The Weapon Genius: Anything I Hold Can Kill-Chapter 177: Terms of Union

Ryu leaned back in his chair the second they sat. "Alright. Let’s get to it."

Jin folded his arms, steady. "First things first—how’d your people do in the trials?"

"Got through the first two no problem," Ryu said. "Trial One nearly burned out a couple of the younger ones, but they pushed through. Trial Two? Trickier, but manageable."

Jin nodded. "And the third?"

Ryu’s jaw ticked faintly. "We lost most of our duels. No one died, obviously, but... we didn’t make it far. Only three of us reached the final five rounds. And none of us won."

"Huh." Jin exhaled, thinking. "That explains it."

Ryu narrowed his eyes. "Explains what?"

Jin met his gaze. "You weren’t selected."

Ryu’s brows raised.

Jin continued. "The third trial wasn’t just a match-up. It was a filter. Twenty of us were chosen from all the surviving players. We were given fragments."

"Fragments?"

Jin leaned forward slightly, voice level. "Pieces of something the system called the Crown. Each one bonded to the chosen. We don’t know how to use them yet—not fully. But together, they lead to something called the Throne of Korea."

Ryu whistled, low and slow. "Didn’t think we were playing for a crown."

"We weren’t told," Jin said. "Not until the end."

"And you got one?" Ryu asked.

"I was the only one in my team who lost. But the others—" Jin shrugged lightly, almost like he couldn’t believe it either. "They all won. Every single one of them. Guess the system liked what it saw."

"Damn." Ryu leaned forward, brows raised. "So you’ve got one of the twenty?"

"Yeah." Jin gave a small smile. "And I don’t plan on letting it go."

Ryu scratched at his chin, clearly thinking. "Good, so are you being hunted down for your piece?"

in nodded. "Not yet. But I will be. Sooner or later, the others will come looking."

"And you’re thinking of merging up," Ryu said. "To make sure you’ve got the numbers."

"That’s part of it," Jin said. "But not the only reason. We’ve fought together before. I know what you’re capable of. You’re not just an ally. You’re someone I trust."

Ryu didn’t answer right away. His fingers tapped against the edge of the table, expression unreadable.

"And?" he said finally.

"I’m offering something real," Jin said. "Our base is more than a camp now. It’s a sanctuary. Territory buffs. Defensive roots. Healing effects. And two... very powerful beings watching its borders."

That gave Ryu pause. "You mean the stone guy I heard about from Chul?"

Jin nodded. "Aesteros."

"But two?" Ryu asked. "Who’s the other?"

Jin waved the question off. "Complicated. Doesn’t matter right now. What matters is I’m asking you to join us. Merge bases. Combine strength. We’ll be better off standing together."

Ryu leaned back again. "I won’t lie. That’s tempting. With what we’ve got here, plus what you’re offering? We’d be a damn force of nature."

"But?" Jin asked.

"But," Ryu said, "we’ve got a problem."

Jin waited.

"Chul must’ve told you about it but there a group that’s been making moves lately," Ryu said, his tone shifting. "Not just scavengers or random criminals. They are organized, armed and dangerous."

Jin frowned. "Who are they?"

"Not sure what they call themselves," Ryu admitted. "But they’ve taken over the old prison facility east of here. It’s a fortress now. Barriers, traps, even watch rotations. Like they’ve set up a permanent post."

"And?"

"And we sent a team to scout them out," Ryu said. "One of my officers. Good kid. Smart. They ambushed him. Took his supplies, left him half-dead."

Jin’s expression hardened. "You think they’re a threat?"

"They already are," Ryu said flatly. "I faced one of their top people during Trial Three. Woman. Quiet. But strong. And brutal."

Jin raised an eyebrow. "You lost?"

"I couldn’t land a clean hit," Ryu said. "She dismantled me piece by piece. Wasn’t just strength—it was surgical. I barely walked out of that match."

There was a beat of silence between them.

"And now she’s sitting in a prison fortress with god-knows-how-many like her," Ryu added. "Taking in survivors. Maybe building something bigger. Or worse."

Jin’s mind moved fast. "And if we merge, they’ll see us as one group."

"Exactly," Ryu said. "Which means your problems become mine. And mine become yours."

"So what are you saying?" Jin asked.

Ryu tapped the table once.

"I’m saying I’ll merge with you. But not until we handle them."

Jin leaned back. "All of them?"

"Every last one," Ryu said. "This isn’t a bluff. They’re not just players. They’re criminals with power. People who learned how to abuse the system. If we let them grow, they’ll consume weaker territories, turn sanctuaries into war zones."

Jin looked down at the table. His team could fight. They’d faced monsters, corrupted bosses, even anomalies.

But people like this? Organized and entrenched?

Still. He nodded.

"When do we leave?"

Ryu blinked. "You’re not going to think it over?"

"No need," Jin said. "This is exactly the kind of fight we’ve been preparing for."

Ryu chuckled once. "Same old Jin."

Jin tilted his head. "You coming with us?"

"I will," Ryu said. "But this isn’t a numbers game. We need our best on this."

Jin agreed. "Elite team only."

"We hit fast," Ryu said. "Get in, tear through their command, and leave before they regroup."

Jin stood, the plan already forming. "How about we move out tonight?"

"Tonight would be perfect," Ryu said, rising to his feet. "Under the cover of darkness. With any luck, they won’t even know what hit them until it’s too late."

"Then let’s make sure they don’t get the chance."

They shook hands, firm and certain.

