Chapter 91
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 91
Chapter Title: Demon Worshippers, Urban Warfare - 2
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At the negotiation table with the Gugwang Group, Lee Hyun-wook boldly stated his demands.
*This bastard... To demand something so absurd...*
It was an exorbitant proposal, but the Gugwang Group's negotiator, Director Han Hee-jun, couldn't readily refuse. Because... the Gugwang Group was at a complete disadvantage in every respect.
At this very moment, the life of the chairman's granddaughter, Gu Hyo-min, was in danger,
and furthermore, the Gugwang Group's dark secrets were on the table.
And this man held all the cards, playing them with masterful skill.
*Lee Hyun-wook... He's not just good at swinging steel...*
Negotiations weren't something where having the upper hand guaranteed a favorable outcome. In the back-and-forth, the tug-of-war of conversation, one could lose their pace and unknowingly make a losing choice.
*That's why I planned to pressure him into yielding in a short amount of time...*
But despite Director Han Hee-jun's long experience in the business world, his pressure tactics had no effect.
He cleared his throat and spoke again.
"Mr. Lee Hyun-wook... Instead of the 'Shield of Achilles,' would a cash equivalent of its value be acceptable?"
The first of Lee Hyun-wook's several demands was that Hero-grade item.
He slowly shook his head at Han Hee-jun's proposal.
*One of the hobbies of the Gugwang Group's chairman, Gu Han-cheol, is collecting items.*
Since the early days of this disaster, he had collected countless items, part investment, part hobby.
As a result, he owned several decent collections, one of which was the <Achilles' Armament Set>.
*But the most important piece of that set, the <Spear of Achilles>, is in my hands.*
Chairman Gu Han-cheol had boldly given it to his grandson, Gu Dong-hoon, for his debut,
but it ended up lost inside the Cheongdam-dong 'Red Gate' that Lee Hyun-wook had cleared.
The item, which the Gugwang Group only knew to be lost, was now in Lee Hyun-wook's possession.
*In other words, if I get the Shield of Achilles here, the <Set Effect> will be activated.*
A type of synergy effect that occurs when one possesses related items, the Achilles' Armament Set held the <Blessing of the Styx>, which could grant temporary invincibility.
Lee Hyun-wook intended to acquire both the spear and the shield to gain a portion of that effect.
But naturally, the other side wasn't about to hand it over willingly.
"Well... not only is that item Hero-grade, but it's also something the Chairman cherishes."
"I doubt it's more precious than his granddaughter. Is that the Chairman's opinion?"
Lee Hyun-wook maintained his rigid demeanor. He then nonchalantly let his gaze drift into the air.
It was a silent expression that he had no intention of compromising on this point.
Seeing this, Han Hee-jun realized there was nothing he could do to influence the situation.
The words Chairman Gu Han-cheol had said before sending him echoed in his mind.
*'Director Han, time is of the essence! Find a solution as quickly as possible!'*
In the end...
"Ahem... Excuse me, I need to make a phone call."
And a moment later...
"Hoo... Mr. Lee Hyun-wook, very well. The Chairman has given his permission."
Director Han Hee-jun said with a formal smile, extending his hand.
Chairman Gu Han-cheol had decided to remove one measly shield from his treasure chest.
In the end, things went just as Lee Hyun-wook wanted.
"..."
But for some reason, Lee Hyun-wook didn't take Han Hee-jun's hand.
"Aside from that, have you confirmed the proposal for the raid rights to the mountainous regions of Gangwon Province?"
As such, Lee Hyun-wook's demands weren't limited to just the 'Shield of Achilles.'
*I can't just get one item from a group as big as Gugwang.*
The Gugwang Group didn't operate its own guild, but it held shares in several small and medium-sized guilds that managed regional areas. Lee Hyun-wook had demanded a portion of their 'raid rights.'
"Yes, we will concede 18% of those as well. The rights will be transferred to the Hope Guild within a week."
Only then did Lee Hyun-wook shake Han Hee-jun's hand.
With this, he had secured the 'raid rights' for the Gangwon region, which would become a growth engine for the Hope Guild.
*And there are a few decent gates that will open in the Gangwon region in the future.*
After concluding the negotiations, Director Han Hee-jun rose from his seat and left a quiet remark.
"However... as I mentioned before, Dr. Gu Hyo-min must not be harmed in the slightest."
She was a promising alchemist Player, considered a key figure who would lead the Gugwang Group's future. And above all, she was one of the few blood relatives favored by Chairman Gu Han-cheol.
"And... what happened in there must be kept strictly confidential."
The 'what' referred to the inhumane acts that occurred during the blood magic experiments in the laboratory's basement.
Of course, the research had supposedly been conducted with the 'consent' of the victims, the Filipino laborers, but it was still a clear felony where an accident in an illegal experiment led to the loss of many lives.
