anwhile, the Crusaders were having a eting of their own. They had sent over a dozen scouts and warriors to scan the area around the Namsan Tower.
However, even after losing so many people, they had only an insignificant amount of information about the mission. They were needlessly losing their numbers. Besides, it also took a toll on their minds.
Even on the first mission, the Crusaders had no trouble dealing with the Hobgoblin or the monarch. But now, all their montum had co to a sudden halt.
"Even if there's a boss monster inside the tower, the real problem is getting there." A Crusader said. "We have secured the first floor, but the losses we incurred were too great."
"Forget about the losses. There are hoards of monsters on every floor. Looking for the boss monster won't be easy." Another one chid in.
"Does the elevator work?"
"Are you dumb or what? How will you operate an elevator without electricity?"
Several hours had passed since the eting began. Yet they kept going in circles. Everyone wanted to clear the mission and reap rewards, yet no one was prepared to take the risk.
Park Kwon, the section leader of the Crusaders, kept silent, watching two factions slowly form.
The first faction wanted to use the strangers as their hunting dogs and use them to get information instead of soldiers from their ranks.
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The latter faction opposed this idea. They might have killed a few people, but as crusaders, it was their job to save people, not use them as bait.
Both factions had the sa numbers, so they turned toward their leader, Park Kwon, for the final vote.
The second faction looked like they had already given up. After all, Park Kwon was a well-known blood monger. He even killed other survivors who wanted to enter the tower. It was obvious he would side with the first faction.
"Sir, your vote shall decide the future of the Crusaders. Please think carefully—" the second faction begged.
"Hah! I wonder how you weaklings even beca crusaders," the first faction's leader scoffed. "Getting information takes priority. Sacrificing a few people is nothing compared to our victory."
"I don't like it," Park Kwon said, stroking his beard. "But we got no choice. We'll storm the tower."
The second faction leader was speechless. But his silence didn't last long.
"We'll storm the tower after all those people die."
***
"So, this is what you've been working on?" YuWon mumbled.
"Yes... it's an abandoned track, but with a little digging, we might end up around Namsan Tower," Professor Ming nodded.
After realizing that the Crusaders wouldn't let them proceed, Professor Ming decided it was better to make a way for themselves.
She didn't plan on telling YuWon about it, since she didn't think her plan would work. But it did. They found another way to enter the Tower without clashing with the Crusaders.
YuWon's gaze swept over the crowd. There were far too many people here, all of them eager to lend a hand. But there was one massive flaw.
There were too many eyes there. The tunnel should've remained a secret, but now, too many knew about it. Worse yet, soone had tipped off the Crusaders. Or, even more chilling, what if so crusaders had infiltrated their ranks, posing as survivors, silently keeping tabs on them?
Professor Ming trusts everyone, and that's her worst flaw.
YuWon sighed. It was better to assu the Crusaders already knew about their plan. But if they did, why haven't they acted yet?
For people who didn't want any interference in their plans, the Crusaders seed too lax for such an important matter.
It doesn't make sense unless they want us to enter the tower.
***
Throughout history, people have often romanticized the crusaders, mistaking them for noble champions of righteousness. But the truth was far less flattering—they were little more than pawns used by the powerful to impose their will on the world.
Tis may have changed, but the Crusaders had not. Even now, those who arrogantly proclaid themselves saviors of the earth were nothing more than ruthless criminals in disguise.
A group that would kill people like bugs and do anything for their own benefit. That was the essence of the Crusaders—their true nature.
However, a group of criminals alone couldn't sustain an empire. They needed people—genuinely righteous individuals and used them as cover while doing misdeeds behind their backs.
The first faction under Park Kwon represented the core belief of the Crusaders, while the second faction was the righteous group used to whitewash the first group's sins.
Park Kwon already knew about the tunnel linking the subway station to the Namsan Tower. But he didn't act as it saved him the trouble of dragging the bait to the catch.
That's why he was surprised when soone from the subway approached the tower wanting to talk to him.
"A kid?" Park Kwon asked.
"Yes, sir. It's a kid from the nearby university," Minhyuk, the first faction's leader, spoke. "Says he has important business with you."
Park Kwon looked outside his tent and saw YuWon staring right at him. But the kid wasn't alone. He had a beautiful woman by his side.
"…I don't like the way he looks at ," Professor Ming mumbled, instinctively covering her legs. "He looks like a criminal—"
"Because he is one," YuWon replied. "Most people you see here are seasoned criminals."
"How do you—?"
"Just a hunch."
YuWon made such a guess because he rembered there was a detention center near Namsan Tower. Judging by how quickly the Crusaders claid the tower, it was logical to assu they had been nearby when the gods' ga first began.
Park Kwon nodded, letting them in. However, as soon as YuWon got close, Minhyuk swung his blade, aiming for YuWon's neck. Professor Ming gasped and closed her eyes, expecting YuWon's blood to splatter all over.
Her eyes widened when she finally dared to look. YuWon had stopped the blade with a finger, re inches from his neck.
No, there's sothing between YuWon's fingers… is that—a toothpick!?
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