Boy Monster Chapter 100

A prompt response came back from the TF bunker. As expected, a substation was located within a 1km radius.

—The security rating of the substation in question is Grade ‘Da’. Cutting off the power grid is possible. However, because there is a risk of a blackout in the area, we must obtain permission from the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy….

“Then get it quickly, hurry!”

It was just when a clue to the solution was appearing. Hyeon Jaewoong pointed at the laptop monitor and shouted.

“Look here! A flying object has appeared on the high overpass!”

It was another enemy discovered on the highway CCTV around the back mountain. Above the high 8-lane overpass where cargo trucks and vehicles were passing, a person flying could be seen. There were two of them, including the psychic carried on the back.

“Two can be identified with the naked eye!”

“Helicopter, to the overpass!”

The helicopter carrying Jae Eunho’s team quickly turned its direction toward the overpass. Looking at the situation, it was clear they were targeting the overpass. Choi Jungkyung brought up an opinion.

“……If I were those perverts, I would send Poong Hwelju and Ji Hwelju…… tightly rolling psychokinesis and dimension manipulation together…… and plunge all the cars on the bridge down beneath the mountain.”

To the S.E.T.U agents, the biological experiment terrorist organization was already commonly referred to as ‘the perverts’.

Jae Eunho stopped all the drivers gathering onto the overpass and put them to sleep. Vehicles stopped in lines atop the high bridge. When the cars in the surrounding section finally all came to a halt, a severe congestion occurred, and the honking sounds from nearby roads were clamorous.

Having finished the urgent control for now, Eunho protested to the TF headquarters.

“What happened to cutting off the communication network! Why do the cyborgs keep moving?”

—We suspended the substation power supply entirely, but they continue to move. It seems they have established their own satellite communication network or applied hacking interference prevention!

“…A mere terrorist organization established a satellite communication network? They possess that kind of financial power and lobbying power?”

To think even cutting off communications is impossible…!

Jae Eunho stopped pondering for a moment and executed a wide-range resonance away from everyone’s knowledge. Four prayer beads floated around his wrist. The wavelength of his consciousness spread out widely, crossing Gyeonggi-do, the Korean Peninsula, China, Japan, and Russia.

If so, reverse it.

At this very hour, find those who are operating their own satellite communication network.

Jae Eunho, find them.

Hurry, quickly!

Three were sensed in nearby China and Japan. Among them, he set the one whose conscious activity was most active as the target.

A farm on the outskirts of Suzhou, a small-to-medium city in China.

Computers are lined up throughout the entire house. The satellite would be installed in a corner of the farm.

Is it them? Is this them, that terrorist organization?

He tried resonating with all the technicians inside the house, but they were mere underlings. This place is just a middle bridge playing the role of receiving and transferring signals. They did not have the authority to control the satellite operation.

If so, from where are they receiving the command signals?

He changed the question and searched the mind of the person-in-charge tasked with data reception. After searching thoroughly, he was able to extract a common word.

Nepal…?

Were they hiding in Nepal!

The signal coming from a deep mountain ridge in Nepal passes through the satellite installed in China and is delivered to the entire world. It was a satellite communication network moving on a separate power grid.

Since he found out the country where the bastards hid, it was a harvest if it could be called a harvest in its own right. However, he could not neutralize the attack signal. Because the consciousness of those who hid in Nepal and gave commands directly was not sensed. If they had prepared to this extent, they would have already firmly hung a shield over their stronghold with a technology far ahead of the theta wave defense system possessed by our military. It seemed difficult to track any further.

Jae Eunho stepped out from the vast network of consciousness. The light of the prayer beads gradually became faint. It seemed there was nothing more he could do using his resonance ability.

What on earth could be a method that can neutralize the cyborgs right now. Is there no choice but to shoot them down directly… But the hostages…!

“What should we do? Even if we mobilize S.E.T.U right now, it will take 20 minutes. Should I scramble out alone? Should I request more control release?”

“No, S.E.T.U must not scramble out.”

Jae Eunho, who cut off Choi Jungkyung’s words with a single stroke of a knife, directed a ground operation that could at least reduce casualties.

“We will bombard with the helicopter, so would it be possible to lure them to one side of the factory?”

—We will try!

Of all things, at such a frustrating timing, a phone call arrived from the secretary.

—They say it’s difficult to delay the press conference any further. Captain Jae Eunho, do you need more ability control release?

“Ah, shit seriously. Do the reporters cast stones or something just because the high-and-mighty state officials are 30 minutes late? They should be late sometimes so humaneness can form too.”

—Well… it’s troublesome. Not to mention everyone’s nerves are on edge because it’s election season, if an opposition party panelist even criticizes on the radio….

“Secretary. My nerves are the ones most on edge right now. If you’re not going to give help to the operation, don’t call anymore. I’m sorry, but it sounds like a dog barking.”

