Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Episode 38. The Thing Squirming in the Depths (5)
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“What nonsense is this?”
The head of the Ordnance Department, ‘Reakana’.
This superhuman in her late thirties, a young Cambodian, received an unbelievable phone call in the middle of a report to the Educational Affairs Bureau.
She urgently halted the meeting. As she stepped outside, she contacted the ‘Central Vanguard Office’, Lair’s strongest security vanguard unit. A madman had appeared, she said.
The head of the Vanguard Office replied.
― Understood. We’ll head there right away.
World superhuman ranking 53rd.
‘The Final Barrier’ Silard Leo.
He rose, hefting his massive shield.
“I’m Reakana, head of the Ordnance Department. Yoo Ji-tae’s guardian.”
Typical career woman attire. Neatly styled hair and unblemished makeup. Though she was a high-level superhuman, her aura didn’t feel military.
She had arrived with a tail of escorts. High-level superhumans were detectable everywhere. Likely from the 「Vanguard Office」.
He was being treated like a terrorist. The entire Ordnance Department staff were hostages. Even without guns to their heads, an enraged superhuman’s whole body was a weapon, so the Vanguard superhumans didn’t act rashly.
It didn’t matter to him.
He had wanted them to come, after all.
“You called for me, didn’t you? I seem to have arrived right on time.”
High-ranking figures in Lair were usually one of two things: military or politicians. The woman before him seemed the latter.
Yoo Ji-tae tossed the section chief he’d shoved by the window onto the office floor. The man coughed violently but quickly crawled on all fours, hiding among the Educational Affairs staff.
“Please calm down. We can resolve this through dialogue.”
“……”
“Why are you resorting to such violence in the Ordnance Department office? If you tell me, I’ll help regardless of the incident itself.”
With a subtle tone, she posed a question to draw out a response. It was the classic politician’s rhetoric that the regressor had witnessed.
The subject’s answer would spawn new questions. Those would spawn more. In this way, the subject kept answering while the politician gathered information.
Who climbs over someone’s head?
“Level 1 artifact protection necklace. What’s its supply route?”
“…Sounds like there was a problem with the protection necklace. What was the issue?”
“I asked for the supply route.”
“If I knew what the problem was, I could give a smoother answer.”
Yoo Ji-tae was a terrorist.
And she obsessively thought she mustn’t cede control of the conversation to the terrorist.
“…Guardian Yoo Ji-tae. First, I sincerely apologize for whatever angered you. As you know, supply routes need separate verification. So please calm down first. The innocent Ordnance Department staff are trembling in fear.”
“Director.”
“…Yes?”
“The supply route for the defective goods. You won’t tell me?”
Reakana’s pupils trembled violently. She couldn’t respond to that.
“Please wait a moment. We need to apologize on our side first. Defective goods… What a grave mistake. We’re truly sorry.”
Yet the emotion in her voice was clearly disdain.
“But, when you say defective, could you specify what kind? I haven’t heard the details.”
“Auxiliary magic stone defect. The protection barrier mana was discharged.”
“Ah, that kind of thing…”
And from the moment she trailed off, Reakana raised her voice slightly.
“But it’s strange. All artifacts go through the inspection department before reaching the Ordnance Department. Once there, and once here, we confirm they’re not defective before supplying them to cadets.”
“……”
“But you wouldn’t lie. First, regarding the defect, we sincerely regret it. And we’ll provide full compensation for all incidents. You can’t avoid Lair’s disciplinary action, but we’ll consider your anger to the maximum extent…”
Blah blah blah.
Yoo Ji-tae closed his eyes briefly.
No matter the situation, soothe first. Settle with money roughly. Don’t dig too deep. Avoid turning a scratch into a sore.
With many eyes watching, a politician’s words always gained power.
But he didn’t care about that crap.
“You’re talking strangely.”
“…As I was saying, uh, yes?”
“Even if I say defective, you can’t say defective.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Auxiliary magic stone defects on mass-produced goods? Four of them. Identical defects. Delivered specifically to our four cadets. But the serial numbers weren’t sequential.”
“……”
“And this is still ‘defective goods’?”
It wasn’t ‘defective’ from the start.
It had passed through someone’s hands. It was deliberately ‘tampered with’.
“Wait. There must be a misunderstanding…”
“I told you because you asked. And now you babble like we’re at a negotiation table.”
“Ah…”
“Are you bargaining with me? Still haven’t grasped your position?”
Killing intent rippled through the air.
A security team superhuman’s head snapped at an impossible angle. “Keurk!” His scream made the tense Educational Affairs staff shriek and scatter.
Movement stirred outside the building. But since the injured wasn’t the director but a security team member, they held back.
The middle-aged woman’s eyes filled with shock.
“……!”
“Try cutting me off with more bullshit just once more.”
Reakana’s gaping mouth clamped shut. For a moment, she couldn’t control her trembling legs.
“The Ordnance Department supply route for the protection necklaces.”
“……”
“Supply route―”
A beastly growl forced Reakana’s mouth open.
