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chapter 127
Im Won-young, looking a little weary, set a stack of documents down in front of Kim Min-jung.
“Did you get along well with the new recruits?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, we all enjoyed a team dinner yesterday. I appreciate it.”
Min-jung returned his card and bowed her head.
Yesterday had been Z-Team’s very first official gathering.
Won-young had even lent them his corporate card for the occasion.
“But the operation’s right around the corner. Are you really sure about this?”
Won-young gave a dry laugh as he accepted the card back.
Min-jung scratched her cheek.
“Yes. Probably…?”
“Probably? What kind of answer is that?”
Though he trusted Lee Hyun, Won-young couldn’t help but feel a little concerned about Z-Team.
He knew they were from the famed Cheongroe unit who’d once resolved the Gangneung incident.
But it had been more than four years since they had worked together, and now they also had to mesh with the current team members.
Especially that Chief Um Gi-seon—hot-tempered as ever. And now that Vice Director Ho has been giving him special training, his shoulders are probably stiff with pride.
Newcomers could easily alienate those already rooted in place.
Still—
“You don’t need to worry, sir. The overall atmosphere is good so far.”
“That’s a relief.”
“From today, we’ll also start some group drills… and more than anything, we have Team Leader Jang.”
At the mention of “Team Leader Jang,” Won-young let out a chuckle.
There was firm trust behind those words.
Finding a team that believes in their leader, and a leader who gives their team confidence—that was fortune on both sides.
And having such people in his company was a blessing as well.
“Well, it is Team Leader Jang. A bulldozer like him will handle things his own way.”
Though their reasons for admiring Lee Hyun differed, Min-jung decided to let it pass.
“So, why did you call me?”
“All the documents you requested are ready. Take them.”
Only then did Min-jung notice the thick stack on his desk.
“All this, already…?”
“You have to move fast. There’s not much time left. Everything’s been processed, so just stop by the equipment office and you’ll get what you need.”
These were all the materials required for a large-scale operation.
Some had to be specially made or borrowed externally because White Burn didn’t have them on hand.
But… didn’t I submit these documents only last night?
She glanced at the wall clock.
8:43 AM—office workers were still arriving for work.
She could only imagine how many subordinates had been ground down overnight for this to happen.
It was a clear reminder of Won-young’s relentless urgency.
Inwardly, Min-jung prayed for the souls of those who had likely “burned out gloriously.”
…Honestly, those two are really alike.
She gathered up the papers, reminding herself that if anyone, Won-young had no right to complain that Lee Hyun made people’s lives difficult.
“Deputy Manager Kim, you’re thinking something rude right now, aren’t you?”
Won-young’s sharp glare cut into her.
“Of course not! How could I ever think such a thing about the deputy director I respect most in this world?”
“You’ve gotten slicker since you joined Z-Team.”
“You’re the only one for me, Deputy Director.”
Min-jung beamed brightly at her former partner.
Tsk.
Won-young laughed faintly and patted her shoulder.
Having a junior like her made company life enjoyable.
“Anyway, good luck. Do well and come back safe.”
“Yes. I’ll finish the mission and return safely.”
She bowed her head deeply.
Having a senior like him made White Burn special to her.
Two days until operation launch. D-2.
That night, under the moon.
Sun Wukong sat on the rooftop bench, drinking from a large bowl.
It was possible because Lee Hyun’s apartment complex had an open rooftop.
“What are you doing up here alone? Drinking by yourself?”
Lee Hyun, his white hair blowing in the night breeze, looked at the human-shaped Sun Wukong.
These days, Wukong often appeared in human form.
“You’re here?”
Wukong chuckled dryly at Hyun, whose face showed fatigue.
“You’re the one with a mission tomorrow. Why do you look so pale?”
“I had something to confirm.”
Hyun plopped down beside him.
“Is the team not syncing well?”
“That’s not it. They’re syncing too well—it’s almost a problem.”
“Then the issue lies with you.”
“Are you psychic? How do you know that?”
“It’s obvious.”
Wukong crossed his arms, smirking.
“Your insignia isn’t absorbing properly, is it?”
Hyun nodded.
“It won’t budge.”
[‘Sacred Relic: Crest of Frostbite’ has temporarily ceased function. The stored mana far exceeds its capacity threshold.]
[<Queen of Snow>’s narrative is attempting to absorb the dormant mana.]
[Ideation is active. Absorption speed is extremely slow.]
[5%, 6%…]
What on earth happened in there?
Hyun didn’t know what the Snow Queen had experienced while absorbing the corpse in the vault.
Even when he tried to read his clone’s memories, it had already gone inside the Crest with her.
But one thing was certain—this wasn’t just because her body was corrupted.
If that were the case, she would have emerged separately to speak with him.
Right now, she was completely silent.
I expected trouble with that Bloodflame Serpent, but still…
And so Hyun worked at unfreezing the icy Crest of Frostbite.
Once everything thawed and both mana and will were absorbed, he would learn what had happened.
But—
Even after devoting an entire day, absorption had only risen by a meager 3%.
And in the last two hours, it hadn’t budged at all.
For someone about to go on a mission tomorrow, this was a serious problem.
Yet delaying the operation wasn’t an option.
