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chapter 124
“By the way, is it true you got an offer for naturalization in the U.S.?”
It was around the time when Lee Hyun and Lieutenant General Lee Goon-san arrived at Yongsan, where the Ministry of National Defense was located, in the car driven by Go Jin-woo.
Out of nowhere, Go Jin-woo asked Hyun, who was sitting in the passenger seat.
Hyun chuckled.
“You were curious about that?”
“Of course I was. With the whole world in chaos like this, how could I not be curious?”
“Yeah. They did approach me. A while back. They even suggested bringing the whole Cheongroe unit over.”
That wasn’t a lie. He had indeed been scouted when he bumped into them at the park before.
They even kept calling him afterward, tossing out similar temptations.
“So… wh-what did you answer?”
“Do you think I said yes?”
“R-right?”
Go Jin-woo smacked his lips.
Hyun let out a dry laugh.
“You regret I didn’t accept?”
“Well, come on, who wouldn’t regret it? I heard the salary was a hundred billion won a year.”
“Who told you they were offering that much?”
Hyun snorted in disbelief.
“What? Wasn’t it true? That was all over the internet, rumors everywhere. So it was just fake news…”
“That’s the base salary.”
“Huh?”
“The bonuses were even bigger.”
“……!?”
“About twice that much, actually. Even if not as much as me, I bet my comrades from Cheongroe would’ve gotten a hefty cut too. They promised plenty of perks.”
“A-and you still turned that down?”
“Of course. You know what kind of people they are. They’d squeeze everything out of me. It’s way more comfortable to work in Korea anyway.”
“…Damn.”
“Still regretting it? Want me to set you up?”
“Forget it!! Like hell they’d take good care of me if I went without you!!”
Hyun glanced at Lee Goon-san in the back seat.
“He says that, what do you think?”
“If all it takes is money, you’d probably sell your country too.”
“Right?” Hyun grinned.
“General, come on! I was joking! Just a joke, okay?” Jin-woo stammered in protest.
Laughter filled the car.
It meant the mood had loosened up a lot.
“We’re here.”
Before long, the car passed through security at the Ministry of National Defense.
“I’ll wait here. Good luck with your interview.”
“Sure.”
Hyun and Goon-san stepped out of the car. Someone who had been waiting ahead walked up to them.
A tall woman with sharp features and a neat suit.
“Lieutenant General Lee Goon-san, it’s been a while.”
“Oh, isn’t this Captain Cha Yoon-jung? They said a familiar face would be waiting. It really has been a long time.”
“I’m actually discharged now. I work at the NIS. Nice to meet you. I’m Cha Yoon-jung.”
“Lee Hyun. A pleasure.”
Hyun shook her hand lightly.
Goon-san added an explanation.
“Captain Cha is also an alum of the military academy, just like you.”
“So you’re my senior. I look forward to working with you today.”
“Truthfully, we’re the ones who should be saying that. We’ll do everything in our power to make sure today goes smoothly. Please, this way.”
Yoon-jung smiled faintly.
It showed just how much the government was nervous about the recent hostile public opinion.
Hyun and Goon-san followed her into the building.
After strict security checks, they were led to another floor.
As expected from a national core facility, the security was tight.
“All the committee members are already gathered. Today, only a brief interview will be conducted, followed by a vote and then the medal ceremony. As for the matter you mentioned beforehand…”
She paused briefly before continuing.
“The Ministry of Defense will issue a separate announcement at the same time the press release about the ceremony goes out.”
Hyun’s eyes gleamed.
That meant an acknowledgment of Cheongroe’s disbandment and an official apology.
“So they actually decided to go through with it.”
“I know it might sound like an excuse, but the VIP has been extremely upset about this whole matter. The government and ruling party are different now than four years ago. The President himself had no idea. That’s why a truth commission was convened, and it was resolved that everyone involved would be strictly investigated and held accountable. He detests such things more than anyone. Even if you don’t trust the government, at least this time…”
“No. I’ll trust you.”
Hyun shook his head calmly, meeting Yoon-jung’s cautious gaze.
“I may not understand politics, but I know goodwill. I’ll believe you’ll restore our honor.”
“…Thank you.”
She bowed her head slightly.
“Which brings me to something else.”
