Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Premonition 2 (3)
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“Chinese guys?”
“There are a few who hate my guts. I’m thinking of using them.”
“A few? More than that, probably. But if it’s Chinese, you don’t mean special forces, do you?”
Jack furrowed his brows with a worried look. The nations roaming Cameron usually had one or two special forces units operating in the shadows, their identities concealed. Not just the four Dimensional Gate countries—others had them too, and the big four went without saying.
Suhyun was suspecting a broader range of culprits from the previous ambush against Jack. Organizations trying to create artificial artifacts or capture superpowered users. But Jack suspected China or Russia. It was only natural, really.
How many places could pull off something like this against an American superpowered user?
“China’s got plenty of units they run. Some disguised as private companies…. They’re a bit iffy to call special forces, though. The Black Leopard Squad or such elites won’t show up.”
After getting wrecked by Suhyun like that, they wouldn’t deploy elite troops like the Black Leopards. That’d be as good as having no learning ability at all.
“Isn’t that dangerous? I know you’re a mage, but don’t underestimate the others. Special forces only charge when they think they’ve got a shot.”
“You’re right, but it’s gotta be convincing….”
Suhyun scratched his chin, lost in thought. Every time China had come at him with what they thought was a winning hand, Suhyun had crushed them with cards they never saw coming.
Now his own hand was mostly out in the open. Nullifiers didn’t work against a mage…. Jack’s warning was worth heeding. If they came at him again, they’d be confident for a reason.
But Suhyun couldn’t imagine what that reason might be.
‘What are they planning?’
Even Suhyun couldn’t think of a good way to take him down. Surround an entire area with an army and swarm him….
‘No, even that wouldn’t catch me.’
A swarm-and-encircle tactic needed something to pin the target’s feet. China had nothing to bind Suhyun. If he went all-out with his powers and charged, army or armored units—he’d punch right through.
“Still, if Chinese guys are lurking around here, doesn’t that make it more believable? In this situation, only China or Russia could send anyone this far out.”
“Ugh, true….”
Jack hesitated. He really wanted to enter the underground kingdom, but that didn’t mean he wanted to tangle with soldiers who specialized in hunting superpowered users.
He wasn’t scared, of course, but you never knew with the world. American superpowered users got drilled before entering Cameron. One of those lessons was this:
-Avoid special forces and soldiers. Not because they’re scary—because they’re a pain in the ass!
Who knew what hassle they’d bring? Jack fiddled with the nullifier jammer in his pocket. Even special forces couldn’t take him, Suhyun, and Blue Bear’s full force.
“The US can’t send troops here because of domestic opinion, but China could if they wanted. They don’t care much about public backlash. They might see this as their chance.”
“Grr… No matter how I look at it, it feels like eating poison just to fill your stomach. Won’t this blow up into a bigger mess?”
“It’s fine. I’ll check first.”
“How?”
Jack looked baffled. There was no way to know what units China was running from the outside. Some operated within the military, others disguised as mercenary companies under civilian firms. That kind of intel wasn’t for civilians.
“I’ll just prod them a bit.”
* * *
“Prodding won’t tell us anything! And watch the comms. Where the hell are you even calling from? If we get caught, I could face the death penalty!”
“Wu Shangkai, my life’s on the line here—how are you so chill? You’d profit if I died, right? No worries for you then?”
“N-no, that’s not what I—”
Wu Shangkai was dumbfounded. If Suhyun was truly worried about his life, he wouldn’t have gone out there in the first place. He could’ve just stayed in the city, surrounded by admirers, living happily. Instead, he exposed himself to danger in the boonies and now pulled this. Unbelievable.
“I’ll do the speculating. Just tell me everything you’ve found out.”
“I told you last time—factions are split, so I can’t dig up much! All I know is Liu Xin’s superior is pushing the op with total confidence.”
“With total confidence?”
“Yeah. Says he’ll make sure that Kim Suhyun bastard can’t roam Cameron anymore.”
“You’re not hoping for that, are you?”
“I’m not!”
“Make sure I can’t roam, huh. Now I’m really curious how they plan to pull it off.”
Everyone had their level. Suhyun was at the top. You couldn’t scheme against someone like that without making noise.
“Nothing leaked at all? They’re targeting me and planning this?”
“That’s why I got some drinks in them and asked! Nothing. Seems like only a handful share the op overview. And the op itself doesn’t seem that big! Barely any gear, just a few units mobilized….”
“?”
The doubt didn’t clear—it grew. Shrinking the scale when even a larger force wouldn’t cut it? What…?
‘Ah!’
Something flashed through Suhyun’s mind.
“Is Liu Xin joining the op?”
“How would I know that?”
“You idiot. Just check where Liu Xin is. If he’s crossed the lake, he’s in.”
