Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: There's Something Special About Mages (7)
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However, Suhyun's hopes didn't unfold as he'd wished. The incident hadn't been fully wrapped up yet.
"Missing?"
"Yes. It's not just one place—it's happening in several locations. Most bases were prepared for monster attacks and held them off well enough, but a few have gone radio silent."
If monsters had attacked and cut off communications, the chances of survival were slim. Still, Suhyun didn't voice that thought. The official would already know it anyway, even without him saying it.
"We're mobilizing as much manpower as possible and have asked a few companies for help, but the most reliable force we have is..."
"My team, right? I get it. The ones causing trouble and the ones cleaning it up are always different. So, how's Japan handling their side?"
"The government has issued apologies to every nation involved. We're lucky our damage was light—other countries are furious. They can't just let it slide. They'll be shelling out massive compensation."
"It was basically terrorism, so they have no choice. More than that, I hope no one tries to exploit this. Plenty of people must be eyeing it."
In a way, this was a weapon capable of far greater impact than a monster lure—a tool for large-scale terror.
"It'd be tough for anyone short of a major power to generate that kind of output, so don't worry. Even Japan struggled to achieve it, and no individual or small group could pull it off."
"Who knows."
Suhyun shrugged. One thing he'd learned from his long time on Cameron Planet: nothing was absolute. They'd said no single group could build a nuke, but history had exceptions—and this could be the same.
"Speaking of which, Japan, huh? They're rich on Earth, but they don't have much on Cameron. Maybe it would've been better if China, Russia, or the US had done it. Any rights we can salvage from this?"
"None. But at least it was Japan—if it had been China or Russia, getting proper compensation would've been a nightmare. And it would've taken forever."
"Fair point. Anyway, back to the main topic: where's the missing team you want me to rescue?"
"Well, that's the thing..."
"?"
"Calcutta Jungle Zone."
"Ah, there."
It was the first place Suhyun and Uncle Jo Company had worked. Frankly, unlike the vast and pleasant Euterpe, it was humid with plenty of monster hideouts—not somewhere he'd want to revisit. There was a reason it had been abandoned while Euterpe was developed.
"Yes. You donated the Redwood Forest discovered there to the government, Team Leader Kim Suhyun."
"To be precise, it wasn't a donation, but whatever—it doesn't matter. Don't tell me the missing team is around Redwood?"
"Yes."
"Around there, the only monsters left are nothing special now, right? Hell crocs aren't even scary anymore, and trolls could be handled by the stationed troops..."
Mid-sentence, Suhyun recalled the Calcutta Gorilla. He'd taken one down, but considering how the failed artificial Dimensional Gate's aftermath had rippled farther than expected, it wouldn't be strange if others had moved in from elsewhere.
'The gorilla?'
A Calcutta Gorilla could overwhelm even superpowered users if they botched their response to a surprise attack. It was a natural-born physical powerhouse.
'But why radio silence?'
It didn't add up. Setting up a base involved installing reliable communication systems through meticulous processes. For comms to go dark, one of two things had to happen:
Either the people who could send signals vanished, or the facilities were completely destroyed.
Calcutta Gorillas were brutal and powerful, but not cunning or persistent hunters. The one Suhyun fought had been an anomaly; normally, they'd just rampage like a natural disaster and move on.
The base would have underground shelters for emergencies, so total wipeout seemed unlikely.
Same with the comms gear—it'd take destroying every single piece without missing any, and a gorilla wouldn't know what to target.
'Did it just go berserk and smash everything by sheer coincidence...?'
"Wait a sec—didn't Jindo Team handle that area?"
"Yes. Jindo Team will be moving out too."
"Team 1? That should be plenty."
"No, Team 1 already headed to Euterpe. They had some missing personnel there too. The team for this is Jindo Team 2. That's why we're asking you, Team Leader Kim Suhyun. Oh, not that we're dismissing Jindo Team 2 at all..."
'You're totally dismissing them.'
A pang of déjà vu hit him. The old Jindo Team 2 leader, Choi Jae-ho, had been competent and ambitious, yet now even a mid-level development planner eyed them with doubt.
"With that many people out of contact, we're hesitant to leave it solely to Jindo Team 2. I trust you understand, Team Leader Kim Suhyun."
"Yeah, I get it... Fine. I'll take it."
"Thank you!"
The official's face lit up.
"I'll get the details in the paperwork, but anything else I need to know? Like my compensation or, say, compensation?"
"...Well, a Japanese company moved into that sector."
"Was that a thing? I don't remember."
"After the Dragon Slayer Project, a few companies pulled out, so we slotted in a Japanese one for the vacancy. I probably shouldn't say this, but foreign companies leave more behind for us. Higher taxes, you know."
"You can just say it outright."
"Anyway, their parent company's huge, so no worries about compensation. More importantly, Team Leader Kim Suhyun, you don't really indulge in luxuries, do you? You drive a company-issued domestic car, and you don't even own a proper home..."
