episode_0186

His eyes shone piercingly, and his spirit was unimaginable for an old man.

For a very brief moment, I was overwhelmed by Jang Wonjang’s aura.

‘…A True Awakening?’

I didn’t know what kind of nonsense he was spouting, but I knew he was serious.

And I felt that I couldn’t ignore it, and shouldn’t ignore it.

A warning bell, of a completely different genre, emphasized that feeling.

For now, I decided to trust my gut.

Besides, my curiosity was strongly piqued.

“…So?”

“The story begins with the patients.”

“…Patients?”

“You know that these people met with me and the market representatives first, before meeting Seonghan, don’t you?”

I gave a small nod.

I remembered Choi Daepyo regretting that it had cost him an advantage in negotiations.

“They requested help, saying that some patients within the shelter were suffering from an unknown illness. Since I had just renewed my resolve, I didn’t refuse.”

“…”

“So, as soon as I arrived at the shelter, I treated the patients, but it was a case I had never encountered before.”

I kept my mouth shut and listened intently.

“However, I had seen a somewhat similar case.”

“?”

“In Gangwon-do, that is.”

The corners of my eyes twitched at the mention of Gangwon-do.

“That means…”

“I judged it to be related to the current situation and immediately informed Representative Pyo and CEO Kim. Captain Lee was already busy preparing for deployment, so…”

“…”

If it was on the first day I entered Geondae Shelter, it made sense.

Captain Lee was constantly pressed for time.

“But I had some time?”

“I… was flustered at the time.”

Jang Wonjang gave an awkward laugh.

“There’s a reason.”

‘A reason…’

“The two, after hearing my opinion, didn’t take it lightly. They even shared some data with me, and from that, I was able to find a clue.”

“…”

“Thanks to that, I discovered that this incident, that is, the zombies, is deeply related to it.”

I had doubts about Jang Wonjang’s earnest explanation.

“What kind of data is it?”

What followed was something I hadn’t even considered.

“It’s part of Taesung’s research log and analysis data.”

“You’re saying you obtained that?”

I was dumbfounded.

These people, who barely had such meager forces?

Even if I didn’t know, such information would absolutely not be easy to obtain.

Putting aside the value, would they be so careless with information that could risk their lives?

“No, how?”

“Thanks to CEO Kim Sukyung’s resourcefulness.”

“Kim Sukyung?”

“…That’s… my name.”

“Ah…”

I thought I was hearing it for the first time, but it was CEO Kim’s name.

She looked downcast, perhaps shocked that I didn’t even know her name.

It wasn’t very important, so I glossed over it.

Instead of CEO Kim, who had lowered her head, Representative Pyo took over.

“When Taesung was staying here, they also had research personnel. And among them, there were people who had flowed in from Gangwon-do, as Director Jang Myeonghwan mentioned.”

“And?”

“We sought out those among them who were weak-willed and carefully approached them, shaking them. With a bit of bribery and persuasion, that is.”

Oh, damn it.

Who knew the words ‘bribery’ and ‘persuasion’ would fit so well.

It’s a maneuver befitting a politician.

“CEO Kim put in a lot of effort.”

“…”

For a moment, I thought I’d misheard.

I couldn’t believe it at all, so I whipped my head around, and then…

“Why, why?”

“…”

“It’s true, you know?”

“Who’s saying otherwise?”

“But it’s true…”

Honestly, I couldn’t believe it.

That young lady, ignorant of the ways of the world and without experience, orchestrated such a scheme?

Ah, was it that?

Like, stealing the results of what a subordinate did?

Since she lacked sense, there’s a high possibility of that.

Well, let’s assume that’s the case.

“They stole the data during the commotion, saying it was scheduled for destruction.”

Behind CEO Kim’s quiet reply, Representative Pyo wore a triumphant expression.

“The timing back then was absolutely perfect. While those guys were leaving the shelter and taking supplies and people, they essentially left that behind. Even I was too excited by what I saw to think straight, and CEO Kim did something remarkable.”

So, it means they took advantage of the opening to strike a deal with each other…

‘She’s unpredictable.’

I looked at CEO Kim Sukyung.

