The Returner

Chapter 418: Been a while (3)

“Will this really be alright?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon tried his absolute best to unpack what went down just now. Sure, he hadn’t done anything and this whole mess was Yi Ji-Hyuk’s and Alpha’s doing, but... For some reason, it kind of looked like he now needed to step in and take control of the situation.

Although it felt unfair to him, an event of this magnitude definitely was not an everyday occurrence, either.

“Not sure.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Even the one and only Yi Ji-Hyuk was still groaning under his breath as if he too had no answers to this one.

It felt like an enticing and aromatic feast had been laid out before his eyes but it actually tasted like a rotten crap. He could understand the reasoning behind this whole thing, yet it still felt like they had been suckered into helping Alpha’s cause here.

In all honesty, Yi Ji-Hyuk was not a gracious, big-hearted man who would let go of his misgivings because of the noble-sounding justification of ‘For the human race!’

Even then, that didn’t mean he shouldn’t teach that guy anything, now did it? Especially so with the situation as it was now.

“Urgh...” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk let out a pained groan.

It was undoubtedly a good thing that they saw the potential light of hope at the end of a dark tunnel of despair.

He did research the synergy between Ether and Mana in order to shore up his lacking firepower after he came back to Earth. But never did he even think about informing the others about it.

First of all, this planet didn’t have any Mana at the time he did his research, and as for why he hadn’t thought up of doing that even as the situation reached this critical stage... That’s simply because he never was the type of a man to strengthen other people around him. Such a concept didn’t even exist within him.

Why? Because all the problems he ran into so far got sorted out simply by his own strength, that’s why.

The prospect of strengthening someone else other than himself using the information he currently held was a problem his mind couldn’t understand properly.

He did ‘train’ the NDF agents in the past so that he could make them work in his stead, but back then he was thinking more about avoiding any unnecessary annoyances as well as sacrifices on his part. He wasn’t thinking of turning them into his own combat force or some such.

Honestly, they weren’t much of a help in the first place, anyways.

So perhaps it was unsurprising that he never thought about strengthening the others to solve the current crisis. This was the limitation of Yi Ji-Hyuk’s mindset after living only for himself for an unmeasurable length of time alone.

Basically, Alpha had woken him up to that fact today, but still...

“Should I just...” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk glanced at Choi Jeong-Hoon and smirked.

“...Throw a tantrum and say I’m not gonna do it anymore, since I feel like crap and all?” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

“...”

For the first time ever in his life, Choi Jeong-Hoon was suddenly overcome by this urge to agree with Yi Ji-Hyuk’s silly little joke.

Even if it was for the sake of humanity, he just couldn’t get rid of his misgivings about joining hands with Alpha.

“He surely is aiming for something else, isn’t he?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“Well, that’s bloody obvious.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Someone like Alpha would never ever reveal everything in his mind to anyone. Even if their ‘relationship’ began on a wrong foot, there’s no denying that out of everyone in both Berafe and Earth, Alpha was the only man to properly upstage and sucker-punch Yi Ji-Hyuk real good.

“Even if he has an agenda... It’s too bad but it doesn’t look like we have any choice in the matter. The NDF can also do the same thing as what Alpha suggested, strengthening ability users by making them use magic, but...” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Choi Jeong-Hoon couldn’t finish his sentence.

It might be possible to strengthen the overall forces with some other means. But the actual issue laid with the fact that no one could replace Yi Ji-Hyuk. Even if, say, Kim Dah-Hyun or Seo Ah-Young were to be taught how to manipulate Mana, it just didn’t seem likely that they would become strong enough to fight against a demon king.

The only one with the highest odds was Seo Ah-Young, but even then it’d still be next to impossible for her whether she learned about Mana or not. Not to forget, Yi Ji-Hyuk had already strengthened the NDF agents once before. But they couldn’t reach the heights necessary to confront a single demon king.

No, they simply had to be satisfied with the role of buying time for Yi Ji-Hyuk, that’s all.

That’s why someone stronger than Seo Ah-Young, who was intelligent enough to also utilise Mana separately from Ether, was needed right now.

‘And that someone just so happens to be Alpha.’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

With this, there was no need to prove that this world had no such thing as justice. A man like Alpha being the strongest was proof enough that things like retribution or comeuppance were nothing but a distant pipe dream.

