Chapter 1596. Training (1)

“Assembly Master. I was going to say it’s wonderful to make your acquaintance again, but that didn’t sound quite right to me,” said Reggie Mercer as he walked up to Kang Jin-Ho.

“Indeed,” Kang Jin-Ho briefly nodded. “It feels weird to say it’s been a while, too.”

“But we don’t have much choice, do we?”

The two men shook hands while smiling.

“Looks like they were fine with giving you this post,” said Kang Jin-Ho.

Reggie Mercer replied, “The brass probably had no choice after you asked specifically for me. I’m grateful that you thought of me positively, even though my performance back then was not up to snuff.”

“Leaving your division behind to supervise another can’t be easy, though?”

Reggie Mercer was originally in charge of the 15th armored division. Even though division commanders getting reassigned happened fairly often, Mercer was the commander of not just any division, but an armored one. Someone like him suddenly getting reassigned to a post like this couldn’t have been easy for him.

“Yes, you’re right. However,” Reggie Mercer replied with a strange smile. “The desire to throw themselves into an assignment that sounds much more interesting... I’m sure everyone feels the same way, sir.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded.

In his view, Reggie Mercer was a true soldier. More specifically, he didn’t have the knowledge or ability to judge how good of a soldier Reggie Mercer was, but as a warrior? Kang Jin-Ho could evaluate the American quite well. And he passed Kang Jin-Ho’s evaluation.

“Is everyone here?” Kang Jin-Ho asked.

“Sir, exactly half of the Special Operations Brigade members have arrived in Korea.”

“Only half?”

“Yes, sir. We’ve excluded those who didn’t want to receive training in Korea and those with poor grades. Depending on the training’s progress, we’ll adjust the deployment cycles and choose who comes in.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. That sounds similar to Japan.

Even though the values and cultures of the two countries differed, it seemed all humans had roughly similar ideas.

Lee Hyeon-Su scanned the surroundings before tutting loudly. “You guys really went with tents.”

Reggie Mercer turned toward Lee Hyeon-Su. “They are just as good as barracks, actually.”

“Really?”

“Hahaha! Would you like a quick tour?”

Lee Hyeon-Su tilted his head this way and that while following Reggie Mercer. However, when they reached the area filled with rows of tents, his head tilting stopped and his eyes opened super-wide instead.

“Heol?! Why are they so huge?”

These American military tents were at least twice the size of what Lee Hyeon-Su had been thinking of. With how humongous these tents were, each one should be able to accommodate fifty people at a push...!

“How many people are staying in one of these tents?” Lee Hyeon-Su asked curiously.

“One squad occupies one tent. That makes it eight soldiers each, Mister Lee.”

“I’m sorry?”

Eight soldiers? If this was the Korean military, it would have crammed fifty-plus people into one of these tents but... Only eight? In a tent this humongous?!

“...! T-then, what’s that over there, sir?” Lee Hyeon-Su stammered while pointing at a large machine of some kind attached to the side of the tent.

“That’s the tent’s HVAC system,” said Reggie Mercer.[1]

“...What does that do, exactly?”

“Simply put, it’s the tent’s heater and air conditioner.”

“...?! A-a-air conditioner?! You can actually attach something like that to a tent?!”

Reggie Mercer stared weirdly at the shocked Lee Hyeon-Su. “Of course. Soldiers need good rest if they want to maximize the efficiency of their training. Since that’s the case, isn’t it obvious that we’d do our best to produce the most restful environment?”

“...”

Yes, sir. It is super obvious, sir.

If only the Korean military did this super obvious thing, too!

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Lee Hyeon-Su. “Look, even the Korean military has installed air conditioners, okay?”

Lee Hyeon-Su grimaced. I’m sure that’s the case these days, sir. However, you’re talking about barracks, not tents, aren’t you?

Kang Jin-Ho contemplatively muttered, “It’s just that Korean soldiers don’t get many chances to rest in air-conditioned barracks, that’s all.”

“...”

Either way, what a sorrowful story that was!

“Shall we take a look inside?” Reggie Mercer said, then opened the tent’s door and stepped inside first. Lee Hyeon-Su and Kang Jin-Ho followed him.

“...?! Holy cow!”

“...”

The material on the floor was almost like a carpet, while steel cabinets surrounded sturdy bunk beds. And when Lee Hyeon-Su spotted a large flat-screen TV on top of a table at the far end of the tent, he sighed half in amazement and half in lamentation.

“...Sir, it’s better than most barracks in here.”

“Yeah, I agree.”

