novelraw Chapter 134 : Mission 10: The Hunters of Old (7)
Chapter 134 : Mission 10: The Hunters of Old (7)
“For the duration of this mission, your unit’s designation will be ‘Black Order,’” Hae-eun said, dropping the Black Parade convicts at their designated points.
“The official story is that you’re a PMC—one with no affiliation with the government or the Gate Defense Bureau. You’re just a bunch of mercs who’ve infiltrated on your own initiative, hoping to see if there’s anything worth stealing inside the Cheongnyangni Gate.”
Hae-eun gestured toward the bomb collars—the Guillotines—around the convicts’ necks.
“Mention anything else to anyone, it’s an instant click.”
“…”
“No matter what happens, the government and the Gate Defense Bureau will deny your existence. So, try not to get caught. If things go south, just run for it.”
Hae-eun smirked.
“I wish you luck. Now, everyone to your designated positions and await deployment!”
***
After the teams from Decks 1 through 8 had been deployed to their infiltration points around the Cheongnyangni Gate, the transport plane made its final stop, dropping the Deck 0 team south of the facility.
What was once a major transportation hub in Seoul, where trains, subways, and buses converged, was now a permanent Gate defense facility, a towering concrete fortress.
The Deck 0 team was positioned on the opposite side of the main entrance, facing a perfectly flat, featureless concrete wall.
“This is our infiltration point?” Ghost asked.
Hae-eun produced a key from her pocket. She inserted it into a small groove in the wall, and a perfectly concealed door swung inward.
Pocketing the key, Hae-eun explained, “When this facility was first constructed, the government built a back door. Iron Knight doesn’t even know about it.”
“…”
“The other teams are all infiltrating through sewers, ventilation shafts, aerial drops, fence-climbing, digging tunnels… You got the best route.”
Hae-eun nodded.
“The teams from Decks 1 through 8 are all sacrificial pawns, meant to distract Shin-woo Jo.”
“…”
“Deck 0 team. Especially you, Ghost. You have to be the one. You’re the only one who can break through Iron Knight’s ‘Domain.’”
Ghost silently surveyed the assembled Deck 0 team. Her gaze swept over the four convicts she had personally collected a few days prior on the vice-captain’s orders.
Excluding Ghost, they were all dressed in drab, camouflage-print ponchos, their hoods pulled low to cover their faces.
They were the best of the best from Deck 0—a deck reserved for prisoners who defied classification—specialists in infiltration and assassination.
They had more than enough firepower. Whether they would follow orders was another question entirely.
“Oh, and don’t worry too much about Boy. I put the Deck 1 team in the safest, quietest spot.”
Ghost stared at her, her eyes narrowed.
“Be honest,” she spat. “We’re sacrificial pawns too, aren’t we?”
“Hmm?”
“The moment they lost the Baekdo Unit and the 11th Special Ops, the Gate Defense Bureau took a massive hit. Sending in more troops would be a suicide mission, so they can’t afford to grind up any more valuable personnel.”
“…”
“So you send us. It’s a win-win even if we just inflict some damage and die. Easy to deny everything later. That’s the beauty of the Black Parade, isn’t it?”
Hae-eun gave a sheepish smile and answered honestly. “Don’t think of it so negatively. Given the circumstances, we’ve simply prepared a Plan C in case the infiltration fails.”
“And Plan C is?”
Hae-eun glanced around before whispering in Ghost’s ear.
“If the situation isn’t resolved by Iron Knight’s deadline, the Five Heroes and the 666th Special Operations Unit will be deployed simultaneously to ‘incinerate’ the entire area.”
Ghost stood frozen, dumbfounded.
Hae-eun continued, “Director Yang proposed it, and the President approved.”
“…”
“The government currently believes it can handle the situation even if the Cheongnyangni Gate opens completely. They’re mobilizing forces from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, and the encirclement of the area will be complete within twelve hours.”
“That’s insane…!”
Ghost’s composure finally broke. She lunged forward and grabbed Hae-eun by the collar.
“Whether Iron Knight opens the gate or the Five Heroes blow it to kingdom come, if that gate opens all the way, monsters will pour out. There will be civilian casualties! Soldiers will be slaughtered by the thousands!”
