Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Officetel with Lights Out
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Back at the bunker, I slept for two days.
Not continuously, but over two days anyway. I don't know why. I just wanted to sleep.
After about two days of that, my head finally cleared up a little. My thoughts started turning over, at least.
I grabbed whatever food was handy and ate while cycling through the cameras in the monitor room.
That's when the events from two days ago finally resurfaced in my mind.
The ch*nks, Da-bin, Se-hee, the logistics center, those bastard fucks, the deal.
Suddenly having all that to think about must've made me want to escape into sleep.
I need to sort it out one by one. It keeps getting tangled up in my head.
The ch*nks.
First off, I know there's a gang of them nearby. Eleven? Twelve? Fucking retarded assholes anyway.
The dead ones turned out to be even dumber than I'd thought. Why the hell didn't they tie up the person they'd subdued? Weren't my skills scary enough? Does that tribal swagger put food on the table?
And the result? Total wipeout. They pretty much deserved it. Rest in peace—rubbing my hands together.
I figure the new bunch is about the same. That seems to be their style.
Actually, no. The three ch*nks in the physics lab had Davin tied up. What about them? Were they the non-swagger type? Or just a different crew?
They definitely didn't look like the same gang. So what were they? Just ch*nk outsiders?
I don't know if I'll run into Davin again, but if I do, I should ask her how she got caught.
Yeah, Davin... she didn't die, did she?
I went through all that trouble to save her. Hope she made it. Same for that high school girl. What was her name again? Whatever.
Se-hee... that fucking bitch. She's drifting further out of reach, into some untouchable territory.
Someday, I'm gonna make that slut beg for it buck naked.
Logistics center, huh. Ha. That's not a good spot.
Never been there myself, but I've heard the stories about the warehouse.
A massive place where all the local parcels piled up. With the world frozen like this, it's gotta be stuffed with all sorts of crap.
Back when you could order anything online. Might even turn up a gun if you rummage deep enough. Who knows.
Anyway, nobody goes near it. It's like the major leagues in baseball terms.
Where the real heavy hitters circle each other, trying to take bites.
A castle and fortress rolled into one... and she went there? Does that even work?
Well, with Se-hee's bullshit skill, maybe.
She can charm any guy she lays eyes on.
Then that charmed dude can gleefully backstab everyone around him who was on his side just moments ago.
And if he drops? No sweat. Just charm the next live one.
No matter how I slice it, it's a total cheat skill. Probably the most broken one a woman could pick.
Why didn't the other women go for it? Makes you wonder.
Well, I picked sleep myself. Truth is, back then, my craving for rest outweighed everything...
And if a guy picks charm? Not much use.
Charming other men? Pointless. Creepy, even.
Charming women? Harem time. Hmm... sounds good?
Well... there had to be some guys who thought that way. If they built a crew around it, they sure as hell wouldn't be holed up in some nowhere spot like this.
The camera feed showed the bastard fucks making a deal with Jeong Jong-chan.
Hold up. I rewound it.
About twenty minutes before the trade—them arriving.
What the...? Something flashed? A skill? They definitely did something to that eco-bag.
I checked the footage again. Man... if the quality was just a tad better.
But hey, they traded right by my bunker, so I get to replay it like this... nice.
What'd they hand over...? What could it be to drag that parasite Jeong Jong-chan all the way out here?
Guy's usually glued to Se-hee. Not like she can get pregnant or anything, but they'd be pounding away nonstop.
So why trek from the logistics center just to meet those bastards...?
Should I grab those bastards and shake 'em down?
Whoa... that sounded kinda macho for a sec.
Shake 'em down my ass... I gotta dodge and run to even avoid them.
Smart motherfuckers. Hide their skills well, deploy 'em smart.
Dunno why they're down two guys, though.
For now... watched all the cams. Time for another nap?
Tons of coins—everything feels like a hassle. Just need a woman, and it'd be perfect.
Ah... shouldn't have gone there. Now it's all I can think about.
Fuck... better jerk one out and crash. No way I sleep like this.
But here I am, gearing up to head out.
A woman's warm pussy? No way a handjob cuts it.
Not that... sometimes the hand's easier, but this ain't just about busting a nut.
That drug-rush high when you're slamming in deep. The raw thrill. Can't ignore it.
Could call it an excuse, but hey, weak human nature.
Night bleeding into dawn.
A beast bursting out with no destination in mind.
Would've been cool as a tiger, but nah—just a hyena.
A hyena wondering where to scavenge some rotten meat.
Suddenly, the officetel pulled at me.
Haven't gone back since offing Ye-ji.
Probably nothing left there now... but whatever, I'm going.
Once I could see the officetel, something felt off.
What is it?
What's wrong?
I got it.
All the lights in the officetel are out.
No way that's natural. Can't be every single unit dark in a place that size.
Electricity's unlimited—once a light's on, it stays on unless something major happens.
LED bulbs might burn out eventually, but they last forever.
One of two things.
Someone killed power to the whole building, or went room-to-room turning shit off.
The second? Nah, impossible.
Not every door's wide open.
So, conclusion: somebody shut down all the power.
Why? Obvious. Only one reason.
To flush out the residents.
Unlimited power or not, cut the building's supply, and folks can't use jack.
Standing there thinking it over, damn, it's clever.
Hold the entire building's population hostage in one fell swoop.
Block the entrances, kill the juice—can't live comfortably inside. You could, but it's a pain.
Eventually, you gotta come out. Become prey.
Need to know electricity... or at least the system, how to drop a transformer.
And control the entrances.
Solo? If your skill's OP enough to one-shot anyone who pokes out their head.
Dunno. Possible alone, but pulling off something this flashy solo? Tough.
Curiosity's got me. Gonna check it out.
Wonder what the situation is. Who these guys are.
Before taking my usual route in, I scoped the officetel entrance.
Wasn't blocked or anything.
Two on the first floor. Underground parking ramp and stairs. Total four ways in.
Figured blocking 'em was pointless? Makes sense... can't block the parking exit for cars.
My thinking was off.
The underground parking entrance was barricaded with two trucks.
How do you seal it so tight no one slips out? That's some talent.
The stair door? Welded and bolted solid.
Electric drill might pry it, but... pulling this off confirms my guess.
Whoever—some guy or crew—posted up at the entrances and picked off everyone trying to leave.
Means the building's empty now, right? No point sticking around an officetel full of corpses.
First things first, check the transformer. See if I'm on the money.
But pulling up to the first floor, I hesitated to go in.
Should I bail? Tough call.
What if someone's watching? Ah... scaredy-cat mode again.
Decided to observe for now.
Lemme see... building with a clear view of the entrance. This'll do.
Up on the second floor of the burger joint across from the officetel.
The trashed interior actually puts me at ease. Means nobody's using it as a hideout.
Holed up in the corner by the window, eyes on the entrance.
If anyone's inside, with the underground sealed, they'd have to use the first floor.
Maybe 'cause I slept two days straight, but I'm full of energy. Waiting's boring, but whatever. Got nothing better.
One day.
Zero movement. Not even a soul passing by.
Everything dead? Nobody wandering around at all?
Sitting still like this, my whole body's aching.
Suddenly hit me—this is a massive waste of time.
Should've slapped a camera here. Way better.
If smartphones still worked, I could've rigged wireless surveillance... what a shame.
Stood up easy, did some quiet stretches in the corner.
Can't just sit—body's killing me.
One day. Give it exactly one more, then head in.
No matter how I spin it, feels like I'm just dicking around in front of an empty officetel.