Banpo (3)
Following Banpo Boulevard led to SeoRae Park. SeoRae Village lay along SeoRae Road. Deep inside was the motel serving as the government's hideout.
The motel door was firmly shut. Thick chains were wrapped around the handles, barring any entry from the outside. Special Forces agents unlocked the padlock they'd secured and unwound the chains. They opened the door while scanning the surroundings warily.
The door swung open quietly enough. We stepped inside.
In the reception area by the motel counter, several people sat on sofas and the floor. They all stood up. Their faces lit up at the sight of the Special Forces agents entering with duffel bags slung over their shoulders. Among the mostly male group were Chief of Staff An Jun-gyu and the kindly old gentleman, President Min Jeong-woo.
They greeted the agents with bright smiles.
"My God. Ga-yeon, you're alive!"
President Min Jeong-woo stepped forward first, grasping Seong Ga-yeon's hand.
"Yes, Mr. President. I'm sorry for causing you worry."
"Nonsense, no apologies needed. You've been through hell. Truly."
President Min Jeong-woo just clutched her hand tightly and nodded, saying nothing more. He didn't ask about the other agents' fates. He must already know.
Chief of Staff An Jun-gyu and the burly men, along with some middle-aged ones, took the duffel bags one by one, praising their achievements.
Special Forces Captain Seong Gyu-hyuk spoke amid the warm reception. "This mission wouldn't have succeeded without him. He showed incredible skill—better than even the footage suggested."
All eyes turned to me. I met their gazes and slowly set down the duffel bag from my shoulder.
A burly man, probably another Special Forces agent, approached politely and took the bag from me.
President Min Jeong-woo came over. "...We've finally met."
The president took my hand. His wrinkled, warm palm pressed against mine. I was covered in blood—my hands included. But that didn't faze him. He gripped my hand firmly with both of his and said, "You've done so much, Mr. Han Sung-hoon. To think someone like you exists in our country... Heaven itself might be aiding us."
I smiled faintly and gave a slight nod. "No need for that. Thank you."
President Min Jeong-woo tugged my hand. "Come, let's go inside. We'll have some tea and talk. Sound good?"
I nodded. "Sure. I'd like that."
The president led me into an empty room on the first floor of the motel. The bed was gone. No TV, no mirror, no little table—nothing you'd expect in a motel room. Instead, a few crude plastic chairs sat there, the kind you'd see at a convenience store parasol table.
This was... an office?
It looked like a workspace for the president or meetings, but even the shabbiest room in our large mart building was better than this. You could tell they were on the brink of collapse just from the state of the room.
The president sat on a plastic chair and gestured for me to do the same. I sat and took off my backpack. While I was at it, I unbuckled my lifting belt too. With the two swords, quiver, and arrow case attached, it was heavier than it looked. Shedding them made my body feel lighter.
Quite a few people gathered in the room. Me, the president, Special Forces Captain Seong Gyu-hyuk, two unfamiliar older men, and one guy in his early thirties. No sign of the chief of staff. Where'd he go?
As I scanned their faces, President Min Jeong-woo spoke up. "Everyone's still unfamiliar, I suppose. You've already met our Special Forces captain. This is Captain Park Dae-han. He flies the helicopter."
"Ah."
Captain Park Dae-han. Looked young for his fifties, maybe mid-forties. Slight belly, but solidly built. He was the one who'd cleared the zombie wave back in our neighborhood.
I smiled and nodded slightly. "Thanks for that time. My people said to pass on their gratitude too."
Captain Park Dae-han gave a faint smile but said nothing. The quiet type, apparently.
The president continued, "This is Captain Kim Min-jun. He's the expert handling our light aircraft."
Ah, the guy who'd been dropping leaflets. Captain Kim Min-jun was tall and lanky. Definitely not in his fifties—early forties, tops.
"Nice to meet you. I got the leaflets fine."
"Welcome. Captain Seong Gyu-hyuk said you performed brilliantly in the op. Shame I couldn't see it myself."
He glanced at Seong Gyu-hyuk as he spoke.
Seong Gyu-hyuk added, "I've never seen anything like it. His skills are top-notch. Felt like watching a movie."
I chuckled softly.
Captain Kim Min-jun seemed the cautious type, testing the waters even on solid ground.
President Min Jeong-woo pointed to the last man. He looked early thirties at most, late twenties maybe—a few years older than me.
