BRDM 164

chapter 164

Apra Harbor Area
Container Zone, Pierre-21 Warehouse

Black Maria is a Philippine-based PMC (Private Military Company), operating under the pretense of providing security services, corporate protection, and safety assurance in conflict zones. Currently, it was active in Guam as a “security company.”

However, behind the PMC facade, they employed all sorts of clients, from gangs to intelligence agencies, and even terrorist organizations. Their main operations included arms trading, illegal mercenary deployment, and abyssal resource security contracts. Today, they were classified as one of the thirteen factions of the “Axis of Evil.”

“The warehouse is too humid. It smells strongly of iron. Shouldn’t we turn on the vent? An important client is coming.”
“Yes! Understood.”

Katrina Velasquez, the head of the Guam branch, fit perfectly with Black Maria in that regard.

Her polished business attire, fluency in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, and sharp mind honed with an American MBA allowed her to run the company as if it were a legitimate business.

She could negotiate with cartels and intelligence agencies simultaneously, yet remain a gray figure who did not openly take sides.

Whoooosh –

A breeze came through a slightly open window. Katrina adjusted her black suit, sat down, and opened her tablet.

Today was an important deal.

Guerlei.

A freelancer whose only known fact was being an Apostle of Zeus. There was hardly any other information about him.

However, according to Katrina’s decision, Black Maria had decided to sign a sponsorship contract with him.

The reason was simple.

Money.

So, before he arrived, there were things to arrange.

“…….”
“…….”
“…….”

Meanwhile, those around her held their breath, watching her every move. They were businessmen gathered to sign a sponsorship deal with Guerlei, confident that they were significant players in Guam.

Yet in front of Black Maria, they were nothing more than a tiny corner store.

“Please, attend to your business. Don’t concern yourselves with me.”
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”

But that very statement made them even more hesitant to speak.

Then, heavy footsteps approached.

“Ha! What’s this? Why are you here? Could it be that a giant like Black Maria is interested in such a small-time merchants’ district?”

Esteban Rojas appeared.

Leader of La Sombra, a vigilante gang in the slums. His black hood draped over his shoulders, a cigarette still burning in his hand.

For a moment, other businessmen exhaled in relief. Esteban was a notorious rival of Katrina.

“The small merchants’ district isn’t profitable? If there’s money, one must earn it anywhere.”
“Ha! What a phrase! Truly admirable money-mindedness. Our La Sombra should learn from such spirit if we want to grow like Black Maria.”

Clap! Clap!

Esteban clapped as he sat across from her. His tone was full of mockery despite pretending to be cheerful.

Katrina frowned. She hated the harsh smoke of his cigarette and disliked this man, who knew nothing beyond violence and intimidation.

“Quite an expensive cigarette for a gang posing as a vigilante. If you keep skimming protection fees, maybe cutting such luxuries is necessary to grow your company?”

Esteban’s eyes narrowed for a moment before curling slightly.

“Some of my crew wouldn’t survive a day without cultivating tobacco themselves. If I don’t step in and consume like this, the money doesn’t circulate. You know, um… local economic stimulation. That’s what it is—supporting the local economy.”

“Ha! As expected of the boss.”
“You’ve been reading economics books recently, haven’t you? Smart already.”

“I may have been poor and unable to study, but I was born clever. If I’d picked up a pen as a child, I could’ve done anything.”

“Yes, indeed.”
“Exactly.”

Esteban’s shoulders stiffened with pride at his subordinates’ flattery.

“Ah! Mercenary companies that protect former enemies for a price may not understand such loyalty.”
“That’s where dignity differs. We honor contracts; you’re just a pack of starving dogs.”

Katrina crossed her arms and closed her tablet, her cold gaze piercing Esteban.

“Dogs?”
“Yes. Dogs. Bark at the thrown food. Isn’t that right?”

Katrina smirked, taking out her wallet. An elegant crocodile leather wallet, stuffed with bundles of dollars.

Esteban’s men glanced at it and swallowed dryly.

“Recently, your gang’s finances haven’t been good, right? City cartels you sometimes used as hunting dogs disappeared, and the farm yields weren’t great.”
“That’s because you didn’t…!”

Esteban slammed his fist on the table but stopped midway. Katrina still smirked, pulling out a stack of dollars.

“I’ll give you all this. Want to try barking? You’re good at that, right? I heard you even sold slum orphans to cartels for experimental purposes recently.”

“……!”
“You claim to protect residents, yet you sell your own? Acting loyal, huh? If you want this, you’ll have to bark. Go on. Woof. Woof.”

Bang!

Esteban slammed the table, rising. His men tensed. But Katrina remained smirking, teasingly shaking the cash bundles.

“Still not going to do it?”

Tension thickened. Hands hovered over gun grips. Thoughts raced:

What do we do now!?
Damn… I thought this was just a contract signing!
Why do these two have to clash here!!

Just then, the old iron door rattled open, letting light spill in.

“Quite noisy guests you’ve brought.”

A tall shadow stretched across the room. Silence fell.

White currents of electricity crackled at his feet, his presence pressing down with an oppressive aura.

Could this be the hunter who had paralyzed the City Cartel?

Katrina’s eyes flicked with interest as he finally spoke.

“Should I sit here?”

