Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Bait at the Charity Gala
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As I explained before, the Central Superhuman Unit's duties go far beyond simple combat.
Among all the existing superhuman units, they handle the most public-facing missions, and you can often spot them at external events.
Clap clap clap clap!!
As the singer finished her song, a loud round of applause echoed through the venue.
I joined in, clapping along with the crowd.
'...She sings really well.'
They said the diva invited this time wasn't all that famous.
Even so, her voice was better than any singer I'd ever heard.
It didn't just tickle the ears—it made you crave more.
Especially that humming at the end of the song. It sent chills racing across my entire body.
"How was it?"
"...I already want to hear it again. What do I do?"
"There'll be another chance next time."
Roze replied, fanning her flushed cheeks.
She seemed to have forgotten her complaints about the outfit she was wearing for the first time.
I took another look at her attire.
A demure-colored dress that contrasted nicely with her crimson hair. But the design wasn't entirely modest—it was boldly daring in just the right way, hugging her figure.
At first, she'd been incredibly awkward about it.
She'd made a fuss, saying she never even wore skirts, let alone a dress.
But given the occasion, she had no choice but to put it on. And now, seeing her like this, it felt like discovering a whole new side of her.
I glanced around subtly.
'Not yet...?'
The event venue here on New Eden was currently hosting a fundraiser for the refugees.
I'd come as the Central Superhuman Unit's representative.
If that hadn't worked, I planned to attend as a CSPA affiliate courtesy of the principal, but it hadn't been necessary.
"You're Leonard Superhuman, right? Thank you so much for coming."
Just then, someone approached and greeted me.
Congressman Woodlands.
A retired general now serving as a delegate for New Eden.
He wielded considerable influence in the region and was one of the main hosts of today's fundraiser.
"I hope I'm not being a nuisance."
"Nonsense. I never expected an outsider to donate such a huge sum."
"In the face of aliens, there's no such thing as an outsider to humanity."
"...Ouch, you got me there. Sitting in this dreadful seat for so long is making me say things I wouldn't have back in the day."
His military background made his speech blunt and straightforward—the conversation flowed easily.
Of course, the fact that I was the unit's rep and a major personal donor probably helped him warm up to me.
After chatting a bit longer, Congressman Woodlands added at the end,
"If you're interested, I'd love for you to join the charity auction later."
"Of course."
He let out a hearty laugh at my smiling response before taking his leave.
"...Wow, Lemon didn't act like Lemon at all just now."
Beside me, a pair of curious eyes stared.
It was Roze, who'd stayed quiet during my talk with the congressman.
"What?"
"When you were talking to him."
"You'll pick it up too if you just shut up and try."
"Ugh! Me too?"
"Obviously. You've already done a few promo interviews, haven't you?"
"...Oh, that. Did you... see it by any chance?"
"See what?"
"The interview."
"Of course I did."
"...I was so fake in that. Wasn't it weird?"
She fidgeted like she'd committed some grave sin.
I chuckled softly and offered my arm.
"Everyone is. That congressman lives and breathes the act. The more famous you get, the longer you'll have to fake it."
"...Ugh, hate that."
Roze shuddered and hooked her hand around my forearm, pressing close.
Then, covering her mouth as if whispering,
"Lemon. People are watching us."
Her words made my eyes sharpen.
But I didn't let it show.
It might be nothing.
Still, after chatting with a few more attendees and scanning around, I confirmed it—someone was definitely targeting me.
'They took the bait.'
The reason I'd come all the way to New Eden, even knowing the Punitive Force was after me, was simple.
To serve as bait.
If I was going to be attacked anyway, better on my timeline.
That way, it was easier to counter and control the flow.
"Shall we head out and rest now?"
"...Huh? Yeah."
I gave Roze's arm a subtle squeeze where it linked with mine, and she nodded after a moment's hesitation.
I led her out of the party hall.
The performance had just ended, so plenty of other guests were leaving too—no one would think it suspicious.
'A place without people.'
Even they wouldn't want to cause a scene in a crowd full of celebrities.
Sure, reports said they were extreme enough to try it anyway if we gave them an opening.
But I didn't want any unnecessary civilian casualties.
I tapped the panel to send a signal as we entered the outdoor parking structure.
I could've summoned the car remotely from the entrance, but instead, I walked all the way to where it was parked.
Roze walked beside me and asked,
"Heading to the lodging?"
"Yeah."
"...Yeah. That sounds good to me too."
She was being unusually compliant.
Had she sensed something off too?
I'd told her nothing, but her animal-like instincts must have picked up that trouble was brewing.
