Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: Artifact (5)
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“No, forget business or whatever……. Team 1 from Jindo went missing, right? And you’re saying you’ll help rescue them? Did I get that right?”
“You understood perfectly.”
Suhyun had a way of making even the craziest tasks sound as easy as breathing, but this was pushing it too far. Jo Seung-hyun felt his headache returning. Should he trust Suhyun and back him up, or listen to his own reason and try to stop him?
‘What the hell, he’s not some runaway locomotive…!’
“Hey, I’m still the president here.”
“Who said you weren’t?”
“Give me some peace of mind. Even if it’s a golden opportunity, do we have to risk our necks every damn time? We finally got on track—can’t we play it safe for once…….”
Jo Seung-hyun’s voice was pleading. Hearing a middle-aged man beg like that wasn’t exactly pleasant. Suhyun shook his head helplessly and replied.
“This isn’t all that crazy. I’ve thought it through.”
“How?”
“Why are you against it right now?”
“For starters, the whole Jindo Team 1 vanished. Not a single one came back. Right?”
“Right.”
“So that means it’s just as dangerous!”
“No. It doesn’t.”
Suhyun wagged his finger.
“We can’t jump to conclusions like that. Think back to the Karkrita Valley. On Cameron Planet, you can’t assume anything. Everyone from Jindo on down is probably thinking the same: ‘Some unknown powerful monster in the Kebaswak region ambushed Team 1, wiping them out or trapping them inside.’ Something like that.”
Jo Seung-hyun had figured roughly the same.
“No?”
“Jindo Team 1 isn’t some weak outfit. Monsters strong enough to crush them entirely aren’t that common. And ones that powerful usually don’t hide themselves.”
The Karkrita Valley had been an extreme outlier. Normally, Jindo Team 1 could walk into anywhere and walk out alive.
The odds of them running into a monster so overwhelming that not one survived were slim. Plus, the Kebaswak region had been scouted a few times before, and Suhyun knew exactly what lurked inside. He was certain: no monster there could annihilate Jindo Team 1.
“I see it differently. They must’ve run into some special monster—one that drags an entire team into a bizarre trap. The kind you wouldn’t encounter without some freak luck. Especially since its identity’s unknown.”
“…!”
“With time, Jindo Team 1 might break out on their own if they’re lucky, or get wiped if they’re not. But that’s not the point. What matters is Jindo’s desperate. Pitch a rescue deal now, and we can get pretty much anything we want.”
Suhyun’s eyes gleamed fiercely. Already scheming to pry something juicy from Jindo. Jo Seung-hyun sighed at the sight. Stopping him was pointless now; all he could do was hope Suhyun pulled it off with his usual flair.
‘We’re already in the same boat.’
“You’re really sure about this?”
“Like always, I’ll show you.”
Jo Seung-hyun sensed from Suhyun’s confidence that he knew something about the Kebaswak region. Just like with the Karkrita Valley.
“…Sometimes you scare me. You could’ve been living a quiet life otherwise…….”
“Haha, why bring that up now?”
Suhyun was top-tier talent who could thrive anywhere. For a guy like that to stick it out in a small outfit like this.
“You’re thinking something useless again.”
“Huh? No, no.”
“If you’re wondering why I’m working at a place like this…….”
‘Damn, he’s sharp!’
“So you were? Anyway, you won’t think that later. You didn’t take my request to help steer the company as a joke, did you?”
“Steering a company that’s worth spit…….”
“We just grow it bigger.”
Suhyun had the knack for saying things that’d make others scoff, and making them sound dead serious. And you could feel the power in him—the kind that could turn words into reality.
“Anyway, it’s lucky the target’s Jindo. Others might not bite, but they will.”
From their prior dealings, Jindo knew Uncle Jo Company’s style: nailing down pre-mission intel for maximum efficiency.
“Send the proposal. We’re willing to deploy for the Jindo Team 1 rescue, including a healer.”
“What do we ask for?”
“Artifacts, naturally.”
They couldn’t demand business turf. Managing it would be a hassle, but Jindo wouldn’t sit idle—that was the real issue.
Snatching what Jindo had built in the Outerp region? They’d scheme and sabotage to take it back once this blew over. Too sensitive.
“Artifacts……. Think they’ll hand them over?”
“I’d say high chance. They’re no fools—they’ll hide the critical ones. We give up on those impossible grabs and take from the rest of the list. We’re short on superpowered users as is.”
“True.”
“Before contacting Jindo, loop in Choi Hyun-min and wrap that up first. The government will welcome it if they can.”
Uncle Jo Company wasn’t some no-name anymore. They’d stacked undeniable results fast. A serious rescue proposal from them couldn’t be brushed off.
