Chapter 35. Handling the Traitor.
Chapter 35. Handling the Traitor.
After sending them off with the bare minimum of an escort, we came back and resumed the meeting.
"Everyone, keep your guard up around that Park Minsu."
"Do you have a reason, Sihu?"
"I got a bad feeling from him."
"If Sihu is willing to say it outright, there must be something to it. More to the point, how do you intend to proceed with the operation?"
'I hope it's nothing more than a feeling...'
"First, it didn't look like there were any special-grade entities here. I'll draw them in by radiating evil energy, then wipe them out in one go. After that, we send soldiers into all the buildings except the zones I flagged earlier to mop up the stragglers. For the critical zones, we Awakened will handle them personally."
"Understood. Then the non-combat personnel will take charge of transporting the supplies."
"When do you think we'll move out?"
"No point dragging this out. We start tomorrow."
"I'll radio them, then."
He got on the radio immediately and laid out the plan. The people on the other end said:
"Yes, Jae-hyeok. As it happens, some of the people here have volunteered to help transport supplies."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Your senior said he regretted the harsh words he used before and wanted to help, even if it was just with menial labor."
"...Very well. I'll contact you again once the situation is resolved tomorrow."
And with that, the radio cut off.
"He didn't strike me as the type to apologize so meekly. Perhaps Sihu is right... I'd better make some preparations."
"What will you do if they genuinely insist on following us?"
"I'll refuse them. But if they follow us anyway, I won't care whether they die along the way. We left the department store to become self-sufficient in the first place; we don't have food to give them. Though, if they prove useful to us, I might take them in."
"I see..."
With the meeting concluded, we ate dinner, and another uneventful day passed.
* * * * * * * *
We briefed everyone on the plan: once the Awakened had dealt with the bulk of the zombies and radioed in, the remaining combat teams would enter each building and clear out any survivors.
'They must have passed the word on their end, too.'
Our people had finished their checks as well, meticulously going over ammunition and magazines.
"Seo Ji-hoon, we'll head out first. Once the zombies are cleared and we radio you, you can move out then."
Our party was composed solely of Awakened. Seo Ji-hoon was scheduled to clear the buildings alongside the soldiers.
After departing, we took up position on what looked like a parade ground.
"Terion, time to earn your keep. Call the zombies here."
"At last, a chance to return to my true form."
Terion's body steadily expanded, shifting back into the shape I had seen when I first met him. Then his hand rose toward the sky, and evil energy began to pour out.
"There are no special-grade entities, so once they swarm in, I'll clean them up in one go. Just handle any that slip through."
"Heh heh, don't worry. You're handling the bulk of them. If I can't even deal with the stragglers, I might as well chuck this shield in the trash."
I began to see zombies gradually gathering.
'Still not enough. Once a few more amass, I'll release a burst of life energy and draw them all here at once.'
Before long, they had packed in tightly enough around us to fill my entire field of vision.
"Everyone, get ready. They'll be rushing us soon."
After that final warning to the party, I released an enormous surge of life energy.
— Krwaaaaaagh!!!
— Kreoooughk!!!
— Kyahaaaaagh!!!
I told the party to keep their heads down for a moment. Holding my breath, I exhaled and spun once, swinging my sword.
- Chaos Swordsmanship: Draw
The blade I swung traced a perfect circle, becoming a sword aura that flew outward.
— Tzeu-geok!!!
Every last zombie was decapitated. Corpses toppled one after another, piling into a tremendous wall of bodies. I radioed the others the order to advance.
"Considering the circumstances, the helicopter hangar probably sustained little damage. Unlike a food warehouse, there'd be no reason for survivors to go into a helicopter hangar."
"That's true. As you say, what matters to us right now are the weapons and transport helicopters."
While we checked the armory and ammunition depot, Jia quietly took care of most of the remaining zombies with her bow.
"Being a headquarters of sorts, there's a staggering amount of weaponry here."
"No kidding. Oppa, aside from guns, there are tons of grenades and mines and things."
"The situation here is finished, so I'd better radio everyone to come over."
I announced the end of the operation over the radio, and soon they arrived. Among them were Park Minsu — the Deputy Advisor we had seen at the meeting — and his close associates.
"Sihu, all of those people have blue name tags. Why's that?"
I was suspicious, but they came and started loading all the supplies into vehicles. And then I felt killing intent seeping from them.
In the moment we let our guard down, they turned their guns on us and opened fire. Having sensed their murderous intent beforehand, I deflected every bullet.
— Tatatatatang!!!
— Ting-ting-tingtingting!!!
"Wh... what!?"
"What? A little flustered because things didn't go according to plan?"
— Sgagak!
I didn't spare a single one; I sliced off all their wrists. There were probably some among them who were just following orders, but so what? In the end, they shot at me.
"Ghh, ghyaaaagh...!!"
"M-my wrist...!"
"Geugh... they said they were just Awakened...!"
I stripped every weapon from the screaming lot and piled them together in one spot. Then I contacted the rest of our people. Their aim had apparently been to eliminate only us Awakened, because no one else had been hurt.
