Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 011
Chapter Title: Burning Down the Lab
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Snow-sharp eyes.
Bok Cheol-su struck the wrists of the attacking bodyguards with precision, forcing their weapons to drop.
Thrust.
Slash.
Whip.
Was he a bayonet prodigy?
But what was truly astonishing was his speed.
In an instant, he switched from a crowbar to a nail puller, catching the bodyguards off guard.
His reverse grip moved like lightning.
Whoosh!
As a bodyguard swung a telescoping baton, Bok Cheol-su arched his back and hooked the man's shoulder.
"Guhhh!"
He yanked hard, tearing a chunk of flesh from the shoulder that splattered onto the floor.
With space cleared by Bok Cheol-su, Ma Tae-beom charged toward me.
Pfft— PSSSH—
Even as the gas gun sprayed, Ma Tae-beom's attacks were the pinnacle of efficiency.
He twisted an elbow joint, kicked the ligament just above the kneecap, and snapped a shoulder.
That bought me time to recover.
"Use your guns!"
The order came from behind.
A hand in front of me reached for a gun.
I snapped his wrist and snatched the pistol.
Then.
Bang! Tat! Bang-bang-bang!
Six bullets flew, filling the hallway with screams.
I'd cleared my front.
Turning around, I saw Ma Tae-beom finishing off the remaining bodyguards.
In the tight space, his fists and feet were as sharp as blades honed to an edge, each strike piercing joints with deadly accuracy.
Ma Tae-beom approached.
"Kang-hyun, you okay?"
"Right on time."
"Your head's bleeding."
"Just a scratch."
It actually hurt.
My shoulder and guts were still throbbing.
Bok Cheol-su finished off the last moving targets cleanly.
"Teacher, Su-jeong's in the left compartment. Pry it open with the crowbar."
Bok Cheol-su headed straight for the compartment.
"Ma hyung, there are regular people locked up here, not zombies. We need to free them first."
"You gonna torch this place?"
"Damn right. Where's Seok-gu?"
"Said he was grabbing fuel. Can we trust the guy?"
"Civilians first."
Ma Tae-beom and I checked the compartments.
Whenever we found doors holding people instead of zombies, Bok Cheol-su smashed the locks with his crowbar.
"Big bro!"
Song Seok-gu came running with two jerry cans of fuel.
He wasn't just a special forces washout in name only.
"Good work. Go start the car."
"Got it."
I poured fuel down the hallway.
Civilians fled from the compartments.
"Teacher, Ma hyung! Take them and get out first. I'll wrap things up here."
"You sure you'll be fine alone?"
"This is my specialty."
I flashed Ma Tae-beom a grin.
Everyone headed for the exit, and I poured the rest of the fuel up the stairs to sublevel 2.
Had to burn the whole research area.
I went back down to sublevel 3, lit the fire, and bolted for the opposite exit.
"Please... spare me..."
Blood and groans.
A desperate plea for life.
I ignored it.
They were all accomplices anyway.
Feeling the heat chasing me from behind, I escaped.
When we reached Gate E, the SUV was waiting.
Smoke billowed from the building.
I hopped into the passenger seat.
"Big bro, you okay? Blood on your head."
"I'm fine."
"Let's stop at a convenience store. They should have bandages and antiseptic."
Nurse Ye Ji-ah looked worried.
"Sounds good."
"Big bro, where to? Convenience store first?"
"You heard her."
Heavy rain poured like a waterfall.
The car U-turned and picked up speed.
Raindrops shattered on the road like shrapnel, coating the windshield in a gritty film.
"Big bro, iron gate ahead."
"Plow through it."
"Huh?"
"This thing can handle it."
The car hit the grass, hydroplaning as speed built.
"Everyone, hold on tight!"
RPMs redlined.
"Whoa! Collision incoming!"
"Eyes shut!"
Kwaaaang—!
The car smashed through the gate.
Screeech—
Song Seok-gu cranked the wheel, downshifted, and hit the brakes.
Drift.
The SUV fishtailed wildly but shot right.
"Not bad."
"Told you, I'm a pro driver."
"You just got lucky dodging that puddle flip."
"Huh?"
"Floor it. They're chasing us."
Rearview showed a few headlights.
No gunshots—lucky break.
Ma Tae-beom asked,
"Know a safe spot?"
"Yeah. Convenience store first, then there."
I turned to Ye Ji-ah.
"Ji-ah!"
"Yes?"
"After the next corner, can you nail their tires with an arrow?"
"I'll try."
"Even a miss will spook 'em just seeing the arrow."
My smartphone buzzed.
Cha Director.
"Yes, Director."
- Where are you?
"Found the zombie lab at the resort, as expected. Torched it and we're outbound. Oh Han-gwang was zombified."
- Oh Han-gwang?
"Probably ash by now."
- So he was behind the zombie research?
No way.
He'd been infected recently.
"Timeline doesn't match. Zombies are new. Watch Oh Gwang-seong's moves. Hiding the virus for a vaccine means anything goes."
