Chapter 33: A Coincidence for the NPC (4)

***There was a time in the past when radical nationalists in Korea were fervently advocating the so-called ‘Narration of the Northern Expedition.’1

According to them, Manchuria originally belonged to the Korean people2, and they needed to sweep away the wicked commies to reclaim the nation’s homeland.

Of course, no one paid attention to their claims.

That was because sensible citizens, as well as right-wing politicians, knew that the ‘Narration of the Northern Expedition’ was just some impractical nonsense.

Korea owned Manchuria they said? How could that even be possible?

After all, with the land divided between the communist superpowers of the Soviet Union and China, what could be done?

Without even taking nuclear weapons into consideration, weren't they already in a situation where the difference in nationally authorized Superhumans was nearly fivefold?

Instead of being bothered with occupying Manchuria, Korea at that time was more anxious about the possibility of having Kaesong invaded and the Dimensional Portal taken away.

In conclusion, all Koreans who prided themselves on being wise mocked those nationalists.

-

It might have been an irony of history or a case of words becoming reality.

The Koreans back then could never have imagined it, but their mockery turned into reality.

The Soviet Union was swept away by disaster, and China became a land no one could approach.

And Manchuria, which both countries treated as a frontier, barely managed to survive.

The precariousness here was referring to the millions of refugees who lost their country overnight and the land that was half in ruins.

Chaos was inevitable.

The economic crisis caused by the disappearance of the two superpowers, the soldiers who became warlords, and the endless rush of refugees…

Developed countries that should have helped remained silent because they were busy trying to find their own way out of the economic crisis.

Before long, the UN and the United States asked Korea to take responsibility for the troubled Manchuria.

For Korea, which was on the brink of collapse just from managing the chaos, it was like a bolt from the blue.

However, the government could not refuse the request.

Not only did they lack the courage to refuse the request of the U.S., but the offer of being handed over the rights to Kaesong and the Dimensional Portal was too tempting.

And just like that, the Narration of the Northern Expedition, which the nationalists had been clamoring for, became a reality.

However, the nationalists did not cheer in celebration.

Instead of rejoicing over having occupied Manchuria without a single shot fired, they rejected it more vehemently than anyone else.

-

-

-

-

However, once again, no one paid attention to their demands.

The Korean government had silenced them directly.

***

"Vice Captain, it’s time to wake up."

A familiar voice roused Kim Mansoo from his sleep.

"C’mon, how long are you going to sleep?"

Having tossed and turned in the car's back seat, he finally opened his eyes with a scowl.

As he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked out the window, he was greeted by an unbearably familiar sight.

Tall concrete walls, a guard post, armed soldiers, and injured people being carried on stretchers.

"Ah, Manchuria, my damned ..."

Kim Mansoo rolled down the car window and took a deep breath. The stale and cold Manchurian air filled his nostrils.

Only then did Kim Mansoo shake off his drowsiness and turn to check the passenger seat but it was was empty.

"...Where did that kid go?!"

Kim Mansoo turned to the driver's seat with a look of surprise. The mercenary squad member, a subordinate of his who had been driving all night, responded with a sullen face.

"If you’re talking about that new recruit, he left for the mercenary base camp a while ago."

"He went alone, without his guide instructor?"

"Well, certain instructor was snoring away. He waited for about 3 minutes before taking off with his phone."

"WHAT?! How could you let him go alone?!"

"I tried my best to wake you up, Vice Captain."

"..."

"And it’s not like he’s some three-year-old. Why can’t he go alone? It’s not a dangerous area, and what could possibly happen at the Manchurian base?"

Instead of responding, Kim Mansoo smacked the subordinate on the back of his head.

!

The subordinate, who had been struck by the emotionally charged Superhuman, slumped forward, his head hitting the steering wheel.

"You bastard, don’t you know the saying 'if you speak about it, you'll jinx it’? Don't you know that if you say something won't happen, it definitely will?"

"I mean, Vice Captain. You’re kinda overreacting..."

Regardless of what nonsense his subordinate spouted, Kim Mansoo massaged his forehead.

What if something were to happen to the new recruit? And what if that guy’s talents were somehow revealed?

The consequences were easy to predict.

Some aggressive individuals would send an assassin to try to take his head, while those with money would attempt to steal the so-called ‘new recruit’ by bribing him.

Kim Mansoo sighed deeply as if he had just been dumped by a girlfriend of three years.

