novelraw Chapter 176 : Request (5)
Chapter 176 : Request (5)
"In the end, after going in circles, what needs to be done hasn't changed."
Moon Seongil said.
"Find Han Myeongju."
"Yes."
I pointed at the map showing Han Myeongju's movements and timeline.
"But I don't think that will be too difficult."
"Why do you think that?"
Moon Seongil, who could no longer dismiss me as before after losing our bet, asked.
"Think about the people who went looking for Han Myeongju and never returned."
"What about them?"
"Who do you think made them disappear?"
"...I suppose it was the ones sent by the Vampire Queen."
Of course, that's assuming your theory is correct, Moon Seongil added.
"Yes. This is a trap. They didn't even know Han Myeongju's true identity, but they disappeared while searching for him. Either they succeeded in finding Han Myeongju, or they were caught in reverse tracking."
"Hmm."
Moon Seongil's expression grew serious.
"The former would be a completely understandable action. But the latter? Why would there be a need for that?"
"Because vampires enjoy hunting."
I said.
"If the one who planned this is one of the Queen's minions, they're most likely a vampire. If so, they probably couldn't give up that habit."
"Your logic still feels somewhat like a leap to me."
Moon Seongil frowned as he looked at me.
"However, if what you're saying is true, it's also true that the complex causal relationships line up."
"I just have good intuition."
What could he do about my good instincts?
In the end, even if we skipped over the process, results were what mattered.
"Let's say you're right. Then what? Are you suggesting we wait for them to come out hunting?"
"That wouldn't be bad, but it's too passive."
I probably had quite a wicked smile on my face at that moment.
"Instead, I'd like to catch them off guard."
"Catch them off guard, you say."
"Yes. Mixed with a bit of bluffing."
For the first time, Moon Seongil's lips curved into a smile.
"I like that proposal. Let me hear the details."
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EIC.
They were a company that held 12 percent market share in the telecommunications equipment industry.
Of course, compared to the first and second-ranked companies, they were lacking in both technology and capital, barely maintaining their market share by selling lower quality products at relatively cheap prices.
But even that was about to become history.
'I'd like them to fight spectacularly if possible.'
Chairman Jang chuckled while stroking his fat chin.
'And if there's bloodshed, that would be the icing on the cake.'
Armed conflict between corporations.
It would have been unimaginable before the Gate Era, but in this age, remnants of the past chaotic period still remained.
'Hehe, Ma-in or human. In the end, everyone's the same when it comes to money. Those bastards were originally humans too, weren't they? There's no way anyone in this world dislikes money.'
He had done whatever it took to grow his business.
This wasn't the first time he'd borrowed the hands of Ma-in.
If he were to count the days he'd exchanged blood for money, ten fingers wouldn't be enough.
'Taking out two companies at once. There's no greater windfall than this.'
They would fight a dirty battle, public opinion would worsen, stock prices would plummet, talented employees would waver, brand images would be thrown into the gutter...
Chairman Jang, feeling pleased at the thought of taking maximum advantage of the upcoming chaos, smiled as he opened the door to his office and.
"...What's this?"
He discovered a window that had apparently been opened by an intruder and a letter placed on his desk.
-If you don't tell us where Han Myeongju is, we'll expose your secrets.
"...!"
A brief but impossible-to-ignore single sentence.
'How on earth?'
Cold sweat ran down Chairman Jang's spine.
The letter seemed to know everything.
It contained neither evidence that should be presented, nor any will to persuade.
That made it all the more chilling.
'Who is it? How much do they know?'
Tremble, tremble.
With shaking hands, he made a phone call.
'This is different from our agreement. You said no one would find out!'
"Hmm. Surprising."
Song Jaejun, who received the call from the terrified, practically whining Chairman Jang, elegantly stroked his chin.
"I don't know how they found out, but this makes things interesting."
Do they not know that Han Myeongju is dead?
Either way, the idea of targeting EIC, which had been hidden behind a veil, and catching them off guard was unexpected even to him.
'Whether it's Director Moon's work or Jeong Su-hyeon's, I'm not sure.'
Song Jaejun wasn't one to tolerate a situation where the prey figured out the trap and instead threatened the hunter.
'If that's how they want to play, I'll throw them bait they absolutely cannot refuse.'
"Kim Inbeom."
"Yes!"
"There's something you need to do for me."
"Just say the word."
