<Chapter 1348> 1348. Special Strategy
The car crossed the military demarcation line through Gangwon-do and entered North Korea.
Just because we entered North Korea didn’t mean anything special happened. The air was the same. However, the roads were terrible.
“Here. Stop.”
After speeding down the uncomfortable road for quite a while, the minivan stopped in the middle of the road at Jucheok’s signal. And we exited the vehicle fully armed.
Jucheok’s ability is Blood Control. It wasn’t just about manipulating blood; it also had the power to track targets using their blood.
“Which direction exactly?”
Kim Si-eom asked. Jucheok raised his index finger and pointed toward the forest.
“This forest. Jucheok is inside this forest.”
“We didn’t come here to rest, did we…? Looks like they’ve noticed our pursuit and are trying to shake us off here. Mr. Jucheok, do you know the exact location?”
“The margin of error is about 30 meters. Beyond that, no matter what, it’s impossible.”
“O Kang-ho likely has an ambush set up. We need a plan.”
Kim Si-eom said while fiddling with his baseball cap. He wanted a solid strategy.
Until now, Shin Bora had remained silent with her mouth tightly shut. Now she stepped forward.
“The fugitives, O Kang-ho’s group, have limited options for ambushing us. Since we’ve identified the possibility of an ambush, if we’re cautious, there’s no way we’ll fall for it. O Kang-ho must be exhausted from running. We shouldn’t give him time to recover his strength. Attacking right now is the best option.”
“Ms. Shin Bora, it’ll only take five minutes to devise a plan. Act rationally.”
“If you want to make a plan, go ahead without me. I’m going to capture O Kang-ho.”
Shin Bora confidently walked forward. I followed her closely while speaking.
“I agree with Ms. Shin Bora. What’s the point of making a plan after coming all this way? Let’s finish this quickly and head back.”
Kim Si-eom’s expression crumpled unpleasantly. Jucheok, who had his arms crossed, followed behind us.
“I agree with Kim Si-eom that a plan is necessary… but since more than half of the four of us refuse to follow it, there’s nothing I can do.”
“Hah, damn it. I’m reporting this to the Association.”
Kim Si-eom muttered irritably as he trailed behind us. There was nothing he could do. We’d come too far to turn back now.
We found O Kang-ho and his four subordinates resting under a tree. They looked terrible. Their clothes were smeared with blood and dirt, and their faces were full of exhaustion. Unlike us, who arrived by car, they had run all the way here on foot.
O Kang-ho smirked when he saw us.
“I thought the Association’s elite tracking team was after me… turns out it’s just a bunch of kids.”
Before we could pull out our weapons and charge at him, O Kang-ho waved his hand first. His subordinates all put on gas masks simultaneously. Then, black smoke erupted from O Kang-ho’s wrist and spread everywhere.
“It’s poison smoke. Be careful.”
Jucheok said. It was unnecessary advice. No one here was unaware of O Kang-ho’s abilities.
“Rai-Ten Style: Thunder Flash!”
I swung my blade faster than anyone else could. A blue sword气 wrapped in red lightning shot toward Wu Ganghou. But he didn’t move. Instead, his subordinates wearing gas masks stepped forward and easily blocked the blade.
Shin Bora extended her hand into the air. A long hammer formed in her grasp, resembling Ohamma but looking more luxurious in silver. She gripped it with both hands and slammed it into the ground with all her might.
KWAANG!
The shockwave erupted a beat late… and in an unexpected place. Right beneath Wu Ganghou’s feet! He frowned and hobbled on one leg.
“Tch… using such boring abilities. I was planning to capture you girls, but now my mind’s changed. Kill them all.”
“Yes, Master.”
His subordinates moved in unison, charging towards us.
Jucheok and Kim Si-eom stepped forward. Jucheok manipulated blood packs with his hands while Kim Si-eom unsheathed his sword, emotionlessly aiming at the enemies.
“We’ll handle these guys.”
“Miss Shin Bora, Miss Sung Yoojin. Please deal with Wu Ganghou. No need for capture—eliminate him as quickly as possible.”
Jucheok and Kim Si-eom began fighting the enemies. Shin Bora, without even looking back, advanced towards Wu Ganghou with an indifferent expression.
“You really think two measly people can take me down? Did I look that easy?”
Wu Ganghou’s body grew larger. His muscles swelled, and bloodshot veins burst from his eyes, tears of blood streaming down his face. He’d injected himself with a physical enhancement drug.
“Wu Ganghou. Your execution is here.”
Shin Bora’s hammer transformed—it was now about the size of a flyswatter, but its crimson metallic design made it seem threatening. She swung it at Wu Ganghou, who caught it with his massive hand. The moment the hammer touched him, an explosion occurred.
“AAAAAAHHHHH!”
Wu Ganghou stumbled back, screaming in agony. His right arm had been blown off by the blast. Shin Bora continued swinging her hammer with the same stoic face. Terrified, Wu Ganghou retreated.
Suddenly, Shin Bora spat out blood—she’d been poisoned. Calmly, she drank an antidote.
“Do you really think that simple antidote will save you from my poison? To the one who took my right arm, I promise this: you won’t die easily.”
