Chapter : 44
Compensation and Change (7)
Compared to guns, a bow was an absolutely inferior weapon. However, if certain conditions were met, it could still be quite useful.
No matter how much you tried to reduce the noise of a gun, there was a limit. You might be able to fool monsters, but you couldn’t completely deceive humans who were familiar with the sound of gunfire. Moreover, if this raid really happened, the people coming wouldn’t be easy opponents.
Surprisingly, a weapon like this could catch such people off guard. It was different from what they normally dealt with, and most importantly, Suhyeon possessed telekinesis.
Preparations were roughly finished. Now it was time to gather the team members and carry out his first task as a team leader.
* * *
“Did you pass the message to the Jindo Dog side?”
“I did, just like you said. They refused the request for cooperation, though.”
“Well, we couldn’t expect that much.”
Suhyeon nodded after hearing Jo Seunghyun’s reply. If they could borrow their strength, things would be easier, but since they had already reached out for something that belonged to them, he didn’t expect that level of support.
‘Anyway, if necessary, we can drag them in.’
As long as the necessary manpower was there when the situation demanded it, that was enough. Since they had already given a warning, the Jindo Dog side would likely send forces toward Calcutta. No company would remain calm after hearing something like that in this situation.
“Attention!”
Suhyeon’s powerful voice rang through the gathered members.
It hadn’t been long since he had gone from team member to team leader, yet acting as a leader felt completely natural to him. His effortless attitude made the members click their tongues in amazement.
“From this point on, we’re heading back into the Calcutta region. On the surface, it’s a patrol around Redwood Forest and monster extermination, but the real reason is…”
The members nodded with tense expressions. They already knew why they were going back.
There was a possibility that a terrorist attack would target Redwood Forest.
They were going in to stop it.
It was a kind of tension completely different from fighting monsters.
“Well, you all know already. Before we go in, I’ll mention a few precautions. When we arrive, the Jindo Dog team will probably have gotten there first. I don’t know how many of them will be there, but it’ll be hard to get along like during the last mission.”
A few snickers escaped among the members. They all knew what had happened with Jindo Dog after the last mission. Because the Jindo Dog team had made a mistake, Uncle Joe Company had gained authority over Redwood Forest.
“You don’t have to get along with them. But remember their location clearly. And if something happens, move there immediately.”
“?!”
“If there’s an attack, those guys will prioritize destroying the forest. If we interfere, they’ll retaliate, but they probably won’t chase people who are running away. If anyone gets reckless trying to defend the forest and dies for it, I’ll kill you myself afterward.”
The members stared at each other blankly, unable to understand what Suhyeon meant. Their expressions clearly said, ‘You ask him.’
Eventually, Kim Chang-sik—who was closest to Suhyeon—raised his hand.
“Uh… Team Leader. I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“Aren’t we going to protect Redwood Forest?”
“That’s right.”
“But if the enemy attacks… instead of fighting, we run to where the Jindo Dog team is?”
“You understood perfectly. Exactly that.”
“????”
“It seems some people aren’t happy. Anyone here want to risk their life and fight? If so, say so. I’ll give you special consideration.”
The members immediately shut their mouths.
They didn’t really understand retreating instead of fighting, but honestly it was better for them. Saying “fight to the death” sounded nice, but when you were the one who had to do it, it meant risking your life.
“The Jindo Dog team may hate working with us, but in that kind of situation they won’t have a choice. If terrorists attack the forest and we move to their location, we’ll end up fighting together. It’s not like terrorists will only destroy the part of the forest we control.”
“But then won’t the area we control get destroyed first?”
“We’ll just have to accept that. Didn’t I say earlier—if anyone wants to risk their life fighting, speak up?”
“N-No, that’s not it.”
Redwood Forest was a resource worth coveting.
And now that a massive mountain range had been destroyed, it was even more valuable.
However, Suhyeon doubted whether a company like Uncle Joe could continuously manage the forest and generate profits from it. If the situation were peaceful it might be possible, but too many people coveted it.
In that case, it might be better to secure appropriate compensation and hand it over.
If they had to sell the rights to the forest again…
‘The government is the best option.’
The Korean military had been managing the Redwood Forest in cooperation with domestic private companies. Now that the original forest had been completely destroyed, they must have a serious headache.
In that situation, a newly discovered Redwood Forest would be an extremely attractive bargaining chip.
Selling it to another large corporation would also bring enormous compensation, but from the beginning Suhyeon had intended to sell it to the government.
‘In the end, the mercenary companies that survive are the ones close to the government.’
While the armies of various countries on Cameron Planet had stopped exploring due to security duties and troop losses, mercenary companies were enthusiastically expanding their operations.
