Chapter 49: Securing a Base
Cheol-du grinned as he watched the bewildered bandits, their ropes now untied.
"Come at me," he said.
"...?"
"If no one attacks within three seconds, you all die."
Cheol-du's killing intent made it clear he wasn't bluffing. The atmosphere shifted abruptly, and the air around them grew heavy.
The most sensitive to this change was Lieutenant Lee Eun-young.
'What is this?!'
With her senses and agility stats both over 50, she had entered the ranks of the elite. The pressure she felt far exceeded what others experienced.
This sensation... It was nearly akin to facing a forest king monster. Or perhaps an ogre?
"Heh heh heh, no brave souls here? I'll spare anyone who lands even a single hit on me!"
"Shit! We're dead either way!"
"Right! Can't even land one punch?"
The braver bandits stepped forward, while others eyeing opportunities began edging away.
However, the surrounding military forces tightened their encirclement.
It resembled trapping mice in a cage only to release a snake among them. The "brave" ones began getting pummeled in the crowd of paralyzed onlookers.
Thud! Crack!
"Guhk!"
Those who screamed and collapsed were fortunate—most were knocked unconscious with a single slap without uttering a sound.
Bam bam bam bam!
Cheol-du dispatched the attacking bandits with overwhelming force.
When half had fallen, those who hadn't charged yet began retreating cautiously.
"Heh heh, no more challengers?"
"Fuck, he's a monster."
"Right. Forget landing a hit—how do we even approach that?"
Watching their mounting fear, Cheol-du clicked his tongue.
"Heh heh, enough."
Any more pressure might make them wet themselves. Their fighting spirit had evaporated completely—no one remained willing to confront him.
The only ones with backbone left were the approximately sixty men sprawled around him.
Cheol-du glanced at General Park Jun-pil enthroned in his magistrate's seat.
"We'll take these sixty here."
"Ha ha ha! Excellent!"
General Park pointed at the terrified bandits.
"Rebind those bastards and throw them in prison!"
Since they couldn't be sent to Earth, they'd have to serve forced labor in New Seoul.
Cheol-du watched the fallen bandits groan and rise unsteadily.
"You're all my subordinates now. Wake your neighbor and wait."
Cheol-du ascended the stairs to stand before General Park.
"Are we finished here?"
"Heh heh, I'll send your reward home."
"Home?"
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"You'll need a residence in New Seoul. Consider it your mercenary group's headquarters—my gift."
"Heh heh heh, much appreciated."
Cheol-du extended his fist.
Huh? Oh, an MG? How hip.
"Ha ha ha! Let's be neighborly friends from now on."
General Park met his fist bump.
Ah, so fucking cool.
As General Park preened, Cheol-du nodded.
"Heh heh heh, friends are good."
Cheol-du briefly glanced at Jin-tae before addressing General Park again.
"Jun-pil, you're my second friend."
"Huh?"
General Park wondered if he'd misheard.
Captain Ahn, the supply officer unrelated to the magistrate's office, gaped. Was this guy some socially maladjusted punk?
This was the type who'd get rejected from military service even through normal procedures.
"Heh heh, see you later... Jun-pil."
"Uh, y-yeah. Take care."
Cheol-du descended to face sixty swollen-faced bandits.
"Follow me! Deserters die without exception."
"......"
As Cheol-du strode ahead, General Park urgently summoned Captain Choi Jun-seop.
"Captain Choi."
"Yes, sir."
"Mobilize the special task force to assist."
However strong Cheol-du was, he remained one man. Controlling so many would strain anyone. People needed sleep, and escapees hiding in New Seoul would become headaches.
Even if they executed only the worst criminals, their criminal backgrounds remained. They'd need to observe how Cheol-du reformed them.
This was General Park's final test for Kang Cheol-du.
"Heh heh, friends..."
Annoyingly, it felt thrilling too.
At fifty, he'd gained a friend young enough to be his son.
"This way."
"Far enough."
"With the central areas full, only the outskirts have vacant land."
Cheol-du, Jin-tae, and sixty former bandits headed northwest.
North of the city's dividing line between artisan and sundry districts lay mostly government facilities.
The vast area wasn't fully developed—most remained farmland dotted with small fort-like barracks.
As farmland management was crucial for New Seoul's future, troops were garrisoned in scattered barracks.
Cheol-du's assigned location was one such place.
"We're here."
"Hm? A barracks?"
"It's ideal for a mercenary base."
"Hmm."
The compound included a training ground and pre-built lodgings. Though long vacant, hasty cleaning made it habitable.
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Located near New Seoul's 11 o'clock sector, the area was surrounded by uncultivated plains.
"Plenty of empty land."
"Yes, hence this barracks' vacancy."
"Can I use nearby land?"
"To what extent..."
"Ask Jun-pil how much he'll grant. More is better."
"......"
