28. What They Want, What We Need. (3)

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok said,

“Regarding what you mentioned earlier, Mr. Seong-hun, we might be able to help with the zombie wave issue that’s making it difficult for you to join us.”

“How?”

“Don’t they get attracted to noise? We have a utility helicopter we’re currently using for missions.”

Ah!

Both Jun-hyeok and Hwan-ajusshi exclaimed.

A helicopter.

Clearly, in the YouTube videos, the creatures were drawn to the helicopter’s engine and propellers and climbed the building.

It’s a given.

If the helicopter comes, they’ll be provoked.

“Where do you plan to lure them?”

Jun-hyeok added a comment to my question.

“Why not drop them into the Han River?”

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok replied,

“The Han River. It’s a good idea, but they can just walk through the water to the other side.”

Jun-hyeok and Hwan-ajusshi’s expressions turned serious.

I had expected as much.

These things aren’t alive or dead.

The bright red blood that gushed out when I cut them.

If they were dead, after nearly a month, the blood wouldn’t remain so red.

It would have rotted and turned black by now.

But they’re not alive either.

If they were, their hearts would still be beating without a head.

When I cut a bird’s body in half, the headless side still flapped its wings, trying to bite me.

With its intestines dragging.

They only start rotting after their heads are destroyed and they’re fully dead.

Only then does the body begin to decay.

Since they’re not dead, the blood remains red.

Since they’re not alive, they don’t need to breathe.

These are monsters.

I nodded and said,

“I understand what you’re saying. But I haven’t fully decided to join you.”

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok spoke slowly,

“…What do you mean? It’s different from what I heard.”

“This is something to discuss with Captain Hyeok. For now, I’ll just relay the message.”

“What are you talking about?”

I looked at Jun-hyeok and Hwan-ajusshi.

My people.

And the people still working hard downstairs.

…My women.

I said,

“There’s a condition. We have dozens of people who can’t fight, and I’m responsible for them. I want you to provide weapons so these people can arm themselves.”

Jun-hyeok added,

“Grenades and claymores too.”

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok responded,

“I can’t definitively answer that, but I can say we don’t have the weapons to support you.”

Doubt appeared on my face and the others’.

“What do you mean? Aren’t you a special task force?”

“Yes. All we have are two pistols, two K-2s, and about 200 rounds of ammunition. That’s it. We don’t have the grenades you mentioned.”

What?

Jun-hyeok and Hwan-ajusshi’s expressions changed in real-time.

So did mine.

“This seems too poorly equipped for a special task force.”

“I agree.”

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok sighed.

“That’s our top priority. I think the secretary mentioned it, but securing weapons is urgent for us as well.”

…True.

He had mentioned securing weapons.

I nodded and chuckled.

What a mess.

“Then, I assume the number of deployable personnel in the special task force isn’t plentiful.”

“Yes. If we had enough, we wouldn’t have gone out of our way to contact you.”

He’s right.

I chuckled slightly, feeling a bit absurd.

Yes.

This is the current state of the government and national defense.

The word “annihilated” has been used multiple times by both the secretary and the captain.

It’s accurate.

Everything is gone.

There’s no one left to use what’s still there.

Everyone is dead.

Or turned into human beasts.

I spat and said,

“Yes. So, here’s what I’ll say. If we get weapons, I’ll take half of them.”

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok was silent for a moment.

“…Did you say half?”

Jun-hyeok and Hwan-ajusshi also looked surprised.

They whispered among themselves.

Half?

I said,

“Yes. Half of them.”

“Don’t you think that’s excessive? We don’t even know where the mission area is.”

“No. It’s half. In exchange…”

I said,

“I’ll handle it myself.”

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok didn’t respond.

After a while, he spoke slowly and clearly,

“…Did you say alone?”

“Yes.”

A sigh came from the other end of the line.

I said,

“Anyway, you won’t be at a loss. Your special task force members won’t get hurt, and you just need to bring me there and back. Also, half of the weapons there will go to me and our people.”

There was a long silence on the other end.

Ah, damn.

A sound of disbelief came through.

I smiled, hearing that.

They don’t know what I’m capable of.

And we need weapons.

Weapons to protect ourselves.

They might think it’s excessive to ask for half, but to them, we have something they don’t.

We have the helicopter and someone to pilot it.

Having a means of air transport makes half a fair trade.

After waiting, Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok said,

“I’ll relay your message, but if you get hurt or killed, we can’t help you. As you said, we don’t have many members left. Currently, securing weapons is more important than rescue missions. I must make it clear that we won’t risk our members to save you.”

I nodded.

It’s reasonable.

I’m a civilian.

Not a professional soldier like Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok.

No patriotism.

Patriotism is for when the country exists, but now, what defines the borders? The country, the borders, everything is gone.

It’s the end of the world.

What’s more important is that I survive.

Therefore, Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok’s cautious approach makes sense to me.

“I’ll go alone and come back alone. You don’t need to worry about anything else. Just bring me there and back.”

“…Understood. I’ll report to the secretary. Anything else?”

I nodded and said,

“I want to find my family. There are also many people here who don’t know where their families are. After the mission, please help us find our families.”

Yes.

This is what we want.

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok said,

“…You want to find your family… I’ll report that too. But I must note that both of your conditions may be difficult to accept.”

I smiled and said,

“You also have what you want. The secretary mentioned securing weapons and establishing power to save people, correct?”

“Yes.”

“That’s what you want. We want to live. We want to find our families. That’s what we want. With the country and everything else in ruins, what protection or support can we expect from the nation? We must survive on our own.”

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok didn’t respond.

Looking at the silent phone, I said,

“Half the weapons. I’ll handle it myself. And you must help us find our families. If these conditions aren’t acceptable, I’ll refuse to join.”

Captain Seong-gyu Hyeok slowly replied,

“…I’ll relay your message to the secretary.”

“Yes. Thank you. We’ll speak again.”

Hung up the phone.

Jun-hyeok and Hwan-ajusshi looked at me.

Hwan-ajusshi muttered,

“Half the weapons…”

Jun-hyeok nodded and said,

“If we can get that much, it would certainly secure our firepower, Mr. Seong-hun.”

I nodded.

Hwan-ajusshi said quietly,

“Sir. Do you think the government will accept the conditions?”

I shook my head.

“I don’t know.”

Took a deep breath and exhaled.

Looking far away, the sun was setting.

“The government is gone. We’re just like any other surviving group. If they’re no help, it’s better not to join forces at all.”

My words changed Jun-hyeok and Hwan-ajusshi’s expressions.

They hadn’t thought of it that way.

I said,

“What’s important now is surviving. Go and take care of the tasks. I’ll let you know if there’s any news.”

“Yes, Mr. Seong-hun.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jun-hyeok and Hwan-ajusshi nodded and went downstairs.

I leaned my elbow on the rooftop wall and looked down.

Yes.

Now, borders, countries, race, or religion don’t matter.

All that’s left are groups of surviving people.

That night passed, and the next day, no contact came.

People moved things, reinforced windows and stairs, and were busy, while I leveled up by shooting my bow daily.

And after about a week…

I maxed out the Wild Hunter level.

Now, a new specialization.