The Leader (4)
“Where should I even begin……���
Cho Cheol-woong sat with his fingers interlaced, lost in thought for a moment before giving a firm nod.
“Right. It seems only proper to start with the most pressing issue—the question of leadership. Who do you two believe will have the greatest influence over the fate of South Korea once this winter passes?”
The one with the greatest influence over South Korea’s fate? ……Is he talking about Terra?
Yubin studied Cho Cheol-woong’s expression carefully before answering in a deliberately vague tone.
“Well…… who could it be?”
“Obviously, it’s the United States.”
Cho Cheol-woong declared it with absolute certainty, as if stating a fact that had already come to pass.
“The United States?”
Yubin and Jinwoo asked at the same time, caught off guard. Of course America had been the world’s sole superpower…… or at least it had been. But even they hadn’t considered the possibility that its power might still be intact in this zombie-ravaged world.
To be more precise, they simply hadn’t had the mental bandwidth to think that far. Every day was consumed by the struggle to survive, preparing for ammunition trades, and waking up drenched in sweat from nightmares. That alone had been exhausting enough.
“Could the United States really spare any attention for a country this far away? They must be in complete chaos over there too, overrun with zombies. I’d imagine they’re in the same state as us…… completely broken.”
Yubin’s words carried a note of disbelief. If that weren’t the case, Alex’s desperate daily radio calls and satellite phone attempts would have received some response by now. Especially since he kept mentioning the immune—the key to saving humanity…….
“Even in chaos, America is still America. Just the naval fleets they have deployed across the world’s oceans would be enough. Even the Seventh Fleet alone, which covers half the Pacific, possesses firepower exceeding that of most major powers. Combine that with the Third Fleet and the numbers become truly staggering. On top of that, their massive forces are relatively safe from the zombie threat.”
Cho Cheol-woong shook his head as if the idea were absurd. Yet Yubin and Jinwoo still found it difficult to agree.
“Then…… why haven’t we received any contact or communication from them so far? Or perhaps…… have you been in touch with American forces in the southern region?”
“No. That’s not the case. We’ve made multiple attempts from our end, but there’s been no response.”
So it was the same situation as Alex. Yubin’s face clearly read What the hell are you talking about?
“Doesn’t that prove America has collapsed too? If they can’t even answer radio calls from an allied nation, it must be incredibly serious……”
“I cannot tell you why they’ve made the strategic decision not to respond. I’m not a fortune teller. However, if you’re asking whether the U.S. Navy’s combat power has been annihilated, I can say with certainty that it has not. Even if only one of their eleven nuclear-powered aircraft carriers remains operational, it would be unmatched in this world. And once they regain some measure of stability, they will undoubtedly return to this land. When that happens, they will decide which of the remaining survivors is worth negotiating with. In other words, they will officially recognize who the leader of this country is.”
“Even if American forces are still intact, why…… would they bother coming all the way here? Is there any real reason for them to? It’s not as if our country is swimming in oil.”
“There are countless reasons, but the most decisive one is that they left behind a B83 nuclear bomb here before withdrawing.”
Cho Cheol-woong leaned in close to Yubin and whispered the words like a secret. The atmosphere made it clear this was something extraordinarily grave, yet Yubin had no frame of reference for just how terrifying it truly was.
“I heard from Jinwoo that special forces personnel moved a nuclear missile or something like that…… Oh, but please don’t misunderstand. We absolutely did not spread any rumors. Only a few close friends know about it.”
Having clarified that point first, Yubin asked with a puzzled expression.
“Anyway, is that really such a critical issue? America is a country with an enormous stockpile of nuclear weapons, isn’t it? Out of all those, what’s so special about just one……”
“An uncontrolled B83 is something any nuclear power would have no choice but to worry about—regardless of how many deterrents they possess. Especially since the arming key that controls its detonator was lost along with it. That thing has a yield of 1.2 megatons. Its destructive power is eighty times that of Little Boy, which was dropped on Hiroshima. No matter which country it is, if something like that detonates in a region dense with nuclear power plants, it’s game over. No one could withstand the aftermath. Everyone would die from radiation contamination.”
Cho Cheol-woong explained it calmly, but to his listeners the story was nothing short of spine-chilling. The number 1.2 megatons didn’t fully register, but the idea of eighty times Hiroshima’s blast was enough to paint a terrifying picture.
“It didn’t look that big……”
A stunned Jinwoo rubbed his chin. Cho Cheol-woong looked at the younger man with eyes full of affection.
“It’s not a weapon whose explosive power comes from the amount of gunpowder.”
“Lieutenant, this is all very chilling, but…… I still don’t understand why you’re telling us this now. The idea that America left a nuclear bomb in our country and will definitely return to retrieve it…… is this something we need to be dealing with right now?”
Yubin asked the fundamental question with an apologetic look. He already had a massive headache just trying to figure out what to do with the eighteen soldiers. The notion of preparing for the possible return of a still-functional U.S. military at some point in the future felt far too distant and pointless.
“All of this is a necessary process to help you understand me. Even if it sounds like I’m chasing clouds, please bear with me a little longer. Only once you understand can we possibly become allies.”
