Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: There's Something Special About Mages (3)
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“What the fuck?!”
Suhyun cursed as he snapped his eyes open at the blast. The ceiling had been blown clean off. Jeong Sung-jae, locking eyes with him, flashed an awkward smile.
“You think this is the time to smile?”
“H-Haha. I didn’t mean to do it on purpose...”
“Don’t stretch your hand toward me. I’ll cut it off.”
“Eek.”
“Be careful until you get it under control. You trying to shoot your teammate? What kind of superpower is it anyway?”
Suhyun glanced up at the ceiling. An irregularly shaped hole gaped there.
“Explosion type? Damn, that’s a pretty solid superpower.”
“It’s not as convenient as it sounds.”
“?”
Jeong Sung-jae explained the ability he’d awakened to. It wasn’t a power that let him trigger explosions freely without penalty. If it were, he’d be treated like a top-tier superhuman right away.
“Part of your body?”
“Yeah.”
“But how’d you blow the ceiling off? Isn’t it part of your body?”
“I flicked my fingernail...”
“You did it on purpose, you bastard!”
“I just woke up, so it didn’t feel real!”
“What’s going on?”
“You okay?!”
The other squad members came rushing over at the commotion from the ceiling exploding. Luril whistled when she saw the damage.
“Wow, did you do that, Suhyun?”
“This guy did it. Superpower suited to an ex-sapper... figures.”
It was a fitting power for Jeong Sung-jae, who mainly handled explosives. Soon, the others who’d come to their senses started explaining their own abilities.
“I can channel electricity from my hands like this...”
“That’s more of a non-combat ability. You specialize in electronics anyway, so it’ll be useful. Precision matters more than raw power.”
“Yeah, you’re right.”
“Hyung, what about you, Su-yong hyung?”
Kim Chang-sik, who’d rushed over, looked curiously at Park Su-yong. Park Su-yong stuck out his hand with a sullen expression. Frigid cold poured out, flash-freezing whatever it touched.
‘Lee Jung-woo’s inferior version.’
It was similar to the team leader of Jindo Dog 1’s power. Though his was more versatile.
Of course, Suhyun didn’t say it out loud. A superhuman was valuable just for having a superpower. Especially since they had more freedom with artifacts.
‘So now everyone who wasn’t a superhuman before has awakened? Gorgan can’t since he’s an orc, or was he never able to?’
“What? Why’s yours so plain?”
“Plain is good! At least it’s not some weird one like yours!”
“W-What? Weird superpower? You done talking? Do you know how much my power’s pulled its weight...!”
“Anyway, what about Lee So-hee?”
“Uh, well...”
“Here’s not the place to show it off?”
“It’s not that...”
Suhyun raised an eyebrow as Lee So-hee fidgeted, glancing at Luril. It was rare to see the always cool, professional woman act like that.
‘What’s up?’
Lee So-hee vanished, then reappeared behind Suhyun. Luril’s jaw dropped.
“Teleportation?”
“Huh, overlaps with Luril’s?”
All eyes turned to Luril. Suhyun could see why Lee So-hee had been so uneasy. A superhuman’s power was tied to their identity.
Having another with the same power on the team could get awkward. Differences in proficiency or overlapping roles.
Plus, Lee So-hee’s position differed from Luril’s. Luril was an outsider, but Lee So-hee was an original member from the company’s founding.
‘Teleportation, huh. No wonder Uncle Jo Company thrived.’
With powers like these, they could be a strong force if coordinated. It made sense now. Suhyun nodded.
Misreading it, Luril grabbed his shoulder urgently and leaned into his ear.
“?”
“I-I’m better at stealing!”
“...?”
* * *
“Having two teleporters is a good thing. No need for pointless worries.”
“Aha, ahahaha. Right? I wasn’t worried. For real.”
Luril tried to play it cool, but Suhyun could tell she was rattled.
“I was already planning to poach talent before that bastard Doo-young builds his unit, and now another superhuman pops up... Damn.”
“?”
“Shit, this just got annoying.”
“What happened?”
They’d long suspected Suhyun had some ability tied to superhuman awakenings. With several awakening at once like this...
‘I wouldn’t believe me either.’
But he really didn’t. No detection ability either. It was just possible because he’d returned from the future, and the simultaneous awakenings were pure luck.
‘But seriously, no clue. Why now, after that Insulin trip?’
No one would hassle Suhyun openly given his status, but things had changed. Suspicions would harden, and now Lee Jung-young had full authority up front.
‘Ah, that guy’s gonna bitch...’
Suhyun’s prediction hit the mark. Lee Jung-young couldn’t summon him directly, but hearing about the awakenings, he stormed into the Development Planning Bureau, ranting.
“Tell them to cough up the method now! He’s got it, I’m telling you!”
“But Mr. Lee Jung-young... It’s not that simple. We brought it up before, and Kim Suhyun denied it.”
