Chapter 98: Cosmetics Made of Blood (2)
Hyeon-yul tentatively raised his hand.
He was the only one who didn't know.
“What does ‘advance team’ mean?”
“To crush a faction, you need to concentrate firepower. Right?”
“Yes.”
“So, in other words, it means we need to have a final confirmation moment before execution. If things go wrong, Black Eagle will have to bear the biggest loss.”
“If this place turns out to be the right one, are we called the ‘advance team’ because we’ll be the first to engage in battle?”
“Exactly, isn’t it?”
Hae-ryeon lightly clapped her hands together.
“And the other team members are acting like they don’t want to go, sighing because that ‘responsibility’ is too great?”
“That’s right.”
As Hae-ryeon answered, Hyeon-yul observed the expressions of the other team members.
He could see they were forcing their smiles.
Since a mission was something they had to do if ordered, Hyeon-yul nodded slightly.
“First, we have legally obtained permission from the court to search the said building and use force. It overlaps with the role of the police, but when it comes to villains, our authority is broader.”
Hae-ryeon patted her chest a couple of times.
She could describe it as broad because they had the authority to kill villains.
“The White Sparrows are also on standby. After you all go in first, assess the situation, and contact us, then the White Sparrows will blockade the building.”
“Does that mean we have to be stealthy?”
At Hyeon-yul’s question, Hae-ryeon made a circle with her index finger and thumb.
“That’s right. There might be people inside. It could be difficult to distinguish, so we should try to arrest them if possible. For now, according to the information we’ve received, the company’s internal research lab staff are pulling an all-nighter due to a backlog of work. It’s clear that there are civilians.”
“If they know that Black Eagle is coming today, wouldn’t they take them hostage?”
It was a mission to be carried out stealthily, like a raid.
If there were people inside, they could be taken hostage.
“That’s likely.”
“Are hostages the priority this time too?”
“That’s right. We always have been.”
Black Eagle always put people first.
Because this place was created for the citizens and for the extermination of villains.
“That’s why this kind of preliminary investigation work is even more necessary. They might have set traps, or we might be ambushed. This can’t be done with the managers’ power. Their power is insufficient.”
This part was close to exceeding the capabilities of the White Sparrows.
“In the past, we entrusted these kinds of missions to the managers, but the mortality rate increased exponentially.”
Shin-woo subtly added.
It was something Hyeon-yul also needed to know.
“There’s something you all need to remember for this mission.”
Hae-ryeon began to speak, intending to emphasize this point, and then briefly looked at everyone one by one.
“Right now, all other Black Eagle members have also been put on standby. If it’s dangerous, you must request support and then retreat. If you’re caught in a trap or ambush, escape is the priority. Rescuing hostages is also important. However, don’t forget that you all are the priority.”
Even though it was a difficult mission, she believed they would all do well.
They had survived.
Doesn't that itself prove everything?
What bothered Hae-ryeon was, as expected, Hyeon-yul.
New recruits were usually excluded from such tasks, but she thought it was right to include him.
This incident might be related to Hyeon-yul, and more importantly, he wouldn't want to be left out.
“Hyeon-yul-ssi.”
“Yes.”
“Normally, new recruits don’t participate in things like this. But I included Hyeon-yul-ssi because I trust you. Still, we don’t know, so by any chance, do you want to sit out this mission?”
“I will do it.”
Hyeon-yul’s answer was singular.
The assumption of sitting out couldn't even be formed in his mind.
“Good. I’ll say it again, you need to confirm whether the place you’re going to is real or not. Even if it’s confirmed to be real, or if it’s judged not to be, leave after you know. You can report after that. Understood?”
Hae-ryeon reviewed the mission one last time.
“Understood.”
Na-yoon tentatively raised her hand.
“Me too.”
“I understand too.”
Shin-woo and Ji-hwan also raised their hands.
“Understood.”
When Hyeon-yul finally answered, Hae-ryeon took a breath.
Personally, she hoped that place wasn't the main body.
Because if it was, something terrifying would happen.
She felt sorry for the other teams, but she hoped the turn wouldn't fall on her team.
Four eagles quietly descended from the rooftop of a building.
Linda.
The logo with that name was on the building.
As soon as everyone came down, they glanced at Hyeon-yul.
Hadn't they seen him being administered a tranquilizer multiple times because he still wasn't used to eagle transport?
It was the same this time.
But, as if by agreement, they said nothing.
