Convict Unit: Black Parade

The Deck 3 leader, callsign Cultist.

Just as his callsign suggested, he’d been the leader of a cult before his arrest.

The new religion he founded had grown at a terrifying rate, its followers numbering in the hundreds of thousands after only five years of proselytizing.

But its radical and aggressive doctrine, along with the conflicts that arose with various other groups during its expansion, eventually attracted the government’s attention.

The final nail in the coffin came after persistent lobbying from a rival religious group that felt threatened.

The leader, Cultist, was summarily arrested, and an astonishing truth came to light.

He had been using his Awakened ability to brainwash people all along.

Once Cultist was apprehended and his power vanished, the cult he founded rapidly disintegrated. A few fervent believers remained, but the vast majority couldn’t even remember their religious activities from the past few years.

“But the damage was already done.”

“Damage…?”

“People giving him their entire life savings was the least of it,” Ghost explained, her brow furrowed. “Cannibalism, murder… I heard all sorts of disgusting business was tied up in it.”

“Ugh.”

“So be careful. And remember this.” Ghost shot Jae-hee a pointed look. “At its core, this place is a prison. A den of criminals.”

“…”

“There are no good guys here.”

Jae-hee was the type to befriend anyone with a bright, quokka-like smile.

But that unguarded attitude was bound to get him smacked upside the head one day. That was why Ghost was warning him now.

“Hmm…”

Hearing the backstory made him a little nervous, but he still had to talk to the Glasses Society.

Jae-hee shuffled hesitantly toward Cultist. “Uh, hello…?”

Cultist turned his head, his eyes narrowing into a smile. “Aha, so you’re the Boy?”

His voice was as clear and high as a warbler’s song.

“I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve been waiting for the moment we would meet.”

Jae-hee’s eyes widened in surprise. “Huh? Me?”

“Yes. I was told you were the one who witnessed Model Student’s death up close in Daejeon, correct?”

“Ah… yes, that’s right.”

He was talking about Model Student, the inmate who had died during Jae-hee’s first mission, Operation Rescue Patissier.

“May I ask you about his death?” A deep sorrow crossed Cultist’s face. “He was the former Deck 3 leader and the former head of the Glasses Society… We all cherished and loved him. It pains us deeply to have lost him so meaninglessly.”

“…”

“Could you tell me what you know of his final moments?”

Jae-hee nodded and recounted the events of that day as best he could.

Hearing about the zombified Model Student’s heroic end, Cultist sighed. “So, that’s how he went.”

“Yes. He was protecting civilians until the very end. It was a heroic death.”

“…A fitting end for Model Student.” Sniffing, Cultist took off his glasses to wipe away a tear, then offered Jae-hee a sad smile.

Something about the smile struck Jae-hee as insectoid, though he couldn’t put his finger on why…

For a moment, his vision wavered. Jae-hee blinked, trying to clear his head.

“Thank you for telling me. On that note, we’re planning a small memorial service on Deck 3 to honor him. Would you care to attend?”

“Oh, of course! It’s the least I can do, since we were on the same mission. I’d be honored.”

“Those who knew him are chipping in to cover the costs. We’re still a little short, though. It would be a great help if you could contribute a little something.”

“Of course I should! How can I pay?”

“Thank you, thank you. As it happens, I have a Credit payment device right here…”

And so, as if mesmerized, Jae-hee paid one thousand Credits.

Cultist even printed him a receipt, giving him a little wink. “I’ll be waiting for you on Deck 3.”

“Yep! I’ll see you soon!”

After finishing their conversation, Jae-hee said goodbye and trotted back to Ghost, whispering, “He doesn’t seem like such a bad guy.”

Contrary to Ghost’s warning, he seemed like a perfectly reasonable person, and contrary to Razor’s, he was easy to talk to.

Ghost let out a breath of disbelief. “You’re so damn gullible… What’s that in your hand?”

“Huh? Oh.”

Only then did Jae-hee realize he was holding a receipt for one thousand Credits. 

“Ah, this is, well, they’re holding a new funeral for Model Student on Deck 3, so I wanted to contribute…”

“Snap out of it, kid. You just got played.”

“What? Huh? Wha—?”

His slightly foggy brain finally kicked into gear, and Jae-hee realized he’d been tricked.

“Wait, what the… I got scammed with my eyes wide open, didn’t I?”

Cultist had expertly lowered Jae-hee’s guard with a shared topic, then used it to create a pretext that was difficult to refuse, ensnaring his target in an instant.

The problem was, Jae-hee hadn’t even realized he was being played until it was over.

“That’s his ‘ability.’ It feels like a normal conversation, but by the time you snap out of it, you’ve already handed over your heart and soul.”

Ghost clicked her tongue. “Seeing as you only lost a thousand Credits, it looks like he was just messing with you this time. Be more careful from now on.”

Jae-hee saw Cultist looking their way, covering his mouth with the receipt as he chuckled.

A cold sweat broke out on Jae-hee’s skin.

She was right. If the man had really wanted to, he could have swindled him out of tens of thousands of Credits, not just one.

No, not just Credits. He could have made me agree to anything…

He hadn’t been a cult leader for nothing. Jae-hee felt a chill run down his spine.

Just then, the conference room door was flung open.

A middle-aged soldier in a white uniform strode in. He glanced around before asking curtly, “Is everyone here?”