Wu Ganghou growled menacingly as he glared at the bleeding Shin Bora.
I seized the opportunity.
“Acceleration, Instant.”
[Rai-Ten Style activated. Duration: 10 minutes. Remaining uses: 6]
[Instant ability used. Remaining uses: 5]
Rai-Ten Style: Thunder Light.
My target was Wu Ganghou’s neck.
He reacted to my attack, desperately leaning backward. The blade, enveloped in red lightning, narrowly grazed his throat.
“You little brat…!”
As Wu Ganghou fell backward, he swung his remaining left hand, releasing a cloud of black poisonous mist that clung to my body. Even though I stopped breathing, it was useless—the mist seeped through my skin and started being absorbed.
I felt nauseous, my limbs growing heavy.
“Hahaha. How does the sensation of your limbs going numb feel? It’s terrifying, isn’t it? Like dying slowly. Go ahead, take out that antidote.”
He was waiting for the exact moment I took the antidote—his intentions too obvious to laugh at.
Instead of taking the antidote, I channeled Rai-Ten.
ZAP. ZAP.
Lightning coursed through my 氣 and blood, burning away all the toxins. The nausea disappeared, and my limbs felt light again. Wu Ganghou’s face immediately contorted in frustration.
“Damn it! Of all people, why did a guy immune to poison end up in the tracking team…!”
Wu Ganghou…
As the situation turned unfavorable, he spun his body around. Like a skunk, he began to scatter toxic smoke while attempting to flee. Both me and Shin Bora sprang into action simultaneously. Shin Bora’s hammer shattered Ogangho’s leg, and my sword sliced through his neck.
Ogangho met his end.
But the situation wasn’t over yet. Shin Bora and I charged towards Ogangho’s subordinates.
Ogangho and all his followers perished.
The mission entrusted to us by the Association had ended successfully—or so I thought. That was until Kim Si-eom suddenly attacked Jang Joo-seok. He cut off the unsuspecting Jang Joo-seok’s head, which rolled across the dirt with a thud.
Shin Bora and I immediately distanced ourselves from Kim Si-eom, our swords drawn as we felt a pang of confusion.
“Why did you kill Jang Joo-seok? Did he bother you that much?”
“Jang Joo-seok’s abilities were annoying. The power to track someone with just their blood is far too troublesome.”
Kim Si-eom replied casually. Shin Bora squinted her eyes even narrower as she glared at him.
“What are you?”
Instead of answering, Kim Si-eom grinned wickedly.
“You don’t need to know.”
His legs moved in dazzling patterns. Though they looked comically exaggerated, I could sense the subtle intricacies hidden within his footwork. That was Bo-fa (Stealth Steps).
‘That’s also an illusion technique that deceives the eyes—Hwanbo (Phantom Steps).’
The solution was simple: focus more on Ki-sense rather than vision.
Just as I heightened my Ki-sense, Kim Si-eom leaped like an arrow and lunged at Shin Bora. Without hesitation, she responded.
She raised her hammer and blocked Kim Si-eom’s sword.
“Did you work for the Chinese side from the beginning?”
“Haha! Impressive deduction skills there. Looks like there’s something hidden about you too, Shin Bora. But I’m not particularly curious what it is. Just die here.”
“You’re the one who’s going to die.”
Shin Bora batted away Kim Si-eom’s sword and lifted her short hammer high. A red glow gathered around her weapon as she swung it through the air. *BOOM!* An explosion erupted, and she used its force to unleash a barrage of attacks on Kim Si-eom.
He dodged her strikes like flowing water. Suddenly, his figure split into three.
‘…Clones? This guy was hiding his abilities.’
All three versions of Kim Si-eom attacked Shin Bora simultaneously. Caught off guard by the clones, she bit her lip, seemingly deciding to endure the assault.
‘But why does this guy keep ignoring me? Is it because I’m only B-Rank?’
[Using “Shana” (Moment). Remaining stacks: 4]
[Activating “Cheon Sim” (Divine Heart). Lasts for 1 minute.]
[Activating “Genius Time” for 10 seconds.]
I activated three skills in quick succession, instantly positioning myself behind Kim Si-eom. All three versions of him turned to look at me in shock.
It wasn’t over yet.
[Using “Shana” (Moment). Remaining stacks: 3]
I slashed the back of the central figure.
[Using “Shana” (Moment). Remaining stacks: 2]
I beheaded the one on the right.
[Using “Shana” (Moment). Remaining stacks: 1]
I pierced the heart of the one on the left.
All three Kim Si-eoms collapsed, bleeding. The clones dissipated, leaving only the real corpse behind. The one with the severed neck was the genuine article.
The situation was resolved.
‘I should file a report. This is clearly the Association’s mistake, so maybe I can claim extra credit…’
I pulled out my communicator but couldn’t establish contact.
“Kim Si-eom. This guy didn’t do all this without preparation.”
“…Well, the situation is over, so let’s go back.”
Of course, we had to bring the body along. It was incredibly bothersome.
“Thanks. I owe you one. I’ll definitely repay this debt someday.”
I glanced at her. No matter how I looked at her, she wasn’t exactly beautiful. I gave a half-hearted reply.
“Yeah, sure.”
