Chapter 222
How much time had passed, no one could tell, but a huge island suddenly appeared before their eyes.
At the center of the island, a peak rose like a sentinel or a boundary marker.
“We’re almost there.”
Jang Mokhwa was certain that what lay before them was their destination, based on the island’s features and descriptions collected from the Redstone Market.
Baek Saebyeok subtly adjusted the motorboat’s direction, making sure there was no deviation at all.
The wind from the lake ruffled the hair and clothes of the four of them.
Finally approaching the island, the rescue team spotted a modest pier. Not far from it, a small stream trickled gently.
It was then that Seong Geonwoo sprang to his feet, bending slightly at the waist, his face brimming with excitement as he gazed at the left side of the water.
“I can sense human consciousness. There are three of them.”
“They seem to be merfolk.”
Jang Mokhwa had sensed their presence even earlier, though she hadn’t immediately been able to tell whether they were giant fish or merfolk.
“What should we do? Should we dock as quickly as possible?”
Yong Yeohong suggested cautiously, his nerves taut. Even if they ran into the merfolk, there was no fear if it didn’t happen on the water.
Jang Mokhwa spoke calmly.
“They’re coming this way. Very fast. Looks like the merfolk haven’t completely abandoned this island. They must have been sending scouts to check on us.”
Seong Geonwoo was ready to dive into the water at any moment.
Baek Saebyeok also drew his Union 202 from the motorboat, preparing to fire at the merfolk below, but pinpointing their exact location beneath the rippling water was far from easy.
Yong Yeohong was in the same predicament, even having a strange thought.
‘I wonder how the exoskeleton device will hold up… is it waterproof…?’
Soon after, Jang Mokhwa informed them of the merfolk’s movements.
“They’ve dived fairly deep. Looks like they’re planning to damage the bottom of our boat.”
Standing on the wooden deck, she instructed the others.
“Everyone, stay away from the edges. Don’t touch anything except the wooden deck. There’s no need to fight the merfolk in the water—they’d stand no chance.”
Seong Geonwoo exhaled, curling his body slightly.
As the team moved onto the deck, Jang Mokhwa crouched and placed her left hand on the surface of the lake.
In the next moment, the edge of the boat blazed brightly, as if noon sunlight had erupted with unparalleled intensity.
Kwarrrrung!
A silver-white current exploded, diving deep into the lake.
For about ten seconds, a few fish floated up, overturned, to the surface. Further out, three merfolk surfaced, thrashing frantically as they fled.
Their movements were convulsive, their eyes dazed—they seemed unable to comprehend what had just happened.
Jang Mokhwa finally withdrew her hand, stopping the high-voltage discharge. She had to save some electricity for exploring the temple later.
Taking advantage of the merfolk retreating, Baek Saebyeok docked the motorboat at the pier and tied it to a stake.
Jumping off the boat and surveying the area, Jang Mokhwa was about to speak when Seong Geonwoo ran toward a small stream nearby and set up a rusty metal sign.
“Do not electrocute the fish!”
It was written in Redriver language.
Jang Mokhwa flinched, while noticing Baek Saebyeok and Yong Yeohong biting their lips and trembling slightly—trying hard to suppress laughter. As for Seong Geonwoo, still wearing his mask, it was impossible to tell if he was smiling.
“Merfolk aren’t fish!”
Jang Mokhwa exclaimed defensively—and then she too started laughing. The pier instantly came alive. What a strange coincidence.
While Yong Yeohong put on the exoskeleton device with Seong Geonwoo’s help, Baek Saebyeok brought two bicycles.
Once Yong Yeohong was fully equipped, Jang Mokhwa put away her laughter and became serious.
“Saebyeok, Yeohong, stay here and make sure the merfolk don’t damage the boat. At the same time, you’re our backup. No one knows what might happen inside the temple. If we all go in and get wiped out at once, what would happen?
So you must stay here to call for rescue and support if anything goes wrong. Watch carefully whenever I fire a flare. If we exceed the time limit, come immediately, and report anything unusual to the company.”
When conducting team operations, this sort of division of roles was standard. Leaving some members at the rear was an effective precaution during exploration. Baek Saebyeok and Yong Yeohong had no objections.
Jang Mokhwa mounted a bicycle with a tyrant grenade launcher and a Berserk assault rifle on her shoulders, unconsciously glancing at Seong Geonwoo, who was already fully prepared.
The only issue was how oddly mismatched Seong Geonwoo looked: a gray camouflage-patterned outfit, black leather boots, an assault rifle, an Ice Moss and Union 202 strapped to his waist—riding a bicycle. Jang Mokhwa couldn’t help laughing at the absurdity, realizing she wasn’t much better.
