Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Return (1)
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Even though it was still young, a monster was a monster—its strength was no joke. But if we're talking about throwing tantrums, in front of Suhyun, it was nothing more than a greenhorn whose blood hadn't even dried. After taking a few hits, the young tiger seemed to finally grasp the situation.
"Good, good."
"…What’s that?"
Lee Do-jeon freaked out at the sight of what Suhyun—who'd shown up after so long—was holding. No matter how he looked at it, that was a Poshukan tiger cub.
"I picked it up on the way. Anyway, how's everything going?"
"What else would it be with us? Just scraping by, day by day."
"Hang in there a little longer. I'll bring good news soon. Where are the others?"
"They left contact info and scattered again."
Remembering his meeting with Suhyun, Lee Do-jeon let out a chuckle.
* * *
After meeting Suhyun, Lee Do-jeon had gone around gathering the scattered deserter mercenaries. Contact, Daesung, Three Dragons. They weren't big companies, but together, their numbers added up nicely.
At first, they were baffled, but they eventually came around to Lee Do-jeon's proposal. Just as he said, things couldn't get much worse for them.
They wanted to see Suhyun's face first. Just who the hell was bold enough to make such an offer?
-What the…? That guy's the one?
Contact's team leader, Yang Jun-young, was a seasoned mercenary who'd been through it all. The fact that he was no superhuman yet had survived so much spoke volumes about his judgment.
To him, Suhyun looked like nothing but a kid.
-Isn't he too young? One of your underlings or something?
-It's him.
-What? For real?
It wasn't a loud voice, but Suhyun caught Yang Jun-young's lip twitching and knew what he was muttering.
-Rude.
-Ugh!
-Team leader!
-That's no way to talk to the guy who's gonna clear your names.
Blindsided by the punch, Yang Jun-young grimaced and waved off his team. Don't interfere—that was the signal. He'd slipped up, sure, but if his men jumped in and made a fuss, it'd only complicate things.
But letting a cheap shot like that slide? That wasn't him.
-You trying to start something…?
-Come on, cut it out. That guy's…
-If you can, then do it.
-Fine!
Lee Do-jeon knew Suhyun could rip Yang Jun-young's limbs off with a finger snap via telekinesis, so he tried to intervene, but Suhyun egged him on instead. Yang Jun-young roared like an aging lion and charged at Suhyun.
-Hah, hah!
Everyone's eyes went wide. Lee Do-jeon was especially shocked. Suhyun wasn't using any superpowers. And yet, he dodged every single attack without taking a hit.
-Deserter mercenaries don't train stamina or what? Already tired?
-Y-You…
Thwack!
One kick sent Yang Jun-young spinning to the ground. Utter humiliation.
-I said bring me the ones worth my full effort, not washed-up has-beens from running away.
-No, that's not…
Lee Do-jeon stammered in disbelief. These guys were no has-beens. Back in the day, everyone knew Contact as a top mercenary outfit.
-You little shit. Get over here! How dare you hit the boss!
With the team leader shamed, one of his men stepped up. Furious at what happened to Yang, he rolled up his sleeves and glared at Suhyun.
-Looks like you can run, huh… Gah!
He went flying backward.
-Some nobody who isn't even team leader mouthing off. You think I'd waste my time playing with trash like you if I had the rank for it?
Only then did they realize Suhyun was a telekinetic—and a top-tier one at that.
-You just used a superpower, didn't you?!
-S-Stop.
Yang Jun-young was the one who held them back. Picking himself up, his wrinkled face flushed with shame, he spoke.
-He didn't use telekinesis. I underestimated him.
-You're actually that easy to underestimate.
-…I admit I messed up. Sorry.
-Alright, then. Let's talk.
* * *
In the end, the discussion dragged on, but everyone walked away satisfied. Surprisingly, Yang Jun-young was the most active in convincing the other mercenary groups.
They all agreed there was no hope in their current mess, so they'd bet on the slim chance Suhyun could clear their names. Of course, Suhyun's promise of steady supplies was a big practical factor. Holding out here without resupply was brutal.
"Should I call them?"
"Nah, they've seen my face, and there's nothing else to say. Just pass the word. I'm heading back now. The city's probably in chaos by this point."
"?"
Lee Do-jeon couldn't even imagine it was chaos from the failed Dragon Slayer Project.
"I'll send supplies through that route I mentioned last time. Conserve your strength as much as possible. I don't need swords that rust before they swing."
"Got it."
"Alright, then."
Even as they talked, Lee Do-jeon's eyes darted nervously. He flinched every time the tiger cub Suhyun held moved.
"Why do you keep twitching? You're distracting."
"I-It just catches my eye…"
"Picked up the cub by chance, thought I'd take it along. Wonder if I can raise it."
"Who knows…?"
"Eh, if it won't train and tries to attack, just kill it."
-Grrr?
The young tiger tilted its head. Even Lee Do-jeon, who knew what a monster it'd grow into, found the cuteness heart-pounding.
* * *
The elves' village felt primitive compared to the city, but against Poshukan, it was civilized enough. Back in civilization, the first thing Suhyun did was bathe.
"Ugh, feels like dying."
"What the hell is that?!"
