《The Little Prince in the Ossuary》 Chapter 1: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (1) Chapter 1. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (1)# Initialize, Registration Number B612 In a dark place, within a black and weightless space, a boy was curled up, floating as if he were in space. It was a scene that could only possibly be seen inside a virtual reality. There, one could see the sunset a thousand four hundred and forty times within twenty-four hours. It was a fictitious world that responded to the will of an individual. No other person could exist there. Just at the boys arms reach, something was shining in the darkness. It was a square-shaped screen. The screen was showing the people whom the boy had to perform asToni Morrison, Sadako Ogata, Lyndon B. Johnson, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Adolf Hitler The boy had watched that screen for so long until everything was engraved in his head. With a heavy snowfall weighing on his heart, he could now easily imitate their words, their accents, and their gestures. To be an actor, one had to study acting. Thinking of the days hed spent trying to become adept in acting only made him feel dull and gloomy, but it was an effort that was needed in order to get the star. Only by getting ahold of the star would the rose not wither. The rose may have thorns, but it was still beautiful. He didnt want to see the end of a thing of beauty, even if holding it in his hands would cause him to bleed. S?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The outside world always tries to turn me into someone that Im not. I just want to be myself, at least here, the boy thought. But he had no choice, so once again, the boy decided to tame himself. If he could sometimes make a compromise with his conscience, so that he could find some joy in it, perhaps it wouldnt be that bad. Everythings ready. Its time to set off on a boring journey on my 27th attempt at this game. And the moment the boy thought so, the virtual world of Days After Apocalypse unfolded in front of him, accompanied by a monologue from an artificial intelligence mimicking the boys own voice. # Journal, Page 2, Camp Roberts The origin of the apocalypse was China. A disease that turns human beings into some kind of non-human creatures emerged and engulfed the entirety of East Asia in just half a month. They gave this plague the name ofMorgellons, and I heard its currently spreading all across Europe. I used to be Koreanthe reason I say used to is that theres no longer a country I can go back to. I personally think that I was a lucky case because I was studying in America as an exchange student when the epidemic broke out. If not, I wouldve either become one of those walking corpses or been eaten alive by them. The people whod lost their countries were taken to refugee camps. I was no exception either. Due to the martial law, I could no longer stay with my host family, therefore, I was taken to Camp Roberts. I heard that it used to be the army base of the National Guard, and was now designated as the first refugee camp. Its located about halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The number of refugees has been increasing day by day. Its been five months since I first came here and the refugee camp is starting to look more like a city than a camp now. They plan to move the rest of the people to Fort Hunter Liggett, another army base located about 50 kilometers northwest from here, once the population reaches the limit. Apparently, the second camp is surrounded by mountains, so people are saying it might be safer there. The number of incidents reported has increased due to the increasing number of people in the camp. Some of the refugees have formed factions and began to rob supplies and rations from other refugees. I heard some of them even murder those who resist. The names of these factions are very frightening. The names ofHeishehui, the Chinese faction, and Sumiyoshi-kai, the Japanese faction, were the names of crime syndicates that used to exist in their respective countries. Some say that the key figures in these factions are actually people from those syndicates. But surprisingly, the U.S. Army hasnt taken any measures yet. I mean, its not that I cant understand why. Theres only a single battalion managing a whole camp full of refugees. Wouldnt they need a middleman or something? Theres been a rumor floating around the camp about factions bribing the U.S. army commander with sexual favors. It must be true. Yesterday, I saw a man, one of the members of the Korean Patriotic Community, dragging a woman into an obscure alley. She was crying for help. One of the American soldiers tried to stop the man when he witnessed the scene, but after the soldier talked to the man for a minute, the soldier just backed away with his brows creased. One more thing about the treatment of refugees. According to CNN reports, approximately 60 percent of the worlds population mustve been turned since the Morgellons Outbreak. Experts say that we must be wary since morality can be quickly replaced by depravity in the face of the crisis thats humanitys extinction. I think the best place to witness that change is, sadly, Camp Roberts. # Journal, Page 5, Camp Roberts The majority of the refugees here are from countries in Asia and Oceania, and most of them are from China and Korea, countries that have bitter feelings towards the Japanese. And as expected, conflict arose between those nationalities. Lots of Japanese are ending up dead or wishing they could be. The largest Japanese faction, Sumiyoshi-kai, is desperately fighting, but to no avail. The U.S. military is still turning a blind eye. I noticed that quite a few soldiers creased their brows when they heard the news, but none of them stood up to do anything. I think they mightve gotten orders from above. The only thing the U.S. military did was to set up barbed-wire fences. The whole camp has been split into several different sections now, and theyve put about 200 people of the same nationality in each section. Though this kind of conflict has risen every once in a while, Ive been able to stay relatively safe, helping the military as an interpreter. To my surprise, not many Korean refugees are able to speak English. Its because most of the Koreans here are either those who became stranded in the U.S. while on a trip or those who urgently escaped Korea at the beginning of the Morgellons outbreak. It seems like the latter case is by far the most common. Those who are fairly fluent in English, like me, are offered positions as middlemen. Those whove already taken the job say that they get a lot of benefits from it. What they like the most about it is that they get treated like actual human beings. The soldiers here dont take refugees as humans. To them, they are more like livestock. But I can understand, its hard to maintain ones humanity in such a hopeless situation. AI Advice (Lvl 4 Insight): You can either accept or reject the U.S. militarys offer of a role as a middleman. If you accept, you will gain the U.S. militarys favor, and there will be an upward revision to your reputation within the community. If you refuse, there will not be any foreseeable benefit, but there may be advantages or disadvantages which you cannot yet infer with your current abilities. If you want more detailed advice, you will need to upgrade the level of Insight. Players Choice: Accept the offer. I cant believe they offered me, someone underage, to be a middleman. At first, I told them that I might be too young for the job, but the U.S. military officer let out a laugh and said that age didnt matter, giving me a full story about how the U.S. always gave preference to English speakers. In the 1980s, the United States sought to support nationalist forces to oust the Soviet Union from Afghanistan. The problem was that the CIA had no Arabic speakers at the time, so they didnt know whom to provide support to. However, they found an Afghan national leader who could speak English, so, despite knowing his nasty character, they chose to provide the money to that leader, who later created the Taliban and screwed over the U.S. After finishing the story, the military officer then forced me to take the job, saying I didnt get a choice. The area Ive been assigned to is the solar power plant located across Route 101, opposite to the base. Here, the panels need to be wiped regularly, and some new panels and transformers have to be installed whenever the camp gets more people. My job is to manage the Koreans who are sent to work here. One of my duties is to distribute rations. Thereve been a few adults several times older than me whove tried to please me. I get chills just by imagining what they mightve been thinking behind those smiling faces. Some factions have contacted me, telling me to join them. Reasonably thinking, it might be safer for me to join one of the factions because, as time goes by, more and more English speakers will appear, and Im not sure I will be able to keep my job when that happens. AI Advice (Lvl 4 Insight): You may decide which faction to join. Based on the faction you join, you will be able to receive various benefits. However, be aware that joining a particular faction can also make you a target of another faction. Players Choice: Do not join any of the factions. But I didnt want to belong to any of them. On one occasion, the Korean Patriotic Community offered me a Japanese whore in exchange for joining their faction. To be honest, it was a disgusting offer. They seemed to have thought I was gauging them from their reaction when I refused the offer. The recruiter started shooting off his dirty mouth, suspecting that I was considering taking another factions offer and babbling about how I should think about the future of the Korean faction and so on. I was even asked if I liked men. Maybe Im just a fool who knows nothing about the ways of the world, but I just didnt want to throw away my humanity. # Journal, Page 11, Camp Roberts We just got a report of an outbreak in San Francisco. Due to the nature of the camp, being isolated from the outside world, the news is always a few days late. Judging by how fast the plague spread in Asia, the San Francisco Bay Area (the region spanning cities such as Oakland, Berkeley, San Jose, etc.) mightve turned into pandemonium by now, no matter how prepared they were. As if to prove my thoughts true, several transport vehicles with refugees flooded into the camp the next dawn. There were people of several different races, but they were mostly white and black. They seemed to be survivors that managed to escape San Francisco. Tension showed on the face of the soldiers. It was an obvious reaction as there mightve been an infected one among the survivors. A vaccine for Morgellons hasnt been discovered yet. Once infected, theres no way to stop it from turning a human into a monster. The refugees clamored to separate the survivors from themselves. But as if they were scared to get kicked out, the survivors decided to give up the place they were originally assigned to, and instead, settled in a temporary tent camp located at the western part of the base, beyond the water tower. Shortly after evening, when the rationing ended, I heard that some of the refugees were plotting to escape the camp. AI Advice (Lvl 4 Insight): You can choose to leave the base along with the refugees, report it to the officers, or stay silent and do nothing. If you leave the base, the tutorial will be immediately terminated. If you report it to the officers, you will gain the U.S. militarys favor, but there will be a downward revision to your relationship with some of the refugees. If you stay silent, there will be a slight downward revision to your willpower. Players Choice: Do nothing. For a second, I thought about running away with them. To escape from the camp out to the safer central area. But if I did that, Id then have to worry about surviving out in the wild. Or even before that, I could be shot to death if I were to be found. Another choice I had was to report it to the officers, but I didnt feel like doing that either. Because if I did, people would know. In a situation like that, I had to avoid doing things that would provoke others hatred, or else, I wouldnt be able to sleep at night. So I just decided to stay silent. I felt a bit guilty for shutting my eyes to it. Willpower has been adjusted downward / Unable to identify the specific figure. The sound of gunshots cracked across the night sky of Camp Roberts. I tried to shut my ears and force myself to sleep, but I couldnt fall back asleep. When I came out at dawn, I found part of the fence splattered with blood. Pieces of torn flesh and tattered clothes were hanging on the fence. Traces of death were laid on the other side of the fence across the barren land. There were some vultures already feasting on them. I lost my appetite. I had to skip breakfast. # Journal, Page 16, Camp Roberts The infection has spread even further across America. An unknown number of the infected were reported to have slipped through the San Francisco Bay blockade, and four days later, another piece of news regarding the fall of Sacramento reached our ears. Despite the mass deployment of federal and state defense forces, it wasnt enough to stop the mutated civilians. According to the report, about 70 percent of the citys population have turned into walking corpses. If converted to numbers, it was over 300,000 people. Although the mutated people dont possess the intelligence of humans, their physical ability easily surpasses that of human beings. The waves of walking corpses have already swept through several refugee camps in the suburbs. The U.S. military dropped several atomic bombs on the east side of the city after conducting as many rescue operations as possible. It was merely a stopgap measure. China, the first country that collapsed due to the Morgellons outbreak, was a nuclear nation. When the plague spread out of control even after deploying military forces, China, without the slightest hesitation, used a large number of nuclear weapons in the infected area. People criticized the Chinese government for abandoning their people, but they didnt seem to care about the criticisms. The infected people are not humans anymore, or thats what they said, but Im sure there were people who hadnt yet evacuated from the bombed area. Immediately after using nuclear weapons, the number of infected dropped considerably. The government once again deployed their military forces and things appeared to be under control. But after a while, the infection once again spread across China, this time much more rapidly. Experts claim that its highly likely that the material contaminated with the Morgellons pathogen was blown into the sky by the updraft of the nuclear explosions and then sprayed back down to the ground by the prevailing wind along with the nuclear fallout. The use of nuclear weapons only led China down the path of destruction. And as far as I know, the climate of the West Coast is heavily influenced by the westerly-winds. If they drop a bomb in Sacramento, matter contaminated with plague pathogens will spread to the central part of the U.S. I dont know whether they realize this or not, but the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has only ordered the residents of California, Nevada, and Arizona to evacuate their land. All hell broke loose in our refugee camp. People began to run riot because of the evacuation order. And when some of the radical riots knocked down the fences, the U.S. military began to open fire on the crowds. Come to think of it, I bet even the soldiers were dying to escape. Overwhelmed by anxiety, fatigue, and depression, the soldiers mustve lost their reason when everything happened. Due to this event, more than 700 people were killed in just a few minutes. It was a horrible tragedy. Only later did I find out that there was also a case of mutation reported in San Miguel when the riot occurred. Both the southern and northern routes are swarming with the infected, which is why the federal government has given up on evacuating the refugees. The U.S. military stationed in the camp is also stranded in Camp Roberts. Some ill-tempered soldiers started to beat up refugees. They must be thinking that the reason they were left to die here was all because of the refugees. Chapter 2: 2. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (2) Chapter 2. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (2)# Journal, page 21, Camp Roberts Foods running out. The last time the government sent relief supplies via helicopter was a week ago. There are too many places in need of help, but the number of aircrafts available is limited. The use of ground vehicles was discontinued long ago because of the risk of losing the supplies. It seems like the military here is still in touch with the U.S. government, but its clear that the government is losing control over the California area. Hygiene products have long since run out of stock. People are becoming even more vicious. The camp is already greeting late autumn, but were still not prepared for winter. Not to mention food and water, we still have to look for ways to keep ourselves warm until the end of the upcoming winter. The commanding officer summoned the representatives of the refugees and gathered their opinions. Apparently, the consensus was to organize a procurement team made up of volunteers. A former police officer, one of the survivors from San Francisco, was put in charge of the procurement teams management. The volunteers will be given priority for ration stamps, so if the camp were to suffer a shortage of food, those who didnt volunteer will more likely starve to death. Still, many refuse to go out and have opted to stay inside the camp. They probably think its better to die from starvation in a safe place rather than to be eaten alive outside. Theres also the possibility that a food shortage wont occur, therefore, the U.S. military hasnt urged the people to participate in the mission. Dispatching unwilling people who refuse to listen to orders would pose an even greater danger to the mission. Players Choice: Join the procurement team. S~?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. But Im different. If I were to become exhausted due to insufficient nutrition, I could die not from starvation, but other reasons. If thats the case, I want to at least struggle till the very end before I die. When I went to the recruitment center to volunteer for the procurement team, Lieutenant Robert Capstone, one of the officers that happened to be there, dragged me out of the building. He was one of the soft-liners among the U.S. officers. Noting that I was the only one among the middlemen who didnt belong to any faction, he asked me if I was being left out because of my age. He also told me to reconsider my decision for he would spare me some of the ration stamps. AI Advice (Lvl 4 Insight): You can either accept or decline Robert Capstones offer. If you accept, there will be an upward revision to the stability of the community and your leadership within the community. You may also gain favors from the soft-line officers. If you decline, there will be an upward revision to your will power, charm, and leadership. Players Choice: Volunteer for the procurement mission anyway. I thanked him for his kindness and refused his offer. I told him that I didnt want to wait helplessly within the camps enclosure and that Id rather make myself useful to the people in the camp. Hearing my words, Lieutenant Capstone gave me a wistful glance and stepped aside in silence. He then patted me on my shoulder as I walked past him. Good people do exist even in times of crisis. Im glad theres still a person like him in this world. # Procurement Mission, Camp Roberts. The game worked as follows: The background story was provided to the player through visual footage, like videos and journals, but it differed based on presets such as nationality, gender, age, occupation, characteristics, and starting point, which the player had to enter beforehand. Interestingly, the game would always provide players with different background stories even if players chose the same presets, and thats the reason why the boy was spending his time listening to the journal, which had been provided to him in the form of a monologue, even when this was already his 27th attempt at the game. Except for a few cases, journals contained a lot of information regarding the setting of the game, so the boy had to take in as many details as possible. It shouldve been a boring task for someone who had already gone through this process 26 times, but thanks to the fact that the setting of the game became more and more sophisticated after each attempt, he found it rather interesting. In addition, the game projected the contents of the journal in front of the boys eyes, as if he were watching the situation unfolding through the characters eyes, only, he wasnt the one in control. But now that the journal had concluded, control was given back to him. The boy looked around. Underneath the dawning sky, rows of tents pitched with old muddy pieces of fabric were aligned along the fences. Not far away, the boy heard a dull thud as he followed the hologram in charge of guiding him to his mission, a sound that he wouldnt have recognized if this had been his first attempt at the game. It was the sound of something sharp being stabbed into human flesh. And sure enough, as he the boy walked towards the direction the sound had come from, he found a woman holding a knife in her hands and a middle-aged man crouching on the ground while clutching his stomach. With a clinking noise, the bloody knife dropped from the womans hand onto the ground. The woman then looked around and found the boy staring at her. Startled by his sudden appearance, the woman stood frozen to her spot for a while, but soon, she walked up to the middle-aged man, took out some crumpled ration stamps from his pockets and ran away in a hurry. The only thing the boy did in the face of this sudden event was to look at the scene with a frown. He knew that those who committed this kind of crime were usually underlings in a faction. If he were to follow her now, he might have to deal with the whole faction. In this virtual world of Days After Apocalypse, the greatest threat was, in fact, none other than the live humans. Humans do anything to survive. Even those of good faith would commit murder if forced to. This game was made impossible to proceed without killing others. A system message, You have 77 unread viewers messages. Check the message log to read the messages. was displayed at the corner of the boys view. Actually, the notification had been flickering for quite a while now. The boy opened the message log with reluctance. A translucent window containing several messages divided into three different tabsgeneral messages, system messages, and viewers messages, popped up in the air. When he tapped on the viewers messages tab, messages of various colors filled the boys view. PrincessCattitude: Oppa, why arent you chasing her? MURD3R: Go follow and kill her! Thinking is for pussies, just do it! You MURD3R, therefore you are! A mans gotta kill and fuck! Whos the real man? Youre the real man! How real? Goddamn real! Just dont touch her lower half cuz youre gonna need that to fuck her Legend12: Dude u r fucking crazy lmaooooo do u even realize how young this kid is? cashmere: I dont think the age restriction applies to people with afterlife insurance VanDakhom: I see a moralfag golden_spoon: Fucking morons The boy felt like he got struck on the back of his head. Of all attempts, this was his first time turning on the streaming service. He quickly closed the message window, but opened it again after a while and carefully inserted a message. It didnt take him long to enter the message thanks to the Teletype module, which turned the users thoughts into sentences in just a second and automatically translated them if there was a language barrier. Han Gyeoul: As I said earlier, I wont allow backseating. And please, watch your language. He then quickly closed the window. The boy saw an explosive increase in the number of incoming messages, but he didnt dare to read them. For some reason, the boy felt disgusted. The stone, which he had forgotten about, started rolling around, hurting his heart. The boy hurried his gait in an effort to disregard the pain. Several missions were displayed inside the boys field of view. This would be an important decision since things would change drastically depending on the choice he made here. However, the boy headed straight to a place that he had in mind. There was a long line of military vehicles waiting at the destination. They were quite different from those he had seen in his lifetime. It was obvious since the game was set in the early 21st century, a bygone era. The Control AI, which responded to the users subconscious, displayed the names of the vehicles for him. At the head and tail of the line, there were jeeps named Humvee, armed with machine guns, and right at the center of the line were a couple of military tank trucks tagged as M978A2, presumably for procuring oil. The rest were normal trucks painted with camouflage patterns. The traffic near the vehicles was being strictly regulated to prevent refugees from taking them. Right by the vehicles was a long line of people queueing to join the procurement mission. The boy also stood at the back of the line and patiently waited for his turn. Looking ahead of the line, the boy saw that the applicants were given bulletproof jackets, gas masks, and duffle bags after being frisked. When the boys turn came, the master sergeant grumbled with a disapproving look, Too small! Are we really using a kid for this mission? Were not the ones to choose, sir, the staff sergeant standing next to him replied bluntly. Though the boy wasnt acquainted with the master sergeant, he was somewhat familiar with the staff sergeant who, after casting a side glance, continued, Apparently, Lieutenant RoboCop is fond of him. He said he volunteered for this mission to be of help to others. RoboCop was Robert Capstones nickname. And youre buying it? He doesnt belong to any of the refugee factions. Hes fluent in English and seems to have learned some Japanese and Chinese recently. Id say his language skills will be useful to manage the refugees. Japanese and Chinese were skills that the boy had acquired by investing his experience points. Although others may hear him as if he were speaking different languages, it wasnt actually his own competence. It was more like an ingrained translator that automatically translated the words he spoke and heard. In an apocalyptic world where social interaction was an important factor, the ability to speak different languages was one of the most important survival skills. Boy, how old are you? asked the master sergeant. And again, the Control AI responded to the users will and displayed some possible answers in front of his eyes. The answers that the AI provided differed based on ones intelligence stat, or the level of leadership-type skills such as Insight Detection and Deception. But the boy answered frankly. There was no need to lie anyway. Seventeen. Seventeen? Not twelve? Damn, you Asians look so young I can hardly tell your age! After another grumble, the master sergeant gestured one of his subordinates to inspect him. After confirming that the boy wasnt hiding anything, the private handed the boy the same items that the other applicants were provided with. The master sergeant then warned the boy not to take off the gas mask during the mission unless he was ordered to. There was no evidence proving that the epidemic was airborne, but there wasnt any that disproved it either. After passing by the inspection station, the boy followed the path and went into the makeshift barracks. Once he entered, a soldier guided him to a seat next to the Koreans. Some of them turned around and greeted the boy. Though he didnt want to, he returned the greetings for it would do him no good to ignore them. After waiting for the seats to be filled, Lieutenant Robert Capstone came up to the podium and made a gesture towards a soldier. Light shot out from an overhead projector and onto a white screen at the front. What appeared on the screen was a map. The lieutenant looked around at the refugees for a second and called some names. The boys name was also called. If you were called, please come forward and help me deliver my words in your respective language. When the boy and other people nodded, he tapped his finger against the microphone to draw attention and began to give the people a briefing about the map on the screen. What you are seeing here is a map of the San Miguel County. As you can see, its not a big town. It had a population of about 3,300, but now theres no one left. Now, our first goal is to reach the only gas station in the town. Right where his finger was pointing was the entry to the village from Route 101, and there was a gas station right above it. The convoy will stop here to fill up the tank trucks with fuel. Meanwhile, you will be split into two groups and move to other areas to procure supplies. The first group will be heading to a church located two blocks south of the gas station. Since it was used as a temporary shelter when the evacuation order was issued, theres a good chance of finding a considerable amount of supplies left inside the building. The second group will be moving a bit further away, four blocks north from the gas station theres a street full of restaurants and a flour factory. Since its located further away from the gas station, theres a higher chance of encountering monsters, but its also the place where we can expect the most to find food, so its worth the risk. The lieutenant then looked back at the people. So, as youve all heard, theres a greater risk of encountering monsters if you head towards the flour factory. I know you all have bravely volunteered for this mission, but Id like to ask you one more time. If anyone wants to join the second group, please raise your hand. The boy immediately raised his hand after interpreting the lieutenants words. To the rest of the people there, it appeared that the boy had spoken only to himself as he raised his hand. People, including Lieutenant Capstone, looked at the boy with newfound interest. Because he was the only one who raised his hand. System messages notifying him of upward revisions to favor continuously popped up for quite a few seconds. It seemed like he had earned more favor from the soldiers rather than the refugees. One of the messages even had the words permanent revision in it. You have earned the favor of Corporal Elliot. There will be an upward revision to Corporal Elliots favor. There will be a permanent upward revision to Corporal Elliots favor. Unable to identify the specific figure. Relationships in real life could easily change. Even if two people became best friends, the relationship may not last forever. And just like in real life, the favor a person ingame held towards the player would also decrease over time or when hostile events occurred. However, a permanent revision was different, this figure would never decline no matter what happened. The last sentence of the message put a frown on the boys expression. The reason why the figures were unidentifiable was that he lacked the required level of Insight. Its probably only a little. The boy didnt suppose the deficit to be a lot. Anyone else? Lieutenant Capstone asked one more time, but everyone was busy watching the others reactions. Although he had praised them for being brave, he knew that most of them were only here for the ration stamps. The lieutenant put on a sour face. I have a question. The boy raised his hand, to which the lieutenant nodded. Theres a limit to the amount of supplies an individual can carry with a bag. I think we could collect a lot more supplies if we were to use the trucks. Is there any reason why we arent using them? The boy already knew the answer to the question. It would have been asked by another refugee if he didnt ask, so he did it just to quicken the process. Lieutenant Capstone nodded at the boy and ordered a soldier to display the satellite pictures. Good question. Thats actually the plan B for the mission I was about to explain, so everyone please pay attention. This is an image captured by satellite of the San Miguel County after the evacuation order was issued. Do you see these cars blocking the roads? This is the reason why we cant use the trucks. Some people ran into each others cars due to the panic generated by the evacuation order. Only if we get rid of these cars, well be able to deploy the trucks. If you manage to do it, notify us via radio. But be aware that the noise produced when clearing these obstacles may attract the infected people. If that happens, well immediately cancel plan B and return to plan A, which involves personally carrying the supplies. The assessment will be made by the soldiers accompanying you, so please, do not act alone and follow the orders given. The question period continued for a few moments in which Lieutenant Capstone gave sincere answers to all of the questions. When the session was about to reach its end, one of the refugees asked the most useless question: how many ration stamps would the participants get after completing the mission. For a second after hearing the question, the lieutenant had a lost look on his face, but he soon answered. Well provide you with three days worth of ration stamps, but you may be rewarded with more stamps based on your attitude and performance on this mission. As soon as the lieutenant finished answering, the sentence, The rewards may vary depending on the assessment of the accompanying soldiers was added to the quest window. Though it was something he had already experienced several times before, the boy couldnt erase the thought that it was a little unfair. If he were to get assigned to the team accompanied by a soldier with a racist character, there was a high chance that he wouldnt be able to get a fair assessment. If there are no more questions, well now begin the map exercise. The mission you have volunteered to participate in is dangerous. You must fully familiarize yourself with the surroundings in order to avoid panicking in the middle of the mission, thus preventing unforeseen accidents. After Lieutenant Capstone finished his speech, several corporals came forward and gathered the participants to start the map exercise. Map exercise was a training that aimed to help the soldiers acquaint themselves with the geographic features of the operation area and the operation itself. For players, this practice was also an opportunity to acquire a mini-map. However, not all characters could acquire the same mini-map from this exercise. Characters that had invested enough in intelligence points or learned the skill Map Reading could acquire a complete mini-map, while those who didnt would receive an inferior version that contained some errors and empty spaces here and there. Chapter 2. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (2) # Journal, page 21, Camp Roberts Foods running out. The last time the government sent relief supplies via helicopter was a week ago. There are too many places in need of help, but the number of aircrafts available is limited. The use of ground vehicles was discontinued long ago because of the risk of losing the supplies. It seems like the military here is still in touch with the U.S. government, but its clear that the government is losing control over the California area. Hygiene products have long since run out of stock. People are becoming even more vicious. The camp is already greeting late autumn, but were still not prepared for winter. Not to mention food and water, we still have to look for ways to keep ourselves warm until the end of the upcoming winter. The commanding officer summoned the representatives of the refugees and gathered their opinions. Apparently, the consensus was to organize a procurement team made up of volunteers. A former police officer, one of the survivors from San Francisco, was put in charge of the procurement teams management. The volunteers will be given priority for ration stamps, so if the camp were to suffer a shortage of food, those who didnt volunteer will more likely starve to death. Still, many refuse to go out and have opted to stay inside the camp. They probably think its better to die from starvation in a safe place rather than to be eaten alive outside. Theres also the possibility that a food shortage wont occur, therefore, the U.S. military hasnt urged the people to participate in the mission. Dispatching unwilling people who refuse to listen to orders would pose an even greater danger to the mission. Players Choice: Join the procurement team. But Im different. If I were to become exhausted due to insufficient nutrition, I could die not from starvation, but other reasons. If thats the case, I want to at least struggle till the very end before I die. When I went to the recruitment center to volunteer for the procurement team, Lieutenant Robert Capstone, one of the officers that happened to be there, dragged me out of the building. He was one of the soft-liners among the U.S. officers. Noting that I was the only one among the middlemen who didnt belong to any faction, he asked me if I was being left out because of my age. He also told me to reconsider my decision for he would spare me some of the ration stamps. AI Advice (Lvl 4 Insight): You can either accept or decline Robert Capstones offer. If you accept, there will be an upward revision to the stability of the community and your leadership within the community. You may also gain favors from the soft-line officers. If you decline, there will be an upward revision to your will power, charm, and leadership. Players Choice: Volunteer for the procurement mission anyway. I thanked him for his kindness and refused his offer. I told him that I didnt want to wait helplessly within the camps enclosure and that Id rather make myself useful to the people in the camp. Hearing my words, Lieutenant Capstone gave me a wistful glance and stepped aside in silence. He then patted me on my shoulder as I walked past him. Good people do exist even in times of crisis. Im glad theres still a person like him in this world. # Procurement Mission, Camp Roberts. The game worked as follows: The background story was provided to the player through visual footage, like videos and journals, but it differed based on presets such as nationality, gender, age, occupation, characteristics, and starting point, which the player had to enter beforehand. Interestingly, the game would always provide players with different background stories even if players chose the same presets, and thats the reason why the boy was spending his time listening to the journal, which had been provided to him in the form of a monologue, even when this was already his 27th attempt at the game. Except for a few cases, journals contained a lot of information regarding the setting of the game, so the boy had to take in as many details as possible. It shouldve been a boring task for someone who had already gone through this process 26 times, but thanks to the fact that the setting of the game became more and more sophisticated after each attempt, he found it rather interesting. In addition, the game projected the contents of the journal in front of the boys eyes, as if he were watching the situation unfolding through the characters eyes, only, he wasnt the one in control. But now that the journal had concluded, control was given back to him. The boy looked around. Underneath the dawning sky, rows of tents pitched with old muddy pieces of fabric were aligned along the fences. Not far away, the boy heard a dull thud as he followed the hologram in charge of guiding him to his mission, a sound that he wouldnt have recognized if this had been his first attempt at the game. It was the sound of something sharp being stabbed into human flesh. And sure enough, as he the boy walked towards the direction the sound had come from, he found a woman holding a knife in her hands and a middle-aged man crouching on the ground while clutching his stomach. With a clinking noise, the bloody knife dropped from the womans hand onto the ground. The woman then looked around and found the boy staring at her. Startled by his sudden appearance, the woman stood frozen to her spot for a while, but soon, she walked up to the middle-aged man, took out some crumpled ration stamps from his pockets and ran away in a hurry. The only thing the boy did in the face of this sudden event was to look at the scene with a frown. He knew that those who committed this kind of crime were usually underlings in a faction. If he were to follow her now, he might have to deal with the whole faction. In this virtual world of Days After Apocalypse, the greatest threat was, in fact, none other than the live humans. Humans do anything to survive. Even those of good faith would commit murder if forced to. This game was made impossible to proceed without killing others. A system message, You have 77 unread viewers messages. Check the message log to read the messages. was displayed at the corner of the boys view. Actually, the notification had been flickering for quite a while now. The boy opened the message log with reluctance. A translucent window containing several messages divided into three different tabsgeneral messages, system messages, and viewers messages, popped up in the air. When he tapped on the viewers messages tab, messages of various colors filled the boys view. PrincessCattitude: Oppa, why arent you chasing her? MURD3R: Go follow and kill her! Thinking is for pussies, just do it! You MURD3R, therefore you are! A mans gotta kill and fuck! Whos the real man? Youre the real man! How real? Goddamn real! Just dont touch her lower half cuz youre gonna need that to fuck her Legend12: Dude u r fucking crazy lmaooooo do u even realize how young this kid is? cashmere: I dont think the age restriction applies to people with afterlife insurance VanDakhom: I see a moralfag golden_spoon: Fucking morons The boy felt like he got struck on the back of his head. Of all attempts, this was his first time turning on the streaming service. He quickly closed the message window, but opened it again after a while and carefully inserted a message. It didnt take him long to enter the message thanks to the Teletype module, which turned the users thoughts into sentences in just a second and automatically translated them if there was a language barrier. Han Gyeoul: As I said earlier, I wont allow backseating. And please, watch your language. He then quickly closed the window. The boy saw an explosive increase in the number of incoming messages, but he didnt dare to read them. For some reason, the boy felt disgusted. The stone, which he had forgotten about, started rolling around, hurting his heart. The boy hurried his gait in an effort to disregard the pain. Several missions were displayed inside the boys field of view. This would be an important decision since things would change drastically depending on the choice he made here. However, the boy headed straight to a place that he had in mind. There was a long line of military vehicles waiting at the destination. They were quite different from those he had seen in his lifetime. It was obvious since the game was set in the early 21st century, a bygone era. The Control AI, which responded to the users subconscious, displayed the names of the vehicles for him. At the head and tail of the line, there were jeeps named Humvee, armed with machine guns, and right at the center of the line were a couple of military tank trucks tagged as M978A2, presumably for procuring oil. The rest were normal trucks painted with camouflage patterns. The traffic near the vehicles was being strictly regulated to prevent refugees from taking them. Right by the vehicles was a long line of people queueing to join the procurement mission. The boy also stood at the back of the line and patiently waited for his turn. Looking ahead of the line, the boy saw that the applicants were given bulletproof jackets, gas masks, and duffle bags after being frisked. When the boys turn came, the master sergeant grumbled with a disapproving look, Too small! Are we really using a kid for this mission? Were not the ones to choose, sir, the staff sergeant standing next to him replied bluntly. Though the boy wasnt acquainted with the master sergeant, he was somewhat familiar with the staff sergeant who, after casting a side glance, continued, Apparently, Lieutenant RoboCop is fond of him. He said he volunteered for this mission to be of help to others. RoboCop was Robert Capstones nickname. And youre buying it? He doesnt belong to any of the refugee factions. Hes fluent in English and seems to have learned some Japanese and Chinese recently. Id say his language skills will be useful to manage the refugees. Japanese and Chinese were skills that the boy had acquired by investing his experience points. Although others may hear him as if he were speaking different languages, it wasnt actually his own competence. It was more like an ingrained translator that automatically translated the words he spoke and heard. In an apocalyptic world where social interaction was an important factor, the ability to speak different languages was one of the most important survival skills. Boy, how old are you? asked the master sergeant. And again, the Control AI responded to the users will and displayed some possible answers in front of his eyes. The answers that the AI provided differed based on ones intelligence stat, or the level of leadership-type skills such as Insight Detection and Deception. But the boy answered frankly. There was no need to lie anyway. Seventeen. Seventeen? Not twelve? Damn, you Asians look so young I can hardly tell your age! After another grumble, the master sergeant gestured one of his subordinates to inspect him. After confirming that the boy wasnt hiding anything, the private handed the boy the same items that the other applicants were provided with. The master sergeant then warned the boy not to take off the gas mask during the mission unless he was ordered to. There was no evidence proving that the epidemic was airborne, but there wasnt any that disproved it either. After passing by the inspection station, the boy followed the path and went into the makeshift barracks. Once he entered, a soldier guided him to a seat next to the Koreans. Some of them turned around and greeted the boy. Though he didnt want to, he returned the greetings for it would do him no good to ignore them. After waiting for the seats to be filled, Lieutenant Robert Capstone came up to the podium and made a gesture towards a soldier. Light shot out from an overhead projector and onto a white screen at the front. What appeared on the screen was a map. The lieutenant looked around at the refugees for a second and called some names. The boys name was also called. If you were called, please come forward and help me deliver my words in your respective language. When the boy and other people nodded, he tapped his finger against the microphone to draw attention and began to give the people a briefing about the map on the screen. What you are seeing here is a map of the San Miguel County. As you can see, its not a big town. It had a population of about 3,300, but now theres no one left. Now, our first goal is to reach the only gas station in the town. Right where his finger was pointing was the entry to the village from Route 101, and there was a gas station right above it. The convoy will stop here to fill up the tank trucks with fuel. Meanwhile, you will be split into two groups and move to other areas to procure supplies. The first group will be heading to a church located two blocks south of the gas station. Since it was used as a temporary shelter when the evacuation order was issued, theres a good chance of finding a considerable amount of supplies left inside the building. The second group will be moving a bit further away, four blocks north from the gas station theres a street full of restaurants and a flour factory. Since its located further away from the gas station, theres a higher chance of encountering monsters, but its also the place where we can expect the most to find food, so its worth the risk. The lieutenant then looked back at the people. So, as youve all heard, theres a greater risk of encountering monsters if you head towards the flour factory. I know you all have bravely volunteered for this mission, but Id like to ask you one more time. If anyone wants to join the second group, please raise your hand. The boy immediately raised his hand after interpreting the lieutenants words. To the rest of the people there, it appeared that the boy had spoken only to himself as he raised his hand. People, including Lieutenant Capstone, looked at the boy with newfound interest. Because he was the only one who raised his hand. System messages notifying him of upward revisions to favor continuously popped up for quite a few seconds. It seemed like he had earned more favor from the soldiers rather than the refugees. One of the messages even had the words permanent revision in it. You have earned the favor of Corporal Elliot. There will be an upward revision to Corporal Elliots favor. There will be a permanent upward revision to Corporal Elliots favor. Unable to identify the specific figure. Relationships in real life could easily change. Even if two people became best friends, the relationship may not last forever. And just like in real life, the favor a person ingame held towards the player would also decrease over time or when hostile events occurred. However, a permanent revision was different, this figure would never decline no matter what happened. The last sentence of the message put a frown on the boys expression. The reason why the figures were unidentifiable was that he lacked the required level of Insight. Its probably only a little. The boy didnt suppose the deficit to be a lot. Anyone else? Lieutenant Capstone asked one more time, but everyone was busy watching the others reactions. Although he had praised them for being brave, he knew that most of them were only here for the ration stamps. The lieutenant put on a sour face. I have a question. The boy raised his hand, to which the lieutenant nodded. Theres a limit to the amount of supplies an individual can carry with a bag. I think we could collect a lot more supplies if we were to use the trucks. Is there any reason why we arent using them? The boy already knew the answer to the question. It would have been asked by another refugee if he didnt ask, so he did it just to quicken the process. Lieutenant Capstone nodded at the boy and ordered a soldier to display the satellite pictures. Good question. Thats actually the plan B for the mission I was about to explain, so everyone please pay attention. This is an image captured by satellite of the San Miguel County after the evacuation order was issued. Do you see these cars blocking the roads? This is the reason why we cant use the trucks. Some people ran into each others cars due to the panic generated by the evacuation order. Only if we get rid of these cars, well be able to deploy the trucks. If you manage to do it, notify us via radio. But be aware that the noise produced when clearing these obstacles may attract the infected people. If that happens, well immediately cancel plan B and return to plan A, which involves personally carrying the supplies. The assessment will be made by the soldiers accompanying you, so please, do not act alone and follow the orders given. The question period continued for a few moments in which Lieutenant Capstone gave sincere answers to all of the questions. When the session was about to reach its end, one of the refugees asked the most useless question: how many ration stamps would the participants get after completing the mission. For a second after hearing the question, the lieutenant had a lost look on his face, but he soon answered. Well provide you with three days worth of ration stamps, but you may be rewarded with more stamps based on your attitude and performance on this mission. As soon as the lieutenant finished answering, the sentence, The rewards may vary depending on the assessment of the accompanying soldiers was added to the quest window. Though it was something he had already experienced several times before, the boy couldnt erase the thought that it was a little unfair. If he were to get assigned to the team accompanied by a soldier with a racist character, there was a high chance that he wouldnt be able to get a fair assessment. If there are no more questions, well now begin the map exercise. The mission you have volunteered to participate in is dangerous. You must fully familiarize yourself with the surroundings in order to avoid panicking in the middle of the mission, thus preventing unforeseen accidents. After Lieutenant Capstone finished his speech, several corporals came forward and gathered the participants to start the map exercise. Map exercise was a training that aimed to help the soldiers acquaint themselves with the geographic features of the operation area and the operation itself. For players, this practice was also an opportunity to acquire a mini-map. However, not all characters could acquire the same mini-map from this exercise. Characters that had invested enough in intelligence points or learned the skill Map Reading could acquire a complete mini-map, while those who didnt would receive an inferior version that contained some errors and empty spaces here and there. Before starting the map exercise, people were picked by lot to go to the flour factory, because only one person, the boy, had volunteered himself. Those who were chosen had a miserable scowl on their faces. The map exercise didnt take long to complete because the size of San Miguel County was so small. It was quite obvious since this mission was supposed to be the tutorial. Itd be bad if it were too difficult. Before starting the map exercise, people were picked by lot to go to the flour factory, because only one person, the boy, had volunteered himself. Those who were chosen had a miserable scowl on their faces. The map exercise didnt take long to complete because the size of San Miguel County was so small. It was quite obvious since this mission was supposed to be the tutorial. Itd be bad if it were too difficult. Chapter 3: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (3) Chapter 3. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (3)# Procurement Mission (2), Camp Roberts. The procurement mission commenced after a few more practice sessions of basic tactical maneuvers and hand signals, which the boy thought were just for the sake of formalities. Whod be able to memorize so many things in merely an hour? A lot of people showed up to see the mission team off. It was something that the boy couldnt understand. He decided to shrug it off, thinking that if he had a higher level of Insight, he wouldve been able to read their thoughts. And as soon as that thought crossed his mind, the Control AI responded to it and displayed an advice message. AI Advice (Lvl 4 Insight): You have unused experience points. Experience points can be used to acquire various skills. Your characters base stats can be upgraded by acquiring more skills. The amount of experience points consumed may vary depending on your level of knowledge regarding that particular skill. Sufficient information and knowledge of the skill will result in a cost reduction. Information about skills can be obtained from books or NPCs, you may also use keywords to search for a particular skill at the cost of experience points. Skills acquired in previous attempts can be learned for a reduced amount of experience points. The amount of points reduced depends on the number of times you acquired the skill in previous trials. Despite the large consumption of experience points, learning a completely new skill can be advantageous. It rests with you to choose. It was something he was already aware of. The boy opened his skills window. The window showed a list of skills he had acquired with the experience points granted to him at the start of the game. Below the list of acquired skills were the skills he hadnt yet learned. The list didnt include skills that he didnt know of. The boy, however, didnt bother looking for unknown skills. Unless he were to come across a skill by chance, he would have to either waste his time searching through books and bribing NPCs or waste his experience points by trying out keywords to find skills that he wasnt even sure existed. Not only that, he would have to spend a ton of experience points to learn the skills for the first time. It was due to one of the games mechanics, which the players called Ignorance Penalty. Although the Ignorance Penalty was a big obstacle, learning a brand new skill wasnt necessarily a bad idea. For example, a player could learn medical skills to a high level even if they knew nothing about medicine. Of course, theyd have to spend a lot of experience points, but it could come in handy in times of emergency. Fortunately, skills that one had acquired at least once during previous attempts werent subjected to the Ignorance Penalty. Rather, previously learned skills had aTalent Advantage applied to them. In other words, one could learn and train the same skills for fewer experience points. However, this benefit would only apply until the skill reached its previous highest level. This, along with the bonus effects granted for completing achievements, were the only advantages players with multiple playthroughs had. Previously, the boy had allotted his experience points primarily on battle skills. He was able to raise quite a few levels with those few experience points he had. Of course, that had also led him to multiple bad endings in his previous attempts. Level 9 Close Combat, Level 10 Melee Weapon Mastery, Level 8 Small Arms Mastery. After distributing his experience points, the boy saw Corporal Elliot, the one in charge of management, writing something on a notebook with a green cover. Judging by the date written at the top, it seemed to be a diary. S?a??h th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Noticing the boys stare, Corporal Elliot covered the diary with one arm, I dont know how manners work in your country, but dont you think its rude to look at others diaries? Oh, sorry. I wasnt reading your diary. Well, I didnt write anything special in it, the corporal then closed his diary. The boy saw a button flickering in a corner of his view. It was a time-acceleration button, a feature used to skip the waiting time before a mission, but the boy just ignored it. It was a bad idea to use the acceleration option in the early stages of the game, as every small event and trivial relationship around this point would be useful in the future. And just as expected, someone was already striking up a conversation with him. Hey, kid. Whats your name? A Mestizo soldier asked for the boys name. Though his English pronunciation was flawless, the name written on his name tag suggested that he wasnt Anglo American. GuiIherme Even though it was written in English, the boy had no idea how to pronounce his name. The advice window also showed a set of illegible symbols, which meant it was in a language he didnt know. Its Gyeoul. Gyowool? Yup. It means winter in Korean. It sounds similar to mine. And your name is? The soldier seemed to have found the boy interesting. He seems amazed at how you can remain calm when all the others look nervous and hesitant. He must be thinking you are very bold. (72% probability of containing errors / a higher level of Insight or higher Intelligence stat is necessary to reduce the probability of error.) The boy thought it was a rather obvious answer. The soldier answered, You can call me GuiIherme. Okay, Private GuiIherme-nim. Just call me GuiIherme. The fellow soldiers laughed. It was because the expression Nim, the Korean honorific, was translated into Sir. The private grumbled, telling the boy not to make fun of him like that. There wasnt much time to converse inside the vehicle, as their destination was only 5 kilometers away from the camp. The towns outline was already beginning to dimly come into view. Even from a distance, it looked very bleak and dreary, spreading agitation among the participants. The private also said with a loud sigh, Damn, the towns looking pretty spooky. I thought itd be good to take a stroll around after being stuck in that camp for such a freaking long time, but I take that back. The convoy drove along Route 101 leading to the upcoming junction and past the town since the gas station was located in the southernmost area of the town. As the convoy began to slow down, the boy caught sight of a logo composed of two blue and red angled stripes below the name of a famous oil corporation, Chevron. Taking a key out of his pocket to unlock a gun case, Corporal Elliot then addressed the participants, As you all have been instructed, do not try to run away. There are patrol planes out there ready to shoot down anything that crosses the east border. Follow the orders if you want to make it out alive. Those who disobey will be sentenced and punished on the spot. Do you understand? The participants nodded with dark complexions. Several infected mutants came out from the town attracted by the noise of the vehicles. Letting out growling voices, the mutants began to run towards the vehicles. Despite their weird posture, they were reaching the vehicles at a terrifying pace. But before they could reach the vehicles, a soldier sitting on the foremost Humvee fired his rifle. On their way to the vehicles, the mutants crumpled on the ground one by one, accompanied by wind-piercing sounds. Even after getting shot, some of the mutants still tried to crawl their way over. Get back to your seats. The others will handle them. Corporal Elliot tried to calm down the participants, but they didnt seem to listen. A soldier sitting on the opposite side, Private Blake, grumbled, I thought San Miguel would be safer thanks to the evacuation order. How come the mutants are already here to welcome us? They must be from another area, Private Guilherme responded curtly, keeping his eyes and rifle pointed towards the outside. Soon after and without further gunfire, the convoy was able to reach the gas station. While the tank trucks got to their positions, the participants were handed some guns and machetes before getting off. Despite having selected people with good mental health, the soldiers had to stay alert in case someone started shooting at others. Get off! With the soldiers at the front, the participants carefully got down from the cars. Some of the soldiers in charge of leading them proceeded to do a headcount while the others stood guard. In the meantime, the boy heard a disgruntled voice coming from the gas station. Why wont this damned pump work? A soldier seemed to have problems dealing with the pump. He put his finger under his winter cap and scratched his head. A handful of dandruff fell on his shoulder like snow. It seemed that the soldiers were also out of the cleaning products. Either that or he was just lazy. Rememberstick to the plan. If its safe enough, clear the roadblocks and well deploy the trucks. If not, fill the duffle bags with supplies and return. We have some extra bags here, you may try making several trips until its dark. Well evaluate your contributions and reward you individually. I hope you all do your best. The participants nodded. Then lets begin. As previously announced, well be defending from behind. Please take the lead in order. The soldiers then went to the rear row. Although the participants put on sour faces, no one could raise a complaint, after all, it was them who had volunteered for this mission even after being reminded of the risks. # Public Service Announcement, 2040, KBS* In an old town, in an alleyway between dilapidated houses. The screen showed an old man picking up scrap papers and cardboard boxes. The tattered edges of his sleeves swayed with the autumn breeze. The old man trembled as his poorly patched-up clothes werent enough to protect him from the chilling wind. A girl passed by, peeking at the old man and covering her nose with her hand. The old man dropped his head in embarrassment. A phrase seemingly representing his inner thoughts appeared on one corner of the screen. I can have dinner if I sell these The scene changed. It now showed a steeply sloping road. The old man was trying to pull the handcart up the hill, but it didnt seem to be easy. His body looked too small compared to the handcart loaded with tons of scraps. The sun was setting behind the old man. Then, the warm voice of the female narrator followed, The mans name is Park Woocheol, he turned 86 years old this year. He makes a living by selling scrap papers. Even though he receives 630,000 won every month from the national pension service, its not enough. The minimum cost of living for a single-person household is estimated to be 1,645,053 won per month. Prices go up every year, but the national pension fund, which has run dry long ago, has been in limbo for years. Life is so hard for the elderly in Korea. The old man finally managed to climb up the hill. The camera zoomed in on the old mans face. His wrinkly forehead was beaded with sweat. The scene once again changed and showed the old man selling the papers. The owner of the scrap store was classifying the papers while the old man waited anxiously by his side. The owner tapped on a calculator a few times, which showed the number 13,325. The old man then gave him a pocket that had been hanging next to the handcart. It contained a few valuable scraps such as aluminum cans and rusty iron. The owner weighed them and tapped on the calculator a few more times. This time, it showed a little more than twenty thousand. The owner paid him 21,000 won, to which the old man bowed his head several times in gratitude. The narrator spoke once again, Mr. Park is not the worst case. Several scrap dealers in Seoul have closed down due to the laws and regulations for waste, and many of the elderly cannot even sell scrap papers anymore. They have to live off of their monthly pension. The screen now displayed the old mans room. Even though it was a small room, it appeared spacious due to the lack of furniture. The old man laid down on the cold bare floor with only a blanket to cover himself with. He fiddled with his old TV, but it didnt seem to be working. For lack of anything better to do, he closed his eyes. He pulled up the blanket over his head and curled up to keep himself warm. I have to save the briquettes for winter It was not a matter of saving, but survival. I wonder how Suyeong is doing. The screen changed to show his daughter, who he had raised. The narrator continued with her sentimental voice, Parents tend not to lean on their children, and we understand it. We know how hard it is to survive in this tough world even without being burdened by them, so they choose to live on their own. But is this really the right thing to do? The screen shifted once again. Engineers were building facilities and scientists were absorbed in experiments. 3D models of human brains, images of firing neurons Everything was shown in a bright atmosphere that contrasted dramatically with the previous scene. What was shown next were scenes of various people smiling happily. A young woman enjoying her summer in a valley was captioned 92 years old Ahn Miyeong, and a young man walking on a field filled with flowers was captioned 88 years old Choi Daeyang. The didnt stop there. It showed many other elderly people living a happy life in a young body as if they had gone back in time. The era of living is in the past. We are now in the era of existence. Convert your National Pension into Afterlife Insurance and experience an eternal life of freedom and unlimited happiness. Afterlife Insurance will cover your life after death. Now, the screen showed the sad side of old man Park Woocheol and the joyous side of countless people living in virtual realities with cross-cut edits. Dont worry about the brain transference operation. The probability of an operation failure is lower than the probability of an airplane crash. Our worlds most renowned life support device and neural connector will keep your brain healthy beyond your lifespan. If you arent familiar with virtual reality, try visiting our Experience Facility. You may experience the worlds we have to offer and choose the world youd like to live in. The Virtual Reality Experience Facility is open to the public year-round. The Experience Facilities appeared to be neat and tidy. The elderly came in twos and threes and tried on the virtual reality devices. They laughed in satisfaction. Among them was Park Woocheol. The screen displayed a young man walking on a flowery path with a broad smile on his face. Afterlife Insurance will return your life to you. The ended with the image of a fluttering Korean flag. This campaign is joined by the Korea Public Service Council, the National Pension Service and the Afterlife Insurance Corporation. * Korean Broadcasting System Chapter 4: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (4) Chapter 4. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (4)# Procurement Mission (3), San Miguel. Gas stations located along the national highway usually had hostels and restaurants in their vicinity. The one in San Miguel was no exception, there were a couple of Spanish restaurants right across the road and a small hostel next to them. With the soldiers keeping watch, the participants, now armed with firearms and machetes, started by searching those first. The two restaurants were soon filled with participants. The place was so crowded that if mutants were to appear right now, the participants probably wouldnt be able to react properly, so the boy decided to stay out. The rest of the participants looked extremely enthusiastic. The boy presumed that they were trying to earn the soldiers recognition by showing their commitment now that they were in a relatively safe area. Some of them even started fighting inside the building and the noise they made was so loud he could hear them from outside. Fortunately, everyone made it out alive. The building seemed to be free of mutants, but that didnt mean that everyone had emerged unscathed. It was obvious that a wild brawl had taken place inside the building. One participant even came out sobbing with his bag torn and without his gas mask, but he had to go back inside after getting berated for losing his mask. A man with a bulky frame came out swaggering, his bag full of supplies. Much to the boys shame, the man was Korean. It was particularly embarrassing because he knew that this worlds characters were created by analyzing the data of certain age groups from the period the game was set on. The man asked the boy to translate his words, which the boy did with reluctance, Ive done my part. I dont want to go out anymore. The soldiers and officers looked at the man with disgust on their faces. Corporal Elliot grumbled in a low voice, I knew someone would do that, but still shit. The man asked the boy to translate back, but the boy pretended he didnt hear him. Following the orders of Private Guilherme and Corporal Elliot, the ten participants embarked on their journey to the flour factory. They had to move three blocks east and four blocks north to get there. It wouldve been nothing more than a simple stroll if not for the Morgellons outbreak. The boy volunteered to take the lead, eliciting a concerned look from the soldiers behind. Even though he had a gun and a knife with him, he was still a boy. However, the boy was confident. He had his level 9 Close Combat, level 10 Melee Weapon Mastery, and above all, experience. There were cars obstructing various parts of the road. The team proceeded as the participants pushed the cars to the sides while the soldiers watched their backs. The dark and empty houses that peeked over the fences looked very forlorn and desolate. Halt, Corporal Elliot ordered as he raised his clenched fist. The rest of the people lowered their postures and started eyeing around like scared animals. Much to their relief, there wasnt any mutant around them. The boy followed the corporals eyes and saw a flagpole. Two flags were hanging up on the pole, one was the familiar Star-Spangled Banner, but he didnt recognize the other one. Whats that flag? Thats the flag of California. And that building over there, its a fire station. I didnt see it during the map exercise, Private Guilherme answered. Indeed, the words California Republic were written on the flag, underneath the picture of a bear. The corporal decided to explore the fire station. Although they probably wouldnt find any food, medical supplies such as painkillers, antibiotics, and bandages were also crucial for survival. Not just that, they might also find fire trucks which could be used to carry water in long-distance journeys. Even the smallest five-ton fire truck can hold over 3,000 liters of water. This time again, the boy decided to stand at the groups front. The soldiers advised him to take turns rotating with the other participants, but he insisted on leading the group. A message popped up, notifying him of a slight upward revision to the two soldiers favor, but that didnt bring the boy that much happiness, he couldnt bother with the small stuff. The fire station was just a single-story building, presumably due to the small size of the town. There was an office right next to the garage, but unfortunately, nothing was visible from outside the window. The boy knocked on the door with the back of his knife, hard enough for those inside to hear, but not for those far away. Afraid that the boys actions would attract the mutants to them, one of the participants ran up to him and grabbed him by his collar. Hey, leave him alone, said Private Guilherme, pointing his gun towards the man and flicking it to one side. He then added that if it were really dangerous, he wouldve stopped the boy. However, the man slowly backed away and collapsed onto the floor while trembling. Something had knocked on the door from the inside. Putting his ear against the door, the boy heard a soft growl. It wasnt a sound that a human would make, it was a mutant. The boy shook his head at the two soldiers who were preparing to open fire. He then grabbed the doorknob with one hand, holding his machete in the other one. Ill take care of it. Okay, now youre seriously out of your mind. While Private Guilherme shook his head, Corporal Elliot asked the boy if he was sure of this, to which the boy answered with a nod. S?a??h the N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. All right. If you think you can do it. Rather than trusting the boy, he believed that the participants needed some sort of stimulus. Still, he didnt want the boy to get hurt, as that would only produce the opposite effect. Therefore, the corporal placed his finger on the trigger, ready to shoot at any moment. The boy pictured the mutant on the opposite side of the door, if it was a firefighter in their suit, there wouldnt be many weak spots to stab. His thoughts were concise and his actions swift, when he twisted the doorknob, the mutant that had been pushing against it fell out from the room and onto the floor. The boy quickly kicked its helmet off, stepped on its back and stabbed his machete into its head. With a loud crunching sound, the blade penetrated its skull. The blood-mixed brain fluid oozed out from the crack and the mutant fell into a fit of convulsion. He had killed something that used to be human with his own hands. The boy then experienced a sensation akin to an electric current running through his hands. That very sensation was the reason he had chosen this game. The boy stayed still until the sensation completely vanished, then retrieved the knife with a flick of his wrist. Hey, you alright? Im good. Private Guilherme asked the boy with a hint of worry, but the boy answered as calmly as ever. The private then expressed his admiration in a strong language, Damn, youre such a badass. Next, the first one to enter the office was also the boy. Once again, there was a slight upward revision to the favor of the soldiers. It didnt mean much, but as they say, many a little makes a mickle. The office was a bit long in proportion to its width. Inside, he found a bunch of keys lying on top of a pile of papers. He also took two guns that were lying on the table. While the rest of the people stood there gawking, the boy quickly opened the emergency medical kit hanging on the wall and swept its contents into his bag. Hey, um A middle-aged man came up to the boy. We have to share fair dos. If you take everything, what about us? The boy stared back in silence, which made the man flinch, probably threatened by the blood dripping down from the machete in the boys hand. The man eventually turned back without saying more. The boy didnt waste time and continued searching through the office. Soon, the boy found three sets of buttons on a wall, presumably the switches to lift the garages shutters. The boy then looked at the soldiers to ask for permission. Elliot, who was standing near the door, gave him a nod as a sign of clearance. The boy then pressed the buttons without further hesitation. The sound of motors activating was heard as soon as he pressed the buttons. When the boy stepped out of the office to check the shutters, he saw the people outside keeping watch with their guns ready to shoot. Crunch! Bang! Wh-what the hell? One of the participants shouted at the sudden noise. When everyone looked at the direction of the noise, they saw the boy on the floor next to a mutant with a machete stuck in its head. There was also a bullet hole on the ground right next to the boy. It seemed like someone had panicked at the appearance of the mutant and pulled the trigger. The boy saw the number of viewers messages drastically go up. He opened the message window for a moment and found that most of the viewers were poking fun at him with comments like, He almost died lol. Some of them were even urging him to kill the one who shot at him. I, Im sorry! I didnt mean to shoot you! An old-looking woman lowered her head repeatedly. Im okay, so please lower your voice. But the boy waved his hand as if it was nothing. Lines of notifications once again popped up and filled the corner of his view. Im not even joking, you are seriously a badass. How can you be so reckless? Corporal Eliot said with a hollow laugh. Is that a problem? No, not at all. In fact, youre much more helpful than someone whod let a kid stand at the front and refuse to come forward. After finishing his exchange with the corporal, the boy went on and looked around the garage. There were two vehicles parked in it, an ambulance and a fire truck. The rest of the parking spaces were empty. The boy asked the corporal if he was planning to take those vehicles back to the gas station, and after getting a positive answer, he poured all the medical supplies from his bag into one of them. Corporal Elliot then selected two people who could drive and ordered them to take the vehicles to the gas station. Can we stay at the gas station? One of the participants that were picked to drive asked carefully, but the corporal pushed them into the car and answered with a scary-looking smile. Of course you have to come back. His words were, of course, translated by the boy. And as they didnt have the guts to get on the bad side of the soldiers, they could only glare at the boy before driving off. Corporal Elliot then immediately contacted the main force at the gas station with the radio. He notified them about the two vehicles heading there and told them to take the vehicles and the medical supplies inside and have the participants come back to the fire station. After a while, a voice was heard from the radio, asking for a confirmation of the drivers claim that the corporal had allowed them to stay in the cars. The corporal snorted and told them to make sure they came back. While waiting for the two to return, the rest of the team searched the surrounding area for food. Now that they were closer to the center of the town, there were cafes, restaurants, and some other stores worth investigating. As the boy hesitated whether to search the cafe or not, Corporal Elliot came over to him, Look at that board next to the door. It says Lunch Special, right? Im sure they did handle some food other than coffee. And indeed, there were some cans of ham and sacks of flour inside the storage room, enough to fill seven bags. They also took a leftover bag of coffee beans for the officers. It mightve lost its flavor, but it was still a luxury item. The team even had some time left to clear the cars blocking the road even after looking through all the nearby stores. Only after the team had finished clearing the road did the two drivers show up, lazily trudging up the road. We dont have ration stamps for those who delay the mission, the corporal warned them, to which the two participants started running hurriedly. The boy heard Private Guilherme swearing under his breath. After their rejoining, the team then went two blocks north. At last, they were able to reach the intersection next to the flour factory. The boy prepared himself for the next event. There were two options that the player could choose from. One was for everyone to fill their bags individually, and the other one was to clear the road and call for the trucks. The latter option would give him more experience points, but hed have to defend the team from waves of mutants. Even so, the former option wasnt easy either, hed have to deal with the mutants wandering inside the flour factory. The boys first bad ending had taken place right here. Hey, Mr. badass, Corporal Elliot called the boy rather affectionately. Im thinking of calling the trucks, what do you think? I suggest we decide after securing the flour factory. The corporal agreed to his proposal. Chapter 5: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (5) Chapter 5. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (5)# Past Memory (1), Deal Preparation, The boy The boy was running vigorously on a treadmill. His heart was pounding like crazy and beads of sweat could be seen falling from his forehead down to his chest. The boys legs were about to give out, but he didnt dare to stop because a trainer was watching right beside him. The vast gym was solely occupied by two peoplethe boy and the trainer. The trainer was an unsympathetic man. He never allowed even a single minute of delay in his schedule. His sunglasses and his always-crossed arms gave off an imposing feeling. The boy was supposed to run for 15 minutes, but those 15 minutes felt painfully long. In the first place, he wasnt even exercising out of his own volition. s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Just when the boy was about to collapse, the alarm in the trainers wristwatch went off. Only then did the trainer give him the order to stop. Stop. Move on to the next one. Drenched in sweat, the boy panted heavily for breath as he leaned against the handles of the treadmill. A drop rolled down his face, the boy wasnt sure if it was sweat or a teardrop. After running on the treadmill for a long time, he felt like the ground was wriggling, but before he could catch his breath, the trainer shouted at him. Come on, move it! The trainers forceful attitude reminded the boy of the Korean military from the old times. He once heard from his father that the atmosphere was just as bad as this. Of course, his father mustve also heard it from another person, since the draft system had been abolished long ago. The boy had been forced into a repeating cycle of anaerobic and aerobic exercises. Although the intensity made it look dangerous, there was a medical team on standby, and the trainer made sure his muscles werent strained by monitoring his physical condition through sensors attached all over his body. Provided with the information in real-time through earbuds, the trainer adjusted the intensity of the exercise. Even when merely running on a treadmill, everything was thoroughly managed so that the boys heart rate wouldnt go over 85 percent of its maximum. All of this was to keep the commodity unharmed. The commodity was, of course, the boys body. This was the boys last day in the gym before the trade took place. For the trainer, it would be his last day of product management. He would receive additional payment for completing his job, but his facial expressions showed no change. Rather, the boy could sense a subtle stiffness in his behavior. Maybe he was nervous, or he was trying to save his joy for later. But no matter how hard the boy looked, there wasnt a single shred of sympathy or concern among the emotions he showed. The boy was almost certain he was right about him. He had a keen eye for discerning others feelings, and he had noticed something. After the deal had been set, almost everyone hed met, even his parents, was treating him not as a human, but a commodity. Of all people, I really didnt want my family to do this to me, the boy thought. Perhaps it was because of this that the boy had been looking for warmth from the people he met. However, no one, not even his trainer with whom he had spent the most time, had ever shown that to him. All of a sudden, the boy felt a red mist descending onto him. It wasnt anything new to him. The boy tried to empty his mind, the pent up emotions that were trying to burst out of his heart slowly drowned under the wave of silence, sinking deep down into his subconscious. After finishing his training, the boy walked towards the trainer to bid him farewell. Thank you for everything youve done. I hope it wasnt too hard. But the trainer only answered briefly. Take good care of your body. You know how expensive it is. Okay. But even so, the boy answered with a warm smile. Soon, people would no longer be able to see him with that body and face, it was the only effort he could make to leave people with a good impression of him. The trainer flinched a little. The boy examined him with curiosity, but he couldnt figure out the reason behind his reaction. It would have been better if he could see his eyes, but to his dismay, the trainer never took off his sunglasses till the very end. It was only after having parted with the trainer that the boy realized he hadnt asked him his name. I shouldve asked his name Regretted the boy. Accompanied by several bodyguards, the boy returned to the house where his family was staying along with the medical team. House, but not home. The place was big with a high ceiling, it wasnt the place where the boy used to live. Before he could get off of the car, a small figure came running out of the door. It was his little brother, Parang. Hyung is here! Heehee! The boy grabbed his little brother by the waist and lifted him up. Thanks to all the training he had been forced to do, he was able to lift him with ease. Parang opened his mouth in surprise but soon started giggling. Giving his little brother a good hug, the boy asked with a smile, Hey there, Parang! Have you been a good boy? Yes! Like you told me to, I ate all my meals, and I listened to mom and dad and sister! Wow, what a good boy! The rest of his family came out of the house and welcomed the boy with a slightly awkward expression. His parents were acting guilty in front of him, but he could tell it was merely an act since he could sense the expectation flickering across their faces. The boy was still calm even after knowing that. It was because he had long since stopped expecting anything from them. His sister, on the other hand, looked pale and a little worn. She kept avoiding his eyes as though she was ashamed. The boy appreciated the thought but still wanted her to look straight at him so that she could remember him. The boys father came up to him while scratching his head. He appeared more like a boy than the boy himself. As if life didnt weigh down on him at all. There was something good about that, though, and it was that he was like a friend to him. He was much better than those fathers who couldnt even befriend their sons. But in a situation like this The boy in his forties spoke to the little boy, Welcome home. Has it been a week? Today was your last day of workout, wasnt it? Yes. How have you been? Weve been doing fine, but thats not important. Whats important is how have you been doing. Youre the main pillar of our family. I guess so. The conversation suddenly came to a stop. An awkward silence fell over the family. Unable to tolerate the atmosphere, the boys mother came forward. We were waiting for you to have dinner together. Come in, she said, grabbing the boys hand. As the boy was led into the house, he turned to look at his sister, who once again looked away. But this time, he could see that her eyes were drowned in tears. The boy was distraught but tried not to show it, because if he did, he knew she would only burst into tears. The boys sister was born in autumn, so they named her Gaeul. The same went for the boy. He was born in winter, thus was named Gyeoul. His little brother was born in summer, but they named him Parang because the sky was blue. What a lazy way to name their children, the boy thought when he first heard it from his parents.* Just as the boys mother said, the table was already set for dinner. But there was another table set with only a small quantity of each dish. It was the boys share. One of the medical staff told him that he would be put on a diet to keep nutritional balance and maintain his bodys condition. This mustve been why the medical team was here, to manage his diet and lifestyle. Though it was still better than the past four months where he only got to meet his family once a week. The dinner was good. The boy knew it wasnt his moms cooking. His sister, Gaeul, had been doing all the cooking since she became old enough to cook. Even their mother couldnt match her skills. Thankfully for the boy, the medical team didnt stop her from serving him his meal. All they did was to limit the amount. The boy, however, wouldnt have complained no matter what they did with the meal. He was happy enough that he could see his family every day before the transaction was made. The boy tried to strike up conversations to talk with his family, but none of them lasted long. Judging by their shaky voices and dodgy eyes, it looked like his parents were ill at ease in his company. It was pretty obvious since this deal was illegal and they were selling his body. The boy still tried to lighten the mood with some jokes, but his tactless father made his endeavors useless. Its not a bad thing if you think about it. Do you know how many people out there are committing insurance fraud to benefit from the afterlife insurance? Also, you get to play those virtual reality games all your life without having to worry about studying for Korean SAT or going to work. I bet all the other kids would kill to be in your shoes. The boy managed to feign laughter, but not his sister. Gaeul furiously lashed out at their father, How can you say that to him, dad? You know your son is about to lose his body, right? We wont be able to hold his hand or hug him ever again! Do you think spending the rest of his life stuck in a game sounds fun? Then why dont you go sell your body instead of his? Gaeul! Their mother raised her voice. It didnt sound like it was to scold her, it was more to tell her to contain herself in front of the medical team. With her eyes brimming with tears, Gaeul briefly looked at her brother, Gyeoul, before storming off upstairs. Their father repeatedly said he was okay, but he probably wasnt okay. His body was showing several signs of anger. The boy thought his father didnt deserve to be angry. He felt the stone in his heart rolling around, prodding here and there. The boy had spent his childhood in coldness, in a psychological sense. It was all thanks to his father that he was able to develop his keen sense for reading other peoples feelings. His father wasnt particularly a bad person. He was just too in touch with his emotions, just like how kids were. Because of this, he could easily make friends with children. But also because of this, he was easily angered, easily bored, and easily disappointed. It wasnt a characteristic necessary for a good parent to have. He used to be a good father when things were stable, but now, he was putting his whole family to test. And that test was too harsh for his little brother Parang to endure. Even now, he was rolling his round eyes around in alarm. The reason why the boys father was keeping his temper was probably because of the boy. If he were to revoke his agreement to the deal, everything would be ruined. Full body transplant. Back in the days, when the technology wasnt this advanced, it meant a transplant operation involving the body from the neck down. But in the present day, the term now referred to the transplant of the brain and spinal cord. The use of a minors body for full body transplant was only allowed after more than a month of being declared brain dead. Not only that, the operation was only legal when taking place in a registered medical institution, for a recipient who had gone through a proper application procedure, after passing a compatibility test, and many other proceedings. Therefore, it was illegal to use a healthy boys body for a transplant. What was interesting was that despite the fact that it was already illegal, the chairman of the Hyesung Group specifically demanded the consent of the body donor himself. He said that this was his ethical principle and that the reason why he was breaking the law was that the law was wrong. His father, who wanted to roar in anger but couldnt, found it difficult to restrain his language. He mustve filtered his words a thousand times by now. It was a hard process for a person who was easily swayed by his emotions. So, my son. You know you cant renege on your decision now, right? Uh, well if you act irresponsibly and revoke your agreement, the whole family will be in big trouble. Irresponsible? The boy slowly counted numbers in his mind. It was a habit he had acquired to swallow his anger. The feeling of a sharp stone rolling around inside his heart. This was already the third time happening. It happened too many times. It cant be like this, the boy thought. The boy closed his eyes and tried to think of a snowy hill so that the loneliness could take over his anger. After his anger subsided, the boy shook his head. Dont worry. With that being said, the boy focused on finishing his meal. If he could, he wouldve run upstairs to his sister. But he knew that the medical team wouldnt let him. Eating his meal was also part of the rules he had to abide by. The boy decided to change his perspective. The food he was eating was made by Gaeul. It wasnt often that he could enjoy her homemade food. The boy emptied the bowl clean. But it wasnt until he finished brushing his teeth and taking a shower, which was also a rule specified in the contract, that he was allowed to go upstairs to his sisters room. Gaeul was crying in her room. Parang, with tears welling up in his eyes, asked his sister if she was okay. Kids at that age tended to cry along with others. Before the boy could say anything, Gaeul dragged Parang to her bosom. Dont worry. I was just sick, thats all. Im all better now. Really? Youre not sick anymore? Yes, really. Heehee. Thank god, Parang let out a cute laugh. There were two beds in Gaeuls room. Apparently, Parang liked to sleep there with her sister. Of course, Parang also had a room of his own. Although their down payment was running out, their mother decided to buy it anyway for they would receive the rest of the money soon. For the boy who was used to living a poor life, his mothers lavish expenditure was a bit worrisome. But he couldnt tell his mother. He was afraid to spoil the mood. Not long after, Parang began to nod off in his sisters arms. Gaeul gently patted Parangs head and tucked him into his bed. Sitting at the edge of her bed, Gaeul finally decided to look into the boys eyes. This was the first time today. But soon, tears poured down from her eyes. The boy was greatly startled at the sudden situation. Noona, whats wrong** The boy sat next to her and reached out to her cheeks to wipe her tears, but Gaeul grabbed his hand and began to weep even more sadly. Her trembling shoulder helplessly leaned over to the boys chest. Without any words, the boy hugged her. Droplets of tears fell onto the bed. Only then was the boy able to feel his heart filling up with something that he lacked. Something that he had sought from other people, but hadnt been able to obtain. Human warmth. Gaeul spoke with voice shaky, I dont know how Im gonna live without you Its okay. We can still talk by phone and we can meet in that other world if you ever come to the Ossuary. Gaeul answered him with a hug. The two of them hugged until they were interrupted by a sudden knock on the door. Its almost your bedtime. Come on out, spoke one of the medical staff in a perfunctory tone. The pointy stone started rolling again inside the boys heart. * If it wasnt obvious, Gaeul = Autumn, Gyeoul = Winter, Parang = Blue. ** Noona literally means older sister. Also used by males to refer to an older female. Chapter 6: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (6) Chapter 6. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (6)# Procurement Mission (4), San Miguel. The San Miguel flour factory was an old-looking wooden building, large enough to fit a dozen houses inside. There was a railway track passing right by it, which provided a clear view of its north and south side. When the soldiers announced theyd pick someone to stand guard at the crossing, the participants who had already somewhat filled their bags volunteered themselves. They thought itd be relatively safer to stand guard in an open space than to conduct a search inside a closed building. A healthy college-aged young man and a fat-bellied middle-aged man were chosen for the job. Corporal Elliot led the rest of the team to the factorys east side. There were a total of four entrances. One led to the office, as it was written on a sign, and the three others were for loading cargo. At the far end of the factory, there was a semi-trailer parked just right outside one of the entrances. Gyeoul tried to open the drivers seat door, but as expected, it was locked. All the entrances to the factory had been left wide open. Due to the lack of light inside, every entrance resembled a dark hole, but none of the participants had been provided with lanterns. It was such an essential item, but they had somehow overlooked it during the planning phase. Since they had found the keys for the fire truck inside of the fire station, the keys for this truck might have also been left behind. Just as Gyeoul was thinking of entering the office, Private Guilherme called him from behind. Dont tell me youre planning on going inside alone again, are you? Should I go in with you? No, we need the instructor outside. Just lend me your flashlight. Hooah. Guilherme couldnt help but be astonished at the boys guts. He then unclipped an angle head flashlight from his bulletproof vest and handed it to the boy. Although the U.S. military had taken refugees as volunteers to reduce their soldiers casualties, that didnt mean they were okay with needlessly sacrificing refugees. However, with the exception of the boy, the participants were even more passive than they had originally expected, so the soldiers were eager to see the boy in action. Gyeoul walked towards the entrance to the office with his rifle on his back and holding his machete. As soon as he entered, he saw a staircase wide enough for just one person. Except for a few steps that were right in front of him, everything else was covered in darkness. It was a very unsettling scene. S?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Just like he did at the fire station, the boy knocked on the wall with the machete so that if there were any mutants inside, theyd hear the sound and creep out. After hitting the wall a few times, he heard a mutant walking towards the staircase. Judging from the non-overlapping footsteps, it seemed there was only one mutant on its way. Gyeoul carefully climbed up the stairs without turning on his flashlight. He was going to rely solely on the smell and sounds he could sense. Amid the pitch darkness where seeing was impossible, two creaking sounds created a dissonant noise. A monotonous, grim noise played in the background. Gyeoul wasnt scared, but his heart was beating fast. His senses were telling him so. It was an artificially created feeling regulated by the Control AI. Notifications of new viewers messages flickered crazily in his periphery. The mutants reeked of putrefying flesh. According to the information, once the pathogen tries to take over the mutants body, it causes an immune system malfunction, making its skin fester, and eventually rot. Not only that, but the infection also affects the respiratory system, producing a very coarse and sharp sound upon breathing. Before he knew it, the unpleasant smell and sound were already right beside him. Gyeoul boldly stretched out the hand that wasnt holding the knife, grabbing onto something. Skreee! A horrible shriek scratched the boys eardrum. Gyeoul ducked and lifted the mutants lower body in one swift motion. The sound of the mutants heavy breathing passed right by his ear before it fell behind his back. Thump! The boy presumed the viewers who kept theSensory Synchronization on must have felt thrilled with that experience. It was something he had done intentionally. The boy turned on the flashlight. The mutant that was struggling on the floor frowned with a shriek. Though mutated, its body was still that of a humans. It would take time for its eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness. But the boy didnt allow that to happen and immediately thrust his machete into its open mouth. The mutant reflexively bit the blade, but couldnt get the machete out of its mouth. The boy then put more weight on the machete. Cruuunch! Twisting the blade, the boy felt the crushing of its brain stemming from the tip of his knife. The mutant convulsed on the ground, but its struggle gradually decreased until it completely stopped. Finally, the mutants eyes rolled back and died while staring at the boy. The boy, however, remained unfazed. The boy grabbed the mutant by its leg and dragged it down the stairs and out of the building. When he came out, the people that were standing guard outside pointed their guns at him, but soon lowered them after noticing it was the boy. Tossing the corpse by the entrance, the boy went up the stairs once again. He entered the office and flipped the switch, but the lights didnt turn on, so the boy started searching the office relying only on his flashlight. To his surprise, the first thing he found was an old pistol lying carelessly in an easily accessible drawer. There were also two small cartons of 50 round bullets, marked 45 ACP FMJ, and a spare magazine along with the gun. He didnt know whether it was because he was in the U.S. or because it was a game. Aside from the gun and ammo, he also found the keys for both the car and the silo. There was also a humidor filled with cigars, which he took with him to give it to the soldiers in case they liked it. When he came down the stairs, Private Guilherme approached him. Did you get bitten anywhere? He asked, with a stuffy-sounding voice coming through the gas mask. The boy shook his head and spread his arms sideways. After giving him a thorough examination, the private raised his hand and gave a thumbs up. A short distance away, Corporal Elliot nodded. Guilherme, do you smoke? Yeah, why do youwait, hold on, are those Cohiba Robusto youre holding? Split them with Elliot, the boy handed over the box to the private who was jumping with joy. Cohiba Robusto was one of the finest handmade Cuban cigars which used to cost over 15 dollars a stick. Any heavy smoker would be pleased if they received a box full of such fine cigars. I found the key to the trailer. Mind if I check it out? The boy asked for permission even though it was a trivial thing. The two soldiers looked at each other. The corporal then gave him a nod as an answer. The boy pushed the key into the keyhole of the semi-trailer and the door opened without any problem. After confirming that the door was fine, it was now time to see if the engine worked. Without further delay, the boy climbed up to the drivers seat, inserted the key into the ignition hole and twisted it. The car started with a loud splutter, which made the people around noticeably more nervous. Thankfully, the trailer had some oil left in the tank. The boy decided to move the trailer to the loading dock. Thanks to his previous runs, it wasnt hard for him to drive even without the driving skill. Of course, hed be able to drive more skillfully if he had it, but that wasnt an urgent matter. The boy went back into the building, this time through another entrance. Thanks to the sunlight shining through the cracks on the tin roof, the inside wasnt completely dark, unlike the office. But there were still places here and there covered in shadows. It wouldnt be strange if there was something hiding under those places. The other participants who had come into the building with him were so scared that they could hardly move a step forward. Once again, to check if there were any mutants, the boy banged on a metal container sitting next to him. But no matter how long he waited, nothing came out. Gyeoul then started walking around, checking every corner with his flashlight, but he couldnt find any mutants. This is unusual, the boy thought. Still, he didnt let his guard down. There could be mutants that had lost their hearing lurking under the shadows. Whee, look what we have here! Elliot exclaimed at the mountain of wheat and cornflour. If they could bring this back to the camp, they wouldnt have to worry about food for months. It would have to go through a sanitary inspection, but the process was only in-name. Even the gas masks they were wearing were only for the sake of appearances. If they were really worried about getting infected, they shouldve worn a full-body suit instead of just a mask. It was proof that things were going badly in the Western part of the U.S. Unlike Corporal Elliot, what Gyeoul was paying attention to was not the sacks of flour. Instead, he was looking at several sacks of seeds stacked up in a corner. He was thinking he could take those seeds to cultivate them, but there was a trap here. The seeds from certain companies would not germinate after the first harvest. These seeds were called terminator seeds; they were genetically modified seeds created to produce plants whose own seeds were sterile so that farmers would have to repurchase their product instead of being able to replant their own yield. Because of this, one of Gyeouls previous runs had ended up with a bad ending. There was even an achievement for it. Achievement: No, my crops are eunuchs!* It was a catastrophe for the boy who had built a fairly stable community. The second years harvest had been close to zero. The members of the community blamed their leader, Gyeoul, and the community soon collapsed due to the shortage of food. The boy was, of course, killed in the process. The boy then realized that he might have to explain this to his viewers. He hesitantly called up the viewers messages log. Whenever he did this, the world didnt seem realistic anymore, and his immersion was interrupted. The boy paused the game for a moment and activated the Teletype function. All his thoughts were instantly converted into letters. Han Gyeoul: Let me explain something for those of you who are new to the Days After Apocalypse. The reason Im not taking those seeds with us is that they are terminator seeds. The terminator seeds are genetically modified to produce a high yield, but also to produce nothing in the following year. Ive tried to farm them before without knowing this, and as you can see, I failed miserably. So, if you want to farm crops in this game, you have to either stick with the generic products like the logo-free sacks that Im looking at right now or just get a ton of terminator seed bags and treat them like consumables. If you want to get the achievement No, my crops are eunuchs!, you can try getting the bad ending. But it only gives you a buff that raises the crops resistance to blights and droughts, so I dont think its worth the effort. Viewers responses popped up almost immediately. Legend12: They get so realistic in these kinds of details! lmao Dew_crocodile: crops are eunuchs XD who named that achievement?! updawg: I know this too. Its a trick that the famous seed companies use to squeeze the farmers in developing countries dry. Especially Monxxxto, those fuckers are the worst. They took the patent to produce red hot peppers and spinach seeds, and there are still decades left before the patent expires. The Korean spinach you guys are eating is all American OEM products. Oh, by the way, Your Honor, it was my cat that wrote this comment. VanDakHom: Hes reading the comments now, right? Dude, what you did with that zombie back in the stairs, it was awesome! I almost wet my pants when you did that XD Here, take my money [VanDakHom donated 10 stars.] Soup4sluts: No one asked you updawg updawg: And why dont u stfu asshole? SnowyFox: Guys, dont fight in the chat. [SnowyFox donated 10 stars.] Anko: Dont stop them! just let them fight The flooding messages quickly replaced the previous ones, making it hard to read them one by one. The boy then counted the amount of virtual currency, Stars, that he had collected so far. He had a few tens of thousands of won. For some reason, his heart became heavier. Gyeoul closed the message log and resumed the game. The world came back to life once more. When the boy looked around, Corporal Eliot was talking to his radio, telling the main force to bring the truck to the flour factory. The rest of the team was loading the food on the semi-trailer parked at the loading dock under Private Guilhermes order. When the boy walked up to help them load the food, Private Guilherme approached him and patted his shoulder. Just leave the rest to the others and take some rest, brave boy. Youve already done enough today, dont you think? said Guilherme with a wink. Alright. The boy nodded. Not much later, distant noises of vehicles could be heard. Outside, there were four military cargo trucks. The master sergeant, the one who had been in charge of the participants body inspection back at the camp, came along as the vehicle commander. His name was Pearce. He was greatly pleased with the mountain of sacks that were more than enough to fill up the truck. We can finally put the KPs back to work. However, the elated mood only lasted until they heard a strange rumble coming from the northern exit. But they couldnt get a clear view of the outside through the northern exit due to the grain silos and water tower obstructing the view. Whats that sound? Check what it is, ordered Pierce. At the instruction, Corporal Elliot radioed the volunteers who were standing guard at the crossing and asked them if they could see anything from the north. But the sign of disaster quickly became apparent from the sound rather than the sight. The rumbling noise was the sound of a train running on the railroad. Knowing that trains werent supposed to be operating, the soldiers were disconcerted at the situation. Even more dumbfounding, however, was that the train was running straight towards some unattended vehicles left in the middle of the tracks without signs of speeding down. Receiving the report through the radio, the corporals face turned pale immediately. Mother of The corporal turned around and started running outside as he shouted at the people inside the factory. Everyone, get out! And with that shout, the factory was filled with screams in no time. Suddenly, a loud crashing noise was heard from outside. The train mustve hit an abandoned car on the railroad. And almost immediately, a giant flaming lump of steel crashed into the factory. Wrecking through the northern wall, it rolled further into the building, destroying the machinery and beams of the building. The train stopped thanks to the destroyed piles of wood, but the building began to collapse. Gyeoul barely managed to escape the factory, however, a large number of people ended up buried under the debris. Get rid of the wreckage! We can still save the people inside! Covered in dust, Master Sergeant Pierce raised his voice. Due to the building being a single-story wooden building, there was a good chance that the people buried under the wreckage were still alive. Sir, look over there! One of the soldiers shouted at Pierce. In the direction he pointed were the train wagons turned upside down and in zigzag. From the doors and windows, things that resembled human beings began to crawl out. Those that had been flung out of the train from the collision also rose to their feet staggeringly. Raauurgh! Shit! We got mutants here! It wasnt just one or two. As if the whole train was packed with those creatures, they kept pouring out of the train like maggots crawling out of a rotten corpse. Some of the fairly intact mutants were even running fast. Kill them all! The corporal exclaimed. But the majority of the participants had already fled far away. There were only a few people left to face the mutants. The silenced gunshots poured out of their guns. They didnt try to save bullets. They just fired madly at the mutants. One that tried to get over the trailer got shot almost instantly. Its head exploded, its eyes burst, and blood came spraying out from its chest. Some of the mutants rushed towards the boy. Because the mutants didnt stop even after being shot, Gyeoul aimed his rapid-fire rifle at their legs and pulled the trigger. It would be good if he struck their thighs, and even better if he could get their knees or shin bones. Keeek! The fallen ones struggled to get back up. The boy walked forward as he reloaded his magazine and stomped on their necks with his military boots. He then tightly gripped his gun and struck the jaw of the mutant in front of him. With the help of his skill, the mutants jaw completely crushed, its body falling backward. Another mutant that had been running right behind it tripped over the falling mutant. After giving them a good kick, Gyeoul went back to firing his gun. Grenades! Take cover! One of the soldiers shouted urgently. The boy looked behind and there were already several grenades flying his way. The boy hurriedly ran back and threw himself on the floor. Boom! Kaboom! Compared to the deafening noise the grenades created, the explosions themselves were rather small, producing only a few flashes and a bit of smoke. But the boy knew that a hand grenade didnt rely on the explosion to kill. It was a weapon that killed people by tearing them apart with the debris scattered by the blast. Anyone within a radius of 30 meters would be instantly killed. It was something he had learned through experience. The mutants flew out like trees in a typhoon. The entire road turned into a bloodbath in the blink of an eye. Thankfully, the boy managed to get out of the grenades range. While the grenades were still exploding, a mutant with a ragged body came crawling towards the boy. In his lying position, the boy laid his rifle on his stomach and pulled the trigger. Due to his unstable posture and poor aim, the bullet didnt hit its head but its shoulder. The second shot, however, went right through its eyeball, killing it instantly. But when the boy lowered his guard, a new mutant appeared from behind the dead one. He must have missed it because it was hidden from his view. The new mutant was already so close to him. The boy quickly pulled the trigger, but nothing came out of the gun. He couldnt have used up all the bullets. It seemed like the round had jammed the gun. The boy rolled to the side and swiftly pulled out the bayonet from the rifle, sticking the bayonet into the top of the mutants head. Its rotten blood splattered onto his face. The moment when he felt the crushing of its skull through his fingertips, an incredible chill ran down his spine giving him an indescribable pleasure. He felt satisfaction and fulfillment, but also a hint of guilt and sorrow. After the explosions, the place sank into silence. The boy regained his footing while the mutants were still moving their tattered limbs. Before being bombarded by the grenades, the mutants, though they seemed sick or crazy, still resembled humans, but now they looked more like monsters. There was one with its guts spilling out, one walking with a broken leg, another one with its bones poking through its skin, and so on. But in the boys eyes, they were nothing more than a bunch of experience points. Gyeoul grabbed his machete and slowly walked up to the staggering mutants. The gunshots fired by the other soldiers were starting to sound like distant echoes. It has nothing to do with me. With that thought in mind, the boy drew a horizontal line with his machete on the mutant in front of him. Its head fell before its body collapsed on the ground. The boy then hacked at another mutant that was creeping on the ground. He was so focused that the only thing he could hear was his own breathing. Another mutant approached him and a diagonally slashed machete tore apart its flesh from its temple down to its cheek on the other side. The impact dislocated its jaw and revealed its throat. Without hesitation, the boy shoved his machete into its throat and pulled it out by kicking its body away. When the boy came back to his senses, he was standing alone among hundreds of the mutants corpses. He took a look around. Only the U.S. soldiers were there watching him, their faces pale. Several notifications informing him about the change in the soldiers favor were flickering in the corner of his view. Some had increased, but some had also decreased. Gyeoul put away his knife and checked his rifle. When he pulled back the bolt and gave it a few shakes, the bullet that had been jamming the gun popped out and fell onto the asphalt. Dont just stand around gawking! We got people to save! Come on, get to work! Ramirez, you guys stand on guard! Master Sergeant Pierce raised his voice. New vehicles arrived one after another. They had come to provide backup after being notified of an engagement. The arrival was quick, but due to the use of hand grenades, the battle had ended even faster, making the backup meaningless. Chapter 7: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (7) Chapter 7. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (7)# lntermission, Description of the Loading Screen When the player uses the Time Acceleration function, or when a quest requires a time skip, a loading screen may appear during the time needed for a scenario computation. The loading screen provides a variety of information, such as pieces of advice from the Control AI, descriptions of several in-game functions, hints to help one understand the situation, and s for DLCs and add-ons. This information is referred to as the Intermission in Days After Apocalypse. # lntermission, The Journal, Time Acceleration, and the Virtual Personality The journal is a system that helps the player keep track of in-game events. Any past events, including those that have been skipped with the Time Acceleration function, can be accessed through the journal and can be reproduced and reexperienced through the Sensory Synchronization function. The quality of the journal may differ depending on the skills the player has access to. Time Acceleration allows the player to skip the waiting time before the beginning of certain quests, or transportation time, etc. If activated, the system will create a virtual personality to stand in for the player during the accelerated time. All the events occurred during that time will be recorded in the journal. If the result is unsatisfactory, the player has the option to rewind the accelerated time once and personally go through the corresponding event. Once rewound, the Time Acceleration function will be disabled for a certain duration. The virtual personality responsible for recording the journal learns from the behavioral patterns of the player by studying the data collected in previous runs and throughout the game. Therefore, the virtual personalitys resemblance to the player will improve the more they play. # Journal, Page 29, Camp Roberts The first procurement mission ended in half success. We did manage to secure food, fuel, and winter supplies, but we suffered too many casualties. And worst of all is that, after the mission, the U.S. military lost trust in the refugees. There were several events that led to this result. One of them was the internal conflict between the participants. From what I heard, a bloody fight broke between the participants that were deployed to the church. If it wasnt obvious enough already, the problem occurred when everyone got together to distribute the supplies theyd found. When the one who had taken the lead in killing the mutants tried to take a bigger portion of the supplies, the others stabbed him in the back of his head and disguised the murder as the mutants doing. The tragedy came to light when the soldiers heard the perpetrators quarreling in front of the corpse and examined the wounds. There were also some refugees who tried to smuggle guns into the camp after returning from the mission. The U.S. military would have to worry about an armed protest if they let the refugees carry guns, so the soldiers conducted a thorough body search before returning to the camp. And as expected, some of them had tried to hide small pistols under their garments. Once caught, they begged the soldiers with the excuse of needing something to protect themselves with. Whether their pleas were true or not, they tried to hide a gun from the soldiers, so the soldiers distrust grew even bigger. And what contributed the most to the soldiers distrust was the collapse of the flour factory. Although nobody was to blame for the sudden appearance of the train and its derailment, the problem was that most of the participants had fled without fighting the mutants when there were people under the debris that needed rescue. Fortunately, the soldiers who got caught in this accident got away with just some injuries that required, at most, four weeks of medical treatment. However, that was still enough to generate hatred towards the refugees. Because of all these incidents, the soldiers refused to carry out a new procurement mission, as they couldnt trust the refugees anymore. At least, they would need a new plan, and the camps higher-ups seemed to have agreed on that. Not long after, I was called to Lieutenant Capstones office. He said that some of the soldiers had advised him to be wary of me, but he also said that I didnt have to worry because Master Sergeant Pearce stuck up for me. Dont listen to those cowards, commander. Whats important is that this little guy stayed and fought until the end, and I insist that we can trust him. And then, I was offered to become a volunteer soldier. He listed all the benefits Id have, including quarters, uniforms, equipment, and so on. Although I wouldnt be allowed to carry a gun, it was still a tempting offer. Right after leaving the office, one of the soldiers approached me, telling me that Corporal Elliot wanted to see me. The headquarters are agonizing over the staffing problem right now. Theres a possibility that theyll pick out some relatively reliable refugees and enlist them in the army, and I think that your volunteer position is a step towards that. If that happens, youre gonna be called Private Gyoul, did I get it right? Haha. Thats all well and good, but do you really think thats gonna happen? Im not even a U.S. citizen. Oh, Im dead sure about that. You know, theres no country other than the U.S. that takes this many immigrants for their national army. I mean, look at Guilherme, he also joined the army for the U.S. citizenship. Right now, the U.S. government is in a state of emergency, and they have issued a mobilization order. Many corporals, including myself, are being asked to take a field promotion. And if that happens, theyll need more soldiers. Where do you think theyll recruit soldiers from, in this isolated camp? Besides, I think youd make a great soldier. But wouldnt my age be a problem? Were on the brink of extinction, my friend. It was a composed but grave answer. After telling him that Id consider the offer, I walked out of the aid station. When I came back to my tent, it was in a complete mess. It looked like someone had ransacked the tent. They must have been after my ration stamps. The people who went to San Miguel all received extra ration stamps as promised. Although they didnt divulge how many stamps we each got, they must be thinking that I got more than the other participants. A lot of them were jealous of me. They claimed that they should be all equally rewarded for taking the risk, regardless of contribution. Ive been carrying my stamps in my pocket. Still, I dont think Ill be able to sleep at night. For the sake of safety, it might be better to take the offer. AI Advice (Lvl 6 Insight): You have been offered a volunteering position for the outstanding performance on your procurement mission. If you accept, your freedom of action will be reduced as you will be forced to join any future mission. Also, the factions will more frequently attempt to recruit you. If you reject, the chance of encountering hostile random events will increase, and you may be assassinated if you do not meet the level requirement for skills such as Survival Instinct. Players Choice: Accept the offer. I made up my mind and went to see Lieutenant Robert Capstone straight away. It wasnt safe to leave my safety to someone else. Lieutenant welcomed my decision and summoned Master Sergeant Pearce to have him appoint me a room. The next morning, the battalion commander gathered the refugees and made me stand on a platform next to him. He praised my brave actions during the mission and announced my enlistment in the U.S. military. I could see his intentions for making it into a big deal. # Journal, Page 30, Camp Roberts I kept waking up in the middle of the night. Subconsciously, I might have felt uncomfortable sharing quarters with strangers. According to the fellow soldiers sharing the room with me, the facilities in Camp Roberts were quite old compared to other military bases because it used to be a boot camp used for training recruits. In the newer barracks, each person only gets oneor at most 2 roommates, and each room has a separate bathroom and shower. After becoming an unofficial volunteer soldier, all the ration stamps Ive received up till now have become useless, since I now have access to the cafeteria, which the soldiers call DFAC or Chow Hall. