Chapter 22
1.
When Kim Seojun boarded the Battle Tank, he felt a certain confidence.
*'There's no reason I can't take down an Infected Psycher with no Mobility.'*
It wasn't a vague confidence. Kim Seojun wasn't a Tank Crewman, but he had handled Battle Tanks enough to proudly say he'd taken down more Mogs with them than most Veteran Tank Crewmen. He didn't have a license, but he could operate a Battle Tank to some extent. In any case, Kim Seojun was confident in his Aiming. He also believed that with his Dynamic Visual Acuity, he could achieve even better results than before.
*'It might take some time, though.'*
However, he still prepared for a somewhat prolonged battle. A prolonged battle that would require using all the shells in the Battle Tank and then needing Shell Resupply.
*'I have to make it work somehow. If we lose Poland Headquarters here, honestly, there's no way out.'*
It wasn't an easy task, but in other words, he didn't have many cards left to play, making it the only choice. Of course, all these worries ended the moment he sat in the gunner's seat, the moment he saw the Red Light. His worries were rendered meaningless. Taking down an Infected Psycher in a Block Suit with no Mobility, while riding a Battle Tank with Perfect Accuracy, wasn't something that required much thought. Furthermore, there was no need to approach at close range for accuracy. From a long distance.
“Stop.”
“Huh? Did I hear that wrong? You said stop, did I hear that right?”
“You heard right.”
“Stop here? I can't even see anything!”
“I can see it.”
So, from a distance so far that even Private First Class Park Boseop, who was driving the Battle Tank, was dumbfounded—a distance slightly beyond the Effective Range of Shell for the Battle Tank—Kim Seojun immediately operated the Controller.
“Very well.”
Then he pressed the button.
BOOM!
The moment he pressed it, the inside of the Battle Tank was filled with a fierce cannon roar. An indescribable tremor in the air could also be felt. Normally, a long silence would follow. In the case of a Battle Tank that had just Fired, it took quite a long time to Aim again. The reason was simply its low accuracy. Often, the first shot was just to gauge the Aiming, and true skill was determined by whether one hit with the second shot or not.
*'Now Staff Sergeant Kim will aim.'*
Private First Class Park Boseop also thought Kim Seojun would naturally do so.
BOOM!
*'Huh?'*
However, Kim Seojun defied that common sense and immediately Fired another shell.
BOOM!
*'Oh!'*
The third cannon roar was the same. It wasn't just Aiming. He pulled the trigger the moment the shell was Reloaded; in other words, it was closer to Indiscriminate Spray Fire.
BOOM!
He even Fired a fourth shell immediately.
BEEP!
At that moment, a warning light flashed inside the Battle Tank. It was a warning that the gun barrel was overheating due to the excessively rapid Shell Firing, advising a cooldown.
“S-Staff Sergeant Kim!”
Only then did silence finally settle, and in that quiet, Private First Class Park Boseop spoke to Kim Seojun in a trembling voice.
“W-What just happened?”
He asked the question, but Private First Class Park Boseop naturally just thought Kim Seojun had engaged in an absurd Spray Fire. So he thought this was an accident, and that Kim Seojun would declare Battle Failure and issue a different command.
“Private First Class Park Boseop, the situation has changed.”
Kim Seojun said to Private First Class Park Boseop.
“The battle with the Infected has Ended.”
“Huh?”
Kim Seojun said to the surprised Private First Class Park Boseop.
“Just as I said. I got the Infected Psycher.”
Even as he spoke, Kim Seojun didn't say 'killed'. Because the Infected had incredibly tenacious vitality. Nevertheless, he declared Battle Ended because he was certain that even if it were still alive, it would be in a state where further combat was impossible. And there was no chance an Infected Psycher with a couple of limbs blown off or only its upper body remaining could win against a perfectly fine Major Lee Hyena.
It was then.
An alert sounded in Kim Seojun's ear.
[Battle Ended.]
[All points are tripled due to Mission Triggered.]
[Featherweight Mog Lifeform defeated. 3,000 points awarded.]
[First Featherweight Mog Lifeform defeated. Gold Ticket awarded.]
[Mission Conditions met. Platinum Ticket awarded.]
The moment he heard that, Kim Seojun spoke without hesitation.
“I've dealt with the Infected Psycher.”
