Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Chapter 41
Bodyguard (4)
-It's really too much!
-Cult Leader, wouldn't it be better to reconsider?
-There could be variables.
Despite the Protectors' attempts to stop me, I headed to Nigeria alone.
-Focus on the plan you've been preparing.
They weren't just sitting around in Korea either. They were steadily preparing the two-year plan that Jimun Seo-saeng had mentioned.
'It's more comfortable alone anyway.'
Dealing with weapons always carries danger. It's more convenient for me to move alone, since I can at least endure with Ganggi.
-Cult Leader, this is my grudge.
I couldn't refute So Iryeon's words.
'She's gotten unnecessarily smart.'
Baria had definitely targeted So Iryeon. There was no basis to completely exclude So Iryeon, who had been attacked.
-Fine. I'll call you if I need you, so stand by.
I reassured her like this for now and came to Nigeria alone. Thanks to the Witch's magic, there were no language barriers anymore, so I didn't need anyone to help me.
'Though it is a bit lonely.'
This time too, the destination was Lagos in the southwest. Last time I traveled by car to hide the guide's identity and weapons, but this time there was no need for that. I took a plane again and arrived in the capital, Abuja. Perhaps because a young foreigner was unusual, I felt the gazes of Nigerians, but I ignored them and left Abuja airport.
'First, let's do the homework.'
I went to a park near the airport. After confirming there were no people around, I opened the pouch bag at my waist. Inside were two rolled-up parchments. First, I took one out and tore the center largely.
"Location Detect. Right?"
At my words, the letters on the torn parchment fell like leaves and soaked into the ground. The letters that expanded their range and became a perfect magic circle slowly lost their light and disappeared.
"Simple enough."
It was a contract with the Witch. I agreed to mark the places I go like this. The Witch didn't have any places marked in Nigeria either, so I did it instead.
'I should use the remaining one strategically.'
I finished the homework and left the park.
-Currently, the government has control up to Gusau, so you should be able to travel by taxi.
I recalled Jimun Seo-saeng's words and caught a taxi. It was a journey that would take about 6 hours. When I offered a sufficient amount, the taxi departed immediately.
Four hours after leaving Abuja. The taxi was driving along the road without issues.
"I'll get some gas before we continue."
Besides traffic congestion, there's one other thing that's equally terrible in Nigeria. Gas stations. Despite being a huge oil-producing country, management wasn't properly done, so ordinary people always suffered from fuel shortages. From a foreigner's perspective, it was an incomprehensible situation, but this was Nigeria's current state.
It was common for merchants to buy up fuel and manipulate prices as if storing goods. Because of this, cars lining up at gas stations were a commonly seen sight.
"It'll probably take about 2 hours."
The driver, in his late thirties, accustomed to this situation, stopped the taxi behind the line of cars. There was nothing I could do. The taxi driver talked busily about something at first, then later leisurely chatted with various people.
I had nothing particular to do, so I just sat quietly in the back seat. We finally finished refueling, and the taxi departed again. When there were about 30 minutes left until the destination, the taxi left the main road and entered a quiet road. Just as I felt something was strange, the car suddenly stopped, and someone got into the passenger seat.
As soon as the black youth got into the passenger seat, he immediately pointed a gun at me. Following that, one more person got in next to me and searched my pockets.
'You're going to search the Heavenly Demon's pockets?'
The robber even snatched the bag at my waist and tried to push me out of the car. However, when I didn't budge, he started getting agitated.
"If you're going to rob people, you should at least have eyes to see. Without that talent, your life can only be shortened."
Kwang!
I struck down the head of the robber who was searching my pockets. The guy in the passenger seat was startled and fired his gun. The bullet hit my forehead and fell off. When I remained fine after being shot, the guy pulled the trigger with a resolute expression like a priest who had seen a demon.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
The result was the same. I burst the head of the guy in the passenger seat, too. What remained was the driver. Driving a car was still difficult for me. That's why I deliberately left the driver alive. But then I noticed a bike outside the window.
"I don't need you anymore."
The driver trembled like a criminal facing harsh punishment, but there was no mercy. After dealing with the driver, too, I got out of the taxi.
"You should ride something better."
I got on the old bike and left that place.
The first thing I did after arriving at my destination, Gusau, was to buy a new bike.
'It's quite attractive, I must say.'
I didn't have time to look around various places, so I entered a bike shop that caught my eye. Though it wasn't planned from the start, after meeting the robbers and riding a bike, I made up my mind. Among the old motorcycles, there was one model that stood out. I preferred the type called replicas. It's the racing bike form, the type where you ride in a prone position on the motorcycle body.
"It's $30,000."
The model I chose cost $30,000. In Korean money, it was over 30 million won.
'Well, this much is fine.'
I don't worry about money anymore. Kim Mu-jin is providing sufficient support.
"Card payment."
Of course, there's no installment plan here. Even so, I said something I'd wanted to say at least once and held out my card. The payment was completed smoothly, and I pulled the bike out onto the road. They didn't even ask about my age or whether I had a license to begin with. I put on a helmet and rode along the road. The destination was the northern end of Gusau. I went to the point Jimun Seo-saeng had mentioned.
The black youth hiding in an old building quickly hid himself, perhaps not expecting me to come on a bike. Then, when I took off my helmet, he gestured for me to come over. In a building with barely just a frame constructed, the black youth carefully offered a greeting.
"Is Teacher Paul safe?"