“…?”
“If you’re free after the ceremony, could we speak for a while?”
Hyun stared silently at her.
Goon-san snickered.
“Making a move during work hours, huh? Well, our Jet is quite the catch.”
“That’s not it, General, and you know it. You’re too mischievous.”
Yoon-jung sighed, then spoke in a lowered voice.
“I heard you’re working on a separate project. The NIS would like to actively support it. I’d like to discuss that…”
At that moment—
[The narrative of <The Snow Queen> cries out that its true body is nearby!]
A message flashed before Hyun’s eyes.
‘So it’s here?’
[The narrative of <The Snow Queen> nods in agreement.]
Hyun casually checked the elevator’s floor indicator.
The Snow Queen’s corpse was indeed stored somewhere in the Ministry of Defense, but even Goon-san hadn’t been able to find out the exact location.
But Hyun wasn’t too worried.
Because the Snow Queen would tell him directly.
And he already had a plan to retrieve it.
[‘Sacred Relic: Emblem of the Frozen Wastes’ is activated. Summoning Ice Spirit.]
[The Ice Guardian “Sam-ee-in” has been summoned.]
Whoosh!
Hyun discreetly covered his hand with his sleeve and used only the bare minimum of mana to summon the spirit.
Only Hyun could see the ice spirit.
It posed like a gallant knight—but its body was tiny, almost like a chibi character.
‘Strong magic gets detected by the building’s sensors. But relics bypass that. Convenient.’
He had already used relics like Hwagan Geumjeong when his body wasn’t in good condition. Same principle here.
Of course, using it this way meant only the most basic functions were available.
But Hyun had a trick to make up for his lack of mana.
[Bestowing Will upon the summoned spirit!]
[‘Trait: Tujeon Style’ applied. The spirit begins to take on the nature of a clone.]
The spirit trembled briefly, then its form shifted slightly—transforming to resemble Hyun himself.
[The narrative of <The Snow Queen> marvels at the transformation of your servant, now carrying your aura.]
「Hmph. Not bad. Looks pretty useful now, this clone technique.」
‘It’s thanks to you, Great Sage. Thank you.’
「Of course.」
Sun Wukong chuckled proudly from atop Hyun’s head, arms folded.
These past nights, Hyun had been learning clone techniques from him.
Of course, he couldn’t yet create fully independent entities like the legendary Monkey King.
But by infusing his will into a spirit, he could extend his perception.
That meant the spirit-clone could scout, and everything it sensed, Hyun would also sense.
‘Perfect for reconnaissance. And I can keep in touch with the Snow Queen this way too.’
The little spirit, shaped like a child-version of Hyun, looked up at him.
‘Go.’
The spirit nodded, then sank into the elevator floor.
[The narrative of <The Snow Queen> follows the spirit.]
Hyun’s senses expanded, like in a strategy game when a scout uncovers more of the minimap.
It was refreshing.
‘With this, there shouldn’t be any trouble. Now…’
The elevator stopped with a ding.
“We’ve arrived.”
‘Just need to finish this part.’
Everything was falling into place.
From retrieving the Snow Queen’s body to securing NIS support.
Preparations to catch Xu Changyou were steadily advancing.
Hyun smiled faintly.
News from Korea was just as easy to access in China.
“Our leader seems very busy, huh? Throwing logs on the fire without pause.”
A famous restaurant in Beijing.
Xu Changyou chuckled as he looked at his phone.
A Chinese state newspaper’s commentary on the “Cheongroe Unit Disbandment Gate,” which was shaking up public opinion in Korea.
It was mostly filled with accusations against the Korean government, dismissing the scandal as baseless slander.
Standing behind him like a bodyguard, Zheng Yijie glanced over.
“It’s causing a stir in the committee too. With overseas operations already faltering, and now old scandals surfacing in Korea, nerves are frayed everywhere.”
“Chairman Peng’s face must be beyond saving.”
“They say the Party has already begun whispering about a purge.”
“So the firewood we tossed in burned quite nicely. Hahaha.”
Changyou flipped his phone onto the table with a laugh.
Peng Jinghao’s downfall was practically assured.
His faction had already been fed a mountain of incriminating material by Changyou’s side.
It was a strategic shift of allegiance.
