Chapter 158
Chapter 158
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 158
Chapter Title: Actions from the Past (3)
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It had been a long time since someone of Wu Shangkai's stature had looked so flustered. But it was unavoidable. The most intimate weakness of his had been exposed by someone he never could have imagined.
'What the hell is this guy?'
Dozens of thoughts raced through his mind in an instant. He couldn't fathom what Kim Suhyun was thinking by bringing this up. When he couldn't grasp the situation...
'Play dumb.'
"What are you talking about? How unpleasant."
"Hmm? Was I wrong?"
"I'm curious what basis you have for spouting such nonsense. Is it okay for Korean mages to insult people without any evidence?"
"You're pretty bold. If you hadn't been shaking your hips all over the place in every way imaginable, you might have had some credibility."
"...This is truly unpleasant. I'll formally protest to the Korean government..."
"I know you won't."
"!"
"What are you going to do if you formally protest? Accuse a Korean mage of slandering you with adultery charges? You, who's been trying so hard not to draw attention, wouldn't do something like that."
Suhyun approached Wu Shangkai and casually placed a hand on his shoulder. To anyone watching, they looked like close friends. Suhyun pulled out a tablet PC with copied files. A few taps, and videos and photos appeared.
"Isn't this a bit much to view in public?"
"Y-You, you, you, you..."
Wu Shangkai's face turned ashen, paler than seemed possible. He had no idea how Suhyun had gotten hold of these files.
"Don't store weird stuff on devices you use publicly from now on. Your tastes are quite unique. Even if there's that saying in China about 'work and women,' isn't this a bit extreme? Imagine how heartbroken the parties involved would be if they found out."
"......"
"You look unwell. Let's step out and grab something to drink. My treat."
"Th-That's a bit..."
"Should I play this at the presentation?"
"...Fine."
* * *
They moved to a corner of the cafe. Suhyun ordered his usual sugary drink. While he rattled off the complicated order, Wu Shangkai wore the expression of a man on death row.
"Americano."
"Never mind."
"Oh, I wasn't asking. Just drink it."
"......"
"I get it. Your mind must be racing."
Wu Shangkai gathered his thoughts and spoke. He had no clue how Suhyun had obtained it, but one thing was clear.
Suhyun had him by the throat.
If those files leaked in China, he was done for. It wouldn't just end his political career. Once his lecherous acts became known, someone would come for his life for real.
And he had no defense against it.
"What do you want?"
"I like how quick you catch on. Truth is, I don't have anything specific in mind right now. So for now, let's just be friends."
"Friends?"
"Yeah, friends. I've always wanted a friend in China. Someone who does whatever I ask, finds out whatever I'm curious about."
'That's a spy, you bastard!'
"You'll be that friend, right?"
"...Yeah."
"Don't worry too much. I won't ask for anything unreasonable. This friendship has to last if it's going to benefit us both, don't you think?"
'It'll only benefit you.'
"You're right."
"Good, enough joking. Let's get to the point. Like I said, I won't push you too far, so don't get any wild ideas from the start. Just do what I ask, discreetly enough not to get caught."
"So that's not unreasonable?"
"Asking you to assassinate a high-ranking Chinese official would be unreasonable. You think I'd do that?"
Even without this leverage, Wu Shangkai couldn't beat Suhyun. With it, there was nothing more to say.
"Leaking internal info isn't completely harmless, but you can handle that level, right? If you couldn't, you wouldn't have been sleeping around with party officials' wives."
'Bastard.'
"That's as far as my generosity goes. If you can't manage that, deal's off. Ready to switch from bureaucrat to porn star?"
"I'll do it. Happy now?"
Wu Shangkai snapped irritably.
"Were you snapping at me just now?"
"N-No, that's not..."
"Let's exchange contacts first."
"......"
After swapping, Suhyun spoke again.
"Doesn't seem like we can talk long today, so just one question. Oh, and FYI, I have other lines into China besides you. You get what that means?"
Wu Shangkai nodded. He'd suspected as much. Suhyun's side moved too unpredictably. Catching their agents so quickly would've been impossible without independent intel lines.
The reason for bringing it up now was simple.
-I can verify whatever you say independently, so don't even think about lying.
Of course, there were no such independent lines. Chinese security wasn't that easy to breach. White spies—official diplomats—were one thing, but true spies died wearing masks.
But lies like this always sowed confusion in the enemy.
"You know about the Calcutta incident, right."
Not a question, a statement. Little techniques like this helped extract info. As expected, Wu Shangkai nodded.
"Tell me what happened."
'Is he testing me now?'
Wu Shangkai's mouth went dry. He had no idea how much Suhyun knew. The guy was fully armed; he was naked.
Nothing he could do. One slip, and it was over. He sighed and spoke.
"We planned to neutralize the Korean outpost, destroy surrounding facilities, eliminate the troops, and deal a blow. Since foreign companies are involved, we figured an incident like that would sour business ties."
"Why'd you leave out the monster summoning?"
"!"
Wu Shangkai jolted again. Who the hell was leaking info?
"Wu Shangkai, Wu Shangkai. You must really want to debut in porn..."
