Had I know you will become this, I should've let jeonha killed you, hyung-nim...
"Let them go, hyung-nim. You don't want to mess with this matter. Keeping gongju as a hostage is a wrong move!" Min Jun sternly forced Jun Pyo to give up.
"They knew too much already! Why should I?" Jun Pyo smirked, looking at Min Jun with his devilish eyes.
"When are you gonna stop killing innocent people, hyung-nim? I thought, being jailed will turned you into a good person," said Min Jun with broken heart. His eyes were glassy, lips shaken, supressed the anger and devastated all inside.
"Who said I've been in jail? You know, no jail in this world could keep me away from anything! While you're begging for my mercy, I already had someone who helped me. Your mercy made things easier!" Jun Pyo smiled proudly. "It seems like I got nothing, but my connection really helps, thanks to you for being too generous to me!"
Min Jun smacked his lips together. He pressed them tight, trying to hold the tears from rolling from his eyes. The feeling of regrets really took a toll on him.
"Hyung-nim, we're in a tough spot now. I'm begging you, please let them go!" Min Jun had enough of grievances. At this stage, if Jun Pyo was asking for trouble, then trouble is all he got.
Jun Pyo let out a scoff, loud enough for Uk to hear it. The man casually hook his chin on Uk's shoulder, tilting his head while looking at Min Jun with an evil thought in his head.
"I'll be so stupid if I let everyone go..." Jun Pyo gave Min Jun a sharp glare. "Let's play a game. It's called The Chosen One!
Everyone look at each other with confused mind, except Min Jun. He, who knew Jun Pyo for a very long time, understood the assignment really well.
" As a prince, you have to have a decision making skill. So, right now, let's test your knowledge!" with a swift move, Jun Pyo dragged Myung Yu closer to him, while his dagger still touching Uk's neck. "It's either gongju, or this man!"
Min Jun felt like being stabbed on his chest while looking at the two most important lives standing side by side in front of him. One person is important for the kingdom, while the other is important to him.
"Orabeonim! Let him take me! He won't kill me, I'm sure of it!" said Myung Yu with determination in her eyes.
"Daegum, let him take me instead! Gongju is important for the kingdom! I can bear this pain! You do know it, right?" Uk tried to persuade Min Jun. The prince stared at him, eyes soaking with tears.
"Chose now, daegum jaga... It's either this man, or your beloved dongsaeng!" Jun Pyo slowly pushed both dagger onto their skin, made a scratch like on Uk's neck and Myung Yu's cheek. Tears coming from Myung Yu's eyes as she held on the sharp pain.
"Don't! Please! Let them go..."
"Make a choice now, dul beonjjae wangja..."
Min Jun stared at Jun Pyo, his forehead crinkled. His teary eyes won't work with this man, obviously. When his sight fell onto Uk, the man slowly blinked his eyes and nod.
"Min Jun daegum, I know you can understand which one is your priority right now," suddenly, Uk spoke up. A drop of blood visible on his neck from the scratch, it was getting deeper.
"But-"
"We do agree over something that we learnt. And I think, applying it right now won't hurt anyone," words from Uk were a source of serenity for a heart that shook in turbulence. But, to execute the decision, it felt like the ground was shaking under Min Jun's feet.
"Uk..." the prince's lips rattled badly.
"It's fine. Don't be afraid. Just let me go..."
Min Jun couldn't stop his broken heart from shattered at the moment. He stared at Uk with bleeding heart, slowly lifted his finger and pointing it to Myung Yu. Jun Pyo flashed his victorious smile while glaring at Myung Yu.
"So gongju... Are you ready to die?" he asked her with googling eyes. Everyone couldn't help but shocked with the revelation.
"What do you mean, hyung-nim?! You asked me to choose!" Min Jun bantered.
"I did. But, you never ask me whether you have to choose to live, or to die!" Jun Pyo then let out a cynical laugh.
The Black Team was in a crisis now.
Uk frowned, but at the same time, he was looking for a room to fix the situation. He could felt Jun Pyo's grip slowly loosen up from him. So, he took a deep breath, and with his courage that boiled inside, he suddenly pushed the man away from Myung Yu, grabbing the princess' hand and toast her away from him.
"Go! Save yourself! Go!" Uk yelled as he grabbed a sword from a guard next to him after he kicked him away. Everything was in mess now. Convoy Black quickly retreat from the scene, fleet with Myung Yu and Min Jun.
"Hyung-nim!" Uk could hear Min Jun's scream from his spot but he ignored it. He started to charged forward and having a duel with Jun Pyo.
"Stop them!" the man ordered his guards to pursue the Black team. The whole bunch of them quickly left the hall to pursue, leaving behind Uk and Jun Pyo, fighting with each other.
As they stretch back after a series of clashing sword, both of them took some time to catch a breath. Uk stared at Jun Pyo with mixed feeling; he, once a comrade but betrayed the army, then he betrayed Min Jun and the kingdom.
Which parts sounded worst?
"I must said, you still have a move, Gisa Ahn... But, it wore out along with your age..." Jun Pyo laughed. He could felt the impact from the sword that Uk swung at him, it was still heavy and sharp, but not like it used to be.
Uk gripped the handle tight. Silently, he agreed with Jun Pyo. But, not the aging part. It's more than just a self defense. He was fighting for his life now. The pressure was different.
"If you have a heart, you'll understand what I feel now," said Uk.
"Come on! Am I that artificial?"
"Ask yourself then. I mean, who dares to betray the kingdom twice?" Uk was mocking Jun Pyo. The man scoffed, glaring at Uk with amusing heart.
"Gisa Ahn, I don't want to kill you. You're a talented man, a brave one. With that, we can rule the kingdom, together!" said Jun Pyo. "Don't you want to walk side by side with me again, Gisa? Just like old times. We're among the best in our troop. We're the elite soldier!"
Uk dropped his sword a bit, watching Jun Pyo bitterly from his spot. He studied the man with his knowledge about his past and connect the dot all through the present.
What could go wrong, for all these times, that made him changed into a heartless man? The most scariest part of life, now, laid upon Uk's eyes. Watching someone losing their mind after serving for the country but gain nothing, it was unbearable to witness. Now, he felt grateful by his choice. He was thankful that he opened his heart to leave, even though for him, it's too late.
"Are you suggesting me to be a traitor?" Uk asked Jun Pyo calmly.
"Yes. Come and join me, you'll get everything in this world that you could ever dream of; money, women, power! Everything! Just name it!"
Uk stuttered as he locked gaze with Jun Pyo. The man's reaction was plain, perhaps he was thinking about something. Maybe, he was tryinh to evaluate his value himself. Jun Pyo smiled as he smelled a victory of persuasiveness.
He knew the man won't be so stupid to let this slide off his fingers!
"For so long, we thought about what we got while serving the kingdom. We put our neck on blade, but gain nothing, not even an acknowledgement as someone who preserves the peace and safety to them! We're not rich, too! Less money, too much effort! We loss everything while trying to save so many lives! What kind of life is that?!" Jun Pyo's convincing thought made Uk even more shaken inside. All those words were true, even he heard that from Min Jun before.
A royalty like me can never feel grateful for your sacrifice. We have fun, live in wealth, and do whatever we want. We don't care who guards the coast! We don't even know the names of the thousands of soldiers who die for the country.
Is it worth it?
"So, what's your choice, Gisa Ahn? Do you want to join me?" Jun Pyo asked, while stretch his hand so Uk could reach for him if he agrees.
The man now was standing in the intersection of dilemma.