Chapter 45
Chapter 45
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Young-chul's Crew
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Holding the loaded crossbow, I keep my eyes fixed ahead.
Time to choose.
Should I put the two visible guys to sleep first, take one out, then lure or track the remaining two?
Or wait until all four are together, ambush one, and sleep the rest?
The first option gets messy if that guy runs back to the mart.
The second risks me getting counterattacked if the ambush fails. Can't exactly plug his mouth with a crossbow bolt.
Shoot him in the mouth? Nah. I don't trust my aim. How the hell am I supposed to hit a mouth with a crossbow I barely practiced with?
The first depends on their smarts for difficulty. The second, on my accuracy.
Tch. Ain't easy. What to do?
Let's run a Detection scan. If the other two aren't nearby, go with the first plan. If they are, the second.
"Detection."
I whispered it super quietly, and only one guy comes running this way. Huh? What now? Damn it...
"Boss! No one's around!"
A lackey giving a polite report to the guy who looks like Young-chul.
"Where the hell did those bastards go?"
"Maybe they chased something? Hyung-sik's down, so they got hit, and went after the attacker..."
I put him to sleep.
Then I set the crossbow down and rushed over, burying my hand axe in the guy who'd just arrived.
It's got good weight—nice for overhead chops. Feels easier than the machete.
This one's skimpy on coins. Alright. One left now, and I've got one Sleep ready, so just wait.
Please don't run. Come quietly. Makes it easier.
I hide again and run Detection. I'd love to spam it right after, but that'd burn through too many potions.
Cast once, count ten seconds, cast again. Safest way—no way I skip it.
Let's think worst case.
'The lackey who went scouting watched everything from 50 meters away, saw Young-chul go down, and bolted back to the mart without looking back to prep defenses.'
Hmm... No worries. That ain't happening anymore.
Detection picks up the lackey. I feel him sprinting over fast.
Just need to see his face, and it's cleanup time. Just his face...
"Boss!"
The lackey heading for Young-chul faceplants.
Sigh. Morons. No perimeter check? No suspicion? How the fuck have they survived this long?
One more Detection scan confirms no one else besides the four downed guys.
"Ughhh. Lucky break. Their heads must be for show."
I stretched big, luxuriously.
Body was stiff from crouching in the cold too long, but this loosens it up.
"Alright, say cheese..."
I snap photos one by one. Oh shit, forgot one earlier.
Leave Young-chul for last and finish the other three right away. Hand axe's starting to feel natural.
Whoa. Fuck. Gonna be rich. Lackeys give peanuts, but the walkie-talkie guys cough up big.
Acting bosses or something? Must've killed a ton to rack up that much.
Alright... Time for a fun little chat with Young-chul?
But where? It's cold out.
As I'm pondering, I spot the Benz van. Perfect.
Wait... keys? Oh... fuck. None? Maybe on the driver guy? That'd suck.
Door opens... Please be inside. Don't have 'em on you... Oh! There they are!
Got 'em! Fuck yeah! I'm a Benz van owner now, bitches!
Buzzing with excitement, I duct-tape Young-chul's body. Gave me a nice gift, so I'll wrap him extra tight.
Arms wrapped tight, torso tight, legs tight, eyes taped over. Mouth stays open. Done.
Thwack.
I kick him, and my combat boot caves in Young-chul's ugly mug.
"Guh..."
Whoa. Wakes right up.
Thwack.
"Kugh..."
Thwack.
No way a tough-guy thug like him folds from threats. Gotta beat him down first. Expect no info—just dominate.
Thwack thwack thwack thwack.
Ptoo.
Young-chul, mouth filling with blood, spits it out once I stop.
"Electric Shock."
Fuck, startled me.
Young-chul blurting a skill name out of nowhere scared the shit outta me.
Couldn't see the target, so no activation, but still jumped.
"Young-chul."
No response even when I call. Tough bastard. Sticking to the act.
