《The Imperial Hunter》
Chapter 1: Triangle Flight (1)
Chapter 1: Triangle Flight (1)
December in Singapore was a season of heavy rainfall. The tropical city, where showers swept through, was filled with humid air. Christmas carols echoed through the sweltering streets. Even in this scorching city, the giant Santa sculpture was dressed in thick, red fur. People gathered in front of it, smiling and takingmemorative photos. They were oblivious to what was happening right now and had no idea of the events that would unfold in the future.
Hyungnim.
One of my subordinates called out in a soft tone.
Do you see that Magic Powerhere too?
I had given the name Magic Power to what I believed was the source of magic. It had been in short supply for a very long time, but for some reason, it had started overflowing in the sky and on the ground three days ago.
I frowned as I replied.
Yes. Its flowing everywhere, to the point where theres no corner left untouched.
Upon hearing my response, my subordinate looked around with a curious gaze. However, to ordinary eyes, there was nothing unusual to be seen. Unless they were like me, with their eyes gouged out and relics embedded.
Another subordinate chimed in eagerly.
Shouldnt we go back early, then? To prepare for something. If we hurry, we might be able to book a flight to Incheon before the sun sets.
No. It would raise suspicions.
Suspicions?
Leaving for a foreign country and staying for less than half a day is not amon urrence.
Ah!
Those who have noticed this significant change would have had the same thought First, I need to confirm whether this is happening only where I am or if its a global phenomenon. Later, in order to avoid exposure to their tracking, we must avoid obvious actions.
I see!
If we wanted to save time from the beginning, we should have hurried from Australia. Three days in Brisbane and today and tomorrow here would provide a reasonable alibi.
Schedules with this much leeway would get lost in the everyday concerns of people who had both money and time to spare.
So, both of you should just enjoy your trip like ordinary travelers. This phenomenon even if this abnormal excess of Magic Power continues, there wont be any immediate trouble. Visible changes wille slowly.
Kuhh! You always have a n, Hyungnim!
Lower your voices.
Yes!
Lower them.
Yes
One of my two subordinates became subdued.
As I had mentioned, Singapore was the second destination of this trip. A flight forming a huge triangle with Incheon, Brisbane, and Singapore as its vertices. The goal of this short trip was to confirm the density changes of Magic Power based on longitude andtitude.
If the distribution of Magic Power were localized, the density would change with a change in location. Furthermore, the distribution could take the form of a wide area or a narrow strip. Thats why I had nned this triangr flight. A triangle was the minimum condition for forming an area.
The results confirmed that the distribution of Magic Power was uniform in all the ces we had visited.
Considering the area of the triangle I had drawn, even if the density of Magic Power decreased outside of it, the influence of its sides was likely to extend globally. I resisted the temptation to draw arger triangle, weighing the risks of future tracing against the certainty it would provide.
The remaining question was how long this change wouldst
On that matter, no one on Earth would be able to provide an answer.
As I pondered, I realized that the hotel I had booked was nearby. Walking into the lobby, I felt my subordinates watching me, like eager puppies.
Kyung-tae, I told you to lower your voice, but I didnt say to keep your mouth shut.
Ah.
If you have something to say, go ahead.
As soon as I gave him permission, the guy eagerly started talking.
This is the Intercontinental, right?
What about it?
From what Ive found, theres a bar just one block away from here that ims to serve every drink in the world. Its probably an exaggeration, but its known among locals. How about stopping by there?
You want to start looking for alcohol before the sun even sets?
You told us to enjoy the trip, didnt you? After all, isnt half of traveling about eating and drinking? And they wont just serve alcohol there. You could have a drink, then after sunset, you can explore the local night market, try some dim sum, have someksa, and enjoy all kinds of skewers with a cold beer.
He went on and on, talking a lot. I wondered what he had found during that short pause.
Still, it was a better n than just staying holed up in the hotel. When your mind is tangled, its good to deliberately look for something to do. Good ideas tend toe when you have some leisure. I nodded to him, indicating that he should go ahead.
All right, lets check in first.
Thank you, Hyungnim!
Your voice.
Yes.
It was a ce with a lot of tourists. There was nothing to gain from attracting attention.
After leaving our luggage in the room, it was just past 5 PM. Across the street, a modern-style National Library building stood tall. Personally, I preferred books to alcohol, and I could read in both English and Mandarin, but right now, it didnt seem like anything I read would register in my mind.
Shall we go, Hyungnim? Ill guide you.
Eager Kyung-tae guided us from behind. I heard a sigh from the opposite side.
Finally, we arrived at a ce that was magnificent from the inside out. Even just the two-story-high ceiling and the spacious area would be an unimaginable luxury in Singapore, wherend prices were sky-high. Shelves on arge pir were filled with bottles of liquor, and they sparkled in various colors under the bright green light. While the im of serving every drink in the world might be an exaggeration, the lineup certainly looked top-notch.
Inside, a jazz-arranged carol was ying. The volume was just right so that conversations wouldnt be drowned out.
Take your time choosing.
The girl who guided us to the table went away with a smile and left us with the menu. Flipping through it quickly, there were 25 pages of regr beverages alone, and the special collection had 108 pages. The guy who talked too much earlier suddenly had his mouth agape. I pushed the collection book toward him.
You look.
Can I order from this?
Ill go with champagne for myself. I dont want to get too drunk.
Kyung-tae, who was excited earlier, turned his seat to look at me.
What about Suyeon-noonim?
The same as Hyungnim.
Okay. Then Ill have champagne too. Since were drinking together, its better to order a bottle. You two can check out the snacks.
Saying that, he stared at the collection book. The sound of pages turning,pletely absorbed. I wondered if it would be nice to be so engrossed in something like that.
Wow!
He found something and was surprised. Once again, he nced at me.
What is it?
Theres a bottle here thats 750 milliliters and costs $197,000.
Champagne?
Yes. Its insane, isnt it?
$197,000 in Singapore dors was roughly 1.6 billion Korean won. You could drink Dom Prignon Oenotheque, a high-end brand, for 300,000 yen in the heart of Tokyo. I nodded slightly to Kyung-tae.
Let me see.
Sure.
The open page had product descriptions written in English.
[On October 26, 1916, in the midst of World War I, a small smuggling schooner named J?nk?ping set sail from G?vle Port in southern Sweden. This ship was loaded with 3,000 bottles of champagne ordered by thest Russian Emperor, Nichs II]
The narrative continued with various details, including being sunk by a German U-boat U-22 off the coast of Find, but the summary was that it was champagne from a century ago retrieved from the bottom of the sea. It remained preserved due to the pressure and temperature of the seabed.
Its from 1907 and costs $197,000.
Its champagne that has been aged for a hundred years. Arent you curious about the taste?
The sound of swallowing objections. I looked at Kyung-tae.
Do you want to try it?
Of course! But the price
Order it.
Oh? Oooooohhhh?!
Kyung-tae cheered, clenching his fists.
This isnt a dream, right? Ill be forever loyal to you, Hyungnim! Hahaha.
Perhaps not liking the way things were going, Suyeon politely interjected.
Hyungnim, if you keep indulging him like this, hell get spoiled.
Whats wrong with that, Noonim?
Your behavior
Youre arguing with facts.
Facts, what?
I tapped the table with my fingers to break up their discussion. The two fell silent immediately.
This champagne has seen the light after a hundred years. Isnt it okay to drink it inmemoration on a day like today? Shall we have a ss together?
It was the day we first sensed the magic source overflow, anyway, and today was when wed confirmed it was a worldwide phenomenon. Whether it was for a good reason or a bad one, it was worthmemorating. In a way, there was amon thread between the return of the magic source and the champagne from the sunken ship.
Suyeon, who usually shied away from extravagance, reluctantly agreed.
Okay.
However, Kyung-tae, with hisrge build, was watching for cues. After all, indulging in such extravagance for reasons other than business was notmon. It would be better for me to ce the order.
The waitress who responded to our call listened to the order and couldnt hide her surprise. But she quickly assessed the situation and gave us a sweet smile.
Your order has been confirmed. Is there anything else youd like?
I ordered a few snacks in addition.
Well bring the food as soon as its ready. Please wait a moment.
The footsteps of the waitress, who was now moving away, seemed light. She was probably feeling like she was floating, considering the service charge added to the bill. It was 10% of the price with tax added, equivalent to the cost of a small car. They would have to split it with the other employees though.
Not long after, the drinks and food were served. There were twelve pieces of sea urchin roe with yuzu sauce and lemon, croquettes the size of a bite filled with La Peral cheese and shallot pickles, a te of Madeleines with no added sugar, and a dish of grilled piadina topped with anchovies. These were things that could be made rtively quickly, as long as the preparation was done.
It may seem like a lot, but if I didnt order like this, Suyeon would hide her preferences and make things difficult. In ces like this, I had to be careful because she was the type of person who would avoid causing trouble by confirming my orders one by one.
The champagne had almost nobel left, and the ss bottle and cork still had traces of the sea and the passage of time that meticulous cleaning couldnt remove. The manager personally came out and showed me the Christies auction certificate, guaranteeing its authenticity. It was a certificate made so that customers could check the unique number with the auction house. Ill have Kyung-tae take it as a souvenir.
Alright, lets open it.
With permission granted, the manager carefully handled the bottle, removing the cork. Since it was so old, it had to be handled delicately to prevent any damage.
Shall I pour it into the sses for you?
In response to the managers question, Kyung-tae, who had regained his appetite, waved his hand and spoke in rough English.
No, no. Its okay. You may leave.
The manager left, leaving a message that we should call if we needed anything. Kyung-tae chuckled and politely held the bottle with both hands.
Now, Ill pour the first ss.
I tilted my ss and received the champagne that Kyung-tae poured. From the narrow ss, golden bubbles rose in a transparent whirlpool.
You both should have some too.
Taking the bottle that was passed to me, I filled the two of their sses in order.
We clinked our sses and tasted the champagne. The first sip, with the scent of oak and fruits, was fresh with a moderate acidity and less sweetness. It was well-aged and smooth, but in terms of pure taste, the high-end selections avable in the market were of a better quality.
Suyeon, seemingly feeling the same, made a slightly bitter expression.
It doesnt seem to have a taste as special as its price.
Kyung-tae, who was savoring the experience, retorted.
Hehe, Noonim, this is meant to be enjoyed with emotion, emotion.
Can emotions put food on the table?
Apple, apany, ims something like that. (+)[1]TLN: Emotional branding is when apany tries to make you feel a certain way about their products. Apple is great at this. They want you to feel happy, creative, and like their stuff makes your life better. They use cool ads and stylish products to make you like them. So in the story, when he mentions Apple, its a joke about how good Apple is at making people feel certain emotions to buy their products.
What kind ofic talk is this?
As I squeezed a lemon onto the thick scallops, Suyeon, who had taken a few sips, put her ss down and asked.
Hyungnim, what do you think will happen to the world if this situation continues for a long time?
Well, thats hard to say.
I ced the lemon on the ice and fell into thought for a moment. The expected changes were so massive that listing them one by one would be endless, and it was not easy to choose the right words when shortening the exnation.
For now, it seemed best to say this.
One thing is for sure. The world we live in is going to be more rugged, dangerous, and unpredictable as time goes on.- 1. TLN: Emotional branding is when apany tries to make you feel a certain way about their products. Apple is great at this. They want you to feel happy, creative, and like their stuff makes your life better. They use cool ads and stylish products to make you like them. So in the story, when he mentions Apple, its a joke about how good Apple is at making people feel certain emotions to buy their products.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 2: Triangle Flight (2)
Chapter 2: Triangle Flight (2)
Suyeon, who had been gently stroking her lips, asked again.
Is it because of people?
I shook my head.
No. Its because of all living things.
This answer seemed to surprise both Suyeon and Kyung-tae, who had been listening intently. They might now be starting to grasp the enormity of the changes I was anticipating.
Magic wasnt exclusively for humans, was it?
Yeah. More urately, it was primitive magic.
Primitive magic?
Something closer to specialized superpowers in appearance. Most of the awakening will likely manifest as enhanced life itself and other peripheral abilities.
Implementing magic required a circuit to convert magic power into magic circuits engraved in the soul. In environments rich in magic, the circuit naturally formed as the soul connected to magic.
However, I cant have such a sophisticated circuit as my own
Having too much magic was also a problem. In this vast and turbulent flow, creating highly integrated circuits was an impossible task.
So, primitive circuits could potentially surpass me in terms of the total amount of flowing energy, but they might suffer from leakage, wastage, and reducedplexity in utilizing that energy. I suspect that they might only effectively utilize energy at a rate that didnt even reach 1%.
There exists an insurmountable gap between those who were mages before and those who were newly awakening.
I exined all of this to the two of them, slowly, calmly, and in an organized manner.
As we spoke, the soft glow of twilight filled the inside of the ss, casting a beautiful light even in my extraordinary field of vision.
Kyung-tae, who had been looking at my ss absentmindedly, scratched his head.
Ah, I sort of get it, but its hard to imagine. People, but also, what was it, like wild boars, are bing much more dangerous than they are now, right?
I tilted my head.
Why wild boars, of all things?
Theyre the first thing thates to mind. They oftene down to residential areas. You hear news about them rushing into convenience stores or ramming cars. So, imagine that, like superpowered wild boars? I mean, a lot of people could get hurt or killed, right? Haha.
Hmm.
True, but when considering the total amount of damage, there are creatures that could be more troublesome. Im talking about species with a direct motive to attack humans.
Like?
For example
I thought of the animal that kills the most humans in the world.
Mosquitoes.
Uh, mosquitoes?
Yes.
I picked up a piece of rock candy, swallowed it, and continued.
Its a rather extreme example, but imagine a world where even insecticides struggle to work, and mosquitoes with sheer strength tear through mosquitos to get in. It would be incredibly extreme, wouldnt it?
Huh?
Kyung-tae protested.
You mean, those creatures might appear in swarms?
I said its an extreme example.
So?
The likelihood of awakening, as well as the strength of abilities, will be proportional to the creatures body mass and the time it has lived. There will also be differences depending on the species.
Mosquitoes had small souls. With a small soul in a small body, the exposed surface area to magic, and thus the size of the circuit that could be created, would also be small.
However.
The problem lies in numbers.
Perhaps because I had a sip of champagne while pondering, my contemtion temporarily drifted in a less productive direction. How many mosquitoes were there in this world?
I should calcte this using Fermi estimation.
Since mosquitoes exist even in deserts, except for pr regions, we should assume that mosquitoes were distributed globally, with varying poption densities. The approximate area would be about 13 million square kilometers, maybe?
Lets roughly estimate that there was one mosquito per 5 square meters in ces like deserts, swamps, and grasnds
260 billion mosquitoes.
Even if the probability of awakening was one in ten thousand, it meant that right now, there were 260 million super mosquitoes ready to emerge. Moreover, this probability was repeated with every generation. In reality, it would feel like many more.
Although this was an imprecise estimate, it implied something significant. If the proliferation of magic power was not resolved early, humanity would have to live in such a world. Starting with tiny creatures like mosquitoes, all living environments would be unfamiliar and hostile.
Kyung-tae sshed some water on his face.
I might have to sell my stocks
Suyeon, who was taking notes, narrowed her eyes.
Why are you suddenly talking about stocks?
I think the uncertainty in the future global economy might worsen.
He was quite consistent.
What did you buy?
Kyung-tae answered when asked.
Cell X Leone.
Any profit?
No, Im in the red. Ive been holding onto it since the end of the year beforest, around 200,000, as Kim-ajussi in Yeouido advised me I should have sold it when it hit 300,000, but I got greedy watching it go up
You made a mistake.
I know I did.
Kyung-tae looked sulky. Kim-ssi in Yeouido was the executive in charge of my domestic asset management, and it seemed he also shared investment advice with Kyung-tae.
Dont rush.
What?
All the things weve discussed so far are about what could happen if the magic power proliferation bes a long-term issue.
If this phenomenon ended in the short term Although it might not evaporate all at once, there likely wouldnt be such severe chaos. In a bear market, it might even be the right time to buy. It would stabilize soon.
Of course, it was just a prediction.
So youre saying that well have to wait and see a bit more.
Thats right.
I refilled their sses until they were full. Now the bottle was empty. Kyung-tae, upon seeing the champagne overflowing as if it would spill over any moment, eximed and sucked it down. He was the one encouraging me to drink more. Not to mention Suyeon.
Whats the big deal? Its just alcohol even if its expensive.
The rich vor of lemon and butter in the madeleine paired wonderfully with the champagne. The oily softness of the madeleine, when paired with the champagnes cold crispness, was a delightfulbination.
Suyeon, who had been watching me drink with a steady gaze, carefully spoke up.
It seems like you, Hyungnim, arent exactly pleased with this situation.
She had good observation skills. I admitted my concerns openly.
Thats correct.
I cant believe Huh? Why?
Kyung-tae, a beatte, wore a puzzled expression.
Hyungnim, shouldnt you be able to use your abilities without sacrificing those who should die now?
Soon, itlle to that.
Huh? Soon? Not right away?
Even with a lot of magic power, its too much.
To harness my potential, I needed to adjust my circuits ording to the changing environment. Before doing so, running the circuits at full capacity would result in cellr-level copse or turning into a vegetable, just like an electronic circuit frying due to overvoltage. In fact, even now, while I was sitting still, a light load was being applied.
Kyung-tae couldnt hide his confusion.
Anyway, if you be much stronger than before, is there a problem?
Of course. The stronger I be, the stronger those in London will be.
By those in London, I meant the former associates of my master.
Beside Kyung-tae, Suyeon nodded thoughtfully.
I didnt consider it that far. You once mentioned that they were people who would live quietly in the worlds shadows, right?
That was the case then. All that remained for those imperialists was their past glory.
But now it was different. Struggling with a shortage of magic power, Londons mages were about to obtain tremendous power and influence. Theyd looted knowledge and artifacts from all over the world during the time when the sun never set on their empire.
I muttered with a slight irritation.
My former master, that damned white-haired bastard, has done things that cant be undone by him or me So the sh between me and London is almost certain. Its going to be a long, dangerous, and exhausting fight.
The Eye of the Golden Age, as they call it, was originally the most precious relic of the London imperialists. I didnt have the option of pulling it out and returning it to save my life. The moment I pulled it out, Id die from circuit rupture.
Thinking of my former master, memories of the tasteless alcohol from my days in the orphanage resurfaced.
Sigh. What a despicable guy.
Suyeon asked.
Is it impossible to hide and live, avoiding the prying eyes of that London?
I responded decisively.
Even if its possible, its a matter of luck.
I dont want that. Rather than living a fugitives life in fear for the rest of my life, Id rather fight with everything Ive got.
Until one side or the other ispletely finished.
In the memories left by my former master, there were the abhorrent values and atrocities of the London imperialists. Just as it was with my master, to the fanatics, I was just an impersonator, a decoy. There was no negotiating or coexisting with them; they had no redeeming qualities or value.
And I guarantee you, itll be beneficial for everyone, including you, when those guys disappear from the Earth. Theyre just cancer cells that would otherwise devour this world.
After finishing my statement, I controlled my emotions. Somehow, my tone had be more rough. I usually refrained from revealing too much emotion, but when it came to my master and the imperialist bastards, it was difficult not to.
A moment of silence settled on the table. The music ying at the bar and the indistinct voices in the surroundings made for a chaotic backdrop.
Kyung-tae, who had been ying with the half-empty champagne ss, downed it and shrugged.
But, Hyungnim, its not going to change anything, is it? When you say kill, we kill, and when you say die, we die, right?
At that moment, I instinctively scanned Kyung-taes brain. There were no signs of any falsehood in his frontal cortex or amygd. (+)[1]TLN: Amygd is a small part of your brain, but it has a big job. Its a major processing center for emotions.
This guy was always like a tail-wagging dog. It was not an insult; he was genuinely loyal, like a dog. Sometimes, he seemed like a lunatic though.
Thats why I didnt mind spending 16 million on champagne.
By the way, Hyungnim.
Kyung-tae asked.
We still have a lot of side dishes left. Can I order another bottle of champagne that isnt so outrageously expensive?
Do as you please.
Thank you!
He immediately ordered a new bottle of champagne.
The guy, who had been flipping through the menu, pointed to a page.
How about this one?
What is it?
Its a 2000 vintage Krug Sir Winston Churchill.''
Krug is a champagne brand that Winston Churchill reportedly enjoyed. They still sold products with his name on them. However, Churchill, while not directly rted to Londons mages, was morally a detestable imperialist scoundrel.
Suyeon and I looked at him in disbelief, and Kyung-taeughed heartily.
Feeling a bit better now?
I clicked my tongue lightly.
Alcohol isnt a sin.
Hehehe! Thank you very much, Hyungnim!
He promptly ordered a new bottle of champagne.
The champagne bearing the name of an imperialist was far superior to the American Taste that had been rescued from the shipwreck a hundred years ago. However, the design was absurd. Churchills face, pasted in gold leaf on the deep green bottle, sparkled in the light.
Amidst all this, Kyung-tae turned his head and murmured as quietly as possible.
He looked like he was trying to suppress a chuckle.
This guy could be quite the character.
Afterward, we focused on eating and drinking quietly. It was partly a conscious effort on my part. Thanks to Suyeons steady consumption of the spread of dishes, we didnt need a third bottle of champagne.
Kyung-tae looked at the empty tes and made a suggestion.
Wouldnt it be better to leave here and go out? I think they might be setting up a night market like Lau Pa Sat around here soon.
At first, he was ambitious, but once the expensive champagne entered the equation, it seemed his desires were somewhat satisfied.
The manager, who had been subtly keeping an eye on our table, finally rxed after the bill was settled. He escorted us to the door with a request toe back, along with his farewell.
As we walked side by side toward the night market, Kyung-tae asked Suyeon.
By the way, Noonim.
What?
Ive been curious for a while. Youre a girl, so why do you call him Hyungnim?
Because I want to.
I see.
Kyung-tae, who was acting all sophisticated, turned the tables and asked Suyeon.
Then should I call him oppa?
Kyung-tae hesitated for a moment, scratching his head.
Um, that might not be quite right.
The conversation, which had paused briefly here, soon shifted to a mundane topic.
Walking at a leisurely pace, we arrived at the famous Lau Pa Sat night market in the city after about 40 minutes. Apart from barricading the street and setting up tables, there was nothing particrly special about the ce. However, once we were seated, Kyung-tae, who had been ordering beer, seemed thoroughly delighted. Suyeon, on the other hand, maintained her quiet eating habits even here.
Well
Even such ordinary scenes might be increasingly rare in the future, so they had their own significance.
After eating their fill and having their share of drinks, the two of them returned to the hotel. It was around 11 oclock.
Rest well, Hyungnim.
May you have afortable night!
Suyeon was in front, and Kyung-tae was in the back, joking around. It was a mood lightened by alcohol.
Yeah. Sleep well, both of you.
As I entered my room, separated from them in the hallway, I looked at the dimly lit bed and let out a heavy sigh.- 1. TLN: Amygd is a small part of your brain, but it has a big job. Its a major processing center for emotions.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 3: Triangle Flight (3)
Chapter 3: Triangle Flight (3)
Dreams of revisiting the past were always the same nightmares.
Come out!
The roaring of my master was not in the form of a human.
Where are you hiding?
The pitch-ck tentacles snaked through the narrow alley, filling it tightly. As I ran frantically, my eyes were filled with panic, and my masters outstretched hand looked like a rushing torrent of ck tar. Concrete bricks with cement-coated walls copsed on both sides, and fragments of te roofs soared from the ruined buildings.
The small house where my childhood memories were embedded was destroyed like that.
Come out!
The thunderous anger of my master echoed. Although I knew it was a dream, I couldnt stop running. In this dream, my consciousness was trapped inside my past self. Inside my skull, the sound of a heartbeat filled the space. Even as I ran desperately, I couldnt feel the wind. The heavy air clung like damp mucous membranes. It felt like wandering through the belly of a monster.
The maze-likendscape, where simr intersections repeated, suddenly skipped several seasons. This ce was my past mental world. It was an abstract space where various memories I had at that time were connected infinitely, randomly, and like patchwork.
The boundaries between different memories looked like curtains made of shattered mirror fragments that reflected different times. I could vaguely see beyond it, but my master, who wasnt the owner of the memory, seemed unable to. That difference was the power that made this close escape possible.
Rumble
When I turned around, my childhood home which I had barely escaped from was copsing like an earthquake. It was crumbling behind the billowing dust clouds. The form of the furious Master was towering over it. It was a shadow muchrger than reality. However, this ce was originally an area where the distinction between substance and shadow was unclear.
I stumbled and screamed as I crossed the boundaries of new memories.
There you are.
My master spread darkness and turned it into wings. With several thunderous ps, he crossed the clouds and descended like a predator overstepping boundaries. His lightning-fast ws tore through the entire surroundingndscape. Unconscious chaos seethed between the cracked rifts.
I fell into the sewers under the crumbling road. Gasping for breath, I swallowed sewage several times, got up on all fours, coughed, and started running again.
Haa, haa, haa.
As I tumbled into the hole, the liquefied Master flowed in after me. He expanded and contracted until he took on the shape of a snake covered in ck scales. Two yellow eyes rose like suns prating the pumpkin-like darkness. The snake became a horizontal waterfall and smashed through the iron bars, colliding with the wall. Gold appeared on the ceiling, and concrete dust rained down.
At that time, I was just an ignorant child, but I instinctively realized that getting caught would be the end.
That was a snake that devoured souls.
Fortunately, in my state of misery, I didnt know that the randomness of the maze created in the mental world was actually influenced by my desperate mind.
There was only one thing in my mind. Survive, escaping from my master.
The sewage drain led to a side passage, which served as a drainage tunnel to remove rainwater. It was even more twisted and winding than reality, but somehow it didnt feel unfamiliar to me. At the end of the tunnel, once again, the boundarys shimmering curtain was in ce. The shadow of the ck snake flickered under the pale streetlight, and a gust of wind-like breath shook my hair. At the moment when the pursuers speed offset theplexity of the maze, I escaped the tunnel with a single fleeting step.
As soon as I crossed the boundary of memory, gravity reversed.
Aaargh!
Once again, an uncontroble scream from my present self. I fell from the sky above my feet to the sky overhead. Following me, the snake that had crossed the boundary turned its body in mid-air. Right after I saw that, rushing water struck my entire body. Abnormally strong currents swept me downstream. The open jaws of the snake head came through the surface with a roar, tearing into the space where I was.
In a futile protest, Master, infuriated, tried to transform himself to adapt to the new environment. He had no choice. In this world, most of the spells that affected physical reality didnt work.
I swam frantically to the shore just before my master couldplete his transformation. Then what I saw was the view of the orphanagepound where I had been picked up. At this time, surreal rain poured sporadically from the crimson-stained sky. My master was caught in the swollen current and descended towards an unfamiliar boundary. The curtain of shattered mirror pieces swallowed the rushing stream. The distorted snake shape faded into the distant memories.
The 14 buildings of the orphanage were arranged ording to a certain pattern. Connecting the buildings created a heptagonal shape with seven lines. At the intersections and corners where the lines crossed, the amodations were located. Compared to the number of buildings, the site was rtively small.
In the first building, there was one dead child.
In the second building, there were eight dead children.
In the third building, there were twelve dead children.
In the fourth building, there were nine dead children.
Thus, in the four small dormitories forming a heptagon, the total number of dead boys and girls was 30.
Furthermore, from the fourth building to the seventh building, along the way, the total number of corpses found was 30. From the seventh building, turning towards the tenth building, the total number of dead children was again 30. After that, the number of corpses found along a single line was always the same, 30.
This was, in essence, a magic square where the sum of each side was 30.
Unlike me back then, who was ignorant, I now understand the meaning of these numbers.
A heptagon with all sides totaling 30 waspleted when a ritualist drew seven lines to add up to 31 at the center of a star. In numerology, 31 symbolizes the name of God, El, and also means navigation. In other words, it became a journey toward the divine. (+)[1]TLN: First, numerology is a belief system that assigns symbolic meanings to numbers. Its often associated with spiritual or mystical interpretations of numbers, where each number is thought to have its own unique significance. In numerology, each letter of the alphabet is assigned a numerical value. In certain interpretations, the number 31 can be seen as representing El because the numerical values of the letters E and L in some systems add up to 31.
On the other hand, the 7 of the heptagon represented eternity and life, and the magic square represented inner bnce and closed integrity.
Therefore, the horrifying ritual that sacrificed 105 boys and girls had the purpose of a seeker of eternal life reaching out to the divine through a navigation ritual.
So, what were the consequences?
Christianitys concept of sanctity includes resurrection. It involved consuming the soul with the soul and seizing the flesh to enjoy new youth. The ritualist repeated this ritual every time life was nearing its end, with the hope of reaching eternity. This was the first practical application of the aged imperialist, a design that took a long time to n.
Upon reaching the center of the heptagon, I discovered the apparition of myself, bound, and my master who stood before me. It was the situation right before the nightmare began.
Rumble
The ground shook. Masters spiritual form had returned from beyond the boundary of memory. The rough tremors indirectly conveyed an even greater rage.
The me from the past wiped away tears with dirty hands. The ce where a wall with fresh ster should have been was undting with the new boundary of memory. It was time to resume the escape with no guarantee of sess. As I threw myself at the boundary, my vision was engulfed in darkness.
Zzing. Zzing.
Damn it.
What woke me from the nightmare was the vibrating rm of a smartphone ced by my head. Due to the high probability of dreaming whenever I slept, I developed a habit of setting rms at every hour, and this time, it paid off.
This was already the third nightmare tonight. I rubbed my forehead with one hand and let out a long sigh. I couldnt even remember what it felt like to get deep sleep anymore. The inside of my eyelids felt hot.
As I closed my eyes for a moment, the rm, which had be silent after I cried alone, started ringing again. The smartphone screen, lit up by the iing light, showed the time as 4:05 AM. I pushed the button to silence the rm and, while trying to deactivate the other rms, I noticed that a text message had arrived.
[Singapore Airlines] We regret to inform you that the scheduled departure time of your flight (SQ602) has been changed from 12/23 14:30 (SGT) to 12/23 15:23 (SGT) due to airline circumstances. We apologize for any inconvenience caused. If you have any inquiries, please contact the following number. (+65) 0800-124-8888. Avable call hours
Sometimes, it happened. I wished I had woken up when the text arrived.
Though the inside of my eyelids was hot, I felt even more tired today. I might be able to get a couple of hours of sleep on the ne. After finishing a shower with cold water, I ordered a cafette through room service. Even if it wasnt on the room service menu, they would somehow amodate orders from the deluxe rooms.
The coffee arrived in just 15 minutes. I handed the staff a $100 tip.
I stirred the coffee with a cinnamon stick and took a sip while waiting for the aroma. I took out my tablet from my bag. I was nning to read a book until it got brighter outside.
The book I pulled up at random was a general education book on modern world history. I turned the pages as slow as a tortoise. My mind was somewhat distracted by the lingering effects of the nightmare, and the shallow depth andck of insight in the Western-centric historical view made it seem pitiful.
After wasting over an hour, I finally closed the book and considered reading an academic journal. But just then, my phone vibrated, signaling a new message on my messenger app.
[Have you woken up?]
A message from Suyeon. The time on the phone read 6:01 AM.
[Is something wrong?]
[I thought you wouldnt sleep for long. If its okay with you, Ille over.]
I had no idea what her business was at this early hour, but I also had something to say to someone in an empty ce. Perhaps Suyeon was also anticipating that and making a preemptive move. I replied:
[Take your time.]
About ten minutester, I heard a knocking sound on the door. Knock, knock, knock. I had locked the chain but unlocked it to see Suyeon already dressed in a suit. I stepped aside to let her in. She entered the room, nced at the coffee cup on the floor, and expressed mild regret.
You must be tired.
I just woke up a bit earlier than usual. Have a seat.
I waited for her to take a seat before asking my question.
Whats going on?
Suyeon, who had been gathering her thoughts and hesitating, asked a direct question.
Hyungnim, will I still be of use to you in the future?
In the future?
If, eventually, we have to fight against that London.''
.
I tilted my chin slightly and replied.
Youll be useful. The opportunity for awakening is open to you, and if need be, I can personally open or calibrate your circuits.
Really?
You wont be as sophisticated as me. But in terms of a primitive magic user, youll be exceptional. That should be enough. Even a mage can die if they take a bullet to the head. You might need more firepower, though.
Primitive magic had a high likelihood of starting with aspects rted to basic bodily functions. In other words, the direction could be diverse, but typically, strengthening physical abilities was what was expected. This eventually led to an increase in portable firepower. In a thoroughly prepared fight, even a true mage could be a threat.
However
The issue isnt about whether youre useful or not.
.
Suyeon, you dont owe me anything.
The moment I said this, Suyeons expression showed a mix of hurt, anxiety, and loss, swirling in an emotion.- 1. TLN: First, numerology is a belief system that assigns symbolic meanings to numbers. Its often associated with spiritual or mystical interpretations of numbers, where each number is thought to have its own unique significance. In numerology, each letter of the alphabet is assigned a numerical value. In certain interpretations, the number 31 can be seen as representing El because the numerical values of the letters E and L in some systems add up to 31.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 4: Triangle Flight (4)
Chapter 4: Triangle Flight (4)
The organization members Id recruited owe me at least one life, from the higher-ups to the grunts. Whether it was their own life, the life of someone they love, or the life of an irreconcble enemy they couldnt live under the same sky with. My organization and I had dealt with problems that neither morality, nor thew, nor even the gods could solve. Id fed starving families and untangled the knots of sworn vendettas. In return, they agreed to pay with their own lives. It was a deal to repay life with life.
Therefore, I had the right to order my subordinates to die.
Suyeon was the only exception.
Ten years ago, during the summer, when she came to my office and kneeled, pledging to inherit her deceased brothers debt, this kid was nothing more than a high school student.
Good talents were rare. If a sprout showed promise, it might be worth reaping and nurturing, but that was a different story when it came to whether the deal was finalized. As a creditor, I did not recognize co-signing, then or now. Life debts couldnt be collected in such a manner.
So, the debt this kid said she would repay vanished along with his own brothers death. Even if that death was caused by a battlefield, it was enough as long as he remained loyal until the moment he died.
I dont owe you anymore I never expected to hear those words again after all these years.
Suyeon, as she said this, had an embarrassed expression.
Did Ick something?
Its not like that.
I wasnt careless enough to keep someone around who was stillcking.
Then why?
Dont misunderstand. Im not saying Im casting you aside. Im giving you a chance to rethink your own path.
The situation hadnt changed much from when I initially epted this kid.
My answer is already decided.
Too hasty.
I apologize.
She didnt seem very sorry.
Listen.
I snapped my fingers to get Suyeons attention.
If the era of magic returns, my masters former allies will receive protection from national authorities. Well, by the time Im ready to fight, theres a high chance theyll already be in positions of power themselves. What do you think that means?
.
It means we need to strip away the facade called Ennd first. We need to scatter the military, and paralyze security and administration, making the Imperialists headquarters defenseless. We need to remove everything that protects them except for their own power. Im determined to use any means necessary to achieve that.
Are you suggesting that the method might be terrorism?
Its more than terrorism. If its possible and necessary, Ill even smuggle a nuclear device to detonate it. In a city of nine million people.
This was a highly unlikely scenario. However, it was a suitable example to convey my determination. Something like a Dirty Bomb might actually be used. From the perspective of causing social chaos and exhausting the nations response capabilities, it was an incredibly cost-effective weapon. It was rtively easy to acquire or manufacture, and even just detonating it in half a dozen ces would create significant turmoil throughout the UK. The chaos didnt necessarily have tost long. It only needed to be sustained during a surprise attack and retreat.
I wouldnt kill people indiscriminately. But I wouldnt hesitate to minimize coteral damage. This wasnt an opponent that warranted excessive concern.
I dont owe you any real debt,
I gave Suyeon some time to ponder those words before continuing.
Unlike the others, you have the right to get off the train before it derails. How about taking on a role thats safer, somewhere else, where your hands wont get any dirtier?
My executive route was usually a shortcut to bing a senior official. In a business analogy, it was akin to bing a subsidiary CEO or vice president. So, in Suyeons case, it would simply mean postponing the predetermined future for a few years. She had the potential.
I understand what youre saying, but my answer wont change.
Suyeons eyes met mine with politeness but determination. It was probably safe to assume that shed bring forward the scheduled promotion, much like herte brother. Her older brother had held a good reputation within the organization. He was expected to be the future head of the secretariat.
That was why I epted her. If I had left her alone, she might have really died, and with the bloodline she inherited, she would have been more than capable. She had shown promise, and, in reality, she had lived up to the expectations she inherited.
Hyungnim.
After a brief silence, Suyeon calmly nailed her point.
Even if you wish it, I can leave right now with a knife and stab anyone who stands out, regardless of age. So, theres no need for this consideration. My brother would have said the same thing if he were alive.
Your brother is dead, and youve been living for me for the past ten years.
Thats true.
Alright. I wont bother you with this issue any longer.
Thank you.
Suyeon bowed deeply. I apologized.
Im sorry if I made this difficult.
Dont mention it.
She didnt say no. She wasnt the type to tell lies, rather, she would remain silent if need be.
An awkward silence followed. From in front of me, where she was staring intently, I could feel that she was shifting the conversation unnaturally.
Last night, as I was reviewing what you said yesterday, I had a thought.
What is it?
You mentioned that the world wouldnt change drastically overnight, and theres no need to rush concrete preparations. However what if we stockpile certain things within the country that are hard to obtain and could run out in the future?
For example?
For example weapons and ammunition. These things may be impossible to acquire in the future.
Indeed.
Its a good point.
What I said to Kyung-tae was also partly due to a sense of unease; I didnt want to think deeply about it. In the ck market, weapons and ammunition supply was inflexible. Ammunition, in particr, was scarce. Because of its importance as a means to protect myself, it took priority. In the worst-case scenario, if I didnt have any other choice, I could supply various rebel groups in Southeast Asia or to the yakuza.
In particr, Filipino rebels had been acquiring more weapons since they signed peace agreements with the government. They were getting more arms in exchange for disarmament and other concessions. So, more weapons ultimately meant more rights for them. It was a situation where, in case negotiations failed, we needed insurance. We needed more weapons than what was being handed over.
Since the profit margins were high in this market, I wouldnt incur losses no matter what happened. I nodded in agreement, and Suyeon asked me.
Should we contact Daegu and set up the appointment?
Yes.
Who will you send?
Ill go. Its important.
I was the trump card. No matter how skilled someone might be, there was no recement for me when it came to negotiating while watching vital signs.
Alright. When would be a good date?
Anytime, tomorrow afternoon or the day after is fine.
Ill check.
The domestic weapons vendor I dealt with was an organization within the US military. While there were other suppliers, Id practically monopolized the trade. They did business without any concept of cost, and it was also because of my control over the transactions.
We started off by pilfering general military and duty-free goods from them, but over time, wed grown to trade-sensitive items through a rtionship built on trust. The power of wellundered dors attracted officers and generals alike.
I waited for Suyeon to finish taking notes and then extended my hand.
Let me see for a moment.
Yes.
The notebook she handed me contained recent schedules and information on the organizations overall operations. However, since I already knew the contents, I could immediately decipher the various coded information, metaphors, personal codes, and modified shorthand that someone unfamiliar with it would find iprehensible.
On the first page, along with his SNS address and direct phone number, there was a selfie of someone else attached, along with a note to contact them if acquired. I looked at the picture and then handed the notebook back.
Is this your idea?
Yes.
Well done.
Suyeon included a note in the notebook that allowed her to send a message through a smartphone messenger to a business in Daegu. It was a minimal notification.
After that, we discussed what kind of investment might be needed. When it reached 7 oclock, Kyung-tae joined us. After finishing his morning exercise, he sent a text and knocked on the door.
Good morning, Hyungnim. Noonim seems to be in a hurry today.
We decided to have room service for breakfast again. The quality of the food was adequate, and there was no need to use the buffet when we had a spacious suite with a dining area. There wouldnt be much open at this hour anyway, probably just a toast shop if you went out.
While sipping on post-meal tea, Suyeon suddenly asked a question, as if something had just crossed her mind.
Hyungnim, how much of the magic power information should we spread out?
Hmm.
After giving it some thought, I replied.
For those who already know my secret, you can open it all up. The others Ill think about it slowly.
Understood.
Within the organization, there were more people than one might think who were aware of my unusual abilities. Many within the organization had experienced mysterious power at some point, and more importantly, one of the organizations main objectives was to serve as a safety to prepare for the worst-case scenarios.
In case my Masters old associates or the trackers they might send were to confront us, it would be crucial that even the core members who were responsible for stopping them understood magic. Otherwise, there was a high probability that they might panic when faced with the situation.
So, informing them in advance about the potential intensity of the real situation that the organization might need to prepare for made sense. They were not people you could easily betray, especially given that they were now considered a higher risk.
Also, in the gift market, you had to spend money, and for that, you couldnt hide information from people like Kim on Yeouido.
The sound of a cell phone rang out. It was Suyeons. She nced at the screen, furrowing her brow slightly.
Ive received a response from the US military. Its surprisingly fast. But
But what?
The rank doesnt seem right. They say a Lieutenant ising as the responsible party, even though it was clearly conveyed that you would being in person.
That should be fine.
I shrugged my shoulders.
Considering the pride of those American guys, they probably think a Lieutenant is good enough. Theyre personnel with different qualifications than South Korean Lieutenants, after all.
But its still the pride of the cartel that smuggles military goods.
And what would poking at it get us, other than a potential shootout?
Dont worry about the minor details. The fact that they responded so quickly in itself shows they respect me enough.
More urately, it was probably about respecting the money I had.
Above all, superficial ranks might not match the hierarchy within the cartel. For example, the Lieutenant could be a higher-ranking key yer. Otherwise, they wouldnt send him to negotiate with me.
Anyway, did they confirm the date and location they proposed?
Its tomorrow at 6 PM, at the usual meeting ce.
Lock it in.
Okay.
And so, my schedule for tomorrow was set.
If I could stay overnight in Incheon on my way back and take a domestic flight the next day, that would be ideal, but there probably wouldnt be a flight avable at the right time. Incheon wasnt a city with a high demand for air travel, especially to and from Daegu. Moreover, there was no way there would be a direct flight from Singapore to Daegu.
With my schedule for the day ahead settled, I decided to spend the afternoon at the National Library, which I had been eyeing since yesterday. Even though I couldnt make full use of it due to itste opening hours, the vast space filled with bookshelves gave me a sense of psychologicalfort.
Knowledge was power, and it was a light that guided you even in the darkest of times. This was one of my deeply held beliefs.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 5: Search (1)
Chapter 5: Search (1)
The next afternoon, I arrived in Daegu at my leisure. Kyung-tae was driving, and the car took an exit at the Palgongsan IC, heading east from the Bulro Bridge intersection.
After about five minutes of crossing a frozen stream, the boundary between developed and undeveloped areas appeared. There was a sign standing sparsely on thendscape after passing through sparse vegetable gardens. It read Hyangsan Environment in yellow letters on a blue background.
Thisrge junkyard, located on the outskirts of Bongmu-dong, was the facility I considered the most important among the businesses I managed in Daegu. It yed a crucial role in transporting military supplies. Originally, it was located near Gimcheon, but due tond restrictions in a development-restricted zone, it had to be relocated.
Finally, the car came to a stop. Aware that we had arrived, an elderly man emerged from a container serving as an office. It was Mr. Park, in charge of this junkyard. He respectfully nodded his head in my direction as I got out of the car.
Its been a while, Chairman. I was surprised when I heard you wereing. You usually dont contact me this early I thought you wereing to see the Yankee. (+)[1]TLN: The term Yankee has several interrted meanings, all referring to people from the United States. Their various meanings depend on the context and may refer to New Ennders, the Northeastern United States, the Northern United States, or to Americans in general.
I stopped by to check the condition of the goods while I was in Daegu. How have you been?
Im just living day by day, as always. Would you like to see the underground warehouse?
Yes.
Ill take you there.
I followed Mr. Park into arge assembly building with one side wide open. Suyeon and Kyung-tae followed behind. Mr. Park instructed some of his men to close the main entrance while activating a hoist crane installed on the ceiling. To go underground, we had to remove the stone bs blocking the entrance.
Krrrrrr
The motor noise of the crane was drowned out by the sound of concrete scraping as the b was lifted, revealing a path leading underground. It was a ramprge enough for a 10-ton truck to enterfortably.
The st door to the armory was opened by turning a dial-like mechanism. Mr. Park dialed an eight-digit number on the metal handle-like dial. A metallic click sounded from inside the door. When he turned the handle and pushed, the thick door slowly slid open.
Power-independent lighting automatically illuminated the space. I entered the armory. Inside the st door, there were helicopter engines andponents covered with a waterproof tarp. They were items for which the delivery date had already been confirmed. Besides that, there were rows of shelves and wooden crates scattered sparsely in the room, separated by walls stacked with sandbags. Boxes of various sizes hadbels indicating the contents, quantity, weight, and production year.
The contents were visible to me. Even without opening them, I could see. There was plenty of space, and the goods were in excellent condition thanks to precise temperature and humidity control. There was also thorough preparation for electrostatic discharge. There was enough empty space to bring in a lot of inventory if necessary.
Mr. Park asked,
How is it?
I looked at Mr. Park and replied,
Not bad.
Thats good to hear. Its my job to manage this ce.
Inside Mr. Parks calm words, there was not a hint of tension. Although it was a business facility that wasnt visited very often rtive to its importance, but this was enough even though it was a random inspection.
To be honest, I came to see people rather than the goods. I had often seen people change over time, even those who were desperate and urgent when they incurred debt. Furthermore, debts of life were mostly a personal matter. So, from time to time, it was important to feel that the rtionship was being maintained by meeting face to face.
This will do for now; Ill check on the kids working here.
The old man nodded at my words.
There were twenty-two organization members stationed at the Hyangsan Environment, including Mr. Park. Among them, I could only see the faces of ten. Even though it was a small undercover business, it operated stably enough to make a profit every year. It would have been odd if they were all waiting, to be honest.
I scattered around and greeted each of the ten members who were resting or focused on their work. They were somewhat tense due to my presence, but they seemed pleased that I remembered them. In reality, it was the information Suyeon had prepared as my secretary.
For subordinates, my visit should not resemble an inspection by a military leader. Such an attitude wouldnt help with loyalty.
Afterpleting the inspection of the facility and preparing to get in the car, Mr. Park called Suyeon.
Hey. Lately, Kyung-tae hasnt been causing trouble and is serving the Chairman properly, has he?
Before Suyeon could reply, Kyung-tae grumbled.
Ah, Mr. Park, really. Where can you find someone as good as me?
Dont be so arrogant. Werent you the one who downed drinks recklessly in front of the Chairman during the promotion ceremony?
Ugh! That was three years ago, three years! And that time, I bet that I could drink a barrel of soju, thats why I drank it from a wooden box. I havent done that since then. Because of that embarrassing history, I barely drink a third of a third of the usual amount nowadays.
Is that true?
Suyeon nodded to the old man, who was still a bit skeptical.
Yes, its true.
Alright, youve be a man.
At Suyeons words, the old man immediately understood and shrugged.
I feel unjustly used.
Mr. Park bid me farewell.
Take care in this cold weather.
I looked at him and nodded in acknowledgment. As the car started to move, Mr. Park followed me a few steps before stopping. His reflection in the side mirror revealed a sense of regret. He had been a loyal subordinate who might, in case of need, voluntarily reverse all the charges.
The meeting ce with Lieutenant Walker was a high-end pension on the outskirts of Daegu to the southeast. It was operated by a tourism developmentpany under the organizations umbre and was reconstructed by Japanese craftsmen from the ruins of a high-end estate district from the Japanese colonial period. Surprisingly, U.S. soldiers liked this kind of ce. They didnt like sitting on the floor.
I arrived first, parked my car, and was flipping through the pages of a book when Lieutenant Walker entered ten minutes ahead of the scheduled time. Outside the closing door, I saw Kyung-tae setting up a spectrum analyzer for eavesdropping. Lieutenant Walker, with a stiff smile, took a seat across from me.
Its been three years since we met in person, Chief. Have you been waiting long?
No, I just arrived.
Even though I had cracked this book several times, I had only managed to read about thirty pages while waiting. I ced a bookmark and handed the book to Suyeon, who was sitting behind me. The cover caught the Lieutenants attention, and he showed a somewhat deliberate curiosity.
Whats the title? Im not familiar with Korean yet.
Chimpanzee Politics.
Chimpanzee Politics? Well, Politics can be somewhat animalistic. They even call politicians chimpanzees at times.
No, its different. Its not a metaphor; its literally about power struggles among chimpanzees.
I see.
The lieutenant, who had been puzzled, chuckled.
Power struggles? Among chimpanzees? Hahaha! Thats quite amusing! To describe primitive dominance fights among animals with such grandiose terms!
Ignorant, indeed. I suppressed myself and added.
Isnt it interesting? You might find it even more interesting when you realize how intelligent animals can be.
Haha. Well, sometimes, people wonder how someone can be so human in their thinking, so maybe chimpanzees are smarter than some of those so-called humans. Ill read it when I have time.
Whether that time woulde before he died, who knew.
Anyway, thanks to the lieutenants ignorance, the atmosphere had softened. He had apparently understood that I wouldnt press further on the subject.
As prearranged in our contact, this time, I intend to ce more orders than usual.
The lieutenant asked.
What exactly are you thinking in terms of how much?
I answered with a short interval.
Unlimited.
What do you mean by that?
Exactly what it sounds like. I mean Im willing to purchase all the weapons you can procure without limits. Ill prioritize the types with greater power and caliber.
The lieutenant blinked his eyes, and he put down the chopsticks he had been using, which he stubbornly clung to even though there were forks avable.
Items, not weapons Are you nning on starting a war somewhere?
He correctly grasped that I meant to exclude items for tax exemption or general supplies.
War? Not at all.
First, I needed to ease this guys tension.
Until now, our business has been too smallpared to the demand in the global market. And Ive proven for a long time that Im a reliable trading partner. Its time for both of us to expand our horizons for mutual benefit.
The first time I expanded my horizons was when I introduced weapons into our trading items. Back then, these guys acted like scared kittens. Walker ran his fingers through his beard, letting out a long breath.
Are you saying that all our previous transactions were preparation for today?
For the sake of convenience, lets say they were.
Hmm.
In 2012 and 2017, we underwentprehensive audits, but we got through them without a hitch. As youve experienced, its because mypanys operations are impable. The quantities you provide us with are like salt scattered into the sea of the global market. So, is there any reason to be scared now?
Im not scared.
Walker furrowed his brows, feeling his pride being challenged.
The years 2012 and 2017 were significant in our industry.
Firstly, the junk dealer who was caught in 2012 for smuggling out $100,000 worth of thermal observation devices (TOD) and selling it for a mere $500 was aplete idiot. However, this camera got caught up in the wind of it being listed as an item on a U.S. auction site.
In 2017, it was even more outrageous. A scrap dealer arrested at that time lined up around a hundred military tactical vehicles and trailers next to a vinyl house and posted sales ads on the inte.
Interestingly, he managed to avoid getting caught for three years despite doing such a foolish thing. The police usually didnt care about these things. When the police finally showed up at the vacant lot next to the vinyl house, the military containers that had been in the trailers were empty.
Why were they all scrap dealers? It was because the Gimcheon Excess Property Processing Office, operated by the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), was at the center of all this smuggling. We usually picked up the items from there like anyone else. If you brought a discarded vehicle or container all the way here, the items you ordered were inside.
Walker warned me as if giving advice.
Chief, youre underestimating the CIDC.
CIDC stands for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command. Walkers warning sounded quite serious to me.
Im not underestimating them, Lieutenant. But I think they have more pressing concerns.
More pressing concerns?
What usually makes them take things seriously is a threat to national security. For instance, lets say we trade a million rounds of rifle ammunition right now. How much does that truly threaten U.S. security? Would the CIDC or the CIA perceive it as a significant security threat?
Walker couldnt easily answer my question. Rifle ammunition wasnt an item with arge margin considering the effort involved, but it was useful as an indicator reflecting the overall scale of arms trading.
Knowledge is power. As a knowledgeable arms dealer, I calmly continued my persuasion, well-versed in market dynamics.
Exining America to Americans may seem quite funny, but Well, Im more of an expert in the distribution field, so please listen to me.
What?
A million rounds is just slightly more than what Texas gun dealers sell in a week. Thats the official sales volume.
No matter how scary the IRS might be, some people evade taxes. In fact, the United States was the worldsrgest tax evasion market. Therefore, the official sales volume of firearm dealers was inevitably less than the total trade volume.
In your country, there are over 400 million firearms, and among them, about 390 million are owned by citizens. Thats counting only officially registered firearms. When fellow enthusiasts gather for an event, they often use well over a million rounds of ammunition per day.
Where wouldnt it reach the millions? Thergest shooting festival in the western United States consumes an average of around 3.5 million rounds every year. Plus, there were people who brought tanks and armored vehicles.
Your citizens purchase nearly 10 to 12 billion rounds of ammunition each year. Purely individual purchases, excluding organizations, are around 8 billion rounds. Did you know these facts?
A bit.
You probably had a general idea, but not the specifics.
Seeing the Americans somewhat puzzled expressions about their own country was somewhat amusing.
Now, if we look at the global scale In that Afghanistan youre familiar with, every time households that can afford it hold a wedding, they fire tens of thousands of rounds in celebration.
The tradition in that part of town had caused headaches for the U.S. military. From a distance, wedding guests often look like an armed militant group.
As you know, terrorists use even more ammunition than that, targeting people like you.
Hmm
From China, Russia, Eastern Europe and asionally from North and South America, theres no way even the parties involved in the deals would know how many weapons flow into the Middle East as if they were essential goods. Its such a vast market, with so many actors involved.
In Korea, even the loss of a single gun or a single bullet could create a massive uproar, but from the perspective of U.S. intelligence agencies, a million rounds of ammunition flowing into other countries was not such a critical issue.- 1. TLN: The term Yankee has several interrted meanings, all referring to people from the United States. Their various meanings depend on the context and may refer to New Ennders, the Northeastern United States, the Northern United States, or to Americans in general.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 6: Search (2)
Chapter 6: Search (2)
Meanwhile, how about the buyers in this area?
I list potential customers one by one, folding my five fingers one by one.
The Guangdong Triad, who thrive as Communist Party followers; the Yakuza who y within Japan, killing each other; the Moro Liberation Front, ying tug of war with the Philippine government; Myanmar, struggling with human rights issues over arms imports; various rebel groups fighting Myanmar and the forces supporting them
There were actually more, but they were not important here. There was no need to disclose all my business partners one by one. I lowered my fist and asked a question.
Lieutenant, do you see anymonalities among these people?
Its not a priority for our government.
More precisely, their priority is lower.
With the United States power no longer what it used to be, there were more problematic issues to manage. Above all, there was China, North Korea, and Russia in Northeast Asia. These three were like ck holes that suck up the U.S. intelligence budget. It was a matter of where to spend the limited money first.
My throat was dry from talking for so long. When I picked up the empty cup, Suyeon brought me the teapot and poured me a cup. After drinking the warm tea-like water, I continued my unfinished words.
Lets humbly admit it. We cant surpass the real explosives experts ying with oil money in a gunpowder warehouse, nor can we attract as much attention from the U.S. and the world as they do. As long as we strictly adhere to the line we need to protect, we wont have any trouble.
That line was not acting like amateurs. It meant not storing products just about anywhere, not selling to just anyone, and not exchanging money recklessly. Although these were the basics of smuggling, the investment and management costs were so high that amateurs couldnt even think about it. Or, even if they could, they didnt do it.
In any field, problems often arise from not adhering to basic principles. If we stuck to the principles, wed befortable, and so would the intelligence agencies. I decided to give him a warning just in case.
You should also strictly adhere to the line. Even if I promise unlimited purchases, if you get greedy recklessly, thats when youll attract the intense interest of the maind.
Releasing arge quantity of goods in a short period of time, or touching risky items that shouldnt be touched. Even if I refused to ept them, there might be parts I hadnt examined, so I want to remind them.
Also, it was a way to shift the focus of the current risks, which were tailored to me, onto the other party.
As expected, Walker interrupted with frustration.
Heh, dont you trust us? Were very cautious, and our supply capability is much greater than what Chief thinks. Until now, there simply hasnt been a partner who can digest that quantity. If our headquarters decides to start pushing out goods, youll regret your unlimited promise.
I hope it really turns out that way.
Your confidence is excessive.
Well If you cane up with $1 billion by the end of next year, then Ill consider myself defeated.
$1 billion?
The shocked Walker repeated the same words as if he had malfunctioned for a moment.
$1 billion? $1 billion, did you say?
I did. I said its unlimited.
Oh.
The second Oh in a moment had a different meaning.
With that money, you could even buy a destroyer.
I shrugged as if to agree.
Well,pared to Pepsis heyday, its nothing.
What are you talking about? Hahaha!
Walker bursts intoughter. It was somewhat unexpected that he understood my joke right away.
In 1989, in exchange for supplying the Soviet Union with about $3 billion worth of c, Pepsi received a fleet consisting of seventeen traditional submarines, one frigate, one destroyer, and one cruiser. Even if we add up all the achievements of Cali Cartel, which was notorious for arms smuggling during the Soviet dissolution era, it would not surpass this single contract that Pepsi signed in terms of scale.
Okay.
Finally, Walkers resistance copsed. Money was money, and the quick surrender was inevitable.
I lost. $1 billion, thats too much. I cant afford it. Its such an unrealistic amount that it doesnt feel real Its such a big deal that its difficult to give you a definite answer right here, but Ill try to get you a positive response within a week.
Ill look forward to it.
But by the way.
What is it?
Walker, who had been hesitating strangely, asked me.
Chief. Before the deal, could you possibly get us some cocaine?
Look at this guy.
You guys do drugs?
If thats the case, it was worth reconsidering this deal. Those addicted to narcotics were reckless idiots who didnt know restraint in everything, and they would eventually get into trouble one way or another. Once they touched narcotics, they had no future, and it was as foolish to discuss long-term ns with someone who had no future.
My gaze was cold, and Walker quickly waved his hand.
Please dont misunderstand. Well keep our end of the deal, I promise. We just want to take out insurance because we have an inflexible friend.
Is it part of risk management?
Yes.
It was difficult to be sure, but based on his physiological signs, it didnt seem like a lie. However, there were still doubts.
If you catch someone using narcotics as a weakness, wouldnt it be burdensome when you actually use it?
Well show the evidence not to the military police but to our wives and children. Its a safe way.
I see.
I, who was lost in thought, asked in reverse.
If one person needs to take it about three or four times, is that enough?
Upon hearing this, Walker looked somewhat embarrassed.
How would you feed just one person that? Well have to lure the guys whove been dealing with drugs back on the maind to work as winds catchers, so please prepare generously if possible. For the winds catchers, the drug itself will be an incentive.
Alright. But it doesnt necessarily have to be cocaine, so Ill get you morphine. It should be enough as a weakness to ruin a career if its about abusing unapproved opioid preparations. (+)[1]TLN: Opioids are a ss of drugs. Opioids work in the brain to produce a variety of effects, including pain relief. Some people use opioids because of the euphoria (high) they can produce.
Morphine was highly addictive, butpared to cocaine, it was pale. Especially in terms of side effects. It was my small favor to Walkers inflexible friend.
I respected people who were faithful to their work. As long as they didnt threaten me.
Walker seemed to be rxing his frown.
Morphine is too weak
Morphine is too weak was quite an ironic statement for a country where you could buy narcotic painkillers from a pharmacy without a prescription. I added the term prescription just to emphasize the contrast.
This isnt a neighborhood where every passerby reeks of cocaine like in the United States, Lieutenant. Unless youre in Gangnams entertainment district, if you get tracked here, even releasing one dog could chase you from Seoul to Daegu. Are you crazy enough to deliver cocaine?
Exaggeration in this context was effective in convincing Walker. He didnt have much knowledge about the specifics of the drug distribution process, whether it was weapons or narcotics. Cocaine did indeed leave a lingering scentpared to other drugs.
Walker raised his hand again.
All right, I get it. Then Ill take the morphine. And finally
Finally?
After weve ramped up the deals, will the payment method stay the same?
Walker inquired for confirmation, so I took a casino chip out of my pocket and slid it onto the table.
Go and persuade them with this.
In the global ck market, Native American reservation casinos were as reliable as Swiss banks. In fact, some casinos even operated like regr banks, and the casino I was dealing with fell into that category.
The chip I offered was akin to a promissory note issued by the casino. The fees for using it were quite high, but considering the efforts the Native Americans put into anti-moneyundering and chip counterfeiting prevention, it was a reasonable price. Plus, their sovereignty served as a political shield. Walker smiled, not concerned about the cost.
The conversation continued for about another hour after reaching an agreement. Since this guy might be a general someday, it wouldnt hurt to build some personal rapport. Walker enjoyed talking about money and expressed his envy and admiration for billionaires. In the end, hemented,
Lieutenant, I should have bought Bitcoin before I became an officer. That tremendous luck in 2017 It could have truly be mine
Hes crazy.
Chief, how much fun did you have with Bitcoin?
The question was thrown with the premise that I had enjoyed it, considering that someone in my position had touched cryptocurrency. If a person involved in the ck market imed they hadnt, even a passing dog wouldugh.
Well, I did make quite a profit. Its been amon payment method in our industry since its early days.
Oh!
Walker widened his eyes and leaned forward.
You must have made a fortune if you asked about money from the beginning! What was your profit margin when the price was around $15,000? $17,000? For someone like you, it must have been at the end of 2017, right?
The end of 2017 was when the global cryptocurrency spection frenzy reached its peak. While the average price on overseas exchanges was around $18,000, it had crossed $20,000, particrly in South Korea.
I denied Walkers wild guess.
No, I didnt. I cashed out half of what I had at $1,000, then gradually cashed out the rest,pletely at $4,000.
Walker, his excitement waning, looked at me with a regretful expression as if he had lost his own money.
Why at $4,000? Even if it was in the middle of an upward trend
That was madness, Lieutenant. Even Newton said he didnt understand the madness of bubbles. Businesspeople should never rely on luck.
Ah
Walkers body, which had leaned closer to the table, returned to its original position. Even if he had made a profit by cashing out half at the $1,000 mark, it seemed that this greedy fellow considered it too modest of a fortune to even inquire about the profit margin.
The guy who had been overly engrossed heaved a sigh even though this was not his story.
Its a pity. So, you havent touched that money since then?
No.
Then?
Im buying only as much as I need and keeping it rolling. Whether when giving or receiving, cryptocurrencies are rare in terms of convenience for evading tracking.
Honestly, even though I had made a financial profit, there were many inconveniences in terms of business. Due to the high vtility and reduced security, it had be difficult to use cryptocurrencies as a currency.
But there was still a reason to use cryptocurrencies: there was no alternative.
Walker expressed a strange regret.
While you might be a cautious person, I suppose other organizations made a fortune sitting in one ce? Like the drug lords in Latin America, for example.
There are quite a few cases like that. Many of those who suffered losses from repeated buying and selling, but at least some of the middlemen I know have changed the unit of funds they handle since around 2017.
Ha, I envy them. Seriously jealous. Lately, the Mexican government cant seem to get a grip on the cartels. They say its because of the power of money. Haha. Well, in the end, its the budget that rules the world.
Well
The reason President Obrador gave up the war against crime was becausest years all-out attack against the cartel ended with significant coteral damagecivilian casualties. The background to that was the relentless financial power of the cartel, which hired former special forces and procured all kinds of heavy weapons on the ck market. If you dig into it, the profits earned from the cryptocurrency market would probably have yed a part.
Those who spected in cryptocurrency investments and lost their money might even take pride in the fact that they contributed to the deterioration of security in the third world. (+)[2]TLN: In a broader sense, the Third World can refer to economically disadvantaged or less developed countries that face various challenges such as poverty,ck of ess to basic resources, and political instability. In this context, it could mean that those who lost money in cryptocurrency investments might take pride in contributing to the problems faced by economically vulnerable regions or countries by engaging in spective financial activities rather than investing in their development or well-being.- 1. TLN: Opioids are a ss of drugs. Opioids work in the brain to produce a variety of effects, including pain relief. Some people use opioids because of the euphoria (high) they can produce.
- 2. TLN: In a broader sense, the Third World can refer to economically disadvantaged or less developed countries that face various challenges such as poverty,ck of ess to basic resources, and political instability. In this context, it could mean that those who lost money in cryptocurrency investments might take pride in contributing to the problems faced by economically vulnerable regions or countries by engaging in spective financial activities rather than investing in their development or well-being.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 7: Search (3)
Chapter 7: Search (3)
After sending Walker, the remaining task was to feed the two subordinates who had been waiting, skipping meals. When I ordered a new meal, Suyeon nced at the discarded food with regret in her eyes. However, for my trusted aides, it was essential that no leftover food entered their mouths unless it was an unavoidable situation.
I removed the silicone mask that I had been wearing throughout my interaction with Walker. Silicone, resembling skin, peeled off with a slight sound. While this item was used whenever a disguise was needed, it was difficult to adapt to the stifling feeling. CIA agents were known to endure days wearing it, a feat that I found hard toprehend.
During the waiting time, Kyung-tae held a warm cup of tea and asked,
Hyungnim, what was that Pepsi you mentioned earlier? Was it Pepsi the drink?
Thats right.
I summarized the incident, and Kyung-tae looked amazed.
It was quite an unexpected move for the second inmand of the c industry to do something remarkable in an unrted field.
It happened because there was a shortage of vodka in the Soviet Union at the time. Can you believe there was a shortage back then? But then again, wasnt there something else that wasnt in short supply?
Oh? Did they originally pay for c with vodka?
Yes, and it was Stolichnaya, just as you like.
Ah, Stolichnaya! Thats delicious! Pepsi had a good eye for choosing vodka.
Kyung-tae praised Stolichnaya for its rich vor, especially in high-quality vodka, where the alcohol scent resembled coffee beans. Meanwhile, the prepared table had be simpler than before, and the two people began to eat. Watching them enjoy their meals, it was evident that both of them were hungry. I remained silent, sipping my tea, lost in thought.
War
Walker had asked me if I was prepared for war, but he would never dream that he had struck a nerve in my dream. If he were to learn of my determination, he would probably try to break off our rtionship immediately.
In this ce, Camp Henry in Daegu, there was no room for the weapons thieves to engage in direct transactions with terrorists. Moreover, my target, the UK, was one of the Five Eyes, a core ally of the United States, so getting caught would likely result in being treated as a criminal far worse than amon felon. (+)[1]TLN: The Five Eyes is an intelligence allianceprising Australia, Canada, New Zend, the United Kingdom, and the United States
The weapons secured here were unlikely to be used in the UK.
Getting them out of here posed a problem. As terrorist threats increased day by day, the UK strengthened its borders in the air and at sea. It also possessed the information-gathering capabilities of the first of the Five Eyes.
Hence, long-term airdrops were close to impossible, and smuggling via cargo or fishing vessels was rtively safe but still involved considerable risk. Even if we obtained the goods from elsewhere, transporting them would be a major challenge due to therge quantity involved.
However, if I were to engage with mages in London, eventually, I would have to confront London itself. A defensive battle alone would be unwinnable. Although the war that might break out was still uncertain, if I didnt start looking for a solution soon after it began, it would be toote.
There didnt seem to be a more certain route.
My train of thought naturally led to the South American cartels.
Perhaps using submarines like they do.
The submarines they used to transport drugs were capable of sailing from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe through the North Antic currents. Given their small size, if the engines were turned off and they relied solely on the power of the currents, they could pass through the underwater surveincework (SOSUS) near the British coast.
It might even be alright to order the construction of submarines for them. While entrusting the transportation itself would be the best option, if they were to modify the submarines to carry weapons instead of drugs, it would cost at least 300 million dors per operation. That was as much as the expected profit from transporting cocaine. Even a nation couldnt afford such reckless spending. It would be better to directly acquire submarines.
The problem was that it was not just about having money.
Their older semi-submersibles were estimated to cost around 2 million dors, and even thetest fully submersible ones would likely not exceed 100 million dors. However, not even outdated models past their disposal date have ever appeared on the ck market, let alone thetest models.
I understand. Recklessly selling the most secretive means of transportation would invite newpetitors one after another. Major cartels, who likely hold tens of billions of dors in cash outside of personal assets, wouldnt seem likely to sell their businesss foundation for a mere 100 million dors.
How should I approach those whom I have no acquaintance or dealings with? To whom should I extend a hand? Are there other reliable paths to obtaining the submarines? These were the thoughts that deepened as time passed.
Hmm?
The two who were eating stopped and stared at me. Suyeon asked,
Why are you lost in thought? You even sighed.
I sighed? Did I?
Yes.
It seemed my thoughts leaked unconsciously.
At times like this, adding my thoughts was also the role of an aide. I shared my concerns with them and added,
Its not an immediate problem, so finish your meal. The food is getting cold.
As the head of the organization, my most important responsibility was to feed my subordinates. To feed, clothe, and shelter them. It was the task of taking care of the lives that had be mine. When the organization became ones life, sustainable loyalty could be achieved.
Knowing me well enough, the two didnt hesitate and resumed their meal. Their use of chopsticks and spoons showed that they were now eating more leisurely, suggesting their appetites were somewhat satisfied.
About earlier.
Suyeon, who had just put down her utensils, took a sip of water and spoke.
Lieutenant Walker slipped in his words. Did you notice?
Our headquarters, you mean?
Yes.
I had a hunch for a while that there were more conspirators, but if such remarks slip out carelessly, it probably means that the conspiracy is growing. Its possible even themander could have been involved.
Suyeons dry anticipation was evident.
I did say that 1 billion dors was impossible, but if the insurgents did indeed take control of the support headquarters, we can anticipate a growing supply in the future. Its time for the seniors who returned to the maind to pay us back.
Even units stationed in South Korea have a rotating roster of members. The conspirators at Camp Henry were no exception. Members were constantly being rotated.
Therefore, to maintain the organizations functionality, new members needed to be recruited at regr intervals. On the other hand, leaving the organization didnt mean exclusion. Cutting tiespletely would lead to uncertainty. When I raised concerns in the past, they provided exnations. Regarding this matter, there was no need to worry, and they hoped for a continued positive rtionship in the future.
Hence, my proposal for expanded deals would likely be a hoped-for oue, despite itsrger scale. It was ideal that the pie grows as the number of people increases.
I shifted my gaze.
Kyung-tae.
Yes, Hyungnim.
Whats Walker up to?
Kyung-tae, who had finished eating and was patting his stomach, briefly checked his phone in response to my question.
Other than a 47-second call with someone suspected to be a higher-up in the car, there hasnt been any noteworthy activity so far. The call was about meeting tomorrow to report, and hes currently having drinks with a fellow tailor sergeant from the same unit. He seems to be in a very good mood. Theyre at a bar they often frequent.
His good mood is probably because of the allowance I gave him.
Since leaving the base today, Walker had been under constant surveince. Even phone calls in the car couldnt escape the long-rangeser eavesdropping that detected vibrations on windows. The surveince team even provided specially modified vehicles for remote listening during movement.
Kyung-taemented in a joking manner.
They say that you prepare for war to enjoy peace, but when you prepare this diligently and theres no actual need to fight, its quite amusing. Its as if the magic power concentration has skyrocketedpared to now.
The concentration of magic power hadnt changed today. It hadnt be shallower or denser on average, although there might be temporary fluctuations in ordance with the flow.
But sudden changes werent guaranteed to happen in one go. If it did change abruptly, it was highly likely that the battle itself wouldnt even take ce. Regression or copse of civilization was inevitable, and in such a world, the Londoners wouldnt have the courage to reach this far.
Of course, we were preparing for such situations. Preparations for war and disaster readiness ovep in many aspects, so it was efficient to do a little more.
Kyung-tae continued.
If the concentration continues to rise, even if the world copses somewhat, the value of stockpiled weapons might be something new.
What are you talking about?
I have a favorite novel. Its called Metro 2033. Have you read it?
No.
I gave a sinct response, and Kyung-tae chuckled with a somewhat disappointed expression.
As expected. Youve read every other type of book except novels, havent you? Anyway, its a novel set in a world where everything is ruined by nuclear disaster. In that world, they use bullets as currency. I thought, what if our reality turned out like that? For some reason, it doesnt feel entirely bad. Maybe its because Ive read a lot of simr genre novels
Hisst words were more of a quiet mutter to himself.
Bullets determine life and death. If bullets were considered physical resources for exchange in human lives, then bullets be a currency with a definite exchange value.
For some reason, I briefly wished for it to be like Kyung-tae described. However, that feeling onlysted for a moment. Living in such a world would mean living for survival in a different sense than living hunted by predators. In either case, it would not be a life of living only to survive. Neither option appealed to me.
Stop talking nonsense. Whether I win or the imperialists win, its a hundred times better than seeing the world crumble in a war with those bastards.
Haha, youre absolutely right.
Kyung-tae wore a smug expression.
Suyeon, who had been organizing her thoughts, spoke up.
You mentioned the difficulty of transporting weapons earlier, but even if we manage to transport them, wont weck the personnel to distribute these weapons? We have limitations on deploying our people to London.
That was a valid point.
Thats also a challenge we need to address.
Dying and killing was a fight that benefits from having more manpower. However, if only my subordinates were to engage in this, even if we were to achieve victory, wed be unable to avoid the intelligence agencies tracking.
Why, did somethinge to mind?
In response to my question, Suyeon gave a slight nod.
Its about the rebels in the Philippines.
Why them?
Besides the Liberation Front we trade with, there are four more Imic extremist groups. Among them, apart from BIFF and its factions, Abu Torayfiyah and Abu Sayyaf could potentially serve as a contact point to reach the Middle Eastern Imic extremist factions if handled properly.
Are you suggesting that we extend our hand to Imic extremists based on the logic of the enemy of my enemy is my friend?
Yes. If London is the target, they wont necessarily dislike it. What they want is fame to take control after the copse of IS, and we arent interested in that sort of thing. (+)[2]TLN: IS refers to the Imic State, a terrorist organization also known as ISIS (Imic State of Iraq and Syria).
Hmm.
Hyungnim, I know that youre hesitant about dealing with extremists
No, thats not it. I said I wouldnt discriminate against means and methods. Youve exined it well. Its worth considering.
Abu Torayfiyah and Abu Sayyaf were both fanatical individuals who even shot fellow Muslims. Moreover, both groups have fewer than fifty members, making them irrelevant as trading partners.
However, their small scale could actually be an advantage, as theyd be more inclined to spill secrets if we just dangle a million dors in front of them.
The problem was that there was no connection between us and them
We couldnt request introductions from our client, the Moro Liberation Front, as they have hostile rtionships with both sides. Especially with Abu Sayyaf, their elite force called Azang-Azang bombed a mosque and crossed a river of no return. (+)[3]TLN: I couldnt find Azang-Azang/??-??. So maybe this one is fictional.
Kyung-tae expressed a skeptical opinion.
Noonim. I doubt if these lowlifes can introduce us properly.
Suyeon immediately replied to this.
Abu Sayyaf also raises doubts for me.
Is that so?
But with Turaifies guys, we might have something to expect.
In what way?
They have close ties with the Pakistani immigrantmunity and actively recruit Pakistani coborators. Unlike Abu Sayyaf, who risks their lives with kidnappings and piracy and has many unclear sources of operational funds Its suspicious how their organizational strength remains unshaken despite the leaders consecutive deaths.
Suyeon paused for a moment and then continued.
When you consider various pieces of information, its highly likely that these guys are being directed by the Pakistani intelligence agency, just like the early Taliban days. If thats the case, theres still a clear channel to the Taliban even if the Daesh (IS) leader is dead.
Wow.
Kyung-tae admired Suyeons analysis, speaking in a rapid and flowing manner.
Even memorizing information about such insignificant guys.
Its my job.
Still, thats impressive.
Ignoring Kyung-tae, who was giving two thumbs up, Suyeon stared at me with a calm attitude.
Theres one more thing. How about asking Chief Chu to contact the Latin American cartels?
Chief Chu? The one from the Diamond Casino?
Yes.
The Chief Suyeon mentioned was the unofficial owner of the casino where I issued the chips to Lieutenant Walker. Of course, he wasnt a real chief representing the entire tribe. It was just a nickname that carried over into this world. Most of the figures among the Native American tribes had epted modern political systems a long time ago.
Puzzled, I tilted my head.
Why Chief Chu of all people? Its rare to find someone in this world who hates drug dealers to that extent.
The North American Native American tribes had suffered greatly in the past due to poverty and drug addiction. Therefore, the Chief of their tribe, the People of the Desert (Tahoenne Adam), despised drug dealers intensely. Even though theirnd was close to the Mexican border, he never engaged in any trade with drug cartels for that reason.- 1. TLN: The Five Eyes is an intelligence allianceprising Australia, Canada, New Zend, the United Kingdom, and the United States
- 2. TLN: IS refers to the Imic State, a terrorist organization also known as ISIS (Imic State of Iraq and Syria).
- 3. TLN: I couldnt find Azang-Azang/??-??. So maybe this one is fictional.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 8: Search (4)
Chapter 8: Search (4)
Suyeon calmly responded to the question.
Thats right. Thats why using People of the Desert as intermediaries for smuggling is different from other smuggling routes. Its a good route for individuals who want to avoid the cartels while also knowing that Chief Chu doesnt deal with them.
I see.
Onemonality among Native American tribes near the US-Mexico border was smuggling. It might not make a lot of money, but it was better than having nothing, and psychologically, they felt closer to people from Central and South America than to the US. From the Native Americans perspective, the US was a nation built by invaders.
The People of the Desert tribe was mostly located within US territory, but a small minority lived in Mexicannds. It was ideal for carrying out independent smuggling operations.
I tapped the table with my fingertips slowly.
I see. Among those, theres a higher probability that those who paid extra for additional services might be connected to the cartels in some way. Not that its a good connection, though.
Having connections to the cartels doesnt necessarily mean strained rtionships with all the members within the organization.
I know.
Even within a single organization, rtionships of interest were oftenplex. To avoid being purged or to cover up their activities against rivals, many members had to cut ties with their families, friends, and close associates.
Suyeon continued,
The Chief values trust, so he wont sell the customers information, but theres a possibility he might consider confirming their intentions under certain conditions, assuming contact can be established.
This girl really had a sharp mind. As I observed her silently, Suyeon modestly lowered her gaze.
By the way, was she rted to the cartels in any way
Crossing the border didnt magically change someones status. Among those who sought Chief Chus help to get to the United States, there would be quite a few who, having struggled with life as it was, had be petty criminals. Such individuals would have no qualms about cutting my throat.
This was definitely worth trying. Compared to dealing with the risk of getting involved with the Pakistani intelligence agency like with the Filipino rebels, dealing with the casinos Chief Chu was a much better option.
Even so, I was nning to go to the US soon. Lets give it a shot when the timees.
Understood.
Suyeon, who was habitually taking notes, seemed a bit puzzled.
If you were nning to go soon, does that mean you have other business as well?
Well, if you want to call it business, sure. I want to see the gigantic ones in this world with my own eyes.
Gigantic ones?
Among all the creatures on Earth, the ones with disproportionately massive bodies.
The person who couldnt grasp it before finally sighed. I nodded in confirmation.
Yeah. Those gigantic organisms will soon start showing signs of awakening. Maybe Ill witness the moment their circuits first open up Im hoping to gain some valuable knowledge by observing such phenomena. Something no mage or imperialist has ever experienced.
Suyeon, who had been pondering over what she heard, asked a natural question.
Are those gigantic organisms perhaps whales?
She might have thought of the blue whale. It was amon association, but it was not correct. If I wanted to see whales, there would be no need to go to the United States.
Whales are thergest mammals, but theyre not thergest life forms. What I want to see in North America are nts and fungi.
Fungi? Could it be?
Mushrooms.
After hearing the answer, Suyeons expression revealed an umon shock.
There exist mushrooms that arerger in mass than whales?
There are.
While the blue whale, the heaviest individual, weighed up to 200 tons, the mushroom I wanted to see was a single organism estimated to cover an area of 965 hectares with a weight of 37,000 tons.
Suyeon swallowed her surprise after a brief silence.
Hey, I have a questionC
What is it?
Kyung-tae, with a yful expression, asked his question.
You mentioned that the probability of gaining superpowers is proportional to body mass. So, does that mean overweight or obese people have a higher chance of awakening than slim individuals?
Thats correct.
Wow, I cant believe it. You, Hyungnim, making jokes like this. Hahaha!
He burst intoughter. I remained silent, and as the silence continued, Kyung-tae gradually stifled hisughter.
Haha Ha
Uh
Could it be that it wasnt a joke? You really mean that if youre heavier, you have a higher chance of awakening?
When have you ever seen me joking with you guys?
Oh, my God.
Kyung-tae was shocked and couldnt close his mouth.
Wow, this is really Oh, my God. So, having a big belly makes your soul fat! Souls work that way? Calories were right!
Calm down. Dont lose your mind. Do you really think souls grow that easily?
Then?
If your soul were a tree, your body would be a pot. But even if you repot a tree, it doesnt grow immediately. There are differences depending on the species, and the years it has lived also have an impact.
Oh, right. Thats true.
Kyung-tae, who had epted the exnation, was puzzled again.
But isnt what you said about obese people awakening quickly contradictory? Unless theyre extremely old obese people.
Thats a slightly different story.
I pondered for a moment before answering.
Mass of the soul Its not a material concept, but for convenience, lets call it mass for now. That way, itll be an easier analogy.
Yes.
The key point is that even with the same mass, volume and density can vary. The soul is intertwined with life. So, as the physical body gets bigger, the surface area where the soul touches magic power increases. Its unrted to mass.
I see. Like the difference in melting rates between granted sugar and regr sugar?
The phenomena may differ, but the principles are simr.
I see
In a simr context, the awakening rate rtive to body mass would likely be much higher for tiny creatures like insectspared to humans. If youpared individual entities, humans would naturally dominate. However, insects were like granted sugar, and humans were like regr sugar.
Kyung-tae, who had calmed down, spoke with a serious expression.
Hyungnim, I think I can see the future right now.
Why all of a sudden?
Dont you see, Hyungnim? People whove been holed up in their rooms, day by day, gaining weight, will start pouring into the world, saying, My time has finallye!''
These days, there are a lot of people like that, right? Living a tough life, having no hope, and even being excluded from the governments unemployment statistics.
It was an unexpectedly realistic prediction.
But it wontst long.
Why do you say that?
Less mature magic power circuits tend to leak during the process of converting magic power into magic power.
What happens if it leaks?
Unrefined magic power, to a limited extent, exerts radiation-like effects on living things. Its not exactly the same, but simr.
Oh, my
Magic power, and magical power, in particr, was the force that twists reality within organic beings possessing souls. If this power was not controlled, the first to be twisted was the organic being itself. This included cells and genes.
While using their abilities might strengthen their circuits in ordance with those abilities, there will be no shortage of those who die before reaching that point. Moreover, these sessive deaths will be enough to render the rest of the poption quite miserable.
Therefore, the future of the emerging awakened individuals was one of two possibilities.
They will either stabilize their abilities and join the ranks of thew-abiding, or sumb to cancer.
It might be a bit difficult toprehend, but using immense power in a short time might lead to multiple organ failure rather than cancer. In this regard, nts might be superior to animals. They were highly modr organisms.
Poor souls. After all that effort to leave their rooms, they might just end up sumbing to cancer Its like a cicada, isnt it? Spends several years underground, only toe out, enjoy the sunlight, and then die.
Even saying this, Kyung-tae didnt seem particrly looked apologetic.
Suyeon drylymented.
The cicada is better. At least they get to mate.
Oh, Noonim. Thats a bit harsh And do you know how many cicadas cant find a mate and die?
Its unfortunate, but thats life. We dont owe them a warning.
This girl wasnt the type to mock others thoughtlessly. If she said shed kill someone, shed do it seriously.
Anyway, like Suyeon said, there was no obligation to give a warning.
Once the awakened individuals started appearing, national attention would be focused on them, and all sorts of inspections and research would be carried out. Although the information might initially be somewhat inurate.
Kyung-tae changed his posture and lightened the mood.
Now, lets stop joking about this As the head of security, isnt it somewhat risky for you to go to the United States?
Because of the people in London?
Yes. When you went to Brisbane and Singapore this time, you mentioned that, right? You said that any mage who senses this change would have the same idea as you.
Thats right.
This time, wouldnt it be the same? No one would want to leave their position during such an important time.
A valid point. However, it was not the right answer.
Its not necessarily so. What we were cautious about during thest trip was not an immediate conflict but the possibility of tracking us in the future. Right now, they dont have the resources to exert themselves externally.
Why is that?
During times like this, no one wants to leave their position. And besides, there might be some political matters involved.
Of course, there could be political conflicts. These imperialists were greedy, authoritarian, and filled with pride.
From the beginning, it was my Master who aimed to monopolize the Eye of the Golden Age and betrayed hisrades, you know? Their leadership, the Round Table Cab, must have been a mess more than the old British parliament that they were kicking into by now.
They must be fiercely arguing about their priorities for essing artifacts and texts, establishing future orders, and the privileges of their families.
Kyung-tae nodded in agreement.
I understand what youre saying. But its just your spection, isnt it Hyungnim? That there wont be room to project power externally.
For now, thats true.
What else is there?
Its about the size of the mushrooms.
Okay.
The area it covers is twice the size of Yeouido Ind, considering only thergest one.
And that entire area is full of national forests, mountains, and woods. How many personnel and resources do you think theyd need to deploy to capture me there? Lets say, for arguments sake, they mobilize that many personnel. Can they really avoid my detection?
It would be almost impossible.
Right?
The imperialist bastards were probably even considering a rebellion against the current Round Table Cab. They wouldnt want to send out troops, whether attackers or defenders, not just mages but even regr soldiers. As I told Suyeon, mages were equally defenseless against bullets.
Furthermore, for the time being, I wouldnt be able to use magic properly, just as I was busy adjusting my circuits.
I trusted the power ambitions and survival instincts of those aristocrats.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 9.1 - Search (5)
Chapter 9.1 - Search (5)
One more thing.
I touched my temple with my finger.
These eyes. They have no means to visually observe magic power and mana. Research based on observation is difficult. So even if our thoughts align, our priorities may differ.
Humans, being the most superior beings in the natural world, probably wont degrade their greatest wisdom, magic, byparing it to the primitive magic of beasts and nts, especially since they consider themselves exceptionally superior.
Instead, they would explore the ancient Golden Age with its rich relics and traditions. The Round Table in London ces all standards rted to magic in that era.
The results would determine whose approach was more correct, theirs or mine.
I understand that the risk is surprisingly low.
Kyung-tae nodded.
Still, it wont hurt to be cautious. The kids who were receivingprehensivebat training in the 4th quarter are about to return. With your permission, Ill bring them back and utilize them.
How many are we talking about?
Just a moment, Hyungnim.
Kyung-tae checked his phone.
191.
Thats too many. Itll be overly conspicuous in a quiet town.
Yes. Should I select the top twenty by performance and have them on standby?
Go ahead.
I epted the modified proposal. 191 was a number suitable for assaulting the Mexican cartels stronghold, even if it was not a full-scale battle.
The members of my organizations strike force regrly receivedbat training in the United States. Any country where training was possible could handle as many recruits as needed, but the United States was unique in that it was the only nation where civilian ess to high-level tactical academies was allowed.
Of course, the United States wasnt foolish; it monitored these training centers through the State Department. However, all members of the organizations strike team were registered as employees of security firms, bodyguard agencies, or private militarypanies (PMCs) in name only. They were divided among several training centers, so there was no reason for suspicion. Moreover, many of these centers didnt inquire about their clients identities. The only drawback was that they were somewhat expensive.
Nevertheless, Kyung-tae was one of those talents who stood out in such training. His evaluation reports from experienced instructors always included the word top.
It was only a hypothetical scenario, but even in a full-scale confrontation with the Rokudaime Yamaguchigumi (Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi), Japansrgest designated yakuza group, I had full confidence that the strike force alone could overwhelm them. The 11,000 Imhyeop groups, which the crime syndicate boasted about, were meaningless in the face of my subordinates qualitative superiority.
Half of them are aging.
It might be true for criminal organizations, but as a violent organization, the Yakuza had long since lost its vitality. This was a case where both the country and the violent organization had aged. If necessary, they wouldnt even beparable to the Mexican guys with whom we might have to engage in a real battle.
Kyung-tae asked.
So, whats the specific location youre heading to?
The mushrooms are in Oregon, but I n to check out the Sequoia forest in California first.
Could you mark it here?
Sure.
Kyung-tae handed me his phone with a map application open. I marked the journey from the Sequoia National Forest just south of the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the national forest in Oregon and then on to a small city in Utah. Although I had nned the route in advance, I couldnt recall the exact location, so I had to look up the information on my own phone.
After I handed the phone back to Kyung-tae, he looked puzzled.
Its quite a coincidence. Why are all these giant things you mentioned located in the United States?
I felt the same way.
I dont know. There might be more undiscovered things in ces like the Amazon.
Regardless, it wouldnt be all good news for the United States. These giant entities would likely pose both a significant mystery and potential threat in proportion to their size. Not only the United States, but any country with vast territory and abundant wildlife would face challenges. However, I wished I could see suchndscapes more normally.
The Eye of the Golden Age granted me an exceptionally high-resolution vision, allowing me to see even with my eyes closed. Although I could adjust it to some extent, I couldntpletely block my vision. Thats why falling asleep was a challenging daily task. To make matters worse, I often woke up from nightmares, and there was a time when sleep deprivation almost drove me insane.
Even now, when I was ustomed to it, the asional moments of feeling overwhelmed by fatigue and excessive information were still quite frequent.
However, it was better to view a quietndscape like this rather than be in a crowded ce. For me, a crowded ce was no different from a mysterious temple of organs and muscles filled with the turmoil of internal processes and chemical signals. Even after bing ustomed to it for a long time, there were still moments when I felt like my mind was going crazy.
I should sleep.
Reluctantly, I shook off my hesitation to lie down and covered myself with a nket, trying not to think about the impending nightmare. If I couldnt get rid of those thoughts, tonights sleep would be impossible.
What should I upy my mind with instead?
I tried to focus on something other than the disturbing thoughts, gazing at the ceiling where the blood vessels on my eyelids ovepped.Author''s Thoughts
This chapter will be cut into 2 part. The reason for that is the Author, I don''t know why, put another title in the middle of the chapter.
Chapter 9.2 - President (1)
Chapter 9.2 - President (1)
The day had changed. Today, January 7th, twenty days had passed since the negotiation in Daegu. I was sitting in a car driven by Kyung-taes subordinates, traveling on an ind road in central California. There was no change in the concentration of magic power.
Throughout the journey from Los Angeles heading north, all I could see were vineyards and orange orchards, making for a monotonous road. Kyung-tae, who sat beside me, idly scrolled through his phone, and his expression suddenly changed when we passed through a cliff-lined area with a breathtaking view.
Wow. The scenery just drastically changed.
I took my eyes off my tablet and looked out the window. There, ake with a vivid blue color still shimmered amidst the continuous drought. The yellowed shores were probably due to the current cold season.
Its a shame Suyeon-noonim isnt here, Hyungnim.
Shes joining us in a few days anyway.
Even so.
Suyeon was still in South Korea. She was busy coordinating the New Year operational ns for the organizations subordinate units and facilities as the secretary-general of the organizations headquarters.
There had been various things to deal with recently. The Yankees at Camp Henry had agreed to expand the deal, and during the four-day New Year organization meeting held on January 2nd, I gathered the mid-level officers to present the organizations management policies for the future. It was up to Suyeon and the staff officers and key executives to specify these policies. The decisions of the people I selected were essentially my decisions.
Kyung-tae turned his head toward me. It seemed like he was expecting something.
By the way, how did you like the novels I rmended?
Well.
I nced away from the tablet for a moment and looked across the scenery.
They arent proving to be very helpful.
Is that so
Dont be disappointed; I didnt have high expectations to begin with.
I usually didnt get close to novels, and the reason was simple. It was a form of reading that involved a lot of waste. Novels generally prioritized delivering emotions and excitement over conveying knowledge, which was the opposite of what I sought in books.
However, after thinking about what Kyung-tae had mentioned in Daegu, I considered that a novelists imaginative thinking might be helpful in preparing for the future.
Because there have been real cases.
In 2001, the copse of the Twin Towers due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks had a significant impact on the global crime market. At that time, I had been regrly receiving academic journals from several think tanks for market forecasting, and one of them was the American Studies Journal from the American Studies Association (ASA). (+)[1]TLN: A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture.
I probably read about it there.
Under the title of Cultural Imaginations of Terrorism or something like that, a short essay, written just a month after the terrorist attacks, exined what the U.S. Department of Defense had asked Hollywood figures to do. ording to the essay, the Pentagon had requested a group brainstorming session from the movie industry. What would terrorists target in the future? How would their plots be executed? And how could these plots be prevented?
The author of the paper stated that this n was triggered by a single novel. The content of the novel closely resembled the patterns of the terrorist attack, and it was even mentioned on CNN news on the day of the attack. The author of that novel was Tom ncy.
Kyung-tae scratched his head.
The list I gave you wasnt just my personal rmendations.
What I wanted was unrted to the novels artisticpleteness.
I know, I know.
I felt a nce from up ahead. Sitting in the co-drivers seat was a mid-level officer from the secretarys office whom Suyeon had sent to take her ce. He held the rank of deputy chief. He was a friend who had eaten the rice given by the organization much longer than the one in a higher position right now, Suyeon. The guy sitting in the drivers seat was also taller than Kyung-tae.
I met the guys eyes through the rearview mirror.
Hong Young-sik, do you have something to say?
N-No.
Go ahead. Dont beat around the bush.
Its really nothing, Chairman. I was just amazed to see the head of the security team treating you sofortably from up close.
Whats important is the intention, not the form. Even if I tell you that, its because you guysck confidence in yourselves and cant ept it. Being cautious and polite externally makes you more attentive, and that caution naturally shows in your actions.
I see your point, sir.
Deputy Chief Hong agreed respectfully.
If I may offer an excuse for everyone, Chairman, you see, he can see through us, but we dont know how we appear to ourselves. So, rather than knowing how well appear to others, we focus on maintaining appearances, and that caution naturally affects our behavior.
I nodded my head.
Im not saying to bex. A careful attitude is a good thing What I mean is, if youre confident that you wont reveal your true self, then you can act like Kyung-tae without a problem.
Ill do better, sir.
Good.
Sticking to formalities didnt necessarily increase the organizations efficiency. Wasnt the old Japanese Imperial Army the second-rate army because of ack of discipline?
Anyway, I was irreceable within the organization, and the abilities I possessed gave me an invincible status. So, there was no reason for my subordinates to act like hard-asses.
I paused for a moment and then asked another question.
Have you gotten used to working under Suyeon? It must have been awkward since youre quite a bit younger.
Deputy Chief Hong responded as if the question caught him off guard.
It was awkward, yes. Even when I was the department head, I had to push this guy; otherwise, he said it was job obstruction. The chairman couldnt have been more wrong about someone. Its just that Director Kang expresses her emotions in such a dry manner You know what I mean, right? Anyway, it was a bit difficult to deal with her at first. Itsted about a year Rather than saying it was awkward, its more urate to say it was difficult.
Thats fortunate.
At that moment, a radio transmission came in through the in-car receiver from the lead vehicle upfront. They reported that they had passed through the park entrance. Despite keeping a wide gap between the lead and follow-up vehicles to avoid suspicion, the supported location was only a minute away.
The car I was in soon reached the park entrance. A staff member collected a $35 toll fee and handed us a pass through the window.
Its a pass valid for seven days. Attach it to the inside of your front windshield so that its clearly visible from the outside.
Understood. Thank you, sir.
Have a great trip.
The guy in the drivers seat exchanged polite greetings with the staff member. The car began to drive toward the Sequoia forest on the other side of the mountains.- 1. TLN: A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 10: President (2)
Chapter 10: President (2)
Half an hour passed, and the road, which had risen to an altitude of 5,000 feet, now had weathered asphalt that looked almost white in its pale gray. Speed limit signs and cautionary road signs flickered past the roadside. Thetter disyed warnings to install snow chains. Although other vehicles were seen stopping to install chains, the vehicle prepared by the headquarters field support team had a four-wheel drive with snow tires, so there was no need to dy.
As the ancient Sequoia Grove drew nearer, my heart rate quickened. The flow of magic power that came into view was unusual. There was also an unrefined trace of magic. Evidence that there was at least one Awakened being nearby.
Awakened beings had circuits that absorbed the surrounding magic power, and the absorbed power was called control strength. The range in which this control strength was exerted was called the circuit field or magical field.
I felt my lips dry.
An Awakened being who deploys a field to such a distance
It was unexpected. The trees in this Sequoia National Park were indeed giant and ancient, but I didnt think they would already be opening circuits. I thought it might be possible only for trees like Oregons mushrooms, which had expanded their territory through symbiosis for 8,700 years, or Utahs golden aspen, estimated to have existed for at least 80,000 years.
The reason I came to this Sequoia forest was simply to observe the early precursors before Awakening, but it seems I had underestimated the potential arising from their gigantism. Perhaps the quality of souls that had endured for so long had be another variable.
The magical knowledge I possessed was fundamentally the result of digesting the soul of that arrogant bastard, my Master, that was embedded in my mind. That arrogant bastard knew a lot, but that didnt mean he was a master of all things magical. So, my judgments based on that knowledge could have errors.
Well, that bastard of Master was also steeped in religious bias and human supremacism.
Ill stop the car here.
As Kyung-taes subordinate turned the wheel and slowed down, I got out of the car and immediately began to search for a southern path. Kyung-tae, who had been closely following with his security detail, spoke with a bewildered expression.
Uh, Hyungnim. The biggest tree around here, General Sherman, is supposed to be in the opposite direction.
I know, but what I need to see isnt that guy.
Have you already found something?
You cant even imagine what Im looking at.
I felt my control field contracting, as if squeezing each other out, a pure contest of control strength that urred when different fields shed. My control strength over the surrounding magic power was now barely significantpared to the formidable strength of the behemoth I could only now barely see.
What will happen when my circuits arepletely normalized?
I roughly estimated and inwardly shook my head. It was still far behind. There was a significant gap in ss that the density and intricacy of circuits alone couldnt ovee. As time passed, even the circuits of this behemoth would go through its own natural optimization.
How efficiently you used the drawn-in magic power was a separate issue, but in any case, within this behemoths territory, no mage or primitive ability user could fully demonstrate their abilities. They couldnt draw in the surrounding magic power at maximum efficiency unless they destroyed the tree itself.
Finally, I stopped in my tracks. Somewhere, I could hear the sound of flowing water.
Perhaps it was because this wasnt the most famous tree in the park, or maybe it was because it was off-season, but I didnt see anyone else except for our group. Naturally, there were no surveince personnel I had been concerned about either. The security team, pretending to be tourists, was standing at a distance, guarding the outer perimeter. Kyung-tae, who hade with me, was reading the que in front of the tree.
[The President] The name sounds grand, doesnt it? Is this the one youve been looking for, Hyungnim?
Without turning my head, I replied.
Yes. This might be the first awakened being of this era.
Awakened? Are you saying that thing has already opened its magic power circuits or something?
Kyung-tae tilted his head up to look at the tall and massive trunk.
Oh my. This President guy is really huge. It must be taller than most apartments Its like looking at a cliff, not a tree.
His amazement, which was almost mumbling, became more evident as he moved backward.
Approaching the overwhelming mass of the President, I reached out my palm to touch its rugged surface. Inside the bark, I could feel the currents of magic power and mana as if they were tangible. It was a sensation different from mere observation. The internal circuitry resembled rapids and waterfalls, chaotic and inefficient yet beautiful.
The magic power and mana I could perceive had waves-like patterns of different colored spots of light. Therefore, the President was a tree of light with various colors, from its deep roots deep in the ground to its high canopy. The magic power escaping from iplete circuits became a light cluster resembling an aurora and flowed out like a gxy.
With a sigh mixed with admiration, I warned Kyung-tae.
Kyung-tae.
Yes.
Stay within roughly 5 meters of me as a center, and tell the guys over there to make way to the left and right. Thats where magic power is flowing.
Oh.
Without Kyung-taes order, the other guys quickly sent a message through the radio. ncing back, I saw the security personnel in that direction dispersing. I turned my gaze back to the front.
Roughly within a 5-meter radius was the maximum range where I could exert my control here. The control that drew in magic power could technically push back magic power or mana if used skillfully. To avoid being exposed to the violent and unrefined mana, one could either stay close to me orpletely leave the area.
Still, it was only 5 meters. I felt small and insignificant in my current state.
But this wasnt entirely a negative emotion. It was more of amazement than self-pity. This tree was much more beautiful than anything I had seen before.
On the other hand, interpreting the Presidents circuits didnt take much time. Theplexity of the circuits was still low, and there were only a few circuits performing meaningful functions.
However, there was a clear difference from human circuits. This difference would be even more pronounced in the future. The hypothesis that different abilities would manifest differently in different species gained even more weight.
Hyungnim.
Kyung-tae cautiously asked in a voice filled with the unfamiliar.
So, what ability does this guy have?
Ability?
Yes.
Hell probably grow better than anything weve seen so far. Hell also be sturdier.
Is that the answer?
Isnt that the essence of the basic desire of life?
Though simply expressed, it was indeed a remarkable ability. Since some of the energy needed for growth would be reced by mana.
I was quite looking forward to how much bigger this behemoth would be in the future. nts that had started to rece energy with mana due to biotic enhancements, no matter how their changes manifested, would likely cause tremendous upheaval in human civilization.
Hearing my answer, Kyung-tae wore an awkward expression.
Its true, but the term desire doesnt quite fit nts.
Why?
nts dont have intelligence.
Who says that?
Huh? Isnt that obvious?
Nothing in this world is obvious.
Well
Sometimes, doubtmon sense. nts have intelligence and even cognitive abilities. Theyre just different in principles and forms from human intelligence.
If I were to watch those who mockingly underestimated nts, believing that only human intelligence was true intelligence, I couldnt help but think they resembled the imperialists who imed their civilization was the only true one and colonized the world.
I disliked imperialism. Regardless of right or wrong, I disliked it simply because it was imperialism.
Doesnt it make sense?
Kyung-tae chuckled in response to my question.
Of course not. To Kim Kyung-tae, your words are always right. Its just that the content ispletely opposite to what Ive known so far, so it doesnt feel real. Haha.
Hmm.
This kind of conversation was bing tiring with repetition, but what could I do? The knowledge to prepare for the future was unique to me alone. Looking ahead, this guy needed to keep his wits about him.
With 99.5% of the Earths existing biomass being nts, it foreshadowed that most of the awakening entities that would appear in the future would be nts.
Let me give you a simple example.
I spoke up.
Many trees recognize their rtives.
Wow.
Gically close rtives dontpete with each other, or if they do, they dont take it to the death.
In other words, nts have a lineage too. Just like in human society, it was a natural strategy to preserve and spread genes.
However, even among the same species, theres fiercepetition between trees with different lineages. Its a war where they spread their roots antagonistically to upy a bit more territory. So, in dense forests, you can see the family rtionships of the trees that have rooted in that area by looking underground.
Thats amazing. They dont have brains, so how do they make such judgments
Answering up to here, there was already too much information. Feeling it was bing tedious, I condensed the words I had to say into one sentence.
nts roots are their brains.
Kyung-tae, who had closed his mouth, now curiously examined the ground beneath his feet. Even so, there was no way the naked eye could see below the surface.
In truth, even though I condensed my exnation, the knowledge I had provided was still too much. nt intelligence was distributed beyond just the roots.
However, it was true that the roots yed an overwhelmingly significant role.
At the foundation of it all were the root tips. Root-tip cells formed awork functionally simr to an animals brain by sending electrical and chemical signals to each other.
Even roadside wildflowers had tens of millions of root-tip cells. What about a behemoth like the President? It would be faster to weigh than to count. Even without such behemoths, the cognitivework mass of trees of a certain size was much heavier than the human brain. There were differences in how cognition was achieved, and the difference was significant enough to make mutualmunication almost impossible.
Thats why I thought people who babbled that animals were pitiful, so lets only eat nts, were stupid.
To value life, you should just starve to death.
The morality these savage people professed reminded me of the nauseating sense of superiority disyed by my master and those London fellows.
Interrupting my train of thought, I turned away from the President.
Thats enough for this one. Lets go check out the others.
Kyung-tae looked surprised.
Have you seen enough already?
Its just the beginning of the awakening process, so theres nothing more to see right now. Maybe welle back another time.
Id love to observe the development of the circuit for a longer period, but realistically, it was impossible. Moving this entire tree to nt elsewhere was out of the question.
At least I had glimpsed the starting point of biotic enhancement circuits, which were fundamentally different from those of humans. If I were topare it to programming, I had collected some code. By increasing my library of code like this, I would eventually find it useful.
I hoped that these efforts would surpass the knowledge and artifacts possessed by imperialists.
Afterward, I went to see The Senate, McKinley, Lincoln, and finally stood in front of General Sherman, which was said to be thergest tree in this national park, at least by conventional tree standards.
Kyung-tae, while keeping an eye on nearby tourists, asked me.
How is it?
Its developing a bit slower than the others.
Well, cant expect much from this one, huh?
Whilerger biomass increased the chances of awakening, the probability was still a probability. I could see that the flow of magic power was prating General Sherman like rifts of light, but it had not yet formed a significant circuit.
Chairman.
Hong Young-sik, the deputy director, who had been on the phone with someone, turned to me.
A call from Diamond Casino.
I took the phone from Deputy Director Hong.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 11: White Chief (1)
Chapter 11: White Chief (1)
The Chief of the casino invited me to the San Xavier Native Reservation, located south of Tucson, Arizona. It wasnd obtained anew through dealings with the federal and state governments, though it hadnt been the tribes territory in the past. Diamond Casino was also located within this area.
As our convoy of vehicles entered the protected area, police officers who had been waiting by the roadside signaled for us to stop. Two officers with red skin approached, palms open, and tapped on the windows. A subordinate in the drivers seat rolled down the window, and the senior officer spoke.
Hello, everyone. Its a good day for a trip, isnt it?
The subordinate responded.
Yes, it is. Except for the rain on the way here.
This was a desert. It wasnt the rainy season, so it had never rained here.
The police officer replied with an impassive expression.
Wee. Well escort you to where the chief is waiting.
Although we had already provided our vehicles registration, it was a procedure to confirm it once more. Vehicles could remain the same while people might differ. Information such as vehicle registration numbers and passcodes were exchanged through separate channels.
Our destination wasnt the casino. The leading police car entered a dusty, unpaved road that led to impoverished residences. Dust billowed up like smoke in the wake of the tires. The road, devoid of any straight lines, was lined with scattered wooden houses, adding to the destion.
Finally, we stopped at an ordinary house that was no different from the others. Kyung-tae, who got out of the car first, checked the surroundings as a formality before opening the door. As soon as I stepped out of the car, the intense desert heat assaulted me. To the north, the white spire of an old cathedral was visible. It was a legacy of the white-skinned invaders.
Thud. The officer who had closed the door of the old patrol car pointed with an outstretched hand toward the entrance of the house.
Please,e in.
I gave Kyung-tae a slight nod. It was a gesture indicating that there was no threat inside the house. Protecting me in this way waspletely different from standard security.
Inside the house, a uniform hum of central air conditioning and artificial coldness greeted us. There was a hint of the musty odor of aged filters in the air. The interior seemed like a typical family home, suggesting cooperation from one of the tribes members or perhaps an intentionally fortified safe house.
The elderly chief, leaning on a cane, stood up and greeted me as he limped over.
Wee, Chairman. Its been a long time since Ive seen you in person.
Im d to see you, Chief. You look healthy.
You, on the other hand, remain unchanged despite the passage of time. Not a single wrinkle on your forehead Anyway, please have a seat here.
The chief, guiding me to a seat, was dressed in a stylish suit. I sat across from him at the old dining table. The chief offered an apology first.
I apologize for unterally notifying you of the time and ce, as I did to such an important customer. However, due to recent political issues on the tribal level that need to be addressed, it was difficult to schedule a separate meeting. Just this morning, I returned from D.C., and Ill have to leave again soon. I hope you understand.
I already mentioned on the phone that its fine. A direct meeting with you is a rare request. But may I know what the issue is?
After receiving the question and staying silent for a moment, the chief shook his head and furrowed his eyebrows.
Even if I keep my mouth shut, itlle out sooner orter
?
The problem is the copper mine.
Anger and irritation shed in the chiefs eyes.
For years, miningpanies that are eating up open-pit mines have been encroaching on our tribalnd. Its not about profit-sharing ratios; the state government is trying to skew the distribution in favor of the miningpanies, isnt it?
So, youre wrestling with the federal government?
You could say that. Were helping our tribal government behind the scenes. So far, we havent made any ie, though.
If the miningpanies have any sense, theyve lobbied their side as well.
Thats exactly it.
It was always the same story. Whether it was a protected area or a Native American reservation, the United States would do whatever it took to take away anything of value as soon as it was found on thatnd. Thats the kind of imperialistic behavior I despised.
The chief seemed to genuinely express his concerns. Since their vulnerabilities would be revealed anyway, there was no need to damage trust with empty pretensions.
I asked in response.
By the way, didnt the Apache tribe face a simr issue before? If that case is still pending in court, have you considered joining forces and making a unified voice?
This was a conversation I had with the chief before. Their issue might also have been a copper vein. It happened several years ago, but these kinds of legal disputes were never resolved quickly.
The chief responded with sarcasm.
Were already doing that.
Sorry.
The federal government, those damned bastards. They have less credibility than drug dealers! In our tribesnguage, theres not even a word to insult them.
The People of the Desert did not have swear words in their mother tongue. This was amon feature of Native Americannguages, influenced by their cultures where strongly cursing or insulting individuals was strictly prohibited.
I harbored a small hope.
It might not be as difficult to resolve this as I thought.
Right now, the chief probably needed lobbying funds to use in the political arena. It wasnt a matter of sellingAuthor''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 12: White Chief (2)
Chapter 12: White Chief (2)
Beasts, he said. I instinctively pulled my body back, disying my reluctance.
Kill people? Several of them? If its tied to politics, Ill decline.
The nature of the targets would depend on who they were specifically, but for now, I had to show my hesitation. Even if it was the samepensation, it had to appear more valuable.
The chief denied any suspicion.
Thats not it. You must have misunderstood due to the mention of the mine earlier.
Its not just the mine. You still have the issue of the tribes holynd, dont you? If I remember correctly, it was the summit of Baboquivari mountain, right?
Its not Baboquivari mountain; its Waw Kiwulik. The center of the world. It might be fine for outsiders, but at least in front of us, please dont use the name imposed by invaders. (+)[1]TLN: Waw Kiwulik is the name of Baboquivari Mountain in the Native Language
I didnt intend to offend. It simply slipped my memory.
I understand.
The chiefs wrinkles deepened even further.
In reality, iming not to remember was a lie and it was a topic I had brought up intentionally.
Theres no way we can forget the psychological weakness of our major trading partners.
The deeply wounded were easily shaken, under the assumption that they were understood.
Waw Kiwulik was the spiritual mountain of the tribe, not too far from here. The People of the Desert believed that the mountains north peak houses the divine spirit Iitoy, also known as the Man in the Maze, who guided the harmony between humans and the world.
However, the mountain was merely nominally tribalnd, actually under permanent lease by the U.S. government. In front of the sacred teau which tribal members called the Garden of the Gods, there was a massive astronomical observatoryplex, including the worldsrgest sr observatory.
Now that the topic hase up, may I ask if there has been any improvement in that matter?
My question infuriated the chief.
Dont even mention it. Those people have now dug up even the sacred mountain!
I see.
The tribal elders were naive and foolish. They signed the contract without seeing through the core of the scam. They thought it meant they were really borrowing
Did they really?
I believed that even the People of the Desert had their own calctions, despite using the word lease. Wasnt a non-withdrawable lease contract essentially the same as a perpetual contract? Over 60 years had passed since then, and the tribe had not regained thend they lent.
The contract fee paid by the U.S. at the time was worth about $500,000 when adjusted for current value. In Korean won, that was about 600 million. And as rent, they were paying 25 cents (about 300 won) per acre annually.
The elderly chief clenched his fist under the table. His granddaughter, Mashath, interlocked her hand with his trembling fist. His gaze, feigned indifference, was directed in the opposite direction. It seemed like he was trying to hide something, but my eyes were attentive.
I brought up the past.
Chief, Im reminded of the time you first proposed a deal to me. There was only one casino owned by the tribe back then if I recall correctly.
Now, there were four casinos. The chief at that time was an amateur just starting his business. He was old in age, but hecked the experience of a businessman and had much less backgroundpared to now.
I wondered if that was the reason. When I didnt easily agree and tested the waters, the exhausted and desperate chief went so far as to reveal everything, from his background to the tribes unfortunate situation, seeking my sympathy. My understanding of People of the Desert and the chief himself was based on the stories I heard back then.
This old man was lucky.
I might not be a just person, but I detested imperialism. The chiefs struggles garnered at least a bit of my sympathy.
In other words, the chief and my first deal, about 10% of it was concluded with my personal favor added in. The contract was also fair. I subtly reminded him of that point.
Your business has soared, but it seems the tribes situation hasnt improved. I express my regret as a friend, Chief.
Friend?
Isnt that right?
Well, I suppose so. I still appreciate the Chairmans kindness. There was something different about you, something that set you apart from the others. So, I continue to treat you differently from my other clients. Even this conversation
Here, the chief changed his tone.
But I never knew we were friends. True friends help each other unconditionally when times are tough, right?
In the country I was born in, even among friends, theres a saying that they dont vouch for each other. Doesnt that type of rtionshipst longer?
Haha.
The chief smiled with amusement at myposed response.
I used a guarantee as an example because one of the means the chief initially used to secure credit for his business was an unlimited mutual guarantee system among different tribes. ounts guaranteed by one tribes casino were guaranteed for payment at another tribes casino as well. However, it didnt end well. What started as an initiative involving 11 tribes had now been reduced to just five tribes agreements, and even that had been narrowed down to mutual guarantees for limited amounts.
If the elderly chief hadnt handled it well, there might not even be this reduced alliance among the five tribes.
The chief smiled and continued.
If you agree to this request, I will consider you a friend as well. Ill take on your request as a friends favor. I wont just introduce one or two people; Ill help you wholeheartedly until you achieve your goal. Even afterward, Ill offer more conveniences in our dealings as a token of friendship.
There was no room for negotiation from the beginning, which was diforting, but looking at just the conditions, it wasnt bad.
At that moment, the power in the house suddenly went out. The lights went off, and the noises from the air conditioner and refrigerator vanished. As mypanions immediately went on high alert, the tension in the room soared, and I raised my hand to calm my subordinates. There was no sign of an attack from outside.
In the silence, winds mixed with sand blew, and the two police officers who had volunteered to be our escorts were waiting boredly in their patrol car.
The chief spoke, making an effort to hide his embarrassment.
Dont be too rmed, everyone. Its probably the work of those damn ants.
Ants? What are you talking about?
Theyre called Raspberry Crazy Ants. Theyre strange creatures that crawl into electrical panels and cause short circuits when theyre bored. They have insane reproductive and adaptive capabilities, and these days, theyre causing chaos in the southern United States.
Hmm
I had heard about the problems the United States was facing due to the unlimited spread of feral hogs and invasive species, but this was the first time I had heard about ants.
Afterward, I brought the conversation back to the topic.
Lets start by getting information about the targets.
The chief nodded.
The targets are a group called the White Guard.''
The name is quite explicit. Are they neo-Nazis?
Thats correct. They recently separated from the American Front, stating that they want to continue the legacy of the Silent Brotherhood. Have you heard of the American Front?
Ah, I know about them.
The neo-Nazi skinhead group was something I had heard about before. While they might not be very influential as a criminal organization, they were harmful to people of color in the United States. Their crude white supremacist ideology seemed to persist over time.
The chief continued.
These vermin have been actively destroying the foundation of our tribes young members who were pioneering their lives outside the protected area. There have been nine deaths and six disappearances at businesses that have been targeted.
With things getting to this point, arent the police taking action?
Hmph. Each case has different circumstances, and the jurisdictions vary, so when you look at them individually, they dont seem like much of a big deal from their perspective. Moreover, it seems there are individuals putting pressure on them, probably higher-ups or supporters of the White Guard, or perhaps even their backers.
Not only were their identities unknown, but their existence itself was uncertain. The fact that an influential chief like him couldnt even uncover this much meant that they were putting a lot of effort into the mining project. Be it money or people.
Considering that copper mining rights were potentially a substantial asset, it was a rational choice to focus on it. That alone could change the future of the tribe significantly.
And what about the media?
Those journalists are interested in discrimination against ck people but not in the discrimination we face, Chairman. To those high-and-mighty individuals, were just garbage operating casinos.
In reality, it wasnt operating casinos; it was more like there was no other viable business besides casinos.
Its a typical strategy ofbeling.
Gambling was considered immoral. Would Americans really have a positive view of casinos?
The casino operating rights, begrudgingly granted by the federal government after a legal battle, were not only almost the only source of livelihood in protected areas, but they were also a menace to the external image of Native Americans. The perception that had been pushed down to the gutter was their own downfall when it came time to reduce benefits for Native Americans.
While money could solve many problems, the situation at hand was urgent.
So, you mean we should eliminate the White Guard by any means necessary?
In response to my question, the chief affirmed with a determined expression.
Exactly, please do your best to eliminate them by any means necessary.
Arent you considering delivering a warning?
My heart may be as hard as stone, but wont it disrupt our business? What about the legal battle regarding the mine? We must avoid any damage to our interests, even minor allegations.
Understood.
I casually tapped the table to buy some time, and when the chief became impatient, I epted his proposal.
Alright, I agree.
Youre epting it just like that?
Is that a problem?
Im not sure. I dont know all your abilities.
Abilities. I wondered what kind of expression this old man would make if he ever learned about my true abilities.
Regardless, negotiations had reached a point where they could conclude. While it might not be the best oue, it was better than total failure. I stood up, adjusting my attire.
It seems weve reached an agreement. You mentioned being busy, so unless you have other matters to discuss, Ill take my leave.
No, wait. Are you leaving like this?
Yes. I want to handle your request as quickly as possible.
Is there something else youd like to discuss?
The chief, looking a bit flustered, couldnt find the words. I bid him farewell.
It seems like weve reached an agreement. Since you mentioned being busy, Ill take my leave.
The chief seemed puzzled but nodded in acknowledgment. I continued.
If you have any further business, be prepared, my friend. Until we meet again.
I didnt ask for any additional information. Given the currentck of reliable casino intelligence, I had already confirmed that. If I set my mind to it, there were plenty of ways to gather information, whether it was about the victims or the targets. This was an opportunity to demonstrate my skills.
The chief, who had escorted me to the door, stood beside his granddaughter, watching as my car departed.
Inside the moving car, Kyung-tae spoke.
Ive never heard someone call someone else a friend, even in jest.
I turned my head to look at him and added one more thing.
So, I meant it in the literal sense.
As I thought about it, that seemed to be the case. While I might have casually referred to them as friends in idiomatic expressions, I couldnt recall ever using the term friend so genuinely before.
But even then, it was a phrase with a lot of calctions behind it. I gazed out the car window and replied.
At that time, I have a somewhat different thought.
What kind of thought are you referring to?
