Absolute Warrior V2C5: Secret Intervention
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TL: FoodieMonster007 If you see this, you are at the wrong site!
Five days later, the Seventh Squad set off on their first mission since Crimson Tiger's arrival.
CLIP CLOP CLIP CLOP…
Suddenly, Seventh One, who led the way, stopped. The horses were exhausted and could run no more.
"Let's take a break," he commanded.
Everyone released the horses to rest nearby and took a break, grouping in twos and threes to discuss today's operation.
Six approached Crimson Tiger, who was sitting alone and sat down beside him. "How are you? Can you manage?"
"Yes." Crimson Tiger nodded.
In fact, he had adapted so effortlessly to the Ironblood Nines that he hadn't needed Six's help with anything.
Over the past few days, he had done his best to forget about his mission. The time to act had not yet come. Right now, his most important task was blending in perfectly.
"Why did you apply to the Nines?" Six asked.
Crimson Tiger replied, "I just wanted to be the best."
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Six chuckled.
"Why did you join, Senior?" Crimson Tiger asked back.
Instead of replying, Six's eyes deepened, revealing a hint of loneliness.
Crimson Tiger observed her every reaction. She was indeed beautiful, but her beauty differed from Gahwa's. Gahwa's beauty was mature, whereas Six's beauty was innocent. Any man would be captivated by her.
Nevertheless, he was not affected. He had neither the time nor the leisure to care about her.
Most importantly, once his mission ended, they would never see each other again.
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"When can I meet the Ironblood Commander? I'm curious about him," he asked.
"On the last day of the month, when the Ironblood Festival is held."
"The Ironblood Festival?"
"It's the event where you can challenge First Nine that I told you about before. We call it the Ironblood Festival."
"What if no one challenges him?"
"Then the festival's not held that month."
"Can't I see him any other time?"
"Of course not. Why would the Commander go out of his way to meet a newbie like you?"
"Is First Nine that strong?"
Six laughed once more. "You're really aiming for the First Squad, aren't you?"
"I came here to be the best, after all," Crimson Tiger replied smugly.
Despite his words, he had no intention of joining the First Squad through the Ironblood Festival. It would not be difficult for him to join, but the method was too obvious.
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Besides, before he started thinking of another way to approach the Ironblood Commander, he needed to first find out Baek Soeun's current identity.
"Want some advice?" Six said, looking at Crimson Tiger.
Crimson Tiger met her gaze calmly. "Sure?"
"Don't rush."
"Don't you want to be in the First Squad, Senior?"
"Not really."
"Why not?"
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Six smiled sadly, yet it carried a melancholic charm. "There was a time when I longed for fame and fortune, but now, that desire is gone."
Just then, the signal to depart came, and they were forced to end their conversation.
An hour later, they reached their destination, the Hong Family Estate.
"We have reliable information that the Hong Family Estate is colluding with the Association, so the Coalition intends to make an example of them. Don't leave a single rat alive."
"Understood!"
Everyone put on their masks.
Crimson Tiger sighed inwardly. This was an extermination order delivered in broad daylight. It ordered the killing of everyone, including those who did not know martial arts, as well as women and children.
At least the Association did not issue such ruthless orders. Even when they killed, they only eliminated traitors.
This was the fundamental difference between the Association and the Evil Coalition.
Anger welled up inside him, but he kept it hidden.
Six glanced back and whispered, "Have you ever killed anyone?"
It was a ridiculous question, but Crimson Tiger nodded nervously. "Yes," he replied.
"Then you'll be fine. Brace yourself, and stick with me."
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"Understood."
The attack order was given.
They jumped over the wall in pairs, with Crimson Tiger following behind Six. Six's martial arts skills were a notch above those of Yong Hajin. The other Seventh Squad members possessed skills that were similar to or a notch below hers.
From that, he could estimate the strength of the First Squad. They were likely two or three levels superior to these fighters.
Soon after the first scream echoed from somewhere, screams erupted from every direction.
