Don't Make Me Think
Go Cheon-su scowled at the man who'd barged in without warning.
"Who the hell are you...?"
The man was a lieutenant with sharp features.
"Who are you, really?"
The man gave a slight smile at the question.
"I'm the substation chief."
"...Substation chief?"
"The chief from the South Police Substation, where Young-woong was posted."
Go Cheon-su clapped his hands with a smack.
"Ah! Chief!"
Late as it was, Heo Young-woong's connection had finally shown up. Alive, somehow, without getting mauled by monsters.
"You're really the chief? Nice to meet you, but..."
"Yes, the real deal. You seem pretty guarded."
Of course he was. Dumping a single patrol officer and hightailing it here? Suspicion was the natural response.
"Yeah, well. Mentioning Heo Young-woong means you heard about me from someone, right?"
"Yes, from the captain."
The man stepped closer to Go Cheon-su and extended his hand.
"Anyway, proper introductions first. Name's Jin Kyung-ho."
"Ah, sure. Go Cheon-su."
As they shook, Jin Kyung-ho suddenly clamped down hard.
"So, where'd you see Young-woong?"
But this guy was too strong.
"Urk!"
Go Cheon-su grimaced and glared at Jin Kyung-ho.
"If you're not gonna crush my hand, let go."
With his 1.07 body stats, he couldn't match the guy's strength.
"I'll let go if you tell me everything."
"Sure, gladly."
If he didn't, Go Cheon-su might've jammed the pen from the desk right into his throat.
"There."
Jin Kyung-ho released his grip and asked again.
"Where'd you see Young-woong?"
"Where else? At the substation."
He'd seen him after that too, but no need to spill everything.
"He was wandering alone. You didn't leave him behind, did you?"
Jin Kyung-ho flinched at the edged question.
"Leave him? He volunteered to stay."
"Volunteered?"
"Couldn't just leave a criminal there unguarded. He stayed back for that. No contact since, so I figured he was done for. Guess he's still kicking."
Go Cheon-su eyed the sighing Jin Kyung-ho.
"Planning to go back for him?"
"Yeah, if there's time. After we sort things here."
Couldn't drop everything for one patrolman. Weigh a station chief against a rookie cop, and the scales tipped obviously.
"For someone who can't spare the time, you sure gripped like you were ready to rescue him right now."
"I got a bit carried away. Still, he worries me."
Jin Kyung-ho dipped his head slightly, maybe an apology.
"Sorry if I was rude. Hope you understand."
"Sure."
"You agreed to help us find the station chief. Looking forward to working with you."
He extended his hand again.
"This isn't another arm-wrestle, right?"
Go Cheon-su plucked a thumbtack from the bulletin board and palmed it.
"My hand hurts, so go easy."
"Haha, come on."
Jin Kyung-ho chuckled awkwardly.
"Still sore, huh?"
"Nah, it's fine. Just in case."
Go Cheon-su dropped the tack and offered his hand.
"Might have another one hidden, so watch out."
"Got it."
Confirming no tack, Jin Kyung-ho shook naturally.
"I'll head out then. See you at the briefing."
"Yeah."
Go Cheon-su murmured. Jin Kyung-ho smiled faintly and left.
No time to waste on the substation chief.
"Let's check if anyone else from South Substation made it first."
Go Cheon-su approached the cop guarding the main building entrance.
"Hey?"
"Whoa, you scared me."
The guard patted his chest.
"What? Sneaking up like that."
"Got a question."
"Shoot."
Go Cheon-su pointed at Jin Kyung-ho heading toward the playground.
"Any other South Substation folks besides the chief?"
"Why?"
"Came from that direction. Curious how many made it."
The guard sighed.
"Don't ask around if it's that. They got wiped out."
"Wiped out?"
"Died on the way here. Out on the streets, they said."
"Streets, huh."
He hadn't seen signs of that. Go Cheon-su nodded.
"Got it. Thanks."
"Good. Now go eat dinner. Time's almost up."
Jeong Min-gyu's Chinese food from the restaurant guy still sat heavy in his stomach.
'Damn, guilt tripping me.'
But if he didn't clear the game, this hell wouldn't end. Clear it, and he could flip everything. He had to survive, no matter what.
"Kyaaack!"
A sudden scream drew Go Cheon-su's eyes to the playground. A man receiving food twisted in agony, howling.
"M-monster!"
"Run!"
"Uwaaaack!"
People fled from him.
"Th-that one!"
The guard drew his gun and bolted to the playground.
"What."
