The S-Class War and the Dragon's Bargain
The Red Dragon responded in English. "…I have been waiting."
"I’ll keep this brief. T1-rank hero, AbsoluteSeven."
"The Red Dragon, asking for a favor?"
I offered him a deal he couldn't refuse. "I will grant your wish."
"A wish, you say."
"You must be aware that the S-Class War has been declared."
Lua projected the data onto the hall screen. A middle-aged Westerner with white hair was delivering a powerful speech, throwing punches into the air. The video had been released last night, during daytime hours in the United States.
"The Washington Hero Association has determined that the world's resources and technology are currently overly concentrated in a single nation and a handful of heroes. Therefore, based on the treaty, we are changing the acquisition method for the S-Class title from the existing annual selection system to a 'Permanent Title System'!"
The middle-aged man was the Chairman of the Washington Hero Association. "Accordingly, we declare that the 'S-Class War' will commence at midnight Greenwich Mean Time, two days from now!"
I spoke into the phone again. "Only one team can challenge the S-Class team at a time. Matchups are limited to once per week. Even if the Dragon King Team has lost its teeth, it’s a fact that your team alone would struggle against them, isn't it?"
"And that means?"
"I’ll step in as a substitute. The Dragon King Team currently has four members. The Red Dragon will join the AbsoluteSeven team as its fourth member."
"…What do you want?"
It was an offer he had no reason to refuse. No, it was so sweet he’d want to swallow it whole immediately. Washington must have been desperate to reclaim the S-Class title at any cost. Of course, he knew full well that it wouldn't be free. I answered lightly.
"Nothing much. You just need to sign a contract."
Kang Yerin assessed the situation one step at a time. The Association Chairman’s death had been too spectacular for information to be contained. Everyone in the world already knew. There was no one currently capable of filling that vacancy. Her choice didn't take long.
'I have no choice but to do it myself.'
She had to take the position until the situation calmed down. There was even a rule that when the Chairman's seat was vacant, temporary authority was granted to the highest-ranked hero. Since the number of crew members also met the regulations, there was no problem. The Chairman must have been keeping Jung Uiseok in check because of such rules. She had been shadowboxing, assuming Jung Uiseok would seize the Association. As a result, she had lost everything, including her life.
She didn't feel much like mourning. She thought it was just desserts. 'Next is the S-Class War.'
Judging by the timing of the announcement after the Chairman's death, the intent to attack them was clear. It was certain that other teams would launch attacks as soon as the war began in two days. What if the Galactic Empire's raid overlapped with that timing? Kang Yerin hoped that worst-case scenario wouldn't happen.
'The two mechs were handed over to the Villain Alliance.'
It was safe to assume Jung Uiseok was cooperating fully with Vengeance. For a moment, she calculated that leaving the fight against the Galactic Empire to the Villain Alliance would be efficient, but a sense of duty shook her head. 'Since only Uiseok can use the Magenta Taurus anyway, it would be better to take it and use it as a combat asset….'
If Ji Sehwa or Shin Yukyung heard such thoughts, they would be horrified. It was essentially no different from having an underlying consciousness that heroes and villains should unite. What did Jung Uiseok talk about with the Chairman? Kang Yerin was dying to know.
As she was processing things one by one, an agent knocked and entered her office. "YellowClocker, a package has arrived…."
"A package?" Kang Yerin found it strange. Packages for S-rank heroes were required to be checked for security at the lower level before being sent up. The employee looked troubled.
"…I think you need to check it yourself."
Kang Yerin went outside to verify the package. She was horrified to see the contents inside a large moving box, cushioned with packing material.
"…Haa, hhh."
Choi Minseo was inside, bound and looking gaunt. Along with a note in Jung Uiseok's handwriting: 「I used her well while I borrowed her.」
"You kept me waiting, SilverMirrored."
Shin Yukyung, who had been standing with her arms crossed, looked at the scientist who had entered the laboratory. He was a tall, handsome man with a well-groomed beard. Even his white lab coat couldn't hide his muscular frame. "Dr. Sun."
The scientist, Dr. Sun, sat down across from SilverMirrored. The lab was filled with all sorts of switch samples. "The results of the new sample last time were regrettable. To think the Flame Switch's auxiliary ability was only that much in actual combat…. I apologize for the trouble."
The disastrous new switch from the Cancer battle had been developed by this man. Shin Yukyung had been investing in this lab for some time. She was about to get angry, but seeing Dr. Sun's gentlemanly face softened her a little.
"However, I was inspired by the Epsilon battle using the Deleter. I immediately discovered a new formula and applied a different direction."
Dr. Sun placed something in front of Shin Yukyung. "Is this… a switch?"
