Chapter 75

The tracking of the dummy data ended three days ago.

Beep!

Vroom!!

A truck was speeding across the desert, spewing thick clouds of sand.

Renoku sat astride the back of the truck, staring blankly at the cityscape that was gradually fading away.

Although he had ventured into undeveloped areas and even approached the outskirts of the city a few times, it had been a long time since he had completely left a major city.

The memory of trembling and sneaking into Balkan in a stolen unfamiliar car was still vivid in Renoku's mind.

Evelyn's calm voice continued to come through the earphones.

[We have cross-verified the location information using all available means. This is solid information.]

[While it's generally well hidden, the sandstorm it's mixed with occasionally disrupts the jamming. By focusing on taking satellite photos during these brief moments, I got a sense of it.]

Evelyn's words continued, but Renoku didn't bother to respond.

The communication he was hearing wasn't just for him; it was being relayed to all team members involved in the operation.

While he was unhappy that the information restrictions were lifted only right before the operation began, it was understandable for security reasons.

Moreover, the other team members in the truck were also listening to Evelyn's communication with intense focus.

“......”

[The location we found by tracking the encryption key is a temporary base of the terrorist organization, Phalzion. It seems to be a supply station set up for operations in Balkan.]

[The operation has two objectives.]

Evelyn's voice became chillingly cold.

[Neutralizing the base's internal power and securing the communication network to trace Phalzion's main base.]

[The base commander, Daron, is away from the base to receive supplies. He's a madman who has had his entire body modified and is rumored to be extremely brutal, so it's best to complete the operation before he returns.]

She explained the specific details of the operation in a rapid and concise tone.

Content that had already been mentioned to Renoku.

The teams were divided into Team 1, Team 2, and Team 3. Teams 1 and 3 would handle the vanguard and retreat, while Team 2 would gather information and be supported by Teams 1 and 3 during the operation.

Naturally, the focus was on Renoku, the leader of Team 2.

[Our communication is being cut off.]

Evelyn said.

[From now on, operators near the site will assist the operation. Good luck.]

Click!

The communication cut off as the truck came to a stop.

Three more trucks appeared through the sand, and the team members gathered in the middle of the vast desert, slowly getting out of the trucks and looking at each other.

“......”

Instead of taking the lead, Renoku remained seated on the truck, looking up at the sky.

The environment was scorching and incredibly dry.

The heat haze made it hard to see the horizon clearly, even on such a sunny day.

Thanks to a common spell to cool and ventilate the body, he wouldn't have fainted in less than 30 minutes.

While lost in these trivial thoughts, he took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth, hearing a disgusted voice from the side.

“Do you really like smoking? Do you have to light up in this crazy weather?”

“......”

A young man with small scars on his face.

It turned out to be the pyrokinetic he had worked with at the trade center.

Without responding, Renoku smiled and lit the cigarette.

“Huh......”

The young man, who had been awkwardly sitting next to him, said.

“I feel a bit bad bringing this up, but can I ask what you plan to do next?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean... you're essentially the key to this operation, right?”

The young man's tone was more polite than before, but his words hit the core of the issue.

“Anyone who heard the briefing would know this. The obvious support for Team 2 and the formation where they are guarded front and back during entry and exit... I don't care, but there will be a lot of people with complaints.”

“Complaints...”

Considering that freelancers generally dislike being constrained, it wasn't just idle talk.

Of course, since they were hired by the agent, they should follow their methods, but how many would actually nitpick on the field?

For those not trained in a professional organization, this was a natural reaction.

Or, perhaps, it was a predetermined sequence once the agents' direct involvement became difficult.

“Hey.”

Just as he finished his thoughts, someone roughly knocked on the truck Renoku was in.

A young man with bright neon green hair and multiple piercings on his face.

His eyes gleamed with a dangerous light, and his lips were painted a deep blue.

A young man who seemed more suited to a gang or a biker than a freelancer, looked up at Renoku.

“Let's talk. Get down.”

“Talk from there.”

“What?”

“I can hear you fine.”

Renoku looked down at the man with a cigarette between his fingers.

The man's forehead veins bulged, but he didn't seem to want to ruin things from the start.

He crossed his arms and tilted his head at Renoku.

“I have some questions about the operation plan we've heard so far.”

“Questions?”

“Yeah. The roles of infiltration, action, and retreat are divided, but essentially, all we're doing is cleaning up after Team 2, right? I can't accept this method.”

The introduction of his argument was so obvious that he could probably recite the rest without listening.

But Renoku calmly exhaled smoke, prompting the man to continue.

‘They said they would hand over the operation to the on-site standby team, but there's been no word so far. This means one thing only.’

From this point on, they are handing over full control of the operation to Renoku and will refrain from interfering with what happens within it.

Or, perhaps, if they can't suppress even this level of unrest, they won't entrust the job to him.

It was a frustrating situation, but Renoku understood.

Trash rolling around at the bottom of the city.

People who live chasing after innate power and money, not discipline and control.

To bind such people into the order of an operation, a certain solution is necessary.

It's not a matter of pride.

After all, Renoku is no different from them, a resident of the streets.

He shouldn't forget the essence while being intoxicated by his rising reputation and value.

When he first arrived in this city, he vowed to survive by any means and climb to the top.

The cold touch of the sink, the warmth of the hot gun barrel, the unpleasant feeling of vomiting... all of these vividly lived in Renoku.

Even if everyone else forgets and ignores it, Renoku must continue to remember.

The essence of this unpleasant city.

And the sordid truth that he is no different from them.

“......”

Renoku, who had been staring at the man with a cold gaze, slowly stood up.

“Are you listening?”

He said to those who were listening to the situation through the earphones.

“The cost required to resolve this situation. Don't forget it.”

[......Thank you for your understanding.]

Hearing the response, it seemed that the agents also had their own reasons.

Satisfied with the whispered voice, Renoku asked.

“Hey, don't the guys in the truck think the same way?”

While doing so, the man seemed to want to increase his support and turned to the other freelancers in the same truck.

“This isn't fair. We haven't even seen the mage's skills. Even if the client gave direct orders...”

“I don't think so.”

A heavy voice cut off the man's words. It was a large, expressionless man leaning against the truck with his eyes closed.

“......What?”

“That man is a lot more skilled than you think. I actually think the client's judgment is accurate.”

“Me too.”

A woman with a blank expression sitting next to him said.

The two of them sitting side by side gave a similar impression.

“I have no complaints about my role, and I actually doubt whether Team 1 and Team 3 can properly fulfill their roles.”

The woman said, her eyes gleaming.

“To be frank, this is the first time we've seen each other in this operation. On the other hand, we've already worked together and checked each other's abilities. It's obvious which team is more suitable for the operation.”

Renoku, who didn't expect them to take his side, turned his head to look at the two of them.

“......”

Noticing Renoku's gaze, the two of them slightly averted their eyes.

Seeing them move simultaneously as if they had agreed beforehand, Renoku immediately understood their intentions and smiled.

Considering that the two, including the pyrokinetic, were grouped with Renoku in Team 2, the answer was simple.

While Renoku's abilities were certainly valuable, the two of them didn't want the role of Team 2, which would receive the most support in this operation, to be taken by other team members.

Moreover, given their performance in the previous operation, there was an implicit agreement that it was better to support Renoku in this situation.

Their hesitant eye contact hid a variety of intentions.

Which one would be most helpful to Renoku?

‘I shouldn't confuse the operation's goals with my own.’

What Renoku wanted was to find Craig and ask about the legacy left by the old family.

Further, to uncover the secrets and clues of this world.

Raiding Phalzion's temporary base and tracing their main base should be a means to achieve Renoku