Li Hyun, in a grotesque mask and platinum coat, with an amethyst-studded stone staff, had arrived at the table. Behind him, a tall Black man stood.

“I am Ramon Marques, the main sponsor and supporter of Guerlei. We are grateful for your keen interest in him.”

“…Matador.”
“The showman of the slaughterhouse shows up himself. They say he’s raising funds directly these days.”

Some businessmen recognized Ramon and fell silent. Many had been burned by him before.

“Please, sit, Guerlei. May I call you by your nickname since I don’t know your real name?”
“Call me however you like.”

As Li Hyun sat guided by Katrina, Esteban clenched his teeth, sitting again. The air finally relaxed slightly.

Ramon gestured to his subordinates. Documents identical in content were placed before Li Hyun, Katrina, Esteban, and the businessmen.

“These summarize what we discussed in preliminary negotiations regarding this deal.”

Li Hyun quickly scanned the papers.

Ramon continued:

“There are two main points in the contract. One is active support for freelancer Guerlei. He will use the items you provide to tackle dungeons and carry out mercenary operations.”

Shhh.

Documents rustled.

“Consequently, all of Guerlei’s obligations are listed here. Please review carefully. The last page contains the contract highlights, which are strictly confidential.”

Businessmen, including Katrina, sharpened their gaze. This was the essence of the sponsorship.

• The contract lasts until the objectives of both parties are fulfilled. Details of the objectives are attached separately.

• Guerlei’s goal: seize the “Blue Ribbon” held by the City Cartel and enter Hagganya Black Zone.

• Sponsors’ goal: secure shares in the City Cartel’s mines. Guerlei cannot claim any stake. Sponsor share distribution will be separately negotiated.

• Guerlei prioritizes the “Challenger Deep Sea Gate (Deep Sea Dungeon).” Sponsors are guaranteed priority participation in future raids.

• Distribution of loot post-dungeon will be determined separately.

“As you see, this contract leads to Guerlei entering the Deep Sea Dungeon. Obligations end there. Raiding is—”
“Wait.”
“Yes, speak, Katrina.”
“I wasn’t briefed on this part. What’s going on?”

Other businessmen nodded. Katrina was speaking for them. Esteban remained arms-crossed.

“This is for your strategic planning, so you know where Guerlei’s targeting.”
“You mean sponsors should join the Deep Sea Dungeon raid?”
“It’s optional. Priority is guaranteed; if you see potential as sponsors, you may extend your involvement later.”
“Not trying to inflate the ransom later, right?”
Ramon smiled.
“The risk is actually that it could fall further.”

Katrina pressed on.

“But is this raid feasible? The mine’s origin is the Deep Sea Dungeon. Once cleared, everyone here will be left empty-handed.”

Businessmen nodded again. Katrina led the questioning.

“Do you really believe the Deep Sea Dungeon can be cleared?”

Katrina flinched. The question struck her.

“It’s a place in the US that even top-ranked players couldn’t close despite immense resources. You don’t think Guerlei can succeed, do you?”
“Then why go there?”
“That is…”
“If doubtful, you may withdraw.”

Li Hyun finally spoke, deep and commanding. Katrina saw his ghostly eyes behind the mask.

“I have no obligation to explain that, right?”
“…….”
“Had Ramon not persuaded me, I wouldn’t have revealed this.”

Ramon slightly bowed. Li Hyun waved it off.

“I still dislike showing myself, but I agreed to sponsors because venturing alone to the dungeon is burdensome.”

“….”

“See me directly and decide. Will you go with me or—”

Lightning flashed in his golden eyes.

“—withdraw here.”

The heated air surged. Businessmen were silent; Katrina sweated. All were bold and skilled, yet facing Li Hyun was never easy.

Then, Katrina smiled through sweat, her eyes gleaming with greed.

“Impressive resolve. Truly capable of burying a cartel. Give me the contract. I’ll sign.”

Katrina extended her hand. Ramon politely handed the contract. Without reading, she signed with a pen.

“Me too!”
“Give me mine.”
“Our Red Spear will participate.”

That was the signal. Other businessmen quickly took contracts, signing them. Esteban remained silent, eyes burning, a mix of caution, anxiety, and a meaningful smirk.

“Will La Sombra not join?”
Esteban uncrossed his arms.
“We…”
“You thought everyone here is destined to die anyway?”

Before he could answer, Li Hyun intervened. Esteban’s eyes widened.

“You knew everything and…!”

Businessmen realized: betrayal.

“Impossible! Esteban, you’re betraying the cartel…!”

Katrina quickly distanced herself from Esteban. She reached for her holster as Black Maria’s guards drew their pistols.

“No. That’s your story, Katrina of Black Maria.”

Li Hyun’s voice pierced her ear, like a demon’s laugh.

“What…?”

Katrina turned, seeing the cold eyes behind the demon mask smiling.

Guerlei (Ghost Lightning). A name as chilling as the lightning itself.

Whooooosh!!

Bang! Kaboom!!

At that moment, a low-flying bomber thundered above, shaking the warehouse with massive explosions.

Boom!!
Bang! Bang Bang Bang!
Rumble……!!

A merciless bombing, sparing no one. Air bombs rained endlessly, reducing the warehouse to ashes in an instant.