Chapter 99
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 099
Chapter Title: If You Touch Him
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Mickey, who had just dried her hair and was dressed in pink pajamas that clung to her damp locks, tapped her forehead as if realizing her mistake.
"...I overlooked it."
While ground-level brokers were tightly connected through networks and maintained a minimum of professional courtesy among themselves,
the underground brokers, unlike those above, weren't linked in any such network.
The deep web wasn't even installed here due to regulations from the start.
Still, she had trusted him because they'd done business for a long time.
'Damn it, I let my guard down...!'
In the end, he was an outsider not part of the same network.
Her clear mistake had been leading them here without even a hint of caution, dulled by the suffocating darkness.
Mickey bowed deeply toward Kyle, her face full of remorse.
"Sorry, Kyle...! This is my fault!"
If Kyle hadn't noticed the suspicious signs, an irreversible disaster might have unfolded.
That thought alone made it impossible for her to hold back her apology.
"Sorry to you too, sir."
"...Nah. I let my guard down too, since it's been a while down here."
They were after Kyle from the start, not him anyway.
"Mmmp...!"
He glanced at the broker, who was staring up at them with trembling eyes, mouth gagged.
"Normally, you have to watch out even for falling leaves around here."
Let alone loosening up just because you're tired.
Walter narrowed his eyes.
'...I've gone soft too.'
Maybe it was because, after missions with the 141 Unit, they could finally relax and rest easy.
But this underground wasn't the 141.
What was the underworld like in his memory?
A place where yesterday's friend could become a total bastard today.
Especially for outsiders.
"...It's fine. You two don't need to blame yourselves."
Kyle reassured them with a nonchalant expression.
He knew full well he was different from them as an immortal.
'I can reset anytime and be back in perfect condition.'
But these two had trudged through that pitch-black darkness for so long.
'Their stamina and mental strength must be shot.'
Naturally, they'd loosen up and slip up eventually.
Especially after escaping danger and reaching a familiar spot they frequented.
"People make mistakes when they're tired. It happens."
Even if something went wrong, he was immortal—he wouldn't die.
'Besides...'
Mickey Rose was a beauty from the start.
From a place she recommended, no less.
Kyle had already considered the possibility of something like this happening.
'The journey accounted for bad omens anyway.'
And it wasn't all bad.
At least they'd gotten the needed info from the conspiring bastards.
"But..."
He lightly flicked Mickey's forehead.
"Ow."
"It's fine."
"Kyle..."
She looked up at him with trembling eyes.
'...We could've fallen into a trap and been in mortal danger.'
This even involved the district chief.
Anyone else would've held her accountable for leading them to such a "safe" place.
'And yet this guy...'
Seeing him unfazed, as if it were nothing, made Mickey feel the gulf between them.
'...He's different.'
The butcher before her was definitely unlike any powerhouse she'd seen in the 8th Special District.
They all reveled in their power, wielding it omnipotently.
But not Kyle.
Unlike his brutal reputation, he only used violence when necessary and never flaunted it.
'Now I get why George became such a fan.'
Even if Kyle's power was exceptionally unique, George Brocket had seen countless powerhouses as an informant.
Would he really be drawn just to the butcher's strength?
George hadn't spelled out why he was a fan.
But it surely wasn't just the power.
"So, what do you plan to do with this guy?"
Walter asked, and Kyle grabbed the broker's bangs, yanking his head back.
"Mmmp...!"
"Who knows."
He turned to the group.
"For now, just act normal, I guess? At least for the next two days."
Kyle didn't want them knowing he'd caught on.
'The mana knight was planning to hit me after his deal with the bloodkin.'
No reason to wait that long.
Kyle's eyes narrowed.
'I'll strike first.'
He continued.
"Now that I've caught them, they won't try anything stupid while we're here."
Kyle dangled the monomolecular cutter he'd taken from the official in front of the broker's eyes.
"Right?"
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
The broker nodded frantically.
Walter's eyes widened at the sight of the dagger.
"Hey, wait. That dagger."
"Yeah?"
He leaned in closer.
"No way, is that a monomolecular cutter?"
"Monomolecular cutter?"
Kyle infused a bit of mana, and blue light flashed as the blade's molecules sharpened.
"Just grabbed it from that official earlier."
"Holy shit, you hit the jackpot. That's crazy expensive."
"Really?"
"Yeah, man. Way harder to get than some plasma cutter. Here, lemme see."
"?"
Walter took the cutter from Kyle and pointed at a nearby metal chair.
"Watch this."
He swung lightly—whoosh!—and the chair leg sliced clean like tofu.