"We’ll be back before dawn," Ryu said, grinning now.

Jin’s eyes narrowed, calm but dangerous. "And we’ll leave nothing standing."

"Let’s eat first. Big night ahead."

Jin didn’t argue. His stomach agreed more than he wanted to admit.

The cafeteria was quieter than before, but the scent of soy-glazed meat and roasted peppers still lingered in the air like a promise. The rest of Jin’s team had gathered along the far side, finishing off bowls of hot rice and warm broth in idle conversation. A few extra faces from Ryu’s territory dotted the tables, but none of them paid much attention when the two leaders stepped inside.

Joon caught sight of them first. He perked up immediately.

"Well, either that’s a murder face or we’re about to do something fun."

Seul passed him a roll without looking. "You’re the only one who thinks those are the same."

"Not wrong," Echo said through a mouthful of dumpling.

Jin moved to the center of the room, rolling his shoulders once.

"We’re moving out tonight to hit a target."

The table hushed instantly. Yujin straightened from her half-doze in the corner, and Hanuel blinked once, the excitement already flickering in his eyes.

"Target?" Seul asked.

Jin turned to Ryu, giving him a nod.

Ryu stepped up. "There’s a prison stronghold east of here. It’s in enemy hands now. And if we don’t hit them fast, they’re going to become a serious threat."

"We’re going in tonight," Jin said. "No full squad. Just the best of the best. Small team, surgical hit."

Hanuel leaned forward. "So who’s coming?"

"You are," Jin said without pause.

Hanuel blinked, then grinned.

"Echo, Joon, Seul, Yujin." Jin looked around at each of them. "The five of you. With me."

Joon let out a soft whistle. "This must be quite a serious threat if you want all of us fighting together?"

"Very," Jin said. "You’ve all been pushing your skills. Tonight’s when it pays off."

Yujin nodded once. Seul didn’t even ask questions. Echo simply licked the last of the sauce off his fingers and said, "I’ll pack the disks."

Ryu clapped his hands together once and turned to the doorway behind the kitchen. A small keypad blinked green as he reached it—fingerprint, then retina scan. The door slid open with a soft mechanical hiss.

"I’ll go grab mine."

Jin raised an eyebrow. "Straight from the source?"

"These guys don’t sit around in cafeterias," Ryu said with a grin. "They’re working."

He stepped inside and disappeared down the security tunnel. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The others exchanged looks, quiet but alert.

"Think he’s got a death squad waiting underground?" Joon asked.

"Only one way to find out," Echo muttered.

It didn’t take long.

A few minutes later, Ryu reappeared—this time with Jisoo Kwak at his side, along with Detective Kang Hyun, and a tall, broad-shouldered man Jin hadn’t seen before. He looked like a walking battering ram—close-shaved hair, lined jaw, and a sleeveless vest that exposed arms carved with old scars and tattoos. His boots hit the ground like weights.

Jin stood. So did the rest of his group.

"This is my side," Ryu said, voice level. "Jisoo. Kang. Hanseong’s still downstairs—he’ll join when we leave."

"And him?" Jin asked, nodding toward the newcomer.

Ryu gave a faint smile. "That’s Baekho."

The man gave a small nod in greeting, voice like gravel. "Pleasure."

"Offense specialist," Ryu said. "Not a talker. But if I’m the shield, he’s the fist."

Echo leaned toward Joon. "You sure?"

Joon looked up at Baekho—who stood nearly a head taller than him—and nodded slowly. "Yeah. That tracks."

Jisoo folded her arms and gave Jin’s group a once-over.

"Didn’t expect you to come knocking so soon," she said.

"Friendly, as ever," Seul muttered.

The banter broke the tension for a moment, and Jin used the lull to refocus them.

"We’ll move at sundown. Covert entry. No distractions. We strike fast, eliminate threats, and burn their support out from under them."

"Confirmed," Ryu said.

Hanuel had been quiet through the exchange, but finally looked up. "What kind of resistance are we expecting?"

"Unknown," Jin said. "But expect everything. The leader alone was strong enough to take Ryu in a duel."

That made them all pause.

Echo whistled low. "Alright then."

"I want your best gear," Jin said. "No half-measures."

Seul nodded. "And after, we rest?"

"After, we celebrate," Ryu said. "You pull this off, we merge. And together, we become something no one wants to mess with."

Baekho cracked his knuckles once, the sound sharp.

Joon leaned toward Echo. "He doesn’t even need a catchphrase."

"His arms say everything," Echo agreed.

Ryu turned to Jisoo, voice shifting.

"Go find Hanseong. Tell him to report to the hangar entrance in thirty. Bring his full kit."

Jisoo tilted her head. "You really want him walking in with the guy who scarred him?"

Ryu didn’t flinch. "He’ll handle it."

Jisoo gave a short nod and walked off.

Ryu turned back to the group. "We’ll use the lower routes. Less risk of detection."

"Gear up," Jin said. "Once we’re out there, we don’t stop until it’s done."

Echo stood. "I’m bringing both belts."

"Bring three," Seul muttered.

Joon stretched. "Been a while since we had a good warm-up."

Hanuel cracked his neck. "I don’t do warm-ups anymore."

Baekho simply stepped to the side and leaned against the wall, arms folded, silent but present.

Ryu gave one last look to Jin. "You’re sure about this?"

Jin nodded. "We move tonight."

Ryu looked back at the squad—ten strong.

His best. Jin’s best.

"We don’t make noise," Ryu said. "We make history."

And then the room began to clear.