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In Korea, a robber stormed into Paju.

In Japan, a robber stormed into Osaka.

The robber in Korea was so diabolical that after subduing the people, he even bound them and set explosives. Meanwhile, in Japan, they were unleashing bombs without restraint, turning buildings into rubble to seize their targets. Their actions showed no hesitation, as if they were members who had only ever lived in a lawless zone, and they seemed utterly unconcerned about causing injury or death.

They were outlaws, criminals.

Even the CCTV footage recorded before the EMP attack showed their movements were unbridled, with zero hesitation. They invaded the building as if it were their own home, mercilessly beating down the guards as if they were mere pests.

In Korea, it was all done physically.

In Japan, they annihilated people with smoke insecticide.

Just look at the traces they left behind at the scene. It was as if they moved without caring if the building collapsed.

Cracks running along the walls, bursts, and exposed rebar in the pillars.

Did they truly believe the building wouldn’t collapse? Or did they have confidence that they could survive even if it did?

That remains unknown.

Not much has been revealed about them yet.

Only their vague silhouettes were captured by the CCTV; nothing else has been discovered.

The true nature of their identities?

Of course, it remains a mystery.

All that can be speculated is that they are exceptionally vile.

Why?

Simply because the investigation hasn’t even begun.

It wasn’t some cliché political issue or a risk of collapse—nothing so ordinary.

“Damn it! What the hell is this…!”

The incident hasn’t concluded yet.

* * *

“I’ve been in EOD for 15 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this. Is it the same for you?”

“…Likewise. This is something I’ve never encountered.”

In Korea, the state of the building was in decent shape.

But in exchange, hostages were taken.

Hostages wrapped in bombs behind transparent glass doors.

“I’ve been deployed to various terror sites, but… this is unprecedented.”

Beyond the bulletproof glass, there were hostages.

If I could just push that transparent door open, I could save them.

I could send the unconscious ones off to the hospital.

But… it’s impossible.

“This isn’t typical terrorism. It’s something much more malicious…”

The lines tied to the hostages.

Mechanical devices hanging everywhere.

And the bombs attached to the door for all to see.

The intruders in this building were communicating through those devices.

Indirectly, they spoke with a method more intense than any other.

That opening the door would trigger an explosion.

And that the moment any nonsense was attempted, all hostages would die.

To take people hostage and threaten them with bombs.

Isn’t that just plain vicious?

But even more atrocious is this fact.

“They’re not just taking hostages and making demands like usual terrorists; they simply bound people with bombs and vanished without a word. Without any message or requests, it’s as if they thought, ‘Let’s bind them with bombs and disappear.’ These are… truly damn bastards.”

If they had behaved like typical terrorists, it would have been easier to understand.

Then I could have just cursed at them like, ‘You crazy bastards!’

But these lunatics bound hostages with bombs and vanished.

Like leaving bait for a predator.

As if laying mines and tripwires when retreating from a battlefield to slow down pursuit.

Just like that, they tossed people out as bait.

They viewed the hostages as mere resources, nothing more or less.

“What do they think human lives are…?”

Just how vile can one be?

Even terrorists who sacrifice their own lives for their cause don’t belittle human lives like this. They may kill without a second thought, but they understand the value of life.

Without that understanding, they wouldn’t terrorize by taking lives.

People’s lives are precious and valuable, and that’s what’s used to instill shock and fear.

But look at these madmen.

Aren’t they treating people like mere resources?

They understand the value but feel nothing beyond that.

With a blasé thought like, ‘If I threaten them with something they value, surely they’d start worrying,’ they commit this insanity.

They hardly seem like serial killers who relish killing.

They’re not obsessed or fixated on it.

They just… think it’s efficient, so they do it.

How is that human?

It’s close to the actions of a machine, isn’t it?

If this is indeed the work of a person, then calling it human would be difficult; their mind must be worn out to that degree.

A being that has dulled its emotions to only consider efficiency… nearly machine-like in nature.

Unless their mental state is fundamentally flawed.

Perhaps… most parts of their psyche are broken.

“Yeah, exactly. What do they think human lives are worth….”

Confronting such lunatics with standard methods would be challenging.

We either need to bring in another like-minded lunatic, or we need to exert enough strength to overwhelm the madness.

‘This could be harder than I planned. If I’m not careful, things could go south….’

The EOD guy felt a strong premonition that things could go awry with the current units, and immediately asked the man beside him who was assessing the situation.

“Major? Could you get in touch with someone? I don’t think we can solve this with just the personnel we have here.”