Shaina was the first to rush over when Suhyun emerged from washing up. She'd heard he was back and hurried over, but Suhyun was gone—instead, there was a tiger cub.
"Ended up bringing it along… Luiril, hands off."
"It's not like touching it will cause problems, right?"
"Yeah, no problem. Still, hands off."
Monster cubs were rare even for elves. Luiril pouted after reaching to pet the young tiger but hearing Suhyun.
"So, the Dragon Slayer Project? Done?"
Shaina nodded instead of answering.
"Better see it for yourself."
"Yeah. Quick thanks, then head out."
Suhyun changed clothes and gave his thanks to Edan and Aida, to whom he owed so much. He'd need to keep close ties with them going forward. With the deserters in Poshukan needing supplies… Suhyun exchanged a meaningful glance with Edan as they shook hands.
In the vehicle on the way back, Shaina stroked the cub and asked,
"What happens when we get back?"
"Go through some complicated return procedures first…"
You couldn't just waltz back after going missing. The government would want a full debrief on what happened—and a checkup to ensure Suhyun's body was fine. Especially now, with most of his team wiped out.
"They might be overly nice to us."
"?"
Shaina tilted her head, not getting it. Suhyun closed his eyes for some long-overdue rest. She'd understand once they arrived.
* * *
…
Word spread fast that Uncle Jo Company's missing team leader was back, and the Development Planning Department moved quick to fetch Suhyun—no regard for face.
"I was gonna rest up from all the fatigue."
"Oh, really? Ah, this… Then rest now, and we'll reschedule!"
"Nah, I'm here now. Why'd you call?"
"Team Leader Kim Suhyun, you're our sixth direct team. How could we not care about your return after going missing?"
Lee Won-jae's voice rang sincere. But Suhyun stayed cold—or pretended to. Acting like he was truly hurt and fed up.
"Really? Would've been nice if you'd cared while I was missing."
…!
"Then I wouldn't have wasted so much time in that backwater."
Lee Won-jae felt sweat trickling down his back. When planning the Dragon Slayer Project, he'd never imagined it'd come to this.
He'd heard Uncle Jo Company's team leader, Kim Suhyun, went missing while prepping the plans. He knew Suhyun's skills; investing in whatever took down someone like that wasn't smart right now.
Plus, Uncle Jo Company was basically a one-man show by Suhyun. Other supers were joining, but without him, it'd collapse. Wasting resources there didn't add up.
"T-That is… Sorry. Circumstances really weren't right."
No point in excuses with this guy. Had to go straight. Lee Won-jae squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head.
"Really? Not even one rescue team?"
'You think a standard rescue team's gonna do shit against whatever took you down!'
Lee Won-jae screamed internally. But saying that now would just pour fuel on the fire. He had to soothe Suhyun somehow.
"You're so capable, Team Leader… We couldn't just send a rescue team recklessly."
"Flattery's flattery, but given the situation, it doesn't sit well. I ordered my team not to look for me if I vanished, but I didn't expect the government to use that as an excuse not to search. Makes me question the 'direct' part."
…!
A chill ran down his spine. Suhyun was hinting at cutting ties.
"So, how'd the Dragon Slayer Project go?"
A question whose answer he knew. Lee Won-jae was too cornered to dodge it. He shook his head grimly.
"Failed, huh."
"'Failed' feels like underselling it."
"Guess I should thank the government for not coming after me…"
Suhyun shook his head. That wrapped up the act of the aggrieved victim betrayed by the government. Time for the main point.
"Director, straight up: how bad's the damage?"
"What kind of damage are you curious about?"
Asking for specifics when asked about damage? Suhyun nearly laughed inside. Had to be massive.
"Well… Casualties or gear? No point me digging into that. More curious about the direct teams that were there. They're all top-notch, so even with the project failing, damage shouldn't be too bad, right?"
Lee Won-jae held up one finger.
"One team wiped?"
"…Every team but one, total annihilation. The last one's barely functional going forward."
…
Suhyun feigned shock.
"I'd like to see the reports."
He'd seen them before, but better check again. Things change.
There was an old saying from Cameron's early pioneering days: Humanity falls but clutches something on the way up. If an expedition took heavy losses but brought back data, they'd breakthrough eventually.
Same with Dragon Slayer. It ended in catastrophe with participants wiped, but something remained.
Data on the dragon's power.
Lee Won-jae gulped hard. Reacting to the video of the dragon. To him, that dragon must look like the demon that shattered everything he'd built.
Suhyun rested his chin, staring blankly at the footage. He already knew the dragon's strength.
'Fighters, huh. Same up to here.'
Cameron had flying monsters. The fast-moving skies weren't ideal for supers, so aerial battles were rare.
But it was the project, so they committed fighter squadrons, loss be damned. Steel wings painting the sky—a spectacular sight.
Until they all plummeted to earth at once.
'Telekinesis… Gravity type.'
Not like Suhyun's telekinesis, but a downward crush of gravity. Insane range, though. One wingbeat from the dragon, and the fighters started dropping like flies.
It swept the harassing jets from above, then soared higher. Toward the massed humans. But its eyes saw them like roadside pebbles. Not a hint of threat.
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