The Price of Betrayal (1)
Myeongseo Elementary School's playground. Bonfires lit here and there illuminated the surroundings, while the gathered citizens let out heavy sighs.
"A traitor among the police? Is this really okay?"
"It's how they handle it that matters."
"If they go easy, I won't trust them anymore."
The mood was already tense after zombies had breached the playground earlier. Who could feel at ease knowing there'd been infighting among the police?
"Everyone, please head inside now."
A police officer appeared before them, urging them into the building.
"Inside?"
"We're not getting sent somewhere, are we?"
"No, nothing like that."
He soothed the anxious citizens. It was Heo Young-woong, who had joined them late.
"It's already been fully cleared, so don't worry too much."
"But still..."
"They haven't even dealt with the traitors yet!"
The citizens wouldn't calm down easily.
"They're keeping them alive—who knows what they'll do next!"
"Do they even know how many died because those bastards let zombies in?"
"I understand how you feel, but..."
Heo Young-woong looked troubled.
"They're in a meeting right now, so a decision will come soon."
The police had never dealt with something like this. Arresting and detaining suspects was routine, but passing judgment? That was new territory.
"Just kill them!"
"Yeah, kill the bastards!"
The citizens' demands were understandable. But Heo Young-woong could only swallow hard.
'That's the right call, but...'
Executing someone personally changed a cop forever.
'Will it really be okay?'
With the organization already shaken by internal strife, he couldn't predict the fallout from executions.
Vroom!
Right then, a car appeared at the school's entrance.
"That's...!"
While Heo Young-woong was startled, the vehicle passed inspection at the gate and smoothly entered the playground.
"Go Cheon-su!"
The driver who stepped out was none other than Go Cheon-su. Heo Young-woong rushed over breathlessly.
"Where have you been? We were worried since you were so late."
"Worried about me? Thanks."
Go Cheon-su replied indifferently and held up a flashlight.
"But Heo Young-woong, what do you think this is for?"
"Pardon?"
Heo Young-woong glanced at the flashlight, looking puzzled.
"Uh, well... shining light, I guess?"
"Hmm."
Seeing Go Cheon-su's dissatisfaction, Heo Young-woong cautiously spoke up.
"But Go Cheon-su, I have something to ask."
"Yeah? What?"
"Well... over here for a sec."
Heo Young-woong led him to a secluded spot and poured out his concerns.
"It's about deciding the punishment for Jin Kyung-ho and Lee Seo-jun. Everyone's torn up over it."
"Yeah."
"So, we wanted to hear that punishment you mentioned thinking up."
Go Cheon-su spat it out bluntly.
"Oh, that. Just kill them."
But that was far from what Heo Young-woong had hoped for.
"Pardon? Kill them? Just like that...?"
"Not just like that. Gather 'em in the playground and execute at dawn. You know, 'dew on the execution ground' and all."
Heo Young-woong panicked at Go Cheon-su's casual attitude.
"I-Is that okay? But..."
"But what."
Go Cheon-su's expression sharpened.
"Heo Young-woong, don't go soft on me. Traitors get handled that way. What, you thinking some humane method?"
"No... not that, but I figured you'd have something more useful."
Go Cheon-su sighed.
"I'm worried you've come to rely on me too much."
"Huh?"
"I said I'd suggest a punishment when I got back. Never said I'd decide for you."
Heo Young-woong looked crestfallen.
"I was hoping anyway..."
"If you needed a clever idea, you should've racked your brain harder. Don't sell yourself short—you survived with me."
"Hmm..."
Heo Young-woong slumped. Go Cheon-su watched, then gently placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Well, anyway, it's not like there's no way."
Heo Young-woong was idealistic. Contrary to Go Cheon-su's initial suspicions, he was a genuinely pure-hearted cop.
'Can't avoid execution forever, but...'
If he wanted to stay that way a bit longer, Go Cheon-su was willing to help. Giving him leeway this once might make him come up with better ideas later.
"Guys, that's harsh. Though it is the right answer."
Go Cheon-su pointed at himself for Heo Young-woong.
"Heo Young-woong, the method is me."
"Huh?"
Go Cheon-su smiled at his baffled expression.
"Leave it to me this time."
If they weren't doing executions, only one option remained.
"I'll handle those guys for you."
"You will?"
Heo Young-woong looked troubled.
"So you want us to let you execute them?"
"Nah. That'd make it a civilian's hands doing it."
The citizens wanted explanations from the police—and the sentence carried out by them too.
"Police need to take the lead here."
"So what you're saying is..."
"Exile."
Exile. If no execution, just kicking them out was best.
