Chapter : 109
Battle Preparations (6)
The events related to the Red Pig Mushroom were amusing, even a bit ridiculous in some ways, but ultimately not very important. Eating the Red Pig Mushroom wasn’t harmful to humans—it just made fools out of those who believed it boosted stamina. Honestly, whether Suhyun paid attention to it or not made no real difference.
In contrast, the matter the chairman mentioned about Russia did concern him. It could be important.
“Is there something that could erupt on the Russian side at this time?”
Since his specialty was mostly related to China, Suhyun had been relatively inattentive to events happening in other countries. He frowned as he tried to recall memories that didn’t immediately come to mind.
“Team leader, can I really eat it when we get back?”
“…Eat as much as you want.”
Suhyun answered Kim Chang-sik sarcastically when he asked again as if he didn’t trust him, but Kim Chang-sik, delighted to have received permission, didn’t even notice the tone.
“This mission absolutely must succeed. If we fail, His Excellency the President will not spare us.”
“But… there’s no way, is there?”
“Why would there be no way? There’s always a way if you make one. First, we have permission.”
“What permission?”
“The mining rights to the Altaranium deposits. If we can secure it, we’re allowed to take it.”
Altaranium—a metal so rare that anyone in Cameron would covet it. The man’s eyes trembled at hearing this.
“You mean… we can use that as a bargaining chip?”
“Does it matter right now? His Excellency’s son’s life is at risk. We should focus on getting him out. Time is critical. The team is strong enough not to collapse immediately, but the longer we delay, the more dangerous it becomes.”
“I’ve researched the lists.”
They needed a team suitable for this mission among famous teams worldwide. This wasn’t just about killing powerful monsters. They had to rescue the missing captives. More specifically, they had to bring out at least one person without fail.
“What about China…”
“Avoid China. Any team there would be too heavily influenced by the government, causing unnecessary complications. Look at American teams or European teams operating in the US. And check the Korean teams as well.”
“Wouldn’t reaching out to multiple places at once increase the chances of success?”
“Try telling them to split the reward. Those types don’t move for ordinary rewards anyway. It’s more efficient to send one expert team to rescue one person than to mix mismatched people and ask them to rescue someone. Remember: we’re not hiring a team to hunt monsters or explore. Just one person. The rest, honestly, can die; we can handle that.”
If the missing individuals could hear this, they would be horrified—but they weren’t here.
“What about Black Hound? It’s an American company, and compared to others, they have considerable experience rescuing high-value targets. Their psychic assets are decent too.”
“Considerable?”
“More than most. There aren’t many teams specializing in rescues rather than monster hunts or exterminations.”
“True. We’ve sent official requests to governments, but I don’t know how cooperative they’ll be.”
“The Altaranium deposits are at stake. Who wouldn’t participate?”
“It’s a success-based reward, not guaranteed. The Dragon Slayer Project left a bad impression. Many would rather avoid foreign entanglements that could destroy their team. Look at this list: Total Control—good company, but wiped out by the Dragon Slayer Project. Galmet Light in Korea—also irrecoverable. Why so many ruined teams? Didn’t they update the list?”
“S-sorry.”
“Anyway, try to make contact. We have to survive too.”
“A guest has arrived.”
“Who?”
“Kim Jong-tae…”
“Ah, just keep him standing.”
“Huh?”
“I said, keep him standing.”
Suhyun said it without changing expression. After calmly changing and adjusting his clothes, he saw Kim Jong-tae anxiously fidgeting.
“How have you been?”
“…Good.”
“You received the inhibitor last time, right?”
“Yes, I came to report.”
“Excellent attitude. If you keep this up, you’ll soon part ways with the poison and live cleanly. Sit.”
“There’s no chair…?”
“Oh, sit on the floor. No chair for you.”
Kim Jong-tae chose to remain standing.
“I wanted you to make at least one person from the list your slave. Did you succeed?”
“Eh? No, I just got in there…”
“You’re slow. In Korea, you reached out soon after starting that suspicious academy. Able to do it in Korea, but not in China? What a traitor.”
Suhyun began tapping Kim Jong-tae’s head with a plastic ruler. It was ridiculous to talk about patriotism while trafficking drugs elsewhere, but Kim Jong-tae shut his mouth.
‘Hold it. I have to endure this for now.’
He would get his revenge someday. Definitely.
For now, he obeyed Suhyun’s orders but quietly investigated what had been done to him. No matter how skilled a technician was, one couldn’t control poison in a human body with just willpower—it went beyond technology. Therefore…
‘A psychic ability related to poison!’
Even if he couldn’t neutralize the poison, he could prevent its activation. Recently, the Chinese side displayed a psychic suppression device during the Dragon Slayer Project, causing a stir.
First, prevent Suhyun from activating the poison, then capture him. After that, force the creation of an antidote…
‘I see everything you’re thinking.’
“The Chinese side has strict control, and everyone on this list is hard to access…”
Not all people on Suhyun’s list were soldiers. Some were officially affiliated, but many were not, disguised as office workers, athletes, or celebrities. China had long prepared for such covert operations.