We reached the car.
A luxury personal vehicle capable of atmospheric entry on its own power.
I'd been using it for over two years now—it felt like an extension of myself.
Step... step!
But before I could open the door, footsteps echoed through the parking lot.
They grew closer, reverberating inside.
I turned to see a tall man in a parking attendant uniform.
His face was strangely distorted, hard to read.
The kind that gave you an inexplicable unease just looking at it.
He approached us and spoke.
"Is something wrong?"
Car owners rarely came into the lot themselves, so a diligent employee might check like this.
Just then, Roze's grip on my arm tightened subtly.
"No, just had some business with the car."
"Ah, must've left something behind. Happens with some guests."
"Yes."
He kept talking as he drew nearer.
Maybe sensing Roze's wariness, he stopped about seven paces away.
"Anyway, if you need any help, just say the word. Our staff are always ready to assist, no matter what it is."
The corner of the attendant's mouth twisted up in a chilling grin.
His already unpleasant face turned downright eerie in that instant.
Like a ghost from a Halloween party.
Could human mouth muscles stretch like that?
But I had no time to dwell on it.
"Lemon!"
"Need some help after all?"
Smoke billowed thickly from where the attendant had stood.
Like a smoke grenade, it instantly filled the parking lot with a hazy white fog.
I grabbed Roze's arm as she tried to bolt, covering her nose.
"Calm down. Activate the barrier."
This wasn't ordinary smoke.
A nerve agent.
I'd caught a whiff, and it was clear even my core couldn't neutralize it.
But my body, resistant to most poisons, broke down the trace amount I'd inhaled in seconds.
And now that the barrier was active, attacks like this were useless.
It could sustain us for up to an hour on internal oxygen reserves, no external inflow needed.
Boom!!!
Something punched through the smoke, slamming into the energy barrier.
Insane speed.
The moment Roze took the hit, she ripped off the car door and hurled it.
A distant crash followed soon after.
'...My car.'
I swallowed my frustration at the now-wrecked ride.
I'd known it might happen, but it still stung.
'...More than that, it's muffling sounds too?'
From Roze's attack landing to now, that noise should've been audible from 200 meters at most—and yet barely.
Something was definitely dampening sound propagation.
Boom! Boom!
Delayed impacts came one after another.
I barely deflected them and identified the attacks.
Solid tungsten rounds.
Velocities of at least Mach 7.
This weird smoke was dulling my senses, but even without it, dodging would've been tough.
'Railgun?'
The rounds were the size of a 500-won coin—likely from a portable weapon.
But definitely threatening.
Core weapon barriers were weak to physical impacts. Continuous high-velocity slugs like these could shock the barrier's cohesion, causing partial collapse even with full power.
Roughly 20 hits max before trouble.
"Tch...!"
The shots increased.
Roze glared, defending against everything coming our way.
I told her,
"I'm fine—get moving."
"...But."
"The attackers want us standing still and taking it, right?"
"Ungh..."
"Who do you think my master is? This is nothing. If you're worried, just hurry up and finish them off."
Roze blinked, then steeled her face and nodded.
"Be right back."
I heightened my senses as she vanished into the smoke.
The shots thinned out—split between us now, probably.
But the smoke had thickened even more, turning cloying and sticky.
Sound dampening worsened; dodging snipers got harder.
I couldn't just sit tight.
'Smoke first.'
This outdoor parking structure wasn't built to last.
Even the floors weren't that sturdy.
Already cracked from railgun shockwaves.
I bent my knees, leaped hard, and smashed the ceiling.
Crash!!
Debris flew up, and a clear view greeted me for a moment.
Along with the unidentified enemies who'd timed their ambush perfectly.
Three figures in unfamiliar armored suits, wielding faintly glowing weapons, swung at me.
'Attack...!'
My body reacted the instant danger registered.
Twisting midair using only my core, I kicked two away.
But the perfectly timed ambush clipped me with one.
"Argh!!"
I screamed from the sudden agony.
My forearm felt like it had been incinerated.
An attack piercing the energy barrier.
I rolled away from follow-ups, analyzing the weapons in my head.
The answer came quick.
'Anti-superhuman weapons!'
Hiding behind a pillar, I checked my arm.
Muscles still spasming.
A normal person would've gone into shock from that single hit.
But for me, it was just intense pain—I could still move.
'It rode the energy barrier in.'
Barrier intact, yet damage done.
Without the 'Reverse-Reactive Skin' trait from Mammoth, my arm might've been out for good.
A weapon rendering defenses obsolete.
Impressive.
But knowing what it was, the fear vanished instantly.