Black Badger

It was the sound of someone hyperventilating.

Yun narrowed his eyes as he listened to the ragged breathing coming through the phone.

He knew this pattern well. He had seen Yehyeon hyperventilate countless times since high school. Naturally, he knew exactly how to handle it.

It was useless in the current situation.

Hildebert was still inside X District, where the Core remained deployed.

Given that the nuke had detonated, Colton Wiseman was likely dead. However, judging by Lee Seunghyun’s voice audible over the line, Yekaterina seemed to have survived.

Yun clicked his tongue.

It would have been nice if they had died together.

Unfortunately, Hildebert hadn’t gone that far. Yun let out a quiet breath and listened to Lee Seunghyun attempting to calm Hildebert’s hyperventilation.

No talent.

Not surprising. If the man had paid even a fraction of attention to his son, he might have developed some skill at calming someone down. But he had only ever checked whether his son was still breathing—no way he’d be adept at steadying someone drowning in panic.

Call it karma.

Yun folded his arms and quietly listened to his junior’s muffled sobbing.

It took longer than expected before the sound gradually subsided.

At some point, it sounded like Lee Seunghyun had forced a bag over his mouth.

After a while, Hildebert’s cracked voice came through.

[...I should cut it.]

[Excuse me?]

Lee Seunghyun sounded confused.

[Your hair, you mean?]

[Yeah.]

Hildebert mumbled.

[Cut it to about shoulder length. I’ll have Rose tidy the rest.]

[Right now?]

[Yeah.]

“What exactly are you trusting, showing your neck to Lee Seunghyun like that?”

Yun cut in.

There was a rustle on the other end—the men had apparently forgotten he was still on the line.

Yun frowned at the phone.

“And you’re even asking him to hold a blade to your throat?”

Click.

The call disconnected.

Even that fell within expectation. Yun snorted softly. Most likely Lee Seunghyun had hung up in irritation.

He didn’t bother calling back. It wouldn’t change anything.

Yekaterina concerned him.

She was cut from the same cloth as Colton Wiseman. She would undoubtedly attempt ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) to seize power in this opening.

From what Yehyeon’s biological father had been saying earlier, it seemed Yekaterina had been nearby.

Still, Yun trusted Hildebert’s ability.

He also trusted his junior’s stubborn insistence that he would handle Kyle himself.

The man was obsessed with settling things with that black-haired swordsman currently heading toward Center Core.

Yun had warned him. He would return alive.

He had resolved one matter; soon he would head back to Black Badger headquarters—

Clack!

“Oppa!”

The door burst open.

Yun turned his head toward Ami.

Choi Ami stood there, hair tied tightly into a single knot, boots on. She wore her Black Badger combat uniform, but no ballistic vest. She had her wire-emitting gloves on, but no handgun holstered.

Meaning his biological sister was dressed to respond to an attack immediately while still being comfortable enough to rest on a train.

They were currently on a train heading toward the boundary of Center Core.

With a portal device secured among their equipment.

The operation had been assembled hastily. Supplies and personnel were limited. Ska Owen had swept up every capable Badger remaining at headquarters and thrown them onto the train. They had to avoid the current Commander’s notice, which made everything even more rushed.

Weapons shoved in as if fleeing. Ammunition. Portal device. Batteries.

The portal device was critical.

Their lifeline.

It would need to be installed properly as soon as they arrived.

Ami blinked her round eyes.

“Who were you talking to?”

Instead of answering, Yun asked:

“Where’s the driver?”

“My junior?”

Ami tilted her head.

“He’s probably in his car. Why? You got something to ask?”

“If he’s quiet, that’s fine. If there were an issue, he’d have come himself.”

Yun spoke evenly.

He watched his sister nod.

He hadn’t asked about Jack Black without reason. Yun knew there was a high probability they would encounter Kyle.

He also knew the personnel currently on this train had no chance of defeating him.

Ami had faced Kyle alongside Jack Black during their last engagement. She had seen him absorb. She had seen the devastating arc of his sword. She had barely escaped from someone who had attempted to kill Jack with overwhelming, irrational force.

Under those circumstances, it was only natural that memory resurfaced.

Leaning lazily back against his seat, the scientist said,

“You know they’ll remember you.”

“Yeah.”

He had meant to heighten her vigilance.

But Ami looked strangely pleased.

“I know.”

“What’s with that expression?”

“Kyle used to be a Knight Commander too, like Hilde.”

