Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Return (2)
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Humanity launched their attack in retaliation, as if provoked. The operation wasn't just superpowered users; they had deployed enough firepower to turn the surrounding area upside down. Once the superpowered users lowered the dragon's altitude, the artillery barrage began.
These were modern weapons, but far from ordinary. Among the superpowered users were many enhancers. It was firepower coated with superpowers.
“…!”
But the dragon blocked everything. A transparent sphere seemed to form around it. Every explosion, flame, and superpower fizzled out harmlessly nearby.
The dragon's gaze shifted to one spot.
‘The Chinese brought their investment after all.’
Lee Won-jae hadn't noticed, but Kim Suhyun immediately recognized what the Chinese forces had brought. There was only one thing that could make the dragon react so sensitively.
Superpower nullifier. They must have thought an enormous capacity was needed to counter the dragon's powers, so they operated an entire dedicated unit independently.
-!!!!!!!!!!
The dragon let out a roar. It wasn't just a mere threat. Humans nearby collapsed, blood spraying from their ears and noses. With one roar, it felled the surrounding humans, and with one flap of its wings, it gained altitude. Then it began conjuring a rain of flames in the sky.
It targeted the Chinese superpower blockade unit first.
-Block it!!
Chinese superpowered users surged forward to defend. With their numbers, every kind of defensive superpower was on display—from telekinesis to rock, ice...
But the rain of flames didn't stop. As fireballs relentlessly spawned and hammered down, the defenses began to peel away slowly. Other units tried to move in to help, but it wasn't easy. The dragon had the power to concentrate on one side while attacking others simultaneously.
Once the defenses broke, the dragon threw its head back. Kim Suhyun knew what came next.
‘Dragon Breath!’
The dragon's strongest weapon.
The searing white flames melted everything they touched. Those hit likely died instantly, without even feeling pain. Not satisfied with just wiping out the blockade unit, the dragon swung its head while maintaining the breath. The moment it touched their defenses, the superpowered users' barriers meant nothing. They melted away as if they had never bothered defending at all.
It flapped its wings once more in the air, then crashed into the ground with ferocious momentum. Those below were crushed outright. Jagged rock spikes erupted from the earth at the center.
‘It’s over.’
If you couldn't realize it in this situation, you didn't deserve to live. Humanity's prepared attack methods dealt no damage to the dragon, while the dragon's attacks left humanity defenseless.
The retreat began. Chaotic screams and desperate struggles for survival. The dragon watched the fleeing humans with its signature arrogant gaze and began the hunt.
* * *
“This is more serious than I thought.”
Lee Won-jae nodded without a word. His face looked slightly pale. The footage had revived his memories.
“Not just the failure, but it looks like a lot of private mercenary companies were involved here...”
The military units couldn't commit in large numbers due to public opinion and their low superpower ratios, so instead, they roped in mercenary companies by dangling future rights to the new cities.
“Will management afterward be okay?”
Excluding the west blocked by the sea, China and Russia controlled the north and east of the gate, while America and Korea held the south and west. Unlike China and Russia, which ran state-led systems, Korea's sector was mostly managed by private companies.
Those companies would naturally salivate over this massive project and participate enthusiastically. With all those teams wiped out...
“Please keep this quiet from the outside.”
“Of course. It's a given.”
“Honestly, it's a tough situation. We're sending official requests to each company for cooperation, but we might have to pull out of some sectors.”
“The companies must be panicking too.”
They paid top dollar for security, only for their hires to vanish into thin air—nothing could be more absurd. Lee Won-jae wore a deathly expression, but Kim Suhyun knew exactly how things would play out afterward.
‘The government will build special forces units, scout cooperative external teams again, and fill the gaps from direct mercenary companies with outsourcing.’
Earth was overflowing with mercenaries dreaming of striking it rich on Cameron Planet. It was already cutthroat with competitors, making it hard to insert a new straw, but once in orbit, money flowed in automatically.
With gaps opening up like this, plenty would lobby the Korean government to get in.
“There must be a lot from other countries trying to get in.”
“…!”
Lee Won-jae looked up at Kim Suhyun in surprise. He was shocked that Kim Suhyun had guessed their internal secret discussions.
“Was that so surprising?”
“Ah, no.”
“When you don't have teeth, you make do with gums—but you should still vet identities thoroughly.”
“Of course.”
‘They won't.’
Lee Won-jae seemed to take Kim Suhyun's words as mere polite concern. It didn't matter. Kim Suhyun wouldn't be the one bleeding later.
“Anyway, I get the situation now. You've been through a lot, Director. With things like this, it's hard to even get mad.”
“Team Leader Kim Suhyun...!”
“As the only team left, the pressure's on, but we'll do our best. Let's work well together from now on.”
“We won't disappoint you again!”
“You'd better not.”
It was a pointed remark. Oblivious to whatever schemes Kim Suhyun had pulled behind the scenes, Lee Won-jae grasped the offered hand and sighed in relief.
They'd avoided the worst of the worst. Uncle Jo Company's team leader was back, their forces intact—so they still had a reliable fallback for emergencies.
‘Besides, the mercenary companies won't listen to us anymore...’
After such a botched job on a government-led op, the companies would be deeply skeptical of government requests.
Kim Suhyun stepped out of the building, his shoulders cracking.
‘About wrapped up.’
He'd slyly avoided walking into the meat grinder and dodged the blame. They'd thank him, not criticize.
