Against the Clock: The Team Leader’s Pursuit of Glory

"This is all for the sake of my child. I need to make sure he can live a bright life, right? For that, he needs to survive first."

"You want him to live in a world without a father?"

"You worry about yourselves. If I die, that's the end of it. But it'll be hell for those left behind. Especially Deok-soo, I really feel sorry for you."

"So, you're saying you'll go to that hell yourself? Let me have a bit of peace."

"Someone like me with a family will always be an easy target for the Chinese. If they take a hostage, we won't stand a chance against them. Even Dongsu is already struggling enough trying to take care of his sick mother."

"Brother Jung-moon, honestly, why do you have to go? You didn't steal from the Chinese and sell their goods, so why should you take responsibility?"

"You're right. The ones who caused the trouble are at fault. But could you sleep comfortably knowing you sent those kids to their deaths? If we let them die, we'll no longer be one of their own for the villagers. That's exactly what the Chinese want -- to make us resent each other."

"Do you think we don't know that? It's just so damn unfair! Those bastards are blocking our food and hunting. They're trying to starve us to death! We're stuck here listening to their crap about catching the culprits instead of being able to fight back!"

"So, you want to fight? We'll all die."

"That might be better."

"Enough. We're out of time. One last thing. Deok-soo, people will curse you for betraying me. Don't let it get to you, stay strong."

"Why are you worrying about that when you're going to die?"

"Jung-moon, gather your team and do a good job defending against the Chinese. Work well with Deok-soo. Hang in there."

"..."

"From today, we're no longer sworn brothers. Live as strangers, while you wait for the right time."

"That was the last thing my husband said. Even though I knew he was going to his death, I couldn't stop him."

The one most shocked by Mrs. Ui Judaek's story was Hwang Dongsu.

In the past, he saw it as Cheon Deok-soo selling Kim Byungjoo to the Chinese, and Yeon Jung-moon forming a patrol squad to oppose them. After that, Dongsu realized that brutal power dynamics took precedence over brotherly bonds. So, he lived alone, distancing himself from everyone... Little did he know that it was his sworn brother's way of protecting him.

Dongsu looked back and forth between his two brothers. Cheon Deok-soo, who endured being called a traitor by the villagers and an enemy by his sworn brother's son without ever complaining.

Yeon Jung-moon, who led the village's last line of defense and fought against the Chinese Hunters. Hwang Dongsu felt deeply ashamed. He had been using his mother's illness as an excuse to escape reality, but he realized it was all his own doing.

'I thought meeting Guild Leader Kang Mu-hyuk gave me hope? Ridiculous, you coward. I was just using it as an excuse.'

In the solemn silence, no one dared to speak until Kang Mu-hyuk clapped his hands, breaking the stillness.

"Regret and reminiscence are all fine, but I'd love to give you time to sort out your feelings. Unfortunately, we don't have that luxury. Now that the misunderstandings are mostly cleared up, let's move on to the next topic."

"You bastard! After hearing Byungjoo's story, you still dare to speak?"

"You're the one who needs to shut up. Do you think I'm joking right now?"

"What did you say?"

Cheon Deok-soo was stunned that an ordinary person, struggling to stand, had the audacity to insult him.

Kang Mu-hyuk clicked his tongue and glared at Cheon Deok-soo.

"After talking with you, it's clear. We can't leave this village to you anymore. It's amazing you've held on this long."

"You're quite rude, Kang Mu-hyuk. We've protected this village. It's not a place for an outsider like you. You should step back."

"If you're referring to how you've maintained the status quo, Yeon Jung-moon, wait no. If what you're referring to is how you're slowly dying like frogs in a boiling pot. Then just die alone. Don't drag the villagers down with you."

"What the...?"

"Because you've been living in this isolated place, you've become like real frogs. You don't even realize the enemy is stoking the fire outside the pot."

"Stoking the fire?"

"The reason the Chinese Hunters are after me, the reason they want to kill Hyun Junggeon. Have you thought about it?"

Yeon Jung-moon flinched as if he had been struck. He was already overwhelmed just dealing with the immediate issues. He had no time or capacity to delve into the underlying causes. He hadn't even considered it. It was inexcusable.

Kang Mu-hyuk continued, "They want to take over Sinuiju. They need to keep that fact hidden until they've secured this place, so they're trying to kill us. If they want to control Sinuiju, which place do you think would be the biggest obstacle?"

The answer was obvious--

The prison village.

Yeon Jung-moon had a rough idea of the reason.

'The Chinese don't trust us. It's a mutual distrust.'

Even if they surrendered, they'd always be seen as a potential threat capable of betrayal at any moment. Their identity was closer to being Koreans than the Chinese, making them even more distant.

'If their goal is to take over Sinuiju, we'll always be treated as a group that might stab them in the back.'

