Chapter 132
Chapter 132
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 132
Chapter Title: A Proposal That Can Be Refused (2)
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“What’s so funny? You think laughing it off makes it go away?”
“Wait, not here! I have an image to uphold!”
With her cheeks pinched by Suhyun, Louiril whispered urgently. She was always getting scolded in front of Suhyun, but she maintained a mystical elf image around the other squad members. The blank stares from the others stung.
“Ugh...”
After shooing the squad members away and moving to another room with Louiril, Suhyun clicked his tongue and asked.
“So, what mess did you make? It’d be healthier for both of us if you say it’s something we can clean up.”
“Threatening me already?! Don’t worry, it wasn’t found out.”
“Really wasn’t found out?”
“...Probably?”
“...Just tell me what it is.”
Louiril pulled out the chip. It was something she’d extracted while swapping out the Shock Wave Sword. She hadn’t been able to unlock the lock yet, so she couldn’t peek inside...
Suhyun’s expression relaxed after hearing the explanation. He’d braced for the worst, but this was fine. No, it might even be better.
“So you couldn’t open it? Then why hide it?”
“Eek. Eeeek. That’s why I didn’t tell you!”
As Suhyun tugged her cheek, Louiril groaned and cried out. Suhyun let go and said.
“From now on, report even the smallest things.”
“...Promise you won’t do this.”
“You still got a mouth on you.”
Suhyun called Kim Dong-wook. He was the expert on electronic matters like this.
“Yes, Team Leader.”
“We got some locked data. Think you can crack it?”
When asked if he could unlock the data’s lock, Kim Dong-wook nodded.
“Let me take a look. Huh, it’s not a tough lock. Thirty minutes tops.”
Kim Dong-wook wasn’t exaggerating. Before half an hour passed, he reported back that it was unlocked.
“Already?”
“Shall I open it?”
“No... I’ll do it.”
He couldn’t let Kim Dong-wook see what was inside without knowing first. Suhyun opened the data with a few clicks.
“...”
A project China was running around Haimken lately. From the records, it was definitely one under Wu Shangkai’s charge. It even included info on deployable espers and artifacts. Not something you could finish in a day or two.
‘All the work-related info’s stored here...!’
“Louiril.”
“Yeah?”
“Want a bonus?”
“...”
Louiril stared at Suhyun’s sudden attitude shift in disbelief.
“Forget the bonus. Can I pinch your cheeks too?”
“Pass if you don’t want it.”
“No! I’ll take it!”
Kim Dong-wook listened to their exchange with a bewildered look.
‘Was Louiril always like this?’
It looked like he’d have plenty of fun with this data for a while. Suhyun was a born workaholic. Just digging through it and planning how to use it brought him joy.
“Hm? There’s a hidden folder here.”
“Oh, use the program in the bottom right. It’ll open right up.”
The internal data had no security, but a separately hidden folder within? Suhyun felt a surge of curiosity.
And inside were photos of Wu Shangkai naked. Suhyun’s face twisted at the sight he wished he hadn’t seen.
“...This fucking bastard...”
Why store crap like this on an official device? Suhyun closed his eyes and deleted the files.
* * *
“That guy’s that impressive?”
“To be honest, yes. He is.”
While Suhyun was busy, Wu Shangkai had been summoned by his superior to report on the incident. Half of his praise for Suhyun was genuine, but the other half was unavoidable.
To shift blame for his failure, he had to elevate the enemy. And Suhyun was worth it.
“Hmm...”
“It’s certain. He’ll be a big player down the line.”
Wu Shangkai thought of Suhyun. It wasn’t just his uniqueness as a mage. The composure and boldness in the face of danger—few showed that at such a young age.
“He’s already a big player. Know how many researchers are dying for a nail clipping or strand of his hair?”
“No way it’s that bad...”
“That’s what I thought. People are overhype because he’s the first mage. Firsts are always like that. In time, mages’ll be as commonplace as espers.”
“You’re right, sir.”
Wu Shangkai rubbed his palms and bowed deeply. Luckily, his superior didn’t seem inclined to punish him for the failure.
“Mages are just espers with a bit more power. Getting played like this by one? Unacceptable.”
“W-We can’t have that, right?”
“Exactly.”
Wu Shangkai stiffened. He sensed something ominous in his superior’s words.
“If he’s such a thorn now and will only get worse, we prepare countermeasures early. What do you think?”
“Assassination, sir?”
“Assassination works. Confident?”
Wu Shangkai’s mind raced. What answer benefited him?
Honestly, he saw no way to assassinate Suhyun. Using his signature style risked exposure, and ambushing outside was iffy.
Wu Shangkai’s greatest strength was judgment. Setting greed aside, he judged coldly.
‘The superpower nullifier didn’t work, Liu Xin and his forces got wiped... Telekinesis and healing. No matter how I look, odds are slim.’
