Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Luger & Dolman's Airdrop
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Wonder said nothing.
"…"
The quiet terminal, and the surrounding stares that felt all the more stark because of it.
Jin realized his mistake.
Was I too shameless?
Yeah, asking for everything was a bit much.
Fine, two then—no, three…
Jin flinched at the voice breaking the silence.
"Hold on a sec."
He signaled for understanding from those around him, then stood and roughly opened the door straight ahead, stepping inside.
Luckily, it was empty.
After shoving the door shut with his back, Jin perched on the edge of the bed and spoke.
"You hear me?"
[Yes, go ahead.]
"I'm in Mute Town right now?"
The explanation followed.
Concise, without unnecessary details.
Boiled down to one sentence—
'Helping the resistance fight TB, but we're short on firepower. Any chance you could lend a hand?'
Wonder finally responded.
Jin let out a silent, wry smile.
Typical corporate type.
Talking story arcs in a life-or-death situation.
Still, better than a flat no.
…Or so he thought, when a note of concern came through.
"Yeah… uh."
Jin had nothing to say to that.
He'd probably softened it up himself.
Not "Are you suicidal?" was progress.
Meanwhile, faint tapping echoed from the terminal—like fingertips drumming a table, the image clear in his mind even unseen.
Then, a voice.
"…Huh?"
Half-given up amid the long wait, Jin straightened up.
"For real?"
"Right. Yeah, it is."
Generous support promised.
Sales team lead must carry weight in the company.
Didn't matter to Jin.
He nodded.
"Got it. I'll contact you once we decide."
The call ended abruptly.
Jin stared blankly at the terminal, muttering.
"…It actually worked."
The holographic waveform rippling in the air faded.
Connection severed.
Wonder crossed his arms quietly after the call.
"…Resistance, huh. I figured he wasn't ordinary, but this level…"
Sponsorship inked less than a day ago, and now a warzone.
He rarely showed emotion, but this drew a chuckle.
Taking only insane gigs explained the wild growth.
Definitely different.
Like those legends of the city.
Wonder rated Jin high.
Solo rank? Minimum level 5, maybe more.
That's why he'd acted first, without upper approval.
Such bold calls had lifted him from the gutters to team lead at a major arms manufacturer—
Now another judgment call.
The ambitious talent stepped onto the tightrope gladly.
Failure would shake his foundation.
Success? Wings to soar higher.
R&D encouraged bold ideas but not failures.
This was his gamble.
Wonder smiled faintly.
"Fun."
With Luger & Dolman's support locked in, Jin gladly accepted the resistance's request.
The colonel and Q didn't pry about the call.
Just said ops start tomorrow at 9 PM.
Back to the basement.
Fenrir pressed Jin, who flopped onto the sofa.
"R&D? You had a sponsor?"
"Yeah."
"Since when?"
"Yesterday. Signed at Anecdote. Ink's probably still wet."
"…What."
Fenrir looked baffled.
Meanwhile, Jin gathered the group.
Just four, but still.
"Ossia! Den! Grace! Hey, what am I, uncle?!"
The resistance trickled in at his shout.
Faces still heavy with gloom.
Word was three more treated comrades had died.
Even so, Jin skipped platitudes for brass tacks.
Strike team centered on me and Fenrir.
You're in.
Luger & Dolman backing us.
Why a corp? Who am I? R&D ambassador.
Mixed reactions erupted.
Us take Taha? Even Oren failed.
Can't pass up the shot.
What the hell is this?
But soon settled.
The resistance unified.
"We do it. Can't end like this."
"Yeah, snap out of it."
Seeing it as a blaze of glory?
Hollow eyes slowly regained fire.
Now they looked the part.
Jin glanced at them, terminal in hand.
Wolf beastman (210cm transformed).
Man with cybernetic lower body.
Woman with mechanical right eye…
Tap tap.
Thumbing a message to Wonder when—
"Add one more."
Cracked voice turned heads.
Albus gripped an IV stand at the end.
"You sure?"
"Just lost another. Living owe their keep."
Shadows under eyes to his cheeks, he said.
Frail as glass.
But no one stopped him.
No room for polite refusals.
"No backing out."
"Damn right."
Jin sent the squad info, Albus included.
How much time passed?
Terminal buzzed—a reply.
Itemized gear per person, usage.