"Vice Captain, why are you so restless? Wait… don’t tell me… is that kid the Captain’s hidden son or something?"

"...It would have been better if that were the case."

"Well, judging by his looks, you’re definitely not his father..."

"Knock it off already! Enough with your nonsense. You should head back to headquarters first and let Seokcheol know that you made it safely."

Then Kim Mansoo stormed out of the car before his subordinate could even respond.

A few soldiers and mercenaries who recognized him changed their expressions, but he paid them no heed and simply kept walking.

***

Since calling it the 'National Army for Manchurian Support Headquarters' every time was a mouthful, everyone usually just called it 'Manchurian Base' for short.

At noon, with the sun shining brightly, Cheon Yeomyeong entered an area commonly referred to as the Mercenary Zone among the various sections of the Manchurian base.

Cheon Yeomyeong was strolling leisurely, glancing at the residential areas and shops prepared for the mercenaries.

Although there was no one to talk to or accompany him, his steps were light and carefree.

Another factor was the absence of the grumbling instructor from the driver's seat and the snoring Vice Captain from the back seat.

With each step, he took in the scenery of the Mercenary Zone.

And even if he tried to put it nicely, it wasn’t really a pleasant place.

The place was filled with exhausted soldiers, fierce looking mercenaries, and merchants raising their voices to earn more money.

However, Yeomyeong didn’t really care either. Didn’t people fight monsters and die every day at the Manchurian base?

From the very beginning, it was inherently far from a peaceful place.

As Yeomyeong was walking and thinking this, a familiar face came into view.

An M-shaped receding hairline, a nose ridge as sharp as a blade, and eyes that were sharply slit…

Although he wasn’t wearing the blue coat he wore back then, it was definitely him. Seaʀch* The NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Perhaps sensing Yeomyeong’s gaze, the man stopped and turned his head toward him.

His eyes widened in surprise, and his jaw dropped as a brief silence ensued.

The glance they exchanged held more meaning than a hundred words. And even without any signal, they both moved almost simultaneously.

Yeomyeong kicked the ground as the man started sprinting in the opposite direction.

He didn’t just run a straight line. Staying true to the name of the Blue Rat organization, he used every method possible to create some distance.

He turned corners at every alley, jumped over passing vehicles, used the outdoor units of air conditioners to leap through windows, and jumped from rooftop to rooftop…

However, every time he glanced behind, the distance between him and Yeomyeong kept getting shorter.

Was it simply because of the difference between a Superhuman and an ordinary person? No, it wasn’t.

Instead, it was because Yeomyeong absorbed the methods the man was using and countered them with more efficient and Superhuman techniques.

“…How could there be such a crazy bastard?”

The moment he saw Yeomyeong leaping across the rooftops using the same method he was , the man let out a string of curses.

He looked around, hoping someone might come to his aid, but the passing mercenaries and soldiers merely watched them with interest.

Even the military police, who were supposed to be maintaining public order, were whistling and doing nothing. There was no one to help him.

The man clenched his eyes shut and drew his pistol from his belt.

It was a serious crime to use a gun without permission at the Manchurian Base, but standing before a Superhuman holding a grudge was worse than facing a military court.

At least he wouldn't die while being tried in a military court.

Having made up his mind, the man turned around, aiming his gun. However, the next moment, a foot that was moving too fast to be seen struck his wrist.

“Argh!”

The gun flew into the air without even being fired. The man rolled on the ground while clutching his broken wrist.

“Wait! Wait! I surrender! I’ll surrender!”

He raised his still intact hand as a sign of surrender.

“It seems there’s some, some m-misunderstanding between us.”

“…What misunderstanding?”

“This is because of the fight back in Incheon, right? It was all a misunderstanding. I-I had no intention of harming Mr. Jang Man. Honestly. I once worked under him, so why would I want to hurt him?”

“Oh, is that so?”

Yeomyeong reached out and grabbed the man’s neck. His Superhuman grip tightened around the man’s throat.

“There’s something Mr. Jang Man told me, but I don’t know if you’re aware.”

“, wh-what did he say…”

“Misunderstandings are easier to resolve after killing.”

Yeomyeong tightened his grip. Or, rather, he was about to.

Just as Yeomyeong was about to snap the man's neck, something softly pressed down against the back of his head.

.

“That is enough.”

Turning his head around, Yeomyeong saw a large revolver, one used for hunting bears, aimed at him.

“Unless you want a hole in your head.”

***

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