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Outside the president's office window.
Moon Seongil, who had been clinging to the high-rise building wall like a structural fixture while monitoring the interior despite the fierce wind, narrowed his eyes as he watched Chairman Jang write something at the bottom of the letter before leaving the room.
'Just as Jeong Su-hyeon said.'
He counted to 10 in his mind before retrieving the letter and heading to the building's rooftop.
-If you want to find Han Myeongju, come here in 2 hours.
Looking at the address written below, Moon Seongil clicked his tongue.
'Look at this. He's practically advertising that he's going to lure us to a remote location and kill us.'
But he couldn't just not go either.
'I'll have to get my hands bloody today.'
One hour later.
After completing their combat preparations, Su-hyeon and Moon Seongil were driving to the location where Han Myeongju supposedly was.
"Everything is going well so far."
"I'm not sure if we can call this 'going well.'"
Moon Seongil, who was at the wheel, said.
"We're walking straight into the tiger's mouth. You do realize that, right?"
"Are you afraid?"
"Spirit and recklessness are different things."
Moon Seongil said.
"Do you know the power possessed by the Vampire Queen's minions?"
"If I didn't, I wouldn't have been able to exploit their habits."
"That's why I call it recklessness."
Moon Seongil sighed.
"Given the nature of my work, I've had many encounters with vampires touched by the Queen's breath."
'The night is also the vampires' time.'
Su-hyeon thought.
"They're far more troublesome enemies than mediocre awakened ones. They have superhuman vitality as a baseline, plus their own special abilities."
"In other words, that means your skills are that much more impressive to have faced them all this time, Director Moon."
Su-hyeon said.
"I don't think the skills of someone favored by Old Man Jang would be inferior to the Queen's minions."
"......"
Unable to properly get angry at Su-hyeon's flattery, Moon Seongil just clicked his tongue and shut his mouth.
'Always the type whose mouth stays afloat even when he's drowning.'
When Moon Seongil stopped talking, Su-hyeon also fell quietly into thought.
'Whoever it is, they're quite hasty.'
Setting counter-bait as if pleased with the bluff.
'They probably know I'm after them.'
Thinking back on his previous playthroughs, he could narrow down to two or three individuals among the Queen's minions who had shown blatant hostility toward him and could direct an operation like this.
'It's most likely Song Jaejun.'
Unlike when Park Mincheol was kidnapped or when he was caught up in the train robbery incident.
If the Vampire Queen was behind this, it actually made it easier for Su-hyeon to resolve the situation.
'Seong Yeonhui won't directly target my life until I'm strong enough.'
Su-hyeon chuckled, thinking she was similar to a demon lord who keeps sending subordinates to feed experience points to the hero until they become strong enough.
Of course, Moon Seongil clearly seemed unable to follow how things had developed this way.
But that wasn't Su-hyeon's concern.
'If I don't do this, I won't be able to resolve it before school starts again.'
Su-hyeon took out a simple mask from his pocket.
"It's not as good as the masks supplied to the Execution Force, but it'll do for one-time use."
Su-hyeon nodded at Moon Seongil's words.
"I'll draw their attention from the front, so please remain hidden and move flexibly."
"Hmph. Just don't get in my way."
"Of course."
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"Look at that guy."
At an apartment construction site abandoned for over 10 years after the construction company went bankrupt.
A Ma-in who had been lying in ambush, with the doppelganger Kim Inbeom tied up in the center transformed as Han Myeongju, whistled as he saw Su-hyeon approaching in the distance with his Moonless Sword hanging down.
"He came alone?"
"That's impossible. That Director Moon guy must be hiding somewhere."
"Hehehe, just like us, right?"
Step, step, step.
Su-hyeon, who saw Kim Inbeom tied up and abandoned in the middle of the first floor, looked around and said.
"What are you doing? Did you leave him there for me to take?"
"Hehe, good instincts you've got."
One of the Ma-in hiding behind a pillar revealed himself.
"If you're going to hide, at least hide that disgusting magical energy. It's hard to pretend I don't notice it."
"So, you're Jeong Su-hyeon?"
The Ma-in had already learned Su-hyeon's identity from Song Jaejun.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Su-hyeon feigned ignorance.
'It'll be troublesome if they mention my name during questioning by the Execution Force later.'
Of course, it was uncertain how much the Execution Force would believe them.
