BIA Ch. 91

The driver’s side window went down, and Bran nodded briefly. Isaiah pretended not to see him and went under the awning of the building right next to them. Instead of telling Isaiah to get in, Bran looked at him and picked up his own smartphone.

“Wait, I’ll get in. I’ll get in, okay?”

Isaiah shouted urgently and crossed in front of the car, getting into the passenger seat. It was raining so hard that his clothes were already soaked in that short time. He got in because he couldn’t resist the threat, but it turned out to be a good thing.

“See, it would’ve been good if you had just listened nicely.”

Bran said, putting his smartphone in the cup holder of the console box.

“……”

Hearing that made him want to get out again. Isaiah calmed himself, looking at the torrential rain pouring outside the window.

“But you’re not really going to send that picture to Chester, are you? It’s just for blackmail, right?”

“Why do you think so?”

“Bran.”

There was no point in calming himself down. Isaiah sighed deeply, fastening his seatbelt.

“Then it won’t end with me fighting Chester. I’ll be completely out of this job.”

“Why do you think I’m afraid of that?”

Bran almost repeated what he’d said a little while ago. His playful attitude made it impossible to tell if he was joking or serious. When Isaiah just stared at him with a dumbfounded look, Bran finally chuckled and looked forward again, saying,

“Anyway, if you’re here to find a sniping spot, this place is a bust. I checked it out first, and there’s just no good spot.”

He took out a printout he had tucked into the driver’s side door pocket and handed it to Isaiah.

“The opposite side is better. There are at least three decent high-rise buildings over there.”

The printout included a bird’s-eye view of the three buildings, along with a brief description. The one on the first page was the same high-rise building Isaiah had seen a little while ago, a 23-story office building called the Taten.

“It’s the most unremarkable. It’s also the closest to the church out of the three buildings.”

“Still, it’s 800 yards.”

“The other two are farther. So Chester probably has the Taten Building in mind, too.”

As he said, the other two buildings, Perry 115 and The Bell Financial, were about 1000 yards and 1500 yards away from the church, respectively. Snipers usually calculate the hit probability based on 1100 yards and 1400 yards. The hit rate is halved exactly at those distances. In the past, 1000 yards was called the magic number, but in the last few years, 1000-yard shooting ranges have sprung up everywhere, and the success rate of sniping has increased, so the standard has risen to 1100 yards.

Maybe in a few years, people will say that 1100 yards is also ambiguous as a standard. But not 1400 yards. 1400 yards is currently treated as a death number, not a magic number. Beyond 1400 yards, calculating the impact point is meaningless. Even a light breeze will cause the bullet to deviate significantly. Luck was just as important, and the sniper’s intuition was even more important.

“So Chester wouldn’t even consider it. Especially The Bell Financial.”

“I don’t particularly want to consider it either.”

“That means that even if you stay there for two hours on the day, Chester won’t easily find you.”

Bran ignored Isaiah’s words and continued the explanation.

“As you can see, it’s the biggest of the three buildings. A building that size will have at least one or two vacant offices on each floor. You can choose the floor you want and set up a shooting bunker^[1] comfortably.”

“No, I just need a blackout curtain.”

Isaiah scanned the description of The Bell Financial on the last page of the printout. It was indeed a large building. Judging by the fact that it even had a helipad on the roof, it seemed like some well-known financial companies were occupying it. That meant security would be quite strict.

“1480 yards in a straight line to the back door of the church from the 25th floor……”

The calculator in Isaiah’s head started working quickly. To hit the target’s head accurately at that distance, the speed needs to be at least 550㎧. It would be better if it reached 600㎧, but for now, the only bullet that guarantees that speed is the 416 Barrett. But using that would require modifying not only the barrel but also the chamber of the gun he has now, so it’s realistically impossible. If the weather is good, 550㎧ is enough. Then, there’s no problem with the gun and bullets he has now.

“We can’t know what the weather will be like on the day.”

Isaiah muttered, throwing the printout onto the dashboard.

“The forecast says it’ll be cloudy. There’s almost no wind, either.”

“But there’s a chance of rain the following afternoon.”

That was why he had looked around this residential area first. To solve it at the closest distance possible.

Because Eloi was facing the sea on the south side, it was difficult to predict changes in the weather. Especially like many coastal cities, the phrase “somewhat cloudy” was the same as saying that light rain was expected.

“Besides, it could change again in six days.”

“Use 250-grain bullets for now.”

