Ubermensch – Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Korean-style raids rarely utilized modern weaponry.

It wasn’t because modern weaponry was weak. It was simply inefficient.

The most efficient attack against a core barrier was core energy. Explosive energy, which could be considered the majority of modern weaponry, had its power halved.

It was inefficient to hunt monsters with modern weaponry.

But conversely… if you ignored the issue of efficiency, or rather, the economic issue, modern weaponry could still reign as the master of the battlefield.

“…The player army too.”

Especially, the players themselves were very different from Korea’s.

Korean players were Kill Teams. They were often operated as an extension of special forces deployed in assassination operations.

That was why raid teams were operated in groups of 40.

However, China’s players were an army.

In Chinese-style raids, they mobilized hundreds of players for each military branch and pushed forward with human wave tactics.

They seized air superiority, added sufficient fire support, and finished it off with a large-scale player force armed with cutting-edge equipment.

Was there a better fight than quickly winning with overwhelming power and no casualties?

“Korea is undoubtedly the leading nation in the Super Soldier System. However… it’s always money and numbers that bring technology to practical use.”

“Money, money…”

The Wyvern’s core and other byproducts would be worth about 100 billion won. At most, 150 billion, at least 70 to 80 billion won, probably around that much.

But even Mason, who was bad with money calculations, could tell.

How much would the cost of the modern weaponry deployed in this battle be?

Perhaps the profits from the Wyvern wouldn’t even cover the cost of the missiles.

“Do they not care if they don’t make money?”

“Would money be an issue when monsters are encroaching upon the land and harming the people?”

Mason was momentarily speechless.

He had become so accustomed to Korea’s player economy, which made money from monster corpses, that he had forgotten, but they were invaders, and it was meaningful in itself to drive them out of their own territory.

“Of course, we don’t gather this much firepower when dealing with all monsters. Basically, the Super Soldiers under each war zone are in charge. When it becomes difficult for the war zone’s forces alone, they call our Sweep Brigade.”

“I see…”

Regular monsters and low- to mid-level raid bosses are dealt with by the local garrison and military-affiliated players, and they only deploy when facing strong and tricky raid bosses like the Wyvern.

That was the Sweep Brigade’s way.

“All members of the People’s Army fight to protect the people, and the Sweep Brigade fights the strongest and most threatening enemies among them.”

“I see.”

Behind Chong Daolong’s broad shoulders, people were moving busily. Disassembly experts were dismantling the Wyvern, and the operators of each heavy equipment were busily moving, releasing their combat readiness.

Chong Daolong wasn’t even glancing at them.

He didn’t need to be interested in anything other than fighting, let alone wondering how much the corpse of a dead monster would sell for…

‘…’

A man like the sun.

If Sebastian was the sun that warmed people, Chong Daolong’s uprightness was the brightness of the clear blue sky.

Loyalty!

The uprightness born from the pride of fighting for one’s country was surely one of the rarest and most noble ways of life a man could have.

What Mason felt was envy, or perhaps shame.

‘Since when did I start calculating how much a monster is worth when I face it?’

Mason made a bitter expression.

Chong Daolong, whether he knew Mason’s heart or not, spoke in a calm tone.

“Korea is a country that has lost its army. Naturally, they would rely heavily on Super Soldiers. But…”

“But?”

“I saw righteous indignation in Raid Leader Mason’s fight. An indignation too large to be contained in the vessel that is Korea, and therefore, will never be filled.”

“…I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“I spoke too difficultly.”

Chong Daolong, with a wry smile, spoke calmly.

“Don’t you want to fight stronger enemies?”

“I…”

What should he say? Mason unconsciously opened his mouth, but the answer didn’t come right away.

However, Chong Daolong looked straight at Mason and said,

“Don’t you want to fight stronger enemies for more people?”

Thump.

Mason felt his heart pound.

“I’ll give it to you. I’ll bring the enemies of the people before Raid Leader Mason. You will have equipment, comrades, honor, and authority. I will give you all of that, along with the undeserved reputation of being the strongest in China, which I find difficult to bear.”

Chong Daolong extended his hand towards Mason.

“Come, Superhuman of the future. To the side of the boundless people you can protect.”

๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑

Mason didn’t particularly like the act of bowing with fists clasped.

He knew. The principle of a handshake and clasping fists was the same.

There are no weapons in my hands.

Therefore, I have no intention of harming you.

Although the form and system were different, handshakes and clasping fists were gestures of goodwill.

But to Mason, clasping fists was a closed gesture. The gesture of holding one’s own hands guaranteed safety but not affection.

And now, Chong Daolong was offering Mason a handshake.

Not a fist clasp, which was his own way, but a handshake, which was Mason’s way.

At that moment, Mason felt the clear blue sky radiance from Chong Daolong. The unwavering spirit unique to those who have firmly established their way of life. Yet, the flexibility to bend even that spirit.