“The government is prepared for that.”
“Bullshit! Don’t you dare give me that crap! What fucking ‘preparedness’ do you have when you’re not the ones dying?”
Gritting her teeth, Ghost glared at Hae-eun.
“Is this another one of those ‘necessary sacrifices’ that the people who pushed for that law are always talking about?”
“Ghost.” Hae-eun took hold of the hand gripping her collar and slowly peeled it away. “You’re the one who can solve this before any of that happens.”
“…!”
“If you succeed, Iron Knight won’t open the gate, and the government won’t have to incinerate Cheongnyangni.”
Hae-eun’s smile was gone, her expression deadly serious as she whispered, “The gate won’t open, the monsters won’t pour out, and no innocent lives will be lost.”
“…”
“Ghost. Right now, you’re our trump card. We’re all counting on you to end this.”
With one last glare at Hae-eun, Ghost clenched her jaw, pulled on a poncho identical to her teammates’, and stepped through the open back door into the pitch-black interior.
The other four members of the Deck 0 team followed her. The door gaped open like the maw of hell before slowly swinging shut.
Once it was fully closed, Hae-eun turned and spoke into her comms.
“All units are in position, Director. Awaiting your command.”
***
December 11, 2050, 00:00.
Gate Defense Bureau HQ. Main conference room.
A tense silence filled the spacious room.
It was midnight—the time Shin-woo Jo had promised to make contact.
After a few dozen seconds that felt like an eternity, a voice broke the silence.
“We have an incoming transmission. It’s the Cheongnyangni Gate.”
“…!”
“Patching it through. In three, two, one…”
At the aide’s signal, So-yu Yang, Director of the Gate Defense Bureau, cried out, “Shin-woo! Can you hear me?”
A moment later, Shin-woo’s subdued voice came through.
«…Loud and clear, Director Yang.»
As the bureaucrats exchanged swift glances, So-yu began.
“Your conditions have been delivered to the Blue House. The president is reviewing them favorably. However, as you can imagine, we need to hold several meetings on our end, so giving you an immediate answer is…”
«I see helicopters buzzing around the main gate.»
Shin-woo cut him off.
«Tanks, too. And a fair number of military troops.»
“…”
«I also see the banners of three different Hunter Association elite units.»
So-yu let out a hearty, dismissive laugh.
“Shin-woo, that’s merely a precaution for a worst-case scenario.”
«…»
“We are responsible for the safety of Seoul’s citizens. While we hope for a smooth negotiation with you, we must also prepare for unforeseen circumstances. That’s why we were forced to deploy troops…”
«That’s not what I’m talking about.»
The sound of Shin-woo’s dry chuckle crackled over the comms.
«Isn’t it a little too obvious?»
“What is?”
«This whole song and dance, trying to draw all eyes to the main gate.»
“…”
«Helicopters, tanks, armored vehicles… you’re even waving your unit flags. It’s a bit over-the-top if you’re just trying to intimidate us.»
Shin-woo Jo clicked his tongue and growled softly.
«An infiltration from the rear?»
“…”
«Seeing as you’re still trying so hard to create a diversion at the front, I’d wager you timed the start of your operation for… the moment I began this transmission?»
So-yu forced a laugh, trying to placate him.
“Shin-woo, my boy… I know your nerves are frayed, but you’re jumping to conclusions. I’m trying to negotiate…”
«Director Yang. It’s been a long time since you retired from the field. Your aides may have learned the art of war at a military academy.»
Shin-woo was unshaken.
«But we’re the ones who’ve spent the last thirty years getting our asses kicked by every vicious monster imaginable in the field.»
“…”
«When you make this much noise at the front, it’s only natural to smell something rotten coming from the back.»
So-yu’s eyes narrowed.
Shin-woo let out a long sigh.
«And my men… they do not forgive trespassers.»
***
00:00.
Cheongnyangni Gate.
The nine teams of the Black Parade commenced their infiltration, moving from their respective positions.
***
December 11, 2050, 00:10.
Underneath the Cheongnyangni Gate. Underground levels.
