Chapter 146

The team departed the country as scheduled. As they had communicated to Kamael, a few agents stayed behind. They had just crossed the border when a voice came over the radio.
-Is this really okay?
Leila was in the other car, just like last time. She’s always been a worrier, but this time she realized that the other agents were feeling the same way.
“Even if you’re sending fewer people… you’re still making an investment in the lab.
We had to think in terms of quality rather than quantity.
Leila and Ghost to West Creek. There are only three elite agents, and a professor who grows more and more like the man he was before he lost his memory with each operation.
That’s not all. Even Kim Yi-hyun, who was not part of the lab but was treated like an elite within the organization, was mobilized. He was a force to be reckoned with by anyone who knew what was going on in the lab.
Despite this, the ops team hasn’t seen much success.
The only thing of significance is that he managed to establish a friendly relationship with the Islamic State. This was accomplished by keeping the professor’s team busy while Kim was in and out of prison.
The underlying problem is not solved.
You rush to Ish’lard in a huff based on the information Edwin leaked, but after all the huffing and puffing, you can’t even catch the Legion’s tail.
On the surface, it looks like that.
“No problem, you can count on me.”
-Yes, of course he does, and he’s already agreed to the plan.
Still,” Leila continued.
-I don’t feel comfortable with that, because it’s a risky move.
-I’m thinking the same thing. Was it okay to leave Asterique behind?
The professor agreed with Leila.
It was an understandable reaction. When Kim gathered the team and explained the plan, most of them were nervous. At first glance, it sounded risky and uncertain.
‘I got accepted, but what if I didn’t have a track record?
I’m sure it was hard to convince them. At least not as easy as it is now. I’m not sure I’m comfortable with Slow Labs’ over-reliance on Dustborne, but I’m definitely comfortable with it in this situation.
Instead of being young and coddling, Kim gave her the facts.
“I left it because it’s Asterike. If it was anyone else, it wouldn’t have happened.”
-…… Um. I’m honestly not sure, but yeah. You’d know best.
It didn’t seem to sink in. Maybe it’s because he hasn’t played a prominent role for more than a year, but I don’t think he has an objective view of Asterike’s capabilities.
But Kim knows. She knows better than any professor.
Her unorthodox powers are unleashed when allies are out of the way.
Ast is the strongest agent when deployed alone.
“You would have loved to hear that.”
Chelsea smirked as Ekidna took the wheel.
“Why don’t you tell him? He was just whining about how he ruined our date.”
“What are you talking about, I don’t remember that.”
We never did anything that could be called dating. Taking him to the prison? It was just a necessary procedure. It was necessary to bring Noctane and Asterike together.
I couldn’t imagine it being interpreted in any other way.
“Maybe she’s not mentally ready for this.
Kim wasn’t interested in romance. And rightfully so. The thought of Snowfield and Negrum still gives me chills. One wrong step and you’re dead.
Fortunately, it’s not something I’ve had to rush to fix like I did before. It’s not affecting our operations, and he’s not making any weird demands.
Aside from that, favors are also appreciated. Whether it’s affection, friendship, or comradeship. It’s hard to dislike being loved by others unless you’ve got a perverse personality.
“I knew it,” he said, “but hey, you’re welcome to a compliment once in a while.”
“……Motivation is important, I’ll take care of it when I’m organized.”
“I give compliments with other things than words, you know?”
“It’s the same, it’s the same, it’s the same, it’s like money.”
Even as we cracked jokes, there was a palpable tension in the car. The road leads to the border with Ishraf. Beyond the barbed wire fence on either side is a forest, perfect for an ambush.
Two cars are speeding down the road on a rutted road. You are completely defenseless. If you’re attacked, you can’t hope for help from others.
If.
If there’s a terrorist group poisoning Ish’lahd. if they’ve been frequently watered by the Celbrosix labs. assuming they view the labs as an eyesore because of it-.
It’s a golden opportunity you won’t want to miss.
-Come.
Westcreek’s radio signaled the start.
Yay!
As promised, the car slowed sharply. The agents each grabbed their equipment and prepared for battle. Kim Yi-hyun was conscious of the [Churyeongjeong] he hadn’t forgotten.
Tududududu!
Bullets rained down from the woods. The bulletproof glass windows struggled to withstand the impact. After another hail of bullets, a human shadow emerged from the trees.
-The number we see right now is around thirty.
-That’s a lot. There are also walkers in the mix, so be careful.
-Westcreek, do me a favor. I’ll cover the professor.
The team remained calm as they knew the attack was coming. They were outnumbered, but no one was intimidated. The Labs had outnumbered the Legion at least once before.
The agents slammed the door and jumped out, using the car for cover. Westcreek didn’t hesitate to charge, instead drawing his pistol. His aim is precise, piercing the Legionnaire’s chest.
This is a satisfactory response.
“We’re in. Don’t die trying to talk to the old woman. We won’t pick up your body.”
“Oh. Why do you say all that?”
“Because we have new people.”
More than 9% of the advice was aimed at Ekidna. Perhaps because the situation was similar to Naraka’s. Her pale complexion had been stepped on by the snow, but this was not the time for lazy care.
“I’ll just have to survive on my own.
If they can’t keep up, there’s no reason to force them to.
