BRDM 45

chapter 45

“Are you feeling better now?”

Go Jin-woo, moving his wrists around, saw Lee Gun-san and stood up from his seat.

“I’m fine now. Thanks to you, Major. I really appreciate it.”

When he was being tortured, Go Jin-woo hadn’t expected to survive. Even if he did survive, he had already given up on being a doctor. His hands had been severely damaged.

But in just a few days, he had recovered this much.

“What did I do? It’s all thanks to my wife and Captain Jang.”

Captain Jang.

Hearing this old title of Lee Hyun after so long made Go Jin-woo chuckle faintly. In fact, his memories of the Black Market were fragmented. He even remembered how furious Lee Hyun had been when confronting the enemies…

“Do you dislike Captain Jang?”

“Yes. I do.”

“It’s because…”

“It’s not because of what I suffered. It’s because he recklessly came to rescue me and could have been in danger too. How humiliating would it be if we were both captured? Especially for someone like Jet.”

Lee Gun-san laughed. Even after the unit was disbanded, Cheongroe had always been the same.

“So, even though you’re fully recovered, you’re just hanging around here?”

Go Jin-woo, uncharacteristically, glanced around nervously.

“Am I making you uncomfortable…?”

“Ha ha. Of course not. As you know, my wife and I don’t have children. So when guests visit and stay for a few days, it brightens the atmosphere and lifts my spirits.”

“Phew. I’m relieved. I thought I was being a nuisance.”

“But judging by what you’re saying, you don’t plan to leave anytime soon? Shouldn’t you go back to the hospital?”

Lee Gun-san asked with a teasing smile.

Go Jin-woo scratched his cheek.

“You’re the same as ever, Major. You already seem to know what favor I’m about to ask.”

“I wouldn’t know unless you tell me directly.”

Go Jin-woo scratched the back of his head for a while. Lee Gun-san waited patiently for him to organize his thoughts.

Then,

“This morning, I stopped by the hospital briefly and submitted my resignation.”

Go Jin-woo looked seriously at Lee Gun-san. The corners of Lee Gun-san’s mouth curled upwards.

“Even if it’s menial work, may I stay with you for a while, Major? I’d like to help with any research or plans you’re working on.”

“You know what I’m doing?”

“Analysis of the Eye Queen and research on eggs, right? I have a stake in both, so I think I can help.”

Lee Gun-san nodded.

“And?”

“And… I want to help with your plan to restore the Cheongroe Unit.”

If Lee Hyun had heard that, he would have been utterly shocked. But Lee Gun-san just smiled quietly.

Go Jin-woo continued.

“You still keep in touch with the original members, don’t you? Even after the unit disbanded and everyone was scattered to different positions or units.”

Even after the Kangneung incident and the disbandment of the Cheongroe Unit, not all members had left the military. Most had stayed, gaining promotions and recognition. Even after Lee Gun-san retired, he could still gather vast information and wield significant influence across society.

“Hey, don’t dress it up like that. I just check in on old subordinates now and then. If people misunderstand it, they’ll accuse me of using troops for personal gain!”

“For someone so cautious, your bunker was lavish, Major.”

“Ha ha. I can’t really show it to anyone.”

“You showed it to Lee Hyun to reveal a bit of your intentions, didn’t you?”

“Are you twisting it that way?”

“If my assumption is out of line, I apologize.”

Go Jin-woo bowed respectfully.

“But I haven’t forgotten. The moment you were forced to leave the military due to political pressures…”

“……”

“…And all the effort you made to protect Lee Hyun—I remember it vividly.”

Lee Gun-san closed his eyes. Silence followed for a while.

“Captain Jang doesn’t know about that, right?”

“No. He only thinks you got tired of the military and left.”

“Good. I’m glad I quit smoking. Otherwise, I’d have smoked a few packs by now.”

“…Cheongroe wasn’t a unit that could just be torn apart for political reasons.”

“Superpowers have always double-standarded, haven’t they?”

“The real problem is the politicians being swayed by them.”

Their conversation hinted that the reason for the Cheongroe Unit’s disbandment wasn’t solely the damage from the Kangneung incident. Yet, they deliberately avoided going deeper.

“…Can you really help me?”

Lee Gun-san’s eyes darkened. Go Jin-woo nodded.

“Of course. Helping you will be easier for you too. The core of Cheongroe… is Captain Jang, after all.”

“Right. Without Captain Jang, there’s no Blue Jet.”

Even now, when he closed his eyes, Lee Gun-san saw the pale blue lightning storms that had once illuminated the world. He had tried so hard to bring that back—but the kid had returned having handled it himself. Still, he rarely accepted help, but now he genuinely wanted to assist.