I thought that if I did well, I could recruit personnel from here.
You mean to send personnel to the UK?
Yes, and on one hand, I wanted to show my distinctiveness to the casino heir here.
I see.
The town passing by outside the car resembled a wastnd. The rare few people seen were just part of the destion, adding no vibrancy. Their facescked any signs of vitality, almost as if they were living their lives out of inertia at the bottom of the world.
Kyung-tae.
Yes?
If these Native Americans here were empowered, how do you think it would change their rtionship with the United States?
Well
Kyung-tae scratched his head, deep in thought.
It could be one of two scenarios. The Americans might treat these friends here more humanely, or they might perceive them as a greater threat and try to suppress them even more.
Which scenario do you think is more likely?
I think thetter.
Why?
To treat them more humanely would require money, you see.
It was a concise understanding that was typical of Kyung-tae.
I agreed. Even if this became a sacred ce, would the United States really be willing to ept the sunk costs of returning thend, along with the investments made and the facilities built there? It would be a decision that could threaten the astronomical investment that the United States held in the field of international astronomy.
In any case, the United States had ignored their own original sin so far, and now they were going to face it head-on.
Not just the United States.
The awakening of abilities as a societal phenomenon was a probabilistic power that would be given to anyone, regardless of their social ss. In that case, the bnce of that power would inevitably tilt toward the side with arger number of people. Those who couldnt raise their voices due to ack of power would start rising all over the world to assert their rights. They would do it with the anger, thirst, and greed they had umted from their long years of suffering. Socially disadvantaged groups were not necessarily righteous; they were simply groups that had been treated unfairly.
In short, it was the cost of inequality that woulde with the advent of an unequal world.
Kyung-taes wordsparing them to cicadas resurfaced in my mind. The more I pondered it, the more I savored the richness of that expression.
The cicadas will cry.
Kyung-tae reacted to my muttered words.
Yes?
Dont mind me. It was just my inner thoughts.
Alright
Kyung-tae shrugged and turned his attention back to the front.
I silently sent my best wishes.
Cicadas, cry your hearts out. Only by being that loud will the mages at the round table not hear the sound of my footsteps as I approach them.- 1. TLN: Waw Kiwulik is the name of Baboquivari Mountain in the Native Language
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 13: Beast Hunt (1)
Chapter 13: Beast Hunt (1)
The division of power in this business was never aplished peacefully. This was especially true for the street gangs before the full-scale industrialization, as most of these neighborhood thugs had no ability to leave their own neighborhood (Street). They had to make their living in that neighborhood, live or die.
The rtionship between the White Guard and the American Front was likely no exception. Shabby houses and cheap rent were the most powerful forces that confined these beasts. Even if it turned out that the White Guard had a sponsor, it was unlikely that the sponsor bought houses for these thugs.
Therefore, it was highly likely that the two tough groups that recently split up ovep in their territories. There was no need to look for the base of the emerging organization, the White Guard.
This was why I changed my next destination to Oand, the operating area of the American Front. It was unfortunate that the original schedule had been dyed, but when you received a mission, it was better to resolve it promptly.
On the ne heading to Oand via Los Angeles, Kyung-tae, sitting next to me, was connecting to the in-flight Wi-Fi with hisptop, searching for information on his own.
He leaned forward, cing one hand on his chin, and said.
By the way, I never thought Ide all the way to the United States for a hunt.
The first-ss cabin on the domestic flight at this vague time had no passengers, making it eerily quiet. I kept my gaze on my smartphone screen and replied casually.
It should be easier than what you were doing in China.
Ah, its nothingpared to China. You have to be really careful there.
Kyung-tae said this as he nonchntly chewed on something. Despite his appearance, he was a guy with an innate talent for finding and torturing people to death. He sessfullypleted nine human hunts that the organization had struggled with for a long time, and the profits he gained from that were approximately 230 billion Korean won.
I didnt think of him as a simpleton for no reason. Even hunting dogs probably wouldntpare to this kind of hunting dog.
Kyung-tae reminisced about the most sessful hunt he had ever conducted.
When I made 1.9 trillion in one go in Jinan, that was the second best moment of my life. It didnt even take half a year to embezzle that money, you know? (+)[1]TLN: Jinan is a city in China.
Thats right.
That bastard, I mean really, he was squeezing out his nails and using his toes, but he still wouldnt cough up the money. He cried, saying all the money from Korea was gone, but that professionalism alone even this Kim Kyung-tae has to admit it? This guy is a real scammer through and through.
You did go through a lot back then.
Hardship? I did it all for you, hyungnim.
Right.
It was a story Id heard many times, but what could you do? Compliments made hunting dogs dance.
Moreover, this guys pride wasnt focused on the fact that he seeded in the hunt, but that by doing so, he was more helpful to me than any other hunting dog.
If it werent for him, the 87 billion budget spent over 11 years on tracking would have been in vain.
As Kyung-tae mentioned, as a profitable business, human hunting usually targets con artists who flee overseas. When you caught just one con artist properly, theundered assets that person refuses to reveal were often in the tens or even thousands of billions. Kyung-taes 1.9 trillion hunt was in a league of its own.
Since these prey were criminals, they diligently prepared to live as non-existent people. In other words, they were already non-existent people, so even if you really eliminated them, there were no legal repercussions. At the very least, you didnt have to worry about official investigations byw enforcement agencies. As long as you erased the traces well.
Perhaps imperialist hunts like this one wouldnt be the only more profitable ones.
Even if there was a little trouble during one hunt
Since there were many guys in my organization who had been unfairly treated, I received a ridiculous suggestion to use some of the proceeds for victim relief, even if it was just a part.
I responded to this suggestion as follows:
Why should I do that?
And I asked again.
Why should I risk getting my tail stepped on when there are others who should take responsibility?
Large-scale scams like the phone fraud scams spread numerous traces around because, even due to the trait of constantly needing new victims. And until the con artist finished wrapping up the business and fled overseas, there was usually at least a few months of time. During that time, the scammers did everything they could to prepare for escape.
So, there was an abundance of time and opportunities to catch the scammer before the grand scam bore fruit. That was why my hunting dogs could sniff ahead of time.
If you were a person with normal judgment, wouldnt you realize right away that someone promising a fixed 10% monthly profit was a scam?
However, even if someone heard such nonsense and realized it was a scam, they rarely reported it to the authorities. They just get annoyed or express contempt and keep their distance. It was because the one being scammed was a fool. Such spectators didnt even have the awareness that they inadvertently facilitated the situation, let alone theter ridicule.
Even if, by some rare chance, a diligent person did report it, it was even harder to find cases wherew enforcement authorities respond properly. It was fortunate if they didnt hear anyints like, Why are you doing this when youre not even involved?
Or they start cursing right after receiving the report.
For example, during the Cho Hee-pal case, the Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul High Prosecutors Office received money and dyed the issuance of a warrant, giving Cho Hee-pals gang time to escape overseas. Although the prosecutor eventually served a prison sentence, he was just a small part of the iceberg, as he justified himself. (+)[2]TLN: Cho Hee-pal, one of Koreas most wanted scammers, who fled the country in 2008 after swindling thousands out of 3.5 trillion won ($3 billion).
Werent guys like that worse off than me? At least I gave con artists the shivers. Even if the authorities tried to catch a con artist, the maximum sentence under Koreas criminalw was just a few years. It was closer to a legal loophole than a punishment.
While educating my hunting dogs in defense logic, I strengthened the motivation of the entire organization by significantly increasing the budget for the childcare facilities run by the organization.
The Mexican cartel guys dont just operate hospitals and schools for no reason.
Such social contributions were both a means of gaining the support of local residents and a tool for arming organization members ideologically. Unless they were psychopaths, even the most heinous criminals wanted to believe they were good people somehow. Without seeing through this psychology, you couldnt stably run arge organization. My organization, even more so.
Hey.
Kyung-tae turned hisptop screen toward me. On the screen was a P2P chat program used as an internal messenger substitute.
Its a message from Suyeon-noonim. She says she has a payment to receive.
Were on an airne now, so tell her well talkter.
Okay.
Kyung-tae quickly sent a short reply. Suyeon didnt input any more messages. Here in the United States, exchanging encrypted packets on an airne would almost certainly put us under surveince.
When we arrived at the old airport, it was raining. The smell of the sea on a humid day permeated the terminal. We took a prepared car and headed to the northern port. The hotel Hong Young-sik had booked was a mid-sized hotel adjacent to the ferry terminal. The hotels blue roof sparkled like water under the overcast sky.
We got a ce close to the waves mainly because of the street gangs physiology. These guys were at the bottom of the smuggling pyramid. Typically, these guys money-making scheme involved taking chunks of the goods, mixing impurities, and then selling small amounts at a time. The extortion of protection fees, theft, robbery, etc., was nothing more than supplementary ie.
So where did they import these goods from?
The easiest way was still by sea. Airports had much stricter inspections, and roads were easy to get caught in the middle. But a ship, once the cargo was transshipped somewhere in the wide open sea, became hard to trace. This was smuggling at its finest. This was why my organization owned numerous ocean-going fishing vessels and cargo ships.
Oand, where the police budget had hit rock bottom, was a good city for this kind of smuggling.
In my eyes, even the yachts gently swaying in front of the hotel pier seemed like a means of smuggling. In fact, several of them likely had sensitive cargo stowed away somewhere in the hold.
But no matter how suspicious, without a warrant, they couldnt be searched, and even if they were searched and something was found, it couldnt be used as evidence. The principle of the fruit of the poisonous tree. Illegally obtained evidence was not admissible in court.
While some of the security team went to request an extension, I made a call to Korea. The call was protected by end-to-end encryption, so there was no worry of eavesdropping. It seemed like Suyeon was waiting as soon as the signal went through.
[Hyungnim.]
I heard theres a matter that needs approval.
[Yes. The Guangdong Triad has requested arge supply of illicit military weapons for guerri warfare.]
Illicit? How much are they nning to buy?
[Theyve set a timeframe but havent specified the types or limits. Its essentially an unlimited purchase deration.]
This was unlucky. To request an unlimited purchase at a point where we wanted to stockpile.
[Im sorry, Hyungnim. I did my best to refuse, but]
I know you did.
It was difficult to outright reject an offer from the Triad. If you said it was absolutely not possible, they took it as an insult. The Chinese had their pride Still, those who dabble in foreign goods were somewhat more lenient, but the ones on the maind were a problem.
Furthermore, those ying in Guangdong were the dirty hands and feet of the Communist Party. Unless they nned topletely cease activities in China, we had to cater to them to some extent.
So, the best approach was to buy time through price negotiations. Offering a price that the other side couldnt ept but without explicitly revealing your intention to break off the deal. Suyeon had the ability to walk that subtle line.
Therefore, when Suyeon said she did her best, it also meant that she had managed to push the profit margin for this deal to an unusually high level.
Whats the profit margin?
[The markup for assault rifles ssed as pure is 38 hundred percent.]
Unbelievable.
And they epted those conditions?
[Yes. Please take a look at the other items. Ill send you the files.]
My smartphone vibrated. Without ending the call, I opened the files Suyeon sent me. The profit margins ranged from a minimum of 3,800 percent to a maximum of 12,000 percent depending on the item.
The standard for calcting the profit margin in dealings with other organizations was the average market price in the legitimate weapons market. The typical profit margin in the ck market was around 1,000 percent. It could vary significantly depending on the transportation route and the destination where the goods were sold, but the final price the retailer received was about 8,800 dors for an 800-dor automatic rifle, for example. This was because it included transportation costs and risk management expenses. There were no honest dealers regarding people buying weapons in the ck market.
Since my actual purchase price for the goods was much lower than the regr market price, a nominal profit margin of 3,800 percent meant that the real profit margin was more than double that. It was almost a $20,000 profit for each assault rifle sold.
Something big wasing.
The real target of this deal was the Chinese government. It was not just the usual case of outsourcing work to the Triad; they were borrowing the Triads shell to make it seem like apletely unrted third party. This was so they could confidently im innocence when questioned by the internationalmunity.
Otherwise, there was no reason for them to request work from someone like me, an arms dealer who operated outside the purview of Western intelligence agencies unless theyd already concentrated on surveince and containment.
This asionally happened.
Where are these goods headed?
[The first leg is to Laem Chabang Port. The final destination hasnt been disclosed yet.]
Laem Chabang, thats in the south of Thand, right?
[Yes.]
Are they nning to support a coup?
[It could also be cargo heading to northern Myanmar viand.]
Suyeon also seemed to have epted the fact that the other party was the Chinese government.
In northern Myanmar, there was a rebel group called the United Wa State Army (UWSA) which had been thriving. These rebels, who advocated for the creation of a Wa ethnic independent state, had, in fact, been under the covert control of the Chinese Communist Party since their inception.
Chinas strategy was simple. Give both aid and trouble. By supporting rebels to increase Myanmars economic and political burdens while shaking money in front of them through business, they made offers Myanmar couldnt refuse.
Compared to the political and economic benefits of controlling a nation, the substantial margin they threw at an arms dealer like me was pocket change.
Otherwise, they would have ordered Pakistani replicas.
Pakistani-made replicas, which were produced in cottage industries, had problems with durability and reliability but were extremely cheap. Even if theyd declined in thest few years, there was no reason for them not to ept Chinese orders.
In other words, the fact that the Chinese insisted on paying a higher price for genuine articles meant they were concerned about thebat capabilities and morale of the supported side. Also, the rtionship with the beneficiary.
I asked for Suyeons opinion.
What are the odds, in your view?
[Ny percent Myanmar, ten percent Thand.]
Can we squeeze more out of Myanmar?
[Rather than that, its possible that their intention is to mitigate the Myanmar governments and publics reluctance regarding their previous support for the United Wa State Army. Since the advent of democracy, they can no longer simply quell citizens dissatisfaction with brute force as they used to.]
The United Wa State Armys equipment was almost entirely of Chinese origin, apart from the AK rifles they produced locally. If Suyeons hypothesis was correct, China might be trying tounder its image by providing the United Wa State Army with American-made equipment now.
Even though theyd signed peace agreements like the Philippines, the United Wa State Army remained one of the most significant security threats in Myanmar.
Just being a pro-China government doesnt seem enough?
[In my judgment, yes. They seem to be entering long-term image management. They have a lot of interests to protect, not just the harbor. They probably dont want to create vulnerabilities for friendly figures. At the very least, they dont want to create weaknesses for people who are friendly to them.]
Hmm.
The Myanmar elite had been in bed with China for a long time. Even after the democratic elections, this hadnt changed. Although the military had ceded power, military figures still held key positions across various sectors.
Among them, only they and their masters would know who among them were Chinaspdogs.
Lets do this.
I had a good idea.
Lets do someundering here before we go.- 1. TLN: Jinan is a city in China.
- 2. TLN: Cho Hee-pal, one of Koreas most wanted scammers, who fled the country in 2008 after swindling thousands out of 3.5 trillion won ($3 billion).
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 14: Beast Hunting (2)
Chapter 14: Beast Hunting (2)
[Laundrying is it?]
Yes. Ask for weapons instead of money. Or even formally ept the money and then ce an order.
[]
A margin of 3,800 percent meant, in simple terms, that you could exchange one gun for thirty-nine guns. You had to consider the price difference between different firearms, though.
Furthermore, once weundered our inventory from U.S. to Chinese-made, it became easier to use or sell, whether domestically or internationally. This was because countries and armed groups that use Chinese-made weapons were mainly distributed in the third world, making tracking more challenging.
It might seem funny to give and receive weapons, but it was a trade that could be validly established, aplishing both weapons stockpiling and financial gain.
[I havent considered it myself, but will they really agree?]
Why, because of their pride?
[Yes. No matter the circumstances, they ultimately treat Chinese-made as cheappared to U.S. products. Chinese peoples inferiorityplex would explode.]
It was a valid point. However, there was a part being overlooked.
What matters here is the form. Our trading partner here is, after all, the Samhap Association. The offense will be against Samhaps pride, not the Communist Partys. Thats exactly what you need to create.
Negotiations could be prolonged if the conditions were met.
If they get angry, gradually reduce the margin. When they see the decreasing payment, any practical person will develop some greed.
Since the budget had already been approved by the time of the initial proposal eptance, you could use double books if additional negotiations were not reported.
[So, youre saying you want to create opportunities for embezzlement?]
Yes.
I had one firm belief about China as a country. There was no uncorrupted corner in China, that was my belief. Whether the National Security Agencys Third Country Division was in charge of this or the Joint Chiefs of Staffs Action Unit, I didnt know, but they would never miss an opportunity to fill their pockets with government money. After all, the Chinese Communist Party was the worlds leading group of experts in the field of embezzlement.
Can you do it?
[ can handle it.]
Suyeons response was decisive.
Nothing else?
[No.]
Alright, see youter.
I ended the dry conversation and spent some time reading the newspaper provided in the room.
About an hour passed. The guys who had gone out one by one returned, each carrying a light bag. They had moved discreetly to avoid suspicion when they went out and came back. About half of the bags contents were weapons and ammunition.
Ghost guns. Fully automatic firearms with untraceable serial numbers.
ording to U.S.w, citizens had the right to manufacture and possess firearms for purposes other than sale, even without a license. Furthermore, if thepleteness of the firearms lower receiver was less than 80%, it was not considered a firearm, even if all other parts, including the barrel, were perfect.
Due to these two provisions, it was rtively easy to acquire unregistered firearms in the United States. All you needed was information about a trustworthy dealer.
Although California regted ghost guns strongly through statew, it was a futile effort since enforcement was impractical. How would they monitor the entire country when every citizen could potentially be a ck market dealer?
Thergest room where we had gathered briefly became tense with the guys checking their equipment.
Kyung-tae assembled my share of handguns and handed them to me.
For dealing with neighborhood thugs, this should be sufficient. Hyungnim shouldnt have to use his hands personally.
The Ruger handgun was slim and came with a suppressor and an optical sight attached. I gripped it and checked the wrist. While the firepower was low due to the short barrel, the weight was actually heavier than most ordinary handguns. However, the weight being forward made it feel good in my hand.
But the strength of this guny in its excellent noise control.
Kyung-tae pointed to the window and suggested.
Why dont you try shooting it?
Beyond the window where raindrops were sshing, the dark sea was rolling in waves. I opened the window as Kyung-tae had suggested. Raindrops fell over the window sill, and the carpet on the floor was slowly getting wet. I aimed at the horizon where the sea met the sky.
Tap, tap, tap!
Tiny popping sounds. That was all the gunshots were. The recoil was also minimal, so there wasnt much of a sense of actually firing. Faint smoke and ejected casings rolling on the floor were the only evidence of the quiet gunfire. Even if you fired in the middle of the city, it would be difficult to trace you by the sound alone.
I lowered the barrel, and Kyung-tae, who had been watching, said.
Do you like it?
I nodded firmly.
Its genuine, huh? And the bullets are subsonic?
Yes.
Subsonic bullets, which were slower than the speed of sound, did not create shockwaves, making them quieter than supersonic bullets.
The remaining team members most of them were armed with low-noise firearms, using .22LR subsonic ammunition. While they had low stopping power, they were still lethal. Especially in the hands of a skilled shooter.
As one of my subordinates collected the casings, I gazed at my handgun for a moment.
Even just this firearm is a favorite of mass shooters.
This gun had killed numerous people in schools, post offices, and stores. Yet, those who didnt know much about it would mock it as a gun used by kids due to its supposedly weak bullets.
Drrrrrr, thump.
Kyung-tae, who had closed the window, spread a map on the table and conducted a brief briefing. The information gathered from outside was included here. Although the time given was short, capturing and interrogating the gang members, who seemed like gangsters, and extracting information about the local power dynamics shouldnt be too difficult, especially with the kind of technical pain they could inflict.
First, lets focus on the fashion code of the White Guard.''
I was an observer. Kyung-tae continued talking to his subordinates without paying attention to me.
Their colors are red, white, and ck. It seems to be taken from the Nazi g or something. If you see someone wearing ck clothes, a white hat, and red shoes, consider them white; they are the prime targets. Since most of their Adidas is a knockoff, it should be easy to spot.
In the United States, street gangs were clearly distinguished by group traits. Hand signals, dances, songs, chants, graffiti, symbolic symbols, tattoos, colors, and clothing were the most important means of identification. Unless they were clueless foreigners or tourists, the locals had no reason to adopt this fashion style.
The briefing didntst long. There wasnt that much information because the information obtained had been cross-verified. Street gangs werent thatplex of prey, and Kyung-tae pped his hands.
Well start the job tomorrow, so lets disband here for today.
The situation was a bit challenging because they had been traveling long distances for days. To be at their best, the hunting dogs needed sufficient rest.
When you can rest, you should.
Kyung-tae said this with good reason since the possibility of encountering the vanguard of the imperialists was not zero.
Oh, by the way.
Kyung-tae, who was leaving after saying his goodbyes, stopped for a moment.
Have you contacted Suyeon-noonim?
Yeah.
What happened?
Those Chinese bastards forced us to sell weapons to them.
That one sentence was enough exnation. Suyeons discretion was at a level where she could handle most matters with post-approval. Therefore, the fact that she requested my approval already intuitively revealed the scale andplexity of the deal. Kyung-tae wore a regretful expression.
Its a shame. It would have been nice if she could join us on this trip.
Its inevitable.
Its a pity. I wanted to show her the forest where the President used to be, even if we missed the main target.
The guy who had finished what he wanted to say went back to his room with a Take a good rest.
I stared at the remnants of the briefing left on the table.
Pathetic.
That was the assessment of the police force in Oand.
Knowledge about the hunting ground was as important as knowledge about the prey. It was natural for my hunting dogs to scrape upw enforcement data in this city.
In this city, more than ten shooting incidents were reported on average every day. However, the police response didnt even reach half of that. The response time was also abysmal. Even though reports were received, cases where hours passed before the scene was inspected were abundant. It was a city where gunfights weremonce. Truly deserving of the nickname Baby Iraq.
Therefore, Kyung-tae believed in proceeding quietly whenever possible, but he also believed in the possibility of using high-powered support weapons if necessary.
Trivial matters must not be taken lightly.
If we were the lions, then the prey was the mouse pups. While it might be somewhat excessive preparation against street gangs, doing our best for small matters was a shortcut to not ruining big affairs.
I traced the map with my fingertips.
The ces where gunfights mainly ur were determined. These cesstreets, and avenuesrepresent the boundaries of different organizations, and the frequency and intensity of gunfights showed how hostile each organization was toward the others. Kyung-tae had drawn circles several times with a red pen.
The hottest ces are 84th Street and Hegenberger Road in the east, 23rd Street in the south, MacArthur Intersection in the north, and the harbor area in the west
Although the harbor was the top priority search area, if there were no results here, the search would need to be expanded to other ces.
However, whenparing the police arrest records and the racial and ie distribution maps by residence, it seemed unlikely that things would get thatplicated. Except for the harbor, the rest were all ces where cks and Hispanics shed.
In this racially dominated slum, the only ce where pale white scraps could intrude and must intrude was the harbor.
At most two days. At least a week. If it took longer than this to eliminate this gang of skinheads, I would feel quite embarrassed personally.
The inside of my eyelids felt hot. It was a nauseating fatigue. After tidying up the data, I put the loaded gun under my pillow andy down on the bed. It was enough to take a short nap until dinner. As someone who alwayscked sleep, taking short naps was an inevitable habit.
The sound of rain hitting the window pane was monotonous.
As if falling into the abyss of sleep, the consciousness that kept getting closer and farther gradually sank deep.
A dream.
One of the greatest pains in my life.
Amidst the remains of arge beast and suddenly facing it, I reflexively distanced myself and activated the magic circuit. Mages Combat stance. However, the beast was already dead, not showing any movement. The flesh was all decayed and gone, leaving behind a heap of bones with an empty darkness inside the skull. I reconfirmed that eerie appearance and realized that I was in a dream. Because this was
Damn bastard.
Just looking at it made my teeth grind. My Master, who wandered through thebyrinth of memories and chased me to the very end, absurdly died due to magic depletion.
Moreover, the fact that my body moved as I wished in this dream meant that this wasnt the usual nightmare. As my thoughts reached this point, I soon became disappointed that the rm would ring. It was a rare ordinary dream. A chance to get a bit of deep sleep.
No, its not ordinary.
This lucid dreaming was a side effect left by the pursuit of my Master.
Having a bit of time, I began to notice my surroundings. A forest filled with giant trees. The closest thing to me was the President with an opened magical circuit. As if it were an ordinary dream, the memory of the impressive encounter served as the background. However, unlike reality, the magical field of the President didnt weaken my magical field. It must be an unreal possibility since it was a dream.
Leaning against the fence of the walking path, I silently gazed at the remains of my Master. More precisely, a pair of ck eye sockets in the skull that still bore traces of human presence.
When I gazed into the darkness, the darkness gazed back at me.
As if it wasnt a simple misunderstanding, the darkness spoke to me.
[Releaseme]
It wasnt a mere illusion, nor was it a fear entrenched in my subconscious. Perhaps it was an auditory hallucination created by the dream, a lingering fragment of a specter.
[Releaseme]
I responded nervously.
What are you saying? Youre a corpse down to the marrow.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 15: Beast Hunt (3)
Chapter 15: Beast Hunt (3)
The copsed darkness rippled weakly.
[Restore my powers and resurrection]
Crash!
A transparent explosion shattered a pile of bones. It was a telekic shockwave I remotely triggered. It felt like anger-infused magic coursing through my entire circuit. Overwhelming power. I could feel omnipotence surging from the escting magic. It might be something only possible in dreams, but at this moment, I was a mage who was harnessing one hundred percent of the circuits potential. In reality, it would take at least a year for something like this to be possible.
Amidst the explosion, all other bones shattered into pieces, but the two beasts skulls that had shot upwards remained intact at the end of a few bounces. Broken branches and fluttering leaves rained down on it. The dead beast mournfully wailed.
[Restore whats mine]
Shut up!
I retracted my hand that had been aimed at the front, clenched the air, and forcefully swung it down. Then, intensely burning lines of heat tore through the winds and twisted. Sizzle! Bang! The glowing whip was a frenzy of heatbined with physical force. Masters skull was driven into the ground by the recoil.
Unlike the past Master, who could only transform to a certain extent, I was able to freely manipte magic. This was because this was my mental world.
My hand trembled with emotion.
My masters specter sobbed.
[You stole my power and wisdom]
Who are you ming?
I mocked the specter as I struggled to quell my boiling insides.
It wasnt anyone else who killed you but your own arrogance. Isnt that right?
Unlike this son of a bitch, who embodied chosen peoples determination, and if he hadnt underestimated me as a young yellow race, and hadnt wasted his magic while being intoxicated by his newfound power as a mage, the results of this surreal game of tag might have beenpletely different.
From the very beginning, there was a reason why this guy chose me. It was because the pursuers never thought that they would hide in the body of a mere yellow race. The extent of the ingrained prejudice was so great that they couldnt help but dismiss me.
As I continued my thoughts, I suddenly felt pathetic.
What kind of bastards specter is this.
I wanted tough at it, mock it, get angry at it, and unleash my violence on it.
However, that person over there wasnt the same as my master. They were just the core of the trauma that remained within me. Dreams reflect desires. Even after a long time had passed, I still hadnt ovee my fear. Perhaps I wanted to ridicule the object of my fear in some way?
If so, whats the difference between this and self-indulgence?
As my thoughts reached this point, the silent beast was the evidence. I swung the zing lines of heat that had fallen ck while I was sprawled out. Bang! The intense pressure smashed against the unbreakable skull and sent it flying like a cannonball into the distant shadows of the forest. I blocked the magic and made the burning whip disappear.
Calm returned to the forest.
The reduction in mental burden was one of the functions of dreams. Since I was not the boss of a massive organization here, it wouldve been fine to get as nasty as I wanted and let go of my anger. Mocking an enemy that was only a figment, getting carried away by power that was also only a figment.
But I couldnt allow myself to ept that version of me.
What needed to be done now was to make use of this rare dream as an opportunity. While the shallow sleep was regrettable, that was why the sensation of manipting the circuit was no different from reality. I needed to simte my full capacity as a mage for future preparations.
More than anyone else, I need to be stronger.
My true abilities were the ultimate insurance that would protect me in any situation, the universal key to adapting to all magical variables on my way to London. When I rose beyond the expectations of the imperialists with an overwhelming asymmetric power, the oldest mages would undoubtedly turn into true prey.
I was prepared to take risks to enhance my magical abilities and gain practical experience.
The following afternoon. The guard hounds, with their keen sense of smell and agility, pinpointed a warehouse rented by the White Guard. Kyung-tae reported as the leader of the guard hound team.
Its not just used for storing goods. Those without homes gather there for shelter, doubling as security.
I examined one of the photos that the security team had taken.
Is this their sign?
Yes. Its a mark they scatter around like a dog marking its territory.
In the photo, there was graffiti painted on the wall.
[????? 14/88]
On a red background with ck letters, a white skull was drawn next to it. It incorporated all three of their symbolic colors. It felt utterly juvenile to use runic characters. Even if they used runic characters, it ultimately tranted to English. The excessive use of red, which was practically abused, felt crude.
Its simr to dog urine in its filthiness.
Kyung-tae chuckled at mymentary.
Indeed, Hyungnim.
When tranted, ????? became ORION, which was an acronym widely used by white supremacists, standing for Our Race Is Our Nation, and the numbers 14/88 each represent different slogans. 14 represented the 14-word sentence, We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children, while 88 stood for Heil Hitler.
Childish wordy at its finest.
The strike was scheduled to take ce at midnight. After Kyung-tae finished a brief practice session with the subordinates, he sent them off to prepare and asked me.
What would you like to do, Hyungnim?
What do you mean?
Im wondering if you really need toe along with us. Well handle everything, so you can just rx and receive the results, right?
Well
The reason for moving together at times like this was usually to avoid spreading the forces too thin. While their job of guarding me was different from typical security work, focusing on preemptive threat removalmeaning a broad definition of preemptive strikes and close protection on the battlefieldthe security team effectively acted as the elite guards. However, the most important role was still to protect me. If I were on-site, I could allocate the forces assigned to close protection as reserves. The more reserves, the better.
No, I should go as well.
Kyung-tae didnt ask twice.
Alright, then. Ill get ready.
And time passed.
The support team at the headquarters across the sea had briefly hacked the old warehouses surveince cameras and the cameras around it. These cheap Chinese-made IP cameras, with no security whatsoever, were still useful for deterring thieves. Those who wanted to save money at all costs were everywhere.
Nevertheless, my guard hounds hadnt entered the scene beyond midnight yet. It was because the White Guard had introduced some variables.
Should we postpone the operation by a day, Hyungnim?
Kyung-tae asked, and I checked the time before responding.
Lets wait a little longer.
Understood.
Three hours earlier, a van hade to the warehouse and dropped off several sensual women. They were dressed provocatively andughing raucously. Despite the cold weather, they were barely clothed. They were women who sold their bodies while working away from home.
I didnt directly intervene with the women who disappeared in droves. It would onlyplicate matters further. Once a report came in from the agency that sent the women, the police would definitely take this case seriously. Mass kidnapping, murder, human trafficking, and so on. It would be hard to imagine any other oue when a group of neo-Nazi skinheads disappeared along with these women.
In other words, this case would be something that the citys police couldnt simply ignore, no matter how poor andcking in enthusiasm the organization was. If they were unlucky, the case might even be handed over to the federal authorities.
Waiting in the car was long and boring. A patrol car passed right by us at one point, but the indifferent gazes of the two police officers onboard only briefly nced our way.
They probably just thought we were homeless.
In a country known for its wealth gap and cars, homeless people with cars were quitemon. And not all homeless people were necessarily unemployed. Even university professors and government workers sometimes lived in their cars, eating and sleeping there. Therefore, the police had no reason to pay special attention to us.
So, how much longer did we wait? The radio crackled to life.
[A vehicle is entering.]
The car that entered the warehouse courtyard was the very van that had brought the women earlier. Although it was amon Ford Transit found in the United States, there was no mistaking it when you saw the license te.
VAGINA.
Vagina. Quite straightforward, wasnt it? The cars owner must have spent some money on the license te.
The middle-aged woman who got out of the van stood crookedly and lit a cigarette. As the cigarette burned down, her customers, along with her children, opened the warehouse door and came out. After some conversation between the middle-aged woman and the skinheads, she burst intoughter. Having received payment, she nodded her head and drove away with her kids.
Except for one.
Kyung-tae looked puzzled.
Why? Why isnt she being taken?
The only remaining woman seductively approached one of the men and initiated professional forey. The man embraced her waist and signaled to the others to enter. It was clear that he was the center of the group that had taken over the warehouse. He might be a boss or a high-ranking member.
Its ridiculous. Its probably some kind of privilege for the superior.
I sighed in response to Kyung-taes question and scratched my head.
Establishing a hierarchy for certain actions, where some people did them first and others shouldnt, was amon phenomenon found in many organizations. The twisted hierarchy among the low-ranking soldiers in the old South Korean army was an example.
On the other hand, it was also a disy for some reason. In the world of thugs and gangsters, disying masculinity was a qualification to dominate over other males. Boasting like having done it seven or eight times in one night was somewhat like a medal.
As I continued to observe the inside of the warehouse with my exceptionally good eyesight, I finally made a decision.
We have no choice. Lets proceed as nned.
Should we bury the woman along with them?
Kyung-tae asked, and I shook my head.
Lets think about that a bit more.
Understood. Ill report afterpleting the first phase.
Kyung-tae replied and got out of the car with a mask on.
If only there was a way to manipte memories with magic.
However, such a spell did not exist. First of all, you needed aplete understanding of how the brain functions and operates, and even if you understood it, there was a separate issue of whether your magical circuitryputation abilities could keep up. Where was a circuit asplex as the brain?
Furthermore, if the opponent was a mage or an ability user whose circuitry was pierced?
It was impossible. To tamper with the brain using magic, you had to remove the opponents magical field first. In other words, the circuit had to be in a state of near non-existence.
I opened the door and stepped out of the car. Around me, the members Kyung-tae had left behind, eight people in two teams, were scattered. Some were sitting on a bench, others were leaning against the wall, pretending to be loiterers and keeping an eye on things.
The hem of my coat fluttered. The winds blowing through the alleyways carried the peculiar smell of this foreign and impoverished neighborhood. In the backstreets of the harbor area, a mix of factories, warehouses, and homes, you couldnt expect there to be no stench.
In my eyes, I could see everything that was happening inside the warehouse in detail.
As usual, my guard hounds had exerted excessive force.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 16: Beast Hunt (4)
Chapter 16: Beast Hunt (4)
There was a world of difference between malnourished wild dogs and well-trained hunting dogs. My army, which would apany me on the Imperial Hunt, swiftly subdued the self-proimed elite warrior idiots. Kyung-tae confirmed that no one died in the process. It was to surpass the request from the casino owner. He hoped to get through this without killing anyone.
As I entered the warehouse, the eyes of the neen-year-old whose life was tied to a chair focused on me. The mouths gagged with gags were silent. It was a tense silence. The only one not tied up was the woman, the troublemaker of this job. She stood trembling among the masked armed personnel.
I was also wearing a mask. However, the prey seemed to sense from the atmosphere alone that I was the owner of the hunting dogs.
My subordinates had spread a thick stic sheet on the floor. From now on, people would be ughtered here, and it was not a job where blood could be sttered in all directions like a regr ughterhouse.
In the midst of this, there was one guy whose erection wouldnt subside. It was the officer who had been wriggling with the woman until thest moment. I pierced through his dted pupils, beyond his eyes filled with fear.
Did he take some kind of drug?
Even if it wasnt irvoyance, anyone who recognized the person from the facial expressions, or the unnaturally reddenedplexion, could figure it out. People who had never seen something like Viagra would naturally not know. Facing the guy who had pitched a tent in his crotch and seeing his face flushed abnormally made me feel quite ufortable.
I want to cut him.
The guy remained pensive at my words. I had spoken in English.
Should I cut him?
Kyung-taes indifferent suggestion. The order was a mess, but if we cut him and interrogated him, we would have enough time for the interrogation. However, I shook my head.
We should deal with the girl first.
This time, the woman became pensive.
P-please spare me! I wont tell anyone about what I saw here! I promise!
Tears flowed from her frightened eyes.
Calm down.
I tried to soothe her calmly, but it was futile.
If you dont, Ill kill you.
Her crying suddenly stopped. This seemed to work better. However, she started sobbing. While the sobbing continued, I gave the woman, who was flushed with embarrassment, a glimmer of hope.
Our mission lies with these mongrels tied up here. Youre an unexpected variable. Killing innocent civilians just to erase evidence isnt something we appreciate either.
T-then
If you cooperate, theres a chance we might let you go.
The woman who epted the glimmer of hope had apletely different expression on her face.
Ill do it! H-hic, Ill never tell anyone, hic, what happened here!
That may not be enough.
The woman, who was cautious, asked.
W-what can I do, then?
Can you lend me your hand for a moment?
Huh?
Staring at her, the woman hesitantly offered me one of her hands. I grabbed her hand, and with my other hand, I drew a gun from the holster inside my coat. Although she reflexively pulled her body away when she saw the metal shine, the hand I held didnt move a bit. I handed her the grip of the gun.
Grab it properly with both hands. Keep the muzzle down. Its better not to move it too much.
The woman swallowed her dry saliva and slowly wrapped her fingers around the grip. It was slightly shaky, but she managed to hold it steady. I finally let go of her hand.
Whats your name?
Karen Karen William, hic, Williams.
A smile that seemed like she was trying to tter me appeared on her tear-stained face. Her trembling lips seemed desperate. Apart from the shy makeup, she had a decent face. wless white skin, blue eyes, and naturally blond hair with a brightplexion. The neo-Nazis who were tied up would definitely go crazy.
Thats why its even more difficult to kill her.
As valuable as she was, the client probably wouldnt want to waste her. Once Karen disappeared, she would definitely not stay quiet. I would mobilize all my resources to track down the White Guard.
There was a way to eliminate her. First, send her out and then, while tailing her, disguise myself as an ident or a robbery at a suitable distance and kill her. However
Miss Williams.
Yes, yes!
Lets be aplices for just today.
There were milder ways, and there was no need to kill her if we didnt have to.
Karen Williams was a woman who caught on quickly. She immediately nced at the tied-up neo-Nazis as soon as she heard my words. Judging by her expression, it was clear she had figured it out. The index finger on the hand holding the gun was also stiff and hesitant as if she didnt want to put her finger on the trigger by mistake.
I approached a table that had been pushed aside while unwrapping the stic. The table, whosest cleaning was unknown, had poker cards with handprints, traces of drug use, unopened bags of drugs, dor bills rolled up like straws, empty ss jars, and finally, a bottle of Buffalo Trace Bourbon. Good liquor that didnt suit low-level thugs. I chose a ss that looked clean with no lip marks and filled it about a third full.
Returning to my spot, I offered the ss to Karen.
Now, drink it all.
She hesitated for a moment, then obediently brought the ss to her lips. Surprisingly, she seemed inexperienced with alcohol, and after finishing it, she made a small gulp sound and wrinkled her forehead. Her arms didnt have any injection marks either.
I tossed the empty ss to my subordinate.
Due to the strong alcohol, Williams hups lessened.
Um
Speak.
Are you really sparing my life?
Still cautious, but her trembling had reducedpared to before. In response to her question, I nodded.
I dont have a hobby of ying pranks on someone Im about to kill.
The gun is very quiet. Close your eyes, pull the trigger, turn around, open your eyes, and then leave. Your memory wont have any sounds, screams, or bloodstains.
However, photos and videos as insurance would remain.
Now, look at me and smile.
Karen hesitated, her shoulders trembling. Her gaze shifted toward my subordinate, who was recording the video.
Its practice. Even if it looks forced, its awkward.
She tried to follow my instructions but wasnt doing well. Like her forced smile earlier, her desperation made it seem unnatural. I spoke calmly.
Dont think too hard about it. Isnt this what you used to do?
Wh-what did I used to do?
Thats right. Smiling at bad men. Id like you to smile at me at least once.
Karens expression changed. Her smile mixed with tears was better than earlier. I quietlymented while looking at her face.
It might be better to remove some of the makeup. Its too thick.
I have cleansing wipes in my bag.
Wheres your bag?
In the office, hic, over there.
Bring it.
One of my subordinates ran lightly to retrieve her handbag from the office in the warehouse. Karen tried to reach for the bag, but I extended my hand to stop her. She had forgotten what she was holding in her hand. It was only when she saw my fixed gaze on the gun that she realized. Her trembling finger was close to the trigger.
Im sorry, Im sorry!
No need.
Ironically, she was the one who was dangerous. The surrounding subordinates lowered their guns.
I had started to get annoyed by the time wasted, but nagging her would only waste more time. A subordinate brought her bag, which was covered in dust and had been haphazardly left among the misceneous items. I took a cleansing wipe from it and personally wiped Karens face.
Hmm. It wasnting off as well as I thought.
Uh, sir
Stay still. Even if Im not good at it, try to understand.
Now, even the back-and-forth with the gun seems tedious. And in such a situation, maintaining a gentlemanly attitude was important.
As Karen lowered the gun and hesitantly held her face for me to clean, she cautiously said.
Sir, you dont seem, um, you dont seem like such a bad person.
Thats right. I was waiting for this kind of reaction.
It might be a foolish response, but oppressive situations naturally limit a persons thinking. After all, were the new recruits in the military known for their brilliance from the start?
This woman was desperately trying to gain favor with me, the one holding the power of life and death. Desperate ttery, at least in the moment of speaking, seemed genuinely sincere.
Polite responses in situations like this were the prerequisites for Stockholm Syndrome to take hold. Judging by her reaction, spending another week here might result in nearly perfect brainwashing. However, it wasnt worth putting in that much effort. I held Karens chin and turned it from side to side. While observing her reaction, I pulled out another cleansing wipe and said,
I am objectively a bad person.
Ah
But still,pared to the scum in here, I must seem like a better person. You do know what kind of people they are, dont you?
Yes, yes! Theyre very bad, garbage people!
Karen nodded vigorously, forming a connection with me. She seemed to have no personal feelings for the customers. After tossing the used wipe on the floor, I let go of Karens chin and pped the cheek of the skinhead closest to me. Smack!
Where are you looking at with those eyes?
Blood and teeth sttered. Thanks to my enhanced strength and magic reinforcement, the sound of the impact resembled leather tearing. The man who had been eyeing Karen was hit, and instinctively, he lowered his head. His head wobbled as if his bones were rattling.
Wiping the moisturizer-covered gloves, I calmly spoke to the shocked Karen,
The reason Im here is that these peoplemitted crimes and never faced punishment.
If theyre criminals, what kind of
They killed people. People like you, innocent and kind.
Ah.
Calling herself innocent and kind was sugarcoated. This woman probably wasnt any different.
For example, look at this guy.
I grabbed the head of the guy I had pped and forced him to raise his head.
The teardrop tattoo near his eye is a symbol that he killed someone. There are seven teardrops, so he probably killed seven people.
It might not be true at all. It was likely just bravado. In reality, it might be the opposite.
However, the truth wasnt important here. The guy whose head I held acted like he was innocent and cried out loudly. He writhed in pain as if his muscles were about to burst, screaming behind the gag. My subordinates, who had seen my signal, covered his head with a hood and administered a truth serum. The muffled cries became even more frustrating.
I asked.
Tell me, Miss Williams. Dont you think something is seriously wrong with the fact that these serial killers are freely walking the streets?
Yes, Ipletely agree with you, Sir!
To me, the old man who asked for revenge represents the people who have lost their families and neighbors. I hope the suffering of these murderers can provide somefort to them.
You are truly magnificent.
Karen nodded enthusiastically, empathizing and fully immersing herself in her role. It was a strategy to ensure her survival.
On the other hand, the justification I had provided seemed to resonate well with the local sentiment in this area. It was a country where there was a peculiar admiration for vigntes. Perhaps there were many people who took justice into their own hands here, especially among former soldiers or professional fighters, who might have taken it seriously.
I had probably gone far enough. After removing my mask and brushing my hair back, I looked directly into Karens round eyes and said.
Miss Williams, that gun is very quiet.
Karens shoulders stiffened.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 17: Beast Hunt (5)
Chapter 17: Beast Hunt (5)
Close your eyes, pull the trigger, turn around, open your eyes, and leave. Thats the end.
Although the words were the same, the reactions were different. The woman I was trying to control trembled as she held the gun. The lowered muzzle wobbled, but it was more of a struggle and tension than fear. She waspletely absorbed in the choice between killing and not killing. Her mouth was dry, and she licked her lips with her tongue.
Promising to keep a secret is it still not enough?
Karen wore a cross ne around her neck as she asked this question.
A woman selling her body believes in a religion that forbids adultery.
The first prohibition was murder, and the second was adultery. But even with a superficial faith, faith was faith, and it often defied logic.
I nodded my head.
I swear to God, I sincerely dont want to harm you. But I cant blindly trust you either. Your actions could cost my people their lives.
God, oath, sincerity. And the lives of my people. Words that moved the heart.
Ill help you.
With gloved hands, I wiped Karens eyelids. Her eyebrows twitched slightly, but she obediently closed her eyes as I instructed. I held onto Karens shoulders, turned her slowly toward the target, and carefully adjusted her posture. I didnt exert too much force. If she hesitated this much, it was enough. Finally, I held her hands, slowly raising the gun. The slowly rising muzzle aimed at the center of the target. I let go and stepped back.
This is enough. When youre ready, pull the trigger.
I avoided using the word shoot. The choice of words could make a difference.
The target, the skinhead, breathed slowly inside the hood. The truth serum flowing through his veins robbed him of his ability to reason.
Carefully observing the shooters breathing and physical tension, I called her name coldly at the decisive moment.
Karen.
Flinch!
The slide of the gun moved back with a bang! The trigger was pulled reflexively. Karen probably barely felt the recoil. She held the gun with all her strength since it had very little recoil. A spent shell casing from the silencer bounced on the floor. A faint, lingering scent of gunpowder could be detected at the tip of my nose. The bullet hit the targets spine. Although not an instant death, Karen was startled by the strange sounding from the target and identally dropped the gun.
After retrieving the gun, I grabbed Karens shoulders and turned her around.
You can open your eyes now.
Trembling as if she would break, Karen opened her eyes. I covered her ears with my hands to gradually block the diminishing sound of the targets breathing. Sometimes sharp, sometimes bubbling with the sound of blood. At the same time, by locking eyes with her, I kept her gaze fixed on me.
Her heartbeat is very fast.
It was a natural and favorable reaction. In an excited state, a person often easily misconstrued their own emotions. It was even more likely when their mind was paralyzed. In this womans memory, I needed to remain not as a viin but as an ideal vignte for at least a month.
After the targets life was decisively ended, I finally removed my hands. Karen, whose pulse was still racing, stared at me with a vacant expression, her mouth moving as she breathed.
Thats it. Thank you for your help with this difficult task.
Yes
Youve made the streets a bit safer for yourself.
Yes
The scene from earlier, where she held the weapon and enthusiastically nodded at my words, would likely be enough material for the devils editing.
Its better to take a moment to calm down before you go. Lets go inside.
I led Karen to the office to give my subordinates time to clean up the body.
The office, which overlooked the entire warehouse from the second floor, was a private space for the officers. A Southern Army g hung on the wall. I opened the creaky window to let out the stale air that had been trapped inside. The oppressive smell of sweat dissipated, and cold air flowed in. I ced Karen on the edge of the bed, put firewood in the rusty oil stove, and pulled a chair over to sit facing her. Guards were stationed at the open door.
After a slightly awkward period of time, when Karens attention was drawn to the awkwardness, I spoke.
Do you have any procedures to follow when you return?
yes?
Do you contact the establishment where you work or something like that? You wont be walking alone, will you?
It would be crazy to let a woman walk alone on the streets of this city at this hour, especially in the outskirts. It wasnt entirely safe for men either.
Well, originally, Fraser was supposed to take me back tomorrow. I paid him in advance.
Fraser?
Uh, the guy outside
Ah, I see.
It seemed like the name of the officer who had been in this room with her. It made sense if he was a regr customer. Sending a car to pick up one customer could be a hassle.
Its probably better this way. My men will escort you.
Um, that
Dont decline.
Karen seemed like she wanted to say something more but swallowed her words. It was amon urrence for her to keep quiet about something obvious, but I pretended not to notice and changed the subject.
By the way, did the client already take the money?
Oh, yes. The tips are my condition.
Hes not entirely devoid of morals, it seems.
Yes, well
This time, her answer was somewhat evasive. In the world of hostessing, not touching the money earned from a customer was the bare minimum in terms of morals. Even those who upheld this rule might still have ws in other areas. Many of them didnt even follow this rule.
I got up from my seat and approached the safe that was ced haphazardly in one corner of the office. Inside the locked safe were chunks of drugs, something that looked like a ledger, bundles of cash tied with rubber bands, and a pile of jewelry that seemed to have been collected through robberies.
Its a mechanical lock.
Opening a mechanical dial lock was easy. I just had to align the tumblers while looking at theponents with the Eye of the Golden Age. asionally, there were locks that were difficult to crack even with X-ray vision, but there was no need to use such expensive high-end locks in street gang territories. I fixed my gaze on the dial and asked Karen.
Miss William, have you ever seen magic?
Magic um?
Yes, magic.
Karen was taken aback. She didnt know that right in front of her, a mage was using magic. Click. All the gears fell into ce. I took a step back and opened the safe to show her.
To you, this must seem like magic.
Karen, who had been surprised by the safe opening, soon forgot her astonishment when she saw the contents.
You can take all the money here.
Yes?
For a moment, Karen didnt move and then her eyes widened.
All of this youre giving it to me?
I nodded to confirm.
Yes, thats right.
Oh my God!
With an exmation that was almost like a scream, Karen covered her mouth with both hands and hesitantly got up, staggering toward the safe. Her expression went from astonishment to shaking steps. The distress and fear that had lingered just a moment ago hadpletely evaporated. There was enough power in the forty bundles of one-hundred-dor bills to do that. Caran stood in front of the safe, staring at the money, then turned her head toward me with a questioning look.
Youre really giving this to me? I didnt misunderstand, did I?
Her question was more like a gasp than words. I nodded again, showing my certainty.
You heard correctly.
Are you sure youre okay with this?
Its fine. I dont do this kind of thing for the money.
Wow.
Karens eyes were filled with awe as she looked at me. The power of money was as strong as magic. To her, the murders were already in the past. They mighte back to haunt her as memories over time, but the shock would have diminished. The only memories that might resurface would be the feeling of pulling the trigger and the strange sound she heard briefly.
Maintaining secrecy costs $400,000.
It wasnt my money anyway.
A reasonable amount of guilt was the fertilizer for self-justification. Now, this woman would have to convince herself whenever her guilt reared its head. That killing the man was justified because he deserved to die. If not, she couldnt justify taking the $400,000 she received. What could be a stronger persuasion than that?
Thank you.
A grateful Karen sped her hands together, her voice choked with emotion.
Thank you so much! Thank you!
Consider it an expression of my goodwill towards you.
The bundles of bills went into the old bag that was hanging on the office coat rack. Inside the bag was something with faint white powder on it.
Next, I let Karen pick what she wanted from the jewelry bundle. It was better than just pouring everything into her handbag. Karen tried on rings and bracelets, asionally shing me a cautious smile. Her ttery had be closer and gentler than before.
It was simple, really.
I checked the time.
47 minutes.
It took 47 minutes to turn a woman who had led a fairly ordinary life except for selling her body to a killer and diluting her guilt. This would probably pass even the Milgram obedience experiment, famous for electric shocks, without considering guilt.
It was interesting this way.
The boundary between herbivores and carnivores was not clear-cut. Even animals that normally ate nts would eat meat if the opportunity presented itself. Like a cow chewing on a chick. The innocence that humans associated with cows wasnt affected by the screams of the chicks being crushed in their mouths.
The line between them will blur even more in the future.
It was time for this woman to finish up.
Before you go, theres one thing you should remember.
Yes? Whats that?
Tax reporting.
Ah.
If you spend the money recklessly, the tax authorities will definitelye after you. You should know how troublesome that can be.
In the industry Karen worked in, such incidents happened frequently. Besides, $400,000 was an amount that could prompt the tax authorities to send armed agents. They would definitely have a search warrant. Considering the possibility that the visible $400,000 was just the tip of the iceberg.
What should I do then?
Karens expression darkened.
If you give me your address, Ill send you a casino chip by mail in the near future.
A casino chip?
Yes, a casino chip. Take that chip to the Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona. Its run by Native Americans. When you show the chip at the counter, theyll either ask about your business or guide you to a separate lounge. Thats when you let them know you have money tounder.
Wow
Themission wont be too burdensome. The chip itself is valuable.
Not just anyone could use a chip to receive special services. It had to be reported in advance that such a person would being. That way, they wouldnt be suspicious of the person when they arrived. Coins given to vendors by U.S. military personnel in Daegu were exchanged in a simr way.
Karens heart raced with anticipation. It wasnt fear but the excitement of experiencing the unknown.
Dont forget. Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona.
Yes!
So, whats your address?
Ah.
Karen, whose attention had been scattered, easily gave me her address without any resistance. The escorts would verify whether the address was correct. I led the woman who was eagerly thinking about the Diamond Casino outside.
Get your things. Its time to send you off.
As we left the office, Karen looked back at the spot where the body had been removed behind the iron railing of the stairs. There was only an empty chair there now. There was no trace of death left, not even a drop of blood.
I told my subordinates where they needed to go.
While leaving with my two subordinates, Karen looked back at me sadly, like someone leaving behind a lingering attachment.
Um C-Can I see you again, Sir?
Why would you want to see me again? I slowly shook my head.
Its better for both of us if we dont meet again.
I packaged it as being for her benefit.
Is that so?
Take care.
Today, today Im really grateful! May God bless you!
A farewell filled with sincere emotions. Objectively, it was a very strange situation. I met her gaze and nodded lightly.
In the now-quiet warehouse, I finally faced the beasts in human skin.
Ive made you wait a long time, you pigs.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 18: Beast Hunt (6)
Chapter 18: Beast Hunt (6)
In Nazi Germany, Jews walked in rows and died in rows ording to the regimes control. Most of them didnt resist or even make a proper sound until the very end.
Were Jews a particrly weak people? No. All other massacres contain simr scenes. People who have not experienced it might think that they would at least put up a fight if they were in that situation, but if it were that easy, many parts of history would be different.
The pigs here were no exception. Even when theirrades died, they didnt make a sound; they just held their breath and rolled their eyes. If even one of them had bitten the bit, screamed, or twisted in anger, I would have adjusted my assessment of the White Guard. They might not have a concept of camaraderie, but they were men with camaraderie and spirit.
Do you find out anything?
While I was questioning Karen Williams, my subordinates werent just waiting around. There were plenty of things they could do quietly. In response to my question, Kyung-tae answered.
We checked these guys phones.
And the results?
First of all, this guy-
Kyung-taes gaze pointed at one of the officers.
Hes at the top of the White Guard hierarchy.
He got lucky.
Was his name Fraser? He wasnt just an officer.
He seems too scared to be the leader.
Earlier, Kyung-tae reported that this warehouse was not only an operational base but also a ce where homeless people could get food. From this boss named Frasers perspective, staying in this warehouse would mean having 24-hour protection from his subordinates. I had suspected as much when I confirmed the existence of the vault.
Anything else?
Weve identified the people outside as well. Surprisingly, theyre quite organized.
Really?
Yes. Weve identified seven people at home with passcodes, twelve who went out for transport and collection, and twelve again for guarding the main business and patrolling the area. ording to their orders, it seems that four people form a group.
Convenient numbers for taking turns.
Why wouldnt it be?
What about their backers?
I had guessed that these guys might have supporters or backers. Kyung-tae answered.
We have messenger conversations and call records, but that alone isnt enough information. Well probably need to interrogate them, but it might get noisy, so we were waiting for that woman, Williams, to leave.
Good job. Let me take a look too.
Do you mean the phones?
I nodded.
After a flick of my fingers, Kyung-tae politely handed over the leaders phone. The security had already been unlocked. They had used everything: iris scans, fingerprints, you name it.
Jay.
The alias used in the Telegram secret chat by thest person. I immediately thought of Robert Jay Matthews. The leader who once led the now-defunct neo-Nazi organization, the Silent Brotherhood. Chief White testified that these skinhead pigs imed to be the sessors of the Silent Brotherhood in their investigation, and that was how I came across the name.
Over 70 police officers were killed in a shootout, so how heroic and cool must these bastards have looked in their eyes.
Actually, Matthews himself had hostile rtions with drug dealers.
Matthews was a man of conviction. He was a criminal with beliefs. His belief was about as serious as believing in the world government conspiracy of Zionist Jews, but still, it felt quiteical that the mastermind behind cocaine distribution would borrow that middle name.
Well
From the remaining conversations, it seemed that this Jay guy had his own beliefs too. Except for the past week, most of the messages were deleted, making it difficult to determine his history or identity.
Having seen everything there was to see, I handed the phone back to Kyung-tae. There wasnt much information, but it could be useful to give false instructions to the guys outside.
Ill do the interrogation. Bring the rest in.
Yes.
After roles were assigned, I walked around the inside of the warehouse once more. There were many chairs folded and put away, possibly used for beating people. There were also extensions and cement posts that could have been used for that purpose. The walls were cluttered with Nazi-rted decorations. They were cheap replicas.
Untie him.
At my gesture, one of my subordinates came forward with a knife and cut the leaders gag. It had been tied so tightly that the corners of his mouth were swollen like clown makeup.
Wh-Who are you? Whats the deal with all this?
In a breathless voice, he asked, and I responded by pping his cheekbones again. This time, the sound of leather bursting was loud enough. I casually wiped off the spattered blood on my raincoat and said,
Your words.
Fraser, who had been moaning, swallowed his saliva in response to my action and used honorifics this time.
Sir Who are you, sir?
I scraped his cheekbone again, and this time, the sound was like cracking leather. His nose also burst this time. Blood droplets sprayed onto the sticid out beneath. It might have been an exmation that came reflexively from the pain, but did I have to understand that? I grabbed his head, which had turned around, and turned it back into ce like a basketball.
Cant you pull yourself together?
Fraser, who seemed to be in considerable pain, didnt respond and just let his tears flow. I once again raised my hand and struck.
Stop crying. Its disgusting.
Fraser, whose face was now distinctly discolored, looked up at me and pleaded.
Please no more
Are you giving me orders now?
No, no, sir
I lowered my raised hand slowly, and the leader breathed a visible sigh of relief. His cheekbones were swollen to the point where his face had be asymmetrical. It seemed like hed lost his hearing on one side. From the looks of it, he might look like a professional fighter who had taken many blows in a cage fight. The tears were still flowing, but for now, I moved on. After all, I just needed an excuse to let him off the hook in the first ce.
Name.
Yes?
What did he mean, Yes? I grabbed Frasers head again, focusing on the swollen center, and pressed hard on the swollen cheekbone with my thumb. The sound of fingers sinking into the swollen flesh was heard.
Aaaargh!
Name.
I already knew his name, but interrogations usually start with easy questions. Its about creating the fact that the subject answered the question.
Fraser! Ugh! Fraser Duke! Fraser Duuuuuke
I heard the name being shouted like a plea, and I removed my hand. Even without reinforced magic, I had powerful strength, and the handprint was vivid on the bruised skin. The skin was so thin that you could see blood seeping through.
Alright. Fraser Duke.
I leaned forward towards Fraser. Shadows fell over his face.
Its time for confession. Why do you think I came looking for you?
Yes?
This guy was not very bright. I released Frasers upper body and kicked his knee hard with the back of my heel. The feeling of the kick radiated from the diagonal impact, and screams echoed through the spacious warehouse. The knees trapped between the edge of the chair and my boot couldnt be in good shape. If I hadnt purposely kicked slightly aside, the cruciate ligaments would have torn, and the kneecap would have shattered.
Because it would be difficult to destroy it all at once.
What I needed was a variety of violence that could slowly break the body and mind. Bncing between ruthless brutality that induced fear and the need to keep the subject alive. Sustainable pain.
Ill ask again. Why do you think I came looking for you?
Fraser, who had been watching for an opening, opened his mouth with a pained and fearful expression.
Per-Perhaps Did youe from the 14K? Because we invaded your territory?
Wrong.
Snap! Frasers knee was kicked again, and he writhed in pain, twisting his body. The condition of the rear cruciate ligaments was precarious. This was enough to consider thatplete recovery was out of the question, even if he managed to leave here alive. That would be the story when he left here alive, of course.
The 14K Fraser mentioned was a loosely organized coalition of various Chinese triad factions. They worked together in a loose cooperation.
These guys just killed someone in Chinatown without any precautions?
Since overhearing my conversation with Karen, this guy must have been desperate to retrace the steps of his organization. He had two clues: my client was an old man, and I was here for the revenge of people who lost their families and neighbors. Additionally, he must have considered the fact that I was of Asian descent. As a result, he seemed to have touched upon Chinatown.
Why would a fledgling organization mess with them? Most organizations shied away from stirring up the intricate web of rtionships (guanxi) in Chinatown. I continued the interrogation.
Come on, get it right. Why do you think I came looking for you?
Hurry up and guess. If you give the wrong answer or if you keep hesitating like this
A groan erupted from Frasers mouth. Squelch, thud. This time, Ipletely damaged his cruciate ligament and dislocated his kneecap. I had to forcibly realign his knee, which was enough to cause an audible scream.
I finally lifted my foot after working my Walker heel into it as though I was grinding something.
Thats how it would be.
The reason for not using the truth or confession serum first was that the statements obtained through confessions often have many ws. Different events could get mixed up, or the chronological order could be reversed. Therefore, it was better to y the irrational monster first, not giving them any room to think, and then use the confession serumter. If necessary.
Words burst from Frasers mouth. Beating him regrly, and receiving the gift of violence, Fraser started vomiting out the murdersmitted by him and his organization indiscriminately. Driven by terror beyond mere pain, especially for someone with a weak psyche like him. The fear that his body would be permanently damaged was more powerful than any pain.
That guy Jay is certainly a criminal. Hes most likely an insider of the American Front.
The distribution andposition of the murders reveal the killers tendencies. In this case, there were mixed tendencies of organization and the puppeteers influence. Ordinary homicides, gang conflicts, ideological or political human hunts.
The Indian hunting was one such event. More precisely, it was part of ideological indoctrination training. It aimed to incite the followers ideologically, foster a sense of belonging, and provide experience in organized murder. The Native Americans died for such petty reasons.
But what deaths were not petty, really?
Based on the countless keywords, I narrowed down the scope of the interrogation. ording to his statement, Jay helped establish the White Guard by using proxies, provided ideological foundations and legal protection, and, in return, received bribes ormissioned the disappearance of specific individuals.
These idiots were deeply infatuated with Jays justification for creating a white nation. To them, white nation was synonymous with utopia.
After listening to all this, I sighed and wiped the blood on my gloves with a handkerchief before asking.
Tell me more about Jay. What does he do? Whats his real name? Where does he live?
Fraser, who had turned into a bloody mess in a short period of time, waspletely crushed psychologically. Learning that he became mentally handicapped every time he hesitated with an answer, as it was in the literal sense, he screamed in panic as soon as he saw my displeased expression.
I dont know! I really dont know! Ive never seen his face! He always sent a go-between! He always contacted us first! Please, spare me! Dont hit me!
A go-between?
Yes, yes! A go-between!
Heaving breaths, his words broke off. It was likely that several ribs had been broken, making even breathing painful for him. Nheless, I pulled out my gun and shot off his ear. He let out a scream and sobbed, and I continued to pull the trigger, slowly reducing what remained of his ear. His eardrum had been torn apart earlier.
Stop crying and talk, talk. Where did you usually meet that bastard, whether it was one person or several, what were the demands, what did you talk about, how was his ent and appearance, how did you arrange meetings
Tap, tap, tap! Within the quiet gunshots, there were consecutive cartridge ejections and the humming of the suppressor. Experiencing the real-time reduction of one ear, Fraser cried out in a mixture of weeping.
Please, spare my life! Spare my life!
You wont die from this much.
A long time ago, van Gogh cut off his ear, and kind of recently, Russian anti-Bolshevik artists cut off his ear. Thetter, Pyotr Pavlensky, only cut off his earlobe, but in any case, he didnt have any problems with excessive bleeding until the police arrived.
Well, this guy had taken Viagra, so he had a rtivelyrge amount of bleeding.
While the outside became noisy for a moment, four new pigs were caught and brought inside. The ones being dragged in smelled the pervasive scent of violence and fear indoors and froze.
Fraser, now in deep despair, urgently eximed,
I can summon him! I will try to summon him!
That bastard?
Yes!
How?
Yes?
I said, how, and with what excuse are you going to summon him?
Um, well
You blurted it out without thinking? Do I still seem easy to you?
Absolutely not!
Then think. Think and convince me. Before I put a hole in your useless head.
Gasping for breath, Fraser focused on finding an excuse to lure Jays representative. To avoid pushing too hard, I decided to postpone further violence.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 19: Beast Hunt (7)
Chapter 19: Beast Hunt (7)
Fraser, who had been intensely contemting, came up with an answer while ncing around cautiously. It was money, not a fixed tribute, but voluntary offerings and contributions as bait to lure the counterpart.
I didnt have high hopes.
These guys were all about the same.
Still, it would work. While I might seem easily swayed as the leader of one organization, the White Guard was an organization with significant operating costs.
Just looking at the scum I was torturing in front of me proved that. Despite having led so many crimes, this scums spiderweb tattoo had only threeyers. It meant he had spent less than three years in prison. At least one thing was thoroughly protected.
In this world, legal protection belonged to the leader. It was rare for exercising that authority to quickly stimte a sense of belonging and loyalty, just as it was rare for an organizations power to exceed thew.
However, exercising that authority required money. Whether it was bribes or attorney fees. Bribes were just a fixed cost, and even if you took bribes and still couldnt avoid trial, it usually cost tens of thousands of dors. Attorney fees for serious crimes often exceeded $3,000 per hour. If you were a partner at aw firm, it could easily go up to $10,000 per hour. Unless it was at that level, you couldnt keep someone from going to prison or reduce the sentence to a meaningless level.
The organizations operating costs were a separate matter.
So, the tributes Jay had received from these guys didnt have much significance beyond maintenance costs and a loyalty pledge. When someone offered to contribute money, no one would refuse, no matter how much it was.
So, how much are you willing to offer?
Fraser responded immediately to my question.
$400,000!
I sighed. I lightly tapped the cheek of the idiot and lowered my voice.
You should mention a reasonable amount, alright?
I had to doubt the amount unless Jays IQ was not in double digits. Considering the contents of the ledger that came with it, more than half of that amount was paid to a drug wholesaler.
Besides, these kinds of guys were usually a bit greedy.
I gave the beaten idiot an amount.
$10,000. That should be enough. You can say you want to contribute a little more to help with the construction of the White Nation.''
Isnt that too little?
For your standards, even that is excessive.
Yeah. Excessive. But he would believe it.
He wants to believe it.
Jay was a true believer, and what was important to a true believer was their faith. The fact that his beliefs deeply influenced these fools was, for Hitler Junior, both a trophy of his actions and a believable reality. How proud he must feel. How virtuous. That was the second reason he would ept without concern whatever amount was offered.
Ill consider this enough for now
If we were going to summon Jays representative, we had to do it in the morning. Calling in the early hours would raise suspicion. Until then, we needed to keep this garbage of a boss alive. At least he should be able to make phone calls.
Hey, Fraser.
Yes!
Frasers buzz-cut head was covered with ominous ck tattoos. I poked one of those tattoos with the barrel of my gun.
Do you really believe you have Aryan blood in you?
The tattoo I hit was a cross with ribbons running up and down. Inside the ribbon was the phrase, For the glory of the white nation and Aryan race! written in blocky letters. When the barrel of the gun touched my forehead, Fraser couldnt even catch his breath properly.
Answer me, wont you?
As I raised my arm, ready to strike, Fraser closed his eyes tightly and shouted.
I believe it, hub, I believe it!
It was a cry interrupted by ack of breath.
You believe it?
Yes!
On what grounds?
Im white, thats why!
Ignorant reasoning. Did having a white heritage make you an Aryan?
So, have you taken a gic test?
I havent!
Why? I heard gic tests were popr. Among your inte buddies, at least.
Thats well
I grew tired of him hesitating and struck him down again. The iron cross tattoo tore, and beneath the gun handle, blood and grease were smeared. Even if I tried to use my hands less, my learning was still slow. I pushed Frasers forehead with the end of the suppressor, making him raise his head.
Speak. What is it?
The white pig, who raised his eyes upward and focused the muzzle on his forehead, answered again, sobbing.
Gic tests They, the Jewish capitalists, have a conspiracy, manipting the tests to destroy the identity of whites, a vile conspiracy to, ck, undermine the identity, those filthy Jews
His response was a mess of superstitious gibberish, but I understood the content.
Bastard.
Gic testing, once popr among white supremacists, showed that two-thirds of them were not purely white. I wondered how these fools had epted this fact when I first read about it in a book. People truly were creatures that believed what they wanted to believe.
Pure Aryans might be easier to find in India than in the United States or Europe. Indias strict caste distinctions would make it easier.
Come to think of it, The Witch was from India.
The Witch Grace.
She was born in colonial-era India, with a lineage belonging to the Aryan group and exceptional beauty. Due to her beauty, she was abducted by an old British mage and became an assassin. She systematically seduced the greedy abductor, and in return, the mage shared his magic with her, even viting the rules of his order. If he had been deeply infatuated, would he have called her the grace of his life?
Grace, who had been watching her chance while entwined with an old imperialist between her legs, finally killed the mocking master of her order, seizing her most valuable assets and disappearing.
She was a woman deeply loathed by all the members of the order, including the old master. She was the greatest disgrace and worst loss of The Round Table of Light and Truth, hence their hatred. Her treachery revitalized both the greatest and the worst aspects of their order.
Can I join hands with that woman?
When time passed and she reemerged in 1999, she had be the Grand Master of the devil-worshipping cult O7A.
Sir Sir
Fraser, with a cracked voice, desperately called out to me.
My bleeding wont stop. Ill die like this Please, Sir, you still need me, dont you? Please Please save me
This guy was showing too much of a bleeding act. How did someone like him be the leader? I looked at Fraser with disdain and, reaching out to a nearby henchman, I signaled with my hand.
Knife.
As Fraser heard what I said, he shivered again. His widened eyes fixated on the knife, which was being brought closer. I examined myself in the light and asked,
Fraser, have you ever seen magic?
Yes?
I ran a simple and concise spell in my circuit, even though the circuit operation was iplete. The spell was simple and could be used easily even now. In response, the cold metallic glint of the knife began to glow with a reddish hue. Fraser stared at the increasingly hot glow without even breathing. The others who had been just watching while I struck the leader also joined in, staring at the knife.
Tssss
Aaahhh!
The smell of cooking flesh filled the air. I turned the knife around and grabbed Frasers severed ear. I pressed it and a piece of flesh came off like an undercooked pancake.
Alcohol.
I gestured with my fingers, and a henchman quickly brought whiskey. I opened the cap and poured its contents onto the side of Frasers head. Fraser started to regain consciousness.
Although the alcohols proof wasnt high enough for disinfection, it served as a substitute for clean water. The drying of the wound might make it easier for infections to take hold, but was that the problem now? I returned the empty bottle and the knife to my henchman.
The stares that had gathered on the knife now turned to me. Fright beyond understanding began to mix with those nces.
Just as themotion outside seemed to die down, another four pigs were brought in, spaced out over time. This time, they put up a bit more resistance. One of them was in such a condition that theyd die soon anyway. No need to wait for it to die. My subordinates tightly wrapped the guy in stic.
Crackle, crackle!
The guy wrapped up in stic struggled for air. The faces inside the stic turned blue due to oxygen deprivation. This was because ack of oxygen caused the skin around the eyes and lips to turn blue. The pigs, facing death as they met eyes with someone who was dying, shivered. A henchman, responsible for the recording, silently captured this scene.
As the number of people tied to chairs continued to grow, it was quite a refreshing sight as well. Usually, there was no asion to bury so many people all at once.
Fraser, whose eyes had cleared up, asked in a trembling voice,
Sir, are you perhaps a Wan master?
Do I look like such a quack?
The mage this guy mentioned wasnt a true mage in the real sense. It was a reference to the priests of the rapidly spreading religion, Wa, in North America.
Even if I said it was rapidly spreading, the absolute number of followers was only around two hundred thousand, but the closer you get to the bottom of society, the closer you get to such superstitions. It was an issue of education.
Especially in this neighborhood, the influence of magical beliefs like Santera and Yoruba from Latin America and the Caribbean was strong due to the poption that had moved from there.
Even on this bastards body, there was a type of tattoo rted to such beliefs. Thats why I used magic as a calcted move. To nurture the seeds of fear within him.
If I could directly manipte the brain and nerves with magic, it would be great, but casting a spell and corroding flesh infused with spirits werepletely different areas.
Ugh
Fraser, who was already in a state where his fever had heated up his bones and dulled his mind, seemed to havepletely surrendered psychologically, without any chance of further breaking him. However, his thing was still standing stiff, and it was unpleasant to look at.
No, is there even a need to keep looking at it?
This bastard was so low that he didnt even deserve to be called a gangster, but I felt like I was working even when I didnt have to. I could take a break and leave the rest to my subordinates at this point. Now it was time to try toe up with something or deceive someone.
Sir
What.
I swear. Ill do anything you ask, so pl-please save me. If you spare my life, Ill even pay tribute
Just watch.
Are, are you sure?
A true mage does not lie.
Yeah, right. But Frasers expression in the darkness had a glimmer of hope. He must have heard rumors that lying would make you lose the power of magic or something.
How ridiculous was it that there was a fairy tale aspect in the world of these gangsters?
Cooperate with my subordinates. Ill check the results in the morning.
Yes! Yes! Thank you!
Thank you for what? I left the desperate bastard and the rest to my subordinates and climbed the stairs to the office. The office was filled with the cold of dawn. I closed the window that was still open, sat down on the chair where I had been conversing with Karen Williams, and was hit by the realization of fatigue. The heat from the heater and the smell of oil made my exhaustion even more palpable.
Still, it was impossible to concentrate here.
If Iplete the request, Ill have to take a day or two off.
It wasnt even on my mind to read books right now. Amidst the asional screams, I basked in the warm light, enjoying my free time.
Sometimes, moments like these were inevitable.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 20: Beast Hunt (8)
Chapter 20: Beast Hunt (8)
Last night, I loaded eleven rounds into my pistol in the hotel room. Ten rounds in the magazine, one in the chamber. And now, on this afternoon when the day has changed, not a single round remains in my pistol.
The first round was used by Karen Williams. Nine rounds were used for the ear-popping torture. And thest remaining round was my mercy to Fraser.
Thuud! Thud!
The pig boss, tied to the chair, leaned forward, tears of thin blood flowing from one eye. To give this goldfish a painless death, I carefully adjusted the angle while holding his head and fired at point-nk range. The bullet that entered his eye socket bounced off in multiple directions, trapped in his skull. If the bullet had been stronger, it would have pierced through the back of his head.
I turned to face Jays errand boy, still bound to an extra chair, and swapped out the magazine.
Rattle!
The errand boy, newly bound to a spare chair, twitched in his seat, his eyes ring wildly. His eyes were filled with a lot of bloodshot veins, like a prey easily caught in a $10,000 trap. What I didnt like was hiscency, as he had received a call in the morning and only showed up in the afternoon.
I looked at the frightened guy and grabbed my pistol.
Dont get greedy. Theres no mercy for you.
Then, I turned my gaze to Kyung-tae.
Did you find anything?
Kyung-tae raised his thumb with one hand.
Ive confirmed Jays real name and phone number.
Really?
Yes. His Facebook page as well. Hes been actively liking posts.
Jays errand boy had two phones: a prepaid phone and a regr contract phone. It would have been safer to leave one behind whening to a ce like this, but this guy brought both. Maybe he thought something might happen? I wondered.
Whats his real name?
Calvin Keh Braimlow.
Address?
Im cross-referencing it with the remote navigation memory at headquarters, but wouldnt it be quicker to use truth serum rather than going through all the other clues?
Prepare it.
Sure.
Unless the statement was aboutplex facts, confirming simple information like an address with truth serum was considered a credible statement. As long as there was no room for lying, as long as you didnt give them the power to kill, make them tell the truth. This dosage control was a tricky thing, even for experts. My subordinates were less likely to make mistakes, as theyd practiced killing people with it asionally.
In the end, Im giving the guy we cant kill a peaceful death.
One of my subordinates carefully injected a mixture of scopmine into the errand boys vein. The effect appeared before the full dose was even reached. All truth serums were essentially anesthetics. A gynecologist was the first to propose the possibility of a truth serum to the U.S. government. The reason? Because pregnant women in anesthesia were answering their questions urately. Of course, the United States didnt just use it for the purpose of revealing perjury. (+)[1]TLN: Scopmine is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness or medications used during surgery. A gynecologist diagnoses and treats issues with female reproductive organs.
When the anesthetic effect set in, the two subordinates who had been restraining the errand boy let go and stepped back. The drugged guys hazy eyes roamed through the empty air. Kyung-tae put his hand on the errand boys shoulder and spoke to him affectionately.
Hey, listen.
Yes
Do you know Calvin Braimlow?
Yes.
Where does he live?
Lombard Street.
Wheres that?
Russian Hill
Kyung-tae repeated these questions for verification several times, but the errand boy couldnt remember the exact address. That was understandable; however, even this iplete information would help narrow down the search area. Kyung-tae sent a message to the field support team, and since we were using a truth serum, he added more questions while we were at it. About his usual activities, personal rtionships, family, and daily routines.
Shortly after that,
Ding-dong.
Kyung-tae looked at his phone and made a sound with his mouth.
Weve confirmed the address. Its 950 Lombard Street, San Francisco, right?
Share it.
As you wish.
Looking at the address and photos sent to my device, it was an unusuallyrge mansion right in the heart of downtown. Selling just the house would make you a millionaire, but well, there were plenty of people who got lost even when they had nowhere else to go.
While I was looking at the photos, a call came on my business phone. It was from the White Chief. My subordinate had edited and sent the video that they had filmed to him about three hours ago, but it seemed he had only checked it now.
Either he was busy with his work, or he had a lot on his mind.
At the point when he had identified Fraser as a target for the White Guard, he must have had at least some idea of what he looked like. So, as soon as he saw the video I sent, he would have known it was genuine. I received a call a short distance away from the pigs, and without formalities, I started with my questions.
Chief, did you watch the video?
[I didnt expect to see the results so quickly.]
To be precise, the results havent been determined yet. Their lives are still intact, and the main target was in the process of confirming their location.
[My point is, anyway, the speed is astonishing.]
I appreciate thepliment.
[It is apliment. Did you personally handle this?]
Ourpany did. I tend to take care of truly important matters myself.
[I see.]
Chief, I hope you ept my sincere intentions.
[Well Thank you. I didnt expect you to take it this far.]
It seemed like Chief White was genuinely surprised. After all, how often do you get the opportunity to kidnap someone at a casino? Even if they did it, they usually did it individually and, at most, engaged in a defensive struggle. Furthermore, just like any other ck market, the contract industry was full of amateurs, fraudsters, and thieves.
Come to think of it, those idiots who subcontracted to the point of absurdity were there too.
Although that had happened in China, it wasnt any better in other countries contract industries. After all, the ck market was ultimately apletely free market that avoided the surveince of public authority, and there was no system for verifying experience or guaranteeing credit. Thats whyrge criminal organizations tried to create something simr to market order in their own way because there were so manyndmines.
Give me your instructions.
[Instructions?]
Why do you think I spared all of them? Theres no need to interrogate all of them.
[ ]
Once the contract is made, me and mypany be a knife in your hands. How to use the knife depends on the person holding it. We can be a dull knife or a sharp one.
Materials cut from a dull knife would undoubtedly turn into a mess.
The chiefs hesitation didntst long.
[Id prefer it to be as painful as possible.]
Understood. Youll receive the results as before.
Lets talk againter. With this statement, I hung up the phone.
Inside the warehouse, sunlight streamed in through high windows, and there was a faint smell of urine. The reason was the guys who had been tied up for too long. Some of them might have been scared to the point where their dders were shrinking. Thats why the ughter was better when it was quick.
Kyung-tae asked,
Is that the Chief?
Yes.
I thought so.
Yes, it was a predictable situation. But we couldnt proceed without asking. If he saw me as a sadistic killer or a schizophrenic maniac, it would be problematic. The horrific results should be what the chief himself wanted. I nodded to Kyung-tae and the others.
Proceed.
Yes.
Although I received an order to make it as painful as possible, I had no intention of spending a long time on it.
[The most effective method is probably still electric shock]
However, that wasnt something that could be done easily, as Milgram had falsely staged in his experiments. It was a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, and, above all, it didnt provide much visual satisfaction. It ended with a scream, a little burning, and a little increase in fear.
Simrly, the poison didnt provide strong visual stimtion. Using an electric saw to dismember the target would be more beneficial for customer satisfaction.
Vvvvrrrrr!
My subordinates, wearing sealed protective suits and face shields, started the circr saw. Other subordinates set up tables. The screams of the pigs, blocked by the de, were buried again in the sound of the motor. I watched the first pig being dismantled on the table without much excitement. Technically, it was delicate sawing, despite appearances. The noise was highest when the steel cut through the bone. Except for the fact that the subject was a person and alive, it was no different from a normal butchering process.
After watching only the first dismemberment, I left for outside the warehouse. The subordinates standing outside were unmasked and had concealed their weapons. No matter how remote the alley was, they couldnt walk around in their robber gear in broad daylight.
Across the street, our parked cars were ying music loudly. Yet, no one from the nearby residential areas had opened their windows to protest. If anyone in this neighborhood had intact limbs, they would have gone to work by now, and this warehouse would likely serve as the workce for some of these people.
In this neighborhood, living conditions were probably the same everywhere. In a city with poor public safety, especially. Cheap houses were cheap for a reason.
In front of the warehouse, a few oil drums were lit. Normally, gangsters would gather around them to chat and warm their hands, but now it was the fire lit by the guys on alert to burn what needed to be burned. I took out a handkerchief from my pocket and tossed it into the smoky fire.
The sawing process for dismembering a person took three hours. The fragmented bodies were thrown into tanks of sodium hydroxide brought by two trucks, and the blood was drained through the floor into the drainpipe, covered with stic that we hadid out.
Good job, everyone.
I encouraged the subordinates who had finished cleaning up the scene.
When this is all over, take turns getting a day of free time.
Now, I had to deal with Jay, whose real name was Calvin Braimlow, and tomorrow morning, send the bodies dissolved in sodium hydroxide back to this warehouse to be flushed into the sewer. After that, Id collect the remaining unburned bones, break them down further, and throw them into the sea. Then, it would truly be over.
Using something like perchloric acid would be faster, but sodium hydroxide was easier to obtain.
As we got into the car, Kyung-tae inquired,
Do you think Karen Williams might need some additional measures? She saw your face, sir.
Its fine.
I dismissed Kyung-taes concerns.
Even if that woman decides to spill the money after a conflict, by the time she makes up her mind, she wont even remember what I look like.
Well, thats true, but
Human memory was easily contaminated. Unabomber montage, arguably the most famous montage of the 20th century, was actually the face of an unrted third party. While the witness did encounter Unabomber, the face of another person they encountered afterward was superimposed on their memory. (+)[2]TLN: Theodore John Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, was an American mathematician and domestic terrorist. He was a mathematics prodigy but abandoned his academic career to pursue a primitive lifestyle. Between 1978 and 1995, Kaczynski murdered three individuals and injured 23 others in a nationwide mail bombing campaign against people he believed to be advancing modern technology and the destruction of the natural environment.
Moreover, theres a racial barrier between that woman and me.
People often say that all other races look alike, dont they? After today, every time Karen saw a face simr to mine, she would be startled and surprised, and those faces would be part of her memory of me. Such distortions were heavily influenced by emotional states and stereotypes about other races. Age and height information were rtively urate, though.
Thats why in modern forensic science, the reliability of a montage was at the level of better than nothing.
However
After some more thought, I decided to be cautious.
No, lets keep her under surveince for another two or three days.
Kyung-taesplexion brightened.
Good thinking, sir.
If we watched how she reacted after receiving the casino coin, it would be clear. If she acted cautiously, there would be nothing more to see.- 1. TLN: Scopmine is used to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by motion sickness or medications used during surgery. A gynecologist diagnoses and treats issues with female reproductive organs.
- 2. TLN: Theodore John Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber, was an American mathematician and domestic terrorist. He was a mathematics prodigy but abandoned his academic career to pursue a primitive lifestyle. Between 1978 and 1995, Kaczynski murdered three individuals and injured 23 others in a nationwide mail bombing campaign against people he believed to be advancing modern technology and the destruction of the natural environment.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 21: Beast Hunt (9)
Chapter 21: Beast Hunt (9)
Strictly speaking, Jay C Calvin Braimlow C was not the contract target. What I promised to the White Chief was the extermination of the White Guard. However, the essence of the request was revenge, and if I could put in ten times the effort to reap a hundred times the effect, there was no reason not to.
I needed a submarine for this. The smuggling fleet of terrorism that would set London aze.
Come to think of it, the [American Front] was also influenced by the [British Front,] wasnt it?
The headquarters of devil worship was currently in the UK. Anyway, the most sinister things in the world were all aided by the British.
Then one of the subordinates in the drivers seat said,
Weve arrived.
Calvins mansion stood facing the San Francisco Art School. A sloping area, with a foundation raised for leveling, blocked the view like a fortress. Thick pine trees even extended their branches, making it impossible to see the inside from the outside.
For an ordinary person, that is.
No one seems to be inside.
Kyung-tae tilted his head at my words.
Really? I thought there would be some subordinates guarding at least.
Then he frowned and shook his head again.
Come to think of it, its strange that there isnt even one servant. In a mansion of this size.
I replied indifferently,
Maybe hes a shy guy.
There were often people of that type. People who obsessively hide their vulnerable areas. Revealing your personal space to such people was simr to showing your naked body to others.
Or maybe he just hated people.
At any rate, its good for us. Lets go in with just the two of us first. It seems safe enough.
Kyung-tae nodded without saying anything.
Yeah. Ill tell the rest to patrol reasonably.
This was a residential area. There were many closed circuits and many parked cars. It meant it was difficult to approach by car.
Creak- nk-!
The small back doors electronic lock could be easily released with simple magic. What Icked in my current magic was not sophistication but power, and the voltage needed to open the lock was only 1.5 volts. Temporarily stopping the closed circuit was about the same difficulty level.
I led the way with a suitcase on my back. As I walked slowly, I stepped on weeds that had grown through cracks in the paving stones.
What kind of mansion is this? Its not even a ruin.
Kyung-taesment followed.
The garden, which seemed to have been neglected for a long time, even looked yellowed from winter. The twisted branches of thorny bushes clung to the dried-up vines. The decadent gardenpletely surrounded the mansion. Waiting for Calvin to fall asleep, it would be easy to burn it down with just a spark. A magical arson would leave no clues, and the vengeful chieftain would also be satisfied.
However, if I disposed of him like that, the case would remain a mystery.
To set fire to a mansion like this, you had to scatter a lot of sparks, and that was only feasible. Magic arson wouldnt leave any evidence, but it would be unnatural for anyone who saw it because it would scatter so many sparks. The ck boxes of the cars parked generously in this area would record this unnaturalness, and
Before long, when those with awakened primitive magic abilities start to appear, suspicions may arise that this incident was caused by some kind of superpower.
Even if the concentration of magic power was high, it was still too early for awakened individuals to appear. Those masters bastards of the Round Table, who were chasing the apprentices, might get involved in this case, and that was a concern.
Above all, the client, White Chief, would have strong suspicions. He probably would already know that the fire was my doing.
So, I wanted to avoid even this small risk on this side.
Kyung-tae and I opened the sliding door and entered the room. The rm system here wasnt working either. Whether mechanical or electronic, the locks and security devices in front of me were useless. The Eye of the Golden Age recognized wires with electric flow as unique colors, so there was no way it would miss a device that was turned off when I was conscious. It was a function to search for and highlight specific information within sight.
Kyung-tae wrinkled his nose and chuckled.
That goods I saw from outside seems to have been a homemade bomb, right?
Yeah.
Of all things, TATP. Isnt that enough to create an alibi by now?
Why. Its conventional, isnt it?
Well, it is for rookies.
TATP. Triacetone triperoxide. This explosive was a friend of terrorists that could be produced with just acetone, sulfuric acid, and hydrogen peroxide. Here, even with just three tools, you could make it: a beaker, a mixer, and a filter. With the materials and tools, even an ordinary person could be a bomber in less than an hour. That was why it was nicknamed the Mother of Satan because it was too easy to make and produced Satans minions.
Kyung-tae, who smelled it and noticed the presence of a bomb, was because this explosive emitted a very artificial fruity scent. Both during the manufacturing process and in the finished product.
There was a separate locking device on the door leading to the underground. I easily unlocked it again, and when we went down the stairs, the pungent smell became even stronger. Kyung-tae, who saw Calvins basement, eximed,
Wow. Impressive, very impressive.
In the center of the basement, there were workbenches for making bombs and new initiates. The surrounding area was cluttered with car batteries that were likely used to extract sulfuric acid.
A trivial hobby.
Thats right. It was a hobby. There was no reason for someone with so much money to make handmade bombs. Just buying a finished product would suffice.
Therefore, the workbench in front of me was filled with aesthetics and ecstasy. The aesthetics of a revolutionary and the childish ecstasy of a dreamer who dreams of struggle. Extracting sulfuric acid from batteries was also in the same context. It also had the meaning of avoiding suspicion, but it seemed like watching a rich person consume poverty as fashion.
Hyungnim, did you happen to see this too?
Kyung-tae, who approached the bookshelf, pulled out a book with gloved hands. The title was The Anarchists Cookbook. It contained various bomb-making methods, and it was a banned book that had to be republished with the content modified due to an FBI ban.
Regardless of its fame, it was more of an entry-level book in this field. In reality, it was a book with greater value as a collectors item than its contents.
Put it on the road. Detectives will probably like it.
What a waste. Its hard toe by such clean copies.
I brushed off Kyung-taes unnecessary regret and sat down at Calvins workbench, checking the soldering irons power. Since Calvin had a newly made initiate, I decided toplete it and put it to good use. Kyung-tae scratched his cheek.
Do you do it yourself?
Yeah.
ording to the confession of Calvins errand boy, Calvin was expected to return home shortly. However,pleting this initiate took only a few minutes. For someone like me who had been in this business for a long time, making a deliberately wed initiate wasnt difficult at all.
I quicklypleted the initiate, then opened the door to a small refrigerator in one corner of the workshop, holding the finished product. Inside, there was a bomb that Calvin had been diligently crafting. It weighed roughly around 15 kilograms.
15 kilograms, yes, 15 kilograms
Considering quickly in my head, with an error margin, the explosive pressure would be around 30 to 40psi (pounds per square inch) at a distance of 5 meters, and considering an enclosed environment, it would be even more powerful. With this level of power, even without shrapnel, it would create a 100% fatality zone up to the distance of the workbench.
I set the initiate on the bomb, closed the fridge door, and stroked my chin in thought.
It feels somewhat empty.
Is that so?
At the very least, shouldnt this be someones revenge?
In a capitalist society, money equated to status and power. Despite his sinister inner self, Calvin Braimlow was contributing to the localmunity, or more precisely, the marginalized whitemunity. He was making an effort to expand his connections among the residents of this affluent neighborhood.
It was natural for self-proimed revolutionaries of this era to dream of bing influencers.
Therefore, the excruciating death that the client ordered was practically impossible for Calvin. The final moments of this wealthy white supremacist had to be carried out in a way that left no room for doubt, after all.
Above all, the San Francisco police had a generous budget. Unlike neighboring Oand.
So, the client should understand this inevitable leniency.
I ripped a short sentence from the notebook that Calvin had used to write recipes on the table. Then, I stuck it to the fridge with a ma. Since I had removed all the other mas, it couldnt help but stand out.
[Those who seek revenge must dig two graves.]
A Chinese proverb about revenge. One for the enemy and one for oneself.
The reason I wrote it like this was that the real motivation of this guy Calvin was his hatred toward people of color.
I turned my body and gazed at the front of the workbench for a moment. Most of the newspaper clippings pinned to the corkboard on the wall were about institutional discrimination against white people and the criminal acts of people of color. At the center of it all was a case where a mother and daughter were brutally murdered in broad daylight on the street by a ck man. Thest name of the two victims was Braimlow.
The perpetrator who killed the mother and daughter was a self-proimed radical ck civil rights activist. In court, he reportedly spouted nonsense like, White people, as the privileged ss, can never be victims of ck people. White people are synonymous with sinners. My murder was not a crime but a righteous act. If white people disappear, all problems will be solved, and so on.
It sounded somewhat simr to the ck Guerri Family. The ck supremacists of white supremacy, consuming the legitimacy passed down by their ancestors through blood, with no value.
There was no backstory, no unmarked graves, and no reason for the hatred. Group hatred as a social phenomenon, whether it was the hatred of any group, usually had its own reasons, but they were often unknown to me, except when they were rted to my work. In a world full of people who need two graves, understanding hatred was just a matter of business etiquette for me.
The tragedy of the Braimlow family would no longer be my concern once this moment passed.
I looked outside as I descended the slope from the garden. When I came into the mansion, the garage door was opening, and a car was entering.
Finally, thendlord has arrived.
Shall we go?
Of course.
I strolled out of the mansion just as casually as when I entered. Thendlord wasing in through the front gate while the intruder was making their exit through the back gate. We moved in opposite directions, ensuring we wouldnt cross paths in this spacious house. As I descended the slope from the garden outside, I observed the inside of the mansion from the car.
Since he had just arrived home, there was no rush for him to head straight for his workstation. I would need to wait a bit longer until Calvin entered the zone of the intended crime.
Hyungnim.
What is it?
Do you happen to crave some sweet donuts?
Why on earth are you bringing that up out of the blue?
Well, we are in the USA, and Donuts are a staple here. Its considered courteous to enjoy some donuts while on stakeout duty in your car.
Wasnt that a stereotype of the police? I nced at Kyung-tae, who seemed genuinely hungry rather than motivated by any particr stereotype. Given that he hadnt had a proper meal throughout our operation, his hunger was likely to catch up with him soon.
No, this is him being considerate.
I decided to fill up on some calories briefly and then return to the hotel for some rest. I felt like my mind wasnt working properly due to sleep deprivation. Although there was a saying that the job wasnt done until it was done, I hoped this would be over soon.
Alright, go order some.
Yes, sir!
Kyung-tae radioed the team responsible for securing the exit via a simted escape. He gave them an oddly specific instruction to bring in donuts from a nearby ce highly rated on Yelp, matching the quantity with the number of people by type. It seemed like an unnecessarily detailed order.
A whileter, I observed Calvins movements while savoring a zed donut with overly sweet milk tea by my side. The guy who had just finished his dinner had now stumbled upon the basement door that I had deliberately left open. He froze like a deer caught in headlights, then swallowed hard, and with a cautious step, he descended the stairs after retrieving a gun from the secretpartment of the firece.
In this ce without major interference, much like the Presidents stronghold, my control field could momentarily expand to epass the entire mansion and extend slightly beyond. Within that range, I could remotely execute spells. I was prepared to upload my algorithms into the circuits.
Would you like one more?
Hmm.
This time from the box Kyung-tae presented, I chose a chocte iced donut. Surprisingly, it tasted better than I expected. Just as Calvin, who had been moving like a puppet, finally stood in front of the fridge. He read the note I had left and his eyes widened. In an attempt to react swiftly
My spell first caused a spark in the fuse.
Tic.
Kugugugugu-thud!
A powerful explosion shook the ground. The shockwave tore Calvins body to shreds, and a portion of the ceiling copsed, creating an instant ashen tomb. The police examining the debris would likely conclude that a malfunctioning sanctuary caused the mishap.
Kyung-tae asked,
Is it over?
Just a moment.
I initiated one more algorithm within the circuit. It was a very small and simple ignition spell. The target was the fragments of the note I left behind. Removing a few conspicuousrge pieces would be sufficient to ensure the destruction of the evidence. It would make handwriting analysis impossible.
Done. Lets go.
At mymand, one of the subordinates in the drivers seat pressed on the elerator. The car sped away, leaving the upscale neighborhood behind. However, the road back to the hotel during rush hour wasnt exactly smooth sailing.
In that time, I had devoured three more donuts.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 22: Trembling Giant (1)
Chapter 22: Trembling Giant (1)
It had been ten days since I sent the custom-made Snuff film to White Chief, and on January 20th, I found myself in the aspen forest of Utah. The cold winds blew, causing the white branches to tremble in the hazy mist, emitting a soft shush-shush sound. Taking a deep breath, I gazed at the forest, and an exmation of awe escaped my lips. (+)[1]TLN: A snuff film, snuff movie, or snuff video is a type of film that shows, or purports to show, scenes of actual homicide.
Its breathtaking.
Every root in this cluster of Quaking Aspens, unified as one, was bathed in radiant magic and circuitry. Compared to this, the President was like a single reed in a reed field or a grain of sand on a beach. It was disheartening that this spectacle was visible only to my eyes. To ordinary people, it would appear as a white snowfield, white fog, and white trees. Still, that alone would create a somewhat dreamlikendscape
Beforeing here, I had stopped by Washington State, and despite the massive organism that was the fungus spreading throughout the state park, itcked magical substance rtive to its size. Therefore, this cluster of pors was particrly exceptional to me. (+)[2]TLN: Pors: any of a genus of slender quick-growing trees (as an aspen or cottonwood) that have catkins for flowers and are rted to the willows.
Why is it so noisy around here?
Kyung-tae was visibly concerned about the chaotic surroundings. Despite being in a remote area with no credible cities within a 30 km radius, several police patrol cars were stationed along the roadside of the passing route. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of barking dogs could be heard.
Do you have a bad feeling about this?
Something feels off.
Really?
I didnt ignore Kyung-taes unease. Sometimes, this guys intuition for danger felt like magic beyond magic.
The view provided by Eye of the Golden Age was still valid, but there was too much information here, limiting the practical visibility. Especially in the direction of the forest, beyond the usual perception, it extended only about 50 meters due to the rampant directions of various radiance.
It will probably decrease further if we go inside.
My control field would inevitably shrink to a radius simr to when facing the President. Despite diligently tuning the circuits all along, it was as if the magic power exerted by the forest in front of me was that much stronger.
Hence, it would be challenging to apany many subordinates to explore the forests interior. I couldnt protect them all from the unrefined magic power.
As events led up to this point, I too felt a bit restless. I had been captivated by the enchanting scene and hadnt had a chance to think clearly. However, I realized that going into the forest would leave me very vulnerable.
Kyung-tae had been considering this as well.
As the head of security, I want you to not go in there, but wouldnt it be insufficient to just observe from the outside, like the President?
I gestured with my chin toward the mist in the forest.
Look at that fog over there. Doesnt it strike you as strange?
Ive felt uneasy from the start. The direction of theke is clear, but the forest is covered in mist. Especially during midday
Thats right. That mist is probably the result of the forests spell.
You mean magic?
Yeah.
By now, this guy would probably understand why I was feeling so awestruck. Even if I had foreseen the emergence of lifeforms awakened to primitive magic other than humans, witnessing it firsthand was a different dimension of the issue. I was currently facing a century-defining event, an irreversible change in the world.
At this point, the concentration of magic power shouldnt suddenly drop or anything.
Kyung-tae, scratching his head, made a new suggestion.
If you want to explore the inside, perhaps we should consider going in, even if it means risking exposure to either a magic power explosion or a magic power hemorrhage, as you mentioned before.
No.
I firmly shook my head.
You are the elite of the organization and the core of the task force. Do you have any idea how much time and budget it took to train you? We cant afford to recklessly waste you before a full-scale war even begins.
Magic power and magical power-induced cancer were different from ordinary cancer in nature. Even if it were detected early, my abilities or conventional medicine might not be able to deal with it.
All I have are some theories and hypotheses.
Just like the President, the awakening of this forest was faster than I expected. Was there anyw that said I couldnt call it magic power cancer? Therefore, it was appropriate to exercise caution until these guys developed circuits and created their own protective fields.
But-
Buts or whatnot, it wont work. I never thought I could get stronger without any risk or burden from the start. We have to ept the risks.
My judgment remained unchanged: I must evolve into an asymmetric power beyond Round Tables expectations. I was also the organizations entire magical capability and the entirety of its potential. My limit would determine the organizations magical limit.
Kyung-tae sighed and offered an alternative.
Then at least wait for a day or two to see how the situation develops. The forest isnt going anywhere just because we wait.
Of course, well do that.
For now, we should return to our lodging and assess the situation. Why were security guards and police gathered in such a remote ce, and what was causing Kyung-taes unease?
The cabin we rented as our lodging was located within walking distance of the forest. Along the road, despite it being winter, there were about ten camping cars parked. Some people were using a crane scale to weigh fish they caught in the white-frozenke. Others were enjoying ice fishing in the snow-whiteke.
Excuse us, gentlemen.
Kyung-tae addressed them in fluent pronunciation, quite different from his usual manner. Among the men who were making noise, one wearing a gray Canada Goose coat nced at Kyung-tae.
Whats going on?
Were tourists here to see the forest over there, but the atmosphere feels strange. It seems like a lot of security guards are here too. Do you happen to know if something happened here?
The ability to speak multiple ents in the samenguage was a useful tool. It could create confusion during investigations and tracking or change the impression people had of you. Kyung-taes New York ent diluted the impression of Eastern tourists. One of the men who received the question shrugged and replied.
I just arrived yesterday, so I dont know the details, but I heard that people have gone missing in that forest. Not just one, but a whole group.
Oh, really? How many?
I dont know the exact number. I heard this from the security guards when they came and asked around. They even issued a warning not to enter the forest. Lately, theres been a lot of strange fog, and its considered dangerous. They even set up a fence around it, but I dont know why anyone would go in.
Dont you think so too? The man nced at his colleague, who nodded in agreement.
Why dont you folks enjoy some fishing like us? Outsiderse here to admire this forest thats supposedly lived for tens of thousands of years, but when you actually go in, theres not much to see. There are lots of fallen trees, making it inconvenient to walk around. With snow piled up, you wont see whats beneath your feet either.
Haha. Thank you for your advice. But, can you catch fish well here?
We dont know until we try.
It could simply be the skill of the fishermen.
The man, who had improved his mood due to Kyung-taes ttery, offered to share the fish he had caught. He couldnt offer any pike, but he could offer some perch. It was amon sight at fishing spots or fishermens self-satisfaction. Kyung-tae, ying along, asked for more, as there were many people, and managed to get three big ones. It was always nice when you could get people to do what you wanted.
In the subsequent conversation, the fisherman pointed out a camping car some distance away with a police line around it.
One of the missing families brought that car. There are a few more cars that have lost their owners, and people have gone missing from the cabins too.
I see. Youve been very helpful. Thank you.
Helpful? Its fine. You folks came all the way out here to this countryside, so it would be a waste if you just turned back.
Traveling can have its ups and downs. Have a good day, sir.
You too. Theres nothing special here, but enjoy your time.
After exchanging greetings, Kyung-tae, who had left the fishermen behind, handed the bulky bundle of perch caught on a fishing line to his subordinate and wiped the smile from his face. Continuing the conversation, he asked a question.
Hyungnim, why does this ce keep getting more unsettling?
Hmm
Could it be possible that the forest itself is the culprit?
Well, its hard to say.
A forest that ate people? Perhaps additional magical phenomena triggered by the por cluster were the cause. Or it could simply be that people have gotten lost and exhausted due to the fog and copsed. In the polluted air of China, there have been cases of people not being able to find their way home in front of their own houses. In an area as small as 43 hectares, there could easily be lost individuals. With these thoughts in mind, I answered.
Ill say theres a possibility.
Even so, are you going to go in?
Isnt it possible that itll be more dangerous as time goes on?
By then, I would have be a moreplete mage, but that wouldnt necessarily mean greater safety. The Round Table Cab in London would establish order, and the presence of newly awakened abilities and their influence would also be a variable. There was also the possibility of global turmoil leading to restrictions on international travel.
Considering the path of struggle we must take in the future, the current risks were just a taste of what was toe. I was prepared for such thorny paths. Kyung-tae clicked his tongue.
Isnt there anything noticeable inside that camping trailer?
Looking beyond the police line, I adjusted my gaze and then shook my head after a moment.
Not really.
Kyung-tae expressed his disappointment again.
Dont worry too much.
I nced at the distant forest.
If the forest itself is the problem, we should be able to see signs of unusual phenomena before the phenomenon of devouring begins. If its something else, Ill have to bear any penalties, no matter whos here.
Understood.
As usual, our group of four split into two teams and conducted inquiries at various ces.
Kyung-tae and I casually asked a few questions about the resorts main building, which doubled as a grocery store and restaurant. We inquired about when they started working here, which cabin was said to have lost guests, whether they were family guests or not, when they arrived and when they disappeared, and if there was anything else unusual. Kyung-taes natural conversational skills smoothly steered the conversation.
The staff, earning $600 a day for three guests who rented high-end cabins, responded politely and diligently.
Any strange people?
Yes.
Thest question I directly asked was whether there were any people who looked strange. If, by any chance, the Imperialists from London had sent their underlings, there was a high likelihood they would stand out due to their fanatical devotion. Since the means of cultivating loyalty itself was a form of fanaticism.
This applied to me to some extent as well.
Nevertheless, I didnt wrap myself in religious garb. Not due to a feeble conscience, but because an organization with impaired rationality was more prone to self-destruction.
Hmm, strange people, strange people
The staff, tapping their foreheads with clenched fists, hesitated with a doubtful expression.
Lately, there have been someuh, you know, bohemian types Is that what you mean? People whough a lot, are optimistic, have a scruffy style, and seem to have a few screws loose in their heads.
Yes.
These kinds of people have beening and going, but is it really strange you know what I mean? This ce is a tourist attraction, and all sorts of peoplee and go.
Thats true.
I thanked them for their kind answers and handed over a pack of menthol cigarettes I had just bought, along with a tip of a $100 bill. The staff expressed their gratitude with a delighted expression.
The cigarettes I bought werent for smoking. It was more of a habit for inducing trace confusion in tracking. Smoking was a habit with addictive patterns, and the type of cigarettes smoked didnt change easily. Menthol cigarettes with their stimting aroma were good for chasing away dogs, for example.
Well, the chances of me experiencing such an extreme situation were slim, but it was a habit that wouldnt hurt. Id always lived with this mindset.
As I thought about it, I couldnt help but get angry. Why do I have to live like this?
After stepping outside, I forcefully tossed the crushed cigarette pack into the nearest trash can.- 1. TLN: A snuff film, snuff movie, or snuff video is a type of film that shows, or purports to show, scenes of actual homicide.
- 2. TLN: Pors: any of a genus of slender quick-growing trees (as an aspen or cottonwood) that have catkins for flowers and are rted to the willows.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 23: Trembling Giant (2)
Chapter 23: Trembling Giant (2)
Two days had passed, and it was the third day at the mountain lodge located at an altitude of 2,700 meters.
Last night, one of the security guards had visited the lodge for an investigation. Since there was a saying that the culprit will definitely return to the scene, even we, who arrived just yesterday, were not excluded from suspicion.
We cooperated diligently with the security guards random investigation. Even if it was a forged license, it was properly registered in the database, and our movements could prove our innocence. Our official reason for the visit was apany team-building event.
After chatting with the security guard and exchanging information, it turned out that the countyw enforcement authorities hadnt even figured out if this was a simple disappearance case or not. Security guards in this rural area, with a poption density of only four people per square kilometer, could only be sopetent. They were elected officials chosen by votes to begin with.
The tired-looking security guard mentioned that they were expecting support from higherw enforcement authorities soon for the search. The county police would probably arrive within a few days, followed by the federal police.
We had breakfast, which consisted of grilled trout aged overnight in the refrigerator with mayonnaise sauce, fish mayo, sd, coffee, and egg sandwiches we had purchased in advance at the restaurant.
There was enough grilled trout for each person. We had spent the whole day yesterday investigating, and Kyung-tae had managed to receive one package of trout each time we went out.
In any case, Kyung-taes sociability helped.
Shall we summarize?
After finishing the meal and gathering around, I sat at the head of the table and made eye contact with my subordinates.
The minimum number of confirmed missing persons is over thirty. We dont know where they disappeared to, but at the moment, the forest and theke are the most likely destinations.
The existence of the frozenke was another reason why the search was difficult, along with the thick fog in the forest. If you set up a fishing tent, used it to sink the bodies by poking holes in the ice, and waited for the ice to freeze again before taking down the tent, it would be a perfect crime.
Yesterday evening, I saw dozens of tents on theke. They belonged to anglers who spent the night fishing.
Furthermore, the Por Cluster wasnt the only forest in this area. With the fog and the proximity of the camping grounds and lodging facilities, it was just one of the most prominent ces.
Lets assume that some kind of human hunting is going on here.
I raised my index finger.
First, as of now, there is nomonality among the victims. These are lives that wouldnt be of any use to Round Table nobles. Its also difficult to see this as a trap to lure me in. Why would hunters want to provoke the vignce of their prey? Tsk. Even though its disgusting, Im still in the position of the hunted.
I felt ufortable, but I was still the prey.
The fact that there was nomonality among the victims was confirmed not only through two days of investigation but also by tapping into the security guards radiomunications. Different origins, ages, genders, rtionships, and sses. Those nobles wouldnt be able toe up with a reason to murder an entire family, including a six-year-old child on a family trip.
In the first ce, trapping me, who possessed the Eye of the Golden Age, would be an almost impossible task. Unless they urately predicted the state of the forest, there was no point in wasting effort on an empty possibility.
I extended another finger.
The second point. considering the estimated timeline of each disappearance case and the results of our investigation, the unidentified group of murderers doesnt seem to be thatrge. Even if we assume a conservative estimate, its likely less than half of our group and at most double our size.
So, they didnt pose a significant threat to me and my team, especially within this foggy forest.
The third point is that the victimse from various states. This means that theres a high probability that this case will eventually fall under federal police jurisdiction. If we dy, it will be troublesome.
Until the search was officially closed, we probably wouldnt be allowed to move around freely due to the need for crime scene preservation. It might be different if the vast forest were easy to control, but it was not.
The fourth point is, as I mentioned before, this forest is one of the obstacles I have to ovee in collecting the fragments and clues of the new magic spelllets call it the Code. How many of those do you think who possess the Code will willingly reveal their secrets?
Unless I saw it with my own eyes, there was no way for me to avoid this danger.
I folded my fingers.
It will take at most one or two days. I need to understand the magic of this forest.
And byying the foundation of the circuits now, I could attempt further exploration when the forests abilities became stronger and moreplex in the future. Having the key to the analysis, the magical potential of a single organism weighing 6,600 tons was iparable to an ordinary forest.
It will probably be one of the best and worstbyrinths in the world in the future. In terms of scale, it will probably stillg behind ces like the Amazon.
Therefore, I was convinced that the knowledge I gained at this time would generate a snowball effect in the future.
Any objections?
No one among my subordinates spoke up in response to my question.
Then we depart at 09:00.
Except for the one team that would apany me, the rest of the personnel were stationed on the outskirts of the forest. I had decided to ce them there not only to avoid wasting them recklessly but also to call for reinforcements in case the situation became dire. It was a cement that considered securing an exit in case of a simr situation.
And at 09:30,
I crossed the fence and took the first step into the forest, where faint snowkes were falling. I arranged the formation in a zigzag pattern with me in the center.
Maintain this distance as much as possible, and even if you fall due to an irresistible force, return as quickly as possible. This is my advice to all of you.
Even though they already knew this information, the four, including Kyung-tae, took my advice very seriously. epting the possibility of death was not something to be taken lightly, especially when facing death. Furthermore, if that end was one of the worst diseases, it was even more so.
Once we entered the fog, we no longer needed to hide our weapons. The subordinates dressed in alpine camouge retrieved their guns from their bags and silently and swiftly assembled them. They were using Russian-made low-noise rifles called Vikhr, short and lightweight for easy carrying and concealment. The length, including the silencer, was simr to the Korean K-2 rifle. The only downside was that the ammunition was a bit scarce.
Hyungim.
Yeah.
I received the gun Kyung-tae handed me, pulled the trigger slowly, and then pushed it forward. I didnt forget to push it one more time for a final check to ensure the chambered round was securely in ce.
Its warmer than outside.
It seems the mist in the Por forest also served to retain warmth. It was simr to how the water inside ake in the dead of winter was warmer than the outside. If the sole purpose was to retain moisture, a different form of magic would have manifested, as dense fog interfered with photosynthesis.
I hadpleted my preparation for exploration by wearing body armor and a ballistic helmet.
Lets move.
I didnt need to personally determine the basic exploration route. Using the satellite map of the forest, I had already set reference points by marking GPS coordinates. Connecting these points would create a path spiraling toward the center from the outside. These reference points would also be helpful in regrouping if we got scattered.
I only needed to speak up when a stop was necessary. Sometimes, I stopped to sketch circuit diagrams, memorize the flow of magic, and mentally draw an outline of the massive circuit, almost as ifmitting it to memory. This wasnt as simple as copying and pasting code; it was far moreplicated unless the magic was in a usable form. Currently, about 99.9% of the forests circuits were cluttered, which made it even more challenging.
Within the dense fog, my visibility was reduced to around 30 meters. Regardless of my eyes capabilities, my brain couldnt handle the flood of visual information.
asionally, I would change direction, wondering how much further we had to go. At the edge of that 30-meter visibility range, a very unpleasant symbol appeared.
Stop.
At my quietmand, the formation halted. I took a few steps forward and carefully examined the area around the symbol for any threatening elements, such as magical ambushes or traps. This might be possible only for Round Tables elites, but there was no harm in being cautious.
Only after confirming safety two or three times did I speak up.
Follow me.
While deviating from the nned route for a moment, I took the lead. Here, the formation would be rearranged ording to our pre-agreed-upon n: two to the left rear and two to the right rear.
Kyung-tae discovered a hand sticking out of the snowfield and stared at it with a stiff expression.
This is
One of the missing persons, I assume.
The corpse was not in normal condition. I walked around the circr symbol, using my boot to clear away the hard-packed snow around it, ensuring that my subordinates could see the rest of the corpse.
Inside a circle created by tearing apart a human body to make it elongated, there was a star drawn with blood. The star had an inverted shape, and outside the circle were seventy-two Latin characters resembling a star, written with blood. It was a symbol of devil worshipers who drew dark power from the Acausal Realm. Their belief itself was nonsense, but the problem was that the star inside the circle was not the seven-pointed star but the seven-star.
If its the seven-star, its the lineage of the British.
Traditional devil worshipers used the inverted pentagram as their symbol because its shape resembled the head of a goat. However, followers of Satan rooted in Ennd uniquely used the seven-star. This change urred when the real mage, Grace, joined them, stealing the wisdom of the Round Table. Her followers were known as the Order of 7 Angles (O7A) because of this.
Heh.
Kyung-tae, who was at the perimeter, nced at the dirty symbol. His amazed reaction was due to asional education about potential hostile forces.
Do you think those Satanists from the ind came all the way here?
No.
I shook my head.
Its too sloppy to think that way.
What do you mean?
The order of the characters is wrong.
I referred to the 72 characters of Kabbh (magnum nomen Domini Semenphoras licterarum), which express the name of God that I couldnt dare to utter. Devil worshipers, who turn crosses and stars upside down, also write these characters in reverse order, as if it were obvious.
Would the real mages from the Witch Council make such a mistake?
That was impossible.
It might be the work of the Yankee faction that received orders from their homnd.
Despite the persistent tracking, hunting, and suppression efforts by the Round Table Cab, the new stream of devil worship created by Indian witches spread rapidly worldwide. However, such underground church-like expansion inevitably came with the loss and distortion of doctrine.
The symbol itself had no magical effect.
Kyung-tae nced at it once more and furrowed his brow.
The state of the body is quite unusual.
Indeed, the corpse wasnt just torn apart; it was unfolding like nt roots. If blood vessels and capiries prated the skin and branched out in all directions, it might look simr.
I said,
Its not a corpse.
What?
From a nts perspective, there might just be a nutrient clump here.
.
Those torn apart might be due to human activity, while the pulling could be the forests doing. When pulling in moisture, other substances might havee along, and perhaps the root tips in the cold sensed their taste. Or maybe they caught a scent floating in the air
As evidence, the direction in which the remains were spreading and moving was tilted towards where surface and underground roots and stems were closer and more abundant.
Kyung-tae, who had been lost in thought for a moment, suddenly understood my point and grinned.
So, its an environment where you can kill people without worrying about the body being discovered?
To some extent.
Sounds good, doesnt it?
What he meant by good was not only about the current moment but also the satisfaction of knowing that this environment could potentially kill people without concerns of bodies being discovered. Even if I were a skilled forensic scientist, it would be difficult to gather detailed information from a corpse damaged in this way.
However
No, its not all good.
Kyung-tae, correcting my words, suddenly smiled and wore an ambiguous expression.
Thats right. Could it really be considered good?
In an environment where any action wouldnt easily be known C or could be easily covered up C how many lunatics would emerge once real political and economic interests began to intertwine in this maze? Just given anonymity, Satan could possess anyone, whether they were humans or not.
Creatures in the green maze would reveal their true nature without shame, not even realizing they were at the bottom. Those people around me were more likely to be a hindrance than help.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 24: Trembling Giant (3)
Chapter 24: Trembling Giant (3)
The nickname for this Por forest was the Trembling Giant. It got its name because the entire forest was one, and its branches trembled whenever the wind blew. Considering that Pors were a type of willow tree, the name was quite intuitive. There was a Korean idiom that went, shaking like a willow tree, after all. (+)[1]TLN: Meaning, you would tremble like a willow tree leaf, shiver, shudder, when you feel very cold, when you are sick, or when youre scared.
However, as we got closer to the center of the forest, the usualndscape seen through our vision changed drastically. The snowkes blowing in from outside melted into the warm mist, and even the east wind couldnt push away the thick, heavy fog. That was only natural; this mist was the forests humidity bound by magic. To prate its physical restraint, you needed quite a strong wind.
This was also why my subordinates were having difficulty breathing. It felt like the resistance was at the level of wearing a gas mask.
I, too, was breathing heavily, my clothes were damp, and sweat was forming on my forehead. In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, and at an elevation of 2,700 meters?
The perceived humidity was over 100%. It felt like the magic was forcibly trapping more moisture than the maximum saturation point. Droplets of dew had formed on the metal parts of my gun.
Before long, I once again found the symbol of the devils cult. Kyung-tae, having seen another gruesome corpse, audibly exhaled.
These guys, could they be trying to make the forest perceive humans as prey?
Thats possible.
Hmm. Then could this be a measure against you? A trick to obstruct your code collection.
Im not sure.
If this were a measure against me, then it meant that Grace knew about the betrayal of her mentorshe already knew that Eye of the Golden Age had leaked outside Round Table. She wasnt as close-minded as the fanatics in Round Tables ranks, so her thoughts might be more open regarding the usefulness of primitive magic and the application of this eye.
But was that possible? That the secretive, confidential, and obscure internal affairs of the Round Table Cab had leaked to the devils cultists?
Maybe something happened during their power struggle.
The possibility wasnt zero, which was frustrating. It might be more usible to see it as a measure against the Round Table, but you couldnt entirely rule out the possibility.
