Chapter 67

It’s so quiet, eerily quiet.

Standing in the plaza paved with gravel stained crimson, I lit my pipe and gazed at the camp immersed in an uncanny silence.

Not a single sound of insects or beasts—just perfect, unnatural stillness.

The only movements were the wind whispering through the alleys and shadows slithering about ever so slowly.

Everyone in the camp is dead.

Just a day ago, this place was buzzing with life, now it’s turned into one big graveyard with its buildings as tombstones.

This eerie quiet could even hide the sound of a heartbeat.

In the darkness, ninjas had melted away, but one remained hidden in the shadows of this square corner, watching me.

The ninja who killed all the residents while ignoring me in their line of sight.

Judging by the operation targeting only the camp dwellers, they must have transformed the Yangsan Camp into the Yangsan Graveyard and are still searching for something.

Something clicked.

What these black-clad ones seek is the “anomaly” of this camp.

And that “anomaly” will be the clue to solve the request.

I felt it strongly.

BANG!

A gunshot tore through the camp’s silence like a thunderclap.

If the ninjas weren’t hiding guns, it must be the revolver I handed over to Junior No. 2.

The shot didn’t come from far away.

On hearing the gunshot, I headed toward Junior, just as the ninjas started rushing en masse towards the source of the sound.

BANG! BANG!

Gunshots rang out in quick succession.

Is the situation more dangerous than expected?

The revolver I gave has only six shots, so it must be out of bullets after the recent firing.

When I arrived at the location of the gunshots, it was a place stacked high with construction materials.

As I considered climbing over the wall of building supplies, a loud noise split the sky.

Peeeeeeeeeek!

An incredibly grating horn blast.

Whether the ninjas lurking in the shadows or those scaling the material walls, they all stood up and dashed off somewhere.

Suddenly, a surprising number of ninjas emerged, about twice what I had estimated.

All the ninjas headed north.

There must be something in the large sewer entrance leading underground on the camp’s northern side, right?

While pondering this, I stepped into the open lot vacated by the retreating ninjas.

***

One of the ninjas surrounding me pulled something out of their robes.

Wondering what it could be, it turned out to be completely unexpected.

Pudding!

High-class pudding wrapped adorably.

Why does a ninja carry such a thing?

With great care, as if performing a religious ritual, the ninja unwrapped it.

The solemn act was almost reverent.

After placing the pudding on both hands and bowing down, the ninja offered it to me as if presenting it to a king.

Curious about the taste, I took a bite.

Mmm…

Wow, delicious.

Tastier than the stuff from Sehee Research Institute.

It was a pudding I’d never seen in Korea, yet its flavor exceeded expectations.

While I joyfully bounced around enjoying it, the ninjas gathered and began forming something.

A giant human pyramid!

A throne as wide as a bed!

The ninjas formed a massive pyramid and placed a grand throne atop it.

Huh? Am I supposed to climb this without stairs?

As I wondered, the ninjas extended their hands to form steps up the pyramid.

They seemed to be inviting me to step on their palms alternately.

Placing my foot on the hand of the ninja at the bottom felt surprisingly sturdy.

Hehe, kind of ticklish.

Feeling a little ticklish stepping on their palms, I wiggled my toes unintentionally.

Climbing palm by palm, pressing firmly with both feet, I reached the throne.

It felt steadier than expected despite some wobbling.

Then, jumping onto it like a trampoline!

Boing boing.

It was fun, so I kept bouncing.

On either side of the throne, there was a ninja presenting pudding.

On the other side, a ninja appeared fanning me.

Oh, feels like a real royal throne.

Leaning back comfortably against the throne, I truly felt like a king.

The giant pyramid supporting the giant throne.

And me, atop it all!

Comfortable seat, delicious pudding, and a sense of omnipotence.

Should I bring these ninjas to Sehee Research Institute?

Imagine locking them up in the institute, making pyramids whenever I’m bored—it would be fun, right?

