The emergency Battalion Commanders’ meeting kicked off immediately after the assembly wrapped up. The commanders stormed into the conference room, faces flushed with anger. They didn’t forget to shoot glares at Lee Taebaek with their beady eyes either.

“This is just…”

“An awkward situation, right?”

Lee Taebaek muttered, and Tang Jihye picked up the thread. The two of them were leaning against the wall outside the conference room door, facing each other. Lee Taebaek shot back primly.

“Why’s the 3rd Battalion Commander outside?”

“Battalion meetings are voluntary. Hell, there’s even a jinx that if everyone shows up, it means a demon’s crashed the party—the commanders are that uncooperative. But today, they all gathered? So I’m acting as an inhibitor to keep that jinx from kicking in.”

…Look at you, acting all sage and noble.

“Haa…”

He kept sighing. Lately, there were already more than enough things vying for his attention. And now, on top of that, there was the Commander-in-Chief’s bombshell declaration.

“%^^＠%$＠＃!”

“^%^$%&＠%!”

Protest noises pounded against the door like a storm. It sounded like a gale was raging on the other side. The commanders’ outrage was practically stabbing at Lee Taebaek.

It was inevitable. Overnight, they had to bow their heads to a one-year newbie instead of the Commander-in-Chief.

And it wasn’t just them. Lee Taebaek felt out of sorts and full of questions too.

Why the sudden move from the Commander-in-Chief? Battery dead on that mechanical helmet? Or was he testing to see if Lee Taebaek was tied to a megacorp?

A whirlwind of guesses and misunderstandings swirled in his head. Even if Lee Taebaek really was getting framed, it was obvious he’d take the heat from the commanders’ glares.

Worst case scenario.

The Resistance could fall apart. Extreme, sure, but the current situation was just as dire. The Commander-in-Chief had publicly endorsed Lee Taebaek as next-in-line right in front of everyone, including the person in question.

“As you know, the Resistance doesn’t have much in the way of hierarchy. The Commander-in-Chief is the one absolute exception. Think of it like working for passion pay.”

Tang Jihye grinned as she explained.

“But bam—one day, your spiritual pillar vanishes? From the commanders’ perspective, it’s like getting machine-gunned with complaints.”

“So why…”

Did the Commander-in-Chief make such a self-sabotaging move? No matter how he racked his brain, it was a bad play.

The Commander-in-Chief would lose trust. Look at the door trembling harder now. It was like the commanders were coming to blows inside.

Maybe reading Lee Taebaek’s worries, Tang Jihye stared straight into his face and blurted it out.

“Lee Taebaek. Do you know why the commanders blindly follow the Commander-in-Chief’s words?”

“Because he’s their spiritual pillar.”

“Ugh, you’re hopeless. You know that, but you’re playing dumb. That’s not my question. Why do these self-important commanders—who could live off their own egos—obey him without a peep?”

“That’s…”

Because he’s strong? No clue.

If that’s the reason…

Then the commanders should be subservient to Lee Taebaek too. Even more so.

Right?

The strength level Lee Taebaek and the dev team had pegged for the Commander-in-Chief was just shy of Ten Wings.

Lee Taebaek now proudly claimed one of those Ten Wings slots. He’d even earned the title of Supreme.

So logically, submitting to the clearly stronger Lee Taebaek made sense. Yet the commanders were acting the opposite—their glares before entering the room had been brimming with hostility.

As Lee Taebaek fell silent, Tang Jihye elaborated.

“The Commander-in-Chief’s judgments always turn out to be the right choice in the end. That’s why the commanders, the whole Resistance, blindly follow him. Because it always works out.”

“How’s that…”

Lee Taebaek nearly asked what was so special about that. In a city where everything beyond the material was bone-dry, two concepts had uniquely survived.

“Proof and value.”

“Spot on.”

The smirk on Tang Jihye’s lips softened. She glanced toward the door and continued.

