Chapter 49
Chapter 49
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Confrontation (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Ugh…….”
“Good thing. Bite down on this. Don’t go biting your tongue for no reason.”
Kim Dong-wook’s injury wasn’t severe. Gorgan’s wound was actually worse. The other squad members had wisely taken cover and dragged things out, but Gorgan had charged right into the fray.
“Grk!”
“Impressive. Must be the orc in you?”
Suhyun marveled at Gorgan’s ability to keep moving despite the bullet deeply embedded in his arm. Healing wasn’t a cure-all. If a bullet was lodged inside, it had to be extracted first before healing could begin.
“Done. What about the others?”
The power of a healer was awe-inspiring every time he saw it. They could revive the critically injured or those on the brink of death in an instant. It wasn’t flashy on the surface, but its efficiency was top-tier. No wonder every group scrambled to recruit them.
“We’re fine.”
“What, you fought smart for once?”
“It’s not smarts—it’s tactics!”
“Good work. Looks like we wrapped things up, so take a breather. Stay sharp, though.”
“Yes, sir!”
Jindo had taken heavier losses than Uncle Jo Company. Especially Teams 9 and 10, who had acted as bullet sponges up front for Team 1—they’d suffered the most. Suhyun clenched and unclenched his fist as he walked over to them.
‘Not sure if they can all be healed.’
Healing was cost-effective, but with casualties piling up, it was a different story.
“You…….”
“Need a hand?”
Jindo’s squad members lit up at the sight of Suhyun. In their current state, having a healer step up was something no one would turn down, even if pride kept them from asking outright.
“Hold up. We’ve got nothing to offer.”
“World’s a harsh place, huh? It’s just goodwill. We fought back-to-back—least I can do.”
Suhyun spread his arms wide to show he meant no harm, then approached the fallen Jindo members. They’d been wary after Uncle Jo Company snatched their kill last time. They’d probably gotten chewed out internally for it.
And now, Uncle Jo Company had shone again. Suhyun had spotted the attack first, and he’d flanked the enemy mid-fight. Owing them their lives on top of that? They might have to give up something—and the blame would fall on them.
“Urk?!”
“Ah. Forgot to remind you to bite down. Oh well, better than dying, right? Gonna pull the bullet.”
“Gaaah!”
His screams drew eyes from all around—including Lee Jung-woo and the Team 1 members.
Lee Jung-woo regained his composure and scanned the area. Teams 9 and 10 had borne the brunt while their superpowers were sealed. Uncle Jo’s healer was patching them up, thankfully……
‘What the hell happened?’
Lee Jung-woo wasn’t stupid. That bizarre phenomenon earlier—the superpowers not activating—was tied to the attackers.
He knew research on superpowers was ongoing, including suppression tech. But he never imagined anything combat-ready.
‘Definitely…… around where they were waiting…….’
With the ambush over, his mind cleared. Getting hit was what it was; handling the aftermath was separate. Who these bastards were, how they had that gear—he needed answers.
“Check that area. We have to figure out how they blocked our superpowers.”
His squad nodded. They’d all felt that absurd power lockdown and grasped why his order mattered.
“Thanks. We owe you.”
“No big deal. Don’t sweat it.”
Suhyun replied without looking back. Lee Jung-woo twitched an eyebrow at the brush-off but held his tongue. The guy was healing his comrades, after all.
‘Touchier than he looks.’
“Ah. You’re…… the one who said we’d never owe you?”
“W-Wait a sec.”
Suhyun recognized the first Jindo member he’d met and spoke up. The guy had insisted back then there’d be no debts. Pale with pain, the man waved him off.
“Ungrateful for saving your life? Just take it.”
Another scream echoed. Sweat beaded on Suhyun’s forehead from nonstop superpower use. He wasn’t doing this out of fondness. It was all calculated.
From the Calcutta Gorilla hunt to this ambush, Uncle Jo Company had reaped outsized gains. Once they handled the fallout, Jindo would realize what they’d missed. Even saints would bristle at being used that hard. Better to preempt any backstabbing with some goodwill.
Saving lives left a deep impression. Afterward, Jindo would remember owing the healer.