If we capture the ones who did this, they might know something.
I resumed the search with a nod.
The stars drawn by the devils cultists were hidden all over the ce.
The dense, flowing fog exined why the police hadnt been able to discover the corpses. The fact that the air was stagnant meant that the smell was trapped. So the police dogs couldnt pick up the scent, which was one reason, and the security officers were likely scared.
Of course, the search was likely being conducted only around the forests perimeter, waiting for support from higher authorities. The limitations of security officers elected by poprity.
I had been responsible for leading from the front since finding the first symbol. Although I had provided Kyung-tae and the others with high-altitude thermal gear, it was nearly useless in these conditions. To use thermal imaging that would work in these conditions, you needed proper, sophisticated equipment.
But there was one thing nice about this fog.
The sound doesnt carry far.
Ordinary fog actually amplified sound, making it travel further and faster. This was because it had a higher density and sticity as a mediumpared to dry air.
However, mist bound by magic experienced an increased sticity due to its restraining force. This meant it vibrated less as sound waves. Sounds like footsteps, hushed conversations, or even suppressed gunfire wouldnt reach as far in this forest. I could clearly see the reduced range.
Tup!
The sound of leather gloves rubbing. I clenched my fist and signaled my team to stop. Finally, living humans, the devils cultists had been spotted. Two of them were visible, probably not as lookouts. One leaned against a tree, while the other sat with their back against it, keeping watch to their sides, so there wasnt a blind spot. Their fronts were about 10 degrees off from directly facing me.
There was a circle drawn around the tree trunk, as usual, made of torn-apart humans. Of course, there was the usual crimson star drawn where they sat.
Both were armed with submachine guns, devoid of any muzzle brakes, yet they had suppressors attached. Bullet dispersal was impossible, making these bullet-spraying weapons. They each held one in their hands, and their belts were filled with magazines like totem poles.
My team and I took cover behind fallen tree branches, our posture low.
Kyung-tae, having grasped the new trait of the fog, made a nervousment.
These guys are using their heads too, huh?
Surprising?
Kind of. When you think of devil cultists, dont you picture brains soaked in drugs? They even have their tongue pierced.
Coincidentally, both of them were indeed have pierces.
Kyung-taesment about weapons was rted to the choice of firearms. Given the severely limited visibility, it was likely better to abandon precise shooting and go for indiscriminate bullet spraying. This decision probably considered the users proficiency as well.
The problem was that we needed to capture them alive. The scenario we had in mind was one where we would assassinate them.
These guys were probably using suppressors to be cautious of security officers patrolling the forest periphery. But even so, if they found themselves in danger, shouting loudly would be their signal to the nearby ruffians. In this dense fog, even a shout could serve as a sufficient rm.
What was surprising was that neither of them had radios.
How do we subdue them
Kyung-tae muttered, showing his concern. If we didnt need to consider the distance between us and them, he wouldnt have had this dilemma. He would have approached, subdued them, and made them kneel before me, as always.
Hyungnim, Im sorry, but cant we just quickly take care of them ourselves?
Kyung-tae suggested this with a hint of hesitation, still disliking the fact that I was taking risks.
You know. Itll be over really quickly, I promise.
No.
I looked through the fallen tree branch and the opaque scenery to see the miserable bodies of the devils cultists.
The flow of magic here is particrly violent. Theyre already being transformed in real-time.
What do you mean?
It indicates theyre currently undergoing a state of disarray.
They already had cancer cells in their bodies. Since this was a type of cancer that absorbed magic power and used it as nourishment, it showed a proliferation rate that was on a different level in environments with an abundance of nutrients.
Their bodies starting to itch a bit.
When it came to the impact on life, there was one significant difference between magic power and radiation: the former tended to alter cells more often than destroy them. The evidence was the Satan cultists who fearlessly scratched their bodies with gun muzzles. In a day or two, theyd probably be severe patients.
Itching was both a precursor and a major symptom of cancer, whether it was a solid tumor clinging to an organ or blood cancer developing in the lymph nodes and bone marrow. If youd ever witnessed a terminally ill cancer patient peeling their flesh off despite taking powerful painkillers, youd understand how horrifying this itchiness could be.
Magic power cancer, though a form of cancer, shared some superficial symptoms with ordinary cancer. This was the knowledge the Masters of the Round Table gained through experiments on human subjects. I happened to be one of the beneficiaries of this knowledge.
Whether it could truly be called a benefit, I wasnt sure.
Hah.
Kyung-tae sighed.
Six meters is right in front of us.
Six meters. The minimum radius within which my magical field could guarantee safety in this forest. It was only one meter longer than during the time of the President. However, considering the overwhelming biological mass and mass-equivalent circuit control strength of Trembling Giant, that extra meter wasnt merely a mere meter.
But even in this dense fog, I could see up to ten meters with my naked eyes. In the midst of this, six meters was an incredibly short distance when it came to engagement with an enemy, even if they held a shotgun. It was dangerously close, even if the opponent had a pump-action shotgun. This was what Kyung-tae meant by right in front of us.
While deep in thought, I conjured an idea and redirected magical power through my circuits to construct a spell. A strange spellposed of clues gathered from this forest.
Whoosh
A ripple-like vibration spread through the nearby fog.
Dont be rmed.
I raised my hand to show the subordinates who had witnessed the ripple.
Its me.
Kyung-tae and the others finally rxed and lowered their gun barrels.
It seems like itll work.
I hadntpletely grasped the principles of this fog yet. Still, I had enough understanding to interfere with the magic the forest was casting. I wasnt using my power entirely from scratch; I was merely modifying the existing spell, so the strain on my circuit was minimal. It was like achieving a hundredfold result with an output of one.
After a few failed attempts and some refining, I managed to manipte the fogs power to guide different fog flows to collide with each other. Right in front of me, a dense white barrier appeared and then settled heavily.
It seemed to work.
Even though it was a small sess, it felt exhrating. This was the first tangible result of the possibilities I had hoped for.
Lets do it like this.
I exined the n to my subordinates.
How does it sound?
ording to my n, the approach itself wasnt dangerous. We could simply walk until a certain distance. After that, some improvisation might be required, but somehow, it should work.
Uh
Kyung-tae responded with a hesitant expression.
It sounds good, but are you okay, Hyungnim? Using that much power seems like a strain on your circuit. You still have a long way to go to adapt
Dont worry. It may look big, but the actual strain is minimal.
If you say so.
Get up.
The spell was already active in my circuit. The subordinates who stood up expressed their light amazement at the already-formed white barrier. They had never received this type of magical support in a realbat situation before. The dense fog curtain had a level of opacity closer to smoke screens.
And we began to walk. The wall of fog, flowing like a waterfall, retreated exactly as much as we walked in our direction.
Kyung-tae whispered in amazement,
Wow, Hyungnim. This is amazing, really!
Dont make a fuss. Youll have to get used to things even more remarkable than this in the future.
We approached the enemys nk while circling about 80 degrees around them. 29 meters, 25 meters, 20 meters. The distance kept shrinking. The enemy couldnt see us, but that applied to my subordinates as well, and tension seeped into their footsteps.
The gap with the prey hade within 15 meters. 14 meters, 13 meters
One of the prey creatures looked in our direction.
Whats this?
We immediately took cover. As the fisherman mentioned during the reconnaissance, there were so many fallen trunks in this forest that it was almost like they were entwined around our feet. Perhaps it was because it was such an old forest.
The cultist focused their gaze on the opaque barrier and poked theirpanion with their elbow.
Hey, look here.
What?
Look over here, you wanker.
Wow! Its bloody magical, isnt it?
Magick, as pronounced by British-origin Satan cultists. It was a simple difference in pronunciation, but it altered the meaning of the word.
The two cultists approached the fog and waved their guns as if searching through thin air. It seemed they were trying to feel for something. Their behavior resembled someone groping in the dark. The guns chamber came dangerously close to my control strengths limit. We couldnt get any closer because there was a possibility that the impulsive creatures might impulsively pull the trigger.
While this was happening, one of them cautiously tried to step into the fog barrier. I pulled the barrier slightly toward me.
Whoa.
The brave one looked back at theirpanion.
See? Did you see?
Then they took one more step. They were still trembling, but more boldly than before. Naturally, I created another ripple in the fog flow by pulling the barrier back a little. It was as if a fisherman shook their bait to lure a fish. My improvisation made the prey excited and thrilled, more than they had been before.
This is evidence that the eternal power within this forest, the Aeonic power, is growing stronger. Pure magic itself! I never thought Id see something like this in my lifetime
It seemed they didnt even consider that humans might be using this magic?
This was a matter of knowledge and the limits of imagination. Perhaps, it was because they were not direct descendants of Grace from the maind. They seemed incredibly ignorant. True magic users would have immediately gone on high alert. They were interpreting the phenomenon in this Por forest as a miracle resulting from devilish ceremonies C a result of human sacrifice.
With this, the two cultists had nowe fully within the range of my control strength. I sent several signals in session to my subordinates. These signals included the method of subduing, the timing of subduing, and the actions to be taken after subduing. Kyung-tae and the others returned the signals as they holstered their guns behind them.
Three, two, one. Now.
The moment my four subordinates leaped over the cover and charged like beasts of prey, I immediately dismantled the mist wall, loading a new spell just in time.- 1. TLN: Meaning, you would tremble like a willow tree leaf, shiver, shudder, when you feel very cold, when you are sick, or when youre scared.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 25: Trembling Giant (4)
Chapter 25: Trembling Giant (4)
Huh?!
The startled two devil worshipers instinctively retaliated. Although they yanked the trigger like startled herbivores, the blind threat of stray bullets was high from a gun that fired 30 rounds in just 1.6 seconds. No matter how agile my subordinates were, they couldnt move faster than a fingers contraction. However.
Tick!
The gun didnt fire. None of the four rounds that the two were holding.
UghC!
The one who was a little further out got his abdomen first. Almost simultaneously, the waist of the one who was one step closer behind him was bent at a right angle. Kyung-tae, who had hit the one in the back, stepped aside and thrust his elbow in. The satanic worshipper, who had been stabbed in the side, sat down with a suffocating expression. Kyung-tae and his subordinates pushed down the agonizing creatures, who couldnt even make a sound, confiscated their weapons, bound their hands, and gagged them.
Kyung-tae, who treated the captured two like sacks, measured their weight and showed his subordinates three and four fingers in order. The two subordinates who received the signal swiftly exposed the throats of the helpless devil worshippers with syringes filled with truth serum. ording to Kyung-taes judgment, three-quarters of the pre-filled amount was injected.
In the meantime, I picked up one of the devil worshippers guns.
nk.
When I pulled the bolt, an unexploded shell popped out of the breech. I quickly caught it. There were clear traces on the back of the bullet where it had hit. It hadnt exploded even after being hit. This unexploded shell was the result of the magic I used. I had simply suppressed four tiny ignitions with the spell I had preloaded.
Sigh
I rxed my body with a long sigh. I had been tense even though I had expected this oue. It was the first time I had used magic in close-quartersbat like this, not in a stable environment.
Its a shame that I cant use this trick for long.
The first shot. When one shot was blocked, the automatic gun had to retract and advance the striker in an annoying manner. Repeating this process could turn all firearms into scrap metal. Therefore, the ignition suppression I used was a very good trick to block the opponents firepower at the lowest cost.
However, this trick was only possible when the opponents firearm was within the range of my field C the range of magic power control strength. It became impossible if the distance was far, or if the opponent holding the gun was an ability user with their own field.
I just picked up the unexploded shell that the devil worshippers had thrown away. It was enough to take it as a souvenir.
Ughh
The two devil worshippers, who had risen to their feet, made a strange noise through their eyes. They drooled with unfocused eyes and were still breathing heavily. My subordinates grabbed the backs of the creatures, who were still too weak to move and held them tightly.
Unlike in Ad, letting go of the truth serum was a precaution in case these guys were fanatics. They might get into trouble if they screamed without knowing their lives were at stake. I had to ept the possibility of information contamination.
I waited for a little less spittle from the mouths of the satanic worshippers before asking them a question.
Satanic saints. Which cult are you affiliated with?
C-cult? Cult?
The worshipper seemed to be rolling the word around in his mouth as if he didnt understand it. His boundrade responded with a dumbugh.
Oh, cult We are the Servants of Arcturus.''
The name was unfamiliar to me. I couldnt possibly know the names of all the arrogant creatures worldwide who belonged to the O7As overseas factions. I might not even know about regional task forces or subsidiary cults.
However, from the moment they included the name Arcturus,monly known as the brightest star in the constetion Bo?tes, in their group name, it was confirmed that these guys were fanatics beyond doubt. Because this star was the seat of the dark deity for Satan worshippers and the subject of autumnal human sacrifices. Modern Satanic churches, unlike in the past, had long abandoned the traditional rituals dedicated to this sacred star.
So, you are the Servants of Arcturus.''
Yes, thats right
Are you the only cult in this forest?
No.
No? Did other cultse with you? Personnel sent from the UK, perhaps?
No, they didnt Why dont you know? Theres no way
What do you mean I dont know?
Didnt you see that mist a moment ago, you idiot? Were not the only ones in this forest Dark gods are manifesting their powers Cthunai, Nemiku, Atazoth, Arcturus Oh, Magick. Glory to Aeonic power, the Holy Virgin, the stars, and the Avengers.
There were other people here, and as the direct descendant of a witch who had crossed the Antic, I had been tense, but I heaved a sigh at the unsatisfying answer.
Maagickk, Maaaagick, Maaaaagick!!
The guy kept shouting louder and more excitedly, drooling with wide-open eyes. Then the guy next to him, who had been mumbling, started shouting Magick too. It seemed like one of them had taken a bit too much of the drug. I crushed them both before they could answer or shout any further.
Maaaagick
It seemed that these guys in this faction could invoke Magick as if it were the holy chant Om (?). Just by memorizing it, they could enter some mystic realm. (+)[1]TLN: Om is a symbol representing a sacred sound, syble, mantra, and invocation in Hinduism.
Clear this side. Theyre useless.
Upon receiving the order, Kyung-tae dragged the guy who had taken too much to the back and shot him in the back of the head. There was a small gunshot followed by a stter of dark red blood. The lifeless body slumped forward.
I continued to interrogate the one I had kept alive.
Ill ask again. Who brought you here?
Of course our leaders orders, you bastard
Did youe to this forest on your cults will, or someone elses?
I dont know
Another drawback of truth serum. The drugs used for truth serum lowered the subjects cognitive abilities, making it difficult for them to understandplex questions. So, if they gave a dont know response, it was often epted as it was.
I changed my question.
Have you heard the name Grace before? Im talking about the Grand Master of the Order of 7 Angles (O7A).
Oh, Grace the Lord Rounwytha Our beautiful Savior, prophet, and saint She promised us a thousand-year kingdom Jealous, arent you? Huh? Arent you jealous?
Yeah, Im really jealous. Anyway, did that woman tell you toe to this forest?
Yeah.
Short and simple answers could carry a heavy weight.
Tell me what she ordered you to do.
The drugged fanatic started confessing about his religious activities, beginning with the doctrines he knew and moving on to regr gatherings, violence, murder, theft, rape, arson, and other acts that pleased dark gods.
This guy had interpreted Graces religious teachings as something she had manded. He seemed to havepletely forgotten the context of the questions I had asked earlier.
This is why truth serum isnt used often.
If the subject was dumb, the use of truth serum became challenging. Highly trained individuals sometimes managed to lie even when drugged. Cross-validation by changing the questions gradually could reveal the truth, but it was aborious process.
I sighed and strengthened the specificity of my question.
Tell me what Grace told you to do in this forest.''
The clear and emphatic question finally yielded a proper response.
She told us to lead the forests spirits to the Acausal Realm where the dark gods reside
In the Satanic worship doctrine, the witch had reinterpreted the Acausal Realm as the source of all Magick. Therefore, leading the spirits of the forest to the Acausal Realm could be interpreted as having an impact on the forests magical growth.
So, we drew the sacred heptagonal star with sacrifices and offered the lives of sacrifices to create a path for the spirit of this forest we made many paths It was exhrating
Was it really necessary for the sacrifice to be human?
As sustenance, humans were no different from other animals. Essentially, a forest that ate humans and one that ate animals have the same meaning. Did they really need to endure the practical risks of human sacrifice?
However, this was a foolish question.
Did you need human sacrifices?
The Satanic worshipper, intoxicated by the drug, looked at me with a dazed expression.
Are there beings other than humans in the world?
Yes, these were devil worshipers. People who had lost some sense ofmon sense.
Perhaps I should consider human sacrifice as the witchs own karma for encouraging religious fanaticism. Even I was sometimes pulled by the organizations momentum.
This was why organizational culture should be rational.
Thats enough about that. Did Grace give you any other instructions?
Yeah. We will receive blessings blessings, oh, blessings. My soul will be dyed with Aeonic power
That was not something she ordered.
But it was not an entirely irrelevant statement. From the flow of his thoughts, it was likely that he also heard the content when he received the instructions. In that case, I could roughly understand Graces hidden motives.
In the end, these are also sacrifices with a different meaning.
Being blessed with Aeonic power meant, in terms of phenomena, one of two things. Contracting a unique cancer or awakening psychic abilities with an open soul circuit. It could be both, but if you got cancer, you were going to die anyway, so there was not much difference.
Lets assume Kyung-taes hypothesis was true. If the circuit was opened, a gifted individual was born, and if cancer was contracted, there would be cancerous masses left behind.
Magic power cancer continued to proliferate even if the parent organism died. The nourishing masses, which constantly fatten themselves, were the living nutrients suitable for the forest that perceives dead sacrifices as nourishment.
Taking it a step further, a real maze where people who have survived were captured would bepleted. A gradual understanding of the prey. There was no guarantee it would work, but from Graces perspective, it was worth trying.
So, this could also exin why these guys didnt have radios. The progression of cancer varies from person to person. When the guy whose symptoms had worsened started screaming into the radio, it might be difficult to control the other armed sacrifices.
But to prove all these hypotheses, one element was needed.
The ability to find a ce suitable for contracting cancer.
I dont know. I dont know
When asked if there was something sent from the UK, the Satanist shook his head as if a drunkard was swaying. Given the limitations of the truth serum, changing the format of the question repeatedly still resulted in the same answer.
Oh, its itchy Scratch it Ill scratch it Its hurt? Or is it itchy? I dont know I want to eat mint chocte pizza
The image of the devil worshipper scratching his body against the ground in agony from the itch. It seemed like the effects of the truth serum and the root drug were gradually wearing off.
Get him up.
Kyung-tae held up the guys rear roughly. I kneeled down to meet the dazed eyes of the devil worshipper at eye level.
Just endure a bit longer. If you answer a few more questions, Ill scratch it for you.
Quickly, quickly
Yeah.
Even such a rascal would probably know the number and rank of their gang, their headquarters, and what kind of weapons each of them was armed with. Furthermore, whether there were emergency signals, what the contingency action ns were
Having obtained all the information that could be expected, I ced my hand on his shoulder.
I think thats enough. Now, Ill keep my promise.
Promise What promise?
I said Id scratch the itchy spot for you.
Oh, right Do it quickly Its too itchy
Step aside, Kyung-tae.
Tung!
I scratched the guys brain, which had been so diligently answering questions until now, with a gunshot. There was no better way to relieve the itch that had spread throughout his body. A faint echo brushed my nose, and the gunshot, filtered once through a silencer, created a peculiar resonance within the mist.
The devil worshipper turned into a corpse with his head twisted backward and copsed in a limp pile. I looked at the brain fluid flowing unnaturally in one direction and said.
It seems like your guess, Kyung-tae, is correct.
What guess are you talking about?
The one about feeding people to the forest.
Oh, that? But among the questions you asked him
Kyung-tae nudged the just-deceased Satanist with his toe.
was there anything rted to that?
There were enough clues to make an educated guess. Symbolic expressions that only make sense in this context.
I recounted the contents of my spection. Kyung-tae burst into incredulousughter.
Wow, are these underlings just expendable to that witch? Shes quite the head of the devil worshipers.
Make a distinction between underlings and devotees. Besides, theres no way that witch would like these lowlifes.
In fact, she might even despise them. Because devil worshipers often dabble in neo-Nazi ideologies as a hobby. Would that crazy woman, who has no shortage of hatred for The Round Table of Light and Truth, find these offspring of imperialism appealing?
So, for her, the followers of devil worshipers led by O7A were nothing more than tools for revenge.- 1. TLN: Om is a symbol representing a sacred sound, syble, mantra, and invocation in Hinduism.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 26: Trembling Giant (5)
Chapter 26: Trembling Giant (5)
Initially, this Trembling Giant was a slowly dying forest. New shoots needed to rece the aging trunks, but due to ecological distortions, such as an increase in herbivores and reckless grazing by nearby ranches, the new growth was not taking hold. Thats why there were fences around the forests boundaries. These were protective measures taken by environmental authorities, but there was no guarantee that this simple measure could revive the old forest.
However, now that the heart of the forest was so close, I was facing the emerald green shoots in the cold, white forest of the harsh season.
I kept my subordinates waiting and touched the new shoots with my fingertips. The forest reacted to the gentle swaying of magic as it extended beyond normal visibility. It sensed my touch. While different from human senses, nts also had their own form of perception.
On the sprouts were crimson runes, like graffiti added to a sacred painting. There was no beauty in the aesthetics of devil worshipers.
Above, the sparse light at the periphery was dimming. The fog in the center was thin, and, through clearly defined convection, it continuously received warmth from the periphery. It was a slow but steady flow. Thus, this ce had be an environment suitable for photosynthesis.
The magic of the forest that I had observed so far could be summarized into two traits.
Phase transition of water. And confinement to water.
The warmth in the fog was probably mixed with minerals and heat from the phase transition of water originating from sr energy. Thetter was heat created by the physicalpression of moisture.
It was impressive to efficiently build and operate this kind of spellwork when the proportion of effective circuits seemed insignificant. The soul of the Por forest, estimated to have existed for at least 80,000 years, up to a maximum of 1 million years, disyed the power appropriate to such a span.
It was possible to create a simr phenomenon using a high-level telekinesis spellwork. However, the forests magic was fundamentally different from telekinesis. Although there was still much waste and simplicity in this spellwork, if I could sessfully adapt and improve it to fit my circuit, this alone could turn me into an unprecedented bomb mage.
Hyungnim.
Kyung-tae looked worried.
Is it okay to engage inbat here?
Why?
Im worried that if the stray bullets hit the tree trunks, the giants might get angry.
Was that his concern?
I have been continuously anthropomorphizing this forest, but its not appropriate to project human thoughts and emotions onto nts.
Um You mean there wont be any reaction?
No, there will be a reaction. If possible, it will even try to eliminate the threat. Just
I paused for a moment and then tapped my head with my finger.
Just dont confine your thinking to a single framework.
I see.
Think of it more like dealing with extraterrestrial life. They have senses, emotions, and intelligence, but all of these are entirely different from those of humans.
nts might not have sensory perception, but that didnt mean they couldnt perceive pain. It just meant their concept of pain was different from that of animals.
Otherwise, theres no suitable expression, so I have to use animal-rted words.
In any case, Kyung-tae would have understood my intention well. Even if we used the same words, there was an underlying difference to remember.
Separately, the concern Kyung-tae raised was something I had also considered. I had thought about what would happen if the forest expressed anger or panic. And I decided.
Were proceeding with the attack. Be prepared for strong winds.
Strong winds?
Yes. Currently, that seems to be the only way this forest can express anger.
I understand.
As we stood in the center of the forest after breaking down the outer perimeter of the two-man hunter teams of the devil worshipers, we were left with thest group of Satansckeys. In an environment where visibility had slightly improved, armed with automatic weapons, I would engage inbat. Even if we had to prepare for the aftermath of the bullets striking and causing secondary explosions in the tree trunks.
Although there seemed to be no other way to prepare except to maintain a strong cover, there was a big difference between knowing what wasing and not knowing.
Kyung-tae nodded.
Were ready.
The attack would start with my shot. I was the only one who could observe the enemy. When the enemy began returning fire, Kyung-tae and his subordinates would respond based on the shes of gunfire. If I had known the fog would suppress sound, I would have brought grenades.
Setting aside useless regrets, I synchronized the trigger and aligned the sights. I numbered the targets among the devil worshipers and had conducted image training. One, two, three. One, two, three. I would aim to kill three of them before they could react. With my finger on the trigger and my sights aligned on the heads of the enemies beyond the crosshair, I controlled my breathing calmly.
Heup, huuC
I pulled the trigger calmly while minimizing my bodys fluctuations by stopping my breath in the middle.
Tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat!
Two exploding heads and one shoulder pierced by a bullet. The third one didnt go down. Cries and curses burst out. I immediately shifted my aim and fired three shots at the scrambling pests. Tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat! As the fallen stems sprayed fragments, a few streams of fresh blood were ejected. Two more casualties. Two wounded. The 6mm steel armor-piercing rounds prated even the living stems without hesitation.
Huahk C and the fog surged.
It was still a faint breeze. The fog was blurred due to the disturbance caused by thepression and expansion of water and wind. In the midst of it, the devil worshipers shouted in confusion. What the hell?! Who are these bastards?! Immediately after, counterattack bullets began to fly.
Charararark!
Gunfire from a high ce. The sharp noises, thanks to the extreme firing rate, merged into one continuous sound from start to finish. It was only after the end of the long chain that a low-pitched echo could be heard.
However, I had misjudged the direction by a long shot. I had mmed three subsonic armor-piercing rounds into a seniors upper body that was moderately covered. At the moment when the recoil hit my shoulder, three red dots appeared on the targets forehead, and the back of his head exploded. The guy with a fractured skull staggered to his knees, and the remaining enemies began spraying bullets at the level of hundreds of rounds per second. The momentary firepower was so immense that I had to take cover myself this time. The body armor and helmet were nothing more than ast resort.
Swoosh. For a moment, the strong winds pushed my back. It felt as if the forest was panicking. After all, the fog, which only distinguished between light and darkness visually, couldnt possibly know where the actual perpetrator was.
The enemys relentless barrage of bullets reached its limit in less than a minute. It was not because they ran out of ammunition but because their suppressors overheated.
Fuck!
A single-syble curse was heard from the other side. The frenzied bursts of high-capacity drum magazines must have generated intense heat, hot enough to cause annoyance. The red-hot shes were visible even through the fog. Their guns were items notorious for having fragile suppressors, to begin with.
Tat-tat! Tat-tat-tat!
Kyung-tae and the others braced against the increasingly powerful wind and initiated suppression fire. I, too, secured the ability to aim urately in the rushing winds while firmly hunkering down behind my cover. Amid the sounds of the roaring winds filling my ears, my three-point shot blended in.
Damn it!
I grazed one of them slightly. But I chose the one that was still unharmed in the confusion. Only sturdy por stems were constantly destroyed. After pulling the trigger four more times, I could finally see some blood from one of them. Perhaps the subsonic rounds were affected by the wind. It was somewhat reassuring to think of the wounded enemies as casualties due to Kyung-tae and the others gunfire.
Now, the enemies found it increasingly difficult to hold their positions. The violent wind thrashed the branches wildly. The fog, like waves, oscited back and forth, repeatedly shifting between transparency and opacity.
While amateurs inbat, the devil worshipers had no shortage of guts. I read the instructions from a higher-ranking member to the rest as if they were whispering. Despite the chaotic environment, I repeated the orders multiple times without raising my voice for the subordinates who might have misunderstood. It was almostughable to see them trying to ensure that this side didnt overhear.
Tat-tat!
A bullet pierced through the side of the guy who was crawling out of his cover. The bullet, entering diagonally, tore through his belly, breaking through the other side. Half of the enemies, who had dispersed to divert our firepower and create a half-circle, faced a simr fate one after another, except for one.
Maaaagick!
One guy, his face drugged up, suddenly stood up and charged. My shot just missed where he was crawling. I quickly adjusted my aim and fired a three-round burst, but
Body reinforcement!
The devil worshiper, who had gained the strength of darkness and awakened primitive magic, had an abnormal movement that couldnt be predicted due to the newfound power. I would have been better off if he had charged straight at me, but this time, the issue was his erratic path due to the fog and the wind.
ng! The round hit an empty chamber. Of all times! I immediately changed magazines, but the enemies on the other side were now raining down a desperate hail of bullets as if offering their lives in a suicidal banzai charge. The same rain of small fragments fell over Kyung-tae and his subordinates. (+)[1]TLN: A Banzai charge (or banzai attack) (frͻ) was a tactic used by Japanese soldiers against the American soldiers when they were losing World War II. Banzai charges were usually suicide charges. This was so they would have an honorable death without surrender.
However, the momentary silence of our firepower had unexpectedly be a poison for the charging drugged-up man. He stumbled in each direction he fell. I thought he was running straight, but was there a chance of maintaining direction in this fog?
MaaaaChuh, huhgick!
Struggling with shortness of breath, the Satanic warrior, even while gasping for air, eventually passed by the line where we were.
I put an end to that pitiful soul with a burst of automatic fire. The dull thud followed the gunshots.
The fanatic warrior wore body armor, but we were armed with subsonic armor-piercing rounds in our assault rifles. Pistol rounds and lightweight armor tes couldnt defend against armor-piercing rounds fired from rifles.
He would have died anyway.
He was already a guy whose organs were starting to fail due to excessively using his awakened powers, driven by the newfound awakening of his power. Multiple organ failure due to using abilities beyond his limits. Iplete circuits, rapid mana leakage, and cell copse due to magic overload were dangers that Suyeon and Kyung-tae were made aware of early on.
The bnce of firepower had been reversed.
The enemies could no longer overwhelm us with their instantaneous firepower. In terms of numbers, they still had a slight advantage, but their ammunition was running low. It was the result of them recklessly using a rate of fire exceeding a thousand rounds per minute.
I could see one guy was about to lose it right now. He mmed his gun into a tree trunk and shouted, infuriated by his overheated suppressor. But there was only one magazine left.
On the other hand, we still had plenty of suppressors and spare ammunition.
Tat-tat!
My aimed shot ended another worthless life.
Now that the enemies could no longer unleash their overwhelming barrage, the sporadic return fire from the Satanic fanatics was much less threatening than before. Furthermore, since we were still using suppressors, their ability to maintain direction in their return fire waspromised.
Contrary tomon misconceptions, suppressors didnt reduce bullet velocity or decrease lethality. In the case of guns like the Vikhr I was using, which had a short barrel, suppressors even increased bullet velocity and uracy to some extent.
Moreover, suppressors not only suppressed noise but also reduced muzzle sh, minimizing the chances of being exposed by the sh.
The reasons we didnt remove the suppressors up to this point were these.
The exhausted devil worshipers, after exchanging heated opinions, made their final choice. It was a fanatical assault, emting the deceased fanatic warrior. They seemed to have no other option, feeling that violence was a virtue and murder was a doctrine.
They inhaled the drugs they had brought to their faces, nearly as if they were applying it like makeup, their eyes rolling back as they trembled and called out to their gods.
Aaaaaarcturus! The dark constetion on high ces!
However, the magnificence the fanatics called for was a determination to face the gusts of wind. They didnt have much of a choice, after all.
Anyway, it worked out well.
I might spare the higher-ranking one to pick his brainter.- 1. TLN: A Banzai charge (or banzai attack) (frͻ) was a tactic used by Japanese soldiers against the American soldiers when they were losing World War II. Banzai charges were usually suicide charges. This was so they would have an honorable death without surrender.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 27: Trembling Giant (6)
Chapter 27: Trembling Giant (6)
The battle was over. As the gunfire ceased, the forests tension subsided shortly thereafter.
The results of administering the truth serum to the higher-ranking member werent particrly impressive. They didnt seem to have any special knowledge about real magic, the Round Table, witches, or those who possessed the Eye of the Golden Age.
These guys were thoroughly useless.
It wasnt entirely unexpected, but it was somewhat disappointing. From the perspective of the Witch of Wales, it was likely a casual attempt, where theyd take it if it worked and leave it if it didnt. The potential gains outweighed the investment.
What was surprising was the capacity of the forces she directly or indirectly led. Not only did they manage to operate beyond the scrutiny of the Round Table, despite being based in the hearnd of the UK, but they also used fanatics of this caliber without batting an eye
Unlike the small groups of two individuals that manned the outer perimeter, the individuals guarding the heart of the forest were united as a group of neen. The fact that these neen were unafraid of losing control due to the formation of malignant cells was evidence enough. It meant that they were so devout to Satan, to a dimension where they could ept even excruciating pain as a test. They were prime candidates for recruitment if the Order of 7 Angles (O7A) were to expand its influence in the future.
The underground church of Satan worshippers, corroded by the grace of magic, seemed to have secured a more massive following than expected. Although their organizational structure might becking, they had managed to build a substantial religious base.
I checked the only loot while calming down from the excitement ofbat. It looked like a wristwatch, but inside the bezel, there was only a disk with a star and a single bead. However, this was the missing piece of the puzzle.
It seems like it just by looking at it. A watch that doesnt tell time.
Kyung-tae said as he examined the devil worshipers watch, lying next to his body.
Is there such a thing?
Yeah. Dont you think I like watches? A few years ago, a brand called Heutlence released a watch that doesnt tell time. I think it was a Heutlence product. They put a single bead on the watch dial if I remember correctly.
Heutlence? I didnt know that brand. Unless it was a brand with the worlds best reputation, it was not worth knowing. Luxury watches, for me, were nothing more than decorations or bribes for politicians. asionally, they were used for moneyundering and transportation.
At that level, Patek Philippe watches cost millions of dors when you wear them on your wrist. They were also suitable as coteral or a way to set aside emergency funds.
Kyung-tae evaluated the devil worshipers watch after carefully examining it.
But it doesnt look like such a luxury item.
I nodded in agreement.
Its a kind ofpass, a detection device that follows magic power and mana.
Wow. A magical item?
Item?
Uhh, people usually call them that these days, both in games or novels.
Well, at least not in the Round Table.
Things created by their worshipper of the Golden Age were called relics or antiquities to signify their sacred nature. Objects made after the Golden Age were referred to as artifacts. Among these, particrly important ones are distinguished by spelling them as artefacts.
Misceneous things that didnt qualify as artifacts were ssified again as talismans. These were usually the oddities created by the Round Tables masters before this change urred. If we were to categorize this detection device as resembling a watch, it would probably fall into the talisman category.
Well, I suppose it doesnt really matter what you call it.
For convenience, I had given the arbitrary name magic power to the source of magic. In Londons Round Table, they might call it Aether or something, but the future wouldnt necessarily conform to that. The Masters of the Round Table might have some influence over the process of the British government and international standards in the future, but that was something to see when the time came. They, too, had to be careful not to expose their foundations recklessly.
Anyway, is there a way to turn this thing off?
Lost in thought, I responded to Kyung-taes question with a question of my own.
Do you think it could be turned off?
No.
Thats right.
I knew it
Kyung-tae scratched his head.
Still, I was kind of hoping it might. Its the reward we got for all this chaos, after all.
Werent there supposed to be real rewards as well?
Haha. Well, its a magic item, so I had my hopes up. Would it be okay if I tinker with it a bit?
Instead of replying, I tossed him the detector. Catching it, Kyung-tae tilted the disc, asionally defying gravity to roll the golden bead within.
Wow. Its like those ma experiments I did when I was a kid. It has a different taste than the magic youve shown us, though.
The Masters each have their own specialties.
This wristwatch-like detector, in the past, would have been utterly useless, a bottom-tier gadget. Its sensitivity was so low that it wouldnt react to anything less than a fairly strong magical power. However, in the environments of the past, there didnt exist the kind of magical power that met these criteria.
An item that might or might not react even when ced right in front of each of Round Tables Masters, but where could it have been used?
But creating even such a discarded item wasnt easy.
The technique of attaching the soul extracted from a mountain sacrifice to objects to permanently establish magical properties was one of the signature skills of the masters that Grace assassinated, particrly in the field of miniaturization. My master, although an exceptional mage,cked the ability to create a 2-millimeter diameter bead using only talismans.
Now that the world had changed, with repeated experimentation, I might be able to mimic it.
While fiddling with the detector, Kyung-tae suddenly spoke up.
Hyungnim, I just had a brilliant idea.
An idea?
Yeah. Whether its the toothy ones surrounding the Round Table or the Witch of Wales pleasuring herself with a crucifix, they probably cant make something like this as well as you, right?
But?
The nature of this forest seems to be getting even rougher than what we experienced earlier.
Most likely.
So, what if we build secret strongholds in ces where only your eyes can find them, instead of ying around with these bead toys?
Isnt that a given?
Oops.
Kyung-tae rolled his eyes. There was no way I hadnt considered that option. It was a way to utilize the asymmetrical advantage granted by the Eye of the Golden Age. The utility of building multiple strongholds within the greenbyrinth, even with a simple thought, was boundless. Emergency shelters, smuggling ry points, secret warehouses, and more.
With luck, it could also make potential hostile forces mistakenly identify my base. That was the part I found most charming when I first thought of this idea.
The problem is that good opportunities are surprisingly rare.
Yeah
Just in Korea, for instance. How many suitable ces do you think there might be?
Kyung-taes contemtion of the question didntst long.
There probably arent many, to be sure.
Korea wasnt an ideal environment in this regard. With 70% of thend being mountainous and its rtively smallndmass, and in terms of quality, the entire national park and forest where the President was located didnt evene close to matching up to the vast organism that was the Trembling Giant, epassing an entire forest, as a potential site to divert the enemys attention from my real base, making it an unsuitable candidate for a dummy site.
Looking overseas, the number of potential sites increases significantly. However, establishing and maintaining a stronghold there would be a challenging task given most of them would be remote areas, not to mention the need to secure additional personnel.
Kyung-tae chimed in hesitantly,
I was thinking of something like Eight Gates Transformation.''
Eight Gates what?''
Eight Gates Transformation. You know the techniques and strategies that Gongmyeong (Xu Huang) uses in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. You must have read it too, right?
Even in a country where novels were considered a waste of time, everyone had read Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Not because they found it interesting, but because it provided some insights into dealing with those pesky Chinese bastards. It was considered the representative work of what remained of their cultural heritage, post-Cultural Revolution.
There were few who read it with genuine interest, though. And thats where I came in. Understanding their culture deeply enough to engage in a conversation that didnt bruise their ego but showcased my knowledge instead was essential. It was like showing them a little respect without actually making them feel inferior. If you could show off a bit of knowledge that they didnt possess, youd be an extraordinary individual in their eyes.
For example, if someone bragged about reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms dozens of times, and you, instead of admitting that it was a big deal, showed that you knew even more about it, they would elevate you as a superior human being rather than acknowledge that their dozens of readings were just a show-off.
Without their pride, those idiot folks were nothing but corpses. But amodating their level was such a tiresome task
I extracted the information Kyung-tae mentioned from my memories.
Surely there were descriptions that Gongmyeong was adept at handling the spirits of the Six Gates and proficient in the Eight Gates Transformation.
He was known to summon 24 divine generals, manipte them, use the Red Secret technique, and change the direction of winds using the secret of the Five Senses. There were many bizarre descriptions about him.
I remember many bizarre descriptions, such as summoning and controlling 24 divine generals, using the Technique of Direction Control, and changing the direction of winds using the secret of the Five Senses with his abilities
I also remembered that there were also contents rted to principles[1] (ꐷ) . Such as the Eight Elements and the Eight Gates Restriction. These included the Open[2](_) , Rest[3]() , Live[4]() , Block[5]() , Scenery[6]() , Fear[7](@) , Hurt[8]() , Die[9]() . Three gates of opening[10](_) , resting[11]() , and survival[12]() , and three gates of fearing[13](@) , hurting[14]() , and dying[15]() . Between them, there exist paths that could be controlled through the blocking[16]() gate and the bright[17]() gate.
What Kyung-tae had envisioned was exactly this.
Did you think of the concepts of Life Gate (T) and Death Gate (T)?
Yes, yes! Thats exactly it.
Well, if were going to get technical, they are somewhat simr.
Is that so?
The Life Gate was the gate you came out of alive, and the Death Gate was the one you entered to die. Putting aside the vagueness of this theory that corresponded to the main Eight Gates, if we established an ideal base, at least in terms of efficiency, it should be simr.
Upon my affirmation, Kyung-taes enthusiasm ignited.
After all, if were going to transport weapons and personnel to the UK maind, well need at least one ry base in the Gulf of Mexico, wont we?
Go on.
Ive heard that the Central and South American guys build submarines or load cargo in the tropical jungles and swamps. Well, many of these bases are bound to be abandoned, and I thought maybe we could find or acquire at least one. Search for it or something.
In Kyung-taes mind, if they were going to be discarded anyway, how expensive could they be?
Even if it wasnt in the Amazon jungle, the northeastern part of Brazil was teeming with drug cartels looking for hiding spots. The murky waterways formed where rivers met the sea burrowed into the coastal jungle like the shapes of countless tree roots. Each of those roots was a potential artery of the drug market, capable of supplying hundreds of tons of cocaine annually.
After careful consideration, I replied,
It wont be as simple as you say, but if the opportunity arises, well look into it.
Then I turned my gaze towards the forest beyond.
If theres anything to tidy up, get it done. Its about time we leave.
Got it.
I had already confirmed the circuitry in the central core. It had been a slow exploration, and the days were short during this season, so the sky would soon begin to change color. Avoiding thex patrols of the security guards to escape would not be difficult at all.
Today, along with the circuitry of the giant, I had obtained a fragment of magic not found in Round Tables knowledge repository, the Codex Gigas Aureolus, in London.- 1. (ꐷ)
- 2. (_)
- 3. ()
- 4. ()
- 5. ()
- 6. ()
- 7. (@)
- 8. ()
- 9. ()
- 10. (_)
- 11. ()
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- 13. (@)
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- 17. ()
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 28: Augusts Rows of Trees (1)
Chapter 28: August''s Rows of Trees (1)
Something terrible happened.
A virus-rted pneumonia that originated in Wuhan, China, had swept across the world in about six months. As of the present moment, with the spread of infections under control in major countries, the officially confirmed number of infected individuals had exceeded about 3.1 million, and the death toll had crossed 200,000, with numbers still increasing. Developing countries were in a situation where they couldnt even provide reliable statistics.
Looking at this situation, I felt quite perplexed.
The abundance of magic power might have been a harmful environment for microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.
The Round Table of Light and Truth, with which my master was associated, had conducted biological weapon research at the request of the British government before cutting ties with them. However, attempts to created magical diseases had repeatedly ended in failure.
Bacteria were small. Viruses were even smaller. The conditions necessary for circuits to be inscribed into organisms on the scale of micrometers and nanometers didnt satisfy the minimum requirements. Instead, organisms heavily exposed to magic power and magical power died rapidly, even more quickly than if they had been exposed to ultraviolet light.
If circuits could be inscribed into microorganisms, their small size would mean minimal magic power requirements, allowing them to function significantly even in environments where magic power was almost depleted. That was the British governments idea, but it turned out to be nothing more than false hope.
Nevertheless, a worldwide pandemic had urred.
Was the disease being suppressed to this extent due to magic power, which should have grownrger, or was there some unknown factor that had amplified the spread of the disease, which I didnt know about?
My mind leaned towards the former, but my heart couldnt quite grasp it. Seeing several biopanies, including pharmaceuticalpanies, struggling with reduced yield in bacterial and cell cultures recently, it seemed that the former was likely the case
Perhaps there were significant errors in the experiments conducted by imperialists.
Is there something bothering you?
When I woke up from my thoughts, Suyeons face, inspecting myplexion, was quite close.
Not particrly.
It was awkward for the leader of the organization to show ack of confidence. I replied calmly, removing emotion from my expression.
I was just thinking that were unlucky.
Im sorry. Its because of my wrong judgment.
No, Im not saying that. Youve done very well.
This girls apology was rted to the Guangdong Three Unions C essentially, the weapons supply contract signed with the Chinese Communist Party.
At the time, there were restrictions on delivery dates for the Chinese orders. But when you thought about it, this delivery date restriction was a condition that acted like a shackle not only on us but also on the Chinese side, who hade to the negotiating table. The instructions from above meant that we had to somehow resolve things before then.
Suyeon had taken advantage of this point. In an atmosphere where the contract seemed to be going smoothly, she repeatedly made concessions, leading the Chinese side, blinded by the ease of the negotiations and the greed in their different pockets, to make ridiculous demands until the very end. It was easy to drag things out because there were so many different items in the deal. Each item had a different margin.
As time went on, Suyeon suppressed her umted anger and overturned the deal.
The transcripts of the post-report meeting contained her statements from that time.
Weve already made an unprecedented level of concessions. However, you youve crossed a line that shouldnt be crossed. Its truly an insulting demand.
In the future, we wont be doing business with all of you. Goodbye.
Suyeons pretext was a matter of pride, and for the Chinese, pride was a matter of life and death. The more unreasonable demands they made, the more they themselves would be to me.
The Chinese, who hadnt even thought of preparing alternative trade partners, had to hold on to the enraged Suyeon, even if it meant making significant concessions. If they missed the deadline, they would be the ones to suffer.
Its fortunate if it ends with us breaking.
Performancepetition and factional disputes within the Communist Party were notorious for their brutality. Try messing up work with excessive greed while optimistic progress reports had been submitted several times. Could the anger of a direct superior who had wiped out both performance and ill-gotten gains be resolved with just a standard disciplinary action?
As a result, the final negotiation was settled on highly favorable terms.
The strategy itself was simple, but implementation was a separate matter. If actions were as easy as words, then everyone who imed to know a bit about stocks would be a millionaire. Suyeons abilities demonstrated in this negotiation were one step beyond what I had known and trusted.
I cleared my throat and said,
Let me make it clear. The deaths that urred this time are not your responsibility. It was just bad luck. No one could have anticipated that the virus would spread so extensively. It was unavoidable.
No, it wasnt. It was well within the range of predictability. We had reliable information.
I received that information too.
Ill say it again; its not your fault. This is a decision made by me.''
I understand. I apologize.
Suyeon briefly lowered her head.
The reason this girl kept talking about taking responsibility was that five of our people who had entered Thand during the transportation of the goods had died fromplications of pneumonia and dengue fever. The journey was treacherous, and the news was slow to spread due to quarantine measures. (+)[1]TLN: Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted virus and the leading cause of arthropod-borne viral disease in the world. It is also known as breakbone fever due to the severity of muscle spasms and joint pain, dandy fever, or seven-day fever because of the usual duration of symptoms.
Logically, if a pandemic had erupted, it would be appropriate to dy the delivery. However, there was no such thing asmon sense in this market, especially not for the Chinese. They relentlessly pressured us to adhere to the agreed-upon deadline. It was likely because they were afraid that the project would fall through due to the situation. Then they wouldnt be able to embezzle. Damn Chinese bastards.
I looked at Suyeon silently for a moment, our eyes meeting briefly before she looked away.
Yeah, it hasnt changed since the old days.
Suyeons self-me held no sadness. Having observed this girl for a long time, I could roughly distinguish emotions from the activation of the limbic system, typically settling at this girl is feeling something. So, the responsibility she was feeling was solely focused on the losses she had caused me with her miscalction. The identity of the faint signal flowing through the anterior cingte cortex was probably a sense of guilt towards me. (+)[2]TLN: The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional responses
Five deaths.
Certainly not a small loss. When I heard the news, it was quite disheartening. Those deployed on the front lines of international smuggling were elite beyond the bodyguard unit, my precious assets. Each of them was fluent in one or more foreignnguages like locals, possessed survival skills andbat capabilities for hostile environments, and had unwavering loyalty and exceptional adaptability to navigate even the worst scenarios. If we were to quantify the value of each individual, it would easily reach tens of billions.
Money couldnt create people overnight, so this loss was even more significant. If I could bring them back with cash, I wouldnt hesitate to pay hundreds of billions. It was not a small amount, but in return, it would be no more than the annual sry of one high-priced ser yer. If you wanted the best results, you had to assemble the best team.
Hyungnim.
Yes?
If its not about the Thai incident, why did you say its bad luck? Are you concerned about Kim Jaehwans business?
Its not that.
Kim Jaehwan was the real name of Kim-ssi from Yeouido. He reported losses in the 300 billion range in the stock market crash, although the reasons and timing were different. We were prepared for the market crash to some extent.
But it was natural to be disappointed. However, where in the world was there an investment without failures? An organization that demanded unconditional sess would eventually degenerate into an organization that concealed failures. The reported losses were almost beyond our control, and I believe Kim Jaehwan would be an even better investor through this experience. There was a separate reason for my regret.
I regret that I had to be tied up for half a year at such a crucial time.
Ah.
Suyeon made a knowing expression.
Before countries closed their borders for quarantine purposes, the most crucial locations had been explored in January and February. However, it was painful that additional investigations were blocked at this time, even though we had already maximized the gap with the Round Table. Many countries, including those below developing countries, had sealed off their ports and airports to this day.
The more I thought about it, the harder it was to hold back a sigh. Could luck really be this bad?
Turn on the TV.
At my words, Suyeon pressed the power button on the remote control. The voice of the announcer immediately flowed out. It was a news channel that was being broadcast in the office. As I listened to various incidents with one ear while perusing the report Suyeon had brought, I raised my head as the announcer conveyed news about the Olympics.
[Next is the news from Japan.]
[The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which once faced a crisis due to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Japansx epidemic prevention measures and opaque information disclosure, finally held its opening ceremony yesterday after being postponed for nearly a month. It was the result of Prime Minister Abes strong determination and active Olympic diplomacy.]
[However, this Tokyo Olympics has been surrounded by controversy from the very first day. Its about doping allegations. Some events were even suspended due to strong protests from the athlete representatives. Lets hear more about it from our correspondent on the scene. Reporter Kang Young-rim?]
The screen changed to show a reporter holding a microphone with the stadium in the background.
[Yes, Im Kang Young-rim.]
[Whats the situation on the site?]
As with most reports from foreign correspondents, the response came a beatter.
[Yes. Im currently at the Olympic Aquatics Center in Koto, Tokyo. The mens 400-meter freestyle preliminaries were underway from 9 a.m. However, from the early stages of thepetition, there were numerous cases of athletes significantly breaking existing world records, leading to the suspension of thepetition.]
The anchor asked another question.
[Many world records were broken Certainly, its strange, but can thepetition be stopped just because of that? Doesnt it mean the athletes skills just get better?]
[In practice, its virtually impossible.]
The reporter firmly denied it.
[Thepetition for medals among the worlds top athletes is a fight decided by a hundredth of a second. In fact, until today, the previous record holder, Germanys Paul Biedermann,peted with a mere 0.01-second difference to the existing first-ce record. However, today, Thands Pitaya Sonkham reduced Biedermanns record by 27.92 seconds, bing the unofficial world record holder.]
[27.92 seconds?]
[Yes. Sonkhams record is 3 minutes and 12.15 seconds, while Biedermanns record is 3 minutes and 40.07 seconds. Considering that the world record for the 400-meter long-course freestyle has remained in the 3-minute and 40-second range for the past 20 years, its a highly shocking development.]
[Its indeed shocking. But youre saying that there are many such cases, not just Sonkham?]
[Thats correct. Indonesias Taufik Ahmad recorded 3 minutes and 19.83 seconds, and Canadas Dn Barnaby recorded 3 minutes and 22.20 seconds, securing second and third ce in the preliminaries. Below them, up to seventh ce, all athletes surpassed Biedermanns record by seconds. Whats remarkable is that among the countries ranking from first to seventh, except for Canada, the other six countries have never set a world record even once.]
[Seems like there are doping suspicions?]
[Yes. After thepetition was suspended, Taufik Ahmadined of chest and abdominal pain and was rushed to the emergency room, adding to the confusion. Athlete representatives who raised suspicions have urged for a thorough examination to see if Ahmads condition issues might be a side effect of drug abuse. However, its still unclear which drug could produce such a powerful effect.]
[Whats the Olympic Committees response?]
[The Olympic Committee is conducting drug tests on the entire team once again. Additionally, theyve requested technicians from Omega, the official timekeeper manufacturer, to verify the electronic timing system for any abnormalities.]
[I see. Theres a possibility of errors in the timing equipment, right?]
[Thats a possibility, indeed. Omega representatives have argued that their Quantum Timer has a maximum error margin of just one-thousandth of a second, and they im that merely reviewing the recorded footage will prove this. Theyve also expressed their willingness to cooperate with themittees requested system check. As a result, it appears that other events requiring timekeeping might also face inevitable dys until the inspection ispleted.]
[Understood. Thank you for the detailed update.]
Having heard this, I turned my gaze back to Suyeon.
Hows the adaptation going?
Although the subject is omitted, this was obviously a question regarding physical enhancement.- 1. TLN: Dengue fever is a mosquito-transmitted virus and the leading cause of arthropod-borne viral disease in the world. It is also known as breakbone fever due to the severity of muscle spasms and joint pain, dandy fever, or seven-day fever because of the usual duration of symptoms.
- 2. TLN: The limbic system is the part of the brain involved in our behavioral and emotional responses
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 29: Augusts Rows of Trees (2)
Chapter 29: August''s Rows of Trees (2)
Physically, there are no issues.
A truly functional response.
I know that.
Because Id adjusted it, and Id been checking the results every day.
I was wondering if theres any difort in your daily life.
Suyeon, who had been lost in thought for a moment, nodded faintly.
Of course, theres no problem.
Thats good.
I observed Suyeons breathing. Except when speaking, she was taking very slow breaths.
It was because her breathing efficiency had increased thanks to the adjustment of the magical power to the appropriate level.
Now that the initial work of stabilizing my magical circuits had achieved some results, I began to open the circuits for the most critical individuals: Kyung-tae, Suyeon, the security team, the international operations department, the special forces, and other high-ranking personnel stationed at headquarters, all of whom might be exposed to high-intensitybat in the event of a sudden crisis.
The first abilities typically enhanced by a stable magical circuit were those rted to basic life functions. However, there was no guarantee that these functions would be improved in a bnced manner.
For example, an overly enhanced immune system could lead to allergies or autoimmune diseases. If skeletal strength remained constant but muscle strength continued to increase, problems could arise. What would happen if the efficiency of gas exchange in the lungs, and the absorption of oxygen, increased too rapidly and caused a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the bloodstream?
Theyd die. Because the bodys pH level would be fatally alkaline.
Before that happened, it would be better to regte breathing, but human respiration wasrgely habitual, so it could be difficult to anticipate and prepare for it unless you knew in advance.
Enhancements to the human body through natural, spontaneously urring primitive magic contained numerous risks, unlike my artificially designed magical enhancement form.
In terms of adaptability to primitive magic, animals were far inferior to nts. nts could experiment and make mistakes by sacrificing a part of themselves, but animals couldnt do that because it was impossible.
Humans were no exception.
Therefore, those whose circuits I had opened for enhancement underwent continuous monitoring at the organizations hospital, and the details were reported directly to me. The circuits I had carefully inscribed were naturally far superior, more sophisticated, and stable in structurepared to naturally opening circuits. However, there was still thew of just in case.
Due to the trait of circuits that formed their own fields, once a certain level of circuit stabilization urred, I couldnt intervene anymore. Their own fields would push out my magical interference. If there were any issues, they needed to be detected early.
Even while I was lost in thought, the announcers voice continued to deliver thetest news.
[As various events schedules continue to be dyed, confusion among tourists in Tokyo is worsening. Seiko Hashimoto, in charge of the Olympic Games, held an emergency press conference, stating that they are considering moving up the ser match schedule, which had been dyed due to the August heat when they decided to postpone the Olympics.]
[In response, the national ser teams, who were in the midst of adapting to the original schedule, expressed strong dissatisfaction, saying that Hashimotos announcement had not been discussed in advance.]
[Japan had sent medical teams and chartered flights to Third World countries still grappling with the aftermath of the coronavirus, just to bring in the national delegations. Thats how high the expectations were for this Olympics. However, a series of unfortunate events, from the extinguishing of the Olympic me during the ry to the additional costs incurred due to the dyed event, suspicions of maniption of domestic coronavirus infection statistics by the Ministry of Health and Labor, inappropriate shrine visits by the Prime Ministers wife amid virus spread, and now doping controversies and event suspensions, have deepened Prime Minister Abes concerns.]
[Next in the news]
As the news revealed, the cumtive changes in the world over the past six months were now bing apparent within the scope of human perception. These changes included record-breaking events in seconds, a sharp increase in cancer rates, an increase in fatalities caused by wild animals, and tree roots damaging roads.
306,972 trees
That was the number of trees on the streets in Seoul. ording to the attached weight calctions in the report, even if the original diameter was just 10 centimeters, the weight per tree exceeded one ton. Compared to the awakening probability based on body mass, it was more than 13 times that of an average adult male. Starting from a 30-centimeter diameter, it increased 34 times, from 40 centimeters, 70 times, and from 50 centimeters, over 100 times.
While humanity was experiencing changes at the level of seconds in world records, the trees of August were capable of awakening and undergoing abnormal growth.
I paid attention to one of the countermeasures specified in the report.
Hmm. National Ecology Institute? Did that strawberry guy have a nephew like this?
One of the proposals was to give the organizations executives nephew, who was a research specialist in crop bioscience and was working as an assistant professor, a quick Ph.D. and persuade rted parties with bribes to get him ced in the National Ecology Institute. The proposal was written by Suyeon.
Is that okay?
The National Ecology Institute was an institution where all kinds of statistics on trees and the results of government research were concentrated. Its status would soon begin to skyrocket. It wasnt bad to have a means to indirectly influence the direction of research, not just obtain information.
Especially, thetter part of the role was difficult to entrust to someone who couldnt be trusted. Even if you bought researchers, it was difficult for me to release my knowledge. Even if the research was about nts, knowledge rted to magic power and circuits could be applied expansively to animals.
This was a matter I had specifically instructed the secretariat to find a solution to.
Even like this, I need to keep Round Tables dominance in check.
If the British took the lead in international standards for magical research, wouldnt Round Tables influence increase ordingly? I had to prevent the concentration of worldwide rted information in London. It wasnt just about the imbnce of knowledge; there might be clues about me among that information.
While I was lost in these thoughts, I felt Suyeons gaze fixedly on me.
What is it?
Suyeon spoke with an unusual expression, quite rarely seen.
Just now you called Chief Song Heungju strawberry
This was Kyung-taes influence. He kept calling him strawberry all the time, and now I made the same mistake.
Strawberry originated from the nickname given to the organization by the police. The Ansan Strawberry Faction. This was a team that, if necessary, was dispatched without regard to location and left traces in Ansan by sheer chance. For the police, it remained an organization of uncertain substance. They even spent money to keep it that way.
Suyeon wiped away her expression and returned to the original topic.
We are pursuing simr ns for other rted facilities, but its difficult to find suitable individuals. Its even more challenging with foreign institutions.
None of your fellow alumni seem suitable?
Yes.
Thats a shame.
I apologize.
Stop apologizing. I was amazed that you managed to recruit even a few people from there.
Yes.
This girl had always been academically inclined. I gave her a schrship while thinking about how far she could go, and she managed to get her Ph.D. in just two and a half years. This girl, who had graduated from high school through the GED exam, achieved this at the well-regarded Emerson University in the United States.
It was because she wanted to join the organization as soon as possible.
Even during her fierce studies, she had managed to attract and recruit three high school students as local coborators and organization schrship students while maintaining her connections. I still vividly remembered my astonishment when I received the email exining the situation and requesting permission and support.
I know you might not like hearing this, but
Suyeon carefully chose her words.
The situation has changed from before, so shouldnt our approach to recruiting organization members change as well?
How do you mean, changing our approach?
Instead of searching for people who are at the point of owing their lives and then selecting the necessary talents, shouldnt we also consider making the necessary talents owe their lives?
You mean by setting traps?
Yes.
I furrowed my brow deeply.
Youre talking about this now?
Suyeon maintained her characteristic calmness even in the face of my expressed reluctance.
Whats certain is that schrly achievements that counteract Round Tables imperialism should not onlye from Korea. My one and only absolute goal is your ultimate victory, and everything else is just a tool to achieve that goal.
Is that even the identity that forms the foundation of the organization?
In extreme situations, extreme responses are sometimes required. Regardless of what orders you give, my loyalty wont change, and secrets will be kept until the end. If the personnel performing the operation are fragmented and do not know the full scope of the operation, thats enough.
I couldnt bring myself to say that I couldntpletely trust her in this regard. However, Suyeons proposal contained the potential risk of copsing the entire organization.
Lets say we actually implement Suyeons scheme. And imagine that somehow the fact of it being put into action leaked within the organization. What would happen then?
The people who owe me favors will start to harbor doubts, wont they?
Perhaps even me? Doubts like, What if I owe something? In a situation where there was absolutely no room for suspicion, even those who had received my help would inevitably begin to question. The blind trust in the savior would be reced by dry loyalty to a wed human being. An organization that constantly grumbles was never going to be a weapon against the Round Table.
Suyeon understood my point. She had an expression of momentary regret as she epted it.
Its not possible.
I emphasized repeatedly.
Absolutely not.
I understand.
In Suyeons epting face, there was a momentary sense of regret.
As an alternative, there is a way to indirectly support researchers who are progressing in the right direction. However, this method will be significantly less efficient since it wont directly transmit your knowledge.
Ill have to ept that.
If youre willing to take on some risk, there is another alternative.
Tell me.
London.
?
When I looked at her with suspicion, Suyeon calmly exined her n.
If The Round Table of Light and Truth intends to lead the world in the field of magic someday, theres a high probability that they are already sharing rted information with influential figures in the British government or politics at this point. But the British government might be one thing, but Round Table mages are masters of magic, not experts in electronic security. At best, they probably use outsourcing for cybersecurity. Moreover, the rtionship between the British government and the Round Table is unlikely to be so harmonious, dont you think?
Yeah.
Really, this girls mind was working well. Even before severing ties with the government, the Round Table had always been an isted and exclusive group. They had never fully shared their secret knowledge with the government, even for a moment. Could those guys readily ept the governments security as it was? Ultimately, they thought they should stand above the government themselves.
Assuming thats true, whats next?
Next, you know the inner workings of Round Table well enough to infer the connections.
She was talking about the knowledge of my deceased master. Even though it was knowledge from decades ago, the human rtionships of the masters, captivated by a sense of religious chosenness, tend to be aristocratic.
And the secretive information in London always draws the interest of other countries, especially China and Russia. If they detect any indication that the UK is pursuing something unusual, theyll do the rest themselves.
Indeed
What we need to do is just give them a little push.
Pushing them a little C making them smell something was not an easy task, but it was worth trying. If knowledge that could provide a starting point for magical research spread secretly throughout major countries, indirect checks on the Round Tables influence would be significantly more efficient. Suyeon, who was waiting with her hands folded, looked pretty in her eagerness as I gave permission.
Work out the specific n.
I gave my approval while tapping the report.
You can use as much money and manpower as you need.
Yes.
Suyeon nodded slightly.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 30: Augusts Rows of Trees (3)
Chapter 30: August''s Rows of Trees (3)
Muscr strength, muscr endurance, and cardiovascr endurance were the most fundamental elements that made up an individuals Combat Endurance. Rarely was there a lifestyle habit as beneficial as running to train these three. Running was also one of the most useful abilities in practicalbat situations.
Water.
I endured my severe thirst and ran along the mountain path that the dawn had painted with shades of blue. I wore a weighted vest, carried a heavy backpack, and even had a gas mask covering my face while running intervals on a challenging 6km terrain with steep slopes. When performing the Body Strengthening spell, the body had to endure such a heavy burden. As I sprinted up a slope of over a hundred meters, my heart rate quickly reached its maximum.
I need water.
Those who had done some running would understand. How fast could I run? How much pain and difficulty could I endure? Renewing that threshold, and continuously renewing it, was essential because without reaching your limit, you couldnt utilize your physical abilities to 100%. Many people gave up on themselves before reaching that limit due to pain.
My head is burning.
Therefore, my practical running should reach the maximum threshold while the Body Strengthening spell was active. It should be an effort that squeezed my mind with pain. And in the meantime, it should be a process to confirm if the Combat spell could be constructed.
All of this was an effort contributing to my ultimate survival.
Oh my
As I reached the vicinity of the summit, a middle-aged woman with a camera looked at me in astonishment. I was in such a state that I felt like I was about to die at any moment, but I quickly removed my gas mask, tore it off, and threw it away. The panting sound I made was like the breath of a terminally ill patient on the verge of death.
What kind of exercise are you doing like that? Are you okay, young man?
I nodded vaguely and poured the water from a water scoop that had been left at the spring. Then I drank it in big gulps, even though it was sunrise. Summer was still summer. The boiling hot water felt like it was finally cooling down my overheated brain. It felt like I had barely escaped from hell after running through it. It was truly a fantastic feeling of relief.
Whew
Exhausted, I sat on the stone wall near the spring. The damp stones conveyed a coolness to the palm supporting my body. There was even a slightly sticky sensation.
The middle-aged woman, who had been worried about me until now, was now worried about my pants.
If there are cherry stains on your clothes, they might note off easily.
Its okay.
August and Cherry. Normally, these two words should be apart in terms of timing, but at the moment, they were not. The entire area around the spring was ck and white because of a Yoshino cherry tree that had taken root next to it. It was a cherry tree that bloomed flowers and dropped fruit continuously even in this hot season.
Did youe here to take pictures of flowers?
The woman smiled in response to my question.
Yes, I heard theres a cherry blossom tree that doesnt wither near this spring, so I came during the less crowded hours.
Are there many peopleing here for this these days?
Yes In the news, they talk about difficult things like endocrine disruptors, global warming, and cosmic radiation, but I dont really understand all that. It just looks beautiful. (+)[1]TLN: Endocrine disruptors are natural or man-made chemicals that may mimic or interfere with the bodys hormones, known as the endocrine system.
As unusual growth and deformities in trees became moremon worldwide, the academicmunity was in a state of emergency, with various hypotheses pouring in about the cause of this phenomenon. However, global warming couldnt exin the deformities and cosmic radiation was disproved due to decreased sr activity.
At the moment, the most widely supported hypothesis was environmental pollution. It suggested that endocrine-disrupting substances, which affect both animals and nts or some equivalent form of pollution, had an impact. This hypothesis could also exin the recent surge in cancer rates.
This had put Japan in a rather awkward situation. Some overseas schrs and environmental organizations had criticized Japan for releasing radioactive contaminated water, while the Japanese government denied any connection between their actions and recent environmental changes.
Talking about Fukushimas power is quite a funny joke.
This was a reaction from Kyung-tae that appeared on the inte. It implied that the reason various world records were being indiscriminately broken at the Olympics was due to radiation contamination. If that were true, Japan, which had been supporting various events, should have excelled in all disciplines.
Its scary, isnt it?
When I asked again, the woman looked at the flowers.
Ive heard its good to be cautious, but, well, what can happen? Everyone here doesnt seem to mind. Theres even a fence.
The caution she referred to was the presence of pollutant substances. Based on the current leading hypothesis, environmental authorities rmended not approaching trees showing deformities or abnormal growth, as it was assumed that these areas had been more affected by pollution. It was a judgment that somehow reached the truth.
However, just as people who went for pics, attended religious ceremonies, or danced with strangers in clubs during the peak of the global pandemic werent very concerned about the possibility of contracting a deadly disease, the recent warning about the possibility of cancer didnt seem to bother many people. Cancer was cancer, and flowers were flowers.
The middle-aged woman in front of me was living proof of that.
Now, she showed interest in the gas mask I had thrown aside.
Youre wearing a mask even though people rarely use them these days? Isnt it ufortable?
She had a subtle air of treating me as entric. During the peak of the Chinese-origin pneumonia outbreak, gas masks were a very rare sight.
However, this was just for training. In the past, regional riot police units used gas masks as part of their training to enhance cardiorespiratory endurance. I casually replied while brushing off dirt from the gas mask.
It is ufortable, but Im just a very timid person.
I was so scared that I couldnt sleep well until I saw London burning. The truth I revealed made the other person burst intoughter.
You make jokes fun. Whats there to be scared of for a healthy young man like you? Its people like me who should be scared; were at risk for something like a lung disease.
Hearing myself called young man at this age felt strange. As a ce my master had painstakingly constructed, my body had many aspects beyond normal.
Oh my?
The woman tapped her nose with her fingertip and was surprised.
Why did my nose suddenly bleed?
That nosebleed was a dark omen for the near future. I quietly asked her,
Do any of your family members work around here?
In this area, there were numerous businesses run by the organization. So, my question was considering the possibility that this woman might be rted to someone involved with the organization. However, her response was a simple denial.
No, none of them. I just live around here; I work elsewhere.
Is that so?
Then, I had no obligation to help her. I got up and bid her a dry farewell.
Ill be going. Take lots of good photos.
This was both a farewell and advice. Even in a life that might end soon, wouldnt it be less regretful to leave behind one more photograph? My intervention could only go this far.
As I began to descend the trail, Kyung-tae, who had been watching from outside the hiking path, approached and struck up a conversation.
Well, it might be better this way.
What are you talking about?
If people start dying here, wont they have a reason to close the mountain?
Kyung-tae had also taken note of the ominous prophecy. I nodded dryly.
Well have to wait and see.
This mountain was the organizations property. However, despite that fact, the district and city had freely developed hiking trails, erected signs, and even built stairs, infringing upon our property rights. If we were to put up iron fences to block ess, theyd cite vitions of the Law on Urban Parks and Green Areas and inundate us with administrative measures, making it a real hassle.
Why did I put the mountain in the background?
The reason we established the organizations headquarters in the mountain wasnt due to some insignificant Feng Shui reason. It was primarily done with escape routes in mind in case of sudden emergencies.
We could potentially engage in legal battles against the environmental authorities to resolve the issue, but it would take a long time, and even if we were to win, exercising our property rights immediately wouldnt be guaranteed. The residents, who have lost the benefits they used to enjoy for free, would flood us with variousints. Our organization had already experienced a situation like this once, and attracting the attention of the authorities in such a way wasnt productive.
However, now it might be more practical to incur additional costs, like bribes, if necessary, to exercise our property rights. Our people needed arger and more discreet training facility, one with good essibility. The one remote location, away from the eyes of hikers, was insufficient in many ways.
Dropouts?
In response to my question, Kyung-tae chuckles.
There arent any.
Indeed, one by one, figures moving through the steep forest terrain started toe into view. Id instructed them to run through the mountain,bining tactical mobility with terrain awareness training to avoid a situation where they all jumped out and fell. All of them were individuals with open circuits, equipped with basic magical power protection against potential attacks.
Back at headquarters, I spared with Kyung-tae and the other security personnel in 2-on-1 matches. Boxing might not be very useful inbat situations where the difference in abilities often led to a one-sided victory, but this sparring match was different from traditional boxing in many ways. It was a free-for-all brawl where everything except leg techniques was allowed. It helped us adapt to the enhanced visual acuity and responsiveness of our altered bodies. Once we got used to it, even leg techniques would likely be allowed.
Hook!
I dodged the headgear and delivered a punch as I passed by. I dug in and raised his chin. The impact felt satisfying, with a sound that went thunk. It was a close cross-arm defense. As soon as I confirmed the block, I lowered my upper body and stepped to the side. It was a jab, slightly blurred, that I put into his ribs.
Ugh!
The nearby roaring was painful to my ears. The brutal force struck through the protective gear. In exchange for making Kyung-tae stumble, a straight from another guynded on my back. The hit was on my back, but the sound resonated through my chest and into my throat.
Screech C The sole scrapes against the floor with a high-pitched noise. I recovered my swaying center of gravity with a firm step and rotated my upper body while using my elbows. I managed to deflect a series of left-arm straights that were aimed at me. In the next moment, Inded a counter square on the face of the guy whose upper body was pulled inward. Another explosion-like sound of impact. Thebination of the gloves sticity and enhanced muscle strength made every punch sound like an explosion, ringing in your ears.
Yaaah!
Before I could press the guy whose head was bent backward, Kyung-taes full-body tackle came in. His shoulder, hitting my abdomen, was a sheer exercise of kic energy. His arms, embracing my waist, were restraints to prevent escape. The impact on the abdomen caused my breathing to involuntarily stop. I immediately changed my stepping, trying to resist, but it was already a matter of oveing a significant weight difference. With all my strength, I twisted my body as much as possible. The goal was to reverse the positions of top and bottom.
The result was a 70% sess rate. While I couldntpletely flip the positions, I managed to get out after delivering sessive blows to Kyung-taes head. However, I had to allow a flurry of strikes from another guy who was right there. The barrage sounded like a thunderous body blow, from the ribs to the corbone. I used arge punch motion to induce a momentary dodge and then stepped precisely on his counterpoint to create distance. Thanks to my significantly improved foot speed, this step was possible.
In this manner, after enduring another thirty minutes, the evaporated moisture and heat from our bodies hadpletely offset the air conditioning. I, as well as my subordinates, had enhanced our physical capabilities, and with multiple rings in use, this oue was expected. When I stepped out of the ring, Suyeon, who had endured another thirty minutes by switching opponents in a different ring, stopped her training and came down looking like an exhausted person after falling into the water.
Even in my exhausted state, I kept a close eye on each of my subordinates.
Theres no immediate need to fine-tune it further.
Despite using physical enhancement continuously for days, there were no signs of circuit ruptures or leakage in magic power and mana, which was a very reassuring fact. It could be said that there was a sense of aplishment in personally designing the basic setup, each optimized differently for individuals. (+)[2]TLN: I decided to alternate between mana/magical power. If you do not prefer this, and want me to stay only one (mana/magical power), please do tell me in thement section!
Good work, Hyungnim.
Yeah
I drank the drink Suyeon handed me and wiped away the sweat with a towel. Kyung-tae, who hade down from the ring and sat on the stairs, was grinning and made a fuss.
Wow, you were impressive earlier. You threw me down with just the recoil from your core while you were floating. Considering the weight difference between us overwhelming strength makes other factors meaningless, I guess.
Well, I should reflect on ending up in such a situation.
Ohe on, Hyungnim How could you be better than us in a 2-on-1 fight?
If you set the bar low, youll never get any better.
Well, thats true.
Now go wash up. We need to eat.
Got it.
Right now, all I could think of was washing up and having a meal. I was starving as if I was about to die.- 1. TLN: Endocrine disruptors are natural or man-made chemicals that may mimic or interfere with the bodys hormones, known as the endocrine system.
- 2. TLN: I decided to alternate between mana/magical power. If you do not prefer this, and want me to stay only one (mana/magical power), please do tell me in thement section!
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 31: Augusts Rows of Trees (4)
Chapter 31: August''s Rows of Trees (4)
The effect of the physical enhancement technique was not to create new strength but to amplify existing strength. It meant that there was an underlying basic calorie consumption even though exercise capacity increased in terms of calorie expenditure. The eleration of natural recovery also came with a proportional increase in consumption. This was the reason why my daily calorie intake exceeded 5,000 kcal with a slightly more abundant meal.
After finishing a somewhat heavy meal quantitatively, Suyeon, who had already put down her utensils, looked at her buzzing phone and then conveyed the received message in aposed voice.
Hyungnim. The government has decided to award presidentialmendations to organization-affiliatedpanies.
What on earth is this?
Commendations? Why?
Its for elevating the national status through humanitarian aid to Native American tribes and contributing to the enhancement of friendship between South Korea and the United States.
I couldnt believe my ears, so I remained silent.
The humanitarian aid mentioned by the government was nothing more than the virus testing kits and various epidemic prevention supplies that I had sent to five Native American protected areas in response to a request from the Diamond Casino over the past few months.
During the height of the pandemic that originated in China, Native American tribes in North America werepletely ignored by the federal governments health administration for several months. The medical support provided by the federal government through the Health Service Corps was, at best, a bunch of body bags.
Few people might know, but the official term for Native American autonomous zones within the United States was Nation. However, how could a nation that had been deprived of diplomatic power still be called a nation? And how did they manage to procure epidemic prevention supplies from a foreign country? Even real nations were struggling to obtain supplies.
In the end, what remained was private efforts. As the People of the Desert dwindled away, the chieftain had offered me an unprecedented deal. I, swayed by his desperate proposal, courteously promised him a donation that was equivalent to ten times the amount he had requested. The chieftain appeared astonished by my unexpected kindness, but I had a rational motive.
It is quite possible.
Id long foreseen the season when cicadas sing. When that season came, Native Americans in North America would be a truly wailing horde of cicadas. I wanted to gather them and turn London into a terrorist mastermind. For me, their suffering was like a stroke of luck that hade at just the right time. The suppressed resentment against the imperial invaders, once the bodies were collected, would be new strength and abilities that could be used as tools of anger.
Even if they didnt want it, it would happen. Native Americans were a poor and marginalized group, which meant they had a high crime rate. This would inevitably tarnish the external image of Native Americans much more than it was now. It would lead to delinquents within the indigenous group who use superhuman abilities for crime or potential security threats. Such perceptions would lead to the formation of a recruitment group that hated imperialist invaders.
Thats right. I wished for their misfortune while helping them. The crime would bemitted by the invaders, and the choice would be solely up to the Native Americans. I would reap the rewards simply by bestowing kindness. How could this not be good for me?
When times were tough, I was the only one who offered a helping hand. My presence would have been clearly imprinted on the Native American tribes trapped within their fences as well. At the moment, my presence might be limited to those who know of me, but when the entire tribe fell into the shadow, it would not be so.
Kyung-taeined disapprovingly,
If they were going to give something, they could have given a medal or something, not this lousy certificate. How much did we spend?
Suyeon replied briefly,
Theres nothing we can do. We distributed it under different names.
But still If you think about it, Hyungnim could have be a national merit recipient.
I was a little taken aback.
Whats the point of me bing a national merit recipient?
It wouldnt be a bad thing, would it? Your superficial status would garner social recognition and respect to that extent. I think its better for people to look up to you.
It was unnecessary greed. Temporary fame like this didnt have a long shelf life, even though social reputation could be a useful cover. It would be detrimental for the organization if attention was focused on the organization solely by pushing forward with the organizations work. The White Chief, who was our client, would also expose the organizations core.
Kyung-taes words made me contemte something, and Suyeon, who had been quietly pondering, spoke up.
Regarding future ns
Hmm?
Apart from this case, its not a bad idea for you or the key personnel of the organization to be patriots and strategic assets for this country.
Patriots and strategic assets?
The big picture, I see.
Yes. There may be some inconvenient tasks thate with it, but its essential to note that the Korean government will provide national-level protection even in times of peace. When The Round Table of Light and Truth wants to use the British governments diplomacy and intelligence as leverage, the Korean government, which values us, will be a reliable breakwater.
Certainly, there were limits to the protection one could receive from epting bribes and seeking refuge in the underworld. Official protection based on ones surface status served as a defensive mechanism against pressure I hadnt even realized yet, at the very least, it wouldnt provide me with enough time to escape.
I also considered the national power to be appropriate. Relying too heavily on a powerful nation carried the risk of being manipted too much by them, and if the national power was mediocre, it wouldnt be able to properly y the role of a barrier.
There were things I saw again this time.
In the midst of an international health crisis due to an epidemic, Korea unexpectedly demonstrated its leadership in global disease control. This included producing diagnostic kits, establishing epidemic prevention strategies, and exporting medical equipment and personal protective gear. Thanks to this, I was able to assist the tribal chief easily, so you could say I was fortunate.
Suyeons suggestion continued,
Furthermore, there will be improved essibility to various information and national projects. If magic emerges as a field rted to the nations core interests in the future, legal measures restricting public ess to certain awakened lifeforms and areas that are important or high-risk will likely be put in ce.
Well
With the existing connections and organization schrship students alone, it is expected to be difficult or cumbersome to ovee these measures. The situation will be simr overseas. In many cases, national influence and diplomatic contacts will be required. Therefore, even for the smooth collection of your Code, its necessary to have qualifications and conditions for easily undertaking official business.
Its a valid point, but
I had been vaguely considering the possibilities Suyeon had brought up. However
You know that the risk is considerable.
Yes.
Yet, you seem to think that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Thats correct.
If your calctions are like that, understood. Ill consider it positively.
Thank you.
When a nations power started to delve into a technically unknown field, the first thing it typically considered was the military applications of that technology. Therefore, among the various risks I was concerned about, the most significant one was the prospect of war and national-scale conflicts.
This country really likes forcedbor.
First of all, the military system was not free from allegations of forcedbor. Even the current president, who imed to be progressive, remained obstinately ignorant of the rmendations of the International Labor Organization regarding forcedbor. Well, the treatment of awakened individuals might be better than that of ordinary soldiers, but it was clear that there would be numerous inconveniences and unpleasant treatment in various aspects, not just in international conflicts. Just look at how medical staff were treated during the recent Chinese pandemic; the answer was clear C they should have been paid their sries on time.
In this country, there were already plenty of potential sources of unrest. China was the biggest concern, followed by North Korea. In such an environment, could awakened individuals be left alone? There might be a fallback option of releasing only some of my subordinates into Yangji, but even then, I would ultimately have to bear the burden of handling the tedium with Yin and Yang to minimize any unexpected power losses. (+)[1]TLN: Yangji (??) here, Im still not sure if its a name of a certain ce in the novel or something else. If I tranted it literally, it can be sunny spot/sunny ce/tombs/fields/battlefield
However, I trusted my chief of staffs judgment. Even if the predictions ultimately proved wrong, as long as this guy found a way, I wouldnt be pushed to the edge of a cliff.
Kyung-tae, who had been silently listening, smiled and said it was good.
In the end, its disappointing about the medal.
Lets assume that.
Strictly speaking, my support for the Chief of the People of the Desert fell far short of receiving an Order of Merit. Just when the White House owner was already venting his anger on social media, what use was there in improving rtions?
The current President of the United States had harbored significant resentment towards Native Americans, especially the People of the Desert. This was due to the fact that they had obstructed the Presidents ns to build a barrier on the border with Mexico. The People of the Desert, whosend extended across the United States and Mexico, refused to allow the barrier to pass through their territory due to their autonomy rights under Native American agreements.
However, the People of the Desert had apelling reason for doing so. It wasnt simply because they didnt want their tribalnds to be divided, nor was it just because they disliked the United States and the President. Thend where the barrier was meant to pass was sacred ground, where their ancestors were buried. The cluster of Saguaro cacti, known as Organ Pipe by Americans, served as a sacred burial ground not only for the People of the Desert but also for the Apache tribe. Native Americans believed that the Saguaro cacti in this cluster were the souls of their ancestors.
In early of that year, when the pandemic originating from China was entering the United States, these sacred Saguaro cacti, imbued with the spirits of their ancestors, were cut down or blown up one by one by the Presidents executive orders.
Amid the dying agony of the severed cacti, how did the People of the Desert feel about losing another sacred site following the highest peak of the holy mountain, Waw Kiwulik? The Chief must have felt as if his blood were running backward.
For me, their anger was an investment opportunity that promised both safety and high returns.
Ring, ring, ring
My smartphone vibrated to signal an iing call. The number disyed on the screen belonged to the White Chief.
This inspiration of yours is quite something. Come and join me for a cup of coffee.
As I made the call, I casually asked for coffee, and both of my aides reacted simultaneously. Kyung-tae, who was standing askew, and Suyeon, who stood upright, looked at each other.
Well, since Noonim always does it, this time, how about I-
Sit.
Yes.
Kyung-tae, with his dignity crushed, nted himself down. What on earth were these guys doing? I shook my head lightly and picked up the phone, which I had left to ring for about twenty seconds.
Yes.
[Chairman.]
The voice calling was weaker than before. To me, it was a good sign.
Whats wrong?
[I wanted to express my gratitude for your help.]
Well, I understand that the tribe is not yet at a stage to receive thanks. I know youre incredibly busy, so you must have another reason for contacting me. Please speak. I prefer productive conversations.
[..]
The speaker let out a sigh. It was predictable. Although the United States had sessfully controlled the pandemic, the Native American protection zones, always a lower priority in terms of disease prevention, were still struggling with the virus. Due to local lockdowns, even the importation of goods was not going smoothly.
[Ha Its really embarrassing for me to be like this every time.]
So, whats the matter?
[I want to acquire additional testing kits. This time, Im willing to pay the full price.]
Money is not an issue.
[Chairman.]
I said its not an issue. Its money that could feed hungry people, isnt it?
Diamond Casino had substantial funds, but most of that money belonged to the customers, not the Chief. Furthermore, unlike regr banks, their financial operations were quite narrow in scope, relying heavily on fees from various services. While these fees might be a significant amount as criminal organization ie, it was far from enough to sustain their business while guaranteeing the survival of the entire tribe during a global health crisis, economic downturn, and mobility restrictions.
Even now, the money flow has hardened considerably.
The pandemic was also affecting the casinos customers. The Chief must have seen a significant drop in business.
After a heavy silence, the Chief asked,
[I didnt mean to ask a question like this, but I have no choice. Why are you helping us to this extent? You have no reason to do so, do you?]
It was a question I had fully anticipated. I answered casually, without attaching much importance to it.
Whats the big deal? Have you forgotten that our first transaction was an act of kindness on my part, without anypensation?
Such was life. My capriciousness, driven by nothing more than a dislike for imperialism, had now be a convenient excuse to hide my true intentions.
[]
I was satisfied with the Chiefs return to silence. I felt like congratting my past self for my capriciousness. (+)[2]TLN: Capriciousness: the quality of changing mood or behavior suddenly and unexpectedly- 1. TLN: Yangji (??) here, Im still not sure if its a name of a certain ce in the novel or something else. If I tranted it literally, it can be sunny spot/sunny ce/tombs/fields/battlefield
- 2. TLN: Capriciousness: the quality of changing mood or behavior suddenly and unexpectedly
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 32: Augusts Rows of Trees (5)
Chapter 32: August''s Rows of Trees (5)
[But]
The Chief, who looked like he was suspecting a favor, asked again with difficulty.
[Isnt this help different? You gain nothing from it.]
Thud. Suyeon ced a coffee in front of me. I took a sip and let out a long exhale. It was natural for someone who had been deceived and disappointed their whole life not to easily believe in unselfish kindness.
Gain, huh.
But what if he didnt believe it? In reality, there was no hidden agenda in my favor. Reflecting on it again, the indigenous people would be forced to walk the Trail of Tears[1]TLN: The Trail of Tears was an ethnic cleansing and forced discement of approximately 60,000 people of the Five Civilized Tribes between 1830 and 1850 by the United States government. , even half of their own will, under the coercion of invaders. I had no stake in the misfortune that the Chief would face. So
Think of it as friendship.
[Friendship?]
Yes. Its the same friendship without guarantees that I mentioned before, my friend.
For a moment, the Chief was silent for the third time. Who in his life would have said such words to him? Those who had lived a harsh life have no immunity to emotions that were unexpectedly tender. I was currently touching those emotions. It was difficult at first, but once you touched it once, it would copse like dominoes.
The old man, whose life had weakened more than ever, was speaking internally with prolonged silence that grew longer with each repetition. It was a static created instinctively to regainposure, not to expose weaknesses.
I tilted the coffee cup, made a sipping sound, and opened my mouth.
Your poption is about 10,000. Assuming a 5% infection rate and estimating medical expenses at $300,000 per person, the total would be $150 million. In addition, emergency support for the tribe members who have lost their jobs Can the tribal government and the casino alliance handle this if you pay me separately?
Even $300,000 per person was a conservative estimate. Because the medical facilities in the indigenous protection zones were meager and limited to clinics, they would have to outsource treatment outside the protection zone. The Indian Health Services had long be an ineffective organization due to budget shortages.
Furthermore, the indigenous people either couldnt afford insurance or, if they did have it, the coverage was likely subpar. It meant they would have to pay whatever the hospital imed. Even without that, the burden on the autonomous nation and the casino alliance, which had already spent a significant amount on lobbying, would be substantial. If everyone individually filed for bankruptcy, the future of the tribe wouldpletely disappear.
It does sound a bit strange.
The Chief finally responded with great difficulty.
[What do you mean]
His voice trembled.
The kits we sent over there, there are already 5,000 of them. With one kit, you can perform a hundred tests, so even after the five tribes belonging to the casino alliance undergo the first and second tests, there will still be some left. Why do you need additional ones?
[Its not like that, because they were taken away.]
Who are you talking about?
[Who else? Obviously, the Health Service Corps and those damn Federal Emergency Management Agency guys! We dont have the ability to test ourselves even if we have the kits, so the gifts you send us first go into their hands.]
I see.
A good excuse for plunder. It was a question I already knew the answer to.
[Once that happens, the time for a more urgent ce justification will gradually evaporate. Theyll say theres some administrative order about it.]
But couldnt you send the tribe members samples this way?
[They have all the authority over disease control. Do you think theyd just willingly give us permission to transport the samples?]
My apologies.
The President was really doing well. The man who got irritated just because we sent test kits would probably explode in anger if he found out that the tests were also being conducted in South Korea. In the midst of all the tribal governments challenging the federal government, there was no way they would tolerate a single indigenous tribe hitching a ride on that wave.
There was also a legal basis for this. Executive Order 13909, which came into effect on March 18th, gave the federal governmentplete control over all disease control supplies in the United States and, like the previous administrative order on the sacred burial grounds of the indigenous people, it applied to indigenous autonomous territories as well. It was really a self-governing right that was only upheld when it was convenient.
For now, the infection in the United States had been somewhat contained, but because of the huge damage it caused and the fact that the virus had notpletely disappeared, the President still had a reason to stockpile supplies for emergencies.
Theres no choice.
I said indifferently.
Ill try to secure more supplies. This time, its probably not the cost of the kits themselves thats the problem but moving up in the queue. But if its around 10,000, we should be able to manage somehow. Thepetition wont be as fierce asst time because the major nations have sessfully suppressed the epidemic, so theyll bepeting with rtively easier Third World nations. The amount of bribes going in will decrease.
[Really]
The Chief sighed heavily.
[Its really shameful, but Ill still be in your debt this time. And]
And its okay if the thread leading to the Beaner Cartel takes longer to find. Whats the point of looking for it when youre not even free to move?
Beaner was a derogatory term for Mexicans, bean-eaters. It was ridiculous how Americans insult others for eating beans when they themselves eat baked beans. I shook the coffee cup and continued.
Dont waste your energy on feeling sorry for me. Take care of yourself. If you copse, there wont be anyone to protect the tribe. Your granddaughter still has a heavy burden on her shoulders.
[Thank you, um, thank you.] (+)[2]TLN: The second thank you is more polite.
I pretended not to hear his choked voice.
Since were on the subject, how is Mashath? Is she healthy?
[Shes fine. Shes right here, listening even now.]
Thats good to hear.
[She sincerely wants to convey her gratitude to the Chairman. She believes that her well-being is also thanks to your concern.]
Youre too kind.
[If she had been harmed in any way, I wouldnt have had the face to meet my children and grandchildren. I want to express my gratitude once again. Chairman, Ive truly seen you in a new light]
In this dry life, it had been a while since Id felt likeughter might bubble up from below my throat. Somehow, Id ended up in a situation where I was blending the current leader and the next leader of the casino. I savored the well-brewed coffee andposed myself. The skills of my secretary were always top-notch. I leisurely enjoyed the taste and aroma before setting the cup down.
Chief, even in the lowest and dirtiest alleys, you can asionally find unexpected humanity. For instance, the Los Zetas Cartel who upheld loyalty not to the organization but to individuals.
Loyalty among Los Zetas was a fairly well-known story in this business. Even the Chief, who despised drug cartels, couldnt argue against this example.
I may not be a good person, but Im a more honorable human beingpared to the savage scum in that previous war. While the distinction between good and evil may be blurred, Im more certain than anyone in distinguishing allies from enemies. I can tell you that you and your tribe are unequivocally on my side.
So, cling to me now. In debt to me, owing me your life, loyalty, and even facing my enemies in the fiery London that awaits us with bombs. I wee you as my debtors.
Over there, its probably around 3 PM now.
I said while checking my wristwatch.
If you dont have any other business, its best to end the call quickly. Ill do my best to send the requested items as quickly as possible, so Chief, please focus on oveing that damned disease before the heat subsides. If you miss this timing, youll have to face a much harsher winter.
These days, it was rare to find someone who didnt know that viruses were weak to moisture and heat. Although the area near Tucson, where the People of the Desert reside, had a high average temperature, it was dry year-round, making it an unfavorable environment for disease prevention.
Its during the rainy season that we might have a bit of humidity.
When the humidity dropped to 0% and the temperature dropped during the winter, the virus would likely be active again. The young people I was targeting have a low risk of dying from lung disease, but if they suffered fromplications, they wouldnt be good recruits. For my sake, the Chief needed to do his best in disease prevention.
[Understood.]
The voice I heard was firmer than before. A good sign.
[We will ovee this in the end. Well do our best, even if its to repay the Chairman.]
Ill look forward to better news next time.
The call ended. Lost in thought, I tapped my fingers on the table a whileter at Suyeon.
Select a few schrship students from the organization who could work as journalists.
Where do you n to use them?
When themendationes from the Blue House, Im thinking of sending them out for interviews about this support.
Suyeon, who received the instruction, expressed a faint sense of confusion.
Have you already made a decision?
A decision? Oh.
Suyeons mention of a decision referred to bing a patriot of this country. Until just before the call, I had no interest in short-lived fame, but it seemed I changed my stance shortly thereafter. However, that was a misguided assumption.
No, its nothing. I just thought I might leave a footprint to deceive the enemy.
This was a deception n regarding the Round Table. In the past, my master tried to use me as a refuge, and the idea of the great Master of the Round Table fleeing with the body of an inferior yellow race[3]Asian race was something that imperialists, including my master, couldnt even imagine.
In a simr context, I could prepare a mechanism to deceive them.
Suppose, for example, that I was suspected by the Round Table, even for a moment. The investigation into me would eventually reach my unexpected acts of altruism and statements. The idea that the Masters of the Round Table, who was known for being friendly to the indigenous people, would be considered a terrible joke.
Even if it didnt be decisive evidence to dispel suspicions, I could expect it to have an effect on lowering my ranking in the list of suspects.
I understand. Theres no need for it to be reported on a grand scale.
Thats right.
If we look into it, well find enough material for the article. Ill also prepare the script and direction.
Leave it to you.
It was so convenient to have a confidant who understood my intentions with just one word. I finished the leisurely aftermath of my meal by sipping the coffee that had cooled down.
Afterward, I inspected the trees that were brought to the headquarters. These were the trees that were removed from the area around the headquarters due to rapid growth, which damaged roads and sidewalks. Thanks to winning the bid with an overwhelmingly low price, I was able to sweep up all the awakened beings who were eyeing the opportunity.
These awakened beings, or rather, it would be better to call them awakened trees. Anyway, their primary purpose was to form an intangible defense line around the headquarters. In the event that hostile forces with magic or superpowers attacked the headquarters, the presence of awakened trees forming their unique barriers would interfere with or suppress the enemys ability usage.
In other words, it was the work of creating living barriers, simr to what Kyung-tae had mentioned about creating Life Gate and Death Gate. These preparations werent just for guarding against the Round Table but for any future disturbances. Such preparations might ultimately prove useless, but such tranquility was precisely what I desired. Insurance against idents was best when there was no need for a payout.
Those who wish to live must always know fear. The difference between courage and recklessness was whether you recognized fear or not. Ignorance of fear was just a virtue of the expendable.- 1. TLN: The Trail of Tears was an ethnic cleansing and forced discement of approximately 60,000 people of the Five Civilized Tribes between 1830 and 1850 by the United States government.
- 2. TLN: The second thank you is more polite.
- 3. Asian race
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 33: El Municionero (1)
Chapter 33: El Municionero (1)
The season had changed, and autumn had arrived.
November in Seoul was chaotic. The once proud public safety, celebrated as one of the worlds best, had deteriorated, making it less safe than before. Children could no longer yte into the night, and even the less crowded streets had be ces to be cautious of, even in broad daylight. The frequency of patrol cars with sirens ring through the city had noticeably increased. Each day, headlines in the media were adorned with stories of criminals with extraordinary physical abilities, who ran through the streets, evading police pursuit, andmitting crimes that were once rare or deemed impossible. The shadows over the city, inhabited by millions, grewrger and darker with each passing day.
However, despite all this, Seoul was still considered one of the safest cities in the world. This wasnt just because Seouls safety had declined less than the global average but also because the entire human system was woefully unprepared for the new era. The severe economic downturn caused by the Chinese-origin pandemic had only aggravated the situation.
In such a world, I was facing a young troublemaker.
Hey, mister[1]Ahjussi .
The kid, who was puffing on a cigarette, red at me and exhaled a puff of smoke. The way this youngster referred to me as mister sounded more like uncle and had a rough pronunciation. There was light-colored lipstick smudged on the cigarette filter. She extinguished the cigarette against the wall he had been leaning on and straightened up.
Why are you staring like that? Do you have business with us?
The group of punks who had been standing next to me started to move around me as if they were annoyed. Their hands were in their pockets, shoulders slouched, and they struck poses that suggested they thought they were cool. While they might have recently be adults in terms of age, mentally, they were still stuck in their school uniforms.
I didnt pay them any mind and called out the targets name.
Do Won-hee.
She flinched. The cigarette, which had been burning slowly, weakened. Todays prey, Do Won-hee, had a fierce look in her eyes.
Ajussi, whats going on? How do you know my name?
Baek Seungyeon. Remember?
Hah, bastard.
This time, the target burst into a mockingugh.
Four years ago, Do Won-hee, who was in the third year of middle school at the time, had driven Baek Seungyeon, who was in the same grade and was now part of this group of delinquents, to suicide. It involved repeated physical assaults, bullying, extortion, and extended periods of forced prostitution. However, due to the protection and influence of her parents, who were part of the upper-ss cartel, Do Won-hee had received a remarkably light sentence in court, with only one year of probation. This was despite the fact that at the time, Baek Seungyeon had been in aa, and a tenuous rtionship of power existed between Do Won-hees uncle and Baek Seungyeons father.
This fucker.
Do Won-hee flicked her cigarette and stared at me from head to toe.
You know that girls father, right? How did you know I was here? You didnt stalk me, did you?
I did.
You did what? Seriously, its unbelievable. Hey, ajussi. Thats a crime, a crime. Do you want to visit the prison with your friend? Should I send you there right now?
The henchmenughed. The confident Do Wn-hee took one more step closer to me and raised her chin.
Why, does that girls father ask for more money? If he needs money, he shoulde and beg himself. But he sends his friend instead? Isnt this a matter of courtesy? If ame person kneels down and begs, well, I can show some courtesy to my father and ask for a favor.
I shook my head.
Its not like that.
Then what is it?
He asked me to make you die. For sure, with his own hands.
What?
Beep, beep, beep, beep
The sound of a signal indicating the reverse of arge cargo truck came from the narrow alley at the end. The white side of the 25-ton trailer blocked the setting sun from the west. It was one of the mobile workshops operated by the organization. Do Won-hee, feeling an unusual atmosphere, stiffened her expression.
What? What is this?
The exit on the opposite side of the alley was blocked by a van that came to a halt and the sound of footsteps descending from it. Five men dressed in Western clothes with their hands neatly folded. They were the security personnel from the security team, including Kyung-tae. Do Won-hee stepped back a little more as she looked at me.
Do you know who my father is?
I do. But do you know who I am?
Who even are you!
She shouted fiercely and took another step back, showing clear fear in her bodynguage. With her back against the wall, Do Won-hee called one of the henchmen who had moved a little less than her.
Hey, Beomgyu! Do something!
The guy called Beomgyu, like the others in the gang, was undoubtedly a well-raised punk with good parents. Reacting as if cornered like a trapped animal, he looked left and right and eximed, Ahhhh! as he pulled out a butterfly knife from his pocket. His name was Park Beomgyu. Just by looking at him being part of this gang, one could tell he was no match for Dowon-hee, but he was also a brat who had been lucky with his parents. As someone who had earned his keep by being the princesss errand boy, his reaction was different from the usual, but he was still just a kid.
With a flick of his wrist, the butterfly knife came out of its sheath, shining in the metallic light from the knifes movements. Lately, it had be a trendy item for some reason. It was a disy of manual dexterity that they considered a threat. In my eyes, it was just a childs y, no different from a kids scissors game. What would happen if they used this showy trick in a real fight?
The guy, who looked like a punk with his appearance, growled as he swung the knife.
Im going to kill you Fuck, Im going to kill you!
Try it.
Ignoring the knifes less effective actions, his strength and speed were beyond the norm. It was a sign of physical enhancement. Moreover, it was quite advanced.
Tick, tick, tick
Meanwhile, Do Won-hee was grimacing, pressing the walkie-talkie to her lips. Unfortunately, the driver and security guards who were supposed to receive the signal were already taking a bath in a nearby mobile workshop. These people had made a living from dark jobs, and they must have been prepared for such idents. Just like me, who never forgot to be afraid.
Even a lion could die from a hyenas bite.
Holding the walkie-talkie, Do Won-hee yelled loudly.
Beomgyu, you idiot! Arent you supposed to take hostages? What are you guys doing, not helping Beomgyu?
Then, she put her hands together and shouted as loudly as she could over the fence.
Help! Theres a psycho killer here!
This was the reason I took action myself. Do Won-hees shouts couldnt break through my deployed telekinesis barrier. It was a low-density telekinesis spread to neutralize soundwave diffusion. This allowed silent abductions and murders in broad daylight, even in busy alleys. It was an application technique for telekinesis I had developed, inspired by the Trembling Giant, which served as a damper for sound diffusion.
If it was just about killing, I wouldnt be needed. However, I had to keep one alive to capture, so caution was necessary. Plus, I intended to make a good impression on my newly recruited subordinates. Remember that the debt belongs to them.
Contrary to Do Won-hees words, human rtionships were not just about sincerity.
Aaah!
The guy with the knife charged at me relentlessly, urging me on to make a move. It seemed like he intended to stab somewhere and take me as a hostage. I deflected hisrge knife move with ease and grabbed his vulnerable neck, twisting it in an instant. There was a sickening crunch as his vertebrae snapped. His body, which had been exerting great force, suddenly transformed into a weighty mass as I felt the life drain from him.
The eyes of Do Won-hees gang, who had witnessed death, were filled with fear.
Let go! You bastards!
Aaaah!
Im sorry! Please spare me!
The security personnel who had approached without us noticing easily subdued the fleeing gang members. They broke their necks to kill them without blood sttering. Kyung-tae grabbed Do Won-hee, who had fallen to the ground after my blow, by the ankles and dragged her down. With a sickening thud, Do Won-hee hit the ground, clutching her abdomen in agony.
Snap!
She whimpered and curled up like wounded prey. Kyung-tae, holding her hair, dragged her like a sack. In the midst of this, I picked up the fallen knife and made a casual remark.
Be gentle. She is a product that must be handled with caution.
Hey, Hyungnim. This is customer satisfaction delivery. Even Sergeant Baek would approve, dont you think?
As we exchanged such conversations, the side of the trucks cargopartment, where several subordinates in protective suits and the client who had been monitoring the situation on a monitor were located, began to fold down, making a motorized sound. With a walking stick in hand and a slightly ufortable leg, the client, Baek Yeong-hun, a former naval sergeant and the father of Baek Seung-yeon, whom Do Won-hee had killed, looked at Do Won-hee, who was being dragged closer, with a cold and indifferent gaze.
This man was the client for this hunt and would be joining our organization from today, as well as the one who had been unfairly discharged due to undue pressure, not as a reservist.
Suyeon had found this valuable recruit in a homeless shelter near Seoul Station. He had a history of serving as an electrical engineer on a Dolphin-ss submarine during his time in the Navy.
Once I and Kyung-tae climbed up into the workspace, the side of the cargopartment closed again. Only when the door waspletely closed did Kyung-tae toss the prey as if discarding it. Do Won-hee fell to the ground at the clients feet. I also released the back of the body I had been holding. The organic being known as Park Beomgyu crumpled and crinkled as it folded.
Hng!
Do Won-hee, who met eyes with Sergeant Baek, paled and took a step back. However, her hand remained in her pocket. Thump, thump, thump. Shouting earlier to capture a hostage, it was clear that her judgment was not fitting for her age. Perhaps if left alone, she could have turned into a major problem.
Load them up.
With the obvious order given, the subordinates in protective suits began to work on disposing of the bodies. This included putting the bodies of the deceased, including Park Beomgyu, into the same bathtub as the deceased security personnel. The six sealed containers on the two-axle stabilizers were useful tools that allowed the bodies to be dposed even while driving, safely storing and dispersing corrosive gases. There was no need to worry about odorints when driving on deserted roads while releasing the gas.
Tears welled up in Do Won-hees eyes.
Spare me.
She had nowhere else to go.
It seemed like she didnt have the courage to look at her henchmen as they entered the bathtub.
I-I really made a mistake. Please forgive me just once. Will you?
I ignored the sobbing voice and watched Sergeant Baek as I carried out the orders.
Sergeant Baek Yeong-hun. Can I consider you my subordinate now?
Yes.
Good. From now on, speak freely.
At this, Sergeant Baek Yeong-huns gloomy gaze, which had been fixed on the prey, turned toward me. His deeply sunken eyes were like dry wells, filled only with a cold chill and determination. I felt a small sense of satisfaction knowing that there was no sign of regret. While it might be difficult to expect blind loyalty, the likelihood of betrayal seemed slim. These were the eyes of someone without desires other than survival.
Do you remember the terms of our deal?
Sergeant Baek asked with a faint smirk.
I owe my life, and I will repay it with my life. Isnt that right?
Thats right.
When do I start working?
After weve got your body in shape.
Just a month and a half ago, Sergeant Baek had been a homeless man suffering from malnutrition and alcoholism, his body severely damaged. To build up the physical stamina required for a voyage, he would need a considerable period of care and rehabilitation. Circuit engraving and adjustment were not yet under consideration. It might be different if natural awakening became inevitable.
In any case, it would take quite some time to secure the first submarine. Just three days ago, I received a call that we had finally found a Connection Seller from the White Chief. Even if I were to board a ne to Houston the day after tomorrow, there were many obstacles to ovee before ultimately achieving sess.
From the end of the workspace, a faint sobbing sound could be heard.
Please spare me Ill give you as much money as my dad has
Do Won-hee. Outwardly, she appeared to be just a scared college girl crying, but there was no one here who would be fooled by that facade. After all, no matter how you look at it, she was a murderer. Tears of a murderer, whether adult or not, were crocodile tears. If ever there were tears I would shed, it would be the same.
I can arrange a separate ce for you.
Ignoring anyone elses gaze and taking enough time to vent ones anger, I made the proposal, but Sergeant Baek slowly shook his head and declined.
Well finish it here.
Arent you going to regret itter?
Its fine. Just make sure that brats parents are well taken care of.
Alright.
Parents who helped absolve their childs guilt would soon shoulder their own responsibility. It would be a simple traffic ident. I also nned to expose the corruption of her uncle in the military at some distance and bury it. There would be a lot of rumors for a while, but the alibi was thoroughly prepared.
What are you talking about?
Do Won-hee, who had stopped crying, asked urgently.
What are you going to do to my parents?
It seemed like her love for her parents ran deep, no matter how she appeared.
Speak! Tell me!
Approaching with a limp, Sergeant Baek Yeong-hun violently pushed down his daughters enemy. No matter how weakened he had be, Baek Yeong-hun was still a former soldier by name. The cries of the prey soon turned into a choking sound. The hand with manicured fingernails dug into the former soldiers forearm, and the foot in sneakers kicked the empty ground for a moment. Do Won-hees arms, weakened by the loss of strength, fell lightly on the cold floor. Reddish blood gradually flowed from her congested eyeballs. If you were to put red ink on a white canvas, it would look somewhat simr.
The former soldier continued to exert force with his grip for quite some time afterward.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 34: El Municionero (2)
Chapter 34: El Municionero (2)
Two dayster, in the eastern suburbs of Houston.
The Mexican fugitive introduced by the chieftain was living a quiet retirement life on a ranch close to theke and the sea. To be honest, it was quite unexpected. I had anticipated a rough life of squandering money on gambling and drugs, leading to destitution. Not only because of preconceptions about cartels but also because I believed he had to reach that point before he would finally offer his connections.
By the way, he asked me to buy dog food on the way.
I could understand showing me around the front yard, but it was the first time someone had asked me to buy dog food. I couldnt tell if the person was naive or intentionally testing my reaction. If the chieftain hadnt exined that he was closer to the former, I might have simply ignored it. If it was an attempt to test my disposition, well, there was a chance I might notply.
A faint smell of manure seeped in through the open window with the chilly winds. The sign that read Dos Vaqueros was getting closer as we drove at speed.
Were here.
Kyung-tae, who had taken the wheel himself, parked the car in front of the store. The escort vehicles that had been following us parked on either side. Thend had plenty of pastures, but it wasnt afortable ce for people to live, as many trees opened their circuits and distributed themselves near the quiet store.
Will you wait in the car, or
Ill enjoy the winds too.
Sure.
Kyung-tae, who had gotten out of the car, opened the door for me. The guys in the escort vehicle were waiting inside.
Bawk, bawk, bawk.
I watched as the chicks pecked at the feed in the chicken coop fence. Among these aspiring roosters, there were individuals with opened circuits. There seemed to be some connection with the bloodstains left in the corner of the chicken coop. Kyung-tae clicked his tongue, savoring the moment.
It might be harder to eat chicken from now on.
Even though they couldnt see everything as I could, the guys I had personally adjusted to awakening for had senses open enough to indirectly perceive changes in the magical field. In other words, they had the ability to detect awakenings. The guy who asionally ordered chicken and beer for the organizations headquarters expressed genuine concern in his sighs.
Are you really worried about that?
Hyungnim, chicken is a very serious matter. Havent you heard the saying that C between B and D is the chicken between birth and death? The disappearance of chicken is like the disappearance of life itself. (+)[1]TLN: Ill exin this below.
Suyeon slightly furrowed her brow.
Youre making jokes too lightly in front of Hyungnim.
Oh, Noonim. This is a trend, a trend. Who else but me could keep Hyungnim up to date with the trends of todays generation? Im here to help Hyungnim stay young not only in body but also in mind. People age as much as they fall behind in trends, you know.
Suyeon, with a puzzled expression, kept her mouth shut, not knowing what to respond with. Turning a taciturn person into one who disys such a variety of expressions could also be considered an ability.
Although it was a joke, Kyung-taes prediction had its reasons, as always. The reason there might be more chicken restaurants in Korea than McDonalds outlets worldwide could be that chicken was considered a representative of humble,moner food. However, in the future, discerning between chicks would require awakening individuals with the ability and sense, and even mass breeding and mechanical ughter using battery cages could be more difficult due to frequent idents. When that day came, the prices of all meats that relied on factory farming would skyrocket. The sess of the franchise business would no longer be the same as it is today.
In fact, the market had already shown signs of this change. It had been discussed in detail in the 3rd quarter investment report by Kim-ssi in Yeouido.
Ding, ding
Hearing the clear sound of a notification bell, a staff member who was tidying up the shelves weed us with a smile.
H.
H.
Kyung-tae, upon receiving the greeting, showed the staff member a note with the name of the feed written on it. The staff member, understanding, gestured toward the interior of the spacious store. One of the security personnel followed the staff member. The staff member, who walked ahead, was openly carrying a pistol.
Meanwhile, I nced at the newspapers on disy in front of the counter and the posters on the corkboard on the wall. Among the posters, one that stood out prominently was a recruitment notice for a local militia.
[Old River Tau-Militia is recruiting new members!]
The notice was written in both English and Spanish and mentioned that anyone in the Tau-Power region could apply.
Tau-Power here was, of course, a local expression meaning supernatural power.
The series of events leading up to the Tokyo Olympics, which were ultimately canceled without even having a closing ceremony, had been a turning point in making humanity realize the changes urring in the world. There had been signs and incidents before, but the impact of the failed Olympics was unprecedented.
Here, Suyeons actions against London also had a great effect.
The Marquis of Exeter, Count of Wiltshire, Count of Uxbridge, Lord Boyle of Derby, and the daughter of the Count of Plymouth
A list of nobles with a high probability of being contacted by the Round Table Cab for the domination of the magical world order. Based on this list I provided, Suyeon seeded in exposing the contacts between the Round Tables Masters and the intelligenceworks of various countries in London. It was a remarkable achievement that made the eight million dors spent on the budget seem well worth it. The hacking group that received more than half of that budget would probably be raising their sses at a luxurious resort somewhere in the third world right now.
On the other hand, because intelligence agencies around the world had already caught a whiff of it, it was a rtively easy task. In the publics eyes, the Torworks hidden services,monly referred to as the Dark Web or Dark Net, alone held a number of requests rted to valuing information. Just the size of the impliedpensation alone indicated that there was something substantial behind it.
This was due to the power struggle within the Round Table leadership, which had spilled over to affect even the nobility attending The Senate. While the British Senate was just an honorary gathering, it still held significance within certain circles of British politics. However, it was arrogant to hope that their secrets could be maintained while they openly quarreled and drew attention, even from the nobility.
The aged imperialists, blinded by greed, had lost their advantage. I owe them deep thanks for their mistakes.
We found it.
One of my subordinates, carrying a bag of dog food, approached and ced it on the counter. I paid for the dog food, along with the local newspaper, Houston Chronicle, which I had picked up while waiting.
Sitting in the car, I began to read the newspaper. Nowadays, I rarely had the time to look at printed text, so the smell of paper and ink felt especially nostalgic. The pages of the Houston Chronicle were filled with various incidents and idents, more than one would expect for a local newspaper. It was evidence that the world was in turmoil, even at the local level.
Nevertheless, the front-page headline covered thergest armed robbery in history, which had urred at the Bank of France.
It looks interesting.
What do you mean?
The European gangsters.
Ah.
Kyung-tae immediately understood what I meant just from hearing the term European gangsters. Considering the amount of media attention and the coverage by influential outlets worldwide, it was impossible not to know about it.
Kyung-tae gave me a disgruntled look, saying.
To think that even Kim Kyung-tae would be surpassed. How do those guys look, I wonder?
Hmm? Surpassed you?
I mean the amount, the amount. Im not saying this out of greed or anything, but theyve crossed the 1.9 trillion mark, after all. Ive held the title of world champion for several years now. Taking all expenses into ount, wouldnt it be a perfect defeat on my part?
In a half-joking manner, he boasted about his skills, drawing a sigh from Suyeon.
This time, the stolen gold bars and cash at the Bank of France amounted to 1.52 billion euros, just over 2 trillion won. Prior to the Bank of France incident, thergest robbery had been the Bank of Ennd heist in 2009, which was worth approximately 900 million won. Even considering intion, France had lost nearly twenty times more than the UK. The media would surely make a fuss about it.
I sent my sincerepliments to the robbers who Kyung-tae wanted to see.
Those bastards were really screwed.
If it werent for the unfortunate connection with the Round Table, my most despised nation would have been France, not the UK. These lunatics were still the dominant imperialist nation in the 21st century, running colonies in Africa. Independence was merely nominal. I hoped that the assets they lost this time were 100% pure French gold and bills, as dealing with the foreign exchange of African nations bound by colonial agreements would not be enjoyable at all.
In a world where selected humans could be close to bipedal equipment, the security systems of ancient times had undergone inevitable changes and decay in various ways.
The entrance road to the destination, the ranch, stretched for 600 meters through the green pasture, far from the national highway. Even to my unobstructed eyes, there were only a few buildings within a few square kilometers. Apart from that, sporadic windbreaks and dark-stained trees formed the boundaries of the property on the other side of the pasture. The road on this sparsely traveled property was covered in dusty soil brought by the winds from the sea and the ins. As the line of vehicles moved, the dust kicked up, causing some nameless wildflowers to sway at knee height.
It was a peaceful and serenendscape that gave a sense of tranquility. If I were to retire one day, Id want to live in such a static and quiet ce. It would be perfect if there were no other people there.
The vehicle came to a stop. Once again, Kyung-tae was the first to get out and open the door. In front of the ranch, arge satellite dish stood like a decorative ornament in the middle of the open field. It resembled a snowman made by rolling snowballs together,plete with a rounded appearance. After getting out of the car, I instructed Kyung-tae and Suyeon to proceed. The former cartel boss, who was waiting for us leaning against a pir near the entrance to his residence, raised his hat in greeting when our eyes met.
Mucho gusto[2]Nice to meet you. Youvee a long way; I appreciate it.
Beside the former cartel boss stood a woman who appeared to be his wife. They seemed quite relieved to see most of the security guards waiting near the car. I approached the boss, extending a gloved hand, disregarding the submachine gun he held at an angle.
You may have heard it from the chief, but my name is Hwang.
Huang.
The boss repeated my alias while shaking hands.
You appear much younger in person than I expected, probably because youre Asian. Im Ricardo, and this is my wife, Araceli.
Ricardo and Araceli. Were these their real names or aliases? In truth, even if they were their real names, it wouldnt have made much of a difference. High-ranking cartel fugitives typically had several identities prepared, and as long as they lived quietly and paid their taxes, the US authorities wouldnt pay much attention to their names. As long as they didnt get caught red-handed.
Moreover, in Mexico, first names were tools of anonymity. Because there were so many repeated names among the people there, they often referred to each other using theirst names officially and informal nicknames (apodos) privately. The fact that cartel bosses called themselves by various nicknames was not unrted to this cultural practice.
The fugitive received the dog food from Kyung-tae, ced it near the entrance, thanked us briefly, and then signaled with a fist bump, asking indirectly.
Earlier, I noticed a drone flying around in the distance. Was that you guys who sent it?
Indeed, there was a designated security team that was dispatched whenever necessary, responsible for identifying threats beyond my line of sight. I nodded in confirmation.
You noticed it well. It was just routine reconnaissance. Did it make you ufortable?
It was unsettling. Caution is good, especially if its the caution of a business partner.
Ricardo chuckled and nodded in the direction of his wife.
Thats why I would appreciate it if you considered the fact that you were brought here from so far away and my wifes cautiousness as caution. Even though you were introduced by the chief, its still quite unsettling to wee someone without a single gun in my former workce.
I understand. After all, ones life is the best guarantee of good manners.
Haha! Thats a splendid expression! It seems like youre growing on me already. Lets go inside.
Ricardo opened the door and gestured for us to enter. As we walked, the wooden floor creaked softly underfoot. I stepped into the negotiation room, where the air carried the scent of dry firewood andvender.
This phrase C between B and D is the chicken between birth and death? The disappearance of chicken is like the disappearance of life itself. is a humorous y on words in Korean, using the letters of the alphabet as ceholders for concepts. Let me break it down:
B: Birth (?? in Korean)
C: Chicken (?? in Korean)
D: Death (?? in Korean)
So, in this phrase, C (Chicken) is humorously ced between B (Birth) and D (Death). The saying suggests that chicken (in the context of eating chicken) is something enjoyable and often consumed between the two significant life events of birth and death. Its a lighthearted way of emphasizing the importance or enjoyment of simple pleasures like eating chicken in life.
In essence, its a humorous way of saying that chicken is a significant and enjoyable part of life, like aforting and tasty experience between the profound moments of birth and death.- 1. TLN: Ill exin this below.
- 2. Nice to meet you
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 35: El Municionero (3)
Chapter 35: El Municionero (3)
The host ushered the guest into the living room and asked me while offering me to sit.
Would you like something to drink?
Something to drink, yes. Just a ss of water, please.
Is that okay?
Yes.
Upon hearing my reply, Ricardo raised his eyebrows and shoulders, then quickly fetched two sses of water. I took my first step into what seemed like a carefully chosen negotiation ground, waiting for him to sit on the opposite side.
Ricardo, I heard that you used to work in the infrastructure division of the Cartel del Noreste in the past. Your brother is still with the Northeast Cartel, isnt he?
