Chapter 70

Chapter 70

[Translator – Peptobismol]

Chapter 70

“This looks like a Flame Buster.”

“Flame Buster?”

“Yes, it’s a flame bomb Neo Seoul is researching exclusively to use against high-ranking monsters. I’ve heard it’s intended to target B-rank or higher monsters...”

Jo Sang-hyuk’s words trailed off.

Rumors were just rumors.Diisscover new chapters at novelhall.comong B-rank or higher monsters, there existed powerful force fields.

No ordinary weapon could inflict even minor injuries due to these force fields.

The only thing capable of penetrating a monster’s force field and causing damage was the attack of an Awakened.

In the desert, such monsters were abundant.

These factors kept people tied to Neo Seoul.

Safe land was limited, yet the population kept growing.

The need for expansion beyond Neo Seoul was urgent.

That’s why the Flame Buster was being developed.

To deal significant damage to B-rank, even boss-level monsters.

“But as far as I know, the Flame Buster hasn’t been completed yet.”

“Are you sure?”

“Among the remaining serial numbers here, ‘FB’ stands for Flame Buster, and ‘130’ means it’s the 130th prototype.”

“How do you know that?”

“I... I have connections with arms smugglers.”

Jo Sang-hyuk spoke honestly.

Neo Seoul and the slums had a kind of symbiotic relationship.

Weapons developed in Neo Seoul sometimes found their way into the slums.

There were cases of smuggling by organized crime, but sometimes Neo Seoul deliberately leaked them into the slums.

Because they couldn’t openly experiment within Neo Seoul, they utilized organizations in the slums for testing.

Therefore, arms smuggling organizations were quite knowledgeable about Neo Seoul’s weapon development.

“Regardless, it’s still a prototype, right?”

“Yes! Its power seems much weaker than rumored. It might even be a separate development as a small-scale weapon. If it were a proper Flame Buster, the entire street would probably have been destroyed.”

Since it was developed to penetrate a monster’s force field, its destructive power was immense.

If it exploded, it could demolish even giant buildings in an instant, so it couldn’t be used recklessly.

No matter how lawless the slums were, if damage exceeded a certain level, all organizations would have to intervene. That would escalate the problem.

Zeon asked.

“Have any organizations recently acquired the Flame Buster?”

“As far as I know, not yet. It’s still just a prototype...”

“Are you sure?”

Zeon’s voice sank heavily.

For a moment, Jo Sang-hyuk felt a chill run down his spine.

Zeon still had a smile on his lips, but his eyes weren’t smiling.

Unconsciously, Jo Sang-hyuk stuttered.

“Th-that’s...”

“Tell me anything that could be a lead. If it turns out later that you’ve hidden information, I’ll show you a fireworks display like no other with the Flame Buster.”

“Gah!”

In an instant, Jo Sang-hyuk felt the temperature inside the warehouse skyrocketing.

Zeon had released some of his abilities.

‘Fuck!’

Jo Sang-hyuk’s face contorted in pain.

It felt like his entire body was melting in the heat.

If time passed any longer, he felt like his lungs would burn from the hot air.

He hastily said.

“Th-there have been some troublesome guys recently.”

“Oh really?”

Zeon showed interest, and the scorching air that had risen sharply cooled down.

Jo Sang-hyuk hurriedly continued.

“They’re Alligators.”

“Alligators?”

“They live underground. They’re called that because they gobble up anything like alligators. They do anything that can make money, just like their name suggests.”

“But?”

“Lately, the movements of these Alligators have been suspicious. I don’t know what’s causing it, but they’re causing trouble everywhere.”

“And other organizations just let such people be?”

“The underground sewer is their habitat. As you know, that place is...”

“Too dirty for anyone to enter?”

“Yes!”

“I see. Is that all?”

Zeon turned away without further probing.

Zeon moved his body lightly to evade the attack and then struck back.

“Keuk!”

“Ugh!”

The attackers screamed out in pain.

Zeon’s fist had struck precisely at their abdomens.

It was a powerful blow that would have incapacitated an ordinary person, but the attackers managed to withstand it.

They were wearing protective gear resembling ragged armor. It mitigated the impact.

“It’s a bastard from above.”

“You’re dead!”

Driven by malice, they attacked Zeon.

The sight of them rushing towards him with their yellow teeth bared resembled rabid dogs.

“Tsk!”

Zeon clicked his tongue.

While there were no non-toxic people among those living in the slums, these individuals were beyond the norm.

It seemed like it’d be difficult to subdue them with just the right amount of force.

Boom!

Thud!

Zeon’s fist and knee struck each attacker’s head and abdomen.

The attacker struck in the head lost focus in his eyes, while the one hit in the abdomen had his protection shattered, bearing the full brunt of the impact on his body.

Seemingly in agony, as if their internal organs bursted, they lost consciousness and collapsed.

Zeon paid no attention to the fallen attackers and continued forward.

With surveillance forces down, those inside would have noticed the intrusion.

Thud!

Zeon’s pace quickened.

“You’re dead!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, gunshots echoed in the sewer.

And it wasn’t just gunshots from any gun; it was from a machine gun capable of repeat fire.

Due to guns being unable to penetrate thick monster hide, firearms were pushed back in the weapon of choice, but that didn’t mean they weren’t completely obsolete.

There was no weapon more efficient than firearms for subduing and killing humans.

The attackers beyond the darkness fired their guns madly. However, the bullets didn’t hit Zeon.

His robe perfectly protected him.

Thud!

Zeon kicked off the ground and leaped forward.

In an instant, Zeon closed the distance and subdued those firing the guns.

“Arggh!”

“Keuuk!”

With screams, all the attackers fell.

Zeon stood in the center, looking down at the fallen.

Each one emitted a foul odor from not having washed in probably years. Their appearance was as pitiful as those struggling to survive outside the colony.

“Who are you? You bastard?”

“I-I’ll kill you, you son of a bitch!”

The attackers, lying on the ground, glared at Zeon with venomous eyes and spewed curses.

They were not your typical toxic people.

But Zeon wasn’t your typical person either.

This level of mental pressure couldn’t affect him.

Ignoring their venomous gazes, Zeon looked around.

In the rather large underground space, many items were piled up.

Among them was a mana generator that Zeon suspected belonged to him.

“Ah, there you are.”

As Zeon walked towards the mana generator...

“You, what are you?”

A particularly calm voice sounded.

Zeon paused for a moment and looked towards where the voice came from.

A man sat on a large wooden crate, doing his nails.

The man was grooming his nails with a dagger the size of an adult’s forearm, his face covered in tattoos, with unnaturally yellow eyes gleaming eerily in the darkness.

Strangely, the space around the man seemed distorted and warped.

He spoke again.

“Why are you here?”

“I’m the owner of that item.”

Zeon glanced at the mana generator.

The man chuckled.

“So you crawled all the way here to find that mana generator? You have quite the guts. But what should I do? I have no intention of giving it back.”

“But what can I do? I definitely need to get that back though.”

Zeon also smiled at the man.

[Translator – Peptobismol]