Chapter 404: The Great Car Thief (3)
Chapter 404: The Great Car Thief (3)
A Hero Certificate lists various permissions and abilities.
These signify proof of power, the right to Free Subjugation, or the possession of certain special qualifications.
However, among them, a few specific authorities are treated as exceptionally rare and specialized.
The most prominent is the Confidential Management Permit.
This is granted to those who participate in O-Rank battles, hear information during a story that could threaten the preservation of humanity, or were simply involved in the creation of said secret.
It is a permission rarely found among active Heroes, but for those with a Limited Rank 1 or 2, it is a common sight among retirees.
Another rare authority is Command Authority.
To put it simply, it is truly rare for Heroes to form teams.
It’s not a matter of individualism; it’s because the structure of a story itself usually requires the protagonist to resolve matters alone.
Of course, indirect support is possible, and there are cases like Transformation Squadrons that operate as a team from the start, but due to the nature of "stories," it is almost unheard of for Heroes to team up.
In the old era, Heroes teaming up was quite common, but back then, granting Command Authority to a Hero—who was then called an "Awakened"—was an extremely rare case. Since the establishment of the Management Bureau, the need to fight in teams has become even rarer.
As the trend shifted, interactions between Heroes mostly vanished outside of social gatherings, and Heroes began to focus solely on their own stories.
Consequently, command was mostly handled by the Management Bureau’s command center or the Defense Force.
While the status of Heroes has improved compared to the past, a phenomenon emerged where command was exclusively handled by non-Heroes.
Of course, it’s not exactly the same as the old days. The treatment of Heroes has changed, and commanders now respect them, making it a completely different story from the past.
So, who are the ones who obtain Command Authority while active today?
Those who were already in command positions before becoming Heroes.
Those who were unable to retire and were commissioned after receiving command training.
And those who performed in numerous battles on the front lines and received a field commission.
Since The System is different from the military, using the term "commission" is a bit odd, but it’s generally similar.
I belong to the third category.
It was an authority I earned by rallying small groups and returning alive time and again after the chain of command was lost in the heat of battle.
Though the actions I performed using that authority after the Bureau’s establishment were as black as the deepest shadows, it is still a fairly honorable badge of merit.
Anyway, because it is so difficult to obtain, it comes with several benefits.
First, you are treated as at least an officer by the militaries of various nations.
My salary goes up, though that doesn't really matter to me.
And if I wish, I can join the Management Bureau’s command center after retirement.
However, the most important privilege is the final one.
This authority is not revoked even if one leaves the Management Bureau’s jurisdiction.
Even if one is outside the organizational hierarchy and the authority isn't recognized during peacetime, if an individual with such experience judges a local situation to be critical, they can request temporary command and troops. If the Management Bureau deems the request appropriate, that individual is treated as the commander for that specific battle.
My Command Authority is only at the level of a Special Task Force, so it’s not particularly high, but perhaps because the famous Ultimate was involved, the request for a Defense Force dispatch was accepted.
Furthermore, the requisition of personnel from the Assassination Unit—or more accurately, those who belonged to the former assassination squad—was also authorized.
As a result, the means for a war of extermination against Detroit have been secured.
The Defense Force arriving in two days won't follow my lead; they will act independently to carry out the blockade and suppression of Detroit.
However, the members of the Assassination Unit will perform intelligence and assassinations under my command.
There’s just one problem.
"I wonder if these bastards will actually show up."
"What do you mean?"
No matter how much their former captain called, it wasn't as if people scattered across the globe could leap through space-time to arrive instantly. I muttered this while walking through Detroit, trying to do what I could before they arrived.
"Well, I called some kids who were my former subordinates, but they're from a slightly different branch of the hierarchy."
"A most interesting tale! Care to explain?"
Since we were away from the disciples, Ultimate and I were freely tossing around confidential information.
Ultimate already knew I was part of an Assassination Team, so I figured I could tell him this much.
Ugh, I really don't want to talk about it.
Even though I was the one who brought it up, recalling those days isn't good for my mental health.
No matter how much it was for the sake of the world, I spilled too much blood.
Still...
I should sort out these feelings before the parties involved gather.
"First of all, I don't know about other assassination teams, but the kids I led were largely divided into two Type S."
I said this while holding up my middle and index fingers.
"One: the General Type, consisting of ordinary people or those whose abilities weren't that strong."
These were the ones like Ivan or Henry.
Since they were frequently involved in assassinations, they could be considered "black," but they were never deployed for truly pitch-black missions or high-risk battles.
In other words, they were the sane ones I bonded with through many operations.
The problem is the second group.
Those kids have a lot of issues.
I folded my index finger and kept my middle finger up to indicate I was explaining the second group.
"Two: a collection of those with abilities who either have no aversion to blood or are obsessed with the 'Great Cause.' A literal gathering of lunatics. The Awakened Circle."
I was talking about people like Svetlana, who is currently with the Soviet KGB.
And they were the ones I called to handle this situation.
To put it bluntly, they are madmen.
It is a well-known fact that to awaken as a Hero, one must first be righteous.
