Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Government Shelter - 3
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< 정부 쉘터 - 3 >
Jang Won-taek calmed his excitement and caught his breath.
His decades of political experience weren't for show; he could maintain a composed exterior.
But Sung-ho could pick up on the subtle twitches in his facial muscles and even the sound of his heartbeat.
Pretty excited, huh.
"Joining our shelter... That's welcome news, as expected..."
"Is there a problem?"
"Not a problem, per se. I'm just curious why you've made that decision, Sung-ho. Until recently..."
"You said you didn't like having someone over your head."
"Has the situation changed?"
"I figured it out after hearing today's story."
Jang Won-taek didn't press further.
He could guess: they'd been tempted by the information we held.
The government shelter wasn't going anywhere just because it was quiet now.
Once the metal plague lifted, they could sweep away the surrounding monsters in one go and serve as humanity's cradle.
The shelter's intel and vast supplies made that possible.
The problem was the people themselves.
Rumors of their firearms had spread, scaring off survivors, and the cold had slowed recruitment.
Once the weather warmed and the metal plague subsided, people would come, but he wanted to build a force beforehand.
Hearing this now, he couldn't hide his interest.
Recruiting Kimbap Lover would turn the government shelter into a hot topic.
Their current promo page wasn't drawing any attention.
Jang Won-taek glanced at the flustered Lee Beom-seok and tapped the table.
"Of course, we welcome any survivor... especially someone like you, Sung-ho. But I suspect you won't stay forever."
A rebel like him wouldn't stick around a government shelter long—that was Jang's judgment.
And he was spot on.
"I'll stay until a month after the metal plague lifts. I'll work for the government shelter until then."
"Not for the government shelter—for all of us."
Lee Beom-seok interjected, but Sung-ho ignored him.
They'd never see eye to eye, so no point talking.
What a prickly guy...
Jang Won-taek had met plenty like Sung-ho during his long years in Yeouido.
They had rock-solid ideologies that were nearly impossible to change.
In an apocalypse, that was even more true.
Better to accept it here.
Jang coveted Sung-ho's reputation, but especially his combat prowess.
Even Seok Hyun, with his immense power, admitted he couldn't win a serious fight.
The Ghoul Queen would be the same.
His gaze shifted to Da-jeong, who was glued to Sung-ho's side.
"Looks like our Da-jeong, who hasn't been around in a while, is close to Sung-ho."
"You bet. We're inseparable."
Hyun-woo, who was lifting his cup, spat out his water.
Da-jeong hooked her arm through Sung-ho's and winked at everyone.
"What do you think of one plus one?"
Jang Won-taek let out a hollow laugh.
He knew they were close, but not this close.
Accepting him meant getting the Ghoul Queen too.
Temporary, sure, but that was plenty for the current government shelter.
No reason to turn him down.
Consider the 30% supplies an investment.
His tapping fingers stopped.
"I noticed before, but you've got a knack for pinning people down and making offers. Should've gone into politics."
"Not interested in politics."
Jang smiled faintly at Sung-ho's reply.
"Every interaction between people is politics. Punch someone because you don't like them, and you've started a war."
Politics and war weren't grand things—that was Jang's philosophy.
Anyway, he extended his hand.
"You said you didn't like someone over your head—let me correct that. We're equal partners."
Sung-ho didn't shake it.
"Anyone looking would think I'm the one bowing."
"Think what you want, but I won't be giving orders. Seok Hyun, have I ever given you an order?"
"No."
Jang always framed things as requests.
Everyone had the right to refuse.
But his influence was impossible to ignore, so they usually complied.
His former president status helped too.
Sung-ho saw it as the same thing, but he didn't want to waste time here.
He shook Jang's hand, and the old man's wrinkled eyes narrowed.
"Looks like we'll be sharing rice bowls now."
"For the time being."
After the three left, Jang excused himself and lit a cigarette.
"Hoo... I designated this place non-smoking, but I break it like it's nothing."
"No one will say a word."
Lee Beom-seok's words drew a bitter smile from him.
"That's the problem. If I can't keep promises to myself, how can I tell others what to do?"
