Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: Rock Giant Hunt (2)
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Suhyun was truly flustered for the first time in ages. It was a question he hadn’t even considered.
Not just anyone could pilot a Power Armor. Even among those who could, the number of truly skilled pilots was few and far between. That was why Lee So-hee had been treated so well.
‘Come to think of it, I never got my license…!’
Of course, that wouldn’t cause any issues with this mission. No one here would check Suhyun’s credentials and report him.
Besides, as long as Suhyun wasn’t rampaging through the city streets in his Power Armor, the government would protect him even if a report came in. The Planetary Management Division wouldn’t discard a talent like him over something so trivial.
‘Damn it. Even focusing on the job like this, how could I overlook something so basic…?’
Suhyun clicked his tongue inwardly. His habit of charging full speed toward a goal often led to oversights like this.
‘I’ll get that license the moment I get back.’
Once they took down the Rock Giant, the Development Planning Division would come crawling. A simple test would be enough to pass then.
“Really? When did you get yours?”
“Focus. This isn’t a joyride.”
“Yes, sir!”
“We’ll rest at the base, then head out right away. No need to advertise that we’re hunting the Rock Giant, so keep private chatter to a minimum even at the base.”
“Understood!”
“…….”
Suhyun stared at the eager Kim Chang-sik with cold eyes. It was as if he were saying, ‘You’re the one I’m most worried about.’
“Trainee Park Su-yong… pair up with Trainee Kim Chang-sik.”
“Got it.”
“Alright, let’s rest until we reach the base. Time to relax is limited.”
The hunt plan and action protocols had already been finalized before departure. Rest when you could.
“What’s the name of the team currently using the base?”
The Euterpe region had a high influx of personnel, so bases dotted the area. But the government rarely managed them alone. They usually partnered with a suitable mercenary company to share responsibilities and costs.
“Gaon-gil.”
‘I don’t remember them.’
Sharing management with the government meant they were a company of decent scale. Suhyun closed his eyes and racked his brain, but he’d never heard of Gaon-gil.
‘Well… mercenary companies come and go.’
Nothing was absolute on Cameron Planet. And Suhyun had more important things to worry about than other mercenaries at the base. This mission would essentially be his one-man show. The trainees followed him because they trusted him, but he had no one he could trust to follow.
* * *
“The supplies and equipment you requested are all prepared in Sector C. Sector A is in use by Gaon-gil mercenaries, so please avoid that area.”
“Understood.”
“They won’t enter your Sector C either. The only overlapping spots are places like the mess hall, so it shouldn’t be much of an inconvenience. Any other questions?”
The staffer was extremely cautious, wary of Uncle Jo Company members snapping. The terms weren’t unreasonable, but mercenaries often included hotheads aplenty.
Even with company oversight, those with immense power and lives on the line every day inevitably showed their true colors.
Uncle Jo Company members voiced no complaints, though. They knew starting trouble would earn them Suhyun’s wrath. He managed their conduct strictly.
“No issues here.”
“Unpack and rest until departure tomorrow. Anyone hungry, go eat. Don’t go picking fights.”
“What about you, Team Leader?”
“I’ll grab a quick bite and head out. Feeling a little peckish.”
“Let’s go together. I’m starving too.”
Shaina said, rubbing her stomach. Suhyun nodded as if to say do what you want. As they walked the corridor, she asked in a curious tone.
“Even among fellow mercenaries, things don’t look friendly?”
“Rarely. Most keep their distance—out of sight, out of mind. No reason to interact unless necessary; it’s better for everyone.”
Hardship in a foreign land didn’t breed camaraderie among mercenaries. To them, another merc was a rival who could steal business or snag a jackpot first.
“Wait, then isn’t me being here just asking for trouble?”
“We’re not dealing with street punks. No one’s that blatant. Besides, picking fights in a government base means they’re not serious about business. Don’t worry about it. Working together means I take responsibility for everything, not just using your skills when needed.”
Shaina gazed at Suhyun with a faintly touched expression. But inwardly, he was thinking something else.
‘If they’re the prickly type, they might start something.’
He’d said otherwise, but if everyone were that rational, the world would already be at peace. Suhyun knew full well how many crazies roamed Cameron Planet’s frontier zones.
‘Well, if trouble comes, I’ll handle it on the spot…’
He didn’t doubt he’d come out on top. The real issue would be cleanup afterward. If it escalated, he’d flatten them first and call Choi Hyun-min. With that in mind, Suhyun kept walking.
“?!”
Across the mess hall sat Gaon-gil members. But Suhyun’s surprise wasn’t at their presence. He recognized faces among them.
‘Joo Won-jun. What’s that bastard doing here? And Seo Gang-seok too…’
Joo Won-jun, Seo Gang-seok. Both from Suhyun’s past life.
The position Suhyun was aiming for now roughly matched Joo Won-jun’s back then: top-tier skills, government backing—a premier private mercenary outfit.
