My Very Own Sniper Rifle
“Hey! Cut the bullshit and get to the point!”
Shai snapped in irritation. She was slumped in a chair, feet propped up on the table, fidgeting restlessly. And she had every right to be pissed. We'd just been staring down the barrels of assault rifles from the mobile unit guys moments ago. It took some lengthy persuasion from the NIS agent to get them to back off, and we'd wasted a ton of time in the process.
Conel stepped in to calm Shai down. “So? What's the current status of the Korean military?”
[First, let me give you all a proper explanation of this incident...]
“I asked about the status, didn't I?”
[For now, regarding our side's proposal...]
The two of them were locked in a battle for control of the conversation, each sticking doggedly to their script. If this dragged on, Shai was liable to flip the damn table.
“Hey... can we wrap this up? I get that you're uncomfortable bringing it up first, but we're willing to help.”
[Really? In that case, let us start with the compensation we can offer...]
“No need.”
Had he heard something ridiculous? Suddenly, silence on the other end. I glanced at Conel and Shai. They'd foreseen the terror attack and sneaked into Korea empty-handed on purpose.
...How the hell do you even describe people like this? I just blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“It's like... volunteer work.”
[Pardon?]
“Korea does it too, right? Volunteers picking up trash or helping struggling neighbors...”
[...So, you're saying that people with zero connection to the bomb terror are risking their lives—not because they're caught up in it or some internal feud, but purely out of a sense of volunteerism?]
“Yeah, pretty much.”
Suddenly, everyone was staring at me like I'd grown a second head. What? Isn't that the only way to explain what you guys are doing?
The agent looked like he was scrambling for a comeback, but mercifully, he stayed quiet—maybe he wasn't a total blockhead after all.
Conel circled back. “So... what's the status on the Korean side?”
Finally, the agent responded to Conel's question. And the story... it was longer than expected.
“...This is for real?”
[Real? Ah, yes, it's all true.]
I was speechless. The situation on the Korean side, as laid out by the NIS agent, was a total disaster. In short: way too much budget poured into the robot units. That left the mobile and special forces with shiny badges but zero skills or experience. And even what little they had was crippled by internal faction bullshit, with limbs flailing independently during ops.
[The special task force is wiped out, the mobile unit's down to half strength, and some of those are too old for field work...]
“And you, agent—you acted like you had everything under control, but you're actually a rookie?”
[Even as a rookie, I'm here representing the nation and the NIS...]
“Whew... you have my sympathies.”
I meant it. The agent had been dispatched on a support request. Desperate to do something, she'd gone into full panic mode (her words) and stumbled across us.
“This some rogue op? Or did you pitch it upstairs and get shot down?”
[The compensation we're offering isn't a lie. It's from a separate NIS budget you can use freely...]
I leaned in and whispered to Conel. “Aren't you guys wanted criminals in Korea?”
“Correct. Guess the agent has no clue who we are.”
“So she saw our combat footage and reached out like it was her last straw?”
“...Pretty much.”
The NIS agent had no idea who Conel's crew was. And yet she'd pushed forward, fully prepared to lose her career over it?
...Honestly, it was kinda dumb, but I wanted to applaud her. I'd thought my country was a hopeless shitshow after hearing the details, but apparently not entirely.
Conel thought for a moment, then exchanged hand signals with Shai.
“If it's a rogue call, we can work with that... Hey.”
[If you want, I can even dip into my own pocket...]
“No need.”
[Pardon?]
The agent sounded rattled by the response she'd never anticipated. Even her delivery was softening, like she'd ditched the manual.
“How many sites are the terrorists holding, and which ones can you actually assault?”
[Uh, let me get some paper... Right now! The terrorists have seized three university buildings and are holding hostages with explosives.]
“Op outline?”
[We're prepping to assault all three simultaneously.]
Sounded good on paper. If the situation wasn't a clusterfuck, I might've bought it. 'Prepping.' Even a shut-in gamer like me knew what that meant.
Still, I asked just in case. “So which one's the sacrificial lamb in this plan?”
[...Library's priority one. Then Future Hall, then Main Building.]
“Aha!”
Shai fiddled with her pistol like she lived for this shit. “Knew it. Some VIP's kid in the library, huh?”
[...]
Nailed it—he went radio silent. Conel, unfazed, said, “Focus on the library. We'll handle the other two.”
[Is that even possible...? No, isn't that way too unrealistic?]
“Hmm, with a little backup and...” Conel glanced at me and Shai. “The three of us should be plenty.”
Her declaration sounded reckless, but I bought it completely. Conel had proven herself as a teammate I could trust.
