The Crazy Mage
The helicopter touched down in the parking lot on the factory’s outskirts, where ABHT troops had already lined up to greet them.
“Welcome, Chairman.”
“Ah, yes. You’ve all worked hard.”
Yoon Changwon gave a casual wave and climbed into the waiting car.
“There are quite a few soldiers here,” Yang Jaeyeol observed from the seat beside him, scanning the perimeter. Triple-layered high fences encircled the entire factory complex, every inch guarded by heavily armed troops. Yoon Changwon nodded as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“It’s a military-civilian cooperation venture. We supply all the money and research personnel, so the least the soldiers can do is stand guard with their guns. Besides, feeding them, housing them, and supplying ammunition all costs money.”
“It certainly looks secure… but is this wise? With so many eyes watching, the risk of rumors spreading—”
Yang Jaeyeol lowered his voice meaningfully. Even if the facility researched infectious diseases caused by zombie corpses, they had no choice but to use prisoners for human experimentation. If regular soldiers witnessed them hauling those subjects around, it could cause unnecessary trouble. Yet once again, Yoon Changwon merely shook his head in a perfunctory manner.
“Those men only patrol the outer boundary. They aren’t allowed inside the factory complex. Experimental materials are transported by truck, so there’s no chance they’ll be seen. Don’t concern yourself with that sort of thing.”
While the two men chatted, their car slipped deeper into the factory grounds, passing rows of drab, functional buildings. The complex was staggeringly vast; it took a considerable amount of time just to reach the central research wing. This is exactly the kind of thing Hwang Nayeon would do, Yang Jaeyeol thought—building a massive logistics warehouse in a location like this and expecting it to turn a profit.
“The man we’re about to meet… how should I put it? He’s a genius. A bona fide genius.”
Yoon Changwon spoke as they stepped out of the car and headed into the research building. Yang Jaeyeol nodded along, though he remained skeptical about what could possibly warrant such high praise.
“Oh? We have someone that exceptional on our team?”
“You don’t look convinced.”
Ever perceptive, Yoon Changwon turned and let out a short laugh.
“No, I believe you, sir!”
Yang Jaeyeol waved his hands in humble denial, but it was useless. Yoon Changwon singled out one of the ABHT escorts and issued an order.
“Hold on… I need to make you believe it. This should do nicely. President Yang, do you think you could beat this fellow in an arm-wrestling match?”
“Haha… Chairman, really…”
Yang Jaeyeol offered an awkward smile. Though more than a decade had passed since his days as a competitive athlete, he was an Olympic gold medalist in the 100-kilogram judo class—an elite among elites. He took pride in the fact that his foundation was on an entirely different level from gym rats who merely dabbled with weights.
Moreover, the ABHT trooper Yoon Changwon had pointed out looked like a scrawny rookie who might weigh only seventy-five kilograms. In weight class, natural power, everything—the gap was obvious. No matter how much youth might help, the difference was simply too vast to overcome.
“Go on, do it.”
Yoon Changwon issued the short command again. What had seemed like a mischievous joke at first had now created an atmosphere that made refusal difficult. On top of that, the ABHT trooper himself wore an expression that practically dared him to try. The arrogant little blood clot doesn’t even know his place… Yang Jaeyeol swiftly composed a serious face.
“Yes, Chairman!”
The two men faced each other across the information desk at the research building entrance, using it as an impromptu arm-wrestling table.
“Hoo…”
Yang Jaeyeol took a deep breath and shook out his hands, waking every muscle in his body. Once he committed to a contest, he was the type who could only feel satisfied by winning. However—
…Huh?
The instant their palms locked, Yang Jaeyeol’s eyes wavered. The grip felt as solid and heavy as seizing a fixed lump of iron. Pinning it down seemed almost unimaginable.
In contrast, the ABHT trooper’s eyes brimmed with confidence. Even when Yang Jaeyeol poured every ounce of power into his grip, the man showed no reaction. Not even a flicker of pain.
What is this guy? With that small frame…
A rare, uneasy feeling crept over him. Sweat instantly beaded along Yang Jaeyeol’s spine. His athlete’s instinct whispered a warning: this would not be an easy victory.
“President Yang, count to three and begin,” Yoon Changwon called from a distance, gesturing for them to settle it quickly.
“One… two, threeee!”
Yang Jaeyeol had drawn out “one” and “two” slowly, then suddenly shouted “three” while slamming every bit of his strength into his arm. He didn’t care if anyone called the tactic underhanded. Once he won, minor details like that could be brushed aside. But—thud!
He drove his weight down hard enough to make the cheap wooden desk groan, yet the opponent’s wrist refused to bend or yield.
“Ugh…! Hngh!”
The young ABHT trooper groaned but held firm against the surprise attack. Thick veins bulged on his forearm and temples as though they might burst any second; his face flushed crimson. A little more pressure and the man would crumble. The problem was that Yang Jaeyeol himself was already exerting every ounce of power he possessed.
“Grrr!”
