240% - Mission? A or B?
Viewers immediately voiced their doubts. But it wasn't like they actually didn't know what he meant.
"Hyungnims, don't play innocent."
It was common in streams for viewers to give streamers missions. And missions naturally came with rewards.
"This Go Cheon-su will go however you hyungnims want."
All the clues up to this point weren't there for nothing. It was a signal to find the police chief. But the fact that the signal was cut off so obviously screamed trap.
"So, which way do you want? A or B."
By prompting the viewers' reactions like this, he could definitively tell which side was the trap.
"Tch."
Go Cheon-su stood up with a deflated reaction.
"This got boring."
He started walking toward B without a second thought.
A hefty sponsorship notification hit, reeking of reward psychology. Go Cheon-su ignored the chat flooding with "He's blatantly shoving you into the trap." and made an A with both hands.
"A, got it."
But missions needed details and rewards.
"Specific instructions or reward?"
Jackpot.
"Sounds good!"
He'd only planned to open the sponsorship floodgates lightly, but now he had no choice but to go all in.
"Let's go, hyungnims!"
"Um, Go Cheon-su-ssi?"
Heo Young-woong approached from behind, sweating bullets.
"Why were you standing there frozen like a statue...?"
"Huh? Was I just standing still?"
He figured muttering was fine—they'd say he was praying or something.
Thanks to the kind viewer's explanation, he got it. Go Cheon-su turned around with a bright smile at this lucky info.
Route A. As expected, this path was a trap.
"Officer Heo."
Go Cheon-su asked Heo Young-woong as they eyed the eerie bamboo grove right at the entrance.
"You said you brought walkie-talkies, right?"
"Walkie-talkies?"
Heo Young-woong glanced down at his waist, looking a bit flustered.
"Yeah, got 'em."
"You said 'walkie-talkies', plural, so a set?"
"Ah, yeah."
Heo Young-woong pulled out two small walkie-talkies from his belt.
"For short-range comms between two people. My personal gear, and it's all I had, so I grabbed it."
"Gimme one."
Go Cheon-su held out his hand.
"Think we need it now."
"You going separate from me?"
Anxiety crept onto Heo Young-woong's face.
"Yeah. Officer Heo, you go ahead down this way first."
Go Cheon-su pointed him toward Route A.
The viewers went nuts, but it was all a misunderstanding. Go Cheon-su didn't explain to them and instead briefed Heo Young-woong.
"Truth is, the people who put the chief in danger are coming."
"Huh? What do you...?"
"If they catch up, we're done for."
That's why they needed a lookout.
"I'll block them here, so Officer Heo, you go find the chief."
"But...!"
"Officer Heo."
Go Cheon-su grabbed his shoulder.
"The chief's your uncle, right? He's still alive, so hurry and find him. I'll handle the rest."
"Go Cheon-su-ssi...!"
Heo Young-woong's brief doubt melted into a grateful expression.
Heo Young-woong handed one walkie-talkie to Go Cheon-su.
"This is the talk button. Frequency's set, so just press and speak."
"Range?"
"Only 5km."
Not super long, but not too short either. Go Cheon-su took it with a nod.
"Got it. Brief me if anything happens while you're moving."
"Sure thing."
The naive Heo Young-woong stepped onto Route A.
"Call me if anything happens to you too, Go Cheon-su-ssi!"
All Go Cheon-su could do was wave him off.
"Alright, he's gone. Hyungnims."
Go Cheon-su gripped the walkie-talkie and plopped down on the ground.
"Hyungnims, I haven't broken any mission."
He'd said he'd go Route A, not that he'd step first.
"Just gathering intel before moving. It's gonna be dangerous either way, right?"
But knowing what monsters, how many—that mattered.
Bamboo in the city center was suspicious. Monsters were definitely spawning from there.
> Go Cheon-su-ssi?
The call came barely after he'd entered.
"Yeah, Officer Heo. How's it looking?"
> Not sure, but I hear some roars nearby. Just checking on you, Go Cheon-su-ssi.
"I'm good so far. But stay sharp."
Go Cheon-su glanced around—no monsters gathering yet.
"Did you check what those roars were?"
> No. But sounds like zombies. Gotta move faster.
> They're following!
"Zombies?"
> Yeah, I think! Up ahead, other container boxes! Chief's probably in one...