Damn it. No matter how much he racks his brain, there is no excellent plan that can save all the hostages. It was a situation where to protect the overpass he had to give up the factory, and to protect the factory he had to give up the overpass.

If they fire at the cyborgs of the overpass, the hostages of the factory die,

If they deal with the cyborgs of the factory, the drivers of the overpass die.

Because the cyborgs are mixed among the hostages, simultaneous firing is impossible.

Dammit. Blast it.

Is this a case of trying to remove a lump only to get another one? Did I make a mistake? Self-reproach rushed in.

At the same time his shoulders became heavy, his mind grew desolate.

No, if the spy hadn’t snitched Jae Eunho’s location alone, this kind of thing wouldn’t have happened! Eunho barely pushed away the guilt and clutched his head.

He must not grow exhausted. Think. Think. Use your brain.

Opposing my supernatural ability with machines? Then destroying the machines is the final answer. Is there no choice but to scramble S.E.T.U out and induce a high-voltage EMP (1)?

In the substation, which is a major national facility, emergency protective equipment and a high-voltage EMP pulse generator are kept on hand. But they shouldn’t let Hwelju, an important military strength, be taken by them during the operation…! Besides, even if they scramble out to the substation right this moment, it takes time. During that time, the bastards will go on killing the hostages one by one…!

Everyone was waiting for Jae Eunho’s judgment and direction.

An immense responsibility and self-reproach weighed down his body. It’s hard… Jae Eunho, who was repeating this inside, fondled his chin and glared his eyes wide. No, I am not tired. I must not be tired.

The heads of two workers were hung high on the glass of the factory 1st-floor office. A cyborg who came up from the underground facility room revealed himself. The psychic, whose height exceeded 2m, was reminiscent of Frankenstein.

Just how many people are there? Where were they hiding before coming out again. Jae Eunho’s eyes swirled quickly hither and thither.

The enemy stripped off the gas mask of a hostage. Amidst the faint smoke, the hostages desperately held their breath.

“Captain. Am I not capable of permeation. Please send me to the factory. I beg of you!”

Hyeon Jaewoong volunteered courage and sacrifice. Toward the fellow who knelt on the helicopter floor saying he would help Eunho, Eunho shook his head.

“No. I can’t lose you. It’s not because you are a 1st Dan Hwelju, but privately as well.”

Hyeon Jaewoong chewed over Jae Eunho’s words amidst the shock. Seeing Hyeon Jaewoong, who barely concealed his fluttering heart as it was an urgent situation, Choi Jungkyung thought, ‘He’s in a state where he’d offer up both his liver and gallbladder.’

The cyborg inside the factory raised his arm. It seemed the fellow possessed Poong Hwelju’s ability. The bodies of the two hostages hung on the door began to contract greatly.

“No. No…!”

If he directs shooting at them, the remaining hostages and the vehicle passengers on the overpass die.

What to do. Jae Eunho, judge. A sacrifice is inevitable anyway. Decide.

A heavy self-reproach and solitude pierced his lungs. Evil has no end. In this place where I have become alone, until when can I fight?

I called one person, fluttering my wings like a butterfly wandering through the eternal void and dreams. The result of calling just one person over long years is this state.

No, I am not alone. I am not exhausted. I can do it, I can do it alone….

“……Give up the overpass. The factory has 60 people. Commit everyone simultaneously to shoot them dead and rescue the hostages as much as possible.”

It was just when Jae Eunho, having finished speaking, was quivering his chin with a painful face.

Thud.

Thud.

Thu-dudum….

Up on the high mountain, the on-duty staff member at the substation raised his head at a deep roar echoing above his head.

Because the entire substation was in a state where power supply was cut off, both inside and outside were in darkness. A heavy vibration echoing through that darkness was felt.

‘……?’

Regular impacts were delivered to the ceiling, thud, thud. Every time that happened, the desks, chairs, and fixtures shook greatly. The staff member left the office holding a flashlight. The staff member, who was looking hither and thither at the back mountain amidst the thick darkness, fell over backwards in surprise at the form that filled his vision.

“Th-that… what is th….”

At first, he mistook it as the mountain moving. The mountain ridge that was thudding and stomping down on the roof of the substation office building took its steps without hesitation. The staff member hit his buttocks on the ground again amidst dread.

The massive legs of darkness that were thudding and stomping on the building roof and the ground had changed into a human’s two feet before one knew it. A shadow wearing black combat boots leaped lightly down from the roof.

The shadow headed toward the restricted area. It was the restricted area where the EMP generator, pulse generating equipment, emergency rifles, and bombers were located.

The staff member managed to stand up. Sprinting to catch the shadow, he ended up stopping dead outside the building.

“Shit!! Ugh! What is that!!!”

Four corpses were hung atop the towering substation tower.

• An attack device that neutralizes electronic equipment with a high-intensity electromagnetic pulse.