He and Six were assigned to the rear building.
As they turned the corner of the building, they ran into two martial artists.
Six swung her sword.
SWISH! SWISH!
The two martial artists quickly crumpled to the ground.
Crimson Tiger and Six continued on their way, but soon, they skidded to a halt.
A boy of about ten stood before them, holding the hand of his younger sister. Judging by their clothes, they were descendants of the Hong Family Estate
The children, faces near tears, backed away.
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Crimson Tiger stepped forward, intending to knock the children out without killing them. As long as he acted fast enough, with luck, Six wouldn't notice what he had done.
A few hours later, when the children woke up, they might have a chance to survive.
It wasn't the most ideal outcome, but it was the best he could do under the circumstances.
However, Six stepped in front of him, blocking his way. "I'll take responsibility. Can you let the kids go?" she asked.
Crimson Tiger blinked in surprise. He had expected her to be a kind person but did not think that she would defy an order.
"What do you plan to do?" he asked calmly.
"I know what will happen if I get caught. Even so, I cannot kill children, can I?"
Crimson Tiger regarded her for a moment. Even though disobeying an order in the Ironblood Nines meant death, her eyes were clear and resolute as she risked her life for children she had never met.
She doesn't belong here.
For a moment, he wondered why she had ended up joining the Ironblood Nines, but now was not the time to ask.
"Alright. Leave it to me," he said, squatting down to meet the boy's gaze. "Do you want to save your sister?"
The boy nodded with tearful eyes. Although he looked terrified, he was determined to save his sister.
He's a bright child.
Crimson Tiger's eyes softened as he looked at the boy, and the boy's nervousness eased slightly.
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He whispered, "Exit from that door, and then run to the right. Go!"
The boy nodded and did as he was told.
Crimson Tiger sighed inwardly. Even if he let them go, the children had little chance of escaping. The Ironblood Nines would hunt them down no matter what it took.
There's only one way to save them.
Seeing the boy run toward the door, Crimson Tiger sent him a telepathic message. [Go to the biggest inn in the village and write 'Three Five One' on the wall. After that, hide nearby and wait for rescue!]
This was a signal to Yeon. Three was his unique number, representing the third of the twelve zodiac animals, and five and one were codes set to rescue the message sender immediately.
At the door, the boy glanced back at Crimson Tiger, who returned the look silently. Being from a martial arts family, he had received and understood the telepathic message.
Fortunately, the boy asked no questions about what Crimson Tiger had meant. He simply pulled his sister's hand and ran out the door.
Six came up to Crimson Tiger. "If things go wrong, I'll take full responsibility."
"Of course you should." Crimson Tiger turned away coldly.
Six smiled bitterly at his dismissive attitude.
The pair resumed their mission. Despite releasing the children, Six showed no mercy to martial artists.
Five minutes later, the Seventh Squad regrouped.
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The surroundings were eerily quiet. Only the smell of blood in the air hinted at the cause of the silence.
Two ran to One and reported on the mission progress.
One frowned. "Two children are missing. Are you sure you searched everywhere?"
"Yes. We even searched their secret vault."
They had killed all the women hiding in the two secret rooms. However, they could not find the children anywhere.
"Were they not at home in the first place?"
"Judging by the tracks, they were definitely here." One glared at the group reproachfully, and they all bowed their heads in shame. "If they escaped, they must have gone to the village. Children tend to seek out adults when they are frightened."
"We'll pursue them immediately."
"You must catch them."
"Understood."
One gave the order, and the chase resumed.
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At the same time, a middle-aged scholar entered a small secondhand bookstore near the Evil Coalition Headquarters.
Slowly surveying the bookstore, he walked to the far corner and pulled out several books in a certain order. The bookshelf started rotating, and the scholar stepped inside, following the quietly turning shelf. After he passed through, the bookshelf returned to its original position.
