SOG Ch 156

“This was created using that ability. I suspect there might be an illusion-type Esper in the enemy camp.” 

Upon Woo-jin’s explanation, Ahn Suk-young, who was casually tousling her hair that had been set with wax, asked, 

“Wasn’t there a fog-related collision accident this morning? They said all the Esper personnel in the Center were sent out because of the accident. Could that have been an illusion too?”

“Yes, there’s a possibility that the multi-vehicle collision reported this morning wasn’t a coincidence either.”

At that moment, Hwang Guk-hyeon interjected, “I just want to confirm, is the government still standing idly by?”

With eyes as large as a cow’s, he was the team member who had bought time for his colleagues to move by contacting Team Leader Jin Dae-ho before Go Woo-jin could start the operation alone. Although he was a year older than Woo-jin, he was his junior, so he only used formal speech during operations.

“That’s correct. Both the suppression plan and the hostage rescue have been tentatively postponed.”

Woo-jin replied with a calm expression. Everyone’s expressions darkened at the news that the military was still maintaining a stalemate.

In the end, there was no choice but to conduct an unauthorized military operation. They had barely managed to persuade Go Woo-jin, who was determined to enter the center alone, so if they backed out now, that guy would set out on his own to rescue the hostages. They couldn’t let that happen. The team members were comrades who owed their lives to each other on the front lines. Also, since Go Woo-jin had always volunteered for difficult tasks, it was only right for them to help their colleague.

“Then let’s get moving quickly.” 

Hwang Guk-hyeon big eyes gleamed as he spoke passionately.

“Let’s hear the plan right away. The 5th District Center grounds is quite vast, and the terrorists have already tampered with the nuclear power plant. If we’re unlucky, the field could expand. Time is running out.”

It was February, still far from dawn, but the time was nearing midnight. Even if they started preparations right away, with all the equipment to gather, they wouldn’t be able to launch the mission until after 1 a.m.

Go Woo-jin had the same thought, so he immediately displayed the design drawings on the wall screen. It was a structural diagram of the 5th District Center and the nuclear power plant.

“We’ll enter by crossing the left wall. Guk-hyeon and Min-wan will stay at point A to cover, while the rest of us follow the entry route to the control room. We’ll cut the power and regroup at point A.”

“Didn’t you say a 5th District investigator reported a secret passage?” 

Another team member, Roh Min-wan, raised his hand and asked. The information about the secret passage had been shared previously in the group chat.

“If the serial killings the investigator mentioned are related to this terror attack, that route is likely to be the culprits’ escape route.”

At Woo-jin’s explanation, Ahn Suk-young nodded. 

“Then the security must be tight. The military will be watching it too.”

“Yes, Guide Director Han Tae-hoon is personally lying in ambush with Esper Team 4.”

“Then we’ll go left.”

In the end, the left infiltration route was chosen. It was the most basic tactic: disabling the control room’s power system to cut off all lights in the Center, then infiltrating under the cover of darkness. With all team members being Espers and equipped with night vision goggles, the core of the operation was to push forward with rapid movement in advantageous dark conditions.

Go Woo-jin continued his explanation. 

“Based on the satellite data provided by the Intelligence Bureau, most of the terrorists are concentrated at the Center’s entrance, back door, and Research Building 2. Avoid contact with the terrorists as much as possible. Approach from the outskirts and search for hostages starting from the outer buildings. When hostages are secured, the rescue team will withdraw under cover from the attack team.”

As expected of a unit that spent all its time eating and undergoing combat training, the operation’s protocols, routes, and role assignments were sorted in no time. As the mission leader, Woo-jin gave his final reminder.

“I’ll say it again. Prioritize rescuing survivors over subduing the terrorists. If it becomes unavoidable to kill an enemy, I’ll do it.”

During the Siren Island cleanup, Go Woo-jin had been delegated military operational control, so he could handle the situation autonomously. There was just no troop support. However, this time it’s literally an unauthorized military operation. Killing the terrorists would constitute ‘murder.’

“Even if terrorists are accidentally killed, I’ll take responsibility.”

Of course, he intended to mobilize J Corporation’s legal team if any problems arose for his colleagues, but Go Woo-jin didn’t want his teammates to be embroiled in the disgrace of indictment and trial because of him.

“Cut it out. We know what to do without such reminders, and we trust you.” 

Leave it to us. Ahn Suk-young patted Go Woo-jin’s shoulder.

Other team members also added a few casual remarks like, “Of course,” and “It’s not like we’re going to slack off. If anything, shouldn’t we be getting medals for this?”

Woo-jin felt deep gratitude towards his colleagues.