However, even if Lee Hyun-wook didn't touch the issue, it would be exposed to the world later for one reason or another.
"Well, then... I'll be in touch."
Right after they left the command tent, Commander Gwak Sang-pil came in.
"...Hmm, Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, did the talk go well?"
Lee Hyun-wook stood up and looked at Gwak Sang-pil.
"Commander, has Dr. Choi Tae-jun's location been confirmed?"
"Mm, well, nothing has been confirmed yet..."
The bastard had likely used all sorts of tricks like stealth and disguise to evade the surveillance network.
*As an alchemist who's gained demonic power, he must have developed all kinds of bizarre potions.*
Lee Hyun-wook walked past Gwak Sang-pil and stood before the map of Seoul on the operation status board.
"Commander, I can track him. And I will rescue the kidnapped Gu Hyo-min."
"Oh... is that really true?"
"Yes, so... will you give me operational command for this mission?"
At those words, Gwak Sang-pil smiled as if he'd been waiting and nodded repeatedly.
It seemed he had already exchanged some kind of signal with the Gugwang Group.
"Yes! We'd be grateful if you'd step up! Is there anything you need?"
Lee Hyun-wook nodded.
"Yes, I need a few people. Personnel from the A.M.T."
"Ah, just tell me how many you need!"
"And... I need about 100g of orichalcum ore."
At that, however, even Gwak Sang-pil couldn't help but tilt his head in confusion.
100g of orichalcum, the legendary metal, was worth over 1.2 billion won.
As the commander of the A.M.T Special Warfare Command, he could probably procure it somehow, but...
"...Huh? Why do you need something like that? It's a very, very expensive item, isn't it?"
"I'm sorry, but I'd prefer if you didn't ask why. It would put the Gugwang Group in an awkward position."
"Ah..."
"So, I would appreciate it if you could procure it discreetly, leaving no records."
This was a blatant lie, but at the mention of Gugwang, Gwak Sang-pil had no choice but to nod.
"Ah... if that's the case, I understand! I get it completely, so don't you worry!"
And of course, the orichalcum had nothing to do with this operation.
Just like that, the Gugwang Group wasn't the only one he could take a big bite out of.
***
The 'Villains' were not the only threat to this world.
The very phenomenon of 'Players' meant that certain individuals possessed power that transcended public authority, creating an era where lawless, violent organizations were bound to spring up like mushrooms after rain.
And 'Demon Worshippers' were a very special breed among such groups.
*Those bastards gain power and communicate with each other through demonic objects they happen to acquire.*
In this way, despite being scattered across the globe, they secretly maintained a 'connection' like a secret society.
*Choi Tae-jun's escape route was also arranged by another demon worshipper organization.*
Today, Lee Hyun-wook planned to round up multiple demon worshipper organizations at once.
By doing so, he stood to gain considerable benefits, including bounties and items.
*By now, they should have taken the bait I set out, Choi Tae-jun...*
As Lee Hyun-wook was formulating his plan...
Clank— Clank—
With the sound of clashing metal, someone entered the operations tent.
It was a familiar face, Seo Eun-ha.
She was wearing gray full-plate armor, with a shield and greatsword slung across her back.
"Platoon Leader, it's been a while. Have you been well?"
"Lee Hyun-wook... I heard you asked for me. Is that right?"
"Yes, I'll start the briefing after the additional personnel arrive. Please wait a moment."
A moment later, one of the 'additional personnel', Park Jun-mo, appeared.
"Uh, salute! Salute! ...Salute!"
He entered with the stiff discipline of a Private First Class, saluting the officers in succession.
"Um... Sergeant Lee Hyun-wook, are we having to go somewhere again this time?"
Lee Hyun-wook nodded, and Park Jun-mo's face grew even more rigid.
"Ah..."
And the next person to arrive, Kim Se-hee, showed up with a somewhat grumpy expression.
"Seriously, it hasn't even been that long since I was discharged. Why are you calling me back among soldiers?"
"Don't you miss this disciplined atmosphere sometimes?"
"Ah, don't be ridiculous... Ugh, the smell of a poncho liner. Ugh, I think I'm going to break out in hives..."
Thus, the four Players from the 3rd Anti-Demon Brigade, 1st Battalion that Lee Hyun-wook had requested were gathered in one place.
Seo Eun-ha and Kim Se-hee, who seemed to have gotten to know each other to some extent, exchanged pleasantries.
"Oh, hello, First Lieutenant Seo. It's been a while!"
"Ah, Sergeant Kim Se-hee. Oh wait, you're a civilian now, right?"
"Yes, that's right. Haha..."
"You were already pretty, but you've gotten even prettier since your discharge."
