Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Battle Preparation (6)
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The incidents involving the red pig mushrooms were amusing, and in a way, ridiculous, but they weren't all that significant. Eating red pig mushrooms didn't harm the human body or anything; it just made the people who believed it boosted virility look like fools. Bluntly put, Suhyun didn't need to worry about it one bit.
In contrast, the Russian matter the chairman mentioned gnawed at him. It had the potential to be a big deal.
‘Is there some incident blowing up in Russia around this time?’
His major was focused on China, so he tended to overlook events in other countries. Suhyun furrowed his brow, grasping at memories that wouldn't come to him right away.
“Team Leader, can we really eat it once we get back?”
“…Eat as much as you want.”
Suhyun replied sarcastically to Kim Chang-sik, who asked again as if he couldn't believe it, but Kim Chang-sik was too thrilled about getting permission to notice.
* * *
“We must resolve this matter no matter what. If we fail, His Excellency the President won't let us live.”
“But... isn't there no way?”
“Why wouldn't there be a way? We just make one. We've already received permission, anyway.”
“What permission?”
“Mining rights to the Altaranium mountains. He said we could offer them if we secure them.”
Altaranium. One of the most coveted metals on Cameron, desired by everyone there. The man's eyes trembled violently at the words.
“W-We can use that as a bargaining chip?”
“His Excellency's son is in mortal danger—does that seem important right now? We just need to figure out how to get him out. Time is of the essence. The team he's with won't collapse immediately since they're a unit, but the longer it drags on, the more dangerous it gets.”
“I've investigated the lists.”
They needed famous teams from various countries, ones suited to this mission. This wasn't just about slaying powerful monsters and coming back. They had to rescue the missing and trapped individuals. Precisely, they had to bring out at least one specific person unconditionally.
“China is...”
“Skip China. Any team there risks government interference, which could just give us headaches. Let's look at American teams, European teams operating in the US, and Korean teams.”
“Wouldn't recruiting from multiple places at once improve success rates?”
“Tell them to split the reward? Fat chance they'd like that. Guys at this level don't move for ordinary compensation. Plus, throwing mismatched teams together to rescue people is less reliable than sending one expert team to extract just one person. Remember this: We're not hiring for kills or exploration. We just need one rescue. The rest? Even if they all die, we can somehow cover it up.”
It was the kind of talk that would have shocked the other missing people if they'd heard it, but they weren't present.
“What about Black Hound? They're a US company, with more VIP extraction experience than most. Solid superpower lineup too.”
“Is that a lot?”
“It's a lot compared to others. There aren't many outfits specializing in personnel extraction to begin with, rather than monster hunts or subjugations...”
“Fair point. We've sent official requests to governments worldwide, but cooperation levels are iffy.”
“With Altaranium mountains on the line, who wouldn't join?”
“It's success-based pay, not guaranteed. The Dragon Slayer Project has soured the mood. Plenty will think, ‘I don't want to meddle in some foreign mess and lose my team.’ Look at this list. Total Control—that was a solid company, but their top teams got wrecked in the Dragon Slayer Project. Over to Korea: Crimson... they're done for too. Why so many defunct teams? Is this list not updated?”
“S-Sorry.”
“Anyway, reach out as much as you can. We need to survive too.”
* * *
“A guest is here.”
“Who?”
“Some Kim Jong-tae...”
“Ah, keep him waiting.”
“Huh?”
“I said keep him waiting.”
Suhyun said it without changing expression. After leisurely changing and freshening up, he emerged to find Kim Jong-tae fidgeting anxiously.
“How've you been?”
“...Fine.”
“You picked up the suppressant last time, right?”
“Yes. I'm here to report.”
“Good attitude. Keep it up, and you'll soon part ways with the poison and live clean. Sit.”
“There's no chair...?”
“Oh, sit on the floor. No chair for you.”
“......”
Kim Jong-tae chose to stand.
“I'd love if you turned at least one from the list into your slave. Any success?”
“Huh? No, it's only been so long since I went in...”
“Man, you're slow. How soon after that shady academy opened in Korea did you make moves? You could do it there but not in China? Total traitor, huh?”
Suhyun began lightly tapping Kim Jong-tae's head with a plastic ruler. Getting high elsewhere had nothing to do with treason or patriotism, which was absurd, but Kim Jong-tae clamped his mouth shut.
‘Endure. I have to endure now.’
Someday, he'd pay back this humiliation. Definitely!
For now, he was following Suhyun's orders, but he wasn't idle. He'd thoroughly investigated what had been done to him.
No matter how skilled a poison technician, no one could control poison in a person's body with mere will. That transcended technique. So surely...
‘A poison-related superpower!’
It couldn't neutralize the poison, but there must be a way to block activation. Like how China had unveiled superpower nullifiers in the recent Dragon Slayer Project, stirring things up.
