Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Rampage at the Source
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It's all about how you take it.
The status window had put it politely as 'Investigate'.
Brushing aside all the context, Jin figured this must be the right place. So he could go ahead and wreak havoc without worry.
The root of this gap? Panic, plain and simple.
A healthy? bit of self-justification born from his habit of dodging black waves and avoiding deep thoughts. That was the cause of the mess.
In short, Jin had adapted to this world by twisting most situations to his favor—and when things went south, he'd thrash around to find the best way out.
Put a positive spin on it, and you've got someone with exceptional drive and nerves of steel, perfectly cut out for life as a Solo.
Flip it around? He had nothing to lose.
But who cared.
Jin had come here ready to throw down from the start.
The guards who rushed in at the commotion didn't even get a chance to assess before he struck first. All thanks to that mindset.
The next instant.
Superhuman's flying kick smashed into the guard's face.
Kwachik!
The body flew up and slammed into the wall, sliding down in a heap.
Jin locked onto the next target faster than the unconscious guard's head could loll.
The second one stared at his fallen buddy in shock.
Turning your eyes in a fight?
Forget the basics, and you pay the price.
For once, Jin played teacher—unasked.
Using his landing leg as a pivot, he swung the other in a wide arc. A picture-perfect high kick nailed the guard's temple, his eyes flipping back with a twitch.
The last guard at least put up a fight.
Unlike his buddies who dropped without a swing, he whipped a huge palm toward Jin's face.
A slap out of nowhere?
More humiliation than pain?
Jin narrowed his eyes, watching the incoming hand—then jerked his head back on reflex as something glinted.
Shhiiik!
Five blades whistled past his nose.
Only then did Jin realize the guard's hand was forged steel, tipped not with nails but vicious claws.
Nice try.
But that's as far as it went.
Jin drove a counter punch into the off-balance guard's jaw.
His right hand had whipped out on instinct the moment he leaned back.
Boxing fans called it a sukppak.
(Yeah, as in suk—dodge, then ppak!—smash.)
In English, a pullback counter. The guard staggered like a robot with its power cut.
Legs buckled. He couldn't even react to the left straight coming next.
Kwachik!
The third guard went down.
With the twitching Chromin added in, that made four down. Yet amid the chaos, the surroundings stayed eerily silent—no screams, nothing.
Jin, who'd yelled for the boss, suddenly felt awkward and scanned the room.
Blank faces everywhere.
We're high as kites. No idea what's happening.
The patrons just flailed in their hallucinations.
Sip, exhale—
Sip, exhale—
Mechanically puffing on liquid cigs.
Not everyone, though. Some flinched at the downed guards.
But only for a moment.
"...Man, this batch is hitting hard."
They dismissed it as a trip and shuffled past. Like NPCs ignoring a teammate's assassination right in front of them.
Watching their dazed stares, Jin suddenly clocked how thick the haze was. And that the fallen guards wore filter masks.
Human nature. No resisting that pull.
Sticky business, but he had to.
So he pried a less filthy mask from a guard, strapped it over his own nose and mouth. The acrid stench made his brows twitch.
And it was damp to boot.
Ugh. Gross as hell.
But what could he do? Already on.
He considered backtracking for Gravis707, but it'd waste time. Instead, he snagged a pistol from the guard's pocket as his next best bet and strode down to the basement.
Denser fog greeted him.
Wondering why it was so thick, he glanced up. Holes in the ceiling sprayed pale smoke.
No more patrons in sight.
Unlike the first floor's sprawl of vapers, rows of closed doors lined the hall. Must be the 'private rooms' from the ads.
That explained it.
The moans drilling into his ears got more explicit.
Jin kicked open the nearest door.
"Oh."
Under dim, moody lights.
Tangled flesh tones drew an automatic "Whoa." Damn. Hot stuff. Ladies going wild.
Is that a berserker?
Captivated for a beat, Jin shut the door.
Next room.
"Ah."
Different story.
Dudes? Pass.
Respect the choice, but not in my face...!
Self-inflicted eye-bleach. Jin slammed the door.
What did I just see? He rubbed his forehead.
"That bastard!"
A shout pierced the haze.
...Five—no, six.
Distinct footfalls let Jin pinpoint positions and numbers. He raised his pistol.
9x19mm rounds. Featherlight compared to Gravis—perfect for rapid fire.
Tang! Tang! Tang! Tang!
Muzzle flashed nonstop.
Screams synced to the rhythm.