“If it’s difficult, you’ll have to make an effort. Stop whining. If you want to live, get access. Next time, whining without results, no inhibitor—just die. The reason I let you live now is because you paid the price. If you don’t, there’s no reason to save you.”
“I understand.”
“Then work hard if you want to survive.”
Kim Jong-tae was in China, disguised as a reliable businessman. Indeed, his capabilities were impressive. Soon, he expected he would be able to contact the people on the list.
‘Alright, I’ll follow your orders until I can poison them. Then I’ll use their power to kill you!’
‘He wouldn’t be planning to catch me with a psychic suppression device, would he?’
“Russian matter?”
“?!?!?!?!?!”
Suhyun laughed and shook his head. Lee Won-jae’s expression was priceless. Normally stoic, he had clearly been startled.
“How… how?”
“I do have ears for rumors.”
“I see… Team Leader Kim Suhyun is very capable, so…”
“Enough praise, Director. Hearing it once or twice is fine, but more is tiresome. Let’s skip the pleasantries and get to the point.”
Lee Won-jae hastily gestured. This meeting was arranged to satisfy Suhyun. Any request he had would be met. The staff trying to enter the sealed room quickly stepped back at Lee Won-jae’s signal.
“Too bad, the sashimi was good here.”
“Fish?”
“There’s also monster tartare. Not for everyone, but if Team Leader Kim Suhyun wants…”
“No thanks.”
For a gourmet, this would be a delicacy. For Suhyun, it was old and unappealing. Having survived by eating monsters in the field, he didn’t want it now.
“So, back to the point…”
-Drink, drink!
-When else will you drink in a place like this?
“Quite noisy, isn’t it?” Suhyun said casually. Even in a well-insulated high-end restaurant, not everyone observed etiquette.
“I’ll be back shortly.”
“?”
Suddenly, sounds from the next room stopped. Lee Won-jae returned smiling and sat in front of Suhyun.
“Team Leader Kim Suhyun, everyone is shrinking back due to the Dragon Slayer Project. The damage was massive, and even if they try to recover, this atmosphere will persist for a while.”
“True. I doubt it can be fully remedied.”
“But I believe opportunities arise from crises.”
“That’s usually said by reckless people… but continue.”
The Director ignored Suhyun’s implied complaints. He had to tolerate it for now.
‘If I’d known, I should have at least pretended to send a rescue team to Poschkan.’
Regret was useless now. He had to manage the situation moving forward.
“While gaps in mercenary companies are causing friction, it’s also an opportunity to exert influence, don’t you think?”
“Ah… yes, very positive of you.”
“Similarly, this Russian matter…”
“Please explain in detail first.”
“Ah, yes.”
Assuming Suhyun knew everything, the Director began explaining when prompted.
Using the gate as the center: China and Russia were north and east, Korea and the US south and east, and the west was blocked by sea. Naturally.
“A research team went missing in Russia.”
“A research team?”
In Cameron, it wasn’t only mercenaries who were brave. Dedicated scientists could be even braver, risking their lives to venture into the wilderness for research.
‘Jiyeun Choi comes to mind.’
Suhyun remembered her fondly. Few had been as close to him as she had.
“Team Leader?”
“Yes, I’m listening. Continue.”
“If it were just a research team, it wouldn’t have escalated this much. The problem is… the son of the current Russian President is among them.”
Suhyun chuckled. He could already guess how things were unfolding.
“Must we rescue him?”
“If possible. Russia promised mining rights for Altaranium deposits near Haimken, but only if successful.”
“I wonder if anyone would do it. Normally, maybe… but now, with the Dragon Slayer Project… You were restless because you wanted to propose this? Because of Altaranium?”
Altaranium was precious. A chance to obtain it required no hesitation. But Suhyun was busy. He didn’t want to spare extra time for it, especially since Russian monsters were outside his expertise.
“I’ll be honest. I am tempted by the Altaranium mining rights, but that’s not all.”
“?”
The Director’s gaze turned serious. In a low voice, he said:
“I truly believe that, Team Leader Kim Suhyun, you can bring these people out safely.”
“Yes, I get that. But why do it?”
Despite his sincerity, Suhyun remained cold. Whether the Development Planning Bureau truly believed in his abilities didn’t matter. What mattered was why they wanted him to do it.
“To gain the Altaranium mining rights and simultaneously show that Korea’s forces are not dead yet.”
“Not Korea, the Development Planning Bureau, right?”
“Th-That’s…”
Suhyun immediately understood the Director’s meaning. The Bureau would be cautious, given that all its direct teams were wiped out. The best move would be a visible, strong achievement.
‘Government agencies are something else…’
Different problems than private companies. Suhyun had no obligation to accommodate them, but it was better for him that they remained. Still, there was no reason for him personally to take the risk. That would be putting the cart before the horse.
Suhyun asked casually:
“By the way, where did they go missing?”
“The Yelbrufsky Mountains.”
“…!”