He informed Major Lee Hyena, who was at a distance, and all his comrades that he had dealt with the monster.
“So, prepare yourselves.”
And then he said.
“For the next battle.”
Having finished speaking, Kim Seojun raised his head. It went without saying, but Kim Seojun also didn't miss the bizarre vibrating sound emitted by the Cyclops. Far from missing it, Kim Seojun heard the sound better than anyone else. It wasn't that he had particularly good hearing, but Kim Seojun didn't easily miss anything that threatened his life. In any case, Kim Seojun knew.
That a terrifying Mog Legion might soon arrive here.
*'Bring it on.'*
And Kim Seojun was more than willing to face that Legion. He was brimming with confidence.
*'As long as I have the Battle Tank, I have no intention of losing. No, rather, this is an opportunity. An opportunity to rack up points.'*
It was then.
It sounded in Kim Seojun's ear once again.
KIIIIIIIIII!
The Cyclops made the sound one more time.
“That *fucking bastard*, seriously! Enough is enough!”
Private First Class Park Boseop, hearing that sound, involuntarily cursed. Just when he thought he could finally catch his breath, the Cyclops let out another shriek.
Meaning hell was coming!
“Private First Class Park Boseop.”
“Yes, Staff Sergeant Kim! I'm ready! I'll see this through to the end today!”
To Private First Class Park Boseop, who was steeling his resolve, Kim Seojun said.
“Maintain Alert Status. However, it's highly likely that no Additional Forces from the Mogs will arrive.”
“Huh? How do you know that?”
To that question, Kim Seojun replied.
“It's a feeling. Just a feeling.”
And Kim Seojun's words soon became reality. The moment it let out that sound, the Cyclops began to move, and even after an hour, there was no sign of the Mogs. It was the moment the battle ended.
2.
There was no Additional Attack from the Mog Legion. The moment he realized that, Kim Seojun immediately moved.
“Clear.”
He proceeded to deal with the remaining Infected within Poland Headquarters.
“First, we need to deal with the Mog Virus. Activate the Sterilization System.”
After that, measures were taken to disinfect the Mog Virus. After all areas within Poland Headquarters sequentially entered Closure Measure, powerful Sterilization Disinfectant began to be sprayed everywhere.
WHOOSH!
Simultaneously, the Survivors, clad in suits, began disinfecting the bodies of the Infected with Sterilization Extinguishers. In Major Lee Hyena's case, she immediately underwent Quarantine Measure to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.
“Major, I know this is difficult in many ways, but please understand.”
“I understand completely.”
Major Lee Hyena, who had entered the sterilizing solution immediately after battle while still in her Agent Suit, showed no trace of complaint. Meanwhile, Kim Seojun assessed the situation.
“There are 57 Survivors. Who is the Highest Authority now?”
“I am.”
Major Jan Zabłocki, he had become the Interim Commander of Poland Headquarters.
“My condolences.”
“Thank you for your condolences. And thank you for saving Poland Headquarters.”
From Major Jan Zabłocki's perspective, it was truly the worst possible situation. Because it meant all his superiors, except for him, had died. At the same time, it meant the lives of all the remaining Survivors rested on Major Jan Zabłocki's shoulders. It was enough to make one dizzy just thinking about it.
“Tell me anything. As Interim Commander, I promise you Full Support.”
Separately, from Kim Seojun's perspective, it was a situation where he could do anything he wanted. Kim Seojun readily took advantage of the situation.
“Please prepare for battle.”
“Battle?”
“Yes.”
Kim Seojun said.
“A massive Mog Legion will be coming here soon.”
Everyone was surprised by his words.
“What are you talking about? Didn't the Mogs retreat? We confirmed the Cyclops retreated!”
Everyone had thought the battle was over and was breathing a sigh of relief. But Kim Seojun knew.
“The Mogs I know don't have 'retreat' as an option. If they did retreat, it's closer to a tactical withdrawal to gather more Legions.”
What kind of creatures Mogs were. That it wouldn't end here.
“Of course, this isn't a typical situation. It's not a certainty. It's merely a prediction based on my experience. However, in the current circumstances, we must prepare for any sign of trouble.”
Even if Kim Seojun were wrong, they had to prepare with all their might for any unforeseen situation. Major Jan Zabłocki nodded at his words. If following his words meant a lot of hardship, it was something they should welcome.
“We will prepare.”