Not like Jin could see clearly to aim.
Heat vision might work.
But in this soupy fog—too murky for distance judgment, even hard for Blink—Jin relied on other senses.
Like now.
Shling—
Blade sliding from sheath.
Behind him.
Jin snapped his left arm up, threading his right through the armpit to unload.
Tang! Tang! Tang!
The guard prepping a stealth strike took holes in forehead, chest, gut. Dropped dead. No getting up.
Jin pressed on.
Blockers got bullets, fists, or the occasional stray graze—but he never stopped.
Curving halls passed by.
A "VIP" door too.
Then he was here.
Basement level 3. A massive office.
Shelves of liquid samples everywhere. A bald guy in a leather chair eyed CCTV feeds. He sneered as Jin burst in.
"Fuck. Ballsy entrance."
Familiar voice. Matched the dealer handing the data chip to the terrorist.
Jin wiped blood from his chin with his knuckles.
"You the boss?"
"Yeah, asshole. I am. Got a problem?"
"Problem? Yeah."
Jin nodded, tossing the empty pistol aside.
"That data chip you sold some dipshit? Blew up my regular spot. Killed two customers. While they ate in peace."
The bald guy's eyes narrowed.
"...Rum Pump Pump?"
"You know it. Yeah, Rum Pump Pump got hit. What now? You're public enemy number one."
"P-pub... What? What the hell. That shithole blows up—how's that on me?"
Jin ignored the vein-popping rage.
Silently scanned the office, eyes landing back on bald guy.
"Told you. Your chip caused it."
"Proof? Got proof?!"
"If I didn't, how'd I get here? Put some effort into the innocent act. Yelling alone won't cut it."
"......"
Bald guy shut up for once.
Anyone would've thought he'd run out of words.
If not for that faint smirk.
Kwang!!
Left wall exploded—from Jin's view.
A rhinoceros-headed Beastman charged through.
Muoooo!
Like a demolition tank, it swung its massive horn upward in a brutal arc.
The lethal headbutt traced a savage parabola toward its target. Jin dropped from above its skull—Blink.
His pre-extended arm locked around the thick neck.
Suddenly choked, the rhino Beastman rampaged wildly through the office.
Muo—ack!!
Its log-like arms couldn't reach its back thanks to the bulk. Desperate, it clawed at Jin's arm, slamming backward everywhere.
Displays shattered. Liquids burst, drenching everything.
Each crash hit like a truck, but Jin held firm.
The wilder it thrashed, the tighter he squeezed.
In a you-die-or-I-die mudfight? This was his wheelhouse.
Mana Circuit already floored, boosting endurance further.
Chicken race decided quick.
Thud—!!
Heavy crash. Rhino Beastman sprawled, bloody froth bubbling from its mouth. Jin finally released, standing.
"L-Lightning!!"
Bald guy, huddled in the corner mumbling prayers, thrust out his hand.
A bolt of pure white light struck Jin's heart.
And...
Nothing.
"...Huh?" "...Eh?"
Both froze in shock.
Bald guy gawked at unscathed Jin and his own hand, alternating.
Jin felt his heart's core rumble faintly.
Contempt for the weak? A clear prick of disgust.
His mind supplied the info.
Secret arts resist same-attribute spells cast at lower output.
Strange feeling.
Unfamiliar yet familiar knowledge.
"...Fuck."
Irritation flared. Jin hawked bloody spit aside.
Stepped forward. Bald guy backpedaled frantically—already pinned to the wall.
Couldn't even yell "stay back."
Guts twisting already.
"Guhk!"
Clutched his gut like it'd been punched or kicked. Knees buckled.
A vise grip seized his collar.
Looking up through tremors: a man backlit by ceiling lights. Flickering glow, shifting shadows—but those ash-gray eyes burned clear.
Slap! Bald guy's face snapped right.
White-hot shock.
Couldn't spit broken teeth.
Left now.
Right again.
No breath. Left.
Cheeks blazed fire left and right.
Knuckles bruised, palm shredded.
Didn't even take many rounds. Bald guy sagged, pants soaked dark.
Why so fragile?
One more, then interrogate. Jin raised his hand.
Bzzz— Chest terminal buzzed long.
"......?"
Hand to pocket instead. Pulled out the device, checked the screen, hit call, pressed to ear.
"I'm kinda busy right n—"
[Jin, sorry to bug you mid-job, but go easy? Just don't kill 'em.]
Calm voice laced with fluster.
Kalifa.