Is this lunatic serious?
Is he genuinely trying to befriend General Park? Should I intervene?
"Uh, sir..."
"Calling me 'sir' now?"
"Tch, never mind. You're right."
Fuck, why take advice from someone treating a high schooler as an elder?
Whatever. Fuck it.
Captain Choi resigned himself.
Best not overthink Kang Cheol-du.
"We'll help until they're reformed."
"Heh heh, no need."
"Then at least let us monitor them."
"Unnecessary."
"What?"
"You may leave."
"But then we'll just be idle here."
"Heh heh, outsiders aren't required."
"No."
Returning empty-handed would earn General Park's wrath.
"Can't even house your juniors?"
"Huh?"
"You'll need messengers. Trust them for errands? What if they bolt?"
"Hmm, valid points."
Cheol-du pointed to a room.
"Use that."
"Ugh, fine."
The barracks formed a wooden fort with watchtowers at each corner—flimsy palisades serving more as visual barriers than proper walls.
Though the bandits had consumed stat stones entering superhuman territory, the walls merely blocked outside views.
"Then don't interfere with our work."
"Understood. Secure that land inquiry."
"Got it... Hyung."
Ha, fuck.
Now "Hyung" rolls off the tongue easily.
'You only live once, damn it!'
When bowing, bow deeply.
Captain Choi forced lightness into his tone while instructing his task force:
"Secure watchtowers and monitor. Report all notable incidents."
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"Yes, sir!"
"Rotate shifts appropriately. Accommodate reasonable requests from the mercenaries."
"Understood."
Twelve elite soldiers accompanied Captain Choi—all top novices.
Each had activated over thirty stones across four major stat categories.
Overqualified for bandit surveillance.
Cheol-du ignored them, focusing on his tasks.
"Gather round!"
Cheol-du smirked at the bandits assembled in the training ground.
"Raise hands if you don't understand your situation."
"......"
No hands rose.
"Good! The mercenary corps is formed—I'm captain."
After brief introductions, Cheol-du cut to the chase:
"Whatever your crimes, you're my soldiers now. Objections?"
"None, sir!"
Better mercenaries than convicts.
"Good. Three rules."
Cheol-du raised three fingers.
"Use every means to grow stronger. I tolerate no weaklings."
Amidst nervous gulps, he folded one finger.
"Deserters die."
Another finger folded.
After surveying them silently—should've stopped at two?—he added:
"No backtalk."
Catching Jin-tae's odd look, Cheol-du quickly changed topics:
"Choosing squad leaders."
Every group has opportunists and status-hungry types.
"I'll do it!"
"I commanded fifty in mountain forts!"
"I'm capable!"
Cheol-du beckoned the three.
"Step forward."
He smirked at their eager faces.
"Now—challengers step forth."
"......!"
"I'll pick the three strongest."
"I challenge!"
As volunteers emerged, the initial three paled.
First fighters face disadvantage!
"C-Captain! This isn't fair."
Cheol-du stared blankly.
"Backtalk?"
"N-No, sir!"
"Good! Fight!"
At his command, brawls erupted.
"You fucker! Always hated you!"
"Bring it, shitstain!"
"You spat in my rice before!"
The skirmish escalated until all sixty brawled chaotically.
Task force members watching from watchtowers mentally recorded everything—report material piled mountain-high.
Captain Choi reported to New Seoul Unified Command.
"He requested land?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Planning farming?"
"Unclear, sir."
"Fine. Stake wide boundaries. It's deeded land—let him manage it."
"...Aren't you conceding too much?"
"Kukuku, concede?"
General Park shook his head.
"Defend or flee if monsters invade your cherished home?"
"Defend, sir."
"If it's a rental?"
"Hmm."
"Kukuku! Mercenaries must defend their base—that's how we protect Seoul."
"Ah..."
Captain Choi marveled.
This sageuk-obsessed magistrate impersonator had depth? Then again, two-star generals aren't made through nepotism.
"Go. Deliver supplies promptly."
"Yes, sir."
After Captain Choi left, only General Park and Lieutenant Lee Eun-young remained.
"Not leaving?"
"Need permission first."
Ugh, this stubbornness.
"Since when does my army lack chain of command? This is insubordination!"
"Aren't you 'Joseon's Greatest Sword'?"
"Huh?"
Lieutenant Lee bit her lip and bowed formally.
"This humble Joseon's Greatest Sword petitions the Hanseong Mayor to permit bandit suppression."
"Ha! Such earnest pleas—no, fuck! Denied! Out!"
"Tch."
Lieutenant Lee grumbled while exiting:
"Should just discharge..."
"What?!"
"Nothing!"
"My, how smoothly the army runs."
General Park clicked his tongue.
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The Ministry of National Defense and Army HQ would never understand.
Couldn't possibly.
The burdens and solitude of a field commander.
