Chapter 152
Chapter 152
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 152
Chapter Title: Government Shelter - 2
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< 정부 쉘터 - 2 >
The government shelter buzzed with a mix of curiosity and fear at the news that Kimbap Lover was coming.
"This will be his first time here, right?"
"Yeah... Even Seok-hyeon has come by, but Kimbap Lover has never set foot here."
"But what's his real name?"
"Something Kang..."
He seemed connected to the recent arrivals from the island group, but they kept their secrets airtight.
All the shelter residents knew was that he was a man—and a big one at that.
Some people, hearing the rumors, immediately rushed to Jang Won-taek to protest.
They had slight ties to the three who died in the Sindorim Station labyrinth.
"Bringing in Kimbap Lover of all people? Does that make any sense? We're against it."
"Why are you opposed?"
"He killed our shelter's people."
One of them trembled with barely contained rage.
To Jang Won-taek, it looked like an act.
"He's a mass murderer who killed nearly twenty in the labyrinth. If he comes in, something bad is bound to happen."
All three insisted that letting Kimbap Lover in would doom the shelter.
Given his track record, it wasn't entirely wrong.
Hadn't he done just that?
He had killed countless people already and would kill more.
Considering his tendency to repay one injury with tenfold vengeance, expecting improvement was a stretch.
Still, Jang wanted to maintain a decent relationship with him.
That incredible combat prowess would prove invaluable someday.
Of course, they'd have to offer commensurate compensation...
So Jang stepped up to defend him.
"Nearly twenty killed in the labyrinth... Do you know the circumstances?"
"..."
The three exchanged glances.
It was clear no ordinary logic would sway them.
Jang smiled inwardly and continued.
"The labyrinth incident could be called self-defense, for example. Twenty people rushed him to kill him."
"What kind of broad interpretation of self-defense is that?"
"They trash-talked him at the auction house, but didn't actually charge to kill him."
"From Kimbap Lover's perspective, it was a major threat. Normally it might not qualify as self-defense, but this is the apocalypse."
In the apocalypse, everything goes.
Even if it defies common sense or morality.
They knew that too.
They were just afraid Kimbap Lover might come after them.
Knowing this, Jang avoided poking at their emotions.
Instead, he explained that the man wasn't as dangerous as they thought.
"Think back to Gwangju and Daejeon for a moment. He controlled crowds and distributed supplies without demanding much. Proof his nature has changed significantly."
"That's true, but..."
"It was certainly surprising."
They didn't know Jang had promised him a lot.
They thought it was just a coincidence.
Jang kept the momentum.
"In short, Kimbap Lover is extremely violent, but he doesn't touch those who don't mess with him. That's our analysis."
"..."
By now, the three had no grounds left to refuse.
Besides, they weren't that close to the dead trio anyway.
After they left, Lee Beom-seok entered and reported the mood.
"Reactions aren't bad. The island folks are excited, of course, and the rest seem more curious than scared."
"Sung-ho isn't well-known to people..."
Kimbap Lover's infamy was huge, but few had actually met him.
Now he was entering the shelter. How could they not be excited?
Some still harbored grudges, but that was unavoidable.
Not all conflicts could be resolved.
Jang glanced in the mirror, smoothing his white hair.
"Just one person arriving, and everyone's buzzing strangely. Maybe because it means he's finally stepping into the spotlight..."
"Planning to hand it to him this time?"
"Bait the hook, and he'll bite immediately. He won't be able to stay out."
"Then I'll clean up around the entrance as instructed."
"Thanks."
The government shelter finished preparing to welcome its important guest.
An hour later, he arrived, guided by Lee Beom-seok.
The massive door opened, and a man with a hulking build entered the government shelter.
.
.
.
Everyone held their breath for a moment.
They knew Kimbap Lover was big.
They'd heard his face was sharp too.
But they hadn't expected such an overwhelming presence.
Just walking through the door, he exuded a murderous aura.
