Urban Terrorism (1)
The emergency lights flashed inside the garage as sacks stuffed full of white powder were hauled out. The men moving them still wore their gas masks, no time even to rip them off, their goggles fogged with condensation.
“Move, move, move!”
“Load that shit faster, you bastards! Unless you wanna die by the boss!”
“The front gate’s breached! It’s breached!!!”
“Waaaaaaaah!!!”
A thunderous roar shook the air, and the face of the man barking orders drained of all color. Of all days, it had to be today. Right when they were finishing the product and preparing to load it in peace, this happened.
“Is the boss still not here?!”
“W-well…”
“God damn it…!”
Stahlleder was a junkie. A bad one. Days when he wasn’t completely fried were rare, and on the days he was sober… everyone had to walk on eggshells so they wouldn’t set him off. Not that it mattered much. His eyes would still be glazed, his words slurred into nonsense. The violence stayed the same.
So.
“Then at least call the rest! Tell them the stash is getting taken!”
“They say they’re on the way, but the timing…!”
This was the one thing that could never be allowed to happen. The drugs he treasured more than his subordinates’ lives could not be lost. If they were, he’d end up as a decoration hanging in the warehouse. Everyone knew it.
“Shit… You still haven’t loaded everything?!”
“How the hell are we supposed to move this much in one day—!”
“Stop whining and move! Unless you want to be skewered after only being here a week!”
Thud.
Even so, the defensive line crumbled mercilessly. The big men were tossed aside like dead leaves, and a laughter that ripped at the ears flooded the building.
“The Alpha told you to lay off the drugs a little. Guess you don’t have to watch your backs anymore, huh?”
“That damn bitch…!”
Just a few days ago she had been a walking corpse. A beast bleeding out and dying. Yet here she was now, shaking blood off her dagger with casual flicks, tearing away the scraps of cloth caught in her steel claws as she strolled forward.
“Stay right there. Put the goods down exactly as they are.”
Click. Click. The heels of her boots struck the concrete.
Thud. Thud. A massive pack of wolves followed behind her, growling low.
“Big Brother Stahlleder won’t let this slide, Bianca…!”
They ground their teeth, but all they got in return was a derisive snort. The cornered gang forgot about loading the cargo entirely, eyes darting between each other.
“Nah, he won’t do shit. He’ll be too busy tripping on drugs and chasing hallucinations. Instead of that crap, someone bring some tomatoes. I heard they’re good for junkies or whatever.”
The men faltered, stepping back from the ever-growing shadow of the wolf pack—
“We’ve loaded it all—ah…?”
The one who suddenly stepped between the two groups, sweating buckets, was a baby-faced man. The sloppy tattoo on his arm said everything about how sloppy he was. And in that instant—
“Run!”
At the shout, the gang members piled into the cargo truck in perfect sync. They left the newcomer behind.
“W-wait—”
Before he could finish, the tires screeched, kicking up a storm of dust over the poor abandoned kid as the truck shot out of the garage.
“Can’t even take care of your own and you call yourselves Bulph?”
“Ah, um, that’s…”
“Get him out of my sight.”
Bianca didn’t spare the man being dragged away by the thugs a single glance. She pulled out her phone, humming a little tune.
I adjusted the rattling vest as best I could and threw a coat over it. Damn it, the humidity was brutal… but I had no choice. I planned this. I had to take responsibility.
Vrrr.
The phone vibrated in my pocket. It ended sooner than I expected.
“Hello.”
“The truck’s moving. Should be heading your way.”
The surveillance feeds glowed on the tablet I’d unfolded. A truck was already tearing down the quiet road at breakneck speed. Just as predicted, it was racing straight toward my ambush point.
“Need anything else?”
“…No. I’ll handle it from here. Bulph cannot be connected to that truck.”
I’d deliberately brought a different mask and chosen a lighter gray cloak. I wasn’t sure how much it would change my silhouette, but… well. Sometimes people fail to recognize you even if you just put a dot on your face.
“I’ll take care of the warehouse goods myself.”
“Do that.”
I needed to get to the three-way intersection soon, but the call still wouldn’t end.
“Hey, Bianca. I really should go now.”
“Huh? Oh… yeah. Okay.”
What was that? Why did she sound so deflated? There was no energy in her voice at all.
“Hey. Are you hurt?”
“What? No way. When have you ever seen me get hurt?”
“Stop talking nonsense. If you’re injured, tell me. I need to know what medicine to bring back.”
“…We’re not even family. Why are you nagging?”
Where had the woman who used to growl at me and act so tough gone? She was just mumbling now, almost too quiet to hear.
“It’s going to be late. Hurry up.”
“Whatever. You’re busy too. Don’t worry about me. Just see you at home.”
“Yeah… if that’s what you want.”