"It can be used in conjunction with a transformation device, but it's a bit different. It's a touch-and-drag type. I call it a 'Pad'."
"A Pad."
Shin Yukyung attached the Pad to her transformation device.
Make Shape! GRAVITY!
Check the new Update.
"Feels good."
"This is the sample, the 'Gravity Pad.' Would you like to test it immediately?"
Shin Yukyung headed to the test room without a word. After transforming into SilverMirrored, she attached the Gravity Pad to the auxiliary slot.
Shape Managed! GRAVITY!
Include! AO’GUANG!
As she swiped her finger across the side screen of the Pad to activate it, a mirror much larger than usual popped out. Kugugugu― Shin Yukyung immediately understood the power that mirror held. With this, it far exceeded the gravity manipulation capacity of that detestable Dark Matter.
"Haha, this is it. This is what I wanted! Now I can tear Vengeance apart!"
Shin Yukyung was satisfied and turned the gravity intensity to the maximum. The sturdy outer wall of the test room began to crumble. Watching that from the control room, Dr. Sun nodded. "Gravity is a success. I shall begin production on the next Pads as well."
Assistants began to move busily. Dr. Sun picked up a terminal and looked at the screen. It was playing a video of several young children in white lab coats using their abilities.
"Ugh. Haa, haat."
Lua suddenly clutched her chest and gasped for air. It seemed she had dozed off and had a nightmare. As I stroked her back, she looked up at me and calmed down quickly. "Ugh, sorry. I guess I was tired."
"Keep sleeping. I have to go alone anyway."
"Yeah. Be careful, Zeo."
Leaving Lua’s farewell behind, I left the hideout. There was no need to go in a grand fashion. Today, I was enough on my own. Wearing a hood and carrying a duffel bag for athletes, I walked. When I arrived at the rendezvous point, three people were already waiting for me. Two men, one woman. All foreigners.
"Welcome, Red Dragon."
The sturdy black man wearing goggles was AbsoluteSeven. The white man next to him, wearing a long mask made of plants, was Exile, and the woman was Greedy.
"Weren't you three from different teams?"
"The enemy of my enemy is my ally."
Seeing them scrape together SSS-rankers who usually operated separately, the Washington guys must have been in quite a hurry. The duration of the S-Class War was six months. With these rules, the sooner you acquire the S-Class title, the more of a disadvantage it is. But that’s fine by me.
"We don't have time, so let's depart immediately. The war starts at 00:00 Greenwich Mean Time. It's 8:51, so we have 30 minutes left."
"Sounds good."
"Did you prepare a helicopter?"
"We have something better."
Following Absolute, a makeshift rocket launcher was prepared. As expected, with this, we wouldn't be detected even if we infiltrated from the upper atmosphere. The other three finished their transformations. Since I was a temporary member, I didn't need a switch. I put on my suit, transformed, and grabbed the rocket ladder with one hand. With a small explosion, we launched. In an instant, we crossed the stratosphere.
The contract had been finished a while ago. I would fight as a member of their team only for this one battle. And in exchange, the Washington Hero Association made one deal with the Villain Alliance in Korea. It wasn't a content that was a huge loss for them, either. Rather, it might even be a profit. At least, that's how it looked now.
Without even a second of error, we headed accurately toward the sky above the Seoul Hero Association according to the plan. We began our descent at exactly 8:50:42. The four of us were fired like warheads and landed on the top floor of the Association at exactly 8:51.
"Let's go in."
"Dragon King Team, I'm looking forward to it!"
Exile generated ultrasonic waves and pierced the ceiling. We entered the S-rank hero zone. The first face I saw was Ji Sehwa's.
"What are these crazy bastards?! Is there some kind of trendy suicide challenge going on these days?!"
"Miss BlueSaber. As expected, your trash talk is top-notch. I'm looking forward to your lines in bed, too."
Exile mocked Ji Sehwa. Since it was in English, Ji Sehwa didn't understand. Soon after, Kang Yerin and Shin Yukyung came running. They spotted me and seemed to realize the gravity of the situation.
"Uiseok…?! AbsoluteSeven! No way!"
Absolute stood with his arms crossed and declared solemnly. "Dragon King Team, Drauger. Leader YellowClocker, Miss Kang. We are commencing the war for the S-Class title."
A hologram window appeared above their transformation devices.
S-Class War Title Match Commenced
S-Class Team: Dragon King Team Drauger
Challenger: Absolute League
"Right here, right now? You've lost your minds!"
"According to international agreements, there is no right of refusal. You'd better transform quickly."
Absolute clenched his fist. I also walked forward and met the eyes of Shin Yukyung and Ji Sehwa.
"It's time for individual interviews. Who wants to go first?"