Political Statement (7)
Instead of answering, Park Ha-yuri met Park Tae-hyeon's gaze head-on.
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Is that so? That's strange. The person claimed to have shown your business card, Captain Park Ha-yuri."
Park Ha-yuri realized who the nephew of Park Tae-hyeon had met. Ju Kang-rim. He'd gone straight to Park Tae-hyeon's nephew. She didn't know exactly what he'd done, but given the talk of blackmail and Park Tae-hyeon showing up in person, it was clear it wasn't some minor stunt.
"Looks like you really had no idea."
Park Tae-hyeon leaned back against the wall casually as he spoke.
"I figured as much. You're not the type to get involved in this sort of thing, Captain. It doesn't make sense for someone with such a strong soldier's spirit to meddle in legislation."
"……."
"But someone impersonating you and running around is no small matter—for the Bari Unit or your personal reputation. Since they claimed to have your card, if anyone comes to mind, please let me know."
Park Tae-hyeon narrowed his eyes, staring at Park Ha-yuri.
"Help me keep this from blowing up, won't you?"
Deep down, Park Tae-hyeon was shocked that the Bari Unit had gotten involved. He'd believed Park Ha-yuri, of all people, wouldn't stoop to power plays to protect her own interests. But Park Bin-woo had indeed been blackmailed by whoever sold her name. Whether she'd intervened directly or just lent her name, she was clearly tangled up in it.
After standing silently for a long moment, Park Ha-yuri uncrossed her arms and spoke.
"Blackmail? That's regrettable."
"Exactly. I thought you wouldn't know about it."
Park Tae-hyeon narrowed his eyes again, watching her closely. He had no desire to make an enemy of Park Ha-yuri. Not at least until the Awakener Management Act passed. She was a powerful awakener, respected by others in the community. If he couldn't bring her under his wing, he needed to stay on good terms. But whoever was abusing her name had to be dealt with.
Park Ha-yuri, however, had no interest in playing along.
"It's not blackmail—it's legitimate execution of official duties, Assemblyman Park Tae-hyeon."
Park Tae-hyeon frowned, glaring at her. She shot back without flinching, her eyes blazing.
"If you have complaints about our unit or feel you've been wronged, don't come here personally. File a formal report through proper channels—with my direct superior or the military court."
Park Tae-hyeon scowled. Park Ha-yuri was the type to hunt down anyone misusing her name and beat them senseless, not brush it off with 'Why bring it to me?' Her words were as good as admitting direct involvement.
"Captain Park Ha-yuri, do you even realize what you're saying…?"
"I'm talking about the Bari Unit carrying out its official duties."
Park Ha-yuri's voice was iron-hard, words dropping like stones.
"From now on, lodge your protests by the book. Any contact, threats, or coaxing attempts against my unit members will be treated as attacks on me personally."
Park Tae-hyeon's face twisted.
"Are you threatening a sitting assemblyman right now?"
"I'm telling you to follow proper procedures if there's a problem."
"The problem is your Bari Unit! Attacking private companies and scheming behind a congressman's back—if that gets out, you think you'll walk away unscathed? Once the Awakener Management Act passes, you're done for!"
"I see. I think I get the gist of why you're pushing so hard for that law."
"You…!"
"Assemblyman Park Tae-hyeon."
Park Ha-yuri picked off a bloody chunk of flesh from her collar as she spoke.
"Do you know what this is?"
"……What?"
"Part of Lee Min-young, female, age 27. She turned into a massive reinforced zombie. No trace of her original form left, but she was tough—didn't have time to go easy. My skills don't leave much room for mercy anyway."
Park Ha-yuri tapped her metal prosthetic arm.
Park Tae-hyeon, who knew the power of her abilities, clamped his mouth shut. The blood covering her was the remnants of the zombies she'd put down today.
"Today, I sent 43 zombies and 2 reinforced ones in Gangbuk to their eternal rest. Double what it was a month ago. But it never feels like it'll end. Staying positive in a world like this is damn hard."
"……."
"So why don't I just think, 'Screw it, world's doomed anyway—kill 'em all and be queen'? Even if I bust my ass, guys like you will always suspect me and try to tighten the noose."
"What I'm saying is…."
"It's the rules."
Park Ha-yuri smiled coldly, clasping her hands and whispering.
"I believe the normal world I remember will come back someday, so I follow the rules. So you follow them too, Assemblyman. Honestly, if everyone starts breaking them, fragile but well-endowed folks like you would be in real trouble, right?"
It sounded like a threat, but Park Ha-yuri meant it sincerely—she was genuinely concerned for him.
"And if you do break them, pay the price. By the rules. I'll play by them too."
"……."
