Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: There's Something Special About Mages (4)
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‘They’re underestimating me way too much. Sending in an agent is one thing, but they should’ve been a lot more thorough.’
In truth, it wasn’t China’s fault. No one knew these details at all. Who would’ve thought to dig up surgical scars?
The agent who’d been handcuffed by Suhyun was so flustered he couldn’t even string words together.
“Th-this…… What…….”
“Over here, officer. You brought the special superpower task force, right? He’s no pushover, so don’t let your guard down.”
“This guy?”
“You think I’d call you all here just to waste your time?”
“Ah, no, that’s not…….”
“Anyway, take him away. You’ll get the details from the Planetary Management Department separately.”
Suhyun shoved the handcuffed agent forward. The man was dragged off by the police just like that. Capturing a superpower user in peak condition was tough, but once they were restrained and neutralized, there were plenty of ways to keep them locked up.
“You’re not interrogating him yourself?”
“No point.”
Shaina asked, and Suhyun shrugged as he replied. If it was a Chinese agent, they probably didn’t know much of anything. No one told sacrificial pawns sent into enemy territory too many secrets.
The Planetary Management Department would probably handle the interrogation themselves, but it was clear they wouldn’t get anything useful.
‘Whatever they find out will come back to me anyway. If I get hit by China, the only ones who lose out are the government.’
The government was more worried about Suhyun’s safety than he was. If something happened to him, it wouldn’t end quietly. A few people involved would be out of a job.
“With such a big facility, we inevitably had to hire outsiders, and this is what happens. Time for another sweep.”
“You think there are more?”
“Probably not, but…….”
Usually, when targeting someone like this, they didn’t send more than one or two. Still, Suhyun preferred certainty.
“Let’s check just to be sure. Better safe than sorry.”
And so, a re-inspection was suddenly underway. Everyone checked out on paper, but Suhyun didn’t trust documents. Those could be faked easily enough.
Word spread that a foreign spy had infiltrated the company, and the operatives buzzed with unease. Suhyun addressed them once more.
“You’ve had it easy so far, but this kind of thing is going to be your new normal. Be aware of your positions and watch your actions. They can approach you just as easily outside the company. Think before you speak, and live in a way that you can own your words and deeds.”
“…….”
“Some of you especially need to be careful.”
“Why are you looking at me?!”
“No outsiders in the operative quarters, not even for a second. Follow the rules to the letter. Got it?”
“Yes, sir!”
It wasn’t long before word came back. The captured agent didn’t know much. At best, he’d been ordered to get close to Suhyun and extract whatever info he could. Textbook stuff.
“Nothing useful?”
“Yes, we’ll either incarcerate the agent or…….”
“No way that’s happening. No upside to throwing him in prison. You planning to use him as a bargaining chip?”
“…….”
The man on the other end faltered, falling silent.
‘Did they plant a spy inside? How does he know?’
No matter how he thought about it, Suhyun’s grasp of their internal operations was baffling. Even within the Development Planning Department, there’d been plenty of talk……
“Well, I caught him, so I’ll let that slide.”
“Ah, thank you……?”
“I’m a patriot, after all.”
“…….”
There was plenty he wanted to say, but he held his tongue. Above all, Suhyun was a mage.
“By the way, how’s the plan coming for that new team in the military?”
From Suhyun’s perspective—who could poach talent from the military—handing over an agent like this was a small courtesy. Oblivious to his intentions, the man replied politely.
“Yes, we’re gathering personnel and starting the selection process. From the minister on down, everyone’s very interested, so I expect good results.”
“Too much interest means bad results. You need to back off for it to work.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. More importantly, I asked the director to pass along a request—did you hear?”
“Ah…… Yes, that should be fine as long as it’s before completion.”
“Perfect. Let me know a good time, and I’ll come by personally. Pass that along, will you?”
“Understood. I’ll do that.”
Yi Jung-young would throw a fit if she knew, but the people involved didn’t care much. Comparing the leader of a team that didn’t even exist yet to Korea’s one and only mage, the latter was far more trustworthy.
“Oh, and Team Leader Kim Suhyun. I was going to contact you separately, but since you called…….”
“?”
“If you’re free, could you attend the event?”
“Event?”
Suhyun’s face twisted. Luiril, who’d been lounging nearby, gasped at the sight. It was rare to see Suhyun make such a face.
“What event, and why do I have to go?”
The rapid-fire response left the man flustered.
“Y-you don’t want to? It’s nothing major…….”
In the past, his status had kept him out of most public events, but even then, he’d hated attending them.
High-rankers among superpower users often showed up at events, though. Government-sponsored ones, sure, but some famous users even appeared on TV to bask in the spotlight.
Cameron’s mercenaries were adventurers exploring humanity’s last frontier, and their stories captivated Earth’s people endlessly.
Of course, Suhyun hated that sort of thing.
‘What good is it getting recognized by civilians while I’m out and about?’
Setting aside practicality, there was no reason to waste time on it. Unless they handed out superpowers for every TV spot. He was already irritated that he couldn’t apply time manipulation to his elixirs yet……
“Japan announced they’re opening a new dimensional gate.”
“?!?!”
Suhyun sat up straight.
“They announced it?”
