Chapter 121
Chapter 121
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Heimken (1)
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After that, Suhyun made the most of the time until the next contact came in. Mostly by drilling Gu Jung-cheol.
Gu Jung-cheol was like a sword without an edge. Rusted over at that, making it hard for most people to recognize its true value, but Suhyun believed in his potential.
"So, we're...?"
"Where do you think you're going? Run with him."
The other squad members tried to slip away while watching Gu Jung-cheol roll around frantically, only to get caught by the scruff of their necks.
"You've gotten lazy with all this downtime lately. Especially you, Kim Chang-sik. You're a superpowered user—why aren't you focusing on developing your abilities?"
"What's the point of developing my powers...?"
"You'll find out once you develop them. What's with the complaints when you haven't even tried? Don't bitch about it when your ability's efficient as hell!"
As he mercilessly put the squad through their paces, Suhyun fell deep in thought. Looking at Uncle Jo Company's future, he figured a few more superpowered users would emerge from this group, but surprisingly, quite some time had passed with no signs of it.
'I hope I haven't screwed up the future.'
One of Suhyun's biggest worries was how his arrival had altered the timeline. The overall flow hadn't changed much, but the individual lives of Uncle Jo Company members must have shifted dramatically.
Superpower awakenings were completely irregular, and if he'd thrown off the conditions for them by changing the future, things would get really tricky.
In the end, all Suhyun could do was trust and wait.
'If we're sticking with this crew, it'd be great if two or three more popped up...'
"Keep those feet moving! Being tough doesn't mean you take every hit. Dodge what you can and only block what you have to!"
Suhyun shouted while pounding on Gu Jung-cheol. His superpower specialized in defense, but that didn't mean he could ignore evasion. There were plenty of monsters and superpowered foes out there who could pierce his guard.
There was no need to clash spear against shield unless absolutely necessary.
"Team Leader, we've got contact..."
"From where?"
"It's from the Development Planning Bureau."
"Bring it here."
Suhyun scowled at the report from the Development Planning Bureau. He hadn't asked for much—just the status on the team project the government was spearheading.
Of course, it was top-secret intel, something past Suhyun's position wouldn't have gotten clearance for. But now? He and his old self were worlds apart in stature.
Back then, he was just one team in the government's ranks. Now, he was their strongest card, one of the few they had—and on top of that, Suhyun himself was a magic user.
"They're pushing hard. That bastard's still a bastard, huh..."
Suhyun was tracking two things. One was the special forces unit being formed in the military. The other was the old method: co-opting private mercenary companies.
Right now, Joo Won-jun was surging ahead with the latter. Already four missions cleared. He was exploiting the Dragon Slayer Project's downtime perfectly.
'Need to cut him down before he becomes a real pain.'
In the past, he was a near-enemy rival, possibly even behind the accident that hit Suhyun. No upside to letting him stick around.
Fortunately, Suhyun had a grip on one of Joo Won-jun's weaknesses. He'd sent the orc team led by Mogok to exploit it properly, but they hadn't returned yet.
"What're you looking at?"
"Nothing much. So, what's up? Bored? Wanna join them?"
"Hell no. The orcs are back."
"!"
"And we have guests."
"Who?"
"People from Blue Bear, they say?"
"Tell Mogok he did good. Have them rest up for now. Sorry, but I need that package first."
There was only one reason Blue Bear folks would show up at this hour. The item from Chairman Charles.
* * *
"This place is cramped."
"If this is cramped, then most places are cramped."
Suhyun could tell right away who was reliable. Seeing Charles himself leading the Blue Bear squad made his expression turn baffled. This wasn't the kind of thing for him to handle personally.
"Didn't expect you'd come yourself."
"That's how much I like you."
"I like you a lot too, Chairman."
The Blue Bear 2nd Squad members standing behind exchanged weird looks.
'What the hell...?'
"It's good for my health to wander around like this once in a while."
"Good to know. I'll relax then."
'This guy?'
When told to treat him casually, Suhyun actually did. Charles clicked his tongue.
"Bring out the item."
Whitman approached cautiously, carrying a sealed metal case.
"Kept it under wraps on the way here, given what it is. You get why, right?"
"Means it's easy to misuse."
"Exactly. Things are quiet now, but not all terrorists are otherrace. If we're talking terror alone, humans are more suspicious than otherrace. How many 'otherrace' attacks were actually humans?"
Charles was sharp. Having lived through Cameron's early days and seen it all firsthand set him apart. He knew the things Suhyun had learned the hard way, just through different means.
Cameron was a land of opportunity—a new frontier—but surveillance was looser than on Earth. Plenty of places to flee and hide even after pulling off terror.
And the nations operating there all had enemies. Not many could face China or the US head-on, but plenty hated them.