That was something only… someone who had no doubt about the firmness of their spirit could possess.

Mason hesitated.

“I…”

Chong Daolong looked at Mason.

The way he was being crushed by his proposal.

Chong Daolong withdrew his hand.

“It’s a decision that could change the direction of your life, so it would be rude to rush you. Think about it carefully and contact me.”

When Chong Daolong gestured to Hong Long, she held out a business card.

It was Hong Long’s business card.

Chong Daolong spoke calmly.

“Please take care of Raid Leader Mason.”

The mages approached Mason.

๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑

When they returned via teleport, it was Seo Yeonhee who greeted Mason.

“Mason.”

She had probably been contacted by the Chinese side.

“Oh my, your equipment has become quite fancy?”

She spoke with a smile, but her face began to harden. Heavily, like Mason’s face.

She probably hadn’t been informed of Mason’s state.

“…Did something happen?”

“I received a scout offer.”

Seo Yeonhee’s face turned pale.

Even she, who was in charge of the connection with the Chinese side, seemed to have not anticipated this situation.

“…What are the conditions?”

“They said they would provide more support so I could fight stronger enemies for more people.”

Mason spoke in a heavy voice.

“They said they would even give me the position of China’s champion if I wanted it.”

“…!”

Seo Yeonhee was momentarily speechless.

Mason was indifferent to wealth and considered even fame insignificant.

To him, who only thought of humanity and monsters, could there be a more attractive offer than this?

There wasn’t.

Seo Yeonhee had no way to dissuade Mason, and that was why she was speechless.

No, rather…

“…Did you refuse?”

“I said I’d think about it and came back.”

“Why?”

It was strange that he didn’t accept the offer on the spot.

Just as the offer to absorb Under Dark Legion was a tailor-made offer for Mason, becoming China’s champion was no different from a custom-made offer for him.

If he could lead an army and thousands of players, how many monsters could he eliminate?

‘What part of that offer made Mason hesitate?’

Putting aside her complicated thoughts, Seo Yeonhee smiled.

“You must be tired. Why don’t you get some rest first?”

“Yeah…”

Mason collapsed onto the sofa in the break room.

He was tired. It was mental fatigue, not physical.

The battles he had to fight from now on were waiting for him.

“…”

And for Seo Yeonhee too.

๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑๑ஓ๑

Seo Yeonhee thought.

‘Think.’

Thinking. It was the only weapon she had.

‘What part of that perfect offer has a flaw?’

The Mason she knew should have accepted that offer right away.

But Mason was agonizing even with the offer in front of him.

Then…

‘It’s because he’s changed.’

The current Mason had different thoughts than the ‘initial Mason’. Something other than humanitarianism was growing inside him.

‘What is it?’

The problem was, what was it?

‘What changed Mason, and what kind of person has the changed Mason become?’

Seo Yeonhee smiled bitterly.

It was the first time since Yekaterina that she had thought so deeply about a person. Only to the target of revenge and the tool of revenge.

She had never even thought this deeply about Sebastian, who was her lover.

She had simply loved him without doubt and leaned on him without wavering…

‘…No, I can’t.’

Seo Yeonhee collected her complicated feelings.

‘Now is not the time to think about Sebas.’

There was no time.

She had to understand Mason’s heart before it changed.

“…”

It wasn’t easy.

First, Seo Yeonhee examined the raid data released by China. It was the typical Sweep Brigade method of actively supporting with modern military power and pouring in a large number of players at once.

Mason, accustomed to Korea’s Kill Team style raids, would have felt a culture shock.

‘It’s a sufficiently attractive method for Mason.’

The Sweep Brigade that poured money into fighting monsters, and the Revengers that made money by dismantling monsters. Considering that Mason wasn’t very interested in money, the Sweep Brigade’s method, with its extremely low risk, would be attractive.

Then, she had to think the opposite way.

‘What part of the Sweep Brigade would Mason consider a disadvantage?’

She had to somehow highlight the disadvantages of the Sweep Brigade.

She had to find the differences between the Revengers and the Sweep Brigade and make them appear as disadvantages.

The Revengers, a special forces unit of players. The Sweep Brigade, an army of players.

Seo Yeonhee fell into thought.

What was the difference between an army and special forces?

The quality of troops? Fire support? Tactical differences?

The biggest difference was, of course…

‘Numbers.’

Seo Yeonhee came to a conclusion.

‘I have to use the large number of troops as a disadvantage.’

Having a large number of troops increases overall power. But…

‘The importance of each individual decreases.’

Mason in Korea, Mason in the raid team, was the majority of the power. Mason broke the Horned Gorgon’s waist, caught the Darkwing alone, and had to engage in a fierce one-on-one duel with the Centaur Warlord Scar.

But in this fight in China, all Mason did was break one of the Wyvern’s wings.