Chapter 45

Operation Ashbelt lasted two weeks in real time. Players could participate at their leisure, but the mission was set up to be urgent.

“The time limit is four days. Each individual advances at a different rate, but they say they’ll be at the border of the Kingdom of Vunes in four days.”

“Did you put honey or something on that?”

Taking the wheel, Turkham clicked his drag tongue.

“What’s with the eight dangers coming out of nowhere? It’s suspicious to say the least, but what does my team leader think?”

In the rearview mirror, I made eye contact with Turkam. It was like a test.

Kim knew who it was who had criticized him in the cafeteria. It was hard not to notice, given the way Asterike had been secretly wary of Turkam ever since the team was formed.

But he wasn’t willing to trade off the pros and cons.

“I can’t even see it.”

“Yes?”

“That’s not our business, we just need to catch the beast and we’re done.”

“…Oh, right.”

Of course. Turkam snorted inwardly, not expecting it. The team leader’s answer didn’t please him in the least.

“This is why mercenaries are mercenaries.

He’s not like the elite agents Turkam respects and follows. There’s no sense of mission in the lab’s work, it’s just work.

That mercenary mentality doesn’t belong in rap, Turkam thought sincerely.

The other two reacted differently.

“Something, something professional about you.”

This was Tatalia’s comment, and she was clearly impressed by Kim’s unassuming demeanor.

Finally, Shay didn’t think much of it. “Pooh!” she sneezed, and Asterike, beside her, handed her a handkerchief, disgusted.

“Haha. That sucks.

The team atmosphere was like a Tang Dynasty army. But Kim didn’t touch it.

“Well, we didn’t hire them to function as a team in the first place.

The rarity of the three is 3 stars for Turkham. The others are 4-star. They are all very underpowered characters.

In fact, the 3-star Turkam is better. They are rarely used, so they are doomed to a lifetime of mining.

We chose these declassifications for a reason.

“Look at the settings, not the performance.

His experience has taught him how important relationships are, not just individual abilities.

Tatalia is the half-sister of the later Colossus, and in Shay, the foster daughter of a large mob boss.

“These are the guys who will be most helpful without affecting the main episode.

It’s a connection that could come in handy someday. While the closure behavior may make you dizzy, think of it as insurance for the future.

As for Turkam? He was chosen simply because of his experience as a driver.

In the real world, having someone to drive you around without getting lost is invaluable. Unlike in a game where you can get to your destination with a few taps.

‘Asterike’s got a real mean streak in her.

As long as the car drove well, it was probably a good thing.

* * *

The journey took two days. As they neared the Kingdom of Bunes, the four teams split up into their assigned directions.

Just like in the game, it was for the sake of the fray.

“I don’t understand why you’re splitting people up, isn’t it easier to just do it all together?”

Asterique asked. It was a common story among users, but the game company naturally had its own explanation.

“We’re comfortable with that, but we’re pressed for time, we can’t just throw people in there, we’re going to have to do some reconnaissance.”

For the Lab, the protection of the Kingdom of Wünes is more important than the speedy disposal of dangerous water. It’s a situation that requires a coordinated response before they reach the border.

“And what if the agents are harmed?”

“We’ll have to strategize to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

It was a phrase that ran through the entirety of Polaris. Whether it’s an event or a main episode, you, the player, must take command and defend the continent…….

There are many ways to “lead well.

Thinking on your feet or looking for cheats. Tap to level up your agents. Spend money to unlock new agents or weapons.

Kim’s options for this time were 1 and 3. It’s not much different from what we’ve seen so far.

“I found it, is this it?”

It was Chelsea who broke the news.

The top of an abandoned radio tower. Chelsea, who was reluctant to be dragged out on such a dangerous mission, was piloting a drone from high above, scanning the neighborhood.

“Let’s see.”

“Here.”

As Kim approached, Chelsea held out a tablet-sized display. A device linked to the cam on the drone. On the screen was a picture of Dangerous Water.

Hard as iron and covered in razor-sharp scales, this beast is a member of the Yurin order.

It looks more like a pangolin than an armadillo. It walks alone through the ruins, unattended. It walks proudly and bipedally.

“This matches the data I received, but…….”

Chelsea blurted out, embarrassed.

“What are we going to do with that?”

“Hmmm. It’s bigger than I thought.”

Two or three times the size of a truck. It was as big as any building. Even looking beyond the display, the majesty was palpable.

“It’s stupidly big, and look at that carapace, you could put 100 bullets in it and it would fly, but it’s not like it’s soft up front.”

Even the areas not covered by the carapace are well protected. The spiky hairs looked like they had been pierced by hundreds of awls.

“I honestly don’t want to touch it, don’t you think it’s better to wait until support comes?”

“No support. We’ve set up a communication network so we can collaborate with other teams, but don’t expect much. Their situation is probably similar to ours.”

“So what are you going to do?”

Chelsea asked, then looked down. The car was parked at the entrance to the building. The team members went their separate ways.

