novelburst-info
Chapter 212
Chapter 212
The organization's missions always leave a bitter aftertaste.
That was Wise’s philosophy.
“Ron Berger. A member tasked with eliminating the subjects of the Zahard Institute’s experiments, who have been subjected to long-term forced awakening of their abilities and are losing control.”
“Oh, how unpleasant. If you’re telling us about such a mission, it seems like things didn’t go well, did they?”
“The test subjects were children, and Ron Berger had a past where his pregnant wife died after a miscarriage.”
Teresa’s expression darkened.
On the other hand, Nozzle’s expression grew serious.
“This feels dangerous. Ron Berger is one of the top talents in the organization, second only to Wise.”
“Now, he’s just a traitor. He teamed up with another organization that promised to protect the children, the test subjects. And now, he’s the target of this mission.”
“Wait! So, what about the children?”
Teresa grabbed Wise’s hand with both of hers.
“No, you can’t. You’re not going to kill the children too. It’s too much. They were just used as test subjects. To take their lives as well...”
“It’s the opposite. If we don’t handle this ourselves, the uncontrolled powers of those children will cause them pain or lead to a terrible accident.”
“Nozzle, newbie! Say something!”
Nozzle turned his eyes away.
Ha Eung Eung remained silent.
She believed Wise’s words were right.
Three in favor, one against.
It seemed like she might be exempt from the mission this time, but in the end, Teresa followed.
“It’s here.”
“It’s the team, whether you like it or not.”
“Thanks, Teresa.”
Everyone’s outfits for the mission were far more serious compared to their casual attire during the waiting period.
Ha Eung Eung also wore the same outfit as the others: a bulletproof coat and tactical gear.
- Is this a photo shoot?
- Oh my...
- The fit is insane.
- Those hips...
- But why is the weapon an umbrella?
When Ha Eung Eung voiced the same question, Nozzle responded with disbelief.
“Wasn’t the umbrella the main weapon? I thought that’s why you brought it to the scene.”
“...”
“From now on, ask for a sword. You’re wasting your downtime during the mission. That’s how these accidents happen.”
It was sound advice.
It was a bit annoying coming from the one who forced a skip with a boring conversation earlier, but still, it was solid logic.
[Betrayer - Ron Berger]
[Ability - Manipulation of Liquids]
- Can manipulate liquids within 15 meters.
- In combat with Ron Berger, use Force to resist. Failure to resist will result in manipulation of the blood, causing unconsciousness or instant death.
[Special Notes] - Currently protecting the failed subjects, who were the target for elimination.
- Has allied with the hostile organization, Scales of Benefit.
- Avoid combat near buildings or water sources as it’s highly dangerous.
- The long-term test subjects Berger is protecting have a high risk of power overload. Be cautious to avoid getting caught in unexpected power surges.
[Mission Overview]
Ron Berger is using a smuggling route from the hostile organization Scales of Benefit to assist the escape of long-term test subjects from the Zahard Institute. Many high-level ability users from Scales of Benefit are stationed at the smuggling port.
Eliminate Ron Berger before he reaches the escape location and take out all the long-term test subjects he’s trying to save.
‘One more boring task added to the list.’
The time to carry out a more tedious mission than Nozzle’s endless chatter was approaching.
“There are two routes to the smuggling route: one above ground, and one underground. Teresa and I will take the underground tunnels, while Nozzle and the newbie will take the above-ground route.”
It wasn’t good.
Even though the mission briefing clearly warned them to avoid water sources, Teresa was assigned to the underground route with Wise.
Her death seemed almost certain.
The bad feeling wouldn’t leave her.
[Can I switch my mission zone with Teresa’s?]
If she could get away from the underground tunnels, her chances of survival might increase, even just a little.
“Wake up. What are you doing, acting like a sneaky cat? The spot next to Wise is mine. I’ll never give it up.”
“...”
- LOL, that reaction is savage.
- The Silent Swordsman is giving off the "I’m debating whether to let her die or not" vibe LOL.
- You’re doing this to save her, aren’t you!
Some people are struggling to save someone, while others are desperately trying not to die.
“This is based on your abilities. Accept it. It won’t be easy to use your speed and combat prowess in such a cramped underground tunnel.”
[I understand.]
“This time, team up with Nozzle. I’m expecting great things from you, Silent Swordsman.”
Without changing the mission zone or companions, the mission proceeded.
“If you spot the enemy, don’t rush in blindly.”
“Don’t harm any civilians.”
“Be careful not to destroy the building.”
“If you destroy the gas pipes, we all die together.”
“I assume you packed the gas masks properly?”
She should have insisted on changing the mission earlier.
Ha Eung Eung scowled at Nozzle’s endless lectures.
She had passed the skill assessment mission of Wise’s team quickly, but pushing through that process physically had led to the current barrage of nagging.
[I do have common sense, you know.]
“If you had common sense, you wouldn’t rush in headfirst against two ability users and cause a panic, making civilians flee in terror.”
And it wasn’t just one nagger.
“We need to finish things quickly on the surface!”
“If we take too long, Teresa dies and Wise turns dark!”
“I gave you the shortcut, didn’t I? The route I discovered while doing other missions. If you open that manhole cover, it leads to the underground tunnels…”
Dashman.
This man, who had become the voice of the viewers, was now floating in ghost mode in the air, continuing his nagging.
