Chapter 47: BRADM

chapter 47

Incheon Airport, in front of the arrival gate.

Executive Director Jeong Gyu-han was sitting in a limousine parked in front of the gate, receiving a report from his secretary.

“…As you instructed, I’ve received firm confirmation from all members of Team Z that none of them will be swayed by Jang Yi-hyun. However—”

“However?”

Jeong furrowed his brows while watching the incoming passengers exiting the gate.

The secretary bowed slightly.

“There are still two members from whom we haven’t received confirmation yet.”

“Two? Does that include the people Team Leader Lim assigned, or are they excluded?”

“Excluded. These are the people.”

The secretary politely handed over a tablet PC displaying resumes to Executive Director Jeong.

“Seo Ae-ri and Eom Gi-seon. I’ve heard those names before. Seems like my son used to complain about them every now and then.”

Jeong’s gaze settled on Eom Gi-seon’s photo.

Even though it was a corporate resume photo, his hair was completely bleached white, and earrings dangled from his ears.

“I recall that Ho Sang-moo paid considerable attention to this guy.”

“Yes. Director Ho even personally entrusted him with a sword at one point, causing quite a stir in the company.”

The backbone of White Burn consisted of 26 dungeon assault teams under the Dungeon Conquest Headquarters, racking up tremendous achievements both domestically and internationally.

Many of the team leaders were ranked experts, and several of them had quickly risen to stardom due to numerous external job offers.

Yet, if asked, “Are they White Burn’s main power?” most high-ranking officials would remain tight-lipped.

The truly exceptional members were kept hidden even deeper.

For the past forty years, Guild Master ‘Sanshin’ Mo Jeong-gyeon had been gathering veteran warriors from all over the world.

This group, including some of the few high-rankers in each country, was so loyal to Mo Jeong-gyeon that no other guild, faction, or organization dared approach them lightly.

‘In fact, I am one of those veterans myself.’

The regular employees called them the “executive members.”

Among these, Director Ho was an exceptionally unique figure.

His loyalty to Mo Jeong-gyeon was immense, but his combat ability was extremely rare, perhaps a naturally gifted warrior of the modern era.

He rarely stepped out into the public and focused entirely on personal training.

There was one brief period when Ho took an interest in company matters: when Eom Gi-seon, forced to discharge from Astra in the U.S. due to certain circumstances, came to Korea via headhunting.

Apparently, Ho was oddly fascinated by Eom Gi-seon’s gait while drinking with friends near the company.

‘Why did that thunderhead ruin a drinking session?’ Jeong thought. ‘I just don’t understand. How could Ho overlook that? Huh, even Ho has weaknesses in strange places.’

Conflict broke out between Eom Gi-seon and Ho, and naturally, Eom Gi-seon ended up kneeling.

But Eom Gi-seon refused to admit defeat and continued attacking.

Only after all his swords were broken and he fainted did the fight end.

Ho compensated for all broken items and damages, leaving Eom Gi-seon with only one sword before departing.

He claimed it was a reward for having fun with the old man.

Yet, Eom Gi-seon returned to work the next day as if nothing had happened, sword at his side.

‘Not some martial arts novel, yet these people act like this. The executive members are full of crazy folks.’

Jeong knew that even years later, the incident was still discussed among ordinary employees.

It had even gained followers of Ho, though Jeong considered it all a wasteful display that only undermined one’s authority.

‘Authority isn’t something built overnight. It appears only when one truly reigns.’

Jeong had always been firm in his values.

Still,

“Yet… I definitely want to secure this one.”

He tapped on Eom Gi-seon’s photo with his index finger.

“If we could tame a hunting dog like this, it would be better than Lü Bu obtaining the Red Hare.”

Jeong understood the value of people with the same gaze as Eom Gi-seon—treasured swords that needed delicate handling and precise wielding.

“Seo Ae-ri is the same. Far more valuable than any useless fodder.”

He closed the tablet and instructed his secretary:

“Arrange a separate meeting with these two. Tell them I want to see them personally.”

“Personally…! Yes, sir.”

For a man who usually summoned Team Z as a group, personally going to meet these two meant he considered them invaluable.

‘Stupid… I had such talent nearby and didn’t even notice. Did I really raise my son that poorly?’

Just as Jeong was lost in thoughts of his deceased son:

“They’re on their way, Director.”

“Let’s go greet them.”

Jeong got out of the limousine, composing himself as if by magic.

The gate opened, revealing sharply dressed people whose piercing gazes could not be hidden.

Jeong knew exactly who they were:

Pingxin.

Special agents who had recently evolved training methods from China’s Qinglei Corps.

And in front of them stood a middle-aged man he recognized: Wei Gangning, famously nicknamed “Malong” (Demon Dragon), in charge of Pingxin.

“非常欢迎您来韩国，魏局座 (Welcome to Korea, Director Wei),” Jeong greeted warmly with open arms.

‘Defeat Mukeshi? What does that mean?’

Kim Min-jung noticed not Eom Gi-seon’s irritating face, but Yi-hyun’s indifferent expression upon hearing such words.

