Sweeping the Spoils
“Securing the supplies?”
“Yes.”
The moment she heard Kim Seo-jun's plan, Major Lee Hye-na didn't raise any major objections.
Truth be told, they hadn't gotten much out of the Hongwon Mining Field on their first visit.
It couldn't be helped. With a monstrous tank worm waiting ahead, loading military trucks with supplies and weighing them down—slowing their mobility—would've been sheer madness.
That said, leaving those supplies behind felt like a waste in every way.
Of course, the question had crossed her mind.
“What about the route?”
“Private Park Bo-seop says there won't be any issues. But it'll add about eight hours to our trip to the Polish Base.”
“Eight hours.”
Was it worth investing that much time?
Under normal circumstances, maybe not. But they were heading to the Polish Base, and according to Major Yan Zabwotski, it had enough manpower shortages but no lack of supplies.
Safety in numbers, sure—but on this apocalyptic hellhole of a planet called Amotia, eight hours was no small amount of time.
Kim Seo-jun knew that too.
Yet his proposal wasn't just because of his inventory ability.
“After securing the supplies, we have to blow the place sky-high.”
“Blow it up?”
There was something even more crucial.
“Yes. There are definitely surveillance devices there. We need to deal with them, and the surest way is to just demolish the entire mining field.”
The Chinese Base was the biggest power on Amotia.
“They're thieves operating now that the gate's destroyed. They won't just let anyone walk away with their stuff—even if it's the rightful owner.”
And among everyone on Amotia, they were the last people you wanted to deal with.
“No, if they find out the owner took it back, they'll come after us even harder. It's the perfect chance for them to erase evidence.”
Hearing that, Major Lee Hye-na dropped her doubts.
Besides, she didn't have the authority to question it anyway.
Command rested with Kim Seo-jun.
One thing left to do.
“About those supplies?”
Now it was time to explain to Major Yan Zabwotski, who would be traveling with them to the Polish Base.
“I'm not so shameless as to dictate the route like some freeloading passenger.”
Of course, he didn't object either.
“Alright, let's move out.”
Vroooom!
The prepared vehicles roared back toward the Hongwon Mining Field.
No major issues on the way.
It wasn't peaceful, exactly.
Mogdog packs lurked everywhere—groups of about ten, staking out territories.
They were landmines.
Living landmines the Mogs had scattered across the vast planet to hunt humans!
And they were brutally effective.
The second you entered a pack's range, they'd scream like maniacs, summoning every Mogdog in the area.
“Mogdog pack one kilometer ahead. Go around.”
“Yes, sir.”
Even so, no problems arose—thanks to Kim Seo-jun's eyes.
His newly acquired item had bumped his Hawk Eye talent to E-rank.
'Every rank up boosts eyesight by 1.'
And while not confirmed, this level-up had pushed his eyesight to 4.
3 to 4 was a massive leap, and Private Park Bo-seop felt it in his bones.
“Thanks to you, Sergeant Kim, it's smooth sailing.”
Kim Seo-jun didn't respond to that.
His expression hardened instead.
'Too many landmines.'
To him, the number of Mogdog packs in this area was anything but normal.
'The tank worms got hit, sure.'
That meant the Mogs were focusing here—and for good reason.
But Kim Seo-jun knew better.
The Mogs couldn't respond this fast normally.
Precisely, Mogs had leaders—special specimens acting like independent tribe chiefs.
Even if they coordinated, it wasn't this seamless.
'This kind of speed means the queen's about to spawn.'
Unless it was one specific case.
That reality weighed on Kim Seo-jun now.
'Even if we spot the queen, no orbital support in this mess.'
Obviously, psykers didn't challenge a queen to a fair 1v1 upon discovery.
A few could, but most called in orbiting warships for focused bombardment.
With the gate wrecked and space in chaos, proper support was a pipe dream.
Everything was at its worst for Kim Seo-jun.
That's why the supplies mattered.
'We survive on our own.'
The Polish Base had stocks, but cramming them all into inventory? Impossible.
Hongwon's haul was different.
Laundered clean by the Chinese—they could store it worry-free and use as needed.
For Kim Seo-jun, Hongwon was a must-visit. After the long haul, they arrived.
“No signs of entry since we left.”
Thankfully, it was untouched.
Specifically, the stones he'd subtly arranged inside the entrance—for his eyes only—were still in place.
“Just you and me inside, Major.”
Without hesitation, Kim Seo-jun led Major Lee Hye-na to the stolen goods.
He knew the way; the warehouse was quick to reach. Piles of supplies towered there.
Major Lee Hye-na felt a pang of regret seeing it.
They could take less than a fraction of a fraction.
Then—
“Major.”
Kim Seo-jun spoke to her.
“This is my ability.”
“Your ability?”
Before her puzzled repeat, he demonstrated.
The stacked supplies vanished.
“Huh?”
As Major Lee Hye-na gaped, he kept shoveling them into his inventory.
“W-what the—!”
Once she grasped it, her shock hit full force. Kim Seo-jun explained.
“I'm showing you for two reasons. One, the situation's that dire. Two, I trust you.”
