Chapter 22: Operation Rooftop: The Scavenger Showdown
Dray rotated the hologram around so that it was clearly visible to everyone, then began his explanation.
"The third-floor rooftop is currently occupied by the scavengers and is being used to drain the power from the power plant. The two routes to get up there, the elevator and the stairs, are being guarded by armed forces from the three scavenger branches."
Considering that there is usually one Scavenger branch per district, Scavengers from as many as three districts participated in this operation.
"This is a unit comprised of magic users who possess a certain level of combat ability among the scavengers. Although they are not difficult to deal with, they are definitely not an opponent to let your guard down."
As he spoke, Dray quickly displayed numbers on the hologram and continued his explanation.
"I don't know what these rats are trying to do by diverting power, but what we have to do doesn't change. As we discussed before, the 3rd squad will breach the 1st floor, the 1st squad will enter through the 2nd floor window, and the 2nd squad will directly infiltrate the rooftop."
Leo was sitting next to him, arms folded, quietly listening to Dray's explanation. He spoke quickly, but his pronunciation was clear and steady, and he had a knack for calming down those who heard him.
If there is a field commander with the qualities of a general, then this is the kind of person he is. As I was watching the scene, I suddenly became curious about what kind of person the mercenary named Antares was.
If Antares can command a strong man like Dylan, he must be an excellent commander and mercenary.
Said Dray continued his explanation while lost in thought.
"After the 2nd squad takes care of the troops occupying the power plant and confirms that the server is safe, the 3rd and 1st squads simultaneously drive the scavengers towards the stairs and sweep them away from above and below. After that, the 2nd squad comes down from the rooftop and the 1st and 3rd squads come up from below and repeat the same process. Have you checked everything?"
"""All right!!!"""
After hearing the mercenaries' loud response, Dray looked at Leo and finished his explanation.
"Sir, when you first charge in, please put out as much firepower as possible, and then follow the 3rd platoon and provide rear support from below."
Leo nodded silently. In simple terms, he was asking her to just stay behind and use her magic whenever the situation calls for it.
It's a much easier task than being asked to infiltrate a manufacturing plant and blow up the basement.
As expected, it didn't seem like Jenny was asking me to do something that difficult.
'No, in fact, wasn't it that Balitz's request was too difficult?'
Dylan is a very skilled player and is able to draw attention on his own, so if it weren't for that, blowing up the factory would have been a difficult task even without Croken's intervention.
Of course, Jenny knew Dylan's abilities, so she wanted Leo to experience the company's requests even if it meant pushing himself, but it was difficult for Leo to understand her kindness to that extent.
"Okay. Then let's get started right away. Everyone, take your positions!"
After hearing Dray's words, the mercenaries each picked up their equipment and began to move in unison.
Some people carry unique equipment, such as mechanically designed hammers or tonfas, but the most common types are swords and firearms.
In a world where one could strengthen one's body with magical power, it was not so strange that close-range weapons with maximum power coexisted with ranged weapons that could be used effectively with little physical ability.
It is because there comes a time when the miracle of magic becomes more desperate than all other means, that the people rolling around this world desperately want and hope for a magician.
As I continued walking along the road following the mercenary group, the street began to rapidly become weathered.
A three-story building at the end of an alley. It's a chaotic sight with messy wires sticking out of the windows, and there are clearly armed people loitering around each window and entrance.
Uniform clothing, including all kinds of firearms and equipment. Even the magical power flowing out softly.
They say they are a force of armed forces, but they are clearly different from the existing scavengers that Leo knew.
From the 50th district onwards, it is a lawless area that even the Balkan police have completely abandoned. That is why scavengers can openly occupy other companies' offices and run wild.
It may be unfair for the consulting firm to have its office taken away, but weren't they the ones who opened their offices here, lured by the low rent and virtually non-existent taxes?
There are times when other means of force are needed to resolve such troublesome issues, rather than the police. Like the Cream Gall Mercenary Office that is here now.
Leo was lost in thought as he watched the wires sticking out of the window, all of which were pointing up towards the roof of the building.
'It would be much easier if we could just drop Thunder Calling from the start.'
If you strike the power plant located on the rooftop with lightning, you can turn all of the Scavenger's work into dust at once, but you should avoid doing so as it may cause the server to go down.
Among the conditions of the request submitted by the financial consulting firm was that there should be absolutely no damage to the server that would cause data to be lost.
It's a tough condition, but it's something that has to be done since the pay is what it is.