Roughly correct.
Roughly?
My role was more urately in installing and operating supply points. It was more akin to a quartermaster than a simple facilities manager. And my brother is part of the Tropa del Infierno, a top-notch strike force under the Northeast Cartel. I dont know if youve heard of them.
Ive heard of them.
Knowledge was power, and thorough research on your negotiating partner was a prerequisite for sessful negotiations. Leaning against the backrest, I crossed my legs and continued.
Knowing your brothers affiliation brings something to mind. At the beginning of this year, Comandante (Commander) Cisneros, also known as Hugo Alejandro Salcido Cisneros, was assassinated along with his aides. I believe it happened in Nuevo Laredo, right?
You seem to know more than I expected.
Ricardo didnt hide his surprise.
Comandante Cisneros, whose full name was Hugo Alejandro Salcido Cisneros, was inmand of the Tropa del Infierno. And Nuevo Laredo, situated along the U.S.-Mexico border, was one of the major drug trafficking routes for the Cartel del Noreste.
Cisneross death was proof that Mexican President Obradors determination to eradicate cartels from the country was not yet broken. Although the president had dered that he would abandon the war against crime, it was more like an announcement that they would stop an all-out war. Looking at the constant arrests and deaths of cartel members, it was clear that those who had beencent with the governments surrender deration were being naive.
Somehow, I had a feeling.
Living so peacefully
I said, casting a nce out the window.
And then suddenly feeling the need to trade with me Could that be rted to that incident? Generational changes are always apanied by noise.
Ricardo paused, stroked his beard for a moment, and seemed hesitant before he admitted.
Once again, youre right.
Shall we hear the details?
Instead of answering, Ricardo stared at me in silence. The absence of his usual smile made the silence somewhat nervously static. The source of this tension was probably his own uneasiness, not me. It was a problem that he was so obviously inexperienced in negotiations. It could make it easy to underestimate the other party. I had to control myself to avoid doing just that. I chose to guide the conversation in a way that wouldnt lead to ignoring him.
Seems like youre pondering where to start, but its toote.
Late?
Late as in youve already made a mistake.
Mistake?
Yes, a mistake. You havent denied that what youre expecting from me is rted to the organizations generational shift, and youve admitted that you have no regrets about your life up to this point.
When it came to cartels, bloodshed was often inevitable during a generational change, especially if it was caused by a sudden power vacuum due to a leaders death.
If your brother is a party or an insider involved in the leadership change, then the time you have is not long. These factional conflicts are crucial, depending on which side gains the upper hand first. It can be a one-time victory or a matter of life and death.
Ricardos eyes now carried the chill of someone who had taken lives before.
Right. I made a slip of the tongue from the very beginning.
His armed wife raised an eyebrow as her husbands demeanor changed. This was another clue about their lifestyle. It seemed like they were leading a truly rare retirement life for former cartel high-ranking members. I nodded lightly and changed the topic.
Its a slightly different story, but earlier this year, I made a significant trade deal with the maind Triads.
What are you talking about all of a sudden?
Listen. Those Chinese were making a mistake just like you.
At that time, ourpany could get a significant concession just by stalling. As someone who used to be the quartermaster of the cartel, you probably have a good idea of the usual profit margins for weapons and ammunition. Would you like to try matching how much profit, or margin, per assault rifle, shipped from somewhere in Northeast Asia into the Golden Triangle, was eventually made?
Ricardos eyes softened slightly as he thought. He was likely contemting how much margin I left in Myanmar, as well as what my intentions were with such a question.
Lets say around 2,000 percent?
I shook my head.
4,130 percent. I received the price of a Mercedes-Benz for each full-option assault rifle.
That is insane.
The expletive that immediately came out was repeated with an incredulous tone.
That is insane! Huang, were you a scammer? (+)[1]TLN: Reminder that the MC called himself Hwang, but in Ricardos case, his pronunciation of MCs name is a little bit wrong. Also, a fun fact, Huang can also mean yellow.
It was only natural to show this much seriousness when he had practical experience. For someone like Ricardo, who had dealt with real-world logistics, it was natural to react this way. Handing over a full-option assault rifle for a price equivalent to a Mercedes-Benz, which cost around 54.4 million Korean won this year, was quite literally a scam-like transaction.
Although I nned to receive thepensation through barter, the Chinese had subtly maneuvered to minimize losses by paying with items that had no market price. Their strategy was to reduce losses by dering that the equipment had no official market value due to its scarcity.
Well, even if you look at it that way, selling drugs can quickly make up for the loss.
Thats right. Just as the CIA once funded itself by selling drugs, the funds of these Chinese gangsters who operate in the underworld ultimately came from the drug trade. That money circted and eventually reached me.
China had been supporting not only the United Wa State Army (UWSA) with weapons but also drug manufacturing facilities. The influence of the UWSA spanned the infamous Southeast Asian Golden Triangle, producing and distributing drugs like methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl, earning an estimated annual ie of 40 billion dors, roughly 50 trillion Korean won. Given their conservative nature, the actual scale was likely muchrger. This was because almost all the fentanyl that went from China to America came from here.
As with all businesses supported by the Chinese, the majority of the profits naturally went to the Chinese investors. It was not surprising that even the leader of the UWSA used a Chinese-style name.
The official stance of the Chinese Communist Party regarding drugs was that they were the enemy of the nation and the people, but that was just for show. Those at the top of the party and the entrepreneurs connected to them had turned thend of the Wa people into one of the worldsrgest drug production areas. Local authorities only cracked down as much as was necessary for performance, face-saving, and diplomatic reasons.
So, along the China-Myanmar border, advanced countries, especially the United States, had set up surveinceworks to counter Chinas expanding influence and drug trafficking. This was also another reason why these Chinese gangsters had to find subcontractors in third countries belonging to the Western sphere.
Dont be too surprised.
I shrugged.
Those guys are doing a business thats making so much money that even if they bought all the goods I handed over at full price, theyd still have a lot.
What kind of business is that?
Drug trafficking. What other business can guarantee that level of profitability?
Myanmars ordinary Wa tribe vige in the north produced a number of drugs that rivaled a small cartels distribution. Moreover, that region was highly centralized, eliminating the decentralized inefficiencies found in Central and South America. In May, for instance, from just one unlucky external distribution warehouse, a total of 18 tons of methamphetamine, worth $10 billion, poured out.
No matter how much Mexican cartels brag about their power, they couldnt beat the Chinese Communist Party. In every aspect of the ck economy, those fakemunists maintained their position as the worlds number one with an overwhelming lead.
I snapped my fingers to refocus his attention.
Now, Ricardo, what do you think is the reason Ive been telling you all of this?
Perhaps you wont try to stall for time and profit when dealing with me?
Thats correct.
Why?
Because the chief is my friend, and you are someone he introduced to me.
It was an unexpected answer, and Ricardos expression flickered with surprise.
The Los Zetas cartel was originallyposed of former special forces members, and the organizational culture was very military-like. The young negotiator in front of me had repeatedly referred to himself as a quartermaster, most likely due to the influence of the organizations culture or his past military service.
It seems that this kind of code works well with guys who have camaraderie.
Words were tools used to gauge one another. Regardless of whether their camaraderie was genuine or not, what mattered was that the parties involved believed it was real.
I adopted anguid tone, exuding an air of rxation.
Thats why you should pass on the message to your underground friends. Here, there wont be any fights or a need to escape through tunnels.
Shock filled the eyes staring back at me.
How on earth did you
Lets just call this my caution. Caution on the part of the trading partner is a good thing, isnt that right?
The self-proimed quartermaster hesitated for a moment before a disheartenedugh escaped him. He couldnt possibly imagine that I had eyes that could see underground. The three armed men below seemed confused. They had been eavesdropping on our conversation in the negotiation room through the bug concealed in thendlords vest. A dog wagged its tail vigorously toward them.
Why dont you also ask your friends toe up? If your friends from Mexico came all the way here with you, they cant just be casual acquaintances. They seem like people who would move together with you when you move.
I finished my sentence and took a sip of water to moisten my dry throat. Ricardo turned to his wife with an awkward expression.
Araceli, tell everyone toe up.
The source of the awkwardness was undoubtedly the bug. The fact that a conversation that should have been kept secret was being eavesdropped on was now openly acknowledged. They were putting on an unfamiliar act.
Alright.
With this alone, I had ovee one of the difficult hurdles in the negotiation. Ricardo was now confined within the framework I had set. The regret was not mine but Ricardos.
To tell the truth, the limited time given to Ricardo was a disadvantage for me as well. I had to conclude the contract somehow. If the negotiations fell apart here, the London operation would be dyed ordingly, and I would have to bear the additional risks associated with the dy. But how would this quartermaster discern my dissatisfaction? The essence of every negotiation was to hide ones weaknesses while probing the weaknesses of the other party.
Now Ricardo had realized that he was just a novice negotiator. Simultaneously, due to the honesty I had shown, he might unconsciously perceive it as being difficult to find a better trading partner like me. Furthermore, by mentioning the trade with China, I had subconsciously conveyed the impression of my stature through its scale.
The oue of all these causes would undoubtedly be a negotiation that proceeded swiftly and progressively. It was good for me, and it was good for the quartermaster too. All I had to do was make sure that the conversation didnt veer off in an unexpected direction. As long as I didnt give room for deeper thought, it would be enough.- 1. TLN: Reminder that the MC called himself Hwang, but in Ricardos case, his pronunciation of MCs name is a little bit wrong. Also, a fun fact, Huang can also mean yellow.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 36: El Municionero (4)
Chapter 36: El Municionero (4)
The names of the three who emerged from the basement were Ral, Jorge, and Miguel. Ricardo introduced them in order of rank, essentially mentioning their military ranks from their time in the armed forces. Even the lowest-ranked Miguel wasnt just a simple soldier, which was quite impressive. Their mere presence here hinted at a lot.
Group defection is almost always due to political reasons.
Just as politics yed a role in national politics, internal power struggles were also a form of politics. Presumably, the cartels top brass and their subordinates retired as a result of factional infighting. They had been removed from the line. Even if they received services from the casino, conceding defeat was apparent, and it was a voluntary retirement to some extent.
How often do high-ranking members retire from criminal organizations just out of loyalty? Especially if each of them was at the level of a mid-level officer? One person might be a coincidence, but if there were two, it was suspicious; if there were three, there was no need to look for further evidence.
Using a bit more imagination, one could even specte that the faction that had removed Ricardo in the past was involved in the side trying to restrain Ricardos younger brother.
I didnt mention this possibility aloud. Whether I was right or wrong, it was still a problem. The former was embarrassing, and thetter was reckless, as it could heighten suspicion. A negotiation that merely suppressed the opponents morale was unlikely to be a good negotiation.
Are the four of you from the same unit by any chance?
In response to my question, Ricardo gave a faint smile.
Yes. Weve beenrades for 14 years.
I suspected as much.
You had a hunch, didnt you? I doubt you went through all this trouble just for caution.''
I could feel a slightly nervous tension. It was probably due to the fact that the friends from the basement and the tunnel leading to the barn were discovered. I pretended not to notice this sharpness.
I heard that in the past, Los Zetas had many cases where formerrades in arms became involved with the cartel. I wondered how things have changed now, but it seems like that aspect hasnt changed much from the past.
Um
Ricardo, who seemed to be contemting, slowly shook his head.
No, thats not it.
Regret was evident in his voice.
I hoped it wouldnt change, but it has changed a lot. The Los Zetas during the time of General El Kelvin is gone for good. Were here now, just rookies from the best days and old soldiers reminiscing about the past.
There was a certain irony in Ricardos eyes that I found quite amusing. Whether then or now, Los Zetas was an organization notorious for frequent civilian massacres. The fact that people who had been a part of such an organization were still indulging in their self-righteousness was absurd. At least I didnt get carried away like that. I was a dirty human living in a dirty world.
El Kelvin was the nickname used by Rogelio Gonzlez Piza?a, the secondmander-in-chief of the Los Zetas cartel, known as Z-2. Under Gonzlez, Los Zetas were not divided into the three main factions and regional rulers as they were now, and they still retained the military identity established by the firstmander-in-chief, Z-1 Guzmn. The four here were the leaders who had served in the organization during that time.
Looking at it from another perspective, it was somewhat surprising.
These guys ultimately survived the Los Zetas major split. Theyre tough guys for cartel bosses, no matter what the supply chain was like.
Even if he was a novice negotiator, his abilities and tactics as a mid-level officer were quite impressive. Or maybe he was incredibly lucky. Either way, there were enough reasons to revise the evaluation of the people in front of me. In this world, luck was also a skill, and experience was umted through luck as well.
My apologies.
I shifted my posture to refresh my attention.
Now, lets go back to the main topic when and how much do I need to pay to get what I want, how will you acquire the goods, and how will you prove your ability?
Proof yes.
Ricardo, stroking his mustache meaninglessly, finally began to speak.
Within the Northeast Cartel, there are individuals who have acquired the technical know-how and blueprints to support my younger brother.
Technical know-how and blueprints? Does that mean youll start construction from now on, or are you offering the technology instead of the actual product?
Thetter. If youre satisfied with just one or two vessels for urgent use, that would be a shame. It would be more advantageous for you to have production capabilities, especially as a weapons dealer like yourself.
Of course, it would be advantageous. The cartels submarines were small and were manufactured ind, then transported down rivers to the sea. The construction facilities were not on the level of a full-fledged shipyard, but more likerge warehouses. Therefore, once you had the technology, you could set up facilities and manpower somewhere in a remote area like the Philippines or Indonesia and produced as many as you wanted, even with some trial and error at first.
However, there was one concern.
Everything sounds good, but theres one question.
What is it?
Its the fact that the organization you represent is both Los Zetas and the Northeast Cartel. Can the Northeast Cartel meet the ROC Ive presented using its own technology? I have to be skeptical.
ROC. This term stood for Required Operational Capability and literally referred to the specific performance the buyer demanded from the supplier when procuring a particr piece of equipment.
What I wanted was a top-of-the-line smuggling submarine that could maintain a cruising speed of 4 knots, submerge to a certain depth for a certain amount of time, exhibit high acoustic stealth and mechanical reliability, and cross the ocean with a minimum of 10 tons of cargo on board. Additionally, the hull must be made of non-metallicposite materials to be free from maic anomaly detection (MAD).
This ROC represented the pinnacle of submarine manufacturing technology umted by all cartels. The Cartel del Noreste likely didnt possess such advanced technology, as maritime smuggling was not its primary focus. After a moment of silence, Ricardo, who had been quiet, responded with a troubled expression.
The technicians were brought in from the Sinaloa region. I heard they also brought the blueprints. It cost quite a bit.
Was that so? The Sinaloa Cartel was undoubtedly the number one yer in the industry with no room for doubt. The cost incurred would undoubtedly include many lives.
Dont feel too bad about it. It was something we had to do.
No. I understand. We were behind in such matters.
Ricardos straightforward acknowledgment was something that wouldnt havee out if he sensed a dark atmosphere on my side. He would have yelled and cursed at me.
I prodded at his weaknesses once again.
So, in the end, you didnt have the ability to provide a finished product from the beginning. Acquiring the technology doesnt immediately guarantee production capacity.
Ricardos face turned a little redder with my casual jab. I provided some empathy before his embarrassment deepened.
Besides, in times like this, its necessary to reduce our dependence on regional operations. Border controls are getting tighter, andnd-based smuggling wont be as easy as before. It was a wise investment.
The self-proimed ex-military supply officer stared at me for a moment, then took a cigarette from his pocket without seeking permission. He struck a lighter without asking and once the me caught, he inhaled deeply. The smoke, rising up to the ceiling, dispersed like spilled ink under the slowly rotating ceiling fan. (+)[1]TLN: Note that quartermaster is also the same as supply officer.
Seemed like he was getting frustrated with the negotiation Id dragged on. I understand the frustration he was feeling, even though I was the one who created this situation. But still, wasnt there something called etiquette?
An uneducated brat.
Honestly, from the beginning, this negotiation was a game where I had a one-sided advantage. Los Zetas was too well-known in contrast to my Company, which had almost no known information. There was a stark difference in the difficulty level of negotiation preparation.
In the end, these cartel underlings had to meet me unarmed and defenseless. It was a position they couldnt avoid. Lighting up another cigarette after tapping the previous one into a tray, Ricardo focused his gaze on me once more.
We dont need money. Give us weapons.
He brought up something pointless and quickly moved on, likely because he didnt want to be dyed further.
I heard youre quite the arms dealer in the Far East, dealing even more than those North Koreans. The chief rmended you. You might be someone who does bigger business than those North Koreans.
It just happened to turn out that way.
Is it the Asian humility Ive only heard of?
Well lets say its half humility and half reality. Id say its more that those idiots have done more wrong than Ive done right.
North Korea was a traditional powerhouse in the arms smuggling market, especially in the Third World. It had an unparalleled position, especially in markets run by poor Third World nations. There were hardly any nations that still maintained and operated the old Soviet-era equipment production, modification, and maintenance lines used by Third World countries. Among the few nations that maintained such capabilities, North Korea was the only country that dared to step into the smuggling market, even at the risk of betrayal.
From Chinas perspective, it was an eptable partner for outsourcing. It was a nation of defective nations involved in smuggling, and there was no worry of betrayal due to diplomatic circumstances. And, most importantly, if things went south, North Korea would take all the me. This was the biggest factor that made North Koreas position unique.
However.
One thing to remember is that trust is the lifeblood of business.
For instance, if China was responsible for shipping, whenever they had something that wasnt theirs, North Korea would always inspect it. Or if China sent high-quality domestic rifles and ammunition, by the time they reached their destination, they would have magically transformed into shoddy North Korean versions. Here, the term high-quality in this context was rtive to North Korean standards.
Ultimately, China decided to reduce its reliance on North Korea in trade, and I indirectly benefited from that decision.
Anyway, you want weapons
I pretended to be lost in thought and tapped the armrest with my fingertips, creating some space. Under the table, I clenched my fist nervously while lifting my chin slightly at Ricardo, urging him to continue.
Ill consider it after hearing what you have in mind. Item, quantity, deadline, and location. Please provide each one.
The supply officer licked his lips and replied.
800 sets of automatic weapons to arm our men, 800 sets of second-generation or better night vision goggles andser sights, 800 red dot sights, 8,000 magazines with 240,000 rounds, 7,200 grenades, 160 machine guns with 32,000 rounds, 80 RPG-7 anti-tank rocketunchers with 640 rockets.
He listed them off like a madman, especially the rockets. In these times, the value of rockets had increased significantly in the international arms market. Demanding numbers that exceeded half the inventory of a typical Somali warlords possession in this situation was no small feat. This calction, which assumed I wouldnt gouge him, was based on the premise of a quiet estimate. But, considering it as a technology transfer cost, it was still a reasonable price. After all, most of these items were items that had piled up by screwing over the Chinese.
For the mentioned quantities
Ricardo took out the map from his chest and unfolded it with a slowness that would not irritate my subordinates. Ricardo, in no hurry, tapped a specific port on the west coast of Mexico with his finger.
Deliver to the southern pier of Puerto Varta by the end of this month.
This time, the schedule was tight as crazy. If this were a typical order for money, I would have charged an enormous premium. I kept my eyes on Ricardos fingertip while lifting my right hand and flicking my index finger twice.
Is it possible?
Its possible.
After receiving the summons, Suyeon, without hesitation, made an affirmative whisper after confirming the ports location.
We have sufficient inventory, so if you give the order today, it will arrive noter than 17 days from now. Theres still a margin of about four days until the end of the month.
If this girl said it was possible, then it was possible. By now, I was sure my chief of staff had already drawn up a transportation schedule down to the hour.
However, there was a separate issue. I pushed Suyeon away and looked questioningly at Ricardo, who was nervous about the conversation between me and Suyeon in Korean.
Everything sounds good, but isnt this within the territory of the Sinaloa Cartel?
The Sinaloa Cartel, ranking number one among Mexican cartels, had engaged in a full-scale war with the regr armyst year, leading to the presidents de facto surrender. The reason given by the government for the cessation of hostilities was closer to Theyre too dirty to fight than anything else. Regardless, the fact remained that the government had deployed 2,000 regr troops and 5,000 police forces and still failed to achieve its goals, which could be considered a humiliating defeat. The Puerto Varta Port was located right in the territory of those dirty individuals.- 1. TLN: Note that quartermaster is also the same as supply officer.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 37: El Municionero (5)
Chapter 37: El Municionero (5)
Ricardo quickly dismissed the concern I had raised.
You dont need to worry about that.
Why not?
Because we have a deal with the navy. Contra Almirante Martnez, who currently controls that area, will cooperate with you. The ammunition boxes will have humanitarian aidbels and will be transported to the airport. So, you need to pay attention to the packaging.
Contra Almirante Martnez. I didnt know much about the Mexican militarys rank structure, but I could tell he was quite high up, given that the word Almirante (Admiral) was involved. However, if he held such a high position and was corrupt enough to ept bribes, he would probably have already received bribes from the Sinaloa side
This could potentially turn into a repeat of the Myanmar incident. The five who were left behind in the jungle were still a painful memory. They were lives that should have been put to better use. I added some weight to my suspicion and asked.
How much can we trust this Admiral Martnez?
Its not about trusting him; its about trusting an oldrade he owes a favor to. You could say its a friends guarantee. This friend is also in that area, so dont worry too much.
And who is this friend?
Diego. Jos Diego Svaralska.
Ricardos response was filled with confidence, and I could sense a touch of pride when he mentioned the name. I understood that they had prepared diligently, whether out of eagerness or urgency. All this preparation was a precaution for receiving goods from across the Pacific. If the contract with the arms dealer from Northeast Asia wasnt finalized, all this preparation would be meaningless.
Despite that, I couldntpletely shake off my unease. No matter how much effort went into the preparation, it would all be in vain if the results were disappointing. Was this truly the rare friendship guarantee, or was it a scam masquerading as a guarantee? In such situations, it was wise to consider the worst-case scenario. I should ept the deal but also prepare separate security measures
Alright.
p! Ricardo pped his hands.
Id like to hear your response soon.
The eyes of an inexperienced negotiator were fixed on me. Through those eyes, I glimpsed tension, excitement, and anxiety. Would I try to haggle on the price? Did I schedule the delivery too urgently? If this negotiation failed, what should I do next? If it fell through, could I find a new trade route within the given time frame? It was impatient. This was why negotiations with tight schedules were disadvantageous. Even when Suyeon was dealing with the Chinese, she took several weeks to reach a resolution.
One condition.
I held up my index finger.
If we agree to only one condition, your brother wont run into shortages of weapons and ammunition.
Ricardo took a deep breath and asked, his voice trembling.
Whats that condition?
Advance payment. We need to receive half of the blueprints as an advance payment.
Wait
And your technicians and our technicians need a chance tomunicate with interpreters present. Before handing over the goods, we need to confirm the fact that you possess the blueprints and that these blueprints meet the level of quality I require.
Up to this point, I had spoken, and then I nced sideways.
Have you not even considered an advance payment?
The supply officer, who had been acting like a malfunctioning robot, struggled to maintain hisposure.
You can verify the payment when the exchange takes ce.
Verify the truth on-site?
Nonsense. I couldnt help but sneer at the absurdity of it.
Ricardo, what I need to receive are the blueprints of the submarine. Im not talking about some ordinary semi-submersible, but the blueprints of a top-notch, state-of-the-art submarine with all sorts of advanced technology. How long do you think it will take for a technical verification of those blueprints?
Therefore, I needed enough time to be able to turn the ship around mid-voyage. I firmly stated,
Exactly half of the entire blueprint. Until that is in my hands, the shipment wont leave the home port.
Half is too much!
Then theres no deal.
You!
Thud! Ricardos voice had be louder, but it was my hand that mmed the table. Creating a momentary silence, I leaned forward and spoke in a low tone,
Remember that I promised not to exploit your position from the beginning.
I showed goodwill by epting the quantities and deadlines you mentioned without any deductions, and now its your turn to reciprocate. Isnt itmon sense that if one thing goes, one thing shoulde back?
Ricardo closed his mouth with an ufortable expression. He probably wanted to argue, but there was no point since I had logically cornered him from start to finish. The deal was going smoothly, and I had already offered very favorable conditions. I had made my decision and, like him, I couldnt afford to ruin this negotiation.
However, the reason he couldnt shake his vague uneasiness was simple.
He cant quite grasp it. Even if he gives half of the blueprints as an advance payment, is that eptable?
It was natural to feel anxious when you had little or no technical knowledge. Or perhaps it was because he didnt know if it was within his authority.
Whats your answer?
I urged him to respond with a chin gesture. In response, Ricardo, his face tense, his mustache twitched, and took on a defensive stance.
Give me a moment. We need to discuss this among ourselves.
Dont keep me waiting too long.
As I leaned back, Ricardo stood up from his seat. The moment he turned away, his tired expression became evident. The military supply officers left Miguel and Araceli in the reception room and went upstairs with three of them, but it wasnt for their internal discussions. Ricardos room had a fairly sophisticated radio setup connected to a desktopputer, and Ral and Jorge were just screens.
Suyeon.
Yes.
Bring me a notepad and a pen.
I recorded the frequency of the radio that Ricardo was using on the notepad that Suyeon handed me. Miguel and Araceli seemed a bit concerned about the Koreannguage used, but that was all.
These guys even have satellites, it seems.
For personal-operated radio equipment, no matter how strong the output was, the effectivemunication range didnt exceed 30 to 40 kilometers. In other words,munication with Mexico, which was about 400 kilometers away, was impossible.
However, there were two ways to make it possible: one was to use moonbounce technology, and the other was to use satellites. Moonbounce technology was only possible when the moon was in the right position, so the radio waves headed for Mexico had to use satellites. The former high-ranking members of the Mexican cartel probably wouldnt borrow amateur radio satellites (AMSAT) ormercial satellites, so ultimately, those satellites would be considered cartel property.
It was not a big deal. Even my organizations frontpanies owned 41 satellites. These were not the grandiose satellites that came to mind when people think of artificial satellites; they were small, ranging from 1 kg to 6 kg, called CubeSats. The cost ofunching them was only about 100 million won per kilogram. With good timing, it could be done for even half that price. NASA even dered that they would reduce this cost to $1,000 this year, although that n went south due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anyway, what amazed me was that the cartel guys hade up with the idea ofunching satellites. It was not difficult, but it required a significant shift in thinking and the acquisition of technical expertise. Artificial satellites were a fieldpletely different from the cartels traditional businesses and organizational techniques.
The supply officer, who had been struggling with the codebook in front of the radio andputer, finally came downstairs, taking more than 20 minutes even after copying everything in the codebook. I was already aware of the results as I watched the monitor screen. The supply officer received a single file through an email ount.
Although it was a boring wait for me, objectively speaking, Ricardos brothers had made a very prompt decision. I didnt know how high their ranks were, but they didnt seem to be stupid leaders.
Ricardo, who was sitting on the couch, ced a USB memory stick on the table.
We ept the conditions.
A wise decision. Suyeon.
My secretary, who hade closer again, plugged the cable into the tablet for work and connected the USB. The PDF file stored in it was originally a DWG extension, which was a conversion of the blueprints. I quickly nced through the drawings, one by one. They would have to be properly verified at headquarters to be certain, but from a weapons experts perspective, the probability of them being fake seemed slim.
After checking thest page, I looked up from the tablet.
Will there be an opportunity for the technicians to exchange opinions?
We will inform you separately through the chieftain. We will also provide the contact methodter. So, lets start with the shipment first. It must arrive by the end of the month.
Lets do that.
Its best not to disappoint us.
Dont be surprised if the goods arrive too quickly. Be prepared to receive them in advance.
Ill try to have faith in that confidence.
Now, stop pretending to be strong. I gave a reassuring nod to put my counterpart at ease. This negotiation had been quite satisfactory. They might tamper with the remaining half of the blueprints when I receive them in person, but having already verified half would dramatically reduce the time required to confirm whether any tampering had urred. Their technical experts would likely want to discuss this as well, making it burdensome to engage in any deception.
Thinking that the business here was done, Ricardo brought up a peculiar topic.
By the way, do you have any Tau-Runners in your organization?
Tau-Runners?
Thats what they call people with unusually strong abilities these days. Here, we refer to them as Tau-Runners or Tau-Masters. Im not sure what you call them in your country. It cant be Bendecido.''
I didnt ask because I didnt understand the question. It was just out of context.
In this region, which was the southern United States, a few people had recently gained special physical abilities known as Thaumaturgy. This term originally meant magic. They resurrected a dead word and gave it a new meaning.
The Greek letter Tau () was used as an initial letter for Thaumaturgy and symbolized Thaumaturgy. Now, it had be a symbol of the origin of mysterious power. Tau-Runners and Tau-Masters were those who used the Tau. These people were considered top-priority recruitment targets for all sorts of organizations, including militias, cartels, private militarypanies, sports teams, and more.
In the same context, Bendecido likely referred to Blessed and was probably a term used in Mexico.
Why are you asking about this?
I questioned, and Ricardo continued with his strange talk.
Were just considering that it might be a good idea to send Tau-Runners when weunch the ship.
Do you want mercenaries?
No, its just that we want to be prepared for any eventuality. Its also a rmendation for your side. Its about having minimal self-defense capabilities.
It was getting even stranger. I furrowed my brow.
Eventuality? Didnt you say earlier that the Naval Port Security would be guarding the site?
The Mexican Navys Naval Port Security, known as UNAPROP, was no ordinary security unit. It was a specialized unit for maritime and port security operations, one of the warning groups to remember as a potential risk factor for maritime smuggling. Ricardos friend was a Lieutenant Colonel. A special units Lieutenant Colonel led his subordinates to ensure safety at the deal site. Why would there be any kind of eventuality with them there, barring one exception: if they were to betray us.
Its just
Ricardo hesitated and finally let out a sigh along with the information.
Recently, there have been rumors of madmen in the Guadjara area wearing armor and using swords to slice up Sicarios from Sinaloa. (+)[1]TLN: Sicario = a hired gunman or assassin
Armor and swords?
Yes.
Could it be the Temr Knights?
You know about those farmers too. Yes, it could be them. Its still spection, but these lunatics in armor wielding swords and shields, engaging in guerri warfare, are probably just imitating that order of knights.
As he spoke, I couldnt help but feel a sense of deep absurdity.- 1. TLN: Sicario = a hired gunman or assassin
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 38: El Municionero (6)
Chapter 38: El Municionero (6)
Mexican drug cartel members were surprisingly devout Catholics. At least, they believed they were. They held a distorted and warped faith, but it was something they genuinely believed in, deep within their hearts. They took it so seriously that they sometimes killed people as sacrifices.
The Los Caballeros Temrios Cartel was a group that took this low-level faith to its extreme. Their core belief was in a ridiculous doctrine that all actions in this world, including their own acts of murder, robbery, drug production, and distribution, were part of Gods n to build the Kingdom of Christ since divine providence operated beyond humanprehension.
So, these criminals boast a code of conduct simr to knighthood, protecting the weak and such. In this context, the weak referred to faithful followers of God, the people who did not resist them. Collecting taxes from them was the legitimate right of the order with a divine mission.
I was aware of this much. However, hearing about these criminals imitating knights in actual operations was new. Swords might have been used for ceremonial purposes, and armor would have been drawn in posters, nothing more.
If it was just a minor threat, there wouldnt be any reason to issue a warning. The mere mention of it meant that the situation in Guadjara was unusual. It implied that the Temr Knights forces were not ordinary.
But havent they been struggling to rebuild their organization for a long time?
These fake Temr Knights had faced attacks from the Mexican regr army over an extended period, resulting in a copse of their overall organization into numerous remnants. Even after breaking apart, they were more like scattered fragmentspared to the powerful forces that kept rising and falling in opposition, like the Sinaloa Cartel or the Los Zetas. Some had even joined friendly cartels to ensure their survival.
And now, were those guys, who werent part of any other cartel, fighting against Sinaloa? All by themselves?
The only deduction that could be made here was one. A genius had emerged who could instantly reunify the fragmented organization andpensate for itsck of power. With a poption of over 130 million in Mexico, it wasnt surprising that at least one prodigy would emerge. Unfortunately, that prodigy happened to be a cartels holy warrior.
I scolded Ricardo in a cold tone.
If you had such information, you should have informed us in advance!
I just wanted us to be prepared for any eventuality. Look!
The map was still spread out on the table. Ricardo looked at me and pointed to Guadjara, then slid his finger westward, following the road.
Even if you take the fastest route from Guadjara to Puerto Varta, its over 300 kilometers. How many checkpoints do you think those Sinaloa guys will have set up in between?
At this moment, probably quite a few!
When the ship carrying the merchandise arrived at the port, the situation could change dramatically. What if the pseudo-knights, the butchers, unleashed indiscriminate ughter that escted to a state of emergency? What if the cartel, the fake knights, and the military engaged in a three-way battle that ignited the city? On that day, the roads would be blocked, and security at the port and airport would be reinforced. If the authority for searches and inspections shifted from the navy to the federal police or the armed forces, even the admirals guarantee would be meaningless, and the goods and blueprints would disappear.
These damn Nachos kids
Even when I stepped into the room, there was a certain decorum to maintain. I was seized by an impulse to get rid of these scoundrels once and for all.
With the frequency and encryption system secured, the chances of being caught off guard were low. In the worst-case scenario, we could even turn the ship around. But considering the value of the blueprints, it made sense to prepare forbat, even if it came to that, assuming the port remained open.
However, Ricardo, unaware of the turmoil in my mind, continued to defend the situation.
This isnt necessarily all bad. While the fake Temrs are causing chaos, the attention and power of the Sinaloa guys will be mostly focused in the east. So, Guadjara bes that much more important.
I could sense a hint of desperation in his urgent tone. Suppressing violent impulses, I bought a little more time, waiting forplete calm to return before finally agreeing.
Fine, but lets be clear.
About what?
No matter the circumstances, our people wont serve as mercenaries. Even if theresbat, well only exercise defensive force. After the goods are offloaded at the pier, whatever happens is not our concern. Do you understand?
That should do.
There was a faint hint of disappointment on the quartermasters face, as if he had some lingering regrets. Regardless, I extended my hand and stood up.
Then, this is it. I hope this deal ends satisfactorily for both parties.
Agreed, El Municionero.
El Municionero?
Im not sure if you know Spanish, but it means the one who provides ammunition. Our trading partner who deals with Los Zetas should have a suitable alias. Besides, I doubt Huan is your real name.
I simply acknowledged his point.
That sounds about right.
Not only my name but also my face was masked with silicone.
We only had a brief conversation, but Huan, you seem like someone who could make a name for yourself on Mexican soil someday. I wonder how it would feel if you became famous under the nickname I gave you. El Muni would be an eptable abbreviation, I suppose.
Made a name for myself with the nickname he gave me? I was tempted to frown at the juvenile sentiment disyed by the quartermaster. The suppressed annoyance began to simmer up again.
And in Mexico, I would never tread lightly. The market might be sizable, but it was highlypetitive and dangerous due to many rivals. Where did you think the CIA and DEA were looking? El Municionero would likely be a one-time alias.
Ricardo and his wife watched us as we left, just like when they first weed us at the entrance. As I was about to get into the car, I noticed small creatures moving hastily among the weeds near the cars wheels. They were tiny ants, their bright brown bodies shining like honey. Watching them, I felt the lingering difort slowly dissipate.
Hyungnim?
I gestured for Kyung-tae, who looked puzzled while holding the door, to wait for a moment. I had spotted a few ants scurrying rapidly, seeming to move erratically among the weeds. It wasnt just one or two; it felt like several fluid lines of disorganized motion.
Could these be those crazy ants?
White Chief hadined about the Raspberry Crazy Ants when the electricity at the meeting ce had gone out. He had mentioned that they could crawl into electrical panels and cause short circuits. Seeing their erratic movements in person made me think that the term crazy might be fitting.
Although I had brushed it off when I heard about it, seeing them in person, I felt like they might be onto something. I bent down and picked up one of the ants. It wriggled as if it were glowing between my thumb and index finger. After holding it for a moment, I ced it on the ground and used my index finger, hovering close but not touching the ants, to observe their reactions. The ants movements changed dramatically.
Sssssss-
It felt like I could hear the sound just by watching. It was a visual change that stimted my senses. The ant I had picked up had apparently left an rm pheromone on my fingers. The ants began to move even more frically, as if they were going crazy, trying to locate an enemy.
What have you been doing since earlier?
Ricardo, who had been waiting for us to leave while crossing his arms, couldnt resist his curiosity any longer and approached to see what I was looking at. He made a disgusted expression when he saw these infamous ants.
Damn it. Araceli! We should call the pest control!
Pest control?
It would be futile. As someone with the Eye of the Golden Age, I had a feeling I understood why the chef was so shaken by these ants. When we arrived, I hadnt noticed such small details, but the mad ant empire had constructed a massive and three-dimensional city inside the ranch, extending from the blind spot of vision to inside the ranchs fence. This meant that they covered an area of at least an acre. Counting the number of individuals, there would easily be hundreds of millions of them.
Could this be used as a bioweapon if handled correctly? For an indirect purpose, like disrupting infrastructure. I decided to keep this possibility in mind, which had suddenly urred to me. With a bit more investigation, I might find an answer. Whether it was worth pursuing practical applications or not. Somehow, these ants reminded me of the ten gues of Exodus.
Drive.
As the car started, Suyeon apologized to me.
Im sorry, Hyungnim. I didnt catch the information about the conflicts and power shifts among the cartels regarding Guadjara.
The conflicts and power shifts among the cartels were crucial information for negotiations. Suyeon was apologizing for the gaps in the pre-negotiation research conducted by the secretarys office. I waved my hand vaguely in response.
Its fine. Most likely, the Sinaloa Cartel blocked the unfavorable information. Attacking a crucial stronghold of the cartel isnt something that ends with just a minor skirmish for the Temr Knights. If you think about it, thats how the Mexican government sees it too.
Moreover, in the current global context, there were only a few ces that were truly turbulent. Major events that could capture international media attention were scattered around. Military tensions, diplomatic disputes, and numerous social conflicts were on the rise. It was as if humanity was experiencing growing pains in the era of magic.
Furthermore
Mexico has always been a ce where cartels cause trouble now and then.
It was originally that kind of neighborhood.
Last year, following their victory in a full-scale battle with the government, the Sinaloa Cartelunched an offensive to reim the 17 states they had dominated during their heyday, especially as the momentum of the Chinese-origin pandemic waned. Over the past few years, the southern cartel alliances had held sway over ces like Guadjara and the state of Jalisco. The remnants of the Temr Knights, who were ousted by the joint forces at the time, were part of this campaign.
This was because the leadership of the current head of the dominant Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in the southern alliance had either sumbed to the epidemic or had been annihted by government forces, making any organized counterattack impossible. As a result, the government seemed to have done nothing but favor Sinaloa in this regard.
Lets gather information on the conflict between these two factions.
To Suyeons words, I returned the notebook I had borrowed and added further instructions.
Set up a fieldmand post and a safe house in Puerto Varta and send in the action teams. The size of the deployment will be determined in consultation with Kyung-tae. Instruct the support team to monitor the frequencies listed there until the job is done. Once the review of the blueprints isplete, Ill get a direct report from the tech team.
Yes. Well confirm if its safe to proceed with the instation of the fieldmand post in the infectious disease risk area.
Thats right. And Kyung-tae.
Yes.
As the person in charge, go ahead first and get settled. Observe the local situation and make ns. In this delivery, we cant afford a single loss.
Understood.
Ill go there too. There might be variables that cant evade my eyes.
Neither of them objected to my n. They knew my determination and my abilities as a mage. Kyung-tae sometimes referred to the fieldmand post Id join as a map hack or bug report, strange terms the younger generation used these days.
By the way, about the leader of that knightly order.
Kyung-tae shifted the conversation with a curious expression.
He didnt just go insane, he must have really thought things through.
Thinking things through meant that he had seen through the eras changes, likely brought about by the appearance of an awakened.
Because were not the only ones who can think. The answer will be clear when we see if theyre solely using swords or if theyre also using automated weaponry.
Was it just madness, or was it a calcted strategy?
As wed discussed in numerous internal strategy meetings, in modern warfare, physical fitness equated to firepower and defense. Awakened individuals who transcend human limits could be armed with more powerful weapons and wear thicker armor. This implied that conventional anti-personnel weapons struggle against awakened adversaries. In other words, it was a phenomenon of weapon systems bing anomalous.
However, organization-wide equipment and strategy changes require time and resources. Therefore, the Temr Knights, who first introduced the military elite paradigm to the cartel industry, would be able to ravage Sinaloa unterally for a while. It was reminiscent of the nightmare Los Zetas brought to the cartel industry when they first introduced this kind of military elite paradigm.
The use of cold weapons like longswords also existed as an extension of this context. Since the empowerment of personal weapons led to a decrease in ammunition capacity or an increase in ammunition consumption, carrying cold weapons like longswords to improvebat sustainability was worth considering depending on the situation. Especially in cases like the current Temr Knights, where prolonged guerri warfare was waged against the enemy.
Kyung-tae spoke up.
If this is an intentional tactic and performance, Id like to meet them and have a showdown. Its an opportunity to gain experience that will pay off in the future.
I narrowed my eyes at this suggestion.
Dont talk nonsense. The stakes are too high. We need to proceed safely.
Well, Hyungnim. Im not underestimating ourselves. Especially when youre with us.
While I might consider pulling the plug if it became too dangerous, it was a deal we couldnt simply walk away from with a submarine on the line. If those fake holy warriors with the drugs decided to crash the party, it could getplicated in many ways. The fake knights were best left to their own devices. Puerto Varta was far less important than Guadjara.
But if Guadjara falls, well have to be prepared.
Despite Kyung-taes words, we werent in a position to fear the fake knights, but what concerned me was not the direct conflict with them but the additional variables that unnecessary conflict could create.
In the end, the final judgment would have to be made after I assessed the situation on the ground.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 39: Starving Port (1)
Chapter 39: Starving Port (1)
In November, Mexico was one of the Nations where the outbreak of Chinese pneumonia was still ongoing. The steady stream of new patients, numbering in the dozens each day, provided sufficient grounds for various foreign ministries to issue regional travel advisories. In a country like Mexico, if the statistics reported dozens, the actual number of patients was obvious, likely numbering in the hundreds.
Yet, Puerto Varta remained a safe haven from the disease. This was due to the efforts of the financially struggling state government, which had concentrated its epidemic prevention capabilities to attract wealthy tourists. Even with my own eyes, I couldnt detect any trace of the epidemic.
However, the state governments efforts were in vain. The global economic crisis triggered by the pandemic and the oil price copse had crushed tourism demand itself. Moreover, within the severe economic downturn, Mexicos already notorious security situation was continually worsening. Murders, kidnappings, rapes, robberies, riots, arson, and frequent shes between cartels. Even in Puerto Varta, a ce known for its safety, dark smoke often rose from the slums. Eventually, the once-thriving autumn port became shrouded in a mncholy silence.
Arriving at the port a fortnight earlier than the expected arrival date of the ship carrying the merchandise, and before themand post had even been fully set up, I spent nearly four days on-site inspection. When I dropped by a restaurant on the main road on the fourth day, instead of lively music, the news on the local TV channel was ying.
Segn encuestas recientes, falta de seguridad pblica es una des mayores preocupaciones des personas pobres. La industria privada de seguridad tambin est creciendo en respuesta.
The news discussed how the security gap was bing the main concern for poor people and how there was an increasing demand for private securitypanies. The announcers voice was as dry as the atmosphere in this city. In this country, it was nothing particrly new. It was just that the fall seemed to have descended even deeper than before, beyond the rock bottom we believed it to be.
Es difcil sobrevivir. Los estadounidenses no llegarn este a?o. Vlgate! No se puede ganar 50 pesos trabajando todo el da. (Its hard to survive. Americans arenting this year. Damn! You cant even make 50 pesos working all day.)
This was aint from a waitress seated across from me. Since my group was the only customer in this shop, the waitress reluctantly epted my request to chat until other customers arrived. Kyung-tae and Suyeon had moved to a nearby table for a while. Apart from them, two security teams were waiting in vehicles outside.
Originally, many Americans used toe here?
I asked, and the waitress nodded vigorously.
Yes. This city used to see a significant increase in poption every winter. Wealthy retirees from North America used to spend their winters here, warm andfortable. So, for the past six months, even though it was difficult, we had hopes for the winter, thinking, What if?''
She let out a deep sigh.
Well, in the end, its aplete disaster. Many of the hotels and resorts are said to be on the brink of closure. Some have already shut down. Its all gone wrong for us.
I understand what you mean. It must be very tough.
It really is. If I told Se?ors group today was the first customer, would you believe me? Theres no sign of this recession getting better, is there?
Fifty pesos were less than 3,000 won, even in Mexico, where the cost of living was rtively low. It was a meager amount of money. I watched as the waitresss eyes, despite her initial reluctance, kept rolling toward the leftover food I had, and her throat seemed to tighten at times. This woman was in a situation where even in Mexico, where prices were low, it was difficult to afford the cheapest meal sold to tourists. Unless there was an employee discount, this was a menu sold to tourists and was rtively expensive.
Its like the Africanborers working on Cacao farms.
They spent their whole lives harvesting cacao, but they didnt even know what chocte tasted like before they died. Exploitation was part of human nature and urred in all fields where profit could be pursued, so I didnt feel particrly moved. Mexico, from the start, was two to three times better than the African average.
Furthermore, this waitresss frankints gave me a strong impression that it was a strategy to increase profits. Otherwise, would someone tantly say, Im poor, like this?
Please leave this here, and if you have any menu you want, go ahead and order.
Pardon?
Its on me. You seem like you havent eaten yet.
Oh, really?
I reassured her with a calm nod.
Dont worry about the price. Order as you like, as much as you can eat. While youre at it, may I have a horchata, please?
The waitress, who had been in conflict, quickly sumbed to her hunger and, after a brief conversation with the person who seemed to be the boss, rang the bell for the kitchen to take her order and returned. In the days when money flowed into the harbor, it would have been unthinkable.
T-Thank you. Ill enjoy it.
Her cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment. Perhaps it wasnt the fact that I came alone, but the moment I made an effort to spend time talking to her and asked for her opinion she felt a fondness for me. These features could be enough for her to have confidence. The distant owner watched this scene with an expression of mixed feelings. From the perspective of someone who was on the brink of ruin due to ack of customers, it might not be such a bad thing. After all, sales were going up.
The waitress cleared the table and sat down again, smiling.
Se?or, youre a kind person. You speak Spanish well. Are you not Chinese?
No, Im from South Korea.
Corea?
Corea del Sur.
Ah, South Korea! Ive seen it on TV so often its like Im sick of winter. They say its the country that handled the damn Chinese pandemic the best. They make good masks, and their test kits are trustworthy, unlike the Chinese ones. Even the mighty United States supposedly received a lot of help from South Korea this time.
Thats what they say.
It felt really refreshing. Those who used to act so high and mighty turned out to be nothing more than rich idiots.
Exactly. The United States, full of wealthy and powerful savages.
Maria, right?
I read her name tag.
Between the United States and China, which one do you dislike more?
Maria, who received the question, blinked her eyes like a rabbit, and then she sighed and fell into thought. The United States, which invaded Mexico and plundered more than half of its territory without shame, treating Mexicans as potential illegal immigrants, and China, which exported the pandemic and devastated the world, making even immediate sustenance difficult. The conflict-ridden Maria didnt take long toe up with an answer.
China.
As expected. Do other people feel the same way?
I think so. Isnt that true in most cases? They look like theyre about to die, but they hate the Chinese even more. They dont like that they keep insisting theyre not the source and dont like the fact that the stuff they give out has a lot of ws. Its also annoying how they sell masks and kits, putting on a show that theyre helping when theyre the ones who spread the disease.
Reasons for hatred flowed out smoothly. It was the expected answer. Common patriotism couldnt beat a starving stomach. Maria chuckled and then spoke seriously.
Im telling you this since you said youre not Chinese, Se?or.
What is it?
After ncing around as if to make sure, she put one hand to her mouth.
In my opinion, Taiwan is number one.
Spit! There was a sound of someone spitting out their drink. When I turned around, Suyeon had put her cup down and was holding her mouth with the back of her hand. Her other hand was clutching her forehead. Kyung-tae, who didnt know how to speak Spanish, was sitting with a dumbfounded expression after getting hit by a water thunderbolt. Suyeon apologized, pressing her temple, and Kyung-tae replied, No, Noonim. This is a reward for Kim Kyung-tae, a reward, in English, making Suyeons face even worse.
Maria gracefully got up, took a towel, and fulfilled her waitress duties. Kyung-tae, who calmly epted the gesture, this time stammered in English.
Oh, the reward doesnt end in one time, huh?
In this tourist city, knowing English was a required part of the service industry. It could make a difference in the tips received, depending on whether one knew it or not. Hearing Kyung-taes joke, Mariaughed heartily.
Afterward, she sat back down and, seeming more at ease, continued to share additionalints about China and the stories of those around her who were struggling even to have meals. The mention of Taiwan as number one seemed like her way of additional verification.
Mary! Aqu est tu orden! (Mary, this is the food that he ordered!)
The chef from the kitchen extended his upper body and shouted, to which Maria turned her head and raised her voice.
Bien, voy a estar all! (Yes, Iming!)
She winked at me and turned away.
Please wait a moment. Ill be back soon.
I watched her cheerful stride, contemting the hatred and animosity she had expressed towards China. It was quite satisfying to see these negative emotions spreading throughout the world.
After escaping the frying pan, I dont want to end up in the fire.
I opposed The Round Table of Light and Truth because I was so sure that they would never let me go. By destroying the Round Table, my only desire was to live in a world where there were no longer people trying to find and kill me. This hope was the most distinct difference between me and the imperialists who filled the world. Their desires were endless, while mine had a simple and modest ending.
The problem was that the era in which the poption became an asymmetrical power was approaching. China officially had 1.44 billion people, and unofficially it was estimated to be closer to 1.5 billion. Awakened individuals with circuits open would be an increasingly difficult force to ovee by other means.
I was counting on the newly re-elected U.S. president, who seeded this month.
He may be insane in many ways, but thats precisely why he can boldly prevent the things he wouldnt be able to do when sane. By issuing an executive order, he can ignore autonomy and destroy the holynd of People of the Desert like hes plundering it.
He, the lunatic who held the reins of government with anti-China promises, was already building a sharper confrontation with China than ever before. This was because of the resentment he held, believing that they almost ruined his term due to the Chinese virus.
This political opposition was receiving direct and indirect support from many nations affected by the virus. Hong Kong, which was tumultuous with freedom protests all year, had now be a thorn in the mainds side, and Kyung-tae gave an inexplicablement saying, I sense a brewing crisis.
Drururur-
Maria returned with a serving cart. She ced my drinks first.
Heres the horchata you added.
It was a creamy, cinnamon and vani-spiced drink made with rice milk. Then came the main course, five in total, and two desserts. I gave the waitress a restrained smile, ncing at her to see if she noticed. In reality, I couldnt afford to give her more than this.
After clearing the cart and starting her meal with a more rxed attitude, she continued to share various stories. I made asionalments and inserted the keywords I wanted to discuss one by one.
Cartel?
Marias eyes widened, and she nodded slightly, looking a bit mncholic.
Well, its a tough time for everyone. Many people are considering joining cartels because at least they wont have to worry about food. Moreover-
Moreover?
My dad used to say that nowadays its tough not only for us but also for the cartels. Thats why theyre going all out topete with each other. After all, humans have the things that humans need the most, right? With the cost of human lives being so cheap, recruiting members for their organizations has be easier, so there are frequent fights.
Good point. What does your father do?
I offered an apology to Maria for asking a question that seemed to make her more mncholic.
Im sorry. I asked an unnecessary question.
No, its okay. In the end, its because of those damn Chinese. Originally, he worked at the harbor office right here
The word was that even thest bastion of maintaining order, the government officials, was being cleaned up.
From the testimony of this local, it could be reconfirmed that the current situation in Puerto Varta, and even in all of Mexico, was simr to a pile of dry firewood soaked in gasoline. Any cartel, with money and weapons, could endlessly recruit troops, creating an infinitely precarious situation.
In Guadjara, its already an ongoing story.
It took me only three days to travel from Houston to this port. In those short three days, the situation in Guadjara had deteriorated rapidly, to the point where any attempt at concealment orpromise was impossible. The so-called War of the Meat Shields, with the Temr Knights starting the fire and Sinaloa igniting the counter-fire, was turning Mexicos secondrgest city into something resembling Baghdad in 1990.
And it wasnt just Guadjara. Simr incidents, albeit varying in scale and form, were beginning to ur sporadically in different parts of Mexico, and even beyond, in all the unstable streets and cities worldwide. While the appearance might seem calm, within, there was simmering heat, destruction, and death.
Looking at it differently, I could perhaps take advantage of this situation and get myself some insurance. As a precaution against unpredictable external forces setting the world on fire.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 40: Starving Port (2)
Chapter 40: Starving Port (2)
Miss Maria, how much is the minimum wage in Mexico? Oh, please eat and tell me. You can take your time.
The woman who received the question swallowed what she was chewing so deliciously and then asked inquisitively.
The minimum wage?
The legally set minimum wage.
Oh, that? Korea pays hourly. In our country, its paid by the day.
I see. So, how much is it?
Its different in the northern and southern parts. In the northern border area, it was 180 pesos a day, I think? Or was it 185 pesos? Anyway, roughly around that. Here, its only 123 pesos. Even with a 20% increase from El Cacas.
El Cacas? Whos that?
Cacas meant pieces of shit in Korean. It was a minor thing, but I wondered who could have such a nasty nickname. The woman answered with a smallugh.
Its President Lopez Obrador. His original nickname was El Peje, but he got a new one after scolding the corrupt big shots, saying You pieces of shit! It happened earlier this year.
I see. There might not be any ill will towards those who gave him the nickname, but it would have been better for President Obrador to have been called a specialty of his hometown. I nodded and returned to my steak.
I understand what you mean. But Miss Maria, why arent you receiving the legal minimum wage? Is it possible that youre being treated unfairly by your employer here?
Unfair treatment? Oh no!
Maria jumped up to defend her boss.
The boss is a good person. Hes also my dads friend. Its just that in this industry, we have contracts that fill the wage with tips. Until earlier this year, the amount was higher than the minimum wage, so there wasnt any problem. Thanks to the customers today, I might catch my breath
In the United States, themon format of employment contracts existed here as well. As Maria grew more tired and let out a sigh, her words became indistinct. Then, with ack of energy, she began to slice the well-cooked beef tenderloin. I looked at her dejected appearance and solidified my n.
Just offering the minimum wage will likely astonish a significant portion of the poption.
Puerto Varta was a poor city. This poverty began to reveal itself as soon as you crossed just one street from the beach, whererge hotels and luxury resorts were abundant. Iplete and rusty steel structures started to appear, apanied by shabby houses and even shabbier people living there. Well-maintained areas were only a small part, and the rest of the city was filled with poor individuals who came seeking jobs supported by the money of tourists. Sometimes, walls painted in soft pastel tones, and other times, walls colored in intense primary hues, along with countless bougainvillea flowers, disguised this poverty as exotic romance.
Tourists who roamed these alleys probably saw only the surface and returned home with memories filled with all kinds of colors. They might have said that Puerto Varta was a beautiful ce and, unlike typical Mexico, a safe ce. However, the only reason they could be safe was the frequent patrols by armed military police.
Since the epidemic, this bare harbor had been suffering from a severe famine for almost three-quarters. The woman in front of me, just by having a job, was considered one of the fortunate few.
123 pesos.
The daily minimum wage here was barely around 7,000 won ($6). With a good excuse, you could barely survive a day on just 70 million won, let alone 10,000 people. Currently, I was involved in deals with a nominal market value exceeding 300 billion won, and the potential value of the blueprints I would obtain was much higher. So, I had ns to spend around 1-5% of the total deal amount as a safety cost. Considering the risk factor, even up to 10% if it became absolutely necessary. This was still a substantial sum, enough to shake the entire impoverished city.
The problem was the excuse. There was no convincing excuse. An excuse to keep all these people obedient
Se?or.
The woman caught my attention.
What are you thinking so deeply about?
How could I ensure that this harbor would remain peaceful until my departure? I didnt care if it turned into hell after I left. If martialw was dered, like in Guadjara, everything would be over. I responded after being asked, my mind still preupied with the thought.
Im thinking about doing something good.
Something good? What kind of thing?
Bringing hope to the citizens of this city.
?
Maria tilted her head in confusion. However, I wasnt joking. As soon as the immediate threat of starvation disappeared, jobs, even if well-paying, would be unpopr if they risked peoples lives. It was uncertain whether even the cartel thugs would generously pay the daily wages of meat shields andckeys.
So, providing false hope to this starving harbor would serve as a preventive measure to deter the factionspeting for control from recruiting more sicarios, at least until my deal waspleted.
Earlier, you mentioned that your father used to work for the Harbor Office, right?
Maria nodded cautiously in response to my question.
Hes just on unpaid leave due to government budget issues, but hes still associated with them.
Thats fortunate. Anyway, what do you think about introducing me to him?
Introducing you? To my father?
Yes. You see, Ive been looking for the right person rted to my work. I dont know if youre aware, but in Mexico, they call it the Land of Friends (Amigo) among businessmen. They say that to do business, you need to make friends first.
In other words, the Land of Friends didnt mean it was a friendly country; rather, it implied that without connections, you couldnt achieve anything in the country. Just like China, the Philippines, Myanmar, Thand, and other politically backward countries. I rested my chin on my hand.
Since your father is coincidentally on break today, wouldnt it be possible to arrange something?
Well, thats
I will offerpensation.
Hmm
Maria hesitated at my sudden proposal. Originally, I intended to use this woman as a bridge to approach za Hefe, the cartels regional boss, but this was Mexico.
Across the road, theres a luxury cruise dock that regrly hosted ships, right next to it is a casino where foreigners freely splurged their bills, and to the south, a line of hotels along the beach Its a strange ce without any connection to the za.
Running a business in such a famous tourist spot without paying tribute to the cartel was an unimaginable task. This establishment, too, must have been paying the Derecho de Piso or floor rights, which was essentially a form of rent. Maria, as an employee, must have had connections with the za organization members. Given her striking features, even lesser officers might have been interested.
In essence, I was looking for an appropriately humble contact. It was easier to gain trust if the contact wasnt a high-ranking figure. At the moment, I was just a foreign businessman with limited knowledge of this port, not El Municionero. So, if Marias father was a harbor official, it might be a better choice for me. It would reduce the number of bridges to cross.
Anyway, is this woman acting as a go-between?
Luck seemed to be on my side. Maria, who was hesitating earlier, agreed.
Alright, Ill introduce you! My father has been quite gloomytely, so it might be good for him. But, should we discuss the payment separately, for you and my father?
Ill take care of it without any regrets.
Great, then were friends from today! But I still dont know your name.
Call me Hwang.
Huan. From now on, you can call me Maria. Nice to meet you!
In Chinese, I had transitioned from being a new friend to a good friend. It was a shift from someone almost like a stranger to someone you know a bit. Maria, who smiled and shook my hand, pointed to the table.
Can I finish this first and then contact him?
Of course. Enjoy your meal; it looks good.
Really?
Yes. In Korea, we express someone who enjoys their food as having good luck. So, lets say youre about as feliz cara in your terms. (+)[1]TLN: Feliz cara/cara feliz = happy face (lit)
Wow, I learned something new!
Maria happily continued to eat, truly enjoying her meal. Kyung-tae, who was sipping horchata like me, said, Hey, if she was Korean, she could have made a hit with mukbang, right? Was mukbang a term for food broadcasts? There were so many confusing terms these days. I maintained my patient endurance to preserve Marias favorable impression of me.
So, after eating almost enough for six people and feeling content, Maria immediately called her father with a bright voice, saying she made a very good friend.
About 40 minutester, an old Nissan Versa pulled up in front of the store. The car, in general, was not in good condition, and the bumper was covered in scratches from doing its job. The man who got out of the car scrutinized the waiting security vehicle carefully before entering the store. Maria lightly hugged him and introduced me.
This is Huan I mentioned earlier. Huan, this is my father.
I shook hands with the portly public servant.
Im Hwang.
Pedro. Pedro Santos Sanchez. You can call me Perucho.''
Nice to meet you, Perucho.
Perhaps because it was his daughters introduction or maybe he had some rare work after a long time, Perucho allowed a nickname from the first meeting. It could be the vibrancy of a lesser harbor official, who frequently received signs of respect from businessmen. Maria said, You two talk. Huan, dont forget to tip me before you leave, and went back to her work. It was the position of an employee who had to endure the bosss difort, pretending not to see his inconvenience while waiting for a guest who might note.
The retired civil servant sitting across from me gave me a calcting look.
So, youre into business?
Yes.
Could you be more specific about the kind of business youre in?
You can think of me as dabbling in various profitable fields. I own farms in several countries, run apany, and, as you can see in front of you, not many, but I also have a few passenger ships. Currently, Im visiting candidate ports to include in the passenger routes.
I see. You must be quite impressive.
Perucho, trying not to seem too impressed. But I had only spoken the truth. Over the past few years, one of the items consistently included in the investment portfolio of Yeouido Kim-ssi was the purchase of overseas farnds, apany is a basic necessity, and there were a few passenger ships, including a cruise ship that exclusively catered to foreigners, ying in the West Sea and South Sea, and a cruise ferry traveling between divostok. (+)[2]TLN: I made a mistake in tranting Kims name. Before, I tranted him as Kim from Yeoudio. Thats not right. The MC is literally calling him Yeouido Kim. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Among these, the smallest ship was the cruise ferry with a capacity of 500 passengers, which I acquired this year for a mere 600 million won in a court auction. Thepany that owned it originally went bankrupt due to the economic downturn, and there were no buyers because of consecutive outbreaks of group infections on cruise ships.
Everyone probably thought it was a bad time.
In the end, this ship, which had repeated multiple failures in the auction, became the property of an organization affiliate at a price that wasnt even a quarter of the cost of new construction. I intended to use this ship for a deal with Bratsky Krug, a dealer in Russia.
I encouraged him.
Lets start with something to drink and talk.
Are you the one buying it?
Isnt it obvious?
In a November with lowtitude, it was still warm for plump people. Perucho, with sweat on his forehead, readily epted my offer.
Maria! Dont you have something cold and refreshing here?
How about Lemonade?
All right, Ill have that.
Perucho turned to me.
How long have you been in the passenger business?
Im starting with international routes in earnest for the first time now.
Starting a cruise business at a time like this? Arent you being too reckless?
On the contrary, its precisely because its a time like this that its worth trying. Do you think the prices of those cruise ships in front of us havent dropped considerably? In an economic downturn, the way to be truly wealthy is to strike while the iron is hot. In any business, there are always risks.
Thats true.
The retired civil servant smacked his lips and looked at the cruise ship moored in the harbor as if it hadnt received proper management for nearly half a year. The passenger ship, which seemed to have been left to the elements, created a stagnant scene in the front waters of the port. That was why the Harbor Office had gone into hibernation.
So, what do you want from me? Top-secret data for your business feasibility analysis? Or a smooth permit process? Maybe making sure localpanies wont overcharge to be included in the cruise itinerary?
I tilted my head in response to the civil servants question.
No, actually, before that, Id like to do some charity work.
Charity work?
Exactly, I mean I want to help those in need. When I looked around the city, it seemed like there were so many people who couldnt even have a meal. As a Christian, it was hard for me to just pass by the suffering of my brothers and sisters.
Perhaps my earnest imitation of a devout believer was unexpected because Perucho looked a bit puzzled and asked again.
Could you please tell me specifically what youre nning to do?
Well, I dont know. Should I start by giving each citizen at least one piece of bread?
Each citizen? Hahaha!
Perucho burst intoughter.
You seem to underestimate this city too much, Se?or Huan. Do you know how many people live here? Just in the city center, there are 220,000! Including the suburbs, its almost 400,000! Lets say youre giving one piece of white bread for 30 pesos to 400,000 people. How much would that cost? Huh?
400,000 times 30 pesos Well, that would be 12 million pesos, right?
.
12 million pesos was roughly 700 million won. It was the cost of feeding the entire city at a cheap price for just one meal. The retired civil servant, who had been silent for a moment, seemed to have realized that I was sincere, as he swallowed and adjusted his posture to a more polite one. The daughter, who brought lemonade on a tray, found his transformation from stern to polite might have seemed refreshing.- 1. TLN: Feliz cara/cara feliz = happy face (lit)
- 2. TLN: I made a mistake in tranting Kims name. Before, I tranted him as Kim from Yeoudio. Thats not right. The MC is literally calling him Yeouido Kim. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 41: Starving Port (3)
Chapter 41: Starving Port (3)
Trembling Giant. Since I gained a fascination with water on that white and misty winter day in the forest, there had been one small improvement in my life. I could now easily remove the moisture that built up between my silicone mask and my skin. In a hot country like Mexico, this was a tremendous advantage. I used to wonder how CIA agents, the pioneers of this kind of disguise technology, managed to wear or attach these things all day long, as if they had some kind of secret technique. But now, it had be somewhat manageable for me too. I might not have their skills and patience, but I made do with a bit of magic.
However, wearing it continuously for several days was still challenging. Even after removing the moisture, the oil residue remained, and no matter how thin and finely sculpted the mask was, it still felt stuffy to wear. Furthermore, achieving perfect coordination with facial muscles required the use of pressure and adhesive agents to squeeze and adhere to the face. So, if the material lost its sticity or adhesion, I had to rece it with a spare mask. This was especially true if it wasnt a full-cover type like the one I currently used. The more improvement there was in disguise andfort, the more parts needed attention.
Therefore, when I was out in public, engaged in activities under disguise, I rarely had the chance to use my own room. Firstly, it was for security measure, and secondly, it was a safety measure to ensure that I wouldnt identally expose my bare face while resting.
Ill check it briefly.
It was the 12th morning of my stay in Puerto Varta. Suyeon, who had finished preparing to go out, carefully examined my mask. Originally, wearing and finishing the adhesive on this thing was her job, buttely, Id been doing it myself while looking in the mirror, using precise telekinesis techniques.
Suyeon poked my cheek with her fingers and turned my chin here and there. She soon nodded with an okay sign.
Everything looks fine.
With a passing grade, I shifted my gaze to the ss bottle on the table. It contained the crazy ant queen, which had been kidnapped by a regr ant with the help of another ant, receiving nutrition from it. Since I left Houston, checking this every morning had be part of my daily routine. In my subordinates personal belongings, there was also one ss bottle each.
Beyond the table, curtains bathed in the morning sun were softly glowing. Through the gap in the curtains, a calm sea sparkled like a river. The harbor was still peaceful.
Perucho is waiting outside.
Suyeons report made me smile lightly even in my half-awake state.
That guy is begging like hes asking for your seat.
What do you mean?
Hes acting like my secretary.
It was just a casual remark, but Suyeons gaze became chillingly sharp. I had asionally felt this before, but there was definitely a somewhat obsessive side to my chief secretarys attachment to her position. She reacted strongly even when lightly touched.
In the end, it must be because of her older brothers legacy.
In Singapore, Suyeon answered that she had been living for herself for 10 years. But from my perspective, it seemed more like the younger sisters possessiveness regarding the role that should have been her older brothers. It was an obsession as unchanging as the seasons during rivers and mountains transformation.
So, if I were to ask whether I disliked it, the answer was no. Why would I dislike it? As long as this obsession didnt change, her loyalty to me wouldnt change either. I diverted the attention with a casual question.
What time did that guy start waiting outside today?
Hes been waiting since 5 in the morning.
Hes quite dedicated.
He didnt even go home yesterday. He stayed at this hotel.
Did he have that kind of money? That thought quickly faded away. Naturally, he wouldnt have paid. He probably used our close rtionship as leverage to demand special treatment from the hotel or the hotel took care of it themselves. I had figured out that he was the kind of person who would do that over the past few days. He believed himself to be different from others, but in reality, he was no different.
What about the others? Did anything unusual happenst night?
Nothing.
They probably wouldnt be the ones, but dont let your guard down for a moment. After putting in so much effort toe this far, we cant turn back without a n.
Understood.
The subject of my inquiry, the other sites, naturally referred to themand center and safe houses. Currently, I was pretending to be a businessman staying in a hotel, but I had ns to move my residence when the time came. The guys deployed there were monitoring areas beyond my line of sight using satellites and drones. Eavesdropping on the satellitemunication of the Northeastern Faction was part of their job, and they were also putting in the effort to collect radio frequencies from the Sinaloa Cartel. Even just securing themunication channels of the lesser sicarios would be a great help in understanding their overall movements.
Kyung-tae.
Yes?
Get a suitable watch and lets go out.
To whom are you giving this item?
Perucho.
Kyung-tae brought the watch and received my approval, then I nodded silently.
Lets go.
As we passed through the living room of the suite and stepped outside, Perucho, who had been waiting like a servant in the corridor, greeted me.
Presidente Huan! Good morning.
Yes, good morning. Youre diligent as always.
Its my job, after all, to serve the Presidente.
It was an utterly sincere-sounding remark, to the point of being amusing. Where had that slightly annoying attitude he had when we first met gone? Even when addressing me, he always added Chairman or the respectful term Don. Now, he seemed to have be genuinely fervent in his worship.
Thank you very much, but isnt your official duty more important? I heard you were reinstated recently.
A momentary twitch crossed Peruchos face at my words.
No, its not like that. You dont have to worry about it. After all, this isnt aplicated port where many shipse and go. Do you think Im needed here? Rather, Presidentes business is the way to prosperity for the port. I am in the position where I should be.
Abu had certainly grown in the past few days. I nodded lightly.
If you think so. Then Ill ept your kindness a little more.
Kindness? Youre saying too much, Presidente.
In fact, it had been two days since Perucho had switched from a leave of absence to active duty. However, this chubby man, full of enthusiasm, eagerly followed me around and took on the role of a local assistant, not caring about the position he had regained and his duties.
The reason I kept this lesser government official by my side was simple: he looked unassuming. Every time people of all ages and backgrounds saw this unassuming, chubby man, they would reflect on the coincidences, fate, and luck that might have made him theirs.
Tap, tap. I signaled Kyung-tae with my fingers. Understanding the apanied gesture, Kyung-tae opened the case containing the watch in front of Perucho.
Whats this?
Blue wave patterns engraved on the dial behind the sapphire ss. The contents of the case were a mid-range model of an Omega Seamaster. To the slightly confused yet expectant obese government official with the watch and me, I gave a reassuring gesture.
Its because the old watch looked worn out.
Oh, my goodness!
Its a product that costs less than $10,000, so please feel free to wear it.
Thank you! Thank you!
It was an entry-level item, but it cost over $6,000. It was a luxury item that one could barely afford to buy with several months worth of a government officials sry. Perucho, now wearing the watch, started to act like someone trying on a suit that didnt fit. It was because he was paying too much attention to the watch on his wrist. And thus, the impression of this chubby man had moved beyond being unassuming and entered the realm of being an idiot, which was exactly what I had hoped for.
A $6,000 improvement in the acting skills of an actor who didnt even know he had a role. It was not a bad price. Especially when you were swindling tens of thousands of people.
As we reached the lobby, the crowd outside the main gate had erupted in excitement.
Huan! Huan! Huan! Huan!
Their chanting of my false name created a rhythmic and overwhelming resonance. Armed police officers were struggling to control the crowd. From the moment we passed through the lobby entrance, I couldnt hear anything anymore. In the midst of the noise, which felt like a home run hit outside the Major League Baseball championship stage, I waved to the citizens who loved Huan for quite some time before exposing the watch-d actor and then boarded the waiting limousine.
Thunk!
After the door closed, I spoke to Perucho, who was sitting across from me.
I feel like Im receiving too much favor. Everything Ive done so far is just sharing a bit of food with everyone.
Too much favor? Absolutely not!
The chubby man shook both his hands and head.
Presidente is doing things for us that even the government couldnt do! That damned government didnt give us a single grain of rice or a single kernel of corn!
The chubby man became so excited that he swung his fist in the air.
Can you believe it? In such difficult times, the government didnt give a single peso to the sufferingmon people! Other countries give cash and food, but how can there be such a difference? Cant they just dy the tax payments a bit?
Please calm down.
To calm down the excited chubby man, a calm word was enough.
As Perucho mentioned, the Mexican government hadnte up with any relief measures for individual citizens struggling with the health crisis and the resulting economic crisis. Thanks to that, the relief goods worth 141 pesos that I distributed to each person had a tremendous impact on this starving port. I was truly grateful to the Mexican government.
141 pesos was roughly 7,900 Korean won.
The items provided per person for this amount were as follows: 4 kg of tortis, 4 kg of rice, 2 kg of tomatoes, 2 kg of bananas, 1 liter of cooking oil, 48 eggs, one loaf of 500-gram white bread, and 1 kg of chicken. Among them, the eggs and white bread were obtained as extra bonuses, thanks to the influence of the Catholic diocese due to bulk purchasing and price reduction.
The man who helped with this task, Bishop Prez Ortega of the Autln diocese, started from being an unassuming chubby man and connected three bridges to be the person he was today.
Um, Presidente, I have one thing to ask
What is it?
As I looked at him, Perucho hesitated for a moment, rolling his eyes carefully before speaking with great difficulty.
Uh, excuse me if this is an impertinent question, but, Presidente, are you particrly close to Se?orita Choi?
Se?orita Choi, or Choi, was the fakest name Suyeon used. In other words, this chubby man was asking if there was something between Suyeon and me. Right after the question was asked, Suyeon stared at the questioner with an icy expression, not blinking once. Perucho seemed ufortable pretending not to notice that gaze.
No, we are not.
I replied, turning the slightly annoying question back at him.
But why are you asking that when you know it might be impertinent?
Oh, well Se?orita Choi is so exceptional, and even though she has several bedrooms, she seems to use the same suite, and she doesnt seem to call any other woman. Shes always close to Presidente, so I was wondering if thats the case
Listening, I got irritated.
I am a celibate. Got it?
Its just a question, not a judgment. You are indeed a faithful believer.
The government official who had disembarked took on an unnatural posture like a puppet on strings. I suppressed a sigh and looked out the car window.
Celibacy is nonsense.
My body might not have had a proper experience yet, but the reason was not some stupid abstinence. It was because of these eyes. These damn eyes that wouldnt close even if they want to.
How many perverted assholes were there in this world who would build an X-ray machine to peer into veins filled with flowing blood, a beating heart, a liver secreting bile, and intestines filled with feces, all shing brilliantly with various information, souls, and mana? Even if all theponents of the human body were vividly disyed with a variety of colors due to the influence of various factors, I was not a pervert who got excited while watching the mysterious spectacle of the human body. I could analyze the objective beauty, but I couldnt feel the subjective charm.
In human desire, the visual stimulus yed a significant role. Perhaps no one felt this fact more urgently than I did.
Id rather have a nk te of visual stimtion.
I found it difficult to even imagine a human body with blood, flesh, and organs wriggling. I was exposed to the otherworldly sights all day long. While I maintained an objective image of humans through drawings and photos, connecting that image to real people in the realm of instincts was another difficult task. Perhaps in terms of sexual aspects, innate equipment was superior to mine.
However, for someone like me, sexual desire became a torment the more it umted.
Experience? If we must define it, I had some. There were moments in this line of work that you couldnt avoid, and there was a need to prepare for them in advance. But that was merely concealing disabilities with borate imitation and technical umtion. It was something far from being called normal behavior.
In other words, I was visually impaired.
The coldness Suyeon showed a while ago was probably annoyance at touching a sensitive nerve.
The scenery outside the car window was the street flowing north. It wasnt far from the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Perucho, deciding that the unbearable moment had passed, started muttering again. He emphasized that his daughter was a good child and, despite dropping out of college, if only they had money, she had the ability to graduate and repeatedly emphasized that Korea was a very good country. He even interjected anecdotes that a man needed a good wife for a stable life.
Interrupting his ongoing chatter, I spoke up.
Perucho.
Yes, Presidente!
Korea is indeed a good country, but Mexico is also a good country. Where else can you find such a beautiful country in the world?
Peruchos chubby face showed a hint of disappointment.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 42: Starving Port (4)
Chapter 42: Starving Port (4)
Mexico is a beautiful country. But it can never be a good country, Presidente.
His mustache, which had forcefully put on a cheerful demeanor, sighed gloomily while drying off.
Thend may have been blessed by God, but the people who live on thatnd have been corrupted for a long time. They curse the shitheads, but starting from the president, who is a shithead himself, to the government that values pride more than the lives of its people, the cartels that are polluting the blessednd with blood and drugs, the ipetent army that cant do anything about a single cartel, and the countless fatherless bastards all around
Hisments about the governments pride were probably rted to the Sinaloa Cartels humanitarian activities. When the most powerful cartel in Mexico started humanitarian efforts in their stronghold in the northwest and in some major contested areas, President Obrador, whose dignity was hurt, expressed his displeasure by saying, Stop that.
To be honest, I understand. More people die from drugs and shootings than by helping them.
The presidents demand meant that stopping inter-organization warfare and other criminal activities would be more helpful to more people than such hypocrisy. But from the perspective of the poor people receiving help, it sounded like Dont help the poor. The chubby-faced Perucho was now voicing the anger of these weaker individuals.
The top cartel was always the role model for all the other cartels. Competitors who saw Sinaloa building a solid kingdom in the northwest each took simr actions in their own territories, whether big or small. It was clear that the federal governments authority had dropped in every vige where such support took ce.
The cartels engaged in humanitarian activities invariably emphasized that they were performing the governments role.
Look at what Guadjara has be. Mexico is and of hopeless sinners. Here in Sodom and Gomorrah, Maria cant even dream. She would be lucky to avoid bing a vulgar unmarried mother or not turning into a drug addict, and it would be another stroke of luck if she lived through her baptism. Presidente, I want to give my daughter a better future.
It was a heartfelt fathers sentiment, but it had nothing to do with me. And it was absurd that he was angry at the injustice of the country while being in a position where he probably epted bribes. Half of the fat attached to the boat was likely earned through corruption. Based on what Id seen over the past few days of him using my name, he was also ultimately a Mexican government official. He was one of thosemon weaklings who confuse weakness with goodness.
But it was a problem that the actor who should fulfill his role was in such a dark mood. Wasnt it worth filling up the watch? Iyered my indifference with feigned sympathy.
So, you wanted to involve me in this?
Yes. Korea is indeed a good country, but I heard there are many heretics, non-believers, and bald heretics there, Presidente. You are a rare faithful person who keeps premarital chastity and has an excellent character, so I thought there was nothing more to see. I apologize if I made you ufortable
Apologies epted, lets do it this way.
Yes?
As soon as I finish my business in this city, Ill look into a job for Maria. Whether its in Korea or the United States, Ill make sure she can settle wherever she wants. You wont doubt a job that I guarantee, right?
Oh, you have my gratitude! If you do that for us, we will never forget your kindness!
And heres some advice: a childs love life is not something parents should interfere with lightly. Its something they should leave to their own choices. If Maria is a qualified person, God will help her, just as He brought you to me. Isnt that right?
Yes, indeed!
It was just because I didnt want him to pester me that I said that, but a politician was a politician. Perucho nodded desperately as if he wouldnt let go of the lifeline he had just caught.
I had no intention of actually looking for a job. Wherever I ced Maria, they would probably think that thepany had a connection with Huan, who should disappear from this city for good as long as I was sane enough not to leave unnecessary traces.
I patted the now cheerful Perucho on the shoulder.
I swear by the Almighty God that this promise will be kept as long as I, Huan, am alive. So lets discuss the detailster.
Thank you, Presidente!
But how many tens past the hour is it now? Surprisingly, the traffic seems a bit congested. It would be inconvenient if werete for Mass.
Uh, its 10:20! We still have plenty of time!
Perucho, now checking the time, had be a person who cared about his precious watch again. That was good.
The LCD screen attached to the front of the limousines passengerpartment was tuned to a news channel. The city of Guadjara in the low-quality video was burning like a battlefield. I instructed them to turn up the volume.
[The violence in the Guadjara metropolitan area has now entered its 14th day. The cartel feud, which was once called the Guerra de los Escudos humanos (War of Human Shields), has now acquired a new name, the Guerra de los Condenados (War of the Damned). This is because the cartels, which used to send armed groups with local peasants as human shields, have now started deploying unitsposed of the damned. ]
The expression used to refer to awakened primitive magic users in thisnd was originally blessed ones (Bendecidos), but the cartels ability users were called damned (Condenados), at least on public airwaves. It couldnt be helped. After all, their deeds done with superhuman abilities were all wicked ones.
[President El Cacas has instructed the Durazo Monta?o Minister of Security and Public Safety to prioritize the protection of critical functions and stable residences in the city. Opposition factions criticized this as a discriminatory measure that only protects the wealthy, but the ruling party expressed support, reminding everyone of the tragedy that urred in Culiacn at the end ofst year. However, some ruling party members expressed personal positions that do not align with the party, effectively giving a boost to the opposition.]
Culiacn was a city where the Sinaloa Cartel and the government forces had shed. The countless sacrifices of citizens caught in the crossfire left no option for the government other than to retreat.
[Meanwhile, the man known to have triggered this war, El Maestre, the leader of the Los Caballeros Temrios Cartel, shed with the defense forces in Las Huntars within the city of Guadjara earlier this morning during a blockade operation. After killing forty defense personnel and damaging three vehicles, he and his associates managed to hijack the remaining vehicle and escape.]
The screen transitioned to show fragmented bodies and destroyed vehicles one by one. The injuries on the bodies were not visible due to mosaic censoring, but only the distinct marks left on weapons or vehicles that were cut in half could be clearly seen. Despite the vehicles having additional armor, there were numerous signs of pration on the surface. One of them had its armored door cleanly sliced diagonally. The cut was so precise, contrasting with the armored tes and bulletproof ss. There was no doubt that this result was created by a single cut. The seats were covered in dried bloodstains.
As the TV volume lowered, the driver announced our arrival through the cars speakers.
[We have arrived. Its the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe.]
Although there was still more than half an hour left until the Mass started, the narrow streets nking the main entrance to the cathedral were filled with people who hade to see the Mass. They were likely attendees who had chosen this nearby cathedral due to Huans presence. The streets in front of the cathedral were crowded with worshippers, and if the police hadnt controlled the road in front, they would have had to walk from a more distant location.
As we exited the car, the police officers saluted. Whether I held a salutable position or not was irrelevant. This was a strange country where even the cartel appointed the head of the traffic police.
A police officer of about the rank of captain (1 Oficial) extended his hand toward the cathedral.
Its an honor to have you, Don Huan. Pleasee inside. Everyone is waiting.
The waiting individuals included the citys high-ranking officials, businessmen, and local maintainers. They were the leading actors on the stage I had set.
For things that are difficult to do yourself, you can find people who are good at it and outsource it.
The alliance of shadowy figures that ruled this city with a tight grip possessed exceptional abilities when it came to devising usible ns and strategies that could offer hope to the citizens. Their extensive experience in milking this city for all it was worth spoke volumes.
In essence, what mattered was the n, not the oue. No matter how exorbitant the cost of a n might be, I would only have to pay a portion of the initial expense. ns like boosting employment among the poor, providing continuous relief supplies, urban redevelopment ns, expanding tourism facilities, and more ns, one after another. These maniptive con artists, made up of politicians, businessmen, and other high-ranking nobodies, had endlessly presented and publicized ns to drain the pockets of a well-intentioned foreign businessman, while injecting hope into the hearts of the impoverished citizens.
Watching these excellent maneuvers, I thought of the strategies employed by stock market yers. Werent they fundamentally the same? Inspiring people with intangible hope to make them fanatical.
By this point, I had spent around 82 million pesos, equivalent to roughly 450 million Korean won. My initial budget had been 30 billion pesos, so I was doing quite well. If I could hold out for just three more days, I didnt anticipate incurring many additional expenses during that time.
Don Huan.
After an hour-long Sunday Mass, one of the corrupt figures approached me in a dignified manner.
Mayor Szar Baquino.
Oh, Huan. Why be so formal? Just call me Chellino.
Szar Baquino, aka Chellino, was the gluttonous mayor of this hungry port. An individual who had risen up five rungs from a corrupt harbor official.
All right, Chellino. Is there something you need from me?
I inquired, and the mayorughed, responding positively.
Yes, indeed, I do. Well, not exactly something I need, but someone Id like to introduce.
Who was this person on the sixth rung? A federal government official, a prominent member of the ruling party, or perhaps a local cartel lord? Either way, they were wee. While inting peoples hopes with promises of prosperity, it would also make it easier to fulfill my role as Huan disappearing from this city.
That sounds promising. If youre introducing them to me, Im sure theyre important connections.
Oh, haha! Youre being so kind with your words. Well then, if youre agreeable, lets go see them right away.
Right now?
If its convenient for you. One of them is the type who needs to get things done immediately or else he cant rx, while the other hase from a far ce and took the time out of his busy schedule to attend. Perhaps Don Huan has other urgent matters?
No, not at all. Businessmen cant afford to miss opportunities, and if youre introducing someone, Mayor, then Id be more than willing to adjust my schedule to meet them. Im already looking forward to meeting these individuals.
Haha! Great, great. You have an excellent attitude. Lets leave the question of who they are until we meet them in person and savor the joy of that moment.
Chellino Szar Baquino led me to his mansion, Casa Sue?os Del Mar, located in the northern suburb of Buceras. To get there, we had to drive 40 minutes north from the Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral, where we attended Mass.
At this point, one should know that this mansion, with its rather extravagant name, was situated right in front of a seemingly endless stretch of beach, miles and miles long. Even if you brought the longest sandy beach in South Korea here, it wouldntpare. The only downside to this upscale neighborhood was the presence of tacky hotels and foreign tourists strolling along the streets.
Even in Buceras, the line between rich and poor was drawn along the highway. The refreshing afternoon southwestern wind, carrying the scent of the sea and the waves, lost its vitality as it traversed the well-gardened residences and only permeated the alleys of the less fortunate after shedding most of its vigor. As I drove along the highway, this contrast became vividly apparent. The cars veering left were modern, belonging to this era, while those going right were relics from the past. In this city, even the change of eras was filtered like the wind, gradually seeping in.
The line of vehicles, including the limousine I was in, stopped when the paved road ended at the entrance to the property. There, two inclothes guards armed with automatic rifles were stationed, and along the wall, high-end cars that had arrived earlier were neatly parked.
Pr-Presidente!
Among the parked cars, one stood outa Porsche 911 Carrera S, gleaming in silver. Perucho, the stout man, shouted in a pale voice as a warning.
Be careful! Thats El Juegos car!
I responded, feigning ignorance.
Who is that?
Hes the heir of the Sinaloa Cartels Buceras za, a very ruthless and dangerous man. Do you know how many people have gone missing since that guy returned to this port six months ago? This might be a trap, an attempt to kidnap Presidente and demand a ransom! No one would suspect the Mayors invitation!
Calm down, calm down.
Iforted Perucho, who was speaking frantically with a stern face. At the gate, the mayor was making a weing gesture, smiling. I signaled that I would follow shortly and faced the anxious man with a long mustache.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 43: Starving Port (5)
Chapter 43: Starving Port (5)
Perucho, I understand youre worried about Mexico and the cartels, but if their n was to kidnap me, they would have done it long ago.
Presidente!
Think about it. This port isnt ideal for exporting drugs; the zas main source of ie will ultimately rely on tourism. They make money from selling drugs to foreigners, collecting taxes from shops catering to tourists, operating casinos, and even arranging prostitution.
Would someone like that kidnap a businessman trying to bring in a wave of tourists to Puerto Varta? Not unless the zas boss is nning something big and trying to escape. Am I wrong?
Well, thats true, but
The reason I hadnt taken the threat of a za armed attack seriously despite all the money Id spent was precisely this. Hepe, responsible for a za, wasnt someone with the vision to rise without being cut down. Even if they stormed in en masse, theyd be cut down by the security team eventually.
Every business involves risks, you know?
I repeated my words from our first meeting, and Peruchos gaze fell. He understood logically but couldnt shake his fear from his heart. So, I put on a reassuring smile while suppressing my innerughter.
Im safe. But Perucho, youre not. So, please wait for me here.
No, I cant!
Yes, you can.
It would be troublesome if this burly man overheard the conversation inside. The recorded conversation was going to undergo some devilish editing, so if the parties to the conversation made any ims, they would sound like sinners offering flimsy excuses. However, this mans testimony could turn the tables.
Perucho needed to see and hear only up to this pointme being invited by the Mayor to meet Hepe from the za. Thats why I touched on Peruchos weakness.
What will happen to Maria if you do something wrong??
A surprised reaction from Perucho.
If something goes wrong with you again, how should I look at Maria? If I find her a job, will she ept the favor from someone indirectly connected to her fathers death?
In the end, Perucho nodded, epting my terms. Satisfied with how my supporting cast was working just as I wanted, I walked toward the Mayor, who was waiting for me.
Have you been waiting long?
The conversation seemed to go on for a while.
It was just a minor personal matter. Nothing you need to concern yourself with, Chellino.
Well, well. Even though we have a connection, you take a lesser government official like him so seriously. Theres a certain level ofpatibility between people. Anyway, Don Huan, no matter how you look at it, youre overly magnanimous.
Thats an exaggerated assessment. Anyway, shall we go in? Your guests are waiting.
Of course, lets go. This way!
Mayor Chellino and I walked side by side, passing through the gate made of iron bars. Inside the gate, the pathway was an independent entrance shared by nine luxurious mansions. Armed guards patrolled the rtively short pathway back and forth, briefly acknowledging the presence of the Mayor and me.
The rear entrance of Casa Sue?os Del Mar was located to the left at the end of this pathway. Even though a servant was waiting, the Mayor personally opened the door for me.
Wee to my home, Huan.
Casa Sue?os Del Mar had ayout with two separate structures nking a courtyard in the middle. The side facing the entrance was a guest house, while the side facing the sea was the main residence. The door connecting the courtyard and the main building was tall, reaching up to two stories, and its roof was supported by four white columns. The walls were painted pale cream, and the roof had Mediterranean-style red tiles. The garden was covered with lush green grass, and in between, there was a swimming pool with blue tiles, creating a striking contrast. Just from what you could see, it was already a beautiful living space. The fact that it was enclosed by walls on all sides, ensuring privacy, was another advantage.
The Mayor seemed somewhat embarrassed by this grand mansion.
This ce, its a bit embarrassing to invite guests to my modest home.
Yes, it only had five bedrooms, which wasnt a lot for a mansion. Although each bedroom wasrger than a typical house in the slums, such discrepancies weremon in Mexico. In that regard, Mexico wasnt the worst country. I reassured the Mayor.
Chellino, youre in a public office, after all. You havent had many chances to handle big money. Also, its not just about the size of the mansion. The wind and the sea here are a beauty that even money cant buy in Korea. Honestly, I envy it, so you can be proud.
Oh, really? Hahaha! It feels good to hear that, even if its just empty praise!
Before entering the main building, some men, whether they were the Mayors people or sicarios from the cartel, used metal detectors to scan our bodies. The metal detectors were malfunctioning because I had momentarily interrupted the current flowing to the sensors.
Afterward, the Mayor entered the main building with a smile. Inside, the Mayor introduced the people who had been waiting.
Please, say hello to Huan here. This is El Juego and El Tiro of the Sinaloa Cartel. I apologize, but I cant disclose their real names.
Juego and Tiro. Juego had the ssic slicked-back hair and wore semi-transparent sunsses. He had a good physique and looked like a fashionable guy from the streets. Tiro, on the other hand, was slightly shorter, had arger head, and his body was heavily muscled; he looked like a damned man. They stood up from their seat and shook hands with me courteously.
Im Huan. Nice to meet you.
Im El Juego. Im the boss of this port.
Im El Tiro.
As I shook hands with them, Tiro furrowed his brow.
Does this guy sense something?
When two different magical fields ovep, an ability user with a mana circuit could indirectly sense the presence of another ability user or awakened being by feeling their mana being suppressed, causing their own power to weaken.
However, El Tiro seemed uncertain about me. This was due to my efforts to suppress my magical abilities as much as possible, a skill that only a true mage who could manipte their circuits freely could achieve. In the end, El Tiro whispered something to El Juego, more like a warning look toward Suyeon and Kyung-tae than me. While receiving that gaze, Suyeon spoke to Kyung-tae in Korean.
Ill take the left and the front, you take the right and the back.
The two, who had simr roles as bodyguards, stood at a distance from me. It was either to prepare for a situation where I had to exert maximum control strength over magic power, or it was due to their cautiousness to not provoke the Mayor and cartel executives from a distance between them and the door.
The Mayor looked at me with a sly smile.
Don Huan, youre not surprised to hear about the identities of these two?
I replied nonchntly.
I understand the uniqueness of Mexico well enough. As long as you do business in thisnd, I expected to eventually meet with cartel representatives.
Apparently, my attitude was quite unexpected, and the Mayor invited me to sit down with a strange expression, not knowing whether tough or be surprised.
Haha Lets sit down and talk.
Four people, including the Mayor, took their seats around a sturdy wooden table with no seams. My position, with the courtyard obliquely behind me, provided a good view of the interior.
El Juego, with a mischievous look, spoke in a low voice.
Youre an unusual person. A regr businessman who isnt afraid of us, and a devout believer who doesnt despise us.
The Mayor chimed in.
Thats right. Its quite surprising how calmly hes taking all this, considering how wary I was of him.
Wary? Wary for what?
I asked, and the Mayor shrugged.
Even if Don Huan here were to be disappointed with Chellino Baquino, it wouldnt be anything out of the ordinary.
To this, I loaded up a retort and turned my head.
Disappointed? Not at all. I already told you. I understand Mexicos uniqueness well enough.
At this point, El Juego spoke up again.
Could you tell us what you mean by Mexicos uniqueness?
Its simple. The cartels arent evil.
Huh. And the reason?
I believe that saving people is good, and killing them is evil.
Wait a moment. Are you saying that our cartel saves people?
They kill and save, but if youpare the two, they save more. Ultimately, its about the quantity left, which is good. If theres a positive result, its good, and thats enough. In a world where people live, there cant be perfect goodness. I prioritize results.
I dont like liars.
I dont like liars either.
El Juego chuckled softly.
Speaking sincerely, it seems your perspective and analytical skills as a businessman have many issues. Are you seriously making these remarks without realizing that we are distributing relief supplies all over the ce? You dont see that obvious intention?
Regardless of the intention, doesnt it practically help the situation?
Looks like Ie here to talk to an idiot. Youve underestimated us with your simple calctions. Do you know how many people are dying in the United States because of the drugs we provide?
Yes.
But?
As long as you dont sell drugs, Americans wont have ess to drugs, will they?
My slow response, despite being a bit of nonsense, actually contained a lot of truth.
The Golden Triangle in Southeast Asia, especially the Wa rebels (United Wa State Army) connected to China, had been producing fentanyl recently, known in the United States as China White, which had gained tremendous poprity. This drug required only one-fifth the amount of cocaine for a single use, and at a minimum, it was only one-two-thousandth of the cost, making it easy to smuggle. It was highly profitable, and in terms of its effects, addictive qualities, and side effects, it far surpassed cocaine.
The Chinese Triads smuggled vast quantities of China White into the United States every year, enough to kill the entire U.S. poption several times over. It was quite aical situation, but realistically speaking, the huge quantity of cocaine going from Latin America to North America was essentially keeping many Americans safe from China White, which was far worse.
I also do business in the United States, and I understand how that country works. The more you know, the more profit you can make. If cocaine disappears, another drug will take its ce, wont it?
El Juego, who had listened quietly, now pushed back with a cheeky smile.
Go on.
In the end, demand leads to supply. As long as Americans want drugs, someone will supply them. Most likely, the Chinese will take on that role.
Thats true. You seem to really understand. But what does your business have to do with it?
I may have failed, but I explored the insurance sector once. And even there, I often helped the poor and sick. I couldnt ignore their circumstances.
Narcotics were a luxury favored by those who had a hard life. Even the impoverished residents of North Korea indulged in methamphetamine, which helped them forget their hunger.
El Juego, who had listened to my fluent lies, twisted his lips into a wry smile.
Damn Chinese. That damned China White! Do they think were so stupid that we dont make fentanyl? What the hell are they thinking? Theyre so blinded by immediate profits that they kill all the customers!
He clenched his fist and shook it, simr to how Italians gather their hands when talking.
Even if we kill them, arent new guys going to fill the void if we dont kill them slowly like we do? Its all because of those short-sighted guys that our people on this side are also talking about handling fentanyl!
This reminded me of Chinese fishing vessels that engaged in illegal fishing in the worlds seas. The Chinese fishermen from the Red Continent, who dried all kinds of fish species from their own fishing grounds, were now destroying the waters of other countries with their densely-knit drifs. Their fishing methods had no future; it was just about todays profit.
They were a horde of locusts worshiping gold.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 44: Starving Port (6)
Chapter 44: Starving Port (6)
Ill tell you a slightly different story.
I said.
During the Vietnam War, some of the deployed U.S. soldiers had experiences with heroin use. One out of three, to be exact, had used heroin at some point, and one out of five was showing signs of addiction. But do you know who initially started making and selling heroin in that region?
Well, I dont know much about that side of the market. Was it the Americans, by any chance?
No, it was France.
Too bad. It was getting interesting.
Dont be disappointed. The United States joined in after fifty years, too.
Why did they join?
Because their interests aligned. France wanted to keep Vietnam as a colony, and the United States wanted to prevent the spread ofmunist influence. But the leading force in the Vietnamese War of Independence was none other than themunists, whoter became the Viet Cong.
Huh, its getting interesting again.
France had been cultivating opium in this region and selling it since the 19th century. It served both as a means to weaken nationalist forces and as a source of revenue for the rulers.
On the other hand, initially, the United States wanted to grant Vietnam its independence. Their n was to secure independence first and then establish a pro-American government to preventmunism. However, France threatened to cooperate with the Soviet Union if the United States didnt support them. Reluctantly, the United States sided with France. From then on, the United States became the enemy of Vietnamese nationalists.
However, the United States had no reason to feel wronged. After France was chased away by the Viet Minh, the United States inherited Frances legacy.
El Juego chuckled in a low tone.
So, in other words, the heroin that addicted U.S. soldiers was actually made by the United States?
Its somewhat simr. Strictly speaking, their role was in distribution, and production was outsourced to various ces. But its undeniable that they were the biggest yer in the entire Southeast Asia. CIAs drugs scattered across Vietnam must have ended up in the hands of U.S. soldiers too.
France withdrewpletely from Vietnam a few years after the United States entered. To this day, the notorious Southeast Asian Golden Triangle was more than half a result of U.S. efforts.
Juegos chuckle deepened.
Selling drugs to their own citizens must have been a tradition in the United States. You probably already know this, but that damn CIA is like our markets senior!
Of course. It was during the Reagan administration.
Oh, right. The president at the time was Donald Reagan, wasnt it? I heard that. The current president seems quite stupid, too. Maybe the name Donald is just unlucky. Hahaha!
It wasnt Donald but Ronald Reagan, but there was no need to correct him.
Reagan was a president who had strengthened the War on Drugs during his tenure but, behind the scenes, was supporting the Nicaraguan antimunist rebel group, the Contras, by selling drugs to American citizens. The CIA, a traditional drug powerhouse, was in charge of the entire product distribution and financial support.
The spread of drug addiction in the United States during this period marked a point of no return. After all, the CIA was a powerful andpetent organization. This era also coincided with South America bing the worldsrgest drug-producing region. The money paid by the CIA to production organizations wreaked havoc on security throughout South America.
That was why I found it quite foolish when the United States ced all the me on other countries for the drug problem. Who was ming whom? Both the United States and South America were founding members of the worlds top three drug-producing regions.
Going back to the beginning
I continued the story.
At first, the United States feared that these addicted soldiers would return to the maind and continue seeking drugs. However, the results were the opposite of what was expected. Soldiers liberated from the war didnt need drugs. Even after returning home, only one out of a hundred remained addicted. Its a well-known story; have you heard of it?
El Juego pursed his lips and shrugged. He didnt know. When I turned my gaze, Mayor Chellino also shook his head. The former was excusable, but thetter was simply ignorant. By the time someone reaches the level of politics, they should have heard of famous anecdotes like this.
There was also the Rat Park Experiment rted to this. It was an experiment that provided drugs to lonely rats confined in metal cages and, as a control group, to rats in a park. Here, park was referred to as a paradise for water rats, a space designed to be perfect in every way.
What were the results? The lonely and isted ratspulsively used drugs, but the rats withpanionship in the park showed no interest in the drugs they were given. Even when sugar was added to the drug solution, they ignored it, and even the rats previously addicted near the metal cages showed signs of quitting once they were transferred to the park.
The results clearly indicate the message. I continued my words.
In reality, those who be addicted to drugs due to the temptation of easily obtaining them are rtively few.
Even though that minority was by no means innocent, I was now ying the role of a defender for the cartel.
The reason Americans cannot escape the lure of drugs is because they are living a life that leaves them no other choice. An unstable life where they struggle to make ends meet every day, an environment where there are barely any positive stimuli, parents with nothing to pass on except poverty, friends in the same situation, and a society that doesnt care about abandoned and marginalized individuals.
Leaning back in my chair, I delivered my wordsced with restrained sarcasm.
The biggest culprit that drives Americans into drug addiction is not the Mexican cartel or the Chinese Triads; its America itself. Thats my point.
In the briefly silent room, ps suddenly echoed. p, p, p. El Juego, who pped slowly and loudly, looked at me with a mocking grin.
You seem to dislike the United States quite a bit.
Its not just the United States.
Hmm?
I dislike countries like the United States, China, Japan, Germany, Belgium, the United Kingdom, France, and others. I dislike countries that havemitted many sins and dont reflect on them. Because I believe that God will not approve of what they have done.
Kuha! I didnt expect God to make an appearance here. Interesting, really interesting!
El Juego, who sought agreement by tapping the shoulders of the mayor and my colleague, asked me with renewed interest.
Alright, Huan, do you think were better than the United States in your eyes?
Of course, you guys are evil. But
But?
Whether youre viins or not, I believe that the Lord is using you for a good purpose. The Lord is infinitely good, and all the good things in this worlde from Him without exception.
Did you hear that? Did you hear?
El Juegoughed loudly.
I thought wed meet a stubborn, close-minded old man like our local priest, but look at this! If he had nothing to do, hed probably ask our kids for education! The kids who go to Mass every Sunday would have gonepletely mad! Hahaha!
The other two at the same table seemed ufortable with El Juegos irreverence. Especially thendlord. Although he was a member of the ruling party and the mayor of a tourist port with an unusually high police presence, he didnt want to provoke the foreigners unnecessarily and seemed to be trying to keep things calm.
It seemed he was trying to show me up right from the beginning. In Spanish, there was a saying that even a foreigner had a say in it. He didnt deliberately act rudely to suppress the foreign businessman; he just seemed to be naturally disrespectful. I wonder if this guy, like me, didnt have parents?
Up until now, El Tiro, who had been silently listening, finally spoke up.
Don Juan, theres something you should know.
What is it?
You sabotaged our work.
Sabotage?
I asked in surprise, and El Juego tried to restrain El Tiro.
Easy, easy, buddy, lets talk nicely.
We were too impatient. We couldnt gather the allocated number of troops by the designated date. From unemployed town folks to beggars, no one listens to the recruitment officials. Its all because of this useless foreigner.
While it was precisely what I intended, I didnt feel particrly good about it. Insurance regarding idents was most ideal when you didnt need to use it. The fact that this cannon fodder, El Tiro, attempted to gather meat shields was itself a bad omen to me.
It means that battle could happen in this city as well.
There was now that said the battle zone must be in Mulron. There was a possibility that they might want to gather troops and make demands here.
However, regardless of the situation, they seemed to be in a hurry for troops. Even if they were just disposable mercenaries used for a low price, there was still a daily maintenance cost, and considering the high numbers, they didnt seem to be thinking about long-term deployment.
Thud!
With a m, El Tiro brought his fist down on the table. I didnt miss the opportunity to act startled, showing a flinching reaction. He leaned closer to me, and elsewhere, he spoke in a threatening tone.
My point is this. If you want to do business in our territory, youll pay a military fund. In return, our cartel promises to look after you.
Before I could say anything, El Juego intervened with annoyance.
Oh, youre impatient! Do you really have to be like this?
Im not in a position to take your orders, am I?
Im the one responsible for this port!
And Im the Deputy Commander of Doble A.''
I finally learned the identity of this guy named Tiro.
Doble A, or in other words, Artistas Asesinos, was one of the three major armed factions led by the Sinaloa Cartel.
Hes bigger than I expected.
The elite of the three factions, Gente Nueva, were probably busy fighting with the knights and scavengers here in Guadjara, and one of the deputymanders from the remaining two strike forces was here. What did that mean?
If fighting were to break out in this port, it wouldnt be ideal, but it would be manageable within the expected range. With just the military and police forces in this area, it would be enough to handle a cartel-on-cartel sh without the need for martialw in the short term. I made sure of that myself.
El Juego said irritably.
Anyway! Ill exin it well, so just stay quiet. Dont I have my own position?
El Tiro, with a sour expression, backed away slightly and clenched his fist. It seemed that within the organization, El Juegos position wasnt as bad as I thought. Perhaps through connections or family ties. Simply being the boss of one port wasnt enough to stop the Deputy Commander of Doble A.
It doesnt look like a deliberate act.
This was some good cop, bad cop act, and it was not even intentional, unlike the FBIs exaggerated show.
Could it be that this port will be a battlefield? Like Guadjara?
I asked with the demeanor of a businessman trying to suppress my fear and swallowed my saliva. El Juego, who had to attract investment, reassured me with a pat on the back.
No, no, dont worry. Your conscience is clear. His mission is a bypass attack. The sicarios gathering here will make a detour to the south, clearing out the headquarters of those knight-wannabes in southern Michoacn.
Hey, El Juego!
What now?
Are you out of your mind to disclose the operation to an outsider?
Why are you worried? Are you afraid that a foreigner from across the Pacific is a spy for the knights?
Still, theres such a thing as principles!
Principles, my ass! In business, we have to show trust to each other! Dont you know that today, Chellino and I are being extremely amodating to you?
They were ying around quite a bit. The two who had been engaged in a staring contest turned their sharp gazes away with Chellino the mayors intervention.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 45: Starving Port (7)
Chapter 45: Starving Port (7)
`El Juego pulled the couch closer to me and leaned his body diagonally on the armrest.
I saw you something you shouldnt have for a moment.
No.
Dont be too scared. Tiro here is a bit edgy right now. We need to gather our forces before the main unitnds, and if things continue like this, well get a beating from themander.
Speaking of which, that war chest that was mentioned earlier, is it a bribe for themander to cover up any failures?
Hey, businessman, you catch on fast! Thats right, exactly!
El Juego easily affirmed it. Even though the word bribe came up, El Tiro showed no signs of embarrassment. For them, it was just a natural part of their thinking.
About 4 million pesos should be fine, right? Think of it as the peacekeeping fee for this city. It would be even better if you paid it in dors. The Mexican currency is very unstable these days.
4 million pesos was roughly 200 million won. It was a manageable amount if you were going to give it, but it was best to avoid unnecessary waste. I rolled my head and asked a question that might be meaningless to me but would be natural for Huan.
I cant just give that amount of pesos or dors without conditions. Earlier, you mentioned that the organization would provide some convenience to me. What specific convenience can you offer me?
Huan might see the risk in the business environment more significantly or be scared enough to give up on this port, but in El Juegos position, it would be difficult. He had already offered concessions and talked about my perspective. El Juego made the proposal.
Ill grant you a tax exemption for ten years, but only for the businesses you own in this port.
Tax exemption?
Yes, a tax exemption! Derecho de Piso, in other words, the protection fee collected by the organization.
Well
We usually collect 10% of your operating profit as a tax. Imagine how much of an advantage a 10% difference will be when youpete with businesses in the same industry. Mostpetitors wont even dare to do business! What Im offering is practically a monopoly!
That would indeed be advantageous.
To be honest, the condition itself was quite favorable.
Its not necessarily a promise that will be kept to the end.
Once Huan had a lot in this port, and thus couldnt easily withdraw, El Juego would finally reveal his intentions. He would cancel the promise, make more and more unreasonable demands, and force the foreign businessman to spit out more profits. It was like raising livestock. Whether in a gambling den, a business deal, or the criminal underworld, the wisdom of surviving as a human being was ultimately quite simr. Could you really not see through this arrogant guy? El Juegos temptation continued, transitioning from a rude attitude to a technically gentle one.
Yeah, thats right. And with connections to the organization, you wont need to pay express fees here and there, right? Within our cartels territory, no government official or cop will be able to ask you for grease money. Ill stake my name on it and make a clear promise.
Express fees and grease. These two words summarized the business environment in Mexico sinctly. In particr, grease was such a well-known concept in Mexico that there was even an idiomatic expression called Mexican ointment (Ungento mexicano). Just as one applies lubricating oil to a machine, not greasing the bureaucratic wheels in Mexico meant that your business would continue to squeak.
Before bing an idiomatic expression, grease (ungento) originally referred to ointment used as a salve or to the anointing oil applied to dy the decay of a corpse. The decay of a corpse and the decay of bureaucracy shared amon threadthe act of applying oil covered the stench of corruption.
I nodded and said.
So, essentially, its about making one-time payments for all the unofficial expenses going forward, right? At a very steep discount?
Thats right! We understand each other.
Okay.
Hallelujah!
In that case, Ill make arger investment. Id like to establish a good rtionship with El Tiro this time.
Perhaps because youre of the yellow race, youre very quick at calcting! So, how much are you willing to spend?
Under the condition that the agreements weve discussed so far will be notarized by the market owner, Ill have $2 million in cash ready within four days. However, please ensure that the notarized document has three seals. Signatures alone wont do.
In three days, my ship would arrive. Since I wouldnt be leaving anyway, I decided to call arge sum. Chellino, who had to guarantee a political suicide, looked very ufortable but would likely be in this position already. Hed collect amission too.
Wait a minute, three seals
Chellino tried to say something ufortable, but El Juego, who had risen to his feet with arms raised, blocked him. El Juego, who was rejoicing silently in his own world, suddenly turned to El Tiro like firing a machine gun and shouted.
See that? Did you see it? This is how you have a conversation! Follow the example of El Juego! This muscle-bound guy! Two million dors! Try to match that! Two mil lion dolrs!
Despite El Juegos explosive vulgarity, El Tiro surprisingly didnt seem too upset. Of course, it was all because of the money. Two million dors wouldnt be a small amount even for cartel executives who frequently handlerge sums of money.
But four days seems toote. Ill already be on my way when you return.
Until the expedition is over, you can leave it on my side. Ill handle it. Besides, for the paperwork, you can add Chomos signature. Dont worry.
In context, Chomo would likely be a nickname for the Double Amander.
If his nickname is Chomo, his real name is probably Jernimo.
Due to Hugos reckless remark, Tiro gave me a slightly suspicious look, and I pretended not to notice anything.
To civilians, this might seem surprising, but criminal deals often relied heavily on trust. This was especially true for transactions within criminal organizations. Deception could lead to facing off with the other partys faction and potentially even loss of life. Establishing a faction to avoid being deceived was an individuals ability. The one who got scammed was a fool.
I suppose theres no other way.
El Tiro nodded to me and said/
Lets do it this way. Ill graciously ept the money. You wont regret my favor.
I also hope this turns out to be a good investment.
Afterward, Chellino reluctantly prepared the notarized documents.
Sealing documents seems quite unfamiliar. Is this absolutely necessary?
Theres no more certain proof than that. Think of it as part of Eastern culture.
Chellino hesitated, looking ufortable with the stamp ink pad in front of him. Fingerprints were not entirely absent in Mexican culture, but they were notmon. Leaving fingerprints as a government official was much more burdensome than cartel bosses.
As Chellino hesitated with the ink pad in front of him, El Juego got irritated and said a few words.
Hey, Chellino. Why are you hesitating so much? As always, 5% is yours. Work hard, earn more, move to a bigger house, get promoted, and make some hot new friends, okay?
Even the promise of a 5%mission didnt seem to brighten Chellinos mood. Dealing with the burden of this guarantee was bad enough, and seeing cartel bosses easily pocketrge sums of money must have been painful.
However, as El Tiros gaze gradually turned fierce, Chellinos resistance had its limits. In the end, four documents, each with the signatures of four witnesses and four fingerprints, werepleted and sealed in four envelopes. Ironically, the envelopes for official documents had the logo and phone number of the federal government on them.
Its convenient to have the ability to control water, even at times like this.
As the ink pad was water-based, I could distort the fingerprint shape by exerting a constraint force on it when stamping. I just had to press firmly and buy some time. The precise control capability from my sophisticated circuits allowed for such urate forgery.
Even manipting fountain ink wasnt too difficult. By exploiting the nature of water and oil not mixing, you could easily forge fingerprints. You controlled the moisture content to create a mold and simply mixed in the ink.
Having captured my share of documents, I casually assumed an unimportant attitude and asked the most important question.
Now that everythings done, I have a question. What would have happened if I hadnt provided the military funds?
El Juego replied with a counterquestion.
Why are you curious about that?
Its just curiosity. As a foreigner, Im interested in the realities of Mexico.
Well, you seemed to know quite a bit about the United States too.
After being satisfied, Juego began to boast with a stern expression fitting of a cartel executive. The deal had been concluded, so he could confidently rattle off intimidating words. This allowed me to generously record his statements, which I could use as material for editing.
May I ask one more question?
Anything.
There seem to be a significant number of military and police forces in this city. Is it possible for cartel sicarios to gather here on arge scale? Do you exert influence over the navy, army, police, and defense forces as well?
The Guardia Nacional, or National Guard, was a unique Mexican organization thatbined military and federal police functions. It operated under the direct authority of the Minister of Security and Civilian Protection in the federal government. In essence, it represented the military force directly controlled by the President, Lpez Obrador. However, even as a member of the ruling party, an individual mayor could not cover forrge-scale actions of a cartelsbat forces unless they had used bribery.
But if bribes were used, it would be a loss-making business for the mayor.
Chellino, the mayor, smiled and shook his head.
This man wouldnt go that far.
Then what?
Its simple. For the sake of restoring order, the President has decided to tolerate the expansion of the Sinaloa Cartel this time.
Hmm, quite a mess. Even when Sinaloa controlled the dark corners of Guadjara, on the surface, things were peaceful. This was indeed a political decision that could only happen in Mexico.
If the cartels are fighting each other, the cartels will take the me first.
Last year, during the battle in Culiacn against the Sinaloa Cartel, the government had to admit defeat due to the umting civilian casualties. The worsened public sentiment continued to haunt the President. Therefore, what the President was attempting now was a very calcted political decision. The government would tolerate the Sinaloa Cartels expansion for the sake of restoring peace, as well as tarnishing the image of the Sinaloa Cartel in the process. During the process of expanding their influence, the Sinaloa Cartel would inevitably cause numerous civilian casualties. This would highlight the governments ipetence but, given the Presidents still-unrecovered image from the downfallst year, it seemed like a gain rather than a loss for the government. Meanwhile, Sinaloas forces would be worn down.
El Juego yed his part well, offering praise.
Do you understand, Don Huan? This is how powerful our cartel is. Its like another government in Mexico.
It was a statement that could make a ssh in the devil editing.
I see. As an ordinary person, Ill rely on the discretion of El Juego and El Tiro.
Yeah, yeah. Youve grabbed a really good lifeline. Lets do well from now on.
I shook hands once again with the three daredevils with dreams.
With this, all I had to do was wait for the remaining three days to pass. Until it was over, I couldnt let my guard down, but I had removed all the obstacles that could be dealt with through effort.
However, in life, there were things that could go wrong in unexpected ces, no matter how meticulously you n. What turned the smoothly operating n upside down wasnt the Sinaloa Cartel or the Los Caballeros Temrios Cartel. It was a decision by the Mexican government to secretly ept foreign support, and one of the countries involved was the Nation, the United Kingdom, which was the first in the world to establish a special forces unitposed entirely of superhumans.
In other words, the Masters of the Round Table had their eyes on the leader of the Mexican Holy Knights, El Maestre, a supernaturally powerful awakened individual from the Los Caballeros Temrios Cartel.
I found myself in a distant parallel world, closer to the front lines of the Round Table than ever before.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 46: El Maestre (1)
Chapter 46: El Maestre (1)
The rtionship between the United Kingdom and Mexico had traditionally been rtively good. The first nation that was the first to recognize the sovereignty of independent Mexico, was none other than the UK. There had been some difort regarding debt recovery in the past, but it never escted into direct armed conflicts. The conflicts that did arise were settled in the mid-19th century, and from the early 20th century onwards, they maintained friendly rtions. Even during the Falnds War, they covertly supported the UK, despite officially iming neutrality.
Its funny how those same folks now support Argentina.
Well, that was international diplomacy for you. Ethics were a forgotten excuse with time, and self-interest was the one unchanging truth.
Anyway, the friendship between Mexico and the UK continued to strengthen into the 21st century. I, who was highly sensitive to every move of that detestable ind nation, found it intriguing to watch how the UK, which hadmitted Brexit suicide, was trying to salvage the situation by discussing FTAs with countries like Mexico. I had desperately hoped that all their attempts would fail and crumble.
Today, two days before the arrival of the cargo to be exchanged for the submarine blueprints, the major Mexican television channels had been flooded with simr breaking news reports since morning.
[ording to a statement by Marcelo Ebrard, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the military support provided by the FPDA+1 nations in response to the Guadjara incident was formally proposed by the FPDA+1 nations themselves and epted by the Mexican government.]
[As a result, at 1:30 AM local time, British Royal Air Force transport nes begannding at the Miguel Hidalgo International Airport, followed by the deployment of security maintenance units from six nations, including Australia, New Zend, Singapore, Mysia, and India. It has been confirmed that all members of these security maintenance units are Blessed Ones.]
[These security maintenance units immediately started joint operations to assist our National Guard upon arrival, and by 7 AM, they had already stabilized one-third of the city of Guadjara. During this process, the British forces sessfully engaged the Los Caballeros Temrios Cartel in three separate encounters, resulting in the elimination of twenty-six The Damned, but it has been reported that they failed to arrest or assassinate the notorious Knight Commander (El Maestre). No casualties among the British forces have been announced.]
One-third of the city.
Considering this was the result of a surprise attack, it was quite remarkable. To push back the cartel lunatics, who used civilians as shields, so quickly was impressive.
Theyre not showing any battle footage.
There must be videos recorded with head cameras during the battle. However, they werent even showing the corpses of the dead cartel members. The news was listing dry, uninformative facts.
If there was any scene in the news footage that was worth noting, it was the number of drones flying over the city. Just the ones captured in a single frame rivaled battalion-level assets. It appeared they had allocated an unusuallyrge amount of reconnaissance assets, considering the urban warfare scenario.
Certainly, the United Kingdom, having borrowed abilities and wisdom from The Round Table of Light and Truth, and the other five nations who received their filtered knowledge from the UK, wouldnt expose their capabilities so easily. There was a possibility that they had faced unforeseen consequences when shing with the Cartels Knight Commander.
The news continued to show videos rted to the special forces of each country, with the UK being the most impressive, followed by the other four FPDA member nations, and India, which seemed tog behind. Indias video footage of their special forces showed a four-story inverted pyramid structure ced on top of a vehicle. The news anchor mentioned that this structure had set a new record for the Indian military, surpassing their previous record, and was officially recognized as thergest human-made structure ever registered in the Guinness World Records.
