episode_0157

“Understood.”

“It’s a promise.”

“…Yes.”

“You must come out—”

“Oh, come on!”

Captain Lee only left after securing a promise to meet again at the same spot two days later.

The active military man’s overwhelming display of masculinity in his courtship was horrifying.

My mind reeled from a destructive power beyond imagination.

Even now, as his car drove off, seeing Captain Lee lean his face out the window, staring back at us with a forlorn expression, utterly bewildered me.

‘Is he even the same person?’

This must be why women dislike clingy men.

I shook my head, making a firm resolve.

When that man was around, I would never pick anything up if it fell on the floor.

Captain Lee, who had been flustered by the demand that felt like a power trip yet wasn’t quite one—to bring out the person in charge—had answered without hesitation that he would.

Unexpectedly, the woman accompanying him, Secretary Choi, didn’t object to that decision.

‘Is he just steadfast or naive….’

If I had felt a good impression from his masculine and courteous demeanor, I’d say that impression shattered the more I saw him. Even though he showed a goofy side, he was someone who was hard to hate completely.

My hyung, who had been watching Captain Lee leave with me, spoke in a forlorn tone.

“Anyone who didn’t know would think a couple was being torn apart for good.”

“…Hyung.”

“No, but it’s true. Why is he so pitiful?”

“Mmph.”

I clenched my teeth at Jihyeok Hyung’s crossing-the-line joke.

There were some things a person just shouldn’t say, but how could he say something like that?

While Sohee chuckled beside me and my hyung and I bickered, Dong-woo arrived in a cargo truck to pick us up.

The windows were all broken, and the body of the car was heavily scarred.

It could still drive, but it was beyond use as is.

“Repairing this would be impossible, right?”

“Hmm… Probably. Parts are hard to come by, and we don’t have a mechanic…”

Getting into the truck, we started discussing letting the cargo truck rest and, if possible, looking for another vehicle.

As we talked, we returned to our safe haven.

Inside the shelter, everyone was waiting for us.

Their faces showed a slight worry, but we assumed it was because there were injured people.

The atmosphere wasn’t serious enough to make me laugh at Incheol, who was the only one with actual injuries, being pampered.

First, we quickly washed ourselves and then sought out Leader Choi.

Naturally, a discussion opened in the reception room, and we began talking while nibbling on the snacks Grandma had prepared for us.

“I heard you were attacked, but it seems no one was seriously hurt. That’s a relief.”

“I’m fine, but…”

At my reaction, Incheol and the men with minor scratches rubbed their heads.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault, and there were no major injuries, so I quietly reassured them.

We decided to talk about that later.

“I heard the story. That things kept happening to you.”

Leader Choi opened his mouth as if he had been waiting.

He seemed quite concerned about the day’s events.

Everyone gathered around reacted similarly.

My hyung volunteered to explain first.

He recounted the ambush in Sangbong-dong and then meeting the soldiers after leaving first.

I picked up the story from there, explaining how we rescued the trapped people and all the conversations I had with Captain Lee.

The explanation itself didn’t take long.

By the time the warm coffee in our cups had cooled, the explanation was over, and everyone fell into thought.

Leader Choi, in particular, had a bad expression.

“The situation at the Konkuk University Shelter seems more serious than I thought.”

“I believe so. Your thoughts were correct, Leader Choi.”

“…I expected it, but secretly hoped it wasn’t true. This is truly….”

Leader Choi’s reaction made me slightly puzzled.

“Didn’t you dislike Jincheon?”

“That’s separate; I’m still concerned about the safety of the survivors.”

“Ah. The survivors.”

At my indifferent response, Leader Choi composed his expression.

“I know this isn’t the time to worry about others in front of you, who have been through such a big ordeal today, but…”

“No, it’s fine.”

“When Incheol and I were on the run, we were severely burned by people, so I don’t particularly feel great pity for them.”

At Leader Choi’s words, Incheol silently showed his agreement.

And I didn’t feel much sympathy either.

“I understand the situation. What are you planning to do?”

