Black Badger

The mentor turned on the screen and then switched on the TV, granting my request to prop up the upper half of the bed.

I swallowed my pain while thanking him.

As the screen lit up, a live broadcast flowed out. Countless cameras already stood in front of the announcement podium. An equal number of reporters waited for Ye-hyeon.

I watched it blankly for a moment before I spoke.

"How big is the impact of this announcement?"

"It's on par with a presidential election vote count broadcast."

The mentor replied indifferently as he sat down in the chair.

"You'll see how much lobbying pours in around the time of the announcement."

That made sense.

Countless people's interests intertwined. No matter which zone was selected as the reclamation area, dissatisfaction was bound to erupt. Endless social issues needed resolution, and the land that required reclamation was far too vast.

I resolved to check the records of past territorial reclamations later.

As I lost myself in thought, Ye-hyeon walked into the screen.

Flashes exploded noisily.

"You're doing the announcement yourself."

"It's the most important one."

Yoon answered.

He shrugged his shoulders and then added dryly.

"And he's pretty good at speaking."

That was true.

The announcement was crisp. The boss didn't blink amid the barrage of flashes. He gripped the podium with both hands and delivered the message concisely. He first announced the reclamation site (and as soon as he did, an enormous camera shutter sound erupted). Then he neatly explained the reasons for selecting that location and the reclamation plan for the corresponding zone.

The reason for deciding on the reclamation zone was so plausible that it momentarily made me forget the influence of the elders in the decision process.

I became so absorbed in the press conference that I even forgot my pain.

This year's reclamation zone was the area between the Center Core and the nearby Core 24.

In other words, it meant integrating the Center Core and Core 24.

Whether because it was an unusual decision, as soon as the Q&A session began, related questions poured in.

[The Center Core area also has Core 37. Is there a specific reason for choosing integration with 24 instead of 37?]

[Core 24 is no small core. Have you fully considered the socioeconomic issues that could arise from integrating with that core?]

[Have you heard the opinions of the residents living on the outskirts of the cores?]

[That area doesn't help with the food problem. I think zones that can solve the food issue should be prioritized first.]

It was utter chaos.

I watched the screen in a daze.

Then I said.

"Is the head of Black Badger becoming president or something?"

"That's why he's repeatedly answering that it's a decision made after consultations with the government."

Yoon pointed at the screen with his chin.

I nodded. In fact, Ye-hyeon responded that way. He added several times that it was a matter already consulted with the government. He gave responses about agreements with local authorities on the Core 24 side. He provided answers stating that the supply of rare earth elements was deemed urgent.

Many preparations had been made across various ministries for the core integration, and they would continue to put in diligent efforts going forward.

His clear pronunciation made the responses feel more credible.

But...

"It's not really a government decision, is it?"

"Right."

Yoon answered straightforwardly.

"It's the result of power struggles among the elders. With Ye-hyeon's influence thrown in."

"Does the president have any real power?"

"You could say almost none. The elders have set up someone who knows how to maintain balance without crossing the line."

"What a beautiful society."

"You're stating the obvious."

Yoon replied in a bored tone.

I chuckled and fixed my gaze on the TV. The Q&A was still ongoing. As I watched the boss answer fluidly despite the barrage of various questions, I couldn't help but feel impressed.

He'd still get a ton of backlash, though.

Dealing with tangled interests was always exhausting.

As I thought about how all sorts of articles would flood in once the press conference ended, Yoon said in a low voice.

"Core 24 is a zone where the Guardian faction has strong influence."

I see.

"There'll be fierce power struggles between Falcon and the Guardian faction for a while. Meaning they won't be paying attention to your issues for the time being."

"Ah. That's good."

I really didn't want to get entangled in their affairs.

I wasn't even interested in what logic Ye-hyeon used to decide the reclamation zone. I didn't want to know the details about the elders. It would only make life more tiring.

"Jae-yeon and Lee Seung-hyun are going to be busy."

"Yeah."

A faint satisfaction tinged Yoon's voice.

"It'd be great if they killed each other off."

His low mutter was sincere.

I laughed quietly. I understood to some extent.

Neither of them was easy.

Right now, I felt relieved at the fact that I wouldn't have to see Jae-yeon's face for a while.

Still, so many questions lingered that I wanted to ask. Things changed so quickly that unresolved curiosities kept piling up.

I noted the scheduled territorial reclamation date and asked.

"By any chance, what did the elders say about the kidnapping incident?"

