Don't Get Too Cocky
A Nexus mecha had ignited its boosters in a desperate rush, already shrinking rapidly into the distance.
I immediately swung the barrel of the acceleration rifle in my left hand toward it.
The precision strike support system was already calculating its expected escape route and the weakness in the engine section, displaying the results clearly on the HUD.
At this distance, a hit was more than possible.
“Don't even think about running.”
The instant I pulled the trigger—
**Warning! System overload! Main power plant output unstable! Weapon control system error!**
Every warning light inside the cockpit was flashing frantically, drowning the cabin in a chaotic chorus of alarms.
The HUD reticle trembled unsteadily, and the ammo counter had dropped to empty, its red glow pulsing like a dying heartbeat.
“So it was too much after all.”
The overclocked reactor had overheated from the excessive energy draw.
If it hadn’t been for the gravitational dampers, the mecha would have torn itself apart long ago.
Missing the opportunity because of some glitch in the systems left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth, but there was nothing I could do about it.
Pushing harder to chase them down was a gamble I couldn’t afford right now.
**Quest objective logged and updated: Eradicate hostile faction**
• Objective complete: Neutralize hostile forces within designated sector.
“Quest objective updated?”
I blinked in confusion.
I had been sent on this mission personally by Alexander Valentine, yet now it had somehow become a system quest?
It looked like this world’s system didn’t just hand out a simple game interface—it could also turn the contracts and actions I formed with certain conditions into proper quests.
‘In that case—’
I instantly opened the system window and pulled up the quest list.
Sure enough, the topmost entry was active.
**Active Quest**
• Client: Alexander Valentine • Objective: Recover the item specified by the client • Progress: Phase 1—enter designated sector and complete combat against hostile forces (Phase 2 possible)
“Phase 2, huh.”
I had taken out the hostile forces. So the next step was probably information gathering?
I closed the quest window and dropped down beside the mangled Stinger wreckage.
I figured the guys who had been scavenging the site might have left something behind.
The moment I landed near the cockpit block crushed to the point that even its outline was barely recognizable by the direct hit from the file bunker.
**Condition satisfied: High-altitude combat data accumulated + proximity to destroyed mecha.**
**New skill unlocked!**
A sudden system notification flooded in, and I felt a strange rush of information pouring straight into my mind.
**Skill acquired: Data Ghost — LV. 1**
“Data Ghost?”
In the game it had always been treated like a bottom-tier skill.
It only let you extract faint traces of data left behind in broken or non-functional machines.
Unless you were some maniac who planned to literally lick every text in the game, everyone else had ignored it.
But right now wasn’t the game. This was real.
And the utility of this skill was endless.
“Skill active.”
A faint blue light began to seep from my palm, wrapping around the Stinger’s wreckage in a ghostly haze.
It was my first time feeling anything like this.
It was as if my consciousness had slipped into the machine’s broken pieces and was now delicately probing the lingering data echoes left inside.
Moments later, fragmented pieces of information started pouring into my mind—broken fragments of their comms logs, the power core they had been scanning, and even the report about detecting an unusual energy signature on sub-level 3.
“As the skill levels up, the information becomes clearer…”
In the game there had been no level concept for skills at all. They were basically passive traits you could equip in four slots.
“Then what level is Kinetic Flow at now?”
If this performance was already this good, it was probably at max.
I opened the skill window again.
**Owned Skills**
Kinetic Flow — LV. 2 Description: Instantly focuses movement and inertia control systems to maximize unpredictable high-mobility and shock absorption. Level effects: Improved energy efficiency, increased mobility cap, longer skill duration.
Data Ghost — LV. 1 Description: Detects and extracts residual data traces from broken or non-functional mechanical devices. Level effects: Slightly increased success rate and recovery rate for data extraction.
“So this is level 2?”
I didn’t know the exact ceiling, but the very fact that levels existed was proof I could become stronger.
Once Kinetic Flow reached LV. MAX, I’d be able to pull off movements that were on a completely different level from now.
I closed the window and surveyed the area once more.
The underground level 3 information I’d pulled from the wreckage had to be followed up on.
“Let’s not let my guard down. One of them got away.”
I couldn’t afford a long fight in this damaged state.
I pointed the mecha toward the entrance leading down to the disposal facility.
“Valentine?”
A voice crackled through the comms.
[Mr. Kang Jinwoo! What’s the situation on your end? The energy signatures of all the Nexus mechs I was detecting around you just vanished! What happened?!]
