Chapter 105
Chapter 105
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 105
Chapter Title: Battle Preparation (2)
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“If they move around there, they’re bound to run into each other. Letting them know ahead of time would help the Jindo side too.”
Resentment didn’t fade easily. Especially when it was resentment tied to lost profits. The Chinese side probably blamed their defeat in the Redwood Forest on the Jindo crew.
‘Feels a little bad about this.’
If left alone, the Jindo side would get pummeled without even knowing why. Ideally, Suhyun wanted to warn them of the danger, pull in their forces, and turn it into a win-win. He’d gain extra manpower, and they’d get a heads-up to prepare.
The problem was how the Jindo side viewed Suhyun.
‘No clue on this one.’
Choi Jae-ho had already tried scheming against Suhyun and ended up losing Kang In-gyu over it. Suhyun hadn’t dug into the aftermath, but it surely hadn’t ended well for him.
“If I tip them off to be careful, they might get suspicious instead. If it could backfire, I’d rather leave them be.”
“No…… If it’s your advice, Team Leader, they’ll listen.”
“?”
Suhyun stared at Lee So-hee, his expression saying he didn’t get it.
“There?”
“Yes.”
“Any reason you think that?”
“Because of the Dragon Slayer Project aid. They’ll pay close attention……”
“Oh, right……”
He’d forgotten. Thanks to Lee So-hee, the Jindo side had avoided total annihilation when a top-tier team got wiped out.
“Then could you leak some info to the Jindo side? Something like suspicious figures spotted nearby. They’ve been burned once already, so that should get a reaction.”
“Got it.”
* * *
Suhyun handed out suitable artifacts to his team members and sent a mission plan to the Development and Planning Bureau. The bureau was extremely reluctant about Suhyun’s team heading out for verification.
With government teams already decimated, Suhyun’s was barely holding things together. They were uneasy about him sticking his neck out on unconfirmed rumors.
Plus, Suhyun had gone missing once before.
-Rather than trying to stop us like this, just give us good gear. We can’t stay holed up in the city forever. If you keep dragging our feet with worries every time, how are we supposed to get anything done?
Suhyun was ice-cold. He cut off the official and made his demands boldly.
-Aren’t we already providing everything we can support?
-We handed over all that looted gear, remember? Honestly, I’m disappointed you still haven’t finished analyzing it.
His words hit a sore spot. The items Suhyun had given them before—especially the superpower nullifier—were still under study. Back then, as a non-government operator, he’d handed them over for one reason.
Let him be the first to use them once research wrapped up!
If Suhyun were someone they could ignore, they’d brush it off as ongoing research. But he wasn’t anymore.
-We’re sorry. Our researchers are giving it their all, but the tech is so complex……
-No helping it, then.
Suhyun hadn’t expected much anyway. It was just a jab to shut them up. If analysis had finished, the Chinese wouldn’t have deployed so carelessly.
His words worked—the Development and Planning Bureau stopped objecting. Instead, they sent every possible support item and earnestly begged him to retreat if anything felt off.
* * *
“Got everything prepped like I said?”
“Yes.”
“I’m counting on your skills a lot for this op.”
“I won’t let you down. I’ll give it everything.”
“Reliable as ever. Here, take this.”
“…?”
Seo Gang-seok’s face twisted in horror at what Suhyun handed him. A simple gem necklace. There was only one reason to hand over something like this.
“I-I appreciate the thought, but I……”
“It’s a core from a monster that handles deadly poison. Turns out it’s pretty useful. Not something I need, though.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean, huh? Were you even listening?”
“No, sir!”
Seo Gang-seok snapped to attention so Suhyun wouldn’t notice his reaction.
“It absorbs poison in the area. Gotta be handy for someone who works with toxins.”
“Don’t you handle poison too, Team Leader? And if it neutralizes it, you’d get more out of it than me……”
“Nah, I’m good without it.”
Suhyun said it because of his poison technique, but Seo Gang-seok looked moved. That kind of attitude wasn’t common on Cameron.
Top team leaders were usually powerhouse superusers, and most were selfish. That was even encouraged. Companies didn’t want valuable assets charging ahead and vanishing.
They tended to hang back excessively, sending underlings to scout dangers first. Suhyun was the opposite.
Compared to the superpower-absorbing orb, the man-faced spider’s core was straightforward. It ignored everything else but sucked in nearby poisons.
‘This thing would fetch a fortune.’
Cameron’s elite loved rarities, and something this practical was priceless. Of course, Suhyun had no plans to sell.
“But really, you sure about this?”
“It’s fine. As long as it doesn’t wear off.”
From somewhere, Suhyun had procured banned poisons no longer on the market. Traps for beasts and monsters overlapped with those for humans. Seo Gang-seok excelled there.
‘Having someone who can do this makes life easy.’
His team were ex-soldiers, not hunters, so Suhyun had handled all this before.