"Whoa..."
"Want me to kill him?"
Walter spun the dagger expertly and handed it back.
"Cuts through most steel like butter, so handle with care."
"That's weird, though."
Mickey tilted her head.
"Even underground, a monomolecular cutter costs nearly 100 million per blade, right?"
"Huh."
Kyle stared at the dagger in his hand.
'This thing's worth 100 million?'
Walter checked the brand.
"Damn, it's a Callex model too. Top-shelf stuff."
"Kyle, you're sure that was just a regular official?"
Kyle sighed softly at Mickey's question.
"He did fight like one who'd seen some action, for an official."
"That's normal underground."
"......"
What even were underground officials?
Kyle turned to the broker.
"Hey, you know something?"
"Mmph! Mmmp!"
The broker shook his head wildly.
Heaven's Eye
Looks like he really doesn't know.
Kyle scratched his head.
'Should've checked more thoroughly with [Heaven's Eye].'
Walter shrugged.
"Eh... whatever. Good stuff's good. Probably some rich kid playing official."
Working for the district office in this neutral zone required connections and background anyway.
"That's not the issue right now."
"...The deal's in Brahman Sector, right?"
Kyle nodded, and Mickey groaned softly.
"Brahman Sector won't be easy to infiltrate."
Walter spoke up.
"How about ambushing him on his way back to the Demon King's Castle after the deal?"
"Does that even matter? He knew Kyle was coming underground. He probably won't leave Zone 20 until he finds him. Plus..."
Mickey narrowed her eyes.
"If the rumors are true, these demons being traded escaped Zone 23 once. You think the mana knight will just sit idle until he returns?"
Their bodies might be useful as mana sources, but their minds weren't disposable.
"By the time we rescue them late, they might already be broken."
"But Brahman Sector is..."
No matter how close Zone 20 was to the surface, its elite guards weren't pushovers.
"Especially Guard Captain Bengrov—that old bastard's a fortress in himself."
Just then, the bound broker squirmed.
"Mmph. Mmmp!"
"...? What?"
Kyle looked over, and Walter nodded, removing the gag.
"Phew, haah... About Bengrov and the elite guards..."
"What about them?"
"Lately, high-risk monsters with insane reproduction rates like aberrant medusas have been popping up around here. 'Eyes of Tenebrae'—the path companies use a lot—has gotten super dangerous."
'Aberrant medusa?'
Kyle recalled the monster he'd encountered before.
"So?"
The broker swallowed hard.
"So most of the elite guards are out purging monster nests. They should return around evening two days from now, so..."
He eyed Kyle cautiously before continuing.
"If you're targeting the mana knight... wouldn't it be better to strike before then?"
"Hmm."
Heaven's Eye
"Not lying, at least."
"Y-yes! So please, spare my life... Mmmp!!"
Walter gagged him again and looked up.
"So what now?"
Kyle replied.
"...What else? We go."
Dragging it out beyond two days gained nothing, per the broker.
The chief was cooperating only to track his location for now—who knew about later?
One slip, and they'd face the mana knight plus the city's elite guards.
"Two days from now. We raid the deal site in Brahman Sector."
"But how?"
Mickey said worriedly.
"No elite guards doesn't mean lax security. Don't forget this is underground, Kyle."
"That's why I'm saying it."
Kyle stroked his chin.
"I've got this trick I used to pull off before. Feels like it'll work again."
His lips curved up.
"Wanna hear it?"
Walter and Mickey exchanged glances, then blinked at Kyle.
"???"
Two days later.
Zone 20 underground.
Brahman Sector, District Office Chief's room.
"So."
Holographic sunlight poured through the window as District Chief Folker Shurleman flipped through files silently, then glared ahead.
"You still haven't located him?"
"S-sorry...!"
He swung his clipboard, slapping the young man's cheek.
Crack!
The young man was the very official Kyle had subdued two days ago.
Lips split, he straightened and bowed.
"S-sorry, Uncle—no, Chief!"
"You useless piece of shit. Can't even handle this one thing?! Where could he be hiding? He just arrived underground—he's gotta be in the city or nearby!"
"I have no excuses. Sorry."
Folker Shurleman clicked his tongue.
"Raised my late brother's son with kid gloves, and this is what I get? Always such a mess."
He eyed the young man's still-bruised nose.
"Shurleman bloodline, my ass—rolling around like an idiot and coming back with a broken nose."
"......"
Hans Shurleman, the official with the fractured nosebone, clenched his teeth unconsciously.
"I'll circulate the sketch to the brokers again."
