Chapter 239: Rescue Mission
"Right from the start, tuition—no, incidents are happening one after another!"
-Tuition lmaooo
-Always gets summoned whenever something goes down
-But fr it really is nonstop
-First time seeing a hostage situation mission;
"It makes sense that a force as powerful as the research facility wouldn't just die off quietly."
"Hmm. I think even more incidents will occur. If the research facility decides to go all out, there are countless terrorist acts they could commit."
"Even more than this?!"
At Chloe's assertion that went even further, treating even the hostage situation lightly, not only Jeong Nayeon but even the viewers were surprised, filling the chat with 'ㄷㄷ'.
However, since it was none other than Chloe making the claim, no one doubted it with 'Come on, would they really go that far?'
Even before participating as a panelist in the 'Nuclear Tourism' content, she had been someone who indulged in the 'Reverse Planet' story to the point of licking it clean to the bone.
She was the very story fanatic who had challenged the highest difficulty without being deterred, thanks to 'Reverse Planet's' system that released more information based on difficulty.
"At a glance, it seems like the research facility is unilaterally beating down the Otherworld Management Bureau, but actually, the side that's desperate right now is rather the research facility."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. To understand that part, you need to look into the interests of the Otherworld Management Bureau, the research facility, and the forces behind the research facility—"
-Chloe suddenly getting chatty
-Otaku trait) Becomes talkative when their specialty comes up
-Western nerds are the same lol
-Been a while since we've seen Chloe shine like this
Perhaps thinking that without knowing the relevant matters, one couldn't keep up with the rapidly progressing story, Chloe quickly began explaining.
About how the reason the research facility urgently attacked the Otherworld Management Bureau headquarters was related to the sweep operation intel, and why they were at a disadvantage despite committing terrorism so diligently, and so on.
She was doing her best for those who had just fallen into the joy of appreciating the story through the 'Nuclear Tourism' content.
...Or perhaps, like one viewer's chat suggested, it was simply her 'otaku trait)' activating.
"In any case, this right now can only be the research facility's last desperate struggle. Probably, by now, the higher-ups are all preparing to flee, don't you think?"
"Certainly, terrorism in the middle of Seoul has crossed the line."
"It's something the government should step in for, not just the Otherworld Management Bureau dimension. Yes."
"Plus, the Hunting Dog Fusion Monster is certainly strong enough to face off against Mr. Cheater, but there won't be that many of them."
-Since the materials? for making them are hunting dogs
-It was just really vicious shit lol
-If they stop this, naturally the research facility gets swept
-Their last struggle being mayhem; those research facility bastards are really trash to the end
"The problem is."
Chloe's face became serious.
It was an expression she often wore on iTube.
"Whether this sweep will reach all the way to the forces behind the research facility."
***
"This way."
Arriving in front of the Lereian Hotel where the research facility's hostage situation was taking place, Baek Woohyun immediately received guidance from the police controlling the area.
The reason ordinary police who weren't even part of the Otherworld Management Bureau recognized and guided him was simple. He had arrived there in a truly tremendous and flashy manner.
Having run across building rooftops as if flying in response to the message that time was of the essence, landing on the ground from dozens of meters up—how could they not recognize him?
The police who confirmed the Otherworld Management Bureau agent badge on his chest, who had appeared practically declaring 'I'm an Awakener!' in all directions, had no choice but to move quickly.
'Am I the last one here?'
"......"
""......"
In the area divided to serve as a temporary meeting place, Team Leader Kim Cheol and other agents who had deployed earlier were gathered, along with police personnel.
Seeing several faces that had been present during the Special Agent assembly, it seemed they had gathered all nearby ability users for now.
Exchanging light eye greetings with them as he headed to an empty seat, Baek Woohyun looked at Team Leader Kim Cheol, who was seated at the head, seemingly having taken on the commander role.
True to the Otherworld Management Bureau chronically suffering from manpower shortages, he too seemed to have struggled quite a bit, his complexion dark. A deep fatigue was felt.
"...You've had quite a hard time too."
"Not at all."
Like with Lee Yujin, for Kim Cheol, Baek Woohyun had been deployed here right after the Special Agent mission, so he offered consolation with a bitter smile.
The irony was that unlike Baek Woohyun who had actually rested well in reality, he was truly being ground down without even a chance to rest.
"Good. Now that the reinforcements we've been waiting for have arrived, I'll explain the operation immediately."
However, empathizing with the pain of fellow sufferers was brief.
Soon Kim Cheol, having returned to his usual cold expression, spoke.
"Currently, the hostages are divided and confined in two locations inside the Lereian Hotel: the banquet hall on the 10th floor and the restaurant on the 20th floor."
""......"
"The enemy's forces are also split in two accordingly. However, since that's when they were last confirmed, it's not certain, so be careful."
While dividing and confining hostages in two locations risked being defeated separately, conversely, even if one side was breached, it had the advantage of being fine if the other side held firm.
Since what mattered in a hostage situation was whether the hostages were rescued, the enemy seemed to have deliberately divided them, accepting some risk.
The research facility's goal would be to drag out this hotel occupation and hostage situation as long as possible to prevent the sweep operation from being initiated.
"Therefore, we also need to split our forces in two and strike simultaneously. Naturally, both need to succeed, so we need solid forces on both sides. One side can have me, so the other side was the problem—"
Kim Cheol's gaze flickered toward Baek Woohyun.
