I Became a Black Market Tycoon with an Inventory - Chapter 28

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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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028 – Derek Meyer
28.
Word comes down that M23 is planning to attack the ADF.
I hear it in reports, from Jose,
and from Poapi as well.
The details vary,
but there’s consensus that M23 is preparing a large-scale assault,
and the target will be the ADF.
Good.
It doesn’t matter who started the fight,
or who’s to blame.
What matters is that the two of them are about to tear into each other.
Now I just need to watch the bloodbath unfold
and snatch Derek Meyer.
I won’t miss him. Not this time.
To catch Derek Meyer,
I volunteered for the deployment and came back to Congo.
I have to kill this bastard so that I can see
my brothers again.
I requested personal leave and headed for Uvira.
Both M23 and the ADF keep their headquarters near Uvira.
If war breaks out, it’ll be here.
******
Near Uvira.
M23 Headquarters.
I’m lying in ambush on a hillside overlooking M23’s base.
During my two years on troop dispatch missions around Uvira,
we patrolled and searched these areas constantly.
Of course, we never found the headquarters,
but based on their movement patterns,
I figured it had to be somewhere around here.
After weeks of searching, I finally found it.
The heavy security at the entrance
told me this was definitely a rebel base.
But while the front entrance was well-guarded,
the back was completely undefended.
If it was this easy to find, why didn’t we ever crush them?
Like I’ve said before,
the UN Peacekeeping Force’s job is to keep the Rebel Forces and Government Military from fighting.
We act as a buffer,
making sure neither side crosses into the other’s territory.
We investigate smuggling operations
and only take action if someone fires on UN personnel.
Otherwise, we mostly leave them alone.
So we always stick to predetermined routes.
We just investigate anything suspicious a bit more thoroughly.
Okapi Sting had a wider operational range than most.
.
.
.
I dug a pit and set up a Booby Trap.
I remember freezing ground back in South Korea—thought I’d lose my mind digging through that.
Here the earth is soft and pliable, making it much easier.
After a while, I’ve got a pretty solid setup.
Now I just have to wait.
While waiting, I pull out a bowl of cold noodles from my Inventory and eat.
After all that work, the cold noodles taste incredible.
For a moment I think about opening a cold noodle stand in Congo,
then I remember their income and immediately give up the idea.
Wait.
Shouldn’t I be at the ADF base when M23 attacks?
That’s what I could think.
But as I’ve said,
I don’t give a damn whether they fight or not.
M23 will need to move a large force to assault the ADF,
which means the main base will be left with only a skeleton crew.
The real question is whether Derek Meyer goes with the attack force or stays behind.
If Derek Meyer goes with them,
I’ll follow the attack force.
If Derek Meyer stays?
Then I stay too and wait for my chance.
But odds are he’ll stay.
Based on the way he set up those Booby Traps and his style,
Derek Meyer strikes me as the rigid, by-the-book type.
No improvisation.
He made those traps exactly the way we were taught.
If I’d set them up, I could’ve killed a lot more.
Given that kind of personality,
he’ll probably follow protocol to the letter.
And protocol says instructors don’t participate in combat.
That’s why I think he’ll stay.
If he goes, I go too.
If that fails, I’ll just wait for the next chance.
Either way, Derek Meyer has to die for this operation to end.
Derek Meyer doesn’t know any of this.
I watch M23’s headquarters while finishing my cold noodles and take a sip of Iced Americano.
If I had a tent, this would be perfect camping. Shame.
I’ve got one in my Inventory too.
I sip my coffee and start stretching.
.
.
.
Yawn~
This is boring.
I’ve been watching for a full day straight.
Twenty-eight hours to be exact.
M23’s headquarters is a hive of activity.
People running back and forth with supplies,
loading them into vehicles, unloading them again,
but I can’t see any real progress.
These bastards.
If they just ran combat readiness drills twenty times a week, they’d be sharp.
It’s a shame I can’t give them better training.
Still, I’m comfortable enough here.
