The Time-Limited Leader Makes the Raid a Success - Chapter 386



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Episode 386

#386. Which one is more dangerous?

Illusion stood among the corpses strewn at his feet.

Those who lost their lives to him were hunters from a mid-sized guild with a solid presence in Seoul. They were just leading an expedition and preparing to attack the gate when they were attacked by Illusion.

In an instant, the expedition force, which comprised 70% of the guild’s strength, was lost, so all that was left was the guild’s downfall.

This is the power of S-rank.

A one-man army that even a guild cannot stop. An individual above the nation.

Violence that turned even so-called superhuman hunters into ordinary people was unfolding in the middle of Seoul.

The illusion that had taken all life around it except itself looked down slowly as if nothing had happened and muttered to itself.

“Death will not only welcome you. This corrupt city will also fall into the abyss.”

Illusion took the gate key from the arms of the dead expedition leader.

The key was inserted into the cube in his hand. The cube inflated and turned into a sphere. The massive amount of energy emanating from the gate was sucked into the cube.

“Okay, this is the final chapter here.”

The moment the key was turned, an ominous aura rose high into the sky from the gate.

* * *

The Slayer Guild Situation Room Operator shouted.

“The exact out-breaking location has been confirmed.”

“Mark it on the map.”

As soon as the Slayer Guild’s Strategy and Tactics Team’s Deputy Team Leader Dojinsan shouted, a map appeared on the wall monitor.

The operator gave additional reports.

“Opening location 1. Behind the National Museum of Korea in Yongsan Park. Gate serial number, Yongsan 75-27B. Opening location 2. Seoul Forest. Gate serial number, Seongsu 75-17B. Both gates were built only a few days ago.”

“Is there any information on the progress of the raid?”

“The progress is… ugh. I, I’m at zero percent. We’ve just finished the initial reconnaissance and were planning to start securing the beachhead tomorrow.”

Dojinsan frowned.

“It must be full of monsters.”

Plus bosses and guardians.

If it were released in Seoul, it would be a disaster.

Dojinsan gave the order without delay.

“Since the strategy team leader is absent, I, the deputy team leader, will be taking all orders. Guild red alert. All waiting raiders will go to Seoul Forest. Someone else will take care of Yongsan, so we can focus there. 3 off!”

“yes!”

“Contact the Guild Cooperation Office and ask them to share the Seoul Forest reconnaissance report. There may be monsters that require special equipment, so send them to the raid team and strategy team to double-check, and keep the warehouse open so that equipment can be withdrawn at any time.”

“yes!”

“For number 2, keep in touch with the guys in charge of Yongsan. For number 5, send an official letter to the A-class guild in Yeouido and ask for their cooperation. Tell them to deploy a wide-area encirclement and not let a single monster escape.”

“Then, what about the Seoul Forest metropolitan area encirclement?”

“Are you asking because you don’t know? We gathered them for emergency response training for our cooperative guilds! Send them over, and if you still think it’s not enough, contact the guys with the guild signboards!”

While the situation room was busy, Kang Mu-hyeok was leaning against the wall behind him and watching the Slayer Guild’s response.

He had been preparing for the outbreak in advance, but when it actually happened, he seemed to be out of his mind.

Of course, he didn’t look flustered. He was just so absorbed in his work that he didn’t look around and was just making noise.

Kang Moo-hyuk looked at Do Jin-san, who was commanding the situation room.

‘Team Leader Seong Seon-je is someone you can have by your side as a deputy team leader. Although they have completely different personalities, he has the ability to take action.’

Even though Seongseonje was not present and he knew of the existence of Illusion, he was able to calmly deal with it without any disturbance, which was enough to say that he was a competent hunter.

‘But it’s too orthodox. We’re operating under the assumption that the illusion will be in Mungyeong Pass. If we continue like this and the illusion is in Seoul, if we encounter it on the spot, the first response team will be completely wiped out.’

At this point, Kang Mu-hyeok had no choice but to step forward.

No matter how much the Holy Spirit had said, there would be no hunter who would like the leader of another guild meddling.

I had kept my mouth shut until now because it could have been seen as an abuse of authority, but I couldn’t remain polite when people’s lives were at stake.

“Vice-Chief Dojinsan.”

When Kang Mu-hyeok approached and spoke to him, Do Jin-san responded without even looking back.

“What’s going on, Director Kang Mu-hyeok?”

“Please have the attack force dispatched to the Seoul Forest Gate wait for a moment.”

“Why?”

Dojinsan asked, still staring straight ahead without looking at Kang Muhyeok.

It was an action that could be considered as ignoring him, but Kang Mu-hyeok paid no attention to it and answered in a soft voice.

“The illusion may be in Seoul.”

“seoul?”

Only then did Dojinsan look back. He asked back.

“Not Mungyeong Saejae?”

“They may have used Mirage as bait to move. If that happens, it will be a mismatch with our forces.”

“That’s impossible. Since the initial discovery, you’ve been flying high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft without fail. No one has escaped from there.”

“These are the guys who caused outbreaks all over the country, including Seoul. Can you really be sure that you were monitoring them perfectly?”

“Those are the hunters who were set aside in advance… … .”

“What about S-rank? Can the deputy manager perfectly keep an eye on an S-rank that is trying to escape?”

Of course, it couldn’t be done. Thinking that way, Dojinsan was immediately convinced.

But he still believed that strategic objectives could not be moved arbitrarily.

“In the long run, illusion is king. Where is the board where the king takes off all the weapons and moves alone?”

“That’s right. A king. An S-rank king. A lethal weapon in itself. What use would a cannon be to someone like that? He can do it all by himself.”

“So, you’re saying that he’s going to be a loser when all his subordinates could die?”