It was because of Ji-hwan’s assertion that continuously speaking with a worried nuance would actually make him more self-conscious.
He was right.
Even good words could sound unpleasant if heard repeatedly.
However, they couldn't help their worried hearts, so they kept glancing at Hyeon-yul.
Hyeon-yul felt the gazes on him.
If they had something they wanted to say, couldn't they just say it?
Why were they just staring?
‘Is this the problem?’
Hyeon-yul hesitated, about to take out a syringe.
He had no choice but to open his mouth.
“You don’t need to wait for me; you can proceed first. I will join you on my own.”
He had no desire for his actions to hold them back.
He also didn't want this measure to become some kind of rite of passage.
No matter how far ahead they went, he could catch up.
“We can’t do that.”
When Ji-hwan spoke firmly, Na-yoon and Shin-woo nodded.
‘Can’t do that…? Does that mean they’ll keep watching?’
At their words, Hyeon-yul 괜히 hid the syringe slightly.
It was too ambiguous to be called bullying.
He didn't know what it meant.
“Anyway, we need to observe here for a moment. Right, Noona?”
Ji-hwan smiled at Na-yoon.
“That’s right. Observation is essential. By the time you take your medicine and get your shot, Hyeon-yul, it’ll all be over, wouldn’t it?”
Na-yoon also nodded and then smiled brightly.
“We usually wait here for a bit at this time. We have to check before going in. Ji-hwan!”
As soon as Na-yoon finished speaking to Hyeon-yul, she called Ji-hwan.
“I’m going.”
Ji-hwan reached his hand towards the floor.
This time, he had to create it with more precision than before.
Ji-hwan’s mana flowed down the building, and numerous coordinate points appeared in his eyes.
Even with the countless numbers fluttering like they were riding the wind, Ji-hwan used his magic with even more finesse.
He raised his finger and pointed at Na-yoon.
Na-yoon’s eyes sparkled for an instant, and then she looked down.
Even though all the lights were off, numerous things were visible.
“Wow, look at this.”
A lot of information came in through Na-yoon’s eyes.
“They already know we’re coming, don’t they?”
“You mean they were waiting to stab us in the back?”
Shin-woo stared blankly at the sky.
Far from being surprised, he looked comfortable, as if he had expected it.
“That’s right. 5th floor, looks like research lab staff.”
Before coming here, hadn't Hae-ryeon said that the research lab staff were pulling an all-nighter?
“There are bombs plastered all over the outside and inside of the room where those people are, aren’t there? They’re announcing with their whole bodies that they’ve taken hostages.”
“I will disarm the bombs.”
Hyeon-yul quickly took on the task.
He was the only one here who could disarm bombs.
Because they wouldn't even detonate in the first place.
“Alright. You do that, Hyeon-yul. I’ll keep watching.”
Na-yoon continued to observe.
“There’s also an ambush on the floors above and below the one with the research staff.”
“I’ll take care of that.”
Ji-hwan lightly raised his hand and then drew lines above and below the 5th floor.
“Done. I’ll go in right now.”
“Let’s go in.”
When even Shin-woo replied, Hyeon-yul briefly raised his hand.
“Please wait a moment.”
Everyone stopped their words and actions and looked at Hyeon-yul.
Was there something?
“Is it only above and below the 5th floor?”
“Yeah. If you’re asking how many, about, uh, dozens?”
At Hyeon-yul’s question, Na-yoon answered, and Hyeon-yul mulled over the words ‘dozens.’
“Ye Ji-hwan-ssi. Can you widen the range Sister Chu Na-yoon is seeing?”
“By how much?”
“Up to that building over there.”
Hyeon-yul raised his finger.
Several buildings surrounded the target building as if it were the center.
In a city, it was just a familiar sight.
“It’s possible, but… I can’t hold it for long.”
“Even a moment will do.”
After asking Ji-hwan, Hyeon-yul looked at Na-yoon.
“Sister Chu Na-yoon. Please look a little further.”
“Can I ask something for a moment?”
Shin-woo couldn't suppress his surging curiosity.
He understood being cautious, but he couldn't help but think about Ji-hwan’s mana.
“Considering the number Sister Chu Na-yoon mentioned, there are too few villains inside.”
An ambush on the floors above and below the 5th floor.
It was far too insufficient to be the number of villains.
To him, who had wandered through countless companies, it seemed strange.
“Currently, the leader is dead. Didn’t you confirm after checking that it was the real leader?”
Hyeon-yul’s gaze turned to Ji-hwan.
