“SongSun, prepare our men. He’s here,” Junsu instructed with authority, not bothering that the old man is his elderly. When it comes to duty, SongSun is just another comrade in battle. And he really didn’t have the time to be polite in this.

The older man nodded and scurried away while Junsu continued on preparing himself and checking that his weapons were fully loaded. He should have known better. Shim Choikang was a great manipulator and once again he was tricked right under his nose. Come to think of it, it was a good thing that he decided to escape for a little while a few days ago even though it’s the most useless thing he’s ever done being under Changmin’s command. If he was anywhere in Changmin’s sight at the time when Changmin decided to head to Gwangju, Junsu won’t be here to be the better back upfor Changmin, which is to protect Kim Min Hee because Changmin will undoubtedly drag him together. He would’ve been fooled too and who knows what Shim Choikang had planned to stall them from returning to headquarters when he plans to attack.

Junsu’s teeth screeched as they gritted with each other. He realised that he had miscalculated some of his steps. He knew that Choikang was a dangerous man, especially since he also came from the Shim bloodline. He knew that there was a huge risk when he accepted the deal to hand Changmin over to him in exchange for Min Hee’s safety. For that, Junsu thought that he had prepared well, always looking out for anything that is out of the ordinary and also anything out of their agreement. Though, he didn’t expect a Plan C.

“MILORD!” Junsu heard SongSun screamed out of nowhere.

He immediately rushed out of the arsenal and ran towards where he thought the voice had come from. And true enough, there Changmin was, blooded and bruised, all alone.

“Changmin! What happened?” Junsu came over to him just as Changmin was starting to lose balance and fell to the floor, sticking the marble with some of his own blood. Before Junsu could hold out an arm to help him, Changmin stopped him and began to push himself to stand again. Truthfully, he was worn out and exhausted, just how Choikang had wanted, but he had to stay strong because he had come back alone for a reason.

“Where’s my wife?” he thundered with somehow a pained voice.

~One thing and one thing only, Shim. He wants your happiness.~

“She’s safe for now, Milord,” Junsu addressed him, feeling that Changmin’s mind was already set to battle just like his. And at these times, they don’t use nicknames anymore.

“Bring me to her. And take action as soon as I give you the signal. I’ve scanned their positions. We’ll have to use the back-up plan. And always let yourself open for alternative actions. This man is unpredictable. Tell everyone to not hesitate to go off-plan when they need to. Protect our family at all costs!” Changmin muttered breathlessly.

Junsu’s face dropped a little at the word ‘our family’. Maybe because that term totally slipped his mind when he agreed to help Shim Choikang get to Changmin. Although he didn’t know what Choikang was up to and that all he wanted was to protect the girl that he had great affections for, he still said yes, in the hope that the great Shim Changmin will find a way to fend for himself like he always did. Oh... How wrong he was.

But that doesn’t matter now. He was ready to set things right again. He will bring victory to this fight, and make up to Changmin for what he had cost him, especially Min Hee’s memories of him. No matter what it takes, his best friend deserved better than this.

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