Chapter 26 : Chapter 26
Chapter 26. Night Raid and the Truth (1)
Purrrr-
Freed from Seol U-seok’s hand, Saya flew lightly onto Riman’s shoulder.
Riman first confirmed that Seol U-seok was dead.
Then he took his phone out of his pocket, smeared the bloody tears shed by Seol U-seok on the terminal, and transmitted the genetic information.
After that, he took a picture of Seol U-seok with his phone camera.
A moment later, the identity confirmation of the wanted criminal through genetic analysis and facial recognition was complete.
The death status scan was also completed at the same time.
A little while later.
Ting-
The bounty was deposited into Riman’s account, or more precisely, into the account of his cover identity, ‘Leman White.’
Seol U-seok’s bounty was 180 million.
But according to his contract with Lancelot, Riman could only receive 5%.
Therefore, the amount deposited was…….
“9 million Credits……”
An amount he wasn’t quite pleased with.
But since he had earned quite a lot from this hunt, he just decided to let it go.
In any case, with this, he had caught 3 of the 12 escaped convicts who were in Korea.
And the hunt in Heosan was also over.
He had not only earned money by hunting Demonic Beasts but had also caught the wanted criminal behind it all.
It was a clean ending.
Of course, there were still a few finishing touches left.
Riman began to drag Seol U-seok’s body somewhere.
And the place he arrived at was the collapsed construction site.
The very place Riman had brought down earlier.
The place where Experiment Body No. 31 was buried under a pile of rebar.
“Grk……!”
Experiment Body No. 31 was still alive.
Riman tore off the tag attached to its ear.
With this, he secured an additional 10 million Credits.
Now that he had gotten everything he could, it was time to wrap things up.
Riman started a fire.
[Ignition]
Whoosh!
A black flame kindled at his fingertips.
Riman threw the fire at Experiment Body No. 31.
The cremation process began.
WHOOOSH!!
“Kraaaargh……!”
The fire blazed fiercely, and the Demonic Beast’s breath quickly faded within it.
Watching the dying No. 31, Riman muttered.
“To think I'd catch this thing like this.”
In the game, Experiment Body No. 31 was a monster that was almost impossible to catch.
Because at the point when you encountered it, your character wasn't strong enough to catch it easily.
Of course, there was a way to catch it.
Hit and run, hit and run.
If you did that for about 4 hours, you could catch it.
Naturally, he had only tried it once and never attempted it again.
Thinking about the old days like that, Riman spaced out for a moment.
Staring at the blazing black fire.
Even though he had created it, it was honestly bizarre every time he saw it.
Because no matter how close he looked, it didn't dazzle his eyes.
This black fire didn't produce light.
He stared blankly at the fire for a while.
“Oh right, I have to put this in too.”
Fling-
Riman threw Seol U-seok’s body into the fire.
The fire, fueled by the two corpses, burned even more fiercely.
It was a campfire signaling the end of the day.
* * *
The entrance to Heosan Village.
Hunters began to come out one by one.
Ork Corporation employees who were waiting outside the entrance greeted them.
“Those with tags, please come this way and submit them.”
The surviving hunters went to a nearby table, submitted their tags, and received their rewards.
A little distance away, a man in a suit was watching all of this.
Manager Ha In-soo.
He was the one who had overseen the company's response to this Demonic Beast escape incident.
Ha In-soo spoke in a low voice to the secretary standing next to him.
“More hunters survived than expected.”
“It seems so.”
“Well, as long as it doesn't exceed the expected expenditure……”
Just as things were proceeding without any particular problems.
A commotion arose at the table where the tags were being collected.
“If you don't have any tags to submit, you can just leave, hunter-nim.”
“I can't, I can't go, you bastards.”
The hunter, covered in wounds, spat out curses with a fierce expression.
“What did you say?”
“Why was there such a monster?! Why didn't you tell us there was something like that!! Because of that, three of my comrades died!! Three!!”
“But you survived, didn't you? What's the problem?”
“You son of a……!”
“Look at the contract. It clearly states that there is a possibility of unforeseen dangers arising on our part as well.”
“Shut up!! I… I have to get the price for my comrades' lives!! Give it to me!! Give it……”
Bang!
With a gunshot, blood spurted from the hunter’s knee.
It was a bullet fired by a private soldier of Ork Corporation.
“Kuaaaargh!”
The hunter screamed and rolled on the ground.
Soon, a few soldiers came and dragged him away.
The other hunters clicked their tongues as they watched him.
The payment of rewards began again.
The number of tags the hunters brought was pathetic.
The most anyone brought was 5.
There were numerous teams that brought only 1 or 2.
For risking their lives to enter Heosan Village, it was a very meager reward.
But they were lucky to be alive, so everyone quietly accepted the money.
Just then.
Step, step-
Riman, who had left Heosan Village late, approached the table.
The hunters looked at Riman and whispered.
“Looks like his teammates all died and he's the only one who survived.”
“Tsk tsk……”
No one thought that Riman had entered alone from the beginning.
The table staff member looking at Riman had a similar thought.
‘You, please don't cause a scene and just let this pass quietly.’
With a slightly sharp voice due to what had happened just a moment ago, the staff member asked.
“Do you have any tags to submit?”
“Just a moment.”
Riman took out tags from one pocket and placed them on the table.
It wasn't just three, four, or something of that level.
A handful.
More than ten tags were placed on the table.
‘That’s quite a lot.’
Just as the staff member was about to count the tags, thinking that.
“Wait, there's more.”
“Yes?”
Riman poured out another handful of tags from his other pocket.
