Necessary Procedures
"Procedures are procedures."
The Work Leader glanced up with impassive eyes.
Does this shit even work here?
Han Jaejeong fiddled with the card he'd gotten from the doctor.
It didn't look like anything special at first glance.
Let's give it a shot.
"This do it?"
"This is..."
How the hell does this guy have one of these?
A question mark practically popped up on the Work Leader's face.
Normally, word would come down from above in cases like this.
It hadn't even been ten days, but they had that much structure in place.
Still, possession of the card meant it was beyond his pay grade.
"Can I go now?"
The Work Leader lowered his eyes and stepped aside.
His sidekick followed suit, shuffling out of the way.
It was almost comical, the way these grubby guys were acting like they were in some imperial court.
So this card carries that much weight? Makes sense, though... with all these zones divided up, they'd need permits like this.
There was no easier way to control people than stratifying them by class and rank.
And sprinkling a bit of dispersed power while limiting rights? Even more effective.
You could tell just from the ration distribution order along the zones or the existence of this card.
But one nagging doubt remained.
Why give a guy who'd just arrived rights like this?
Kwon Jeong-woo had rambled on about the group's survival story, but there had to be another reason.
Whatever. Time will tell.
Now that he'd seen the group, Jaejeong figured it was time to head back to the barracks.
Resting there would bring word soon enough.
Whether about tomorrow's operation, the group's relocation, or the personnel Kwon Jeong-woo had promised.
"Hyungnim."
As he turned to leave, Yong Tattoo appeared out of nowhere and bowed deeply.
Keep greeting like that every time, and his spine would snap one day.
"What?"
"Could I ask one favor?"
"What is it?"
"Toothbrushes... we need 'em."
"Ah, right. Got it, I'll see what I can do. How many?"
"Thing is, we're managing fine, but the lady's really uncomfortable, hyungnim."
Yong Tattoo bowed deeply again.
"The lady?"
Probably Anna.
Jaejeong could picture it.
He patted Yong Tattoo's shoulder a few times in sympathy and left the boundary zone.
Back at the barracks, he sorted his gear and sat down. The sun was already starting to set.
Lost in thought, he heard footsteps outside.
Then Jeong I-jin entered the barracks.
"Where you been? You weren't here earlier."
"Met up with the folks we came with. Sit."
Jaejeong pointed to the chair by his bunk.
"How'd it go?"
"What? The people?"
I-jin shook his head.
"Nah, I know the boundary zone better than anyone. I mean the tower yesterday."
"Ah, that guy."
Jaejeong recalled Assemblyman Kwon Jeong-woo.
"Wanted me to handle security for the safe zone. I said no, so he wasn't just asking out of the goodness of his heart. Said he'd set up housing for the group instead. And..."
He explained meeting the doctor on the tower's first floor and about the card.
He skipped mentioning the Work Leader—seemed unnecessary.
"Good call. Security's no big deal anyway. Not many people here."
"True, but... it doesn't add up."
"What doesn't?"
"Why go independent when they've got soldiers?"
"Wants to draw lines, probably. Reasons could be anything."
Jaejeong had guessed as much.
If Kwon Jeong-woo didn't see eye-to-eye with the military or needed to keep them in check, it fit.
Not thrilled if that's the case. That's why he so readily agreed to house the group?
But it was just speculation.
Watching Jaejeong mull it over, I-jin spoke up.
"Anyway, worked out well. Least you and I won't be heading out."
"Why not you?"
It surprised him.
Security didn't mean no outings, but keeping an elite like Jeong I-jin indoors made no sense.
"I'll mostly be at the tower. Only move when the assemblyman goes out. Inside the safe zone, of course."
"Body secretary?"
"Kinda stings the pride, but no one messes with me this way. Can't avoid rubbing some the wrong way."
"Suits you better."
I-jin fell silent for a moment.
Then, as if pondering something, he turned back to Jaejeong.
"Must've risked your neck a dozen times to get here. Now that you're in, it's different, huh? Didn't think it'd end just by arriving?"
"It's the end if you say it is. Least we won't tangle with those things out there. Speaking of, you know anything about this division commander guy?"
"Why the division commander?"
"His kid's some squad leader, right?"
I-jin tilted his head.
"How the hell do you know all this?"
"Overheard it."
"Overheard where? Teach me your ways."
"Just answer the question."
