Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Time Warp
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We stopped at a gas station near the construction site before heading out. Fortunately, it hadn't been looted much.
In the early days of the infection, survivors hadn't kindly left it for those behind them. There had simply been too many zombies swarming around the station.
Roughly twenty of them, by my estimate?
We took them out easily with our guns and looted anything useful from the station before more zombies could show up, drawn by the gunfire.
For instance, we filled spare fuel cans to the brim and grabbed every non-perishable food item with a good shelf life from the attached convenience store, loading it all into the truck beds.
Once the beds were about a third full, Carlson ordered a retreat as the zombie horde closed in.
"Everyone, on the trucks!"
Soon, our two modified dump trucks roared to life, crushing zombies underfoot as they sped down the road.
Our goal was to exit Gangwon Province, pass through Gyeonggi, and enter Seoul.
Abandoned cars occasionally blocked the road, and small groups of zombies popped up here and there, but they posed no real threat to our reinforced dump trucks.
Thanks to that, we reached the Gangwon border faster than expected. But there, we ran into an unexpected obstacle.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Halt! Halt! Pull over to the shoulder and everyone step out for inspection!"
Fully armed ROK soldiers blocked our path with barricades across the road.
Their faces tensed up the moment they saw we were armed too.
A makeshift checkpoint with tents had been set up on the road, and beyond it, crowds of people waited, unable to go anywhere.
"Damn it. The military's controlling the road."
Carlson slammed the steering wheel and cursed.
"For now, follow their orders. No need to stir up unnecessary trouble."
We complied without resistance, pulling the trucks to the shoulder and stepping out with hands raised above our heads.
"Excuse us while we verify your identities."
A young lieutenant approached and demanded our IDs and firearm permits.
Since we were Titan Security contractors, our identities checked out, and our firearms were legally carried, they had no grounds to confiscate them.
"Identities confirmed. You're Titan Security mercs. Thank you for your service."
"We're en route to Seoul for an emergency. Time's critical—please let us pass."
I stood between the two and translated Carlson's words.
The young officer looked troubled.
"I'm sorry, but per orders from above, all personnel and vehicles entering Seoul are under control. We can't let unauthorized individuals through."
"We're on a special mission to extract a VIP. Contact your superiors and request clearance for us."
"We've already made contact, but you'll have to wait for approval from up top. Apologies."
He said it politely, but it was just a roundabout way of saying no.
His claim of contacting superiors was probably a lie to keep things calm.
Carlson noticed, his brow furrowing deeply.
Getting stuck here by the military wasn't what I wanted either.
'Can't stay cooped up here for days.'
I scanned the surroundings.
The soldiers guarding the checkpoint were mostly young guys in their early twenties. Aside from the lieutenant in front of us, there were no other officers visible.
That meant the lieutenant was likely the highest-ranking officer on site.
'Short on officers to control the troops? This might be workable.'
"Understood. We'll wait for approval from above."
"Thank you. Glad to see someone reasonable."
Once the lieutenant was out of sight, I briefed the team on the situation.
Reactions varied.
"Hmph..."
"What kind of rigid asshole is that?"
Carlson grunted, while Sera spat curses in disbelief.
"Best to take the lieutenant hostage and negotiate here."
Lea suggested that nonsense in a calm tone.
As all eyes turned to her, she brushed back her brown hair and spoke.
"My apologies for the slip."
I, watching it all, chimed in.
"Leave this to me. I have an idea."
I grabbed several cans of beer and a few packs of cigarettes from the truck bed, stuffing them into a black bag.
Then I approached the soldier who looked most senior—a sergeant with stripes on his uniform. Despite the disaster, his face screamed world-weary boredom, the classic look of a short-timer awaiting discharge.
"Sergeant, you're working hard."
"What is it?"
He eyed me suspiciously.
"Nothing much. Just saw you guys grinding away and wanted to share something."
I opened the black bag to show him the contents. His eyes flickered at the sight of the booze and smokes.
"Smoke?"
"Y... yeah. Of course. Care to join me if it's okay?"
He caught on quick. He led me behind the tent to a secluded spot out of sight.
Handing him the bag, he grinned at the cold beers before noticing my gaze, clearing his throat.
"What do you want?"
"Truth is, we have someone in Seoul we must rescue no matter what. Just crack the gate open a bit so we can pass."
I pleaded earnestly. He hesitated.
"Uh... that'd violate orders."
If he was serious about orders, he wouldn't have dragged me to this corner.
It was just a gesture that the bribe wasn't enough.
I paused my warp and returned to reality. I dashed to a nearby convenience store, sweeping up every variety of beer and cigarettes. Then I warped back to the zombie planet.
'No one's watching here.'
I pulled six beers and a full carton of cigarettes from thin air.
"Gasp...! Y-you're an Awakened?"
His attitude shifted to deference instantly.
'Awakened?'
Come to think of it, killing zombies here gave a low chance of awakening. The specific term and his reaction suggested some soldiers had awakened, and word spread.
"Eh, something like that."
I brushed it off lazily.
"These are unfamiliar brands though..."
He eyed the goods suspiciously.
"Imports. Doubt it? Crack one open and try."
"...Is that okay?"
"Sure. Gotta trust in a deal."
With my okay, he cautiously popped a can. Hiss. Carbonation fizzed as he gulped it down, finishing the whole thing cleanly.
"Ahh! This hits the spot! It's good—no issues! I'll vouch and get your crew through!"
"What about that order violation talk?"
"That? Just testing. That punk lieutenant's green—does exactly what he's told and nothing else. Clueless about the real situation."
Whether pent-up frustration or the booze, he loosened up.
"Anyway, I'll square it with the guys. No worries for you, merc!"
It went smoother than expected. Seizing the moment, I made another pitch.
"Hey, one more deal?"
"Uh... what kind?"
I dumped every beer and cigarette carton from my inventory, piling them mountain-high before him.
"Whoa!?"
His eyes bulged at the human-height stack.
"All this for you. In exchange, let me have some of your unit's spare ammo."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Pardon? That's..."
"Come on. Wartime—no one's gonna blink at a few missing rounds. And what're you gonna do with extra? Can't eat it."
"B-but."
"Think about it. Where else you getting booze and smokes like this? Confident scavenging outside base?"
"......"
He fell silent at my words, but conflict lingered on his face.
Opening the gate was one thing; handing over ammo was heavier.
I decided to snap his last thread of conscience.
"Army life's bleak enough—no girls, no booze, no smokes. How else you cope?"
I patted his shoulder.
'Not me—I'm hunter-exempt.'
I chuckled inwardly, watching him.
After agonizing, he caved. He squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.
"Fine... but on one condition. I'll watch to ensure you take only what's needed."
"Whatever."
Booze and smokes were buyable in reality with cash.
As long as I scored ammo, it was profit.
...Or so I thought.
But stepping into the temporary ammo depot changed my mind.
Boxes of rifle and pistol rounds lined the walls.
5.56mm rifle rounds, 9mm pistols, .50 cal machine gun belts, even C4 and Claymores.
The military had way more than I'd imagined.
'Just kill this guy and take it all?'
The urge surged fiercely.
One less sergeant, and this depot was mine—for a while. But it'd flip the whole checkpoint into chaos and complicate everything.
As I wrestled with it, a message appeared before my eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Conditions fulfilled.] [Time Warp can now be activated.] [Please select the time period for Time Warp.] 'This pops up right here, right now?'