Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Haimken (3)
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“Who is that?”
“Probably a guide.”
Contact had already been made with the Haimken side when they received permission from the Russian authorities. That orc was undoubtedly sent by Haimken.
“Umm… Hello?”
“Sorry, wrong country.”
The orc in the T-shirt approached, glancing at a small booklet as he spoke. It was completely off the mark.
“Don’t people in this job usually carry at least one translator device?”
“Our guests all bring their own, so we don’t need them. Not from America? China?”
“Korea.”
“Oh, Korea. I know it. Kim Ch…”
“Skip the nonsense and just show us the way.”
“Yes, sir.”
At Suhyun’s words, the orc obediently turned around. People who came here were mostly rich or had something special about them, and it wasn’t smart to argue with them.
“What’s your name?”
The orc responded politely to Kim Chang-sik’s question.
“Call me Kruk, sir. But… your group is unusual. I’ve been a guide for over ten years, and I’ve never seen a lineup like this. That monster—is it properly under control?”
Since Shaina was the one with the tiger, Kruk wasn’t too surprised. It was well-known that dark elves tamed monsters.
“Don’t worry. It won’t bite.”
“It doesn’t seem like a biting issue…”
As Kim Chang-sik quickly warmed up to the orc and started chatting, Park Su-yong asked in a concerned tone.
“Is it okay to let him talk so freely?”
“It’s fine. That’s why we’re letting him.”
“?”
“An orc guide is honestly only useful for tourists. It means nothing to us. We stayed quiet while they assigned him because of the internal situation.”
The incident where Mogok got beaten and chased out was blatantly unusual. Something like that happening meant there was a clear reason. And that would show somehow.
“A guide should know the internal situation well. Let him get friendly like that.”
“Yes, sir.”
During a brief rest stop, Suhyun called over Kim Chang-sik and gave him instructions. Ask what was going on in Haimken, especially any rumors around the chieftain.
“I’m nervous about whether I can pull it off.”
“What are you talking about? You’re the best at chit-chat.”
“Team Leader!”
“I’m kidding. A seasoned guy like him won’t change just because you’re careful. If he lies, we can gauge the reaction, so just ask naturally. Here.”
“What’s this money for?”
“You have to slip it to him while asking. Not too obviously.”
“…”
While some heteromorphs stuck to their ways even after contact with humanity, others were heavily influenced by humans. An orc who’d been guiding humans for years was the typical latter.
Feeling his illusions shatter, Kim Chang-sik posed the question.
“By the way, anything going on in Haimken lately?”
“Huh? Like what?”
“Anything. You know these little bits of info are huge for people like us. Like someone making contact for a new development project or…”
As he spoke, Kim Chang-sik slipped a bill into Kruk’s hand. Kruk quickly pocketed it with a grin.
“You’ve hit the jackpot with that question. See that gentle hill down there? Actually, they’re planning to level it and develop…”
Suhyun sighed. He’d picked up only the worst human habits. Anyone who knew the area would see through it. To Suhyun, it was just lame nonsense.
“Cut the bullshit. Development in this area is impossible. I get you’re trying to entertain, but skip the lies.”
“!”
“What? That was a lie?”
Kim Chang-sik stared at Kruk with a face full of betrayal. Kruk awkwardly averted his gaze with a sheepish smile.
“Well, rumors are like that, right? Some hit, some miss…”
“You bastard… I even tipped you…”
Kruk racked his brain. At this rate, he wouldn’t even break even. He needed to come up with something good.
“Ah! Lately, humans have been visiting Chieftain Herkul frequently. Humans don’t usually come that often.”
“Not another lie? A chieftain’s a high position. Basically the king here. How would you know who he meets?”
Stung from being fooled once, Kim Chang-sik’s face was full of suspicion. Kruk waved his hands desperately to regain trust.
“No lie! It’s true! I know who Chieftain Herkul meets because we’re close.”
“Where are they from?”
“Huh?”
Suhyun, who’d been listening, jumped into the conversation.
“You said people have been visiting often. Where are they from?”
“Uh… well?”
Kim Chang-sik’s eyes turned cold. Kruk shouted hastily.
“There’s no way for me to know that! How would I?”
“You’re savvy, so it’s easy. Did you see the visitors?”
“From afar…”
“Were their skin tones like ours?”
“Seemed similar.”
“…Chinese.”
“Huh? You can tell that right away?”
“Maybe not, but it’s likely. East Asians aren’t common around here…”
It could be Korean, but Chinese was more probable.
‘What’s the reason?’
Haimken wasn’t newly discovered. It was well-known enough that starting something new now was unlikely.
“You’re close to the chieftain?”
“Yes! Chieftain Herkul has doted on me since I was little.”
“Perfect.”
“?”
“We need to meet the chieftain. You’ve saved us trouble. Can you arrange it?”
“Huh? That’s a bit…”
Movement for outsiders in the city was restricted. Meeting the chieftain or key figures required a separate application.
Of course, Suhyun had deliberately avoided that.
‘After what happened to Mogok, an official request would’ve just been rejected.’
Plus, it would draw unnecessary attention several times over.
“Not enough money?”
