Chapter 61 (1/2)

The death of the Sovereign of Dark Secrets, Lao Ban, caused an immense change to occur in the world. Among others, the hit to China’s economy for losing one of their colonized lands, and the preparation of other sovereigns to connect colonized lands after Choi Hyuk were the most prominent.

However, there was a different burning question that was on everyone’s mind.

‘How strong were the Berserkers?’

They brought down the powerful and prosperous Sovereign of Dark Secrets in a single day. How strong were they?

There was speculation based on a few points.

“Lao Ban’s clan was no match for them. The battle ended in an instant.”

“… Screw off! Screw off! Hiiii! Don’t come close!”

The people who escaped from Lao Ban’s colonized lands. Those who didn’t partic.i.p.ate in the battle all claimed it was one-sided, while the partic.i.p.ants… s.h.i.+vered in fear, unable to speak properly.

Although there was a problem of morals, Lao Ban’s clan was famous for being incredibly wealthy and for possessing many experts. So the reactions of the survivors greatly resonated with the colonizers.

A large discussion would break out whenever colonizers gathered.

“It’s an exaggeration. Of course, the Berserkers are good at fighting. However, they aren’t that good. It was one-sided because they were attacked unexpectedly, completely unprepared for it. When fighting, one strike is enough if you’re caught off guard.”

“Hey. Even if you say that, look at the numbers. Even if you count every Berserker, they barely number 20 thousand, but Lao Ban has more than 80 thousand! And if you include the small subordinate clans operating in his cities, they easily number 150 thousand. So, let’s a.s.sume only 80 thousand could be mobilized immediately. But, the number of Berserkers who partic.i.p.ated in this expedition may at most be 5 thousand. 5 thousand vs 80 thousand. No matter how unexpected it was, isn’t it ridiculous that they were able to sweep through cities with just that?”

“That’s because Lao Ban and his important executives had already been ambushed away from the cities. They obviously wouldn’t be able to face the Berserkers without a proper line of command after the clan itself was wiped out.”

“Hey… hey. I met some Berserkers on a previous outer s.p.a.ce mission, okay? They are no joke.”

“Really? My friend was drunk and got into an argument with one. He said he could take them?”

“The h.e.l.l he could. He was probably beat up. Those who haven’t fought against a Berserker need to shut up.”

“But, Alexei of the Berserkers? I saw some of the videos he posted, and while they were good, they weren’t that good? To be honest, Jessie’s clan has better techniques on Youtube.”

“Ah geez… Do you think those videos and fighting are the same? Those Berserkers are real beasts. Let’s say two sides have the same specs, right? Then the Berserkers’ side will undoubtedly win. Honestly, aren’t Berserkers the strongest in real combat?”

“That is something we’ll only know once they fight.”

The word ‘Colonizer’ was used to define warriors who had awakened karma and fought in colonized lands and outer s.p.a.ce missions. However, when used in a more general sense, ‘colonizer’ encompa.s.sed a wider variety, as not everyone who awakened karma became warriors, in fact, warriors were the minority.

Those who worked in primary industries, producing food and minerals, workers in secondary industries, processing these raw materials, resear

chers, and even merchants who went around to various colonized lands to buy and sell products. These non-combative workers made up a significant portion of colonizers.

Because they too had to go through forced missions in the beginning, around half of them could be considered combat ready. However, once the colonization had pa.s.sed a certain point, the number of forced missions noticeably dropped, and even if they were occasionally a.s.signed to forced mission, it became possible to be exempted from them if they paid a certain amount of Mission Points. The number of colonizers, who worked in production, increased significantly since then. They would sell their wares to buy Mission Points, and then use those points to be exempt from forced missions.

So these production colonizers were usually the ones who collected a great deal of information as they went to and from different territories, and amongst them, merchants collected the most. Combat colonizers usually wouldn’t leave their bases often, and because of this, there weren’t many cases of them fighting against each other.

This was why it was difficult to come to a consensus on the Berserkers.

Eventually, the majority opinion was that ‘While Berserkers are strong, wasn’t this case an exception due to various fortunes and tactics aligning with each other?’

“Still, I heard the Berserk Sovereign was strong beyond imagination.”

“Beyond imagination? Then are his main stats at the mid-4-star level?”

“Like h.e.l.l they are. Probably around 3 of his stats just reached 4-star. Maybe one of them is close to mid-4-star level.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit much to a.s.sume all his main stats are at the mid-4-star level. Even the strongest expert, Jessie, only recently got his second stat to 4-star.”

