BRDM 145

chapter 145

Seo Yoon-ah’s group managed to completely escape from the Pingxin base safely.

But they couldn’t exactly smile.

More than half of their comrades had died during the escape, and their leader, Han Cheol-woo, had also fallen.

“Ha… haha…”

On top of that, they had even needed help from Cheongroe to get out.

The last transmission Kim Min-jung left before parting still lingered in Seo Yoon-ah’s mind.

—I believe I’ve repaid the debt of gratitude I owed for the past. The next time we meet, I will not greet you.

Her face had been full of self-reproach.

Why had they abandoned their homeland and their organization? Why had they chosen this path? Regret welled up.

“……”
“……”
“……”

The ten or so remaining comrades were the same.

No one spoke.

“So… where do we go now?”

Seo Yoon-ah let out a hollow laugh as she asked, but no answer came.

Pingxin was completely destroyed.

It was unbelievable that a mere combat unit, not even a guild, had managed it.

Once word spread worldwide, the aftershocks would be immense.

The already discredited Committee would surely try to pin the blame on them and purge them.

Returning was no different from suicide.

For a moment, they even considered throwing themselves into the arms of the City Cartel or the Subterranean Cult—pillars of evil themselves.

But that, too, was discarded.

It wasn’t just the Committee that was humiliated this time. The City Cartel and the Subterranean Cult will also try to take revenge somehow… would they even accept us? No, they wouldn’t.

Seeking asylum in another country wasn’t an option either.

By now, they were surely listed as terrorists or villains, red notices issued by Interpol.

And here they were—deep in the middle of China.

Even finding a smuggling ship was no easy matter.

…So is this the end? My life, Seo Yoon-ah’s? I couldn’t achieve anything, and now I end it like this?

She bit her lower lip hard.

—Chzzk.

『Seems like you’re looking for a place to rest your weary bodies. Would you allow this old man to lend a hand?』

Suddenly, all of their radios crackled at once.

A familiar voice.

Seo Yoon-ah and her companions exchanged glances.

Cautiously, she reached for the radio.

“…President, is that you?”

『Hohoho. To think you still call this wretched old man, who has lost everything, with such honorifics. Truly, I’m grateful.』

It was, as expected, Peng Jinghao.

But something was different.

His spirit has changed!

Before, he had always tried to project a kindly image. Now his voice was thick with malice.

As if he had taken off the mask he’d been wearing all this time.

Even speaking through a radio, there was a silent force, like something trying to devour their very souls.

Could this really be the same man stripped of all positions and power?

…Gulp.

Unconsciously, Seo Yoon-ah swallowed dryly and asked:

“But you say you want to help us—”

『I mean it literally. When you met this old man before, didn’t you say you had something you absolutely had to achieve? A conviction you’d burn your life for?』

“That’s true, but…”

『That conviction—I’ll help you. What do you say? We’re all outcasts now, so why not join hands, sharing the same fate?』

It was a recruitment proposal.

He wants a fresh start.

Seo Yoon-ah’s eyes darkened.

She looked at her comrades. They nodded.

—Chzzk.

Seo Yoon-ah brought the radio closer again.

“May I ask for the details?”

『The first condition is very simple.』

From beyond the radio, it sounded like Peng Jinghao was smiling.

『Obey my every word. If not… you’ll die.』

So cold.

Lee Hyun slowly opened his eyes.

“Zet, are you awake?”

His head was ringing.

His body still felt heavy.

Forcing his mana to circulate, he fixed his gaze and saw a familiar face looking at him.

“Michael?”

“Haha, looks like you’re fully conscious now. Do you know how shocked we were when you suddenly collapsed?”

“Where is this…?”

“A transport plane of our country. We’re currently returning to Korea.”

Lee Hyun quickly pieced things together.

Daeseong must have protected me after I collapsed, then handed me over when the others arrived. He disappeared immediately after. Then Astra must have taken command of the retreat.

In special operations, extraction is as important as the assault.

And the IV pack hooked to his arm—perfect emergency treatment.

Something Z Team still lacked.

This was something to learn.

Lee Hyun bowed his head slightly.

“Thank you. Without Astra’s help, we couldn’t have succeeded like this.”

“Hahaha. We hardly did anything. It’s you and Z Team who are amazing. Once this gets out, the world will be shaken. All intel agencies will probably classify you as ‘beyond standard.’”

Michael seemed genuinely pleased, as if it were his own accomplishment.

“You should’ve seen the CIA handlers’ faces when the report came in—they were speechless. A pity you missed it. Hah.”

Lee Hyun only answered with a faint smile.

Michael narrowed his eyes slightly and whispered:

“So… would you be willing to spare a moment to speak with our Director later?”

“Director?”

“If it’s about naturalization or HUMINT recruitment…”

“No, no! Nothing of the sort, I swear. He just has something he urgently wants to discuss with you.”

Lee Hyun didn’t quite understand.

Nothing came to mind.

And Astra’s director was so secretive that even major intel agencies couldn’t dig up much.

If it’s nonsense, I’ll just refuse.

He decided to take it easy and nodded.

“All right.”

“Ha! Thank you. Now, I’ll call in your teammates.”

