Chapter : 94
The government, reeling from the Dragon Slayer Project, was scrambling to come up with countermeasures. One part of this was strengthening special forces within the military. Still, that alone had its limits.
Eventually, they resorted to the old method: cooperating with mercenary companies. Of course, after the shock of losing the entire team operated by the Development Planning Bureau, this method had become far more outsourced than before…
Joo Wonjun was a formidable figure who had made a name for himself in the post–Dragon Slayer Project era, just like Suhyun. And no matter how you looked at it, he was unlikely to have a positive influence on Suhyun.
“He’s the kind who used to secretly keep competitors in check…”
There was no such thing as “friendly competition” in his mind. If a company had a competitor, he preferred to bring them down so he could rise.
It was best to prepare in advance.
“What’s the plan going forward?”
“Huh?”
“I said, what’s the plan going forward?”
“We don’t have a plan…”
There wasn’t one. Even escaping this far had been largely due to luck.
“None at all?”
“…”
“Do you intend to live your life as fugitives? I won’t stop you if that’s what you like.”
“Not exactly. But we have no choice!”
“‘No choice’ is an illusion. There’s a way for everything in this world. What if I were to clear your names? What would you do then?”
“!”
The mercenaries just looked at one another. Suhyun’s words felt almost unrealistic. They could hardly believe that he had entered their hideout and trusted them on the spot, let alone that he could actually clear their names.
The first to respond was Lee Dojeon.
“Anything…”
“Anything?”
“Anything. I’ll do anything.”
Suhyun smiled slightly.
“Sounds nice.”
“But… may I ask a few questions?”
“Go ahead.”
“Who are you, why would you clear our names… and why are you here?”
“You think I’d let you ask questions? You’ve been subdued, yet you have so many questions.”
Lee Dojeon flushed. Suhyun’s point was valid.
“Well, I’m generous enough to answer that. This will take a few years at least, and if you grow suspicious, it’ll be hard to endure, right? I’m a mercenary, just like you. You probably don’t know much, since you’re new. But I have the power to clear your names.”
Suhyun expected they wouldn’t believe him immediately. Yet surprisingly, they accepted it easily. It was because of his supernatural abilities. Anyone with such powers wouldn’t be in his position without reason.
“Why clear your names? There are two reasons. First, I don’t like Joo Wonjun. Clearing your names would essentially be an attack on him. Doesn’t that feel good already?”
Everyone here ground their teeth at the mere mention of Joo Wonjun’s name.
“And the second reason?”
“I need people who can come out and fight when I need them. If they’re people whose actions won’t be recorded, even better. Until your names are officially restored, you’re erased from the records. No one can trace you, no matter where or how you fight.”
Although Suhyun ran a small elite unit, there would be times when numbers were necessary. He had already been building contacts for such situations, but keeping a few cards up his sleeve was never a bad idea.
Suhyun’s words were blunt. He couldn’t say exactly when their names would be cleared, but until then, he intended to make use of them.
Yet it was this bluntness that gained Lee Dojeon’s trust. Not hiding anything, being straightforward, and leaving the choice of cooperation up to them—it inspired confidence. They were fed up with being deceived.
“So, you want us to come fight… monsters?”
“What? Well, there might be a need for your strength when fighting monsters… but probably not. How many superhumans do you think I have to command?”
“Then… what is it?”
“Enemies in Cameron aren’t only monsters.”
“…!”
Lee Dojeon finally realized what Suhyun meant: he was talking about fighting people.
’This man… what kind of person is he?’
Mercenaries didn’t normally prepare for human combat. Lee Dojeon unconsciously swallowed hard. He could feel sweat soaking his palms.
“I’m not forcing you. This is sincere. Refusing won’t get you killed. If you promise not to interfere with me, I’ll step back.”
Suhyun’s expression didn’t change; he lied smoothly. Yet the mercenaries believed him.
“So, what will you do?”
“If we fight for you, will you truly clear our names?”
“I promise.”
They had no choice. They had escaped to save their lives, but since then, they had only been surviving day by day. To escape that life, they would gamble on anything, even with a devil.
“…We will be loyal.”
“Contact the other fugitive mercenaries as well. Make sure everyone’s opinion is unified. If someone refuses, just let it slide for now.”
“Huh?”
“Handle it quietly.”
“Most will probably agree.”
Lee Dojeon knew the others. They all harbored resentment toward Joo Wonjun and a strong desire to reintegrate into society.
“Once you return, I’ll contact you individually. Until then, stay hidden. Don’t be careless and get discovered. No one will come around here easily, so you won’t run into anyone.”
“But why are you here?”
Now that he thought about it, he hadn’t received an answer to his earlier question. Lee Dojeon asked again.
“I need something in Dokji.”
“Eh?! You don’t mean…!”
Lee Dojeon was startled.
“Why?”