“?????”
“?????”
Let them yap.
I’ll plug my ears.
Like a pet tormented by an annoying owner, Ha Eung Eung turned her head in exhaustion.
After using her inner power to block out the noise for a while, a hand tapped her shoulder.
Nozzle, realizing she wasn’t listening, gave her a look of disbelief.
“You… never mind. We’ll talk after the mission is over.”
“...”
“The target has been spotted. The organization’s tracking device will recognize Ron Berger if he gets within 500 meters. To be precise, it detects the assistive device that helps with his powers.”
The sunlight casting down between the alleyways quickly dimmed.
Dark clouds gathered in the sky.
It was not a good omen.
“The surface route has better conditions than the underground. To get to the dock, you have to pass through here no matter what.”
A closed port.
A government checkpoint set up to patrol illegal immigrants and undocumented residents.
The original guards at the facility had been put to sleep long ago by Nozzle’s sleep gas.
“When a vehicle comes, raise the entry block and pull the passengers inside. If we succeed in luring them in, we’ll spray them with sleep gas, paralysis gas, or acid gas and wipe them out in one fell swoop.”
The gas mask on her face was suffocating.
Her breath was heavy, and the air smelled stale.
It was all Nozzle’s fault.
If there was anyone she hated right now, it was him.
She kept thinking how nice it would be if a mission came up where she could just hit Nozzle.
“...Hey, are you listening?”
[A vehicle’s coming.]
She stepped out to meet it with her umbrella.
A van, whose window tinting was so light it didn’t block the view, was rushing toward the entry block without slowing down.
‘Does he believe in his ability?’
Should she call it fearlessness, or audacity?
A small child stuck his upper body out of the window and tightly gripped the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to crash into the entry block, sending it flying.
Ka-ga-gang!
The vehicle scraped against the barrier, making a rough metallic sound, but it didn’t slow down at all.
“Get out of the way! Or I’ll kill you!”
Ha Eung Eung tilted her umbrella to the side, narrowly avoiding the child’s outstretched hand, which created a pressure in the space.
She stepped back, barely escaping the crushing force, and thrust the umbrella forward.
Ching—
Wod-wod-wod
The entry block couldn’t handle it, but the person’s strength did the job.
The vehicle, which had been jerked upward and flipped, crumpled and spun around before coming to a stop.
Bang!
The door, which had been kicked off, slammed onto the asphalt, bouncing back up into the air.
In the split second it bounced, Ha Eung Eung’s agile movements allowed her to leap out and away, dodging the vehicle’s shadows.
Five small figures.
One large figure.
Five long-term test subjects and one adult.
Ha Eung Eung’s umbrella tip followed the adult’s movements.
“Don’t hurt the teacher!”
“You bad monster!”
A tingling dizziness struck her.
She used her telekinesis to dodge by instinct, but the attack spread across her range.
The ability to mess with her balance.
With staggering steps, the umbrella tip loaded with inner power shot off.
Thwack!
The umbrella tip brushed past the adult’s head.
Ha Eung Eung’s frown deepened.
<Perfect> <Heavenly Wind Newspaper>
The umbrella she had unfurled shielded her from the debris and rocks being thrown at her.
As she dodged out of the sensory disruption range, a large fireball flew toward her.
Boom!
A massive explosion shattered the checkpoint sign.
No sooner had she caught her breath than the jolt of static electricity hit her palm, and a yellow lightning bolt struck her umbrella.
Ka-ka-ka-ka-ka!
Boom!
The asphalt fragments shot up.
Before the shockwave had even faded, the pressure in the air pressed down on her again.
‘All five test subjects are using ranged abilities.’
At this rate, there was no point in trying to create distance.
Step after step.
With each step she fell further behind, the attacks from their abilities followed her.
“Huh?”
The child’s eyes, which had been clenched in a fist, showed signs of confusion.
Instead of retreating, they moved forward, leaving the others behind in a desperate attempt to break free from the attack range.
Ping ping ping
Thud—
With quick movements, Ha Eung Eung dodged the stone fragments and fireballs zipping by her.
“It’s too late!”
With a loud crack, the fastest lightning bolt struck Ha Eung Eung directly, but—
‘No. I was faster.’
The lightning wrapped around her umbrella.
Under the overturned umbrella, an empty void was revealed.
She was gone.
Whoosh!
Ha Eung Eung tossed the umbrella aside and sprinted forward, catching the lightning ability user’s head in her grasp.
<Pressure Points> <Bone Crushing>
“Aghhh!!”
The test subject, whose blood flow was cut off, let out a terrible scream as he fell to the ground.
“This is too much. They’re too strong.”
“Ughh…!”
“Hmph. Is this it for us?”
The kids, terrified, started to back away.
A man stepped forward in front of the sobbing children.
“Stop! These children are innocent! You know that, right?!”
“?”
Ha Eung Eung tilted her head.
Looking left, then right.
This man.
His face didn’t match the one attached to the mission briefing for Ron Berger.
Knock knock.
Ha Eung Eung returned to the checkpoint and knocked on the door.
“...Crazy woman. Why don’t you just announce that people are hiding here?”
[You traced Berger’s assistive device location.]
“I did. It’s right in front of us.”
[That’s not Berger.*]
“Huh?”
[?**]
“?”
Nozzle’s head tilted, just like Ha Eung Eung’s.