* * *
“Everyone doing well?”
“Team Leader...!”
The moment word spread that Kim Suhyun was back, the team members rushed out without needing a cue. He shoved off Kim Chang-sik trying to hug him and asked,
“More importantly, where's Kang In-gyu? Where'd that guy go?”
“Ah, him...”
The team members just exchanged glances. Kim Suhyun felt a twinge of unease at their demeanor. Kang In-gyu was a powerful superpowered user, but mentally fragile. Prime scam bait.
“He's probably at the training center now.”
“What?”
“The Superpower Training Center. You don't know it?”
“Why would he go there?”
Kim Suhyun knew the Superpower Training Center well.
Many thought awakening as a superpowered user meant an easy life, but that was a misconception. Unless it was something instantly profitable like healing, it wasn't simple.
What superpower you had mattered, and turning it into a money-maker was key. Cameron Planet wasn't forgiving. Shallow powers could be weaker than high-tech weapons.
Some offered training and consulting for such people—and charged for it. It wasn't outright fraud. They had structured curricula to train superpowered users and sell them to mercenary companies, but Kim Suhyun was highly skeptical.
Superpowers varied so much person-to-person that standardized curricula seemed pointless. Plus, Kang In-gyu's curse was unique even among superpowers. Who could teach that?
And wasn't Kang In-gyu already working for Uncle Jo Company? That place was for desperate newbies seeking intros.
“No one tried to stop him?”
As Kim Suhyun's voice grew harsh, Kim Dong-wook jumped in.
“No, no. Su-yong hyung tried to stop him, but he said he wanted to get stronger and paid with his own money to enroll. Anyway, there was nothing to do until you got back...”
“I didn't give him money to waste like that.”
Kim Suhyun shook his head, feeling a headache coming on. He knew Kang In-gyu wanted to help, but...
‘Not by going to a place like that?’
It was his own cash burned, so hard to reprimand.
“Fine. Tell him to come back now. Anything else?”
Gorgan raised his hand.
“What is it, Gorgan?”
“Contact came from Mogok three months ago. You weren't here, so I passed, but he said the tribe's warriors want to work as mercenaries with us.”
“That's great.”
Kim Suhyun clapped lightly and issued orders, thrilled right off the bat.
“Now that I'm back, reach out again. Tell them to come take the tests. Guys like them will pass easy.”
“You sure?”
“What? You don't believe orcs can do it? Total discriminatory bastard.”
Kim Chang-sik startled at Kim Suhyun's question. He unconsciously glanced at Gorgan.
“N-no, that's not it! They don't have any superpowered users among them!”
“Oh, that. Don't worry. I'm planning to assign them work that doesn't need superpowers.”
Kim Suhyun had the Euterpe region in mind. With mercenary companies self-destructing and leaving gaps, Uncle Jo Company—on good terms with the Development Planning Bureau—could slot in with one request.
‘Get prepped before Chinese teams move in.’
After giving simple instructions to the team, Kim Suhyun quietly asked Lee So-hee,
“The Jindo Dog team okay?”
“Ah, thank you for worrying. Jindo Dog didn't participate.”
“Not at all?”
“Yes.”
A bit unexpected. He figured they'd send a lower-tier team at least. Did they trust Lee So-hee's word that much? Just then, Kang In-gyu returned.
“T-Team Leader. Huff, huff... Welcome back!”
“Yeah, learn much at the center?”
Kim Suhyun eyed Kang In-gyu with utter disbelief.
‘He did it thinking he'd improve, at least...’
Some subordinates you whipped into shape, others you coaxed. Kang In-gyu was the latter. Timid type—if scolded once, he'd burrow into the ground forever.
“Not really.”
“Figured. Your superpower's rare; it's not something you learn. If you wanna practice, go hit back alleys and test it on people directly.”
“T-that's a bit...”
“Think of it as a good experience and quit. Write off the remaining fees as snacks.”
Kang In-gyu hesitated, unable to reply. Rare for him, who always obeyed instantly.
“What? Still got business there?”
“They... said they imported Superpower Enhancers. Offered to sell me some cheap...”
A vein bulged on Kim Suhyun's forehead. Now it had crossed from training to outright scam territory.
“You got duped, you idiot!”
“Huh?!”
“If Superpower Enhancers existed, why's that guy running a center?! He'd be working for the government getting paid!”
Kim Suhyun smacked Kang In-gyu's head. He'd planned to let it slide with so much else to do, but this blatant nonsense pissed him off. Not content with fleecing for lame training, now squeezing more from a sucker?
“Let's go. Time to see the boss's face.”
Kim Suhyun started to leave, then paused. Shady training center. Didn't know exactly what Superpower Enhancer was, but to verify...
“You too.”
“Why?!”
Ruiril was enjoying her first city return in ages, but Kim Suhyun grabbed her by the scruff.
“Might need your expertise.”
“What's Ruiril's expertise?”
“None of your business. Let's go.”
Kim Suhyun clicked his tongue and walked off. Chinese intel, new recruits, uncharted exploration—tons to do, yet wasting time here? Unbelievable.
After hearing the rundown en route, Ruiril looked at Kang In-gyu pitifully.
“Huh? Looks decent enough?”
As Ruiril said, the training center building was large and clean. Hard to imagine scams there. But Kim Suhyun was unimpressed.
“You think scammers plaster 'Scam Here' on their foreheads? Let's go in.”