Chapter 172
Chapter 172
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 172
Chapter Title: Omen (5)
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Kim Suhyun returned to find his team members gathered and buzzing with excitement. They were chattering in front of a hologram screen but stood up when they saw him approach.
"Team Leader, did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"They caught the Shadow Whale!"
"That's surprising."
"...You're not surprised at all."
"It was bound to happen eventually, wasn't it? It's not a dragon."
"That's true, but this thing had eluded them for decades!"
North of the Dimensional Gate lay cities of Russia and China, while south were those of Korea and the United States. They had pushed their explorations northward and southward, respectively.
To the west stretched the ocean, which humanity—already struggling to advance on land—had left untouched.
That left the east. There lay Lake Asen, a massive body of water so vast it could be mistaken for a sea. Stretching from northwest to southeast, the lake served as a barrier to those venturing eastward.
It wasn't just its size. The monsters in the lake were the real issue, with the Shadow Whale being the most formidable obstacle.
While it might have been manageable on land, the Shadow Whale lurked deep in the lake, attacking passersby with its unique abilities. For a time, Lake Asen remained uncharted territory. There were plenty of other places to go anyway.
But it was only a matter of time.
With northern explorations delayed by harsh natural environments and southern ones stalled by dragon terror, people's eyes naturally turned eastward.
Hunting a Shadow Whale was preferable to hunting a dragon.
"China and the US teamed up for it. The participant list is insane—just the big names alone are overwhelming. Blue Bear was involved too."
"Makes sense."
Familiar faces appeared on the screen.
"Liu Xin? Wait, that guy joined the Shadow Whale hunt?"
Spotting an unexpected face, Suhyun tilted his head. Liu Xin's style emphasized speed in close combat. He wasn't suited for something that swam deep in the water like the Shadow Whale.
'Fought with artifacts, maybe?'
-The US government has announced that no monsters remain to block Lake Asen following this Shadow Whale hunt. Development on the eastern side of Cameron Planet is expected to accelerate...
There was a reason Suhyun wasn't surprised. The Shadow Whale was powerful and dangerous, but it had been caught once before in the past. It was nothing compared to a dragon.
"Something like that is what you should've handled, Team Leader."
"They probably requested it. The Korean government wouldn't let a mage go."
Having tasted bitter defeat from the Dragon Slayer Project, the Korean government wouldn't release a mage so easily. Even if the Shadow Whale was a lower tier than a dragon, death was still death if something went wrong.
"Team Leader, your expression looks a bit off."
"Does it?"
Suhyun touched his face and smoothed it back to normal. Seeing this news stirred fresh emotions. Though he'd rolled around everywhere, he could never forget tumbling through Anes, the eastern region beyond Lake Asen.
Newly opened paths were always lands of opportunity, naturally drawing competition.
And where there was competition, conflict was inevitable.
'Everyone must be racking their brains right now.'
People building new records, carving out interests, targeting enemies—all sorts undoubtedly pondering this situation.
* * *
"Chairman, what's the status on the Anes plan?"
"You're calling out of the blue to ask that?"
"What else is there to say? I saw Blue Bear on the participant list. There's no way you wouldn't get involved in something like that."
"Is it because I didn't tell you? Sorry, but that couldn't be helped."
Security was one thing, but the chairman coveted the artifact beneath the Dragonia Basin far more. Compared to immortality, a Shadow Whale under that lake was nothing.
Plus, he calculated it could be caught without Suhyun.
"Since we're in a mutually beneficial partnership, I'm not mad about you not telling me. I'm just curious how you'll move once you cross into Anes. Wouldn't it be good to cooperate?"
"Cooperate, you say?"
"Yes. Anes will be a lawless zone for a while."
"The US military will station there too."
"Chairman, why act like you don't know? Troops matter near the lake, but deeper in, they mean nothing. Everyone will splinter off and fight on their own. If we don't join hands now, there'll be regrets."
"Regrets, huh."
The chairman drummed his armrest, lost in thought. He already knew mercenaries would flock to Anes due to the new path.
A company like Blue Bear had no reason to fear ragtag mercenaries. What they feared were more elite foes.
He knew China was secretly operating special units targeting national industrial facilities rather than mercenaries. They hadn't clashed much until now, but Anes might change that.
And Suhyun was a pro among pros in that regard. The chairman knew well the grudges he'd accumulated.
"How do you plan to cooperate?"
"Nothing fancy. Share plans and band together if trouble hits."
The chairman chuckled.
"Fine, let's do it!"
* * *
"Liu Xin again? Do I have to watch that bastard shine, Wu Xiangkai!"
"I'm sorry."
"What about Jin Luo Gong? Why didn't that guy join this operation?"
Wu Xiangkai bit his lip. When Jin Luo Gong first arrived, he'd been thrilled. It was like acquiring the ultimate card. But he soon realized that was a mistake.
Jin Luo Gong was a time bomb.
A nasty-tempered loose cannon impossible to control.
'I knew he had a dogshit personality, but not to this extent!'
No matter how skilled, a lunatic like that didn't last long in any organization. Jin Luo Gong was no different.
