Chapter 43

“Well, good. Then, is the information sharing going well?”

The Heavenly King’s attack teams were intentionally restricting information. It was probably to hide the fact that they were pseudo-human attack teams.

“I only received the basics.”

“…Hmm.”

Mason looked over the data.

There were reports on the distribution of nearby monsters and sporadic engagements with Darkwing.

Mason immediately realized why Forest Guard had failed.

“…A monster that won’t fight.”

Normal monsters didn’t tolerate players encroaching on their territory. Even flying monsters were the same.

The reason flying monsters were considered more dangerous than their actual level was because of the offensive initiative; the enemy could decide when, where, and how to attack.

But any monster would eventually attack.

Even if it meant carefully choosing a favorable battlefield or timing, they would eventually strike.

Whether it was hatred for the human species or hostility towards those who invaded their territory, they would attack when a raid team encroached.

This was the first time he’d encountered a raid boss like Darkwing that wouldn’t attack.

And… honestly, there was no countermeasure if it didn’t attack.

“Just in case, I have to ask, do we have enough firepower to intercept a flying monster?”

“It’s difficult…”

“Then, is there any way to s*oot it down or lure it?”

“No…”

Forest Guard probably passed it on because they had no answers either.

“What’s the next step if we fail too?”

“I think they’ll send a fighter squadron.”

“That’s not good…”

A single fighter jet cost hundreds of billions of won. Not only were they more expensive than players, but they were also inefficient against flying monsters equipped with barriers and defenses.

Even a single scratch could potentially down a fighter jet, while there was no guarantee that a monster could be killed with one or two autocannon rounds or missiles.

Considering the short combat duration due to fuel limitations, sending fighter jets to deal with monsters meant they were prepared to lose the entire squadron.

Hundreds of billions of won, with no guarantee of success.

On top of that, they had to be prepared to lose many veteran pilots, a loss that couldn’t be measured in monetary value.

They would want to finish this at the player level, no matter what.

“So, are you working on a strategy now?”

“Yes.”

“How’s the progress…?”

Masika shook her head.

Mason stood up.

“Okay.”

“Where are you going?”

“You said we wouldn’t find an answer talking amongst ourselves. Then I have to talk to someone else.”

Mason looked at Andrei.

“To someone who has more information than us.”

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“I can assure you.”

Yekaterina smiled bitterly.

“Mason, you’re the only one who thinks of me so comfortably.”

“Don’t you like it?”

“No, it’s the opposite. It’s just that it’s a bit difficult because I like it too much.”

Yekaterina gave a gentle smile.

“What you need… is data on Darkwing, right?”

“Yes.”

“Why do you think we would give you information that we didn’t give to Revengers, Mason?”

“Because I know why you didn’t give it to them.”

The reason the Heavenly King’s attack teams were controlling information wasn’t to monopolize monster information. It was the opposite. It was to prevent information about pseudo-human players from leaking out.

Conversely, there was no reason to hide information from Mason, who already knew about pseudo-humans.

“You dumped this troublesome homework on me, so wouldn’t it be okay to at least offer some advice?”

“That’s a fair point.”

Yekaterina chuckled and opened a drawer.

Inside was a pre-organized expedition data file.

“Read it with your eyes only. And as for the information that needs to be kept secret…”

“I’ll keep my mouth shut. Like a gentleman.”

Mason looked over the data.

Yekaterina brewed coffee and brought it over.

“Thanks.”

The coffee tasted sour.

It was cheap instant coffee, unfitting for the luxurious porcelain teacup.

Mason didn’t have a particularly expensive palate, but…

‘It doesn’t suit…’

As Mason made a puzzled expression at the subtle imbalance, Yekaterina chuckled.

“Why? This is my favorite coffee.”

“It doesn’t suit.”

“The cup? Or the person?”

“Both.”

Mason sipped his coffee and continued looking over the data.

The uncensored expedition data wasn’t much different in content.

It was data stating that Darkwing had avoided engagement and that Forest Guard had eventually returned empty-handed.

“Hmm…”

What was helpful were the details; the regional reconnaissance data and the monster distribution map.

“Can I take this?”

Yekaterina carefully examined the data and nodded.

It was safe data that contained no player information whatsoever.

“You can have this.”

“Thanks.”

Mason looked at Yekaterina.

“By the way, why do you think Darkwing is acting like this?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Just a guess would be fine.”

“I only received it as data as well. Wouldn’t it be difficult to come up with different opinions when the amount of information is similar?”

“I guess…”

It seemed he’d have to confront it directly.