And the government? They’d cheer if Jindo Team 1 came back safe—solving the Redwood Forest security mess completely.
“Alright. Let’s do it!”
* * *
While Jo Seung-hyun handled negotiations, Suhyun didn’t slack. He planned to tackle this solo.
No need to hide his superpowers made it easier alone. Outsiders might see him as suicidal, though.
Surviving uncharted zones solo was routine now. To resolve this flashy-style, his team—even used to his antics—might suspect if he went too overt.
“One more time.”
“Gah!”
“Coughing that loud means you’ve still got fight left. Up. If superpowers are tricky, master the artifact at least.”
Suhyun was drilling Kim Chang-sik. The lightning axe suited him best as an awakened superpowered user. His ability was situational, so artifacts maximized that edge.
“You need control to hit that target. What if you friendly-fire? Even if I’m the healer, I don’t want to patch every scrape.”
“B-but……. That’s too far…….”
Suhyun wordlessly snatched Kim Chang-sik’s lightning axe and swung lightly. Blue lightning arced out, nailing the distant target dead-on.
“!!!”
“If I can, you can. Simple. I’ll be away on business soon—get it done while I’m gone.”
“This is rigged…! Let’s compete on something besides talent!”
“Rigged? I’ve got years on you as a superpowered user. A control gap’s natural. Quit whining and train. Artifacts come down to effort.”
As he spoke, Jo Seung-hyun called from afar. Suhyun wiped his brow with a towel and walked over.
“How’d it go?”
“Looks promising. They didn’t show it, but they were thrilled.”
“Makes sense. Lose Team 1, and their operation’s toast. ‘Looks promising’ though—what’s the holdup?”
Suhyun caught the odd vibe in Jo Seung-hyun’s words.
“Hmm……. We asked for two artifacts, right? One upfront, one on success.”
“Yeah.”
One to start, one for success. The contract was more complex, but that was the gist.
“They’re holding firm. Upfront in cash, two artifacts on success.”
“Not incomprehensible…….”
If Suhyun returned saying, ‘Couldn’t be helped. Team 1’s gone,’ Jindo couldn’t complain. They’d lose an artifact for nothing. With Team 1 vanished, artifacts were precious assets.
“But they’re the desperate ones?”
“True. I synced with the government contact to push, but they’re stubborn.”
Suhyun pondered. Jindo seemed dug in, spooked by failure risk.
“Then take cash.”
“What?!”
Jo Seung-hyun freaked. Sure, not chump change, but didn’t that kill the original point?
“Upfront cash. No point pushing more—they won’t budge. They’re human too; tough to go bold here. Instead, demand three artifacts on success.”
“…?”
“Three for successfully rescuing Team 1’s core forces. Pricier, but worth it if we win. They’ll bite.”
“Risky? Great if we succeed, but failure…….”
“We gotta swing big, even if nervy. And I trust Jindo Team 1. They’ve got the skills—this is a solid bet.”
“Got it. I’ll pitch that.”
“Yeah, thanks for the hassle.”
“Oh, right. One thing.”
“?”
“You telling the team? Not easy—they need prep time.”
“Nah. Going solo this time.”
“?!?!?!?!?!”
Jo Seung-hyun looked ready to faint.
“A-alone?”
“Not that shocking. Not a survey or extermination. Go in, heal and extract if Jindo Team 1’s alive, bail if not. Easier solo.”
Suhyun’s absurd claims always sounded plausible—it’d happened plenty. Jo Seung-hyun shook his head to clear it.
“You’re not…… doing this over Lee So-hee, right?”
Jo Seung-hyun racked his brain for a logical motive. Family clouded judgment. But Suhyun just stared like he’d said something dumb.
“Huh? What’re you on about?”
“…Lee So-hee’s family with that Team 1 leader. Heard you mention it, no?”
“Oh. Yeah? Cool. She’ll be thrilled if I bring ’em back.”
Suhyun said it lightly, like grabbing snacks on the way home. Jo Seung-hyun knew one thing for sure.
‘This guy’s heartless as they come.’
Reliable in a pinch—no emotional sway. But forgetting Lee So-hee’s serious family tie?
“Cut the nonsense and lock in the Jindo deal tight. Don’t let it bite us later.”
“Not some backroom secret pact—government’s involved. Won’t happen……. Oh, wait. Gotta tell them you’re going solo.”
He could already picture the handlers’ faces: staring like he was insane, government folks trying to talk him out. Convincing them would be a gut-twister.
‘Good we didn’t take artifacts upfront…….’
Two days later, Uncle Jo Company and Jindo finalized the deal. Terms stayed as Suhyun tweaked them.
The next day, Suhyun set off fully prepped.
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