The mercenaries each took cover and hid themselves before slowly moving according to Dray's gestures.
He whispered softly to Leo, who was following behind him.
"It's a small possibility, but there's a chance they might have hired a wizard. If you get any hints, let me know right away."
The fact that the Scavengers, a group of already poor people, are putting in so much effort must mean that this matter is of considerable importance to them.
"Okay… huh?"
Leo, who was about to answer Dray's words, stopped when he felt a gaze that seemed to pierce him with magical power.
It was an unfamiliar sensation at first. However, Leo's strong magical perception immediately realized that this was a visual substitute created using magic.
Someone is looking down on them from up there.
The moment he realized that, Leo unconsciously extended his magical power and caught the branch of that gaze.
[omg…!!]
Someone's startled voice is heard beyond the resonance of magic. Leo's sensitive magic instantly tracks the senses and pinpoints the location.
… found it.
Phagec..!!
A man kneeling and using magic in a secluded room on the third floor of a building.
I don't know how he did it, but Leo instinctively knew that he could do more than this.
The wizard catches the line of sight extended by the searching magic with his own will and snaps it off.
Boom boom!!
With an inaudible noise, the magical power that was extending from within the wizard was caught by Leo's magical power and cut off.
A backlash that completely destroys the magic being cast.
Leo spoke to Dray after seeing the wizard collapse with blood pouring out of his nose and ears.
"The enemy wizard just used a search spell."
"….yes?"
"I detected the magic and immediately went in and subdued it. I think we can rush in right now."
An absurd assertion that is hard to believe even after hearing it with your own ears.
However, when Dray heard those words and absentmindedly turned his gaze to the third floor, he saw the armed soldiers who had been maintaining tight security suddenly moving busily.
A gap that was completely unexpected. Dray, who intuitively felt that this was his chance, immediately gestured to the mercenaries.
"let's go…!!"
BANG!!
The mercenaries who received the order immediately threw something from their arms and ran forward.
Pusheeeee...!!
First, suppress the vision with a flashbang and then spread smoke to make a path.
Along with him, the mercenaries of the Kreamgal office began to run silently across the asphalt.
The Scavenger's armed men sensed something was wrong and responded by aiming their guns in this direction.
Leo, who saw that sight, immediately raised his magical power.
subjugation
'I said that we need as much powerful firepower support as possible when entering the game.'
The most effective spell to subdue the scavengers sticking their guns out of the window right now.
Leo quickly found the answer and channelled his will into the overflowing magic.
Phage, phage, phage!!
The bright blue current shoots out between the outstretched fingers, glowing.
He used his magical power to direct the mass of electricity that seemed ready to leap out of his hand at any moment, and distorted the principle to enable a chain reaction.
Tsuppapapapapat!!
The electricity shot out from Leo's hand split into dozens of chains in the air and spread out in all directions.
[Chain Lightning]
Dozens of electric currents, moving from one relay point to another, swept over the scavengers leaning out the window like waves.
"Agggggggggggggg…!!"
"Kuaaaah!!"
The scavengers who were hit directly by the lightning magic rolled their eyes and started screaming in pain.
Overwhelming firepower that sweeps away the entire wall of a building with a single spell and instantly neutralizes the armed soldiers standing by the windows.
"This is crazy!!"
Wayan cheered as he confirmed the miracle that Leo had created while running, and the other mercenaries also expressed their admiration and increased their speed.
They realized that Leo was a wizard several times more skilled than anyone they had ever hired.
With the wizard's successful fire support, the mercenary group immediately began to enter the building as previously agreed.
A three-squad consisting of solid close-quarters forces penetrates the front, while a first-squad carrying light weapons jumps straight up to the second floor.
Dray, who had seen the nimble 2nd platoon flying up to the rooftop in an instant with the help of the 1st platoon climbing up the wall, also joined the 3rd platoon and began to help break through the entrance.
When you're in the mood, you should never hesitate.
The mercenary group, who sensed that the enemy's defences were open due to Leo's lightning magic, did not miss the opening and attacked the scavenger formation with all their might.
Doo doo doo doo doo doo!!
As Ike and two other giants, holding huge shields, take fire from the front, a man with a great sword runs up from behind, stirring up the enemy ranks and adding to the confusion.
Dray also cut down the scavengers with a gun in one hand and a sword in the other.
"Kuaaaah!!"
"Stay put, you fucking idiots!"
"If the roof is breached, the operation will be useless!"
Despite the fact that the number of scavengers is overwhelming, they are unable to do anything about the mercenary group rushing among them and fall into a panic.
