Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

Master Smith Under Ministry of National Defense

109 – Extreme Efficiency

“That’s roughly how it happened.”

As Hee-cheol continued his explanation, Zhai Tianlin, who had been clenching his fist in silence with one hand remaining, trembled all over with mounting anger.

Then, forcing strength into his trembling lips, he spoke.

“So, you’re saying it went like that? Suddenly, he just killed all his comrades out of the blue and then committed suicide himself?”

“The only thing I read was the combat report observed from a distance with a telescopic lens. If it was written like that there, then that’s how it must have been.”

“That’s ridiculous! Doxiao was a commander who cherished his subordinates more than anyone else! Why would he suddenly massacre his subordinates?”

The combat report received by Hee-cheol did not mention anything about the abilities of the monster that appeared at the end.

So Hee-cheol had no choice but to speculate on what had happened there by compiling the information he had seen and judged.

“I couldn’t understand it either, so I received cooperation from the command and verified some information about the Sword of Devastation. And I could see that he cherished his subordinates more than anyone else. So, if we speculate on the abilities of the monster that appeared in Operation 2 based on that information, we can roughly estimate what abilities it might have.”

“What abilities are those?”

“The report mentions that just before Doxiao killed his subordinates, there was a report that the subordinates were shooting at each other. Combining that information with Doxiao’s sudden change, it’s likely that the monster that appeared had the ability of mental domination.”

“Mental domination?”

“The report stated that the monsters that appeared in that area were captured in endless madness without any combat ability. If we combine that information, it’s possible to speculate that the opponent has the ability to maximize the anger of sentient beings and make them fight each other. In the worst case scenario, it could simply have the ability to control intellectual organisms as it pleases.”

“Are you talking about abilities like Professor X from X-Men comics? That’s an absurd ability, isn’t it?”

Zhai Tianlin thought.

If what Hee-cheol said was true, he needed to immediately change the direction of the helicopter and flee.

If he rushed into the enemy without any countermeasures in a situation where he could also be mentally dominated, it would be nothing short of suicidal.

However, seeing Zhai Tianlin’s reaction, Hee-cheol remained calm and composed in his seat.

“Just calm down for now.”

“Is it reasonable to tell me to calm down? If that’s true, not only I but also you could be at risk of being mentally dominated. If both of us, who are ranked 2nd and 3rd in the world rankings, were dominated simultaneously…”

“It won’t come to that.”

Hee-cheol said.

“Mr. Zhai Tianlin’s poison is powerful enough to dissolve even steel, but it can’t kill an monster of Grade 7 or higher in an instant. Similarly, the Sword of Devastation can split a large concrete apartment building in half with one strike, but it can’t even scratch a high-grade monster. Do you know why?”

“…Are you talking about resistance?”

“That’s correct. Basically, when Aewakeners fight each other or fight monsters, our abilities receive adjustments based on the opponent’s grade and compatibility. I think the reason they deployed millions of low-grade monsters, which had almost no combat abilities before the opponent appeared, is precisely for that purpose.”

“So, they made them mentally vulnerable, making it easier for the domination ability to take effect?”

“That’s right. The soldiers on the scene must have suffered tremendous mental stress. Even if they look different, it would be difficult for them to maintain their sanity while slaughtering millions of humanoid monsters. Moreover, if they were Sword of Devastation users like yourself, they would have slaughtered even more monsters on the scene.”

“So, seeing their comrades killing each other drove them to mental breakdown?”

“That’s the most plausible hypothesis. That’s why, as a citizen of the Republic of Korea rather than a member of the Records Department, I am going to the scene.”

Just as Hee-cheol said, Zhai Tianlin, who was also a member of the Records Department, was greatly shocked by the death of Sword of Devastation.

Among the members of the Records Department, there were hardly any members who disliked Sword of Devastation, which was mild-mannered, kind to subordinates, and willing to take on troublesome tasks.

