134. That's My Specialty
“No way on Dong-su. Don't drag him in. If the kid dies, who's gonna look after his old lady, neh?”
“What about you then, big bro? Me 'n' Deok-su are total orphans, no sweat, but Byung-joo bro's got family to look after.”
“This is all for my boy. Gotta let him live seein' the light of day, right? And to do that, we gotta survive first.”
“In a world without a dad?”
“Worry about yourselves. If I go, that's it for me. But the ones left behind? That's real hell. Especially Deok-su. Sorry 'bout that, kid.”
“That's why you should be the one headin' to that hell, bro. Let me rest easy for once.”
“Folks like me with family? The Chinese bastards'll grab our weak spots anytime. Get taken hostage, and we won't hold up under their pressure. Look at Dong-su—barely scrapin' by carin' for his mom.”
“Jeong-mun bro, be real. Why do you gotta go? There's that punk who stole and sold their stuff to the Chinese—why're you takin' the blame, neh?”
“You're right, those screw-ups did wrong. But can you shove those little blood clots into the fire and sleep easy with your legs stretched out? Let 'em die like that, and the village folks won't see us as family anymore. That's what the Chinese want—us turnin' on each other with resentment.”
“Who doesn't know that? That's why I'm pissed, neh—pissed off! Those damn bastards block our food, block our hunts! Starvin' the whole village on purpose. We can't go toe-to-toe, so we're sittin' here takin' their crap about catchin' the perp?!”
“So we fight? We'll all die.”
“Might be better that way.”
“Enough, all of ya. No time. Last thing—one final ask. Deok-su, folks'll curse you plenty as the traitor who sold me out. Don't let it get to ya. Stay tough.”
“Guy headin' off to die worryin' about that stuff.”
“Jeong-mun, you hold the patrol squad together, keep the Chinese at bay, sync up good with Deok-su. Hang in there.”
“……”
“From today, we're cuttin' ties as sworn brothers. Live like strangers. Wait for the right moment.”
“That was my husband's last words. Right outside this room, I heard him clear as day headin' off to die... but I couldn't stop him.”
Jeong Ye-bun's tale hit Hwang Dong-soo hardest of all.
He'd seen it back then: Cheon Deok-su sellin' Kim Byeong-joo out to the Chinese, Ryeon Jeong-mun formin' the patrol squad, the rift between 'em.
That's when he'd learned: brutal power logic trumped brotherly bonds. So he'd kept everyone at arm's length, survivin' solo... never dreamin' it was big bro's way of lookin' out for him.
Hwang Dong-soo glanced between the other two brothers.
Cheon Deok-su, takin' the traitor label and big bro's kid callin' him enemy without flinchin' once.
Ryeon Jeong-mun, leadin' the village's last bastion—the patrol squad—against the Chinese hunters.
Hwang Dong-soo felt shame burn through him. The one hidin' behind his mom's illness, runnin' from reality? That was him.
'Met Kang Moo-hyuk leader and saw hope? Bullshit, coward. That was just an excuse.'
The heavy mood kept mouths shut until Kang Moo-hyuk clapped sharp—crack—breakin' the silence.
“Self-recrimination's fine, memories too. Wish I could give you time to sort your feelings, but no luxury for that. Misunderstandin's cleared up enough—let's move on.”
“You little shit! After hearin' Byung-joo bro's story, you still got a mouth on ya?”
“You shut your trap. You think I'm jokin'?”
“What'd you say?”
Cheon Deok-su couldn't believe this regular joe—barely standin'—was brushin' him off.
Kang Moo-hyuk tsked, glarin' at Cheon Deok-su.
“Talkin' more makes it clear. Can't leave the village in your hands anymore. Somehow you've held out this long—impressive.”
“Rude much, Mr. Kang? We protected this village. No place for outsiders like you. You leave.”
“If your 'protection'—Ryeon Jeong-mun hunter style—is just maintainin' the status quo. Nah, more like boiled frog in a pot, slowly dyin'. Then die alone. Don't drag the villagers down.”
“What...”
“Stuck here, you've turned into real frogs. Villagers don't even know the enemies outside are lightin' the fire under the pot.”
“Lightin' a fire?”
“Why the Chinese hunters want me dead? Why kill Hyeon Jeong-geon? Thought about it?”
