Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Living Up to the Name
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Han Sang-cheol took one look at our getups and wore a complicated expression. He seemed like he had something he wanted to say.
"Come back safe. Those poor guards who have to take a beating from guys dressed like you... I'll just be here sipping my drink."
We exchanged goodbyes with Han Sang-cheol, then leaped straight off the rooftop.
Three masked figures were plummeting through the dark night sky toward the casino, wind whipping against them.
If anyone caught sight of this scene, they'd probably wonder if their drink had been spiked—it was that astonishing.
"Follow me."
Han Sang-ah muttered under her breath and bolted through the empty casino interior at breakneck speed. The three of us—including me—moved with barely a sound, darting about with nimble precision.
We didn't head for the junket rooms. Instead, Han Sang-ah swung her dagger straight at the casino wall. A clean slash, marked only by a fleeting glint, carved a neat rectangular hole in the surface.
The opening was plenty big enough for a person. And behind that wall lay a hidden passage connecting the junket rooms to the security office.
"I'll go first."
In dangerous spots like this, the strongest always takes point. I hurled myself through the hole Han Sang-ah had cut.
The passage was fairly wide. And I was in freefall.
"Ah."
With a thud, my feet hit the floor. The metal surface buckled under me. Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon landed one after the other behind me.
"Straight ahead. Left, left, right, then straight again."
At Han Sang-ah's directions, we raced down the passage. They'd built it like a maze to confuse anyone who stumbled upon it, but it didn't matter—Han Sang-ah was tracking the right path via GPS the whole time.
"Got it."
Three minutes and twelve seconds. I spotted a thick hatch leading below. Not bad at all for time.
The hatch was locked. I gripped the handle with both hands and heaved.
A creaking groan echoed from beyond as someone started yelling.
The whole door ripped free in short order.
"Your proud Ray Mysterio pulls off another one."
I ignored the bitching from Mami Hand behind me and dropped through the hatch. I dodged a blade flying straight at me, then smashed my fist into the elbow of the guy swinging it.
A sickening crack, and his arm bent in a way it absolutely shouldn't.
Fifteen of them.
The hotel security office was fairly spacious. Besides about thirty regular staffers, there were fifteen hunters inside. I scooped a handful of steel marbles from my pocket and flicked them with my thumb.
They whistled through the air, ricocheting off walls and heads alike—enough force to knock out but not kill the civilians.
"You little shit, do you know where you are?!"
Like I give a damn. I grabbed a charging guy by the waist, leaped up, and slammed his skull into the ceiling with a vicious crunch.
He hit the floor with the life drained from his eyes, looking pretty damn pleased with the kiss.
"…."
Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon, who'd followed me in, said nothing as they engaged the hunters.
Han Sang-ah parried attacks with the dagger in one hand while fighting mainly with kicks. Jeong Oh-hoon used throwing knives. I just beat them down barehanded.
They weren't elite hunters by any stretch, so we overpowered them easily even fighting in a style totally different from our usual.
Of course, watching Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon fight made my chest ache with all their flaws, but those idiots would never notice.
We took them all down. Twelve minutes and thirty-seven seconds elapsed. Han Sang-ah tapped my shoulder and pointed to one wall.
That was it. Perfect. I swung a massive haymaker. A metallic clang rang out as the wall caved in.
I hammered the wall relentlessly. Soon enough, the crumpled door gave way with a boom and fell backward.
While I was wrecking the wall, Han Sang-ah and Jeong Oh-hoon trashed every piece of equipment in the security office.
"Straight through here, and we'll be out."
Only after entering the next passage did we finally speak up.
"Yeah. A little farther, and we'll hit the freight elevator."
"That'll be too slow."
We had to drop over two hundred meters underground. Screw the elevator—I'd just jump. It wasn't like a fall like that could kill me.
The moment we reached the elevator, I wedged my fingers into the door crack and wrenched it open. The doors crumpled and sprang wide.
"Prepared guests first."
I said it with a grin before leaping down. Someone must've gotten word up top to the smuggling crew, because the emergency sirens grew louder the closer I got to the bottom.
Crash!
The elevator crumpled like a tin can, cushioning my fall.
Nice warehouse. I dusted off my shoulders as I stepped inside. Something zipped toward me, spitting mana bullets.
