Chapter 143
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 143
Chapter Title: 143. Real Combat
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“We’re the five-minute standby squad, waiting here to deploy immediately when a report comes in. Our top priority is rushing to the scene the fastest, assessing the situation, and rescuing civilians from threats.”
Ryu Min conducted theoretical training while drawing on the whiteboard set up in the temporary assembly area.
Even though it was evening, the squad members listening to the training had sparkling eyes.
It was hard to believe these were the same people who had been looking at him with resentment just moments ago—they were completely engrossed.
“Criminal players mostly feel like they’re special beings, but at the same time, they’re gripped by fear of whether they’ll survive the next round. That mix makes them mentally unstable and dangerous when pushed to the edge.”
The squad members nodded in agreement.
They had all experienced that fear of the next round themselves.
“When their minds are worn down, they’re easily tempted to do everything they’ve held back before dying in the next round anyway. That’s why they have no brakes. It’s the impulse to indulge everything they’ve suppressed before it all falls apart.”
That was why player crimes were happening so frequently.
“So they have no qualms about theft, looting, rape, murder, and so on. They’ve already practiced killing in simulations during Round 4, so the rehearsal is over. Those guys have no fear. They look down on civilians and even mock the police. But not anymore.”
Ryu Min’s eyes gleamed from behind his mask.
“We need to instill fear in them. We also have to change the public’s distrust of the police and players. From now on, we’ll do practical training to learn how to handle that. In a way, it’s real combat.”
The squad members’ throats bobbed as they swallowed hard.
It was impossible not to feel tense hearing it was real combat on the very first day.
“We’ll conduct the practical in Seoul. Statistics show most players live there. Shall we check if any reports have come in already?”
Ryu Min turned on the radio he had set aside.
*Chzzzt— Chzzzt—*
He tuned it to the frequency for incoming reports and checked the computer for any prior ones.
“Lucky us. No reports came in during the hour we were training. Some might be disappointed there’s no chance to practice, but nothing beats no incidents happening at all.”
“Ah.”
“Then let’s resume training…”
That was when the previously silent radio crackled to life.
*—Incident occurred, incident occurred, Code Zero-One, Code Zero-One. Emergency player bell activated at a convenience store in Seongnae-dong. Request precise location. Over.*
*Wheeeeeng—*
The alarm system inside the temporary assembly area blared as well.
Ryu Min muttered softly.
“No such luck.”
He was right.
Not for the criminal player, anyway.
* * *
*Vroom vroom vroom—*
The squad members riding in the police-marked van listened to their squad leader’s briefing.
“Three minutes ago, a report came in from a convenience store in Seongnae-dong. Since it was the player-only emergency bell, they’re likely being threatened by a player. In other words, it’s an emergency.”
The squad members tensed at the words “emergency.”
It was their first time heading to a real scene, having only done things like drunk driving checks until now.
“Criminal players are like walking time bombs that could go off anytime. That’s why quick judgment is key. It’s our first day, so I’ll show you how it’s done. Just watch.”
“Yes, sir!”
Two more minutes passed, and the reported convenience store came into view.
Exactly five minutes after dispatch, the squad members followed Ryu Min inside in a rush.
Or at least, they tried to—until Ryu Min stepped back out onto the street.
“Huh? Why are you coming back out?”
“I’ve already assessed the situation. Go take a look.”
He had gone in for just about five seconds and already assessed it?
Bewildered, the squad members entered the store.
“Gasp!”
“Ah!”
Pitiful groans escaped the squad members upon seeing the scene.
The presumed reporter, a store owner in his forties, was already dead.
The clear knife slash across his throat and the blood-soaked counter painted a gruesome picture.
“Fucking bastard. A powerless civilian…”
“Where the hell did that piece of shit go?”
The furious squad members looked around, but there were no signs of life in the store.
The open POS machine suggested the perp had robbed the owner, killed him, and fled.
Panting as they came back out, the squad members approached Ryu Min, who was scanning the surroundings.
“Squad leader. We checked it out.”
“Good. Got the full picture?”
“Yes, sir. The presumed owner is dead, and the perp seems to have fled already. But how did you assess it so fast?”
“I went in, saw a forties civilian who looked like the owner dead at the counter, and sensed no presence with detection. That alone tells you the guy killed him and ran.”
“Oh. Then shouldn’t we go in and look for evidence on the perp? Like checking CCTV for his description…”
“He’s not just a regular criminal—he’s a player. A walking time bomb has escaped in an urgent situation. No time to leisurely collect evidence. Another victim could appear anytime.”
“Oh…”
It wasn’t wrong, so the squad members nodded.
“So what now? We have no info on the perp.”
“No info? Look at the scene—he fled in a panic. Probably his first time killing a civilian. Not the sharpest tool in the shed, either.”
“Huh? How do you know?”
“First, no cash in the POS. Money was the goal. He achieved it but still killed the owner. Fear of him reporting, probably. But after killing, he didn’t even use a trace-erasing skill? A guy scared enough to kill over a report left evidence like an idiot. Why?”