Drop coordinates and time detailed.
Dawn passed to morning, then afternoon.
After half a day resting, the group reconvened.
Colonel joined this time.
No bottle for the briefing, at least.
Bulging hardtack pouch suspicious, though.
"Target's in 'Flatiron' building. Abandoned dockside high-rise, unfinished. TB fixed it up as a stronghold recently."
Resistance nodded knowingly.
They'd warred with TB days ago.
"Can't help directly, but here's a vehicle. Tactical truck outside—use it."
Welcome news.
They had a pre-ops stop anyway.
"Good luck, then."
Colonel turned after hiccup-free briefing.
Group climbed out without hesitation.
"There it is."
A covered mid-size military pickup greeted them.
"I'll drive."
Ossia, boots laced tight, said.
They boarded—Den shotgun, rest in back.
"Gear first."
Vehicle tore through streets.
Priority one: Luger & Dolman drop.
At the coords, they scanned warily when—
"There!"
Den pointed skyward.
Sleek drone streaked overhead.
A metal cargo pod dropped.
Jin startled.
Just yeet it?
Airdrops needed parachutes and red smoke, right?
Then—
Blue flames ignited at the pod's base.
It curved smoothly, landing soft in their clearing.
"Whoa."
Jin gawked at the tech.
[R&D] logo gleamed as panels parted grandly.
Gear revealed.
"…Insane."
"Top-tier."
Group muttered.
Heard the gist before, but seeing it hit different.
No time to gawk.
"Grab yours quick."
They geared up fast.
Mirrored the message specs.
Powered exoskeleton—Exo-Skeleton.
Hot research back home.
But this? Leagues ahead.
Lightweight titanium alloy boosted movement sans drawbacks, with neural amp combat stim for superhuman reactions short-term.
Not all.
Penetrating SMG—"Kill Beast" submachine gun, fat mags for all.
"…"
Fenrir grabbed his with unease.
More.
Thermal-detecting ballistic face shield.
Titanium helmet mounting it.
Fixed bayonet auto-handgun for punches.
Bodycam plate carrier vest.
Luxury loadout awed Jin.
This much?
Chest warmed.
Brand loyalty?
New feeling—fist clenched.
"…Good call signing."
"Less mumbling, more weapon."
Fenrir nudged him to the crate.
A hefty anti-tank rocket.
For "superhuman" (close enough) Jin and beastman Fenrir.
1,400mm long, 30kg warhead beast—basically a detached barrel.
Jin hefted it effortlessly.
Fenrir too.
Albus shook his head watching.
Gear done, back aboard.
"Flatiron bound."
Vrooom!
In the speeding truck, Den spoke.
"Success means scattered resistance survives. No leader, no pursuit."
Grace, adjusting chinstrap, nodded.
"TB revolves around Taha. Without him, they'll crumble."
Tension-easing optimism.
Jin, listening, looked up.
Met Albus's eyes across.
Silent beat.
Then mutual chuckles.
"How'd we end up here?"
"You called."
"Didn't think you'd show."
"You said you'd bill for keep."
Jin poked Fenrir's side beside him.
"Not just me. Him too."
"Yeah, thanks, Fenrir."
Fenrir mixed grumpy and sheepish.
"Just sick of TB strutting."
"Traitor punk."
"Never betrayed."
Fenrir glared; Jin picked nose.
Albus to them:
"Drinks after."
"Whoa, cliché halt."
Jin palm-waved no.
"Fight like you're dead."
"…What bullshit?"
Fenrir scowled.
Jin shrugged.
"Some great man's words."
Ting! Something pinged the truck.
Ossia yelled from wheel.
"Warning shot! They're telling us stop?!"
"Hilarious."
Jin grinned feral, rising.
Flipped top hatch, shouldered rocket.
Towering ten-plus story Flatiron ahead.
TB soldiers on spire-like walls, guns trained.
Jin felt a mission.
Promo time—
This support deserved a shoutout, right?
Dunno. Fuck it. Do it.
Aimed.
TB goons sensed wrong.
Target locked; yell and—
Specs wouldn't come.
Wonder's message: thermobaric something?
Tandem warhead? Couldn't recall.
Building neared; Jin blanked brain.
Roared:
"Luger & Dolman's super-strong whatever bomb! Please check it out!!"
Thunderous boom—massive warhead streaked skyward.