Though there is a possibility that their sense of justice might become twisted during their story, that is the case at the moment of awakening.
Presumably, the "ones above" have a selection method based on certain criteria, so most Heroes have a personality above average regardless of what happens later.
But whether there's a flaw in the selection process or the shock of awakening twists their personality, occasionally, some completely unhinged ones pop up.
Those who can kill others like it's just another job for the sake of the Great Cause.
Those who want to kill but seek to do so within social norms or the law.
Extreme social-preservation totalitarians who believe the few can be sacrificed for the many.
Justice-maniacs with their own incomprehensible definitions of righteousness.
Among such beings, those who at least possessed enough sociability to form a team were gathered into that group.
Would those participants of a freak show actually respond to my call?
They obviously wouldn't be left in our disbanded assassination squad. They must all be walking their own paths now—whether they retired, joined other groups, or eventually couldn't take it and became villains.
The ones in the first group were at least part of a formal organization, so I could probably run a social club with them.
The ones in the second group are just a bunch of headaches.
It was a miracle I could even control them back then.
As I relayed this summary to Ultimate...
"...First, put your middle finger down."
Ultimate gave his impression with a sour face.
"I wanted to show some spite."
To both you and those problem children.
Anyway, there was no reason to keep it up, so I quietly lowered my finger.
"Then why not just call those from the first group?"
Ultimate asked the most obvious question, and I opened my mouth, gnawing on the metal rod between my teeth with a bitter expression.
"They won't do. It's been too long since they worked in assassination, and fundamentally, they're just normal people."
I have no intention of dragging retirees back into this dangerous, pitch-black abyss.
What we are about to do is dangerous and cruel.
If such work is to be done, it should be done by those who were black from the start.
"Then what do you plan to do with your disciples?"
I don't mind, but is it alright for your disciples to act with such people?
That was likely the intent behind Ultimate's question.
"I'll have to leave them with the Defense Force, of course. I feel bad for dragging them this far, but considering what's to come..."
Just as I thought that and glanced toward the disciples who had been within our sight...
"...They're gone?"
"Hmm?"
The disciples had vanished.
Without either Ultimate or me noticing.
We should have kept them in our sight the whole time, so how?
I might have looked away occasionally, but it wouldn't have been for even a second.
And yet, someone was able to kidnap the disciples in that gap?
And both Baek Si-hyun and Han A-bin at the same time?
Dammit.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue and immediately dashed to the spot where the disciples were last seen.
Regret is for after everything is over.
For now, I just do what I must.
I arrived at the scene of the incident and expanded my senses.
Information flooded in.
Countless life signs interfered with my senses, making information processing difficult, but...
Found it.
I was able to seize upon one suspicious clue immediately.
A faint Otherworldly Power.
From the spot where I stood—the spot where the disciples were kidnapped—a thread of Otherworldly Power as thin as a spiderweb stretched out somewhere.
Even for someone skilled enough to kidnap two people right under our noses, it seemed impossible to erase all evidence in such a short time. The proof remained clear.
"Detecting power. I'm pursuing."
After passing that brief bit of information to the following Ultimate, I sprinted along the web.
Looking at the direction of the power, it wasn't far.
A small alleyway between buildings, away from the main road.
In terms of distance, it wasn't even 20 meters away.
However, from where we had been standing, it was a visual blind spot, making it difficult to notice.
Confirming that there were four life signs in that location, I immediately summoned my hammer and rounded the corner of the alley.
And I found what I was looking for.
The two disciples, bound with rope and gagged in that short span of time.
And two humanoid entities leaning against the alley wall.
The two dressed in black suits looked at me with nonchalant expressions, as if they knew I was coming.
I opened my mouth and threw a question at them.
"What the hell are you two doing?"
Because both of them were people I knew.
"Ah. Hello, Captain."
The one who immediately answered my words was showcasing a disheveled appearance that didn't match the sharp black suit.
The black suit itself seemed to be custom-made, fitting her body perfectly.
However, the floral-patterned necktie was knotted haphazardly around her neck as if she didn't know how to tie it, and the white shirt, which looked expensive at a glance, was crumpled and untucked.
Even her black hair, which would have looked fine if styled, was a mess—a woman who handled every aesthetic element she possessed with utter negligence.
"Hello my ass, Svetlana. I asked what you're doing."
Why are you messing with my disciples the moment you arrive?
I asked Svetlana with that intent, but...
"I heard they were the Captain's disciples, so I tested them a bit. But they're weak."
The answer to my question came from the black-suited man on the other side.
Unlike Svetlana, this guy was dressed perfectly in a sharp suit with no particular issues in his attire, but there was one major problem.
Why on earth was he wearing a Hawaiian shirt underneath?
A man with a mismatching dress code that was utterly jarring.
It had been years since I last saw them, but these idiots were proving they were still living life on the edge.
I sighed at the foolishness they had committed and spoke.
"Svetlana, Montague."
"Yes."
"Sir."
"Untie the kids and get your heads on the ground."
I immediately radiated an intimidating aura to straighten out these brats.
With a sincere smile that promised a world of pain if they didn't put their heads to the floor right this instant.