Throwing dignity to the wind and even letting out a strained moan, Yang Jaeyeol pressed downward again with all his might. Once more, the opponent endured the tremendous force.
Crack—!
As the match dragged on, the desk’s edge and the point where their elbows rested began to splinter with sharp wooden snaps.
Creeeeak—!
The back of the ABHT trooper’s hand, unable to withstand the friction of Yang Jaeyeol’s monstrous strength, tore open. A grinding crunch suggested cartilage being crushed within the bone. Yet the two clasped hands remained locked in perfect, taut equilibrium.
“That’s enough! The kid’s hand is about to get ruined.”
After watching a moment longer, Yoon Changwon stepped forward and patted Yang Jaeyeol on the back. Both men released their grips almost simultaneously.
“Well?”
Yoon Changwon asked with an amused grin. Yang Jaeyeol quickly steadied his breathing and answered lightly.
“Ah, yes! Truly impressive, Chairman! This friend is no ordinary man. I was genuinely surprised!”
Though it stung that he hadn’t secured a clear victory, there was no need to reveal such petty disappointment. If he truly couldn’t let the matter go, he could always beat the rookie to death later.
“You greet him too, you bastard. An Olympic gold medalist personally gave you a match.”
Yoon Changwon clapped the ABHT trooper on the shoulder.
“President Yang, sir! It was an honor! Thank you!”
While the entire ABHT detail bowed at ninety degrees—led by the arm-wrestling trooper—Yoon Changwon winked at Yang Jaeyeol and stuck a cigarette between his lips.
“Of course, if it were a real fight instead of arm wrestling, you’d win easily, President Yang. Your technique is excellent. Still, this alone is surprising, isn’t it? This is exactly the work of the genius I mentioned. Now you understand?”
“What do you mean by ‘work’?”
Yang Jaeyeol asked as he lit the cigarette for him. Yoon Changwon mimed injecting something into his own forearm.
“This. The steroid cocktail. They say if you follow the proper dosage, there are no side effects and the results are outstanding. They mix three kinds of steroids and add two more things… Eh, the names are complicated and I can’t remember them. Anyway, these bastards only started the injections two months ago, yet they can already go one-on-one against zombies with their bare hands and not lose in a contest of pure strength. Put them in Kevlar Suits and they snap zombie necks like twigs. Their running speed is insane, too.”
Yoon Changwon gave the trooper’s crotch a light tap, as though proud of his creation.
“Does this stand up properly every morning?”
“Yes! Stiff as a board, sir!”
“No performance issues when you actually use it?”
“None whatsoever!”
The ABHT trooper nodded with a faint smile. Yoon Changwon shrugged, satisfied.
“Skin doesn’t rot, the dick works fine, heart stays strong. So why wouldn’t we use it? Of course we should. Thanks to the Crazy Mage, these guys have become perfect super soldiers. He really is a genius.”
“Crazy Mage?”
When Yang Jaeyeol asked for clarification, Yoon Changwon started walking again and answered offhandedly.
“You know that old Chinese movie. The really funny one where the guy plays Sun Wukong. Haven’t you seen it?”
“Ah… I’m not familiar with it.”
“Really? Well, the monk in that movie—Tripitaka—talks endlessly in the most annoying way. It drives you crazy. Sun Wukong even wants to beat him to death. But this guy is far worse. He makes you lose your mind. His surname is Jang, so that’s what I call him.”
Yoon Changwon clenched both fists in a mock gesture and chuckled.
What kind of joke is this now?
Yang Jaeyeol followed, tilting his head. Despite that perpetually light smile, Yoon Changwon was hardly a patient or benevolent man. Once someone fell out of favor, it was over. He didn’t seem the type to tolerate an annoying subordinate.
“You men wait outside.”
When Yoon Changwon and Yang Jaeyeol opened the door to the VIP lounge, they found the room completely empty.
Did we enter the wrong room?
Yang Jaeyeol blinked, scanning the space. The interior was far too plain for a VIP lounge. The armchairs and tables were all cheap. They hadn’t even bothered with wallpaper over the sandwich panels. Was there really a room like this in a Taeyang Group facility? And above all, how could they escort the great Yoon Changwon into an empty room with no one present?
“Sit, sit.”
Yoon Changwon dropped heavily into one of the cheap armchairs and pointed at the seat beside him.
“Ah! Yes, Chairman!”
Yang Jaeyeol quickly sat down. Moments later a female secretary hurried in, offering a greeting.
“Welcome, Chairman Yoon.”
Good grief, what is this?
Yang Jaeyeol was startled once more by her appearance. Her clothes, her face—everything about the secretary was as plain and dowdy as the furniture. It would be a stretch to call her attractive even as empty flattery. How had someone like her ended up responsible for the VIP lounge?
“Please wait a moment. Dr. Jang is currently preparing the briefing.”
The secretary quietly set a tray on the table between the two armchairs.
“I prepared some simple refreshments, so please enjoy these while you—”
“Tell him to take his time. There’s no rush.”
