A Clean Resolution
I turned on my heel without delay. We'd talked for about an hour, which meant it was around time for Park Donghyuk or Lee Euna to return.
Back in the room, thankfully, no one was there. But someone—Park Donghyuk, probably—had left a single serving of food on the table.
Pretty intense.
It must've been made with abilities. A well-balanced meal, nutritionally speaking.
Hoo...
I ate quickly, then lay down on the makeshift bed with a sigh.
First things first...
My plan was simple: get Kim Jungshik's group to form their own new settlement. The seven men, including Kim Jungshik, were definitely useful. Starting with Kim Jungshik's drug-summoning job, plus two production types, and even a surveillance ability. With that lineup, they could stand on their own.
That would let Park Donghyuk's side achieve their goal too. If they kicked out Kim Jungshik's crew, they'd accomplish their aim of dealing with them in their own way.
In return, I'd get the support and favors I'd negotiated with them. Both sides' abilities would end up in my hands. Pure profit for me.
Of course, they each had their own stories, and at least one side was lying—or maybe both. Or perhaps there was just a misunderstanding between them.
But like I'd said before, none of that was my business. I needed to get home to my family, and for that, I had to gather ability users however I could. The truth didn't matter.
What did matter was making sure no conflict erupted between them while I exploited the situation.
The issue was Kim Jungshik's base location. Too close, and it might cause problems with Northdong Station later. Too far, and it'd be hard for me to keep in touch.
But I couldn't house them at my own base. Unlike the trustworthy Jeong Suhyun crew, Kim Jungshik's group wasn't reliable yet. Sure, they'd shown goodwill, but goodwill and trust were different things.
Sending them south of Northdong Station wasn't ideal either. As Park Donghyuk said, the Northdong Liberation Army—no, just Liberation Army—were likely down there.
Setting up a base wasn't the problem. The headache would come if Kim Jungshik's group clashed with the Liberation Army afterward. Worst case, Kim Jungshik's people could get wiped out.
Putting them north of Our Love Church was a non-starter too. Rocket Mart and Northdong Office areas were tough for supplies and manpower. People might be around, but since my goal was escaping Seoul, basing them there didn't fit. I'd be scouting south from now on anyway—leaving them up there would mean no cooperation, just losses for me.
So only one option remained: the old town center I'd seen on the way from Northdong Station, overrun by that dark red flesh mass.
Clear it out and hand it over to Kim Jungshik's group.
I need to figure out what those blood clump zombies are anyway.
High chance they were a Ruin Remnant. Too soon after the outbreak for a natural variant.
Virus mutation? Nah...
The zombie outbreak itself was impossible, so this was probably some higher power at work too. And that power tied to the status window and Ruin Remnants.
Plus, I need to clear out those old town monsters anyway.
To bring in Jeong Suhyun's crew, I'd have to sweep the old town regardless. Zombies avoided it, so removing the blood clump zombies causing that would smooth things out ahead.
But executing the plan needed everyone's buy-in. I got up and headed to Park Donghyuk's room.
Knock knock.
"Who is it?"
The voice of the fat man.
"Park Donghyuk. It's me."
"Ah! Mr. Kim Junyoung. Time's not up yet, but... something you need?"
"Business."
"Aha. Come in, then."
Park Donghyuk welcomed me as warmly as ever. His eyes kept drifting somewhere, suggesting he'd been up to something, but apparently I mattered more. He poured me water and looked my way.
I got straight to it.
"I have a quiet way to deal with Kim Jungshik's group."
"...Oh? What is it?"
Park Donghyuk's puffy eyes narrowed.
Made sense—he'd planned it for night watch shift, so my timing raised questions.
I told him about meeting Kim Jungshik's group earlier and my intent to relocate their base.
"You met them?"
"Yeah, we talked a lot."
About what you guys are hiding, for one.
"Ahem. You don't believe them, right?"
He cleared his throat awkwardly, glancing at me. Guilty conscience.
I waved it off casually.
"Believing or not doesn't matter. Facts are irrelevant. It's got nothing to do with me anyway."
We were outsiders here; our ties were pure transaction.
"...I see."
"Yeah."
So their internal drama was irrelevant. Unless they pulled subhuman shit like at Our Love Church, it wasn't my place to meddle.
"But here's how we handle them."
I just needed to use their abilities cleanly.
"What if we exile them from the group entirely?"
"...Exile? Send them packing completely. Ahem..."
Park Donghyuk pondered, then nodded.
"Not a bad idea. But where to, and how? If we do this, they can't show their faces here ever again. Ah, ahem, you'll handle it, of course, Mr. Junyoung."
"Naturally. I'm thinking old town center."
"Old town?"
His eyes went wide.
"What about the monsters? You saw them on the way in, right? I hate Kim Jungshik's crew, but I'm not feeding them to blood clumps. You must have a plan..."
I frowned. His tone implied blood clump monsters were definitely there—and that I'd fought them too. Odd.
Something's off.
I hadn't seen anything passing through.
Odds just went up for fragment and remnant.
Probably the same type as the seventh remnant from Rocket Mart—my status window subquest.
And...
Some reason they don't attack me.
Kim Jungshik's crew would fill in the blanks once I brought them.
"That's why I'm going with them."
"They'll follow?"
"Talks are done."
No zero casualties, sure. But with me there, they'd be fine.
"Impressive. Well, as long as we never see their faces... they shouldn't come back here, ever."
"That's the deal. Just cooperate later as promised."
"Yes, sir! Gotta do that. Haha, you pull our aching tooth right after arriving!"
Park Donghyuk laughed heartily. Smart enough to cooperate later.
Abilities or whatever.
If not, I'd deal with it then.
"Perfect! I'll tell Mr. Gapsu and Mr. Youngchul. Just say the word to me or them, and we'll get Lee Euna to open the way."
"No night watch here normally?"
"Haha, nope. Blood clumps can't breach barricades anyway. We just pick slackers for watch while we drink. Real threats are humans south—not that sealed-off side."
Park Donghyuk chuckled.
So no one noticed me sneaking in.
"Got it. When should I take Kim Jungshik out?"
"Hmm. Tonight's their watch, but doesn't matter now. I can solo it—worth the hassle!"
"Right."
"Just let us know when you go. Need to announce they're gone."
"Understood."
He hummed happily, good mood evident.
"And after, come through Northdong Station anytime. We still have issues, but we'll help whenever."
"No need."
I cut him off.
"I'll only ask for help later, if ever. You focus on internal cleanup; I'll handle extracting Kim Jungshik's group."
"Aha! Got it! Yeah, gotta redo meals, watches, assignments. Next time, just say the word!"
"Sure. I'll be back soon."
"Hahaha, yep!"
I stood and turned to leave.
Now, time to scout a base for Kim Jungshik's crew and bring them along.