Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: Haimken (2)
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As expected, the best approach was to go there in person. In a situation this complicated and delicate, it wasn't a wise choice for him to stay behind. Who knew what might happen?
However, Haimken wasn't a place Kim Suhyun could just visit on a whim. There were several issues to resolve first.
* * *
"No."
"Um..."
"Absolutely not! Please reconsider."
"No, what I'm saying is..."
"Why Haimken of all places? What do you expect to gain by going there right now? And it's in Chinese or Russian territory, isn't it? Don't assume they'll act like gentlemen."
"Director, I know that. Who was it that experienced it firsthand last time?"
Suhyun grew irritated as the man kept interrupting and steamrolling the conversation. When Suhyun lowered his voice, the director flinched and fell silent.
"This isn't me asking for permission—I'm just seeking your understanding. I trust you don't think that just because we're under the Development Planning Department, we'll get approval for every single thing we do."
Gulp.
The director swallowed involuntarily. The sudden shift in demeanor. Suhyun wielded such tactics masterfully in conversations, in a way no one would expect from someone so young.
"S-Still..."
But backing down here wouldn't be like him. He hadn't risen to director by folding easily. The director quickly racked his brain for ways to persuade Suhyun.
'Whip won't work, so carrot it is...'
He had to keep Suhyun here somehow. If he let him go in this situation and an incident occurred, it wouldn't end with just a few heads rolling.
"And you don't need to worry so much about China or Russia. It'd be a burden for them to act rashly too. If they slip up, they'll end up wearing the blame—and dealing with me as an opponent defies all logic. It'll be fine."
Of course, it was half right and half wrong. Suhyun knew that too. No matter how unpredictable an enemy Suhyun was or how much scrutiny was on him publicly, those who wanted to move would. Suhyun was worth it to them.
He'd said it to persuade the director. One slap, now a soothing word. The director was plotting whip and carrot, but he was the one getting played.
"What about permits?"
"Fortunately, we don't need Chinese clearance. We can ask the Russians, who owe us from last time."
"..."
It was undeniably true. The director felt himself losing ground with each point, sweat beading down his back.
"Alright then, that's settled. Thanks for your help."
Thanks to Suhyun deftly steering the conversation, the Development Planning Department never got around to asking the key questions—like why he wanted to enter Haimken.
* * *
"An orc city? What's it like?"
"Basically like the other異種族 villages, just bigger and more savage."
"Ooh..."
"Compared to where elves live, it must feel pretty crude, right?"
"Probably."
Encountering a異種族 settlement on a city scale was a novel experience for them. Watching the team members pepper Luiril with questions, Shaina remarked,
"She's showing off again."
"Let her. She gets nagged at enough normally; a little of this is fine."
It was easy to assume Luiril was always getting bossed around by Suhyun and treated like a tool, but she was an elf. A bit of image management, and people fell for the illusion on their own.
Uncle Jo Company's members were no exception. Most of them were still fooled by her.
'Handled the Kim Jong-tae issue, and to make it back on time, it'll be tight.'
Suhyun mulled things over, lost in thought. The moment he requested permission from the Russians, the info would leak outward. But it wouldn't spread too far.
Not because he trusted Russian morals, but their self-interest. They wouldn't casually share intel on Suhyun's movements.
"Can I bring the tiger?"
"Doesn't matter."
"Really?!"
"I never planned to play nice or beg anyway."
If his underling got beaten up there, sweet-talking was off the table. He'd threaten with force if needed.
Thinking of異種族 cities as pre-modern civilizations would be a big mistake. Haimken had long interacted with humanity, so its civilization level was quite advanced. Same with their armaments.
Suhyun didn't care.
'Doesn't matter how advanced they are.'
He had confidence against foes armed with cutting-edge weaponry, let alone pre-modern arms.
'They'll nitpick the violence upon arrival. Once they verify what happened, use that to extract the survivor.'
A clean plan. The surrounding politics raised the difficulty, though.
"You've lost a good amount of weight."
"..."
Gu Jung-chul nodded, his face pale and gaunt. Lee So-hee never went easy on anyone. Seeing his pudgy cheeks halved, Suhyun looked pleased.
"This'll be your first mission."
-Me?
"Yeah. How's it feel?"
Gu Jung-chul blinked, then typed.
-I'll do my best.
"Perfect. Just remember this: do exactly what I say."
A few nods. Suhyun patted his shoulder and walked on. Suhyun trusted him. Plenty dismissed Gu Jung-chul, but few matched his survival instincts. Throw him anywhere, and he'd come out alive.
"Oh, just in case—grab that too."
"What?! Why?!"