The scholar proceeded through the narrow passage behind the bookshelf. At the end of the passage, which was riddled with intricate traps, stood a door.
This was one of the Twelve Phantoms' secret hideouts, and the one located closest to the Evil Coalition Headquarters. Right now, Yeon, Crimson Tiger's handler, was leading the team there, and the middle-aged scholar was her subordinate.
One handler led at least ten and up to dozens of subordinates called "scouts." They operated in a strictly clandestine cell system, where the scouts carried out only the tasks assigned to them without knowing of each other's existence. Only the handler knew them all.
This system was meant to protect the scouts and maintain operational secrecy, but that was only in theory.
In reality, handlers could not get anything done that way. They received countless missions from the Coalition, cared for the Phantoms, reported back on operations, and received support. Their workload was overwhelmingly demanding.
They needed trustworthy subordinates to lead and execute tasks. The more such subordinates they had, the more effective a handler became.
And this middle-aged scholar was Yeon's most trustworthy scout.
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"What is it?" she demanded. Unlike her demeanor with Crimson Tiger, Yeon carried an air of authority when addressing her subordinates.
The scholar replied gloomily, "It seems that Yin has been… cut off."
"What?" Yeon gasped, shocked.
Among the handlers, the term "cut off" was a euphemism for death.
Wasn't Yin Black Sheep's handler?
"Then what about Black Sheep?"
The scholar shook her head. There was no chance that a Phantom could survive if their handler was dead. "A new Black Sheep has already been decided."
"That was fast."
Yeon gritted her teeth. The organization's method was truly cold and impersonal. In all likelihood, it was because they operated so mechanically that the Twelve Phantoms had lasted this long.
In any case, it was very rare for a handler and their Phantom to die simultaneously.
"The news had already been passed on to all the other handlers. We were the last to know."
This was due to their distance on the mission. No matter how far they were, important information eventually reached them. Sharing such information was their way to survive.
"What was the mission that Black Sheep was in charge of?"
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"It was a spy mission."
Yeon's expression hardened. "…Why at a time like this?"
"Do you think it's related to our mission?"
There was no way to tell. This only made Yeon more anxious.
Just then, another subordinate rushed in. "Ma'am! We've received an emergency rescue request!"
The Hong Family massacre, which ought to have ended by now, dragged on for an extra hour. Once again, the members of the Seventh Squad assembled at the Hong Family Estate.
Crimson Tiger and Six arrived soon after, having combed the outskirts of the village. Although Crimson Tiger would have preferred to search the village instead, orders were orders. He had no choice but to comply.
"Hey, look over there!" Two suddenly exclaimed cheerfully, pointing toward the estate gates.
Seventh Four was hauling the two children toward them.
Six's face went pale, and Crimson Tiger's eyes fell. On the other hand, One, who had been tense, finally smiled.
"Where did you find them?" Two asked.
"We found them hiding around the inn."
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One ordered without hesitation, "Kill them!"
Four drew his sword.
"Wait a moment." One moved closer to the children. "How did you escape from here?"
The children trembled with fear. The boy's gaze drifted past One's shoulder, and for a brief moment, his eyes met Crimson Tiger's. A hint of recognition flickered within them.
The boy stretched out his hand. "That person let us go."
One turned to see who the boy was pointing at.
It was Three.
Three gaped, dumbfounded at the accusation.
Crimson Tiger froze. That child lied to protect me.
One chuckled. "What a mischievous brat. Kill them!"
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He turned away without hesitation. In the end, only results mattered in an operation. Killing the two children would complete the mission.
Six bit her lip. Stepping forward now would be pointless. Since the children were caught, they would die regardless. There was no need to expose that she had let them go.
Crimson Tiger, on the other hand, felt desperate. If he wanted to save them, he had to act immediately.
The boy was truly clever. Even at a young age, he strove to protect the one who had freed him, even in the face of death.
A picture formed in Crimson Tiger's mind. He would charge like lightning, cutting down One with a single strike, then roll to cut down Four and turn to unleash sword qi at Two. Unless something unexpected occurred, he could eliminate those three and initiate the fight.
