After hearing about the urgent situation, the 1st Unit was having a heated debate inside the helicopter.
"We need to request support. It's too dangerous like this!"
"No! We need to go like this!"
"It's the 'Spear Devil'! Not just any other bastard!"
"Damn it, who doesn't know that? If not us, there's no one else to fight, that's why!"
The two veteran mbers growled at each other.
"Why not? We can wait until the reinforcents arrive and then catch him!"
"Good grief, you think they'll kindly wait for us? A mole must be caught when it sticks its head out. Why don't you understand that this is our chance!"
"Because our heads are about to be pulled out by that mole!"
"Alright, alright, let's stop saying the sa things over and over."
Jo Sujin waved her hands to diate.
"First, let's be clear about sothing. The 'Ma-in Association' led by Spear Devil is quite strong. They're not opponents we can handle with just a squad or two."
"That's right!"
"Especially to face the boss, Spear Devil, you'd need to be at least at the level of a Deputy Commander from an upper unit, or a commander from a lower unit."
"......"
Even those who had been arguing for battle had darker expressions at Jo Sujin's declaration.
"Senior Squad Leader, haven't you faced him before?"
Jo Sujin sighed and answered Kim Taesung's question.
"Yes. But when I was a newbie."
"How was it?"
Yu Chanmin asked.
"How do you think? I got my ass handed to . If support hadn't arrived, I would've been a goner."
"!"
"That bastard is a monster."
'He is indeed a monster.'
I thought as I quietly listened to the conversation.
'Spear Devil' Lim Se-jin.
He was originally a promising hunter and a spear martial artist with exceptional talent, but unfortunately beca a Ma-in in an accident.
Afterward, he consistently built up his power and beca famous for an incident where he took revenge by killing all the hunters who were once his colleagues—a big shot among big shots.
'His power is similar to that of Little Evil Demon Noh Hajun.'
That level made him very strong among the nad characters that could be encountered at this point.
There were S-rank or higher powerhouses like Vampire Queen and Sword God.
Below them were S- ranks like Battle Maniac Jang Su-il, Sword Warrior Lee Cheong-myeong, and Sky Knight Ma Seunggeon.
And right below them, showing power a level different from other A
ranks and standing as gatekeepers blocking the threshold of S-rank, there existed separate individuals.
'In other words, there's a definite difference even when compared to A
Jo Sujin.'
If forced to classify, should it be called A
rank?
Although he hasn't reached the realm of the transcendent S.
A realm different in dinsion even from other A
ranks.
A strong figure who has been blocked for a long ti in front of the wall of transcendence.
That was Spear Devil.
And that ant his power would be difficult for us to handle right now.
'If Noh Hajun had drawn out his real power at Blood Plaza, I wouldn't have lasted even five minutes.'
It was only because he was ntally unstable and lacked combat technique compared to his power...
"Damn it, why did Spear Devil move now in the first place? Weren't they relatively moderate compared to the Sword of Belphegor?"
"That ans this Sergei or whatever was that tempting. A guy who turns everything he touches into gold, what do you expect?"
'They're probably trying to secure power to stand against the Sword of Belphegor through financial strength.'
In the end, it ans whether Ma-in or human, you can't do without money.
'But things have really gotten too big?'
I couldn't help but sigh.
'Did I show off too much? The butterfly effect is becoming harder to handle.'
The struggle over Sergei Song was an event that existed in the original tiline as well.
But Spear Devil's involvent was unprecedented.
'This is getting seriously complicated.'
If a commander-class could participate, there would be no problem.
'Even in peaceti, most commander-level schedules are packed tight. It's completely different from before Blood Plaza.'
Moreover, in the current situation, which is quasi-warti with sparks flying everywhere, it wasn't easy to dispatch a commander-level imdiately in such an urgent situation.
'If we're not careful, it could be a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted.'
"......"
Perhaps.
'Maybe it's ti to unlock that skill.'
