The Tower's Secrets
A few days later.
Ever since the president returned to the safe zone, a new wind had begun to blow through its interior.
Regardless of personal ideologies, the mere fact that the president was alive gave most survivors a sense of pride.
And in just a matter of days, rumors about the serum the president had secured spread like wildfire.
"No way, is that serum thing for real?"
"I swear it is. They say if we have that, the Chinese government will accept our government's exile. You think the president would go alone? Nah, we'd all go."
"Come on, how's he gonna take all these people?"
"Of course he'd take us. What can he do alone? A nation needs its people, man."
"I hope that's true. But abandoning our country doesn't feel entirely right."
"Is that the issue right now? Survive first, then we can come back to this land later."
"I heard something different. The president's pro-US, right? They say he's thinking America, not China. Honestly, I wouldn't want China either. If it's the same terms, America's better for us to live in."
"What are you talking about? China's doing great these days."
As Jaejeong passed by, the people glanced around nervously, as if they'd been discussing something they shouldn't.
It was a topic he heard more than ten times while patrolling the safe zone all day to check security.
Originally, only the president, Jaejeong, Youngman, and a handful in the tower knew about it.
But at some point, everyone seemed to know.
Thinking about it, the person who benefited most from the rumor spreading was none other than the president.
It was a perfect tool to prove his own value while rallying public sentiment in one go.
The serum held enough influence to overturn every effort the safe zone had made so far.
Conversely, the one who would take the biggest hit from this rumor was Congressman Kwon Jeong-woo.
Perhaps the invisible war between the president and Kwon Jeong-woo had already begun.
It was while Jaejeong was surveying the production zone and passing right in front of the tower.
Minyoung, dressed in her white coat, was looking at him.
"Long time no see."
Jaejeong awkwardly raised his hand in a friendly wave.
It had been so long since he'd seen her that he'd almost forgotten they were on casual terms.
"Perfect timing. I was just about to talk to you. Got a minute?"
Minyoung's face, wearing a light smile, sparkled in the sunlight.
Jaejeong snapped out of it and nodded.
"Why are you acting like you got punched? Come on. There's a quiet spot behind the tower."
The two sat on a small bench behind the tower.
Sunlight poured down from above, and trees lined the side.
As Minyoung closed her eyes to bask in the sun, Jaejeong spoke.
"You sure it's okay to just come out like this?"
"Normally no... but the mood's weird right now. Ever since the president showed up and people got restless, the tower's loosened all the pointless rules. They're watching public opinion."
"Yeah? Good for you. Now your dad can see you more often. He's always worrying."
"Dad's always like that. And the blood test results came back—same blood type. The blood on the murder weapon and the victim's."
"Really? Well, that's a relief anyway. Even if it didn't match, we'd already kicked the guy out, so nothing we could do."
"Yeah. Anyway, putting that aside..."
Minyoung opened her eyes and stared straight at Jaejeong.
"While I've been in the tower, I've seen and heard some things. Usually I'd pretend I didn't see or hear them, but this one's big."
"Doesn't sound serious at all."
"That's just how I am. You know that. I wasn't expressive before, but after pulling the trigger on that guy, it's even worse."
At the memory of Kim Chaemin that Jaejeong had forgotten, he let out a short sigh.
"Tell me what you heard."
"One question first."
"What?"
"Can I call you oppa?"
"Whatever's comfortable."
Minyoung nodded slowly and continued.
"Oppa, are you the type who stands against injustice? Or the type who compromises?"
"Depends on the situation, I guess."
Jaejeong was curious about her intent but decided to listen quietly for now.
A long preamble meant it was that serious.
"Things in the tower... the relationships are complicated. You know Division Commander Hwang Jang-seong, right?"
"Yeah. His son's the squad leader with Chan-yeol."
"That guy's the type who beats his own son half to death. He acts like a good guy on the outside, but he's not."
"What'd the kid do wrong?"
"Who knows. Even if he did something wrong—or even killed someone—no father beats his kid like that. Anyway, he says the reason he's staying in the tower instead of the army base is because Kwon Jeong-woo's hiding something. Ring any bells?"
"Hiding something..."
Jaejeong thought for a moment.
Truth be told, the only real conversation he'd had with Congressman Kwon Jeong-woo was once early on when they entered the safe zone.
So he had no idea what the man was really thinking.
"No clue."
"How about this? Among the tower residents, there are only two kids. One's Director Park Yi-hyun-seok's son, the other's my senior researcher's son. But their conversations are weird. Really weird."
"Go on."
Minyoung shifted her gaze forward again.
She looked up at the sky, then to a tree with dense leaves as her eyes stung.
"Is there a separate warehouse inside the safe zone?"
