Chapter 261

Does the Golden Dragon Dream of the Invincible Legion (3)

The base camp demolition was finished. Shin Eunah had installed a magic circle to hide and protect part of it, complete with a barrier that would naturally reinforce it, but unfortunately, most countries didn't have a great mage like her. What Shin Eunah made was, so to speak, a small, direct base. It was a secret base built to allow elite personnel to stay and relax and fight enemies in a favorable environment anytime they returned to Africa. So, she really was thinking of forming an elite unit someday to conquer Africa. Of course, it had become a realistic dream for Kang Shin-hyuk.

"We're leaving!"

The ships full of superhumans, mercenaries, and the loot they had acquired from the monsters left the port of Casablanca. On each ship departing into the night sea, people were muttering and sighing.

"It was terrible."

"I'm glad that the ships are safe."

"Fucking Africa, I hope I'll never come back here again..."

"Was our expedition meaningful?"

"At least we can create a bunch of weapons with the loot we got this time..."

It was a place they had stayed for a very short period of time but was there any other place as intense? In particular, the countercurrent was so dangerous that even the top rankers felt the threat to their lives many times. Moreover, the battle between those two powerful unknown beings that appeared in the middle of the fight made them feel small. Kang Shin-hyuk had a bitter smile on his face as he watched the superhumans openly display their annoyances.

"There will be a global downturn for the time being..."

"Except for Korea."

It was Bridget Poulsen who responded. She approached Kang Shin-hyuk with a wink and tried to fold her arms with his but was blocked.

"Aw, can't you give me a little bit of an opening? You're not going to tell your girlfriend?"

"You're worse. I'll bring you to my girlfriend."

Kang Shin-hyuk firmly believed that Claire would be able to make this woman some medication that would keep her in the bathroom for three days and nights. But Bridget, not knowing that a wicked plan had just been born, began to grapple with him again.

"Hey, if you keep being so fervent, I might not go to Korea."

"Don't come."

"Kahahahaha! Look at you, how funny!"

She clapped loudly. She really was a crazy woman. Moreover, it was annoying that her affinity for Kang Shin-hyuk seemed to be increasing.

"So, I have to go because my unnie is there."

"What a joke... No, are you really trying to naturalize?"

"Yes, listen."

Kang Shin-hyuk was astonished by her words, but Bridget continued with a serious expression.

"Why do you think I haven't been doing a lot of superhuman activities lately?"

"Isn't it because you consider your job to be more important?"

"I have that too."

"There's more?"

Kang Shin-hyuk laughed and slapped her shoulder with his palm.

"Our country, Denmark, has too little superhuman power."

That was something he knew well. In fact, Denmark hadn't been able to adapt very well to the changing society after the outbreak of the gates. They couldn't cultivate a proper superhuman training facility in the early stages, which resulted in a painful outflow of talent. At the root of that incident was the troublesome problem of antagonism between them and the European Union to which they belonged, but that was another problem.

"Because our country also tried to follow the UK."

"Shouldn't..."

"That's why it got twisted in the beginning. Anyway!"

Anyway, a mutant named Bridget Poulsen suddenly appeared with the highest trait one day. But it was worth knowing that there wasn't even one other high ranker in the world from Denmark except for her.

"You know, Puppeteer... No matter how good I am alone, it's difficult to play an active part without a single person to dance with."

"Is there no such thing as patriotism in your country?"

"There was, but what about it?"

She used the past tense.

"I just happened to awaken my abilities, but should there be so many wishes for me? It's too burdensome, too annoying."

"Indeed."

Although he hadn't been through it, he could understand her feelings roughly. The expectant gazes upon her, the responsibility demanded of her, and the burden she didn't want to carry that had been piled up on her back.

"I lost my sense of patriotism, and I quickly let go of my responsibility because I would be ruined if it continued like that. So, it was comfortable."

"It's not common that people can let go of their responsibility, but that's great."

Rather than being sarcastic, Kang Shin-hyuk truly admired her. When weighing the values of the state and the individual, it wasn't easy to abandon the state and choose the individual. How difficult it was to steadfastly go on your own path, ignoring the resentment and expectations of countless others. It would've been easier if a human didn't have the moral spirit and universal view of society from the start.

"What? Wait a minute, don't we have a nice atmosphere right now? I think it's going to be a little serious, but would you like to move around and talk?"

"Not at all, so I'm relieved. Moreover, whatever you say here won't spread outside."

The sound collector he had developed to block the outflow of sound was more reliable than any barrier!

"Ah, it's miserable that I can't get a man into my room even after talking about my past."

Bridget pretended to cry, but Kang Shin-hyuk realized it was an act to stop him from growing frustrated and laughed.

"Let's talk behind the scenes."

"You want to do it?"

"If you keep talking, I'll go."

"I'm going to turn it around...?!"