Dustborne was quick to follow suit, opening fire. Gunfire echoed dizzily across the empty road. Despite the disadvantage, it was the Legion that took the brunt of the damage.
Bang! Bang!
Chelsea strapped her rifle to her bonnet and fired off a single shot, which, as promised, hit the spot. The sound of Ekidna’s admiration filled Chelsea’s ego.
‘It’s always interesting to see this, by the way.
Once again, Kim’s prediction was spot on, as Legion troops appeared as soon as we left Ish’lahd. This proved that the Legion’s presence in Ish’lard was weak.
That wasn’t all.
Kim had given Chelsea some instructions beforehand. He told her not to use her spell on the minions, meaning to be on the lookout for the strong, not the weak.
Chelsea kept a watchful eye on the forest, even as the enemy dwindled one by one. Suddenly, the ground vibrated slightly with a thump, thump, thump. For a moment, she thought it sounded like the footsteps of a giant.
“Avoid!”
The cry of Westcreek. There was a very short pause, and then something came flying like a shell. It tore through the barbed wire like a sheet of paper, straight for the car. Chelsea and Ekidna took cover.
Just before the collision, the shield intervened.
Poof!
Unable to handle the impact, Edwin’s body tumbled onto the bonnet. He was pushed against the body of the car in the aftermath. A tingling sensation spread through his body. The blow was too much for Pekatum’s muscles to withstand.
He would have been crushed if it weren’t for his carefully selected equipment. Edwin steadied himself and identified the flying object.
An oddly large quadrupedal sword lying on the ground. The distinctive weapon immediately reminded me of a figure. Sure enough, a man emerged from the forest.
“Bae, bae, you have betrayed me. E, Edwin Berenice….”
A behemoth, well over two meters tall. Red, bloodshot eyes peeking out from beneath the iron mask that covers its face. Skin of subtly different colors and textures, with clear needle marks, as if stretched over faux leather.
Object name Rags. A modified human from the Legion.
Boom!
A hand the size of a pot lid tore through the barbed wire like it was cardboard. The thorns pricked his skin and the agents’ bullets pounded his body, but he didn’t even groan.
“What’s with that pig, damn it. Isn’t he even sick?”
“…… Probably a Legion guinea pig, and it’s not looking good.”
Leila shrugged off Pavel’s comment and scanned the battlefield. If it was just soldiers, she could handle it, but not that. They’re outrageous, and they’re mean. If we allow them to get any closer, the balance will be upset.
It was a time when the combatants in the labs were waiting for the professor to tell them what to do.
Ironclad.
Quickly changing magazines, Chelsea pulled the trigger.
Pavabak!
A rifle bullet left the muzzle and lodged in the stomach of the rag. At first glance, it looked no different from the dozens of rounds fired earlier.
However, the results weren’t exactly the same.
“Yes……!”
The oncoming rags were pushed back half a step. More power than a normal bullet. It was far from lethal, but it was effective enough for Kim to see.
“It’s a good match.
Lasley’s spell, which was passed to Chelsea, is an enchantment ability. She can enchant metals with special effects. The power to enhance the hardness of the metal itself, rather than converting it into a freezing or burning bullet.
The deceptive part is that there is almost no difference in mass. This means that a regular lead bullet will have better stopping power than even the best armor-piercing bullets. Without much effect on bullet velocity and recoil.
‘Mithril would have been a disaster if he had gotten his way.
What if Mithril’s body had been able to withstand multiple spells, or at least had a trusted incapacitator by her side to take over Razli’s factor.
The former was unlikely, but the latter was certainly possible. If Mithril had been the type of man who trusted his men, he would not have died in vain in Banzar.
“I guess you could call it luck.
In the end, the spell went to Chelsea.
And it’s proven to work.
“Professors. You take charge of the soldiers.”
Kim said, keeping his gaze fixed on Rags.
“We’ll get him.”
-Can you do it?
“I wouldn’t say this if I wasn’t confident.”
-All right, do me a favor. Westcreek, dig in and break ranks. Don’t let them get in the way.
Before I could give the order, Westcreek jumped the barbed wire and charged the Legion. He was a madman, too. He doesn’t have Edwin’s healing powers, and he’s not afraid.
But it was a distraction.
It’s not an unusual strategy, even if it does leave you with fewer allies. In fact, it’s one of the standard tactics. Keep the bosses separate and deal with them separately.
It requires you to do both dps and tanking with a small number of agents. This is the opposite of a full-body twist, which stretches the performance of every agent in your squad to the limit. It’s more like a dillwhip.
This inevitably requires high-performance equipment and personnel, and…….
No problem, of course. We already have both.
“Keep him at bay, Edwin.”
From the scabbard at his waist, he drew the Chu Lingzheng.
“If I’m useless when it matters, I’m out.”
“Why do you say that every time….”
Edwin sighed, fixing his shield.
Bang, bang!
Chelsea drew her pistol instead of her rifle, which was loaded with special ammunition, and pressed against the soldiers firing from behind the rags. Ekidna lent a hand.
‘I have a feeling Ekidna is a little bit of a bust.’
Melee dealers and tanks. And ranged dealers.
Dustborne’s headcount alone was a strong enough combination.
“Let’s get this over with.”