Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Precursors (6)
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‘Is this the difference between him and me?’
He was only racking his brains for ways to obey his superior’s orders and escape the current situation somehow. To put it crudely, he was a coward.
But Suhyun didn’t hesitate for a second upon hearing it and made a suggestion. Send the superior packing by dragging him into it.
‘My superior? Tell me to get rid of that Li Hejun? Could I even do that?’
His superior, Li Hejun, was a man overflowing with charisma. Not just anyone could take charge of Cameron’s Central Pioneering Division. He had secured his position through achievements, ability, and connections. He had ties within the party, and there were surely some connections even Wu Shangkai didn’t know about.
“Me?”
“What, you scared? Turns out you’re more of a coward than I thought.”
Normally, he wouldn’t fall for such obvious provocation, but the situation was dire. Wu Shangkai bristled and shot back.
“I haven’t decided yet. And besides, this isn’t something you just decide on the spur of the moment…”
“Ah, ah, spare me the excuses. I don’t care. There’s only one thing that matters in a situation like this. Are you gonna do it or not?”
“That’s what I’m saying—it’s not something you rush into! What good does it do for some guy who doesn’t even know my superior’s weaknesses or power to spout off?!”
“Wu Shangkai, everyone has weaknesses.”
Suhyun said in a serious tone.
“Your superior, his superior—nobody’s without one. People in high places especially can’t help but have them. They just hide them well. Don’t be so intimidated by your boss. Who is he again?”
“Li Hejun…”
“Li Hejun?”
Suhyun quickly rifled through his memories. He might not know everything, but he had a decent grasp on Chinese figures. All sorts of intel was necessary for planning operations.
“He’s connected to the Cameron City Government Party Committee, right?”
“Yeah, he has ties there, but how did you—”
“I told you. I’ve got my sources.”
Wu Shangkai clammed up and hemmed. He couldn’t figure out which traitor in the organization was leaking info to Suhyun.
‘Is there another guy like me who’s been caught?’
“Li Hejun… Li Hejun… definitely…”
If Suhyun’s memory served, he was someone who’d been ousted in an internal power struggle. A position like Li Hejun’s wasn’t threatened by some mere special forces grunt. It was his political rivals who’d brought him down.
But he couldn’t just leave it at that now. If Li Hejun fell…
‘Wu Shangkai would get dragged down with his faction.’
That’s how politics worked.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Wu Shangkai asked impatiently.
“He’s got a weakness.”
“What? For real?!”
Wu Shangkai was genuinely shocked. How the hell did this guy know Li Hejun’s weakness? His boss wasn’t the type to get caught that easily.
“What is it?”
“Can’t tell you right now. Point is, doesn’t matter what it is—as long as he has one, right?”
“…”
Wu Shangkai fell silent for a moment before speaking.
“What do you want?”
“That’s more like it. Cooperation’s the way to go for both of us.”
“I can’t give you Liu Xin’s exact position. It’s not general info, and they hate our guts anyway, so no leaks there.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle the rest. For now, the favor I need is with Jin Ruogong.”
“?”
Wu Shangkai didn’t follow.
“Why Jin Ruogong?”
“Set up a meeting. You said he’s crossing over to the Anes region this time, right? Should be easy then. Make up some excuse to meet. Running into him near the lake base won’t raise eyebrows.”
“No, wait—what for?”
“Wu Shangkai. You really in a position to ask why?”
‘You bastard…’
Wu Shangkai swallowed his curse. Suhyun was right. He wasn’t in a spot to be picky. Still, he had to speak up.
“I told you, he’s a ticking time bomb. If something goes down when you meet him, it’s not on me. If he comes at you swinging out of nowhere…”
“Then I’ll just lodge an official complaint.”
“That’s exactly why it’s a no-go!”
If that happened, Wu Shangkai would be the one taking the heat.
“I’m kidding. I know it’s tricky—think I’d screw you over? Don’t worry. I’ll handle it fine. If you can’t trust me, just stick around for the meet.”
“What?”
Wu Shangkai scowled. That meant he’d have to hang around with Jin Ruogong. The last thing he wanted.
Suhyun was an enemy, sure, but he was cool-headed and orderly. Jin Ruogong, on the other hand, was an unreliable bomb even among allies.
“That works.”
“Hey, wait a sec…”
“I’ll let you know the time and place later. Just bring him somehow.”
“Hey! Hey! Hold on!”
Suhyun hung up without waiting for a reply.
‘Li Hejun, huh.’
Honestly, a bigwig like that in China wasn’t easy for even Suhyun to touch. Wu Shangkai had basically dug his own grave. Conversely, without him pulling something like that, Suhyun wouldn’t have an easy time finding leverage.
‘Sure, dig and you’ll find dirt, but at that level, it won’t even scratch him.’
Only one method came to mind.
Use his enemies against him.
Just like in the future, it was best to sic the ones who’d done it before back on him. Li Hejun’s rivals would jump at the chance to hit him.
‘Problem’s Wu Shangkai. Might need to prep him in advance…’
When a superior falls, there aren’t many ways for subordinates to dodge the blame. Best bet was for the subordinate to turn whistleblower.
“A guest has arrived.”
“Who?”
“Says his name’s Ethan Srandal…”
Ethan Srandal. The chieftain leading the elves of the Amess Plains. Suhyun nodded and told him to come in.