According to the original plan, it was a skill that should have been unlocked later.
Given how difficult the situation has beco, I thought I should also prepare myself.
"Taesung, what do you think?"
"I think we should wait."
Kim Taesung said.
"Right."
Jo Sujin nodded.
"I think we should go."
"Noona!"
"I accepted this dispatch in the first place because his na was ntioned."
Jo Sujin said.
"For, against. Raise your hands."
The result showed that the opinions of the ten mbers were split exactly 5:5.
"Su-hyeon! Why aren't you raising your hand?"
"Given my position..."
"Never mind. You share your opinion too."
"Noona!"
"No matter what, giving the final key to a high school kid who's just seventeen seems a bit..."
"Shut up."
Jo Sujin dismissed it.
"Are you old-fashioned geezers? Just judge based on skill. Do you think his skills are lacking?"
"That's...! No."
"And you bastards, what are you misunderstanding?"
Jo Sujin frowned.
"In any case, I'm the one making the final decision and taking responsibility. I'm just respecting your opinions."
"......"
'She's taking the burden off them.'
Understanding the consideration behind it, I opened my mouth.
"I think we should go."
"!"
"Not to defeat him by ourselves, but to tie them down."
"Easy for you to say."
In response to the cynicism from the opposition, I answered promptly without blinking an eye.
"Yes. Words are easy. They always are. But actions are difficult, and because they're difficult, we must do them."
I continued without avoiding the mbers' gazes.
"Senior cadets of Group A, the strongest blade of the 1st Unit, which is the elite of elites."
Heavy silence.
Gazes with indiscernible emotions, but even the urgent situation couldn't stop my mouth.
"The attitude of the Ma-in bastards who attacked the 7th Unit mbers can only be seen as looking down on the Execution Force. 'A gap in law enforcent power.' That's what they believe in."
"Those fucking bastards."
"Ma-in, the underworld, Ma-in and criminal organizations trying to enter from outside. We are clearly facing a crisis in front of forces stirring in various places. The current peace is rely a precarious peace standing precariously on thin ice."
"......"
"Perhaps they're throwing an attractive bait and aiming for sothing more dangerous. Or maybe they're mocking our dilemma of having difficulty responding imdiately when an incident occurs because we're busy deciding who to deploy where."
That's why, I said.
"I think we should go. Until support arrives, tying them down and confusing them is the role of us, the reserve force for this operation."
"......"
A heavy silence passed.
"Su-hyeon. That was a very impressive speech."
Jo Sujin said.
"It wasn't much of a speech."
"Yes, yes, keep being modest."
Jo Sujin snickered.
"With our youngest speaking like this, what do you all think?"
"Huff."
Kim Taesung closed his eyes and said.
"Even if I oppose, it seems the will of the others has already shifted."
"Hehe, then let's go."
Jo Sujin laughed.
"You all know this month's incentive is crazy, right? If we solve this too, you could each buy a car, couldn't you?"
"Noona."
The mber who had been leading the opposition said with a playful face.
"If you had said that from the beginning, things would have gone smoothly, don't you think?"
??????°??☆????°??????
News of Spear Devil's appearance spread quickly to various places.
While the Execution Force sent a reserve force, they also requested urgent cooperation from EFAC.
"The problem is serious."
Vice Principal Gong Gi-jeong called an ergency eting, summoning several off-duty instructors.
"Spear Devil, and the Ma-in Association. Although their prestige can't be compared to the Sword of Belphegor, they're quite strong. The battle situation is not good at all."
Above all.
"It seems Cadet Jeong Su-hyeon will be deployed together and engage in combat."
"Huff. Isn't this going too far?"
Instructor Koo Hyeong-min complained.
"No matter what... he's only 17 years old. He's just a boy."
"I agree."
Vice Principal Gong Gi-jeong's expression wasn't good either.
"But, let's put off discussing the situation for now. I think it's right to put out the urgent fire first."