Moving without permission felt like it'd get you sliced by invisible blades closing in from all sides.
He scanned the room, then gave Jang Won-taek a brief nod.
They knew each other, but better to play it like first meeting here.
"Kang Sung-ho."
"The famous Kimbap Lover. First time at the government shelter, right? Welcome."
The tension among the crowd eased instantly.
Even Kimbap Lover was just a Korean with a name, after all.
Behind him loomed the familiar figure of Da-jeong.
The massive ghoul was anything but familiar.
Jang guided him and Da-jeong.
"Greetings later. First, we need to discuss something important. This way..."
No one knew what it was, but they accepted it.
Seeing Kimbap Lover—no, Kang Sung-ho—in person was gain enough.
"Whoa, his vibe is no joke."
"They say his combat power is insane..."
"If someone like that charged me in a labyrinth, I'd surrender in a second."
On the other hand, some grumbled that he was still a murderer.
A faction refused to see him positively, calling him a traitor to humanity.
Of course, Sung-ho paid no mind.
He met eyes with the island group members, then called Seok-hyeon.
"Let's talk for a sec."
"Okay."
Calling Seok-hyeon meant he needed him.
Curious what it meant for three veterans to join, people asked Geom-in.
Normally, he'd brag up a storm.
But now he recognized his place and decided to act honestly.
"I don't know either."
"Come on, if Geom-in doesn't know, who does?"
"You're a veteran too."
"Doesn't mean I know everything."
His maturity kept his heart from sinking at their disappointed looks.
He thought to himself.
Why worry about others' opinions?
As long as he's true to himself.
There was a reason not to share info, and it'd resolve later, he believed.
Before Sung-ho left, their eyes met, and he gave a short nod.
Yeah, he'll tell me later...
Geom-in felt at ease.
Meanwhile, Sung-ho, Da-jeong, and Seok-hyeon were led to the meeting room.
Kim Hyun-woo, the major, waited there.
Seeing Sung-ho, he jumped up in surprise.
"Huh? Sung-ho, what brings you here?"
Officially, they hadn't met since parting in Gimhae.
Sung-ho offered a hand, then blinked at the major insignia.
Wasn't he a lieutenant? No, captain?
"Promoted, huh."
"Yeah."
He proudly stroked the insignia.
Jang sat and explained.
"You've done so much for the government that even a lieutenant colonel rank might fall short. But a two-rank special promotion for surviving in Korea has no precedent."
There were precedents, but from decades ago—hard to apply now.
"Mr. President, this insignia is more than enough."
Hyun-woo's voice cracked slightly.
Sung-ho saw empty titles as meaningless but kept quiet.
Belittling what others value isn't right.
Hyun-woo's face hardened as he recalled the guest's identity.
"Never imagined you were Kimbap Lover."
"Sorry. Things were complicated back then; couldn't tell you."
"No need to apologize. Just... surprised."
Same age, they used casual speech, but weren't that close.
They'd spent only days together in Gimhae, then months apart.
Hyun-woo fell silent, and Sung-ho sat with the others.
Beside him, Da-jeong smacked Seok-hyeon's hand.
"Behave here, got it?"
"I know."
As the mood settled, Jang clasped his hands.
"Everyone's busy, so straight to business. You know about the armed group at Line 7's Bucheon Stadium Station. Their goal: fully seize the backup shelter. Seems failed now, and the reason is this."
Lee Beom-seok handed out two sheets.
Redrawn based on Sung-ho's info: the sniffers.
Eyes focused as an aged finger pointed to the two.
"Per Sung-ho, this is Sling Sniffer, that Shield Sniffer. Childish names, but... captures features well. Flies like a slingshot, hence the name?"
"Yes. Shield Sniffer inflates its belly to block attacks—like a shield, so we named it that."
Started as guesswork, but confirmed by attacking with Da-jeong.
Jang looked away from him, extending a hand to Lee.
"The list."
