◈ Episode 105

Creak, creak.

The hand movements to attach a silencer to a pistol are natural. Echidna was actually skilled in handling firearms.

Even if you are a capable person, your spells are not omnipotent.

She has a spell that allows her to shape-shift into metal. If we were to talk about it this far, it might seem like an absurdly high-performance ability, but of course, there are limitations.

It cannot be used on living things. Stamina consumption increases in proportion to the target's mass. It may be useful for assassination, but it is surprisingly rare to find a situation where it can be used.

My physical abilities aren't that great either. They're better than average people, but that's about it. It's more efficient to pull the trigger at the same time as swinging the blade I made with my spell.

'It's not like the character was focused on fighting power in the first place.'

In the game, it sometimes clashes with the rap and sometimes cooperates. It appears as an ally unit in certain stages, but as an enemy in other stages.

She is the type of commander who runs on her feet.

'It'd be like a mix of me and the professor.'

In-game performance is also evaluated as not bad.

A back-row support position that provides buffs to surrounding allies.

Of course, in terms of setting, he is in an ambiguous position where he is inferior to the professor in command ability and is not as strong as an elite agent. However, his business and political skills, which he has honed as a mafia boss, cannot be ignored.

"What are you looking at like that?"

"It's nothing. What else should I do?"

"Well, that's right."

He wears bulletproof vests without fail. At first, it seemed like they didn't match his flashy appearance, but when he tied his hair back, he looked quite handsome.

Although I can't say that we still suit each other.

"It's no easy task to break up an organization."

She said as she continued checking her equipment.

"Unless the group is quite small, not all members gather in one stronghold and live there like a hideout. Assassination is, yes, an effective method, but taking out the leader won't disintegrate the organization."

Someone just follows suit. That's why Mithril in Atlanta didn't kill Darun but kept watch.

"Well, if the successor is sloppy, it could go downhill. The business will fail, and internal strife will occur. But it will take time for the organization to fall. In fact, power may be given to someone more capable."

"so?"

"Sweeping away all bases simultaneously would be ideal, but… we don't have that many people. If we did, we would have taken the city long ago."

Crunch.

Echidna pulled the slide of her automatic pistol.

"The effective way is to hit the business."

The Ricardo family also makes money through 'business'. Drug-related matters. If they cut off their funding, their influence will naturally weaken and the loyalty of the organization members will also decrease.

"I know what you mean. It just doesn't seem like knowledge that I'd be able to use anywhere."

"Surprisingly, that's not the case. The name is different, but the mafia is everywhere. Usually, we avoid them, but that's because we have no power. If they're an eyesore, we have to take them down. Right?"

It's a brutal way of thinking.

Kim Yi-hyeon was secretly disgusted, but he also thought that there was some truth to it. If he kept wandering around, wouldn't he soon get involved with a criminal organization again?

"...Anyway. Should I just follow you?"

"no."

Echidna, who had been negligent in one stroke, sent me an indifferent look.

"To be honest, I don't completely trust you yet. No matter how good your skills are, what good will it do if you point a gun at the back of my head?"

In fact, she was still wary of Kim I-hyeon.

It has always been like that. He has a monopoly on horses, always has his men on standby nearby, and he keeps the metal he uses to activate the spell hidden in his bosom. So that he can respond at any time if he reveals his true colors.

It wasn't something to be taken lightly. Rather, it was a natural distrust. Kim Lee-hyun was still a stranger whose identity had not been revealed. Even his name was a pseudonym.

A trigger was needed to allay distrust.

"You have to improve your performance on this occasion."

"I thought you were going to tell me to just leave."

"I can't let talent be wasted. I'll give you exactly two people."

Echidna tore off a piece of paper from the table. She scribbled some words on it and handed it over to Kim Ihyeon. The address of a building was written on the paper.

"It's one of the Ricardo family's businesses I just mentioned. Sweep it away."

Kim Yi-hyeon looked at the note in silence for a moment. Soon, he opened his mouth.

"Two big ones."

"응?"

"You have to get paid for doing hard work."

Echidna's face wrinkled as if she had bitten a bug.