Ryeon Jeong-mun flinched, caught off-guard. He was swamped handlin' the here-and-now—no bandwidth for deeper plots. He hadn't even considered it. No excuse.
Kang Moo-hyuk pressed on.
“They want Sinuiju. Can't let word leak till they take it, so they're killin' us. Once they have it, what's the biggest threat?”
Obvious.
Prison Village.
Ryeon Jeong-mun had guessed as much.
'Chinese don't trust us. Can't trust each other.'
Surrender or not, a force that could betray anytime.
Closer to Korean roots than them—made 'em even more untouchable.
'If their goal's takin' Sinuiju, we'll be seen as backstabbers waitin' to happen.'
Village's will didn't matter. Chinese guilds saw it that way. Easier to wipe 'em out.
Cheon Deok-su, catchin' on late, bellowed.
“N-No way! Jang Jung-shin and all the Nakhwa execs promised me—if we don't cause trouble, they'll leave us be!”
“You believed that?”
Cheon Deok-su went speechless.
He knew. Untrustworthy bastards.
But without believin', this fragile peace crumbles. The irony: can't trust 'em, but gotta act like you do.
Cheon Deok-su felt the blood drain from him.
“Hey, just trust the Kang leader already. Plenty've bled ignorin' his words.”
A voice cut in outta nowhere—no presence till then. Everyone's hackles rose.
Except Kang Moo-hyuk.
He turned to the window, familiar voice comin' from there.
“Took you long enough.”
“Givin' me that crap map? Miracle I found my way, leader. Next time you send me, enroll me in art class or somethin'.”
No Song-rin shoved paper through the window, grumblin'.
“I didn't draw it.”
“This ain't lack of talent—makes ya wonder if you got fingers. Toes? Leader, you look like a corpse. What happened? These assholes mess with ya?”
No Song-rin glared around, climbin' in through the window.
Hwang Dong-soo stayed put—Kang Moo-hyuk had warned him—but Cheon Deok-su eyed the intruder warily, mana risin' for trouble.
“Who the hell're you? How'd ya get here?”
“What? Wanna fight?”
No Song-rin powered up too; Ryeon Jeong-mun stepped in, calmin' Cheon Deok-su.
“Deok-su, easy. He's our level—hunter. Fight here, and sis-in-law gets hurt.”
“You know this guy, bro?”
“No Song-rin. Just the name. Closer to Kang Moo-hyuk here than me, though.”
“Oh, patrol captain too? Me 'n' leader? Personal buddies? Nah, just boss-employee.”
No Song-rin drew the line; Kang Moo-hyuk quipped.
“We shared ups and downs. 'Just employee' stings a bit.”
“Huh? W-Well... guild colleague, maybe...”
“Kidding.”
“……”
“Air was too stiff.”
“Guild master said your jokes suck. Get it now. Jang Deok-gu's funnier.”
“I'm not that bad.”
“Hmph! Six of one, half-dozen of the other.”
No Song-rin shot back at the ceilin', grumpy.
Others couldn't jump in, vibe too awkward.
“Quit wastin' talent on bad jokes. Tell us what to do. These folks look shook.”
No Song-rin yanked back to topic; Kang Moo-hyuk spoke.
“Fightin' inevitable, probably. Soon they'll raid to wipe the village. Prep now's late already. But we ain't dyin' easy—get ready to fight.”
“If you're wrong? Prep for war, piss 'em off over a misunderstanding? Then we're screwed for real.”
“Cheon Deok-su hunter's suspicious type. Shame you didn't aim that at them.”
“You pickin' a fight?”
“I'll prove your suspicions right. But can't sit idle till then. Prep for fight on the down-low. Ryeon Jeong-mun hunter, you said emergency plans exist.”
“Yeah. Evac and defense. But big assault? Weak spots.”
Kang Moo-hyuk pulled a thick-folded map from his pocket.
“This...”
“Your plans. Tweaked 'em a bit. Villagers knew 'em mostly—made it easy to grasp.”
Ryeon Jeong-mun took it, unfoldin'. Loose sheets scattered; he gathered 'em.
Dense writing, but matchin' map numbers? Crystal clear.
“Large assault force defense plan.”
“Won't say 'trust me.' Can't force it on first-timers. But imagine if I'm right—what catastrophe? No turnin' back then.”
