Noisy Neighbors (2)
‘US military, huh.’
Ju Kang-rim found it ridiculous, but if they wanted to misunderstand, that was all the better for him. At the shout of "US military," the organization members reflexively pictured the Americans they'd each imagined in their heads. As their gazes scattered toward the ceiling, walls, and door, Ju Kang-rim moved like lightning.
Whoosh, thud. Thwack, thwack!
He charged the nearest member and split his skull open. Thanks to the Saingeom's property of growing sharper with every soul it absorbed—never dulling or gumming up like a greased blade—there was zero worry about the edge chipping on bone.
In the pitch-black darkness, the members clamored to find him. But Ju Kang-rim, who had lit ghost fires in key spots with Bi-hyeong's Eyes, had no trouble spotting them.
The truth—that this wasn't some American raid but something else entirely—dawned on them when they found the second body.
"His head's split open... This ain't the US military! What the hell? Zombies?!"
"Damn it! Someone turn on the lights!"
"Grab the bastard!"
At that final shout, the ghouls that had been lurking in the shadows surged forward all at once. The already chaotic warehouse plunged into even greater disorder. They had no idea what they were even supposed to catch, so the ghouls grabbed random members by mistake, and the members freaked out at the touch, spiraling into a vicious cycle.
"Wait, I think I saw something... "
Clunk.
In the wild swinging of a member's flashlight, something emerged. In the writhing darkness, the beam caught the pale reflection of Ju Kang-rim's face.
The member who spotted Ju Kang-rim in his black reaper's robes yelled on instinct.
"It's a ghost!"
Not entirely wrong, but wrong enough all the same. And there was a penalty for failing to guess right.
Ju Kang-rim's hand axe flashed.
Thwack, crunch.
He easily took down the third member. But this one didn't go quietly. As his throat was slit, the man's hand clenched reflexively on his gun.
Gunfire erupted.
Tat-tat-tat-tat-tang!
The assault rifle, set to full auto, blazed away in a deafening roar. The members hit the deck or dropped to their knees.
"Eek, eeeek!"
One couldn't take the terror of his comrades dying one by one in the dark and bolted for the exit. The others screamed after him.
"Don't go out there, you idiot!"
But he flung the door wide anyway. Waiting outside were swarms of zombies.
The fleeing member was torn apart in seconds.
"Gaaah, gaaaaak!"
"Damn it, light 'em up!"
The screams and gunfire drew more zombies in a vicious loop, but they had to keep the horde from pouring inside. Luckily, it was the back door, and the numbers weren't overwhelming.
"Block that entrance now!"
The ghouls rampaging through the warehouse rushed to seal it. Only after they dragged the bodies away and slammed the door did the place finally quiet down.
The squad leader, huddled behind the wall of the second-floor office, panted as he tried to piece together what was happening. Something had ambushed them, that much was clear. But who the hell was it? The movements weren't those of some average hunter—hell, even an awakener might not pull this off.
He caught his breath and bellowed.
"Flashlights! Shine 'em on each other!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
"The bastard's good at hiding in the dark! Headcount—how many left?! Call out your numbers! One!"
"T-two!"
"Two!"
"Three, three?!"
"Five!"
The members called out in voices mixed with screams and groans. But without order, it devolved into chaos fast. The leader snapped irritably.
"One at a time! One!"
"Two!"
He waited for the next. Nothing.
A chill ran down his spine. Already? All dead already? There had been plenty of voices clamoring just moments ago—impossible they'd all dropped in that short time.
"Answer me!"
Thud, crash.
A noise from across the second-floor hallway—he whipped his gun up and sprayed bullets wildly.
Tat-tang-tat-tang, thwack.
He didn't let go of the trigger until the mag ran dry. The barrel glowed red-hot in the dark.
'Hit something.'
He'd heard the impacts clearly while emptying the clip. His zombie-honed instincts confirmed it. But he lacked the guts to check if it was the intruder... or one of his own.
Hesitating, he shouted.
"H-one!"
Desperate for any response, something rolled into his flashlight beam. The severed head of the member who'd been guarding the second floor with him.
From behind, a voice replied.
"Two."
***
The leader screamed and swung his gun around. The flashlight beam hit a pale man draped in black robes.
He squeezed the trigger at the figure nonstop. But instead of bangs, he got empty click-clicks.
"Gotta reload sometime."
At Ju Kang-rim's mild suggestion, the leader fumbled late for his mag pouch. But before he could, the axe's tip pressed against his chin.
Not ideal for stabbing, but the leader had no doubt his head would shatter before he could slap in a fresh mag.
"Drop the gun and get on the floor."
He obeyed meekly but couldn't shut his mouth.
"Wh-who the hell are you! Do you know who we are...?!"
"We?"
Ju Kang-rim's quiet echo made him switch to politeness fast.
"Wh-who might you be, sir?"
"I ask first."
"Pl-please, go ahead."
"Too lazy to pick questions. Spill everything you know."
"......"
Crazy bastard? The leader weighed it seriously, but given the guy's skills, this wasn't your garden-variety psycho. He scanned Ju Kang-rim top to bottom. Hard to make out in the dark, but the silhouette of those flowing black robes fluttered eerily.
