Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Yuseong Group (2)
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The Yuseong Group's building was a grand and sleek structure. Its all-glass exterior must have once reflected the sunlight, flaunting its majesty to the surroundings.
That is, back in the day.
Not anymore.
The main entrance lobby on the first floor was shattered to pieces. Shards of broken glass were scattered messily around, and beyond them, the lobby interior was a total bloodbath.
"Goddamn it! I figured it would be bad, but seeing it for real is enough to drive anyone insane."
Sera spat out a curse.
Zombies that had poured in through the broken entrance roamed the first floor of the building like it was their own home. There were dozens of them.
The lobby interior was splattered with blood, proving the chaos that had unfolded. Red stains covered the walls, floor, and even the ceiling—finding a spot without them was nearly impossible.
"The situation... isn't good."
Carlson was right.
It was clear a massive horde of zombies had already flooded inside through the shattered main entrance.
"The odds of any survivors are slim."
Lea murmured in a cold voice. Just as she said, there were no traces of living people inside the lobby aside from the zombies.
The virus hasn't been spreading for long, but finding a live person amid that many zombies would be a pipe dream. Not everyone can hunt zombies down.
"Still, a mission's a mission."
Carlson said it like he was steeling his own resolve.
"We don't know the situation on the upper floors. Our goal is to find the VIP client Yuina and escort her to safety, but if that's impossible, we at least need to show the effort by confirming her status. That's what the Yuseong Group chairman wants too."
The key was how to get in.
We'd been circling the edges of the Yuseong Group-owned building, taking out nearby zombies. Standing still would risk getting pinned down forever.
"Charging in blindly is too dangerous."
I radioed while mounting my assault rifle on the dump truck to reduce recoil and firing at the zombies' heads.
"If a new horde shows up from outside while we're clearing the first floor, we'll be sandwiched. Trapped from both sides."
"Hmm..."
Carlson let out a groan, clearly considering the possibility.
"How about this? We look for another entrance besides the first floor."
Sera suggested.
"That won't work either. Other entrances in a big building like this are just the parking lot or back door at best. The parking lot's too cramped with all the other cars—once you're in, escaping drops dramatically. We checked the back door on our loop around; it's intact, but no need to give the zombies another path while leaving the main entrance wide open."
"If this won't work and that won't work, then what the hell are we supposed to do?!"
Sera snapped irritably. She didn't mean it, though. I could feel her exhaustion from endlessly fighting off the approaching zombies.
For the record, our earphones with active noise cancellation drastically reduced the gunfire and occasional grenade blasts, so the conversation came through clear. They also relayed teammates' voices via radio.
"It's not like we have no options."
Lea, who had been quietly observing, spoke up calmly.
"We use the dump trucks we came in."
"Dump trucks?"
Carlson echoed.
"Yes. Position the two dump trucks in a V-shape to completely block the first-floor entrance. Normal vehicles couldn't do it, but our dump trucks are tall and elongated enough to form a solid temporary barricade."
"Brilliant idea, Lea!"
Carlson shouted in admiration.
It was a perfect tactical call, worthy of a veteran mercenary.
"Alright, we go with the plan! While Joo-hyuk and Sera provide covering fire, Lea and I will park the trucks!"
The operation kicked off immediately. Sera and I unleashed a barrage on the zombies swarming from the city streets, just like before.
Meanwhile, Carlson and Lea maneuvered the dump trucks with expert skill, like extensions of their own bodies, charging toward the building's entrance in a V-formation.
Bang! Bang!
The two dump trucks sealed the entrance perfectly. We paused firing to check the barricade's sturdiness.
The elongated dump trucks, reinforced with steel plates and Sera's welds, were an impregnable fortress against zombies.
Zombies outside clawed at the vehicles and wailed, but they couldn't scale the 2-meter height.
"We did it!"
Sera cheered triumphantly.
"Good. Time to clean house."
We quickly mowed down the zombies that had gathered in the first-floor lobby, drawn by the gunfire.
Soon after, we hopped down from the trucks and cautiously entered the building.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We split into pairs of two and thoroughly searched every corner of the lobby. Behind the wrecked reception desk, beside shattered planters, even the ceiling vents.
We stayed on high alert, determined not to miss any threats.
That's when Sera, at the front, suddenly raised her hand, clenched her fist, and signaled to halt. Her gaze was fixed on a metal locker in the staff changing room.
We approached the locker carefully. A faint breathing sound leaked from the door crack.
Sera glanced at me and nodded.
I yanked the locker door open roughly.
"Kyaaahhh!"
Inside huddled a young office worker in her mid-twenties. She screamed in terror at the sight of us.
Her face was a mess of tears and snot, her eyes unfocused from extreme fear.
"Calm down. We're not here to hurt you."
Sera tried to soothe her gently, but the woman kept her guard up, clutching a bloodstained stapler like a weapon.
I motioned Sera back, lowered my rifle, and approached the survivor cautiously.
"It's okay. You're safe now."
Maybe my voice steadied her. She finally dropped the stapler and burst into sobs she'd been holding back.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Carlson and Lea arrived late, drawn by the scream.
"A survivor?"
"Yeah."
"Infected?"
"Not sure yet. We'll check now."
"Lea, Sera. You two check her for infection. Joo-hyuk and I will finish sweeping the first floor."
"Got it."
Lea, the medic, nodded. As Carlson and Joo-hyuk headed out to complete the search, she pulled a portable medical kit from her pouch and gathered supplies.
Latex gloves, rubbing alcohol, and a sedative syringe just in case.
Lea donned the gloves and addressed the woman.
"Can you understand me? We're here to help you."
The office worker gave a small nod instead of answering. Lea couldn't tell if she truly understood or was just nodding reflexively from fear.
She decided to start with simple questions.
"What's your name?"
"...Park Min-ji."
"How old are you?"
"...Twenty-three."
"Are you hurt anywhere? I need to check for bites or scratches from the infected."
"...No, no?"
"How long have you been hiding here?"
Lea asked. But the woman just shook her head, looking like she didn't grasp the question.
"Hey, she's asking how long you've been here. Days? Or hours?"
Sera tried simpler words, but the woman kept her mouth shut tight. Her eyes shook anxiously, staring at the floor.
"Damn it."
Sera muttered a curse. Even she threw up her hands.
Communication wasn't flowing. Lea sighed softly. She seemed to understand basic English but struggled with anything complex.
"Sera. Go get Joo-hyuk."