Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Punishment Squad
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Inside an office that hinted at modernity.
The spacious room, seemingly pursuing minimalism, held only a desk, a chair, and a work panel in sparse arrangement.
The desk's owner was a middle-aged man with neatly combed-back blond hair.
He sat in his chair facing two subordinates.
"Is this for real?"
"Yes. This just came in."
"You're kidding me."
"...Chairman."
The chairman's voice was calm and low, as always.
But the man giving the report wore an extremely tense expression.
The subordinate knew the chairman often expressed anger this way.
"The report has been fully verified twice over."
"Then why'd you only bring this? You should've drafted countermeasures too."
"...The board of directors is holding an emergency meeting right now."
"Emergency meeting every time. You think something's actually gonna happen to our company over this?"
A sneer crossed the chairman's face.
Then, out of nowhere, he dropped an unexpected name.
"What about Junior?"
"He's attending a marketing event to promote our latest product launch."
"Tell him to come back immediately. We'll hand this off to him."
"Chairman... the young master asked us not to bother him until tomorrow..."
"Am I supposed to keep track of that too?"
"...No, sir."
The subordinate's mouth clamped shut under the chairman's icy glare.
"If he doesn't want to lose what little credibility he has left, tell him he can stay out."
"Understood."
"Get out."
The male subordinate bowed deeply and left the room.
Now only two remained.
The female subordinate, who had stood silently to the side until then, finally spoke.
"Chairman, if I may... you're really assigning this to the young master?"
Her expressionless face matched her utterly indifferent tone.
"Of course not. That wastrel? I keep him around because he's my blood, but he's a failure."
"Then why assign it to him?"
"Don't be ridiculous. The Punishment Squad handles the job. He can just watch from the sidelines."
The woman nodded as if she finally understood.
"You're just planning to pass him the results?"
"Exactly. Even a failure like him can sit back and take credit for the work."
"Understood."
"What's the scope of this Punishment Squad mission?"
"Do I have to spell it out? Everyone involved, just like always. Not a single one left alive."
The chairman narrowed his eyes.
But unlike the male subordinate, the woman maintained her impassive expression.
"My apologies. But one of the key players is a superhuman from the Central Superhuman Unit."
"Doesn't matter. She's a rookie, right? Not even a full member. He won't move for someone like that. And if he does? Doesn't change a thing."
"Yes, sir."
"I'll hear the report once it's all done. Out."
"Understood."
The woman bowed crisply and vanished.
At last, the chairman was alone.
Even after she left, he sat motionless for a long while before suddenly breaking into coughs.
"...Cough, hack! Hack!"
His face flushed red as he hurriedly yanked open a desk drawer.
Inside were just three items.
A compact energy gun, a communicator, and a rod-shaped inhaler.
He pulled out the inhaler and slammed the drawer shut.
"Hack! The cycles are getting shorter..."
He glanced down at his chest, then clamped the inhaler in his mouth and inhaled deeply.
The device responded to the suction, vaporizing a measured dose of mystery drug straight into his lungs.
After a few breaths, his airways were soaked in the unidentified substance.
Regaining his composure, he opened the drawer again, set the inhaler back, and muttered.
"...Not much time left. No, really not much time at all."
The chairman stared at his wrinkled palm and twisted into a grin.
This happened a few days after the relentless raids on Clotho Planet.
*
We arrived at the flagship orbiting Lachesis Planet.
Roze was already buzzing with excitement at the thought of her new quarters.
It only hit me then that an initiation ceremony awaited.
'They doing it today?'
Roze's transfer had been pretty abrupt, honestly.
So the squad members probably had no clue about her yet.
Still, figuring it'd work itself out, I dragged her to the common area where everyone usually hung out.
"Wow, where's this? It's huge!"
"Our squad hangs here when there's nothing going on. Always got booze, food, and it's comfy."
We passed down corridors now familiar to me, emerging into a vast hall.
I hadn't used it much myself due to being swamped, but after wrapping missions with the others and stopping by now and then, it had become my second comfiest spot after quarters.
"Huh? The rookie's got a girl with him?"
Madam Nora spoke up.
Nora was the same senior who'd assisted during my bet with Ivan last time.
The nickname came from her managing the place and acting like a proper lounge madam.
Anyway, her comment had every member in the hall turning our way.
"The rookie's with a girl?"
"Already?"
Whiiiiistle—!!
A sleazy-looking guy stuck his fingers in his mouth and whistled loud.
He was one of the seniors I'd gotten friendly with thanks to my sociable vibe.
I waved him off with a scolding look.
"Scott, cut it out."
"Why? Finally something worth celebrating for our little rookie!"
"It's not like that. This is Roze. New squad member."
"...Huh?"
"Roze, say hi. All seniors here."
"Uh, hi everyone."
Roze greeted them tensely, and the rowdy hall went dead quiet for a beat.