Watching this, I couldnt help but wonder if it was really necessary to disy their abilities in such a way. Indias unique circus sensibility was truly hard toprehend
The screen changed, and the British Ambassador to Mexico appeared, delivering some empty and sentimental speech. While the British upper ss was known for their eloquent speech, Spanish subtitles were provided.
[ording to Marcelo Ebrard, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the support from the FPDA+1 for Mexico is purely humanitarian, with no political motives. We extend a helping hand out of friendship andpassion to establish peace in thisnd. We will do our best to assist Mexico.]
It was quite amusing.
I had barely sleptst night. I closed my eyes for about thirty minutes only when dawn broke. Nevertheless, what I felt now was more tension than fatigue. Elevated heart rate, higher body temperature than usual, and a slightly dry mouth. It was the sensation of adrenaline secretion due to stress. My trembling fingertips, stimted by survival instincts and aggressive hatred, were eloquently expressing it.
This day had finallye.
Since my master died of dehydration in my mentalbyrinth, the presence of London had never felt so close. I had always hidden myself, concealed and concealed again, living a life where I never exposed myself.
This was both a disaster and an excellent opportunity for me. If I could eliminate them without leaving any traces and then kill those people who were trying to project their influence on the world with the ns of the Round Table, it would be the ultimate payoff from the start.
It might also keep the Round Tables attention fixed on Mexico for a while.
Londons masters would never allow a group of awakened individuals they had nurtured to be eliminated by a mere natural genius. They would naturally suspect the involvement of someone with the Eye of the Golden Age. While they wandered down the wrong path, I would be able to advance further into the preparation stages of the London campaign with greater freedom.
Suyeon, who had been observing myplexion, asked quietly.
Shall I prepare some coffee?
No.
I needed something else right now.
Bring me some stimnts.
What I carried with me was a preparation for when solo action became unavoidable. Suyeon sighed briefly and found the pills in the bag, along with a ss of water. The pills were 200 milligrams each, and there were about five of them. Considering the diminishing effects due to physical enhancement, it was an overdose. It was a somewhat experimental and intuitive administration, as there wasnt precise research to back it up.
Are you not nning to sleep at all?
I swallowed all five pills in one go and dryly replied.
For the next 48 hours, perhaps. It might even be longer.
The recently consumed Provigil was a member of the Modafinil family, with fewer side effectspared to amphetamines used in the past. At Walter Reed Army Institute of Researchs Building 503, this drug had been studied to enable missionssting over 80 hours consecutively. (+)[1]TLN: Modafinil is a central nervous system stimnt medication used to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea
However, having few side effects did not mean it waspletely safe. Was there really no harm in forcing awake a brain that should be asleep? The longer it was used, the more aggressive it became, making logical thinking difficult and even causing hallucinations in severe cases.
Among these, I had experienced hallucinations myself. It was an old story from the days when I often had to jump into more dangerous situations before the organization had fully established itself.
Looking back, it was like a dream that oveid itself onto reality, as if the hook didnt catch properly.
Blink, blink. Intermittent and momentary hallucinations erode reality. It felt like a part of my brain was nodding off even though I was awake.
Being sleep-deprived, I was more vulnerable to these side effects than most other people. That was why Suyeon had sighed when I demanded these pills.
The short pause in the conversation was filled by the monotone voice of the news anchor.
[The FPDA is an Asian-Pacific regional securitymunity of the British Commonwealth,prising the member nations of the UK, Australia, New Zend, Mysia, and Singapore. Their military cooperation among member countries used to fall short of even a passive mutual defense treaty, but on July 27th of this year, under the leadership of the United Kingdom as the host nation, it was elevated to a military alliance that jointly conducts offensive and defensive operations. India, as the +1, joined as an associate member starting September 5th.]
[Experts in diplomacy and security agree that the UKs recent actions are aimed at countering China. As tensions escted over Hong Kong, its been suggested that they needed a card to militarily pressure China. Additionally, countries like Australia, which faced political trade sanctions from China during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Mysia and Singapore, which have felt threatened by Chinas continued territorial ims in the South China Sea, have actively supported the UK, leading to the swift promotion of the military alliance.]
[This support is the first step in demonstrating that FPDA+1 has the capability to project military power internationally]
[The reactions of the United States and China couldnt be more contrasting. The White House spokesperson praised the unity of FPDA+1, stating that it contributes to global peace, while the Chinese Foreign Minister expressed strong displeasure, likening this deployment by FPDA+1 to nothing less than a conspiracy by forces attempting to infringe upon Chinas sovereignty.]
Kyung-tae, who had been lost in thought, spoke up.
It seems like the Mexican government intentionally dispersed their forces, doesnt it?
What do you mean?
Its what the Mexican government said. When I first heard they allowed the expansion of the Sinaloa Cartel for security stability, I just thought, This is Mexico. But now, it seems like they intentionally induced the dispersion of Sinaloas forces, nning to sweep them up as the next target for the Knights.
Thats possible.
I, too, had reached a simr conclusion. With Double A stationed in this port, only one of the three major armed factions under Sinaloa, Los Mexicles, remained in Ciudad Jurez, the core stronghold of the cartel.
Los Mexicles might have nearly 40,000 members on the surface, but the true hardcore members were no more than 2,000 at most. Even that 2,000 would be generously ssified as a militia force. They were proficient at maintaining secrecy due to their unique Nahuatl dialect, but they fell short in terms ofbat capabilitypared to the other two armed factions.
Apart from these factions, there were other armed groups as well. However, these were more like armed militias of local drug lords rather than cartel armies. Los ntrax, headquartered in Culiacn, Sinaloa, the birthce of the cartel, was one such group. The central government and the state government operated separately, and the state government enjoyed a high degree of autonomy.
Judging by how the citys police are unable to act decisively, it doesnt seem like the president nned this from the beginning
If this assumption is correct, they initially considered an inevitable coboration with Sinaloa, but perhaps they changed direction when they received a favorable offer from the UK. It was like swapping out the knife of a violent murderer.
However, the prolonged presence of foreign troops operating within the country poses a burden that may be difficult for the president to handle. Given the considerable civilian casualties already umted, there is a possibility that they will try to quickly resolve the situation while adhering to the agreement with Sinaloa. Such rapid stabilization would provide strong evidence to support the presidents im that he made the right decision.
The overall probability is roughly fifty-fifty.
Coincidentally, the news anchor reports that President Obrador is facing a political bacsh. The entire opposition is against his actions, as he deployed foreign troops onto Mexican soil without congressional approval. Even some factions within his own party are reported to be joining the movement.
However, in a situation where everything must be conducted in secret, how could they obtain congressional approval beforehand? Among thosewmakers, there are undoubtedly individuals who would leak information to the cartels.
Are Double A and the military still in a standoff?
Suyeon immediately responded to my question.
Yes. I believe the Sinaloa Cartel has noticed that things are unfolding strangely too, but for now, they seem undecided on how to proceed. They are likely mobilizing their connections in Mexico City.
Suyeon put her hand over her ear and listened to the audioing from the in-ear receiver. After a moment, she turned to me with new information.
This is a report from the fieldmand center. Analysis of satellite images taken 17 minutes ago reveals that the British military convoy has left Guadjara. They are heading west along Route 15 and Route 70.
Is that so?
Yes. Given the circumstances, its highly likely that their target, the cartel leader, has fled to the west.
Thats a possibility
At present, there were three Cubesat satellites served as my eyes in the skies over Guadjara. One belonged to the organization, and the other two were owned by satellitepanies affiliated with the organization. These satellites, orbiting at an altitude of 620 kilometers, captured and transmitted photographic data of the Puerto Varta area at intervals of 2 hours and 3 minutes, 7 minutes and 30 seconds, 41 minutes and 1 second, and 74 minutes and 29 seconds, respectively. This provided us with a real-time overview of the Guadjara region.
Approaching the window, I gently part the closed curtains with my fingertips.
Theres one good thing about this country called Mexico.
The tense city was enveloped in silence. Everyone could sense that a storm was imminent, even the flickering streetlights didnt find the courage to light up the streets. Even the fiery Perucho had not sought out Huan. Citizens to whom I had distributed food had no motivation to go fishing in the storm. At least not at this moment.
Turning back to face the room, I leaned against the window frame and continued.
Thats the fact that no matter what we do, the cartel will be the one hunted and suspected.
Even if we detonated bombs in the heart of the city, used explosive magic, or fired machine guns and rockets in all directions, the authorities would soon point the finger at some cartel as the perpetrator. Why? Because Mexican cartels were known to possess a massive arsenal of explosives, machine guns, and rockets. All we needed to do was put in a little effort to conceal our identities.
The blueprint of the submarine and the hunt for the imperialists. I didnt want to give up on either one.- 1. TLN: Modafinil is a central nervous system stimnt medication used to treat sleepiness due to narcolepsy, shift work sleep disorder, and obstructive sleep apnea
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 47: El Maestre (2)
Chapter 47: El Maestre (2)
Both of the routes the British military entered, Route 15 and Route 70, lead to Puerto Varta. Since it wasnt an entirely remote route and there was a possibility of branching off somewhere in the middle, it was still uncertain whether luck would be on our side.
I waited for the updated satellite image analysis results with the anticipation of a high-stakes gambler. The cameras on the Cube satellites orbiting in Low Earth Orbit might not have had enough resolution to distinguish individual people, but they provided more than enough resolution to identify vehicles. However, the 74-minute and 29-second gap between the third and first satellites felt like an agonizingly long time to me.
Of all times, it had to happen during this gap.
Even though it wasnt intentional, Puerto Varta had be the perfect hunting ground. There were stacks of firewood ready to be ignited if someone pulled the trigger. In the midst of the ongoing battle between the Mexican military and the cartel, I could easily slip in and take out Round Tables front-line mages as I pleased. To stop me, Round Table would need a master-level mage with the same level of preparation.
All we needed was for the British to enter this city. Once they did, there would be nothing more to wish for.
As for the goods entering the port? If we kept them waiting in the nearby waters for about two days, it would be enough. The battle that would take ce in Puerto Varta would be different from the War of the Human Shields that happened in Guadjara. It would be short-lived, and I would make sure of that.
Hyungnim.
Suyeon brought me back to attention.
Have the photose up already?
Not yet, but the headquarters field support team has confirmed information about a skirmish at a ce called La Cinega de los Ahumada. The source is a video uploaded by a local resident early this morning.
Uploaded?
The original has been deleted now, which means its no longer avable. The field support team said it was difficult to obtain. Theyre currently being blocked from posting on major inte tforms under vague reasons like inappropriate content. There were probably requests and actions from both the British and U.S. governments involved.
I see.
Even if we could only dy the spread of information by a day or two, it was the best we could do. Concealing operational information in progress is the utmost priority.
Anyway, with assistance from the United States, we could make any information as hard to find as Al-Qaedas regr online newsletters. As long as we seeded in initial responses before significant dissemination urred.
But the location, La Cinega de los Ahumada. Whats that?
Its a small vige located in the mountains between Route 4 and Route 70. You should take a look at the map and the video yourself.
Suyeon tapped on theptop on the table and then turned the screen toward me.
The vige with the name Swamp of the Burned Ones was indeed located deep in the mountains. While there had been some deforestation, a few linearly grown trees along the waterway and a few water puddles remained, hinting at its past appearance.
The time was probably the early morning just before sunrise. The voice of the person behind the shaky footage was trembling with fear. Nevertheless, it was hard to understand the psychology of someone who would hold their phone and gaze out the window in such contradictory foolishness. Regardless, I was in a position where I should be thankful for that foolishness.
Stop.
Click. Suyeon paused the video. I took hold of theptop and rewound the video frame by frame. A lump of ink-colored iron rolled through the streams of res, fired during the skirmish, and the Knight in heavy armor raised his shield. The bursts of res and iron shrapnel rained down on the outer surface of the shield, creating a fierce storm of light.
?Levanta el escudo! ?Renanse a mi alrededor! (Raise your shields and gather around me!)
The Knight shouted, and the smaller Knights gathered around, holding up their shields. The shields, painted ck, only shed with the light of the bullets that had hit them. Their matte coating had been stripped off. The number of Knights who gathered like this was five. Among the five, one handed his massive sword to the Knight in heavy armor.
Maestre! ?Es tu espada! (Leader! Your sword!)
Maestre, a title used to address the Knight Commander. So thergest one was the Knight Commander.
Themander, who received the sword, stabbed it into the ground and pulled out a Russian-maderge-caliber assault rifle, an ASh-12.7, from inside his massive shield. Bang! Kwakwak! Kwakwak! Precise bursts of gunfire. Every time the shes urred, the focus of the screen shook significantly. The videographer must have been terrified.
Damn it! To be fearless, you had to be fearless all the way. It didnt help that the screen was shot vertically, making the field of view narrow.
I focused on the sound instead of the confusing screen. Despite the appearance of randomness in the Knight Commanders shots, they seemed to be quite urate. The distant gunshots, the British militarys shots, momentarily diminished. Probably a result of suppressing fire to maintain cover.
?A este paso, estaremos rodeados pronto! ?Vuelve! ?Vuelve rpido! (If we continue like this, we will soon be surrounded! Get back! Get back quickly!)
The cartel Knights retreated with their shields side by side, maintaining formation and moving backward. The shaking focus couldnt follow the Knights as they disappeared behind the stone wall. I felt a violent urge to push my head into the screen. Eventually, when squad-sized elite British soldiers raced past at full speed, that feeling intensified. The subsequent footage was nothing more than intermittent echoes of gunfire in the mountainous vige at night.
Phew
Calming the irritation born of anxiety with a deep breath, I mulled over the information I had just acquired. Nevertheless, despite the short length of the video, I had gained quite a bit.
It seems like Round Table wants a living Knight Commander.
Is that so?
Yeah. Look at the equipment and speed of the British troops.
Kyung-tae, who had been questioning, focused on the rewound video again. Then he nodded.
I understand. Even though theyre not as good as our guys, their movements seem quite nimble, even with the whole weight of their equipment and backpacks. Their firepower is nothing to scoff at either.
Thats right. The British forces deployed could have killed Knight Commander several times over if they intended to. While the Knight Commanders individual skills appeared to surpass each individual British soldier, it seemed like they werecking in making up the overall difference in power.
On the other hand, the fact that they are still chasing and being chased is evidence that the British forces do not have enough power to capture Knight Commander yet.
Or it could be that this was the first time they were engaging in realbat that relied on magical power, and they hadnt been able to fully utilize their skills.
In short,
This is not a brief chase that will be settled in a short time.
Even amidst my anxiety, I felt a slight sense of relief. For me, the worst-case scenario would be for the situation to end without me having a chance to intervene.
I wish we could go out for a dogfight
A meaningless regret slipped out unintentionally. Knowing the pointlessness of it, neither Kyung-tae nor Suyeon responded.
Why was it meaningless? Because the UK was one of the Five Eyes, the closest allies of the worlds superpower, the United States. As long as they were using United States intelligence assets, I had no idea how many US reconnaissance satellites were watching thisnd. In this situation, going out for an interception before nightfall would be tantamount to suicide. Additionally, the potential presence of unmanned aerial vehicles at high altitudes was also a concern. (+)TLN: The Five Eyes is an intelligence allianceprising Australia, Canada, New Zend, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
If there were high-performance camouge systems (MCS) or infrared-blocking ghillie suits avable, I might consider it, but currently, I had neither. Such equipment hadnt been considered in this scenario.
However, I couldnt just send the guys below.
Night was the better option. The image analysis program could adjust brightness and saturation to daylight levels, but if applied to satellites or high-altitude aerial observations, it would inevitably reduce the resolution. Furthermore, performing such tasks in real-time limited the surveince area due to the processing powers limitations.
Therefore, the best option was for them to enter this city, and the next best option was for the pursuit battle leading westward to continue until darkness fell. The mountainous terrain filled with awakened trees and beasts would disrupt the senses of skilled individuals, allowing me to project all my abilities. Even if it became night, the infrared tracking systems in the sky would be disrupted, but there was a way to disrupt such heat tracking.
Time passed in restless waiting.
I felt like a captain waiting for enemy ships in the age of sail. Even though there was no sign of the enemys shadow on the vast sea, that was precisely why vague enemy figures seemed to move beyond every horizontal line on the horizon. At such times, when a hostile mast rose above the boundary of the sky and the sea, the tension on the entire ship would instantly reach its limit. The captain couldnt take his eyes off the emerging enemy. It was as if a battle were imminent right before our eyes.
However, the distance from the high deck to the horizon was at least 10 kilometers. The enemys presence was clear, but it would still take several tens of minutes for the enemys ship, whether it was a pirate ship or a warship, to reach me. This was even the case if both parties continued without evading each other. Depending on how the winds blew and which currents the ship was riding, it could take longer
Hyungnim.
Suyeon, who had gotten closer without me noticing, looked at me with concern.
I called you three times. Maybe it was a good idea to restrain from that pill.
Damn it.
I wiped my face with my hand. Was it the result of being sleep-deprived for days since yesterday? The perceived fatigue and real fatigue were separate, and physical tension depleted both physical and mental stamina. If only an enemy had appeared before my eyes, it would have been better.
Or perhaps the effects of the pills were different from before.
Get a hold of yourself. Whats the use of getting tired before meeting the enemy?
I scolded myself internally.
The daydream that had flowed away with my scattered concentration had to do with the remains of my master still left in my mind. Even back then when I was young, my master was already dreaming of bing the captain of a front-line warship, even though they were treated as rejects. It was a noble romanticism and a childish ambition.
As inconspicuously as possible, I chose a safe question and asked:
Has the situation changed?
Yes. It has been confirmed that the remaining forces of the Knights Temr engaged in another battle with the British troops in a town called San Sebastian.''
Where is that?
Here.
Suyeon disyed a map on the tablet. The town where the previous battle took ce, La Cinega de los Ahumada, was about 40 km away in a straight line. The distance from Puerto Varta was slightly less, about 35 km.
If thest battle indeed happened at dawn then its a reasonable distance for them to move.
Wearing a gas mask and carrying heavy gear, it would take me around 10 minutes to traverse 6 km of mountainous terrain. Although I was a master-level mage of Round Table, in terms of abilities, a group of awakened individuals selected in order would have no difficulty moving through a mountainous area of 40 km between dawn and morning. I wasnt sure about the abilities of the Knights Temr, but depending on how they nned their route, they could probably cover two or three times that distance during the same time frame.
How did you manage to obtain this information so quickly? It seems like you got it almost in real-time.
Considering the timing of the battle urred, it was essentially real-time information acquisition. This was in stark contrast to the previous video, which took at least half a day to reach me. Even though it was said thatplete inte censorship was impossible due to the vastness of the online space, getting close to real-time information in a situation where the ind nation was focusing on its initial evolution was far from an easy task.
Suyeon promptly responded to my question.
I had prepared in advance.
How?
When the Knights Temr were spotted in La Cinega de los Ahumada, I didnt believe it was a mere coincidence. I doubted whether the Knights Temr, who were in a chase, would carry enough emergency rations with them.
Ah.
In that case, it was likely that they chose to head for a vige despite the favorable hiding ces in the wide mountains to secure calories. Considering the intense consumption of high-mobility operations relying on physical enhancement, if this assumption is correct, they had a high probability of revealing themselves in another vige.
This was something I should have naturally considered. While pressing my temple, I asked again.
So, when you say you prepared, what do you mean?
I found all SNS users living in viges along the expected path and instructed schrship students working in terrestrial broadcasting organizations to attempt contact. I told them that if they sent any information about the Knights Temrsbat with the British troops, be it photos or videos, they would receive a considerable reward. However, I emphasized that this information should not leak through any other means.
It was a simple yet highly effective measure.
Well done.
After a briefmendation, I paused for a moment and added anotherment.
I always rely on you.
Suyeons eyes widened slightly. After a brief hesitation, she lowered her gaze and replied, Yes.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 48: El Maestre (3)
Chapter 48: El Maestre (3)
As thete afternoon arrived, the British militarys pursuit of the Knights Temr neared its conclusion. To the south, a mobile unit, including armored vehicles, blocked their path, while to the north, another special forces unit traveled on foot along the river, effectively cutting them off. The main pursuit force directly chased the prey westward. At this point, it was easy to guess how exceptional their surveince capabilities were, given that they were using only a few hundred troops to block such a vast area. This conclusion was drawn from various pieces of evidence obtained through Suyeons measures.
Truly, my secretarys simple measures had yielded results beyond my expectations. People who had received proposals from Korean broadcastingpanies shared the work with those they knew. Thus, residents who were trying to make ends meet by fishing in the river, working as caretakers in the deep valleys, managing orchards, or struggling to survive in a copsed economy had contributed their information. Even in ces where it didnt make sense for anyone to be, diverse tips poured in.
Theyre probably farmers growing illegal crops.
Farmers who entered the mountains at this hour, nting marijuana or coca trees sparsely, monitoring and preventing theft every day to earn a meager few hundred pesos a day. For these people at the lowest rungs of the drug production pyramid, Suyeons reward money seemed like a charm.
Furthermore, this was partly because the British had kept their information thoroughly hidden. Otherwise, would the farmers have ventured into the mountains at this time, into the mountains where the Cartel Knights and foreign military superhumans were engaged in gunfire and sword sh?
This development was apromise between the best and second-best options for me. The mountainous area, roughly 11 km wide by 9 km long, where the Los Caballeros Temrios Cartel was being hunted, was only about 20 km from the outskirts of Puerto Varta. If I exerted my full power, I could reach it in less than half an hour.
Hold on just a little longer, you bastards.
I silently sent a heartfelt cheer to the cartel novices who were imitating knights.
It was 6:18 PM. The sea beyond the terrace was bathed in the colors of the sunset, and the edge of the sky was turning purple. The long-awaited hunting time was approaching. I had already taken off the businessmans clothes and put on the outfit and equipment of a hunter while waiting. I took one more stimnt pill and slung the hunting rifle, which had been discreetly brought in by the security team, over my shoulder. Other items that needed to be moved were already relocated. For example, ss jars containing the queens of crazy ants.
Kyung-tae.
Yes, Hyungnim.
We should check out now.
As I spoke, Kyung-tae nodded to my subordinates. The hunting dogs under mymand were the first to exit the room.
Huh?
Tatatat!
Dull gunshots echoed within the room. The two city police officers guarding the top floor suite copsed. They appeared to be protecting Huang, but in reality, Chellino, the mayor, had stationed them here as observers in case Huang changed his mind. They could have strangled them, but my men intentionally used guns. ording to the n, evidence of Huangs kidnapping needed to remain.
I moved through the lifeless eyes of the police officers corpses and proceeded into the corridor. All the CCTV cameras illuminating the corridor had already been turned off. By the time I reached the emergency staircase, a deafening fire rm rang out, and all the sprinklers in the corridor sprayed torrents of water. The several floors of fire I had conjured were the cause.
The streams of water sprayed from the ceiling slid away from our heads, unseen thanks to our binding forces.
Just wait a little longer.
I spoke while monitoring what was happening below.
Well finish off thoseing up as well.
The individuals currently riding the elevator were sicarios (officially armed cartel members) stationed in the hotel lobby by El Juego. They were the mayor and the cartel regional lord doing whatever they were doing.
Ding!
The electronic sound signaling their arrival rang out as the elevator doors split open at a nerve-wracking pace. Within mere seconds, hundreds of rifle shots tore through the corridor. The men inside had all turned into mincemeat before they could even catch a glimpse of our faces. Among them, there were even three young boys who didnt look like they had reached adulthood yet.
What did age matter when it came to killing people, was the cartels mentality. If you were old enough to point a gun at someone, that was good enough for them.
I despised those who use child soldiers, but I despised child soldiers who aimed guns at me even more.
Creak, creak
The two-door panels, riddled with bullet holes, groaned and opened slowly, revealing the inside filled with blood. The elevator carrying a pile of corpses began its descent. The humans with lingering regrets who had pressed the buttons for each floor before rolling on the floor, staring at the blood-filled interior without even glimpsing the outside, would soon be in a state of unconsciousness.
Lets go.
With my signal, the men responsible for the front moved down one floor. From now on, anyone witnessing my checkout had to be killed without exception. The previously set off fire rms, the sicarios who had been waiting as if to say they would handle them, and the gunshots I had spread without using telekinesis were the maximum mercy I could afford to innocent people.
P-Please, spare us!
Twang! One of my subordinates shot a hotelier with a single shot. It was the end of a timid life that, despite hearing the noisy fire sirens and tumultuous gunshots, had not fled but cowered in a corner of the corridor. Stupid guy. If youre going to cower, at least dont keep your head down. The broom and dustpan he had been clutching tightly until the end was now soaked in blood and brain matter.
I would go so far as to use my telekinesis to knock out a fool like this if there were only one. We were at a point where there were no awakened individuals with abilities beyond physical enhancement. Therefore, it was difficult to have too many unnatural faintings.
So, what could I do? I had to kill them. I was wary of too much spilled blood, as even these scattered puddles could corrode the minds of my subordinates below.
The umted murders until reaching the first floor totaled nine. As we left the emergency staircase, the air became humid again, filled with the stench of hydrogen sulfide created by bacteria corroding the water pipes.
Come in.
A radio message from Kyung-tae. Right after that, the revolving door in front of us shattered and crashed inwards. Broken ss spread like waves, and the crumpled frame lurched inward. The vehicles that entered the entrance slid on the wet floor and screeched to a sudden stop.
ng. Kyung-tae opened the rear door of the nearby car.
Get in, Hyungnim.
The SUV had bulletproof panels attached inside. It was a conversion kit that the organization favored. It was a product in demand in the security industry and could be used for most of vehicles.
Before getting into the car, I looked at Suyeon.
You takemand.
Suyeon epted her role with a nod. By now, there shouldnt be any need to worry about a retreat. If I entrusted it to this guy and the way out was blocked, then I would simply me it on extraordinarily bad luck.
My subordinates and I removed the back seats in the car before getting in. They did this to ess the hidden weapons and ammunition beyond. The weapons used in the hotel and the weapons we would use from now on had to be different. More urately, the firing pin marks of the guns shouldnt ovep, but the guns themselves must not be the same.
The firing pin marks were traces engraved on bullets, and since they differed slightly for each gun, they were treated like a guns fingerprint. I had to pay attention to even such delicate details to deceive the British guys.
I also packed extra magazines, explosives, and additional supplies in abat backpack.
Its an expensive hunt.
Unlike the cargo going to Cartel del Noreste, the supplies for me and my subordinates were outsourced to reputable aviationpanies. The result was transportation costs of around $3,000 per fully loaded magazine. The pilots, of various nationalities, who took off andnded in ces without even runways, were personal businessmen who were treated very well in this industry.
Outside the window, the green fence of the naval base passed by. The military facility was right next to the pier where my goods would be unloaded.
The line of vehicles turned right from the main road. As we entered the poverty-stricken alley, we asionally saw heavily armed police officers, almost at a military level. However, they showed no interest in vehicles with ident traces. There were sicarios with automatic rifles on the other side, and unregistered cars were amon sight in this country.
We passed through a residential area with roads that werent even paved and stopped near the military checkpoint that blocked entry and exit to the city. It was somewhat close but not too conspicuous C a hidden corner. Here, there was an underground drainage pipe leading to the river. The river called Ameca, which formed a natural boundary between the states of Jalisco and Nayarit upstream, was also the route the British forces were using for blocking operations. The branching waterway in the middle was a strategic point that could take us either north or south from the hunting scene.
Click C
The rusty lock on the drainage grate made a grinding sound as it opened by itself. After all my subordinates passed through, I locked the grate back in ce. After that, I erased fingerprints or any traces that would be left behind.
That should be enough here. Toss it.
At Kyung-taes words, my subordinates threw the firearms they had used at the hotel into the muddy water. Even if someone luckily retrieves them in the near future, the corrosion in the barrel that had already begun would never produce the same firing pin marks as before.
In a country where ten thousand guns were confiscated every year, this was enough. Destroying them with telekinesis or smashing them into bits would only make them more suspicious as evidence.
As we passed through the drainage pipe, the dark and murky river weed us. There was no lighting on the impoverished riverbank, and water-loving trees lined up, providing a discreet path in the darkness after sunset.
From now on, well run until were about to die.
I stated.
I hope theres no one here to disappoint me.
Those who fall behind need to be crushed into a mangled mass.
64 kilometers per hour. The scientifically defined human maximum running speed. Scientists had said that with human muscles, it was impossible to exceed that limit. No matter how strong or agile someone was, there was a physical limit to the speed at which muscles contracted.
Therefore, the speed we were running at now was clearly animalistic. Calcted from the changing numbers on the GPS device strapped to our wrists, our speed was nearly 70 kilometers per hour. This was despite each of us carrying equipment weighing around 50 kilograms and mainly stepping on tree roots and protruding rocks to leave fewer footprints, making it a highly demanding sprint.
But it wasnt enough. We could still go faster.
I used my telekinesis to pull my subordinates, who were already having a hard time keeping up. Even as I pushed the limits of physical enhancement, I had the capacity to activate multiple techniques in my circuits. However, the intense heat building in my bones, the skyrocketing heart rate, the muscle fatigue that felt like it was about to give out, and the dulled senses were all starting to interfere with my concentration.
After about ten minutes of running, there was finally a loud noiseing from behind. One of my subordinates stumbled and fell, causing my telekinesis technique to momentarily lose its focus due to the disrupted wind. With the speed and momentum we were running at, the subordinate was tossed and tumbled almost like a ragdoll.
Get up! Now!
Damn it. Even my breath was toobored to form aplete sentence. I had no time to admit my mistake. The hunt was urgent, and responsibility could be discussedter. I lifted the groaning subordinate to his feet.
Can you, run?
The injured subordinate rolled his foot a few times and then nodded, panting. If he had been an ordinary person, the shock alone would have killed him, but apart from a slightly swollen wrist and a minor abrasion, there were no visible injuries. It was the result of physical enhancement and the resilience it provided.
Gunshots of various calibers, explosions, and various loud noises mixed together and echoed from across the clearer valley downstream. I wiped the sweat from my forehead andpared our current coordinates with the memorized coordinates.
Just 4 more kilometers ahead, and well be there.
From that point on, we needed to slow down to neutralize the heat tracking, so the breakneck pace we had been maintaining for a few minutes would be enough. So,
Move.
My subordinates immediately responded to mymand. The point where the waterway split was approaching. All the water here had flowed down from the battlefield.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 49: El Maestre (4)
Chapter 49: El Maestre (4)
We passed a small dam and slowed down as we approached the northern part of the battlefield. I had pre-marked footsteps to break away downstream. We left these deceptive footprints as we moved along the water, and when we had to backtrack, we used the waterway to avoid leaving additional tracks.
Kyung-tae divided the troops in anticipation of contact with the enemy, securing the nks and rear. They could be used to nk or encircle the enemy if necessary. The forward guard, which included me, consisted of 16 individuals, a size modeled after a troop of British special forces. This allowed us to engage the enemy separately as a full troop when needed.
Thats how we approached, and finally, the London First Battalion that entered my line of sight was indeedposed of the expected 16 individuals.
I knew it would be like this. They are still in their infancy.
How could a paradigm shift overnight? Until trial and error and research were conducted, the inertia of the past would inevitably remain.
All personnel ranked at least Corporal had formed blocking lines of four individuals each, spaced sparsely. To someone approaching from outside this line, they revealed a vulnerable rear. They maintained the basics of camouge and cover but nothing more. No matter how skilled the enemy was, the negligence of the rear guard at this point, even if they were pushed back, was inexcusable. It was a result of the exhaustion from the relentless pursuit throughout the day and overconfidence in superhuman strength.
I warned myself to stay alert.
Seeing enemies who were too easy to kill, I felt the temptation to capture one and interrogate them briefly to learn about the current state of the London Round Table, who was leading the government, and such information. However, it was pure greed. The situation was what it was, and treating them as nothing more than cannon fodder devil worshipers would be a mistake.
Above all, there was a high possibility that they didnt even know about the existence of the Round Table itself. Their circuitry level was too low to be considered elite members of the Round Table. They were likely just innocent soldiers being used out of patriotism.
However, their innocence was not a reason for me to hesitate to kill.
After distributing our targets, we aimed at our respective marks.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Boom!
The gunshots were more like roars than mere shots. The unprotected parts of their body, the exposed necks, erupted violently from the impact of hunting rifle bullets, which were four times heavier than regr rifle rounds. While the kic energy was only double, the impact (stopping power) on the target was immensely different, and the ambush was decided in just 2 seconds.
The soldiers heavy footsteps trampled tall grass as they approached the bodies. The night, with only a crescent moon, was pitch ck on the shadowy mountainside. All my subordinates, except me, wore night vision goggles, capable of infrared imaging.
Hyungnim.
I fastened the radio Kyung-tae handed me onto one side of my tactical vest. After wiping away the blood on the receiver, I put it on, and the orders and reports exchanged among the British soldiers came into my ears. Kyung-tae and I had also brought extra weapons from the British soldiers. Despite being heavily used and battered, these firearms had no traces that could be traced back to us. Furthermore, in terms of firepower and pration, they surpassed the hunting rifles we had prepared. There were also explosive weapons like portable rocketunchers (LAW).
I received arge caliber sniper rifle as my share. It was regrettable that we didnt have any camouge gear (ghillie suits) since our main mission was not to ambush. Among the dead soldiers, four of them had miniaturized drone and controller sets, so I stashed them in our belongings. They might not be needed immediately, but their value as spoils of war was enormous.
Lets go.
As I urged, I was already looking at the next target beyond the northern blockade line. I knew that even though I had used my telekic powers to block the gunshots, they would soon realize that a hole had been pierced. I had to kill as many as possible before that happened.
And then
I hid behind a clump of trees, alternately looking at the ground and the sky. My subordinates immediately began to take cover as well. After a moment, a small aircraft flew by in the nearby airspace. It was an unmanned aerial vehicle (Raven) that could beunched by hand and patrolled at low altitudes.
We would shoot them down with magic and snipers as soon as we engaged in full-scalebat. For now, we left them alone for our ambush.
Once again, we resumed our movement. Despite being a tactical maneuver that emphasized stealth, it was a very fast pace, and we didnt pay attention to noise. Even so, I had to endure my growing anxiety.
En nombre del dios! (In the name of God!)
A roar came from the other side of the mountains. The Knight Commanders intensity exceeded that of a normal human, but even the sound of his voice showed signs of weariness. In the meantime, how much longer would the fake knights hold out? How much more room did I have left?
The Cartel knights had been running and fighting for at least 16 hours. If they copsed, it would make hunting on our side more difficult. Perhaps the British army was just taunting the prey to umtebat experience. Even if they were in a state where they could end the hunt at any time, it wouldnt be strange for them to do so.
New enemies came into view within normal line of sight. Once again, there were 16 of them. My subordinates quickly took positions at the signal, even though it would only take a few seconds to distribute the targets.
Fire!
The order to shoot was given before those few seconds could pass. A warning had been sent to the enemys radio channel. Specifically, a warning about us. Just as they sent a warning about us. Bang! Bang! Bang! Boom! I didnt have time to aim precisely, so Ipensated with firepower. Six powerful shots rang out, shaking one side of the enemysnding.
Ugh, grrrr
The one who hadnt died yet staggered to his feet, his face contorted in pain, only to be hit by two stray bullets in the face. Plop! His head exploded, and the shattered remains of the night vision goggles were embedded in the scattered brain matter.
Tsk. Might as well have finished him off in one shot. There was no excuse for the haste with which I had to deploy my telekinesis power. It was really quite a simple task for me now.
I pulled out the empty magazine and threw it as far as I could. While a standard rifle round magazine could hold thirty rounds, therge caliber bullets I was using now only filled nine rounds.
However, this inconvenience was well worth tolerating. If I were lucky, the bullets could be shot off like an elephants single strike. While the hunting rifle (.450 Bushmaster Rifle) we were using maintained the structure of an assault rifle, it had ammunitionrge enough to provide sufficient firepower for hunting powerful individuals.
Take cover! Take cover!
I warned as I quickly took cover, and my whole body mmed hard against a Mexican yellow pine trunk. The trunk on one side bent violently. Ignoring the creaking, I hid in the shadow of the tree and looked at the sky. The drones were about 3,000 feet high from here, and lower altitudes were flying in groups of three. Since themunication had also been disrupted here, it was a natural course of action.
The flight altitude of the drones was much lower than the limit altitude, due to environmental factors such as the dark night and dense forest.
Still, it was by no means a close range, so my avable magic was limited. Each technique had an optimized range. I considered shooting them down with my eyes and sniper rifle, but I changed my mind and redirected the mana into my spiritual circuit. Crack! The life disappeared, and as a result, the magical field disappeared from the bodies of several dead superhumans and one sergeant, who flew towards me.
Expanding the magical field towards the night sky as much as possible, I endowed each water container with magical restraint and piled all the water containers into a tactical backpack. Then, I shot them all up in one bunch. The sound of the wind tearing apart was a fast projectile. When the ascending trajectory changed to a steep descent and finally approached the entry path of the highest drone, I instantly transformed all the water in each container into steam.
Kwaaaaa!
At an altitude of 3,000 feet, the moonlight-tinged grayness exploded. A volume increase of 1,680 times was like a bomb in itself as long as it was made to go fast. When it hit the drone head-on, along with the pressure and fragments from the water containers, the wings broke, and it fell spirally. But that wasnt the end. After meeting the Trembling Giant, which had been about half a year, I seeded in adding one change to the technique of the giant.
The moment the expanded air contracted due to the recoil, I dposed all the moisture tied to my mana into oxygen and hydrogen. Thus, above my head in the upper atmosphere, a mass of gas, consisting of hydrogen and oxygen mixed in a 2:1 ratio, or a hydrogen explosion device, was created.
Next was just starting a fire.
The magical ignition created a more powerful explosion than the previous one. In effect, it was like a heat-pressure shell storm that swept the surroundings. Two of the drones that were flying diagonally below were shattered into pieces rather than falling. It was more appropriate to call it aplete destruction than a crash. The remaining one also broke at the end of its parabolic descent, making an insignificant collision sound.
The deafening noise and storm drove countless animals from the forest into the air, and groups of four-legged creatures without wings scattered in all directions, apanied by cries. As the fallen leaves fluttered like autumn leaves, the magical field of the trembling forest swayed like waves in the invisible area. However,pared to Trembling Giant, which was one whole or the giant sequoia habitat, which had a mass of more than a thousand tons, the entire forest was at a level that was just a joke.
Despite the severe circuitry damage, I felt a sense of satisfaction from the results of the explosion. The hydrogen explosion of water was a technique that consumed an abnormal amount of processing power from the circuit since its optimization was less than telekinesis, which became less urate as it got farther away. The British would be confused about what kind of people were using explosive bombs.
Fall back!
Kyung-tae and the others set up explosives on the bodies of the British soldiers and around them and retreated. It was a wide-area trap that would explode if even one of them was touched. Since I had absorbed the gunfire with telekinesis during this battle, the British soldiers, who hadnt heard the reduced gunfire, first tried to check the condition and signs of theirrades. If they didnt touch it, wed make sure it exploded by ourselves.
They would be furious. nting bombs on corpses vited internationalw. But why should I care about that? In our war against the Imperialists, there was no room for such humanitarianism.
After a short wait, new prey crawled into our line of fire. Even regr soldiers had Round Tables wisdom etched into their souls. However, unlike my subordinates, these magical power circuits were somewhat rudimentary, not adjusted individually to each person.
Did they pay more attention to those chasing Knight Commander directly? I hoped so. If I could eliminate even a little more of the resources they put in, it would be worth it.
Approaching from all directions, the British soldiers in charge of this sector numbered as many as forty-eight. This included the remaining forces of the squadron responsible for this sector, plus reinforcements in the form of squad-sized units from other squadrons. I could sense their magical fields spreading widely as they approached without having to see them with my eyes. Magic power and magical power or mana in that area were under their control.
Among the forty-eight, only four were approaching theirrades bodies. The rest were prepared for any potential attacks.
It was difficult to handle such firepower with just the vanguards. As an attacker, I quickly changed the cement of my guys to match the movements of the enemy.
Ry to themand. Team 4, move 40 meters in the 8 oclock direction. Team 5, move 20 meters in the 2 oclock direction. No, no. Halt. Yes, thats it. Take cover there and watch the 12 oclock direction. Next, Team 5-2, prepare the grenadeuncher
Fine-tuning of thepany-sized unit in 4-member teams. Just speaking made me breathless. Kyung-tae and the others, numbering 64 in total, executed the rapid-fire instructions wlessly, without a hint of error. Precise directions and distances. There was no room for distortions in direction and distance perception, which weremon in the field.
Four British soldiers had approached theirrades bodies, maintaining a tactical yet very quiet approach, securing the area. Our prepared wide-area trap was the backup explosion point.
Only four.
The number of casualties entering the kill zone was lower than expected.
We maintained silence, concealed, so the British Staff Sergeant leading the team had given a hand signal to his subordinates to keep their gun muzzles up on the body armor bunker, in the same posture as before. It meant to examine the corpses. The corporal who was in charge of the rear area carefully moved forward to inspect the closest corpse.
Bloody hell.
A voice too quiet to hear distinctly, but I could read the shape of the lips, and it was a curse. It was natural for them to utter an exmation of surprise when all the bodies were so thoroughly destroyed. The corporal carefully examined the remaining scars on the bodies. It was an attempt to determine the weapons we were using and their numbers.
They seem rather cautious.
The corporals touch was cautious yet experienced. The caution of the prey was ufortable, so I prepared the capturedrge-caliber sniper rifle.
This is amand. Ill take the shot. Do not fire until I give orders or we are under attack.
As I issued the order, those close by understood with a silent nod, and those farther away sent short acknowledgments. Despite using radios with frequency-hopping capabilities, minimizingmunication was still a good practice.
Now I had a virtual sight trained on the upper torsos of the targets. There was already a heavy armor-piercing shell loaded in the chamber. In terms of kic energy alone, it was more than five times therge-caliber rounds I had used earlier for hunting. I was considering where to hit when I decided to aim for a corpse instead of a person, given the slow speed of the heavy shell. It didnt matter which side I hit; the bomb just needed to explode. As I adjusted my breathing and focused, my heart rate increased. Not actually increased, but other sounds faded into the distance.
Kwaaang!
A sound faster than the shell. And a sh faster than sound. The elite foes reacted to thetter.
Enemy!
The sergeant, who was about to shout, was engulfed and torn apart by the shing light. Even just the fact that he did not turn intoplete shreds indicated an extraordinary physique. His ability to utter a single syble was remarkable reaction speed and judgment in itself, but all of that uniqueness evaporated with a single extensive explosion. Inside a trap designed more to kill the enemy with shrapnel than pressure, everything softer than steel was broken or torn apart and scattered. Naturally, human bodies were among them. Bodies torn apart and entangled in different directions by explosions left grotesque shadows in the flickering light.
Then, dark silence returned.
ShhC
I once again urged my close subordinates to maintain silence. It was partly a plea to myself as well. Not to hurry. This was the fastest way.
Finally, the Cartel knights began to appear in my vision. Inside the swaying encirclement, they seemed to instinctively discern the direction they needed to go. In other words, they came to me rather than me finding them.
How resourceful these people were.
If they surrender willingly, based on their resourcefulness, the Knight Commander might let me kill them personally. In a way, it was my way of showing respect to the opponent. It was, in essence, a matter of courtesy.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 50: El Maestre (5)
Chapter 50: El Maestre (5)
In this battle, I had two serious penalties. First, I must thoroughly conceal my presence as an archmage. Second, none of my subordinates should be captured or have their identities exposed. Even if my subordinates fall into the hands of the British forces, they could be potential clues to our organizations headquarters. Even those with falsified identities and no official records were not exceptions.
Therefore, before my subordinates were deployed to this battlefield, each of them received a suicide bomb for self-destruction. These bombs were designed not only to kill but to damage the corpses significantly. However, it was hard to believe that these bombs would detonate promptly when needed. How many people could act without hesitation in theirst moments? Furthermore, how many could destroy the bodies of their fallenrades without hesitation?
I trusted my subordinates and the efforts I had put into managing them, but even with that, 100% trust was a mental luxury I could not afford.
Naturally, mymand had to be cautious. I hoped that the enemy would cross the line of extreme fatalism and reach the point of no return.
Just a little more, a little closer.
I had confidence in myself. The gunshot I fired was buried under the traps explosion, and as long as the encirclement around the knights was problematic, their anxiety would only increase. Moreover, somewhere deep in this dark forest lurked an unidentified and unknown armed force, my army.
Additionally, by notunching an attack immediately after the trap detonated, the enemy had a basis for underestimating our size. If the size were sufficient, the standard procedure would be to attack simultaneously with the traps explosion. This situation was more like a gueri warfare engagement against arge number of adversaries by a small number of specialized gueri fighters. In reality, we were slightly outnumberedpared to the knights approaching us.
Whiiiiing-
A faint propeller-driven sound in a frequency range that ordinary people could never hear. The approaching British soldiers were reconnaissance drones, simr to the ones I obtained as loot from the previous ambush. Each of them cost a luxurious $200,000.
As soon as those expensive devices entered the effective range of a specific technique, they fell as if dead, just like the ones before. I retrieved them all with telekinesis, just as before, and stored them in my bag. The more samples for research and analysis, the better. Even the Chinese would go wild when they saw something of apletely different caliber than their downgraded versions.
The British soldiers, who lost $1.2 million in a moment, cautiously approached to retrieve the remaining drones. Some of them seemed hesitant. They must be fearful. They probably couldnt even guess why all the drones fell simultaneously. These were state-of-the-art drones equipped with resistance to various interference, an unknown and uncharted territory for them, and the unknown was at the core of all human fears.
Observing them, I decided to deceive the enemy once more. If sessful, the ambush would end in an instant.
I will take another shot. Do not react.
Brief responses came back to my words.
We needed to secure a firing angle. I quietly leaped and stepped on a tree branch eight meters high, then crouched down. As a result, the thickness of the canopy above my head decreased, so I slowly pulled other branches towards me with magical power/mana to prevent heat from rising.
Next was the telekinesis barrier for noise cancetion. However, this time, it wasnt aiming for aprehensive blockage. The noise-absorbing barrier in the non-visible area was constructed like a deep pot with one side open, allowing fragmented gunshots to pass through only diagonally forward.
After these preparations, my target was the one wearing the rank insignia of a Lieutenant, themanding officer of the special forces unit. The insignia, discreetly attached with dark colors to prevent high-value target sniping, was a clear mark visible to my eyes.
My aiming was obstructed by numerous bushes and leaves that obscured my line of sight. Despite my slightly inferior marksmanshippared to my subordinates, my abilities as a sniper allowed me topete at a normal level. Not being detected was indeed the greatest virtue of a sniper.
I waited for the moment when none of the British soldiers were looking at theirmanding officer.
Bang!
The deafening sound reverberated, and a half-inch brass cartridge case ejected. My enhanced physiquepletely ignored the recoil, meaning that the immobility of the gun barrel resulted in a significant increase in uracy. The 0.4-second travel of the bullet was enough to shatter the head of the British unitsmanding officer.
Sniper!
The approaching British soldiers all copsed as if a house of cards.
Indeed, heavy-caliber ammunition was excellent. Through the telekinesis assistant, the energy lost during the process, wouldnt it be a fraction of the overall kic energy? Now I fired another shot towards the sky. Kwang! The muzzle sh sprayed from the guns muzzle was a sh of light, impossible to observe from the ground or the sky.
The British soldiers, upon hearing the sound, werepletely focused in the wrong direction. The skewed spread of the gunshots led them to misjudge the direction and distance of the sniper. The Lieutenants head, shattered into pieces, did not provide any help in guessing the direction.
The only clue they had to guess my real position was the bloodstains. The evidence of blood was sprayed with the force of 20,000 joules from heavy bullets. However, those who were confident of two gunshots did not consider examining the blood sttered in the darkness. Only the medical officer urgently approached to confirm the officers death and shook his head.
Get ready.
I ordered over the radio as I collected the telekinesis assistant. Tick, tick, tick. Pulling the trigger to the very limit just before firing. I decided to continue sniping from the tree. Using magic for direct hits in a situation where I couldnt ensure theplete annihtion of the enemy was forbidden. It would be folly to provoke the Round Table in such a manner.
The fallen enemies were busymunicating on their radios, and tworge drones, which appeared to have beenunched by the upper unit, flew toward the expected sniper location. However, they found nothing. About five minutes passed, and the once seventy-plus British soldiers slowly got up. They assumed an ufortable posture, with thick armored shields (body bunkers) in front of them. The speed at which they descended the slope to confront the lumbering monsters was even more terrifying. The darkness grewrger as they faced it. They were now fighting against the darkness.
Hoo
I struggled to control myself with slow breaths. The palpitations racing through my head were so tense that they could be felt through my hearing. It was more like a slight throbbing sensation due to the light pain. Despite having induced this situation, it disrupted my previously steady breathing.
Indeed. The majority of the enemy was now fully exposed. Unlike when they were cautiously guarding all sides, their shields and cover were now useless in our line of fire. The armored tes of their body armor did not cover their sides, and as the enemy descended the steep slopes on all sides, they were at a higher altitude than us. I put an end to my patience as a hunter.
Fire!
A corner of the enemy formation was swept away instantly. More than twenty were killed or incapacitated by the first shots. I kept pulling the trigger frantically, without the slightest pause. The semi-automatic rifles maximum rate of fire, with the heavy-caliber sniper rounds, killed two lieutenants and severed the arm of a sergeant while shattering the knee of a corporal. One lieutenant was hit by crossfire from my subordinates and his body exploded into three pieces.
Phew!
The sergeant, who had tried to support the man whose knee was shattered, was hit in the abdomen by my shot while he was writhing in pain. The deeply prated body armor saved the sergeants life, and in panic, he vomited and crawled back, leaving his subordinate behind. Kwang! After changing the magazine, my shot pierced through the tailbone of the man who was in pain. He copsed in agony. The nted trajectory of the bullet disrupted the tip of his internal organs. I chose not to end his life; he needed to be kept alive to waste the enemys attention and resources.
Our ambush site was being heavily pounded. Each powerful counterattack round broke branches, smashed rocks, and created piles of dirt. Despite their reflexive return fire, they unleashed near-constant shots. In such circumstances, we wouldnt have stood a chance if we had engaged them purely in a firefight.
However, we hadpletely dominated the initiative, and my subordinates poured their maximum firepower into the shadows. The difference in strength on the battlefield was exponentially amplified. If the enemy had been only slightly stronger, they wouldnt have dared to respond to our attack in the first ce.
Still, while casualties continued to mount among us due to injuries, the enemys resistance became even more precise, now in seconds. With telekinesis alone, I could defend against flying bullets, but using that much force would cause the ballistic trajectories from our side to be refracted, making it difficult. It would result in both sides wasting ammunition amid the cacophony. Unless we were buying time, it was meaningless.
A subordinate on the left front urgently warned.
[2 oclock, LAW!]
Ignore it!
The sh from the portable rocketuncher. I quickly projected my telekic power with superhuman reflexes.
Then the explosion. An unseen force resisted the rockets warhead, and several bullets affected by the same force curved and veered off course.
I scolded my subordinates over the radio.
Remember what youve been taught! Im here!
There were two means to counter explosive weapons. me suppression and locally acting high-density telekic fields. What I just used, thetter, was sufficient to deflect grenades, mortars, or rockets. My subordinates had also received education on these principles.
But the real battle is different.
My magical support urred in realms beyondmon sense. Until you gained experience, you knew it, but you didnt really know it.
The explosive firepower thrown or fired by the British soldiers erupted outside the deadly lines of unseen force. Kwaang! Kwa-kwa-kwang! Each avoided explosion, each rumbling of the earth, made my view tremble.
I focused solely on defense, restraining my desire to fire back. Not one bullet, not one grenade, not one rocket could be missed. Even with the use of visual emphasis on specific information, it was not an easy task. This was the battlefield, an environment where sensory overload was easy to happen. asionally, heart-pounding moments arose.
About fifty seconds passed as we exchanged fire. The surviving enemies hadpletely cleared their front lines, and if we continued like this, casualties on our side seemed inevitable. I clicked my tongue. I made a tactical decision to retreat.
Fall back and take a detour to the rear!
In less than a minute of intense assault, we had achieved remarkable results. If we continued to press on, we might end up in a dire battle situation. It was more reasonable at this point to withdraw and find a new path.
As Kyung-tae and the others suppressed and fought in a predetermined order, I raised the four remaining rounds of the anti-material sniper rifle into the sky.
Kwaang, kwaang, kwaang, kwaang!
However, not a single shot hit the bulky drones approaching from a high position. My concentration had been affected, likely due to my excitement from the battle, leaving my breath ragged. After changing the magazine, I once again collected hydrogen-filled explosive devices and remotely detonated them, causing an aerial explosion.
Fwhoosh, ku-rur-rur! A white, round shockwave swept through the night sky in the mountains. Amidst the cacophonous sounds of the ck forest being swept away by the winds, the storm of fallen leaves raged fiercely. The drones, swept up in the tempest, were forcibly thrown thousands of feet up from their original altitude.
Come down and try again.
My thoughts as I led my subordinates to withdraw. However, ncing at the sky from time to time while descending the steep slopes, the drones that had barely survived the destruction dared not lower their altitude. Even amidst my breathlessness, I felt a satisfying rush. Yes, how many eyes of yours had I devoured so far? If I lost any more here, my tracking and surveince capabilities would be severelypromised. This also meant a significant reduction inmand and control capabilities.
Moreover, the penalty was not unique to me in this hunting ground. Since the Knight Commander, whom I had cornered, was now breaking through the encirclement, they could not afford to chase me with full force. They couldnt focus solely on their previous prey.
They have two options left. Either they let me slip away and get bogged down in the quagmire, or they abandon their secret mission and start by capturing and killing the Knight Commander.
However, I foresee thetter as impossible. From what Id seen, these magic-ignorant and carefully crafted abilities were by no means the elites of the Round Table. They were likely soldiers who pledged allegiance to the nation and epted new powers.
But could those ancient monsters in the Round Table Cab, who were ignorant of magic and had been carefully crafted, really care about some mere soldiers lives? Such a notion was utter nonsense.
In a world where magic power was exhausted, the Masters of the Round Table were merely the treasury of the monarchy and the British government. They had arge expenditure but were too valuable to be discarded, like a curse. Even as the abilities became more and more worthless over time, their pride remained unchanged. Even before their apprentices betrayed them, they were like that. I couldnt imagine how they would have been treated after their most valuable relic was stolen.
So, to think that they would be generous and understanding to the government was ridiculous. The rtionship between the Round Table and the government would be thoroughly antagonistic, and therefore, there would be nopromise with the demands of the old monsters.
Or maybe, assuming I umte a huge debt, could apromise be possible? Offering a bigger payment aspensation. But would the British government be willing to make such a choice?
To patriots, the lives of these soldiers were a preferred cost-effective product for the politicians. As a versatile consumable, they provide excellent efficiency for the cost.
While the reconnaissance capabilities of the British forces had diminished, I seeded in re-entering the battlefield, leading my subordinates and making a significant detour. As a result, the situation in the hunting ground, now back within sight, perfectly matched my earlier expectations. The bewildered British soldiers, unable to respond effectively to either side, and the frenzied beasts taking advantage of their confusion to break through the encirclement. Reinforcements were urgently ascending from the opposite side of the road now. The sh between the battlefield and politics was clearly evident in the enemysmand.
Ah, can there be anything more delightful?
Now it was time to clear the path for the armored brutes. I focused on turning the secondary hunting ground into the best hunting ground possible.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 51: El Maestre (6)
Chapter 51: El Maestre (6)
Smoke rose from the infirmary, the lingering scent of gunpowder. I slung therge-caliber sniper rifle, now empty of rounds, behind my back.
In the recent firefight, I, a sniper, had taken down three times the enemy for the ammunition expended. This was not a fanciful story of piercing three enemies with each shot. Even bullets that missed were enough to suppress the enemys movements, allowing the Knight Commander, who had entered during this time, to finish off the exposed British soldiers one by one. War was not a solitary battle.
The ck knight who received my help stopped and looked in my direction at the ce filled with grim deaths. Who could be helping me? The anxious confusion could be felt in the search. However, without irvoyance, they couldnt possibly discover me. There were too many obstacles blocking their line of sight between them and me.
Unlike the leader, whose postbat aftereffects were merely shallow breathing, the subordinates who leaned on their own swords, shields, and guns were panting heavily. They moved again and plundered the weapons, ammunition, food, and water from the dead British soldiers. While the British soldiers rations were no more than cereal bars and tea bags at best, it was a source of calories that the heavily taxed cartel knights were desperate for. The leader poured drink powder into the water bottle that his subordinates handed him, shook it roughly, and poured it down his throat without taking a sip. It was a remarkable talent to pour it into the esophagus without a single gulp. He gobbled down three cereal bars without a break. Then, he poured a whole bottle of water again. It was amazing that he didnt suffer from esophageal spasms. (+)[1]TLN: Esophageal: Your esophagus or the food pipe is the part of the digestive system that helps food travel from your mouth to your stomach.
The number of survivors from the Knight was greater than what I had seen in the video. However, originally, there would have been many more than this. That is, the current nine, excluding the leader, could be considered thest elite of the Knights Temr Cartel.
The leader tied the heaviest firearm given by his subordinates inside the shield and then inserted the magazines into the chest rig on the armor. Surprisingly, the bulletproof vests, with magazines densely attached, matched the chest rigs of the medieval-looking armor, a fact that was unexpected.
The fact that it happened to be a British chest rig is quite amusing.
As befitting wealthy cartel members, the weapons carried by these knights were all made of titanium alloy. Half of their overwhelming closebat capabilities seemed to stem from the hardness and lightness of the weapons they wielded as knights. Thick and sloping armor alone would provide enough defense to chew up most infantry firepower on a short-range battlefield. What if you added a shield to that? In close-range battles, it became the surrogate of death for the infantry, brandishing a sword.
The Cartel Knight Commander drew a cross in my direction and urged his subordinates to resume their escape.
Meanwhile, the Holy Name.
I couldnt stand it even after enduring the British chest rig. When I let out a chuckle, Kyung-tae looked at me with a worried expression.
Hyungnim, are you alright?
He was concerned about the side effects of the awakening/stimnt agent. It wasnt objectively a time tough, and I had taken more than the rmended dose considering the umted fatigue, and the side effects included rapid and unstable emotional fluctuations. But who cares about side effects? I felt good right now, and I wanted to use this feeling to kill more British soldiers. Anyway, it was better than endlessly sinking into depression.
Then, the British reinforcements were approaching.
Lets let them pass this time.
Following mymand to resist the impulse, my subordinates adjusted their positions to strengthen their concealment.
Not moving didnt mean being inactive. With a sharpened consciousness that had be sharper after enduring a tumultuous awakening, I stimted all the animals within the magical field with ignition and telekinesis techniques. I had been doing this even during our movement.
In such a dense forest, infrared surveince from high altitudes could not easily distinguish between the heat of animals and humans. Moreover, the ground itself was high, and the clouds hung low. Therefore, by just harassing the wild animals, I could disrupt the heat tracking of us and slow down the speed of the British troops chasing the Knights. Sometimes, it was also good to use ignition spells or deploy a thin water barrier.
As the distance with the British troops narrowed, I had to shrink my magical field, so it was impossible to save time, but still, this should give the Knight Commander, who had regained his strength due to me, an advantage over the weakened British forces.
Step, step.
The heavy footsteps on the grass grew closer. The patriotic volunteers who advanced in pairs with nervousness, removed the identification tags of their fallenrades and closed their eyes, passing by our ambush site just 20 meters away. Kyung-tae, who had maintained his aim until the end, rxed with a sigh.
There was a helicopter flying in the distant sky, but I couldnt dare to enter thebat airspace. Sending a helicopter into the forest, where awakened individuals were armed with all sorts of anti-aircraft weapons, was nothing less than a request to kill the passengers.
I said,
The night is still young. Lets replenish our calories now.
The two half-days we waited at the hotel were times to eat whenever there was an opportunity, but the nearly two hours of maximum efficiency disyed by the strengthened body rapidly consumed stored energy. It was better to replenish calories ahead of time before the consumption got worse.
Our emergency food was simple. A powder mixture of salt, vitamins, and glucose. I put the powder in my mouth, dissolved it with water, and swallowed it. It was an advantage that it was quick to eat and quick to absorb.
After a short rest of about 1 minute and 30 seconds, we started moving again. Even during this short rest, we could hear several instances of gunfire exchanges in the direction the Knights had gone ahead.
And on the path we were pursuing, there were several traces of shes between the Knights and the British troops. I pushed the cartels Holy Knight, who was already dead and lying in front of me, with my foot, and lifted the sword he was still holding with telekinesis. The sword, which had lost its original luster due to traces of dried blood, defied gravity and floated.
We were almost there.
The lights of Las Palmas de Arriba, a satellite residence near Puerto Varta, were shimmering below. Las Palmas de Arriba was close to Puerto Varta, and for someone who had to lead a few against many, a city was a better battlefield than a forest. There were many obstacles, plenty of ces to hide, and, most importantly, civilians everywhere. Even if well-fed citizens refused to be human shields, the cartel could use them as shields at will.
Thats right. The Knights would pass through there to get to the harbor. It was the widest, most advantageous, and most familiar battlefield in the vicinity. In a densely popted city with plenty of hiding ces and people everywhere, the cartels Holy Knights could only see it as the only open gate. Since the vige would be too narrow to hold out for half a day, they had to reach the harbor before this night was over.
If the situation deteriorated to that extent, there was even a possibility that the British troops would immediately give up their pursuit. It would be a transformation from a short-term battle to a long-term mission. It might have been a mess from the beginning in Guadjara, but if civilians died and got hurt a bit more, they wouldnt have attracted any more attention. But Puerto Varta, hadnt it been a peaceful harbor until now? If the political pressure received from the Round Table surpassed this situation, the leaders would naturally make political decisions.
After securing the ammunition for therge sniper rifle by searching the bodies, I decided to take four of the British soldiers corpses, along with their swords.
Phew!
Kyung-tae let out a small gasp. The trigger of his rifle was pulled almost to the point of firing in an instant. Not only Kyung-tae but also three of my nearby subordinates were in the same state. They recognized that the target was a corpse in a moment and didnt pull the trigger. Kyung-tae lowered the muzzle and sighed.
Phew, that scared me. I almost shot, sir.
Sorry. I should have told you in advance.
No, its okay. But what are you nning to do with these?
Im going to burn them for a more certain fire.
Oh, those Sinaloa guys?
Thats right.
The four bodies, which stood up like dolls on strings, set the military uniforms down with strange movements. It was to reduce the burden on my telekinesis power. However, they still had their weapons on their shoulders because I needed the bodies to explode.
Among the ancient wisdom possessed by The Round Table of Light and Truth, there was magic for controlling corpses or, more precisely, magic for controlling organic entities with their life functions stopped. However, my master had no interest in that field. He just knew the fact that such a technique existed. It was a regrettable thing for me now, but from my masters perspective, there was no reason to be obsessed with a technique that couldnt be used due to ack of magic power.
We changed direction to the south, found a watercourse leading to the sea, and headed towards the harbor, relying on the dense tree shadows. We wouldnt ovep with the Knights or the British troops chasing them, even if we took a big detour. It was also good for magically blocking heat tracking in this water-rich environment. However, I had to pause for a moment when I saw a bridge over the river in the distance.
Stop!
I stopped our movement through hand signals and radiomunication, the terrain offering better visibility than the forest.
The rough and rugged engine sounds characteristic of military vehicles were audible only to my ears at this stage. The British convoy that had blocked the southern mountain road was now lined up with their headlights on and stopped in front of the bridge. A drone flew above. Even if they had already disembarked their troops, their vehicles defensive capabilities, mounted weaponry, and additional tracking abilities alone made them formidable. In the middle of the formation, I noticed a mobilemand vehicle that was a movingmand post.
However, we were not the only ones secretly observing this. Several amateurish armed groups were scattered around the outskirts of the vige, sending some out as civilians to awkwardly spy on the movements of the British troops.
About 250 meters beyond the bridge, an old twone road was blocked by old cars, dying the British troops progress. This was also the handiwork of those groups.
Sinaloa Cartel.
It was not widely known, but the UK really disliked Mexican drug cartels, especially the Sinaloa Cartel. Sinaloa had subordinate organizations in various parts of the UK, including London and Liverpool. The cartel smuggled vast quantities of drugs into the UK maind and Europe, even though it was entirely separate from the smuggling done by submarines.
There was even an incident where it was revealed that British Airways employees had been bribed, causing an uproar in the UK maind.
So when the British troops approached like this, it was a natural reaction for the Sinaloa Cartels forces to go on high alert, not just our immediate targets. Even if President Obaldor had personally contacted them to reassure them of the secret agreement, they couldnt afford to becent.
In the end, it was like a thief getting caught in the act.
Anyway, since I had gone to the trouble of bringing the bodies, I decided to use them earlier than expected. It was a wee development from the perspective of reducing the load on the mana circuits, which were umting a burden.
Hyungnim, Suyeon is asking how we can secure the escape route in this direction.
In the currentmunication restrictions, Kyung-taesmunications specialist had permission to directly connect to the field headquarters at the harbor. It was difficult enough tomunicate from our side.
Ill inform them of the meeting point and time.
Okay.
What about the other direction?
They are already falling back. They said they will replenish their reserves.
Good, theyre acting quickly. Show me the map.
At my gesture, Kyung-tae instructed his subordinates to unfold the map. I gathered the officers to exin the operation, distributing appropriate roles and routes to each team. My subordinates listened to the briefing with night vision goggles on, relying on faint infrared tactical lights.
No objections?
Yes.
Short, simultaneous nods. All the middle-ranking officers agreed to the operation. However, I decided to confirm one more time.
Kyung-tae, what do you think?
I see no issues. After all, when ites to fighting, nothing beats watching a good fire from the other side of the river.
It was a verification in case my judgment had dulled. This guy was one of the few subordinates who wouldnt be overwhelmed by my authority and would objectively review things.
Alright. Inform headquarters of the decisions we just made. Well maintain the current level of wireless restrictions until we get into Puerto Varta. Change your night vision goggle batteries in advance. It might sound like nagging, but when the escape route team arrives, be alert to our allies on the other side of the river. Set individual arrival times to be ten minutes from now. Are you ready? Three, two, one
Click. The high-pressure button of a reliable military waterproof watch made a small sound. Almost simultaneously, almost coincidentally, a sudden fire erupted from the outskirts of the impoverished vige on the other side of the road, starting to consume the darkness. It was likely the work of the cartels awakened knights, bringing disaster with them.
A fire in the harsh terrain of a dark forest was difficult to control and even harder to escape. It could easily trap those who lit it first, blocking their path to death. If you were engaged inbat, it was even more so.
Moreover, the distribution ofrge Awakening Trees in the area was also a formidable variable. The magical phenomena that those rooted in one ce would desperately trigger made any predictions meaningless.
However, human dwellings with clear paths and dividedpartments were a different story. Even if the fire got out of control, as long as there was no one blocking the way out, anyone could escape. With distance from the British troops, there was even room for actions other than fleeing. How to use this short opportunity effectively?
Arson was one of the most effective means to obstruct aerial observation.
If this wasnt something done impulsively but rather the actions of someone capable of making the best judgments based on changing circumstances, even when their body and mind were pushed to their limits
He would have been a truly remarkable talent, if not for being a drug dealer obsessed with Jesus.
If he hadnt been that, I would have considered ways to recruit him.- 1. TLN: Esophageal: Your esophagus or the food pipe is the part of the digestive system that helps food travel from your mouth to your stomach.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 52: El Maestre (7)
Chapter 52: El Maestre (7)
The British military vehicles were enveloped in different magical fields, meaning that each vehicle had one or more awakened individuals on board.
Therefore, I couldnt y tricks with their vehicles using magic. It might have been possible to approach those low-level primitive abilities a bit closer and overwhelm them with overwhelming output, but it would have been inconvenient if it were reported that there was a different type of awakened individual on our side. Such magic could only be used when it could definitively eliminate all enemies without giving them a chance to retaliate.
In any case, despite having multiple awakened individuals, the column of vehicles remained motionless in front of the roadblock.
Well, thats understandable. Theyve probably seen simr situations in Iraq.
Tactics of terrorists who block roads with obstacles and set up improvised explosive devices (IEDs), or ram vehicles loaded with explosives to detonate them. For the British military, which had deployed a significant number of troops to Iraq, second only to the United States, and suffered considerable losses as a result, it was normal to overreact to anything simr. The post-war report also evaluated the entire war as totally inappropriate in terms of causes, processes, and results.
Furthermore, at present, an unknown hostile force C in other words, due to our attack, all the reserve troops on board had been sent out as reinforcements for the Knights pursuit. So, there were no personnel to secure this site. It was difficult to deploy only a small search party to a ce where you didnt know how many enemies there would be.
Perhaps they were suspecting that the force attacking them in the dark was not the Sinaloa Cartel. There were some doubts, but in this area, Sinaloa was the only group capable of deploying that level of firepower.
An unfortunate standoff. The reason for the Britishs perception of the Sinaloa Cartels attack. Ultimately, these two groups, entangled by fate, were wary of each other for the same reason.
In anticipation of this timid standoff, my subordinates arrived at their designated times and locations. Two teams of four individuals each entered the gas station, which was located near the obstructed road. Then, there were shes of explosions. The blood of cartel sicarios (regr armed organization members) was sttered both inside and outside.
[Teams 4 and 5. Gas station secured.]
Roger that. How much time do you need?
[Team 4-1. Well need another 2 minutes No, 1 minute and 30 seconds will do.]
Understood.
It would take 1 minute and 30 seconds at most to blow it up at maximum efficiency. It seemed that the cartel had done quite a good job with the groundwork. Even if my eyes were sharp, I couldnt see the details of such work from this distance.
While Team 4, which included explosives experts, worked on the cartels work, Team 5 protected the work site. A drone approached them. It was the very same drone that had been circling the vehicle convoy all alone. I aimed my hunting automatic rifle at it.
Kwang!
I tracked the trajectory of the bullet with my eyes and adjusted my aim, taking into ount the error and wind direction.
Kwang!
Just as the shot crossed the flight path of the drone, I decided it was the right time and emptied the remaining seven rounds in my magazine in full auto. Kwang, kwang, kwang! Three of the weighty rounds pierced the aluminum body of the drone. It spun and sputtered sparks. The weight of the rounds was excessive for a drone with no armor. The unmanned aircraft crashed in a chaotic descent, almost tearing apart.
Excellent shot, hyungnim.
Enough of that. It embarrasses the kids.
In any case, Kyung-taespliment was refreshing. When I shot at a simr target in the mountains earlier, not a single shot hit. Despite having years of shooting experience.
This time, there was no need to suppress the gunshots. Explosions and gunfire of various sizes and the screams of cartel sicarios were spreading across the town center. Cars rushing to escape were ring their horns. These indiscriminate noises created an auditory chaos that echoed through the dark valley.
It was a bit regrettable, but the more noisy and chaotic the world, the more helpful it was to me.
Additionally, there were no approaching drones. Probably because all avable aircraft had been sent to the Knights.
[Teams 4 and 5. Extractionpleted. We can detonate right now.]
Blow it up.
The shockwave, which made my ears feel stuffed, swept across the dry field. The explosion of the gas station, which had probably stored a minimum of 60,000 liters of fuel, created an enormous ze, thanks to the different types of oil released and a well-timed detonation procedure. Rising and spreading in a mushroom cloud shape, the ck smoke blocked out the stars as they billowed upward. The swirling, dark waves of the fire seemed like watching a sandstorm approaching a desert. The acrid smell spread in seconds. At the edge of the raging mes, local police officers who had been waiting to help the British army burned to death and charged onto the road.
Mam! Mam! No quiero morirme, mam!(+)[1]TLN: The author was not putting the Korean version of this, FYI. And this is the English version if you want to know what that means: Mom! Mom! I dont want to die, mom!
Screaming for their mothers, the farthest-reaching sicarios left their burning footprints some twenty yards away. I allocated a bit of time and mercy, putting quick and urate single shots into the heads of the sicarios who were not able to die and were rolling around.
Fire! Fire!
All teams entered the assault as a signal for this explosion. This prey was the Sinaloa Cartel. Since the explosion we caused must have been important to their ns, the sicarios, who had been roaring while watching the exploding gas station without giving any notice, only started to take action when they received attacks from my subordinates.
Kill the British bastards.
I, too, quickly brought forward the bodies I had carried. Four British soldiers in thick body armor were ced in pairs facing different directions, enduring the rain of gunfire with their entire bodies and concentrating the enemys attention with relentless firepower.
Damn it! Why wont these guys die?!
RPG, get the RPG!
The cartel sicarios, who had been retreating from the firefight toward the town center, now started resisting with all their might, without much thought, as if they had a system in ce. This resistance seemed to be a counterattack n simr to what the cartel had prepared for a situation like this.
Fire!
Amid the dancing shadows of bushes swaying in the re and heat, a rocket streaked through, drawing a destructive line. The close-range explosion of the high-explosive warhead shredded two bodies with a powerful shockwave and natural shrapnel. The bodies rolled away like they had been hit by a speeding car, and the sicarios cheered enthusiastically.
Goyo! Goyo! Goyo! Goyo!
It seemed like Rocket Seniors nickname was Goyo. The guy with the emptyuncher raised his arm as if showing off. Amidst all this, I couldnt help but think he had no brains. Maybe he was high on drugs. They acted like lunatics. I pitied them but left the remaining two bodies conspicuously in their view.
That should be enough. I pulled back the foremost units.
Teams 1 through 6, suppress the enemy and retreat to the second point.
We started it, but the British troops were catching hell. From the sicarios perspective, they had defeated one side, but the other side was still there, and it was a noticeable column of vehicles. It would naturally be the primary target for them.
Sharp sounds of wind splitting seemed to form ominous harmonies, and then shells began to rain down from the sky. Explosions of all sizes, bothrge and small, erupted haphazardly amidst the field where I had discarded the bodies, the burning gas station, and the British military vehicles on both sides. It was a barrage of maximum-speed artillery fire delivered by the cartel. Large-caliber 51mm, 60mm, and 80mm high-explosive shells fell at intervals of 1 to 2 seconds, causing havoc in the vehicle column within moments.
Thud-!
A military Land Rover, in its hurried reverse, collided with a Foxhound armored vehicle in the rear, which then collided with a Husky armored truck being driven backward. Although there was enough spacing between the vehicles, theck ofteral space resulted in numerous sessive collisions urring randomly. Amidst all this chaos, a single artillery shell struck the Husky armored truck. The armored tes on the left and right of the passengerpartment were torn away by the st, and the entire vehicle violently swayed. Although the passengerpartment, engine, and drivers seat remained unscathed, the passengers themselves werent as fortunate.
The driver stepped on the elerator in panic, making a screeching sound, and the truck elerated fiercely. A deafening explosion followed the rattling tter. The charging vehicle, like a wild boar, crashed into the dpidated wall of an abandoned building, crushing even the Mexican police officers who had been hiding there, before it finally came to a stop. Although the vehicle had been abandoned, cartel gunfire was concentrated on it. ng! ng! Bullets bounced off the hood, while a couple of shots hit the bulletproof windshield, creating spiderweb-like cracks. The driver, now alert, grabbed his weapon and hastily exited the vehicle.
Enemy rocket up front!
At the head of the vehicle convoy, the Land Rovers turret gunner shouted like a banshee and squeezed the trigger of the machine gun. A tracer mixed with res shot out in aser-like trajectory, scraping past the sicario who was aiming the rocket. The body that was about tounch the rocket was instantly transformed into something unrecognizable in a matter of seconds.
Kwang!
A sniper round fired from our side pierced through the ear of the Land Rovers turret gunner. The gunners head hung limply, and he flowed down like a lifeless creature. The Land Rover had no advantages other than being light, so with the gunner firepower evaporated, it quickly became useless.
A mierda culeros! (These fucking assholes!)
A new sicario picked up the discarded rocketuncher, knelt down on one knee, and fired in a haphazard stance. Immediately after firing, he was turned into pulp by the firepower of the armored vehicle, but the rocket heunched managed to prate the front windshield of the armored vehicle, hitting the passenger seat. The ming wreckage of the rocket hit one human square in the chest and impaled another against the door, turning them into a mangled mess. Even with bodies enhanced with magical power, they couldnt withstand the firepower of the rocket.
From the perspective of an observer, it was quite a spectacr sight.
Kyung-tae said.
This is a splendid mess. There doesnt seem to be any need for further intervention, hyungnim. Lets move on to the next location.
Yeah.
From the town center, British troops began rushing in to support the vehicle column, and the pressure on Knight Commander had decreased. As much as I wanted to enjoy this well-orchestrated bloodbath a bit more, it was time to relocate to the next town.
I led my subordinates in their retreat and thought.
If only the British wouldnt withdraw.
With numerous casualties and one town turning into a hellish scene, if the British continued the operation as it was, they would have to bear a tremendous burden. Moreover, with the loss of drones and unmanned aircraft, they were in no position to demonstrate overwhelming firepower as they did in Andalusia.
The odds were fifty-fifty again. They would either owe a debt to the Round Table while being humiliated by a single cartel or achieve their goal even if it meant causing a second Andalusia incident. Either way, they couldnt avoid damaging the countrys prestige.
Bwaaang-
A four-wheel-drive vehicle suddenly emerged from the northwest of our route, breaking through the side with a loud noise. The vehicle, bearing clear traces of gunfire, had four remaining cartel Holy Knights on board. The knights, armed with automatic weapons and shields, carrying swords on their hips and wearing ammunition belts, were driving a vehicle on the verge of copse, rushing to escape the burning town. It was a scene that can be described as, well, incredibly
Surreal.
It was a thought that seemed quite irrelevant and worthless. I refocused my attention on the reality in front of me.- 1. TLN: The author was not putting the Korean version of this, FYI. And this is the English version if you want to know what that means: Mom! Mom! I dont want to die, mom!
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 53: El Maestre (8)
Chapter 53: El Maestre (8)
Sometime past midnight, as the night deepened into early morning, the port finally became a battlefield. It was a decision that the UK had reluctantly made, trampling into this filthy mess.
In my eyes, it was partly thanks to the scavengers from Double A. These jubnt drug addicts, who had repelled the British convoy, returned to the port as if they were an army of victorious soldiers, dragging the corpses I had thrown to their vehicles. They wildly fired hundreds of rounds into the sky and shouted victorious cries, a barbaric celebration that was being live-streamed through the sicarios own social media ounts. These foolish and misguided individuals didnt even consider the consequences. It seemed like the drugs and the rush ofbat hadpletely obliterated their reasoning. Those who imed to be the brains behind the cartel leadership were probably clutching their heads in despair at the atrocitiesmitted by their subordinates. As Kyung-tae had informed me, social media was indeed a waste of life.
With this, the detestable ind nation had put itself in a position where it had to address Double A and the Sinaloa Cartel before figuring out what to do with the Knight Commander. No matter how hard the British Foreign Office and intelligence agencies worked, the widely spread photos, videos, and information would eventually catch up with them. If we didnt achieve significant results here, the aftermath would be beyond imagination.
Most importantly, the bodies I had collected from the mountains were sufficient evidence to mislead the British into believing that the mysterious force that had attacked them was undoubtedly the Sinaloa Cartel.
So, what I had to do first during this opportunity was
Kill the Knight Commander.
I didnt know why the Round Table wanted to keep the Knight Commander alive. Whether it was to wee him as a fanatical follower wrapped in ancient wisdom, as a miracle and prophecy, or if they simply wanted an experimental guinea pig, I didnt know. But one thing was for sure, tonight would not be the night for any of those endings. Not for me, and not for the Knight Commander.
So, I would kill him with my own hands. As I had pledged in the early hours of this night, with my own sense of respect and sincerity. Collecting the Knight Commanders Code would be a bonus benefit.
The inders hunt could be concludedter.
Step, step.
Under my slow footsteps, the blood puddles that had slowly congealed made a squishing sound. It was the blood of the heavily armed police officers who had spilled so much blood. The ones who were sliced apart were the bodies broken down by swords, and the ones who were mashed were the ones who had been crushed by shields and bodies.
As I tracked them leisurely, I observed that from the moment they entered the streets of the port, the false Temr Knights Holy Warriors had transformed into a scourge of the army, police, and Sinaloa Cartel. How they managed to thwart those adversaries, including valuable police and sicarios, was beyondprehension. Knight Commander stood at the forefront, a figure unlike the one from yesterday. Through battles from Andalusia to Puerto Varta, he had evolved with a different level of violence.
The Knight Commander also smashed anympposts along the roadside. As a result, artificial lights disappeared from the nearby area. However, asional lights that continued to illuminate the streets came from the fires caused by arson, which did not spare buildings and vehicles. The blood-soaked road shone like it had been coated with oil each time they passed such an inferno.
How on earth had they set so many fires?
The method was simple. The unholy knights used their longswords to jab at the cars strewn along the road and pulled them out. Then, the momentary high temperature created by the friction between the sword and the cars body ignited the fuel vapor in the fuel tank. If the fire didnt catch, they scraped the spilled fuel on the asphalt with the edge of their shields to generate sparks.
I decided to try such arson myself.
Thud-
I brought a sword, which I had horizontally fixed to my backpack, into the water, and with my telekinesis, I forged it into a deadly weapon, gleaming and sharp once again. With a swift motion, I sliced vertically through the rear of a minivan facing the street. The sound of the exploding fuel vapor filled the air as the metallic fire shot out from the crack. I quickly moved back and mmed the cars body sideways into a store with iron bars.
This should do it.
I thought it was a simple yet clever idea as I watched the rapidly spreading mes. Someday, this know-how mighte in handy.
The path, protected by my loyal followers, was unexpectedly silent. The Army had withdrawn their forces from dozens of blocks in this area due to the massacre of the knights, the devastating loss of troops caused by the rampage, and the chaos resulting from the city being set aze. It was essentially a full-scale retreat.
It would take them quite some time to increase the density of their troops and firepower and return. Judging from the present situation, it would be difficult for them to do so tonight.
In the first ce, the military personnel I had witnessed didnt even have equipment for nighttimebat. For the most part, the enhanced individuals had better night vision than those who didnt possess such enhancements. It was more reasonable for them to congregate under the pretext of protecting the evacuating residents.
Moving forward, the ce I reached was a small square in front of the cathedral.
By this point, one might say there was a certain consistency
The outer walls of the cathedral, built in the Spanish style, faintly glowed with a handful of moonlight even under the half-moon and dimly lit sky. On top of the two bell towers with six bells each, a pair of crosses stood tall.
The main gate carved into the stone buttresses had a relief of the Archangel Michael defeating the devil above it. The armored angel, holding his raised sword, was about to pierce Satan below with hisnce. Considering that self-proimed knights of the Holy Order were inside the cathedral with their swords, Id say it was an annoying coincidence.
However, from now on, what would happen was not a battle between angels and devils, but merely a fight between one devil and another.
Yeah, I too was just another devil. My only wish was my own survival and peace, but I was a dirty devil ready to kill, destroy, and set fire to anything to achieve that peace. I wanted to remember this fact, not because of a meager plea of conscience, but because I hoped I was a slightly better being than my enemies.
Buddhistically speaking, I was a person with many sins. One with many sins like me could die like an angel encountering a devil at any moment. Just like Satan beneath Michael, who trampled him down, in a disgraceful, weak, and miserable state. Those who preyed on others must be prepared to be preyed upon themselves.
How fortunate it was that hell and reincarnation were nothing more than human-made fantasies.
As an atheist, I looked at the knights in the cathedral and said,
Id like to personally engage with them.
Hyungnim.
Kyung-tae quietly objected, but I did not change my decision.
They are only four, and there are almost no people in nearby buildings. In this situation, do you think I would let them injure me?
Well, I hope not, but its just that your demeanor is different.
Different from usual?
Yes, the atmosphere.
Hmm. There was a slight burning sensation at the back of my head as if my brief sleep after midnight had been interrupted,sting only ten minutes. Was it because things were going too well and I was excited, or was it the effect of taking six times the rmended dose of an awakening or stimnt agent? However, there were no hallucinations I had worried about, and my senses were still quite clear. My stomach felt a bit queasy, but I considered myself perfectly normal. The fact that theplex magic techniques were still running smoothly was another piece of evidence.
Although I felt somewhat more contemtive than usual
Dont worry.
Sometimes it happened like this too. I gently put down my luggage, making sure not to make any noise.
It wont take long. Just keep watch for a moment.
I only held a longsword and walked toward the cathedral.
The cathedral, not ofrge scale, had an open structure where all the interior spaces were interconnected without a clear distinction between the nave and the aisle. Therefore, the sense of space inside the building was considerablepared to its size. Beyond the main altar, arge statue of Jesus carved from red pine hung. Therge sculpture depicting the Ascension of Jesus was notable for the absence of the cross. A cathedral that did not ce a cross on the wall behind the main altar. Someone might think it was heretical.
Underneath the statue of Jesus, the real heretics who gathered together, lightingrge ceremonial candles, raised their prayers. They turned one by one and looked back at the sound of my footsteps climbing the main stairs. One of them had even taken off his vestments. Was it for treating injuries? Even though they wouldnt have the luxury to show it while desperately running away, it would be difficult to judge the mindset of a zealot by the standards of an ordinary person.
Who knows? Maybe by chance, the cathedral I unexpectedly encountered could be seen as a kind of prophecy.
What were the chances of stumbling upon a cathedral while running aimlessly? Those guys, especially the Knight Commander, were fanatics who drew holy symbols even in the midst of battles in the mountains. There was a possibility that they believed in divine protection here.
The madman asks me,
Who are you?
Even though it was informal, the Cartel leader had a rather polite tone. It was not strange, considering he was absorbed in role-ying. Some of his subordinates thought they were soldiers, after all.
The leaders subordinates were already aiming their guns at me. However, instead of firing at me, they wore ambiguous expressions on the inside of their helmets, probably because even to the drug addicts, I, with just one sword in hand, looked strange. Besides, the sword I was holding was the weapon theirrade used. This should buy me some time.
Thud! The Knight Commander, holding arge shield, mmed it onto the ground.
Who are you?
I saw hints of gold on the marble floor as dust fell from the edge of the shield as he lifted it again. Even though it must be made of titanium alloy, the full-body shield couldnt be light. There was a smudge on the cross painted with paint. I stopped just before the nave and transept intersected and answered the Cartel Knight Commanders question.
Im here to kill you.
The dark cathedral flickered three times. All three of the leaders subordinates fired one shot each from their automatic weapons. However, the bullets fired were suspended in mid-air, caught by telekic power, rather than simply deflected. It was a more advanced technique, greater than just bouncing them away. This was an impossible miracle for them.
The knights who had fired lost their movements. I could see their heartbeats speeding up dramatically. The Knight Commander was no exception. He corrected his tone and spoke to convey his groups astonishment.
Who are you?
In response, I projected my control strength over the magical field of this space to its limits, causing it to contract the magical fields of the Cartel members as if wringing them out. The knights were startled at once. What would the presence of a master-level mage, felt through the senses of an ability user, be like?
Only the Knight Commander, in the same trepidation, raised his sword and shield, ready for battle. He asked again.
Who are you?
The tip of the sword trembled, but he was still a formidable opponent. Without this kind of boldness, even an immortal natural awakener wouldnt have made it this far. He would have been captured sooner orter, or left to die in the mountains.
Ka-ka-kang!
Three heads sttered with blood and brain matter. The result of telekinesis firing the three bullets that I still held them in midair. The three dead fake crusaders tumbled to the ground, their eye sockets pierced, their helmets bouncing and nging as iron struck iron. Naturally, their heads were mangled. Only one, unhelmeted, died from a clean prating wound.
The Knight Commander looked at the deaths of hisrades to his left and right, then back at me.
I said.
I thought I told you I was here to kill you already.
The leader of the Unholy Knights roared like a beast and charged at me.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 54: El Maestre (9)
Chapter 54: El Maestre (9)
The candles flickered. A fierce gust of wind swept through the cathedral. A 2-meter-tall heavy knight, moving with enough force to shatter the ground beneath every step, charged into the closed space, wielding his full-body shield. It was a furious charge from any angle, where the sword would find no openings. Normally, one would first attempt to evade. Dodge and then counter. But
Thunk!
An overwhelming difference in strength. My strike prated the thick shield like it was made of wax, driving straight into his head. The Cartel leader miraculously twisted his head aside in the instant the sword pierced his shield, avoiding a fatal injury, and then continued to push me with the momentum of his charge. Was he trying to knock me over? The mass advantage that strength alone couldnt ovee. A judgment maximizing that advantage. But even as I was pushed back, my center didnt waver. It was a test of pure strength. Creak, creak. The sound of iron pressing against iron in the knights hand. My grip was crushing the titanium gauntlet, the bones, and the flesh within. The shield also showed slight openings where my sword de was embedded.
Between gasps, the Knight Commander let out a strange noise. Keeeeuuugh. A desperate effort to summon strength beyond his limits, with each burst of blood vessels turning into small, distorted circles on his eyes. It was the kind of gaze one would often see in humans on the verge of strangtion.
And then I gazed beyond that. At the radiant magical power burning brightly in the souls circuit. The brilliance of the awakening of a natural genius, which could be called a genius of the world. There, several fragments of code existed. The wisdom the world gave me. Wisdom is power. I was absorbed in the primitive magic before me, like reading a good book.
Guuaaah!
Shouting like a scream, the Knight Commander broke free from my restraints and rolled away. He pushed me aside by giving up the shield with a punch. The chairs that copsed under the weight of his rolling were smashed into pieces. In fact, I deliberately let him go. If I had held on, he would have eventually died, vomiting blood.
No, that wouldnt do. Its difficult that way. I havent seen all the effects yet. I havent engraved those principles into my mind sufficiently.
Having retrieved my sword, I kicked the fallen shield away. One of the guns that had been secured was shaken loose from the impact, and the shield became a heavy projectile that stuck straight in. Bang! A knee strike from the Knight Commander that twisted his waist. The shield, shot high into the air, hit the cathedrals ceiling and bounced off. Amidst the falling debris, the knight managed to catch the falling shield and reinforced his defense.
The side exit was close to him. However, the fake knight didnt choose to flee. He blocked the front with his shield and slowly closed the distance, stepping to the side and carefully waiting for an opportunity. It was worth turning the shield.
Crack
The sound of the ceiling and scattered debris being crushed under a heavy foot. Although this was a fight for an unskilled swordsman, the way it was unfolding was simr to a traditional duel. Not using telekinesis allowed the opponents tactics to be preserved, and it was my own form of training.
Amidst this standoff, the Knight Commanders vital signs were returning from the brink of death to stability. The organs that had rapidly deteriorated were recovering at a visible rate. While it might be different in the long run, it would provide a significant boost for the immediatebat.
The fake temple knight muttered continuously.
O Lord, grant me the strength to ovee adversity. Bestow upon me the power to defeat the great enemy. For human life belongs to you, and my souls life is entirely in your hands. I beseech you to heal me and let the one you have chosen to be spared live.
A fervent atmosphere where he didnt doubt that his own power was a divine blessing and selection. After all, he probably had no intention of escaping after experiencing my power. If faith was power, then defeat was the result ofcking faith. It was a delusion and fanaticism spreading rapidly in present-day Mexico and beyond, akin to an infectious disease.
I will heed your words and follow them diligently, carrying out your exalted will, so that you may be my enemys enemy and my adversarys adversary.
Even during this recovery, the white part of his eyes, now stained with blood, didnt clear. The spilled blood didnt get reabsorbed; it was why they remained discolored. His eyes were filled with fierce determination and anger. The initial shock and fear had disappeared and were nowhere to be seen.
The faithful are the righteous, so let the holy justice reside in my sword!
Beneath the renewed power of the Knight Commander, the marble beneath his feet shattered. Another charge with the shield held up. Was it the same sequence as the beginning? As I was thinking, the Knight Commander stamped the ground roughly with his shield. Woong! Kwadadadadak! The breaking ground became a wave, obscuring my vision with dust and debris. Beyond that smokescreen, the temple knight leaned on his shield and used a sudden stop to concentrate all the momentum on his sword.
Kwaang!
The impact of a sword against a sword made ss windows shake. The magical power coursing through the knights circuits burned with a different radiance and form than before. I tracked these changes while rotating my sword. Using the crossed guards of the two swords as an axis, I stepped diagonally and twisted my wrist to draw a sharp semicircle.
The knight deflected the swording towards his head with the edge of his shield and then pushed aside the entangled swords. Immediately after, he countered with a kick aimed outward. A precise move that relied on the shields corner. Excellent. But I had no blind spots. I closed in to nullify the attack while hitting him with my shoulder and upper body, sending the knight tumbling away. Kwaak! The armor crumpled with a loud noise as the Knight Commander rolled away, like a wild boar struck by a truck. But even in this state, he managed to twist his body and use his shield to regain his crouching posture. He was truly a skilled fighter by nature, not just a genius in one aspect.
Now, the knights body had a crushed corpse on top of it. It was one of the three who had died earlier, the one who had removed his armor due to injuries.
The Knight Commander trembled. Organs and flesh stained with the blood pouring from his body. These were the lumps of magical power tumors, still causing convulsions even after their host had died. The culprits who had shocked both the medical and scientificmunitiestely. Theseckluster circuits were pushed to their limits by the Sicario knights, who, although inferior to the boss in terms of ability and talent, had used the remaining circuits to the fullest. It was an inevitable oue.
AAAAAHHHH!
A roar of anger from the Knight Commander nearly shattered the ss windows one by one. Before the glittering shards rained down, the Knight Commander and I engaged in a fifth round of attacks and counters. Once again, the Knight Commander was thrown down. But he got up and kept fighting against me. It was more like a demolition job of a building than a fight between people.
If it hadnt been for the fights breath being repeatedly interrupted by the overwhelmingly one-sided gap in power, the fake Knight Commander would have copsed without a chance to recover.
The cathedral vibrated. Huff, huff The knight, who had crashed through the walls numerous times, leaned on his shield and breathed heavily, his body soaked in blood. Heavily damaged wounds were caked with clotted blood. As he staggered out of the copsed debris, he leaned on his sword like a crutch, catching his breath. He then stood beside the fallen statue of Jesus and raised his trembling sword. With the handle detached, he threw away the shield.
Beyond the ebb and flow of his breath, as he raised and lowered his sword, the only thing that hadnt dulled yet was his gaze, which seemed to be sharper. If anything, it was bing more focused. It was the same with the mana coursing through his veins. I observed these changes as I spun my sword.
Indeed, it was a satisfying determination.
Go ahead, burn everything down. Leave your true legacy in this world. That legacy will contribute to the demise of your real enemies.
Indeed. The real enemies. If it werent for their interest, this strong and sphemous knight might have been burning down chapels and churches even now. His subordinates would probably still be alive, fighting alongside their leader.
I left the port immediately, not giving a second thought to this vile genius, who might have possessed high-quality code, and concluded our deal. Then, the Knight Commander could have be a new colossus in central Mexico, and perhaps even a drug kingpin dominating an era
Kwaang!
The sword broke, scattering my distracted thoughts.
I had lost count of how many shes we had engaged in. This time, it was my weapon that broke.
Dont interfere!
Kyung-tae, who had approached the entrance, and another one suddenly raised their guns.
In the heat of the moment, I had grabbed my opponents sword with my bare hands. My Ker gloves were torn apart, and my skin, which had already toughened significantly, was gradually ripped open. Blood oozed from my wounds, and the pain seared. A foreign warmth spread over my wrist.
Looooord!
The knight who had made me bleed screamed, pounding his head with his fists. What a pleasant thing! When had I ever experienced such a fight? I had grabbed the helm with my bare hands, and our battle had now evolved into a savage struggle, resembling bulls locking horns.
Kwang! Kwang! Kwang! Kwang!
As we collided heads, the Knight Commanders circuits, which glowed slightly each time our foreheads met, gradually dimmed as if burning his remaining life. The magical field surrounding him also decreased dramatically. Engaging in closebat with me while leaving his magical field behind was anything but normal.
Fortunately, I had acquired all the code I needed. Now, all that remained was to finish him off with all my might. The relentless headbutting was my way of showing respect for this savage. Therge sword wedged between the Knight Commander and me was making strained sounds, under extreme deformation stress.
Kwang!
A kick struck me. The knight tried to strike low, but I skillfully evaded and, while twisting my body, delivered a powerful blow that sent him sprawling in disarray. He attempted to rise, but it seemed his body wouldnt cooperate this time.
Guh
Heavily, blood poured from the helmet.
May thy Lord, who led thee through the wilderness for forty years, remember His trials upon thee. He has humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger to test thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep Hismandments or no
A fanatic who believed in miracles didnt break easily, even in the final moments. Victory or defeat was what God decrees. The fact that the drug cartel leader was a zealot to this extent could be seen as a religious experience for someone, a revtion that opens their eyes to transcendental abilities, to the extent that it might alter their personality.
The exhausted figure, like a wanderer, fumbled to grasp the fallen sword, like a lost master. It made a grinding sound, and the de of the missing sword was pulled with a dragging noise. The tip of the sword, reflecting the flickering candlelight, cast faint and distorted shadows. The Knight Commander gripped the hilt forcefully as if wringing his physical and spiritual strength to thest. The sword suddenly elerated toward my heart at a speed I had never seen before. He had crossed his limit. Nevertheless, he was slower than me. I raised my fist towards his side. With a loud crack, the sword burst forth, spinning and falling to the ground as it escaped its owners hand.
This was the end.
The Knight Commander died without realizing it. Was it due to his armor and other protective gear, or was it because of his exceptionally resilient body? The fallen knight didnt copse or fall forward or backward due to his armor or other gear. Instead, he merely knelt with his head bowed and stopped.
A bizarre death that didnt befit his life. Just looking at this could tell you that there was no god in this world.
A benevolent god was ultimately nothing more than a product of human cultural imagination. It might be amusing, but trying to find something more than just amusement in it would be a futile endeavor.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 55: El Maestre (10)
Chapter 55: El Maestre (10)
I picked up the sword that had lost its owner. The person who once wielded it was more like a beast than a human, with a size and appearance more suited to tearing beasts apart than humans. Although the de was slightly twisted, there were no major issues with its overall durability. Should I really call it a titanium alloy, perhaps?
On the other hand, the appearance of the deceased Knight Commander, at first nce, resembled a knight from religious paintings. A knight of Christ who had fought devils and evil dragons. But the lifeless body he left behind was no better than the corrupt priests who called themselves drug lords.
As I looked closer, I began to feel a bit disgusted. The Knight Commander had a certain resemnce to the Masters. The Masters and the members of the Round Table shared a belief in being chosen by God. Thetter was still an ongoing process.
After pushing the Knight Commander down with magic, I removed his armor and equipment. I also collected the weapons, shields, armor, chest rigs, and more from the dead henchmen. These were props necessary for the grand finale of this hunt.
Next, I ignited a fierce fire in the now-ruined cathedral. The fallen Jesus statue caught fire first, followed by the Virgin Mary statue, the angel statues, shattered or intact pews, the front wall with inscribed scriptures, the altar, and the lectern. The cathedral, copsing in the heat, would make an excellent tomb for the knights corpses.
Since I was already at it, I decided to put in a little more effort.
Bang, thud, whoosh!
The deafening noise of what seemed like falling shells reverberated. My telekinesis, shimmering transparently, pounded the wretched corpses like a press. It would be challenging to even guess their original forms until they werepletely obliterated and burnt in the intense heat.
Walking away from the brightly burning cathedral, I thought my dark shadow, swaying in the temples wavering light, resembled the silhouette of a dancing devil. This was probably the lingering ecstasy of an intense battle.
As I stepped out of the main gate, Kyung-tae nodded respectfully.
Youve been through a lot, hyungnim.
Hardly. It was an enjoyable and enlightening time.
Rumble. A vibration from the corner of the cathedral copsing behind me resembled the thunderps echoing in distant mountain ranges. As I descended the stairs, there was a loud shattering sounding from high above, between the bell towers. When I nced back, I saw that the clock embedded there had exploded due to the internal heat and pressure. I could see hot air escaping through the crack in the clock, emitting various colors of heat.
Whats the situation? Has anything changed?
Yes. Half of Suyeon-noonims team is deployed along the Pitil River Park. If you go down just three blocks from here, youll have a path to move anywhere in the city while avoiding the skys gaze. The n is to use this axis as the center of movement. Also, the remaining reserve forces have attacked the city police and the Defence Armysmand nodes, securing their radios and destroying evidence. Based on the iingmunications, the estimated position of the British troops is
Kyung-taesmunication was swift and concise. His memory inbat situations was as exceptional as Suyeons. I listened as he reported.
Thats all for the fieldmand reports. Do you have any instructions?
No. Confirm and ry that I will follow as instructed.
Roger.
Kyung-taes response included a message that I was unharmed.
I selected three subordinates under Kyung-tae, dividing the props for our performance. I took one for myself, while the Knight Commanders full-body armor was assigned to Kyung-tae. Even though Kyung-tae was thergest among them in the security team, the height difference with the deceased Knight Commander was almost 10 centimeters, and their skeletal structures were quite different, making perfect disguise impossible.
However, we could ovee that with role distribution in the darkness and stage production.
A suitable means caught my eye.
A stable?
Not far from the square we upied, there was a stable not too far to the southeast. While residents fled gunshots and fires spread throughout the city, horses trapped in enclosures panicked, leaping around in fear amid the scent of burning and auditory chaos.
Mountedbat was actually a foolish act that consumed the awakened individuals mobility andbat power. However, what we needed now was not Kyung-taesbat power alone but the presence of the Knight Commander.
This way.
I, who had determined the path, led the way. There was no reason to move cautiously in a world where obstacles could be ignored due to my field of vision.
We reached the stable without any obstacles. It seemed like a ce where various businesses jointly managed horses, such as those used for tourist activities, but more than half of the stalls were empty, perhaps due to recent economic difficulties. The remaining horses were generally not in good condition.
Kyung-tae asked with some confusion,
Oh, are you nning to fight on horseback?
Youll be the only one riding.
Ah, I see. Understood.
Kyung-taes response was somewhat deted, and the way he fiddled with the swords handle was easy to read. He might have been disappointed that there were few opportunities to use a sword after we had captured him. It was an unusual type of real-worldbat that he had never experienced before.
This guy should be good.
I pointed directly at one of the horses that had been left behind. I didnt know if the facility was financially well-off or if the horses were privately owned, but the horse was in rtively good nutritional condition and was among the heavier ones. Although it was slow, it had good stamina.
Kyung-tae managed to calm down the horses that were making noise with some difficulty and skillfully mounted the horse, adjusting the saddle and reins.
Are you okay?
What?
You havent ridden a horse in a while.
Oh,e on, hyungnim. What do you take me for?
Kyung-tae, manipting the reins skillfully, smiled from inside his helmet.
Stay like that for a moment.
I spent a few minutes opening up the circuitry in the horses mind that Kyung-tae was riding. The main purpose was physical enhancement. Since this was not a painstaking task, and it was my first time awakening a horse, the circuit that reduced the subjects lifespan waspleted. But
Anyway, as long as this guy is fine until sunrise, its fine.
The horse spoke in a low tone, a sudden surge of strength that seemed to startle it. Kyung-tae quickly calmed it down again. As I had previously damaged the horses hearing magically to prepare forbat, I had fashioned a makeshift cuirass from the four sets of body armor that had been reced by titanium armor.
The hunting n was simple. Four of us, including me, disguised as knights, would concentrate the enemys attention. Meanwhile, the others would surround the enemy from the outside and exploit their vulnerable rear.
Hence, the virtue of the knights who did not know Spanish was silence. How strange would it be if they heard us speaking English from this side? In the 21st century, it was an era wheremanders shared the soldiers field of view, and during closebat, it was difficult to block telekinesis as a toon leader. Conversation andmunication were only allowed in a limited manner when keeping a distance from the enemy.
Still, the assigned roles were simple, so it shouldnt be too difficult. I instructed my armored subordinates to remember just four Spanish phrases.
Cover, regroup, withdraw, attack. In closebat situations, these four phrases were sufficient. I could fill in the gaps with my own abilities if necessary.
And so, the hunt began.
HVT (High-Value Target) confirmed! Four enemy personnel! Engaging!
We were discoveredor rather, we had spotted the British unit first, and they weed us with shes of muzzle fire. Turreturretung! The dull reverberation of titanium shields. With sword and shield in hand, I charged forward, effortlessly dodging the bullet storm that rained down upon us. It took about three seconds to eliminate the gaps, and unnecessary movements mixed in with my advance. A swift move, considering the wide gap in skill between me and the knights.
What!
The smell of sweat filled the air. I swung my de horizontally, enhanced with magical power, cleanly slicing through bones and flesh. The severed head spun like a roulette wheel, spraying blood.
Bryn!
Shouting the name of his fallenrade, the wide-eyed sergeant aimed his gun at me. Bang! A close-range shot. The bullet, aimed at my helmet, bounced off with a dull thud. It was a shock that fell just short of smashing my head with the Knight Commander. Immediately, my counterattack strengthened with a force that could deflect attacks from easily defensible angles, struck.
Kagak! Kagagak!
I repeatedly shed, the sergeant desperately defending against my attacks. Thanks to his efforts, his gun had its trigger guard broken off, and the magazine was brutally sliced away. Nheless, one round remained in the chamber, and the sergeant held the gun like a spear, pulling the trigger instinctively. ng! I turned to face the point-nk shot. Tink! The bullet was deflected by the tilt of my armor. No matter how powerful the shot, if the angle of impact was off, what could it do?
The wall behind the sergeant copsed. The recoil I felt through my shield was the violence I had just unleashed. The sergeant, impaled by concrete debris, was buried up to his waist. The screams and cries from behind me were the destruction and death my subordinates were causing. The ones following me now were the elite of the Round Table.
Kuh
The sergeant, who had been mortally wounded in a single blow, looked at me with eyes full of disbelief. Blood dripping from his mouth was evidence that his organs were damaged, and the expression on his face, resembling that of a drunken person holding back the urge to vomit, depicted immense pain. It was the expected oue. I hadnt shown him the same mercy I had extended to Knight Commander.
I approached him and began stomping on his hand, which was holding a grenade, crushing it into a pulp. The sergeant, who had even been prevented frommitting suicide, red at me weakly. A camera was attached to the side of his ballistic helmet, signifying that the British militarymand was likely watching this scene in real time.
I made a change to the physical enhancement technique I had been using. A mages mastery of magical physical enhancement implied the ability to control muscles that wouldnt obey the will, either directly or indirectly, when necessary.
The vocal cords are one of those involuntary muscles. Like when I yed Huang, I was reciting a prayer with a voice that was not my own, digesting the role of a fanatic. The memorized prayer is the inspiration I gained from the showdown with the Knight Commander.
Jehov, Dios des venganzas, Dios des venganzas, mustrate. Engrandcete, oh Juez de tierra. Da el pago a los soberbios. (Jehovah, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, reveal yourself. Exalt yourself, oh Judge of the earth. Render rpense to the proud.)
What is this
The remnants of my master in my head contained the refinement of nobility, a twisted obsession with the Bible, and knowledge of threenguages. Therefore, extracting a suitable passage from it wasnt a difficult task. There might be some minor inuracies, but didnt the Knight Commander do the same? Fanatics tend to distort doctrine.
Stab! Piercing through the bulletproof vest. The sergeant widened his eyes. I continued to stab without hesitation, imitating the fanatics role with a dry chant. Stab, stab, stab. With each thrust, fresh blood stained the de. More blood flowed from the sergeants mouth.
Oh, Jehovah. How long will the wicked be joyful, singing songs? How long will they boast with harsh words and disy unfair deeds?
Stop. St-stop.
Oh, Jehovah. They break your people. They soak your heritage in violence.
..
Bang, bang! Along with the cries, new bullets flew. A bold attack from the enemy, thinking there were only four of us. Anger over losingrades drove them forward. I began by using the refraction barrier to avoid the first three bullets, then quickly tilted my shield, altering its angle. Continually using the refraction barrier would reveal the presence of a technique controlled with precision. Such sophistication was far from achievable with primitive magic at this stage. After all, even the Knight Commander couldnt surpass physical enhancement.
The shield, forming an acute angle with the ground, easily deflected the iing semi-automatic gunfire. With each thud that reverberated through the grip and forearm, small deformations appeared on the shield. These were formidable firearms.
?Renanse! (Gather!)
Three shields, bracing against obstacles, covered approximately 150 degrees around Kyung-tae. His dulled hearing was not startled by the noise ofbat. Kyung-tae, perched high on a saddle, fired his hunting rifle in semi-automatic bursts. Bang, bang, bang! Each deadly urate shot rapidly diminished the enemys firepower.
However, the odds were against them. A clear show of superiority increased the enemys density. Beyond that, amidst the heat of burning cars and buildings, and the smoke it generated, the sight of my subordinates leaping over obstacles and running across rooftops was visible.
As the encirclement closed in, I ced the lifeless body of the sergeant, his breath extinguished, on the shield and charged toward the enemy. An interval that disappeared in an instant. The enemies couldnt easily open fire on arade whose life hung in the bnce. It was a battlefield where there was still plenty of blood to be shed by the de.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 56: El Maestre (11)
Chapter 56: El Maestre (11)
In a firefight where both sides were armed with firearms, exposing ones nk or rear was extremely deadly. Due to the nature of firearms, a single person nking the front lines could potentially copse the entire group. Additionally, the superior physical abilities of awakened individuals in primitive magic allowed for high-speed maneuverability regardless of terrain and obstacles. In future small-scale group battles, the key would be how to leverage the unique mobility of each awakened individual along with their abilities.
Therefore, during training, I emphasized granting my subordinates broad autonomy while focusing on my own on-sitemand abilities. Even if themand center imed to have an advancedmand system thatprehensively observed the perspectives of eachbat personnel and surveyed the battlefield from the sky, they couldnt surpass an on-sitemander who saw everything visually. Especially in such a chaotic and obstacle-filled battlefield.
As I collected the results, not discriminating between Double A and the British soldiers, I stood at the boundary between midnight and dawn, looking down at the freshly ughtered corpses.
The British soldiers were different from the others in terms of smell, predominant skin color, attire, and equipment. These were Indian soldiers, the +1 in the FPDA+1 coalition, who had traveled 330 kilometers as per the host countrys request. (+)[1]TLN: The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) are a series of bteral defence rtionships established by a series of multiteral agreements between Australia, Mysia, New Zend, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, all of which are Commonwealth members that once belonged to the British Empire. Im guessing the +1 here means that India joins with those five countries. As far as I know from searching on the inte. Theres no India in the real FPDA. So this is perhaps only in this novel.
The soldiers, whose hearts had stopped, stared nkly at the acrid sky obscured by the moon and stars. Those who easily exterminated the cartel armed forces came out as if they were swept away by a disaster and died at the hands of their subordinates.
Is this where it ends?
The deaths of those who had no reason to die chilled my head, which had been heated with the fervor of battle. The fatigue I had forgotten returned, making my whole body feel heavy. It was a sensation like liquid gravity spreading along my veins.
At that moment, Kyung-tae made the same judgment.
Hyungnim, shouldnt we start withdrawing soon? The enemy has be too numerous, and if we continue to set the city on fire, our remaining deal will be in jeopardy. Its better to throw a decoy here and finish it
Thats right. Everyone, remove your armor.
There were many corpses scattered around with armor to spare. Double As sicarios, even those who couldnt be considered sicarios, were merely alley rats. However, there was no fake corpse among them to stage the death of the Knight Commander. The whereabouts of the infamous El Maestre would remain a mystery to everyone. All that would remain here would be the corpses of Knight Commander and his bodyguards.
The first thing I did after arranging the corpses was to forge the cause of death.
Fire.
Boom! One of my subordinates fired an RPG-7, stolen from a sicario. At the far end of the trajectory, there was an Indian military truck loaded with arge quantity of explosives, including recoilless rifle shells, at thebat scene.
Kaboom! Kaboom! Kaboom!
The truck erupted in a fierce chain explosion. Shockwaves spread twice, knocking over nearby buildings. Parked cars rolled around like they were flipped by a typhoon, and a motorcycle hit by the st wave spewed mes onto the asphalt, skidding for half a block.
So, what would happen to the bodies in the st zone? They would be torn apart and scattered. The conclusion to be drawn from analyzing the aftermath would be clear: the fake Holy Knights had ughtered the Indian army but met an unfortunate end due to a rocket attack from the cartel.
Amidst the faint screamsing from some of the remaining houses, a muffled and squelching noise filled the air.
Part of a horse, tied to the truck, was missing. The horses lower half had been peeled away, and its skiny half-discarded on the asphalt. It felt like looking at a Picasso painting brought to life. The wounds and burns created an aberrant coloration.
Looking at one side of this bloody artwork, Kyung-tae expressed his somber regret.
Poor thing. It was a gentle creature.
Impressive evidence and eyewitness ounts were left all over the city. The suffering of death had been a brief moment, or so I thought. At least it must have been quicker than a typical ughter.
Leaving this gruesome scene behind, I retreated to the Pitil River. From the moment I decided to withdraw until I joined the guys stationed by the riverbank, we didnt need to engage in any additionalbat, and we didnt need to take a detour. The streets I had been sweeping through until now were left as literal no-mansnd.
However
Theres one more prey left?
Throughmunication connected to themand post, Suyeon informed me of the presence of another prey. We didnt necessarily need to capture it, but it was a valuable beast worth hunting down.
[Based on interceptingmunication from the Sinaloa Cartel, it appears that El Juegos za has ignored Double As request for support and is now acting independently. Judging from the concentration of their movements toward the dock, it seems they might be nning to evacuate their personal and zas core assets to a safe location.]
The dock? Which dock?
[Marina Varta.]
Cross-referencing the map and the name, I felt a slight sense of confusion.
In this situation, are they really nning to smuggle money and drugs right in front of a naval base?
The bay that Puerto Varta served as a harbor for was remarkably small. It was so insignificant as a port that it would have been embarrassing to call it one if it werent for the tourist attractions. It had a dock where cruise ships docked right in front and a naval base, and further ind, there were small piers for fishing boats and yachts to moor.
Marina Varta was the most deeply established among these small piers.
So, if El Juego wanted to move his personal and zas core assets out by sea, they would undoubtedly have to pass through the narrow waterway right in front of the naval base. Its width was no more than about 100 meters.
Is that even possible?
The Navy must be on high alert right now. This was not the time to easily sneak something past. This could turn into a diplomatic incident, no matter how many bribes theyd been giving.
In response to my question, Suyeon promptly replied.
[The frightened citizens are escaping to the sea. Therefore, the navy cant muster the courage to deploy patrol boats. The narrow bay ispletely packed with ships and people.]
Ah, so thats whats going on.
[Even if they were to send patrol boats, they cant control all those escape vessels. Moreover, its likely that many wealthy individuals and local dignitaries are among the targets. Mexican traits make it impossible for them to exert strong control over these people.]
So, El Juego might seed as long as he doesnt mess up?
[Yes.]
There probably werent many properties owned by rentalpanies catering to tourists among the boats heading out to sea right now. Unless escaping citizens looted their offices and obtained keys.
Ultimately, most of the escape convoy would be wealthy individuals who owned private yachts. Those who resided to the west, separated by the coastal road. Those who separated themselves from the wealthy tourists and enjoyed the freshness of the southwestern winds in advance. Mexicosw enforcement existed for the sake of these people.
Since the Guadjara incident, many of the wealthy residents of Mexicos secondrgest city had alsoe to this ce for refuge. Thevish hotels were teeming with money, and it was also why Peruchos daughter, Mari, could earn 50 pesos a day.
El Juego must have taken all of this into consideration when nning their actions. At the point when the FPDA+1 coalition and Double A shed, he probably decided that this was his only way out.
That judgment wasnt wrong. He was a cunning and selfish guy. I sighed and made up my mind.
I guess we have to catch that guy too.
I had thought that all that was left was to disappear after everything was over, and this new job was nothing but a nuisance. However, no matter how tired I was, I couldnt let a guaranteed lottery ticket slip through my fingers. The cartel za that had provided drugs and prostitution to tourists while operating thergest casino in the port, and the assets controlled by the Hepe dominating that za, would be worth several million dors at least, just in terms of cash. This was an estimate that even considered the recession in the port.
It was a bonus worth hundreds of millions with a little extra work. Not catching it would be foolish.
And El Juego, along with El Tiro, had to be the spoils of the FPDA+1. Thats the only way to neatly conclude this situation. The fate of the spoils didnt matter.
The cartel regional lord cornered and chose tomit suicide Or maybe they fought amongst themselves and died. That kind of ending should be fine.
That should be enough for this detestable ind nation to save face. After hearing my sigh, Suyeon spoke in a slightly lower tone.
[Im sorry. We didnt want to attack with just our forces since they had armored vehicles and armed awakened individuals. There was a possibility of casualties.]
No, you did the right thing.
I was the one who said that we wouldnt lose a single person.
Do you have a n?
[When they load their assets onto the yacht, well wait for that moment and then eliminate them. Afterward, well hide the yacht in the shadow of a nearby archipgo. Then, when our cargo ship arrives in two days, we can transfer what we need.]
An archipgo? Is it a safe ce?
[These are inds where public ess is prohibited due to natural damage. Weve confirmed that they have numerous blind spots from external observation. Since theyck infrastructure, theres no reason for escape ships to dock there.]
That should be enough. Well join you soon.
[Yes.]
After ending themunication, we continued on the path Suyeon had prepared. It took about four minutes to traverse the thoroughly prepared 5 kilometers. From this point on, the coastal road near the navy base was adjacent to a natural reserve swamp, so all we had to do was drive along the road at maximum speed.
Therefore, it wasnt very surprising that we reached the pier before the cartel convoy transporting the cargo.
Krrrrng
The distinct rough engine sound of an armored vehicle approached. Leading the cartel vehicle convoy was an 8-wheeled armored personnel carrier that had been produced for military use. I knew it was not part of the regr Mexican military as soon as I saw the armored vehicle as a weapons merchant.
Scott?
Scott (OT-64 SKOT). A relic of the Cold War era, which had been run by Czechoslovakia and Pnd in the past. It used to be a military armored vehicle, but now it was considered an antique, often appearing in the second-hand car market. While the weapons were removed and sold separately, these privately sold armored vehicles asionally became the cause of marital disputes.
If this was such amon item, even weapons merchants like me wouldnt be interested. There was no reason to search for something in the ck market when you could easily get it in the regr market as long as you had a license. Unless it was a special order from customers who couldnt ess the regr market due to safety concerns.
Even so, this was a weapon system that would be appreciated here in Mexico. Despite being a relic of the Cold War, it was still in active use in the Third World, where everything remained in the 20th century.
In the past, there were many guys who used to drive around in narco tanks bat vehicles modified frommercial vehicles by drug cartels). Theyd certainlye a long way. It couldnt had been easy to transport.
Krkkk
An armored vehicle with a battering ram for obstacle destruction was pushing aside the cars blocking the road. It was a civilian car that had been involved in a collision at an intersection during the emergency evacuation. The column of vehicles with their headlights on squeezed through the gap created by that collision and entered the pier one by one.
In the middle of the iing column, there were two turret trucks. One was loaded only with drugs, but the smaller one was packed to the brim with banknotes and precious metals.