“…Well…”

Seeing my lukewarm response, everyone offered an opinion.

The common sentiment was, ‘Is there any reason to respond to their request?’

“Um… This might sound selfish, but isn’t it too dangerous? We don’t know what those people might ask us to do…”

Miri’s mom’s words made Grandpa nod his head.

“It’s also suspicious that he specifically sought out Seonghan. And there are soldiers with guns, so why the need? Seonghan is a civilian, isn’t he? And…”

Grandpa cleared his throat briefly, then looked directly at me and advised me gravely.

“Seonghan. Decline.”

“……”

“What that Captain said has some merit. It could happen. But who will protect you?”

I blinked at Grandpa’s words.

“I don’t deny that you are clearly an excellent person. But you’re also human. You could get seriously hurt.”

“…That could be true.”

“It’s not a matter of compensation. It’s too dangerous.”

Grandpa spoke carefully, yet clearly stated his intention.

Hearing him, I felt somewhat embarrassed…

“Those worthless guys look like they’re on the verge of starving to death, so what would they give us? Young man, if they even mention credit, slap them.”

Grandma didn’t seem pleased either, offering no kind words.

“When the government asks for something, it never ends well. Once their business is done, they shamelessly ignore you and pretend not to know you. They’re terrible people. Your Grandma and I know this well from experience. Indeed!”

Grandpa’s indignant words resonated with me.

The Konkuk University Shelter was a combination of soldiers, corporations, and politicians.

There was no law saying Grandpa’s words wouldn’t come true.

You couldn’t make a fortune by working honestly.

It was a lesson that spanned across all eras.

There was a high probability I would be stabbed in the back after helping Captain Lee.

Everyone seemed to lean towards me declining.

‘Should I decline?’

As I wavered, swayed by their words.

“Seonghan, what do you want to do?”

Leader Choi, who had been quiet until then, asked.

“Well… declining seems right, but at the same time, declining feels a bit….”

This was why I had given Captain Lee an opening.

Normally, I wouldn’t care if they died or not, but refusing left a strangely unpleasant aftertaste.

A subtle, bothersome feeling.

It wasn’t that I particularly felt sorry for the survivors gathered at the Konkuk University Shelter.

Upon hearing my ambiguous reply, Leader Choi soon offered his own opinion.

“I think a little differently.”

“…Do you have something in mind?”

“Personally, I think helping them wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“Le-Leader-nim?”

Shia’s eyes widened at Leader Choi’s calm statement.

At this reaction, Leader Choi quickly continued.

“Don’t misunderstand. I, too, am concerned about your safety, Seonghan, just like everyone else.”

“But why…?”

“The actions of Taesung and Jincheon bother me. And the same goes for other surviving factions.”

“There are factions?”

At my question, Leader Choi nodded.

Leader Choi confessed that while I was out exploring with my party, he had been gathering various information inside.

“I’ve been sifting through radio frequencies with Byeongsu. Well, it’s half-heartedly killing time, but I had to do something.”

“You didn’t mention it, so I didn’t know.”

“I intended to speak once I had distilled the information to some extent.”

The information Leader Choi shared, somewhat sheepishly, wasn’t extensive.

And none of it was positive.

People were promoting camps through the radio, gathering people.

Broadcasts urging people to unite and survive repeated several times a day.

There were also broadcasts amplifying anxiety, preaching doomsday theories.

He said there were also many broadcasts openly recruiting only young women.

According to Leader Choi, such broadcasts were rampant everywhere, and just hearing about it made me automatically think it was a complete mess.

After quietly listening to his explanation, I asked Leader Choi.

“So how is this related?”

“Would major corporations like Taesung be any different?”

“Hmm?”

“The world’s order has collapsed now. Frankly speaking, lunatics and criminals will run wild.”

“That’s… true.”

Even our group was severely misled by a pregnant woman cosplay.

Even worse individuals were bound to appear in the future.

“I think there should be at least one organization that can establish order.”

“And that’s the Konkuk University Shelter?”