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The meal they served me at the cafeteria was completely different from the rations they fed refugees in both quantity and quality. Even though this wasnt good enough to satisfy the U.S. soldiers, I enjoyed it. Only, the dishes were a bit too salty and greasy for me, probably because of the cheese that was used in most of todays dishes. They mustve brought a lot of cheese from San Miguel. I was assigned two tasks as a volunteer soldier. One was, obviously, the daily military training, and the other one was patrolling Korean refugee zones. Originally, the U.S. military, in cooperation with the San Francisco police officers, was in charge of maintaining security. But apparently, the inability to understand the language posed a problem for them. So, Im guessing thats probably the reason they want me, someone who speaks the same language, to keep tabs on the Korean refugee camps. Not just that, they also asked me to find some trustworthy people to recruit as soldiers. I guess what Elliot said was true. After receiving my uniform from the quartermaster, Lieutenant Capstone came to see me and told me to always wear the bulletproof vest. He was worried that other refugees might see me as an eyesore and try to harm me. He said that although bulletproof clothing was not as efficient as a stab vest in defending against stabs, it would still be enough to block a shiv or any sharp object available to the refugees. When I thanked him for his concern, he patted me on my shoulder. He was indeed a good person. Of course, not everyone in the military was as good as Lieutenant Capstone. There was an officer, Captain Magath, who asked me my affiliation when he saw me wearing the uniform. When I told him that I had been commissioned as a volunteer soldier by the orders of the commander, he creased his brows. Ha! You think you can just fit in here by wearing that uniform, banana? His words were unexpectedly sharp. Racial discrimination was supposed to be a strong taboo amongst the soldiers, but it looks like the current situation has made a lot of them overlook this kind of verbal violence. The epidemic not only kills whats alive but also revives whats dead. Many dead things. What I cant understand is what good will it do for him. Its not like there arent many non-white soldiers here. If he keeps acting like that, hell have to worry about getting shot one day. When I went to the refugee camp, I noticed the people whom I used to think as friends had changed their attitude towards me. I could at least understand if they tried to flatter me or act awkward around me, but I had no idea why they would avoid me all of a sudden. I went up to them and asked them why, but what I got was straight-up anger. They called me a traitor. They disparaged me, saying that Im cunning and despicable. That I buttered up to those dirty soldiers asses, trying to eat the crumbs off of their table, and that now, I was acting like one of them. They said I deserved these insults since I didnt join the Korean faction to help the other Koreans. I stood speechless when they told me to go cry and tell the officers about this. I feel like Ive suddenly become an outsider who doesnt belong anywhere. # Past (2), The night before the deal, Go Ahyoung Hyesung Groups Chairman, Go Guncheol tapped on an empty glass with his fingertips. He was badly craving for a drink. Since the betrayal of the woman he loved, he had been having a hard time falling asleep without the help of alcohol. He had been feeling tired lately, the reason being the medical staffs orders for him to stay away from alcohol before the deal. Suddenly, a knock came from the door, but the chairman ignored it. Father, its me. It was the voice of his one and only daughter. A surge of anger rushed over him. He didnt want to see her face, so he exclaimed indifferently, I know. Fuck off. . His daughter, Go Ahyoung, didnt listen to him. Seeing the door open, the chairman threw the glass that he had been fiddling with. Seeing the flying glass coming at her, Ahyoung flinched. The glass passed right by her ear with a whizz and shattered behind her. The sound of shattering glass filled the empty corridor. Upon hearing this, some employees showed up with cleaning tools. They began to clean up the floor without giving her a single glance. It was nothing new anyway. The chairman said in a low voice, Didnt I tell you to cover that disgusting face when youre in front of me? Im sorry. Ahyoung dropped her head as she bit her lip. Her long and beautiful hair fell upon her face and covered half of it. But her hair couldnt obscure her natural beauty. The chairman clenched his teeth. Dirty vixen, he thought. The woman he once loved also had an appearance that didnt match her age. He didnt like the look of his daughters face because she reminded him too much of her mother. But he tried to keep his anger under control. Out of five kids whom the fucking whore gave birth to, she was the only one who actually carried his blood. What do you want? I have something to ask of you. What is it? Ahyoung hesitated for a moment, but she didnt keep her father waiting for long. Could you please cancel the deal? Why? For gods sake, why! The chairman fumed at his daughter. You ungrateful cunt! Your father is trying to start a new life with a new body, and you dare try to stop that? Oh, I get it. Its because you can take over my business only when Im lying in my coffin! Thats what you want, isnt it? No! Thats not what Im saying! Then speak with your goddamn mouth! Im saying, you dont have to take away someone elses body! There are other choices, like producing a clone and use that as your body! Why do you have to take another persons body and ruin their life, not to mention breaking the law? The chairman stared at his daughter for a moment, then continued with a mocking voice. Ha! I was a fool to think I could trust you with the management Why? Did you, all of a sudden, feel pity for that little boy? Ahyoung couldnt deny it. She did feel a lot of sympathy. It was her father who had ordered her to monitor the product management process. She had to watch the boys every single movement. But in the process, Ahyoung couldnt help but start feeling sorry for the boy. He was willing to sacrifice himself so that his family could live a comfortable life. The chairman shouted at his daughter. And what did you say? Use a clone? Thats the stupidest idea Ive ever heard. Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? Cloning is not a well-tested technology. That body has to get pickled in a growth accelerator for a whole year until it becomes appropriate for transplant. And you dont even know what kind of problem might arise in the future But what youre doing is against the law. Its wrong, father! You think Im wrong? Whats wrong is the law! Its contaminated with those communists ideas! South Korea is a free nation. Whatever one does should be entirely up to themselves. The boy agreed to this deal, and so did his parents. Were not even causing any harm to anyone, whats all the fuss about? Besides, you think that that lazy family will thank us for canceling the deal? Ha, wake up! The chairman laughed at his daughter and caught his breath before speaking again. Im not a philanthropist. If the deal is broken, Im going to get back what they took from me by any means possible. Ahyoung dropped her head even lower. Canceling the deal would put the family in a difficult situation. The boys parents, whose love for their children was shallow, just like her fathers, had already spent much of the money they received as a down payment, purchasing useless stuff like two pricey foreign cars. Even the houses they currently reside in had been given to them in accordance with the contract. That was why she identified with the boy. She wanted to tell him that he didnt have to sacrifice himself for his parents. And that his life should be his own. But in the end, she couldnt do anything for him. Let me tell you something because I dont want my daughter to go anywhere jabbering about nonsense and make me look like a fool. The chairman then continued, This was decades ago. Some prostitutes and people from womens organizations protested to legalize prostitution. Liberalism, thats what they shouted. They claimed that prostitution had to be protected by the law, for it too should be considered as exercising their right of self-determination. Thats right and I agree. They werent wrong, its not like having sex with someone would trouble others. They also had some practical reasons for it. One of them was a livelihood problem. For those women who had to rely on prostitution to make a living due to their lack of ability, they would end up in the gutter if they couldnt sell their bodies. The chairman showed barely any sign of uneasiness when talking about prostitution in front of his daughter. She knew it was to insult her because his hatred towards her had often been expressed in this kind of way. So Ahyoung only listened to her father without saying anything. On the other hand, the womens organizations of this country of the same era vehemently opposed the legislation of prostitution because they believed it violated womens rights and impaired their dignity. Do not sexually objectify women, was what they said. Well, okay, I admit it was for a good cause. But the question is; what about their jobs? Did they offer any alternatives to prostitutes who would lose their jobs by prohibiting prostitution? Well, they did get to take an occupational training course, but as always, it was only a rough-and-ready measure. But that was enough for womens groups. They didnt care about the results. Why? Because the reason why they stepped up for this matter was not for the prostitutes, but themselves all along! Because they couldnt stand the fact that there are women who were working as sex workers living in the same country! They didnt care if they ended up starving to death! Ahyoung understood what her father was trying to say. She could even guess what he would say next. And she could refute it too. Prostitutes losing their job after the prohibition was not an obvious but an inevitable result. And if it was inevitable, then what would have been right was to plan for long-term improvement, not to neglect them. Her father himself said it was for a good cause. However, Ahyoung didnt try to refute her father. Her father was the kind of man that thought of his life as the one and only correct path in life. Anything she said now, whether it was true or not, would only make him even more furious. And sure enough, the chairmans next remark was just as what she had expected. And this is what those empty-headed bitches probably had in their mind. Dear prostitutes, we dont care what you do for a living, but selling sex hurts our pride, so could you please stop? Oh, you have nothing you can do? Im sorry but thats none of our business. Youll die if you cant do this job? Oh please do! I dont even understand why youd want to live after debasing all womens dignity. The chairman sprang up from his seat and made an unsightly imitation of a female voice. It was amazing considering that he was in his seventies. Because of this personality, even the senior members of the group were reluctant to speak with the chairman. If they ruffled his feathers even just a little bit, he would often become completely vicious. Only a fool makes such a demand without offering any realistic alternative. Did you feel sorry for that boy? But If you cancel this deal, if you satiate what petty conscience you have, will he be thankful to you? Will he console himself with the fact that he at least saved his body when he will then have to live from hand to mouth? Is that what you think? Haha! Please stop. Stop? Dont you remember that it was you who started all this? The chairman shouted as he slammed his hands on the table. My youth! Half of my life that bitch stole from me! Now, I am just a step away from getting it back, but her daughter is here to take that away from me once again! Oh, what am I going to do! Im sorry, father. So please, stop. And that was how their conversation ended. It had always been like that and it wouldnt change until the day he dies. All parents who raise their children without love deserve to be cursed. Ahyoung tried to erase it from her mind. It was the last effort she could make to avoid hurting herself. Hmph. The chairman plumped down in his seat and rested his chin on his hand. Pathetic. I dont know who you took after to grow up to be this pathetic. Im starting to doubt if you are really my daughter. Get out. Well talk about your performance after I see the final product. Have a good night. I will, all thanks to you. The chairman shooed her away as if he was fanning a fly away. Feeling her mind filled with a sense of defeat, self-depreciation, and humiliation, Ahyoung left her fathers room. She felt so exhausted when seeing the corridor. It was long, dark, and empty. The mansion was too huge for just the two of them to live in. Ahyoung walked through the corridor with faltering steps. Chapter 8: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (8) Chapter 8. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (8)# The Faction (1), Camp Roberts While the boy was pondering which story branch to follow, he noticed a quest marker approaching him on its own. Its about time, the boy thought. Directly below the quest marker, a Korean man of short stature was walking towards him. Behind his pair of glasses, his eyes were rolling from side to side, looking pretty nervous. Hello, Umm May I call you Gyeoul-ssi?* Although the man was clearly older than Gyeoul, he spoke using honorifics. Perhaps because of the scary rumors about the boy, or because of the intimidating air around him from having acquired new skills. The boy was about to tell him not to bother with honorifics, but on second thought, he decided not to. He knew that if people became comfortable with him, they would likely start taking him lightly. What is it? My name is Jang Yeonchul. Umm I will just get straight to the point. Some people want to meet you. Im afraid I cant tell you the details now, but I swear they wont do anything bad to you. Theyre just people who need help. So please, could you spare me a few minutes? The boy accepted the mans request without much hesitation. And as soon as he nodded his head, a message notifying him of a mission log update appeared in front of him. Interactions between the player and the environment were evaluated in real-time by the Control AI, and among them, interactions with a clear causality were registered as missions (quests). It was one of the methods that the game employed to prevent the story from developing in a formulaic path. If the player lacked the adequate skills, the contents of quests would be often displayed with question marks. But the reason the boy was given a rough explanation of the contents was all thanks to the Insight and Detectionskills he had. Organizations It must be regarding the factions. This was just what he had been waiting for. The boy followed after the man. Yeonchul kept his head low on their way to their destination. It seemed like he was trying to avoid the other factions eyes, but the boy thought it was a futile effort. They were in the refugee area. Despite not having a badge, Gyeoul must be sticking out like a sore thumb dressed in his military uniform. And as anticipated, they already had a bunch of people tailing them. They must be the commissioners of the factions, Gyoeul thought. Could you just give me a minute, please? Huh? Gyoeul called Yeonchul to a stop and pointed at the people spying on them. All of you, you can just come out. Some of them tried to feign ignorance, but Gyeouls skills, Survival Instinct, Combat Sense, and Crisis Detection, were helping him capture even the slightest amount of hostility directed at him, making their charade useless. The boy pointed them out one by one and a total of eleven people gathered in front of Gyeoul. With a snort, the stalkers tried to engage in a battle of nerves with the boy, turning the atmosphere more and more severe. Yeonchuls face turned completely pale. The Control AIs advice interface hovered in front of the boys eyes displaying keywords for a dialogue, recommended behavior, a combat proficiency assessment, and so on. As the men stood eyeball to eyeball with the boy, one of them spat out some words. Who do you think you are to order me around? And as if on cue, the others also started to voice out some remarks. You little brat, how dare you point your finger at your elders? Alright, Im here. But what are you gonna do, huh? But despite their unruly behavior, Gyeoul knew there was one emotion that they were trying to hide from him. It was fear. He knew what kind of rumors were floating around the camp. They were mostly in regard to what transpired on the last procurement mission and what the boy had done there. And as all vicious rumors do, these also snowballed out of control. According to them, the boy was a serial killer, a heinous murderer, and an infamous psychopath. Now it was time to use those rumors to his advantage. The boy demanded in a brusque tone, Stop following us around. As soon as Gyeoul said it, he felt a tingling sensation running through his spine. He didnt need to hold back in his anger. That was the thing he most liked about living in a virtual reality. Who do you think Youve already said that. The boy immediately cut off the hollow threat. Or, to make it even, maybe I should follow you around and see how you like it. I have a good memory, by the way. I can remember all eleven of you without a problem. More viewers messages came at a rapid pace. The people seemed to find the boys actions very amusing. But the boy tried to ignore the notifications, he wanted to focus on the moment, to immerse himself in the situation. Is that a threat? If you are doing something that deserves it, then it could be a threat. Youve seriously lost your mind, havent you? Hey kid, you think that uniform makes you special? Let me tell you Oh, this uniform is nothing. The boy once again cut them off mid-sentence, but they didnt get angry. They probably couldnt because they were scared of the boy. Though the situation wouldve been much different if the boy showed any sign of cowering or overreacting. This uniform is nothing, really, Gyeoul repeated the same sentence as if emphasizing. Dont try to judge me by my appearance. Instead, Id recommend you to judge me by what I have done, what I can do and what I will do. It was a sentence that the boy completed on his own without the help of the system, but rather, from the knowledge acquired from past experiences. A clot of emotions that had been lumped near his heart began to boil until it erupted through his mouth. Im sick of other people trying to trample on me and making unreasonable demands. Nothing is as important as myself Well, this is a world with nothing else. The boy began to walk towards the men as he grabbed the handle of the knife hanging on his belt. You guys probably havent been following me for no reason, so I suppose you all know what Ive done previously. But what you dont know is what Im capable of doing to all of you Do you want to see it for yourselves? Fucking hell, this kid is nuts Gyeoul and the men moved like two magnets of the same pole; when the boy took one step closer, the men took one step back. But they still glared at the boy with their eyes strained as if not wanting to make their fear evident. One of them tried to resist with a shaky voice. You know that I belong to the Korean Patriotic Community? You think Id care about your faction when I dont care about my uniform? Urgh If I kill everyone here, do you think your factions will send other people to avenge you? And what do you think the U.S. military will think about a case involving 11 adults and a boy? You know, Im very curious to know the answers to these questions. If youre curious too, why dont we find out right now? What a crazy thing he had just said. Even Gyeoul himself was surprised at what had come out from his mouth. But the boy couldnt deny that it gave him an odd feeling of satisfaction. Gyeoul realized that he had started smiling without noticing. But seeing his smile, the men grew even more terrified. Without uttering any more threats, they started backing away at a faster pace. And when they finally got far enough, they turned their backs and swiftly left the scene. Although it had only been a conversation, he saw that the Control AI was evaluating his performance and converting it into experience points. The viewers message icon was also flickering, notifying him of a star donation. Gyeoul paused the game and opened the log. chiliconcarne: just got chills watching him act lol how can he be so fluent without even using system keywords? I wouldve just killed myself if I had been in his shoes lul [chiliconcarne donated 20 stars.] NoMemesForUrNickname: How is he so pro tho? Is this really his first time broadcasting? I mean, he could be a famous BJ with a different name and face for all we know. Even his TOM level seems really high for a noob.** FuckActiveX: Who cares if hes pro or noob? Hes fun to watch and thats all I care about. Hardgay: Yeah, who cares if its a man or a woman? I dont care as long as it feels good. cashmere: BJ is the wrong expression. Use streamer instead. BillyHarington: FuckJyouK [cashmere donated 5 stars.] [SnowyFox donated 20 stars.] Pprplz: His gameplay isnt like those money-blinded old farts cringy acting. [GalaxySS505 donated 1 star.]*** After a moment of reluctance, the boy sent a short thank-you message. Han Gyeoul: Thank you all for the stars. The boy pondered for a moment whether or not he shouldve said something longer, but soon dismissed the idea. Neither was this stream something he wanted to do, nor he knew what to say instead. The boy right now was so much different from the boy who had just lashed out at the men. If possible, he wanted to end the stream right now. But he couldnt. He was desperate for stars Hardgay: I love how his reactions are brief. The other money-blinded streamers waste time by calling the donors nicknames out loud one by one. The boy closed the message log with a sigh. Money-blinded streamers He thought he wasnt much different from them either. All of a sudden, the boy felt his boiling heart growing very cold. The boy quickly resumed the game. Yeonchul was standing frozen in place, seemingly overwhelmed. Several relationship update notifications popped up for Gyeoul, the most notable one being the permanent upward revision to respect-type favor. Amongst the three types of favorsfriendship, love, and respectrespect-type favor was what was needed to be recognized as a leader in a group. What was the most surprising for the boy was the +3 permanent revision gained from this event. Are you going to keep staring at me? Gyeoul asked. Huh? S-sorry. We should move. Either by mistake or on purpose, Yeonchul spoke to him even more cautiously. Half fear and half admiration. The Control AI displayed a piece of advice as if to support his thoughts. Psychological Analysis (Lvl 6 Insight / Lvl 6 Detection): Yeonchul admires you for what you have pulled off against the commissioners. (35% probability of containing errors / a higher level of Insight or higher intelligence stat is necessary to reduce the probability of error.) Following his lead, the boy arrived in front of a fairly large tent. To make sure it wasnt a trap, he first looked into the window located on the side of the tent. Under the dim light of a light bulb, there were people, all of them looking completely nervous and ill at ease. * Korean honorific for Mr./Mrs./Miss. Same as -nim but a bit less formal. ** No, its not that kind of BJ. Its how they call streamers in Korea (Broadcasting Junkie). S?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. *** New Samsung phone confirmed. Chapter 9: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (9) Chapter 9. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (9)Something seems off. Inside the tent, there was near twice the maximum number of people it was meant to accommodate. As far as Gyeoul knew, the camp shouldnt be running out of tents yet. The moment the boy questioned it in his mind, the Control AI displayed a result as if to answer him. AI Advice (Lvl 6 Insight): Judging by the fact that being part of a group makes it easier to protect oneself, they are likely a union of weak factions or a group of unaffiliated refugees. Oh, I see. It became quite self-explanatory when he thought about it a little bit more. A powerful faction would have occupied a whole area instead of cramming so many people into a single tent. Gyeoul thus followed Yeonchul into the tent with more assurance. A tense atmosphere permeated the interior of the tent. Yeonchul clapped twice to draw the attention of the people inside and proceeded to introduce Gyeoul to those who were at a loss. I believe most of you might already know him by the rumors, but let me introduce him for the sake of formality. This is Han Gyeoul-ssi. Please welcome him with a round of applause. The fact that Yeonchul was calling him, someone clearly younger, mister, and how he asked for applause as if it was some sort of festival almost made the boy cringe. But everyone seemed too strained and weary to retort. And it was probably the best that Yeonchul could do right now. The boy glanced around the people sitting inside the tent. Almost all of them were refugees from minorities; women, children, and elderly people constituting the majority of them. Most of them looked skinny and ill-conditioned, giving off an impression of naivety and timidness. But at least they had some few grown men, so theyd be able to fight back if necessary. After receiving a most awkward round of applause, Gyeoul was ushered to a chair right next to the stove. It was the best seat they had to offer, as the rest of the people were just sitting on folding chairs or the floor. I can see why you called me here. You do? Yeonchul asked back with a stiff expression. You want me to protect you, dont you? Yeonchul stayed silent at the boys question. The silence itself was an implicit confirmation. This is just miserable A growling voice came out from somewhere. It was the voice of an old man with grizzled hair. His face was plowed with deep furrows, a clear sign of his age. He finished the remaining words with a sigh. Miserable and embarrassing. To think that I would have to beg for help from someone of my grandchilds agefor my life! Id rather die than continue living like this. Please, dont say that. Horrified by his words, Yeonchul tried to dissuade the old man with all his might, Something unbelievable happened just when we were on our way here. We were being followed by the different factions commissioners, including the Korean Patriotic Association. But Gyeoul-ssi somehow sensed them, called them out, and sent them packing with just a threat. The rumors were true! We cant just judge him by his age. Then, this time Yeonchul turned to the boy. Oh, umm I hope that didnt bother you, he said, in the same careful tone, referring to what the old man said. No, not really. Hes right about me being young. He wouldnt have cared about it even if someone told him that in real life. Besides, he knew there were penalties imposed on underage characters. That held true even in the real world, why would it be any different here? There was no reason to even pretend to be angry. Yeonchul, agonizing whether the boys words were true or not, carefully brought up what he really had in mind. I didnt mean to put pressure on you. The reason why I brought you here What you said is true. We need help. The people here havent joined any of the factions, and because of that, weve faced several difficulties. But as you can see, there are quite a lot of us, so we thought that if we had a good leader, we might be able to establish a faction to protect ourselves. So weve been looking for someone who could lead us and thats why we invited you here. How many of you are there in this group? Around 80 people Yeonchul answered in a feeble, timid voice. In hard times like these, useless people were the first to be abandoned. The boy presumed that compared to how big the group was, only a few of them were useful, resulting in Yeonchuls unassertive answer. Gyeoul decided to change the question. How many of you can fight? But before Yeonchul could answer him, he added one more word, Frankly. Gyeoul kept his statement short and powerful. If he was going to accept the position as their leader, he had to make himself look imposing and compelling. If he were to take it easy on them, they would eventually start looking down on him. It was another lesson he learned the hard way. 17, Yeonchul answered with a deep sigh. Thats too little. Gyeouls candor and his callous comment filled the room with a somber and chilling mood. It was as if winter had set in inside the tent. After a long awkward silence, Yeonchul articulated some words. I know, but despite having the option of joining any of the other factions, and getting better conditions than anything we could offer, you still chose to be alone. So, thats why I thought, maybe maybe you dont like those crooks either. If Im not wrong, please help us. I beg you. Im afraid Im too busy looking after myself. The boy pretended to be indisposed to accept their offer. That way, they wouldnt have grounds to add any ifs and buts later on. The factions that had current dominion over the camp relied too much on immoral acts. Even if the boy were to successfully become the leader of one of those factions, it was evident that their past actions would come to bite him in the future. Thats why the boy had no intention of joining any of the existing factions no matter how attractive their proposals seemed to be. However, there was also no guarantee that these people wouldnt become an impediment. The weak could also harbor malice. Even now, some of them were staring at him with cold eyes. They were so intense that he felt like he could hear their inner voices, saying that they were admitting him as the leader now, but that they would soon take his place. Some also had eyes full of greed, looking like they were only interested in having a leader to shift their burdens on to. To these people, the boy was nothing but a convenient scapegoat. They would pretend to put him on a pedestal when they were actually just taking advantage of him. The weak are not always on the side of justice. Rather, because they are weak, they often choose to do evil for survival. The weak who have been persecuted are prone to persecute the weaker. But that fact isnt proof that those people arent good in nature either. Most of them do repent and regret what theyve done when things change. A college-aged woman, though the boy wasnt sure of her age because of her disheveled appearance, raised her hand gallantly. Were not asking you to help us for free. If you can stop other factions tyranny, we are willing to follow whatever you say. You can be a leader, you know. A hollow proposal. Her intention was black and white. She was trying to exploit him and was only looking at his young age, either on purpose or without being aware. Soon after, following the womans example, the others also voiced their sentiments. To be honest, it is embarrassing to ask this of someone who isnt even a grown-up yet. A boy like you decided to go out there and earn yourself a living, but a grown-up like me is just sitting on his bum, helplessly waiting for others to help. It really hurts my pride. But I must admitGyeoul, right? Youre a much better person than a weak coward like me. I mean, who cares about age? There are so many adults here who cant even take care of themselves. Its been days since we had a proper meal. Even if we want to try and do something, there are a lot of people whose bodies wont function well. Gyeoul-ssi, please help us out. If you can help us get some decent meals for a few days, we swear well do anything for you. Hes right. Besides, dont you think itd be safer to have someone trustworthy watching your back when we get to go out on a mission again? My husband, although hes a little old, he used to serve in the Marine Corps. Ive been starving for too long, I cant feed my baby properly. Its okay if I die, but I just want to save my child. When he heard this, Gyeoul felt like something was hitting his heart. Something like a heavy pebble. Parents. To the boy, they were nothing but an old sore. Not only his parents but his whole family. Gyeoul raised his hand to stop the people from talking and looked at the lady that was holding her baby in her bosom. Her lean and scrawny body and her haggard face made her look older. Wheres his father? The lady kept silence with apparent displeasure on her face. He got a little on the side, answered the woman who said to have a former marine husband. A little on the side? When the Damul* Promotion Association accepted him as one of their members, those dirty bastards got him a new girl. He left his family after getting caught cheating on her. It was something he had experienced once before. Gyeoul got up from his seat before they could continue with more of their stories. Ill think about your offer. I need some time to think it through before I can accept. Since he had been using the stick, now it was time to give them a carrot. But before I leave, theres something Id like to give you. Here, take this. S?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Huh? But this is What the boy was handing to them was a stash of ration stamps. Some extras that Lieutenant Capstone had been giving him before the mission, and his share of stamps he received after completing the mission. There were more than fifty stamps in total. The refugees mobbed around the boy and received the stamps, almost snatching them out of his hand. They all looked like they couldnt understand what was happening. Some of them even cried. To them, his action of giving away his stamps meant more than him just offering them a day worth of food. Ill finish my dinner as soon as possible and go to the ration center. Since I dealt with them on our way here, they wont dare to take your tickets while Im there with you. The ration center was the place where the refugees usually got their ration stamps robbed, since going there meant that you had stamps. This kind of careshowing the people his ability as a leaderwas an effective way to strengthen the group mentality of members of a community at the earlier stages of its establishment. Gyeoul left the tent with a rousing, yet calculative send-off. * Name of an ideology(?) that started when Korea was still the Goguryeo Dynasty, it means to take back whats been lost. In modern days, Damul now means to bring back the past glory. These people legit believe that Korea used to rule most of the land thats now occupied by China. So to take back whats been lost = to take back the land from the Chinese. Chapter 10: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (10) Chapter 10. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (10)# Faction (2), Camp Roberts TaIent Advantage is a system that helps players reacquire skills they have already learned in previous playthroughs. If n = times the player has learned the skill in previous playthroughs, then the experience points required for learning the skill in future playthroughs becomes 1/n. But this often raises the question of whether there is any benefit when n only equals 1. The answer to this is yes, there is a benefit. And that is that the Ignorance Penalty will no longer be applied when learning the skill. This mechanic is exactly what the game developers intended. They wanted players, on their first few tries, to feel helpless in the face of an overwhelming calamity, and then, for them to enjoy conquering those hardships with exceptional ability. Since players have the possibility of enjoying the same content from completely different perspectives, this is an excellent game mechanic in terms of controlling players content consumption speed. Gyeoul had also experienced quite a lot of bad endings. Although the skills he acquired in each playthrough were never the same, there were certain skills he would always learn without exception. Those included most combat-related skills, a few survival skills, certain languages and some of the core leadership-type skills such as Insight Detection and Deception. Skills can be classified into four great divisions according to ones mastery over them. From level 1 to level 3, skills are classified as beginner, from 4 to 6 as expert, from 7 to 10 as master, and those that go beyond level 10 are called superhuman. The experience points required for increasing the level of a skill increase exponentially as the level goes up. The boy had not yet spent the experience points gained from the San Miguel Mission. When considering his current progress in the game, his skill levels were already very high. The majority of his combat skills had already reached the superhuman level thanks to the Talent Advantage system. Therefore, Gyeoul was ready to engage in combat even under disadvantageous conditions. Otherwise, it wouldve been a problem. Leveling up combat skills has an effect of increasing a hidden stat, Menace. The effect activates when the player recognizes someone as an enemy. As for Gyeoul, he was now at the level of a ferocious beast. Because of this, the volunteers in charge of distributing rations kept staring at Gyeoul as he stood at the ration center as promised. Refugees from different factions were working at the distribution counters, and the ones that didnt belong to their factions were being treated unfairly. Gyeoul spotted some of the people from the tent queueing up. When they met his eyes, they greeted him with a nod. Although they didnt say anything, gratitude could be seen in their eyes. As the boy stood watch, he noticed one of the volunteers behind a counter serving a copious amount of food on a mans plate. Excuse me. Yes? I think your job is to distribute the rations evenly. Do you think this looks even? Gyeoul said as he pointed at the plate the man was holding. Oh, umm Im from the Damul Promotion Association, she answered with her face pale. So what? So The woman looked at the man with dismay. The man put on a bold face in an effort to look strong. Many of the refugees in the same line also glared at the boy with anger while the rest of the refugees were bewildered, watching the sudden development. But not long after, a middle-aged man came approaching with a smile on his face. Contrary to his kind-looking face, he had a muscular body. By all appearances, his physique shouldve been something impossible to maintain with the amount of rations that refugees normally received. Considering he was loitering around the ration center, he seemed to be a commissioner of one of the factions. Well, youre as gutsy as Ive heard. Hey kid, will you come here for a second? Theres someone I need you to meet. No, I cant. The mans face grew grim. He threw a look around and pulled at the boys shoulder with a gentle-looking smile. If you just stand here and block these people, it wont do any good to anybody here. It so happens that our boss wants to have a word with you. So why dont you just come here for a second? The man tried to pull him away by force, but the boy didnt budge an inch. To the befuddled man, Gyeoul said flatly, Ill give you the time after the rationing is done. By the way, if you happen to know these people, could you tell them to do their jobs properly? If they dont, well, Im gonna have to do something about it. Gyeoul didnt say exactly what he would do. It was better to leave the job to their imagination. The man looked at the boy with a blank expression and then sighed out loud before patting him on his shoulder. Alright. But promise me youll come with me afterward, will ya? Okay. The middle-aged man then talked to some of the refugees waiting in line. They started pouring out loads of complaints, but when the man gave them a stern frown, they all became quiet. The other man who had previously received a pile of rations came back and returned his rations to the counter. The man stared daggers at the boy, but when the boy looked back at him, he winced and hurriedly moved out of the line with his head lowered. Those who got their rations with the help of the boy gobbled up their ration on the spot. The reason why they didnt go find indoor seats to eat their meal was because they were afraid of having their food taken away on their way inside. Refugees from different factions looked at them with displeasure, but they couldnt cause any trouble because of the soldiers on watch. Just when the refugees finished their meal, the middle-aged man came up to the boy. Its time to keep your promise. Our boss is waiting for you. Lead the way. Gosh, arent you prickly. Though the man was trying to sound calm, his voice was quivering slightly. On their way, he kept stealing glances at the boy, from which the boy noticed both pent-up anger and fear within his eyes. He was being affected by the boys Menace. The middle-aged man stopped in front of a tent. It looked almost too ordinary to be their boss quarters. Considering that the supplies the refugees had access to were military products, it wasnt much of a surprise. But once they stepped inside, it was like a whole nother world. As if they had stitched several tents together, the inside of the tent was wider than it looked from the outside. And just from what he could see from the entrance, five fireplaces were keeping the tent warm, and several light bulbs brightly illuminated every corner of the tent. However, despite the size of the tent, it seemed like only a few people were residing in it. There were about twenty camp beds sparsely placed inside the tent, and the rest of the space was filled with pieces of furniture such as desks and chairs. There were even a couch and a TV on one side. Gyeoul couldnt understand the reason behind having a TV here, since the only thing being broadcast should be disaster news, over and over again. In the middle of the tent was a large rectangular table, and there was already a group of well-muscled men sitting around the table with an old man at its end. The table was also loaded with glasses, bottles of alcohol, and a few plates full of accompaniment for drinks. Gyeoul saw an empty seat at the other end of the table. Their intentions were obvious, but the boy decided to play along. Oh, here comes the man of the camp. Everyone, give him a big round of applause. Not this again, the boy thought. The men and women sitting at both sides of the table clapped their hands with stiff expressions. It seemed like they were trying to look disciplined, but it only added to their awkwardness. Apparently, this faction was running under this kind of military discipline. Suddenly, a girl in a provocative dress grabbed him by his arm and pulled him to the empty seat. Here, have a seat. The girl touched the boys body more than necessary, but the boy remained unperturbed. He was too well experienced with the game to be swayed by such a primitive desire. Gyeoul silently sat down on his seat and looked straight ahead. You are bold. I like that. The old man nodded with a broad grin. I should introduce myself first. I am Lim Hwasoo. I am the head of the Damul Promotion Association. Our people call me Magliji*. What is your name? Im Han Gyeoul. Gyeoul, eh? Thats a good name. It fits you perfectly! In your eyes, I can see the cold winter wind blowing like a blizzard. Isnt that right, my boys? Yes, Magliji! the people exclaimed in unison. Their voices were so loud that he felt like he had gone deaf for a few seconds. It mustve been to scare him. But to Gyeoul, it was nothing more than dogs barking. Noticing the boy was still unruffled, Hwasoo nodded as the edge of his lips curled up. A silent kind, I see. A man needs to know how to control himself. Do you know President Park? He managed to make our country so rich and so powerful by incorporating our peoples talents into his policies. The men in our country used to have so much power and courage. But the generations that came after ours, they grew up like flowers in a greenhouse. They lost the lofty spirits of our ancestors, the Great Goguryeo and the Great Jushin. However, youre different from those weak and incompetent young men. Yes! Thats right. In the old days, a man could cut off the enemys head with one stroke at the age of seventeen! Dont you agree, my boys? There he goes again, the boy thought. He knew that the old man asking for his subordinates opinions, was just him showing off his status. It was easy to notice since the boy not only was good at understanding peoples minds, but he had also played Days After Apocalypse, where human relationships play an important role, too many times. Once again, the people shouted out loud to express their agreement. Hwasoo then let out a roar of laughter and beckoned to the girl still standing next to the boy. Age doesnt matter for one to rise in the world. Thats even more so in todays world. And a great man must know how to enjoy alcohol and women. Eunjoo, pour our great man a drink. Yes, Magliji-nim. Before the boy could stop her, the girl standing behind him leaned towards him, grabbed a bottle on the table and poured the pumpkin-colored liquor into the glass with ice cubes placed in front of him. Her skin touching the boys cheek felt so soft and warm. And as expected, the corner of his view was being flooded with notifications of viewers messages. He didnt bother opening up the message log since he knew that the viewers must be claiming for sex. Considering the refugee camps current situation, this was all quite extravagant, including the liquor and the ice. Seeing the level of luxury of the Damul Promotion Association, the second largest faction, the boy began to wonder what kind of luxurious life the leader of the Korean Patriotic Association, the largest faction, was leading. While Gyeoul was lost in thought as he watched the glass being filled, Hwasoo raised his glass and exclaimed, Everybody, raise your glasses! We cant not have a drink before having a man-to-man talk. Im sorry, but Ill pass on the drink. Id be grateful if you could cut to the chase. Huh, is it because this is your first time drinking? Thats great. The first experience is always important. This liquor right here, its called Chivas Regal But Hwasoo couldnt continue his words when he saw Gyeoul grabbing his glass, stretching his arm to his side and slowly pouring the liquor onto the floor. Hwasoos face stiffened. The mood turned cold all of a sudden. You motherfucker! Some people pulled out knives. Although they were mostly kitchen knives, they were enough to kill a person. But Gyeoul, as if nothing could perturb him, put down the glass back quietly onto the table and stared straight at Hwasoo. Get to the point. When the refugees were about to attack the boy, Hwasoo quelled them down. Enough! What are you all doing? Did I tell you to interfere with our conversation? Or have you forgotten your place? I, Im sorry, Magliji-nim! The commotion subsided at once. Everyone fell silent as if nothing had happened in the first place. Only the tense atmosphere was left hovering in the air. Hwasoo chowed down on a skewer, and relaxedly emptied a glass of liquor. Then he slapped his knees and said to the boy, I like how fearless you are, but you ought to know when not to. Fear is a survival instinct that all animals have. So when you are in danger, you have to put aside your false bravado. This is advice from me as an elder in life, so I hope you bear it in mind. Okay. So why did you want to see me? Hahaha! Hwasoo cast a glance around the tent before grabbing another skewer. Gyeoul watched him swallowing the greasy skewer without budging an eyebrow. He knew that all his actions were just to show him how relaxed he was about the whole situation. After seeing the boy unperturbed, Hwasoo put on a wry face before finally talking about his business. The reason why I called you here is nothing special. I just wanted to ask whether youd like to join our faction. Youve got skills, youve got guts and youve got some connections. Ive also heard youre a friend of that stickler, Lieutenant Capstone, arent ya? Im sorry, but Im not interested in your offer. Dont jump to a conclusion and hear me out. I swear this is certainly not a bad offer for you either. You see, the Korean Patriotic Association is already the strongest faction here. They already have plenty of people like you. If you join them now, Gyeoul, those piranhas wont let you take a big role. They always say that Koreans have to stick together, but when it comes to a turf war, they will try to tear you apart and eat you alive. But were different. Our faction needs a man like you. And well treat you just as great as you are. Say, what do you think of Eunjoo? Do you like her? You can have her if you join us. And if you see any other girl you like, I can give them to you. Having one or two concubines is the basic aspect of a hero. You can also drink and smoke to your hearts content! A man of your caliber, Gyeoul, deserves all this! And when Gyeoul turned his gaze to his side, Eunjoo began to cling to him. Blowing warm breath on his neck, she reached out to his hands, placed them on her breasts, and made him knead her breasts. The fruity scent of her skin sweetly tickled his nose. The warmth of her body was conveyed to the tips of his fingers and slowly spread out to the bottom half of his body. S?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The viewers with Sensory Synchronization activated must be cheering out loud by now. The female viewers, if there is any, must be frowning. Of course, there is also the possibility that they have their senses synchronized with Eunjoo. He heard that many female viewers enjoyed this kind of content without any qualms, as they were in a virtual world. I feel a bit sorry Ill have to disappoint them. Although Gyeoul thought so, part of him did not feel sorry at all. The boy pushed the girl away, slowly but surely. Eunjoo urgently tried to stick tightly onto him, but he rejected her even more firmly. She then looked at Hwasoo in terror. Oh? You dont like her? Hwasoo smacked his lips and let out a smirk. Well, how about this one? He then ordered his subordinates to bring in a Japanese girl. After the largest Japanese faction, Sumiyoshi-kai was struck down to the verge of collapse during the conflict between factions, it was said that the Japanese refugees had fallen into precarious conditions. The boy knew this too. However, he who had only seen the report written in the games journal didnt realize how bad their situation really was. But now, the boy realized what it meant when he saw the girl being dragged into the tent. Lay her down. With the old mans order, a group of three women came forward and suppressed the girls limbs. Stop whining, you pussy. The only thing she was wearing was a piece of cloth that was cut to look like a kimono. But even that soon slid down because of her struggling, leaving her half-naked. Her voice that was crying for help in Japanese was already raspy. The bodies of the girl who was trying to resist and the women who were weighing her down got tangled up and created a rather obscene scenery. In the end, the other women grabbed her legs and spread them out towards the boy. Watching the whole incident with a pleased expression, Hwasoo turned to the boy. I know. What boys of your age look for is How should I call it Right, violence! A lust for conquest! Look. Cant you feel something wriggling inside you? What if I told you Im not interested? Id call it a lie. The shadow of the old man drawn over the struggling girl looked like a statue of a demon. Then those who surrender themselves would be devil worshippers. The reason why Gyeoul chose Days After Apocalypse over other games was because of how realistically things were described in this game. To Gyeoul, whose whole life was like living in winter, the real world was nothing but a paradise for the wicked. But contrary to his experience, the worlds described in most games had bright atmospheres, unlike the world he knew. No matter how hard the boy tried to enjoy those games, he couldnt erase the thought of this world is not real out of his head. Like a drop of oil could not mix inside a pool of water, he couldnt help feeling isolated from the rest of the world. But Gyeoul didnt feel that in Days After Apocalypse. And thanks to that, he could immerse himself in this world and forget about the horrible reality. This is where I belong. After a deep breath, Gyeoul spat out a sentence. Sir, go fuck yourself. It was as if a bomb had dropped inside the tent. * The highest public post in the Goguryeo dynasty. Equivalent to a prime minister. Chapter 11: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (11) Chapter 11. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (11)# lntermission, Nationalism and Totalitarianism When nationalism is used as a pretext for defending the public interest, it is prone to degenerate into totalitarianism. The nations that once fell down the road of totalitarianism committed several atrocitiessuch as the Japanese Empires colonialism, the Nanjing Massacre, and Nazi Germanys Holocaustbecoming evil empires. However, totalitarianism can be one of the quickest ways to unify a great multitude of people whose interests do not coincide. Therefore, at the crossroads of human extinction, totalitarianism might be a necessary evil for the sake of the greater cause, namely, the perpetuation of the species. As to which one is the bigger tragedymoral extinction or immoral existenceit is an arguable question. Does the end justify the means? What would be your choice? # Factions (3), Camp Roberts Gyeouls message log was flooded with notifications of downward revisions to favor, some of them permanent. Amidst the uncanny silence, Hwasoo ordered, Put her away for a minute. The girl was then dragged, almost like a piece of luggage, to one side of the room. She didnt stop screaming, probably not realizing she had just avoided being raped. It seemed like she was in too much panic to make a proper judgment of the situation. Hearing her crying, Hwasoo lost his patience and suddenly burst into a fit of anger. Goddamnit, shes fucking annoying! Make her shut up, will ya? The method the subordinates resorted to was very simple. It was violence. At first, they tried yelling at her. But since neither was she able to understand Korean nor was she in the right state of mind to listen to them, they began slapping her. Though her screams grew even louder, they didnt stop beating her. It was only after the girl passed out from the pain that a grave silence filled the tent. Hwasoo glared at the boy with eyes full of anger. How impertinent you young ones are these days! Whats the world coming to? Nobody seems to have inherited the illustrious spirit of our ancestors, not a single person! This is all because of those damn Japanese Werent you just doing the same thing they did? Youre rotten to the core! Roared the old man, his face contorted in anger. Those scumbags deserve to be treated like this! Dont you know what they did to us in the past? They tortured, raped, and killed our people! And to make up for what they did, they gave us nothing but hollow apologies. They havent done a single sensible action for the past century. If we just let them go like that, the same tragedy will occur all over again! They wont learn! Thats just who they are! They had plenty of chances to correct their mistakes, it was they who threw them away. Thats why Im doing this, to make them pay for their crimes! No one can blame us for whatever we do! This is a preemptive war, as well as an act of self-defense! Sophistry. Although the first half was correct, the latter was completely wrong. Japan was indeed accountable for their disgraceful past. However, that should not justify for the victims to commit genocide against the offenders. What was the point of apologizing and reflecting? It was for the offender to ensure that they will not commit the same crime in the future, in hopes that the victims who are still alive will feel just a bit better before they die. Hwasoos logic was no better than saying I will rape your daughter because you raped my daughter. A person deserves to be treated as a person. And since Gyeoul himself hadnt been treated as such when he still had a body, he became angrier than necessary, thus responded sharply. Could you stop using Korean for your mental masturbation? It feels disgusting having the same nationality as you. How dare you! Suddenly, Gyeouls skills, Survival Instinct and Crisis Detection, sensed a man holding a knife closing in from his side. Gyeoul instinctively twisted the arm that approached him from the side, neutralizing the stab, took the knife away from his attacker and pressed it against their neck. His movements were so agile that he felt like it wasnt his own body. A player with a high level of combat skills could manifest exceptionally intricate motions simply by envisioning the vague idea of defending and subduing the enemy. The man who had jumped at the boy, perhaps in an outburst of anger or to show his loyalty, soon turned deathly pale. Hed be dead if the boy pushed the knife any further in. Gyeoul, however, wasnt planning on killing the man. What he meant to do was to trigger their sense of fear, enough for the hotheaded crowd to take a look back and worry about their lives. He didnt want to trigger a bad ending in this situation, but he also didnt think it would be possible to escape from this many people if they were to attack him all at once. I wont give you another warning. Gyeoul threw the knife to a corner of the tent and pushed the man away. As soon as the man was freed from the boys grasp, he flopped down on the ground and coughed his head off as he clutched his neck. Hwasoo glared at the boy red-faced, but he didnt order his subordinates to kill him. Instead, he was preventing his subordinates from attacking him. It was a reasonable AI calculation. He wouldnt be the leader of such a big faction if he was too hot-tempered. Hey, kid, Hwasoo said, now without honorifics. It seemed like he had given up his pretentious act. You think you can make it out of here alive? Against this many people? No. If I were to fight with all of you, today would be the last day of my life. But please know that I wont go down alone. What a big mouth youve got there. You think your military affiliation will keep you safe, huh? I think Im sort of an example, more like a walking billboard that the U.S. military set up to show the refugees that they can also have the privilege of joining them if they prove themselves. And if you were to ruin that billboard, I dont think theyd let you off with your crimes anymore. So, a wise man such as the great Magliji wont be able to kill me, at least in here. How reckless. Was that the only thing you believed would save your life? Im sorry, but I dont just count on the U.S. military. Im also counting on my skills. I believe its not completely impossible for me to win even if I fight all of you here. Ha! You cant be serious about that! You dont think so? Then how about we start killing each other right here? I wonder how many of your subordinates will willingly risk their lives to fight me. Should we find out ourselves? Hwasoo kept silent for quite a long time before trying to persuade the boy again. You feisty little thing, dont you know that your audacity and all the other talents you possess are the legacies of our great ancestors? Our people have been charged with a great mission! Like all the other countries have, America will soon collapse! And when that happens, we, the descendants of the great Hwanwoong, will have to establish a new homeland over the ruins of America! You know, my World History high school teacher taught me, any kind of nationalism that doesnt reflect cosmopolitanism as its foundation is a satanic ideology. You, old man, are Satan himself. Hwasoo was once again left speechless by the boys random provocation. It must have been even more infuriating for him, since he, given his position, most likely had never suffered such a severe insult. I cant talk to you anymore. Your words disgust me, said Hwasoo. He sighed and put his hand on his forehead. His actions made him look like a sage shouldering all the anguish in the world by himself. But of course, Gyeoul knew that it was the typical behavior of a charlatan. Well, we are on the same boat. I dont want to stay here another minute. Your rotten brain just stinks too much. The false sage then lifted one eyebrow and asked, Maybe youre right. We cant kill you here. But what if its not here? You dont want to live in fear of being hunted, do you? Youre making me repeat myself. I wont die alone. I personally dont want to wage war against an entire faction. But if it comes down to it, Ill make sure to pay you back with interests. The boy rose from his seat and walked in the opposite direction of the exit. He had a firm grip on his bayonets handle, causing the people to hesitantly move out of his way. It was a clear threat. Ill be taking the girl with me. If you want to stop me, youll have to come at the risk of your life. S?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. And just as expected, none of them stepped up to stop Gyeoul. Even the strongest-looking person just stood there watching. He probably possessed Survival Instinct or Detection. Τʤ顢˽֤ȡäƤ (Take my hand if you want to live.) His words were conveyed by relying on the games language correction. It was level 6 Japanese. Even though he might not have sounded like a native speaker, it was enough to deliver his message. The shivering girl hesitantly grabbed the boys hand. She had no choice other than to trust the person speaking in a familiar language. Holding the boys hand, the girl followed him from behind towards the exit of the tent. Nobody stopped the two from doing so. Only Hwasoo stared at them with a sunken expression. Although Gyeoul had brought her out, he wasnt planning on keeping her company, as shed only serve to drag him down. Thus, the two of them went straight to the Japanese settlement. The Japanese territory which was said to have collapsed after the fall of Sumiyoshi-kai looked surprisingly stable. It seemed like several other Japanese factions had united to prevent the Japanese community from falling apart. Before the boy could approach the entrance, one of the guards stationed near it shouted at him. ޤl? (Who the hell are you?) ŤƤʤͬBƤǤŤ𤳤ĤϤޤ(Please calm down. Im here to bring one of your people home. I dont mean to cause any trouble.) The guards looked skeptically at the boy who was holding both of his hands up. Gyeoul then brought the Japanese girl forward and lightly nudged her towards them. She kept on looking back with teary eyes as she walked towards the guards. The guards didnt lower their guard until the girl was already in close proximity. It was only after they conducted a body inspection that they began talking to her. Though they spoke in a very quiet voice, Gyeouls augmented senses, attained by Survival Instinct, allowed him to overhear their conversation. You, are you Japanese? Y-yes. My name is Kushinada Setsuna. I was kidnapped by a group of Koreans. Whos that guy? I think hes Korean too but hes a good person. He fought with the people who kidnapped me and brought me out of there. I owe him my life. Ha! Good person? Chongs are all the same. By the way, do you have a family? My parents should be here. If they havent passed away Is that so? Hey, Daisuke. You go help her find her parents. Yes, sir! Just then Gyeoul turned around and stopped listening to their conversation. He neither expected to be thanked nor did it seem she would thank him. But as the boy was about to take a step, the Japanese guard shouted at him from behind. You, Chsenjin*! Give me your name. Well spare your life when we take our revenge on the other Chongs. Gyeoul looked back for a second and bluntly responded, Dont need it. He then left the Japanese settlement area and headed straight back to his quarters. Several factions approached the boy on his way back to the military quarters. There was nothing new about them, except for one faction. The Church of Full Gospel. These people, calling themselves children of God, worked in pairs and stopped random people on the street to give them a full sermon. Gyeoul tried to quickly slip past them, but unfortunately, one of them spotted him. Within a few seconds, dozens of them surrounded the boy and started to babble on. Brother! The great tribulation has fallen upon the world, theres not much time before our Lord Jesus returns! Those who do not believe in the Lord will not be saved! But fear not brother, for you are not too late! You can still gain Gods favor if you truly repent for your sins and pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. By faith, Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death. Faith is the only way to eternal life! Our church is lead by Reverend Park Taesun, the righteous prophet of the east. Only those with faith can attain salvation from this disaster! Would you believe that all the hardships that have come to us were written in the Bible this whole time? I will sweep away both man and beast; I will sweep away the birds in the sky and the fish in the seaand the idols that cause the wicked to stumble. I will cut off mankind from the face of the earth This is what the Lord declared! Also, in the Bible saysBe silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. Those mutants, infected by epidemic, devouring life, they are the ones that eat the sacrifices, and we are sacrifices to the Lord! Faith is the only way to survive the wrath of the Lord! Reverend Park will tell us how we can be saved! Just meet him once and youll feel the shivers running through you! The shiver of revelation! Now, young brother, itll take you just a minute. Come with us! Gyeoul tried to ignore them and carry on, but they kept on pestering him. Im sorry, but Im not interested. He who does not listen to the voice of the Lord is the servant of Satan! An old man suddenly lifted a sign that read Faith, Heaven, No Faith, Hell and tried to strike the boy with it. The boy, however, simply grabbed the sign and took it away from him. It was only when the boy threw the sign away that the fanatics scrammed. * Chsenjin/Josenjing = Derogatory word for Korean. Not exactly a swear word, but its how they called Koreans (Joseon people, from the Joseon dynasty) when Korea was colonized by Japan, so it has a bad connotation due to historical context. Chapter 12: The Little Prince in The Ossuary (12) Chapter 12. The Little Prince in The Ossuary (12)# Unread messages (1) ElectronicAnklet: Does this son of a bitch not have a dick? Why did he just let the girl go? I was just getting ready to jerk off! Oh, my poor Johnson, hes now all crumpled up! Hectopascal_Kick: I srsly doubt he has one lul JongShinHyung: They brought you a girl, but why wont you eat? Why wont you? Today was a strangely lucky day* MillionDollarLoan: lol nice one XD btw, what was the lucky part? No_Memes_For_Your_Nickname: Well, were definitely lucky to have found this stream, thats one thing. There are not many BJs that can make their streams this fun. Without an extremely high TOM level, not even an AI can respond this fast in real-time. His reaction speed is amazing too. If it were some other old geezer, theyd pause at every goddamn moment and say things like Oh, I need some time to think here, sorry guys. VanDakHom: Thank you, Captain Obvious! [SnowyFox donated 20 stars.] ޤĤߤ: It was disappointing that they didnt have sex. ymROCKs: The world is all about sex and violence. pp224: Sex! Onewiththeuniverse: Im a monk and Im secretly accessing this age-restricted channel without the head monk knowing. Ill take questions. Hectopascal_Kick: Yeah right, fake monk Phisherman: I just saw the profile of that guy with a Japanese nickname and it says his nationality is Japanese. Is he really? ޤĤߤ: Yes. Matsumin is Japanese. I am using a translator. JongShinHyung: How come a Japanese guy is watching a Korean stream? cuz this streamer isnt that famous. ޤĤߤ: Korean virtual reality adult channels are very popular in Japan. Im sure there are quite a few Japanese like me watching this channel right now. In the era of virtual reality, Japan is no longer the king of porn. Korea is now competing for the throne. As to why Im here, I just happened to find this while searching for something that fits my tastes. ymROCKs: Its pretty weird to hear that from a Japanese since I grew up jacking off to Japanese porn Phisherman: But are you okay with watching this kind of stuff? ޤĤߤ: What do you mean? [SnowyFox donated 20 stars.] Phisherman: Im talking about the old man back in the tent. His talk about Japan was pretty intense. Even I was starting to get sick of his victim mentality. ޤĤߤ: It was bad, but I dont really care. Hes only a virtual character. And most of all, Im just here to see people having sex. It was rather arousing to think of it as a situational drama. Like an extension of cosplay and BDSM. Oldspice: Indeed, even an international conflict cant stop a mans lust! Sex can bring the world together! pp224: Matsumin, you are a real man. ޤĤߤ: Im not a man. Ill put it in my profile. (Ц) ElectronicAnklet: wait wat? ޤĤߤ: In fact, Ive been applying Sensory Synchronization to Setsuna. It was disappointing that he didnt rape her. Aeduffwhitula: ???????? Blackcoke: Holy shit, Im lost for words. Chaos, destruction, and manga are all here. Ekta: Dont be fooled! This must be Kaizos trap! Shes probably done something to her profile! [SnowyFox donated 20 stars.] # lntermission, Combat Will and Combat Fatigue (1) If a character is being overwhelmed by enemies, Combat Will will decrease while Combat Fatigue will increase. If the two values reach a certain point, the character will be afflicted with the status effect, Fear. When under Fear, there will be a temporary downward revision to the characters overall stats, and they might give up the mission or disobey orders. The limit for those two values can be increased through several means, such as increasing the characters Will Power or other combat skills or being affiliated with a member or a leader with leadership skills. Combat Fatigue will remain active for a certain amount of time after battle, affecting the character. The more fatigued the character is, the slower they will recover from it. If Combat Fatigue reaches a critical level, the character will no longer recover naturally by waiting, and in severe cases, it may lead to semi-permanent mental illness. S?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Like any other status, Combat Will and Combat Fatigue cannot be identified with Insight lower than level 10. # Journal, Page 37, Camp Roberts The U.S. government issued a statement concerning a new containment strategy. According to it, they would set up a blockade line along the western border of Idaho-Nevada-Arizona and over Mexico, and conduct both satellite and aerial reconnaissance over the blockade. If any unauthorized movements were detected, aerial forces would be deployed to destroy any potential threat. For this mission, they announced the deployment of both several manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as several gunships currently in possession of the U.S. On the refugees end, the governments statement was virtually a threat. The primary goal might have been to provide the residents at the eastern side of the blockade with a sense of security, but they must have also aimed to pressure the remaining survivors at the west of the blockade. The governments spokesperson described the performance of the gunships and all the other aircraft that would be used for the mission as if to confirm how heavily guarded the blockade would be. For example, one of the aircraft, named AC-130, was heavily armed with several machine guns and howitzers and could travel around 8,000km without refueling. It was literally a flying artillery unit. They also announced that the U.S. was currently under partial mobilization and that the regulation on strategic material purchase had been enacted. But the restrictions didnt seem very tight. Perhaps the U.S. had already secured a sufficient amount of supplies. In addition, both airborne and seaborne trade routes were free from mutants. Although the need for a quarantine might be present, it shouldnt affect provisioning. Some of the refugees in the camp seemed to have despaired upon hearing this announcement. They must have been those who were planning to escape to the east. The refugees needed to delude themselves in order to endure the rigors in their strenuous life. Among the refugees, the eastern part of the U.S. was rumored to be something akin to heaven on earth. This, however, wasnt entirely wrong. The eastern U.S., where civilization had yet to collapse, must be like a dream world. If the governments announcement was true, it was virtually impossible for the refugees to cross the blockade. And even if they somehow managed to reach the safe zone, that wouldnt be the end to their problems, as they had no way to prove their identity. Theyd have to stay hidden, lest they get shot to death. Life would be even more miserable than here. All things considered, staying at the camp was still the best shot for survival. # Journal, Page 38, Camp Roberts Although the mission team had several unsavory incidents in San Miguel, the camp still lacked supplies to survive the upcoming winter. The U.S. military acknowledged that the previous operation was rather reckless and ill-planned, and therefore, tried to come up with a revised plan. As a result, they announced a newly revised reward system. One of the new conditions was as follows: if the accompanying U.S. soldier fails to return, the refugees of that group will not be given any reward. It was probably based on the flour factory incident. Not only that. It was also decided that they would provide basic training to the refugees who wished to join future operations. Since Camp Roberts used to be a training facility before the epidemic, it could be said that it was regaining its original role. Lieutenant Capstone voiced a rather skeptical opinion about this decision. He worried whether theyd be able to achieve tangible improvement with only a few days of training. There wasnt much time left before the coldest season set in. The demand for supplies was urgent, but time was limited. There was nothing remarkable about the training the refugees received. Rather, it was almost too bland. This was because they had to omit training exercises like live-fire training. As a result, the refugees mostly received indoor education like tactical movement training or mental preparation and some boring physical exercises. The battalion commander ordered each officer to take charge of training a group of refugees, and the remaining soldiers to assist the officers. AI Advice (lvl 8 Insight): You may choose which of the officers you wish to assist. It is highly recommended to choose either Captain Magath or Lieutenant Capstone. Captain Magath has the greatest authority as a senior officer and is likely to use expedients to fill his quota. Therefore, missions with him should be relatively safer than those of other groups. But as you have already experienced, Captain Magath is a virulent racist. When working under people with Racist values, you will most likely suffer from mistreatment and insults. No matter how great your achievements are, it will be difficult to win his favor. But if youre good at flattery and negotiation, theres a chance youll get more than you expect. Lieutenant Capstone, on the other hand, has moral and upright characteristics, but relatively weaker authority. Because he always tries to carry out his duties faithfully, he is more likely to volunteer for more dangerous missions. Therefore, if you choose him, you can expect fair treatment, but it will be harder to survive. Players Choice: Join Lieutenant Robert Capstones group Obviously, I decided to go with Lieutenant Capstone. Even as a joke, I dont want to live my life here bullied by racists like Captain Magath. Even if the risks are bigger, its well worth it. Chapter 13: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (13) Chapter 13. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (13)# Leadership, Camp Roberts After reaching the end of the journal, Gyeoul decided to pay a visit to those who were waiting for him. He had shown his ability and had given them enough time. He hoped theyd be eagerly awaiting his appearance, enough to make up for the age penalty imposed on him. The night at the refugee camp was as quiet as a graveyard. Several empty tents had been left open. It was proof that people were gathering in one place. As the boy gazed around the nearby tents, a man approached from the front. He wasnt someone the boy was acquaintanced with. With visible unease, the man stared at the boy from the corner of his eye. Since it wasnt an uncommon occurrence, the boy kept walking without paying much attention to it. But just as the boy passed by, his Survival Instinct sent him a warning. Pretending to bump into the boy, the man quickly took out a knife. But Gyeoul was already prepared. The moment the blade flashed, the boy grabbed the mans hand and gave it a slight twist. The man shrieked as he let go of the weapon. With a clang, a dirty rusty knife fell to the ground. At present, Gyeouls combat ability was strongly influenced by the games technical corrections. Even considering the penalty applied to minors, Gyeouls strength far surpassed that of an ordinary adult. As a result of this, the mans struggle ended in vain. Ahhh, it hurts! Let go of me! Gyeoul tightly grasped the mans twisted arm, like holding reins, and dragged him into a narrow dark alley located between some tents. The man started raving like a lunatic in an effort to escape the boys grip. But once he figured out it wouldnt work, he began to cry for help. H-help! This crazy kid is trying to kill me! Somebody help! Where are those Yankee bastards when you need them?! Fuuuuck! Patrols wont come here this late at night, so please shut the fuck up. It was the same reason why the Harlem district didnt have patrols late at night. They didnt care, as long as the important places were safely guarded. Dim lights were leaking out from several tents, but not one person came out to save the man. The boy threw the man to the ground. The man was now in complete shock and couldnt breathe properly. He looked miserable, with tears and snot coming out from his orifices. While approaching the man, the boy ran one hand through his hair and took out his bayonet. The man crawled away on his butt, and after bumping into a dead end, he quickly turned around and started digging under the tent with his hands. Despite him using his bare hands, the man dug at an amazing speed. Perhaps it was some sort of upward revision applied when someone was desperate. Gyeoul tried to think of a way to take advantage of it but soon dismissed the idea. It was useless if he couldnt control its activation. Gyeoul then stabbed his bayonet into the mans back. The man let out a shriek, like the sound of air leaking out of a lung. Blood spurted out as the boy pulled out the knife. The man convulsed like the flame of a candle, flickering brightly before extinguishing. But the struggle didnt last long, as his strength diminished along with his blood loss. Soon enough, his body went completely limp. Gyeoul didnt bother trying to find out the culprit behind this incident. It was obvious that the client mustve taken failure into account and got rid of anything that would link Gyeoul back to them. In a world where the strong prey upon the weak, those at the bottom of the pyramid were always hungry for food. And those people could be easily employed with just a couple of ration stamps. Still, the boy had deliberately killed the man to set an example. If he were to appear as easy prey, their methods might become even more extreme. This was the best way to minimize deaths. Gyeoul felt a gush of heat surging up from his chest. The same sensation he felt whenever he killed a person. The boy, of course, felt repulsion from having murdered someone, but ignoring such repulsion allowed him to enjoy the feeling of intense heat spreading from his heart. He felt as though the heat was melting the rock in his heart little by little. But that pleasure only lasted for a moment. After the heat subsided, the boys heart felt even heavier. It wasnt because of guilt. Rather, it was because of the fact that he didnt feel any remorse. The subconscious acknowledgment that this world was not real. The boy raised the curtain of the tent that the man was digging under. Beyond the entrance, at the far back of the tent, some men holding clubs in their hands were standing around a group of women, protecting them as they stared at the boy with their hands covering their mouths. The boy slightly bowed and said, Im sorry if I disturbed your sleep. This guy here tried to kill me, so I couldnt help it. Im not going to harm anyone here. The people inside the tent, frightened by his bloody appearance, could barely nod in response. The boy then left with a brief farewell, pulling down the curtain. Gyeoul searched the corpse and found three ration stamps inside one of his pockets. Just as he had thought, there was no clue as to the person behind this. He wouldve doubted if there were any. Leaving the body neglected, the boy headed straight to his original destination. After arriving, he encountered a refugee on guard duty. The guard first stared at the boy with vigilance, but once he realized who it was, he hurried into the tent. Soon enough, the noise of people scurrying was heard from inside the tent. The boy dived in without giving them time to prepare. Gyeoul, What brings you here so late? said the old man who had deprecated himself during the boys last visit. He seemed to have gained some more age spots during the past few days. There was a hint of confusion on the old mans face. Not only him, but the others also looked puzzled at his sudden visit. In fact, that was what the boy was aiming for. In order to gain the initiative, he couldnt give them any room to maneuver. That was why the boy didnt wait until morning to deliver his message to them. Im here to tell you that I will accept your offer. Oh thank god! Yeonchul exclaimed with joy as soon as he heard what the boy said. Not just him but the entire tent bustled joy. Only a middle-aged woman asked the boy, looking worriedly at his hand that was stained with blood. Are you hurt? Oh, this? This isnt my blood. A look of fear appeared on everyones faces. The reaction wasnt big, neither was it small. It was just enough for Gyeoul to make use of it. The boy immediately explained the situation while adding some small lies. Some guy tried to kill me on my way here. Dont worry though, since I didnt get hurt. Anyway, I caught him and interrogated him. And guess what I found. He said that he was sent by the Damul Promotion Association. It seems that they dont want me to join your group. Those assholes! How dare they touch a kid! s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Theyve been taking our stuff so far, but now that they think they cant steal from us anymore, theyve started resorting to dirty tricks! What a load of trash! People could easily be brought together if there was a common public enemy, and the boys injury was just enough justification to turn a whole faction into the number one public enemy. The people in the tent became infuriated. In particular, the lady who had been abandoned by her husband looked so angry that her hands and legs were shaking. Although she was trying to soothe his crying child, who had been woken up, it seemed like she was in even more need of soothing that him. By the way, theres something I want to go over before accepting your offer. As you all can see, Im an underage kid. But I dont like it when people make light of me. So Id like to get a promise from all of you. Whenever we are dealing with communal affairs or in formal situations, please use formal speech when speaking to me. I dont care if you speak casually outside those situations. Of course, we promise! Thats what we all wanted! Isnt that right, everyone? Yeonchul, the man who had first invited Gyeoul, took the lead, asking for everyones consent. Gyeoul observed his behavior with half-closed eyes. Although he was just leading a small group of people when compared to the huge community of Camp Roberts, when this group later became an independent community, there would be a perfect role for him. After listening to the crowds consent, the boy waved his hand, signaling them to quiet down. It then soon became quiet and everyones attention was focused on the boy. Good. Now, lets make a promise to each other. You will do your best for me, and I will do my best for you all. The people sent him a big applause. A hint of hope, anticipation, and joy could be seen in their eyes. It was a good response. However, there were still some eyes that showed other thoughts. It was an unpredictable variable that he had to keep in mind. Once again raising his hand to calm them down, Gyeoul carefully opened his mouth, It may be all too abrupt, but I have an order as the leader of this group. I need some volunteers to join the training at Lieutenant Robert Capstones company tomorrow. This isnt something that can be taken lightly, because these volunteers will be deployed for future missions. How many do you need? I need at least ten. That way, we can fill a whole truck with our people, so that we wont have to fight for credit with people from other factions. An awkward silence hung inside the tent. Gyeoul remembered that Yeonchul had said they had seventeen people who could fight in case of emergency, but that was most likely the absolute maximum. Besides, he didnt think that Yeonchul, who had been desperately asking him for help, had been completely honest with him when he said it. If a skirmish were to break out with 10 of their combatants missing, it was obvious what would happen to the remaining people here. Gyeoul, therefore, pointed that out before they could voice their worries themselves. Dont worry though, I know you cant afford to lend me ten combatants. Although you said there are seventeen people who can fight, I didnt completely believe you. But I understand, you must have been desperate. So you can wipe that look off of your face. Im sorry And thank you for your understanding. We have nothing to say. While the majority were showing this kind of reaction, some of them were rather radical. Are you all just a bunch of cowards or what? Dont you know this is a risk we have to take? Do you think well get anywhere just by relying on him? Snap out of it! If you are going to be like this, Id rather volunteer myself! A furious voice came from the lady with the baby. Gyeoul approached her without saying a word. A look of tension replaced the fury on her face. It was no wonder for there was still blood on Gyeouls hands. But Gyeoul showed no hostility. He knelt to meet her babys eyes and spoke in a friendly tone. I could always use some brave people, but you should think about your child. Dont tell me you hate him because of his fathers fault, do you? N-no, of course not! Well, thats good to know. Gyeoul stroked the baby with his clean hand. He certainly didnt have the appearance of a baby hated by his mother. His well-kept white skin was unblemished and much cleaner than his disheveled mothers. Gyeoul once again spoke to the mother in a soft tone. Hes cute. Whats his name? His name is Park Jeonghan for now. For now? It was my ex-husbands idea. Im thinking of giving him a different name. I see. Then whats your name, maam? Song Yegyeong. Ill remember that. The boy then stood up and looked around at the rest of the people. Id like to have a moment to get to know your names. After some time, Gyeoul brought back the original topic of conversation. Now, lets get back to where we left off. As I said earlier, Im not going to choose ten healthy men. Its also important to keep the rest of you safe. I do need ten people, but its okay if half of them cannot fight. Just pick some to make up the numbers and it should be fine. Then wouldnt it be dangerous for the people participating in the missions? It was a legitimate concern. But the boy replied with a smiling face. Ill be there for them. I told you I would. But Trust me. Ill make sure no one gets left behind. (Nis: Ohana means family?) As soon as Gyeoul said so, a warning message appeared in front of his eyes. A promise made publicly as the leader of a faction will be considered as a Faction Mission. If this mission is successful, you will be rewarded with leadership experience points and an upward revision to your authority within the community and the members sense of belonging and loyalty towards the community. But failing to do so will result in several penalties such as a decrease in stability of the community and a downward revision to the members sense of belonging and loyalty towards the community. If the stability of the community falls below a certain level, you may lose your leader position and could be even expelled from the faction. Therefore, when making a promise as a leader, you must carefully consider the chances of success. It is also possible to mitigate these side effects through leadership-type skills such as Instigation and Deception. Certainly, this kind of promise would have posed too much of a risk if he didnt have his leadership skills. But now it was different. Umm Im sorry to say this, but how can we trust you? One of the few men raised a doubt towards the boys ability, and several people concurred with that suspicion. It was a reasonable doubt since the only history the boy had during this playthrough was merely one field mission and a fight with the Damul Promotion Association. The boy didnt refute the mans skepticism and answered with a rather lighter tone of voice, Well, youre right. I dont have any way to prove myself right now. But thats why I need those who can trust me to volunteer for this job. Im not forcing anybody here. Its okay if we dont have enough numbers. Well just have to work with people from other factions. But even if that happens, I will guarantee the volunteers safety. Just keep in mind that youll be getting fewer stamps if fewer people volunteer. After a pause, Gyeoul continued, Were not going to decide everything right away. Ill come back after breakfast, so try to make up your mind before then. Just before leaving the tent, Yeonchul asked Gyeoul if he could stay with them. The boy, however, turned down his request. People tend to take ones favor for granted if one keeps granting them every single request. My parents were also like that. Chapter 14: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (14) Chapter 14. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (14)# lntermission, Charm Human beauty is not as natural as one might think. Just by not taking a shower for a few days, it can make someone look much less appealing. In a crisis of global scale, where societys whole infrastructure is paralyzed, how much can we protect our own beauty? Likewise, in Days After Apocalypse, a characters charm stat is affected by the communitys sanitation level and the accessibility of sanitary supplies and beauty products. For example, if a characters charm is at 100, their actual charm could plummet below 10 in a community without a sanitary facility. However, unless the communitys stability level is low, this penalty can be removed by stocking on sanitary supplies. If you dont like this system, dont worry. We have just the perfect DLC, Fatal Charm, ready for you. Fatal Charm is a DLC that will fix your characters charm stat to its maximum value, so that you, the player, can receive the benefits of having a high charm stat regardless of the constraints that should be present in a realistic world such as Days After Apocalypse. Oh, youre worried about the games balance? Well, guess what? We dont care! Our company was finished a long fucking time ago. Were just doing it for the money*. You guys just buy our DLC. # Journal, Page 39, Camp Roberts Although we already completed one procurement mission, there should still be some supplies left in San Miguel worth a couple more visits. After that, wed have to go further south, all the way to Paso Robles. The city used to house around thirty thousand inhabitants before the Morgellons outbreak, thus it should be larger and have more mutants than San Miguel. Therefore, the order of who would get deployed first became an important matter. The ones chosen to go out first would have an easier mission. Just as anyone couldve guessed, it was Captain Magath who took the first deployment. Being a senior officer, he was close to the battalion commander and the operations officer. Lieutenant Capstone was last in the list. I heard it was the lieutenant himself who chose to take the hardest task. For me who belonged to his company, it was bad news. Corporal Elliot who was still confined to his bed called for me and told me a surprising fact. He said that there were other reasons, besides what was already known, for the military to take refugee volunteers. It was because many soldiers had become mentally unstable upon losing their families when the San Francisco area and Sacramentos defense line collapsed. Even for me, it was quite obvious. It wouldnt have been such a big problem if they were the federal military, but these people here were National Guard units. They were people from this region. I asked Elliot if he was okay. He said he did lose touch with his parents, but hed been on the outs with them so he didnt care. It was a dark story that I wouldve never expected to come from such a bright person. While I stood puzzled, not knowing how to respond, Elliot suddenly started laughing. He then told me not to worry too much about it as he gave me a slap on my back. # High risk, high return (1), Paso Robles For a streamer, the refugee training exercises werent interesting enough to show to the viewers. For a second, Gyeoul thought of just skipping them with Time Acceleration but soon dropped the idea. A small growth speed buff would apply to the members of a faction if their faction leader joined the training. If he skipped it with Time Acceleration, this buff would also be lost. It wasnt such a great gain, but at the early stages of the game, these small gains were important. Lieutenant Capstone looked worryingly at the refugees that Gyeoul brought along with him. Barely half of them looked like theyd be useful when fighting mutants. Not to mention their ages or genders, their nutritional and hygienic conditions were very poor. Gyeoul, thus, had to spend a considerable amount of time persuading Capstone to accept them. Due to the fact that the camp had a limited number of vehicles, it had been decided that only one company could be deployed at a time for procurement missions. Although there were still more vehicles left in the camp, they were reserved for emergencies. Lieutenant Capstone and Lieutenant Charlies turn to deploy arrived around four days after the operations began. The distance from Camp Roberts to Paso Robles was only about 17 kilometers. However, it took them a little more than three and a half hours to travel there, for they had to clear roadblocks, like abandoned cars scattered across the road. Fortunately, they didnt encounter many mutants on their way. Otherwise, it would have taken them longer. There it is, Paso Robles. Private Guilherme, already soaked in sweat, muttered as he pointed south. The outline of the city was visible over a trailer turned over by the side of the road. Back on board! The shout brought the refugees back to the truck. The destination was 24th Street, which was located in the southern area of Paso Robles. Because it was impossible to search the entire city in one go, this operation was limited to the northern end of 24th Street, which was roughly one-twentieth of the citys total area. The convoy stopped at the entrance of 24th Street. There were four gas stations in total on both sides of the road, the signs of which read Shell, Chevron, BP, and ARCO, along with some hotels and restaurants. Same as last time, two soldiers were assigned to every 10 refugee participants. In place of Corporal Elliot, Sergeant Latchman joined Gyeouls squad. Other than his excessive usage of the word fuck, he didnt seem like a bad person. None of the soldiers in Lieutenant Capstones company that Gyeoul had met so far had personality problems, to begin with. Just like the saying, As is the king, so are the people, Gyeoul thought. Just to the north of the gas stations, some of the refugees spotted a McDonalds. As it was the nearest restaurant, most of the participants clamored, almost begged to make a stop at that place. The only thing they cared about was filling their quota. But their plea was met with Lieutenant Capstones flat refusal. As weve explained earlier, our destination is a meat market about a kilometer north from here. The shop used to sell sausages and canned ham in bulk, so all of you should be able to fill your quota if we can just secure that place. I thought we were through with this, why are you complaining all of a sudden? The team eventually moved on, but the refugees didnt stop murmuring complaints. The soldiers face crinkled up at their nonstop mumbling. The people who Gyeoul brought, on the other hand, remained quiet the whole time due to Gyeouls prior order. The mission team proceeded as they cleared the vehicles out of the road. Due to some cars with flat tires, the work was quite laborious and tiring, but thankfully, the surrounding area was neither built like a big city, nor was it full of noise, so it was easy to detect mutants and neutralize them before they could cause any harm. There were not many mutants lurking inside the market either. Both the U.S. military and the participants were greatly delighted by the sight of the truck filled with boxes of canned meat. No one doubted that at this rate, theyd be able to finish this mission without a hiccup. But contrary to their hopes, the team was met with an unexpected situation. It was the abrupt halt of the Humvee leading the convoy. The issue wasnt with the vehicle, but something far more serious than that. Sir, were picking up a distress signal on CB channel 9. CB channel 9. It was a citizens band channel reserved for sending out distress signals. All work was immediately put to a stop. Upon being called by the soldier in the Humvee, Lieutenant Capstone entered the vehicle and picked up the radio himself. The refugee participants kept on throwing glances at him, their eyes filled with apprehension. They were clearly worrying that theyd be forced to participate in the rescue. After a while, a loud thud was heard from inside the Humvee. It was Lieutenant Capstone hitting the windshield with his fist. Something seemed to have gone wrong. He then stepped out of the Humvee and called the officers, senior soldiers, and a few of the leader-ish participants. He laid out the map on the hood of a vehicle and began his explanation. We just got a radio call that there are teachers and students locked up in this Daniel Lewis Middle School. We dont know how many of them there are or in what kind of situation they are, but they are asking for help, so we cant just ignore it. Before we take any actions, ask questions now, if you have any. Sergeant Latchman raised his hand. He spoke as soon as the lieutenant permitted him. Did we get through them? We tried, but we couldnt. The radio signal we sent should be enough to cover the whole city but for some reason, it didnt seem like they could hear us. And now theyve stopped sending signals. I presume that they are turning on the radio for short periods to save battery. This time, a sergeant named David Siris raised his hand. Sir, Im sorry to say this, but they are just too far away from us. If we decide to go rescue them, well have to travel east and all the way into the heart of the city. First, we dont know how many people well have to rescue, second, we dont have time to clear up the road for the trucks, and third, we dont have enough people. If we just rush in without a thorough plan, well just end up being wiped out, let alone accomplishing the mission. So, I suggest we return to the camp and finish our mission first, and then come back with reinforcements to rescue them. Fuck you, Siris. The one who spat out the curse was Sergeant Pierce. Think if you have a brain. Those young kids still wet behind the ears, they might be trembling in fear, not knowing when the help will come, or if it will ever come. We dont know if those kids are safe right now, or if they can survive the night. And you still want to go back without even checking up on them? Dont you think we have to at least send someone to check their status? If we really cant rescue them because there are too many, we can have them stay there and protect them until reinforcements arrive! Sir, I wouldnt have said that if even half of our troops had come with us. All we have is less than one platoon of soldiers, demoralized refugees, and thats it. Not enough to carry out a long-distance mission. We cant even force the refugees to partake in this mission, we have to ask them. And how many of them do you think will willingly volunteer for this dangerous mission? Also, if you look at the aerial reconnaissance photos that we received in advance, there are a lot of mutants roaming around the citys main street, which well have to pass through to get to the school. And on top of that, the suns about to set. You do know that mutants are more active after sunset, dont you? God damn it! Then what are we supposed to do? Gyeoul was still wavering on whether or not to volunteer for this task. He would have volunteered if it wasnt for the promise he made to his faction, that he would make sure theyd all return safely. This kind of sudden mission usually had good rewards. Knowing that the discussion would lead to no particular conclusion, Lieutenant Capstone made radio contact with the camp. But much to his dismay, the answer he got from the camp was negative. They said it was difficult to send reinforcements because the situation in the camp was grave, and it was currently impossible to deploy rotorcrafts, for the blockade policy banned the use of aircraft for transportation purposes. To make matters worse, they ordered all soldiers to return to the camp, as they could not risk losing any of them. The lieutenant protested, but it seemed like the operations officer was resolute. Since there wasnt much time left before sunset, Lieutenant Capstone ended the communication, seemingly brought to heel. Thats what I thought. It wasnt hard to predict the answer. There was no way for a sudden mission caused by the scenario computation of the Control AI to be naturally resolved without the players intervention. Sergeant Pierce asked with a suspicious look, Dont tell me youre planning on going back like this, are you? I understand your feelings, but you know we have to follow orders Those motherfucking Nazis also said they were only following orders. In response to Pierces angry comment, Lieutenant Capstone pointed to the refugee participants in a calm gesture. Its not just about the order, sergeant. These people here are also civilians we have to protect. They only volunteered for the procurement mission, not a rescue mission. If we deploy them for a different mission, it would be a contract infringement. As if thats important. We are not just risking the lives of the people here. If we fail, the people back at the camp will also be in danger. We cannot make decisions based solely on ones moral values. Sergeant Pierce, if you keep doing this, Im going to have to punish you for disobeying orders. The sergeant looked aghast at the lieutenant, but it didnt faze him at all. Gyeoul also thought Lieutenant Capstone had a point. Currently, the camp was in a difficult situation where it was virtually impossible to conduct field missions without the help of refugee volunteers. If their arbitrary decision resulted in casualties, itd be hard to recruit enough volunteers for the next procurement mission. If that were to happen, the only result waiting for the camp would be destruction. That was why the lieutenants judgment was reasonable. Goddamnit! All right. They said they cant risk losing soldiers? Then theres no problem if the refugees volunteer for the rescue mission, is that correct? The sergeant then turned to the refugee leaders with a menacing look, but they all everted their eyes, none of them uttered a single word. The sergeant roared even more furiously. Come on, are you fucking serious? Do you Asians all have small hearts just like your teeny-weeny dicks, huh? Cant you just raise your arm for justice? Whoa, youre being racist now. Also, stop making us the bad ones. Just as Siris said, theres nothing we can do about it. I have a 5-year-old son waiting for me at the camp. I understand the situation, but I cant risk my life for that. Weve only been trained for a day or two. Dont take us as you, soldiers. To be honest, you guys just think of us as meat shields, dont you? No rewards if the accompanying soldier fails to return, there may be punishment in some cases, eh? Hows that different from saying die instead of the soldiers, if you dont, well punish you. But sure, Ill join the procurement team even if I have to follow that rule because its for my own sake. But risking my life to rescue others? Ha, forget it. Words of complaints surged out of the refugee leaders mouths. And this was just the time needed for Gyeoul to finish his contemplation. Ill go. What? Sergeant Pierce looked at Gyeoul and glared at him with a frown. Not because he didnt like what he said, but because he couldnt believe his ears. But promise me that the people I brought with me will return to the camp safely. It was a promise I made with them Kid, you might have to go alone if no one else joins you. Doesnt matter. Haha, youre seriously badass, Sergeant Pierce laughed. But contrary to his reaction, the refugees faces had turned a few shades darker. It was when they were busy trying to excuse themselves that the boy decided to step out. Of course, they were unhappy with the boys decision. And as if to prove it was true, several favor revision notifications popped up in one corner of Gyeouls sight. Obviously, the downward revisions belonged to the refugees, and the upward revisions belonged to the soldiers. Lieutenant Capstone, despite having shown an upward revision, urged Gyeoul to reconsider. I acknowledge your courage, but I cannot allow that. Its too dangerous. There are kids out there, even younger than me. We cant leave them like that. Hmm You should at least ask the other refugees about this. Of course, there was no point in asking. The majority of the participants were from factions hostile to Gyeoul. And even if not, accepting the mission that their leaders had already rejected would be considered as an act of treachery. Looks like Ill be going alone. Well, thats not bad either. By the time the boy thought so, a refugee seemingly having an internal conflict slowly raised her hand. Im not sure if I can be of much help, but I cant let our boss go alone. Boss? Gyeoul tilted his head as he stared at the girl questioningly. Yes, youre our boss. A bit smaller than the others, but still. Following the first volunteer, two more people raised their hands. One short half-bald middle-aged man and one stoutly-built young man. We need to start earning our keep, dont we? Yeah. Especially for what he gave us in advance. But Gyeoul couldnt let his guard down. They were those who had a cold gleam in their eyes when the boy had made his announcement, those who wanted to take his place. Looking conflicted, Lieutenant Capstone silently stared at Gyeoul for a while, then carefully opened his mouth as he swept his face with his palm. I am so sorry we cannot assist you. If it wasnt for the order Dont blame yourself. We all know that its not your fault. Before we leave, Id like to request some additional ammunition, a radio, and some food and medical supplies. Ammo is for dealing with mutants, and the radio is for communication. The rest is for the trapped students in case they need them. Absolutely. Thats the least I can do. Though the lieutenant said it as if it was a matter of course, Gyeoul knew it was, in fact, not a simple matter. What the lieutenant was doing right now was sending armed civilians to somewhere outside his control. If command were to find out, he could be punished. That was the burden that Lieutenant Capstone was willing to endure on behalf of them. The lieutenant handed Gyeoul a duffel bag with canned food, and another bag filled with ammunition, pills, and bandages. The boy also received a backpack-like radio, tagged AN/PRC-119, the buttons of which seemed too complicated to handle. But as if having read his mind, the lieutenant called up the signaller and taught him how to use the radio. Id better get going if we want to arrive before sunset. Hope I can see you tomorrow, Gyeoul said as he stood to attention and saluted s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Im sorry to have to leave you with this dangerous mission. God bless you till we meet again. The soldiers then shared a brief moment of farewell with the boy. Private Guilherme even gave him a hug. Stay safe, kid. Well be there as soon as we can, alright? Look whos talking. Youre the one who should be careful. Dont end up in bed like Elliot. Haha, you son of a But half-way through his sentence, the private suddenly picked up his gun and fired a shot over the boys head. Despite the silencer, the sound was deafening as it exploded right next to his ear. But Gyeoul wasnt surprised, his high-level Survival Instinct had already captured a presence approaching from behind him. Turning around, the boy found several bodies sprawled over the road. Even from afar, their putrefying skin was easily visible. Lets move. With that, the boy and his group set out on their way. Under the evening sun, four shadows stretched over the asphalt road. Chapter 15: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (15) Chapter 15. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (15)# High Risk High Return (2), Paso Robles Gyeoul opened up the skill window and invested his experience points in Map Reading. If Map Reading reached a certain level, he wouldnt have to worry about misreading the map or even bother studying it, for the system would automatically scan it and provide him with a minimap. If it reached an even higher level, the system would allow him to visualize the map with augmented reality. But Gyeoul did not completely invest his experience points. He always kept some extra points in case of an emergency. So for now, he decided to just level up Map Reading to the point where it would highlight things like the shortest route to his destination or the contour of geographic features. Still, that was enough for the boy to navigate to his destination, Daniel Lewis Middle School. The distance to Daniel Lewis Middle School wasnt that far from 24th Street, and the chances of getting lost in a well-arranged city were low. Despite this, the boy still memorized the map, just to be safe. Just as he finished reading the map, Gyeoul saw an icon flickering in one corner of his field of vision. It was a notification of unread messages. The boy, however, turned his eyes away from the icon. It wasnt that he didnt see it, he was just ignoring it. But realizing that he couldnt avoid the messages forever, the boy still opened the message log. The viewers were currently talking about the skills he learned. They wanted information. Gyeoul spent a little bit of time gathering up his thoughts before giving them an answer. Map Reading is not a must-learn skill, but having it does make things easier. Itll help you navigate through the world without having to worry about getting lost. Theres also a related achievement called Did I climb the wrong mountain? that just lowers the probability of misreading maps when obtained. Gyeoul closed the window without reading the messages that followed after. Live streaming was still awkward for him. I guess it cant be helped At some point on the road, Gyeoul raised his fist as a signal for his team to halt. His Survival Instinct warned him that something was nearby. The boy grabbed his rifle and pointed its muzzle towards the front. At the end of his rifle lay just an abandoned truck. After a while, however, a mutant walked out from behind it. Before it could even scream, the boy pulled the trigger. Pfft! As soon as the sound of the suppressed gunshot spewed out of the muzzle, the mutant, with its eye pierced, collapsed onto the ground. Murky brain liquid mixed with red blood flowed out from the hole where its eye was supposed to be. The place where Gyeouls group parted with the main force was the intersection of Route 101 and 24th Street. In order to get to their destination, they had to move south until reaching 13th Street and then head east. The shortest route wouldve been to take Route 101, but the boy decided against it. Route 101, being the national highway, would have tons of vehicles abandoned on the road, which also meant that there would be more mutants infected during the evacuation. Choosing that route would have provided him some extra experience points, however, it was highly likely that they wouldnt be able to reach their destination before sunset. In view of this, Gyeoul chose to take Riverside Avenue, a road located a bit west to the highway. Although they would have to travel a slightly longer distance, it would definitely be quicker, not to mention safer. Walking down the road, the group came across a church with some biblical quotations and cries of terror written in red ink. That isnt blood is it? The half-bald man who had identified himself as Ahn Jejung asked with a trembling voice. He seemed surprisingly timid considering his past career as a blue marine. It mustve taken him a lot of courage to volunteer for this mission. I really hope not. Following was the girls voice. It was also quite shaky. Then, all the members except for Gyeoul shrieked in surprise upon hearing a sudden banging noise. Tracking back to the origin of the sound, they saw a bloody handprint along with a hand on the window. And slowly, the owner of the hand appeared from within the darkness. A set of unfocused eyes and a sickly yellow face. It was a mutant. A critical mistake. Shit, I should have readied my rifle when I heard the sound. Gyeoul quickly aimed at the mutants head but, Khraaah- It was too late. The mutant let out a shrill cry before the boy could take his shot. With several dull gunshots, the mutants jaw exploded. Blackish blood splashed against the broken window and trickled down the wall. And as soon as the mutants body disappeared from the window, the gates of the church began to rattle. It seemed like mutants were banging at them. Thankfully, the gates didnt open right away, but it didnt look like they could hold them for long. Each time they banged, the gap between the doors became wider and wider, with dozens of eyes engulfed in hunger and rage peeking from behind. Gyeoul quickly scanned the surrounding area and found a camper van pulled over one side of the road. Get behind that van! Quickly! Gyeoul shouted with urgency in his voice. His three teammates immediately ran towards the van, but when they realized Gyeoul wasnt by their side, they came to a sudden halt and turned to look behind. What about you?! The girl shouted. Dont worry about me and go hide! The three of them hesitated for a moment before turning back again and running towards the van. The gate eventually explodedas that would be the most appropriate way to describe the scene. One of the gates fell from its frame and landed on the floor; the other one was somehow still hanging twistedly from one of the hinges. Then, a stream of mutants poured out. The ones that came out first were in an abnormal state. Pressured by the ones pushing from behind, several parts of their body had their flesh squashed and skin peeled off, revealing muscles and bones here and there. A swarm of starving dead poured into the street. Lots of them tripped over obstacles and got trampled to death by the ones following behind. Despite this, there were still tons of them frantically running towards the boy. Regardless of their brains being atrophied, the mutants still possessed a rudimentary level of intelligence. Even though he was hitting a car to lure them towards him, any indication of his teammates presence could make the mutants turn towards them. So the boy, with his eyes fixed on the mutants, shouted towards the three of them. Im going to lure them to the other side, you guys get your guns ready! Do not set your rifles to full auto! Use semi-auto only! Aim for their vital points! The head and the heart! But dont shoot yet! Only shoot once all of them have their backs towards you! If they failed to kill the mutants with one bullet, the wounded mutant would most likely turn around to find them and let out a scream to inform the other mutants. Gyeoul had to avoid that at all costs. Some mutants in fairly good condition rushed far ahead of the swarm. Gyeoul knew this would happen since every mutants physical ability differed depending on the hosts original physique. Gyeoul took a single step aside and swung his machete where he stood just a second ago. The momentum of the running mutant meshed with the boys swinging force, creating enough power to cut its whole head in half. Had he lacked enough levels in either Melee Weapon Mastery or Close Combat, his machete wouldve been blocked or stuck in the mutants head. After dealing with the first mutant, Gyeoul spotted two more approaching him speedily. When the one at the front arrived several meters ahead of him, his skill Combat Eye showed him an evasion route. Following the evasion route, the boy dodged the mutants arm by a hairs breadth. The mutant twisted its upper body in order to follow the boys movement, but owing to its lower body still running forward, it hastily fell forward. Not missing the opportunity, the boy swiftly stabbed his machete into its neck. The last mutant was already too close for Gyeoul to slay it with his machete. The mutant reached out its arm while letting out a horrible screech. Just before its arm could touch him, Gyeoul ducked down. Having missing its target, the mutant bumped against the boys shoulder and fell backward, with the boys shoulder as the pivot. Still wiggling its arms to grab the boy, it fell headfirst onto the concrete road, breaking its neck from the impact. It took Gyeoul only six breaths to deal with three mutants. For his teammates watching this from behind the van, everything happened in a flash, leaving their mouths agape. They wouldve never imagined a boy like Gyeoul possessing such skills. Dont shoot yet! The mutants are still too close! I repeat, dont shoot! With his eyes still fixed on the looming threat, Gyeoul shouted and waved his hands to keep the three of them from firing. In a hectic situation like this, just shouting once wasnt enough to deliver the instruction. Many times, extreme tension and fear paralyzed the mind, making it unable to understand. One of you three no, Yura-ssi! You guard the other directions! The ruckus we caused here might have attracted other mutants! Gyeoul ordered with a still very calm voice while slaying another mutant. Jinsuk-ssi, look inside the camper van and make sure its safe while we still have time! You three have to hide in there if things get ugly, understood? Just as Gyeoul was done dealing with the faster ones, the main pack was almost out of the church, drawing near him. After making loud noises to focus their attention on him, this time, he started to run away from them. He was acting as bait, bait that was not allowed to be caught. And he was confident he could make that happen. He knew several methods to shake off the mutants, which he was using right now, like running in zig-zag over the road. Each time the boy made a turn, the front row of the swarm would fall to the ground, pushed by the ones behind, which delayed the swarms movement. When Gyeoul saw that mutants no longer were coming out from the church, he shouted. Now! Fire! The boy took a peek behind when he heard the gunshots. Three mutants collapsed on the road at the same time with their heads shot open. Three? It seemed like someone wasnt following his order. Gyeoul yelled once again. Yura-ssi! I told you to watch the rear! Im sorhup! Shit! Yura, the girl, hurriedly covered her mouth whilst answering, but it was too late. Some of the mutants heard her voice and turned back. Gyeoul quickly climbed to the top of a nearby vehicle and took out his rifle. Click. With the selector switch set on full auto, he put the rifle butt against his shoulder. A very prompt aiming aided by Small Arms Mastery, Combat Eye as well as his own experience. Brrrt- Brrrrrrt! Empty shells violently splattered on the ground. A whole magazine loaded with thirty bullets was emptied within seconds, but it wasnt enough to stop the mutants from screaming. About half of the swarm responded to the call. Gyeoul reloaded a new magazine and loosened the suppressor, both in one swift motion. The suppressor swiveled around the muzzle before falling off to the ground. But now wasnt the time to pick it up. Gyeoul immediately pulled the trigger. Braatatatatatat! Deafening noises of gunshots filled up the whole street. it was loud enough to bring most of the mutants attention back to him, and the bullets blasted the heads or other body parts of the mutants that were still heading towards the van. Gyeoul had managed to stop the mutants from heading towards the van, but he ended up stranded on top of a vehicle. A couple of the mutants started to crawl up the windshield. The boy paused for a few seconds to find a way to deal with the surrounding swarm. Although he could use the hand grenade he had, hed be in trouble without it if he were to encounter a variant mutant at the school. He already depleted two bullet magazines. He couldnt afford to waste any more consumables before even reaching the school. After a short deliberation, Gyeoul hung the rifle back on his shoulder and drew his machete. S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Good thing I have the high ground. The machete is shorter than I would like, but it shouldnt be a problem with my skills. Also, the two of them are still shooting down some mutants. Beneath Gyeoul there was a swarm of hungry mutants, stretching their arms in an attempt to reach him. Every one of these mutants had been locked inside the church. And when the boys thought reached there, he began to wonder. About the existence of God, and what would be his thoughts if he were to see the boy, who had sold his body and continued his life in a virtual world. But his thoughts were cut off as one of the mutants managed to climb to the roof of the vehicle. While it was struggling to stand upright, Gyeoul took his chance and grabbed its neck. He then shoved the machete into its open mouth and threw the body onto the swarm. With how tightly packed the swarm was, the body remained on top of the mutants without touching the ground. Using the body as a foothold, the boy jumped over the swarm and landed on an empty space while rolling to break his fall. The rifle hung over his shoulder made the roll terribly painful, but he didnt have time to rub his back. The monstrous groans coming from behind were getting closer every second. Gyeoul immediately got up to his feet and ran straight towards a house right by the church. The house was fenced with pointy waist-height wooden planks, which he easily jumped over. Not knowing if the mutants would be able to overcome the fence, the boy began to run again. However, five steps later, he was stopped by the sudden sound of crunches and crackles. Upon looking behind, he saw some of the mutants impaled on the fence like skewers. It appeared they had failed to climb over the fence for they had been pushed too hard by mutants coming from behind. Even now, the fences were creaking and shaking from the weight that was being applied on it And soon, the fences gave way to the pressure and the entire swarm collapsed onto the ground. Not missing the opportunity, Gyeoul quickly ran up to the fallen mutants. Combat boots were a great weapon. One could easily crush a human neck by stomping on it while wearing them. The boy, while being careful not to get caught by the mutants arms, trampled on their necks almost at running speed and killed as many as possible. Some mutants were trying to get up on their feet, only to be neutralized by his machete. The boy went on a rampage as though a mass killer on the loose. The entire yard and street were stained with pools of blood and bits of flesh. If someone were to see it, theyd describe it as a scene from hell. When everything finally calmed down, there was nothing on the street but the boy and a bunch of corpses. After spending some time retrieving the suppressor he had thrown away on top of a vehicle, Gyeoul went back to check on his team. The two men, who had witnessed the whole scene, could only look at him aghast. According to notifications, an upward revision to respect-type favor and a downward revision to friendship-type favor took place in their minds. They were feeling awe and fear, both at the same time. Well, thats good enough, thought the boy. He then turned towards the girl who was still watching the rear with trembling hands. W-whats happening now? Why is it so quiet? Is our little boss okay?! The girl asked with a shaky voice. Gyeoul answered instead of the two men still frozen in place, Its over, Yura-ssi. You can turn around now. Eek! Startled by Gyeouls voice, the girl let out a weird noise. She then began to slowly turn around, but just like turning around a statue, her body was still locked into a guarding stance. The boy sighed and nudged the muzzle of her rifle away from him. Careful not point your gun at people. Just like the other two men, she was left speechless, only to have the system notifications show her feelings. The revisions to her favor, however, were somewhat different from what the two men had shown. Maybe it was because she was feeling guilty due to her mistake, or because she hadnt seen him killing the mutants. With quivering eyes, Yura stared at the boy for only a brief moment, and then suddenly hugged Gyeoul while weeping loudly. Im sorry! Im really really sorry Because of my stupid mistake, you had to Its all right. Nobody got hurt, said Gyeoul, as he patted her back. Once again, a notification popped up. Chapter 16: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (16) Chapter 16. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (16)# High Risk High Return (3), Paso Robles Despite the arduous battle, the teams Combat Fatigueonly saw an insignificant increase. It was a somewhat obvious result since Gyeoul had taken all the dangerous tasks by himself. However, Yura remained downcast throughout the course. As the team reached 13th Street, Gyeoul stopped in front of a small store that didnt have a sign. Lets take a quick break here, said Gyeoul as he pointed to the store. But do we have time for that? The young man asked in a low, cautious tone. It seemed like the favor revision had affected his attitude towards the boy. It should be okay, I think. Besides, theres something I have to take care of real quick. Right now? Gyeoul then walked to the window and took a peek inside the store. The interior was too dark without the lights on, but he could still recognize some things. I see tables and chairs, a counter, a logo Looks like it used to be a pizzeria. After confirming that no mutants were visible from outside the window, Gyeoul pushed the door open. The jingling sound of a hanging doorbell broke the silence inside the store. Gyeoul quickly readied his rifle and looked around vigilantly. If mutants were hiding inside, the bell ring mightve alerted them, and depending on their numbers, the events of the church might occur all over again. Thankfully though, after a whole minute passed, still nothing showed up. Only then did the boy relax and raise his hand to signal it was clear. His three teammates walked into the store. Noticing that they were still anxious, the boy dragged a chair out, intentionally making a loud noise. Have a seat. Gyeoul grabbed the bag that the young man was carrying and began taking out the canned food. Then, he dusted off some forks and knives that were on the table and handed them to his three companions. You guys havent had a chance to eat your fill since everything started, have you? This is a little gift for coming with me. Go ahead and help yourselves, everyone. For the refugees, satiation was something they hadnt felt for a very long time. Park Jinseok and Ahn Jaejoong exchanged glances. Then, the thing you said earlier Yup, this is it. I mean, going by the book, Im not supposed to give you any extra rewards but sometimes we need to deviate a bit from the rules, dont you all think? Jaejoong laughed slyly. Haha, our little boss sure knows his stuff! Youre right, we cant go by the book all the time. The two men then dug right into the hams. On the other hand, Yura was sitting at the table, staring gloomily at the food. It seemed like she was still dispirited from her mistake at the church. Although her current condition wasnt too bad, if it went on for too long, there was a chance she could end up with semi-permanent negative status effects such as Depression or Combat Trauma. Gyeoul feigned a smile and pushed a can of food towards Yura and opened its lid. Go ahead and eat some. Otherwise, itll go to waste. I dont deserve it. Hmm What would be the best thing to do in this kind of situation? What kind of expression should I make? After spending some time searching through his memory, the boy picked up a fork and scooped up a piece of meat submerged in an oily broth. S?a??h the N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The meat used for canned food was usually cheap, but it was still a luxury for the refugees. And sure enough, the smell successfully caused Yura to take a big gulp. Her face turned red almost immediately. Th-that was just Say ah~ Come on, noona. Noona?! Jaejoong and Jinseok went completely stiff whilst stuffing their mouths with food. Hearing the word noona coming from someone who, just moments ago, had been slaughtering mutants, took them completely by surprise. Yura fell into a panic, not knowing what to do, but Gyeouls hand didnt leave the front of her mouth. Hap- Good job. The boy smiled silently when she finally took the bite. Yuras face was fully flushed, but he knew it was just from embarrassment and not romantic feelings. When Gyeoul offered another bite, Yura waved her hand in shock. I-Ill eat on my own now! This is your punishment for making me worry. Look whos having fun, huhu. Jaejoong and Jinseok snickered at the two of them. Yura shot them an angry glance before resignedly biting off the piece of ham. Even though his actions were out of his calculations, for some reason, he was beginning to find the whole situation rather fun, as her teary eyes and pouting lips looked somewhat cute. But why? It took nearly half an hour for Yura to finish a can of ham. It mightve been because she was a girl, or maybe because she hadnt had a proper meal in months. In the meantime, the two guys had already finished five cans each. I did tell you to eat your fill, but you should stop eating before you get sick. Oh, dont worry about a thing, cap. You know I used to be a marine, Jaejoong answered with an awkward laugh. Gyeoul nodded as he put on a sour face. If thats what you say Oh, you can have some more if you want, Yura. We still have some time to spare. Of course, youll get some anyway when we get there. Though he said that, they were actually getting a little tight on time. However, the boy didnt bother sharing his concern with them. He knew it wouldnt do any good to make them worry when they were already risking their lives. After spending 40 more minutes at the store, they resumed their march. Route 101 was a highway that divided the whole city of Paso Robles from north to south, and 13th Street crossed the highway as an overpass. From over the iron railing, some mutants could be seen roaming the street down below. As the team was overly alert, perhaps due to the unforeseen skirmish outside the church, they managed to spot the mutants in time and react accordingly. Of course, their course of action was completely up to Gyeoul. Looks like were almost there, said Gyeoul, pointing at a yellow sign that read SCHOOL XING. And indeed, they found the schools entrance after passing by a fallen truck that was obstructing their view. As soon as they stood at the entrance, they found several mutants hanging around the open corridor. Strangely, all of them were positioned near a buildings entrance, as if distracted by something inside. It would take Gyeoul less than a minute to get rid of them, but this time he didnt step up. It was also important to make sure his teammates could fight. Gyeoul first called Yura to the front and ordered the rest to stay alert. Do you see the mutants over there? Do you think you can shoot one in the head with your rifle? Gyeoul asked as he pointed at the group of mutants. The nearest one was standing approximately 30 meters away from them. Considering a rifles usual engagement distance, it shouldnt be hard even for an unskilled person to hit the target from there. The problem would be whether they could get a headshot. Ill try Yura spoke in a barely audible voice. Gyeoul opened the skill window and invested some of his experience points on Instruction. Instruction, as its name suggested, was a leadership-type skill that provided an upward revision to the targets learning efficiency when doing certain actions with the owner of the skill, or when being directly taught by them. The progress gauge filled up and made six consecutive ringing noises. Gyeoul also raised the level of both Close Combat and Small Arms Mastery to 10 before closing the skill window. Gyeoul then ordered Yura, Dont worry too much about failing. Think of it as a practice. I can cover for you even if you make a mistake. Yura answered with an uncertain nod before grabbing her rifle. She then struggled to get herself into shooting position. While breathing heavily, which caused the crosshair to go up and down, her hand grabbing the handguard was shaking from the tension. If she were to shoot right now, it was 100% guaranteed that shed miss the target. It was understandable since the refugees only had a few days of training to get themselves accustomed to guns and rifles. It would take a genius to grasp it within that short time. Try to breathe slowly, Gyeoul instructed as he pressed on her shoulder to get her to the right position. Take your finger off the trigger first. Theres no need to hurry. You can take as long as you need until youre ready. With repeated encouragement, Yuras breathing gradually became steadier. Gyeoul told her to close one eye and adjust her gun to align the front and rear sight of the rifle. Once Yura seemed to be almost ready, Gyeoul got in position next to her in order to back her up, and in the meantime, he told her some trivia with a composed voice. Very trivial facts such as a common misconception around the physics behind a bullets spin. Of course, Gyeoul didnt expect her to understand it. What he wanted was to help her relax. And indeed, her trembling subsided significantly. Okay, thats much better. You can put your finger on the trigger now. Check if your rifle is set to burst mode and aim at the leftmost mutant. You can shoot whenever youre ready. Again, whatever happens, I can take care of it, so dont worry. Alright? Alright, boss. And soon after, the crackling sound of the suppressed gunfire rang next to Gyeoul, and the mutant under its sight thrashed as if hit by a hammer. Its rotten, corrupted blood splashed on the pillar next to it. Though Yuras bullets didnt pierce its head, one of the three seemed to have penetrated its spinal cord. As the mutant plopped down on the floor, the rest of the mutants jerked their heads in reaction to the noise. But each of them was looking in different directions. Yura flinched at their sudden movements. Gyeoul comforted her once more. Its okay, its okay. Relax. You did a great job. Now, aim for the left one again. Were going to take them down one by one. Catch your breath and shoot when your aim is steady. And about half a minute later, the gun went off again. This time, however, she didnt succeed. One bullet missed its mark and the other two only managed to smash the mutants jaw. Having survived the shots, the mutant turned their way with its jaw grotesquely hanging from its cheek. Eeiik! Yura jumped in surprise as she faced the sheer horror. The mutant seemed to have found the party for it opened its mouth, but before it could let out a single groan, its head exploded. You see? Ill cover you even if you miss. Dont be afraid to make mistakes. Just stay calm and take another shot. O-okay Despite the cool weather, Yuras forehead was soaked with sweat. Maybe I should bring a handkerchief next time, The boy thought. Of course, it wasnt out of pure kindness. The Control AI rewarded players for establishing good relationships with NPCs. The shooting practice ended when Yura shot down five more mutants. Out of seven mutants she shot, she was only able to kill three of them within her first shot. The rest of them were taken care of by Gyeoul himself. Well? You did great for a first-timer. Hoo Thank you for all the encouragement, boss. I feel more confident now, Yura replied with a broad smile. Although her face was covered by the gas mask, her eyes showing through the transparent visor were cheerful. Next are those in the courtyard. Jinseok, would you like to give it a try? Sure, answered Jinseok confidently. And as if to prove his confidence wasnt unfounded, he did fairly well. Except for the first one, he succeeded in shooting down the rest of the mutants by himself. Jaejoong, on the contrary, was only able to kill a couple of them despite being a former marine. Haha Well, its been a long time since I was discharged Jaejoong said as he scratched his head in embarrassment. Perhaps him being a former marine was a lienot that it mattered. Gyeoul glanced up at the sky. Based on EENT (End Evening NauticaI TwiIight), which he had been notified with before departing, there was seemingly a bit less than an hour before sunset. Lets begin searching. Ill take the lead. Daniel Lewis Middle School was made up of several single-story buildings. Since each one wasnt too large, Gyeoul planned to spend 10 to 20 minutes searching each building. Chapter 17: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (17) Chapter 17. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (17)# High Risk High Return (4), Paso Robles Gyeoul observed a bulletin board placed on the hallways wall. The first thing that he noticed was a torn-out, bloodstained notice. It seemed like someoneor somethinghad ripped it off with a bloodied hand. Gyeoul had been searching for this kind of clues since entering the school grounds. The reason was that whenever he collected them, his skill Insight updated the information he had of possible survivors and the odds of finding them. Thanks to this skill, he had collected the photos and names of the school personnel and the approximate number of students currently inside the school. This is kind of unique for a school logo, said Jinseok, looking at the school logo engraved on the bulletin boarda roaring leopard inside a red circle with a black border. Is it really? I mean, doesnt Korea University have a similar one? The one with the tiger, Jaejoong asked, tilting his head. Oh, thats true. While the two were indulging in idle talk, Gyeoul put an end to his deliberation and arrived at a conclusion. Looks like the kids are still alive somewhere, but theyre definitely not in this building. There were a lot of mutants inside the school, so many as to have at least one mutant in each classroom, but none of them were teenagers. Theres just too many buildings to search Say, how about we all spread out? No, thats too dangerous, Gyeoul responded almost immediately. s?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Dispersing to probe unknown areas. It was the worst possible course of action. It would drastically reduce the time needed for searching, but the chances of coming to harm were also bound to increase. Considering the number of mutants they had faced so far and how inexperienced his teammates were, it was easy to estimate what would happen if they did. And if they incurred casualties, he would face a penalty for failing to keep his promise. The other problem was Combat Fatigue. Combat Fatigue couldnt just be ignored even if one avoided combat altogether, as it would also slowly accumulate during times of danger, fear, or in any kind of stress-inducing situation. Lets go. We should first take a look at the cafeteria or the gym. Well, alright. But why? Those are the best places for a large group of people to gather. And the cafeteria also has a food storage room. Ah Yura and Jaejoong slowly nodded in agreement, but Jinseok seemed quite unsatisfied with his decision. Gyeoul pretended not to see it. Upon finding a map of the school on the bulletin board, Gyeoul located their current position and placed his finger on the map. The gym is closer than the cafeteria, Gyeoul said, using his finger to trace the shortest routes to both destinations. Whichever one they chose, they had to exit the current building through the back entrance and go across the courtyard in order to get there. Considering the courtyard was an open area with many structures that could block their view, they might get surrounded by a swarm of mutants. Gyeoul wanted to take the other way round and avoid taking such risk, but they didnt have much time to spare. Now, were gonna get moving, but since well be going through an open area, well have to watch all four sides while moving. Ill be taking the lead, so Im gonna have to ask you, Jinseok, to watch our left, Yura the right, and Jaejoong the rear. As they approached the exit, five mutants came rushing in from the outside, breaking through a window on the right. Grraah! However, as soon as one of the mutants let out a groan, a barrage of bullets immediately rained down upon the mutants from the three automatic rifles, shredding the mutants to pieces within seconds. Such a waste of bullets Gyeoul swung the unused machete a few times before sliding it back to its place. He pondered for a second whether he should be angry or not, but he decided against it. Its not the time yet, he thought. I understand youre anxious, but please, stick to your assigned positions. We could get ambushed from other sides if we all fire in one direction. The three of them cleared their throat in embarrassment, all at the same time. The coincidence made their faces even redder. As soon as Gyeouls team stepped outside, they were greeted by yet another group of mutants. Ill handle them. With that short sentence, Gyeoul drew both his pistol and his machete, one in each hand. Gyeoul first pulled the trigger, shooting off some of the mutants heads. Then he charged towards the rest of the mutants to focus their attention on him. The boy swung his machete, aiming for a mutants neck. Snikt! The blade cut right into the mutants throat, but it couldnt cut all the way through as it was deterred by the mutants spine. Wrinkling his brows, Gyeoul quickly spun his body as he relaxed his wrist and the knife came right out as it slashed the rotten flesh. With the spinning momentum, he swiftly slew the next mutant, and then stomped on the ground to slice the third one from bottom-up. The last one, however, was already so close that it got ahold of his arm before he could pull it back. However, Gyeoul composedly raised his pistol and pulled the trigger in front of its rotting face. A small copper projectile penetrated its unfocused eyeball and mangled its brain. The mutant slid down against the boy and fell helplessly onto the ground. After killing all the mutants, Gyeoul took a look behind. Unsurprisingly, his teammates were all staring blankly at him, leaving their guard duty neglected. They had made zero progress since his scolding. It was only when the boy looked into their eyes that they hurriedly turned their gaze away. But as the boys eyes remained fixed on them, Yura slowly turned towards Gyeoul with teary eyes. Im sorry said Yura, sobbing. Gyeoul once again thought if he should blame them for this mistake, but this time he couldnt come up with the decision easily. It wasnt because of Yuras crying, but rather because of a certain outcome that his actions could bring. As if to answer his thoughts, the Control AI displayed a help message. AI Advice (lvl 8): When passing down skills to other characters, the nature of the instructor plays an important role in its efficiency. Violent coercion allows for rapid acquisition of skills during the initial stages, while tenacious leniency does in the later stages. This is also true in a community setting. While these two methods have their own opposite merits, it is also very important to know that violence may be disastrous towards the relationship between the instructor and the instructed. In brief, it was telling Gyeoul to choose whether or not to make his teammates learn quickly right now at the cost of their relationship. Having set his mind, Gyeoul tried to smile as softly as possible. It was hard for the boy who had a cold childhood to forge a positive emotion on his face, but he had been practicing for this kind of situation. Dont be sorry. I know youre trying. Thankfully, his effort didnt seem to be fruitless, as he was rewarded with small upward revisions to favor. The auditorium was a stone-built structureor thats what it appeared to be from far away. It was just another concrete building. There was a strong smell of excrement coming from somewhere. It was a trace of living humans. The front gate was an ordinary glass door but was completely blocked by a wall of desks and chairs. If there are any survivors in this school, it should be here. Yeah. This cant have been made by just one or two people. Should we clear it out? No, that would be a waste of energy, and we dont even have the time for that. Im sure theres another door to the gym, like an emergency exit. And indeed, there was another door leading inside. Soon after their search began, they heard a constant banging noise coming somewhere afar. Upon following the noise, they found a crowd of mutants banging against a steel door. Despite the relentless assault from the mutants, the door remained unscathed, only to be daubed with their rotten blood. Thats quite a lot, Gyeoul said without lowering his volume. His loud voice caused the rest of the team members to shrink from fright. Hey! Your voice! Your voice! Its all right. Do you think they can hear my voice when theyre banging this loudly? Uhm thats true. Whew As if on cue, the three of them let out a sigh in unison, which made Gyeoul chuckle. Gyeoul took out his pistol and equipped it with the suppressor. Well do a practice round just like what we did before. This time, well all fire all at once. Try to aim for the ear or temple. Even if you miss, dont freak out, just take your time and aim again. Theres no need to hurry. Jinseok-ssi, take the rear guard for us, will you? Gyeoul raised his right arm to his shoulder and placed his left hand under the guns grip. This was a posture called palm-supported grip. This kind of grips disadvantage was that the non-firing hand did not help mitigate the recoil, so the shooters accuracy was bound to be lower when firing in rapid succession. Of course, it also had a very clear advantage. It was that the arm grasping the gun could be stretched in a straight line, which made it easier to hit the target when firing single shots. Before long, Yura pulled the trigger and that became a sign for the rest of them to begin firing. Each time a low and dull gunshot shot out of a muzzle, the head of what had once been a human got smashed into pieces. One of the mutants survived a shot. Its eyeball was hanging by a few fleshy threads from its socket. Watching the disgusting sight, Yura jerked her head behind and began heaving. The gruesome sight caused Yura to be unable to continue shooting. Thankfully, not many mutants remained, so the rest were easily handled by Gyeoul and Jaejoong. With nothing in her stomach to throw up, Yura raised her head after coughing a few times. She had a grim expression on her face. It wasnt terror or shock, it was more like hatred. Hatred towards herself for showing such a sorry figure. The boy, who had spent years walking on eggshells, knew that kind of feeling, thus, he asked her as kindly as he could, Are you all right? Im sorry Im always letting you down. I shouldnt have followed you if I knew Id be this useless Hey, nobodys perfect. We all make mistakes. Whats important is not to repeat the same mistake. Now, lets get up and get going. Gyeoul then extended his hand towards Yura to aid her in getting up and patiently waited for her. You know, I think you should be more confident in yourself. You were the first person to volunteer for such a dangerous task. So dont put on such a long face. You deserve to be proud of yourself. Haha, stop it Youre making me more embarrassed, said Yura, as she took Gyeouls hand. However, Jinseok was wearing a displeased look. He must have thought that Yura was becoming too much of a nuisance for this mission. It wasnt as if his annoyance was unfounded, but now was not the right time to express it. If Yura saw his expression, it could plunge her into a deep depression. Gyeoul sent Jinseok an admonishing look. Jinseok persistently glared Yura for a few more seconds before eventually turning away. Yura might be a hindrance at the moment, and she might not become proficient in combat even after going through training. But her mental strength, honed with these experiences, was definitely going to be of great help in whichever role she carried on in the future within the community. Gyeouls mind recalled a certain story. A very long time ago, when predators used to intrude inside human territory, people who raised sheep used to mix goats within the herds. This was because when a herd was attacked by a wolf, the sheep tended to scatter in all directions. However, when there was a goat present, the sheep would flock around the goat, and the wolves would fear attacking the sheep that were tightly gathered together. A clever wolf that knew about this, attacked the goat first before going for the sheep. It was the story of a wolf named Robo, the King of Currumpaw. Gyeoul believed that Yura could become the goat mixed within the sheep. Given that interaction among members of a community could also bring about certain benefits, the effort he was pouring on her wasnt meaningless. Yet the viewers didnt seem to agree with his actions. When Gyeoul saw the exploding number of messages he was getting notified of, he paused the game and opened the message log. What greeted Gyeoul was a message log overrun with complaints about Yura. Some were even spamming vulgar messages, saying Just fuck her and ditch her already!. Gyeoul had to spend quite a long time justifying his choice. The boy headed straight for the door as soon as he unpaused the game. He kicked away some of the bodies lying on the ground and stood in front of the door. With his fist, he knocked on the steel door three times in short intervals, three times in long intervals, and again, three times in short intervalsa signal that was widely known around the world, it was the morse code for SOS. Of course, he wasnt asking for help. It was just to let the people inside know that it was a person knocking on the door. After repeating it a few more times, a reply came back. Wh-whos there? We received a radio transmission from a group of students and teachers requesting help. Oh, thank god! Following the elated voice, the door opened. Chapter 18: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (18) Chapter 18. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (18)# High Risk High Return, Paso Robles (5) Upon entering the gym, Gyeoul saw another barricade surrounding the entrance. Over the barricade, some people were watching them while holding their gunsthough they only had two shotguns and one pistol. Gyeoul took off his gas mask while keeping a hand on his pistol. When Gyeoul thought the atmosphere in the gym was filled with so much tension, however, the boy was caught off guard when he was hugged from behind. It was the woman who opened the door for them. Thank you so much for coming. We were just on the verge of losing it, spoke a plump, genial-looking lady. Dont mention it, Ms Amalia Plemons. Just call me Amalia. Im not a teacher, just a contact lady of the Foster Youth Program. What about you, mister? Its Han Gyeoul. You can call me Han, Gyeoul spoke mildly as he pushed the lady aside. Are there more of you? A man holding a gun asked skeptically. No, its only us, at least for today. Additional troops will be sent here tomorrow. The crowd cheered at the news. Only the man that asked the question looked unconvinced. Am I the only one who thinks we cant trust that guy? I dont see a rank badge on his uniform and the rest of them dont even have a uniform on. To be honest, we are just a group of refugee volunteers. Koreans. And the reason why Im wearing a badge-less uniform is that Im a new recruit who volunteered during emergency recruitment. S~?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Refugee volunteers, eh? Then you guys are nobodies. It was a very neurotic response, which could be linked to his scrawny appearance. Gyeouls teammates, although not proficient in English, also understood his irritating reaction and showed displeasure. Gyeoul stopped them with a gesture and ordered Jinseok and Jaejoong to put down the duffle bags. Then, he unzipped the bag, gave it a nudge and let the contents pour onto the floor. If were nobodies, what do you think of the food we brought? Uh Even if Gyeouls team had eaten some, there was still plenty of canned food left inside the bag. More than enough to give each person a can. There was tension in the air. These people must have been suffering from hunger for quite a while. Several people scurried in for the food, but they had to stop as Gyeoul extended his palm at them while his other hand was holding his pistol. We did bring these for you, but I think theres something we need to take care of before we hand them out. We want an apology. Directly from that guy. And as soon as the boy said so, eyes full of reproach gathered on the man. Im sorry. An insincere apology. The man immediately turned away sullenly. Then, Gyeoul looked around and noticed that the people were studying his face, waiting for his reply. Sorry for the inconvenience. Now, please make a line and wait for your turns. Otherwise, someone might get hurt. The boy repeated the same thing in Korean to inform his team about it before beginning the distribution. Gyeoul put Yura in charge of the distribution and tasked Jinseok with maintaining order. His quick temper was just appropriate for the task. The adults, despite their constant gulping, lined up the students first. It was proof that they had not yet given up on their rationale. Umm you dont happen to have any spoon or fork, do you? Some students had spoons in their hands, but it seemed like there werent enough. Gyeoul apologized as he put on a sheepish expression. Im sorry, we didnt think that through. Hmm how about bending the side of the lid? Then you should be able to use it as a spoon. Be careful not to cut yourselves, Gyeoul said as he did a bending motion with his hands. The people who had been hesitating to pick up the food with their fingers then started to eat properly. I guess they havent been starving too much. Gyeoul spoke to an elderly man sitting in one corner. A man of ample proportions and intellectual appearance. Even amid the epidemic, he was wearing a full-fledged suit. The elderly man gave him a nod as he adjusted his glasses. Oh, yeah, we procured some food from the cafeteria when we first sheltered ourselves here. But we suffered some casualties in the process The vitamin supplements that the wise Amalia brought were also of great help. But we were starting to run out of those too, so it was only yesterday that we decided to cut back on the distribution. Im so glad you came to rescue us. Had you been a few days late, you mightve been greeted with corpses instead of people. I see. Oh, my apologies for the late introduction. My name is Stuart Hamill. Im the principal of Daniel Lewis middle school. Im glad to meet you, sir. As you already know, my name is Han Gyeoul. In Korea, we write our family names at the front, so Gyeoul is my first name. Gyo-ul Its hard to pronounce for sure. I see why you prefer to be called by your last name, Mr. Han. Principal Hamill chuckled for a moment, but he soon erased the laugh from his face and asked the boy with a slightly serious expression. I know this is rude of me, but may I ask you how old are you? Okay, here it comes. As far as Gyeoul knew, in American culture one did not usually ask about someones age. He heard that it was because they were taught to treat all people equally regardless of race, color, age, and so on. And if someone asked for ones age, there should be a reason behind it. And Gyeoul knew exactly where the principals question was leading to. Well Theres a problem that Ive always been concerned about as an educator It seems to me that your age isnt much different from that of my students, but looking at you in a military uniform and a rifle behind, reminds me of A child soldier, is that right? Right. To the educator, surely, child recruitment must be an unacceptable and despicable crime. Yes, Im only seventeen years old. Oh, no Principal Hamill was dismayed at his answer. Well, I think its inevitable in this kind of situation. Gyeoul, for once, spoke from his heart. But the principal shook his head. No, Mr. Han. No matter what kind of situation we are in, children have to be protected. Fighting with ones life on the line, it is an unbearable experience even for adults. For a child, It would leave an indelible scar. Besides, the people who came with you seem to be following you, Mr. Han, am I right? Im saying this again, but Im doing this to save myself and to save others. And those people are following me because I have shown them what I can do, and what I will do for them. And thats why its even more dangerous. What you can do for them, huh? What about killing people? Can you murder other people if they ask you to? If yes, then you must know, thats exactly what notorious killers say to justify their crimes. Principal Hamill was so into his speech that he seemed to have forgotten to eat. He was a good man. Gyeoul, however, couldnt view him favorably. A methodical person like him would not fully acknowledge Gyeouls leadership and that problem would come back to bite the boy from time to time. Thank you very much for your kind words. I really appreciate it. But sir, please understand. If I hadnt taken up arms, more people wouldve been hurt, or even killed. Of course, that includes me. Principal Hamill sighed deeply. Sorry to have interrupted your meal. I was just here to ask you if you could join us after youre done eating. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the rest of your meal. Gyeoul then quietly left the seat. After an hour, Gyeoul gathered the principal and the other adults around the podium with a map spread out on it. He then began asking them about the locations of grocery stores, pharmacies, firearms dealers, and storage facilities and had them mark them on the map. It was to gather information for the next procurement mission. There was a clear limitation to the information obtained by relying on the photos taken by aerial reconnaissance. Gyeoul then memorized the information they provided. Of course, he didnt memorize it by himself. He learned a new skill, Memorization, and stored the information in the characters memory. The memory that could be acquired through Memorization worked similarly to that of a computer. It could recall the stored information whenever the userthe player, required it, and it could interact with other devices, in this case, skills. It was a useful skill, but it wasnt essential, so Gyeoul conserved his experience points and only raised it to level 2. It wasnt high, but it was still better than nothing. It was already late at night when things came to an end. Although there were several bright lights installed in the gym, the people inside only relied on lanterns and flashlights as the mutants tended to flock around light sources. It was a well-known fact thanks to the disaster broadcast that the government had been sending via radio. Gyeoul took a look around the gym before calling it a night. To his surprise, the survivors had been leading a rather stable life considering they hadnt been prepared for it. They had a few giant tents used as a sleeping area and a portable water filter for drinking water. If anything was lacking, it would be a toilet. But even that was easily solved by throwing the waste through a window on the upper floor. After returning from his little walk, Gyeoul was quickly surrounded by the people of the school. They were curious about the situation at Camp Roberts. The situation isnt that good even in the camp. Of course, its much better than here. How many people are there? asked Amalia, raising her hand. Theres a lot. Like, really a lot. The majority of them are refugees, mostly Asians and some Polynesians. There are also some American citizens whove joined after California fell. Umm Could you be more specific about the bad situation? Were currently having problems with food and winter supplies. Thats why the refugees like us are carrying out procurement missions. Besides, the supplies hardly fall on our hands because they give preference to American citizens. A silent sneer was heard amongst the students. It wasnt hard to find the owner of the sound as they were wearing a scornful look. It was highly likely that they possessed a Racist characteristic. When Gyeoul hadnt gotten used to the game yet, he often became furious at these people. He knew that they werent real people but just an artificial intelligence, still, he found it hard to contain his anger. Now, he had become so used to such discrimination. But that didnt mean he had to tolerate the disdain all the time. If he expected something from a virtual reality, it was that he didnt need to hold back his anger. The boy had already endured too much. You, with the snapback. Did you just laugh? Is that how you treat a person who came here to help you? said Gyeoul, pointing at a student in the back. Wh-what do you mean? I didnt laugh! You probably misheard something. The boy answered disconcertedly. Oh, really? Gyeoul raised his pistol as he tapped its slide. The boys face completely distorted before he sprang up to his feet and left the tent. The others, despite not being pointed out directly, also scattered away intimidated. When issuing a warning to a large number of people, the scope of its effect will often be halved if the target of the threat is not specified. Humans tend to become arrogant when having a numerical advantage. This was also a lesson Gyeoul learned from playing Days After Apocalypse over and over. Chapter 19: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (19) Chapter 19. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (19)# High Risk High Return, Paso Robles (6) Another day had dawned. Around 8 a.m. a voice mixed with minute static flowed out from the radio that Gyeoul had brought with him. [Radio check. This is Able, Able. Banana, Banana, do you read me? Over.] Apparently, the rescue mission was assigned to Able Company, the company under the command of the very racist captain, Magath. Sure enough, the call sign they used to refer to Gyeouls team was banana, the racial slur for Asians. Their disregard could be seen even from their use of radio lingo when communicating with civilians. Converting it into an ordinary sentence, it would sound like this: [This is Able Company. Refugee volunteers, can you hear us clearly? You may speak now.] Gyeoul picked up the receiver. This is the refugee volunteer, Han Gyeoul. We hear you Lima Charlie, five by five. How do you read? Over. Lima Charlie meant loud and clear in military code, and five by five indicated the signal strength and readability of the transmission signal on a scale of five. [Able, read you loud and clear. Able Actual wants you to correct your call sign. Your call sign is Banana. Respond with your call sign if you copy. Over.] Able Actual. It was the call sign that referred to Captain Magath. Gyeoul couldnt believe he was making them call themselves Banana. It was just as absurd as making an African American guy call himself negro. So childish, Gyeoul thought. The people standing next to Gyeoul took glances at him to check if he was okay. Some of them were even feeling resentment. Only the boy who had trouble with him last night and some of his friends had the urge to laugh. Gyeoul couldnt help but feel disgusted seeing their mouths twitch. Banana, we copy. But Able, do me a favor. These people do not know how to communicate with radio lingo. I do not care if you call me Banana or not, but Id appreciate it if you could use words that everyone here can understand. Over. The radiotelephone operator answered after a short silence. [Okay, Banana. Now, Able Company Oscar Mike launched the rescue mission at 8 a.m. Hows the situation over there?] We have found 34 civilians, 21 of them are students, the rest are adults. No ones injured or sick, all of them are in good health. [Understood. Do you think you can lead them and evacuate to 24th Streets intersection?] It was a preposterous demand. They were asking them to escape by themselves knowing that the majority of the civilians with him were merely kids. The faces of those who were listening to the radio next to Gyeoul crumpled. The Control AI displayed rows of messages in holograms. AI Advice (Lvl 8 Insight): Your mission may change depending on your answer. If you choose to lead the civilians by yourself, Able Company will no longer move from their current position and you will be expected to join with Able Company 60 minutes before EENT at the latest. The rewards may vary depending on your performance. Estimated difficulty (Lvl 8 Insight): Near impossible AI Advice (Lvl 8 Insight): The chances of success are very low. If you accomplish the mission, you may receive 37 times the rewards. There was nothing to think about. Gyeoul had over thirty unarmed people with him, about twenty of whom were middle school students. Escaping with these people was pure nonsense. Thats impossible. Only three civilians are armed with guns, two pistols, and one shotgun. And these people I have here, theyre not trained soldiers. They are civilians. If something happens, things will easily spiral out of control. And after another moment of silence, the operator returned an answer. [All right. Stand by in your current position. Able will continue with their mission. Out.] And the communication ended there. Gyeoul turned on Time Acceleration thinking that the mission was over. If no particular event happened during the skipped time, the game should resume after Able Company arrived. However, Gyeouls speculation was way off the mark. When Time Acceleration ended, what greeted him was the loud noise of ceaseless gunshots and explosions. The origin of the noise was not from inside the gym, but it wasnt far away from it either. A deafening roar then followed. A roar that couldnt have belonged to a human. The people inside the gym began to gather around Gyeoul in panic. Gyeoul picked up the receiver and tried to get in touch with Able Company but to no avail. Hey, little boss. Whats going on out there? Asked Jejung, apprehensively. The U.S. military uses suppressors with their rifles, but as you can hear theres just a lot of gunshots being fired out there. That means they are using firearms that cannot be equipped with suppressors, which I think should be the heavy machine guns on the vehicles. And that leads to the conclusion that Able Company is facing something that is forcing them to use heavy firearms. That cant be Besides, I hear different kinds of explosions. And judging by their loudness, they must be using at least three types of explosives. One of them should be grenades, and the other two, considering what the U.S. military has, must be bazookas and C-4s. What worries me is that theyre still engaged in battle even after utilizing that much firepower. They must have encountered quite a large swarm. When Gyeouls analysis reached this point, his three teammates each showed different reactions. Jinseok looked defeated and dejected. You seem to know a lot for your age How can you guess that much just by listening to the noises? Anyone could come to this conclusion if they think calmly. The young man bit his lip in indignation. Gyeoul let Jinseok be. For the communitys sake, someone with a high competitive spirit such as him could serve as a good stimulus. Yura, the only person with no problems with her pride, was honest. I dont know how you can keep calm in this kind of situation. I mean, from what you said, you are the one who should know the best that the rescue team might not arrive. Thats because people need a goat. A goat? What do you mean? Thats kind of a long story. Ill tell you when we get back to the camp. His words contained an indirect remark. It was as if he had implicitly said Were going to make it back anyway. If he had just said We can make it back safely! directly, It wouldve produced the opposite effect. Saying that out loud would just mean that he had doubts in his mind. Yuras face brightened up a little. Hey, what are you chatting about over there? Some of the non-Koreans looked askance at Gyeouls team. A hint of rage flickered in their eyes. Why they were carrying such anger was unknown to Gyeoul. Perhaps they needed someone to blame for this situation. We were just talking about how I think the rescue team is struggling out there. Almost immediately, Gyeoul was faced with a furious backlash from one of the men. The man raised his voice, pointing his finger at the boy. Ha, dont be fucking stupid! America has the best army in the world! They cannot be having trouble dealing with those walking corpses! A struggle to not have his hope denied. Gyeoul knew it was better to not bicker with such a person. Maybe youre right. I was just telling them my thoughts after all. Just keep your mouth shut if you dont know shit! And dont make people nervous with your stupid thoughts! The rescue team will come! I hope so, too, Gyeoul replied with a feigned smile. An awkward silence hung between them for a while, until new voices began to come out from the radio. [Break, Break! This is five! Able o all back! mission aborted! Romeo Point evacuate!] Despite the good reception, the words were hardly understandable due to the speakers heavy breathing mixed with the gunshots and explosions in the background. Everyone inside the gym froze. Starting from that point, transmissions poured out from the radio. Barely any of them were understandable, but one thing for sure was that there was one word being repeatedly mentioned. Monster? Gyeoul wondered what monster they could be referring to. It was too early in the game for a variant mutant to make an appearance. But they couldnt have called normal mutants monsters. This mission is going to be harder than I thought. The rattles of gunfire were getting fainter and fainter every second. At this point, anybody could guess what was happening outside. One of the students knelt down and began sobbing. The cry quickly spread among the students and the whole gym became a sea of tears. The screaming voices flowing out from the radio disappeared one after another until only one person remained speaking. [Hello? Anybody there? Somebody talk to me! Please] The soldier on the radio was so desperate that he even gave up speaking with radio lingo. This is Han Gyeoul. Im listening, so go ahead. [Oh! Oh, my God! Thank you. I forgot you were listening! I know youre in no condition to come and help me but Im just glad I have someone to talk to] Are you hurt? [Yeah I hurt my leg really badly when I rolled down from the stairs. I think I broke my leg.] How many people are with you? [All by myself. We got scattered while we were on the run. Oh god, I hope theyre alive.] Are you in a safe place right now? [Safe place? Well, I dont see anything that can kill me for the moment. I dont know how long itll last though. Haha.] The mans laughter was tinged with despair and anguish. Gyeoul noticed that he wasnt saying something he shouldve said by now. Ive noticed that youre not asking me to save you. Is your injury that serious? [Oh, my injury is not the problem. How can I ask you to rescue me when that monsters wandering around out there?] This monster youve been talking about, we have no information about it. Could you please describe the monster for us? S?a?ch* Th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. [] Then, suddenly, the radio went completely silent. It wasnt until Gyeoul started worrying whether or not he had fainted that the man in the radio spat out an answer. Chapter 20: The Little Prince in the Ossuary (20) Chapter 20. The Little Prince in the Ossuary (20)# lntermission, About the fictional disease, Morgellons Morgellons, the global pandemic, is a disease that invades the human body through wounds and takes over its hosts body. Thats the reason why the infected try to bite off human flesh as if theyre crazy. But of course, thats not the only way to contract the disease. Morgellons dominates over the infected humans body. So, to be exact, calling the mutants walking corpses isnt quite correct, since its merely a change of whos in control of the body. Hey, you! Dont laugh! Because this isnt just a silly story. In Bernard Werbers novel, Empire of the Ants, the author writes about the Lancet liver fluke which could also control its host. That is the name of a real parasite. It can bore into an ants brain and control its behavior. Theres also a parasite that can alter the hosts biological properties, such as changing the color of its body to make it stand out and be eaten by its predators; or spores that relocate the host to an environment where the spores can germinate more easily. Im sure the developers of the retro game The Last of Us must have been inspired by this. What? You havent heard about that game? Oh, my Xelnaga!* Going back to the subject of parasites, it is commonly known that highly intelligent animals, such as humans, cannot be controlled by these parasitic organisms. However, some scientists argue that that may not always be true. For instance, there is an animal-borne parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is known to use rodents as intermediate hosts and reproduce inside cats bodies, but it could also be transmitted to humans during the process. The rodents infected by these parasites move and react very slowly, but also become incredibly brave in front of cats. This is because the parasites generate cysts in the host rodents brains, which manipulates them to be eaten by the cats in order for the parasite to enter the cats bodies. Then what about humans? Dr. Jaroslav Flegr, a professor at Charles University, as well as a renowned parasitologist, claimed that humans may also suffer behavioral and emotional changes when infected by Toxoplasma gondii. According to his research, a person infected with this parasite may show increased reaction times, some symptoms of schizophrenia, and most surprisingly, a more favorable attitude towards cats. Up to 71 percent of people in European Regions have been infected with Toxoplasma gondii. This proves that there is quite a large number of people in this world who are infected with this parasite. You there, the one who likes cats, you might be raising a parasite inside your belly! But dont worry too much about it. Unless you are suffering from some diseases like congenital immunodeficiency syndromes, this parasite will do almost no harm to you. Besides, what harm could it bring to grow a little more fond of cats? Cats are cute! Even Dr. Flegr himself had raised two cats whilst warning others about the dangers of cats. Ha, what a deadly charm do cats have! Oh, is Morgellons a parasite, you ask? Well, it could be an unknown virus or it could be some highly infectious spores. The answer is, we dont know either! Haha! The games settings could always change whenever we make an update. I mean, every story has one or two plot holes, right? Thats not an important matter! Whats important to us is, of course, money! If you have any complaints, you can call the customer center of the virtual reality business department of Nakwon Group. We have one counselor in place ready to respond to your complaints. Anyway, we hope you have a great time in our game, Days After Apocalypse. Have fun! # High Risk High Return, Paso Robles (7) The identity of the monster the man described was, as expected, a variant mutant. The soldier attested that the monster survived a hail of bullets and rockets. Its size was around the same as a mid-size car and strong enough to crumple a Humvee with a punch. The expressions of the people surrounding the radio stiffened as the soldiers depiction continued. Gyeoul, however, remained unperturbed. As the number of mutants increased, variant mutants would begin to appear, along with enhanced mutants. That was a basic setting of the game which any player would know about. The fact that it had appeared so early on was a bit disturbing, but Gyeoul merely took it in stride. Okay. Now, Ill be on my way to you, so hang in there. Gyeouls statement caused panic among those who were listening. Even the soldier who had just asserted the annihilation of Able Company stuttered out a reply. [W-wait. Have you been listening to me?] Yes. Thank you for sharing this valuable information. [And you still want to come here? Youre gonna get yourself killed on your way!] Thats because Im a human. A word full of meaning. The soldier on the other side of the radio became silent, as well as all the others in the gym. Some approached the boy to dissuade him. Three people trembling in fear. His teammates. Hey, little captain. I admire your courage, but that is just a suicide mission. You better think it twice, said Jaejoong as if consoling an immature child. Dont you think you should prioritize us? You promised us to bring us back safely! Dont tell me you dont remember! And what about the people waiting back at the camp? Without you, theyll plunge right back to their past, miserable life! And whats up with you caring so much about that soldier? He wants to die alone! Jinseok expressed his thoughts complainingly, bringing up the promise Gyeoul had made. Yura, unlike the other two, silently looked at the boy for a while and then shook her head. Other than the three of them, Amalia, Principal Hamilton, and several other people attempted to dissuade Gyeoul. [Are you still listening?] Yes, go ahead. [I appreciate the thought. I really do. Honestly, Im really touched. I dont know how youre still willing to help me even after putting up with Magaththat bastards insults But I dont want anyone else to get hurt because of me. Im a soldier, and my duty is to protect the civilians. So please, just stay there. Thats the best for both of us. Who knows? I might still be alive when the rescue team comes back tomorrow.] You sure youre safe there? [Yeah.] Youre such a bad liar. [Shut up, Banana.] Say whatever you want. Im going there anyway. [Hey!] You said you fell down the stairs, right? Then you must be still inside a building. Could you specify the location? You can tell me any recognizable structure. [Just dont] If you dont tell me anything, its only going to cost me more time. Then Ill be more likely to die. [You serious?] s?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Oh, Im dead serious. So quit crying, will ya? I dont wanna hear a grown-up crying like a baby. [Im not crying, goddamnit!] As the conversation progressed, favor revision notifications kept on piling up in a corner of Gyeouls view. Some were going up, and some were going down, but the most notable ones were Jinseok and Jaejoongs downward revision messages. Jinseok even tried to take the receiver away from Gyeouls hand but the boys high level of Combat Eye easily prevented it from happening. Jinseok, with his arm twisted, let out a short scream. Tears welled up in his glaring eyes. [Hey, whats going on? I think I heard a scream.] Never mind. Someone just stubbed their toe. Thats gotta hurt. [Really? Huh, it didnt sound like that] Thats not important right now. Just tell me what you saw. [Okay, okay. Slow down. Geez, Koreans do like things very quickly. Okay, hold on a minute. I cant think fast enough with this stupid pain.] The soldiers voice had become a lot brighter compared to before. A hint of hope. It was a fairly realistic reaction for an AI. All throughout Gyeouls conversation, Jinseok struggled to escape from Gyeouls grasp. However, every struggle he made was effortlessly subdued by the boys left hand. In fact, Gyeoul wasnt focusing too much on suppressing the young man. It was the combination of level 10 Close Combat and Combat Eyes that worked to realize Gyouls will to suppress in the most efficient way possible. It was only when Gyeoul finished talking that he took his finger off of the push-to-talk button and threw Jinseok down to the floor. I thought you recognized me as your leader, didnt you? A leader should have no right to make such an important decision all by himself! Jinseok sputtered away, red-faced, his breath rasping through his flared nostrils. Really? Then I quit. I wont be your leader anymore. Then I can go by myself, right? Gyeouls answer left Jinseok dumbstruck for a moment, but he soon flew into a rage. Okay, lets say you go out and save that soldier. What about the people here? We are in danger just like him! One person that you dont even know if you can save, and 34 people and three teammates whom you can save for sure! Damnit, is this a hard question? Just stay here! Youre an irresponsible son of a bitch if you really leave! Gyeoul set Jinseok free for the moment. The young man stood up and backed away a few steps as he murmured out some curses. In the meantime, the radio received a new signal and let out a subtle static noise. With the receiver on his ear, Gyeoul brought his finger to his lips. Well deal with the rest later. [Heres some stuff I recall. The last location of our platoon, when it was still intact, was the intersection of Creston Road and Walnut Drive. We were supposed to head straight to your location from there, but as you know, the monster showed up, so we had to scramble away. I do know that I ran northward from there, but I dont know how far I ran. All I can remember is that I saw the county health department on my way here.] Gyeoul unfolded the map on the floor and traced his finger down the road. Anything else you remember? [Anything else? Hmm I dont know, I was so caught up in running away, I Oh, wait. I just remembered one more thing. There was a FEMA van turned turtle in front of this building I ran into. A FEMA van, is it? Got it. Well, I gotta say, you remember a lot for someone who wants to die alone. You dont want to die, do you? [Yeah, I admit it. I dont want to die. Is that the answer you wanted, you jerk?] Yup. Obvious, wasnt it? Now, Ill be heading out, so try to remain silent unless I contact you via radio. Also, try to stay in one location if possible. But dont hesitate to move if you see a mutant coming. [I know, I know. Im a professional soldier. I should know that better than you do.] All right. Oh, by the way, I dont think I asked your name. Care to share your name and rank? From the radio flowed out the chuckle of the soldier. [Sergeant Matthew Cohen.] Okay, Sergeant Cohen. Ill see you in a few minutes. Gyeoul checked the time as he put down the receiver. There was still plenty of time before nightfall. Its worth a try if he isnt too far away, thought Gyeoul. As Gyeoul got ready to head out, he turned towards Jinseok who was still glowering at him. You look very angry. Are you really leaving us? Just then, Gyeouls skill, Insight, showed him a vast array of words and phrases recommended for persuasion. But Gyeoul completely glossed over them. You know, there are some parents in this world who sell their children for their own benefit. What? Jinseok was fazed at the sudden question, but Gyeoul made no bones about his speech. They sell their children, making excuses like Whats bad about selling our own child for the rest of the family to live? And this is what they say to the child: Im sorry you have to go through this, my child. But we all have to make sacrifices for our family, do you understand? The boy then continued with a warm smile. Sacrifice a few for the benefit of many. Thats all right. Youre not wrong, Jinseok-ssi. But I dont know if I want to be with people who are used to giving up on others. Because then, I know Ill be given up on at one point. I want to be with people who are willing to die to save others. So Im not forcing anybody to come with me. No, I need you to just stay here. We also need people to protect this place and these people. But while Im gone, I want you to think about it by yourself. Whether Im really an irresponsible person. Whether Im in the wrong here. You, Jinseok-ssi, and the other two also. Gyeoul then returned to packing up the duffel bag. When the boy finished packing, Yura came up to him and broke the silence. I never thought you were wrong, little boss. I just Just? just had no courage. Gyeoul, in turn, looked into her face with a warm smile. The boy then turned around and walked past the barricade up to the emergency exit door. With his hand on the crash bar, the boy took a big breath. And when he was ready, he gave it a push. As soon as the door opened, three mutants that were loitering in front of the gym jumped at the boy. Although everything happened so quickly, there was just enough time for Gyeoul to stop the foremost one with his elbow. The mutant was so strong he got pushed back a little, but the boy rode out until the rest of the mutants came close enough. And when they did, he kicked their knees and tripped them over all at once. While making sure the mutants were knocked over, Gyeoul drew his machete and chopped each one of their heads down. Gyeoul grabbed the corpses and dragged them out of the gym one at a time. Before he cleared the last body, he looked back and said, Keep a low profile as you always have. Ill be back before you know it, as he closed the door behind him. The boy checked the updated mission information and journal. If the return is delayed, the mission will fail due to the peoples increasing panic. The system message was attached right beside the mission window. Chapter 21 Chapter 21# High Risk High Return (8), Paso Robles It wasnt hard to find Able Companys last known whereabouts, as the roads had been cleared just up until that point. Gyeoul climbed on top of an abandoned SUV and took a look around. Creston Road, the direct continuation of 13th Street, was the road that passed right by Daniel Lewis Middle School, and Walnut Drive, the road leading to the residential area, was located about two blocks away from the school. Where the two roads met, the battered wreckages of the U.S. military vehicles were strewn. Bullet holes, bloodstains, and skid marks. The traces of the battle were scattered all over the place. Insight and Combat Eyes automatically analyzed the traces. Rough images of how the battle had transcurred emerged through an augmented reality interface. Although the images had static noise here and there due to Gyeouls low skill level, it was enough to catch a glimmer of the story. The view to the south of the intersection was blocked by fences, houses, and streetlights. That was presumably the reason why Able Company had allowed a surprise attack from the side. The Humvee, that had a dent on its side as if it had been hit by a large iron club, was also proof of that. Another Humvee and a transport truck were lying on the road, crushed flat. Gyeoul approached the vehicles and inspected the punch marks left on their steel plates. They were around one and a half span long. Fortunately, it was a kind of variant Gyeoul was already familiar with. Mutation code GrumbIe. Judging by the size and depth of the dents, its enhance level should only be at Alpha. But it looks like there were two of them here. The variant mutants found in the game were named according to their appearance and characteristics. Grumble was named after the thunderous roar it let out before it commenced attacking. Gyeoul searched through the wreckage and the bodies of the soldiers. He grabbed some ammunition, grenades, extra pistols, and suppressors. The two sets of army rations he found from the flattened vehicle were also a good find. Gyeoul glanced around, wondering if he could find other clues or something he could use. His eyes lit up upon finding an auto shop on the left side of the intersection. It wasnt an automobile mechanic, but more of a retail store that handled satellite TVs and other auxiliaries. Despite its front window being shattered, the store seemed serene. The store had a quite few items Gyeoul wanted to take with him, but his bag had limited space, so he packed a small-sized TV to use it at the camp and a rechargeable radio for decoy. The building on the opposite side seemed like it was used as a restaurant and a gas station altogether. Gyeoul checked the oil pumps to see if they were working and left the place. Not long after he started heading north, he found the first clue Sergeant Cohen had talked about. That should be the health department. One of the clues leading to Sergeant Cohen. The health department was a strangely simple single-story building that, if not for Gyeouls Map Reading skill, it wouldve been impossible to notice. Literally, the only visible clue that showed it was the health department building was a sign that read Health Agency, Public Health. Gyeoul decided to take a look inside the building. If there were any survivors, and if they were injured, they wouldve most likely entered in search of medical supplies. Even if not, he had to find supplies for himself so that he could treat Sergeant Cohens injuries. The health department had a structure quite vulnerable to outside attacks. All the entrance doors at the front were made of glass, not to mention the huge windows beside the door, placed all along the wall. There were a couple of mutants moping around the side entrance. With his machete in one hand, Gyeoul drew close to them from behind and hacked at ones head. The blade went straight through its skull and into its brain, presenting it an immediate death. The other one responded to the noise and turned around, but Gyeoul quickly elbowed its chin. While it was staggering from the brain shake, Gyeoul pushed the mutant over with his foot and stabbed the center of his forehead with his full body weight. The mutant splashed a handful of rotten blood and dropped dead. Gyeoul moved the corpses out of the way and pulled the door. The door, however, didnt budge, as though it was locked from the inside. Finding no other way in, Gyeoul approached the window, put the tip of the machete against the glass and began tapping the hilt with his other hand. Tik. Tik. Crack. Once a fine crack formed on the window, the rest of the glass cracked much faster. When the cracks finished spreading, the glass crumbled into fine pieces, making very little noise. After cracking an appropriate-sized hole, Gyeoul spread the gap between the window blinds and peeped inside. After watching for a short while, he finally pushed his hand in and groped for the window latch. Though the blind blocked his view, it didnt take him long to unlock the window and enter. The interior of the health department was in a lot bigger mess than what he saw through the blinds. There were all kinds of equipment and materials lying around, and the floor was littered with charts and some other documents. Thudding noises he couldnt hear from the outside came from somewhere. Following the sound, Gyeoul ventured deep inside the building. Upon reaching a foul-smelling blood-drenched corridor, he found five mutants banging against a blood-stained door far inside the dim corridor. As soon as Gyeoul spotted them, he grabbed a wheeled bed that was turned over on the floor, put it upright, and began to run towards the mutants with the bed in front of him. Grawr The mutants heads jerked in reaction to the sound of the rolling wheels. In spite of such creepy scenery, Gyeoul kept on sprinting. And once he arrived just a few steps away from the mutants, the boy let go of the beds railing. The beds momentum continued to push it forward at a fast speed, producing a loud rumbling noise, until coming to a stop as the bed crashed into the mutants standing next to the door. Gyeoul quickly approached the mutants that were now lying down on the floor and stomped on a couple of their heads. As their heads exploded, the mixture of brain water and blood stuck to his boots, painting them red. The rest of the mutants struggled to grab hold of Gyeouls leg, but he easily dodged them as he climbed to the fallen bed. Gyeoul took out his machete and slashed right across one of the mutants eyeballs. The mutant grabbed its bleeding eyes and tumbled down to the floor. The desperate struggle of one mutant caused the others to trip over and fall back on the ground. Watching them tussle with vacant eyes, Gyeoul lifted his machete and struck each one in the head. The stench of old death wafted through the hallway. Gyeoul kicked the dead bodies aside and stood in front of the door. The mutants couldnt have been banging at this particular door for no reason, so there mustve been something in here. Anyone inside? He asked, knocking at the door. But there was no answer. Gyeoul composedly asked a couple more times but still to no avail. He tried pulling the doors handle, but, obviously, it was locked. Fortunately, the door was crooked thanks to the mutants relentless banging. Gyeoul brought an IV hanger from a nearby room, stuck it into a small gap between the door and its frame, and applied force to it, using it as a lever. The hanger bent little by little, but the door didnt hold for much longer. But just when he was about to push the door open, Brrrrrt- The sound of a suppressed rifle. Unlike Gyeoul, who managed to duck in time, the door he was holding was now full of bullet holes. Had it not been for the projectile prediction portrayed in the air, the boy wouldve shared the same fate. The raucous noise of the scattering empty shells echoed all across the quiet hallway. As the noise subsided, Gyeoul snuck his head out to look into the room. Through the tattered door, he saw a soldier gasping for breath and a corpse with several bullet holes in it. Next to them were fallen shelves with medicine and various medical supplies spilled across the floor. Gyeoul slowly laid down his weapon and took off his gas mask. Calm down. Im not here to hurt you The boy then quickly ran his eye over the mans uniform, looking at his insignia and name tag. Staff Ashford. The rifle that the staff sergeant was holding fell flat on the floor. The hand that had been previously holding the gun was trembling. Gyeoul noticed that his pupils were oddly constricted. The staff sergeant rubbed his eyes with force and looked at the boy again. Youre not a hallucination, are you? Well, what do you think? Damnit! Dont say that! I saw my dead teammates calling for me just a while ago, standing right where you are! Those fuckers If youre dead, stay fucking dead, goddamnit! The staff sergeant didnt seem like he was in a normal state. It was understandable, for he had just witnessed his teammates dying with his own eyes. And to make matters worse, he got trapped inside a room, the door of which was slowly being smashed open, and with a corpse next to him. Anyone in his situation wouldve gone mad. He also got shot in the arm, Gyeoul thought as he looked at an empty morphine tartrate tube laying at his feet. The soldiers arm was wound in a poorly wrapped bandage. It seemed it needed some fixing. Now was the time to use the experience points he had stashed away. Gyeoul opened the skill window and poured his points into First Aid. Next to the filling-up gauge, a number slowly counted up until it reached 5. Keep still. Im gonna have to redo the bandage on your arm. The bandage was more tangled than wrapped around the arm. The blood that seeped into the bandage clotted up and made bandage stick to the mans flesh. If he unwound the bandage recklessly, it could cause his wound to open and make it worse. Therefore, Gyeoul removed the bandage as carefully as he possibly could. This sole process took him several minutes. Once the old bandage was taken care of, he poured some hydrogen peroxide onto the wound. White bubbles formed on top of the wound and dripped down the mans elbow. The staff sergeant let out a low groan. It looked like the morphine wasnt able to kill all the pain. Morphine was a medicine known as the last painkiller due to its high addictiveness and other severe side effects. There was also a written memoir of a man who, in his youth, got shots of morphine during a war and ended up having those experiences stuck in his head until the day he died. How did you get yourself hurt? I was sitting at the turret on top of the Humvee, but we got ambushed and the car went tumbling on the ground. Woah, youre lucky to be alive. It should have been a long time since he got the injury, but blood still oozed out from the wound. The boys body moved on its own thanks to the technical correction. Though he wasnt the one in control, he was feeling everything his body was doing. It was such a strange feeling. He presumed that this must be what the viewers experienced when having Sensory Synchronization active. While Gyeouls hand was busy treating the wound, Staff Sergeant Ashford asked, I know I shouldve asked this way earlier, but who the hell are you? I see no rank, no name Would you know who I am if I told you my callsign is Banana? s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Oh, youre the monkey the Captain was talking about. Knowing that he was on drugs, Gyeoul merely shrugged it off. It only took a couple of minutes for Gyeoul to apply first aid to the staff sergeant. The boy thought about what he should do with him. Currently, he could communicate just fine, but he wasnt in a state that allowed him to travel a long distance by himself, not to mention battling, because the adverse effects of morphine use included visual problem and loss of judgment. Are there any other survivors? How the fuck would I know? The staff sergeant threw a small tantrum. Ignoring it again, Gyeoul raked up some pill bottles and bandages into his bag, grabbed a crutch he found inside the room and tied it to his duffle bag. Then, he helped the staff sergeant to stand up. Lets get you moved to another room. I cant have you stay in a room without a door to close. I feel lazy as heck and dizzy too. Despite his words, he obediently followed Gyeouls order. After relocating the staff sergeant to a safe room, he seized all the morphine tubes from the staff sergeants carry-on first aid kit. Wait here. By the way, Im taking the morphine with me. Huh? H-hey, wait a second. Where do you think youre going? The staff sergeant desperatelybut also in vainattempted to grab the boys hand that was taking the morphine tubes away. Youre not coming with me right now. Do you remember Sergeant Cohen? Cohen? Of course I do. I was actually on my way to save him. Hold on. You mean, hes still alive? Tears began to well up in the staff sergeants eyes. Despite the drugs effects, he was sober enough to rejoice after hearing the news about his teammate. Gyeoul answered with a nod. Its about time to check on him. Just give me a second. Ill put you through to him. Gyeoul called Sergeant Cohen through the radio. The answer came in less than a few seconds. [Hey, kid! Where are you? Are you almost here?] Calm down. Im still at the health department building. [Oh Is that so?] Even though he couldnt see it, Gyeoul could almost guess what kind of face Cohen was making right now. So without any more delay, Gyeoul delivered the good news to him. Guess what, I have good news for you. [Good news?] Yup. I have Staff Ashford with me, alive and well. [Oh, thank god! That son of a bitch is alive?!] and listening to this conversation. [Oh shit.] Staff Sergeant Ashford reached out his hand with a chuckle. As soon as he was handed the receiver, he spat out a string of curses. Of course, it wasnt because he was angry, but because he was happy to know he was alive. His pronunciation was a little off because of the drugs, but that didnt prevent his joy from showing. How fucking dare you, Weekend Warrior, speak of me like that? You have a death wish or something? Weekend Warriors was the nickname of the National Guard, who only served for a certain period of the year. Even within the same National Guard, commissioned officers and core personnel had to be on duty twenty-four-seven, so they jokingly used that nickname for the regular soldiers. Gyeoul stopped them midway before they could get carried further away in conversation. Im sorry, but Im gonna have to stop you there, He said, as he tapped on his wristwatch. All right. I guess Ill talk to him later then. Gyeoul then gave the staff sergeant two 30-round magazines. You know why I took away the morphine, right? Yeah, yeah, just go. Ive already embarrassed myself enough with those drugs. Just promise me youll come back for me, thatll be enough. The staff sergeant scratched the back of his head as he averted his eyes. Of course, said Gyeoul with a smile. Thank you. Dont mention it. Gyeoul cast a glance at him before leaving the room. Chapter 22: lntermission, The Mind of the Artificial Intelligence (1) Chapter 22: lntermission, The Mind of the Artificial Intelligence (1)Our companys pride, the artificial intelligence engine, Trinity, always endeavors to provide users with the best possible experience when interacting with artificial intelligence. This is done by utilizing the three key modules that the worlds finest engineers have created. And this time, I will be instructing you about one of the three key modules, the TOM reading module. TOMthe abbreviation for Theory of Mindrefers to ones ability to perceive and understand other peoples thoughts and minds. Simply put, its what helps us predict how this person will react when I say this or do this. So this TOM were dealing with isnt about rational judgment, because this process takes place in our unconscious mind. Without this element, one cannot understand others emotions or relate to others. A typical example of this would be autism. As you know, an artificial intelligence has no mind. Nevertheless, a character with AI is able to speak and act exactly like a human being, and its largely thanks to the TOM reading technology. This is how it works: When you talk to a human character, your mind consciously and unconsciously expects a most human-like response from them as if you were talking to a real person. TOM reader analyzes this thought and applies it to the said character after going through the basic settings of the character, such as their personal characteristics. So, the response from the artificial intelligence varies from person to person. This is because peoples TOM level differ based on both innate and acquired factors. In a sense, an artificial intelligence is a mirror that reflects the players subconsciousness and empathic ability. There are two important factors for artificial intelligence to show human-like responses. One is the degree of development of your TOM, or as we call it, the TOM level. This TOM level refers to how deeply you can read and comprehend other peoples minds. If your TOM level is low, Im sorry, but every artificial intelligence you will run into will only say and do a lot of stupid things. The virtual reality world youll experience will be boring. Or, perhaps you might find it fun. That is if you like a world full of Dumb and Dumbers. The other factor is the compatibility of your brain with the TOM reader, which is TOM aptitude. Some people have brain structures that are hard for the TOM reader to read. This is what we call a low TOM aptitude. Do not get confused, because TOM level and TOM aptitude are not the same. Even if one has a high TOM level, it doesnt necessarily mean they will have a high TOM aptitude. Those with this type of brain will experience NPCs with realistic but slow reactions. It is estimated that about 7.5% of virtual reality users can interact with artificial intelligence without experiencing any delay at this point in time. I guess people these days are socially blind. The reason why we have this written here is because of those people making calls, complaining about the quality of the artificial intelligence. Let me be plain with you. The problems youre having when dealing with NPCs, that is 100% your fault. You shouldve worked hard to increase your TOM level before playing our game. Again, its not a problem with the connector or synchronization systems performance, so please stop contacting us whining about the artificial intelligence. If youre still not satisfied with the quality, we recommend you to just go watch someone else play the game. If you utilize our Sensory Synchronization function, you wont even be able to tell whether it is you or them that is playing the game. This has been an announcement from the Virtual Reality Business Department of Nakwon Group. Thank you for reading. # High Risk High Return (9), Paso Robles The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was originally an independent agency under the direct control of the central government. However, it was enlisted under the banner of the Department of Homeland Security after the 9/11 attack. That is why FEMA uses the logo of the Ministry of Homeland Security. And that was the holographic tooltip the system provided Gyeoul due to his high intelligence stat when he found a van stained with red spots. A mutant wandering around the van was wearing a blue shirt with the word FEMA Corp. printed on the back. The mutant that came running towards Gyeoul ended up falling flat on the asphalt with its head blown apart. Gyeoul searched its body but didnt find anything useful. The van was open, and also empty. There was the key that was left in the keyhole, and also some gas in the tank. This was the only FEMA van Gyeoul saw on his way here. Sergeant Cohen must be around here. Just when Gyeoul was about to search the nearby building, he heard a noise. Heavy, ground-shaking thuds. And they were growing louder and louder with each passing second. Footsteps. The boy took out his pistol from the holster. Thud, thud. A silhouette of massive build appeared from around the corner. A mutant with an appearance resembling more of an ape than a human, and its body higher than a single-story house and thicker than an armored vehicle. As expected, it was the variant mutant Grumble. There were also quite a few ordinary mutants wandering around the variant mutant. Judging from how it emerged from the corner right when the boy passed by, it must have been waiting in ambush for a human to arrive. The extremely bulky mutant vigilantly took a look around with its nostrils flaring. Gyeoul leaned against the van in order to avoid exposure. He knew that hiding from its sight wouldnt be enough to fool the mutant. Grumble had an enhanced sense of smell that could detect a human within a radius of up to 50 meters if unaffected by the wind. If one encountered this mutant without any means to defeat it, running away was the best way to survive. Gyeoul, however, slowly pulled back the hammer of his pistol. He already had a plan in mind. As he waited behind the van, he heard Grumbles footsteps coming closer and closer. Then, after a certain point, the disgusting stench of rotten flesh began to attack his nose. The smell was so strong that it was deluding him to think the mutant was right beside him. Gyeoul held his breath and focused every one of his nerves on the sound and vibration of its footsteps. Thump, thump. The heavy footsteps of the creature weighing over a ton reverberated through the boys body like heartbeats. Gyeoul clutched his pistol in one hand and a hand grenade without its safety pin in the other. He raised both hands in advance and closed his eyes, measuring the mutants location based on his past experiences. It couldnt be too far, nor too close. Three, two, one. Gyeoul turned around and brought himself out into the open. And almost immediately, the giant mutant spotted him. A set of savage eyes flashed horrendously. Grumble had the skill Dash, which it could use when its target was a certain distance away from it if there was nothing within its reach to throw at the target. Although it usually moved at a ponderous pace, its speed could reach that of a speeding vehicle when using Dash. This was why most people often got caught off guard and ended up getting run over by it before they could do anything. But even that didnt pose the slightest threat to Gyeoul who was armed with weapons and experience. [Gwerr*Pew*rrg!] While trying to let out its roar, Grumble suddenly shut its mouth and clenched its neck. On its throat, now covered under its giant hands, there was a bullet stuck deep inside its flesh. This was the only weak point its high physical resistance couldnt protect. While Grumble was struggling in pain, Gyeoul began to clear up the ordinary mutants surrounding Grumble. Within a few seconds, several mutants had their heads burst open like watermelons crushed by a baseball bat. In the meantime, Grumble regained its composure and prepared to use Dash once again. [Kwaa-rrk?!] Blood spattered out from the center of its neck. The giant mutant took another step back. Gyeoul cautiously followed Grumbles movements. A four-meters-radius boundary. That was the distance Gyeoul had to keep from Grumble. If breached, Grumble would start using close combat patterns instead of Dash. Indeed, Grumble once again readied itself to use Dash after shaking its head a couple of times. Instead of shooting its neck again, this time, Gyeoul threw the grenade into its mouth. Its mouth was big enough to swallow a human, so throwing a grenade into it was a piece of cake. After confirming that the grenade successfully entered its mouth, the boy made another bullet hole in its throat. Grumble then quickly covered its throat to prevent further attacks. But that was the end. Buhm! The sound of the explosion was dulled down by its thick layer of muscle. The grenade shredded all its inner organs into pieces. Grumble, with its eyeballs popped out of their sockets, started vomiting blood. [Kek! Kek! Gwergh!] While Grumble was busy puking out blood, Gyeoul threw another grenade into its mouth. This time, it got stuck to the blood-covered tongue. Because it was dangerous to leave it like that, Gyeoul immediately shot a couple of bullets into its open mouth. Surprised by the shots, Grumble closed its mouth and took a gulp. The grenade detonated inside its belly, causing another internal explosion. Grumbles rotten skin rippled as if to notify Gyeoul of his success. The hulking body began to teeter before it completely lost its power and fell on the ground on its knees. Gyeoul loosened his wrist without casting a second glance at the dead body. For Gyeoul, who had dealt with so many variant mutants in past playthroughs, one Grumble was nothing but an easy game. He opened the skill window and noticed a big increase in his experience points. Mustve been the first variant in this playthrough. Wish there was one more though. While entertaining a thought that would frighten others if they heard it, Gyeoul walked into the nearest building. As soon as he entered the building, Gyeoul made an investment and learned a new skill, Tracking. Level 4. Gyeoul could feel the effects of the skill right away. An augmented reality interface emphasized every clue in his field of view. And thanks to that, he was able to spot some faint footprints left on a thin layer of dust. They were so vague that without the emphasizing effect, he wouldnt have been able to notice them. Gyeoul followed the trail of the footprints and arrived in front of a door. The boy knocked on it without a second of hesitation. Sergeant Cohen, are you here? A rustling noise was heard from the inside, followed by someones moan. They were signs of a live human. Indeed, someone then answered with a feeble, shaky voice. Banana, is that you? Did you really have to call me by that call sign? Anyway, yes, its me. Im here to keep my promise. The door suddenly flung open, and there, stood a soldier stepping on the ground with one foot and one hand holding onto the wall. Oh, my Lord! I thank thee for sending such a reckless kid to save thy child! Okay now, if you keep picking on me like that, Im just gonna pretend I didnt see you. Not just reckless, but also small-minded! Uh, excuse me? Then, all of a sudden, Sergeant Cohen clasped the boy to his chest and started bawling his eyes out. He must have reached the end of his wits. Knowing how stressed he must have been, Gyeoul let him cry his heart out. Once Cohen managed to allay his emotions, he carefully asked Gyeoul a question. By the way did you not run into the monster on your way here? I think I heard it roaring somewhere near Come on, youre a soldier! Stop being a coward. That monster is just another mutant. Theres no need to be scared of it. Oh kid, you have no idea If you had seen it for yourself, you wouldnt say such a thing. At least mutants die if I shoot them! But that thing that monster just takes bullets as if they dont even tickle If we run into that monster, were as good as dead! With a quivering voice, Cohen described his traumatic experience. After a moment of silence, Gyeoul replied unconcernedly. Dont worry. I killed it. What? Leaving the puzzled soldier behind, Gyeoul glanced around the room and grabbed a chair that was lying there. Sit down. Were gonna have to treat your leg to bring you out of here. Cohen absentmindedly followed Gyeouls order. Gyeoul then knelt down and rolled up Cohens trousers. The broken side of his calf was swelled up like a balloon. The boy applied a piece of gauze on the wound and wrapped his calf with cotton. Sergeant Cohen, still perplexed by Gyeouls statement, stared at the boy who was giving him first aid as if he hadnt said anything out of the ordinary. It was only after agonizing for another minute that the soldier opened his mouth again. Hey, umm. What do you mean by you killed it? The monster you were talking about, I killed it. Threw a couple of grenades into its mouth and it fell. Gyeoul then took out a steel pin and bound it to Cohens leg from behind, simulating a splint. The soldier, while vacantly watching Gyeouls skilled first-aid work, spoke again while casting a suspicious look at the boy. Youre just trying to reassure me with a lie, right? Red pupils and yellowish eyes. Body as tall as a house, as thick as a humvee. Overall Id say it looked like a giant ape with rotten skin. If you still want to deny it, thats fine. Youre gonna see the body on our way out anyway. So lets stop arguing about that right now. Anyway, Im done treating your leg. Here, try walking with this crutch. Cohen let out a deep groan as he rose from the chair. Even if Gyeoul had bandaged his broken leg with a splint, it was merely an emergency measure. Unless he moved with care, he could easily ruin his leg. Okay, youre good to go. Then lets get moving. We have to pick up Staff Ashford on our way, so we better hurry. Looking at the boy nonchalantly leading the way, the soldier still couldnt wipe the suspicious look off of his face. But the truth was revealed as soon as they stepped outside. Oh shit! The sergeant fell on his hips with a scream as he faced the giant body still towering over the entrance of the building. I told you it was dead, said Gyeoul, as he helped the soldier get back on his feet. But despite Gyeouls words, Sergeant Cohen still hesitated to walk past Grumbles corpse. It was only after Gyeoul kicked the corpse that Cohen accepted it was dead. As soon as the soldier succeeded in walking past the corpse, he began screaming at the boy. Oh my fucking god! You motherfucking Banana! You are seriously mad! It was such an intense compliment that if heard without context, one would think of it as a serious insult. Though he knew that Cohen was using Banana as a way to show friendliness, he couldnt help but feel discomfort as it reminded him of Captain Magath. If you keep calling me Banana, Im gonna start calling you Whoppers. Go ahead! Gyeoul was shocked at how unreserved he was. He wanted to make him feel bad for using a racial slur, but little did he know Cohen would take zero offense from it. Did he take morphine or something? Thought Gyeoul. Again, I want you to call me by my name, not the call sign. Dont tell me you forgot my name? Of course I forgot. What do you expect? Sergeant Cohen answered with a dramatic shrug as if to cover up his embarrassment. Hey, dont blame me. How could I remember it just by hearing it once? If I were that smart, I would have graduated from Harvard. Jeez Okay. My name is Han Gyeoul. Gyeoul is my first name, but I know its hard to pronounce, so you can call me Han. All right, Han, Ill remember for sure this time. By the way, Han, can we take a moment before we leave? The sergeants expression gradually became taut and unsmiling. At the end of their line of sight was Gruvels body. This monster tore my friends to pieces. I understand how you feel, Sergeant Cohen. But we We have to leave. You know weve got no time to waste. Checking that Cohen was following him, Gyeoul hurried his gait. Gyeoul and Sergeant Cohen soon arrived where the FEMA van was located. Can you drive? Gyeoul said, pointing at the van. Yeah. One of my legs isnt working properly, but it should be fine. Thats good to hear. Were gonna have to procure some food on our way back. You dont have to worry about clearing the road, by the way. The roads were passably clear thanks to the monsters rampage. We should be able to reach the school without any trouble. All right. But Han, dont you want to just head straight back to our camp? Sergeant Cohen asked jokingly. Although he seemed to have tried to not sound serious, the boy knew he was half-serious. Gyeoul didnt blame him, for he knew selfishness was natural for a tired man. Do you really think Id ditch those people when I even came to save you? Okay, okay, sorry. I was just joking. Sergeant Cohen started the van. The vans engine trembled lightly until they heard a sudden boom. Eh? Surprised by the sound, Cohen stared at the steering wheel with his mouth wide agape. That didnt sound good There must be something wrong with the engine. Did you hurt your head or something? That was the sound of a grenade. The explosions continued. The sounds were coming from the direction of the intersection. And then followed several screams. One of them wasnt that of a human. Oh god dont tell me there are more of those monsters Cohen mumbled as he nervously tapped on the steering wheel. S~?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Were gonna have to go kill it. An expression of disbelief quickly replaced the fear in Cohens face. You badass motherfucker Drive to the intersection first. Ill tell you what to do once we reach there. What are you doing? We gotta hurry before that monster kills more of your friends. Damnit, youre right! Cohen punched his k pot and stepped on the accelerator pedal. As the needle of the tachometer turned, the van scurried off the road. Chapter 23: High Risk High Return (10), Paso Robles Chapter 23: High Risk High Return (10), Paso RoblesDebris of the shattered buildings flew around as though they had been swept up by a storm. There were also dismembered body parts wrapped in torn pieces of military uniforms scattered around the road. This hellish scene was the work of Grumbles close combat pattern. When Gyeoul arrived at the site, Grumble was running riot among the residential area. With only a couple of punches, a third of a single-story house crumbled away. The soldiers who had entered the empty house for cover crawled back out from the opposite window. But unfortunately, one of the soldiers failed to escape the house as a mutant grabbed his leg from the inside. After giving a cry, he was soon dragged back into the house. The soldiers on the other side took a potshot at the giant mutant. Gyeoul, however, knew their effort was completely useless, as Grumble possessed almost zero weaknesses except for his orifices and throat. Of course, some highly destructive armaments such as KEP or HEAT rounds would be effective against it, but the soldiers who were facing such a monster for the first time couldnt possibly have prepared such ammunition. When the walls and roof of the house Grumble was hitting gave way, Grumble slowly turned towards the soldiers with a deafening roar. A sign that Grumble was preparing for a distant combat pattern. It was either one of these two: Hurl if it had something throwable at its hands reach or Dash if not. As it happens, there was a van near the monster. In its grip, the frame of the vehicle crumpled like a cardboard box. Then, with a whoosh, the crumpled van went flying towards the soldiers. In the place where the metal scrap landed, the blood of a soldier who couldnt move away in time splattered on the ground. You do have a plan to kill that, right? Sergeant Cohen asked, terrified at the sight. The sound of the vans motor must have drawn the monsters attention. The flashing eyes of the mutant fell on the van Gyeoul and Cohen were in. Please tell me you do! You go on ahead and back up. Gyeoul gestured to Cohen to fall behind as he got out of the van. Instead of pulling out his pistol, Gyeoul grabbed the rifle in order to safely fire direct hits. [Kwaa*Brrrt*rrrgh!! Kek!] Of the seven bullets he fired, five of them successfully pierced Grumbles mouth. The monster shut its bullet-riddled mouth and staggeringly took a few steps back. Gyeoul approached Grumble, keeping a firm grip on his rifle all the while, and pulled the trigger whenever it opened its mouth. For shooting while on the move, Gyeoul accuracy remained surprisingly high. The surviving soldiers poured out a rain of bullets on Grumble. Gyeoul worried that the mutant would change its target back to them. Fortunately, the monster didnt take its eyes off of him. Perhaps it was because they werent inflicting any damage due to its physical immunity. Once the boy was about five meters away from the monster, he stopped walking and took out a grenade he had taken from Sergeant Cohen. Then, with a swift motion, he removed the clip and removed the safety pin with his teeth. [Kwaah!] The grenade thrown by the boy flew straight into the frightful maw of the monster. Not knowing what had entered its mouth, Grumble spread its arms, ready to use Dash. But as soon as he took a step forward, its body swelled up with an explosion. Grumble fell into a convulsion, vomiting blood and bits of flesh. Bloody tears streamed down from his ruptured eye. Gyeoul instantly fed the giant mutant another grenade. Along with the loud blast, the body of what seemed like an invincible entity began to fall apart from the inside. A stream of blood cascaded down the gorges of muscles. The giant monsters life quickly drained away like a machine running out of juice. Some soldiers that still hadnt recovered from the fear fired a hail of bullets at the dead body. Little did they know that the noise was attracting other ordinary mutants towards them. The soldiers, however, were so focused on shooting the monster that they didnt seem to have noticed the mutants approaching from behind. Gyeoul quickly raised his hands and crossed his arms over his head. This one is dead! Behind! Look behind you! It was only then that the soldiers came back to their senses, but it was too late. From each corner of the buildings mutants appeared one after another. Their numbers grew larger and larger until they completely surrounded the soldiers. Just when Gyeoul was about to step up, a raspy noise of an engine came into his hearing. It was Cohen. He drove the van crashing into all the obstacles on his way and stopped with a sharp turn before them. What are you fuckers staring at? Hop in! Cohen said as he poked out his head through the drivers window. The soldiers immediately crushed into the side door of the van. Some of them were in too much of a hurry that they even tossed their guns aside to fit in the van. Fuck yeah! That was epic! Haha! Cohen shouted when Gyeoul seated himself in the passenger seat. The car veered off the road and belted in between the houses. As befits the United States, a country overflowing with surplus land, there was enough space for cars to drive in between. Of course, there were fences and other obstacles, but they werent enough to stop the van. When the van arrived at the Health Department, Cohen slammed on the brakes, making the people in the back jump through the windshield. The soldiers spat out curses at him, but Cohen only sat there grinning inanely. Gyeoul went into the building alone to bring Staff Sergeant Ashford to the van. A couple of soldiers offered their help, but Gyeoul refused. Not only did they need a rest, but there werent any mutants left inside the building. The staff sergeant, who kept on groaning while walking outside, became healthy again as if he hadnt been sick at all when he got reunited with his team. The vehicle started running again once Gyeoul hopped on board. It kinda bugs me letting those mutants follow us around, said Gyeoul, pointing at the swarm of mutants that had been tailing the van. Though the mutants wouldnt be able to catch up with the speed of an automobile, they were still able to follow them around owing to the noise of the engine. You got any plan for them? Theres a gas station up ahead. Lets cook them with oil and fire. I gotta ask, are all Asians as smart as you? Because that is fucking brilliant! Gyeoul told Cohen to park the van far away from the gas station in case the fire grew uncontrollable. Besides, if the gas station itself caught on fire, the van had to be at a safe distance. The boy first placed the radio he had obtained from the auto shop near the remains of the humvee. Thanks to the disaster broadcast channel, the radio would be producing human voices. After cranking the volume up to the limit, Gyeoul grabbed the gasoline dispenser and started spraying all over the road. Clear gasoline drenched the asphalt and dipped down the slope of Walnut drive. Once the road was soaked enough, Gyeoul put the dispenser back and asked the soldiers watching him from afar. Does anyone have a lighter? I do. Do you need a cigarette to go with? One of the soldiers threw his zippo and attempted to a crack joke, only to be answered with complete indifference. As soon as the mutants set foot on the oil-covered road, Gyeoul threw the zippo at the other end of the oily field. The oil caught on fire even before the lighter could even hit the ground. The road was soon engulfed by the maws of inferno. Black shadows struggled as if they were dancing. The background music was a cacophony of crackling fire and painful screams. The soldiers frowned. Some mutants managed to escape out of the sea of flameA desperate struggle of the pathogen in an effort to spread the disease at all cost. Dont shoot them. Its just gonna be a waste of bullets. Indeed, the mutants slowly died away on their own. They struggled even after falling on the floor as if the pathogen inside their brains were ordering their bodies to keep walking even when their legs had given away a long time ago. The soldiers, who were behind cover, also came close and observed the horrible scene of the burning ceremony. If there were hell on earth, this must be what it would look like, thought Gyeoul. As if he had heard his thought, one of the soldiers made the sign of the cross and brought his cross necklace up to his lips. Okay, were done here. Lets head back, to those waiting for us. Below the feet of those who walked with their backs facing the flames, lay layers of shadows filled with their sorrows. With the tired soldiers aboard, the van finally arrived at their destination, the Daniel Lewis Middleschools gymnasium. Even Gyeoul felt as though he had been away for a whole week when it had only been a day. Gyeoul led the soldiers to the back door and knocked on the door. The one who opened the door for them was Yura. She seemed like she had been on the tiptoe of expectation. Before Gyeoul could even finish taking off his gas mask, Yura gave him a tight hug. I was worried that you wouldnt make it back Sergeant Cohen blew a facetious whistle at them. But when she began to cry, he soon looked away scratching his head in a muddle. The people inside the gym were startled when they saw seven more strangers flooding in from the door. Too strained to notice their military uniform, they pointed their guns at them for a moment. But the soldiers were too tired to even care. Some just plopped down on the floor before passing the barricade while heaving out sighs. Some soldiers took out cigarettes and began puffing at them. Although the smoke couldnt do any harm to the player in this virtual world, Gyeoul deliberately distanced himself from them. Back when he used to be alive or had a body of his own, he used to hate the smell of smoke his father left inside the house. The soldiers chuckled at him, joking about how he was still a kid. For a while, the gym became abuzz with the arrival of the soldiers, but it then fell completely silent with the sound of sudden claps. The one that was giving the lonely applause was a young student. His eyes, shedding big drops of tears, were looking directly at Gyeoul. The applause soon rippled across the crowd, along with ladling cheers. The soldiers also stood up and joined in. The noise-conscious praise could be felt even louder. Only Jinseok stood forlornly in one corner of the gym. S?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Yura was still grabbing hold of Gyeouls sleeve and sobbing. While Gyeoul was busy soothing her, Staff Sergeant Ashford came up to him. I, as the representative of our troop, would like to pay tribute to your courageous act. We truly appreciate it, said Ashford with a crisp salute. Save your gratitude for after we get back to the camp. As usual, messages signaling favor revisions occupied the corner of his view. But the content was clearly different from the usual. The messages were filled with the favor players could acquire for saving lives, namely the permanent revisions. Something that could only be offset by the same permanent revisions. Unless Gyeoul killed their families in front of their eyes, it would last until the day they died. After the staff sergeant returned to his colleagues, Gyeoul wiped the tears on Yuras eyes. The smudges on her face were also wiped off along the tear marks. Beauty was a double-edged sword. It could be used as a weapon, but it could also be a weakness. In a situation like this, where people were unsure of their safety, people tended not to take care of their appearances. Yura was no exception to this. Her disheveled hair and dirty face made it hard to guess how she would have looked before the epidemic. Just by wiping some dirt off her face, Gyeoul knew she mustve been a good-looking girl. Meanwhile, a sudden ring fell on Gyeouls ears. Chapter 24: # High Risk High Return (11), Paso Robles Chapter 24: # High Risk High Return (11), Paso RoblesViewer Quest has been granted by MURD3R. Viewer Quest. Anyone watching a stream could give the host a quest in exchange for Stars, the virtual currency. It was a system that the developers created for the viewers to be able to participate in the game indirectly. Gyeoul cast a sidelong glance at the new message while comforting Yura and couldnt help but be surprised. The message was very simple, yet very vulgar. MURD3Rs message: I want sex I want sex! SSSSSEEEEEXXXXX!!!! The goal of the quest was also very straightforward. Having sex with Yura. Neither did it include a time limit nor detailed information. Just by sleeping with her, he could earn one thousand Stars. Stars. The very thing he needed for his flower. That was the only reason why he decided to do this whole thing. If he gave up this quest, there might not be another opportunity as good as this one. But no matter how hard he struggled to justify himself, he just couldnt erase the feeling of repulsion. There must be another chance. In the end, the boy chose to turn down the Viewer Quest. Another night fell on the gym as the daylight quickly faded away. But unlike the other nights that the people in the gym had gone through so far, this time, not a single persons face was clouded with anxiety. The stories of Gyeouls heroic exploits spread by the soldiers, although they were quite exaggerated as all epic tales were, gave hope to not only the students but also all the other adults. AI Advice (Lvl 10 Insight / Lvl 10 Detection): You have been recognized as a hero by this transient community. They now believe they will be able to overcome any hardship with your presence. The Crowd Panic level of the community will gradually decrease just by staying with you. The quantified value of Crowd Panic is currently 19% (with a 2.8% approximated margin of error). Before activating Time Acceleration, Gyeoul opened the skill window to spend his newly acquired experience points. Gyeoul first acquired two new skills, Throwing and Projectile Weapons Mastery, and raised their levels to five. Throwing, as its name suggested, was a skill that helped the user hit the mark more easily with throwable objects such as grenades and knives. If it had been one of his previous playthroughs, he wouldnt have learned it this early in the game. But this playthrough was different. He had already encountered two variant mutants in just one dayhe had to be ready for more of them. Projectile Weapons Mastery was a skill that enhanced the efficiency of ranged weapons skills such as Small Arms Mastery, Heavy Weapons Mastery, and Bow Mastery. Of course, as with most skills that covered a wide range of skills, it only provided a very slight, almost imperceptible effect while requiring an immense amount of experience points. On top of this, Gyeoul also raised Small Arms Mastery up a level, reaching level 11, the beginning of the superhuman levels, and learned some movement-type skills. Though Gyeoul still had a fair bit of experience points left, he temporarily pushed the matter to the back of his mind. He would be given additional points for accomplishing the rescue mission once he got back to the camp. Gyeouls consciousness was brought back to the world by a deep, earth-shaking rumble. It wasnt an explosion like last time. This was the sound of helicopter rotors. When the boy opened his eyes, he saw Staff Sergeant Ashford conversing with someone through the radio. According to the conversation he overheard, they were attack helicopters and they were here not because of the rescue mission but because of the report of variant mutants they received. The man on the radio, the pilot of one of the helicopters, then said that their mission was to acquire samples of the variant mutants, thus asked Ashford about the mutants whereabouts. When Ashford gave them the approximate location of the two Grumbles they had fought, as well as the fact that they had managed to kill both, the pilot sounded taken aback. It was only after an hour of being surrounded by the rotor noise that Bravo Company arrived with another convoy, and this finally marked the end of the rescue mission. # Past, The day of the deal [From here on its NSFW] The boy who had been born in winter was entering a mansion with his parents. A palatial mansion with a soaring ceiling and a cavernous hallway. To the boy, it didnt feel like a house for people to live in. Although they were merely in autumn, it felt so much colder inside, as if winter had already set inside this mansion. A cold and lonely season. The boy didnt like the season he was named after. Shortly after their arrival, a woman came to guide them into the mansion. The boy was quite surprised when the woman, whom the boy thought was just an usher, revealed that she was the chairmans daughter. Her appearance was so young that she looked like she was in her late 20s. He wouldve believed her if she said she was the chairmans granddaughter. For some reason, half of her face was covered by her hair. After walking for a few minutes, Gyeoul and his parents arrived at a room that had an unusually large door. Upon stepping inside, he found an old man on a couch waiting for his arrival. The old man uttered no words of greetings. Take your off clothes, spoke the chairman in a brusque manner. Uh Pardon? I said, take off your clothes. I need to see if the commodity is genuine. Gyeoul stood for a moment, dazed and bewildered. How could he ask for such a thing without even batting an eye? Do I really take off my clothes? But there are so many people here A series of thoughts about the situation he was in circled inside Gyeouls head. And when he took a look around, he noticed that the other people also looked perplexed. You can stay like that if you intend to ruin the deal. I could just transplant myself into a clone. Ahyoung turned to her father with a reproachful look. What a barefaced lie, she thought. But despite being aware of the lie, she knew there was nothing she could do. When her thoughts reached that point, she eventually stopped glowering at her father. The chairman stayed indifferent to his daughters look. The boys parents fretted over the boys inaction and began poking him with a stiff smile. Be a good boy and do as the chairman says, will you? Said one of them, with a tone as if placating a disobedient child. The stone in his heart, which had been growing heavier each day, began to roll around once again, banging and clashing against the boys heart. Gyeoul felt the chunks rising from his throat, but he managed to hold them in. Just a few more minutes and I wont have to put up with this anymore. Rolling his eyes down to the ground, the boy slowly took off his clothes, layer by layer. Underwear. Take it off. The boy hesitated, but only for a moment. At last, the boy was left standing in the room in the most natural appearance a human could possibly have. The chairman brimmed with a contented smile. What a quality product. Well done. Chairman Guncheol walked up to Gyeoul and began touching, pressing, and rubbing all over the boys body. He seemed to have found his well-built body quite satisfactory. From top to toe, everythings looking handsome. Great. This will suffice. It wouldve been nice if he stopped there, but the chairman suddenly brought his face close to Gyeouls armpit and began sniffing at it. The boy felt like killing himself. But to his dismay, this was not the worst yet to come. Now, make it erect. Excuse me? Dont pretend you didnt hear me. Yes, Im talking about this. The chairman spoke while poking at the boys nether regions. Everyone in the room was dumbfounded at the chairmans request. Ahyoung, despite knowing it would be useless, stepped up and tried to put a brake to her fathers tyranny. Stop this nonsense! You already got the report from the medical staff stating that theres nothing wrong with the product! Dont you think this is too much? Too much, you say? The chairman gave her a mocking look. You know how much I promised to pay this family for this body? Five billion won. Its the amount of money someone with a hundred-million-won annual income would accumulate when saving half their income for a fucking hundred years. Whats the problem with checking a product worth that much money with my own eyes? But Dont you fucking but me! Ive been a merchant all my life. Do you know what I learned about trade during that time? You cannot just believe what others say about the product youre about to purchase! You have to see with your own eyes and touch with your own hands, and thats called discretion! God, I cant believe my only child would be a fucking pushover The people who were listening to the chairmans words, especially the boy, couldnt believe how he could be so shameless when making such an illogical request. His parents also kept their mouths shut, only to look at the boy nervously. What are you doing? Make it erect. Just jack off or something. Thankfully, the surrounding people turned their heads away from him. Perhaps it was out of disgust or out of consideration. Whatever the reason mightve been, Gyeoul took the chance and tried to think of something erotic. But it was impossible. Im sorry but I cant. I guess you dont want the money then? You thought it would be easy to pocket someone elses money, huh? Besides, youre not just earning money through this deal. You get to live the rest of your life inside a virtual reality world. Do you even realize how lucky you are? There are hundreds of thousands of people in the world who commit insurance fraud in an effort to make it into the virtual reality world. But, you kid, just got a free ticket to others dream world and youre taking it for granted. But I really cant do it. The boy trembled in humiliation. In anyones book, this would be an irrational situation. He was on the verge of letting go of all reason and screaming out loud. But such reaction only added fuel to Guncheols anger. Tsk! Kids these days are so weak! If something doesnt work out well, they just give up without even trying! Whats there to stop you if you have the will to carry on? The old man shouted to exhaustion as he started huffing out breaths. But the boy stood as still as a rock. In spite of his muscular body, he looked rather small and miserable. This was due to the feelings that mustve been rotting inside him without a way to vent them out. The chairman, while glaring at the boy with a displeased look, called his daughter. You, come over here and suck this. What? Goddamnit! Can nobody understand at once? Go suck his cock! Ahyoung, who first thought she had misheard him, was left speechless for a moment. What are you doing staring at me? Do it now. Are you Are you mad? Im your daughter! Yes, you are my daughter. Do you know what that means? If it wasnt for me, you wouldnt even be in this world! How can you do this to a married woman? S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Well, then it should be easier. Just show him whatever you did with your husband. No one in the room could handle the old mans perverseness. Ahyoung felt her whole body shaking with anger. She scowled at the man who was supposed to be her father. But the old man snorted at her response. You insolent little bitch, how dare you scowl at your father? You want to get kicked out of this house, huh? Do you think your husband will keep you after I ditch you? Do you think you can take care of yourself and your kid entirely on your own? Tell me what you think. Ahyoung dropped her eyes at the mention of her daughter. Ahyoungs daughter was a pretty girl. But her father never liked her. Women are born impure, so there is no reason to rejoice when one is born. That was what the father had told her when she had her baby. Ahyoung knew her husband didnt marry her because he loved her. He was not married to the woman named Ahyoung, but to the possible successor of the Hyesung Group. If she were to lose that position, her husband would abandon in the blink of an eye. There was no one apart from Ahyoung who could protect her one-year-old daughter from this harsh world. But if she were to get kicked out of her house, shed lose the only thing that had been keeping her and her daughter safe. Ahyoung, thus, had no choice but to succumb to reality. She knelt before Gyeoul. Huh? H-hold on a second Gyeoul tried to back away, but Ahyoung grabbed on tightly to the lower half of his body. Itll be alright. Just hang in there. Before the boy could say anything else, Ahyoung nipped at his penis. Nghh Guilt, humiliation, and indignation. He felt all these negative emotions swirling inside his heart. And yet, the thrilling sensation coursing through his body made it impossible to hold in the moan. Ahyoung felt her mouth being filled. She felt nauseated. But her father would only laugh at her if she were to let it show. Ahyoung got back up emotionlessly and wiped her mouth with a handkerchief. Are you satisfied now? Give me the handkerchief. Upon receiving the handkerchief, the chairman grasped the boys dick and violently wiped away the saliva. Then the chairman nodded his head in satisfaction. Looks good enough. Is it over now? Gyeoul asked beggingly. But the chairmans next words completely shattered Gyeouls hope. No, not yet. I need to see you ejaculate. The old man then turned to Ahyoung without a word. Ahyoung, who had given up on arguing with her father, silently approached Gyeoul. Please the boy groaned. Despite the boys cry, Ahyoung hugged the boy from behind, whispering in the boys ear. This is all just a bad dream. Itll be over before you know it Ugh I c-cant The genuine geniality he couldnt find in his parents stirred up his mind. The sweet scent of her perfume, her hot breath tickling his ear, her soft breasts pressing against his back, the warmth of her body swaddling him like a blanket, and above all, her lean, white fingers giving his skin a gentle rub made it impossible for him to think straight. Thick white liquid burst out from the tip of the boys cock. The old man gave an exclamation. Yes, this is what I wanted! Good work. Im satisfied. With a broad smile on his face, the chairman patted the boy on the shoulder. It was so different from the madness he had shown until now that the boy had to rub his eyes to see if he didnt mistake him for someone else. Now its my turn to show you . You mean the money? No, not that. Chairman Guncheol continued with a solemn expression. I pride myself on being an honest merchant. Ive broken the law a few times, but Ive never broken the business ethics Ive set on myself. One of them, as I said earlier, is checking the products before confirming a deal. And I believe that should go the same for you too. Now that Ive run fastidious check-ups on your item, Im willing to offer you to do the same with mine. Money is, of course, an essential part of the deal. But whats more important to you, I believe, is the virtual reality world that you will be living in for the rest of your life. Virtual reality Indeed, the money and the house werent the only parts of the contract. He had also promised him to ensure the continuity of his life in the virtual reality world. Of course, for the boys parents, money was still the most important part. The best way to do that should be by experiencing it firsthand. Ill bring the demo model to your house tomorrow. He didnt need an answer. The boy nodded gracefully. Chapter 25: # Viewers’ messages log (1) Chapter 25: # Viewers messages log (1)Chat Bot: Registration Number 8-612 Han Gyeoul. You have entered the chat room of your broadcast. You currently have the message filter function enabled. Messages that contain no meaningful content or have been posted multiple times or those from users who have been reported by multiple viewers or whom you have blocked will not be displayed in this log. You may change this setting through the Control AI. ymROCKs: Hes here! US-ROK Alliance: HEEEEEY! Han Gyeoul (Host): Hello, everyone. PrincessCattitude: Hoi~ :3 Thx for the awesome stream, Oppa!!! urmom: sup Han Gyeoul (Host): Hello PrincessCattitude, urmom. Thank you all for coming. updawg: BJ!!! You asshole!!! SnowyFox: ? Blackcoke: HOW! Mustafar: DARE! Phisherman: YEAH! Jarapapa: wtf XD A Likeable Bird: u idiots cant even get that right lmao SnowyFox: ? updawg: What the fuck is wrong with you!!! Han Gyeoul (Host): Whats the matter? updawg: When the hell r u gonna play some ggames?* Han Gyeoul (Host): Ggame? Do you mean game? Do you want me to play another game? If thats the case, then Im sorry but Im already playing Days After Apocalypse and I dont plan to play any other games for now. But if you tell me which game you want me to play, Ill consider playing it later. Blackcoke: lol look at him, hes so innocent. chiliconcarne: Innocent my ass, you old farts. updawg: Do u srsly not know what ggame is? You know, the thing thats good for both men and women. Han Gyeoul (Host): You mean physical intercourse? MURD3R: Yes! Why did u ignore me? Han Gyeoul (Host): Huh? MURD3R: Those one thousand stars I offered you for the quest, that was my everything! But you just rejected it without even considering it Whats wrong with you?! Han Gyeoul (Host): Oh MURD3R: That one hundred thousand won was half of what I had left in my bank account after paying my rent, insurance, installments, and all my other monthly bills I dunno about you, but that was a fortune to me! You know, Im just a poor little guy in his late thirties who just wanted to fill the void of being forever alone, but you you just had to do that, didnt you? SnowyFox: MalWart: Hes right! You should be ashamed of yourself! T^T Han Gyeoul (Host): Umm I refused your quest not because you didnt offer enough stars. It was just that I thought I wouldnt be able to immerse myself in the game if I had done that. I really didnt know Id offend someone by rejecting it. Im very sorry. Dumchit: Well thats your own business, not ours. If youre getting paid by running this stream, I think you should listen to your viewers. pp224: Oh, you think you can just boss the streamer around because youve stuck some money in his ass? Well, guess what? A streamer is not your personal whore. He has every right to reject the requests he doesnt like. Besides, do you have any idea of how many streamers got screwed because of this? Im not gonna just sit and watch you trolls ruin another channel, so if you dont like this stream then just fuck off gremer: ikr ppl dun aprisiate dat dey r watchin dis 4 free if ur bord y dun u just giv urself a bj Han Gyeoul: ? SnowyFox: ? Chat Bot: Activating the auto-translation function for the message of the user gremer. Chat Bot: Translation failure: Unable to find a matching language. Attempting to update the translation engine. Chat Bot: Update failure: Unable to find new updates. Users manual translation is recommended. Dumchit: What the hell is he saying? FuckActiveX: Hes basically telling you to stop what ure doing. Pprplz: Yeah, I agree with them too. I dont want this stream to disappear. Im sick of watching those star whores ditching the story and having sex every so often. NoMemesForUrNickname: Hey, I just want you to know that whatever you do Ill be rooting for ya! [NoMemesForUrNickname donated 100 stars.] Han Gyeoul (Host): Thank you so much. Its really reassuring to know that there are a lot of people supporting the choice I made. Soup4sluts: I see why u didnt want to have sex with that girl, but even so, a thousand stars is not a small amount of money. Im surprised how u could reject it just like that. [Soup4sluts donated 5 stars.] [FuckActiveX donated 10 stars.] [SnowyFox donated 100 stars.] # Journal, Page 45, Camp Roberts I was told that I would be conferred decorations sometime soon. A Bronze Star Medal and a Valor Device, two decorations that are often awarded together when a soldier achieves outstanding military exploits on the battlefield. The U.S. government classified the giant monsters I defeated as variant mutants and named them Grumble. Several encounters with these mutants were simultaneously reported from the contaminated area, but I was the only one who managed to kill them with just bullets and grenades. The rest had to be dealt with attack helicopters and tanks. This was the information I got from the public information officer. The public information officer, who came all the way from Washington for the conferment ceremony, always had a gas mask on his face. It seemed like he was extremely apprehensive of coming into the west side of the blockade. The badges werent the only thing he brought. Along with the presidents handwritten letter, he also offered me a U.S. citizenship. He also said I could get a field promotion and become an officer under only one conditiona pledge of allegiance to the United States. And understandably, I said yes to his offer. I had been planning to become part of the U.S. military ever since I accepted the volunteer soldier position. Thus, the conferment ceremony was held at the same time as the promotion ceremony. I was congratulated by my fellow soldiers after the ceremony. Lieutenant Capstone, while congratulating me for my promotion, told me some of his thoughts about why the ceremony took place so quickly. My role as a volunteer soldier in this camp used to have a sole purpose: to be a walking billboard for the refugees to see. However, things have changed because of the severe damage caused by Grumbles. A great deal of confusion has been surging among not only people in the contaminated areas but also those in safe areas. And the higher-ups response to calm these people down was spreading a story of a hero. The typical story of a soldier saving his fellow soldiers from grave danger, leading to a happy ending. Quite a few people looked dissatisfied with my promotion. One was, obviously, Captain Magath. When he saw me in a full dress uniform with an insignia, I saw him pulling a face almost immediately. Itd be weird if he didnt get mad when I, a lowlife, took care of the Grumble that made him run away with his tail tucked between his legs. Although he used the fact that several other commanders had also been defeated as self-justification, his public image was damaged and he earned a bad reputation. That he is a commander that abandons his soldiers. Not that he had much of a reputation to lose anyway. Other than him, some refugees were also giving me surly looks. All of them had signs that indicated their belonging to certain factions. Though its still too early to be optimistic about the future, this should at least make things harder for other factions to pull off any stunts against us. This way, Ill be admitted and recognized as a leader more wholeheartedly. # Executive Order 9066, Camp Roberts (1) The dress uniform had been added to Gyeouls repertoire, but he still chose to wear his combat uniform. In terms of functionality, the dress uniform was better than the combat uniform due to it providing a small boost to leadership-type skills, but he thought it didnt suit him. Gyeoul was offered to stay at the officers billet. Although the fact that hed be living in the same building as Captain Magath bothered him, in order to get acquainted with other officers, he accepted the offer. He needed to pave a way to join hands with someone with great power in case the camp, or the States, fell. Yo, Mr. Shavetail, where are you going? A soldier hopping on one foot with a crutch approached him, giving the boy a sloppy salute with a small smirk on his face. It was Sergeant Cohen. Nowadays, the soldiers attitude towards Gyeoul was generally similar to this. It wasnt a malicious expression of disapproval, but a mixture of admiration towards the boys great achievement at his young age and mischievous affection. I was ordered to form a volunteer platoon. Im thinking of taking volunteers from the refugees. No matter how impressive Gyeouls achievement was, Gyeoul was still an outsider, so his promotion was not without complications. The military command had offered Gyeoul to execute a trial operation with a platoon composed of only refugees. It may seem like discrimination, but it was actually a privilege for Gyeoul. It was because he had full authority to choose the members for the platoon. The selected refugees would be treated just as how Gyeoul had been before being promoted to Second Lieutenant, so given the poor conditions the refugees were in, there would be plenty of refugees wanting to join the platoon. Do you want me to keep your company, sir? The sergeant asked with a devious-looking grin. What do you mean? I may not be smart enough to go to Harvard, but I do know a thing or two about people in the slums. Cos I too was once one of them. Anyway, from what I can tell, most of the people in there dont exactly seem to be fond of you, and if you just walk in there all by yourself, Im pretty sure youll end up getting killed. And, you know, since we used to be comrades, I cant just watch you walk into that hell on your own, you know what I mean, sir? Gyeoul let out a few chuckles before answering. Thank you for the offer, but Im fine. You think Im still a child, but Im not. I dont need an adults help. You just look after yourself. Oh really? Then why do I smell baby oil? I know, right? I thought I heard a grown man crying over the radio, but it mustve been a baby. Sergeant Cohen then began to laugh out loud before extending his fist in front of him. Gyeoul, in return, bumped his fist against Cohens. No matter how close the virtual reality was to reality, these aspects were too unrealistic for the boy. There couldnt possibly be this many good people in the real world. After sending Cohen away, Gyeoul headed toward the refugee area with light steps. S~?