Chapter 442:
Chapter 442:
“Wow…”
Looking at the landscape below her from the mountainside, she murmured in admiration to the man beside her.
“…You really did it in a spectacular way.”
“Haha…”
Stretching out below them was a mountain range that looked like it had been bombarded by missiles.
Among those pitted mountains, only the remains of a half-ruined building proved that there had once been a research center somewhere here.
This is where the branch of the HanEun Group that kidnapped Seo-Eun last night was located.
…and where I went on a rampage to get her back.
And the result was a shattered mountain where they were hiding.
In the meantime, the association's employees were poking around.“…I'm actually surprised this time, Mr. Da-in, I didn't realize your power was this strong.”
As she looked down from above, Lee Seola muttered in surprise.
“…I've never used this much power either, so I didn't realize.”
After seeing Seo-eun kidnapped, I lost my mind for a moment and couldn't help but feel like I had gone too far.
I had teleported all over the mountain range from where I lost track of her, and I had found this hidden lab.
I simply replied, and teleported Seola to the vicinity of the half-destroyed lab.
I approached the Association's team leader, who was diligently conducting field research among the branches of the HanEun Group, and asked him a question.
“How are you doing, have you found anything?”
“Ah, Egostic, Lee Seola. We're in the right place, look at this.”
The Association team leader led us to the only remaining intact building and began to explain.
“First of all, of course, most of the information was encrypted, and even then, they must have deleted it immediately when you stormed the place.”
“And what about the prisoners they took?”
“…They're keeping their mouths shut. When we try to feed them confession drugs, they use their powers to kill themselves.”
“Huh.”
I sighed at the words.
From the last station attack, to this raid on the HanEun Group branch, all the surviving HanEun employees have been taken to prison for investigation.
And…nothing has come of it.
They never talk, and if you try to force them to talk, they die. I doubt that's the kind of mettle a typical corporate researcher or villainous thug would have.
It's like…
“It's like a cult.”
Lee Seola nodded, saying what I was thinking.
‘Yeah. It was like blind faith. ‘
How on earth did the HanEun Group end up like that?
“Well, it's not like we didn't discover anything.”
After explaining this, the team leader walked into the (still) intact building and showed me the files they had found.
“First, the important thing is that we found their headquarters.”
“…! Really, where is it?”
“Well, you'll have to read it, it's unusual.”
I was handed the file, and when I read the contents, I stiffened.
It was a long, rambling description of their headquarters.
To summarize…
"…The headquarters is made using dimensional superposition, so you can only enter it on special days…?"
“Dimensional…superposition? Mr. Da-in. Do you know what that is?”
To Lee Seola, who frowned as she read the text, I shook my head.
I don't know what dimensional superposition is.
But I can only guess…that it's the Moon God who oversees all things related to this space.
‘Does that mean Han Eun Group's Kim Sun-woo dabbled in lunar magic?’
The more I thought about it, the more my head spun.
Was the HanEun Group such an influential villainous group in the original that they could reach the root of the world? No, they were not. They were only the boss of one of the four phases.
But how did it come to this?
“…The headquarters is located in the southern mountains, and the gates will open next Monday, so we can attack then.”
“…I see.”
Yeah. Well, so what.
It's going to come down to next Monday anyway. When that day comes, everything will be decided.
And Seo-eun told me about a conversation she had with Kim Sun-woo right before the rescue.
“Kim Sun-woo, he asked me to come to the headquarters, to stop him there. To tell me the whole truth…'
Kim Sun-woo had already found out where we were and was expecting us to come, so we couldn't let our guard down.
I'm sure he's prepared thoroughly for our visit as well.
What is he planning?
Creating artificial superhumans, kidnapping Seo-eun, what is he after? If he really wants to conquer Korea, why did he ask us to come to the headquarters?
I couldn't guess anything. It's not in the original story.
Therefore, I continued to go out with all my heart.
I gave up relying on the original story and relied on my own strength to deal with the HanEun Group.
And finally, this will finally be revealed next Monday.
As I was holding the file and thinking about it, the team leader, who had been standing off to the side, coughed for a moment, then turned to us.
“Oh, and, Mr. Egostic, Ms. Lee. There's a recurring term in the titles of the undecipherable files and throughout the lab.”
With that, he showed me the words written on a broken piece of chalkboard.
I read the words and frowned.
“The Ἴκαρος project…”
Icarus, it’s one of the stories in Greek mythology.
It's about a man who longed for the sun, so much so that he flew toward it on waxen wings and fell to his death.
From this myth, they named the project they were working on now.
I pondered the name, and told them.
“Okay, well, let me know more when you have more information. I'm going to go.”
“Uh-oh, Mr. Da-in. You're leaving already?”
“Yep. I think I should probably get ready ahead of time.”
"Sure… Then I'll tell Haru what I've sorted out. You must be tired from being awake all day since yesterday, so get some rest."
“Okay, thanks.”
“Oh, and…I'm sure Seo-Eun has been through a lot, so take care of her.”
"Haha…I understand. You too, Team Leader, work hard."
“Yes, Mr. Egostic. Take care.”
With those words, we parted ways and I went home.
…I saw Seo-Eun sleeping soundly last night after I finally calmed her down from the shock.
Our house is heavily guarded, so I doubt she'll be kidnapped again.
“…..”
My teeth grind when I think about Seo-eun's kidnapping. It's strange that when I found the HanEun Group branch, I immediately beat them all up. No, I thought, did I smash them all?
Anyway, I stepped into the house thinking about that.
I opened Seo-Eun's door to see if she was sleeping, but…
“No.”
I was stunned for a moment, but then I thought better of it.
If she's not here, maybe…with that thought, I teleported to the basement.
And that's what I saw upon arriving at the training room.
“Ha… Hah…Oppa, are you here?”
It was Seo-Eun, who was training alone in the training room wearing a suit.
When she saw me, she stopped training and came down to the ground.
…I was speechless at the sight of her already training even though it hadn't been a day since she was kidnapped.
“…Oppa, have you found anything?”
“Huh? Oh yeah.”
I was speechless at the sight of her sweaty body, but I quickly regained my composure and explained the information I had heard.
The headquarters of HanEun Group is said to be somewhere in a dimension and the portal to it will open next Monday.
After hearing that, Seo-Eun nodded and replied.
“Okay… Then, I'll have to prepare in advance.”
Her eyes filled with determination as she said that.
…Seeing her stubbornness, with no intention of not going with the group, I sighed and asked.
“Seo-eun…Don't you have any intention of not going? Honestly, it's too dangerous there.”
At my words, Seo-Eun stiffened her face and shook her head.
"No. That's my job. My friends are being humiliated but the enemies who stole their abilities. I must, I must… see it through to the end with my own hands."
I nodded silently at his stubbornness.
…I see. I can't change her mind. Perhaps if I force her, she will follow but it would be better if I stood by her side and guarded her more closely.
“…Alright, let's go together.”
“…! Oppa!”
Yeah. Stardus will be with us, so what's the problem?
If anything, I and Stardus will make quick work of it.
“…..”
even as I say it.
Hmm.
I had a feeling that this invasion of the HanEun Group headquarters was going to be Seo-eun's story.
Anyway, the time passed quickly.
The Association held meetings every day to plan and prepare for the invasion while Seo-Eun spent our days training and modifying her suit.
The weekend passed quickly and then finally, the fateful Monday dawned.