Suhyun smirked inwardly as Team 1 began searching behind him. He’d already swiped the superpower nullifier and other evidence, stashing it with Uncle Jo. The captured prisoner for interrogation was hidden in the woods. All they’d find were unidentified corpses and stealth suits.
‘Sorry, but bear with me.’
Jindo couldn’t ID the culprits from that evidence, but Suhyun could—and fabricate a motive if needed.
Next up: negotiations with the government.
“Nothing out of the ordinary…….”
“You sure you looked properly?”
“We’ll sweep again after cleanup, but for now, seems like nothing.”
“Damn. Fine. Pile the bodies. We’ll ID them back at base. Hey, you there. Healing done?”
“More or less. Something to say?”
“Sorry to bug you when you’re busy, but we’ve got our own priorities. Gotta haul these bodies to the city and report. Mind if we roll out together?”
“Happy to.”
“You’re just leaving the forest?”
“After an attack like this? Can’t stay. Unlike you, no reserves to post here. Gotta pull out. They won’t hit again, right?”
“Got it.”
Before the attack, teaming up was unthinkable. Now? Night and day. They’d benefited from Uncle Jo in the fight, and with a real assault, unity made sense.
“Let’s move once we’re sorted.”
Suhyun nodded. The clearing was trashed from battle, but with people recovering—thanks to his healing—the cleanup would be quick. The severely wounded could stand and move.
“Healthy ones, hustle! In-gyu, you idiot! Why’re you touching that? Leave it and prioritize!”
“Team Leader, we’re done here.”
Even the disrupted power armor was back online. Uncle Jo was ready to go anytime.
“Hold position then. I’ll check something quick.”
* * *
“You awake?”
“…?”
“No worries. Nice secluded spot—no one’s coming. Took ages to find you. Time’s tight now, so answer straight.”
The man clamped his mouth shut, face hard. Trained for this. He wouldn’t crack, no matter the pain.
‘Mission failed?’
It had seemed foolproof. Mercs had holes to exploit, no matter how tough. He sensed it: Suhyun had ruined everything.
“Who…… the hell are you?”
“Told you to answer questions, not ask them. Ready to talk?”
“Won’t happen.”
“Ho. Torture resistance training, huh?”
The man’s eyes confirmed it.
“I trained in torture, too. Let’s see who’s better.”
“…!”
* * *
The intel was sparse, as Suhyun expected. They were from the Chinese military’s Black Panther Assault Team—the Black Panther Unit operating on Cameron Planet.
Their mission: destroy foreign assets and cover tracks. That’s all he got; the guy didn’t know more.
Suhyun wanted a live captive to bring back, but no dice. The man had seen his telekinesis.
“No choice.”
Suhyun dumped the body in a suitable spot. No traces left—they’d assume he died in the fight when found.
* * *
Jindo took most of the attackers’ bodies. Uncle Jo could’ve griped, but didn’t. They had what they needed.
‘A few bodies, stealth suits, gear, and the superpower nullifier. No need to covet the rest.’
Jindo would use the corpses to hunt the culprits. Meanwhile, Uncle Jo negotiated with the government.
“…And that’s what happened. Understand?”
“Chinese special forces????”
Jo Seung-hyun gaped. Clashing with a state-backed force was no small deal. Suhyun stayed cool, unfazed.
“Evidence might be thin, but flesh it out—they’ll buy it. Not many who could pull this off anyway.”
Jo Seung-hyun’s face hardened as he listened. The ambush was shocking enough, but the attackers’ identity? And surviving intact against that firepower? Near-miraculous.
“Move before Jindo figures it out wrong. Contact fast, report, negotiate. They won’t stir soon after losing a team, but still.”
Suhyun issued crisp orders. The prior terror, this ambush—report them, then sell Redwood Forest rights.
Jo Seung-hyun’s eyes widened at the government connection instructions.
‘Just who is this guy……?’
He prided himself on reading people, but Suhyun’s depths eluded him. This young guy’s cunning was no amateur hour.
“Got it. Leave the rest to me!”
With Suhyun’s field heroics, it was Jo Seung-hyun’s turn to shine. He tapped his network, reaching the private firm managing Redwood and government officials. The intel was hot—they reacted swiftly.
50