“Seems difficult, sir.”
He chose submission. Better than claiming he could and getting saddled with it. Wu Shangkai swallowed hard, praying it was right.
“Why?”
“Liu Xin’s team already failed once.”
“Ah, that guy.”
The superior chuckled. Liu Xin belonged to another faction. His failure was something to relish.
“But that wasn’t a direct clash, was it? I heard he only fought soldiers.”
“I know Liu Xin well. If he thought he could win, he’d have gone for it.”
“Really?”
“Yes, he claims he held back on orders, but he was scared.”
“Kekeke. Guess he’s nothing special. So? Liu Xin failed, so we will too?”
“Full-on war would be tough, right? Half-baked teams are pointless, and sending viable ones is too risky.”
“Wu Shangkai, Wu Shangkai...”
“?”
“You’re great in every way. Except you’re too rigid.”
“...?”
“Assassination doesn’t have to mean jumping him outside. Kill the target any way— that’s assassination.”
“But sir, he’s a healer. Plus backed by the Korean government. What method would work?”
Even the standard poisoning seemed unlikely for Suhyun. Before poison killed him, healing would hold, and Korea would pull any stop to save him.
“It’s just an example. You don’t always need violence to ruin an enemy. Remember how I took down Wang Yunhao?”
Wang Yunhao, his old rival. Now ousted from all key power organs, in ruins.
“You framed him with a woman and bribes.”
“Right. Think flexible. No one hates money. Or women. For a young guy like Kim Suhyun at that position, this might work even better. Head gets big fast.”
“...!”
Wu Shangkai nodded, feigning maximum admiration.
“Never crossed my mind!”
“That’s the difference between you and me.”
‘Ugh, seriously...’
If not his superior, curses would’ve flown.
“But him being a problem only matters when he’s with the Korean government. Money, women—melt him with whatever. Best case, we recruit him. Worst, we dent him. Korea cares about public opinion. Smear him morally, and he’s harder to use.”
Cocky as it was, the superior’s words rang true. Wu Shangkai had to concede. But unease crept in.
‘Will that work on him?’
Having faced Suhyun directly, Wu Shangkai’s instincts were sharper than his superior’s. To him, Suhyun was near monstrous.
And monsters didn’t bow to human logic.
Of course, he had no thought of defying orders over instinct.
“I’ll get right on it.”
“Money’s easy. We’ve got front companies in Korea. Launder some funds. As a mage, plenty of excuses to donate.”
No need to check—Suhyun surely got privileges from Korea. Rights worth bribing for.
“Send a woman too?”
“Yeah. Central Exploration Department has agents for that. Contact them.”
“Got it.”
Wu Shangkai rose. Just before leaving, his superior called him back.
“Watch your step too.”
“...I always live righteously.”
“I know. But people can fall anytime, anywhere. Saw the fallout from Dragon Slayer? Factions splintered.”
Dragon Slayer’s failure had stirred storms in China. Rumors some leads got executed.
But for non-participants, opportunity. They eyed chances to solidify positions.
“Everyone’s thinking the same—lock it down now. Know what to watch most?”
“Backlash, sir?”
“Right, smart. Manage your private life. For us, the big dangers? Bribes, women, drugs.”
“Yes, I’ll keep it in mind.”
Sweat beaded on Wu Shangkai’s back. His superior wasn’t onto anything specific.
‘Makes sense. If he knew, he wouldn’t warn like that.’
No one could sniff out his private life. Not even rivals. Wu Shangkai prided himself on his caution.
Wu Shangkai walked the hall, scheming Suhyun’s downfall. He never dreamed his own secrets would leak through unforeseen channels.
* * *
“You haven’t gone out lately?”
“Yeah, got something fun.”
Suhyun was glued to Louiril’s data, devouring it day and night.
‘Some familiar names after ages...’
Jin Ruogong. Famous among insiders. China was vast, espers plentiful, but he stood out.
Scam artist Kim Jong-tae had made contact and started working him. Good news he’d joined a Central Military Commission secret org.
‘If I can use him later...’
“But why haven’t you gone out?”
Kim Chang-sik always roamed on days off. Odd seeing him inside.
“Oh, it’s nothing... Chairman Charles asked when you’re coming.”
“Hm?”
“You said you set a meeting last time. Right?”
“Meeting? Oh, that...”
Suhyun dredged his memory. Lately, other matters overshadowed the chairman.
-I get not coming out now with restrictions, but visit Washington once lifted. Got a fantastic offer. Hard to discuss here, but trust me, it’s great.
“Ah...”
‘Don’t say I forgot.’
“Didn’t you?”
“No, yeah, I did. Meant to go.”
“Doesn’t seem like it...”
“What’d you say?”
“Nothing.”