“It’s not about money… Well, more money is always nice.”
Even as he refused, Kruk stayed consistent.
“You can’t just meet Chieftain Herkul because you want to. What am I supposed to say? If outsiders want to see him, his underlings will riot.”
“So, no reason for the chieftain to meet us?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Go to the chieftain and relay a message. Say we have business regarding Mallok.”
“?”
“That’ll do it. He won’t stay quiet after that.”
* * *
Haimken lived up to its reputation. The squad members gasped in admiration at the massive stone city built along the mountain slope. Except for Luisil and Shaina, Gorgan and Mogok.
Normally, tourists entered through the city gates and followed designated paths. But Suhyun and his team were guided straight inside.
“Is this okay?”
“What?”
“Wasn’t it too direct…?”
Seo Gang-seok looked worried. Many mercenaries underestimated heteromorphs, but as a hunter, Seo Gang-seok knew their strength well.
Even small tribes could draw blood if provoked—what more a city of orcs?
“Something’s up since Mogok got beaten, right?”
“Yeah, but we don’t know what. If being too blunt gets us hurt…”
“You’re misunderstanding something.”
“?”
“I told them to relay that if they can, go ahead and try.”
“Huh?”
“Like with Mogok—if they think they can act arrogant, let them try.”
Suhyun’s expression was calm, but Seo Gang-seok sensed the well-contained killing intent. Cold flames flickered in Suhyun’s eyes.
“I don’t care about anything else, but touching my people is unforgivable. If they can’t grasp their place and come at us a second time, it’s war.”
Seo Gang-seok swallowed dryly. Suhyun wasn’t misreading the situation. If anything, he seemed eager to fight here.
“Nervous?”
“Now I can repay what you’ve done for me.”
Suhyun smiled faintly. This was why he liked Seo Gang-seok.
“But I don’t think that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Huh?”
“The chieftain here isn’t an idiot.”
They had walked the corridors of Haimken’s inner keep to arrive at a wide hall. Shaina leaned against the Poshukan tiger while listening to Suhyun and Seo Gang-seok’s conversation.
The orcs guarding the inner gate had panicked at the monster but allowed entry upon seeing the dark elf holding the reins.
‘If they treat a group like this the same as last time, they’re insane.’
Mogok’s group had been all orcs, not particularly threatening in appearance, so they could handle them casually.
But Suhyun’s team had a bunch of humans, other heteromorphs, and even a monster. No matter how you sliced it, it wasn’t ordinary. Orcs had that much sense.
A report would’ve gone up already, and whoever came out would probe them first. Until they figured out their exact purpose.
“Come inside. And leave the monster and weapons here.”
The squad openly showed their displeasure. After what happened to Mogok, leaving weapons? They looked to Suhyun, unsure.
“Leave the gear here.”
“Is that okay?”
“Yeah. No need to fight with weapons if trouble starts.”
The squad slowly set down their weapons. Shaina struggled to soothe the growling tiger.
“Be good. Be good. Got it?”
-Grrr…
“This is really okay, right?”
Shaina ignored the orc’s question and stepped forward.
Past the hall’s doors, a space decorated with drapes appeared. In the center stood a massive orc with his back turned. Even through his cloth clothes, his muscular build was imposing.
‘Orc chieftains really are something else!’
The squad nodded, thinking that. But Suhyun scanned the surroundings. Aside from the orc guards eyeing them warily, no one else was visible.
“Welcome. I’m the chieftain, Herkul.”
The orc strode over and extended a hand to Suhyun. Suhyun wasn’t short, but the orc towered a head above, looking down at him.
Smack!
“?!”
Suhyun slapped the orc’s hand away. At the blatant provocation, the orc’s face twisted. He growled in a menacing voice.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
“Not here for pleasantries, so no playing with fakes. If you don’t want a big scene, bring the real chieftain.”
The reply came from elsewhere. A chair in the corner turned, and a small orc hopped up straight. More dwarf-like in stature. Short and stocky. Hard to believe he was chieftain.
“How’d you know?”
“A fake acting out of his league shows.”
“You seem angry. Care to talk calmly?”
“One of my men came here, got beaten, and chased out. Can’t see why I shouldn’t be.”
“Your man… Ah… Those orcs. Kazak, stand down.”
The big orc glared at Suhyun again after glancing at the real chieftain. He didn’t like Suhyun holding firm in front of the chieftain.
“Didn’t you hear?”
“Human, show respect. No one acts arrogant before Herkul.”
“Ah, respect.”
Thud!
Kazak’s knee buckled. Kneeling before Suhyun, he looked up in shock.
“You think you can be arrogant in front of me? Much better. This is respect.”
“You human…!”
“Want me to make you more respectful?”
Kazak’s reaching arm froze, and his whole body slammed to the floor. Subdued by an invisible force, he let out a deep groan.
“Stop!”
Clank!
The orcs nearby drew weapons, eyeing Suhyun. The squad instantly pulled artifacts. Weapons were left, but artifacts were kept.
But they didn’t need to.
Crack!
The orcs’ guns bent and flew upward. Suhyun deftly controlled telekinesis, hurling them into a corner.