"Young-chul? Answer when your bro calls."
"Who the fuck're you. Kugh. Ptoo."
Keeps spitting blood pooling in his mouth.
"What. You know if I say?"
"You punk-ass bitch... Ptoo. I'm gonna kill you."
"What. With your lackeys? How many you even got left?"
"Don't matter how many. You're dead..."
Thwack.
Wasting time. Hard to make this fucker talk, and even then, can I trust it?
Was gonna rough him up moderate and chat cozy in the van, but nah.
"Hey. One question. You won't answer, right?"
"Bastard. Gonna kill me anyway, and your tongue's still waggin'."
"Wasn't expecting shit. Dickhead."
Grab the crossbow, aim from afar.
Thuck!
"Kuh..."
Aimed for the heart, hit the chest. See? What's a good crossbow do if the shooter's trash?
Bolt vanishes if he dies, so I rush over and yank it out quick.
Blood gushes from the hole.
"Oops. Pockets."
Aw... Shoulda shot after.
Lucky, nothing major. Cool-looking brass knuckles in pants pocket?
Silver and shiny. Slick. Mine now.
Watch and ring look pricey too. When else I wear shit like this? Taking 'em.
Doing this, I look straight-up like a burglar. Hilarious.
"Dog... bas..."
I pull out my smartphone and start recording video.
Dying Young-chul's mug.
One hand filming him, other raises the hand axe high.
Crunch.
Young-chul turns to light and vanishes.
Funny thing: No light on the camera. Weird-ass world.
What. Thought it'd be six figures. Modest. Saying modest at 20k is nuts, though.
Now for the four inside the mart. How to kill 'em so word spreads I did it clean?
Van... Can leave it here for now. Come back later.
Electric cars. Right, these too. One's front smashed, fine. Other seems usable... Charging's the issue.
How to charge EVs? Something at home maybe?
If internet worked, I'd search. Fuck. Annoying as hell.
These later. Finish the mart first.
"Detection."
After all this bullshit, still no one around. Muscles aching, so I down a Recovery Potion.
Racked up coins, so potions are chump change now... Sip with a smile.
Four guys.
Even if they rush together, long as I don't eat a first strike, I win. And one thing's clear.
These fuckers got no Detection. They'd have come with Young-chul otherwise.
Can get bold without dropping guard.
Problem's not being sure it's just four, but I'll know after grabbing the last one and beating info out.
Walkies mean the mart guys know something's up by now.
Boss and crew went out personally, radio silence... They'd be spooked.
Strike when they can't figure shit out. They never will, anyway.
I approach the mart, keeping Detection up. No one pops out reckless.
Circle around back; spot to hug the wall out of sight.
Come on, snag on something.
"Detection."
Presences ping. Two: one basement, one upstairs.
Good. Circle the mart like this. Abuse my cheat Detection to scan inside.
Mart looks huge, but 50m radius lets me hug tight and lap it, no blind spots.
Problem: Six presences inside.
Four ground level, two basement.
Fuck... Why six? Reinforcements? Or Se-hee miscounted from the start?
Where first? Why split up?
Full lap, spot directory by main entrance.
Oh... This'll show rough positions.
Lemme see... Second floor: household goods, sundries. First: clothes... toys... Basement: food... Wait.
Customer Service Center. Big marts got CCTV rooms by there, right? On first floor?
No way... They ain't watching inside at all? For real?
No matter how I think, upstairs and basement ain't CCTV spots.
Fuck... Overthought it? Solo LARP?
Detection again.
Still four up, two down. What the hell they doing?
I walk right in bold.
Head for Customer Service.
Inside's trashed. I open the door inside the center.
"Ha..."
Walls plastered with CCTV monitors. None on proper.
"Fuck, I overhyped these punk-ass thugs?"
Thought I'd pop on CCTV entering. My bad for assuming.
These guys... Just been lucky as shit.
Or I overcomplicated for nothing.