First, prevent Suhyun from activating the poison, then capture him. After that, force an antidote...
‘Your every thought is transparent.’
“China's crackdowns are tight, and everyone on this list is hard to approach...”
Not everyone on Suhyun's list was military. While many Chinese forces were officially military, more weren't—for cover. Corporate workers, athletes, celebrities... Long-term plants like these were one of China's scary strengths.
“If it's hard, work harder. Why whine? Want to live? Then approach them somehow. Show up next time whining without results, no suppressant. Just die. The only reason I'm keeping you alive after you tried drugging me is you said you'd pay the price. Can't pay? No reason to keep you.”
“Understood.”
“Want to live? Hustle.”
Kim Jong-tae was currently posing as a solid businessman in China. He was impressive in that regard. He figured he'd contact list targets soon.
‘Yeah, I'll follow your orders until I poison them. Then I'll use their power to kill you!’
‘No way this guy's plotting to nab me with a superpower nullifier.’
* * *
“The Russia thing?”
“?!?!?!?!?”
Suhyun shook his head with a smile. Lee Won-jae's expression was a sight. The man never showed such faces usually, so Suhyun must have really startled him.
“H-How?”
“I have ears for rumors too.”
“I-I see. Well, with your abilities, Team Leader Kim Suhyun...”
“Save the praise. Director. Fun once or twice, but it gets old and empty. No booze, no food needed—get to the point.”
Lee Won-jae hurriedly waved the waiter off. This meeting was to cater to Suhyun's whims, provide anything he wanted. The server approaching the sealed room backed off at the signal.
“The raw fish here's great. Too bad.”
“Fish?”
“Monster sashimi too. Not for just anyone, but if Team Leader Kim Suhyun wants...”
“Nah.”
Gourmets called it delicacy, but to Suhyun, it was food he'd grown sick of. After eating freshly killed monsters on-site for survival, he had no appetite for it.
“So, back to the point...”
-Drink up, drink!
-When else we gonna drink in a place like this!
“A bit noisy?”
Suhyun commented offhand. Fine dining with good soundproofing, but not everyone minded manners.
“Be right back.”
“?”
Somehow, the noise from next door cut off abruptly. Lee Won-jae returned smiling and sat before Suhyun.
“Team Leader Kim Suhyun, everyone's hunkering down post-Dragon Slayer Project. Massive losses, and cleanup will drag this mood on awhile.”
“Yeah, who knows if it'll even recover.”
“But I think this way: Crisis breeds opportunity.”
“That's what clueless hotheads say... Go on.”
The director pretended not to hear. He had to stomach Suhyun's barbs for a while.
‘Should've at least pretended to send a rescue to Poshukan.’
Too late for regrets. Now, damage control.
“Mercenary firm vacuums create frictions, but it's a chance to flex our influence, no?”
“Ah. Sure. Optimistic.”
“Same with this Russia deal...”
“Explain in detail first.”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
Assuming Suhyun knew, the director had skipped ahead, but now he began properly.
Gates oriented China and Russia north and east, Korea and US south and east. West blocked by ocean—natural.
“A Russian research team went missing.”
“Research team?”
On Cameron, bravery wasn't just mercenaries'. Devoted scientists were bolder, risking lives for research in the wilds.
‘Reminds me of Choi Ji-eun.’
A sudden pang of longing. Few had been as close to Suhyun as her.
“Team Leader?”
“Oh. Listening. Continue.”
“Just a research team wouldn't blow up like this. The issue: the current Russian president's son was in it.”
Suhyun let out a hollow laugh. He could guess the situation now.
“We gotta rescue him?”
“If possible. Russia promised mining rights to Haimken-area Altaranium mountains. Upon success only.”
“Dunno if anyone's biting. Normally maybe, but with Dragon Slayer... Was that why you were so antsy? Need Altaranium?”
Altaranium was precious. No hesitation if obtainable. But Suhyun was busy now. No desire to carve out time just for it. Russian monsters weren't his specialty either.
“Honestly, the mining rights tempt, but that's not all.”
“?”
The director's gaze turned earnest. He spoke lowly.
“I truly believe: Team Leader Kim Suhyun can pull those people out of this mess.”
“Yeah, got that. But why you doing this?”
His sincerity bounced off Suhyun's coolness. Whether Development Planning Bureau truly trusted his skills didn't matter. What mattered was their motive.
“To secure Altaranium rights and show Korea's forces aren't dead yet.”
“Development Planning Bureau, you mean.”
“T-That's...”
Suhyun got it instantly. The bureau looked weak—all direct teams wiped. Best fix: flashy, visible success.
‘Government agencies, man...’
Different headaches from private firms. Suhyun didn't need to care, though. Bureau surviving benefited him more than vanishing, but no need to risk himself for it. That'd be backwards.
Suhyun asked casually.
“Where'd they go missing?”
“Yelbrupski Mountains.”
“...!”
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