Civil War (5): Parasites Everywhere
Cheol-woo strained to keep his gaze steady as he passed through the entrance. The building looked like any ordinary company at a glance—no different from the rest—but inside, it was crawling with Secret Intelligence Agency agents. Or rather, parasites.
The first floor was wide open like a department store, structured so the second floor overlooked everything. With such an exposed layout, there were far too many shooting angles aimed their way.
If I fire a shot here, there's no way I'll make it out alive.
Firing here wasn't like causing a ruckus at GeumMyeong Security's office—that was a whole different league. These were professionally trained agents who would swarm endlessly, and even if he took them all out, hundreds of Australian police would descend and surround the building. No matter how well he shot, he couldn't beat sheer numbers outpacing his bullets.
This is where NewTontonMan would come in handy— The thought hit him, followed by a jolt of realization. But at that point, after wiping out the regular cops, we're already done for anyway.
Showing parasite corpses then to reveal the truth? Useless. If the media and government were already infested, no reports would air, and they'd be arrested and executed on the spot.
"Please submit your ID."
"Here."
"Welcome, Deputy Director. But this companion of yours...?"
"He's a field operative I just hired. Look up David Min."
"Hm... Looks like the Chinese fucked with this ID as a prank."
"That's why I hired him. Perfect for threatening into low-pay grunt work."
"..."
Everyone knows this ID's fake as shit.
Han Si-jang, that bastard—talentless, conscienceless, greedier than a pig. Cheol-woo ground his teeth, barely suppressing his rage.
"Deputy Director, terribly sorry, but you'll have to dismiss him."
"What? Why?"
"He just got put on a wanted list. History of murder, arson, rape, and flight from the Philippines. Multiple records in Hong Kong too."
"What the hell? When I checked, nothing like that. And Philippine police are collapsed—those records aren't reliable, you know that?"
"This is a fresh update. Please cooperate in apprehending David Min, Deputy Director."
Cheol-woo glanced around—black-suited agents had already swarmed, sealing every exit.
Jason sighed deeply and pulled out handcuffs.
"Sorry about this. Didn't know you were such a monster."
They frisked Cheol-woo, confiscating his pistol and magazines. Then clack-click—the cuffs snapped on his wrists.
Jason tried slipping the key into Cheol-woo's palm with a meaningful glance but aborted when a guard's eyes flicked their way.
Goddamn it.
"Open the gate. I'll personally escort this Korean to the basement holding cells."
"You may enter, Deputy Director."
The gate slid open. Jason and Cheol-woo strode inside.
Jason felt a throbbing headache building. The moment they clocked David Min from Hong Kong, the parasites had mobilized. Fabricating records that fast to lock him up? Unbelievable.
The deputy director sidled closer to Cheol-woo and whispered, "Please just stay put in the basement. I'll get you out soon. Those records are faked—I'll head upstairs and delete them—"
"Once we hit the basement, it's over. I won't make it out alive. Sorry, but my life comes first."
"What can you even do here? We're deep in enemy territory."
"Want me to show you?"
"..."
A chill ran down Jason's spine. Curiosity had piqued a second ago—now he didn't want to know.
"Please hold on."
"Hold on and I die."
"I'll figure something—"
"You can't. Want me to guess what happens if you go to the director's office? You'll be fired from deputy director on the spot. How the hell are you helping me with no position?"
"That's..."
"Pray the director isn't infected yet."
"What? What do you—"
Snap. The cuffs fell from David Min's wrists.
Cuffs? Made of steel chain—ripped by sheer force?
While stunned Deputy Director Jason froze, David Min's hand darted into his inner pocket and out. Blink—and there was David Min, pistol in hand, aimed at Jason's head.
"Duck."
"Guh...!"
Jason ducked on reflex. A scorching muzzle flash erupted overhead.
Bang-bang-bang! Machine-gun bursts flew past Jason, slamming into the agents' faces.
