As True as a Dream Chapter 165

The one who had appeared before Young-ji and Min-byeong on the hillside of the public cemetery, holding the map of the Governor’s private residence, was the crow, transformed into the form of a man in his mid-forties.

 

At the time, Hae-Joo was completely absorbed in studying the map.

The security at the Governor’s residence was stringent.

Furthermore, Saito Mao had disappeared and then returned to the residence.

The security, denser and more imposing than before, had a murderous air, as if they would kill even a single stray dog that entered the grounds.

 

To get inside the residence, they needed to create a distraction to divert their attention.

Pondering this, Hae-Joo suggested making them believe the Japanese Government-General had been bombed and attacked, thereby dispersing the troops stationed at Governor Saito’s residence. It was a decoy operation.

Remembering how the crows had distributed newspapers throughout Gyeongseong, she thought this method could work.

Hae-Joo glanced at the crow, and the crow nodded.

 

Naturally, Min-byeong and Young-ji objected, saying it was impossible; if it were that easy, the independence army would have staged an uprising long ago.

But Hae-Joo insisted.

They had no other options anyway. It was all or nothing.

After a moment of heavy thought, Young-ji and Min-byeong asked with grim faces how it could be done, and Hae-Joo’s mind raced.

 

“There’s someone at the Government-General. Not our person, but someone working for my fiancé. This person is also under my fiancé’s command.”

“Fiancé? You mean the fiancé who was captured at Governor Saito’s house?”

“Yes. He is the owner of Song Yue Pavilion. I don’t know if you know him. His name is Ban Yi Ho.”

 

At Hae-Joo’s words, Young-ji and Min-byeong looked surprised, their eyes widening before they exchanged a glance and nodded.

“This is the only path left for us. If blowing up the Japanese Government-General draws their attention and lets us infiltrate the residence easily… if it buys us even one more minute to live… if it gets us one step closer to Governor Saito, then our chance of killing that bastard increases. I’m for it,” Young-ji said resolutely.

 

Hae-Joo understood from her words. Although Young-ji had been excitedly talking about killing Governor Saito, it seemed she also believed her own chances of survival were zero.

Hae-Joo bit her lower lip tightly and looked at the crow. She took five bombs from Young-ji and handed them to the crow.

“Please. Drop these bombs on the Japanese Government-General at 20:25. Once their attention is diverted and the troops are spread thin, we will enter the residence.”

 

The crow nodded at Hae-Joo’s words and turned away.

They waited for sunset before re-entering the city, lying low to avoid detection until the appointed time drew near, when they moved close to the Governor’s residence.

 

“It should start soon.”

No sooner had Hae-Joo spoken than a red light spread across the sky not far away, accompanied by a loud explosion.

Hae-Joo narrowed her eyes. She thought she saw a few black birds cutting through the night sky.

 

*Boom! KABOOM!*

 

With the subsequent explosions, the area around the residence became chaotic.

Soon, an order came from within, and the soldiers guarding the Governor’s residence assembled, formed ranks, and divided into three military trucks that sped off towards the Government-General.

 

Hae-Joo, Young-ji, and Min-byeong looked at each other and nodded.

Min-byeong moved first.

Contrary to his usual grumbling and seemingly reluctant attitude, he moved like a stray cat, leaving no trace. Using the night as cover, he silently broke the necks of the soldiers by the outer wall without a sound.

Soon, one section was cleared. He scaled the wall, and not long after, a hand rose from the other side and waved.

 

Hae-Joo and Young-ji looked at each other, then crouched low like Min-byeong, mindful of noise, and moved towards the wall.

Young-ji bent one knee first, allowing Hae-Joo to use her knee and shoulder to climb over and reach out over the wall.

From inside, Min-byeong grabbed her and pulled her over. It was clumsy, but she made it over safely.

Young-ji then lightly dropped down inside after her. Hae-Joo quickly recognized where they were.

It was the garden she had once seen when she came with Yi Ho.

 

“This is the garden, so the Governor’s study should be behind this building. Saito Mao’s bedroom is in that detached building visible just past the corridor over there,” Hae-Joo said, pulling out and unfolding the map of the residence the crow had brought to show Min-byeong and Young-ji.

 

“I think Governor Saito dotes on his daughter so much that he’s likely to be in Mao’s room.”

