The Transmigrated Author

[Eldoria, Mercenary Cooperation's Headquarters - IDS Station: Equipment Room]

The IDS room hummed with the usual machinery. Christian shoved a door open.

"Welcome to the armory!"

Rel's gaze swept the room. Swords, axes, a few polearms lined the left wall.

On the far side, racks of pistols and rifles. Nothing special there. The lockers were the real prize. He spotted the Shadow Stalker suit immediately – essential for the job. Beside it, a wicked-looking combat knife – made of a material he's never seen before, was it Illegal?, he wasn't too sure.

"This place looks-"

He didn't need to finish his thought.

"Amazing, right?" Christian beamed, interrupting him.

"I guess you can say that." Rel kept his tone neutral.

Christian nodded, a smug grin on his face.

"Now I'll find the suits Jaxon assigned." Christian gestured toward the lockers.

"You grab night vision... and a radar heat scanner?"

"Okay." Rel headed toward the right side of the room, scanning the shelves.

Minutes later, they stood in matching black suits.

"Perfect for sneaking!" Christian grinned. "Flexible, durable, practically unseeable! Haha, get it?"

Rel's face contorted at the horrible joke, almost to the point where he wanted to punch him.

Christian checked his night goggles, then tilted his head at Rel, who still held his above his mask.

"You not gonna wear them?"

"Don't need to."

Christian frowned, and then his eyes widened slightly.

"Does he know sensory aura?"

He muttered, then shook his head.

"Whatever. Let's go, VE4B's waiting."

...

...

...

[Eldoria, Mercenary Cooperation's Headquarters - IDS Station: Main Room]

"What took you two so long?"

Vanessa stood in her black suit, as a cloak obscuring its details, her Claymore sheathed at her back.

Christian scratched his head.

"Just showing the newbie around, like Mr. Cain said." He elbowed Rel sharply.

"Right, Axel?"

Rel sighed, suppressing a frown. "Yes."

Vanessa gave them an unimpressed look.

"Whatever. Let's get this done."

"Okay!" Christian chirped.

They stepped onto the brightly lit IDS platform.

Vanessa signalled to the technician, who nodded and flipped the switch.

swangg!

A beam of light engulfed them, and in an instant, they materialized in the dim alleyway of their target location.

***

[Geumcheon-gu, Seoul - Neighborhood IDS Station]

[7:25 PM, Thursday]

We materialized at the IDS station in Geumcheon-gu, the streets dark and silent under the dim streetlights.

Closed shops cast long shadows, their neon signs lifeless.

"It's about a thirty-minute walk from here," Vanessa announced, checking her watch. "Let's move."

[Passive Ability: Tenacity has been activated!]

The further we walked into Gasan-dong, the thicker the air grew, heavy with the stink of chemicals.

ackk...

Christian gagged, fingers clamped over his nose.

"What the hell is that smell?"

"Means we're close," Vanessa muttered, adjusting her night goggles. She glanced at me. "What about you, Axel?"

"Guess I'm lucky." I shrugged. "I can barely smell it."

Their eyes widened in unison. "Really?!"

(Rel has strong immunity to any type of gas or smoke.) - (Chapter Reference: 44)

"Yeah..."Christian stared longingly at the sky. "Wish I'd brought a gas mask... didn't think it would be this bad."

"At least the walk went faster," Vanessa said as we finally reached the gates of the complex.

Security lights flickered, casting long, unsettling shadows.

"We're here."

"Wow, that was quick!" Christian's voice boomed.

Vanessa smacked a hand over his mouth. "Shut up! You wanna fail before we even start?"

"Mmph... muffle... muffle!"

Christian mumbled against her gloved hand. I watched, trying not to laugh, as she glared at him.

Was she actually going to strangle him?

She finally let go, then turned and flashed me a thumbs up.

"...?"

I looked side to side to see who that was for but there was no one to my left or right so was that for me, or the invisible camera behind us?

"Let's head in."

They hopped the gate effortlessly, disappearing into the shadows.

I stared after them, then at the looming gate.

For a heartbeat, I froze.

How the fuck was I supposed to follow that?

Did I even need to sneak... I mean aren't mercs allowed on the grounds anyway?

haah...

"Whatever"

Shrugging off my confusion, I walked through the open gate, figuring I'd catch up with them once we'd located the building.

