novelraw Chapter 264 : Draw Him Out (4)
Chapter 264 : Draw Him Out (4)
Hwang Won-jae's plan consisted of four major stages.
"First. I will draw attention through a press conference pretext at the corporate building. In this stage, we force various scenarios upon the enemy—like long-term public opinion battles or terrorism—to disperse their forces and attention."
"Good method."
The rat, which had become the Vampire Queen's familiar, squeaked.
"Meanwhile, we strike five major national facilities simultaneously."
"Hmm. You'll need to draw out almost all our forces? There's a risk in letting the enemy gauge our total strength."
"I think it's unavoidable at this point."
Hwang Won-jae placed the rat on his palm and slowly circled his office.
"The question is whether we have sufficient force. Is that so? Of course. We have plenty of force."
Hwang Won-jae's steps stopped in front of the curtained window.
"Many comrades have died. Pleasure Killer, Ant Lion, Rusty Sword, Little Evil Demon."
It's quite unfortunate, Hwang Won-jae continued.
"But the new executives we broke out of White Castle, and the combatants newly recruited by absorbing Ma-in organizations that lost their leaders during Operation Caligo, constitute sufficient force."
"I agree with that."
"Of course, all of that is bait. I'd like you to tell them to engage appropriately, bind the enemy forces, and then retreat."
"Alright, I understand."
"In addition, we artificially form gates in four regions—Gangwon, Jeolla, Gyeongsang, and Chungcheong—to draw out reserve forces like the Execution Force and Hunters."
"How should I put it."
The rat said.
"You're really holding nothing back."
"The timing is early, but."
Hwang Won-jae shrugged.
"To achieve our ultimate goal, it might be much better to take advantage of this chaos."
"It's a gamble."
"That's what you like."
"True."
The rat squeaked as if pleased.
"After all, the Execution Force's enemies aren't just us. If we shake them from all directions with this much effort, and with gates forming en masse, we can tie up more than half of the enemy forces."
"That's our advantage."
"The essence of tactics lies in the agility to achieve superiority of force in localized decisive battle areas at the critical moment."
Hwang Won-jae's hand stroked the rat's stiff, dirty fur.
"Then comes the main point. The thugs, drug dealers, human traffickers, black market traders, organized criminals, mafias... all kinds of nighttime garbage from the underworld who received your sponsorship boldly charge into B&S Group headquarters, drawing attention."
"Since they're humans anyway, the enemy will have to focus more on subduing than killing them."
"Right."
They were merely pawns sent to create a quagmire and bind the enemy's ankles, not forces expected to win.
"Then comes stage 4. The real attack begins through that route we secured long ago."
"Good."
"I'd like you to lead that attack."
"Yes. I should step forward."
The rat's tail swished, tapping Hwang Won-jae's shirt sleeve.
"But even after doing all this, we can't call it a perfect plan. Above all, the problem is that B&S Group's internal defense posture is nothing short of an iron wall."
As the Queen said.
From currently confirmed forces alone, four Execution Force unit-level forces were guarding the inside and outside of B&S Group.
"Above all, the 2nd Unit's 'Reversal War General' Son Ji-gwang is responsible for internal defense."
"It's already been confirmed that he can't handle you."
Hwang Won-jae immediately countered the Queen's words.
"Moreover, the 3rd Unit's 'Flame Emperor' Seol Ji-yun is overseeing the outer perimeter defense. Additionally, the 10th Unit's 'Fist King' Jin Seong-geun is covering the 3rd Unit."
"Is that a problem? We're pouring in the underworld's garbage to tie up those two."
"You talk well."
The rat made high-pitched squeaking sounds, expressing its master's laughter.
"You know too? The 2nd Unit isn't the only one guarding the interior."
"The 11th Unit."
Hwang Won-jae sneered.
"I've heard trends that those whose morale had fallen to rock bottom after their Captain's shameful corruption are now burning with revenge."
"The acting Captain, Deputy Captain 'Flower Sword' Jin Hye-in, will command the unit."
"They're just remnants who have already lost their head."
"Your assessment of the enemy is uncharacteristically harsh."
"Because it's the truth."
Hwang Won-jae shrugged.
"What's important isn't the visible forces. Even after combining all the intelligence from you and our organization, the much bigger problem is that there are still forces whose positions remain unidentified."