Wu Xiangkai couldn't fathom it. Sure, Jin Luo Gong was known for his foul temper, but he wasn't irresponsible enough to ignore orders and go AWOL. He wouldn't have risen this far otherwise.
"Cutting contact on his own... and going dark..."
"You call that an excuse! Managing him is your job! Wu Xiangkai, are you deluded or something?"
Wu Xiangkai sensed danger instinctively. Pushing further here would get him axed. Framed for it.
"I'll do my absolute best from now on!"
"How?"
"I'll prove my abilities in Anes this time."
"You have abilities?"
'Bastard.'
"Building good relations with Heimken's orcs was my achievement!"
"And it fell apart."
'It wasn't my fault that idiot suddenly showed up!'
Wu Xiangkai felt truly wronged, but he knew now wasn't the time to argue.
"I'll contact the异種族 in Anes, build friendly ties, and manage the area. Make it a new foothold for the People's Republic of China!"
"That's fine too."
"?"
"Liu Xin. Deal with that bastard too."
"Pardon...?"
Wu Xiangkai doubted his ears inwardly. What did his superior just say?
Liu Xin was a superpower user from another faction, but still Chinese. The profits he generated benefited China. Scheming against him? If caught, it wouldn't end lightly.
"Deal with him?"
"Why? Can't you?"
A dangerous glint flashed in his superior's eyes. Wu Xiangkai realized refusing would get him cut first.
'This is blackmail. The fact he said it to me... If I refuse, I'm done for.'
"If ordered, I'll obey!"
"That's my Wu Xiangkai."
The superior turned his chair. Only his back was visible to Wu Xiangkai.
"Oh, and."
"Yes?"
"That conversation never happened. If you fail..."
The rest went unsaid, but the message was clear.
-Take the fall yourself.
"Understood."
Grinding his teeth, Wu Xiangkai stormed out.
His authority was greatly diminished. He commanded only a few sabotage teams, mercenary teams, and Jin Luo Gong's team.
'Not sure if dragging Jin Luo Gong to Anes is smart.'
He couldn't start without his main force, but Jin Luo Gong was such a disaster it gave him serious pause. Compared to Liu Xin—meticulous and exemplary in self-discipline—it was exasperating.
'What did I do wrong? Why do I get stuck with trash like this? How am I supposed to take out Liu Xin with this? Might as well take out Jin Luo Gong instead.'
Grumbling as he exited, something flashed through Wu Xiangkai's mind.
'Kim Suhyun!'
* * *
"This is surprising. Didn't expect you to contact me first."
"Didn't want to either. But I have info for you."
"Hold on."
Suhyun paused the conversation, deep in thought. Wu Xiangkai offering info first?
"You're giving me info?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"What do you mean why? You blackmailed me, you bastard!"
"What? Bastard? Guess I need to leak some porn today."
"Ah, no. My bad. Emotions got the better of me. Things have been rough lately..."
"Don't care if you're struggling. Fix your attitude. Do you talk like that to your superior?"
"...No."
"Then why treat me worse? Straighten up."
"Got it."
He was surrounded by enemies. Wu Xiangkai ground his teeth, thinking he'd need a dentist soon.
"Anyway... You blackmailed me, I did as told. What's the complaint!"
"It's more suspicion than complaint. I didn't even ask, and you're handing it over. You're not that nice."
Wu Xiangkai flinched. But hesitating now would be foolish. He wasn't a pushover either.
"Ha! Fine, hanging up then. Seems I did something stupid because you kept blackmailing me. From now on, answers only to questions."
But Wu Xiangkai didn't know who he was dealing with. Suhyun was several moves ahead.
"Don't play tough, Wu Xiangkai. Hang up, and you're a porn star."
"......"
"Getting pissy means you want something, which is why you called first."
"No, it's not..."
"Don't deny it. If I say so, it is. Even if you were purely altruistic—which you're not—it is. You're wrong."
'What kind of bastard is this?'
"But Wu Xiangkai, if you need help, I can provide it."
"What?"
Suspicion hit first. Why would a vicious bastard like Suhyun help him?
"If you're stealing info for me, I should help somewhat. You sticking around there longer benefits me longer, right?"
It clicked instantly. Wu Xiangkai sighed inwardly.
'Yeah, think positive. Help is help, right?'
Wu Xiangkai quickly listed his situation. Suhyun, having heard it all, asked,
"Why not assign Jin Luo Gong? He's a superpower user on Liu Xin's level. Add some traps, and it's feasible, no?"
"That guy? He's broken. Lost it completely. How do you use a guy who won't listen on something this delicate!"
'Better effect than expected.'
Suhyun nodded, satisfied. Jin Luo Gong's condition sounded worse than thought.
"So what do you want? For me to take out Liu Xin?"
"I figured you'd handle it if I told you where Liu Xin was going."
"Not a bad plan. But you seem more troubled by your superior."
"Who isn't?"
"Don't try for Liu Xin. Think about taking out your superior instead."
"?"
"Think taking out Liu Xin will save you from above? If your superior's marked you, drag him down with you."
"...!"
A chill ran down Wu Xiangkai's spine.