Thetter exceeded my expectations by quite a bit.- 1. TLN: The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) are a series of bteral defence rtionships established by a series of multiteral agreements between Australia, Mysia, New Zend, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, all of which are Commonwealth members that once belonged to the British Empire. Im guessing the +1 here means that India joins with those five countries. As far as I know from searching on the inte. Theres no India in the real FPDA. So this is perhaps only in this novel.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 57: El Maestre (12)
Chapter 57: El Maestre (12)
Behind the two turret trucks, three small vans and one narco tank came in. The narco tank, modified from a 25-tonrge truck, looked like a wheeled scrap metal on the outside, but its actualbat capabilities exceeded those of the real armored vehicle in the front. It even had a usible turret on top.
The terrifying monstrosity with its red tail lights poured out Sicarios who resembled me closely. The resemnce meant that the Sicarios were also covered in armor resembling scrap metal all over their bodies. Just looking at them, you could smell the rough iron-like armoredbat suits, probably weighing at least sixty to seventy kilograms each from the thudding sound of their footsteps. Their weight was excessive for their strength, making it difficult to control their movements and inertia. They were equipped at the level of a regional militia and awakened individuals.
Unlike the elegant and sophisticated weaponry of the Los Caballeros Temrios Cartel, their angr iron armor suits, each with sharp edges, were likely hastily made products from an ordinary hardware store. It was probably an order to deal with the Guadjara Shock.
Two people got out of the Porsche Carrera as well. One was El Juego, and the other appeared to be his lover or wife. El Juego, who mmed the drivers side door nervously, gestured violently with the machine gun in his hand.
Hurry up, you bastards! If we cant get the ship up in 5 minutes, its 10 seconds, yes, Ill kill one of you every 10 seconds! Do you understand?!
In response to za Hepes fierce hysteria, about three small vans worth of Sicarios began rushing to carry the goods. The first thing they transported was blocks of drugs tightly wrapped in white stic. The faint yellow tint in the bright white indicated that the cocaines purity was extremely high. One gram could be used 12 times, and, based on the market price, it was worth 50 times more than the same weight in gold or jewelry. So, it was only natural to prioritize transporting it over banknotes or precious metals.
Looking at the enemysposition, it was clear that the hunt would be significantly affected by whether I was present or not. Especially for my guys who had to rely on firepower, that narco tank would be a significant obstacle.
In addition, the naval base, just 2 kilometers away, was also a problem. If the fight dragged on even a little, the base security and harbor security units would be called in. Among them, Diego Svaralska, a lieutenant colonel and a friend of Ricardo who promised to watch over the deal with Northeastern Group the day after tomorrow, would be included.
The harbor security unit was thest opponent we wanted to fight.
Therefore, as a precaution, Suyeon had informed that she had ced several bombs in the shopping district in front of the naval base. This was a tool to disperse the attention of the navy during the battle.
I miss my sword.
My hand still had the lingering sensation of the hilt of the sword. Since we were fighting in close quarters, if I rushed in with a single long sword, the enemies would die in piles without knowing how they died. The tough iron-like armoredbat suits that the zas elite group of awakened individuals wore were no different. Even though they were supposed to be for urban warfare, these guys in the clunky armor suits didnt consider even the minimum flexibility for urbanbat. A fight where I would sweep away the Sicarios and finish by stabbing the drivers seat of the narco tank would be a reasonably satisfying experience and entertainment for me, who was preparing for arger war.
But it couldnt be done. Not only did I not have a sword at the moment, but using it would leave traces that would take a long time to erase and cover-up.
The Knights Temr was no more. Time was running out.
[Burgos Two, One, we have secured the positions.]
In the beach area filled with condominium-style resorts, the dock was an excellent ce to concentrate firepower. Each open terrace room could be an ambush point. When I turned my head slightly, I could see the figures of the guys who had just reported, taking their positions at each window.
[Burgos Two, Two, we will arrive at the location soon.]
These were the troops controlled by Suyeon. Suyeon had silently and swiftly silenced the Sicario snipers who hade in advance to secure the scene before the column of vehicles with armored vehicles reached the dock.
[Antonio tomand. All teams are in position.]
This was Suyeons own report.
That was fast.
[Thanks to you, hyungnim.]
Kyung-tae, distribute the targets. Ill handle that monster truck. El Juego should be captured alive if possible, but if theres any doubt, secure him even if you have to kill him. As long as his face is intact.
[I understand.]
The monster trucks, of course, referred to the narco tanks.
The truck is protected by a magical field. There are still seven abilities on board. To suppress them, I need to get closer, so make sure you tell the guys not to worry about idental discharges in advance. Kyung-tae, remember that too.
[Yes.]
Yeah.
The order was to be careful and not hold back on firepower even if I rushed forward. The two guys reluctantly epted the orders. Even if it wasnt an exceptionally strong firepower, it wouldnt be easy for my refraction barrier to break through unless it was used to its full capacity.
While my subordinates were diligently preparing for the attack, El Juego was yelling at the top of his lungs, using the muzzle of his wristwatch as a gun barrel.
Three minutes! Only three minutes left! Is this your best?! Is this all you can do?!
A decision-maker with arrogant leadership, who talked fast but didnt do anything himself. If I were in that situation, I would have at least personally fired a single shot of cocaine to reduce the work time. Was he anxious that someone might steal even a small piece?
Well, considering that they were Mexican cartel members, it was not surprising that there would be such distrust. They probably wouldnt feel secure without monitoring the operation with their own eyes.
A massive explosion erupted at the dock. Dozens of sturdy Sicarios were shuttling back and forth on a long gangway barely wide enough for two people, and in the end, someone stumbled and fell.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Unexpected gunshots rang out in rapid session. El Juego was the culprit.
We have no need for kids who cant even take a step! Just die! Get lost, you spineless bastards!
The confused Sicarios, who had received a hail of bullets that sounded like someone was knocking on their doors, crawled up to the dock after consuming water to rehydrate themselves. The aiming was so hasty that there wasnt a single hit, but there was also no one to help them. El Juegos lover also paced along the waterfront with a golden pistol, urging theborers on.
Handle them with care, you syphilitic bastards! Each of those things is worth a million times more than your balls on both sides!
Vulgar. The two of them were acting like a pair of lowlifes.
A littleter, Suyeons voice came over the wireless.
[Command, this is Antonio. All preparations areplete.]
Wait.
Cocaine that was probably over five tons was loaded onto the ship, and now boxes filled with jewelry and dors wereing out. Once those were all moved, the vignce of their group would be disturbed. That would be the most suitable moment to start the attack.
A hunter must have patience. Whether hunting humans or animals, waiting and then taking a single shot was much cleaner and more efficient than shooting hastily with several magazines. It was a truth that anyone calling themselves a hunter should understand.
The five minutes that El Juego had set for himself had been reduced to less than a minute after three minutes had passed.
Its done!
The cartel warlord pped his hands with 26 seconds left until the deadline he had set for himself.
Kko! Guayo! At the beach, take care of the front and rear! Ririo, ride with me! The rest, move ording to the n as soon as I leave! If you hide among the residents, the military or the police will never, ever find you, no matter what! Got it?! Once that fool El Tiro is dead, itll quiet down soon!
As a cartel warlord, his attitude of sacrificing his own colleague for the preservation of his own power was exemry. He tossed the keys to the yachts that each of the two officers responsible for maritime escort would board, and the vignce line of the Sicarios, who deemed the situation to be over, began to waver.
Nows the time.
Fire.
At mymand, dozens of heads and torsos spewed blood front and rear. Even some of the awakened Sicarios, who were wearing armor, had weaknesses such as eye sockets and joints pierced and were either killed or incapacitated. Two of them exploded inside their armor suits due to hits from small rockets (LAW). Firearms were looted from regr army troops in the mountains.
Blocking the initial gunfire and retracting the absorption barrier, I expanded my magical field to its maximum and leaped forward.
What the -!
Terrified, El Juego clung to his woman and crouched down just as a session of deafening explosions and a crimson sh engulfed the armored vehicle. Rockets, two of them, had prated the thin tes and detonated inside. The men inside died without even having a chance to scream.
Get down! Its an ambush!
The elite fighters from za were struggling even to lift the weight and bulk of their steel armor, and it seemed they found it challenging to even manage to lie down. Meanwhile, the hefty narco tank began to move. A guy in the drivers seat was hastily stepping on the elerator and steering.
Krrrr-
Several cracks formed on the road under the bulletproof tires. Converting a 25-ton truck forbat meant it was carrying at least 40 tons or more. It was a weight that wasnt particrly surprising. It wasnt something exclusive to Koreans that trucks in the past used to leave ports with a total weight of 100 tons. In other words, the narco tank in front of me was a mobile fortress that even lightweight rockets couldnt prate. To defeat it in a single shot, youd need a heavier and more expensive anti-tank weapon. Rockets targeting the tires exploded on the worn-out asphalt.
You cowardly bastards! C-Counterattack, damn it! Protect me!
El Juegos desperate cries were apanied by gunfire from his subordinates, but I paid no attention to that side. My subordinates would handle itpetently.
The ability users riding in the monster truck reacted spasmodically to the expanded magical field. To me, their confusion was visible. They appeared overwhelmed, their dirty pores even clear. Their brains were shining with various chemical signals. It was closer to the thrill of those who had encountered a giant natural phenomenon rather than the reaction of those who had found an enemy. The true presence of a mage that only those who possessed a mana circuit could feel.
Nevertheless, they quickly rotated the turret. Perhaps it was because of the stability the steel fortress provided. When the barrel aimed at me, the dark dock lit up with the light of ignited gunpowder. A st followed, mixed with the clear metallic reverberation. It was a recoilless gun.
Sssheee-
The high-explosive shell, even with its sharp trajectory, was deflected by the magical barrier. It soared off at an angle, leaving only the sound of the winds. Even from the side gunners port on the vehicle, suppressive fire was pouring out. I refracted even that gunfire, and before the second round could be loaded, I had approached the Narco Tank. As the distance disappeared, the upants magical fields shrank to the point where they couldnt even cover the vehicle itself.
The next steps were straightforward.
As the avoided shellnded on the far side of the dock and caused an explosion, I swiftly entered the Narco Tanks side door and infiltrated the rearpartment.
Fu-!
I put a single shot from my hunting rifle into the impolite fellow who was about to spew curses as soon as he saw me. Blood sttered on the ceiling, turning the interior lighting to a crimson hue. Bang, bang, bang, bang! Dark crimson stters flying under the bright crimson. My semi-automatic shots, as if in a burst, brought down thebat personnel in armored vests inside the vehicle. It took a mere two seconds to incapacitate five of them with one shot each.
Rumbling. The sound of a German-made truck engine enduring an overload. The resonating hum of the welded steel tes amplified that sound. Despite being obliterated, the monster truck in the rearpartment continued to turn its course, using its size and mass as a source of violence towards my subordinates, including Kyung-tae, who didnt have the protection of the building.
There were still two magical fields remaining in thepartment where the driver was located.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 58: El Maestre (13)
Chapter 58: El Maestre (13)
I walked forward within the shaking vehicle. The drivers seat and the passenger seat erupted into chaos as they detected my approach. What should we do? What should we do, damn it?! I dont know, you bastard! The two men, exchanging words like this, breathing heavily, made them resemble sacrificialmbs in a cheap horror movie trailer.
As if trying to knock me down, the swaying of the vehicle to the left and right sent the wounded gunner tumbling away from the turret seat. Slide, thud. He was a would-be corpse that had been gasping for breath since clutching his wounds, clutching them since I had trampled his throat and kicked it repeatedly, and then I used my telekinesis to levitate two grenades, removed the safety pins and held them in mid-air, the pins not yet released.
ng-
You monster, die!
A hail of heavy .45 ACP bullets poured out from the open small steel sliding window facing the drivers seat, but I defended against this short submachine gun volley. I projected the two grenades, crossing them, as my opponent was reloading the magazine. The grenades, entering through the narrow window, struck the front armor of the drivers seat and bounced off, causing two Sicarios to duck for cover.
Ugh!
Concisest words. As the Sicario in the passenger seat frantically tried to grab the grenade, a pair of explosions swept through both seats. The faces and limbs of the two were torn apart as well as the external observation monitor, which also sparked and lost its screen. Nevertheless, the elerator pressed by the corpse continued to propel the truck into a rampage. Now, there was no magical field enveloping the drivers seat. Instead of braking the vehicle, I remotely turned the steering wheel, changing the driver, and then rushed to the rear exit, pushing it open and leaping onto the road.
Boooom-
As it swerved and elerated, the Narco Tank charged fiercely toward my subordinates, who had been resisting with sporadic gunfire. A relentless onught, pushing aside three vans in session. This was a disaster for the armored Sicarios, who were used to absorbing gunfire with their bodies and crawling on all fours.
Ku-gung, thud! The sound of heavy human bodies colliding like deer. Three of the armored Sicarios became sacrificialmbs for the monster truck, as it passed over them.
My legs, my legs!
Despite being hit by the monster trucks collision and twice by therge tires, one Sicario, thanks to his thick armor, managed to cling to life, but the joints below his waist were twisted, rendering him immobile. Another, sinking into the water, had no time to struggle and was submerged without a trace, while one, after being struck, immediately spat out blood and died. The charging truck, now without magical fields around the drivers seat, charged into the dock, crushing the main yacht, and plunged into the water, disappearing.
Thud! Cartridges flew out from the rifles chamber. The one with a twisted lower body bled from his eye sockets as hey motionless. As I turned away from the shooter, thest surviving members of the za elite who had been leaking water from their groins, no longer had the strength to resist. Like the ability users from the Narco Tank, they had felt my presence long ago. Unlike the previously frenzied resistance, they now knelt side by side,ying down their weapons. Like the Narco Tanks upants, the awakened ability users had probably sensed my presence long ago. They were on the verge of epting their fate, unlike the Sicarios who had been charging forward.
Of course, it wasnt because of strong determination, but rather because my mind was nk, and I mindlessly continued firing my gun. It was amon urrence when an ident left you paralyzed.
I-I surrender, boss! Please spare my life!
Bang! A metallic me burst from the guy who had called me boss. The rtively small gunshot echoed near the shattered dock.
Who do you think can surrender on their own? Fight, fight, you scoundrels!
This young womans cry, mixed with 80% fear, 10% anger, and 10% venom, was directed at the two Sicarios with steel-d heads and bodies who had wasted bullets uselessly on her before. She, who had a golden gun in her hand, struggled to change the magazine with trembling hands and then aimed the muzzle at me.
This was true determination.
Die!
Bang! With a single shot, the womans head exploded. Her long hair scattered like chaff in the sea breeze. She might or might not have realized it, but she was also an awakened ability user, albeit with very weak power.
Ugh
The Cartel local lord, clutching his pierced calf, turned away with an expression of disdain as his lovers head exploded.
Combat members under Kyung-tae and others emerged from hiding spots along the roadside, bushes, and storefronts that had turned into a battlefield. The recent sniper shot had been fired by Kyung-tae. He extended a gun with traces of warmth left and bowed his head towards me.
Youve really been through a lot, hyungnim!
Youre the ones who went through it. Compared to the previous fights, this was nothing.
The difference betweenbat members who had to conceal my identity as a mage and those who didnt was too vast. If the Narco Tank had been manned by British agents withmunication equipment, the fight wouldnt have been as easy as it was now. It would be nice if I could magically interfere withmunication devices. No, if I did that, they would track me down as the source.
I pushed aside these distracting thoughts. I aimed the rifle at the eye sockets of the two Sicarios who had surrendered and pulled the trigger one by one. Those who had lost their will to resist died lifelessly. Their bodies fell with a dull thud, making a dull sound.
Get the keys. All three of them.
Yes.
Kyung-tae, in response to my words, pointed to two nearby subordinates, and they immediately moved. One of them aimed a gun at El Juegos head, while the other disarmed him and searched him for the yacht keys. Other subordinates had already secured two keys from the bodies of the dead bosses. Their names were Kko and Guayo.
The weapon my subordinate had taken was a golden pistol that seemed to pair well with the dead woman, a ssic model (M1911) that had been around for over a hundred years. Normally, it should weigh around 1.3 kilograms, including the magazine, but it felt quite solid due to the excessive use of gold, adding an unusual weight to it when I reached out to take it.
Whats your identity?
El Juego asked us in English, his pronunciation was strong but somewhat awkward.
No matter how you look at it, youre not British Are you Chinese? Triad guys?
Despite his pale face and trembling body, his words remained brazen. He listened to our conversation in English and seemed to be guessing our identities. He might still think there was a reason for keeping him alive; the spark of cunning in his eyes began to flicker.
Unfortunate.
Stand up.
Sir, judging from the state of my legs um
The absence of a magical field meant that there was no basic safety distance to reject magical interference from others. It was different from corroding the flesh touched by others, but using telekinesis to manipte the body like a doll was rtively easy. El Juego panicked as his body was lifted up.
What, what is this?
Whether he was trying to figure out our identities or not, I turned to Kyung-tae.
Ill take care of this guy. You can take care of the rest yourself.
Alright. Can I use some drugs? My subordinates are trying to make it look like they were shot.
That should be fine.
After giving instructions, I moved ahead and forced the doll-like body to follow me toward the anchored yacht. Long crimson footprints stretched along the pier and the deck. Looking at the traces, anyone would think of the limping gait of someone with an injured leg.
What what in the world is this
El Juegos crotch became a little damp. Originally assigned to guard the front, he now boarded the yacht, witnessing cocaine fly into my hand from therge stash of drugs and money, and then another onended in my hand. He looked even more frightened. My cursed eyes even turned that hot glow into visual information.
Once in the cabin, what I did next was to cut open the cocaines packaging. A knife that happened to be stuck on the cabin table floated up as if possessed by a ghost and shed the stic packaging of the cocaine vertically. The clumps of cocaine fell onto the floor.
Wa-wait
Trembling, El Juego tried to talk to me. He had be much more polite in his approach.
What, what do you want from me? Are you even human?
Ignoring his questions, I opened the wallet of the za leader and pulled out a banknote. At the same time, on the cabin table, a line had been neatly drawn with high-purity cocaine, ready to be inhaled. The 1,000-peso banknote with Miguel Idalgos portrait on it served as a perfect tool to snort the cocaine, which had turned into a fine powder in mid-air.
Please what do you want
Thud. I forcibly seated El Juego in a chair and ced a knife and a banknote straw in his trembling hands. His shaky hands grabbed the two tools, despite my control. As a result, his fingerprints were left on the knife handle, but I couldnt control his breath.
Do it.
With a nod of my chin, I granted El Juego the freedom of his upper body. He hesitated for a moment, stiffening up and swallowing saliva. But as I pointed the golden pistol at his forehead, he finally leaned forward.
Snnnort!
Cocaine was drawn into his nostrils through a rolled-up banknote. El Juego tried to maintain hisposure, sniffling a few times. Then, he spoke to me again.
Look here. Sir? Or Boss? It seems like you want to kill me, but if youre a human, lets, well, negotiate. I have a card in my wallet, a white card. Its a secret ount card in the Virgin Inds-
Bank with a secret ount, right?
Yes.
Im not interested.
Secret ounts, where customer information was only referenced by numbers, were known to be provided only by Swiss banks to the public. However, in reality, various banks in different countries, including the UKs Crown Dependencies, Monaco, Luxembourg, Singapore, Irnd, Hong Kong, and more, werepetitively offering simr products.
Oddly enough, Switzend prohibited the legal opening of anonymous secret ounts. Banks were required to know the exact identity of their customers, and they had an obligation to confirm that the customers money was not of illegal origin.
At least thats what thew said.
El Juegos secret ount in the Virgin Inds was one of the Crown Dependencies, a dark economic hub where ck money from all over the world flowed in. The Queen of Ennd was a monarch who traditionally infringed on the public interest for the sake of her and the royal familys private interests.
The keys for the yacht fit perfectly into the wheel next to the helm. While my subordinates were bustling back and forth on the yacht, El Juego, who still couldnt let go of the remnants of life, whispered temptingly from behind me.
The, the money inside is around five, five million seven hundred thousand dors
Im not interested. Banks had their own standards. When a customer disappeared, some banks were more like institutions with entirely different public images and realities. Banks that dealt with criminals were especially so. I didnt recognize the format of El Juegos card number. Banks I didnt know couldnt be trusted.
I could hear the busy footsteps of my subordinates going back and forth between the yacht and the pier. El Juego shook his head. His pupils were dted, and it was getting to the point where it was okay to kill him. If I killed him too quickly, his heart would stop before the drugs had fully taken effect, so I waited for a moment.
I ced the pistol on the table and exited the cabin. The door closed by itself, and the self-locking mechanism engaged. In the sealed space, El Juego was left alone, and once again, against his own will, his hand gripped the golden pistol. He screamed.
No, no, no!
Desperate cries from the cartel regional lord who had a premonition of death. His brain was colored with intense nerve signals, and every muscle in his body struggled to resist the force. Despite his frantic resistance, his index finger entered the trigger guard, and the muzzle pressed against his temple.
Save me!
Bang! A gunshot echoed, and through the hole that the bullet made, bits of brain and brain matter sprayed out. It was a sealed-room murder with no room for suspicion, as the evenly distributed magical force wouldnt leave any specific marks. Ipleted the job by sabotaging the yachts engine.
With this, all the hunting in this harbor was over.
My body was weary, my mind sluggish, but a strong hunger gnawed at me. Should I sleep first, or eat first? I looked at the piles of cocaine scattered on the deck with a slightly numb mind.
In the meantime, near the southern naval base, a series of explosions urred. The early morning darkness was illuminated by the shaking red light.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 59: Light and Shadow (1)
Chapter 59: Light and Shadow (1)
Snow was piling up on the nameless mountainside. The white-covered trail had not a single footprint, and the branches adorned with snowkes created a serenendscape with no signs of movement. asionally, the weight of the snowdrifts overcame their hold, and there was the hushing sound of snow falling, but otherwise, it was a tranquil mountain lodge where the only sound was the crackling of logs burning in the firece. I enjoyed the scent of pine as it burned. Sitting in a rocking chair that swayed like a cradle, gazing out of the window across from me into the quiet scenery, I soon became aware that I was dreaming.
Dreams reflect desires. This secluded tranquility was a mirror reflecting my desires. My ultimate desire, having spent a lifetime hiding, guarding, and using the organization as a fortress to protect myself. A time when no one would need to be afraid, enjoying eternal peace in a world where no one would try to harm me.
A voice resounded.
[Its an extravagant desire.]
Its only a desire when its extravagant.
I replied, sighing, then turned my gaze. The mountain lodge was surreal, beyond unreal, and from ces untouched by the flickering firelight, a horizontal abyss opened wide. At that boundary, there was arge, sprawling, white carcass of a young crow. This was the annoying bone that I invariably saw every time I had this dream.
Since I had embarked on the London campaign in earnest, the recurring nightmare of adolescence that had tormented me like a chronic disease had decreased in frequency. On the flip side, the increase in frequency was precisely the current lucid dream. Although not normal by any means, it was a satisfying change that allowed me to sleep for longer periodspared to the days when I used to sleep for 30 minutes to an hour at a time, waking up repeatedly.
Still, I wasnt entirely satisfied because of the presence of the increasingly eloquent crows bone. As it grew more eloquent, it became more annoying, returning when cleared and repeating the cycle. It was an irritating nuisance that clung to my mind.
[Its not a nuisance.]
The voice of the skull cloaked in darkness read my thoughts and spoke.
[You too must know that I have now be more than just the remnants of Sir Crowhurst. What has taken root in the echoes of the past that were nothing more than the regrets of the deceased, allowing you to attain such wisdom.]
[Its your shadow. Its themon denominator that exists between you and the imperialists you so despise.]
I know.
I replied with annoyance.
But that doesnt mean youre bing an integral part of me.
If I had to consider it as a part, it would be a contaminated part. I had described it as taking root, but in reality, it was more like dark spots gathering where rainwater collected. If I wished, even in this mental world, the Eye of the Golden Age was actively revealing its true nature.
That was nothing more than a past evil, a machine fueled by the remnants of my conflicts, worries, anger, anguish, fear, and self-loathing. Machines did not have souls.
A soulless creature spoke.
[You must ept me.]
Why?
[To fulfill your desires, you must either kill, dominate, or possess. Everything in this world, except you.]
What?
[Every human in this world.]
I was starting to want to ignore it, but it was a stubbornly vocal opponent. Since it was my subconscious that served as fuel, it was difficult topletely ignore its content, so I thought it was better to engage in conversation and leave some logic and direction. Doing so was the only way to have some rest. If I was lucky, I could even get it to shut up entirely.
As I rubbed my chin and red somewhat askance, the creature continued its speech.
[What you desire, eternal tranquility, is truly extravagant. No one can be free from the desires and consequences of others. Destroying The Round Table of Light and Truth, will you truly gain freedom? If you were to forsake everything when that timees, do you truly believe that there would be nothing to bother you in the world of humans?]
Of course not. In the most extreme scenario, in the event of a nuclear war, wouldnt the fallout be carried by the winds and fall onto the veranda in front of my house? On a smaller scale, suppose I decided to stay on a beautiful ind, but what if all sorts of garbage from various countries washed up on the shores due to ocean currents and waves?
[That is correct.]
[Humanity is an animal born of desire, and human civilization is the civilization of those who desire everything in the world. Therefore, you, existing in such a world, can never truly enjoy isted freedom.]
[Unless you be an ascendant like the beings of the Golden Age and break free from causality, if you dont want to be taken away, you must take away first, and if you dont want to die, you must kill first.]
[Human beings can only live like that. Only exclusive ownership and absolute power promise true freedom, so absolute freedom is ultimately granted to only one person.]
[To dream higher than gold and higher than a throne, you must eventually be an imperialist.]
[So ept me.]
Senseless talk. The words spoken by the remains of my master. The logic had a point, but it was the remains of Sir Crowhurst that gathered my usual concerns, worries, and contemtions and presented them in a different form. In other words, from my perspective, these were topics I had already digested. There was no reason to be shaken again, even if they were unresolved or could not be resolved.
It was probably the best I could do as a long-dead creature.
Creature, I know how topromise differently from you.
[Compromise?]
Yeah. What if the peace gained by breaking the Round Table ends up being a once-in-a-lifetime dream? Ive never even experienced that limited peace. If that peace is shattered, you can just regain it. Breaking the Round Table wont be as difficult as you think.
[You wont be satisfied there.]
Well, if only it werent just the ramblings of a wretch starving in someone elses mind. Are you trying to y the role of a prophet after not knowing your future even when you were alive?
[]
If you have nothing more to say, Id appreciate it if you shut up for today. Archmage Sir Crowhurst, who couldnt even properly catch a single inferior yellow race.
The remains of the master and my subconscious didnt bother me anymore. Now, tranquility returned to the dreamy cottage. Though my mind wasnt tired, I just wanted to enjoy the tranquility without any concerns.
I noticed that the snow piled on the window sill had thickened slightly since earlier. I turned off the Eye of the Golden Age and gazed at the whitendscape beyond the window for a long time. Seeing an ordinaryndscape with ordinary eyes was a surreal experience that was only possible in a dream like this.
A gentle shake came from my shoulder.
Hyungnim, its time to wake up.
When I opened my eyes, I saw Suyeons face. I was momentarily ufortable. It might have been the aftereffect of a dream that had been so pleasant. Suyeon let go of my shoulder. I felt exhausted and wanted to fall asleep immediately, but I forced myself to wake up and sshed some cold water on my face.
What time is it now?
Its 8:28 PM.
Did I oversleep without setting an rm?
Yes. I didnt hear any vibration or sound.
I was too out of it. Even though theres an important deal pending.
You were tired.
Today marks the third day since the death of the Knight Commander. Probably due to the excessive use of the awakening agent, I couldnt sleep much for the first two days. I couldnt fall asleep properly. It felt like my memory was being interrupted every 20 minutes or so. So yesterday, I skipped meals and spent the whole day in a daze.
Then, this morning, I finally fell into a deep sleep, dreaming of such luxurious simplicity until this hour. The warmth quickly dissipated from my sweaty back.
The kids?
Theyve finished preparations and are waiting.
I see. Ill be out soon.
Do you really need to supervise it personally? You should take a little more rest. Youve also skipped meals too much
The timing is suspicious, so theres no choice.
The ship carrying goods for the Northeastern Faction[1]TLN: Previously tranted as Northeastern Group had waited another day in the nearby waters before entering the harbor. Although the citys conflict had ended by daybreak, the ports unease had persisted until today. El Maestre had been elusive, and Double As rebel soldiers had discreetly blended in with the impoverished people, hiding their weapons.
Nevertheless, martialw had not been imposed. Firstly, there were no more gunfights happening, and the British troops hadnt publicly disclosed the extent of their losses. Most importantly, the Mexican government wanted to dere an end to the situation as quickly as possible.
It was the expected oue, but still a fortunate one.
Havingpleted my preparations, I drove from the safe house to the harbor while listening to the concise report provided by Suyeon.
09:00 PM.
The pier had been under the control of harbor security forces for a while. It was a mere five-minute drive from our base, so arrivingte would have been even more suspicious. After exchanging the agreed-upon signals, the soldiers let us pass without any hindrance. It was unimaginable that such a massive arms smuggling operation would take ce right in front of the naval base, where the defending army and the FPDA+1 coalition were in control.
Furthermore, the Mexican Navy had a much better reputation than the Army. Army officers were rumored to be heavily influenced or bought by the cartels, but that wasnt the case with the Navy. This trust had created surveince blind spots.
However, it was a daunting task for the Navy to maintain its high standards of integrity amidst severe recession and economic stagnation. Based on interceptedmunications from the Cartel del Noreste on satellite frequencies, the Admiral of the Mexican Navy Zone 8, known as El Municionero, showed a deep interest in negotiating with me. This was another variable resulting from this trade.
This was why Contra Almirante (Rear Admiral, a rank equivalent to a brigadier general or major general in other countries) Martnez had personallye here. Based on Suyeons report, the Rear Admirals appearance didnt seem to be a significant event. After all, the person who temporarily found a weakness after taking Los Zetas money wouldnt be a big concern.
On the dock, white waves were breaking sporadically under the sparse streemp lights. The Admiral, who had requested to meet with the person in charge, stood there in the dark, gazing at the horizon, seemingly waiting for me while bearing a bit of burden. When I stood beside him, he asked with a somewhat stern tone.
Are you the person in charge?
I looked him in the eye with the same posture and replied,
Yes, Admiral. Its an honor to meet you.
Are you El Muni[2]TLN: The sort version of El Municionero. Means Weapon dealer/ammunition dealer by any chance?
That nickname of mine. I replied, Yes. As I nodded my head, the admiral made a strange expression.
Unexpected. Do you personallye out like this every time for negotiations?
Not usually.
Then?
I am a person who is difficult to meet under ordinary circumstances. So, you could say that youre lucky today, Admiral.
A touch of humor could be the lubricant in negotiations. In reality, it was to identify and address potential risks early on. Rear Admiral Martnez chuckled and responded.
Whether its really luck remains to be seen, but anyway, its nice to meet you. Youre the first arms dealer Ive ever met, and the first impression isnt bad.
I appreciate your kind words.
It seems a ship is justing in.
As the Admiral mentioned, a multi-purpose vessel (MPV) with a length of 220 meters, carrying a cargo capacity of 4,300 tons, was entering the narrow mouth of the bay. It was a ship that had concealed a considerable amount of weapons and ammunition among the disguised general cargo.- 1. TLN: Previously tranted as Northeastern Group
- 2. TLN: The sort version of El Municionero. Means Weapon dealer/ammunition dealer
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 60: Light and Shadow (2)
Chapter 60: Light and Shadow (2)
As the multipurpose ship approached the dock, the Admiral admired the ships name.
Sapphire Express. You have a fine ship.
Do you think so?
I expected something more like an old bulk carrier but it seems that being an arms dealer is a rather lucrative profession. At a nce, I can tell that its a superior vesselpared to our navys supply ships. We needed a ship like that.
Youre being too kind.
Im sincere. Our I Mara Madre may be called a navy supply ship, but in reality, its nothing more than an ornament that delivers prisoners and supplies to a prison.
A prison?
Im talking about the Federal Prison of the Marias Inds. They might make excuses like acquiring technology from it, but the Mara Madre has no value as a supply ship. El Muni, have you ever evaluated yourself as an arms dealer? How valuable can a supply ship be when it cant even carry a single container of cargo and cant supply fuel?
Its indeed useless.
Thats right. They initially designed a lightweightbat ship, but they turned it into a supply ship just by attaching a crane. From the perspective ofmanders like me, its absurd. They waste a 240 million pesos ship for the sole purpose of supplying a prison mission that a cheap ferry could handle. I can guarantee you that the high-ranking officials of our government received some money from the Dutch.
The disdainful words poured out from Admiral Martnez. Judging by the talk of technology acquisition and the Nethends, it was likely a Dutch ship. Given the price and nationality, one could make a rough guess about the ships identity. I wasnt sure about the exact construction date, but if we calcted it based on the exchange rate before the Chinese pandemic, 240 million pesos amounted to slightly less than 12 million dors. It wasnt an exorbitant price for a warship, but for a mere transport ship shuttling back and forth to a prison, it was outrageously expensive.
The Admirals tone was filled with anger. Even after pouring out long words, he still had a strong sense of regret, palpable in his eyes. At least he didnt seem to be pretending.
This created a contradiction in the current situation.
Should I treat him as amon hypocrite and let it pass, or should I investigate further? Considering the Admirals physical signs, I leaned toward thetter. From my perspective, this Admiral was a trade partner who coulde or go. Therefore, it was better to confirm the quality and then make a decision.
Ropes were thrown from the ship as it reached the dock, and soon the unloading process would begin.
I have something to ask.
What is it?
It seems like Admiral, you strongly dislike corruption among high-ranking officials. So, its hard for me to understand why someone like you would want to engage in a trade with an arms dealer like me, especially considering themission from the cartel. Could you please exin if its not too intrusive?
The question made Admiral Martnezs face turn red in an instant, and his heart rate skyrocketed. Even without further boration, I could read a lot into it. He clenched his jaw, and after an awkward pause, he spat out a gruff response.
Thats not it. I
Though his words were cut short, their contextual meaning was clear.
Please dont misunderstand. I was just curious. Admiral, Im merely trying to understand who you are and if there might be a trap here. When you work in this industry, you tend to be suspicious. Do you understand?
Aposed attitude and a reasonable excuse helped ease the Admirals embarrassment.
Its not a trap. If it were, actions would have already been taken against you since the cargo entered the port. Wed have seized the ship, arrested you and your subordinates, and even wiped out those Northeastern Faction guys who are arriving soon.
So, what is it, then?
Do you really need to know?
A curt response. Why would I engage in trade with you if you dont even exin? I should be grateful for you asking. The background information about the Admiral was included in Suyeons report, but it was difficult to deduce his motives for engaging in illegal arms trading based solely on that information.
It appeared that he was disappointed with the subject I had introduced, which I had created with non-existent conditions. This was amon issue with soldiers. The authority bestowed by rank was ingrained deep into their core. In my experience, this w became more pronounced in less developed countries. Exceptions like South Korea existed, but
I sighed lightly and continued,
What you say is your freedom, Admiral. And its my freedom to decide whether or not to trade. If I had bought and sold weapons haphazardly just because they made money, I wouldnt have survived this long. Im a cautious person when ites to choosing business partners.
A cautious person selling weapons to a drug cartel?
This is a one-time trade contract, and it was a deal I didnt particrly want to ept. Once I receive whats due to me, I wont have any further dealings with them. However, Admiral, what you want isnt just a one-time deal, is it?
Well
I already have many suppliers. Established and reliable sources over a long period. Diversifying trading partners is always beneficial for a businessman. But, in other words, Admiral, your value to me is only about that much.
Listen here!
The Admirals sharp reaction came, but I interrupted him calmly.
Listen further. To be honest, if it werent for this job, I would have had no reason to meet you. Im based in East Asia, and I had no businessing all the way to Mexico. Now, if you cant detain me here, realistically, the only potential buyer for your weapons is the cartel. Those drug lords who are turning your homnd into a Mexican version of Somalia. Given that you seem reluctant to create such a situation, am I wrong in my assumptions?
In all honesty, whether youre an Admiral in the Mexican Navy or not, in this market, youre just a neer without connections or avenues. If youre a neer, act like one and seize the opportunity when its given. Its notmon luck for a novice whos just starting in a market to have the chance to negotiate with an established expert with a solid foundation.
The Admirals face was scrunched up, but he couldnt refute my words. He remained silent, his expression filled with wounded pride. While he stood there with a resentful look on his face, a multipurpose ship that hadpleted its docking began operating a pair of cranes. The folded mechanical arms extended gracefully.
Personnel and vehicles to transport the cargo were only now entering the dock. They had been waiting nearby all this time, probably to ensure no other factions intruded on the scene. They were cautious about any other parties entering this ce, especially amidst the chaos engulfing the city.
The leader of the first vehicle got out, apanied by an unarmed group of individuals. They engaged in a conversation with Suyeon. After a brief exchange, the on-site manager of the Northeastern Faction handed a USB drive to Suyeon.
Verification of the schematics and unloading operations began simultaneously.
The Admiral only spoke again after the first cargo was brought down.
Youre quite fearless. Nheless, I have the upper hand here when ites to firepower.
That might be the case on the surface.
So, whats your reason, Admiral?
In response to my question, Admiral Martnez fell silent once more before summoning one of his subordinates.
Lieutenant Colonel Svaralska!
Yes!
Come over here for a moment.
An officer hurried over and assumed an at-ease stance. This man was Diego Svaralska. With my keen eyesight, I could anticipate what the Admiral was going to say.
Remove your shirt.
The Lieutenant Colonel hesitated slightly at the Admiralsmand. After ncing between his superiors and me, he reluctantly put down his weapon and began removing his equipment. Eventually, he stripped off his shirtpletely and resumed the at-ease stance. His exposed upper body bore numerous ck spots, a type of magical power-driven cancer that spread through the skin.
The Lieutenant Colonel didnt have much time left to live in this condition. He was probably under the influence of drugs. However, it wasnt themon cocaine found in Mexico but rather theponents of a military-grade painkillerced with magical power.
This is what we call Immortality Cancer.''
Immortality Cancer referred to a recent term in the world, epassing both magical power cancer and mana cancer. The differencey in whether the cause was magical power or mana, but as the disease progressed, the distinction faded, making it reasonable to refer to both as a single condition.
Now, lets go.
After dismissing the Lieutenant Colonel, Admiral Martnez revealed a bitter sense of disillusionment.
The government and the Ministry of Defense are interested in utilizing the abilities of these so-called blessed ones. However, theyre not interested in taking responsibility for the consequences. Despite the warnings from the World Health Organization that misusing the power bestowed by blessings increases the risk of Immortality Cancer, the government still refuses to provide anypensation, saying its just an unproven hypothesis.
It sounded like a story Id heard before. When they were rich, they were the nations sons, but when they were hurt, they became someone elses children.
The same happened during the first half of the year when the coronavirus was rampant. That damn Chinese lung disease, as they called it. It would have been better to die if you got infected. People suffering from the aftereffects were discharged en masse, regardless of whether they were conscripts or officers. I can understand that much. If your lungs solidify to the point that you cant perform your duties, Ill understand. But whates after that?
In a world gued by a global recession, Mexico, a country that couldnt even provide economic assistance of one peso to its poor, retired officers and soldiers, had no chance of receiving adequate care.
Discharging them without a n is like a collective death sentence in these times. Ive seen too many soldiers leaving the military without a hint of emotion on their faces.
I understand what you mean.
In response to my words, Admiral Martnez spoke with a menacing tone.
I need money. A lot of it.
Then, he posed a question.
Can I make that much money without shaking hands with those damned cartel bastards?
Id like to ask the reverse. The weapons you supply will ultimately be used to kill people. Are you sure you wont regret this?
I wont.
Surprisingly, in a rather uncharacteristic manner, the Admirals response was immediate.
In this devils shithole of a world, I have only two things to protect: my responsibility to my subordinates and the duty to protect the citizens. If I give weapons to the cartel, theyll probably be used on Mexican soil a hundred times, but not so with the Asian merchant.
The Admiral took a breath and concluded his remaining thoughts.
Regardless of how many people die beyond the borders of Mexico, I dont care.
He seemed like a quality individual. I asked again, though:
Are you sure you wont consider selling the weapons I receive from you to the cartel? I did say I didnt want to deal with them again, but just that alone might not be enough. Considering the transportation distance, doing business with the cartel might be the most economical option.
I trust me and myrades, not you. I will strictly supply by sea, and venturing into Mexican waters would be very dangerous for you.
Indeed.
Theres a saying.
I mentioned.
A just man will always perish among the unjust, so those in power must recognize injustice as a means to achieve justice.
Admiral Martnez watched my hand and then responded with a handshake.
I wee you as my trading partner, Admiral.
He watched my hand quietly and then asked.
It might sound like Im asking the obvious, but are you really going to believe everything Ive said? I did mention that I dont trust you.
For now, yes. I have a different way of seeing things.
Ha.
We cant start with a big deal right away, but as we build trust step by step, the day wille when both of us will reap satisfactory benefits.
I hope that dayes as soon as possible.
After that, I requested a list of avable products and quantities from the Admiral. In response, he listed various items, including decent-quality firearms, ammunition, and equipment. For example, medium to long-range automatic weapons ammunition that was expected to be in high demand from now on, as well as portable rocketunchers (LAW) that had been captured inrge numbers in the mountains.
As I listened to the Admiral, I suddenly detected a powerful magical field rapidly approaching from the sea. I instinctively turned my body and entered a defensive posture.
Whats wrong? Why are you like this?!
Startled, the Admiral asked for an exnation, but I was too busy investigating the source of the magical field. However, after a moment, I felt my tension ease.
No, its nothing. I apologize for startling you.
A powerful magical field owner, to the extent that one might think one of the Round Table Masters had gone on an expedition, turned out to be not a human. It was a few killer whales that hade to the shallow sea at thiste hour. Among them, one had a particrly dense circuitry. Just as there were geniuses among humans, there were also individuals with exceptional talents among animals.
The killer whales that had stayed briefly swam away at a surprisingly fast speed. What kind of influence these powerful beings would have on this world in the future, given the vast power they held in the sea, left me with a sense of curiosity. While I didnt have enough time to observe their circuits, this unexpected encounter filled me with a variety of thoughts.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 61: Light and Shadow (3)
Chapter 61: Light and Shadow (3)
After unloading its cargo and refueling, the multipurpose vessel Sapphire Express left port and rendezvoused with El Juegos yacht near the Marieta Inds. The cargo concealed in the yachts shadow was transferred in full below the multipurpose vessels deck. The cocaine was no exception. Although our organization did not deal in narcotics, we decided to store it for the time being as it was a valuable windfall.
Now, a new morning in a secluded safe house on the quiet beach. I was listening to Suyeon detail the spoils of war.
About 5 tons of purified cocaine, 22 million Mexican pesos and $3.8 million USD, 227 kilograms of silver, 45 kilograms of gold, 4 kilograms of tinum, 9 kilograms of padium, plus small amounts of rhodium and bearer bonds and gems, etc. Excluding the cocaine and gems, the total current valuees to $8,227,833 USD, approximately 9.84 billion Korean won.
It was difficult to estimate the value of the cocaine. Based on average US retail prices, among other major markets, it was a shipment worth approximately 15 trillion won, but narcotics carry great risks in handling and have high distribution costs. Besides, I had no ns to mize it.
I asked Suyeon,
Where is the ship headed now?
The final hunt at the port was unscheduled. Therefore, the cargo ships destination after unloading would naturally differ from the original n. As the decision maker, I had been practicallyatose for three days after ending the hunt, so the person who decided the Sapphire Express next port of call was in effect the second-inmand, Suyeon.
Suyeon answered the question.
Levuka Harbor in Fiji.
Levuka was the former capital of the Republic of Fiji, a small port town on the South West Pacific. I narrowed my eyes slightly. I remembered there was an illicit maritime base there, but as it wasnt frequently utilized, I couldnt recall the details.
Are the warehouses there suitable for storing the cocaine? I seem to remember a report of major damage some years ago.
From Typhoon Winston in 2016. Instead of repairing the original damaged facilities, plots ofnd on higher ground were purchased and instructions were given to construct five new camouged warehouses. They applied perfect seismic istion design and withstood the great earthquake in 2018, so you may rest assured it is sturdy enough that the cocaine will not deteriorate.
Ah, now I remember. What report I received back then, how I handled things. With my memory sharpened, I also realized there was a minor error in Suyeons exnation.
It should have been approved, not ordered.
Even before Suyeon rose to the position of chief secretary, the former secretary already had her pegged as his sessor. He said keeping his position longer would perversely make him more disloyal. He alsoined he was sick of the silent burning ambition beneath him. From my perspective, the former guy fled his post-half like he was escaping.
The Levuka facility relocation was an initiative Suyeon led even back when she was already the power behind the throne. She argued that as a port of call for deep sea fishing vessels, frequent foreign ships would not arouse suspicion, that a little money could buy the powers that be, that other organizations would hesitate to establish a base there due to the frequent disasters, that with one solid investment it would be a good ce to conceal goods away from the surveince ofw enforcement worldwide. This flowed into subsequent ns to reinforce bases across the South Pacific inds, also implemented under Suyeons leadership.
So why phrase it as an order instead of approval? She was not the type to falsely tter. And she knew I disliked such obsequiousness.
Could her memory have changed?
There were often such characters among my subordinates. Their devotion was excessive, to the point they truly believed everything they aplished was thanks to me. This was also a form of psychological dependence. Like reason, memory was not free from the influence of emotion. Suyeon was no exception.
Reaching this thought, I realized I had unconsciously treated this girl as an exception to every rule. Even though that could never be. This was a human frailty on my part.
Suyeon, misunderstanding the prolonged silence, asked,
Should I change the ships destination?
No.
Shaking off my reverie, I switched topics to safer ground.
What do you think would be the ideal use for the cocaine we acquired this time?
Currently there are two options.
The ever prompt reply.
The first is to hand it over in bulk to a certain organization as payment in kind in lieu of cash. Groups like Bratsky Krug and Yamaguchi-gumi would have the capacity to take on this volume.
Next.
The second is to utilize it as a tool of attack and diplomacy. As you taught, the devil-worshipping cult Order of 7 Angles leader Grace had an enmity on par with Londons Round Table. By gifting 5 tons of purified cocaine, we can endow them with tremendous financial power. Ennd will suffer the triple disasters of drug addiction and increased crime rates, as well as the spread of religious terrorism.
.
The first was obvious, but the second was not.
Yes. The cocaine that fell into the hands of the Order of 7 Angles would have a tremendous explosive impact. 5 tons of high-purity cocaine could make crack to get 180 million highs, with some left over. Lowering the purity to the garbage tier could stretch it to 230 million. Processing was extremely simple too. Just add baking powder and heat it, that was the end of it. The likes of the Order of 7 Angles would surely know that easy method.
Building a cooperative system with Grace was a topic I had pondered at every chance.
Was it possible?
To do that I would have no choice but to expose my existence to them.
Unless they were fools, Grace would not gratefully ept a gift without even knowing the identity of the benefactor here. She was a witch who had eluded the Round Tables pursuit for over half a century. Objectively, she was more of a fugitive and greater warrior than I. Suddenly receiving 15 trillion won, 100 billion pounds worth of free drugs? She would naturally view it with suspicion first.
The issue was that womans mental state. Was her intellect sound enough for dialogue to take ce? Rationality to enable conversation was a factor distinct from her capabilities as a fugitive and warrior. There was a corrtion, but not necessarily a direct proportion. However, the role necessitated, by the other party was a cult leader who had led fanatics for over a century with human sacrifice as the basis.
Above all, Icked an appropriate way to exin my existence in the first ce. If I said to the Round Tables master that a young soul got trapped in a kids head and depleted their magical power, resulting in their defeat, the most likely reaction from Grace would be tough loudly and then riddle this side with bullets and magic.
Alright you two, its time to eat.
Kyung-tae brought in arge tray with dishes and food. The main courses were Mexican-style rice with a stew of chicken simmered in spices, and the rising steam fragrant with sesame oil. Side dishes were a basket of avocados and bacon chips for topping.
The discussion with Suyeon naturally halted. We pushed the documents on the table to one side and Kyung-tae set down a cloth and arranged the tableware.
You can look forward to it. I made it myself.
Yourself? What kind of dish is this?
Its a chicken stew called Guisado. I found the recipe online.
.
Its my first time cooking Mexican, but it turned out pretty well contrary to expectations. Nothing to be ashamed of serving to you, hyungnim. Haha!
Guisado and avocados, a menu selection true to Kyung-taes style.
Aside from narcotics, avocados were Mexicos most valuable cash crop export. Mexico was the worlds number one avocado producer, with a single state, Michoacn, producing the lions share. And this Michoacn was the stronghold of the now defunct Los Caballeros Temrios Cartel.
That was why Ricardo in Texas had called the fake Knights farmers. Of course, he didnt mean the cartel itself tilled the soil. They harvested not the avocados themselves but the trucksden with avocados and the orchards that bore fruit. This was the tax they collected following the harvest. ording to Suyeons preliminary intelligence gathering, the profit the Temr Knights extracted from this green gold reached approximately 4 billion pesosst year alone. Roughly 200 billion won in our currency.
The avocados in the basket hadrge pits and were in good ripened condition. Still fresh after maturation without the peel shriveling up too much. To be expected being so near the growing area. The farmers dwelling in the Knights territory would be able to enjoy a brief peace and happiness. Until another cartel came for them.
Crops like these will also be more precious in days toe.
Being organisms, harvested crops were also subject to the effects of magical power. The nt soul sleeps within the seed. Therefore, after some more time passes, events would multiply like immortal cancer cells arising in storage facilities or seeds sprouting by taking in magical power as nutrition, and so on. I had already instructed Yeouido Kim to increase investment in food resources.
Kyung-tae scooped stew into the bowls for three servings. My portion was twice the size of the others. The amount of chicken alone looked to be one whole birds worth. The separately served rice was no meager amount either.
You must eat a lot, hyungnim.
What about the others?
Dont worry. I made sure theyre eating and resting well. The fun in a ce like this is making your own food as you like.
You did well.
As the other two waited, I was the first to pick up a spoon and taste the stew. It was a little salty, but overall not bad. Maybe due to bias against his cooking skills, the in look that resembled spicy pock soup carried an exotic vor and savory depth without being overpowering.
Not bad.
Right?
You two dig in as well. Best when its hot.
Yes.
Kyung-tae smiled happily and started eating directly from the bowl and dish. Suyeon, who had wrinkled her nose on the first bite, quietly emptied her bowl too.
After the meal, we paired the avocados with non-alcoholic sparkling wine. Couldnt drink real liquor with so much to read and sign off on piling up.
Its kind of disappointing without the alcohol feeling.
Kyung-taes regret as he sliced the avocado with an infantry saber. The saber was taken from the British army. Halving the fruit, Kyung-tae poked therge round pit out of the flesh with the de tip. It popped right out with just a light tap. Running the de vertically to score lines, he peeled off each half in turn, leaving just the green-rimmed yellow flesh. Hisrge build concentrating hard on cutting the small fruit was amusing.
Here, this is for you, hyung.nim?
A dish of diced flesh already sat before me. Kyung-tae looks to Suyeon. Suyeon was calmly preparing the second fruit.
Sigh..
I felt an indescribable sense of dj vu from Kyung-taes pointless disappointment. It wasnt just one or two days they would mess around like this. The one who added the flesh he cut to my dish now prepared his own share, asking,
Hyungnim. How much longer do you n on spoon-feeding that Admiral Martnez?
Spoon-feed him?
Isnt that effectively what youre doing? Aside from us, he has no avenues, even if you give him money everything has to beundered and delivered here finished, currently the volume we can supply is limited, and its not like the goods are special quality or bargain prices either. Ultimately, how much he grows depends on how much you choose to baby him.
Assuming thats true, do you have a specific reason for asking?
Didnt I thoroughly investigate those UNAPROP (Port Security) friends yesterday? It was during your conversation with the Admiral.
And?
Well, theyre born soldiers, those friends. You could see them clearly following the Admiral. They all stood up stiffly like fresh recruits from the training camp, with eyes twinkling brightly. Wow, it was quite impressive, wasnt it? It wasnt just an outward appearance.
Is that so
Yes.
He couldnt have paid much attention to it, but if Kyung-tae saw it that way, it must be true. This was the quality assurance of being an admiral.
Eaten near the growing area, the avocados were slightly more oily and nutty than I remembered. The richness of the fruit and the sparkling wines crispnessbined well.
Kyung-tae spoke up.
I dont mean to pry like Sister Suyeon calcting this and that, but wont that Admiral be a reliable business partner we can count on in tough times if you raise him well? So since youre going to raise him anyway, how aboutvish early investment like you did with White Chief? Be his angel investor. Money is power in Mexico anyway.
I understand what youre saying.
In other words, make another human being like the White Chief.
My heart leaned towards trusting Kyung-taes sense for once. There was timing to every investment. The faster the better for leaving a strong impression.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 62: Light and Shadow (4)
Chapter 62: Light and Shadow (4)
Youve thought well.
Delighted at my true thoughts, Kyung-tae suggested,
Then why not reinvest all the cash obtained this time, unconditionally throwing it at them as impressivelyrge investment funds? As generous upfront investment without strings attached is rare, it will make an impression. It will also prevent the Admiral from recklessly digging his own grave in impatience. Showing your authority is a bonus.
Except for the tacked-on remark at the end, Kyung-taes insight was pointing out areas my thoughts hadnt yet reached. The troops the Admiral was so worried about were even now, one by one, removing their uniforms and being driven to lifes edge. What of their families livelihoods? The Admiral could loseposure at any time and ruin himself through rash actions. 220 million pesos and 3.8 million dors in banknotes would be weighty enough to hold him down.
I disagree.
Suyeon calmly said.
As obvious as it is, people change easily when they holdrge sums. Even if the Admiral is a rare exception,vishly letting him taste considerable money from the start will excessively raise his expectations for future profits.
Thats true.
However, for the Admiral to handle tens of millions in a single deal will take considerable time. Dissatisfaction arising from this has a high chance of making the Admiral impatient again, or listless. Its a different case from the Chief, whose purpose itself was attracting investment.
In other words, it was like a drug addicts threshold. The addictiveness and harm of money were no less than drugs, not just in a metaphorical sense, but in reality as well.
Kyung-tae clicked his tongue.
Hmm, listening to you, youre right. Then how about reducing the investment amount? Like 100 thousand dors. Or is that too little?
Is investment necessarily needed?
I voiced my opinion.
Simply providing steady deals may be enough to prevent rash actions. Hell be busy handling the volume, leaving no time for other greed. Since this is his first time, the mental fatigue will be considerable as well.
In any field, neers inherentlyckedposure. Even if everything went perfectly, the Admiral would still have some unease. Fear of being caught and inspected. Lack of confidence in his choices. While digesting my orders, he has energy left to dig other wells? Hed have to be a natural-born businessman.
What he needs is a sense of incremental aplishment reinforced step-by-step. To quench an urgent thirst, advancing payment with each deal is better than unteral investment. In the process, as we steadily conduct business on good terms, in time when he bes familiar with market conditions he will naturally realize our good faith. Trust can be earned without beingte.
Reaching the point of considering favorable terms, I thought of a decent n.
Last Octobers second Friday, White Chief called to convey thanks. Saying the tribe had finally passed the worst of the epidemic. That though sacrifices were great, they could rise again. Appended to that was this promise.
Chairman. You are a true friend of our People of the Desert, and the Five Tribes. Even if you wont guarantee for us, we will guarantee for you. Such is the only friendship we know. As this is gratitude conveyed in the name of the tribe, not the casino, you will always be the most honored guest on thends of the Five Tribes.
I was able to immediately receive a report of this ambiguous promises result after the call. That the casino wasnt collecting fees. This brought me some embarrassment. I never intended to receive reciprocation in this manner.
Though grateful for now to the point of epting mary loss, this was a sacrifice made while the tribe was undergoing an immense economic crisis. As unpaidbor umted, the heavier the unseen burden became until eventually gratitude was diluted to nothingness.
I contacted the chief as soon as I got the report, strongly urging him to collect at least half the fees. I had to make up a reason, unable to reveal my true intentions.
You all are still in dire straits. It doesnt seem right as a friend to freely enjoy your service in such circumstances. As a friend, I want to pay it all, and as a businessman, I want an exemption, so how about paying just half as apromise?
The chiefs umpteenth expression of thanks in a voice more muted than ever before as he epted the packaged condition.
The n I envisioned was constructed on this background.
The investment will be to the People of the Desert.
Huh?
Unlike the confused Kyung-tae, Suyeon who had been blinking her eyes looking down now raised her gaze and nodded.
Excellent idea.
Kyung-tae was even more baffled. He didnt understand why North American natives were being mentioned here. Id have to exin the n anyway. It wasnt as if Suyeon could read my mind. My conception could fail to reach Suyeonsprehension, or the reverse could hold true.
As you know, the People of the Deserts protectednd spans both America and Mexico. That means there is a small minority of tribal members residing in Mexican territory as well. I intend to provide startup capital so they can establish some businesses. The overt goal is securing a route tounder and deliver pesos. Currently, the Diamond casino can onlyunder dors.
The pesosundering route created this way would confer outstandingpetitiveness through the natives legal status of sovereignty within the US, connections to the casino association, White Chiefs operational know-how, and exceptionally low fees. The Admiral would never find a better option than me.
Kyung-tae asks,
Uh, then whats the other purpose?
Consider why Ive shown favor to the natives so far. When hard times inevitablye, there will be many who need to flee abroad as criminals. The existence of brethren established on Mexican soil will be a great help at such times.
Ohhh.
The ability of the People of the Desert to smuggle Central American illegal immigrants into America was thanks to having some foothold within US territory. For the flow to work in reverse, minimum infrastructure and capital had to be in ce within Mexico as well.
Of course, they wouldnt be able to stay in Mexico long. Its practically Americas front yard. So the next step of escape would be Well. If we dont have particr misfortune, perhaps at that time we can expect new utility from Admiral Martnezs sea route.
That could connect up too, huh.
Since the only thing the Admiral wanted was money, he would have no reason to refuse to transport people. And after realizing I had treated him with good faith, he likely wouldnt price gouge much either. Then I could secure troop resources a bit more safely.
Leaving the admiring Kyung-tae, I turned my gaze to Suyeon.
Is there any inadequacy in this n that you see?
There is one minor issue.
What is it?
Currently, the items and volume the Admiral can supply are limited. To keep him sufficiently busy, we effectively have to take on purchasing all the goods he can provide, but as you know, the item of greatest quantity will be 5.56mm NATO ammo. It will surely be malignant stock in the long term.
Hmm. Though seeming trivial when heard, it was not an insignificant point. The more I raise up the Admiral, the greater amount I would have to handle.
The small caliber high-velocity ammo (5.56mm NATO) Suyeon mentioned was the most universal standard caliber military ammunition in the Western world, and also the type with the highest existing market demand.
However, I already foresaw the paradigm of personal firearms was about to flip. To deal with primitive magic awakeners who still have room to grow stronger, the basic effectiveness of anti-personnel firearms itself would have to increase considerably.
The world was also realizing this fact. El Maestres emergence was like a revtion waking up officials. That if they remained idle, there would be grave consequences to payter. Therefore, the standing of existing mainstream personal firearms on the market had no choice but to rapidly narrow.
Not that it matters if awakeners just wander around holding guns barehanded.
Simply having sturdy and robust muscle didnt withstand rifle fire. If you became moderately resilient, bullets could no longer prate the body, instead causing greater harm as the bullets kic energy was wholly absorbed internally. Fragmentation would also increase, damaging muscles and organs.
Anyway, as Suyeon said, surplus stocks of small-caliber ammo were already excessive. With limited space and capacity to safely store goods, endlessly increasing inventory of items with assuredly dropping demand was also difficult. Expanding storage capabilities in this business inherently required considerable investment.
In short, though not outright impossible, it meant shouldering greater expenses than expected.
Kyung-tae shrugs.
Theres no loss in vastly expanding warehouses, right? Just selling off the drones gained this time will a minimum of 10 million dors. If things go ording to your n, that level of spending will be nothing.
The drones mentioned here were the mini reconnaissance drones (PD-100) acquired from the skirmish with the British army. Compared to the upgrades the British army drones would have rtive to US military models, selling them to China or Russia could fetch ten times the cost or more. They would make thorough use for purposes like hacking, jamming research, and reverse engineering.
So the 10 million dors Kyung-tae estimated was truly a minimum profit. Along with the cocaine, they were among the most valuable of the spoils obtained this time.
Suyeon nodded in agreement.
Im not opposing either. I just advised that from our position, storage itself is also cost and risk, so please make a decision after considering that extent as well.
There was the saying more warehouses meant a longer tail. The more facilities and subsidiaries there were to manage, the easier somewhere could make a mistake.
Stroking his chin, Kyung-tae snapped his fingers looking at me.
Maybe theres no need to worry so much.
What do you mean?
Existing demand predictions could be wrong. Like, havent a ton of newbies started ocean businessestely? The pirates.
You mean secure supply routes for them?
Those neers didnt even have a proper avenue yet. They were the sort of customers to avoid soliciting until small businesses willing to take risks on their behalf took root.
Besides, abetting the worsening of the seas would likely end up biting my own flesh. However many subordinates engaging in maritime smuggling were trained, a minority coping with the majority had limits. There were also concerns that normalized customs inspections would intensify.
When I furrowed my brow and questioned, Kyung-tae quickly waved his hands.
Oh no. Of course not. How could we deal with guys we dont even know where to find? The intel agencies of every country would be fiercely drawn to them. And if the ocean transport environment worsens, the organizations businesses will be impacted as well. In many ways, its an endeavor where the tail is bigger than the hide, so big we could be crushed to death.
Then? Sell to the side that has to deal with pirates?
Yeah, the pirates who might end up jumping into the water need something more practical than fancy bulletproof vests or armor. 5.56mm should work well for them. It might be a charming product for private militarypanies (PMCs) focused on maritime security or ind nations where both security and the economy have copsed nowadays.
But isnt that not a demand relevant to us? 5.56 is going to see a sharp drop in price even in the regr market. PMCs and countries in the Pacific Rim can use the regr market just fine. (+)[1]TLN: Its not the movie Pacific Rim. Its the Pacific Rim thatprises thends around the rim of the Pacific Ocean.
Uh, right.
.
As Kyung-tae said, the number of pirates recently had indeed been rapidly increasing. The lingering depression triggered by the pandemic,bined with the ever-rising primitive magic awakeners, had resulted in a global surge of pirate activity.
With sailboats reaching cruising speeds of 20 knots, swimming 100 kilometers roundtrip to raid and loot, and diving tens of minutes without any gear, awakened pirates were a disaster conventional maritime patrol forces struggled to cope with. How do you catch or kill pirates who abandon boats and disperse beneath the waves when coast guard or naval vessels appear? Rather, not having patrol ships and warships hijacked counted as fortunate. Actual recurring events.
The doping controversies of the swimmers who decorated the Tokyo Olympics podiums were the trailer for this situation. Todays awakeners overwhelmingly surpass the world champions of six months ago. Another six months on and the gap will further widen.
Thus the explosive growth of the maritime security services market provided by private militarypanies, and ind nations in dire economic straits suffering frequent attacks and piging, were natural progressions.
However, as already indicated, the resulting demand was unrted to us.
The massive surplus ammo militaries worldwide would soon start unloading into the civilian market would send small caliber rifle ammo prices plunging to the floor in the formal market. The extent of the plunge would surely be so great that even raw material prices could not be upheld. Because disposal costs for ammunition existed.
When stocks pile up excessively, its better to just dump them in the ocean. Or use them as bribes.
Attempting to sell even below normal market prices to legal dealers would be foolish. In the ck market, the very act of distributing goods generated risk costs. Merchants unable to discard inventory that should be disposed of, blinded by the numbers on the ledger, could never survive long in this business.
And it wasnt as if this was an activity intended to necessarily generate profit, with just the spoils from this time amounting to years worth of business budget, as Kyung-tae said
Suyeon, who had been sporadically taking notes and pondering deeply, raised her head.
If we look hard enough, purchasers do exist. We could push the volume to the tribal warlords of Papua New Guinea, fueling conflict, or vastly expand avenues into the African region. The bosses in Indonesia we already have channels with are also there. But either direction, at the current point they seem overly tangential tasks warranting organization resources.
Youre right.
I readily agreed. Refusing minor losses to in turn neglect what must be done was foolish.
The task demanding full strength right now was securing submarine manufacturing facilities. We were currently proceeding with building rudimentary production lines based on the acquired ns. Once construction wasplete, wed have to start scouting for sites suitable to erect the facilities, as well as equipment supply routes and material sources.
Until then, the short breather, while distant from true rest, would be best used as a time for recharging by arranging a moderately rxed schedule. For someone aiming to run a long distance, regting breathing is important.
What more when the path ahead was fraught with obstacles and ferocious beasts.- 1. TLN: Its not the movie Pacific Rim. Its the Pacific Rim thatprises thends around the rim of the Pacific Ocean.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 63: Light and Shadow (5)
Chapter 63: Light and Shadow (5)
While recuperating and handling piled-up work, the day to leave the safe house was one day away. On the way back I nned to stop by America briefly to examine the Mycelium Empire and Forest of Giants. I would put off the rtively less important Sequoia Grove for another chance.
On thest afternoon in Mexico, I was on the long, deserted beach with the kids. Beneath the clear sky dotted with shreds of small cumulus clouds, white waves gathering broke again and again, the color of the clouds. The monochrome sea bereft of even a singlemon vessel was to me akin to a demoted equivalent, and I felt a nearness to daydreamingfort, angled back on a sunbed beneath the parasol.
The peace of this port primarily perched on the buoyant, beautifulnd, blown in by wind from the ocean. The farther from the beach, the thicker the unrest in the city, embracing the darkened, famished residents, the ugly burnt ruins, and the bandits, pigers, violence, murders, and rapes between them. But that was none of my concern, nor the concern of FPDA+1 and the Mexican government. Thetter two urgently needed visible results, while reporters who came to the beach enjoyed luxurious leisure, their cameras only containing images of the city with restored order. As the wind still blew only from the southwest, the stench the city held would not reach the beach one could safely assume. Unless the residents of back alleys came bearing torches.
This safe house beachside was a rental luxury vi away from the city interior. Originally owned by a corporation like any other upscale vi, it hade under government management when thepany went bankrupt. The justification was the government would run it directly to attract tourists, but as with all the rotten government administration, proper management never took ce in reality.
Currently, the vi we were staying at was officially vacant. The facilities manager had cooked the books. By omitting registry entries and arbitrarily providing the facilities, he skimmed off money that should have gone up top. He really could not be anything but a good man.
The smells of burning firewood and grilling meat wafted in on the same wind. Kyung-tae and the others gathered at the barbecue grillughing raucously. Each bragging about grilling meat the best. Aside from them, some swam, somepeted in diving, and some tried out waterskiing and racing yachts scattered at intervals.
Among them, the sound of typing came from Suyeon. The girl had ced aptop on her thighs facing me from across a small wooden table, continuing messenger conversations with various parts of headquarters. When conversations halted she would also search for information rted to work. News from the region yed from one earphone dangling loose.
I turned my gaze back to the ocean and spoke.
Whether before or now, you dont know how to rest.
The typing stopped.
Im most at ease when working.
I know.
Even when I had insisted rest was an order too, this girl who always gave the same reply however much I looked never seemed the type to lie to me. Once the signs within became familiar, I could be certain of that fact. Rather than simply not knowing how to rest, she was someone who didnt know how to live differently. To the extent of carrying arms and wearing suits even at this moment. Despite teams on duty too.
As I said no more, Suyeon returned to her work. The monotonous rhythm of the cking keyboard. Doubtless matters to report to me were steadily stacking up in her head. It wasnt an unpleasant sound to hear.
Hyungnim.
This time Kyung-tae.
Could you try these in order and evaluate them?
The te he brought had slices of beef neatly arranged. Creations of the guyspeting in grilling skills it seemed. Kyung-taes eyes were full of anticipation looking at me.
The second from the left is the best.
Yes!
Kyung-tae cheered and shouted back over his shoulder.
Im on cooking duty tonight again, you punks!
The subordinates around the grill sent loud apuse his way. I wonder if he alone knows he genuinely enjoys such chores? I know he must really know that, but watching his actions, thoughts like what if he doesnt would cross my mind from time to time.
Hyungnim and noonim eat up the rest!
Kyung-tae ced the te on the table and returned to his group. I vacantly looked at the te. The taste was good. But it did not suit the serenity I was enjoying, the pleasure just flowing alongside time.
The meats giving off steam.
I brought out my tablet and pulled up a document I had read that morning. It was not internal material, but an article from a periodical thoroughly examining the ecology of Rasberry Crazy Ants.
As revealed by the joint research of Edward G. LeBrun, Nathan T. Jones, and Lawrence E. Gilbert, and verified through numerous follow-up studies, Rasberry Crazy Ants (Nnderia fulva) possess chemical neutralization capabilities against the toxins of the previously most destructive invasive species, the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Building on this ability, the crazy ants are expanding their territory across the southern United States, and other sporadic spreading is taking ce in various regions via human transport systems.
Additionally, not all colonies of crazy ants form the typical colony centered around a single queen ant. They form supercolonies with multiple queens coexisting simultaneously. Another reason the crazy ants continue to disce other ant species.
The proliferation rate of crazy ants has gradually increased annually, and it is not rare for a single colony to extend over 1 mile in a year if sufficient nutrients are avable. This September, one colony near Austin, Texas in the Balcones Canyonds was confirmed to have expanded approximately 12.7 miles (20.4 kilometers), more than triple the previous maximum observation. Although there is a need to verify it was not mistaken for a neighboring colony.
Reaching the end of such contents, the concluding paragraph of the chapter dealing with the distribution and expansion rate of crazy ants, along with countermeasures, made the following determination:
therefore, currently no method exists to halt the spread of crazy ants.
The reason these unstoppable ants were called a disaster in the southern US was the bizarre tendency to be attracted to electronics, as experienced firsthand in the Indian reservation. When they got electrocuted and died, they released rm pheromones to notify allies an enemy was attacking, promptingrades smelling it to swarm in and trigger a chain reaction short circuit.
The result was one of two. If lucky it ended with just a simple short circuit, if unlucky additional damage like fires followed.
How fearsome were they that US environmental authorities rated them one of the biggest biological disasters America faced, alongside rampant wild boar poptions.
I was devising a n to utilize these indefensible ants as messengers of gue.
First, real estate investment beginning from Londons most dpidated residences.
ces like Peckham, not far from Charing Cross at all, and Dewsbury further south would be prime investment destinations. Peckham had the lowest white poption proportion in London, while Dewsbury had the cheapest housing in all of Enndbined with the worst public order.
The rough scheme was this:
First, secure dozens of buildings in these slums, then from tunnels dug underground horizontally from those spots, release queen ants to build colonies. At this time, by continually providing heat to spur explosive growth in numbers, by the time the ants reach the surface from underground, the colonies would berge enough that the spread origins would be difficult to locate.
Well, the authorities wouldnt actively seek them out anyway.
I didnt arbitrarily want to invest in poor neighborhoods first. The grievances of the poor were handled as lightly as their thin wallets outside of election season. The impoverished residents wouldnt be able to call expensive private pest control either.
Moreover, Dewsbury was a residential district with an absolutely overwhelming Imic poption. Mohammad Sidique Khan and his supporters who perpetrated the 2005 London bombings also lived right here. Extremist inhabitants who disregarded the public rule ofw and tried to arbitrarily create Sharia autonomous zones. Would the British authorities have any reason to seriously address theirints?
No.
The Ennd I knew would never be that kind of country. They wouldnt even consider finding out what kind of ant was causing trouble. Amidst such negligence andposure of theirs, I would continue expanding real estate investment in lockstep with the ants territory expansion.
With time, a colossal colony that could not be removed by any means would bepleted. The officials who btedly recognized this biological disaster would be perplexed.
Wondering why the proliferation rate was so fast.
But they would never figure out the cause. By then, all I would have brought into London was sugar and more sugar, and even more sugar, which was not a hazardous substance at all.
From my research, in southern Brazil there was a white ant metropolis half the size of Ennd, and in Europe an Argentine ant empire spanning 8 thousand kilometers from northern Italy to Spains Pyrenees. Thetters territory alone was 8 thousand kilometers across. So the kingdom of crazy ants I fed would swallow all of London and have some left over.
What mattered was after that.
At the point of facing the London offensive, with real estate investment expanded across the entirety of London, I nned to provide the ants with disease-contaminated food through each foothold.
Beginning with the gue Smallpox too, if possible.
The gue for starters was an easily obtainable disease. With consistent annual infections and deaths in the US and Central Asia. So by sending personnel to regions with patients and capturing wild animals like marmots, it wouldnt take long to secure live samples of the bacteria. Mixing that cultured sample into the ants food would be all it took.
Of course, ants were not intermediate hosts for gue bacteria. But it was possible for bacteria clinging to or ingested by them to contact true hosts before dying. ces ants got tangled up and died, techniciansing to repair broken electronics would also be exposed to the infection source.
The fact prevention was possible through early antibiotic use was a huge advantage here. Having living hosts captured or exposing your own troops to contagion during the Round Table offensive would be as foolish a self-inflicted wound as any.
Next, smallpox.
This disease officially eradicated long ago had acquisition difficulty on a different ne. Aside from the US and Russia, it would be a pathogen strictly controlled by the likes of China or North Korea. Moreover, securing vines to inocte operatives was not easy either. As it was strategically stockpiled by national governments. Just attempting to mass purchase vines couldnd you on intelligence agencies bio-terror watchlists across the globe.
But if both virus and vine could be obtained by some means, smallpox would provide a tremendously forceful additional strike. First using the gue to quarantine the city and partitions, then cutting off roads physically, and only then finally unleashing the smallpox for a limited yet intense secondary blow. Like delicate surgery excising just London from the map. I couldnt recklessly release a contagion that could potentially wipe out a fraction of the worlds poption without any countermeasures. For the sake of the peace I dreamed of, as well.
In any case, the powerful cocktail regimen of two potent diseases would be sufficient assistance for attacking the Round Table, even considering the environment saturated with magical power was harmful to microbes. Perhaps even managing to easily kill off one or two Round Table masters.
It would not fall short as a prelude to the London conquest.
However, this n had two problems. Internal issues on personal and organizational levels.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 64: Light and Shadow (6)
Chapter 64: Light and Shadow (6)
First. My personal problem.
I once dered I would smuggle and detonate nukes if necessary, but that was strictly for when needed C or rather, when no other options remained. Where should I draw the line of necessity? Should victory be seized even at the cost of ughtering millions including children? Aside from the line of necessity, is there not another line I must consider?
Before a call of conscience, this was a call of disgust.
I disliked imperialists.
Regardless of right or wrong, I simply physiologically disliked them.
Though I aimed for values and oues different from theirs, on the methodological level, the line distinguishing them and I hung on a huge margin of sacrifice ced on the scale of desire. The unit of sacrificial objects. Walking the path of overly increasing that unit was to me like traversing a tunnel teeming with cockroaches in a torrent, barefoot. A path I disliked to walk before it imperiled my life.
Because the motive was unrted to ethics, impeding the new world order of imperialists was merely ideological justification to instill in subordinates.
Here the second problem arose.
Who should I entrust this cruel n to?
There were limits to justifying means through pretenses. Preparing for biological terror would burden even loyal subordinates with moral distress. There was also no guarantee the spread of disease would be contained one hundred percent. Yet if I tried brainwashing subordinates to the level of gibbering idiots raving about fictional divine judgment and nuclear weapons, I could end up with subordinates causing who knows what idents devoid of rational thinking capabilities.
I could probably trust Kyung-tae and Suyeon, as well as a few others like the former chief secretaries and security chiefs. Not that they were devoid of any chance of wavering, but because if they did waver, they would surely confide in me first. However, it was impossible to burden that small minority with the entire process from start to finish.
I recalled what Suyeon had said in Singapore.
If you wish it, I can pick up a knife this instant and go kill any noticeable people in sight, young or old, without discrimination.
Blind faithcking for nothing, regardless of reason.
Sensing my gaze, Suyeon turns her head. With the rare expression of embarrassment.
Are you perhaps concerned about Perucho?
What do you mean?
Marias father, the dock worker Pedro Santos Sanchez.
I didnt forget him. But why bring that guy up?
I thought you looked this way after hearing the news. But I was mistaken.
News? Only now did I notice the voice of the announcer I had vaguely listened to as background noise from the dangling earbud. Sensing my interest, Suyeon turned in her chair to a better angle for conversing, removed the earbud jack from theptop, and yed the voice reporting on the port situation through the speaker.
A contract discovered at thete El Juegos residence stirred great controversy in the Puerto Vartamunity. With the signatures and seal of the Bucerias market mayor verified as not forged, the disappearance of Korean businessman Huang is showing signs of bing a political scandal.
Mayor Bucerias, at the center of suspicion, held a press conference stating There were threats and coercion from the Sinaloa Cartel side in the process of drafting the contract. He exined he himself, along with the missing Huang, were both merely victims.
In response, dock office clerk Pedro Santos Sanchez categorically dismissed the mayors exnation as preposterous lies, insisting the smile he saw from the mayor was by no means the result of coercion. Mr. Sanchez further raised his voice dering the civic solidarity alongside him would surely bring corrupt officials like Mayor Bucerias to justice.
Meanwhile, the South Korean embassy in Mexico City stated the identity confirmation of the businessman Huang is difficult and
Strange.
While listening to the news, I felt doubt about Perucho.
Surely he wasnt the sort of man to step out like this. Is his life not precious?
The stout dock worker I saw was the epitome of an egocentric petty citizen confusing weakness and righteousness. His motive for following Huang was limited strictly to his own and his daughters lives. Even if Huangs disappearance brought him tremendous frustration, if the scales were frustration and survival, they would invariably tilt towards survival for that petty man.
What Perucho was doing now bordered on suicidal behavior. Whether Mayor Bucerias or El Tiro lurking in alleyways with his men, they would not want to leave loose a lesser official senselessly provoking them.
Suyeon answered my question.
Maria died.
How?
That night, while escaping the city, she was shot by an assant. Not fatal, but as their vehicle was hijacked by the assant, and the path to the hospital was blockaded, she was unable to receive timely treatment. Perucho believes the attackers identity was a hoodlum of the Sinaloa Cartel. Apparently, he had tattoos characteristic of Sinaloa.
Ah. The picturees together. While hugging his daughter growing steadily colder, drenched in sweat and tears, the stout dock worker official wandered the gunfire and smoke-filled streets at night.
If he had such an experience, it might change a person. Whether an irreversible change or a temporary transformation from anger and sorrow as opium faded, there was no telling.
He wont live long.
Whether he died or lived wouldnt make much difference for a human like that, so if he conveniently died on his own, so much the better. The sooner traces of Huangs disguised identity were erased, the more it would benefit us.
But Suyeon made a different prediction.
On the contrary, his lifeline may prove surprisingly long.
Why?
Because citizens mourning Huang are gathering around him. Thanks to raising suspicions about the mayor, his face and story took the media spotlight. As a figurehead of such movements, Perucho is a new face the Mexican government and FPDA+1 can highlight. A signboard vividly disying the positive change themunity underwent.
They would send that guy into the political sphere?
If the current mayor is impeached and a by-election held, the possibility is ample, no? He can absorb a high percentage of the citizens favor towards thete Huang. Since he openly followed you everywhere acting as local secretary.
So I unintentionally assisted electioneering.
Yes.
Thats a bit troubling.
Suyeons prediction was unexpectedly realistic. With his support base being citizens aided by Huang, and his only presentable career experience being Huangs sidekick, as long as Peruchos political life continued in the regional political sphere, he would have no choice but to keep venerating Huangs name.
Should I kill him?
I tapped the armrest with my fingertips, lost in thought. As Huangs disguised identity, the chances of him causing problems were slim. Though his recorded birth nation was Korea, his actual citizenship was in Colombia, currently at war with neighboring countries.
Not in any position to sincerely respond to identity confirmation requests for an individual businessman. Let alone ones not on a national level.
Meanwhile, all assets I used under Huangs name were prepared through funds transferred between paperpanies knotted up moreplexly than Apple Inc.s infamous tax evasion structure. These money trails were works the field support team hadbored over and perfected for over a decade.
Yet leaving Perucho alive gave me an unpleasant feeling.
What do you think is best to do with that guy?
As if expecting this question to arise at this point, Suyeon answered without hesitation.
Killing him is fine and leaving him be is fine.
I understand why killing him would be good, but whats good about letting him live?
Huangs death, even now when it should draw the most attention, has failed to attract international attention, let alone domestic attention. Assassination attempt on the Hong Kong Chief Executive, serial burries targeting top CCP officials, Western bloc versus China confrontation, surging pirate damage, sessive disappearances of Japanese fishing vessels, intensifying civil wars across Africa, the endless armed protests and looting by US cks, the Paris terror, the war sparked in South America.
Suyeon randomly lists international topics and then shakes her head.
As you know as well, some time will pass before the world calms down again. Huangs death does not qualify as an incident that can grab the Round Tables attention. Rather, leaving whoever can make use of Perucho be, is more beneficial. Because the hidden powers interest will focus on political interests.
Well
Truthfully I wasnt ignorant of this fact either, but it was a momentary obsessive impulse as the hunted prey, as well as a distortion of perspective summoned by that impulse. It wasnt something to make a big deal of.
Because the subject itself arose out of context, my wordscked insight. Even now, half of my flowing thoughts were tilted toward the London conquest ns dilemma.
Chewing it over again, it seemed fine to kill himter even if I had to kill him. Waiting for the interest in Perucho to die down. Right now many citizens supported Perucho, but a politician who didnt disappoint their support base was rarer than a mythical creature once stepping into the political arena. Due to environmental factors, not individual inclinations.
What more the corrupt political sphere of Mexico. Peruchocked Mexican ointment. Neither political background nor financial assets. As such, the probability was high that he would lose his entire support base, excluding the cultic supporters, within a year even.
I had asked a question I wouldnt have if I pondered a bit longer.
I showed poor judgment.
No. I will have the edited transcript anonymously submitted if Perucho bes disadvantaged.
That would be good.
To put the somewhat ufortable Suyeon at ease, I switched topics to safer ground.
Any new intel on ck Children Party?
ck Children Party was the name awakened gangs fervently engaged in banditry activities in China called themselves nowadays. The righteous thief group targeting only high official residences for burry on principle.
I nned to report it alongside other matterster, but shall I inform you now?
Suyeons rhetorical question subtly hinting perhaps I should rest more at this time. After all, the Perucho talk arose unintended as well. But the interrupted break had already lost steam.
Tell me.
ording to Deputy Manager Seo of International Affairs and Assistant Manager Parks inquires through local connections, at minimum seven provincial standingmittee level senior officials are estimated to have been victimized in Guangdong and Hainan provinces alone.
ording to Deputy Manager Seo Gapsu of International Affairs and Assistant Manager Park Mijus inquiries through local connections, at minimum seven provincial standingmittee level senior officials are estimated to have been victimized in Guangdong and Hainan provinces alone.
Seven? Seven cases at the standingmittee level?
Yes. Guangzhou Party Secretary Mao Xiaodu, Hainan Provincial Standing Committee Executive Deputy Director Yang Hongzhong, Hainan Provincial Discipline Inspection Commission local bureau chief Peng Chun, Guangdong Province Deputy Minister Sun Xi.
After listening to the titles and names Suyeon listed, I spoke with a somewhat absurd sense.
If not handled properly, it could detonate a bomb on Chinas economy.
While saying a mere burry could detonate an economic bomb wasughable, I was by no means joking.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 65: Light and Shadow (7)
Chapter 65: Light and Shadow (7)
It happenedst year. When a guy named Zhang Qi, who concurrently served as both Hainan provincial standingmittee member and Haikou municipal standingmittee secretary, was arrested by the CCP Central Commission for Discipline Inspection on corruption and illicit wealth umtion charges, 8 trillion won worth of gold bars and 450 billion won equivalent of foreign and yuan currency were discovered in the basement of his residence.
Additionally,st year Beijing Mayor Chen Gang, who was found hoarding 20 tons of gold and over 2,000 artworks, along with 270 billion yuan equivalent in domestic and foreign bonds, and other big shots like Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, who also stashed tons of gold bars and cash in their home basements before getting nabbed by the Disciplinary Commission.
And the amounts announced externally like this were generally drastically reduced, out of consideration for the party and states dignity. Only a moron would take CCP announcements or Chinese media reports at face value, no?
With just seven provincial standingmittee level victims, the total theft must minimally surpass 1 trillion yuan.
An estimate based on the assumption each cadres secret safe was perfectly emptied, but considering this was the work of awakeners, iplete burry would be the unrealistic case.
Add simr incidents urring in other regions. Then the funds held by the ck Children Party could amount to around 2% of Chinas GDP.
If these funds were recklessly drained or smuggled overseas, it would be a literal disaster for the Chinese economy. More than anything else, the sharp increase in yuan cirction would be problematic. If hedge funds worldwide simultaneously took short positions on the yuan upon catching a whiff of money, China would find it extremely difficult to avoid massive losses in the short term.
In Chinas current economy, which could by no means be called absolutely favorable, that loss could be the first falling domino piece triggering tremendous turmoil.
I became curious how the Chinese guys would deal with this.
Whats the CCPs reaction?
No public stance has been announced yet, but domestically they are propagating that This is Western powers who despise China infiltrating supernaturalists to coborate with anti-state forces andmit crimes, exaggerating the scale of the stolen funds to smear the CCP.
Anything else?
Censorship as a given, and announcements that those who assist in the apprehension of the culprits will receive rewards from 100,000 yuan for minor contributions up to 10 million yuan for major ones, and special recruitment as national security cadres if desired.
Insufficient.
Also, instructions were issued telling the Triads to capture ck Children Party members. Provided they can prove the prey is a ck Children Party member, its a basic 10 million yuan for a severed head, 20 million for them alive. Additional millions will be tacked on for catching leaders.
And?
That concludes the superficial measures.
Huh.
10 million yuan was approximately 1.7 billion won, and 100 million yuan was around 17 billion won. Objectively quite a sum as bounties, but
Impressive folks. Pinching pennies even now.
If I were a bounty hunter, I would first harbor designs on pilfering their stolen funds instead of catching ck Children Party members.
Huang Gang, professor and former dean of Tsinghua Universitys National Conditions Research Institute, published research concluding that 10 trillion yuan annually, give or take, evaporated due to bureaucratic corruption during Jiang Zemins time as president. Meaning 13-16% of GDP went into the back pockets of party bosses and officials.
Though likely ame-duck study permitted by the current regime to disparage its predecessors, I believe the current regime was much more corrupt than back then.
Who didnt look more capable of embezzlement, Jiang Zemin or Xi Jinping?
In Italy, a single mafia organization skims 3% of GDP, the CCP[1]CCP is the Chinese Communist Party. should naturally embezzle even better as the norm right?
Assuming the same percentage of Chinas national output vanished as in the past,st year that figure neatly surpassed 2 trillion dors. 220 trillion won in our currency. Thus the CCP became a criminal group raking in 2,200 trillion won annually.
Misappropriation, bribery, collusion between government and business, and selling offices were tant criminal acts, and gatherings of criminals were naturally criminal organizations, so I called the CCP the worldsrgest criminal organization for no other reason.
Given the circumstances, those impressive criminals wrapped in the CCP were in no position to be particr about means now. If the sparks werent extinguished early, eventually all the disorder they had suppressed so far would spread throughout their entire operations. Yet despite that they remained shortsighted, blinded by carnal desire, failing to respond adequately.
It was an extremely advantageous phenomenon for me of course.
What do you think? Does the ck Children Party really have a backer?
Asked by me, Suyeon shook her head. Not denial but uncertainty.
There are still insufficient clues to make a judgment. I will report again after further investigation.
What are the family backgrounds of the officials who were robbed?
At my barrage of questions, Suyeon lowered her head slightly.
My apologies. That is also still under investigation.
No, nothing to apologize for. It was me rushing the report.
I will direct them to conduct additional investigation into the possibility of inner-party factional power struggles. May I arbitrarily allocate budget for it?
Retroactive approval is fine. Same as always.
Thank you.
With the question I posed, Suyeon grasped I was considering the possibility ck Children Partys backer was a certain faction within the CCP.
Sacrificial offerings to appease the wrath of the masses are ever an effective strategy.
Currently, the CCP was extremely nervous due to the karma they had umted so far.
That karma was ultimately imperialism. Todays Chinas prosperity was the result of stratifying the people with the caste system and exploiting the majority by the minority. In other words, China had caught up with and surpassed the forerunners of imperialism through the aberrant strategy of constructing colonies domestically. Many people believed they understood China the country, but in truth, their shallowprehension was on par with iming to know North Korea by only seeing Pyongyang.
There were four sses in China. First-ss citizens C CCP members, second-ss citizens C urban residents, third-ss citizens C farmers and migrant workers with innately inferior household registrations, and finally those without even that inferior registration who werent treated like humans at all C the ck Children (Heihaizi). (+)[2]TLN: Heihaizi or ck child is a term applied in China. The term denotes children born outside the one-child policy, or generally children who are not registered in the national household registration system.
The farmer poption numbered 700 million, migrant workers 250 million, and no reliable statistics whatsoever existed for the ck Children. The total surpassed 1 billion C they were the dominant of modern China, the worst colonial empire.
But now that the overwhelming majority of mayflyrvae had primitive magiccalled the supernatural by their popr termhad begun manifesting. For the fakemunists who considered indoctrination and agitation the cornerstone of ideology, and force of arms the basis of power, wielding surveince and oppression as governing principles, it was like a fire lit under their asses. They must not feel unlike holding an unknown timer to a time bomb.
If over 1 billion mayflyrvae forced to subsist on crap in a sunless sewer, at longst underwent metamorphosis and began buzzing, how deafening would that chorus be? Even if that autonomous cacophony remained disharmonious noise at first, as time passed it would begin converging intoyered harmonies.
At times like this, political human offerings could be an effective escape strategy. Whether purging the Crown Prince Party or Shanghai Clique as the font of corruption, swiftly appeasing the seething masses like a boiling pot could be done right?
In short, the ck Childrens Party was a tool that naturally created such a purge pretext. A decent strategy in that it released gas before the masses exploded.
Spection stretched in another direction as well.
Maybe this is a Round Table machination
It was by no means an absurd fantasy. Same as me, they had the power to steadily awaken people with primitive magic anywhere in the world. Thus by dispatching just one master, Round Table could reignite as a tremendous behind-the-scenes chaos orchestrator in any part of the world.
I too once contemted a n leaning that way. But there existed a tremendous information capabilities gap between Round Table and I. Round Tables curs could make use of that famous British intelligence agencys (SIS) resources, while all I had was the organization I built and meager connections. In China, the den of spy agencies and intelligence agencies, it would entail assuming considerable risk burdens for me to personally construct an organization like ck Childrens Party. (+)[3]TLN: The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), often known as MI6, collects Britains foreign intelligence.
Above all, I faced the issue of what to choose and where to focus. Wasnt I the one and only genuine mage on this side of the divide? The code, weapons, money, troop resources, and submarines Too many forks stretched before me, and no matter how much I deliberated and contemted, I could never obtain a clear answer on which branch was the optimum path to Round Tables destruction.
Thus I was merely considering burry by my own hand as a contingency. As a way to urgently raise funds.
That was the gist of matters so far.
But I might as well profit by going with the flow, now that turmoil had urred. It meant the anticipated profits outweighed efforts and risks. Whos to say whether it was my doing or the ck Childrens Partys if I went and pilfered another officials home? The inevitably dispersed response capabilities signified markedly decreased risk burdenspared to the past.
At that point, Suyeon voiced the same thought I had.
You may have to visit China in the near future.
I replied with my gaze fixed straight ahead.
That will happen. When theres a hunting ground yielding sums in the trillion range, how could I not go?
If things went well, I could obtain all the war funds needed for London in one shot from that hunting ground. My ursed eyes would prove invinciblepetitiveness even in those hunting grounds. If not to solely pursue my own profit.
I instructed at intervals.
There will be many national security and counterintelligence officials backed into a corner because of this. Since people desperate to pad their records by selling their souls will certainly appear, if conditions permit, also build connections on that side to acquire intel.
I will do my utmost.
Just in case, this is only if conditions cooperate. Getting the tail stepped on by overreaching would be troublesome. I leave judgment to you.
Yes.
What I sought here were refined connections that would open Chinas informationwork to me. If I took in and conferred grace on a few desperate senior cadres, padding their records, it seemed fully possible considering the matters gravity.
Since Round Tables curs could utilize national-level resources, I needed somethingparable to at least maintain bnce.
The conversation flow halted. For the time being, all there was to say on this topic seemed to have been said.
Ill hear the other reportster.
At my words, Suyeon answered yes once more.
Rising from my seat, I put my hands behind my back and stepped out from the shade into the sunshine.
If there was one thing profoundly digging into a matter made you realize, it was thoughts growing narrower the more you delved in. Captivated by the inertia of preupied logic and its basis, failing to see and passing by numerous other options C such thoughts.
Thus emptying ones head several times was an essential procedure when examining any important issue. Efficiency didnt simply rise by blindly tacking on more time.
My reason for approaching the waves now was this. To rinse theplicated contents of my head with the white noise of crashing water.
After hearing, the sense of touch also helped. The deserted beach of a southern country nearing winter, the dazzlingly bright white sand signaling sunset was awash in pleasant wind no one could dislike.
The least helpful was the overloaded visual sense, but even that was not so bad.
Cutting off my thoughts, I concentrated wholly on filling what remained of my head with sensations.- 1. CCP is the Chinese Communist Party.
- 2. TLN: Heihaizi or ck child is a term applied in China. The term denotes children born outside the one-child policy, or generally children who are not registered in the national household registration system.
- 3. TLN: The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), often known as MI6, collects Britains foreign intelligence.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Chapter 66: The Hunters (1)
Chapter 66: The Hunters (1)
America I returned to in December suffered from different issues than China. Protests and riots triggered by racial conflicts, powerful crimes by awakeners, unstable economic conditions and fluctuating unemployment rates, andstly the diverse biological disasters. Nationwide there were over 400 regions dered special disaster zones by the federal government, far from a picture of stability.
Utah, where we returned after almost a year, was no exception. We first had to unload in Richfield, 40 kilometers from Trembling Giant, because the viplex we had usedst time had long since be ruins devoured by the forest.
Currently, due to frequently changing fog, general ess within an 8-mile (about 12.8 km) radius centered on the Forest of Giants was restricted. FEMA[1]Federal Emergency Management Agency strongly rmended citizens not approach the center of the fog.
The above were contents of the headline article from a local newspaper my subordinates had brought. Taking up half of the front page was arge aerial photograph of a bizarre mesa shrouded in an opaque ash-gray shroud within a radius of miles.
The passage described the contents of the main headline in a regional newspaper. It included arge aerial photograph that covered half of the front page, showing a mysterious hignd shrouded in a thick, opaque gray curtain over several miles.
Well, that makes sense. The forest must endure the cold.
December in high-altitudends was already considered the heart of winter. Even here in Richfield, everywhere was nketed in white snow. Therefore, the fact that the giant had covered themselves with a thick foggy nket was a natural urrence. The thickness and shape of the nket changed ording to the temperature fluctuations between day and night.
Most of the front-page article contained information I had already researched and anticipated beforeing here. Flipping to the next page, I found this headline at the top.
Realm of the Giant C Its bleak and eeriendscapes within
Beneath the title spanning pages 2-3 were several photos presented with brief descriptions. Materials secured by the federal governments investigative team of awakeners braving the danger to enter.
Most of the photos contained simrndscapes. White fog, white snowfields, white quaking aspen trunks. The short visibility also turned the canvas entirely white, making every photo feel like a fantasy painted with brushes. Aside from buildings buried in the forest, quaking aspen trunks asionally twisted or bulging strangely, and akepletely encircled by an aspen cluster, there seemed no difference from when I had killed the devil worshippers.
But there certainly was a difference in scale.
The quaking aspen forest Trembling Giant, presumed to be the cause of all these abnormal phenomena, has expanded a minimum of 17 timespared tost year. This abnormal rate of growth still continues today, creating 2-3 acres of new forest each day.
A FEMA official has stated however, that even if Trembling Giant continues expanding at the current rate, it will take 1,682 years for it to erase Sevier County, and 74,400 years for it to bury all Utah, and as they are continually monitoring the expansion rate of fog and forest, citizens can be at ease continuing their livelihoods.
Meanwhile, Governor Spencer Morris, whost November 30 dered mobilization of state national guards if needed to halt the Giants invasion, has.
Everyone was going crazy.
To me, they seemed trivial worries and fears that would wither in due time. However ferociously the forest that had endured tens and hundreds of thousands of years was baring its stamina, once it secured biomass befitting a matured soul the growth rate would likely drastically decrease. As I had told Kyung-tae before, if the spirit was the tree, the biomass was the pot. Therefore Trembling Giant was merely doing potting appropriate for its spirit presently. Expanding biomass in excess could decrease the density of the spirit, so even the finest quality of soul that endured lengthy eras had a definite growth limit. Based on the current situation and data I had gathered, that limit looked to easily surpass tens of millions of tons at least.
Tinkle, tinkle-
A small bell rang from the entrance. It was security personnel with snow piled on their heads and shoulders entering after opening the door. I, who had been sitting by the firece waiting for news, folded the newspaper after Kyung-tae dusted off the snow and reached the living room, then asked.
So, did you figure out why this ce became like this?
Among those who heard my question, there was one who shrank back C Deputy Secretary Hong Young-sik standing across from me like a student receiving punishment. Before him on the sofa was Suyeon, expressionless as the outside air, maintaining silence in perfect posture.
The cause was the residences condition, appearing as if a drunk driver had smashed through at full speed. The wooden walls were shattered wide enough for a pickup truck to pass through, asionally bringing in whipping snow with the winds blowing straight through front and back.
From what I had seen en route, this building wasnt the only one smashed either.
Kyung-tae nced at Suyeon and then opened his mouth.
ording to the convenience store girl, its the work of a T-hog.
Whos that?
T for thousand poundsbined with hog for pig C T-hog. Some call it Thog, but T-hog is moremon they say. It matches the feel of T-rex better.
Another neologism birthed by the age of magic huh. With expressions popping up and sinking every single day amidst turbulent times, there was nothing particrly new.
So an awakened giant pig went wild?
Yes. Traces were left behind by a huge, heavy feral pig awakener rampaging as it was chased by hunters with simrly extraordinary physical abilities. A piping hot ident just yesterday.
I knew it. Not only this building but traces of destruction and blood were scattered throughout town as well. I had wondered if some kind of armed riot by awakeners had urred here since the traces resembled impacts from heavy ordnance. Abination of a circuit-frayed wild animal and hunters could leave behind chaos exceeding this.
Makes sense.
I nodded and spoke.
Suyeon, stop being angry. This wasnt what we expected right?
My apologies.
The one difited by me hearing about the incident, which had obviously happened overnight making prior confirmation impossible, was within the realm of understandable. Awakened giant wild animals smashing vehicles and homes had be such amon urrence regional news no longer covered them as individual incidents but as everyday events transitioning to the realm of statistics. Each ident was passing the threshold of bing part of daily life and tallies.
I apologize, Chairman.
Hong Young-sik, the deputy secretary, lowered his head.
I tried to find alternative amodations, as I mentioned earlier, but all the hotels are fully booked
I raised my hand to interrupt him.
Its fine. We can manage if we eat and sleep well.
Activating physical enhancement techniques, 10 below zero cold was nothing. There would be proportional caloric consumption from the cold, but this too could not be deemed an issue. The ones pulling all-nighters would get a little less sleep.
This was afforded by circuits currently operating at far higher efficiencypared to the past. For lower upancy techniques I could now keep them running even while sleeping, sopared to times when utmost effort had to be exerted for every small technique, it was absurd progress.
Come to think of it, theres less than 10 days left until the first year mark.
I had sensed the sudden surge of magic power on December 10st year, so 10 more days and it would be exactly one year since the return of the age of magic. In the first few months, I had often wondered if the magic power might disappear again, buttely, the frequency of that thought had dwindled to barely countable levels. I had epted the meaninglessness not only mentally but emotionally as well.
Hyungnim.
Kyung-tae called me.
While making a full round, I got the feeling we could station personnel permanently around here now. There are so many wandering riff-raff, if we add one more office it wouldnt stand out at all.
Its that extent?
Yes. First, look at these.
Kyung-tae fanned out pamphlets he had brought from outside on the table. I hadnt paid them attention thinking they were random ads, but they were promotional material brought in rather than discarded outside for good reason. I picked one up and scrutinized it closely.
They openly operate like this?
Its just the guys whove filled up all three inns to the south. And, on top of that, there are so many guys camping with gs, too. Isnt that fun?
Why wasnt this information included in the report?
When I nced at it again, the deputy secretary, Hong Young-sik, had once again lowered his head and responded in a low voice.
Since it was a threat assessment report, we didnt consider them a force that would be a threat to you. They are obedient to the police and
Well, these guys might only be as dangerous as rabid dogs when judged by their pure threat level, but he should have included the names of guys like them in the report.
I didnt express this thought out loud. The reason for Suyeons falling temperature was bing clearer. Furthermore, Hong Young-sik would not have known the backgrounds of these guys. They werent on any of the potential hostile organizations or high-risk organizations lists, and they werent notorious. Suyeon, who memorizes all sorts of information on these guys, was the one who was actually unusual.
So, it was a mistake, but it was within the scope of understanding. The unfortunate thing about Hong Young-sik was that two such mistakes ovepped. He hadnt investigated these guys thoroughly, and he should have.
I looked at the pamphlet again. Underneath a whimsical fairy character holding the Earth in both hands andughing brightly, the name of the organization was printed in a font that would be appropriate for a fairy tale book.
Earth Liberation Front C ELF
The identity of this organization is condensed into the image of the fairy character holding a gun. Self-styled environmental anarchists who called themselves elves believed that destruction and terror were necessary to protect the environment.
Contrary tomon misconceptions, the group responsible for the most acts of terrorism in the United States wasnt Imic extremists or far-right white supremacists. It was radical environmentalists and animal rights activists.
Among them, the group with the most influence was the Earth Liberation Front. Although it originated in the UK, it gained greater notoriety in the United States, where its size and influence were alsorger. So much so that the FBI had singled it out as one of the most serious threats within the United States. They were even called the Earth Liberation Army, and the abbreviation ELF was the superior organization.
The reason Kyung-tae could recognize these guys was thanks to his memories of when he used to go on long business trips during a time when his rank was lower. These trips often involved providing consultation. Lessons on bomb-making, destruction engineering, effective arson techniques, how to evade tracking and investigation, and so on. We were not an organization that only profits by selling finished products.
It seems they have quite a few supporters.
If not, how could the FBI have designated these guys as a terrorist organization? They couldnt possibly distribute flyers on the streets. Kyung-tae agreed with my muttering.
Its understandable. With the quaking aspen forest disying tremendous presence and feral pigs using supernatural abilities, simply having faith may no longer suffice for a religion to form.
I unfolded the pamphlet. Printed on the inside of the tri-folded mini booklet were the following sentences.
All life on Earth has begun to rage!
What life should sinful humanity live henceforth?
What wisdom do we who live in this age need?
The time hase to humbly incline our ears to the gospel conveyed by magnificent nature.
We elves always await new friends.- 1. Federal Emergency Management Agency
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 67: The Hunters (2)
Chapter 67: The Hunters (2)
The most noticeable was the part mentioning the gospel of souls. Though extremely environmentally fixated, it was unlike these guys to use such religious terminology.
The revival of primitive faith?
It wasnt unthinkable, but meeting it in reality unavoidably felt awkward. As a mage, the soul I grasped was merely anotherponent constituting the living. Its only peculiarity being current sciences inability to observe it.
Therefore I conjectured magic power and the soul may be a form of dark matter. Simply another substance interacting with the observable world only through limited pathways.
Thus there was no afterlife for humans. The soul gradually dposed and disappeared with the death of life. This was the case for all the deaths I had witnessed through the Eye of the Golden Age. I had never seen souls ascend to Heaven or fall to Hell. The Round Table masters who arbitrarily attached the soul concept to this unobservable humanponent were the problem to begin with.
There wasnt really a suitable alternative term, and I reluctantly used it as well.
However, I could understand the change in the arson-loving elves with heads rather than hearts.
The Giants presence is just overwhelmingly massive.
Typhoons, earthquakes, lightning, fire, and volcanoes, the sun and the moon, the countless celestial bodies that shine in the night sky,rge beasts, towering mountains, therge rocks and ancient monuments atop them, and even diseases. Everything that was first religiously revered by humanity was a part of nature that instilled a sense of awe in the observer.
The origin of this reverence lies in the overwhelming experiential impact that these natural phenomena have on the senses.
Even I had felt overwhelmed by the forests presence, let alone ordinary awakeners of meager abilities, how must they feel overwhelmed? The colossal presence of the white forest shrouded in fog projecting beyond the horizon itself possessed enough force to bring someone to their knees.
Their numbers are said to be countless?
When I asked again Kyung-tae nodded.
Tents and campers are gathered west and southwest of the city, looking like someone cut out and pasted a Middle Eastern refugee camp. Though I didnt check personally, word is theres another camp north two kilometers matching the city scale, and countless outsiders have set up camp at Sand Ledges to the east too.
Are they all pilgrims?
No. There are many who came to hunt pigs, and many militiamen, people who just came to research or observe, tourists, groups you cant tell what theyre doing, and all sorts C army, police, Citizen Corps, state emergency management personnel, etc. Theres even Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
Kyung-tae took crinkly bags out of his pocket.
Speaking of which, would you care for some cookies? Kids with apple red cheeks kept begging for just one packet so I couldnt buy just one.
.
Cookies are good. Just in time for some pre-sleep calories. As I tore open a packet a sweet, nutty aroma arose. The cookies were studded all over withrge chocte chips. Biting into one, amidst the crispy texture a powerful sweetness rushed in.
I originally disliked excessive sweetness but
How is it?
Delicious.
Phew, thats a relief.
You guys should eat too.
At my words, Suyeon stood up.
Ill prepare something to drink.
While saying this, she gave Hong Young-sik a chilly look, as if telling him toe along. Hong Young-sik became a picture of obedience. It felt a bit strange seeing a high-ranking officer whom I personally trained in his younger days following Suyeon like this. The hierarchy within the organization was not dependent on age, but it still felt a bit odd.
Kyung-tae scratched his head.
But really, now that Ive seen it myself, I can understand why each one wasnt thoroughly investigated Looks like Deputy Chief Hong was unlucky this time.
.
ncing at the kitchen, Suyeon was cing a pot on the stove and taking out pomegranate tea bags and cups while reprimanding someone for something. Hong Young-sik didnt dare lift his head during the whole tirade. If Earth Liberation Front werent an old customer of our organization, the intensity of the scolding would probably be much less.
A littleter, as I sipped my tea, I proceeded to go through the remaining pamphlets one by one. One of them was literally an advertisement.
Exciting Razorback Hunting Tour!
Razorback refers to wild boars. Strictly speaking, it signifies feral domestic pigs, but ordinary people dont make such fine distinctions. Itsmon to refer to domesticated pigs and feral boars as Razorbacks.
Take a helicopter ride and hunt the pigs threatening American food security!
Last year, crop losses due to pigs amounted to a staggering 1.5 billion dors! Other losses were immeasurable!
Pigs, pigs, pigs! These filthy and greedy swarms of pigs are everywhere! If we dont kill two million of them each year, their numbers will keep growing! Before they be uncontroble, we must engage in an all-out war against wild pigs!
With government subsidies, now you can be a patriot at a low cost! For just $800 an hour, you can enjoy the thrill of hunting, contribute to the safety of themunity, and protect food security! ording to regtions, you can even get a hunting permit on the spot for a mere $60!
Bonus! Catch a monstrous T-hog and be the hero who receives rewards from the federal Environmental Protection Agency and state governments! 50 cents per pound, and if its a rare beast my goodness, you can receive a staggering $3 per pound!
Our Pioneer Hunters team, a legal civilian militia with extensive experience in high-threat hunting, will ensure your safety with skilled TAU runners and provide video records of the entire hunting process. Well also help you with the rare animal certification process, so dont hesitate to contact us.
Patriotic hunters are waiting for your call.
Some unfamiliar terms were mixed in, but it wasnt difficult to understand the context. Rare beasts were referred to as awakened wild animals, and high-threat hunting meant chasing after these awakened creatures.
I looked up at Kyung-tae.
Why did you bring this?
The reason is that it might turn into something different from whats written there. The general meaning is undeniably the citys reconnaissance, observing the Code of strong pigs, and perhaps a change in your mood.
The reasons he listed, one by one, were reasonable.
From what I saw, there are some good courses avable. You can book a two-hour course and have a good chat. You could quickly tour the Por Forest around the central area. And if you pay extra, you can visit the hot springs in the south after the tour.
Hot springs?
Yes. After facing the cold winds during the hunt, imagine soaking your body in a warm outdoor bath. Wouldnt that be the perfect way to end it? Haha!
Not bad. I nodded and Kyung-tae asked,
Should I book an early flight tomorrow?
It can be booked?
Seems doable. Supply looks greater than demand.
Give it a try then.
Yup.
I had nned to also go by snowmobile, but aerial reconnaissance with my own eyes before that would let me identify any potential risks, if they existed, more safely. Ground approach and observation coulde after. If aerial observation alone sufficed, it could even be omitted altogether.
I looked again at the wall smashed by the pig.
1.5 billion dors
Last year was an era without variables like awakened feral creatures. Yet even then, the damage amounted to 18 trillion won. This years losses were unlikely to be less than double that amount. Simple calction meant preventing that much damage warranted pouring in funds. A prudent official would know allocating even more to nip the disasters roots would be ideal. Securing the budget would be a separate political task though.
Anyway, in this field it was inevitable private awakeners rather than public authority would stand out. The so-called high-risk hunting would emerge as a promising livelihood for awakeners. Korea, where our organization was based, would be no exception. When bounties were offered for nutrias.
I had envisioned fear of cancer would dampen awakeners activities. But that was in hindsight an incorrect assessment dramatically underestimating the masses foolishness.
The coronavirus answered this in the first half of the year.
Even during the pneumonia epidemic outbreak from China, morons who were reluctant to wear masks, held collective worship services, and frequented nightclubs rubbing against each other existed. That sort would just as nonchntly ignore warnings their likelihood of cancer as awakeners skyrocketed if they abused their abilities. Saying those who would get it would get it, and those who wouldnt wouldnt.
Grasping danger as danger ultimately still relied on intelligence backing it. By my measure, humanitys average intellectual faculties appeared not to reach that level. Countries like America with devastated public education even more so. Perils not felt sank into the realm of indifference and oblivion.
While advantageous for me as it multiplied covers.
The next morning Kyung-tae secured an early flight as promised. At 10 AM the hunter helicopter fleet would take off from the parking lot in front of the county office.
I spoke with a somewhat absurd feeling.
Nice foresight for this time.
The current time was 7:30 AM. The guy who had stepped out saying hed go buy breakfast had booked an appointment with the hunters. Bewildering, as the contact hours listed on the pamphlet started from 9 AM. Kyung-tae unpacked the food-packed hands of himself and a subordinate in order and beamed brightly.
Those folks need breakfast too right? I happened across guys in winter camo with weapons gathered in front of a breakfast cafe so I thought, this is it! They clearly werent the National Guard. When I struck up a conversation they were like sure, okay. I exined my heartfelt desire to help you, hyungnim, and it seems the universe took notice and stepped in to assist.
Right, well done.
Haha!
Heughed even brighter at the light praise. His manner made it seem he had intended this from the start.
The meal was a typical American breakfast. Inheriting the British breakfast in a more harmful fashion. In my paper box were four strips of bacon, four sausages, three eggs, hash browns dressed with gravy, and biscuits. Besides that, pancakes and French toast piled high with honey and cream, potato fries, and ribeye steakvished with cheese crowded the table.
This ce is considered one of the citysndmarks, right? Folks like Kurt Russell, Stephen King, and Robert Wagner have dropped by. Oh yeah. I asked why the steak price was oddly expensive for America, and they said beef prices have been consistently rising
I listened with one ear and let the other pass as I steadily took in calories. Whether a hunter or hunted, a hearty meal was the first step in preparation.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 68: The Hunters (3)
Chapter 68: The Hunters (3)
After finishing our meal, we took a short break and headed out a little early. If takeoff was at 10 oclock, we needed to get ready starting at 9 for it to be ideal.
Richfield was a city with two agricultural waterways flowing north and south, and the county office that provided part of itsrge publd as a helipad was located on the outer edge of the southern canal that corresponded to the city limit.
No unauthorized camping allowed
The county authorities take no responsibility for any idents or thefts urring on publd and event sites, and all risks are to be assumed by the individuals using the site.
On the other side of the fence-like sliding door with these warning signs, a noisy group of protesters were vigorously wavingrge gs.
Animal lives are precious! Hunters must stop ughtering wild boars!
Stop it! Stop it!
Animals have spirituality too! Humans and animals are equal lives! The government must abolish policies that encourage ughter and guarantee animals right to survival!
Guarantee it! Guarantee it!
When I heard that self-proimed fairies were appearing in this city, I expected they would probably be here too. The inseparablepanion of the Earth Liberation Front and a notorious arsonist group with a reputation on par with them, an illegal militia established under the banner of protecting animal rights, the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). Seeing them pick up and chant about spirituality and what not, it seemed like these humans were also going through a period of storm and fury like their friends.
I wonder if their belief in vegetarianism has changed.
If the fanatical vegetarians who set fire to meat processing nts while iming that eating meat was evil were now facing a dilemma due to the existence of the Trembling Giant, it would have been quite an amusing farce. Considering humans tendency to believe only what they want to believe, there was also a possibility they were not pondering such dilemmas at all.
Right next to the front gate were police officers leaning against patrol cars with bored expressions on their faces. Over the waist-high fence, armed militia and hunters could be seen conversing. They would asionally nce at the protesters and smirk at them condescendingly.
It wasnt difficult to find the militia Pioneer Hunters team that Kyung-tae had made an appointment with.
Look over there, you can see their g and banner.
The location where the hunting brigades g was nted was a snowfield with a crude fence of wood and wire separating it from the parking lot and road. The snowfield, originally someones private pasturnd, was now like the publd, amodatingnded helicopters. Judging by the fence posts broken or knocked over here and there, it seems T-hogs had also rampaged through this area. The hunters were taking advantage of the breached fences as entrances and exits for the makeshift helipad.
One of the hunters belonging to the brigade saw Kyung-tae and waved at him cheerfully.
Oh, Mr. Kim! Youre early!
He exchanged greetings with me, Suyeon, and one subordinate from the security department. The reason my party numbered only four was so as not to attract too much attention with arge group. We didnt even carry any weapons.
Kyung-tae exaggeratedly admired the militias helicopter.
Wow, the equipment is really excellent as I heard, Jack. Is that equipped with a supercharger?
Haha! You recognized it, thats some keen insight youve got there.
Jack, the militia member, nodded proudly.
Thats right. Being in this region, the basic elevation is high, you know. With mountainous areas exceeding 10,000 feet scattered around near the Forest of Giants, its practically impossible to properly fly around without a pretty powerful engine. So engine tuning is a given.
The supercharger was a type of turbocharger that forces air into the engine, allocating a portion of the engines power to the intake to enhance maximum output. Although fuel efficiency decreases in proportion to the increasing output, as exined by the civilian hunters, it was an inevitable modification to operate an ordinary civilian helicopter at an altitude of 10,000 feet.
Kyung-tae continued with his expert admiration.
Youre using some high-end thermal imaging gear too. Looks like the basic model has a wide-angle lens andser rangefinder included, no? Thats gotta be like $6,500 or so?
Hahaha! To provide the best experience for the hunters joining us, this much investment is necessary.
This is an M210 V2 drone set! Man, this is killer, just killer. Isnt this the top-of-the-line item in this field aside from military gear? You guys are really determined to wipe out those pigs, huh.
Hahahahaha!
Oh, is that rifle a SIG MCX? Of course the ammos .300 ckout, right?
Hahahahahaha! Naturally! Putting 5.56 mm on something like an MCX is something only gays would do! How great the ckout is for exotic game hunting, with this thing it just goes right through a human body but for bears, boars, and the like.
Right, right! The projectiles gotta be over 100 grains just to get a bit of pration-
As Jacksughter grew longer and louder, interestedrades gathered around,ughing and chattering as they pped loudly,bining into a single mass. Kyung-taes friendliness was truly outstanding as always.
Theres a reason expensive stuff is expensive and cheap stuff is cheap, right? When I first heard it was $800 an hour even with 50% government subsidies I had some doubts, buting here and seeing it in person, my conclusion is that Pioneer Hunters team deserves this rate.
With these words wrapping up the praise from Kyung-tae, Jack squeezed his lips shut with an almost moved expression, nodding his head. Another member beside him answered.
Our brigade always aims for the best. Were very happy to have a client who understands that as the person in charge.
The person in charge, you say? Your name is?
Im the brigademander of this team, Ryan Christopher Neilson. Please call me Neilson.
Neilson shook hands with each of us in turn. If the medal on his chest was real and not fake, he must have been quite an active soldier in the past. And he was currently a fairly capable awakener with his natural circuits opened in good form.
At that time, the edges of the temporary helipad became noisy. What showed up with the slight disorder was three pickup trucks with 4-wheel drive entering bumper to bumper. Each truck had a Walmart logo on the side. A man who got out of the lead vehicle shouted into a mic connected to a speaker.
Weapon and ammo delivery here! People who ordered pleasee get your stuff!
It seemed some here had ced orders too, as Neilson directed members to go receive the goods. The ammo crates they brought also had Walmart logos. I grabbed an advertising flyer blowing around in the wind.
The best hunting gear delivery service for the best hunters! Walmarts Lastmile for Hunters! Well directly deliver all the supplies a hunter needs, including firearms and ammunition, right to your hunting ground of choice! Sign up for our monthly membership and you can order the ammunition types listed below at 5% off standard pricing, with purchase limits per ammo type depending on your membership tier-
.
Well. No need for a separate ck market, I see.
I returned the flyer to the wind and quietly observed as Kyung-tae and Neilson worked out the route details. Soon reaching a final agreement, Kyung-tae paid a total of $5,336, covering the two-hour flight fee for four people, temporary licensing issuance fee, additional fees for the hot spring trip and barbecue of prey, the militias included firearms rental and unlimited ammo use, and finally a 15 percent tip that the militia side didnt even request.
Neilson epted it dly and issued a receipt.
I promise an experience you absolutely wont regret.
After that, Kyung-tae continued to chat with various members in a friendly manner. From those conversations, I gathered that many of the members, before awakening their primitive magic, had been household heads who lost their jobs due to the economic depression. Hearing of the dire circumstances these members faced, Neilson had suggested transitioning the militia into a profit-seeking corporation and hunting highly dangerous game, and some dedicated executives had secured operating funds by liquidating assets andbining them with special government loans on the federal and state levels to establish the business foundation.
Kyung-tae, skilled in acting, listened to such stories and pretended to be moved to the point of tearing up.
In the midst of this, a young militia member brought over a tray with three steaming paper cups on it and approached where I was.
Everyone, have some hot cocoa.
He spoke to me but his wandering eyes were aimed at Suyeon by my side. Despite wearing a face mask covering his nose to nape as cold weather gear, for some Suyeons exposed eyes alone were sufficiently charming.