"You have the right, President. Unlike some, you saved people."
Jang exhaled a long plume of smoke.
"Don't say that in front of that guy. Anyway, you know Kim So-ryeong?"
"Ah, yes. We were together briefly in Gimhae. I came up right after the summons."
"How was he then?"
Kim Hyun-woo tried to recall those hazy days.
"He was surprisingly laid-back. Some folks came from Gimhae Division to loot supplies and gave him grief, but they left in one piece."
"Hm... And he just watched?"
"That's how it was."
The three didn't know Sung-ho had smashed the Gimhae clan.
"He was decent to the Japanese on Dolsom too."
"Yeah... I doubted it was the same guy at first. Even got them medicine."
"He must've seen some use in them."
Jang looked bitter at Lee Beom-seok's words.
"Don't be so cynical."
"He's a punisher type. Divides people into those who deserve death and those who don't. Very dangerous."
"...That's exactly why we need to embrace him. Don't forget that."
"Yes, sir."
They bowed to Jang.
That was why they respected him.
He believed in human goodness.
Even the worst could change—that was his view.
Whether that held in the apocalypse was unknown.
But once the government shelter ramped up, they'd find out.
"Oh, one more thing to ask of Kim So-ryeong."
Jang's face held a hint of apology.
He'd thrown missions at him right after joining, turning him into a wanderer.
But Kim Hyun-woo didn't seem to mind.
"It's easier getting orders."
"Glad to hear that. Your task... Take your team to the Yongsan bunker and grab rifles and anti-tank weapons. No duds—ones that work."
Kim Hyun-woo looked troubled.
"No anti-tank weapons without aftereffects exist. And modern anti-tank missiles are tough—they need maintenance."
"That bad, huh."
Jang felt a headache coming on.
He'd bragged so much—what could he offer?
After agonizing, he said:
"Take him to the Yongsan bunker."
"President, no."
"I know what you're going to say. But indulge me this time. Can't mistreat a guest bearing big gifts."
"...Yes, sir."
Lee Beom-seok wasn't convinced but followed orders.
Jang instructed Hyun-woo.
"Let him pick himself. You're supervising, of course."
"Understood."
But whether it'd work, even he couldn't guarantee.
This was the guy who'd looted the Gwangju time shelter in a flash.
He hadn't been satisfied with the Gyeryong bunker—if he saw Yongsan, he'd get greedy.
Jang leaned back in his chair.
"Such a greedy fellow."
"How about cutting contact after this? Too greedy."
Lee suggested, but Jang shook his head.
"No, we keep in touch. You know why."
"Because of his trait?"
"In the Gwangju time shelter incident, no one spotted Da-jeong. But she was there. Means his subspace can hold people."
"Could've saved so many—such a waste in every way."
"Pushing him like that got us the Swamp Labyrinth."
Lee Beom-seok's face hardened as Jang eyed them both.
"Don't corner him. Don't grill him on why he didn't act. It'll just breed resentment."
Consistent goodwill would eventually get him to reach out.
That was Jang's thinking.
.
.
.
Da-jeong wasn't whining about food for nothing.
The rations tasted like crap.
Still, gotta eat what I got.
Especially with shelter folks watching me.
I scooped some boiled mashed potato Pok-a-lak into my mouth.
No seasoning—zero flavor.
Da-jeong propped her chin at the table ahead, grinning.
"Fucking tastes like shit, right?"
Her voice carried; people coughed.
"Eh... edible, I guess."
"Your face says you're chewing crap though? Right, Mi-kyung?"
"..."
Mi-kyung stared, then buried her head in her food.
Hyung-jun flapped his Pok-a-lak wrapper.
"They say supplies are in the sealed vault, so we hold out till then. Oh, Sung-ho. You got smokes?"
"Few packs after chow. And Hyung-nim, after eating, with Su-yeon..."
Su-yeon nodded, Pok-a-lak in mouth.
"Yeah, got it."
I wolfed down my meal.
Returning my tray to leave, Jang sat beside me.
"Eat plenty."
"Mind a quick word?"
I sat back down.
He lowered his voice.