He pulled a document from his coat and began a roll call.

Deck 0 leader, Ghost.

Deck 1 leader, Razor.

Deck 2 leader, Jail Mojik.

Deck 3 leader, Cultist.

Deck 4 leader, Shylock.

So far, they were all faces Jae-hee recognized, but the ones that followed were new to him.

Deck 5 leader, Gomgomgom.

Deck 6 leader, Boss Hwang.

Deck 7 leader, Jekyll & Hyde.

Deck 8 acting leader, Concierge.

Jae-hee craned his neck to get a better look at the high-deck leaders with their unusual callsigns. Some inmates looked just like their names suggested; others looked nothing like them at all.

“All present.” After confirming everyone’s attendance, the soldier introduced himself. “I am Vice-Captain Rok Kang.”

The vice-captain of Paradise Lost spoke in a blunt, businesslike tone, his cold gaze sweeping over the prisoners. “I assume you are all aware we will be arriving at Geoje Island.”

The Deck Leaders answered noncommittally.

“Yep~”

“The ship is scheduled to dock at the Geoje offshore plant at dawn tomorrow. We will then undergo a one-week maintenance period. Each deck is to identify and report any necessary repairs…”

After the routine announcements, Vice-Captain Kang got to the real reason he had summoned them.

“Furthermore, as I am sure you have heard, the Awakened Protection Act will soon be enacted.”

The leaders and their seconds-in-command exchanged quick glances. Even inside the prison, news this big had reached everyone.

“We are detecting unsettling movements from Hunter Guilds across the country who oppose this bill,” the vice-captain elaborated.

“This means there is a high probability of large-scale civil unrest. And it is highly probable that you will be deployed to suppress it.”

“…!”

“We do not know where you will actually be deployed, whether your objective will be simply to quell the situation, whether we will have to assume a state of war, or whether this is all needless worry. But the commander’s orders are to prepare for deployment.”

Jae-hee swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. He’d fought monsters, gangsters, and Villains.

But an order to prepare for a fight against Hunter Guilds was something he had never imagined.

“Each deck is to form a team centered around those most skilled in covert operations and those with the greatest firepower. Submit the rosters in advance.” 

Vice-Captain Kang added, “The Deck Leaders and their seconds-in-command should also prepare for deployment.”

At this, Cultist asked in a slightly surprised tone, “Vice-Captain, some of the leaders and their seconds-in-command are not suited for combat.”

“The commander’s order is that no one gets to weasel out of this,” the vice-captain replied in a stiff, inflexible voice. “The leaders must set an example for their subordinates to follow.”

In other words, if the leaders valued their lives, they had better not hold back when assembling their deck’s elite squad.

Cultist gave a troubled smile. He had likely been referring to himself as an inmate “not suited for combat.”

“While the ship is under maintenance, you are all to complete physical and equipment check-ups. We do not know when you will have to scramble.”

Razor asked sharply, “So you’re going to throw us into an armed conflict with major Hunter Guilds? What, are you planning a mass funeral for us? Is that Commander Seo’s goal?”

“I do not know the commander’s intentions.” The vice-captain glared at the prisoners with cold eyes. “But I, for one, would welcome it.”

“…!”

“You are the trash that has corroded this nation. Its refuse. That is why you were brought here.”

Making no effort to hide his animosity, the vice-captain snarled, “A bunch of degenerate scumbags who terrorized the country and inflicted horrific damage on civilians. Pests who pollute the very air of this country with your existence. That’s what you are.”

He gestured toward the pristine 9th Deck common area visible below them. 

“There is only one reason you prisoners are provided with such an undeservedly comfortable living environment: you have some use as weapons of war.”

“…”

“If you understand, then stop your whining and prepare for deployment. Whether you go out there, fight, and return alive, or die and end up in a coffin, it’s time you started earning your keep.”

Thwack!

Vice-Captain Rok Kang rolled up his documents and delivered his final words. 

“You are prisoners, but you are also soldiers. I expect you to serve with patriotic devotion.”

“…”

“Prepare yourselves well. That is all.”

And with that, the vice-captain left the conference room.

Watching the door swing shut, Jae-hee muttered, “I don’t think the vice-captain likes us very much…”

“I think I’ve said this before, but that’s the normal way to treat prisoners. Hae-eun Seo is the weird one.”

The remaining inmates began talking among themselves, and the room quickly grew noisy.

Surveying the prisoners, Ghost clicked her tongue softly.

Following the unprecedented bill, the nation was hurtling headlong into a blizzard with zero visibility. And in that chaos, when people inevitably collided, blood would be spilled.

How many will die… No, how many will survive?

Ghost had a strong premonition that the world would never return to how it was before the Awakened Protection Act.

“A storm is coming.”

Outside the window, the raindrops were gradually freezing into white specks. 

Turning from the window, Ghost gestured to Jae-hee. “Let’s go train, kid.”

Jae-hee’s eyes went wide. “Huh? Right now?”

“Now. I need to whip you into better shape, even if it’s just a little.”

There was nothing left for them in the conference room anyway. As she led Jae-hee toward Deck 0, Ghost made a decision.

It was the last thing she ever wanted to teach him, but in this situation, it was what he needed most: the sword style she had used more than any other over the past thirty years.

She would teach him how to kill from the shadows.

The art of the assassination blade.