If they had, he would’ve heard. It would’ve dominated the news for days—a bombshell. Though it’d turn out to be fake……
“Ah, it’s not an official announcement. They have to notify the four gate nations first. The research is done, and once they gather the relevant people for testing and it opens, they’ll make it official.”
“Ah…….”
Suhyun nodded. That made sense.
“The current plan is to connect it from Okinawa to the east of the existing gate.”
“You think it’ll work?”
“Our researchers say it’s impossible to know until results are in, but opinions are split about fifty-fifty. That level of research means it’s plausible……. If it succeeds, it’d be a massive breakthrough. There’s a lot of buzz on our side. If they pull it off, Japan—late to the Cameron game—could hit ten thousand in one go.”
The man’s voice mixed equal parts concern and anticipation. It was still experimental, but success would mean a huge announcement and Cameron turned upside down. An artificial dimensional gate, of all things.
But Suhyun knew the future.
‘It won’t work…….’
“Japan’s research team is brimming with confidence. Inviting you—humanity’s first mage, Team Leader Kim Suhyun—is probably about building ties. If it succeeds, their position in Cameron skyrockets…….”
“And that’s why you want me there?”
“Yes, to be honest. Who knows how Japan will fare going forward? Might as well build good relations now. An artificial dimensional gate isn’t something you just ignore.”
“Well…… Fine.”
“Really?!”
Suhyun, who’d been nonchalant, agreed, and the man’s voice lit up.
“I won’t have much to do there, right?”
“Of course. Just show up, greet the relevant people, and put in an appearance.”
He skipped saying, ‘And answer the researchers’ questions as kindly as possible.’ Suhyun wasn’t the friendly type.
“Alright. I was planning to hole up inside anyway, so I’ll swing by and see what happens.”
“Thank you! We’ll send one of our staff to guide you.”
“What’s this about spectating?”
Luiril, who’d been listening in, asked curiously.
“Nothing big. They want me at some event.”
“You like that stuff?”
“Don’t like it, but since I’ve gone public with my identity, I can’t avoid them entirely. Things’ll get too busy later to attend, so might as well go a few times while I can. Good for optics.”
Luiril shook her head at Suhyun’s biting tone.
“An event in Korea? High-ups will be there too, right?”
“I’m not bringing you to steal from them.”
“Wh-wh-what? I’m not!”
“And there won’t be much worth taking anyway. At best, Japanese security, researchers, and government suits……. Ah.”
He suddenly grew curious about the research data on that fake device. Choi Ji-eun would love it if he brought it to her.
“Wanna come?”
“Huh? Really? That’s okay?”
“Of course.”
Luiril eyed him suspiciously as Suhyun agreed so readily. When he was this nice, there was usually something shady behind it.
‘Choi Ji-eun would just cause trouble if I brought her…….’
No good advertising their closeness at an official event. She’d just paint a target on her back.
“But do me one favor.”
“I knew it……!”
“It’s nothing much. And maybe you won’t even have to.”
“Got it. Got it.”
* * *
“That’s the…….”
“Impressive. Is that an artifact on his hand?”
“Who’s the elf beside him?”
“They say she’s a colleague.”
Suhyun walked with Luiril to their seats amid the murmurs, as the accompanying Korean staff introduced the surroundings while attending to him.
“That’s a minister from the Development Ministry, and that’s a deputy minister…….”
“Hey, do I need to know these people?”
“…No?”
“Then no need to explain.”
After Cameron’s discovery, each nation had set up new administrative bodies. Japan’s Development Ministry was equivalent to Korea’s Planetary Management Department.
But even a minister was just another face Suhyun would never cross paths with.
‘Greetings are someone else’s job. As for me…….’
Suhyun’s eyes gleamed with greed. He was here—might as well grab what he could. It could spark an international incident if caught, but he didn’t care.
‘If I don’t get caught, it’s fine.’
Far below on the plain at the hill’s base, complex machinery was set up. The researchers seemed to be preparing to activate it.
People began taking seats atop the hill. Their attire and auras marked them as elites.
‘The security teams down there…… Looks like Japan sent some big shots. High expectations, huh.’
Judging from Choi Ji-eun’s reaction, the team behind the artificial dimensional gate research was a hot prospect in Japan. Suhyun didn’t know the details, but the caliber of the gathered security alone told him who was here.
“They’re activating it now? No speech yet?”
“Probably prepping before the speeches. So they can fire it up right as they finish.”
“Yeah?”
Suhyun stared blankly as the device hummed to life. Blue light flickered, growing steadily larger.
‘Wait, if it’s a failure, shouldn’t there be nothing at all?’
As far as Suhyun knew, this project was a total scam. When results didn’t pan out, the researchers faked them, Japan’s government bought it and went big, then ate crow.
But lights like that?
‘Did they fake the lights too?’
The light swelled, then vanished, sending out a ripple. Suhyun felt an inexplicable unease brush past his body. He glanced aside—Luiril’s ears perked up, sensing something off too.
Crackle!
The light surged, and the device exploded. Researchers screamed and scattered.
“What the? What happened?”
Suhyun instinctively looked skyward. Something writhing was descending. Focusing his enhanced vision, he identified it.
A monster.