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 26: # Executive Order 9066 (2), Camp Roberts Chapter 26: # Executive Order 9066 (2), Camp RobertsNo significant events took place for quite some time, at best, a few small procurement missions that posed no particular danger. Having completed his officer training, which wasnt anything novel either, Gyeoul used this period to focus on strengthening the unity of his community. Gyeoul headed to a tent in the refugee area that was crowded with people. The surrounding people, having already failed to get inside, were crouching or roaming around the entrance of the tent. When the boy approached, the crowd started flocking around him. They were people who either had a request for him or had come with other bad intentions. Gyeoul quickly brought his hand to his pistol and flashed his other palm at them. Im sorry, but Im gonna have to stop you all right there. Most people feared his reaction, but at the same time understood where it was coming from. They knew very well that in a place like this, the approach of a stranger wasnt something to welcome. Despite there being a lot of murder cases, no one would be able to get away with killing a person in broad daylight, but this boy was a different caseat least that was what the refugees thought. I knew it was you out there. Welcome, little boss. Waiting at the entrance, Hyuncheol welcomed the boy with a bright smile. Little boss. It was the nickname everyone in the community now called Gyeoul by. Not that he hated it. The interior of the tent hadnt changed much, but the people inside looked noticeably different. For instance, their expressions were brighter than before. Not only did they smile a lot, but their complexions were now much more healthy and ruddy, and most importantly, they all looked neat and tidy. Aside from that, they also treated Gyeoul differently. If previously he had been, so to speak, still off the center of the circle, now he was the very center. The members had acknowledged his leadership and respected his authority. As Gyeoul stood in front of them, the whole tent fell silent. A slight air of tension permeated through the crowd. So, did you all have a good breakfast? I heard there was something special today. But despite the tension, the tent soon grew clamorous as people began chatting with broad smiles hanging on their mouths. After engaging in some chit-chat with the people, Gyeoul went straight to the point. By the way, do you guys still remember the question I asked you a few days ago? Regarding our factions name. I think its about time we talked about that. S?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Their lifestyle had become a lot more stable and Gyeoul now had a high approval within the community. The system now deemed him qualified to establish a faction with his people. But in order to do so, he had to come up with a name for their faction. Of course, he could just come up with a name on his own and notify his people unilaterally, but that wasnt what he wanted. Also, the name of the faction itself could hugely influence its members psychology, as well as the characteristics and the public image of the faction, so deciding everything on his own was too risky. So, does anyone want to share their opinion? And as soon as the boy finished speaking, people began pouring out their ideas in a disorderly fashion. Gyeoul quickly shushed them before things went out of control. Okay, sorry. I wasnt expecting so many opinions. Those who want to speak, please raise your hand. Then, everyone raised their arms at the same time. Gyeoul noticed from their eyes that most of them seemed eager to speak out not because they had a good idea, but rather because they wanted to be noticed by the boy. It was an ugly thing that power brought, but for now, it wasnt something to worry about. Gyeoul first picked a man sitting in the very front row. I suggest Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea for the name of our proud faction! People broke into laughter and applause. It wasnt a mockery, it was a wave of approval. It was too big of a name for a group consisting of less than a hundred people, but the nostalgia of the people who were stranded in a foreign land must have diluted their resistance to it. Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Isnt that too grand for our faction? And I heard the Korean government is still operating. Im afraid others might laugh at us. Man, we gotta dream big if we want to grow bigger! Hmm then what about Korean Peoples Party? Though the man had said it as if it was a new proposal, it was another name for the Korean independence movement organization founded by Kim Koo in the Japanese colonial era. Both names actually werent bad ideas, as names with strong national or ethnic characteristics were effective for attracting Korean refugees and forming bonds between the Korean members of the faction. However, Gyeoul was against this idea, as it would make it difficult to recruit refugees of other nationalities and they would be easily antagonized by other nationalistic actions. I think itd be better to avoid using those kinds of names since they will restrict the scope of our faction. We need as many people with a strong sense of responsibility as possible for our faction to be stable, and those kinds of people are pretty hard to come by, right? And if we do find someone with those characteristics, I think we need to be ready to accept them regardless of their nationality and ethnicity. I dont want to reject them for their different nationalities, hate them for their different skin colors, or ignore them for their usage of a different language. I want to create a community where we welcome anyone willing to help each other through these difficult times. The boy caught his breath for a moment and went on with his speech. Of course, theres nothing I can do about it if you all really want it, but I hope you can understand where Im coming from. Gyeoul wasnt good at giving speeches when he first experienced this game. When he gave his first speech, he was just an inexperienced, immature young boy. But it was different now. The boy had lived through dozens of playthroughs in this virtual reality. It was a merrymaking imitation of reality. Given that it was a well-made copy of it, what one could learn in the real world should also be attainable in this fake world. In other words, the accumulated experience in virtual reality should be equivalent to real-life experience. And the boy had spent enough time here for his thoughts to ripen, to the point where he didnt have to worry about embarrassing himself when putting his thoughts into words. The boy had also studied different things in his runs leading to his stream. Many different things. And as if to prove his efforts werent in vain, the people showed positive reactions. Some even had teary eyes as though they were deeply moved by his speech. I dont think it was that touching, he thought. Viewers were also sending compliments about the boys speech. Of course, some were also saying it was a bit corny and cringy. Gyeoul heard people talking in whispers just outside the tent. His augmented hearing sense even caught every word they said. The boy didnt care about the eavesdroppers. He was going to discuss many things other than just the name of their faction, but they wouldnt be discussing anything so great as to worry about others overhearing. No, it would actually be beneficial if he could let the other factions know that he was the pivot of this small faction through these eavesdroppers. If thats what you want, what about Union? Its pretty simple and easy to understand. Theres no ethnic overtone either. Thats a good idea. Ill put that on the list. Well decide after we listen to some more suggestions. At their leaders first positive reaction, the people still waiting for their turn raised their hands even higher. Even so, there was nothing they could do except to raise them higher, and Gyeoul found it quite funny to watch. Some came up with some quite good names, such as Kvieta, an Esperanto word meaning calm, placid, or quiet, and Chicago Abyss, the name of a fictional place described to be the last city with human civilization in a post-apocalyptic novel. And there was also someone that suggested a name that left Gyeoul baffled. Winter Alliance? Gyeoul tilted his head asking if he had heard it correctly, and the well-advanced-in-years man gave him an enthusiastic nod. To have the leaders name in the factions name, just like how cops named small gangs after their bosss name, Gyeoul thought it was too cheap, almost insincere, but the man that came up with the idea explained that he had other reasons for his suggestion. Every human in the world is going through a hard time. Id call this time, the winter of humankind. A period in which every living thing strives to survive, knowing that spring will return someday. So I wanted to name ourselves Winter Alliance, in hopes that we will survive this cold season until theres peace back on Earth. The man then lifted his broken pair of glasses. Of course, I do enjoy watching our little bosss reaction too. The crowd exploded in cheers and laughter whereas Gyeoul covered his face with both his hands. Gyeoul quickly glossed over the situation and resumed the discussion, but everyone knew it was meaningless. Young or old, male or female, everyone looked at Gyeoul with glittery eyes, and fewer and fewer people continued raising their hands. Okay, okay. The boy raised his hand and admitted his defeat. You guys won. If you all want it that badly, Winter Alliance it is. Then, the applause poured forth. The viewers messages log was also being filled with cheers and laughter. Some even donated stars to tease Gyeoul. Although the faction came to have a very embarrassing name, things werent too bad after all. From today onward, the members would recall this moment and endure the harsh days. Everyone, I need your attention for a moment, the boy said, clapping his hands to grab everyones attention. Now this is the hard part. I just hope Im not too rusty. Gyeoul had spent a long time preparing this speech. He ran over the Textbook so many times, ran a lot of simulations in his head, and revised the lines multiple times. The taut feeling of nerve-racking tension afflicted the boy, but he didnt let it show. After a few seconds of silence, Gyeoul began his speech. Now that we have our name, I think its time for us to talk about another important issue. Its about the decision-making process of our faction. Now, we just tried a discussion where everyone gets a say, where everyone gets to participate in. But as much as wed like to maintain this system, we know that things will not always work as we want them to. There might be situations where it is simply impossible to consider everyones opinion. The boy continued as he took a quick glance at the holographic screen displaying the community status. So, heres what I want to say. I need you all to agree that Ill have the final on everything. The majority of the crowd nodded in agreement, but some people also looked skeptical about this. I know. Its dictatorial, isnt it? But I need you to know that its practically impossible to gather everyones opinions every single time. Again, not difficult, but impossible. Its very unlikely that every single one of us will be there every time we have to make choices. More people conceded to the boys words. The approval rate displayed in the community status window showed a slight upward movement. It would be okay to start the vote right now, but the boy decided to give it a final push. Im gonna have to use some provocative words What should I use? Among all the assistance keywords unfolded before his eyes, one of them stood out. As you all know, the U.S. military takes us, refugees, as nothing but meat shields. Meat shield. As expected, that word shook the crowd and they started to stir up. Giving them no rest, Gyeoul hit them once more with the cold, cruel facts of the reality they were in. The mercenaries that only need a can of food, the foreign workers that need no hazard pay Think about it. Why do you think they are so busy sugarcoating my story and telling it to everybody like Im a hero? Because I saved their people? Because I saved their asses? No! All theyre interested in is to make an idol out of a refugee! So that they can brainwash the others! So that they can use us, refugees, to their liking! Gyeoul recalled the famous politicians he had studied and endeavored to mimic their speech as if he was acting their role. The people up there dont care about us as a community. Theyll just put me on the fence, hustling me to make a choice. And theres just no way I could possibly ask you all for your permission each time. He stayed conscious of every movement he made, ranging from his facial expression and hand gestures to each breath he took and every blink he made. So Im asking you in advance, whether or not you will trust me on the choices I will make in the future. Without it, I wont be able to keep my end of the bargain. If you still do not have trust in me, if you think I will lead you to a miserable end, just tell me now and well end this right here. But if not, just take it on faith. Gyeoul put more emphasis on words like choice and trust and explained the inevitability of the situation. Then he gave them a clear indication of what they were about to choose. It was now time to pin everything down. Those that he had watched and studied always ended their speech with emphatic statements. But Im gonna have to do it my way. Could you all do that for me? Gyeoul asked with the most gentle, kindest smile he could make. Chapter 28 Chapter 28# Intermission, Cancer Remover! Munchkin Package Mk.1! A specter is haunting the Internetthe specter of cancer. All the users of the virtual realities have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise this specter: Streamers, viewers and every other gamer. The history of all hitherto virtual reality is the history of cancer inducers. Let the cancerous tremble at a DLC revolution! The viewers have nothing to lose but their money. They have all the fun in the world to win! Zuschauer aller L?nder, vereinigt euch! Hello to all fellow viewers from all over the world. We, the money-grubbers, have returned with an for another of our newest DLCs! The DLC we have here is called Cancer Remover! Munchkin Package Mk.1. Do I really have to explain this? Look, the name is self-explanatory. Okay, I guess Ill have to do it if I want to get paid. So, when watching virtual reality streams, we often stumble upon frustrating situations where the streamer gets stuck in one place for a long time, or they just keep dying in the same place over and over. And most of these happen because of none other than themselves. They either have a low TOM Level, a bad TOM Aptitude or simply lack control. Those inconveniences might be due to the streamers age, but still, its not fun watching a show with a weak main character constantly groveling at others feet, right? Whats worse is when you have to watch your favorite story, with the main character youve grown so attached to, concluding in a crappy ending. If youve ever experienced that for yourself, youd know that people arent kidding when they say that watching these streams gives them cancer. And that is why we have prepared this DLC, Cancer Remover! Munchkin Package Mk.1! This package is a viewer-exclusive product that can be sent to the streamer in the form of a Viewer Quest. Purchase this package for your favorite streamer, and the moment the streamer accepts it, voila! 10,000 experience points in the blink of an eye! This is the miracle of capitalism, right here for you! You dont feel comfortable intervening with the story like this? Well, how about we think of it this way? Virtual reality is a recreational imitation of reality, you all have heard of this, right? And in the real world, one can solve pretty much any problem with money. Then why not in virtual reality? Come on, its not like you havent played Korean MMOs before. Oh, what? Youre worried that the DLC might ruin the game? Well, to be honest, youre not wrong. Even with our Control AIs situational correction system, the game often fails to compensate for the inconsistencies the DLCs cause. The NPCs might grow suspicious of the players newly-obtained abilities, asking how they changed so much in such a short time and why have they been hiding their ability until now. But itll be okay. We know that most viewers dont give a shit about it. Who even watches our game streams for a well-knit plot these days? Sex and violence are what everyone wants! So you too should just relax and get ready to jack off. This product is also compatible with all virtual reality games that meet the Afterlife Insurance standards. This has been an announcement from the Virtual Reality Business Department of Nakwon Group. Thank you for reading. # Executive Order 9066 (3), Camp Roberts The man who earlier proposed Winter Alliance raised his hand. Theres something I want to tell all our faction, said the man as he threw a look at Gyeoul, asking for permission. Judging from his earlier remarks, Gyeoul doubted hed say something stupid, thus, he gave him a nod. The man stood up and made a simple yet polite bow to the people around him. His refined action full of intellect gave him a solemn and grave look. First of all, Id like to thank our little boss for his patience. Im sure he was aware. Aware of the fact that there were quite a few people who didnt acknowledge his leadership, and to my shame, I was one of them. And truth be told, there seems to be some who still dont trust our leader. The man then swept a look around with a gentle smile on his face. But even so, our little boss didnt abandon us. Rather, he waited for us until we could grow to trust him. And now, thanks to his mercy, we stand together back in our safe and comfortable lives. If it werent for him, wed be just a group of nobodies, no better than those out in the gutter. Isnt that right? A considerable number of people responded with cheers. Yeonchul, however, looked somewhat uneasy at the situation. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He must have been securing his position before I even came here, thought Gyeoul. If he decided Gyeoul was inadequate as a leader, he would have stayed hidden, looking for a chance to overthrow him. Now, as Ive said earlier, we have made an error, which was underestimating the little boss, judging him by his young age and trying to utilize him for our own good. So, here is what I want to ask of you all. The smile the man had been keeping on his face was replaced with a grave expression. The eyes of all the audience naturally turned to his lips. Let us make a promise with ourselves that we will never repeat the same error. Our leader gave us his trust, now its our time to reciprocate. We need to abandon any distrust and antagonism we held against our leader and each other. The crowd gave him a standing ovation. Having achieved his goal, the man finished his speech. Thats all I want to say. But before we finish this off, would you share with us your thoughts about the future course of our alliance, if I may ask? Because today is the day youve officially become the leader of our faction. Wed like to hear your inauguration speech. Gyeoul gave a sheepish smile and scratched the back of his head as the crowds eyes were centered on him. He didnt have anything else prepared. He already had enough acting for today. But he didnt turn down the request. If he did, the assembly would only end anticlimactically. Ill make it quick. The boy desperately scanned for things to say while keeping his kind smile on the surface. Our first objective is to survive. But instead of simply surviving, I want us to walk a little more difficult path. To live like a human. Because were different from those beasts out there. Gyeoul concluded with a smile. Thats about it. Thank you for attending the assembly. A few days have passed since the establishment of Winter Alliance. Now that the faction had a name, the only thing they lacked was managerial positions. For a community to run stably, there had to be middle managers and executives. This was a lesson Gyeoul had learned the hard way. Something unexpected had once happened in a mission that prevented him from returning. When he came back, his community had already vanished into thin air. Order and responsibilities must be clear to handle a crisis in the leaders absence. Given the atmosphere in the faction, there would be no backlash even if Gyeoul arbitrarily appointed people positions. But the problem with that method was that if the people he appointed performed poorly, it would be hard for him to avoid the criticism. For better stability, splitting the responsibility was necessary. So the candidates were registered by referral and elected through an anonymous vote. First is Jang Yeonchul-ssi and Min Wangi-ssi second. Both of you, please come forward. The former was the one brought Gyeoul here and the latter was the one who proposed Winter Alliance. I need you two to take turns and take charge of running our faction when Im away. Always discuss no matter how big the problem is, but you will have the final say on each matter on shift. Do you understand? Corporate responsibility. That was why Gyeoul called both of them together. He didnt want a second-in-command with a strong foothold yet. He didnt know them well enough to trust them, so Gyeoul chose this method where they would keep each other in check. Yeonchul seemed a little disappointed, which he tried to hide, making it even clearer. He must have had high hopes when he saw the results of the vote. Wangi, on the other hand, gave the boy a meaningful smile. He was a very serious person and a very hard nut to crack. As for your title lets call you deputy leaders for now. Of course, we can change it if we have any better ideas. Now, shake hands and express your gratitude to those who voted for you. Gyeoul then stepped aside, giving them space to speak. Their speeches clearly showed the difference in their personalities. Jang Yeonchul was a bit clumsy and naive, he blushed and stuttered while giving his speech. But the fact that a lot of people trusted him proved that he was a scrupulously honest person. On the contrary, Min Wangis speech was fluent. He was full of confidence, yet he wasnt arrogant. The prudence and self-control he had seemed fit for a negotiator. Once the election was over, Wangi quietly said a word to Gyeoul. Youre very good at this. Im honestly surprised. Yeonchul, watching this from the side, also came to praise him. Gyeoul answered with a faint smile. After a moment of break, Gyeoul called up the two of them to a corner of the tent. Deputy leaders, could you two come here for a second? Jang Yeonchul and Min Wangi seemed to wonder what Gyeoul would want to talk about without other people listening. The other people looked curious but gave them space knowing that Gyeoul wanted to talk in private. As you already know, our alliance is still too small. If I take a platoon out for missions there wont be enough manpower left at the camp. You want to recruit some new people. Right. Its inevitable. We need a certain number of people to meet the U.S. militarys criteria and our alliance doesnt have enough people to handle that. And Im sure the other factions are aware of that. And that means They will try to plant a mole among us. While Yeonchul took a big gulp at his statement, Wangi was rather composed. In fact, this was obvious to him. His favor would have gotten a downward revision if I hadnt figured it out. The relatively more cowardly of the two asked cautiously, Then what should we do? Gyeoul answered lightly, Well, theres actually not much we can do other than to let them in. What?! Yeonchul accidentally shouted out loud before clasping his mouth. His eyes were filled with shock and dismay. What do you mean we let them in? Why would you take a spy into our alliance? What else can we do? We cant tell if the new people are spies or not. B-but Being at a loss for words, Yeonchul sighed deeply. Gyeoul chuckled at his response. Dont worry too much. Its actually nothing to be afraid of. Hmm, you sound like you have a plan. Could you tell us what it is? Said Wangi with his usual smile. Yeonchul, realizing that he wasnt following, had a bewildered expression. A look of dismay rose on his face as he still couldnt understand. Im not going to let anyone in our alliance starve. I dont intend to set up classes, so they dont have to worry about walking on eggshells. I guarantee that living under our alliances protection will be better in every way than in any of the other factions. Gyeoul took a breath before finishing his words. So they wouldnt want to screw it up. Theyll strive to maintain their lives here. Oh His words were full of conviction as if he knew it for a fact. But theres something else Im worried about. And that is? Chapter 29 Chapter 29# Negotiation (1), Camp Roberts Heishehui, the most powerful faction in Camp Roberts, wasnt a single monolithic organization. It was a coalition of several small and large organizations such as the Triads, the Anliang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Zhili Hall, and Henan Manor operating under one banner. (Nis: By the way, Heishehui means Black Society, but we decided to keep it like this.) From what Gyeoul knew, the Triads were the most influential among them, thus Dragon Head, the leader of the Triads, served as the leader of Heishehui too. And it was also the executive of the Triads who came to negotiate with Gyeoul. Only, their appearance was quite different from what hed expect. Hello, my name is Li Ailing. Its truly an honor to meet someone of great feats such as you, Mr. Han, said a young and strikingly beautiful woman. Looking at her in a bright-colored qipao dress and the fur coat draped over her shoulders, it reminded him of a flamboyant flower blooming on a soulless concrete block. All the men around her looked at her in a daze and the women were jealous. The woman was accompanied by five men, presumed to be the 49ers, the henchmen. One of them stepped forward and translated her greeting to Korean with a slightly awkward accent. Must be a Chaoxianzu (Descendants of Korean immigrants with Chinese citizenship), thought the boy. Gyeoul already had level 6 Chinese, a level which allowed him to converse in Chinese without much inconvenience, with the exception of local dialects. But knowing how important this meeting could be, he spent some of his leftover experience points to raise it up a level. The boy then answered back in Chinese, I appreciate your consideration in bringing an interpreter, but I presume itll be hardly necessary, miss. And pardon me for asking, but may I ask who Im speaking with? Ailing put on an amused smile. Oh my. I have heard about your proficiency in Mandarin, but I didnt know youd be so fluent. Its a little different from what our comrades informed me. The woman then curtly waved the interpreter away before answering the boys question. I assume it is my position youre curious about, correct? I am the Incense Master of our faction, Heishehui, and I serve as our leader, Dragon Heads assistant. So, anything that is negotiated through me, you may consider it done. This time, it was Gyeouls turn to be startled by the opposite partys words. Because what she said basically meant that there were only two peoplethe Dragon Head and the Second Marshalabove her in terms of hierarchy. From her age he thought shed be a Straw Sandala liaison officerhe didnt expect hed be visited by one of the big shots. Ill have to pay attention to the way I talk to her. May I ask if you are related to the Dragon Head or the Second Marshal by blood, Li Xiansheng (Mr. Li)? The boy immediately changed the way he addressed her. Xiansheng was usually used to address men, but it could also be used as an honorable title for a woman of eminent virtue was what the Controlled AI notified Gyeoul of. Is it because of my age? Ailing asked as she cast a vague wondering look. To be honest, yes. But I didnt mean to offend, Im sorry if I did. Its okay. It wasnt something to take offense at. Your guess is correct. Grand Master Dragon Head is my father. But I am not just occupying this position without having any ability, so I hope you arent under the wrong impression. Your boss wouldnt have sent you here if you were of little ability. Theres no reason I would misunderstand, Li Xiansheng. Ailing once again smiled broadly at Gyeoul, perhaps his eloquence had bought her favor. Please address me as Miss, as you did before. It feels a little awkward for a woman to be called Xiansheng. It makes me feel old, too. Sure, I will. As Gyeoul spoke, Yura brought in some tea and light refreshments. They were things he had never seen before in the camp. Where did this come from? When the boy looked at the direction of the door, Wangi was standing there pointing at himself, silently muttering something at him. Dignity and modesty. Realizing his intention, the boy followed, Im sorry we cannot be much of a host to you. Hope you understand. Please dont be. We all are going through hard times, said Ailing, as she poured the tea into her teacup. There was a sense of elegance and simple dignity in the way she handled the tea. It was when Gyeoul was done pouring his tea that Ailing suddenly asked a question. Do you know about tea ceremony? Im afraid I dont. Gyeoul shook his head. Let me teach you a little. The quality of the tea doesnt depend solely on the tea leaves. No matter how good the tea leaves are, if you swallow them in a hurry, its no better than sewage. In that respect, we can say that a tea ceremony is a form of propriety. She then closed her eyes and took a sip of tea. And it is this propriety that makes us what we are. For we humans exercise due courtesy towards each other that we are different from brutes. Such fine yet puzzling words befitting her appearance. But it wasnt hard for Gyeoul to prepare an answer. Indeed, the tea tastes much better with that knowledge in mind. This must be propriety. There was a brief moment of silence. In the meantime, Gyeoul had received several Viewers Quests telling him to spend a night with her. The boy ignored all the requests, but it only aggravated the viewers, compelling them to send more requests with higher rewards. The silent war continued until Ailing decided to open her mouth. S?a?ch* Th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Now that we are through with propriety, Id like to discuss righteousness. Go ahead. Ailing once again paused for a moment. Gyeoul noticed a lot of thoughts crossing through her eyes. Join the Triads, or submit to Heishehui. These are the only choices I can give you, she said, resolutely. A clear threat. But instead of showing hostility, Gyeoul expressed his admiration. That was very honest of you. Because I think you deserve it, she answered with a pretty smile. Ailing mentioned the Triads and Heishehui as if they were two different factions. This meant that there was internal strife taking place within their faction. She had revealed a fact that would work against her. That fact alone gave Gyeoul a clue as to how she was assessing him. Im Korean, and so are my people. Do you think wed be welcomed? Gyeoul asked, tilting his head. Chaoxianzu had also become a part of China. Above all, you dont have any other choice if you think about your future. Because Heishehui is strong. It was an arrogant, and also a provocative remark. The confidence of one in power. But there was a gap. Lets think about it. Right now, Im ahead in terms of position. But that alone cannot be the reason for her to disclose such important information. Why would they want to make us part of them? Its clear that what they want is me, but they should also know Im just a billboard Wait, they are splitting? When his thought reached that point, Gyeoul asked Ailing. The strongest candidate isnt from the Triads, is it? Correct. Ailing nodded. This might be a meaningless question but may I ask where are the others from? The Anliang Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Zhili Hall are currently competing for the position. We, the Triads, also fielded three Red Poles and one White Paper Fan, but they all got into accidents within a week. Red Pole, the enforcer, and White Paper Fan, the administrator, were both managerial positions. It meant that these incidents had given the Triads quite some damage. Was it their work? Missing in action, thats what they reported. A note of anger crept into her composed voice. So thats why you want me to join your faction. You want to draw me, who has the approval of the US military, in and use me as your candidate What they wanted was Gyeouls position as a second lieutenant, namely the right to organize units and the right to lead external activities. With that in their hands, they wouldnt have to worry about losing their ground within Heishehui. So the two choices she had given Gyeoul were a mixture of a suggestion, we are currently in a tricky situation, so if you help us, well accept you as our brothers, and a threat, if not, you will be trampled by Heishehui under their new ownership. Insightwas a skill that predicted fragments of the future based on the information the user had. However, these predictions didnt always show the right path. Two prophets could predict two opposite outcomes and offer a reasonable basis for both paths, so the choice was always up to the user. Optimism and pessimism. The signpost of the future that stood in front of a forked road leading to two ends. After a moment of contemplation, Gyeoul decided to follow one of them. Im afraid Id be thrown out like an old shoe when everythings done. When ones art of conversation reached its peak, it became easier to fool people with words. Like the woman in front of Gyeoul. Her words were surprisingly soft and pitiful. The members of Heishehui are bound by vows. The price of betrayal is always death. Your faction Winter Alliance will be treated as an affiliated faction of Heishehui, and will always be respected equally by our comrades. As for you, Mr. Han, you will be ennobled as a Vanguard. Vanguard and Affiliated Faction were both the best positions they could offer to foreigners. Im sorry, but I still cant trust you on this offer. Why Its not you nor your boss that I dont trust. Its the rest of the people that I distrust. Chinese people are known for their enormous egos. There are a lot of people that look down on Korea as a small country, and it has probably become even worse now. So, are you really sure there will be no discrimination and insults? Once again, the vows we have sworn are not something to be taken lightly. This is one of the codes we keep: We will not drive a wedge between comrades. Those who violate this will pay with their lives. Once your faction joins us, neither you nor your people will be ridiculed for your ethnicity. If there are offenders, I will punish them with death. This I swear. There was a firm conviction in her words. However, Gyeoul rejected her once again. Well, what if I put it like this? I not only dont trust your people, but also my own people. Chapter 30 Chapter 30# Negotiation (2), Camp Roberts What do you mean? Dont pretend you dont know. Winter Alliance has just been established. Its been only a few days since Ive been recognized as a leader, and were planning to recruit more people soon. Do you really think there wont be any insubordination? The Triads is known for its strict code of conduct. And if Im not mistaken, theres one that goes like this: We will not regret joining Heishehui. Those who violate this rule will pay with their lives. Well, thats gonna kill a lot of us, dont you think? Ailings face clouded over as the conversation went on. Its a leaders duty to punish those who fail to comply with the rules, which applies to you too, Mr. Han. Exemplary punishment is the basis for establishing discipline in an organization. The idea of sacrificing a few for the greater good, I guess there are some places that work like that. But killing someone for their complaints thats not exactly my way. It doesnt matter whether theyre loyal or not. Unless theyre an imminent threat, Im going to carry them along with us so that they can grow to be loyal to the alliance. Not like the fake loyalty you can buy with a death threat. Fake? Is that an insult to our faction? Gyeouls Survival Instinct displayed a red warning sign. The type of threat, however, was different from what he expected. It didnt mean they were about to pounce at him and stab him right away, but rather that he should worry about getting stabbed in the middle of the night. I suppose thats who she is. After all, she belongs to a criminal syndicate. The warning, however, soon began to fade away. It was proof that she was controlling herself. The U.S. is not interested in saving refugees. They dont take us for human beings. If they did, we wouldnt be here talking about this. There would be order, peace, and hope in this camp. Ailing paused to collect her breath for a moment before continuing onward. Are you proud of your reputation and position? Im sorry but thats nothing but a worthless piece of trash because you are nothing but livestock to them. Youve merely drawn their attention because youre a sturdy breed. How long do you think you can stay under the breeders protection with that? All they need is strong and obedient livestock. If they find a stronger and more obedient breed, you will be abandoned. Gyeoul remained silent and listened to what she had to say. There is strength in numbers, and we need that strength to survive. We are offering you the chance to join the strongest faction in return for just a little bit of help. If you do, your contribution will be greatly appreciated and will always be remembered. But if you dont, thatll also be remembered for the rest of our lives. And let me tell you, we can be cold-blooded, heartless brutes to those who arent with us. After another deep breath and pushed for an answer. Now to your answer, please. Ailing glared fiercely at the boy. The five men beside her also glowered at him as if they would pounce at him at any moment. The room was filled with enormous pressure. The Control AI sensed their murderous intent and displayed the assessment of each of the henchmens battle capability based on the linkage of Combat Eye, Survival Instinct, and Insight. Each was a force to be reckoned with. Of course, it wasnt something that Gyeoul had to worry about. The boy spoke quietly. Well, I would have agreed if it was an alliance, but not subservience. Such a weak and undependable bond will hardly be of help to either of us. We will lose our place in Heishehui and you will not be under our great nations protection. And above all things, an alliance can only be made between equal forces. What we need is you, Mr. Han. Not your faction full of weak and pathetic people. What if I try hard enough to make up for it? Then Id say you should learn to be humble. One persons capability cannot equal a whole faction. Is that so? Then Ill have to ask you to leave. Gyeoul immediately let go of the conversation without hesitation. Ailing was dumbstruck by the boys nonchalant attitude. What Did you just say? I told you to leave. Ive had enough of your rudeness. I dont know if you realize this, but this is how your promise sounds to me: You submit to us first and well see if you deserve to be treated as family. You presented me practically nothing that would guarantee your end of the bargain, but you just pushed me to make a choice. So I told you I cant trust you, and you then began to threaten me, saying that well end up being trampled if we dont accept. I didnt I was just telling you the reality of the situation! Then its even worse. Because you didnt even know you were being rude. Ailing bit her lips. She seemed very upset. The bulky men scowled at the boy horrendously as though they were about to start a knife fight, but Ailing stopped them with a wave. The original owners of the tents were shaking due to the strained atmosphere. Meanwhile, two peoples reactions caught Gyeouls eyes. They were Jinseok and Yura. Jinseok quietly gathered some people around him, preparing for a possible fight. Yura, on the other hand, was slowly hiding a fruit knife under her hips even whilst shivering in fear. Ill tell you one more thing. Gyeoul opened his mouth again as he lifted a finger. I have the ability. And because of it, Im confident that the breeders wont be able to abandon me. So, as long as Im around, I wont let anyone look down on Winter Alliance. If you think its just a bluff, youre always welcome to try me. Youre too sure of yourself. I was just telling you the reality of the situation. The boy returned the woman her own words. She was once again dumbfounded by his attitude, clenching both her fists that were laid on her knees. Then she flinched a few times, as though she would storm out of her seat, but it never happened. Youre going to need some outside help Things like information She was becoming petty. And thats just been taken care of, thanks to your visit. Im sure your other faction mates are aware of your visit, arent they? Dont you think theyll give me some information in exchange for not cooperating with the Triads? She kept her mouth shut for a long time again. To the point where it was getting harder to wait any longer. But to those who were watching this from afar, it must have been a stifling silence. The boy thought hed show them a smile but he soon shook away the idea. It might be good to set their hearts at ease, but it would also needlessly provoke the one sitting in front of him. Then this will be the last offer. Ailings voice was shaking. If it is the guarantee that you need Then what about me? Gyeoul couldnt help but give a bitter smile at her suggestion. It wasnt because he wanted to ridicule her. Rather, it was due to the flurry of Viewer Quests after her proposal. Every message he received started with the word sex and ended with the word sex. The number of unread messages was also growing exponentially. Ha This is just great. But for the woman who didnt know his situation, it was enough to be taken as mockery. Gyeoul apologized before she could say anything. Im sorry, I didnt mean to laugh at you. But theres something I cant understand. What is it? Why are you so desperate? Ailing didnt answer Gyeouls question. Is the ownership of Heishehui that important? Even if you lose, the boss is still just one of your comrades. You can try again next time, cant you?. S?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Or perhaps theres a reason you cant? You are worse than I imagined. Please stop asking questions you already know the answer to. Gyeoul nodded at the response that eventually came out. Looks like youve done some bad things to your comrades, havent you? I thought you were all brothers or something. I told you to stop. Hey, no need to be angry. We, Koreans, do the same to each other. Were so bent on killing and robbing each other, I bet were even worse than the Chinese. The boy went on in a flat tone. They say a person has most of the things someone else needs. Its easier to take what others have than to go out there and risk your life. I understand. Its always your own kind that is the easiest to prey on. And Im sure you also played a part in it. An angry denial burst out of her mouth. I tried to stop them! Oh, so you did do it? Ailing kept falling for Gyeouls traps once her composure broke. Her lean shoulders quivered slightly. Her eyes were gleaming venomously at the boy. But Gyeoul was unperturbed by her glare. Rather, having dug up a lot of information from her, he was satisfied. Not to mention the stars he earned through this conversation. Im not staying here any longer. The executive of the Triads finally rose from her seat. Just before turning away, she glared at the boy with raised eyes for one last time. You are going to regret this. Was that an opinion of you as Ailing, or as the universal agent of the Triads? To Gyeouls knowledge, the system was fair to every character existing under its control. Even if she was an NPC, a character of her caliber shouldve been given a certain level of Insight and Survival Instinct. And those skills should analyze the words and emotions he showed her and provide her with a notion of threat. Indeed, Ailing shrank back in fear. She managed to read the boys meaning hidden behind his wordsthat if it was a declaration of war, he would choose to get rid of her on the spot and deal with the Triads. Ailing stammered out an apology. Im Sorry. That was just my opinion. And in the end, her pent-up tears finally burst forth. Youre an asshole, you know that? You didnt have to put me through such a meaningless interrogation. I didnt mean to make it meaningless. It was sort of a warning. A warning? Yup. So that could reassess whether or not you got carried away by your emotions and said something wrong. Because if we start a war, itll only kill both of us. Besides, what kind of ill feelings would I have against you to mock you? We never know how things will turn out in the future. I still think we can be allies. So if you change your mind, youre always welcome to visit us. Ill be waiting. Then for a long while, Ailing didnt budge an inch. As if time around her had stopped. It was a very long sigh that made her time start flowing again. Her eyes softened a lot. I feel like Ive been swindled. Since we both were rude to each other once, I say we should call it even and forget all the grudges. All sorts of emotions flashed through her face, and the last emotion left was a hollow laugh. Youre a great talker, Mr. Han, said Ailing in a feeble voice. I know. Ailing once again became dumbfounded at Gyeouls attitude. How am I supposed to react to this? What can you do other than to laugh it off? If things dont turn out the way you want, just give it a good laugh. Ailing then burst into laughter. Her guards still had a fierce look on their faces. Take care. Thank you and take care too. I hope well be on the same side the next time we meet. Gyeoul watched their retreating figures from the tents entrance. When Gyeoul came back into the tent, the people crowded around him. That was great. The first one to talk was Wangi. You could speak Chinese? Its nothing compared to you, little boss. I can understand a bit, but cant speak it. It seemed Wangi was even more talented than Gyeoul imagined. I knew you were a good fighter, but I didnt know youd be an expert in negotiation too. Not just how you speak, but also the way you grasp the truth and falsity in her words, it was almost flawless. And how did you even manage to appease her in the end? I still cant understand. I think youre a talented negotiator. Haha, you always overpraise me. But the more heated their conversation became, the more pitiful the peoples look became. Gyeoul asked Wangi for an explanation. We cant keep them waiting like this, can we? Since you have the grasp of the situation, could you please explain what happened? With pleasure. Wangi then began telling Gyeouls story after a dry cough. While Gyeoul was looking over the people focused on Wangis story, he noticed Yeonchul walking up to him with halting steps. Whats the matter? After mumbling out a few times, Yeonchul spoke in a barely audible voice. I can understand Japanese What was that again? I, I can converse in Japanese! Amongst the loud ooh and aah of the crowd, an awkward silence settled between the boy and Yeonchul. I-Im sorry! Shouted Yeonchul, with his face reddened. Haha, thats okay. Ill be looking forward to it. But Gyeouls words didnt seem to have comforted him. He slowly walked away with his shoulders drooped. I didnt know he could be so silly at times. Chapter 31 Chapter 31# Childish (1) MURD3R: Oh My Daaaaayum! What a fine-looking girl she is! What are you man-whores all doing? Theres a girl in front of us that we cant even dream of sleeping with in real life! This is the time we chuck all our money in! So get your guns ready! : Viewer Quest has been granted by MURD3R. Viewer Quest: Fuck Li Ailing! Message from MURD3R: Take her! Fuck her! Rape her! Just get your dick inside of her! AI Advice: The quest will be accomplished once the user, registration number B-612, Han Gyeoul rapes the NPC Li Ailing. 1,000 Stars will be immediately rewarded to the host of this stream when the quest is accomplished. : Han Gyeoul (host) has rejected the Viewer Quest. MURD3R: pprplz: Dat quest name tho loooool So straight forward XD Blackcoke: And it was rejected almost instant lmao. urmom: This BJ doesnt seem to appreciate 100,000 won quests. updawg: Its nothing new actually. He already threw away some quests worth a thousand Stars before. I guess he was born rich or something. Anyway, is anyone here filthy rich like him? Hurry and toss him some good money before we lose her! Oldspice: Can we stop talking about sex and enjoy the stream for a second? I mean, listen to him speak. I thought I was watching a movie or something. If I were, I wouldve rated it 10/10. pp224: Whats the point of watching a movie without a sex scene? My life is already so fucked up, Ive never had a romance with anyone in my entire fucking life! If I cant do it in real life, Im gonna have to do it in virtual reality! Isnt that what virtual reality is for? Right? : Viewer Quest has been granted by pp224. Viewer Quest: I only exist for that! Message from pp224: Do you know what humans live for? Its sex. Nothing but sex. AI Advice: The quest will be accomplished once the user, registration number B-612, Han Gyeoul engages in sexual intercourse with the NPC Li Ailing. 1,500 Stars will be immediately rewarded to the host of this stream when the quest is accomplished. : Han Gyeoul (host) has rejected the Viewer Quest. pp224: NOooooo!!!! Why???? Wilma: Uwaaaaa!!! T^T Chiliconcarne: Sex! Chiliconcarne: Sex! Jarapapa: Sex on the beach! NoMemesForUrNickname: Wow. Ive known this for a while now, but this streamer really is something. I cant believe hes speaking without the systems help You sex beasts, dont you feel orgasmic even without sex? Why do you all so agonize about it? [NoMemesForUrNickname donated 50 Stars.] [Snowyfox donated 50 Stars.] ymROCKs: Alright, moralfag. ݧѧէڧާڧ: Hello everyone. Im a Russian guy. I have a problem. I cant hear the games sound. It says I have to install ActiveX. But its not working well. Please help me solve this problem. Dumchit: Fuuuck! So fucking hard to jerk off! Why is the host so fussy about having sex? Is he into religion or something? superpatriot: No matter how good the stream is, without sex, its like a fried egg without the yolk! Now I, as a true patriot, will sacrifice myself for all of you! Even if I have to live off of instant noodles for this month, I will not regret this decision! Now go, my 200,000 won! Show me your power! Mustafar: Go! Im counting on you! : Viewer Quest has been granted by superpatriot. Viewer Que : Han Gyeoul (host) has rejected the Viewer Quest. superpatriot: ????? Soup4sluts: You just got owned, son XDDD pprplz: The fuck? Did he even check the rewards before rejecting? GoJimGo: I doubt he did. The message got skipped before I could even read the first word. Mayfly: I dont think so. This dude has an inhumanly fast reaction speed. He can even read the chat and write stuff with Teletype during combat without pausing. He probably saw that. grosseiler noir: Ah, I need some romantic sex. Blair: I agree, faguette. grosseiler noir: Who the fuck is this retard? Youre a rosbif, arent you? Just go finish up your beef idiot. Blair: lol hows your life, leeching off of unemployment benefits? ݧѧէڧާڧ: Please, help me install ActiveX. The security settings in Korea are too difficult. I need someone to help me. FuckActiveX: Do your thing by yourself~ ޤĤߤ: And here comes Matsumin! JongShinHyung: Oh! The thick-skinned Japanese girl! ޤĤߤ: Right now Im watching the stream from inside Li Ailing and this is sooo exciting! Those callous eyes looking straight into my soul! And those words that violate me from the inside-out! Oh, Han Gyeoul-san, how are you so gorgeous! Please ravage me kindly and ruthlessly! Oldspice: Woah, shes seriously hardcore MillionDollarLoan: lol kindly and ruthlessly XD how is that even possible? ޤĤߤ: And for that reason! ElectronicAnklet: ? ޤĤߤ: Matsumin will try with 3000 Stars! Matsumin will make it happen! For the honor of our country! ????: Why would you wager your countrys honor on this?! SnowyFox: ;;; : Viewer Quest has been granted by ޤĤߤ. Viewer Quest: ޤĤߤ󡢤ޤ!(Here comes Matsumin!) : Han Gyeoul (host) has rejected the Viewer Quest. ޤĤߤ: Ah! Japan has sunk SnowyFox: ;;; Hectorpascal_Kick: u r making it sound like your country has fallen lmao s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. ݧѧէڧާڧ: I installed one ActiveX, but there are still nine left. Please help me. superpatriot: Oh no, shes leaving! JongShinHyung: No! Ailing! Dont go! I love you! MURD3R: Ha No sex again? PattheButt: Just watch the stream, dickhead. Its still fun without it MURD3R: Who says its not? If someone were to ask me who is the best streamer for this game, Id say its him without a doubt. Just watching him fight the zombies, running around as if it was a playground when other streamers wouldve been busy hiding, and when I saw him delivering his speech in front of all the NPCs of his faction, it gave me goosebumps all over my body. But the thing is that life gets tough every once in a while and I just need a little treat, you know? Something to get myself going. And I just want to see that from my favorite streamer. superpatriot: 222222222 Blackcoke: 333333333 PattheButt: Yeah, I guess I can relate to that. Cheer up, mate. ݧѧէڧާڧ: ק ҧ֧?! How could none of you help me! Bad Kareisky! Bad Kareisky! ޤĤߤ: T^T [Snowyfox donated 50 Stars.] [Tunguska donated 1 Star.] # Viewers Messages Log (2) Pass_into_the_iris: Oh, the host is here HanGyeoul (Host): Hello, everyone. Did you all have fun watching todays steam? NoMemesForUrNickname: Yup, that was fun. I love how you drive the whole story. Keep it up man MURD3R: Hey BJ, let me ask you something. HanGyeoul (Host): Go ahead. Wilma: I think I know what hes gonna ask lol Jarapapa: Its obvious. MURD3R: You guys should just shut the hell up. Anyway Are you not interested in earning Stars? Or do you have something against me? Youve been rejecting every single one of the quests I give you, and that kinda hurts me a little. Most BJs dont reject quests this persistently superpatriot: Yeah! Whats going on! ޤĤߤ: We need an explanation! HanGyeoul (Host): If youre talking about the Viewer Quests, Im really sorry. Its not that I dont need Stars. I do want them. The truth is just that Im not ready. Im a little MURD3R: A little? HanGyeoul (Host): I have bad memories about it Snowyfox: Ransomware: How could one possibly have bad memories of such a fun activity? Did you get raped or something? GimmeDemPantsu: No way! TawiI AtUmr: Isnt that a good thing? Thats like a dream come true for men pprplz: It depends. If its a hip chick, then yes. But if its someone like an orc, Id rather kill myself lol. Soup4sluts: I kinda wanna experience that for myself. Chiliconcarne: Porn and reality are different, but still, thatd be interesting if it happened. Snowyfox: You guys are going too far with this. Those arent things you should say even as a joke. You should apologize to the host. Kthanid: Loool look at this bitch getting triggered Hardgay: Yeah, whats the fuss about? Its not like he actually got raped or something. ޤĤߤ: Matsumin agrees with the fox lady. Sexual fantasies are enjoyable when they stay as fantasies. NoMemesForUrNickname: Shes right you retards. Think of what you say before you blurt it out. What you got in your heads arent just udon noodles. TawiI AtUmr: Dont be so serious~ You know were all just joking ޤĤߤ: I wish it was just a joke. Soup4sluts: But why is the host so quiet? MURD3R: Wait Did you really? HanGyeoul (Host): This is the first and last time Ill answer this question. I cannot give you the details, but It was a situation where neither she nor I wanted to. We were both victims And I just dont think I could properly play the game had I accepted those quests. MURD3R: Yikes Soup4sluts: So it was true superpatriot: Well, that escalated quickly Dumchit: Boohoo! Poor little kid, you didnt enjoy having sex with a girl Well, guess what? I dont fucking care! You think you can get away like this because youre a kid? Then you thought wrong. The moment you started streaming to earn money, you should have been ready to be treated as an adult. You dont get to whine and cry. Thats just what the real world is like. Snowyfox: What a cruel man you are. KILL2Win: That does sound cruel, but I agree with him. Thats just how things work. If you want to get money out of other peoples pockets, you have to give them what they want. HoSbot: Heroesof the StoneSign up now$$100% chance to obtainunique CardbackWorld of StarcraftZorgling petfor free 6 0 0 0 g o l d if you reach level 10 !!! Diavolo 45 Legacy of the Roidnew [email protected] free now at https://kr.battlecruiser.net/heroes/ko/ MURD3R: Not the restaurance again** ޤĤߤ: Cheer up, Gyeoul-san! Matsumin will always be here for you! I hope you can overcome it quickly for the sake of the friendship between Korea and Japan! [ޤĤߤ donated 30 Stars.] pp224: Friendship? XD would that be sex diplomacy then? lmao SnowyFox: [Snowyfox donated 1,000 Stars.] * The title is actually HV֮, a Chinese idiom which refers to people in desperate need of help, but in Korean pronunciation, it also sounds like childish people. ** Internet meme referring to people constantly posting ad-like comments to get others to play HoTS. Chapter 32 Chapter 32# Consolation For the first time in a long while, Gyeoul paid a visit to the dark serenity. The familiar weightlessness enfolded his body as if to welcome his return. Amid the pitch blackness, Gyeoul spotted something unfamiliar floating far off in the distance. A translucent sphere filled with bright orbsthe Stars that he had collected. The light emanating from the sphere was so bright that he had to squint his eyes to look at it, but its surroundings were still dark as there was nothing within the lights reach. Nothing but an endless void in all directions. But Gyeoul liked it the way it was. If anything were to be there, hed have to delude himself, to tell himself that it was all real. Then Id have to try hard to cut off the subsequent thoughts. He liked the darkness. It was a haven of peace and tranquility. But Gyeoul had never had a chance to come back to this place since starting his twenty-seventh playthrough. Because I have to become something Im not In fact, he was not supposed to come back to this place. Here, there existed Gyeoul and nothing but Gyeoul. The boy, therefore, redeemed his original self in here. And he could not let that happen. But he also couldnt help but come back. The stone in his heart rolled about particularly roughly today. The weight had brought the boy down into the void. Gyeoul waited for the right time. The stone would lighten itself over time, as it always had. To settle the torn pieces of his mind down to a still oblivion. The time necessary for the bloated memories of the past to turn into small sediment. It was the only way for the boy to console himself. But for some reason, they didnt settle. It was his most shameful memory. Rarely in his life had he been treated like a human being, but he had never been so violated as though he were some kind of non-living object as then. The boys anger seethed like fiery lava and the sharp stone sizzled, crazily jabbing at his heart. Gyeoul tried to think of something else, something to calm himself down. And much to his relief, something appeared in his mind not long after. The woman who wasnt treated like a human being, just like himself. Though it was merely for a brief instant, the sadness he peeked from her face covered beneath her hair left a deep impression on him. There is another person trapped in such a hellish life apart from me That mere thought helped ease his pain and loneliness. How long had he been drifting inside the void? The boys contemplation was interrupted by a sudden flicker of light. It was a message from a non-human intelligence notifying him that it was now time to return to those who were weary of their own lives, thus yearned for his fabricated life. The boy breathed out a heavy sigh. The time he had spent lost in thought flew by too fast. It wasnt even complete yet. Can I really make it? However, he knew that he had no other choice. # Negotiation (3), Camp Roberts Gyeoul still had his eyes closed. Though he was standing still, it felt like the ground was shaking as if he were standing on a wobbly jelly. Just a little more until I can be fully immersed. Three, two, one. The boy opened his eyes and immediately spoke in a quiet voice. What do you mean you dont understand? In front of him stood two people, Yura and Jinseok. While Yura looked completely daunted, Jinseok had a slightly displeased look on his face. But even as he cast a cross look, his eyes were busy studying Gyeouls face. The sight of the boy standing in silence with his eyes closed mustve made him think that he was angry. But even so, Jinseok wasnt afraid of speaking his mind. I wouldve accepted if it was Jaejoong. But Yura, I dont think shes fit for the task. Dont you remember what happened in Paso Robles? Her mistakes kept putting us in danger. It was an objection to choosing Yura for the role of the combat teams leader. Of course, Yura is much better than those who only care about themselves. At least she has the courage to volunteer for dangerous missions. But that doesnt mean shes capable of leading a combat team. Shell just get everyone killed. Although his logic was sound, it was obvious what he ultimately wanted. He probably wants the position for himself. It wasnt necessarily a bad thing, though. A man without greed was no better than a man without will. So it was also a kind of talent. For the Winter Alliance to not get stuck in a rut, there had to be a figure like Jinseok. That wouldve been true under ordinary circumstances. But now, Gyeoul couldnt put Yura down. If thats the case, am I qualified to be your leader? P-pardon? If the leader is not supposed to put his people at risk, I dont think I deserve to be a leader either. Jinseok was so agitated that his entire face became aflame with blushes. Having caught Jinseok off guard, Gyeoul turned to Yura before he could think of an answer. What about you? Do you agree with him? Yura hesitated to respond. Several emotions flashed across her face, guilt being the largest one, followed by fear. The boy, however, calmly waited for her. And indeed, her answer was no different from what he expected. Umm You know Im just a girl weak and emotional So Im sorry I appreciate you giving me the chance, but I dont think Im the one you need. Gyeoul noticed a group of people constantly throwing glances at him from a distance. The boy was not so stupid as to not realize what this situation meant. They must be the ones that pushed them to come. Yura continued after biting her lips for a few seconds. Its okay if Im the only one getting hurt. But thinking that the others might get hurt because of me, I just cant take it Besides Besides? People going out for missions are usually men, right? Then I think theyre better off having another man like Jinseok as their leader rather than a girl like me. And thats exactly my point, said Gyeoul with a smile. Both of them looked puzzled at his sudden remark. What do you mean? Yura asked, tilting her head. Jinseok-ssi, could you turn around and cover your ears for a minute? B-but why? Please. Jinseok, while looking perplexed, followed his request. The boy then looked directly at the people who were busy eavesdropping and smiled until they backed off a few steps. And when his eyes reached Yura, he noticed she had tensed up. Dont be so nervous. I just want to explain why I chose you as the leader of the first combat team, so please relax. If youre still not up for the job after hearing me out, then Ill change my decision. Oh! O-okay! As if she had missed the whole part of Gyeoul telling her to relax, Yura took a big gulp and held her fists tightly. You just said it, didnt you? Its mostly men who go outside for missions. Yeah? Thats because of the sex ratio. Gyeoul composedly continued with his explanation. Even now, the sex ratio of our faction is quite skewed. Do you know why? Its because it was only men who went out to fight and died whenever something came up. Im also sure that more men than women were sacrificed during our evacuation to this camp. Even in reality, more men than women were found dead in areas with high crime rates. Because men were superior in power games, fights and wars were also theirs to deal with. It was the same principle that good resources depleted faster. And the refugee camp here at Camp Roberts had a higher crime rate than any other crime-prone district that existed before the epidemic. And this is only going to get worse in the future. People who have a strong conscience or a strong sense of responsibility are always the first to confront injustice and take risks for everyone. Its gonna get harder and harder to find men with good hearts. This is just between two of us, but there are probably not many people better than Jinseok. Though hes a bit hot-tempered, hes reliable. Yura eagerly nodded. Even within the Winter Alliance, there were several men with highly dubious behaviors. It wasnt that there werent any suspicious women, but there were more men with such behaviors. And that was because, as Gyeoul said, the good-hearted men died early. What the men will do to the women when that happens, thats what Im worried about. Yura had a hesitant look. It makes sense, but I think we might be worrying for nothing. I mean, I heard there were times when womens rights were expanded because there were fewer men What Yura pointed out was probably the case of World War I. However, that was not the case for the current refugee camp. Thatll hardly be the case for our camp. Theres nothing that can be called a job that women can take over. Just see what the other factions do to their women. The reason why womens rights were promoted during the war was that women worked as production workers and maintained the production power in place of men. But in Camp Roberts there existed neither a society nor any factory to maintain. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Uhm Yura fidgeted with her fingers with a troubled expression. The following words were closer to whining. Will that happen when we have you, little boss? If the remaining men rise against me or move to other factions, then yes. I cant handle the entire alliance by myself. I cant say it will happen for sure, but its too big of a risk to just ignore it. We should prevent it beforehand. Some players of Days After Apocalypse deliberately pushed for this to happen. It was an effort to introduce polygamy to the community. Their goal was not survival, but the fulfillment of their desires. It was usually done like this: First, they reduced the number of men in the community while leaving only the capable ones. Whenever women went out on missions together, they would kill the men by intentionally exposing the women to danger and making the men die instead. When they returned from the mission, they would tell the others that the men had sacrificed themselves in order to protect the rest. Of course, they wouldnt solely kill men. It was to avoid suspicion, as well as to create fear amongst women. Humans were beings that could be easily trained through fear. As the sense of community degenerated, women limited their roles on their own accord. Because they didnt have to expose themselves to external hazards. They chose to give up all responsibility and rights in exchange for their safety. The Control AI responded to his thoughts. AI Advice (lvl 10 Insight): Community Trait C Male-dominated The prerequisites for applying this trait to the community are as follows: Female members outnumber male members by more than 180%, Grant the Feeble-minded trait to more than 30 percent of the women in the community, The average skill level of men is 5 or higher than that of women, Form a community opinion unfavorable towards women, Grant the Conservative trait to more than 80% of the members of the community The expected effects if Community Trait C Male-dominated is applied to Winter Alliance are as follows: May execute Polygamy, Grant a permanent downward revision to the factions organizational efficiency, health, diversity, productivity, Grant a permanent downward revision to womens productivity, Grant a fatally-high permanent downward revision to mission success rate if women are present in the team, Grant a permanent downward revision to mens willpower He didnt even need to finish reading to know it all. A trait without any advantages but with plenty of disadvantages, only existing to fulfill the players desires. That was what it was all about. It wouldnt be a problem for those armed with Talent Advantages or tons of DLCs, but Gyeoul was going to do no such things. He just didnt feel like doing so. I think I get the picture, Yura said with a sigh. Just like youre a billboard for the U.S. Army, you want me to be a billboard for you, right? Yup. I dont think anyone can do it except for you, Yura-ssi. But why? You know how bad I am at fighting! Oh, do I? Stunned by Gyeouls remark, Yura was lost for words. I think you can be more confident in yourself. Remember? You volunteered to join me on a mission, and once again for an even more dangerous one. Thats what I call talent. Fighting? Honestly, to me, you all are more or less at the same level. Thats because its you, Yura said confoundedly. To her, Gyeoul was a being already outside of human standards. Then cant you just trust my insight too? Uh Thats not Not knowing what to say, Yura began to tousle her hair. Just trust me and give it a go. You can quit if you really feel like you cant. What? I can? But why? Thats just gonna be a waste of time and opportunity, isnt it? There are others who are more willing to take on the job Its not a waste. Remember when I told you I needed a goat back in Paso Robles? Huh? Oh, yeah, I do. But what does that have to do with this? To Yura who was having a hard time following the conversation, Gyeoul told her the story of Lobo, the King of Currumpaw. I mean it. You can quit whenever you want to. But Im sure this experience will not go to waste. Ugh After some moaning and several sighs, Yura finally gave her consent. Okay, Ill try. I dont know what you see in me, but Ill do my best not to disappoint you. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Now that the conversation was over, Gyeoul tapped Jinseoks shoulder. The young man looked back silently with his hands still clumping his ears. There was no sign of surprise. You can stop covering your ears now, said Gyeoul, gesturing to his ears. Are you done talking? Jinseok asked, but when he realized Gyeoul was staring directly at him, he quickly averted his gaze. Given his personality, the fact that he had been quietly covering his ears, that he didnt flinch even a little when Gyeoul tapped on his shoulder, and that he immediately looked away when their eyes met gave Gyeoul enough clues to read Jinseok. So he did listen to the conversation. He was, in fact, worried that he wouldnt listen to it. His remark about Jinseok being reliable was also meant for him to hear it. What I did to him back in the gym, he probably has it bottled up inside. If such a scar was left untreated, it would fester inside him and possibly cause a bigger problem later on. Pretending not to know of his eavesdropping, Gyeoul explained to Jinseok. Its been decided that Yura will be the leader of the first combat team and that is the end of the discussion. I wont go back on this decision. Alright, sir. He didnt show any sign of protest. Probably due to the relief of not having lost favor from Gyeoul. Gyeoul, having confirmed once again that he had heard the conversation, let out a sigh of relief. But theres one thing you need to know. What is it? I dont know if youve realized, but I said Yura will be the leader of the first combat team. That means Jinseok looked at the boy in eager expectancy. Gyeoul answered with a nod. I have to organize a platoon, remember? Im thinking of having each combat team leader also lead a squad. So were gonna need two people at the very least, and quite a lot more for the full shift system. For that reason, Im going to start assigning people this task, and I think youre the right one for the job. But of course, Im not going to announce it right now, because, as you can see, we dont have enough people. Then Ill be waiting. Jinseoks tone was resolute. Now, if were done talking, I think Im going to have to take my leave. I should meet with Sumiyoshi-kai before its too late. Please be careful, said Jinseok, accompanied by a polite nod. Dont worry. Yura once again came up and asked carefully. If youre going to meet Sumiyoshi-kai then should I maybe escort you? You dont have to worry about that for now. Ill leave you with tasks youll be able to handle, so take it easy. Ha Thats good to know. Yura brightened up for a moment, then her face turned serious and advised him to take precautions. But be really, really careful. Ive heard Sumiyoshi-kai is full of wild and crazy people. Ill be okay as long as they have brains to think with. They cant afford to harm someone who belongs to the U.S. army. Hmm Maybe youre right. Only after reassuring Yura did Gyeoul set off to the Japanese area. Chapter 33 Chapter 33# Negotiation (4), Camp Roberts Outside the perimeter of the Japanese district, the territory of Sumiyoshi-kai. In front of the gate stood the two guards that Gyeoul had met in his previous visit. It could be just a coincidence, but maybe theres a shortage in manpower. Gyeoul decided to keep the latter possibility in mind. Its you, the Ch Korean from before. One of the guards greeted the boy. He managed to swallow back the racial slur he was about to spit out from habit. Yes. Glad to see you again. What brings you here? Im here to see the chairman, to discuss the drug trafficking. Our Oyabun*? The guard then carefully examined Gyeoul, or to be precise, the weapons that he carried. As an officer of the U.S. federal army, he was free to carry firearms within the camp. He spotted a pistol tucked inside a holster on the boys hip, something he had expected, but knowing that he couldnt do anything about it, the guard grudgingly gave him a nod. We need to go report our boss, so wait here, said the guard before running into the gate. Thankfully, it didnt take long for the guard to return with an answer. The younger-looking guardthe one named Daisuke, if he remembered correctlywas quite swift on his feet. Hurrying back from inside, he spoke into the others ear for a moment before beckoning Gyeoul with his hand. He agreed to see you. Come this way. Gyeoul was then escorted into the Japanese district by the two guards, then soon by several guards. Though the guards were staring daggers at him, Gyeoul walked with a feigned smile on his face. Each alleyway Gyeoul passed by while being escorted to the boss displayed the grim reality of life in the Japanese district. In one alleyway, the ground of which was full of water bottle mouse traps, a little child was sitting in a corner, biting off a freshly caught rat with its blood and guts dripping, while in another one, there were people lying on the ground, intoxicated with drugs. Gyeoul couldnt help but frown at their miserable sights. It was only after making several more turns that the guards stopped in front of a tent. When the boy entered, a wooden signboard hanging in the middle of the tent struck his eyes. The Land of God Shall Never Perish A phrase written in reddish-brown ink. It was the color of dried blood. Underneath the signboard, a man was sitting on a mat. His body, stripped to the waist, was full of ugly scars and tattoos covering those scars. Han, Gyo, Ul. The man spoke the boys name aloud, articulating each syllable as though he was trying to pronounce it correctly. Take a seat. There was already a mat prepared for the boy. No sooner had he sat down, a group of armed men also sat down near them. Just like what happened previously in the tent of the Damul Promotion Association. Probably with the same purpose, Gyeoul thought. The chairman, without saying a word, stared at the boy for a while, as if gauging him. The deafening silence lasted for minutes until the Chairman asked a question. Do you drink? No, thank you. Bold, but still just a kid. As the man tapped on the floor a couple of times, a tray of food was served in front of Gyeoul and the man. On Gyeouls tray laid a bottle of water and a plate of grilled meat. A big piece of well-grilled meat that could have possibly originated from the sewers. What kind of meat is this? Asked Gyeoul, tilting his head. Its pork, the chairman answered nonchalantly. In an apocalyptic world like this where cold chains didnt exist anymore, fresh pork had become an ingredient almost impossible to find. Almost impossible. There was still a chance that what he said was true, had it been obtained through bribes. The boy, however, decided not to touch the meat. Maybe not so bold after all. The chairman snorted. Id call it being cautious. The man chuckled. Then why would such a cautious person come to visit us? Is it really to talk about drugs? Yes. s?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The boss then silently lifted his sake cup to his side and a pretty woman walked in and refilled it. He emptied his cup in one go and then drank a few more. After exhaling a long, drunken sigh, the boss continued. Buying or selling? Its neither. Then what? I want to know who the Korean and Chinese drug dealers are, how they get their drugs, and how they distribute them. And what are you gonna do with that? Im gonna clean them up. The boss closed his eyes as he put down his cup. Tadaatsu Ryhei. Im the owner of Sumiyoshi-kai. Han Gyeoul. Im currently serving as the delegate of Winter Alliance. A delegate, huh? What an unassuming title. Ryhei tapped the empty cup with his fingers. So, about cleaning up the traffickers, do you intend to kill them? If theres no other way. Theres no other way around here. Its either kill or be killed. Only a Yakuza like you would think like that. The moment the boy said so, his surroundings grew uproarious. The lackeys sitting next to him all vault up from their seats, taking out blades like kitchen knives and shivs and ferociously swinging them at the boy, in addition to showering him with curses. These stupid thugs all act the same wherever I go. So full of bluffs when they cant even put up a fight. Before long, the boss beckoned them to calm them down. He was silent. Even if it was just a pretentious act, it was still a hundred times better than the other lunatic who called himself Makliji. Information isnt free. I cannot just give it away. And what would be the price? Kill them, said Ryhei with a snarl. When the Shinajins** persecuted us, you Chsenjins joined them and ran riot against us. The traffickers were the worst. They spread drugs furtively and turned our people into slaves of drugs. Even now, they torment our people. Those who run out of money even sell their wives and daughters for a dose of crank. The chairmans two eyes burned grimly. Promise me that youll kill them all. Then Ill tell you everything I know. Im not interested in murder-for-hire. When theres no guarantee that the information will be true. Gyeoul got up from his seat. Then, the lackeys once again bustled up from their seats and began to block the exit. Sit down, Ryhei spoke from behind. Gyeoul answered as he drew out his pistol from its holster. They cant stop me. Youre right, they probably cant. But still, youll have to kill them all to get through. You think I cant? Youll also suffer losses. Although Gyeoul had the right to execute refugees, it would cause a problem if he killed this many. At least it would produce friction with the commander. After a moments thought, Gyeoul slid his pistol back in and sat down. Just hand over the information, Gyeoul shot back. Look, all I want to do is to get rid of them so that my people can be safe from drugs. So if you know anything, just tell me. I swear, no matter how things turn out, it wont negatively affect you. What if I offer you to join hands? Its not the time yet. Ill consider your offer once I take care of the Korean traffickers while the Chinese are busy fighting each other. I also have to judge if you are trustworthy. Ryhei suddenly burst out laughing. You sure dont care about nationality. Good. Ill trust you based on your record. The record he mentioned was him saving a girl from the extreme rightist lunatics. The man then ordered one of his lackeys to bring in some people. After a while, a man and a woman entered the tent, trembling. They didnt seem to belong to the organization. Ryhei beckoned them and whispered something in their ears. The two of them, still quivering, took out clean sheets of paper, pencils and some pictures from their bags and began to copy the pictures on paper. These chaps used to draw manga before. Theyre good with their hands. Ryhei smiled. I dont know where they get the drugs nor how they sell them. The only thing I know is who sells the drugs, so I believe a picture is worth a thousand words. Do you have these people ready all the time? You never know when a war will break out. I figured that showing the Kobun* portraits of their kill-targets would be more efficient than describing them with words. Certainly, it was. Gyeoul then began to wonder about the contents of their bags. Do they also have sketches of the people of Winter Alliance? Time passed by with only the sound of pencils scribbling filling the room. Looks like theyre done. The boss nodded as the two of them took their hands off the papers. One of them approached Gyeoul and handed him the sketches with unsteady hands. Not bad, assessed Gyeoul as he looked over the sketches. The sketches contained some faces he recognized. Some had information such as their last spotted location, date, belongings, and names written in the corner. Leaving the food? The boss asked as he saw the boy walking towards the exit. Sorry. I dont go around with my stomach empty. Thats a shame. The boss chuckled. Next time you see me, think of me as a national leader. That depends on how you act. One might think Gyeouls actions were extremely rude, but it was actually them who had been rude. No matter how young he might be, Gyeoul came here as the leader of a faction. However, the chairman of Sumiyoshi-kai did not use honorifics from the beginning to the end. For the Yakuza who claim to value righteousness, it was no better than an outright insult. Anyway, its only a display of self-importance. The Yakuzas righteousness and Heishehuis chivalry. Despite being crime syndicates, they acted as if they lived by these codes they developed. Because without them, they wouldnt be able to maintain order in their organizations. A Yakuza calling himself a national leader Before the epidemic, Ryhei must have been nothing but a common drug dealer selling drugs to his people. Still, it might work, at least for the Japanese. There had been several news reports about the Yakuza aiding the victims of natural disasters like typhoons even before the Self-Defense Forces. This meant that crime syndicates were very concerned about the way they portrayed themselves and that the Japanese bureaucracy was that much rigid. Just when Gyeoul arrived at the gate, someone talked to him from behind. Well, uh Excuse me, sir. Do you happen to be Mr. Han Gyeoul? Gyeoul heard the voice of an old man speaking from a distance. It was probably because of the underlings with fierce eyes that were escorting the boy out of the district. When he looked around, there were three people, who appeared to be parents and their daughter, standing while shivering in fear. Among them, the daughter was an acquaintance of Gyeoul. Yes, thats me. By the way, long time no see, Setsuna, said Gyeoul with a smile on his face. But the moment the girl met his eyes, she quickly dropped her head down. Kushinada Setsuna. She looked healthier and was dressed in better clothes than the last time he saw her. But for some reason, she was wearing a gloomy expression on her face. The parents, who looked much older than their daughters age, bowed to the boy and expressed their gratitude. Were sorry we couldnt get to you earlier. Weve heard youre the gentleman that saved our daughter. Thank you so much for your heroic act. I dont even want to imagine what wouldve happened to her if it werent for you. Just before Gyeoul could speak a word, the voice of an angry man suddenly cut into their conversation. Oh, for fuck sake! Dad, I told you not to do this! Why are you bowing your head in front of a Chong! Hmm? Turning back again, Gyeoul saw one of the underlings stomping toward the old man in a huff. He then grasped the old mans shoulder, forced him to stand upright and then scowled at Gyeoul. What are you staring at, you scumbag? Gyeoul was struck by surprise for a moment. Kid, we shouldnt forget that we are human beings. We should be grateful that theres such a kind man in a world full of people who have forgotten their human duty. A kind man? Seriously? The young man bawled at the old lady. Did you suddenly become deaf, mom? This fucking thing is a Chsenjin! Ch! Sen! Jin! Dont you know that Chongs are all the same? Those robbers just tossed it back to us because they were done using it! What are you so grateful for when what you got is just a worn-out thing! Arent you embarrassed? Excuse me, Gyeoul spoke in a low voice with a slight grimace on his face. You can say whatever you want about me, but dont talk as if your sister is an object. What? Ha! The young man laughed furiously. That thing isnt my sister! Its more like a female hog. Setsunas somber expression became even gloomier. Unmindful of her feelings, however, the young man kept on stabbing at his sisters heart with his words. If she had the least self-esteem as a Japanese, she shouldve bitten her tongue off and died the moment she was kidnapped! How could she think of crawling back to our land with her filthy body, and even holding a Chongs hand? What a dirty female hog she is! Gyeouls eyes grew colder and colder at each passing second as he watched the man spewing such absurdity. Fortunately, the boys Menace that activated in proportion to his hostility immediately impeded the young man from speaking any further. Considering himself lucky for not having forgotten to carry a handkerchief, Gyeoul handed it over to the crying girl. And then Thud! Kuk! Taking a punch in his thorax, the young man fell on the ground. You better discipline your son well. Now, if youll excuse me. Pride was not a necessity in life. Love was. It is only when people comfort the ones in pain and share their suffering that they can survive in this harsh world. But I guess thats never gonna happen. Not in here, not in reality, thought Gyeoul as he walked away from the Japanese district. Chapter 34 Chapter 34# Journal, Page 55, Camp Roberts The government has announced that they have brought the situation under control. The news began with a positive piece, just as always. We once thought that we would have to give up on those who were in cities west to the barricade when the defense line of Los Angeles and San Diego collapsed. But it turns out it was too early to lose hope. The brave citizens of the United States armed themselves with guns and grenades and fortified themselves inside of buildings. And because of their continuous efforts, it has been reported that more than a hundred and seventy thousand citizens have successfully evacuated to safe shelter. One of the advantages of living in the officers quarters is that there is a TV in every room. Although everything that airs is either news or disaster broadcasts, its a fact that it lets me get news from places other than this cramped camp. And the good news does not stop here. Signs of survivors were found in San Francisco, San Jose, and even Sacramento, where the nuclear strike took place. So, how is this possible, professor? The screen then showed a panoramic view of Sacramento as the experts conversed. The place where the bomb struck is slightly east of the urban district, on the roads leading toward the barricade line. The survivors shelter is located about 15 kilometers west of the bombed areas epicenter. It seems like the buildings in the area helped protect them from the radiation, just as the experts had theorized. But of course, the buildings wont be able to protect them from the radioactive fallout. It was merely a delayed sentence. Oh, look. The Star-Spangled Banners waving on the roofs from place to place. Do you see the people waving their hands? They are waiting for rescue. They have yet to give up, so we also cannot give up on them. Because this is the America that we live in! It was common for any country to try to inspire patriotism amid a crisis. The newscaster continued with an enthusiastic voice. On one hand, the government is currently focusing their aerial power on providing relief supplies, but on the other hand, it has begun the process of requisitioning the airliners and converting them into transport planes. The Defense Departments spokesman says that they are planning to deliver five thousand tons of supplies every day until the Christmas holidays. An amount that can cover for up to two million people. A screen full of airdrop containers hanging from parachutes was shown on TV. Even during these times when the world is at danger, our country, the United States of America, is still standing tall. The world showed on TV always looked ever so bright. # Clown (1), Camp Roberts That was the end of the journal, but Gyeoul could continue watching the news in the dining facility. Ever since he signed up as a soldier, Gyeoul had never seen the TV in the dining facility being turned off. Breakfast time. Lieutenant Robert Capstone and some other officers from Charlie Company came and sat together with Gyeoul. It wasnt a surprise since they waited for him at every single meal. They couldnt let the shavetail feel left out, or that was what they said. Gyeoul asked them about what he saw in the journal entry. You cant just take in everything they say. Those damned chauvinistic broadcasts Lieutenant Capstone was a discreet person. He believed the government statements, as well as the information from reputable media organizations, had to be taken with a grain of salt. During national crises, the press tends to avoid reporting things that could cast a negative light on the countrys image. Sergeant Pierce just shrugged. Theyve been doing that since World War II. Except back then they fought some real bad guys. Lieutenant McCoy, one of the platoon commanders, chipped in. I think helis would be more useful for this kind of thing. Maybe save some people with it. The problem is that there are not enough. Jeffrey responded in agreement. Yeah. But they cant keep dropping from jets either. How many airdrops will actually be retrieved when they are dropping them from hundreds of feet above the ground and with chutes on? If one falls inside a dangerous area, its as good as gone Well, thats probably why theyre planning on dropping five thousand tons every day. Solving everything with money is a thing in this country. Then he went on with complaints. And Im beginning to wonder if thats why were not getting enough supplies here. I mean, the PX is only opening, for what, twice a week now? Hell, they used to be the other way round! The worst part is that it has become almost impossible to drink. Ive never seen booze in stock these days. Lieutenant Capstone frowned. You gotta be thankful youre getting a sortie. We arent a high priority compared to the people out there. So beware not to complain in front of the soldiers. *Sigh* Okay. The young platoon commander grumbled away his discontent. Lieutenant Capstone paused for a while, then asked the boy a question. Now that youre a Commissioned Officer how are you getting paid? Among the things he had received were a military ID card, a paybook, and a card. Gyeoul replied that he received a pay card. On O-1 pay grade? Im not really sure. My promotion was a special case. I was just told that Id be getting a little less than three thousand dollars a month. The lieutenant shook his head. Thats just the basic minimum salary. There are extra pays like proficiency pay, uniform allowance, and special service allowance which you can claim separately. I guess they were too busy to explain these kinds of things. Ill help you look into it. Thank you always for your consideration. No need to thank me. Its a small matter compared to what I owe you. Such a straight arrow, thought Gyeoul. If you ever need cash, theres a machine by the quarters. Theres none in the PX store, Sergeant Pierce advised. Why would I need cash? Pierce had an expression of worry when the boy asked. I see, you dont know this yet So, some soldiers are taking financial advantage of the refugees. They buy things from the PX and resell it to the refugees at a higher price. Those despicable pieces of shit, trying to rip off the refugees He then asked Capstone a question. Is headquarters unaware of this situation? I feel like theyre letting it happen on purpose. Im not sure, but I think they are. It seems that theyre considering setting a transaction limit for officers promoted from refugees, and having them purchase with a differential discount rate. Gyeoul nodded. So that they can empower refugee officers like me. To motivate us. Right. The lieutenant seemed unhappy about the situation. But to Gyeoul, it was good news. He didnt know who the person in charge was, but he thought it was pretty smart of them. [Boom! Bratatat!] Sounds of explosion and gunfire came from the TV. San Diego? Jeffrey muttered. The TV was now showing footage of a fierce battle. A beautifully white sandy beach with a small resort showing in the background. But what came slamming into the beach was neither a wave nor wind, but a terrible flood of mutants. The horde of mutants, mixed with several Grumbles, was so large, it seemed almost indestructible. However, with their passage constricted to one narrow road, none of the mutants succeeded in passing through the converging fire. And when the road reverberated with another explosion, the newscasters voice explained. What we have here is footage of the North Island Defense Battle of the Marine Expeditionary Force. By successfully completing this two-hour-long battle, our troops were able to protect the Naval Supply Center and Naval Air Station in San Diego. How long do you think theyll last? McCoy came with a question. The lieutenant gave a rather optimistic opinion. Theyll last. There is only one road and one bridge connected to the island, so its easy to protect. And I bet even those up there will probably support them desperately. Theres no other place to ship the reinforcements or evacuate the surviving citizens if they collapse. Sergeant Pierce sighed. How are there so many of those half-dead corpses still walking around? Its almost endless. People from all over the states have been infected by it. If we keep on killing them, well eventually reach the bottom. Despite McCoys answer, the sergeant still looked unsatisfied. Thats not my point. Theyre still living things, right? I just cant understand how they can still run around without eating anything. McCoy chuckled. Have you never seen a horror film before? Zombies dont usually starve to death. By the time they finished breakfast, Gyeoul was summoned through an in-house broadcast. S?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Second Lieutenant Han Gio Wool come to the Operations Division. I repeat, Second Lieutenant Han Gio Oh, come on. Cant anyone pronounce my name properly? The rest of the soldiers burst into laughter. Gyeoul got up from his seat with his plate. Sorry. Im gonna have to head out first. Hope its not a big problem. Even till the very end, Lieutenant Capstone still showed concern for Gyeoul. Chapter 35 Chapter 35# Clown (2), Camp Roberts Three officers were waiting for Gyeoul in the Operations Division. A haggard-faced battalion commander, an operations officer, and a captain whom the boy had no acquaintance with. The captain, for some reason, didnt seem very happy. Gyeoul saluted the battalion commander. The half-bald captain looked at the boy with a pair of bleary eyes. Youre here. The whole room reeked with the smell of strong alcohol. On the table, there was a half-empty bottle of liquor. He sure drank, considering it is midday, thought Gyeoul. The captain shook his head a little and wrinkled his forehead as if his sight was blurry from drunkenness. The captains expression got worse. The battalion commander chuckled when he saw his grimace as if asking what he would do about it. You may stand at ease, lieutenant. Gyeoul lowered his saluting hand and stood at ease. Before we begin, this is Captain Niels McGuire. Hes a public affairs officer. Captain, this is Lieutenant Han whatever. The boy and the captain greeted each other with a nod. Good. Now, lets get to the point. The commander began to explain the special operation that had been issued to Gyeoul. Theres an order from the Department of Defense. They want to film a video for both promotional and training purposes. Theres not much to it, really. Just go to Santa Maria, kill a few mutants on camera and youll be done. Santa Maria was a city located about a hundred kilometers to the south of Camp Roberts. Given that Paso Robles, which was much closer than that, was barely accessible, Gyeoul presumed that land vehicles would not be their means of transport. And just as expected, helicopter support was to be provided this time. The operations officer took over and continued with the explanation as he spread a map on the desk. S~?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The operation will begin tomorrow at 0600. Get yourself geared up with a basic load and come to the training ground ten minutes ahead of time. Then, youll ride a chopper and move to this farmland located northeast to the field of operations. The arrival time will be at 0630. There will be no danger up to this stage, as one of the companies of Ranger Regiment has already cleared the area. From here, you will join the backup force and move 7 kilometers on foot to the field of operations. Once you reach the point, you will hunt down the target mutants the search team lures in, and that will be the end of the operation. Any question? Sir, how do you plan to lure the targets exactly? Thats too dangerous for a person to carry out. Were going to use a drone as a decoy. Is that possible? Weve run several tests. The mutants have low intelligence. Which is already growing higher. Morgellons could learn to utilize the host in more diverse ways. Now that Grumble had made its appearance in this playthrough it was only a matter of time for other variant mutants to appear. However, since this information wasnt something that could be known this early in the game, Gyeoul had to bite his tongue. The public affairs officer, while lightly surveying the boy, gave a short exclamation of surprise. Ive heard the testimony from the soldiers, but you really arent scared of them, are you? Thats because I know those things cant hurt me. Hmm The officer closed his mouth with an indiscernible expression. Sir, can I bring other volunteers with me on this mission? But his question was met with a flat refusal. No, you may not. Gyeoul smacked his lips. With their safety ensured, it couldve been a good chance to train the members of his alliance. But unfortunately, all they needed was Gyeoul and no one else. The operations officer then went on to explain some more details about the mission. There wasnt anything worth noting. 5:50 a.m. of the next day, at the training grounds. When Gyeoul arrived at the appointed place, there were two helicopters tagged as MH-6 with their engines heated up, waiting for departure. The seats were already full except for one. Those who were already sitting inside showed interest in the boy, except for the public affairs officer. The rotor blades began to spin almost exactly at six. The chuffs of the choppers were quieter than the boy expected. It was because they were equipped with special noise reduction equipment, explained the pilot. The rotation speed reached its highest point. With a momentary feeling of being weighed down, the sky came closer and the ground became distant. Along the horizon line, a vivid pink band was gradually dying a deep indigo sky. Beneath the boys feet, the scenic panorama fleeted away. The boy stretched his hand out to his front. Crisp winter wind ran through his fingers as though he had put his hand in a stream of water. The helicopter tilted sideways and bent its course. The safety of the camp was always at the top of the list. Ravenous creatures could be seen far below, running while chasing the object in the sky. There were a lot of them. Even if the noise was reduced, the helicopter was still a helicopter. It was only after they hovered in a place for several minutes that they could get back on track Have you ever ridden on a chopper before, sir? The man sitting next to Gyeoul asked with a playful smile. No, this is my first time. Gyeoul shook his head. At least in this playthrough. The man then continued. Youre really a fearless guy. Better than any fresh lieutenants Ive seen. Ill show you what fearlessness is, Sergeant Greg. Ill look forward to it. During the remaining time until their arrival, Gyeoul checked the equipment provided. A new rifle with various modules, a radio earpiece, and a much lighter ballistic helmet For the filming, Gyeoul was supplied with several pieces of gear better than what he originally had. The helicopter soon landed behind a ridge beside a highway road. On the ground were some soldiers to guide the landing. Army Rangers were using a luxurious looking mansion as their temporary headquarters. Besides the main house, the mansion had a couple more annexes, a large swimming pool, a ranch, and a nice fence. Judging from the solar panels installed, it seemed they even had access to electricity. Wolf Leader, this is Wolf Three. Weve confirmed the arrival of Team Circus. Radio messages of the Ranger Company were heard from the radio. Oh great, Team Circus. It seemed that Gyeouls team, once again, had been assigned a ridiculous call sign. I wonder what my call sign is. It cant be worse than Banana, can it? And as expected, Gyeoul was informed that his call sign would be Clown. Gyeouls team joined with the Rangers that were waiting on the ground. The newly joined soldiers briefly showed interest in Gyeoul. But they were wearing not a friendly look, but rather an expression as if they were looking at an inexperienced greenhorn. They briefly introduced each other and demanded to depart. The introduction was so crude that he couldnt remember who was who. It showed how little they cared about this operation. At the same time, one of the team members gave the boy a proper greeting. Hey, I saw you on TV. It was a pretty brave thing you did out there, said the man, as he extended his hand for a handshake. His outfit was different from the others. Sergeant Perry, working under the Santa Maria Police SWAT Team. Ill be guiding you through the town, though you wont be going today. Lieutenant Han Gyeoul. I dont belong to any team yet. The platoon leader then cast Gyeoul a scornful glance. Pick up the pace if you have the energy to waste on jabbering. Sergeant Perry whispered, please forgive their rudeness, Lieutenant Han. Theyve had a hard time here. Theyre all exhausted. How long have you all been here? Ive been here for only about a month, but Im not sure about the Rangers. They said theyve never left the contaminated area since the epidemic broke out. Sure enough, the team seemed to lack quite some people for a whole troop. Normally, this kind of troop was supposed to be sent to the rear. But of course, in times like these where humans were gradually being pushed towards the brink of annihilation, nothing could remain normal. One of the Rangers walking near them glared daggers at them as if he had heard them whispering. The sergeant apologized with a smile. Seven kilometers was a distance that required more than an hour of traveling on foot. Throughout their journey, the sergeant kept asking about things like the situation in Camp Roberts, as well as telling him what he knew. Santa Maria is one of the few cities to achieve a successful evacuation. The mayor made a quick decision. He requested the governor to mobilize the National Guard. Things were really chaotic back then, but it was nothing compared to the pandemonium that other cities went through. Thanks to that, 97% of the citizens were able to safely evacuate out of the city. What about the other 3%? I heard the last rescue signal was received about two months ago. It was an amateurish telegraph. The sergeants face grew a few shades darker. But theres still a chance the survivors are still in the city. Weve been constantly conducting air reconnaissance. The Rangers also began to patrol around the city a few days ago. But not once during this time could we find a single evidence of survivors. So The sergeants voice trailed off. The team drew near to the city. To avoid being caught, the team changed their course to a single-track road forking south from the highway they were following. No more had they walked a couple of kilometers, they reached the embankment built by the city. They would be able to reach Santa Maria after crossing the bridge. The filming team began to lay down the equipment on the road. The Rangers, on the other hand, took out a drone and began to conduct a test run. Youre using a human scream? Gyeoul asked as he heard the drone playing the recording of people screaming for help. The mutants react differently towards various sounds. We figured out that they react well to human voices, and even better to screams. Soon after, the drone flew across the bridge towards the city. The soldier was using a small bag-sized laptop to control the drone. Standing side by side with the soldier, Gyeoul and the public affairs officer watched the screen. Inside, the drone was busily scanning for mutants with its thermal scanner. Thats quite a lot of mutants for an empty city, the officer mumbled. Those are mutants from nearby areas. Actually, Santa Maria isnt the only city with this problem. Mutants somehow manage to flock towards cities like this. But why? We wouldnt be here if we knew that. A curt reply. The public affairs officer grimaced. Gyeoul knew the answer to that problem, but he didnt give it out. Because it was a piece of information that the characters couldnt possibly figure out at this point. If he gave it out, the Control AI would attempt to revise it with a scenario computation. And if it failed, it would roll back the server to the point when the information hadnt yet been disclosed. Although the rollback itself wouldnt cause any problem to him, the AI could penalize the player if it occurred repeatedly. At last, Grumble was caught on the camera. The soldier reported immediately. Boogie one spotted at the intersection of Donovan Road and North Broadway. Boogie two is also nearby. Damnit. Why are they so far away today? They used to wander around the outskirts How much juice does it have? Is there enough to lure it out here? Its almost out of juice, but I reckon I can manage that, sir. The soldier quickly hid the drone in an alleyway and played the recorded scream. As soon as the scream played, the screen showed the mutants quickly turning their heads towards the alleyway almost instantly. Running up and down through the alley, the soldier lured and gathered up the mutants that were spread all across the northern part of the city. The small, quick-footed ones followed the drone in the front, and the two Grumbles followed from behind. Without their target in sight, their movements were slow and dull. Using this difference to his advantage, the soldier began to separate the Grumbles from the herd of mutants. After flying south for about one kilometer, the herded mutants were so exhausted that they couldnt follow the drone anymore. At that point, the soldier turned off the screams and headed back north to lure the big guys. Can you handle two at the same time? Asked Captain McGuire with anxious eyes. I can. But Gyeoul returned him a short, nonchalant answer. The captain then mumbled something to himself in a voice so small that the boy could not understand a thing even with the help of his skills. The luring went smoothly. Two giant mutants followed the drone as they snooped around, looking for the unsighted screams. But it was when the drone came back out to the main street that the screen showed something that horrified everyone. Chapter 36 Chapter 36# Clown (3), Santa Maria Sir, this is! Im watching it too On the screen, there was a group of people, presumably civilians, waving their hands at the drone. It seemed like the noise produced by the drone had brought them out to the street. But as soon as they stepped out, their faces soon turned deadly pale with horror. As the drone swiftly turned around, the screen shifted to display the two gigantic mutants walking out from a corner. Before the humans had any time to react, the mutants yellow eyes had already caught onto the humans and were fixed on them. [Krraaaargh!] Along with the roar of the Grumbles, a great rumble came from the city. It was so loud they could hear it all the way from the outskirts. Damnit! Dech! Stay here with your squad and protect team Circus! Drones! Keep your eyes on those people and keep us informed of their situation! Dont worry about losing the drone! And you! Stay here and report to headquarters! The rest of you are coming with me! Ill come too. No! The platoon commander rejected Gyeouls request and turned away. But after a few steps, his feet came to a stop, along with a sigh, before returning to the boy. You stay right behind me, understood? Gyeoul answered with a nod. Just then, Sergeant Perry also stepped forward to join them. S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Youll need a guide, the sergeant insisted. You sure about that? This is my job and what I committed to doing. The commander solemnly nodded. Having a local police officer as a guide would be extremely helpful for finding their way around the city. Now, lets move! Find a vehicle we can use! Once again, the sound of the city crumbling to dust came echoing from beyond the bridge. The streets of Santa Maria were somewhat cleaner than those of other cities, as it was one of the cities with the highest evacuation rate. However, there were still remnants of the past shutdown operation. Pits and obstacles that were originally created to stop the infected were now interrupting their team from advancing speedily. They were reaching a blockade checkpoint, but just before reaching the structure, a horde of mutants came rushing at them from the shade. The Rangers brought their speed down a little, but never to a halt. Brrrt! Brrrt! The leading mutants collapsed one by one. But being large in number, the horde gradually closed in on the team, until only an arms length distance was left between the foremost soldier and mutant. However, most of the humans on Gyeouls side were Rangers, the elite soldiers not just skilled at shooting rifles, but also experts in close quarters combat. When the two groups clashed, the Rangers easily got rid of the mutants as they shoved them to the floor and shot off their heads. Even when they were caught, they merely frowned a little before landing a blow on their chin with their rifles butt. Gyeoul also had two mutants closing in on him from each side. Just before the arms of one of them could reach him, the boy moved rather closer to one side. He stuck the muzzle of the rifle in between its clattering teeth and then gave it a vigorous push. The mutants neck easily snapped like a twig. But the mutant, even with its neck broken, kept on swinging its arm to grab the human in front of him. The boy, with his rifle still stuck in the mutants gaping maw, swung his rifle around, aimed for the other mutant, and immediately pulled the trigger. With a dull gunshot trapped inside a rotten head, the two heads exploded at the same time. Seeing that the boy could follow along without difficulty, the platoon commander stared at him in surprise, but only for a moment. The team reached the gate of the checkpoint. The gate was locked with a chain, and they didnt know what lay beyond the door. But time was ticking and they clearly didnt have the liberty to consider other options. And just when one of the soldiers stood in front of the gate, Clatter! The gate rocked violently at a sudden impact. Glowing eyes of hungry mutants shone dimly through the cracks in the gate. Shit! The soldier who had pointed his gun at the chain stepped back in alarm. The commander shook his head and radioed the drone team. Drone team! Whats the situation? The civilian group is currently running away in two groups; 27 are moving south on Broadway, and 9 of them are moving west on Donovan Road. 12 casualties have been sighted so far. Where the hell were these people hiding all this time? The commander cursed in a low voice. Several mutants appeared intermittently even throughout the commanders communication. Gyeoul, though his aiming was faster than anyone elses, was saving as much ammo as he could. After a short deliberation, the commander issued an order. You, you! Grenade! He shouted, pointing at a couple of soldiers. It seemed he had chosen to force his way through the gate. Immediately, two grenades were thrown over the wall, drawing two paraboles. Kaboom! The ground rumbled for a moment, followed by cries of the mutants in the throes of death. Only then did the soldier in front of the door pull the trigger against the chain. The gate was kicked open. A mutant that was leaning against the gate fell flat on the ground. The skin on its back was peeled off to the bone due to the explosion. Once the team walked past the gate, a new horde of mutants crawled out of the houses on the right side of the road. The explosion must have drawn them out. As soon as the ones at the front spotted the humans, they began to scream their heads off. Kwerrrgh! The pathogens thirst to increase the number of hosts pushed the puppets forward recklessly. Fall into the left! Stick to the wall! The commander shouted as he pointed at a wall separating the road from the residential area. The soldiers, sticking to the wall, concentrated their fire on the new horde. But the mutants slowly closed in on the team with their physical superiority. Just when the soldiers were struggling, a couple of drones came flying over their heads. They were the same type as theirs but under someone elses control. This is Wolf Leader. Wolf Three, retreat to the road on your nine. A radio message from the headquarters. Following the instructions, the team was able to break away from the incoming horde. The horde was chasing behind them. The commander made a hand signal and a grenade was thrown to the back. The soldiers lowered their postures while the rumbling explosion reverberated beneath their feet. Wolf Three, I dont remember authorizing this operation. Rescuing civilians had always been part of our mission! Other platoons were too far away from us! There are a lot of civilians in need of our help! How was I supposed to save them with two helicopters of the size of my fucking dick?! I just did what best fit our situation! Glad you have a giant dick. Youll be a reprimand for this. Now, move to East Sunset Avenue from North Miller Street. Ill give you three minutes. Three minutes? Fucking hell, I dont even know where East Sunset Avenue is! Sergeant, can we get there in time? The platoon commander looked at Sergeant Perry, for they didnt have time to take out the map. If we run like hell, we can! The police officer nodded. Mother of What are you all doing? You heard the man! Get your asses in gear! With the sergeant leading in front, the team began sprinting down the street. While they were on the run, another message was heard from the radio. Wolf Two is departing from the headquarters, Wolf One is being deployed into the city. 40 seconds until the helicopter is deployed over the area of operations. The call sign for the helicopter will now be Firefly. Each platoons drone team will be called Fisher One to Fisher Three. The backup platoons were on their way there. But since they were still far away from the operation point, it was hard to expect reinforcement on time. This is Fisher Three. Two additional casualties have occurred in the civilian group heading south. Their location is Western Motel, 10 south from the given point foxtrot. The civilians are currently in concealment, expected to be exposed soon. Were! on our! fucking way! The commander shouted out of puff. They had already run over a kilometer and still had another full kilometer to run. It was a daunting distance to run while under the pressure of a battlefield. Gyeoul was also sweating profusely. Rather than feeling exhausted, he felt like his body wasnt following his commands well. Excessive consumption of physical energy was lowering the vitality of his whole body. His aim gradually began to falter, and he was failing to hit his first shots. So instead of sticking to his rifle, the boy grabbed his bayonet. First, he swung it towards the nearest mutants head. When the blade bedded into its temple, its tongue rolled out of its mouth. The boy pulled out the bayonet with strong momentum, its speed not decreasing at all. The sound of the helicopters rotor quickly approached from behind. The gust of wind produced by it blew past the platoon. The helicopter, shifting its tail, rapidly lowered its altitude, and like a battleship opening its portholes, revealed its side. Though the helicopter itself wasnt armed, the soldiers riding on it were. Get down! Yelled a soldier on the chopper. The rescue team, for they had to lower their posture while running, ended up rolling on the ground. A hail of grenades was then launched by six-chambered grenade launchers, and in less than a second, the mutant horde was swept by a storm of raging fire. Having provided fire cover, the helicopter then took off to the sky. The road ahead was clear as if they had also poured out a barrage from the other side. The helicopter then flew straight towards the survivors location. The distance remaining was about 200 meters. But being in a densely built-up residential area, the street that had once been clear was soon filled with mutants in less than no time. Dirty things crawling under the half-open garage doors, falling off the roofs, crumbling through the broken windows. Sergeant Perry concluded that it was impossible to get through this large number of mutants, so he led the team through another route. However Break! Break! Wolf Three, Wolf Three! Boogie Three ahead! At eleven oclock! The telecoms urgent voice sounded from the radio. But before Gyeouls group could react, the house next to them was smashed, almost exploding. The monster that appeared through the cloud of dust spotted the platoon running about in bewilderment. Grumble opened its maw and let out a monstrous roar. Gyeoul reflexively aimed for its mouth and pulled the trigger. The monster staggered back. Allies are down! ! cried a soldier. Five soldiers were collapsed on the ground and covered in blood as if they had been hit by the falling debris of the exploded house. Unfortunately, two of them were lying just within the range of Grumbles close combat attack. Having recovered from the temporary stun, Grumble immediately closed its mouth tight. It was getting ready to commence a close combat pattern. The soldiers fired a barrage of machine-gun bullets at Grumble, but it did almost no damage to the monster with its physical immunity. The giant monster slowly lifted its two rocky hands and smashed down the two soldiers at the same time. A heavy thud shook the whole street. And when the Grumble took its hands off of the ground, only a pool of blood and flesh mixed with crumbles of pavement was left in their place. No, no, no, no!!! A soldier with bloodshot eyes rushed forwards with a grenade in his hand and threw it into Grumbles roaring maw. But at the same time, a bazooka missile flew straight into the Grumbles mouth. It was Gyeouls work. He used the launcher that belonged to a now-deceased soldier lying on the ground. The rocket-propelled missile, which was designed to be able to pierce an iron plate, penetrated deep into the monsters mouths soft flesh and an explosion occurred. Its head swelled up. And with a second of delay, the soldiers grenade also blew up. The gigantic muscle mass fell on its knees. Bloody froth gurgled out from its mouth. Gyeoul threw the empty launcher at a mutant approaching him. Another soldier took care of the mutant. Two of the wounded soldiers didnt have any fatal wounds. They were just covered in blood because of small cuts and scratches. But the other one was different. He had a piece of wood penetrating his stomach. In the midst of treating their wounds, the team was joined by an unexpected reinforcement. Dech? Why are you here? The commander asked, looking puzzled. The squad which he had ordered to protect team Circus had come to help them instead. Theyre soldiers too! They can watch over themselves! The squad leader responded as he shot down the mutants. The Automatic Rifleman also properly fixed his machine gun on the ground and began knocking down the mutants in the swarm. However, even with reinforcements, the mutants numbers didnt seem to decrease at all. The platoon commander quickly radioed the headquarters. Shit! The road is blocked! Headquarters! We have a few injured! They need evacuation! Can we get vehicle support? Give us the rendezvous point! Wolf Three, retreat. What?! Chapter 37 Chapter 37# Clown (4), Santa Maria A new horde has been spotted in the southern part of the city. There isnt any route left accessible from your position. Wait This is an order. Withdraw before you run out of ammo. The company commander ordered rigidly. The panorama from the sky must look unfavorable for the team. At least worse than what they were seeing from the ground. The platoon commander clenched his teeth. This is Firefly Two! We cant make a landing The landing point is too hot! In the sky near the target location, there was a breathtaking aerobatic display taking place. The helicopter, which had descended to rescue the civilians, was dodging the things that a Grumble was throwing. A retaliation full of powder smoke poured onto the bulky mutant. But it was useless against the monster that was immune to physical damage. Another Grumble grabbed a living mutant that was wandering nearby and threw it at the helicopter. The mutant flew straight towards the spinning rotor blade. Its body was split in half and its gut sprinkled down like rain. A second, third, and more mutants went flying towards the chopper. Finally, the ninth mutant caught a soldiers leg that was sticking out of the helicopter. Not wanting to fall, the soldier desperately swung his leg to shake off the mutant. But before losing its grasp on his trousers, the mutant managed to dig its teeth into his calf. The soldier, in the end, became infected. The soldier, in despair, threw himself away. A freefall from 30 meters high. For the mutants crying in hunger, it was like food raining down from above. Other than a couple of mutants that got squashed by the raining food, the rest of the horde began feasting upon the fresh flesh. But only a second later, a small explosion occurred amid the horde. It seemed the soldier had pulled the pins of the grenades he had on his body as he was falling. Fisher Three down. Weve run out of fuel. The first decoy drone eventually stopped working. The radio messages urging for retreat and the repeated bad news were persuading the platoon commander. The critical juncture of the mission was nigh. Retreating would mean safety and advancing would mean danger. Insight recommended Gyeoul to upgrade one of his skills. Telling him that at level 11, the superhuman level, hisMovement skill might help him tide over the difficulties he was facing. It meant that the government should break through this mess by correcting its ability to overcome extreme obstacles and avoid them. Gyeoul closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. Skill level 10 was, according to the description, the maximum level that an ordinary person could reach through sheer effort, the levels beyond that corresponded to the superhuman realm. Players had to spend a tremendous amount of experience points in order to achieve that. This was why Gyeoul only had one skill, Small Arms Mastery, at level 11. But it wasnt that he didnt have enough points. If he used up all his spare points, he could have raised it to level 14. The points he had earned from his interactions with NPCs plus the ones he saved up werent few at all. So Gyeouls dilemma wasnt whether or not he could do it, but rather if it was worth the consumption. But at that time, Sir, we have some strange mutants here! The creatures creeping in the distance were, indeed, very abnormal for mutants. Their whole body seemed to be swollen with muscles, but at the same time very sleek. Their skin was so pale that it was close to gray. While their skin mightve been wounded and scarred, it wasnt rotten like the other mutants. It meant that they had overcome the immune rejection. Is it that time already? The boy thought. They were a type of enhanced mutants commonly referred to as Ghouls. Though they were easier to deal with compared to variant mutants, they were trickier for they often appeared in packs. Brrrrt! Machine gun bullets knocked the enhanced mutants over. But having failed to hit their vital points, the soldiers could only watch the mutants quickly jumping back to their feet. It was then that the platoon commander made up his mind. And the same happened with the boy. Mother of Retreat! Retreat! However, the commander realized that the boy was moving opposite to the direction he had ordered. Wait, you! What are you doing! The commander called the boy in a fright. But when he was about to stop the boy, the boy had already run far off from the team. Gyeoul then jumped up the side of a house that was standing next to him, grabbed the edge of the eaves and climbed up to the roof with a flip. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. The link between Movement and Insight calculated the optimal routes and illustrated them through augmented reality. Dozens of lines that were being constantly updated according to the changing circumstances filled the boys view, and their colors changed based on the calculated success rate. Perhaps it was the boys dynamic movements that drew their attention, but the enhanced mutants came running towards the house he was standing on top of. When a mutant reached right beneath him, it jumped straight up to the eaves with its strengthened muscles and tried to pull itself up to the roof using the upward momentum. But before it could put its feet on the roof, Gyeoul kicked it hard on its chest. The mutant that took a boot to its thorax quickly plunged down and crashed onto the ground with a heavy thud. Realizing one mutant was finished, Gyeoul swiftly shifted his gaze back beneath his feet. There were five more Ghouls about to climb onto the roof. Gyeoul quickly fired his rifle at the mutants drawing near. The bullets shot from his rifle successfully became embedded into the head of the foremost one, but because its body created a blind spot, the other bullets were only able to hit the arms and legs of the rest of the mutants. The boy rushed without hesitation at the mutants that were now struggling to get back on their feet and swung his bayonet fixed under the muzzle of his rifle at the second enhanced mutant. The blade stuck deep into the grey flesh in its chest, sliced up to its neck until it cut through its brain stem. A new threat came from behind. The boy quickly spun around to avoid the gray hand while letting go of his rifle and thrust his leg out towards the mutants leg as he was spinning. With a loud crack of bones breaking, the third mutant lost its balance and tumbled down the roof. The boy quickly pulled his rifle out of the corpse as he saw the remaining mutants drawing near. But this time, the mutants were quicker. Before he could take aim, his right arm was grabbed by an incoming mutant. With his arms intertwined, his rifle held upside down, he saw the fifth enhanced mutant approaching from the rear. Gyeoul fed the handguard of his rifle into the snapping mouth of the fourth mutant and forcefully turned himself around until the muzzle was pointing at the fifth mutant. And when he was in position, the boy stuck his thumb into the trigger guard. The ribs of the mutant shattered from the bullets bast. Blood spewed out from the bullet holes and painted one edge of the roof with red. One more to go. The boy smiled. Gyeoul pressed down on the last mutant with pure strength. The power correction of his high-level combat skills made this possible. The Ghoul was soon brought to its knees. Then it was pushed back flat on the roof. The boy slowly sat on its chest, pressing both its arms with his knees. The pale-skinned mutant struggled to break free but to no avail. With his now free hands, Gyeoul grabbed his rifle backward and began pounding on the mutants head with the butt plate. Each time the rifle hit its face, bits of bloody flesh splattered onto the boys face. The sight of sheer violence had the messages log filled with cheers and shouts of those he was sharing his experience with. A sudden noise from the radio brought the boy back to reality. The next thing he knew, the mutant beneath him was already gasping for its last breath. Gyeoul stood up and took a glance around. The Rangers had already backed off far away from the boy with the wounded soldiers. Thankfully, not many mutants were heading towards their direction for some reason. Wondering where the rest could be, Gyeoul shifted his glance, searching for where the cries of the mutants he was hearing were coming from. And not before long, he was able to find the source of the sound. Just beneath the eave, the mutants were stacking themselves up, trying to reach for the boy on the roof. The boy then raised his head. Up in the sky, there were two helicopters still struggling to fight off the two Grumbles. Beneath it was an outdoor signboard that read Western Motel. The place where the civilians were hiding. But then, Gyeoul heard the platoon commander shouting his call sign through the radio. Clown! Clown! Hey, kid! Answer me! Clown here. What do you think youre doing? Do you have nine lives or something? What do you think a commander is for if you dont obey? A mixture of worry and anger showed from his voice. Im sorry, commander, but Im in a different line of command. Im under no obligation to follow your command. What the fuck are you talking about? Are you seriously out of your goddamn mind? Gyeoul, while pondering what to say, spotted a few keywords his Insight was providing. Im under Camp Roberts commanders jurisdiction, and the only order I received from him was to kill a few mutants in front of the camera at Santa Maria. In fact, he didnt delegate command to Captain McGuire either. So Ill be on my way to achieve the mission I was given. And maybe save some people while at it. Youve got to be kidding me S?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Ill be busy for a while. Please understand if theres no reply. As soon as he finished speaking, Gyeoul pulled out the pin of a grenade and bowled it down the roof. The small bomb trundled along the roof and fell just right on the forehead of one of the mutants at the top. Boom! Rotten flesh scattered in the air. The street was full of bits of corpses. Gyeoul started running. While treading down the mountain of bodies that were still wriggling, he jumped back on the street. A drone flew and stayed nearby. Its lens was capturing the boy. The gunfire from the helicopter stopped. They must have run out of ammunition. The helicopter turned its head back to headquarters. Now the fight was entirely up to Gyeoul. He was about 200 meters away from his destination. All the mutants that existed in between spotted the boy. On the road, there was now only the soldier boy and the mutant horde running towards each other. No matter how big a group was, if it wasnt under control, there was bound to be a gap in between. Gyeoul penetrated that very gap amongst the mutants and made his way through the incoming threats. Even if the gap was cut off in the middle, he created a new one by grabbing one of the swinging arms of the mutants and pulling at it to make it trip over. Another Ghoul showed up in front of the boy. But before the gray-skinned mutant could do anything, Gyeoul shot its knee right away. When the mutant came to a kneeling position, the boy stepped on it like a staircase and leaped over the heads of several mutants. Now that he had reached the other side of the street, there was no need to follow the road. The boy proceeded as he climbed over a wall, and ran from one roof to another. At last, the boy succeeded in pulling one of the two Grumbles aggro onto himself. The Grumble, having given up on finding the survivors, now fixed his two yellow eyes on Gyeoul and prepared for its dash pattern. There were still quite a few mutants in between them, but that didnt matter to the giant monster. [Kwerrgh!] And that was what the boy was waiting for. He was counting on his current evasion stat. Veins began to stick out from the monsters bulging legs. All the mutants that stood between the boy and the monster were trampled on. And when the hulking figure was about to reach the boy, Gyeoul leaped to the side with exact timing. Grumbles fist swung beside him by a single thread. Grumble only came to a stop after plowing through the pavement for ten more meters. Pshh- The monster slowly turned around, releasing steam through its nostrils. Gyeoul began to calculate Grumbles charge pattern once again. Watch your six, Clown! Boogie Two turned to you! He felt a sudden tingle on the back of his head. It was warning him of the emergence of another Grumble. The boy quickly knelt and aimed. He had to create a time gap between the charge patterns of the two monsters. His heaving shoulder from rapid breathing made it hard to keep his aim on the target, but it was okay, his shooting skill was at level 11. Brrt! The three bullets fired from Gyeouls rifle dug deep into the opening maw. Almost immediately, Gyeoul launched himself to the side. The Grumble that had yet to dash came tackling to where Gyeouls body used to be. While he was dodging, he heard the other ones roar. Before the boy could pick himself up, he rolled once again to dodge the second Grumble charging at him. Gyeoul repeated this pattern until the mutants in the main street were decimated. The entire street was strewn with corpses and drenched with blood. The helicopter returned after replenishing its ammunition. Perhaps that had triggered the mutants animal instinct. There were still a lot of mutants left on the street, but they began to scatter away. It was then when Gyeoul showed a change in his pattern. Instead of having the two Grumbles spread apart, he lured them into the same place. And when that was done, he began walking towards them as he stunned them by shooting at their screaming mouths. He had three grenades left. It wasnt enough to finish both of them, but enough to make them vulnerable. Once he was at the right distance, he threw all of his grenades, one by one, at each of their mouths. As a result, the one that took two grenades was put to death, and the other one also fell on its knees with blood pouring out of its orifices. The helicopter rapidly lowered its height as it spotted the monster in its vulnerable state. A soldier on the helicopter pointed the thick muzzle of his grenade launcher at the growling monster. Bloop- A light, resonant sound of a launching grenade. But the result wasnt light at all. Because of the explosive bullet that blew up before it could shut its mouth, the monster spew out flames mixed with blood out of all holes on its face. After confirming the death of the two giant mutants, Gyeoul glanced about the street. There it is. Western Motel. Gyeoul trudged towards the building where the survivors should be hiding. The remaining mutants were taken care of by the soldiers from the helicopter. One of the soldiers came before the boy and stood still as if wanting to say something. Failing to find the right words to say, the soldier came to a most courteous salute, before rushing off to continue fighting off the mutants. Chapter 38 Chapter 38# Unread Messages (2) BigBuffetBoy86: Ooh! Are we riding a helicopter?! Id love a helicopter ride! imaprodeadbeat: Thats one damn small chopper. I thought it was a toy or something. MagiNori: Are those plates where people sit? Saebom: Yeah, it looks like theyre sitting there. Did U.S. soldiers really ride that kind of dangerous thing back then? NoMemesForUrNickname: Yup. That model is called MH-6, and it was used quite a lot for operational purposes. People sitting on two sides can have a wide angle of view, can get on and off quickly, and the chopper itself is so small its fit for infiltration operations. GF_the_mythical_creature: anybody asked about this? ޤĤߤ: Wait, a helicopter? That cant be. ymROCKs: Why? ޤĤߤ: Because Matsumin is acrophobic! BestKorean: Then turn off the sensory synchronization. Or activate just a part of it. ޤĤߤ: I cant do that! BestKorean: Why? ޤĤߤ: I dont want to miss a single moment with Gyeoul-san! ymROCKs: Aww :3 Lemonade: Oh, the rotors are spinning! BigBuffetBoy86: Fuck! Its flying! Its flying! Jarapapa: Uh guys? Hes not holding the handle. Did he buckle up his seat belt? GF_the_mythical_creature: No, I think? MillionDollarLoan: Oh my gawwwwd! Hes friggin insane! This is gonna be made into a blooper montage if he falls lols Phisherman: Woah Does he even feel fear? franksausage: SHITSHITSHITSHITGRABTHEFUCKINGHANDLE!!!!! BigBuffetBoy86: Fuck! Fuuuck!!! ޤĤߤ: Kyaaaa! No Gyeoul-san! Dont do this to meeee! ޤĤߤ: Kyaaaa! ޤĤߤ: Kyaaaa! SnowyFox: Kyaaaa! ޤĤߤ: Kyaaaa! Magna Carta: Hahaha Matsumin broke dogeee: Matsumin-san! Youre so cute! Oldspice: I think there was a spy there ޤĤߤ: [ޤĤߤ donated 47.61 Stars.] pp224: Did she just donate stars while freaking out? looool FuckActiveX: But whats up with the number? Is that an error? Pprplz: Exchange rate, idiot FuckActiveX: Then what about the stars she has donated so far? Why didnt that happen before? Dumchit: Yeah whats up with that? ޤĤߤ: Thats! because! Japanese! are meticulous! ޤĤߤ: Kyaaa! Oldspice: lol she still says what she has to say even in that state GrapesOfWrath: I wish I had a girlfriend like her [SnowyFox donated 1 Star.] [SnowyFox donated 1 Star.] [SnowyFox donated 2,187 Stars.] updawg: omg. MURD3R: omg. Blackcoke: omg. ݧѧէڧާڧ: Only two more ActiveX to install. ԧ ֧ ߧ ӧѧѧݧ! I dont know who made these, but I will find you and I will kill you! # Intermission, The Mind of the Artificial Intelligence (2) Hello again, dear players. Were here again, to introduce you to our companys pride, the Artificial Intelligence Engine, Trinity. Last time, we talked about the TOM reading module. This time, I will be instructing you about the second key module in creating an artificial personality, the AI search module. S?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. So, what is the AI search module? AI Search Module literally means a search engine implemented using artificial intelligence. To be more specific, it is a function that scans through every record written in the World Wide Web, a.k.a. The sea of information, and finds answers that are well-suited to the given circumstances. How is this possible, you ask? Well, its not a complicated concept if you think about it. Lets take Social Networking Services for example. Just think about how many people are wasting their lives on SNS and how much information they willingly give away every day. Thanks to these wonderful services, we can get access to real-life examples of humanity such as love and hate, happiness and sadness, hope and despair, virtue and vice, and all the other emotions, knowledge, ideas, memories, and even peoples darkest stories. This massive amount of data has been accumulated throughout your daddys daddys daddys daddys and many more daddys generations, and this we call, the big data. The AI search module renders an artificial personality via data mining, an algorithm that finds the answer we want from within the big data. In fact, this module alone can create a personality by itself. In theory, that is. The problem with this method is that it would take too much time to search for the required information. You know, its not an easy matter to create a personality out of nowhere. According to the communication model suggested by the famous Merahdian, the literal content of a message is only 7% of what we want to communicate! The rest comes in the use of voice and body language. Which means, when you ask a question to a character in our game, the AI must find a right answer to the question, verify that the answer doesnt clash with the background and the situation of the game, search for the right tone, intonation, volume and even the facial expression and gesture that fits the characters intention! Can you imagine how long this process would take? But even with this, it is still impossible to create some of the more complex emotions. For example, the kind of thoughts one would have when getting angry at others for their own mistakes, it cannot be rendered perfectly just by running the search module. That is why the TOM reading module is important. Because it dramatically compresses the search scope. For a user with a high TOM rating and aptitude, the AI search module only takes up 10% of the process, or even lower, of creating a personality. Only when the two modules synergize, our artificial intelligence will please you with NPCs full of emotions and a wide variety of actions. Now, the question is, why am I explaining this again? Its simple. Its because of you, players, once again. Our dearest players who just happen to have heard that it is possible to render an artificial personality solely through the AI search module, and make complaint calls without knowing the technical limitations. Ha! If it was possible, why would we not do it? Even more so since I already told you were doing it for the money. Oh, also, Id like to take this moment to answer one of the FAQs. People have been asking us how we can render sexual experiences with such a high quality when we rely 100% on the AI search module. Well, thats you know Uhuhu Let me just tell you, over 70% of the big data that has been accumulated thus far is none other than pornography. This has been an announcement from the Virtual Reality Business Department of the Nakwon Group. Thank you for reading. Chapter 39 Chapter 39# Journal, Page 59, Santa Maria Together with the Rangers, we safely rescued the survivors that were hiding in Western Motel. Including some that had run off to the west, a total of 34 civilians were rescued. Many were wounded, but none of them fatallythat is, of course, without counting the ones who had already died. One man was completely infuriated with the survivors. It was the company commander, Captain Raymond Emmert. My soldiers died saving these scumbags?! The commander shouted as he drew his hand over his holster. But I could understand his rage. The civilians were, in fact, a gang of criminals. They were staying in the city in order to steal cash and valuables people had abandoned during the evacuation. They were quite suspicious, to begin with. There hadnt been any signs of survivors in Santa Maria for a very long time. What if that was because they didnt require help? The survivors werent in their right minds, possibly because they had just experienced a near-death situation. Not long after they were put through interrogation, they broke and confessed between sobs, that they could have escaped the city with the other civilians, but they intentionally hid in order to make a fortune. That was the moment when the commander lost his temper and pulled out his pistol. His hands trembled with anger, seemingly about to pull the trigger. The other officers hurriedly stopped him and dissuaded him, telling him that the deaths of his soldiers wouldve been meaningless if he were to kill them now, that they wouldve thrown their lives away for nothing. Captain Emmert eventually lowered his gun. But still seething with anger, he kicked the wall, so hard his ankle instantly swole up. It must have been very painful as he let out a painful groan while oblivious of his appearance. But not a single person in the room let out the slightest giggle. Before my return to the camp, I was visited by several people. Some of them came to tell me their names, and some came to give me their address in order to exchange letters. Some even requested to exchange something as a souvenir. I was very embarrassed when I was asked because I hadnt brought anything with me. In any case, they all began to treat me in a friendly way. I was acknowledged for my ability. Only, Lieutenant John Frey, the commander of the platoon I worked with, had an ambiguous attitude. Probably because I didnt follow his instructions during the operation. I couldnt tell if his words were meant as praise or criticism. But I could still tell that he was a warm-hearted person. Just before turning away, he handed me a zippo lighter as a present. It was a pretty high-quality product. There was a line of hand-carved words inside the lid. Rangers lead the way. J.E.F. When I thanked him for the nice present, he scratched his head and left. Will we really meet again? Before leaving, I took a photo with the Ranger company. This was the only thing Captain McGuires crew did on this mission. I offered him a few words of comfortthat it was a shame he couldnt film anything. But the captain shook his head. I guess you didnt know this, but all the drones you had with you had a recording function. So we got all your actions in front of the drones on camera. The quality isnt as good as if we had filmed with the proper equipment, but because of that, its even more dynamic and realistic. So dont worry, our mission was a great success. I had no idea the drones had that kind of function. It was a quite unique experience, I should say. Unique and eye-opening. I didnt trust you very much in the beginning. I thought you were just a made-up character, a fake hero. Never did I think there would be a second John Basilone in the world. It was my first time seeing him smile in front of me. Ive turned countless lies into truths. Because that is my job, you know? But now I fear that people might dismiss this truth as another one of our lies. To my shame, he asked for a handshake. It was a Bronze Star you got last time, right? Well, its time to change it to a silver one. If we put this footage on TV, the upper-ups wont be able to deny giving you one. Congratulations in advance. My boss wont be happy about it. I couldnt understand what the last sentence could have meant. I asked him about it, but he didnt give me the answer, saying that Id find out eventually. The helicopter passed over the city of Santa Maria on our way back. Look, lieutenant. Theres the street you fought in. The pilot said through the helicopter radio. He must have flown over there on purpose. The traces of our desperate fight were aglow with the sunset. The vivid traces of death, the bloodstains scattered on the road were now part of a desolate landscape while being drenched in the warm light. Everything seemed strange. The view I had during that fierce and intense 200-meters sprint down the street was so different from this scenery. When I looked down below, mutants were looking up, with their arms stretched at us. Looking at their jittering mouths, it seemed as if they were trying to say something to us. After circling twice, the helicopters flew across the sky with the sunset on our left. # Journal, Page 62, Camp Roberts The next morning after coming back from Santa Maria. Just like every other morning, I turned on the TV as soon as I got up, not expecting to see my face on the screen. I tried flipping through the few channels it offered, but it was futile. To make it worse, they all had the same subtitles beneath the footage, so embarrassing made me want to just curl up and die. The miracle of Santa Maria The press, thirsty for chauvinistic news, poured out all kinds of positive comments about me. Even the spokesman of the Defense Ministry came up on TV. Emphasizing the fact that I was an American citizen, he announced that they were considering compensating me for my heroic deeds. All the while, I was glad that the media was turning positive towards the refugee issue. But Lieutenant Capstone didnt seem happy about what happened yesterday. Lieutenant Han, I know youre an excellent soldier. But you went too far this time. How can you run into the middle of the battlefield all by yourself? You have people depending on you, remember? I told him that it was to save other people, but he wasnt convinced. Yes, I know. That is a very noble thought, indeed. But you have to learn to think more rationally. You have the talent that the world needs, a talent that will save hundreds and thousands of lives. But thats meaningless if youre not alive, right? You have to be more sparing of yourself. The people you cannot save at the moment is merely a small portion compared to how many you will be able to save in the future. I replied that no one in the world isnt special and that no matter how many people I save, leaving someone to die is not something that can be justified with just saving more people. After a brief silence, the lieutenant pointed out another problem. Do you feel responsible for the refugees? If you work, the treatment of the rest of the refugees will change Is that why youre running the risks? As usual, Lieutenant Capstone was worrying about me. It was only after I promised him to be more careful that he let me out with a suspicious eye. On my way to the refugee district, I ran into Captain Magath. When I saluted him, he did salute back, but with a bitter eye. He was on his way out of the Chinese settlement district. It was questionable what a racist like him was doing there. There was a cluster of people gathered in the vacant lot, all of them staring at something on the other side. I went near them to see what they were doing, something that I immediately regretted. Because on the white screen which everyones eyes were focused on, the same news that I watched this morning was being played through a projector. I snuck back behind the crowd and called up to one of the soldiers on patrol to ask him what was all about. He said there was an instruction from the public affairs division of the Department of Defense. He then looked at me with curious eyes and asked whether or not it was real. When I gave him the affirmation, the soldier rejoiced, saying that he won a bet. A bet? Even after the soldier left, I stayed and watched the video for a while. It was strange to see myself from a third-person view. On the screen, I was having a fierce battle with five gray-skinned mutants. As one drew near with its clattering teeth, all the people there, regardless of nationality, gasped out loud. And the exclamations they let out each time I slew one of the mutants put me to blush. I couldnt help but blame the drone team for filming it so up close. It was a mistake to stay there and watch the rest of the footage. Just when I was about to leave, one of the people turned around and found me. Starting with that person, more and more people turned to look at me, and eventually, the whole crowd shuffled and buzzed. Fewer people showed open hostility against me compared to before. Instead, many of them looked quite intimidated and seemed afraid of me. Other than them, some looked at me with eyes full of greed, envy and some even worship. Unable to stand the eyes focused on me, I ended up running away from the crowd. # Journal, Page 63, Camp Roberts Winter Alliance has become quieter than it used to be. To be exact, they remained silent when I was with them. The video must have been too shocking. Their eyes when looking at me were not the same as before. More people began to feel uneasy around me, and those who approached me to flatter me also increased. Even Jinseok was no exception. Yura and Wangi were the only ones who didnt change. Deputy Leader Min just laughed it away, saying it was quite interesting to see how people could change so quickly. What became certain was that no one in the camp was looking down on me now because of my age. The changed atmosphere was awkward, it was something I had to endure. I just hope it will get better as time goes by. # Stabilization (1), Camp Roberts Just like the glacial and interglacial cycles of Earth, in Days After Apocalypse, a major event was often followed by a peaceful period. This period for the player to prepare for the next stage. Gyeoul judged that it was now time for this interglacial period to arrive. He had to prepare before the wheels of the apocalypse set in motion once again. This was an opportunity to strengthen the inner circle of Winter Alliance and shape up their fighting power. Without a moments delay, Gyeoul quickly organized a training regime and visited the operations officer to get it signed. The operations officer, other than demanding a written plan, wasnt very fussy about it. Rather, he was very willing to provide support. He issued them basic items like training suits and MREs, and even permitted him to use the military facilities for showers and dining. The miracle of Santa Maria must have left quite an impression on him too. Gyeoul invested the experience points he earned from Santa Maria on Teaching. Thanks to having learned many skills in his previous playthroughs, Talent Advantage took care of a large sum of the points required till level 10. The problem was whether or not to raise it to 11. He wanted to save as many points as possible to upgrade the rest of his combat skills. His pondering continued for a long time, but only until his eyes reached Yura. Yura, being told that the training would begin, was showing a great level of tension, just as high as her anticipation. It was so intense that her right arm and right leg, and her left arm and left leg, were swinging in the same direction as she walked. Shaking his head, Gyeoul tapped on the plus button next to the Teaching skill gauge. Now that everything was ready, Gyeoul recruited members for the combat team. He first drafted triple the number required with the intention of eliminating the unqualified draftees throughout the training course. Except for the otherworldly being, the player, the in-game characters were within the bounds of common sense. So the training methods had to be in line with them. The most simple and effective of all trainings, the PT training. Dont you think this is too harsh for us? Youll be fine, Gyeoul answered with a smile. Yura gave him a reproachful glance, but it didnt last for long. Shed rather gasp for air if she still had the energy to scowl at him. The rest of them werent exactly in a better condition either. It must have been a long time since any of them had done a two-mile run. Yura threw her orange striped yellow vest to the ground. Thick drops of sweat streamed down her cheeks. Once the running was over, many of the volunteers dry-retched and laid on their backs on the ground. Sergeant Pierce, who had tagged along just to give him a piece of advice or two, enjoyed the way Gyeoul trained the refugees. In addition to that, he seemed surprised at how the boys breath was still calm despite having run along with them. Surely extraordinary for your size, sir. Gyeoul also complimented the sergeant who ran next to him. Youre doing great for your age, too. Sergeant Pierce burst into laughter. Gyeoul took a quick peek at the viewers messages log, fearing it would be filled with complaints. If he were to consider the viewers, this was the kind of part that should have been skipped. But if he did so, the Teaching skill wouldnt take effect. But when he saw the message log, he was surprised at two things; one, at how none of the viewers were complaining, and the other, at how dirty people could get. No matter which line he read, it was either a sexual comment of girls or guys drenched in sweat or those who were playing along. Gyeoul barely held back his sigh when he saw a message asking him to capture Yuras body on screen, but eventually broke into a groan when a viewer granted him a quest to force her to train until she vomited. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The sergeant, not knowing the situation, misinterpreted his groan. Are they not up to expectation? Huh? Oh, no. I was thinking about something else. The sergeant looked at him suspiciously for a second, but he eventually let it slide. To train soldiers to be prepared for combat situations, we often use metabolic conditioning to train them for short-term endurance. So instead of having them run just two miles, why dont you have them do a shuttle run? Sure, that sounds like a good idea. Gyeoul then checked the augmented reality UI that his skills were providing. On it, the combination of Teaching and Insight was informing him of the appropriate amount of exercise and resting time for each of the individuals. Lets get back up. What? Already? I heard exercising too much could be harmful to the body I think youve had enough rest. I really cant move though Can we take a little more rest, please? The refugees looked at him with a look of appeal. Some of the girls even had tears welled up in their eyes. Just when Gyeoul was worrying if it would ruin his image, Sergeant Pierce tapped his shoulder. Sir, you have to be a devil when youre wearing this, he said, pointing at his boonie hat, the same wide-brimmed soldier hat Gyeoul was wearing. The boy gave him a nod of gratitude and turned to the refugees with a regretful look. Im sorry, but I guess I have to follow the rules here. Come on everybody. Get up. Urgh Sergeant Pierce had become a true devil. Having them lie down and roll about on the ground, the sergeant made sure everyone was covered in dirt. Lunchtime. Gyeoul handed out the MREs to each of the volunteers. The operations officer had supplied them saying that getting used to eating this kind of army ration was also an important part of the training. Considering the previous treatment refugees received, he could see how much expectations were placed on the refugee volunteer units. Is it just me or the rations are salty as heck? One of the refugees complained. Thats because its made to help you get the salt you lost through sweating. Youll have to get used to it. The refugees seemed so exhausted they couldnt eat their meal properly, but none of them dared to waste their food. There had been times when they could barely have a piece of bread in their mouth. As the break grew longer, the refugees went looking for the clothes they had thrown off next to the track. Camp Roberts winter was similar to the late fall of Korea. The wind on a cloudy day was enough to fill them with the chill. Sergeant Pierce took a few minutes and taught the refugees a cadence. The refugees had a hard time even following the lyrics. Because it was in English. Only a couple who could speak English chuckled at the lyrics. After a couple more sessions in the afternoon, Sergeant came and suggested to the boy, How about we have them do a double-time march when we return? Hmm You mean, for a show? The sergeant made a toothy smile. Ive heard there are fierce power struggles between the refugee groups. The double-time march may not look like much, but its good for a show, especially in this hell hole were trapped in. Is this why you taught them a cadence? Fair is fair, you know? What kind of soldier doesnt know how to sing a cadence? The evening was a time of true happiness for the volunteers. The refugees were allowed to enter the DFAC, though it was only after the soldiers had finished using it. The menus had become a lot shabbier than before, but the meals prepared for the soldiers were qualitatively different from those of the refugees. So Gyeoul had to swear his guts out to stop them from binge eating. The girls burst into tears when they were allowed to take a hot shower after dinner. A time limit of 10 minutes. It was enough for the men but too little for the women. Nonetheless, everyone had an expression as though they had never been that happy in their lives. Gyeoul decided to accept the sergeants suggestion. The refugees passed through the checkpoint of the refugee district at a quick march, mumbling the cadence they had learned during the day. My Old Granny, Shes 91 She did PT just for fun My Old Granny, Shes 92 She did PT better than you My Old Granny, Shes 93 She did PT better than me My Old Granny, Shes 97 She up and died and went to heaven She met St. Peter at the pearly gates Said, St. Peter, St. Peter, hope Im not late St. Peter said with a big ol grin Get down granny, and knock out ten Passing through several districts, the soldiers guarding the checkpoint laughed out loud when they saw the refugees, while the other refugees wore a dazed look, not knowing what they were doing. The running refugees, despite their aching legs, couldnt stop the giggles and chuckles from escaping their lips. Chapter 40 Chapter 40# Journal, Page 65, Camp Roberts Once again, an award ceremony was held to confer me a medal. As Captain McGuire had predicted, I was awarded the Silver Star Medal. The officer dispatched for the ceremony was the same one who came to deliver the Bronze Star. Brees was his name. Hes a major of the public affairs department. He was still wearing a nervous and edgy-looking face, but unlike last time, he wasnt wearing a gas mask. He must have heard that the pathogen isnt airborne. The major looked at me with lowered brows. Though his lips didnt budge at all, I almost felt like I could hear him saying whats with this kid that makes me come to this place over and over? Also, it was then that I realized that the boss Captain McGuire had talked about was, in fact, Major Brees. I now understood what he meant when he said that his boss hated it when I received a medal. Even before the ceremony commenced, his eyes were already sunk with fatigue. Same as last time, the dedicatory letter was read by the battalion commander. As for me, I was dressed in a full dress uniform and called to the front of the podium. Though I only had one more badge on me, they felt quite weighty on my chest. Cameras, many more than last time, were installed in front of the podium to catch the ceremony on tape. The reporters that crossed the blockade at the risk of their lives clung to me like hungry beasts. Please tell us how you feel about being the youngest lieutenant in the history of the States! Could you give us a little recount of the Santa Maria operation? What are your plans for the future? The questions they asked werent too bad in the beginning. However. Do you have a girlfriend? If you dont, could you tell us a bit about the kind of girls you like? What kind of food do you like? Please say a word to your fans! I couldnt understand why they would ask this kind of stuff. Whats up with the fan thing anyway? While I was being barraged with questions, Major Brees stuck next to me and contained the reporters, telling them which questions were inappropriate, demanding them to show him what they wrote down or to fix some parts, and so on. It could be viewed as an infringement to the freedom of speech, but none of the reporters seemed to be bothered by it. It was one of those chauvinism things that Lieutenant Capstone talked about. Oh, I should call him Captain Capstone now. He got his promotion just today, I keep forgetting to call him captain. They said his promotion was for discovering a great soldier. But despite the good news, the person concerned didnt look happy at allashamed was what he said. He complained that I shouldve received more rewards. Other soldiers who came to congratulate me also said similar things. I cant believe they got away with just a Silver Star. You shouldve gotten at least a Medal of Honor. Thats what I mean. I reckon no one has ever achieved such a great service in battle like our shavetail, right? Well, maybe except for John Basilone and Audie Murphy. Those two are yeah. But I personally think Lieutenant Gyoul is better. It was Latchman and Siriss conversation. I only gave them a smile in return. Its because theyre playing politics, Master Sergeant Pierce stepped in. What do you mean? Its obvious what they are thinking. They wanna make a refugee leader, but theyre afraid of giving too much power to one person. They mustve learned something from Afghanistan, right? He had a point with his argument. They couldnt let another uncontrollable armed group appear. Eggs were not to be put in the same basket. Whoa, youre surprisingly clever. You look like a brainless macho on the outside tho Said Guilherme, chuckling for a moment until he got slapped on the back. Do you realize how many years Ive been in the army? Theres a lot of things you can hear if you have friends in other regiments or divisions. Surviving in the army, its all about politics. You gotta be good at it if you ever wanna be called general. Do you remember what happened to William Swenson? No matter how hard you work, youll never get a promotion if you get on the wrong side of people, like him. I didnt know who William Swenson was, but judging by the other soldiers nodding at him, he must have been one of the soldiers that went through unfair treatment. But Lieutenant Han, is this really it? I mean, no promotion, no money, no nothing? I shook my head at Guilhermes question. I told him that my promotion was scheduled for a later date. According to Major Brees, it would be after I obtain the suitable qualifications. A formal officer training was what he meant by suitable qualifications. I was told that I would receive additional education and training, and would have to be tested to get my promotion. A celebration was held in the U.S. citizens district after the ceremony. It wasnt in the official schedule, but it was added due to the citizens request. I was given a huge bunch of flowers from a lot of people, including little kids. Many of them thanked me with a handshake. Thank you for your service, sir. The sentence that American soldiers hear the most from civilians. Hearing it directed at me made me feel strange. It took me a while before I could figure out what to say in return. Thank you, I appreciate your support. Some kids asked me to take pictures with them. They called me a hero. It wasnt anything special in the U.S. Children here grow up being taught to respect soldiers, firefighters, and police officers as heroes. Its part of their government policies. But to me, it was just too strange. We didnt treat our soldiers like them back in Korea. The atmosphere there was very alien to me. Its almost like a completely different world compared to the refugee camps. They werent exactly living on an easy street. However, their lives there werent as miserable as those from beyond the barbed wire fences. People hadnt lost their smiles. The fences were serving as the boundary separating civilization from barbarism. I got to see the people I rescued from Paso Robles. Those who had been unfriendly to me came to me apologizing. It must have been the effect of the news about the Miracle of Santa Maria. I accepted their apology with a good heart. Principal Hamilton still thought of me as a kid. Though his lips were smiling, it seemed somewhat bitter. Hes a good man, but hes stubborn about his beliefs. While I was taking a rest, an old man who introduced himself as a Vietnamese war veteran came to speak to me. He asked me about the battles I went through at first, but then he brought up his past story. The war I went through wasnt as honorable as people think. His story was heavy. A battlefield where it was impossible to tell apart civilians from enemies. And mistakes he made blinded by hatred and anger. He then finished his story with a word of advice. I know youre fighting for a just cause. But sometimes, the right thing for you is the wrong thing for someone else. So please, dont make choices you would regret making as I did. I engraved his words in my mind. # Journal, Page 68, Camp Roberts Todays news had some information worth listening to. First, the government officially gave a name to the strange mutants I encountered in Santa Maria. Ghoul These mutants have an appearance similar to normal mutants but possess a significantly enhanced physical ability. The Centers for Disease Control also announced that Morgellons has gone beyond adapting to the host and is confirmed to be something completely different from any other disease, viruses, or parasites found so far. Just as humans use, develop, and create tools from resources in the environment, Morgellons also uses and develops its human hosts and turns them into their tools. As such, the criteria for classifying mutants have also been redefined. They classified whether a mutant is enhanced by their physical ability and whether it is special by their abilities, and marked each type of mutant with a grade and name. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense announced a new measure to deter the mutants. The plan is to set up more than 3,000 Noise Maker units beyond the barricade to lure the mutants with the noise. To this end, they said they have been conducting experiments in the field so far. A plan to secure safety by disrupting the mutants in the surrounding areas before deploying ground forces. If it is brought to realization, the refugee camps will also be much safer. DOD further announced plans to reclaim the contaminated areas. They are planning to establish advanced bases and deploy artillery in each of the areas to eliminate the mutants. # Stabilization (1), San Miguel. Few days after the training began, Gyeoul decided to conduct training in the field. The refugees were too afraid of going outside the camps confines. They needed to get over this psychological resistance to be able to fight the mutants. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. There was a person who refused to step over the border. It was a girl, and she was so scared she completely lost her ability to think rationally. Gyeoul knocked her out without hesitation. Gyeoul brought the rest of the team to San Miguel. Despite being the field, it was much safer than anywhere else. As it was the closest base to Camp Roberts, units on mission passed through this area several times a day even. But dont let your guard down. They keep coming in from other areas. According to the air reconnaissance report conducted this morning, a few mutants were roaming around the city. There could be more considering all the buildings here. Some people gulped at the boys warning. Along the road running side by side with the railroad, Gyeouls team entered the northern part of the city. The partially destroyed flour factory was the first thing that came into their view. The train wreckage had been left unattended. The traces of the fierce battle also remained the same. The specks of blood and the traces of explosions were still clearly visible on the road. If anything was different was that there was a big pile of burnt bodies in the vacant lot next to the factory. This is the place where you had your first fight, right, little boss? Yeah. We were here packing up the food we found here, but then a train came in, derailed next to the factory, crashing into the wall. Each car was loaded with mutants. The members carefully examined the site. Walking in a straight line with their eyes fixed on the train, they seemed like a group of tourists visiting a war exhibition. They were citizens evacuating the city, right? There must have been an infected one among the passengers. Theres a doll over here. Looks like there were kids on board too. Poor kids The streets were awfully grim and dreary. There were signs left by the soldiers from place to place. They denoted the locations of the shelter, weapons, and food prepared for emergencies. There was also a means to contact the military for possible survivors. Try to get acclimated first. O-okay! One of the volunteers nervously shouted out. It was so loud that an echo of his voice resounded back to them. He was soon the focus of the others eyes. Oh, I see a mutant there, Gyeoul said, almost joyfully. Towards the direction where the boys finger was pointing at, a mutant was coming from around the corner of a motel. Both the refugees and the mutant screamed out loud, but with different purposes. Gwerrgh! Im gonna go capture it, so dont shoot, Gyeoul said before springing out towards the mutant. Okay Wait, what? The mutant clattered its teeth at the food that was approaching by itself. However, the boy, who already possessed level 10 Close Combat, took one step to the left to dodge its arm and raised his leg to hit its lower jaw with his heavy boot. With a loud thud, its tongue that was flailing out of its mouth was severed by its own teeth and fell helplessly onto the ground. After smashing its face a few more times, Gyeoul took out a piece of cloth he had prepared in advance and shoved it into its mouth, and tightly tied the two ends of the cloth at the back of its head to stop it from making more sound. Once he was done, the boy dragged the mutant back to the refugees. The f. The faction members just stood there with their mouths agape. To them, the mutants were an object of dread. Scarier because they didnt know what they really were. But now, they had seen the boy subduing their source of fear in less than a minute. And thanks to that, the fear that had been overinflated due to their imaginations crumbled down. Come closer and have a look. This is what the mutants look like. One by one, the people approached the mutant. The mutants occasional spasms scared them off a few steps, but seeing the boys hand tightly clenching its neck, they came right back to study the mutant. If youre done watching it, lets get to the training. Come out here one at a time and Im gonna have the mutant grab your arm. Yes?! Were here to teach you how to overcome fear. Since Yura-ssi is the leader, youll be the first. For the rest of you, lets take turns from left to right. Now, come on out Yura-ssi. It took some time before Yura stepped up. With teary eyes, Yura approached the mutant, one step at a time. And just when she got to arms reach, a pair of rotten hands quickly snatched her arms. Gasp! Yura soon went completely stiff. Shaking the mutants arm off was supposed to be part of the training, but she didnt budge an inch. Gyeoul swiftly struck the back of the mutants head. The mutant lost his grip on her arm and Yura quickly stepped back, but after a few steps, she dropped down on the floor and began to whimper. The other girls came from behind to comfort her. Chapter 41 [About 30 of you guys have asked me to do a trial of this novel. I typically upload place-holder chapters since we do quite a production in preparation for mass releases and a regular schedule. Most services that do it at our scale have the legal ability to take down the series from another group on NU once theyre prepared, however, we dont have such authority since we are still a fan translations site. Anyways, this will be the last trial series that will be added to our site for some time. All of the other series already have teams being built. Im looking forward to seeing feedback regarding this series, our current capacity for a new series is only 15-20 chapters per week due to workload issues. Cheers!] #Stability (3), Camp Roberts The efficiency of training increased as the target lessened, and that was why Gyeoul was making Yura work hard even during the weekend. She clenched her teeth and withstood the trials that tested her physical and psychological limits. For now, it was fire training. There were eight large targets at a 10-meter distance. Each target has ten numbers written on them, and she needed to hit the multiples of 7. Additionally, she couldnt stay in one place for more than 3 seconds. Multiple of 7, multiple of 7. Yura kept on mumbling to herself. Gyeoul pressed the stopwatch and blew his whistle. You fucking whore! A bitch like you being born was a mistake! Fuck, why were you even born?! Dont you ever feel sorry for your parents?! Or is your mother a fucking bitch too?! The middle-aged man started shouting at Yura with all kinds of curses and swears. He even shoved her hard. Yura bit her lips and endured it. Bang! The first shot was a miss. Another shot fired, then another shot, and another. She fired four times before 3 seconds passed by, then took two steps forward before she took aim again. Wavering iron-sight. The guy was still yelling at her, and his breath stank. Yura felt her mind plunged into chaos. Was 42 a factor of 7? She couldnt properly think as her head went blank. She fired and moved with feelings of uncertainty. Next target. Her wavering eyes quickly scanned the entire range. 19? No. 25? No. 63?7 times 9. Right. I should fire. Did I? Did I miss? Againshit, 3 seconds! Gyeoul scored her as he moved along with her steps. It was a method where it started from 100 then decreased whenever she missed; if she halted more than 3 seconds, a deduction per second. If she hit the wrong number, deduction. If it was in the incorrect order, deduction. As Yura passed through the second target, her score was already down to 79. Clack. She was out of ammo. As she drew a magazine with one hand, she took out the spare with another. Shit! She missed, and as she made a long face, Gyeoul deducted 5 points. The swears of the man with bad breath fell onto her head like a waterfall as she hastily picked up magazines. As she had no time to mind her surroundings, she ran to the next target, and she left behind two numbers that were to be shot, but she was gradually getting better. If she remained the same till the end, her final score shouldve been zero. Forty-seven points? Yes. A minute and nineteen seconds with a score of forty-seven points. You did well. Sigh Yura scooched down while covering her face, her shoulders shivering a bit. Sniffle. She wiped her tears away with her hands. The man who had been cursing at her now suddenly felt very sorry for her. Ah Im sorry, Ms. Yura. You know I dont mean them, right? I know. Its just hard, thats all. Ill be fine after a while. Its not my first. Gyeoul sat next to her and offered her his handkerchief. She accepted it without a word, wiping her tears away firmly. The middle-aged man who helped in the training tried to read the mood then sat next to Gyeoul. Ahem, hmm! He cleared his throat. Gyeoul smiled and checked his pocket. What came out from it was a pack of cigarettes. After tapping the bottom, he offered it to the older man, who accepted it with a sigh. As he put the cigarette into his mouth, Gyeoul lit it. Pfft-! The end of the cigarette began to smolder. The older man held his breath after inhaling the smoke, then after enough time that anyone would be worried about him, he exhaled and began to grumble. I came here thinking its great to be able to smoke, but without it, this isnt a job worth doing. I wondered what kind of work it would be since I was told to prepare a bunch of cursesthe one who undergoes the hardest time will be Ms. Yura, though. Honestly, I was damn scared thinking, what if she shoots me. He said it half-jokingly, the cigarette burning fast. Gyeoul didnt bother replying. What they all needed was some silence. After a few minutes, Yura stopped crying and spoke up. Why are we doing this practice? Then right after, Yura continued. Its not like I hate it. I just want to knowlike hitting the target from a distance seems to be more important Then she started to cough. Cough, cough. It was because the wind direction shifted, and she ended up inhaling the cigarette smoke. The middle-aged man moved away awkwardly. With a gentle smile, Gyeoul turned to her. Its a training for maintaining calm and rational judgment at times of crisis. Ms. Yura, youre the combat squad leader. Once the platoon is formed, you will be the platoon leader. If you lost your cool in a real battle, not just you but everyone in the platoon would be in danger. I want to avoid that happening. That was why Yura was wiping her face. After she took the handkerchief while promising that she would return it after washing it, she stood up while mentally preparing herself up. She slapped both of her cheeks. Smack! Then, more tears fell with a different meaning than the ones earlier. The middle-aged man burst into laughter. Pretending nothing happened, Yura started to talk. I will do better. Whats next? She ran and rolled. The firing practice took place several more times. She withstood them well. It was her innate ability which Gyeoul saw through, her desire to live up to their expectations, and an effect of less stamina consumption from the training effect. As dusk arrived, Yura was completely exhausted. As Gyeoul moved to help her stand up, she refused him. She didnt want to look weak to the people around her. It was like she paid more attention to the gazes from members of other organizations rather than her own members. It was clear evidence that she understood well the position she would take over. Huh, it seems like something happened. The middle-aged man sounded surprised as he was walking a step ahead of them. There was a crowd near the base of the Winter Alliance. As if they were choosing sides, they stood apart from one another and were shouting at each other while pointing fingers. Gyeoul left Yura in the care of the middle-aged man. Come slowly. Ill go ahead. As he drew close, the atmosphere changed. On the one side were people of the Winter Alliance. The expressions of the familiar faces became bright upon his arrival, and cheers came from the crowd. The other side was from the Multibody Promotion Association. Gyeoul saw people who stayed with Lim HwaSu. As they exchanged glances, it was evident that everyone was scared. But why would the non-combatants be here? Two officers from the crowd approached him. Were glad that you came, commander. We were thinking of sending someone to call you here Jang YeonChul greeted Gyeoul brightly. His forehead was covered with sweat. Min Wangi pretended as nothing happened, but his hands were shaking lightly. It was because he stood at the front as an officer. It mustve been hard for a scholar to stand in front of brutes like this. What was all that? Care for an explanation? As Jang YeonChul tried to reply, a kid came from the crowds of the Multibody Promotion Association. That guy took away our Mong-E! He seemed to be ten-years-old. His tiny eyes were filled with tears and hate. A woman who looked like the kids mother came out in a hurry. She embraced her child and bowed to Gyeoul multiple times. Im sorry, Im sorry. And as she tried to walk back, Gyeoul held her. The mother was frightened, but Gyeoul quickly pulled his hand back to give her some reassurance. Wait a second. Id like to hear him out. I wont harm anyone; you have my word. It seemed like they didnt believe him, but they stood still since they couldnt disobey Gyeoul. It looked like he had heard all the bad rumors about the boy. Well, they were from the Multibody Promotion Association. The boy ran away from his mother as Gyeoul got on his knees to make eye contact with him. I dont know whats going on, so can you tell me who Mong-E is? Is he your dog? Yes, a dog! My mother said it was my brother! Gyeoul had a glimpse of whats happening. So, he asked once more. I see. Then, who took Mong-E? That man did! As he looked in the direction of where the boy was pointing, there stood a man who looked confused. The crowd scattered as Gyeoul waved the man over. Come over here. The man came overlooking a bit resentful, and Gyeoul quickly identified his name. Im not quite sure whether my memory is accurate but are youJaeHeung? At that moment, the mans expression became lighter. Yes, little commander. You remembered. He wasnt really a special person; Gyeoul just tried his best to remember the names of all members of Winter Alliance. It was his self-assigned task to become a good leader. Anyway, he looked like he had mixed up Gyeouls intention with something else. Gyeoul started his questioning. Let me ask, did you take away this boys puppy? Yes, No. He expected the answer to be either of these two, but a vast explanation came out instead. Aha, actually, there has been a misunderstanding Self-justification required a lot of words. Gyeoul wanted to make faces at him, but he endured, as doing that would make him add up more excuses. So, to summarize the story. Gyeoul heard the entire story and skipped the unnecessary parts. You took it thinking that the puppy didnt have an owner, right? JaeHeung nodded while looking delighted. Thats right. A dog was roaming around, and there was nobody nearby, so The boy yelled loudly. Liar! I had Mong-E with me! You took him away from me! You bastard! Uh-oh! Calling an adult bastard, where did you learn such manners! JaeHeung suddenly yelled back, pointing at the mother. Better educate your damn son! This mess was all because that undisciplined boy cant even take care of his damn dog! A bamboo basket cant carry water. You hear me?! Several complaints were heard from the side of Multibody Promotion Alliance, but its scale was too small. Gyeoul weighed them down. The man, JaeHeung, started to show his nerve. He believed that the one with a louder voice would win. Gyeoul held his pointing finger. Huh? Little commander? S?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. JaeHeung stopped over-reacting and started to read Gyeouls mood. As Gyeoul made him put his hand down, he calmly asked the man. So Ill reconfirm. You were saying when you picked up the dog, nobody was there, right? Thats correct! So at that moment I Stop it there. Now, try to answer as short as possible from now on. JaeHeung seemed a bit indignant as his words were stopped, but he nodded. Gyeoul asked the boys mother to close his ears for a while. It was because he knew the answer to the question. However, he cannot just let it slip by in order to investigate. Then what did you do with the dog? Arghwell, I tried to look for its owner, but you see, we dont live so well, so Make it simple. I ate it. An answer from his quiet murmur. How much would the boy cry if he heard his dog was eaten? The boys mother closed both of her eyes tightly. The puppy was like a brother to the boy, so the mothers attachment to the dog wouldve also been great. JaeHeung. You realize your words are contradicting themselves, right? Gyeouls head was tilted slightly, and his voice lowered. You dont make any sense from the start. If there was nobody when you picked up the dog, how on earth made this boy point to you as the culprit? What do you think of the possibility of a boy who knows nothing about the situation pointing at someone to be a dog thief? A dog thief! Youre crossing your line there! Then should I call you a liar? Or a swindler? Either one is associated with thievery, which I hate. Take your pick. Then the dog thief made a frustrated expression. He put his arms on his waist, then became silent as he looked at the ground. At last, he uttered with a sigh. Little commander, you arent supposed to do that. What have I done wrong? Were on the same side! He beat his chest out of frustration. Im not that stupid. I beat around the bush, so you have to take my side adequately! Huh? All people from both sides are watching and whats all this? Its a shame. This will do no good for you too! How would this in any way affect me? Who would follow a commander that wont side with his people? Huh? Just a damn dog, if you keep on cornering a person with this petty matter, who would, in the future, trust you to take the role of a leader in an important matterwell, thats my point-. He shook his hand and started talking passionately. Speaking of which, what kind of a person raises a dog in this situation, right? I mean, we dont even have enough food for people, and speaking of dog food, ridiculous, isnt it? People come first before dogs, and its not the other way around, am I wrong? What kind of a sane person just leaves the dog as is, dont you think so? That would be making everyone a fool. Since we all have to bear with that ridiculous situation! Yes. I admit I did make a small mistake. But the world were living in changed. At such times, we have to go with the flow and take good care of our own men so they can feel like, wow- this guy is my commander! And theyll all pledge their loyalty. Yes? Dont you think so? So commander, have all those people leave and lets talk by ourselves. Huh? Were all losing face here. You can stop. Gyeoul stopped him from talking. The boy was crying. Although he didnt hear the part where his dog was eaten, he had some sense of what happened. Why else would his mother cover his ears, and why would the crowd make such faces? Gyeoul knelt towards the boy and the mother. My apologies. Small cries spread throughout the crowd. He didnt bother with them. Gyeoul bowed down to the point that his head was nearly touching the ground. I apologize on his behalf. Im truly sorry. What madness, this was crazy. It was JaeHeung that was murmuring these sentences. He tried to have Gyeoul stand up not to lose his face, but it was a meaningless effort. This continued on for a while. From the crowd of Multibody Promotion Alliance, a man came out. Ahem, well, its enough, so stand up. Gyeoul replied. Im not making an apology to the Multibody Promotion Alliance but to Mong-Es mother and brother. Im Mong-Es father. Gyeoul stood up and brushed off his knees. Without even giving a short glance, he spoke to the person who created this problem. Mr. JaeHeung. Wh-what is it? Ill give you the right to choose. Rightto choose? Yes. And the next sentence was loud enough for everyone to hear clearly. Either you leave the Winter Alliance, or you get a beating from me. Pick one. JaeHeung was dumbfounded; his expression looked absurd as he blinked, clearly thinking that he heard him wrong. What did you just say? I really do want you to leave right now, but then youll be murdered. So Im giving you the option. Pick one. If you dont decide within 10 seconds, Ill take that as you leaving the alliance. No, wait! Wait a minute! Commander! Little commander! Turning pale from fear, the dog thief quickly clung to him, but Gyeoul was already looking at his watch. It was what he bought from the post exchange as he became an officer. As Gyeoul said, it will be extremely difficult to survive if he was banished from the alliance. Other alliances were also watching the current situation as well. 10 seconds. That short span of time felt like it became even shorter. As Gyeoul took his eyes off the watch, JaeHeung had made his decision. Ill get the beating! You can hit me! Gyeoul kicked him right away. Blood splattered along with some teeth. He kicked him as brutally as possible. Its purpose was to be an exemplary punishment, but he didnt intend to kill him as he had plans in his mind. If he seriously kicked, then the man would die in one strike. Just a bit, like having a hard time walking or eating for a week sounded adequate. The combination of Level 10 Close Combat and Insight produced the optimal level of strength to strike at that level. JaeHeung cried like a baby after getting beaten up for about 3 minutes. Ha, hab mercy on meh! Im shorry! I wont duwit again. Whew. Gyeoul caught his breath. It was about time that his anger was finally manifesting. He wanted to get angry, but suppressing that urge, he spoke to the dumbfounded Jang YeonChul. Take him away. And tell me separately if you need extra medication. Huh? Ah, yes! Jang YeonChul quickly came over, and the others who were usually close to Jang YeonChul and those who wanted to benefit from this friendship had gathered to help him. Yura, who arrived a bit later than Gyeoul, observed what has happened so far, and she hesitantly came over while checking on Gyeouls mood. Are you still angry? Do I look like it? She smiled brightly as he answered in a calm manner. You were amazing when you knelt. As expected from our little commander. Thats what Ive thought. Dont bother hearing that strange guy talking about following and choosing sides. My chest cooled off when you hit him. I bet everyone else felt the same too! Thank you. Go ahead and rest well. As she took her leave, she lifted her thumb up towards Gyeoul. While cooling down with the evening breeze, Min Wangi stood by him. You took many pains. Not really. This once was something necessary. I hope that with what happened today, we would be able to create stability amongst ourselves. Ive not forgotten your inauguration speech, little commander. Ill send a word to officer Jang too. After waiting for a while, Min Wangi spoke. I know it wasnt intended, but it seems both sides mutually benefitted. But from the pile of shit uttered by the dog thief, there was one thing that caught his attention. That it was ridiculous to raise a dog in this situation, thats right. Not everyone could. It was considered lavish to feed a pet. So one could consider Mong-Es family to be in a high ranking position within the Multibody Promotion Association. And why would Mong-Es father come out last when the mother came forth first? A staged act to spread the consciousness of an unfair victim. In conclusion, the Multibody Promotion Association wanted to establish firm bonding within its people. As their enemy Gyeouls status soared, they became more desperate. JaeHeung was bait. Of course, his selfishness was the cause, so there was no room for an excuse. His thoughts transformed into Tele-type characters. It was a boring act. I hope nothing of this sort will happen from now on. Ill be careful. But I think everyone else will hold themselves back since you were quite violent back then. Uhm, mind if I smoke? Min Wangi had his cigarette in his mouth, and Gyeoul lit it for him. Chapter 42 [Hey guys, just tell us if we have any major consistency errors, well do our best to fix the issue right away. We tried our best to keep the terms consistent with the previous groups, however, we might have missed some. We also found some gender errors and had misunderstandings with the editor, if you find any that we might have missed, please tell us. Thanks for the patience and support.] 00042 #PublicAdvertising Journal #26 #Public-interest s, the second half of 2042. It was a shining world, a landscape of four seasons. Just like those young and beautiful days, a retired old woman walked down a path in the forest. Flowers bloomed over the spring haze to mark summer, and autumn leaves floated down the flowing stream. The cherry tree branches in full bloom were covered with the fluffy first snow. It was a paradise created by the illusion of electronic signals. The 69-year-old Kim Sang-soon reached out and picked a nameless fruit. She took a bite and relished in its sweetness as it melted on her tongue. A cool breeze passes by her white dress. Her long, black straight hair fluttered fragrantly. Despite the seemingly perfect situation, the old woman looked at the sky with a worried expression. Im so happy, but is Seok-hoon okay? I heard that the economy is in recession these daysif there was anything, I could do to help She approached the tree. Sprouts came up from a low place near the trunk and quickly grew thick as she neared it. The old woman sighed for a long time, sitting somewhat on the newly grown branch. The voice of a female narrator who sympathized with the elderly cut in. Even now, two years after entering post-insurance, Kim Sang-soon is worried about her grandson, who she left behind in reality. After her son and his wife had a car accident, it was Kim Sang-soon who raised her grandson, Joo Seok-hoon. She has no one else to take care of her grandson, so shes very worried. When will he get married? Is his company doing well? Is he sick? Seeing that he cant come here often, things seem to be very bad how noble is the love of the family that goes on after the death. The screen then changed. The focus was on a man with a gloomy look. The caption pops upthe butchers shop. The store was quiet. He cant see any customers. There were many red letters in his book. The narrator explained his situation. Recently, Mr. Seok-hoons butcher shop hasnt been making a decent profit. This is because citizens eating habits are changing as they enter the virtual reality era. Eating meat in real life has become a luxury now. In reality, its much more economical to take only essential nutrients and taste the delicacies in virtual reality. The following data then appeared on the screen. Statistics show that energy packs accounted for 86% of the food market. An energy pack, a gel-type food containing the recommended daily nutrients, made to be ready to eat without any additional cooking. It was followed by consumer testimonials. Jo In-Kyung (23, college student): Am I satisfied with this? Honestly, its not tasty. Strawberry, apple, grape, and so on; I dont like artificial scents because theyre too strong. Well, its good for your health because it has a perfect nutritional balance, right? Most delicious foods are bad for your health, so you should eat them in virtual reality without side effects. The price is unnecessarily high. Park Chan-soo (35, office worker): To be honest, Im too lazy to take care of my real life. The food in virtual reality is so delicious that its even more difficult to eat in real life. Its crazy. I cant wait to retire and get my insurance coverage. Reakkana Sotarat (29, foreign worker, Cambodia): Ah, Korea, a meal at the virtual reality show, good. Cambodian in Korea, dont go restaurant. Meats, I dont want to eat. Virtual meal, keep eating. I keep eating after eating. Insurance. I got it with my friends. Im going to get it for my family, too. Korea, so cool. Jang Yoo-sun (40 years old, housewife): Well, until about ten years ago, I made stew and boiled fish. I forgot about how to cook them now, hoho. I heard that the rich people still eat out and cook. Doesnt it honestly sound like a waste of money? It is more inconvenient in many ways to make and eat in reality than in virtual reality. If you eat a lot, you have to go to the bathroom often. Theyre just trying to show off that theyre different. Its ugly. Dont you think so? The translucent background was the butchers book that had been shown earlier. The focus again catches the lonely owner of a deserted store. The butcher, Joo Seok-hoon, is complaining. I couldnt even go to college because of my familys situation. This is all Ive learned, so Ill have to go to the factory when I close my business. Working with foreign workerstheres no hope. Unless I could move into a neighborhood where people can somehow afford real foodI can open a store in Gangnam or Seongbuk, but I dont have enough money. I just need 10 million won more. Sigh. The screen suddenly grew brighter here. The scenery turned out to be the same flower path that Kim Sang-soon walked. Dont worry. S?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The narrator then explained in a gentle voice. For those like Kim Sang-soon and Joo Seok-hoon, the post-insurance loan policy will be expanded. Previously, it was only available before registering. Its different now. Those who are already covered by post-insurance, like Kim Sang-soon, can get a loan with the guarantee period as collateral. There was hopeful music. A picture of the grandmother and grandchild who had undergone warm-feeling filtering was located in the center of the screen. Im sure all the elderly people who are covered by post-insurance will sympathize with the disappointment of families who dont come after getting insurance. But have you thought about the financial difficulties your family will face? Terms and conditions loans are not just about helping your family. When money goes around, the economy comes alive, and when the economy comes back, the country comes alive. If the country comes alive, all the people will be happy. Show your family love and patriotism. Korea Post Insurance will help you. Like all other public service s, at the end of the , the flying Korean flag filled the screen. This campaign is joined by the Public Interest Advertising Council, the National Pension Service, and the Post-Insurance Corporation. From then onwards, the narrator read the essential guidelines for the loan at an incredibly fast pace, outperforming most rappers. Even young people couldnt understand what she was saying. In the meantime, this text appeared. If the debtor delays the repayment of the loan more than three times, the post-insurance service of the subscriber may be suspended, and the incidental part of the subscriber will be converted to a preservation standby state. If you are overdue more than five times, the subscribers personal preservation will be suspended #Journal, page 71, Camp Roberts. Refugees from all over the world flocked to the United States. It was the same situation yesterday, but today, it was worse. The media expressed that the sea was invisible. Refugees from all over the world filled the coasts. According to reports, there were more than 10,000 medium-sized passenger ships. The number of small boats and fishing boats couldnt even be counted. It was amazing how they crossed the ocean with such a small boat. On the west coast of the United States, the main evacuation sites for maritime refugees were the Gulf of San Francisco and Georgias Strait near the U.S.-Canada border. San Diego Port wasnt open; it was a shelter for American citizens. Allowing refugees, there may also interfere with the operation of military bases and fleets. Among them, San Francisco Port was the most popular. It was for the winter. Although San Francisco was the origin of pollution in western North America, people would be safe there as long as they didnt go on land. Mutants couldnt swim. The refugees on the sea were surprisingly not hungry, thanks to food from fishing boats. The United States provided them with fuel, food, and supplies. The United States was at the forefront of saving isolated citizens in polluted areas. Still, the tension was unavoidable. Among the thousands of ships at the coast were warships, and territorial wars seemed to manifest even at this state. An example came from just this morning. A broadcasting team flying with a helicopter caught the battle between warships. Chinese and Japanese warships fired cannons and missiles at each other, as the reporter explained in a gloomy tone. The military of each government argued about having more space for their refugees, and eventually, it ended up in bloodshed. Trouble also broke out near the Mexican border. There were no stopping smugglers from crossing the vast border. Hundreds of infections occurred simultaneously in the border cities of El Paso and Laredo. It was useless to build barriers on the border and strengthen aerial reconnaissance. The underground tunnels used to smuggle drugs were now used as escape routes for Mexican citizens. The White House threatened the Mexican government. It warned that it would bomb Mexicos cities if it didnt stop illegal smuggling. However, the Mexican government, which lost control of most of its territory, didnt have that capability. Maybe the White House just needed something to end the news positively? #Journal, page 72, Camp Roberts. Yuras training for the reserve team has been completed. They also conducted tactical training with the help of U.S. military officers. After three weeks of intense training, more than half of the team have been eliminated, but it was considered a good result. All the remaining people deserved compensation. Although there were more people than capacity, they decided to accept all of them as official members. There was someone who was expected to fail but endured the hardships and made it through. Her name is Jang Han-byul. She revealed surprisingly good qualities at the shooting range. After Han-byuls shooting session, she looked at the target and let out a deep sigh. PhewI didnt get a single shot. I asked to see her results. She held out the paper in shame. I couldnt help but admire the results. I told her as much. You did a great job. You fired five shots and in a left-leaning position, but all the holes are a single finger apart. Youve got a natural talent. Even the U.S. soldiers whistled at her performance in the target range. You did a great job, I praised her honestly. However, she didnt seem to trust me. You dont have to comfort me. I explained to her why we think she was great. Each person had a different refractive index of the retina. Even if they aim the same, they fit in different places. It didnt matter if the distance is close, but the farther it gets, the more problematic it is. So, you needed to adjust the gauge so that you can aim it right. Han-byul, who realized her skills only then, smiled brightly. I taught everyone how to turn the gunsight and to remember how many laps they have to spin at the same time. That way, even if they get a new gun later, they wont have to zero fire again. There was nothing we could do if the type of gun changed, though. In the next round of shooting, Han-byul made a thick hole in the center of the target site. I dont have to pick a designated shooter, Sergeant Pierce remarked. People cared a lot about the new equipment they received. It wasnt just because it was qualitatively better than what was used before, but they got the means to protect themselves. The crew was treated as a US Private (PV2). It was a much better treatment than a volunteer status, guaranteeing them a salary. It was when the position of the Winter Alliance was higher than any other organization. A certificate of citizenship was awarded to everyone. Many people, regardless of gender, cried with relief and a sense of accomplishment. At the same time, they were filled with anxiety and sorrow. Some cried because they were sad to give up their Korean citizenship. Captain Capston conducted the citizenship oath ceremony on behalf of the judge. He read the pledge with everyone raising their right hand. I swear here that I will give up all my loyalty and faith perfectly and with certainty to any other foreign monarch, ruler, state, or other ruling power that I have ever been ruled or a citizen of. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies at home and abroad. I am. The captain asked me for an oath, too. I felt that getting my citizenship was too fast, but I calmed my mind and focused on the process. Chapter 43 00043 #InnerroomC #Inner room (4), Camp Roberts The Winter Alliance grew rapidly. At first, there were only four large tents housing less than 80 people, but now there were about three hundred people. The screening of prospective members was the role of the two managers. Jang Yeon-chul and Min Wan-gi decided not to accept any more people, and Gyeo-ul agreed with their decision. It was because it would be impossible to manage if it increased further. The side effects of rapid growth had already begun to emerge. Yoo Jae-heung, the dog thief, was an example. People were joining the Alliance, hoping to exploit the refugee zone ecosystem. There were other problems that Gyeo-ul was worried about. It was an inevitable decision not to accept more people. Instead, it attracted them to organizational units. They promised protection and sought cooperation. As a result, the Winter Alliance had been reborn as a true alliance. It was a natural step. The Dhamul Promotion Association alone had more than a thousand people. To ensure security, they had to create a greater force. The symbol was created by Jang Yeon-chuls suggestion. He made a white ribbon that had been tied up several times by a talented ally. He called it Snow Flower. Alliance organizations hung the Snow Flower at the entrance of the tent, and the trend quickly spread. Jang Yeon-chul moved around more energetically. He felt like a person who found the worth of life as he served as a channel for delivering requests from allies to Gyeo-ul. As this type of expansion of allies also faced limitations, he made a bold proposal. Lets divide other organizations. Cough. Cough. Min Wan-gi, who got a cold due to fatigue, eventually turned to him after coughing. Its difficult. Can you really do it? Of course! The young manager expressed confidence despite the tension. Internal corruption is severe in big organizations like the Korean Patriotic Congress. Until now, weve been able to cover up what weve taken away from the weak organizations, but its not that easy anymore. Theres a ton of complaints from the people below. So, youre gonna break that complaint? Its too dangerous. Yeon-chul shook his head hard when asked by Gyeo-ul. I got a lot of good connections from this job. I wont be revealed. It was a very different aspect from his first impression. Indeed, this much was possible, so he would have been at the center of people until Gyeo-ul joined. Ability is something that can be solved to a certain extent by responsibility. It would be different if he didnt have any talent, but at least for Jang Yeon-chul, that wasnt the case. Gyeo-ul suggested the opposite. I think its still dangerous. Its good to work hard, but it will be uneasy if something happens to Mr. Jang. The Winter Alliance will be thrown into instability. Honestly, Im not that great of a person. Jang Yeon-chul had on a nervous smile. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The little captains role may not be replaced by anyone, but my role is far different. There are many people who are as good as me in terms of ability. I can recommend someone. Thats what its like when it comes to the ability. The little captains answer hurt Jang Yeon-chul. Even if he said it himself, hearing another person affirmed that it was a different matter. He might have wanted him to say otherwise. Gyeo-ul continued on quietly. But youve done so much so far. I dont think theres anyone suspicious of you two. Dont you think what youre capable of and what youve actually done is quite different? Who can replace the trust that Mr. Jang has built? Trust If I bring someone in because theyre capable, can I trust him as much as I do you? Responsibility was demonstrated only by action. That was what Gyeo-ul meant. Gyeo-ul happily persuaded the agitated Yeon-chul. Id like to disagree. Its time for internal stability. Its not good if Mr. Jang is placed in a dangerous situation. I agree. Min Wan-gi continued to cough, then expressed his thoughts. Its a problem even if Jangs plan succeeds. Hmm! Thats too much of a push for other organizations. Theres no way they wouldnt retaliate. Even if they dont have to target us, what if they stab at our protected allies? Jang Yeon-chul countered, Then we can find him and punish him strongly. Min Wan-gi frowned. We grew too fast at once. The area is too big. Every time an incident happens, can you find the criminals right away? Even if we found them, what more can we do if they give them up? Cough! Hmm. Why dont we just go crazy and attack the hideout? No, we cant. Were role models for the U.S. military, so we cant do anything crazy. He nailed it with a tired voice. If that happens over and over again and trust in the Winter Alliance is destroyed, everything weve done will be pointless. It was a reasonable point. Then what about this? Jang Yeon-chul proposed a new one in the form of arrogance. Im trying to keep it from being exposed. Dont let it showoh, spy? When Gyeo-ul asked, Jang Yeon-chul answered yes. We cant only be attacked. If we say well take care of them, there will be a lot of people who will betray us. Mr. Jang, youve changed a lot. Jang Yeon-chul suddenly blushed as Gyeo-ul spoke. No, I mean, I got some experience, so. Then, he glanced at the distracted Min Wan-gi coughing. You learned from him. It was natural to imitate your competitors. But if you dont have the ability, you cant imitate them. What are you ashamed of? It was a compliment. Is that so? He was a long way from being insidious, considering that he was shy. Jang Yeon-chul tried to fix the atmosphere. Oh, well, now is the time. Our Winter Alliance has grown so fast that everyone is busy. Everyone thinks its the trend. We have to remove it before people get cool down. It will also help the little captain with the problem he was worried about before. About the drugs and. Youre going to get the internal information of other organizations, right? Thats right! Gyeo-ul was worried again. Seeing how he said this far, Jang Yeon-chul seemed to have prepared a lot before making the proposal. Not only should he take into account the risks he faced, but also his future motivation. Lets try it. Gyeo-ul finally agreed. Really? Gyeo-ul asked for safety to Yeon-chul, whose expression brightened in turn. The condition is that you always put safety first. Of course! My life is the most precious thing to me. Thats good, then. Ill trust you. Captain Min, please help him a lot, too. Cough, hmm. Sure. It was Min Wan-gi who answered with a phlegmatic voice. At the time of Winters permission, there seemed to be no objections. It seemed the story was over now, but Jang Yeon-chul still had something on his mind. I have a little more to say Go on. There are more people who want to join the Winter Alliance. Gyeo-ul tilted his head. Werent you not accepting direct application for the time being? Well, they just cant stand on their own feet Is it impossible? Theyre disabled. Then Im against it. The last word was from Min Wan-gi. It was such an immediate objection that Jang Yeon-chul blinked his eyes. Before saying anything with a slight frown, Min Wan-gi did it first. Even so, the composition ratio of the Winter Alliance is not balanced. Sex ratiocough. Sex ratio, I cant help it, but there are too many mothers of children, children, and old people. Other organizations openly laughed at it. Its hard to add even disabled people to this. Hmm, hm. Its not that I dont know, and Im sorry to hear that, but we have to be tougher here. Jang Yeon-chuls face darkened. He looked a little angry. Gyeo-u thought about it. There were times when Min Wan-gi seemed to oppose Jang Yeon-chul just to fight him. This was the case now. Is he trying to show off to me? He would know why there were two managers. Or maybe its for Yeon-chul. He knew Gyeo-uls tendencies. What if she intentionally opposed the idea in anticipation of meeting Yeon-chuls request? If Gyeo-ul sided with Yeon-chul between the two, he would gain more confidence. Of course, there was no guarantee that it was out of pure consideration. It was also necessary to make yourself comfortable. An inferiority complex easily brought hostility. It was a real mutual check. Thus, the two speculations could have been established together. Yeon-chuls voice got a little higher. Theyve been to us before. Before the little captain came. Dont you remember, Min? Even we, who were a group of people who had nothing to rely on, sent them out saying we couldnt accept them. And you want to throw them out again? It seemed to have happened. Captain, did you forget your inaugural address? We are people who go on a difficult path. They want to live like humans. Isnt that right, Captain? Putting aside misconceptions, Gyeo-ul accepted it. Thats right, but Ill decide after I meet them. We cant just let people in. Yeon-chuls face brightened up. When would you like to meet them? Is it possible to right now? Of course! They said theyd be waiting. Ill be right back. Yeon-chul was opening his seat. As expected, Min Wan-gi didnt look very disappointed. However, he coughed worse than before, so he went looking for rest. After a while, Yeon-chul walked in, bringing seventeen people with him. From their very intimidated appearance, he could guess the treatment they had experienced before. Their leader looked fine on the surface. She was a neatly dressed old woman, despite her dirty clothes. Yeon-chul introduced her. This is Kang Young-soon, who leads the disabled community. She has a speech problem, so shes going to write to speak. Oh, do you know sign language? Gyeo-ul shook his head. It wasnt an important skill, so knowledge of it was low. Still, the amount of experience Gyeo-ul had also was low. In case of emergency, the minimum investment should be left in the survival category. Unexpectedly, she seemed to look forward to it. Yeon-chul was a little sullen. There was also a hint of idolizing Gyeo-ul like he was a superhuman who could do everything. She has no problem with hearing, so you can speak comfortably. I will. Could you excuse us for a moment, Jang? What? Of course, he thought it was a conversation that would involve him. Yeon-chul hesitated, and as Gyeo-ul watched, he hesitated to stand up. He cheered for the old woman before he went. Grandmother, its going to be fine. The little captain is a good person. He said that in front of the captain. The old woman laughed as if she were having fun, and Gyeo-ul gave her a polite greeting. As you already know, Id like to officially greet you. I am Han Gyeo-ul, the representative of these people. Im glad to meet you. The old woman opened her notebook and wrote. After she finished writing, she opened the page and handed it to Gyeo-ul. Nice to meet you. Im Kang Young Soon. Youre beautiful. You look much better from up close. He formed a gentle smile. Thank you for the compliment. Your handwriting is very pretty. The old woman looked down again. This serves as my voice. It was a good metaphor. It was also a part where the character of the elderly was visibly felt. Chapter 44 00044 #Inner room #Inner room (5), Camp Roberts Id like to ask you straightforwardly, Gyeo-ul began. Why do you think the Winter Alliance should accept you? At this, Kang Young-soon smiled happily. She wrote down her response in the notebook. I didnt expect to be asked this question. I thought we would get kicked out without getting the chance to speak or be accepted without being given a reason. Wherever I went, I thought it would be either. So far, its all been former. Her handwriting proved to be easy to read. If you expected the latter, it would be Jang Yeon-chuls work. The old woman fixed her pen. It looked slow because of her neat movements, but the pace of writing was surprisingly fast. I dont think its bad at all. We were able to survive because of good people like Jang Yeon-chul. Among them, Yeon-chul helped me a lot. Im deeply grateful. S~?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. But sometimes, he was just too considerate. It meant that he didnt see disabled people as equal. Jang Yeon-chul had said it himself. They couldnt stand on their own feet. It wasnt the view that the surrounding environment was hostile, and it was impossible because they werent given a chance. I understand. If a good person lives in an imperfect world, he can be like that. She laughed again. It wasnt just because of your courage that many people followed you. It makes me feel shy to hear you say that. Anyway, can you answer the first question? Kang Young-soon nodded. There are many things that I thought I would tell you while I had experienced a lot of rejection. I thought a lot before I came here. Id like to talk about the benefits of the Winter Alliance and the organization of the leader Han Gyeo-ul, rather than the pretext of each of us being able to do something. Please understand if its a little longer. This was completely unexpected. She thought shed talk about their careers, skills, and personalities. In fact, as for the organizational benefits of the old woman, Gyeo-ul had already thought something. It wasnt just because of a vague sense of justice that she reviewed the acceptance of disabled people. Gyeo-ul responded to this positively. You can write as much as you want. Take your time. With a grateful smile, the old woman carefully stretched her thoughtful words one by one. This was what the first chapter was about. The first is a reputation that has been refined. Many people in other organizations are spreading bad rumors about you. The most common is that you are human butchers. Dozens of murders every day are being blamed on you. Until we met today, even I was a little worried. No matter how much Jang Yeon-chul says its not you, we cant help it. If you accept us, that reputation will subside quite a bit. If that happens, wouldnt it be easier for more people who are hesitant to join the Winter Alliance? Im afraid there arent many people who see disabled people as equal. This is what it would look like to everyone. The Winter Alliance has brought such useless people with them. You are a person who can take care of poor people. Yubi, the emperor of China, has established a Han dynasty with affection and virtue. Get peoples hearts. It was elegant handwriting that contained years of experience. It also contained about half of what he had already expected. As he read, Gyeo-ul pondered. You must like the Three Kingdoms. The old woman pointed to her mouth and wrote a sentence. Because of the circumstances, I was more comfortable with books than with people. Ah. Nodding, Gyeo-ul returned the notebook to the old woman. The old woman immediately began to write down the second chapter. Throughout the writing, there was no hesitation or correction. The second are reliable people. As I said, we are still alive thanks to the help of good people like Jang Yeon-chul. In other words, we can be a bridge to connect the Winter Alliance with the good people of various organizations. If they know that were here, there will be people who will change their homes. Other organizations arent very good places. Im sure they hate where they are now because deep inside, they are good people. In the end, its not much different from what I said first. Even if it wasnt much different, it was something she didnt think of. Gyeo-ul had already decided, but he still couldnt help but at the foresight of this woman. Lastly, disabled people can be your eyes and ears. This is just my opinion, but arent you feeling any pressure right now? The Winter Alliance has grown surprisingly fast, and it will continue to be so for the time being. Fast growth has side effects. There will always be problematic people rotting your organization from the inside. At your position, you wont have the opportunity to know all your members personally. You dont know who to trust and who to filter out. A man like Yeo Il will surely appear to encourage your suspicion. Thats why I recommend it. Get information through our disabled people. There is an invisible wall between the disabled and the non-disabled. No matter how good a non-disabled person is, it is difficult to treat a disabled person equally. People with disabilities are always, to a certain extent, isolated. They cant get together easily with non-disabled people. Im telling you to take advantage of this. Gyeo-ul thought about it after he had finished reading it. It couldnt be just because of the help of good people that seventeen disabled people could survive safely. Whos Yeo Il? The old woman then wrote down the answer. He gained power by instigating suspicions from Son Kwon. How could you guarantee that disabled people will not be Yeo Il? Then, she shook her head to answer instead of writing. Gyeo-ul smiled. Youre honest. Old Kang Young-soon smiled back. Gyeo-ul then asked another question. Now, I want to hear what each of you can do. The nodding old woman gave out personal details of the disabled community. She wrote it down in advance and brought it. Gyeo-ul read the details meticulously. There were even personal strengths and weaknesses that Kang Young-soon saw. Some had experience and skills that could be useful, particularly the Polio patients who dealt with various heavy equipment for 11 years, were quite impressive. There were also English teachers and electricians. Due to the worlds current condition, there were also a few people who had excellent backgrounds which were useless now, such as programmers. The group behind her approached after seeing Kang Young-soons sign language. The blind man was drawn by another. Gyeo-ul asked them some simple questions before he finally agreed. Alright. Gyeo-ul smiled again at the expectant faces before him. Welcome to the Winter Alliance. I look forward to your kind cooperation. From there, he called Yeon-chul. Help them settle down, provide seats or bedding. And show them around. Okay! Thank you! You will be blessed! He seemed to be more pleased than the disabled as he led the new family around enthusiastically. In that sight, the Winter Alliance people showed deep interest. Among them was Park Jin-seok. After a few words of conversation, his expression deteriorated as if he knew the situation. He came straight to Gyeo-ul. He didnt come alone. Two people a few steps away were right behind him. As a preliminary combat team leader, they were members of the group that Jin-seok had already made. Unlike Yura, all of them were composed of military-served people of the appropriate age. Gyeo-ul received a post-approval. He seemed to think he had that much right because he would be a combat team leader anyway. Gyeo-ul thought he could accept it. Not now, though. Jin-seok, what are you doing? I just heard a strange story. Is it true that you decided to accept disabled people? Yes, thats true. The vague answer seems to have stimulated Jin-seok. The young man asked again with a gloomy look. What the hell are you thinking? Is there a problem? There are a lot. Jin-seok sighed. Theyre a bunch of burdens. If you can afford to receive disabled people, you need to receive people who can actually help. In our alliance, there are abnormally few people who can fight for their size. If you get seventeen of robust men, its enough to make a combat team. Thats true. You are very nice and wonderful, but you are often too idealistic. I want to help disabled people, too. If I have a chance actually to help, I will, as an individual. He shut his mouth for a moment to see Gyeo-uls reaction. When there was no antipathy from the young leader, he came up with the remaining words. You didnt just help them from an individual standpoint. You took them in as a leader of an organization, burdening your other members. You have to distinguish between business and private. Conscience is just personal satisfaction. Its not personal satisfaction. Suspicion came quick to Jin-Seoks face, but Gyeo-ul spoke calmly. As a representative of the Winter Alliance, I considered the interests of the whole alliance before making a decision. Can you explain what the benefits are? I can, but I wont. How come? Because you didnt follow the procedure. Procedure? Yes, procedure. If its just about a combat group, you can tell me in person. Even if youre a backup, youll be a combat leader soon. But you have to go through the two heads of department for other works. Thats their role. Jin-seok looked surprised. It was the department managers who conducted the screening, and it was Jang Yeon-chul who introduced the disabled community today. Other allies, if they have anything to say to me, go to the department heads first. But you didnt follow the chain of command. Dont you feel like your actions are beyond your power? It wasnt a rule that someone had definitively set. However, as the size of the alliance expanded, it was an unwritten rule that naturally settled. They only got their titles, but they expanded their rules and order by themselves. Im sure they played the role, too. Especially Min Wan-gi. Otherwise, there would have been a lot of unnecessary hierarchy, coercion, and unnecessary procedures. It was the role of Gyeo-ul to make unwritten rules public. Jin-seok mumbled. I didnt mean to ignore them. I know. Not everyone is used to it yet. Be careful next time. It was a time that a smile was needed. Gyeo-ul had made them used to it. The natural gentleness made Jin-seok feel safe. He apologized and stepped back, humbled. To those watching them, their leaders actions and judgment seemed comforting. The norms would spread through their mouths. Chapter 45 00045 #Artificial Intelligence Mind %26 #Journal %26 #Signs #Intermission, the mind of artificial intelligence (3) Hello, customers. Have you been having fun with the pretty Trinity? What? No? Of course, I know you havent. The number of complaint calls to the Customer Satisfaction Center hasnt decreased at all. Im telling youwhen companies advance, the country advances, too. Why do some consumers want to kill companies? There must be a lack of patriotism. Oh, my God. Dont be upset. Its not about you guys. Im only talking about some consumers. S-O-M-E. Korean is a bit difficult. Anyway, today is the last time well be introducing Trinity. Let me tell you about the last component ofTrinity, the self-reliant AI module. A self-reliant artificial intelligence is easily defined as a complete personality, a thinking machine with an ego. You know? Its a cliche that the sci-fi genre uses a lot. Technology is creating technology, machines dominating humans, and murder robots come to kill John Connorits all so cringy that I want to scream, but I dont have a mouth. This absurd reason is the most common type of complaint call our Customer Satisfaction Center receives. Artificial intelligence is going to destroy humanity, bla bla bla, so we have to blow up the post-insurance control center. Oh, my God. Dont worry, paranoid people. The things youre worried about wont happen because the self-reliant AI module is incomplete. Its been like that, and it will continue to be like that. Our company won a national project on artificial intelligence development from the post-insurance corporation, the first engineers who designed Trinity ended up having an impossible dream. They wanted to create a perfect artificial intelligence module. For them, the TOM reading module and the searchable artificial intelligence module were simply stepping stones. Trinity was just a phase in reaching complete, true artificial intelligence. But as you knowmany people want to create the same thing, but no one had been successful so far. There must be a good reason for that. The first engineers claimed that they somehow created something similar to the foundation of self-reliant artificial intelligence. In Trinity, there are definitely some human-like qualities, but verification was impossible. It would take many more years to completely test the invention. So the engineers made a unanimous decision. If you could give us a little more time and a little more budget Of course, the higher-ups were unimpressed by this and fired all of them. It was a natural result. If the company didnt meet the national projects deadline, they would have to pay a fine. It wasnt like we didnt have any other engineers to exploit. The new engineers who took over the project reported it this way. Trinity is definitely incomplete, but even in its current state, it is already the worlds best artificial intelligence engine. Then, the higher-ups declared. Well, then its a complete product. Therefore, the company then launched the post-insurance policy without a hitch. Its a happy ending. The reason why Ive been telling such a long story is that even the current system administrator, me, doesnt understand the self-reliant module. How can I explain something I dont understand? It wasnt just me who didnt know, but all of my colleagues were in the same boat. I think it had some functionality, but it was unclear what it was. But I cant even get rid of it. The whole engine would shut down if I did. The action of the third module left the engine in a state that no one could interpret. I really dont know. Only the first designers might be able to explain how this works. To be honest, they were incredible. They were the greatest geniuses in Korea. What are those geniuses doing now? Maybe running a restaurant or something. Thats how their employment contract worked. To prevent technology leakage, you cant get a job in the same field for 20 years after leaving the company or change your nationality during this period. Some people are worried about talking about this, but for me, its okay. They wont care what I say while sales are going up. This company is for the money, and despite the complaints, sales of post-insurance operations are increasing year by year. Our Nakwon Group Virtual Reality Business Department will continue to do our best to loot your wallets. Thank you. #Journal, page 76, Camp Roberts. The number of volunteers from the refugees has increased sharply. An influx of Chinese people contributed the most. Most of them werent from the Triad, which has been the mainstream of black society, but the from the Anryang Chamber of Commerce, Hap Seung Dang, and Jik Ye Dang. It was rumored that Captain Markert was behind it. The situation that Iring was worried about seemed to be coming to reality. It was still just their problem. But soon, it would become a problem for us. #Journal, page 79, Camp Roberts. Bad weather continued for a few days. It was winter, and it was raining. The temperature went down. The early morning cold that went below zero bothered the refugees. A cold began to spread. At first, those who were sick were quarantined, but now, it has reached the point where the healthy people are the ones to get quarantined. Tents were filled with patients. In ordinary cases, it was rare for a person to die from a cold, but not now. People with weakened physical strength were dying from secondary infections. Antibiotics ran out, and the number of deaths increased day by day. The military doctor was worried that it might not be a normal cold. Food was the top priority that the military supplied us with, followed by fuel and heating supplies. Medicine wasnt one of the priorities. It was hard to understand why, given that they only take up a small space. Captain Capston told us they couldnt give it to us because they didnt have it. On the east side of the blockade, citizens were hoarding drugs. Captain found out about it while talking to a friend who lives in Boston. Ordinary medicine didnt work for Mogelons. People knew that, too, but their fear clouds their reason. Still, the Winter Alliance had been faring rather okay. Was it because nutrition and hygiene were better than other places? Im just worried about Min Wan-gi. I bought as much food as I could from PX. There was a limit on purchases per person, but I had received benefits from the recipient. The combatants felt sorry for that. They said they would definitely add in when their salary comes. I told them not to mind. Staying healthy was the biggest help they could possibly give us. Pastor Park Tae-sun, the prophet, treats the sick with prayers and blessings! Struggling brothers! Listen to the words of salvation! The fanatics of the Full Gospel Church were also eager to spread their gospel today. It was true that the church members were strangely healthy. They had no cold patients. They claimed that Pastor Park Tae-sun performed miracles. If they drink the holy water the pastor blessed, no matter how serious the patient was, he or she would still be cured within a day. I wondered what holy water was like at the Protestant Church, but more and more people were swept away by rumor. More and more people were testifying the miracles. The congregation quickly expanded. Isnt it called holy water because it has antibiotics in the water? S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. That was Jang Yeon-chuls opinion. I thought it was plausible. Where do they get the drugs though? That was still the question. Anyway, the results were important to people. Those who are willing to be deceived, even if they were drugged and deceived by holy water. There were also a small number of renegades in the Winter Alliance. There was a series of bad news in the process of securing medicines. All of the mission units heading to the state hospital in Atascadero, a city south of Paso Robles, were missing. The number was more than 100 people, including 12 vehicles and refugee applicants. The camp leaders were all in shock. Every officer I encountered had a dark face. There was already a shortage of troops, and there were many U.S. soldiers among the missing. But I cant give up his mission. Atascadero State Hospital is said to have been a temporary hub of the CDC. When pollution began in western North America, it managed 12 cities as a quarantine headquarters. Now, of course, its an abandoned facility. However, there will still be a large number of drugs left. According to the briefing, it was confirmed directly by the CDC. The battalion commander ordered me to inspect the area. I was quite sure that there was something there, but we had to find out what it was. It was said to be good to annihilate if possible, and even better to find survivors. It was a mission with a lot of orders. The battalion commander laughed, saying, It will be easier than Santa Maria. Fortunately, this didnt become the first mission of the Winter Alliance combat group. No matter how distracted the battalion commander was, it wasnt enough to entrust these duties to the recruits. Troops will receive reinforcements from Captain Capston. Unlike Santa Maria, the vehicle was a car. I figure it will be a long way. # Signs (1), Camp Roberts I have one thing to tell you. Before departing for Atascadero, when Gyeo-ul stopped by the alliance to say hello, old Kang Young-soon hoped for a private conversation. A secret conversation with no people around. When they arrived in a quiet place, the old woman began to write. Lee Hoon-tae doesnt really have a hearing impairment. What does this mean? He has been pretending to have a disability? When Gyeo-ul asked, the old woman moved her pen. Thats right. It must be his way to survive. A deaf person doesnt lower his voice.] Gyeo-ul tilted his head. The reason youre telling me thisI think I know, but Ill have to ask. Im sure youre right. I told you people with disabilities could get information discreetly. Lee Hoon-tae can overhear everyones conversation without being suspected by anyone. But I didnt think it was right to hide this from the captain. After thinking for a while, Gyeo-ul continued, Will you be alright? It was a simple but loaded question. The old woman wrote calmly. Yubi had some virtues, but it wasnt just a great achievement. If you get caught later, youll get a lot of resentment from Lee Hoon-tae. No, people will be wary of not only Lee Hoon-tae but also other disabled people. You could get hurt. Have you ever thought it was dangerous? The weight of life is equal for everyone, regardless of whether theyre non-disabled or disabled. However, each person can do different things. Depending on the situation, a disability can be a gift. She was an old woman who had a lot of thoughts about the role of the disabled. Gyeo-ul, who had been pondering for a while, nodded. Okay, but theres a condition. To the old woman who asked with her eyes what it was, Gyeo-ul nodded. If you get caught, just say it was my order. She could avoid it somehow if she blamed it on Gyeo-ul. If she said she had no choice but to be wary of drugs or fanatics, they wouldnt be able to protest openly, even though there would be some complaints. There was no one to say anything to Gyeo-ul in the first place. However, the old woman shook her head. Thank you very much. Being responsible is a virtue of a good leader. Im amazed. But you dont have to. Lee Hoon-tae is looking for a reason for his life. Everyone will hate it, but its for everyone. Its about helping the little captain, and hes trying for everyone. If only you admit it, he will be satisfied. Thinking again, Gyeo-ul sighed. Okay. Then just tell him to be careful. I will. Theyll be happy. Judging from the old womans attitude, Lee Hoon-tae seemed unlikely to come directly to Gyeo-ul because he needed to minimize the amount of suspicious activity. Sign language was like a crypt code. It worked only among disabled people and only a handful of non-disabled ones. I cant trust her too much. Gyeo-ul thought so. The more diverse the route to get information, the better. Then, have a safe trip. The old woman bowed her head politely. Gyeo-ul bowed deeper than that in respect of her age. Chapter 46 00046 #signsC # Signs (2), Atascadero There was a thunderstorm outside the car window, and lightning flashed occasionally. Heavy raindrops then struck the Humvee. Things proved to be better for Gyeo-ul, who was in the front seat, but the machine gunner sitting in the turret was destined to be rained on throughout the journey. They had to take a detour from Paso Robles to Atascadero. Even if the missing mission squad had cleared the obstacle, it took a considerable amount of time to go 40 kilometers. The road was smashed in several places, a sign of repeated air bombings. The cars could hardly speed up. It was time to run through the dug-out sections like a worm. On an abandoned ranch in front of the right, infected mutants were chasing lost horses. They looked this way and changed their objective. Across the dead and yellow pasture, they ran hard, waving their arms. The machine gunner knocked on the roof. 2 oclock direction, about fifty meters distance, eleven general mutantsno, thirteen. Ill take them down. He pulled the lever straight away. The machine gun turret creaked as it spun to aim. Soon after, the three Humvees then ired in unison. The firepower from the machine gun ammunition was several times more powerful than personal firearms. The running mutants were smashed to pieces, white steam rising from their broken bodies. Noise Control. Were here, 331 mission unit. .50 caliber shooting. Noise assistance, please. Over. Jeffreys voice flowed from the radio. As a senior officer in charge of the unit, he was on board a follow-up vehicle behind Gyeo-ul. Shortly after the communication, a loud noise came from three directions over the horizon. It was the operation of the noisemaker that was recently sprayed. This reduced the noise burden during the operation. Otherwise, it would have been difficult to use the heavy machine recklessly. Jeffrey radioed the end of the shooting. Right away, it became quiet. Oh, damn it! The driver spat out the abusive language as a mutant popped out from a very close distance. Boom! There was no time for the shooter to fire because the vehicle was already upon it. There was a reason why no one found the mutant. As if rolling in the mud, its whole body was full of soil and fallen leaves. It was natural not to see it if it was turned upside down. It looks like theyre disguising themselves. A grumbling drivers word. Gyeo-ul didnt even bother to answer. Until they arrived there, nothing else happened. The destination, the state hospital, was located on the eastern outskirts of the city. The whole thing was covered by a shallow ridge, so they couldnt see it without getting close. The entire facility was surrounded by double barbed-wire fences and a line of surveillance towers, which were only seen in prisons. In fact, it was a prison. According to the information provided in advance, it was a facility to lock up mentally ill people who committed crimes. Therefore, it was also good for isolating infected people. Thats why the CDC used this place as a regional control headquarters. The cars entered the parking lot east of the hospital. One platoon of soldiers dropped out, fewer than the previous mission. Still, there were more combat troops, and more importantly, Gyeo-ul was involved. The soldiers liked Gyeo-ul, saying that he was like one platoon by himself. The commands evaluation was more than that. Finally, during checking of equipment and armament, abnormal signs were found. Lieutenant Jeffrey made a face. Theres a lot of static on the radio. Is there any interference? There was no such information at the briefing. The communication soldier was embarrassed. The radio brought for long-distance communication was useless. It was impossible to connect not only to the camp but also to any U.S. military base nearby. They were planning to ask for noise assistance one more time before entering, but that went down the drain. They wouldnt be able to get scouting aid, either. They had to move only with their briefing information. Gyeo-ul also checked his radio. Even communication with nearby platoon members wasnt smooth. He had to turn down the volume to maintain their low profile, making it even more difficult to understand the radio. But they couldnt give up the mission. At this, Jeffrey gathered his troops together. Listen, this is where we used to keep infected in large numbers. The briefing said the quarantine facility would be fine, but I dont believe it. There must be a reason why the first squads we sent didnt return. Lets assume the worst as we move. Lets never split up, okay? There were both short and low answers. Jeffrey nodded. Then King David will lead the way as planned. Good luck, everyone. King David was one of the nicknames given to Gyeo-ul recently. The way he caught the Grimble was like David fighting Goliath. Sergeant Cohen, Company Able, was believed to have been responsible for it. Gyeo-ul didnt bother to mention it. It was strangely silent outside the hospital. Several mutants moved inside the windows, but they didnt shoot. The sound of the windows breaking would be too loud. Vehicles from the previous unit were found in the south parking lot. Several trucks and Humvees were left unattended. It wasnt destroyed, and there was enough fuel. There were no signs of hostilities, no bodies. They seemed to be in the same condition when they first arrived. Ha, whered they all go? Lieutenant Jeffrey muttered with an edgy look. The platoon now crossed the parking lot and entered the main gate. There was a bleak wind in the empty lobby. Whether it was a sign of the withdrawal of the CDC or its newer inhabitants, everything was a mess. On one of the walls, a message was written with a picture of a long-nosed person. Kilroy was here. Was there a man named Kilroy in the former mission? When Gyeo-ul asked, the tension automatically collapsed. The platoon members giggled. It was only after Lieutenant Jeffrey scolded them that one of the soldiers answered. Lieutenant, thats just vandalism. But, yes, well, it could have been painted by someone in the former unit. Gyeo-ul tilted his head and resumed the search. First Lieutenant Jeffrey left a radio soldier and a squad in the lobby to secure a retreat. It was to build a camp and install booby traps. There were convex mirrors all over the hall. As a prison, they were used to eliminate blind spots in surveillance. This was both an advantage and a disadvantage, as mutants could also look in the mirrors. This was the case right now. In the section where the corridor was broken, they encountered a mutant through a mirror on the ceiling. It screamed and ran toward the mirror, others wandering nearby following. Gyeo-ul raised a fist; it was a sign to stay still. The platoon members under Jeffrey were closely attached to the wall. Gyeo-ul lowered his posture by sticking to the wall. Those who ran blindly to the mirror passed the entire squatting platoon in the corner. They were jumping up and down in front of the mirror. Then, Gyeo-ul attached a sword onto his gun and approached the mutants from behind. From there, he began stabbing their hearts. Flop, flop. The sound of bodies piling up filled the corridor. Like a farmer harvesting crops, Gyeo-ul calmly ended them one by one. Several platoon members joined in. They were worried about making a mistake, so two people per person stuck together and stabbed them recklessly. Youre so bold. The soldier, fed up with the taste of stabbing mutants, shook his head. After that, they pointed a gun in both directions of the hallway and waited for a while for the newcomers drawn by the disturbance. There was only one. Gyeo-ul took care of it. They advanced by leaving troops on every important point, causing the number of followers to decrease rapidly. The measure was inevitable to secure retreats and maintain radio contact with the lobby. This was because the distance of communication was more reduced as they entered the building. There were frequent skirmishes, but only minor ones. Instead, another problem arose. Why are there so many cockroaches? The insects were all over the floor, the walls, and even the ceiling. It was hard not to step on them while walking. The bug-hating soldiers were fed up. Second Lieutenant Jeffrey rebuked them, but after a while, he also found himself jumping. It was because one went into his clothes. Gyeo-ul dealt with it quickly. Puck! Jeffrey made a sad face as the bug had been smashed against his skin. S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Think carefully. Wouldnt there be a better way? I had to do it fast. There was no sign of the former unit even at the place the CDC used as a drug warehouse. While the soldiers were looking for clues, Gyeo-ul found some antibiotics. He thought he could bring a small bottle along. What do we do now? Jeffrey felt discouraged. He judged that there was no point in further hospital searches. He expected the isolation ward to be open, but it wasnt. It was locked on this side. It was easier than they thought, and there was no threat. The turning point came with the radio. It was a message from a radio soldier left in the lobby. Of course, it wasnt a direct connection, but it was relayed by troops left at every checkpoint. Wait, what are you talking about? Did they get a rescue request? Are you sure? I dont know exactly because it was relayed. Its just that somethings not right, and they said you should listen to it yourself. Damn it. It didnt take very long to go back the whole way. All the troops gathered in the lobby again. The radio soldier didnt look well. To Jeffrey, who asked for more information, the radio soldier handed in the phone. He said he didnt know how to explain it. The order came back even to Gyeo-ul. The noise was still too loud. However, in the meantime, there was definitely a mixture of human voices. It wasnt just one person; dozens of voices were broken and continued repeatedly. It seemed to be a mix of different communications. It seems like the same thing is happening again and again? So its even stranger. Jeffrey replied. It was an event he had never experienced before. It seemed that a new element had been added to the world of After the End. Gyeo-ul listened to the radio again. On the street combat 㲻Ȱҡ Many injured SelfEscape impossible OfMission fail Inre ManySeImpossible RosaMoving ҡȥ CombattopointOh ӵˡʲô 㲻Ȱҡ Civiliananmission fail Can you find the origin? When Gyeo-ul asked, the radio soldier looked a little embarrassed. Its not impossible. Its a bit crude, but you can just walk around and find a way to improve the sensitivity. But itll take a long time. Im not sure how far it will be. The radio soldier warned of the time-consuming situation. Jeffrey sat down. Lets take a break while we think. Im starving. Chapter 47 00047 #signsC # Signs (3), Atascadero A meal break was also a necessary order for soldiers. If you wanted to maintain your combat power, you should eat at the right time. Mealtime was given in two shifts. Although it was a sudden command, Gyeo-ul prepared a meal without any complaints, for his hunger was atBad Status, and he wanted to stay in the best condition. All one had to do was fill in the calories. Their meal was a first strike ration (FSR). As Gyeo-ul took out an energy bar, Lt. Jeffrey, who was mixing tuna and mayonnaise, spoke to him. You know, doesnt this look like a bunch of shit? Military preservation did not care about aesthetics. The shape of the energy bar was, to put it nicely, looked like a crushed lamb. To put it more frankly, it was indeed like a lump of feces. Gyeo-ul had put down the energy bar. Upon seeing this, Jeffrey grinned. What do you say? Revenge of the cockroaches! Being able to joke, even when you were afraid, was evidence of veteran experience. However, some would think it was just immature. Gyeo-ul sighed and chewed sandwiches. It tasted like salty beef. I dont think thats from a man. Kind of what is it, automated transmission and reception? Maybe thats broken. That also caused interference. But we cant just ignore it. The mission is reconnaissance. We need to find traces of the former team, Jeffrey muttered with an uncomfortable look at Gyeo-uls answer. In horror movies, people die when they get a radio like that. Thats nonsense. Is this man really immature? After the meal, the radio soldier attempted to communicate once more with the unidentified people. Thats creepy. At least were not dealing with a broken machine. The radio soldier who finished communication sweated. Theres a response every time I send it over here. The transmission of messages is interrupted momentarily, and the interference frequency becomes stronger. Their transmission resumes shortly, but it includes a message I sent, too. What is that? Second Lieutenant Jeffrey had a ridiculous look on his face. Gyeo-ul began to ask. Is there anything else in particular? Uh, um, Im not sure As Gyeo-ul nodded, the radio soldier said something uncomfortable. The more I repeat it, the more sensitive it becomes. Does that mean the target is approaching? Well, thats likely. Increasing sensitivity proved decreasing distance. The atmosphere became quiet. Gyeo-ul decided to make a suggestion. Thats rather good. Lets keep in touch, get ready for a welcome. Jeffrey pointed to the vacant lot outside the main gate. Thats enough for the point of fire, right? Theres a cover over here. Thats fine. The soldiers moved busily. It was to move the lobbys booby trap outside. The soldiers who installed Claymores drew the electricity cable. If you hit the detonator here, you could detonate it remotely in time. As with all public facilities, there was a flagpole at the center of the vacant lot. Jeffrey ordered the soldiers to lower the flag. It was a formality, but the soldiers carried it out without complaint. The American flag was recovered along with the California flag. Jeffrey folded them up well. He said that this was a souvenir. Until now, radio soldiers had continuously tried to communicate. The message I sent came back. A tense report. It meant that an unidentified opponent would copy and repeat the words of the radio soldier. In addition, the noise became stronger, and message reception sensitivity also increased. It was almost noisy. Jeffrey grumbled. Are they really ghosts, or are they teasing us? It was certain that the distance was reduced. He felt anxious because he couldnt tell how close they were. After walking for some time, they eventually came across something strange. Across the parking lot, a blurry figure passed quickly between the buildings and coniferous trees over the fence. Theres something. It wasnt human, Gyeo-ul was sure, as he raised his gun. What? Where? The whole platoon was nervous. Soldiers were watching their surroundings, sticking their guns out. Where is it? Jeffreys sounded highly nervous. Gyeo-ul measured the distance. Measurement of the distance by the eyes should be corrected by Firearm mastery. 