She muttered shyly, tilting her head diagonally.

Oh no.

What now.

“Wouldn’t he have reached the same conclusion?”

Yun shot her a look of utter disbelief. Ami ignored it.

“Like, maybe he thinks I’m the hardest Badger to deal with?”

“I’m speechless.”

“Among them, I’m probably the most famous human after Yehyeon oppa, right?”

Her grin stretched, as if her brain had stopped developing at twenty.

Yun pressed his lips together but failed spectacularly at suppressing the smile threatening to escape.

“Hilde said so.”

“Said what?”

Ami cupped her face in both hands.

“That I’m the hardest Badger to deal with.”

“And?”

“They definitely remember me! I bet I’ve got a cool nickname!”

“A cool nickname?”

“They don’t know my name!”

“Your delusion is impressive.”

“Like Hawk Badger or something!”

“You’re happy the enemy marked you?”

“Of course!”

Ami straightened proudly.

“There’s a reason pirates in comics get excited when their bounty goes up!”

Yun stared at her as if asking what nonsense she was spouting now.

She ignored him again.

Hands on hips, she stared back.

“Honestly, you’re jealous.”

“No.”

“You are. Your eight-years-younger sister stole the title of Most Dangerous Badger.”

“Try listening to people.”

“I’m the strongest Badger.”

“Strongest at running away, maybe.”

“If there’s a bounty on Badgers, mine would be the highest among field agents.”

She ignored every correction.

Standing confidently in the doorway, nose tipped toward the ceiling.

Yun narrowed his eyes at his self-satisfied sister.

Clack-clack-clack-clack.

The train thundered forward.

Center Core passed monotonously outside.

One Black Badger who still drew confidence from something Hildebert once said—and her older brother.

Yun said quietly,

“Stop hanging out with Giacomo.”

Ami blinked.

“Why?”

“Stupidity spreads.”

Her mouth fell open.

“It does not!”

This time Yun ignored her.

He rose, slipped his phone into his hand, sent a message to Yehyeon, and stepped into the corridor, pushing his sister lightly by the crown of her head.

“Ah, oppa!”

Ami followed him.

“Who was it? Yehyeon oppa or that junior? It’s gotta be one of them!”

“Go grab some alcohol swabs from the restroom.”

Yun walked with hands in pockets.

“Does this train even disinfect anything?”

“If I bring them, will you tell me?”

“I’ll be right back!”

She darted off toward the restroom car.

Giacomo Ro stood outside it.

The curly-haired Badger raised a brow when he saw her.

“Hey, Peanut, don’t go in there.”

“Why?”

“Ricardo’s buddy’s got the runs.”

“Oh.”

Ami stopped.

“What do I do then?”

Yun did not listen further.

He continued down the corridor at a steady pace. He didn’t glance at the Badgers he passed. He ignored the freckled junior bowing his head.

He walked straight toward his destination.

He stopped only when he reached the cabin of the red-haired driver.

“Black.”

He knocked twice.

The door slid open almost immediately, revealing vivid orange eyes.

“Yes, sunbae.”

“List the types and numbers of creatures your sixth sense is catching.”

Yun’s voice was flat.

“If we don’t prepare in advance, we’ll be wiped out.”

“Understood.”

Jack Black stepped aside to let him enter.

Yun sat in the desk chair. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Jack pulled a flat trunk from beneath the bed and took out a paper map, spreading it on the desk.

“Has he contacted you?”

“Why would you ask me that?”

“Because creatures across a certain point on Earth vanished in large numbers a moment ago, and the rest fled that area urgently. It seems there was a large explosion.”

Jack smiled lightly.

The face of a good-natured man.

The eyes of a competitor.

“So?”

“I thought he might contact you. You’re someone he can trust, for various reasons.”

“You really are good at flattery.”

Jack smiled and said it wasn’t flattery.

Yun ignored him.

“When your direct senior returns, learn from him.”

He lowered his gaze to the map.

Kairos understood the signal. He said nothing further about Hildebert and began listing creature information.

But relief clung heavily to him.

His left hand stroked the milk carton on the desk, unable to fully conceal restrained joy.

***

Core 5.

As Yehyeon carved a trench using a morphing weapon, he heard something in the distance.

Like—

A volcano erupting somewhere far away.

“Hilde?”

The name slipped out before he realized it.

Ricardo and Jonathan snapped their heads toward him.