“W-Well…”
“He panicked after actually killing. Meaning he’s a rookie, unfamiliar with this. First civilian kill, too.”
“…”
The squad members gaped in shock.
Judging all that from a glance?
Their squad leader was more impressive the more they saw.
“Where would a rookie killer who offed a civilian run to?”
“W-Well…”
“My guess is…”
Ryu Min started walking toward the alley next to the convenience store.
“Not the open main street—more likely down an alley like this. He’d want to hide from eyes in a dark spot first.”
“Oh, so if we follow the alley…”
“Exactly. That’s where the surrounding scan skill comes in. Let’s try it first.”
Ryu Min activated the public skill [Surrounding Scan].
It showed a 500-meter radius like a minimap.
A map window visible to everyone appeared before Ryu Min’s eyes.
Red dots dotted the map—clearly marking living beings.
And one was uniquely moving.
“See? The map shows a guy sprinting into the alley.”
“It’s real!”
Just as Ryu Min said, one dot was weaving only through alleys.
As if avoiding people.
“High chance that’s our perp.”
“Ah!”
“Let’s catch him before he slips away.”
“Yes, sir!”
The squad members followed Ryu Min into the alley.
But the distance quickly widened, and Ryu Min vanished from sight.
‘W-What? Was the squad leader’s speed always that insane?’
Like a car versus a bicycle?
They were sprinting full tilt but couldn’t keep up with Ryu Min’s pace.
Of course not.
He hadn’t worn items during sparring, but now he was fully geared.
His agility stats skyrocketed, so his speed was on another level.
Unable to spot their squad leader even after running, the squad members were awestruck.
‘Can’t keep up. No way.’
‘He’s incredible.’
With him out of sight, they had to rely on the surrounding scan skill.
Those with the skill chased the Black Scythe by following the map.
Soon, they spotted Black Scythe confronting a suspect in the alley.
But the suspect had a woman’s neck gripped in his arm.
“Don’t come closer! Fucking bastards!”
“P-Please, spare me. Spare me.”
A woman in her mid-thirties was held captive by the suspect.
A player threatening another civilian.
“That crazy fucker…”
He must have grabbed a woman he ran into while fleeing the alley.
Seeing the man holding a dagger to her throat, the squad members were certain.
That was the bastard who killed the owner and fled.
“Who the hell are you guys?! Why are you chasing me?! Come closer and I’ll slit this bitch’s throat!”
The squad members hesitated.
One wrong move, and a hole in her neck.
Provoking him rashly could lead to tragedy.
“H-Hey, sir. Calm down…”
“Sir my ass! Do I look like a sir to you?! Huh?!”
Spitting as he ranted, the perp looked mentally unhinged.
“And what’s with the masked freak? Staring without a word? Your buddy? Everyone, put your weapons away!”
“Spare me, spare me…”
“Hey, you fucking bitch, shut up! Wanna piss me off more? Stay quiet or I’ll stab you for real!”
That was when it happened.
*Thwack—!*
The man’s head exploded like a bomb had hit it.
Ryu Min’s scythe hook extended like a whip, piercing the perp’s face dead-on.
Too fast to react.
*Thud—*
“Spare… Aaaah!”
The woman shrieked in terror at the corpse and scrambled back.
*Shling—*
Ryu Min retracted his scythe mercilessly after killing the perp.
The squad members watched in stunned silence at his cold efficiency.
“You okay?”
“Y-Yes… Yes…”
“Don’t worry. You’re safe now.”
After reassuring the trembling woman, Ryu Min turned to the squad members.
“What’s wrong?”
“Y-You didn’t even arrest him… Just killed him…”
“Under the Anti-Player Act, there are two cases for summary execution of criminal players. One is for major crimes like murder, robbery, or rape. The other is when they’re judged an imminent threat to civilians. He fits both. The owner’s death is circumstantial, but matching his outfit to CCTV would prove it. Even without that, threatening a civilian already qualified him.”
“…”
“At scenes, fast judgment is life or death. How quickly you catch criminals determines if there are more victims. Like now—if I hadn’t stepped in, there’d have been a second one.”
The squad members couldn’t argue.
Without Ryu Min’s pursuit, the woman might have died just for crossing paths in the alley.
Because Ryu Min chased with his scythe, the perp panicked and took her hostage—saving her life.
“Too risky to capture alive. That’s why summary execution was needed. I called players time bombs for this reason. If you can’t hug the bomb to contain it, best to disarm the detonator early.”
In reality, he’d blown up the brain, not the detonator, but the squad didn’t see it as harsh.
They’d already witnessed the brutal murder scene—too late for pity on criminals.
Even without that, they shuddered at the thought of perps.
“Squad leader. What about the body? Erase traces?”
“No. Can’t destroy evidence. Regular police are probably en route on the report. We handle threatening players and report the situation. Leave the rest to them.”
“Ah, got it.”
“You’ve seen the demo—know what to do now? Key is fast judgment, perp search, civilian rescue. How quick you are saves lives. Got it?”
“Yes, sir!”
Seeing the fired-up squad members, Ryu Min smiled contentedly behind his mask.