Even Kang Jin-Ho was impressed by what he saw. Was this the case of, “As expected of America!”

Reggie Mercer kindly explained. “We’re paying as much attention to our soldiers’ welfare as possible. As such, I guarantee you that they won’t skip training with excuses like not getting enough sleep, sir.”

Lee Hyeon-Su began viewing Reggie Mercer in a new light just then. He had been wondering why the American soldier would bring them here and boast about such wonderful facilities, but now...

Aha, so that’s why. He’s telling us not to worry about anything and train his soldiers like dogs.

It was as if he was looking at a man who only viewed the world through the prism called “training.”

Kang Jin-Ho coolly nodded. “Good. Where are the trainees?”

“They are currently assembled in the central training area, sir.”

“Mm? Don’t you have an auditorium or something like that?”

Reggie Mercer frowned while scratching his head. “We’re still constructing our facilities, sir. However, housing and training so many soldiers in an indoor environment is not easy. We’ll need another two months of construction.”

“Mm...”

“Until then, we’ll have to train outdoors. However, there’s no need to worry. Not only civilians, but even the Korean military personnel are prohibited from approaching this location. The airspace is closed off to all civilian air traffic, as well. And we’re sending electronic jamming signals to prevent satellites from taking photos of this location as much as possible.”

“N-no, I was more curious about training while it’s raining, and trainees breathing in dust and... and...”

Electronic jamming signals? Satellites? What on Earth was this American even saying?

Reggie Mercer smiled sheepishly. “You don’t have to worry about such things, sir. These are soldiers. Soldiers meant to wage war in some of the most inhospitable environments should not be dissatisfied with such things. Assembly Master, please focus on training them and nothing else. We will handle everything else.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. He liked this kind of attitude.

Of course, Reggie Mercer’s attitude was not a reflection of every trainee’s mindset. However, a commander with his head screwed on properly would inevitably inspire his soldiers to be the same.

Kang Jin-Ho glanced at Reggie Mercer. “Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir!”

While Reggie Mercer took the lead again, Lee Hyeon-Su leaned in and whispered to Kang Jin-Ho.

“Sir, isn’t this weird?”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly. “What is?”

“Back then, I didn’t think much of it since we were in the middle of a battle, but... He’s been showing us around by himself. No entourage or escorts whatsoever, sir.”

“So? What’s wrong with that?”

“But isn’t he the division commander?”

“...!”

That was when it finally clicked in his mind, causing an error to suddenly interrupt Kang Jin-Ho’s brain function briefly.

The “division commander” he had experienced back in his military days did not match the one currently walking in front of him.

Lee Hyeon-Su continued to speak. “I heard from somewhere that the American division commanders don’t mind cracking jokes with regular grunts and even dine together, sir. I guess that was true all along.”

“There’s no way...” Kang Jin-Ho grimaced again. “That sounds like some kind of urban legend.”

“But, sir, I’ve heard it’s true.”

Kang Jin-Ho couldn’t help but look at Reggie Mercer in a renewed light just then.

Was this because of the difference in cultures? Since Kang Jin-Ho hadn’t experienced it, he couldn’t be sure. But one thing seemed certain at this point. The American in front of him had to be the most easygoing division commander he had ever met until now.

Reggie Mercer looked back at Kang Jin-Ho. “Ah, that’s right. Assembly Master?”

“Mm?”

“I have a personal favor to ask of you. Can you dispatch someone who can explain the basic concepts of martial arts?”

Kang Jin-Ho tilted his head. “To train the soldiers?”

“No, sir. I need to learn as well.”

“...? Mm?”

Reggie Mercer slowed his gait until he could walk next to Kang Jin-Ho before resuming his explanation. “I’m nominally the division commander of the Special Operations Brigade, sir. However, with zero knowledge or understanding of martial arts, I will not be able to plan operations that utilize our men effectively. For now, this is nothing more than a training base. However, it will instantly change into a combat-oriented base once a situation breaks out, so...”

“Mm, I understand what you mean.”

The corners of Kang Jin-Ho’s lips curled up slightly. It seemed he had made the right call in picking Reggie Mercer.

The American knew exactly what he must do. A man like that would surely make Kang Jin-Ho’s job that much easier.

“Sir, will that be possible?”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “It shouldn’t be difficult. Actually, we have the perfect man for the job, anyway.”

Lee Hyeon-Su leaned in closer and asked, “You mean... Director Bang, sir?”

“...No. His English is not good enough.”

“Ah, that’s right. A fatal flaw, indeed,” Lee Hyeon-Su muttered while tutting loudly away.

