Moo-hyuk held out a necktie pin. Mr. Jo's head practically sprouted question marks.
"What's this?"
"A translation artifact."
"Whoa!"
"Lets you listen in and talk to the Chinese hunters."
"Even converse?"
"Enough for the job?"
"Boss... hell yeah. Might even owe you change. Ho ho ho!"
"Just one small favor later instead of change."
"Eh, whatever. For treasure like this, sure... wait, that 'small favor' sounds sketchy."
"With your skills, no problem at all."
"I've been burned before."
"And you've never failed, have you?"
"W-well, true... but this feels like you're stringing me along, right?"
"Report back after recon. As fast as you can."
"Fine. Got the goods, so I'll do it."
As Mr. Jo turned to leave the attic, a head peeked up from the stairs.
"Who's the kid?"
"Gil-young, what brings you here?"
Hwang Dong-soo asked gruffly.
Kim Gil-young hovered awkwardly at the threshold, not quite entering. He feared Hwang Dong-soo—the rumors around his "thug" nickname didn't help.
"What's up, kid?"
Kang Moo-hyuk pressed gently, sensing the boy had something to say. Halfway up the stairs, Kim Gil-young climbed the rest and spoke.
"Um, there's this kid in the neighborhood named Cheol-i. He said he has a message for Hyeon ajusshi."
"That's odd. Cheol-i's Park Jeong-nam's son from the scouting team. No reason for him to seek out Hyeon Jeong-geon this early."
Hwang Dong-soo whispered the kid's background.
Before Kang Moo-hyuk could ask, Kim Gil-young continued.
"But from what he said, it sounded like something for Kang ajusshi too."
"For me?"
"Yeah. Some ajusshi named No Song-rin was talking about Hyeon ajusshi and Kang ajusshi."
"Huh? Why's that guy popping up here?"
Kim Gil-young's eyes widened at Mr. Jo's odd tone in Hyeon Jeong-geon's form.
The boy eyed the unfamiliar Hyeon Jeong-geon suspiciously, but Kang Moo-hyuk drew him back.
"No Song-rin hunter was with the patrol squad? Lucky for me, or unlucky for him... Gil-young, can you tell me more?"
Kim Gil-young relayed exactly what Park Cheol-i had told him.
"Thanks. Go on down—we'll talk about the ajusshis later, okay?"
"Sure."
Once the boy was gone, Hwang Dong-soo, who had listened silently, spoke up.
"Boss, how's this No Song-rin hunter's skill?"
"On par with you, Hwang Dong-soo hunter. Rank's one thing, but he's rolled in rough terrain—combat prowess is no joke."
"Then it's weird. This detention room ain't fit for high-level hunters."
"Same thought here. Not the type to go quietly. If he's sitting pretty, there's another reason. Thought maybe he couldn't get back to North Pocheon with comms down. Now we've got a hell of a card."
"We should keep him hidden as one of your hunters, boss. Worst case, they grab him hostage—we're screwed."
"No sweat. Just make sure he can't be a hostage."
"Huh?"
"Mr. Jo, one more task. On your way out, sneak No Song-rin hunter free. A top-tier patrol watcher will head here soon to check you—use that gap."
"Sneak him? How? Folks are waking up. Plenty already stirring. They'll notice he's gone quick."
"Told you—no one to watch you closely. You've got that item, right?"
"That one?"
"Put 'em to sleep. No need for everyone—just anyone coming in or out of the patrol building. Delay the alarm as long as possible."
"Damn! Do you know how much those materials cost...?"
"More than the translator? I know the production costs."
"Kang boss, you're... sigh, you'd thrive even dropped in the Makyung."
As Mr. Jo laughed weakly, Kang Moo-hyuk added,
"Oh, almost forgot. One more thing."
"Pulling out all the stops, huh? What?"
"Comms are down here. Activate a base station relay so we can call out."
"Phone call?"
"Yeah. If my hunch is right, we prep accordingly. Marked it on the map earlier after asking around... where'd I put it?"
Kang Moo-hyuk rummaged for the map he'd studied from bed. Mr. Jo waved him off.
"Calling out? Nah, no need."
"Why not?"
"Eul-ji said something about a C Warehouse? Brought a satellite phone. Guild master's orders—call if she finds you. Works even in the Makyung. I'll grab it on the way."
"Haha... now that's worth a thousand troops."
Ryeon Jeong-mun and Cheon Deok-su arrived at the Yeoju house exactly at 7 a.m. sharp. Hwang Dong-soo's men blocking the front stepped aside.
Ryeon Jeong-mun eyed them.
Their eyes are sharper than before. Can't be just from forming one crew. What happened?
As he pondered the shift in mood, Cheon Deok-su spoke.
"Let's head in."
Unlike the sturdy pillars, the poorly joined planks let wind whistle through, but the smell of food wafted strongly from outside.
Ryeon Jeong-mun and Cheon Deok-su paused without opening the door. Their men, clueless why, hung back awkwardly in the heavy air.
Then the door creaked open, and Hwang Dong-soo peeked out.
"Why the hold-up? Ashamed to face Brother Byong-joo?"
"Why drag up the past?"
"Hwang Dong-soo, you ain't all that yourself. Lone wolf suddenly stirring shit at Kim Byong-joo's?"
Cheon Deok-su glared and picked a fight, but Hwang Dong-soo ignored him.
"Didn't call you to brawl. Come in, eat sister-in-law's food, then talk."
No Song-rin, leaning against the wall with eyes closed, snapped them open. The bustling area around him had gone eerily quiet.
"What? Why so silent?"
He glanced at the iron door. Steam-like vapor seeped through the slit, roiling as if boiling hot.
Clearly not smoke from fire. Nor mere fog.
No Song-rin immediately wrapped mana around his breathing. He channeled mana into his hand and cautiously waved at the vapor.
"Ugh, sticky and gross. Anesthesia? Sleep gas? Some monster used something like this."
"Aegir hippopotamus."
"Right, that! ...Who're you?!"
"Quick reflexes. Tsk tsk."
A stranger's face appeared at the door's small window.
"Who the hell? Pissing me off from the jump? Hah? Hyeon Jeong-geon send you?"
"I'm Hyeon Jeong-geon."
"Hah? That punk paid up proper? Didn't expect it."
"Sent by Kang boss."
"Kang Moo-hyuk? He's here?"
Kiiik—the door swung open.
"Out."
"Yeah."
"Here."
"What's this?"
"Medicine. Head there—Kang boss'll be waiting."
"No writing, just some damn doodle. How'm I supposed to—"
"Busy. Later."
"Hey!"
Before No Song-rin could grab her, Mr. Jo vanished seamlessly in Hyeon Jeong-geon's guise.
Staring at empty air despite seeing her clearly, No Song-rin gawked in dismay.
"Figures, working under Kang boss. Rude as hell. This punk—gonna whip him into shape later."
Brrr!
"What the—? Not peeing, so why the shakes?"
Go Eul-ji eyed him weirdly, and Hyeon Jeong-geon stammered an excuse.
"Just... sudden chill."
"Hunters don't catch colds and shiver."
"Yeah, but... what is it? This ominous, filthy feeling?"