“And one more thing.”
The moment he heard that reply, Kim Seojun added one more request.
“I'd like to examine the bodies of the Infected Space Marines.”
3.
Major Lee Hyena emerged from the sterilizing solution, and waiting for her was Kim Seojun. He brought Major Lee Hyena to the Morgue.
“Major.”
And then he said.
“This head wound, did you make it, Major?”
“Yes.”
Major Lee Hyena immediately nodded at the question.
“Is there a problem?”
To her follow-up question, Kim Seojun replied.
“There's only this one wound.”
“Because I finished it in one blow.”
Major Lee Hyena showed confidence in her words, and to her, Kim Seojun said.
“Isn't that strange?”
“Strange?”
“Usually, when Infected get infected while wearing suits, it's when they've been attacked. But these Infected don't have any significant wounds while still in their suits.”
At his words, the expressions of everyone present, including Major Lee Hyena, changed. They harbored doubts, then their faces hardened. Because they immediately caught on.
“Staff Sergeant Kim, don't tell me...?”
“It's one of two things. Either the Infected Space Marines put on their Battle Suits themselves. Or they were infected with the Mog Virus while already wearing their Battle Suits.”
It goes without saying that the Infected, those beings filled with rage, wouldn't have all meticulously put on their Battle Suits, saying, 'Now we must kill everyone, so let's all put on our Battle Suits! The order of donning them is as follows!' Ultimately, it meant someone had spread the Mog Virus, meaning they had used that absurd disease as a Biochemical Weapon. This was an enormous issue.
“Isn't the weaponization of the Mog Virus prohibited?”
Ever since the Mog Virus caused problems, all Nations on Earth had designated the weaponization of the Mog Virus as a very serious crime. If weaponization became known, it would face strong condemnation from the International Community.
“They regulated it, yes. Like the nuclear bombs that appeared a long, long time ago.”
Of course, everyone, including Kim Seojun, knew that such regulations were meaningless. It was no exaggeration to say that weaponization had already reached its completion stage. It wasn't difficult at all. There was no need to modify the Mog Virus; it could simply be used like existing Biochemical Weapons. Especially here, Kim Seojun knew.
“The suspicious party is China.”
There aren't many Nations capable of such an act, and currently, there's only one Nation that's highly suspicious. Here, Kim Seojun envisioned one more Scenario.
*'A place where a Queen appeared after the Gate was destroyed—perfect for testing a Mog Virus Weapon.'*
If the experiment was conducted on Planet Amotia. Of course, this was just a Scenario, so he didn't voice it aloud.
“We must be careful.”
However, what was clear was that Mogs were not the only Risk Factor on Planet Amotia right now, and everyone present kept their mouths shut at that fact. Of course, everyone was thinking the same thing.
*'It feels like China.'*
*'It's probably China.'*
*'It must be China.'*
That there was only one Nation capable of weaponizing the Mog Virus and experimenting with it. It wasn't a baseless suspicion; the root cause of the Mog Virus spreading in the first place was China's Secret Research of a Queen's corpse, disregarding International Regulations. Even after that, China had been criticized by the International Community dozens of times for Secret Experiments related to Mogs. Of course, even if China was responsible, there was no possibility of confirming it at this point.
*'Going into Chinese Headquarters is a Crazy Act.'*
Because Chinese Headquarters was the most powerful faction on Planet Amotia.
*'Even if I got into that heavily monitored place, there's nothing I could do.'*
Kim Seojun thought the same. He knew China was suspicious, but he had no intention of doing anything about it. So Kim Seojun didn't dwell on that part.
*'There's no reason to obsess over what I can't do. Figuring out the immediate problem is the priority.'*
More than anything, what Kim Seojun had to face immediately was the assault of the Mog Legion heading towards Poland Headquarters.
*'I have to stop them no matter what. If we lose the Headquarters, it's over. Aside from everything else, this many Survivors can't even feed themselves with supplies from the Bunker.'*
To stop that, Kim Seojun intended to use every means and method at his disposal. So he immediately used the achievements he had gained this time, specifically the most certain one.
“Use Platinum Ticket.”
As he used it, Kim Seojun thought. That whatever came out would be a great help. So he decided to be satisfied with whatever appeared. An alert sounded for Kim Seojun.
[Stealth (F) Skill appeared from Platinum Ticket.]