That word—trust—shifted her expression.
She nodded.
“Thanks.”
With gratitude, she asked:
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Hard to grab them one by one. Just hand me the crates.”
“Got it.”
Major Lee Hye-na sprang into action.
“Here.”
Her superhuman strength hefted heavy crates to him.
“Here.”
Again.
“Here.”
And again.
“......Here.”
Dozens of times.
“......Insane.”
By the hundreds, awe leaked from her lips.
Kim Seo-jun's inventory now held every scrap the Chinese space forces had pilfered on Amotia—an insane haul.
Even he was stunned.
'All this fits? Unreal.'
He'd gauged the size, but handling it firsthand was another level.
'Plenty of room left—even for a hoverbike.'
Surplus, big time.
“No supply worries for a while.”
Kim Seo-jun summed it up. Major Lee Hye-na thought: Not a while—this could last you till you die, solo.
“Ask for anything you need, no hesitation.”
She let out a dry chuckle and nodded.
“Understoo—.”
Suddenly, a voice echoed in their space. Both went silent, eyes sharpening.
They stared toward the sound.
A radio.
Major Lee Hye-na thought: No need to poke the bear.
Ignore it.
Then Kim Seo-jun moved—breath held, even hers.
He approached the radio, fiddled with the language pack, pressed transmit, and spoke.
“Responding.”
2.
“Responding.”
Major Lee Hye-na's jaw dropped at the Chinese from his language pack.
What the hell!
Breaking in to steal, only to answer the homeowner's call? Same difference.
And Kim Seo-jun wasn't done.
He kept going.
He released the button, signaling her with his eyes: Speak freely.
“Sergeant Kim Seo-jun, what's your angle?”
She fired the question; he answered.
“Relations with the Chinese were already sour. Now we've crossed the Rubicon.”
“What's that got to do with answering the radio?”
“HQ will dispatch forces soon. To eliminate their subordinates here.”
“Eliminate?”
“Yes. No superior leaves thieving underlings alive.”
Major Lee Hye-na recalled his exchange and got it.
“An explosion destroyed the goods—psyker gear gone? Who'd buy that?”
Any boss would see it as a blatant lie.
“They'll think: 'Jacks hit the jackpot from the crates, now risking it all to embezzle.' What would you do, Major?”
Her answer was instant.
“Send troops.”
“Exactly. Fast—as possible. Someone reliable, skilled, to recover valuables. And in this universe, only one fits.”
“A psyker?”
“Yes.”
She blurted in surprise:
“You planning to kill a psyker?”
“No intention of that.”
He denied it flat-out.
He knew how monstrous psykers were.
Unless a sure kill, best not to touch them.
“I just want confirmation.”
Reason for this ploy? Simple.
“If it's major-level, no psyker dispatch. But if they send one without hesitation, the theft command came from higher up.”
“Higher up?”
To pinpoint the enemy clearer.
And Kim Seo-jun already suspected one.
“I judge the colonel—Amotia Chinese branch chief—is involved.”
3.
The Chinese Base on Amotia boasted the planet's largest size and power.
Proof? Their branch chief's rank.
While others used majors or lieutenant colonels, China had a full colonel—Colonel Wang Lei.
Not that the Amotia chief post was a power seat.
If it flowed with milk and honey, others would've poured in too.
Bluntly, a dead-end job. Only one reason a colonel stuck there:
No stars on shoulders. Career stalled.
That was Wang Lei.
Once rising fast, his patrons lost faction wars—dumped him here.
Moment he arrived, his life goal simplified:
“Milk it dry before they strip my uniform.”
First order: Build a supply-skimming system.
Not for regular goods.
Psyker supplies. He baited everywhere, waiting for a big fish.
And it bit.
Hawk Eye!
Tracked the drop for America's star psyker agent.
Stolen—then disaster news hit.
'Gate trouble now.'
Cosmic chaos.
Terrifying for most, but not Colonel Wang Lei.
Danger for grunts; he had Amotia's sturdiest bunker and an evac shuttle.
Escape-ready—no fear.
'Perfect storm.'
Chaos meant grab the loot and bolt to Earth.
Heart racing, he awaited the gift box.
“Looks like the rats are embezzling.”
But the report ignited fury, not thrill.
No long speech. He hit a desk button.
A lean man appeared, saluted.
Colonel Wang Lei said:
“How long to wipe them and recover the goods?”
“24 hours, sir!”
Bold claim.
Hongwon was over 10 hours one-way by truck.
24 total? Absurd.
But the man made it possible.
Psyker!
They ignored human limits.
Yet Wang Lei wasn't satisfied.
“15 hours.”
Tighter deadline. The psyker agent blinked—impossible, even for him.
“I'll give you a Wyvern.”
That changed it.
Wyvern: China's pinnacle hoverbike. Priceless tech marvel.
Only three at Amotia HQ—not for frontline, but Wang Lei's getaway.
Captain Zhang Wei didn't hesitate:
“12 hours, sir!”
Three hours later, the report:
“Lost contact with Agent Zhang Wei!”