Chapter 55
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: #Making Something of It (有所作爲) (4), Camp Roberts
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Winter, back from the 「Triad Society」, sought the opinions of his two department heads.
“You should stay put for a while.”
That was Min Wan-gi’s opinion.
“You need to be mindful of the attention from other groups. Ahem! The 「Winter Alliance」, which has grown so rapidly, has now joined hands with the 「Triad Society」... Koff. Joined hands, even. No matter that it’s a dispute with a Chinese organization, the other groups will feel a major threat. Now is the time to, ahem! Solidify our foundations.”
“Are you alright?”
When Winter asked, the middle-aged scholar nodded.
“Don’t worry. Thanks to the young boss’s efforts, everyone’s getting plenty of medicine. It’s just, keh-hem. Just a matter of age and stamina. You’ll understand when you reach my age, boss.”
If he said he was fine, then he was fine. Min Wan-gi wasn’t the type to push himself too hard.
Next, Jang Yeoncheol spoke.
“I agree. It’s not just other organizations we need to worry about. People are getting anxious with all these unfamiliar faces suddenly showing up. Uprooting the drugs is urgent, but if a conflict breaks out, the unrest within the alliance will spiral out of control.”
Winter nodded.
“If both of you say so, then that’s how it is. I’m out and about a lot, so I’m less in tune with the alliance’s mood than you two.”
Half-truth. Winter was receiving regular updates on Lee Hoon-tae’s memos from Elder Kang Young-soon. He just didn’t trust them 100%.
“By the way, boss. Did you have some plan in mind?”
“For what?”
“For hitting the 「Anryang Commercial Association」.”
Coughing nonstop, Min Wan-gi still seemed curious about their young leader’s thoughts. Winter answered affirmatively.
“I’m not sure if it’ll work... but yes, I do.”
Anxious, Yeoncheol interjected.
“You’re not planning to go sneak off and hit them alone at night, are you?”
It was such a naive idea that Winter let out an unfiltered laugh for a moment.
“No, nothing like that. I’m planning to bring in a third party.”
“A third party? One that’s not scared of the Chinese in the commercial association and doesn’t care about Captain Markert’s protection—someone like that here in this camp?”
“The police.”
Winter’s answer left Yeoncheol, who had asked, utterly baffled. Min Wan-gi was the same. They struggled to read him, but it wasn’t easy. Winter continued.
“It’s their job to begin with. We need to make them do it.”
The military and police didn’t mix well. In many ways, the police deferred. Differences in roles, scale, and armament. Security duties were just for show.
The police only prevented refugees from invading citizen zones, plotting camp overthrows, or causing uncontrollable riots. Frequent murders proved their neglect.
“They can’t ignore the young boss, but they’ll dodge anything bothersome. They won’t want to help.”
Yeoncheol’s words had a point. He seemed worried Winter was overconfident. At that age, with those accomplishments, it was understandable. Winter decided to explain more.
“On the contrary.”
“Pardon?”
“It won’t be them helping me—it’ll be me helping them.”
Yeoncheol looked puzzled. But Min Wan-gi seemed to catch on.
“Koff, you’re going to make the Chinese reach for the police first.”
“Exactly.”
“Would the police move for anything short of a major incident?”
“They won’t be able to ignore it. They’re sensitive about refugees holding weapons.”
“Weapons? You’re not talking about knives or clubs...”
“It’s almost certain—they’ve been making bows or slingshots. Would the police really sit still if those lethal weapons were used on them?”
Min Wan-gi laughed, coughing intermittently.
“Heh heh. Koff. I’m really curious how you’ll bait them. If the young boss says so, you must be confident already... but I’ll save my, keh-hem! Expectations for later. Then, let me ask something else. What if the police still don’t move? After all, koff, koo-koff... haa. The military’s voice carries more weight than the police, doesn’t it?”
“I met a state senator when I received my service merit medal. If things go south, as you said, I’ll pull him in.”
