Chapter 65
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 065
Chapter Title: Senior Private Kim Yo-han - [2]
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Before the operation kicked off, I took a moment to surf the web.
I wanted to see what people thought about Awakener Hunters being drafted into the Special Task Force. The reactions from regular folks on HuntWeb made my blood boil—they were something else entirely.
I'd read an online article about Awakener Hunters venting their frustration over this new policy, then scrolled through the comments attached to it.
Awakener Hunters complain about mandatory Special Task Force service
While everyone's scraping by on scraps, these guys rake in tens or hundreds of billions, and now the country's asking them to do a little work? What's there to whine about?
For real. They pay Awakeners top international rates or they'll jump ship to another country, so that's unavoidable. But if they're taking that cash, they should at least do some basic public service.
Even public service is too much for these entitled pricks? Bellies full and attitudes bloated. The elite class has gone rotten.
So why drag Kim Geuk into this crap? That guy's the reason we can actually respond to disasters properly. If a Gate opens while he's tied up here, dozens more will die. Does that make any sense?
It's absurd from the start—Seoul's special unit yoinking Incheon's hired Hunter without permission. How does that even fly?
Listen to these Incheon clowns yapping. You'd think they paid for Kim Geuk with their own taxes. Incheon's been in the red forever—no budget until the government chipped in subsidies. Of course the feds can borrow him whenever. Quit nitpicking.
From what I could see, the reactions were worlds apart from when I'd gotten that emergency call-up before.
Back then, it was illegal. Now it's all above board. Maybe that's why? Roughly half the people shrugged it off like no big deal, and the other half outright cheered it on.
There weren't many voices against it, and the few that spoke up were getting mocked in the replies.
Seeing all that just fueled my already simmering rage into a full blaze.
My resolve to half-ass this op hard—or straight-up sabotage it—grew even stronger.
With all the Special Task Force members and outside hires gathered, the operation briefing began.
One of the Task Force guys grabbed the mic.
"The op's gotten trickier than expected. Thanks to whoever leaked the plans before we even started... Since that person's got some heat on them, it'd be great if they threw themselves into this even harder. Gotta cover those debts with some good deeds, right?"
It sure sounded like he was talking to HuntWeb's SeoulTobagi—real name Kim Yo-han—but the man himself was too busy fiddling with his smartphone to pay the briefing any mind.
"Kim Seok-hee's crew used to operate out of Bucheon's hazard zones—places everyone had abandoned. But once word got out that the Task Force was coming for them, they slipped into the urban heart of Wonmi-gu, Sangdong. Blending into crowded residential areas has made this a real headache all around..."
Even amid all this, Kim Yo-han was lost in his phone trance. What the hell was he doing—playing a mobile game?
I snuck a peek. He was on HuntWeb.
He was hammering out a message wall of text, and spotting that filled me with instant camaraderie as a fellow HuntWeb bro.
But the Task Force guy briefing us clearly wasn't amused. He barked out,
"Yo-han! At least pretend to listen! Keep stonewalling like this, and we'll write you off as a no-show, send you packing, and slap you with a fine!"
"What, am I here for reserve training? Threatening me with discharge..."
Kim Yo-han pocketed his phone without a fuss—clearly not keen on the fine—but that was it.
He slouched openly against the wall, arms crossed, staring up at the ceiling like he owned the place. No way he'd remember a single detail once the op started.
Mid-sentence, the briefer turned to me with a question.
"Hunter Kim Geuk? That mental web thing? I heard you can spread it out and detect objects within range."
"Yeah. So?"
"Can you use it to track down Kim Seok-hee's gang? We already know their hideout. Just confirm if she's there..."
I shot back without hesitation.
"Doubt it. I can pick up objects in range, but not distinguish faces that clearly."
"Ah, got it. We'll handle that with our agents, then..."
Total bullshit. Mental web can't easily ID faces, true—but focus hard enough, and it's doable. Just no interest from me.
And thirty minutes into the op, radio chatter confirmed they'd found Kim Seok-hee.
A Task Force guy rushed over to me.
"Our team's already on site! If you Teleport right there..."
"Teleport? How?"
"Huh? Just jump to the spot marked on the map!"
"You think the map's got Teleport coordinates printed on it? I've never even been there—how am I supposed to nail it off a map?"
I said it all exasperated-like. Perks of rare powers: Only I know the fine print, so they can't call my bluff.
As the guy floundered, the radio crackled again.
One Task Force member reported in.
"Kim Seok-hee spotted our team approaching! Before they could pull back, she charged first..."
Everyone tensed, glued to the radio. Soon enough, the outcome came through.
"All five of our Awakener agents are down!"
"Five? Wasn't it just Kim Seok-hee there?"