But the call still didn’t disconnect. Tsk. Something was clearly bothering her. What could it be? Why couldn’t she hang up…?
“Um… uh…”
“Good work.”
I gave one last word to Bianca, who kept making those pathetic little sounds. Like magic, her breathing stopped.
“Is this what you wanted to hear?”
“W-who said that? Hah, th-that—that—”
The call ended abruptly. On its own. Her reaction was strange. Had she been dragging it out because she wanted a proper goodbye? Whatever.
I fired the grappling gun, dropped down onto the road, and started walking. The ground was already vibrating, and I could hear the wild screech of brakes. It would be here any second.
“Hm.”
To slip deep into the slums, they had no choice but to pass the road I was blocking. Want to enter the city? Turn right here. And I had to make sure that truck turned right.
Click.
I loaded the crossbow I hadn’t been able to use last time with a pipe bomb. I lit the fuse and took aim at the cargo truck barreling toward me with a violent drift. I only wanted to scare them—I didn’t want to blow up the driver’s seat. But I couldn’t let the truck flip, either.
Whoosh.
The moment I pulled the trigger, the cylinder flew and slammed into the passenger door. The truck that had been charging forward without reaction finally began to shake and scream. They noticed the bomb pretty late.
“Fuck, throw it! Throw it!”
Only then did the window open. The bomb bounced once on the ground before the explosion followed, hard enough to rock the entire truck. But the direction still didn’t change. Not yet.
I fired the second bomb. This time I aimed beneath the truck. Not to destroy it—to scare them.
Boom.
The explosion lifted the rear of the truck just enough to make it float for a second. The vehicle drew a wild S-curve as it shuddered, barely regaining control. That had almost ruined the plan.
“…Gulp.”
Cold sweat slid down the back of my neck. This was a critical turning point. I had to treat it with care. This was my chance to cripple Stahlleder badly. But…
The speed wasn’t dropping. The truck kept racing down the road, barreling toward me like it would crush me flat. Damn it. I really didn’t want to use this.
Flutter.
I flung my coat open, revealing the dozens of pipe bombs strapped inside. In my other hand I held up the fake detonator.
Creak.
I barely managed to nock the third bolt and draw the string. Praying it would stop. My goal wasn’t to halt the truck—it was to shove it into the city.
“Turn. Please turn…”
The intersection was right there. If it turned, the plan succeeded. If it didn’t, I might die. Damn it, why had I come up with such a stupid plan?
“Please…!”
The driver showed no sign of turning the wheel. The burning fuse. The massive grille of the oncoming truck. In the end, I pulled the trigger—aimed at the driver’s seat.
Screeeeech!
The stench of burning rubber filled the air as the truck body began to tilt. The bomb I’d fired bounced off and embedded itself in the corner of the road. With a beautiful drift, the cargo truck shot straight toward the city center.
“…Ha, haa, haaa.”
I felt my mental strength plummet. Why hadn’t I considered that I might get hit? Still, it had worked. Now it was time to follow that truck.
Vroom.
I slipped the mask off, pulled on the helmet, and grabbed the motorcycle’s handlebars. I’d never ridden one before, but I read the glowing text in front of my eyes and began weaving through the narrow streets. Toward Seosang City, where public authority still held real power. But…
“Fuck, it won’t come off?!”
Bang.
Something whistled past my ear with a sharp crack. A bullet. Damn it. I hadn’t expected them to carry guns—things that were usually useless in fights between villains.
Bang. Bang.
I leaned my body low to escape the line of fire, but bullets started flying from the other side too. In the end, I had no choice but to cling to the rear of the truck—
“What?!”
The sound of brakes locking up, and suddenly the truck was right on top of me. If I hit my own brakes now, I’d be killed for sure. So—
“Haaah!”
I threw myself forward in desperation and grabbed the door handle. The motorcycle I’d abandoned went tumbling across the asphalt, shattering apart. Damn it, I’d heard that thing was expensive.
“Is he dead?”
“Stop the truck! Stop! Shit, if we go any deeper the cops will swarm us!”
No. I couldn’t stop here. Not after driving them this far.
“To the city…!”
We weren’t far now. Apartment buildings were already visible, and an intercity bus was running right beside us.
“Stop the damn truck!”
“I’m not stopping! I’m not stopping!”
Shouts cut through the wind. Panicked voices poured from the driver’s seat. Not stopping—wait.
> [BRAKE FLUID]
> LONG TRAIL DETECTED ON ROAD SURFACE
The long dark streak on the ground was labeled clearly. Had the explosion earlier damaged the brakes?
“Then…”
“Damn it… We’re in Seosang City.”
The truck was charging straight into the heart of the city. With Stahlleder’s men still inside. That part had gone exactly according to plan.
The only problem was that I was still clinging to the outside of it.