44. IN Corp Cheongju Branch (1)
44. IN Corp Cheongju Branch (1)
I told them to come to I-Pension first, and explained.
About the military in Bugang-myeon.
"Is there really a military?"
"It's a bit of a stretch to call it a military. There are 70 people."
"...Isn't 70 people a lot? Soldiers?"
"Not really."
Ah... I realized no one here except me had been to the military.
70 people is only about 2 platoons.
"There are 200 civilians, and honestly, with that many, you can consider Sejong as good as ruined."
I think I'd have to go to Sejong City Hall, where the main unit was, to know the details.
When I told them that, the kids' expressions darkened.
Well, it's different hearing that the military and the country have truly collapsed versus seeing me confirm it for them.
"Look at this. That's the place."
I showed them the photos I had taken.
"......"
"......"
The atmosphere turned serious.
I asked them there.
"Do you want to go?"
"......"
"No."
No one answered. The only response came from Seo-yoon.
"Why?"
"...I'm not sure if they're trustworthy. And you said they were short on food at that logistics center, right?"
"That's right. You'd think there would be a ton since it's a logistics center, but something must have happened there."
"Plus, if we go there, they'll definitely want to check our abilities, and I don't think that would be very good."
Seo-yoon spoke a bit vaguely.
Realizing that, she spoke again.
"We could end up being exploited. Of course, with Oppa there, it wouldn't be that bad... but the things we'd have to worry about would increase tremendously. Especially Eun-bin-ssi."
"...Me?"
"Yes. You're a doctor with a healing ability. You're high-value personnel, so there's a high chance you'll get bothered, whether you like it or not. My ability is the same."
That's right.
Seo-yoon's Contract.
In fact, the Contract ability is the most lethal ability.
"If abused, I can't even imagine how much it could be misused. Oppa. And did you tell them about our abilities?"
"Is there any reason to tell them?"
"...Knowing your personality, that makes sense. Plus, given your ability, you'll clearly be moving around outside mostly, and that's when problems could arise for us."
"Yeah. That's why I just came back."
The military.
A functioning group.
Even so, I couldn't trust them completely.
"Well, if anyone wants to go, I can send you. Anyone want to go?"
"No."
"I'm fine. Me too."
They each answered.
Given Seo-yoon's ability, it was certain they were telling the truth.
"Still, it doesn't seem like a completely hopeless group. Tae-jun, Yun-ji, can you come out for a second and help me?"
"Ah. Yes, Hyung."
"Yes."
"The rest of you, help out inside. Wait here."
I took out the items I brought from the back of the car.
Then, I brought the items in using Tae-jun's ability and Yun-ji's ability.
"Wow..."
"What is all this?"
What I took out were the K2 rifles, ammunition, and civilian walkie-talkies I'd brought from there.
And...
"This is..."
"That's a detonator, be careful."
"...A detonator?"
"Yeah, a Claymore."
I had received a Claymore.
Of course, since a Claymore works on the same principle as a grenade, I could easily block it with my Metal Manipulation ability.
But others couldn't.
I could install those at the two entrances to I-Pension, and the surveillance personnel could use them while watching.
"...That's dangerous."
"The military has advanced so much; this is an old weapon. Nowadays, they just kill with lethal drones and electronic drones."
Well, never mind the Claymore.
The walkie-talkies are the best part. It means we can communicate from anywhere inside the pension.
"With this, can we contact you when Oppa goes out?"
"The range probably won't reach. I heard it's 5km at most."
"Ah..."
I then explained the deal I had made with him.
"So... you're giving them information."
"Exactly. They give us a little bit of supplies and make us do work, but we're grateful for even this."
Actually, there is a way for me to take over that place.
"But, it's a bit much to put a Contract on over 300 people every week, right?"
"...Yes."
"Conversely, it doesn't seem right to kill or kick out all the civilians and only put Contracts on the soldiers."
"...True."
That's why I thought this was just better.
It seems they're getting information in their own way, too.
If we manage the give-and-take well, it should be fine.
Without getting too emotionally attached, just looking out for mutual benefit.
Of course... that also depends on them not getting wiped out by Variants.
Or IN Company.
"I guess you could see this as a temporary arrangement. If they get attacked, they'll be the first to be hit."
"......"
Since they're closer to Sejong, after all.
"Well, just counting the bullets, there are over 1,000, and I got K2 rifles, walkie-talkies, and even Claymores."
Also, that place is currently protecting civilians.
I confirmed that there are children, elderly, and women there. They aren't the type to do anything stupid.
Of course, danger is always present.
"Then, let's use these to protect the pension for now."
"Ah. Yes."
#
I installed the Claymores.
In the upper and lower passages, in places that aren't easily visible. Since I heard the explanation, if the person watching from the 3rd floor of the pension operates them, they should be able to shred most bastards.
Next, I took the Strength Enhancement siblings, Yun-ji, and Tae-jun to organize the items I brought.
"Ah, ah, can you hear me?"
—Yes, I can hear you well.
"Good. You guys use these two. I'll carry one. It won't reach where I'm going anyway."
—Ah, yes.
I tested the walkie-talkies.