“…We import them from the Briyan Magic Stone Complex. As, as finished products.”
“Management personnel.”
“…All artifacts are in the underground warehouse artifact sealing room. Facility managers, Ordnance Department executives on official duty. And a few division heads can access in special circumstances.”
“Access log.”
“…Henry. Bring the record book.”
Yoo Ji-tae checked the names of those who had frequented the underground sealing room.
“Bring everyone here.”
Seconds later, executives and managers from Division 3 of the Ordnance Department—all five—were gathered. No one was out on assignment.
Yoo Ji-tae looked at them and said.
“Answer yes or no.”
Including Reakana, five people. Terrified, they avoided his eyes.
“I’m connected to this protection necklace incident.”
Some looked baffled. Exchanging subtle glances, they chorused, “No.”
He moved to the next question without reaction.
“I was instigated by someone.”
Having answered once, the second came easier. All said, “No.”
“I. Am the culprit.”
Third question. After two harmless passes, they all knew. The office filled with wondering when this farce would end.
So they answered more comfortably.
““No.””
Then Yoo Ji-tae approached one man, standing nose-to-nose.
A head taller, he loomed, forehead nearly touching, gazing down. Like a tiger approaching a rabbit.
“Now just you answer.”
“…Y-Yes?”
Section Chief of Ordnance Division 3. The one whose collar Yoo Ji-tae had grabbed earlier. Name: Kang Moon-gu.
Startled, he averted his gaze.
Everyone held their breath, staring at the sudden oddity.
“Yong family. Zhonggong Erpan Guild. Bljenk Family. One of these organizations instigated me.”
“……”
“Answer.”
“No.”
“Citri. Kanaye. Myeongwol. Pacheon Society. Jeong family. Namgang Bang martial clan. One of these instigated me.”
“……No.”
“Which one.”
“Y-Yes…?”
“Which one, I said.”
The regressor’s voice dropped lower.
“I’m asking.”
The force clamped Kang Moon-gu’s jaw shut. He couldn’t move, breathe, or blink.
But with Yoo Ji-tae’s gaze fixed on him, Reakana snapped to. He was a superhuman. Daughter of a Cambodian village head during the Great War, she’d survived 20 years amid brutal soldiers.
The Vanguard Office still hadn’t moved. They’d caught a new incident from the man’s words. And he wasn’t as violent as thought. They’d act if he turned uncontrollably aggressive.
Otherwise, calming and persuading him was the Ordnance director’s job.
“J-Just one thing. I want to ask…”
Trembling voice. But her intent came through straight.
The beast’s eyes turned.
“H-How do you prove. That the item is defective?”
“What?”
“From delivery to supply. Every stage has ‘circuit inspection’. Analyzed by machines worth billions. But your claim has no basis? Couldn’t just one be defective?”
The regressor pulled away from Kang Moon-gu.
He glanced at Reakana, then drew the protection necklaces from his pocket. Sophia’s, So Ji-ro’s, and Kim Ji-in’s—excluding Yeoreum’s shattered one.
“Well said.”
He draped the three around Kang Moon-gu’s neck.
“Wh-What…?”
His eyes filled with bewilderment.
“Director Reakana. If you suspect, check directly now. That could work.”
“Uh……”
“What’s with you. Stay still.”
Kang Moon-gu reached trembling hands to his neck in panic. Yoo Ji-tae slowly gripped both hands and squeezed. “Aaaak!” A sharp scream followed. The back of his hands cracked.
“Stay still. You’re not the culprit, right?”
Two or three Ordnance staff panicked, fainting to the floor. Others supported the collapsing.
Yoo Ji-tae turned to Reakana.
“Director, come destroy the protection necklace.”
“Th……”
“Then the barrier forms. Protects Section Chief Kang Moon-gu.”
“……”
Doubt began fading fast.
Reakana looked at Kang Moon-gu. Then hesitated.
If defective. If as Yoo Ji-tae said. It would explode on destruction, killing him.
If he was right. A longtime colleague dies by her hand.
Kang Moon-gu belatedly tried speaking. But Yoo Ji-tae didn’t allow it. He clamped a large hand over his mouth.
Reakana hesitated. Yoo Ji-tae exposed Kang Moon-gu’s arm while holding his forearm.
He kicked a nearby security team weapon to Reakana.
“Come destroy it. If the barrier protects the chief. I’m just a crazy bastard making a fuss. I’ll take responsibility for everything today and go quietly with your people.”
Suddenly armed, the director’s face paled. No evidence, no proof. Yet a strong instinct screamed not to destroy it.
“Why hesitate.”
But the man’s voice forced a cruel choice like sticky poison.
“It’s a protection necklace.”
Reakana couldn’t meet his eyes.
Kwang!
Then it happened. The 7th-floor ceiling collapsed, a hulking man landing between Yoo Ji-tae and Reakana.
Massive blue shield. Rippling mana aura. A rugged, enormous man glared down at Yoo Ji-tae.
“That’s enough, Guardian.”
Vanguard Office Director. Silard Leo.