Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: An Insufficient Token of Trust (1)
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“The offer came from both sides.”
At the proxy’s words, Dive ran his tongue over the roof of his mouth.
“In any case, receiving an offer from the world-renowned Iron Mask isn’t a bad thing. But sending only a proxy is hardly polite, is it?”
“He had business to attend to.”
Dive didn’t miss the subtle tightening of the proxies’ faces.
“Am I not business?”
“I cannot say. When the opportunity arises, I will tell you then.”
Watching the proxy’s slightest gestures, the look in his eyes, and the way he touched the back of his neck as if it felt tight, Dive picked up his teacup.
‘Something’s going on internally.’
Did he die of old age?
Rumor had it he had a successor.
Still, if it was a sudden death, the transfer of power would take time.
‘None of my business.’
All that mattered to Dive was getting his hands on the Iron Mask’s weapons.
This was a region of endless war and chaos.
For a man with a weak support base like Dive, the only way to survive was to become someone else’s subordinate, but he didn’t want that.
He wanted to establish himself as a leader.
At the very least, he needed to prevent half-baked fools from challenging him or men in bomb vests from making surprise visits.
He also needed to avoid having his head split in two by special forces troops armed with advanced equipment.
As long as he could moderately exploit the civilians and reign as a king in his own territory, that would be enough.
To achieve that, the Iron Mask’s support was more crucial to him than anyone else’s.
“So, what are your terms?”
“Tell us anything you know about men in black suits.”
Dive furrowed his brows, his expression clearly saying, ‘What the hell are they talking about?’
“That’s unpleasant. To come all this way and joke around.”
“This is no joke.”
Dive gestured for his men in the room to leave, then pulled a cigarette from its pack with his teeth.
*Clank! Fwoosh.*
“Hah! It's not like there's only one or two guys in suits. All the business types wandering around here wear suits. What exactly do you want?”
One of the proxies leaned toward Dive and spoke carefully.
“To be precise, we want information on mercenaries in suits.”
“Mercenaries? In suits?”
“Providing information on them and searching for them—that is our proposal. Accept this, and we will open a line of trade with you.”
Dive’s head was spinning.
He had requested weapons and advanced equipment to arm his men from the Iron Mask.
The Iron Mask’s equipment wasn’t something just anyone could get.
In exchange for distributing such goods, their proposal was so vague and outlandish that he didn't even know what expression to make.
“What the… Hah.”
“We would appreciate it if you told us what you know.”
This time, another man said the same thing with a serious face. Dive sucked on his lips and swept back his hair, which reeked of sweat.
Then, he glared at the Iron Mask’s men with sharp eyes.
“If you were to withdraw the terms later…”
“That will not happen.”
One of the proxies cut him off, and Dive gnawed on his lip.
“For now, just what you know. Promise only that, and we will give you the contract.”
“Why are you so desperate?”
“You don’t need to know.”
Dive tilted his head and searched his memory.
“Could it be… you’re looking for the Avenger of Kamdesh?”
“The Avenger of Kamdesh?”
“It’s a story that floats around like a legend.”
It was a story Dive himself didn’t believe.
But since the proxies were talking about such far-fetched things, Dive threw it out there.
“Was it a year ago? The Taliban attacked U.S. forces stationed in Afghanistan, causing massive casualties. I heard that exactly three days after the U.S. withdrew, two men in suits appeared.”
The proxies’ expressions turned serious, and one of them even took a recorder from his pocket and began to record Dive’s voice.
‘This is insane.’
With a face that said he didn’t know how to take this situation, Dive continued.
“It’s a bizarre rumor that they killed all the men who attacked the U.S. forces. The rumor says they even beheaded the commander, but no one would take that seriously.”
“Have you seen them?”
“If such a thing really exists, I would genuinely like to meet them. I’d also like to ask how just two men managed to wipe out so many soldiers.”
The proxy across from Dive’s eyes flashed as he nodded.
*Rustle.*
Another proxy took out an envelope and a pen. He pulled a paper from the envelope and handed it to Dive.
“The contract. Just sign it, and you will have the opportunity to do business with us.”
Dive took the contract and looked at the proxies, bewildered.
“Are you serious?”
“Read it before you sign.”
The proxy uncapped a pen and offered it. With a doubtful expression, Dive read through the contract.
Was this what it felt like to see an adventurer chasing a legend?
Was this how it felt to see a child chasing a bluebird?
What was so special about men in suits?
The bottom of the contract stated that he was to prioritize gathering information related to them, and that any information, no matter how trivial, must be reported immediately.
“We need information on anyone in a suit, regardless of race, gender, or age. If you agree to that clause, then sign.”
Dive held the pen.
But he couldn’t bring himself to sign so rashly.
What he had to provide felt too light compared to what he was getting.
A deal like this felt dangerous, and even Dive, who desperately needed the Iron Mask’s equipment, couldn’t sign without hesitation.
“Let me ask one thing. Am I the only one who received this offer?”
“You need not concern yourself with that.”
*Crazy bastards.*
That was the first thought that came to mind upon hearing the proxy’s answer.
“Let me think for a moment.”
Dive brought the tea to his lips.
All the while, his gaze remained fixed on the Iron Mask’s men.
