Ch.141140. Recovery Operation (2)

As the day of the decisive battle approached, Jeong Dong-geon actively led engagements to draw the Cult of Immortality’s attention toward the allied forces’ special detachment for this operation.

While previous battles had been lukewarm affairs where they would fight moderately and then retreat appropriately, this time they launched fierce attacks against the Cult of Immortality as if possessed. The assault was so strong that the Cult was forced into a defensive position, making them believe the allied forces were eager for battle.

In response to this offensive, the Cult of Immortality reorganized their formation and deployed numerous troops to the battlefield. The allied forces then unhesitatingly pulled their troops back to Ulsan Airport.

It was as if the purpose of this attack was to make the Cult perceive it as a warning not to underestimate the allied forces stationed at Ulsan Airport. After the fierce attack, they once again forced the Cult into a tedious siege from inside the fortress.

“It happens to be a moonless night.”

“That’s good. The fleet’s movements could be detected by moonlight.”

However, the allied forces’ true objective was to direct attention to Ulsan Airport so the enemy wouldn’t notice the movements of the POSCO fleet.

The fleet that had already departed from POSCO carrying troops arrived in Ulsan waters around 6:30 PM, the time agreed upon with the allied forces. The fleet concealed itself in the dark night sky and waters, waiting with engines off for the signal promised by the allied forces.

“I’m feeling nervous.”

For this operation, Jin A-yeon had participated in the morning battle to make the Cult aware of her presence at Ulsan Airport. Around lunchtime, she secretly left the frontline and immediately headed to POSCO, leading the selected suicide squad soldiers to board the vessels operated by the POSCO fleet.

Having rested her battle-weary body inside the ship, A-yeon was now waiting for the signal from Jeong Dong-geon, who was commanding from Ulsan Airport, with a somewhat tense expression as the amphibious operation was about to begin.

‘It’s fine. We’ve prepared a lot for this operation.’

It was certainly a promising operation, and they had gone through many preparatory stages for it. The enemy had already fixed their attention on Ulsan Airport due to the allied forces’ fierce counterattack, so they wouldn’t be able to respond quickly to this amphibious operation.

Moreover…

“Nice to meet you.”

“Yu-Yu-na… oh, it’s not you.”

Baek Seol-hwa, the Dragon Priestess, would also participate in this operation.

Seol-hwa, who had been serving as admiral of the POSCO fleet, had insisted to Jeong Dong-geon that she couldn’t miss this important operation, so she joined the amphibious mission.

Having joined the operation, Seol-hwa boarded the ship A-yeon was on to see the hero of Ulsan Airport. A-yeon mistook her for Yu-na due to the enormous magical power she sensed.

“Unfortunately, I’m not Yu-na unnie. I’m Baek Seol-hwa. A-yeon unnie.”

She replied with a hint of disappointment that she wasn’t Yu-na but Seol-hwa, smiling brightly and offering a handshake to Jin A-yeon.

Realizing that the person offering to shake hands was younger than Yu-na, A-yeon took Seol-hwa’s hand with a somewhat embarrassed expression and introduced herself.

“Oh, yes. You already know me. I’m Jin A-yeon. So… Dragon Priestess?”

“Yes. I’m Seol-hwa, Bahamut’s priestess who was in charge of POSCO. I’m here to help you all with this amphibious operation.”

When A-yeon asked if she was the famous other Dragon Priestess, Seol-hwa nodded and said with a serious expression that she would help with this operation.

And Seol-hwa’s presence here meant…

“I’m Kim Tae-sik, captain of the POSCO fleet. I’m in charge of ensuring your safe voyage today.”

It also meant that naval captain Kim Tae-sik, who had sworn loyalty to her, was here too.

Now a proper adjutant to Baek Seol-hwa, he quietly introduced himself as her subordinate after Seol-hwa and A-yeon finished greeting each other.