And Hwang Won-jae could easily predict what those arrangements were for.
"They must be reserve forces waiting to be deployed immediately once they confirm where our main attack is."
"You know."
A certain passion and dignity settled in the rat's gestures.
"Could that be Jeong Su-hyeon?"
"Yes. Jeong Su-hyeon would be one of them."
"It's fateful."
Song Yeonhui was quite satisfied with this situation.
"Are you prepared to kill Jeong Su-hyeon?"
"Of course I'm ready. That child has already become beautiful enough."
"That's welcome news."
Hwang Won-jae smiled with satisfaction.
"With you stepping forward in earnest, this matter is as good as done."
"No need to flatter me so much."
The rat's tail wrapped around Hwang Won-jae's finger.
"I'll come to receive the congratulatory drink after everything is finished."
"I'll prepare it with good whiskey."
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"We're under attack!"
"A gate has appeared! Location is near Gimhae City, South Gyeongsang Province!"
"Give me the exact coordinates!"
"Yes!"
Before the staff officer could read the numbers, another report came in.
"Report! Report! A gate has appeared in downtown Asan City, South Chungcheong Province!"
"What?"
"A gate has appeared near Jeonju Station in Jeonju City, North Jeolla Province!"
"Damn! What the hell is going on!"
"Calm down!"
Bang!
Chief of Staff Heo Sung-gyeom slammed the table to draw the staff's attention.
"Don't make a fuss over each one. It's just the beginning of their diversionary tactics."
"Chief of Staff!"
"Remember. What's important is to sharply discern where their main attack is."
"Understood!"
'Which is the real target?'
The Chief of Staff's eyes scanned hundreds of monitors.
"What about the B&S corporate building?"
"As per Kim Inbeom's intelligence, a large number of underworld characters are approaching."
"Defenses must be precisely in place. Order one more check of the readiness posture."
"Understood!"
"Any special circumstances?"
"No forces above A+ rank have been reported."
"That means they're perfect bait."
Heo Sung-gyeom asserted.
"There must be a main attack."
Now there was only one problem.
'Where on earth is their line of advance?'
Will they fly through the sky? Will they emerge from the ground?
Or will they suddenly spring into action from all directions after being dispersed?
"......."
In any case, it was an issue that couldn't be determined right now.
Gulp gulp.
"Hah."
Heo Sung-gyeom, who had consumed his third caffeine drink of the day, entered a state of deep immersion with dilated pupils.
"Check the readiness of the reserve forces to deploy once more."
"Understood!"
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Fwoosh!
Boom!
The smell of burning flesh, explosions and screams, fragments and body parts flying in all directions.
The one commanding this battlefield turned into hell was a small woman not even 160cm tall.
"Hmph!"
'Flame Emperor' Seol Ji-yun.
Whenever she waved her hand, clenched her fist, or gathered her fingers to point at a single spot.
The karmic flames surging with the momentum to devour everything according to her will burned and melted the enemy.
"This is quite annoying."
Seol Ji-yun grumbled.
In any case, most were humans with a few Ma-in mixed in among them.
Considering the level of the enemy, it wouldn't be impossible to clean up the battlefield at once by incinerating them with the Flame Emperor's fire.
'But that's not possible, which is why it's annoying.'
After all, humans are humans.
It was difficult to kill them indiscriminately.
'They must have counted on that. How annoying.'
"It can't be helped, Captain Seol!"
'Fist King' Jin Seong-geun, who had been watching the battle situation beside her, stepped forward.
"In times like these, bare fists are especially good. Because they can subdue without killing."
"I truly agree with that."
Fire was, along with lightning, one of the most lethal forces among all elements.
But unlike lightning, which could be used for subduing like a taser gun by controlling its output, fire was difficult to use that way.
"Isn't this why our 10th Unit is here together? It would be good if the 3rd Unit could provide cover by lowering your firepower."
"Let's do that."
"I would particularly like the members with lower lethality to exert their strength."
"Understood."
Jin Seong-geun cracked his knuckles as he watched the fire barrier created by Seol Ji-yun dividing the enemy cluster in half.
"Please conserve your strength. It seems the time to unleash Captain Seol's power has not yet come."
"I suppose so."