Park Tae-hyeon ground his teeth, glared at Park Ha-yuri, then stormed out. There was no point talking anymore. Even as he left, he couldn't resist one last jab.
"You'll regret this."
"I don't make regrets, but hey—if you insist on giving me one, I'll take it as a souvenir. We won't be seeing much of each other anyway."
Bam.
Park Tae-hyeon slammed the door and stomped off. Park Ha-yuri let out a long sigh in the now-quiet quarters, pressing her forehead against the cool, hard wall. It soothed the heat rising from her brow. Thinking of Ju Kang-rim's smirk, she pouted.
"What the hell are you up to, anyway?"
"Go!"
Park Tae-hyeon barked the moment he climbed into the car. No specific destination, but his aide took one look at his face and hit the gas anyway.
Park Tae-hyeon's guts were boiling.
He knows I can't file a formal complaint.
Going official would force Park Tae-hyeon to expose too much himself. With the blackmail letter already plastered online, he couldn't risk formal channels. The Bari Unit's special status put it outside regular military oversight—her superior was the Minister of National Defense.
Pressuring Park Ha-yuri won't stop that bastard running around. So….
Park Tae-hyeon thunked his head against the car window.
Think, Park Tae-hyeon. What does he really want? Why pressure my nephew instead of coming at me directly? Why borrow Park Ha-yuri's name?
Even if he leaked to the press, Park Tae-hyeon was confident he could spin it. But it would cast doubt on the Awakener Management Act's ethics, potentially delaying or derailing it.
Park Tae-hyeon thought he had the blackmailer's intent figured.
'If you can't stop the law anyway, withdraw it yourself'?
Hurt Park Tae-hyeon and blemish the law, or make him back off and delay it. Either way, that's what it boiled down to.
But information was too scarce to confirm.
Whichever it is, I need time….
Just then, veins bulged bluish on the back of Park Tae-hyeon's hand. He hurriedly covered it, gritting his teeth. His aide noticed something off and shivered, turning on the heater.
"Brr, it's not even winter and it's already getting cold."
"……."
Instead of replying, Park Tae-hyeon checked his hand. No further signs. He steeled his momentarily wavering resolve. For a split second, cold sweat had drenched his spine.
If the blackmailer didn't know one thing, it was this: No matter the wounds or threats, Park Tae-hyeon had to pass the Awakener Management Act. Even if ruin awaited at the end, it beat the consequences of failing now.
His aide spoke up.
"Sir, mind if I speed up a bit?"
"What?"
"There's a motorcycle tailing us."
Park Tae-hyeon checked the rearview. A pitch-black bike, lights off, pursued them. The rider, clad in black, only flickered into view under streetlights—their silhouette hazy like mist.
What the hell?
Park Tae-hyeon sensed something wrong. Something was happening. Meanwhile, the aide gradually accelerated.
Suddenly, the road went dark. Streetlights intact but shattered.
Vrooooom.
The pursuing bike surged forward ferociously. Park Tae-hyeon recalled an old urban legend about an assassin group. Not public knowledge, but whispered among his circles.
"Speed up!"
"Huh? Yes! I'm flooring it!"
The aide pushed the pedal, but it was a narrow rural national road. Limits applied. The bike closed in relentlessly.
Park Tae-hyeon prayed it was nothing, a mistake. But no.
The rider pulled alongside, then mimed a diagonal slash. The aide checked his seatbelt. The rider drew something long—a sword. He swung, smashing the side window.
Crack.
Spiderwebbed but intact thanks to tint. One more swing, and it split like paper.
"Damn it all!"
"Aaaah!"
Park Tae-hyeon's curse cracked the aide's nerves. As the blade probed inside, the aide yanked the wheel. The car lost control, blaring warnings as auto-brakes kicked in. Over speed, it hit the curve, slammed a hillside, and flipped.
Boom, crash.
Two and a half rolls before stopping. The rider braked sharply, dismounting almost in mid-air, and strode toward the wrecked car.
"Thanks for moving as expected."
The attacker on the bike was none other than Ju Kang-rim. Park Tae-hyeon's puzzle about the blackmailer's motive? Luring him to this remote military area. But that was just step one.
Ju Kang-rim checked the groaning aide inside. Seatbelt saved him—no major injuries.
This one's fine.
He unbuckled and dragged the aide out, feeding him a healing pill. Wounds closed; eyes snapped open. The aide gasped, scrambling to flee. Ju Kang-rim jerked his chin backward—go. Fight to protect the assemblyman or take the escape? Easy choice. The aide bolted without looking back.
Ju Kang-rim checked the back seat.
But Park Tae-hyeon, his target, was nowhere to be seen.