However, if he did that, he would immediately fail his mission.
Was there any chance that the person he needed to kill was in the Seventh Squad? There were ninety-nine people in the Ironblood Nines excluding the Ironblood Commander, and nine people in the Seventh Squad, so the odds would be slightly less than ten percent?
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Four raised his sword slowly, and Crimson Tiger's hand twitched.
This was it. The moment of truth.
SPLURT!
"Ahhh!"
Suddenly, Four screamed as a masked figure leaped up from the ground and stabbed him in the neck.
"What?!" One immediately spun around, but the masked figure was already running away with the children tucked under their arms.
SWISH! THUD!
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One fired hidden weapons like lightning. They struck the masked figure's back, causing them to stagger for a moment, but almost instantly, they resumed running.
Just as One was about to unleash sword qi again, Crimson Tiger dashed into the path of his attack, shouting, "Catch them!"
One had no choice but to retract his sword qi, cursing, "You idiot rookie!"
Six and the others also started pursuing the masked figure, but they had already leaped over the wall.
"They're injured. They won't get far! Catch them!" One bellowed.
Crimson Tiger narrowed his eyes. That person… is that Yeon?
When Yeon arrived at the rescue location, the children were captured right before her eyes. It seemed the message had reached her too late.
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In the Association's territory, the children would have been rescued within five minutes, but this was the Evil Coalition's domain. The delay was unavoidable.
In the end, she decided to secretly tail their captor and snatch them back. Although she was not supposed to interfere with Crimson Tiger's mission, she could not allow the children to die. If she didn't intervene, Crimson Tiger definitely would have, and the mission would have ended in failure.
Therefore, it was better for her to step forward.
After grabbing the children, she ran at a terrifying pace, fleeing toward the mountains, yet she could not entirely evade her pursuers. Although she had knocked the children out to prevent them from struggling, their weight still slowed her down.
Moreover, there was an injury on her back. She had administered first aid, but the wound's location prevented her from sealing her acupoints and stemming the bleeding properly, so blood slowly seeped through her clothes.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, Yeon slipped and fell. To protect the children from harm, she slammed her shoulder against the ground.
She attempted to rise but felt dizzy. Determining that running further was impossible, she scanned her surroundings and discovered a small cave nearby.
She placed the children inside and used branches to block the entrance. Only after concealing it did Yeon lean against the cave's edge and sit down. It was a risky choice, yet she had no alternative.
"Ugh!"
Her back burned as if scalded, the pain intense. She could have forcibly removed the embedded hidden weapons, but she refrained. In a state where proper wound treatment was impossible, pulling them out would only worsen her condition.
She was confident she could have escaped unscathed. Being struck by the hidden weapons was pure misfortune.
Yeon retrieved a medicine bottle from her pocket. It was an emergency antidote that could detoxify a dozen different poisons. She had never been hit by poisoned hidden weapons before, so she could not tell if the burning sensation on her back was from the wounds or the poison.
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She felt dizzy. She lacked the strength to rise. She had lost too much blood.
Despite the ordeal they had just endured, the children slept soundly.
Yeon smiled. While running, she had regretted her decision somewhat. Seeing the children safe made her feel she had done the right thing.
Her eyes slowly closed as fatigue washed over her.
No, I can't fall asleep.
She dozed off.
Yeon's eyes snapped open in surprise.
How long did I sleep?
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The children remained unconscious.
Her gaze slowly turned toward the entrance. Someone was carefully removing the branches that had blocked it.
Yeon rose and drew a throwing knife from her pocket. Her current position left her exposed to anyone entering.
Moving silently to the side, she steadied her breath. Exhausted as she was, her stealth remained at its peak.
The masked figure who entered turned out to be Three.
He drew his sword and stepped inside cautiously. The scent of blood sharpened his senses, but he assumed it belonged to an animal and had not alerted his colleagues.