Jaejeong's eyes flicked to her for a split second.
It was the warehouse he and Youngman had tried to enter twice.
Was she talking about that?
"How do you know about it?"
"Kids divide ranks in two ways. One's primitive, based on physical strength. The other's social, based on parents' status."
Jaejeong waited with a serious expression.
"The two kids in the tower have ranks too. Obviously, Director Park's son is at the top. One day, he told my senior's son, 'Keep disobeying and I'll send you to the warehouse.'"
"And?"
"So the kid asked what was in the warehouse. The answer..."
Minyoung paused and glanced around.
She seemed worried someone might overhear.
"He said they've locked people up there. People who don't obey and sick people. Get what that means?"
"Could just be kids making stuff up. Easy to fabricate."
"No. Too detailed for kid talk. And he said he heard it from his dad, the director. Every night since the virus hit, when he's scared, his dad tells him stories about locking up bad people and those who spread disease."
"Disobedient people? I can guess a few. But sick ones? There's a hospital in the tower."
"Right. But none of us doctors have ever gone to this 'warehouse' to treat anyone."
The two stared intensely at each other.
How long did that last?
Minyoung broke the silence first.
"Not done yet. There's more important stuff. Ready?"
Jaejeong nodded instead of answering.
His mind was tangled with thoughts of the warehouse and her question about fighting injustice.
"Heard the rumors? About using the serum as a bargaining chip for exile. Lots of versions floating, but what's sure is the president wants direct contact with the US. Here's the problem."
"Problem?"
"Yeah. Kwon Jeong-woo and Director Park chose China. From the start."
"From the start?"
Minyoung hesitated briefly.
"Too much to explain now. Just know that. Key point is, the president somehow snatched the serum that should've gone to Kwon Jeong-woo. The two factions are about to clash."
"President's alone, isn't he? No real group."
"He has one. The entire military's under him. You know he's a former defense minister."
"Hm..."
By normal standards, Jaejeong was smart.
But not a genius.
There was a clear line between wisdom and knowledge.
In contrast, Youngman, who moved with him, was extremely smart.
Not shallow breadth, but deep and wide knowledge.
His occasional cleverness came from life experience, like levels gained over years.
Likewise, Minyoung wasn't clever but very smart.
Just like her father.
Right now, she was laying out options for Jaejeong based on what she'd gathered in the tower.
And Jaejeong quickly caught her intent.
"Last one now."
"There's more?"
"Yeah. The most important part."
"Building suspense. All shocks so far."
"The president doesn't know about the warehouse yet. You get what I'm saying?"
Jaejeong couldn't help but laugh.
Minyoung had a face like she cared about nothing, yet thought more than anyone.
"Fight injustice, but don't go alone—back someone up. That's it, right?"
"Exactly. If you're compromising with injustice, go to Kwon Jeong-woo. Do whatever you can. I'll follow."
"And the opposite?"
"Check the warehouse, then go to the president. Back him and the military with info that lets them take control. Hiding forced isolations alone could change the tower's leadership."
"Do we have to pick a side?"
"Yes. If you didn't want to, you shouldn't have started. When I entered the tower, when you led rescue teams out twice—we lost neutrality then. Lucky part is Dad's connection to the president gives us options."
"Tough."
Youngman's words from days ago by the riverside flashed in Jaejeong's mind.
Even father and daughter—how could their thoughts align so perfectly?
"We've been those feared yet admired figures since then. Even if we stay neutral, both sides will try to sway us."
"What would you do?"
Jaejeong was curious about her personal choice, beyond just presenting options.
"Foolish to ask the same of someone asking you. You decide."
"I'll decide. Just wondering your thoughts."
"...Well, like this? I'm a doctor. Denying patients treatment is the greatest injustice to me. Sounds rigid, but I value principles. Wonder who I got it from."
Minyoung looked away the whole time she spoke.
She didn't want to push too hard.
"And this isn't about politics or ideology. If someone's negotiating for Korea with the serum, president's the best fit. Higher success rate than some congressman, at least."
Jaejeong, lost in thought, slowly spoke.
"But... can you make a vaccine from the serum?"
"Yes. Can't guarantee, but if it's in the US or China, not here—possible."
"If a vaccine's made..."
"Absolute power humanity's never seen. And it's in our hands now. Who we choose changes the vested interests here—and that decides global hegemony from this tiny safe zone."
Too much of a leap? Maybe.
But her logic carried weight, delivered with conviction.
"Gotta go now. Oh, and this is personal."
Minyoung stood, looking down at Jaejeong.
"From now on, when choosing, don't ask others. Just... decide yourself. Not the time for democracy."
With that, Minyoung returned to the tower.
Infected People