"This is our mechanic, Sergeant Song Gyu-tae. He handles the light aircraft and helicopter. We'd be in real trouble without him."
I nodded slightly to Sergeant Song Gyu-tae. He was on the short side. Or maybe everyone else was just tall. Probably under 170 cm. His roundish face radiated confidence and vitality.
Sergeant Song Gyu-tae bowed his head slightly toward me. "Nice to meet you."
He greeted me, but his expression wasn't great. What's up with that?
Just then, Chief of Staff An Jun-gyu entered with a tray. Something steamed faintly in paper cups.
...It's hot as hell in here, and they bring steaming whatever-this-is instead of just Fantas or Colas...
"Here, have a cup, Sung-hoon. You did great today."
"Thanks."
I took a paper cup. ...Kinda pale and watery-looking? A sip confirmed it—green tea...? How much water did they dilute this with? One teabag steeped in a bucket of tap water a few times, probably.
...This is bad. Real bad.
They were treating me like a VIP, but serving this meant their situation was crystal clear.
The chief of staff passed cups around and sat on a plastic chair. ...He doesn't have one himself. Not even enough of this weak brew to go around.
...Unbelievable.
Even the cockroaches had raided convenience stores... But no, their situations were different. Helicopter and light aircraft flights triggered zombie waves every time. Unlike the cockroaches—who'd swarm a store with just a couple human beasts, beat each other to death, and loot—these people were different. They actually tried to do something.
President Min Jeong-woo smiled at me. "So, Sung-hoon, I hear you have quite a group too. How are they holding up?"
I smiled back. "We're fine. Holed up in the large mart building."
"Oh, a large mart... Everyone healthy?"
"Yes. All safe."
I smirked inwardly. Now's not the time to worry about us, Mr. President.
Joy lit the old man's eyes. He seemed genuinely pleased that people were surviving.
"That's a relief. With someone like you, Han Sung-hoon, they're lucky."
I nodded and asked, "Thank you. One thing—Special Forces agent Seong Ga-yeon's ankle is pretty messed up. Any medical supplies here?"
"Just cold medicine and painkillers. And we're almost out."
Sergeant Song Gyu-tae answered. He'd looked troubled since earlier.
"No meds, huh?"
Song Gyu-tae glanced at the president and chief of staff before clamming up.
President Min Jeong-woo said, "It's fine. Speak freely."
"Yes, sir."
Song Gyu-tae nodded and turned to me. "It's not just meds. Fuel's gone too. One box left."
Captains Park and Kim let out quiet sighs.
I tilted my head. "...One box of fuel? What do you mean?"
"Octane Booster."
Song Gyu-tae sighed and explained. "Helicopters and light aircraft need aviation fuel. We're flying on regular gasoline instead. Not sure why, but the nearby gas stations had some Octane Booster. We mix it in to keep going. It's barely working."
He shook his head at the captains. "Even that's down to one box. Three, maybe four refuels max. And it's dangerous. We really shouldn't fly anymore. It'll crash any moment."
I stared at the sergeant and captains in surprise. "...Is that true?"
Captain Park stayed silent. Captain Kim stared into space, sighed, and said, "When we need to fly, we fly. If it crashes one day, that's just my time up. Who's not dying these days anyway?"
...This is no joke.
I thought they just lacked weapons, but no food, no meds either. Helicopter and light aircraft running on gasoline with additives.
...They're walking a tightrope.
I looked around at them. These weren't cockroaches. They were trying.
I spoke slowly. "So, what's the plan now?"
Special Forces Captain Seong Gyu-hyuk replied, "Once the agents are armed, things will improve. We'll grab what we need first. Then, hit Pyeongtaek US Military Base."
"...Pyeongtaek?"
Seong Gyu-hyuk nodded. "Other ROK bases are options, but Pyeongtaek's the most efficient. Aircraft, explosives, runways—it's Korea's largest base, fully equipped. Even better since Yongsan relocated there. Top priority."
...Pyeongtaek US Military Base.
Chief of Staff An Jun-gyu added, "After that, nuclear power plants, water purification facilities. We'll have to abandon some areas, but if national utilities collapse, it's over. No power, no water—we're done."
I crossed my arms and nodded slowly.
...Light aircraft and helicopter. Usable, but risky. Everything's scarce. Power plants, water...
They'd just gotten weapons in hand.
I sighed softly and looked around. President Min Jeong-woo asked, "What do you think, Sung-hoon?"
I answered, "...One thing at a time."