Gunfire exploded across the vast first-floor plaza without warning. All eyes snapped to the center.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Time seemed frozen. Agents halted mid-stride, staring at David Min in shock.
He locked eyes with each one, smirking as he scanned them.
Whoa—this guy's insane.
Jason sighed just as dozens of agents scrambled for their inner pockets.
"Shit...!"
"What the hell!?"
Rat-tat-tat! David Min spun, pistol from under his left armpit, unleashing a barrage. Seemingly random shots splattered green ooze from agents' heads as they crumpled. He whipped forward again—agents drawing submachine guns dropped like sacks.
No cover in sight, David Min instantly looked up, targeting the second floor. Bang-bang-bang! Bang-bang-bang! Three shots each way—six bodies tumbled over railings to the first floor.
What the hell just happened?
Deputy Director Jason sat dumbfounded, unable even to stand, rooted in place.
What did that guy just do? He'd watched every second, yet couldn't comprehend.
Dozens of armed agents around, no cover in the open plaza visible from every angle on first and second floors—and he draws in the middle? Reckless youth lost their fear often enough.
But silencing over ten agents—front, back, sides, above, below—in under three seconds?
Blink-blink. A hand extended toward Jason.
"Magazine."
"Pardon?"
"Magazine!"
"Ah, yes!"
David Min's shout jerked Jason's hand into action. He snatched the mag, clack-rack—reloaded in a flash.
Quick scan: All immediate threats silenced.
Office workers screamed in unison, stampeding for the main entrance. Thud. Thick steel walls slammed down, sealing it shut. They pounded and wailed futilely.
Cheol-woo glanced, then looked up.
"Wh-what now?"
"No choice. Retreat's cut off—up we go. Secure the director, convince and recruit him."
"..."
Kill every guard on the way to the top floor?
Ridiculous, but no alternatives. Once started, they had to see it through.
Damn it all. Jason teared up, drew his pistol, and followed David Min.
He couldn't ask: What if the director's infected? No answer for that anyway.
"You bastard—"
Blasting heads of every encounter, David Min and Jason charged up the stairs.
Advantage from above worked in open terrain—not stairs. Legs showed first from below; shoot 'em, they tumble, headshot.
Heavily armed guards tried blocking with shields, but against a lone pistol-wielder? They rolled down like balls.
"Hands up! Hands! Aaaagh! Fuck!!!"
A familiar face popped up—slug hit his hand, blowing off the index finger. He screamed, dropping his gun.
David Min approached, lifted the agent's chin, checked his eyes, nodded.
One of the human-eyed ones he'd noted earlier amid the stares. Good memory paid off.
Almost popped his head on reflex. Cheol-woo clicked his tongue, moved on. The agent, hiccuping in shock, went blank-faced.
"Bandage it."
"Deputy Director...?"
Jason chased without pausing to explain.
Left alone amid corpses, the agent gaped.
"Not killing everyone?"
"...What do you take me for?"
Assumed he'd slaughter humans and parasites alike? That finger shot had hurt his heart too. Why did everyone see him as a thug?
Cheol-woo scowled, unhidden irritation.
Senses feel sharper than ever.
Worried about rust after ages of close-quarters shooting people? Unfounded. Vision and hearing boosted massively, reflexes even quicker.
Couldn't react to bullet speed before—now, maybe. He could dodge muzzles and flashes from afar previously, but now bullets themselves were visible.
Not quite blue drug awakening levels, but reflexes edging supersonic.
Definitely growing stronger daily.
"...!"
Top floor—boom! Heavy gunshot echoed from the hall.
Ominous vibe. Cheol-woo and Jason sprinted, flung open the director's door.
"Director!"
"Fuck."
Director slumped over desk, green blood oozing from his head. Beside him, an agent pressed a gun to his own temple, face blank.
Jason's "Wha—" cut short as the trigger pulled—bang! Green slime burst from the agent's head.
Two bodies before them. Silence stretched between Cheol-woo and Jason.
Plans unraveling audibly.