“If you’d gone ‘How’s that…’ on me, I was gonna head in there.”

“And do what?”

“Grab the Commander-in-Chief by the collar and demand why they’re handing the reins to a half-baked rookie like you.”

She’d actually do it.

“…You would?”

“Wasn’t I?”

“What kind of image do I have in that head of yours…”

“Suitably bad.”

“Aha.”

Tang Jihye flashed a mischievous grin and lunged. Blocked. Her forehead smacked into the ice barrier Lee Taebaek hastily conjured. She tumbled back and clawed at the translucent wall like mad.

Lee Taebaek cast again. Ice water poured down over Tang Jihye. In the next instant, she froze stiff like she’d joined some challenge. Soaked like a drowned rat, she glared at him.

“Did you have to go that far?”

“We’re about to go in soon, and if even you’re on edge, it’d sour the mood.”

“Excuses…”

Tang Jihye slicked back her wet hair. For someone who’d just been pissed off and doused in cold water, she looked surprisingly refreshed.

“Anyway. The Commander-in-Chief’s never been wrong once since I joined.”

Tang Jihye jabbed her thumb toward the door, her hand angled stiff with confidence.

“I’ve got a hunch. This choice might be his best yet. Even if he only says the right things, convincing everyone still takes a process.”

“Nominal discussion, you mean?”

“The commanders know. His words always pan out. Same here—they’re griping, but deep down, they think he’s right.”

Thud…!

Someone just got launched.

Tang Jihye flinched a bit too but pressed on.

“…The Resistance exists to resist. Complaining’s a habit by now. Anyone who just nods along in meetings doesn’t deserve a seat there.”

“Even so, today’s vibe feels different.”

“Yeah.”

“Yeah?”

“Different, sure. But what’re the odds of real trouble?”

It was a split second.

Bang!

The door Tang Jihye had her back to flew open. A foot shot out from the darkness.

“Taebaek.”

It was Kang Hyeonseong.

“Let’s go in. They’re waiting.”

The moment had arrived. Braced for it, Lee Taebaek stepped forward calmly. Tang Jihye started to follow naturally.

“Jihye, you stay out.”

Kang Hyeonseong grabbed her shoulder to stop her. Her face twisted oddly.

“Hey. I’m the 3rd Battalion Commander?”

“Oh, right. Then you know the rule—one no-show means no entry that day.”

“Th-that was!”

“It’s one of the few rules holding these hopeless folks together. Sadly, no dice today. Go grab some malatang, 3rd Battalion Commander.”

“Hey—!”

Before entering, Lee Taebaek shook his head slightly. Then he left the scuffle behind and stepped into the conference room.

Surely only allies were here, yet the air was far colder than the middle of enemy territory. Voices cut like ice on skin.

“Lee Taebaek.”

A stranger called out. Lee Taebaek’s gaze went far. Sitting closest to the head seat—likely the 1st Battalion Commander. Not a major player in Reycons lore, but a powerhouse rivaling Kang Hyeonseong in the Resistance.

Which made him the one bugging Lee Taebaek most. He must be pissed. A rolling stone snagged the next Commander-in-Chief spot he’d assumed was his.

“No.”

Kang Hyeonseong clapped a hand on Lee Taebaek’s shoulder in retort.

“Call him Commander-in-Chief, Gideon.”

“…It’s not set in stone yet.”

“The Commander-in-Chief decided. They stayed quiet till now to let us vent. We always resist first, whatever the call.”

“You should say it right.”

The man with the intelligent eyes—the 2nd Battalion Commander—cut in.

“They’re not Commander-in-Chief anymore, are they?”

“By that logic, Taebaek’s already Commander-in-Chief.”

“…!”

Caught off-guard, the 2nd Battalion Commander gnawed his lower lip. Kang Hyeonseong smirked slyly and led Lee Taebaek to the head seat, gripping his wrist like a kid.

