SOG Ch 68

…!

At the moment of the gunfire, Bang! This would certainly have been the case if it weren’t for the wall of water that rose up as if waiting.

A waterfall in the air.

The bullet plunged into a meter-thick barrier of water. It lost its rotational power and fell helplessly into the water.

The trembling wall soon collapsed. A small wave hit inside the theater. The broad wave dispersed the bullets and soaked the floor, collapsed walls, and back space.

And beyond that, where the waves cannot reach was the outside.

It was a space littered with high-pressure water pumps connected to Serage River, fire hoses, yellow electrical cables, and around a dozen Espers, each with their extended hands. These were water-element Espers, including Chae Seong-hwan, an Esper from the E-SOF unit.

*

Two hours ago, at the temporary command center of Safari Valley.

An exaggerated caricature of the Safari Valley mascots had been etched onto a roll-up shade that was now displaying a floor plan of the Jungle Family Theater. The elderly gentleman at the head of the rearranged table, with the best view of the screen, spoke up.

“Our mission is to rescue the hostages.”

Brigadier General Kwak Yeon-jung, who was in charge of the emergency headquarters’ temporary command, muttered nonchalantly. Each of the dozen people seated at the glass table wore a different expression on their faces.

Soon after, the call recording submitted by Hong Ye-deok, team leader of Guide Team 2 at the Esper-Guide Central Management Headquarters, started playing.

– The criminals plan to detonate the wall at midnight tomorrow and then shoot the escaping hostages.

In fact, this recording was not the first time it had resonated through the conference room. It had been discussed a few hours ago when the first task force was established and then handed over to experts for verification. 

The circumstances were suspicious, but the information from the Guide turned out to be close to the truth.

After verifying factors such as the Guide’s reputation, recent phone calls, and email usage, no evidence was found linking the guide to the hostage-takers. With the use of lie detectors and sonar experts, the information provided by Guide Seon Jae-chan was ultimately accepted as factual.

– And so, speaking of which, Team Leader. I think we need a defensive Esper. Like my father. You will need a shield to block the bullets.

The exact reason why the criminals would deliberately detonate the wall was still unclear. Kwak Yeon-jung ran his fingers through his scruffy beard while listening to the discussion.

‘It means he doesn’t know if it will blow up or not.’

It wasn’t in his nature to drag out a hostage situation, especially when it was clear that the hostages were being used as a shield. Blowing up the wall roughly and pinning the blame on the criminals, then initiating a suppression operation. Even if the hostages died in the process, it would be an inevitable sacrifice. 

How perfect is this operation?

Also, President Gyeong Jeon-seok, who had been briefed on the situation, seemed to agree.

“Brigadier General. It’s the President.”

Just then, the adjutant brought a military phone. The Brigadier General straightened his stout frame, his normally laid-back demeanor becoming unusually stiff. President Gyeong Jeon-seok’s serious voice continued over the speaker.

‘Very well then.’

A smile crossed Brigadier General Kwak’s lips as he listened to the solemn orders. The Brigadier General humbly ended the call and gave final notice to the heads of each department who were waiting for him.

“First, let’s blow up the wall.”

The orders were just as anticipated. The criminals had the lives of Union citizens in their hands, and President Gyeong couldn’t just stand by and watch. Despite incurring some damage, they needed to end the standoff-like situation quickly. Create a significant change with a single explosion, pull the situation in their favor, and eliminate any variables. That was the right approach.

Moreover, according to the report from Guide Team 2, hadn’t the criminals provided an excuse first? It was a blessing in disguise.

“The operation begins at midnight. Let’s start by planting explosives first. There may be criminals out there, so we have to make sure that neither the mice nor the birds find out.”

To confuse the criminals, they needed to create a major change with a single explosion. They couldn’t give them time to prepare mentally.

Due to the sectional structure, blowing up the wall next to the screen would create a path directly into the theater. There was a possibility that the wall might be a central load-bearing wall for the theater’s structure, so the Brigadier General ordered the construction experts to consult on it.

“While the criminals are in disarray, the Mobile Strike Unit, E-SOF unit, and Esper Teams 1 and 2 will enter from the sides. Be especially cautious as there may be Esper abilities among them. Special forces members will remain in the rear to respond to unexpected situations.”

Jin Dae-ho, the E-SOF Team Leader who had been silently listening, carefully spoke up at that moment.

“Didn’t you say that the goal of the operation was to rescue the hostages? If we follow what you say, there is a possibility that the hostages will be in danger.”

“That’s right. The operation is to rescue the hostages.”

