Living in the City, there are times when I even get the illusion that this world’s days and nights are reversed.

Lake City’s nights blazed with neon signs, as if trying to overpower the sticky, fishy stench clinging to the air.

Even in such a city, there were districts shrouded in darkness. And it was to one of those places that Lee Taebaek had come.

Crunch, crunch.

He scanned his surroundings as he moved his feet.

“What kind of neighborhood is this dark?”

The darkness devoured the light and pooled thickly. Even straining his eyes with all his might, dark adaptation was a struggle.

Crunch, crunch.

An alley with not a soul in sight. Every step on the cracked concrete sent sewage splashing up from the fissures.

He felt a chill creeping up to his ankles and thought to himself that this wasn’t just sparsely populated—it was a ghost town.

Not even vagrants or outlaws slinking through the shadows. After all, there had to be people around to even pull off a robbery.

The ironic part was that this neighborhood sat right on the border between the upper and lower districts.

District 28.

By all rights, it should have been the most expensive real estate in the lower districts. But the reason it was this deathly quiet was because it served as the Gang Alliance’s headquarters.

Word had it that before the thugs moved in, it was the crown jewel of the lower districts.

Relatively tall buildings, Western-style streetlamps, neat grid-like alleys. Scattered remnants of its once-glorious past caught his eye here and there.

“That’s why they call it the NIMBY effect.”

Lee Taebaek clicked his tongue briefly.

“Taebaek, when you make bank someday and buy your own place, scope out the neighborhood first. Make sure no gangbangers are living nearby.”

Kang Hyeonseong let out a loud laugh, as if he’d overheard the mutter. Lee Taebaek tore his gaze from the darkness.

“Housing prices in the City are insane. Own house? Please. Even you, Battalion Commander, don’t have one.”

“Huh, fair point. Haha!”

Today wasn’t a solo gig for once. It was a massive Resistance-wide operation. The grand event known as the “War on Crime.”

He glanced back. Trailing behind were Yu Dahui, Fumito, and Rock, in that order. It felt like the first time the entire 9th Battalion was assembling and moving out together.

They’d split into two groups after arriving at Lukaken Pharmaceuticals.

Five of us raiding the Gang Alliance HQ.

The 9th Battalion was a small elite unit.

That was Battalion Commander Kang Hyeonseong’s philosophy. More members just meant more dead weight, he’d claim. In truth, the members avoided it on their own…

“Heehee, wonder how many I can rack up today.”

Fumito had been snickering like that for a while.

“My fortune said no murders today.”

Doctor Yu Dahui casually mentioning killings.

“*Shiiik* *Shiiik*.”

And Rock, doing her Darth Vader cosplay.

No wonder it’s a de facto elite squad.’

Given the battalion’s nature, infiltration missions usually fell to the 9th. And with that came massive risks.

Somehow, all five originals were still kicking. The 9th was the only battalion running its launch lineup unchanged.

Maybe that’s why. Even in this situation, I feel at ease.’

We were stepping into the Gang Alliance’s lair. Objectively insane.

But.

When the 9th steps up, it’s different.’

Separate from their popularity in the org, trust in them ran deep. The 9th had pulled off missions deemed theoretically impossible time and again.

Their outsized personalities tended to overshadow the skills, though.

Main consensus is their skills are the real deal.

Moving with them now—all lunatics save for me(?), but skills legit. Nothing was more reassuring to Lee Taebaek.

Even under starless haze, in pitch-black void without a scrap of light. It felt brighter ahead than any neon-drenched district.

Thud.

Just as he sensed they’d gone deep, Kang Hyeonseong, the lead runner, halted abruptly and raised a fist.

Signal to stop. Lee Taebaek and the others complied.

Swoosh.

Kang Hyeonseong stuck just his head around the alley corner. Apparently, the Magnostrom base lay beyond.

Lee Taebaek pressed flat against the alley wall. He steadied his breath, awaiting his word.

Hummmm.

The concrete wall against his back was ice-cold. As silent as the moment itself. A draft from somewhere licked his nape.

“…Three guarding the entrance, about ten on patrol in the area…”

Kang Hyeonseong muttered just then. He’d gauged the enemy numbers almost precisely.

Lee Taebaek had no way to verify the details, but he trusted Kang’s eyes. Because Kang possessed the skill “Hawk Eye.”

Presence Detection honed to the extreme.

It was an advanced form of Presence Concealment, erasing the user’s presence to near nothingness. It was a skill that highlighted foes’ presences for detection.

Presence Concealment alone proved elite status. A forbidden art only for superhumans surpassing normals.

Kang had even mastered its superior detection counterpart. Impressive as ever, if you ignored that I’m always giving him a hard time.

He’s just too nice for a City dweller.’

Not just him. For all their talk, the whole 9th had a decent streak. Handpicked by Kang, so they took after him.

“Here’s the plan.”

Kang Hyeonseong, who’d been murmuring quietly, turned his head.

“Patrol’s tighter than expected. Need two to draw attention so we can slip into the heart.”

“Splitting into two teams again?”

Lee Taebaek asked abruptly.

“If infiltration’s the goal, wouldn’t quietly killing them all be better? We’re built for that.”