By his current standards, Baek Woohyun was one of the three most reliable agents in the Otherworld Management Bureau.
The other two were naturally Lee Yujin and Kim Hana.
From his first combat training, he had executed the hunting dog in place of Lee Yujin and completed the Reverse World sweep.
Since then, without a single mission failure, he had even performed the Special Agent mission additionally.
Who could possibly be more reliable than this?
"—It's conveniently resolved. Now there's no need to hesitate. First, we divide into two teams. Team A, which I'll lead to the banquet hall, and Team B, which Agent Baek Woohyun will lead to the restaurant."
Kim Cheol rapidly issued instructions.
Having divided the personnel to form teams, he also discussed how they would infiltrate the Lereian Hotel.
Thanks to the police having obtained information like the building blueprints from hotel officials in advance, there were no obstacles in explaining the routes.
"Team A will go up through the elevator shaft. Exit on the 8th floor, not the 10th, and use the right staircase to ascend. Team B will alternate between the central staircase and left staircase."
'I wonder if we can infiltrate all the way without being detected.'
Baek Woohyun examined the hotel blueprints spread on the desk while listening to Kim Cheol's instructions. The hotel's internal structure was drawn in his mind, and the infiltration route he received connected as a line.
Having performed quite a few similar missions while working as a contract worker 'over there', the process was quite natural. Though the infiltration purpose was completely different from back then, in any case.
After running various simulations, the conclusion was simple. Infiltrating all the way without being detected was impossible. The hotel itself wasn't very suitable for hiding.
Therefore, once they got close enough, they'd have to proceed with swift and decisive action. In the process, Teams A and B would need to coordinate well to strike the enemy simultaneously.
"Now then, let's depart. Agent Baek Woohyun. I'm entrusting Team B to you."
"Yes, understood."
The [Hostage Rescue] mission finally began after coordination.
Baek Woohyun led the team members who would accompany him and entered the interior through the Lereian Hotel's back door. With most CCTVs already cut, it was an unhindered entry.
Since this mission's difficulty lay not in infiltration but in subduing the research facility bastards while ensuring the hostages weren't harmed, Baek Woohyun and the team members advanced quickly without showing even a fragment of joy.
'Did they not set up any guards?'
Baek Woohyun, his senses heightened to the fullest, narrowed his eyes. Within his detectable range, he felt no presence at all. Even though they should have at least one person to use as a canary in a coal mine.
Whether that was an intention to not disperse forces further or a will that they could block even if someone came up was difficult to discern. Even more so because the research facility was rampaging without thinking about the aftermath.
To put it bluntly, it wouldn't be strange at all if all the hostages were already dead right now. That's how much those research facility bastards were lunatics.
'Let's be careful.'
"......"
Swoosh.
Baek Woohyun's movements became even more cautious. Even though he detected in advance that there was no one standing guard, he absolutely didn't let down his guard.
Beyond the research facility's madness, Deus had room to intervene anytime, anywhere. If he wanted to, he could do it right now.
The moment Deus intervened, even easily solvable problems would have extreme difficulty, so there was no way to let his guard down.
Even that Half-Human Half-Insect that he had cornered nearly to death—though there were various circumstances involved—was a good example.
"...!"
Pause.
Around when they had climbed about 15 floors without incident.
Detecting a presence for the first time, Baek Woohyun stopped walking. Naturally, the team members who had been silently following behind him also stopped accordingly.
Restraining the team members who asked what was happening with eye signals and hand gestures, he calmly regulated his breathing and concentrated on his five senses. Deep enough to hear even thread-thin sounds.
'This presence, it's somehow familiar.'
If it had been an ordinary presence, he wouldn't have tried to identify it this seriously. He could just avoid it by going around to the opposite staircase.
But he couldn't do that now. The reason was simple—the presence he detected for the first time remained vividly in his memory.
The very fact that he remembered it meant that the owner of the presence was that significant of an existence.
'Ah.'
[Go around the other way]
[...Seriously?]
[I have something to do here]
The expression of Baek Woohyun, who finally recalled the owner of the presence, sank coldly. He immediately instructed the team members via hand signals to go up separately.
The team members, momentarily flustered at the story that he, Team B's most powerful force, was leaving, soon acquiesced and moved to the opposite staircase.
They thought there must be some plan, since he was the person directly appointed as Team B leader by Team Leader Kim Cheol, referred to as a pillar of the Otherworld Management Bureau.
Moreover, they too belonged to the Otherworld Management Bureau and knew of Baek Woohyun's insane achievements, so they were ready to follow his instructions willingly.
"......"
Step.
Having sent off the team members, Baek Woohyun advanced toward the presence without hiding, with the conviction that if it was that opponent, they would be sensing his existence.
Indeed, the existence waiting alone up ahead showed no particular reaction even as he approached making footsteps.
They simply waited silently as if saying, 'You'll surely come this way.'
"......"
"......"
Eventually, reaching the spacious lobby between hotel rooms, Baek Woohyun faced a visage that closely resembled his own, but with a pale blue color.
Two horns on the temples, tattoos engraved across the entire body with flowing violet energy, even the vivid energy proving it was an Otherworld being.
An existence presumed to be what it would be like if Baek Woohyun were made into a Dimensional Invader was there.
***
"A Doppelganger appearing suddenly here!"