“Anyway, thanks. It was helpful.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Mason looked at Yekaterina.

As a man and a woman, they had been physically intimate, and as people, they had opened their hearts to each other.

However, that fact did not detract from her grace and elegance.

There was something within her that transcended the beauty of silk. Just like Seo Yeonhee, who stood at the opposite end of Yekaterina…

“Mason.”

“Huh? Yes? Why?”

Mason was startled, like a boy caught doing something wrong.

“I have a personal question.”

“What is it?”

“Can you, Mason, impregnate a woman?”

“…”

Mason felt his words catch in his throat. He only opened his mouth after a long while.

“…What do you mean?”

“I mean it literally.”

Yekaterina said, looking at Mason.

“You’re an augmented human, Mason. I’m curious if your reproductive functions are working properly.”

“If you’re worried about being pregnant, you don’t have to worry. I can guarantee that I have contraceptive abilities.”

“No, I mean it literally, as I said.”

Mason thought for a moment before speaking.

“I guess it would work if I wanted to? The Barbarian System is a modification that aims to maintain the human prototype as much as possible.”

“Then, could you impregnate a woman of a different species?”

“Hmm…”

Mason thought for a moment before speaking.

“Theoretically, it’s possible. But I don’t really know.”

“Theoretically, it’s possible?”

“Since the Barbarian System includes adaptive abilities, I guess it would be possible if I changed my constitution to be similar to the other party. The problem is, I can’t be sure if I could become similar enough to enable pregnancy.”

“I see.”

“But why are you asking about pregnancy?”

Mason asked with an uneasy expression.

“…You don’t want to have my baby, do you?”

“No, I just asked because I wanted to confirm.”

She said in a calm voice.

“But personally, I think you should think more about that.”

“…It’s not a topic I want to think about much as a man.”

“You might need it someday, right?”

Mason gave a wry smile and said.

“I’ll consult with a urologist later.”

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The data Mason brought was only half the picture.

But it was enough to change the atmosphere of the meeting.

“If need be, we can hunt the monsters in the area and use them to fill in the security gaps.”

It was a slightly different direction than Mason had expected, but…

Anyway, the attack team’s operational policy was decided.

It was a compromise; that it would be good to catch Darkwing, but if they couldn’t, it couldn’t be helped.

“Then I’ll try to take on some minor salvage quests.”

What Masika was talking about was recovering abandoned valuables or relics. It was the act of recovering expensive items left behind by those who had unintentionally departed and receiving compensation for it.

Or… taking advantage of abandoned items and making a fortune.

Mason said with a troubled expression.

“Didn’t they say the Air Force would go on a suicide mission if we couldn’t catch it?”

“Yes, but there’s nothing we can do about it, is there?”

“…”

It was an irresponsible attitude. But Mason suppressed the urge to retort.

To them, fighting was a job and a business.

And wasn’t it not their fault that Darkwing wasn’t coming down?

“…Well, let’s try to catch Darkwing if possible.”

“Yes.”

Once the policy was decided, the expedition preparations began at lightning speed. The camp vehicles leased from the government began to be loaded with supplies calculated according to a predetermined schedule, and repairs and fine-tuning of core equipment were carried out.

Masika and Seo Yeonhee received salvage quests from outside, and the desk team set the movement routes, base construction points, and so on based on the data received from the Heavenly King.

They were busy days with no time to breathe.

“…What should I do?”

Leaving Mason with nothing to do.

“Please take care of the Barbarigen reserves.”

“You’re telling me to go eat and not get in the way, right?”

“Yes.”

“…”

Mason worked on increasing the Barbarigen reserves.

Thus, the short preparation period flew by.

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The terminal was crowded with people.

“Hey, big guy. Wanna make a bet? On today’s Player News headline?”

“It’s obvious.”

As Deroa teased him with a sly grin, Mason grumbled.

Mason grumbled.

“Something about the superhuman and Darkwing, I bet.”

It was a journey they were embarking on with the expectation of being half-successful. The attention from reporters, which had always been burdensome, was even more so today.

“Still, I’m glad you’re here.”

Deroa patted Mason on the back and said.

“You’re the one who’ll get scolded if we don’t catch it.”

“…”

Mason sighed.

As he got into the camp vehicle, the attack team’s procession began to move.

The entry route was Seocho District, a course that went straight from south to north. They decided to use Dongjak B*idge to reach their final destination, Yongsan.

As they approached Dongjak B*idge, Seo Yeonhee in the lead vehicle slowed down.