Seol Ji-yun nodded.
"Then I wish you good fortune in battle."
"There's no need to wish me luck against such small fry."
Jin Seong-geun laughed heartily and jumped straight down from a height of ten meters.
Boom!
Seol Ji-yun exhaled with a "hmm" as she watched the asphalt being completely shattered.
"Always such an energetic old man, no matter when I see him."
"Hmm."
Rats, bats, pigeons.
The Vampire Queen, who was checking the battle situation through the eyes of her familiars spread everywhere, smiled softly.
"It's chaotic everywhere. Even above our heads."
"Somehow I feel like the ceiling is pounding. Is this a type of noise between floors?"
Battle Maniac Jang Su-il chuckled.
"What. In White Castle, this didn't even count as noise between floors. With people making such a racket from all directions."
"That's true. It's a regret that we couldn't kill all those bastards when we escaped."
The ones saying that were two S-minus rank Ma-in who had become new executives after escaping from White Castle.
"Well, you folks had a tough time too."
The two Ma-in shook their heads at Jang Su-il's words.
"It's fine. Thanks to that, we've gained this opportunity for revenge."
"But this tunnel is really lacking. It reminds me of the old days."
Ma-in Jo Seong-gwang and Park Woo-hyuk.
An Awakened with lightning abilities, and a lycanthrope who had awakened the ability of a Were-Bear, one of the strongest species.
Song Yeonhui smiled faintly as she listened to the conversation between the two Ma-in.
"Be patient a little longer. Once we pass through here, a battlefield where you can rampage to your heart's content will appear."
'Vampire Queen' and 'Battle Maniac'.
Top-tier forces ranking within the top three, the two newly joined executives.
And the Vampire Queen's minions, along with the [Sword of Belphegor]'s combatants.
Forces massive enough to destroy even a nation were marching silently through the dark tunnel.
"But, surely the building won't collapse during the fight, right?"
"Don't worry. Hwang Won-jae showed me the building's blueprints once? It's basically a fortress."
Jang Su-il eased Jo Seong-gwang's concerns.
"Your mission is important, so hang in there."
"We will."
"I'm going to climb up to the roof to smoke a cigarette, so let's each finish our tasks by then."
Jang Su-il laughed mischievously.
As he said.
One team led by Battle Maniac Jang Su-il was assigned the mission of climbing toward the top floor where Hwang Yong-jae was located to secure the chairman's person.
Meanwhile, while one team led by the Vampire Queen occupied the first floor and held back the continuously reinforced Execution Force members.
Jo Seong-gwang and Park Woo-hyuk.
Their true plan was to send these two jokers, who had been forgotten in many people's memories after being imprisoned in White Castle long ago, to target the cabinet sleeping in the underground space.
"Are we still far?"
"Just wait a little longer."
The Queen laughed lightly at Park Woo-hyuk's urging.
"We'll arrive soon."
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"Don't worry. We can deploy at any time."
"It certainly looks that way."
The staff officer nodded after checking the eyes and equipment status of the six cadets—Su-hyeon, Yu-jin, Hwang Ji-su, Hong In-hyeon, Kim A-yun, and Kang Geon-woo.
"The deployment order will likely come within 20 minutes."
"Understood."
"The Chief of Staff has high expectations. Of course, so do I."
"Thank you."
"......Then, that's all."
After the staff officer closed the door and left, Hong In-hyeon said.
"It's like we're no longer being treated as cadets."
"I suppose that can't be helped."
Kang Geon-woo scratched his cheek.
"Given what Su-hyeon has done so far. It wouldn't be strange to classify him as a Captain-level force already, right?"
"......That's true."
Despite having competed for the top position just last semester.
Now it felt like they were playing in completely different leagues.
'How much help can I even be now?'
In this massive battle.
As if reading Hong In-hyeon's concern, Su-hyeon said.
"I requested to have you all called because I trust your abilities that much."
"......."
Well, what could he say if that's what Su-hyeon claimed?
Hong In-hyeon sighed and tilted his head sideways.
"Let me ask one thing though."
"Ask anything."
"Just how much stronger have you become?"
"Hmm."
Su-hyeon, who had been considering his answer, scratched his chin and said.
"It would be tacky to say it in words, so I'll show you in actual combat."