"You too… are quite something."

"I would appreciate it if you could give me a definite answer. Are you saying you will give it to me or not?"

"Okay, then go!"

* * *

PM 8:55.

Old Chowk, a street in Timorta.

A featureless forklift stopped at the corner. The interior was visible through the untinted windows. There were three people in the car. Their faces were covered with cloth, leaving only the corners of their eyes exposed.

It was a common costume in Timorta. Even foreigners who felt uncomfortable wearing it at first would start wearing it after a few days. This was because they realized the danger of going out with their faces exposed.

Thanks to this, there was no need to put in effort to disguise themselves. The three of them were conversing in a very comfortable manner, as if they were choosing a meal menu.

"Over there. Hotel Parachai."

"It's a hotel, after all?"

A five-story accommodation facility. It was quite different from what I expected.

Although it said hotel in the note, I thought it would have an illegal vibe just by looking at it. But when I actually arrived, it was a very ordinary building.

"I see a normal business too."

"That's not true. This area is completely controlled by the Ricardo family. The man next door is a porter, the woman is a farm worker, and the son is a broker. This is a neighborhood that can't be run without drugs."

"Oh my. Then what do they do over there?"

"What can I say? For a den of drug dealers, it's luxurious, managed directly by the Ricardo family, a room with a bed, and you can get a quote right away. There are quite a few rich people in Timorta, too."

"I don't need to hear any more."

It was a city where nothing but ghost stories emerged no matter how much you looked into it.

Beep, beep.

At that moment, an electronic sound leaked out from the receiver.

It meant that the full-scale rebellion had begun. Echidna would be leading a large number of members of the organization and storming into a building larger than this one. Antonio was also in charge of another stronghold.

Three battles are scheduled to take place simultaneously.

There was a possibility that the Ricardo family or another organization might attack Nuova Era's business premises, but it wasn't a problem that Kim Ihyeon needed to worry about.

The member of the organization, Leeum, who was holding the steering wheel, opened his mouth.

"It's a signal. What do you want to do?"

"Well, what can I do?"

You can't be lazy. It's not good if the timing is off on this side.

"Rush in."

"...옙."

The member of the organization who had been very talkative the whole time they were moving, Puka, answered with great tension. He thought that the three here were abandoned. They were just bait to divert the enemy's attention.

Well, isn't that so?

There are only three of them. It is not enough to take over a hotel. Above all, Puka himself and Rium have made mistakes recently.

'I heard that this guy is a troublemaker in one way or another.'

Pooka glanced at Kim Ihyeon, no, Karajam. He was a newcomer who was a hot topic even within the organization. Although his abilities were outstanding, there were rumors that his attitude was a mess.

In the meantime, the boss might have gotten sick of him. In the end, he was in the same situation as me. If he didn't want to be abandoned like this, he had to prove his usefulness somehow.

"Let's get off."

He wiped the sweat from his palms with a cloth. Then, he was about to open the door of the van.

"Not yet."

"Yes? You said you were going to rush in."

"Oh, I'll do it. But don't get off yet."

"What is that...."

A questioning gaze was turned towards Karajam.

"They said it's a facility used to satisfy the needs of VIPs. There won't be any regular guests."

"Well, that's true. It's famous around here."

"Our goal is to ruin the business."

"Yes."

"Then I guess it's okay if I just leave."

He spat it out calmly.

"Put the car in."

* * *

─Kwaaang!

The forklift crashed through the glass door with a thunderous crash. Shards of shattered glass struck the body of the car. The windshield shattered and debris rained down violently on the inside of the car.

The car that entered the lobby swerved and crashed into the desk. Smoke rose from the dented hood. The inflated airbag had glass stuck in it like a blade.

But there was no sign of a person on the seat.

Jabak, Jagrak.

Three people entered the hotel, stepping on the scattered debris.

Pooka swallowed dryly, holding the rifle with both hands. He was nervous, but the sight of Karajam moving quickly right in front of him kept coming into his mind.

'It's not a great idea, but... ... .'

Rather, it was on the simple side. By pressing the pedal, you hit the car. It was a way to induce confusion and panic from the very beginning.