"What, you ran a background check on me?"
"B-Background? No way! It's just common knowledge...! We just prepared in advance for someone we'll be working with long-term, in case of anything!"
"You can save money without spending it."
Classic workaholic line, but Suhyun didn't see himself that way. If anything, he was worse.
"Isn't the point to earn it first before saving...?"
"Did you call me here to ask for a favor, or to lecture me on my lifestyle?"
"S-Sorry."
As Suhyun's tone grew annoyed, the official bowed his head in immediate apology.
Suhyun was reasonably kind to lower staff despite his position. For a mercenary background, it was rare courtesy. Plenty of hotshot mercs were total wrecks personality-wise.
But that didn't mean he saw them as equals. If he wanted, he could end the man with a flick of his finger.
"Just hear this without misunderstanding."
"?"
"It's something that comes up occasionally on our end—Team Leader Kim Suhyun, you seem too wrapped up in work. There are people worried about you."
"Yeah?"
"You're still in your twenties, right? Most guys that age chase their desires full throttle. I sure partied hard back then."
"..."
"People aren't machines, you know? Run nonstop, and the brakes will fail eventually. You need to loosen up sometimes. You're a pillar of our Development Planning Bureau—no, of Korea itself. You have to pace yourself for the long haul."
Suhyun fell into thought at the unexpected advice. He hadn't imagined anyone in the bureau viewing him with such concern.
'Well, I have been pushing nonstop.'
He'd lost track of how many careers he'd built before thirty. He didn't find it odd, though—he'd already lived one life.
Knowing what lay ahead in the future, what trials awaited, drove him to grow stronger relentlessly. He might not feel it, but to those around him, it probably looked worrisome.
"I get what you mean. Kinda touching, even. Didn't expect this kind of worry from the Development Planning Bureau."
"Team Leader!"
"But after this job."
"Team Leader...!"
The official repeated himself, this time in exasperation—Suhyun clearly wasn't resting anytime soon.
"By the way, what's your name?"
"Jo Min-wook, chief of the Superpower User Management Policy Division in the Development Planning Bureau."
Suhyun tilted his head as he took the business card.
"Huh? That division exist?"
"Times change fast—departments pop up, merge, rename, vanish. Haha!"
"No, it's not that... Whatever. I'll remember the name. Thanks for the advice."
Jo Min-wook beamed with emotion. Suhyun had brushed it off, but the Superpower User Management Policy Division was newly created—mostly because of him.
Suhyun was so self-disciplined they'd left him alone until the Chinese agent bust. Then Planetary Management higher-ups issued orders.
-Aren't you neglecting your mage talent too much?
It was fair. The directive carried weight, so Development Planning dug into Suhyun again... and found concerns.
-He's no monk. A guy in his prime obsessed with work?
-It's his family, right? They died young.
-What if someone like that snaps? Go off the deep end? Maybe that's why the Chinese sent that agent.
-Nah. Team Leader Kim Suhyun's like a blade. Don't underestimate him just 'cause he's young. Work with him once. He radiates authority just sitting there. More tense than meeting the minister.
"Even great men have weaknesses. Heroes bow to their wives at home—we need to watch for honey traps.
-Hmm, makes sense. A guy like that falls once, he might go berserk.
One scenario flashed in their minds: Suhyun announcing naturalization to China after falling in love. Everyone shuddered.
-Everyone submit resignations.
-It hasn't happened yet. And we caught this one.
-The problem is it could keep happening. And honestly, China's not the worst—others are bigger headaches. He won't go Chinese easy, but America? Totally possible. He already has solid connections there. That chairman was practically drooling.
-Oh, Charles Carlos. No wonder—he's lusted after Cameron expeditions since day one.
-But how do we stop plots like that? We can't tail him on every date.
-Do that, and we'll catch backlash...
-Uh... Set him up with a nice girl?
-Too obvious. Intent to tie him down with marriage screams through. He'd sniff it out—he's sensitive to that stuff.
-Yeah, bad idea. Assign a handler, get close.
-Get close...?
Opinions varied, but they agreed: Suhyun was hard to befriend. Ability, personality—everything.
-Fine, I'll buddy up. Ease him off work, show him some fun. Pyongyang's got plenty.
"So, taxpayer-funded partying...?"
-Got a problem with me?
-No. None.
-Anyone good at this?
Eyes converged on one person. Decision made.
* * *
Unaware of the unimaginable plan brewing behind his back, Suhyun prepared for the op. Calcutta Jungle Zone was familiar to his crew. Their faces darkened the moment they heard.
"When I first went in, I thought all of Cameron was like this? Nope. Just Calcutta's extra shitty."
"Quiet down. Other mercs are around."
"So? They know the deal."
Other mercenaries clustered in the distance.
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