Chapter 46

Sige Bang's main base is located in a large power plant on the outskirts of Sector 48. The main base, which was created by completely renovating the abandoned power plant, includes a spacious parking lot. The entire parking lot area is surrounded by barbed wire, and the windows of the power plant are boarded up to prevent intrusion. In addition, there are machine gun nests and rocket launchers scattered on the roof of the power plant. The main base of the gang, using the hundreds of vehicles haphazardly scattered in front of the parking lot as cover, seemed difficult to attack at first glance.

"So, you haven't managed to break through the main gate yet."

Reno, who had joined late after visiting Jenny's bar, said with a look of disbelief. Kilian, who had arrived earlier and was leading other freelancers in the attack on the power plant, replied with a tired expression.

"The resistance is considerable. They've brought in some pretty tough collaborators."

"Collaborators?"

"People who are clearly different from the gang members are driving our forces back. They might have called in some retired soldiers they were dealing with."

"......"

Reno had thought that the network of transactions with soldiers had been completely severed after the incident at the railway station, but it seemed they had managed to request reinforcements again. Perhaps the boss on the other side was that capable.

Reno pushed Kilian aside and stepped forward to assess the situation, spreading his mana widely. As his vast sensory range, covering several kilometers, spread out, he instantly detected the life signals surrounding the power plant.

Eden

About five hundred inside the power plant. About a hundred and twenty on our side, attacking the gate. After filtering out the minor injuries, the ratio of forces is roughly 4 to 1. The balance is maintained only because the other team members accompanying Reno are putting up a good fight. Especially, Dylan's performance is overwhelming. He had taken up a position at the main gate, advancing while withstanding the barrage of gunfire, and was focused on securing space for his allies. The quality of the Antares Office mercenaries, compared to other freelancers, was clearly demonstrated.

Another point to note... the life signals and mana movements of the gang members are abnormally active. It seems they have used some special method to boost their forces.

When Reno informed Kilian of this, he frowned as if he had an idea.

"Come to think of it, quite a few of the prisoners we captured here showed symptoms similar to withdrawal. They might have been doping with some kind of drug."

"Short-term enhancement of physical abilities with severe side effects, right?"

"Exactly. Given that, it might be better to retreat now and attack the power plant later."

Kilian said with an expression as if he had realized something important. It was clear what he was thinking. If they continued to drag out the time, the gang members and soldiers would be overwhelmed by the side effects of the drugs, and it would be easier to attack the weakened power plant. However, Reno shook his head firmly.

"No, we need to go in now."

"What? Why?"

Without answering, Reno immediately moved forward. Kilian seemed to have not thought that far, but if Panora had been there, she would have said the same thing as Reno.

'There's no way the boss of a gang I don't even know would prepare such a shoddy plan after provoking Dike Corporation.'

Although he didn't know the boss of the gang, Reno never underestimated or looked down on him. The opponent was a skilled businessman who had smoothly taken over the weapons business in the 40s sector before Reno got involved. It was unclear how far he had calculated and taken the first step, but he certainly wouldn't have prepared such a simple countermeasure that could be defeated by Kilian's strategy. On the contrary, it seemed likely that he was trying to give the impression that it was advantageous for them to drag out the time.

'Whatever he's preparing, it's probably advantageous for him to drag out the time.'

If the countermeasure the boss on the other side was preparing was insignificant, it wouldn't matter, but what if he had prepared a decisive move to turn the tide? Knowing that the gang had attempted to contact the Demon Hunters, Reno had no intention of falling for such a scheme.

'I'll break through in one go.'

While strongly pulling up his mana, he took a step forward. Dylan, who had been attacking the main gate, turned his head at the intense flow.

"Reno, aren't you a bit late?"

"Fall back."

With a whoosh, Reno muttered as he shot a long flame from his hand.

"I'm going to break through the power plant right now."

Without saying a word, Dylan immediately pulled back the other freelancers who were following him. This was because he already knew from multiple experiences how powerful a mage Reno was. And Reno did not disappoint Dylan's expectations at all.