He still hasn't come to his senses from the aftereffects of [Chain Lightning] that Leo scattered just before he charged in.
A few of them came to their senses and tried to hold their ground, but most of them just ignored the words and retreated helplessly.
"…..profit!"
The man who was leading the scavengers on the first floor gritted his teeth and turned his gaze towards the mercenary group.
To turn the situation around, we need to deal a major blow to the mercenary group in just one attempt.
The core of this offensive right now is not the vanguard who is fiercely pushing his body into the building, but the skinny lightning wizard who is the starting point and centre of it all.
If I cut off that defenceless-looking nape and let the blood splatter, I can change the situation.
The man who had quickly finished his calculations moved stealthily, avoiding the mercenary group's gaze.
The man knew how to use his magic to some extent, and he guessed that if he ran with determination, the mercenary group would not be easy to deal with.
A single moment of weakness. All it takes is for the mercenary group to break their formation in a fit of indiscriminate attack, revealing the magician.
'now!'
Ike's body, holding a huge shield, opened slightly, and Dray also stepped forward, pulling the trigger as the man threw his body forward with all his might.
The man who had pierced the mercenary formation with his sharp senses narrowed the space in the blink of an eye. Even Dray was startled and jumped backwards, but it was already too late.
The Bowie knife in his left hand flashed quickly and curved precisely toward the wizard's neck.
Taaang!!
Suddenly, a loud noise was heard and the man who had been running fell backwards.
There wasn't even a scream. The man fell backwards with the impact of his upper body being pierced, and he trembled without even being able to close his eyes properly.
Dray, who was returning towards Leo, looked down at the corpse with a blank expression.
"He died from shock."
Leo muttered. In his hand was a revolver that he had taken out at some unknown time.
The moment the man ran towards Leo, Leo pulled out his revolver at lightning speed, aimed it at the man's shoulder, and pulled the trigger.
[Aiming Correction], [Fire Acceleration], [Impact Enhancement]. The shotgun bullet, fired after incorporating three shooting assistance spells in a single moment, knocked down the man who was running at a fierce speed.
Leo's gaze lingered for a moment on the horribly mangled corpses, but the wizard's reason thoroughly suppressed his emotional turmoil so that Leo would not be shaken by it.
The wizard's mental power, which normally makes Leo's thoughts extremely rational, was further strengthened in a battle situation like this.
Leo glanced at Dray as he cocked his revolver, sending a puff of smoke billowing from the muzzle.
"Go ahead. I'll take care of myself."
"Yeah, that's right."
Dray answered obediently and turned around to readjust his weapon, but for a brief moment the sight of Leo's marksmanship lingered in his mind.
The shooting itself was ordinary, but the movement of taking the revolver out of his pocket and placing his finger on the trigger was so fast and accurate that even Dray had a hard time following it.
'Do the magicians who are popular these days know how to handle firearms like that?'
Dray, completely unaware that Leo was using a shooting support spell, sighed in worry that the price of wizards would increase significantly as he quickly cleared the first floor.
After the leader of the group was killed instantly in a counterattack while trying to kill Leo, the Scavengers were quickly disbanded and swept up in the mercenary group's offensive.
"Kidel, it's me. The first floor is cleaned up. What's the situation upstairs?"
Once you start something, you have to see it through to the end.
Dray and the mercenary group made contact with the 1st platoon that had gone up to the second floor, and at the same time, they carried out a confirmatory kill on the scattered scavengers.
[It's a standoff. If the captain comes and helps, I think the second floor will be cleared up quickly.]
"I'll be going up now, so please time it right."
After saying that, Dray immediately bent down and approached the stairs with the third squad.
Using the elevator to get to the second floor is suicidal. It is somewhat disadvantageous due to the height difference, but it is wiser to somehow find a way through the stairs.
Leo hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should use his navigation spell, but the other mercenaries were carefully climbing the stairs without his help.
At this distance, it was possible for magic users to detect the presence of their surroundings with just their enhanced senses.
Unlike the first floor where the noise was constant, not even the sound of breathing could be heard on the second floor.
A desolate scene in an office. A place filled with desks and other obstructions such as partitions.
The 1st platoon and the scavengers that had infiltrated the second floor seemed to be still facing each other, mixed up.
The only sounds are the occasional scraping noise of the floor and the loose wind blowing across the desk through the broken window.
Push!
With a sound that sounded like a suppressed gunshot, someone fell to the ground. Immediately afterwards, someone stood up from beyond the partition.