Chapter 125 : Third Force
Chapter 125: Third Force
“Haha! That’s quite an enticing proposition.”
Manmulsang’s owner showed delight at Baek Woohyun’s clearly hostile words and actions toward the research facility and corporations.
Though they weren’t face to face so expressions couldn’t be read, even the modulated voice conveyed a feeling of joy.
In fact, several gun barrels that had been aiming at Baek Woohyun lowered following some instruction. As if telling him they’d lowered their guard that much.
“I could tell from the outfit and supernatural ability that you were the one who attacked the Geumshin Electronics building, but you were someone with whom we could form an even closer cooperative relationship than expected. Good.”
The words Manmulsang’s owner spat out were essentially the same as revealing Manmulsang was in opposition to the research facility and the corporations sponsoring it.
However, Baek Woohyun wasn’t surprised at all by the newly revealed power structure. Since he came here knowing that.
How could he not know the relationship between Manmulsang and the research facility/corporations when he’d worked as an underworld fixer, contract worker in that side for several years?
Manmulsang that self-generated in the underworld and seized its current position, and the research facility/corporations reaching from the bright world into the underworld, were engaged in invisible power struggles.
A fight over who would seize leadership of the underworld, and as Baek Woohyun remembered, the overall war situation was disadvantageous to Manmulsang.
Though their capital was comparable, the difference in military power was quite large.
‘Because the research facility/corporations have many Awakeners.’
Unlike the research facility/corporations that used recruited Awakeners as Hunting Dogs, Manmulsang could barely attract only Awakeners who committed crimes and hid in the underworld.
Naturally they were pushed in Awakener numbers and the balance had to collapse. At least it was fortunate others in the bright world tried not to touch them?
Of course, this was only the story within Korea, and if you expanded the battlefield to the entire world the story differed, but anyway what mattered now was this place.
‘In a situation needing even one Awakener, I came, so they can’t help but be happy.’
A powerful Awakener who hit Geumshin Electronics head-on and took what he wanted came asking for work to screw over the research facility/corporations?
For Manmulsang’s owner who had been getting a headache in the midst of intensifying underworld leadership struggles, it wouldn’t be strange to run out barefoot.
‘It was like that in that side too.’
In that side, after Baek Woohyun escaped from the research facility, that he could earn money as a contract worker and help his test subject comrades was thanks to Manmulsang’s support.
Manmulsang needing military power to face the research facility/corporations focused on test subjects who were Awakeners and subtly helped from behind for that.
In various ways, he, and the test subjects, and Manmulsang had an inseparable relationship.
The fact that Manmulsang did many dirty things and committed illegal acts befitting underworld forces no less than the research facility/corporations couldn’t affect that relationship at all.
When Baek Woohyun himself had performed requests indiscriminately getting innocent people’s blood on his hands, how could he say anything?
It was exactly a shit-stained dog scolding a chaff-stained dog.
‘They’re all trash anyway.’
Naturally including Baek Woohyun himself in that statement.
Baek Woohyun’s eyes sank deeply as he muttered self-deprecatingly inside.
Like that time when he had to forcibly kill emotions—
“There happens to be one suitable job.”
One document was smoothly pushed out through a hole below the partition, and one of the armed guards carefully delivered it to Baek Woohyun.
Precisely, tried to deliver. If only Baek Woohyun hadn’t suddenly snatched the document with telekinesis and brought it to himself.
Ignoring the armed guards flinching at the sudden supernatural ability use, Baek Woohyun quickly skimmed the document contents.
“……”
The document was densely filled with the location of a secret research facility—one of those learned from Geumshin Electronics—along with its structure, troop deployment, and such.
It was quite detailed as if they had a collaborator inside the research facility, and since he’d seen many similar format documents, it was easy to memorize.
Having instantly finished grasping the document contents, Baek Woohyun’s head spun rapidly.
‘The number of Awakener troops is small.’