"I was prepping something hotter than last time, but snag."
The M72 rocket, huh.
Apparently a serious issue.
Anti-tank missiles needed maintenance.
"Just point and shoot."
"They say the gear's faulty overall. Precision stuff."
Way different from the simple aim-and-fire M72.
In games, a few seconds sufficed, but IRL? Nearly 30 seconds cooling and aiming.
Back to M72s then?
Might not pierce Shield Sniff even if Slingshot Sniff could.
And raiders might hit meanwhile.
Things getting messy.
Reading my face, he added quickly:
"So, giving you a choice."
"What kind?"
"Go in and pick what you want."
Meaning he'd reveal the bunker location.
I side-eyed him.
"Okay spilling the spot?"
"Kim So-ryeong'll be there."
Grab only necessities.
No need to show loading dimension gate, so dimension slot it is.
Know the spot, can return later.
I nodded and stood; he asked:
"How many heads?"
"Just four."
He nodded pleased.
"First time four veterans move out. Expecting great results."
"I'll share intel."
Don't expect more—but he smiled warmly.
"That's plenty."
Sometimes I can't read this guy's angle.
I headed to quarters.
Four sharing a room—no privacy.
Food sucked, lodging worse than Dolsom.
Regretting coming here.
But others didn't care.
I went to the room where Hyung-jun and Su-yeon waited.
Opened dimension slot for smokes; Hyung lit up.
"Ahh, smokes."
"No lighting here, right?"
"Just hold it."
Starved long time.
Su-yeon eyed my slot.
"Can I touch?"
"Sure. Slot one."
She marveled at the floating mithril blade.
"Like game quickslot."
"You know games, Su-yeon?"
She smiled awkwardly.
"Geom-in talks nonstop."
Sad—a doc in her early 30s hearing game talk.
Soon Seok Hyun, Da-jeong, Geom-in filed in.
Room packed; Da-jeong snapped fingers.
"Tank blocking door—no more in."
"Thanks."
I looked around.
"All here, so briefing. I'm here to gather intel and prep for what's next. Metal plague's nearly gone, right?"
Hyung-jun and Su-yeon nodded together.
"Heard some shooting guns—you were right."
"Haven't tested lately, not sure."
"Not fully gone—bullets still limited. Gone in a month though."
"A month..."
"Big changes then. Gov hoarding massive weapons—you guessed."
"Kinda figured."
"Weather warms, gov won't sit. Use Geom-in's totem for surface shelter. Rally point."
"So what we do? We planned train guns, show presence to old man."
"Stockpile max, join my shelter."
Su-yeon hesitated.
"Seok Hyun said quests needed."
"Right. Farm dungeon-like spot, find 3 ether stones. I'll give Ppashing and Dingo, but not much combat help."
"Solo feels iffy."
Even brother unsure.
Hunting together showed their inexperience.
I opened slot 10, showed guns.
Everyone but Seok Hyun and Da-jeong gawked.
"You had guns?"
"Heavens..."
"Remember Gayasan goblins? Looted then."
Pulled revolver, handed to Su-yeon.
"Think you could fight monsters with this, Su-yeon?"
"..."
She pondered long, barely nodded.
Not good.
No shooting experience—hard to judge.
Retrieved revolver to slot.
Month left—train while roaming.
Geom-in greedy.
"I can do it."
"Not yet."
"Why?"
"You'd hole up inside right away. Shelter maniac."
"Th-that's not..."
He looked baffled but grinned.
"Later with group. Won't say leave then."
"Got it."
Fist clenched tight—he was eager.
Others too.
I said:
"Anyway, post-metal plague is real deal. Guns not exclusive to us."
Subway raiders aside, plenty bunkers in Hannam-dong.
Obvious what they stocked.
Plus unknowns lurking.
I emphasized:
"Always conceal, cover—assume bullets anytime. Body armor minimum, helmets too."
Da-jeong, listening, spoke.
"Some Kim So-ryeong looking for you, Sung-ho."
Time to go.
I stood.
"Four of us—hunt Sniff."
< 정부 쉘터 - 3 > 끝