While they were exchanging formal greetings, Lee Hyun-wook placed a tablet PC on the table.
"Alright, the operational briefing is starting. You can chat later."
"What? Wait a minute... you don't mean it's just the four of us?"
Lee Hyun-wook nodded in response to Seo Eun-ha's question.
"Yes, that's correct. Only the four of us will be mobilized for this operation."
At that, all four of them looked taken aback. Although they hadn't heard the exact details of the operation, they had a general idea. It was a mission to pursue the ox-like monster that had appeared on the news...
"...If it's just us, that means a search operation isn't necessary. Have you already pinpointed his location?"
Lee Hyun-wook nodded at the sharp question.
"Yes, when I infiltrated the underground research facility, I obtained information on their escape route."
This was a lie, but it was true that Lee Hyun-wook knew where that bastard Choi Tae-jun was right now.
*By now, he should have rendezvoused with other demon worshippers at their facility in Seoul.*
Though shrouded in mystery now, the existence of a demon worshipper facility in Seoul would be revealed a few years later due to a certain incident. And it would be discovered then that Choi Tae-jun had also used that place to escape.
Lee Hyun-wook remembered that fact and was certain the man was there now.
"Even so... with just four people..."
Seo Eun-ha was once again filled with doubt, but she quickly changed her mind and nodded.
"Right, well..."
She too had seen the incident that occurred here on the news. The scene where Lee Hyun-wook single-handedly sealed that pit... And she had witnessed his exploits up close several times before.
*I saw it with my own eyes... he really is the Sword Saint Beater...*
For Lee Hyun-wook, an excessive number of personnel might just be a hindrance.
And in an operation that required a stealthy raid, there was always the risk of information leaks...
"Alright, we're going to strike the place where Choi Tae-jun is hiding. For the record, he's a demon worshipper."
"Ah... a demon worshipper. Is that why you called me?"
"That's right. Of all the paladins I know, there's no one I trust more than you, Platoon Leader."
At the compliment, Seo Eun-ha nodded silently, feeling a strange sense of pride.
*What's with me? Am I really feeling proud just from a single compliment from this guy?*
Feeling a sense of dissonance with her own emotions, she felt inexplicably embarrassed.
***
One hour later...
At a motel in Mapo District, Seoul.
A bald man was sitting at the counter.
Tick— Tock—
Amid the ticking of the clock, he watched TV with a bored expression.
Jingle—
Just then, the door opened and a man and woman entered.
"Welcome."
He scanned the couple's attire, his gaze akin to that of a sentry.
"Ahem, um, well..."
The man in the couple looked like a soldier at a glance. They had a certain air about them they could never shake off.
But he was fumbling around as if it were his first time in such a place, causing the woman to scowl.
"Ugh, what are you doing?"
"Ah, uh, um, well..."
"Move. One room, please."
She said, rummaging through her handbag as if to take out her wallet.
*Wow, why is the woman so pretty?*
She was a beauty who seemed completely out of place with this clueless guy. But she was also short-tempered and foul-mouthed. Was she some kind of sadist who enjoyed tormenting meek men? The bald man entertained such fantasies and chuckled.
"Haha, pretty lady, what am I to do?"
"What?"
"We're all booked for today—"
In that instant, a gust of wind erupted from her handbag, a dagger shot up, and the woman snatched it, lightly tapping it against the bald man's neck. A drop of blood formed.
"Huk—"
At this unbelievable turn of events, the bald man could only blink his eyes blankly.
"...How can you be out of rooms at this time on a weekday?"
"Huh? Is there some special event today?"
The woman's chilling voice came closer.
"..."
He held his breath and slowly moved his left hand, which had been resting on the counter.
He had hidden a rapier under the counter for situations just like this.
*If I can just grab it...*
He was confident he could use his 'skill' to pierce this woman, counter and all.
Just then—
Thwack—!
A dagger flew from somewhere and embedded itself right next to the man's left hand.
And perched on the dagger's hilt, a wind spirit sat with its arms crossed.
"Hey— that little one has quite a temper, you know? Move that hand again and it's coming off."
Bzzzzzt—!
While that was happening, the clueless man shot a current of electricity at the CCTV, disabling it.
"Who, who are you people..."
The woman ignored him and glanced at the key rack behind the man.
"Let's see... the keys for the 6th floor really are the only ones missing. Mister, why is the 6th floor gone?"
"Oh, looks like there really is something on the 6th floor..."
Just then, the back door opened.
Jingle—
The man hoped it was one of his allies, but it wasn't. A tall woman strode in.
She was wearing a black trench coat, and strangely, a metallic sound echoed with her every step.
Clank— Clank—
"Unni, it's the 6th floor, you're right."
But just then, the door to the stairwell opened and two female employees walked out.
"Huh?"
For a brief moment, silence fell.
