Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Confrontation (1)
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“Jindo 1 Team sounds pretty famous. Anyone know them well?”
“The team leader’s a renowned superpower user.”
“That goes without saying. Any other superpower users?”
“There were a few more, but I only know rumors...”
Team 1 was the face of the company, but at the same time, it was their strongest force. It wouldn’t be strange for detailed abilities to remain unknown unless it was the team leader, whose name was well-known.
“I hear the 1 Team leader handles ice.”
“Ice-based powers are always useful. Someone at that level must be pretty formidable.”
Even the same power could vary wildly depending on the user. While one might barely manage to create ice arrows, another could summon massive icebergs.
“I’m curious, but let’s handle our own business first. We’ve confirmed their position, so if things go south, we head that way... We move to our sector.”
“Should I get the detectors out?”
“Good idea.”
Suhyun said that, but inwardly, he was skeptical. Detectors were for large monsters, not people. There were those who could pinpoint a detector’s location through experience and intuition alone, and even anti-detection devices that worked in reverse. If the attackers had come prepared, they’d spot something like that.
Still, they had to do it. Just drawing the enemy’s attention would be effective enough.
The team members soon moved toward the forest. They’d divided the Redwood Forest among themselves, but the sectors weren’t completely isolated. They could sense movement from afar.
“How’re they planning to defend over there?”
“Who knows. With their full strength, they could probably just charge head-on.”
“Stop worrying about others and move. You two, set up the detectors and report back.”
“Yes, sir!”
At any rate, the operatives knew their jobs well. They began installing detectors along the forest edge and surroundings without complaint. Suhyun scanned the area with his foresight, preparing for any contingencies.
“Um... Team Leader.”
“?”
It was rare for someone like Lee So-hee to hesitate before speaking. Suhyun turned to look at her.
“I know the Jindo 1 Team leader well.”
“What? How?”
“...Lee Jung-woo, the 1 Team leader, is my brother.”
“?!”
Suhyun was surprised but quickly schooled his expression. The fact that she’d pulled him aside to say this meant she didn’t want the others knowing.
‘Not on good terms?’
Few people working here were without some backstory. Pretending not to know estranged family wasn’t unusual.
“You don’t want the others to know?”
Lee So-hee nodded instead of answering.
“Then I’ll keep it to myself. Tell me everything you know.”
“I know about 1 Team about as much as anyone else. Most are probably superpower users, with maybe one or two normals at most. Even those...”
“Power armor pilots, right? What about the team leader? What kind of guy is he?”
“As a leader, he’s decent. Cool-headed and decisive.”
‘Siblings with similar personalities?’
“What form does his superpower take?”
“It’s more threatening against humans than monsters. Though it’s plenty dangerous against monsters too...”
Lee Jung-woo’s power was known as ice manipulation, but the specifics differed from the common image.
It wasn’t freezing foes directly or firing single ice chunks. Instead, he generated masses of ice in the air, then unleashed a constant barrage of small shards. Since each was created via superpower, they dealt solid damage even to monsters. Against humans, it went without saying.
‘Definitely useful.’
It had weaknesses against large monsters, but fewer against people. If he controlled the situation, he could wipe out enemies single-handedly.
‘Makes me want to drive them even more their way...’
The ideal was avoiding direct clash while luring the enemy toward Jindo. If conflict erupted, identify the attackers and capture one for evidence if possible.
Reality was different. Suhyun predicted that if attacked, they’d hit his team’s position first. It was the obvious weak spot.
Jindo had feelings too—they wouldn’t aggressively help beyond their sector. The assailants would target the easiest breach first.
‘Gotta lure them well.’
“Installation complete.”
“Good work. Let’s move to that clearing and rest a bit.”
“That clearing? Jindo Team’s already there, no?”
“It’s fine. They won’t make a fuss over that. They didn’t rent the place out.”
Despite Suhyun’s assurance, the team looked uneasy but followed without further protest. Jindo’s members, already settled in the clearing, scowled but said nothing. Claiming it as “their spot” would just make things childish.
