episode_0020

After several hours of quiet flight, the Silvera began to slow down and descend.

As they descended through the hazy cloud layer outside the cockpit window, a vast expanse of land revealed itself.

If Terminus Station was like an outlaw city situated within a gigantic underground cave, this place was truly a massive corporate city straight out of a futuristic movie.

The buildings formed a colossal complex.

Towers soared as if piercing the sky, gigantic dome-shaped research facilities.

Transparent tube-shaped transit passages connected the buildings like a spiderweb, with maglev trains rapidly moving within them.

Everything was so colossal, intricate, and perfectly orderly, it was hard to believe it was the work of human technology.

The station’s exterior was surrounded by high defensive walls, along with powerful defense systems, including laser turrets and missile launchers installed throughout.

‘To think I’d actually see something like this in real life, something I only saw in games.’

It reminded me once again that I was in a game.

“That’s the Icarus Technology Far East Branch Headquarters Complex.”

Yuna said, staring straight ahead.

A faint sense of pride for this place could be felt in her voice.

The Silvera approached a massive landing pad located in the center of the complex.

Dozens of Icarus transport planes and fighter jets, and mechs that looked similar to or even more advanced than the Silvera, were seen standing in an orderly fashion.

We gently and silently touched down on the designated Landing Pad 7.

“Get out.”

With Yuna’s words, the cockpit hatch opened.

I followed her and stepped onto the landing pad.

The air was incomparably clear and clean, unlike the murky air of Terminus.

A powerful air purification system seemed to be in operation.

As soon as we disembarked from the Silvera, several security personnel dressed in crisp white uniforms and a few scan drones quickly approached.

Their movements were disciplined like soldiers, and their expressions were stiff.

“We will now begin identity verification and security screening.”

I tensed up reflexively, but Yuna lightly tapped my shoulder, signaling that it was fine.

As if accustomed to it, she scanned her ID chip on the recognition device.

[Authentication complete. Yuna, Pilot. Grade Alpha. All area access permitted.]

Once her authentication was complete, the security personnel’s vigilance seemed to ease slightly, but their gazes remained fixed on me.

Their wariness towards strangers was evident.

It was my turn.

“Hmm…”

The man who appeared to be the leader among the security personnel frowned as he looked at the scan results.

His gaze sharpened again.

“This individual has no record whatsoever. Yuna-nim, regarding this person’s identity…”

The moment he was about to impose further restrictions on me, Yuna stepped forward.

“He is my guest.”

Her voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable authority.

“I vouch for his identity and have authorized his temporary entry into this facility. All procedures will proceed under my responsibility, so please omit any further unnecessary actions.”

“But Yuna-nim, according to regulations…”

The security chief tried to object with a troubled expression, but Yuna cut him off.

“This is a formal invitation issued under my Alpha-grade authority. If there are any procedural issues, I will officially report them later. For now, I’d like you to step aside.”

At her resolute attitude, the security chief finally closed his mouth and backed down.

The other security personnel also no longer looked at me with suspicious eyes and returned to their respective positions.

I was surprised anew by the fact that Yuna’s authority was much stronger than I had imagined.

It was hard to believe that a mere mercenary belonging to a corporation possessed this level of authority.

She seemed to be more than just a pilot.

“There’s nothing to worry about.”

Yuna said, turning back to me.

As if she had read my thoughts.

“Since I brought you here, I will ensure no unnecessary problems arise. For now, follow me.”

She naturally took the lead and began walking.

I briefly watched her back, then silently followed her.

We exited the landing pad and entered the interior of a massive building.

The interior was as overwhelming as the exterior.

The wide and high corridors shone cleanly, and most of the walls were made of transparent material, allowing glimpses into the research labs and facilities inside.

“This is the Far East Branch’s main research and development complex.”

Yuna began to briefly introduce the surrounding facilities.

“Various fields, from mech design to new material development and energy research, are concentrated here. That dome building over there is the latest simulation center, and next to it is…”

Her explanation was fluid, as if watching a well-produced promotional video.

I nodded half-heartedly and looked around.

It was indeed an amazing place.

A pinnacle of technology, incomparable to the junk alley of Terminus.

If Scarlet had come here, a whole week wouldn’t have been enough for her to just look around.

Just then, three figures were seen walking towards us from the far end of the corridor.

They were wearing the same silver-white pilot suits that Yuna wore, but their atmosphere was quite different.

“Oh, Yuna. You’re back.”

The first to speak was a sharp-looking man with green hair.

He spotted me and scrutinized me with interest.

“So this is the ‘Driller’ I’ve only heard about? He looks… ordinary, compared to the rumors.”

There was a hint of sarcasm in his words.

“Nice to meet you, friend.”

A burly black man pushed up his sunglasses and said gruffly.

