Chapter 72
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: The Secret Intelligence Division - 1
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In a few years, the entire world would fall into the hands of the Villain organization. After long years of working in the shadows, they would seize control of politics and the economy, monopolizing Players and items.
By then, no one would be able to stop them, and they would play their world-conquering card: the Necromancer.
‘But… not yet.’
At this point in time, the Villain organization wasn't strong enough to challenge the entire world.
The heroes were still standing strong, and the world's nations were focused on maintaining order.
That's why they were currently focused on hiding and expanding their influence.
‘Right now, the best thing I can do… is stop them from growing.’
To announce the Villains' existence and declare a manhunt without any solid evidence, just because he'd gained a bit of fame, would be more than a gamble—it would be foolish. For now, the right move was to use every possible means to keep them in check and gather evidence to unveil them—that was the answer.
‘I can't do this alone. I need a powerful force.’
As they nibbled away at the world from various fronts, there was a limit to what Lee Hyun-wook could accomplish on his own. In other words, he needed help in all areas: economy, politics, combat, and intelligence.
That was why Lee Hyun-wook had been building his reputation and forging connections with trustworthy individuals.
Chief among them were heroes from the A.M.T who had fought the Villains in the past, like Kim Kang-seok and Choi Jeong-cheol, as well as Zmeun-narae's guild master, Kang Seo-yoon, and the government's top-ranked Player, Woo Seong-mun.
‘But it's still too soon to bring them into my plans.’
He expected to have to act alone for a while, without powerful allies.
But then, an unexpected and incredibly powerful piece appeared on the board.
The Saintess, Emilia Müller, a woman who had never been part of Lee Hyun-wook's plans...
Lee Hyun-wook had proposed the creation of a 'secret organization' to her, and after the situation had been brought under control, they found themselves sitting face-to-face in the VIP room once more.
"That team you suggested we create earlier... I take it you mean a team to counter the Villains?"
Hyun-wook nodded in response to her question.
"As you know, Director, this won't be the last of the Villain organization's schemes."
"Ah, of course... naturally..."
Her expression darkened once again.
They had overcome this crisis thanks to Lee Hyun-wook's actions.
But if a moment like this came again...
Her life was still in grave danger.
"Hah—we were lucky to cut away the rotten branch, but this damn situation hasn't changed a bit."
"..."
"Hey, can you pass me the whiskey?"
"You should hold off for now."
"Ah—"
She let out a sigh and gulped down some plain water.
“Keuh— Then, could you stay by my side... hmm, I suppose not, right?”
Her eyes held a hint of hope, but Lee Hyun-wook nodded firmly.
"...I can't do that. That's why I'm suggesting we create an organization to fight them. So... Director, please tell me what you know about the Villains."
She knew something about the Villains. Nicholas Steel had told her something, and because of it, the Villains were desperate to kill her...
She stared into space for a moment before slowly nodding.
"...This is something I haven't told anyone until now."
As if opening Pandora's box, Emilia cautiously revealed the secret she held.
However, it was a story Lee Hyun-wook already knew.
Gordon Price, a key figure in the Guardian, an organization that fought the Villains, was actually a Villain leader sabotaging the Guardian from within.
In any case, sharing this fact earned him her complete trust.
"Hah—even the Guardian... I guess I was right not to accept their quest."
Of course, trust aside, he still had to act as if he were hearing it for the first time.
"Yes, that's right. To be honest, I approached you hoping to use you to dig up information on them, but this seems much better. If you're creating a team... I'm in, no matter what."
She said, her expression filled with firm resolve.
"You agreed... much more easily than I expected."
At his words, Emilia let out a smirk, reached over, and finally snagged the whiskey bottle next to Lee Hyun-wook.
"Starting today, Lee Hyun-wook, you are the person that I, the Saintess herself, trust the most."
"Isn't that a rather grand title to bestow so suddenly?"
"Well, you're the reason I'm still alive, aren't you?"
Emilia shrugged as if it were obvious and pointed to Lee Hyun-wook's left arm.
“So, I trust you enough to touch you in ways other than healing.”
"..."
"What's with that face... It was a joke. Anyway, what's the plan for this team?"
Lee Hyun-wook shrugged.
"There's no grand vision yet. Like you said... we'll start by gathering trustworthy people."
Emilia nodded at that. What she lacked most was not power or money, but trustworthy allies, so this felt like the most logical first step.
"True, we can't start too big. Oh, and if you need anything, just say the word. I may not look it, but I'm a hell-raiser with a lot of money. I can get you whatever you need."
Indeed, her influence was immense.
<Saint Dome> received support from the Republic of Chad, but strictly speaking, it was an independent organization.
And Saint Dome was famous for earning as much as any major corporation, making a considerable fortune from creating and selling holy relics or dispatching paladins and priests.