It's a plan that anyone can come up with. But how easy is it to put it into action as planned? Even Puka's heart was pounding in fear that something might go wrong.

But Karajam looked very calm.

'What on earth were you doing out there?'

The movements are strangely light. The posture of holding the rifle is natural. There is no fear or hesitation in the steps.

Karajam said, scanning the lobby.

"It's too quiet."

"Uh, yeah?"

"Be quiet. Don't just sit there blankly."

He looked around again after hitting Puka, who was clearly not focused. Some of the lights in the room were broken. The areas that had been affected by the collision were dark, while the areas that were intact were filled with light.

There are no confirmed casualties. There were no people in the first place.

"Shouldn't there at least be a bodyguard?"

"Maybe they sent the personnel somewhere else."

Leeum's opinion also made sense. Even if the exact schedule is not known, the attack itself must have been anticipated. It is not unlikely that they concentrated their forces to defend key locations.

"So, are you going back just like this?"

"Even if I kill him, it's meaningless."

It was no use sitting in an empty base. The goal of ruining the business was easy to achieve, but it wasn't something I could enjoy just eating it raw.

'If things continue like this, it would be difficult to claim credit.'

What Echidna demands of Karazam is a bit different from attacking the Ricardo family. It focuses on the situation itself where he risks his life to fight for the organization.

Puka and Rium were in a similar situation.

"Wouldn't it be better to join another point now?"

"It would be better than going back empty-handed...."

Karajam, whose tail was slurred, looked up at the ceiling. As expected of an illegal building, there were no CCTVs to be seen. However, there was no guarantee that there were no eyes watching.

"If it's really empty."

* * *

Ding!

The moment the elevator door was about to open followed by the beeping sound.

Brother, come on!

Bullets rang out from the hallway. The gang opened fire from behind their crudely constructed shelters. Smoke poured out through the cracks as the lead bullets pounded the elevator.

"It's a smoke screen. Don't stop and keep shooting!"

Capo Beldes, who leads a crew of the Ricardo Family, shouted. Following the order, the members of the organization fired their guns without stopping. Only after dozens of shots were fired did the door open completely.

The smoke that had filled the elevator spread into the hallway. It was far from enough to obscure the entire floor. Soon, the inside of the elevator could be seen.

It was riddled with bullet holes. It would have been normal for the passengers to have been riddled with bullets if they had been extremely unlucky.

But there were no passengers in sight.

"...There's no one here."

There was only an opened smoke bomb lying there. Beldes clicked his tongue. He had pressed the button to get the elevator to work, but it seemed like he had sent up the smoke bomb to check the situation.

The door closed automatically when no one acted on it.

'Of course you heard the gunshots. I hope it was a threat.'

There are VIPs in the room who were unable to evacuate.

Even in the midst of the turbulent atmosphere of protest and all, these authors shamelessly came. They are hedonists who would not be strange if they even accepted this as a kind of thrill.

'Even those guys are customers, after all.'

As soon as I discovered the suspicious vehicle, I quickly emptied the lobby. I never dreamed that they would just crash the car. There were no normal people in Banjar at the time.

While Beldes was shaking, the numbers on the dashboard kept going up. It wasn't a big deal. If he had pressed the high floor button from the beginning, it would have been a natural phenomenon.

He didn't even notice.

Ding!

The elevator arrived at the 5th floor.

Unlike a moment ago, no bullets were flying. Once safety was confirmed, a shadow fell from the elevator ceiling.

"Shut up."

Kim Yi-hyun landed on the floor with a thud. He looked up. The ceiling had been torn off, exposing the LED lights.

It was a structure that one person could easily climb on.

"How careless."

I had even planned out what to do if I was caught. I even simulated the action of jumping down and tying him up in my head. But I never thought it would be this easy.

'It's better than wasting your energy for nothing.'

[Ivory] was placed in Kim Lee-hyun's hand, who had nothing. He took out the silencer from his pocket and put it on. In the end, he never got to fire the rifle that was given to him.

Considering the possible malfunction of the gun, this one was more certain.

"Then shall we go?"