In that light, the monster-luring device was arguably more potent than a bomb. Just needed monsters nearby to trigger instant terror.
Normally not something civilians should carry, but neither Suhyun nor Chairman Charles cared about that.
"You don't seem too worried, Chairman."
"Because I'm not likely to get burned by it."
Charles was bluntly cold.
"Terror with this? Only works on bases bordering monster zones. Monsters around Washington? No one's dragging them close to the city for terror—bomb's more straightforward."
"Fair point, but..."
Suhyun tapped the metal case.
"Reality always exceeds imagination."
"Don't worry. I always have Plan B ready for that. Safer around me than most US bases."
"I'm sure."
The superpowered escorts trailing him weren't his full security. Suhyun extended his hand as he thought that.
"Thanks for coming in person anyway."
"So, we're even closer now?"
"We were already close. Let's keep it that way."
"..."
"No need to worry. Even if others approach me, I won't cut ties with you."
"...!"
Charles grinned and clasped Suhyun's hand. At the last second, Suhyun had said exactly what he wanted to hear. Knew his deals inside out.
As the chairman stood, his entourage followed. They draped his coat over him and straightened his attire before he spoke as if just remembering.
"Oh, right—one more thing."
"?"
"Can't go out now, but once restrictions lift, come to Washington. Got a fantastic offer."
"Immigration?"
"Nah. Though I'd love you in the US. You coming?"
"Not really. Korean government's not crazy enough to let me go."
"Fair. I don't make problems for fun. Can't say more here, but it's really, really good—trust me."
Suhyun eyed him dubiously. Seemed like something he could say right there, but he was hyping it up anyway.
"Got it."
"See you next time... Wait, where's Maria?"
Charles scanned the standing Blue Bear members, voice puzzled.
"Maria? Your niece? You brought her?"
"She insisted, so..."
Just then, Kim Chang-sik's scream echoed from afar.
"...I think I know where she is."
* * *
"You all did great. But... why's the headcount the same? And what happened to Mogok's face?"
The returning orcs sparked curiosity. Failing to bring the survivor was possible, but Mogok's face was swollen to twice its size, like he'd been thoroughly beaten.
"...Sorry."
"No need if you gave it your all. Healing first."
Suhyun activated his healing ability for the first time in ages. Mogok marveled as his wounds closed instantly.
"No survivor, face all busted up... Something happened, huh."
"The captain did his best!"
"I get it. Tell me what went down."
The orcs started chattering one by one. Suhyun's expression twisted more with each word.
-He left a while back.
-Yeah, pretty long ago.
-Nah, recent.
Every time the orcs chased a lead on the survivor, they arrived a step late. Ended up circling the area as a result.
"So, how far'd you get?"
"Heimken."
"Heimken?! Where in Heimken?"
"Heimken City."
"...From now on, come back midway and report."
First mission—they'd pushed hard to succeed. Suhyun could guess without seeing it.
Heimken. China and Russia's sector, north of the Gate. Heimken City meant the orcs' city. Rare in Cameron, where otherrace lived in tribes or villages.
"Hard to enter without China or Russia clearance... Oh, orcs, so no issue."
No one checked traveling otherrace. Plus, orcs everywhere around Heimken.
"So? You got there—no problem, right? Orc city, not some otherrace spot."
"Yeah, thought so too. But said we were looking for Mallok, and their attitude flipped."
Mallok. The orc survivor's name.
"Surrounded immediately, dragged to the chieftain. Interrogated on our purpose—I said we needed Mallok to testify in a human court."
"So they beat you?"
"...Yeah, called us spineless..."
"Orcs ditch treaties when pissed, sure, but this is overkill. Heimken orcs aren't that brainless."
Otherrace-human relations were always iffy. Those who knew humans well stayed cautious. They faced a force that could wipe them out anytime.
Heimken orcs had dealt with humanity since Cameron's early days. Not like remote otherrace acting rashly out of ignorance. They knew what humans could do when pushed.
"You told them where you're from and why, and they still beat you? Important—tell me exactly."
"Yes, we did, clearly..."
"Good. We've got our pretext now."
Refusing the survivor under "protecting victims of human massacre" would've tied Suhyun's hands. Humanity had to respect otherrace isolationism basically.
But beating his envoys? Different story.
"No idea what's up, but this lets us intervene. Good work. Go rest."
"No, we didn't even bring him..."
"Tracked him down, made contact—rejection's beyond your control. No self-blame for the unavoidable. You did great."
"Thank you!"
Things were unfolding unexpectedly. The orcs exceeded expectations. Suhyun hadn't anticipated them trekking out and pinpointing the guy.
And the Heimken orcs' attitude was off too. Couldn't make sense of the aggression.
'Looks like... something's going on.'