He'd heard that the 'Holy Field' she had just used was a magic spell worth a staggering 900 billion won...
In short, Emilia Müller was the head of a massive organization with plenty of manpower and money.
Of course, she was a symbolic figure, and others handled the practical affairs, but there was no doubt about her influence within the organization.
‘Just as she said, I've secured a proper source of funding.’
It seemed Lee Hyun-wook's plans would gain momentum from here on out.
And right now, he decided to carry out one of those plans.
"Ah, and... there is something special I'd like to ask. It's a bit of a difficult request..."
"Yes, just say the word and I'll take care of it."
Lee Hyun-wook paused for a moment before speaking with a serious expression.
"I want to scout magitech researchers from the Republic of Chad... for the guild I'm building."
The Republic of Chad was a leader in the magitech industry, which meant it had the most talented personnel. But with 'Laputa' now appearing over Seoul, a seismic shift in the magitech world was expected.
Lee Hyun-wook had just revealed his intention to ride that tectonic shift.
Emilia tilted her head.
"Ah... you're asking me to poach specialized personnel, so it's a sensitive issue... What's the reason?"
Instead of answering, Lee Hyun-wook took something out from his coat.
It was a key.
The item's information appeared before Lee Hyun-wook's eyes.
[Item Information]
- Name: Master Key of the Ancient Legacy
- Effect: Unknown
* This item is bound upon acquisition.
He glanced over the description one more time, then looked at Emilia.
“This... is the master key to Laputa, the magitech city floating above Seoul.”
Hearing this, Emilia frowned as if she hadn't heard him correctly.
"W-what... did you just say?"
“I said, it's the master key to Laputa.”
The moment she heard it again, her jaw dropped, and she shot up from her seat.
"Are you saying, y-you... you're the administrator of Laputa—?”
“That's right. I got it as a reward from the 4th Wave.”
She was speechless for a moment before collapsing back onto the sofa.
"Ah, wow... you're even more incredible than I thought... In that case..."
"The magitech city. I haven't been there yet, but I plan to make use of it soon."
"Ah... it seems our secret organization is bigger than I thought."
It was obvious that Laputa would bring about tremendous progress in magitech research.
Lee Hyun-wook planned to be at the forefront of that future technology, and for that, he needed 'manpower'.
With a dazed expression, Emilia took a sip of whiskey—no, two sips.
“Phew—alright, I get it. If that's the case... I'll have to pull some strings.”
Yes, for the Director of Saint Dome, it was a problem she could handle without much difficulty.
"Phew... my heart has had a lot to race about today... What else can I do?
"Next... just stay inside Saint Dome and don't come out until I contact you.”
"Hmm... that's what I do best. But, doesn't that mean I'm not supposed to do anything?"
"That's right. For now, don't accept anyone new... and conduct an internal review. Emilia Müller's top priority is survival. Keep that in mind, and for the sake of a clear head, go easy on the alcohol."
Emilia smirked and defiantly took another sip of whiskey.
“Keuh—thanks for giving me a goal like that. I'll try.”
Lee Hyun-wook shook his head and stood up.
"I've been here too long. It's time for me to leave."
"Alright. I'll set up a secure communication channel so we can stay in touch."
"Yes, please do."
Just then, she pulled something from her inner pocket and held it out to Lee Hyun-wook.
"Here, take this."
- You have acquired the Golden Leaf of the World Tree (Special).
[Item Information]
- Name: Golden Leaf of the World Tree (Special)
- Effect: Grants 'Invincibility' for 10 seconds one time.
This time, it was Lee Hyun-wook's turn to be surprised.
"Wait... isn't this an item that the Republic of Chad strictly prohibits from leaving the country?"
The Republic of Chad monopolizes various byproducts of the World Tree—like leaves and branches—and exports them as specialty goods. The export revenue from these products amounts to tens of trillions of won annually. As such, all related items are specially managed at the government level, and illegal smuggling is strictly forbidden.
"I have to give you something of this value, don't I? It'll start some juicy rumors and make it easier for us to meet naturally later on."
Emilia smiled brightly.
Lee Hyun-wook accepted it without another word.
It was an incredibly rare item, almost impossible to put a price on.
‘Emilia… I've gained an incredible ally I never expected.’
Naturally, the Villains would continue to target her, but if he could protect her and work with her, she would undoubtedly become a powerful weapon.
***
Two days had passed since the thwarted demon summoning and the attempted assassination of the Saintess.
Having survived another terrible crisis, Seoul had regained some semblance of stability.
The Saintess and her entourage had safely returned to Saint Dome, and Lee Hyun-wook had returned to his base.
The news was still abuzz with the incident, but it would soon die down.