“You believe that? It’s a lie! Of course he’d monopolize it!”
“That’s not the point.”
Unlike Lee Jung-young, the Director stayed cool. He knew exactly how to play this.
“Kim Suhyun already denied it, and we have no plans to press further on it. That’s what matters.”
“Why not! Don’t you need superhumans more than anyone in the Development Planning Bureau?”
“Not only is the info unconfirmed...”
“You see this situation and still say unconfirmed?!”
“Watch your tone, Mr. Lee. I’m not your subordinate.”
“......”
“We can’t ruin relations with Kim Suhyun over unconfirmed rumors.”
‘In other words, he’s scared!’
Lee Jung-young swallowed his retort. He wasn’t stupid. He read the Director’s attitude instantly.
Scared of Kim Suhyun. Because of his status and value. He could go to another country or ally with another faction anytime. Being the first mage carried that much weight.
“This country babies superhumans too much...”
“It’s a free democracy. If you don’t like it, go somewhere else.”
Bam!
Lee Jung-young slammed the door on his way out. A staffer scowled at him.
“That bastard, thinks he can do whatever just ‘cause he’s ex-military?”
“Let him be. Guys like that don’t last. Making enemies left and right.”
The Director’s prediction was half-right. Lee Jung-young would’ve lasted longer otherwise.
Stomping down the hall, Lee Jung-young fumed inwardly.
‘This is why we’re falling behind. We need to clamp down harder on superhumans. Not the American way—Chinese style.’
Letting superhumans run free made them selfish. Against powerhouses like the US and China, the gap was too wide. Time to collar them.
If they’d done that from the start, he wouldn’t be groveling to a mage now. Foreign dealings? Straight to jail for treason.
‘Just watch, Director. I’m different. You baby them, so they climb higher—and you fail!’
Build results around his military superhuman unit, shift the Bureau’s power to him. With his connections and results, Planetary Management Minister wasn’t a dream.
Once there, he’d overhaul everything.
* * *
“Ah, yes, got it. Thank you for letting me know. I keep owing you—should treat you to a meal sometime. Yes, thank you.”
Suhyun hung up with a sigh. Shaina tilted her head.
“What was that?”
“Tip-off from the Development Planning Bureau. Some guy I hate hates me back.”
“Good. No guilt biting him then?”
“I wouldn’t feel guilt biting someone who doesn’t hate me either.”
Worth staying chummy with the Bureau. The Director called right away. More loyalty than expected.
‘How to handle Lee Jung-young...’
Trickier than an enemy. Couldn’t just kill him offhandedly; had to catch him slipping and topple him. If he struck first, easy—but as an ally, unlikely.
‘For now, I’m above him...’
He was juggling new teams; Suhyun’s position dwarfed his. Suhyun wouldn’t boost his rep like before either. No need to move first.
Suhyun set the potion on his palm. Back after analysis. He focused, trying to rewind its time, but nothing.
Adjusting his own time versus an external object—worlds apart in difficulty. No budge despite straining.
‘Damn.’
After the Bureau call, more came in. Blue Bear, even the Chairman directly. They’d heard about the awakenings somehow. Now another thought struck.
‘Maybe run a con?’
No one would buy his denials now. Why not scam some easy mark?
‘Wonder what I could pull with rumors of awakening superhumans...’
“Brought some drinks.”
“?”
Suhyun eyed Shaina at the unfamiliar voice.
“They serve drinks here now?”
The company had expanded huge, including grounds, but staff wasn’t that many. Suhyun didn’t like outsiders wandering their area. Info was locked down, but still.
Squad quarters were off-limits to outsiders; errands were DIY.
“Come in.”
The door opened, revealing a refined-looking woman with drinks on a tray.
“New face?”
“Just started. Nice to meet you.”
“Yeah, same. Uh, why’re you wandering around here?”
“Huh? Heard you’re short-staffed.”
Shaina glanced oddly at Suhyun eyeing the new beauty. He wasn’t the type.
“Hold on.”
“P-Please don’t...”
As Suhyun grabbed her arm, she recoiled in panic. But the motion felt mechanical. He gripped her face, prying an eye open with his fingers.
“?!”
“Gotcha.”
Next, her back. Lifting her shirt revealed faint surgical scars.
“What are you doing?!”
“Here too. One more check...”
Suhyun pulled up his terminal, matching her face to the Chinese data Luril stole.
“Match.”
“......”
Things were going south fast. She had to know. She backed away instinctively.
“I’ll scream...”
Click.
“Yeah, scream. But first, police.”
“...!”
“Agent might mean superhuman. Don’t even think of using it. This range, your head’s gone.”
“Y-You’ve got the wrong person...”
“Nope.”
Recent incidents clicked with this woman. The shady bribe likely tied to China too.
Suhyun confirmed physical enhancement surgery scars. Standard for Chinese agents: combat-ready and easy to control in a pinch.
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