Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Omen (4)
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‘If I’d known it was Lee Jung-young’s doing, I should’ve just gone straight down and secured the evidence first.’
Suhyun clicked his tongue inwardly. Lee Jung-young was ambitious, but no fool. He wouldn’t have left any evidence behind for something like this. Getting caught meant more than just losing his head.
To grab his tail, he should’ve nabbed him right at the scene, but dealing with the monsters here had made him too late.
‘Should I have ignored the people and headed straight underground, no matter what?’
As Suhyun stewed in that regret, Jeong Sang-hoon was panicking inwardly too.
‘Why the hell is this guy here of all places?!’
The plan had been perfect. They’d prepared for a long time, and it should’ve gone off without a hitch.
A problem crops up in the flawless arena, monsters break loose… The crowd panics. That’s when they make their entrance.
It was the perfect way to gain fame. Building a reputation like this would make it easy to reveal their true purpose later. The people of Pyongyang would shower them with praise.
‘Only the government can be trusted,’ ‘They’re not like those money-grubbing mercenaries.’ Public opinion like that would be solid backing for Lee Jung-young, the project lead.
But things had gone sideways.
The drugged raptor jumping the gun or the troll hurling it outside—those were minor hiccups. It was designed so no one would die, but Jeong Sang-hoon didn’t sweat one or two casualties. People died everywhere anyway.
The real problem was Kim Suhyun.
He’d shown up on their carefully staged platform and cleaned house all by himself. In front of thousands, no less. It was obvious he’d steal all the praise they were supposed to get.
‘Ugh…’
The two men let out silent groans, both thoroughly displeased with each other.
* * *
“Lee Jung-young did that?”
“It’s more of a hunch. But the possibility’s high.”
“No way. Even so, he wouldn’t…”
“You think not?”
The director paused at Suhyun’s question, then shook his head.
“He could. More than enough.”
“Not every ex-military type is brimming with loyalty and civic duty. Damn, if I’d gotten evidence this time, it would’ve been smooth sailing. Stupid me…”
Suhyun berated himself for not moving faster at the arena. The director looked at him in disbelief.
“Team Leader, I heard about the situation. That was plenty impressive. You took down all the monsters without a single casualty. You know how much people are praising you right now?”
From the news to the internet, everything was covering the arena incident. A blowup this big was bound to draw eyes.
Groups pushing against the dangers of monster fights had gained traction from this, sharpening the divide even more. But people weren’t focused on that. They were zeroed in on the guy who’d handled the monsters solo.
“I’m thrilled, honestly. Even as the first human mage, the public reaction is usually ‘So what?’ They just see a superpowered guy with a few extra tricks—no big deal. But stacking up feats like this? Turning into a hero? That’ll make them get it.”
The better Suhyun did, the better it was for the director working with him. In shaky times like these, your own record was all you could count on.
‘Please stay a hero forever and help solidify my position too.’
The director swallowed his blatant wish.
“So what? I’ve got nothing left to show for it. I should’ve nailed him this time. Dragging it out won’t help.”
Suhyun grumbled in dissatisfaction.
“You worry too much. Do you really need to sweat someone like Lee Jung-young? He’s got backing and a new team, sure—but it’s just some no-name outfit with no track record. Laughable compared to you.”
“Heroes pop up overnight on Cameron. And half-assed allies are more trouble than enemies. At least enemies you can just kill.”
The director flinched at the bloody edge in Suhyun’s words. Without witnesses, he’d have offed Lee Jung-young on the spot, right?
He knew Suhyun’s temperament, but it never got easier to watch. The vibe from a guy not even thirty felt like a battle-hardened vet.
“That’s why you crush potential pains early. Remember that, Director. Don’t leave him be and regret it later.”
“Y-yeah.”
Suhyun finished up and stood.
“Huh, leaving already?”
“Got a quick stop to make.”
* * *
“The monsters are avoiding me.”
“…Good for you?”
“It’s not! I need to figure out why this is happening.”
“Look, if even you—the one involved—don’t know, it’s hard for me to say. You’re especially tricky. All firsts, no precedents.”
“Not exciting as a researcher?”
“Can’t even publish your data.”
“Use it if you want.”
“No… I’m good.”
Choi Ji-eun hesitated, then refused. She knew Suhyun had enemies. They might exploit any info she released on him.
“More importantly, got nothing to tell me?”
“?”
Suhyun tilted his head.
“Nope?”
“…Heard you met a dragon. Rumor true?”
‘Oops.’
