Black Market (3)
“Master, listen carefully to what I say from now on.”
I was shocked when I heard Han Byeol's plan to counter the sniper. But Im Jui, who had been assigned the most dangerous role in that plan, just nodded nonchalantly.
“You really okay with this?”
-Yes, it's fine. Don't worry, Your Excellency.-
Han Byeol's plan was simple yet audacious. Im Jui would step out of the commercial building to bait the sniper, pinpoint their location, and relay it to me. Then I'd send a drone to take them out. Even if the sniper spotted the drone from their window, it wouldn't matter. Han Byeol figured no Special Awakener with sniper abilities would expect a drone to travel that far just to target them.
I didn't mind risking a drone, but using Im Jui as bait felt problematic.
“What if you get shot?”
-Even if it hits, it won't kill me.-
“...”
-I might get a bit dizzy. But at that speed, I can dodge it.-
I decided to give up trying to understand these Awakeners.
“Be careful. Extra careful.”
Im Jui nodded and stepped out of the building. A roar like cannon fire—not a gun—echoed through the city. Two blasts came twenty seconds apart, then Im Jui returned.
“You didn't get hit, right?”
-Yes, I dodged. Your Excellency.-
She pointed to one side of the wall with her finger.
-Your Excellency, if you go out of the commercial building, there's a high-rise with 'NCO' written on that side. The sniper's on the fifth floor from the top.-
“Got it. Stay here and wait. No more dangerous stuff.”
-Yes, Your Excellency. Be careful.-
This building used to be some company office, I guessed. I flew low through the debris behind the commercial area, then shot up into high flight from a blind spot to circle behind the high-rise. Han Byeol listened in and offered timely advice.
“Master, snipers almost never operate alone. There are probably others with them—keep that in mind.”
“Yeah, but can even a Special Awakener pull off shots like that? The building's pretty far, and it looked like they were firing from at least the fortieth floor...”
“Yes, actually, most Special Awakeners specialize in weapon enhancement. You're the unusual one among Special Awakeners, Master.”
“Hmm... The spot Im Jui pointed out—the glass is all intact there. I can enter from the floor below. I'll go in through here.”
“Yes, keep briefing the situation.”
I entered the floor below the sniper's and climbed the emergency stairs. A man's voice drifted down.
“So... they still haven't come out?”
“They came out of the commercial building and ran, so I shot, but they dodged? Then they hid back inside.”
Sounded like the sniper was talking via radio.
“Must be an Awakener. But dodging your shot? Doesn't seem like a regular one.”
The emergency door to the sniper's floor was busted open. Perfect for a drone. I steeled myself and approached the door. Luckily, the sniper's buddy in the hallway was peering out the window while chatting on the radio. I slowly maneuvered the silent-flying drone toward the back of his head.
The guy wore military fatigues and body armor, with two massive machetes strapped to his back. Definitely an Awakener. As I pulled out the Plasma Cutter for the kill, the radio crackled, and a voice leaked out.
“They were short and skinny—might be a woman.”
“You see their face?”
“Nah, gas mask. Would prefer to capture alive if possible...”
The machete guy chuckled sleazily.
“If we're capturing, I call dibs this time. You always ruin 'em first. Told you to go easy.”
“They listen better after a beating, what can I do? Patience is running thin anyway—they'll come out soon. Wait it out. Let's have fun tonight.”
“You're my comrade-in-arms, but you're one crazy bastard.”
The radio clicked off with static. No doubt about it—these scum were irredeemable looters and rapists. Any guilt over killing evaporated; my mind felt lighter.
The drone clamped onto the back of his head like a facehugger, then jammed the Plasma Cutter into his brain before he could react.
Pzzzt!
“Urk.”
The cutter ravaged his brain mercilessly. He let out a short death rattle, brain matter oozing from the hole in his skull as he collapsed. I gripped his head with the claws and eased him silently to the floor.
Every door on this floor was open except one. Distance and direction pointed to the sniper being behind that closed door right in front of me.
Then the radio on the corpse crackled loudly.
“Why's she wearing a gas mask anyway?”