He had definitely said so when he collapsed, and Hae-ryeon had also confirmed it later.
“That’s right. Based on the managers’ information, we confirmed the face of the corpse, and it was indeed the leader. Though, the possibility of a twin remains, of course.”
A twin.
Hyeon-yul, having experienced such a thing himself, thought it was a plausible enough possibility.
“That could be. But even if it’s not a twin, the number is small. Even if it is a twin, it’s strangely small.”
Knowing Black Eagle’s skill, deploying them like this was beyond complacent; it could even be called foolish.
“If they’ve even taken hostages, the enemies also know that Black Eagle is coming. In this situation, even mobilizing a vast number of personnel might not be enough, yet it’s only this much. It’s strange.”
Everyone listened intently to Hyeon-yul’s words.
He wasn't wrong.
Right now, they had to consider all possibilities.
“When villains lose their leader, they make one of two choices.”
Hyeon-yul presented his argument.
“Usually, they attach themselves to another leader, don’t they?”
When Ji-hwan answered, Hyeon-yul nodded.
“That’s right. Commonly speaking, they choose to ‘change jobs’.”
“What’s the other one?”
At Shin-woo’s question, Hyeon-yul looked beyond and answered.
“To kill Black Eagle by any means necessary.”
“……Huh?”
Na-yoon was briefly flustered by the unexpected answer.
Villains already wanted to kill Black Eagle.
What was the difference?
“It means they won’t just kill them. They no longer have a faction, and they no longer have a leader. At this point, they’ll only be thinking of harming Black Eagle without worrying about the consequences. In the worst way that Black Eagle hates.”
The worst-case scenario was drawn in Hyeon-yul’s mind.
The Team Leader must have also experienced this and said they had to strike simultaneously, but she wouldn't have experienced it more than him.
“I know what you mean.”
Ji-hwan nodded.
He had gone out as an advance team many times.
Na-yoon and Shin-woo had too.
But they had never gone out after the leader had died.
It was right to follow the words of Hyeon-yul, who had experience.
“My condition won’t be good temporarily.”
“It’s alright. I can be your legs and move with you.”
“Really?”
Shin-woo’s eyes sparkled.
He thought he could lessen Ji-hwan’s burden.
“However, you must cover your ears, close your eyes, and hold your breath. If you don’t observe these three things, even I can’t guarantee anything.”
“At that time, um, you said you could trap them in darkness, but if they go in, their minds become strange, right? Is this an extension of that?”
When Na-yoon tentatively raised her hand, Hyeon-yul nodded.
“Yes. It’s an extension.”
“I know what you mean. Ji-hwan, it should be fine now. You can move more.”
Na-yoon smiled at Ji-hwan.
When team members went like this, Ji-hwan often ended up in a supporting role.
Considering his magic, it was a waste.
“That’s right. This is all possible because Brother Hyeon-yul came, isn’t it?”
Ji-hwan’s eyes, looking at Hyeon-yul, were full of gratitude.
“Hyeon-yul, you’re a lucky charm. Ji-hwan, you too.”
Shin-woo was about to mention Na-yoon as well but hesitated.
Na-yoon’s eyes narrowed.
She wanted to say something but held it in and looked at Ji-hwan.
“Let’s go, Ji-hwan.”
“I’m going.”
Ji-hwan took a long breath and closed his eyes.
A magic circle appeared beneath his feet, and a map of this entire area Emerged in his dark vision.
When Ji-hwan opened his eyes, a map visible only to him appeared.
Countless coordinates were displayed as numbers, and Ji-hwan unfurled his clenched fist.
‘Come out.’
The nearby area was contained within Ji-hwan’s grasp.
As Ji-hwan designated an area on the map, a circular zone was created.
‘…Wow, wow.’
Feeling his mana disappearing relentlessly, Ji-hwan urgently reached out his hand towards Na-yoon.
Sparkle.
Na-yoon’s pupils shone.
With a familiar feeling, she said nothing and spun around.
Since all the buildings appeared transparent, she could see what was inside.
Na-yoon took a deep breath.
“……What is this?”
Her expression hardened instantly.
“What’s wrong?”
Shin-woo asked in surprise, and Hyeon-yul, seeing Na-yoon’s reaction, realized that what he had predicted had become reality.
‘The same situation will be unfolding.’
“There are… bombs.”
Na-yoon opened her mouth as if in despair.
Her face contorted.
“…All the buildings I’m looking at, the situation is the same as here. Does this… even make sense?”