That meant this research facility didn’t hold very great value to the Corporate Alliance currently. If it were truly important, they would have deployed a separate unit.
Probably because research progressing here was completed, or research they didn’t want disturbed elsewhere was underway.
This meant it wasn’t bad as a first mission to show his skills, so Baek Woohyun looked toward Manmulsang’s owner again.
“It’s a research facility we discovered recently. Currently it seems research progressing there is finished, as troops have decreased considerably.”
“……”
“I’d like you to attack that place and bring it down, and if possible secure the research materials remaining inside. Well, looking at it, the probability they exist seems low.”
Manmulsang’s owner lightly clicked their tongue and continued explaining.
“We plan to proceed with another operation simultaneously with the research facility attack start. So you needn’t worry about additional support troops.”
Of course, they naturally didn’t explain what operation Manmulsang would conduct.
There was no way an idiot who would spill detailed operation plans to someone who barged in demanding requests became Manmulsang’s owner.
Anyway, if support troops would also be few or possibly nonexistent, there was no reason to refuse this request.
It was exactly as he wanted, content screwing over both the research facility and corporations.
‘I can also satisfy the comrades’ revenge.’
—Revenge…!
—Death…!
“Good. I accept.”
Baek Woohyun who calmly ignored the ghostly wails echoing in his ears declared.
Manmulsang’s owner seemed quite satisfied with his straightforward answer, laughing heartily.
They even showed goodwill saying they’d support any needed goods at cheap prices. Though Baek Woohyun refused saying it wasn’t necessary.
“If you succeed, we’ll prepare a generous reward.”
[Mission «Research Facility Attack» start!]
“Do as you please.”
“Haha. Understood.”
Having read the system message saying a new mission was created, Baek Woohyun immediately turned his body. His attitude completely unconcerned with gun barrels aimed at him.
It was a judgment that they wouldn’t shoot in a situation where they’d already shown will to cooperate, and confidence he could block even if they did shoot.
What stopped him trying to leave without saying anything more was Manmulsang’s owner.
“Wait a moment!”
“…What?”
“We might be working together for quite a while perhaps, wouldn’t it be good to decide what to call each other?”
“……”
“I’m Manmulsang’s owner and broker, though I don’t self-designate a name—people usually call me ‘Owner’.”
“It’s a somewhat boring title, isn’t it?” Owner added with yet another laugh.
Baek Woohyun who stopped walking briefly to hear his words’ face behind the mask became strange. As if reminiscing old memories.
But that was only briefly. Soon returning to his original look, he answered shortly.
“Call me whatever.”
“Then I’ll temporarily call you ‘Avenger’. I look forward to working with you, customer ‘Avenger’.”
***
Around that time, in the studio.
“In the end… a mission was created.”
“This actually works.”
—Awesome ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
—Creating missions at will ㄷㄷ
—Came here wondering why, so this kind of progression works too
—More than that, what is Manmulsang?? What the hell is it???
Cha Seongcheol, Jeong Nayeon, and the viewers couldn’t help admiring watching Baek Woohyun’s story progression.
They who at first couldn’t even guess how it would proceed when he suddenly left the Otherworld Management Bureau changing outfit and build, then randomly entered some back alley, felt this even more.
Who would have imagined he’d contact and receive a request from a third force called Manmulsang, unknown and hostile to the research facility/corporations yet unrelated to the Otherworld Management Bureau?
Who could have guessed such progression?
‘StoryLover’ donated 1000 won!
[This is ㄹㅇ like a real third force route?]
—Finally breaking out of Management Bureau vs Corporation structure
—Seems Manmulsang is also fighting corporations ㅋㅋ
—At this point shouldn’t Hunting Dogs wake up too?
—Nope~ Corporate welfare is the best~
“Third force route. It certainly seems that way?”
—One more story route created ㄷㄷ
—Going to try on a sub-account right away
—Don’t tell me this also has to be no-correction mode?
