novelraw Chapter 20 : Chapter 20
Chapter 20 : Chapter 20
Chapter 20. Heosan (1)
At Riman's refusal, Bart's face quickly hardened.
Riman continued.
“Well, if it’s a big deal like a Demonic Beast escape, you won't be the only broker. I’ll try to find another one.”
“Excuse me, just a moment, Mr. Leman!”
Bart became anxious.
The man before him was a genuine magician.
Even if he wasn't from a Magic Tower, it was right to hold onto a person of this caliber, no matter what.
Even if it meant crushing his own pride.
Bart nudged Ji Byeong-seo with his elbow and whispered.
‘Friend, just help me out this once!’
‘…….’
There was one thing Ji Byeong-seo always told Bart.
To please not judge people rashly based on his intuition alone.
Of course, Bart's intuition had a success rate of about 95%.
Thanks to that, he had been able to show considerable skill as a broker.
But in the 5% of exceptional cases like this, such an attitude directly led to losses.
Just like now.
‘Bart, I always told you. Please…’
‘Byeong-seo…!’
‘Sigh…’
In the end, unable to refuse his best friend's request, Ji Byeong-seo also joined the negotiation.
“Um, Mr. Leman…”
“Mr. Byeong-seo, this is our business.”
Cut off immediately.
Riman drew a firm line.
At those words, Ji Byeong-seo immediately nodded and stepped back.
Although he was cut off as soon as he spoke, Byeong-seo's face looked relieved.
From now on, it was truly a matter between Riman and Bart.
Riman spoke first.
“Mr. Bart, I want to work with people who respect me.”
A roundabout way of saying, ‘You didn't respect me, did you?’
Bart accurately read Riman's intention.
“I agree. And I, Mr. Leman…”
“How do you plan to show me respect?”
“That, of course…”
“I’m asking about the method of respect.”
Of course, Riman intended to make a contract with Bart no matter what.
The first reason was that it was difficult to find a more competent broker than this guy.
The second was that this guy's betrayal was scheduled for the future.
A great betrayal that would corrupt Ji Byeong-seo, a genius and a good person of the era.
But it was impossible to deal with a guy who hadn't even committed the betrayal yet.
Because this guy was Ji Byeong-seo's best friend.
So, at this point in time, he had to maintain a close relationship with Bart.
That way, he could save Ji Byeong-seo by dealing with this guy precisely at the time of betrayal.
But apart from this, there was a need to establish discipline.
That was why Riman had picked on his words and played hardball.
It wasn't like they were going to see each other for a long time anyway.
“…Mr. Leman, then, how about this?”
Bart soon proactively lowered his stance.
Riman intentionally refused a few more times before accepting the negotiation offer as if he couldn't help it.
The result was a drastic reduction in the commission.
The amount of money Riman had to share with Bart was significantly reduced.
In any case, with this, the contract was established.
As soon as the contract was signed, Bart began to explain the detailed situation of this case.
“First of all, you've probably heard of the company called Ork.”
“The bioengineering company.”
“You know it well.”
Ork Corporation.
It was the company that currently possessed the most advanced technology related to Enhanced Humans in the world.
Technologies such as genetic modification and enhanced organ transplantation.
“An accident occurred in which Demonic Beasts, which were being raised for research at an Ork Corporation research lab, escaped in large numbers.”
“And if I hunt those Demonic Beasts, I get a bounty per head?”
“That's right. Since those Demonic Beasts escaped from a research lab, they have tags on their ears. If you collect and submit them, Ork Corporation will give you a bounty for each one. However…”
“……?”
“Not just anyone can participate in this hunt. Only those who have been pre-registered with Ork Corporation can participate in this hunt. Only those who have been registered through a broker.”
Bart was subtly appealing his own value to Riman.
Of course, Riman had no interest in that appeal.
“Then what is the current location of the Demonic Beasts?”
“First, let’s take a look at the map.”
Bart took out a tablet PC from his bag and displayed a map.
He pointed to a spot on the map with his finger and said.
“This is a place called Heosan Village. It’s a pretty large slum.”
“Did the Demonic Beasts go in that direction?”
“Not only did they go in this direction, but they've completely settled in this village. This entire village has become a Demonic Beast nest.”
“Then the people in that village…”
“You should assume they’re all dead. Even if they’re alive, they won't be in there. The entire Heosan Village has been completely devastated.”
“Hmm…”
“Paradoxically, because the Demonic Beasts have settled down, the hunt has become easier. Because the Demonic Beasts have gathered in one place. If they had spread throughout Seoul, the hunt would have been very difficult.”
Just then, Ji Byeong-seo, who had been listening, said a word to Bart.
“…So the people of Heosan Village took the brunt of the suffering that all the citizens of Seoul should have experienced.”
“Still, this is better. If it’s suffering that has to be endured anyway, it's best that the minimum number of people experience it.”
“Hmm…”
Ji Byeong-seo fell into deep thought without offering any particular rebuttal to Bart's words.
Riman didn't particularly add his own opinion.
In any case, Bart and Riman returned to their work talk.
Riman asked.
“Then when should I start hunting? Not right now, right?”
“Yes. First, I need to get hunting permission for you, Mr. Leman, from Ork Corporation. And the fence construction needs to be finished.”
“A fence?”
“They’re building a fence all around Heosan Village. To prevent the Demonic Beasts from escaping.”
“I see.”
“It will probably take about 3 to 4 days. I'll contact you as soon as it's ready, so you can just rest and prepare in the meantime.”