His comrades were already dead by this freak's hand, and the "elder" who should have his back was far away. But in this mess, the only one he could count on was that distant elder. The man's reach extended to unseen places.
"I-I'm Jang Han-taek."
"Not really curious about that..."
"D-do you know who we are, sir?"
"Nope."
"You don't..."
That answer left Jang Han-taek flustered instead. He needed to know who they were to threaten or bribe—but total ignorance meant no leverage. Hell, then why attack at all?
"W-we're the Kangryeong faction. Ever heard of Kangryeong faction?"
"Rings a vague bell. What, like gangsters?"
Jang Han-taek felt like bursting into bloody tears but explained anyway.
"O-our Kangryeong faction controls from northern Seoul to Incheon, Uijeongbu, and south to Pangyo—a massive outfit spanning the nation from a Seoul base, a true nationwide syndicate..."
"Gangsters, got it. Gangsters smuggling US military gear? Ballsy."
"W-well, not just any gangsters—we're dangerous and secretive..."
"Yeah, yeah, I get the gist. Now call your boss."
"Pardon?"
"Shit hit the fan this bad, time to call for backup or beg. You got someone for that, right? That's what I'm threatening you over. 'I've got scary big bro behind me. Step out of line, and he'll fuck you up.' Right?"
"Uh, well..."
"So call him here."
"C-call him and then wh-what...?"
"Beat his ass, then call the next one up. Eventually, the top dog's gonna show, yeah?"
From Jang Han-taek's reaction, Ju Kang-rim pegged him as no immortal. Which meant some mid-level immortal like Lopez sat above him. Lure the guy out, smash him, repeat up to the "elder"—that was the plan.
No need to tread lightly like with Gerald. When the power gap was this wide, the strategy shifted accordingly.
"Y-you're suicidal. Or were. Mid-level brass ain't like small fry like us."
"Different league?"
"Those guys..."
"Can control zombies. And?"
Jang Han-taek flinched, silent. Just as he thought. In a zombie apocalypse, nothing beat zombie control for wrangling punks like these. Security and raw power, all in one.
"Uh, super-strong awakeners!"
"Right. And?"
"......"
No more answers. Looked like he knew zilch about immortals.
"That's your whole backup plan? Got more? Or just call those scary bosses already."
Jang Han-taek realized too late threats wouldn't work—and that the guy had the chops to back it up. He racked his brain desperately.
"C-contact ain't up to me. They reach out one-way..."
"Lie, and I take a finger."
"Aaaah! True! There's a meet tomorrow at a warehouse in Incheon!"
The axe tip grazed his finger, and he spilled it frantically. Ju Kang-rim paused, probing deeper.
"Warehouse?"
"Y-yes! Orders to consolidate all supplies there by tomorrow."
Ju Kang-rim got it—no more skimming from Yongsan, so pooling everything. Whatever the elder had cooking needed heavy armament.
'Plotting a coup?'
Plausible. Country on edge, perfect for an uprising. Who'd want a sinking ship, though?
'But in my timeline, no coup happened.'
Pre-regression history: Korea slowly bled out, gates exploded, collapse. He saw why quick.
'Failed, huh.'
The elder hoarding gear opposed Gerald. Whatever the play, Gerald crushed it.
'Messing with Gerald? Insane.'
Let them duke it out, and the immortals would thin their own ranks—bonus. But Ju Kang-rim couldn't sit idle.
'Can't pass up easy prey for practice.'
Gerald was worlds apart; the elder? Just a nationwide gangster boss. Perfect sparring dummy. Plus, leave him be, and Gerald scoops all the assets. No way in hell.
'Can't kill you yet? Fine, I'll trash your dinner table.'
***
"Good. Next question. How do you make ghouls?"
As Ju Kang-rim pressed the interrogation, Jang Han-taek slammed his forehead to the floor, sobbing.
"Sob, ugh! Just kill me! If I go back like this, not just me—my whole family..."
He trailed off in tears. Ju Kang-rim blinked. This guy had been spilling beans over survival instinct seconds ago—now begging for death?
Something worse than dying? His gaze drifted to the ghouls downstairs. Masks and hats aside, they dressed like the members.
A flash of insight hit.
"Turn the ones who don't obey into ghouls, right?"
No answer. Ju Kang-rim sighed at this hyper-efficient outfit. Humans cost wages, rest, benefits—but zombies? Nah. He'd thought zombies efficient labor. Wrong angle.
If you could slave-drive zombies, no need for human perks either. Disgruntled? Ghoul 'em.
"Hey, you're done for anyway. Jump ship now, join me."
"P-pardon?"
"Been there, flipped sides myself. Your ship's sinking fast. Switch, and no ghoul for you. Spill everything."
Jang Han-taek hesitated, eyeing him. Ju Kang-rim saw the waver and pushed.
"Our 'organization' dwarfs what you imagine. Think I'm just an intern peon? I solo'd your crew—elder guy's neck's next."
He flinched. Something rang true; he stared, then ventured.
"Um..."
"Yeah?"
"Are you... US military by any chance?"
"Can we quit the bullshit? Yeah?"