Paul was the name Jimun Seo-saeng used in his current life.
"He's living more comfortably than me."
At my words, the black youth smiled. He was about 170 tall, with a skinny body but strong eyes.
"I'm Almand."
"Naurahm."
Almand, as if pressed for time, immediately got to the point.
"There's supposed to be a meeting at the Niger border area tomorrow at noon. That's all the information I know."
"Niger?"
"It's a country that borders northern Nigeria. It's a place Baria has been paying attention to recently to establish a foundation after their power weakened."
He briefly explained the relationship between Niger and Baria. Niger is a country where 80% practice Islam, and it's a region where several terrorist attacks have been carried out under Baria's leadership. Actually, it wasn't an attractive enough country for Baria, which had secured a base in Nigeria, to covet. However, when their power weakened, they inevitably had to invade even Niger to establish a foundation. Niger was such a weak country that it didn't even have ten thousand soldiers, so Baria had completely taken control of the border area.
"It seems they're going to meet someone in Iliea at the border area."
The northern border had been a safe zone for Baria until now. Since they had expanded their territory to Niger, even the national army didn't approach the surrounding area. It was an area where meetings could be held with peace of mind.
"I need to go back now."
He looked urgent. Though he had delivered the intelligence, it wasn't that he had no fear at all.
"Is there something you want?"
"Hamad. Please be sure to kill that bastard."
"It seems like there's a special reason."
"He killed my entire family. If it weren't for Teacher Paul, I would have died too. I've lived until now for the day of revenge. As long as that bastard dies, I don't care what happens to me."
Almand said, gritting his teeth. To his anger, I answered calmly.
"That bastard dies tomorrow."
At my words, Almand nodded his head firmly and left the building.
'Hamad.'
Hamad, the leader of Baria. Though expected to be a mage, I couldn't gauge what level of expert he actually was.
"He can't be stronger than the Witch anyway."
My standard for judging mages is the Witch. If they're weaker than the Witch, they'll definitely die by my hand. I got on the bike again and moved north.
The security in the north had definitely recovered compared to before. Villages under construction were visible everywhere, and there were areas with volunteers working together. However, this was only temporary—after riding for 5 more hours, traces of villages completely disappeared.
'Iliea.'
After nightfall, I could no longer use the bike, worried about being spotted.
"What a waste."
It cost a whopping 30 million won. It hurt to abandon it and go.
"I should ask Jimun Seo-saeng to buy me one."
Jimun Seo-saeng also manages the money. When funds are tight, he can be stingy, but he should be able to do this much. I eventually gave up the bike and switched to Lightness Skill as my mode of transportation. After moving for about another hour, Baria's camps started to appear. Though I desperately wanted to annihilate them, I held back for tomorrow's sake.
The next morning. I arrived at Iliea. The small city of Iliea was already completely controlled by Baria. The border area was at the end of the road extending north from Iliea. First, to avoid being noticed, I didn't enter Iliea and surveyed the border area. As expected, the security was tight. About 100 armed terrorists were guarding a wide area. Moreover, they had cut down all the trees and forests that could be used for hiding. I had no choice but to watch from a distance.
The noon that Almand had mentioned arrived. The time when the hot sun was vividly felt. One jeep approached the border area. And from the opposite side, a car of the same shape approached as well.
'They're here.'
The two cars stopped facing each other centered on the wire fence, and the terrorists lined up in two rows. One person got out of each jeep. Their faces weren't visible because they were too far away, but the white turbans on their heads were clearly visible. When the wire fence was removed, they shook hands with each other and entered the guard post.
'I just need to kill them all.'
I thought simply. Operation commences. I ended the tedious ambush and stood up. Then I ran straight toward the guard post.
At first, those who thought it was just wind suddenly fired their guns. That was the beginning. Guns aimed at me spewed fire. I ignored them and ran straight to the guard post while unleashing Wind Dragon Palm.
Kwang!
A huge hole appeared in the guard post, and the figures inside burst out. But upon seeing those figures, I stopped moving. Someone among the two wearing turbans dragged out a person who was in tatters.
'Almand.'
The man who had delivered the intelligence. I stopped approaching. It was to assess the situation. Instantly, dozens of bullets hit my body. I stood my ground while being hit by bullets. I watched the gun aimed at Almand's head. I intended to talk. In the meantime, if I deflected the Gipa, I could save Almand. Then, Almand suddenly twisted his body and tried to bite the hand of the turbaned man.
Tang!
Blood spurted from Almand's head.
'Damn it.'
He wouldn't have known what I could do. That's why he made this choice. Yongcheon. I kicked off the ground and charged at the two turbaned men.
Kwang!
I burst both their heads simultaneously. And I knew for certain.
'Was it a trap?'
The turbaned men were fakes. They were probably randomly selected from among the many terrorists. Though I had expected it from the moment I saw Almand, annoyance surged when I confirmed it directly.
"You're awakening the evil spirit."
As the instinct of the evil spirit hidden inside me tried to awaken again, an unexpected sight unfolded around me. Starting from four pillars, black surfaces rose up like walls. Soon, a square wall with each side reaching 50 meters was completed, and the ceiling changed to the same color as well.
'A mage's space.'
The Witch had created such a space in my previous life, too. Back then, it was an ice prison.
'It's not just one person.'
One person stood at each of the four pillar locations. Four mages. They were glaring at me with mocking expressions.
"I'll make you regret this."
I, too, answered with a sneer.