Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: A Proposal You Can Refuse (1)
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“Right now? Was what I just saw real?”
“…Are you seriously saying that in this situation?”
Kim Suhyun let out a sigh at Choi Ji-eun’s behavior, rushing to verify his superpower even after nearly dying moments ago. She had always been like this—throwing her life on the line for anything that piqued her interest.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“That’s my line. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Everyone else is too. We’ve got plenty of those meds here just in case.”
“That’s not the point.”
Suhyun muttered as he glanced around. Until just now, with blood rushing to his head, he hadn’t even properly checked what the guy was doing.
‘Time definitely… slowed down.’
Suhyun clenched his fist. Even before returning to the past, during fierce battles, he’d felt time slowing a few times—more and longer than anyone else.
He’d thought it was just his focus exploding in extreme situations back then, but now he knew better.
Rustle—
“…What are you doing?”
The researchers, who had been frozen in place, were now bustling about, hauling in equipment. Lee Seon-hwa, catching Suhyun’s eye, gave an awkward smile.
“A case is a case, and a corpse is a corpse. Do you know how hard it is to get a superpower user’s body in such good condition?”
“They tried to raid the lab, so this is nothing.”
“Exactly, exactly.”
‘These lunatics.’
Suhyun inwardly clicked his tongue at the researchers hurriedly preserving organs from the instantly killed superpower user’s body before it could decay. Not that he had any room to talk, after ripping them apart himself.
“The brain’s intact, luckily? Did you do this on purpose?”
“As if.”
The situation was quickly contained. The corridor, a mess of blood and flesh moments ago, was back to normal in under an hour.
Lee Seon-hwa explained everything to the police special forces who came rushing in. Choi Ji-eun approached Suhyun, who was staring blankly at her, and handed him a coffee.
“Thanks.”
“No need to thank me. This mess happened because of the guy I assigned. Still, you managed to get in touch somehow. They must’ve used an EMP during the raid.”
“I had a backup ready for that.”
“You’re always so thorough. Thanks to you, we survived. I said I wouldn’t let anything happen again last time, but I failed. I’ll make sure to prepare better.”
“It’s fine. No need to apologize for that. No one can predict everything. You’ll probably beef up security here from now on anyway. So, how’s the superpower?”
“Right, time-related. It slowed down. I’d felt it a few times before, but never this long or this intensely.”
“Can you control it?”
Suhyun closed his eyes and focused. It felt like pulling something up from within.
“About fifty-fifty. I’ll need more practice.”
“Awakening in a situation like this. Does high pressure trigger it? Maybe try going to accident scenes?”
“That’s ridiculous. I don’t get anxious just because other people are in danger.”
“?”
“It’s because I was worried you’d get hurt.”
“…!”
Choi Ji-eun’s face flushed red. She kicked Suhyun’s leg—a light, petulant strike with no real force behind it.
“Ow, that too? Then don’t ask. You asked, and I answered.”
“…….”
Instead of replying, Choi Ji-eun nodded. Her face was still red.
“Anyway, I didn’t expect a breakthrough like this. I was caught off guard, but it worked out well.”
He’d decisively eliminated a pesky enemy and awakened one of his own abilities in the process. Worth all the mental strain.
“…Come visit often and tell me about your power.”
“In person? Can’t you just get a report?”
“No, you have to come yourself.”
“Really? Well, okay. It’s not that hard….”
He’d be bouncing around Pyongyang for a while. He planned to re-testify on existing crimes and, once confirmed, search and seize everything tied to Joo Won-jun.
With the prime suspect launching a terrorist attack and getting killed, no one would dare contradict Suhyun.
“Time to bring those old guys along.”
Thanks to Joo Won-jun, the old Gaon-gil Team 2, Contact, Dae-seong, and Samdu-ryong—who’d been wrongly framed as culprits—were probably desperately awaiting his news.
* * *
The matter wrapped up faster than expected. No government official had the guts to ignore Suhyun’s statement, so a reinvestigation kicked off immediately. Combined with survivor Mallock’s testimony and Joo Won-jun’s terrorism, the case flipped unusually quickly.
If the escaped mercenaries heard and came back, the government would start with an apology and take various measures—but that wasn’t Suhyun’s concern.
“So, you’re saying artifact transfer is off the table?”
“Well, in principle…”
“No, Director. Who almost died to Joo Won-jun? Twice, even.”
In reality, Joo Won-jun had just kept running away unilaterally, but Suhyun was the type to lie without hesitation for personal gain.
“Plus, who uncovered the truth in a case where the government jumped to the wrong conclusion? Me. If it weren’t for me, it’d still be wrapped up wrong.”
‘Honestly, from our side, it’d have been better if it didn’t blow up.’
The director thought to himself as he sipped water. He couldn’t say it aloud, or Suhyun would bite his head off.
“We’re truly grateful.”
“But you’re still saying no to transferring the artifacts from Joo Won-jun and his gang?”
“Well, Joo Won-jun’s family on Earth is strongly claiming ownership…”
Joo Won-jun came from a wealthy Earth family. Suhyun knew the money he so freely flashed came from there.