They were also drinking tea, and now Dive thought he understood why they had been irritating him more than necessary.
‘I’m the one who’s desperate.’
Their strangely subdued faces and fearful eyes weren’t directed at Dive.
Then what was it?
What had made them like this?
Dive thought for a moment, then sucked his lips and tilted his head to the side, as if shooing a fly from his face.
This was no time to get sidetracked.
He was the one in a hurry, and their offer was too sweet.
The choice to accept the offer or not was his.
But his situation wasn’t one where he could afford to be leisurely, as if someone were holding a knife to his throat.
“Have you made your decision?”
One of the proxies asked, as if pressing him. Dive bounced one leg and met his gaze.
Then he opened his mouth and spoke the decision he had reached after a brief moment of deliberation.
***
*Clank! Clank!*
In the United States, at the vacant lot where Yohan had been trained.
Returning here in the car he had left parked at the airport, Kanghyeok frowned at the chaotic noise assaulting his ears.
‘What’s this?’
There was no reason for such a sound here.
A shootout, he could understand.
It was that kind of city.
But it wasn’t the kind of city where you’d hear sounds from a construction site. This was a Harlem forsaken even by the state; it was certainly not a place where a construction company would set up shop.
That was why no proper repairs had been made since Nobody’s attack.
*Vrooom.*
As if to see the answer with his own two eyes, Kanghyeok accelerated the car, twisting his lips as he pulled out a cigarette.
‘A company vehicle.’
The company he belonged to didn’t engage in public activities.
Even so, for convenience, information gathering, or operational reasons, it ran several plausible front companies. A truck bearing the logo of one of those companies came into view.
*Screech!*
Kanghyeok pulled the handbrake and got out of the car. The workers in yellow hard hats spotted him, stopped all activity, and bowed politely.
“Good day, sir.”
“If you had contacted us in advance, we would have prepared something. We apologize.”
*Chkk!*
“All personnel, cease activity! The VIP has arrived.”
As if to prevent even a single speck of construction dust from settling on Kanghyeok, they halted their work completely. Kanghyeok’s gaze swept over them.
“I wasn’t informed.”
“We heard you went abroad to meet an acquaintance and didn’t want to disturb you. We were going to contact you once preparations were complete. Our apologies for our inadequacy.”
A man who appeared to be the site foreman spoke with extreme politeness. Kanghyeok smoked his cigarette and looked at the vacant lot.
The familiar lot now wore an unfamiliar face.
Where the scrap tires Yohan had used for target practice once were, there were now piles of rebar and sand.
It seemed construction had begun less than a day ago.
“Where is Lei… my secretary?”
“She is elsewhere. Shall I fetch her?”
Kanghyeok thought for a moment before answering.
“No.”
Leila was probably training Yohan in some quiet place right now.
Trusting Leila, Kanghyeok asked no more questions. The man before him slightly lifted his hard hat with a gloved hand and spoke.
“The HR Manager will be arriving soon as well.”
“William?”
“Yes, he said he would visit the newly established safe house.”
Kanghyeok nodded silently, his gaze shifting to the truck and the piles of construction materials.
‘So it was for the safe house.’
The ostensible reason he had fought Nobody in this city was because he had received a request.
There were few reasons for the company to single out such a shabby city for a job.
The reason the company had assigned the mission to drive out the local gangs was to build a safe house.
“Is anyone else visiting?”
“Yes, there is.”
“Who?”
“Mr. Jeff Black.”
Kanghyeok’s lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
He was surprised, but not flustered.
“It makes sense that he would come.”
“He will be providing technical advice and inspecting the site.”
Kanghyeok nodded.
Jeff Black was a celebrity within the company.
Not famous as an agent or an executive.
If one had to classify him, he was a technician, a talent skilled in many areas, but especially brilliant in the development of new materials.
The bulletproof suits worn by the agents, including Kanghyeok, could be said to have been born from his hands.
*Vroom.*
“They’re here.”
The workers straightened their work clothes and watched the two vehicles approaching Kanghyeok’s position. Kanghyeok, too, put out his cigarette.
*Thump.*
William got out of the first car.
“It’s been a while. Did you enjoy your vacation?”
“…Thanks to you, it was fine.”
“Good. Rest is more important than anything.”
Was it because they were in front of the workers?
Despite having supported Kanghyeok, William acted as if he knew nothing about what had happened in Mexico.
*Thud.*
Then, as William approached and placed a hand on Kanghyeok’s shoulder, he felt a firm strength.
At the same time, as William passed by, he spoke in a low, quiet voice.
“I know you have a lot to say. But we’ll talk later.”
Kanghyeok moved only his eyes to look at William.
He wasn’t looking at Kanghyeok.
He was calmly looking past Kanghyeok at the person getting out of the second car that had arrived.
“Welcome, Jeff Black.”
William said to the gray-haired Caucasian man who had gotten out of the driver’s seat. Kanghyeok also gave a slight nod to the company’s respected technician as a greeting.
“Thank you for the welcome. William. And Kanghyeok.”
A face full of wrinkles.
And eyes that, unfittingly, belonged to a young man. Jeff took off his hat and greeted Kanghyeok and William.