"Shall we start with that topic then."

It seemed Yoon had something to say on that subject too.

I kept the reporter's question in my mind—"Is there a special reason for reclaiming territory on the meaningful day of the Closed Heaven Festival?"—and turned my head.

The neat man didn't take his eyes off the screen.

The situation unfolded monotonously.

"The Anti-Badger group has all been captured. Except for the new recruit who joined six months ago."

"No."

I missed the key point.

"That mysterious new recruit hid their tail. Name, background—all fake. Not a single photo."

"There must be some clues, right?"

"Spitfire is looking into it as a side project, and they think they'll find them eventually, but..."

The mentor paused, then added ominously.

"Anyway, they're in the wind right now. The captured ones don't have any useful information."

"Not even on nearby CCTV?"

"They kidnapped you like a ghost in the blind spots. Pretty skilled operator."

To receive such praise from Yoon.

It made me a bit jealous...

As I thought to myself that I was being a bit foolish, the conversation continued.

"The fact that they haven't been caught immediately, even with Spitfire searching, is suspicious in itself."

That's right.

Even if Colton and Yekaterina weren't involved in the kidnapping search, it was extremely odd. Eric Airheart wasn't some amateur. He might have seemed like a handsome pervert with strange tastes at first glance, but in reality, he was incredibly sharp and ruthless.

He also commanded a force that couldn't be ignored.

Yet they hadn't been caught right away.

The twins had mocked me relentlessly, but my intuition was correct after all.

The one who planned my kidnapping wasn't an ordinary person.

"Could it be another elder's doing this time too?"

I noted Ye-hyeon wrapping up the press conference.

"Like with the Colosseum."

"Could be, or could not be."

The mentor's voice sounded thoughtful.

In the meantime, Ye-hyeon disappeared from the screen. An immense sound of cameras and applause resonated in the hospital room. There would be controversy, but the announcement itself was flawless. The content was clearly conveyed.

Yoon turned off the TV.

The screen went pitch black. With nothing to focus on anymore, the forgotten pain came rushing back.

I futilely tried to shift my position to alleviate the pain even a little.

"Anyway, it's clear you've become a target for some unknown bastard, so keep your wits about you for the time being."

"Yes. When can I be discharged?"

"Third-degree burns take a long time."

Yoon just rolled his eyes to meet mine.

"Even longer since you didn't get treatment right away. Self-inflicted."

"I know."

I smiled bitterly.

"I'm sorry for causing you trouble."

Yoon nodded and said nothing more.

He was a straightforward person. This matter-of-factness was comforting. Even if I caused a huge mess, he'd probably just click his tongue while keeping his composure...

Bang bang bang!

What was that?

My head turned toward the door.

Yoon's cold eyes narrowed.

"Yes."

The mentor stood up lazily and walked to the door.

"Who is it."

"Yoon!"

Ah.

It was the HR Director.

"Open the door, please!"

Yoon sighed and rolled his eyes.

It was his standard reaction every time he faced Joo. The mentor's response to the HR Director was always amusing to watch.

The man pulled open the door with a tired expression.

Reporters' voices poured in. No wonder the presence in the hallway kept growing. In an instant, the surroundings became noisy.

I watched the people trying desperately to push inside, looking exasperated.

"What are your thoughts on the supreme commander's decision!"

"Are you technically prepared enough to merge two cores?"

"I heard you've become a mentor this time. Any comments!"

"What does A-Tac think about the expansion issue!"

Yoon reached through the reporters and pulled the HR Director out.

The reporters tried to slip into the room through the gap. But Yoon and Joo were seasoned. The HR Director, who successfully entered the room, deftly pushed back the reporters with skilled hands (Watch out! Be careful!) and closed the hospital room door.

Smoothly and elegantly.

His actions showed experience.

"Really~. On announcement day, it's total chaos."

Click! The man who locked the door turned around with a grin.

The HR Director's bright eyes flew toward me and landed.

"Thanks for the help, Yoon. And long time no see, Hilde. You don't look so good."

"It's bearable."

"Sweating like that and still putting on a brave front."

Yoon snorted as he sat in the chair.

Joo smiled gently.

I replied nonchalantly.

"The room is a bit hot."

The HR Director let out a helpless sigh.

That marked the shift in topic. The boss, having heard from the secretariat that I'd woken up, expressed concern for my condition while wanting to wrap up the business quickly.

Naturally, he was already informed about my situation. Because he had to select the Task Force members.