The man was from the 707 Special Task Unit, renowned in counter-terrorism.

“Just call me Team Leader. I’ve been dispatched here as the team leader.”

“Oh, what’s with the importance of titles? Alright, then… Team Leader? Which unit are you from?”

“I told you earlier, I’m from the 707 Special Task Unit.”

“Yeah, I know that. But there’s a division within the unit, right?”

“It’s classified.”

The Team Leader firmly refused to answer.

It was classified.

He simply couldn’t share that information.

“Ah… come on.”

The man, wearing a thick suit designed for protection against explosives, scratched his head.

The suit was so thick it didn’t give much sensation, but he felt the need to do something to relieve his annoyance.

“I was asking about your affiliation because I figured we might need specific personnel.”

“Specific personnel?”

“Yeah. We have a bit of a rapport with the Special Warfare Command. I’ve heard a few things about the unit there. The 707 unit is composed solely of psychics and sorcerers, right?”

“…”

“I think we need people from there. Oh, if you don’t want to answer, that’s fine. Just wanted you to know that we’re going to need skilled psychics.”

Upon hearing that, the Team Leader hesitated briefly before using special equipment to get in touch.

“…I believe we need personnel skilled in psychokinesis to rescue the hostages…”

That was a request for individuals who could use psychokinesis.

‘Phew. If it’s psychokinesis, we can dismantle it somehow….’

The EOD leader sighed in relief at the Team Leader’s words.

‘The ones who set these bombs are insane. Those kinds of people wouldn’t just make it so the bombs would go off simply by opening the door.’

They left the hostages and explosives out in the open for all to see.

And the explosives themselves appeared to be installed with exceptional skill.

Would those kinds of people leave it so that bombs would blow up just by opening the door?

That was impossible.

Leaving the bombs rigged to explode upon door opening involves many countermeasures.

Boring holes in the wall, drilling holes in the door, sending small summon creatures to hold the wires…

Even without the 707 unit, it was a problem that could be taken care of just with the EOD team.

But… suspicion had to arise.

Could those who burnt all the CCTV footage and raided the building really set a simple trap?

Not just a tripwire, but gathering up subdued hostages and wrapping explosives around them?

That couldn’t be right.

There had to be some form of trap.

Undoubtedly, there’s a trap.

‘It doesn’t even make sense to place something like that behind the glass door. That’s just a trap meant to draw attention, and there must be a sensor mechanism at play.’

If what was visible was all there was, that would be wonderful.

Everything could be resolved easily.

But what if not?

What if there’s a detection sensor inside?

What if there’s a bomb that detonates the moment anything changes at the glass door?

What if there’s a device that triggers an explosion the instant a wire gets touched?

Then all the hostages will die.

And surely, the EOD and counter-terrorism units wouldn’t remain unscathed either.

Both physically and socially.

‘Phew… I hope the reinforcements arrive quickly. Before those people wake up…?‘

Wait a second.

Before those people wake up?

“Damn it. Team Leader. There are some pieces of equipment the incoming personnel need to bring.”

“Yeah? Like what?”

“Equipment used by special forces to subdue targets; like a tranquilizer gun that puts you to sleep upon a single prick, smoke grenades used to incapacitate in confined spaces, or devices that emit smoke that renders you unconscious upon inhalation….”

“Why would we need that… Oh!”

Feeling momentarily irritated by the demand for equipment, the Team Leader suddenly understood the man’s purpose and realized his mistake.

“It wouldn’t be good if the hostages wake up while we’re dismantling the bombs.”

“Yes. If they panic and start thrashing around, it could trigger the bomb…”

“I understand. If it were just one or two, we could use psychokinesis to put them to sleep, but with their number… using equipment would be better. I’ll get in touch.”

And so, time kept ticking in Korea.

Time was spent dispatching the EOD and 707 Special Task Unit to the scene.

Time was spent checking the hostages and explosives.

Time was spent contacting upper management.

Time was spent returning deployed personnel and arming them with equipment.

By now, it would take more time for those units to arrive here with their equipment.

As they used precious time to rescue the hostages, the remaining traces at the scene grew fainter, and the traces of magic and mana they had meticulously arranged evaporated without anyone noticing.

All their focus was solely on the hostages, just like that….

They moved dutifully according to someone’s intention.

* * *

In Korea, time was being spent in a quiet yet urgent situation.

In Japan, it was the complete opposite.

Boom—!

A tremendous explosion was unfolding around them.

 

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