“Precisely.”

“…Isn’t that thinking too far ahead?”

“Not necessarily. Haven’t Taesung and Jincheon already acted?”

Hearing those words, I was able to organize my thoughts.

“…It’s about expanding their power.”

“I believe so. When pooling resources isn’t even enough, there’s no reason for them to split off to find their own way to survive otherwise. And…”

“…Because we don’t know what they’ll do.”

At my words, Leader Choi simply remained silent.

“Surely… they’re major corporations representing our country. Would they act as wildly as criminals?”

“There’s a possibility. A significant one.”

I briefly answered Dong-woo’s bewildered question.

At my almost certain tone, Dong-woo glumly fell silent.

You could tell by how Daehan Security had been stirring things up.

When Captain Lee explained, he said there was a completely different team from the female team leader we met in Sangbong-dong. A team that was truly Taesung’s hands and feet.

If the female team leader’s group publicly showed themselves helping people, the other teams were insidious individuals running wild, using any means necessary.

They were already acting with a different outward appearance and inner motive.

At this point, even gathering doctors could only be interpreted as having ulterior motives, not merely establishing a quarantine system.

‘…Surely, they wouldn’t conduct human experiments, would they?’

…I dismissed the thought of them going too far.

Still, this was Korea.

“Then… if that’s the case, why did they bother cooperating to create a shelter?”

It was a small murmur to myself, but Leader Choi provided an answer.

“It must be for show.”

“Surely… just for that, they put in so much effort?”

“Don’t corporations donate large sums to refresh their image? It must have been for a similar reason.”

“…In this situation, really?”

At my words, Leader Choi sipped his now-cold tea.

“They created an escape route.”

“What’s that… Oh, damn it.”

I vaguely understood.

The Konkuk University Shelter was a kind of liability shield.

It was definitely mentioned in what Captain Lee told me.

Taesung’s small and large failures.

If it were merely material support or cooperation, responsibility couldn’t be questioned.

But they had deeply involved themselves and staged various operations.

The reckless charge incident in Gangnam was the same.

It was a type of shield to avoid future responsibility and criticism.

Their public efforts to rescue people must have been part of the same plan.

“Whether it’s Taesung or Jincheon, the high-ranking survivors will likely assume this situation will end.”

“……”

“The two split groups would have even calculated the pros and cons of that. From the beginning, they probably had no interest in the welfare of the people.”

“…If that were true, they wouldn’t have split.”

“…Perhaps. But, as you already know, both chairmen are extraordinarily ambitious individuals.”

“Do they want to become kings or something?”

“That’s a possibility.”

“Huh?!”

“The government has collapsed, and law and order are meaningless. If they possess power and influence, is there anything they couldn’t do?”

Hearing that, it certainly seemed true.

The ultimate goal of tuning is the original, and the ultimate goal of ambition is the highest pinnacle.

A king who controls everything with a single hand.

“So that’s why they took people….”

“A king needs his subjects. Chairman Lee is famous for always saying he wants to create his own Taesung kingdom.”

Leader Choi emptied his cold tea and continued.

“This is merely my opinion, given my understanding of the two chairmen’s dispositions.”

“It’s far-fetched, but the problem is it sounds plausible.”

“Once they establish themselves and gain power, we can’t know what they’ll openly do. Desire often clouds reason.”

I couldn’t laugh at this discussion, calling it a pipe dream.

I had experienced something similar on the other side.

Vast merchant guilds with immense wealth or influential nobles.

Their behavior was strikingly similar.

Races that were different on the inside and out.

Even their desire to establish power and rise to the top by any means necessary.

Moreover, the thought that they genuinely might conquer Korea, if not become kings, bothered me.

Even gangsters strut around like kings in their own territory.

Didn’t Yeom almost conquer this area in Myeonmok-dong?

If a mere gangster could be like this, then those overflowing with desire and ambition might truly succeed.

Even if that’s the case for them…

“Still, I don’t think that’s a reason to help the Konkuk University Shelter.”