Winter recalled the California state senator who had pestered him annoyingly at the recent medal ceremony. What was his name again? He hadn’t cared then, but he seemed useful now. A fame-hungry politician would happily take a war hero’s request to speak for the police. He probably knew little about refugee zone politics.
Two lines of barbed wire. Just that for a boundary, yet citizens and refugees lived in entirely different worlds.
“A state senator... Excellent, very good. They’re under federal control now, but National Guard officers won’t want to fall out of favor with him. Kel-luk, keh-hem.”
Min Wan-gi looked like he wanted to say more, but he was too weary and fell silent.
National Guard command was exercised by the governor in peacetime, transferring to the federal government in war or national disasters. That was Min Wan-gi’s point.
It was hard to think that far ahead in this reality, but ignoring it entirely was tough too. Even under quarantine, a state senator could petition the feds personally. Especially from the youngest war hero— it would resonate strongly.
Winter added,
“If even he drags his feet, next up are the citizens.”
At that, Min Wan-gi clapped and laughed, forgetting his illness.
“Indeed, indeed. Haha. The boss is America’s hero.”
Jang Yeoncheol, who had been listening glumly, now looked impressed.
“I hadn’t thought that far. You always see the big picture.”
“I just don’t forget what I have.”
Winter said again.
“If possible, I want to take this chance to definitely get rid of Markert. He rubs me the wrong way.”
“If anyone else said that, I’d think it was a joke.”
Jang Yeoncheol’s quip. Min Wan-gi chimed in.
“Young boss, koff, if you make your mark in history... you’ll be the textbook example of Bonapartism.”
“Bonapartism? Related to Napoleon?”
When Winter tilted his head, Min Wan-gi explained.
“Yes, exactly. There are complex stories, but basically, think of it as ‘order based on force.’ Ahem! Easy enough.”
Intelligence correction filled in the gaps. Winter understood fully and gave a light smile.
“Thanks for the praise. I won’t end up like Napoleon.”
“That’s what I mean. Heh heh. Koff, koff, keh-hem! Watching you, boss, you don’t seem drunk on power, trying to solve everything with force... Koff... I boarded a good ship.”
“Enough flattery. It might sink.”
Yeoncheol was sulking again. Winter addressed him before it was too late.
“That’s why you don’t need to worry, Jang. My plan doesn’t expire with time. For now, focus on stabilizing the alliance. Anything I can help with?”
“Huh? Oh. No, but if you could show your face more often, even if busy, it’d help a lot. Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve, after all. Just having you there would make everyone thrilled.”
“It won’t make them uncomfortable?”
“No way!”
Yeoncheol denied vehemently.
“Truth is, if circumstances allowed, I’d want a big party. Invite people from our allied groups, show off boldly. It’d foster unity not just in the alliance but across the coalition. Couldn’t even try without you! You’re the center of it all! Who’d be uncomfortable?”
“Ah, yeah... Calm down a bit.”
Winter gestured to cool Yeoncheol’s sudden fervor. It was a good reaction.
“Circumstances, huh...”
Winter pondered briefly.
“Actually, I was preparing for Christmas too. Borrowed a warehouse from Deepak. Used last month’s pay to stock up on stuff... but it’ll probably fall short. Ham, bacon, candy, snacks—about a thousand dollars’ worth at best.”
A thousand dollars wasn’t nothing, but for the expanded 「Winter Alliance」, it was peanuts. Factoring in allied groups, over a thousand people. Not even a dollar per person.
“Uh, then maybe just within the alliance... since you prepared...”
His pleading eyes didn’t suit his age at all. That must’ve earned people’s trust. Winter approved.
“Then set it up. I’m looking forward to it.”
“I’ll make it the most fun day possible!”
Yeoncheol brimmed with energy like it was a lie. Min Wan-gi smiled wryly beside him.
