Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 024
Chapter Title: Hijacking
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Kyle, shaking hands with the woman who had introduced herself as an inspector, had a thought.
'Inspector?'
The Inspection Bureau was a department that conducted various internal investigations and administrative audits under orders from City Hall.
Naturally, it wielded considerable influence over various government ministries and district administrative offices.
Rumor had it that the Luther Family, which dominated City Hall, had created the bureau to efficiently manage each autonomous district. On the surface, it was just an organization pursuing policy efficiency.
In reality, though, word on the street was that it was little more than the Luther Family's long arm.
'Why would an inspector like that come to me...?'
Of course, the Security Stabilization Project seemed important enough that the city Inspection Bureau would dispatch personnel.
But for someone from the bureau to personally show up to meet a lowly prisoner was another matter entirely.
Lyn Yenitz sat down naturally in the seat across from him, crossing her legs gracefully.
"Sorry. Was that too sudden?"
Kyle chose his words carefully.
"Well... there's no reason for someone of your position to come see me."
"......"
At his words, Yenitz subtly gauged his expression.
'He really looks like he has no idea...'
Was he skilled at hiding his thoughts?
'Or is this incident the Marshall Family acting on their own?'
Either way, the prisoner before her was showing the textbook reaction of a regular person encountering an inspector for the first time.
Confusion, a hint of wariness, and probing.
A reaction no one from the Luther Family would ever show.
It was the kind of face that might have fooled her just a short while ago.
But now that she'd made contact with the Marshall Family and confirmed his anti-magic constitution, fooling her was impossible.
'Still, better to play along and pretend I don't know.'
The Marshall Family butler had told her not to pry into the reasons.
And Kyle Clark was hiding his true identity under a false name.
So, for her own safety, it was best to go along with the charade for now.
"I've heard that the project's recent successes are all thanks to you, Mr. Clark. So I wanted to meet you in person at least once."
"Ah... yes..."
'She wouldn't go out of her way just for that.'
As Kyle silently sized her up, a mustached officer approached from the front compartment.
"We're about to depart soon, but..."
She looked up at him coldly, as if the earlier smile had never existed.
"Yes, go ahead."
"...Are you coming along?"
"I have business with the unit too. Didn't you hear?"
"Ah, understood."
Kyle blinked at the sight of her smiling at him again.
'Is she being nicer to me for some reason? Or am I imagining it?'
Meanwhile, at the mustached officer's signal, several more officers boarded the helicopter from outside.
Faint bite marks lingered on the napes of all their necks.
The mustached man nodded toward the cockpit, and the pilot moved to the controls.
"Uh, are we taking off right away like this?"
One of the officers nodded at Kyle's question.
"Any problem?"
"No, it's just... what about the other 1st Platoon members?"
"1st Platoon was wiped out except for one. That one's in treatment now."
"Damn..."
As Kyle made a regretful face, Yenitz added in a perfunctory tone.
"That's too bad."
This was just Kyle's personal sentiment, though.
Honestly, she looked utterly indifferent.
Kyle gave a wry smile.
'...Yeah, that's normal.'
The penal unit was disposable, after all.
In the meantime, the helicopter's engines roared to life.
With a bam!, the hatch slammed shut, and the rotor noise grew deafening. Yenitz handed Kyle a headset.
"......"
'No refusing, I guess.'
It might have been less awkward if she were plainer-looking.
Kyle sighed inwardly and put on the headset.
[Can you hear me?]
He nodded at her question.
"So, what's the real reason you came to see me?"
[Like I said earlier, I just wanted to meet the project's top contributor.]
Leaning back in her seat, Yenitz continued.
[You prisoners might not know, but this project is drawing a lot more attention than you'd think. Not just government ministries, but city council members and noble families too...]
She cast a sly glance with her fox-like eyes.
[Mayor Luther and his old friend Representative Marshall, naturally.]
"......"
But Kyle just furrowed his brow, as if hearing it all for the first time.
Yenitz inwardly admired his reaction.
'He's airtight.'
She'd expected at least some flicker at the names Luther and Marshall.
Even by her long experience as an inspector, his eyes truly seemed ignorant.
She narrowed her eyes.
'The Luthers are the Luthers, after all?'
Meanwhile, Kyle thought to himself.
'Marshall? Marshall... Feels familiar, but maybe not.'
At that moment, Yenitz pointed to a button on the headset and subtly held up three fingers.
'...Switch to channel 3?'
Kyle pressed the channel button, and she smiled brightly.
[So, what I'm about to say is the main point.]
"...?"
[Sorry. It's just a personal proposal. Too many ears around otherwise, you know?]
Only then did he realize why she'd been beating around the bush from the start.
'Even choosing to talk here in a moving helicopter...'
Was this the only place they could speak alone?
"What kind of proposal requires all this...?"
[Oh, nothing big. But the ones making the offer want it as low-profile as possible.]
"What do you mean?"
[Like I said, lots of people are interested in this project.]
Here, she debated mentioning the Marshall Family.
'...Better not for now.'
Not knowing why he'd come from the Luther Family, she couldn't gauge his feelings toward them or their allies.
Anyway, she was doing this at the Marshall Family's request.
No need to take unnecessary risks.
[Among them, some want to... provide a little support to the top contributor of recent results.]
"Support?"
[Yes. Strictly unofficial, but in the form of donations to the unit—equipment you might need, that sort of thing.]
"......!"
Her words made Yenitz tense up without realizing it.
'Did he catch on?'
She'd tried to make it sound natural.
Meanwhile, Kyle was genuinely surprised by the unexpected windfall.