Today, they were not just fellow E-SOF members, but mercenaries for each other. They quickly began preparing for deployment. Unable to use weapons or ammunition issued by the Alliance, they received the bulletproof vests, night vision goggles, tactical boots, and magazines that Woo-jin had prepared. Each individual was equipped with up to eight personal firearms, including submachine guns, assault rifles, and tasers.

“Wow, the chairman’s resourcefulness is impressive.”

Roh Min-wan, donning a helmet with communication equipment, let out a short whistle. Although it wasn’t actually Chairman Go Young-chang’s support, Woo-jin didn’t bother to clarify.

The weapons had been obtained by raiding the President’s private weapons cache within District 5, with cooperation from Gyeong Hye-in’s pale-faced security detail who had lost their superior. While it might have been possible to persuade Chairman Go Young-chang, this was a necessary choice due to time constraints in procuring weapons.

Each team member swiftly grabbed gear according to their preferences. Despite the bulletproof vest weighing 14 kilograms, and the combined weight of firearms, explosives, and ammunition exceeding 30 kilograms per person, they moved as lightly as if they were wearing just windbreakers.

“What about smoke grenades? Did you pack flash grenades?”

“Got them here.”

“Anyone have emergency guiding potions?”

“Got those too. Raided a ton from Senior Chae Seong-hwan’s locker.”

Hwang Guk-hyeon, attaching an adapter to his gun for rapid fire, dangled a zippered bag containing the drugs. He distributed them one by one to his colleagues, then handed some to Go Woo-jin, who was checking his weapons. Woo-jin gave a polite yet dry nod in return.

“…”

Hwang Guk-hyeon considered making a joke but decided against it. Go Woo-jin, dressed in pitch-black infiltration gear, looked literally like a human weapon. A combat machine devoid of all emotion, composed only of black and white. His expressionless face, handling an assault rifle with an oversized magazine far exceeding the standard 30 rounds and a modified submachine gun as if they were toys, was like a still life painting.

He must be feeling the weight of the situation. As the silence without urging became a heavier pressure, Hwang Guk-hyeon quickly returned to his position.

And so, around 1:15 AM.

Thus, at around 1:15 a.m., the shadows, fully prepared, sprinted like the wind through the building’s back door, taking advantage of the darkness.

Opposite the noisy press zone, the city of buildings no taller than five stories was enveloped in silence and darkness. The team members easily leaped over the boundary tape set up to prevent civilian access. They ran unhesitatingly into the pitch-black forest stretching 800 meters beyond the road.

The entrance was difficult to approach, with armed terrorists setting up barricades with trucks and sniping in between. They detoured to the side of the Center, along the high left wall. Ahn Suk-young was using her ability. Her power to manipulate light and darkness according to her attribute was effective for hiding in the night.

Ahn Suk-young, stepping on Go Woo-jin’s combat-gloved hand, was the first to climb the 4-meter high wall. When she gave the “all clear” hand signal, the others crossed the wall one or two at a time.

Without cooperation from military authorities, they had to create their own noise cover. Go Woo-jin skillfully adjusted wind speed to mask his colleagues’ presence with a momentary gust, then leaped over the wall last. He landed silently on the other side.

Inside the prison-like high walls, it was terribly quiet. Only the bright streetlights shone vividly between the concrete roads. It was a scene so peaceful it was hard to believe a shooting had occurred.

At least until they discovered bodies strewn on the ground as they moved towards the main entrance.

“…”

The team members swallowed rising curses as they maneuvered around the dark red puddles. Hwang Guk-hyeon, the sniper, concealed himself at the agreed point with his anti-materiel rifle, while the remaining six members melted back into the shadows between buildings. Just as they were about to reach their primary target building housing the control room.

“Team leader.”

Ahn Suk-young, the operator, called to Woo-jin with slight bewilderment.

Simultaneously, the darkness she had created to conceal their presence lifted.

The anomaly didn’t just affect Ahn Suk-young. It came upon all team members.

A brief but intense confusion weighed on them. The ever-present, air-like waves of energy that always surged around them had vanished without a trace.

Despite their experience in all sorts of extreme situations, they couldn’t help but be flustered. For the first time since awakening as high-level Espers, they felt a helplessness as if their limbs had been severed. Of course, they had encountered this in theory.

Energy nullification phenomena. The windless zone.

The same term flashed through everyone’s minds in that instant.

Go Woo-jin, who had been highly alert, caught a faint noise.

Ahn Suk-young noticed too, but a beat too late. sensed it too, but she was a beat too late. Positioned away from the group to cover them with her ability, she had exposed herself to the enemy sniper. Woo-jin immediately sprang forward, shielding Ahn Suk-young with his body.

Bang! The gunshot tore through the air.