While imagining all sorts of scenarios, a sudden loud horn blast echoed.

Sasssak.

The ninjas forming the throne and pyramid began dispersing from the bottom.

After respectfully offering a pudding and bowing, the ninjas left one by one.

Did something happen?

I watched the ninjas backing away while munching on the puddings.

The ninjas disappeared somewhere, leaving behind an enormous amount of pudding.

When will I finish eating all this?

***

A man fully cloaked in black like a ninja.

A man reeking of blood.

He stood blocking the container entrance, holding a sword dripping with blood.

The crimson stains dripping from his blade hinted at his sinister purpose here.

I gripped my hammer tightly and assessed the situation.

Grrrrl.

The ninja emitted a boiling-like sound from his mouth and pointed somewhere.

The client.

The ninja was pointing at the client.

“Hyejin, protect the client!”

The ninja’s target seems to be the client.

It’s strange, but the client is the client.

I can’t just hand them over to some ninja.

The ninja must know a fight is coming, as the tension grew palpable.

His gaze carefully observed every move I made, focusing mainly on the movements of my massive hammer.

The ninja shifted his weight, ready to pounce at any moment.

Thump thump.

My heart pounded not out of fear, but excitement.

The brief silence was shattered by a sharp gust of wind.

In the blink of an eye, the ninja’s metallic slash aimed straight for my nose, showcasing human limits of agility.

Though I calmly blocked it with the head of my hammer, the ninja’s slashes didn’t stop after just one or two.

The relentless attacks revealed the ninja’s training had reached masterful levels.

But.

None of them reached me.

Anticipating the ninja’s strikes, I swung my hammer.

Like a cannonball fired from a loaded cannon, my swing shattered the ninja’s blade, crushed his right hand, and exploded through his skull.

The headless corpse fell backward.

With a squelch, blood pooled beneath him.

Huff huff.

Breathing heavily from adrenaline, I had no time to rest.

Another ninja was climbing over the wall of construction materials.

Re-gripping my hammer, I faced the incoming ninja.

Seeing his comrade’s body, the second ninja moved more cautiously.

Staring at me like a calm lake, he seemed to be waiting for an opportunity.

Tap tap tap.

The ninja rhythmically tapped the ground with his feet.

Suddenly, he lunged forward with his sword in a suicidal move.

But futile struggle before my hammer!

Aiming to crush him blade and all, I swung my hammer with all my might.

At that moment, I sensed something amiss.

Another ninja emerged behind the first.

Not one, but two?

The second ninja’s stab was impossible to block.

Ah, is this how it ends?

As I thought this, a loud sound erupted.

BANG!

Senior’s revolver spat flames, and the attacking ninja collapsed with a bullet through his head.

“Phew, thanks, Hyejin.”

Having defeated two more ninjas, we still couldn’t rest.

More ninjas kept coming—two, three, four, and counting.

Hyejin has two bullets left in the revolver.

Fortunately, the container entrance is narrow.

We don’t have to worry about being surrounded…but…

Can we win this?

Five ninjas stand poised to attack.

There could be even more outside, but let’s focus on what’s in front of us.

As the air inside the container grew tense, the ninjas charged in unison upon a silent signal.

Trying to swing my hammer at the charging ninjas, but they showed no intention of giving me the chance.

At least two sword strikes came from odd angles.

Defending or dodging the attacks took all my effort.

I was gradually pushed into a corner.

Hyejin and I were getting closer.

At this range, the ninjas could directly target the client…

Dangerous.

What should we do now?

BANG! BANG!

Two more gunshots rang out.

But the bullets missed their marks.

The ninjas intentionally provoked us to shoot.

Peeeeeeeeeek!

Now we’re done for! Or so I thought when a loud horn blast echoed.

Upon hearing the horn, the ninjas distanced themselves from me, slowly retreating and melting into the shadows.

As the prolonged horn faded, the ninjas already vanished into the shadows long ago.

Phew, we survived.