"Exile...! And the process?"
"Strip 'em of everything. Exile them from Myeongseo Elementary."
"And your role?"
"Transport."
Go Cheon-su pointed to the car.
"To make it stick, drop 'em far away. I'll drive—you ride shotgun."
The police would handle it from start to finish.
"I'll just assist."
Simple, but it was the only way right now. Thankfully, Heo Young-woong brightened.
"Not bad. They won't survive exile anyway."
"Right. Go pitch it."
"Yes! Thanks, Go Cheon-su!"
Heo Young-woong headed to the main building. Go Cheon-su watched him go.
"Guys, who're you calling a demon."
But viewers were curious how he'd handle the traitors too. No plans for simple exile.
"Wonder if they'll skip killing 'em outright?"
From Go Cheon-su's view, killing traitors was no big deal. But realities differed—he wouldn't second-guess police decisions.
'More importantly...'
He had bigger issues. No desire to rest with others—he headed to the on-duty room near the school's breach.
Spacious, with nice bedding. Viewers spouted nonsense about him not deserving it yet, but he ignored them.
Go Cheon-su flopped down and opened his info window.
Constant Info: Staying too long in one area is dangerous.
It nagged at him.
"Guys, what does 'too long' mean here?"
Precursors. One useful hint.
"What're precursors? What happens if you stay too long?"
They just laughed it off with "lololol."
"You've given plenty of hints~ Got it."
Go Cheon-su nodded.
"Yeah, I'll handle the rest."
He bolted up, locked the door, and dove back under the covers.
"Hope nothing happens while I sleep."
Nothing more to check now. He hugged the flashlight—who knew what for—and closed his eyes.
Bang bang bang.
How much time passed? A knock jolted him awake.
"Ugh."
Checking his phone, Go Cheon-su irritably ruffled his hair.
"What the...?"
9 AM.
"Shit! I slept this long?"
Felt like a quick nap, but the phone said otherwise.
Bang bang.
"Damn it."
Fine, tired or not—he had to check who it was. He yelled.
"Who's out there?!"
"Go Cheon-su! It's me! Heo Young-woong!"
He opened up—yep, Heo Young-woong.
"Sorry for so early, Go Cheon-su."
Dawn was just breaking outside, as he said. Go Cheon-su realized his phone clock—fed by telecoms—was off.
Heo Young-woong thrust a bowl at him.
"Take this first."
"...Breakfast?"
"Yeah. And early 'cause your method passed."
Exile for Jin Kyung-ho and Lee Seo-jun—starting 6:30 AM.
"Eat up and come to the playground later. We need you."
"Got it."
Sending him off, Go Cheon-su checked his phone. Clock still weird.
"Need a wristwatch..."
He manually set it for now. Fine-tune during the exile.
"They're really just exiling them."
Cool-headed enough not to shoot on sight—impressive cops, in a way.
"Guess I should prep too."
He grabbed a PET bottle and two cups from the room.
"Everyone, thank you for waiting."
On the playground podium, Heo Young-woong announced in place of the station chief.
"As we told you last night, there were people here who betrayed us and put us in danger."
Jin Kyung-ho and Lee Seo-jun.
"After the meeting, we've decided to exile these two."
Citizens murmured.
"Exile?"
"Not killing them?"
"How many died because of those bastards...!"
Anger erupted everywhere. The two culprits just trembled.
"Going just as expected, right guys?"
Go Cheon-su watched leisurely from a corner. Police persuading, citizens griping—interesting dynamic.
Go Cheon-su preferred killing too, but respected their call.
"Guys, it's not without merits."
Killing was easy. Losing trust as "killers" was easier.
"No better time to show rule-of-law. They seem thick-headed now, but they'll get it later."
That these cops wouldn't threaten them on whims.
"Fair point."
Not surprising—the punishment seemed light for their crimes.
"Time for me to step in."
If no one wanted blood on their hands, a bloodied man was right here.
Vroom.
He started the car, drove to the gate—drawing eyes.
"Heo Young-woong! Prep to send the sinners where they can't return—done!"
Griping voices quieted.
Can't return. That stuck.
"Ah, yes! Got it!"
Heo Young-woong announced.
"Everyone! We'll enact the exile order now!"
With other cops, he dragged the handcuffed Lee Seo-jun and Jin Kyung-ho.
"Damn! Damn...!"
"Urk... uuurk."
The sinners shuffled helplessly.
Outside the gate, Go Cheon-su greeted them.
"Finally at this stage."
Smiling, he pulled something from the trunk—Heo Young-woong's eyes widened.