Advancing further, he spotted the children sleeping in the corner of the cave. The moment his eyes widened—
SWISH!
Yeon leaped from the shadows and hurled her throwing knife.
THUD!
The blade grazed Three's side, splattering blood. The wound was shallow, but it was enough.
SWISH!
Three's sword flashed, forcing Yeon to stumble back to evade it. Taking advantage of her loss of balance, Three lunged again, his blade arcing down in a powerful strike this time.
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Exhausted, Yeon couldn't avoid the blow. She shut her eyes tightly, bracing herself for the inevitable.
SPLAT!
The sound of tearing flesh filled the cave, and blood splattered onto Yeon's face.
…There's no pain?
She opened her eyes, only to see a sword lodged in Three's chest.
Three slowly crumpled to the ground, revealing Crimson Tiger standing behind him.
"Ah! Crimson Tiger!" Yeon cried, overwhelmed with emotion.
Crimson Tiger breathed a sigh of relief. Had he been even a second slower, Yeon would have died.
He had deliberately slowed down to keep pace with the other members of the Seventh Squad, but it was fortunate that he had picked up the scent of Yeon's blood with his enhanced senses. Otherwise, regret would have consumed him.
"Take off your clothes."
"What?"
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"There's no time, hurry!"
Yeon hesitated.
No! Now's not time to be shy!
Turning, she removed her shirt and covered her chest with her hands, her face flushed with embarrassment. She did not want to show this side of herself to anyone, especially him.
Crimson Tiger's hand brushed across her back, and she winced uncontrollably at the pain. The wound must have been more severe than she thought.
SPLURT!
Crimson Tiger pulled out the hidden weapon embedded in her back and examined it carefully. "Fortunately, it wasn't poisoned," he said.
"Phew." Yeon exhaled in relief.
TAP TAP TAP!
Crimson Tiger sealed her acupoints to stem the bleeding, then searched Three's belongings for the emergency first aid pack that all members carried.
Finding it, he took out the healing balm and applied it to Yeon's back.
"Unfortunately, I think it'll leave a scar," he said.
Yeon chuckled. She knew he was joking to ease her awkwardness and embarrassment.
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Crimson Tiger took her underwear,1 tore it into a long strip and wrapped it around her wound.
When he finished, Yeon put her shirt back on and attempted to rise to her feet, but Crimson Tiger pushed her back down.
"Stay still."
"Why?"
"Just do it."
Sitting down behind Yeon, Crimson Tiger pressed his hands against her back and transferred his qi to her, sending warmth spreading throughout her body.
"You don't have to do this. I'm fine now."
"Just accept it."
"…Okay."
When Crimson Tiger finally removed his hands, Yeon felt strength return to her limbs, and her pallor had improved considerably.
Her gaze toward him softened. She could feel his gentle and warm qi lingering inside her.
She would miss this feeling for a long time.
"Why did you do that?" Crimson Tiger asked sharply.
Yeon pouted. "Just because."
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"It was foolish. Don't do that again," Crimson Tiger replied coldly.
Yeon offered no response.
"Give me your sword."
They exchanged weapons, and Crimson Tiger deliberately left Three's body untouched. Destroying the corpse would only arouse suspicion, but swapping the sword that killed him with Yeon's? That was a surefire way to avert it.
"Hurry up and escape. The south side is unguarded."
"Understood."
"I'll see you later. Go now!"
"Thank you."
Yeon ran toward the cave exit, carrying the children in her arms. Now that she had regained her strength, she was confident that she could escape this place.
Before she started running, though, she hesitated for a moment. "Were you really just going to watch?" she asked.
"Of course," Crimson Tiger answered without hesitation.
Yeon turned around with a faint smile.
"…Liar," she whispered to herself.
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Shortly after Yeon disappeared, Crimson Tiger took out a whistle and blew it.
FWEEEET!
