episode_0037

A Nessis Corporation craft was seen rapidly moving away, its boosters igniting in a hurry.

I immediately aimed the barrel of the acceleration rifle in my left hand at the retreating enemy.

The precision strike assistance system accurately calculated its estimated escape route and the weak point of its engine section, displaying them on the HUD.

At this distance, I could easily score a direct hit.

“Don’t even think about running away.”

The moment I was about to fire.

[Warning! System overload! Main power reactor output unstable. Weapon control system error occurred.]

All the warning lights inside the cockpit flashed wildly, sounding a loud alarm.

The aiming reticle on the HUD shook unstably, and the ammunition display blinked red, showing empty.

“It’s too much, after all.”

The reactor had overheated due to excessive energy consumption.

If it weren’t for the gravitic damper, the craft wouldn’t have been able to withstand it.

To miss it due to such a system problem, regret washed over me, but there was nothing I could do.

Chasing it recklessly would be a big gamble.

[Quest Objective Record Updated, Annihilation of Hostile Forces]

•Objective Achieved: Neutralize hostile forces within the designated area.

“Quest record updated?”

I blinked for a moment.

It was clearly a personal request I received from Alexander Valentine, but had it been converted into a system quest and was now active?

It seems that the system in this world goes beyond a simple game interface, possessing the ability to automatically convert contracts I make or actions under specific conditions into quests.

‘If that’s the case.’

I immediately manipulated the system window and opened the [Quest List].

As expected, the quest was active at the very top.

[Active Quest]

•Client: Alexander Valentine

•Objective: Recover the item specified by the client.

•Current Progress: Stage 1 – Entered target area and completed engagement with hostile forces. (Stage 2 available)

“Stage 2, huh.”

I eliminated the hostile forces. So, next is information gathering?

I closed the quest window and descended to the wreckage of the horribly destroyed Stinger.

I thought that since they had been rummaging through this place, I might find something.

The moment I stopped near the cockpit block, which was crushed beyond recognition from a direct hit by the pile bunker.

[Specific Conditions Met: Accumulated advanced combat data and approached a destroyed mech.]

[New Skill Unlocked]

With a sudden system notification, I felt a sensation as if new information was flowing into my mind.

[Skill Acquired: Data Ghost – LV.1]

“Data Ghost?”

In the game, it was a skill treated as worthless.

A skill that simply extracts residual data from damaged or non-functional mechanical devices.

It was a skill that everyone ignored, unless they were the kind of person who intended to devour every piece of text in this game.

But. Now it’s reality.

The potential for utilizing this Data Ghost skill is endless.

“Activate skill.”

A faint illusion of blue light particles flowing from my hand and seeping into the Stinger’s wreckage was visible.

It was a sensation I had never felt before.

It felt as if my consciousness was being drawn into the mechanical fragments, groping for the faint remnants of data left within.

A moment later, fragmented information, like shards of broken glass, began pouring into my mind.

Including parts of their communication records, the power core they were searching for, and a report stating that a specific energy pattern was detected in the third basement level of the waste disposal facility.

“Does the information become more accurate as the skill level goes up?”

In the game, skills didn’t have a concept like levels.

They functioned more like traits that could be equipped in a total of four slots.

“Then, what would be the level of Movement Flow?”

With this level of performance, it should have already reached LV.MAX and then some.

I opened the system window and checked the skill list.

[Owned Skills]

Movement Flow – Lv.2

Description: Momentarily concentrates on the mobility system and inertia control system, maximizing unpredictable high-mobility and shock absorption capabilities.

Level Effect: Improved energy efficiency, increased mobility limit, increased skill duration.

Data Ghost – Lv.1

Description: Detects and extracts residual data from damaged or non-functional mechanical devices.

Level Effect: Slightly increased data extraction success rate and recovery rate.

“This is only Level 2?”

I don’t know what the max level is, but the existence of levels was clear proof that I could become even stronger.

If the Movement Flow skill reached LV.MAX, I would be able to perform movements incomparable to now.

For now, I closed the skill window and looked around again.

The information obtained from the craft about the third basement level – I had to head there.

“Let’s not lower our guard as much as possible, since one of them got away.”

In the craft’s current state, a prolonged battle had to be avoided.

I moved the craft towards the entrance leading to the basement of the waste disposal facility.

“Valentine?”

A communication signal rang out, and when I checked, it was him.

[Kang Jin-woo! What’s the situation over there now? All the energy signatures of Nessis crafts that were detected around you just a moment ago have disappeared! What happened?]

“You mean those Nessis bastards? I cleaned them all up. Though one of them managed to escape…”

[What, what did you say? All those crafts?]