But ultimately, the most powerful force on this planet was still the military.
As time passed, the gap between companies supported by governments and those that weren’t would widen.
They had to secure government backing as soon as possible.
Suhyeon aimed to gain two things from this incident.
First: an intact Redwood Forest.
Although he had told his team to retreat to the Jindo Dog team if something happened, Suhyeon had no intention of abandoning the forest. He intended to protect it as much as possible.
Second: the culprit behind this terrorist attack.
Everyone was focused on defending the forest, but information about who was behind the attack was also extremely valuable.
The government was always looking for capable mercenary companies.
They couldn’t send the military to explore, but Cameron Planet was far too tempting to simply ignore.
Stopping the terrorists and identifying the culprit.
That alone would be enough to demonstrate their competence to the government.
And if they could present an intact Redwood Forest on top of that, even better.
That was why Suhyeon had accepted the risk of getting involved.
After finishing his instructions, Suhyeon looked over the team members and said,
“Move out!”
* * *
Traveling wasn’t particularly difficult.
The team members had clearly grown accustomed to the Calcutta jungle. The occasional monsters they encountered were easily dealt with.
The difference lay in their attitude.
Before, they had spoken casually with Suhyeon. But now that he had clearly drawn the line as their team leader, they found it harder to talk to him comfortably.
The only one who still spoke freely was Kim Chang-sik.
“Uh… Team Leader.”
‘This guy’s got some nerve.’
Their positions had flipped overnight, yet he still treated Suhyeon the same. That was a talent in its own way.
“What is it?”
“If we end up fighting together with the Jindo Dog side, their strength matters too. Do you think they’ll send enough people?”
“They’ll send plenty.”
It was too late for them to back out now.
Jindo Dog had invested too much.
If Redwood Forest were destroyed here, their losses would be enormous.
Suhyeon didn’t know how persuasive Jo Seunghyun had been, but he trusted his ability. The Jindo Dog side must have seriously considered the danger.
“Stop. Looks like someone arrived before us.”
“?”
“There’s a sensor over there.”
The members followed where Suhyeon pointed and tried to hide their surprise.
Finding a hidden sensor in such a chaotic environment, one that wasn’t even installed openly…
‘Does he have X-ray vision or something?’
“Terrorists probably wouldn’t install something like this. It was likely set up by the Jindo Dog team that arrived first. If we wait, they’ll come greet us.”
Before Suhyeon finished speaking, the sound of movement came from the distance.
“Stop! Don’t move!”
“Jindo Dog team?”
“That’s right. Who are you?”
“Uncle Joe Company. You should’ve heard about us already.”
The man’s face relaxed slightly at those words.
“Then hurry to your designated area. Don’t wander around ours.”
“My apologies. We’ll head there now. Wait a moment.”
The Jindo Dog member who was about to leave turned his head back.
“What?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t act friendly.”
“Come on. We’re working in the same place, aren’t we? Who knows when we might need to help each other.”
“What are you—”
“Can you really guarantee that? I’m a healer. You can’t promise you’ll never need my help in a place like this.”
The fact that Uncle Joe Company had a healing ability user had already spread widely.
Especially among the Jindo Dog company, who had worked with them before. And healers were always valuable.
“…What is it? Even if you say that, there are things I can’t tell you.”
“It’s nothing big. I’m just curious which teams Jindo Dog sent. That’s okay to ask, right?”
“…Our team, Team 9, and Team 1 came.”
Suhyeon’s expression didn’t change at all when he heard the answer.
But the other members’ faces changed drastically.
Team 1.
For a company like Jindo Dog, that wasn’t a trivial designation.
“And what team are you?”
“We’re Team 10.”
“Ah… that Team 10…”
He seemed to remember Choi Jaeho boasting that their Team 10 was better than Uncle Joe Company’s Team 1.
“That’s enough, right?”
“Thanks, thanks. If you get injured later, I’ll treat you once for free.”
“Hmph. Like that’ll happen.”
The Jindo Dog member returned to his comrades.
After confirming their location through long-range sensing, Suhyeon nodded.
“The Jindo Dog team is at these coordinates. Their armament is no joke. If something happens, go there.”
“Team Leader… they said Team 1 came. Aren’t you surprised?”
“We’re Team 1 too.”
The members stared at Suhyeon in disbelief.
“That’s not really the same level…”
“Enough. If Jindo Dog sends strong forces, that’s good for us. Why are you the ones getting scared? Don’t waste your fear. You’ll have plenty of reasons to be scared later.”
At Suhyeon’s words, the members unconsciously swallowed.