“Urgh...” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk grunted unhappily as if he was thinking about the same thing.

If he didn’t like it, then he could just say no.

But no matter how hard he thought about it, he just couldn’t deny the fact that strengthening Alpha and the highest-level ability users surrounding the man in question were the best available method to improving humanity’s chances.

“Eii.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shot up from the couch.

“Where are you going?” (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

“I’m going for a stroll.” (Yi Ji-Hyuk)

Yi Ji-Hyuk shook his head and headed outside, but that caused this instinctive question to pop up in Choi Jeong-Hoon’s mind, instead.

‘Wait, is it normal to leave the guest behind in the house to go for a stroll?’ (Choi Jeong-Hoon)

Oh well, it’s Yi Ji-Hyuk I’m talking about, so...

...Uh?

Wait a minute, that guy shouldn’t be left alone by himself, though? (Choi Jeong-Hoon’s inner monologue)

Choi Jeong-Hoon also shot up from the couch and hurriedly chased after Yi Ji-Hyuk.

***

Christopher McLaren lit up his cigar.

“Fuu-wuu...” (Christopher McLaren)

Thick cigar smoke spread throughout the interior. His office didn’t have good ventilation but he still needed to smoke right now otherwise he wouldn’t be able to sit still.

“Will the Koreans listen to our suggestion, sir?” (Jake)

“If they don’t, then what?” (Christopher McLaren)

Christopher McLaren asked back at his adjutant.

“Listen, Jake. We’re not messing around here. Tens of millions of lives are at stake right this second. What do you think will happen if they say no to my offer? This is a threat thinly veiled as an offer, my man. But to them, my offer must’ve sounded like that single rescue line coming down from above.” (Christopher McLaren)

The expression of Christopher McLaren remained gloomy even as he said those things.

“D*mn it.” (Christopher McLaren)

He was not a man without scruples.

No, he merely knew how to lower or raise the line he was willing to cross depending on his needs, that’s all.

Even those deemed cold-hearted or lacking in human empathy did possess some semblance of emotions. They simply were able to ignore their feelings depending on the situation.

Meaning, he certainly felt the pang of conscience digging deeply into his heart. Without Yi Ji-Hyuk, the United States of America would’ve been destroyed several times over by now.

And it was none other than Christopher McLaren himself who sought out Yi Ji-Hyuk’s help every single time such crises raised their ugly heads.

“Sir, history will vindicate you.” (Jake)

“Right, as the history’s worst scumbag. Probably.” (Christopher McLaren)

“But sir, we have no other choice, don’t we?” (Jake)

“Jake.” (Christopher McLaren)

Christopher McLaren deeply sucked in the cigar’s pungent smoke before exhaling it out slowly. His expression crumpled as he finished his reply.

“Nothing in this world is actually ‘can’t be helped’, you understand? That’s simply an excuse. There is always a way out. But when that way turns out to be difficult or even annoying, people suddenly start saying crap like they don’t have any other choice.” (Christopher McLaren)

He let out a long, long sigh, then chewed out the rest of his words.

“So, do not ever forget. And don’t try to console me. As long as you remain in this profession, do not forget that the work we do is truly unforgivable, heinous, and more than enough to have you burn in hell. Those who get lost in the so-called great and justifiable causes always end up morphing into monsters. Monsters who destroy not only themselves, but the people around them, too.” (Christopher McLaren)

“However, isn’t that also a type of self-gratification? The kind where you feel relieved about not ending up as a monster yet.” (?)

Christopher McLaren’s head slowly shifted in the direction of that voice.

A face that was both familiar and foreign at the same time, could be found sitting there. The face that he heard about countless times, saw in countless footages and video clips and documents, but never had the chance to personally meet until now.

Codename, Alpha.

Perhaps the vilest, most insane ability user brought to life by America and Christopher McLaren was sitting on one of the empty spots in the couch, his legs crossed relaxedly.

Alpha furrowed his brows then waved his hand around in front of his face.

“Look, McLaren. I know it’s up to you whether you choose to smoke indoors or not, but it’s not like you guys don’t have the money for it, so why don’t you get yourself air freshener or something? If you’re strapped for cash, then should I bring one as a souvenir next time I come for a visit?” (Alpha)

Here was the man that Christopher McLaren wanted to find so badly. And to kill, too. Alpha couldn’t be located anywhere no matter what, yet he had shown up at the absolute worst timing and began grating on the American’s nerves.

