Triumphant Return
All eyes were fixed on the spot where Jaejeong had dived in.
After sprinting at full speed and submerging, he wouldn't last long without enough air in his lungs.
No, a normal person couldn't hold out for more than a few seconds.
By the time those few seconds felt like years, Anna, who had been clutching the rocking boat, scanned the surroundings and shouted.
"Where is he? Where?!"
The waves made it impossible to see clearly into the water.
At the same time, zombies in the river began poking their heads above the surface.
They were popping up simultaneously all over the place, like sand grains scattering in the river current.
But they just flailed their arms wildly, gulping water without managing to swim in any direction.
It was fortunate for the group, but seen another way, it meant Jaejeong was swimming right through the middle of them.
The air was filled with the zombies' roars.
Bubbles frothed up from the holes in their bodies as water seeped in.
Yet a few were gradually closing in on the boat amid their thrashing.
Left alone, they'd eventually reach it.
"I can't wait any longer."
Anna, tired of waiting, set down her bow and was about to jump into the river when—
Thud! Thud!
Hands appeared on the boat's bow.
"Pfft!"
Jaejeong, spewing water, gripped the edge and gasped for breath.
Kim Chan-yeol spotted him and let out a sigh of relief, leaning back, while Choi Hoon placed a hand on his shoulder and sighed too.
Jeong I-jin quickly grabbed Jaejeong's hand and hauled him up.
"Whew, thought I was done for."
Finally aboard, Jaejeong wrung out his soaked hair, slicking it back.
Vroom!
The waiting boat roared to life and started moving.
"Why'd it take so damn long?"
Anna grumbled accusingly.
The wait hadn't even been 30 seconds, but to those watching, it felt eternal.
Jeong I-jin answered for him.
"Aren't you underrating him a bit? With zombies everywhere, it takes time to reach a safe spot. I figured he'd climb aboard right at the front."
"Hear that?"
"...Could've at least said something."
As Jaejeong teased with a chuckle, Anna muttered under her breath, barely audible.
Everyone turned to look behind them.
Zombies were still flailing along the receding riverbank.
Hyun-soo, watching the scene, said to Kim Chan-yeol beside him.
"They'll drink the whole river at this rate!"
"Eventually they will, sir!"
Kim Chan-yeol replied, shielding his face from the whipping wind with his palm.
Then Choi Hoon asked, as if struck by a sudden realization.
"Hey! What if they drink it all like that? They could walk right over to Yeouido!"
"Nah, why worry? Where does the water they drink go? Once their bodies are full, they can't drink more, sir!"
"Oh, right…"
Choi Hoon looked enlightened once more.
"More than that, sir!"
Kim Chan-yeol paused thoughtfully before continuing.
"Thrashing like that, eventually they'll cross the river—or even the ocean. That's the real problem!"
"Oh, yeah, that's true!"
Jaejeong, listening in, let out an incredulous laugh.
What the hell is that guy's brain made of, Sergeant Choi?
Kim Chan-yeol's point, though, was worth considering.
There had been zombies drifting toward the boat earlier, after all.
Not intentionally, but some were inching toward Yeouido.
Someday…
Really, someday they might cross the river.
As the boat drew near the safe zone and stopped at a suitable distance, the group disembarked one by one onto solid ground.
Then Youngman, scanning the area, pointed at the tower.
"The typhoon must've been pretty fierce after all."
The tower looked subtly different.
"The windows are shattered?"
As Hyun-soo said, the upper sections above the mid-level floors had broken glass everywhere.
"Who knew the 63 Building was this vulnerable to typhoons."
"Means the storm was that strong, right?"
"Not a weak one, that's for sure. Seoul doesn't get big typhoons often."
While Hyun-soo and Youngman talked, the bunker doors opened, and soldiers emerged.
Park Yi-hyun-seok was with them, of course.
It was a familiar scene.
Kim Chan-yeol instinctively glanced at Jaejeong.
Jaejeong, sensing it, touched his previously bruised cheekbone in reply.
The difference this time? Everyone was waiting for them.
"Good work."
A faint flush of color lit Park's face.
No one had ever seen him smile, but this was the first time he'd spoken with such warmth.
The soldiers behind him saluted Jeong I-jin on sight, gazing at the group with admiration.
Feeling those eyes, the group finally sensed their own accomplishment.
"Power's back to normal, thanks to you. But… one person's missing."
Park scanned the group, searching for someone.
The employee they'd sent along, no doubt.
The group's faces darkened instantly.
"We'll hear the details inside. First, though… standard procedure. Don't take it personally."
At Park's words, medical staff stepped forward from behind the soldiers.
To check for any possible wounds.