He had to head back to work soon, and I didn't look well, so he'd talk fast and leave.

He pulled up a chair and sat at a spot where I could easily see him. He placed the tablet he was holding on his lap.

A hologram popped out from the tablet screen.

"Did you expect this person?"

I grinned at Ami's photo.

She was the one person I had uniquely anticipated. She was also someone I hoped would be on the Task Force list.

I nodded, and Joo's eyes curved into a smile.

"Ami knows her boundaries and keeps her mouth shut well."

Yoon snorted at the HR Director's explanation.

Joo, with his affable face, swiped the tablet screen with his finger.

"She was the first badger on the list. That's when my dilemma started, though."

"Pardon?"

"We can't tilt the overall forces toward the Task Force."

When I asked in confusion, the HR Director explained gently.

His finger swiped the screen again. The hologram extending from the screen now showed not a photo, but a list.

I scanned the list with names of people I knew.

"This is supposed to be a secret, but this is the badger combat power ranking that the HR department updates frequently."

Wow.

"Since everyone has different strengths, the rankings change depending on the criteria, but the top 15 rarely shift."

I read the list intently.

Lee Ye-hyeon

Richard Green

Choi Yoon

William Walker

Jason Tvain

Choi Ami

Ska Owen

Ricardo Sordi

Luta Ayer

Aki Neagland / Land

Jonathan Kudo

Ro Giacomo (variable)

Yoshika Shastel

.

.

.

Ye-hyeon was at the top?

Was it because he was proficient in both civil and military affairs? But Ye-hyeon wouldn't be going on missions. Wasn't this a huge waste of talent?

When I asked in shock if the commander was really the best at combat, Joo tapped Ye-hyeon's name.

The Lee Ye-hyeon file opened, revealing various analyses and a hexagonal chart.

His stats formed nearly a perfect hexagon.

"He's quite behind in strength, but his balance is really good."

Blood will tell.

"If you weight all categories equally, you get this ranking. If you emphasize strength more, Ye-hyeon drops and Will comes to the top. If you prioritize mobility, Ami takes first."

Ah.

I understood the reason for showing me the list. It meant we couldn't put Ami, Richard Green, and Jason Tvain on the same team.

So who else was there?

As I furrowed my brow, Joo smiled.

"First, Kal Dow."

Hesi's mentor.

The silent badger with green eyes and a gravelly voice. Thinking about it, he was also one of the badgers who had watched my arrival.

"Sophia Kallak."

"Ah."

"She's still alive?"

A name I'd heard in the subway long ago.

The badger Jin Silver had told me about, who had aimed a gun at Ye-hyeon after losing her lover. The memory surfaced immediately upon hearing the name, and I let out a short sound, but Yoon muttered ominously.

The killing intent in his voice was vivid.

"Shame."

"She's been exemplary since that day."

Joo smiled soothingly at Yoon.

"And her mouth is as tight as a blade."

Yoon snorted.

The murderous aura in his cold black eyes didn't fade. But Joo, true to form, pretended not to notice the other's menacing atmosphere.

The HR Director smiled at me as I breathed through the pain.

"Finally, Ricardo Sordi."

"Pardon?"

You said we can't tilt the forces?

"You're a walking bomb if you step outside the core."

Joo threw a straight pitch at my surprised expression.

A bitter laugh escaped me at his unfiltered words.

Well, true. The list of people I'd been with when I went outside the core back then was even more fearsome. Richard Green, Jason Tvain, Aki, William, Ami—all together. No wonder Iho had freaked out seeing the members.

Ye-hyeon had really gone all out sending me that day.

As I recalled that day, I heard the HR Director wrapping up.

Since it was a team that only applied when going outside the core, I wouldn't be doing every mission with them. And if needed, Yoon could be added to this lineup.

"That's all for the briefing! Any questions?"

"No. Thank you for relaying it. That... the members already know about me, right?"

"Hm? No."

Huh?

Joo and I looked at each other in confusion.

Why was he confused?

I thought the list was finalized because the people who'd heard my story had agreed to join the Task Force.

Why say no here?

We stared at each other for a while.

Joo said.

"Even if Sophia doesn't know, you have to tell the other three yourself."

Me?

"I can't just casually spill your past. They'll want to hear it directly from you."

I doubted it.

And where did that kind of thing exist?

Where?

So he meant I had to personally confess this bombshell to Ricardo, not to mention Ami and Kal?