“Should I say, it’s finally a pleasure to meet you?” (Christopher McLaren)

“Oh, of course it’s a pleasure for me, too. I mean, you’re that one guy who so desperately pined for me and stuff, after all. Even if you’re not a woman, that kind of dedication will make anyone’s heart swoon. Wouldn’t you say?” (Alpha)

Alpha cackled softly.

Christopher McLaren didn’t make any rash moves.

If he tried to call for help, then without a doubt, Alpha would make his move. Which would be bad.

Besides, there was another problem of whether or not the combat force in the vicinity could even stand up to Alpha’s might in the first place.

“You were capable of even teleporting?” (Christopher McLaren)

“Oh? Looks like you had no idea. But the info on how rubbish the American intelligence agency is at their job should be a top national secret, so is it okay for you to tell me this? When I’m a criminal and all?” (Alpha)

“Looks like we need to add to the info that you must’ve lathered your glib tongue in lubricants. My people aren’t that strict when it comes to confirming such details, you see.” (Christopher McLaren)

“A director who needs to personally step up and do all the work. What a sorrowful sight that is.” (Alpha)

Christopher McLaren slowly stubbed his cigar on the ashtray to kill it. His actions seemed nonchalant, uncaring even, but the truth was that he did everything as slowly as possible not to negatively tick off Alpha.

That made sense, though.

Not only was this man before his eyes the worst madman in the whole world, Alpha was also the unfortunate by-product of ‘Project Pandora’ that Christopher McLaren had been involved with.

“If you’ve only killed me, then I wouldn’t have to sit through this sorry occasion.” (Christopher McLaren)

“Kekeke. A villain isn’t supposed to die that easily, McLaren. And that’s the reason why you’re still breathing, right?” (Alpha)

“That’s a pretty insulting example, but I’ll accept it for now.” (Christopher McLaren)

Christopher McLaren smirked wryly.

“Fine. What do you want, then? What’s the purpose of someone as important as yourself making a trip all the way out here? I’m far busier than you think, so I ask you to get to the point as soon as possible. Plenty other things besides you require my immediate attention, after all.” (Christopher McLaren)

“Hmm...” (Alpha)

Alpha grinned as if he was mildly entertained by this exchange.

“I also don’t want to waste my time here, so let me get to the point. First of all, my friends aren’t some mole rats so why don’t you release them and let them finally enjoy some sunshine on the outside?” (Alpha)

“That kind of bullsh*t isn’t even worth listening to.” (Christopher McLaren)

“No, no. Don’t think of it that way, McLaren. Aren’t they worse than insects that waste perfectly good food from your perspective? But when you do release them, they will instantly morph into wonderful warriors of humanity liberation resistance. No matter what, you will lose nothing here.” (Alpha)

“I’ll be the judge of that. Since there’s the first, what’s the second?” (Christopher McLaren)

“I want you to find me a large enough location suited for training purposes. I don’t mind you taking a look in Africa, but unfortunately, aircons over there don’t seem to work properly, so...” (Alpha)

It was right there that Christopher McLaren’s eyes narrowed to slits.

A location for training?

“Okay, got it. Is there something else?” (Christopher McLaren)

“Of course there is. It’s the most important part, too. Stop obsessing over Yi Ji-Hyuk from now on. Compared to all the others, this should be the easiest for you, right?” (Alpha)

“Look here, Alpha.” (Christopher McLaren)

Christopher McLaren smirked while pulling out another cigar, then expertly cut the tip off before lighting it carefully.

“Did you grow attached while fighting him or some such? Or is this you being a noble humanitarian who doesn’t want to see Yi Ji-Hyuk experience what you had to go through? I don’t understand why you’d want to protect that man.” (Christopher McLaren)

“Because, he’s necessary.” (Alpha)

Alpha’s explanation was kept to a bare minimum.

“And this isn’t a request but a warning. You can take it as a threat too, Christopher McLaren. All those people you had around Yi Ji-Hyuk? Right about now, they should be finding out how hot the flames of hell are, not in the demon world but in actual afterlife. And if you persist in your quest to get your hands on him, then I’m more than willing to let you experience the same thing as them.” (Alpha)

Alpha growled menacingly just then.

< 418. Been a while -3 > Fin.

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