Joo Won-jun’s team always earned high praise; even the government treaded lightly around them. Suhyun had crossed paths a few times on joint ops.
‘Same punchable face… Ah, right. They must’ve split from Gaon-gil.’
Suhyun pieced it together. In his past life, they hadn’t used the Gaon-gil name, so they’d likely branched off.
It wasn’t unheard of for teams to go independent from big firms, but seeing them like this felt oddly fresh.
“Hey, they’re glaring daggers over there…”
“Whoops, sorry.”
Lost in thought, he’d stared too openly. Joo Won-jun and Seo Gang-seok had noticed, looking annoyed.
Joo Won-jun was a top talent; Seo Gang-seok, a solid subordinate. Suhyun had once chewed out his own men using Seo Gang-seok as an example.
Lingering would invite a confrontation, so Suhyun moved to grab food. He took a plate of tomato spaghetti and sat.
“Why stare like that? I thought they were about to start something.”
“Familiar faces.”
“…?”
Shaina tilted her head, sneaking a glance at Gaon-gil. Seo Gang-seok was bearishly built; Joo Won-jun sharply featured—but nothing else stood out.
“Let’s eat before it gets cold.”
‘Necromancer and Bartender… Tempting, but recruiting them’s a pipe dream.’
Necromancer—Joo Won-jun’s moniker. Prep-heavy, but devastating once set up.
Seo Gang-seok’s “Bartender” nickname came from his poisons. His mixing skills rivaled Suhyun’s. Unlike Suhyun, he had poison-related superpowers too. Suhyun didn’t know the details, but the proficiency screamed optimization.
The problem? Neither was trustworthy. Suhyun was recruiting urgently, but not just anyone.
‘Can’t risk adding a backstabbing snake.’
Uncle Jo Company’s strength lay in their character. Jo Seung-hyun had an eye for people. Knowing they wouldn’t stab him in the back was a huge asset.
Joo Won-jun brimmed with ambition. Guys like that didn’t serve under anyone. Suhyun had heard ugly rumors about him too. Rumors had a kernel of truth—he knew that.
‘Not reliable. Any way to use them? Maybe poach Seo Gang-seok at least… Nah.’
Seo Gang-seok’s loyalty was legendary. Clearly sworn to Joo Won-jun. Tampering could backfire.
‘A poison expert would be handy, though. Here, I handle everything from A to Z…’
Suhyun grumbled internally while devouring his spaghetti. Distracted, he barely tasted it—just inhaled it. Shaina gawked as his plate emptied in seconds.
“A Dark Elf?”
“Ignore it and eat.”
“How can you ignore a Dark Elf showing up at base? What if they poison the food?”
“If it’s poisoned, ask Gang-seok for the antidote.”
“Team Leader, seriously? Can’t you take a joke? Anyway, what kind of crew hires a Dark Elf… Gah!”
The yapping trainee toppled forward. Joo Won-jun had kicked him. In a frosty voice, he addressed the man.
“Am I speaking gibberish?”
“N-No, sir!”
“Then keep your eyes down and eat.”
“…….”
Like a mouse before a cat, the trainee meekly resumed eating.
He’d scolded the trainee, but Joo Won-jun was curious too. Government clearance meant they were here for work in the area.
‘A Dark Elf in their ranks—what kind of team?’
He had no intention of starting a brawl like the idiot he’d kicked. That’d just hurt his own interests here.
‘I’ll look into it later.’
Joo Won-jun knew: Luck favored the prepared. Turning chance encounters into wins was skill. If they had valuable intel…
Suhyun and Joo Won-jun—eyes never met, but minds raced in tension. Each scheming how to exploit the other.
“Hey, I’m done.”
“Oh, yeah? You ate fast. Let’s go.”
“…….”
She’d waited while he pondered, only for this.
“What’s got you so deep in thought? Worried about the Rock Giant? Or Kesica?”
“No, sorry for making you worry. As team leader, that’s on me—no need for you to fret.”
“If it’s not a big deal…”
Shaina trailed off dubiously but dropped it when Suhyun cut her off. Working with hostiles had taught her how to navigate such situations.
* * *
“Uncle Jo Company? Oh, the team that cleared Kakrita Gorge?”
Joo Won-jun had contacts in the Development Planning Division. He was hypersensitive to government happenings. Naturally, he’d heard of Suhyun’s team.
“Yeah.”
“Why are they here? For exploration, shouldn’t they head further south?”
“That’s… classified.”
He hadn’t expected details anyway. Joo Won-jun nodded and dismissed the man.
“Uncle Jo Company… Interesting outfit. Going into Kakrita Gorge with that roster.”
“Impressive?”
“Less impressive, more like they knew something beforehand. Not that I’d ever do it.”
Even with intel, Joo Won-jun always sent expendable squads first to verify.
“So why are those guys here? No new resources left to find. South or mountains for that.”
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