Regardless of the village's intentions, that was how the Chinese guild viewed them. It would be easier for them to simply eliminate the threat. Realizing the implications of Kang Mu-hyuk's words, Cheon Deok-soo burst out.

"Th-that can't be! Zhang Zhongxun and the Falling Blossom leaders all promised me. They said they'd leave us alone if we didn't cause any trouble!"

"Did you believe that?"

With that single line, Cheon Deok-soo was rendered speechless. He knew. He knew they couldn't be trusted. But without that belief, the current peace wouldn't exist. It was an irony where he had to believe the unbelievable.

Cheon Deok-soo felt like all the blood in his body was draining to his feet.

"Oi, you might as well believe Captain Kang. There aren't many who went against his words and came out unscathed."

At the sudden, unexpected voice, everyone in the room bristled.

Everyone except Kang Mu-hyuk.

Kang Mu-hyuk turned to the window, where the familiar voice had come from, and spoke.

"A bit late, aren't you?"

"Finding this place with only that shitty map is a miracle, Guild Leader. Next time you send someone, maybe you should sign them up for an art class."

No Song-rin grumbled, holding up a piece of paper from outside the window.

"I didn't draw it."

"It's so bad it makes me wonder if the person who drew it even has fingers. Did you draw it with your toes? Huh? Guild Leader, your face looks like a corpse. What's going on? Did these people mess with you?"

No Song-rin climbed into the room through the window while glaring at everyone.

Hwang Dongsu stayed calm since Kang Mu-hyuk had already informed him, but Cheon Deok-soo, wary of the unexpected intruder, gathered mana to prepare for any possible threat.

"Wh-who are you? How did you get in here?"

"What, you wanna fight?"

No Song-rin also gathered mana to counterattack, but Yeon Jung-moon intervened to calm Cheon Deok-soo.

"Deok-soo, calm down. He's a Hunter of our level. Fighting here will hurt my sister-in-law too."

"You know him, Brother?"

"No Song-rin. I only know his name. He's probably closer to Kang Mu-hyuk here than to me."

"Whoa? Look who's here, Captain Yeon, huh? Well, I'm not exactly close to Guild Leader Kang personally. More like a workplace superior?"

When No Song-rin drew a line, Kang Mu-hyuk casually remarked, "Even so, we've been through a lot together. It's a bit sad to be called just a workplace superior."

"Huh? I mean... More like a guild comrade..."

"I'm kidding."

"..."

"The mood is just too stiff."

"The Guild Master said your jokes weren't funny, and now I get it. Even Jang Deuk-goo would be funnier than that."

"I'm not that bad."

"Hmph! You're both two peas in a pod."

No Song-rin replied curtly while looking at the ceiling. The rest of the people, caught off guard by the awkward atmosphere, couldn't bring themselves to join the conversation.

"Instead of wasting your talent on unfunny jokes, why don't you tell us what we should do? Everyone here seems lost."

No Song-rin steered the conversation back to the main topic, and Kang Mu-hyuk spoke.

"It'll be hard to avoid a fight. They'll probably attack soon to destroy this village. It's already too late to prepare, but we can't just die quietly, can we? We need to get ready to fight as best we can."

"What if you're wrong? What if we prepare for a fight and it ends up provoking them? Then we're really done for."

"Hunter Cheon Deok-soo, you're quite skeptical. If you'd used that skepticism against them, it would have been better."

"Are you picking a fight with me right now?"

"I'll give you proof for that suspicion. But we can't just sit idle until it's confirmed. First, we need to prepare for a fight without being detected as much as possible. Hunter Yeon Jung-moon, I've heard from the Hunters here that there's an emergency plan."

"There is. An evacuation plan and a defense plan. But it'd be vulnerable for such a large-scale attack."

Kang Mu-hyuk rummaged through his pockets and pulled out a folded map.

"This is..."

"I've made some adjustments to the plan. Most people here were already familiar with the original content, so it was easier for them to figure it out."

Yeon Jung-moon reluctantly took the map and unfolded it. A separate sheet of paper fell out from between the folds. He gathered the scattered papers from the floor.

Although densely written, the contents became remarkably clear when matched with the numbered sections on the map.

"It's a defense plan for a large-scale assault unit."

"I'm not asking you to believe me. It's hard to trust someone you've just met today. But consider the catastrophe that will happen if what I say is true. By then, it will be too late to turn back."

Yeon Jung-moon's eyes wavered. He couldn't take his eyes off the map and the defense plan.

'I'm realizing once again, I'm not cut out to lead a large organization. Compared to this, my plan is child's play.'

Even with a quick glance, it was clear. Kang Mu-hyuk had already thoroughly understood the village's complete forces. Otherwise, he couldn't have devised such a detailed defense plan.