The Ironblood Commander, Cheol Mugang, asked, "There's been a problem with the Hong Family Estate operation?"
Seventh One lowered his head in shame. "Three and Four were killed, and we lost two of the Hong bloodline."
Cheol Mugang listened calmly. He was in his mid-forties, with a cold and intimidating appearance. His narrow eyes carried a sharp glint, capable of cutting through an opponent with a single glance.
"You lost the children, and two of your men died?" he asked again, not bothering to hide his wrath.
The tension in the atmosphere grew heavy, causing Seventh One's hair to stand on end. Bowing deeply, he apologized, "I'm sorry!"
In truth, as the one who had lost two squad members and failed to capture the children in an operation against the Hong Family Estate, he was a lot more upset than Cheol Mugang.
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"What happened?"
"An accomplice rescued the children and escaped."
"Was it someone related to the Hong Family Estate?"
"We haven't confirmed that yet."
"And that person killed Three and Four?"
"Yes. The Seven Ghost Corps is currently searching for them."
"If that accomplice was someone the Seven Ghost Corps could catch, they would never have gotten away with the children in the first place," Cheol Mugang grumbled, rubbing his face.
Recently, he had been plagued by disturbing dreams to the point where he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a while.
Was it because of this incident? Or are both the incident and the dreams merely a prelude to something else, something even bigger?
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Seventh One hesitated, then said, "Actually, I initially suspected that it was Six who let the children go…"
"Why?" Cheol Mugang demanded, narrowing his eyes.
"…Six isn't ruthless enough to kill children yet," Seventh One explained, choosing his words carefully to avoid a harsh reprimand.
Everyone in the Ironblood Nines knew that Cheol Mugang had feelings for Six, and only Cheol Mugang and Six themselves seemed oblivious to it.
This was also the real reason why despite Six's beauty, no one had ever dared to flirt with her.
Normally, if a member of the Ironblood Nines could not kill a child, the Ironblood Commander would execute them on the spot. However, as if to confirm the rumors, Cheol Mugang did not press the issue further.
"But it wasn't Six. The accomplice had been hiding at the Hong Family Estate from the start," Seventh One quickly added.
Cheol Mugang nodded slowly. "Do you have the results of Three's autopsy?"
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"It's in progress. From what I've observed, the wounds weren't caused by any specific martial arts."
"Who found the body?"
"It was the new recruit, Seven."
"Hmm…" Cheol Mugang's eyes narrowed.
"Are you suspecting him?" Seventh One asked.
Cheol Mugang shook his head. "If you were the culprit, would you also be the one to find the body?"
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"No, sir."
Cheol Mugang pondered the possibility that this was Seven's deliberate ploy, but employing such a tactic was easier said than done. A young and inexperienced newcomer would not be capable of such intricate deception.
"I don't think it's him."
One nodded in agreement.
"You're dismissed."
Seventh One bowed and departed. For a moment, he wondered if he should mention that the accomplice was likely a woman, but he had a feeling that if he did, Cheol Mugang would explode.
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Outside the room, Seventh One sighed.
The future of the Ironblood Nines was worrying. Compared to the Ironblood Commander's public reputation, the real Cheol Mugang was a much more violent, ruthless, and emotionally-driven man.
Left alone, Cheol Mugang frowned, thinking of Six. He had flinched unconsciously the moment he heard Seventh One mention her.
The rumors that he harbored feelings for Six were indeed true. He had been captivated by her since the moment he first laid eyes on her, and he longed to have her.
There was a time when he lived as he pleased, relying on his strength. He killed those he disliked without hesitation and raped beautiful women without a second thought. He even massacred families to silence rumors.
It was a dark past only he knew about.
Later, he joined the Evil Coalition and, with some luck, he eventually became the Ironblood Commander.
After that, he had truly restrained himself. After all, the Ironblood Commander had to be respectable.
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Until now, he felt that he had been doing well, but after meeting Six, his self-control gradually eroded.