“…”

“It doesn’t have to be all hostages.”

The implication was that a small sacrifice for the greater good was warranted. The Brigadier General delivered this conclusion casually, but it was heavy in its own way.

The representatives of each department exchanged silent glances. Brigadier General Kwak maintained a calm demeanor in the atmosphere by virtue of his responsibility. It was then. The voice of Team 2’s Guide, which had previously been played, rang out once more.

– The criminals plan to shoot the hostages who are running away after blowing up the wall tomorrow at midnight.

“… Brigadier General. we need contingency plans for shooting.”

Esper Gong Yoon-jin, team leader of Esper Team 1, spoke up.

‘It seems they are quite naive.’

Kwak Yeon-jung looked at the gathered elites, including the team leader, with disapproval. Besides Jin Dae-ho, there were so many people worrying about the safety of the hostages. Such weak hesitation only made the terrorists more confident.

“Then, we will leave the safety of the hostages to the Aesop unit and Esper team. There is no need to call Major General Seon Min-yeol. He’s an Esper who retired as a military general. We have active-duty personnel who can perform in real combat. Why call a retired General for this?”

He was telling them to do their own thing and secure the hostages, and they had only two hours to do it.

Team leader Jin Dae-ho gritted his teeth because of the temporary superior’s words but managed to maintain a polite smile. He blamed himself for being so quick to react to an unreasonable order. He shouldn’t have added a word.

Frankly, he wasn’t entirely wrong in criticizing him either.

Disobeying orders only put him down in the opposite direction of promotion. Team Leader Jin quickly sought understanding and rose from his seat. 

He rushed out of the Safari Valley.

He headed to the site in front of the theater where the team members were waiting. He approached them with a completely changed expression.

“We’re planning to demolish part of the theater at midnight. The criminals will undoubtedly try to shoot the hostages. Think about how to protect the hostages.”

After delivering the unexpected orders and briefly explaining the background behind them, Team Leader Jin didn’t change the fact that the orders were one-sided and urgent. A protest eventually erupted from Chae Seong-hwan, the most senior member of the unit.

“How could you just bluntly tell us to demolish it? There are about a hundred hostages, and we only know there are seventeen criminals!”

“Be grateful that you know that much.”

Jin Dae-ho also felt uneasy but managed to wave it off with a dismissive hand.

The team leader hastily returned to the command center, and the E-SOF unit members were speechless in the noisy scene with various lights and weapons. Esper Chae Seong-hwan clicked his tongue.

“Even if the criminals don’t blow up the wall themselves, wouldn’t it be as if the higher-ups blew up the wall?”

Chae Seong-hwan, who was attempting to gain the approval of his hesitant comrades, suddenly discovered a uniquely different expression.

It was Go Woo-jin. From his calm eyes to his long, unmoving eyebrows, his face seemed no different from usual at first glance, but he couldn’t fool Chae Seong-hwan’s eyes.

“What’s the matter?”

“…”

He approached him quietly and asked, but Woo-jin did not respond. Chae Seong-hwan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he tried to read the truth.

“Don’t tell me… it’s because your Guide is being held hostage.”

“No.”

Go Woo-jin, who had been as unmoving as a stone, immediately returned his answer. The timing seemed to indicate that it was the right answer. Go Woo-jin realized it belatedly, but his observant senior had already furrowed his eyebrows in response.

“I don’t know if it will be any consolation, but anyway, it’ll be fine. Frankly, isn’t your Guide supposed to handle such situations properly?”

Chae Seong-hwan patted Go Woo-jin’s shoulder with his large palm. Surprisingly, Go Woo-jin felt a sense of relief in his words.

It was just as he said.

Seon Jae-chan never did anything that would put him in danger. He was a guy who took care of his own safety exceptionally well. Even if he was caught up in a sudden hostage situation, that disposition wouldn’t change.

Of course, he has to exclude the kidnapping of Team 5’s Guide last year and what happened in the basement of Mentosa Castle… In general, Seon Jae-chan was a person who put his own safety first.

‘… It’ll be okay.’

After regaining his composure, Go Woo-jin joined the meeting on the defense wall construction operation. He began discussing various cases with his colleagues. Measures to be taken if the hostages were in the audience seat, if the criminals were spread out among them, if the hostages were isolated in areas other than the theater, and so on. In the limited time he had, he did his best to devise a strategy. He did his best to devise a strategy in the limited time he had. They also cooperated with Esper Team 1 and 2 on-site and shared tactics.

This was the story of how the water-based Espers blocked the bullets fired at the hostages with a water barrier.