After sending off the two heads, Elder Kang Young-soon approached. As always, delivering a memo. Winter thanked her, took it, and read immediately. Nothing good to share if known. Handle on the spot.
Using the disabled as eyes and ears wasn’t wasted. Not just Lee Hoon-tae—others cooperated too. Info from various sources proved useful.
“Nothing much today.”
If important, they marked and prioritized it.
Even “nothing much,” everyday chatter yielded plenty.
‘No need to rethink the third combat squad.’
He’d considered An Jejung as leader. Marine or not, wasn’t he one of the three who showed guts in uncertain Paso Robles?
But his usual behavior said no. Not a bad guy, just lacked gravity. The memo noted endless exaggerated tales of Paso Robles. People went from fascinated to annoyed, avoiding him.
‘Not the vessel for respect and trust.’
When Winter’s gaze lingered, Elder Kang wrote on her notepad with pen.
「My thought, but better not send him out.」
“Yeah. No choice. Shame, with so few that brave.”
Use as squad member, not leader? His pride would bruise. The other two from Paso Robles got leadership; he’d sulk. He was probably hoping now.
“Need to find him another role inside.”
「You know how to use people.」
“Enough praise. Hearing it too much lately.”
The light joke drew her smile. Winter flipped memos, spotting a highlighted one. About Park Jinseok.
“This isn’t good...”
Park Jinseok had top physical skills. Problem: applying his standards raw to others.
The U.S. military required extra PT for PT failures. More failures in Yura’s squad hurt his pride.
He’d scheduled training from Eve through Christmas.
“Bad if I say it directly—route through Jang.”
She nodded. Jang Yeoncheol was perfect for this.
「Might not be my place.」
Her elegant script drew his eyes.
「Saw you three discuss at length.」
「If troubled, I’d like to hear. Wisdom grows with more minds.」
After a moment’s thought, Winter shared partially. Delaying action to lower other groups’ guards. Focus on internals meanwhile.
「You three are wise indeed. But staying too quiet isn’t good.」
“Why? Afraid they’ll underestimate us?”
「Yes.」
「Let me share an old story.」
「I lived in Pyongyang as a child. Experienced the 6.25 War at sixteen.」
「As UN forces advanced north, I thought the war would end. But Chinese intervention changed everything. Retreat was faster than rumors. UN abandoned Pyongyang in haste.」
Winter waited quietly as she wrote.
「Later heard: North and China weren’t ready to fight again.」
「Starving, they watched. When UN left on their own, then they came down.」
Winter caught her point.
“So, don’t show weakness when weak?”
「Yes.」
「Alliance anxiety is real.」
「So, within limits, make demands other groups can accept.」
「Make them think: Gave this, won’t want more. Winter Alliance safe for a while.」
「Demands like this mean they’re more stable inside than thought.」
“Great advice. Thanks. Any ideas on what to demand?”
She smiled softly again.
「As I said before, how about bringing good people from other groups?」
“Sounds good.”
Offer fair trade, slight edge our way—others would accept. Stabilizes relations.
‘Min’s workload up. Still not over his cold.’
Winter, planning new safeguards, asked Elder Kang to compile recruit profiles.
============================ Author's Note ============================
1. As mentioned before, elders who haven’t wasted their years are wise. Hard to meet them, though.
2. Q&A
Q. Profit split... Does it go down for print books?
A. Yes. Print: author 6, publisher 4. E-book: author 7, publisher 3. Print costs more.
I even got offered e-book author 8, publisher 2.
Q. Can U.S. currently contact only Canada/Mexico?
A. Korean news snippet aired. Contacts many countries. Problem: they’re all collapsing too.
Q. Author, great talker. Popular with girls?
A. ...?....????
Novels improve solo.
36.5°C normal body temp helps authors nil.
This novel steals readers’ time to ruin their dating lives.
Other planets: one chapter/year devastates with reading. This hell planet: one/day still short.
Readers’ species gonna species...