He no longer showed any embarrassment at regarding a girl younger than himself as his superior. Moreover, the fact that he made no mention of his previous position in the Republic of Korea suggested he had completely separated himself from his former self.

“I’m Han Seong-geun.”

“Yes, I’ve heard about you, Mr. Han Seong-geun. You’re the deputy commander of the allied forces, right?”

Then Han Seong-geun, who had been quietly contemplating the success of the operation next to Jin A-yeon, introduced himself to Kim Tae-sik.

Kim Tae-sik seemed to know Han Seong-geun’s name well, addressing him as the deputy commander of the allied forces with a friendly expression.

“Ahaha. Somehow I was chosen by the Commander… It makes my shoulders heavy.”

Han Seong-geun responded with a humble expression, saying it was all possible thanks to Commander Jeong Dong-geon’s help. Kim Tae-sik looked at him with an expression that mixed envy and jealousy.

If he hadn’t opposed Jeong Dong-geon and the Balhut Cult, that position could have been his.

But…

‘No, that’s not right. I should be satisfied with this. Priestess Seol-hwa has already given me an overly generous position despite my broken ties.’

Being part of another Dragon Priestess Baek Seol-hwa’s inner circle was already a position with high potential, so he decided not to covet any higher position.

Of course, there were competitors like Seo Un-jae and Ha Jin-woo, but there were fewer rivals here, so Kim Tae-sik had a high chance of rising to a higher position with Seol-hwa’s trust.

Even now, wasn’t Seol-hwa trusting Kim Tae-sik’s command in the ghost fleet?

Considering that the POSCO fleet would continue to operate for the safety of the East Sea, his career path was already set.

“Let’s end the introductions here. It’s about time. When Jeong Dong-geon signals us, we’ll depart immediately. Captain, prepare to move the fleet.”

“Understood, Priestess Seol-hwa. Inform the entire fleet. Start the engines and wait for our allies’ signal.”

With the self-introductions of each commander finished, Baek Seol-hwa ordered preparations for the operation, and Kim Tae-sik faithfully followed her command.

While radioing the entire fleet, he started the ship’s engines and began heading toward Ulsan Port under the cover of darkness from waters far from the shore.

Although the allied forces had already occupied the coast, this was a precaution against possible surveillance.

“They really put a lot of effort into this operation.”

“Of course. The recent situation on the Korean Peninsula isn’t very good. The Balhut Cult headquarters also needed a victory to dispel these unsettling news.”

Jin A-yeon remarked that they had really put in a lot of effort, while Kim Tae-sik reported with a somewhat dark expression that the situation on the Korean Peninsula wasn’t very good.

“Huh? Not good? What happened in the East Sea? Mister.”

“Mister…!? Well, I suppose that’s correct… Anyway, to explain, it’s not so much the East Sea but Seoul’s movements that are concerning. According to Seoul community news, Seoul’s hero Kim Su-ho was defeated by the undead.”

The renowned hero of Seoul, Kim Su-ho, had suffered his first defeat.

A-yeon was shocked and immediately turned to glare at Kim Tae-sik upon hearing that the undefeated general, celebrated as invincible, had been defeated.

After all, he was the first to reach the superhuman realm on the Korean Peninsula and the one who widely shared that information with the Korean Peninsula community.

“What? So Kim Su-ho died? That man?”

“According to our sources, Kim Su-ho himself didn’t die. However, after the forces led by Kim Su-ho retreated to the Han River defense line, they went on the defensive. I heard that the vast territories they had recaptured, including Myeongdong, were unfortunately lost to the undead.”

“Then it’s not that serious, right?”

However, the worst-case scenario—Kim Su-ho’s death—hadn’t occurred.

If he had just lost the recaptured territories including Myeongdong and gone on the defensive at the Han River defense line, it could be considered a normal case of advancing one step and retreating two steps.

Considering that the Balhut Cult also boldly abandoned territories they couldn’t use immediately, A-yeon questioned whether it was really that serious.

