Became a Mechromancer - Chapter 94

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 94.
Trap
Silence fell over the Hospital Lounge at Go Gyeong-taek’s absurd demand.
Then the Changcheon Clan Field Commander, coming to his senses, burst out loudly.
“Listen here, Go Gyeong-taek! We’re the ones holding the defensive line out there right now! What do you think will happen if Changtian pulls back from here?!”
Go Gyeong-taek shrugged his shoulders.
Unbelievable.
“You started this mess, and now that you want to back out, you’re gambling with people’s lives? That’s extortion.”
“Hey! Are you finished talking?!”
The Field Commander shouted indignantly.
But it was already too late.
The moment Changtian stepped forward to withdraw their forces, they would be extorting the nation by holding citizens’ lives as collateral.
Trapped between a rock and a hard place, the Field Commander’s jaw trembled with frustration.
Meanwhile, Go Gyeong-taek’s narrow eyes curved with satisfaction.
Finally, Na Manager stepped in.
“Both of you, that’s enough.”
Na Manager led the Changcheon Clan Field Commander out of the Hospital Lounge.
And shortly after.
When the Field Commander returned to the lounge, his expression seemed to have regained some composure.
As Na Manager gave him a subtle hint, the Field Commander reluctantly lowered his head.
“…I was reckless.”
Hmm.
“No, I pushed too hard as a former superior.”
Go Gyeong-taek, who had countered with a pointed remark, turned his head away.
“Na Manager, could I have a word with you for a moment?”
The two moved to a corner of the lounge. Go Gyeong-taek held out his smartwatch and spoke.
“I’ll hand over the watch. But I have a condition.”
“…Let’s hear it.”
“I’m planning to establish a guild. So I’d like to receive a promise that you’ll consider my guild as a cooperative partner of the Hunter Management Bureau.”
Being a cooperative partner of the Hunter Management Bureau came with numerous benefits.
From item purchases on the simple end to job assignments for Hunters on the larger scale.
But….
‘He’s trying to extract such a promise before even establishing his guild.’
Na Manager’s expression grew troubled.
“That’s not something I can answer on my own authority.”
“I understand. So please connect me with someone who can answer.”
….
“For example, Director Park Soon-kwon or someone like that… haha.”
In the end, Na Manager accepted the smartwatch.
‘How brazen of them.’
.
.
.
An hour had passed since Go Gyeong-taek handed over the smartwatch.
In that time, the government reviewed the data within it, and contact with the Chinese side’s hotline had begun.
Though people continued to pass through the Hospital Lounge, those who remained inside waiting for results bore expressions of taut tension.
And then.
When Hyun Se-hee opened the channel, a massive hologram materialized within the lounge.
None other than Park Soon-kwon, Director of the Hunter Management Bureau’s First Division.
He opened his mouth while regarding Go Gyeong-taek, the decisive resolver of this incident.
Heh heh.
-Director Go… or should I say Go Gyeong-taek now?
“Call me whatever feels natural, Director Park.”
-…Very well.
Park Soon-kwon chuckled briefly before broaching the subject.
But here’s the thing.
-Your proposal is difficult to answer immediately.
Hmm.
“So your mind changes depending on whether you’re entering or leaving the bathroom?”
-With people, it’s like this. Once we finish wrapping up this matter, let’s have some tea.
A private audience with the Director.
Likely meaning there would be separate matters to discuss in that setting.
Go Gyeong-taek gazed beyond the hologram and smiled.
“Sounds good.”
-I’ll treat you with my finest tea.
An oblique way of conveying that the compensation wouldn’t be shabby.
Ahem.
Director Park cleared his throat once and moved to the main point.
-According to the materials you provided, most of the pirates who targeted Chiko Island were Hunters.
They’re currently occupying the Chinese Zone of Chiko Island.
The Changtian Clan Field Commander glanced at Go Gyeong-taek in surprise upon hearing the file contents.
Park Soon-kwon continued.
-As their forces grew, the notion of seizing Chiko Island and establishing it as a base became concrete, and that’s what led to this incident.
Na Yong-seok asked with a hardened expression.
“What about the Chinese Government?”
-If they succeed, tacit approval. If they fail, cleanup. Wouldn’t you say?
Everyone gasped at Director Park’s terse answer. It was beyond common sense.
The Military Commander and Hyun Se-hee murmured.
“For the military to hand over combat robots is clearly crossing the line.”
“What about officially raising Zhang Wei to the status of a Class 1 criminal?”
-Ahem, everyone watch your words.
“…!”
The Military Commander clamped his mouth shut, and Park Soon-kwon spoke calmly.
-From the Chinese Government’s perspective, they probably wanted to redirect the power of Hunters they couldn’t control elsewhere.
At those words, Na Yong-seok’s expression hardened visibly.
“So you’re saying we should just bury this?”