“But are you sure you’re okay with this? You left the military because you hated it.”

“I left the military, but I still love Cheongroe. And,”

Go Jin-woo took a deep breath and continued.

“After things escalated so much because of Lee Hyun, now I want to control him a bit.”

“What? Ha ha ha ha!”

A completely unexpected answer. Lee Gun-san laughed uproariously before nodding.

“Good. Help me well by my side.”

“That’s what I hoped for.”

Go Jin-woo politely shook the hand Lee Gun-san offered.

<Regular Personnel Announcement>

• Subject: Jang Lee-hyun

• Affiliation: Dungeon Strategy Headquarters Z Team

• Position: Temporary Team Leader

• Content: Promotion

The announcement was posted suddenly on the intranet. Naturally, it caused a stir in the Dungeon Strategy Headquarters.

“Someone who hasn’t even been here a month is already a team leader? Is that even possible?”
“If it was promised to be treated as a team leader, why not?”
“Who is Jang Lee-hyun anyway? I’ve never heard of him.”
“He solved a long-standing dungeon alone, so he must be skilled.”
“But is that skill really his? There were other team members, right?”
“If it’s enough to shatter Manager Jung’s head, it must be real.”

Grumbles about fairness were mixed with gossip:

“Executive Jung must be furious.”
“They say the boardroom has been freezing cold lately.”
“Even during his son’s four-day funeral, he handled work… The deputy director seems blatantly hostile.”
“Exactly. He wants Z Team under his wing. This is going to get noisy.”

An hour later, another intranet announcement appeared.

<Official Mission Order>

• Subject: Dungeon Strategy Headquarters Z Team

• Mission: Item Curse Disposal

• Content: Lift and dispose of the dagger ‘Brutus’ Dagger’ curse

After reading this, many people chuckled.

“This is basically a death sentence.”
“Executive Jung seems determined to pick a fight.”
“How are they supposed to handle this? Z Team will all cry.”
“If you don’t want to do it, leave.”

Brutus, the ancient Roman politician and soldier, had orchestrated the assassination of Julius Caesar and stabbed him in the heart. The dagger reportedly used by him was discovered two years ago by White Burn, but it was almost abandoned.

‘The dagger thirsts for blood, even harming allies.’

Even when sealed, hunters transporting it had to spend over a month in the hospital. Hence, it was ranked SS. White Burn considered disposing of it but couldn’t due to its buffing effect proportional to stolen health. Many ambitious team leaders and rankers tried it—and ended up in the ER.

‘The dagger always wanted blood. That’s the problem.’

Now, Lee Hyun had to carry it until the curse was lifted. Though he was immune, he didn’t show it.

“Are you really okay with this?”
“With what?”
“I know you’re not asking out of ignorance.”

Kim Min-jung frowned, hearing the murmurs around them.

“Even the team won’t come because of this.”
“They’re all busy writing reports. Missing work without notifying the leader. Can’t this affect evaluations?”

Even past the start of work, Z Team’s seats remained empty.

“It’s possible… but soon they’ll either be fired or dead, so what matters?”

Kim Min-jung found Lee Hyun’s nonchalant response slightly irritating.

‘What is he really planning? He knows all the team members are being summoned by Executive Jung…’

Executive Jung was blatantly pressuring Lee Hyun. Brutus’ dagger disposal, coupled with team boycotts, forced the issue. He wooed the team individually, promising to overlook matters concerning his son and manage company affairs himself—a blatant division. Then Lee Hyun suddenly bypassed him, became team leader, and received the Brutus mission.

Kim Min-jung realized the personnel action wasn’t actually a misstep by the executive—it was Lee Hyun’s plan.

‘If the team leader request was made by senior… of course. I wasted days worrying for nothing.’

Kim Min-jung sighed.

“Cleaning house neatly, huh?”
“Yes. Z Team had too many useless members. I’ll keep three and remove the rest.”
“During your suspension, that’s all you thought about?”
“Yes.”
“I’d be included, so two remain. Who are they?”
“Why assume you’re not included?”
“Then remove me?”

Kim Min-jung glared sharply, and Lee Hyun raised his hands.

“Of course not. Jet’s right-hand can’t be gone.”

“Talk is cheap… Who are the two to remain?”

“These two.”

Lee Hyun pointed to two members on the Z Team organizational chart on the wall.

• Seo Ae-ri, Assistant Manager

• Eom Ki-seon, Assistant Manager

Kim Min-jung’s frown deepened.