She was a woman whose actions made me want to punch her hard in the solar plexus, knock her down, and make her whimper, yet such a thing was possible.

As I kept staring, CEO Kim rubbed her face with her hand, as if wondering if something was on it.

It also felt like Representative Pyo was lying…

“But at the time, we thought it was a bust.”

“There was no one here to analyze the data… and since it was scheduled for disposal, it had no immediate validity. At best, it was just flimsy evidence of what those bastards had done.”

“And Jang Wonjang recognized it?”

“That’s right.”

It was like a cow stepping backward and accidentally stepping on a mouse’s tail with its hind leg [a proverb meaning a lucky accident].

The attempt was good, but it would have been useless without Jang Wonjang.

“Just then, Jang Wonjang happened to mention zombies, so just in case, I shared some of the data with him. And then…”

“I insisted that we had to start research.”

“How did it come to that?”

To my skeptical question, Jang Wonjang didn’t hesitate.

“Because if we properly set our direction and maintain it, we can deny and collapse Taesung.”

“Just like before, I don’t understand what that ‘direction’ means.”

“Both of you said the same thing, didn’t you? That’s why you vehemently opposed it.”

I glanced at Representative Pyo and CEO Kim.

“Honestly, I thought CEO Kim pushed for it?”

“What are you talking about!”

CEO Kim shot up, denying my words.

“It isn’t?”

“It’s not!”

“Captain Lee said you spearheaded it.”

“Th-that’s…”

“I will explain that part.”

Secretary Choi, who had been quietly sitting, interjected.

“To put it simply, it’s because it was agreed that Director Jang Myeonghwan would lead the research, and CEO Kim of Daesan would take full responsibility for its continuation and all facilities.”

That means…

“Daesan will take external responsibility?”

“That’s right.”

“And what’s outwardly visible is also Daesan?”

“Correct.”

‘Why is this so complicated?’

What immediately came to mind after hearing that was a researcher within a company.

If it were a form of employment, I could understand.

“Why, exactly?”

Why would CEO Kim shoulder such a risk?

CEO Kim replied to my dry question.

“We judged Director Jang Wonjang’s opinion to have potential…”

“Not that.”

“To protect Director Jang Wonjang and the research from unforeseen dangers…”

“That’s not it either, is it?”

“…”

“What is it? The real reason?”

Even a tiny, insignificant site safety representative spouts such words.

Such conventional words that wouldn’t even be believed anywhere…

“I want to destroy Taesung.”

“What?”

CEO Kim’s face turned beet red.

“I want to smash all those small-time punk bastards! I want to ruin every single one of those guys who made my grandfather like that!”

An evaluation I’d heard before came out.

“I hate their dirty methods that hurt my grandfather, and I hate that they created this chaos with their dog-shit actions! That’s why I opposed it at first!! Because we’re different from those guys!!”

“But then?”

CEO Kim, who had been suddenly accelerating, lowered her head.

“B-but… but… because there was nothing I could do…”

“…”

“Director Jang Myeonghwan said so. He said there was no other way. He said it was the path to make those bastards fall, or at least deal them a big blow… So…”

CEO Kim, trembling slightly, struggled to suppress her sniffles.

Secretary Choi and an unknown woman approached CEO Kim and consoled her.

I understood why she had agreed.

‘It seems like she’s been hurt quite a bit.’

It was a personal will, none of my business.

I subtly shifted my gaze to Representative Pyo.

“I also deliberated after hearing Director Jang Wonjang’s words, but… I agreed.”

“…”

There were no lengthy explanations.

So, while I was toiling away, there was a conspiracy going on…

At this point, I suppose I should listen.

“So… what is this ‘direction’ that persuaded you two?”

In response, Jang Wonjang cleared his throat.

“According to the shared data, it’s clear that Taesung dabbled in research related to zombies.”

“Yes.”

“If we look at what they pursued in a broad context… the first is a vaccine.”

“A vaccine?”

Jang Wonjang nodded deeply once.

“Even considering the insufficient data, their intentions are blatant. Taesung tried to spread something they processed in the form of a virus, inducing a situation to make it appear like a disease. And it seems they intended to unveil their self-developed vaccine to the world when the opportunity arose.”