"No! I was about to say it!"
"I'll believe you once. Not twice."
Push and pull—Suhyun handled him masterfully.
"If you already know, why ask me? The op was also a field test for monster taming tech we got from the dark elves."
"Pretty successful, wasn't it?"
"Yeah, the fake gate explosion gave us luck, but controlling the monsters worked well. Reports said the base personnel had no clue..."
As he spoke, Wu Shangkai watched Suhyun's face.
"What? Hoping I'll spill our intel? Think this is a trade? Still hung up on that debut?"
"I said no! Anyway, that's it. Then you and reinforcements showed up, so we pulled back."
"Oh, that."
"?"
"Why pull back?"
Wu Shangkai's face twisted at Suhyun's words.
"The on-site commander was a coward."
"A coward?"
"The second he heard you were coming, he ditched everything and ran. If that's not a coward, what is?"
"China has someone like that? Surprising."
Suhyun looked genuinely intrigued. He knew roughly how China's system worked.
They were aggressive, but not the type to abandon missions and retreat lightly.
"Headache of a guy. If I hadn't covered for him, he'd be fired or punished by now."
"You covered for him? Bribe?"
"......"
"You did."
"That's not important."
"Interesting. What's his name?"
"Xiao Mei. Common name."
"A woman, huh. Never heard of her."
"You wouldn't have heard of our shadow unit members anyway."
Suhyun meant he'd never heard the name before, but Wu Shangkai, unaware, took it differently.
'Did my actions slightly alter the future again? Or is she someone who disappears soon, so I never knew her...'
"Why the interest?"
"Told you. It's fun."
"...?"
"Fighting well isn't the only skill. Wu Shangkai. Knowing when to run is a talent too."
"Running without finishing the job? That's just incompetence."
"Tsk tsk. That's why you'll fail forever."
Wu Shangkai seethed inwardly. Most of his recent failures were Suhyun's fault.
"Could be a coward, or maybe he made a clear call hearing my name. Think he'd come out looking good if he'd held?"
"The base personnel..."
"If he'd touched the base, I'd have hunted him down immediately. He'd get caught, then spill everything."
"......"
Wu Shangkai shut his mouth. He'd always seen Xiao Mei as a gutless survivor with no talent, but Suhyun's logic left him speechless.
'No, what makes that coward so special?'
"Maybe the coward got lucky, but anyway, it's amusing. I'll hear about her plenty from you going forward."
"...Yeah."
"Oh, one last thing. What’s Zhen Luo-gong up to now?"
"How would I...?!"
"?"
She was on the list of recruitable superpowered users, but her location was unknown, so he asked. Wu Shangkai's reaction was unexpected.
'No need to tip my hand.'
"Told you. I have lines."
"Approved to lead one of our teams. Probably stepping up from the next op."
"Figures she'd go that route. How is she?"
"Zhen Luo-gong? Perfect. You wouldn't beat her easily."
Even in this situation, pride flickered on Wu Shangkai's face. He was that confident in her skills.
"She surpassed greenhorns like Liu Xin ages ago... Personally, I rank her among China's top fingers—no, the top superpowered user."
Suhyun just smiled faintly. Seeing it, Wu Shangkai suddenly felt uneasy.
"Yeah?"
"K-Killing Zhen Luo-gong or something isn't what I can..."
"Don't worry. I'll only ask what you can handle. More importantly, her personality?"
"A bit prickly, but isn't that normal for top-tier superpowered users?"
"A bit? Anyway, I'm the nice type."
"......"
"Got it. So Zhen Luo-gong's there, huh? That's all for today. Good talk, Wu Shangkai. Respond to contacts promptly. Be careful with sex. Use protection. Watch for cameras."
'Bastard.'
* * *
"Ah. That was fun."
Luis Lil shook her head at Suhyun's cheerful exit. He'd skipped the food and drinks to talk endlessly with a Chinese guy, yet he looked truly happy.
'Humans are so weird no matter how I think about it. Or maybe just this one...'
"I'll escort you home."
"It's just the company grounds. No need. Didn't drink, so I can drive."
"But..."
As the staffer hesitated, Suhyun nodded like he had no choice. They'd clearly been briefed beforehand.
"Fine, drive me."
"Yes!"
"Wait. Wait."
"?"
All three turned toward the approaching figure. A tall white guy in a sharp suit, face slightly flushed from running.
"Know him?"
"No, stranger."
"You're Kim Suhyun, right?"
"Yes, but."
"I'd like a word. Got time?"
Before Suhyun could respond, the staffer stepped up with a scowl.
"You can't just show up and meet Kim Suhyun like this. File a formal request and schedule it."
The staffer blocked him, and the young man mirrored the scowl.
"Step aside."
"What?"
"Step aside. I'm not someone who takes lip from the likes of you."
"Then can I say it?"
Suhyun interjected, having listened. The blond youth looked flustered as he glanced at him.
"Pardon? No, I mean..."
"Insulting my staff in front of me is the same as insulting me. Don't know who you are, but show some ID and scram if you're gonna act cocky. Who the hell are you?"
More aggressive than expected, Suhyun's tone made the young man bow his head immediately.
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