Static crackle. Reception worsened. Go Cheon-su brought the walkie close.
"Officer Heo? Officer Heo?"
> Right now... can't... hear...
"How many? How many zombies there?"
Broken static continued. As Go Cheon-su grimaced in frustration, words came through again.
> ...20, 30!
That was it. No more after.
"Hyungnims, let's head back."
As Go Cheon-su dusted off and stood, the chat exploded again.
Even college exams didn't get this many A's. Go Cheon-su shrugged at the flood of "A"s.
"You really wanna send me to my death?"
Han Do-choe chimed in mid-chat with her nick. Unless she sponsored, no way to confirm it was really her.
"You really Han Do-choe-ssi? Something's off."
Unable to hold back, Han Do-choe sponsored again. Go Cheon-su chuckled.
'Gotta ease up.'
Great for supply box funds, but trolling too hard might kill future sponsorships. Go Cheon-su pulled out his hammer from the bag and cracked his neck.
"Don't worry. I'm going A."
From what Heo Young-woong said, it was definitely just zombies. No other monster roars mixed in over the walkie. If he'd aggroed them all into a container box, perfect.
Go Cheon-su just had to mop up the pulled mob.
"Alright, let's roll."
Tempted by B for a sec, but it was unverified. His path was A now.
"Yeah."
As Heo Young-woong said, the path itself was trap-like. The bamboo hid incoming zombie hordes.
"Hyungnims, moving slow and steady."
Needed to rely on sound more. Go Cheon-su scanned around cautiously.
Then, nearby bamboo rustled.
"Ah, fuck. Scared me."
He flinched and froze. Chat filled with mockery.
Not a monster reaction. Go Cheon-su stared at the mystery critter peeking from the bamboo.
"What the hell is that."
A bear doll. A plain 30cm teddy bear just sitting there.
"Trap?"
He turned, checking surroundings. Heo hadn't mentioned any bear doll. If bait, trouble.
"Nothing... around."
Rustle.
The bear doll moved on its own. As Go Cheon-su flinched again, it waddled off somewhere.
"Holy shit..."
He couldn't close his mouth.
"Hyungnims, what is that? That a monster? What the fuck is it? Answer quick!"
Mission. Go Cheon-su swallowed dryly.
"Ah, that. Part of Han Do-choe-ssi's info?"
Then supply box related.
'Kinda getting a vibe...'
No need to spoil it now. Performing the mission and captivating viewers was key too.
He steadied his breath.
"Got it. Back on track then."
A few steps later, roars started. Bamboo ended, revealing container houses crammed in a new area.
"Oh ho."
Zombies packed there. Heo had pulled every one from the bamboo.
"That one, huh."
One container swarmed especially, windows curtained—but easy to guess Heo was inside.
If uncertain whether chief was there or not, Go Cheon-su had two choices.
'Check or skip.'
Heo pulled them all, so skippable if not checking. Go Cheon-su counted the zombies from afar.
'One, two, three...'
As said, decent number—not overwhelming. About twenty.
'1.2 level.'
Aggro all, doable growth. Not bad. But no need all at once.
He carefully pulled his phone, set alarm for 1 min later. Toss it for aggro, pick off from blind spots.
Then—
Vroooom!
Jeep. Go Cheon-su flinched back from the sudden car.
Bam!
Jeep smashed a few zombies and stopped.
Roooar.
Startled zombies turned, roaring.
"That guy's..."
Driver visible: sharp-faced cop.
"Jin Kyung-ho."
Chief of Heo Young-woong's substation.
Vroooom.
Not here to help—the jeep peeled out fast.
Roooar.
Zombies turned toward the jeep—and spotted Go Cheon-su behind.
14 - 09:59
"Ah, fuck."
Jin Kyung-ho confirmed as one crazy cop.
"Fucked up the plan, huh."
Mistake. Pinpointing the spot meant he'd tapped the walkie.
"Supposed to help each other, but no teamwork, Heo Young-woong."
Neither knew it wasn't encrypted.
Go Cheon-su wryly smiled and bolted to the bamboo.
Zombies followed one by one.
"Come on, come on!"
He swung the hammer at approaching zombies. Headshots dropped them sideways.
"Think you got the advantage in a swarm?"
Backing up while fighting. Normally impossible, but he felt sharpened senses beyond just strength.
"Picked the wrong guy."
240%.