- I'll loop in Cheong Kang.
"Can't we contact personally even now?"
- Shadow Net opens in five days. No agent-to-agent direct lines.
"Understood."
We used encrypted numbers that only connected through HQ—no outgoing display, no personal calls.
Private phones were monitored anyway.
No numbers memorized.
"Big bro, that was straight-up National Intelligence Service vibes. Intense!"
"Eyes on the road."
I checked the rearview.
Gap widening, but pursuit continued.
Dirt road made the car bounce hard.
"Ease off the speed."
"Don't worry. I'm used to this."
Tough to balance in the water flow, but Song Seok-gu worked the wheel left and right, steadying us.
Sharp right turn.
Car dove in.
"Stop!"
We halted about 50 meters in.
"Ji-ah! Ready?"
"Yes."
Ye Ji-ah opened the door and stepped out.
All eyes on her.
Headlights soon pierced the lane.
Vrooom—
Charging vehicle.
Shing—
Arrow sliced through the rain.
Shaft glinted like scales mid-flight, embedding under the right tire.
Thunk!
Panicked driver veered into the wall; car flipped.
Following sedan barreled on, ignoring the wreck.
Ye Ji-ah's pupils contracted as she released the string.
Arrow arced beautifully, piercing the left tire dead-on.
Screech—
Car halted briefly, then accelerated on the blown tire.
Another arrow was already airborne from the bow.
It shattered the driver's window; the car slammed the left wall.
Kwang—!
Ye Ji-ah jumped back in, and we peeled out.
Everyone was awestruck.
"Sis! That was insane. Whoa, seriously shocked me."
"Can't believe my eyes."
"That lady's a beast!"
"Focus on driving. Head to the convenience store, grab all the food and meds."
"Where next?"
"Later."
Rain was tapering off, thankfully.
No pursuit.
Silence fell.
Relief after cheating death—but no comfort in it.
A brief respite before facing the horrors ahead.
I stared ahead.
Some streetlights flickered on; others blinked erratically.
Cracked the window.
Pat-pat-pat— Pat-pat-pat—
Earthy rain scent wafted in.
Sneakers and overturned strollers on the street screamed the terror of zombie chases.
A voice snapped my thoughts.
Bok Cheol-su was anxious.
"Baek Executive, after the convenience store, where to?"
"Somewhere safe to hole up first."
"You know a spot?"
"I do a lot of business trips here—know the area well. Got a hideout."
An abandoned cult compound deep in the mountains.
Left empty after the leader died; buildings worn but spacious.
Late spring now, too.
"Hope the safe zones open soon."
"Nothing to do but wait."
"Sorry for rushing you."
"I get it."
Understandable—his daughter had just survived mortal peril.
Blood-tinged wind slipped through the window.
Sign we were nearing the store.
Ma Tae-beom eyed Bok Cheol-su.
"Calling me Ma hyung feels heavy."
"It's comfy for me. What should I call you?"
"Just my name."
"Too formal yet. Ma hyung it is till we're closer."
"Ma hyung sounds friendly enough, big bro. Go with it."
Their nicknames were set.
"Rain's stopping soon."
Like Bok Su-jeong said—hoping the forecast held.
Unfinished building windows, stopped car doors, rusted poles.
Zombies could burst from anywhere.
Car pulled up to the convenience store.
"Everyone out. Grab every scrap of food and medicine."
We piled out and entered.
Gruesome corpses.
We were getting used to it.
Quickly loaded up and back in the car.
Bok Su-jeong sighed.
"So horrific. They were normal people yesterday."
"Stay sharp. One bite, and it's over."
"You too, Dad."
Bok Cheol-su's eyes showed boundless love for his daughter.
"Big bro, where now?"
"Right turn, straight ahead."
Smartphone buzzed again.
Cha Director, busy even late.
- Troops moved up front for North Korea threats. Incheon's got infections too.
"Isn't Bang Chan-jun making a dumb call?"
- Capital folks are scared of a Northern invasion.
Frustrating.
Zombie virus spreading—time for a North invasion?
Bang Chan-jun's goal: defend the capital. Line breaks, Seoul falls; next, Gangnam.
His pattern.
Unchanged now, dooming Korea.
Remove him first.
- Uiju crossing: find immunes, deliver to Disease Control. Bite survivor at 72 hours = immune, per their stance.
"Got it."
Take Ye Ji-ah to Osong Disease Control.
She got potential immune status in my past life—needs full tests.
Confirm via bite risky.
Ma Tae-beom asked me,
"Bang Chan-jun's the Martial Law Commander."
"Yeah."
"What dumb choice?"
"Ends justify means, treats people like ammo. Know from experience."
"That guy's commander? Dangerous."
"That's why he goes."
Screech—
Song Seok-gu slammed brakes in shock.
"Chill. I'll handle it. Drive."
"Even so, the Martial Law Commander... You can do it, big bro?"
"Gun it. Time's short."
"Yes."
The car accelerated.
Martial Law Commander must die by winter.
Or frontline units get wiped.