As Yoon Changwon spoke, he reached out and casually stroked the secretary’s backside, winking at her.
“Ah…”
The secretary hesitated, glancing between the two men. She seemed shocked by the sexual harassment but also utterly confused about the proper response. Should she simply smile as if nothing had happened and leave? Or remain standing until he removed his hand? She clearly couldn’t decide.
“You may go.”
Yoon Changwon gave her backside a playful smack. Only then did the secretary turn away with visible relief.
“How strange…”
After she closed the door behind her, Yoon Changwon tilted his head and stared at his own hand.
“Even when my mind is completely blank, the moment a woman’s ass appears in front of me, this hand automatically shoots out. Must be a habit now… There was a name for this. Something about a dog? What kind of dog was it again?”
Yang Jaeyeol knew the term “Pavlov’s dog,” but he wisely kept his mouth shut. He could not compare the boss he served to a dog.
“Well… they do say heroes are fond of beautiful women, don’t they?”
Yang Jaeyeol substituted appropriate flattery and forced a businesslike smile. Yoon Changwon slapped his own knee in approval.
“Hah! In that case I really am a hero. Yes, far too much of a hero. …Aigoo, it’s hard work being a hero.”
Yoon Changwon leaned his head against the sofa and closed his eyes. It seemed he had spent the previous night drinking and carousing with women until dawn once again.
“Mm…”
With Yoon Changwon’s low, heavy breathing filling the room, silence settled over the conference space. Yang Jaeyeol quietly turned to study his superior’s expression. He couldn’t tell whether the man had fallen asleep, but with his mouth firmly shut, he dared not speak first.
It was boring. Tedious.
Yang Jaeyeol stroked his chin. He would have liked a cigarette, but he couldn’t possibly light one before Yoon Changwon. With no other option, he reached for the tray the secretary had left behind. From the basket piled high with snacks, he first selected a large cookie.
Crunch. Crunch.
He shoved the entire cookie into his mouth. The taste was mediocre, but the act of doing something eased his mind slightly. After polishing it off in seconds, he immediately picked up a brownie.
Munch—!
After taking a bite, Yang Jaeyeol’s face brightened with satisfaction.
This one’s better.
The chocolate flavor was rich without being overly sweet.
Chomp—! Chomp—!
He had just taken a second brownie when Yoon Changwon, eyes still closed, spoke in his characteristically relaxed drawl.
“…Stop eating.”
“Ah, yes. My apologies.”
The tone didn’t sound particularly angry, yet Yang Jaeyeol swallowed quickly and bowed his head respectfully. He assumed the chewing noise had woken the chairman. He had tried to be quiet…
Another stretch of silence followed. It was roughly ten minutes later when the man called Dr. Jang finally opened the door and entered.
Is this him?
Yang Jaeyeol studied Dr. Jang’s face carefully. Sweat-soaked, disheveled hair. Small, drooping eyes. A scrawny frame with a noticeably protruding belly. Nothing about him looked intelligent. If anything, he appeared rather dull. Among Taeyang Group’s countless researchers and PhDs, this man hardly seemed worthy of being the one Yoon Changwon cherished and trusted most.
“Aigo, I’m terribly sorry for keeping you waiting. I didn’t realize you would arrive so soon, so preparation took longer than expected. I am Jang Du-hyeon.”
Dr. Jang bowed deeply, then placed his laptop on the table. Only then did Yoon Changwon open his eyes and wave a hand dismissively.
“It’s fine. You must focus on your research, Dr. Jang. There’s no need to prepare presentations for someone whose arrival time is uncertain. Don’t worry about such trivial—”
“Then I will begin.”
Before Yoon Changwon could finish, Dr. Jang cut him off abruptly and dimmed the conference room lights.
…What kind of insane bastard is this?
Watching Dr. Jang connect the laptop to the beam projector, Yang Jaeyeol’s mouth fell open. To dare ignore the chairman’s words and interrupt him mid-sentence… Even more shocking was that the rustic-looking doctor showed not the slightest trace of remorse on his face after committing such rudeness.
CWA PROJECT 1-1
“The name of this project is CWA 1-1. CWA is an acronym formed from the first letter of each word in Cope With Aftermath, meaning to respond to the consequences of the current situation. To avoid any misunderstanding, I will spell it out: C, O, P, E—Cope. W, I, T, H—With. A, F, T, E, R, M, A, T, H—Aftermath.”
Dr. Jang meticulously pronounced each letter with painstaking care.
“Hoo…”
Yang Jaeyeol let out a heavy sigh. His chest already felt tight. The madman wasn’t joking with them… If English spelling was so important, why not simply display it on the screen? Yet because this meeting had been arranged by Yoon Changwon, he couldn’t openly show his irritation. Strangely, Yoon Changwon himself didn’t appear particularly displeased.
In any case, after suffering such a massive shock within the first minute of meeting the man, Yang Jaeyeol blinked and thought:
So this is why they call him the Crazy Mage?