He swung the flames wrapped around his right hand as if throwing them to the ground.

[Field of Flame]

Whoosh!

The flames spread like a wildfire over the asphalt, quickly flowing into the power plant. The flames, which began to burn the vast parking lot without any oil, were neither particularly hot nor violent. However, they were sufficient to stimulate the engines of the countless vehicles scattered in the parking lot inside the power plant.

Boom! Boom!

The people inside and outside the power plant realized Reno's intention only after the vehicles inside the parking lot began to explode, turning into dozens of fireballs.

"No, no!"

"Stop it! If they all explode, we'll all die!"

"Shit...!!"

Reno nodded, watching the gang members and soldiers fall into panic. "Let's go in."

As soon as he finished speaking, dozens of freelancers standing behind Reno began to rush into the power plant. Other team members, who had rushed to the scene upon hearing the news, also joined in, pushing the gang members back. Kilian, who had joined late, transformed into a wolf and leaped into the enemy ranks, while Dylan's daggers swiftly pierced the drugged retired soldiers. The machine guns pouring down from the roof of the power plant were sniped by Agria's laser, and Jode and Kaini rushed forward first.

The balance that had been maintained until now was completely reversed, and the power plant was quickly surrounded again. Reno, walking behind the group, glanced at the entrance of the power plant.

'It's about time for him to show up.'

No matter how much the other side wanted to drag out the time, it was impossible not to react after being pushed this far. If the boss really had a hidden move, he would have to buy time to prepare it.

Sure enough, as the parking lot fell into a cold silence, a man slowly appeared on the roof of the power plant.

A sharp and sensitive-looking handsome man. Although he looked emaciated as if he hadn't slept, his physique was surprisingly robust. He silently observed the more than a hundred people gathered below the power plant.

Reno, sensing the intense flow of mana within him, instinctively knew.

'It's him.'

The leader of the massive gang Sige Bang. The businessman who, along with Beck Clinton, had dominated the weapons business in the 40s sector. The gang leader, Eden Garcia, finally showed his face.

"It seems the letter I sent didn't get through well."

Eden said. His voice was low but clearly resonated in their ears, powered by mana.

"I did send an invitation, but I didn't want to be treated like this."

"Is that all you have to say?"

Kilian replied.

"I expected a better last will."

The sarcastic retort clearly indicated that Kilian was confident of the success of this plan. They had successfully entered the gang's power plant and seen the boss's face. Given how far they had pushed the opponent, it wasn't strange for somewhat arrogant words to slip out.

Kilian shook his head slowly in response to Eden's provocation.

"Stupid beasts, that's why you can't have a conversation."

"......What, this guy?"

"I want to talk to a more competent handler."

As he said this, Eden turned his head toward Reno.

"It's probably you, right?"

Reno didn't answer, but Eden narrowed his eyes as if that was enough.

"That mana, and the magic you just used... I can understand why Beck died so pointlessly. It seems Dike Corporation put a lot of effort into this."

"......"

"If the situation had progressed just a little slower, it wouldn't have come to this. I admit that. But from now on, it will be different."

"Reno, there's no need to listen to him, right?"

Without waiting for Reno's response, Dylan, who had been listening to Eden, moved. He reversed the grip on one of his daggers and, after pulling his shoulder back with force, threw it.

The dagger, thrown from his hand, turned into a streak of light and shot toward Eden's head.

A speed comparable to supersonic.

If he hadn't known in advance, it would have been a surprise attack that could have easily split his head.

But Eden reacted.

A lump of lightning gathered around him, forming a hexagon and rotating to deflect Dylan's dagger.

Clang!!

"....!!"

Reno's brows furrowed more than Dylan's, who had thrown the dagger.

It wasn't because Eden used lightning magic. He already knew Eden was from the Thorburn School from Madame. However, the fact that the lightning he used didn't originate from his body but appeared behind him was a completely different issue.

Eden noticed the direction of Reno's gaze and smiled.

"You seem to have figured it out."

"......Are you getting power from somewhere else?"

"Yes. For this operation, I prepared a massive amount of power. I gathered power from the underground water