-What, should we start a war instead?
“…My apologies.”
-If we expose it now, sure, it’ll feel satisfying. But then our card dies too. The card you never play until the very end is always the most terrifying one.
With that, Park Soon-kwon wrapped things up.
-To cut to the results, China accepted it. They said they’d clean up their own zone directly.
Silence.
In other words, the pressure had worked.
-We maintain our defense, and if any pirates cross over from the Chinese Zone, we arrest and extradite them. We’ll hand over the list before the operation begins.
Na Yong-seok answered reluctantly.
“Understood.”
-Na Manager.
“…Yes.”
-You’re good at everything, but sometimes you’re too rigid.
“The incident was caused by them, but… never mind.”
-Right. Keep up the good work until the end.
Park Soon-kwon’s hologram switched off.
Just as silence settled over the Break Room.
Bzzt, bzzt—.
The Military Commander’s smartwatch chimed.
As soon as he connected the channel, a report came through.
-Multiple units are approaching at high speed from Chinese Mainland. Based on their scale, it appears to be a battalion-level force.
Na Manager furrowed his brow in disbelief.
“…So even a hidden hand can be frightening, it seems.”
At this speed, they’d arrive within thirty minutes.
Then.
Zhang Wei’s smartwatch vibrated.
Every eye in the Break Room snapped toward him at once.
The caller’s name appeared on the watch display.
『Hao Shin』
Na Yong-seok silently connected the channel.
And immediately.
Through the hologram came ragged breathing and urgent Chinese words bursting forth.
-Zhang Wei! You bastard. Why can’t I reach you….
The voice cut off mid-sentence.
The man’s eyes beyond the hologram sharpened in an instant.
-Wait, who are you people?
* * *
The one-eyed man stepped into the Temporary Base.
He quickly shut the door and opened his smartwatch, immediately connecting to the channel of his colleague stationed at the Plaza, but only heard a prolonged dial tone.
The same with the others.
Moments later, the voice of his colleague who had sent reinforcements toward the Cave crackled through the smartwatch.
-We’re in big trouble.
The one-eyed man’s gaze sharpened.
“What the hell are you talking about?!”
-The combat robots got hit by the green stone and were all smashed to pieces by a single Hunter!
“Are you insane?! Does that even make sense?!”
-I know it doesn’t make sense! But it’s true! I’m heading over to the Chinese Zone right now. If I stay here any longer, I might die!
The channel went dead.
The one-eyed man’s expression turned blank.
“What the hell is this bastard talking about?”
As he manipulated the hologram on his wrist, irritation washed over him.
“Damn it, this is so inconvenient.”
Finally, he pulled an artificial eye from his pocket—he’d removed it because of the green stone.
Click.
As he fitted the artificial eye back into the empty socket, text materialized in the air.
『Connected, Hao Shin.』
The one-eyed man’s expression—no, Hao Shin’s expression brightened somewhat.
“Now I can breathe.”
Battle information flooded his vision all at once.
First, the remaining robots.
『Remaining Combat Robots: 87 Units』
Hao Shin’s mouth fell half-open.
There had been three hundred.
Three hundred units of combat strength deployed to Chiko Island alone!
“Were the Korean military that strong?”
How had they been reduced to just one-third in mere hours, not even half?
No matter how many times he rechecked, the result remained the same.
Gripping his head, he examined the next piece of information.
Two red markers appeared on the cross-section diagram of Chiko Island.
The pillars supporting the island and the bombs installed in the Korean Zone’s power generator.
Damn it….
‘At least these are still intact.’
When he’d first executed the plan, he’d believed Chiko Island could be completely consumed in less than thirty minutes.
But after resting for a full day and waking up, most of the bombs he had planted had been dismantled, and the green stone was exposed as well.
‘Am I dreaming right now?’
He opened Zhang Wei’s channel.
If he was going to lead the remaining robots into the Chinese Zone of Chiko Island and mount a siege, he first needed to hear Zhang Wei’s opinion.
Moreover, those mainland bastards wouldn’t leave them alone.
“…This is genuinely dangerous.”
And soon the channel connected.
“Zhang Wei! You bastard. Why haven’t you been….”
His words cut off.
Beyond the hologram floating in the air, Zhang Wei was nowhere to be seen.
Only unfamiliar faces.
“Who the hell are you?”
The narrow-eyed man beyond the hologram curled his lips upward.
-Hao Shin, is it?
The translator converted those words into Chinese.
Hao Shin’s expression hardened.
“Where’s Zhang Wei?”
The narrow-eyed man opened his mouth.
-That bastard, I was about to….
At that moment, the Hunter from the Hunter Management Bureau standing beside him cut him off.
-He’s been secured in our custody.
Hao Shin’s gaze turned icy.
“Release him.”
The narrow-eyed man looked at the Hunter from the Hunter Management Bureau and shrugged.
