BRDM 71

chapter 71

Executive Jeong Gyu-han clicked his tongue.

“Jang I-hyun… ever since that guy appeared, nothing has gone smoothly.”

It had only taken a single day.

The time it took for all his hands and feet to be completely severed.

“His son is dead, his foundation is gone… truly, nothing has gone right.”

The last reports about the roughly four research labs were that soldiers had raided them, and then all contact was lost.

Marong had foolishly shown himself on TV and then vanished.

Pingxin?

Even those who prattled about the “spirit of the Chinese nation” were nowhere to be found.

All were dead, missing, or had left his side.

“How on earth did they interrogate Marong, who was bound by every single restriction…? I really want to learn that extraordinary skill.”

Jeong Gyu-han had replayed videos involving Marong countless times.

So even if the opponent Marong fought had their face covered, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize them.

Jeong Executive turned his cold, emotionless face to the side.

“Don’t you all think the same?”

“Mmph! Mmph!”

“Ah, sorry. In that state, you can’t speak at all.”

There were people there, tightly bound with ropes and gags.

Just last night, if Jeong Executive had commanded, they would have licked his feet without hesitation.

But as soon as the situation turned unfavorable, they tried to flee—only to be caught.

This was the result.

“I tell you, I despise traitors more than anything in this world.”

“Ugh!”

“Why repay someone who gave loyalty and shared interests with betrayal? If you have nothing to give, shouldn’t you at least offer loyalty? To be so unfaithful… tsk tsk.”

“Mmph!”

“Of course, you might ask if I’m the same kind of man. I understand that.”

“Ughh!”

“But let me make it clear, I never had such thoughts. On the contrary, I would have pledged loyalty to the guild master—never betrayed him, that would be madness.”

Jeong Executive placed a wine glass on the table.

Roll.

The glass filled with red wine.

A red as deep as blood.

“I firmly believed this path would strengthen the guild’s power. And in fact, it was beginning to do just that.”

The liquid in the glass was indeed blood.

Extracted from people who had been alive just moments ago.

“Ruined Korea. And atop it, a savior like San-shin will rise.”

He sniffed. The smell was fishy.

“Everyone will look up to San-shin. Everyone will have no choice but to lean on San-shin. Everyone… will be forced to revere and worship San-shin.”

Revere. Worship.

Indeed.

Jeong Executive wanted more faith to be offered to Mojong-gun.

She was a god.

Not just figuratively, a real god.

“Korea was only the foundation. Once that person rises, everything will collapse like dominoes.”

“Ugh!”

“Didn’t I join hands with the committee? I did. But we were not the ones to be consumed. They were.”

His reflection appeared over the red wine glass.

A face smiling like a demon.

“Not just the committee. Astra, City Cartel, Zeus’s Sons, the Gijeo Cult… everything in the world was destined to fall. That person is fully capable.”

This was exactly what Lee-hyun and Lim Won-young misunderstood.

He wasn’t a traitor selling Korea to China.

He was a fanatic with a far greater ideal.

He merely wanted to witness that person’s true self again.

But…

The White Burn, the very thing he dedicated his life to, ignored his original intent entirely and was now coming to kill him.

“Of course, now it’s all futile anyway.”

He felt hollow.

His past efforts.

All wasted.

And… disappointing.

Old comrades who didn’t even understand his true intentions.

Therefore, Jeong Executive changed his mind.

The Central Heroes Committee had failed to cause proper commotion, and the plan hadn’t even begun.

‘I have no choice but to act myself.’

Glug.

Jeong Executive brought the glass to his lips.

Each sip of blood made his magic writhe violently.

Phaaaa…!

Simultaneously, lanterns began to rise one by one around him.

‘I, Jeong Gyu-han, will become complete evil and, San-shin, call forth your true form to this land.’

[Legacy: The Lanterns of the Dead begins to ignite!]

“Ughhh! Mmph!”

His subordinates’ desperation increased.

They knew all too well that each lantern represented a spirit of those already dead, or rather, devoured by him.

They were the suppliers who provided test subjects so more lanterns could be lit.

Glug, glug—

With each swallow, the number of lanterns grew until they formed a swarm.

Clack!

When he finished the last glass and placed it on the table,

Whoosh!!

[Legacy: The Lanterns of the Dead ignites a conflagration!]

The small flames of spirits merged into a massive blaze.

It coiled around him like a serpent.

“It’s not over until it’s over, isn’t that right?”

The movements of the struggling prisoners slowed.

White smoke leaked from their noses and mouths.

Once the smoke mixed with the flames, the fire grew even more intense.

Whooosh!

Now, only he remained alive in the space.

Jeong Executive’s legacy was Guimun—the Gate of Ghosts.

[Guimun]
The direction where the Ghost Star rises, said to be where ghosts come and go. Yin-Yang practitioners avoid it; it’s a place of fire and misfortune.
-Origin: Folklore of Yin-Yang Masters

Just by existing, Jeong Executive became a living gate, capable of controlling countless spirits.

All the test subjects and researchers in his research labs were dead, already offered to him.

Thus, the number of spirits he commanded reached hundreds…!

[Legacy: The Lanterns of the Dead awaits new victims!]

The spirits’ flames burned from blue to pure white.

“As expected, this isn’t enough. To truly burn the world, far more fuel is needed.”

Finally, Jeong Executive brought out a last-resort item he had been saving.

Click!

He opened the wooden box gifted by Marong.

The Great Revival Pill, the Summoning Pill, and the Gingoa were inside.

“…”

His eyes gleamed with madness as he saw them.

The research lab where Jeong Executive was located was in Guri City.

In front of a derelict factory where vehicles could barely be seen,

Section Chief So Seong-hae and members of Team A gathered.

