This Car Is Mine Now
At that moment, on a street near the Daejeon Complex Terminal, Go Cheon-su was walking around, avoiding the area where soldiers were gathered after parting ways with bus driver Park Chang-sik.
"They didn't shoot him, right?"
Go Cheon-su had asked Park Chang-sik to cause a bit of a commotion if he spotted any soldiers. It was to draw their attention in that direction.
'So they did chase us after all?'
There was no other explanation but the Gray Wolves pursuing them from behind. If that was the case, it was a relief. The Gray Wolves had gone after Park Chang-sik first, exposing themselves to the soldiers and getting wiped out in the process. Nothing was threatening Go Cheon-su anymore.
'No...'
The danger hadn't fully passed yet.
'Are there soldiers here too?'
The Daejeon Complex Terminal building loomed right in front of him. That meant there were plenty of soldiers around.
From this, he could roughly gauge the number of soldiers gathered here.
'At least a company.' And not a small one at that.
"Bro, that's the west wing, right?"
However, the soldiers weren't guarding the entire Daejeon Complex Terminal. There was another building connected by a skybridge.
According to Park Chang-sik, who had stopped by the terminal first, the soldiers had abandoned the east wing—where the drop-off area was—and only occupied the west wing boarding area.
"Alright, let's head in quick."
It might seem like the east wing was empty, but that wasn't the case. Go Cheon-su recalled what Park Chang-sik had told him.
"...So it was true."
Go Cheon-su let out a small sigh as he quietly slipped into the east wing through the back entrance.
"Check out these cars."
The east wing was lined with quite a few vehicles. Buses too.
"Park Chang-sik. Thanks, man."
Probably because the radio broadcast directed people here, a lot had come through the drop-off area. Just as Park Chang-sik said.
Go Cheon-su was on guard too. There might still be people hanging around here.
Clunk.
A noise came from somewhere. Go Cheon-su ducked behind a nearby car.
"Someone there...?"
Peeking out, he spotted a haggard-looking man wandering between the cars.
The man was yanking on car doors, rummaging inside any that opened. At a glance, he might seem like a thief, but all he pulled out were keys.
"Nice."
Park Chang-sik had mentioned one more thing: this guy, the Key Man. Apparently, he worked in an office here in the east wing, but no one knew why he was still around. The important part was that he was collecting keys like a parking attendant.
"Hey there."
That's why Go Cheon-su stepped out in front of him.
"...!"
The man froze at the sound of Go Cheon-su's voice, eyes wide.
"Whoa, don't freak. I just got here."
"..."
The man eyed Go Cheon-su and Heukgu warily, then pointed somewhere with his finger.
"If you're heading out with the soldiers, that's the way. Time's running short—go there."
Then he went back to wandering around.
"Hmm."
Go Cheon-su let out a small grunt and approached the man.
"Collecting car keys, huh?"
"...Can't you see?"
The man dropped a new key into the basket he was carrying.
"I'm busy, so don't talk to me. Head the other way. Don't stick around and end up like me."
"End up like you?"
Go Cheon-su looked puzzled.
"You're not going?"
"I've got a friend I'm waiting for here."
It matched exactly the story Park Chang-sik had told him.
"The one who left his bus keys, right?"
"...What?"
The man turned, frowning at Go Cheon-su.
"Where'd you hear that?"
"From a bus driver who stopped by. Express Route 2."
"Ha. That guy's been blabbing useless crap everywhere."
The man sighed, stopped collecting keys, and spoke again.
"How much did you hear? Did he tell you my friend dropped off his keys and never came back?"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Guess that old man boarded a bus after all."
Go Cheon-su nodded, and the man asked cautiously,
"Did he make it?"
"Yeah. He's probably on a bus by now."
He'd considered inviting him along, but Go Cheon-su didn't have the capacity to look after Park Chang-sik. Without a bus, the guy was just a regular out-of-shape uncle. Even if the soldiers were untrustworthy, they'd get him to Cheongju Airport safer than tagging along here.
"Why didn't you go?"
"Got my reasons."
Go Cheon-su glanced down at the box the man was holding.
"That's why I need something from you too."
"Need car keys, huh."
The man shrugged.
"I worked hard collecting 'em, and now they're getting taken."
"Not taking—borrowing."
Go Cheon-su said quietly.
"And if you need to go, come with me. Mutual help."
"I'm good."
The man waved him off and rummaged through the box slowly.
"Who knows when the owners'll come back for their cars. I'll manage things here so no other bums run off with the keys."
"While waiting for your friend?"
"Yeah."
The man's face grew sad.
"He'll come back. That's the only thing the guy knows how to do."
Clink.
The man pulled out a smart key with a bulky fob and handed it to Go Cheon-su.