At least the Ministry of Defense hadn’t noticed the Snow Queen’s body was missing.
“You don’t need to rush. That’s still part of your power.”
It sounded like a casual remark, but Hyun felt he’d just been given a hint.
In the end, all his powers converged into one thing.
The Toujeon style.
He needed to study the use of Ideation further.
“Thank you. I think I know how to handle this now.”
“That’s as far as I’ll help.”
“I know. This is something I have to resolve.”
Even though Wukong accepted him as a disciple, he never spoon-fed answers.
He always forced Hyun to struggle, break through, and learn himself.
Hyun was grateful for that.
He glanced at the oversized bowl Wukong was drinking from, thinking of sharing a drink.
“What? You want one too?”
“No, I’m fine. But… you’re drinking makgeolli?”
“Yeah. It’s been a while. Doesn’t suit me though. How do people drink this stuff?”
Wukong grumbled.
He had a sweet tooth, usually preferring strong, fruity liquors.
That he was drinking makgeolli alone was curious.
Hyun’s eyes glinted.
“Was it something the Old Great Sage liked?”
Wukong’s hand, reaching for the kettle, froze for a moment.
The Old Great Sage—
the Bull King.
Sixth among the Seven Great Sages.
Brother to the Horse King, both once captured by the Central Heroes Committee.
Tomorrow’s operation wasn’t only about eliminating Xu Changyou and Ping Xin.
There was one more goal.
They also had to rescue the Bull King.
Silence.
Hyun quietly lifted the kettle and filled Wukong’s bowl.
Their reflections rippled in the cloudy liquid.
Wukong gave a hollow laugh.
“Maybe the one possessed by ghosts isn’t me, but you.”
“If the Great Sage is a ghost, then I’m right, aren’t I?”
“…Want me to smash your head with this kettle?”
“Haha. Consider it the first drink your disciple offers—please don’t be angry.”
“Tch. Of all disciples, I end up with this one.”
Still grumbling, Wukong accepted the bowl and downed the makgeolli.
Hyun felt a strange emotion stir inside.
Somehow, hearing Wukong call him “disciple” struck deeply.
Though he’d been learning from him nightly, having it said aloud made it feel real.
Clunk.
Wukong set down the empty bowl.
“That guy’s favorite drink was different. Harsher, stronger, the kind that makes your head split after. Not a good drink at all.”
Hyun refilled the bowl.
“But he liked it, said it resembled life. Slow, frustrating, but always moving at its own rhythm.”
“….”
“And now that man is suffering in their hands. In that wretched state.”
“….”
“In such a miserable state.”
Wukong clenched his fist.
The Bull King and the Horse King had been subjected to endless experiments.
After the Horse King’s escape, who knew what else the Bull King had endured?
He hated to even imagine it.
Unable to rush to his brother’s side—that helplessness weighed on him.
“I can’t let those bastards live.”
Hyun nodded.
Those people won’t be sleeping soundly anymore. They’ve picked the worst possible man to provoke.
He still remembered vividly—the towering figure of Wukong during the Apostle’s trial.
That pressure and majesty, unleashed upon them… could they withstand it?
“Were you close with him?”
“Close? Hah! Do you think many could stand as equals with me, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven?”
“Then no, you probably weren’t close.”
“…What do you mean by that?”
Wukong’s eyebrow twitched.
Hyun shrugged.
“With your personality, I doubt you had many friends.”
“You little—!”
“But I think you liked him a lot.”
Again, Wukong froze.
Hyun lifted the kettle. It was almost empty now.
“I don’t know him well. But if you care this much, it must mean he’s dear to you.”
“….”
“If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be this worried. Or this angry.”
Wukong thought back to his youth.
The constant bickering among brothers… and the Bull King, always the one who quietly stepped back, or came later to mend misunderstandings.
Whenever the brothers were troubled, it was the Bull King they sought.
He was deep-hearted, clear-eyed, and wise.
“The drink’s gone. I’ll fetch more, this unworthy disciple of yours.”
“At least you admit you’re unworthy. Go on then.”
Hyun teleported away, leaving Wukong staring at the moon for a long while.
“…Sometimes I wonder. Is he just quick-witted, or truly deep-hearted? If only he showed this side to his master all the time. Tch.”
Though he muttered complaints, he was grateful for Hyun’s tact.
Just then, the Horse King landed and blinked in surprise.
「I came to keep you company, but you’ve already been drinking alone?」
“No. Another friend was here earlier.”
「Who?」
“My disciple.”
The Horse King smiled.
「Thoughtful of him, keeping you company when you’re troubled.」
“Thoughtful, my ass.”
「You do know your disciple is more mature than you, right?」
Wukong only pouted, refusing to admit it.
The Horse King chuckled.
This was why he called Wukong the childish master.
Then Wukong spoke.
“Lyeo.”
「Hm?」
“Let’s bring our brothers back quickly.”
「….」
“If we don’t, I don’t think I can go on.”
The quiet fury in Wukong’s voice resonated with the Horse King.
He nodded heavily.
「Yes. Let’s do it. This is just the beginning.”
The two of them gazed silently at the dark crescent moon until Hyun returned with more drink.
One day until operation launch. D-1.
And then…
Two hours later.
D-0.
The day of the operation had finally come.