Minyoung wasn't among them.
Maybe because it wasn't their first time, or thanks to Park's milder demeanor, everyone submitted without resistance.
But those gun barrels pointed right in their faces? Never got easier to stomach.
"Doesn't the doctor know what happens if you're bitten by a zombie?"
Anna asked irritably, staring down a rifle.
"I do. But we must be certain—for everyone's sake. Virus mutations mean incubation periods are possible. It's just procedure, so please don't be offended. You think I enjoy this?"
Anna swallowed her retort at Park's plea.
Couldn't argue if he didn't want to do it either.
"That's enough."
As the soldiers lowered their weapons and stepped back, Park turned and tilted his head at Jaejeong, dripping wet.
"Why are you the only one soaked?"
"Situation got complicated. Very."
"I see."
"Tower's totally wrecked, though."
Jaejeong looked up at the looming tower.
Not just the tower, really.
All tall buildings looked much the same.
"Seoul rarely sees big typhoons."
Instead of answering, Jaejeong stared through the shattered windows.
Spaces like that could hold so many people.
He couldn't shake the thought.
The boundary zone exiles.
Their faces came to mind.
"No big deal. No one uses the upper floors anyway. Let's head in."
Thus, the group returned safely to the safe zone once more.
On the way to the tower, they encountered sights they'd never seen before.
People appeared everywhere, clapping or gazing with moved eyes.
From kids to elders, all reacting the same.
"Good work!"
"Thank you!"
"You must be exhausted—thank you."
Words flew from all sides, building into a clamor.
Like welcoming a triumphant general back with the enemy's head.
"Why are these people doing this?"
Anna whispered, startled, just loud enough for the group.
"Dunno. Just smile."
At Jaejeong's words, they all offered awkward grins as they passed.
Amid the crowd were Beom-sik and Gaon.
Beom-sik had Gaon on his shoulders, a half-smile on his face.
As Jaejeong reached out, Beom-sik grabbed his hand and shook it, as if waiting.
This was just passing the production zone—if it'd been the boundary zone, they might've been mobbed.
"I didn't really do anything."
Hyun-soo looked down, embarrassed.
Kim Chan-yeol patted his back reassuringly.
"What are you saying, sir? Without you, how would've we found the sewer or the path? Don't say that."
"Yeah…?"
"Exactly, sir. No one was useless. We all did this together."
Only then did Hyun-soo lift his head, accepting the crowd's gazes.
Kim Chan-yeol was right.
No one was unimportant.
No one had just dipped a toe in.
They'd all sweated blood together, built on sacrifices.
Reaching the tower amid the throng, soldiers stood in perfect ranks this time.
Seemed like every soldier in the safe zone.
They watched the group's approach silently, awaiting the division commander's signal.
He nodded.
"Unit, attention!"
Snap!
Thousands of boots hit in unison, echoing through the safe zone.
"Salute!"
"Sir!"
Overwhelmed by the scale and sound, the group froze.
The soldiers held their salutes, eyes on them.
The division commander's gaze shifted to Jeong I-jin.
"Joon's arms are gonna fall off, Captain Jeong."
"Understood. Sir! Thanks. At ease, everyone."
"At ease! Parade rest!"
Snap!
At Jeong I-jin's response, the soldiers dropped their salutes and shifted stances in sync.
Might've been an event just for him.
He was the only officer in the group.
The lieutenant colonel and officers behind the commander nodded approvingly.
A far cry from what Jaejeong had seen at the barracks before.
Why the sudden change?
Maybe Jeong I-jin's rising presence was drawing eyes, so they were emphasizing the military's role.
"Ooh, kinda cool? All this for that one guy."
Anna nodded, surprised.
Kim Chan-yeol chimed in from beside her.
"Captain Jeong's a special case, sir."
"Special how?"
"Yes, sir. Even though he's Navy, the Army respects him too."
"Why?"
"Well… coming back to Korea after years, for one. And his record since—impressive. Even African pirates know his name."
"He's that big a deal?"
"'Big deal' doesn't cover it, sir. If Kang Youngman senior's a legend, Captain Jeong's the one making legends."
"Why do you end every sentence with 'sir'?"
"Soldiers talk like that, sir. Covers everything perfectly, sir."
Anna frowned.
"Feels like you're doing it more 'cause I said something."
"Nah, just your imagination, sir."
"You too?"
Hyun-soo nodded at Anna's question.
"Everyone does. It's natural. Want me to try?"
"Don't. Hate hearing it. Think I asked you to?"
"No, but…"
"God, you're dense."
As Anna hurried after the now-moving Park, Kim Chan-yeol and Choi Hoon snickered at the frozen, aggrieved Hyun-soo.