“Alright, I’ll do a quick recon.”
“Huh?”
“Bring someone to back me up...”
“Nah. I work better alone.”
They knew his abilities, but letting the team leader go solo was hard to swallow. And now he was their leader. If he acted rashly and got killed, the whole op would unravel.
“Just rest here and recover your stamina.”
Suhyun left after saying that. The team watched him go unarmed with worried eyes.
The detectors were mere bait for intruders entering the area. He planned to set up real detection differently.
Thin, transparent threads nearly invisible at night. Even if snapped while passing, they’d go unnoticed. But a telekinesis user like Suhyun could make use of them.
‘This should do it.’
His telekinesis output had grown stronger, making fine control tougher, but he’d mostly adapted. No complaints about the increased capacity.
Returning, Suhyun sensed the awkward tension in the clearing and smirked. The two merc teams were ignoring each other while moving about.
“No harm in introductions, right? We’ve got some friendly faces here.”
“You say that with this atmosphere?”
Unlike the nonchalant Suhyun, Jindo Team was on edge. In a monster-infested danger zone with terror threats, caution was paramount.
“We’ll probably end up fighting together whether we like it or not... More importantly, where’s the rest of 1 Team? Somewhere else?”
A few power armors and operatives, but no obvious superpower users among them. Suhyun couldn’t detect them specifically, but someone at 1 Team leader’s level would stand out to him.
“Seem to be on standby elsewhere.”
“Prepping for contingencies. Smart.”
Suhyun eyed Jindo’s operatives closely. They eyed each other warily now, but combat—or after—might force teamwork. The industry seemed vast but was narrow.
Better to scout talent early. Even if he couldn’t poach, he could use them.
“Newbie! Hustle!”
“Newbie, huh. Heh.”
A Jindo call made one of Suhyun’s team chuckle softly. It reminded them of how they’d called Suhyun “newbie” recently. The addressed operative scurried off.
“Come to think of it, don’t we have a slacker? Want me to put him to work?”
“No, sir!”
“Too late. Grab your gun and sprint to that spot. Yell ‘no chit-chat per step’ the whole way.”
“F-For real?!”
“Double the distance? Go!”
Muttering curses inwardly, the operative dashed to the indicated spot. He knew Suhyun’s personality—if he slacked, it’d really double.
‘That guy... where’ve I seen him?’
Team banter didn’t matter. He’d just tightened up the overly relaxed one. What caught Suhyun’s eye was Jindo’s newbie.
Gaunt, hollow-faced. Rare among typically burly mercs. Yet familiar.
‘What is it? Definitely... If I know him, it’s probably an older version...’
“In-gyu. If you can’t adapt, what’re we gonna do? This ain’t the army. No reason for the company to keep you if you can’t pull your weight.”
“S-Sorry!”
‘Curse sorcerer Kang In-gyu?!”
Hearing the name clicked it for Suhyun. Curse sorcerer Kang In-gyu. Famous enough that even his past self knew the name.
Curses were among the most unique, alien superpowers. Hard to utilize effectively at average levels—that was the big drawback.
Breaking through that to fame showed Kang In-gyu’s prowess. Suhyun had once considered cursing his team’s weapons for more damage. The team opposed, so he dropped it.
‘What’s this? Hasn’t awakened yet?’
Superpower awakenings were unpredictable. Even if someone would awaken tomorrow, spotting it today was impossible. Thus, small-company grunts awakening and rising, or bullied operatives skyrocketing—such stories abounded.
If Kang In-gyu hadn’t awakened, his treatment made sense. A superpower user’s value was their power.
Suhyun suppressed a smile. He’d been pondering where to find one, and here was one nearby. Jindo affiliation was a snag, but they wouldn’t care about losing a newbie like this.
‘Now, how to approach.’
Approach was key. Joining as a Jindo bottom-rung newbie was honest, but still more appealing than a new outfit like Uncle Jo Company. Big companies had that backing.
To poach, he needed to offer something better.