“True enough. But 9th’s not here to wipe out Magnostrom. Precisely: kidnap or execute the Gang Alliance leader. Commander-in-Chief’s orders.”

“Sounds like we’re overcomplicating. Keeps feeling ‘needlessly’ tangled.”

Yu Dahui chimed in from the side, twirling a cylindrical metal tube. She was attaching a suppressor to her sniper rifle.

“Minimize bloodshed. Magnostrom’s unity is top-tier. And yesterday, Taebaek, you butchered a bunch of ’em. They know. Prepped for sure. Plus…”

She paused before continuing.

“Saber Master joins? Hard for Resistance to claim victory. Win or not, we’d lose half our force.”

Her lips quivered naming him.

A glimpse of Ten Wings prestige. They were grim reapers.

“Commander-in-Chief knows, so take out the leader clean. He’s the only Alliance link to Saber Master.”

“But does offing just the boss work?”

Fumito Shohei, on question duty, piped up. Hopeless with world affairs outside religion. Then Rock tapped his shoulder.

“*Shiiik*, *Shiiiik*.”

Her mask glowed faintly. Moments later, Fumito nodded.

“Ah, Saber Master… Mercenary King, money pigeon, post-pay only—ignores dead client? Hiring that caliber, even Alliance boss begged. Alliance desperate, not him. He’ll bail no strings. Right?”

Rock struck a proud pose, hands on hips, chin up. Lee Taebaek was floored.

Fumito pieced it perfectly from breaths and mask. Kid a genius?

“Explanation’s done. Ready to roll?”

Kang Hyeonseong eyed each face. Gaze deep as if inspecting every flake on their lips.

Members’ eyes gleamed in response.

Smirk.

Kang curled his lips, spread his palms wide, and dropped into a low stance.

As if on cue, Yu Dahui and Fumito hopped onto his hands.

Hrrngh—!

Kang inhaled sharply and launched them skyward.

Their forms arced like crescent moons. Palms as launchpads.

They floated briefly before landing on rooftops left and right.

Left: Yu Dahui. Right: Fumito.

Rock followed suit, joining Yu Dahui’s roof.

Monstrous strength. Buildings roughly four stories up.

Members’ moves flawless. No wonder the Commander-in-Chief favored the 9th.

Click.

Yu Dahui mounted her sniper on the parapet. Buttstock to shoulder, eye to scope.

Rock squatted three paces off, tapping her temple. Hologram window popped in air. Recording started.

Shing.

The night breeze carried sword song.

Fumito’s hands heavy with dual katanas. Wind split on blades.

“The ones up high will clear the way. We slip in as quiet as we can.”

“Speed’s life too.”

“Yep.”

Kang zipped his lips, flashing me a hand signal: three, two, one…

Thump—.

The stock bucked against Yu Dahui’s chest. Sharp groan, a silhouette jerked.

Insane. Lee Taebaek, peeking bare-eyed, parted lips slightly.

Killed standing.

If one gang member crumpled, the nearby mates would notice instantly. Her mastery of human anatomy made it possible.

Before the echo faded, long fingers pulled the bolt and ejected the casing swiftly.

Clink.

The shell hit the paint-peeled floor. The next shot was fired at the same time.

Whiiiiiish!

Fumito vaulted over the parapet. Debris sprayed from where he kicked off. The blades didn’t gleam because they were coated with charcoal.

Slash!

Black trajectory lunged.

Fumito, who had been on the rooftop, was now behind the gang, as if he had teleported.

Thud.

The blade slid into the scabbard, and the base of the blade struck the guard.

“Grahk…!”

The fallen head sank into its own blood. Eyes within 3m radius snapped to him.

Attention scattered. The tight guard at the entrance thinned. Kang signaled Lee Taebaek with his eyes.

“Now.”

Debris stirred at Kang’s feet. Lee Taebaek kicked off and followed right behind.

Wind rushed.

Whooooosh…!

Thanks to Agility over 30, the surrounding scenery stretched into lines. Whenever gangs turned their heads at the disturbance, Yu Dahui sniped.

Just before entering, Lee Taebaek’s eyes briefly met Fumito’s.

In that brief moment, he gave a small jerk of his chin. It was thanks for tying down the gangs.

Fumito’s fangs flashed in the dark.

Lips formed: Back’s mine. Straight outta shonen manga. Almost chuckle-worthy.

The funny thing was, when a Japanese guy did it, it actually looked badass. Ah, damn. I’m grinning as I walk into the tiger’s den.

Dash dash—!

They advanced down a narrow corridor. They came face-to-face with gangs who turned the corner. Shock flickered across the gas masks at the intruders’ appearance.

They yelled urgently and thrust their guns forward. At that dumb display, Lee Taebaek muttered inwardly.

Low learners.

They squeezed the triggers of their shock rifles. But by then, I had already snapped my fingers.

The linked white-hot trails burst one by one. It was due to the rapid temperature change.

The dusk that swallowed the light exploded upon Magnostrom. The venue was pandemonium. Amid the screams, Lee Taebaek twisted his lips.

Why’s the heart pounding like hell.’

A weird thrill tingled to his fingertips. Embracing the glee, he pressed the open/close button.

Click—

Time to level up, Lee Taebaek.