However, even though he was not a member of the Records Department, Hee-cheol, who was not even Chinese like the others, could maintain a cold-headed mentality even in the face of the Sword of Devastation’s death, and Hee-cheol strongly emphasized this fact to the central leadership.

“In fact, I was staying in Beijing for other negotiation matters. In the meantime, I received an interrogation request for the failure of the operation in Zone 1, and as soon as I saw the report, I could find out what abilities the opponent had. I explained the contents and actively appealed that I am the optimal ally to confront that monster.”

“And in exchange for that, you received cooperation for that ‘other negotiation matter’?”

“That’s correct.”

“Then it’s good. So, if the combat is handled by Director, who is not affected by mental damage at all, what should I do? If the opponent’s ability is indeed mental domination, I don’t think I’ll be of any help in the battle, physically or mentally?”

“Poison Emperor will prepare for any contingency.”

“If it’s a contingency…”

“It means if I’m mentally dominated, you’ll immediately kill me.”

The condition for the participation of Hee-cheol, an awakening user from another country, in the suppression of the monster expected to have the unprecedented ability of mental domination. In it, to Zhai Tianlin’s astonishment, there was a staggering condition that for the safety of 1.4 billion people, Hee-cheol would willingly sacrifice his life even if he were mentally dominated.

Upon hearing Hee-cheol’s condition, Zhai Tianlin looked at Hee-cheol with eyes as if seeing a madman.

“Are you, are you in your right mind? Sacrificing your life for a country that’s not even your own?”

In response to Zhai Tianlin’s question, Hee-cheol answered in a calm and emotionless voice.

“Let me ask you a question. You and five other colleagues are in a bunker, and a grenade falls inside. Assuming there’s no time to pick it up and throw it back, what would you do?”

“I’d willingly throw my body towards the grenade… or I’d like to say that, but in reality, it wouldn’t be easy to do so in that situation. What about you, Director?”

“It’s simple. I’ll grab the soldier next to me and throw him onto the grenade.”

Zhai Tianlin changed his expression and looked at Hee-cheol with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Is this guy possibly a psychopath?’

Then Hee-cheol began to explain his choice in a very logical tone.

“The number of people inside the bunker is six in total. And the fact that a grenade has been thrown means that the enemy is right in front of us. If all six people get caught in the explosion, even if they survive the explosion, they’ll soon be wiped out.”

“No, then you could sacrifice yourself. Why use your colleagues as shields?”

“While sacrificing one person to save everyone would be the best, I don’t want to die.”

“I don’t see how that strange question and your answer to my question are related.”

“It all comes down to efficiency. Of course, as a senior government official of South Korea, I can easily escape from this situation and return to my country. However, if I do that, the 1.4 billion people living in China could be in danger. And if all those 1.4 billion people were mentally dominated, the next targets would be North Korea and South Korea right below.”

Hee-cheol said. While it was true that his own life was valuable, it was only compared to the life of one colleague, and it was not worth more than the value of over 1.4 billion people.

Therefore, Hee-cheol chose without hesitation to help the Communist Party hunt down the monster.

It wasn’t because he liked the Communist Party or China; it was just because it was more efficient.

Listening to Hee-cheol’s explanation, Zhai Tianlin concluded that Hee-cheol’s nature was almost like an extreme efficiency addict, almost to the point of insanity.

At that level, in order to uphold ‘efficiency’, he could discard the sacrifice of others or even his own life without any hesitation.

Zhai Tianlin couldn’t understand Hee-cheol’s way of thinking at all, but now he felt it was fortunate.

If Hee-cheol didn’t have such a personality, he would have had to confront the monster himself.

As the two continued their conversation, the helicopter landed at their destination.

“The target is currently not moving from its position! It seems like it’s waiting for someone!”

“How much distance is left?”

“You just need to go about 10km northwest from here! I can’t take you any further because there’s a risk of me being mentally dominated! Please proceed with the vehicle over there!”