And now—
Today was the day to seal that deal.
“Plenty of people were caught in Chairman Peng’s snare. They’re desperate to break free now. I wondered when that rope would finally snap… guess all you need is a good friend, and everything flows so smoothly.”
Soon, the man meant to replace Peng Jinghao and lead the Central Heroes’ Committee would arrive here.
One of China’s proud top-rankers.
But one who had been branded a dangerous element by Peng and forcibly imprisoned.
The arrival of the Dao Ancestor, Lu Wuchen.
“They say he’s here.”
Hearing the comms in Yijie’s earpiece, Changyou’s gaze was already fixed on the door.
“I know. A formidable presence is coming.”
A cold smile curled his lips.
His fingers twitched faintly on the table.
“Top-ranker, huh. Hearing about it was one thing—but feeling it now, this pressure is no joke.”
He finally understood why, despite all his efforts, he’d never managed to reach top-ranker level.
That presence was on another level entirely.
Not human.
A demi-god.
Wrapped in a human shell, but capable of shedding it at any time to claim immortality.
‘I used to wonder why someone like him would let himself be pushed aside by Peng for decades, living in seclusion… Now I see. He wasn’t driven away. He simply didn’t care. To him, human life must all look the same anyway.’
A bitter laugh escaped him.
Realizing he had been arrogantly judging such beings by his own foolish standards.
His past self, puffed up just for being a high-ranker, now seemed laughable.
Which is why—
‘I want it. I want to reach that level as soon as possible.’
Greed consumed him.
And a face appeared in his mind.
Lee Hyun.
His old friend.
‘So come quickly, my friend. Because only then can I—’
Changyou’s mouth twisted.
‘—devour you and rise to that level.’
Lu Wuchen’s approach grew ever closer.
Changyou’s own mana was already rippling in resonance.
Just then—
Brrt. Brrt.
‘What now?’
Changyou flipped his phone over again, his eyebrow twitching.
—Chairman Peng.
“So he somehow learned I’m meeting Lu Wuchen?”
Was he calling to beg for his life?
Part of him wanted to hear Peng Jinghao grovel.
But he was about to hang up.
“Perhaps you should answer. Lu Wuchen still needs a little time to fully arrive,” Yijie advised.
Since his sworn brother rarely voiced opinions, Changyou decided there must be a reason.
Click.
“Well, well, Chairman! How have you been? What’s the occasion? You never usually call.”
『You’re meeting Lu Wuchen, aren’t you?』
Still that warm, grandfatherly voice.
Changyou smirked.
“I thought you’d lost all your limbs, but it seems you’ve still got some rats running around.”
『It’s just concern for an old acquaintance. Let me offer one piece of advice.』
“Why so clingy, Chairman? Fine, keep it short. I’m busy.”
『Lu Wuchen is not for you. Unlike your greed, he transcended the mundane long ago. That’s why he’s called the Dao Ancestor. Even now, you should reconsider.』
“Hah! That’s all you called to say? Really?”
『So you’ve decided to follow him to the end.』
“I’m disappointed. I thought you’d try blackmail or at least dangle a deal. What’s wrong, Chairman? Lost your touch?”
『If that’s your choice, so be it.』
Peng Jinghao’s voice turned calm.
『When a child insists on walking the wrong path, sometimes an elder must take up the rod.』
Changyou was about to sneer, asking what on earth Peng could possibly do—
When suddenly,
Thump!
His heart jolted.
Thump-thump-thump-thump—!
[Your heart has been infected by an unknown poison!]
“……!!!”
His heartbeat quickened, blood rushing backward.
It was like an invisible hand squeezing his heart. His breath caught.
Changyou’s eyes widened.
『And this rod will hurt quite a lot. Perhaps enough to kill.』
Peng Jinghao’s voice remained gentle.
‘…When did he—!!’
It was solitude poison.
A curse capable of bursting his heart at will.
But he had always taken precautions against Peng’s tricks.
He had no idea when he had been infected.
Until—
He turned toward his sworn brother Yijie.
And in that instant, realization struck.
“Zheng Yijie…! You!!”
He had been betrayed by his brother-in-arms.
Just like he himself had once betrayed a friend.
Yijie smiled faintly.