As I made my way through the complex, I kept a close eye on Vanessa and Christian, following their every move from a distance.

They moved with purpose, clearly intent on finding the specific warehouse owned by the NightShade Organization.

After a few minutes of walking, I saw both Vanessa and Christian reach a rooftop, they crouched down, scanning the area for any signs of the NightShade Organization's warehouse.

I tried looking for a ladder to their rooftop then suddenly a voice came through my ear piece, "Axel, where are you?" Vanessa's voice spoke.

I replied, "I've been following you two from behind."

"Get up to the rooftop we're on. We've located the building." Vanessa instructed.

"Okay," I said, making my way to the nearest ladder.

As I climbed up, I approached Vanessa and Christian from behind.

Christian was sitting on the edge, scanning the building with a heat radar, while Vanessa was peering through her binoculars, locating enemies inside.

I cleared my throat softly. "I'm here."

"...!"

"AH-"

Both Christian and Vanessa jumped up, startled. Vanessa let out a small yelp, and Christian nearly screamed.

Vanessa quickly covered his mouth, whispering, "Axel... don't do that..."

"My bad."

haah...

Vanessa let out a relieved sigh as she released Christian. With a quick bounce in her step, she turned to me, moonlight shining off her mask.

"You've never done this before right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, then you're in for one heck of a ride."

Her energy was surprising. I felt a muscle in my jaw twitch – not quite a smile, but not annoyance either.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all..

"Here, your first test." Vanessa threw the binoculars at me. "How many guards are inside?"

Good question. How was I supposed to know that?

But then...the system. Maybe it could help.

"Actually, I don't need these." I handed them back.

"...?"

She blinked, confusion flickering across her masked face.

I turned back to the building, studying it intently. Windows, loading docks, a security gate... Silently, in my mind, I asked,

"System, how many people are inside that industrial building?"

FWANG!

[The information for this will come to a total of 91 PPP!]

[Would you like to proceed with this purchase?]

"Yes."

[Information has been purchased!]

[Displaying the count of people inside of the building:]

[106 People]

[Adults: 102]

[Children: 2]

"...!" My eyes widened. Kids? Why...? Did Lampard... Sh*t, did he kidnap them?!

I clenched my fists, a surge of anger hotter than before.

If he did... I'll make him pay. I'll save them.

"Axel?" Vanessa's hand on my shoulder startled me. "What's wrong?"

I swallowed, forcing myself to calm my voice. "Are we just... scouting?"

Christian, still focused on the heat radar, shrugged.

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"Mission says locate, report drug activity, then bounce."

"Yeah." Vanessa lowered her binoculars. "Might be a long night."

No. My jaw tightened. What if the kids are in danger right now? Would they even believe me? We're just here to observe...

Fuck it. I'll have to act soon. Or something bad could happen to them.

What should I do...I turned from Vanessa and Christian, something was beating... and feeling my chest I realised... it was my heart that was pounding.

To think that there are kids inside... I wanted to save them... but I couldn't act rashly.

Taking a few steps back, I scanned the building, taking time to think. I had to save them, but without ruining the mission or risking my team.

"Axel? What's wrong?" Vanessa's voice was gentle, but it snapped me back to the present.

I forced a smile. "Just... strategizing. We need to be smart about this."

A flash of guilt – I was strategizing, yes, but not about the mission.

Vanessa nodded, her eyes understanding.

"Agreed. Intel first, then we'll figure out the rest."

"Right." I swallowed. "Let's get to work."

As we continued to survey the building, I kept a watchful eye on Vanessa and Christian, making mental notes of everything we saw.

Vanessa used her binoculars to scan the windows, while Christian monitored the heat radar for any signs of movement inside.

After a few minutes, Vanessa spoke up.

"I think I spotted a side entrance on the east side of the building. It looks like there's less security there."

Christian nodded, his eyes focused on the radar screen.

"Yeah, and I'm not picking up much activity on this side either. It could be our best bet for getting in unnoticed."

I nodded, taking in their observations.

"Let's keep an eye on that entrance. We might need it later."

__________

Authors Notes:

- Sensory Aura is enhanced senses that extend beyond the normal five, not only that but sensory aura can sense the presence or emotions of other skilled users of aura and could gain precognitive-like glimpses from interpreting energy patterns around them.

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