“Your data was interesting, though.”

A man who looked like a pervert, wearing glasses, approached me and blatantly scrutinized me from head to toe as he spoke.

His eyes gleamed like a scientist who had discovered a rare insect specimen.

“Your abnormal energy patterns and reaction speed… and your biological data. I’d very much like to analyze them in detail sometime.”

Yuna stepped in front of them and introduced me.

“These are my comrades. Lazer, Titan, and Doctor. And this is…”

“I am Kang Jin-woo. Pleased to meet you.”

After cutting her off, I simply bowed my head.

“He will be staying with us for a while. Since I invited him, there should be no unnecessary friction.”

Yuna’s last words contained an implicit warning to her comrades.

“By the way, what’s with that skull t-shirt, Yuna?”

His gaze fixed on the skull printing on Yuna’s black t-shirt.

“Did you bring it as a souvenir or something?”

At Lazer’s mischievous remark, Yuna’s expression seemed to harden for a moment, but then she nonchalantly brushed back the hair that had fallen over her shoulder.

“My pilot suit got dirty, so I changed into this temporarily.”

She answered calmly.

She even leisurely ran her hand over the skull print on her t-shirt.

“But actually, it’s quite comfortable, I like it.”

“Dirty? What did you do to make you change so hastily?”

Lazer’s lewd eyes narrowed further as he blatantly alternated his gaze between me and Yuna.

It was obvious that all sorts of impure thoughts were unfolding in his mind.

What is this bastard imagining right now?

I felt my brow furrowing involuntarily.

“It was just coffee.”

Yuna said coldly, as if cutting off his imagination.

But Lazer let out a snort and scoffed.

It was clear he didn’t believe it at all. He then put on a fake smile again and spoke.

“Anyway, welcome. We actually have a mission soon. Good timing.”

“A mission?”

Yuna said, puzzled, tapping her terminal.

“I haven’t received any such orders. What mission is it, Lazer?”

“It will be coming soon.”

Lazer casually ignored Yuna’s question and slowly approached me.

Then, as if he were a close colleague, he casually placed a hand on my shoulder.

But his gaze and the smile on his lips were not friendly at all.

“Hey, Driller.”

He immediately corrected himself and gave a twisted smile.

“No, wait,”

“Kang Jin-woo, who was a low-ranking mercenary of Chronos.”

That smile clearly contained mockery and disdain.

Yuna glanced between Lazer and me and tried to reach out, as if to stop his actions.

But I was faster.

“What do you want to say?”

I roughly shoved his hand off my shoulder and glared at him.

I read the intention of provocation in his eyes.

“I’ve seen all your combat records. Alright, I’ll admit what needs to be admitted. You fought quite well with that scrap metal. Should I say you were lucky?”

He shrugged.

“Perfect timing, then. I have a mission soon, so I need to warm up a bit. How about a light mock combat session?”

His voice was soft, but the intention behind it was clear.

“We can personally check if your amazing skills haven’t rusted, you know. What do you say, isn’t it an honor?”

His suggestion was an overt provocation.

To me, who had just arrived, to propose a mock battle with them, the elite pilots of Icarus.

The outcome was obvious.

His intention was clearly to test me, trample me, and humiliate me.

[Sudden Quest Activated]

Quest: Ace’s Provocation

Description: Icarus Technology Ace Pilot ‘Lazer’ has challenged your skills and proposed a mock battle. Break his arrogant pride and prove your worth.

Goal: Engage in a mock battle with Lazer

Basic Reward: 10,000 CR

*Additional rewards upon fulfilling special conditions:

– Deal 10% or more damage to Lazer’s mech: +10,000 CR

– Deal 30% or more damage to Lazer’s mech: +30,000 CR

– Render Lazer’s mech combat-incapable: +50,000 CR

I widened my eyes and checked the contents of the system window.

A quest? And at this timing?

This wasn’t merely a quest to prove my skills.

It was as if the system was overtly inciting me to smash Lazer.

It wasn’t about simply defending or enduring, but actively attacking and inflicting damage.

“Interesting. But the ‘scrap metal’ you mentioned is currently being modified. A corporation like Icarus must have plenty of mass-produced mechs, right?”

Lazer’s eyebrow twitched up.

“Don’t worry about that, we’ll be sparring with mock combat mechs…”

I cut him off abruptly and continued.

“No, you ride your own mech, and I’ll ride a mock combat mech. How about that?”

“What? This bastard.”

At the provocative remark, Lazer flared up and a vein pulsed in his forehead.

“Are you chickening out?”

I sneered, and a new system window popped up.

[Quest Hidden Condition Achieved]

[New objective added.]

Oh, what? I didn’t intend for this.

The moment I confirmed the new objective, a smile naturally formed on my lips.