"Hehe, bullshit. Did you think we wouldn't recognize you just because you're wearing a mask?"
"You're persistent even when I say I don't know."
Su-hyeon shrugged.
"Enough talk, let's get to the point."
Shing.
Su-hyeon drew his Moonless Sword.
"You weren't planning to let us take Han Myeongju peacefully anyway, were you?"
"Hehehe. A guy who understands this so well still crawls in here on his own feet?"
"It's because I understand."
Su-hyeon smirked.
"If I just take care of all of you here, I can take him comfortably, can't I?"
"You bastard!"
Just as the Ma-in was about to release his killing intent.
Swoosh!
Su-hyeon's Flying Strike, launched like lightning, sliced through the Ma-in.
"Gack!"
The Ma-in, deeply cut across the torso, fell to his knees and collapsed.
"Watch out for his sword! He shoots slashes!"
"I know that!"
'They know my abilities too.'
Su-hyeon thought.
Well, considering how many times they'd been defeated by him.
It was only natural to assume that whoever was dispatched from the Queen's minions came prepared with countermeasures against him.
"This bastard!"
At that moment.
"Hmm?"
A wax-like liquid that spurted from the hands of a Ma-in who appeared behind him covered the Moonless Sword.
"!"
It instantly solidified, completely fixing the sword to the floor.
"Got you, stupid bastard."
The Ma-in chuckled.
"This is super-strong adhesive. To pull out this sword, you'd have to lift the entire building!"
'I see. So the first step is to take my sword.'
Thwack!
Su-hyeon unhesitatingly abandoned the sword and drove his fist into the Ma-in's nose bridge.
"Gahk!"
"Looks like it would melt easily with fire."
"!"
"This kind of ability is too predictable."
Su-hyeon said nonchalantly.
"If taking my sword is the extent of your strategy, I'm a bit disappointed."
"You cocky little shit!"
Boom boom boom!
A were-boar, transformed into a beast-man form, charged at Su-hyeon from behind as the ground shook.
'A takedown?'
Su-hyeon lowered his body to defend against the takedown, but.
'Hmm!'
As he was pushed back by power that exceeded his expectations, the Ma-in cunningly shifted his center of gravity and slammed him to the floor.
Crash!
'Quite skilled. Judging by wrestling technique alone, he's first-class.'
As he blocked the Ma-in's attacks with his guard while pinned to the floor, Su-hyeon thought.
'As expected of the Queen's subordinates. Each one is elite-level.'
But that was as far as it went.
Thrust!
"Argggh! You bastard!"
Su-hyeon, who had stabbed the Ma-in's eye, broke free from the raging Ma-in's pounding and instead got behind him to choke him.
"Grk."
After the Ma-in instantly lost consciousness, Su-hyeon released him and stood up.
'Each one is strong enough not to be underestimated.'
Just then.
"Focus!"
Slash!
Moon Seongil, who had been hiding, blocked a Ma-in targeting Su-hyeon's back and instantly cut his ankle tendons using throwing stars.
"Aaaaargh!"
'Indeed, he's strong.'
Su-hyeon inwardly admired how Moon Seongil mechanically dispatched his opponent without any wasted movement.
"You bastard!"
When Su-hyeon seemed distracted, another Ma-in seized the opportunity and charged, but.
'Where do you think you're going!'
Crack!
Su-hyeon struck the Ma-in's ribs with a middle kick reinforced with Mana Shield, smashing him against the wall.
Swish!
Again dodging an attack from behind without even looking, Su-hyeon spun around one more time and raised his leg.
'Again?!'
As the Ma-in who had missed his attack instinctively crossed his arms to protect his torso.
Thwack!
Su-hyeon flexibly twisted his pelvis and delivered a Brazilian kick directly to the Ma-in's jaw.
Thud!
Moon Seongil approached Su-hyeon as he looked at the Ma-in who collapsed stiffly like a log, foaming at the mouth.
"Jeong Su-hyeon."
"Yes. It seems those guys have no intention of letting us leave alive."
"Hmm."
"And it looks like their leader isn't here either."
"That's good for us then. We just need to finish these guys and go back, right?"
Moon Seongil spun his throwing star around his finger before hurling it at a Ma-in hiding in the darkness.
"Gack!"
After watching the Ma-in fall, Moon Seongil drew another throwing star and disappeared into the darkness.
"Let's go."