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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The Little Prince of the Ossuary
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Min Wan-gi immediately stepped in to elaborate.
"An excellent idea. It wouldn't be a bad idea at all to gather the religious folks into their own squads. We could even assign religious activities by squad—that would be even better. Grouping is necessary anyway for efficient organization."
He paused in his speech. He stroked his chin as if organizing his thoughts.
"For now, we'll set it up that way and inform the newcomers. Tell them there are religious small groups. If there are spies among them, they'll jump at the chance. One of the basic strategies of cults is 'stealing churches,' right? They infiltrate a healthy faith community, secure sympathizers, and drive out the existing leaders in that sleazy way. If we just warn the squad leaders separately to stay vigilant, we can monitor them effectively."
Winter listened as if hearing it for the first time, but it was one of the things he'd already been considering. He'd experienced it firsthand. Once, an apocalypse had ended in the total collapse of the community because a mad religion had spread. They claimed the plague was God's will. They insisted everyone had to become God's people and deliberately spread the infection.
One such experience was enough. He'd always been wary of the emergence of fanatical religions. He'd pondered many ways to prevent them.
Empowering healthy believers was a good idea. But at this point, he didn't even know who was healthy. Healthy believers were surprisingly hard to find in the first place.
He hadn't voiced his opinion first to give the two a chance to role-play their parts.
Just participating in the organization's operations gave them a sense of involvement, which was motivating in itself. Since they'd just been appointed as department heads, it was good to be mindful of such things.
"You two are truly excellent. I agree completely. It's inappropriate to gather new people every time we need to do something. Form the squads, and group the religious ones together. Religion is listed on the roster, right? In the worst case, we can just cut out any problematic squads. I'll leave squad leader appointments to you department heads. Just let me know later. Is this what they call post-approval?"
Winter added,
"And please create one special squad separately."
"A special squad?"
The question came from Min Wan-gi, but both were curious. Winter answered.
"Well, for now, should we call it the combat squad? Having a force that can respond immediately to any incident... I think it'll make a big difference. Internally within the alliance, that is."
There was no need to show it off. Other organizations weren't idiots; they'd figure it out eventually. Excessive flaunting would only increase unnecessary threats to the combat squad members.
"Indeed, well said. The little leader is wiser than expected."
"Minister Min, are you flattering me by any chance?"
Winter's jab, close to a joke. Min Wan-gi shrugged. It's the truth, isn't it? Jang Yeoncheol looked anxious again. He seemed a bit timid in such matters.
"Anyway, I'll designate the combat squad leader as an exception. They can double as platoon leader when going out... And to the others, I'd like them to seem like people I especially trust."
"So, who do you have in mind?"
"Hm... First, one person."
With that, the boy called out a name loudly.
"Lee Yura!"
"Yes! Yes? Me?"
The people gathered in a cluster at a distance. Among them, the named woman stood hesitantly, her face a picture of confusion. Winter smiled brightly and told her,
"Yura, you're the first combat squad leader!"
"Pardon? Combat squad leader? What's that?"
"The two department heads here will explain later! For now, just know it's my decision! Oh, no need to come over! Just rest there!"
"No, wait... Leader? Little Leader?"
Leaving the flustered woman behind, Winter returned to the original conversation. Yeoncheol voiced his concern.
"Is that okay? In my opinion, Yura doesn't seem suitable... She volunteered for something dangerous, so she's brave, but the guys who went with her said she was seriously lacking."
"I'll make her capable. More importantly, she's trustworthy. This is my honest impression from going through it together."
"Ah, I see..."
It was literally true that he'd make her capable. Once he expanded his influence and acquired community management rights, he could manage the experience points his members gained. If Winter took her along, she'd grow fast. It was the common "bus riding" in this world. He even had the 「Teaching」 skill to boost that efficiency.
"So, how should we handle the drug problem?"
Winter turned the question back to Yeoncheol, who had changed the subject.
"What do you think we should do, Minister Jang?"
Calling him by his position repeatedly was deliberate. Positions included hierarchy and relationships within the organization.
The silence stretched a bit long. It was a problem with no easy answer, no matter how much he pondered. Yeoncheol frowned. The opinion he finally offered after a long wait was laced with self-doubt.
"Like with the religion issue, we could ask the squad leaders to be vigilant, but beyond that, only thorough possessions checks. Even then, if they bury it in the ground, it's useless..."
Min Wan-gi shook his head.
"No possessions checks. People are entrusting themselves to our organization to survive. If they feel their private property is being violated, all sorts of complaints will arise."
"Who's taking it? Just tell them it's to prevent drug influx. And do they even have private property left? Everyone's broke."
Jang Yeoncheol grumbled in a tone of utter incomprehension. Min Wan-gi explained calmly.
"Of course they have nothing. That's exactly why it's worse. Let me ask: have you never seen people desperately hiding clean clothes, useless bundles of dollars, unopened cosmetics, brand-new razors or toothbrushes?"