"There aren't any nearby."
"Yes. There are just houses, but I don't think there are any dangerous Variants."
"Let's clear them out anyway. It's easy to open the doors."
"Ah. Yes."
I cleared out the area with the houses above. I got some food from inside, and there were a few sacks of rice.
There was also quite a lot of kimchi of various kinds. In the kimchi refrigerator, just stir-frying that would be fine for side dishes.
'We won't have any problems for a few more months.'
We can just eat rice.
"I think that's about it, and let's check the area further up together after I get back. There wasn't anything on the satellite map, but that's from two years ago."
"Ah. Yes."
And so, the night of the 22nd arrived.
#
I left the kids behind and got into the car alone.
I'll have to take the others out later, but not today.
Because today, I was planning to go to that damn IN Company.
"Come back safely!"
"You guys stay safe too. Keep a good watch."
Seo-yoon even waved her hand.
The others also bowed their heads or waved to see me off.
'They're like mother birds.'
Or father bird?
Thinking such nonsense, I drove the car.
—Vroom.
The vehicle kept going up. From Nami-myeon to Cheongju. As I approached Cheongju, an eerie air drifted in.
'Usually it's the opposite.'
—Clunk.
—Clunk.
I remember clearing out quite a few Infected when I came down, but at some point, the Infected had multiplied.
Are Walkers and Runners crawling out from somewhere? Or is someone creating them?
Looking at the soldiers, it doesn't seem like there are any created Infected.
'But I'm not sure.'
—Tap.
—Screech.
The cultural center came into view.
I stopped for a moment to check the map.
Now, if I go straight up this way, IN Company appears.
I looked up at the sky.
The sky in late March was still clear.
Seeing that there's no yellow dust or anything, I guess I have to assume that factories and such have all stopped.
'...What happened to the nuclear power plants?'
I am curious.
#
IN Company. Cheongju Branch. Since it's in the downtown area where financial institutions are gathered, I can't go any further by vehicle.
Especially since the outbreak happened at 4 o'clock, the roads were all blocked as the financial workers on flexible hours were leaving work.
—Screech.
I stopped the car a few kilometers away.
'I have to walk from here.'
I could drive, but there was no guarantee this car would stay in one piece.
—Grrr.
—Grrr.
Plus, the number of Infected was gradually increasing.
I did come late.
I confirmed them back in February, and now it's late March.
Still, doing it is better than not doing it. I've become strong enough to deal with people and Variants now.
'Even so, I have to keep raising the Nexus Core.'
#
'......'
The city at night was eerie.
—Squish.
—Squish.
Things on the ground that might be flesh or blood, corpses turning into skeletons, and skeletons.
—Grrr.
—Grrr.
—Thud.
—.....
And the Infected.
There are definitely no traces of people. A city lined with financial buildings.
In the first place, the only food here would be snacks the employees bought or food in the cafeteria.
No, before food, it's also a terrible place to deal with Infected.
That's what you get with a company.
'That's why I was lucky.'
The outbreak happened while I was transporting from our company to IN Company, and I got the Nexus Core because of the accident.
If I had stayed at the company, would I be able to walk around perfectly fine like this now?
—Tap.
—Tap.
Moving while hiding in the shadows of buildings, it took me several dozen minutes to arrive at the IN Company Cheongju Branch.
The pharmaceutical company building in front, with its glass facade.
'......'
At first glance, the interior doesn't look any different from other buildings. IN Company's special forces. I didn't see the black trucks either.
Is this just the Cheongju branch, and there are no internal IN Company personnel?
'I don't think so.'
I headed toward the IN Company Cheongju Branch building.
#
—Crack.
I broke through the locked entrance and passed through the parking lot.
The parking lot was full of Walkers and Runners, and they were wearing uniforms, perhaps they were the ones who mutated at the time of the outbreak.
There were quite a few dead bodies visible beneath them; it looked like they died while trying to escape.
An Infected was also screeching in a vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole over there.
—Tap.
—Tap.
I killed the ones I could see and moved on.
—Screech.
I opened the main door.
A ruined lobby came into view. The interior was similar to the previous Cheongju Eunha General Hospital. However, the difference is that unlike the hospital where traces of a shootout were visible, nothing else is visible here.
"Grrr..."
"Grrr."
Just Infected, that is.
If this is the case, the possibility of IN Company personnel being here is a bit low.
—Tap.
—Tap.
The quiet 1st-floor lobby.
I've been here a few times, so I know where things are on the 1st floor.
'Though I usually just delivered to the center of the lobby and left.'
I remember there was a floor directory somewhere near there.
A space where only the sound of my footsteps could be heard. I decapitated the Infected and found the floor directory.
—Snap.
—Snap.
'...1st floor is lobby, HR, cafeteria, 2nd floor is planning, sales, marketing...'
Forget about that.
The 3rd floor was also mostly offices and break areas.
The place I was looking for was from the 4th floor up.
'Laboratory, raw material storage, production factory.'
And there was a laboratory on the 5th floor.
'......'
Conversely, there was also a laboratory in the basement.
I carefully moved my steps toward the stairs.