56. New Magic – "Is the Reward Enough?"
"Is the reward really enough?"
On the way out after settling the payment, Enoch tossed a candy from Yoo Sena's office into his mouth and asked.
"I'm not nitpicking. You basically started and finished this job all by yourself."
"The money's good, and the 'other stuff' is plenty too. It'll definitely come in handy."
Soo, walking ahead, turned back with a grin.
"Thanks for leaving it all to me. You two made it easy."
"We didn't do shit."
"Yup. Without Angela, we wouldn't have found that nasty code. Without you, Enoch, some of the guards would've died."
"Hm."
At Soo's words, Enoch raised an eyebrow. He wanted to smile but was holding it back—his face screamed he was in a great mood. Normally, Soo would've teased him, but not today. Without Enoch's help, they'd have pissed off Yoo Sena from the start. Subduing and killing were different things.
"You're planning to handle the Lü Tian subsidiary merger through Serena, right?"
"Yeah."
"Doesn't seem like it'll be that simple, though. You cool with that?"
"Totally."
Thanks to the little bomb Soo had lobbed, Lü Tian and Zailek had been clashing nonstop. Just flip on the Southpeak news channels to see it. Terrorism and crime reports blared day and night. And those weren't ordinary incidents, of course—they were just dressed-up coverage of the Lü Tian-Zailek feud.
Not only that, but mercenaries were vanishing without a trace, and researchers were suddenly "quitting" left and right. With all these changes, it was safe to say Southpeak had turned into a full-blown warzone.
Not open warfare, so costs would skyrocket, timelines drag on. Manpower shortages were inevitable, budgets would dry up fast. If HQ got involved, none of that would matter, but the scale screamed local skirmish—no HQ escalation. They had to handle it with Southpeak's allocated resources alone. Even bottom-tier mercs who took any gig for cash were bailing. What more could they do?
One option short of HQ involvement: beg sister companies under Lü Tian. And if a security firm beefed up from bodyguard work offered help? They'd snap it up.
But linking Wolha directly was a bad move. As a subcontractor, Wolha couldn't demand fair rights from prime contractor Lü Tian. Once the dust settled, Lü Tian would ditch them. So they needed to empower Wolha enough that Lü Tian couldn't cut them loose. Simple fix.
"I'll fold them into Serena's department."
She'd know Southpeak's mess inside out. She'd know her branch needed allies. If she stepped in, they'd owe her big. No reason for her not to.
"What if Serena Moretti betrays them?"
"She will, obviously."
Serena would boot Wolha to hog Southpeak's profits solo. No other scenario. That's megacorp style.
So how would Wolha survive megacorp brutality?
"Wolha's fine anyway."
Reason Serena couldn't ditch them? Yoo Sena already had them by the balls.
"They're using Neonic's proprietary IP. Leak that to Serena, and she won't see them as disposable."
She'd milk them long-term, digging for Neonic ties, squeezing every scrap of intel. That'd draw eyes, shield them from rival factions' pressure. The day they cracked Wolha's Neonic secrets? Serena's promotion—and her enemies' purge.
"Mission accomplished. The reward from Seung-ah will pay off someday too."
As Soo wrapped up, Enoch and Angela let out dry laughs and shook their heads.
"...Hah."
"Seriously... impressive."
No flaws in Soo's plan. The future played out crystal clear, like it was already done.
"...Since when?"
"Huh?"
"When'd you cook this up?"
"Yup... who knows."
Soo grinned lazily, as always.
"Spoils the fun if I explain it all."
That ended the rundown. Soo, candy in mouth, trotted over to Miki, whose face was blank from not getting it.
"You worked hard tagging along, Miki."
"Uh... yeah, no, I didn't do anything."
"Let's go."
"...Where?"
"Wasteland."
Soo patted Miki's back with a bright smile.
"I'll get you there."
Miki wasn't on the run from megacorps or guilty of major crimes. No need to dodge corp or ECPD eyes in any city. Still, her Eden exit happened deep in the night. Just heading to the Wasteland for no reason drew unwanted suspicion. And she was leaving with no return date. Bad luck? Could get slapped with "plotting Wasteland rebellion" and hunted by ECPD.
Bad news. Topher and Miko actually were prepping a revolt—against Lü Tian, not Eden, but getting caught sucked either way.
"Your infiltration style won't work. Assassination's out too."
Soo blinked at Enoch's out-of-nowhere comment.
"Don't say you weren't gonna. I can read you like a book now."
Soo's eyes went wide.
How'd he know?
Legit, how? No mind-reading implants in Eden.
"So what's the play?"
"Sneak careful-like, I guess."
Comms were risky, especially near the Wasteland. Eden rejects had two choices: suicide or bolt to the wastes. East, west, north were uninhabitable. So border comms lines? Gov and corps monitored 'em hard. Full wiretap.
Coded talk? Still dicey. Legit Eden citizens didn't lurk outskirts stacked with abandoned containers.
"I'll take point. Better if I eat the bullets."
"Wouldn't I be better up front?"
"Nah, me."
Truth? Soo leading was safest. She'd shrug off autocannon rounds—no way rifle bullets hurt. Still, Enoch stubbornly took front. Rifle shots? Dodge or block. But tactical-nuke-level Soo? Can't dodge, block, or even talk down. Might as well die. Enoch steeled himself with that vibe.
Beside him, Miki—smitten with Enoch again—clasped hands, eyes sparkling. Even facing life-ruining peril, she was like that. Running a courier center with zero combat chops? Guts for days, if nothing else.
"Pfft."
Soo, wondering if Enoch had a mind-reader. Enoch, wary of Soo. Miki, crushing on Enoch. Angela smiled warmly at the scene, then messaged the trio and spoke.
"My private line fixes it."
"...Private line?"
"Yeah. Zailek and Neonic failed to trace it. Other corps? Dunno."
"Wait... doesn't that mean no one in Eden can track it?"
"Nothing's certain."
Angela shrugged, ruffling Soo's hair.
"Soo, scout from high up and guide us?"
"Yeah."
No questions, Soo kicked off and soared. Silent. In the dark night, pale silver-gray streaked quietly across the starlit sky.
"Yeah, loud and clear."
Angela meant a path to the Wasteland without eyes on them—no infiltration or kills needed. Soo got it spot-on.
Something felt... off. Angela and Miki missed it, but Enoch didn't.
Why...
Why... no stops?
Border zones got ECPD patrols 24/7/365. Should pause for them sometime. But zero halts in Soo's orders.
"...Soo."
"We on the right path?"
"Safe to the Wasteland? No eyes, no sneaking or killing needed?"
Tiny pause, then:
"Lie, and I'll sneak pickles into your burger. Warm ones, mixed with the patty."
Chilly silence hung.
No reply from Soo. Steps halted.
"Wh-what do we... do?"
Miki, now clued in on Soo's type, scanned around with shaky eyes.
Footsteps. One, two, three, four, five. Staggering rhythm, off-beat echoes.
Enoch sighed, drawing Mugyeok. Angela snorted a laugh, slipping on her quantum aid wristband.
"Subdue 'em?"
"...Hear 'em out first. Time's tight—keep it short."
How to sum it quick? Short groan later—or pickle flashbacks?—Soo spilled.
"—Time for hot pickles down your throat."
Recalling the nastiest thing he'd ever eaten, Enoch fired up his Hod.
Far off, atop the tallest nearby building, Soo perched—eyes sparkling. Mana traces glowed from them.