"I agree."
"I don't think it's appropriate to send instructors who are currently on duty. Our primary duty is to educate the cadets after all."
"We think so too."
"I want to receive support."
Gong Gi-jeong raised two fingers.
"But, limited to two people."
"I'll go."
"Please send
too."
The instructors who stood up were 'Light Bullet' Koo Hyeong-min and 'Fist Tiger' Oh Chang-seong.
"My ability should be quite helpful. Above all, I can get to the scene in the shortest ti."
Instructor Koo Hyeong-min said.
"Senior Squad Leader Jo Sujin is my gunner, and Su-hyeon is my disciple after all. I can't just sit still."
Oh Chang-seong also said with a resolute expression.
"Good... you two should be sufficient."
Gong Gi-jeong checked the clock and said.
"Combat is expected in 20 minutes, so be ready to deploy as quickly as possible."
"Understood!"
"Did you hear? They say the 1st Unit is going to face Spear Devil right now!"
"Spear Devil? Tch, that's dangerous no matter what. How did it co to this?"
"I don't know. I heard it got complicated when they tried to catch so guy who escaped from the Red Mafia, soone who can turn everything he touches into gold."
"Shouldn't a commander-level be dispatched?"
"For now, Group A is going, so they probably won't go down easily, but honestly, it's dangerous."
"...!"
Lee Yu-jin, who was sitting on the floor resting after completing the operation, had eyes as big as saucers.
'Wait, then what about Su-hyeon?!'
Spear Devil was a na no one walking the path of martial arts could not know.
'...It's dangerous. Too dangerous.'
"Rookie, your expression doesn't look good."
"I'm sorry... a friend from my class is in that squad."
"Ah, you an that Jeong Su-hyeon guy?"
The Deputy Squad Leader said with a serious expression.
"Still, you shouldn't look at it too pessimistically. I hear two instructors from your academy have been urgently dispatched."
"Instructors? Which..."
"Koo Hyeong-min and Oh Chang-seong."
"Ah!"
Lee Yu-jin marveled.
Those two would be a considerable force.
But...
'You have to return safely. You absolutely mustn't overdo it.'
Squeeze.
Lee Yu-jin's expression darkened with anxiety as she hugged the sword she had received from Su-hyeon.
??????°??☆????°??????
"Welco!"
Spear Devil Lim Se-jin spread his arms toward the 1st Unit mbers who had disembarked from the helicopter and gathered.
"I've been waiting. Even through your mask, your fighting spirit is quite assertive!"
Lim Se-jin, with his eyes covered by a blindfold and a moon blade-like spear slung over his shoulder, spoke as if pleased.
"What the hell is this all about?"
Jo Sujin asked without a hint of a smile.
"Haha. It's obvious. Nibbling away."
Lim Se-jin sneered.
"If we can finish off Senior Squad Leader Jo Sujin, the pride of the 1st Unit, here, it'll be quite profitable for our side."
"Since when did you beco so strategically minded? Did the Sword of Belphegor guys put you up to this?"
"Hmm. What's wrong with riding the tide of the tis?"
Clang!
Lim Se-jin all too easily deflected the slash Jo Sujin launched before he finished his answer, and completed his sentence.
"Don't you think? You're still impatient. Six years ago, I should have taught you enough."
"Don't talk like you're so master, you Ma-in bastard."
Jo Sujin imdiately shifted into high gear.
"There's nothing more disgusting than a twisted monster pretending to be human!"
"Hmm. That fiery temperant is still the sa."
Lim Se-jin gripped his spear tightly.
"Let's settle the match we couldn't finish six years ago."
"Match? What, are we going to have a one-on-one duel?"
"If possible, wouldn't that be more fun?"
"Um, no."
Jo Sujin said as she soared into the sky.
"Everyone, attack!"
"Hmm."
Lim Se-jin tilted his head slightly and muttered in a low voice.
"Well, do as you please."
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