Five figures moved through the oppressive darkness, following a set of disused subway tracks.
They were the Deck 5 team of the Black Parade.
Walking through the dark as if it were second nature, all five were clad in animal masks and animal-themed bodysuits—so-called fursuits.
Their appearance might have been comical, but their attire was highly practical. The full-body suits, made from monster hides, offered protection superior to most armor and were completely sealed, making them safe from poison and gas attacks.
The eyes of the animal masks were special goggles, with external cameras providing a heads-up display directly in their field of vision.
These cameras were equipped with thermal imaging, allowing them not only to see in the dark but also to instantly detect the location of any hidden enemies.
Other features included a back-mounted air conditioner that maintained an optimal internal temperature and a system for easily consuming water and combat rations stored within the mask.
The five of them insisted it was the next generation of combat attire. The minor drawback of being seen as perverts with a furry fetish was a criticism they had to endure.
Since it was true, they found it tolerable.
The five fursuit-clad convicts moved cautiously through the darkness. Their plan was to follow the abandoned subway line to a point directly beneath the Cheongnyangni Gate, then use micro-bombs to blast a hole in the facility’s lower wall and infiltrate.
“Halt.”
The figure in the bear mask at the head of the formation—the Deck 5 Leader, callsign “Gomgomgom”—stopped and raised a hand, whispering the command.
The whisper was too faint to be heard outside the mask, but thanks to the internal microphones and headsets, the five of them could communicate with perfect clarity even at the lowest volumes.
The four members following him immediately stopped, raising their rifles to scan the area.
Gomgomgom spoke quietly.
“Anomaly detected ahead. Looks like… a guard post.”
In the middle of the distant underground passage stood a small guard post. A faint light emanated from within, and colorful shadows flickered and shifted as if a television were on. A low hum was also audible.
A silhouette, cast by the TV’s glow, was faintly visible inside, suggesting someone was sitting in the post.
“They have guards posted even in a remote area like this? What do we do, retreat?”
“Can’t do that. We neutralize and advance.”
Gomgomgom gave his orders deliberately.
“Rooster, Raccoon, Octopus, hold your positions and cover all angles. Wolf, you’re with me. We’ll secure the front.”
“Roger.”
Following Gomgomgom, the prisoner in the wolf mask moved cautiously forward while the others in rooster, raccoon, and octopus masks maintained their watch.
Gomgomgom slung his rifle over his shoulder and carefully drew a pistol fitted with a suppressor from his hip.
“I’ll take the left. Wolf, you take the right.”
“Roger.”
Wolf had also drawn a suppressed pistol.
Gomgomgom drew a knife with his left hand, holding it in a reverse grip to support his right hand, which held the pistol.
Moving without a sound, the two prisoners took up positions on either side of the guard post, ready to breach.
“Now!”
Gomgomgom kicked the door in and threw himself inside, while Wolf aimed his pistol through the window from the opposite side.
“…!”
And then, they saw it.
In the center of the post, a broken mannequin was propped up on a dilapidated sofa with a collapsed bottom. In front of it, an old CRT television emitted a meaningless glow.
Gomgomgom furiously whispered, “It’s a trap—”
BOOM!
Before he could finish, the booby trap installed in the post detonated with a deafening roar, blowing the structure to smithereens.
Gomgomgom and Wolf were thrown to the ground by the blast. As their stunned teammates rushed to help them, a new sound began.
A grating noise, echoing from the far end of the dark, abandoned tunnel.
The sound of blades scraping against the floor.
“…?!”
Just as the five soot-covered convicts scrambled to aim their rifles down the passage, figures emerged from the darkness.
They were old men, clad head-to-toe in armor.
They advanced slowly, dragging the tips of their swords and blades along the ground.
Each time the metal scraped against the floor, sending up a shower of sparks, their expressionless faces were illuminated for a fleeting moment in the gloom.
Gomgomgom spat out a single name.
“The Knights…”
The old soldiers who had spent thirty years hunting and killing the monsters that poured from this gate.
The wardens of the abyss who had stared into it longer than anyone else in the world.
They approached their new prey, their faces impassive.
Dragging their blades behind them, one step, then another.