"With the demise of Paul Ackerman, the gang is facing a shortage of external investment funds. Their only reliable source of money lies here. If we strike at this location, Cigar Bang will crumble swiftly."
Beep.
The screen transitions, revealing a photograph of a secluded place.
An abandoned and dilapidated train station, devoid of human activity.
A train, covered in rust from disuse, sits crookedly on the tracks that have long been closed off.
Panua points at the picture and continues her explanation.
"At the end of this month, a transaction is scheduled to occur here involving retiring soldiers. The location is district 59. They are importing weapons all the way from the outskirts of the undeveloped zone."
"Is the information reliable?"
Panua promptly responds to Lennok's question.
"It's accurate information obtained by paying a substantial sum to Mirror Diver. We have cross-verified it through the gang's internal network to ensure there won't be a repetition of the last incident. Keep a close watch."
Several more pictures appear on the screen.
They are all headshots, taken directly.
"These are the weapon dealers within the gang and the identities of the retiring soldiers involved in the transaction. It appears they are dependent on the gang for money and basic necessities while residing in the satellite city."
Panua continues with an expression devoid of emotion.
"The objective of this operation is to completely sever the supply route facilitated by the retiring soldiers engaged with the gang. Once they face the consequences, they will be too terrified to continue dealing with the gang."
A hushed silence fills the room.
Lennok casually scans the other team members.
He had anticipated a stronger reaction, but apart from Agria, who looks slightly pale, the others surprisingly remain composed.
They must have been aware in advance of whom they would be confronting.
It seems that there are no issues regarding the team members' attitudes.
Lennok subtly raises his head and inquires, "Are there any individuals who pose a threat in this operation? It wouldn't be surprising if the gang assigns skilled personnel, considering the importance of the deal."
"There is one high-ranking member of the gang who frequently accompanies them, but he doesn't pose a significant concern. What we need to be cautious of is the whereabouts of this man, well-known as the boss's right-hand."
"………."
Lennok instinctively squints as he looks at the photo Panua presents. It is a face he already recognizes.
"Beck Clinton. He is a formidable warrior, ranked among the top in a gang of over a thousand, and holds considerable notoriety in the underworld. Currently, he is away from Vulcan, establishing a new trade network for the gang, so there shouldn't be any major issues."
Lennok wondered if Panua meticulously categorize dangerous individuals and calculate the likelihood of a successful operation by dismantling the gang's entire information network.
At this point, Lennok has to acknowledge that Panua came well-prepared.
She must have invested a significant amount of money to produce these results.
It signifies that the faction within the company, including Panua, is staking everything on this project.
"We will now proceed with a detailed explanation of the operation for our intended purpose. As previously mentioned, the discussions held here must remain confidential and should never be disclosed. Please keep this in mind. Let's begin by examining the list of retiring soldiers coming to Vulcan this time."
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
Panua pulled out a cigarette as she gazed at the dim night sky beyond the office window.
"Hoo…"
Conveying a comprehensive overview of the operation to the newly formed freelancer team members, centered around Wizard Van, and distributing the necessary supplies took well over six hours.
More than half the time was spent memorizing the crucial details for the operation, and everyone, including Panua, worked tirelessly throughout the process.
Van quickly skimmed through the information, memorized everything necessary, and left. However, it was Panua's responsibility to take care of the remaining team members.
Observing her from behind, Manya inquired, "What did the boss say?"
"What?"
"When we received additional funding this time, he must have said something. There must have been some words exchanged."
"There was nothing."
"………"
At Manya's silence, Panua offered a wry smile.
"That means no words were needed."
It was a project they embarked on, risking everything to gain control of corporate management.
If successful, they would overthrow the board of directors. If they failed, the directors would likely retain management with the support of shareholders.
They designed the project by pulling personnel from various departments and invested a significant amount of money during the planning phase. There was no turning back now.
Regardless of success or failure, Dyke's leadership was bound to face a major upheaval.
Panua slowly shook her head, thinking that they should at least be grateful for having the power to make such a decisive change.
But it wasn't a time to get lost in contemplation.
"Where is the confidentiality agreement?"
"I separated and secured it in the company's underground vault. It's a space personally used by the president, so it should be safe until the shareholders' meeting, at least."
Panua didn't inform Lennok, but she was genuinely putting in effort to prevent a repeat of the first operation's betrayal.
They meticulously identified and verified the candidates' identities and affiliations, cross-referencing with Mirror Diver's information gathering capabilities. They also implemented various legal and personal measures to create barriers that would trip up the team members if they breached the contract.
Any complaints or grievances from the freelancers during the process were quelled with substantial compensation.
Though it may sound grand, Panua had indeed worked hard to buy trust with money.