* * *
-Grrrrowl!
The Poshukan tiger let out a fierce roar. True to its monstrous nature, it had grown nearly to adult size in no time.
After government inspection and approval, it lived on Uncle Jo Company grounds under strict watch. Still, it was a monster—most avoided it. Only Shaina treated the Poshukan tiger like a pal.
Maybe because of that, it was quite attached to her. As Suhyun approached, it crouched and growled. Suhyun met its glare head-on.
-Grrr…….
Moments later, the Poshukan tiger lowered its head and wagged its tail. Once imprinted, defeat didn’t fade easily. Suhyun patted its head and asked Shaina, sitting nearby.
“Does it obey properly?”
“Yeah, does whatever I say, more or less.”
“You’re awfully chill around a monster.”
“If it’s not dangerous, why dodge it?”
The team made sense as humans, but even other异種 like Louis, Gorgan, and Mogok recoiled from it.
“Our kind raise monsters we can tame for battle.”
“Oh, right.”
Some dark elves did breed monsters for combat. Remembering, Suhyun nodded. Shaina looked amazed.
“How’d you know?”
“Heard rumors. Anyway, can we use it for this job?”
He pointed; it flinched. Shaina stroked its fur, tilting her head.
“Probably? How much do you need?”
“Go where told, bite who’s pointed at. That’s enough.”
“Fetch!”
“It’s not a dog, it’s a monster……”
Suhyun deadpanned as she tossed a ball. But the Poshukan tiger sprang up, fetched it, and brought it back.
“…….”
“Seems fine to me.”
“That thing’s really a monster?”
* * *
Horses, a tiger, power armor, transport gear. An oddball crew. Parading through Pyongyang’s streets like this would draw stares. Suhyun chose night departure.
Sitting in the Black Bear cockpit again after so long stirred mixed feelings.
‘Riding this cursed thing once more……’
It felt like yesterday he’d sworn off it after decommissioning. He could’ve requested government gear, asked Charles, or bought new with his own cash—but Suhyun dragged out the Black Bear.
He wanted to test something.
‘Whoever they are, if they’re Chinese intel, they’ll drool over it.’
The Black Bear was Korea’s latest power armor in development. Just as Suhyun eyed Chinese tech, they eyed Korea’s. Spotting it here would pique interest.
‘Total garbage, of course…….’
But they wouldn’t know the flaws the owners didn’t. To them, it was a mysterious prototype.
“Long time. You been well?”
Ethan greeted them on a big motorcycle, with mounted elves. Looking up at Suhyun in the cockpit, he spoke.
“Impressive. Want one myself.”
“Owning’s easier said than maintained.”
Suhyun landed lightly and signaled his team to follow. As they trailed, he chatted with Ethan ahead.
“But is it okay for you to come like this?”
Ethan knew Suhyun held a key position among humans. He hadn’t expected him to drag a team out on shaky intel.
“If it smells fishy, something’s usually up. Elves around here aren’t idiots, and the situation’s tense…… Better to check thoroughly than show up late and miss it.”
“Suits me fine.”
“What about that power armor?”
The Black Bear stood abandoned in the field; no one thought to bring it. The team just followed Suhyun.
“Leave it.”
“You sure?”
“Who’s gonna steal it out here?”
“True, but……”
Not like a car or bike—power armor? In open plains, no city? Unlikely.
“We’ve got rest spots in the village. Let’s head there and——”
“Sounds good. Guide the team there, and tell me where you spotted the suspicious folks.”
“No rest for you?”
“Later. Come on. Let’s set some traps.”
“Yes, sir!”
Suhyun and Seo Gang-seok headed to the sighting with Ethan guiding.
“This again……”
“What’s wrong?”
“Jungle fringe. Getting more suspicious.”
Some areas hid intruders easily, others not. Calcutta jungle zone was prime hiding spot. A sighting here leaned toward real, not fluke.
Suhyun scanned around.
‘Might be under surveillance already.’
Even the elves spotting them felt off. He didn’t underestimate their combat skills—they were amateurs, though. Pros could slip by undetected.
‘Stir unease slowly, hit a few spots with terror, then approach and squeeze……’
Their plan was clear: seize this elf village first, expand gradually.
“Set them up?”
“Do it. Don’t overdo it.”
“?”
Seo Gang-seok blinked, confused.
“Don’t overdo it?”
“Matters against one or two. Useless against a group.”
Especially if watched. Seo Gang-seok started anyway, giving his best.
“Hang on, make it more obvious.”
“Yes??”
Normally, they’d paint lines to avoid reflective glints. Suhyun ordered shiny ones instead. Ethan looked baffled too.
“Mind if I ask why?”
“To hook smart guys, one bait ain’t enough……”
Merc teams were arriving at the elf village. Would they back off or attack, seeing it easy? Suhyun hoped for the latter.
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