As Zhai Tianlin moved to the driver’s seat to move the car forward, Hee-cheol stopped him.

“Poison Emperor, please wait here. If both of us are mentally dominated while traveling together, there will be no one to intervene.”

“For a quick response, wouldn’t it be better to go together at least up to 5km?”

“It’s dangerous. There should be a camp on the ridge over there. The soldiers who wrote this report and the telescope lens should be prepared there, so please wait there.”

Watching Hee-cheol take the steering wheel and start the engine, Zhai Tianlin asked, “If you were to be mentally dominated, how would you find out?”

To which Hee-cheol smiled and replied, “You’ll naturally find out when the time comes. In a way that you absolutely wouldn’t want to imagine.”

With that said, Hee-cheol drove alone towards the point where Silvares was waiting for him.

And shortly after, when Hee-cheol found Silvares sitting as if on a chair, he turned off the engine and got out of the car.

In the desolate wilderness where the thick stench of blood seemed to seep out if you touched it, Hee-cheol spoke towards the opponent.

He had seen a report stating, ‘It seemed like Doxiao and the monster had a conversation,’ which was why.

“I’ll ask. Are you human? Or are you a monster?”

“Well, how do I look to you?”

“You look human.”

As Hee-cheol said, she had an unbelievably beautiful appearance. Among all the women Hee-cheol had seen since he was born, he could confidently assert that she had the most beautiful appearance.

However, Hee-cheol declared firmly to her, “But I’m sure you’re a monster.”

“Why do you think so?”

“In this sea of ​​blood filled with corpses, sitting still without a hint of emotion is something only a monster can do, not a human.”

“Interesting interpretation. May I ask for your name?”

“Moon Hee-cheol, the Director of the South Korean EDA.”

“Twelve Divine Beings, 10th in rank. Silvares of the Queen of Wrath.”

“Twelve Divine Beings? Does that mean there are 11 more beings like you?”

“Well, if you want more detailed information, shouldn’t you defeat me first and then ask?”

“I didn’t need to say it for you to think that way.”

After Hee-cheol finished speaking, the 100 dolls he summoned built a circular encirclement around Silvares.

Seeing the strength of his abilities at a glance, Silvares, seemingly interested.

“Is it a unique ability? Judging by combat power alone, you’re one of the strongest on this planet, right? But it doesn’t matter. No matter how strong you are, you can’t resist my abilities.”

“Sorry, but if it’s mental domination, it won’t work. The dolls I summoned are originally emotionless beings, and I’m not a weak-minded human who can be influenced by your abilities. Besides, I have no relation to the corpses lying here in the first place. So, instead of resisting, I suggest you surrender as a prisoner.”

“Corpses? Ah, are you referring to these things?”

Silvares kicked Doxiao’s corpse in front of her with her foot.

Then, standing up, she spoke to Hee-cheol.

“Throughout countless races on many planets that I have dominated so far, I know very well what prey like you are thinking. Most of them think, ‘That guy can only use his abilities on weakened opponents,’ or ‘I’m mentally strong, so I can resist.’ How naive.”

“Is that wrong? After all, a monster’s ability can be resisted as much as the strength of the Awakened, right?”

“Right. But there’s a catch in that statement. The meaning of being able to ‘resist’ according to the strength of the Awakened also means being able to ‘suppress’ according to the opponent’s strength. It’s the way of the stars. An absolute being like me can use my abilities without restrictions, no matter how strong the opponent is, even if they are the strongest existence on that planet.”

As she slowly raised her hand and spoke, Hee-cheol’s instinct warned him to leave this place immediately as if he were going crazy.

However, before Hee-cheol could react, Silvares, who had prepared to use her abilities, spread her voice in all directions.

“Lowly creatures crushed by their sins. Suffer in agony from your sins until you die!”

Her declaration, spoken in a commanding tone as if giving an order, was an absolute ruler’s command that no creature burdened with even a trace of guilt in their heart could resist.

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