"That's for a car over there. Press the buttons—you'll find it."
Go Cheon-su took the key with a smile.
"Thanks. You'll be blessed for this."
Things had gone smoothly. Despite claiming he was saving keys for owners, he'd handed it over too easily—but that didn't matter.
Beep beep.
What mattered was Go Cheon-su could drive off.
"Huh?"
But seeing the car that responded to the key, Go Cheon-su couldn't help frowning.
"What the hell."
The car was surrounded by other vehicles. Parked in a spot impossible to escape from.
"...This."
Definitely given to screw him over. Go Cheon-su walked back to the man and held out the key.
"Hey, uncle. Mind giving me a different one?"
"No."
"What? Pardon?"
"That's all I can give."
Go Cheon-su scowled. He'd tried to play nice since the guy had a story, but now he had no choice but to get serious...
"That's the one closest to the exit."
But the man said something unexpected.
"The others don't have keys. The owners who drove 'em here took 'em."
He hadn't given it to troll. It wasn't possible to drive that one out.
"If you can't get that out, just go to the soldiers. Won't be easy finding another ride."
If the man was telling the truth, driving any car out of here would be tough.
'Ah, damn it.'
Options left: infiltrate the soldiers or hunt for cars outside. Neither practical. Too risky.
'Gotta think of something.'
There was still time. A little brainpower might yield an answer.
"...Huh?"
Then Go Cheon-su spotted the passenger walkway next to the drop-off restrooms. Traces of glass doors that were now just an open gap.
"Oh, over there..."
He bolted toward it.
"Ah."
It led to the space connected to the east wing main entrance. Even the main doors were half-demolished, like from construction.
Go Cheon-su hurried back to the drop-off area.
"Hey, uncle."
He asked quickly,
"The car parked deepest inside—got keys for that?"
"What? Why?"
"That's how I'll get out."
Pointing at the walkway, the man looked blank, then let out a hollow laugh.
"You're one hell of a guy."
"So, you got 'em?"
Go Cheon-su stared expectantly, and the man nodded.
"That one."
A compact minivan sat where he pointed.
Small enough to squeeze through the walkway perfectly.
"Here."
The man handed over a key.
"Take it."
"Okay! Thanks!"
Go Cheon-su dashed over and opened the minivan door. Being compact, the interior was snug.
Woof!
Heukgu hopped into the passenger seat after Go Cheon-su opened the door for him.
"Hold up."
Go Cheon-su checked the dashboard and glovebox, then got out and walked to another spot.
"Gotta grab this too."
It was that trapped car from earlier. Useless for driving, but it had one valuable item inside.
"Perfect navigation tool."
The GPS. Satellite-based, so still usable now.
"Sweet."
He mounted it in the minivan, wiped sweat from his brow.
"Phew. All set."
"Hey."
The man watched curiously.
"Why not just rely on the soldiers? What's the deal? You got a real reason?"
"Reason? Eh, you could say that."
Go Cheon-su gave a wry smile.
"Don't trust people too much, uncle. It's dangerous."
"What're you on about? I trusted you enough to give you keys, just 'cause you came with that driver."
"True. Thanks."
Go Cheon-su stretched his stiff body.
"Ah. Sounds like they're leaving."
Rustling noises from somewhere. Soldiers gearing up to move.
Go Cheon-su checked the west wing entrance cautiously, then hurried back to prep.
"Uncle, hope you find your friend."
"...Yeah, no idea what you're thinking, but stay safe."
Go Cheon-su boarded with the man's farewell. Turned the key, and the tiny body hummed to life.
Vroom.
"Oh, right! Uncle!"
"Yeah?"
"If anyone asks for Go Cheon-su, tell 'em I headed to Jeju first!"
As he rolled down the window to shout that and reached for the side brake,
The Shop has been refreshed.
A notification popped up.
"What? Refresh?"
New item in the shop.
Go Cheon-su's eyes widened.
"Refresh?!"
Whatever. Go Cheon-su quickly opened the shop window.
※ Allows a car to reach speeds up to 300 km/h for 7 minutes. However, if the speed is reduced after exceeding the dashboard's max speed, the vehicle's remaining lifespan drops to 60 minutes from that point.
"What the hell is this."
A ridiculous item had appeared.
"Bros, what is this?"
Pedal cover? Just call it an accelerator pedal. And the price was suspiciously cheap for that insane effect. No, too cheap.
"..."
Suspicious.
"This thing's sketchy as hell."
Even with the penalty, it'd be useful. But it screamed "streamer content bait."
Suddenly the viewers looked like little demons.
"You think I'd chicken out over this?"
Suspicious or not, an item was an item. Without hesitation, Go Cheon-su gave a thumbs-up.
"Equipping it now."