“Ah, no… I didn’t expect anyone would be going in there.”
His gaze mixed disbelief with concern. He worried that if Suhyun went into Dokji and died, all their efforts would be wasted.
“Why enter there?”
“I need something. I’ll visit here periodically. After contacting the other fugitive mercenaries, report back.”
“Visit?”
“We’ll be fighting together, so I need to gauge the situation.”
After the Dragon Slayer Project, they would have to deal with people more than monsters. Mercenary companies would expand into previously stable areas, leaving gaps that everyone would covet.
’Especially in China. Now we have to be ready to collide for real.’
Until now, they hadn’t worried much because their operational areas were separate. Now, collision was inevitable.
“Then… we’ll see you next time.”
“Ah, you might as well have a meal while you’re here. Making a hideout nearby isn’t easy.”
“Sure, let’s do that.”
Since they couldn’t get supplies from outside, the first priority was food. Hunting, smoking meat, preparing preserved foods… it was hard work.
Suhyun, coming from outside, had obviously been eating well before arriving here.
’Do I really need to eat here?’
That thought vanished when he saw the pack Suhyun produced.
“Wh-what is that…?”
“My meal.”
By now, he had grown too lazy to extract poison separately. He could no longer bother with a few portions. Suhyun simply swallowed it whole.
’Is he crazy?!’
Even experienced mercenaries were taken aback as he chewed and swallowed the flying snake meat expressionlessly. After finishing, he spoke.
“By the way, I saw traps set for black-tailed deer.”
“Yes, to secure food…”
“The traps weren’t very effective. Don’t underestimate monsters—camouflage everything. Also, ground traps are better than rope traps.”
Suhyun was an expert in several things, and in some, he considered himself the best. Surviving alone in Cameron was one of them.
“See you later, then.”
After Suhyun left, the mercenaries muttered quietly:
“Did we do the right thing?”
“Better than staying as we were.”
“At least his ability seems solid… someone like him won’t stay weak. He could stand up to Joo Wonjun.”
“He seems a bit… unhinged.”
“There are always odd ones among top superhumans. He’s tame compared to them. He probably eats that to enhance his powers.”
Even as Lee Dojeon said this, he found it unconvincing. Why on earth did he eat that?
Yet one thing was certain: Suhyun wasn’t powerless, and he was all they had to rely on.
“Let’s move. We need to find the others.”
’Duplicate again…’
As Suhyun went deeper into Dokji, he noticed the poison intake slowing.
’Only three left. I need to go further.’
It was excruciating. Without camouflage, he would have collapsed already. Others would have given up and run, but Suhyun pressed on step by step.
Deeper inside, it was eerily quiet. The number of visible creatures dropped significantly. The poison was so strong that fewer could endure it. Those who survived would surely be extraordinarily strong.
’Time to rest and go back in.’
But Suhyun didn’t care. Mechanically killing and eating monsters repeatedly, the ones inside were just food to him.
When he arrived at the hideout, an unexpected guest was there.
“Ada?”
“Greetings. You seem worse for wear.”
“That’s a relief.”
Ruiril was genuinely happy to see Ada. Even if Shayna could accept it, Ruiril disliked being trapped here.
“Something must have happened outside for you to come.”
Ada nodded.
“I heard the Dragon Slayer Project has begun. The troops will likely be deployed soon…”
Timing was fine. After completing the poison process, he could leave safely.
“What about the search party?”
“They haven’t been deployed.”
“?”
“They can’t risk sending them if someone goes missing…”
’Ah.’
Suhyun realized they overlooked something—his own actions. He had single-handedly entered Kebaswak to rescue the Jindo Dog Unit 1 and had led minor operations to capture Kakrita Valley.
His disappearance couldn’t be taken lightly. Most teams wouldn’t accept that.
Moreover, the government was focused on the Dragon Slayer Project. They couldn’t deploy forces easily.
’They keep overestimating my reputation.’
“Perfect.”
“That’s a relief. If a search party had come, it would’ve been troublesome.”
“Not just that.”
Suhyun shook his head with a smile.
’They didn’t send a search party at all.’
Even within the Development Planning Bureau, this must have been a calculated decision. It put them at a disadvantage. Once Suhyun returned, they could blame them.
They didn’t even send one search team for his direct unit!
’Fools. At least one team should have been sent nominally.’
They had thrown away any excuse. Suhyun could see right through their confidence. With the Dragon Slayer Project succeeding, their status would skyrocket. They didn’t care about a single missing search team.
But failure was always possible. To anyone. At any time.
“If no search party is deployed, there’s no need to worry. The two of you follow Ada and hide in the village safehouse.”
“Will that be safe?”
“No problem. As long as there’s no search party, no one will look inside the village. I’ll finish my task and return on time.”
Suhyun planned to complete the poison process on the next attempt.