“Fully armed, exploring an unknown place… and on bicycles. What a strange feeling.”
After a brief pause, Seong Geonwoo replied.
“At least it’s not a tractor.”
“…That’s true.”
Imagining herself piloting a tractor while fully armed, Jang Mokhwa decided to be grateful for the current situation.
Pedaling forward, the two headed toward the temple.
It was 4 p.m., yet the winter sky was already dim. The sunset cast long shadows across the land, and the lake’s slow breeze made it feel like early morning.
The roads on the island were not as damaged as the merfolk prisoner had described. Only cracks caused by sun and rain appeared here and there, and some roads were covered with dirt and dust.
Jang Mokhwa felt the crisp wind on her face as she rode. It cleared her mind instantly. On her left, vast fields stretched down the mountainside; on her right, the lake peeked between rows of trees. The view was breathtaking, soothing her mind.
If it weren’t for the grenade launcher and assault rifle on her shoulders, she might have forgotten why she had come here altogether.
“Too bad it’s winter. It would’ve been nicer if the fields and trees were green.”
Pedaling strongly, Jang Mokhwa spoke.
Seong Geonwoo stayed close, making sure the gap wasn’t too large.
“Autumn would be more beautiful, I think.”
“Why?”
Jang Mokhwa was puzzled by his choice of season.
“Because there would be plenty of fruit on the branches.”
“….”
Deciding not to continue that line of conversation, Jang Mokhwa changed the subject.
“The merfolk seem to have completely withdrawn from this island. Was it the gentleman’s orders? Or did something terrifying happen after they stayed here for over three days?”
This was one of the precautions delivered by Bango Bio:
Do not stay on the island for more than three days.
The monkey-masked Seong Geonwoo spoke.
“We didn’t ask the merfolk prisoner that question.”
“They didn’t know at the time.”
Jang Mokhwa unconsciously comforted him. When Seong Geonwoo and Yong Yeohong interrogated the merfolk prisoner, she had been bedridden with illness and had not reported it to the company, nor received warnings about exploring the forbidden temple.
Furthermore, the prisoner exchange between Redstone Market, the merfolk, and mountain yokai took place the next morning, after Bango Bio sent a response.
Seong Geonwoo, holding back the urge to speed up, glanced at Jang Mokhwa.
“I think it was the gentleman’s order.”
“Hm?”
Jang Mokhwa agreed but was curious how he had reached that conclusion. She felt the need to learn a way of thinking different from her own; standing still would not lead to growth.
Many Awakened individuals had certain mental peculiarities. Their behavior couldn’t easily be predicted by ordinary logic.
Seong Geonwoo answered frankly.
“The merfolk prisoner and the Song warden were already friends. If they had known that staying here too long would lead to something terrible, they wouldn’t have mentioned the island or the forbidden temple at all.”
“True.”
Jang Mokhwa was slightly disappointed that his deduction was so normal.
Ring-ring!
Seong Geonwoo, seemingly a bit excited, rang the bicycle bell. Perhaps he wanted to play a short tune.
Unfortunately, a bicycle bell was not enough for that.
“….”
Jang Mokhwa let go of her fleeting disappointment.
About ten minutes later, having passed abandoned buildings along the lakeshore, a small town finally appeared ahead.
The buildings were reminiscent of With City: white walls, black tiles, elegant eaves—exuding a classical old-world charm.
Yet there were differences.
First, there were no city walls. Second, most houses were only 2–3 stories tall.
Within the silver-white inner streets, blue stone slabs were laid out, and yellowed, dried weeds swayed in the cool, constant breeze.
For some reason, Jang Mokhwa felt the light dim slightly upon entering.
The scene before her was tranquil but slightly eerie. There was no sign of human presence. Had it been another season rather than winter, this place would already be a paradise of green plants and wild animals. Of course, some dried animal droppings were still visible on wall corners and ditches.
“No smell, though.”
Seong Geonwoo sniffed the air.
Jang Mokhwa ignored him and checked her wristwatch.
“It’s 4:16. Whether we find anything valuable or not, we need to leave by 4:42.”
Seong Geonwoo pointed out,
“Team leader, your calculation is off. The maximum time near the temple is only thirty minutes.”
Jang Mokhwa scoffed. She had determined the route to the temple using the merfolk prisoner’s testimony.
“I left some buffer time. How can we know if this place differs from what the company discovered before? We can’t blindly follow the company’s precautions. We have to operate with stricter standards.”
“You could join the Watcher sect.”
Jang Mokhwa glared at Seong Geonwoo, who seemed to be complimenting her.
“Sounds like an insult. Do you think Watcher sect members would be that vigilant?”
