Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Confrontation at the Gate
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Under the burning sky, I raced madly through the gray city. If I was even a little late, I wouldn’t be able to find Kim Seung-hyun’s father.
‘That dog No Hyoman.’
He was leading his soldiers back across the gate.
I thought he’d at least stick around until the full search period was up, but he’d just spread the virus and bolted.
He pulled this off in a place crawling with other soldiers…. Were there no witnesses left alive?
Something solid I could hand over to Kim Juncheol. Right now, it was just suspicion, so I couldn’t investigate No Hyoman yet.
I needed concrete proof that the guy was tied to the virus.
“Aidos, this the right way?”
[Keep going straight, then turn right at the next alley. The gate’s there.]
Aidos was using CCTV across all of Meccania to report No Hyoman and his men’s positions to me.
Current location: right in front of the gate.
If they went through, the game was over.
Not like we could win without enough robot units anyway.
Da-da-da-da-da-da!
Dust kicked up where I’d run from. That’s how fast I was going.
Following Aidos’s directions, I spotted the gate we’d used to cross over.
Seeing it again, I could really grasp its size.
Tall enough for the lowest-grade giant to barely squeeze through.
I yelled at the soldiers filing in one or two at a time outside the gate.
“Stop!”
They halted and looked at me. I quickly scanned the area, eyes darting.
Checking if No Hyoman was here.
‘…Gotcha.’
No Hyoman was right there at the gate, directing his soldiers. Looked like he planned to send them through smallest to largest.
He freaked out the second he saw me.
“Ch-Cheonjae.”
I caught my breath and walked toward him.
“No Hyoman.”
“…”
“Where you headed? Search mission’s not done till tomorrow.”
“Uh… well… something big happened in the factory.”
No Hyoman fiddled with his nose. I played dumb and asked,
“Something big?”
“Yeah, the virus spread here too. Residents turned into zombies. We’re heading back to report it ASAP.”
Liar’s as smooth as ever.
Making it sound like a third party spread the virus he unleashed himself. Gotta give him points for that skill—
“What happened to the zombie residents?”
“All dead… A few are still wandering nearby.”
“Wandering… So the search and recon mission’s over?”
“We did plenty. We came to check if virus creatures were here in the first place.”
“Confirmed the virus, mission complete, that it?”
He nodded.
“We came here for one reason: why the mutant creatures appeared, and if the virus exists.”
“You haven’t investigated the mutant creatures yet, have you?”
“We’ll come back when conditions allow. Reporting on surviving residents and the virus takes priority.”
About ten residents waiting by the gate. I knew their faces.
All master mechanics who’d reached legendary status here.
Kim Seung-hyun’s dad was among them.
“…Mind if I talk to that guy for a sec?”
“N-No.”
“Why not?”
“They’re… still mentally unstable.”
“I know him. Move.”
I brushed No Hyoman’s arm aside and passed. He couldn’t stop me. What was he gonna do when I said I knew the guy?
As I approached, Kim Seung-hyun’s dad bowed his head. Probably thought I’d come to harm him.
“S-Sorry…”
“Huh? Sorry for what?”
“I won’t talk back…”
“…”
Up close, his face looked so haggard, like he’d been tortured.
No signs of beatings, though. Just mentally unstable, like No Hyoman said.
“Excuse me, you’re Kim Seung-hyun’s father, right?”
He looked up at my question.
“…Huh?!”
“You remember me?”
“Y-Yeah. You came to the factory with Seung-hyun, right?”
“Yeah.”
I gestured for the mechanics to gather, No Hyoman too. Then I said to them,
“You all remember what Captain No Hyoman here said? He told my friend the residents would choose their own path.”
No Hyoman frowned.
“No, Cheonjae. Your friend kept insisting on taking the residents, so that’s why.”
“Captain No Hyoman. So you plan to force them to come?”
“No, when did I say force—”
“No choice means it’s force, doesn’t it?”
“…”
I looked at each resident.
“Everyone, listen up for a sec. And choose now. Follow me to the tower, or go with Captain No Hyoman here.”
They all glanced at No Hyoman. No idea what he’d done, but the intimidation worked.
No one spoke up right away.
“If it’s hard to say, let’s vote by show of hands. Hands down to follow me. Hands up to follow No Hyoman.”