"Uh..."
He couldn't respond. Because most people were like that. Min Wan-gi continued.
"Shall I say it again? It's precisely because they have nothing. Look at these people clutching 'mine' desperately. They dread even letting others know. Afraid it'll be stolen or taken. No matter how noble the justification, if they don't accept it, resentment brews, and gossip spreads. They'll say we have ulterior motives for checking possessions. Three people shouting, and the tiger comes roaring."
He must have thought the tiger roar was witty. He grinned, looking at them alternately, but it wasn't that funny. Min Wan-gi turned serious and laid out his remaining thoughts.
"Minister Jang. Our alliance is a brand-new organization. It's held together only by personal fondness for the little leader or calculating expectations—not yet love or trust for the community. It won't collapse over something like this, but various side effects are foreseeable. The first start matters for individuals and the organization alike. I can't accept it."
Yeoncheol immediately countered.
"Minister Min, you're too negative. It's like fearing maggots and not pickling the intestines. Once drugs spread, we'll have no real countermeasures. Compared to that, individual complaints are trivial, aren't they? If they hate it that much, tell them to leave. We don't need people who can't make that judgment. They don't deserve to stay!"
Realizing he was excited, Yeoncheol glanced around. Curious and anxious eyes watched. He lowered his voice and spoke again.
"Earlier, the little leader said our alliance would be better to live in than any other... But strictly speaking, that's wrong. The 「Winter Alliance」 is already the best. Where else is the head not an exploiter but a provider? Where else does the leader risk going out? Not that I know of."
"Calm down. No need to raise your voice, right?"
Yeoncheol had gotten absorbed again, his voice growing loud. Winter soothed him with words and gestures. Yeoncheol blushed and apologized, but in truth, Winter thought his words were pretty good. Not because it was self-praise. People who argue emotionally end up believing their own words.
'Father said that.'
The man who sold his child and called it sacrifice for the family. A parent sincerely retorting to a child expecting parental duty was truly pathetic.
Belief is forged in emotion.
Thus, Yeoncheol now believed his own words as they were.
Shaking off the heavy stone in his chest, Winter encouraged the now-quiet pair.
"I heard you both well. Different positions, but it felt genuine and good to listen. Thank you for showing your zeal. Now I feel I can trust you with anything ahead."
"...It's only natural."
Jang Yeoncheol hid his embarrassment; Min Wan-gi stroked his chin. The latter sought Winter's opinion.
"As you always say, the little leader is the U.S. military's signboard. They probably want to use you quickly. Considering you'll be away often, stabilizing the organization fast is best. So we should hurry this decision too. What'll it be?"
"Then no possessions checks. Let's trust the eyes of the squad leaders-to-be."
Yeoncheol groaned. Min Wan-gi's expression wasn't bright either.
"I feel ashamed seeming to just worry without alternatives, but squad leaders' vigilance alone isn't enough. Even if we pick good ones, they're just ordinary people without experience. Overloading them could ruin everything. No other ideas?"
"I do."
A light assent. He hadn't expected a positive reply despite asking, so Min Wan-gi just blinked silently. Jang Yeoncheol eyed cautiously. Winter tilted his head.
"Even before this mess, didn't drugs cross borders?"
Ah. Both understood almost simultaneously with admiring sighs. Winter continued.
"When I said our alliance's policy—accepting regardless of nationality—the language barrier is no joke, right? Most joiners will be Korean. Meaning organizations picking fights over influence will be Korean too. But in world history class, I learned: if nearby thugs are enemies, befriend distant robbers. Korean drug sellers' rivals are Japanese and Chinese drug sellers, so ask them. What do they know about their competitors?"
"Hahaha!"
Min Wan-gi clapped and laughed loudly. Winter felt their gaze change. People who hadn't heard but noticed the good mood joined in happily, clueless. Except Lee Yura, flustered amid surrounding people. Answering questions without knowing why must be tough.
"There must be people from foreign-nationality organizations waiting outside right now? Wouldn't the 「Black Society (Hei She Hui)」 or 「Sumiyoshi-kai」 want some greeting with me?"
"Uh, but..."
Yeoncheol hesitated.
"Even if we get info from them, it won't directly help catch spies, right?"
"Not expecting that."
"Then what do you mean..."
"My world history teacher said the best defense is offense. I plan to find where drugs are leaking in and stomp them out."
Yeoncheol's mouth fell open.
"I'm sick of just taking it."
Yes. He didn't want to repeat the passive self from his previous life—forced to be passive, no opportunities given. Trauma. Feeling a surge of pent-up resentment and liberation—contradictory emotions—the boy poured out words freely.
"I won't just be a nice guy. Someone called this preemptive war, right? I'll crush every bastard with drugs aimed at my people. Smash them to pieces."
He had plenty of means. His position was the best, after all.
For a good person to remain good, drawing clear lines was best. Everyone had limits.
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