All of this was made possible by the private funds from the supporting board of directors for her project.
"If I fail, I won't be in a good position either…"
"Is it only you, team leader?"
Manya's plain response drew a bitter smile from Panua.
They were all aware of that, but they had come together in pursuit of higher goals. Wasn't that the essence of their current team?
"Nevertheless, I have given it my all. All we can do now is rely on that wizard."
Starting from an utterly disadvantaged position, they had come this far. They could only be grateful for finding a skilled individual like Van to keep the plan moving forward.
"After we complete this operation, we'll have to reward Van generously once again. Should I search the VIP auction house?"
"I don't think we need to worry about that just yet."
"It's not about worrying; it's about finding solace."
Panua crushed the remaining cigarette butt and responded.
"That's all we can do for now while hoping for the success of the plan."
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
The promised day arrived, and Lennok headed towards the designated location.
The process bore a striking resemblance to when he initially accepted the deal with Dyke.
However, this time, there was a notable distinction—his teammates awaited him, eagerly anticipating his command.
As Lennok approached, five team members stood against the backdrop of a setting sun, their gazes fixed upon him.
Stretching out his hand with a friendly smile, a man exuding warmth greeted him, "Captain, good to see you."
Heizer, an up-close combat specialist, wielded a robust mechanical hammer with a booster attachment at the back—a formidable weapon indeed.
Having transitioned from a mercenary to a freelancer, Heizer worked under the same broker as the reserved young man named Jode, who stood beside him.
After exchanging pleasantries with Heizer and briefly locking eyes with Jode, a young woman wearing a hood directed her words at Lennok.
"When do we begin? To increase our chances of success, I believe we should secure our positions."
Lennok glanced at her and promptly responded, "We will move in once the personnel placement on the Cigar Bang side is complete. Agria will disrupt their communication network, so even if we cause a commotion after the gang contacts the soldiers, the consequences will be minimal."
"…I hope it goes as smoothly as you say," she retorted sharply, chewing her gum vigorously.
Kainy, a freelancer who appeared to be no more than twenty years old, possessed superhuman agility and speed.
Renowned for her exceptional combat skills and efficient use of superpowers, and astonishingly, she seems to be working under ‘Madam.'
Ever since Lennok discovered this fact, he had been cautious not to mention the names of Mount or Trisha inadvertently, particularly considering Trisha's possible bedridden state.
"Don't dwell on the negatives. After all, Dyke provided us with comprehensive plans," chimed in Allen, the cheerful curse wizard, with a mischievous grin.
"The captain only needs to decide the timing of the attack and a few tactics once the operation commences… We can easily accommodate that," he added.
"He's right. We're the ones initiating the attack, so let's not lose heart!" Heizer roared in agreement, while Jode shook his head in the background.
"….Ultimately, the only thing we can decide beforehand is the first cooperative move using each of our specialties. After that, we'll be too busy fighting individually to communicate properly."
Jode's voice was very quiet, but his point was sharp.
It was impossible for a team gathered for a single goal in a short time to fight in perfect sync.
Lennok had realized this simple fact long ago.
Of course, if the team members were much more skilled and experienced, composed solely of veterans, such perfect coordination might be achievable. However, Lennok never expected flawless teamwork from them in the first place.
Lennok laughed off Jode's words.
"That's why we have to make the most of our first move, where we can synchronize our actions."
"………"
"The most crucial aspect is not the timing of entry or sneaking in. It's the first strike we can make while the opponent is unaware of our presence. The outcome will depend on whether we succeed or fail in that initial move."
Lennok whispered, making eye contact with each team member one by one.
"I don't ask for perfection. Let's just avoid getting in each other's way."
"… You think that's enough?"
Kainy grumbled, but ultimately, none of the team members objected to Lennok's words.
Everyone more or less understood their assigned roles and what they needed to do.
There was no need for empty reassurances.
Lennok turned immediately and began to walk.
"Let's go."
⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩ ⏩
An abandoned railway station in District 59.
This area was the most neglected in Vulcan, a sprawling city, even excluding the extra zones.
Though it was a distance away from the contaminated ruins, the remnants of the once-planned large-scale railway facility stood as a testament to the failed development policies.
All that remained were corrupt customs officials managing imported goods and vagrants struggling to survive in this forsaken zone.
Thus, as long as the customs officials could be bribed, it was not difficult to bring goods from outside. The city government was well aware of this but turned a blind eye.
It was likely the only way for government employees to survive in this decaying zone.
As they neared the railway station, a palpable tension had already engulfed the surroundings.
Cigar Bang gang members, who had arrived earlier, were securing their positions and keeping a vigilant eye on their surroundings.
The team hid at a safe distance, where they wouldn't be detected by the gang members, and assessed the situation.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