That should make it easy. Depending on his threats, results might vary, though.
They peeked at each other, staring at their hands. Thinking it over. During the ten seconds I counted, no one raised a hand.
‘…Good.’
No Hyoman waved his hands between the residents and me.
“What the hell is this?!”
“What? Why you talking like that?”
“No, you say it like that, and they’ll be scared!”
“Pretty sure they’re scared of you, No Hyoman. Look at their eyes.”
No Hyoman looked at the residents.
They dropped their heads, avoiding his gaze.
“Sigh… You gonna keep this up?”
“Yeah. Just doing my job.”
“Your job?”
“Protecting this city. Need them for that.”
“…No idea what you’re on about, but I’m taking them. Hey! Comms platoon leader! Get these people through the gate on the radio!”
Swoosh—
My scythe blocked his path.
No Hyoman slowly turned to check my face. The other officers gulped, watching.
“I’m taking them. Try anything, they all die.”
“…Turning us into enemies?”
“Nah, just you.”
“Heh… You know how many of my soldiers are waiting here? Mecha-X! Aim at him.”
Clank!
Mecha-X’s machine gun trained on me.
“…Aidos, have all robot units surround the gate.”
[‘Aidos’ relays Kim Cheonjae’s orders.]
[Robot units deploying]
Whirr-whirr-whirr-!
Robot units sliced through the air, encircling No Hyoman’s squad.
Side by side, Mecha-X looked crude.
Tech from my world could never catch up to this mechanical civilization.
That’s why he tried kidnapping the mechanics.
“Captain No Hyoman, wanna test it?”
“…”
He eyed the robots from bottom to top, then backed down.
“Sigh… I’ll report to the brigade commander. Say you threatened us and took the residents.”
“Don’t forget to mention you aimed first and tried forcing them.”
“…”
“Was gonna talk to Major Kim Juncheol once things settled anyway. See you then.”
No Hyoman twitched his nose, glared angrily, and turned his back.
“Fine!”
* * * * *
I brought the rescued residents back to the tower.
Worried about revenge threats, I tried talking, but they wouldn’t discuss the factory anymore.
No clue why.
They didn’t want to, so I dropped it.
‘I’ll ask again once it’s all over…’
[‘Aidos’ marks hidden robot unit locations.]
A massive monitor showed Meccania’s map. Twenty X marks dotted the city.
Kim Seung-hyun’s father spoke, stunned.
“No way…”
“Positions of broken robot units in Meccania. Need you to repair them.”
“It’s been ages since I worked as a mechanic, and I’m old. Not sure I can.”
“You can. I’ll assign escorts for safe travel. Get to work quick.”
His dazed eyes staring at the map suddenly burned with intensity. Like he’d made a vow.
“Your name’s Kim Cheonjae, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Why fix these units?”
I answered firmly.
“To protect this city.”
“Protect the city?”
“Yeah.”
The residents who followed looked puzzled. Me protecting the city was about future events they didn’t know.
“Don’t get it, but you want us to fix them to protect us?”
“Yeah. And once it’s all done… you take over this tower.”
Kim Seung-hyun’s father’s nostrils flared in shock.
“…What?!”
“Explanation later. It’s urgent—start repairs now.”
Michael sidled up to him.
“Follow me.”
Michael took the map I gave him and led the residents. I called after him.
“Michael! Assigning a few robots—don’t worry!”
Michael gave a thumbs-up.
“Aidos, attach five robot units to the residents heading out for repairs. Authorize fire if enemies appear.”
[‘Aidos’ relays Kim Cheonjae’s orders.]
[Five robot units on standby in front of the tower.]
“Jo Young-gi, Kim Yeon-hee. One robot each. Search all underground sewers CCTV can’t reach. Find every last resident.”
Jo Young-gi and Kim Yeon-hee replied in unison.
“Got it!”
“Got it. Just lemme grab this first.”
I told Ma Jeongwoo, lying on the bed.
“Ma Jeongwoo, check the number of combat-ready people in the tower and defense gear status.”
“Yes! Sir! Got! It! Like! This?”
“Yeah, go check quick and report back.”
“Gotcha.”
Jeongwoo left.
Finally, to Yoo Sora.
“Sora.”
“…Yes.”
“Special training with me from now on. Unless you wanna die tomorrow.”
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