"Choi Jae-hyeok, just as we thought — this bastard tried to stab us in the back and wipe us all out."
"So it was. Don't worry. We've already secured solid evidence."
'Go Seong-hyeon... were you of the same mind as these people?'
"The situation's over, so send our people to collect the goods. And these scumbags are still alive, so take them along."
Once everything was wrapped up, I took Park Minsu into a room alone.
"I'm curious, so let me ask. Why did you try to stab us in the back?"
"Heh heh... because I couldn't hand over command authority to a green young brat like you."
"We lent you our strength. You secured supplies without a single casualty. We were going to split them and leave. So why?"
"You can dress it up with words, but in the end, you'd lord it over everyone just the same, wouldn't you?!"
"Sounds to me like you just couldn't bear to let go of your own power."
"..."
"Don't worry. Go Seong-hyeon will lead the group far better than trash like you. In fact, getting rid of you will be a convenience."
"W-wait... if you eliminate me, it'll be difficult to manage the other troops!"
"Heh heh... you're mistaken about something. I'm leaving as planned. Go Seong-hyeon will take good care of that on his own."
When the conversation ended, I turned and walked out, leaving him staring at my back with a vacant expression. Afterward, to hear the after-action report, all the senior officers of our group gathered.
"Fortunately, aside from bruises from collisions or falls, there are no serious injuries. Naturally, there are no fatalities."
"Package up the traitors we captured nicely. We'll deal with them according to the military law he's so fond of. And did you inform their side of the situation?"
"I've only notified them that the operation is over so far. They've been asking about the whereabouts of Park Minsu and his group, though. I told them only that they're with us."
"Good. When we distribute the supplies and bring them their share, we'll bring the traitors along. And Choi Jae-hyeok — the footage?"
"Rest assured. It's already well secured."
In truth, from the moment they first made contact, we had been using the drone we deployed to record video starting as soon as each operation concluded. This was precisely in case he tried to deny everything. Without evidence, people would naturally trust the word of those they've lived alongside over strangers they just met.
"I've already stopped their bleeding, so they won't die, and there's no need to feed them. We're departing tomorrow, so that much won't matter."
* * * * * * * *
We announced our departure, and by the time we arrived, they were already waiting out front. It looked like the entire force had turned out to sort the supplies. Go Seong-hyeon, at the very front, greeted me and expressed his thanks.
"Thank you. Thanks to you, we secured the base without any damage. More importantly, where is my senior?"
"First, why don't you check the supplies?"
At my words, Lieutenant General Go Seong-hyeon issued orders to his troops, and they smoothly began unloading and sorting the goods.
"I've prepared a special gift for you, Lieutenant General. I'm not sure it will be to your liking."
"Huh? A gift... what on earth..."
I glanced behind me and gestured with my hand. At that, Park Minsu and his associates, their clothes soaked with dried blood, were led out, bound. Naturally, Lieutenant General Go Seong-hyeon saw the sight, and confirmed the state of their severed arms as well.
"Cheon Sihu! What is the meaning of this?!"
Go Seong-hyeon's group was apparently startled too, and they drew their guns and began threatening us.
"Showing you would be better than telling you. Choi Jae-hyeok, bring that over."
Choi Jae-hyeok produced a small tablet PC, played the video, then handed it to Lieutenant General Go Seong-hyeon.
"...Is this the unaltered truth...?"
"Do you find it hard to believe? Or do you just not want to believe it?"
"What is your purpose in not killing them, but bringing them all the way here..."
"Because everyone needs to know that they committed treason. And it'll be good for everyone to see what becomes of traitors from now on."
After confirming it himself, he passed the tablet PC back. Before long, all the troops had seen it and lowered their guns. We stripped the blindfolds and earplugs off Park Minsu's group and made them kneel in the center.
"Well? Any last words before you die?"
"L-Lieutenant General Go! This bastard is planning to swallow us whole in the end! Kill him, quickly!!"
But after confirming the ice-cold stares of the troops, Park Minsu realized something had gone very wrong.
"Senior... why did you try to kill them..."
"W-what are you talking about?"
"The footage we recorded by drone has already been confirmed. Just why did you do it?"
And then, as if resigning himself, he spoke.
"...After all we've done for this nation, are we supposed to just hand over command authority to some goddamn brat like that?"
"What does that even matter... if there's a person who can restore this country, whoever it is...!"
"Enough. The reason doesn't matter. You tried to kill my people, and you failed."
I said a single word — 'Gun' — to Choi Jae-hyeok and held out my hand, receiving a pistol.
"Hey, Park Minsu. I'll settle this by the military law you're so fond of."
One by one, I pressed the gun to their foreheads and shot them dead. Until Park Minsu was the last one remaining.
"Lieutenant General Go Seong-hyeon. Did you say you wanted to join our group?"
"If you would have us..."
I handed the pistol to Lieutenant General Go Seong-hyeon and said:
"Then show us your resolve with your own hands."