'Donations? Jackpot.'
He wondered if magic artifacts might be possible too.
'Probably too pricey to swing.'
That was when it hit.
"!!"
Kyle's eyes widened as he whipped his head toward a nearby officer.
Suddenly gripped by agony, Yenitz clutched her chest and groaned.
"Ugh...!"
'Wh-what... my chest...!'
Cold sweat poured like a waterfall.
Gasping, she tried to call for help from the officers, but froze in place.
'What the...?'
The officers' vibe was off.
They stood like statues, staring at them with chilling gazes.
'What's going...!'
Cutting through the sticky tension, Kyle was the first to speak.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"......"
One officer narrowed his eyes.
"How is he fine?"
"No idea."
"The ritual definitely activated."
No way it would work.
Lately, Kyle had been resetting any bodily anomalies with Baal's Minor Curse.
A brief silence followed.
"......"
"......"
"......"
They glared at each other.
"Hngh...!"
Her labored groans punctuated the moment.
Then, with a click!, Kyle unbuckled his seatbelt, shattering the suffocating silence.
"Kyaaah!"
As if waiting, an officer lunged with bared fangs.
But Kyle, bolstered by his grown stats and curse power, was no pushover.
He swung a swift punch to the jaw, slamming the man against the wall, then grabbed his nape and cast a spell.
Lowest Bolt
Kwa-zzi-jik! ⚡ Lightning courses through the target.
"Aaaagh!"
'Can't use Wereking Fist.'
The aftermath of Internal Force Fist Punch could crash the helicopter.
'No fire magic, no strong lightning. Even Lowest Bolt is risky near the cockpit.'
Seeing guns aimed at him, Kyle hoisted the officer he held as a shield.
Bang! Bang-bang!!
"Kyaaah!"
Yenitz screamed at the sudden gunfire flashes.
Kyle kicked the officer away.
The others dodged the flying body, lowering their guns momentarily.
But by the time they looked up, Kyle was already upon them.
"!!"
His hand clamped the man's face like a vice and smashed it to the floor.
"Guhk!?"
Lowest Bolt
Aaaagh!!! ⚡ Devastating electric shock.
Kyle snatched a pistol and kicked open the cockpit door.
A sporty-haired officer turned, eyes bulging.
Seeing his fangs, Kyle didn't hesitate— he blew his head off.
Bang-!
The body crumpled. Kyle stepped over it toward the cockpit and warned.
"Land the helicopter."
"......"
The two in the cockpit ignored him.
"Helicopter."
Click. Kyle pressed the pistol to the pilot's head.
"Land it."
The mustached officer in the co-pilot seat smirked, then spoke in a chilling voice.
[Impressive. You have the skill to struggle, it seems.]
His face had transformed—no longer human.
Deathly pale skin, blood-red eyes.
And unnaturally long, sharp fangs.
Kyle sighed softly.
'Never thought I'd run into a vampire of all things.'
This one was likely the ringleader.
That was when it happened.
"...!"
The vampire was suddenly in his face, mouth opening.
[But can trash like you withstand my essence?]
For some reason, Kyle knew.
This was a vampire, but something else was speaking through its mouth.
'What the hell are you?'
Time to shoot first, ask later.
As he raised his gun, an unpleasant voice froze his body.
[Too late, false proxy.]
That's when Kyle noticed the magic artifact-like item in the vampire's hand.
[Perish regretting your existence in agony.]
But its contents felt different.
'This is... a curse?'
In that instant, pitch-black darkness engulfed his vision.
"What do you mean?"
Joseph, back after seeing off Representative Rockton, frowned at the bizarre report.
"What about Helicopter 6?"
"Th-that is..."
The flustered patrol officer reported.
"Helicopter 6 deviated from its return path to base...!"
"Deviated? Some kind of trouble?"
"Unknown. All comms channels are cut off. It's flying over Sector 5 airspace."
"What the..."
'Hold on.'
Helicopter 6?
A flash of insight hit Joseph.
"Who was aboard Helicopter 6!?"
"That is..."
The officer answered.
"Prisoner #43471... and Inspector Lyn Yenitz."
"!!"
Joseph shot to his feet.
"Where's that helicopter headed!?"
"D-displaying on screen!"
The main screen showed the projected flight path.
"...Outside the 8th Special District?"
Realizing the gravity, he issued orders rapidly.
"Tell Alpha Team to pursue Helicopter 6 immediately! Request support from the Inspection Bureau! Notify the precinct! This is no ordinary incident!"
Captain Joseph's face hardened.
"It's a hijacking...!"
When I opened my eyes, rain was falling.
In the dim entryway, bloodstained red pooled around the shoe rack.
Lifting my head, a familiar back stood there.
Body torn and bloodied, red hair before the living room window, staring at the downpour.
The sobs brought my sister's fading voice sharply back.
'Save me.'
Mafia dragged her out, slaughtering her before my eyes.
'Kyle.'
Golden eyes met mine.
'Save...!'
"Okay. So this is the vibe of the curse."
I immediately used Baal's Minor Curse.
Baal's Minor Curse
Curse dispelled. Vitality sacrificed for reset.
The curse that nearly killed me lifted instantly.
[?!]
Raising my head at the noisy rotors, sure enough.
The vampire stared in shock, eyes wide.
The unpleasant voice behind stuttered in panic.
[Y-you... how...!]
"Sorry."
I aimed at him.
"Tricks like this don't work on me."
Bang-!!
The bullet mercilessly blew off the vampire's head.
"Keeeaagh!!"