"Brother Jung-moon, do you really believe him?"

"Quiet."

Shutting Cheon Deok-soo up, Yeon Jung-moon spoke.

"Guild Leader Kang Mu-hyuk, even if what you say is true, and even if we follow this plan, honestly, I don't see a way to stop them. If we give you full authority over the Hunters in this village, can you protect it?"

"Defense is my area of expertise. And making things work, one way or another, is my job."

Yeon Jung-moon's eyes, which had been clouded, became clear.

"If I confirm that you're right, I will hand over all authority in this prison village to you."

"Alright. If things go as I suspect, I'll do my best and protect you."

Noon was approaching as the sun stood overhead. The winter sun felt quite intense. Sweat beaded on the foreheads of those secretly evacuating further into the village. The backs of the Hunters assisting the evacuation were soaked with sweat.

Most of them still seemed incredulous about the situation, their eyes filled with disbelief, but the control of the three brothers including Yeon Jung-moon quieted any dissent.

As Kang Mu-hyuk's plan cautiously proceeded, Mr. Cho returned.

"You're quite late."

"How could I find my way with that awful map?"

Since Mr. Cho still appeared as Hyun Junggeon, No Song-rin voiced his frustration, reflecting his feelings about the struggle to find the way. Mr. Cho took out a satellite phone from her backpack and handed it to Kang Mu-hyuk without minding the ramble.

"As you instructed, I told Eulji to stand by and informed Mr. Hyun to stay within Sinuiju. I also contacted Dr. Kang or whatever his name is. Luckily, they had the compound, so the injection..."

Mr. Cho glanced at No Song-rin midway through speaking. Kang Mu-hyuk nodded.

"It's okay to say it. I've explained everything to Hunter No Song-rin."

"Anyway, they said it would take about two days to remake the injection. Can you hold out until then?"

"I can't guarantee it. We'll have to hope for the best."

"You're not one to leave things to luck."

"This is beyond my control."

"What about those Chinese guys? There's a huge number of them. Can you do anything about them?"

"That's why we need the satellite phone. It would've been better if it arrived sooner, but it's good we have it now."

"Even with my skills, getting in and out of that encirclement in broad daylight was tough."

"Yes, I know. You did well. Now, can you tell us what you saw and heard out there?"

Mr. Cho detailed the guilds involved in the siege, their scale, the formation of the encirclement, and the level of the Hunters. He also mentioned Dandong.

"So, their reinforcements are in Dandong?"

"They said they'd cross the bridge once the operation begins. I didn't have time to go there, but from what I heard, it's an elite assault unit. It seems their plan is to trap everyone in the village with no escape and then deploy those guys to completely annihilate the place."

"If that assault unit is going to intervene, it's more serious than we thought. We're already outmatched in a straight fight."

"Then should we bail now? With Mister No, Eul-ji, Mr. Hyun, and me, we could probably get you out through the underground passages."

"What about the people here?"

When No Song-rin glared, Mr. Cho chuckled.

"Is this the kind of character you are?"

"And you're this kind of guy?"

"My job is to get Kang Mu-hyuk out. Your Guild Master ordered it."

"No matter what the Guild Master says, the opinion of those on site takes precedence. The person in charge here is Guild Leader Kang."

"So, Guild Leader Kang? Are you really going to fight? I'd rather bow out. I've done enough."

"If you're going to leave, hand over the interpretation item."

"Hey, you can't take back what you gave me. I'm already just scraping by with hazard pay."

"Then keep it. Just keep your promise. You agreed to do me a small favor."

"You want to use that favor now?"

"I might die any moment. What good is saving it?"

"I have the feeling the small favor is not going to be so small."

"Just hear me out. Come here for a moment."

"What? My ear? Why are you being so secretive?"

Kang Mu-hyuk gestured with his hand. When Mr. Cho leaned in, Kang Mu-hyuk whispered in his ear.

Mr. Cho's face twisted as he heard what the favor was.

"You son of a... Scammer! How is that a small favor?!"

"With this, we declare the formation of the 'Goryeo Alliance,' an alliance of five guilds centered around the Falling Blossoms Guild. Yeonju, please say a few words."

"Is there anything I need to say? Just let Mr. Zhang handle it."

"It's no longer a single guild like the Falling Blossoms Guild. You need to show your authority."

"Well then, shall I?"

Yeonju stood in front of the guild leaders and started a light speech. Zhang Zhongxun stepped back and watched his back.

'He's just a puppet, but I really can't stand him. If it weren't for the orders from the elders, I would have found someone smarter. Tch. Well, he is easy to manipulate.'

After Yeonju's unappealing speech, Zhang Zhongxun stepped forward again.

"Now, let's deal with the Bangtz (a derogatory term for Koreans). From today, Sinuiju will belong to the Goryeo Alliance."