In any case, I epted the cup and sipped the sweet hot liquid. Steam fogged up my dark sunsses. Suyeon quietly refused with a wave of his hand, disappointing the young militia member, andstly the security department subordinate briefly thanked him before tasting his share of the cocoa.
I spoke to the dejected militia member.
I heard the gist already, but still, having the financial resources to purchase three helicopters is surprising. Unless my memory is mistaken, even buying used ones should be a minimum of $1 million each, no?
Ah, yes.
The young militia member shrugged.
We invested to get two. So the one we actually paid money to purchase is just that small guy parked over there. But we still have to pay $8,000 a month for 10 years to cover the bnce.
Invested, you say? In helicopters?
Yes. The big one the leader used was originally going to be demilitarized for civilian use by the military, but the government lent it to us for the high-risk hunt support project. And the other one was provided by a local tycoon named Thomas Piner on the condition we split profits. We were really lucky.
Certainly seems so. Having three crafts lets you form a perimeter.
Huh?
The militia member was taken aback.
Youre saying the exact same thing as our captain?
Its obvious if you think about it a little.
Is that so?
Two points could only make a line, but three points allowed the creation of a ne in the form of a triangle, the minimum requirement. The difference between two and three was tremendously huge when trying to enclose or surround something. Especially when each of those points was a highly mobile helicopter.
In short, it meant the Pioneer Hunters team could efficiently conduct drove hunts on their own without cooperating with other hunter groups.
Light helicopter models will make good investmentmodities too.
This was a prediction of increasing demand in the legal, not ck market. The problems caused by awakened wildlife have only just begun. So there woulde a day in the future when cing orders with helicopter manufacturers resulted in insufficient production volume to fulfill delivery.
Therefore, by splitting ownership and cing orders for around 100 units with multiplepanies, thenter when demand for light helicopters exploded in earnest, tacking on a premium when selling off the orders themselves should allow the realization of considerable returns within 1-2 years. It would also be wise to take as many demilitarized government assets as possible.
There were many such money-making avenues, but much consideration was required regarding which investment would be the most prudent.
The militia member looked in another direction and spoke.
The other guests are arriving.
With three helicopters and one militia member assigned per passenger, the total number of seats avable to guests was six. Though the member had referred to therge craft the leader used as the gship with more seats, Neilson had loaded that space up with extra supplies and emergency gear to prepare for unexpected trouble. Quite admirable prudence.
Therefore, excluding the four seats we were upying, two seats remained.
Those who joined 20 minutes before takeoff were a pair of one man and a woman wearing sunsses. Jack and Neilsons manner toward them was noticeably cooler than when dealing with us.
Its a secret, but
Before returning to his spot, the young militia member whispered by my ear.
The chopper those folks are riding is assigned the most boring herding role. Though it normally rotates between the crafts, those cheapskates were super annoying. Not considering the equipment differences at all, just stubbornly demanding it be cheaper than the others You wouldnt believe the headache dealing with them.
Why not just tell them to go somewhere else if its cheaper?
Of course we did.
So?
They made a fuss, saying is this how an organization receiving government support should act, threatening to fileints and make sure we face penalties Ugh. I almost shot them in the heat of the moment. Since we just started the business, I didnt want to jinx it even a tiny bit, so we had no choice but to ept.
Gutsy folks. To kick up that much fuss in front of armed militia members.
On further reflection, the ability to recognize danger as danger was a brain activity proportional to intelligence.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 69: The Hunters (4)
Chapter 69: The Hunters (4)
Unlike me, who could conceal my presence as a mage almost perfectly, my subordinates had clear limitations in spreading and gathering their auras. Meaning they could reduce their presence, but had no way to hide the fact itself that they were awakeners.
So Kyung-tae was pestered with recruitment offers until right before takeoff. When Kyung-tae finally declined, Jack, the member who had been most enthusiastic about the offer, drooped like a retriever puppy deprived of a snack. My most loyal hound seemed to have made quite the impression.
Takeoff willmence shortly. All passengers please verify your safety harnesses are secured.
The pilots voice came through the internalms headset. The snow piled under the elerating rotors scattered like fog, and the frozen weeds shed their withered leaves under the winter sunlight. As the fluttering of those leaves passed a threshold, a gap began to form between the helicopter and its shadow. The widening gap was the increasing altitude. Outside below my feet, the ground and people sink at a rapid pace. The craft rising 8 meters per second soon traced out a semicircle as if gliding along the canal, turning its nose eastward.
In the midst of this, I discovered a nun gazing up at the sky on the outskirts of the city.
!
Despite the blinding sunlight making her shade her eyes with a hand, her facial features were the spitting image of Grace from my masters memories. And an unnatural sense of discrepancy. The plummeting heart and surging pulse set my blood vessels aze. If my vision wasnt capable of piercing through obstacles, I would have leaned out the door to chase her receding back.
Whats the matter?
Noticing my abnormal behavior, Kyung-tae asked worriedly.
Its nothing. I just thought I saw someone I know.
A deliberately calm response, conscious of my surroundings. But my gaze remained fixed rearward. Kyung-tae murmurs, Someone hyungnim knows? In the meantime, the silhouette of the woman in a habit shrunk into a small, distant point. Even when her form grew indistinguishable, my quickened pulse showed no sign of easily settling down.
I wasnt ready to meet her yet.
The odds were slim that it was someone else who just resembled her face. A ck and white habit was clothing the witch truly enjoyed wearing, to mock the white mens god. It was rare attire in Utah whereter-generation Protestant churches held dominant sway.
While pondering her garb, it was only after my head had cooled some that I realized the source of the unnatural feeling I sensed at first nce.
Opacity.
Preupied with only her face, I waste to notice that the headscarf and habit fluttering in the wind were nearly opaque even to the Eye of the Golden Age. This meant those clothes were at minimum artefacts of quality magical tools.
With conviction attained, Iposed myself with slow deep breaths.
She cant recognize me anyway.
The face of the woman gazing skyward held no particr emotion. It was simply the expression of someone distractedly ncing back after hearing a loud noise.
I could recognize her, but she could not recognize me. So long as I was equipped with the ability to conceal myself and identify enemies first, there was no reason for me as the hunter to overreact. Even less reason to flee recklessly at this very moment. I was merely startled by an unexpected encounter. There should be a limit even to chance meetings.
The town visible to the left is Glenwood, and the peak to the right is Bull im Hill. The herders spotted a group of boars. Two helicopters will drive the boars down the valley. Passengers, please ready yourselves to fire at any time.
Hearing the pilots voice over the line, I contemted why the witch might havee here.
Firstly, the Trembling Giant itself.
She had already dispatched her cult to turn the Por Woods into a man-eatingbyrinth. Like a criminal returning to the scene, or a schemer assessing and scheming their next strategy, she had abundant motive to scout the woods and surroundings.
And as a mage outside the Round Table like me, Grace too might have sought magical wisdom from the Trembling Giant. Although shecked eyes like mine, once one became a mage on the level of the Round Tables masters, even indirect observation alone could produce some results. The oue would differ greatly depending on the time and effort invested, though.
Perhaps proselytization was her aim. This region was teeming with humans tinged with vague mysteriousness. They were ideal human resources for Grace to bring into her flock. In extension, infiltrating existing groups here with her existing worshipers would also be a valid strategy.
Lastly, another imaginable reason was human hunting. Imperialistpdogs were sure to be around here. Catching and killing them would be a tremendously rewarding leisure activity for a witch. The list of potential prey she was after likely included the name of my ursed dead master, Crowhurst.
Alright, passengers. The boars will emerge straight ahead shortly. Straight ahead from your perspective, so dont get confused.
Giving this alert, the pilot lowered the crafts altitude. It was flight keeping the ridgeline close to minimize noise propagation. The watershed approached like some sort of boundary. The moment we crossed that boundary, therge hybrid boars abruptly changed direction upon sighting the new helicopter, milling about in disarray.
Now!
The muzzle shes light up in session. Red blood sprayed over the snow-white mountains. Dead boars and startled boars roll down the slopes. But since that was the direction of pursuit, boars that tumbled down before they could get back up turned into corpses. Those shot in the belly bled more copiously than previously seen.
Excellent!
The militia member assigned to me brightened up. How fast and urately the shooter shot them down was a factor directly tied to the speed of the hunting drive.
In any case, I calmly gunned down the boars. There were no specimens of particr note. They were just animals. Though some with opened circuits were mixed in proportion to their numbers, none had codes of quality worth collecting.
Dont see any special ones in there, right?
Yeah.
Kyung-tae, confirming with me, continues his precise shooting. The group of some 20 boars rapidly dwindled. For a four-legged animal, running down a slope nketed in snow made maintaining fore and aft bnce tricky. The boars demonstrated desperate pstick, stumbling and rolling repeatedly.
I revised my evaluation of this militia upward.
Their skill at herding prey is considerable
The three helicopters nimbly adjusted speed and position ording to the movements of the target group. What was impressive was those tactical maneuvers were made without any instruction from Brigade Commander Neilson each time. Their tactical movements seemed to hold many aspects I and my kids could learn from. Of course, hunting people and hunting beasts cannot be technically identical. It was an unexpected benefit.
Seeming to share the thought, Kyung-tae fired questions over the internal line whenever there was a lull in shooting.
You dont recover the dead boars?
The replyes from Neilson in the co-pilots seat.
No. We transmit the coordinates to a ground ops team nearby, so theyll take care of retrieval instead.
Wow! You have a separate team working the ground too?
Yes. Its one differentiating element from otherpanies, and also one reason we price higher than others. If we had tond and string up corpses every time we bagged a group, can you imagine the waste of time? And how the movement of the helicopters would slow?
I see.
Mr. Kim paid so agreeably I didnt need to exin such details. Long term, we want to attempt true joint hunting operations across very broad areas.
Kyung-tae asked a new question.
Is the brigade in your teams name because the scale is sorge?
A brigade as a military formation was the minimum unit capable of independent operations, though it varied by country, at a minimum including over 1,000bat personnel. Asked again, Neilson snorted withughter.
Of course not! The core tau-runners (awakeners) active number is just over thirty, and evenbined with the other armed members its not yet 100. Its called a brigade only counting local residents who join as general members as one family, so to speak.
Whats the difference between that and general members?
The members are actually more like customers. Theyre the ones who contribute a few dors monthly to help withmunity safety. We provide enhanced patrol service for the residences of such members. Also, send helicopters for emergencies at night. Of course, additional fees for maintenance and fuel apply for chopper dispatch.
So to speak its another business item, then?
I guess so. The systems notpletely established yet, though.
In the future you might be a division or corps.
Hahaha! Wouldnt that be grand! But even if everyone in this area joined, it wouldnt be enough to form a corps. The poption density is too low around here.
In part, it meant they also served as a private securitypany. Demand was probably decently high in remote areas where it took police a minimum of an hour to arrive. An excellent case study of awakenersmercially leveraging their abilities.
Dammit. I made an effort to shake off the returning worry, and anxiety about Grace, that arose unprompted.
Good thing we booked the hot springs in advance.
The hot springs we nned to visit after the hunt were located about 10 miles (16.1 kilometers) south of Richfield, where we had a safehouse. Itd be best to contact the ones left in the safehouse there and check the surroundings.
Right now I had no way to get in touch, being out ofms range. Satellite phones also couldnt be used while traveling by helicopter.
The pilots voice flowed from the headset.
Alright, next prey ising up soon. Im told some suspicious ones are mixed in, so both of you get ready.
Two agile helicopters herded a new group of boars from afar. Groups that were originally separate amalgamated into a single mass, forcibly grouped together. The hybrids of domestic and wild boars boasted abnormallyrge physiques.
Among them, the male at the lead was even bigger than the rest. Just from the looks of it, its weight exceeded probably around 1,000 pounds (around 454 kg). Its power and speed matched its size, making its sprint across the snowfield look like a high-speed snow plow. With the violently swirling snow, even discerning the boar beyond it with normal vision would be difficult.
Whoa, that guys gotta be T-hog level, right?
At Kyung-taes words, Jack riding along chimed in agreement.
Were really lucky! That much power will for sure get an exotic game rating! The bounty starts at $3,000 so weve definitely got to bag it! ONeil! It is recording properly, right?!
Of course!
As the militia members get fired up, I closely observed the boars galloping which brought to mind a tank. Its code undting through the bristled hair on its back was, as expected, focused on the most basic physical enhancement. Nopletely new or outstanding parts, but inspired enough mana maniption to be worth tucking away in my mind. Mighte in handy someday.
Huh?
The pilot made a surprised sound. A new helicopter flying in at max speed cut in recklessly. We had no choice but to give way to avoid collision.
The hijacking crafts upants immediately opened fire on the lead boar. They were trying to poach the prey we had cornered.
Neilson erupted in anger.
Damn those utterly shameless bastards!Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 70: The Hunters (5)
Chapter 70: The Hunters (5)
Dutton Volunteer Light Cavalry. The name of the uninvited guests on the tail boom of the cutting-in aircraft. The registration number N177CP was stamped on the engine sides. Neilson, who changed the radio channel to public use, protested fiercely.
What are you guys trying to do! Get lost, now!
Then a man wearing goggles peered this way from the distant helicopter. Taking off just one side of my headset, I used a body enhancement technique to control my hearing. By modting the audible range, an applied skill of suppressing certain frequency bands of background noise while focusing on other audio ranges. So although the sounds I heard were strangely distorted, Neilsons headset was plenty for me to hear the response from the other side.
Whoa- Calm down, buddy. We just need to catch the biggest guy in front, thats all. Weve been chasing him sincest night so its definitely our turn based on order. No mistake looking at his appearance and scars.
Cut the bullshit! You think we dont have navigational radar here? You were 3 miles away just minutes ago, what? Tracked him all night? Say something that makes sense, you bastard!
Its true! We lost him briefly when a small avnche happened during the chase. Couldnt be helped without lights and barely any fuel left. We dont even have decent thermal imaging.
Even while arguing, they continued raining gunfire into the center of the violently swirling snow. Neilsons face turned crimson with the nonsensical exnation.
Not having enough equipment is your responsibility! When you lose it, thats the end!
It was logical. But the other side kept spouting sophistry.
The end? Why? The shots we firedst night will be embedded in him. And if we hadnt herded him first, would you have encountered this guy here? Consider the equity, the equity in this situation.
Equity? Equity, you say?!
Yes. You could say contribution, to this situation.
What contribution is there to discuss in hunting?!
I dont know! Friends who can operate three choppers should also consider the plight of poor neighbors! Well die before we let this one go, so either take the bullets yourself or scram if youck the guts! The audacity of those with more always growing!
Hey!
Neilson shouted. But no more answers came from the other side. Whenever we tried to take a position ideal for shooting, they repeatedly obstructed us with threatening flight. This resulted in neither side being able to properly hunt. The hijackers had to contain three crafts with one, while formation herding lost meaning on our end.
In the end, the four helicopters chased after just one awakened super-heavy boar, the group of pigs scattering.
Neilson spat harsh curses into the shared radio channel while punching the door. I restored my hearing to normal and fixed my headset properly.
Shortly after, Neilson who instructed each craft to cease the dangerous skirmishing, massaged his nape with an expression full of irritation and fatigue as he apologized to me and Kyung-tae.
Im very sorry. Rude fools unaware of basic hunting etiquette are ruining your valuable experience.
Youve no need to feel sorry. This is not your fault.
I asked him,
Still, I am curious. Do they have some reason to be so obsessed with the T-hog?
It didnt make sense just for the bounty. Unlike us who brought paying customers, it seemed they hadnt based on their actions. And if their im of continuous tracking sincest night was true, just the fuel consumption would be considerable. We were in high-elevation areas where it easily exceeded $600 an hour.
While it may be a simpleck of intellect leading to ignoring cost-benefit analysis, it was more reasonable to assume another motive existed.
Yes, well
Neilson heaved a long sigh, answering in a deted tone.
Those idiots also started businesses with government backing Supported groups have to submit activity records each quarter for evaluation Higher scores mean reduced equipment rental fees, lower scores mean the equipment itself could be confiscated. Thats how it is.
I see.
So theres this thing called fame and brand value, you know. Bagging big guys like that builds up basic pedigree, and also bes advantageous for attracting additional investments.
I understood. Part of why this Pioneer Hunters team couldmence business with equipment superior to average was thanks to the regional reputation of the ex-military man with distinguished service medals. Jealouspetitors were apt to feel deprived in rtive terms.
Jack growled lowly.
Shouldve just hosed them down with a magazine
Judging by his twitchy trigger finger, it seemed he would have pulled it without hesitation if not for the consequences. Kyung-tae shrugged and shed an obvious look.
The world spins in such obvious ways, hyungnim.
When killing the devil worshipers in the Forest of Giants, we also had partially ovepping conversations. Talk of environments allowing murder without concern for forensics.
Brings back old memories.
In the past when I and my organization were inferior to now in all regards, I had wandered the mountainous wilderness of North America, not Korea, in search of aged wild ginseng to use as bribes for climbing the ranks of high Chinese society. I sought rare treasures unobtainable even with money. It was never easy even with eyes beyond the norm.
In the process, I shed guns several times with heavily armed herb gatherers. Herb gatherers of the backcountry where government authority didnt reach had no qualms about killing anyone they saw. Though North America had a reputation for ginseng beingmonpared to Asia, that was only rtive. With precious roots ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of dors per pound, what were human lives worth?
At the time, I took paths avoidingpetitors where possible but killed and buried any who doggedly tailed me, erasing their existence. Makes no sense that I would see blood with so many obstacles in the dense forests with my extraordinary eyesight.
The 1.4 pounds of thousand-year ginseng I found that way allowed me to gain high-quality rtions and casino operation rights in Macau, so the hardship was worthwhile.
The Dutton Volunteer Light Cavalry were ultimately the same breed as the herb gatherers who tracked me through the mountains. The militia member Jack was still growling away. It was an entirely prophetic anger. As such experiences piled up more and more, even those without greed would gradually lose restraint.
Brigade Commander Neilson cautiously sounded out my intentions.
Mr. Kim. And that fellow. Well leave this area to those thieves and try herding a new game if you dont object?
No.
I immediately replied.
If possible Id like to watch for a bit. Its quite the spectacle in its own way.
Hunting was only a sideshow. The important matters were observing codes and surveying the vicinity. The boar was straining its circuits to their limit in desperation to escape the hunters. It likely wouldnt survive long like this even if it did shake off pursuit.
Etching the rough flow of magical power flickering beneath the fur into memory, I recalled the Knight Commander I killed in the Puerto Varta cathedral. As the head of those fake knights did, perhaps this oversized omnivore would also demonstrate the use of magical power surpassing limits in its final moments.
I see
Neilson made a troubled expression. Suyeon in another craft and my security department subordinate had naturally deferred the decision to me, so by majority rule, it had to align with my will. The pair of cheapskates in the third chopper were likely throwing fits.
The militia member assigned to me derided scornfully.
Those freaking morons cant shoot for crap. They wouldnt bag it even chasing all night.
As the militia member said, the so-called cavalrys marksmanship was pathetic. On top of that, their helicopter positioning was subpar, and the pilot failed to properly consider the seniors firing angle, so sess was impossible in a short time.
Those who gain fame yet cant maintain it.
Anyway, longer spectating time worked in my favor. Only the greater distance from the super heavy boar now required more focus.
But
The direction they were herding the boar was strange.
Huh?
A gasp from the co-pilots seat.
Shouldnt they prioritize blocking the path into the woods first!? Those idiots!
Whether fixated on the boars rear or minds clouded from obstructing us, the herder-less fools were leaving the way into the lush forest open for the prey. Even I frowned at this. With the distance closer than before, Neilson, more livid than earlier, spewed urgent profanity into the public channel.
Hey! You shits with dicks for brains! elerate! Cut them off in front! Cant you hear me?!
But no reply came. Neilson, groaning, directed one of our light choppers to block instead. It was the very helicopter with the cheapskate couple aboard.
The militia member riding along protested first.
Why are we helping those punks?
Neilson answered with a twisted expression.
You think I want to help them? Weve got to because who knows who else will get hurt if we lose it! Think of our members who trust us, the members!
Oh Reaching that extent of consideration even in this situation. A human of remarkably high quality.
Yet the morons on the other end failed to properly ept even this thoughtfulness. Whether they finally grasped the situation or determined this was a chance to cut in, the Dutton side abruptly elerated to enter a collision course with our herder craft.
Evade! Evade!
The two helicopters charging intersecting courses at simr altitudes barely slipped past each other by a hairs breadth. Avoiding by ascending and descending differently to maintain a 3-meter separation.
Looked to me more luck than skill. If both had ascended or descended, quite the spectacle of an ident would have ensued. The two crafts buffeted by each others turbulence barely managed to recover bnce after seeming they might crash any second.
Phew
Kyung-taes hands opening and closing had slight sweat. Well, the thrill was rather abrupt. If the Dutton Volunteer Light Cavalry pilots skill had been just a bit better, a crisis that never should have happened would have urred. Our herder pilot couldnt have imagined they would charge like that.
Chopper 3, you good?
Neilson, half stunned, sent a radio call and then soon rxed, nodding.
Yeah, yeah. Thank god.
But thatsted only a moment. Neilsons face distorted dreadfully again.
What now? Who let the prey getaway? Screw you, you bastard child!
Seemed the me was flying over the public channel. Rather than tune my hearing and listen to that shame, I gazed at the bizarrely liberated observation target. I expected it would flee as is, but
Whats it doing?
Therge hybrid boar dripping blood from various spots on its body was lowering its stance under the shade of trees, staring in this direction C precisely where the cavalry helicopter was.
They said normal pigs were animals unable to look at the sky. Structurally incapable of raising their heads past a certain angle, vision too poor to perceive distant objects.
But that didnt mean they absolutely couldnt see the sky. The sky wasnt only directly overhead. For an individual whose soul circuit was opened, the odds of unimpaired vision were high.
Therefore I was convinced of my sense.
The dark pig was ring at the hunters that had been pursuing it just before.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 71: The Hunters (6)
Chapter 71: The Hunters (6)
The Dutton helicopter that avoided the collision by descending was hovering at about 20 meters. While the pilot wiped cold sweat off his chest, the so-called captain was wasting time and fuel with ignorant me games. In times like this, not engaging at all would be the wisest course. However, having nearly lost the helicopter,rades, and two customers he had a duty to protect even if unsatisfactory all at once, Neilson had finally snapped this time.
While both groups of hunters were passing the time like this, the beast turned its body and moved further into the forest, taking about a hundred steps. At that point, the pig turned its body again and began to draw magical power. Its soul began to glow brighter and brighter with each passing moment. This was a sign of the power it was umting and condensing, with the intent to unleash it in a single explosive moment. It was a different use of magical power than what was needed during constant evasion. I watched with great interest as the beast prepared for its challenge.
A warning?
Why should I show such kindness?
Luckily, the forest in front of me was not like the Trembling Giant or a park with the President. The circuit-pierced trees were distributed quite well, and the line of sight was not greatly reduced. Within the anticipation given to me like a gift, I unconsciously anticipated the uing leap.
Vertical field of view roughly 65 degrees?
One degree is about 17.78 mils. The Dutton side helicopter was flying at an altitude of about 20 meters, so the minimum distance at which the pig could visually track its target was 23 meters. At least that much distance had to be maintained before the leap.
A momentter, the long-awaited sprint began.
The eleration of the massive body immediately resulted in visible vibrations. With a mass exceeding a thousand pounds striking the ground with destructive force, all the branches piled with snow in the surroundings trembled and released the snow. This was a phenomenon that could be observed with the naked eye from the outside of the forest. The white-frosted spruce trees drew straight lines as they sought their original color, and it was only natural that they would catch ones eye. While avoiding obstacles, the pig maintained the straightest trajectory possible and elerated its speed.
What is that?
The startled voice of the pilot. Neilson, who had been involved in a heated argument, turned his head. At that moment, a 3-meter beast leaped like a projectile, using a steep rock as a foothold. I involuntarily leaned forward. Would it seed or fail? A reflexive turn and ascent on the Dutton side, decreasing distance, and shes of gunfire. Three bullets failed to pierce the pigs reinforced skull.
A curse was uttered by the pilot on this side, who had been watching.Oh, shit! (+)[1]TLN: In English.
The deafening noise of shattering ss and crumpling metal pierced through the headset. Now, I could see the pig beginning to fall in an arc, and the helicopter spinning like a top, throwing the passengers out. Three hunters were thrown by the centrifugal force, with two of them avoiding an immediate fall thanks to their safety harnesses. The remaining one was not so lucky. Captivated by gravity, he collided with the steep terrain, bouncing off it several times, much like a water vole sshing blood with each bounce. The blood sprayed on the white snow was a vivid shade of red.
But he wasnt particrly unlucky.
Wow, damn it, were crashing!
Jacks cry, as if overwhelmed by the sight. The Dutton Light Cavalrys helicopter had already lost its piloting capability. The pilot was killed instantly, and the helicopter, with its control shaft fixed in ce, was descending. The two secured by safety harnesses were flying along the rotating helicopter body like a regr amusement park swing. At one point, one barely clung to thending skid, while the other was roughly torn apart as if peeled by a spruce tree.
And once again, the sounds of crushing and breaking metal reverberated with force. Startled birds flew noisily from mountains and forests. The damaged engine emitted white smoke as it rose into the air, while aviation fuel spilled from the shattered hull, drenching the snow and ground. The fuel had not yet ignited, providing quite a spectacle.
Ah, it was indeed a fantastic sight.
But wheres the pig?!
Neilson, the brigademander, was distracted by the crash but noticed the footprints left by the creature a moment toote. The prints with four wide hooves indicated that the furious beast had entered the forest once more.
Number 2 and Number 3 helicopters, do you see anything? The pigs location or the situation at the crash site, anything will do!
Helicopters 2 and 3 had raised their altitude to observe the crash site. Now, I adjusted my audio again and eavesdropped on the response to Neilson.
This is Chopper 2! We havent found the pig yet, and there are signs of survivors at the crash site. We estimate two individuals, both appear to be injured from this distance. One can be seen near the co-pilot seat, but its unclear if theyre alive. We cant verify inside the cabin. Over!
This is Chopper 3. Same information here! Over!
Of course, to me, the pigs movements were vividly clear. It was narrowing the distance around the crash site, moving like a predator seeking an opportunity. Its breath was the spreading hue of hot air. To anyone watching, it was the movement of a beast driven by hatred.
Now that I think about it, among the pigs I killed earlier, there were children and females mixed in
Fascinating. Truly fascinating.
To me, who had been troubled by the encounter with Grace earlier, this newfound enjoyment was quite extraordinary.
Chopper 2, can you prepare to lower rescue ropes? We can at least pull up the two non-critical if given lines.
While lightweight helicopter output wasnt great, it still had the capacity to lift a few dead boars in addition to a full passenger load. This meant pulling up two people wouldnt be an issue. But the real problemy elsewhere, as Neilson pointed out.
No, too dangerous! Consider the ropes length!
Oh, right.
Even just getting attacked while dangling could cause an ident!
A valid judgment. As they hesitated, the boar wary of the two hovering helicopters finallymenced a follow-up attack. It elerated, changing direction to evade obstacles.
Boar spotted!
Ate warning from Chopper 2. As the two herder pilots reacted by gaining altitude, the fiercely charging hybrid boar viciously rammed one of the Dutton survivors. The survivors waist snapped as new blood sprayed out in all directions. The breeding hybrid had tusks resembling a wild boars. Running with the person speared on its tusk when the boar lowered its head and then strained its neck muscles to the limit, the body flew high into the air. Warm innards burst out from the torn area like cheap fireworks.
Holy shit
A groan escaped the militia member near me.
The remaining Dutton survivor, likely screaming, crawled into the mangled helicopter wreckage. Right after the 180-degree about-face, the charging boar rammed the debris. An intense collision sound like when it had first gone down. Bam, bam, crash! Each time the boar battered with its whole body, the remaining wreckage was dismantled in real time. The tail boom bent, the fusge rolled like a ball, and the rotor de warped like a giant paper clip under the hooves.
Open fire! Fire!
The Pioneer Hunters team unleashed aimed shots at the boar. Though reluctant, I also went through the motions of shooting. I silently shook my head at Kyung-taes questioning nce. The cautious volleys, careful to avoid hitting a person, still posed enough threat to make the boar evade.
Confirming the boar was gone, Neilson immediately instructed,
Chopper 3 maintains hover! Block any further boar attacks! Choppers 1 and 2nd outside the forest!
Land, you say?!
Yes! From Chopper 1 me and Jack, from Chopper 2 Aaron and Connor will disembark and approach the crash site on foot! The rest liftoff again to provide air cover!
Are you insane? After seeing that carnage youll go in on foot?!
I wont hear dissent!
Dont order us, Neilson! Were not soldiers!
Thats right! Were militia and hunters! Hunters who volunteered to undertake high-risk hunting! If you didnt know this would be dangerous, get out of the brigade this instant! Dont whine like a kid!
After some more yelling back and forth, in the end, the three helicopters decided to follow Neilsons intent. All except one deserter. I was curious about what percentage of a sense of mission and desire for honory behind this decision.
While the helicoptersnded on gentle slopes outside the forest, Neilson apologized to me and Kyung-tae.
Once again, Im very sorry. Further normal tours seem impossible, so Ill refund the fees in full
Kyung-tae looked at me, and I shook my head.
No need for that. Instead, allow me to join in too.
What?!
I only wish to lend a hand in rescuing people. One more in-the-ground approach team is better, no? Ill go alone. Just me.
Eyes wide at the notion of being left behind, Kyung-tae pointed at himself but I shook my head again. Even just me going was a huge burden to Neilson.
Despite making a suitable excuse, Neilson was extremely hesitant. He tried to dissuade me citing various reasons, but upon emphasizing this was the condition for not getting a refund, he wavered, ncing between me and Kyung-tae before giving up persuasion with a gloomy expression. There wasnt much time to stall, and as the head of the team, the $5,336 we paid was money he wanted to keep if at all possible. It was difficult to strongly oppose me.
Neilson requested that I carry a stretcher when disembarking the helicopter.
Please transport the stretcher!
Understood!
We had to yell to be heard over the rough wind and engine noise. The helicopter immediately took off again after unloading people and rescue gear, turning its nose toward the crash site. With the folded stretcher over my shoulder, I held a rifle in one hand.
A rescue team of 7 including me entered the edge of the forest at a careful C for me, aggravatingly slow speed. Due to the magical fields of the scattered awakening trees interfering with awakeners senses, the forest was a high-risk hunting ground by default.
Might try saving it if possible.
My reason for joining wasnt the people, but the boars life. Although its code wasnt outstanding, it had exerted itself without signs of tumors spreading or internal injury. Meaning, in luck or talent it was a decently born creature.
Therefore, preserving it intact if possible was slightly more advantageous. Who knows? We may encounter it again someday bearing more evolved codes. As long as it lived that itself served as quality assurance, and if it died then that was the end of it.
Ratatatatat!
Damn!
A graze steaming past my nose tip. The militia member who pulled the trigger bit his lip. What he shot at was the silhouette of the boar briefly shing by dozens of meters away. The nearby bushes swayed only a moment. The spruce tree grove soon returned to a quiet winter forest. With all other animals having fled at once, the weight of the settling silence felt heavier.
Ratatat! This time the gunshot echoing was my three-round burst. The three heavy rounds I aimed and fired from the hip grazingly struck the boars forehead as it was about to charge, ricocheting off. I intentionally angled them high. Abandoning the assault, the boar moved position.
The third volley came from the sky. The crossfire from Choppers 2 and 3 made the boar, having tasted human blood, retreat once more.
The fourth deterrent was unnecessary. Because the crash site wasnt too deep in. I put down the stretcher and suddenly burst out in the direction the boar was slowly but surely closing in from.
What are you doing?!
Neilson panicked. But I needed to get away from the rescue squad even for a moment. Just a moment would do. Having run forward and secured minimum separation from the rescue squad, I fully expanded my magical field broadcasting the presence of a great mage. At the same time, feigning threat fire in a kneel-shoot posture.
Kwiiiik!
Along with just loud gunshot echoes, the boars shriek came through. Sensing my magical field, the startled boar yelped and tumbled before hastily turning its head and burrowing into good hiding bushes. Yet its gaze was still fixed this way even when in hiding. It seethed with enmity toward me that couldnt be neutralized even by my presence.
Well, it shouldnt recklessly charge again to this degree.
It would have looked to Neilsons group like I scared off the boar by firing. With the boars scream audible too there was no room for doubt.
Sorry about that.
Neilson nervously epted my apology for returning to position.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 72: The Hunters (7)
Chapter 72: The Hunters (7)
There were two Dutton hunters rescued alive. One was a non-critical with senses startled and having soiled himself, but still able to walk on his own legs. The other was unconscious with full-body fractures in the co-pilots seat. The rest were all dead, left where they died. Neilson didnt insist on taking additional risks for the dead either.
The boar wary of me never got another chance for attack, only watching for opportunities until the end. But it would remember me and the hunters bundled together with todays grudge. They said boars were smarter animals than dogs.
The police and rescue helicopters dispatched after receiving the report approached not from Richfield in the west but Sand Ledges in the east. This Sand Ledges was originally deste uninhabitednd but was now seen as the front line of government authorities against the invasion of the Trembling Giant. Behind that front line sprawled camps of all sorts of riffraff including mysticists and environmentalists, on a scale resembling a small city. So it wasnt odd for police and rescue personnel to be stationed there anticipating trouble.
The highway patrol inspector who came didnt demand much testimony. The circumstances before and after the crash were recorded on multiple cameras. And two involved parties were even alive, so if they insisted on detailed statements, those two would be priority 1, Neilsons group priority 2, while me and party along with the cheapskate couple would be around priority 3. The false name and contact I provided as a witness would ultimately be useless anyway.
By the time additional ground support arrivedprising police and citizen police volunteers (VPS) from the local popce, the militia no longer had any remaining tasks.
Are you alright?
Leaning alone against the helicopter sipping a can, the militia leader showed me a weary smile.
Now what good will it do to say Im not? Im just a little tired.
What Neilson tipped back wasnt beer but an energy drink. He couldnt drink alcohol with the return flight left. Seemed he was drinking it to work up some vigor somehow. Gulping the high-caffeine beverage, he dabbed his lips with the back of his hand and spoke.
I appreciated it earlier.
You mean how I declined the refund?
Yes, that.
Neilson chuckled. The bitterness in thatughter was probably from having to deal with the damn cheapskates just before. The couple demanded a refund for the ruined tour was natural, and evenpensation for mental damages on top of that. The gist was that Pioneer Hunters team ignored customer danger by stubbornly carrying out reckless rescue operations. Having rejected their demand, Neilson would soon reunite with them in court. America is thend ofwsuits, after all.
After a brief silence, Neilson spoke again.
That was my first time seeing a boar act like that. Theyre timid creatures originally Get suspicious, be alert at odd smells, the whole herd scatters from a single gunshot, dont even dare approach anything bigger and noisier than them
Things like helicopters. I corrected the error.
Its not an urate description to say they were originally timid animals.
Oh?
I mean innate nature and acquired survival strategies should be distinguished. The ecology we know of familiar animals is empirical knowledge uncertain of whats innate and whats a survival strategy. The behavioral principles of prey youve believed matter-of-factly over the years werergely things forced by thew of the jungle.
.
If you were military youd know from experience just how much power changes people. Animals arent much different from humans in that regard.
Could it not have just been peculiar to that one?
I shook my head cynically.
The world now is just going through a transition. As the newly empowered adapt to their changed positions, the world will drift further and further from familiar forms.
Neilson, pondering with a serious look, emptied the remaining drink and then crumpled the can.
Listening to you say that makes me even more uncertain
The word more was an unconscious slip.
You dont seem the type to be intimidated just because prey gets a bit feistier Theres internal noise in the brigade, it appears?
You can tell?
I figured there would be. People who enjoy professional risks are quite rare.
The uneasy air flowing among the hunters was obvious to the point of being impossible to feign ignorance of. A militia was fundamentally a localmunity fellowship, so even bing a profit-seeking corporation nominally, the mindset of the members couldnt change all at once.
In such an anomic fellowship-centric organization, the leader dismissing a member was itself sufficient to destabilize the rest of the organization. The ousted member would vent discontent andints about Neilson to other members, friends, and neighbors alike.
Even among those who followed Neilsons intent, as time passed for rumination some whose minds grew uncertain were sure to appear. The attitude Neilson disyed as a decision maker then was not the Neilson they knew and associated with.
While it was true Neilson had overreached a bit, in my view as the head of a far greater organization, the real problem with this hunter brigade was the sheerck of a clear decision-making system and hierarchy.
A group that risks dissolution every time the leader makes a mistake can never y in the big leagues.
This was actually the very firstbor pain almost all organizations went through while growing. Organizational growth limits differ depending on whether or not this stage is sessfully navigated.
And was Neilsons overreach even a bad decision? A principled militia risking their lives to rescue even the foolishpetitors sabotaging their hunt. What fine material for publicity and image-making. Oncewsuits also started circting in the mix, Pioneer Hunters teams fame would rise astronomically.
Therefore, if I wanted to secure shares in this undervalued startup, right now when this poor pup was losing confidence as a leader due to petty human rtions and overestimating his hardship was the opportune timing.
I had no particr desires from my standpoint, just that a not-bad investment prospect happened to roll up. This was the business sense of finding profit in every moment of life, and the strategists sense that even slight tactical gains warranted mulling over at least once.
Still weighing financial gain against tactical advantage, I casually made a proposition as if impulse buying.
Might you consider epting investment?
Investment? From you?
Yes.
As Neilson grew a bit confused, I calmly continued.
Youll likely go through some growing pains after this, but I see you as a sapling that will grow greater. So long as provided sufficient nutrients without sap-sucking worms, that is.
I appreciate the sentiment, however-
Lets start with $1 million for now.
Neilson shut his mouth at the sum.
How much stake could I buy with that money?
Truthfully I had no greed for the stakes themselves.
What I wanted was an organization that could provide lodging and spare transport that didnt expose me and my kids movements, actively gather varied intelligence in this region, and if needed, take on some extra-legal requests, all whilepletely unaware of their true usefulness.
Even better if the local coborators could pay dividends when able, and cover some maintenance costs themselves even when unable.
At that price, $1 million is practically free.
Kyung-tae had suggested stationing some of the organizations personnel around here, butmitting personnel rashly to a region with zero footholds was a poor choice.
So Pioneer Hunters team didnt necessarily have to be the investment target. I just happened to be nearby them and confirmed the quality personally, so it was worth poking to save time and opportunity cost searching for other options.
With hunted as my position, every move I made needed to hold value of two, or three moves ideally.
Neilson, pondering with a changed look, asked.
Are you seriously proposing this?
Had this been someone elses proposal, I would have taken it as ame joke or attempted fraud at best. Let alone when Id just met the person that day. A normal reaction would be What nonsense is this out of nowhere.
But by refusing a refund of $5,000 without the slightest hesitation, I demonstrated my wealth. Deciding that without consulting my party showed I was the greater figure among them too. If this militia leader couldnt smell money from me, he had no business doing business. Fortuitous encounters for business cane from anywhere, and cases of customers reinventing themselves as investors were asmon as muck.
Recklessly participating in the rescue squad and scaring off the boar also left a strong impression. Showed I was no ordinary person at least.
Does this look like a joke to you?
Replying to his question with one of my own, Neilson shook off doubt and pondered once more, now trying to show himself clever on the business end.
$1 million doesnt even reach the cost of one helicopter we operate. If we add up the worth of vehicles, helicopters, various weapons and gear, and real estate owned by our militia, just the tangible assets exceed $7 million. And the human resources are worth even more. For instance
Human resources value?
I cut Neilsons words short and pointed with my gaze and chin to one side. Neilsons face flushed with embarrassment. Over there a number of militia members were sneaking nces this way with stiff expressions, exchanging words whose content could be easily guessed without needing to actually eavesdrop.
I slid my hands into my pockets and jerked my chin at Neilson.
Lets not talk hardware or human resources value, but your value.
Youll invest based only on me?
You may have heard how Masayoshi Son, Chairman of Softbank, met a Chinese venture businessman named Jack Ma and decided within just 6 minutes to invest $20 million in him.
Twenty million
Yes, twenty million. In fact, the amount he initially proposed was $30 million. It was refused by Jack Mas side. Anyway, while Im no Masayoshi Son and youre no Jack Ma, weve observed each other for more than 6 minutes, no?
.
Even generously epting your im of $7 million in tangible assets, the real estate must be tied as coteral for loans, and two choppers are conditionally rented from the Ministry of Defense and local tycoons. I heard one remains with outstanding installments still due-
Kyung-taes affability came in handy at times like this too. I wouldnt have naturally heard such stories if not for him. Intel that surfaced so smoothly had high odds of being facts as-is,pared to info I had to dig for.
With maintenance andbor costs bleeding out, inventory in hand is what matters. Tallying in detail will only embarrass you. Frankly speaking, I think half the reason your leadership is precarious is the militias financial situation Am I wrong?
Fundamentally, a bosss authorityes from paychecks. As a venture just starting a business, Pioneer Hunters team was an organization that, rather than being able to pay satisfactory wages, considered it fortunate if payment wasnt dyed. Inexperienced managers tend to want to resolve such financial instability first, regardless of business outlook.
I knew it from having experienced the anxiety myself.
On top of that, this ex-military man had been operating unnecessarily expensive equipment from the outset. Amon mistake often made by amateur entrepreneurs. Like those who say No matter what, Ill only use the best ingredients when starting a restaurant.
No need for anything else.
Words conveying instrumental flexibility.
Im investing in you, who I observed directly. State your terms. What percentage will you sell for $1 million?
This is something that needs to be discussed together with colleagues who hold stakes-
Six minutes.
I interrupted Neilsons words rudely once more.
As I exemplified earlier, the investing and receiving sides decided in just 6 minutes. Such swift judgment and swift decision demonstrated not rashness but the capabilities they possessed as investor and businessmen. Persuading colleagues is a capability you must show me as well. So decide here and now. Otherwise, consider the investment withdrawn.
Though I pped on a usible pretext, forcing a decision without allowing time to ponder was a tactic scammers tended to enjoy. However, the line between scammer and businessman was ambiguous to begin with. The tricks so-called businessmen put into contracts, for example. Then they justify themselves by calling the losing party a fool.
The vexed Neilson barely opened his mouth.
15 percent. Ill try persuading my colleagues that much.
The militia leader spoke in nervousness. The self-doubt that he pushed too hard or too weakly showed inly on his face. I presented a lenient amendment.
Lets do 25 percent for $3 million.
Neilson sucked in a breath. $3 million could purchase two helicopter models around 5-10 years old in good condition on the used market.
Still need to keep a quarter.
While uninterested in mary gain from stakes, I needed stakes as a means to influence the militia. $3 million was money my hunting dogs could haul out of just one decent house gambling parlor. This was the bottom-feeding food chain where I as a predator and my subordinates lived.
But one condition.
As I attached a use, wariness returned to Neilsons eyes. Paying no mind to that wariness, I demanded the obvious.
Take control of the organization. Dismiss without mercy those who must go, and obtain firmer leadership from colleagues who acknowledge you. As is, youll ultimately fail to aplish anything properly.
Thats
Do just that much and my stake will always side with you.
The tension in Neilsons expression and shoulders slowly eased.
No easy task
Of course, it wouldnt be. This militia leader had started the business wanting to help friends and colleagues in financial straits after all, the very fundamental identity of Pioneer Hunters team as an organization. If considering only original aims, refusing my demand may have been preferable.
I might be casually tempting a wavering man to corruption.
But what of it?
Distinguish ideals and reality. If you try to take everyone refusing you along, it may end with everyone starving together. I mean save who can be saved first.
Having heard this much, Neilson heaved a heavy sigh and held out his hand. By sping that hand I finalized both my own profit and a humans retreat.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 73: The Hunters (8)
Chapter 73: The Hunters (8)
Investment operations were Suyeons domain. Despite the sudden decision, Suyeon calmly proceeded as if carrying out predetermined tasks. Any aspects I had yet to consider would be adjusted through the practical process.
While Suyeon dealt with Neilson, Kyung-taepleted calls with the safehouse several times. Though impossible to use while moving, requiring a minimum of 1 minute just to get a signal, only working outdoors at that, without this insurance measure of satellite phones I would be quite anxious by now. This was why I distributed 300 units throughout the organization, paying around $1.9 million annually.
Kyung-tae reported.
Ive ordered strengthened vignce and surroundings patrols, but they said no matching individuals could be found that you mentioned.
I nodded.
Expected as much.
Whatever Grace the witchs purpose ining here, the ck and white nuns garb was overly conspicuous attire. Those aware of her could never fail to recognize it as a distinct marker.
Maybe only I could see that form.
I was flustered then, unable to closely observe the other party. It wouldnt be strange if Grace had concealed herself using some technique. Unsure if that was magically possible, but as a mage who had been in hiding far longer than me, keeping an open mind to such possibilities was prudent.
I checked the time. 1 hour 47 minutes had passed since sighting Grace. If I had deliberately exposed myself as bait and set a trap, something should have happened already if anything was going to happen. Her aims didnt seem to include causing turmoil.
Well have to be careful, but I dont think we need to alter our schedule.
Is that so?
Low odds she came here targeting me.
I mulled the thought Id had before.
Its doubtful she even knows about the masters betrayal of the Round Table. And even if she did, she and the Order of 7 Angles greatest foe is still the Round Table. Even if plotting something, the probability of targeting Londons Round Table over betrayer Sir Crowhurst she doesnt even have leads on is higher.
What if you cross paths again?
I recall saying something simr before A person waging war cant only travel to safe ces. I wont seek her out intentionally while still underprepared, but wont waste my opportunity cost on pointless avoidance either.
With me more apt to identify the other first if we did meet again. Then, on the premise no other clear dangers exist, directly following her could yield some findings. Even if we didnt encounter one another, Id have to observe the Richfield area again before leaving here.
The Round Tables knowledge Grace might be aware of in the first ce wouldnt include artifacts like my Eyes of the Golden Age just worn on ones person. Merely magical tools granting temporary wondrous vision through established rituals. My existence with soul and magical power circuitspletely fused with an artifact was the product of my masters extraordinary inspiration, persistence, intellect, and madness.
So I was one who hid in domains she might not have considered. This would earn me a minimum of half the advantage even in the worst situations.
The remaining flight soon resumed.
Despite the hunting tour bing a mess, Neilson readily epted my request to circle back and see the Trembling Giant from the air before returning. Enough fuel remained to manage that much flight and the fees paid stayed the same, plus I was an investor who had just promised investment on very good terms.
And he was in quite high spirits. The $3 million to be wired immediately upon contract signing, a negligible sum to me yet enough to swiftly resolve many of the human rtionship problems he faced as a leader. Money is authority.
ording to Suyeon, when conversing with Neilson, he had worriedly asked if my funds were actuallying from China. After finishing practical coordination, Suyeon ryed an intermediate report:
No patriot should go near China. They are freedoms enemy.
A mundane cross-section of the anti-China sentiment or Sinophobia spreading like wildfire in this country since early this year.
There in the mist is the famous Trembling Giant, considered the greatest mystic even in the current world where all sorts of anomalies abound. Its the beech tree grove.
Neilson exined like a guide as if I was seeing this ce for the first time.
So manye seeking it, but usually just end up seeing fog like now and leaving. On warm, clear days the mist level descends below the canopy around noon, but unfortunately, thats not today.
With snow yesterday, the sky wasnt clear today either, so the mistpletely shrouded one mountainside, only showing the faint outlines of the white forest. The mist flowing down along the ground was a spectacle in itself, but some may have felt disappointed at the obscured view of the hazy woods.
That goes for normal vision, of course.
I was fully satisfied with the scenery.
I can roughly make out the life gate and death gate from this distance.
The life and death gates. Concepts of portals opening and closing Kyung-tae had mentioned before. I felt some repulsion toward the expression itself initially, but clear terminology aidsmunication with subordinates, and no more suitable phrasing exists, so for now I was just repurposing the meaning.
Without having surveyed the woods beforehand and thoroughly grasping the spiritual circuits core and foundations reaching deep underground, I couldnt have so easily discerned the difference between life and death. The essence didnt change just because a vessel grew bigger or smaller after all. The impact of material growth or loss on the soul was literally expansion and contraction.
Boom, boom, boom!
Sounds of industrial explosives detonating. At a spot about 100 meters from the mist, excavation gouging the earth in straight lines was underway. After hollowing spaces several meters across, they coated both sheer sides with concrete to eliminate space for roots to spread.
In short, part of military operations to halt the Giants invasion.
In the midst of all this, several groups of people caught my eye entering the mist from different directions.
Pathfinders.
Seeing where I looked, Neilson voiced their identity even before I could ask.
Friends promised rewards for exploring that beech mist forest and zing safe paths. Evaluations of routes pioneered differ based on how deep they went and if theypleted multiple round trips without health issues.
How much do they pay to assign such work?
Nothing too publicized but quite generous basics. Only tau-runners qualify, and its a location of global interest. I know the state and federal governments sponsor exploration, along with many corporations and organizations.
So a new economy emerges this way too. Interesting. A day maye when intellectual property rights to the paths and usage fees are imed.
Did you consider such work in naming Pioneer Hunters team?
While not as intuitive as Pathfinder, the pioneer also shared the meaning of a trailzer.
Of course, the militia predated magics return, but they might have created a separate corporate name when transitioning to a profit-seeking entity.
Asked, Neilsonughed briefly.
Its just a coincidence. We simply followed a nearby mountains name. But we do hope to undertake Pathfinder requests someday. Fame builds pedigree, good for winning government contracts. Please note this is a briefing from me as a business manager to an investor.
Ill keep it in mind. Ill provide further investment if the outlook is decent.
And Ill remember your words.
Government contract bidding. Despite business inexperience, he had the direction right.
I believed as armed groups of awakened primitive magic awakeners, these hunters could only grow in a direction simr to private military contractors. How and how many trained awakeners could be mobilized would soon be an important national security issue.
The helicopter circled south of the Giants domain and then headed north along an eastern valley. All the way to a mountain reservoir, I could see thendscape of numerous explorer and hunter camps set up along the winding roads and rivers below.
And ever-present throughout these camps were the mobile stores and trailers sent by various corporations. The Walmart ammo transport vehicles seen when first taking off from Richfield were visible, and the temporary runways delineated on t ground and choppernding pads were even upied by aviation fuel trucks from oilpanies.
Each camp had erected perimeter fences and watchtowers. Armed personnel stood guard atop the towers. A site where hunters demand bred demand for hunters.
Neilson spoke.
Until early this year, I couldnt have imagined Utahs mountain valleys bustling like this. Really feels like the world has changed.
The helicopter passed between two tall mountain peaks and crossed over the reservoir, steadily gaining altitude. The beech forest shrouded in mist was now to the choppers left.
We just went by Big t Peak. The highest terrain around here.
Despite the name, the deste peak was the opposite of t, teeming with people in colorful mountain gear. Drawn purely by the worlds greatest mystery. The skies were hectic here too, with frequent helicopters transporting tourists, military, hunters, broadcasters, and moreing and going like autumn cicadas.
Atop the peak stood a viewing tform seemingly recently built. A framework of H beams and other structural steel let wind pass through, with woodid over it for finish.
Kyung-tae marveled at the milling crowds below.
Whew. Its like a dedicated tourist spot.
Not dedicated, but the tourist attraction itself.
From this vantage, the beech forest revealed another face. The distinct downward expansion of the forests domain. Only thekes it had absorbed seeking water were exceptions to such growth. The magical forest was moving toward environments favorable for its expansion.
Though the forest desiring allnd currently belonging to humans would be problematic.
But that was merely a line arbitrarily drawn by humans.
I was no fool who believed humans had special rights. No exception existed in the destiny of survival struggle given all species. Humankind had simply forgotten that fact for long by virtue of superior power C the fact they too were part of the food chain C and were now realizing it in a new dimension.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 74: Metamorphosis (1)
Chapter 74: Metamorphosis (1)
After staying in Utah for three more days, I had aplished about half of my original goal. Why only half? Because I couldnt properly interpret the newly fruited magical pieces in the white forest of fog.
What I had originally expected were functionally distinct magical phenomena like the techniques I use, and corresponding one-to-one codes for each phenomenon.
However, what the forest actually produced were dozens of tangled clumps like balls of yarn, with countless codes sharing parts of each other, interconnected by chains of sharing.
Seeing those clumps, even with the Eye of the Golden Age I couldnt distinguish where the valid code ended and where the meaningless flow of magical power began. So each clump was like a collection of unsolvable equations and encrypted texts that I couldnt guarantee decoding and interpreting even with great effort. It was in a messy state with lots of junk data mixed in, making it difficult to separate the pebbles from the gems.
The disappointment I felt from this was tremendous.
Is my soul too high to be a problem?
While the overwhelming biomass or difference in species could also be the cause, the core of the issue was still the quality and level of the soul. After all, it was a soul that might have existed even before the advent of modern humans. With the max estimate of the tree age being a million years, it was the time when Homo erectus was hunting with hand axes and learning to use fire.
If I had stayed in the forest from the beginning and observed the daily changes day by day, things might have been different. Or I could still settle in now to do research.
However, I was no schr. To me, knowledge was just a tool for business, management, struggle, and desperate survival. I couldnt devote my lifetime to researching one subject. Perhaps in the peaceful times after ultimate victory
The reason I dwelled on this past disappointment was that I was experiencing simr frustration here in the Oregon forest I arrived at after leaving Utah.
The 2,500-acre kingdom of mycelia upied by the mushroom as a single organism had burdened me with new troubles. At least the soul here was rtively young, not exceeding 870 years at most. That meant the difficulty level of the equations and codes it contained wasnt as high as those of the Por Cluster.
Of course, rtively speaking. 870 years was by no means a trivial length of time. I felt the weight of that long history weighing down on me.
I was at my wits end.
The 2,500-acre mycelial entity that disappointed me with its primitive, localized circuits, in the beginning, was now tormenting me with some inscrutable technique. There were clearly outputsing from the circuit, but no observable phenomena, which was bizarre.
As I was stressed like this, a group approached me. Smelling faintly of marijuana, they draw near, giggling. No weapons, many awakened to primitive magic but the average level was low. Their circuit development was imbnced so they were useless as powers. I was getting a radio call from the security team.
Some people iming to be druids. Theyre inviting us to join them.
Tsk Judging by their gathering to smoke pot together, they were not the orthodox CRP from the UK or the reformist RDNA from the US, most likely idiots just pretending based on hearsay and spiritual experiences. Even if they were orthodox, they were still pretenders.
I made a hostile expression to signal them to pass by, but these incapable bastards turned toward me, still giggling.
A woman with no outerwear, just a white dress, approached with a bright greeting.
Hello?
Hello.
Are you alone?
I havepanions. I just wanted to be alone.
Oh my. Did something bad happen to you?
Something like that.
Oh dear.
The barefoot woman sped her hands with a pitiful expression.
People with bad things happening shouldnt be alone.
Is this bitch crazy?
Ignoring her was tempting, but the problem was that if I just passed by this location, the continuous flow of circuits I had been observing slowly stopped, and it was annoying enough as it was. I was tempted to chase them away in a fit of anger, but it wouldnt have been a good idea.
Unlike the fog-covered forests of Utah, this kingdom was also drawing in numerous tourists and pilgrims with its massive spiritual presence. Simr to the Trembling Giant, there was no surface-level danger here, so many sightseers strolled through the forest, and there were plenty of government researchers and patrols trying to prevent forest damage, such as military personnel and National Park Service (NPS) Rangers.
This meant that if a violent incident urred, armed military personnel and intoxicated young awakeners from all over would gather.
Thanks to that, as a tree that had managed to pass through Richfield safely, I was able to focus on my work as long as I remained hidden in the forest. This was also because, among the many awakeners, the one who would discover me and figure out how to suppress my magical field was a potential enemy.
As the woman in white spoke kindly.
Its fortunate. We are priests who convey the teachings of the great nature and our Mother Amiria to those who find life difficult and painful. Would you like to join us? We were just about to prepare a meal. Have some with us and listen to some wise words. Yourpanions are wee too.
Armiria refers to the entire genus of honey fungi. In other words, these were priests who worshiped mushrooms.
Thank you for the offer, but I must decl-
Oh my, oh my.
Before I could finish declining, the woman, delighted to have found something, bent over.
Look, there were lifes fruits here.
I frowned when I saw the lump she was picking up, calling it the fruit of life. The lump was a cluster of cells, referred to as Immortality Cancer, that continued to nourish themselves with magic power and mana even after the hosts death. Unlike the varied names for primitive magic and awakened individuals, which still differed by country and region, Immortality Cancer was widely called by the same name in many countries, perhaps because its traits were too distinct and visible.
On the small lumpy tumor the woman found, there were wings, feathers, and a head. Judging from the small ck and white stripes on its tiny head, I wondered if it might be a type of chickadeemonly found in North America. Feathers sparsely remaining like a cancer patients hair shook in the cold wind.
Now,e down.
The woman, who had coaxed the ants that had been pecking at the tumor, tapped it gently, causing the flesh to tear. She then called herpanion over to put the plump tumor into the basket he was holding. Seeing the contents, I narrowed my eyes again. The basket was half-filled with simrly sized magical tumor masses.
Wait. Didnt she say they were about to prepare a meal?
Youre not nning to eat that, are you?
Yes.
The priestess smiled and answered.
Its a gift bestowed on us by great nature, isnt it? Theres no reason not to eat it. Once you dress the meat, carve slits, and marinate it, its delicious baked medium. We sell the rest too.
Are you saying there are people who purchase it to eat?
Thats right.
A rxed exnation followed her light affirmation.
First, individual vegetarians privately request it. They dont eat meat because they dislike ughter, not because they dislike meat, so since this isnt meat deliberately killed, its okay to eat. If they can just ovee the revulsion from how it looks.
.
And more and more people from China have been looking for it. They say they use it as medicine. What was it called, roker? Lowker? Something like that.
From the pronunciation, it was probably nutmeg. (+)[1]TLN: Im not so sure about this but, the author put this ???(/??) in the raw. This /?? if tranted is fleshy fruit. But, after searching on the inte I only found nutmeg as the closest one. However, Wikipedia says that Nutmeg doesnt have any medicinal value, although people use it in traditional medicine.
I heard the medicinal effects vary depending on what kind of animal it originally was and the energy of thend where it grew. In special ces like the forest of Mother Armiria here, especially miraculous fruits filled with energy are produced. I dont know the details, but its fortunate for us.
Seeing the guileless smile of the self-proimed druid, I felt mild disgust. I had predicted early on that Immortality Cancers swelling up everywhere would provide tremendous additional calories and nutrients to the ecosystem, but I hadnt considered that humans would eat it too.
The Chinese bastards are somewhat understandable at least
Those bastards eat elephant tusks and seal testicles iming they are medicine, grinding rhino horns and tortoiseshells into medicine too. They were a tribe that went crazy and shoved anything that looked remotely beneficial into their mouths. How charming Immortality Cancer cells that didnt die even when the host died must have looked to them.
Come to think of it, there were signs several months ago. The corpses and meat of awakened animals started being traded at high prices in ck markets around the world. The ringleaders, smuggler bastards, and Chinese medicine doctors interconnected with the ck market must have squeezed those expensive snouts. Doing it to make some money talking about energy flow and human meridians, taking advantage of the opportunity.
In fact, except for the revulsion, Immortality Cancer was the ultimate food. An infinitely regenerating lump of meat if you just slice off pieces to eat. It might already be in use as food for many poptions. Much of the world was experiencing intensified povertypared to before, and eating cancer cells was a better choice than starving or cannibalism.
Once dissolved in gastric acid, Immortality Cancer was just a mixture of protein and fat in the end. Youd suffer if you swallowed toorge a lump raw, and some types may be toxic.
So, what do you think?
The priestess invited me again.
Have a meal with us, pour out the lump in your chest, and listen to the good word about merging with all creation in happiness and freedom from any worries or pains. Mother Armiria bestows all we need.
I smiled wryly.
No pains? Can you call it a gift when someone gets Immortality Cancer?
Yes.
How?
That person received a calling. Their body bes a gift returned to nature, and their soul enjoys eternal happiness in Mothers embrace. So when we receive the calling, we bid our loved ones farewell with joy, receive our siblings blessings, and cast off the garment of flesh ourselves to move on to a higher dimension.
In other words, suicide.
The priestess closed her eyes and chanted as if in a trance, hands joined as if in prayer.
Paines when you reject nature and Mothers calling. When you refuse the calling, refuse to give as you have received, and cling to a meaningless life. When you want to remain in this world longer than the time Mother has allotted you
Now, the priestess who had opened her eyes again concluded.
In the end, pain is the individuals responsibility for going against the way. In not knowing that greater happiness awaits after shedding the flesh, they meaninglessly prolong the time writhing in pain. It really is such a pitiful and wretched thing. So as the enlightened ones, it is also our task to spread Mothers teaching.
Happily insane bastards.
Enough.
I shook my head.
Go on your way. I have no interest in your teachings.
That cant be. I must save your soul.
I said I dont need it.
But-
I dont need it. Stop wasting my time.
.
The smile slowly disappeared from the priestesss lips. Staring nkly at me, the woman who had looked at me expressionlessly eventually conveyed her disappointment in a soft voice.
The wisdom of Mother I imparted was just a waste of time to you?
Yes.
I see..
Lost in thought, the priestess turned away.
You really are a bad person.
In her receding back, or more precisely, in her pitiful magical field, I detected a strange ripple.- 1. TLN: Im not so sure about this but, the author put this ???(/??) in the raw. This /?? if tranted is fleshy fruit. But, after searching on the inte I only found nutmeg as the closest one. However, Wikipedia says that Nutmeg doesnt have any medicinal value, although people use it in traditional medicine.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 75: Metamorphosis (2)
Chapter 75: Metamorphosis (2)
The trembling I witnessed was the slow erosioning from the outside that was slowly permeating in. It was a phenomenon fundamentally different from simply suppressing it with the output of the circuit and the force of control strength. If I had to express it, it was closer to the concept of slowly unraveling and neutralizing. Because the phenomenon was progressing so slowly and delicately, I was only able to grasp it when I turned my back on the priestess and moved away. I was able to capture the faint ripples urring at the very edge of the insignificant magical field.
I thought this ripple, this neutralization was the effect of the magic the mycelium used.
I need to observe something different.
Looking at my reduced magical field with no changes, and my subordinates being the same, this erosion only seemed to take effect when the engraving in the soul was below a certain level. It seemed anyone decently capable was unaffected.
However, just realizing this did not immediately lead to any progress. The tangled thread of code embraced by the Mycelium Kingdom was stillplex and abstruse.
This abstruseness was reminiscent of the Golden Age techniques that were still difficult to use even with the considerable optimization of my circuit. The techniques that even the Round Table masters could only grasp the effect of but not understand the principle. They werent even sure if it was aplete technique.
The telekinesis and ignition and such techniques I often used were only extracts of parts of those codes of wisdom.
How much time and effort did the Mycelium Kingdom spend on dismantling and analyzing these codes? Suyeons voice pulled my consciousness back to reality.
Hyungnim.
He immediately lowered his head as I looked at him.
Im sorry. You told me not to disturb you but
No, its fine.
It must have been an important matter for her to disregard my order.
Go ahead.
Its a report from Executive Manager Park Miju whos in Guangzhou. Shes identified three security bureau executives suitable for the operation, but they all seem close to losing their heads soon.
Purge?
Yes, for now, but the probability of them being killed by the ck Childrens Party before being purged also seems high. All three are executivesmanding the suppression and apprehending operations against the ck Childrens Party, and the ck Childrens Partys assassinations and terrorism targeting these kinds of executives have been increasing exponentially. In addition, the number of people supporting the ck Childrens Party is exponentially increasing, leaving the military and security in dire straits.
Support from the people Looks like theyre putting out quite a bit of money huh.
Yes. Theyre strengthening their image of righteous ouws by distributing funds and supplies and seducing the masses by selling Mao Zedongs name. Theyre disguising their own terrorism as a revolutionary struggle for the liberation of the people.
Thats a bit unexpected.
Perhaps the ck Childrens Party leadership were true Mao Zedong followers. This was a new possibility I had failed to consider previously. It was because the true Maoist factions in Chinese politics had withered away long ago.
Has any connection with the Mao Gong been confirmed?
Mao Gong is an abbreviation for the Maoist Communist Party. Despite revering Mao Zedong, the national father, they were branded as a splinter faction by the Chinese government for simple reasons. Mao Gong denounced the current Chinese Communist Party as a fakemunist party and an evil imperialist fascist group. The core of the denunciation was that the party had divided the people who should be equal into sses, creating a reactionary state where the minority exploits the majority.
While the exploitation of the people was true, and they carried the national father on their backs ideologically, the only choice left for the Chinese Communist Party was to suppress them by force and bury them with propaganda. This was because from the Chinese Communist Partys domestic standpoint, there was foreign power behind the ck Childrens Party.
Even a broken clock shows the right time twice a day.
Suyeon partially affirmed my question. (+)[1]TLN: This means that even something or someone that is usually unreliable or incorrect can asionally be right or urate by chance. In other words, it highlights the idea that a person or thing may have moments of sess or correctness, even if they are generally not reliable.
No direct connection has been found, but theyve quoted parts of Mao Gongs manifestos a few times. For example, the part about how the Chinese Communist Party has deprived the working ss of leadership andbor rights, and driven countless workers into unemployment, therefore justifying the rebellion, and
Suyeon cautiously added after mentioning a few more passages.
These are only circumstantial evidence.
I know.
A justified rebellion bes a revolution. Even if it was just a pretext, they were clever thieves with very agile minds. If this was an operation nned by foreign powers, theyve struck the Achilles heel of the Chinese Communist Party.
Based on the information that had consistentlye in, the possibility of the ck Childrens Party being a conspiracy within a certain faction of the Communist Party was bing increasingly slim. The political wind was raging indiscriminately of factions in the current Chinese political climate. The world of Chinese politics was truly plunged into chaos, unable to foresee an inch ahead.
Which factions do the security bureau executives belong to?
One is the Tsinghua Clique of the Xi faction, and the other two are presumed to be the Shanghai Gang.
The Xi faction referred to the followers of President Xi Jinping, and the Tsinghua Clique was the faction formed by elite alumni of Tsinghua University. Since Xi Jinping was also an alumnus of Tsinghua University, most of the Tsinghua Clique belonged to the Xi faction as well.
How much time do you think is left for the executives?
Its urgent. It wouldnt be strange if all three disappear today.
Next opportunity?
Its hard to guarantee. With the purge of the existing contacts, its difficult to identify suitable targets without contacts, gain ess to high-level intelligence, and make new contacts before Chinese politics stabilizes. So in order not to miss this opportunity, we need to set foot in China as soon as possible.
Hmm
It made sense that it would be difficult to make new contacts for some time. After all, the main C essentially the only C means of making contacts with high-ranking Communist Party officials was bribery. With the rampant corruption and purges going on now, who would dare ept bribes from those they are not closely acquainted with? They could easily end up being charged with corruption rather than treason. With the ck Childrens Party having foreign backing ording to the Chinese Communist Partys domestic stance.
At this point, epting bribes would provide good excuses for the central party to present to the people.
By the way
As I was recounting the past conversation, I pointed out one strange thing.
Didnt you say this was Executive Manager Park Mijus report? What about Director Seo Gabsoo? Werent those two out there together? (+)[2]TLN: Since I have a goldfish memory, and I didnt anticipate these two characters to appear again, I sincerely ask you my dear reader an apologize if I made a mistake in mistranting the names of these two. However, these are the names that Ill use from now on. Sorry!
Normally, reports go up in the name of the person in charge.
I was about to mention that as well-
Suyeon briefly hesitated and ryed the obituary with his gaze lowered.
Director Seo is dead. (+)[3]TLN: Whoops, I guess only Park Mijus name that Ill use from now on xD
What?
Surprised by the unexpected news, I asked back to back.
Dead? Gabsoo got killed? How?
While entertaining Gao Shusen, Deputy Secretary of Guangzhou Security Bureau, he was attacked by an armed group presumed to be the ck Childrens Party. He apparently shielded everyone by covering a grenade that rolled into the room with his body.
Is this Gao Shusen guy important?
Hes the nephew of Gao Ninghui, Chief of Guangdong Inspection Commission, and in addition to the Deputy Secretary position at the Guangzhou Security Bureau, he also holds the rank of First-ss Police Superintendent, being in charge of Guangzhou Security Bureaus Patrol Police Division. You can think of him as the contact that provided the information about those three security bureau executives I mentioned earlier.
Patrol. Whileparable to a provincial police chief in Korea, since the military and police in China were the partys military and partys police, it was customary for Communist Party executives to concurrently hold executive positions in public security (police).
This isnt very fun.
An unpleasant loss. Suyeon silently lowered her head at my words.
Seo Gabsoo was a subordinate before the organizations system was fully established, before the International Business Division for managing overseas workces and smuggling was even created. He wasnt exactly a founding contributor, but he was a subordinate who had been dedicated to my business in China for a long time.
Although hecked the ability to move up to a higher position, only staying at the executive director level for a long time, he had great patience, and an agreeable temperament, and was decent at entertaining and managing businessworks.
I picked him up at Mapo Bridge on the rmendation of the then-chief of staff. I personally went to get him. I still have a corner of that memory with the smell of alcohol on him. That smell belonged to a family head gazing at the flowing water while grasping the railing, contemting. The life insurance policy taken out two years ago still pays out for suicide.
The will?
Its being held by the legal team. Im aware it was renewed before leaving for this business trip.
He had two sons and a daughter right, probably?
Yes.
Their ages?
The eldest son is twenty-one and currently serving in the military. The second daughter and youngest son are eighteen and sixteen respectively.
Are they close?
I dont know that. Should I look into it?
No, its fine. Just carry out his will after the funeral and distribute the inheritance. Make sure to provide schrships too. Dont cut corners on recovering and transferring his remains.
The inheritance mentioned here includes the death benefits determined by the organization. Seo Gabsoo must have designated one of my shell identities as the executor in the will he notarized while alive. This was a method I encouraged in managing the morale and loyalty of organization members. Fair execution of wills and generous death benefits were good stepping stones in fostering loyalty.
That was the extent of my role. Although I will have to fulfill my duties as executor until the young second daughter and youngest sone of age, and strictly manage their share of the inheritance, how they live after the inheritance isplete was none of my business. I didnt even have the leisure to meddle in that.
Amidst these thoughts, I still felt ufortable. And I felt ufortable about feeling ufortable.
Because of the loss.
What other reason could there be?
With the political wind blowing in the current Chinese political sphere, many of the contacts established earlier would die or be purged, rendered useless. Limited to just the Guangdong province area, it was safe to say there was no talent like Seo Gabsoo to recover from such damages.
I had lost such talent
After a brief silence, Suyeon asked me,
What will you do?
About what?
Going to China.
Ah right, we were discussing that issue. I hadpletely forgotten the original conversation, preupied with thoughts of Seo Gabsoo.
What should I do?
Turning my gaze, I weighed the opportunity cost while looking at the forest ruled by the mycelium.
On one side of the scale was the erosion phenomenon discovered thanks to the priestess serving the mushrooms. The code causing the phenomenon was still yet to be extracted. The code neutralizing the magical field with erosion was highly likely to enable modifying the circuits of subordinates I could no longer touch. And countless other potential uses.
On the other side of the scale was the opportunity to gain enormous funds, and if luck would have it, the opportunity to gain contacts to Chinas national intelligencework.
Seeing the example of the Trembling Giant, analyzing the erosion code would be more difficult as time passed. Hesitating, I made the difficult decision.
Look for a flight leaving tomorrow afternoon.
Yes.
Suyeon lowered her head again.
One day left. Just one day to observe, record, and analyze the spirit of the mycelium as much as possible. I didnt know if this was the right choice, but a wrong decision was still better than a missed opportunity. I strove to shake off the delusion and focus on the task at hand.- 1. TLN: This means that even something or someone that is usually unreliable or incorrect can asionally be right or urate by chance. In other words, it highlights the idea that a person or thing may have moments of sess or correctness, even if they are generally not reliable.
- 2. TLN: Since I have a goldfish memory, and I didnt anticipate these two characters to appear again, I sincerely ask you my dear reader an apologize if I made a mistake in mistranting the names of these two. However, these are the names that Ill use from now on. Sorry!
- 3. TLN: Whoops, I guess only Park Mijus name that Ill use from now on xD
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 76: Metamorphosis (3)
Chapter 76: Metamorphosis (3)
The metamorphoses I had been waiting for came in continuous waves as if waiting for the right time despite being unrted events.
At Hong Kong International Airport, where I arrived in the afternoon after a long night and three tediousyovers from Utah, I groggily picked up the call requested by White Chiefs granddaughter after repeatedly falling into shallow sleep and waking up throughout the night.
The number Mashath used was her grandfather, the chiefs.
So in other words, you want me to connect a client looking for weapons with us, without telling me anything about the client at all, on the condition that the casino handles the purchase and receipt?
Yes.
As the chief may have told you, I dont just sell weapons to anyone for money. For transactions with at least minimum information about the client or when I can guess the general purpose of the goods, I evaluate the risks and proceed.
Not storing goods just anywhere, not selling them to just anyone, and not receiving payment just any way. The basics of smuggling could not bepromised without exceptional circumstances. Deals, where the purchase purpose was hard to guess, could be specks hitting me in the face. For example, if a bomb I passed on exploded at the US Capitol building, there could be nothing more awkward right?
So youll have to provide minimum information.
Mashath rejected this reasonable demand.
Im sorry. Please understand that part.
Understand? This isnt a matter of understanding.
Im betting on the casinos and the tribes credibility. Receiving and delivering to the client is the Diamond Casinos role, so there will definitely be no harm to the Chairman. I guarantee it.
Guarantee? There were no 100% safe deals in this field. The profits earned by arms dealers like me mostlye from risk management.
Moreover, the Mexican side business of the casino I invested in was still in the early stages of building its foundations. Choosing people, building facilities. This meant that the casino receiving goods at this point implied the final destination of the weapons was within the US. The usage would be the same as well.
Unless they hire a separate transporter tounder the route.
But considering the casinos tight budget, the likelihood of adding a transporter was slim.
Then the weapons they were trying to acquire were unlikely to be ordinary firearms. With the US being the ce overflowing with the most guns and ammo in the world, there would be no reason to specifically order personal firearms from me overseas.
Miss Mashath. Is it possible to speak directly with the chief?
At this question, the answer came back after a brief pause.
My grandfather is unable to have a conversation at the moment.
If hes busy with other matters, I can wait.
Thats not it
The vague trailing off was a clear abnormal sign.
Then what is it? It should be around 11 pm there now, did he already go to bed?
While 11 pm would be ate time to go to bed for an ordinary family, the chief was a casino businessman. Like other native casinos, the Diamond Casino operated until midnight, and it took over an hour just to tally up the daily profits and tidy up the establishment after closing.
The silence was broken by Mashath in a slightly lowered voice.
Since its none other than the Chairman, a friend, and benefactor of the tribe Ill be frank. My grandfather is currently unable to work for health reasons. Im acting chief as the sessor, as mandated clearly by my grandfather beforehand, and the executives have agreed to me taking over operations.
The chief is unable to be active?
Yes.
What on earth happened? Dont tell me he got COVID?
No. Thanks to the Chairman wepletely overcame that illness.
Then?
While visiting the protest site in D.C. to encourage our tribal members, he fell after being shoved by the police and suffered a skull fracture and concussion.
Oh my.
Hearing the unexpected news, my mental calctions becameplex. How much loss and gain would this incident bring me? By how much would the metamorphosis of the tribe be brought forward by this?
Because of his age, hes suffering severe aftereffects. He can barely walk straight because of the dizziness, his memory isnt what it used to be, and intermittent nausea prevents him from eating properly
As Mashaths words grew longer, herposure seeped out bit by bit. Until now she had tried her best to restrain herself like a deputy chief of an organization, but peerless equanimity could only be gained through experience.
Having finalized my calctions, I made a proposal.
What do you think about him receiving treatment in Korea? I can help.
We dont want to be indebted to you again-
Itll be better than those hospitals over there that charge $1000 for a paper cup of meds and $2000 for a surgical glove. Please think about it seriously. What would be the best for the chief.
After hesitating, Mashath sighs briefly and answers.
Thank you for your kindness. Ill think it over and contact you separately.
I hoped the future answer would be affirmative. If I took in the chief, it would be that much easier to pull the tribespeople, forced to leave their homnd, under my influence. Even if the chief became disabled due to aftereffects or died, the fact that I helped him would havesting positive effects on the tribespeople who respected him.
After offering such calcted goodwill, I brought the conversation back on track.
Then lets return to the main subject. What are the types and quantities of products the client wishes to purchase?
Does that mean youre epting the deal?
Dont jump to conclusions. Im listening to decide.
Whats needed are bombs.
Bombs?
Yes. Whether industrial or military grade, please prepare bombs with power equivalent to 200 kilograms of TNT and remote detonators, one per kilogram please.
What are the delivery address and deadline?
Deadline is within 3 months. Itd be great if you could deliver to the casino. Is that possible?
200 kilograms of TNT huh. To be honest, the quantity was small for a request made directly to me. If this was a request from another dealer, it would have hurt my pride.
However, the quantity wasnt important here. The issue was why the casino, which had no connections in this market until now, suddenly took on the role of an arms trade intermediary.
The pent-up grudges, stolen holynds, holy sites blown up for border wall construction, mining rights vitions, humiliation, and crisis suffered at a tribal level while dealing with the pandemic, and now this incident suffered by the respected tribal elder. The embers of resentment harbored by the natives of the desert had only grown over time.
I postponed my answer while harboring expectations for the future.
Ill get back to you after reviewing internally first. Lets discuss the other conditions like pricingter.
How long should I wait?
Ill make a decision within 3 days at thetest.
Understood. Ill await good news.
The call ended.
What do you think?
Replying to my question, Suyeon, who had been listening to the call from the start with a shared earpiece, took out the earphones and answered.
The most likely possibility is sabotage activities supported at the tribal level.
Sabotage referred to the act of destroying facilities as a means of resistance. So she had the same opinion as me.
The likelihood of using the bombs multiple times at intervals was slim. The moment the first bomb went off, every anti-terror agency in the US would be on high alert. If it happened twice and three times, they would just be putting a noose around their own necks.
Therefore, there was a high possibility of the 200 kilograms of bombs being used all at once, at least time-wise.
Under these conditions, two targets immediately came to mind.
Where do you think theyd aim for?
Rather than the border wall construction site, probably Mount Waw Kiwulik.
Why?
Firstly, because that mountain is a more important ce than a holy site to their tribe, secondly, attacking the border wall could overly provoke the current President obsessed with building it, and thirdly, because ways exist to block outside ess without directly attacking the astronomical observatoryplex at the peak of the holy mountain.
The third reason was something I hadnt expected.
Block ess?
Yes. Just blowing up the roads. Since its rugged mountainous terrain with only one vehicle ess road, blowing up a few parts of the cliffside would immediately paralyze the entire facility while avoiding loss of life. Its an option that avoids public bacsh while publicizing the issue of the stolen holy mountain.
Im surprised you remember details like whether theres one or two ess roads, when its apletely unrted ce to us.
It just came to mind after hearing the story and happening to look at a map.
Remembering everything you see casually was anything but normal.
The reelected US President was pushing construction of the border wall, a campaign promise from his first term, harder than ever. Public opinion supporting it had also grown much stronger than before. With endless waves of refugees of all nationalities from Central and South America that were bing too much to handle.
Of course, they wouldnt really build that wall to the end. Think of how much money that would cost. Itd be better to enhance interception operations or something. However, the current administration probably wanted to show frustrated citizens, also feeling a sense of panic from the waves of refugees, something tangible. Just push it along halfway and pass the ball to the next administration.
Therefore, the natives touching that wall was equivalent to waging war against the notoriously unreasonable President. Focusing on the holy mountain issue while conceding the already destroyed sacred burial site would be a moderate yet beneficial choice.
Although whether that moderate choice would invite a moderate response was an unknowable matter.
I hoped the pot wouldnt boil over after being left on the fire for too long.
Should I ept the request and go the route of providing finished products
It would be better to propose education consulting services to teach them to make the bombs and detonators themselves. That way I could also secure definite safety on my end.
For the explosive Id teach them to manufacture, triacetone triperoxide (TATP) would be the most sensible. That fruit-scented explosive, which decorated the finale when I went on a human hunt at the chiefs request sometime before. The recipe for that bomb called Mother of Satan, easy to make, should be easy for the mostly high school dropout natives to learn. Although the deadline was 3 months, the education and training would take less than a week. Ammonium nitrate fuel oil, the traditional nitrogen fertilizer bomb, would work too, but oversight on trading the ingredients was rtively tighter.
Having organized my thoughts, I stood up from my seat.
Since my subordinate Park Miju, who was supposed to arrive first and wait for me, had finally shown up.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 77: Metamorphosis (4)
Chapter 77: Metamorphosis (4)
I apologize for beingte, Chairman. Because I suddenly got an important call.
Park Miju bowed deeply, a long red line drawn across her left cheek as if shed by a sharp de. In addition, her right ring and pinky fingers had splints on them. Despite being able to use basic physical enhancement techniques, the strained ligaments still hadnt recovered. At least there were no scars that would be visible.
I didnt hear you got hurt.
At my words, her head bowed even deeper.
It was a minor injury so I didnt report it.
Stand up straight. No need to apologize.
I had thought about magically healing her wounds but shook my head internally.
Itd be weird if her injuries suddenly disappeared.
Instead, I looked over the four security department personnel who hade with Park Miju. The first duty of the organizations security department was to actively protect me as the head, but they were also in charge of on-site security for key executives and mid-level executives dispatched to dangerous areas.
I dont want to suspect you but I still have to check.
At that, Kyung-tae who hade to greet me lowered his head this time.
There were no cowards, hyungnim.
Well see about that.
A procedure to check if there was anyone who had neglected their duties at the scene where Seo Gabsoo died. No need to waste my urate eyes when something like a polygraph was avable. It was also an important means of maintaining discipline in the organization.
I stared at the four very tense men and grasped their shoulders one by one, throwing straightforward questions.
Are you an honest man to me?
The answers that came back were uniformly concise. When the four questions ended, Kyung-tae noticeably rxed. Istly tapped the shoulder of the one I asked the question to and returned to my original position.
Lets get moving. Ill listen to the story on the way to Guangzhou.
Ill guide you. This way.
Park Miju took the lead in guiding me.
The airport revealed a destendscape with few passengers but many deployed military and police. What stood out here was the presence of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army. The PLA tantly entering an airport must be because of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, which were also gaining momentum amidst the worsening ck Childrens Party situation. On the other hand, it was probably Chinas ostentatious response to the all-around pressure from the Western world, led by Britain.
After a short car ride, we arrived at the airports east side where there was a pier and passenger terminal. Waiting for me here was a coastal passenger ship with a hull that looked about 100 meters long. The sharp hull shape stood out for a passenger ship. This ship, which would take on no other passengers, had been prepared to serve as a safe house and mobile headquarters while operating around Guangzhou.
How much did this cost?
As I boarded the deck and asked, Park Miju answered.
We signed a 1-year charter contract for 900,000 yuan.
900,000? Very economical.
About 150 million won in Korean currency. A negligible amountpared to the utility of a mobile safe house with helicopternding and vehicle storage capabilities. It was cheap evenpared to the expected profits of this human hunt.
However, Park Mijus expression darkened at my words.
Im sorry.
What is it now?
With such low demand for ships like this, if I had exercised sufficient negotiating power, I couldve brought the price down further.
What Park Miju was referring to was the state of the local tourism industry here, more devastated than Puerto Varta. With the unending recession, I couldnt expect proper cleaning services to be avable. But considering the circumstances, whether the ship owners and operators leased the ship out at any price, it was all profit for them. If negotiations had been dragged out to deal with multiplepanies, someone eager to get rid of maintenance costs might have even proposed free rental.
However, there hadnt been time to go through all that this time. Even though I had a casino in Macau and didnt need to establish a separate corporation, how much could I save hastily concluding a contract in just a few days?
Dont me yourself unnecessarily. We should be d we at least used bags to pop our corn over the open fire.
With a sense of disbelief, I calmly took a few more steps and then stopped to look back at Park Miju. The downcast expression on her shadowy face persisted.
As I gazed silently, I let out a sigh.
Is it tough?
Park Miju, her lips tightly sealed, had moistness welling up around her eyes. My question seemed to trigger the emotions she had kept bottled up. I understood. She was my subordinate, prepared to repay her life debt to me, but until now, she had taken on tasks that were low-risk. Furthermore, she had worked alongside her former superior for a long time until he died right in front of her. It was natural that her mental state was strained.
Not all my subordinates could be like Kyung-tae and Suyeon.
If you want, you can step back from this operation.
Hyungnim, thats
Suyeon, with a furrowed brow, was about to voice an objection, but I raised my hand to stop her. Pushing people to ovee difficulties with sheer mental strength was a method I didnt particrly favor. Using people like that wore them out too quickly, depleting their lives as tools. If I wore out my subordinates this way, eventually, the organization would copse from within.
My subordinates should always be kept in a state of mind where they could sacrifice their lives at any time.
I
Park Miju, who was about to say something, closed her eyes and swallowed her words. She took a deep breath, then opened her eyes again and slowly but firmly pointed.
I want to see this through to the end, even for thete Director Seo. Even if its myst job, I want to finish it with my own hands.
I see.
If I step back, you wont be able to make the most of Gao Shusens department. Hes shown me deep favor because of Director Seossacrifice, and his kindness to me, who was with him at that time, is significant. The halo I wear is just like an inheritance from Director Seo. I must not let it be meaningless.
This was the reason why Suyeon opposed my decision in the first ce.
I epted Park Mijus determination.
In that case, youre the director now. Step up for Gabsoo and do it right.
Yes. Ill do my best.
The inside of the ship was dirty and chaotic. The operation had not been properly managed even before the passenger ship ceased operations. It appeared that cleaning services could not be used properly in such an economic downturn, but the situationbined with the ignorance ofmon-sense hygiene among irrational passengers yielded quite a spectacle. Even marks where someone had defecated were visible, adhering to the walls.
The moment it became filthy, the rate of deterioration seemed to elerate, creating amon pattern of broken ss-like consequences.
Im sorry. I couldnt clean it in time.
Park Miju said, and I raised an eyebrow slightly.
Stop apologizing. Stop ming yourself. Dont you understand that there wasnt enough time?
Imsorry.
I wanted to sigh again at the preposterous feeling, but that would be a mistake in front of a subordinate leaning negatively. I straightened my expression and entered the briefing room. Although calling it a briefing room was the same here, it was just a cabin with a whiteboard andrge table and chairs, not prepared either.
I could feel the ship elerating. Kyung-tae instructed his subordinates to conduct security checks inside the ship. As I took my seat, Suyeon stepped up as per the set procedure.
Executive Director Park. What are the specific destination and estimated time of arrival?
Could you wait a moment please?
Park Miju had her team members fix a map on the board, tidied her attire, and newlyposed her posture.
The point were currently headed to is a pier under the Liede Bridge to the north of Haizhu District, estimated to arrive in 2 hours 10 minutes. Although the service speed of this ship is 34 knots, the crew is still getting ustomed and theres also maritime traffic to consider, so were currently cruising at 20 knots.
Haizhu District was one of the many mid-river inds along the lower reaches of the Pearl River, where overwhelming wealth and bottomless poverty coexisted in disorder.
I had also dropped by here a few times for human hunts. What came to mind were the buildings packed in a disorderly manner like garbage swept next to neatly developed blocks. Ranging from tens to thousands ofrge and small houses crammed in with barely enough space for a single person to pass through. Among them were no straight roads, only the stench of poverty, crime, and disease always lingered, and the viscous shadows receded only briefly when the sun passed the meridian.
Such were cities in China.
Whats the reason for setting the anchorage there?
Replying to Suyeons sessive questioning, Park Miju slid theser pointer she had marked the pier with slightly down.
Its because Gao Shusen, an important coborator in this n, and his subordinates are stationed 10 minutes away by vehicle from the pier. Originally the garrison where the Pazhou Division of Haizhu Precinct of Guangzhou Public Security Bureau was stationed, its been upgraded to one of the dispersed on-sitemand centers of the city security bureau.
Upgraded? Is security particrly worse in that areapared to other regions?
Yes to some degree, but I also heard its a measure to protect the local branch of the Bank of China in the same building. Although just spection, I suspect theres also intent to guard the neighborhoods where many party members reside.
Whats the equipment procurement n?
For vehicles, weve agreed to be provided spare goods from the security bureau, and the concrete delivery schedule is-
Suyeons barrage of questions proceeding swiftly and tightly was, in my eyes, a stress test performing the role of a manager. He was checking if Park Miju was in a state to properly carry out her role. Actually Suyeon herself probably already grasped most of the details from interim reports.
Listening to the ensuing Q&A, when sweat drops were about to form on Mijus forehead, I slowly raised my hand to take over. It was at the part where that Gao Shusen guy used foreign mercenaries C meaning us C to bet his fate on.
Is deceit a possibility?
From the brief report, that typical corrupted bureaucrats original n was to abandon his subordinates and spectate from a safe position. If it went well, he would steal the credit, if it went wrong, he would purge his subordinates and turn it into his achievement.
Those subordinates were precisely the three security bureau executives he had intended to use as puppets.
Replying to my slowly tossed question, Park Miju conspicuously rxed her shoulders.
The one she should really be most afraid of is actually Kyung-tae.
The security departments security duties for executives also epassed close surveince. As an unofficial inspector general, Kyung-tae had the authority to preemptively neutralize and report any betrayers in the organization. Although it was an authority never exercised.
Anyway, having this one threat helps a lot as the head of an organization. All you have to do is do a decent job as a superior.
I cant say itspletely impossible but the chances of sincerity are very high.
What Miju was saying.
Thats because his uncle who had been backing Gao Shusen until now, Gao Ninghui, Chief of the Provincial Inspection Commission, was suddenly impeached this morning.
Thats why you werete?
Yes, Chairman. The central party is currently handing down corruption crackdown quotas to each local party and ministry, but as you know, since there are no uncorrupted officials in the Communist Party, fulfilling the quota has be a game of hot potato between executives.
As Chief of the Inspection Commission, he mustve held the initiative himself. Since the work he oversees is denunciation and purge. He probably also had the most evidence of corruption.
Tranted in Korean terms, as Chief of a provincial level local government, his actual power was at the minister or higher level of a nation, considering Guangdong Province officially had double Koreas poption and its GDP was almost on par with Korea. The chief of the Inspection Commission was in a good position to keep dirt on other chiefs.
Park Miju nodded.
Which is why he seemed to have earned the vignce of everyone else. Looks like executives of all factionsbined forces to move the central partys Inspection Commission.
Misfortune of the mighty. So his nephew Gao Shusen also became someone who could lose his head at any moment.
Yes. Although the impeachment trial is still ongoing, its unlikely his uncle will be able to clear the charges on his own. But that doesnt mean hes innocent either.
I see
After hearing the circumstances, an ideaes to mind.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 78: Metamorphosis (5)
Chapter 78: Metamorphosis (5)
When the briefing and ensuing meeting finished after over an hour, the sharp-nosed passenger ship passed through the Pearl River estuary at 25 knots. Unable to restrain my desire to save time, I had asked if it could elerate without pushing it, and the worried captain ended up increasing speed by 5 knots, saying he would try adding more if the situation allowed.
The ships sailing in the same direction and resisting the current to the right of the river fell behind one by one. 25 knots, 46.3 kilometers per hour, was a considerably fast speed on water, especially on a narrow waterway with heavy traffic. Where the river met the sea gathered seven major cities including Hong Kong and a poption of 60 million, and maritime traffic volume was proportional to that poption size.
Yet there was no risk of dangerous collisions. Firstly because the ship itself was almostpletely empty, allowing agile movements, and secondly because a bow thruster used purely for changing direction was installed below the bow. There were three waterjet propulsion engines, and the auxiliary engines located on both sides made steering the ship even more delicate.
Of course, tools being good meant nothing if the user was ipetent. The stable navigation now was thanks to my subordinates skills cultivated over a long time smuggling at sea.
When the passenger ship Becrux grazed past a small mid-river ind the size of Yeouido, the turbid ripples carried the stench of poverty and a faint tear gas smell from the poor residing there. Looking closely, the collective housing of dock workers divided left and right by the channel was tightly clustered on the ind like pustules of shingles.
Everyones free even though its daytime?
The clock showed 2:36 pm. Not lunch break to have free time. Even if it was lunch break, workersing home to rest was an abnormal sight. After all, the dayborers and peasant workers who lived day to day were staying home because they had no work. Enjoying forced leisure with empty pockets.
To the housings north were shipping yards filled with vehicles waiting to be loaded. So many cars waiting that not a single vacant spot could be seen, yet no ship to load them onto was in sight.
Kyung-tae, who approached and leaned on the railing next to me, eximed at the sight.
Thats all stacked up because of the trade sanctions right?
Probably so.
If this keeps up, China might really split into multiple countries.
Itd be troublesome if it crumbles too quickly though
Nowhere was busy, not the harbors, nor the factories or oil facilities. Meaning the river must have been much livelier in the past. India, Chinasrgest export market, joining hands with the Western world and turning hostile must have been the decisive blow.
The Communist Party needs to hold out until its used up.
Staring at the currentscking continental-scale debris, I asked,
How was touring the ship?
Itll be the best mobile base once preparations areplete.
Kyung-taes instant reply.
The speed is faster than most patrol boats, and stability and maneuverability are excellent. Cargo and vehicle capacity are good. It can hold 8 1.5-ton trucks and 11 2.5-ton trucks. No issues transporting spoils, and seems reliable although its not Made in China.
Its not Chinese?
1996 Italiandy. And its a Rolls-Royce engine. Chief Parkno, Executive Director Park put in a lot of consideration despite the tight deadline, it seems.
Thats because her predecessor was a solid guy.
Almost overly sentimental.
Before I brought him in, he really was sentimental. He had co-signed for a friend using his home as coteral. As expected, the friend had disappeared, his wife left the home demanding divorce by document, all assets were seized, and the kids could barely scrounge up one meal a day. That was the circumstance in which Seo Gabsoo had met me on the Han River bridge.
It was regrettable I couldnt attend the funeral. To manage loyalty, I had to show my face at such events whenever they urred. Although just an executive director, he was a subordinate who served me for a long time A condolence wreath would be sent without me needing to instruct, Suyeon would see to it.
Hyungnim.
What?
When you have time, please encourage Executive Director Park separately.
Well see.
Please get some rest first. You barely got any sleepst night.
My chronic sleep deprivation was something Kyung-tae and Suyeon always worried about. Even now if asked how long I sleptst night, they could urately reply down to hours and minutes.
Well was I ever in perfect condition? I shook my head.
Since I have free time unintentionally, I should review ns for the future. Wasting time in fitful sleep is fine for one night.
The more urgent, turn back. Haste makes waste. Eagerness leads to dy Although Eastern and Western wisdom warn against hastiness, when actually faced with such situations, it was not as easy as just saying so for human affairs. ns I had thought thoroughly through at the moment often had multiple better alternatives in hindsight after everything was over. Therefore, resisting the now was a good nk space to reduce future regrets. Even if ns went awry, sufficient deliberation was the foundation for better impromptu responses.
Scratching his head, Kyung-tae asked,
You wont change the ship name?
The current name written on the bow was Becrux. The alternate name for Beta Crucis, a star in the Southern Cross constetion. I shook my head again.
Its best to use the existing name for disguise.
Understood.
Kyung-tae vacated his spot out of consideration for my contemtion.
The passenger ship Becrux arrived at the pier after nearly another hour passed. A small number of security bureau officers hade to greet us at the quay, none with good expressions. The intraparty politics of the current Chinese Communist Party was truly a life-or-death struggle. If Gao Shusen, the manager, lost his head, his subordinates would also face serial political martyrdom. No wonder theirplexions couldnt be bright.
If I still had contacts I had personally cultivated
Regrettably, the official who had granted me hotels and casinos in Macau 15 years ago entered prison. The charges were polygamy and bribery. The case came to light when his legal wife hired killers to assassinate his numerous mistresses. With it hitting international news, it became impossible to cover up, so the central party sacrificed him as a scapegoat.
Truly, it was an extremely unfortunate matter for me. If not for that incident, he was guaranteed to ascend to key positions in the central party. Even if he kept mistresses, if he had maintained it at the level of other officials, around ten or so, how great would that have been?
Past and present, Chinese officials were high-risk, high-return investment products.
Upon disembarking, Miju shook hands with a man wearing Third-ss Superintendent insignia while gazing into each others eyes.
Chief Inspector Hu. Good to see you again after three days. Im d youre safe.
Likewise Mrs. Park.
The Chinese Mrs. differed greatly in connotation and nuance from its Korean equivalent. The middle-aged security officer with bags under his eyes looked at me.
Could he be that
Miju nodded.
Yes. This is Chairman Li I serve.
Li was the surname of the alias I was using this time. Nationality Peru. An identity purchased from a South American broker connected to casinos exclusively for foreigners. The nodding security officer briefly saluted me.
Im Hu Shanliang. Deputy Secretary Gao ordered me to politely escort the Chairman.
Then he looked at Miju. Asking for interpretation.
Li Gyuhwi. Well be seeing a lot of each other, so I look forward to your guidance.
Hu Shanliang made a slightly surprised expression at my reply in Cantonese without an interpreter. A name I had already heard during the briefing. One of those three security bureau executives that were like spare lives for Gao Shusen. This security officer gazed at me searchingly through my sunsses and then guided me to the prepared convoy.
Please get in for now. The Deputy Secretary is waiting.
I boarded a vehicle with only the minimum number of subordinates including Kyung-tae. The remaining subordinates led by Suyeon began loading the goods guarded by the officers who hade to greet us. Food and medical supplies, materials needed to remodel the ships interior, etc.
As I boarded the car, Hu Shanliang had a brief conversation with his subordinates outside before following. Based on his subordinates flustered rambling while pointing at me and my entourage, Hu Shanliang was startled before stealing nces at me.
It wasnt difficult to guess what conversation had transpired. The capable could sense other nearby capable through reactions in the magical field, and aside from Hu Shanliang himself, the other subordinates wereposed of somewhat decently capable awakened.
Hu Shanliang must have been surprised that my subordinates abilities were quite a bit higher than his subordinates. I had also intentionally let my force field loose to an appropriate degree.
Here they call those with primitive magic abilities Special Ability Holders, I think?
Among civilians, moremon names were Divine Power User, Divine Power Warrior, and such uncouth titles, but the Communist Party hating religion obviously couldnt officially use such superstitious names.
Soon the convoy departed. As the security bureau cars with white license tes sped up, surrounding vehicles automatically vacated ane.
A noticeable sight while traveling the short distance was the state of the damaged CCTVs. All visible cameras werepletely smashed, spray-painted, or otherwise rendered unable to fulfill their roles. On the exterior walls of the halted high-rise construction sites were seditious phrases wildly spray-painted in red.
еΪ˸, Ʒ! (Destroy all surveince cameras for the revolution, help us overthrow the Communist Party!)
ëϯ̵, ǵָ·, жı֤, Ѿ˶ִٹʱ! йٴһʤ! (What Chairman Mao taught us is our infinite strength. It is the beacon lighting our path, the guarantee our actions are just, now is the time to overthrow this sham Communist Party! The Chinese peoples counter-restorationist great revolution will surely be victorious!)
The first exined why the CCTVs were a mess, and judging by thetter invoking Chairman Mao, it seemed like selectively excerpting usible parts from the ims of Mao Gong. I could find simr graffiti even in the apartmentplexes of viges that should have the most stable security.
At this rate, the military will have to step in soon.
With surveince cameras almost entirely neutered, 20-30% of Chinas meticulously constructed social surveincework had evaporated. Of course, the online surveincework was still active, but the copse of the frontline barrier preventing passive endorsement by ordinary citizens was the issue.
The hunting ground environment I had witnessed directly with my own eyes was truly beyond expectations
Wait.
I frowned and demanded of the officer driving,
Stop the car at once.
Why do that?
Well talk after stopping. Hurry!
The Third-ss Sergeant with both hands on the wheel made a confused expression but yielded to my forceful speech, informing the other vehicles via radio then pulling the car onto the shoulder and stopping. It was a point just past crossing a bridge from the pier. The entire convoy moving together stopped bumper to bumper before and after.
The seated officer asked in a tone barely concealing displeasure.
Chairman. Our destination is right ahead, so why did you tell us to stop?
Look at that truck over there.
The truck?
The two officers in the front seats knitted their brows, observing the truck I indicated. But seemingly unable to discover anything suspicious, they looked at each other and shook their heads once each. The senior officer Hu Shanliang, also doubtful, asked again.
Whats wrong with that?
I replied while monitoring the truck with its brake lights on.
It seems the cargo loaded on it is a bomb.
What? Its just an ordinary concrete pipe right?
Outwardly it did seem so. A steel-reinforced concrete pipemonly used for waterworks. However, I could see the explosives loaded inside. Fortunately, there was a clue even the average-eyed sergeant could understand, for exnations sake.
Look closely again. Isnt the back of the pipe blocked by something concave? They even painted the interior of the pipe to make it difficult to notice the pipe was blocked. Why would they need to do that?
Is it blocked? It does seem suspicious when I listen and look again but just based on that
Do you not know? Thats a typical explosive-formed prator (EFP) shape. The short length of the pipe is also evidence. Simply put, its like a disposable cannon with high pration. It seems those parked military vehicles over there are the target.
An explosive-formed prator was a directional explosive made by filling a closed-end pipe with explosives and then sealing the remaining opening with a concave metal liner. It operates on the principle of deforming the metal liner using explosive pressure to eject it at high speed.
For example, by filling a 20-centimeter diameter and depth container with explosives and then capping the opening with a 3-kilogram copper liner, the deformed metal projectile would shoot out at Mach 6 speed. Its power could prate reinforced concrete up to 80 centimeters deep. This was enough destructive power to punch through several armored vehicles in one go.
Moreover, the bomb loaded on the truck looked to be at least 1 meter in diameter and depth. It was hard to estimate how much pration it would have. The sturdy, solid container seemed like it would have rtively little dispersing firepower.
Now the security officers who had finally taken my warning seriously hastily retreated the car while busily radioing back and forth. Meanwhile, the truck carrying the bomb made a U-turn crossing the center line at the crosswalk ahead, then parked at the far edge of the road feigning parking to take aim at the military vehicles. The distance between the two sides was about 30 meters.
Wearing a mask, the driver repeatedly got out and sat astride the concrete pipe to trace imaginary lines of fire then returned to the drivers seat to adjust his aim, repeating this process. To put it nicely, he was an extremely meticulous terrorist, but to put it bluntly, he was an inexperienced rookiecking experience and confidence.
I felt a slight satisfaction.
Off to a good start. This will give off apetent impression right from the beginning.
Themunication between the security personnel escted and eventually reached their leader, Gao Shusen. Gao Shusen decided to handle it himself and terminated themunication.
However
The Peoples Liberation Army vehicles deployed to respond to the rapidly changing situation in the city still showed no intention of moving even after five more minutes had passed. An officer leaned on an armored vehicle and smoked a cigarette, wearing nothing but a look of annoyance. It seemed like no warning had reached them. The truck driver had justpleted his sixteenth micro-adjustment. The terrorist, perched on the concrete pipe with his legs spread wide, closed one eye, extended his right arm, checked his aim, and, finally seeming satisfied, broke into a trembling smile. After ncing at his wristwatch, he let out a sigh of relief.
And then, the hidden bombs timer activated.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 79: Metamorphosis (6)
Chapter 79: Metamorphosis (6)
The time in the detonator was 1 minute 42 seconds. Judging by the fact that it didnt end cleanly on the minute mark, the attack site here definitely wasnt the only one. So the terrorist here was quitete.
The terrorist who activated the bomb abandoned the car and fled hastily. An aplice on a motorbike was waiting in the direction he fled. As the terrorist got in the backseat, the aplice twisted the throttle all the way and swiftly left the scene. The path the motorbike took to get away of course had not a single working CCTV.
When the remaining time became 53 seconds, Hu Shanliang looked at me with an anxious expression.
You said it was like a disposable cannon Should we move further for safety?
He asked really quickly. I shook my head sideways.
This is plenty. More importantly, is it okay to just let the terrorist go?
Well, there are circumstances for that.
I figured that much without you telling me. Your superior must be at odds with the guy in charge over there. My point is, shouldnt you at least track them to find out their base? It could lead to clues about the ck Childrens Party.
Hu Shanliang opened his mouth with a stupid look on his face.
Ipetent fools. The lower and higher-ups were on the same level.
29 seconds until the explosion. I stretched my hand out and demanded,
If you have any spare weapons, give them to me. We need to prepare forbat. Same for my men.
Huh? Did you saybat?
This is the entrance to the city. If I were the terrorist, I would have sted through here and moved on. At the very least, Id make a show of it in the middle of the city.
The Guangzhou Tower, andmark in Guangzhou, was just five blocks away. The surrounding area was filled with high-rise apartments where Communist Party members were concentrated. Therefore, even running as a group with gs in broad daylight in the heart of the city could create a tremendous impact. Foreign tourists who had notpletely left were likely to livestream each of their countries broadcasts.
Although I was specting, I had already spotted a group of ambushers. Some of the weapons they possessed were enough to make me smirk. They must be individuals who were very familiar with what propaganda means.
Hu Shanliang, whose forehead began to glisten, ryed instructions via radio to another car and then opened the glovepartment to retrieve a pistol.
Here, take this. There are also two automatic rifles in the trunk, but going out now is a bit-
This will do for now. Ill take it.
Uh
Kyung-tae, who had been silently listening, took the pistol in my ce. The semi-automatic pistol with a 15-round magazine was Chinese-made but used the moremon 9mm rounds found in the West (QSZ-92G-9). The difference from military models using unique Chinese specifications. As Kyung-tae pulled back the slide and loaded a bullet into the chamber, the time remaining was 3 seconds. I casually warned,
Cover your ears.
Huh?
Foolish bastard. I leaned back on the seat right before the truck exploded. The sh, bang, and shockwave. The moment the condensed steam spread out, all the ss windows around us shattered. The ss of our vehicle also lost its transparency with a crack. idents urred here and there on the road.
While the two in the front seats froze like ughtered pigs, I leisurely appreciated the prated convoy of the Peoples Liberation Army, neatly lined up. The armor pration of the EFPunchers was so tremendous that ironically, the survival rate of the passengers increased. Over half of the front vehicles were cleanly prated by theunchers. So the rear vehicles were hit even harder. Because the shrapnel from the split chassis tore up the insides.
At this point, the lucky survivors response waslike watching a pstickedy.
The levels are simr to the morons in South Sudan.
In the past 16 years, China had sent a mechanized infantry battalion to South Sudan as peacekeeping troops. And how were they back then? They refused to mobilize because they didnt want to leave the base, retreated to the center of the base whenbat broke out, and abandoned their posts and weapons, and fled when the battle intensified.
That was exactly how the survivors here were reacting now.
After confirming the ck box in this car had no audio, I spoke in Korean.
Kyung-tae, lets get out.
Roger.
Thud. Crash. I got out of the car, tore off the door to use as a shield, and smashed the window to shoot easily. A car door could bounce small caliber pistol bullets if you tilted it. More was possible by coating it with telekic power. Anyway, this wasnt a battlefield where I could fully utilize magical fields, so I had to prioritize efficiency regardless of technique.
Sounds of locks breaking also came from behind the car. Kyung-tae had forcefully opened the trunk. He tucked the pistol with its safety into his waistband after taking out the two rifles inside and threw me one. The AK-pattern rifle (Type 81) furnished by the Peoples Liberation Army had a quaint wooden stock. Just this showed the discrimination Gao Shusens faction received. I briefly put down the makeshift shield, epted the spare magazine, and stuffed it into my coat pocket.
Wha- what are you?
I gestured at the approaching noise sources with my chin, waking up the pale-faced Hu Shanliang.
Get ready if youre woken up. Ferocious guests areing.
The chorus of noisy echoes from all directions were motorbikes twisting their RPMs. Hu Shanliang made another stupid sound.
Do we have to fight?
What would you sayter if we were this close and did nothing?
But the closed circuit cameras are wrecked anyway
What about this cars ck box? And what about the smartphones of the people watching over there? That footage will all go to Beijing.
Hearing me, Hu Shanliang looked around the surrounding buildings with a clear-minded expression. The high-rise apartmentplexes around us all had nice greenery without exception. Residences with greenery in Chinese cities were monopolized by the privileged ss. The people looking out their windows and terraces pointing smartphones this way were the families of that privileged ss. The countless cameras were summoned by the explosion.
You will be a hero of your nation and party.
If he survived here, that is. Hearing me, Hu Shanliang squeezed his eyes shut and demandedbat readiness from his subordinates on the radio, while also requesting support from higher authorities.
Vroom vroom vrooom!
The chorus of exhaust notes reached its climax, and from the alleys opening onto the road, dozens of motorbikes swarmed out like hos. The ck Childrens Party attack squad with two awakened riders per bike were armed with pistols, submachine guns, and shortened rifles, and the sunlight nced off the wide des of broadswords (Dadao). These broadswords (Dadao) with long hilts were the officially used anti-Japanese broadswords better known for fighting Japan in WWII.
Not yet. Its not time.
At my direction, Kyung-tae nodded and crouched down behind the vehicle, using the radio to convey the same orders to subordinates in other cars. The primary targets of the enemys initial charge were the Peoples Liberation Army survivors directly hit by the EFPs. There was no need to draw attention by stepping out early. As we concealed ourselves, Hu Shanliangs group also hunkered down warily.
Ratatatatata! While wildly spraying bullets as intimidation, the ck Childrens Party bike attack squad charged in at high speed, piercing straight through the panicked Chinese military survivor group from five different directions in session. The ambush was intricately coordinated, with only a 3-4 second dy between each pration.
Help me!
A soldier who shrieked at the top of his lungs was cut in two with a massive sh. The de wielded with the speed of the bike and an awakened ones strength passed through the body as if no resistance existed at all. Although the severing itself was instantaneous, the copse urred slowly. The arm fell first before the bisected body finally toppled over, spilling blood.
In just a moment, a simr fate befell fifteen more from the shes. A full seven more than those hit by gunfire. Severed heads and limbs and torsos rolled around the burning armored vehicles. Puddles of crimson blood slowly spread over the asphalt.
Ratatatatata! The panicked entire units retaliation. But it was blind firing, visibility was reduced by the smoke, and the bikes nimbly changing direction amidst the obstacles from the collisions were near impossible to hit.
The ck Childrens Party attack squad also found mid-to-long-range shooting difficult, so theypletely took cover to respond with concentrated fire at close range, or something simr. But that was impossible for this rabble. With themander and nos and soldiers all busy cowering every which way, leaving bloodied footprints, how could that be possible? The ck Childrens Partys secondary charge swarmed in towards these people who hadpletely lost even a minimum of organization.
Vroom vroom vroom! Brrrrmmmm!
Deliberately deafening noises made to seem like street racers. Dozens of bikes surrounded the prey and spun in different directions. Silhouettes danced amidst the smoke and the shes of gunfire flickered. With the noisy gunshots and rough motorcycle engines amplified from all sides, those who threw down their weapons knelt and shouted with both hands raised that they surrendered. Some soldiers even cried like children as they fled toward the shopping district and apartmentplexes. Return fire urred only intermittently several times.
Blood-soaked bikes mercilessly charged towards them. Once again, numerous heads detached from bodies, and several torsos were separated vertically. A bike rider caught the severed head he had knocked off mid-air, holding it up like a trophy, drenched in the pouring blood.
! ںh! й! ĵҪ! (Long live the revolution! Long live the ck Childrens Party! Long live the Chinese people! The enemies of the people must die!)
Then came the ensuing purge, no, it was closer to a mass execution. A private whose waist was severed was dragged while caught in a noose by a speeding motorcycle. Although everything below his ribs was gone, his heart was still beating, and he left a bloody ink painting-like trail of blood along the circr path of the bike.
This execution ground enclosed by lines of blood gradually took the lives of the Chinese military who had lost their will to resist as they were shed one by one. Riders who had jumped off their bikes seized whimpering officers, NCOs, and privates begging for their lives, pushed them to their knees, and carried out beheadings. Some recorded it on video while others collected spoils; their roles were clear. The riders remaining on the bikes hunted down and exterminated those trying to flee.
Whoaaaa!
Howling like beasts, the ck Childrens Party attack squad celebrated their victory. They deserved to be proud, crushing the enemy in just two charges. However, it was now time to let them know prey existed here as well.
A-are you going to attack?
Taking aim from behind the shield with a kneeling posture, Hu Shanliang asked me in a cracking voice. I nced at him indifferently.
Why wouldnt I?
I signaled Kyung-tae with my eyes. He nodded and used the radio to direct the attack. Target allocation was instantaneouslyplete. My share was targets obscured by the smoke, invisible to normal sight.
As a check, when I looked around at Jinyeong, I saw Park Mijus pale face gripping a pistol. I gave Kyung-tae additional instructions.
Tell Miju not to engage inbat. Have her hide in the backseat or something.
Got it.
While all organization members underwent mandatorybat training, those ssified as purely sales like the deceased Gabsoo and Miju werent much help in times like these. Because theycked realbat experience regardless of whether their circuits were open. And right now, Park Miju, as she herself said, was the critical link to Gao Shusen, so protecting her took priority.
Shes also in an emotionally unstable state.
She depended a lot on her senior.
Bang! Ratatatata!
Right on time as ourbat preparation ended, an explosion urred in one of the armored vehicles. The detonating ammunition inside blew out thick shell casings towards the open door, ejecting them out. As the riders gazes reflexively turned that way, Kyung-tae gave the order to fire.
Now! Shoot!
Kakakang!Kakakang! My three-round bursts pierced two riders helmets in my line of fire. Four hits. The two bastards with oozing brains shook and knelt down before copsing forward and backward. In addition, seven were killed or injured by Kyung-taes squads gunfire. We could have killed twice as many if visibility was better with fewer obstacles and limitations on weaponry. Hu Shanliangs subordinates possessed rifles while mine had pistols. Letting greed trump ability.
What the! Whats going on?!
While the riders were intoxicated with victory, Hu Shanliangs men btedly joined the attack when they were confused. But suppressive fire without purpose after we had already killed all we could, far from racking up kills, only let the enemy clearly realize our position. Soon after, the asphalt around us broke apart with the sound of metal shattering. It was the retaliation from the enemys gunners. Even my car door shield rang with dull thuds several times. But not a single bullet prated through thanks to the titled angle and high-density telekinesis filling the interior and exterior.
Screeeeeech!
High-pitched friction sounds echoed inyers. The riders tilted their bike bodies low, leaving skid marks as they drifted to change direction. As dozens of bikes spun in ce, the swordsmen and gunners who had dismounted swiftly returned to their positions.
The ck Childrens Party attack squadmenced another fierce charge.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 80: Metamorphosis (7)
Chapter 80: Metamorphosis (7)
The bike riders turned on their headlights to confuse our vision. They werent normal headlights but concentrated beams with such high luminance they could leave afterimages in the eyes of onlookers. With over ten such headlights, it was impossible to properly return fire with normal visibility. Even my subordinates wearing protective goggles for anonymity had reduced uracy.
Damn it!
Hu Shanliang cursed through gritted teeth. In the meantime, I alone precisely shattered the enemys spearhead with urate aim. Semi-auto precision firing, pulling the trigger continuously with the gun resting on the makeshift shield. The vanguard of the charging squad relying on tremendous luminance was obliterated in an instant. With the front row copsing in a heap, the rear row hastily initiated evasive maneuvers.
Watch out!
Were gonna crash!
Urgent shrieks from the other side. But avoiding it all was nothing short of a miracle when eight bikes were spinning like tops and twice as many riders were rolling on the ground. Additional collisions urred here and there as people and machines amiably flew up into the air.
I yelled as I somersaulted over a skidding bike headed my way in a low stance,
Now! Fire! Concentrated fire front right!
The situation where the group that seeded in evading split left and right, exposing their broad nk. I focused firepower on the right group to first copse one side, limiting the enemys offensive to a single direction. Fighting while only guarding one side was easier than not doing so. Hu Shanliangs group also unconsciously followed my order when I shouted in Cantonese.
Katkak! Katkak! Tic- The thin clicking sound interrupted the continuous firing. My magazine was empty at this crucial moment. Blocking the enemys shots with my shield and kneeling on one knee, I fixed the rifle behind my knee before swiftly changing the magazine with just one hand. This took less than two breaths. Around when I shot five rounds with the new magazine, the right front group gave up their charge and scattered amidst the obstacles. In exchange, the left charge neared the point-nk range. The deafening exhaust notes were painfully close. When even shooting wouldnt prate my shield, the enraged enemy vanguard drew their broadswords back over their shoulder. I briefly redirected more of my circuits limited output to physical enhancement.
Die!
When I fully parried the iing de, the sword got stuck and the man was knocked back. The wooden thunk sound was from his wrist. As the one who tumbled wordlessly and his partner who fell from the rear seat looked back, I marked each with three-round bursts twice. At the same time, I continuously blocked the following sword strikes.
Hyungnim! Grenade!
Following Kyung-taes urgent warning, I saw the just-thrown grenade. The colors of the explosives emphasized by my vision stood out clearly, making my heart race. The sensation of adrenaline surging through. They mustve taken those explosives as spoils from the earlierbat. Should I block the detonation with ignition prevention? No, that would be too conspicuous a coincidence. In a split second, I came up with an alternative method. I threw down the rifle and drew out the sword stuck in my shield.
Swish!
The drawing and swinging were a single motion, and the broadswords wide side was optimal for batting away the grenade. Hitting it with all my strength, the grenade became a projectile flying several times faster than when it was thrown, bouncing off in apletely different direction.
The ground convulsed. Dust on the asphalt shuddered from the grenades explosive bang and vibration. After rolling along the ground beneath the burning vehicles, the detonated grenades shrapnel, reflected off the ground, scattered only in a shallow upward angle. The group in the front right I had blocked earlier happened to get hit by some shrapnel as they were reassembling their formation behind cover.
However, there didnt appear to be any serious injuries. Their heads were protected by helmets, and the leather jackets they wore actually had metal tes fastened inside C a type of brigandine. Although it didnt cover their whole bodies, because of that some were bleeding from minor wounds.
Argh! Help! Help me!
I looked towards the screams and it was Hu Shanliang. The widely open car doors didnt provide cover as the passed group had fired from behind. Although the inurate shooting from the zigzag evasions of the ck Childrens Party members didnt have any hits yet, it was plenty to frighten the self-preserving bureaucrat. He was in the midst of hurriedly crawling into the car. However, that was the purpose of suppressive fire.
Guard the rear! Expose yourself to draw their eyes!
At my direction, Kyung-tae led six subordinates to newly secure cover in the rear. Taking this chance, Ipletely discarded the empty rifle and charged into closebat after grabbing the sword in my mouth. Towards the right front group peeking out from behind cover and smoke tomence a new attack.
What the?!