After saying that, Bran glanced at Isaiah’s wrist. Heavier bullets are overwhelmingly more advantageous in dealing with climate change. However, the recoil when firing is strong, so it’s common for wrists to snap during continuous firing. That was why most snipers had weak lower bodies but disproportionately bulky upper bodies. They lifted dumbbells and did push-ups whenever they had the chance to train their upper bodies to prepare for the recoil.

Isaiah knew what Bran was trying to say.

“I do work out too.”

“How much?”

“……Anyway, I do.”

Isaiah vaguely glossed over it.

“Up to 250 is fine.”

“Then let’s try the 338 Remington Ultra Magnum bullet. It has the best reviews among the recent ones.”

“It’s too new.”

“That’s why it’s worth trying.”

“I don’t take risks.”

He felt Bran’s gaze again. But it was different from before. It was more like a look of wonder.

“Why?”

“No, it’s just. It’s unexpected.”

What was? When Isaiah asked with just his expression, Bran drove the car out of the narrow road and onto the main road, saying,

“Aren’t snipers always eager to test the performance of new guns or bullets? Almost all the guys I’ve seen are like that.”

“Gun fanatics are like that.”

And in fact, most snipers were gun fanatics. Their job was to clean and oil their guns whenever they had a chance. They even made their own ammunition by measuring it themselves.

“I’m not a gun fanatic.”

Isaiah said firmly.

“Then what are you?”

“Just a professional sniper.”

It was definitely busier on the road now that they were out in the commercial district. There were signs of traffic congestion, so Isaiah sank into his seat. He turned his head to look out the window, saying,

“My adoptive father was doing that job first. They paid a lot of money. And then, by chance, I also had a talent for it. That’s all.”

“Simple.”

“Yeah. I’m going to hell when I die.”

“Suddenly?”

Bran laughed as if dumbfounded.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“I’m saying it in advance. Once you get to this point, the next thing you’re going to say is obvious. Have you ever felt guilty about killing people, etc.”

“I see.”

The traffic light turned red. Bran stopped the car in front of the stop line and said seriously,

“Say, Do you do confession often.”

“I’m an atheist.”

“An atheist? You?”

Bran looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“Since when?”

“What do you mean, since when? I’ve always been.”

“Wasn’t your god me?”

“Well……”

Isaiah was momentarily speechless. He was so flustered that he couldn’t say anything, just blinking, when the traffic light turned green. Bran stepped on the accelerator again, saying in a nonchalant tone,

“That’s right. You worship me and treat me like a religion. I’m your god.”

That was exactly what it was. It was exactly as he said, without adding or subtracting anything, which made it even harder to speak. Isaiah tried to squeeze out a retort, but nothing came to mind. So, he got angry for no reason and changed the subject.

“What are you talking about? Never mind, just give me back my AT.”

“I brought a new rifle. Come to think of it, what models do you have now? Did you only brought three AT ?”

“That’s all. I brought the GAP-10G2 and M24 too, but if the weather is okay on the day, I’m just going to use the AT. It’s easier to adjust the elevation ^[2]and it responds to changes the fastest.”

“It’s definitely better to use what you’re used to.”

Fortunately, the topic naturally changed to guns, and when he came to his senses, they were already in front of the Taten Building.

“Wasn’t this a bust?”

“It’s a bust for us.”

Bran said, honking the horn. One long, two short. Then, a man standing in front of the building ran over and knocked on the driver’s side window. It was Bran’s subordinate, Samuel.

“Give me your smartphone.”

Isaiah took his smartphone out of his pants pocket and handed it to Bran.

“The GPS?”

“It’s on.”

Bran lowered the car window a little and handed Isaiah’s smartphone through the gap.

“22nd floor. Never answer the phone, and don’t turn it off either.”

“Understood.”

As Samuel received the smartphone, Bran started the car again.

“Why are you giving away someone else’s phone so carelessly? What if Samuel looks through it?”

Isaiah belatedly nitpicked.

“Is there something in there that shouldn’t be seen?”

“There isn’t, but.”

“Did you exchange lewd messages with Chester or something?”

“There’s no way.”

“Or maybe pictures you took yesterday.”

“No, goddamn it.”

He just made a joke, but it looks like He’s not going to get anything out of it.

“That smartphone is a brick. It’s just a GPS tracker that can make calls. And I don’t take that kind of shitty picture, not before. Yesterday was the first time someone else took one of me.”

“Yeah, you shouldn’t take those kinds of pictures carelessly.”

Bran, who was turning the car around to leave the building, looked very happy for some reason.