Wow, what the hell.

Are these bastards unable to distinguish between movies and reality?

“Truly insane bastards… *cough cough*. Something is the zombie virus, and the situation is the zombie apocalypse?”

“As of now, that’s the only way we can interpret it.”

“Isn’t that just a vague idea?”

“Please just listen for now.”

At Jang Wonjang’s rare request, I closed my mouth.

“The second thing they attempted was control.”

I almost burst out laughing at those words.

Control zombies?

‘Did they find some black magic user?’

It seems they’ve discovered the fossil of an ancient lich that I don’t even know about.

“We confirmed they made various attempts, but it was clearly proven to be a futile endeavor.”

“Oh…”

Jang Wonjang’s assessment was blatant.

“Seonghan, have you heard about parasitic fungi that eat away at the brain and take over the nervous system?”

“You mean… like those zombie deer?”

“There’s that, and typically, *Cordyceps* comes to mind. It’s often seen in insects like ants or cicadas. Taesung attempted to incorporate these.”

It sounded absurd just hearing it.

I recalled something I’d vaguely seen on You-Tube.

Whether it was a fungus or a parasite, it would eat away at the insect’s brain and take over its body.

And then it would control the body to spread itself.

Of course, the behavior of the insects was akin to that of a moving corpse, but…

“Is that possible?”

“It’s impossible, so they just wasted time and money on a futile endeavor.”

“…”

Somehow, it felt like Jang Wonjang was indirectly criticizing Taesung’s idiots.

“Third, this is also a crazy endeavor, but…”

“??”

“It seems Taesung wanted to obtain the physical abilities of zombies. They appear to have researched how to gain strength and speed beyond human limits.”

“…”

“There was insufficient data on this part, so we couldn’t investigate further.”

Are crazy scientists lined up at Taesung?

The innovative ideas of psychos kept coming.

No, rather than innovative, it’s a common human idea, but…

“Are they serious?”

Isn’t it crazy at the point where they’re actually trying to implement such things?

Indeed, the world is wide, and there are many crazy people.

Jang Wonjang continued speaking to me, who was marveling internally.

“However, I believe this also failed.”

“You’re very certain.”

“It was a flawed idea from the start. The only one that even had a slim possibility was the first vaccine plan, but it definitively failed and was recorded as such.”

Jang Wonjang, after briefly wetting his throat with water, tried to explain it to me in simple terms.

“The biggest factor is that they couldn’t do anything about that ‘something’ I mentioned first.”

“??”

“Although we can’t grasp it right now, their fatal mistake was not knowing the true nature of that ‘something’ and only targeting its outwardly visible characteristics.”

“Is that perhaps… something like a zombie virus?”

“It’s difficult to say anything right now.”

“…”

I narrowed my eyes.

“If you don’t know what the fundamental problem is, isn’t research meaningless?”

“That’s right.”

“…”

“Don’t look at me like that. What I’m targeting isn’t the unknown ‘something,’ but the zombies themselves.”

At those words, I took my hand from where it was propping up my chin.

I think I understand what Jang Wonjang is saying.

“Taesung’s failures lie in meddling with something they didn’t understand the fundamental nature of, failing to control it, and being obsessed with generating profit through zombies.”

“Hmm…”

“However, I intend to proceed in the opposite direction.”

Indeed.

Instead of the unknown ‘something,’ he’ll analyze the clearly mutated zombies.

Achieve control.

Not see zombies as a source of profit.

Something like that seems to be his intention…

“That ‘something’ cannot be obtained anyway, and we don’t even know if it truly exists. I want to find the zombies’ weakness and seize the possibility of neutralizing them.”

“Neutralize… you mean?”

“If possible, a way to make them self-destruct.”

“…”

“For that, zombie samples are necessary.”

I leaned back and tried to think.

Would this truly work?

‘No, does that even make sense?’

To me, Jang Wonjang seemed to have lost his mind.

Had he developed dementia or brain dysfunction?

Perhaps for a frail old man, the apocalypse was too much to bear.

Zombies are corpses to begin with.