Suhyun made a face like he’d slipped up. Choi Ji-eun sighed.
“Why didn’t you say?”
“Then you’d…”
“I’m not mad!”
“You kinda look it.”
“Mad you didn’t tell me. Ugh, whatever. So, what happened?”
Choi Ji-eun rubbed her tired face. Suhyun carefully recounted events.
“The dragon just… left?”
“Don’t believe it? Fine by me.”
“I do. You wouldn’t lie about this. The dragon just left…”
Choi Ji-eun trailed off, deep in thought.
“Happened before?”
“Not that I know.”
Suhyun shook his head.
“Dragons avoided contact post-Dragon Slayer Project—barely any data. My field’s different; no need or clearance to approach…”
“We’re still not sure how vicious they are. Lots of talk even among us.”
“Not sure? What was the Dragon Slayer Project then?”
“That was a massive preemptive strike. Even herbivores fight back if you hit first. Any explorers killed directly by dragons?”
“Explorers entering dragon turf usually die to other stuff first. Direct kills… None I know. But no way a dragon’s friendly or passive. Herbivores guard territory too—especially Cameron monsters.”
“So maybe another reason it didn’t attack you.”
“Like what?”
“You’re too weak to bother.”
“Humiliating, but plausible.”
“Nah, you’re not that weak. By that logic, it wouldn’t have spared the crowd. Maybe you did something dragon-friendly?”
Suhyun recalled the weapon he’d wasted. Using dragon-killer gear as potion bait…
“Possible, but monsters don’t usually factor that in and forgive.”
“Maybe you smelled nice—to a dragon.”
“That’s a stretch.”
“What do you want? I’m tapped out!”
“Eh, not important anyway. Won’t meet another dragon.”
“Hope so.”
Choi Ji-eun meant it. Suhyun came back from near-death every outing. At his level, you’d think the risks were gone, but nope.
‘What did past me see in this guy?’
She grumbled inwardly, blind to her own worry.
“Dragon aside—why are monsters dodging me?”
“Easier one. They’re scared.”
“Why suddenly? They’re not puppies.”
Choi Ji-eun pointed a pale, slender finger at him.
“You took the elixir. Felt the effects.”
“…!”
“Monsters’ senses beat humans’. Some theories say they detect supers too. If the elixir amped your already strong ones… Them backing off makes sense, right?”
Monsters did spook sometimes. Suhyun had seen it. But only after he’d crushed them—not from eye contact alone.
“Then why’d the troll charge?”
“Dunno. Rage beat fear? Or got pissed after a hit? Or just dumb?”
“Monsters fleeing in fear feels off.”
“Why? Easier for you.”
Choi Ji-eun cocked her head.
“They’re clocking me without me knowing.”
“It’s your supers—just manage those.”
“Could be. I’ll test it. Oh, got altaranium golems from Dragonia basement. Chairman took some, but plenty left.”
“…An army.”
Choi Ji-eun eyed the giants with a queasy look. Joo Won-jun’s power in mini-artifacts dangled on her arm, courtesy of Seo-yeona.
Outsiders didn’t know. The lab’s real muscle wasn’t the outer guards—it was this underground giant legion.
“What’ll you use ’em for?”
“Better to have ’em. No use? Janitors.”
“…No.”
“Then off to see Seo Gang-seok. Where’s he?”
“Second floor with Ye-na. And…”
“?”
“Be careful. More.”
Suhyun chuckled and nodded. He knew her type—blunt concern beat long-worried speeches.
“Got it.”
* * *
“It’s coming up! Thirty seconds!”
“Miss this, and it gets messy.”
“Worry about our necks first. Ship smashing beats missing.”
“Fuck, never thought I’d fret an aircraft carrier breaking on one fish…”
“Not a fish.”
“Ten seconds!”
“Incoming!”
A massive shadow flickered below. Moments later, a whale-like behemoth erupted with a waterspout.
Crack!
The huge ship split in one hit. But no panic—they’d baited with a throwaway.
“Got it! Reel it!”
With eerie shrieks, hundreds of supers unleashed. Not just attacks—dozens of debuffs slammed the beast too.
“Status?!”
“It’s hit!”
“Chinese pull their weight! Good! Let’s finish it!”
The monster thrashed but couldn’t dive. Second wave hit.
“Shadow Whale. No response. Second check: No vitals!”
Fists clenched as one—no need for cues.
“Yes!”
The man lit a weary cig. The lake’s boss was down. Indescribable emotions swelled. So much time, prep for this.
“A new era dawns on Cameron.”
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