“You’re not seriously buying that crap, are you?”
Suhyun’s voice dropped chillingly.
“This is Cameron. No need to entertain demands from Earthlings who aren’t even here. Slap a ‘stolen artifact’ label on them. Then you can confiscate without issue.”
‘Is this guy really a mercenary?’
Whether first mage or elite mercenary, his fluency in government loopholes was baffling. Stolen artifact labels were indeed how they acquired ambiguous-ownership items.
“Of course. That’s exactly what we’ll do.”
“Then we’re good?”
“But we can’t hand them to you, Suhyun. I’m truly sorry. We have our circumstances…”
A異種族-related crime of this scale was rare. Several involved had already been stripped of office. The government was huddled, issuing apologies, and announcing support from seized assets to victims.
“No, I get that. Who asked for assets?”
Suhyun had more than enough money. He wanted usable artifacts.
“Nothing but the artifacts.”
“Well… Handing all confiscated artifacts to you—a mage drawing attention—looks bad in many ways. Public opinion, you know.”
“I don’t care. Strangers cursing me changes nothing.”
“But we have to care! And we’ll take more heat anyway.”
Suhyun sighed. If the director was holding out this long, things were probably that dire.
‘Guess I’ll take a compromise.’
“So? I go through all this trouble—what do I walk away with?”
“We’ll lend you all Joo Won-jun-related artifacts indefinitely anytime. But keep ownership with the government. Please!”
“Fine, deal.”
He and the Development Planning Bureau weren’t enemies anyway. They’d use each other long-term.
The director’s face lit up as Suhyun backed off surprisingly easily.
“Thank you!”
“I’ll chalk this one up as a debt owed.”
“Of course. Understood.”
* * *
Outside, Suhyun walked a bit, savoring long-overdue peace. The streets of Pyongyang from the Development Planning Bureau onward were quiet and serene.
‘Seo Gang-seok’s probably playing with his daughter. Others are training or resting. Call Shaina for a meal?’
Shaina would get mad, but at this hour, she was the only one he could casually summon. After constant tense battlefields and rough meals, he craved something tasty.
“?”
A familiar back appeared in the distance. Kim Chang-sik.
“Kim Chang—”
Suhyun stopped short. He wasn’t alone. A suited foreigner was beside him.
‘American? Looks like…’
No way they just bumped into each other here. They were chatting casually as they walked.
And the foreigner didn’t seem ordinary. Industry type for sure.
‘What? Scout? Inside deal?’
Thoughts raced, but Suhyun dismissed them. Kim Chang-sik wasn’t the type. He’d had plenty of chances to betray before.
But nothing in the world was perfect, right?
‘Damn.’
While hesitating, they got in a car and drove off. Suhyun clicked his tongue at the growing distance—no point chasing now.
‘Doesn’t matter. Asking him directly when he’s back will be clearer.’
* * *
That evening, in the break room: Kim Chang-sik dozing with a yawn, Ruiril reading a book, and a few squad members. Spotting Kim Chang-sik returned, Suhyun clapped to get attention.
Clap—
“?”
“What’s up, Team Leader?”
“Got something to say. Everyone, stand up.”
They looked puzzled but obeyed Suhyun.
“Close your eyes, all of you.”
“Huh??”
“Close them. Want me to do it for you?”
“No. We’ll close them.”
“Anyone here done something recently that’d prick their conscience?”
Someone’s shoulder twitched. Suhyun didn’t notice and continued.
“Everyone makes mistakes. The problem’s covering them with bigger lies. Confess now, and I’ll let it slide without punishment. Play dumb, though…”
He trailed off, but everyone knew what came next. Eyes closed, the squad murmured.
“What? Who screwed up?”
“Who is it?”
They trusted each other, so no big deal—but still disconcerting.
Thud—
One stepped forward, eyes squeezed shut, hand raised.
Ruiril.
“…….”
Suhyun dropped his head in disbelief. Why her, not Kim Chang-sik whom he’d called out? His heart sank—what mess had she made?
“Why you…? No, let’s handle the culprit first. Open your eyes, everyone.”
“Ah, ow ow ow! What’d I do wrong?!”
Suhyun grabbed Kim Chang-sik’s ear, who hadn’t flinched.
“You punk. Who was that American you were with today?”
“Huh? That guy? You know him, Team Leader!”
“What? Who?”
“Blue Bear security!”
“?”
Blue Bear security made sense for the vibe. But not fully resolved. Why call Kim Chang-sik?
“Why’d he call you?”
“Maria told him to!”
Maria. Chairman Charles’s niece. Suhyun nodded, understanding, and released the ear.
“Sorry about that. When’d you two get close?”
“Close? We’re not…”
“A total stranger asks you out?”
“She threatened to turn my stocks to toilet paper if I didn’t…”
“Whoa. Chilling blackmail.”
Kim Dong-wook muttered nearby. No one saw that kind of real threat coming. Suhyun shook his head and turned.
“So, what mess did you make?”
“Ahaha…”
Ruiril inwardly cursed herself for confessing out of unfounded guilt.
‘Should’ve held out a bit longer!’
The chip in her pocket felt extraordinarily heavy.