Valentine was speechless for a while.

Meanwhile, I slowly descended along the underground passage.

[Huh, you were so confident, and truly amazing, Kang Jin-woo.]

He said, admiringly.

[I haven’t seen your skills directly, but I clearly confirmed it on my situation board. I can’t just stand by either.]

“What are you talking about? Suddenly.”

[I’ll give you a proper briefing now. If I had known you were such a skilled individual, I would have shared all information from the start. It was my oversight.]

“What kind of dog-shit nonsense is that?”

I flared up automatically and shouted.

[I apologize. I deliberately gave you only a minimal amount, fearing that if things went awry, the information might leak.]

“Hah, seriously.”

If you call that cautious, then it is.

With such a lack of trust.

It’s like someone who was betrayed and is preparing for revenge.

He seems to be an endlessly suspicious and calculating individual.

“So, from now on, you’ll tell me all the information?”

[That’s right. Originally, I planned to have you only scout and search, then deploy a separately prepared recovery team, but the situation has changed now.]

Oh, so he even had a Plan B?

Does that mean the mercenary group was meant to be used and discarded from the start?

[I expected it, but it seems the rumors spread too widely. Other corporations must have caught wind of it and have been spread out for several days now.]

“Actually, I’ve already detected an energy signature presumed to be the target on the third basement level.”

[Third basement level? That matches my information. Leave the route guidance to me.]

“I’ll gladly accept.”

Right, let’s focus on the mission for now.

Valentine wasn’t entirely to my liking, but what could I do since I was already here?

I had to finish it.

[It’s just beyond there!]

BOOOOOOM-!

As I forcibly destroyed the bulkhead with the pile bunker and stepped inside, a massive crystal-shaped power core, emitting a faint blue light, floated in the center of the wide space.

[That energy signature! It’s a Novaseed, all right!]

Valentine’s voice, filled with emotion, echoed through the communication.

[Can you share your craft’s screen? I’d like to confirm it myself.]

“Understood.”

[No doubt about it! It’s definitely a Novaseed!]

“Good. I’ll recover it quickly.”

I safely placed the Novaseed into the recovery container and turned to leave.

[Confirm the coordinates I sent you. The mission is complete once you make contact with the recovery team and drop off the item.]

“Confirmed, Valentine. But let me ask you one thing.”

[What is it?]

“What do you plan to do with this power core? Revenge?”

[Revenge, huh… Something similar. I’d like to tell you the details face-to-face.]

“Understood.”

After inputting the last coordinates Valentine left into the navigation, I began to exit the underground facility.

Going up was much easier than coming down, but I still couldn’t let my guard down.

That surviving Nessis bastard kept bothering me.

Fortunately, there was no particular interference while emerging to the surface.

The rendezvous coordinates with the recovery team were in the middle of a desolate rocky terrain.

Upon arrival, I saw several crafts approaching in the distance.

One transport ship and two heavily armed mechs that appeared to be escorts. Their crafts bore no affiliation markings.

[Are you Kang Jin-woo of the Steel Fang Mercenary Group?]

“Yes, I’ve brought the item.”

I replied, pointing to the recovery container.

[The verification code.]

At his request, I transmitted the code Valentine had given me in advance.

[Code matched. Transfer the item to the transport ship.]

Following his command, one of the mechs approached the open rear ramp of the transport ship, carrying the container.

[Mission completion confirmed. Withdrawing.]

The recovery team leader turned his craft towards the transport ship without another word.

In an instant, the transport ship disappeared into a cloud of dust.

‘It feels unsettling, but is this really the end?’

By the way, I envy those recovery team bastards.

Someone endured hell, and they just flew in on a transport ship and earned money with a single click?

Just as annoyance was about to rise.

[Quest Objective Record Updated, Designated Target Item Transport Completed.]

At the same time as the reassuring message appeared.

KABOOOOOM-!

With a huge explosion, the transport ship that had disappeared into the dust cloud was crashing down.

“Crazy…”

[Optional Quest Updated.]

[1. Defeat Admiral Belzero Karmail and one squad of her subordinate pirate group, Warp Hound.]

-Upon completion, you will receive immense rewards and Alexander Valentine’s trust.

[2. Return.]

Belzero Karmail, the admiral of the Red Veil Pirates, and her subordinate pirate group?

Frankly, there’s no reason to provoke them.

The Red Veil would be looking for me because of the gravitic damper incident last time. There was even less reason to expose myself.

My request was to transport the item, and the objective has already been achieved.

‘More than anything, if I push myself in my current state, both I and the craft will burn out.’

My heart gravitated towards option 2. Return.