...Wait, why the hell was I nodding along?
[You really don't want any compensation?]
“More like, you'd better deliver on something else...”
[S-Sorry. I'll do whatever I can at my level.]
In the end, the agent never wrapped her head around us turning down rewards. She kept asking right up until we left.
“B2, you regretting it? Should we squeeze her for some cash?”
“...Nah. Just wanna wrap this up quick. In a good way.”
I meant every word. Take out the terrorists, head home. My parents wouldn't bitch about a one-night absence, but they'd worry.
“Thank you. I sincerely apologize for what happened earlier.”
“Mind if we borrow a few things?”
“Pardon?”
We handed terrorist gear to the mobile unit guys and some college kids who knew their way around firearms, grabbing what we needed in the process. According to the agent, outside was a 'kill zone' now—anything deemed hostile got lit up on sight. So we borrowed friendly uniforms for IFF.
“Anyway, about the money... Whoa, what's that weird cologne smell? Sniff this.”
“Yeah? ...Damn, it is. But did you have to shove your tits in my face?”
“Beauty like me giving you a treat, and you're complaining?”
...Couldn't argue. I averted my eyes like I didn't care and scanned outside.
“Whew...”
Stepping out in front of the Liberal Arts Building felt surreal. Trapped indoors by drones all day, it was like I'd busted out of prison.
“Move out.”
At Conel's order, we formed a single-file line and advanced. Night-vision from the mobile unit made it easy despite the dark.
“Hm?”
“What?”
Thought I heard something. Focused, but it was just wind or a small animal.
“Nothing. Memorial Hall's coming up.”
“Agent said no enemies spotted, but prep for surprises.”
I nodded, recalling the mobile unit ambushed at night. Memorial Hall was a three-story building with high first-floor ceilings. Doors wide open from the daytime takeover.
We flicked on weapon lights, treading carefully over the gleaming tiles. The place was fancier than expected: school history, benefactors, faded photos, donor lists, old artifacts.
“...So why are we hitting Memorial Hall? The... gift, right?”
“Yes.”
Conel led us to the storage room. “Biggest lockers at Korea University are here. That's why I picked the nearby Cafe Evergreen for our rendezvous.”
“...All part of the plan?”
“It was. Though plenty of surprises popped up.”
Conel reached into her inner pocket and pulled out a standard Korean locker key.
“They balked at first—said something this size wouldn't fit. Told 'em it was a tuba for a concert, and the staff bought it.”
Clunk!
“Mind helping?”
“Sure.”
Conel hauled out a massive case, big enough for a large instrument. Next locker held a guitar case. She extended the handle on the big one, hit a button. Fingerprint scan—her index finger beeped it open electronically.
“Looks like... a solid chunk of metal?”
Inside: dense ivory-colored alloy. Conel demoed like a sales rep.
“Made with Griffin-series ultralight composite fibers. Sturdy frame, featherweight. Watch...”
She gripped both ends and pulled. Click! It unfolded like a folding bike, expanding with more clicks into a familiar shape.
“No way... no freaking way?”
“Quadruped urban combat support unmanned system, aka...”
“Puppy! Holy shit, a real one!”
Conel pouted. 'It has a cool name like Hellhound, you know.' I was hyped staring at the massive dog-shaped rig. Eyes lit up on reflex—it was a gimmick unit in Chasefield X too. Reduced infantry risk in CQB, smooth...
Anyway, epic gear with a long-ass description.
“Whoa... look at that shine...”
I paced like Dad with his new car. Conel grinned like a rep closing her first sale. “Seeing you this excited gets me pumped too.”
“No gamer—or anyone—wouldn't lose it over this!”
“B2, too soon to celebrate.”
“Huh?”
Oh, right—the other case. “What got me excited was anticipating your reaction to the next one. That's our real 'gift' for you.”
“No way...”
Only one thing I'd hope for at this point. My one true love.
Conel teased my impatience. “No official name yet. Only in trials, still in dev.”
“What? No, it can't be the one I think...”
She just smiled. I got why guys fall for wives buying them game consoles. Heart pounding, I waited.
“Good gear deserves a name. We call it the smart shooter Evergreen.”
“Raaagh!”
Matte carbon fiber frame. Utility scope with up to 36x zoom, thermals, HUD projection. Modular composite mags for ammo swaps and scenarios. I forgot we were in terrorist turf, forgot the danger.
“Sniper rifle! A real sniper rifle!”
Mwah! Mwah!
Kissing the rifle might've been too much? Conel and Shai looked weirded out. Ignoring them, I showered the sleek gray beauty with smooches. First day owning my real sniper rifle. And its debut was moments away.