“Long time no see.”
The elf, handsome as a movie star, swept his hair back as he entered. He had the kind of striking presence that turned heads on the street.
“Human cities never fail to amaze me every time. How do you even live on this scale?”
“You get used to it.”
“All this vast land yours?”
“Something like that, but not quite. Anyway, what brings you here?”
“Heard the news. The shadow whale in Asen Lake’s been caught, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then humans’ll be heading that way too?”
“Probably.”
“You going?”
“Likely.”
“Perfect.”
“?”
Suhyun stared, not getting what Ethan meant.
“I’ve got a favor to ask. Can you hear me out?”
“Tell me what it is first.”
“Not asking for free, mind you. I know an elf tribe over there. If you’re starting from scratch hunting them down, wouldn’t a native who knows the area be a huge help?”
“You know an elf tribe there?”
It would help, yeah. But Suhyun was surprised Ethan knew a tribe across the lake. Non-humans didn’t usually mingle much.
“My brother’s with them. Lake’s big and dangerous, but crossable.”
“Well, thin the numbers and use small boats, risk goes down.”
“You knew?”
Now Ethan was surprised. He hadn’t expected Suhyun to know that.
“No big deal. So, what’s the favor?”
“Want to leave my daughter with you for that side.”
“Aida?”
“No, Erendil.”
Erendil was Aida’s younger sister. Aida stood out as an exceptional superpower user with other solid skills, despite her odd speech, but Erendil barely registered in memory. Aside from how she’d latched onto Suhyun.
‘She was a quirky kid.’
“Why leave her there? It’s not exactly close…”
“She’s sick.”
Worry clouded Ethan’s face.
“Can’t pinpoint the cause.”
“Not an elf doctor, but a human one? Wait, stupid question.”
“Yeah. We’ve run tests already. We’ve got that level of skill. But every night, she spikes a fever and groans in pain—no one knows why…”
“The Anes elves are different?”
“My brother’s exceptional in that area. Master of elven shamanism and heir to secret arts.”
If Ethan said that much, he had to be seriously knowledgeable. Elven shamanism included deep herbal lore.
“But why Anes?”
“He’s a sage, if you’re kind—eccentric, if not. Never cared for leading or gathering people. Married an Anes elf and settled in the surrounding woods for meditation, he said. Honestly, I don’t fully get him. Always been inscrutable. But his skills are real, so I trust him with this.”
Ethan paused, then continued.
“I’d take her myself, but my position won’t let me be away that long. That’s why I’m asking. Okay?”
Suhyun was a bit touched. Entrusting his daughter meant Suhyun had earned serious trust from Ethan. Taking Erendil along wasn’t hard anyway—just one extra person.
And in return, getting help from locals who knew the area? A massive win.
Plus, hearing about Ethan sparked Suhyun’s greed.
‘Master of elven shamanism and heir to secrets… He must know a ton, right?’
He couldn’t be stingy with the guy bringing his niece. Suhyun hoped he knew plenty—especially about what intrigued him.
“Not a tough ask. I’ll do it.”
“Thanks!”
“When do I get Erendil?”
“She’s here already. Figured you wouldn’t say no.”
“…”
“Aida, it’s settled!”
Aida came in holding Erendil’s hand, looking awkward. Suhyun felt played.
“Really trusting me with this. Take good care.”
Erendil’s face was gaunt. The childish chubbiness was gone—anyone could see she was ill.
But what caught Suhyun’s eye was elsewhere.
“…!”
Lately, he could sense superpowers emanating from others. Aida and Ethan weren’t using theirs now, so it wasn’t intense, but Erendil’s was beyond imagination.
Like flames that could incinerate everything around.
“Take care. I’ll tell Sister Ruiril too…”
Suhyun wondered if Erendil’s illness stemmed from this power’s intensity. Strong superpowers drained a lot and burdened the body. For a kid not fully grown, it could be too much.
‘Even if so, any fix?’
Training the body was key, but building one to handle superpowers was mostly innate. Not something average training fixed.
Suhyun tabled the thought and pried off Erendil clinging to him. This elf girl had taken to him strangely from the start.
‘Right. Ask that brother elf first, then figure it out.’
That settled it for Suhyun.
“Thanks for the favor, even if it’s a stretch. I’ll head out.”
Ethan started to leave alone. Suhyun glanced at Aida and tilted his head.
“Not going?”
“I’m here to look after Erendil.”
Suhyun paused, then nodded. Aida pulled more than her weight.
“Fine by me—easier that way.”
* * *
Suhyun planned to prep casually and head out. He could’ve taken more time, but dropping off Erendil meant shaving off a bit— not bad.
But the guests didn’t end there.
“We’re heading to Anes too.”
“…Uh, yeah. Good luck. Give it your all. But why tell me here?”
“You little…”
The mercenaries ground their teeth at Suhyun’s attitude. What pissed them off more was it seemed like genuine cluelessness.
Contact, Daesung, Three Dragons. Mercenary companies indebted to Suhyun. Framed by Joo Won-jun, freed thanks to him.
Suhyun had recruited them as potential firepower, but his growth outpaced needs—no call-ups after rescue.
“We’re saying we’ll help if you need it! We owe you!”
“Yeah!”
“Uh… you guys?”
“…”