I-jin rested his chin, thinking.
"There's this green lieutenant with no backbone. Division commander's son, like you said."
"What kind of guy?"
"Psycho. Total psycho. Soldiers die because of him, doesn't bat an eye. Bet it was worse before all this. Daddy's the division commander—who's he gotta fear?"
"He'll be out leading his squad tomorrow too."
I-jin nodded.
The intent was simple.
Kim Chan-yeol weighed on his mind.
Plenty of soldiers dead already, grounds for accountability, but if they couldn't—dangerous as hell.
Soldiers dying in combat was one thing, but unnecessary deaths? A problem.
"Why so serious? Know him?"
"Not really."
Not really, but if it dragged on, it'd hurt everyone.
Fewer soldiers helped no one.
Ultimate goal was survival, moving to safer ground.
Safe zone or not, if it wasn't safe or better existed, no hesitation.
Until then, hold out. Or pioneer.
Numbers mattered either way.
Short-term thinking ignored it.
Days in, didn't know internals yet.
But couldn't ignore.
If expanding Yeouido to full safe zone...
One step at a time.
Group housing first, then next.
Thinking didn't change shit instantly.
"Oh, and."
"What now?"
I-jin, polishing his sunglasses, raised an eyebrow.
"Know anything about the warehouse?"
"Warehouse?"
"Yeah. One in the production zone."
"Where'd you hear that?"
I-jin pocketed his sunglasses, tilting his head again.
Jeong I-jin didn't know about the warehouse?
Then no need to mention.
If he had reason not to know, spilling would stir trouble.
Shelve the warehouse.
"Nah, forget it. Mixed up stories."
"Told you, let's eavesdrop together. So when do your group move zones?"
"Said right away, but no word yet."
"Means after tomorrow's op. Need every hand then."
Made sense. Who'd risk backlash before big op?
If you might not see someone tomorrow, tensions high now.
"How many ops so far?"
"First expanding the safe zone."
"Too casual for a first, no?"
Jaejeong couldn't buy it.
Months of operation, maybe—but ten days?
Outer wall up by sheer luck.
Didn't know details, but vibe screamed half-assed prep.
"That so? Don't know details, but sounds like luring zombies with noise, then shifting wall. First time, blindly shot; now adapt. Still short on intel though."
"Why not bigger noise, drown 'em in the river? Helicopter or something. Clean Yeouido at once, no wall needed."
I-jin shook his head.
"Told you, no intel. We know they don't drown. Military says: more might cross following chopper. Too risky till sure method. Safer this way. Expanding along river to herd 'em center, wipe at once."
"So tomorrow: lure, shift wall position, done?"
"Soldiers grab food from mart during construction. That's it. Short window, just rations and essentials."
"Mart safe?"
"Hyung, why so negative? Military's got plenty able bodies, some with real combat exp. They'll manage. Not sending rookies, surely?"
Hospital basement flashed back.
Thought fireworks arrows worked, but corridor infected behind doors—problem.
Could happen anywhere: mart, shops, buildings.
Chest tightened.
Survivors here since day one, less field knowledge than expected.
Holed up behind walls, no steady contact.
And one more thing.
Mutants especially gnawed at him.
Hadn't told anyone.
More variants out there.
Had to be.
Dead certain.
Not just restaurant blob—hospital parking lot, that rooftop-gazer.
Unforgettable.
Jaejeong said, "Not that I don't trust the soldiers."
"Then?"
"Let's hit command."
"Why there?"
I-jin looked puzzled.
"Something they need to hear."
Had to share at least.
Tried ignoring, but safe zone more fucked than thought.
One variable, dozens to hundreds dead.
Tell about mutant virus, group's encounters.
Delay op if needed, but prepare.
Not commander, no meddling intent—but one thing sure.
No one gained from deaths.
Trade lives for scraps? Pointless.
Short-term food gain, long-term ruin.
No urge to preach philosophy.
By their attitudes, unlikely to click anyway.
Spill all known.
Then delay, change— not his problem.
Maybe just easing his mind.
"Gotta go?"
"Yeah."
"That important? Tell me first."
I-jin sounded miffed.
No time for that now.
Op at dawn.
Couldn't just spectate anymore—venturing out for food changed it.
Kim Chan-yeol, green sentries, fallen active-duty buddies—overlapped weirdly.
Infected People