I swatted the shots aside with a fist, then peered in that direction. A gun hovered in midair.
"And what the hell are you?"
I yanked off my mask, pulled the spear hidden in my clothes, and extended it fully.
"Son of a bitch. Yoo Chan-seok?"
"What? I haven't even introduced myself, and you're acting like you know me."
This was exactly why I'd worn the mask all the way here. Now just flashing my face was enough for instant recognition.
"Showing your mug after coming all this way—you must be out of your mind."
"Doesn't matter."
The guy chuckled incredulously at my response.
"I've heard you live up to your reputation. But you know, some people value other things over fame."
As he stepped forward, every piece of gear in the warehouse floated up like it had come alive.
Let's see.
"Not telekinesis."
It wasn't like Sung Si-hoon's ability. Lifeless objects were moving as if they had souls of their own.
"More like granting life."
The weapons and armor lined up behind him like obedient soldiers—a hell of a sight. He looked like a general.
"The second the siren went off, I had everything ready. Every piece of gear in this warehouse lives and obeys my command."
"Like that museum exhibit that came alive? Kinda underwhelming for bragging rights."
Still, he seemed competent enough.
I'd hoped for a clean wrap-up. No such luck.
"Han Sang-ah, while I hold him off, make contact and scout the area."
"Got it."
The guy with his arsenal floating at his back scowled at my words.
"Contact?"
We'd come to the hotel as a trio: me, Han Sang-ah, and Jeong Oh-hoon. But Lee Se-eun hadn't joined us. To be precise, she just wasn't staying at the hotel.
"Hunter Lee Se-eun's on her way."
"...Candy Lady? Why the hell is her name popping up?"
Lee Se-eun had been pretty invested in this op. If she skipped it, there had to be a reason.
"She's watching our backs, just in case. Your reinforcements aren't coming."
The original plan was to grab what we needed quietly, smash everything, and bail.
But with restrictions—no abilities, no familiar weapons—and fighting someone tough enough to force the mask off, things were bound to drag out.
That would give the smugglers time to call in backup. Someone had to block them.
Lee Se-eun Hunter could handle that. His reinforcements? Not showing.
"Do you even know who you're messing with?"
"Ooh, who might that be? Tell me all about it."
That old man sipping booze up top would probably love hearing what you just said.
The guy clammed up at my retort. What, cat got your tongue? Voldemort vibes? Dumbass—can't even say it out loud, so why yap?
"Shut up. Talky dead men annoy me."
"Talking about me?"
Nearly a hundred guns locked onto me in unison. All prepped for the black market.
Weak in civilian hands, sure—but hunters got reliable performance out of them.
Hundreds of weapons unleashed a barrage of mana bullets. Some could've actually hurt if I let them land; others were harmless.
As the shots battered my body, I flicked my spear just enough to deflect the real threats.
Thousands of projectiles, but only dozens worth blocking.
He was regretting it now. Never dreamed someone like me would show. Figured his power could handle most hunters.
So he hadn't wiped the evidence yet. Destroying it all would've cost the smuggling bosses big.
Swords and spears. Guns and bows. Every weapon imaginable flew at me like living things, hungry for my life.
In the chaos, he charged and nailed a kick to my temple. His boot exploded on impact, flames engulfing my head before fizzling out.
No damage. It was like sardines swarming a whale.
"Bring everything you've got."
Even all-in, he'd fall short.
"Fuck off! Every lifeless thing in this world is mine!"
"Nice speech."
Pretty bold claim. Not wrong, either—solid ability on paper.
The gear swarmed me like angry bees. I swung my black-flamed spear in a wide arc. Flames clung to the smuggled goods, flickering faintly.
Weapons touched by Paradox Flame froze midair, twitched, then dropped limply to the floor, wriggling uselessly.
"Like a swarm of wasps caught in a flamethrower."
Forced life in lifeless things meant simple instincts: protect master, follow orders. My Paradox Flame could snuff that out in a blink.
Logs take time to burn. Paper? Instant.
He'd just wasted mana.
"Didn't you say my name carries weight?"
Gunshot-like acceleration propelled me at him like a meteor.
"Grah... haaaaack!"
He somehow blocked the spear, but the impact sent him crashing into the wall.
"There's a reason my name has that weight."
Do you know how much people hate celebrities who don't live up to the hype?