Cho Cheol-woong pointed at Jinwoo and began explaining why he had brought up the topic.
“As Private Park mentioned, that nuclear bomb is under the control of our special mission group. And that fact is…… something of an open secret among the upper echelons of the military. The generals all believe we’ve hidden it somewhere, but I have never once admitted that to anyone except General Chae. No matter how many times Lieutenant General Shin asked, I always answered that we were still tracking it but its whereabouts remained unknown. Now that nearly all the troops who carried out the operation with us in Samcheok have been wiped out, the secret regarding the bomb’s location can be considered completely buried.”
“Why is everyone so desperate to know where the nuclear weapon is? Is it because it’s dangerous? In times like these, I doubt they’d try to use it to attack anyone. Unless…… is it so unstable that it could detonate on its own?”
At Yubin’s question, Cho Cheol-woong shook his head.
“Of course not. The warlords simply want to bring America’s secret nuclear weapon under their own control. Only then, when the U.S. military leadership eventually visits this country, will they be recognized as the most legitimate faction.”
“What? Why would that give them legitimacy? That sounds ridiculous.”
“It does sound ridiculous, but that’s how reality works. There have been quite a few cases where coup leaders who secretly possessed nuclear weapons handed them over to the United States in exchange for recognition of their regime. It’s practical—it helps America and makes compromise easier…… Even the most greedy, idiotic generals understand that much.”
“Still…… skipping over the president entirely feels wrong. Don’t tell me that lady— I mean, that person…… is dead?”
Yubin blinked in confusion. The president had proven utterly incompetent, unable to take any meaningful action even after four months of the country falling apart. Still, he had vaguely assumed that if things ever returned to normal, the person whose term had not yet ended would once again sit at the pinnacle of the nation. But Cho Cheol-woong’s expression made it clear that was never going to happen.
“If you were in danger, would the police protect you? Or did you become a police officer and save those soldiers from the zombies?”
“No, that’s not……”
“When public order has collapsed, what meaning do laws and institutions even have? That kind of era won’t return for a very long time. Journalists, police, prosecutors, judges, the National Assembly, the president……”
Cho Cheol-woong listed the professions one by one, folding down his fingers, then shook his head.
“You can consider all those positions gone. In their place, the power of the military and the Taeyang Group has grown stronger than ever. As you know, holding power is a sweet thing. Once someone gets a taste of it, they rarely want to let go. I am certain that none of the five warlords currently controlling the south have any intention of handing power back to civilians after they reclaim the nation from the zombies.”
“Lieutenant Cho, do you view that kind of change…… positively?”
“What I think doesn’t matter. What matters is that reality has changed. Whether you want it or not, for the next ten or twenty years, the head of the military will also serve as the head of South Korea. And it would actually be more efficient that way. If you think about it realistically, you should be able to understand……”
Cho Cheol-woong raised his hand and mimed an airplane flying through the air as he continued.
“For example, the best strategy for eradicating the zombies right now would be bombing. Before the creatures concentrated in major cities disperse completely to other areas, we could send planes to drop conventional bombs and reduce their numbers by ten million or more. Trading one city to eliminate ten million zombies is by no means a bad exchange. But could we carry out such an operation under the old system? We’d have to propose the bombing of a specific city, deliberate on it, put it to a vote, fight over it, and if the National Assembly deadlocked…… several more months would slip away uselessly. Because obviously everyone would want to exclude the regions where they own property from the target list. By then, the zombies would have already finished migrating to other areas.”
It was an extremely simplistic example, but it wasn’t without persuasive power. Yubin understood exactly what he was getting at.
“So ultimately, if a single general gains real power, the country will run according to that person’s will. And according to your prediction, Lieutenant, the one who returns that hidden nuclear bomb to the United States will be the one who gains that power.”
“Exactly. That’s why I still haven’t revealed its location to Lieutenant General Shin or any of the other generals.”
“You’re doing this because you believe those people are unfit to control this country? Or perhaps…… when the Americans arrive, you yourself intend to……”
Before Yubin could finish asking whether the lieutenant planned to hand the bomb over to the U.S. military himself and seize the pinnacle of power, Cho Cheol-woong gave a bitter smile as if the very idea were ridiculous.
“What kind of nonsense are you spouting? I…… was raised to be nothing more than the commander of a special mission group, and I have lived with pride believing that was my calling. I know nothing else. How could someone like me possibly draw up grand plans to lead a country? I am simply…… waiting carefully to choose the right general. My choice will have an enormous impact on the history that is about to be written. I cannot simply hand an oversized crown to pigs who are enjoying this national crisis and laughing with glee.”
“I don’t know whether the future will unfold exactly as you say, but if you truly believe that, then shouldn’t you choose General Kim above all others?”
Yubin asked in a serious tone.
“While the five southern warlords have been enjoying the nation’s disaster every day, that man has been fighting nonstop—first in Jamsil, then in Chungju. In other words…… I believe he is the only general currently acting like a soldier for the sake of the people. Is there any qualification more important than that?”
“Do you know General Kim personally?”
At Cho Cheol-woong’s question, Yubin shook his head.
