Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Kevaswak Region (1)
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"Wow. They've already paved the way."
"It's not fully complete yet..."
Kim Suhyun didn't have to trek the entire path to Kevaswak alone. After the Redwood Forest in the Calcutta Jungle Zone was discovered, a base and passageways had been quickly constructed to transport it, and Suhyun could benefit from that as well.
Since what he planned to do was good for both Jindo and the government, it made sense that he had top priority access.
'Looking at the sensors and the road... They've coated the whole thing. This is why places with deep pockets are great.'
By installing sensors at regular intervals and continuously spraying scents that repelled monsters, the danger dropped exponentially. The cost was an issue, but when weighed against the profits, it was more than manageable. Of course, only outfits with real scale could pull this off.
"The Korean military probably can't patrol here safely. Is Jindo handling that?"
"That was the plan originally, but after this incident, they've halted it."
The man in the driver's seat looked tense. Even as he drove, he kept scanning the surroundings and the sensor feed linked to the vehicle. He seemed anxious, like a monster could pop out at any moment.
Humanity's process was usually the same whenever they found a resource-rich area. They'd set up a temporary base and build stable transport routes.
Of course, clearing out monsters around those routes was essential. Even after the initial sweep, ongoing patrols were needed to ensure safety.
But right now, Jindo's operations were essentially on hold. No wonder everyone was on edge.
"Wake me when we arrive, then."
"?!"
Suhyun calmly closed his eyes and leaned his head back. Any threats around here would show up on the sensors anyway—he could deal with them then.
Plus, this area had likely already been cleared out once. Monsters didn't respawn that quickly. No need to get worked up over nothing. Suhyun wasn't the type to waste energy on that.
'Got the poison ready... The spot where it'll show up is obvious, so I just need to figure out how to get in.'
A team that shouldn't have been wiped out had vanished without a trace. Linking that to the Kevaswak region pointed to one possibility.
'Kevaswak Ant Ghost.'
A monster with bizarre, unique abilities. It lurked underground and moved at the sound of prey walking above.
It could turn solid ground as soft as sand, sucking its victim under in an instant. That's why it was called the Ant Ghost. If you didn't know about it, you'd get dragged down no matter what.
It was rare and confined to a small area, so encounters in Kevaswak were uncommon. But if the team had poked around thoroughly for too long, running into one wasn't out of the question.
And if Jindo Team 1 had truly been pulled underground by a Kevaswak Ant Ghost...
'Their survival odds are high.'
The Ant Ghost wasn't all that strong in combat. It often got taken out by prey it'd dragged down. In Suhyun's view, Jindo Team 1 could handle one even if ambushed.
The real problem came after.
They might've killed it, but by then the bedrock would have hardened again, trapping them. They'd be stuck wandering Kevaswak's underground. Unless someone from outside found the exit, escape in short order was impossible.
'Find the exit from outside, track down the lost team, heal the wounded, guide them out. And for that, three artifacts roll right into my lap. Can't beat a deal like this.'
Jindo Company might cry foul once they learned the truth. But Suhyun had no regrets. On Cameron Planet, the ones who couldn't be trusted and jumped the gun were at fault.
Of course, this all hinged on his hypothesis being right. But Suhyun rated the odds high. Kevaswak's conditions, Jindo Team 1's strength, the current situation—it was worth the investment.
* * *
"Whew..."
Suhyun lifted his head with a sigh. Another bust.
He was now inside the Kevaswak region. After stopping at the base near the Redwood Forest, he'd set out immediately. His first task upon arrival: search for traces of the Kevaswak Ant Ghost.
'It's rare, sure, but I didn't expect it to be this hard to find.'
There was no immediate rush. If his hypothesis held, Jindo Team 1 would still be fine even if he took a bit longer. What worried Suhyun was something else.
Jindo Team 1 escaping on their own.
They weren't idiots. They'd adapt eventually, even if they wandered at first.
To fulfill the contract, Suhyun had to find them first and lead them out. For that, tracing the Ant Ghost's hunting grounds and path was ideal. Right now, he didn't even have confirmation.
'Jindo Team 1's projected route starts here... Then east again. Even accounting for margin of error, odds are slim beyond this.'
Mercenary companies of any size followed standard protocols—like ironclad rules. They'd map a route beforehand and stick to it unless absolutely necessary. Preparation for contingencies.
'Found it!'
Suhyun let out a triumphant yell. Ripple patterns etched into the ground, spreading wide from a central point. To an unknowing passerby, it'd just be "neat markings." But Suhyun saw the truth.
Ant Ghost traces.
'Faded and worn... Backtracking the timeline... Yeah, lines up.'
Time, place, circumstances. When coincidences stacked this high, it became certainty. Jindo Team 1 had been dragged down by the Ant Ghost.