Ryeon Jeong-mun's eyes wavered. He couldn't look away from map and plans.
'Hits again. I'm no leader for big ops. Mine look like kid stuff compared.'
Even skimmin', clear: Kang Moo-hyuk knew the village's full strength. No other way to craft such detail.
“Bro, you really buyin' this?”
“Quiet.”
Ryeon Jeong-mun silenced Cheon Deok-su.
“Kang Moo-hyuk leader, even if you're right... followin' this? Honestly, no clear win. If I hand you full command of village hunters... can you hold it?”
“Protectin's my specialty. Makin' it work somehow? That's my job.”
Ryeon Jeong-mun's hazy eyes sharpened.
“Moment I confirm you're right, Prison Village's all yours.”
“Yes. If things go as I expect, I'll guard it with everything.”
Noon neared. Sun high. Winter rays stung sharp.
Villagers sneakin' inward to shelters sweated beads on brows. Hunters helpin' evac had soaked backs.
Most still couldn't believe the fuss—eyes full of doubt—but Ryeon Jeong-mun and the three brothers' control quelled gripes.
Thus Kang Moo-hyuk's plan rolled cautious... till Mr. Jo returned.
“Took long.”
“Guy drawin' that trash map? No wonder gettin' lost.”
Mr. Jo still mimickin' Hyeon Jeong-geon; No Song-rin ribbed him over the detour hassle.
Ignorin' her, he pulled satellite phone from backpack, handin' to Kang Moo-hyuk.
“Told Eul-ji to stand by, Hyeon to stay inside Sinuiju, like you said. Contacted that Kang doc too. Lucky—mixed solution ready, so injector...”
Mr. Jo trailed off, glancin' at No Song-rin. Kang Moo-hyuk nodded.
“Fine to say. Told her everything.”
“Remakin' that injector takes two days, they said. Can ya hold till then?”
“No guarantees. Gotta hope for luck.”
“You ain't the type to leave it to chance.”
“This? Outta my hands.”
“Those Chinese punks? Numbers're no joke. How we handlin' 'em?”
“Why I need this sat phone. Wish it'd come sooner, but better late.”
“Even my skills—slippin' their net in broad daylight? Tough.”
“Yeah. Know it. Good work. Now, report what you saw.”
Mr. Jo detailed encirclement: guilds involved, scale, formation, hunter levels. Then Dandong.
“Their reinforcements in Dandong?”
“Once op starts, they cross the bridge. No time to check, but elite raid party level. They'll trap everyone—no escape—then smash it flat.”
“If that party's in... worse than thought. We'd lose straight fight.”
“Then bail now? Me, No, Eul-ji, Hyeon—could sneak you out underground.”
“What 'bout these folks?”
No Song-rin glared; Mr. Jo chuckled dry.
“Didn't peg you for the hero type.”
“Didn't peg you for the asshole type.”
“My job's extractin' Kang Moo-hyuk. Guild master's orders.”
“Guild master or not, field calls go to field lead. Here? Kang's in charge.”
“So, leader? Really fightin'? Then I'm out. Did my part.”
“Leavin'? Spit out the translation artifact.”
“Hey, givin' then takin' back? Danger pay's already iffy.”
“Then keep it. Honor the deal. One small favor.”
“Usin' it here?”
“Who knows when we die? Why hoard?”
“'Small' favor feels big already.”
“Hear it first. C'mere.”
“What? Whisper? That secret?”
Kang Moo-hyuk beckoned. Mr. Jo leaned in; he murmured the favor.
Mr. Jo's face twisted.
“You con artist! That's a small favor?!”
“Thus, centered on Nakhwa Guild, five guilds unite as the Gaeryeo Alliance. Leader, a word.”
“What've I got to say? Just handle it, Jang.”
“Not single guild like old Nakhwa days. Gotta show your prestige, leader.”
“Fine then.”
The leader stood before guild execs, givin' a light speech. Jang Jung-shin stepped back, eyein' his back.
'Puppet, but still rubs wrong. If not for the elders' orders, I'd grab someone smarter. Tch. At least easy to use.'
Leader's annoyin' speech ended; Jang Jung-shin stepped forward.
“Alright. Time to handle those bantzu. From today, Sinuiju's ours—Gaeryeo Alliance's.”