I pull out a hamburger from my Inventory and eat,
then have a cup of ramen too.
No matter how well I’m camouflaged,
they have no idea I’m here.
They’re this oblivious even though I’m sitting right here?
Aren’t they being a bit too careless?
They seemed so careful at the entrance.
Is it because there’s only one entrance?
What if they’re not going to attack at all?
Everything seems peaceful.
If that’s the case, what do I do?
My mind races through possibilities.
I need to prepare a backup plan.
I need to think of another approach.
Derek Meyer absolutely has to die.
Then it happens.
A man gets in the truck at the front and it starts moving.
Countless vehicles follow the lead truck.
They’re probably heading out to join up with reinforcements.
Were they waiting for backup the whole time?
The time is now 4 PM.
By the time they reach the ADF base, it’ll be evening or night.
Looks like they’re planning a Night Raid.
Very much in character for rebels.
Even I was getting bored waiting for this attack,
so the ADF must be on edge, waiting day after day,
wondering if they’re coming, if they’re really coming, if they’re finally coming.
And now this—a Night Raid.
There are lessons to be learned here.
But Derek Meyer?
During my surveillance, I’ve only spotted one Westerner at this base.
That has to be Derek Meyer.
But Derek Meyer never came out of that container.
Which means he’s still here.
I press the timer.
One hour from now, I make my move.
I could attack right now,
but if I do, the assault team might come back.
They’ll need at least an hour to get back.
I’ll spend that hour assessing the situation, then strike.
.
.
.
Looks like about thirty people stayed behind.
That’s more than I expected.
Plus there were guards at the entrance, so the total’s higher.
Beep beep beep beep. Beep beep beep beep.
The alarm goes off.
Time to move.
I quietly get up and move toward the only entrance.
I quietly set up a Booby Trap there.
Not Derek Meyer’s textbook Booby Trap,
but a real South Korean Booby Trap.
One designed to kill, not just wound.
What else would I have been doing all night?
I’ve been planning this trap the whole time, thinking how effective it’ll be here.
That’s all I thought about.
After quietly setting it, I head up the mountain and pull out my sniper rifle.
The TAC-50 that Jose got for me.
The most famous, most accurate anti-material sniper rifle out there.
And this rifle comes with tons of different rounds.
Armor-piercing, incendiary, tracer, armor-piercing incendiary, tungsten—you name it.
But I loaded the least lethal option.
M33 standard rounds.
What if he dies from just one shot?
So I went with the lowest-impact rounds.
Still, compared to an assault rifle, these rounds have ten times the destructive power.
So I need to be careful.
Derek Meyer can’t die on the first hit.
I’m ready.
Once Derek Meyer comes out, I’ll take out his leg with a sniper shot,
then head down to clean up the rest with my rifle.
Then I’ll spit in Derek Meyer’s face.
But what if Derek Meyer doesn’t come out?
Then I’ll make him come out.
I aim at a rebel standing near Derek Meyer’s head.
When they hear gunfire, he’ll come out.
I steady my breathing.
I’m about to fire when the door to the barracks opens.
A man comes out with his hands raised above his head,
and Derek Meyer emerges slowly behind him, gun to the man’s head.
That man in front—is that Bacambu?
Yeah, it’s Bacambu.
I heard their relationship wasn’t good, and now I see it’s true.
So Derek Meyer is making his escape.
If he stayed, he’d be killed anyway,
and with the base emptied out now, this is the perfect window.
Of course. By the manual.
I pause and watch the scene unfold.
Let them sort out their own problems.
I’ve got my own to handle.
Derek Meyer uses Bacambu like a shield,
staying hidden behind him.
It looks like Derek Meyer is trying to move to a vehicle.
Thinking that once he reaches the car, he can escape?
I’ve got a sniper rifle.
Derek Meyer starts moving toward the vehicle, using Bacambu as cover.
He’s shouting something, but I can’t hear it clearly.
But then.
Bang. Bang bang.
Gunfire from somewhere.
Not from me.
A rebel behind Derek Meyer opens fire.
