Chapter 22
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: Gangwon-do Incident (4)
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KABOOM!
The concrete floor shattered into pieces upon colliding with Kim Hyun, scattering debris in every direction.
Scientists and soldiers at the impact site were flung away like paper dolls caught in the wind.
Amid the thick cloud of dust billowing like smoke, Kim Hyun scanned her surroundings. Chae Seol-ah, tucked under her arm, coughed violently.
"Cough! Cough! K-Kim Hyun... nim. That was too reckless, cough!"
Instead of replying, Kim Hyun swung her hand, blowing all the dust skyward.
The surrounding area came into sharp focus.
"What the hell is this?"
Laboratory equipment reminiscent of a mad scientist's lair filled the space.
Glass tubes containing naked humans, suspicious machinery, tangled wires everywhere.
In one corner, body bags piled up like a mountain, and the air reeked of thick blood.
"Whatever. I can just grab one of these bastards and find out."
Kim Hyun smiled at the killing intent emanating from all around.
The next instant, gunfire erupted from every direction.
The surviving soldiers had opened fire immediately.
However, the bullets vaporized into thin air before they could even touch Kim Hyun. The soldiers' eyes widened in disbelief at the surreal sight.
Thud thud thud!
Kim Hyun snapped her fingers, blowing off the heads of the soldiers who had fired, then set Chae Seol-ah down on the ground.
She grabbed a crawling scientist by the head and yanked him to his feet.
"U-Uwaaa...!"
"Let's see."
The next moment, the scientist rolled back his eyes and screamed.
"Gaaaaah!"
After rummaging through the scientist's brain and extracting the information, Kim Hyun stomped her foot lightly. Instantly, the remaining scientists around her burst like crushed tomatoes.
Kim Hyun turned her head and looked to the left.
"So the main base is that way."
Striding toward the base, Kim Hyun soon glanced back. She scolded Chae Seol-ah, who was standing awkwardly.
"If you're coming, take care of yourself."
"Y-Yes!"
Chae Seol-ah nodded vigorously. Though terrified by the lab horrors around her, she was also seething with rage.
"Tch!"
Chae Seol-ah cast a basic defensive spell.
It was a pathetic barrier that could only protect herself, but it didn't matter since she didn't need to shield Kim Hyun anyway.
"Alright, let's go."
The next instant, Kim Hyun kicked off the ground.
Weee-ooo-weee-ooo!
A sudden siren blared across the city streets.
The research team leader, resting in the occupied Sokcho City Hall office, jumped in alarm at the unexpected wail. He quickly called in his subordinate waiting outside.
"What happened? What's going on?"
"It's an attack, Team Leader!"
At the word "attack," the research team leader wore a grim, inevitable expression.
"So Korea finally caught on. Fine, is it the military?"
"Not the military. Seems like hunters."
"What?"
Korea dispatching hunters instead of the army?
Strange. Korea never used hunters for issues like this. They avoided deploying them unless absolutely necessary.
But this time, an unexpected choice.
'Unexpected, but it doesn't matter.'
The research team leader narrowed his eyes.
He had prepared countermeasures for various scenarios anyway. Hunters were just one of the anticipated possibilities.
He asked the most crucial question first.
"How many?"
"Two observed."
"They must both be S-Rank at least..."
"That's our guess."
BOOM!
At that moment, an enormous noise erupted from outside.
Sounds of destruction began echoing massively.
The research team leader clicked his tongue and issued an order to his subordinate.
"Deploy all the monsters we control to block the hunters."
"Understood."
The subordinate nodded and cautiously asked.
"What about the chimera?"
The research team leader frowned.
"Not yet for the chimera. We paid that other team a fortune for it—no way we're wasting it here. Block them with just the monsters."
"Understood."
After sending the subordinate away, the research team leader headed to the city hall rooftop to assess the situation.
And the moment he reached the roof, he saw it.
Slash!
Two massive monsters cleaved in half and collapsing.
"...What?"
The research team leader was an awakener with his own abilities. He could read mana flows visually.
'What the hell was that just now?'
Yet he couldn't grasp what ability had just bisected those monsters. Despite having data on countless powers.
'More importantly, those two just now...'
Estimated A-Ranks?
Impossible.
One-shotting A-Rank monsters?
'Did Korea have a hunter like that?'
As far as he knew, no. Korea was infamous for its weak S-Ranks.
No, only National Power-level Hunters could perform like that.
The research team leader furrowed his brow.
'The only National Power-level around here is that coward from China, Liu Guoliang.'
As if he'd come.
China wouldn't send him for "just" this, and Korea inviting a Chinese National Power-level into internal matters? Absurd.
An utterly incomprehensible situation.
Right then, three more charging monsters split in half and died.
The research team leader's decision was swift.
'I don't know what's what, but I need to run.'
Based on the performance so far, no force here could stop that thing.
A walking disaster approaching—only an idiot wouldn't evade.
'I've confirmed enough research results anyway.'
He'd grasped most of the book's powers and fed it plenty of sacrifices. The stockpiled humans as offerings were a pity, but unavoidable.
'There'll be another chance.'
The research team leader clicked his tongue.
'If I could just use the trash back home, I wouldn't need all this hassle...'
No helping it. Using homeland humans for that required "his" permission.
Besides, this research wasn't approved upstairs. He'd arbitrarily used the team to contract the grimoire he'd lucked into.
If exposed, it'd be a huge mess.
'...Actually, this is perfect.'
Using this attack to bury all experiment-related personnel wasn't a bad idea.
With that conclusion, he rushed inside the city hall and activated the installed chimera controller.
Then he destroyed the control system.
Now unleashed, the chimera would rampage wildly in central Sokcho. Near S-Rank level—it should buy plenty of time.
So thinking, he summoned his close aide.
"Helicopter."
"Pardon?"
"Retrieve the book. We're leaving now."
"...!"
The aide understood and bowed quickly.
The team leader hurried to the helipad.
He shoved the dazed pilot—amid the warzone chaos—into his seat and waited for the aide with the book.
Kieeeek!
In the distance, the chimera rose to its feet.
'If that thing just buys time...'
Right then.
Splat!
The rising chimera's head vanished.
The immense shock made its body stagger.
But befitting near S-Rank, losing its head didn't kill it. It began regenerating the destroyed part immediately.
However, destruction outpaced it.
Thud thud thud!
Holes riddled its body like a beehive. Only when its upper body was nearly gone did the chimera finally collapse, unable to endure.
"Th-This crazy...!"
Inconceivable.
Near S-Rank, dying so pathetically?
The research team leader ground his teeth.
No choice now.
"Pilot! Take off now!"
"But..."
"No excuses!"
He drew a pistol from his coat and pressed it to the pilot's head.
"Take off! Now!"
"Y-Yes, sir!"
The helicopter's engine roared to life instantly.
But.
Kim Hyun was faster.
She rocketed through the air and slipped into the just-lifting helicopter.
"U-Uwaaaack!"
Spotting Kim Hyun, the research team leader freaked and emptied his pistol wildly.
Bang bang bang!
Of course, the bullets vanished before reaching her.
Kim Hyun smirked and seized his collar. His face turned purple as his breath was cut off.
"You look like the one in charge."
"Khk, kehk!"
Kim Hyun loosened her grip slightly.
Finally able to breathe, the research team leader gasped.
"Right?"
The research team leader shouted in Korean.
"Y-Yes! I'll tell you everything I know! Mercy, please...!"
Kim Hyun smiled.
"No need."
"P-Pardon?"
"I don't need to keep you alive."
The next moment.
Kim Hyun's hand covered the research team leader's face.
"Gaaaaah!"