“Because you can’t trust them?”

“To put it simply… yes.”

The saying, ‘six of one, half dozen of the other,’ isn’t for nothing.

“But if it’s Representative Pyo Sangsu and Chairman Kim of Daesan who are there, then the story is a little different.”

“How so?”

“Representative Pyo is more neutral and dedicated to the people compared to other politicians. Chairman Kim’s family is also quite clean for a conglomerate.”

“That sounds like they have less power and didn’t make much money.”

Leader Choi chuckled at my words.

“That’s correct.”

“Hmm….”

“Even so, when they push forward the justification of working for the people, they are the most enthusiastic individuals to carry it out.”

“…Among politicians and corporations, you mean?”

At my words, Leader Choi simply gave a slight nod.

“If the Konkuk University Shelter establishes itself and grows, it will become a force to keep Taesung and Jincheon in check in the future. Seonghan is clearly exceptional, but he is an individual. For an individual to defeat an organization is a distant task.”

Was there really a need for that?

To be frank, if I were to gather myself, chase them down, and beat them all, I could see the ending in a single day.

“Of course, there is also the option of smashing them all before that, but I wouldn’t recommend it. There’s no reason for Seonghan to dirty his hands with blood.”

“Hmm….”

I flinched, feeling as if Leader Choi had seen through my thoughts.

He truly was a master at reading people.

To my silent admiration, Leader Choi added.

“And… if you decide to help, there probably won’t be a group better than the Konkuk University Shelter….”

“What do you mean?”

At my question, Leader Choi hesitated for a moment, then spoke with difficulty.

“…There’s a rumor that the administrative leadership has been annihilated.”

“Weren’t all those people on the run?”

“They were, but such rumors are circulating. We can’t confirm it as it’s just radio chatter, but it says all the leadership who fled to Jeju Island and those who fled to warships at sea have gone silent.”

“…Wow…”

At Leader Choi’s words, the atmosphere in the reception room grew heavy.

If that rumor was true, it meant we were effectively in an anarchic state.

Byeongsu, who had only been listening until then, quietly interjected.

“W-Well, if I summarize what I heard on the radio… the broadcasts from the Jeju Island Provisional Government and the Joint Headquarters on the warships stopped at some point. So…”

At Byeongsu’s timidly cut-off sentence, I fell silent.

‘Those bastards, after running away, couldn’t even manage to hold on and just died off.’

To have abandoned their own people and fled, only to be annihilated in the end.

My chest felt empty from the futility.

The targets of accountability after overcoming the zombie apocalypse were already dead.

My misplaced anger swirled at the top of my head.

As I chugged the water on the table to suppress my anger, Leader Choi spoke.

“In a situation like this, one might think an individual can’t do much, but with Seonghan’s abilities, it’s entirely possible.”

“Isn’t that overestimating me too much?”

“…Well. Is it, really?”

Leader Choi smiled meaningfully, filled with conviction.

“Of course, the decision must be yours, Seonghan. Although I’ve offered my opinion, I also don’t particularly like the idea of you stepping into danger.”

“Hmm…”

Honestly, I was still deliberating.

Would it be worth me going on a grand rampage?

While I was pondering this for a moment,

“If you decide to do it, please take me with you to the meeting two days from now.”

“What? Leader Choi, why would you…?”

“Representative Pyo will most likely be there from their side.”

“Right?”

“I also want to help you, Seonghan.”

Leader Choi, emphasizing his desire to help me, wore a somewhat dangerous smile.

“Muddy fights with sly foxes are my specialty.”

“……”

“Leave such things to me. Hahahaha~”

Leader Choi, covering his mouth with clasped hands, exuded a dangerous aura.

Everyone in the reception room was slightly startled by Leader Choi’s sudden change in demeanor.

Even Jihyeok Hyung, who was beside him, flinched.

But Leader Choi’s appearance seemed incredibly dependable.

‘…Should I do it?’

Thanks to the reliable support that felt like gaining an army of a thousand, I hardened my resolve.

I would help Captain Lee.