The staff member’s eyes began to waver.
The same went for the hunters who were watching from the side.
“What the……?”
“Why are there so many?!”
This wasn't the end.
Another handful from his inner pocket, and half a handful from his pants pocket.
A heaping pile of tags was on the table.
The staff member was at a loss for words for a moment.
He had never expected to see such a large number of tags.
“Uh, well……”
“Count them.”
“Ah, yes!”
The staff member started counting the tags, laying them out on the table.
“…52, 53, 54.”
He counted twice more, just in case.
A total of 54.
It was the result of looting all the corpses of hunters he had encountered on his way out of Heosan.
That was why he had left Heosan much later than the other hunters.
The other hunters had been in a hurry to escape Heosan, avoiding Experiment Body No. 31, but Riman had no need to do so.
The result was that Ork had to pay 540 million Credits.
The staff member said in a trembling voice.
“Um, well… it's difficult for us to pay such a large sum of money at once……”
“Ork Corporation doesn't have the money? Are you kidding me?”
“Well……”
“Look at the contract. It should clearly state that you will be paid 10 million Credits per tag acquired, right?”
“Well, that’s……”
The staff member looked at his superior, Manager Ha In-soo, with trembling eyes.
Manager Ha In-soo’s expression was also not very good.
But he couldn't refute Riman’s claim.
Because it was written in the contract.
The manager approached and said.
“Um……”
“Leman.”
“Yes, Mr. Leman. First of all, I apologize for the inconvenience……”
“You know what it means to delay payment in this line of work, don't you?”
“Of course I do.”
Hoo.
After expressing his displeasure with a very short sigh, Manager Ha In-soo said.
“…First, we will send 300 million to your account, Mr. Leman.”
“What about the remaining 240 million?”
“If you wait here for a moment, I will bring it to you in cash.”
“……?!”
Cash?
In fact, this was better for Riman.
It meant he would have more money he could spend without being monitored.
“But why go through the trouble……”
“For now, let me just say that there are some issues related to budget management. Then, just a moment……”
Ha In-soo, who had been away for about 10 minutes, returned with a metal briefcase.
“Please check it.”
Riman opened the briefcase and checked its contents.
Neatly arranged bundles of cash.
But when he counted, it was a little short of 240 million.
Riman said.
“The amount seems a little short……”
“We deducted the commission sent to your dedicated broker.”
“Ah, right.”
Bart Sinel, that broker bastard. I had a commission to pay him.
Riman closed the briefcase and said.
“You've worked hard. I wish your company all the best.”
“…Have a safe trip back.”
Riman rode his motorcycle and left the scene.
Ha In-soo watched Riman’s retreating back for a long time.
* * *
Hotel room.
As soon as he entered, Riman started organizing the money.
The cash in the bag he had left at the hotel, and the cash he had received today.
He put it all into one bag.
Inside the metal briefcase he had received today.
“Nice.”
With this, the total money he had collected so far, combining what was in his account and the cash, was about 560 million.
Money was being made at an incredible speed.
“Ah, I feel relieved. I should take a shower.”
After washing up, Riman put the bento he had bought on his way in the microwave.
It was a Wagyu top sirloin salt-grilled bento.
It was expensive for a bento, but considering the money he had earned today, it was an incredibly cheap meal.
He had enough money to go to a high-end restaurant and order the most expensive course and drinks right away.
But Riman didn't.
It wasn't particularly for the sake of frugality.
It was just because he was tired.
In a body like this, just wandering around outside was too much of a hassle.
On days like this, it was best to stay cooped up in the hotel room and eat takeout.
Oh, of course, with a drink.
Pshhht-
Cracking open a chilled can of beer to go with the meat was pure bliss.
The rich flavor of the beef fat that filled the mouth, and the refreshingness of the beer that washed it down cleanly.
The cycle of meat and beer was truly invincible.
While he was enjoying his leisure time.
Saya rolled onto the table.
Riman asked.
“Want to try some?”
Saya nodded and opened its mouth.
Riman put a piece of meat in.
After chewing for a moment—
“Ptooey.”
“Hey, what are you doing spitting it out?”
Then it rolled towards the beer can.
“Beer? You want this?”
Riman poured some beer into Saya’s mouth.
This time, it didn't spit it out.
Instead, it flapped its wings as if it was pleased.
“You don't like meat, but you like alcohol.”
Riman poured the rest of the beer into Saya’s mouth.
Saya gulped it down as he gave it.
“Next time I buy drinks, I should buy some for you too.”
After the dinner and short drinking session ended.
Riman turned off the room light and lay down on the bed.
And he fell into a deep sleep just like that.
* * *
2:30 AM.
A time when almost everyone was dead asleep.
Riman suddenly opened his eyes.
‘Hmm……?’
He felt like he could die from sleepiness, but his eyes opened on their own.
This often happened when he had to pee in his sleep, but that wasn't the case now.
His eyes just opened.
That wasn't the end of it.
The hair on his skin stood on end, and goosebumps rose on his back.
He couldn't tell why, but his body was sounding some kind of alarm.
Riman lifted his head from the pillow and sat up in bed.
At that moment.
Ting!
Pshh!
The window shattered, and a bullet hole appeared in the pillow.
A bullet had flown in from outside the window.
‘What the……?!’
If he had been lying down, there would have been a hole in his head.
Riman quickly took cover under the bed.
Pshh! Pyok! Pyubyok!
Several sniper shots landed on the bed.
This made it clear.
A sniper with a clear intention was firing from outside the window.
With the firm purpose of killing Riman.
The night raid had begun.