Suhyun pointed at the massive greatsword, and Luiril recoiled in horror. Shock Wave Sword. An artifact among artifacts, but this one carried extra weight.
It was a sacred relic of the Haimken orcs.
Stolen by the Chinese, then by Luiril—a hot potato with a tangled history. Taking it now meant only one thing.
"They'll just steal it back if we return it. Better we keep it!"
"Sometimes I wonder if you're an elf or a human. The sheer audacity..."
Luiril pouted and looked away.
"Not saying we'll keep it for good. Depends on the situation. I'll make it up later. Package it well so it doesn't get spotted. If the Russians catch it, it'll be needless headache."
"Ugh..."
Once Suhyun said it like that, he never budged. Luiril gave up and grabbed the Shock Wave Sword. One of the few treasures left after laundering all the stolen goods...
"Alright. Looks like we're all set."
* * *
"By the way, Gorgan, you're an orc from the north, right?"
"Yes."
"From Haimken by any chance?"
Gorgan shook his head.
"Close by, but not from Haimken, Team Leader."
"Fair enough. The north side of the gate is huge. Stupid question."
"If you're curious, ask away. I'll answer what I know."
"Nah, I'm good."
Suhyun already knew plenty about Haimken. It was one of the famous cities. Plus, an orc from the north working as a mercenary here meant a story worth not prying into.
"They're staring hard at us over there."
"Don't make eye contact. Starting a fight here only benefits them."
The road to Haimken was paved. It required usage permits from Russia and China. Suhyun's group had Russian approval.
"Still, why stare like that? It's creepy."
"You idiot. Keep your head down. You knew this came with traveling with the Team Leader. Think the title 'mage' is given lightly?"
"Huh?"
"I'd issue orders to surveil too if I were them."
Park Su-yong scolded the others. Suhyun felt the stares on him. Some were definitely psychics. Personal curiosity too, so probably.
"At least no monster worries."
"Low monster density around here anyway, plus China and Russia cleared them out. Hard to find any."
"Don't the異種族 complain?"
"Why would they?"
"We don't like monsters either. Outside a few cases, exterminating them benefits us too."
"As it sounds,異種族 request monster hunts from us—we don't beg them. Haimken's pest control probably involved some heavy politicking."
"Wow, orcs doing that..."
Smack!
"Huh?! Why?!"
"See any orcs here? Think before you speak."
"S-Sorry! My bad!"
"It's fine. I know you didn't mean it badly."
"Gorgan...!"
Kim Chang-sik gushed, moved by Gorgan's easy forgiveness.
"Chang-sik has no brain."
"Gorgan?!"
After trial and error, Haimken had adopted isolationism. Mutual checks between China and Russia, plus eyes from other gate nations, made it possible. If only those two had entered the gate, it'd be hell immediately.
One old team joke: the異種族's luckiest break was America coming with humanity. Sharp humor. Without America, who knows how wild the others would've gone.
Even with favorable circumstances, isolationism between two aggressive superpowers was no small feat. Showed the Haimken orcs' savvy.
Screech—
"Huh? What?"
"We're here."
"No city in sight?"
"From here on, we go on foot. Why would Haimken orcs let humans pave right to their doorstep?"
The plains ended, giving way to a vast, if not towering, mountain range. Haimken sat in the highlands.
"What's that?"
A Russian soldier at the outpost eyed the huge container on their vehicle curiously.
Grrr—
"?!"
The dark elf opened it, revealing a monster with gleaming eyes, and the Russians panicked, hands to weapons. If not trained soldiers, they'd have fired.
"Th-That..."
"Sorry for startling you. Can we proceed?"
"Yes!"
"Let's move then. Want to enter the city before dark."
* * *
"Why do orcs live in a dump like this..."
"Don't say that, Chang-sik. Haimken's like the pinnacle of orc wisdom."
"What? What're you talking about?"
"It's exceptionally well-built."
Suhyun answered as he led the way.
"Earth has ruins way ahead of their era's tech. Haimken's that kind of city. We're mercenaries, so we just marvel and move on, but scholars lose their minds over it."
"It's actually one of the two nations' revenue streams—tourism permits to Haimken."
"Tourism? Get outta here..."
Absurd to those tensed for surprise monsters.
"Earthlings love it. Barely any monster risk, and it's a異種族 city..."
"Let's make a tour course."
"We have a few in our zone. You just don't know 'cause no interest. And not that popular."
"Not famous?"
"South gate's mostly for researchers... Ah, there it is."
"?"
The team turned at Suhyun's words. But only gentle mountain slopes.
"What?"
"No orcs?"
Spotting the distant orc was surprising, but one standing there like it was waiting—even more so.
'What the hell?'
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