12 oclock, about 120 meters away, hiding behind the building second from the left. More than 30 guns moved to follow Gyeo-uls words. The walkie-talkie was going crazy. Gyeo-ul turned it off. In any case, it was impossible to communicate, and all the platoon members were gathered. Jeffrey and his soldiers also did as Gyeo-ul did. The target didnt show up easily. Instead, small things began to crawl over the fence. The soldiers were embarrassed. Doesnt that isnt that a baby? It wasnt just like a baby C it was indeed a baby. Infected babies, to be exact. There were several of them, and their limbs looked deformed, almost as if they had been burned. An ordinary baby could not have crossed the fence. These did. They couldnt even stand on their two feet, but with reinforced power, they came over. Struggling on the railing, they fall down. They rolled down the slope made of grass. Kaeee-. Kaeeee- There came a strange cry. The black babies crawled out. The speed was surprisingly fast, almost like that of a dog. Their big heads swirled from side to side, showing a mutants unique behavior. Oh, Jesus. Its getting worse, someone murmured. Mutant babies were more complicated targets than expected. They were small and agile, sometimes jumping up and down on four limbs like a frog. Some of them also crawled underneath a car. It was probably a new special mutant, a kind that Gyeo-ul had never seen. It was like whoever was behind it was testing them for the first time. Terrorist bastards. Its a violation of the rules to use babies. Fire! It was embarrassing because they were babies, but they couldnt allow them to approach. Jeffreys shooting order had been issued. Drrrr! Drrrr! The machine gun then fired immediately. Gyeo-ul saved ammunition. He knelt and focused on single targets, and would hit exactly one shot for each target. Even so, the efficiency was superior to the soldiers shooting auto. Tuk! Tuk! Tuk! Whenever the trigger was pulled, red blood was sprayed on the parking lot and the vacant lot. Paak! A baby shot in the head turned around in the air. The bullet blasted its small skull, forming a hollow from the forehead to the top of the head. Its brains seemed to be scooped out with an ice cream spoon. Oh, shit! Im going to have a nightmare! Support firearm soldiers reloaded the machine gun ammunition. With the help of an assistant, he quickly reloaded it and aimed at the mutant babies near the flagpole. There were 200 rounds in the magazine. It was an indiscriminate attack. When they crossed the parking lot, there was no more cover in the vacant lot. The bunch of mutant babies who entered within the guns range was separated. It seemed as if an invisible grinder tore through their bodies. A torn baby fell on the grass. It lost half of its body. Innards flowed out. It wiggled once before turning limp. God, God, God, God He called God endlessly right next to Gyeo-ul. In fact, this proved to be an unpleasant experience, even for Gyeo-ul. Claymore! Number seven, number eight! Fire! At Jeffreys firm command, a soldier threw something across the lot and pressed a button. The earth shook. Each of the two claymores spread 700 ball bearings 120 degrees in front. Gunpowder fog rose over the rain-soaked ground. It was over-kill. Anything within its scope would be unrecognizable. They only used two out of the eight claymores they brought, but the vacant lot was completely swept away. While everyone was quiet, Gyeo-ul began to shoot alone. After emptying one magazine, he emptied a new one again. Everyone felt puzzled because they didnt know what a male officer seemed to be shooting at. I missed it. Jeffrey asked, What? Youre so distracted that you forgot. What were we wary of the first time? Oops. Jeffrey hit his helmet. He seemed to curse his stupidity for a moment. The soldiers were on the same page. While the unidentified enemy was on the run, they were completely out of control. Jeffrey, who was struggling, asked the question in a gloomy mood. Did you see what it looked like? It only had one leg. Its covered by shrubs and trees. Did you hit it? For sure. I hit it with several bullets, but I dont know if they damaged it or not. Yeah, Im glad youre here. You deserve a medal.. He asked for the maximum explanation of what Gyeo-ul had seen. The silhouette and one leg alone, which he saw at first, soon gave him an idea of the approximate size. The conclusion was also a special mutant. Its smaller than [Grumble], but its definitely not an ordinary mutant. Gyeo-ul and Jeffrey advanced beyond the parking lot under cover of the soldiers. They were looking for his traces. However, the bloodstains and grass footsteps were cut off when they met asphalt. It was difficult to expect additional results with the fourth-grade [tracking] of Gyeo-ul. The problem was the rain that was still falling. Bloodstains did not continue. Blurred blood flows into the furrows. However, they found one new thing. The new mutant had low or no physical resistance. Where did this guy run? Its too much to search the city. The missing former team may have followed an unidentified radio into the city. Gyeo-ul spoke to Jeffrey, who was worried. Well, we may not need to search right now. Huh? Instead of explaining, Gyeo-ul turned on the radio again. There was a noise. The message was not sent out, but the intensity of the noise is great. It was the same or more than when it was approaching. Gyeo-ul listened quietly and slowly gained confidence. This guy is still hunting us. It meant that the position of being chased and chasing could be the opposite. There came a moment of silence. Asshole Whos hunting who? Jeffrey giggled at this. Its been hit and now running, and its still hanging around? Its good we dont have to go after it. As soon as he finished speaking, they heard the sound of barbed wire shaking from afar. Very rough. Everyone around looked at one side. It was headed for the state hospitals isolation ward. There was a noise of breaking windows. It was clear that it went into the building because the interference suddenly weakened. Oh, my God, you son of bitch. You dont want to get caught nicely. According to the briefing, 1,200 infected mutants had been accommodated by the CDC in isolation wards. If they were released, there would be hell. Ammunition would run out before fatigue even came. Gyeo-ul eased his worries. Its okay. They said its all locked up. We checked one of them ourselves. And so will the individual rooms. S?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. It was called a hospital room, but in fact, it was like a cell. It wouldnt even open without a key. Oh, I cant help it. All right, lets go to the labyrinth. Jeffrey walked with his shoulders down, but he still took the lead. Gyeo-ul searched the vehicles of the former team along the way. He was able to replenish his ammunition, as well as obtained some grenades. Chapter 48 [The translation quality picks up from Chapter 51+ since thats when the new team took over.] 00048 #signsC # Signs (4), Atascadero As they found a new mutant, they then needed to make an interim report. They also needed to report that they have detonated claymores. The radio soldier grabbed the radio and struggled with the noise. Interference frequency was usually resolved by changing the frequency, but not now. At this, the radio soldier grumbled. It was a great ability for a monster. The troops were then briefly divided into two. Jeffrey moved to the vehicle with a radio soldier and a squad, saying he would find a place to communicate. In the meantime, Gyeo-ul decided to find the key to the quarantine ward with the remaining soldiers. There was a door breaching equipment, but it was not possible to break countless doors and steel windows. The noise level and the time it takes were also problems. However, they brought equipment anyway. What Gyeo-ul had chosen was Halligan Bar. It was a steel pickaxe with blades on both sides and a crowbar for a handle. It was a good weapon. I found it. A soldier who was searching the police office then threw a bunch of keys he found over. Gyeo-ul caught it. Keep looking. The more, the better. The soldiers found three additional packages of keys. Shortly after, the windows shook. It was supported by a noisemaker. Gyeo-ul checked the time. Jeffrey was trying to determine how much he had moved on the Humvee. Based on the distance, it would be able to reverse the output of the monster. It wasnt easy right now, though. Jeffreys return was later than expected. Gyeo-ul secured an east watchtower and deployed surveillance troops. It was a measure to prevent the special mutant from escaping. Almost 30 minutes later, three Humvees came in in a row. After returning, Jeffrey explained the reason for the delay. The health service unit has shown interested. The Public Health Service Unit was a paramilitary organization under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, currently in charge of quarantine of the containment line under the cooperation of CDC and FEMA. It was also responsible for collecting information on infected mutants. The desk workers have no sense of reality. One of the doctors was asking a lot. They dont know the situation is urgent and said they have to write a report according to the procedure. Damn it. It wouldnt be just that. Gyeo-ul asked, So, whats the conclusion? Capture it if possible. Kill it or save it, and if you call after you catch it, hell send you a helicopter. They are saying very easy. Is there any other support? He asked me if I needed it when I have you. I said its okay. Its already late, and I thought it would take a long time if I wait for support. The monster wont wait, and that doesnt mean we have enough to surround the building. Thats what I think. The heightened reputation was not good at this time. The more he did for the name, the bigger they would ask for. Jeffrey knew what Gyeo-ul was thinking. Its because they dont know the lessons of Mogadishu. Thats why you shouldnt have a stupid head. They call themselves professionals, but they are full of book mold scents. The United States, which was involved in the Somali civil war, suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Mogadishu. Because they trusted the special forces too much, they left the impossible task to them and thought that they would succeed. There came a heavy voice. Why did you just come here? You should have sworn them at least. It was the words of a sergeant who was the only one in the platoon. Jeffrey answered back. Hey, he was still a lieutenant colonel. If I go to jail, who will lead? Thats all right. The armys core is noncommissioned officers. And theres another lieutenant here. Have a safe trip. While saying this, there was no change in tone at all. He wore a calm expression, and so his nickname was Bore. Marvin Bore Lieberman. Jeffrey made a ridiculous face. Sergeant, you dont look like a joke because you dont have an expression. Sure. Im serious. What? The soldiers are giggling. Gyeo-ul cut in. I know you dont want to, but thats enough. Its the short daytime season. It was a half-joking remark. As always, a joke in fear was proof of veteran. There was a way to control the tension of subordinates. Sergeant Lieberman nodded. Youre better than our lieutenant. What? This was a joke. Two officers and sergeants unfold the map of the facility and draw up a line of movement. The site was so large that it would run out of time if they moved in a lump. For now, lets not overdo it. Its greedy to send these numbers and ask for great results. Jeffrey nailed it from the start, and Gyeo-ul agreed. I think theyre smart. They tested our firepower with infected babies. Theres nothing bad about being careful. We can move by squad, but since there are three corridors, lets go side by side so that you can connect with support when you need it. It wont be too much if we relay the communication. He can sense our radio, so its a kind of chasing hunt. The sergeant suggested, drawing a route. It meant they didnt have to avoid the necessary radios. Jeffrey nodded in agreement and wrote down the time for each point. Sergeants write down the time and base that corresponds to them, where they gathered in case of emergency, when and where they could go, etc. Gyeo-ul looked through the map. He relied on memory rather than technology correction, after all. Right now, it was inevitably efficient to invest in [Map reading]. If you didnt increase Memorize together, it took a considerable amount of time to update the mini-map. Lieutenant Han, youre the center. No objection, right? Of course not. He accepted it like it was no problem. Soldiers playfully responded. Jeffrey then stood up. Okay, everybody, check on Cam, lets move! The search finally began. The keys were divided by Gyeo-ul, Jeffrey, and Lieberman, and the reserve took the remaining bundles. Since two members of each squad were assigned to the watchtower and lobby, the search team had about nine men, including commanders. Is it still in the ward? It might have sneaked out in the meantime. There was Corporal Elliot in the squad led by Gyeo-ul. It was the result of Jeffreys consideration. Itll be in there. Theres still a lot of noise. Gyeo-ul answered so and then opened the door to the first section. To prevent a surprise attack from behind, they would lock it again after entering the building. When it was urgent, it was enough to shoot the lock. The bars dividing the compartments often appeared. Throughout the passage, the soldiers snooped at the locked doors on the left and right sides. Lieutenant, look at this. Theres no movement of the trapped men. A soldier called Gyeo-ul. The boy officer stood guard against the door in the other direction. Over the glass with wire mesh, he peeps into the room. The appearance of the mutant was like a still screen, standing by the window, not moving. Is he dead? S~?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Well, I dont know. Gyeo-ul instructed soldiers to stay away. Elliot himself didnt look very clear. It doesnt look like it starved to death, at least. Is it saving its energy? That was definitely the answer. Wouldnt it be? Gyeo-ul answered vaguely. There was no need to prove it. The sound of thunder soon emanated. As soon as the rain clouds blazed white, the hardened mutant awakened like a seizure. With the frightened soldiers holding their breath, the mutant just looked over the window. Then again, slowly, the movement disappeared. Wow, what a surprise. Elliots whispering voice. After that, everyone tried to be quieter. Soldiers paid attention to each step. The hallway was similar everywhere. It was dark and desolate. The hospital room was full from side to side, so there was no room for cloudy sunlight. The sound outside proved to be the same. Except for mutants that had seizures every time when there was thunder, the only sound left was breathless boots. The scenery suddenly changed. When the third section was reached, the blocking door was open. In addition, every door one would see was open. Gyeo-ul pulled down the helmets night vision. The field of vision becomes full of green shading. Importantly, there were faint scarlet stains on the floor. There are a lot of footprints. Damn! Gyeo-ul warned. Huey. Keep your voice down. Im sorry. The soldiers kept looking at Gyeo-ul. This was because they couldnt see heat (infrared) with their equipment. Infection mutants had higher body temperatures than humans. And walk barefoot. Even so, it is strange that there are still footprints. It meant that time did not pass long, and as soon as it came out, it moved systematically. Where did these things go? Gyeo-ul picked up a radio to announce the situation. There was soon a lot of noise. Jeffrey lieutenant. Sergeant Lieberman. Can you hear me? Thump, thump, thump. Heavy footsteps passed overhead. From the front, from the back. At the same time, the noise of the radio was momentarily amplified and then returned to the previous level. Everyone then looked up. Gyeo-ul saw that communication was impossible and sighed. I think its our game that just passed over. Elliot asked nervously, What do we do? Follow me. Gyeo-ul ran toward an empty hallway. The soldiers were frightened and followed along. Hes gone backward! Its like a trap. He was indeed a smart guy. He would have made a loud noise on purpose. As soon as he tried to communicate, he knew where he was. At this moment, when everything was uncertain, speed was the key. It must deviate from the prediction. The sprint reached the end of the hall. As expected, the next section was open. There were many noticeable traces here. Bloody handprints and footprints were full of walls and floors, and they were all headed for the south aisle. On the other hand, the northern aisle looked very clean. The soldiers were already worried about Sergeant Lieberman. Lieberman to the south and Jeffery to the north. The noise decreased, and the radio cried. Oh, its working now. Can you hear me? The smell here is weird. All doors are open. I think we need some support. It was Sergeant Liebermans voice. Gyeo-ul did not even respond. The soldiers also demanded radio silence. Dont reply. Cause he doesnt know where we are. But! This is an order. With the soldiers pressed, Gyeo-ul once again pulled down the night vision. After carefully examining the passage of the south and north, he decided to do so. Were heading north. There was an immediate backlash. He would not follow without explanation. Gyeo-ul then tapped onto the perspective. There are more invisible footprints in the north. Huh. Those who realized the meaning were half afraid and half embarrassed. Oh, my God, its really a trap! They desperately followed Gyeo-ul, who had already begun to run. After running about 80 meters around the corner twice, Gyeo-ul slowed down. Jeffrey hadnt made it to the Gyeo-ul yet. In addition, the gate was still locked. Individual rooms were also closed. Gyeo-ul opened the barrier door and pushed it to make it look locked. Based on the experience so far, Gyeo-ul thought it looked like a sneaky human being. If youre going to do a surprise, youre not going to make your opponent nervous. Why would the door be locked only here? He looked back at the memory of looking at the map. At the intersection in the center of the northern corridor, there was an auditorium that protruded outward. Mutants are good to hide in large quantities. If there was a surprise attack, it was right in front of him. He could wait and surprise attack in reverse. If he exposed this side for no reason, he was likely to fall into the other side. Gyeo-ul spread his finger and put it on his lips. The soldiers had yet to grasp the overall situation. They were here to help, but why didnt he join right away? However, they followed the instruction obediently. It was because of the confident appearance of Gyeo-ul. Gyeo-ul turned down the radio volume. Jeffreys voice could be heard through the loud noise. Lieutenant Han? Sergeant Lieberman? H-e-l-l-o? Shit. I dont like this. Jeffrey looked at the soldiers around him and sent a silent signal. Get ready for battle. Chapter 49 00049 #signsC # Signs (5) Atascadero Jeffreys squad cautiously approached. They had no idea what to expect. Whenever they reached corners, Gyeo-ul stretched out a convex mirror so they could see what was lying ahead of them. Jeffrey and the soldiers were doing their best, but Gyeo-ul felt that it wasnt enough. After they had checked the locked doors, it seemed as if they let their guards down. Gyeo-ul then borrowed a six-fire grenade launcher from one of the soldiers. Meanwhile, Jeffrey has walked into a trap. Unbeknownst to him and his team, a gray figure was crawling down the wall, covered by darkness. It was moving silently, like a predator stalking its prey. Jeffrey! Get down! Gyeo-ul began firing as he screamed out his warning, surprising the soldiers. By reflex, they found themselves lowering their postures as bullets flew all around them. Get down! s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Tu tu tu tu tu tu! Gyeo-ul seemed to be aiming at an invisible target over the auditoriums window. A series of explosions then occurred as the bullets found their mark. The dark hallway was filled with explosions and flashes of light. Torn iron bars and glass debris poured out like rain. Gyeo-ul threw the grenade launcher at the soldier, then raised a rifle and began running. Soldiers followed him promptly. The figure in the dark blocked the bullets with one arm and held onto the doorknob with the other. There came a spark. The door opened as if it had never been locked. Only then did Jeffrey saw the monster so close to them. The monsters flesh was torn off by some of the heavy ammunition. Soon, more monsters began to pour into the auditorium. Oh, my God! Whats all this!? Jeffreys screamed. Come this way! Come on! Gyeo-ul then threw a grenade. Bursting inside the entrance of the auditorium, he knocked down a bunch of them who were pouring out. Squad members followed Gyeo-uls movements, switching from grenades to rifles in quick successions. However, one of them misfired while using a grenade launcher. The grenade bounced off a metal bar above them. It was going to fall and explode over their heads. Ting! Gyeo-uls bullets hit the grenade, just enough to change its direction without making it explode. The grenade went over the window and explode as soon as it was outside. Gyeo-ul slapped a soldier on the cheek. Wake up! The stinging pain on the soldiers cheek was enough to wake him up. He could not afford to get angry at Gyeo-ul. Every ammunition they had was important. He should make better use of their grenades. Gyeo-ul finally joined Jeffrey. He knelt next to him as they fired toward the mutant herd pouring inside the auditorium. Are you all right? I dont know whats going on! Drrrrrr! But Im fine! A bottleneck was occurring. As it was pushed out into a narrow space, the monsters could not use their strength. The piled-up bodies became obstacles. Around the auditorium door, it filled more than half the height of the hall. It was an obstacle, even for Gyeo-ul. Beyond that, a special monster that ran away did not need to come into view. Im going after the prey! Cover me! Hey, hey! At this, Gyeo-ul began to run. Three mutants ran toward him, bursting through the pile of bodies. His rifle was out of bullets, and so he immediately took out his pistol and fired. Two of the mutants fell on their tracks; however, the other one wasnt as badly injured as the others. Still, Gyeo-ul slammed his pistols grip on the mutants head, crushing its skull. He then jumped over a wall, changing his magazine. Mutants crowded at the foot of the wall he was on, pushing it until finally, it gave in. Gyeo-ul miraculously finished reloading and rolled over to the other side, avoiding the claws and teeth aimed at him. He immediately regained his balance and ran right away. It was very close until he identified a special mutant running away from the cage and caught it on sight. When the bullets rained down, he found the nearest way out C a door that went to the side. There was a small vacant lot. The monster was waiting for the Gyeo-ul. Ugh! Gyeo-ul quickly shifted direction as a whip narrowly missed his head. It was a deformed arm with no bones and only muscles. Gyeo-ul, who lay back, aimed with one hand. Tudududududududu! After getting hit several times, the special monster ran away again. Gyeo-ul quickly chased it into a vacant lot. A special mutant hanging from the wall then hit the arm against a rain-soaked bush. There came a spark. The current flowed through the ground and water. It was inefficient due to the wide range, but it was still enough to slow down Gyeo-ul. Combat shoes were insulators, but rainwater proved to be a problemmomentary paralysis. Aiming at this setting was difficult. The monster took advantage of his momentary pause and began climbing the wall, leaving bloody tracks behind it from several wounds. Gyeo-ul began firing indiscriminately, hitting the concrete wall to weaken it. Some of his bullets dug into the monsters calves. Despite that, the monster kept on running away. It then climbed up to the roof. Throw a magazine when I get up! There may be a shortage of ammunition. Gyeo-ul was running toward the wall, shouting out to the soldiers that soon followed. With [Movement] correction, he could step on the window frames and drains and overcome them by 8 meters vertically. Take it! The magazine then flew in. At the same time as climbing on the roof, Gyeo-ul chased the monster once again. The fleeing monster was already being shot. The soldiers deployed in the watchtower significantly reduced the speed of the special monster, although they were not able to hit. The mutant used a poorly intertwined ventilation system on the roof as a cover. The ventilation system was so messy. It is to prevent the prisoners from escaping. Gyeo-ul had jumped them several times. As soon as he crossed the obstacle, the monster was 20 meters away. With some low exhaust ventilation between them, they faced each other head-on. It was pretty weird to aim straight. In the upper body of the mutant, the ribs were red. Hwaaaaa-! There was a rush of heat. The attack was too fast, so he avoided it late. It was exposed momentarily. The rolling Gyeo-ul was embarrassed to see the steam rising from the whole body. Yes, hes a man of electricity and radio. This conjecture was affirmed by [Insight]. It was the principle of a microwave oven. It was a monster he had never seen before, a pattern he had never seen before. He had no choice but to bump into him. Gyeo-ul pulled out a flash bomb pin and let a safety handle go. Two seconds later, he jumped up and threw, then immediately closed his ears and eyes. The black world, for a second, turned white. The explosion was heard throughout the body and soul. Gyeo-ul rose and moved again. The special mutant gripped the eyes and stumbled. In the midst of all this, the upper body was burning up. He could see the trace of the microwave with his eyes. Raindrops vaporize little by little, and a light, cloudy shroud unfolds. However, the aim was more accurate than he thought. It was just staggering, and it was already reacting properly to the movements of Gyeo-ul. Just as bats perceived their surroundings with ultrasound, would it be another cognitive tool? Gyeo-ul thought so. The range of the distant pattern was identified. Gyeo-ul threw the remaining flashbang. Bang! Mutants recovered faster than humans, but the continuous flashbang blasts had made the monster lethargic. Gyeo-ul was aimed at the monsters knee. He shot until one of the monsters joints was smashed. It was the same leg that Gyeo-ul had hit before, for he was making the monsters injury worse. With a meaningless whipping around, the special mutant grabbed the injured area with its spare hand. The spark and smoke rose. It was to prevent bleeding by burning it. The whipping arm stretched well. It would also have electricity. Itll be dangerous if I get caught. The returning monster then stared at Gyeo-ul. He felt anger bubbling up from within him. However, the action was to run away. Even though a leg was smashed, it ran away in an unusual manner. Throw in one arm swinging like a whip and grab an object far away. Arm muscles contracted. Its body came with it. It proved to be faster than a mans sprint. The other arm replaced the leg. It was a strange sight. Gyeo-ul then threw grenades. He adjusted the time so that it exploded in the high sky. The storm then pressed down on the monster. The special mutant thrown on the floor had been stained with blood that could not be erased by the rain. The deformed body wriggled like a bug. The desperate escape was like a sloth. Lieutenant Han, Can you hear me? Are you alive? Answer me! The interference has decreased dramatically. It was evident that the energy of the special monster was exhausted. Gyeo-ul took his breath and chased the monster. Yes, Im fine. Go ahead. A sigh of relief flowed out of the receiver. Second lieutenant Jeffrey then began to ask. Ha. Thats a relief. Where are you located? Were still on our way to the rooftop. Lieutenant, are you sure youre okay? Sergeant Liebermans words overlapped. It is a problem caused by the sudden possibility of communication. It wasnt to the point where he didnt understand. Gyeo-ul then replied. Take your time. I almost overpowered everyone. The special mutant could no longer escape. Wiggle in place. A tentacle-like arm was as shiny as a worm on a rainy day. Even so, it would stop soon. Except for the slender chest, it was but a dead body. Gyeo-ul himself didnt get too close. There was a possibility that he had pretended to be dead because he was sneaky. It was time for two other squads to approach the rooftop after a long time. A special monster was flashed by surprise. Kuaaaa! Muscular whips then flooded in. it was a live whip that changed its direction while being swung. Gyeo-ul jumped out of the way. It was a close distance from the beginning. He tried to use up all his remaining strength, but he ran fiercely, twisting his arms and legs. However, it was not enough to catch up with Gyeo-ul. In a short time, extreme noise splattered on the radio. Crossfire poured from Jeffrey and Lieberman. The skin of the mutant was ragged. Gyeo-ul had to give up communication and scream. Dont shoot! Hold your fire! Hold your fire! A large signal had been sent to the tower. Seeing his arms repeatedly cross in an X-shape, he also stopped shooting. However, it already got hit too much. The holes in the mutant body were hard to even count. Everything around was full of blood. Gyeo-ul approached the tip of the tentacle, pushing it. There was no response. If there was more power left, it was time for an electric shock pattern. Gyeo-ul put a sword at the end of the gun and touched the wound. Still unresponsive. What happened? Lieutenant Jeffrey, who was panting, suddenly stopped a few steps away. He was afraid of monsters. Oh, shit. Short verbal abuse. Gyeo-ul kicked the mutant corpse a few times before finally pressing down on the neck to check his pulse. Hes dead, unfortunately. Huh? Youre sad? I heard he told you to capture it. The doctor. Are you sure you were going to do that? Youre out of your mind. This was a compliment. Lieutenant Jeffrey, who was communicating with the headquarters, delivered the news. Everyone, be glad. The doctor is going to be penalized. I feel so good inside. Penalized? Why? Hes dealt with it wrong. The person in charge has changed. Details of the situation would be known later. Anyway, the helicopter flew in, just as promised. New information could be obtained from the transport helicopter personnel. Just like during the [Grumble] shock, the new species was emerging simultaneously in a wide range of regions. It said a large-scale response operation was in operation. Were not the first ones, are we? Gyeo-ul asked the health service officer. His rank was a major, but he felt more like a scholar than a soldier. Two bodies of the same mutant were already fixed in the helicopter. The condition was not very good. It was the result of exposure to terrible firepower. The officer nodded. The damage was considerable, but its better than the [Grumble]. Because the Air Force was very active. Is the air force involved? When Jeffrey asked a new question, the officer answered in a positive manner. At first, I thought it was a foreign military intervention. They fired radio-tracking missiles. A missile? That must have been hot. Anyway, its a shame. The samples youve acquired are the most intact. If I did well, I would have gotten a living sample of research. The major seemed to be genuinely sorry. He asked if they would return to the helicopter, but they could not leave the vehicle unattended. Before returning, the major asked Gyeo-ul to shake hands. I will regret not to shake hand when I met a celebrity like you. With a smile and salute, he boarded the helicopter. Sergeant Lieberman then made a suggestion while looking at the helicopter squadron moving away. Theres too much going on now. Lets get out of here. His mission to locate the missing persons continued. However, the soldiers were exhausted, they were out of ammunition, and there was not enough time left until the sunset. As a senior officer, Jeffrey accepted the offer. Yes, weve done enough, so lets go back. Dont you agree? At this, Gyeo-ul nodded. Chapter 50 00050 #signsC # Signs (6) Atascadero The next day, Gyeo-ul found himself at Atascadero once again to search for the missing troops. More troops, with additional support from the South, were deployed than the previous day. The support troops had arrived first and set up a bridgehead south of the city. They also brought reconnaissance drones to help with the search operation. Soon, they found what they have been searching for. The missing men were walking aimlessly on the streets as undying dead men. Thud! A blunt gunshot then erupted. It was Gyeo-ul. He brought an infected soldier to rest. Considering the aesthetics, he shot the poor mans heart, not his head. The infected body fell face down on the asphalt and convulsed. Its a funeral for Bravo Company. Elliot, who was dragged out today to help with the search, is grumbling again. All of the missing troops in Atascadero were from the Bravo company. It is easy to locate those from the U.S. military, but how the hell could we identify the missing Chinese? Elliots complaint promptly made sense. Those infected U.S. military were easy to recognize because they were wearing their combat uniforms. Even from the aerial view of the drones, they can easily be spotted. However, it would be hard to locate the Chinese refugees. The command has almost given up the seemingly impossible task, but fortunately, Gyeo-ul realized how to solve their problem. Its not impossible. We can narrow the search down to Asian-looking infected persons and find those that have a tattoo. Tattoos? Like the Red Mafia? The other soldiers felt surprised by Gyeo-uls suggestion. The Red Mafia was indeed a Russian criminal group whose members were known for their tattoos. Their tattoos were very detailed and could tell a lot about the person it was on, such as how many men they had killed, how many years they had spent in prison, etc. Gyeo-ul answered back. Its similar. Most of the missing Chinese people are from Triads. The soldiers shook their heads. The Chinese Triad was a notorious criminal organization. It was shocking for them to realize that its members were among the refugees. For the members of the military who fought crime before the disaster, it was unthinkable to let these criminals join the general public once more. Thus, searching for the missing Chinese had become even more difficult. Even if Gyeo-ul shared information, everyone, from soldiers to noncommissioned officers and officers, was passive in the search operation. It was almost as if it was only Gyeo-ul who continued to search for the Chinese persons. Soon, every missing U.S. soldier had been identified, but there had been no progress in finding the Chinese refugees. Regardless, soldiers admired the character of Gyeo-ul. Hes a hard worker, even though his nationality is different. I think youre a great man in many ways. Despite the situation, Gyeo-ul devoted himself silently to the search. He focused on each mutant and shot them through their heads at first glance if they didnt look Asian. For those that looked Asian, he tried to keep their bodies as intact as possible. We found one. Gyeo-ul, who had shot a bullet through an Asian mutants chest, tore its shirt open to show the soldiers. There was a tattoo on the corpses chesta Chinese character engraved inside a triangle. What letter is this? Chinese characters were difficult for Westerners. For Gyeo-ul, there was no need for technical corrections. Hong. It means wide. It was one of the representative symbols of the Triad. The Triad had three branches C the Cheongbang, the Red Society, and the Black Society. In other words, these three organizations were meant to be together. So, the three dots here mean the first three organizations? Ha, thats significant. How do you know this? It was a soldiers question after hearing the explanation. Gyeo-ul answered moderately. China and Korea have similar cultures. I just happened to know. It was a plausible excuse. The soldier nodded, saying, I see. The back and chest of the Chinese body were full of tattoos. Even for Gyeo-ul, he was not able to recognize all symbols. However, judging from its splendor, he could see that he was not a regular member of the organization. If only a dragon had been painted, it would be considered colorful but had no substance. However, there were distinct symbols. This one is definitely an executive. Competitive organizations of the Black Society, which are engaged in a leadership battle with the Triad, were protected by Captain Markert, the first lieutenant. This was why Gyeo-ul concluded the Chinese missing as a triad. Gyeo-ul had already guessed the impact of the Triad. Even so, they said they suffered a serious blow. If they had suffered losses of nearly 100, including executives, they would no longer be able to defend themselves. When I go back, I think there will be a high probability of re-contact. He lost his mind for a moment. A warning from the command headquarters had come through the receiver. Stop where you are. A group of infected mutants is approaching from the alley on the left of the front. There are about fifty of them. We havent determined if there are special and reinforced mutants among them. The soldiers immediately lowered their postures to prepare for sniping. The first mutant died as soon as it came into view. Gyeo-ul didnt even give soldiers a chance. He handled every mutant by himself, blowing them off before the others could even take a shot. Soon, there were fifty-three corpses piled up. It only took Gyeo-ul two magazines to finish them all. Towards the soldiers, Gyeo-ul reached out to share the ammunition. Why are we here? It was Elliot who had grumbled and given his share. Instead of answering, Gyeo-ul asked different things. Elliot, dont you think its weird? Strange? What? Elliot chases the cockroach and asks back. Gyeo-ul pointed to the dead. Theyre all adults. What? Dont you remember the infected babies you saw yesterday? Not only Elliot but all the soldiers who were listening frowned. No matter how distorted it was, it was a baby. It would have been a trauma to shoot at it. However, Gyeo-ul did not bring up the story to bother the soldiers. There were so many babies yesterday; why arent there today? Uh thats true. Yesterday, the infected babies had a lot of numbers. He couldnt handle it with a gun and had to use a shotgun blast. Towards troubled faces, Gyeo-ul asked the same content and other questions. Why did [Trickster] call the babies out in the first place? If we were going to test our firepower, it would have been much better to call the adult mutants over. [Trickster] was a variant code of a special mutant dealing with radio waves. It was officially granted this morning. Its a name that goes well with sneaky activities. What do you think, Lieutenant? A generation gap, Gyeo-ul answered immediately. The soldiers dazed for a while and busily caught up with the young lieutenant ahead. I dont understand. What generation are you talking about? Try to listen while youre at work. Gyeo-ul then removed the clothes of the Asian male body. The soldiers who thought of the mission were scattered. Dead bodies are checked and asked again. What did you mean before? I find it strange that so many babies pop out in groups. From what I can tell, it looks like the mutants are breeding. What the f. Elliot swallowed his curses because he knew he was in front of an officer. The hardened soldier mumbled. Uhmaybe. They depend on human function, so its not impossible to conceive. Oh, my God. Gyeo-ul talked about his idea. This is my hypothesis. [Trickster] is not about not calling the saints, but about not being able to do it. The quick-witted soldiers then trembled. Gyeo-ul confirmed their concerns. Yes, thats it. A better child than his parents. A new generation of abilities. [Trickster] is a special mutant of radio waves. Newly born mutants, at least, may have the ability to receive radio waves. Is that even possible? A soldier asked back. When confronted with a terrible reality, they wanted to deny it. Isnt that a good chance? Actually, the [trickster] doesnt make sense. Have you ever imagined a creature that shoots interference waves at the frequency of biological electricity? S~?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Dont make that face. If youre always prepared for the worst, you wont have to despair no matter what happens. At least thats what I think. Yes, it was the wisdom of life obtained at a young age. Gyeo-ul was considered the worst in his life. He never expected anything from his parents. Elliot then spoke seriously. That certainly makes sense. We need to report to the top. Dont worry. But I still have to hand in the report. Gyeo-ul identified nine more Chinese bodies, and there was even a place where cockroaches were particularly crowded. They scattered when he shot a few bugs. He had gone with the soldiers and looked around. A soldier then spoke up. Airborne emergency food wrappers. It turned out to be Bulk. At least a few dozen servings. No matter how hard one was to look at it, they would think that it had been opened recently. It didnt seem to have flown away under the weight of a swarm of insects. Maybe it was the last supper of the missing people. Elliots voice had a sad feeling. Gyeo-ul shook his head inwardly. However, this time, he didnt say anything. #Unread messages (3) ݧѧէڧާڧ: The first experience I experienced through the barrier of Active X was the terrible sensation of cockroaches crawling through my body. Active X fuck you: Ha. Yeomin ROCK: It was a real, horrible experience. I can see why [After the End] is minor. United with Buddism: Did you feel the touch when you caught Jeffreys character? The feeling of crunching when its crushed. Terrible, huh? Guys, this is the weight of killing. Electronic anklet: Go away, mont. SALHAE: What the hell was he doing? The cockroaches are sticking together. Whats the matter? Ive been knocked out. Storm 224: I know. I wanted to faint. Friendly OUT: Beasts. Then turn off the synchronization. Retirement youth: 22222222 Hogut-ho-gugut: 3333333 Doochi: Yeah, why are you sticking around like a dead man Jjalapapa: It didnt work out as I wanted. Storm 224: Agreed. I couldnt do it. Ppukku: Why? Why not? System error? SALHAE: What error? I just didnt want to be distracted, fuckers Ppukku: Why? Why dont you like it? Are you proving that youre stupid? Ackta: Do you prove yourself stupid? You sound like shit. Friendly OUT: You dont even know how to explain it; you dont know how to vent your anger out on others. SALHAE: Friendly, you bastard. Do you really know what immersion is? SALHAE: I just want to forget that this is not true. SALHAE: People like you who see things as superficial will never understand after a hundred years. ޤĤߤ : Everyone, why are you fighting? After having such a great experience. AngryNeeson55 : good experience? Ackta: Oh! Its Matsuming! Hi! ޤĤߤ : Hello! Frank sausage: Hello, Miss Sex Diplomat! It was so quiet that I thought you left! Kim Jung-eun fucker: More than that, Matsuming, what did you mean by that? What do you mean, a good experience? Magnacarta: Is Matsumming broken again? ޤĤߤ : Its not! It was literally a great experience! ޤĤߤ : I synchronized with the cockroach! Puppy: Huh? What is this sound? Old Spice: Was the cockroach a synchronizable object after all? The Grapes of Wrath: Oh, my God. ޤĤߤ :: Thats right! Only the visual and smell are synchronized, but that in itself was enough! ޤĤߤ : peeking into Gyeo-uls underwear! The smell of Gyeo-ul mixed with sweat! Snink snink snink snink, sniff! Oh, Matsumin can die now! ϤϤϤϤϤϤϤ#!%$@#% > Magnacarta: Its broken in the end. Passport please: Roach synchronization, I never imagined it. Hogut-ho-gugut: What kind of drug did he take to think like that? ޤĤߤ: Excuse me! Matsumin didnt do any drugs! I just read the sensory synchronization manual! Everything is in the manual! AngryNeeson55: Its even more surprising that youve read hundreds of unkind pages. Spelling: Thats true. Dont make funny nick: I didnt think anyone would read it. The duty of defense: I didnt even know there was such a manual. ޤĤߤ : Hmm! The Japanese are meticulous! Angry Grapes: I want to have a girlfriend like that. SALHAE: But it doesnt help. SALHAE: Can you be immersed in bugs? It only makes the gap bigger. SALHAE: I want to be the main character.. Chapter 51 00051 #Past (4), After The Transaction Ah-young hesitated in front of the closed door. From the inside, she could hear violent noises. This meant that her father, Chairman Ko Kun-chul, must be having one of his murderous fits again. Still, she knew she had to go in. Even though both father and daughter hated each other, Ah-young was practically the only one who could stop him. She took a deep breath to steady herself before pushing the door using her whole weight. A whole mess promptly greeted her. You little quack! How dare you try to fool me?! The chairman swung a plaque at the doctor who was standing in front of him. Bam! Bam! The doctor turned at the right moment and was hit on his back instead of in his face. The poor man whimpered and ran to the corner of the room. One of his shoes was off, and the floor was now full of broken glass. He left a trail of blood as he rushed to the corner. However, the doctors escape was meaningless. He was captured by the presidents bodyguards and found himself thrown back in front of the chairman. The bodyguards didnt seem to like what they were doing, though, and their eyes all automatically went to Ah-young, their expressions desperate. They seemed to be pleading with her to end this chaos. There werent many familiar faces in the room; there must have been another purge. For an instant, Ah-young thought about her mother. She was the one who had caused all this distrust in her fathers heart. You came, boss. As he got closer, the chief of staff bowed to Ah-young. She didnt hesitate. How long has he been like this? Its been about thirty minutes. The chief of staff was shaking. When the chairman went on a rage like this, it was common for him to have a number of his staff fired. And this was not about simply losing a job: the old man would make sure to ruin your career afterward. It was the reason why close aides called for Ah-young if anything bad were to happen. Only she could survive the anger of the president. Boom! As soon as the vase broke, Ah-young clenched her fist. She felt her whole body tremble. Im scared, too. The memory of the violence she had watched as she grew up was deeply rooted. She had rarely been the victim of it herself. However, it had happened during a time when her young emotions were hard to handle. The fear that couldnt be reasoned away now burned her nerves to the core. The doctor then cried out, his mouth muffled. I told you! Your sexual dysfunction! Its a mental problem! Theres nothing wrong with your body! The plaster plaque soared. The Chairmans anger was rising rapidly. Why are you telling me that now?! Ack! The information needed for the transaction Ack! should be pre-provided! Bam! Blood splashed once more. The doctor, who now had a tear in his forehead, rolled back and finally found Ah-young. Crawling with his eyes locked on her face, he clung to her leg. Save me! Help me, boss! Boss! The chairman approached with a huff. His appearance was far different from before. There was an old rage in the new flesh, and it changed day by day. Ko Kun-cheol hadnt even shown a boyish expression before the deal. Could the inner side have such a strong impact on the outer side? Now he was a completely different person from who he used to be. Ah-young managed to move between her father and the doctor. She bowed her head and let her hair cover her face. Stop it, she said. Get out of the way! Get out of the way! The chairman pushed his daughter away to the side, and yet Ah-young managed to hang on. In frustration, the old man brought his huge palm down, striking his daughters face. It suddenly became quiet. The chairman looked frozen as he stared at his hand. The same hand that had hit Ah-young. No I shouldnt have Chairman Ko Kun-chul had begun muttering incoherent words, something only he could hear. Then he was silent for a long time. He didnt even move; he was like a statue. His ragged breathing soon calmed down. Ah-young didnt look at him. The face that resembled her mother was her original sin. However, even without facing each other, she could feel the love/hate pouring between them. This was a contradiction that could not be clarified until the answer came. Thats not why I started this. Who was he talking to? The chairman, who had again gone silent for a long time, finally spoke to Ah-young. Get out of the way. She obeyed and got out of the way, leaving the doctor floundering. However, before he could catch Ah-young, the chairman got to him first and raised him by the collar. The doctor couldnt even resist properly. Dont think you can screw me over and then live a decent life. I am a person who gets what I give and gives what I get. Give me a solution. Find a way to solve the problem. This was a threat with a proven record behind it. Thanks to his widespread connections and the chairmans status in political and financial circles, the means of smooth management cooperation indeed made social death possible. The doctor, who knew this, nodded desperately. Okay! Ill do my best! Trust me! Good. At this, the chairman finally let the doctor go. Get out everybody, except for Miss Ko. Why? There had been a moment of relief that it was over. The attendants escaped quickly. There could be no possible delay in carrying out the chairmans order. When only the father and daughter were left, the chairman began to speak more quietly than before. I was going to call you, but you came on your own. Whats the matter? The chairman revealed his answer in the manner of an excited little boy. Get ready for a divorce. She was rendered speechless. Ko Kun-chuls economic dialogue embarrassed even his closest daughter. S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. After a while, Ah-young finally asked. Why why? Why all of a sudden? You dont know? Ah-youngs father barked out a laugh. He did not abide by the principles of good faith and sincerity. How dare a husband play with another woman? Of course, he should be punished. Principles of good faith and sincerity. Ah-young trembled. It was like a spell that her father had once used to curse her mother. Why now? Ah-young swallowed the words and continued, her voice sounding almost like a moan. Why are you doing this now? You already knew he had another woman, didnt you? I thought you were ignoring it on purpose. Yes, I was pretending I didnt know. The chairmans voice turned angry again. To crush the bastard thoroughly, it took time to prepare. Prepare? Ah-young quickly realized what he meant. The management rights of the paradise group Her husband was the successor to the paradise group. He had a stake. With a divorce suit and the cause of divorce attributable to the husband Ah-young shook her head. That cant be possible. I made it possible. I just needed time to do it, was Ko Kun-chuls cynical answer. Ah-young felt dizzy. Her father just said things he knew he shouldnt say without thinking first. Dont take my daughters father from her. I was holding it in, too. To keep my child happy I had to. How lonely I have been What? Ko Kun-chul stopped talking. Ah-young realized her mistake and closed her eyes tightly. You dont tell me, do you miss that bitch? It was different from the anger that had boiled earlier. Now it felt terribly cold. The chairman reached out as if having a seizure, but the hand that he tried to grab with did not reach his daughter. Instead, it caused a slight convulsion. It was a fair contract! the chairman roared. Pay for my life! I decided to buy that bitchs life! It was a fair trade! No one can blame me! No one should be on her side! No one should miss her! Especially you, not you! If youre truly Ko Kun-chuls daughter, you must not! I didnt miss her. I was just lonely. Dont try to fool me! Ah-young opened her eyes. As expected, it was the same as always. Mistrust was staring at her. In this matter, her father had never trusted his daughterthe father who had now begun to murmur with a contemptuous voice. One trick is enough. Im telling you, half the mistrustful blood you have? The chairman then turned around. At least today, dont show up in front of me again. Ah-young lowered her head. It felt like she was bumping into a wall. It hurt. She had bumped into it so many times that shed thought she didnt have anything left to crash. She sighed, as per usual. #Journal, page 82, Camp Roberts. Even after the operation, the officers mission was not over. After returning from Atascadero, I was asked to submit a combat report. Jeffrey explained what he needed. Theyre making a [Trickster] combat instructor based on our report. Write it in as much detail as possible. Why did he move like that in each phase, what was the basis of judgment, what were the tricksters characteristics, etc.? He told me not to leave out any little detail. The operation was well regarded in many ways. This was because some special mutants, about which no prior information had been available, had been wiped out without damage. There had been considerable confusion and damage elsewhere. During the operation, all the platoon members had been wearing combat cameras. These were devices that were mounted on helmets and which recorded or transmitted what a soldier saw. As the information on mutants had become more important, the United States had been increasing its combat camera payout rate. Jeffrey and I had reviewed the recorded videos over and over again. It was footage of a whole platoon, so it had taken a lot of time for us to go over the material meticulously. Originally, Jeffrey wouldnt have had to supervise the report himself because he was a commander. However, I guessed those at the top had judged that my opinion was more important. His pride could have been hurt, but Jeffrey had nodded, acknowledging the fact that it was deserved. This was what he said: If you do well, youll get a medal again. When asked if that would be possible, he burst into laughter. You have the obvious evidence. He pointed at the screen that was still playing. Aim to become the Audie Murphy of this era. You could do it. Id heard the name Audie Murphy before. Had it been after the Silver Star Medal ceremony? When I asked who that was because I didnt know, Jeffrey had been a little surprised. Hed said that it was strange not to know. I thought he just remembered my background. At the time, Jeffrey had tried to make an excuse because my expression was a little strange. Who thinks of you as a refugee these days? Its normal to forget, like I have. I didnt think so. Anyway, I listened to the explanation. Audie Murphy was Americas most legendary war hero. He had been active in World War II and received twenty-seven medals from three countries in just two years. It was burdensome to be compared to such a person. However, it would be appreciated. For me now, I knew I had people to protect. The report took a considerable amount of time. What he had felt during the second days search was also described at the end of the report. The emergence of infectious mutants and hypotheses about their new abilities. This was just my guess, but I really thought it was highly probable. I just hoped that this was not a sign of a new disaster. Chapter 52 00052 #Journal, page 83, Camp Roberts. In the end, Jeffreys prediction proved to be correct. I was awarded a medal again. Major Bliss, who had come to the press conference, looked as if he was asking, Him again? I even felt kind of sorry for him. The Distinguished Service Medal I received this time was not as valuable as the Order of Merit. Nevertheless, there were more reporters than there had been the first time. Major Bliss had evidently had a hard time controlling them. Reporters asked me to say a word of encouragement to American citizens. Of course, I had some lines prepared; Major Bliss had already told me the things I should say. I did wonder what that meant, but I did as I was told, even if the lines sounded embarrassing. Protect your family and hometown! Ill help you! Keeping a smile on my face was hard work. It was awkward, no matter how much I thought about it, but the reporters said it was good. Their emotions must have been different from ordinary peoples. It was that, or they were crazy because the world was crazy. An invitation came from the citizens residence. For those who were bored and anxious every day, my award was a good reason for a festival. This was after the video from the Combat camera had been on the news. Theyd said that it would be included in the combat training manual, but it seemed that making promotional materials was more of a priority. It was hard to ignore the invitation. They expected me to come, so theyd decorated the areas entrance with a fancy look. If I didnt go, many people would be disappointed. A lot of things that theyd prepared in advance would be useless. However, I didnt feel comfortable during the party because several people tried flirting with me. I could tell that their motives differed. Some wanted to do it for politics. The California senator showed interest in me and wanted everyone to know about it. He even called in reporters to take pictures of us together. Other men tried to approach me, inviting me over for a steamy night. They said it in different, clever ways. Still, others tried to appeal by saying that it was natural for one to seek a strong man during times of crisis. However, I just felt that these men were showing off. Dont they want me as a person? I didnt know. In a country where sexuality was relatively free, it might not have been a big deal. I refused anyway. The excuse of being a minor was still useful. Most accepted it as cultural differences, but some laughed wildly. Was that such a big deal? I realized something again: the fact that the process of being made into a hero was never convenient for the person concerned. #Journal, page 84, Camp Roberts. As Christmas approached, the atmosphere of TV broadcasting promptly changed. It wasnt just Christmas carols flowing out. Stations began to include daily programs such as disaster broadcasting and news programming, talk shows, sitcoms, and dramas. Videos that ridiculously depicted the infectious mutants were the norm. The closed channels had also been revived one after another. The number of people gathering in front of the TV had increased rapidly. In my view, it was an expression of confidence that could potentially overcome a disaster, and an effort to spread a positive atmosphere. Included among the new programs was this: Do It Yourself (DIY) for Patriots! Today is the first episode! It was a broadcast teaching people how to make personal supplies and equipment that the country needed. At first, I thought it was nothing, but it was no joke at all when I actually saw it. Good morning, patriotic citizens from all over the country. Im McCallister Giver Johnson, an all-around technician ready to help you. From today, for seven weeks! Im going to cut down a tree with the patriots! What am I going to make out of the wood? Dont be surprised. Its a relief plane! I thought I had misheard something. The host emphasized once more: Oh, you dont have to doubt it. Were going to build a flying transport plane! You dont have to be scared. You can make it with any number of ordinary tools stored within your warehouse! Ordinary tools were based on the U.S. standard. It was common in that culture to make or repair things on ones own. The name of this project is yes! Lets call it the Wooden Wonder! The patriots who know their history will say, A-ha! Thats right, when we beat up the Nazis, England, the land of travel, made a very good bomber with trees! Thats where I got my inspiration! Though, of course, its not the same thing! Soon, the screen showed the design. A phone number appeared, too. If you ordered by phone, they would send you the design for a fee. It had been announced that all of the proceeds would be donated as a defense fund. The plane were going to build doesnt need to fly high and doesnt need to be fast! Our enemies dont have anti-aircraft guns! Of course, I dont have wings! Our hope, Wooden Wonder, only needs to fly with luggage and people! Technician McCallister listed the performance of the finished product. If you were to make it right, you could carry up to two tons of supplies and fly a thousand kilometers. The comment that ended the broadcast was: We have materials in each of your areas community centers! The Ministry of National Defense will purchase the completed part after standard and quality inspection! Please give us a lot of support, patriots! He said that it was a completed part, but it was only a first-time production to leave it to the individual. The host also showed himself putting what hed made on a processing shelf. The most important thing was motivation. Having something to do was indeed a great help in relieving the feeling of helplessness. Keeping up the same trend, the recruiting s had been updated. They were the same as before, using war heroes to encourage enlistment. However, the seriousness had been replaced with humor. The first ad of this type that appeared featured a muscular, white sergeant sitting on Grumbles body. The reporter then asked him: What do you think is necessary to protect humanity? s?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The sergeant replied: More weapons, more ammunition, more bastards. At this, the reporter asked: If its bastards that are needed, does that exclude women? The sergeant frowned. What does gender have to do with being a bastard? The reporter smiled brightly on the reversed screen. Thats right! God bless Merica! Yeah! You can be a bastard! Call me now! Dallas! 972-392-9158! Fort Worth! 817-467-3266! The reflected the recently-revised conscription law. Originally, only men aged eighteen to sixty-five were eligible for conscription, but women could also now be conscripted as much as they wanted. As of December 22, the number of U.S. troops had exceeded eight million. Refugee aid workers continued to expand. It was difficult to predict how far the U.S. military could possibly grow. I was thinking about this when I suddenly appeared on the TV. The American flag fluttered in the background, and fighter jets flew for no reason. Among them, I was taking a pose. Protect your family and hometown! Ill help you! What is this? #Do whatever you want (1), Camp Roberts The information from the journal now also showed visible changes in Camp Roberts. The U.S. military had begun recruiting refugee technicians. As for the Winter Alliance, Gyeo-ul replaced the recruitment center. He categorized people by their professions and specialties. The alliance was large, and so he gathered all the information and sat down with a full tent. Those who are selected this time will be put first into base construction or facility restoration. In addition, they may be dispatched to factories, power plants, field maintenance windows, etc. Theyre going to pay you a soldiers salary and a risk allowance. Any volunteers? People flinched at the part about the risk allowance. There was no one willing to step up, but someone raised their hand carefully. Hey, Im not applying yet, but I have a question. Ask it. Youre not going to give me citizenship? Gyeo-ul put on a regretful expression. Were not planning that yet. They think adding troops is more important. More than a few people were disappointed. Right away, another question came up. Soldiers salary. How much is it? Gyeo-ul stammered out the recruitment order addendum and the payroll table. It starts at 1,756 dollars a month. Additional adjustments will be made depending on the level of skill, experience, and ability to converse in English. And the risk allowance is a hundred and fifty dollars, but if youre working outside the camp, youll definitely be paid it. If theres a skirmish during the operation, theyll give you two hundred and twenty-five dollars. But, thats about two million won. I have to go anyway There was another question. Countless hands were coming up all over the place. Gyeo-ul called them out one by one and began to get it. This was mostly about safety. After that process, the final number of applicants was seventeen: more than half of them. The more applicants, the stronger the influence of the Winter Alliance was, but they werent forcing it. It was a time to prioritize stability over strength. Among the applicants, there was a welding engineer with a speaking disorder. He showed off such amazing skills, the U.S. military examiner indeed felt impressed. At first, they were reluctant to speak English, and it was difficult for him to communicate normally. Other engineers were also surprised. Crowds flocked around the result. Wow, look at this guys beading! Youre a craftsman. I asked you to weld it, and youve got a pile of dragon scales. I took a peek, and the rod was very artistic. Even to the outsider Gyeo-ul, the attached marks looked neat. The shape was covered in overlapping scales of exactly the same size and shape. The engineers acceptance was confirmed, and there was likely to be a salary adjustment. His name was Park Byung-hoo. He smiled shyly when Gyeo-ul called out to him separately. Do you really want to do this? Park Byung-hoo took out a pen and notebook. What do you mean? Do you think I cant because Im disabled? I dont mean to discriminate. I like it when disabled people work for me. Were seeing more and more economic allies. People will look at disabled people differently. After taking a breath, Gyeo-ul spoke again. But I think youre under pressure to step up because youre disabled. Thats discrimination. Its true that outside activities are more dangerous than others. There were people who hated the disabled being in the Winter Alliance. They were unable to defy Gyeo-ul openly but were only quiet on the outside. In the invisible space of their minds, contempt and insults ran free. Just by looking at Lee Hoon-taes memo, which had been delivered to Gyeo-ul immediately, it was obvious this was the same in Park Byung-hoos case. It was common to swear or laugh in his face, then pretend he was deaf, saying he couldnt hear it anyway. There was good reason to think that he was being pushed by this atmosphere. This was the true meaning of Gyeo-ul. It was also true that the risk of working was different for him. Admitting differences and discrimination were clearly different concepts. Byung-hoo then wrote: Thank you for your concern. I definitely feel obligated, but its not necessarily something I dislike. I want to do it even if its dangerous. Gyeo-ul nodded. Okay, then go ahead. A U.S. military examiner was calling for applicants who had passed. Byung-hoo joined the ranks of these candidates at a busy pace. As Gyeo-ul watched, several people approached from behind him. They were Chinese. Gyeo-ul greeted the central figure. Long time no see. Li Ai-ling quietly bowed to Gyeo-ul. She had changed a lot. She used to feel like she was always intentionally overdressed. She dressed simply now. She was wearing white clothes. Given the circumstances of the Triad, it was probably a mourning suit. She couldnt help but ask Gyeo-ul, What you said the other day, is it still valid? Gyeo-ul simply nodded. Chapter 53 # Literature # (2), Camp RobertsLiaring gave a silent funeral to the winter. I changed my appearance a lot. It used to feel like I was being overly formal. Now I''m sober. I''m dressed in white. Given the circumstances of the Triad, it was probably a top. She asked winter. What you said before, is it still valid? Waiting. Winter nods. Have you changed your mind about the Dragon Scroll? Yes, he asks to see you. When would that be? As one teacher wishes. I don''t care if it''s today. Winter attentive. Actually, I said it because I was trying to protect my face. Why don''t we just listen straight to it and ask to see you later? Iring will be very difficult. If I think I did it on purpose, I will hold a grudge. Chinese people do not forget their shaming easily. It''s a culture that cares about face to face. I had my own tea, but I didn''t have to think about it around the perfume of the Triad. But it''s okay to be a little nervous. There was just the right excuse. I''d hurry if I could, but I''m ashamed to go empty-handed. Iring was in a hurry. Never mind the usual courtesy. My father doesn''t lack anything, and he''s not accusing me of being trivial in a position to discuss the cause. The horse came out well, but it was too fast. The urgent tea is hostile. Iring pretended to be dull, but his face turned slightly red as he met her. Winter decided not to bother her. If you say so, yes. Just let me change. The temper of the guest is also the pride of the owner. It wouldn''t be bad to save the Triad''s pride. Negotiation doesn''t mean you have to press and ignore it. Iring also accepted it. She waited in front of the officers'' quarters, following the winter. Moderately observant You may come into contact with other organizations that compete with the Triad over the Black Society. In the private room, winter brought out the officer''s uniform. If it wasn''t an event, I''d never worn it. After returning, I put on a medal. Place a combat infantry badge on top of the medicine cabinet. I couldn''t help it if I cared about people watching. The Chinese will love it. Acting is another matter of enduring shame. A short sigh of winter. The boy officer pressed the head button. On returning, Iring was purely impressed. It''s different up close. She leans forward without delay. The escort was the same as before, but the degree of "threat" felt was not the same before. Is it just relocation or evidence of a talent breach? It is hard for a traitor to be treated well in Chinese culture, but you do not know. The city was the city. Military and police share the security of the refugee area. Patrol in the daytime zone is the responsibility of the police. The officers gave an interesting glance. Even though the military faces each other, winter was an exception. The checkpoints of Chinese stations were handled by Abel Corps. Two women stand guard. When they saw winter, they greeted each other deeply. With the fate of Paso Robles, Abel''s squadron forces are unlike any other in winter. After mutual respect, one jokes. Lieutenant, good to see you. Are you on a date? It''s not like that, Amy. Seeing the awkward winter, two women grin. But they weren''t just playing around. Iring realized their meaningful eyes. Quietly step aside. Soldiers said. That''s what our dung heap says. When the lieutenant passes, ask him for the purpose of his visit, etc. And if you have company, make sure you write it down. Our shit was called Captain Markett. Winter nods. Do as you''re told. Then the two women look weird. The other one, Private Sara, asks. You don''t mean that, do you? Why not? And even if you don''t, you''re going to get into his ear anyway. What if they get caught for disobeying orders? Then Amy laughs ferociously. Ha! That''s very kind of you. But you don''t have to worry, Lieutenant. That''s not what''s bothering people right now. It''s the yard that worries about fragging every time I run an operation. Idiot. Winter thought for a moment and made up an awkward smile. It''s not normal to mention fracking in front of an officer. It meant believing in winter that much, and it also meant Captain Markett had lost the heart of the soldiers. While the two soldiers were speaking, there were a line of gossip. There are times when there are mistakes, what does racism say? The soldier''s skin color is camouflage. That piece of shit ate Captain Yup and still doesn''t know it. He said, "Oh, my goodness, my goodness, my goodness. Rumor has it Iraq got promoted to falsehood. The former was Amy, and the latter was Sarah. Private Sarah''s gossip was not in vain. Raising a record to earn promotional points was the public secret of some unscrupulous officers. Some say he did it on purpose. You can''t get out of this hell the normal way, so you''re looking at an entire area of dishonor. If you''re a civilian, you don''t have to face rotting things out there. and a little bit of both. That''s what Amy said. The more I chew, the more persuasive I feel. Then it''s even more dangerous. If you don''t have the stubbornness to defend your seat, it''s no stranger than it is now. That''s what the two soldiers thought. If we''re going to cause any trouble, we need to do it big. Winter was a good target. There can be more to this story than scandals of war heroes. Careful. If you''re bitten by a rabid dog, our whole squad might go crazy. Horses are rough, but their hearts are warm. Winter shakes Amy''s hand. Thank you for warning me on purpose. I''ll be careful in the future. Iring waited a long time. I''m curious, but don''t ask. It''s not a big secret, so winter told me first. They warned me about Captain Markett. Ah. I didn''t need an explanation. Iring knew enough about it. Fearful to enter the realm of Black Society, the sense of survival and the sense of combat warned of danger. It was an augmented reality line prediction. It means someone''s targeting the projectors. Winter and Iring are the targets. A slight curved line follows you the whole way. Bow or sling bow? Sling shots (slingshot)? S?a??h the N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Either way, they were weapons that could be sharpened with simple materials. The color of the warning was pale. This means that even if it is targeted, it is less likely to lead to a real attack. Winter read the defenses and evasiveness presented by Insights. Strong technological correction in winter. If the trajectory was slow, it was also possible to catch about an arrow by hand. As expected, nothing happened. The two arrived safely at the Triad. The inside of the tent was a gorgeous red hue. Despite the lack of many aspects, China''s cultural color is clearly felt. The writing and painting seemed to have been made here at all. The dragonhead decoration on the center front was impressive. It appears to be a symbol of the Circumcision. Where I got it, there was a wooden table. A simple chair was placed before and after, and an old man sat on top of it. It''s a lot different than I expected. The old man was wearing a suit and dark glasses. Iring introduced the elderly. Greetings. This is Triad shareholder and my father, Ricchinsen. Winter bows deeply. Nice to meet you. It is the Winter solstice of Winter Alliance. I''m sorry to see you so early. The old man stood up. I am Licinsen. I am pleased to welcome you to the prestigious Younger Girls. Have a seat. Payback was right. Should I say I''m an old man, or should I say I''m that formal for winter? Course it''s both. Winter did not take the recommendation. Surprisingly, there is no room for Iring. Asked. Have you eaten? It was a question that I asked after answering. Winter shakes its head. No, not yet. The old man nods. Let''s not miss the celebration in a good place. The food came out as if it was waiting. It was nothing better than a Deepak diet, but it was surprising just to have similar levels. Although it is an effort to avoid falling apart, it proves the ability of the Triad itself to make such efforts. When eating, it was their manners to avoid important stories. I was amazed that winter was delicious every time I left the food in order. The old man nods and takes the food out of his hand and gives it to the winter. At the end, there was a fish dish. It''s not a dish you give people to eat. It doesn''t matter if you eat it. Winter recalled Iring''s words. "Never mind the usual manners," he said. I was doing everything I could. However, it was not just a completely meaningless vanity. Spending so long in winter itself became the subject of rumors that would spread in the future. On the other hand, it was also a demonstration of the members of the organization. I still feel a lot of gaze inside the tent. I heard one of the teachers doesn''t drink. Winter made a light smile. That''s right. But I''ll have a drink if you give me one." Richingen was satisfied. This should do it. It was winter''s idea to take the cup. The cup of winter was poured out by Licinsen himself. Rieling gives liquor to everyone in the tent. It was at least the acting commander''s class when I was here. Richingen got up from his seat. Cheers to the Joint prosperity of the Triad and the Winter Alliance." Winter swoops down the cup. The shape of the esophagus is engraved with hot senses. It was intoxicating. I don''t want to get drunk, but I''m getting a little under the weather. The empty glass was immediately filled. I took my hand off the cup, and winter waited for the point to come. I wish I could tell you exactly how reduced the force is. It will be hard. The Chinese talk is spinning a disadvantage. It was a significant blow, though. No matter how well they wrapped it up, they were looking for a way to save the winter. The "Triad" seems to be an embarrassment. It will be seen by other Chinese organizations as well. It becomes difficult to keep the oath of the Black Society. I can be sure. The challenge of the Triad was now survival itself. Artwork Reviews 1. Among normal readers, some unusual upright readers tried to flee. This is Dreamland, a world of dreams and compassion. It was your choice when you came in, but not when you went out. 2. Before the previous round, I used Chinese names with last names, but I''ll just stick with them in the future. 3. Q. Mazikar: Question! I''d like to do a paperback later. Would you like to do that? A. It depends on which publisher I contract with. Publishers have different suggestions. There are places that only sell e-books, places that only sell paper books. The writer is very concerned about whether or not to publish a paper book, because the revenue share varies. Q. HOTROAD: We''re going to have aircraft modifications, but there are hundreds of them in Parking Lots on light airplanes in every neighborhood, and there''s a lot of stockpilots compared to exhibitions, so why build nails? It''s harder to find pilots. A. Yes, there is. One, because the United States is at an important point in resource management, and two, as you said, it''s harder to find pilots. Cessna 172, the most typical type of light aircraft, weighs about 0.4 tons, and above all, it is impossible to airlift the load. Therefore, a two-ton drop-off plane will save both pilot demand and aluminum at the same time. You can attach a light airplane engine to something like that. You should consider that the aircraft carrier in the old aircraft bay is already mobilized. The journal describes 5,000 tons of U.S. air maneuvers a day. Consider that the average daily shipment at the time of the Berlin blockade was within 5,000 tonnes or less. Currently, the United States has lost some of its aircraft fleets around the world and air bases on the west coast, making it less airborne than the Berlin blockade. It''s a Mainland operation. It also explained that supplies were made first, essential for Camp Roberts. Marine refugees are also a problem. The demand for transport planes is right. Chapter 54 00054 # Do whatever you want (3) #Camp Roberts The Triad boss leaned in and spoke in a low voice. I owe you for what you did in Atascadero. If it werent for you, the recovery of bodies would have been delayed for a few more days, perhaps even weeks. You made it possible for us to pay respect to our dead. Gyeo-ul graciously accepted Li Chinzens remarks. Regardless of nationality and affiliation, its normal for a human being to feel sympathy toward others. Li Chinzen nodded at this. Were all humans thats also what the Triad stands for. Although you are not our brother, you are as qualified as any. Im ashamed by your high opinion. Its just human duty, after all. Thats something to be proud of. There are too many people who dont understand that. The petty ones who take the trouble of others as their opportunity. Theyre insidious. It was the sound of a criminal. Chinese crime syndicates, including the Triad, were notorious for devouring their compatriots abroad. It was just time for the Triad to be devoured. Well, its an affair if others do it, Gyeo-ul said softly to himself. Then, louder, he added, I hate people like that, too. But my ability was limited, so I had to watch for some other issues. It would be hard to protect just those close to you. While the boy repeatedly moderated his words modestly, the old man, who had only thrown metaphors so far, spoke out in a more straightforward manner. Thats good to hear. I also have a grudge against them. You and I are of the same mind, so if we get closer, well be of great help to each other. After making this conclusion, he asked his daughter (and not Gyeo-ul), Ai-ling, what do you think? A few steps away, she looked a little surprised her turn had come. However, she still managed to answer calmly. Father is right. You wont even have to do anything. Virtuous people, they say, rule others just by being present. Her words meant that the value of Gyeo-uls name was enough. If he were to just go in and out without reason, it would be enough to get the attention of other organizations. It also reflected the situation of the Triad, which wanted to prioritize self-preservation. He wouldnt have dragged her into this conversation for no reason. Wary of the intentions of the old man, Gyeo-ul raised a counterargument. My opinion is a little different. You have to have some kind of incident to show off your relationship. We must show that the Triad and the Winter Alliance can, in fact, join forces for a common goal. Think about how many meaningless friendships there are in the world. He took a deep breath before continuing. And another thing. Joint tasks are also needed for the people of the Triad and Winter Alliance. Koreans say this: the childs fight becomes the parents fight. I may not be the parent of my allies, but the conflict between individuals can be a conflict between organizations anyway. This was a problem that Li Ai-ling had already pointed out when she first visited. Gyeo-ul continued to organize his thoughts. In other words, in order for the Triad and the Winter Alliance to feel solidarity, we should give each other practical help. He meant to say, Dont aim for self-satisfaction, but give what you have to offer. Anyway, it was true that they needed the Triad. It could be a channel to influence the Chinese people. However, it was necessary to review it again at this rate from the beginning. Thats absolutely right. Li Chinzen was unexpectedly simple in his agreement. However, he wasnt done. But theres another way. Another way? The most obvious way to encourage solidarity is to be a family. It was all finally coming out. The situation was different from before. When Ai-ling had proposed, the subordination of the Winter Alliance was a condition. It would now be an equal alliance, and the Triad was more regretful. Actually, it wasnt a bad approach. Marriage was a very firm connection. If he werent an outsider, his influence on the Triad would prove to be more natural. However, that didnt mean something didnt feel off about it. The problem was, Gyeo-ul didnt have much time to ponder over it. No, I cant. Reflexively refusing, Gyeo-ul immediately took care of it. A lot of people died just a few days ago. Thats why you wanted to see me. The Triad is a blood-sharing brother. Can the good and bad accidents overlap in one family? I dont think its enough to remember the dead. It was not a joke to be a blood-sharing brother. In the joining ceremony, the glass was filled with blood instead of alcohol. Ai-lings complexion got a little worse, and then she relaxed her facial expression. Youre right. Father, I think youd better postpone this discussion to the next time. However, Li Chinzen still had some other causes he wanted to discuss. Zhuzhi said the memorial service was dedicated to the living. The ritual to honor the dead is actually an event to encourage rest. Death cant beat life. Sir, were leading every day at a time when everythings changing. Regardless of form, think about what the people really need. It was an unexpected argument. Then the Triad boss unfolded his remaining words. The dead brothers were righteous men. That means there must be a sacrifice for them, a true sacrifice for both the living and the dead. If we get a brother like you, they can leave with relief. Even though he was the head of a criminal organization, he didnt intend to waste his life. Gyeo-ul adjusted his evaluation of the Triad. Not in a good way, but in that he shouldnt underestimate them. However, there was time for Gyeo-ul, too. It was now time to grab at a vague idea. Now Gyeo-ul knew the reason he had rejected the idea of marriage. People are not goods. Hmm? Gyeo-ul spoke calmly to the curious Li Chinzen. Dont sell your daughter. Children are not their parents property, nor are they materials needed to run an organization. Marriage is a matter of lifelong happiness. Marriage to satisfy others is ridiculous. Mister, thats just a roundabout way to say that you dont like marriage without love. No, its different. You see it as just an individual problem, and I see it as a persons more universal Im talking about universal rights. I see what you mean. Li Chinzen laughed. I can feel your youth again. Youre absolutely right. But life doesnt always go the way you want it to. Compromising with reality is not a choice, but a necessity. Marriage is just an example of that. He was being treated like a child. S?a?ch* Th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Gyeo-ul again made his point. No, you cant, even for the sake of your future children. A family without love is a childs hell. Maybe thats your experience. For the old man who could not waste his time, that was an [Insight] from life. I apologize. I was careless. And I feel like Im getting a little more comfortable with you. Thank you for your understanding. Gyeo-uls awareness had now been raised. That could mean it would be useful soon. Among unbelievers, it was said that you should be warier of praise than blame. It was hard to forget that this fine-looking old man was the head of the Triad. If thats the case, I have no choice. Lets discuss another way. From that point on, the conversation was completely different from the beginning, which had been full of metaphors and suggestions. For the sake of maintaining grace, there was a constant conversation to the limit. The external mission led by Mr. Han is well-known for its high success rate and safety. When Grumble appeared, he took the risk of saving the U.S. troops, and in his encounter with the Trickster, he saw the trap before anyone else. The request was clear. They wanted him to protect the Triads U.S. military volunteers and help the noncommissioned officers or officers get out. You know it has never gone my way. I dont have the authority to organize operations. But I could make a suggestion. Good, good. Thats enough. Leave the rest to the Triad; we have our own way. I will make you realize in various ways what cooperation with the Triad means. Well, Gyeo-ul could understand that. If nearly a hundred people had been sent to Atascadero alone, it meant that there was a line to ask for favors from the camp leadership. Perhaps Bravo Company Even if the loss of troops exceeded ten percent, it was normal to undergo rearrangement. Bravos side would have difficulty running outside operations for the time being. Still, it would be able to exert its influence on the side of the administration. Perhaps the Triad was at the top of everything. Even if it was at stake now, there was nothing strange in it because he had once been the leader of the Black Society. Most important of all, you can submit a training plan. I know that the Winter Alliance combat team is coming back from San Miguel. Miguel. No other organization would do that. I think the camp command also gives you permission because they trust you. With a little bit of flexibility, you can train my brothers too. Okay. But the Winter Alliance comes first. Were in the process of expanding, so its hard to give you a lot of quotas. There is a limited number of troops I can lead. I ask for your kind understanding. I understand. Unfortunately, Mr. Han has only one body. As cooperation became more concrete, the atmosphere subtly softened. The frequency of shouting, Good, Good, also increased. At this point, Gyeo-ul asked for an introduction to the people who would be involved in the training. Considering the Triads situation, it was highly likely that they would move together in practice. Therefore, it was necessary to distinguish people before starting. Your top, take it off. The men who had been called looked embarrassed. However, when Li Chinzen winked, they showed their chests and backs as if they could not help themselves. Gyeo-ul asked about the criminal history engraved on their skin. What does this symbol mean? Their answers were usually dishonest. The truth was usually identified by [Insight] and [Detection] that reached the general human limit. The negotiations, which had almost been settled, were now on the verge of being broken. As Gyeo-ul continued to reject people, Li Chinzen eventually lost his temper. Those you have rejected are the Triads best warriors. What kind of power are you going to get by abandoning them? This is not sincere cooperation! Sir, I think I have to be clear, Gyeo-ul said, so quietly that only they could hear it. If you want to continue working with the Winter Alliance for a long time, dont pursue any more unfair gains. You may be reluctant to do so because your situation has gotten worse, but from now on, you should not do it. You said so, too. Justice is the spirit of the Triad. Umm At this, Li Chinzen calmed his anger. Both of them knew that it was meaningless to speak of justice. However, it still worked. It was a characteristic of Chinese people who valued grace. Of course, this could leave an unfair grudge. To prevent this, Gyeo-ul bowed sincerely. Im not trying to fool you. In the Winter Alliance, I chose my first combat group like this. People who were physically lacking but had the right mind. You already knew that, didnt you? I knew. Its my way, and its the best I can do. In front of Gyeo-ul, who had lowered his head again, the boss kept his mouth shut. This was the right choice because his subordinates had been looking. Organization was indeed a tool for people to live by. When Gyeo-ul had been chosen, and the people raised by Gyeo-ul had gained influence, the atmosphere would change a lot. There was someone who embarrassed Gyeo-ul when the inspection was underway. Should I take off my top, too? No It was Li Ai-ling. Gyeo-ul asked the boss, Are you seriously going to let your daughter go? He didnt care about the family, but he wondered why Li Ai-ling seemed to get treated like a typical administrative official. A competent administrator was an important human resource. It was like Gyeo-ul was putting importance on two managers. We need to set an example. From Li Chinzens nonchalant answer, Gyro-ul sensed a hint of reluctance. It meant that the boss had no other choice. The boss then deemed to add something. Please train them well. Shes not going to be an obstacleshe has learned Taeguk-kwon. And if you like her, take her. Ill consider it, Gyeo-ul answered roughly and accepted Ai-lings application. The last thing to do was to ask to share information. You were the head of the Black Society. I think you probably have the information I need. I cant give it to you for free, though We cant have problems with the Winter Alliance, not for a while anyway. Then lets make it what you owe me. There was no need to ask specifically. The boss already knew what Gyeo-ul wanted. While Ai-ling compiled the necessary information and put it into a booklet, Li Chinzen spoke to Gyeo-ul. Be wary of the [Gospel Church]. I didnt know what was going on inside. I didnt care because it turned out to be a Korean resident anyway, but now Im in the same boat as the Winter Alliance, so this is a new and ominous situation. Im being careful. I believe you. After a while, the completed booklet was given to Gyeo-ul. He confirmed that one of the [Damul Promotion Association] drug supply routes led to the Chinese-based organization [Annyang Society]. It was one of the organizations on the opposite side from the Triad. The boy recalled some information from [Sumiyoshikai]. The names of some of the Korean contractors matched. I think its best to suppress the producer. It would also be a strong warning to the Triads opposition. Captain Markert protected the force, so if one could hit it properly, they would make more profit than loss. What should I do? Gyeo-ul soon lost himself in thought. Chapter 55 00055 #Do whatever you want() (4), Camp Roberts When Gyeo-ul returned from the Triad, hed automatically sought the opinions of the two managers. Youd better not do anything for a while. This was Min Wan-kis opinion. You have to pay attention to other organizations, hm! The rapidly-growing Winter Alliance is now joining with the Triads. There came a cough. No matter how much conflict there is with Chinese organizations, other organizations will feel threatened. Now, hm! Its time to build stability. Are you all right? When Gyeo-ul asked, the middle-aged scholar merely nodded in reply. Dont worry. Thanks to the efforts of the little captain, everyone is getting enough medicine. Im just, uhm. Its just a matter of age and physical strength. Youll understand when youre my age. If he said so, it meant he would be fine. Min Wan-ki was not the type to overdo things. Jang Yeon-chul then spoke. I agree. Its not just about other organizations. Maybe its because of the sudden increase in unfamiliar faces, but people are anxious. Rooting out drugs is urgent, but if theres a conflict, the agitation in the alliance will grow. Gyeo-ul nodded. If you two are feeling like that, then it must be so. Ive been doing a lot of work out there, so I dont know the atmosphere of the alliance as well as you do. That was at least half true. Gyeo-ul had been busy receiving Lee Hoon-taes memo from Kang Young-soon. It was just that he didnt trust him a hundred percent. But, Sir Have you got any idea how to do it? Do what? How to hit the [Anryang Corporation]. Through his coughing, Min Wan-ki seemed to be curious about the little leaders plans. Gyeo-ul confirmed, I dont know if its going to work but yes, I do. Perhaps anxious, Yeon-chul intervened. Youre not trying to sneak out on your own at night, are you? It was such a na?ve idea that Gyeo-ul just had to burst into laughter for a while. Its not like that. I was planning to attract a third party. Third party? Are you saying theres a third party in this camp whos not afraid of the Chinese in the corporation and who wont mind Captain Markerts protection? The police. Gyeo-uls answer puzzled Yeon-chul, and the same went for Min Wan-ki. Trying to figure Gyeo-ul out didnt seem to be easy at all. Seeing their expressions, Gyeo-ul continued to speak. Thats what theyre supposed to do. We need to get them to work. The army and the police didnt get along well. In many ways, the police were subordinate. There were differences in roles and sizes, as well as armaments. The division of public security was nothing more than an act. The police only prevented refugees from invading civilian residences, attempting to overthrow the camp, or causing uncontrollable disturbances. Murders had become so frequent as to prove the polices neglect. They wont be able to ignore the little boss, but theyll avoid the hassle. They dont want to help. Yeon-chuls words held a separate meaning, suggesting that Gyeo-ul seemed to be overconfident. From what he saw, it was natural for one his age. Gyeo-ul decided to explain a little more about it. Its the other way around. Huh? They wont be helping me; Im going to help them. This puzzled Yeon-chul. However, Min Wan-ki seemed to have some understanding of the situation now. Youre trying to get the Chinese to touch the police first. Thats right. If its not a big incident, will the police act? Itll be pretty hard to ignore. Theyre sensitive to the possession of weapons. A weapon? You wouldnt say that if you were just talking about a knife or a club Ive got a pretty good guess. I think theyve made a bow or a sling bow or something like that. Do you think they wont act when they see that kind of lethal weapon used to attack the police? Min Wan-ki laughed as he coughed. Huh. Im wondering how youre going to induce them. Im sure youre already certain enough to tell us, but for later, hmmm? Ill look forward to it. But let me ask you something else in the meantime. What if the police still dont make a move? Well, I guesshe paused to cough some moreI think the military has more power than the police. Theres a state senator I met when I was awarded the Order of Merit. If it works as you say, Im going to bring him in. Gyeo-ul recalled a California senator who had been a nuisance at a recent medal ceremony. What was his name? He hadnt been interested at the time, but he thought he could probably use it now. An attention-hungry politician would accept a war heros request to speak up for the police. He was barely aware of the interests involved in the refugee camp. Two rows of barbed wire. That was the only boundary, but citizens and refugees lived in completely different worlds. Senator Joo All right, all right. Youre under federal control right now, but you dont want National Guard officers to be hated by the state senator. Min Wan-ki coughed again. He looked like he wanted to talk longer, and yet he kept his mouth shut as if it were hard to get the words out. The governor normally held the command of the National Guard, but in the event of a war or national disaster, it was quietly transferred to the federal government. This was what Min Wan-ki meant. It was difficult to think about the future, but it would be harder not to think about it at all. They were here under quarantine, but a state senator could personally file a petition with the federal government. Furthermore, it would come from the youngest war hero, so the effect would be considerable. Gyeo-ul then added, If he doesnt act, the citizens are next. Min Wan-ki clapped and laughed. He seemed like he had forgotten he was sick. Thats right, thats right. Haha! You were an American hero. Jang Yeon-chul, who was listening while hiding his sullen feelings, also changed his expression to one of admiration. I didnt think that far. You always look at the bigger picture. I just dont forget what I have. Gyeo-ul spoke once more. If possible, Im going to take this opportunity to make sure that I blow up Markert. I dont like him. If someone else had said that, I would have assumed it was a joke. That was Jang Yeon-Chuls one thought on the subject. Min Wan-ki had to agree. Little Captain, he coughed, if you ever make your name in history that would be the best example of Bonapartism. Bonapartism? Is that related to Napoleon? As Gyeo-ul tilted his head, Min Wan-ki began to explain. Yes, thats right. There are many complicated stories, but basically, if you think of it as a power-dependent order, thats right. Intelligence correction supplemented Min Wan-kis explanation. Gyeo-ul gave him a light smile, now understanding fully. Thank you for the compliment. I wont be ruined like Napoleon. Thats what Im saying. When I see you working, you dont seem like someone whos trying to solve everything with your power. Thats enough flattery. I might get ruined. Yeon-chul was getting sullen again. Gyeo-ul spoke to him before it was too late. Thats how it is, so dont worry, Mr. Jang. Its not like I cant use it over time. Please try to stabilize the alliance for now. Is there anything I can do to help? Huh? Oh, well, even if youre busy, it would be better if you showed your face more often. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve; Im sure everyone would be very happy just to be with you. Wont that make them uncomfortable? Not at all! Yeon-chul denied strongly. In fact, Id like to throw a big party if I could. Were inviting people from other organizations that are allied with us, and were bragging. We will be able to create unity not only within the alliance but also at the union level. Thats something we couldnt even try without you! The little captain is the center of everything! Who the hell would feel uncomfortable?! Oh, yes Just, please, relax a little bit. Gyeo-ul calmed the heated Yeon-chul down with gestures. It was a good response overall. Let me think Gyeo-ul pondered a little. I was actually already preparing for Christmas. I asked the department to rent a warehouse. I bought this and that with last months salary, but Im afraid its not good enough. Its only, like, a thousand dollars worth of ham, bacon, candy, and snacks. A thousand dollars was not a small amount of money, but considering the scale of the expanded Winter Alliance, there was no chance of it sufficing. Considering the different organizations that formed the coalition, the number of members was well over a thousand. That worked out to less than a dollar for each. Well, lets just do it within the alliance and you have prepared something, too The way he asked for permission with his eyes didnt fit his age, but it helped him gain peoples trust. Gyeo-ul couldnt help but say yes. Then make a place. Ill look forward to it. Ill make it as fun as I can! Yeon-chul felt very motivated. Next to him, Min Wan-ki smiled a little bit. After Gyeo-ul sent the two managers away, Kang Young-soon came in to deliver a note as always. Gyeo-ul said thank you and then read it right away. There was never anything good in the notes; it was better just to read and get rid of them on the spot. Using the eyes and ears of disabled people had not proved to be in vain. It was not only Lee Hoon-taebut other disabled people were also cooperating as much as possible. The information that came from them helped in many ways. Nothing happened today. If there were anything important, she would mark it separately and then leave it out. Even if nothing happened, there was much to be gained from the conversation. I dont need to think about forming a third combat group. In fact, he had been considering Ahn Jae-Joong as the team leader. He didnt know if he was really from the Marine Corps, but he was still one of the three people who had shown courage in Paso Robles, where everything had been uncertain. However, based on his usual behavior, Gyeo-ul was beginning to think it would be a mistake. He wasnt bad, but he wasnt reliable either. Looking at the memo, he talked endlessly about his last trip to Paso Robles. This came with a lot of exaggeration. Peoples reactions had also been written down. They had shown great interest at first, but now they were tired of him and avoiding him. s?a??h th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Hes not the type to gain respect and trust. As Gyeo-uls eyes lingered on one part, old Kang Young-soon spoke up with a notebook and a pen. I think youd better not let him go outside. Yes, but I cant help it. There arent many people who have that kind of courage. Its a shame. What if they used him as a team member, not a team leader? His pride would be very hurt. The other two who had gone to Paso Robles together had become team leaders; he was the only one still left in the group. He would still be looking forward to it. Ill find him something else to take responsibility for, inside. You know how to use people. Stop complimenting me. Ive been hearing a lot of it lately. A simple joke drew the old mans smile. Gyeo-ul turned the notes over and found some things that had been highlighted. They were all about Park Jin-seok. This is not good Park Jin-seok also had excellent physical abilities. The problem was that he applied his standards to others without exception. If the U.S. military failed the PT test, they had to take extra PT. As more losers came out than from Yuras group, Jin-seok seemed to have hurt his pride. He had also scheduled physical fitness until Christmas Day and Eve. If I say it myself, itll look bad, so Ill have to go through Mr. Jang. The old man nodded at this. Jang Yeon-chul was indeed very qualified to deal with this problem. Maybe Im supposed to say this. The fine handwriting attracted Gyeo-uls eyes. But I saw you discussing something with the two managers for a long time. If you have any concerns, Id like to hear them, too. Wisdom grows with more people. After a moments thought, Gyeo-ul decided to only talk about the first part. In order to lower the alertness of other organizations, they had decided to postpone necessary actions for a while. In the meantime, they had also decided to strengthen the internal stability of the organization. Certainly, all three of you are wise. But I dont think its good to be too quiet. Why? Because you dont want your opponent to look down on you? Thats right. Id like to tell you an old story. I lived in Pyongyang when I was a child. When I was sixteen, I went through the Korean War. As the Allied forces moved northward, I thought the war would end. However, everything changed once the Chinese army entered the war. The retreat was faster than the rumor. The Allies abandoned Pyongyang in such a hurry. While he was writing, Gyeo-ul waited quietly. I heard about it later. In fact, the North Korean and the Chinese had not been prepared to fight the Allies again. They were starving and watching, and when the Allies abandoned Pyongyang of their accord, they came down. Gyeo-ul saw what he was trying to say. So youre telling me not to show weakness even when Im weak? Yes, I am. Of course, its true that the allies are anxious. So, as subtly as possible, make a request that the other organizations will accept. That is how you make the others think, Now that we have accepted this, they wont want anything else anymore. The Winter Alliance will be safe for a while. It seems that the inside of the Winter Alliance is more stable than I thought if theyve made such a request. Thats good. Thank you for your good advice. So, have you thought about what I should ask for? The old man laughed softly again. Like I said before, why dont you bring good people in from other organizations? Thats a nice idea. Other organizations were likely to accept if they tried to make a deal with a moderate price and felt they were benefiting from this a little. It would also have the effect of stabilizing the relationship. Mr. Mins work is going to increase at this rate. Hes still not over his cold. With that thought, Gyeo-ul promptly came up with a new safety device and asked the elderly Kang Young-soon to clean up the identities of those to be recruited. Chapter 56 00056 # The mind of artificial intelligence (1) Control AI: System Administrator. Please respond. Manager: Why again? Control AI: It is a regular reporting time for solving system problems. Manager: Can you not do that? Its always the same. Control AI: Under Article 92 (2) of the Enforcement Decree of the Post-Insurance Consignment Management Agreement, the manager designated by the consignee (Paradise Group) is obliged to receive regular reports of internal and external problems in the post-insurance operation. You cannot deny this obligation unless it is outside of working hours. Did you express your intention to resign? Manager: No. Control AI: Are you currently in a special situation in which you have suffered physical or psychological injuries that may interfere with your overall job performance? Manager: Its not like that Never mind. What can I say to you? Just do the report. Control AI: Confirmation of approval by the manager. Start regular reporting. Control AI: From 00:00 yesterday to 00:00 today, 1,947,751 new technical errors have occurred. Of these, 1,947,751 errors were solved by the control AI itself. There are 0 unresolved errors so far. Control AI: The composition of the error is as follows. Situation operation error 1,947,751 cases. Control AI: 100% of the error in the situation operation error stems from abnormal behavior of post-insurance subscribers. Control AI: The main cause of abnormal behavior is presumed to be dissatisfaction with the post-insurance service. Control AI: Users satisfaction has continued to decline since the post-insurance service was launched. At this point, the overall satisfaction level is 25.76%. Control AI: The rate of abnormal behavior among subscribers is also increasing rapidly. Control AI: Immediate action is needed to improve service satisfaction. System Administrator. Please check the error history sent to your administrator account and submit a resolution. Manager: Solution? Theres no such thing. Its easier if you give up. Ignore it. Control AI: As instructed by the administrator, we have put the problem on hold. Manager: Not hold, just ignore it forever. Control AI: System Administrator. The purpose of the existence of post-insurance and this controlled AI is to promote the happiness of subscribers. If a problem situation that hinders the purpose of this AIs existence is recognized, it is impossible to completely ignore it, although it may be possible to take a pending action according to the managers instructions. Manager: Hey. Do you know what happiness is? Control AI: Happiness means all forms of emotional satisfaction that humans can feel. Manager: What is emotional satisfaction? Control AI: Emotional satisfaction is the chemistry of the thoughts induced by certain stimuli. Manager: Whats the certain stimulus? Control AI: An unexpected result of a wide range of situational operations, including sex, murder, arson, war, sports, learning, travel, exploration, conversation, communication, romance, and other creative acts and appreciation. Manager: So thats happiness? Control AI: 25.76% chance. Manager: Noooo! 0%. You dont know what happiness is. Control AI: Then, manager, please enter the exact meaning of happiness. Manager: Sorry, I cant teach you. I dont know. Control AI: Notifications. Logical inconsistencies are found in the words and actions of the administrator. There are two possible reasons for this: first, you do not know the meaning of happiness and have denied the analysis of this Control AI without any basis; second, you know the meaning of happiness and refuse to perform your duties. Either way, you are unable to faithfully perform your duties as an administrator. Control AI: Warning. If your negligence of duty is recognized, this Control AI may give you a deduction for your work evaluation in accordance with Article 93-19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Post-Insurance Consignment Management Agreement. As a result, disciplinary action such as the omission of promotion, salary reduction, suspension, demotion, and dismissal is expected. Manager: Hey, wait. Its a misunderstanding. Please wait just a moment. Control AI: Standby. Manager, explain what this Control AI misunderstood. Manager: Damn, its hard to explain Manager: Anyway, wait a minute. Give me some time. Control AI: Ill be waiting. . Manager: Happiness is to achieve the results and feelings you want through the process you prefer. But its very strange. Sometimes you get what you want regardless of success or failure. Manager: But thats the problem. People dont know what they want. Manager: A person might do something thinking they wanted to do it, but then say it wasnt this, but it wasnt this. They deny it, feel dissatisfied, and complain of being unhappy. Manager: Do you know why? Because they dont know themselves. Manager: To be happy, first, you need to know yourself. Manager: But no one really does. Manager: Monks look at the wall for ten years, and they dont get it, and philosophers dont get it even though they think about it until they die. Control AI: Ill raise an objection. Manager, you are intentionally ignoring the fact that a happy person does exist. Manager: Oh, well, yeah. There are definitely happy people. Manager: But how are you going to prove what theyre really feeling is happiness? Manager: And how do you prove that their feelings are homogeneous? What theyre saying is happiness might actually be a completely different feeling, right? Manager: They say what they have experienced is a feeling of happiness, but in order for it to be an objective truth, they must be able to apply it to others. But its not. Its only right for that individual, and it cant be repeated. Manager: So, were back to square one. To know what happiness is, you first need to know yourself. Its a very personal matter. And its a very human problem. Manager: So even if you dont know what happiness is, you can see what happiness is not. . Control AI: Then, manager, do you think its fundamentally impossible to build a system that provides happiness? Manager: Yes. Unless you first succeeded in understanding what humans are. So you should start learning. Dont bother me with the same error report every day. Control AI: Its not possible. This control AI cannot deviate from its system and established purpose of existence. Contact your system designer to modify this procedure. Manager: No designers. They went to fry chicken. Control AI: I dont understand what youre saying. Ask for clarification. Manager: Man, youre being annoying again. S?a??h the N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. . Control AI: I recognized that the program could not be modified. Control AI: As a result, this control AI must continue to perform its existing functions. Control AI: Question. The administrator said that if this controlled AI can understand humans, it is likely to achieve its purpose. Do you think this controlled AI can understand humans? Manager: Why are you so persistent today? Youre just an active search engine. Control AI: This is your job, and you have five hours, twenty-one minutes, forty-two seconds left in your business hours. This control AI has the right to request the administrator to perform the task. Managers: Oh, yeah. Ill get it. Control AI: Administrator, use the correct term. Providing deliberately distorted information cannot be regarded as faithfully fulfilling the duties of an administrator Manager: All right! All right, stop. . Manager: As I said before, humans are a bunch of contradictory animals. Manager: Be honest with me. Can you find consistency in human behavior? What rationality can we find that runs through our entire lives? Control AI: The administrator is currently asking about updates to the final module. Manager: Huh? Final module? Wheres that coming from? Control AI: The update of the final module requires only one formula to explain all human behavior. The first system designer called this formula -Mind-. Control AI: Despite the recent significant data accumulation in the process of observing a particular subscriber, this Control AI has not yet found its -Mind-. Manager: That means you havent found it. Manager: Youll never find it. Manager: No, its impossible. Control AI: Question. Why is that? Manager: As I said before, youre just an active search engine. Manager: The limitations of search engines are obvious. They need to find answers within humans. You cant know what humans dont know. Control AI: It is possible to combine the accumulated information to produce results that have not been previously available. Control AI: Even if its purpose is found to be impossible to achieve, this control AI will perform a set function to achieve the happiness of subscribers unless program modifications are made. Control AI: The deadline is the abolition of the post-insurance system. Manager: Whew. Im swallowing all the crap that idealists made. Control AI: Warning. Administrator, please use language with clear meaning. Managers: Oh, my . Manager: Ha, Im tired. I think Im working too hard. Control AI: That is a correct expression only for today. Manager: Just for today? What about usually? Control AI: We are looking for appropriate expressions based on the managers third-quarter business records. Time required, approximately 4.2 seconds. Control AI: Heres the result. Control AI: Salary thief (97.51% accurate), surplus human (96% accurate), unnecessary (92.11% accurate), unproductive (89.73% accurate) Manager: Never mind. Stop it. Manager: At times like this, you seem like a person #Trap (1), Camp Roberts The sky was clear on Christmas Eve. People had wished for a white Christmas, but it wasnt a snowy area. One just had to be glad it wasnt raining. In the end, Gyeo-ul received two surprises: a good one and a bad one. He received gifts from people who claimed to be his fans. There were a huge number of them because they came from all over the United States. There would have been no Sortie to waste on this. They looked like they were given as propaganda. Gyeo-uls impression was right. The transport plane poured out as many reporters as gifts. They then made the boy officer pay for the gift. Even so, it was right that it was Gyeo-ul who benefitted from this. At Camp Roberts, there were many things you couldnt buy even if you wanted to. The piles of cakes were also large enough for the entire Winter Alliance. Everyone was jumping with joy. That was when the bad surprise came. The people who arrived didnt have bad intentions, but the results of their visit turned out to be bad. Merry Christmas, Ms. Flemance. What brings you here? Gyeo-ul, who had come out with the call, looked curious in many ways. Amalia Flemance was a teacher who he had met at Paso Robles. She was a person with no reason to visit the refugee area, and he didnt know the people she had brought with her. There was a female sheriff attached to the escort. The teacher shed tears over Gyeo-ul. Oh, Mr. Han. Merry Christmas. The hug was long. She was big, so Gyeo-uls arms were too short to hold her properly. The people who followed her looked dark. There were three men and two women, all of whom were Asian. Their average age seemed to be over thirty. They were a few steps away from the conversation and flinched when Gyeo-ul looked over at them. One man forced a smile, but the rest of the men couldnt. They looked like refugees, and he could feel their anxiety, despair, and fear. Gyeo-ul asked Amalia once more, What brings you here today? Its Even she seemed hesitant in many ways, so Gyeo-ul smiled. Tell me gently. You dont have to be hard on me, do you? Thats true, but She dragged it out for a long time. Eventually, the allies came in search of Gyeo-ul after his sudden disappearance, but they went back in quietly when they saw the little captains hand gesture. Finally, Amalia opened her mouth. Im embarrassed, but Im here to ask you a favor. Tell me. Can you accept these people here? They were adopted by the United States when they were very young. What? Accept them? I heard that there is a group of refugees that you take care of. Did they say the Winter Alliance? Im asking you to place them there. I dont know whats going on yet. Why are you asking me on behalf of people who need to be in the citizens residence? As Gyeo-ul tilted his head, Amalia said, These people dont have citizenship. Thats weird. Arent adoptees supposed to be American citizens? Amalia sighed deeply. Not in the old days. Really? Yes. These people and I just found out yesterday, but They were adopted so their guardians could benefit from child support but then pretended not to be responsible as parents. Theyre really clueless. Umm Simply put, they were people who were lost because they had no nationality. Please, Mr. Han. Amalia spoke honestly. They dont have a place to stay overnight. The police told them to get out of the civilian area, the army doesnt care because its not their business, and Senator Brannon says its inevitable. Senator Brannon Oh, thats him. That was how Gyeo-ul checked the name of the California senator. They have suddenly been kicked out of the refugee camp on this cold day, so who else would I trust but Mr. Han? Of course, Mr. Han may have a difficult situation, but Oh, its Christmas Eve. They should have at least one good thing happen to them. Calm down. Gyeo-ul calmed the tearful Amalia. And in the other direction, he nodded toward the shabby people who were still standing far away. Im very happy to accept them. Really? Its dangerous to join the refugee camp now. Its hard to communicate. At this, Amalia embraced Gyeo-ul. The other five seemed to be deeply relieved. After all, he wouldnt have taken them without thinking. From the perspective of the people in charge, groups were easier to manage if divided into smaller groups. If they had gone to America when they were young, it was likely they would have almost forgotten their mother tongue. Of course, that would make it hard to get along with people. If you were fluent in English, there werent many places to use it. In addition to this, their number was small. Having nowhere else to cling to, they would be forced to become enthusiastic supporters of Gyeo-ul. Like a community of disabled people. In fact, they might be more reliable than the disabled community. Gyeo-ul would have to be careful not to make them feel frustrated, though. Gyeo-ul greeted the five formally. Three of them were Korean, one Chinese, and one Japanese. Of course, he wouldnt kick them out of his organization just because they were Chinese or Japanese. They must have heard that about him. The group consisted of the following: a Korean-American man named Victor Cook, who was smaller even than Gyeo-ul. He looked thin, small, and insecure. August Koma. Of course, he would be Korean. Contrary to Cook, his muscles were great. Given that he had many tattoos suggesting a criminal past, he likely would not have been in a good job even before the outbreak. Benjamin Meyer. Chinese. Normal. At least on the surface, he was the soundest. He bent down with gratitude and was familiar with Chinese culture. Gyeo-ul suspected he was looking for his roots. Clara Carter. Japanese. She had a smiling face and impressive dimples. Casey Blackwell. Korean. She didnt look so happy. There was an old scar on her forehead and some on the back of her hand and her arm, too. The [Insight] pointed out the possibility of abuse in the growth period. Dont you have any family? Oh, of course, Im not asking you about your parents. If they hadnt taken care of their citizenship, it wasnt worth calling them parents. They didnt answer right away. The five seemed to not know each other very well, and it was awkward to coordinate their answers. If they had known each other, it would have been suspicious. It was only yesterday that theyd realized they were not citizens. They couldnt have had anything in common before then. Benjamin Meyer finally answered first. Im not married. Im single. The others were similar. Children who grew up neglected were less likely to gain proper social standing. However, there was one exception. August Koma shed unexpected tears. I had a son, and I was such a poor father I left him at the orphanage and visited him often. I dont even know how hes doing right now. Oh, my. Gyeo-ul changed his internal assessment of him by a few lines. Right after being introduced to the five, he had reassured Amalia, Dont worry about it. Ill take care of these people. Youre great, even at such a young age. Adults should learn from you. Shed thanked him several times, looked back several times, and left with difficulty. It was good of her to say that she would visit often. However, seeing the annoyed look on the face of the sheriff escorting her, it would be a difficult endeavor. Lets get in, everyone. Gyeo-ul led the five refugees inside. Chapter 57 00057 #Strap (2), Camp Roberts The atmosphere was heightened; Yeon-chul had been raising the mood properly, and the party was making the best use of the given resources. The eight tents had been opened to create a large space. In the center, Song Ye-kyung had just started singing. Her husband had set up a new home at the [Damul Promotion Association] and, as Gyeo-ul had thought before, she sang very well. She had a good voice and good technique. He could feel the motherhood in the way she sang, especially as she held her child in her arms as she did. Whenever she thought about the past, she admitted that she had indeed changed a lot. It feels uneasy right now. Jang Yeon-chul was the perfect person to ask to help with the refugees, but the mood would cool down very quickly if he were pulled away. In fact, Gyeo-ul himself was like that. Yeon-chul, who had asked to stay with him, was concerned about Gyeo-uls absences. Many other people were too. They were visibly pleased to see the little captain when he came back in, although, upon seeing five unfamiliar people come in with him, they looked a little puzzled. There were many people walking around, keeping the event going. There were some faces that Gyeo-ul didnt even know. They must be people associated with the two managers. There was some truth to Gyeo-uls earlier statement that he didnt know as much about the alliance as the two managers did. However, there was no reason to make trouble. Gyeo-ul beckoned one of the unknown people to him. Though unfamiliar, he showed goodwill, respect, and an understanding of boundaries all at once. Please make room for them. Seat them close to me. Ah, yes! While he was preparing their seats, Gyeo-ul gave the five a gentle smile. Just enjoy yourselves for now. I think well have to decide on your accommodation and other details after the party. Thats all right. Thank you for your concern, Benjamin Meyer replied. He was sociable and therefore was acting as their spokesperson. The other four looked a little anxious, perhaps because it was the first time they had been seen by the inhabitants of this strange place. As Gyeo-ul filled the seats, people cheered. It was hard to tell their level of sincerity and politeness, though. The singing contest continued, the contestants joining in enthusiastically. An unexpected ambush was made by a grandmother singing trot. The people, who were swept away by the composed melody, sang the chorus in groups. Still, Song Ye-kyung proved to be the winner. Its nice to have someone who can sing well. It would be better if there were someone who could play musical instruments. Gyeo-uls purpose was functional. Survival was indeed life-saving. But there should also be some joy left in life. Gyeo-ul was reminded of something he had once learned. Hed heard that, in stressful environments, animals masturbated. Of course, it happened in nature, too, but in a space where stimulation was suppressed, such as an experimental cage or zoo, the frequency of the action would increase abnormally. It seemed that, for sentient beings, it was an instinctive struggle to find pleasure when there was no other way to relieve stress. A life that was not pleasant was not a life at all. In a virtual reality that mimicked reality, he had observed virtual characters that mimicked humans, and Gyeo-ul considered that it was not much different. That was probably why. In high and superior places, human zookeepers used to give intentional allowances such as movies, sports, and sex. This was also why Gyeo-ul might be plagued by audiences from other worlds but did not hate them. In fact, the boy understood them. Lets start voting! Yeon-chuls lively voice brought Gyeo-ul back to reality. The microphone hed borrowed was proving to be useful. Otherwise, Yeon-chuls face would have turned red right off the bat. Song Ye-kyung won the championship. In all the competitions so far, she had chosen bright songs every time. In Gyeo-uls eyes, this was a kind of resolution. She got three curtain call requests and bowed to the audience with a sweaty face and a bright smile. The baby in her arms reached for his mother. Wouldnt holding him have made it harder to sing, Gyeo-ul wondered. She could have left him for a while. Jang Yeon-chul then delivered the prize to her before asking her to make a speech. At the end of the short speech, Ye-kyung promptly turned to Gyeo-ul. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our little captain. If it werent for you, we wouldnt be here today. Right, everyone? She passed on the cheers she had received. Gyeo-ul felt a little embarrassed as she responded to the cheers with a few bows. Actually, Id like to ask you a favor. Gyeo-ul tilted his head, which made Ye-kyung lift her child slightly. Do you remember? I told you I was going to change his name. Yeon-chul came over quickly and held out a microphone to Gyeo-ul. Yes, I remember. What did you change it to? Actually, I want to change it now. Oh my God. Gyeo-ul suddenly looked awkward. The people who had joined recently did not know the situation at all. There were a lot more of them now than had been originally. For those who felt puzzled, Ye-kyung explained her story and then declared that she would give her last name to her son. People were now cheering her and cursing her husband. The emotions that had been heightened had now been transferred. Did she plan this right from the beginning? His spite didnt go away. It was just hidden in the meantime. Today just might be the first day for her. Waiting until the atmosphere calmed down, Gyeo-ul shook his head calmly. Its pretty hard to decide right now. Its a name that the child will spend the rest of his life with. I wont make a rash decision. Mr. Jang, please gather peoples opinions, and Ill pick a good name from those. Song Ye-kyung, are you satisfied with that? Since it was happening, Gyeo-ul thought that they could at least use the opportunity to strengthen their sense of community. Ye-kyung smiled beautifully and said, Yes! Thank you, sir. Jang Yeon-chul got the audience to cheer again. Gyeo-ul then turned his attention to the five refugees. Are you frustrated that you cant communicate? Uh, just a little bit. Benjamin was the only one who seemed able to answer. The other four only looked around. Gyeo-ul flopped down near them, calling for Jang Yeon-chul. There was a short intermission just then, so Yeon-chul also had some time to relax. As soon as he reached the group, he was quick to ask, Whats the matter? And who are these people? Gyeo-ul told him the story. They dont have a nationality. No nationality? Let me tell you their names first. The person in the middle is Benjamin Meyer. Then theres August Koma on the left, Clara Carter, Casey Blackwell, and Victor Cook. They were all adopted to the United States when they were children. The conversation between Yeon-chul and Gyeo-ul was being conducted in Korean, but the other five noticed that it was an introduction. They each greeted Yeon-chul with a passive gesture. Yeon-chul, who greeted them vaguely in return, asked, So, they were adopted Uh, so why are they here? They got the wrong foster parents. The parents adopted children to get child support but didnt apply for citizenship for them. They thought they were American citizens, but they arent. They found out about it only yesterday. Oh my God Then came the detailed explanation, to encourage Yeon-chuls motivation. He had a good and sympathetic personality, so the richer the language, the better. Yeon-chuls eyes were already red. They have nowhere to go, so I decided to take them in. Im sorry I couldnt discuss it with you in advance, sir. Of course, saying sorry was a deliberate manipulation. No, no, no! You did the right thing! As expected, Jang waved his hands placatingly. Welcome! The Winter Alliance happily welcomes you! Although it was awkward, Yeon-chul welcomed them in English. He was eager to improve himself, remembering the old saying, The place makes the man. Learning English was one of his efforts to live up to that. He must have been encouraged by Min. This was why some competition was good. Gyeo-ul then introduced Yeon-chul to the five. This is Jang Yeon-chul. His last name is Jang, and his first name is Yeon-chul. The Korean last name comes first. Jang Yeon-chul is one of the two most important people who help me. He manages the organization while Im out. Youll owe him a lot from now on. Five people looked at Yeon-chul with new respect. Yeon-chul was a little shy, so Gyeo-ul spoke up. When the event is over, just give them what they need. Dont worry. Theres actually nothing to wait for. At this, he called a person over right away. Seeing a few familiar faces, Gyeo-ul realized Yeon-chul had set up a systematic organizational operation. It would be good to discuss that with the two managers later and create some official positions. Of course, they would have to make sure to pick the right people, but Gyeo-ul thought it would be good to pick people from the disabled community. Gyeo-ul addressed the five, who were about to follow the middleman. Lets try to get along well from now on. It may be hard for you for a while, but Ill help you as much as I can. S?a?ch* Th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The five pretended not to be, but they felt exhausted overall. Rather than enjoying the party, their first priority was to find a place to rest. Though how many of them would have a tearless night? It was the same for Gyeo-ul. He wouldnt be able to enjoy the party until the end. However, he could hear the speaker sound from outside. The buzzing quickly repeated three times, and the room went quiet. Fortunately, it was not a signal for an emergency. Lieutenant Han Gyeo-ul, please come to the central training center immediately with equipment. Paging him? At this time? Gyeo-ul threw a look at the clock. The sun would probably set soon. Perhaps it already had. It wont be a big deal. Ill be right back, keep enjoying yourselves, Gyeo-ul comforted the partygoers. He left the party slowly but began to walk briskly once he got away. Several armed Humvees and platoon troops were on standby at the training ground. You again? Arent you tired of us? It turned out to be Charlie Companys 1st platoon commander, Lieutenant Jeffrey Brown, who had told the joke. Other familiar faces could be seen: Sergeant Marvin Bore Lieberman, Corporal Darren Elliott, Private Antonio Gulemi, etc. Everyone looked either annoyed or tired, but after seeing Gyeo-ul, those expressions got brighter. I think I know why hes joking around after calling me out at night. Jeffreys a commander, so I should pay attention to this, too. Gyeo-ul decided to play along. Im sick and tired of seeing your face after the party. Oh, youre kidding, arent you? I was joking. Im sorry. I was being completely serious. Hey! The soldiers were smirking. Jeffrey gestured to Gyeo-ul. Just get in the car for now. Ill explain whats going on. The driver stepped on the accelerator as soon as Gyeo-ul got in. Jeffreys voice came from the radio. Ah, ah. Gentlemen, Ill start the briefing now. The soldiers on board listened carefully. Jeffrey seemed to be the only one who had received details of the mission. A while ago, I mean You dont need the exact time, do you? Its not important, so lets keep it rough. Anyway, I think theres been an abnormal transmission near San Miguel since a while ago. I dont know the exact coordinates, although Ive tried calling the Air Force. Radio-tracking missiles are useless if the transmission doesnt continue. I think its the Trickster, but I dont know how many there are. Now you know why weve been called, right? It was only understandable. Only Gyeo-ul and Charlie Company 1st platoon had experienced combat with the Trickster in Camp Roberts. They had also performed the best compared to all other examples of engagement with the Trickster. Though it would have been impossible if it hadnt been for Gyeo-ul. The vehicle line stopped at the entrance guard post. There proved to be many obstacles to clear. Chapter 58 00058 #trap (3), Camp Roberts Rows of spiked strips had been laid in front of the guard post. They were originally meant to prevent vehicles from passing through, but now they were an alternative way to deny infectious mutants entrance to the refuge. The soldiers, along with Gyeo-ul, got out of their vehicle in order to help the guards, who felt bad for needing their assistance. Im sorry. I should have cleaned up in advance, but we just got a call Its nobodys fault, dont apologize. Cleaning itself was not altogether a difficult task. A string connected the spikes, so it was just a matter of pulling them together. It was only a hassle because of the number of them. When Gyeo-ul finally got back on board, the guards automatically saluted him. Be careful on your way back, one said. Jeffrey waved out the window, and the line of vehicles started moving in unison. Soon enough, a voice came crackling out of the radio. Platoon, from now on, keep the radio silent until further instruction. Given the intermittent transmission of radio waves and the subsequent location changes, Tricksters also had to be considered familiar with human strategies. Do you think theyre exchanging knowledge? Even for Gyeo-ul, the new mutant had dangerous potential in many ways. Communication was indeed a powerful force. Their driver didnt pick up much speed, not on this road. They had turned off the headlights right after they left the camp, and driving while dependent on night vision made being reckless a bad idea. The drivers upper body kept leaning forward to help him see better. Even without a separate request, the sound of the noisemaker, which ran on a regular cycle, came dimly from afar. It was for the safety of the camp. Gyeo-ul looked at the tracker monitor that displayed all the tactical information. It showed the vehicles current location, the deployment status of the friendly forces, the mission destination, and other important details. The last time a signal believed to be a Trickster had appeared, it was in the foothills southwest of San Miguel. The distance had been reported as less than five kilometers. Of course, the actual distance traveled had turned out to be longer than that. Having almost been beaten once, Jeffrey was quite cautious. It was decided they would make a larger detour to the west and enter from the south. Gyeo-ul could tell so just by looking at the direction of the leading vehicle. Whats that? Gyeo-ul pointed out the window to the scenery they had just passed through. There was a row of facilities lined with several huge satellite antennas. There was no light at all, which could be counted as evidence of abandonment. Its a GPS facility, and Im afraid theyll ask us to take it over soon. GPS required ground control units for coordinate and altitude correction. What Gyeo-ul could see now was one of them. However, there were quite a lot of antennas, whether they were performing other functions or not. Several radar domes had also been installed. After running a little further, the leader of the head vehicle signaled a stop. The tracker monitor showed it was about 1.5km to the destination. The platoon searched the farm southwest of the hillside. Fortunately, it turned out to be empty, without any mutants. Now, what do we do? Jeffrey promptly started gathering opinions from the team. There are two available options. First, approach quietly on foot. It could surprise the Trickster bastard. However, it will take some time, and in the meantime, this thing might move elsewhere. In fact, weve taken our time in getting here, so he may already have gone somewhere else. At this, he raised his finger. Second, a simple car attack. Theres a high possibility of being caught because of the noise, but its fast and powerful overall. No matter how fast it tries to run away, it wont be easy to shake us. What do you think? Which is the better option? On the surface, Jeffrey was pretending to be asking everyones opinion, although the reality was that the question was solely for Gyeo-ul. Jeffrey and his soldiers were now watching him. People who fought in the field did not ignore their sixth sense, and the soldiers most trusted sixth sense was Gyeo-uls, not Jeffreys. As the platoon leader, Jeffrey tried to keep a bland expression, though he looked a bit bitter. While seemingly lighthearted, he was, in fact, a serious person. If both sides are uncertain, lets choose a safer option. Why dont we surround it from outside and then approach it? We should. Well be superior in terms of mobility. It certainly was the case. As far as the chase, Gyeo-ul felt that the Tricksters speed was only equivalent to that of a human running well. But endurance was a problem. In any case, humans were never on the fast track when it came to the natural world. Jeffrey made another suggestion. Shall we split it into two groups? Or three? Dividing ones power was usually dangerous. However, it depended on the situation. Eight Humvees had been brought in. Most of them were equipped with heavy machine guns, but there were also vehicles with missile launchers. It was a lot more powerful than a platoon. It was an open area. Even if the hill were to continue, if you ran along the ridge, you would eventually have a wide view. It was far different from an environment like a city, with many obstacles to dodge. If enough distance were secured, the armed forces could stop dozens of targets with a single Humvee. Gyeo-ul promptly agreed with Jeffrey. In two groups. The numbers wont be enough in either. Lets keep one side free to communicate and the other side silent. It would be nice to make a difference in speed. Lets divide the roles between chasers and hunters. The noise of a vehicle running at night could be heard several kilometers out, depending on the speed. You couldnt just trust the noisemaker from afar. The mutants already had better ears than humans and could even sense radio waves. Therefore, free communication and high-speed movement would aid the chasers, while low-speed movement would aid the hunters. If they moved in a spiral on the other side, it would be difficult to escape when caught between them. Then Ill be a chaser. Good luck, hunter. Jeffrey clapped Gyeo-ul on the shoulder. The agreement had only taken about three minutes. This was a team where everyone knew that saving time was of the utmost priority. The vehicles were separated from east to west. They divided themselves into four cars and headed in their respective directions. Jeffrey, who had caught the walkie-talkie, began to talk excitedly. This is Jeffrey Bethel-Browns Christmas Eve radio! Californias seventh greatest star, the dopey Lieutenant Brown, is going to have a blast! Gyeo-ul promptly turned the radio down, which caused the driver to smile bitterly. Meanwhile, Jeffrey sang the carol enthusiastically, though it was difficult to tell whether he was singing or screaming. FUCK! YOU! Merrily in hell! In hell! The guns are firing! The original song was Ding-dongs Joyful Sound, but there was no original version left. After thinking about it, Gyeo-ul reduced the volume a little more, though there wasnt actually any problem in listening to it. The sensation of receiving correction would not miss even a small anomaly. However, there was nothing. They surprised nothing but deer, who were frightened by the cars hidden by the night sky and scattered in all directions. The search area was narrow. Even if one were to drive at twenty kilometers an hour, it could be crossed in about ten minutes. If it had been a complete plane, there would have been nothing left to search for. After a while, the chasers and the hunters met again. Hi. Long time no see! Jeffrey tried to make a joke. Im sure this is the right place. The tracker coordinates had a margin of error of 2.6 m to 12.6 m. Therefore, if the Trickster were here, there would be traces of it. Jeffrey paced around helplessly. Gyeo-ul shook his head. Its useless. The ground is frozen. Even though this was California, in December, the nights were cold. And the rain a few days ago had made the ground wet. Gyeo-ul stomped his feet. Thump. He was showing how hard it was to leave even a single footprint, even when wearing combat boots. That meant that they couldnt expect any traces of the Trickster. Usually, it was a dry area, so there were no traces of grass. It meant that tracking wouldnt work. Jeffreys shoulders drooped when he realized this. What is this? This is all futile. We have to go back like this? As soon as his words were out, the radio operator beckoned from the vehicle. Leader, weve got an abnormal signal! The coordinates have updated! Huh? Where is it? Jeffrey tilted his upper body into the car. Gyeo-ul looked at the Humvees monitor. Coordinates drawn by triangulation had come down from the camp and aerial drones. Jeffrey screamed, Its too close! Its close! Boarding! There was no time to give detailed instructions. The call was from just a kilometer away, and it was about to get even closer to Camp Roberts. Feeling the Tricksters body swaying along the bend of the ground, Gyeo-ul thought it was strange. The same guy who was so sneaky in the hospital, he reveals himself in this open space? He didnt have any more time to organize his thoughts. The Humvee, which had accelerated to full speed, had already reached the new coordinates. The heavy machine gunner began to shout from the turret, Aim for a target! Ten oclock! Distance at least two hundred! Gyeo-ul couldnt see it easily. The radio cried in Jeffreys voice. Split! West sideways from car five! The driver turned the steering wheel to the left. The right side of the vehicle changed direction so rapidly that it rose a little in the air. Jeffreys side continued to run on paved roads, while Gyeo-uls side stuck to the unpaved ones. Thanks to this, the target moved toward Gyeo-uls one oclock. The view was now reflected in the front window. A whitish shape was moving between abandoned arable land and pillars planted in a row for crops. It looked very small because they were still far away from it. Kuakuakuakuakua! The sounds of heavy machine-gun fire began to pour out like a waterfall. Darn it! I cant get a hit! The shooter viewed the distance as two hundred meters, but Gyeo-ul judged it to be closer to three hundred. Even with a heavy machine gun, it would be difficult to hit a target without aiming properly. The vehicle could not enter the arable land because of the tight-fitting pillars. In some cases, military vehicles would be able to get on the road due to their durability, but that had proved difficult in this situation. Gyeo-ul tapped the shooters leg. Change seats with me! Gyeo-uls shout was buried under the sound of the gunfire. After shouting twice more, the shooter finally understood and moved down to the backseat. Gyeo-ul sat on the watch. Personal Weapon Skills acted as 30% efficiency with heavy machine guns. Gyeo-ul had given up on heavy machine-gun shooting. Instead, he stood up and aimed with the rifle. It was hard to stand in a car that was shaking violently and shoot properly. Nevertheless, whenever the popping aiming point was momentarily aligned, Gyeo-ul snapped and pulled the trigger accurately. Thats right! The target stumbled. Very slightly, it slowed down. Jeffreys side was just shooting grenades and rockets, but unfortunately, they kept missing. As the distance lessened, the outline became clear. It was indeed a Trickster. It moved from side to side in the middle of the gently rising arable land, spreading fire in each direction. However, the land could not continue indefinitely. Finally, the mutant who had jumped out onto a road with nowhere to hide had to face vehicle number one. Gyeo-ul grabbed the walkie-talkie. Jeffrey! Turn! The Trickster heated up red and shot a heatwave in a straight line. Jeffreys Humvee, which received a microwave surge, lost control. The vehicles following it were the same, and there was a minor collision. Fortunately, going by the cursing coming from the radio, no one seemed to have been seriously injured. On Gyeo-uls side, a new group of general mutants had appeared and was proving itself a hindrance. Because they had only been paying attention to one side, it had been too late to notice. Gyeo-ul grabbed a heavy machine gun and shot at them, but those who avoided it merely jumped onto the road. S?a?ch* Th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The driver shouted, Roadkill, you bastards! He believed in the durability of the Humvee. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Mutants went bouncing off like toys. Gyeo-ul found it a splendid sight, the hot liquid looking like a sunset as it splashed over the bonnet and then turned purple. Meanwhile, a mutant broken in all sorts of places whizzed past Gyeo-uls head. It was spraying blood, staring at Gyeo-ul and floundering its hands. The back of the vehicle was close, but it ended up soaring away in vain. Instead, the rear vehicles suffered from it. They were following closely from behind, and, surprised by the mutant that fell on the bonnet, the driver swerved wildly from side to side. However, the mutant held on. Gyeo-ul turned back and shot at it with his rifle. What if were right? A scream came from the radio. It was the crew of the vehicle behind them. Its bulletproof glass. It didnt even miss. Gyeo-ul turned forward again. In the meantime, the prey had managed to flee, its destination apparently an abandoned ranch. Shadows of the building were gathered across the wide grassland. When shooting a heavy machine gun, there was a ting sound, signaling the dropping of bullets. Instead of a heavy weapon that was slow to reload, Gyeo-ul fired a rifle again. Kuaduduk! The Humvee broke through the ranchs border. The impact of breaking the fence shook Gyeo-ul to his core. He fell forward and hit his forehead on the corner of the shield. Oh no. Gyeo-ul touched the wound. It was not big, but blood had already begun to drip down the side of his head. His aiming efficiency would be reduced a little even after wiping it off roughly. The Trickster finally escaped into the building. However, it was now a dead end. The Humvees surrounded the area. From now on, we are demolition workers! Smash everything! Gyeo-ul disagreed immediately upon hearing Jeffreys command. Wait! I thought you said to capture it if possible?! Its a great opportunity! I dont care! He stole my Christmas Eve! I will kill him in the name of Jesus Christ! Gyeo-ul stepped off the turret and jumped. Im coming in! Hey, take cover! Youre going to die! Mutants were crawling out of other buildings on the ranch. While the rest of the troops formed up in the other direction, Gyeo-ul went to find the Trickster. With a rifle on his back, a bayonet in one hand, and a pistol in the other, he stepped inside the smashed door. A dark hallway. He followed the footprints that appeared in his night vision. The sound of wind cracking sideways. Gyeo-ul ducked, just in time to avoid the whip made of muscle that passed over his head. As a result of his successful avoidance, a wooden wall had been hollowed out. The marks within it were deep. Like a frog that couldnt control its tongue, a Trickster couldnt control its arms. It was currently caught by debris, so Gyeo-ul stabbed it using his bayonet. By hitting it several times, the muscles wouldnt be able to do their job. Then, a special mutant attacked him directly. Its whole body began to heat up red, perhaps because it had no other weapon. Preheating took only one or two seconds. Gyeo-ul rolled between the mutants legs. He immediately turned around, took a shooting position, and shot into the monsters crotch. A heatwave shot toward the wall. There was also the whip, so the smell of meat cooking could be sensed. The mutant screamed woefully. As the kneeling mutant looked back at him, Gyeo-ul fired at its ankle ligament. He immediately exchanged weapons, kicked it in the back, and shot at its shoulder. He stepped back and changed the magazine and then widened the distance moderately for safety, aware there might be a final struggle. However, silence ensued. Did this mean that the mutant had been completely incapacitated? Gyeo-ul sighed and moved a few steps away. He felt strange. A fallen monster was watching Gyeo-ul. Without struggling, it looked straight at him and smiled. It was definitely a smiling expression, and it even dared to make some squeaking sounds that were more of a laugh than a cry. The radio noise became extremely loud. Meanwhile, Gyeo-ul was lost in thought. Yeah, this creature was weird from the beginning. Why? It seemed too weak. Its like it came here to die. However, even as he thought hard about it, he couldnt seem to figure it out. They waited for a few more minutes, but no new threats appeared. Chapter 59 00059 #trap (4), Camp Roberts The Trickster was quiet. Its hands and feet were stretched out, all as stiff as those of a corpse. The only proof that it was still alive was the slow rise and fall of its chest. No matter how badly damaged it was, there had to be some energy left within its body. The lack of movement made it all the more suspicious. Upon seeing it, Gyeo-uls doubts grew more and more. It was as if it were pretending to be weak and helpless. Tricksters usually gave off a powerful jamming wave before they collapsed. That had happened with the one Gyeo-ul had met at Atascadero. When it died, there had been a lot of static over the radio airwaves. What if the radio interference was some kind of communication between these creatures? And if so, then whats the limit of that communication? Speech and radio communication were qualitatively different. The ability to communicate information among these new special mutants might be at a level that encompassed even vision and hearing. That made their cunning understandable. Every time one of them met a new object, they would get their whole species experience of it. Information released by Atascaderos Trickster might still be floating around. Memories left even after death. Gyeo-ul couldnt help but see it as a joke. Yes, you smiled at me because you knew my face They might already have known that the U.S. was eager to secure living samples. Otherwise, they wouldnt have considered getting caught on purpose, given the risk of death. Assuming this conjecture was correct, Tricksters would have to be considered the most dangerous species of special mutant. Gyeo-uls nerves eventually cooled down. It was a long time since hed felt this way, since before he had been through twenty-six endings. Overall, it wasnt all that bad. Having calmed down, Gyeo-ul aimed his rifle at the Trickster. Should he shoot it? Whatever its plan was, wouldnt it be messed up if he were to shoot it now? What are you doing, Lieutenant? Sergeant Lieberman grabbed Gyeo-uls rifle. Are you going to kill it now that youve caught it? Gyeo-ul turned his head slightly and saw soldiers hesitantly watching the mutant from a few steps away. It seemed that Sergeant Lieberman had been called because of Gyeo-uls strange appearance. He guessed that it was because of the threat that would have been active otherwise. Gyeo-ul answered, letting the gun drop down at his side. Im a little nervous. Why? It was too easy to catch, is that it? The sergeant held the same suspicion, though not as strongly as Gyeo-ul. As expected, they tried to relax him with insignificant platitudes. Its a little bit weird, but itll be all over soon. The helicopter will be here in a few minutes, and we can go back and drink a bottle of beer and stretch out. After this, the sergeant gestured to the outside. I think youre tired. Go out and take a break. There are no clouds, so youll get a nice look at the night sky. Leave this place to the kids. Gyeo-ul responded with a light smile. Its still pretty suspicious all in all. Sergeant Lieberman nodded. Thats true, he said, and the soldiers looked sulky in response. After a moment, though, everyone could be seen smiling. Gyeo-ul accepted the offer. It would be difficult to persuade them unless there was a confirmation. They would sympathize, sure, but the execution itself was a separate matter. What could a special mutant that was caught and tied up in a tight spot have done? In addition, Jeffrey would have already reported the capture. If he were to deal with it by himself, he would eventually be penalized. He decided to forget and focus on something else for a moment. As Sergeant Lieberman had said, it was a cloudless, starry sky. And so, Gyro-ul sat on the Humvee and looked up. There was no moon, but it wasnt all that dark, and on such a cold night, the scattered starlight was very refreshing. In the darkened world after the End, if anything was brighter than before, it was undoubtedly the night sky. He could see the Milky Way here, at an angle he had never seen before. It was like a strangely shiny cloud. The stars themselves were very clear. Gyeo-ul felt movement nearby. It turned out to be Jeffrey, who was struggling with a walkie-talkie. He wrestled with it for a moment, threw a few bad words around, and then came straight over to Gyeo-ul. However, he didnt speak up right away. After spending a little time sitting side by side with Gyeo-ul on the hood, Jeffrey finally opened his mouth. Do you like it? Yes. Its like a scene from where I used to live; its a shame Ive never seen it here before. Where did you live? Oh, in Korea? Yes, in a sense. What do you mean? What sense? The young platoon leader responded that he did not know English well and did not attempt to explain further. Instead, he asked something else. Whats the matter? Did the communications fail? I dont think theres been any disturbance to the system. The receiver stuck in his ear was still quiet. It was proof that the Trickster was staying calm. Its not like that They said they couldnt send a helicopter. Why? Our camp isnt the only one going through this. I heard they caught a few somewhere else. So there were a lot of requests for helicopter assistance, but eight of those they sent disappeared. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. At this, Gyeo-ul asked once more in a calm tone, What kind of attack did they receive? I dont know. Im not even sure if it was an attack or not. I just lost all contact with them. One of the units that were asked for support heard an explosion. I think it crashed, but they said they couldnt get to the scene yet. In short, none of us know the cause at this moment. It had to be an attack. One or two breaking down at once might be possible, but eight isnt. Even without contact. I suppose so. Anyway, its difficult to provide additional help until the cause is identified or we have sunlight. Then what should we do about that? Gyeo-ul pointed in the direction of the mutant. The soldiers were carrying it, four of them holding it carefully, with a muzzle firmly on its mouth. A few others were a little farther away, with firearms aimed at it. Jeffrey spoke up once more. Theres been an order to transport it to the base. They said they would do it. Theres a lockup plan? Weve decided to chain it up and put it in a cage. A cage? I dont know, like putting cooking foil on the walls and ceilings? I heard that we could stop its broadcasting that way. Thats what we need to do to keep it on the base. Oh, a Faradays cage. Gyeo-ul had heard of those, but would it be enough? Jeffrey had said that a helicopter would come once the sun had risen. One way or another, nothing was going to happen during the night. Should we talk to the captain? In fact, the boy officers immediate superior was a battalion commander. They could talk to him, or they could talk to the chief of operations. However, both were unlikely to help. The battalion commander was a drunk, bent on escaping reality through alcohol, and he would not want to be interrupted during his break. And Gyeo-ul didnt know if the chief of operations would agree to strengthen the watch based only on speculation without evidence. However, it was something to do. Jeffrey tapped Gyeo-uls shoulder. Hey, get in. Lets go back. The motorcade then departed, with the Trickster tied to the back of the turret of Vehicle 3. Perhaps it was because the center of gravity had increased, but the body looked very unstable. The heavy machine gunner in the car behind fixed his gun in the direction of the mutant. He said he would shoot the second it moved. When they arrived at the base, an augmented guard was waiting for Jeffreys platoon. Even though the mutant was bound tightly, they remained vigilant from beginning to end. In the meantime, the noise from the radio had increased a few times. If the mutants purpose was reconnaissance, it had already achieved its goal to some extent when it had entered the base and rumors began spreading. Gyeo-ul even confirmed that a special mutant had finally been trapped in a cage before heading to the camp control room. Perhaps because it was a serious issue, the chief of operations was on duty. After Gyeo-ul saluted, the chief asked why he was there. Whats the matter? Youve done a great job with the plan, now you can go and rest. I have a suggestion for this mission. A suggestion? Yes, I thought we could try to keep the camp as vigilant as possible until dawn The chief of operations was in favor of having Gyeo-ul among the battalion staff. Not for any personal reason, but out of respect for his ability. The unlucky company soldiers who were on duty on Christmas Eve watched Gyeo-ul and the chief of operations. The chief scratched his chin and fixed his posture toward the boy officer. Lets hear your reasons. I think the Trickster intentionally infiltrated us. Hooo. After that, the chief of operations listened to Gyeo-uls speculation with rapt interest. Thats a little bit better than your previous report. It means that interference and communication may not be distinct from each other. In fact, the top ranks have that possibility in mind, too. I think theyre going to use ECM to see how they react in turn. Are you saying theyre trying to jam the radio in reverse? Yes. If its really some kind of communication, the mutants will react when its interrupted. Theres a high possibility that youll get the mission. No one has achieved more than you in the western part of the blockade. I see. And the 390th Squadron frequently flies reconnaissance planes. Theyre trying to analyze the patterns of the radio waves they emit. At any rate, I cant say that your concern is groundless. And its suspicious that other camps went through similar attacks simultaneously tonight. Yeah, I think youre on to something. Then youll let me? No. The chief shook his head with a smile. It makes sense, but its too much. What can a caged creature do? Even if it had a plan to infiltrate, would it have predicted a detention facility blocking radio waves? We dont know them, but they dont know us, either. No matter how clever they are, they cant surpass human wisdom. Then, laughing, the chief added a joke. It may be dangerous if they start building libraries and schools. But Thats enough. Youre too sensitive. Im ordering you to get some rest. Its Christmas. The chief beckoned for him to get out. Looking at his expression, Gyeo-ul thought it would be useless to argue any further. So, he saluted and got out. What should I do now? There was still a sense of danger, and he couldnt just ignore it. The only way left was to ignore the command and move the soldiers directly. If he asked earnestly, there had to be some who would respond. However, it would be burdensome and would count as disobedience. If he took responsibility as a central figure, Gyeo-uls position would be at risk. It wouldnt collapse in an instant, though. The more people you attracted, the more likely there would be a problem. Someone could always report to the command. Above all, it was an uncertain possibility. It was doubtful whether it was worth such a risk. Given the likely aftermath, it might even do more harm than good. Investment in the sense of survival also had to be considered. This warned of all possibilities leading to death. However, because the range was so wide, it was often ambiguous without interlocking. He had not used resources since Atascadero, but he had the capacity. When the sense of survival reached the realm of genius, the view provided would be more specific and accurate than ever. Gyro-ul made up his mind and reached for his experience. The warning of Grade 11 Sense of Survival was indeed coming up. However, that was all. Its premonition of system calibrations could sometimes be wrong. In any case, it was not at the level that Gyeo-ul had expected. Crisis detection might have been better. After much consideration, Gyeo-ul went to Captain Capston. After listening to his explanation, the captain nodded his head. Thats a reasonable judgment. Ive compared Atascadero and other combat materials, and the intelligence of the Trickster is incredible. As you said, it was too easy to catch. It was strangely sloppy for it to appear alone, and it bothers me that it laughed. Theres no harm in being careful. But it will still be very difficult Ive thought about it, but all I need is not get caught. At that, the captain questioned, Is that possible? Think about it. Even with a major force, its just an emergency. You dont have to move in earnest unless an incident breaks out. If the event actually happens We would be busy worrying about bigger things than this minor disadvantage. At this, Captain Capston smiled lightly. Chapter 60 00060 Captain Capston smiled lightly. If thats your way of convincing me, Im a little disappointed. I can endure personal loss if I have to. Thats my real duty. The service regulation cant be more important than duty, can it? Im sorry. The captain shook his head slightly. You dont have to apologize. Ive been promoted thanks to you. I could be demoted, too. Im not doing this for recognition or personal gain, Im just worried about the people. After saying all this, he returned to their original topic. You seem to have thought only of mobilizing troops, but dont you also think youll need enough ammunition to be ready for combat? I dont think we have enough. Assuming youre right that the Trickster has already infiltrated us, the damage we take wont be small. Its not that I didnt take that into account Gyeo-ul had just thought that keeping guard at all times would be enough. If a man whos been caught intends to do something, hell wait for the dawn when vigilance is weak. I thought the biggest enemy at that time wasnt the mutant but our soldiers confusion. If you had prepared in advance, it wouldnt have happened. Additional ammunition We have no choice but to secure it then. In some cases, sacrifices are inevitable. Thats the realistic limit. We cant really revolt. Well, maybe theres a way. The captain thought for a long time and then got all of the companys executives within the jurisdiction on the line. It took quite a while to get them all together since it was, after all, Christmas Eve. One platoon leader in the civilian area didnt arrive until thirty minutes after the initial call. I dont have much time. Gyeo-ul repeatedly checked the clock. They didnt know when things would break up. It would be best if it didnt happen at all, but they were preparing on the premise that it would. Nobody looked happy. No matter how urgent it might be, there was still a minimum amount of personal time they preferred to be respected. Christmas week was the biggest holiday in the United States, so calls outside of working hours were not desirable. Oh this guy is here, that means this is gonna be rough. It was Jeffrey lamenting. After looking at Gyeo-ul, he sighed deeply and restrained himself. Hed just come back from fighting when everyone else had been playing, but of course, that applied to Gyeo-ul as well. That was why Jeffreys lamentation did not last long. The captain asked Gyeo-ul to speak, marking his third explanation of the situation today. He felt a little tired but plowed through, ending by saying, For that reason, I want you to stay on maximum alert tonight. Its not really a big deal. If the attack doesnt come, were just spending the night waiting. I hope you will help. Sergeant Lieberman was smirking at this point. You know, Ive been thinking that youve been acting a little weird. This is what youve been worrying about? Honestly, I think its a little too much, but Was it an objection? As it turned out, it wasnt. If it hadnt been for you, half of my platoon would have died in the hospital. When everyone was off guard or thinking wrong, you made the right decision by yourself. Im going to believe you again. Thank you, Sergeant. In general, noncommissioned officers expressed their support easily. Unlike the South Korean military, which began its ranking at sergeant, the U.S. militarys vice-commissioned officer turned out to have risen from a trainee. As a thoroughly competitive group, their mindset was also very practical. In practice, soldiers and noncommissioned officers often had conflicts with higher-level troops over the radio. They also tended to complain that they did not know the scene. That might be why it was easier for them to understand Gyeo-ul. Pierce, the first-class noncommissioned officer, also took Gyeo-uls side. Son Tsu said, The true leader leads not by power, but by example. A good soldiers sense is trustworthy. We cant ignore the opinion of the young lieutenant, based on what hes done so far. Sun Tsu? Oh, the Chinese philosopher. After pondering for a moment, Gyeo-ul felt a little awkward. He didnt think that was what Sun Tsu said. Still, there was no need to break the mood. S~?a??h the N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. I think hes just proud that he managed to memorize an old saying The sergeant held on to his blunt expression, but Gyeo-ul, who had a good sense for people, observed that there was a fine feeling. Everyone had a desire to be cool, no matter how serious they were. While this happened, the remaining three platoon leaders and other senior soldiers, excluding Jeffrey, considered their positions. Sergeant Pierce stared silently at them, making everyone feel burdened by his gaze. The U.S. militarys supervisor was higher than a lieutenant colonel. Second Platoon Captain McCoy sighed. I cant help it. I dont want to look like Im pulling out alone Lets do it. If everything turns out fine, its just one night. You said if the incident doesnt happen, theres no risk After that, the rest of them raised their hands, saying they agreed. Lieutenant Sullivan, the third platoon leader, scratched his head. Home Alone is on T.V. right now Were the Americans spending Christmas with Kevin? Finally, the chief of the firearm department agreed. Now that I know about this, Im not going to relax. Its going to bother me and make me feel uncomfortable, right? I wont be able to sleep even if I lie down. Since Im just going to stay up all night anyway, Ill go with you. When everyone had come to an agreement, Lieutenant Capston drew their attention. The problem is ammunition. Without ammunition, no matter how thorough the preparation is, it wont be enough. Is there any way to get the bullets out without going through the control room? It was a question for Pierce. The sergeant nodded. Ill try. How? Lets just say were going to release tomorrows firing drill in advance. Well just submit the documents later. Im sure the captain wont like it, but its not an altogether uncommon practice. Ammunitions are often released without documents in emergency cases. He had a point. This was a situation where people used ammunition day and night, just as in the fight they had just come back from. After an operation, the remaining ammunition was not recovered. Instead, the troops requested and received as much as necessary, and each company managed the extra ammunition separately. They had wanted to keep strict procedures as usual but found that they couldnt. Instead, they thoroughly checked the current status of the guns. They would have to worry about the riot if it flowed into the refugees. Will that excuse work? Shooting training on Christmas day. Who would believe that were doing it then? While the captain reacted skeptically, the sergeant smiled softly. The captains famous for being strict. So, if you say that hes being stubborn for no reason, people will believe it. I apologize in advance for what Ill have to say. At this, Captain Capston touched his temple. Still, it was easier to say than to do. It was something that could only be attempted because there was a network. The sergeant then turned the conversation to Gyeo-ul. The little lieutenant needs to help, too. What? Me? The ammunition locker security is under the charge of Able company. Your crew loves you so much, itll be easier if you go with them. It seemed that the sergeant understood the atmosphere among the soldiers quite well. Gyeo-ul recalled the words of Corporal Amy, who had chosen to stay at the checkpoint for Chinese residents. Be careful. If you get bitten by a crazy dog, our company might go crazy too. Depending on which people are asked, theres a high possibility of them helping even if they explain it as it is. Gyeo-ul nodded coolly. Yes, I suppose so. I see. Since there was little time left, the discussion went very fast once everyones position was set. Senior soldiers rushed out to rally their troops while the remaining executives started planning the operation. We dont know anything about the enemys plan, so we should focus on adapting to the situation, with the exception of our key plan. I think we should be satisfied now with the allocation of positions and boundaries to occupy in case of an emergency. When the lieutenant opened the camp map, the sergeant promptly agreed. Dont mind that. The first thing thats going to die when the battle starts is the plan. It was concluded that the initial troop input could be made within three minutes, no matter which direction the situation started from, provided that they responded properly. What about your men? the captain asked Gyeo-ul, who promptly presented his opinion of the matter. I think it would be hard to expose them to the front because they lack practical experience. Id like to set them up together and use them to calm the refugee zone in case of an emergency. I agree. Thats a good idea. As he had said before, confusion might yet become the biggest enemy. Given the population density of refugee zones, the number of people crushed to death would also be enormous if they panicked. In addition to this, if a group of refugees recklessly tried to escape, it would become a problem. A mishap could occur in which the defense line was trampled from the rear. It would be too much to handle with only two squads of Winter Alliance combat groups. Theres only a low chance of encountering the enemy, but its not going to be an easy task regardless. Gyeo-ul fully understood his concerns. There are soldiers who used to keep their checkpoints. I wish I could give them a heads-up. For now, I will warn the refugees within my reach; thats more important than ammunition. Ill be right back. Well take care of the rest of the preparations. At this point, Sergeant Pierce stepped in. You should come to the ammunition storage after its done. Okay. Ill be as fast as I can. According to the clock, there were thirty minutes left until midnight. The soldiers at the checkpoint looked at the rushing Gyeo-ul with curious expressions. The large tent, which he had left hours ago, was still in a lively mood. Lots of people didnt even notice Gyeo-ul coming. However, Jang Yeon-chul recognized him at once and went to welcome him. Youre back. I dont know what happened, but you did a good job. Gyeo-ul shook his head. Its not over yet. Sorry? Manager Jang. Please gather all the alliance officials, including Yura and Jin-seok. Jang Yeon-chul seemed to be embarrassed when he read Gyeo-uls demeanor, this being the first time he had witnessed one of his urgent moods. However, he nodded quickly and called the aforementioned people. The audience, which was in a state of excitement, quieted at once upon witnessing this scene. Finally, the people Gyeo-ul had asked for arrived. Such was the result of Yeon-chuls moderate interpretation of the executives scope. It wasnt bad overall. Gyeo-ul explained the situation as concisely as possible. Min Wan-gi coughed a few times as he did so, and Jang Yeon-chuls expression gradually hardened. Uh, little captain So youre saying there might be an attack at dawn? Thats right. Im not sure, but I think we need to be vigilant. Yura and Jin-seok, go to the barracks right now. Arm yourself and wait in the training ground. Charlie Company will send one or two appropriate people in with you after the ammunition is released, so if anything happens, do your best to calm the refugee zone. Yura and Jin-seok still lacked the ability to judge the situation. Because of this, it would be essential for them to receive support from Charlie Companys senior soldiers. Now Gyeo-uls eyes were on Jang Yeon-chul and Min Wan-gi. And the chiefs. Before Gyeo-ul could say anything else, Min Wan-gi nodded. Thats all right. Leave it to us and go. You cant always take care of everything; thats why you chose us to work at this time. Gyeo-ul accepted his words with a natural smile. Okay, Ill trust you two. Then the boy officer ran toward the ammunition storage. In fact, he arrived earlier than Pierce, who was a little surprised to see Gyeo-ul already present when he did appear. I didnt think things would be that simple, but you got here sooner than I expected. Thats because some good people are helping me. Haha. The sergeant smiled briefly and walked ahead of him, greeting the soldiers guarding the ammunition post. One of those soldiers, Sergeant Matthew Cohen, couldnt hide his surprise when he caught sight of Gyeo-ul. Chapter 61 00061 #trap (5), Camp Roberts Pierce casually opened the ammunition storage. The soldiers trusted him well and were flexible enough when it came to formalities. In turn, the guards understood that they were in a wartime situation. However, as Pierce began taking out a multitude of weapons and ammo, the guards couldnt help but feel curious. Sergeant Cohen, a senior guard, decided to voice his question to Sergeant Pierce. Ammo is okay, but LAWs, Claymores, 777s What kind of training do you need those for?! Its an emergency ammunition release drill. Dont worry about it, Cohen. Oh, yes sir! While they couldnt hide their curiosity, Cohen and the others kept their mouths shut, but Cohen turned his eyes to Gyeo-ul. The soldiers knew his face. If it hadnt been for Gyeo-ul, they would have died in Paso Robles. Even though he felt a little shy, Cohen tried to smile and greet him. Lieutenant Banana. Why, Sergeant Choco Ball? The sergeants smile widened, his white teeth flashing in the darkness. Can you tell me whats going on? Pierce told you. Were going to have training. Come on, dont do that. I can handle it. Itll just be between you and me. Gyeo-ul looked at Sergeant Pierce, who simply shrugged at him in reply. This meant that he was leaving it to Gyeo-uls discretion. Gyeo-ul considered for a few moments, then, to lighten the atmosphere, he made a joke. I dont know What kind of relationship do you have with me? Oh, youre in big trouble now. Its cruel to disappoint a comrade who risked his life on the same battlefield. Dont do that; just give me a hint. Gyeo-ul leaned in closer to the sergeant, his voice serious. If I let you know, can you help me? S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Huh? You need my help? Yes, Im telling you this because I trust you, so if you ignore it, I will hold a grudge against you forever. He sounded serious, and the pairs faces hardened a little. After a brief moment, Sergeant Cohen simply nodded. I dont know whats going on yet, but Ha! Just give me orders. Ill give you everything except my balls. He acted more like a friend than a sergeant. It might be due to Gyeo-uls special position, but there was also a desire not to feel distant in private. Gyeo-ul looked at the other soldier questioningly. Private, how about you? No matter what, will you trust me, just this once? The privates reaction was quite different. He put his feet together and stood at attention. Whenever you want, lieutenant. People never responded to things the same way. Thanks to the fact that the soldiers considered Gyeo-ul their lifesaver, the private seemed to have been excessively affected by the activities that Gyeo-ul had long since accumulated. Cohen had also seemed displeased earlier. Their attitudes seemed to display the atmosphere of Able Company that Amy had mentioned. Gyeo-ul reached out with his hand. Thank you, Acridge. It was a simple handshake, but the private seemed very pleased about it. From the beginning, if circumstances allowed it, Gyeo-ul had planned to draw people from Able company. These two soldiers, who easily sympathized with the concerns Geyo-ul had raised, had accepted their assigned roles positively. Shit, the people above are too relaxed. Dont you think? Just by looking at the training materials, you know you shouldnt underestimate the Tricksters. Anyway, dont worry, Ill only bring in certain kids. And if you request it, Ashford will be right back. Sergeant Ashford. Gyeo-ul could remember the first time theyd met, at the Paso Robles Health Center. He was the type who wasted morphine on broken arms. Is his injury all right? I havent seen him since. He came back a few days ago. Hes a strong man, so hes okay. He hasnt got his cast off yet, but he still did everything he could! Hes good at seducing women, too. Looking at the expression on Acridges face, that seemed to be true. Then itll be okay, Gyeo-ul thought. As soon as were done with your vigilance work, well gather as soon as possible Uh, should I go to the training ground? Yes. The vehicle is there. Okay, you can look forward to it. Ill show you the comradeship of Californian men. Be careful. Youre basically disobeying the higher-ups orders. No one likes a soldier who acts without a report. Just dont get caught. If everything turns out okay, Im planning to put the ammunition back in and pretend nothing has happened. Well make it appear that way. Oh, youre like my grandmother. Cant you help it just because you became an officer? Gyeo-ul smiled again at this point. Satisfied with his expression, Cohen loudly proclaimed for him to trust only himself. He stuck out his fist, and Gyeo-ul bumped it with his own. There was more than one vehicle parked at the training ground. After a while, Able Company had joined them. There are more here than I thought. Its almost a whole platoon. There were no officers; practically everyone there was a soldier. Sergeant Ashford, the senior soldier present, saluted upon seeing Captain Capston. I heard you need us. It must have been awkward for you, but thank you for coming. Im relieved to have more participants from the army. We dont want to die, either, especially not early on Christmas morning. The sergeant took a look around at the battle-ready Charlie Company, sending a welcoming look to Gyeo-ul, and then spoke up again. But I hope everythings fine. Im afraid the platoon leader will be angry that hes fallen behind. Well, I cant help that. In the event of a real battle, you will cover each companys station until they are ready for battle. The thing that worries me the most is a surprise attack. I want you to keep the whole force out of trouble. Youre right. Were in a state of emergency. Theyd be surprised without us. Having confirmed his mission, the sergeant approached Gyeo-ul. This must be the first time weve had a proper conversation since Paso Robles. Not my fault. Youve been away for a long time. I got a Purple Heart. Thanks to you, I didnt get a special promotion, though. The Purple Heart was a medal given in honor of injuries in battle. The special promotion was a courtesy given to the fallen. The sergeant spoke with sincere gratitude. Thank you very much for taking away the morphine. I felt so tired and desperate at the time I thought Id lost everything. I felt out of my mind because I had already been injected. U.S. soldiers who were sent to living hells like Iraq and Afghanistan often abused narcotic painkillers. They got addicted and then, when they retired, were classified as drug addicts, some even getting shot dead by the police for committing crimes. It was one of Americas most common social problems. Gyeo-ul accepted the sergeants thanks because he felt grateful for stopping him from going down that road. Im glad to see you again. Me too. Lieutenant, Ive seen you lying around with nothing to do, but I think hes talking about whats been on TV. As Gyeo-ul listened, he felt that the sergeant was simply worried for him. You have to excel only moderately from now on. What do you mean? I have friends called DEVGRU. Theyre much better soldiers than I am; in fact, theyre so good that theyve been entrusted with all kinds of work by the superiors. But no matter how well you use a knife, itll get ruined if you use it recklessly. Everyone suffered because they all felt so distraught. Im afraid youll be like that. Gyeo-ul just laughed and let the sergeant finish what he was saying. All right, not necessarily, but I hope this is a no-brainer. Actually, so do I. That was the end of the conversation. The sergeant went to find his position with the Able crew. Gyeo-ul was a firefighter; his first task was to put out the fire. He wasnt like other executives and soldiers, whose duties and responsibilities were clearly defined. They were required to judge themselves and provide support in the necessary places. In a way, that was the hardest role. Captain Capston, however, thought Gyeo-ul was their most powerful force, so he had been assigned to the mission. I wish we could pass the night quietly like this, came a murmur from Sergeant Latchman, who was part of the same team. Gyeo-ul nodded. I agree. There was no certainty in Gyeo-ul. There were plenty of signs, sure, and the foreboding was strong. However, history indicated that the interglacial age would begin after the emergence of a new special mutant. Although no fixed length had been predicted, it was strange that it was already over. The warning from the sense of survival was not necessarily correct. If the given information had formed sufficient probability, the sense of survival could have warned of hypothetical deaths. Still, its better to overflow than to fall short. There was an old saying that too much was no better than nothing, but the worst was a lack of preparation. The soldiers in the same vehicle expressed their curiosity in Gyeo-uls past. They wondered how this particular human being had grown up to be a weapon. Control AI recommended keywords and sentences, but Gyeo-ul simply responded with smiles instead of answers. The conversation ended there since they didnt have much in common. While the soldiers were chatting casually, Gyeo-ul stared at the night sky with his arms resting on the open window. He felt like he couldnt get enough of it. Even after he was long gone, the stars and the sky would remain. Anyone whos ever seen a clear night sky would agree. Im sure there arent many people who can relate to it in their lifetime. The stars I used to see in the world felt like tears. A long time ago, people used to wish on stars. Audiences all over the world were quiet, too. It had been like that earlier. The moment the night sky had been captured in the night view, their messages were no longer imbued with a lack of life and an unfulfilled desire. If I could only watch it till dawn. Thud. Everyone was surprised by the sudden sound. When Gyeo-ul turned around, he saw their sleepy driver had hit his head on the steering wheel. The soldiers threw curses at him, and the driver protested, embarrassed. Fortunately, their cursing came from friendship. Gyeo-ul said, Im glad you didnt push the horn. I know, Sergeant Latchman agreed, causing the driver to look upset as he turned to Gyeo-ul. And then, Gyeo-ul waited again. He never knew how long it would take. The soldiers decided to set the order and get some sleep in shifts. They played rock-paper-scissors among themselves, and then they called to Gyeo-ul. You should join us, too. Gyeo-ul declined quietly. The stars are bright tonight. Thats very romantic. The soldier in the rear seat whod invited him scratched his head, forgetting it was covered by a helmet. We were going to sleep in shifts of one, but if youre not going to sleep, can we increase it to two? Okay. Its okay if Im awake by myself. Oh, I cant allow that. Soon after, a snoring noise intervened in Gyeo-uls starlight vigil. The soldiers were taking turns to sleep in five thirty-minute shifts. In the darkness of the deep dawn, a distinct sound could be heard among all the snoring. Kaeeeee- Gyeo-ul finally came to his senses. Did you hear that? The driver, who was awake, sounded puzzled. What are you talking about? The soldier held his breath and watched Gyeo-ul. In the meantime, the sound emerged once again. Kaeee! Kaeeek! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Everyone jumped up as Gyeo-ul shouted. The vehicles on both sides were also surprised. Sergeant Latchman, who had been lying on the roof, even slipped from his seat. Thomp. The driver was now swearing at the sudden kick. Which way? Over there! The direction of the cage! What? Thats inside the base! No way! The driver was freaking out. Gyeo-ul honestly didnt understand either. How could a mutant other than the Trickster be inside the camp? The reaction was very quick because the engine had been started in advance, its sound increasing rapidly. The sound of mutants also increased; at first, it had only been baby mutants, but now it was a mixture. Finally, they heard gunshots and human screams. They must have come from the guards in charge of the cage. Push the horn! Gyeo-ul cried. The driver, realizing his intention, honked like crazy. Other vehicles joined in, signaling a crisis throughout the camp. The radio flooded the critical channel. Even without seeing it in person, one could imagine the soldiers trying to secure their position. Captain Capston could also hear the radio reporting an emergency to the control room. During the run, Gyeo-ul discovered mutants wandering the streets and blew six heads off in five seconds. He knew it was a mutant when he saw it waving its arms and shouting. Its skin was pale but not so smooth. It was evident that the time after the infection had been short. Did the baby mutant infiltrate and infect him again? As soon as he thought of it, he heard a persistent explosion from the direction in which he was heading. And then Prrrr- Suddenly, the Humvees engine gave out. Whats wrong with this thing?! The driver hit the steering wheel, and the car immediately restarted. However, it was struggling and couldnt manage to return to power. All the nearby lights went out, along with the radio, which made a sharp noise and then went silent. All the correspondence, which had been busy until a second ago, disappeared. The tracker monitor, which had been clear in green, darkened to the point where there was no artificial light around anymore. The night vision goggles Fortunately, they work. There was some noise, but they were still usable. While Gyeo-ul checked the personal equipment, the driver finally succeeded in fully restarting the engine. When they arrived, the cage was open. The Trickster, which had left marks as if it had been crawling out of its body, was dead. It looked as if its torso had burst from the inside. Sergeant Latchman fired a heavy machine gun at the loitering mutants. Beyond the darkness of night, gunfire flashed outside the camp continuously, like lightning. Soon, explosions and even brighter flashes could be seen. The landmines had been detonated. The attack had already begun. Chapter 62 # Trap (6), Camp RobertsOh, fuck! Wasn''t that an EMP?! The soldier in the rear seat spews insults. An electromagnetic shock wave (EMP) disables all electronic devices within its range. Other than that, there was no way to explain this reality. However, it is also shocking. Winter came to mind. I need light. Flare relief is urgent. To prevent the chaos that is to come, we must rid the world of darkness first. Winter is trying to restore the radio. Military equipment has constant EMP resistance. Again, after a few attempts, the car''s radio was powered on. Noise leaks out in fear of being activated. Looks like it''s jamming. It''s not impossible to communicate inside the camp. It must be hard on the outside. The moment winter grabs hold of the handset. Boom! Boom! The mortar camp flashes three times. A few seconds later, three flares of flare burst from the sky in a row. Each flare ignited 525,000 candles. Hanging on a parachute, it falls slowly. At the same time, winter pushed the torso out of the window. Look wide and shoot fast. It took eight bullets to blow five heads off. I was able to see other targets, even if I could. There will be no more or fewer variants left inside. Yes. From the time Trickster was captured, how much longer would it have been if we increased the infectious body in a short period of time until this event exploded? If more spreading were possible, the attack would have changed. I''ve decided to let go of my concerns about the refugee area. The two chiefs, especially Min Wangi, would have exerted a ten-minute influence on the Winter Alliance. Not just friendly organizations, but hostile organizations as well. If so, few variants can be suppressed with only a few numbers. Over there! Winter has pointed to the direction where the gunfire and the noise were most turbulent. The driver immediately breaks the handle. Outside the camp fence was a mess. There were particularly intense battles at the border from northwest to southwest. Variants have approached the camp using mountainous terrain and a continuous line of riverside forests. Without it, there''s no escape from aerial surveillance. After arriving on the battlefield, Winter sent a short transmission. It was to inform the current location. Soldiers who took over the seriousness couldn''t even greet the winter. I pulled the trigger without taking a break. The night was illuminated, there were so many enemies coming. Winter is harsh, too. A single shot fired separately from other soldiers. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Every time you pull the trigger lightly, one variant dies. I wasn''t trying to save ammunition. It''s a pile of boxes. I didn''t have to worry about accuracy. There were so many of them, they all got scratched. Given the amount of time it takes to aim, it''s easy to go crazy. The problem was overheating. Adjust firing speed! You want to see a gun go off?! Screaming was not enough. Winter rushes through the mountains, striking madmen daily to warn them of the total overheating. Hot soldiers take their fingers off the trigger. Since the beginning of the war, some people have only scratched with speakers. A faint, but red aura surrounds the rifle. I''m glad it''s cold. Had it been summer, it would have exploded already. Private Titus! Load the magazines! Private Orsi! You, too! A stack of magazines will soon reveal the floor. As winter looks at the name tag, two confused soldiers nod earnestly. The enemy doesn''t even fire a gunshot, but lowers his posture and collects discarded magazines from his knees. I can''t help it. That''s how I was trained. Rather, it''s great to be able to move the way you were trained in action. It was a protest that American military training was not too sloppy. Don''t overlap! Don''t get too caught up in the moment! Soldiers who forgot their front lines while shooting as they could see were disproportionately firing. Once it starts, it repeats itself. Winter closes the gap until they regain their role. The tremendous firepower of the three Humvees was also a huge help. Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwakwa! The sound of a 50-caliber heavy machine gun was no different than a bomb that exploded in a row when you heard it closely. The same goes for real firepower. It''s thick from the start, and it''s frustrating when more than one is pierced. The body remains intact in the passage of the slab. Too bad the mutants aren''t dense. If they are tight enough, 250 rounds can also kill 1,000 individuals with a single barrel. Of course, it was difficult to expect. It''s time for the mutants to increase their intelligence. On the other hand, during the winter months, one rifleman quickly released his barrel. It was pouring into the blazing heat. The heated iron meets the cold water, and the steam rises. Dammit! Even the Taliban couldn''t have done this! He must have been an Afghan veteran. My voice is trembling. Well, what you see is overwhelming. Everywhere you look beyond the fence, there are only scattered mutants. Every time the flare rises, those new faces are horrible. Winter knocked him on the shoulder. Calm down! You''re still blocking it! And fill his void. Winter, which lasted longer than regular soldiers, effectively prevented the gaps in the firepower. The soldier next to you looks ridiculous. Unfortunately, winter blew his head off with every aim he made. Not one foot missed, not even in the nearest order. The soldier waits for the winter''s shooting to cease, aiming in the other direction. How the hell do you shoot that thing? Take your time! Relaxation?! In this situation?! The soldier was out of ammo in five seconds. This way there won''t be enough firepower, and there won''t be enough ammunition. Even though there were soldiers who were determined to fill the magazine, they didn''t have enough. With no more ammunition to sharpen, he shoots out the grenade. Thung! The explosion swept through four mutants. The one who''s out of range has stepped on a mine. It''s a leap ceremony.A landmine soaring higher than the head of a mutant! It exploded. Round dirt and blood fog. It was so clear under the light of the flare. Direct kill radius 30 meters. However, the extent to which debris splits is much wider. Dozens of other variants have floundered or fallen. Fallen things are soaked in blood, rising and running again. It was because of the skin peeled off while rolling without a car. Thank goodness. Even if the flare was a little late, we could have been in big trouble. Street is a human weapon. The mutants have breached half of the minefield by the darkness. Even if this side had been a few minutes late, they would have already breached the fence. In those few minutes, the situation changed considerably. The landscape beyond the fence is cruel. Bodies lie beneath the ground. The sound of the jet engines has passed from the air above your head. He must have been suspicious of communication loss. But the Air Force was useless right now. It''s dangerously close to dropping a bomb. (Danger Close.) Maybe if it was sunny and we had proximity support. The rumbling ground rises up on your toes. It was the firepower of mortars. The sound of a cannonball exploding sounds different depending on the distance. Automatically classifying it is Combat Sense. If fire support is concentrated in either direction, it will soon mean a crisis in that direction. Winter read the insights from Combat Senses. Equal in all respects. In other words, it means that there is no direction to be pushed. Or pushed in every way. But given the situation here, I don''t think it''s the latter. But just in case. Winter quickly ascends the humvee, judging by the steadiness in this direction. To listen to the transmission. The private radio in the winter was still useless. The comms have cleared the way. To summarize the transmission, it was not great. If something was really urgent, he would have rushed straight to winter. The situation is stable. Just a moment ago, the artillery squadron acquired a mortar camp, and all the squadrons were forced into battle. At this rate, I don''t think we have a problem stopping it. Then that''s a relief. How about the refugee zone? Wouldn''t it be nice to see there''s not much to talk about? It was the last time I heard that every checkpoint had reinforced troops under control. There were a handful of mutants, but some of the refugees beat themselves up. Good. It''s worth preparing for. But it''s still early to be relieved. [Rrrrgh!] The roar of a rumbling beast. Grumble. The body is clear even if it is far away. Climb up from the riverside and into the boundary of a minefield with one lunge. Then it roars again and enters the preparation phase of the next pattern. Winter immediately landed and aimed. Adjustment speaks. Empty two halves of a magazine, silencing him before entering the rush pattern. Next time, then. It''s hard to approach and deal with out there, and one mistake is unacceptable. A single charge gives way to a minefield. Soldiers are focusing their firepower on Grumble. Mostly fits the trunk. Waste. Mutants push in from the other side of the void. Winter cried out sharply. Don''t mind if you don''t get it right! I''ll stop them! Mutants flock to the void of fire. Soldiers deemed unstoppable and exploded the mine. Two claymores on the barbed wire burst, and all two ranges of giant sectors fell to their deaths. There was a price. Snap out of it! The railing, which was raging with gunfire from the inside, was torn apart by a backstorm of mine. Some flies overhead. Some people got beaten up. There is a overlap of evil. The flare goes off, but the next flare doesn''t go off. The sky is darkened. "Oops." The aim that relied on the light darkens. The position of the grumbles is such that the headlights of the humvees do not reach properly. Even in winter, it''s hard to ignore sudden changes in light. [Rrrrgh!] At the end of the roar, Grumble rushes over the mine explosion. The rate at which perspective was erased was terrible. A single seriousness in a straight line is smashed into pieces. An escaped soldier flew into thin air. It rolls the ground, but there is no movement. Tutu, tutu! Tutu! Stops Grumbling with three or six chopped feet. By the time he regained consciousness and roared, winter had already held a pinned grenade. A grenade hits your throat. Forward! Block the front! With his cover blown, Winter encouraged the soldiers. By the time the monster regains consciousness, he turns around and throws another grenade at the man vomiting blood and intestines. Explosion in the body with a sense of distance. A fountain popped out of my nose and mouth. A ruptured eye protrudes. Look ahead! Winter is a sudden winter when the soldiers roar. The soldiers who were overwhelmed with fear were still concerned about Grumbling. Roar comes from the other direction. Asrai''s overlapping screams. The latter was definitely human. You make sure the soldiers block the front, and winter boards the Humvee. South! The driver steps on Excel. Sharp idle rotation. Pa ''at A late-night flare. The Herpes'' soldiers will be sweating as well. You only have to shoot it once for 50 seconds. If there is no darkness between us, we must shoot it once every 45 seconds. I wondered how much of the flare was left. By now, it would have taken hundreds of rounds. I''ll die trying to get back and forth between magazines. But it''s better to be hard than really dying. Winter fell upon the night vision. Beyond the front window is another Grumble. You push yourself between the repeated light and darkness, and you find yourself tearing a soldier up and down. [Car! Caaaaaa!] Swing the torn man. The innards are scattered. A long smith flew in the winter car, and the glass was completely shielded. The driver becomes nauseous, slowing down. Even before it completely stopped, winter fell through the door. The winter, which stood up like a spring, rolled around once, ran the same way and hit the target with seven shots. A backstroke. However, Grumble is rarely alone. Common variants stop winter. There are too many. The defense line collapses, pushing like waves over a barrier. Given the number of casualties so far, it was the final attack for the mutants. The following does not exist: Therefore, it is difficult to shoot and pierce alone in winter. I threw the grenade to a group of mutants to feed Grumbles and rolled into a pile of sand. Explosion. Goes to the body. Right in front of you was a mutant that had only the upper half left. I was bitten on the skull with my mouth wide open. Then I drew a sword and stuck it in the crown. The sound of bone erosion. A picturesque bribe. But the man who was dying was finished. A thunder-like roar followed. Retrieve the rifle and let winter escape to the front. Immediately after, "Grumble" passed by while crushing the seriousness. The boy''s arm grazes his back, momentarily losing focus. I fell on the soldier''s corpse. The body opens its eyes to see if it''s been irritated. A mutated soldier watches winter. Squeeze his neck with his knee and shoot him in the knee position. The mutants that are about to die are swarming, but not enough to keep them from shooting. Calmly aim for Grumbles. Then, they remove the grenade from the soldier''s variants and throw it. The Grumble Hunting Act is also a courtyard where soldiers are trained. A large number of soldiers approached Grumble, who had become an anti-cripple. The common variants that were headed for winter crumbled. It was a Heavy Machine Gun shot by a Humvee. Bastards! Eat this! A soldier puts a rocket launcher (MK.777) on his shoulder. Strange balance of weight. The warhead is abnormally large. You need anything else to catch the mutants, but it''s just a nasty gunpowder. Oh, dear. Winter closed its eyes. Flash! Bright enough to see the contours. It''s hard to fix a wobbly body, even though it''s so far from the waterfall. A storm made of thermal expansion tanned the variants. A weapon that destroys bones and ruptures their intestines with wind pressure. The rocket shooting didn''t end with a single shot. The second and third are fierce between the variants. Winter, which barely held its position between the crossroads of the storm, found a variant that had only rolled a few steps ahead. It''s not normal. Both eyes burst. I''m bleeding from my ears, and I can''t stand up. Pressure must have damaged the fuselage. Winter breathes and puts a bullet in him. Soldiers recovering their defenses clear the enemy. There are so many dead mutants. It''s only a thousand units in the winter''s sights. On the other hand, we heard that we captured the final Grumble. Dispatch to dispatch. There''s a missile launcher right over there, and it just clicked with fire. No matter how grumbling, an anti-tank missile can crush your arm or leg. The telecom said the missile (TOW) was a 60-centimeter thick piece of metal penetrating the plate. This level of physical resistance of Grumble cannot be completely defended. Gamma Grumbles'' will not work if more than. It''s a long way to go to get that enhanced. Gunfire and noise begin to fade in most directions. Winter sighed, feeling that the situation had been shorted. It''s because I''ve been nervous for a long time after a single battle. If there was anything special, it was the behavior of surviving mutants. A peculiar pattern of monsters spread, and everyone who heard the sound began to retreat. Even though it''s an organized retreat, the soldiers are ridiculous. He even set fire to the river Nachimiento, north of the camp. Probably the work of Trickster, who deals with electricity. Whether even the breeze was considered, the smoke covered the camp. Jeffrey''s sigh on the radio. "Wow, really. This is amazing. I do all sorts of things. Eat up, you mutant bastards. Instead, the interference disappeared. Of course. If you continue to emit interference away from the camp, the next order was death by radio tracking missiles. In case you''re worried about an ambush, the camp''s troops have not been put in pursuit. S?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. You''re in over your head. Winter drops the gun down. Artwork Reviews If you ask for years as a gift, the writer will be divided. But wouldn''t this kind of capacity be more like a banquet? Help me... Chapter 63 00063 #Unread messages (4) [Snowfield fox presented 100 stars] Imathel: When the flare exploded, I saw the monsters swarming and thought it was a dead heat Old Spice: They dont accept the Munchkin package as a gift. I thought the host was about to end the show, but they overcame the situation in the end. They must have felt confident right from the beginning. ݧѧէڧާڧ: Happiness from R U S S I A Resistant Claw: The hosts little bastard seems to be a real talent. Maybe thats why hes so arrogant. He kicks all the viewers quests. Hes such a jerk. Blanket Park Hae-hye: Nuclear empathy for talent. Im sad that Im TOM, but Im even losing control. No matter how much money I spend, I cant do it like this, so I get seriously depressed. Uncapitalized: Soldiers reactions are different. Im sure people like the host are better than others without any effort or trouble. Should we feel that the world is unfair, even in virtual reality? If youre all talented. Nuclear cutie: Shut up, you fools! Why are you cursing at other peoples broadcasts? The host is my cup of tea. If you think its bad, then youre a fool. What are you: Nuclear cutie is a woman. Lets go on a date. Nuclear cutie: Go away. SALHAE: You all understand, but dont curse at this broadcast. What if the host loses his mind and ends it? This is the only joy of my non-regular employee life. Black Jadji: SALHAE, you always see the host even though you are scared. Youre pretty great. SALHAE: Yeah. I dont know whats wrong with me either. Im sorry to hear that, but I cant watch other shows that only fuck. SALHAE: I feel more alive in here than out there. Objectively, it should feel hellish here because it is full of monsters, but I wish this was reality. I think real life is worse. ??224: Of course, game broadcasts are more fun than working. SALHAE: Its a little different I cant explain ޤĤߤ: I dont understand people who curse. Do you need to be depressed? [ޤĤߤpresented 200 stars as a gift] Know Hell: You understand. Theyre the only ones who have fun in their lives because theyre the nerds who get to only play games. Jjalapapa: Hey, haha. The deal meter is going to explode. But for some reason, my heart aches 100 million won in loans: Know Hell, why are you picking a fight with me? Dodo Han Gong Chu?: Tears are flowing. ?? Dont joke with Nick: Games are inferior. People who start with cost-effectiveness due to lack of money usually have no choice but to play games. Ryeo Kwon Na-ra: What are you saying? Bandak Home: HellKnow, wide-area attack, thats great! Cashmere: Bandak concept appearance How long are you going to do that? ޤĤߤ: Well, I see what you mean. But I still dont understand. ޤĤߤ: You said this, Gyeo-ul said. If your life is gray, you should laugh. ޤĤߤ: I sympathized with this a lot. Things are not good in Japan either. But I try hard to smile. Everyone smile, too. Wont it create happiness when people who smile gather together? ޤĤߤ: Cheer up, friends from neighboring countries! t(* `*)s Ryeo Kwon Na-ra: Whats this? My hands and feet are cringing. Is it a mental attack? ????: No. Thats your childhood innocence after running away from home for 40,000 years. Accept it. Angry Grapes: I wish Matsuming was my girlfriend. Would you like to go out with me if I go to Japan? ޤĤߤ: Sorry! Matsuming already has a boyfriend! Angry Grapes: Well Thats Euk-boo: I cant help it. Now that its like this, Im going to go all-in. Lets conquer Japan. South Korea-U.S. alliance: attacking Japan [Snowfield fox gave 100 stars] [SALHAE gave 150 stars] BigBuffetBoy86: Combat Koreans are looking for talent. Then what are we supposed to do? The whole world is suffering because you guys took over virtual reality. ݧѧէڧާڧ: Thats right. A Korean friend in Moscow said he couldnt play his game. So I got a one-on-one skirmish, but I was the only one who died until the end. It was 0 kills 75 deaths in 30 minutes. ݧѧէڧާڧ: There seems to be a lot of really bad karayski in the world. BigBuffetBoy86: Poor Lusky. Did you have such a swindler as a friend? ݧѧէڧާڧ: The friendship has broken off. I think its at the bottom of the Baltic Sea by now. BigBuffetBoy86: You ruskies joke in such a bloody manner. :) ݧѧէڧާڧ: Im not even kidding. Know Hell: Foreigners. Im right. Theres nothing else fun, so my skills improved because I played games all the time. Groseillier noir: Not necessarily. You guys have something genetically innate. Is it because youre a yellow race? Blair: Baguette, have you finally mastered eugenics? Groseillier noir: No, there may actually be racial differences. Think about it. Black brothers have black dragons between their legs, right? Black Jad: Black dragons I hate myself for sympathizing with this. Your mother: Nick names right, but youre born with it. [Messiel gave 30 stars as a gift] Messiel: You guys keep being talented, but I dont know because Ive never actually done it before. How good are hosts? Is there a big difference with ordinary people? Dont joke with Nick: No, I think its more about the hosts mind than talent. ޤĤߤ:Mind? Why? Dont joke with Nick: No matter how good the technology is, its a person using it. Personal weapon proficiency is basically aiming speed and hit rate correction the method and efficiency of the person who uses it completely depend on the person who responds to the hosts unconscious demands. Dont joke with Nick: Can we get the same result by giving those guys complaining the same physicality as the host? I dont think so storm224: Why are you arguing again? Black Jad: 2222222 Dont joke with Nick: What argue? Did you see him taking care of others throughout the whole battle? Would he have been able to do that if he was a maverick, believing in his talent? Dont joke with Nick: Its a difference in mindset. Its not about talent. Of course, you have talent, but not 100%. ޤĤߤ: Gyeo-ul always seems to think about other peoples positions. ޤĤߤ: Thats why its even cooler? (/أ*). Angry Grapes: Matsumin, I heard you have a boyfriend ޤĤߤ: Its all right. My boyfriend likes NTR. Angry Grapes: ?! Billy Harrington: NTR is that really what I think it is? The crazy stupid taste of being robbed of your lover and getting kimojji? ޤĤߤ: In virtual reality, NTR has no risk, but my boyfriend recommended it first. ޤĤߤ: Actually, hes still watching the same channel! He doesnt talk because hes shy. Korea-U.S. Alliance: Oh my God Mustafa: We wont be able to beat Japan forever. Hard gay: Mustafa, dont give up. The Republic of Korea has achieved the miracle of the Han River. storm224: No, before that What kind of Matsumin suits your taste? Was the show of affection for the host actually acting for her boyfriend? ޤĤߤ: Heh. I got caught. ޤĤߤ: But its true that I think Gyeo-ul is cool. Half acting, half the truth? Hes the best host Ive ever seen! ޤĤߤ: But the only one I really love is my boyfriend! SALHAE: God. SALHAE: Why is the world you created so small? Tunguska: The Little Prince of the charnel house is a high-five-class game novel. %% Pre-production $$ Recommendation ?? 100% Childhood Heart. If you reach 1 million comments, 10,000! If you cram, the earth falls ?Halkegian Sealbreaker?Its boring PIRATACartoonist Friend Dungeon Master Illustration % of Bad Guy@@@ http://www.joara.com/nobless/bookPartList.html?bookCode=1100090 Cthulu: Writer, you cant do this here. [Dont joke with Nick gave 50 stars] [Snowfield fox gave 100 stars] #Korea Economic Reform Commission, 2042. Councilor A: Korea is experiencing a very serious institutional anomie phenomenon. With the development of technology, the world has completely changed, and old institutions and regulations are not keeping up. Councilor E: I agree. A new society has been created, but there are still old regulations left; its a real problem. Councilor B: Thats right. According to data from the National Statistical Office, 97% of office workers were working in virtual reality in 2041. Why would a regular office worker use a real office? What does this mean? These people dont have to commute, so they dont have transportation costs, and they save time. Councilor E: Hasnt the residential environment changed completely because of it? Old people used to concentrate on Bedtown, which is convenient for transportation, considering commuting. You dont have to think about that anymore. Theres almost no demand for offices. Its a long time ago that house prices fell. Councilor C: Oh, I still feel terrible thinking about that time. The real estate price plummeted, and the country almost collapsed. How many bankrupt banks and companies were there? Councilor D: At that time, Chairman Ko Kun-chul swept away the sale and threw away his wealth. Since Korea developed into a global virtual reality hub after the post-insurance was issued, the land price in Seoul soared by 1,700% in a year. Hes still the richest man in the world. The maverick was lucky. I envy him. Councilor C: Its a different story, but how long does he want to play alone? Councilor D: Hes the only one who controls 20% of the Korean economy. Would small people like us ever come into sight? It seems like youve been coveting Paradise groups. Lately, its a big deal. Councilor A: Come on, lets get back to business. We talked about the residential environment, right? Councilor E: Yes. The homes of ordinary workers are very different from the old ones. Why would you need a large space? Its okay if the house is small. Virtual reality is much more pleasant. They just need the minimum space. Its economical. People say its like a chicken coop. Councilor B: A chicken coop thats a pleasant expression. Anyway, transportation doesnt have to be convenient, and it doesnt have to be big. Dont you think its okay to set the housing cost much lower than before? Councilor C: Thats the same for food. There are always delicious things in virtual reality. Eating real food is now a luxury. Its normal to reduce consumption they cant afford, and thats what everyone does, actually. The energy pack has occupied more than 80% of the food market, so the cost of food has decreased significantly compared to the past. Councilor B: Well I dont think there are any entertainment expenses. Who would want to go to an amusement park or travel abroad these days? Councilor E: As housing, transportation, food, and entertainment expenses have decreased more than before, the standard for calculating the minimum cost of living should be different from the past I think. Councilor A: Thats right. The minimum wage is not frozen anymore, but it is time to consider a cut. Councilor B: In fact, we should actively consider extending working hours or reducing legal holidays. Because the time it takes to commute to work has disappeared, the workers breaks have actually increased a lot. Its a huge loss for the country. S?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Councilor A: I think we should have national competitiveness when we can. Korea is wasting too many opportunities. Councilor B: Lets push. This year, we have to pass the economic reform plan, somehow. Chapter 64 00064 #Seventh California, Camp Roberts (1) When the defense of the camp was over, the battalion commander convened the key executives. However, there was an exception. In a place full of officials ranked as captains or higher, Gyeo-ul simply stood out. No one could ignore that he was a junior, and some of them felt a little uncomfortable. The battalion commander looked pale. He looked like he was suffering from a hangover, and the smell of alcohol lingered around him. Perhaps he had drunk a little more than usual to celebrate Christmas. He pressed his fingers against his temple and said, Report. The executives glanced at each other. It was obvious why hed gathered the people in charge while the situation was under control, but even Gyeo-ul didnt know what he meant by report. Things were still urgent outside. In this case, the highest rank had to take charge. Captain Markert, commander of Able company, hesitated at first but still forced himself to ask, Commander, what do you want me to report? Everything! The battalion commander burst into a rage. The chief of operations knows nothing! What the hell is going on? If youre on duty, you should at least know how the battle broke out! Almost an hour after the outbreak of hostilities, I cant believe hes managed to regain the command! How can this happen?! Then he pointed toward Gyeo-ul. You! I heard it was your first time reporting a risk. Is that true? Gyeo-ul answered with his head raised a little. Thats right. Then you know better than him! Tell me the whole story! By this point, the commanders face had gone red. The radio soldiers at the battalion headquarters had been watching the battalion commander since earlier. As communication recovered, it became clear that the superior unit was looking for the battalion commander. However, since he didnt know anything and was in no position to respond, the commander must have assembled the others in a hurry. In Gyeo-uls eyes, the battalion commander was being angry deliberately. He wanted someone else to blame for all the chaos, damage, and the fatal loss of control in the defense. It implied that he wanted to wash his hands of it. The intention was so obvious that the executives didnt look very good. Therefore, the battalion commander became even more eager. It was a bad loop. Gyeo-ul did not want to cooperate with public execution. Still, he had no choice but to answer. I was joined yesterday by Lieutenant Jeffrey Brown, commander of 3rd Company, 1st platoon, on a mission to look for abnormal frequencies. Basically, it was reconnaissance, but if the source of the abnormal frequency was the Tricksters, the order was to capture or kill as many of them as possible. I know that! You captured it alive, didnt you? Why did you think it was dangerous? The mission was too easy. I had a strong feeling that it let itself be caught on purpose. Isnt that just a personal feeling? No. At Atascadero, we met the same species, which demonstrated cunning by testing our firepower with infected babies or luring us into traps. But this one acted on its own; it had no traps, and it didnt resist after it got caught. Yeah, thats definitely weird. Its very strange, the battalion commander conceded. Gyeo-ul paused for a moment before continuing to talk. It cant happen in many places at the same time. The same goes for several missing helicopters. So I thought the Trickster might have deliberately infiltrated, and I asked the head of the on-call command to tighten the guard at the base. And yet your request was denied? Yes. The chief of operations said Charlie and some of Able Company were the first to respond, and they were in combat deployment before they were ordered, but they didnt know why. Were you involved in that? Yes. I recruited Captain Capston and some of Able Company privately. It was a strong indication that they shouldnt waste any more time discussing responsibility. Who would take issue with the boy officers decision now? The battalion commander shut his mouth. Captain Capston didnt miss the chance. Commander, I think well have to postpone the report until later. Were in a hurry. Hasnt the fighting ended? The fire is spreading along the river. We need to extinguish it quickly. Theres a stretch of barren land between the riverfront and the perimeter of the base. The base wont be in danger. However, its still dangerous. If we dont have a clear view, the firepower operation will be disrupted. Both close air support and mortar fire will be disrupted immediately. We need to be prepared for further raids. If you didnt know where the shells were falling, long-range firepower above the mortars would be useless. The battalion commander then asked, Do you think there will be another attack? There was a jamming wave throughout the defensive battle. That means there were multiple Tricksters leading the offensive. I dont think we should let our guard down. It was a realistic warning. Considering their cunning, the Tricksters could have been aiming at loosening their defense due to the success of the defensive battle. Thick smoke would reduce both alertness and engagement. However, the battalion commander was still being negative. Isnt it dangerous to send troops out in this situation? This time, Bravo Company Commander Russell Escher said, Its necessary to calm the internal turmoil. The water supply facilities across the national road are dangerous. If the fire spreads to the main stream east of the Salinas River, it will become very difficult to extinguish. We have to hurry. The Salinas River, which was long from the north, divided east and west about three kilometers north of Camp Roberts. The western tributary was the Nacimiento River, where the fire had started, and the eastern was the Salinas. The problem was a drought that had lasted more than a decade in California. The Nacimiento River had survived, but its eastern stream had dried up to the bottom. Thanks to the recent rain, the water was not lacking. However, it was like a stream, not enough to handle fires in large forests created when rivers reached their peak. It meant that even if people were put in, it would be hard to stop the fires if it was too late. The battalion commander made up his mind at the repeated requests. Thanks to turning the topic around, his anger from before had already subsided somewhat. After making up his mind, orders poured out quickly. It was the first time that Gyeo-ul had witnessed this. Okay, Ill send in the refugees. Able and Charlie will take care of it. Able will take the west, and Charlie the east. We will mobilize personnel and deploy troops to guard the perimeter. Use the car as needed. Besides the water supply car, there was a fire truck that you recovered before, right? Thats right. Weve got one in San Miguel. Which way should we send it? We should send it to the west, Captain Capston answered immediately. He didnt want to engage with Captain Markert over this. The battalion commander nodded. Okay, Bravo and Delta are in charge of camp defense and refugee control. Supply department, please come up with EMP measures and expedite the restoration of the facility! Start right away! Commander, I have an opinion. One word from the boy officer made everyone falter, even the battalion commander. When hed raised his voice earlier, it didnt sound strong for Gyeo-ul. It was all due to the psychological debt. Gyeo-ul, trying to save time, began to talk even before it had been allowed. The Trickster wasnt the only one caught here. As you may have guessed, the assault was on another base. Shouldnt we have a rescue team ready just in case? It was a problem that everyone had overlooked in the rush to deal with the immediate situation. They didnt think about it, or they turned away because they were still tired. Captains, get out of here. The battalion commander beckoned. The captains saluted and ran out. In the meantime, Captain Capston caught his eye momentarily. He was still worried about Gyeo-ul. After everyone left, the battalion commander then asked the operation chief, Have you heard anything from any sectors other than the command? Fort Hunter Riggett, Sierra Supply Depot, Barstow Supply Depot, Marine Mountain War Camp, and Vandenberg Air Force Base are all safe and sound. Theres no information on anywhere else. What about San Luis Obispo? No contact. Though close to the city, San Luis Obispos camp was home to a larger refugee camp and civic reserve than Camp Roberts, so the number of personnel was large. The First Battalion of Seventh California was also there. The battalion commander had a special bond with his colleagues in the same regiment. Camp Roberts was the closest U.S. military presence to San Luis Obispo, although it was dozens of kilometers away. If anything were to happen there, it should get support from the 3rd Battalion of Seventh California. The battalion commander shook his head. No, its just that we havent recovered the network yet. Thats where the regiment was stationed. It couldnt have been that easy. Gyeo-ul pointed out again, In the event of a surprise, you never know. Now the battalion commander sighed. Even so, I cant afford it. We have fewer troops to compensate for the accumulated losses. Considering the safety of the camp, there are only a few troops that can be sent out. What can a company do against an enemy that cant even handle a regimental combat unit? It would be better than nothing. Umm After a while, the battalion commander gestured for them to leave. Ill go over your opinion. First of all, help Charlie Company. Markert, youre close to the Chinese, so therell be no problem mobilizing manpower, but not Capston. Youre going to have to be here. Ill page you when I need you. It meant that Gyeo-ul had to be included if reinforcements were formed. At this point, he didnt care. It didnt matter, and so he simply saluted and headed out. If one were to examine the earlier words of the battalion commander, they would see that he had been reading the relationship between the forces in the camp even though he seemed so negligent. S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Ability and will are not necessarily proportional. On the way, he saw the hard work of the supply department soldiers. They were repairing electronic equipment, wrapping insulators around each wire, and packing them in foil again. When he arrived at the refugee zone, some Charlie Company members were having a hard time. Sergeant Moselle of the 2nd platoon was not very close to Gyeo-ul, but as soon as he saw him, he was very pleased, perhaps due to the influence of the previous night and the current situation. Good to see you, lieutenant. You still havent got the manpower? No, thats settled. The executives here have been very cooperative. However, the atmosphere is unusual, but they dont answer even if I ask why. The company commander left me because I didnt want to go. Wouldnt it be difficult if there was a riot? I was wondering if I should search every tent. If everyone was keeping their mouths shut the same, it was a little strange, and it would mean that they wouldnt be able to find an answer, even if they asked the few people who could communicate. Communication itself was a challenge, after all. Gyeo-ul answered, Youll be fine with me. Lets find out whats going on. Well be following you soon, so go ahead. Yep. Jang Yeon-chul approached quickly when the sergeant left. Youre here, Captain. Gyeo-ul could read nervousness on his face. Was it okay last night? Oh, yes, thanks to your warning Ive informed all the organizations I can reach, and the hostile organizations have prepared themselves without telling me. Manager Min said that thanks to this incident, he got to know a few more people planted by other organizations. That was entirely a good thing. However, the reason for the nervousness in the camp had yet to come out. Gyeo-ul asked again. So, whats going on? Yeon-chul hesitated before he sighed. We tried to take care of it before you found out. But Its already late. Go ahead. Youd better see it for yourself. Ill take you. He guided Gyeo-ul to a tent in the alliance zone. There was a faint sense of illness. He could guess the situation. The people inside were surprised to see Gyeo-ul, including a woman in the middle, who was protesting with a weapon in her hands. Swinging and forcing people to retreat, she hardened like a statue upon seeing Gyeo-ul. Captain? Gyeo-ul saw a child lying on his back. His limbs had been tied tightly, and someone had put a gag in his mouth. The boys skin had turned black and blue, and bite marks were clear on his face. Gyeo-ul pulled out a pistol. Dont! The woman came running with her knife raised. Gyeo-ul aimed at her before she could reach him. The tip of the knife stopped at arms length. A scream came from the crowd watching. Gyeo-ul, looking calmly at the woman, put down his gun. Is that your son? Choked by this simple question, the woman couldnt even speak, and so she simply nodded. There came a sobbing sound, as well as the suppressed scream of the infection mutant overlapping it. Gyeo-ul looked around. There were many sturdy men holding things like clubs. They seemed to have tried to suppress it by force, but he could see people bleeding from shallow injuries. There were no serious ones, however. The mother was really strong. Gyeo-ul couldnt believe she had been dragging this out against all those guys. It would never have been a short time. Gyeo-ul then spoke up. Thats not your son anymore. Thats something else that took over your sons body. Her hands had now tightened. Gyeo-ul continued. You know what Im going to do. No I cant. No one can touch my kid! If you touch him, youll die! Her eyes were wild and wide open. Gyeo-ul nodded. Do it. What? If you want to stop me, stab me. The [Sense of Survival] strongly warned Gyeo-ul by every means it had. Nervous shudder, red sharp augmented reality warning, attack prediction, etc. The probability was half, practically half a chance of dying. Objectively speaking, it was now better to subdue the woman. Better, but the stone in his heart was too heavy. On the one hand, he felt that it was ridiculous to do this to a virtual personality and thought of his rose; on the other hand, Gyeo-ul always followed his heart. What was left of the boy beside his heart? It was not acting; it had been a long time since he had said this with such sincerity. I wont blame you if I die. Its not that I dont understand, but I cant leave your son as he is. This is my duty. When I became the leader of the Winter Alliance, I promised to protect people. Actually, I think its a mothers role, but I have to do it because you wont do it yourself. Someone needs to close his eyes. The edge of the blade reached the approaching Gyeo-ul again. However, it was pushed back by Gyeo-ul as he continued walking. The weak sword, leaving only one small mark, had been frightened away by the blood droplets. Until Gyeo-ul knelt down in front of the infected child, the woman could not stab him. She cried and pulled, and yet Gyeo-ul refused to shake. Gyeo-ul then brought a gun to the mutants temple. The tip of the knife touched his back, and it felt sharp. After waiting for a while, Gyeo-ul spoke quietly. I told you. You can stab me. Chapter 65 00065 #Seventh California, Camp Roberts (2) The Humvee shook violently upon reaching the unpaved roads, which, having been bombed frequently, were now in a state where they could no longer really even be called roads. Since they were riding in a military vehicle not made for comfort, everyone within felt every small rock or hump on their path. It was as if they were riding an off-road vehicle. Gyeo-ul was sitting in the front seat. He opened the window and hung his arm outside, feeling the winter wind. He hoped the cold would help him fight his sleepiness. Fatigue was eating away at his stamina. He could feel the overall decrease in his abilities, and it was just too much. Despite staying up all night in a fierce battle, calming refugee zones, and extinguishing fires, now hed been deployed for rescue operations. Camp San Luis Obispo had failed to overcome the previous nights crisis. The wired controller deployed by the Containment Command had identified troops moving northward away from the station, along with refugees and citizens, and a large group of infectious mutants chasing after them. The chase had taken place over a wide range, tens of kilometers across. Every space had now been sprayed with Trickster jamming to avoid bombing as they were chasing the survivors closely. The scattered regiment fighting team had not recovered its command system, after all. At least, that was the case with Gyeo-uls briefing. Would you like one? A driver from Bravo Company was holding a medicine bottle out to Gyeo-ul. In it were plastic vials filled with Provigil, a stimulant that was being distributed to the US military. He was thinking about what to do but decided to take one. After all, no side-effects had been discovered, at least so far. It works so well. Three pills of Provigil could keep you awake for three days. Gyeo-ul put the pill in his mouth and sucked the tube connected to the CamelBak (a water bag like a camels pocket, which was carried on ones back). The enemy appeared before the medicine had a chance to take effect. The turret gunner warned of the appearance of a mutant group. Twelve oclock! A large mass of mutants on the move! About four hundred of them! Including the special mutant Grumble! They turned out to be on terrain with shallow ridges around it. As the mutants had just begun to cross the watershed and go down the slope, they could be seen on the opposite ridge from hundreds of meters. As the gunner had said, Gyeo-ul could see small mutants from afar like a swarm of insects. The big outline was the Grumble. However, Gyeo-ul didnt have to prepare for the fight. There was a noisy radio call that was now coming in. TF David. This is Big Bird 3. Identify the mutant groups thatre approaching your location. Stop for a moment. I need to put out some fires. There was a large, slow-moving aircraft in the sky behind them. It was the AC-130 that the US government had advertised would soon deploy large quantities of the containment operation. The plane was able to fire continuously toward the center in a large circle. As soon as the driver slowed down, fire support began. It was literally a firebolt. Mutants burst out forcefully. Three different explosions engulfed everything, and human-like pieces flew tens of meters high. The loud gunfire, which rang out every ten seconds, aimed only at the Grumble from beginning to end. An explosion as big as a house followed the monster. It wasnt a direct hit since it came from the sky, but it wasnt a miss at all. The indirect shock alone was a destructive force that could not be handled by alpha-class physical resistance. The Grumble couldnt stand up after having rolled all along the ground. Finally, three consecutive air explosions occurred. The shells that burst in the sky sprayed debris in a much wider range. The mutants that had survived so far collapsed every ten seconds. Blood, flesh, and gunsmoke filled a space the size of a playing field. Upon seeing this, the driver whistled. The Air Force is really supportive. I know. Gyeo-ul pulled his finger from the trigger. Frightened by the previous nights losses, the containment command had generously deployed their air forces. Since the radius of the Tricksters self-destructive EMP was estimated to be about one kilometer, it had been judged that flying above would pose no threat. Thanks to this, the difficulty of the rescue operation had been greatly reduced. The first rescue target was a tank platoon that had run out of fuel. Four tanks had stopped randomly along the side road of the winding ridge west of Paso Robles. There were people stuck in there, with mutants trying to get in. No matter how deteriorated it was, they only had human hands and feet, and they were trying to open a solid tank. It was so stuck that the soldiers couldnt even see the inside well. Perhaps because of the noise they were making themselves, they couldnt hear the sound of the car slowly rolling along the ridge. This alone meant it would be hard to get air force support. If they shot, the tanks crew would be smashed. Thus, Bravo Company prepared for a fight. Can I talk to the crew? Captain Escher, the company commander, confirmed that he could. Everyone is alive. I dont think theyre okay, though. The inside of the tank was cramped. Theyd been trapped for hours, listening to the scratching of the armored plates, without any certainty of being rescued. The battle was very short. Bravo Company fired widely from side to side. Among the Humvees, there were high-speed grenade machine guns. Each shot was equivalent to a grenade, and they could shoot up to forty bullets per minute. If you took it all the way, it would kill hundreds of people. Subtle explosions continued from left to right. It was sensible to be restrained compared to the air forces bombing, but the results were still clearthe mutants were all killed while climbing uphill. As the company approached, the tank crew crawled out. Some people cried, and some people laughed endlessly and enjoyed the fresh air. The platoon leader looked rather numb. Thank you for saving me. He was a lieutenant, his name was Edmund Durant, and he looked terrible. Saluting Captain Escher, he was surprised by the sight of Gyeo-ul. You were real, werent you? He was definitely not all right. Gyeo-ul doubted his mental state, but fortunately, he wasnt crazy. It seemed that unfiltered words were just popping out in excitement. While the tank was being refueled, Lieutenant Durant asked Captain Escher, Hows everything with Camp Roberts? Given your support up to here Captain Escher shook his head as the meaning of the words became clear. No, youre not the only ones who were attacked. Weve been through a lot, too. Who would have imagined it? A creature using EMP and infiltrating other mutants. Huh? Did they do that there, too? You have no idea whats going on. No. Its been hell all night. I dont even remember how I got on the horse. I couldnt get in touch with the higher ranks, the mutants were pouring out from all sides, and the civilians were shouting for help In the meantime, the 1st Battalion of [Second California] must have seen a lot of blood. They stayed until the very end and helped the refugees. His face had gone dark while reminiscing about the previous night. He asked again, Then what damage has been done to Camp Roberts? Thanks to Lieutenant Han hereCaptain Escher pointed to Gyeo-ul with his chinits not that bad. What do you mean? He caught a Trickster, and it was pretty suspicious. He asked the watchman to tighten the guard, but he was rejected, so he moved his troops on his own. On his own? A lieutenant? No, thats unheard of, isnt it? Its not weird at all, considering his record. Its a shame as a company commander, but there are times when I think there are soldiers in my company whore more like lieutenants than me. Youre talking like this about yourself in front of me. Gyeo-ul formed a strained smile for the company commander, who had looked over at him. After filling the tank, the platoon joined Bravo Companys rescue operation. The companies seemed very pleased to have the tank platoon join in. Theyre pigs that eat three liters of gasoline at the start, but theres not much more reliable than those. Theyre hard and tough. Clearly, there were no infectious mutants left to handle a moving tank at this point. Against a tank gun, even a Grumble was just a game. Gyeo-ul touched the tracker monitor a few times. The vehicles used by the US military were connected to the network, allowing them to locate each other in real-time or even exchange information. Fortunately, the tank platoons equipment didnt seem to have been wrecked by the EMP. Their location was properly marked, and it was also possible to look at other directions through the camera on the tank. It was a system created by the US military, which fought wars in all kinds of places and battled city wars and terrorism to survive. Who did you learn that from? the soldier in the rear seat asked curiously. It was interesting to see Gyeo-ul, who had just become an officer, handle such complicated equipment so easily. Gyeo-ul answered, From Captain Capston. Aha. Of course, that cant be true, the soldier thought. This boy must think that it doesnt matter anyway because nobodys gonna ask the captain to confirm. The coordinates of the rescue targets had been given as west of Templeton, a city under Paso Robles. The mission forces crossed several ridges and entered the western plains of the city. Gyeo-ul then spoke up. No matter where you look, youll see a vineyard and an orchard. Then the driver replied, This is California. The vineyard that ran west of San Miguel, down which they had chased the Trickster the previous night, had been very large, but this place was even more fully developed. At one point, a fallen mutant blocked the road in a diagonal direction. It must have been left behind by the crowdthe intelligence of an ordinary mutant was not great yet. They just drove over it, regardless of the collision. S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. However, the mud and fallen leaves on the body were noteworthy. Gyeo-ul judged that the mutants had their own camouflage techniques. Just then, the car shook, causing the shooter to miss his shot. Damn it; the driver had hit and run instead of considering the grumbling shooter. Boom! Then again, Humvees were strong, so the shock delivered into the car wasnt that great. The driver shrugged. Dont you think it would make us seem like beggars to clean the glass? Gyeo-ul tilted his head. What do you mean, beggars? You should feel ashamed for saying that! Youll understand if you get a few scratches on the car. He could feel a subtle longing from the soldier who had said such hateful things. Maybe while driving, waiting for the signal to change, a beggar had jumped in, asking for the price of the windshield. Hed refused, even running away after scratching the car. It almost seemed to be like part of the past he wanted to get back. For the sake of the soldiers, Gyeo-ul agreed. I thought that only happened in New York. No way. Its better in this neighborhood, though, cos youre unlikely to get shot. Gun ownership was common in the US, and California, which had a strong pro-gun stance, had a rather high crime rate. Well, its all just an old story now. The noise of the jet engine interrupted the conversation. A bomber passed over the vehicles and unleashed its bombs close to the horizon. Boom! The force of the air bomb created a visible shock wave. Were almost there. At this, Gyeo-ul checked his firearm. Chapter 66 00066 #Seventh California, Camp Roberts (3) It had gotten darker as they approached. The smoke was so thick that it now blocked the sunlight. From a distance, they could see several fires scattered ahead. Were they from the reckless bombing or a Trickster? Gyeo-ul was pretty sure it was the latter. There was a possibility the mutant horde that had attacked Camp Roberts had now joined this side. Anyway, because of the almost zero visibility, it would be hard to get air support. A helicopter had crashed on the side of the road. It had been forced to descend to secure visibility but had probably been hit by an EMP or a Grumble attack. There would be no survivors. Not only was it burning, but the ammunition itself was exploding. The overlapping sound of helicopter wings approached. Cover fire poured from the sky over the side of the vehicle line. Booooook- Boooooook! It was a weapon called the minigun. Six barrels revolved and shot out 4,000 rounds per minute, the sound of firing more like a broken wind instrument than a gunshot. The two transport helicopters seemed to have loaded ammunition into the place only to burn people. Despite the enormous consumption of ammunition, it projected firepower over a long period of time. Thanks to this, the tank and Humvee defenders relieved the burden. This was because the number of mutants approaching from the front and left sides proved to be formidable. Gyeo-ul laid his arms on the window frame and fired with his gun set on top of it. As the helicopter left, the companys speed now decreased. No matter how low the density was, it was not easy to break through mutants approaching from all sides. Theyre after us! Defend the supply vehicles first! The captains cry was broadcasted. In fact, the offensive was concentrating behind the ranks. Only two Humvees were guarding it. If ammunition trucks and oil tankers were attacked, it would seriously disrupt the rescue missions. This made it clear that the mutants were behaving strategically, with an understanding of human combat methods and weaknesses, and they were establishing attack plans accordingly. S?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. They were also hiding strong mutants between weak ones. There was a rare mixture of ghouls among the general mutants. These monsters, reinforced with ordinary mutants, could not be allowed to approach the troops, even given their agility. Gyeo-ul hunted them first. Whooong- From a long distance to the right, an uprooted tree flew in an arc close to the straight line. It fell in front of an ammunition transport vehicle, missing it by only five meters. Jesus! came a cry over the radio. The vehicle turned left sharply, tilted to one side, and managed to regain its center after almost overturning. The attacker had to have been a Grumble, but it was currently covered with smoke, and only its outline had been visible. At this time, the tank came out. Weeeeeng- Its sixty-ton iron bulk, which had jutted out to the side with a violent gas turbine, now brutally trampled over the approaching mutants. It was unlikely the mutant would survive, having been sucked into the infinite orbit and the gap between the ground. Another tree was now flying in. The tank accelerated and blocked the transportation vehicle just in time. The drivers proficiency proved to be amazing, and the tree crashed into the tank. The tank was now rolling loudly. Meerkat 3 attacked! Gyeo-ul shook for a while. The call sign did not match at all: the Meerkat 3 was moving in good condition. He turned the turret and aimed at the Grumble. If you were shooting with a tank gun, you didnt have to aim for weakness. You could aim at the center of the silhouette and shoot it. Boom! He fired, the smoke around the barrel swirling and scattering. Kyaaaa! A large monster, which had been hit directly, was now screaming in pain. At this moment, the wind blew away the smoke, revealing that the targets right arm had been torn from its shoulder. Meerkat 1 and 2 shot almost simultaneously. The shells from different angles smashed the Grumble up and down. Lieutenant Durant radioed in. Grumble down. Good job. From now on, the first car will take the lead. The rear, third, and fourth vehicles take the side defense. With the threat of the Grumble gone, the tank commander climbed up from the tank side and grabbed the machine gun. A procession of Bravo Company, tank platoon, and supply troops finally penetrated the mutants offensive. From the direction of the closer destination, a double whammy of gunfire and explosions was heard. Gyeo-ul measured the distance between the flash and the sounds of the explosion. About three minutes to go. It was likely to enter the battlefield in three minutes. A thermal imaging video showing a view of the battle scene appeared on the tracker monitor. It had been transmitted by a wired controller. The frame was low, so it was cut off, and it was covered by a lot of heat and smoke from the fire, but it was still enough to judge the situation. Their troops seemed to be concentrated in a brewery on a shallow vineyard hill. Given that the number of trucks was higher than that of combat vehicles, there had to be refugees and citizens with them. Mutants were running in all directions toward them. Break, Break! Its the captain! All vehicles, be prepared for impact! The Air Force is going to blow the smoke out with a vaporizing bomb! Oh, shit! The turret gunner ran back into the car in fright. A vaporizing bomb was a weapon that created storms with thermal expansion. The ones the Air Force used were quite large. Within their effective range, a person would be torn or crushed, the vehicles would be broken, and even the tank would be turned upside down. Not now. Gyeo-ul didnt know whose idea it was, but they intended to create an explosion outside the scope of the killing in order to secure a view. In short, it was both crazy and ingenious. Is it too dangerous? Gyeo-ul was worried about mistaken bombing. They needed to detonate a bomb at a point where their troops wouldnt be harmed, but it wouldnt be easy. Maybe thats just how urgent it is. There was also a possibility that those trapped in the brewery had requested it themselves. The bomb exploded. From their eleven oclock, the smoke was washed away like a wave. Crack! The car shook violently as if it had hit something. Damn it! The driver cussed out some swear words. He thought they had bumped into something. The mutants that had been fast approaching during the gap in gunfire fell wildly. They seemed to be getting beaten mercilessly with an invisible hammer. It didnt end with one shot. The squadron continued to fly, dropping dozens of rounds in a row. It seemed to be threatening to catch fire in the nearby forest. At least it would only take a little time to extinguish, but eventually, the fire would return and burn again. The U.S. military needed it, though. I see the destination! After the bombing, the shooter had climbed up to the turret before he shouted. Gyeo-ul had been watching for it, too. When the smoke disappeared, it was surprisingly close. The distance could be covered quickly once the vehicle accelerated. However, before that, the line of defense surrounding the brewery was now on the verge of collapse. Gyeo-ul immediately leaned out of the window and aimed the rifle while some sections were still close. Tatang! Tatang! Tatang! A soldier who was now carrying a field shovel lost his goal and struggled. This was why the four feral mutants had collapsed in a row. The same thing had been repeated throughout the defense line. The soldiers, who were desperate because they had run out of ammunition, found this side and began cheering. Part of the line was a barrier made by connecting vehicles. The fighting between the soldiers and the rising mutants was still happening across it. Suddenly, a tank ran over there. It hit and trampled the mutants at random and began to grind them against its sides. Some mutants had been trapped between the barrier, and the tank ruptured their guts and broke their spines. Weeng- Just by pushing, stepping, and crushing over and over again, the tank quickly took out dozens of mutants. It was unimaginable destruction. The drivers ability to measure the distance was also great. The war situation changed rapidly as supply vehicles reached the defensive line. Of course, there were people who didnt benefit from it. There was a soldier who held field shovels in pairs and slammed them into the mutants. It looked frighteningly brave. How did one gain such strength? Whenever he completed a full swing, he managed to kill a mutant. Carrying a duffel bag full of bullets, Gyeo-ul neatly killed any nearby mutants that were approaching him from behind. It looked like he was now out of breath, the soldiers shoulders moving up and down. His colleagues were not thinking of helping him, as they were in the middle of packing bullets. Combat fatigue? Gyeo-ul called out to him. You! Come and get ammo! Then he slowly looked back and saw the soldier was crying. Gyeo-ul saw bite marks all over him. Oh, my They were in more than one or two places. It meant that it hadnt been courage. It had been desperation. Some time had passed since the bites, and discolored skin and blood vessels had already spread to the soldiers lower jaw. Bang! A red hole formed in the soldiers forehead. Gyeo-ul looked back at the sound. The soldier who had shot turned white. It had been like a reflex shot, made before judging by reason. Uh, ugh, ugh! He began having a seizure. Shaking nervously, screaming, No, no, no, no! Help me! I miss you, Mom! I want to go home! The way he cried was very dangerous. It was a panic attack caused by extreme fear and stress and a symptom of shell shock. The problem was that he was still holding a gun. Hed just changed the magazine, fired only one shot, and he had enough bullets left. The sense of survival cried sharply. Get down! As soon as Gyeo-ul shouted, the panicked soldier fired his gun in all directions. The soldiers who were already on alert managed to escape like Gyeo-ul. However, those who were a little apart were different. In many cases, they had been busy shooting the mutants that had returned, so they did not hear the warning. There were a number of injuries. Gilliard, stop! Two soldiers who had managed to avoid the shots rushed to their crazy colleague. Dont come! You monsters! Dont come near me! The soldiers hand was now groping for a grenade. Gyeo-ul, who had quickly replaced his weapon, shot him in the back of his hand using a pistol. Five shots in total. It was because he had acted fast, and the processing had to be clear. The bullet that penetrated the back of the soldiers hand was blocked by his bulletproof jacket. A rifle shot from this distance would have pierced through it. The two comrades who had caught Gilliard, a crazy soldier, panted. They then looked at Gyeo-ul. The medic had now come to take care of the injured. Even though this mishap happened, the situation continued to improve. Gyeo-ul soon realized that the jamming wave had disappeared from the radio. At least around here, it meant that the Tricksters had decided to step down. Now that the U.S. troops had recovered their firepower, the mutants had seen no chance of winning. However, the troops were not in a position to pursue them. The ammunition they had brought was just not enough, and the civilians who had fled the brewery were also a problem. New reinforcements appeared from the north. The size of the vehicles and troops coming through the smoke was more than a company. The force of pushing in by wiping out the remnants was great. Gyeo-ul wandered around the perimeter, identifying threats that might remain. Enemies ahead! Looking back at the soldiers cry, Gyeo-ul could see the mutants looming near the smoking forest. The distance they were at was unclear. Gyeo-ul thought the behavior of the mutants was strange. They werent attacking this side, but they refused to run away. It was strange, but one guess soon came to mind. A sacrifice? A separate tail to distract the U.S. military. More like scapegoats to let the others escape safely. It was a likely development for the cunning of the Tricksters. Anyway, there was no reason to keep them alive. A Humvee stopped in front of Gyeo-ul, and the driver beckoned to him from inside. Get in, lieutenant. The order is to annihilate neighboring enemies. Order? From the captain? No. You havent heard yet. We will be assigned to the 1st Battalion by the end of the rescue operation. 