TRPM 271

chapter 271

The Next Day.

I had already decided that if I ever saw a paparazzi, I’d tail them instead.
But before that, the operation to wipe out the Regiones Guild’s awakened-supremacists awaited us.

So, I boarded a bus with the Iron-Blood Guild’s elite, who were assigned to this mission, and we headed toward the operation site.

“…Wait, Iron-Blood Guild has a bus like this?”

“It’s our commuter bus. I guess you didn’t know because it doesn’t go all the way to our apartment complex.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Well, it made sense. In my apartment, the only Iron-Blood members were Yeon Mirae and Sophia. And whenever Mirae went to work, running there was faster than waiting for a bus.
As for Sophia, she wasn’t even an official guild member.

Anyway, the Iron-Blood commuter bus carrying us rolled south.

Of course, all the Iron-Blood insignias had been removed from the bus, so to outsiders it would just look like an ordinary coach.

‘…I’m starting to recognize this scenery.’

This mission site was near the resort construction site next to the little village I’d visited for volunteer work just last week. The closer we got, the more familiar the sights became.

I had thought I’d come back someday once the resort was finished—but I didn’t expect it to be this soon.

“Let’s hide the bus over there.”

“Understood.”

As we neared the site, Ji Hyung-man gave instructions to the driver.

This mission was essentially an ambush—intervening the moment those supremacists tried to tamper with the construction site.
So, our presence had to remain hidden. We parked the bus far away from the village.

It meant we’d be walking the rest of the way, but no one complained.

‘I expected the veterans not to grumble… but even the new recruits?’

The long-time guild members understood why stealth was necessary, so silence made sense.
But the fresh recruits not complaining—that was a little surprising.

Well, considering this was an “elite-only” operation, even the newcomers must have scored high in both skill and character.

‘Then again… these rookies are the ones I saved when I was a kid.’

They were mutants—still underage back when I rescued them. Now grown, they’d joined the Iron-Blood Guild.
Raised under the guild’s protection, it made sense they’d choose to repay the debt by joining us.

Anyway…

“…For now, everyone just wait on the bus. We’ve got some time before the operation begins.”

As the bus stopped, Ji Hyung-man gave the order.

Normally, an ambush meant pre-emptively hiding at advantageous spots, but he must not have felt the need for that this time.

‘Makes sense. From what Regiones Guildmaster Yoo Won-hoon said, those supremacists are numerous but not particularly strong.’

Naturally.
Awakened-supremacy types were usually the ones with mediocre powers.

Since they weren’t impressive, yet still wanted privilege just for being awakened, they were the easiest to fall into that mindset.
Talented awakeneds, on the other hand, were already acknowledged and valued—they had no reason to cling to such nonsense.

‘…Might as well nap for a bit.’

Someone would wake me when it was time.
I leaned back in my seat when—

“Master, would you take a look at this?”

“Hm?”

Yeon Mirae had been scrolling on her phone and showed me something amusing.

On her screen was—

‘…That same photo Lee Ha-eun showed me yesterday.’

A shot that made it look like Mirae and I were kissing.

Since she herself was in the photo, she must have realized it only looked that way because of the angle.

“What do you think?”

“What do I think?”

“Aw, don’t be boring…”

Maybe she just wanted to see me flustered.

“There are more pictures like that floating around, you know. Looks like it’s spreading pretty widely.”

“Oh, really?”

She immediately started searching.

…Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything.

I was regretting it when—

Click.

A tiny, distinct sound reached my ears.

So faint it was nearly drowned out by the AC, the chatter of guild members, and Mirae’s phone noises…
But unmistakably—the sound of a photo being taken.

“……”

Someone had just taken a picture of Mirae and me.

And the culprit was on this bus. I knew exactly where that sound came from.

‘…Ji Hyung-man?’

The realization stunned me.

Why would the Guild Master of Iron-Blood, of all people, be taking photos of us?

‘…No, maybe it wasn’t specifically us.’

It could’ve just been a headcount photo, documenting the members present.
Maybe something to submit later for expense claims from Regiones.

Trying to rationalize it, I looked away from Ji Hyung-man.

The fact that the shutter sound had been abnormally quiet, and that if it were just documentation, there’d be no need for secrecy—those details nagged at me.

‘But monster ecology cameras can minimize noise. Maybe he just snapped it absentmindedly without thinking.’

Forcing flimsy logic, I concluded there was no sinister intent.

Because… I didn’t want to doubt him.

‘He’s helped me for almost a decade… I don’t want to suspect him.’

Besides, when he took the picture, I hadn’t felt even a hint of malice.
That much I was certain of.

“……”

It still bothered me. But I forced myself to ignore it.

Time passed.

“Mm… Alright. Let’s move out.”

After what sounded like a phone call, Ji Hyung-man stood and announced:

“Attention! According to intel from Night Eagle Guild, the awakened-supremacists have entered the village. Time for us to move.”

The Iron-Blood elites stirred immediately, gathering their gear.

Mirae and I rose as well, though we carried no extra baggage.

We had massive pocket-dimension bracelets, unlike most others.
Not that the others lacked storage space—but ours were abnormally large.

“From here on, keep talking to a minimum. Use hand signals whenever possible.
New recruits who aren’t familiar with them—stick to a senior who is.”

At that, Mirae whispered to me softly:

“I know all the signals, so just follow me, Master.”

“The guild’s signals aren’t the same as the Association’s standard ones?”

“No. The basics are the same, but Iron-Blood has additional, unique signals.”

I nodded. That made sense.

The Association’s signals were too basic for every situation. Guilds adding their own wasn’t unusual.
Especially Iron-Blood—specialized in criminal suppression. Using common signals that any criminal could look up online would be reckless.

As I thought about that, Ji Hyung-man gave a hand signal.

‘That one means follow me.’

Sure enough, Mirae had explained—the simple ones overlapped with the Association’s.

Following him, we soon reached the village outskirts.

There, Ji Hyung-man signaled again—this time with unique gestures.

‘He says we’ll bypass the village and split into four teams.’

Mirae’s telepathic whisper clarified it for me.

I nodded and followed her.

The guild divided into four groups, ours trekking through the mountain.

Since everyone was awakened, the hike wasn’t difficult.
No one slowed down, and soon we reached a vantage point overlooking the shore.

‘That must be the resort construction site.’

Last time I’d come here, it was just the remnants of an old beach.

Now, barriers and signs marked an active construction zone.

And I saw people approaching it.

“……”

And others shadowing them from a distance.

‘That group’s Regiones Guild… that one’s Cleaners Guild… and over there, Association and Night Eagle…’

Every guild here was part of the operation.

We exchanged silent confirmations and crept into position.

‘Looks like the four guilds are surrounding the site from all directions.’

The Association members were few, but that was expected. They weren’t here to fight, only to legitimize the operation.

‘As expected—they have no clue we’re here yet.’

Proof of our stealth.

The supremacists, oblivious, were busy tampering with the construction site.

Though called “pranks,” these were dangerous enough to cause massive accidents for the workers tomorrow.

“……”

Their mischief was being recorded by an Association staffer’s camera.

No doubt the footage was already being uploaded to the Association’s official site—maybe even livestreamed.

“…What the?”

“Why are our phones blowing up?”

Sure enough, the supremacists’ phones began ringing nonstop.

Friends and family must have seen the stream and called.

“What? You’re asking where I am—what’s it to you?”

“I’m on TV? What do you mean—”

At last, they realized.

They were surrounded.

“…Commence operation!”

At Yoo Won-hoon’s shout—the Regiones Guildmaster—awakeneds from every side stormed the construction site at once.