They aren’t performing life activities just because they move.

The zombie’s weakness I’ve already confirmed is the head.

If there was anything else besides that, I wouldn’t have gone through all that trouble.

A rustle.

Jang Wonjang pushed a document towards me, whose thoughts were lingering.

“I don’t understand these kinds of things even if I look at them.”

“Please look at the text written in Hangul.”

“…”

I glanced between the document and Jang Wonjang, then read the document.

It was a chaotic mix of jargon, diagrams, and English.

I held back the curse that was about to escape me from the start and sought out and read the Hangul text.

『It is impossible to grasp anything about this. What it is, its origin, nothing provides information.』

『Experiment failed. This caused a change. Unable to grasp.』

『Something that should never have been touched.』

『Must give up even now…』

『The research cannot be saved. The remaining possibility is to revert to a blank slate and change the approach.』

『Those bastards were consumed by greed. The real monsters are them.』

‘…’

The elegant handwriting became more chaotic as it went down.

At the end, a trembling handwriting was inscribed.

『What have I done?』

Meaningless scribbles were abundant, but one thing was certain.

That no matter what, an uncontrollable failure had been met.

Only that much could be recognized.

Self-doubt? Regret? Despair?

Perhaps thanks to my Korean major, I felt the writer’s emotions.

Why did Jang Wonjang tell me to look at this?

“It’s the handwriting of that friend, Kim Seokwoo.”

“?”

“I couldn’t possibly not recognize the handwriting of an old friend.”

“Ah…”

“I believe that’s a message he left for me.”

“This?”

I reread the disorganized scribbles once more.

“I had a feeling that perhaps my friend wanted me to read this.”

“…”

“It appears that Seokwoo, my friend, was excluded from the research after the vaccine plan failed.”

“How do you know that?”

“From the second project onwards, it’s all garbage.”

“Hmm?”

“The level of research is different. And it’s not his method. I believe… someone else probably intervened in the middle.”

Jang Wonjang, speaking assertively, put force into his voice.

“Taesung’s biggest failure was excluding Dr. Kim Seokwoo from the research.”

“…”

“Because he’s a genius among geniuses. Just pulling out the possibility of such absurd research is remarkable.”

I had the illusion that fire ignited in Jang Wonjang’s eyes.

“Those foolish, incompetent, money-blinded, greedy beings dared to do such a crazy thing to my friend…”

Jang Wonjang, trembling with rage, looked pitiful.

…And eerie.

They say gentle people are scary when they get angry, and he was exactly that.

Jang Wonjang, who had been muttering harsh words for a while, soon composed himself.

“I’m sorry. I made a spectacle…”

“Well…”

I made a gesture to show it was fine and waited for Jang Wonjang to speak.

“Besides that, there were plenty of factors for failure. I plan to use those points as a warning [a lesson from negative examples] and approach gradually.”

“…”

Representative Pyo interjected, replacing Jang Wonjang, who had fallen silent for a moment.

“Originally, as CEO Kim and Director Jang Wonjang said, we intended to inform Seonghan in advance.”

“…”

“They all thought you would strongly object. So, we were in the midst of preparing to show you the validity, but…”

CEO Kim took over from Representative Pyo, who trailed off.

“The operation ended faster than we expected, so things turned out this way.”

“So it’s my fault?”

“It’s not like that…”

Instead of the disheartened CEO Kim, Jang Wonjang spoke.

“It’s my fault. I should have explained it sufficiently to Captain Lee, but I couldn’t get the timing right.”

“As you can see, in the joy of the operation’s success and the start of transport, we just…”

“I apologize. I also committed a terrible act towards Captain Lee.”

The three bowed their heads simultaneously.

Unexpected.

I never thought CEO Kim would bow her head…

“Hoo…”

My head was simply spinning.

But even amidst that, one thing was clear.

“I understand the idea. Even if I don’t grasp everything…”

“Then, will you help us?”

CEO Kim, Representative Pyo, and Jang Wonjang lifted their heads.

Their request for help seemed to be about collecting samples…

I spoke to their expectant gazes.

“No.”

The only thing that came to my mind was refusal.

I uttered that single word decisively.