“Then I’ll go that way,” Min-byeong said, pointing to a spot on the map. Young-ji immediately responded.

“Then Comrade Yeon, you head to the study. I’ll draw the attention of the remaining soldiers.”

“What? That means…!” Hae-Joo’s eyes widened.

Drawing the soldiers’ attention meant exposing himself. It was tantamount to a death sentence.

 

“Once we chose this path, I knew it would end either with Japan’s destruction or mine. We must increase the odds of this operation’s success, mustn’t we? You two just move stealthily. Don’t let my sacrificed life be in vain.”

 

And before anyone could say another word, Min-byeong pulled back and quickly moved in the opposite direction, soon shouting loudly.

[“Hey! So this is the famous residence of the great Governor Saito! Damn! So high-class, even the trees in the garden are fancy!”]

[“Who’s there?!”]

 

The moment Min-byeong’s voice faded, two Japanese soldiers appeared from one side of the garden. A bullet shot from the rifle in Min-byeong’s hand.

[“Intruders! Who are you?!”]

Instantly, one part of the garden was in an uproar, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps.

 

Hae-Joo and Young-ji looked at each other with heavy expressions and nodded grimly.

Young-ji moved first, turning past the corridor. Hae-Joo also turned towards the study.

Even so, she couldn’t help but look back.

Min-byeong’s loud voice, interspersed with gunshots, echoed through the residence’s courtyard.

Hae-Joo clenched her teeth hard on the inside of her lip.

 

But it wasn’t Min-byeong.

Yet, he had come.

A heat spread through her chest, and Hae-Joo’s eyes stung.

She had thought he was rude, with a foul mouth that invited glares.

But in the end, he had stayed with them until the last, disregarding his own life to take a step worthy of respect.

 

 

* * *

 

 

[“Intruders?”]

[“Yes, sir! A Korean man, looks to be in his thirties, armed with a firearm. He’s currently causing a disturbance in the garden. He’s large but quite agile; we haven’t been able to subdue him yet.”]

 

At the young soldier’s stiff report, Saito’s sharp brow furrowed.

[“Do you eat rice for nothing! How can you fail to capture one Korean and cause such a commotion! The explosion at the Government-General! Has it been assessed, Man Insa…!”]

 

*BOOOOM!*

 

Governor Saito bit his tongue mid-sentence.

The explosion had come from very close by.

And that close place was none other than the detached building where Mao was resting.

In an instant, Governor Saito’s face turned ashen. He shoved the soldier aside, ran out, and sprinted towards the detached building.

He staggered at the horrific sight: half of the building was blown away, and flames were spreading.

[“Mao…! Mao! Mao! You bastards! What are you doing, put the fire out! Mao!”]

 

Saito grabbed the arms of the soldiers standing nearby, dumbfounded, and shoved them towards the fire.

[“G-Governor, Your Excellency! The room where the young lady was… it’s already…!”] stuttered a soldier shoved by Saito, trembling like a leaf.

 

Saito’s eyes were bloodshot, the whites turning red. He kicked the soldier savagely, then drew the sword from his waist and pointed it threateningly.

[“Are you deaf? Put out the fire and find Mao…!”]

 

“Saito Jiro! You son of a bitch!”

 

It was then.

A young woman’s voice came from a nearby bush. Reflexively turning, he saw a small bomb flying through the air towards him.
Saito raised his sword high and batted the bomb aside. It hit the wall and exploded, causing part of the wall to collapse.

 

“You beast! You’re worse than an animal!” the woman’s voice, filled with rage, rang out fiercely.

 

In the meantime, Japanese soldiers gathering towards the exploded detached building aimed their rifles at the woman.

The woman wildly threw the bombs she held in her hands at the Japanese soldiers and then charged towards where Saito stood.

But however many bombs she had, the Japanese soldiers were not blind.

The woman didn’t even manage two steps before she fell to the ground, riddled with bullets.

 

Saito Jiro, ignoring the scene, looked at the detached building, his whole body trembling.

Logically, he knew.

He had placed Mao, rescued from the independence army’s clutches, in that detached building, in that room which was now burning to ashes.

She was gone.

The daughter he cherished like his own life had vanished without a trace.

 

How could this happen…!