Go Cheon-su chuckled dryly at the now-empty main gate.
"Just leave it wide open like that?"
He got the guard's panic. Monsters inside would be chaos.
"Sigh."
Go Cheon-su pulled out his hammer and headed over.
"Gotta help, what else."
Kraaaah!
Zombies had swelled to over ten. Screams multiplied.
"Help! Kraaack!"
Cops floundered amid the casualties.
"E-everyone back! Can't shoot!"
"Move!"
"Use batons instead!"
Go Cheon-su smashed a zombie's head with his hammer.
"Can't shoot? Then grab a baton!"
True to that, Go Cheon-su hunted zombies before the cops even drew batons.
Seeing it, Jang Man-cheol burst from the crowd.
"Hey, buddy! We'll help too!"
At his urging, the Chinese restaurant owner beside him shrank back.
"N-no! Monsters!"
"Those bastards killed our Min-gyu!"
Technically not, but irrelevant to Jang Man-cheol. They threatened people—that mattered.
"Die, you freaks!"
He snatched a fallen frying pan and charged to Go Cheon-su's side.
Clang!
Zombie head smashed, Go Cheon-su glanced over. But only briefly.
He readjusted his hammer grip, tapping each zombie once on the head before moving on—not finishing any.
"Wh-what's he doing?"
Jang Man-cheol wondered, then realized. Even light hits left zombies stumbling long enough.
Go Cheon-su was buying time for people, not hunting.
"Ah."
As Jang Man-cheol sighed, cops wedged between civilians and zombies.
Thwack!
A baton strike rang out, followed by thwack-thwack-thwack!
A frenzy of blows. Zombies shredded under batons one by one.
"H-here too...!"
Still, panic spread.
"Monsters coming in here too!"
Some bolted for escape, dozens following.
Lee Seo-jun stood at the gate but couldn't block self-evacuees.
"Fuck."
Go Cheon-su ground his teeth at the sight.
"Which bastard."
Zombies hadn't poured in from outside—they spawned inside. A bitten person slipped past unchecked at the gate.
'Fucking hell.'
No proof, but gut certain. Crazy bastards among the cops here.
Even if bailing, couldn't leave empty-handed. Needed at least Info 2 unlocked for next destination.
"Guys, no more head-scratchers."
No point hunting roles now. Grab the confirmed good guys and go.
"Hey, mister!"
In the chaos, Go Cheon-su called Jang Man-cheol over.
"M-me?"
"Who else. One favor?"
Jang Man-cheol looked flustered.
"Wh-what?"
"Patrol while I'm gone."
Couldn't trust cops. Better rely on mapo tofu bonds.
"Watch for shady cop moves."
"Wh-why me all sudden...?"
"No time. Don't join station chief rescue party. Got it? Repay Min-gyu that way."
Go Cheon-su gripped his shoulder tight.
"Wanna live? Do as I say."
Jang Man-cheol's eyes widened. Go Cheon-su confirmed the resolve and hurried off.
Zombie frenzy ignored him.
"Go Cheon-su! Where you going!"
At the gate, someone finally grabbed at him.
"We had a deal, and you're running!?"
Jin Kyung-ho. Go Cheon-su ignored the shout with a hollow laugh.
"Go Cheon-su!"
Lee Seo-jun reached out as he passed.
"Don't go!"
"Worry about inside!"
Go Cheon-su slapped the hand away and reached his motorcycle. Still there, luckily.
Vroom.
Engine roared. Bike sped off clean.
Destination from the map. Go Cheon-su twisted the handlebars, recalling the route.
"Not already dead, right?"
Anxious, but unlikely. That'd break difficulty balance.
Whatever. Rescue station chief first. Circling the marked area would reveal.
Late, but Go Cheon-su checked chat and glanced back.
Far off, someone waved, chasing.
"Who?"
He stopped the bike, waiting.
Up close, Go Cheon-su's eyes widened in shock.
"Heo Young-woong?!"
The round-glasses, dopey-looking patrolman approached.
"Huff huff! Hey!"
Heo Young-woong reached out, yelling.
"Th-that's him! Electric bike!"
"What the."
Go Cheon-su couldn't hide his bafflement. Heo Young-woong was a mess—lost and battered.
"Gave you the bike and suffered big time! Help!"
As he neared, Go Cheon-su inched the bike forward.
"D-don't go!"
A bit more each time he closed in.
"Wait, damn it!"
Throttle twist kept distance.
Personality aside, Go Cheon-su eyed Heo Young-woong's waist dead seriously.
"Explain your pants first."