Riman nodded his head.
Thus, the briefing was concluded.
But there was one fact that was not mentioned in the briefing.
A fact that Bart did not know, but Riman did.
This was not an accident.
It was an incident.
A clear incident with someone's intention and plan involved.
So while everyone involved in this case was moving with only the Demonic Beast hunt in mind.
Riman alone began to move with his eyes fixed on the mastermind behind it.
* * *
Three days later.
Riman knocked on Ji Byeong-seo's door.
“Ah, Mr. Leman. Come in. The medicine is ready.”
Three days ago, right after the briefing.
Riman had requested Ji Byeong-seo to prepare a certain potion.
Since he had just received his pharmaceutical license, Ji Byeong-seo excitedly carried out the request.
And Riman paid him a fitting price.
Seeing the money deposited into his bank account, Ji Byeong-seo's eyes widened.
“You’re giving me this much?! No, the cost of the ingredients was only…”
“The rest, apart from the cost of the ingredients, is the price for your skills, Mr. Byeong-seo. You deserve it.”
Because with this one potion, he would earn several times the amount he had now.
“Um, then where is the potion…”
“Ah, here it is.”
Ji Byeong-seo held out a glass bottle filled with a dark green liquid.
Riman smiled and nodded his head.
“Um, but Mr. Leman.”
“Yes?”
“You’re not thinking of drinking that, are you? If you drink it, you’ll have diarrhea for a week.”
“You don't have to worry. No one will be drinking this medicine.”
“Then why on earth…”
Just then.
Beep, beep, beep!
Riman's phone rang.
It was Bart.
“Mr. Leman, it’s Bart! You can come to the north of Heosan Village right now. I’ve sent you the exact address separately.”
“Okay.”
Riman hung up the phone and said to Ji Byeong-seo.
“I’m going on a hunt.”
* * *
The northern part of Heosan Village.
The only entrance to Heosan Village was there.
Currently, the entire Heosan Village was surrounded by a fence.
And armed forces with guns were deployed in front of the entrance.
They were Ork Corporation's private soldiers.
They kept a strict watch to prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the fence.
Vroooom-
Riman parked his motorcycle nearby.
He then approached the soldiers and announced his arrival.
Just as the soldier was checking Riman's name off a list.
Bart, who had spotted Riman from a distance, came running.
“Mr. Leman!”
“You haven’t entered yet, I see?”
“We enter in 10 minutes. Please check your equipment.”
“Equipment.”
Riman looked at his only piece of equipment, Saya on his shoulder, and said.
“You’re confident, right?”
Saya nodded its head vigorously.
Riman said.
“Equipment check, complete.”
“Ah? Ah, yes.”
“By the way, there are quite a few hunters gathered here.”
“Yes, it’s a pretty lucrative deal.”
Riman looked around.
He saw quite a few people who were not in uniform but were holding weapons.
These were the hunters who would be entering Heosan Village today.
People who were after the reward for hunting Demonic Beasts.
“Um, but Mr. Leman, are… are you really okay with this?”
“With what?”
“Going in alone without a team. I put in the request like that since you asked, but honestly, it's a bit… solo activity is a bit dangerous.”
Among the hunters gathered here, there were no solo players at all.
They had all come in teams.
It was proof that dealing with Demonic Beasts was that dangerous.
Of course, not for Riman.
Riman said.
“It's fine. I’m stronger than the Demonic Beasts.”
“Well… that is…”
Bart lowered his voice and said.
“…The enemies inside aren't just Demonic Beasts.”
“Hmm?”
“Even a hunter who can take on multiple Demonic Beasts alone teams up in a place like this. Because if someone kills someone in there, no one outside will know.”
Riman understood Bart's concern.
But Riman could say with certainty.
That all of that was a useless worry for him.
“It's fine. Just be ready to receive your commission from me.”
“Mr. Leman…!”
Just then, a man shouted through a megaphone.
“Entry in 5 minutes! All hunters, get ready!!”
Riman gave Bart a grin and said.
“See you later.”
A moment later.
The barrier at the entrance went up.
“Enter!”
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
Numerous hunters rushed into Heosan Village all at once.
* * *
The hunters spread out to every corner of Heosan Village.
To catch Demonic Beasts even a little faster, to get a slightly better position.
They increased their speed like mad.
But Riman was not.
Riman didn't even walk, let alone run.
He hadn't even decided which direction to go yet.
“Saya, to the sky.”
Swoosh!
Saya, who was on his shoulder, quickly flew up into the sky.
In an instant, Saya reached a height higher than the buildings and looked down on the village.
A position from which the entirety of Heosan Village could be viewed at once.
And Riman was sharing his vision with Saya.
The entire view of Heosan Village instantly flowed into Riman's mind.
The state of the village was tragic.
Corpses scattered everywhere, Demonic Beasts tearing at those corpses, collapsed buildings.
Riman carefully examined this entire scene, and in his mind, he formulated a strategy.
Destination, route, means of attack.
The strategy that had only been conceived in theory was optimized as it was matched with the reality before his eyes.
A moment later, Riman finished his thoughts.
Now it was time to move.
“Let’s go.”
Riman called Saya back.
And he began to move.
Towards the place with the most Demonic Beasts?
No.
The place Riman was going to was a place with no people and no Demonic Beasts.
In that void, Riman intended to sweep up all the prey here.
Clink-
A vial containing a green liquid clinked in Riman's pocket.