Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Entry (1)
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Two streaks of blue mana lasers swept across the surrounding enemies in a diagonal slash.
A simple yet overwhelming attack shredded the gangsters. The moment it was confirmed, Arthur shouted.
"Wipe them out!!"
As soon as the order dropped, the bulk of the Security Bureau members who'd been tailing Richard sprang into action.
Most were mana users.
They fused their honed physiques with mana to charge at astonishing speeds, burrowing into the floundering gangsters and swinging axes, swords, and shotguns wildly.
Not only that, but the two lightning mages among them fired timely support strikes in sync with their allies' assaults, zapping any enemies trying to counterattack amid the chaos with bolts of electricity.
The darkness cloaking the area flashed with blue lightning, followed by explosions that birthed crimson flames, illuminating the surroundings.
It was a ferocious assault even prepared foes would struggle against, but caught off-guard, most gangsters were left dazed, unable to mount any proper counter and getting pummeled unilaterally.
The only ones managing any semblance of resistance were those gathered on the sides, a bit removed from the building's rear. The gangsters positioned at the front, directly hit by the raid, couldn't hold and fled.
Well, even that was botched thanks to the barbed wire.
"I'll sweep every last one of you—!"
"Hahaha!!"
"Die, you lawbreaking scum—!"
The agents pursued the fleeing gangsters, howling ferociously.
At a glance, they seemed like they were berserk, charging recklessly in excitement. But that was far from the truth.
In reality, they were coldly orchestrating that very facade.
To draw the enemies' eyes and induce poor judgments.
Proving it, Arthur didn't rein in his hyped-up comrades. Instead, he seized the gap while their attention was diverted, ripping open the backpack-sized glutton pouch strapped to his waist with both hands.
The glutton pouch tore apart, weeping tears.
"Kee... ek!"
As it screamed and split in two, dozens of spider-shaped miniature golems poured out from within.
They were the handiwork of MacBoer, the magic equipment specialist.
Having worked with Arthur since the fixer days, MacBoer specialized in rear support—mapping terrain with small golems and providing covering fire.
The moment they emerged, the dozens of miniature golems scattered like spiderlings, spreading rapidly through the area.
'This should secure rear visibility.'
Rear sightlines. The first button for this operation's success.
The reason being—
"—Looks like Donna's got eyes on them."
Arthur said, gazing at the violet magic circle hovering in the dark night sky.
Oliver spotted it too. The circle glowed brightly before unleashing a rain of lead bullets.
A product of Spatial School and Browning collaboration—a machine gun. Though just one gun, its overwhelming aerial perch allowed it to sweep McCluskey Security Company's vast grounds clean.
Gangsters lurking at the building's rear and sides, waiting for a counter chance, didn't fire a single shot before perishing pointlessly.
Unfairly so.
Yet the machine gun didn't relent. The lucky survivors who clung to life fled into the building to preserve it.
Naturally, the second wave followed.
Some of the small golems that had scurried inside the building detonated lightning explosions near the gangsters.
The mana embedded in the golems oxidized, spewing electricity that scorched everything within five meters.
The building interior, sought as refuge from the machine gun hail, became a trap laced with bombs.
A relentless barrage, truly chaotic.
'I might not even need to move.'
Oliver thought, watching the Security Bureau's prowess.
Individually, they matched top fixers, but their potent gear and teamwork yielded insane synergy.
Proof: one assault had slain over half the security company's gangsters.
A few survived, but most panicked, their will to fight crumbling.
If played right, the battle could end like this. Just as that thought crossed his mind, a mana wave shwaaang! burst from the building.
Not a physical attack, but Oliver instantly grasped its effect.
A disruption wave made of mana.
The ongoing electrical blasts inside halted, and the small golems froze.
The enemy had triggered it to sever rear support.
Their own comms would go down too... but it was a bold call weighing pros and cons for both sides.
Staying put only hurt them more anyway.
Kwaaang!!
The moment rear support cut off, gangsters who'd sheltered inside from the machine gun fire burst out by smashing walls.
Leading were gangsters pumped with disease-enhancement potions, charging in frenzy, backed by submachine gun-toting thugs advancing in formation.
'Impressive. Their morale was tanked just moments ago... yet they're rallying and pushing back already.'
Few options in such a scenario.
Most likely: an ally more terrifying than the enemy had seized command.
Four black magicians hiding behind the grotesquely muscled potion freaks suddenly leaped out, hurling disease and manipulation black magic.
The ambush spells engulfed the lead mana users and mage agents like paint, dulling their reflexes, stiffening their legs, inducing subtle terror that locked their bodies rigid.