"Taken out by her alone..."
As the Task Force guys murmured, Kim Yo-han chuckled and piped up.
"What, surprised? Kim Seok-hee's a beast. Even as a Hunter, she crushed Monsters left and right, climbing the ranks. What chance do you Task Force softies have, who've never bagged a single one...?"
Ah, there it was—the classic HuntWeb troll disdain for the Task Force.
HuntWeb's gospel: Hunters hone their skills Monster-hunting, grow stronger post-kill. No contest against Task Force scrubs.
That rubbed them wrong. One shot back,
"If you're so great, why not step up and show us?"
"Why would I?"
Kim Yo-han smirked again, and their faces screamed, 'Why the hell did we bring this guy?' Exactly the reaction he was gunning for, no doubt.
In the end, the Task Force started hashing it out among themselves.
"How many blade users got hit this time?"
"One."
"From here on, send in blade users only."
Blade users? Apparently, slang for Force Blade Awakeners. Sure enough, every guy heading out was strapped with a sword.
Sticking around HQ, I asked Kang Jun-man,
"Lots of Task Force with Force Blade, huh? Those are pretty rare..."
"They recruit mostly Physical Enhancers or Force Exo users. Then drill them hard on kendo during work hours."
"Kendo?"
"Swinging a sword triggers Force Blade Awakening, right? So they train to unlock it as a bonus. As you see, it works—plenty have Awakened to it."
I was genuinely surprised. Rumors said Task Force Awakeners skipped Monster hunts for pure training. Guess it was true.
Made them sound like a tougher outfit than I figured.
Training specifically for Force Blades?
Force Blade isn't some hot commodity on the Hunter market. Sure, slashing through anything beyond your weight class sounds cool. But charging Monsters in melee? Suicide.
Hunters' main weapon is the Hunter Rifle. Standard A-rank play: Team lays down cover fire while you pour hell from your rifle.
Some solo idiot swinging a Force Blade? Your own team holds fire, scared of friendly hits.
That's why pure Force Blade Awakeners rarely hit A-rank. Even Physical Enhancers with it as a side gig stick to rifles—pull the blade only when needed. Leading with it? You're dead, no extra lives gonna save you without Acceleration too.
Lots grind for Awakening via martial arts or whatever triggers it—but swordplay? Rare.
So if the Task Force trains for Force Blades, reason's obvious.
To fight other humans—Awakeners, specifically.
They'll be indoors, tight spaces where Force Blades shine.
Spot your target? Stroll by like a pedestrian, slip a Force-coated knife in for the stab.
Sure enough, built to hunt rogue Awakeners, and they prepped accordingly.
As I eyed the Task Force filing out, the radio buzzed again.
"Kim Seok-hee's resisting with a Hunter Rifle... All three who breached are down!"
"Hit by a Hunter Rifle?"
The report sent them into panic—rightfully. Heavy firepower meant lives on the line.
Couldn't sit this out anymore. I Teleported straight to the marked spot on the map.
Landing inside an apartment.
There was Kim Seok-hee with her Hunter Rifle—and three Task Force guys bleeding out bad.
Physical Enhancers or Force Exo meant they weren't shredded by rifle rounds, but one had a leg blown clean off. Still breathing, though.
"Kim Geuk?"
She gawked at me, but I got to work.
Grabbed the bleeders and Teleported.
Dumped them at a major hospital—Healer Awakeners there would patch 'em up.
Teleported back to the spot.
Kim Seok-hee was still there. I greeted her late.
"Long time, Bucheon Baron."
Her face twisted.
"You crazy bastard. You wrecked my crew, now you're here to finish me?"
"Nah..."
She cut me off.
"Back then, you told me to grab a Hunter Rifle, right? Well, here it is, just like you wanted. Bit late, but I'll blast you to hell now, you prick."
Before she squeezed the trigger, I beat her to it.
"Not here to catch you."
"Then what, chit-chat?"
"Nope. Here to help you escape."
One eyebrow arched.
"What?"
"Teleport you far away. Task Force at the entrance blocking you, right? I'll whisk you to the boonies. But Force Exo blocks joint Teleport—drop it for a sec."
Figured she'd jump at the sweet deal. Nope.
No trigger pull, but gun stayed trained on me as she spoke.
"Beat it. No fight? Then scram."
"Don't trust me? Think I'm scheming?"
"Yeah. Don't trust you, and wouldn't take your help anyway."
"What, pride stung from getting beat? Too humiliating?"
Her scowl said it all—no denial.
I pressed.
"You dumbass. Why keep clinging to that worthless pride? Didn't I tell you it's pointless?"
"Screw off."
"Hey, punk!"
"If you're not keeping face, what's the point of living?"