However, the government's counter-intelligence agency, led by Woo Seong-mun, was busier than ever.
Having failed to identify the terrorist group that attacked Seoul, they had no time to rest.
Woo Seong-mun sat in his office, receiving reports from his department heads.
“...We still haven't been able to track the terrorists' entry route. We suspect they all used the Shadow Baron's skill, which makes them... virtually untraceable.”
"Furthermore, all the terrorists captured at the scene have died due to a latent spell. We ran an identity check on the bodies; they all turned out to be low-level members of a Central and South American Player cartel."
Whatever group it was, they had taken heinous measures to keep their identities hidden.
"We've requested cooperation from various Central and South American countries, but only two have responded so far.”
Every time Woo Seong-mun received such a bleak investigation report, a certain face came to mind.
'Lee Hyun-wook...'
Whenever they hit a wall, he found the answer with astounding ingenuity.
He had saved Seoul three times.
It was an undeniable fact, one Woo Seong-mun had witnessed with his own eyes.
‘He even defeated that Okita Kaito… in a one-on-one duel.’
The fact was nothing short of astonishing. That an unranked rookie had beaten the swordsman who killed Korea's 4th ranked Player, Guk Pyo-seong—beaten him half to death, no less—was still hard to believe.
All of that was impressive, but the biggest reason Woo Seong-mun wanted Lee Hyun-wook was something else.
‘He is also the one and only operator of Hugin, an absolute surveillance item.’
He had keenly felt the difference his presence made over the past few days. That was why he had formally requested several times that Hyun-wook work for the government, but... he was rejected flatly every time.
‘Does he really intend to cooperate only as a freelancer, in that ridiculous arrangement….'
When he discovered the 'event map' and met with Woo Seong-mun, he'd said he would act as a freelance black ops agent.
Wanting to use the government's power without being part of the government... It was truly laughable.
He had no choice but to accept his demands at the time due to the urgent situation, but he couldn't maintain those terms indefinitely. Giving a civilian top-level government authority was out of the question.
'Is he demanding such a thing because he has some ambition, or is there another motive….'
But Woo Seong-mun didn't care what Lee Hyun-wook's true intentions were.
He was certain of one thing: he was not an enemy of the Republic of Korea.
Woo Seong-mun's ultimate goal was singular: the safety of his country.
And now, the nation's security had been shaken multiple times.
He had a gut feeling that these crises were merely a prelude to what was to come.
‘We need a way to deal with the crises of the future.’
He couldn't deny that the most powerful solution was Lee Hyun-wook.
And Woo Seong-mun predicted that Lee Hyun-wook would become even more important in the future.
The reason was...
"Team Leader Lee, any news on Laputa?”
"Ah, yes! It's still reportedly inaccessible.”
The massive object floating above Seoul, the magitech city Laputa...
A considerable amount of time had passed since its appearance, yet no one had managed to even enter it.
‘Inaccessible. This is the same phenomenon as when the World Tree first appeared.’
When the World Tree first manifested in Lake Chad, a barrier prevented anyone from getting within two kilometers.
Then, Donald Harris, the S-rank spirit master who would come to be known as the World Tree's administrator, appeared.
Only after he used his special authority to lift the access restriction was the World Tree revealed to the world.
And it was highly likely that the access rights to 'Laputa' belonged to the person who contributed most to the 4th Wave.
‘And that person is none other than Lee Hyun-wook.’
But just as he was thinking about Lee Hyun-wook...
"Director! We just received a message from Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook!”
“I-It's, well, I don't quite understand how… but he says he's tracked Okita Kaito's location.”
At Team Leader Lee Kyo-jun's report, Woo Seong-mun shot up from his seat without thinking.
"What? How in the world..."
"Apparently, he somehow planted a tracking device on him during the last battle.”
Could it be that Lee Hyun-wook was providing the clue this time as well...
And the moment he heard those words, he made a decision on a matter he had been contemplating for a long time.
“...Team Leader Lee, no more delays. We're going to the 1st Battalion at Namsan right now.”
“Ah, yes, sir. I'll contact Lieutenant Colonel Kim Kang-seok!”
As he was putting on his coat, he seemed to remember something and snapped his fingers.
"Ah, and Hugin. Tell them to get it out and bring it.”
“...Sir?”
"What's the point of keeping something so incredible locked up in a warehouse? We should give it to someone who can use it!”
***
The firing range of the 3rd Anti-Magic Brigade's 1st Battalion. This was a place for testing various kinds of magic.
Lee Hyun-wook and the members of Squad 5 were gathered there, training their skills.
And now, Lee Hyun-wook was standing in the firing lane.
He slowly raised both arms.
Whoooosh—
In response, ten 'Aerial Drop Devices (Prototype)' shot into the sky simultaneously.
