Episode 28 - Behind the Stage
BANG! BANG! BANG!
CLICK!
As the slide of the empty pistol locked back, I swiftly ejected the magazine and loaded a fresh one, smoothly continuing with a rapid reload.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
After emptying the freshly loaded magazine, a cheerful voice accompanied the score displayed on the screen.
“Wow! You're quite a sharpshooter!”
[20 shots / 20 hits - Handgun: G-Lock 24]
Initially, I fumbled a bit, but now reloading within three seconds was a breeze. Practicing marksmanship certainly improved my skills. The handgun fit my hand perfectly, and I thought I would've been a decent shot if I had used a handgun during my active duty days.
"You've definitely improved. At first, you were the epito of an amateur."
Feeling a presence behind , I turned to see Ha-an standing with her arms crossed, watching
with a proud smile.
She had been teaching
shooting skills since the Underdog Bikers incident, and she seed pleased with my progress. The shooting range we were at was also a facility run by her grandmother.
“You're ready to graduate now.”
“Thank you, master. Let's hope I don't ss up in the field.”
“Stop joking. I doubt there's anyone in our guild who could hold you back, except maybe Jung Min-joon.”
“Have you heard from him?”
“I blocked him. He's been pestering the guild leader about what we're doing, but I'll be returning to Daejeon after this operation anyway.”
Ha-an shook her head in exasperation.
“Let them misunderstand all they want.”
It seems Jung Min-joon was deeply offended by being ignored that day. Since neither Ha-an nor I showed up at the guild, he started causing trouble through the most approachable target, the guild leader.
“By the way, you're all geared up today?”
“Oh, you noticed?”
She twirled around once. Although she was dressed in her usual suit, it was actually a ‘combat suit.’
This high-end combat suit, made from new materials, not only provided level 3 bulletproof protection but also supported the tech body she was equipped with. It would certainly protect her during the chaotic Nephilim Hunt.
“And your grandmother?”
“I've delivered your ssage. She's preparing to set up defensive lines with the residents of the northern district.”
“That’s good.”
The reason I sought out Grandma Oh Wol’s restaurant imdiately after being transported into Seoul 2056 was for this mont.
The collapse of the Daegu Green Zone's outer wall is a given.
But with the help of Grandma Oh Wol and others, we could prevent the entire area from being devastated.
Even outside the walls swarming with mutants, people live safely in the liberated village.
“But how did you know about the hidden outer wall that spans the northern and central districts?”
“The current Daegu Green Zone is larger than the original plan. I realized it when I accidentally obtained the old blueprints.”
“Even if the Daegu city governnt had forgotten about it...”
“The construction company changed from the ti, so the data was naturally discarded.”
In short, it’s the adult world’s complexities.
Before Sunjin Kyungbuk Construction, the gacorporation in charge of all construction in Daegu, solidified its position, another construction company in the northern district had built an underground wall for large mutants.
That company planned to make New Daegu an underground fortress city but withdrew after facing budget issues and practical problems, abandoning the project.
The forgotten underground wall from 15 years ago was the key to preventing the total destruction of the Daegu Green Zone.
“I’ve also inford the Underdogs to take over the Daegu Solar Power Plant.”
“Isn't that essentially terrorism?”
“The governnt will be destroyed too, so it doesn’t matter. Daejeon will not lose anything either.”
“You know even that?”
“Of course. Soone needs to clean up this lawless area, and right now, there’s only Daejeon. It’s beneficial for the New Governnt to keep Daegu intact in any form rather than letting it be destroyed.”
If Daegu, a military strategic point and the frontline, falls, the New Governnt suffers significant losses. They sent Ha-an here to ensure that doesn't happen.
If things go wrong, the New Governnt forces will storm in and replace Daegu's leadership.
However, they likely don’t anticipate the complete collapse of the Green Zone.
The future ahead involves more than a few gangs causing trouble.
Pastor Ju Kang-hyeok’s request involved headhunting various criminal organizations in the southern district. We had already laid the groundwork.
In short, we’ve finished the appetizer, and it’s ti for the main course.
“There are two hours until the operation starts. Let’s get going.”
“Alright. I’m ready!”
Ha-an lifted her arm dramatically and skipped out of the shooting range.
It was ti for the showdown.
Central District of Daegu Green Zone, New Daegu Governnt Office
Due to the sudden appearance of the creeping disaster in Suseong District and the Nephilim Hunt operation, the governnt office was nearly in chaos.
They were busy evacuating personnel and minimizing the inevitable 'security gap.'
The atmosphere was naturally hectic.