Bang Jin-Hun not being able to speak English was one thing, but there was also the matter of the American version of martial arts being completely different from Eastern martial arts. Since that was the case, it’d be better to dispatch someone who knew the ins and outs of Western martial arts instead. Which meant...

Lee Hyeon-Su rubbed his chin. “Looks like my master will have to get involved.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “That’s right.”

Indeed, Wiggins fit the requirements perfectly.

“However, Wiggins doesn’t have to be here all the time. He can alternate with the members of the Chevaliers, for instance.”

Lee Hyeon-Su nodded in understanding. “Actually, both Captain Vincent and Vice Captain Mathieu were complaining about getting bored lately, so I was wondering what to do about that... This is good news, isn’t it?”

“I thought those two would be in charge of the additional personnel coming from the Round Table?”

“Yes, they are. However, they currently don’t have anything on their plates while the discussion is still ongoing, sir. I believe dispatching them here as instructors is a good idea. As long as they are willing, of course.”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded silently. He agreed that this was not a bad option. Those two men must’ve been itching to get out and do something else outside the Assembly’s walls, after all.

While discussing this and that, the trio reached the location where they could see the large training ground.

“Hoh-oh...!”

Lee Hyeon-Su’s eyes widened slightly.

The large training ground was filled to the brim with uniformed soldiers. The sight of so many soldiers standing in well-organized columns and lines was truly impressive. Even Lee Hyeon-Su felt a little intimidated by it.

“Very good.”

The corners of Kang Jin-Ho’s lips curled up much more than before.

It seemed his “personal” demonstration back at the Nevadan base did the trick. Besides, these soldiers must’ve heard about Kang Jin-Ho crushing the 15th armored division, too. Which meant that their evaluation of Kang Jin-Ho must be sky-high right now.

So, you want to show me that you are all martial artists as well?

Whether these people’s true nature was that of a soldier or a martial artist was still not clear yet, but if the nature of a martial artist existed in their hearts, no matter how tiny it was, they should all harbor the desire to become even stronger than before.

Kang Jin-Ho could definitely sense that desire from them right now.

“To the front! Attention!”

The soldiers all uniformly raised their right hands and pressed them to their foreheads to salute the trio.

Kang Jin-Ho chuckled softly. “I’m not a soldier, so you don’t have to worry about something like that from now on.”

“Understood. We’ll take note of it,” Reggie Mercer replied.

Kang Jin-Ho walked up the platform and stared at the soldiers in silence for a while before addressing them loudly.

“Coming this far must’ve been a tough decision to make for all of you.”

The soldiers stared even more intently at Kang Jin-Ho as he spoke in fluent English.

“The only way to reward you for your decision... is to make you all stronger!”

Kang Jin-Ho stopped talking there, then glanced behind him. Lee Hyeon-Su followed his boss’s gaze and stared at the same location some distance away.

That was where several cameras could be seen pointing this way. There should be many more cameras installed in various locations, too. Most likely, all for the purpose of analyzing how Kang Jin-Ho trained these soldiers.

The corners of Kang Jin-Ho’s lips curled up again. If looking was enough to make one understand, these soldiers wouldn’t have to go through all this hardship in the first place.

Kang Jin-Ho cleared his throat, then addressed the soldiers again. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear any useless preambles from me. Then, let’s get to training right away.”

“Yes, sir!”

Kang Jin-Ho nodded in satisfaction at the chorus of loud voices. “Let’s keep it simple for now. How about... demonstrating your stamina first?”

He then pointed to a spot in the distance.

“Start from there. I want you all to lap the training ground a hundred times.”

Disappointment immediately filled the expressions of the soldiers.

Isn’t he underestimating us too much?

Only a hundred laps? That’s not much of a training.

These people traveled to this far-off land in the East to satisfy their desire to get stronger. That was why they felt like deflated balloons at this level of training. But that feeling only lasted until Kang Jin-Ho said something else.

“On the principle of first come, first served...”

“...?”

“From second place onward, you run an extra hundred laps.”

“...?”

“Now, start running.”

While most of the soldiers stood there in stupefaction and confusion, a few were smart enough to realize what Kang Jin-Ho was saying. They yelled in alarm and dashed toward the starting point in a hurry. That finally sobered the other quick-witted soldiers, and they all began dashing after the first group.

Kang Jin-Ho cocked his head from side to side a few times while observing this scene.

“Yes... The Korean way of training is always the best.”

And soon, these people would come to learn that fact as well!

1. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. ☜