“The problem is that they failed to recapture Seoul. If they had succeeded, it would have proven that the Republic of Korea hadn’t ended yet.”

If Kim Su-ho had succeeded in recapturing Seoul, the capital of the Korean Peninsula, he could have made a name for himself as a government directly succeeding the Republic of Korea, unlike the Balhut Cult which had completely severed ties with it. He might have attempted to recapture Seoul as an opportunity for counterattack.

However, the result was failure, and after losing all the recaptured territories including Myeongdong, the government established in Gangnam, Seoul, remained in a temporary state.

“Kim Su-ho pulled his army back and focused on recapturing Seongnam, Suwon, Gwangju, and Yongin. He claims he’s trying to save survivors in other regions.”

“In other words, he might be willing to give up Seoul. Gangbuk.”

“Give up Seoul?”

And then came the shocking statement that he might give up Seoul.

Despite the apocalypse—or rather, because of it—Seoul’s significance on the Korean Peninsula was enormous, and it was considered the most important city.

To be frank, if they could recapture Seoul alone, they would have the strength to naturally recapture the remaining provincial cities. The reason Kim Su-ho was desperately trying to recapture Seoul was to prevent provincial cities from breaking away and declaring independence, abandoning the Republic of Korea.

“Yes. The situation on the Korean Peninsula isn’t good. If they’re willing to give up territories they had recaptured, it means the momentum of the undead in Seoul is tremendous.”

“Kim Su-ho surely has gathered all the powerful Awakened under him. If someone like him is giving up, Seoul must truly be hell.”

“Does that mean the Han River is now the frontline?”

But if even the renowned hero Kim Su-ho had failed to recapture Seoul, there was a high probability that Seoul had truly become hell.

A-yeon’s expression turned fearful at the suggestion that the Han River defense line might now be the undead’s frontline.

“Huhu, considering that remnants of the old Republic of Korea government are also in Seoul, we can say that the Republic of Korea has been defeated by the apocalypse.”

“That’s brutal.”

“But since the hero Kim Su-ho didn’t die and preserved much of his forces, we can still consider Seoul’s situation manageable for now.”

But there was still hope.

The hero of Seoul wasn’t dead and was preparing to fight again.

With sufficient forces and the will to fight, if he tried again, he would surely show results.

“From Kim Su-ho’s perspective, he was surrounded on all sides, so he does need cities that can serve as a rear base. The community’s mention of giving up Seoul can be dismissed as just passing talk.”

“That situation sounds similar to our siege at Ulsan Airport. I’d like to hear more.”

A-yeon was curious and wanted to know more about the outside news, but unfortunately…

“Well, that’s enough small talk for now.”

Their chat ended there.

A signal had come from Jeong Dong-geon.

“This isn’t the Han River, but let’s proceed with the amphibious operation.”

At Baek Seol-hwa’s command, the fleet moved swiftly, passing Ulsan Port and attempting to land troops in the South Ulsan area.

As the ships approached in the blink of an eye…

“Ghost fleet appearing ahead! So they were indeed related to the Cult of Immortality!”

“Yes, but they’re not our enemies. All fleet, prepare. Please respond as usual.”

“Roger!”

The enemies also quickly responded to the sudden appearance of the fleet, but it was too sudden, so they summoned a ghost fleet to counterattack rather than using the troops stationed in Ulsan.

With this, the Balhut Cult obtained information that the ghost fleet was connected to the Cult of Immortality, and simultaneously…

“All fleet, prepare! The Dragon Priestess herself is taking action!”

It was a perfect chance to weaken their forces.

Baek Seol-hwa immediately went up to the deck and gave a cold smile toward the ghost fleet in front of her.

“Turn Undead.”

She declared the spell of victory for the POSCO fleet, while from the ghost fleet’s perspective, she unleashed head-on the terrifying magic they had desperately tried to avoid.