In the midst of the turmoil, an unofficial eting was taking place on the 23rd floor of the governnt office, in the City Managent Bureau.
Attending were:
City Managent Bureau Director Seo Ik-gyeong, Colonel Yeo Woon-pil of the 9th Infantry Regint, Daegu Industrial Union President Yoo Jae-sung, Chief of Daegu Autonomous Police, and other senior commanders.
They were the core military personnel of the Daegu Green Zone.
“The day of the big event has finally arrived. What are the chances of the Nephilim Hunt operation succeeding?”
“Over 90%. Unless there are unforeseen variables, we can ensure the operation’s success.”
Colonel Yeo Woon-pil responded imdiately to Seo Ik-gyeong’s question. His 9th Infantry Regint was the key unit responsible for the periter defense of Suseong and Dong Districts.
“We have established a dense defense line around the Muak Mountain area with three chanized infantry battalions over the past few days. Artillery units have also been forward-deployed to annihilate any incidents swiftly.”
Seo Ik-gyeong nodded in satisfaction.
No matter how superhuman the hunters were, they couldn’t survive an iron rain from the sky.
Next, Seo Ik-gyeong turned her attention to Union President Yoo Jae-sung.
“How are the preparations for the nanomachine dispersal?”
“We’ve equipped three attack helicopters with dispersal devices. We’ve also positioned nanomachine bombs at the defensive lines.”
“Good. Everything is going according to plan.”
They weren’t gathered for the Nephilim Hunt. That was only a secondary objective.
Despite the societal controversy, the military’s outlook on the special large-scale mutant was optimistic.
It was determined that the threat could be handled with strategic assets without needing A-rank hunters.
In other words, the creeping disaster was of little concern.
Their ultimate goal through the Nephilim Hunt operation was power reorganization, expanded central support, and extending Daegu Green Zone’s influence in the central governnt.
Daegu deserved more respect than any other place. The citizens here were the heroes who saved the Republic of Korea from extinction.
Even now, they were steadfastly defending the southern region turned into a hellish landscape due to an unexplained virus terror.
The central governnt had always looked down on them, so this was their chance to demonstrate Daegu’s might.
Seo Ik-gyeong envisioned the scared faces of the Daejeon cowards sweating bullets at the superb performance of the nanomachines, capable of disrupting even S-rank hunters’ military tech bodies.
“We initially planned to disperse in Nam and Seo Districts, but the special mutant appeared at just the right ti.”
“Thanks to that, we can minimize unnecessary sacrifices. This must be divine intervention!”
“Hahahaha!!”
Those in the director’s office burst into laughter.
“I’m most curious about Ryu Jin’s reaction!”
“I’ve never liked that kid, acting all high and mighty. He constantly harassed the police, that clown.”
“You thought the sa, Chief? Haha... Ryu Jin isn’t exactly a likable person.”
The current governnt was too weak. With incidents occurring almost daily and gangs running rampant, things had to change.
Suppressing corporations had only emboldened minor elents to rise.
But the public, those idiots, praised the hunter guilds while disparaging the police.
What nonsense was this?
Despite the sacrifices, the 1st and 2nd guilds, Dongseong and Namjin Front, continuously reported their achievents, undermining the governnt’s authority.
Fed up, Seo Ik-gyeong vowed to burn away all this corruption, even if ‘inevitable’ sacrifices were required!
“Once martial law is declared, the city’s control will transfer to the defense commander. The mayor’s authority will be effectively nullified, leaving you, Director Seo, to act freely.”
“Nanomachine dispersal will target the stadium where Dongseong and Namjin Front forces are concentrated, as well as Gosan Station and the tollgate where guilds ranked below 4th are positioned. Please deploy your forces accordingly.”
A golden opportunity to eliminate the pesky 1st and 2nd guild hunters at once.
This operation would place City Managent Bureau Director Seo Ik-gyeong in control of all Daegu Green Zone’s power, and Yoo Jae-sung’s Daegu Industrial Union would rise to the 1st guild position.
“Well then... Let’s adjourn. Best of luck to everyone.”
“For the everlasting glory of Daegu!”
For so, it was for money.
For so, it was for honor.
For so, it was to avenge the past.
And for so, it was to prevent the impending devastation caused by all these motives.
People with various reasons gathered in Suseong District. Representatives from different places and organizations ca together.
When the clock’s hour hand pointed to noon,
“Operation Nephilim Hunt is now comncing.”
WAILING SIRENS
The sirens signaling the start of the operation echoed throughout the city as the gates and barriers around Suseong District were lifted.
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