The sight of them floating majestically felt somehow mystical.
“Whoa…."
"It looks like a UFO fleet.”
As everyone watched in awe, Lee Hyun-wook also felt a sense of anticipation.
‘Good. The firepower was immense with just two. With ten….'
A few days ago, he had wiped out dozens of assailants with just two of them.
"Oh, goodness me!”
The voice belonged to Kang Jeong-du. He had brought the ten Aerial Drop Devices into the base at Lee Hyun-wook's request. The base was the only place with enough space to test them.
"Ah, we also installed the ejection device you requested last time. I forgot to mention it.”
"Ah, thank you. Let's try it out right now.”
A device that didn't just drop the steel balls but fired them with powerful magical force. That's what Lee Hyun-wook had asked to be installed on the Aerial Drop Devices, and it had been completed in just a few days.
- 'Synchronization' with 'Aerial Drop Device (Prototype-2)' complete.
* Available operations are as follows
1) Store Item
2) Deploy Item
3) Magical Ejection
Lee Hyun-wook simultaneously activated the third function, 'Magical Ejection,' on all ten Aerial Drop Devices.
Then—the bottom of the boxes opened, and a deafening roar erupted.
Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat—!
Propelled by magical force, the steel balls began to fire like bullets.
It was like a barrage from a heavy machine gun,
P-p-p-pow-pow-pow—!
In the distance, the face of the dirt hill erupted in a cloud of dust, as if it had been hit by thousands of autocannon rounds. If any monsters had been there, they would have been turned into mincemeat by the sheer destructive power.
"Wow... Sergeant Lee, at this point, you're practically a one-man armored division.”
Ahn Min-tae commented.
Indeed, it was only a slight exaggeration to say he had reached a level where he could unleash the firepower of an armored division all by himself.
Just then, a private from Squad 2 stood at the entrance to the firing range and shouted.
"—Sergeant Lee, the battalion commander is looking for you!”
Lee Hyun-wook nodded as if he had been expecting it.
Then he slowly lowered his hands.
Whoooosh—
The ten Aerial Drop Devices neatly stacked themselves inside a trailer parked to the side.
"Sir, I have to go. Something's come up.”
"Of course, call me anytime! I'm General Lee's man, am I not?”
"Haha—we're equal business partners. I'm always grateful for your help.”
Lee Hyun-wook went straight to the battalion commander's office.
Just as he expected, Director Woo Seong-mun was there.
“...Sergeant Lee, is it true?”
Director Woo Seong-mun, who had been sitting on the sofa, shot up and asked bluntly.
“Is it true that you planted a tracking device on Okita Kaito?”
As the head of the government's counter-intelligence operations, Woo Seong-mun was in charge of tracking the terrorist organization.
But just when he was failing to find any solid leads, he received a call from Lee Hyun-wook.
"Yes, sir. When I was fighting Okita Kaito, I planted a magitech device developed by my personal blacksmith. I apologize for the late contact; we were only just able to pinpoint his location.”
When the Shadow Baron dragged Okita Kaito away, he had slipped a 'Fly Eye' into his pocket.
Afterward, he had asked Kang Jeong-du to track the mana pattern emitted by the Fly Eye.
As a result, they had pinpointed the location of their 'Shadow Link'.
‘And it was the very location I had been hoping for.’
Lee Hyun-wook looked at Kim Kang-seok.
“I've suspected the Taesan Guild ever since the 4th Wave.”
"Ah, don't tell me..."
"Yes. His last known location is the basement of the Taesan Guild's headquarters. Since that was two days ago, it's unlikely he's still there, but it seems to prove a connection between them and the Taesan Guild.”
Woo Seong-mun and Kim Kang-seok both nodded, their faces filled with surprise.
‘The Taesan Guild is a forward base for the Villains.’
Before the 4th Wave, the Republic of Korea had not yet been infiltrated by the Villains. But in the chaos following the 4th Wave, the Villains slipped in and took control.
That history would not repeat itself.
'In other words, if we cut out Taesan, the Villains' influence in our country will be significantly reduced.’
Meanwhile, after hearing Lee Hyun-wook's report, Woo Seong-mun stroked his chin, lost in thought.
"As expected, Sergeant Lee... you're truly in a league of your own.”
Then he slowly raised his head and looked at Lee Hyun-wook.
"Let's go with the freelance contract, just as you wanted, Sergeant Lee.”
"Sir?”
"We're planning to establish a Special Intelligence Division to track the terrorists threatening this nation.”
He said, holding something out.
It was 'Hugin,' the item he had returned right after the last operation.
"I would like you to serve as the contract director of that secret agency.”
"..."
"As long as the contract is in effect, Hugin is yours."
An unexpected power had just rolled right into his lap.