All eyes locked on her.
The intense stares made her shrink back a little.
Then Nora rose and approached.
Her outfit—high heels, thigh-high side slit—hit like a visual punch.
"Is that for real? First I'm hearing of it."
"Yeah."
"Hmm~."
She leaned in close, tilting her head to inspect Roze.
Her left arm propped under her chest made her already ample assets stand out even more.
Roze flinched at the sight and took a step back.
Then she looked down, her face falling in disappointment.
"...Ah-ha! What a cutie. Hi there?"
"Hi."
"Approved!"
Nora nodded with a grin, clapping lightly.
Her words sparked shouts from the others.
"Me next!"
"Quiet down. If I say approved, she's approved."
"Down with the tyranny!"
"No fair!"
"It's a bit rowdy, huh? That's the vibe here."
Roze blinked, then relaxed into a smile.
"No, it's bright and fun."
"Come sit. You two need a drink, right?"
Nora guided us to seats and raised a hand.
Glasses and bottles floated up, mixing cocktails on their own.
Roze's eyes sparkled at the sight.
A finished cocktail landed in front of her, and she clapped in delight.
"Wow..."
"Not bad booze, eh? Peach Crush for our cute newbie. Martini for the rookie who never shows his face."
"Thanks. I'll drink it well."
"Thanks, sis!"
"No biggie."
Nora sat across, chin on interlaced fingers, gazing at us intently.
The martini's bitterness tingled my tongue.
"So, how's the initiation going down?"
"...Haha."
There it was.
I shook my head awkwardly, not wanting to bet with Roze.
"...Um, could you let me off just this once?"
"Hmm. You two know each other?"
"Yeah. Same class."
"Oh? That explains why she looks young..."
Nora eyed Roze sucking her cocktail through a straw, then wagged her pinky at me.
"This yours or what?"
"No, no..."
"Hmm~..."
I averted my eyes from her mischievous gaze.
"Fine, whatever. Normally no, but I'll let it slide once. How about we hand it off to the guy who failed to prove his senior status last time?"
Eyes swiveled to Ivan.
He scowled in annoyance.
"What now? Turn around or something?"
His rugged face didn't scare anyone.
The squad just grinned mischievously and cheered louder.
"Oho! Nice!"
"Whiiistle!!"
"Get to it already!"
"...I'm a second-year now, y'know."
"Second from the bottom. And you botched your own initiation, so you're still limbo."
"Annoying."
Ivan ruffled his hair and stood.
His massive frame made even a two-person table look cramped.
He lumbered over, stacking two chairs including the one Nora offered.
"Whoa, he's huge."
Roze's eyes went wide at Ivan's bulk.
Ivan eyed her.
"Keep it simple. I don't get off on pouring drinks down girls. One arm wrestle, done. Objections?"
Protests rained down on Ivan for picking arm wrestling against a delicate[?] girl.
"Got no shame!"
"Do cards instead!"
"Bully!"
"...Damn it, screw seniors and all, gonna flip this whole place."
Ivan's scowl deepened, but no one cared.
Roze, though, lit up.
"Arm wrestle? Awesome!"
"You sure?"
Nora asked worriedly.
Roze flexed her arm with vigor.
"Yeah! But sis, can I have another?"
"Plenty."
"Then make me one more. I'll drink it after I win."
Roze grinned and extended her hand to Ivan.
Ivan gawked, eyes bulging in disbelief.
Laughter exploded around us instead.
"Hahaha! Love this newbie!"
"She's obviously winning. Step up your game, Ivan."
The hall turned into a comedy show.
Nora covered her mouth with one hand, shoulders shaking as she laughed.
Ivan bit his lip, too pissed to snap.
"If I lose, you can call me sis."
"Then I call you little bro?"
Ivan ground his teeth, face hardening as he gripped her hand.
I stood to give them space.
Their arm length difference was huge, so Nora assisted like she had for me.
"I'll count. Ready on three. Three..."
Roze's face turned dead serious as Nora started.
The unexpected thriller drew the whole squad crowding around.
"Two... one... Go!"
Thud! Crash!!
It ended in a flash.
Upsetting everyone's expectations except mine.
Ivan tumbled off his chair from the impact, flattening a pile of squad members.
"Hehe, I win!"
The squad gaped at Roze cheering with mouth wide.
"Whoa, what..."
"He let her win? How's that beast go down that hard?"
"That skinny arm beat Ivan?"
Roze ignored the chatter, bounding over to the dazed Ivan.
"Um, nice to meet you, little bro? Wait, little senior bro? Hmm?"
"Our little rookie's got some real power."
"Long match felt risky, so I ended it quick. Hehe."
"Good job. You wanted another drink, right?"
"Yay! Thanks, sis."
Roze snatched her Peach Crush, slurping it happily.
Poor Ivan stayed out of it for a good while longer.