None fatal alone, but stacked, devastating. Agents couldn't cope with even the sluggish, potion-doped thugs.
'Damn...!'
As Arthur and Richard moved to aid their comrades in peril, Oliver passed them, saying,
"I'll handle it."
Without waiting for Arthur's reply, Oliver advanced, manipulating the black suit wrapped around his quarterstaff's tip to activate black magic.
The black suit on the quarterstaff responded to the warlock's will, morphing into dozens of tiny mouths. Oliver swung it near his allies.
Slurp. Slurp. Slurp. Slurp. Slurp. Slurp.
A chilling, grotesque sound echoed as Voracity cleanly devoured the disease and manipulation black magic coating his allies' bodies.
In a single swing.
The startled black magicians frantically tried to cast again, but sadly for them, Oliver hadn't come just to cleanse his side.
He aimed for a more proactive response.
"Vomit it up."
Oliver swung the quarterstaff toward the enemy. With it, Voracity regurgitated the swallowed black magic onto them.
The muddy, sticky black sludge blanketed gangsters and black magicians alike, dulling reflexes, stiffening legs, inducing fear, and rigidifying bodies.
The situation flipped with one spell.
Exquisitely perfect, even refreshing. But it wasn't over.
"Mind if I borrow a bit."
Oliver reached out to the freed lightning mage, siphoning a touch of lightning-attuned mana, blending it with his own stored mana, then channeled it through the quarterstaff and slammed the ground.
The mana on the staff reacted to the impact and warlock's will, rippling fan-shaped across the earth ahead, sweeping the slowed foes in one go.
Their perfect counter foiled by Oliver's intervention... or so it seemed.
"Oh..."
Oliver exclaimed, eyeing the tree roots suddenly erupting around him.
Druid-green infused roots surged from all sides, seeking to ensnare him.
Oliver swung his quarterstaff to bat them away, then backpedaled, tracing the roots to their source.
"Not your average thugs, huh. Who the hell are you?"
A man atop the explosion- and gunfire-ravaged building spoke.
Too dark to see his face clearly, but two things were sure.
One: he was tall.
Two: a druid.
'Connor.'
Oliver deduced from the druid aura and Arthur's prior intel.
Connor harnessed druid power again, raising roots from underground to encircle the building.
"Asking once more. Who are you? Reveal yourselves, and I'll not only forgive you but talk to our boss about hiring you on fat salaries."
Surprisingly, Connor meant it.
An attitude worth emulating—aggressively scouting talent.
Arthur disagreed, apparently, answering with golem prosthetic lasers instead.
The straight blue laser beam flew; the druid bunched roots into a shield.
Infused with druid power, it blocked the high-output laser it shouldn't have.
"I'll handle here—breach!"
Arthur yelled.
Sudden, but Oliver grasped it quick.
Speed was life in this op.
Low odds, but delays might let the outdoor druid return or enemies wise up and move target docs inside.
Missions accounted for variables.
So judging, Oliver eyed the thinned roots at the door—shield-forming had spread them thin—and approached net navigator Albert.
"Mind if I touch you for a sec?"
"Pardon? Oh, sure!"
At the reply, Oliver hoisted Albert over his shoulder and bolted.
"You lot follow! Richard and I got this. We'll catch up right after mopping up—don't worry."
Arthur ordered the other agents; they tailed Oliver into the building.
"Where do you think you're going!!"
The druid reached out. Underground, green druid energy churned, roots erupting.
With a roar, the massive roots—bludgeon and whip fused, heavy yet supple—assailed everyone nearing the building. Oliver included.
Oliver countered, wrapping his quarterstaff tip in black armor to form a mace, swinging full force at the roots.
Kwachak!!
Tree-trunk thick roots shockingly couldn't withstand the quarterstaff, tearing apart.
"You're the biggest threat."
Observing druid Connor charged Oliver without hesitation, fist extended.
"Not today!"
Before Connor's fist connected, Arthur launched a flyer, blasting him point-blank and shoving him back.
Seizing the opening, Oliver—with Albert slung—dashed inside again.
Woooong...
At the entrance, the ground quivered faintly; druid power concentrated deep below.
Oliver adjusted his grip on Albert, tensed his legs, then exploded off the ground.
Thud!!
The ground where Oliver pushed off erupted like an explosion; he rocketed into McCluskey Security at blinding speed, vanishing in an instant.
Slightly later, roots and dirt defied gravity, avalanching to bury the building front.
The building was sealed.