He wanted to possess her. He wanted to claim her as his own.
Yet, at the same time, he wanted to avoid the disgrace of having a sexual affair with his subordinate.
This inner conflict, this inability to act, raged within him.
Cheol Mugang knew.
Eventually, he would have to decide, one way or another, and whether that decision led to a happy ending or a tragic one would ultimately depend on her response.
SPLASH!
Crimson Tiger poured water over his sweat-soaked body.
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The communal bathing area behind the training ground was well-equipped, and including Crimson Tiger, four men were washing themselves there.
He looked down, letting his wet hair hide the gloom in his eyes.
Even recalling it now, his mind reeled from the indecision of that moment. Had Yeon not appeared and captured the children right then and there… would he have really stood by and watched as they were murdered?
This mission was important enough that the Deputy Director of the Radiant Hall had personally given him the order. What would happen if he had truly abandoned the mission for the sake of two children he didn't even know?
He felt conflicted.
Although he had told Yeon that what she did was foolish, deep down, he felt grateful that she had stepped forward, and thankful that she was safe.
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His first handler had died two years ago during his escape from the Coalition Headquarters. No, he had not died trying to save him. A master of the Evil Coalition had killed him while he fled on his own.
Ever since that mission, Crimson Tiger had always felt guilty, as if that person had died because of him. He did not want to lose another handler.
After washing up, he met Six at the training grounds.
"I have something to tell you," Six said.
Crimson Tiger tilted his head. "What is it?"
"Shall we take a walk?"
"Sure."
The two walked side by side across the training grounds.
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"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving the children. For respecting my wishes. I didn't have the chance to thank you properly then."
For a moment, Crimson Tiger wanted to offer her advice. He wanted to tell her that this was no place for someone as kind as her. That she should leave and find another life. A life that suited her.
In the end, however, he said nothing.
The most important lesson he had learned in the past seven years was not how to kill effectively, vanish without a trace, or sense someone's aura… it was how to avoid becoming attached to people.
"We might be investigated because of this failure. If that happens…"
"I've already forgotten about that," Crimson Tiger interrupted.
Six could sense it. No matter how cornered he was, Seven would not reveal her name. Even though he was a junior who had been here only a few days, he somehow gave her a sense of security, like he was the senior instead of her.
"You asked me why I joined the Ironblood Nines, right?"
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"Yes."
"I grew up with a single mother, and I've never seen my father's face. Do you know what I promised myself most as I grew up? I wanted to become strong, so I could protect my mother, who endured countless hardships to raise me well."
"Your mother must be happy."
"She passed away recently."
"I'm sorry."
"No, it's okay. Truly. At first, the pain was so intense I couldn't breathe, but I'm okay now."
As the evening sunlight cascaded over her hair, Six forced a smile, attempting to dispel the sadness she could not hide.
"Honestly, I wanted to die back then. However, I didn't want to commit suicide and die meaninglessly, so I applied here."
Crimson Tiger nodded. Now he understood why she had come to this terrible place. She had entered in desperation, seeking danger.
"I came here wanting to die, but in the end, I adapted," she sighed softly.
Crimson Tiger remained silent. He knew better than anyone how relentlessly fate could shake a person.
"You're definitely unique," Six abruptly said.
"What do you mean?"
Instead of answering, Six smiled faintly. No matter how curious she was, she could not bring herself to ask why he was so curt.
"Nothing. See you later," she said, turning back toward the training grounds.
Crimson Tiger watched her for a moment, wishing she could turn her life and decisions back like that too. Just as she had been unable to kill those children, she would not be able to endure the cruelty of this place.
One day, she would make a similar decision… and it would lead to her death.
When Six had put some distance between them, she glanced back over her shoulder.
Crimson Tiger was already walking in the opposite direction.
A hint of regret flickered in her eyes.
Footnotes:
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Before someone misunderstands, ancient Chinese women wore "dudou" instead of bras, which kind of looks like a backless halter top. ↩
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