Smoking, waiting in cars, or pacing around with exaggerated gestures.

In Chelsea’s eyes, they were all dead weight.

“What the hell were they thinking bringing those people in?

I had questions, but they were vague. But Kim seemed to be satisfied.

Even so, it was hard for Chelsea to trust them; after all, there were only two people she could trust here.

Kim always seems to be up to something.

And, of course, the other one is…….

“Are you using Mr. Asterike again?”

“You’re saying you don’t like it.”

“That doesn’t feel good.”

Chelsea said, reminiscing about his previous memories.

“Sometimes, no, often, I act like an asshole… but I also have some gratitude for Mr. Asterike.”

“For making me money?”

“Because I have more money to lose? Anyway, that’s beside the point. I consider myself favored as a citizen of Kilikia, even though I’m doing this outside of Kilikia.”

A frown crossed her face.

“I don’t want to shoot Mr. Asterique with my own hand twice, although I’m sure I would if I had to.”

It was the first Chelsea gossip I’d heard, at least in regards to Asterique.

“I wouldn’t do it because I like it.”

“Wasn’t it?”

“…What kind of psychopath do you think I am?”

“Yes. A little bit.”

Chelsea giggled as Kim used the arrogance award.

It was a good look. He always seemed like a gambling maniac in Kilikia, but a man must live a wholesome life.

“Anyway, don’t worry. We won’t have another situation like that anytime soon.”

“That would be great, because the way I see it, if you live like you do, you’re going to have something crazy happen once a month, right?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Of course, I’m not going to let Asterike have it easy. Didn’t I tell you, make yourself useful.

Asterisk is still the most effective hand that Kim has. If she utilizes her power this time around, things will be easier for her….

“I don’t even need to use Asterisk right now.”

There’s a simpler way.

* * *

Ding, ding, ding!

The tires rolled over the bumpy asphalt. The military vehicle raced through the ruins, twisting and turning like a snake.

To avoid mountains of trash. If you think of it as a racing game, the player is none other than Turkam.

“Mr. Fuck. Fuck!”

Turkam’s mouth spewed a constant stream of curses. His head was pounding with blood, and his hands were trembling as he gripped the steering wheel.

The car’s rearview mirror reflected an abandoned city. Strange grains of gray sand covered the buildings. It looked like a sandstorm had just passed through.

And now, the city was falling apart.

Bang, boom!

A roar erupted from the rear. The building on the corner shattered, revealing a dangerous creature.

He spun his massive body around and rolled through the crumbling buildings. In a straight line after the vehicle.

Buildings in the way are being smashed into. The building collapses, and debris falls like a meteorite. The dust from the collapsed buildings was everywhere.

“How cheap, you son of a bitch, this is what you brought me here for!”

Chizzy, Chick.

There was a sound on the radio, but it was unintelligible. The roar from the rear drowned out almost everything else.

– …… to the point… 80….

“I can’t hear you, so just shut up!”

Turkam has been running away from the Danger for 10 minutes. His mission: to distract the Dangerous Man and get to the objective. He’s been given the task.

Naturally, Turkam protested, but it didn’t work. It was Kim who was in charge.

The conditions were such that we had to resort to some radical measures.

Anything to get them to listen. An area of operations with no prying eyes outside of my teammates. The fact that he’d blown the whistle. There was more.

“Shay, Tatalia, you’re all the same.”

Everyone but Turkam agrees to the operation. Turkam, a former driver, will lead the charge. It was a sensible decision.

“‘Operations are fraught with risk’ is bullshit….”

Poof!

The ceiling caved in with the impact of the vehicle shaking. Debris from the building must have fallen. It didn’t matter when the car rolled over.

“I’m the only one in danger, you bitches!”

The complex course ended and a wide open boulevard appeared. Turkam stepped on the gas. The speedometer’s needle pointed to 120 kilometers per hour.

At the same time, it was an easy path for the dangerous fish to roll. I was gaining some distance, but not enough to catch up.

They shouldn’t be bullied in the first place.

“I’ve come this far, only to fail…!

Turkam gritted his teeth and drove on. After a short drive, his destination came into view.

A bridge connecting two neighborhoods. Beneath the bridge was a river. On the surface of the water, stellar animal carcasses and sand floated in circles.

The car started to cross the bridge. The danger man gave chase, too, and spun around and sped across the bridge at breakneck speed.

Kim was watching the whole thing.

The car in front of you is about to drive off the bridge, and the dangerous water is only halfway across.

Perfect timing.

“Pop it.”

The instructions were concise.

-Kaaaaaah!

A thunderous boom shook the world. The heat energy generated by the rapid combustion sent flames and shockwaves in all directions.

A series of explosions ripped through the bridge. The center section, where the bombs were placed, collapsed in a catastrophic manner.

There was a thick layer of black smoke. There were things visible through the smoke.

– ……Foot! Die… Okay……!

A military vehicle making it out safely. A dangerous man flailing in the air, helplessly falling into the sea.

“Done.”

Remaining quota, one animal to go.