"I will kill you."

"To be killed like that... I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I'm joking!"

Bridget was able to get back to the main topic only after being forgiven by Kang Shin-hyuk.

"So, it doesn't mean that I didn't feel responsible for my strength either. But this time, it was so nice to fight with my trusted colleagues."

At that, he recalled her appearance as he fought on the battlefield with him and Shin Eunah. Indeed, looking at her then, she moved so aggressively that he couldn't understand why her notoriety hadn't spread sooner. She had been a trustworthy colleague. However, Kang Shin-hyuk nodded with conviction.

"If you want a reliable companion... You have the elite EU guardians."

"I hate the EU."

"Yes, you're Danish. How about the Nordic Union?"

"Uh, yeah, they're good. But, other Nordic countries are in a similar situation to Denmark."

Bridget paused before adding more.

"If I really want to protect the world, I thought I should be next to you, not the EU, the US, China, or Russia."

"Ah..."

A clear sincerity shone in her eyes. No, it was unlikely that Kang Shin-hyuk had acquired the ability to read minds that way. He sensed the heat emanating clearly from her source with his own spiritual power.

"That's why you will naturalize."

"I haven't yet, but I'm thinking. It's confirmed I'll stay in Korea for the time being. I've already applied for cooperation with the association."

"Through Eunah senior."

"Yes. I will also be able to be with my unnie."

Kang Shin-hyuk briefly considered shutting her down, but he decided not to. Instead...

"I understand your heart, so I'll see it a bit more."

"Brother-in-law?!"

"You're too used to Korean culture already."

"I watched a lot of dramas and movies."

Well, Kang Shin-hyuk didn't mean that he would wait and see how her hanging out with Eunah went.

'There's no reason I can use the Guardian Golden Dragon if she is going to belong to my team.'

He had also used it on his three friends who didn't belong directly to his time, so there was no reason he couldn't use it on Bridget as well. However, it hadn't been long since he got to know her...for the time being, he planned on watching her carefully.

"Were you here to talk about that, then?"

"No, I'm lonely at night, so I came to flirt."

"Go back."

"Cheh..."

***

The biggest significance of the expedition was that it reopened the sea route to Africa. Of course, gates could appear at any time, but it was a big benefit to clean up the monsters that had accumulated for decades. Planning for the day they would advance to Africa again; mankind would continue to clean and pioneer that sea road.

"Then, we'll go back."

"It's not as unreasonable as it was when we started."

"It may not even show up in the news."

"It will soon. 'African expedition failed; it's still early for humanity!' Headlines like that."

"It's too easy to see, so stop."

Bridget Poulsen officially joined them on their way back to Korea. The Danish government tried hard to hold onto her but to no avail. The EU also threw various offers her way, but there was no way to turn her heart back. In fact, it wasn't a small deal for a top ranker to change their country of activity, but because Bridget had been acting only as she wanted from the start, this sudden trip to Korea went quickly to 'it can't be helped.' If she naturalized to Korea later, there would be another big uproar, but at least for now, it was only at this level.

"What if you miss the airplane?"

"Ah, it's just a minute interview."

As a camera-loving professional, Bridget gave an interview while wearing a wide smile to the reporters who followed them before boarding the plane. She came quickly at the call of Kang Shin-hyuk and stuck next to him. To be precise, she came between Kang Shin-hyuk and Shin Eunah.

"Ah."

"No, this location is great."

"I hate you..."

"I can't stand my unnie's gaze!"

Then there was a click. One of the reporters photographed Bridget's smile as she stood between Kang Shin-hyuk and Eunah.

"Shall I kill them?"

"Don't kill people who take pictures. We're bringing one of the top rankers to Korea, so please allow this."

"Huh...!"

Shin Eunah really didn't want to bring Bridget to Korea, but as a member of the Superhuman Association, she was a talent who couldn't be ignored. Moreover, with this achievement in the African continent, her ranking had been confirmed.

"Let's play an active part as the top-ranking trio of good friends!"

"I hate it..."

"...Why do I have a bad feeling...?"

Kang Shin-hyuk's premonition was right. Photos of the three with their arms crossed side-by-side adorned the front page of newspapers around the world, with headlines like 'Top Ranked Elite Team Formation?!' Even Bridget was reported as saying, 'I have a good relationship with Korea's top rankers. In the future, my goal is to marry and become naturalized.' By making such remarks, Shin Eun-hyuk's bad reputation had risen again. Actually, her goal was Shin Eunah and not him, but this crafty woman used him as camouflage!

"See, if I use the Guardian Golden Dragon...!"

"Explain. From start to finish."

"Yes, ma'am."

Claire, who had been waiting for him to return safely, was quietly angry at the news of Tsukuyo's visit and Bridget's remarks. Kang Shin-hyuk worked hard all night to relieve her mood.