32. Banpo. (3)

Following Banpo-ro, we arrived at Seoraepark.

Following Seoraero, we reached Seoraemaeul.

Inside, the motel was the government force’s residence.

The motel door was firmly closed.

A thick chain was wrapped around the handle, as if to prevent anything from the outside from entering.

The special forces members unlocked the padlock on the chain and removed it.

They then opened the door while keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

The door opened quite quietly.

We entered the motel.

In the reception area in front of the motel counter, several people were sitting on sofas and the floor.

Everyone stood up.

Their faces lit up as they saw the special forces members entering with duffel bags.

Among the mostly male group were Secretary-General Ahn Jun-gyu, a kind-faced old gentleman, and President Min Jeong-woo.

They greeted the special forces members with bright faces.

“My goodness. Gayeon, you’re alive!”

President Min Jeong-woo was the first to step forward and grabbed Sung Gayeon’s hand.

“Yes, Mr. President. I apologize for causing you worry.”

“No, no. You’ve worked hard. You’ve really worked hard.”

President Min Jeong-woo just held Sung Gayeon’s hand tightly and nodded.

He didn’t ask about the other members’ well-being.

He must know.

Secretary-General Ahn Jun-gyu and the other burly men, as well as middle-aged men, took the duffel bags and praised their efforts.

Special Forces Leader Sung Gyu-hyuk, receiving the warm welcome, said,

“This mission wouldn’t have been possible without this person. They showed truly remarkable skills. Even better than what we saw in the video.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to me.

I met their gazes and slowly took off the duffel bag from my shoulder.

A burly man, likely a special forces member, politely took the duffel bag from me.

President Min Jeong-woo approached me.

“…Finally, we meet.”

The President shook my hand.

His hand was wrinkled and rough.

Warmth radiated from it.

I was covered in blood, including my hands.

But it didn’t seem to bother President Min Jeong-woo.

He held my hand firmly with both of his and said,

“You’ve worked very hard, Han Seong-hun. Knowing that someone like you exists in our country, perhaps heaven is helping us.”

I smiled and nodded slightly.

“Thank you. It’s an honor.”

President Min Jeong-woo led me inside and said,

“Come, let’s go inside. Let’s have a cup of tea and talk. How about it?”

I nodded.

“Sure. I’d like that.”

The President led me to an empty room on the first floor of the motel.

The bed was removed.

There was no TV, mirror, or small table-nothing that a motel room should have.

Instead, a few rough chairs were placed.

They looked like plastic chairs that would fit in front of a convenience store’s umbrella table.

This is…

…an office?

It seemed to be a space created for the President to work or hold meetings, but even the shabbiest room in our large supermarket building would be better than this.

The dire situation was evident just by looking at the room.

The President gestured for me to sit on a plastic chair and sat down himself.

I took off the backpack I had been carrying and placed it on the floor. While doing so, I also took off my lifting belt.

The two swords, quiver, and bow made it quite heavy.

Once I took them off, I felt much lighter.

Several people gathered in the room.

Me, the President, Special Forces Leader Sung Gyu-hyuk, and two unfamiliar middle-aged men, along with a man in his early 30s.

The Secretary-General was not there.

Where did he go?

As I looked around, President Min Jeong-woo said,

“You might still be unfamiliar with everyone. You’ve already met our Special Forces Leader. This is Captain Park Dae-han. He pilots the helicopter.”

“Ah.”

Captain Park Dae-han. He looked like he was in his early 50s or late 40s, with a slightly protruding belly but a robust build.

He was the one who cleared the zombie wave in our neighborhood.

I smiled and nodded slightly.

“Thank you for that. My family also thanks you.”

Captain Park Dae-han smiled slightly but didn’t say much. He seemed to be a man of few words.

The President continued,

“This is Captain Kim Min-joon. He’s our skilled pilot for the light aircraft.”

Ah, this is the one who dropped the leaflets.

Captain Kim Min-joon was tall and quite lean. He was definitely not in his 50s.

Early 40s?

“Nice to meet you. I received the leaflets.”

“Welcome. I heard from Special Forces Leader Sung Gyu-hyuk that you performed excellently in the operation. I wish I could have seen it myself.”

He glanced at Special Forces Leader Sung Gyu-hyuk.

Sung Gyu-hyuk said,

“I’ve never seen anything like it. His skills are truly outstanding. It was almost like watching a movie.”

I chuckled.

Captain Kim Min-joon. He seems to be the type who likes to be cautious and thorough.

President Min Jeong-woo pointed to the last person.

He looked to be in his early 30s or late 20s, just a few years older than me.

“This is our mechanic, Sergeant Song Gyu-tae. He’s in charge of the light aircraft and the helicopter. Without him, we would be in real trouble.”

I nodded slightly at Sergeant Song Gyu-tae.

Sergeant Song Gyu-tae was quite short.

Or maybe the others were just tall.

He might be just under 170 cm.