-Are you insane? Release what we’ve barely captured?
Hao Shin’s gaze wavered.
The number of remaining combat robots and two red markers floating above his prosthetic eye.
He still had cards to play.
So Hao Shin, having steeled his resolve, made his threat.
“If you touch Zhang Wei, I’ll have no choice but to release all the remaining robots into the civilian zones.”
A moment of silence.
While everyone’s expressions hardened, the narrow-eyed man actually smirked.
-Fine. Let us make a proposal as well.
Then the man in Hunter attire interjected, saying something in Korean to the narrow-eyed man!
“What the hell are these bastards doing!”
When Hao Shin exploded, the narrow-eyed man continued.
-For now, why don’t you retreat into the Chinese Zone? Take all the remaining robots with you. Then we’ll return Zhang Wei to you.
Hao Shin’s eyes narrowed.
“You expect me to believe that?”
-Think carefully about who’s in a desperate position right now.
The narrow-eyed man smiled with his eyes and opened his mouth again.
-I was just about to send Zhang Wei off on a military transport aircraft….
“Damn it, I got it!”
Hao Shin cut him off urgently.
Feeling as though he’d lost ground in the negotiation, he threw out a threat at the narrow-eyed man for no particular reason.
“If even a single hair on Zhang Wei’s head is harmed, be prepared! I’m giving you fair warning.”
He cut the channel.
And moments later.
Hao Shin led the remaining combat robots and immediately withdrew to the Chinese Zone.
But what awaited him was none other than….
Boom—!
The Chinese military arriving from the mainland.
The Chinese Zone of Chiko Island was thrown into complete chaos.
Hao Shin’s expression twisted along with it.
“…These bastards, they deceived me?!”
He never imagined the Chinese Mainland would push in so directly and immediately.
The pirates’ screams erupted.
It was the moment Hao Shin was about to counter with his combat robots.
Whirrrrr—.
The movements of the previously functioning combat robots all halted at once.
His artificial eye flickered off and on, and text appeared.
『External master code is interfering.』
“What, what are you saying!!”
『You have lost command authority.』
『Combat robots in possession: 0』
Hao Shin’s head trembled violently.
“No, this can’t be!”
In the very next moment.
Thud!
A combat robot seized the head of a pirate right beside him and smashed it against the wall. Elsewhere, other machines changed direction and unleashed guided missiles at the pirates.
Screams mixed with blood and flesh scattered through the air.
Ahhh!
Save me!
The robots that had been his hands and feet just moments ago were now eliminating his comrades.
Hao Shin ground his teeth and retreated backward. He barely managed to rush into the Central Control Room.
Crunch.
He gnashed his teeth in fury.
The only card left to him was explosives.
A structural diagram appeared over the hologram of all of Chiko Island in his artificial eye.
Two red markers.
The Korean Zone’s power generation facility—and the pillar supporting Chiko Island.
Only two of them, admittedly.
But no one knows how many bombs there are.
‘It’s a gamble!’
The moment I pressed broadcast, Hao Shin’s image materialized as holograms throughout Chiko Island.
“I warn all soldiers and Hunters stationed on Chiko Island.”
As he spoke, automatic translation subtitles appeared simultaneously.
“If you don’t retreat immediately, I’ll show you what happens.”
Then he tapped a single red dot floating in his prosthetic eye.
Boom—!
A brilliant flash erupted from the Korean Zone’s power generation facility.
A heavy tremor swept across Chiko Island, and all the lights in the Korean Zone went out at once.
Hao Shin’s lips twisted into a smile.
Well.
“How do you all feel now?”
The emergency broadcast remained uncut.
And his threat worked—the Chinese assault halted in an instant.
Venom gleamed in his eyes.
“Don’t push your luck. Get off Chiko Island. Or I’ll blow up the pillars holding this island up!”
* * *
The Air Raid Shelter plunged into darkness in an instant.
Someone let out a short scream, and a child’s cry erupted from another corner.
Only Hao Shin’s forced hologram remained, casting a dim glow around the space.
Duna gripped Duho’s sleeve tightly.
“Brother… what do we do?”
Mother held her breath and pressed close to Father’s side. Dubin stared into the darkness ahead.
The sounds of battle from outside had ceased.
Duho gazed past the hologram at the Chinese man, lost in thought.
‘Can I find the bombs he planted using component detection?’
No—I have to find them.
Duho quietly rose from his seat.
‘Isto. Send me that cross-section diagram of Chiko Island you showed me earlier to my smartwatch.’
I became a Macromancer.
Author |
I’m healthy.
Issue Date |
February 25, 2026
Published by
Tail Six
Homepage |
https://talesyx.com
Email｜
[email protected]
ⓒ Keongang E, 2026
This publication is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced or duplicated without permission.
UCI｜
G720:N+A277-20260210015.0094

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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