Chapter 90: The Road Home
The air was thick with something unspoken as Jin and his team stood near the settlement’s outer boundary. There was no fanfare, no grand farewell—just a quiet acknowledgment that this was the end of their time here.
Yewon stood at the forefront, her arms crossed, posture still exuding the authority that had kept this place running. She didn’t offer any pleasantries, no empty words about safe travels or gratitude. Instead, she simply gave a nod. It wasn’t dismissive, nor was it reluctant. It was measured—respect, recognition, and the simple fact that their business here was done.
Jin met her gaze, mirroring the nod. He wasn’t the type to stretch out moments like these. Whatever understanding had been reached between them, it didn’t need words to cement it.
Behind her, the three generals stood in their usual formation, though now without the hostility that had marked their last encounter. Kang Daeho, ever the towering force of muscle and presence, was the first to break the silence.
"Not gonna lie," he said, rolling out his shoulders with a slight wince, "you guys put up more of a fight than I expected. Thought I’d be the one crushing skulls, not getting my ass handed to me." His smirk was lopsided, but there was no bitterness in it.
Jin quirked an eyebrow. "We aim to exceed expectations."
Beside Daeho, Baek Seungmin let out a quiet breath, still composed despite the obvious fatigue in his stance. "Fighting you gave us clarity," he admitted. "The way the system pushes people to attack first, to establish dominance... It’s easy to get swept up in that. But power isn’t everything. Strategy wins wars."
Joon let out a dry chuckle. "And you figured that out after we wrecked you?"
Baek didn’t react, merely tilting his head slightly in acknowledgment. "Some lessons require experience."
The last of the trio, Nam Kyungjoon, kept his hands in his pockets, watching the exchange with a detached gaze. He had spoken the least during their fight, and even now, his words were clipped. "Next time, we won’t underestimate you."
Jin wasn’t sure if that was meant to be a warning or a compliment, but he simply nodded. "Next time, maybe we won’t have to fight at all."