Chapter 71
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: Russian Roulette
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The day before the sixth day of the Zombie Wave, Ha Dong-seok stared at Seo Tae-il in disbelief as he suggested launching a preemptive strike.
To him, Kim Jae-hwan's presence was pure instinctive terror.
It felt like being a frail rabbit in front of a tiger— if Kim Jae-hwan had wanted, he could've killed them right there without any resistance. Ha Dong-seok figured Kim Jae-hwan had basically spared their lives.
Yet here was Seo Tae-il, talking about hitting that monster first. He didn't seem sane at all.
"No way. That's absolutely off the table. Fighting him is just insane."
"Boss! We don't know what traits or skills that guy's got, but with these new penetrating bullets I've made, we can definitely take him down!"
Seo Tae-il held out his palm to Ha Dong-seok. On it lay small bullets, all reinforced with the Weapon Reinforcement skill for extra effects.
[Penetrating Bullet Lv. 7]
- Boosts the bullet's penetration power, allowing it to punch through even solid objects.
- Penetration increases as reinforcement level rises.
"We tested these, right? They rip straight through concrete walls like they're nothing."
Just as Seo Tae-il said, when they'd fired a pistol loaded with these bullets at a building wall, it punched clean through and embedded in the next one. Even a Smasher, covered in thick hide, could be dropped with one well-placed headshot.
The downside was the high risk: these one-use consumables cost coins to reinforce, so they couldn't make many.
Ha Dong-seok knew their power firsthand—he'd seen the tests.
"When we run into him, everyone unloads like last time, just for a moment. From what I saw of his personality, he'll stand there unfazed, tanking the bullets. That's when I slip in one of these penetrators. It'll shred right through that invisible armor of his."
Seo Tae-il had already pitched this to the other subordinates, excluding Ha Dong-seok. They all saw it as viable, and since joining Kim Jae-hwan wasn't an option, most backed the preemptive strike.
But Ha Dong-seok's uneasy expression didn't budge.
"No, still not happening."
"What? Why not!"
"Can't explain it. My gut's screaming at me. No matter what, don't fight that guy."
Seeing Ha Dong-seok show uncharacteristic weakness, Seo Tae-il seethed inwardly.
"So we're just handing over everything we've built to him? Joining his crew means exactly that!"
"That's what I'm wrestling with."
Ha Dong-seok claimed he was torn, but to Seo Tae-il, it looked like his heart was already leaning toward submitting to Kim Jae-hwan.
Seo Tae-il hated that.
After all, he'd stuck by Ha Dong-seok, scraping his way up to a position like vice-leader of the group. He wasn't about to let some unknown punk threaten that.
"Got it. We'll drop this for now."
"Yeah, fine."
Seo Tae-il bowed to Ha Dong-seok and stepped out of the room. Outside the building, the others waited for his report.
"So? Boss on board with us?"
Ha Dong-seok had refused outright, but Seo Tae-il spun it differently.
"Yep. He says we head up first thing tomorrow, kill the guy, and that's our path to survival."
He'd relayed the complete opposite of what Ha Dong-seok had said.
He'd planned to lead his own men against Kim Jae-hwan anyway, with or without permission. Missing Ha Dong-seok's backing was a shame, but with this many people and his penetrating bullets, he believed they could take him.
The next day, the scene Seo Tae-il witnessed—convinced he'd kill Kim Jae-hwan— was a nightmare beyond belief.
Amid the hail of bullets from everyone, he loaded a penetrator and aimed for Kim Jae-hwan's head.
He pictured the bullet striking home, the man toppling backward. But impossibly, it didn't even scratch him.
He'd trusted the first shot to pierce whatever invisible barrier Kim Jae-hwan had. When it barely grazed and clattered to the ground instead, and then Kim Jae-hwan extended his hand, Seo Tae-il's instincts screamed danger. He dove aside.
Suddenly, agony exploded through his leg—like something had impaled it.
Blood poured from a real puncture wound, but he couldn't fathom how. Screaming in pain, he scanned around. It was hell.
Most of his men lay riddled with holes, sprawled dead.