"Don't just circulate—get your ass out there."
"Yes! Sorry!"
"Haa..."
The chief waved him off with a deep sigh.
"Forget it. Just hole up in your room like a dead rat. I'll handle this. My fault for trusting a dimwit like you."
"......"
"What're you waiting for? Scram."
"Sorry..."
Hans bowed deeply and turned away, fists trembling.
But he couldn't rat out what he knew to the chief.
Two days ago, that night.
Recalling the terror branded in the warehouse, Hans shuddered involuntarily.
'No way I can say it.'
The backlash terrified him.
But that wasn't all.
As he walked with hollow eyes, Hans thought.
'...This much is routine anyway.'
Getting beaten and verbally abused by his uncle.
It was everyday life for him.
Reporting that man would change nothing lasting.
He knew it deep down.
No matter his efforts, Folker Shurleman would never acknowledge him.
So why did he keep clinging?
Longing for a father figure? Emotional deprivation?
Even Hans didn't know.
Slam! As he left, Folker sneered.
"Pathetic loser."
His phone rang; he picked up.
"Yeah, what."
[Chief, Kepler Corp guests are here.]
Kepler Corp—one of the megacorps expanding aggressively in the 8th Special District.
Originally pharmaceuticals and distribution, they'd recently acquired K&A Waterloo's industrial robot division.
Now setting up a branch in the neutral zone with an MOU.
Folker's face lit up.
"Ah, right! Bring them in quick."
[Yes.]
Soon the door opened.
"Executive! Welcome!"
"Hahaha! Chief!"
The pomaded executive approached, shaking hands warmly.
"Two months already? Long time no see."
"That quick? Haha, sit, sit—long trip."
He gestured to his secretary.
"Hey, some tea here."
"Yes, Chief."
As she left, the Waterloo exec spoke.
"Training staff, were you?"
"Ah, haha. You heard?"
"Your voice boomed with charisma! Haha, I get it—sometimes they need a firm hand."
"Aw, shucks. Caught me embarrassed. I hate doing it, but that guy's got issues..."
Folker shook his head.
"Can't even find one person in this small city. Frustrating."
"A person?"
"Yeah. VIP request... a mercenary from the surface."
"Surface merc, huh."
The exec raised a brow curiously.
"VIP-worthy? Mind if I see?"
"Sure?"
"I'm handling the 8th District expansion—got all the data. Might help."
"Right. Here he is."
"Hmm, let's see..."
The exec's face hardened at the hologram projection.
"...Chief. You're sure?"
"Huh?"
"This the merc the VIP wants?"
"Yes, but what's—"
"Then..."
He swallowed, eyes trembling.
"Did the VIP say why he wants him?"
"...Why ask?"
"Chief."
The exec said gravely.
"Answer seriously. This is very important."
"...?"
"What business? From the VIP?"
"Uh..."
Folker hesitated.
VIP request—not something to share, even with key partners.
But those eerie eyes made him spill.
"Obvious, right? Bad blood with the VIP, so..."
"Eliminate him?"
"Haha, eliminate? Just untangle a grudge."
"Chief."
The Kepler exec pressed.
"...Have you touched him?"
"Huh?"
"The butcher—no, the man in that projection. Have you touched him?"
"Uh..."
Folker shook his head, flustered.
"No, not exactly..."
The exec sighed in relief.
"...Good. Not too late. Drop this now."
"But the VIP's involved."
"Still, stop here."
"Haha, it's just a surface merc."
"No joke, Chief."
The exec repeated firmly.
"Kepler tracks watchlist figures in the 8th District for years. This man is..."
Something clicked; his eyes widened.
"No way... the VIP—is he the mana knight?"
"...!"
Folker startled.
"How'd you know?"
"Because...!"
The viral deep web video from the surface.
Neutral zone VIP with a grudge against the butcher.
Too obvious...
A chilling thought paled the exec's face.
"J-just checking, but that VIP..."
His eyes shook.
"He's here now, isn't he?"
"Huh?"
"In Brahman Sector right now!"
"Uh..."
Reading the reaction, the exec muttered.
"...Shit."
Then—
Bang! The secretary burst in.
"Ch-Chief!!"
"What?! Guest here!"
"B-but...!"
Pale-faced, she pointed at the window.
"Something outside!"
"What?"
Folker glanced casually—then his eyes bulged.
"...Wh-what the hell."
A colossal glacier loomed overhead, glaring down.
"What is that?!"
As Folker yelled in panic—
Whoosh!
A man's silhouette shot from the glacier, plummeting into central Brahman Sector.
BOOM!!