Wow, less than fifty meters and he can’t hit? Seriously?
The moment gunfire erupts, Derek Meyer doesn’t hesitate—he plugs Bacambu with a round.
Bang bang.
Then he bolts.
Toward any cover he can find.
The remaining rebels open fire on Derek at once.
Derek returns fire but is outgunned.
Damn.
I’m about to lose Derek.
I rapidly chamber a round.
I put a bullet in each rebel’s head, one by one.
Each time I squeeze the trigger, another head explodes.
Each time my breathing stops, another rebel falls.
Wow.
I was trained in Sniper fire, but I never shot like this in training.
The TAC-50 is a real masterpiece.
No wonder American snipers swear by this rifle.
The rebels panic at the sudden incoming fire,
stop their assault on Derek, and take cover.
The moment the barrage of bullets stops,
Derek bolts like lightning.
But I’m waiting.
His right ankle.
It’s difficult, but I have to hit it.
Bang!
Thunk.
Damn.
I got his shin instead of the ankle.
But my goal is achieved anyway.
Immobilize him without killing him.
Make it so he can’t drive.
Derek, his right ankle completely shattered, crawls behind a nearby vehicle.
That’s the only cover available from here.
So I eliminate any rebels trying to finish him off.
I can’t let Derek be taken.
Bang bang bang.
Only now do they notice me, and bullets start coming my way.
They always say not to shake while firing,
and in the range I never moved even a centimeter, but downrange
the shots still miss by ten meters or more.
Their breathing is unstable.
Which means the bullets don’t come anywhere near me.
I’m not even hiding that well, and they still can’t find me.
I keep taking out rebels.
More keep appearing one by one.
I’m grateful.
Better they come now than pop up behind me later.
I hear vehicle engines in the distance.
The guards at the entrance must’ve heard the gunfire and are coming.
They’ll hit the trap.
Boom!!!!
The truck carrying reinforcements hits the Booby Trap and explodes.
It flips over completely.
This is how you use a Booby Trap.
Now with the overturned truck and casualties, additional reinforcements can’t get in easily.
I thought only thirty stayed behind,
but it turns out there were over fifty.
I systematically take them out with sniper fire, then head down with my rifle.
My carefully stocked Inventory pays dividends.
I’ve got a rifle, Pistol, and Grenades ready.
Coming down the hillside,
I put a bullet in anyone standing or lying down.
When in doubt, I toss a Grenade.
No weapon shortage.
Never paid for them.
When else would I use them?
I just threw them freely.
Explosions erupt everywhere.
I keep putting bullets in the wounded.
Can’t be too careful with rounds coming from unexpected angles.
Caution never hurts.
That’s when I finally stand before Derek.
“Derek~”
“Who are you?”
“Your guide.”
“My guide?”
“Yeah. I’m here to guide you to Hell.”
“Get lost!”
Bang bang bang bang. Click click.
Derek fires at me,
but I’m already in cover,
and his pain-wracked shooting is wild and inaccurate.
“Out of ammo?”
“Get lost.”
“That’s no way to talk to your guide. You might end up in Avici Hell. You know about Avici Hell? It’s the worst Hell there is.”
“Stop talking and get lost.”
“Come on, that’s harsh. I went through all this just to meet you. The least you could do is greet me warmly.”
“What??”
“I trained Congo soldiers, set up Booby Traps, spread rumors, and I even spent the night here. I’ve been through hell for you. Don’t you think you should at least welcome me?”
“Are you that instructor?”
“My reputation reached all the way here? I’m honored.”
“You crazy bastard.”
Derek stays hidden behind the car.
It’s easy to kill him, hard to subdue him.
His rifle’s empty, but who knows.
He might have a hidden pistol.
Or maybe a Grenade.
So I’m being careful.
Let me try to coax him out.
“You planning to stay there? You’re pretty badly hurt. Don’t you need a hospital?”
“Get lost. I’ll handle it myself.”
“If you stay there, you’ll really die. Did you do hemorrhage control?”