As Michael Shepard left, Lee Hyun turned his gaze to the window.

Far off, familiar Korea came into view.

It’s over. Really.

Now, it finally felt real.

Brief reports were filed, the wounded treated…

White Burn moved swiftly.

All team members were taken to its hospital for thorough check-ups.

Individual rooms were assigned.

Those uninjured were placed in resting wards, to be discharged the next day.

Impressive welfare.

Was this always a thing?

“It was by the CEO’s special order.”

Lee Hyun chuckled as he looked at Im Won-young, who had come to visit with a fruit basket.

“What’s this?”

“A get-well gift.”

“I’m being discharged tomorrow. This is too much for me alone.”

“Better too much than too little. The leftovers will be distributed to other patients.”

Lee Hyun nodded with a smile.

“But you’re really all right, yes? I heard you handled Seo Chang-woo and most of the major threats almost alone…”

“That’s exaggerated. Everyone worked hard.”

Im Won-young laughed awkwardly, then didn’t press further.

Instead, he handed over organized documents.

“These are reports of intel agencies and major factions’ movements after the dawn mission, along with HQ’s planned responses. Look them over at your leisure. Rest well for now.”

“Thank you.”

“Then I’ll see you in a week.”

As always, Im Won-young left briskly. His step was firm—he was clearly in high spirits.

With Z Team as a powerful new card, and with the advantage in the power games against major factions, things looked good.

More cards meant more possibilities. Lee Hyun trusted his ability.

Lee Hyun skimmed the documents, then tossed them onto the bed.

『Why’d you stop reading? Can’t focus?』

A baby monkey was suddenly sitting on the bed, grinning.

“Yeah. My head’s not working after all that exertion.”

『A dose of Golden Guo would fix that.』

“Why waste it here? I need it for other things.”

Still smiling, Lee Hyun pulled up his message log.

[With the restoration of the Myth, you’ve obtained a clue to the location of the sacred relic ‘Cloud Somersault.’]
[Check your inventory.]

He opened his inventory.

Inside was a new key.

A golden, gleaming key.

[Golden Key]
Dungeon Gate Key obtained as an event reward.
Connects to the resting place of the sacred relic ‘Cloud Somersault’ belonging to ■■ Duke ■■.
-Origin: Key, Dimensional Key.

He had been given seven days’ leave as a reward for the mission.

But he had a lot to do.

I need to ask the old man to repair the broken axe. Search for the Cloud Somersault. Check the will and divine power sealed in the Frost Banner…

And keep watch on the movements of the Subterranean Cult and the City Cartel.

Especially since rumors said Camilla Duarte was already stirring things up—worth looking into.

Oh, and Michael Shepard’s request: a private talk with Astra’s director.

Busy life, indeed.

Lee Hyun intended to keep himself occupied.

That way, he could forget about Xu Changyou.

And also…

It’s about time I track down Na Ye-bin…

He thought of his former lover, who had betrayed him alongside Xu Changyou four years ago, but unlike him, had completely vanished.

『Honestly, who do you take after, with that greed? Tsk tsk.』

Son Wukong’s teasing brought him back to reality.

“Who else? Like master, like disciple.”

『Today of all days, I really want to bite your tongue off, disciple.』

“Come now, I found your brother for you. Cut me some slack.”

『If not for that, you’d already be dead, brat.』

Wukong looked like he wanted to smack him just once.

But Lee Hyun just grinned and asked:

“How’s the Wu Yong King?”

Instantly, Wukong’s face lost all mirth.

A shadow of bitterness crossed it, mixed with lingering wrath.

『Want to come see?』

“Yes. I’d like to.”

Wukong nodded, forming a quick seal.

His shadow stretched and rose, enveloping them.

This was the geomancy art (Earth Vein Technique) Wukong had restored upon reclaiming his second name.

By folding part of the earth’s ley lines, he created a separate pocket dimension.

He had set one up inside his shadow, where Sha Wujing and the Bull Demon King could rest.

Now, it also served as Wu Yong King’s treatment chamber.

—Fwoosh!

Their vision flipped.

“Where is this…?”

“People usually shape their inner world after a familiar place. So I styled it after Huaguo Mountain.”

The scenery was the same as in Song of the Sun and Moon.

Lee Hyun was astonished that such a hidden world lay in Wukong’s shadow, but at the same time, he could feel how much Wukong longed for the past.

『I placed the treatment hut a bit away from the entrance on purpose. Follow me. Fall behind, and I’ll leave you.』

“Ah—hey!”

Whoosh—!

Lee Hyun hurried after Wukong, who bounded ahead.

“Really!? If I lose you here, how do I even get out?”

『You don’t. You’d be stuck here forever.』

That red backside bouncing on all fours made him want to kick it—he seriously considered it.

Then Wukong asked:

『You look like you have a question. What is it?』

Lee Hyun dropped the thought and asked:

“It’s about the Jade Emperor.”

「……」

The air sank again.

“You seem to have reached a firm conviction. Are you sure this is all right?”

『So what if I have?』

Wukong twisted his mouth into a wide grin, fangs bared.

『If he wants to come, let him. I’ll just smash his skull in.』

“…!!”

A bold, straightforward declaration—so very Wukong.