The Weapon Genius: Anything I Hold Can Kill-Chapter 180: One Night (Part Two)

The night had already settled over the prison, casting long shadows over the crumbling buildings. The hum of the city around them seemed distant, almost as if the prison had been carved out from the very core of the earth, sealed away from the world.

Jin led the group to a small, almost invisible maintenance tunnel behind the main building, his eyes scanning the dim light for any signs of movement. This tunnel was their chosen route in, a narrow crawl space that led into the heart of the prison’s infrastructure. They were still far from the main entrance, but close enough now to see the sharp contours of the wall, the layers of security built into the facility’s design. Jin wasn’t worried about being seen outside; the main concern now was getting inside without attracting attention.

Ryu, moving with the quiet precision of someone who had done this many times before, gestured to the narrow entryway. "Once we’re in, it’ll be tight. Can’t risk too much noise, especially with the guards posted in the halls."

Jin nodded. He had seen the layers of surveillance set up here—field watchers, security posts, and cameras blinking quietly in every corner. It was a place designed to keep people in as much as it kept others out.

The first challenge was the entrance itself. The small, grated door was reinforced, and Jin quickly ran his fingers along its edges, trying to get a feel for the security. Hanuel, who had stayed quiet until now, stepped forward, his eyes scanning the area.

"If we go in one by one, it might draw attention," Hanuel said, his voice low but clear. "I can carry us—through the shadows."

Jin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the offer. Hanuel’s abilities were still somewhat new to him since they evolved, but it seemed like a perfect solution to the problem.

"Let’s go with that then," Jin said, his voice steady. "I’ll take the lead, and we’ll move quickly."

Hanuel nodded and motioned for everyone to line up. One by one, they entered his shadow. Jin watched as each of them disappeared into the ethereal darkness, their bodies briefly slipping into the space between worlds before reappearing behind him.

It was a strange sensation, moving through the shadows. The world seemed to bend and stretch as they traveled. Jin felt the pull of the darkness around him, the cool chill in the air that seemed to engulf him entirely. But it only lasted a few moments before they emerged on the other side, quietly stepping into the bowels of the prison.

The corridors here were dimmer, lit only by the faint glow of emergency lights. They moved swiftly, Hanuel leading them through the narrow passages. Jin’s mind was focused, his senses sharp as he listened for any sign of danger. The prison felt alive in a strange way, like it was watching them from the dark corners of the walls.

After a few minutes, they arrived at a door leading into a storage room, and Hanuel gestured for them to enter. It wasn’t a long stay; they needed to get in and get out quickly. But the room was perfect for a brief stop.

Inside the storage room, racks of prison uniforms lined the walls. Some were torn and tattered, but others looked fine enough for what they needed. The jumpsuits were a deep orange, marked with the prison’s insignia, a stark reminder of where they were.

"We’ll blend in better this way," Jin said, already grabbing a set of clothes. "Make sure you cover your gear."

Seul, always the most meticulous of them, moved to one side and began adjusting the folds of her jumpsuit, making sure it fit just right. Jin noticed that the others were already changing too—Hanuel pulling on his jumpsuit with his usual precision, Echo adjusting the discs he carried, Joon tying his boots tightly. They all looked the part. But even though they were dressed to blend in, Jin could still feel the weight of their presence, the subtle but undeniable power that each of them carried. This wasn’t the same as wearing a disguise to hide; it was more like wearing a mask to fit in. They were still themselves, just playing the part for now.

Yujin, now fully disguised as the guard, led the way, her steps deliberate and measured. Her baton swayed gently at her side as she moved through the prison corridors, every sound muffled by her careful control. The others followed quietly, their steps nearly synchronized. The shadows seemed to swallow them whole as they moved deeper into the prison’s heart.

Jin watched her, impressed by how she maintained her focus. The circlet around her neck glowed faintly, an imperceptible pulse that indicated her power was still active. Even with the risk of the disguise failing at any moment, Yujin carried herself with the kind of authority that allowed her to pass unnoticed, a perfect fit for the role.

They reached a crossroads—an intersection where the corridor split into multiple hallways, each leading to different sectors. Above them, a crude map of the prison was tacked to the wall, with sections marked out in red. Each sector had a specific purpose: West Wing, North Wing, South Wing, East Wing.

Yujin glanced over her shoulder at Jin and Ryu, her voice steady despite the tension in the air. "We split up here. We’ll cover more ground that way."

Jin nodded. "West, North, South, and East. The four cardinal points. Each group takes one."