“…”

Thus, Lee Taebaek stood at the meeting’s center. Piercing stares rained down. He half-wanted to block them with Para Blade.

In the standoff, the hitherto silent Commander-in-Chief spoke.

“I get your complaints, commanders. But I’m not backing down.”

“Commander-in-Chief—!”

“Not that title anymore.”

The Commander-in-Chief rose. Pulled Lee Taebaek back and sat him down. It flowed so smoothly he was seated before he could blink. Hand on the chair back, the Commander-in-Chief declared.

“Use it for Taebaek here.”

“Then explain yourself.”

The rebuttal came from a familiar face.

Shadowed eyes, blocky jawline. 8th Battalion Commander Doctor Pepper—the tragic figure Kang Hyeonseong never called by name, always “Sugar Water.”

“Even granting your judgment’s spot-on, which I trust without doubt, don’t we deserve a reason we can swallow?”

All eyes turned to him. Unavoidable—he was the speaker. Doctor Pepper had a gift for piercing insight.

His absolute backing of the Commander-in-Chief kept it to noise. But everyone sensed it: no solid grounds, and for the first time, a majority revolt loomed.

In such murky air, every word swayed things. Especially from someone with killer people-reading skills. Few liked Pepper, but the commanders hung on his lips.

“This guy, Lee Taebaek, is impressive, no doubt. A year ago, he was nearly electrocuted to death—now he’s rightfully among the Ten Wings. Let’s acknowledge that. The more we throw tantrums, the weaker our case.”

“…”

“…”

They started eyeing each other. The Commander-in-Chief nodded.

“Pepper’s scariest when he talks nonsense. So, what’s your question?”

“As I said—why put him in charge? Just two reasons. Ones everyone buys.”

“That all?”

Pepper nodded.

“Two’s plenty.”

“Fine. Two reasons? Easy.”

Lee Taebaek’s head snapped up. The Commander-in-Chief knew two reasons even he didn’t?

Ignoring him, the Commander-in-Chief held up three fingers. Not two—three.

“First: business partner.”

“We have enough partners already—”

“Gideon, you think the old crew’s enough against Kergel Magic Tower?”

The Commander-in-Chief cut him off cold.

“…No…”

Good. Gideon separated work from personal. But he wasn’t one to roll over.

“So this guy’s got partners outclassing all that?”

“Yep. Beggar Clan, Lilith Order, and now Daesung Group hopping aboard. That should do it.”

“…!”

The Lilith Order was expanding its forces at a scary clip. From lower-level shadows, they’d allied with the Beggar Clan to become an info nexus.

Fine, concede that. But the last one was key.

Daesung Group. Those four syllables rippled the room like a wave.

“We’re against megacorps, but Daesung’s cleaned up post-incident. No clashing ideals. Their help’s very welcome. Right, Taebaek?”

Yeah. Daesung wouldn’t refuse Lee Taebaek. The rep herself was overly friendly, nagging for dinner anytime.

The Commander-in-Chief folded the middle finger. Two left.

“Busy folks, so quick: second, Taebaek’s strong.”

Silence flowed. Undebatable. Lee Taebaek was one of the Seven Masters of the Ten Wings.

“Magic Towers are armed organizations. Protecting members means matching that.”

“You do too, current Commander-in-Chief.”

“Nah. Even Mad Demon Right Hand is too much for me. Taebaek? Give him conditions, he could take the Tower Master.”

“Understood. Makes sense. But it’s still a tad short.”

Pepper pressed.

“Short?”

“Would’ve been enough before, but to cover your sudden move? Not quite.”

“Haa. Can’t be helped.”

The Commander-in-Chief moved a hand slowly. At the end, two fingers curled into a circle.

“Taebaek’s got money.”

“…?!”

“More than you can imagine.”

“…!”

Lee Taebaek saw it. On faces unmoved by any tale so far, subtle emotions flickered.