“But there are rumors that the Berserk Sovereign already had 3-star stats on his first mission, 2 years ago.”

“Pfft, no f.u.c.king way.”

“Really. They even say he singlehandedly killed the last boss of <survive and=”” escape=””>.”

“Yeah, I heard that’s true.”

“Hey. Even if that’s true. You know, it becomes almost heinous to increase karma later on.”

On top of that, there wasn’t a proper evaluation of Choi Hyuk’s fighting abilities.

Choi Hyuk was sitting face-to-face with Lieutenant Colonel Lee Kangjin[1]. In Choi Hyuk’s eyes, Lt. Col Lee Kangjin was emitting a white (goodwill) light.

Lt. Col Lee Kangjin was one of the influential figures in the Superpower Headquarters.

Although Choi Hyuk didn’t remember, he had coincidentally saved him from getting killed by Deer Antlers, Keus.h.i.+suit.

Since then, Lt. Col Lee Kangjin wanted to maintain a good relations.h.i.+p with the Berserkers. The reason for him coming here today was the same.

“We noticed some rebellious movements.”

Lt. Col Lee Kangjin got straight to the point.

“The loyal followers under Lao Ban’s immediate command and the groups, who had lost their workplace in a single morning because the colonized lands had been shut down, are targeting you.”

Choi Hyuk figured something out from Lee Kangjin’s words.

“We actually received requests asking us to allow them to continue to do business there once I received Lao Ban’s authority.”

“What was your reply?”

“Since they sent their p.a.w.ns, we didn’t kill them, and instead sent them on their way after cutting off one of their arms.”

After listening to Choi Hyuk’s story, Lee Kangjin understood why these merchants were trying to kill Choi Hyuk.

“Hu… How direct.”

Lee Kangjin, who had momentarily blanked out at Choi Hyuk’s brutal answer, continued with a serious tone.

“However, the problem isn’t simple. Colonizers, who used Lao Ban’s slave market, may even target you. And there may be… I’m sorry to say this… but there may be traitors from within the Berserkers.”

Colonizers from other groups… And traitors… Choi Hyuk showed interest in those words. Lee Kangjin calmly explained.

“They simply didn’t do it as openly as Lao Ban, but there were sovereigns who secretly ran slave markets, and those who did business with products they received from Lao Ban. They will feel greatly threatened by your actions. And…”

Lee Kangjin momentarily paused before almost spitting these words out.

“There are drugs.”

“Drugs?”

Choi Hyuk asked in a doubtful voice. This was because normal drugs had almost no effect on colonizers who had restructured their bodies with karma. Even the purest drugs in existence had no effect on colonizers.

“Yes. It’s a new drug that makes you sensitive to karma. They say it is secretly being supplied through slave markets. Although we don’t know exactly how they make it, there’s no doubt that it is a technique that followers under Lao Ban’s immediate command manage. From what I’ve figured out, it seems the scope of addicts is quite large. Although I’m embarra.s.sed to say this, but even amongst the Super Soldiers… I feel there will be a significant number of addicts. There’s a very likely chance they may be requested to a.s.sa.s.sinate you under the pretext of receiving a supply of drugs.”

Lee Kangjin spoke with a serious tone while Choi Hyuk’s eyes s.h.i.+ned in interest.

“This doesn’t seem easy.”

Drugs couldn’t help but become bestsellers. For there to be a drug that works on colonizers who lived through combat h.e.l.l and the nightmares of loss day after day. For there to be a drug that works on colonizers when even alcohol and tobacco had no effect.

They may even be able to win Berserkers over. Choi Hyuk grinned.

“How exciting. Betrayal…”

He had always thought of this after Jung Minji had died from betrayal. Things that could destroy a strong existence in an instant. Betrayal. Mutiny. ‘Their blades can target you at any time.’ Choi Hyuk always bore that in mind. And that moment had really come…

“Betrayal…”

For some reason, his heart started beating.

Berserker Lee Kijin blew smoke.

“Hoooo….”

They were in a rooftop lounge that had been remodeled from a pool at a luxury hotel. The ceiling and walls were made of gla.s.s, and, with the pool as the center, a bar and a dark, remote room were arranged. It was an accommodation with a great view overlooking the Han River. The inside was currently filled with thick fog-like smoke.