episode_0225

Immediately after Seonghan’s group left.

The Daehan Security Team also hurriedly prepared to move.

Preparations were quickly completed, but they didn’t move.

“Were those words you said earlier sincere?”

“Hmm? What are you referring to?”

“The man named Lee Deokgyu.”

“Ah, yes. Somewhat.”

To Team Leader Lee’s question, Department Head Kim played it off.

Perhaps accustomed to his behavior, Team Leader Lee reacted dryly.

“Is it something to cling to so desperately?”

Suddenly, Department Head Kim’s expression changed dramatically.

“Watch your tongue. Who said anyone was clinging?”

“From my perspective, it looked quite pathetic.”

“……”

The smooth demeanor he had just moments ago vanished instantly.

A terrifying expression appeared on Department Head Kim’s face, making one wonder if he was the same person.

“Now your usual face shows.”

“…Seriously. Please ease up.”

The murderous aura disappeared again, replaced by a comfortable expression.

Being able to freely control facial muscles is also a considerable talent.

In a situation like this, it might be an even more necessary talent.

“Let’s follow them.”

“……”

“I’d like you to follow discreetly.”

At Department Head Kim’s command, the car finally began to move slowly.

A question flew at Department Head Kim, who had relaxed his face and composed his expression.

“By the way, it’s unexpected. I didn’t think you’d make such an offer to a man you just met. Did he seem worth it?”

“Hmm… what do you think, Team Leader Lee?”

Team Leader Lee didn’t hesitate at Department Head Kim’s words.

“He certainly has skill. He seems quite trained, but that’s all. He’s only slightly better than a vagrant or a petty thief. Not good enough for us to recruit.”

Despite the harsh assessment, Department Head Kim remained calm.

“Well, in that regard, Team Leader Lee is definitely right. But he definitely has ability.”

“…Is that so?”

Team Leader Lee looked displeased with the opposing evaluation.

“You saw their faces and attire, didn’t you?”

“They were quite pretty.”

“Haa… I wish you would control yourself, but…”

Department Head Kim sighed, watching Team Leader Lee fall silent.

“I admit they were beautiful, but that’s not the point. All of them were in a clean state.”

“Hmm?”

“Their faces, their clothes, they were all very neat. Didn’t you notice?”

“……”

“They looked to be in good condition, and not a single person was hungry. It’s proof that they’re maintaining a considerable standard of living.”

Only then did Team Leader Lee’s eyes gleam with interest.

“The items they took were cosmetics. This is also proof that they have disposable income.”

“In this situation? They must be well-fed.”

“Aren’t you curious? I’m genuinely curious. How on earth did they manage to live like that in a situation like this?”

“Hmm. Now that you mention it, that’s certainly true.”

Department Head Kim, chiming in with the nodding, assenting man, didn’t hide his curiosity.

“Their abilities are good. They must be quite resourceful. Even though they look young, they can assess situations…”

“But they didn’t seem to trust easily.”

At Team Leader Lee’s remark, Department Head Kim wore a deep smile.

“That’s why I like them even more. In a situation like this, we don’t need naive people. Yes. Even while speaking and smiling, the way they didn’t trust and remained suspicious truly appealed to me. To think such a person would be in a small town like this.”

“…You seem truly taken with them.”

“I’d even want to recommend them as the leader of a newly formed team.”

At Department Head Kim’s words, Team Leader Lee’s expression stiffened.

“That…!”

“I know. But your subordinate, who went to reinforce the support team led by Team Leader Han, is currently missing. You said he was an excellent swordsman, right? Yet, you were the one who said he might be dead.”

“……”

“Considering what that man said, he might be captured by Konkuk University forces, or…”

“…He might even be dead.”

“Because they are that hostile. The chances of him being alive are low.”

“……”

Their conversation paused for a moment.

Department Head Kim, observing Team Leader Lee’s face, spoke in a slightly subdued voice.

“We came all this way to check, but Yeom Seongjin’s gang was annihilated. We just wasted time and money.”

“That’s true, but it’s suspicious. You saw it too, didn’t you? Those piles of corpses.”

“It was truly a gruesome sight. What kind of people could have done that?”

“Whoever it was, they’re brutal. If we hadn’t examined the bodies, we might have mistaken it for something a zombie did.”

“Ugh… thinking about it again makes my stomach turn.”

The two, grimacing for a moment, continued their conversation.

“Finding that doctor is a long shot, and even the higher-ups are skeptical. The discussion is leaning towards conducting our own research instead. Team Leader Han’s search is also stalled, and your subordinate, who was slated to be the next team leader, is missing. It’s practically a failed mission, so shouldn’t we salvage something?”

At Department Head Kim’s words, Team Leader Lee seemed uncomfortable, as if his mood had soured.

But Department Head Kim’s words weren’t over.

“Weren’t you more eager to find Team Leader Han than your subordinate in the first place?”

“……”

Seeing him not deny it, Department Head Kim clicked his tongue.

“…This is absurd. Team Leader Han, and that woman earlier. Do you like strong-willed women that much?”

At Department Head Kim’s lament, Team Leader Lee twisted his lips.

“Easy women are no fun.”

“…The problem is, the ‘easy’ you’re talking about isn’t *that* easy.”

“I need a resolute woman who will be strong until the very end, resisting to the last.”

“…If you only fixed your violent tendencies, there would be many women who fit that description, but…”

“Cackle~ I told you. If it’s easy, it’s no fun.”

“……”

Department Head Kim, well aware of Team Leader Lee’s twisted desires, didn’t hide his disgusted expression.

He prefers to tie women up and inflict sadism upon them.

To be precise, he’s obsessed with the ‘voices’ of women screaming under his ‘violence’.