"Dammit!"
The female employees were the first to move, albeit by a fraction of a second.
But the clueless man—Park Jun-mo—was faster.
Electricity spread from his grasp like a spider's web.
Bzzzzzzzt—!
"Kyaa—"
Both women were caught in it simultaneously, their bodies trembling violently.
But the woman standing in the back managed to hold onto her senses and pulled out a wand.
She then waved it haphazardly, forming an 'ice wall' in front of her.
Crack—crack—crack—
After blocking the stairwell door, she began to scramble upstairs.
"Ah..."
In the brief silence, only Kim Se-hee's sigh could be heard.
"Ugh, seriously! You should have aimed for both of them—Park Jun-mo! Where's your sense!"
"Well... I did hit both, but one didn't pass out."
Thwack!
Kim Se-hee knocked the bald man at the counter unconscious with a blow to the jaw, then raised her Mana Messenger.
"Boss, are you listening? We've been made. What should we do? Just break through and go up?"
However, judging by the scale of the commotion from upstairs, it seemed there were more than just one or two demon worshippers here. Going up the narrow emergency staircase head-on would be suicide, a sure way to get plastered with all sorts of skills.
- *Chhhk— First Lieutenant Seo, come outside. We'll take a different route to the 6th floor.*
Hearing that, Seo Eun-ha went out the back door.
Lee Hyun-wook was there in the parking lot.
"...A different route? You didn't mention that before."
"Ah, I just came up with it."
"So, what is it?"
Lee Hyun-wook pointed a finger to the sky and opened his mouth.
"First Lieutenant Seo, do you know how to break a fall?"
"...What? What are you talking about?"
Seo Eun-ha felt an inexplicable sense of foreboding.
"Ah, now that I think about it, you were always good at that superhero landing."
"Hey... you're not joking with me right now, are you?"
"Of course not. Sorry, but we don't have time, so we're going now."
In that instant, her body shot vertically into the air.
"Ugh!"
Lee Hyun-wook had used his metal control on her armor, launching her into the sky.
Whoosh—
Reaching the vicinity of the 6th floor in an instant, she was then shot horizontally toward a window.
CRASH—!
But it wasn't an ordinary window. It was a sturdy security window. Seo Eun-ha was forced to smash through it, belatedly casting a defensive barrier on herself as she tumbled into the building.
"Gack, you son of a... Lee Hyun-wook..."
She gritted her teeth and pushed herself up.
Behind her, Lee Hyun-wook flew in smoothly and landed.
"Hmm, you usually stick the landing..."
"—Shut up!"
The moment she yelled, a door burst open.
"—Who are you!"
"Just kill them!"
It was a woman with a sword and a man with an axe. Both had some kind of red paint on their faces.
"Just as I thought—"
As Lee Hyun-wook said that, Seo Eun-ha kicked off the floor and charged forward to engage them.
Thwack!
Her right straight shattered the man's nose, and the axe he swung cut through empty air. Next, her front kick slammed into the woman's abdomen, sending her flying into a wardrobe.
Crash—
After taking down two enemies in an instant, Seo Eun-ha looked around.
"Hoo— This... seems to be the right place?"
The crimson walls, which looked as if they were smeared with blood, were covered in all sorts of talismans and bizarre paintings.
And the thick incense smoke... it was clearly no ordinary motel.
"Right?"
It was obviously a secret hideout for demon worshippers.
The two of them cautiously stepped out into the hallway.
In that instant, the doors on both sides and the emergency exit door opened simultaneously, and employees came pouring out.
"There they are!"
A total of 17 people filled the hallway. And it looked like there were a few more behind the doors.
"...All of them are Players."
Lee Hyun-wook whispered. He could tell from the weapons they were holding. They were all items.
That wasn't all. Seo Eun-ha could see a reddish aura flickering from their bodies.
Demon worshippers, protected by demonic power.
This meant that most attacks wouldn't work easily, and clashing with them would result in being 'cursed.'
"Hoo— I can take the debuffs from their demonic power, so cover me from behind."
Seo Eun-ha said confidently.
Lee Hyun-wook had specifically chosen her for this mission, and she intended to live up to his expectations.
But Lee Hyun-wook shook his head.
"No, I'll break through in one go this time. You just need to cover your ears."
He said, walking past Seo Eun-ha.
Then, he pulled something from his back.
It was... a shotgun.
*Click-clack—*
As the heavy sound of the pump action echoed, faint cracks appeared on the faces of those filling the hallway. It was the instinctive fear humans felt when facing the barrel of a gun.
"That's a shotgun! Raise your barriers!"
Someone shouted, and two warlocks deployed a gray barrier, blocking the hallway.
But...
KABOOM—!
With the single explosion that followed,
the hallway was shattered to pieces.