Ryu, standing slightly behind them, scanned the map. "I’ll take the North Wing with you, Jin," he said, his tone flat. "The Warden’s office is in that direction. If we can take out the leader, we might have a shot at breaking the rest of them down quickly."

"Agreed," Jin replied. "We’re taking down the head first. Disrupt the command structure, and the rest should fall apart."

He turned, scanning the group. Twelve of them. Too many to move as one. Too risky.

"We split," he said. "Four groups of three."

The map on the wall was faded but clear enough—each of the wings radiated out like arms from a central junction. Each one potentially housing dozens, maybe more. The stronger the presence, the heavier the resistance.

"I’ll take the north wing," Jin continued. "Ryu and Baekho, you’re with me. If the Warden’s office is anywhere, it’ll be there."

Ryu gave a short nod. "Makes sense. Let’s finish this in one clean stroke."

"South wing goes to Seul," Jin added, his eyes flicking to her. "You’re taking Chul and Hanseong."

Seul crossed her arms, expression unreadable. Chul gave a thumbs-up.

"East wing—Hanuel, Joon, and Jisoo," Jin continued.

Joon rolled his neck. "Time to put in some work."

Hanuel adjusted the Ruyi Jingu Bang across his back and gave a small, eager grin.

"And that leaves the west for Echo, Kang Hyun, and Yujin," Jin finished. "Stay low. Stay smart. If you’re spotted, you don’t run. You cause a racket. That’ll be our signal to strike."

Everyone nodded.

"Good. Once the signal’s up, we all go loud," Ryu said. "And we finish this before dawn."

They dispersed in silence.

Jin’s group moved quickly, weaving through the dim corridors of the northern wing. The halls were dimly lit, bathed in soft red hues from the emergency strips lining the ceiling. The deeper they moved in, the louder the noise became. Not alarms—voices.

Laughter. Music. The metallic clang of something hitting a wall.

They turned a corner and passed a set of old holding cells. Half of them were empty, others converted into makeshift storage, with mattresses piled up or furniture dragged in. The people inside—dozens of them—barely glanced up, too preoccupied with whatever they were doing.

"They’ve turned this place into their own fortress," Baekho muttered.

"Not just a fortress," Ryu said. "A damn community."

As they moved further, the corridor widened into an open recreational yard. Broken benches lined the walls, and in the middle, a series of tables had been crudely set up. Cards were being dealt, voices rising over each other, some barking in frustration, others howling with laughter.

A small fight broke out near the back. Two men standing. One of them—broad, scarred across the cheek—slammed his fist into the other’s chest. The crack echoed, and the man stumbled back, gasping, dropping his cards.

"CHEATER," the brawler barked. "Tried to sneak a suit up his sleeve, I saw it."

The table jeered and threw mock curses. The cheater was dragged off by a few others, laughing.

Then the man’s eyes swept across the room—and locked on Jin.

"You there!" he called out, pointing. "Yeah, you. You look like you don’t suck. You play?"

Jin slowed.

Ryu’s brow raised. Baekho subtly moved a hand toward his hip.

Jin raised a hand in calm. "Blend in," he murmured under his breath. "We keep moving through crowds like ghosts, they’ll notice."

Ryu nodded. "Fine. But don’t lose."

Jin walked forward, the other prisoners parting slightly to let him pass. The man who called him over sat back down, gesturing to the now-vacant seat with a flourish.

"Come on, fresh face," the man said, grinning. "Pull a hand and see if you can keep it."

Jin sat without a word.

He let his gaze flick briefly around the table—six players now, a mess of cards in front of them, and one dented metal pot acting as the bank. The faces were varied—young, old, stitched with old scars or tattoes Most were armored with nothing but muscle and confidence.

The broad man handed him the deck. "You shuffle."

Jin took the cards.

As he began to shuffle, methodical and smooth, one of the others leaned forward, eyeing him curiously.

"Don’t recognize you," he muttered.

"I’m new," Jin said simply.

Another man snorted. "Ah, so where from?" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"Does it matter?" the broad one replied. "If he plays well, he’s welcome at the table."

He grinned again.

Jin gave no reply. He finished the shuffle and began dealing cards with smooth, practiced motions.

Behind him, Ryu leaned against the wall, arms folded. Baekho stayed close by, blending into the crowd, pretending to watch the game with mild interest.

The noise returned to its usual hum. Around them, the room continued—more people arriving, eating, sparring in corners, playing dice against the wall.

Jin looked down at his hand.

The real game hadn’t started yet.

But it would soon.

And this table?

This was his way in.

To the heart of the wing. To information. To positioning.

All he had to do was play along.

And wait for the right hand.