Chương 18: Daejeong Lee Yeong-woo

Returning to his quarters, Yeong-woo took command of Fifth Unit. Their previous commander had died. Most of the men were already familiar to him. Park Geun-su explained the duties. Most Yeong-woo already knew. He had always been the next most capable man. Morning and evening. Report the unit's numbers. Training every day. Check supplies constantly. All familiar. But the next advice was different.

"You must maintain good relations with other Daejeongs."

"You will need their cooperation."

"Attend every meeting."

"If you miss them, you will not understand the atmosphere among commanders."

"And never forget to report upward."

"Never." Yeong-woo listened. The words were clear. Yet nothing tangible remained. The meaning was hidden. Park Geun-su avoided speaking directly. Finally he said plainly,"I recommended you."

"You should remember that." Yeong-woo replied,"Yes, sir." The first task was a unit report. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Other Daejeongs gathered. They immediately looked down on him.

"That's the one who got promoted today."

"They're appointing just anyone now."

"What can a mere bow soldier do?"

"The General approved it."

"That doesn't mean we must accept it." Yeong-woo understood perfectly. They demanded a rite of passage. Without it, they would never accept him. He had thought commanders would be better men. Now he saw otherwise. Just as he considered what to do— trouble arrived first.

"Hey."

"Fifth Unit Daejeong."

"Yes?"

"Go fetch us some water." It was not thirst. It was humiliation. A test. Yeong-woo's temper flared.

"Remind me who you are again…" The man was Second Unit's Daejeong.

"You heard me."

"Get the water." This was a man who had once treated Yeong-woo kindly when he was a soldier. But the shell of authority had changed him.

"Do it yourself." He almost added bastard. But he stopped himself.

"What did you say?" The man hurled a bowl from the table. Yeong-woo dodged. Caught it mid-air. Then threw it back into the man's face. Before the bowl even struck, Yeong-woo leapt. A flying side kick. The blow slammed into the man's chest. He collapsed backward. Before he could rise, Yeong-woo mounted him. His fist hammered downward. Not just punches— he drove the man's head into the ground. The man struggled to rise. Yeong-woo smashed his elbow into his face. That time it landed cleanly. The man collapsed.

Like a puppet with cut strings. And then everything exploded. The other Daejeongs rushed forward. At first it seemed they were separating the fight. Then a fist slammed into Yeong-woo's stomach. Air left his lungs. The world stopped. Another punch struck his face. Held down, he could not fight back. His head spun. His spirit nearly left his body. Then he suddenly lifted both legs. The men holding him were dragged downward. One released his grip. Yeong-woo clawed the other man's face.

"Aaaagh!" They had started a gang beating. Yeong-woo understood instantly. In situations like this, you break one man completely. So the others never try again. A kick struck his ribs. Pain exploded. Someone stepped on his leg. Yeong-woo grabbed the man he had clawed earlier. Pulled him close. Then smashed his forehead into the man's face. Blood burst from the nose. Without looking, Yeong-woo drove a brutal strike into the man's groin. Even while taking more blows, he kept attacking that one man. Again. And again.

Until the world went dark. When Park Geun-su finally arrived, two bodies lay on the floor. One was Yeong-woo. Unconscious. The other was a Daejeong, his face red with blood.

"What happened here?" The man Yeong-woo had first attacked spoke quickly.

"Nothing happened."

"Nothing?"

"And everyone looks like this?"

"Sorry, sir."

"Stop this nonsense."

"What kind of discipline is this?"

"That soldier attacked first." Park Geun-su looked at Yeong-woo.

"No."

"That boy would not start a fight."

"You provoked him."

"If I find out later that you're lying—""I'll kill you." The man glanced at the others. No one spoke. If the truth came out, his provocation would be exposed. Park Geun-su shouted,"Clean this up!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Yes, sir!" Everyone feared the matter reaching higher command. The wounded officer was carried away first. Park Geun-su barked,"What about Yeong-woo?" No one moved. They feared even the unconscious man's ferocity.

"Take him to the physician!"

"Now!"