He had a slightly chubby face with a confident and lively expression.

Sergeant Song Gyu-tae bowed slightly.

“Nice to meet you.”

He greeted me, but his expression wasn’t very good.

Why?

Just then, Secretary-General Ahn Jun-gyu entered with a tray. Steam was rising from paper cups.

…It’s so hot, why not just give us a Fanta or a cola? What did he bring that’s bubbling like that…

“Here. Have a cup, Seong-hun. You’ve really worked hard today.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I took the paper cup.

…The color is a bit watery and bland?

I took a sip. Green tea…?

How much water did he add?

It looks like he steeped a tea bag in a bucket of tap water a few times.

…It’s really not good.

They seem to be treating me like a distinguished guest, but the fact that they’re offering this to someone like me shows how dire the situation is here.

The Secretary-General distributed the cups to everyone and sat down on a plastic chair.

…He doesn’t even have a cup for himself.

They don’t even have enough of this weak tea to spare.

…This is serious.

Even the cockroaches were raiding convenience stores…

No…

The situation is different for them.

Because of the helicopter and light aircraft, a zombie wave occurs almost every time.

The cockroaches, who would swarm into a convenience store with a few human beasts, fighting and looting each other, had the same behavior as cockroaches, but these people are definitely different.

President Min Jeong-woo smiled and said to me,

“So, Seong-hun. I heard you have a lot of people on your side. How are they doing?”

I smiled.

“We’re doing well. We’re living in a building with a large supermarket.”

“Oh, a large supermarket… Everyone is healthy?”

“Yes, everyone is safe.”

I chuckled.

Mr. President, it’s not the time to worry about us.

The old gentleman’s eyes showed relief.

He seemed happy to hear that people were safe.

“That’s fortunate. Having someone like Han Seong-hun is truly a blessing for them.”

I nodded and asked,

“Thank you. But I have a question. Special Forces Member Sung Gayeon’s ankle is badly injured. Do you have any medical supplies here?”

“Just some cold medicine and painkillers. And those are almost gone.”

Sergeant Song Gyu-tae, the mechanic, answered.

He had a troubled look on his face.

I asked,

“No medicine at all?”

Sergeant Song Gyu-tae glanced at the President and Secretary-General and then closed his mouth.

President Min Jeong-woo said,

“It’s okay. Speak up.”

“Yes.”

Sergeant Song Gyu-tae nodded and said to me,

“Not just medicine. We don’t have fuel either. We have only one box left.”

Captain Park and Captain Kim sighed softly at this.

I frowned.

“…One box of fuel? What do you mean?”

“Octane Boost.”

Sergeant Song Gyu-tae sighed and explained,

“The helicopter and light aircraft need aviation fuel. But we’re running them on regular gasoline. I don’t know why there are so many sports cars in this area, but fortunately, there were a few boxes of Octane Boost at a nearby gas station. We mix it in to fuel the aircraft. We’re basically forcing the engines to run.”

Sergeant Song Gyu-tae looked at the captains and shook his head.

“We only have one box left, so we can refuel maybe three or four more times. More importantly, it’s dangerous. We shouldn’t be flying anymore. We’ll crash at some point.”

I looked at the sergeant and the captains in surprise.

“…Is that true?”

Captain Park didn’t respond, being a man of few words.

Captain Kim looked at the ceiling, sighed, and said,

“We have to fly when we need to. When the crash comes, it’s just my turn. These days, who isn’t dying?”

…This is really serious.

I thought they only lacked weapons, but they also lack food and medicine. They have helicopters and light aircraft, but they’re running them on regular gasoline with additives.

…They’re walking a tightrope.

I looked around at the people.

These people are not cockroaches.

They are people who are trying to do something.

I slowly spoke,

“What do you plan to do now?”

Special Forces Leader Sung Gyu-hyuk answered,

“Now that the members are armed, things will improve. First, we need to bring back the necessary supplies. After that, we plan to attack the Pyeongtaek U.S. base.”

“…Pyeongtaek?”

Sung Gyu-hyuk nodded.

“Yes. Other national military bases could be good choices, but the Pyeongtaek U.S. base is the most efficient. It has everything from aircraft to explosives and a runway. It’s almost a complete military base in a single location, the largest in the country. It’s even better now that the Yongsan base has moved. It’s our top priority.”

…The Pyeongtaek U.S. base.

Secretary-General Ahn Jun-gyu said,

“After that, we need to expand to nuclear power plants and water purification facilities. We might have to give up some things, but if the national utilities collapse, everything is over. We can’t do without electricity and water.”

I crossed my arms and slowly nodded.

…Light aircraft and helicopters.

They can operate, but it’s dangerous.

Everything is lacking.

And, power and water.

…We’ve just managed to get weapons.

I sighed softly and looked around at the people.

President Min Jeong-woo asked me,

“What do you think, Seong-hun?”

I answered,

“…Let’s take one step at a time.”