Team Leader Lee is a trained individual and physically surpasses ordinary people.

Countless women have died at the hands of this man with abnormal desires.

He is undoubtedly capable and a talented individual, capable of aiming higher.

However, due to his severe woman problem, he remains merely a team leader.

Not only Team Leader Lee, but his team members and other teams are the same.

These individuals, already rough, have only become worse since the world fell into this state.

It’s a situation where they’re holding their positions largely due to their exceptional abilities.

He is inherently a difficult person to control, but it is truly ironic that the current state of the world, with its broken order, helps to keep him in check.

Of course, this is under the premise that women are being sacrificed.

Department Head Kim had never once forgotten that the reason he was designated as a partner was to suppress Team Leader Lee.

Thanks to that, he had continually endured unnecessary hardship and was utterly fed up.

But seeing him salivate over a new prey he discovered today made Department Head Kim absolutely furious.

And for the person in charge of the mission to be acting like this…

Department Head Kim felt a little sorry for the woman targeted as Team Leader Lee’s prey.

He sighed softly and suggested, as if admonishing him.

“Alright. I’ll hand over the woman, but other than that, you must follow my lead entirely.”

“That’s how you should have responded.”

“Sigh….”

“By the way, we’re tracking them, but do you have a plan?”

Department Head Kim smiled coldly.

“It seems they have family at their residence.”

Team Leader Lee, knowing the meaning of those words and that smile, shook his head.

“…You’re one to talk.”

Department Head Kim explained his philosophy to Team Leader Lee, who, conversely, looked disgusted.

As long as they were following them, there was no intention of settling things peacefully, not even a speck.

They were foolish humans who dared to refuse his offer.

He intended to deliver a harsh outcome.

“To handle humans, you need a leash.”

There are often people who don’t understand their place.

Such people weren’t even worth his consideration.

But the man he met today was different.

He intended to properly educate this person who, for once, had truly caught his interest.

It was just the right time, as the headquarters was trying to expand the safe zone.

What if he inserted someone who was practically his right-hand man?

And a considerably resourceful person who could move according to his preferences.

Just when he was about to return empty-handed and face reprimand, a good opportunity arose.

Department Head Kim was about to show his skill after a long time.

“To shake a person, you must poke their weak spot, and a weak spot is a vulnerability. And a vulnerability is something ‘precious,’ isn’t it?”

“…You truly are a terrible person.”

“No matter what, you’re just as―”

CRASH—!!

“Enemy attack! Car #1 has been ambushed!!”

Team Leader Lee, clearly not a pushover, reacted immediately.

“Retreat!! Get out!”

CRASH—!!

“!!!!!”

“Car #3, hit!!”

“Th-this is…!!”

Team Leader Lee, recovering from panic, moved his body.

“Everyone out of the car―”

CRUNCH—!!!!

“Uwaaaah!!”

“Cough?!”

The car’s interior lurched violently with a loud roar.

The car, which had stopped for a moment, was now rolling sideways.

The sound of the car body crumpling and rolling on the ground vibrated through them.

Everyone inside the car couldn’t even let out a proper scream.

Only after the car body, which had rolled noisily with a clatter, came to a stop, could the occupants inside finally breathe.

“Ugh… Get, get ready for combat! There are mutated creatures outside! Damn it! Snap out of it!”

Team Leader Lee, picking up his gun, was certain.

The preceding loud noises might have been caused by humans.

But the vehicle they were in had just rolled sideways.

On flat ground, without any warning.

Normal zombies can’t do this.

Team Leader Lee’s reasoning had its own basis.

Inside the overturned car, everyone painstakingly collected themselves and prepared for combat. A zombie attack would come soon.

At that fact, everyone tensed up.

“??”

But it was quiet, and no further attacks came.

“Wh-what is it? What on earth―”

“Quiet!”

Outside, it was unusually quiet.

But a strange sound could be heard.

Like water spilling onto the ground…

‘Wh-what is it?’

Team Leader Lee, greatly flustered, gritted his teeth and tried to assess the situation.

And soon he understood what was happening.

“O-oil smell?”

The moment someone’s words made everyone jump in shock.

WHOOSH—!

“F-fire!! It’s on fire!”

The scorching flames that instantly heated the car threw the occupants into panic once more.

Pungent smoke filled the air, and the people struggled, gasping for breath.

Humans panic when they fall into water or are engulfed in fire.

And they begin to move instinctively.

They flail their arms and legs, trying to get out of the water.

They cover their mouths and noses, huddling their bodies to escape the heat.

Or they freeze, unable to do anything.

Fortunately, the trained individuals were the former.

And they began to move according to instinct.

“Cough—! Out! Get out! Get out, now!!!”

BANG—! CRUNCH—! SNAP—!

They barely managed to push open the damaged back door, which had been broken by a large, unknown impact.

The Daehan Security Team crawled and barely escaped the burning car.

“Cough— cough— Wh-what the hell is this…”

Team Leader Lee dragged Department Head Kim, who was still disoriented, by the nape of his neck, pulling him away from the car.

The moment he saw the car engulfed in flames.

BOOM—!! WHOOSH—!!

“Gah?!”

As the car exploded, fierce flames shot skyward.

Team Leader Lee, his eyes shaking from the sudden accident, shouted.

“Get a grip and gather up, everyone!”

Current personnel: 8 people.

Team Leader Lee, having barely collected himself, tried to check on Car #1 and Car #3.

“Th-that…?”

The moment he stared blankly at the sight of the wrecked car.

THWACK—! CRACK—!

“?!!”

Along with a sound that shouldn’t have been heard, one of his subordinates’ bodies collapsed.

‘What?! What on earth was that?!!!’

Team Leader Lee and all the team members fell into panic once again, seeing their teammate dead with a broken neck.