I'd been pondering how to slip inside unnoticed, but now there was no room for compromise. No answer from the dead man, and the sniper would catch on quick.
Click.
I used the drone's claws to open the door and charged straight at the sniper aiming out the window. He spun at the sound, grasped the situation instantly, and reached for the pistol at his waist—but I was faster.
Pzzzt!
The Plasma Cutter hit his forehead but only shallowly. He abandoned the gun and grabbed the drone's claws with both hands. Blood streamed from his brow as he growled,
“Guh! You fucking shit! What the hell are you...”
The drone shoved forward with brute force; his hands trembled, and the cutter began piercing his skull.
Crackle.
“Aaaagh! Fuck! What the fu— you bastard...!”
Squelch.
The cutter sank into his brain, and he went silent.
“Do-hyun, everything okay?”
“Whew... Sniper and his buddy—both taken care of.”
“As expected of Master.”
I stripped their gear and returned to the commercial building.
-Your Excellency, you alright?.-
“Yeah, two of them. Dealt with both.”
The body armor was top quality. Couldn't test it, but the well-maintained military gear suggested they belonged to some warlord's looting crew.
“I'll grab that gun and ammo over there. Wait here.”
-Yes, Your Excellency.-
Jackpot: the sniper rifle and crates of ammo behind it. With this, the sisters could snipe from the rooftop.
-That's an anti-materiel sniper rifle. But no way to hit like that with just this gun.-
“Guess he really is a Special Awakener.”
I considered selling the gear on the black market if needed, but Han Seol warned their comrades might recognize the armor or rifle. So I stashed it inside the building for the return trip.
The outside world was brutally dangerous. If I weren't an Awakener, I'd be dead without knowing what hit me.
We didn't reach the black market until after 7 p.m. True to its scale, it glowed brightly even from afar. Heavily armed troops waited at the entrance building. We joined the line of people queuing up.
Our turn came. A beret-wearing soldier with a single pip on his shoulder asked,
“Purpose?”
“Trade.”
The soldier flinched when my voice came from the drone in Im Jui's hands, not her.
“What's that you're holding?”
I floated the drone into the air; he reflexively reached for his hip pistol.
“I'm a Special Awakener who controls drones. My throat's injured—I can't speak, so I use the drone to communicate.”
Im Jui nodded along to sell it.
“Weapons?”
“None.”
He signaled his men—who had guns trained on us—to lower them. He stared silently, then extended his hand.
“Hand over the drone first. I need to check it.”
Im Jui looked flustered, but I quickly landed it in his palm. Nothing to find anyway. He flipped it over, inspected it, deemed it clean, and handed it back.
“Guarantor?”
“Required.”
“For a guarantor, pay six cans of canned goods or equivalent value.”
Now for the notebook Han Byeol prepped for us. She'd given it to me that morning, front cover reading 【Han Byeol's Trading Manual★】. It detailed exactly how to get a guarantor. She insisted on reciting her lines verbatim to avoid looking like pushovers.
As Im Jui rummaged in her bag, the soldier gestured lazily, and another trooper stepped forward. Han Byeol said this was key: six cans would get us some novice guarantor. We needed an experienced one, so Im Jui pulled out—not cans—but three fresh packs of cigarettes and slammed them on the table, per the manual. I said,
“Different guarantor.”
“Wait here.”
The soldier vanished among his men. The moment the cigs hit the table, surrounding troops and people in line started murmuring. Han Byeol's plan was working. It signaled we weren't desperate for tomorrow's meals but wealthy traders here for big business. Three packs stung, but worth it for a solid guarantor.
The soldier returned with a sunglass-wearing female officer. She tore open a pack, lit one, and handed it to him.
“Try it.”
“Yes, Colonel.”
He puffed a few times, bowed, and reported,
“Fresh smokes, no contaminants.”
“Good?”
She eyed the drone and Im Jui alternately, twirling her hair. Three pips gleamed on her uniform shoulder.
“I'll be your guarantor personally.”
“Pardon? Colonel... I'll fetch Major Kim right away.”
“No. I'm going.”
“Understood.”
She jerked her head at Im Jui, and we followed her into the black market.