She recalled a conversation from two days ago during a brief meal with Lim Won-young:

• You look exhausted, Team Leader.

• …Kim, when will you return to our team?

• Handling everything alone must be tough. Should I go back to Team A?

• No, no. Finish what you have with Team Z first.

• Is there really that much work at Myeongga? What did the battalion leaders propose?

• That’s not the real issue. There’s someone else.

• Someone else?

• Mukeshi, you know?

Kim Min-jung nodded.

Who in Korea didn’t know Mukeshi, whose deeds stirred media chaos, especially when he was declared an Apostle of Zeus?

• Mukeshi appeared a few days ago. He was killed then.

• You mean India’s Vajrason?

• Yes. That Mukeshi.

• …!

• Do you know where it happened?

• …No way.

• At the Pied Piper dungeon.

• …!

Kim Min-jung felt uneasy.

During the dungeon raid, Yi-hyun disappeared into the sewers to take on the hidden boss. She hadn’t been told what happened afterward.

• This is why Pingxin is moving into Korea, while Aracne booked a flight from Mexico.

• ….

• Other countries may act too. It’s chaos. What is Mukeshi really capable of?

• …I don’t know either.

Both Lim and Kim suspected Yi-hyun but refrained from digging deeper—Mukeshi’s power far exceeded his current state.

His strength was considered high-ranker level, of which only seven existed in Korea.

Yi-hyun had only just started recovering a month ago, far from his prime. He could approach a high-ranker, but not surpass them.

Yet, Kim thought there might be some connection to Mukeshi…

‘Could senior really be Mukeshi himself?’

Yi-hyun showed no reaction, expressionless.

“Hey, Eom Gi-seon! What on earth were you doing? Someone could’ve been hurt!”

Kim Min-jung shouted, putting aside her doubts.

“It’s fine, isn’t it?”

“What kind of response is that…!”

“You think I acted without calculation? Come on, you’re too sensitive.”

“Who are you calling ‘sis’—”

“Or should I call you ‘honey’ like before? I like that too.”

“Hey!!”

Kim Min-jung lost her patience, but Eom Gi-seon just smirked.

Luckily, the sparring hall was empty, or it would’ve been embarrassing.

Kim’s trembling hands twitched as if ready to draw her rifle.

She wanted to defend herself in front of Yi-hyun, but he suddenly asked:

“You’re not really confident about what you’re saying, are you?”

Yi-hyun’s unreadable gaze fixed on Eom Gi-seon.

Eom Gi-seon twisted his mouth:

“I saw it, but—”

“No. You weren’t there. I was.”

“Oh, so shameless, huh? I get it. You’re hiding that you’re Mukeshi, right? If your identity leaked, you could be treated like a demon and cause trouble at work.”

A “demon” was a hunter consumed by the power of legend and narrative.

“I considered that, so I spoke when no one was around. The CCTV won’t catch our voices. Min-jung knows you’re discreet too.”

“…”

“So, what really happened? Mukeshi, Qingxiao… how were you so overwhelming?”

“What color was Mukeshi’s lightning?” Yi-hyun interrupted.

“…What a sudden question?”

“You were there. You should know lightning differs by individual. Did you see the color when Mukeshi was defeated?”

Eom Gi-seon rolled his eyes briefly, then awkwardly laughed:

“White… or transparent. Media reported—”

“No, wrong. It was brown or multicolored.”

“That’s Mukeshi’s lightning! That makes no sense!”

“You didn’t see Mukeshi’s lightning forcibly absorbed before his death?”

“…!?”

“And when I said Mukeshi’s head was ‘cut’, it should’ve been ‘burned.’ Mukeshi died from burns.”

“Oh… haha. I must’ve mistaken it. Right, multicolored lightning shredded him—”

“Exactly. You weren’t there. The head was really cut.”

“…!!”

Eom Gi-seon finally realized Yi-hyun had tricked him, looking shocked.

Kim Min-jung was equally stunned.

“Ha ha… fooled by wordplay. Damn. I thought I was clever, but nothing compared to you, Team Leader.”

Eom Gi-seon laughed, his eyes gleaming with madness.

“But I really was in the sewers. I saw the Team Leader overwhelm the cursed sorcerers with lightning and casually walk out when Mukeshi and Qingxiao appeared. I got lost in the sewers in between, so didn’t see clearly….”

He rested a sword on his shoulder.

“I guessed the Team Leader would wield lightning and be strong… so I assumed. Hmph.”

“So what do you want to say?”

“Doesn’t matter. Let’s fight once.”

Eom Gi-seon twisted his mouth:

“Whether you are Mukeshi doesn’t matter. I just want to spar with you. I like it. If it’s bad for your prestige, or you’re scared, I’ll let it slide.”

“You should’ve said that from the start.”

Yi-hyun smiled lightly, taking out a Blood Cleaver from his inventory.

Then, zzzzzt!

Blue-white lightning surged.

His lips curled, revealing fangs.

“I also feel like teaching a cocky team member a lesson.”