The rider in front who first emerged from the six-car pileup used as cover opened his eyes wide when he discovered me at a distance of just 5 meters, then immediately twisted the throttle to full. To counter that sudden eleration, instead of shooting I held up my shield diagonally and barged into him bodily. As the distance from the Hu Shanliang group had widened, it was fine to increase my circuits output. As the front wheel seemed to jump off my shield, the entire motorcycle wasunched into the air. Shocked by my suddenly amplified presence, the ck Childrens Party rider and fighter rolled through the air like a warthog thrown at an elephant. I unleashed automatic fire at the fuel tank of the bike I had pushed away, utilizing an ignition spell form. It just had to look usible from the outside with all the cameras aimed here!
Bang!
The bike exploded in midair. The two people roasted alive let out agonized screams. Some sparksnded on my shield as well, igniting a brief fire. Now only four bikes remained on this side. Towards the group squeezed together in the narrow gap trying to pass through, I emptied the remaining ammo in my rifle with a burst fired at head level. Several visors broke with gunshots exposing the perforated faces behind them. The bikes toppled over domino-style from the deaths of the riders. However-
F-fuck!
The swordsmen and gunners in the rear seats survived using the riders as meat shields. The rifle bullets werent able to prate the awakened ones skulls and the back of their helmets simultaneously. Cursing, they hastily recovered their postures from the copsed stance. The distance between us was 6 or 7 steps at most. This time, Ipletely discarded the empty rifle and engaged in closebat.
Ratatata-!
I pped aside the gun aimed at me as I closed in and smashed the head with the wide de. Teeth fragments mixed with blood sprayed out from below the descending sword.
Three left now. Two swordsmen and one gunman. Their terrified faces behind the visors resembled the dead Chinese soldiers from earlier. Thud! I threw the shield, folding the gunman in half, then bisected another swordsman diagonally before they could coordinate their breathing. Continuing the motion, I finished off the moaning gunman by chopping him down with the broadsword.
Spar
Thest swordsman was unsteady on his feet as he pissed himself.
Spare me
Throw down the sword first.
The swordsman quickly discarded the broadsword, and I cleanly severed his neck with a murky horizontal sh. I couldnt let live someone who briefly experienced my circuits output rising. His sliced-off head tumbled and met its end after blinking twice. The loose eyeballs were fixed on me. A foolish expression, notprehending what had happened to him.
I retrieved the fallen shield and imed guns and ammo from the dead bodies. Afterpleting this newbat preparation and revealing myself, the ck Childrens Party group on the other side who had been waiting for a chance to attack from both front and rear grew restless. Then the guys watching the situation while firing from behind cover made a realistic, wise decision.
Retreat!
When someone who seemed highly ranked shouted with a shaking fist, the remainder of the bike attack squad receded like the receding tide. Though they still outnumbered us in raw numbers so continuing to draw out the battle with firepower couldve allowed them to grasp victory, the possibility of reinforcements arriving here could not be ruled out either.
Amazing, Chairman!
Hu Shanliang, who had watched the situation from inside the car, finally crawled out to pay his respects.
You saved my life! To defeat so many rebels alone! When you charged out alone, I thought you were done for good!
Dont exaggerate. This is supposed to be your grand achievement for public eyes, but if you fawn over me in front of all these spectators, whats the point?
Realizing my criticism over the watching eyes, the 3rd-grade Superintendent finally corrected his attitude. But his next words still contained cautious courtesy and awe, with greed and anticipation added in.
Would it really be alright for me to take all the credit for this? After Secretary Gao provides an identity, you may even be able to get promoted to a real security bureau chief-
I wont go back on my word so dont worry.
Yes, thank you
Discovered to be shallow, Hu Shanliang made an embarrassed yet excited expression.
No reinforcements yet?
Yes. It seems the ambush urred in more than just this location.
Then request an ambnce at least. Since the hospital is close by, they should prioritize sending rescue teams here.
No one is seriously injured so why an ambnce-
Are you still not thinking straight? Its the citizens, the citizens who were hurt!
Ah.
Shouldnt I solidly wrap up the hero role I gave him? Whenbat excitement paralyzes thoughts, this idiots behavior tests my patience. I set up the stage and he couldnt even eat it properly. Hu Shanliang finally used the radio to request medical support. Guangzhou No. 2 Peoples Hospital was nearby so they could be dispatched with high priority.
Hyungnim! Theres a first aid kit here!
Kyung-tae found a red bag in the open trunk and took it out. I scolded the radioing Hu Shanliang once more.
At least pretend to direct the rescue efforts. Were currently undercover cops following yourmand.
Ah, got it. Chairman.
And so my men and Imenced rescue activities resembling a y. We pulled out passengers stuck in the crushed ident vehicles, sorted them by the degree of injury to determine transport order, and provided emergency treatment beginning with those in critical condition.
I cant see, I cant see
Please bear it just a little longer. The ambnce will arrive soon.
The blood-drenched middle-aged man leaning against me had been shredded by the ss fragments from the windows shattered by the shockwave the instant the bomb exploded. The sole survivor from the hailstorm of reinforced ss shards pouring down from the high-rise buildings. Even as she bled, this mother frantically screamed her childs name.
Xinyan! Xinyan! Sir, please find my son Xinyan! He was wearing a red top and white pants!
I was immediately able to locate who Xinyan was. There was only one childs corpse on the spot glinting sharply with broken ss. Although the pants were dyed with blood so the clothing was different.
Ill look for him so please calm down for now.
My irritation simmering here was surely because the next nightmare would be intense. The remains of that damn master never failed to grate at my psyche.
Indeed, this was just a trivial tragedypared to the day I was pursuing.
I made an effort to shake off the unpleasant feeling as cheers, encouragement, and praise poured towards me from all directions.
The security bureau is the best! Long live the great mothend!
Kill off all those rebel bastards!
We believe in you!
Such rapture soon became the delight of the privileged ss residing in affluent districts. With Party membership at 90 million, converging to the number of the wealthy, they might as well be called a nobility n. I resumed the roley to enrapture them.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 81: Metamorphosis (8)
Chapter 81: Metamorphosis (8)
After arriving at the original destination, the security bureau branch, we waited half a day. Gao Shusen, the deputy secretary as well as a 1st-grade police superintendent of the Guangzhou Security Bureau, finally showed himself around sunset.
Sorry for beingte. It took quite some time to clean up the reactionary riot that happened this afternoon, and thanks to you all saving my reputation, there were many ces I had to show my face. I hope you understand.
I set down the teacup I was holding and simply answered while still seated.
Dont worry about it. Since this extended your and your subordinates lifespans by several days, wasting a few hours is eptable.
Haha.
Despite responding sharply on purpose to establish rtions with the party cadre who had spent half his life tyrannizing and lording over others, the loose-jawed Gao Shusen didnt get angry. Instead, he exchanged a friendly greeting with Park Miju behind me and addressed me with a smiling face.
Chairman Li Even if thats an alias, you must be that person. The owner of my old friend who gave me a second life and left this world, and the CEO of the Nameless Company renowned for headhunting and arms smuggling.
Nameless Company. So that was what they called mypany here.
My old friend often said he was alive thanks to you. Im surprised you look so young. I imagined someone around my age at least.
He seemed suspicious I might be an imposter, but such suspicion was actually beneficial, so I returned an appropriate response.
Im still older than that Gabsoo guy.
Huh? So youre not just extraordinarily skilled!
Thud. As Gao Shusen, whose cheeks shook, snapped his fingers, the secretary in a short skirt brought over his share of tea. As if it was natural, he patted the secretarys butt as she leaned forward. After she left with an amused smile, he asked me,
I had instructed to provide special hospitality, preparing to wee my esteemed guest, but upon arrival, Chairman immediately rejected it in a single stroke. They say you were so firm that it left the child feeling emotionally hurt. Could it be that her appearance did not suit your taste?
I came here for business, not to y. Even if I had turned a blind eye to such matters, I wouldnt havee out for a job like this.
Even for me, who didnt consider relieving sexual desires a troublesome task, entering into dealings with someone like this was inconceivable. On the other hand, it was a cunning move that made me ufortably recall the vanished Guan Xi, who disappeared due to past espionage issues.
Hmm, you are indeed a man of integrity that your subordinates would follow.
Gao Shusen nodded in understanding, his voice bing more serious.
Now lets get to the point I knew yourpany used to hunt down Korean con artists here in China. Sometimes your expert tracking and evidence elimination worried the officials, but still, it benefited us too. Unlike other greedy hunters, yourpany never failed to show appreciation when sessful, after all.
Thats right.
Korean con artists who came to China usually sent arge portion of the funds earned through their scams to third countries outside China and Korea. With officials and rich men so anxious about not being able to smuggle their assets out, whod foolishly bring everything into China?
Therefore, our human hunting was beneficial even from the perspective of the Chinese authorities. How much benefit did it bring them? They might have eventually stepped aside and started hunting on their own, risking the possibility of diplomatic issues. This was the reason why the organizations human hunting business in China had sharply shifted since the mid-2010s.
If possible, I want to bring it back this time.
After killing the Communist Partys watchdogs, filling the vacant positions with ourpanys operatives would be ideal.
In the days when Chinas surveince system wascking, there was no need for gestures of gratitude. However, now, it had be necessary to deposit the insurance provided by the authorities for a secure environment.
I was an indirect beneficiary of those profits.
Being an indirect beneficiary meant he wasnt in a position to directly receive the payoffs back when our headhunting in China thrived. That was only possible thanks to his uncles influence.
So I thought yourpanys experience and secrets could help track down the ck Childrens Party too. We find and you catch. That was the extent I expected.
With a deep sigh, Gao Shusen continued in a more serious tone.
But the abilities your side showed today were truly, truly unbelievable.
At a nce, it sounded like praise, but it wasnt difficult to realize it was a barbed statement.
Does it seem suspicious?
I dont want to doubt a benefactor, but yes. How can mere civilians possess such capabilities? What if Im involving foreign powers? I cant shake off the concern that I may truly be a traitor rather than face false usations.
Were outstanding, but you fools are even more ipetent you pig. As these thoughts swirled in my mouth, I showed understanding outwardly.
I understand. Given Chinas circumstances.
Thank you for understanding.
Gao Shusen revealed a weary appearance.
What makes my concerns heavier is the decisive betrayal your homnd recently showed. Didnt Korea throw away the friendship and dedication built with our great nation and take the imperialists side? Even considering its a survival strategy for a small state, it still cant be described as anything but an ungrateful viiny. Our great nation has given Korea so much favor
Betrayal. Betrayal. The so-called betrayal here referred to Koreas decision to be a founding member of the new massive military alliance at Americas behest.
That military alliance was the Pacific-Rim Treaty Organization. Shortened to PARTO or PARTREO.
The Pacific-Rim Treaty Organizations birth was the result of America forcing its allies and associates in the Pacific region to choose one or the other. America or China. No neutrality. Like the deranged deration to impose economic sanctions on the level of China on any nation refusing or dying joining. But on second look, this wasnt simple madness. With the increasing number and strength of awakened primitive magic users, a poption now guaranteed asymmetric warfare capabilities. Chinas emergency backed by 1.44 billion people had to be desperately obstructed by any and all means.
In response, China warned Korea there would be consequences like a second Hanjin Incident, referring to various forms of retaliation. But at the crossroads, Korea ultimately chose America. Superficially it seemed to submit to American pressure, but in reality, it was due to the geopolitical position leaving them no choice but to feel Chinas threat more keenly than Americas. If America failed to contain China, the consequences Korea would face then would be on another dimension. (+)TLN: The Hanjin Incident or the 2010C2011 Hanjin Heavy Industries strike was a strike in South Korea and the Philippines from 28 December 2010 to 10 November 2011, resulting from theyoff of 400 Hanjin Heavy Industries employees.
That was why some Chinese people poisoned by distorted patriotism these days referred to Koreans as Hanjian, using the same characters as the traitors cooperating with Japan during imperial times, albeit with different pronunciation and tone. (+)TLN: Hanjian () can be tranted as Korean traitor. And for the Japan one, its Hangan (h).
While mulling over the foolish mob mentality and the Communist Partys survival strategy exploiting it, I spoke.
I understand, but its useless worrying.
Is that so?
Even if Im a death merchant bribed by foreign powers, Im still the best choice for you, Deputy Secretary. Worrying about unsolvable problems is worse than not worrying at all.
What if its not the optimal but the least bad option?
When the choices are only worst and least bad, the least bad is the optimal. Am I wrong?
.
Although it was a chance opportunity, Ive already provided free services to you. Frankly, didnt you enjoy this afternoon quite a bit? For a moment, you forgot the crisis of being purged anytime and wandered around showing your face everywhere as the hero of the glorious party and nation fallen into decline.
It was enjoyable. Thanks to you.
As Gao Shusen readily admitted with a smile, I casually shrugged my shoulders at him.
Lets stop wasting time. I will bring you survival and honor in the hunting grounds you open, through which you can be an exceptional friend providing me differentiated intimacy. Any profits urring in the process can be divided by considering safety and each sides contributions. What do you think about my proposal?
The friend I spoke of was a conventional term indicating a spys depth. While Gao Shusen pressed his lips and looked up in thought, Park Miju interjected calmly.
Deputy Secretary, may I have a moment?
Ah, Mrs. Park. Please speak.
I wont take long. Thete Department Head Seo Gabsoo owed his life to Chairman here and vowed to repay that debt by dedicating the rest of his life to serving him. And he fulfilled that pledge through action in this city. Literally with his life.
.
In other words, Chairman holds some equity in you still being alive now. Our Chairman is very strict about promises and credibility, so please ce your faith because of Department Head Seo and myself.
After silently watching Miju, Gao Shusen deeply nodded as if dropping his head.
Entrusting the life I owe thanks to my old friend Seo to my old friend Seospany is reasonable.
He then turned his gaze to me.
Ill stop wasting time as you say.
You thought it through well.
Then tell me. Where and how will we start?
That depends on how much influence you have left But judging from the trip here, your rtionship with the military seems non-existent, and other departments of city administration or security dont seem much different either.
If not, there wouldve been no need to meet me directly. Which other departments would provide cooperation and intel to a detached man like him? Gao Shusen made an ufortable expression.
Thats too blunt.
Then please correct me. We need to build ns reflecting that part. But dont forget your informations uracy will determine your life.
In short, I was telling him not to bluff out of pointless pride. Though pride and bluffing seemed ingrained in the Chinese identity, he was someone who reached the municipal party standingmittee, essentially the core of the Communist Party itself which was a den of power addicts. So this much discernment was probably possible.
Or I should shelve making a spy of him. Scout someone else or give up altogether.
Although securing military funds was possible even with fake identities, that alone was still a profitable business. But fortunately, Gao Shusenplied with my expectations with an irritated sigh.
Damn, youre right. Whether its the Politburo or the cyber police squad, the security management squad, criminal investigation squad, theyre all ignoring me without exception. I cant even fully trust the patrol squad Im still in charge of.
The cyber police squad handled cyber crimes, the security management squad monitored anti-government social activities, and the criminal investigation squad responded to crime and terrorism. Add the army to that, and it meant Gao Shusen and the patrol squad chiefs were isted from all rted intel, left to be pettyckeys of other departments before being gradually sacrificed as political scapegoats.
In short.
I raised my chin.
Youre saying we have no choice but to start chasing from scratch at the bottom, gradually hoping for chance meetings like this afternoon?
Yes.
Well, that is the textbook way to hunt, but at that rate, how long will it take to yield meaningful results? Will you be okay with that?
The question of whether hed still be breathing by then. Gao Shusens face distorted even more severely than before.
I can only believe in yourpanys abilities. Or is there another alternative?
There is. One huge deal that will immediately extend your lifespan.
What is it?
Lets take down the triads in this region. Its been long since those bastards have pretended to be the partys dirty errand boys, so even someone ostracized like you should have some intel rted to the Guangdong triads. Like the profiles of frontline chiefs, the structure of subordinate organizations, where businesses are located, etc.
No, but why the triads who have no rtion with the ck Childrens Party-
Dont pretend to be naive.
I cut off Gao Shusens bewildered words and tapped the table.
We can manufacture the connection.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 82: Metamorphosis (9)
Chapter 82: Metamorphosis (9)
Before even hearing the details, Gao Shusen showed difort from the start.
No, that wont do. As you said, the triads in this region are the dirty errand boys of the party and nation. If we remove them recklessly without a n, all the secret businesses using them as a buffer will crumble. How can you tell me to handle the aftermath? Whats more, they paid payoffs not just to me but multiple agencies and chiefs connected on the line, so how will I endure the wrath of the others?
After this poured out in one breath, Gao Shusen whined like a bratty kid throwing a tantrum.
I cant do it. Thats the path to my swifter death!
It was a natural reaction considering the esteemed intelligence agencies including the central partys distant higher-ups, the Ministry of State Security, and the Joint Staff Department were outsourcing to the Guangdong triads. Even in the process of distributing heroin and fentanyl produced in Southeast Asia, the triads organization was an essential tool. If the triads copsed, it would result in a minimum loss of tens of billions of yuan every quarter.
It would never be revealed aboveboard, but that was exactly why the anger of those whose pockets were lined would be even greater.
Knowing these circumstances, I threw out a cynical remark.
Youre too frightened.
Gao Shusen briefly failed atposure management.
Theres a w in what youre saying, Deputy Secretary.
Where?
The part about the businesses entrusted to them crumbling if we eliminate the triads.
Thats wrong?
Yes, wrong. Because those businesses have long been suspended, so theres nothing that will suddenly float in the air and disappear.
What, what do you mean?
It was understandable he wouldnt know since he only indirectly scavenged crumbs. As an industry expert and polite business partner, I enlightened Gao Shusen about reality.
First, lets look at their biggest business and money line C drug distribution. You must know the US President dered China as the number one enemy in the war against drugs. There wereints before, but the important point is they officially stated it this time.
In my view, this was promoted by the reelected American President harnessing anti-Chinese sentiment to expand his support base while solidifying the justification for hardline diplomacy against China.
As a result of the US mobilizing its military to crack down and repeating witch hunt-like trials, the North American triad branches, and their local partners were reduced to not even a root remaining.
In the process, quite a few innocents were also imprisoned, but that wasnt a particrly important matter to the American citizens whose bones were soaked in mad anti-Chinese sentiment. There were many other attention-grabbing interests like the ck protests and riots against racial discrimination, crime surge due to supernormals, Trembling Giants invasion, and so on.
Then is the European market fine? No. Continuing to deal drugs in this situation is nothing but a moronic move begging Europe to hold Americas hand and punish China. It most directly assists Americas diplomatic business.
In conclusion, all drug distribution through the triads waspletely halted, even if temporarily.
Thats, uh, certainly
Seeing Gao Shusens expression rx in eptance, I found it amusing. The fact that this person in charge of security in a core southern city waspletely unaware of the situation I described itself proved the central Chinese governments control over the triads drug trade. Whether it was the Ministry of State Security or the Joint Staff Department, they had the Guangdong triads firmly by the reins.
If not, the triads wouldve kept selling drugs, the central authorities wouldve issued powerful crackdown orders, and working official Gao Shusen couldnt have not known about the situation of carrying out those orders.
I changed my posture and continued speaking.
What remains are misceneous businesses like human trafficking and arms smuggling, but the only one of use to your party is arms smuggling. However, weapons arent quickly consumed like drugs, and international arms trade in the ck market is mostly through sporadic, one-time deals.
But its still needed, right?
Werent they just disposable tails you asionally used? As long as new errand boys are prepared before its needed again, thats it.
Gao Shusens eyes narrowed.
Like, for instance, Chairmans Nameless Company?
No. The triad trashs vacant spots should be filled by those you hold the reins of. Youll have to reserve some equity for ourpany too, but we dont intend to be greedy.
Just that much satisfies you?
I said we dont intend to be greedy. This China isnt suitablend for foreigners to establish a fixed foothold and run long-term businesses. Every businessman should have the discernment to know what he can and cant possess.
Just look at the fates of the foreign corporations who jumped in to enter China attracted only by money. Chinas shadows were an even more hostile business environment than its surface. Because, unlike the surface, they didnt need to consider foreign gazes.
Sigh.
Gao Shusen sighed and apologized to me.
Sorry. I overreacted.
No.
But, even if theyre useless for now, their connections havent disappeared. How will you address that issue? Do you have some n for that too?
That can just be resolved with money.
Money? What money?
Money from raiding your political enemies basements.
.
After briefly pondering, Gao Shusen asked back in an incredulous tone.
Chairman. Are you suggesting theft to me now? To a security bureau chief whose duty it is to catch thieves?
Well catch the thieves. Some of the stolen goods will be discovered in the triads businesses. There wont just be cash in your enemies basements and safes, right?
Haha!
The security bureau chief let out a tenseugh.
So thats what you meant earlier when you said we can manufacture the connection?
If stolen goods and other evidence are discovered along with them, who could deny the connection between the triads and the ck Childrens Party? The triads already have many members of the ck Sea, dont they?
As people without household registrations, the ck Sea people were inherently unable to engage in normal employment. Even if they somehow tried to work honestly, the higher-ups would always skim their wages, and they had nowhere toin about having their wages skimmed. In their names, they couldnt buy homes, or open bank ounts, and if injured or sick, their life and death depended purely on luck.
Therefore, ck Sea people whose very existence was uwful often sustained their livelihood through uwful businesses, as if it were an innate destiny. This was why those of ck Sea people ounted for a considerable ratio in the triads action squads. The triads used household registration scams and forgeries to attract the ck Sea peoples loyalty to the organization, understanding their hardships tied tocking registrations. That is, it opened the way for them to legally be a person.
Thus, while the ck Sea people in the triads werent a group as desperate and hopeless as those involved with the ck Childrens Party, in the view of those above, they were equally wicked bastards. I nned to exploit the ruling sss ss unawareness for profit.
Lets say thats true.
Gao Shusen nodded repeatedly.
What can I do to help with the most important ouwry?
Just provide intel.
Intel?
Information on whose assets are hidden where. Although your uncle is currently imprisoned, before that he was the provincial Chief Inspector. He must have a dagger hidden away somewhere.
If not, Id have to track down one by one the vis officials had obtained under borrowed names with my own eyes, but there was no need to really go that far. What are the odds a power figure whose central party promotion was imminent didnt have any insurance? Knowledge about the enemys weaknesses was outstanding insurance with no risk of disappearance.
Of course, to gain that information, Gao Shusen would first have to secretly contact his uncle Gao Ninghui, but he should somehow manage that much through his own connections.
If you just pass on the intel, mypany and I will handle everything else.
What if you get caught or your tails are stepped on in the middle?
How could such a moronic question evene out? Concealing my contempt, I answered dryly.
Do I have to guarantee safety that far? Theres no business without apanying risks in the world. The only thing 100% certain is the conclusion of doing absolutely nothing, Deputy Secretary. Im willing to assist in escaping abroad if need be.
Chastised lightly, Gao Shusen pondered before nodding once more.
Ill try. If we seed, I may be able to pave an escape route for my uncle as well.
I hope it turns out that way too.
If we pull it off, youll be treated like a brother by me and my uncle.
That would be good too.
Bing brothers with both Gao Shusen and Gao Ninghui didnt mean messing up the family tree randomly, but it signified treating me with the same consideration as blood rtives.
How will you divide the profits? I mean, excluding whats used as evidence, the remainder of the pure profits from raiding the ck Childrens Party. Its only natural more of the percentage goes to you, Chairman, but this requires me to take considerable risks too.
What considerable risks? Even with Gao Ninghui imprisoned, his faction must still be holding their ground. Reaching the position of provincial Chief Inspector, even if he was purged, all the legal trial procedures had to be followed, and he wasnt confirmed guilty until the final verdict.
Therefore, Gao Shusens talk of risks was absurdlyughable, but I was fully willing to show favor to this future brother.
Lets split it exactly half-half.
Hearing me, Gao Shusen, who probably hadnt expected this much, wet his lips with his tongue.
Youll give me that much?
I value credibility. The entire work process will be recorded on video, and youll be able to verify my fairness through that footage. But.
But?
I must be the one to fully decide what and how much of the stolen goods and valuables to appropriate as evidence, excluding the remainder. Do you agree?
Simply put, I was saying I couldnt trust his patience and moderation. With the amount of goods deemed as evidence directly bing the crackdown results on the ck Childrens Party, things couldnt properly proceed if he was reluctant to reinvest the stolen valuables deeming it wasteful.
You underestimate me too much, Chairman.
Gao Shusen agreed with a deted air.
Alright, lets do that. I ask again for your care.
Im the one who should say that.
If you need anything, please tell me. I will support you as much as possible within my capabilities.
There was much support to be received. Equipment and weapons for security bureau hunting, vehicles, and license tes, forged IDs, ess to the internal security, intel, and unofficial control rights on the patrol squads personnel and facilities, etc. To smuggle out the stolen goods through the waters, an inspection authority would also be necessary, but that was too demanding for Gao Shusens current position.
Therefore, I first demanded the urgent needs.
Just rmend one decent, nearby restaurant.
A restaurant?
Waiting for you, I couldnt even feed my men. Barring special circumstances, letting subordinates starve is a disgrace for one in a leadership position.
Uh, right.
Some traces of blood rose in Gao Shusens somewhat stiffenedplexion.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 83: Metamorphosis (10)
Chapter 83: Metamorphosis (10)
Ingredients are limitless, yet food has ss distinctions. The Chinese were obsessed with gourmet cuisine and went crazy over rare ingredients because what and how you eat signified your status. This tendency strengthened as you moved up the socialdder. If I was superior to others, then what I ate must be superior too.
Simrly, a meal served as a means to unt oneself to others. The reason Chinese business talks always unfolded overvish banquets in restaurants was that providing distinguished guests with sophisticated dining expresses hospitality, but more fundamentally built up the hosts face or prestige. Knowing this, the guest would make sure to leave a little of each dish that came out, signaling that the hosts preparations were adequate and thoughtful. This was considered well-mannered behavior.
Therefore, when I had asked Gao Shusen to rmend a restaurant, it was tantamount to tantly provoking themunist aristocrats pride. Even if there were extenuating circumstances, to make a guest wait hungry and indirectly point out that fact would be practically an insult to his face. He must have felt extremely humiliated.
Soon after, he called to reserve an entire restaurant at akeside eatery, preparing an excessively bountiful array ofvish dishes for the number of diners C all to indicate his regret that important business prevented him from joining us, but he hoped we would have a satisfying meal nheless.
Before entering the restaurant, we conducted a thorough security sweep, not because we distrusted Gao Shusen per se, but because if it was an establishment he frequented, other officials might have set traps or ambushes given the opportunity. We couldnt even rule out the possibility of the ck Childrens Party nting a bomb orunching an attack, targeting the security bureau chief.
Kyung-tae, well-versed in dealing with the Chinese from his human hunting experience, voiced mild concern.
Not doubting your skills in handling people, but dont you think you provoked Gao Shusens pride a bit too much, Hyungnim?
I casually dismissed his worry.
First impressionsst. Im not his underling, am I?
Sometimes I had to elevate myself for the other party to elevate me in return.
Still, those highly ranked Party members tend to be petty-minded.
Just enjoy the meal and give him my highestplimentster, saying it was the best feast ever. Dont fret and listen up. The contrast of the crispy outside and tender inside is exquisite here.
The exterior was crispy while the interior was soft. Our current dish was an entire suckling pig roasted whole C its skin crackling from the char while the meat would be sulent. These whole roast pigs were set in front of each diner, then expertly butchered and ted by the staff on golden trays. Each slice of the knife elicited crisp peels from the thin, firm rind. The decorative pork heads left intact with red fruits speared into the eye sockets were in rather poor taste, but it was hard to deny this was a rare delicacy. Bureaucrats worldwide knew good eateries.
Still, it would be difficult to finish this entire serving. The quantity per hog was excessive for a single meal, especially since we were preceded by 5-kilogram emperor crabs apiece. Clearly, these courses were intended to be sampled and then purposefully left behind. Kyung-tae, who tasted only the tastiest morsels before regretfully setting down his utensils, was reminded of something and spoke up.
Oh right, Hyungnim.
What?
I can control fire now.
This meant awakening to a new primitive magic beyond physical enhancement. Although I had opened their circuits and the men had learned basic mana maniption, they hadnt had any sessful manifestations yet. For me, who had been patiently waiting for the abilities to surface someday, Kyung-taes announcement felt abrupt. In the ensuing silence, I regarded him like a hound awaiting praise for its feat.
Since when?
Not long, just a few hours ago? I was circting my mana as usual when mes suddenly burst out the size of a cigarette lighter. I quickly stopped like, Whoa!''
A few hours ago meant while the security team was on standby in a separate space as I waited for Gao Shusen. So he had undergone metamorphosis as a sorcerer inside the security bureau building. I narrowed my eyes slightly.
You were somewhat careless.
Sorry about that. Since it really wasnt working before, I didnt expect it to manifest so suddenly.
Kyung-tae smiled sheepishly as he scratched his head.
But no one saw, cameras included. The fire was tiny.
I see. Do you think you can use it in realbat?
Well, lets see. I could probably figure something out for close-quartersbat, but its still difficult. The firepower is weak, hard to detach from my body, and Id need to develop new techniques to utilize it Anyway, would you like to see for yourself?
The room had already been swept, but I meticulously inspected every corner once more before slowly nodding my consent.
Show me.
Kyung-tae snapped his fingers to ignite a me.
Why do you snap your fingers?
It looks cooler. Even if its a small fire it needs to look cool.
.
Regardless of form, the fire Kyung-tae conjured was genuine. Although low in heat and size, the mana flowing through his circuit was precisely as I had designed when firstying out his blueprint. It was free of obstructions and waste, promising ample room for development.
Congrattions. Youve done well.
Thank you, Hyungnim. Ah, times like these call for a toast and a shot of soju, butduty calls. Too bad.
Drink up.
Huh?
A ss or two shouldnt be an issue for your tolerance. So drink up.
Without waiting for his response, I promptly summoned a server and requested the best liquor they had. Soon, the polite waiter brought out the famously elusive Maotai liquor C and not just any Maotai, but the premium Cai Fu line. Supposedly difficult to sample due to rampant counterfeiting rather than high price.
Whoa, this is
Kyung-tae licked his lips expectantly as he received the bottle in both hands, savoring the aroma before tipping back and downing the drink in one go.
Ahh, thats the stuff!
Is it genuine?
Yes! Very nice genuine stock! Ill have to grab some before we leave.
Judging by his satisfied expression as he smacked his lips, it seemed he found it quite to his taste. If this guy says its real, it probably is C at the very least, not discernibly inferior to the real deal. Watching the bottle in my grasp momentarily lost in thought, I decided to pour drinks for everyone present instead. By now, Gabsoos bereaved family would have heard of his death.
Lets just all have a ss. Not to toast, but tomemorate Keop-soos dedication and passing.
Joo-hee, who had barely touched the food thus far, gave a start at my words. I flicked my free hand toward the man seated opposite me.
You take the first pour.
Oh, yes.
Miju steadied the ss I filled to the brim with liquor. Rather than make the others line up, I personally made a round filling up each awaiting ss at the table. Thanks to bringing only a small team ashore, afterpleting the circle, less than half the bottle remained C just enough to avoid getting sloshed in one sitting. Finally filling my own ss, I held it up with one arm crossed behind my back and opened my mouth to speak:
Up till now, luck has not been on our side.
Indeed. When in Mexico have we not suffered casualties? Even if I spearheaded operations personally, a few losses would have been inevitable with poor luck.
Yet to hope such fortune persists would be the escapism of a spineless coward. Gabsoos deathif we must attribute it, was closer to an upational mishap or freak ident, but it can serve as an opportunity for all of us to acknowledge and clearly recognize one fact: no matter how highly ranked, safety is never guaranteed in this day and age.
For a mid-to-upper-level executive to die during duty used to be exceedingly rare even in my uwful organization. Back before the return of the Age of Magic, those in the riskiest roles like security and the smuggling division would only suffer a few deaths annually at most.
I am deeply grateful for Gabsoos dedication.
This was no lip service. Just the fact that he repaid his debt to me made him worthy of respect C in this world full of beasts who readily betray loyalty like a used tissue.
And I am equally grateful to each of you who keeps your promises to me. The promises exchanged person to person are the most precious and invaluable assets I possess, the foundation and entirety of our organization.
Even if the organizations material foundationpletely crumbled, rebuilding it was possible as long as people remained. Therefore, taking care of people was always prioritized over material assets. This was why I unhesitatingly epted Suyeons risky suggestion.
So, I will never use you as disposablemodities, no matter the circumstances. Even if I rely on you as a fortress, I wont just hide safely behind the wall. And even if the ultimate fulfillment of promises is inevitable, I will remember it as a loss etched into my bones.
The ultimate fulfillment of promises essentially meant repaying ones life debt with another life. While it might evoke more irritation and anger than pain etched into my bones, it was, nheless, not a lie.
Behind my asional forays into the field and willingness to take risks was also the intention to manage the loyalty of the organizations members.
Listen.
As I raised my ss to eye level, several others followed suit.
For Gabsoo. And for me and all of you.
A warm chill went down my throat. With a satisfying warmth in my stomach, it was unlikely that this would dull my senses. Tonight, I had to catch up on two days worth of pending approvals before sending a message to the Diamond Casino.
Even with the solemnity of honoring the dead and pouring out drinks, the atmosphere did not be heavy. Those who always worked with the unpredictable nature of unexpected deaths in mind, and mourning didnt necessarily require a mournful sound. After cing down my ss, I closed the lid of the bottle and said to Kyung-tae.
Lets save the rest for Miju.
Oh, yes.
As I pushed the bottle toward her, Miju hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do, before finally taking it and sighing. It was an amount of alcohol suitable for drinking alone and getting slightly drunk for one night. And the fact that I was giving her enough for her to get drunk meant that I would understand if she started work a half-dayte the next day.
After finishing the gathering and returning to the passenger ship, Suyeon had alreadypleted over half of the ships maintenance. As a mobile base and operational headquarters, it was ready to perform basic functions immediately. Especially impressive was the fact that the eight-bed mobile treatment room was already prepared for operation.
Yes, preventing the loss of personnel, whether mentally or physically, was crucial. Especially in what seemed like a long-term operation.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 84: Metamorphosis (11)
Chapter 84: Metamorphosis (11)
The next morning on the passenger ship, Becrux, began with many noises.
The first sounds were of metal being cut and welded together. Windows that didnt even open were reinforced with bulletproof ss, and some were modified into gun ports in preparation for defensive battles. Useless chairs were all torn out and disposed of as waste, and the freed-up space was partitioned off to secure additional cabins. On the inside of the exterior walls, a fragment-resistant liner made of Ker fiber was wallpapered to defend against improvised explosive devices by the ck Childrens Party.
After all, even a tin can could be turned into an effective prating bullet (EFP)
More threatening than the ostentatious weapons that had prated the Peoples Liberation Army vehicles in one shot were personally portable-sized bombs. You couldnt check every single can disguised as an everyday tin can. Even a pineapple-sized EFP could prate a minimum of 10 cm of reinforced concrete from 30 meters away. And if theunch te was designed to fragmentize, it became a directional splinter grenade that could easily shred up to half a dozen people. The efficacy of such purpose-built explosives made from just a can, explosives, and sheet metal. Even a simple ignition systembining igniter powder and primitive fuse wire would suffice.
The second sound was of loading new vehicles and cargo.
To impersonate the security bureau, we naturally needed their vehicles, gear, and credentials. After verifying my and my mens capabilities yesterday, Gao Shusen had his subordinates deliver the necessities first thing in the morning. Among them was even an Ichi Audi (FAW-Audi, Audis local manufacturing JV) SUV likely from Gao Shusens own official fleet.
But Kyung-tae and I paid more attention to the license tes than the cars themselves.
Quite the extravagant tes.
Kyung-tae echoed my assessment.
Should let us breeze through most checkpoints, Hyungnim.
The tes letters and numbers read O88899. The Yue () indicates Guangdong Province, also known as Yue Province. The alphabet O denotes official government use, while both 8s and 9s were numbers favored by the Chinese for their auspicious meanings. Finally, the jing () makes clear the vehicle belongs to the security bureau.
The other vehicles tes were simrly configured, differing only in the lucky digit sequences at least two 8s or 9s in a row guaranteed anyone who saw them would assume a mid-to-upper-level security bureau executive was riding inside.
While looking pleased, Kyung-tae scratched his head.
The tes are great and all, but like this, well draw way too much attention from the ck Childrens Party just driving around. We should request some regr tes too.
Revealing his inexperience.
For someone of his rank, a 1st ss inspector, to have such short-sighted thoughts without even consulting subordinates Just deciding things alone, all self-satisfied. The shorings of a nepotism official who made high ranks in the force based on Party connections rather than field experience.
Anyway, just having the O was legally sanctioned to ignore trafficws and drive however you wanted. The auspicious numbers were nice to have, but not strictly necessary tools. Good for bait, but you cant hunt with bait alone, right?
Oh right, this reminds me of the tes we used when tracking game around Beijing. Back in the days without even minimum oversight made hunting so much easier, and great for squeezing out money too. I drove straight to the port with the trunk loaded with gold bars so heavy the rear sank, yet not a single checkpoint stopped us.
What Kyung-tae reminisced about were the final golden days of the human hunting business in China. Back then, Beijing had a great source supplying official tes. Eventually, the guy got busted by the Discipline Inspection Commission for selling too many, butter discoveries showed his ie from license tes alone had exceeded 4 billion won at the exchange rate of the time.
Boom!
A thunder-like rumble echoed from the city to the docks the third morning sound of the ck Childrens Party attacking the military and security bureau throughout the streets and alleyways. After several deafening sts, the sound of gunfire followed. Just from the sounds, I could discern the types of firearms and distance from the firefight.
Kyung-tae, who had been inspecting the weaponry loaded into the security vehicles, turned and shrugged.
Where do they even get all the explosives and guns?
Who knows?
The explosions rocking the city had been endless since yesterday. The amount of explosives expended clearly exceeded expectations. While stockpiling over a long period was usible without outside assistance, still
We need to examine the ck Childrens Party weapons captured today. Maybe well find some clues.
The likelihood of the British bastards holed up in Hong Kong reaching out here, or other backers being involved, was quite high.
Around this discussion, a crisp scent cut through the thick river smells as clicking heels approached. Miju, dressed in a suit, carried paper bags equal to our number. As I received my share, I told her.
You should rest a little longer before heading out.
The bags contained forged civilian IDs, security bureau credentials, passports, and Party membership cards with appropriately fabricated career histories. For now, prepared based on Gao Shusens provisions, except for the photos, which we supplied separately. After all, the ID pictures might differ somewhat from real life.
Miju silently shook her head.
Im fine. Since Deputy Secretary Gao Shusen appointed me liaison, I should head over early to secure my spot and avoid disrupting your work.
Well, if youre sure.
Also, the Chief Secretary wants me to ry that the Diamond Casino side epted your proposal. They hope to discuss concrete schedules soon.
Good to hear.
Without realizing it, the consulting I offered would first train them as terrorists before absorbing them into my fold. Providing basic terrorist training would significantly reduce the time needed to weaponize themter.
By the way, are you not going to call me Hyungnim now?
Ill do my best.
Miju, you and the men I embedded on their side are my des nted into theirmand structure. If Gao Shusen harbors ulterior motives, take care of it yourself put a bullet through his head or groin as you see fit.
Understood.
Miju erased the faint smile that briefly surfaced and bowed at the waist.
Ill head out first then, Hyungnim.
Work hard.
As Mijus entourage boarded the security vehicles and drove off, Kyung-tae watched their departing backs and asked.
Did something happen with Director Park?
Heard some candid thoughts from the alcoholst night. And made a promise if possible.
A promise?
Thats right.
Kyung-tae was curious, being one of the few subordinates who called me Hyungnim, but the sentiments Miju had confided were personal matters that deserved privacy. The request involved vengeance. If a usable subordinate already shouldered debts and wished to shoulder more, I was inclined to consider it favorably.
Of course, I would never tolerate anyone trying to attach a new price to previously pledged loyalty. Any brazen punk who attempted that would deserve an iron baseball bat and a dip in the ocean. Miju had pleaded carefully and I had simply answered I would grant it if within my ability.
Hows the reaction to yesterdays uploaded videos?
As I changed the topic, Kyung-tae snorted in amusement.
Tremendous. Been topping the real-time rankings on Youku and Tudou since dawn. Want to check for yourself?
I wouldnt bother. Any negative reactions were likely censored anyway.
Well, thats true but still
For the Communist Party, yesterdays sh with the ck Childrens Party biker unit was excellent propaganda material. The poprity of the dashcam footage and civilian shots directly corrted to Gao Shusens survival. We would need to continue racking up merits and coupling that with such public opinion offensives.
Anyway, good reactions means Gao Shusens crew must have breathed a sigh of relief. When you get word that Miju has arrived, tell Gao Shusen I wish to inspect the confiscated ck Childrens Party weapons, so open up the municipal security bureaus evidence storage. And prepare an apanying executive.
Yessir.
Also, tell them to ready the reagents needed for non-destructive prant testing.
Ahwill we be able to procure that soon? Having to scramble for it in hours seems
When ites to the City Public Security Bureau, the Scientific and Technological Communications Department probably has it as equipment. Or they might obtain it from affiliated universities through a cooperativework. Even if Gao Shusen is being ostracized, a few sprays wont make much of a difference. The Scientific and Technological Communications Department itself is not a department that directly engages in factional fights.
Well, that makes sense. I understand.
Since the Public Security Bureau where Gao Shusen stayed was nearby, it didnt take long for themunication to happen. Fifty minutester, when I arrived at the Guangzhou City Public Security Bureau headquarters, I furrowed my brow slightly upon seeing Gao Shusen, along with his subordinates and guards, personallying out to greet me. Why would the deputye out when sending just one subordinate would be enough? It wasnt just about misjudging the urgency of the task; the problem was drawing excessive attention from other factions and departments. They must be wondering. Why did this guye here? And who are the people hes meeting personally?
In a situation where disguises are already insufficient enough.
The silicone mask I used to favor was not suitable for situations where constantbat readiness was required. There was a concern about not withstanding the power of an ability user, sudden eleration, and impact from collisions. If the entire facial skin twisted together, it would be as suspicious as it gets.
Therefore, the best option now was abination of dark safety sses and a mask, a bva, or a gas mask at most. Considering the environment where grenades were exploding here and there, it could be considered unlucky, but fortunate amid unfortunate circumstances.
In case Gao Shusen had already secured a target for theft and hade personally to avoid potential exposure, I could somewhat understand within the realm of a timid heart trying to convey it personally An ignorant fool greeted me withughs broadly, not knowing what was inside me.
Youvee. I was waiting.
Please pay attention to your choice of words.
Ah.
Ah, saying the same thing. Only now did Gao Shusen change his attitude, raising his voice.
Come in! Lets work hard today for the party and the country! Hahaha!
The evidence storage room was located underground at the headquarters. Passing through the metal detector and descending the stairs, I could see a window covered with iron bars and bulletproof ss, reminiscent of a bank vault. It was a space where especially dangerous or valuable evidence was stored separately. Naturally, there was also an evidence examination room.
As Gao Shusens subordinate, Hu Shanliang, a 3rd ss superintendent whose face I was already familiar with, presented his identification to the window attendant, shortly after, following a brief electronic sound, the metallic sound of the explosion-proof door opening resonated. A desk officer armed with an automatic rifle handed over a key card for the interiorpartments of the storage room, speaking in aposed tone and a mechanical demeanor.
The authorized time is two hours, and the external export of evidence requires separate approval. In the event of damage or loss of evidence, regardless of rank, punishment may be imposed, so please be cautious. In addition, in the investigation room, only investigations approved for evidence that has obtained prior permission should be conducted, and the condition of the evidence should be carefully recorded before conducting the investigation. Pleaseply with the checklist provided in the investigation room for the record of the evidences condition.
This dry warning seemed quite unpleasant to the Communist aristocracy. As soon as the st door closed, Gao Shusen expressed his dissatisfaction, squeezing outints.
To show me that attitude. Even though my position haspletely changed from yesterday
At that moment, Hu Shanliang examined his superior mood and the ceiling alternately. The closed-circuit systems arranged to eliminate blind spots within the evidence storage room were models that allowed only visual surveince. Hu Shanliang spoke reassuringly.
I suppose you just consider it a brief stroke of luck. After all, its a life that will soone to an end. If you continue to umte merits, sooner orter, one by one, theyll start to bow and let you in.
Merits, merits
The softened gaze of the Communist aristocracy turned toward me.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 85: Metamorphosis (12)
Chapter 85: Metamorphosis (12)
Chairman.
What is it?
Do all the arms dealers in the international ck market maintain elite troops like you, with individualbat abilities surpassing average soldiers?
While the scale and level may differ, that would be the case nine times out of ten. The clientele in this market are dangerous sorts, whether nations or individuals, and the nature of the goods means sellers often incur the grudges of their customers.
I see, indeed so
Some dealers even provide manpower directly to the client. Like the Desert Hawk Brigade ( ) that was treated as the Syrian Armys elite formed as an independent unit with the arms dealer exercising autonomous operationalmand.
Oh? There was such a thing?
Yes. It was possible only because the merchant himself was an ex-Syrian Army officer and his younger brother was the incumbent Marine Corpsmander But a highly skilled unit, can source its own equipment, and handles its own logistics is irresistibly attractive for a country amid civil war.
Amazing, truly amazing. It sounds nothing like the world I know.
Reality always exceeds imagination.
The one I spoke of was Colonel Mohammad Jaber, a kingpin in the Middle Eastern smuggling market. He had supplied weapons and goods to the Syrian government when it faced a Western trade embargo, butter took things further moditizing his own smuggling group into a brigade-levelbat unit for the state.
In return, the colonel received the rights to plunder enemy territory and priority on government procurement contracts, plus stakes in the oil fields of upiednds. Of these, the oil fields were surely the biggest money-maker. It was no exaggeration to say modern civilization ran on oil fields. The extent of profits Colonel Jaber raked in from long-term oil smuggling was beyond spection.
Yet he gave up those valuable rights for a moments greed.
The Desert Hawk Brigade was dissolved for provoking the anger of the ruling Baath Party, formally the Arab Socialist Baath Party, when its subordinate units piged pro-government areas. Colonel Jaber, who had acted as brigademander, was exiled though his brother Ayman Jaber remained a brigadier general in the Marines, and the First Worlds trade blockade on Syria persisted, so the colonels smuggling business survived. Still, it was undeniable he had squandered tremendous privileges over a pointless stunt.
This illustrates why rational management and self-restraint were important. Even when indulging in deviations, your starting point should still be rational thinking. A business built on a solid foundation was like a deeply rooted tree that did not easily sway.
Here we are.
Hu Shanliang unlocked one of the storagepartments, its number matching the key card. With metallic clicks and cks, the steel bars unlocked. The interior contained the ck Childrens Partys confiscated weapons, eachbeled with a tag.
Gao Shusen frowned anew.
When I said to open this ce up, the Ministry of Science and Technology chief was quite upset. He insisted they had worked all night and gotten everything, so there was nothing more to find. Said they already did standard non-destructive testing Do you really think you can discover something new?
Surely they didnt conduct exhaustive inspections of all these weapons in a single day? At best, they randomly sampled and tested some pieces.
Then
I cannot guarantee we will necessarily find something, but a researchers eye differs from a merchants. Have faith in mine, Deputy Secretary.
In truth, entering here simply confirmed the hunch Id had since yesterdaysbat. Donningtex gloves, I picked out weapons with distinct manufacturing traits and loaded them onto a transport cart. I took my time pretending to closely inspect each weapon rather than brazenly grab them, to avoid rousing suspicion. While doing so, I casually asked.
Do you have the address yet?
This questioned the location of the underground chamber we needed to raid. Gao Shusen gave a start at my meaningless actions and replied.
Oh, wait just a little longer. I can provide the intel today.
It is urgent business, but take care not to rush and ruin things.
Alright.
Gao Shusens expression grew ufortable again, but I disregarded it and continued selecting samples until the cart was full.
Thats enough. Lets head to theb now.
Okay.
Kyung-tae pushed the cart down the hall. The examination table in theb we entered held the reagents I had requested for non-destructive testing. A recording camcorder on a tripod was set up facing the table, separate from the closed-circuit cameras. Aside from minor differences, the arrangement resembled an autopsy suites station for dissecting cadavers.
Lets begin.
At my cue and nod, Superintendent Hu Shanliang turned on the camcorder and hit record. Following the written checklist on the wall, he documented each pieces condition in longhand as I methodically disassembled the weapons I had brought and neatlyid them out across the table. I could have relegated this mundane task to Kyung-tae, but for an audience like the unschooledmunist aristocrat, it would be a boring stretch. Personally working with my hands wasnt bad either in this situation.
Cleansing solution.
I held out my hand and Kyung-tae passed me the cleansing spray. Prant testing involved wiping down surfaces with a cleaner, spraying on prant and allowing sufficient dwell time for it to soak in all gaps and crevices, wiping it off with a clean cloth, and then applying fluorescent developer. This would starkly reveal any microscopic fissures, scratches, seams, etc. that the prant seeped into.
The method provided clues to roughly deduce what manufacturing processes were used to build the weapons. I had deliberately chosen samples that would clearly exhibit such clues.
After spraying, waiting, and wiping off the prant, I misted on the fluorescent developer toplete the procedure.
Come take a look closely, Deputy Secretary.
I killed the lights and brought over a UVmp. Crisscrossing lines began to glow, revealing their presence. These irregr scratches left duringponent finishing were the unique signature of a maker familiar to me as a weapons dealer. Gao Shusens curiosity was piqued.
Wha-what does this mean?
I momentarily halted the recording cam with a wave before answering themunist aristocrats question.
In a typical factory production process, traces of finishing like this are not left behind. This essentially means that all the weapons here were handmade, using toolsmonly found in a hardware store.
While a manual universalthe and drill might have been used for barrel machining, other parts of the weapons showed distinct marks of rough tools. Even the lower receiver had been hammered and forged, with a few faint spots resembling fluorescent developer stains.
Handmade? Handmade, and with tools from a hardware store?
The squinty-eyed Communist aristocrat was perplexed as he examined theponents.
How can handmade products be so intricate, with each part fitting together perfectly, and I havent heard reports of the ck Childrens party experiencing minor malfunctions like misfires!
Thats simply because of the exceptional skills of the craftsmen. You are witnessing the works of the worlds top artisans, Deputy Secretary.
Thats simply because the craftsmens skills are good. What you see now are works breathed into being through the joint efforts of world-ss artisans, Deputy Secretary.
World-ss artisans? Just what
Such people exist. A craftsmans techniques be an ingrained habit. These finishing marks and the way each part was machined read to me like signatures.
A signature or seal that artists affix to calligraphy, paintings, etc. to acknowledge authorship. In other words, an artisans brand. Gao Shusen grew excited.
You can identify the manufacturer just from this?!
Yes. As an industry insider, I guarantee these craftsmen are from the Al-Qassim () factory in Darra Adam Khel ( ), Pakistan.
Foreign forces?! Not only South Korea, but Pakistan too has betrayed us!
How often do personal interests align with national interests? Gao Shusen, cutting off hasty and baseless spections, demanded while eyeing the disassembled firearms.
If theres anything else I need to know, please tell me.
I shrugged my shoulders.
Ive already mentioned the essentials Darra Adam Kel was a city where, in its prime, 60,000 artisans operated 2,000 firearm production lines. Al-Qassim is one of the five groups that dominated the city in terms of technology and production. The name Qassim was given by the Afghan Mujahideen who favored their products.
Al-Qassim carried a religious meaning, Master of Beauty. It was a name that reflects how the Imic extremists who faced both the Soviet Union and the United States were satisfied with their weapons. In short, Darra Adam Kel was a city that was like the armory of the Taliban in the past.
Besides Al-Qassim, names like Qamran, Samuilra, Sharifkel, and Sharakai were also well-known for their sophisticated firearm replication technology, but the evidence I selected here consistently showed the unique finish of Al-Qassim. The technology developed by one lineage across four generations formed as distinct an identity as the blood flowing in that lineage.
The clear fact is that a considerable number of weapons used by the ck Childrens Party came from a single manufacturer. This implies that there is a party that has somehow entered into a supply contract with that manufacturer.
Ignorant pirates like the ck Sea kids couldnt have made such a contract on their own! From the beginning,munication wouldnt work with them! So, undoubtedly, external forces must have intervened!
He seemed to have a great fondness for external forces. If excessive exaggeration was included in the report written under his name, it would expose his ipetence and cause trouble. Therefore, I provided a more realistic scenario by nodding and exining.
Thats unknown. For example, arent there many ethnic minorities in western China who believe in Im?
.The Uyghurs?
Not just Uyghurs. There are over 10 million Muslims scattered throughout Henan, Ningxia, Yunnan, etc. After your Party demolished their mosques and oppressed their faith, seized their women to force intermarriage with Han This chance to avenge those grudges by ying broker may have been too tempting to resist. Done right, it could bring independence within reach.
Focus surveince on those areas! Those unruly Ah-worshippers () were always unscrupulous people trafficking opium and such. Indeed, indeed! Whatw says the drug channels cant shift to arms instead!
These were the words of a Chinese Communist Party official who secretly trafficked heroin and fentanyl to the US and supplied arms to Southeast Asian rebels for profit. I corrected the sputtering aristocrats thoughts one more time:
Thats just one hypothesis.
Then you have another?
Yes. We must also consider the possibility of the factory itselfing to China.
.Im listening.
Since the Pakistani authorities expelled Taliban forces from the north and reduced the autonomy of tribal councils, the craftsmen of Darra Adam Kel, who had been producing weapons in the shadows of autonomy, are now all facing the crisis of unemployment. In other words, they are in a desperate situation where finding a breakthrough is essential.
So, are they relocating their base altogether?
Rather than relocating their base, its more appropriate to call it an on-site service. With just the tools equivalent to a truckload, they can set up production lines anywhere in the world. Since these tools are nothing special, theres no risk of getting caught, and, furthermore, theres no need to carry them around unnecessarily. They can just procure whatever they need locally.
In essence, they were not separate factories but walking factories themselves. The Pakistani authorities promised to build an industrialplex for them and provide new jobs, but even that became difficult due to the aftermath of the China-originating coronavirus that swept through the world.
So, the artisans who have only the skills to make guns, bombs, and cannons have no choice but to find a way to survive on their own.
Include the contents above in the report. When these pieces of evidence go up together, those above will reach the same inference, and your evaluation will rise ordingly. You are considered a talent with a good perspective on nations and the ability to analyze information.
Although Al-Qassims replicated weapons fall short in performance and durabilitypared to genuine ones, their functional reliability was excellent. Especially in small urban areas where the engagement distance was short, they were expected to show utilityparable to genuine products. If the recipients of the report had human intelligence, they wouldnt be able to ignore the contents of the report. Even if the investigation results were proven false, it was still a useful tool for propaganda due to its apparent credibility.
Gao Shusen, who had been pondering deeply, stared at me with aplex expression.
I feel like Ive asked a simr question before, but I still want to ask. Are all arms dealers in the underground market like you?
Doubt, confusion, and admiration. I responded with light confidence, deceiving my counterpart.
You will realize that it was a great stroke of luck for you to have entered into a deal with me.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 86: The Vein of the Ungodly (1)
Chapter 86: The Vein of the Ungodly (1)
After verbally rying the draft report to Gao Shusen and leaving the municipal security bureau headquarters, I spent time cruising the battlefield in an unmarked vehicle borrowed from the patrol police station to survey the terrain. The urban sprawl of Guangzhou, a paragon of reckless development, was a patchwork haphazardly stitching together order and disorder, prosperity and poverty, cleanliness and filth. The impoverished settlements clustered like mold throughout the city were all potential bases for the ck Childrens Party. Terrified, the Communist Party treated the destitute workers as would-be criminals, creating a vicious cycle where heavy-handed military and police controls further alienated popr sentiment.
Tracking the ck Childrens Party solely by changes in the magical energy field from afar was difficult in this situation. Regardless of whether the abilities were useful or not, the poption with opened circuits had increased, the military and police gathered them together and deployed them, plus there were plenty of groups demonstrating collective action.
A prime example was the rioters currently battering down and wrecking a Kentucky Chicken restaurant before my eyes.
Let us struggle in the spirit of loyalty to the Party and love for our nation! Drive the forces of American imperialism from thisnd!
A man shouting himself hoarse through a red megaphone while sporting a red armband. His passion made him seem a patriotic martyr incarnate. Responding to his yell, furious voices ring out from the crowd.
Those who sell American goods are Americas dogs! Those who buy American goods are also Americas dogs!
Bring judgment upon the pro-American traitors! Execute those working for American corporations!
Kill them! Burn them! Show the wrath of 1.4 billion people against the enemies of our mothend!
Wielding axes, hammers, and steel pipes, the mobs emboldened by the cheers of supporters without abilities smashed the tempered ss in front of the store with strength surpassing human limits. Just people who had been selling or eating chicken now screaming and fleeing inside or up to the 2nd and 3rd floors.
But escape routes didnt exist. The rioters diligently grabbed anyone slipping out the back or leaping from windows, dragging them out to the center regardless of gender or age to be beaten and stomped into a bloodied mess.
Among them, the employees received especially cruel treatment.
Please save me! Please save me!
Despite desperate pleas, the mob tore their uniforms to shreds and stripped them down to their underwear before carving the seven crooked characters meaning A national traitor fully enved into their exposed flesh with broken ss. The victim, whose limbs were restrained while bleeding profusely, twisted their body and glowed.
Oh theyre quite something, those guys.
Kyung-tae eximed, expressing his astonishment at the extreme brutality.
Even so, the restaurants interior was being thoroughly demolished. Those with abilities attacked with might exceeding human limits, egged on by the cheering of those without abilities or with weaker ones.
A portion of the group absorbed in doling out mob justice and destruction broke away and marched straight for us, idly watching everything unfold. The bald man at the front aggressively rapped on the window. At my signal, Kyung-tae lowered the window, allowing the baldhead to cram half his shiny pate inside and grill us in coarse tones.
You lot! Sitting still so long is suspicious! And those opaque sses where I cant see your eyes? Dont tell me youre stooges of that damned Yankee merchant capital?!
No.
If not, then prove your innocence by joining our march!
As the crowd encircling the vehicle began chanting Prove it! Prove it!, I shoved my pistol against the baldheads crown and shed my security bureau ID. Seeing my men reveal the guns they had been training through their overcoats as well, the mor instantly died down. Even the brash baldhead rapidly assumed a deferential and polite expression.
I havemitted a grave discourtesy against those exerting themselves day and night for our nation. Please forgive me.
Back away.
At my curt order, the shiny head promptly withdrew from the window. I had intended to silently spectate until the path cleared, but with our security bureau identities exposed, remaining still grew difficult. Mentally sighing, I opened the door and stepped out to look down upon the baldhead kneeling before me. My subordinates followed and kept the rest of the crowd in check.
I interrogated the baldhead.
Just what kind of people are you to form a mob and go on a rampage in times like these? Did you not hear the broadcast urging people to refrain from unnecessary outings?
A mob? You misunderstand. Were all individuals here, sir.
Yet youre moving together by chance even without being acquainted? Wearing armbands at that? Who do you take me for a fool? Ive been watching everything unfold from the start!
Oh, well, somehow or other, uh
Prodding his crown with my gun muzzle like a pig prodded to ughter, the stammering baldhead trembled and sputtered.
Its a coincidence! Individuals who came out to the streets with a sense of national concern happened to share the same purpose! Red armbands are quitemon these days, arent they? They are popr items even in online shopping malls! We said we would contribute the profits to the party!
Then, a woman nearby also gathered courage.
Thats right! Even if the probability is low in our thoughts, and its an unusual situation from our perspective, what can we do if it actually happened! People we met for the first time today became one with a heart for worrying about the country! Its truly a beautiful thing!
.Astounding bullshit. I flicked my pistol at the imbeciles and demanded.
Everyone, on your knees. Save your excuses for the station.
The woman yelled again.
You cant do this! Why is the security bureau trying to detain patriots?!
Because its thewful path. Kneel if you dont want to die.
At this, Kyung-tae requested backup from the patrol policework and had his subordinates stir up an intimidating atmosphere.
Perhaps sensing the precarious mood, the mob leaders including the ringleader hurried over with the bulk of the rioters to reinforce this spot. Amidst it all, some were impressively leading their naked prisoners by leashes tied around their necks. Fools took courage in numbers.
Another name for that courage was mob mentality and mass hysteria.
After hearing a quick exnation of the situation from the original group, the head of the mob shed me an awkward smile.
Ah, sir. There has been a major misunderstanding!
No misunderstanding about it. What youre doing cant remotely be called patriotic action in my eyes. The way I see it, youre justwless scum.
No! Were taking revenge on America! An eye for an eye! Since America first froze our corporations and party members assets, we must retaliate in kind! So their side properlyprehends our resolve!
What this man referred to was one aspect of the United States current multifaceted economic and diplomatic offensives against China the issue of redeeming Qing dynasty bonds.
The Qing bonds held by the US had long been an insipid topic, producing plenty of empty chatter but no concrete prospects on how to actually recover them.
Now, however, the situation had changed. Firstly, the White House madman had seeded in getting re-elected. Anti-China sentiment pervaded due to the Chinese-origin pandemic. And the emergence of primitive magic casters prompted louder-than-ever bipartisan calls to contain China.
As such, the President announced the following statement yesterday:
[Dear fellow citizens of America. Today, I stand before you to discuss a right we possess. What right might that be? The right to reim loaned money! America is owed 1.6 trillion dors by China. An unscrupulous debt that China has no intention to repay.]
[As citizens wise and thoughtful enough to elect me a second time, Im confident you all know the answer.]
[At their roots, these dishonest folk have deceived and deceived us, buying time and reaping undue benefits. They want to inherit their ancestors territories, yet not their debts? No inheritancew in any nation permits such self-serving inheritance! Unbelievable, even by Chinas ownws!]
[As President duty-bound to safeguard Americas interests, I am obligated to force them to abide by the rules. I will not condone them cherry-picking the cakes toppings!]
[So from here, what will we do? Its an open secret Chinas corporations are essentially owned by the Chinese Communist Party. Can freezing Chinas debts to Chinesepanies then be called improper conduct? Absolutely not! I state categorically it is not!]
[Then there are the Party members. As we all know, China is a nation where the Party is the state and the state is the Party. So what is the Party? Something transcendent that exists apart from its members? Or an organization that only exists because of its members?]
[Let me make it clear. The members are the Party! Thus, the Communist Party members are the true owners of the nation called China! The owners bear the responsibility to repay the nations debts!]
[Therefore, I will seize the Chinese corporate assets in America! And then seize the Chinese Communist Party members assets in America! Stocks! Bonds! Lavish mansions and massive farms! Even the cash in the ounts!]
[As a result, all assets that could be subject to seizure will have all transactions and withdrawals frozen from now on! This is a legal measure based on the McSally-Green Act on Qing Dynasty bond repayment and an emergency executive order!]
[The extent and amount of the seizure will depend on how the Chinese government responds. President Hu! Submit a debt repayment n that satisfies us by the 24th, and show sincerity by repaying at least a hundred billion dors in debt! Otherwise, I will issue an order to liquidate assets worth a trillion dors as a primary measure, starting from midnight on the 25th!]
[I believe that this measure will be the best Christmas gift for American citizens who love justice! The money China pays will be used exclusively for the benefit of the American people! So, in advance, Merry Christmas, USA! To me, you are always the first! I hope everyone has a happy Christmas!]
Such decisions by the U.S. government adversely affected the U.S. stock market this morning. The deteriorating rtionship with China aside, the seized assets were already entangled in various contractual rtionships. Economic entities within the United States that needed to receive payments immediately from Chinesepanies were at a loss. Of course, the Chinese stock market fell into a steep abyss, amusingly deeper than the damage to the United States.
If the owner of the White House had any thoughts, the actual liquidation would probably have stopped at the first phase of a trillion dors. It would be more profitable to use the remaining debt differently. Yet, as the president was exceptionally skilled at doing crazy things, rational predictions were meaningless. Even when demolishing the holynd of the People of the Desert, there was only dictatorship and madness.
Anyway, China issued a strong call for retaliation, but the details were still undecided. The fact that many countries were indirectly supporting the United States made it a headache. However, internally, this unexpected situation could act as a blessing. After all, powerful external enemies were a way to unite internally.
And now, facing the mob that had gathered, they were the small evidence of that.
Help us! Please!
Men and women with nooses around their necks scream naked. Since some smartphone cameras capturing this scene were noticeable around, I brushed off my conscience and yed my given role with annoyance and irritation.
Even so, the fact that you are criminals wont change. You damaged the property of Chinese citizens and caused harm to the bodies of Chinese citizens. So, everyone kneels! Anyone resisting or attempting to flee will be shot!
This cant be happening!
Smack! I struck the leader of the protests with the grip of the gun. Despite hiding my skills, my enhanced physique was a bit superior. Broken teeth scattered as the head shook from the blow, making a thudding sound as he hit the ground. I kicked his side, making his breath choke. And looking at the rolling leader, I aimed at the sky and pulled the trigger three times in rapid session.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Amidst the silence, facing the crumpled criminals below, I shouted the enraged voice of the police.
Whether this is possible or not is not for you to judge! So, if you haveints, say them in court! If youre not trying to disrespect the country like the United States disrespects us!
Just then, the police sirens began to be heard. Support from the Patrol Police Station had arrived. Approaching the end of my short role as a clown, I considered ways to minimize the exposure of myself and my kids. As with the video uploaded yesterday, citing identity protection by inclothes police would probably allow us to impose self-censorship and editing on all video tforms. Mosaics and voice distortions should be enough.
I never thought the day woulde when Id feel satisfaction in the fact that China was the ultimate censorship state. Life is truly an uncertainty about tomorrow.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 87: The Vein of the Ungodly (2)
Chapter 87: The Vein of the Ungodly (2)
A pack of dogs barked loudly in the mountain outskirtste at night. The scrawny beasts fled from humans. They were starved enough to be vicious, but circuits had opened to detect the magical field, so they didnt dare attack me and my men.
In short, they were abandoned dogs who had awakened as primitive magic casters.
The first reason owners discarded such animals was fear their empowered pets could no longer be as affectionate.
But even more often, those still attached to their pets abandoned them or more precisely, set them free. Flee. Flee the governments reach. Awakened animals held value as experimental subjects, and the Chinese government was in the midst of seizing empowered pets without anypensation, under the pretext of public safety.
With rumors spreading that the seized animals suffered cruel experiments or became the high officials exotic pets, not many readily surrendered their belovedpanions. Thus, countless dogs, cats, and other pets gained unwanted freedom from their loving masters.
Mount Baiyun in Guangzhou, famed as the citys number one scenic beauty, was the ideal habitat for such abandoned creatures to take refuge in. It was a 5A National Park where hunting was restricted.
Thanks to that, tonights surveince was slightly easier. The security dogs barked so frequently that the guards found it hard to discern whether a dog was reacting to human scent or the scent of feral outcasts. So I could survey the mansion I needed to raid without minding the wind carrying my scent.
This mansion was the target Gao Shusen had ryed yesterday afternoon.
Lying prone and sketching out floor ns of the mansion despite the near-pitch darkness, Kyung-tae in winter camo spoke in frozen breaths beside me.
This is practically a stones throw from the famous Pinyunzuo, isnt it? Whod expect the municipal party secretary to build an underground vault around here?
There are always blind spots right under themp.
I guess, but still, weird he wasnt spooked considering his predecessor got decapitated nearby. Fengshui matters a lot to the Chinese, especially for real estate.
Just because the former secretary was corrupt and beheaded doesnt mean this was his privatend. Pinyunzuo bears no guilt.
Right, that makes sense.
Kyung-tae nodded along.
As Kyung-tae mentioned, Mount Baiyun was home to Pinyunzuo, an ultra-luxury social club. Completely cut off from public ess paths, the club practically operated as a facility for high-ranking Communist Party officials.
This Pinyunzuo was where Guangzhous former municipal secretary Wan Qingliang had been arrested for embezzlement and corruption.
But in truth, he was a rtively clean official. His illicit assets totaled a mere 100 million yuan (approx. 1.7 billion won). Laughable by other nations standards, but considered borderline pristine in Chinas corruption capital.
Thus, Wan Qingliangs downfall was simply defeat in a factional power struggle. The fact that he amassed only that much wealth and received a life sentence made that abundantly clear.
Snorting, Kyung-tae watched me work and asked.
How much money and gold do you reckon is inside?
Not curious about the number of people?
Ah, well, youll be overseeing everything personally andmanding us anyway. Im more curious about the haul. Massive jackpot?
No, just decent. Even if we took everything, it wouldnt fill more than five trucks.
Five trucks isreally just that? Did they split up the caches?
While five trucks of valuables was objectively an astronomical fortune, it fell slightly short of expectations for a high Communist Party official. In this country where corruption was the status quo, just one exposed embezzler typically had military trucks cart off at minimum ten loads worth of ill-gotten gains.
On the underground floor n, I separately marked the locations of riches and treasures. Despite being called an underground vault, the mansions extensive basement contained various hidden passages and gaps where assorted precious metals, cash, and more were secreted in a distributed fashion.
Next, I annotated the details on the security personnel deployed throughout the floors, exterior included headcount and gear, patrol routes, shift changes, and timed check-ins.
He said hunters were hired for security.
Hunter meant someone who hunted. As in the United States, the field with the greatest demand for civilians with abilities on this continent remained hunting and capturing awakened wildlife. With no clear criteria yet to incorporate excellent casters into public service during this transitional period, many mainstream nations encouraged civilian hunting to make the people with abilities voluntarily surface on their own.
Thus, the use of hunter as a synonym for people with abilities had be a universal trend and fashion not limited to any one region arguably policy convergence. Probably not a few nations were taking a wait and see approach, following the early adopters lead.
Gao Shusen had informed me the current municipal party secretary employed a hunter group as private security. Surely some of the mansion guards were from that group as well, he warned. While directly assessing them revealed no major threats, still
Soon after, Ipleted the ns for every floor.
Done.
Great work as always, Hyungnim.
Save the praise until everythings finished. Gather the kids.
Reviewing the interioryout and coordinating routes per team were basic steps before breaching. Things could be streamlined in an urgent situation, but this wasnt one such case.
As my subordinates gathered with their tactical smartphones under the camo tent, I sketched out the floor ns which streamed to their screens in real-time. No lengthy briefing was needed with this information-sharing system. I left the task of coordinating routes to Kyung-tae. He had superb instincts for such matters.
Kyung-tae said.
Okay, lets designate this spot as Point A and start from there.
As if he had prepared beforehand, Kyung-tae briskly drew lines without hesitation. Yet not a single minor w appeared in the routes and briefing.
After smoothly rying contingency ns for emergencies and individual team roles, Kyung-tae finally confirmed with me:
This will work, right Hyungnim?
Yeah.
I nodded and snapped my fingers.
My bag.
A subordinate brought over the long hard case. Inside the heavy case was a semi-auto anti-materiel rifle plus essories, suppressor, scope,ser rangefinder, and ballistics calctor unnecessary for me with the visual cognition granted by the Eye of the Golden Age, but still aplete kit I or my men may need to utilize depending on circumstances.
Thisrge firearm was not selected from the standard Chinese armory Gao Shusen provided, but my personal collection stashed in a Macau casinos secret safe my subordinates had retrieved. Personal collection meant a piece customized to my preferences down to the stock, trigger, magazines, and barrel.
After inspecting the rifles functionality, I snapped my fingers again.
Ammo.
The same subordinate passed me a small ammo box. He was one of the men assigned to provide sniper support with me outside. The others set to breach the interior reviewed their routes and roles while sporadically conversing.
I would not enter the mansion interior until the enemy waspletely contained. Overseeing everything and providing prating sniper support through walls were roles only I could fulfill. It also prepared for any escapes given the mansions expansive grounds.
Crackle-
I levitated a cartridge with mana, separated the bullet from the casing, and then rubbed the entire cartridge with a specific mana friction pattern. The armor-piercing round screeched as it carved apart. Visually that was, to normal vision no difference could be seen before and after, but my eyes made out minute grooves newly etched. The sort of traces left from casting the slug in a handcrafted mold, then manually filing and finishing with abrasive cloth.
In short, I was currently forging the hallmarks of Al-Qassim. While close inspection would reveal discrepancies, police examiners overwhelmed by the rapidly changing times and backlogged tasks were unlikely to devote excessive effort to analyzing each and every bullet.
I didnt need to process all of todays ammunition this way. That would actually seem unnatural. Only my anti-materiel rifle required a bit of a cover story at present since the ck Childrens Party had not used such heavy weaponry yet.
Uponpleting this series of steps and mating the machined slug to its casing, I proceeded to load multiple magazines without ever touching the rounds. The dull cartridges clicked and cked into ce. Focused on their tabletop drills and assignments, Kyung-tae and the others paid me no heed. With the magazines inserted into the rifle, I told my subordinates.
Ill observe the situation. Report when ready.
At this, Kyung-tae grinned.
We can go right away. Just let me know when you see the right moment while observing the situation.
Okay.
I silently move out of the camouge and take up a sniping position.
Once it starts, Ill destroy the external ry stations andmunication terminals first
From what I observed, the rotation of the external security team at the mansion was conducted every 15 minutes. Personnel stationed at each checkpoint would patrol and move to the next location every 15 minutes, providing a timely report upon reaching a new checkpoint.
Right after the report was transmitted was the most suitable time to infiltrate.
The mansion of the City Secretary was nestled against the rugged folds of the mountains, with mountains at the back and water in front. While it might be favorable in terms of feng shui, it was a challenging location for Jeonpa to reach. Therefore, the mansion was equipped with a separate means ofmunication ry.
The sniper team led by me would destroy them first. Once the external ry stations were demolished, the phones of those outside would be useless. Following that, knocking downmunication terminals one by one would disrupt the inte and the various femtocells munication ry devices via the inte) scattered throughout the mansion. This would leave them with only satellite phones for externalmunication, which wouldnt pose a threat as they would need ry stations to use them indoors.
Holding a gun and quietly observing the enemy, I decided to attack when I saw those upying the situation room tantly lying down.
We willmence the attack at 02:00. Everyone to your designated positions.
After giving themand, Kyung-tae, wearing a flipped bva, synchronized his watch with the team leaders. Following that, he swiftly issued the signal to the entire infiltration team and descended with the team leaders. Though the mansions dogs were barking louder than before, the guards standing watch were simply annoyed. Apparently, there were no snipers among the guards with abilities; their limitations were evident.
Infiltration team, wait at your current positions for a moment.
Having sent the message through the radio, I waited for the rooftop guards to finish their shift. At 2:02 AM, as the neers ascended to the rooftop, there were four of them. Four targets for killing; it only took a moment to distribute the targets since I had more barrels than targets. I aimed the sniper rifle at the ry station from the start.
Engage three of them. Three, two, one.
Bang! Tatang! Some of the gunfire from the subordinates was drowned out by the thunderous roar of the anti-material sniper rifle I fired. This weapon was designed to prate the armor tes of military vehicles. At intervals of 0.5 seconds, the heads of four individuals and onemunication ry station exploded or were torn apart.
Next, the 2 oclock direction guard post. Three, two, one.
Bang, bang, bang! Guiding the sniper team, I systematically silenced the remaining guard posts one by one. By the time I exhausted five rounds and three magazines, there was nothing left to shoot outside the building.
Even after all the shots, there was no echo bouncing back from the valley. The efficiency of the sound-absorbing barrier continued to improve steadily, both in terms of circuit upancy and technique effectiveness.
Now, I aimed at the guards patrolling the outer corridor of the building. This required me to handle the shooting beyond the wall alone, but even so, the targets were only in pairs, easily manageable even if one or two shots were missed.
Bullet holes pierced the walls wherever I aimed. Human bodies exploded in unison along the same straight line. Stomachs were torn apart, necks and spines severed, eyeballs popped out. The distant corridors were painted with a colorful flow of blood. Therge-caliber armor-piercing rounds provided a satisfying visual impact. I generously consumed the prepared rounds, sometimes putting additional shots into already exploded bodies or wasting several rounds in inappropriate ces.
There were two reasons for this.
First, even if the sniper of the ck Childrens Party was exceptionally skilled, it seemed strange. Second, the sniper rifle of Al-Qassim was excessively precise, which also didnt make sense.
Some of the enemies in ces my bullets didnt reach started to notice something was amiss. While the gunshots were contained by the sound-absorbing barrier, the noise of armor-piercing rounds piercing through the walls echoed clearly.
However, they realized it toote.
Infiltration team, go in.
I released the leashes of the hunting dogs that had been waiting for this moment.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 88: The Vein of the Ungodly (3)
Chapter 88: The Vein of the Ungodly (3)
A tennis court and swimming pool, a tidy and elegant European-style garden. The vi nestled in the mountains with two annex buildings was truly the epitome of bourgeois aesthetics. How could this be called the personal property of an individualmunist party official? If Marx had seen this ce, he would have cried out that ss struggle was necessary here.
It waste at night, just before dawn. The enemies response waspletely chaotic, except for the guards on duty who had gone to sleep. Although some had woken up to the noise of armor-piercing shells prating the walls, there were not enough to mount an organized response.
At the point when the enemies escape route waspletely blocked off, I descended the slope and entered the vis spacious grounds. The dogs that had been barking noisily had be lumps of meat cooling down after being hit by bullets. As I crossed the garden as if taking a stroll, I steadily ryed information to my subordinates.
1-1 to 2-1. There are 2 enemies in ambush around the next corner. Both are using 95-style (QBZ-95) with 50-round drum magazines. They dont have any spare magazines or sidearms, and only one is wearing body armor, looks like Level 3.
1-1 to 4-1. There are no threats between your current position and checkpoint B-3. Advance at full speed and secure the position, then provide nk cover for 3-3 until they move out to B-2.
1-1 to 3-2. The enemy you are currently engaging has less than half a magazine left. One has broken off to grab more ammo, should take about 1 minute for the round trip
In this fashion, the enemies have no chance of winning.
2-1 to 1-1. Situation room secured.
Upon receiving this report, I had just stepped into the main building. The marble floor was sticky with blood, making an unpleasant scraping noise with every step from my feet. On top of that were the shouts and noises mixed with electronic tones. The source was the walkie-talkies of the dead mercenaries, still switched on with their eyes open.
Damn it! Anyone there?! Theres too many of them! Were being overwhelmed by firepower! Help me, it hurts so much Everyone shut up for a second, you fcking bastards! Thems are a mess! Someone try to get a handle on the situation- Situation room! Situation room! Hey! Are you jerking off in there, you stupid bastard?! Mom, mom! Waaah When are the SWAT teamsing! They said theyd respond if we hit the panic button! Phone! Anyone got a working phone?! Fuckkkkkk!
The cries grew more frantic and desperate by the second. As I flowed past like a stream, listening to the whimpering radios, I asked Kyung-tae, aka 2-1, who had reported securing the situation room.
Is there a PA system in there by any chance?
2-1 here. No, there isnt What do you need it for?
I was thinking of broadcasting a surrender offer, but nevermind if there isnt one.
I didnt see any broadcast speakers in view, but there were inte handsets in each room. I wondered if it might be possible to conference call them simultaneously, so I asked just in case. But having to negotiate surrender one by one would be tedious, might as well just kill them all. As I was thinking this, 2-1 asked back.
If they surrender, were you nning to let them live?
Of course not. I was thinking of capturing them alive and filming their beheadings.
The brutality of the ck Childrens Party bike squads was vividly etched in my mind. The one who leashed severed heads and dragged them around, the one who held enemy necks under flowing blood from decapitations, the ones who executed rows of enemies who had surrendered by kneeling them down for mass beheadings.
Therefore, in order to turn the me against the ck Childrens Party, we must also emte their brutality. To avenge the grudges of those who have lived their whole lives under the shadow of the ss system. It would be surprising if even a shred of mercy remained for those who sang of fury, having reached the era of myth.
In the revolution they dream of, the death ofmunist aristocrats and theirckeys was an absolutely essentialponent that could never be omitted.
Just capturing somebat footage should be enough for our purposes here.
Editing together footage of the fighting carried out by my subordinates and uploading it online would provide decent decoys, as well as material to use for propaganda by the fake ck Childrens Party.
Kill them all.
I reiterated.
Whether theyre Combatant or not doesnt matter. Armed or unarmed also doesnt matter. Everyone in this vi is an enemy of the people. So spare absolutely no one, kill them all. Rip open their bellies and stomp their torsos until their guts spill out. A peoples revolution is a tree that grows by drinking blood.
Understood. We will carry that out ruthlessly.
With the original directive firmly reestablished, the process of transforming the bourgeois vi into a bloody spectacle progressed even more intensely.
They certainly hired a lot.
The total scale of the enemy mercenaries still facing annihtion wasparable to twopanies. Judging by just their price tags, it would have been no small sum. While only temporary hires until the situation settled down, the party secretary had made a big expenditure to protect his assets.
The mercenaries deployment gave the strong impression that they didnt even know what they were supposed to guard as most important. Just guarding the vi at a basic level. After all, even the mercenaries were outsiders, so telling them the locations of secret vaults would have been foolish. Although they likely guessed there might be something like that, under the surveince of closed-circuit cameras they could not freely search around and find the vaults.
After passing through hallway scenes resembling a horror movie, going down blood-pooled staircases, I finally arrived at the entrance to the first trove. The vault door was hidden behind a bookshelf full of books, and even after moving the shelf aside, it looked no different from an ordinary wall. Apart from its somewhatrger scale, it was a disguised safemonly found in the mansions of wealthy individuals in Korea who wished to avoid tax inspections.
Are we recording?
I asked, and the team leader-level subordinate confirmed that we were. The footage recorded here would serve as the basis for the distribution promised to Gao Shusen and the propaganda material as a fake ck Childrens Party.
Wearing a bva like Kyung-tae, I approached the wall where the bookshelf had been cleared. The vaults opening and closing mechanism was forged to look like an electrical outlet. It was not just an imitation of the appearance; I had manipted the circuit using magical power to ensure that electricity would actually be supplied when the code was entered.
Crack!
When I forcefully pulled on the outlet, a keypad for entering the code slid out. While pretending to type in the code, I manipted the circuits using magical power/mana.
Clunk! Whirrrr!
The locks disengaged, gears turned, and the vault door swung open. Stale air that had been trapped inside the sturdy alloy rushed out, carrying a dry, papery smell. Unlike me who already knew the contents, my subordinates uttered sounds of awe. A tremendous quantity of banknotes, bonds, and gold ingots in various shapes. And ancient artifacts and Eastern/Western paintings. This was just a portion of the total, so my subordinates admiration could only deepen.
Well, what are you waiting for? Start emptying it out.
My subordinates immediately reacted to my telepathic signal. The priorities here in the vault were of course the bearer bonds and stock certificates, as well as gold bars. US dors came next, followed by antiques, artworks, and yuan bills that were troublesome to use extensively due to the amount of counterfeits. It was fine to take care of thosest. The reason bearer bonds were the top priority was thatundering the source was easy, plus they fetched a premium on the ck market.
The vault was stocked full of bags and padding meant to quickly load up and remove items in an emergency. Secret vaults that people wanted to keep hidden from the authorities were all simr.
Leaving this scene, I went around opening up the other vaults. While smaller than the first, the smallest vault hidden under a coffin-shaped cab contained jade carvings and appraisal certificates worth hundreds of millions of won. In Korea, the proliferation of fake jade sold through multi-level marketing schemes has created the misperception that jade is cheap, but the stuff that went into those was garbage not even worthy of being called jade.
The real jade favored by the Chinese, A-grade natural jade, could fetch up to $27 million for a single ne strand. It was traded higher than diamonds exclusively within the Chinese market.
After looking over the appraisal certificates, I saw that this one small vault alone contained jade worth 800 million yuan, equivalent to 150 billion won.
Itll be difficult to liquidate.
The appraisals meant there were records of these items. Therefore, to safely fence such a massive quantity of top-grade jade carvings on the ck market required considerable time and effort. The fact that the markets were mostly limited to China exacerbated the difficulty of disposal. At least a few years of observation and nning were necessary.
Therefore, using it as evidence rather than secretly diverting or disposing of it separately was the best option. The moment these green gems came in heaps from one of the Guangdong Triads facilities, the triads would immediately be stamped as a cooperating force with the ck Childrens Party.
Well, keeping one or two of them as bribes for the guards wouldnt be a bad idea either.
After uncovering hidden treasures one by one, I stood in front of thest hiding ce in the mansion. This time, it wasnt a vault disguised as a wall, but the wall itself was a hiding ce. I raised the output of the circuit, and I tore off the entire wall painted in white chalk.
Rumble!
Thin limestone cracked, and behind it, sturdy bricks spilled out.
After the situation was concluded, Kyung-tae, who had joined after breaking the closed circuit, asked,
Lets see, in this location Gold, is it? Could it be that these are all gold bars?
Blocking my nose with my sleeve, hepared the drawings I provided with the current location before posing the question. I nodded as I stared at the gold bars adorned with red bricks.
Yeah. Its an age-old technique thats been used for a long time.
In history, Chinese and Jewish people frequently utilized this technique. The Chinese because the country was often in turmoil, and the Jews because their nationality itself was a target of discrimination and persecution. Just smear some dirt on the outside and bake it, and that was all there was to it. It was easy to make. Even now, in ancient Chinese houses, gold bars hidden by the old residents were sometimes discovered during redevelopment.
I instructed,
Explode here to erase any traces. Gao Shusen shouldnt find out about these bricks.
Yep.
Even with just the gold bars here, it would easily amount to tens of millions of dors. It would be better to send it to Macau over time rather than using a cruise ship.
After collecting the treasures found here in the mansions garage, the amount piled up exceeded the rough estimate I made at first, filling nearly five 2.5-ton trucks. Excluding bulky art pieces and artifacts like ceramics and paintings, it seemed impossible to fill all five trucks.
Using the telekinesis technique, I quickly finished loading onto the truck, the same type Kyung-tae was in and left the mansion grounds. There was now the task of returning, but with my eyes and a disguised identity, there shouldnt be significant difficulties. Internally patting myself on the back for a satisfactory hunt, Kyung-tae, who took the steering wheel, muttered something strange.
I didnt intend it, but it looks like weve ended up helping China quite a bit.
What are you talking about?
Isnt it obvious? Even if we only use a portion of the harvested treasures as evidence, at least tens of millions of dors will be recovered to the national treasury. Its much better than ordinary patriots.
Recovered to the national treasury?
Realizing Kyung-taes misconception, I couldnt help but feel a bit bewildered. His misconception, stemming from his overly innocent view, was a stark contrast to someone who had been working in this field for a long time. Sensing something unusual from my reaction, Kyung-tae cautiously asked while looking ahead.
Uh, did something go wrong?
Wrong is an understatement. Honestly, its beyond wrong. Its even embarrassing. Did you seriously think that seized assets would quietly go into the national treasury? In this country that has rotted to the core to the point, theres no more rotting left?
Ah, ugh.
Kyung-tae groaned with a strange sound.
I underestimated it, Hyungnim. Im sorry.
No need to apologize.
There were often aspects in various matters that one tended to overlook without much consideration.
In this country, in every oppression that took ce, the losers gold became the loot of the winners. Illegitimate profits obtained through the war against crime also became the loot of those in power.
Therefore, the vein of the ungodly flowing through this continent had never been cut off for a single moment. Beasts of cronyism devour each other, creating a continuity of gold from the past to the present. Although some of it might flow to other continents or across the seas.
Today, wed plundered one small tributary of that dirty history. Being an illegitimate person myself, I had no shortage of continuing this history.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 89: The Vein of the Ungodly (4)
Chapter 89: The Vein of the Ungodly (4)
As we had agreed on the first day I arrived in this city, I brought Gao Shusens share of the stolen goods to a warehouse he had leased under an alias. Located on the north bank of the waterway dividing Haizhu and Liwan districts, this warehouse was a mere 1 kilometer away from the pier base of the Guangzhou River Police. Close enough that you could visually identify peoples movements if no boats were passing by.
Rather than hiding in in sight, it would be more urate to say he had connections here. Although cornered, Gao Shusen was still a high official of the Communist Party, and the first quality demanded of amunist official was the ability to manage connections.
Of course, Gao Shusen had leased the warehouse to hide the location of his vaults from me. It would be crazy for him to request I deliver directly to his vaults. Not like Id promise not to rob those too.
Waiting for me in person until this time, he spread his arms with a delighted expression as the cars I had borrowed entered the warehouse.
Wee, Chairman! Ive been waiting for you with three autumns of longing!
Three autumns of longing refer to missing someone so much that a day apart feels like three years. Judging by his bloodshot eyes, it was no exaggeration. After getting out of the Yongshi SUV, I looked at the suit-d shoulders surrounding the Deputy Secretary and asked:
Can all the people here be trusted?
Why would I have brought untrustworthy ones to an asion like this? They each have insurance. So, show me the promised goods first.
Clenching his fists, Gao Shusen peered like an impatient child.
Insurance, I see. Thats more reliable.
I nodded in understanding then turned halfway around, gesturing with my chin to the subordinate in the drivers seat. Thud. As the trunks of the Yongshi SUVs opened, Gao Shusen hurriedly went over to inspect the loaded cargo. The moment a sack was untied, a torrent of gold washed over his face.
Oh, ohh
Was it really that great? Intoxicated, Gao Shusen shoved both hands greedily through the gold bars, grabbing handfuls back and forth, concentrating on one handful then pulling out another. Mixed among the gold bars were rhino horn gold and horse hoof gold. They were named after the horn of a rhino and the hoof of a horse which they resembled. Both were legacies from the Qing dynasty.
After fondling the gold and counting dors to his hearts content, when Gao Shusen checked the footage recorded from the mountain vi, he made a sullen expression.
Although Ive already agreed that the ratio of evidence to keep will be up to you, Chairman with this much, wouldnt it be alright if we took a little more? Whether its 10 kg more or less of gold bars, it should look about the same.
What nonsense. I gave him a dry response.
Deputy Secretary, right now youre asking to scalp not just some gold, but your and your uncles lives.
Erm
Behind Gao Shusens actions must also lie some suspicion toward me. Since the footage alone didnt let him know the exact amount, he was anxious I might skim off more without him being able to tell. Gao Shusens demand was an indirect expression of doubt.
But what could I do if he was anxious? There were already this many safeguards in ce.
Dont forget that the total value of the confiscated goods that will be submitted as evidence is exactly the same as the total amount of bribes reaching the top level.
At my pretended reminder, Gao Shusen reluctantly backed down.
Right. It must be so. I spoke out of turn. I apologize.
No need. Im grateful youre keeping the agreement.
Its difficult for anyone below the partys highest level to get their hands on confiscated goods handed over to the state treasury. In other words, this is a rare opportunity to directly offer bribes to someone normally out of reach. If this proves enough value, Gao Shusen and his uncle Gao Ninghuis lives would be guaranteed by the central party, making them untouchable by the provincial government level.
With a hand in my coat pocket, I continued the businesslike conversation.
Then lets move on to the next step. You have the intel on the Triads, right?
Ah, of course. Its right here.
Gao Shusen took out a USB drive and handed it over. It was information he had been reluctant to provide, making various excuses to dy it. After all, acquiring this intel may have been my sole purpose from the start, everything else merely deception. In short, he was worried Id take it and run.
Ive included everything essible under my authority from the public security database. And additionally, information my subordinates and I have unofficially obtained. Not sure if itll be enough.
It will be plenty. More importantly, what are the chances of you taking over the current provincial party secretarys position after hes purged? (+)[1]TLN: Please spare me if I make a mistake in tranting any of the titles/positions in this novel. Since Im new to tranting novels with real-life background
Hmm, hard to say.
Immersed in political calctions, Gao Shusens serious expression looked like an entirely different person from when he was enraptured by the golden glow earlier. This side probably resembled his true face as a party official more.
Even if footage of the vi being robbed goes public, his head wont roll right away. As you know, Chairman, short of extremely serious charges, he cant be brought to trial until an agreement between factions, as is procedure here.
Still, its a well-established fact that his head will fall off, so Im inquiring about what happens afterward.
After that, itll depend on me making my moves. I may even leapfrog over several middle stages and go straight to bing provincial governor. Anyway, trust this man for now. I will make prudent use of the contributions you bring, Chairman.
He only gave vague responses no matter how I tried to probe the partys internal affairs.
Its his turf after all.
Unnecessarily revealing his own circumstances could show weaknesses. I didnt pry further. In any case, all the actions we were taking together were in and of themselves a noose tightening around Gao Shusens neck.
More importantly, when are you nning to hit the Triads?
To Gao Shusens question, I casually replied.
Ill raid them tonight. As soon as I locate a suitable target point.
Youre not tired? I mean, you just came frombat.
Take it as a sign of my sincerity toward you, Deputy Secretary. I need you to be safe so I can rest easy too.
Thats much appreciated. Youre quite vigorous indeed. Ill be trusting only my Chairman.
With that, Gao Shusen turned to his underlings and gestured with enthusiastic pping, substituting for verbal orders. Expressionless shoulders lifted the goods we had brought from the vehicles and moved them to the center of the warehouse. I detected not the slightest greed from them. What sort of insurance did thismunist aristocrat have over them?
Capturing their families and holding them hostage in prison? With orders to kill them immediately if anything happened?
This was no rash conjecture. Concealment was the norm in the local governance of China, and violence and death were the norm in Chinas prisons. Therefore, corneredmunist aristocrats could freely abuse their authority however they wished. As long as they avoided a purge, minor abuses of power would be no issue, and if they were purged, such trivial matters would be unimportant.
The shoulders finished their task in the time it took Gao Shusen to smoke a cigarette. The valuables, now conveniently gathered in the center of the warehouse, would surely be moved again to somewhere safer before sunrise.
After waiting a few steps away to avoid the cigarette smoke, I bid themunist aristocrat a brief farewell.
Ill be off again now. Ill be sure to bring good news tonight.
Go safely.
I boarded the lightened SUV and instructed a return to the pier where the cruise ship was docked. I had to drive about 10 km back, crossing a bridge to re-enter Haizhu district, then following the riverside road. Lined along the scenic road were presentable buildings standing in a row. Beyond the thin, tidy band of high-rises, densely-packed slums crammed into the blind spots. By this point, it could be called a universal principle ofnd use throughout the Chinese maind.
There, I saw the depths of human destitution. In thete dark hours, the alleys full of poverty were a fitting ce for unemployed migrant workers tormented by hunger and homelessness to abandon their humanity momentarily. One starved corpse feeding many lives is not always an evil thing. After all, they were remains with no kin left to even hold a funeral.
The faces of those sharing meat and guilt showed no trace of expression that could be called such. The only emotion was simple, grueling fatigue. A line too difficult for one to cross became easy when crossed together.
I had expected it. Where there is severe famine, could cannibals be absent? Humans were originally creatures that lived by preying on each other, only how they preyed changed ording to circumstances.
Moreover, there were far too many hungry people in China right now. The 70 million flood victims from the historically unprecedented great floodsst summer. Having drifted to the cities in search of a living, they must have nibbled away at each other little by little even during their long journey to get there. Usually the corpses of those who copsed while walking, asionally the weak whocked strength but were still alive.
Such a scene of humans repeatedly preying on each other, as there was no other way for the destitute to fill their stomachs.
The proliferating cancerous masses were insufficient to fill their bellies either. The proliferation of cells that fed on magic power and mana was far too slow a processpared to the hunger of the masses. It was like a poor farmer who boiled and ate up all his seeds for next years nting as well.
Truly an abyss of istion.
My words puzzled Kyung-tae.
Huh? What do you mean?
I speak of gu poisoning by istion. Creatures with venom are confined together, prey on each other repeatedly until only the one with the strongest venom remains. Its merely superstitious sorcery, but you must have heard of it at least once.
Ah, that. Of course, I know it. But why
It just came to mind seeing people eat people at thiste hour. Even those without venom will generate deadliness from preying on each other.
In the end, anything that harmed people could be called poisonous, also because its spread would sicken society.
Oh.
Kyung-tae nced outside the car window following scenery I couldnt see, shrugging as he said.
They used to say the cruelest gu was confining and starving children to create ren gu human gu.
Is that so.
Yes. Starving kids and letting them twist their bodies to crawl inside bamboo to die was considered the best, I heard.
Excessively unrealistic.
Who knows. If not for meeting you, I may have ended up like that.
Nonsense.
Haha.
Kyung-taeughed awkwardly and turned the steering wheel. The convoy gently curved following the river road.
I saw the providence of nature in this concrete jungle. Exploitation and oppression. Primitive, direct cannibalism and more civilized, indirect forms carried out through oppression. Beneath the lowest floors were more, and the weak devoured by the strong were predators preying on even weaker beings. In the seething cauldron of discrimination and oppression, soft human benevolence melted away, leaving only hard clumps of evil.
Now was the time for me as a hunter to step into that abyss of istion.- 1. TLN: Please spare me if I make a mistake in tranting any of the titles/positions in this novel. Since Im new to tranting novels with real-life background
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 90: The Crucible of Gu (1)
Chapter 90: The Crucible of Gu (1)
Anticipating the entry into the next hunting ground, I took a short nap for a couple of hours in my cabin on Becrux until sunrise. Although I said a couple of hours, in reality, I couldnt even fall asleep for half of that time. Anyway, I managed to get some rest, so I thought I could maintain a moreplete judgment for about half a day while digesting the intense activities. Reflecting on the abnormal excitement during the conflict in Mexico, it would have been beneficial to rely on the awakening agent until the decisive moment.
As I drove away sleep with difficulty, a headache came in ce of the departing sleep. It must be due to sleep deprivation. I decide to endure it without taking any painkillers. Its ufortable to take painkillers in advance when I dont know when Ill need the awakening agent. Mixing different types of medication is never a good habit.
The storage, transport, and export of the stolen loot were under the jurisdiction of Suyeon, who was in charge of rear support. It was Suyeons role to review the various drafts and requestsing up from headquarters during my absence. I reviewed the contents while having a meal.
We are pursuing the acquisition of a significant number of Chinese vessels as we judge that smooth cargo export is difficult with a single cruise ship from Heungseong Tourism, which used to operate on the Busan-Macao route. If we disguise it as a fleet going for a collective fishing operation in the North Korean East Sea, it is expected that we can freely move through the waters without attracting the attention of the Coast Guard. I have already issued an order to secure vessels with a tonnage of 20 tons, and the estimated unit price per ship, including shipping and permit certificates, is around 140,000 yuan.
140,000 yuan?
Yes.
The n itself is good. Chinese vessels operating in the waters near North Korea are quitemon, and the Chinese Coast Guard cannot inspect each departing ship individually. How can they monitor each of the tens of thousands of fleets that go out to the open sea ande back along the long coastline? Moreover, most of these fleets are engaged in illegal operations, so the more inspections China conducts, the more it loses. Conducting inspections but not catching anything bes a diplomatic problem.
However, the strange thing was the price of the vessels. With 140,000 yuan, its about 24 million won. Its less than a quarter of the price of a used ship of the same ss traded in Korea. I raised my eyebrows, expressing my doubt. Budget savings are good, but I wondered if the n was too tight.
Its too cheap. Can we secure enough quantity with that value? Are you trying to save too much money?
Suyeon calmly responded.
Its possible. The increase in incidents has led to more avable vessels and a decrease in transaction volume.
Incidents? Like increased surveince by other countries?
Primarily that. In addition, abination of factors such as a surge in unidentified distress incidents presumed to be the mischief of marine creatures, and an increase in damage caused by pirates, seems to have had aplex impact.
But apart from that, are there pirates who attack fishing vessels? Especially Chinese ones?
Capturing sailors from a country where people are treated asmodities and negotiating how much they can get for them. The Chinese government would be more interested in using this hostage situation politically than valuing human lives. The families of the hostages would not have the financial capacity to pay. After all, except for the captain, most of them would have nationalities that are less prosperous than China, such as the Philippines or Indonesia. From the pirates perspective, Chinese vessels were probably not as valuable prey as they were rare.
However, Suyeon nodded again.
Its not typical piracy; its armed conflicts between fishermen of different nationalities. Its said that fishermen, mainly from Vietnam and Indonesia, attack Chinese vessels entering their national waters. The authorities of both countries seem to subtly encourage or tolerate this.
Huh. China has be a bit careless.
Partially, its to create a stage for awakened individuals to act, divert their attention, and further incite public sentiment.
A usible story.
Chinas current situation did not allow it to take powerful action for the sake of a problem like fishing vessels being plundered. The United States, which had established formal diplomatic rtions with Taiwan, was passing warships through the Taiwan Strait every day, irritating China.
Of course, external enemies are a good means of reducing domestic unrest, but the enemy needs to be clear and easily understandable. From the Chinese governments perspective, it was more advantageous to refrain from informing the public about the existence of an enemy beyond the limits of their response.
In short, choosing and focusing were necessary even here.
So, Vietnam and Indonesia were conducting delicate tightrope walking where they could without eliciting a reaction from the other party. In the long run, it could be a choice that brings disadvantages, but both of these countries were not in a stable situation, so they would likely focus more on short-term effects. In other words, they also needed an external enemy.
Next is the progress report on the acquisition of newnd by Nueva Nogales. Through an indirect consortium using the Diamond Casino
While listening to the following orderly reports, I finished my meal slowly and, sipping coffee, approved several electronic documents. Personnel assignments, budget allocation, and spending, educational and procurement ns, and other matters rted to the organizations routine operations.
As the payment proceeded through iris and fingerprint recognition, it reminded me of the old days when even basic remote office systems didnt exist. Both then and now, as I was the organizations top joker, business trips and fieldwork were frequent. However, handling everything with just phone calls had its limitations, so at the end of every business trip and fieldwork was a pile of documents waiting for me. Such handling of tasks significantly increased my fatigue. Even if you handle the same amount of work, its naturally more challenging when you do it all at once.
Building the current system was the achievement of Suyeons predecessor and the one before that. Although there have been improvements since the previous one, the fundamental framework has not changed. Nevertheless, there was a considerable difference in work efficiency between the previous one and Suyeon. The system is the same, but its the person operating it who makes the difference.
When the predecessor left abruptly, I honestly felt a bit bitter
.?
Suyeon looked puzzled and slightly awkward at the same time.
Do you have something to say?
The silence during the gaze seemed lengthy. I pushed the tablet that I had just finished approving toward Suyeon, shaking my head to indicate that it wasnt anything.
Ill see you in the briefing room at the appointed time.
Sure. Thank you for your hard work.
In the briefing room, we nned to determine the impact points on the Triad. I pushed the empty coffee cup toward Suyeon, who was about to turn around.
Bring me another cup of coffee before you go.
I cant.
?
Did I hear wrong? When I expressed confusion this time, Suyeon calmly exined.
Youve been pressing your temple repeatedly since earlier. Its a habit you have when your head hurts. Excessive caffeine intake worsens headaches, so I rmend ending it after lightly dispelling drowsiness.
Listening, I realized that I had been massaging my temples. After a brief pause, I chuckled.
Okay, okay. Ill do as you say.
Thank you.
I should be the one thanking you. Thank you. For caring.
.
Suyeon, who had been silently blinking, eventually lowered her gaze and bowed her head again. There was a change in the secretarys vital signs that I couldnt interpret.
After brushing my teeth, I reced my cup of coffee with a walk around the ship. On the second day of arrival today, there were still many areas on the passenger ship that needed attention. Personnel dispatched from headquarters had already begun work at sunrise. They were changing the Chinesemunication equipment on the bridge to Korean-made, installing several rys to enable satellite calls from within the ship even while moving, and securing armoredpartments in case ofbat on board.
Reaching the bow railings, I saw numerous bodies rolling on the riverbed under the flowing river water. Corpses, along with all sorts of filthy debris, swayed down with the deep and slow currents.
Contrary to what many peoplemonly believe, most of the bodies do not float in the water. For a human corpse to float, gases produced by decay need to umte inside the body. However, when fish and crustaceans consume the flesh, they create holes that allow the gas to escape.
The softest parts, like eyeballs, are the first to be consumed by underwater creatures. Next is the flesh, followed by organs and fat. Tissues with tough muscle fibers are usually thest. Typically, the feet remain until the end, mostly because shoes are hard. Therefore, when disposing of a body in a river or the sea, its essential to remove the shoes.
Among the remains discarded on the riverbed, half were wearing shoes, while the other half consisted only of skeletons. The former might be the work of amateurscking even basic knowledge, while thetter could be attributed to more professional killers, including military personnel and cannibalistic entities.
Upon entering the briefing room, I found the operational staff at the team leader level or higher gathered.
Take a seat.
Everyone who was standing immediately took their seats.
On the front wall, which looked much improved from yesterday, arge map was projected by aser projector. Pointing my chin to the single highlighted area on the map, I asked,
Has the strike point already been decided?
Suyeon, standing beside the map, nodded slightly.
Yes. Its the residential area called Daxing vige, which touches the northwest boundary of Panyu District.
Whats there?
Many businesses belonging to the Hulongbang, one of the Guangdong Triads sub-factions, are concentrated there. There are dogfighting pits, gambling dens, auction houses, and more.
There must have been more ces than just this ording to the information Gao Shusen provided.
Of course, there were many other candidate locations the Chief of Security also agreed that this is the optimal target. Firstly, the abnormal concentration of businesses, and secondly, a supporter behind the scenes who had been watching Hu Shuying, the leader of Hulongbang, was recently neutralized. After that incident, Hu Shuying, for security reasons, has preferred to stay at business locations rather than at home.
It sounds like prey that can be bitten off in one big, neat chunk.
Thats right.
Have you verified the reliability of the information?
To the extent that can be verified, yes. However, due to insufficient data, its difficult to be a hundred percent certain. We also deployed drones during your absence, but they did not yield any significant results.
Unavoidable.
With the sun already set, information gathering through drones is limited. Didnt Houstons Ricardo also notice the presence of our drone that flew far away? If there were mid-level officials of the Triad on constant alert, they would have detected abnormalities as soon as the drone rose into the sky.
Indeed, the location itself is excellent.
Looking at the map, I understood why they concentrated the businesses here. The small waterway, prating the residential area and flowing under the riverside road that bends the residence, extended to the mainstream of the Zhujiang River. It was an excellent location where various goods could be transported silently during dark hours. cing businesses at the center, surrounded by boundary and defense lines on the outskirts, created a maze-likeplex of chaotic alleys that could act as a vital point, constantly draining attackers blood during defensive battles.
Moreover, behind it was a dense thicket forming a diamond-shaped small hill. In case of emergency, this forest could serve as an escape route.
With such a good location, there might be real ck Childrens party gatherings, right?
The current hideout of the Triad riffraff resembled the chaotic residences of Brazils Favs, indicating the possibility of partial coexistence between the two forces. Simr to the precedent of the German and Soviet forces in Stalingrad during the chemical warfare era, separated by a wall, each unaware of the others presence.
Kyung-tae affirmed my words.
Yes! We considered that possibility when making the decision.
Thats right.
Tap, tap. When I gestured by tapping on the table, Suyeon resumed the briefing. From the middle onward, Kyung-tae took over.
After about 30 minutes of discussion following the briefing, the strike point was confirmed without changes. If there had been more time, we could have collected more information before taking action, but the unpredictable Gao Shusen, whose life still hung in the bnce, was a problem.
As time goes on, the profitability of the hunt will decrease, and
Here, passing a quiet day would result in the disappearance of expected profits of at least several hundred billion. Depending on how tightly we squeeze the vein of the ungodly in this city, the future course of action would vary significantly.
On the other hand, the expiration of the validity period of the information we secured was also a problem. In an environment where everything was rapidly changing, how long would the existing information remain valid?
So, here, I had to rely on my adaptive skills and the abilities of my subordinates, heavily dependent on my own capabilities.
Those who seek to devour others must be prepared to be devoured themselves. Unlike the imperialists of the Round Table, I was not a fool who believed in the innate right to devour others left to me.Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
Also, if you find some error in trantion please do let me know by tagging me (@_dawn24) in our Discord server. Since this series is kinda hard to trante. But I''ll try my best to make it at least readable :)
Enjoy reading~!
Want to read ahead of the scheduled release? You can check the Novel page on the website (or press the next chapter button) and buy an advanced chapter with only 20 Honeys! (100 Honeys is only 5$! So you can basically read 5 advanced chapters ahead of schedule!)
Chapter 91: The Crucible of Gu (2)
Chapter 91: The Crucible of Gu (2)
On the day I first arrived in Guangzhou, the ck Childrens Party carried out simultaneous terrorist attacks and raids that incapacitated 80% of the Peoples Liberation Army mobile units stationed across the city.
From the authorities perspective, the especially painful loss was that of the armored forces, including tanks and armored vehicles. Without their support, in order to search and purge the ck Childrens Partys base, they would have to ept enormous casualties engaging in hellish urban warfare, sacrificing life for life in thebyrinth of poverty.
Of course, it wasnt that there were no armored forces left at all. ording to Gao Shusen, the armored police vehicles were unharmed by the damage the army suffered. However, their numbers were insufficient to guard important intersections across the city.
This is when overdevelopment bes a problem.
Even within a single district, the residences of the wealthy and the poor were interspersed like a mosaic, which meant there were that many more points that had to be defended for the Partys loyal supporters.
Under these circumstances, immediately deploying additional troops was not easy either. With India making provocative moves along the border, demanding and relying on the worlds support, there were several other cities in simrly urgent situations. The 250 million peasant-workers were powder kegs distributed across every city on the maind.
When I reached the hunting ground with the kids in tow, Gao Shusen, who had been contacted, came first this time and was waiting for me. With strict security, his fatigued expression brightened after seeing me get out of the car.
Youre here! This way!
His deferential tone was still a bit awkward. Beforeing here, I had asked themunist nobleman who joined hands with me to provide all avable forces from the Patrol Police to support us, and to take charge of directing things on the surface. With a silent bow, as I drew near, Gao Shusen immediately changed his tone, revealing that his own safety was the top priority.
Chairman. I admit the need for me to make an appearance on the front lines, but I absolutely must ask that you do not secretly use me as bait.
What an annoying bastard. I maintained a calm expression as I replied.
Dont worry. Ive only brought you to a good position to hand over credits.
One more thing. No matter how good the credits, I cannot tolerate excessive troop losses.
You need not worry about that either. We will handle the infiltration and strikes. You simply have to block any gaps from out here like you are now.
After repeatedly receiving assurances from me, Gao Shusen finally asked about the n.
So how exactly do you n to prate and enter the den of those beasts without any sacrifices? When we dont know where the traps and ambushes are ced, that is.
Rather than answering his question, I calmly pointed out thenguage the nobleman used.
The den of beastsbe careful with your words, Deputy Secretary. Surely not everyone staying over there is a hoodlum with the ck Childrens Party and Hulongbang, right? You mustnt forget that the vast majority are innocent people whom you as a security official are supposed to protect. (+)[1]TLN: (Hulongbang) is a specific term that refers to a branch or faction within a Triad. It represents a specific faction or stronghold within the criminal organization.
Gao Shusen was bbergasted by this.
No, is that important right now?
Of course, its important. There is a saying that a leaky pot inside will leak outside too, and there maye a time when a minor slip of the tongue turns your entire reputation into a mirage.
It doesnt matter! All broadcasts go through censorship by default!
It might matter to your static allies who can be involved in censorship.
.
If you think its fine to give them a weakness with just one word, well, do as you please. Even if its not a decisive weakness, quietly keeping it stored away might be a means to open the gate when a real opportunity arises. Something like, Look. The hero of the people, Gao Shusen, was actually nothing more than a reactionary opportunist who disdained the people.''
Hmm.
After hesitating for a bit, Gao Shusen finally nodded reluctantly in a low voice.
Youre right. Thank you for waking me up. I will always bear that in mind.
Please.
Anyway, whats the n? You did say you were preparing something when we spoke on the phone, but I still dont see how we can prate this maze without any sacrifices, when the army and armed police arent just sitting by idly Chairman, someone like you must be aware of the horrors of a poetry war
The depleted army and other departments of the Guangzhou security bureau were waiting for reinforcements from the central government. It would be difficult for now, but once the factories that had essentially switched to wartime operations began churning out tanks and armored vehicles, they expected to receive the equipment support they needed if they could just hold on.
Since personnel losses tranted directly into reduced influence for their affiliated factions, no department was willing to step up and lead the charge with guns zing.
I nced at my watch and calmly said,
Just wait a little longer. Theyll arrive soon.
Arrive?
Yes. It wont take long.
December wind in Guangzhou were eighteen out of twenty times northerlies. Since the northern border of Daxing Vige, which contained the strike point, abutted the Da Shui Waterway, one of the streams of the Pearl River, I decided to firstunch three barges reeking of stench along that waterway.
Huh?
Amotion started in the residential area across the road where we were waiting. Hearing the shouts and yells as residents hurried en masse northward, Gao Shusen showed an expression mixing bewilderment and curiosity.
Just what is going on here? Why are those usele- I mean, residents suddenly making a fuss like that?
Were evacuating the residents in preparation for the attack. To minimize civilian casualties. Its a tactic you guys use once in a while too.
A tactic we use?
I nodded, but Gao Shusen still had a clueless look on his face.
Once in China, local officials had overturned a truck full of soft drinks in front of a residential area whose upants were resisting administrative demolition and refusing to vacate. While the residents rushed out to steal the spilled cargo, the officials swiftly barricaded the residential area and immediatelymenced demolition.
It was the same tactic now. Nothing was better for tempting the hungry than food. The three low-draft sightseeing ships contracted under the name of state security, along with the cateringpanies, surely believed their role was disaster relief for the poor. After docking at the pier, they would have announced as nned that they would distribute food ording to the number of people, so it was only natural for the suspicious masses who caught a whiff of the smell to hurriedly gather family and friends and flock over there. The buildings that did not consider soundproofing also allowed one persons shout to be heard by multiple households.
Here theye.
Following my words, Gao Shusen turned his head along the street saw five dump trucks parked in a row about 120 meters away, then gaped in shock.
What the What is that?
In boomtowns experiencing economic depression, it wasmon to see construction sites left abandoned mid-project. Aside from the Chinese governments infrastructure stimulus policies, there were simply so manypanies going bankrupt that half-finished building patches were haphazardly left all over the cityscape, like ugly pockmarks.
I took note of therge cargo vehicles left in neglect at such sites. Truck drivers who had gone a long time without work readily handed over their trucks to me when I offered 500,000 yuan each.
It did not take long to modify the secured cargo trucks into battering rams for breaching by lowering their center of gravity and installing V-shaped ramming gear. The materials could be taken from the construction sites and paid forter, and the technicians formerly employed by the state-owned enterprise were equally idle, after all. At just one call from Suyeon mobilizing her underlings, the unemployed who eagerly poured inpleted all the work in just 57 minutes. I had promised to pay them three days worth of wages if they finished wlessly within an hour, which was why so many hands made swift work.
Therefore, the five cargo trucks Gao Shusen was looking at now had, at least in terms of their frontal section, a strong resemnce to the narco tanks I had seen with El Juego in Mexico. The heavy battering rams protruding from the front of the headlights and the long horizontal steel tes protecting the windshield. In the cargo holds, they secured 30 tons of steel frames with welds to maximize destructive weight.
Wait a minute.
Having intuitively grasped the substance of the n, the excitedmunist nobleman grabbed my clothes.
Wait, wait just a minute! Have you lost your mind? You tell me to watch my image, then try to do something totally absurd!
Calm down.
Calm down, you say? When directives have alreadye down that crimes undermining public sentiment will be prosecuted for treason and insurrection! If we just bulldoze those homes on the grounds of being obstructions, what am I supposed to say! Absolutely not! Stop this at once!
That can be resolved with money.
What?
I mean money. Money. Ill go ahead since theyll catch on.
The modified trucks were too conspicuous. With their jutting triangr snouts like warthogs. I signaled Kyung-tae, who ryed the instructions via radio to the lead truck.
Unit 1, charge.
The idling vehicle immediately elerated.
Huh? Wha-
While Gao Shusen flustered about at a loss, the cargo truck with the pedal to the metal passed by me and themunist nobleman and plowed straight into the slums, smashing through the residences of the poor.
Boom boom boom boom! It sounded like thunder racing across the earth. The low-rise dwellings, stained by poverty and time, were demolished at a speed of tens of kilometers per hour. The shoddy structures made of bamboo reinforcement rather than steel, the hollow concrete blocksthey were like styrofoam before the battering charge of the cargo truck exceeding 50 tons gross weight. The swirling dust was like a horizontal sandstorm.
After dashing some forty meters, the now-slowed truck skewed slightly and advanced another ten-odd meters beforeing to a stop. This was to make way for the subsequent vehicles that woulde in.
This is crazy
Faced with the overwhelming spectacle, themunist nobleman grabbed his head and swore under his breath. After confirming the safety of the driver who sat in the drivers seat of Vehicle 1, I promptly ordered the charge of Vehicle 2. The red taillights Vehicle 1 had turned on served as a beacon amidst the thick dust for the following vehicles.
I guess it wont go around until number 4.
Considering the fragility of the buildings, three charges from a 50-ton vehicle should create a path to their stronghold. The shabby headquarters of the Guangdong Triads ruffians rose like a fortress between narrow alleys and faded roofs. A roughly constructed, five-story building with an uncertain appearance, making it difficult to guess its original purpose.
Whats with the money talk!
When pondered alone, it might be easy to figure out, but Gao Shusen seemed to be paralyzed or his thoughts were lost, preventing him from responding.
Quarrr! The chain of roars resounded again. The charge of the second vehicle started like a wave splitting the broken debris in front of the triangr siege tip, pushing it aside. Following the path of the first vehicle, the second one cleared a new route, almost identical in length.
I waited for the noise to subside before answering Gao Shusens probing.
You can justpensate the victims. When people hear the news, theyll resent the authorities less and be more likely to censure those who receivedpensation if you give enough money. Im talking around 200,000 yuan per household for homeowners and tenants separately. That should be plenty.
Whos going to give that much money! There are who knows how many wrecked homes!
Obviously youll be giving it. A high-ranking party official selflessly spending his personal wealth for justice. That makes for good optics, doesnt it? Showmanship is a virtue for heroes.
The moment he heard I was talking about money that he would give, Gao Shusens expression curdled. Evenpensating 200 households altogether would cost 40 million yuan. A mere 700 billion won.
This wasnt simply about greed. It was a fundamentally different mindset. The vulgar sorts who regarded greed itself as a virtue and believed wealth meant blessing. It was nearly impossible for this kind of person to voluntarily give back money once it entered their hands. In short, Gao Shusens belly was already full. With my tongue in cheek, I said,
Dont worry. Just nominallyitll actually be paid out from our public funds.
Right after I finished speaking, the third gray waterfall flowed. The straight approach to the destination was nowplete.
Vehicle 5, which was originally supposed to gost, cut in front of 4 and rolled up before me. Instead of H-beams to add weight, Vehicle 5s cargo hold contained lockboxes full of artworks, antiques, jade carvings, stacks of yuan bills, and Combat Agents from the security team who would infiltrate the enemy interior. I, along with Kyung-tae, also boarded the cargo hold.
I left the gorgedmunist nobleman with a brief farewell.
Ill see you again shortly.
The nobleman looked at me with aplex expression.- 1. TLN: (Hulongbang) is a specific term that refers to a branch or faction within a Triad. It represents a specific faction or stronghold within the criminal organization.
Author''s Thoughts
Disimer:
This novel is a work of fiction! While it may incorporate elements inspired by our "real" historical world, including historical events, settings, and cultures, it is important to note that the story and characters are entirely products of the author''s imagination. Any resemnce to real persons, living or deceased, or actual events is purely coincidental. This work should be enjoyed and interpreted as a work of fiction and not as a representation of historical facts or reality.
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