"Yes."
Soon, lists of white-coated people scattered across the table.
Sung-ho tilted his head.
"Doctors...?"
"Doctors who dissected goblin corpses pre-apocalypse. Anatomy experts."
"Ah."
Now he recalled the TV interview: mosaic goblin corpse background, reporter, doctor.
Grey-haired elder... Lee Hyung-tae.
Da-jeong, uninterested, crossed her legs and propped her chin.
"So why show these old guys?"
"First, a pre-apocalypse story."
Politician through and through—says business, then circles back.
Da-jeong yawned, peeking at Seok-hyeon's panties.
"You actually wear these after washing?"
"No."
"What a letdown."
Washed clean with groomed hair, he'd look decent, but zero interest.
Well, he's a dirt clod.
Jang cleared his throat to refocus.
"Didn't get full reports, but they... often spouted inappropriate things as apocalypse neared."
"Like what?"
"Kill them all, become one—pessimistic rants. Goblin dissections done, other incidents piling up, no time... But 'fusion' rings a bell. Makes me think of them. Connected, right?"
"...All of them?"
"From what I heard."
"Definitely suspicious."
Sung-ho firmly believed sniffers were human-monster fusions.
Hearing this backstory piqued interest.
Of all things, goblin-dissecting doctors...
He picked up Lee Hyung-tae's photo, the eldest-looking.
"Traits tend to manifest based on pre-apocalypse behavior."
"For everyone except you three—or four—mostly."
"Su-yeon became a healer from ER work... Anatomy means expert on human structure, right?"
Jang smiled faintly.
"More knowledgeable than anyone."
"Then a human-monster fusion trait emerging isn't strange."
"Issue is where they're doing forbidden experiments... We suspect here. Major Kim Hyun-woo."
"Yes."
Silent Hyun-woo began briefing.
Info on Incheon's Bupyeong City Hall Station poured out.
"Found numerous cleanly severed monster corpses. Long knife cuts possible, but missing internal organs unexplained."
"Experimenting on corpses."
"No human bodies found, but probably hidden. Deep in the subway."
"Hmm..."
Sung-ho crossed arms; Jang cleared photos.
"What do you think? Wanted to assign Major Kim, but other duties. If you step up, we'll provide solutions."
"Bulletproof vest?"
"Plus anti-tank missiles. Not junk like M72."
No bunker offer.
Seoul bunker—personally secured, too precious to give.
What to do...
Sung-ho eyed Seok-hyeon.
Scratching his panties, got smacked by Da-jeong.
Seemed thoughtless.
But Sung-ho had duty to protect him.
Not just Seok-hyeon—strengthen people to survive unknown expansion packs.
For that...
Sung-ho organized thoughts.
Too much hidden info in government shelter.
Scraping bits outside would take forever.
Best to go straight in.
He spoke.
"Got it. But conditions."
"What conditions?"
"You know Metal Plague ends soon."
Jang nodded.
Gunfire in subways proved it vanishing.
"Within a month, we'll need firearms. Give supplies equal to our numbers then."
Lee Beom-seok and Kim Hyun-woo's faces flashed disbelief.
How much is that to demand outright?
Jang leaned back.
"'Our numbers' sounds off. Though you vouched, they're shelter affiliates."
"Ask them?"
"..."
Jang closed eyes at Sung-ho's words.
Didn't expect such boldness.
Initially accepted them to gradually integrate.
But they stuck together, hunting separately.
Not distant, but not close.
Quiet Lee interjected, agitated despite calm demeanor.
"Too much. Not even assigned yet."
"Payment for D-Day info. And."
"And?"
Jang met Sung-ho's eyes.
Old lion vs. young lion, power struggle.
Usually old yields, but Jang couldn't.
Stockpiles aren't toys—30% demand?
But Sung-ho's next words shook his pupils wildly.
"I'll join the government shelter. Right now."
< 정부 쉘터 - 2 > 끝