Thud! Thud!
Suhyun stomped the ground hard on purpose. The Ant Ghost hunted by sound. It reacted sharply to noises like this. He hadn't brought his heavy power armor or cargo robot, so he had to make do with big stomps.
No response.
"Hmm..."
Ant Ghosts didn't ignore prey just because they were full. No reaction to such blatant bait in its territory meant it'd either moved its range...
"Or it's dead."
High chance it was already gone. And in that case, Jindo Team 1 was the culprit. Their survival odds were looking better by the minute.
'Alright. On to the next spot.'
Navigating unfamiliar terrain always called for a top-notch guide. And if it was Kevaswak's underground? Suhyun knew just the guides.
* * *
"What—what are you!?"
"Came to ask a favor of my friends."
The orcs shouted in shock at the sudden intruder. It wasn't just the appearance—other races' outsiders weren't unheard of here.
What stunned them were the orcs lying subdued at the intruder's feet.
'Orcs are so easy to deal with.'
Any merchants who dealt with orcs would faint at that statement.
The orcs around here knew Kevaswak's underground like the back of their hand. With their help, pulling wandering folks out would be a breeze.
The problem was getting that help. Orcs were hostile to outsiders and hated intruders in their territory. Trying to negotiate could backfire, bruising their pride and getting you chased off.
So Suhyun, who knew them well, provoked them instead. He lingered near their village to draw eyes, ignored their yells to leave, and they charged in to beat him down.
'Never play weak against orcs.'
Self-defense meant no legal issues, no need to grovel. Suhyun subdued them easily and strolled right up to the village entrance.
"Halt! One more step and we shoot!"
"Hey, these guys attacked me first while I was just minding my own business. And now threats? You ready for the fallout?"
Suhyun spun his pistol casually in his hand. Dealing with orcs required pacing. Overdo the aggression, and you'd cross the point of no return. Prideful as they were, they'd fight to the death rather than bow to a kinslayer.
Show strength to establish dominance, but avoid excessive harm. Countless merchants had crossed that line, ending up attacked or in court for killing orcs.
"Urgh..."
The orcs at the entrance hesitated. Suhyun's confidence unnerved them. Rumors of humans—masters of strange powers like superpowers—had spread among the other races.
Attacking a warrior from such a race was risky. Things could escalate fast.
"No fighting. Let's settle this nicely. What do you say?"
"What do you want?"
"Someone reasonable. What's your name?"
"Mogok. State your name, warrior."
"Kim Suhyun. Do me this favor, and we'll call it even—no hard feelings about these guys jumping me."
"..."
Mogok seemed high-ranking among the orcs. The others deferred to his judgment once he stepped up.
"You provoked us on purpose?"
"What? Ask them when they wake up."
'Those weren't weaklings...'
Mogok licked his lips nervously. The fallen orcs were young warriors. Getting them subdued like that proved Suhyun's skill exceeded expectations.
Mogok knew subduing without killing was harder than outright slaying. He had to acknowledge Suhyun's prowess.
And the human wielded odd techniques. No upside in clashing with him.
'No choice.'
It looked intentional, but what was done was done. Mogok knew his sentries—easily riled up.
"...What do you want?"
"You know the ways down below, right?"
Suhyun pointed downward, and Mogok got it. The underground passages around here.
"Yes."
"Just guide me there."
"That's it? Really?"
"What, you think I've been duped my whole life? You expect me to make some huge demand over a minor scuffle? You wouldn't even entertain it."
Suhyun subtly flattered the orcs, easing their sense of being cornered.
"Humans are said to chase curiosities. Something valuable underground?"
"Why ask?"
"No good comes from your kind swarming in."
"Fair point, but..."
He had a point. Orcs shunned outsiders; this wouldn't thrill them. Suhyun paused, pondering Kevaswak's underground.
He hadn't explored much beyond his own escape, so details were fuzzy. No valuable resources, though.
"I'm not here for resources. Here for comrades."
"Comrades?"
"The Ant Ghost—you know, the one that melts ground and sucks things down..."
"We know it. Don't call it that, though."
"You know it? Perfect. Anyway, comrades vanished, probably got it. Heading underground to find them. If they got separated midway, navigating's tough."
Mogok nodded. Suhyun's motive made sense now. Not fully trustworthy, but no strong reason to refuse if true.
"And no trouble after? Promise."
"Deal. I'll guide you."
Mogok decided. Suhyun wouldn't back off easily anyway. Guide him, then verify if it was really about comrades.
"But I'll lead personally."
"What? For real?"
"Why, problem?"
"Nah, works for me."
Mogok had tested him, but Suhyun answered nonchalantly.