“Ah, damn it. Overtime… I finally got some time for myself after cleaning the kids, and now it’s overtime.”

Every office worker would sympathize with his lament.

So Seong-hae cursed the source of this misery.

“Just wait, Jeong Executive. I won’t forget this, Team….”

“Team what?”

“Team Leader Lim. I love you. No matter the boss, you’re the best, you know?”

So Seong-hae quickly changed his tone and rubbed his hands together.

Lim Won-young, silently appearing behind him, scoffed.

“Your words have improved, Seong-hae?”

“You’re here, Team Leader! We’ve been waiting!”

“You seem slyer now.”

“No! My loyalty is only to you, Team Leader. I am loyal today as always. Loyalty! Loyalty!”

Team members glanced away at their pitifully desperate Section Chief.

“Anyway, how’s the situation over there?”

So Seong-hae, ever cautious, sighed and then hardened his expression.

“We’ve been observing for 40 minutes. No abnormalities yet.”

Team A had quickly moved to the operation site and began controlling the area following Lim Won-young’s emergency call.

They were keeping a close watch on the target but had nothing to report.

“So, everything is ready? They’ve already made all preparations.”

Lim Won-young puffed on a lit cigarette.

Hoo—

[Legacy: The Days When Tigers Smoked is activated, summoning five Jangsanbeom!]

The curling smoke formed enormous Jangsanbeom.

‘Their skill has increased!’

So Seong-hae and the team’s eyes sparkled.

They had heard that Lim Won-young had been training with Mojong-gun alone, but seeing it in person, the progress in just a month was tremendous.

The summoned Jangsanbeom were larger and more numerous than before.

‘…Soon they’ll challenge a high-ranker. No,’

Seong-hae swallowed dryly.

‘Are they already challenging one?’

Lim Won-young continued, exhaling more smoke.

“As you’ve likely heard, we will now suppress Executive Jeong Gyu-han… no, Night Lantern Jeong Gyu-han.”

Some team members nodded tensely.

Their opponent was a high-ranker, a long-standing symbol of White Burn.

“The charge is foreign interference. The NIS is already aware and has issued a warrant. Capture alive if possible; if not, neutralization is allowed.”

The tension thickened.

“The first deployed units are Team A and Z, followed by remaining teams for a coordinated encirclement. Any questions?”

“Z Team? Joint operation?”

“Yes.”

“But still…”

So Seong-hae glanced around. Other teams were not visible yet.

At that moment…

“…!?”

A chill ran down their spines.

The A team instinctively looked up.

“They’re already here too.”

A smile formed on Lim Won-young’s lips,

Boom! Boom! KRAAAK!!

[Legacy: The Scarlet Lotus Battle appears, scattering massive blows!]
[Legacy: Baby General Uturi takes the battlefield with pride!]
[Legacy: Blackland Fire Dog emerges, breathing flames!]

A violent storm swirled around the three standing figures.

Whooooosh!

“…!”

“…!”

“…!!”

Team A instinctively recoiled, watching the trio in shock.

“W-what? Is this really the Kim Min-jung we knew?”

“The training ground zombie looked different two weeks ago. What’s going on?”

“Seo Ae-ri seems different too… wasn’t she always stuck in the research floors?”

There were only three of them, yet their aura was comparable to twenty people.

A thought flashed through their minds.

‘Is it true that they cleared 15 long-standing dungeons in just two weeks…?’

But something else stunned them even more.

[Legacy: Goblin Dance Stage begins.]

A slightly delayed cyan lightning struck.

Larger than the previous three, it carried a strong impact.

Scorching winds swirled. Lightning arced like ghost-fire above, and Lee-hyun appeared, slicing through the wind.

A tremendous wave of force rippled.

Team A was horrified.

‘Fire Goblin…!’

‘Jang I-hyun Hunter’s legacy is Goblin!’

“I heard he recovered his magic, but this growth in such a short time…”

Seong-hae swallowed again, observing Lee-hyun, whose presence rivaled Lim Won-young.

This was not the Lee-hyun they had seen two months ago.

Though his inherent skill was lower, the pressure from his legacy was terrifying.

‘So the rumors in the news were all true…?’

Among the employees, a rumor circulated: the new Z team leader was Marong’s rival.

Though the media overhyped the appearance of a new high-ranker,

Seong-hae and Team A started to think it might be true.

Especially Deputy Min, Lee-hyun’s academy classmate, whose pupils trembled the most.

“Long time no see, everyone.”

“Jang Hunter… right? You’ve changed so much. Or should I say, Team Leader now?”

Lee-hyun smiled lightly at Seong-hae’s teasing.

“I officially received the team leader appointment today.”

“Perfect! Congratulations. Now no one can complain anymore.”

Seasoned Section Chief Seong-hae genuinely congratulated Lee-hyun.

Even Lee-hyun smiled. Lim Won-young spoke.

“As you can see, Z Team is small for now, but its power is enough to take on Pingxin. Strength is confirmed, so no worries.”

Team A’s eyes lit up.

“Of course, we have numbers, so we’ll handle the main operations, while Z Team operates as a special unit. Any questions?”

“No.”

“Good. Then prepare for combat.”

“Prepare for combat!”

“Prepare for combat!!”

Team A pushed curiosity aside. Only mission execution mattered.

[Legacy activates!]

Lim Won-young put a radio to his mouth and commanded.

“I will lead this operation.”

‘Alpha, copy that.’

‘Beta, copy that.’

Z Team’s voices responded.

‘Zeta, copy that.’

Lee-hyun was among them.

Lim Won-young looked at the ground and ordered,

“Begin combat.”

‘Combat begins.’

‘Combat begins.’

Team A and Z simultaneously moved like dozens of rays of light.

Swoooosh—