“No. Not at all……”
Among the soldiers from Chungju that Yubin had met, the highest-ranking one was Captain Mun. He didn’t even know the faces of the others, let alone spoken with them directly. Hearing Yubin’s answer, Cho Cheol-woong tilted his head.
“You’re recommending a general you’ve never even met in person? I spent the last several minutes emphasizing just how carefully this choice must be made.”
“Ah…… I suppose that does sound strange. I simply…… liked what Captain Mun told me about General Kim’s character. And after hearing stories from other people who were at the Jamsil shelter, I felt he truly seemed outstanding. Have you ever been to Chungju, Lieutenant Cho? Seeing how things are run there is honestly quite surprising.”
“Hmm……”
Cho Cheol-woong rubbed his chin and frowned. He, too, knew a fair amount about the so-called “principled lunatic” General Kim.
“That man can’t be controlled. He doesn’t care about factions or reading the room. But if he decides something is right, he just charges straight ahead. I like that fearless, straightforward side of him.”
Even General Chae, who had cherished Kim during his lifetime, had never believed he could be controlled. He had simply respected the man’s ability as a soldier. And it was that very audacity—charging forward even against his own superiors when he saw something wrong—that had earned General Chae’s favor.
Cho Cheol-woong fully agreed with that assessment. He had shared drinks with the man a few times while serving under General Chae, and Kim truly was exactly like that. He had never once resorted to excessive flattery to stand out, nor had he ever seemed obsessed with climbing the ranks. But…… was that enough?
Cho Cheol-woong wasn’t certain. While the powerful restraint named General Chae had still been alive, even a “lunatic” wasn’t a fatal flaw. If he ever crossed the line, someone could always stop him.
But if Kim rose to the very top, controlling that aggressive personality would become impossible. Could they really entrust such power to a madman? Cho Cheol-woong didn’t know General Kim well enough to answer that question.
Besides, General Kim currently faced an overwhelmingly large practical limitation. He was a brigade commander who had antagonized not only the Taeyang Group but all five other warlords, cutting off his own supplies and stationing himself in a distant location. Helping such a man would place an enormous burden on Cho Cheol-woong himself—one he might not be able to bear. In the worst case…… it could trigger a second Gangjeong Base incident.
“Well…… anyway, that is the card I’ve been keeping hidden. I am in a position to exert the greatest influence over who becomes the next leader of this country, and I am waiting until I meet someone worthy of that position. Of course, I’m well aware that time is limited.”
Having finished speaking, Cho Cheol-woong leaned back in his chair and folded his arms in a gesture that clearly said, Now it’s your turn to show your hand. Yubin shrugged.
“It doesn’t seem like you’ve shown all your cards yet. The key point is where exactly you’ve hidden that bomb, isn’t it?”
“Are you trying to get something for nothing? I’ll tell you that story once I’m certain you’re walking the same path as me. For now, I’ll only say that it is stored in an extremely safe location.”
“An extremely safe location?”
“Yes. It’s a place no one is looking for right now, but it is truly a secure secret site. ……Now then. If you feel my card has value, it’s time for you to speak.”
Cho Cheol-woong lightly tapped the table as he posed the question, having thrown out one last cryptic hint.
“You said you’ve never even met General Kim face to face. Then…… exactly who are you affiliated with? And what is that strange serum syringe? Ah, never mind…… perhaps it would be better to start with something less heavy. ……Right. Have you ever met Terra?”
“Hmm……”
Yubin let out a small groan to buy time while exchanging glances with Jinwoo.
I think we can trust him.
His friend’s eyes said.
Yeah…… I feel the same.
Yubin scratched his cheek and answered with his expression. After everything they had been through today, he had come to the conclusion that the man named Cho Cheol-woong could be trusted. In truth, after risking their lives fighting together in such a dangerous situation, worrying about trust at this point felt almost comical. The real problem was…….
Wouldn’t this make things far too big?
That was what worried Yubin. Negotiating ammunition deals with the generals and sending supplies to Chungju, taking the witch hostage to demand the release of people held by the Taeyang Group—those were already enormous undertakings. But joining hands with the special mission group for joint operations, getting entangled with a nuclear bomb, or intervening in the decision of South Korea’s next leader and taking on some kind of role…… those were things he had never even imagined.
Such matters felt too far removed from the daily life of a twenty-year-old. They also seemed like an endless series of stresses that an ordinary citizen could never endure. He had promised Alex that this would be his last long-term excursion of the winter, that he wouldn’t take on any more dangerous work for a while…….
“Terra…… I have met her……”
After long deliberation, Yubin finally made up his mind and began to speak.
“No, to be completely honest, it’s not just that I’ve met her. We’re close.”
The past few days had been so exhausting that all he wanted was to return to Big Island. But he refused to hand the position of leader of this country over to generals with the moral character to sit back and watch the Taeyang Group’s massacre. And he could never accept the likes of Captain Lee—who had abandoned his own subordinate soldiers in Seoul—rising to any position of real power.
“……Close?”
Cho Cheol-woong repeated the word as if he had just heard something utterly shocking, looking Yubin up and down.
“……You?”