His single leg wound made him the least hurt.
In this incomprehensible slaughter, Seo Tae-il only wanted to escape, crawling away. But Kim Jae-hwan was already closing in.
As despair hit—Is this how I die?—a glimmer of hope rushed toward him.
Ha Dong-seok, sprinting this way.
Despite the warnings not to fight, Seo Tae-il had acted alone, dragging them into this. Remorse mixed with hope that Ha Dong-seok's power could beat Kim Jae-hwan. He watched eagerly.
But no hope existed for Seo Tae-il.
Ha Dong-seok dashed up and dropped to his knees before Kim Jae-hwan.
"I'm sorry! This was my subordinate's solo act! I didn't reject your offer. We'll join you—just forgive us this once!"
Ha Dong-seok kowtowed fully. Kim Jae-hwan stared in disbelief.
"What? His solo act? So none of this attack happened? Nah. Or is it this—you'll join me, so overlook what your men did?"
Ha Dong-seok snapped his head up at Kim Jae-hwan's words.
"No, absolutely not! This is my failure for not reining them in properly. Let my men go and punish me instead!"
"You take the blame? How exactly?"
"...Haven't figured that out yet. But I'll join you and do anything—just spare their lives."
Kim Jae-hwan clicked his tongue at Ha Dong-seok's devotion to his men.
"If you join me, you'll work like dogs. And after this mess, your treatment will be way lower than I originally planned. Still in?"
"Doesn't matter."
Ha Dong-seok answered without hesitation.
"Fine. Your future's decided then. This'll be fun."
Kim Jae-hwan strode over and picked up a gun from the ground nearby.
It was a revolver, fully loaded with six rounds—from Ha Dong-seok's pocket, dropped during his bow.
"Heard of Russian Roulette?"
Russian Roulette.
A gamble: Load a revolver's cylinder partially, press to your temple, pull the trigger. With not all chambers filled, there's a chance it clicks empty.
Ha Dong-seok knew it.
"Put this to your temple and pull. I'll spare your men—even heal the wounded ones. Except the one who started this. No forgiving him."
"...You really mean it? Just pull the trigger, and they're all safe?"
"Promise. I keep my word."
Ha Dong-seok relaxed a fraction.
Kim Jae-hwan had radiated zero mercy for this. He could've wiped them all out on the spot. But now, a slim chance to survive.
Just... pity it wouldn't save Seo Tae-il too.
"You said you'd do it. Let's see."
Kim Jae-hwan grinned, loading bullets into the cylinder right in front of him.
One... two... three...
Odds dropping with each one, but Ha Dong-seok had no choice.
Four... five...
Five bullets: 16.7% survival.
Low, but possible.
'Plus, he said: Put it to your head and pull, and I'll spare them.'
Not survive the pull—just do it.
Ha Dong-seok steeled himself to bet his life on 16.7% when—
"And the last one!"
Kim Jae-hwan loaded the sixth, right before his eyes.
"Wh-what?"
"Here. Just do it like I said."
Six bullets. No empties. Pulling meant instant death.
Kim Jae-hwan handed it over, telling him to temple-shot himself.
Ha Dong-seok took it, mind blanking white.
No matter his strength stat, temple shot = death.
Kim Jae-hwan was asking him to suicide for his men's lives.
'But I have no choice.'
Protecting loyal subordinates was a leader's duty.
"Keep your promise."
Ha Dong-seok resolved, took the revolver, pressed it to his temple.
His pierced-but-alive men teared up, seeing him sacrifice for them.
"Urgh... AHHHHH!"
In a setup where one twitch ended it all, Ha Dong-seok roared, pulled the trigger with iron will.
- Bang!
The gunshot thundered. The bullet tore into flesh, shattered skull, barreled toward brain in a gory mess.
Expecting death, Ha Dong-seok closed his eyes. Seconds passed... nothing. He cracked them open cautiously.
Fired point-blank to the head, yet alive? Shock hit.
Then Kim Jae-hwan clapped lightly, eyeing him.
"Wow, you actually pulled it."