“Damn. Why are you doing this to me?”
Derek grunts in pain from his mangled right ankle as he speaks.
“You’re still talking, so I guess you did hemorrhage control. If you hadn’t, you’d be dead already. But you know how bad Congo’s medical infrastructure is, right? Without proper treatment, you won’t just lose your leg—you’ll die. If you come with me to the Support Unit Base, you can live. Come on, let’s go now and you’ll survive.”
“……….”
“We can get to the Support Unit Base in just over an hour. I’ve got Painkillers, so take one and you’ll wake up already treated. Come on out.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re really leaving?”
“Yeah. Hands up and come out slowly.”
Derek raises his hands and starts crawling out from behind the car.
With no ankle, he can only crawl on his knees.
“That’s it, slowly… slowly… good. Keep coming.”
Now I see Derek for the first time.
Probably around thirty.
A Caucasian man with thick stubble crawls out from behind the car.
His ankle tourniqueted with his belt.
No gun in his hands.
No other weapons visible.
Looking at Derek, I think of my brothers.
I want to put a bullet in his head right then,
but I hold back.
At least this bastard should know why he’s dying.
I draw my Pistol and shoot Derek in the shoulder.
Bang.
“Ugh! What the—wait, you said—”
He doesn’t get to finish.
I come in close and throw a punch.
I keep hitting him. Fists, kicks, anything in sight.
Like boxing, I don’t even look at my target.
No technique needed.
I just beat him.
With all my rage.
With thoughts of our team.
I don’t think my brothers would’ve wanted this.
But this is something I have to do.
How long did I beat him?
I pounded him until I was exhausted.
Derek’s face is pulp.
But I don’t stop.
I pull out a knife.
“Ahhhhh! Why? Just kill me!”
“You don’t die easy. You die eleven times.”
I stab deep into his left armpit.
“Ugh!”
A pathetic scream echoes out.
The only limb he can move is his left leg.
I carve deep wounds into his legs and abdomen.
I drive the blade deep into every joint.
“Why are you doing this? Just kill me already.”
“Okapi Sting.”
“Okapi Sting???”
Derek’s ravaged face contorts in shock.
“Okapi Sting is dead.”
“I didn’t participate in that operation. I survived, and I’m here hunting you down. That’s what all this is about.”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”
“I’ll take the apology.”
“So you’re letting me go?”
“That’s going to be difficult.”
“I really am sorry. But that was just a job. Business. You know how it is. Bacambu ordered me. I had no choice. Understand. You’re a soldier too.”
“I understand. But understanding isn’t forgiving. I understand you the way you should understand me. This is purely personal business. Revenge.”
“No… please…”
“You’re not fit to be a soldier. Did Navy SEALs teach you to help rebels set Booby Traps?”
“I had no choice. Okapi Sting was so incredible that—”
“That’s enough. I can’t even stand hearing Okapi Sting from your mouth. Makes me want to puke. Let’s end this.”
I pull massive amounts of C4 from my Inventory.
I place it underneath Derek.
“What… what are you doing?”
“You’re leaving nothing behind in this world. You’ll disappear without even bone dust remaining.”
His body is already mangled from the stab wounds.
His limbs won’t move.
There’s nothing he can do to resist.
“When this goes off, all trace of your existence vanishes.”
“I’ll connect this Booby Trap to the entrance. When anyone enters the base, it’ll blow.”
“If no one comes, you’ll stay alive like this forever.”
“Live well until then.”
“I wrapped your wounds well. You can’t move, but you won’t die.”
“I’ve tied you up just in case. It’s uncomfortable, but that’s too bad. Deal with it.”
“If Bacambu were here, I’d lay him next to you, but since you killed him, that’s a shame.”
I shove C4 into Derek’s mouth and seal it with tape.
He tries to say something, but I have no interest in hearing it.
“I’m leaving now. Hope we don’t meet in Hell.”
With that, I turn and make my way out of the rebel base.
As I’m coming down the opposite side of the base,
I hear the explosion in the distance.
My revenge is complete.

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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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