—That’s ㄹㅇ too much;
Currently, the revealed story routes within Reverse Planet were two: the Otherworld Management Bureau and corporations.
But a third force called Manmulsang appeared, and they even showed receiving requests from them, so maybe there was probability of a new route.
Whether that was newly opened through Baek Woohyun this time, or existed before and was just revealed now, they didn’t know.
“No. I think a bit differently.”
Cha Seongcheol interjected from the side.
His tone seemed to claim discovering Manmulsang wasn’t opening a new story route.
But his following explanation contained the opposite meaning.
“Not new story route opening, I think it could be even more than that.”
“More than that means…?”
“It could be both a new story route and play a role adding volume to existing story routes.”
“Ah! That’s definitely right! Woohyun was originally following the Management Bureau route but received a request in a different appearance!”
—Oh, makes sense
—It’s persuasive
—Route parallelization is possible ㅋㅋㅋㅋ
—Shouldn’t we confirm? Story parallelization might only be possible because of no-correction mode
Manmulsang is both an independent route itself and also a parallel route allowing progression by creating a new identity in other routes!
—That was Cha Seongcheol’s claim, Jeong Nayeon and the viewers agreed, saying certainly so.
Right now, didn’t Baek Woohyun himself follow the Otherworld Management Bureau route then suddenly change outfit and build to receive a request from Manmulsang?
Though this part was speculation since they couldn’t know if non-no-correction people could also do it.
“Anyway, now it seems we just need to watch expectantly how Hackphysical will progress the story from here.”
***
While the studio discussed whether Manmulsang route was a new route or a parallel-capable route surpassing that.
“……”
Baek Woohyun who traveled flying arrived at the location where the research facility in the document was positioned.
That place was hidden cunningly in a wide forest area like the research facility that was the tutorial location, but couldn’t escape his eyes.
Because to him who had directly smashed over a dozen research facilities, such sloppy disguise was completely transparent.
—There. It’s there
—Must kill. Everyone. Not missing a single one!
Gooooo—
The vengeful spirits realizing the time of revenge had arrived again sang of hatred.
Hearing the young cries echoing in his ears, Baek Woohyun’s eyes burned fiercely holding ash-gray ghostfire.
The transparent energy swirling around his body also eerily writhed and burned space in a chilling way.
“……”
Baek Woohyun standing in the sky crashed down like a meteor toward the research facility entrance. Together with a transparent telekinesis shield perfectly wrapping him.
As a result, with a tremendous kkwaaaaang—! explosion sound, the surroundings of the entrance completely collapsed, and he could burst inside the research facility.
Of course, he who was protecting himself with telekinesis was in a state without a single scratch.
[Emergency alert issued! Emergency alert is—]
Kkwajik!
“……”
Baek Woohyun who smashed the emergency lights noisily clamoring and flashing wildly slowly drew in breath.
Perhaps because of the collapsed entrance, murky air filled his lungs, giving a feeling like returning to a certain past time.
That time when he finally started revenge and went around smashing every research facility.
“Over there! There’s an intruder over there!”
“The opponent is an Awakener, put Etinel forward!”
Tadadadak!
Shouts, and footsteps.
Baek Woohyun’s gaze toward the approaching enemies’ presence sharpened. Bottomlessly deep killing intent surged within.
Feeling enemies who entered detection range, he stretched out his hand spread flat, then tightly clenched it.
Strongly enough to crush from head to toe whatever existence was caught in that grip—even if it were a person.
Wudeuk!
“Keuaaak!”
“Eueok!”
The effect was immediate.
The three most alert competent guards who rushed first to drive out the intruder died screaming death cries.
Truly gruesome, their bodies were in a state compressed as if carelessly crumpled by a giant.
—More! More! More!
—Kill them all!
‘Right.’
Annihilation smiled faintly between the mask. A smile like ash remaining after burning.
‘Let’s kill them all.’