“Ah… right. No, he’s in the city.”
“I see. I get it now. Good job, Wu Shangkai. Here’s your reward.”
“Reward?”
Wu Shangkai grew more uneasy. This guy didn’t hand out favors.
“Your buddies are running the op—you should help out a bit, right? I’ll give you my coordinates. Report them officially.”
“What? You sure that’s okay?”
Wu Shangkai asked in shock. He’d pulled out of the op, but reporting like this was harmless. Someone else took the blame, and he got the credit.
‘No way—is this bastard running a disruption play on me?’
Suhyun was such a sly fox, suspicion hit first. Mess up the report, and he’d be the one bleeding.
“Hey, you know my position’s shaky already? Joke with those coords, and I’m done for too!”
“Jeez, so suspicious. I’ll give you the real ones.”
After some coaxing, Wu Shangkai finally relaxed with a sigh.
“You get credit for locating Kim Suhyun, they fail the op and take heat—win-win, right? Won’t get chewed out by the boss for a while.”
“H-how’d you know I got reamed by Li Hejun…?”
‘He got chewed out?’
Suhyun had tossed it out casually, but Wu reacted. Suhyun replied smoothly.
“I told you—not the only one I’ve contacted.”
“…….”
Zhen Luo Gong was such a mess he wouldn’t care what Wu and Li Hejun discussed. Xiao Mei was the suspect.
“Anyway, got it? Package it so it doesn’t look suspicious. Report when the op starts.”
“…Got it.”
Suhyun cut the comm and stood. For a guy calling himself king, Samuel’s village was surprisingly solid. It had all the facilities for emergencies, including comms.
Samuel paced anxiously, eyeing the mercenaries in his village. The once-brazen man wouldn’t even approach the Blue Bear mercs.
One thing Suhyun hadn’t expected: Samuel didn’t know Suhyun, but he knew Blue Bear. It’d been a famous company even before he left human society.
“You applied to Blue Bear too?”
“Rejected on paper….”
“Hmm. Good luck.”
Even the villagers who once looked up to Samuel now eyed him lukewarmly. The change was starkest among the non-humans—they’d really bought into his “king” act, unlike the humans.
But from Suhyun on down—Jack, Eclipse, even Blue Bear’s superpowered users—they were all monsters in their own right. A horde like that changed perceptions.
“Nice village you built. Might be better to rent it than haul materials and build a new base. I’ll cover the cost—ask him?”
“Forget it. He’ll cry.”
“Huh? Why?”
Jennifer tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. No reason she’d know Samuel.
He’d once lived happily as a “king,” but now a company he couldn’t even join before was here, rubbing salt in old wounds….
Samuel’s trauma wasn’t the priority now. Suhyun scarfed down a quick meal from a retort pouch, deep in thought.
Back when he was weak, he’d fought with every dirty trick. His telekinesis was near-useless in combat.
That’s why odd moves pinged his instincts. Like what this Chinese team was up to. He could be wrong, but probably not.
‘Self-harm extortion. They’ve really gone all-in. Never imagined they’d try this on me.’
Cameron seemed like extraterritorial lawlessness at a glance, but it wasn’t. Frontier fights worked because both sides had dirt. If one was clean, just take evidence to the international court.
Even superpowers couldn’t ignore hard evidence. They wouldn’t jail their assets abroad lightly, but they all did show trials. China included.
Far fewer troops than usual against Suhyun—no Liu Xin either. Yet they oozed confidence….
Self-harm extortion was the only fit.
Suhyun had pulled it off before. Simple method.
Target had to be strong. When trouble hit, they’d charge to handle it themselves, not retreat and report up. That’s when it worked.
Better if the target was already jumpy from prior attacks. Tail them, show hints of prepping an ambush. Key: hints subtle—not blatant.
Overall, folks think, “Nah, not an attack prep.” But the target wonders, “Are those bastards gearing up?”
Suhyun was a master at this psychological game.
Keep tailing, grate their nerves, never strike first…. Then when they snap and attack, take minimal damage but leave evidence. Evidence was crucial—the whole point.
Now he was on the receiving end of his own signature move. He chuckled wryly. Not surprised. Every nation loved it. He’d just popularized it.
‘Back then, I did it the most, and the best….’
He’d risked his life to make it trend. Now that he’d stopped, others were picking it up.
He saw their play: Provoke him into attacking, then drag to court. Korea wouldn’t extradite Suhyun unless insane, but they’d ground him.
Timing was perfect too. Korea wanted to tie him to the homeland—still shaky from Dimensional Gate terror. But locking him down risked other nations poaching: “Come to us! Total freedom!”
If it happened, Korea would shrug, keep him home. Meanwhile, China romped Cameron freely.