“As the vice-chairman said, to Illusion, Mirage is a discarded piece, a pawn on a chessboard. They have no qualms about discarding her at any time.”

“Umm… … .”

“Make a decision. While we’re spending time like this, the raiding party will be heading to the Seoul Forest Gate. If there’s an illusion there, we’ll all be wiped out. At the same time, warn the Yongsan side and set up a roadblock on the road leading to the gate to stop the monsters.”

Dojinsan’s face was distorted. It was an expression of agony rather than discontent.

As Kang Mu-hyeok said, it would be possible to block the road to stop the monsters, but that would inevitably lead to civilian casualties.

It wasn’t just civilians. Hunters were also at risk.

There was a clear difference in the level of response between stopping monsters in front of the gate and stopping monsters that had spread out in all directions. Naturally, the latter was much more difficult.

‘But it’s true that if the first response team is blown away, the damage will be greater. Hmm, Team Leader Sung said that it would be good to listen to Captain Kang Moo-hyeok. But if this goes wrong, who will take responsibility?’

Since Seongseonje, who was mentioned as the next Gilma, would not fly away, he could turn it around himself.

The problem was that no matter which one you chose, if you made a mistake, the result would always be bad. It was literally a hit or miss situation. When Do Jin-san was wavering at the crossroads of choice that you only see on TV entertainment shows, Kang Moo-hyuk said something.

“Either way, Team Leader Sung isn’t the type of person to pretend not to know.”

Dojinsan let out a long sigh.

“Haaah, I just aged ten years. I’ll contact you. For now, I’ll send a drone near the gate to check.”

“I don’t know about Yongsan, but there’s no need to send a drone to Seoul Forest. We’ve already checked on our side. If it’s not there, we’ll move straight to Yongsan.”

“In Iron Will? If there’s a real illusion, it’ll be dangerous, right?”

“Well, which one is more dangerous?”

“??”

* * *

Illusion was sitting on top of a rainbow tunnel running through Seoul Forest, looking out at the monsters that were starting to enter the park.

He looked so calm that you’d think he was on a safari tour, except that there were monsters all around him.

Occasionally, monsters would climb up the flowerbeds above the tunnel and attack, but they could not stop the fun of the illusion. The monsters that attacked would lose their heads in an instant and roll around.

Even that was enough to be considered an exciting eve for Illusion. It was such an exciting night.

“Wow, I guess I’m really lucky today. I picked one of the two and they’re meeting right away? I guess I should buy a lottery ticket.”

A cheerful female voice was heard behind Illusion’s back.

He replied.

“You didn’t go to Mungyeong Pass, Joo Se-ah.”

“I went and came back. I went to see the face. I almost got motion sickness because of it.”

“If an S-rank tries to hide its presence, even another S-rank won’t be able to find it. You know that, right? Just because you went to check doesn’t mean you can be sure I’m not there. So how did you get here?”

Illusion asked out of genuine curiosity.

It was clear that the elite of the Slayer Guild had been mobilized at Mungyeong Saejae. If he made a mistake in his judgment, the best hunter force in Korea would disappear in an instant. Taking that risk and coming to Seoul was no different from gambling.

Joo Sea said.

“Our leader said so. Judging from your actions, you’re a very twisted person.”

“If you’re the captain… was it Kang Mu-hyeok?”

“okay.”

“That’s funny. I was surprised to hear that a regular person was the captain. I guess he’s quite intelligent, huh?”

“At least someone above you.”

“You’re trying to provoke me by making me angry. I’m not so naive as to fall for such a shallow trick. You know who I am. When you, Joo Se-ah, couldn’t even get an A-rank, I was already an S-rank. On that day, you… … .”

“Oh my, you’re really noisy. I know who you are. A dirty, twisted person. And a person so twisted that it’s obvious. Oh? That’s what Captain Kang said. It’s so obvious that it’s obvious. That you’re coming to Seoul, and that you’re going after the gate near the Slayer Guild. Now that I think about it, my thoughts are the same. How obvious does it have to be to say a third-rate villain’s comment? And that’s a will right before it bursts.”

“Juseaaaah!”

“Huh? I got caught in shallow water.”

In an instant, electricity flowed through Illusion’s entire body.

A blue and cold electric aura.

The brain flowing and visualized in the eyes struck Joo Se Ah.

Paz! Kwaaaaang!

The tunnel collapsed. The pile of dirt from the flower bed above it dug into the tunnel. In an instant, the Seoul Forest was completely split in half.

Joo Seah emerged from the sunken pile of rocks. Illusion followed her.

“Junior, I’ll show you what an S-rank fight is like.”

A wave of lightning swept from Illusion’s hand and struck Joo Sea. Joo Sea was stuck back in the tunnel, and dozens of lightning strikes struck him.

The light that illuminated the darkness instead of the sun made even the monsters tremble in fear. There was a commotion, but they did not approach.

The sound of thunder replaced the crowing of a rooster, announcing the dawn. It was deafening, as if trying to wake up all the citizens of Seoul.

Soon darkness and silence came again.

“Come out. You won’t die like this, right?”

At the same time as the illusion broke into pieces, the pile of rocks shook and a hand suddenly popped out.

“Phuhat!”

Then Joo Seah crawled out, clearing the rubble. Her appearance was like charcoal. Her armor coat was tattered, leaving only a few scraps of cloth fluttering in the wind.

Joo Seah took off her cumbersome armor coat, revealing the dark armor covering her body.

“Is this an S-rank fight? You lose without considering the consequences. Isn’t that too old-fashioned?”

“I guess you can endure it by looking at your mouth.”

Joo Seah stood up from her seat and drew her sword.

“I’ve seen how you fight. Now, I’ll show you how to fight, not as an S-rank, Senpai.”