“Nexus guys, huh? I took them all out. One managed to escape, but—”
[What?! All of them?!]
Valentine sounded stunned.
While he was still speechless I had already begun descending slowly along the underground corridor.
[Heh… I was confident in your abilities, Mr. Kang Jinwoo. Truly impressive.]
He sounded almost in awe.
[I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but my status panel confirmed it perfectly. I can’t just stand by and watch any longer.]
“What do you mean, all of a sudden?”
[From now on I’ll give you the full briefing. If I’d known you were this capable I would have shared everything from the start. My mistake.]
“Hold on, what the hell kind of talk is that?”
I snapped back automatically.
[Apologies. I gave you only the bare minimum on purpose, in case the job went south and the information leaked.]
“Hah… really.”
I was cautious, sure. But this level of distrust?
It screamed someone who had already been betrayed and was plotting revenge.
Someone who never stopped calculating and doubting.
“So you’re going to tell me everything from now on?”
[Correct. Normally I would have sent you only for scouting and data collection before deploying a separate recovery team, but the situation has changed.]
“So you had a Plan B too?”
Originally the merc unit had been disposable, after all.
[My guess was right. The rumors are spreading like wildfire. Other corporations are starting to sniff around, and they’ve been lurking for days.]
“I already detected the energy signature of something that matches our target on sub-level 3.”
[Sub-level 3? Matches my intel. Leave the route to me.]
“Gladly.”
Good. Focus on the mission.
Valentine wasn’t exactly my favorite person, but I was already here. I’d finish the job and walk away.
[Right over there!]
KWA-AA-AA-ANG—!
With a single file-bunker shot I shattered the bulkhead and stepped inside.
In the center of the vast chamber hovered a colossal power core shaped like a glowing blue crystal.
[That energy signature—it’s the Nova Seed!]
Valentine’s voice came through the comms, full of emotion.
[Could you share your screen so I can confirm it directly?]
“Understood.”
[It’s definitely the Nova Seed!]
“Good. I’ll recover it quickly.”
I locked the Nova Seed into the recovery container and turned toward the exit.
[Confirm the coordinates I sent. Hand the package to the recovery team and that’ll be the end.]
“Confirmed. Valentine. But one question.”
[What?]
“What are you going to do with this power core? Revenge?”
[Revenge… yes, something like that. I’d rather discuss the details face to face.]
“Understood.”
I entered Valentine’s final coordinates into the nav system and exited the underground facility.
The climb back up was easier than the descent, but I still couldn’t drop my guard.
The surviving Nexus mecha kept nagging at the back of my mind.
Fortunately, nothing else tried to interfere on the way back to the surface.
The rendezvous point with the recovery team sat in the middle of a barren rocky wasteland.
As I arrived, a few distant mechs were already approaching.
One transport and two heavily armed escorts. None of them bore any faction markings.
[Steel Fang Mercenary Unit. Kang Jinwoo?]
“Yeah. I’ve got the package.”
I pointed at the recovery container.
[Verification code.]
I relayed the encryption Valentine had provided.
[Code matches. Transfer the item to the transport.]
Following his order, one mech lifted the container and headed toward the open rear ramp of the transport.
[Objective complete. Exiting.]
The recovery team leader didn’t say another word before turning back toward the transport.
In an instant the transport ship vanished into a cloud of dust.
‘That felt… off. Is it really over?’
Still, I had to admit those mercs were lucky bastards.
Some guy who worked his ass off, only to earn a fat payout just by riding the transport and hitting one button.
I was about to blow my top—
**Quest objective logged and updated: Delivery of designated target item completed.**
A wave of relief washed over me at the same time.
KUUUUUNG—!
A massive explosion ripped through the air.
The transport ship that had disappeared into the dust cloud was plummeting toward the ground.
“Shit…”
**Optional quest completed.**
**1. Eliminate Admiral Belzero Karmail’s subordinate pirate division Warp Hound One.**
—Upon completion: Massive reward and Alexander Valentine’s trust acquired.
**2. Return.**
Belzero Karmail, the admiral of Red Veil Pirates. Her subordinate pirate division? Warp Hound One?
Honestly, there was no reason to touch it.
After that gravitational-damper incident I was sure the Red Veil was already looking for me. I had no desire to draw more attention.
My contract was for transporting the package, and I had completed the objective.
‘More than anything, pushing myself right now would burn both me and the mecha to the ground.’
I headed straight for option 2.
**Return.**