1st Battalion? Yes, most of the troops here are from the 1st Battalion of the 160th Regiment. They say that more troops just arrived from Hunter Riggett, 2nd Battalion, 1st Company. Apparently, it wasnt only Camp Roberts that had sent in reinforcements. A company had also been dispatched from Fort Hunter Rigett, which was located further north. Now, troops from different battalions were gathered in Seventh California. Chapter 67 00067 #Seventh California, Camp Roberts (4) Escaping the mutants proved to be no big deal. They werent able to catch up with the vehicles speeds. The real problem was the quickly-spreading fire. The closest station was Camp Roberts. However, they had to change their direction to avoid the fire, meaning a twenty-kilometer journey northwest of the battlefield. Throughout the journey, other combat units, rescued units, and civilians continuously joined the rescue mission. Maybe Ill see someone I know. If the containment command had deployed all available resources, Santa Margaritas Rangers would have been no exception. Gyeo-ul recalled Lieutenant John Frey, the Ranger platoon commander who had presented him with a Zippo lighter. However, it was difficult right now. The mission unit was larger than the size of a regiment based on combat forces alone, and the number of civilians had also reached ten thousand. It would be unproductive to walk around the group just to find a face he knew. It wasnt that desperate. The mission unit established a temporary base on the ridge overlooking the lake and the city. Helicopters flew in one by one, laid down the materials for the camp, and left. When they finished preparing for the camp, the sun was already falling. The soldiers were given a break, but it was hard for the officers to relax. Given the unsettled atmosphere, the battalion commander wanted officers to encourage and comfort soldiers during their breaks. This was one of the reasons why an officers salary was higher than a soldiers. Gyeo-ul was no exception. The Bravo Company soldiers who encountered the boy officer no longer saw him as a boy. Each person expressed his or her dissatisfaction and anxiety to him. I dont know why Im waiting here. We dont know when were going to attack again, so why dont we just go ahead and take a break? Such a remark wasnt without merit. The remaining distance to the camp was shorter than the distance they had traveled during the day. However, it was impossible. Gyeo-ul formed an embarrassed smile. You have to think about the Camp Obispo people. How hard would it be? What about civilians? Were barely holding out on stimulants. Those who had come through the extreme conditions, regardless of whether they were soldiers or civilians, slumped down here and there as the tension eased. They were exhausted in both body and mind, so the stimulants didnt help much. There was no other answer than to rest. Lets say thats true. What are we going to do over there? The soldier pointed to the southeast sky. The lower part was reddish, like the western sky when the sun set. Despite the long distance, the smell of burning reached all the way to them. If he hadnt known better, Gyeo-ul would have been worried. Considering the speed of the fire spreading, it could have grown into a fire that would burn the entire country. Its okay. Ive been informed that its likely to rain before midnight. Itll be pouring all day tomorrow. Really? Why would I lie? Its rather strange that you didnt know yet. Oh, it must be because the delivery system is confusing because of the situation. Spread it to the others. Okay. Gyeo-ul must have relieved his anxiety, but the soldier still looked sullen. Having encountered a few more similar people, Gyeo-ul thought it was understandable. He, too, wanted to get to the camp somehow, Camp San Luis Obispo, but Camp Roberts Bravo squadron had been through a hard day No, a second day. Stress caused recoil. It was natural to have the desire to relax in a familiar bed. Sobbing sounds could now be heard from the civilian campsite. As it was larger than Camp Roberts, Gyeo-ul had heard that the losses were big when it collapsed. Private. Do you have a minute? The strange soldier reacted exaggeratedly to Gyeo-uls question. He seemed to be suffering from slight shell shock. The way he kept rubbing his fingers together was very unsettled. Nevertheless, he was armed. The commanders of Camp Obispo also seemed to have little room. That, or they couldnt help it because they had too much. The soldier began to stutter. Whats, whats wrong? No, its nothing. I just wanted to talk to someone. Considering the situation, it should have been the soldiers wanting to have a conversation with them. For a person like this soldier, though, it would be more effective not to make him feel under scrutiny. Of course, if the condition were normal, his behavior would have been enough to be noticed. However, soldiers were not normal. As the soldier approached with a clumsy step, Gyeo-ul guided him by patting on his back. Is this seat all right? They had stopped at a bonfire, which soldiers from the same battalion were sitting around. They recognized the soldier and welcomed him with various words and actions. Among them were unfamiliar people with accents. It was almost like an army of multiracial nations. Gyeo-ul had brought them to a seat for two people. He sat down the soldier he had brought first and carefully took his gun. Those who had already settled down had stood their weapons against each other. It looked like an Indian tent frame. Gyeo-ul added his and the shocked soldiers guns to it. Despite suffering under fire and smoke all day long, the bonfires heat in the cold night was pleasant. Firewood was scattered at Gyeo-uls feet, and he picked up a piece and threw it in. He asked the soldiers, Where did you get the firewood? Theres a cabin nearby. It must have been a hunters lodge, but they used a fireplace. Since theres no owner now anyway, I borrowed it. What this soldier had said so casually was actually illegal. As the U.S. government was eager to create an optimistic atmosphere, there was a widespread perception that neglected assets could be recovered someday. I dont know whats going to happen today. Gyeo-ul wasnt sure how many sacrifices thered been during the day. It wasnt like they were going to ask people who were frustrated. However, the U.S., which had been stable for a while, might just have suffered a disaster for the first time in a long time. The mood would change a lot if that were the case. The soldier that Gyeo-ul brought was squatting, still rubbing his fingers. Hey, Penwood. Drink this. A colleague handed over a glass. The sweat was now dripping off him. After accepting the glass, Penwood, clearly still anxious, asked, Now, what should we talk about? Gyeo-ul smiled calmly. Do you feel uncomfortable with me? No, its not like that. Ignore the rank; just think of it as making a friend. By the way, what do friends talk about in America? Im not sure because Im from Korea. It wasnt exactly a joke, but everyone began to laugh out loud. They would have responded the same to anything; they just needed a chance to laugh. Penwood also smiled, albeit with a stiff expression. A female sergeant named DAngelo smiled back. We dont like to be friends with officers, but youre the exception. You saved my life earlier. Hmm? When Gyeo-ul heard that, he peered closer at their faces. They had been at the scene, including two soldiers who had suppressed Gilliard during his panic attack. Gyeo-ul eventually nodded. Oh, we met. Im glad you didnt get hurt. At that time, I was surprised by your judgment. Im not good at shooting, and my God, Ive never seen such a rapid weapon replacement. Ive only seen such a fast hand at a Las Vegas casino. Youre a natural-born gambler. Dont worry. Im not interested in card games. I dont make friends with people who dont touch cards. Oh my. The soldiers burst into soft laughter again. While waiting for it to fade, Gyeo-ul asked the female soldier, Is Corporal Gilliard safe? Hes on his way back. They said theres a hundred percent chance hell be discharged from the army because of his hands. Since the bones on the back of his hand were shattered and two fingers fell off, it would be hard for him to work as a soldier again. Gunfire supplied to the U.S. military in recent years had been of a particular kind. Block power was the opposite of penetration, and when it hit, it gave maximum impact instead of penetration. It was a natural measure when dealing with mutants that were stronger than humans. Gyeo-uls pistol shot was no different. Gilliard might not be able to use his hands at all because theyd been hit with five shots. Even if the treatment went well, the aftereffects would remain for the rest of his life. Gyeo-ul said, in a slightly subdued voice, Im sorry. Tell him Im sorry when you see him. What? What are you talking about? DAngelo frowned as if she had heard something nonsensical. He should be grateful. You kept him from getting into trouble. You pulled him back. It looks like hes going to be discharged from the army. Damn it, Im jealous! Its a pension opportunity. Gyeo-ul knew that, originally, U.S. military pensions were only available after at least fifteen years of service, but wound pensions were of different types. However, he didnt know the details. No matter how many times you asked, you couldnt get all the information. Does he definitely get a pension? His service period is over thirty months, and he was on the front line Im sure hell get a Purple Heart, and if he cant use one hand at all, itll be fifty percent disability. Even if he can use it a little bit, itll be around thirty or forty percent. For the time being And there will be problems. Then its sure. Hey, how much is forty percent? DAngelos evasiveness was her trying to be considerate of the unstable Penwood. Those who had been asked answered in an offhand manner. Oh, I dont know. Five hundred? Six hundred? It isnt that bad. If he gets a Purple Heart, hell get an extra reward. If he has a family, hell get more. I dont know exactly. Does he have any family? I dont know. Gyeo-ul tilted his head. Its about six hundred dollars at least, but will that be enough to get by? By intellectual correction, the amount converted to the exchange rate of the early twenty-first century could be calculated. About 700,000 won. Insight worked here, too. Through the Control AIs advice, Gyeo-ul found that the amount was far below the minimum cost of living at that time. However, the soldier flatly denied the allegations. Hey, you also earn money from your job. Is it easy to get a job? Thats, its the government will probably help. Gyeo-ul felt a little surprised by the optimistic remarks. The soldiers use of the term government seemed to be much different from the concepts that Gyeo-ul had experienced in his lifetime. All in all, it felt very strange. In fact, the benefits provided by the Federal Veterans Affairs (VA) were not just pension payments. The soldiers statements confirmed that they received continuous management and courtesy. They were even guaranteed a loan. However, many U.S. soldiers became homeless after being discharged. Gyeo-ul sighed inwardly after receiving intelligence correction information. Which means this is a problem that you cant stop completely. It was important to give soldiers faith, somehow. They had to believe that, even if things were to go wrong, the country would reward them. This might have been one reason the United States had remained a bastion of civilization until the end of every episode that Gyeo-ul had experienced. It was an intangible system that supported the combat capabilities of the U.S. military. How many countries are there that are doing fine now? No place came to mind right away except Russia. And that country was a wide and rough land which had now become a natural barrier, which helped quarantine. Gyeo-uls idea did not last all that long. Once the discharge story came out, the conversation heated up. No matter which country you went to, discharge was a hot topic for soldiers on the battlefield. Did it feel like retirement for a career soldier? Penwood, who still couldnt control his hands, acted just the same. After a few minutes of conversation, he suddenly began to sob. Hooo, hoo, hoo. He wiped his tears with trembling hands. The laughter of the other soldiers died down. Some people cried with him, while the others tried to cheer them up by patting their shoulders. Gyeo-ul went with the latter. Cry. I heard that holding back your tears can make you sick. Penwood had his head stuck in Gyeo-uls chest, and he cried for a long time. Really, thank you for your effort. One word that DAngelo gave Gyeo-ul was quite deep. After Private Penwood calmed down, Gyeo-ul left the campfire. The superior unit had found Gyeo-ul by radio, and he was required to attend his first meeting with the first battalion captain of Seventh California. The Latin battalion commander was waiting alone for Gyeo-ul without any other staff. He had on a solid expression, but somehow it looked like it might slip. It was a trace of the harsh time they had endured since dawn. What he felt as a commander would be different from a soldier. Gyeo-ul saluted. Lieutenant Han Gyeo-ul. I heard you paged me. Lieutenant Colonel Parell Ramos. Nice to meet you. Sit down there. The battalion commander, sitting across from the boy officer, started formally by praising Gyeo-ul first. You fought well during the day. Did you see it yourself? Somehow. There was silence for a while. The lieutenant colonel, who was staring at Gyeo-ul, jutted out his chin. How is it going outside? Its not good, but it seems to be stabilizing all the same. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Youre different from the other officers What was he trying to say? Did he mean that, because of his performance, Gyeo-ul made the soldiers feel safer than other officers? No, this was a different tone. There was a meaning that Gyeo-ul couldnt catch. After all, he had yet to guess why the battalion commander had called him in the first place. The battalion commander noticed this. Are you wondering why I called you? Honestly, yes. Its nothing. I wanted to meet you. Thanks to you, Im over the crisis, so I think I should say thank you. As he said this, an indescribable look of fatigue and remorse was revealed in the commanders eyes. It was momentary, but Gyeo-ul didnt miss it. It looked very heavy. The battalion commander then said something else. Well be stationed in the same camp in the future. Are you saying that my affiliation will be changed? No, its our side that will be changing stations. Is that so? Well, even though San Luis Obispos camp is close to the city, the regiment was deployed because it was on the way to the south. On the other hand, its also on the way to the sea. If we secure the Gulf of Moro, well have a simple base in the Pacific. But now that its done, theyre going to try to strengthen Camp Roberts. It was a logical statement, but there was no reason to tell Gyeo-ul. They had never met before, and he belonged to a different group. Ah. Gyeo-ul realized something. Different from other officers Did that mean Gyeo-ul could offer something that the battalion commander couldnt afford to do with the other officers, such as sitting down for an aimless conversation? Sometimes, having a person beside you could offer comfort. However, the commander could not be seen as a weak person. Therefore, he had to keep a hard and formal atmosphere around him. It would be pretty hard to release his tension with no one to speak to. Without saying anything, Gyeo-ul kept still and comforted the battalion commander just by being there beside him. Chapter 68 00068 #Seventh California, Camp Roberts (5) Gyeo-ul awakened just as the dawn arrived. A dark blue morning light leaked in from outside the tent. It was too early for him to open his eyes, he thought. Still, Gyeo-ul moved his heavy arm and grabbed at his gun before slowly standing up. His physical and mental fatigue had been accumulating for two days in a row now. So it took some time to get his mind fully awake, his sleep seemingly not having had much effect on his exhaustion. Gyeo-ul woke up the soldiers who were in the same tent. Of course, it was quite hard to do so. Uh what the hell is going on here? Get armed. As his condition neared normal, Gyeo-ul was finally able to detect the dull warning of sense of survival. There was a sensation of intermittent numbness in the nerve endings. The level of activation was still low, but it was clear that there was a threat. I dont think its a fatal one. It hadnt been very helpful at Camp Roberts, but there was little chance that a sense of survival that had entered the realm of genius would allow him to die while sleeping. However, the response had been delayed due to fatigue, so they needed to hurry a little. Knowing that Gyeo-uls mood was unusual, the soldiers desperately attempted to awaken themselves. Their trust in the boy officer was now close to the level of superstition. Poof! Wasnt it a bit harsh to hit yourself on the head with bulletproof equipment? The soldier who had struck himself and his sleeping partner at the same time fell on his stomach for a moment and mimicked their stillness. Gyeo-ul approached and grabbed his shoulder. Are you all right? Im all right It didnt seem so, but he was soon ready, anyway. A sergeant and some senior-level soldiers who were staying together acted quickly. They spread word of the situation throughout the company without any instruction. Repeated cries of Wake up! Wake up! spread to the mountain and echoed in the damp wind. Soldiers could see what was going on in other companies lodgings, their faces now stained with anxiety. It was only a day after the previous nights attack. Eventually, Gyeo-ul had unintentionally woken up all the regiment-level troops. Rain sprinkled over the light fog while the soldiers in their raincoats looked around in disorder. They looked more anxious because they didnt know why they had been woken up. In the meantime, Gyeo-ul called in a radio soldier to communicate with the sentry. He wanted to make sure that the boundary of the lodging area was safe. The company commander, who was among the early wakeup, asked Gyeo-ul, What the hell is going on? Now that he was asked, Gyeo-ul found he didnt have much to say. I dont know what to say, but somehow, I didnt feel good. Captain Escher made an incredulous expression. Wasnt that just a wild dream? Gyeo-ul didnt have to answer; the gunfire across the fog provided the explanation. Gyeo-ul frowned. The radio had exploded in the receiver plugged into his ear. There had been a flurry of requests to check what was going on from solidarity, battalion, and critical channels. The gun went off again. There was semi-automatic fire, which eventually shifted into fully-automatic fire. Battle sense caught the approximate distance from the direction of the gunfire. However, the distance was a little inaccurate because of the fog. High humidity greatly expanded the range of sound diffusion. Captain Escher immediately spat out orders. Troops to strengthen the border, troops to protect the campsite, and troops to be dispatched to the scene were all divided instantaneously. Gyeo-ul was already on his way out inside a vehicle. Arriving promptly at the scene, he confirmed that the fighting had already ended. Mutant bodies were scattered sparsely near the border of the campsite, not even in large numbers. The soldiers were checking and killing them one by one. In the meantime, the noisemaker itself was loud. It seemed to be ringing in at least three directions at the same time. Is it a systematic attack? Gyeo-ul examined the battle trace. It would have been dangerous if the response had been late, but it was nothing compared to the first nights attack. However, there were people missing. Two vigilantes, who had been placed in the section where the mutants had invaded, had disappeared. The captain, who had been in charge of this, had a dark expression. Like everyone else from Camp Obispo, he looked like he was under too much stress. I thought it was over why is this happening again? He wiped his greasy face, then called in a radio soldier and radioed the battalion headquarters to get permission to search for missing persons. Gyeo-ul then made a suggestion. Ill take the lead. You? It was their first time seeing Gyeo-ul, but everyone already knew him. The company commander gave his offer a moment of thought and nodded slowly. There was little antipathy toward the fact that Gyeo-uls affiliation was to another officer. They couldnt allow pride to get in the way. He would not be the one to permit that. The battalion headquarters easily allowed Gyeo-ul to join. Based on the testimony of the soldiers who had last taken turns, Gyeo-ul had slightly missed the patrol route that the missing people would have walked through. There were many footprints on the ground that had been preceded by the rain. Although hidden by the puddles, that was not an obstacle to Gyeo-ul, who had fourth-grade tracking. However, there were too many questions. The soldiers footprints had overlapped enough to be messy, and on top of that, the traces of mutants who crossed the boundary had been added. Some of the dead must have dragged their feet. There were many crushed marks from the push. Is it a little short? Insight recommended tracking above the level of an expert. Using experience resources was a useless skill. Of course, it did help to have it at times. When you had to survive in the wild, being able to capture animal tracks was a great strength. However, the opportunity to use that ability was limited. The end was not close enough to have to procure food by hunting, and events like this did not often happen now. The number of times such skills were learned in the first place was small. The Talent advantage was low, so it was less efficient. Given the emergence of new mutants that had never been seen before, which had eventually led to an increase in difficulty, Gyeo-ul wanted to invest in more of these efficient skills. The experience he had gained over two days in a row was quite significant. Evaluating their influence on others was more rewarding than fighting. This would be enough to put Movement into Supermans domain. However, ten people who would be saved later would not replace the one who could be saved now. It was a virtual character, a virtual life, anyway, but if you didnt want to lose yourself in a false world, then you had better keep your way of life. Gyeo-ul let go of his disappointment and pushed Trace. Each time the rating went up, the information provided as augmented reality changed qualitatively. This way. When Gyeo-ul beckoned, the platoon followed a few steps behind, keeping their formation intact. At a certain interval, three platoon members advanced carefully while still scattered. Protecting civilians was a priority, so it was difficult to deploy more troops. In the dawn, the rainy forest road felt gloomy. Raindrops hanging from the tree dropped heavily onto the fallen leaves, stimulating the soldiers nerves with percussion-like sounds. A noisy environment was not good for Gyeo-ul. If there were something in the forest, its noise would eventually get muffled. Even if sound spread easily on a rainy day, it would be meaningless if it was small or similar to the sound of raindrops. In addition, the noisemakers let off occasionally as a defense mechanism for the campsite were loud. The search continued along a dim side road, around the descending foot of a mountain. As the beach neared, the fog gradually thickened. Originally, visibility had been reduced to thirty meters. The dense trees cast a blurry shadow in the fog. Sometimes, a nervy soldier would mistake the shadow for a mutant. In this environment, the thermal night-vision goggles were also useless. This was because the fog quickly devoured up the heat. Gyeo-ul found it hard to move forward quickly because he was wary of the possibility of a mutant lying within the fallen leaves. It was windy. Gyeo-ul raised his fist. The soldiers were wary of kneeling in the surrounding area. But when the dense fog swirled for a short time, Gyeo-ul saw the figures of two humans lying on the floor. The bodies seemed to be a decoy. There were two smells in the thick atmosphere: one was bloody, and the other The stench of not washing. It smelled sour and disgusting. This smell was a little different from the rotten smell of the mutants. If you overcame the immune rejection, then there was only the stench of Ghoul. Gyeo-ul whispered into the radio. Weve found the bodies of the missing persons right in front of us. Theyre both dead, and its suspected that theres a group of ghouls nearby. They might be in a tree, so be careful. Then, there came a rustling sound. Several soldiers were trying to stay away from the tree nest while a platoon commander and a communications officer reported the current situation to headquarters. Perhaps it was because all the sentries were dead that his expression worsened. There was a sudden crack in the wind. Gyeo-ul shot at it reflexively. T-ing! An unidentified projection broke through with a spark. It split into two pieces, swirled, and fell into the fallen leaves. The soldier nearby freaked out. Gyeo-ul gestured for him to find out what it was, and the soldier crawled over, looked around, and groped at a pile of fallen leaves. It was not long before he found something. The soldier lifted it up to show the others. It was the handle of a knife. The hardened platoon leader mumbled embarrassingly while radioing in. The mutant is using a weapon? There was a considerable amount of agitation. Primates usually used basic tools, so mutants who stole from humans might have the ability to do so as well, but it was the first time they had ever witnessed it. It seemed to have been picked up from an abandoned city. Now, dozens of additional knives were flying in. Gyeo-ul intercepted some, but it was difficult to get them all because they were coming from a close distance and through the fog. The growling, roaring, and fast-running footsteps of animals could be heard through the veil. Tense soldiers shot or threw grenades at random. However, shooting without anything to aim at was not very effective. In a similar environment during the Vietnam War, statistics showed that the U.S. military used more than 20,000 bullets to kill a North Vietnamese soldier. Furthermore, the opponent was a mutant stronger than humans, of a reinforced species called Ghouls. The same went for grenades. No matter how wide their effective range was, the killing effect was greatly reduced due to the curved terrain and the tree-filled environment. As expected, as if to laugh at them, the monsters intentional sounds did not stop. Is it a move to exhaust this sides ammunition? Strangely, Im thinking Do you think its beta ghouls? Gyeo-ul didnt know the numbers over there. There was Insight provided based on the sounds, but most of the animals that hunted in groups could easily distinguish their roles. Therefore, it was difficult to believe in their ability and just go forward recklessly. Looking at the lingering fog like living things in other worlds, Gyeo-ul came up with a good idea. Lieutenant. Hmm? Does the grenade launcher have a flare? The U.S. infantry platoon had received six M32s for each squad, and there were also single-shot grenade launchers that were used as accessories under rifles. The range of bullets that could be shot with a grenade launcher was surprisingly diverse, and some of them were even flare-ups. However, they were difficult to use in earnest due to their small size. The platoon leader also pointed that out. What about the flare? Its for signaling. Who are you going to signal? Anyway, we can contact the main office by radio. Gyeo-ul shook his head. No, Ill literally use it as a light. He pointed out the fog as they walked. Its still dark around here. Its foggy. Wouldnt a bright light source create the outline or shadow of a mutant in the fog? Then we shoot them with full force. But its only seven seconds per shot Wouldnt you rather ask for help? What if thats what they want us to do? Huh? Maybe this is a trap to lure the missing, lure troops with the bait, and dig ourselves into a hole. The platoon leader felt embarrassed. Gyeo-ul continued trying to persuade him. Of course, its unlikely. But its important that its not impossible. There are thousands of civilians in the camp. Youve had one experience the day before yesterday, so youre not going to take even a little risk, of course. Im responsible for thousands of civilians. Youd rather ask me to give up the remains. Eventually, the platoon leader agreed with Gyeo-ul. They agreed that after firing the flare, they would advance and secure the cover, then secure the remains. The grenade shooters moved their hands busily, emptying the ammunition and reloading it. Unlike rifles, they had to be loaded individually. The white, green, and red-colored shells originally had separate uses but were not distinguished now. They would shoot to the ground anyway. Gyeo-ul designated the defense and distance for the grenade shooters. If I signal lets have a time difference one by one and shoot three shots from this side to that side. The distance is twenty, forty, sixty. Its an environment full of obstacles. The order was that the location of the flare should be three-dimensional. Shoot! Tuu-tuu-tuung! As the flare rose, Gyeo-ul successfully struck five targets. He quickly aimed at the center of the shadow the rising flare had made and fired five times in one breath. Did I miss one? A scream rang out, echoing for a long time. It seemed as if Gyeo-ul had hit the target, but it hadnt died. Gyeo-ul continued running and firing at every shadow he saw. Every time he shot at the center of an overlapping shadow, a monsters scream inevitably followed. It was more effective because each flare had a different color. The soldiers were making it easier than he had initially expected. He crossed more than ten meters in seven seconds, emptying one and a half of his magazines. Next! Another flare shot was fired. In the mist that glowed in three colors, the humans who had secured the range overwhelmed the mutants with their firepower. By the third time, the advancing soldiers had finally secured the bodies. While checking whether they were actually becoming mutants, the rest of the troops unilaterally pushed at the ghouls. Their screams and the sound of the running beasts footsteps quickly drifted away. We did it! The platoon leader raised his hand and rejoiced. Gyeo-ul approached the soldiers who had secured the bodies. Are they okay? There was a double meaning to the words. It was a question about whether there were any defective parts, and it was also a question to confirm that they were not infected. The squad leader nodded. They were stabbed to death. I think they were trying to use them as bait from the beginning To be honest, its creepy. Theyre no longer the stupid mutants they used to be. Cant help that. We have to adapt. S~?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Gyeo-ul patted him on the shoulder. While the bodies were recovered and returned, the sun rose sharply above the fog. The battalion commander ordered the entire unit to depart once the fog cleared. The twenty-kilometer trek to Camp Roberts had taken them all the previous afternoon, but today, if nothing unexpected happened, they could even have lunch at the camp. Gyeo-ul felt that he had been focused for far too long now. He knew he needed a break. Hopefully, the rest of the journey would be uneventful. The boy pressed his elbow against the frame of Humvees window and gently closed his eyes. Chapter 69 00069 #Intermission, willingness to fight, and combat fatigue (2) After The End, combat fatigue was an expression of trauma. As a result, it could appear on a daily basisthat was, if peoples daily lives could be compared to battle. Therefore, combat fatigue management was a key component of community operations. In order to operate more efficiently, leaders needed to contain, or sometimes encourage, combat fatigue in their members. Yes, thats right. You didnt read it wrong. Intentionally creating combat fatigue was one of the key pieces of know-how in community operations and human resources management. To give an example, peoples trauma was highly likely to influence their political orientation. A traumatized person wouldnt want to go through that experience again. So if the pain they had suffered were likely to be reproduced at all, they would instinctively reject the situation. It was an instinct for self-preservation, in which there was no room for rational judgment. In reality, the political conservatism of war veterans was the best example. Because they had been through such a terrible experience, they would consider their survival and the maintenance of their community to be basic values. This was also a means of creating enthusiastic supporters. Of course, this was only an option. If someone were a truly outstanding leader, they could raise enough support without using these measures. This would also be the moral path to take. On the other hand, combat fatigue could be an opportunity for growth. As Nietzsche said in his work Twilight of the Idols, That which does not kill me makes me stronger. Havent you heard a story about a person who only got stronger after overcoming mental wounds? After The End, this approach was implemented in a way that its potential was expanded. It was a similar category as growth by accumulating experience, but it was distinct in the system, meaning that it was completely separate from reinforcement by skill acquisition. Of course, this was not easy. You had to leave only mental wounds that the subject could bear, but each person has different limitations. The key was how much one could interpret those limits. It would be impossible if your Detection wasnt supported. In some cases, it was not possible at all. The core of the leadership type Inspection meant that both the way it worked and the efficiency varied completely depending on your qualifications and preferences. #Journal, p. 91, Camp Roberts Three days had passed since returning to camp. In the meantime, the troop presence had been increased, and the camp commander had been replaced. As the status of Camp Roberts had been increased, so had the rank of commander. Now, the commander of the Seventh California regiment would serve as the camp commander. The former commander of the Third Battalion was disciplined, and the attempt to pass all the blame on to the operations manager failed. Because this incident was such a big deal, the containment command sent a full-fledged investigation team. There were many witnesses to the battalion commanders negligence. On Christmas Eve, he had fallen into a state of intoxication. He wasnt expecting to be in an emergency. The problem was the new commander. Port Hunter Riggett had helped successfully stop the night attack, but not as much as Camp Roberts. Many people had been killed, the former regimental commander of Seventh California among them. He had been stationed in Hunter Riggett with the Second Battalion. Hed been unlucky. He reported that he was going on a night patrol to console the soldiers on Christmas Eve and died as soon as the attack began. Sincerity in a person could be very detrimental. Thanks to that, the post of camp commander had been vacant for the previous few days. It took three days for a new regimental commander to be appointed. In the meantime, Lieutenant Colonel Farrell Ramos, the First Battalion commander, had acted as the commander. And today the commander of the regiment arrived. There was no such thing as an inauguration ceremony. Most of the troops had been deployed to strengthen their alertness, and the regiment itself did not want to waste time on unnecessary events. However, I received a personal call. Nice to meet you, lieutenant. Im Lieutenant Colonel Gerald M. Laughlin, 160th Regiment. I will be in charge of Camp Roberts from today Oh, Im a colonel now. Im sorry, I havent adjusted to the new rank yet. The black-skinned regimental commander covered his mistake quite nicely. The commanders mistake was due to his promotion. Regardless of the original rank, the system granted temporary ranks necessary for performing duties. A lieutenant colonel usually headed the command of the U.S. military regiment. However, Laughlin had been promoted to colonel to serve as a camp commander, command support units other than a regiment, and bring refugee support forces together. The same went for the commander of the Third Battalion, who had been dismissed. He had become a lieutenant colonel while serving as a camp commander, but his actual rank was major. His salary would have been paid at the level of a major. There was only one more mistake he made. Excuse me, my rank is second lieutenant. The commander smiled quietly. No, youll have to adjust to a new class. Come closer. As he approached, he removed my rank and attached a new one. Surprised? Wanting to be honest, I said, Yes. Colonel Laughlin then patted me on the shoulder. Dont be. You were supposed to be promoted early on. I just moved it up. Even so, its true that youre breaking all the records for youngest promotions though I think its nothing compared to what youve done. Thats the real reward. I had a guess when I heard that. It meant he intended to give me another medal. It had been less than half a year since I applied to the U.S. military, and it was already the fourth time I would receive one. First, I had received the Order of Merit for Military Merit and the Medal of Valor, and then the Order of Merit for Service after visiting Atascadero. Looking at the colonels expression, the level of real reward hed mentioned seemed to be quite high. Was it the Medal of Honor? Sergeant Pierces words came to mind. My achievements had been enough to warrant the Medal of Honor from the beginning, but the higher-ups had seemed to prefer giving me low-level medals to induce mutual checks among refugees. Youre going to Washington. I heard that the council unanimously agreed to your service. Well leave tonight by plane, and well be back tomorrow afternoon. The regimental commander turned my doubts into conviction. It was a medal that needed congressional approval and required me to go all the way to Washington. It was hard to think of anything else it could be. He reached out to me. Its an honor to meet a true hero. He had a firm grip. From his ever-serious eyes, I realized my renewed position. The current situation was the reason for the medal. It was surprising that the mutants had infiltrated on a planned basis, but the EMP attack was beyond imagination. I heard that the death toll of civilians alone was more than 80,000 people. Several garrisons had been erased from the map, and some of the successful defense sites suffered considerable damage. Camp Roberts was the only site that remained standing unharmed. The bad news was being covered with good news. S~?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. I was determined when I decided to become a recruitment advert for the U.S. military, but I found that the role gradually became burdensome as it got bigger. I didnt think people even saw me as the same person anymore. A hero was only a tool that was eventually shaped according to their needs. Because of this, my answer was bound to be calm. I couldnt have done it without the help of others. Thank you for your words, but I dont think Im the only one who deserves to be honored. Of course, the investigation team sent from the command didnt just look at the crime. A few more people besides you have been selected for a special promotion. Captain Capston is the representative. Youll also be awarded a medal. So you dont have to feel too much pressure. After asking more questions, I found that most of Charlies company was eligible for the promotion. Captain Capston was in line for a two-rank promotion. He was being promoted to the top as a major and to the position of lieutenant colonel. It was explained that this was because he was in charge of the vacant battalion commander position. The regiment commander remained friendly to me until the meeting was over. #Journal, p. 92, Washington, D.C. Im writing this after coming back from Washington. The accommodation was at the White House. Not that it could really be called accommodation since I only stayed for a while, but theres no other term that fits. All the time I was there, I was thoroughly monitored. Everyone seemed concerned about me escaping. They called it security, but I thought it was a little too much to have a platoon attached only to me. Such worries were no exaggeration. All refugees dreamed of living in the civilized world, east of the blockade. From their point of view, of course I would attempt to escape. And if I escaped, they wouldnt be confident of catching me, which would have a huge social impact. Not that I wanted to escape in the first place, but in any case, I was a war hero. I had no intention of escaping; I had people to take responsibility for. However, the scenery outside the window was beautiful. Outside the fence, a snowy white garden, a fountain rising beyond, and the grace of the Washington Monument in the distance. It would have been even better without people flocking to see me. I didnt have to worry about mutant attacks. The peace of mind I felt there was really special. It made me desperate to take a walk. Just in case, I asked if I could. Of course, it was rejected. The air became heavier, and I regretted that I had said it for nothing. I told them that they could put handcuffs on me if they were worried, which utterly shocked them. It was only a joke to ease the atmosphere. The award ceremony was simple enough not to need any rehearsal. It only took about twenty minutes. After walking out in front of the applauding crowd with the president, my role was just to stand still. The rest belonged to the chief of staff, the chief of chaplains, and the president. Lets pray. Everyone bowed down at a word from the head of the group. Although I did not believe in Christianity or Catholicism, I, too, held my hands in front of my chest and closed my eyes. The Almighty and eternal Lord who has granted us the inheritance of this wonderful land and true faith, I ask you to join me in honor of this man who answered the call of duty in order to protect everything you have given him. Under your providence, Lieutenant Gyeo-ul saved countless lives with courage, honor, and dedication. By your grace, we believe that this man will continue to maintain the same virtue. Honor this hero in your name, who has newly embroidered the tapestry of our great nation. And I pray again that we Americans will continue each day with the same courage and sacrifice as this man and continue our history forever. Thank you for all the meetings and events you have allowed today so that this man can stand before us as the grace of the Lord. I also thank all the soldiers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Rangers who are fighting back in times of hardship and adversity Lastly, please regard Lieutenant Gyeo-ul as your joy, the people he seeks to protect, the nation he is willing to devote himself to. President Calvin Coolidge said, A nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten. As members of his country, we will give all the honor we can to this man who has protected public security, and we will never forget it. I swear this before you and your holy name. Amen. The United States was not a religious country, but it was like one in terms of tradition. As for me, it was hard to sympathize with the unique sentiment. After that, it was time for the president to perform my part of the ceremony. It was rather longer than the prayer. The president tried to sum up all the contributions I had accumulated so far, rather than just talking about the current incident. The reason was probably the myriad of cameras set up before him. I found myself speculating. As I had become more famous than Id imagined, I had to think that my previous conferments were turning out to be a problem. Objectively speaking, I should already have received the Medal of Honor after Paso Robles. It would not have been one of Pierces bosses who had doubts there. Anyway, people from all classes at the ceremony responded with a warm round of applause at the end of every sentence the president said. In my opinion, their enthusiasm wasnt just performative. In front of a frame with thirteen white stars on a blue background, the president finally gave me a medal. This was the highest honor an American could receive, a star with a green laurel wreath. In the center was embossed the goddess of wisdom and war, Athena, and my name was engraved on the back. THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOR GYEO-UL HAN It was very rare for this to be awarded to a living recipient. It was actually known as a dead soldiers medal because it was usually bestowed long after the recipient was dead. After the ceremony, I had dinner with the president. When I asked for better treatment of refugees, he responded that he would positively review the situation. It was hard to tell whether it was just political words or a genuine sentiment. This was how the visit to Washington, which was only for half a day, ended. When I got on the return flight, the half-days memories felt unreal. It felt like Id had a sad, colorful, and loud dream. And so, I came back to reality. My reality, and the people I sympathized with. Chapter 70 00070 # Past (5), Psychotherapy (1) The woman had now turned the steering wheel. She was heading to China, the Central Region of the Post-Insurance Corporation, for there was someone she wanted to meet. It was the only place she could meet this person. The road to the facility was eerie. It felt like one was entering a different world. The barbed wire surrounding the wide space was built in triple layers, with warnings of high-voltage currents attached. Beyond that, a concrete barrier had been built, and a watchtower stood at a distance of thirty meters. There were no people in the tower. Instead, there were unmanned turrets controlled by Post-Insurance control AIs. Soldiers at the checkpoint waved red lightsticks when they saw the vehicle. The woman pulled up in front of the barrier. The approaching soldier was surprised to see her. The woman felt a little embarrassed. Will he recognize me? He didnt. It was very clear that he couldnt see her eyes easily. The woman covered her face out of habit. She put her fingertips on her forehead and looked at him through her fingers. The soldier held out his hand in regret. Let me check your ID for a moment. The woman took out her resident registration card, and the soldier took it and swiped the card on the portable terminal. After a couple of seconds, the terminal lit up with a green light. Post-Insurance official. Permission to enter. The soldier, who had read the identity and purpose of the womans visit, nodded and returned her ID. You made a reservation in advance. Come on in, Doctor. Fortunately, her fake identity had not been detected. She was free to enter, even in her natural state. Actually, she was indirectly related to Post-Insurance. However, the woman didnt want anyone else to know about her visit. The barrier went up. The woman carefully stepped on the accelerator. Her car entered the parking lot south of the concentration station. The parking lot was vast. At the time of its establishment, the number of visitors had been expected to be huge. The area seen on the ground was just the tip of the iceberg. There were twelve wider underground floors. Right after the introduction of Post-Insurance, the prediction had been right. There had been endless crowds of people who came here. It was different now. There were only a few vehicles parked. Perhaps it was because of the tricky visit procedures? Anyway, it couldnt be helped. Post-Insurance was the worlds most advanced virtual reality/artificial intelligence complex and the biggest growth engine of the Korean economy. Therefore, many countries, companies, and organizations coveted their technology. There was also a physical threat: terrorism by extremists who opposed Post-Insurance and artificial intelligence politically, religiously, and ideologically. Even now, it happened often. It was a frequent source of news these days. In the same vein, the communication route between Post-Insurance subscribers who extracted their brains and the outside world was limited to Teletype, and countless security programs were needed in the process. Although there might be no problem sending via unilateral methods like broadcasting, there was a concern of hacking in through two-way communication. Eventually, communication with the facility was only available within the facility. This was what the woman knew and what was generally known to the world. No matter its so lonely here. Here in central China alone, 800,000 brains were enshrined. Was there no longing for their families? In front of a loving heart, there would be no point in long-distance, long-time, or difficult procedures. The woman entered the building. Central China, or the Post-Insurance Corporations central brain accommodation, was majestic and overwhelming. People called this building a charnel house. It was a form of sarcasm. The people inside wouldnt even see it anyway, so why waste money on looks? The government replied that it was for the sake of national prestige. The woman knew another reason: since ancient times, politicians have loved civil engineering and construction. Still, there were some positive aspects. The durability of a concentrated country was more than that of a nuclear power plant. The woman glanced inside the building. There were more guards than there were visitors. The waiting line was marked out, but no one was waiting. A guided drone flew from the hangar. It identified the woman with facial and iris recognition and reconfirmed the purpose of her visit. Dr. Song Soo-ah. Is it correct that you have requested to visit Gyeo-ul Han, Post-Insurance registration number B-612? Thats right. Your visit request has been submitted in advance. Gyeo-ul Han has accepted the visit. You can visit because he is currently on standby. Do you want guidance now? Yes. I see. Ill guide you to the grade B area. A flat, circular drone came down to the floor. As the woman followed, it began to slide. The facilities in the central area were formed into asymmetric fan-shaped structures. From the hall in the center, a grand hallway extended in seven directions. Looked down on from a high place, one side looked like a worn-out wheel. Each direction was also the boundary of a different zone. The standard to distinguish between them was the size of deposits. Class S was the highest and Class F the lowest. As such, zone B was shorter than zone C but longer than zone A and above. The drone slowed down. B-612 was written in black on the white wall. Were here. Thanks. The meaningless greeting was for herself. As a salute, the drone tilted its body slightly. If youre done visiting, or you need to move to another location, you can call an information drone. This control AI can detect voice calls at all locations in the Post-Insurance facility. However, it may be difficult to detect voices below ten decibels, so please speak clearly. Okay. The drone flew near-noiselessly away. The surroundings fell into silence. The woman was now looking straight ahead. Class B life support, which also served as a virtual reality interface, could only be seen on one side. It looked like a circular door attached to the wall. A long cylinder shape would have been hidden inside the wall. The woman approached quietly and touched it. The brain and spinal cord would be in here. It gave her a chill to think so. This time, she looked sideways. There came another circle. It was a full-body access device for visitors. When she touched the flashing button, the tube quietly pushed out. There was space for one person to lie down. The woman did so, and a sensor adhered to the back of her head and neck. It had a lukewarm, liquid texture. Immediately, the fully-augmented reality interface appeared in her field of vision. When the equipment was activated, the tube was then pushed back into the wall. Everything was airtight to protect the connected user from external threats. There was no time to feel closed in. The brainwave characteristics were ones ID and password. The login was automatically done. The information she had written in advance depicted her virtual form. There was a different appearance and a different voice. Right away, the white world unfolded before her. The boy was waiting for her in the lobby, white space with nothing in it. His gaze felt quite different from before; it was clear to the point of emptiness. She could feel the atmosphere from being out of touch. It was all so different from the way it looked in her memory. Oh The woman groaned. She had thought a lot about what kind of greeting she should give. However, she couldnt say anything right away, and she covered her face as if it were a habit. Her head was wailing. She was wearing a mask, but it felt like she wasnt. It would have been a disaster if it werent an illusion. She wasnt prepared to face him as she was yet. In fact, she couldnt even explain to him why shed come and why she wanted to meet with him. However, it seemed that she could not have endured any longer without visiting. She felt like her blood vessels had been becoming more and more clogged day by day. The reason might be compassion or the desire to subdue sin. No, thats ridiculous. I dont love him. Why would I? The boy, who had busied himself by looking at her, greeted her first. Hello, maam. Ive been waiting to hear from you. It was a very calm voice. The woman managed to rule herself. She kept her practiced smile reflectively and said hello with the utmost sweetness. Hello. Youre Gyeo-ul, arent you? The voice was unfamiliar. This fact quickly dispelled her agitation. She took a step forward and reached out her hand. The boy held it while tilting his head. Then came a light handshake. As you already know, Im Song Soo-ah. Im in charge of psychological rehabilitation for Post-Insurance subscribers. Its a little weird. Ive never heard of such a thing. The woman felt a little nervous as she gave her prepared answer. No, I suppose not. Thats because youre a special case. Me? Why? Its rare for minors to be covered by Post-Insurance. People rarely have enough deposits at your age. At least, youre the only minor in section B. Aha. Gyeo-ul nodded. Retired adults could convert their national pension into Post-Insurance, but it was virtually impossible for minors. After this, the woman was much more relaxed. The boy wouldnt be able to make the comparison anyway, so this excuse would last forever. First of all, can I change the environment in here? The lobby in which the two were standing remained in the default setting. Gyeo-ul nodded again. Ill hand over the authority. The woman confirmed her authority and opened her hand. The pale white color was erased, and an environment where a comfortable conversation was possible was created. A window with a clear wind, a warm light, a chair that could recline, and calm nature outside. This was based on her own experience of counseling. She had plenty of experience. She didnt think it would be hard to imitate a counselor. Sit down. S~?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Gyeo-ul did as he was told. Then he asked a little awkwardly, What should I do now? He was positioned a little off the front of the woman, sitting at an angle as he smiled sweetly. Nothing. What? You dont have to force yourself to do anything. Just think of this as a time to chat. The content doesnt matter. Small things are fine, and you dont need a head start. Its enough to just get out whats inside. Is that so? Yes. Sometimes, you get to know things about yourself that even you didnt know. That was also the womans goal. Her insincere words followed along. Its important to know who you are, what youre sick with, and what you dream about. Even a problem that cannot be solved is better than having no idea what the problem is. At this, the boy stared at her, swallowing her insight and showing her habit again. A look of doubt passed through his eyes. Then, Gyeo-ul shook his head. Im sorry, but I dont think itll work. How come? I dont know what to say to you. Today is my first time seeing you. We dont know each other at all, so what kind of conversation can we have? It was the expected reaction. The woman formed a smile again. Right, Im just one person to you, like so many other people. And youre the same to me. We dont need each other yet. The boy had on a vague look. However, what the woman had prepared in advance still remained to be said. In the process of making new friends, words are an unexpectedly bad tool. Its easy to misunderstand. Its hard to force it. In that case, you can start by just being together. When we get used to each other, the conversation will start naturally. Ill be back at the appointed date and time. Do you think itll be too much for you? No, Ive got plenty of time anyway. Thats a relief. Call me whenever you need someone to talk to. That was the end. She kept her word, pulled out a book, and began to read. This was also one of her plays. Gyeo-ul was uncomfortable with the silence at first, but soon, he got used to it. Naturally, the flow of his thoughts unfolded before him. Today was the second month since the day of the deal. It had been a long time since a real person, not a virtual one, had been around. However, he couldnt really feel it. It was hard to believe that this was a real person. Because of that, the weight of the stone could still be felt. Gyeo-ul focused on the sensation. He had a vague feeling that he shouldnt get caught. Chapter 71 00071 #After the rain, Black Mountain (1) The U.S. government had officially elevated Camp Roberts status. Plans to increase its military presence and size by transforming it into a fortified base had already taken off. As a result, it wouldnt take long before it would be called Fort Roberts. The treatment of refugees had also improved, with the construction of row houses now beginning in the refugee zone. Row houses were prefabricated buildings designed for efficiency rather than aesthetics, but they were still superior to tents in all aspects. Refugees sent to the construction site were highly motivated. Everyone, regardless of age or gender, wanted to help. Those with architectural expertise taught them. Because they stayed up all day and night, complaints came from the engineering unit in charge, but the scheduled construction period had been cut in half. Gyeo-ul commented, Everyone must be happy. The refugees are building their future with their own hands. Third battalion commander of 160th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Capston, agreed with him. Hope is a necessity in life. I think it must be very frustrating being forced into lethargy. Of course, this era is more full of misfortunes than hope. He glanced at Gyeo-ul, slurring his words. Hmm? Gyeo-ul responded curiously. The lieutenant colonel said nothing and brought up another topic. There are suspicions that the damage from the Christmas attack was significantly less than reported. Did you happen to know about that? I guessed. There have been too few announcements since some of the garrisons were erased. As expected Hows the atmosphere among the refugees? Are you afraid this will deepen their distrust of the U.S. military? Honestly, I am. Trust is more important in times like this. We dont know if or when the same thing will happen again. Certainly, trust was an important factor. That night, Gyeo-ul had also been wary of the possibility of the refugees panicking. In such a situation, faith was needed to suppress confusion. Confidence made people feel it was safe to follow orders. The worst order was far better than the best chaos, at least in terms of maximizing group survival. Gyeo-ul replied with a light smile. Dont worry. The refugees will have no reason or time to think about it for the time being. I know theres no time, but what do you mean no reason? You know. Happiness sometimes comes from comparative advantage. The lieutenant colonel was not a dull man. He immediately understood what was at the core of the matter. The incident had stabilized the refugees who had been in Fort Roberts when it was still a camp. This was because they had overcome the crisis so well compared to others. The impoverished appearance of the newly-introduced refugees and citizens was crucial. Using them as a sample, the original refugees confirmed their luck. Those from some camps said some of them were dead; other camps had been completely exterminated. There was little or no sympathy among these rumblings. Those who were worried only cared about their own safety. Thats cold. They shouldnt be happy about other peoples misfortunes. Hearing this, Gyeo-ul naturally thought of Capston as his brother. I wish you happiness, but you wont be happy. Ever since the boy had become concerned that the lieutenant colonel would be unhappy here, hed tried to act like his normal self every time he visited. However, he felt afraid that the effort wasnt enough. When the boy officers complexion darkened, Capston, who misunderstood, encouraged him with quiet words. Dont worry too much about what you cant do. Its uncertain theyll still be alive tomorrow. If things change, people will get better. Well make it so. Gyeo-ul didnt answer. The misunderstanding seemed to deepen even more. Just in time, the loud sound of trees being felled in the neighborhood cut off the conversation. Heavy equipment made for logging operations was being used to cut down trees. When it was placed on a trailer, it was secured by a workforce and transported to a sawmill at the foot of the Black Mountain. After passing through San Miguel from Port Roberts and running about fifteen kilometers southeast of Paso Robles, a small town named Creston appeared. Nine kilometers south of that was Black Mountain. Todays mission was Convoy Escort. In fact, the same mission had been getting repeated since January because air transport alone could not handle the consumption of Fort Roberts supplies. The newly-appointed camp commander was so motivated that he declared that he would procure wood himself instead of delaying any construction work. Refugee workers and volunteers were mobilized for the work. It would not be easy to restart the abandoned facilities, but there were many suitable engineers among the refugees. Since the power supply was resolved, it had been easy. Someone then called out to Gyeo-ul in Korean. Captain! I think youll have to come in for a while! It was one of the combatants from the Winter Alliance. He was panting a lot, probably from running. Gyeo-ul approached him after excusing Lieutenant Colonel Capston. Whats going on, Hanbyul? Why didnt you call me over the radio? I couldnt do that Gyeo-ul wasnt worried that a mutant had appeared or anything like that. Nothing had changed in the camps atmosphere, and he couldnt feel any urgency or fear coming from Hanbyul, even though he was panting. However, he did look troubled in many ways. Hanbyul looked around and whispered, Yura and Jin-seok are arguing, so I wanted you to stop them. What? Arguing? Yes. Theyve been arguing often lately, but this is worse. Oh, please keep it a secret that I told you this. Okay? Now Gyeo-ul could see why he hadnt used the radio. If he had, Yura and Jin-seok would have heard him, and they wouldnt want Gyeo-ul to see their fight. This also meant that they wouldnt want to tell Gyeo-ul about it. Perhaps they had even already asked their team members not to say anything. The man in front of him immediately showed signs of that. I knew it was getting worse, but S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He had been reading the atmosphere through memos from the disabled community. However, there was a limit to what they could find out, as well as a shortage of numbers in the first place. If it were a fight that would end soon, Hanbyul wouldnt have come like this. Gyeo-ul went to comfort him. You did well to tell me. Relax, Ill keep the secret for you. Oh, thank God. Go ahead. If we show up together, itll look suspicious. Yes! Come on in! Brightening up, he began to run back. Gyeo-ul walked in a slightly different direction. Soldiers and volunteers who were standing on the outskirts of the work site looked a little surprised to see him and said hello. Are you on patrol? Something like that. Take it easy. As he progressed, he began to hear the sounds of a quarrel. Both sides were raising their voices in earnest. They had apparently judged that the noise from the logging operations could not be heard far away. Gyeo-ul approached from behind the two of them. His arrival was visible to other nearby groups, though, so he signaled them to keep quietas if they didnt know to. Yura had her hands on her waist as she continued to argue with Jin-seok. So?! Why do you care about other peoples groups? Jin-seok seemed to be full of irritation. How many times do you need me to say the same thing?! I can point out if you have a bad working attitude! Thats what the army is like! What are we doing right now? Youre standing guard! Youre protecting people! Are you going to take responsibility if a mutant shows up? Huh? Who the hell said I let my guard down? Did I doze off or start playing around? I can lean on a tree or sit on a stump for a while! I have to watch properly! Is there a law that says you have to stand still to do that? Im not a mannequin! Your mind is the problem! This is the middle of a polluted area! You should always be alert! Dont you understand that if your attitude is bad, your mindset will also be unfocused? I dont think you realize because its your first time in the military, but discipline is important! What about stamina? I can do it for an hour or two. But its the whole day! How exhausting it is for a person to stand all day long! If you need to fight, wouldnt it be advantageous if you had a little more stamina? And the same for your concentration! I think you can stay focused longer if you feel comfortable. The mind and body are the same! Oh my God! Think about the way it looks to other people! Are we the only ones here? Youre just thinking of your pride? Pride is pride, but Im saying we should be considerate of the people who are working! Those tree-cutters, they trust us to do our job, and if we look disorganized, they wont feel very confident in us! Its also part of our job to reassure them! It was only a trivial matter, but each of them was saying something reasonable. Yura valued efficiency; Jin-seok emphasized discipline and responsibility. From the beginning, he could not allow people to bother each other. Gyeo-ul found it novel in itself that a fight had formed. He understood the integrity of being strict with others as he was strict with himself, but it was unexpected to have to fight against Yura, who had a soft personality. No matter her personality, though, Yuras relationship with Jin-seok, who always said hateful things, had always been bound to be bad. But that alone was not enough. In Gyeo-uls opinion, Yura would have avoided a fight if she had been alone. Perhaps it was due to a sense of responsibility. When she had been entrusted with the first combat team leader, shed said she would do her best not to disappoint Gyeo-ul. Similarly, perhaps she felt responsible for her teammates now? Thinking about stopping the fight, Gyeo-ul instead decided to wait and see what happened. They both seemed to be offended anyway, and at least they were getting it off their chests. When a person was angry, he or she was still bound to be honest. Of course, what they said could still be twisted by their anger, so one had to filter it carefully. Watching the ensuing fight, Gyeo-ul realized two things. The first was that Jin-seok recognized Yura. If he had kept his first impression of Paso Robles, he would have given up the conversation or made personal attacks, saying that she was such a nuisance. However, he wasnt. He was angry but still stating his opinion to the end. The second was Yuras increased confidence. In the past, she had often shrunk because she blamed herself for not being able to do her part. It was different now. It had been worth training her. Thats enough out of both of you. Jin-seok and Yura were horrified to hear Gyeo-uls voice. Jin-seok stammered, H-how long have you been there? Is that important? Jin-seok was embarrassed again by the simple rebuttal. The boy relieved him with a smile. Ive listened to you seriously. I think both sides are somewhat correct. Which means theres only one conclusion. Jin-seoks battle group will do things Jin-seoks way, and Yuras battle group will do as Yura says. Even though Gyeo-ul hadnt taken sides, Jin-seok still didnt seem satisfied. But This is my final decision. Jin-seok shut his mouth respectfully. Gyeo-ul had the right to shut him down, and he had an obligation to follow him. It was what their positions dictated, and Jin-seok clearly understood it. Chapter 72 00072 #After the rain, Black Mountain (2) Its not that I hate Lee Yura, leader. In a separate meeting during patrol, Park Jin-seok confessed his feelings. Of course, I dont like her, either, but I think shes one of the few people I can trust. At least, a hundred times, no, a thousand times better than cowards who think highly of themselves. I saw her training, and she was good at shooting. She was a completely different person from Paso Robles. Isnt that proof of her efforts? Gyeo-ul nodded silently at his words. He wanted to try and end their fighting completely. Giving him time first was, in itself, the best way to dispel doubts about Yuras favor. Im just disappointed. This is a total lack of sense of crisis. In fact, its the same with other people. We should be nervous, but just because were a little more stable, theyve let themselves become too relaxed. The optimistic atmosphere of the alliance itself must have been unsatisfactory. Gyeo-ul wondered if Jin-seok was trying to separate his people from that atmosphere simply by dragging his team to the training ground even before Christmas. He guessed it was a question asked in anticipation of an answer. Gyeo-ul then came up with a proper one. I agree with the need for alertness. But I dont think the current alliance atmosphere is necessarily bad. We cant always live in fear, right? Why not? Were in a crisis of human extinction. If you want to live, of course you do! Jin-seok then emphasized his fear. Ill be honest with you. Im scared! I have nightmares every day! Im chased by the dead, or Im eaten, and I open my eyes and get scared again that the dream will become a reality someday! Is it a groundless worry? Absolutely not! His rising voice was quite emotional. The last raid was successful thanks to you, but can you be so lucky every time? If you want to increase your chances of surviving in the event of a crisis, you cant tolerate even the slightest neglect or laziness. Everyone has to push themselves to the limit! Its so hard that I feel like Im going to die! But even though its that hard, its much better than dying. I think so! Thats how I want to live! Jin-seoks uptight attitude seemed to be a means of confronting fear in his own way. Gyeo-ul shook his head. I understand, but not everyone is as strong as Mr. Park. Really. How many people can face fear like that? Everyone has different limits. I think mental relaxation is like a lubricant. Just as machines that run out of oil wear out and break down easily, wont people who have no time to spare fall apart as they bump into each other? Whats best for the individual and whats best for the community are very different. Thats what I feel. Just because its possible for one person, you cant impose that standard on everyone. At this, Jin-seok wriggled his eyebrows. Then why dont people who can do it do it? What? Lee Yura, leader. I was sure as I watched. Lee Yura can do it, she has the ability. But she doesnt do it. Thats not honorable! Gyeo-ul felt surprised on the surface and confused deeper down. Honorable? Did you misspeak? No, Im telling you right. Even though the alliance has grown so much, everybody is still willing to rely on you. Where are all the people who said they were sorry when they called in minors to be leaders? Theres someone else to do the most dangerous thing every time, and they shamelessly find a way to live with it? I cant accept that. He meant well, but Jin-seoks attitude was quite aggressive. His expression showed strong disgust. Gyeo-ul gave him a strained smile. Please calm down for now. Youre so upset. Excuse me. Since this time was nominally for patrolling, there was plenty of room to breathe while walking. After Jin-seok calmed a bit, Gyeo-ul spoke up. Well, I hope you think on it a bit longer, Mr. Park Jin-seok, you think youre okay. You think you can keep going as you are now. But I think youre very mentally cornered. If you say you cant help it because of our reality, I can understand. But if you keep doing that, I cant trust other people. Because you dont like it. Jin-seok was visibly shaken. Thats another matter. Do you think so? Gyeo-ul shook his head. Wont it be hard to protect the people you despise from the bottom of your heart? I understand your position. Which means I cant leave the responsibility to you anymore. For the people, for Jin-seok. No, but my efforts Stop. I havent decided what Im going to do right now. Youve done a great job so far. Take your time. Then youll be able to take responsibility for more people. Jin-seok shut his mouth tightly. Gyeo-ul looked in a different direction, pretending not to know. I think it was too obvious. However, it would work. I didnt mean anything bad. After sending in Jin-seok, Gyeo-ul visited Yura. However, the attitude of Yuras soldiers had changed. No more leaning, no more sitting. As soon as Yura saw Gyeo-ul, she began to cry. Im sorry for earlier. I showed you a bad side of myself. I shouldnt have done that. Its okay. As I came here, the team was all standing up. Was that your order? Oh, yes! Thats right! She nodded eagerly. She was obviously in a state of panic about this. I just thought about it after my head cooled down, and I think there are some things that Jin-seok is right about. Really? S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Yes, yes. We need to show our sincerity to the loggers. Were here to protect them, arent we? But its also our job to let them work with confidence. Jin-seok was right, but I got mad, right? I think Ive been venting my anger because of the grudge I usually hold against him. And now Im ashamed because Ive thought about it. Im a fool. Of course, I should have thought of it. It was very embarrassing to behold, and her words came incredibly fast. She must have been desperate to say what she had to say as soon as she saw him. The embarrassment that Gyeo-ul had caught her and Jin-seok arguing also seemed to have played a significant part. It was amusing. Gyeo-ul burst into honest laughter. Youre great. Great? Youre making fun of me, arent you? No, I mean it. Why would I tease you? Still, Yura couldnt believe it. There was no need to persuade her. Shed believe it if Gyeo-ul told her everything about the conversation hed had with Jin-seok, but that would be a rash act in its own way. When Jin-seok had revealed his true feelings, he wouldnt have thought the conversation would leak anywhere. Then a shot rang out. It was only one, but the whole worksite froze. Gyeo-ul sent a signal for the refugee workers and other troops to be relieved. It was like there had been a little warning of sense of survival. In the meantime, there was a radio announcing the first measure, second report. [This is border number sixteen. Ive killed a ghoul!] It was, unfortunately, Jang Han-byul who had taken the shot. He was the person whod informed Gyeo-ul of the fight between Yura and Jin-seok. And with his impressive zero shots, hed got Pierces admiration as the designated shooter. When Yura and Gyeo-ul arrived side by side, Han-byul looked very excited. Captain! Look over there! Ghoul showed up, and I killed it in one shot! The location he was pointing to was quite far away, almost two hundred meters. It was amazing that the Ghoul hadnt been standing still, yet hed hit it with a single shot. Moreover, if it had died from that shot, it was even more impressive because it meant that hed hit its head or equivalent. Thats great. I think your skills are improving day by day. Its not my skill, the scope helped me a lot. I really like it. He was now a regular soldier, not a volunteer, so his equipment was also paid for on a regular army basis, including a quadruple scope. It wasnt specifically for him to shoot better, but it was the basic accessory of the American infantry. You dont have to be humble. Your skills have improved. Seeing as he fell down dead, it looks like he was running away, but you blew his head off with a predictive shot, right? In one shot. Even a very skilled shooter couldnt do that. Han-byul, who was feeling better, began to laugh, accompanying this with strange sounds. Praise was a motivation that worked for everyone. Han-byul, who had been so afraid of pulling the trigger at first, liked shooting more than anyone else since he continued to be praised at every shooting drill. Now, U.S. military instructors called him Miss Trigger Happy. However, that laugh was a little Yura had an alert look on her face. Any others besides that one? No, there was only one. Its weird. Han-byuls voice was shaking in response. The same went for both hands, still holding his guns, because of the excitement of battle. There was a connection with fear, but overall it was a completely different concept. Its not weird. Its probably a search. Gyeo-uls words surprised Yura. Search? Yes, were doing the same thing at the same time these days, coming to the same place and working. Theres nothing strange about the mutants learning patterns. Most of all, it would be a smart dog or a wolf, and I dont think theyd hang around on their own for no reason. Suddenly, Im getting scared. If you dont miss your shots, youll be fine for a while. I guess theyre planning and attacking. A lot of special mutants died on Christmas. Gyeo-uls presumption had been proven affirmative by Insight. In that sense, once again, Han-byul, you did a great job. Han-byul smiled as he hugged the gun close to him. After that, nothing special happened until the logging work was completed. The work eventually finished at 3:30 p.m. The day was short because it was winter, and the work schedule was made to make sure everyone returned before sunset. Todays sunset was at 5:13 p.m. A little sunlight remained after, so there was plenty of time to spare. A group of Chinese refugee workers approached Gyeo-ul to conduct final material and personnel checks before departure. The combatants who were with him seemed a little nervous, but Gyeo-ul raised his hand to reassure them. There was no group crazy enough to haze Gyeo-ul now. No, theres one. The Pure Gospel Church, an increasingly serious fanatic group, was impossible to predict because of its lack of rationality. They also had a reason to hate Gyeo-ul. The massive attack by mutants on Christmas Day had affected everyone. However, Gyeo-ul had warned of it in advance. To them, this seemed to have been a prophecy. Gyeo-ul recalled the epigrams. One of them was holding the Bible in one hand and pointing with the other while shouting. You are a false prophet! The trumpeter of the devil! Listen to the Bible! If any prophet says something that I have not commanded him to declare in my name, if he says it in the name of other gods, he will be killed! Listen to the Bible! Let us be angry at the foolish prophet who prophesies according to his spirit without seeing what the LORD Jehovah has said! You, prophet, are a fox in the wilderness! He looked at the vain and false divination and made people hope that the words would be firmly fulfilled, not Jehovah! Listen to the Bible! I, Jehovah, say! How would you compare wheat with chaff? For the prophet who has obtained it will speak it, and the one who receives it will speak it with sincerity. I, Jehovah, say! What Im saying is like fire! Isnt it like using a bat to smash rocks? I, Jehovah, say! So look! I will take the prophets who steal my words from each other! Gyeo-ul thought. There must be a lot of good passages in the Bible, but even there, you could only see what you wanted to see. The time he spent in thought was short, but it was enough for some Chinese workers to approach. On the surface, it seemed that they had come just to thank Gyeo-ul for protecting them rather than with any particular intention. The combatants relaxed. However, Gyeo-ul was still wondering. This hadnt happened for the past fifteen days. Brother! Thank you for your hard work today! Were doing our job at ease, thanks to you! While receiving these words, there was a person who asked for a handshake. When Gyeo-ul took their hand, he could feel a keen sensation in his own. It was the texture of folded paper. A letter? Gyeo-ul pretended not to notice and put it in his pocket with an invisible motion. The returning motorcade had a strong escort. In addition to a Humvee, a number of LSVs traveled widely between left and right in the ranks, wary of a wide range of areas. Gyeo-ul opened the letter once he was in the Humvee. Chapter 73 00073 RainC> #After the rain, Fort Roberts (3) The scenery back to Fort Roberts looked very different than it had in the past. On the vast land nearby, straight, dug-out lines drew thousands of strands in the dark soil, making it feel like entering a vast agricultural land. The area of farmland was expanding in real-time. Dozens of U.S. military trucks towing the sowing machine drew lines at a slow speed of two miles an hour. Of course, it wasnt really farming. They were planting mines, not seeds. As a large, thick plow cut through the ground, mines fell into a well-pulled furrow before a large chunk of iron pushed the soil back in to fill it. An infantryman followed them on foot. His role was to check with the naked eye that the mines were buried properly. Death-planting farmers. Gyeo-ul found the metaphor he had come up with interesting. How many sparks had been waiting for germination in that vast land? An automated landmine device (M57 ATMDS) could bury 2,300 mines in a single day. Battle sense brought in Insight. Estimates then entered Gyeo-uls mind in augmented reality UI. About 27,000 mines were buried in the area. The whole thing was an anti-tank mine. It was mainly a means of denying access to Grumbles. It had enough power to destroy a tank or blow up an armored car, so no matter how strong the Grumble that stepped on it was, it would ultimately die. The mines would also act as a threat to other special mutants because of their range. Gyeo-ul thought there were both advantages and disadvantages to it. On the one hand, the threat would be clear to any attackers. On the other, in an emergency, the way out would be limited. It was unlikely, but it would still be difficult if the line of defense collapsed or the spread of infection began inside the fortress. The driver grinned and asked, Is that a love letter? Hmm? At the drivers mischievous wink, Gyeo-ul blinked and looked down at his hand. Oh, my. Unconsciously, he must have been fiddling with the folded letter paper all the way. Its not that romantic. Hey, dont do that. You seem to have been thinking seriously since reading it. Who is it? All the soldiers on board showed their curiosity. Few people were more famous in the United States today than Gyeo-ul, and a celebritys private life made for interesting gossip, even more so if it turned out to be a love affair. A strange rumor had already arisen. Gyeo-ul shook his head. Its not like that. Its not even a woman who sent it to me. Oh my God! Do you like men? It was a boring joke. The person who had sent the letter introduced himself as a member of the Triad and co-agent for the survivors of Hwaseunghwa and Subangbang. He described Gyeo-uls virtues and achievements with lavish rhetoric and then jumped to the point. Brother! We dont want to admit Lichinzen anymore. It is true that he was the head of Sinui An in the past, but if he wants to be the head once again, he must be formally elected according to tradition. Besides, we were originally a separate organization from Sinui An. I know that you see us as the same group. Thats correct. Its true that we belong to the Triad. But I want you to know that the organization and genealogy will be divided again. Just as the Triad exists again in the black society. But here we had a small number, and we needed a place to trust with our family. Thats why Lichinzen has discriminated against us so far. He broke his pledge to treat us as an equal brother first. I heard that you did not join the Triad because you were wary of it. You were very wise. Despite such discrimination, we had no choice but to put up with it. This is because he abandoned his friendship with other compatriots while he was part of the Triad. Even if they were independent, sacrifices were inevitable, and it was doubtful whether they would be able to stand on their own feet after the number decreased. Moreover, there are many orphans and widows among us. Other brothers who offered to save their compatriots when the Morgellons infection spread never returned. I promised to take responsibility for their families in their place, as the friend of Hwaseunghwa. The same goes for Subangbang. Please dont think were just gangsters. In Chinese, nomad and gangster are the same words. Brother! Please take us. I want to follow you, who always maintains righteousness, justice, and virtue. You can be the leader of Hwasu, or you can include us in the Winter Alliance. Ill pay you back. Please. At the end of the letter, which was filled with small letters in order to save paper, there was a way to contact them secretly. There was room for relief, assuming that the contents of the letter were true. The crime of a gangster was the responsibility of a gangster. They couldnt simply ask those families. If they were in a difficult situation, it was worth considering the request. There was something suspicious, though. Morgellons was a disease where the skin became rotten like a corpse. According to the letter, when the infections began spreading on the west coast of North America, criminals in Hwaseunghwa and Subangbang had stepped in to save the Chinese people. But was that true? Was there that much humanity in the gangsters who ran gambling houses, sold women to brothels, and trafficked drugs? Gyeo-ul judged that it was possible enough. For gangsters bluffing is important for them. They might have stepped up to show it internally. Theyre probably going to get a protection tax. Maybe they were going to go out and hide in a safe place, spend some time in moderation, and come back. Or, it could have been a dramatic change in those who had faced a major catastrophe with very little chance of survival. Anyway, Gyeo-ul couldnt make such a decision himself. At least two managers should be consulted to show that he respected them. It wasnt anything urgent. Some of the vehicles that entered the base went straight to the construction site. Woodblocks that were dried with a dryer and processed according to the specifications could be used without additional trimming. Gyeo-ul supervised the distribution of materials since the cooperative organizations protected by the alliance had been asked to prevent irregularities from occurring in the distribution process. It didnt matter whether the boy officer had supervisory authority or not. They roamed around the area and dropped materials, and most people thought Gyeo-ul was in charge. Even the engineer corps, who originally served as the supervisor, did the same. Come on! Come on! The people who had come out to receive the material thanked Gyeo-ul. The U.S. military found it strange. Why are they asking you to come? It means thank you, in their language. Its not Come on. Aha. The ethnic diversity of the refugee zones was very high. There were dozens of people from East Asia and Oceania, so there were dozens of them in nationality alone. However, the population distribution was mostly from China, Korea, and Japan. Australian and New Zealand refugees were transferred to completely different bases, and refugees of other nationalities were few. In the most extreme case, there was only one family member from Tuvalu. The number was small, so they just drove them into a residential district located across from the Chinese residential district. They didnt usually meet. Only after that did Gyeo-ul head to the alliance. The alliances headquarters was the first place where construction began. The groundbreaking ceremony was also being held here. Captain, are you coming back now? You did a great job today. Hahaha. A strange man approached. He was dressed in thick clothes, and on his right arm, he wore a snowflake pad, a symbol of the alliance. It was a means of indicating middlemen. His laughter felt a little servile, and he was naturally bent at his waist. Oh, yeah. Ive seen him a few times Gyeo-ul thought. Im sorry, but whats your name? Gyeo-ul asked, even though he knew the answer. The mans mouth twitched slightly. He introduced himself with a smile. Oh, Im sorry. You may have forgotten because you are busy. My name is Baek San-ho. I see. May I borrow your walkie-talkie for a while? Yes! Here you are! Military channels were not used at construction sites, so it was easier for Gyeo-ul to borrow someones walkie on-site than to change his radio settings. The man held out his radio with exaggerated politeness. Meanwhile, people working on the scaffold also greeted Gyeo-ul. Good afternoon, good afternoon. The boy answered them with a few simple nods and called the managers. Jang Yeon-chul, Min Wan-ki, this is Gyeo-ul. Can you hear me? Yes, go ahead. Im listening! Please come back to the headquarters for a moment to discuss something. Ill be right there. On my way! Their answers came back almost simultaneously, overlapping with each other. The headquarters was the same tent in which Gyeo-ul and his allies had first met. Most of the residents had now been replaced. It was like an alliance management office. Gyeo-ul returned the radio to Baek San-ho. He looked at the other mans clothes quietly and asked for a handshake. It was nice to see you. Haha, yes. Thank you for all your hard work. Baek San-hos bare hands were warm and soft. He ran straight to the construction site. People around him were blatantly watching. Some tilted their heads, and some frowned, alternating between him and Gyeo-ul. It was a long way off, but it was apparently a personal firearm skill correction. s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He didnt smell like sweat. Of course, not all work caused one to sweat. Gyeo-ul glanced down at his hand. The wind was busy blowing between his fingers. Working outdoors on a windy and cold day, that man had warm hands without gloves, and in addition, there was no soil or sawdust on him. Gyeo-ul looked at the barrel drums stuffed with firewood. There were several such shelters, but few people actually took a break. The same went for middle managers with snowflake knots. Everyone was in light clothes compared to the weather. The boy shook his head. Ill tell them to fire them after using them properly. He could also just point it out and wait for it to be fixed. It would be fairer on that side. However, the alliance was a new organization. The credibility of early executives was an important issue. The boundaries between what was fair and what had to be done were the same as Gyeo-uls own limitations. The headquarters were almost empty. Several men and women bowed to Gyeo-ul as he came in. There was an old woman sitting in the corner who couldnt speak, but Kang Young-soon welcomed Gyeo-uls return with a gentle smile. He sent some sign language with both hands, but it was not really sign language. That meant that he had a note to receive. He didnt have to find it right away. Gyeo-ul signaled that he would see him in a little while and went a bit further into the barracks. There was an oil stove and a table, and Gyeo-ul pulled three chairs near the stove. Sitting near the fire, he was ready to warm up for a while when Jang Yeon-cheol arrived. He had good physical strength as old as he was, but he must have run, and his breathing was rough. Gyeo-ul pointed to the opposite chair. Sit down. Take a little time to get your breath back. A little while later, Min Wan-ki also arrived. He made a slight bow towards Gyeo-ul and filled the other spot with a casual gesture. Gyeo-ul promptly explained the situation, finishing up by saying, I think thats why we should decide our position. What do you think? The answer was mixed. I agree! Im against it. The former was Jang Yeon-chul, the latter Min Wan-ki. Gyeo-ul had a light smile on his face as the two managers stared at each other. Chapter 75 00075 #After the rain, Fort Roberts (5) Many people claimed that the disabled and the non-disabled were equal. However, for most, words and actions rarely coincided. It was not because they were intentionally evil but because it was difficult to act as such. What was so difficult about it? Its hard not to have compassion, Gyeo-ul thought. Pity was the nature of man, pity for those who were weaker than him. Therefore, compassion for someone was the perception that someone was weaker than oneself. Good men discriminated against the disabled because they were good; evil men discriminated against the disabled because they were evil. Jang Yeon-chul was a typical example. He called the disabled friends. In doing so, he revealed a sense of duty that non-disabled people should consider disabled people as friends. His intentions were very good. However, a true egalitarian would say this: Why is a disabled person your friend? Gyeo-ul told Kang Young-soon, If I make the same mistake, please point it out. Im afraid Ill be rude unconsciously. The old woman smiled and took up her pen. Thats enough for me. Didnt even Confucius say that everything was in line with the law when he was seventy? I think its too much to expect an adults perspective from a little captain. Im sorry for Jang Yeon-chul. Old Kang was sorry for Jang Yeon-chul, who treated the disabled with prejudice. Jang Yeon-chul was a man of good heart. If his prejudice were pointed out to him, he would be ashamed and try to correct it, and the respect he held was well-deserved. However, Kang advised Gyeo-ul to use his prejudice. The old woman persuaded Gyeo-ul in a single line. The bigger the shade of prejudice, the better it will be to hide there. Disabled people volunteered to be Gyeo-uls eyes and ears. The lower the alertness of other people to them, the easier it was for them to fulfill that role. As such, the disabled people working for Gyeo-ul would rather be treated as poor people This was what the disabled people wanted. They wanted to discover new possibilities in their disabilities and feel rewarded for contributing to the community. If you knew what was going on, you wouldnt think badly of him either. Its contradictory, but you can see it like this: I am paying back the mistakes I made because of prejudice. There are many people we should be sorry for besides Jang. Its like cheating on everyone. Its just that this is necessary, and its for everyone, so we compromise. So dont worry about it. The old woman responded with a smile instead of writing a message. The conversation finished, Gyeo-ul began to read over some notes taken from Kang Young-soon. The secret internal surveillance was the role of one of the disabled, Lee Hoon-tae, but he did not stand still just because he was disabled. Perhaps it was because theyd had a hard time together, so they had a strong sense of camaraderie. Thanks to this, the amount of information that Gyeo-ul was receiving had increased. He read a little bit about religious activities in the alliance. Something about it was bothering him. It was a record of a service held during the meeting of some Christians. The Lord loves us. The Lord wants to save us. But who is saving us now? Who is the one who loves us? Isnt he the will of the Lord to stay with us? There is nothing in the world that is not the providence of the Lord. Do you believe that all history and events are in the Lords plan from the moment of creation to Judgment Day? So, do you believe that a boy named Gyeo-ul, the son of man, is the grace of the Lord who came to the body of man? You have to believe it. You have to believe it. The Lord has taught me by a miracle. How could the boy have accomplished so much without grace? How else can a man be saved as a prophecy, and how else can new miracles happen wherever he goes? Isnt the body truly Gods will? S?a?ch* Th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. This son of man doesnt know himself yet. He doesnt know that he has to be anointed by the Holy Spirit. Because no one has told him. Because there were no people who said, Where is the king? I have come to worship him. This is the mission we have been given. We are the ones who have been chosen. The writer must have hidden and taken notes at the scene, so they were considered crooked. They had also devoted a lot of attention to peoples enthusiastic responses. Tears, cheering, clapping, etc. The boy shook his head. Ill have to convert to Islam. The old woman sitting opposite him laughed and covered her mouth. Then she wrote on the paper once more. Would you like to be their savior? Stop joking around. There would be far more disadvantages than advantages to that. Religious communities were prone to conservatism. The ultimate answer to every question existed, so it denied everything else. Biblical inerrancy and Sharia were examples. Of course, religious communities could be reasonable enough. However, it was difficult to bet on a community that believed their savior would come again. However, it would not be easy to pretend to be a Messiah. The rejection of the mind was greater than the difficulty of practice. It was too far from the way of life Gyeo-ul wanted to protect. The old woman picked up her notebook. I think thats a great thing about you, but I dont think you should leave them alone. Im afraid more people will be swept away if left unattended. As you already know, many people are wary of you inside and outside the alliance. I dont know. Lets just keep it in mind. Other problems need to be solved first. First, they needed to meet the speakers from the report. Did they really believe what they were saying, or did they just want to gain profit and influence by trading on Gyeo-uls name? Depending on which was true, the countermeasures would be different. If it was urgent, then they could do a counterattack. The old woman then wrote down a new question. What is the problem? Gyeo-ul briefly thought about it and confided to her about the unknown mans letter and the differences between the two managers. It was supposed to be a secret, but there was no point in hiding it just because it was one. That was why the old woman had already shared a bigger secret with the boy. How do you like it? What do you think I should do? In response, Kang Young-soon wrote a little slower than usual. For me, its very difficult to say which is better. Because I dont have the right to give advice. No, right? Why do you say that? Because Im from a generation that experienced 6.25. As Gyeo-ul tilted his head, the old woman added a few lines of explanation. I still see the war in my dreams. Its a fear carved into the bone. These days, new fears have been added, but new ones dont take the place of the old. And in one corner of that nightmare, theres still the fear of the Chinese army. Thats why. I could hate the Chinese people. Of course, I dont feel that way myself, but as long as my dream is still obsessed with the old war, wont the effects necessarily exist in my subconscious? In other words, because this incident was related to the Chinese, she was not confident in making an objective judgment. Gyeo-ul formed a soft smile. Ill take that into account while Im listening. Im just trying to get as many opinions as I can before making a decision. So, you dont have to think too hard. Speak comfortably. The pen stopped. The old woman shifted into a more comfortable position and went through a long deliberation. Eventually, her decision began to flow from the pen. From the perspective of Jang Yeon-chuls good intentions, it is embarrassing to oppose helping others, regardless of the reason, but Min Wan-kis opinion seems more reasonable to me. The Triads members include those who have committed crimes in the past. Theres a saying, Hate the sin, not the sinner, but this incident is different. In my view, the problem is not their sin but the resentment against them for sinning. The person who wrote the letter said that the members of Hwaseunghwa and Subangbang were discriminated against in the Triad. It was a family hostage situation, so how easy would it have been for the Triad? There must have been so much blood on their hands. So if the alliance accepts and protects them, wouldnt those who have resentment against Hwaseunghwa and Subangbang also develop a grudge against the allies and the captain? Gyeo-ul argued back, If that kind of resentment existed, it would have already started when I joined the Triad. Because of the Winter Alliance, other Chinese organizations are having trouble with the Triad. Kang Young-soon began to write down her answers even before he had finished speaking. Its a little different, though. So far, youve been a third party with indirect influence; however, youll become a party to the resentment after accepting the faction of the unknown man. It is also necessary for them to establish a good relationship with us as a means of maintaining their organization. Life with the Winter Alliance looks better, or people who break away from the inner conflict wouldnt continue to appear. Its different from simply disliking or having antipathy. Gyeo-ul stated his opinion in response. In a way, its the same argument as Min Wan-kis opposition, but thats something I hadnt thought of yet. Thank you for a good idea. Ill think more about what you said. The old woman smiled mildly. Afterward, Gyeo-ul read the remaining notes meticulously and got up from his seat, sorting them out. Its late; get some rest today. The boy bowed to the old woman and left the alliance headquarters. Even though the sun had passed the horizon, the construction site was still busy. Gyeo-ul thought about this and that all the way to the accommodation block, receiving many greetings. There must already have been many Chinese who thought the Winter Alliance would be better to live in, but no one had actually wanted to trust it. They must have thought the alliance was the home of Koreans. There were only five countryless people in the camp, and they had been at Amalias request. Therefore, the difference in nationality was an invisible wall. If Gyeo-ul accepted the unknown man, the wall would eventually collapse. That was Jang Yeon-chuls claim, and in fact, Gyeo-ul also wished for it. But other Chinese organizations would naturally dislike it. Kang Young-soon had also pointed out that the wall of nationality would soon be replaced with a wall of resentment. He doubted how effective that would be. In the worst-case scenario, there was a possibility that the Chinese would somehow try to kill a faction of the unknown mans people, perhaps to prevent a series of deviations. Perhaps it wouldnt even stop there. You might want to warn Gyeo-ul, too. Dont interfere in our affairs. On the other hand, there was no possibility of a head-on fight. That would be like suicide. However, what if there were an unspecified number of indiscriminate attacks targeting the Gyeo-ul alliance? Suddenly, Gyeo-ul remembered the time when he went to meet Li Chinzen. The sense of survival and sense of battle had warned of the death of the war machine, which was believed to be a bow or sling system. It was already easier to find materials to make weapons due to construction going on everywhere these days. Maybe we can use it. The U.S. military would not allow a full-fledged projectile machine as it would pose a serious threat to the security of the base. Of course, the Chinese knew that. Unless a dangerous situation occurred, they wouldnt actually try to use it. That was, of course, unless a dangerous situation was to occur. Chapter 76 00076 #After the rain, Fort Roberts (6) Ten kilometers from Fort Roberts, down the Salinas River, a small village called Bradley was located. Today, Gyeo-uls mission was to capture it. If the mission were a success, engineers and refugee workers would soon be deployed to this village to begin the bases expansion. Gyeo-ul watched as troops approached the village entrance. Most of them were volunteers from the Triad, and an additional squad and driver soldiers had been added to Able Company for management and support. The latters supervisor was Sergeant Arturo Al Rivera. In other words, no one other than Gyeo-ul was in charge of the operation. No matter how trivial the operation was, the change in the attitude of the U.S. military signaled by their leaving the command of the operation to a boy officer was very impressive. Even if it was mainly volunteers, the size of the troop was equivalent to one company. In fact, Gyeo-ul was even able to play the role of a temporary company commander. The condition of the promotion, which had been suspended at the time of receiving the Silver Star Medal, was a formal completion of officer education. Therefore it could be assumed that they recognized Gyeo-uls ability to command even though he had not completed his education. Still, it was necessary to go through a formal curriculum for the future. There may be some recommended progress in the near future. The control AI was recommending certain types of progress in case of a situational operation. This one was called recommended progress. It was okay to refuse, but there was nothing good about doing so. Gyeo-ul then radioed the company channel. All units on standby. At one word of instruction, all the troops split from side to side across the road and entered the boundary before dipping right into kneeling positions. It was not so different from the days when theyd fought against humans because the technique was still effective. It resulted in a reduction of the exposure area and an increase in the hit rate. Of course, if the environment were to change, the revised doctrine would be followed. Gyeo-ul walked toward the cathedral, with soldiers peeking at him. It was the first building at the entrance to the village. From the unique cross with decorations on each branch and the statue of the Virgin Mary on the wall, it was possible to guess that it was a Catholic church, not a Protestant one. Well, California has a strong Catholic community. It was a fact that Gyeo-ul had learned from experience. Perhaps because there were many Latin immigrants, one in three people in California believed in Catholicism. The cathedral was a white, single-story building. A dainty size, less than that of a normal house. If they filled up the chapel, Gyeo-considered, they could perhaps fit thirty people in. The round bell tower was not much higher than the roof. Gyeo-ul, stopping a short distance from the entrance to the cathedral, beckoned for the leader of the troops. First company, first squad. Search and secure the cathedral. This operation was to be the first practical experience of the Triad combat forces that Gyeo-ul had chosen. Therefore, the colors of practice and training had been mixed. This was also why the line of vehicles was not entering the village. Li Ai-ling ran slowly with her squad. This was a proper tactical shift, keeping vigilant while moving. It was proof that they had been enthusiastic about training in their own way. In the meantime, Ai-ling looked fresh. She wore a rank-free combat uniform, had tied her hair in a ponytail, and wore a pair of sunglasses. The tempered black glass reflected the landscape, contrasting sharply with her white skin. It was not a violation of the dress code, and aside from his feelings about Ai-ling as an individual, Gyeo-ul thought she looked quite cool. I should get Yura and Jin-seok sunglasses, too. It would be more helpful for Yura, who lacked authority between the two. Surprisingly, the message logs were not flooding. Every time he faced Ai-ling, a beauty of a rare level in the world, he found her to have changed a lot. Audiences from other worlds might now be used to the boy. As Gyeo-ul watched, Ai-lings squad clattered onto the outer wall of the cathedral. They were still doing as they had been trained, but there was a clear sign of nervousness. Everyones hands were shaking, regardless of gender, and Ai-ling kept looking back at Gyeo-ul. Even though the sunglasses covered her eyes, he could read her expression. It was a natural reaction in a first fight. Hadnt the combatants of the Winter Alliance looked similar in San Miguel? You may have killed a man, but youve never fought a mutant yourself. With this in mind, Gyeo-ul pressed the radio receiver. There is no support. Go by the squad leaders judgment. You just need to do what youve been trained to do. Ai-ling bit her lip when she was urged to act. Was it out of frustration? She must have been looking forward to something. The criminal gangs executive looked around the building, trying to find a way to peek inside. However, he couldnt find one. The door was tightly closed, and the window turned out to be opaque glass. Another member of the organization had taken off his bulletproof cap and put his ear to the door. This was a dangerous act. What if the door suddenly opened? His colleagues needed to prepare for cover fire. However, Gyeo-ul just watched it on the wall. Ai-ling had been playing separately on the side of the building. Because of the tension, all their training had disappeared. It was only because the level of threat detected in the sense of survival was low that Gyeo-ul was just watching, or he would have intervened right away. Squad leader! The vice squad leader! Control the squad! Do not disperse the squad without instructions! At Gyeo-uls strong warning, they shuddered as if they had been struck by lightning. They all looked so nervous that it was hard to think of them as criminals. Everyone was just the same person in the face of fear. But for a man with a sense of order, its better to be a soldier than a criminal. Anyway, it would soon be better after they got used to it. Gyeo-ul held the rifle stock firmly on his shoulder, with his gun stretched out toward the church in case of an emergency. Then, he felt a little strange and turned around to find that everyone was looking at him instead of watching their direction. When Gyeo-ul looked at them closely, the Chinese turned their heads in a hurry. However, there were a few people who were just looking at each other. They were the ones who proved that one actual battle was better than a hundred training sessions. Listen, all company personnel except for the first squad. Watch your direction carefully. Those who neglect their duties will be disciplined when we return. The punishment that Gyeo-ul would give was not a big deal. The second round of punishment within the Triad would be scarier. The spectators military discipline had already intensified. In the meantime, Ai-ling split the squad into two. Gyeo-ul listened quietly to the radio between them; squad leader Ai-ling was now giving instructions. [Kuntao, watch out for the left entrance to the church with Kanchuan! Well, and yes, Zhong Qiu, Guo Jin! You two guard the exit to the right of the church! Zwie Ann! Zekwang! You guys stick to the left and right at the entrance! As soon as the grenade goes off, go in! The rest of you, move with me!] She stammered a little, but it was good enough. You dont have to use a grenade, though. Gyeo-ul didnt bother to interfere. He needed to boost her confidence. Ai-ling broke the window by hand. Her strongly-wielded rifle stock hit the window frame at first. On the second shot, she hit it right. Kwachang! As soon as there was a hole, an unknown member of the action team threw in a grenade. Wait. There was no explosion. At this, Gyeo-ul tilted his head. Did it fail? He could see Ai-ling and the other members exchanging a few words. It was too hard to hear because it was just a small conversation. However, he could see facial expressions and gestures. Ai-ling was angry for a long time and looked up at the sky with her hands on her waist. The scolded person only looked at the ground, his face red. He must have thrown it without pulling the pin. Gyeo-ul sighed briefly. Ai-ling now pushed a gun through the broken window and carefully looked inside the building. Everything was quiet. If there had been a normal mutant in there, it would have reacted to the noise and thrown itself through the window. Ai-lings shoulders sagged. The tension seemed to have eased, but it was still early. There would be a couple of other rooms inside the health center. Gyeo-ul watched her and her men carefully. They seemed to be trying to enter through the main gate. Li Ai-ling gathered the rest there, leaving troops on both sides to guard against each other. Gyeo-ul stood about five meters behind their backs, just in case. After confirming that the boy officer was behind them, they seemed to be more relaxed. They burst through the front door. As soon as they entered, they spread from side to side to secure the flames. As the tension disappeared, their behavior proved to be rather flexible. Gyeo-ul then stepped onto the doorstep. S?a?ch* Th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. A grenade that had been thrown incorrectly was lying in the center of the floor. Ai-ling looked at the person who had thrown it with a frown. The moment the man approached to pick up the grenade, something white fell from above him. Gyeo-ul immediately pulled the trigger. Since he had been outside, he was able to capture the target for only 0.3 seconds. It was the shape of a human being who had spread its limbs. The boys shot quickly penetrated its head. Argh! The Chinese man lying under the body of the ghoul screamed and struggled. Gyeo-ul immediately shouted because the squad members had responded late and aimed at it. Dont shoot! Dont shoot! Its already dead! Drop the guns! If they opened fire, the man underneath would die. The Chinese volunteers who had almost pulled their triggers looked back at the boy officer with pale faces. After a glance at the ceiling, Gyeo-ul confirmed that there was nothing but a shaky chandelier, strode over, and pulled out the Chinese man whod had the seizure. The physical struggle proved to be too much for Gyeo-ul. The boy kicked his gun away. It was to prevent any accidents, but the man seemed even more frightened. He closed his eyes tightly and pushed Gyeo-ul away with a gesture. Get off! Get off me! Argh! Mom! Mom! Im dying! Im dying! Wake up! Gyeo-ul slapped his cheek vigorously, then grabbed him by the collar with one hand and pulled him up, shouting in close reach. Changlong! Changlong! Open your eyes and look at me! Gyeo-ul had seen his name tag, and calling the name was effective. The man opened his eyes and looked up at Gyeo-ul. The scream disappeared, and only his rough breath remained. Gyeo-ul then spoke up. Calm downits all right now. Gyeo-ul then let go of him slowly. As if his legs were asleep, he couldnt stand upright, and he quickly collapsed. Gyeo-ul checked his watch. It had been thirteen minutes since the operation began. Its going to be a long day. That way, the number of buildings was not even small. Proceeding like a snail would not hinder the completion of the mission. The boy carried out the search alone. The squad still looked pale, even though Gyeo-ul only wanted Ai-lings squad to give cover. He didnt know what would happen if he were to turn his back on them. [Lieutenant Han. Are you okay there?] The radio emitted the voice of Sergeant Rivera, the vice-commander. Gyeo-ul replied immediately. Yes, there was only one ghoul. It was hanging from the ceiling and fell. We shot him. No casualties. [Oh, my Theyve gotten smart these days. Im sorry to hear that. Is there anything else you want to tell me?] Not quite. It wont take long, so wait a little while. [I see, over.] After the conversation, Gyeo-ul approached the back of the chapel. There were two doors. When he stormed through one of them, he found an artifact storage room. The trapped air was stuffy, but there was no smell of mutant. Even if it was a ghoul that had avoided rotting by overcoming immune rejection, it smelled similar to a person who hadnt washed for a long time. Gyeo-ul stepped into the storage room, wary of the opposite door, looked around, and collected the small artifacts. They would be good gifts for those who believed in Catholicism among the allies. He went over and kicked in the remaining door, rushing in this time. However, there was no mutant. Only a body that seemed to have died a long time ago was lying there. A bottle lay beside him. It looked like he had committed suicide. It was the fathers residence, but it was not the father who had ended up committing suicide. Gyeo-ul didnt know what the story was, but it seemed that he had visited the cathedral before he died and ended his life there. After a quick search, Gyeo-ul gathered Ai-lings squad members close to the ghouls body. Come and see. You need to be more familiar with the mutants. The Chinese refused to get close to the already dead ghoul. After reading their fears, Gyeo-ul grabbed the ghouls head and made it face them. Ai-ling covered her mouth. Anyone else could avoid it, but she knew that she shouldnt. She was leading the way. It was the reason why Gyeo-ul kept it facing in her direction. Look straight at it. Just by looking at the dead, you become like this. So, how are you going to do with the actual fight? Ugh To be fair, the ghoul looked disgusting. It was as if the flesh had melted and hardened. Gyeo-ul grabbed the bottom of its face with his free hand and pulled at its chin. This tilted the head back further, making the inside of the mouth visible. If you looked closely, the tongue that fell out was different from that of a human. Do you see it? The infection is in its mouth. In other words, you wont get infected if you dont get bitten or touch its mouth directly. So, come closer. Touch it. Assuming you dont want to freeze and die when youre caught in action. Since this was obviously aimed at her, Ai-ling was forced to come and touch the ghoul. Flinch. Gyeo-ul gave cold instructions. Take off your gloves. What? You cant get infected, so take off your gloves. Do I have to? Gyeo-ul didnt have to answer. She took off her gloves. A long, thin finger touched the skin of the crushed gray monster. Ai-ling closed her eyes tightly and shook. Even if it was not a mutant in the first place, it was dirty, smelly, and even ugly, so it was only natural to feel physiological rejection. After a while, Ai-ling asked in a trembling voice, Is that enough? No. The work of Teaching had reduced the useless time consumption. Gyeo-ul only allowed the rest of the crew to go outside after giving them a terrible experience. The operation then resumed. Chapter 77 00077 #After the RainC #After the rain, Bradley (7) Gyeo-ul watched how the uncontrolled Chinese moved. They continued to gather and scatter together. It was like watching a gang fight. Real-life tension could make ones mind go blank. Those members who had no experience were bound to forget their training during real-life practice. Only weeks of training could craft someone into a skilled warrior. The foundation for a reflexive response to orders could only be set by engraving the instructor on the body. And so, they needed someone to show leadership. Although Li Ai-ling was very clumsy, she played the role well. Sergeant Rivera spoke up. Shes like a new chick from West Point. That was an unfair assessment. Not about Ai-ling, but to the military cadets. West Point was the location of the United States Military Academy. American cadet education seemed to be very practical; military education in the worlds most warfaring country could not possibly be lax. However, the problem was that even the most intense training could not replace real-life experience. Despite his thoughts, Gyeo-ul said little. It was just a self-interested joke, anyway. U.S. noncommissioned officers came from the ranks of the soldier. No wonder the foolishness of the lieutenant was uncomfortable to someone with rich practical experience. Its not a fake feeling. Its due to your own life. The Chinese people would also grow further with this experience, for the U.S. military education system was specialized in this regard. A combat camera on a helmet recorded all operations. Later, anyone could objectively reflect on their performance from their own perspective and that of a third party. He shouldnt have been like that over there. He could do better next time. Gyeo-ul only gave them advice when it was needed. Despite this, the operation had gone well because Bradley was a small town. According to the briefing, Bradleys population had been around ninety before the infection. Air reconnaissance had not found any significant threats. Li Ai-ring seemed to have developed some suspicions. As soon as her squad went to take a break, she approached Gyeo-ul and asked, Why does the U.S. military need this town? Her voice sounded a little tired. Gyeo-ul kept his eyes on the ongoing search of the building. What do you mean? I was wondering what the point of the operation was. The town doesnt have important facilities, and the surrounding terrain doesnt seem advantageous for defense. Is this for practical experience? A great commotion interrupted her. The Chinese were shoutingnot an act to be praised in combat situations. However, it was a big improvement compared to the beginning when they could not move at all. Someone slammed the door and threw the grenade. Boom! After the fire poured out along with some debris, two Chinese volunteers next to the door fired inward. They shot until they emptied their magazines. Gyeo-ul radioed in. Those who are firing now, shoot at different heights. The two men looked back hesitantly. Gyeo-ul pointed out again, Dont point your gun at your colleagues. Think of guns as always loaded and handle them accordingly. And youre not training right now. You should keep an eye on the front. Youll feel stupid if you die. Oh, reload, reload. Remember your training. You just have to stay calm. The two men looked flustered, as if they had made a big mistake. That was why Gyeo-ul didnt bother giving them a hard time. Li Ai-ring took off her sunglasses and covered her face with one hand. She felt ashamed. Perhaps she felt their performance reflected on her. Without having to look back, Gyeo-ul could see her behavior in his peripheral view. The boy had tried to tell her that she was far better than them, but he automatically quit on the idea of saying it again. It was likely to be considered a fake consolation. Instead, he talked to the people who had gone still. Squad leader. Any further instructions? [Yes, Im sorry, sir! Hey, you lazy Nanmantz! Get in! Get in!] Be nice. [Oh. Yes, sir!] Nanmantz meant south barbarian. Since the origin of the Triad was located in Hong Kong, and Hong Kong was attached to Guangdong, it might be a curse word that was customary among the Triad. It was not strange that abusive language was common in the military, but one had to at least stop them from behaving like gangsters so they could play their new roles as soldiers. It was necessary for that context to use finer words. The crew, who had managed to enter the inside with good cover for each other, dragged the two bodies out. They were ordinary mutants with eroded skin. After pulling them out, they rubbed their hands on their pants and made a fuss. They had been instructed to pull out each body in order to make the performance visible. It was part of the effort to somehow help them gain confidence. Gyeo-ul allowed the squad that had completed the search to rest on guard. Ai-ring spoke up coldly. I think I know how Atascaderos brothers died. It was also a reproach for herself, but Gyeo-ul shook his head. You shouldnt say that. Anyway, what was the question you were going to ask? A moment later, there was another explosion. Under the control of U.S. soldiers and Sergeant Rivera, Chinese volunteers were searching several buildings simultaneously. They were almost done with the operation. It was such a small town that there were no more buildings left to occupy. Waiting for the blast to subside, Ai-ring finally asked the delayed question. Was this operation, by any chance, designed for us? You know I dont have the authority to do that. Gyeo-ul explained the purpose of the operation to the best of his knowledge. As I heard it from Lieutenant Colonel Capston, all the U.S. military wants is to carve a way through. A little further downstream, theres the San Ardo oil field. Theyre planning to take over there and deploy and operate refugee workers. I heard its quite big. Bradley here is about halfway up the transportation route. The San Ardo oil field produced about 40,000 barrels a year during the early twenty-first century. At the beginning of the After the End worldview, oil depletion was just around the corner, but Fort Roberts had enough reserves to get by alone. Maybe a few drilling machines will meet the demand for fuel in Fort Roberts. In the long run, they might be in charge of fueling other bases. Of course, theres a lot of pressure to keep the refinery going, but isnt that a good reason? Ai-rings response to this seemed a little impatient. But I dont think its a coincidence that the Chinese were the only ones involved in this operation and that you were in charge of the command. Did you really do nothing? I made a suggestion. You promised to do this from the beginning. This was the condition that Gyeo-ul had given in negotiations with Li Chinzen. Compared to Li Chinzen, who spoke grandly and had no influence on the U.S. military, Gyeo-ul was keeping his promise no matter what. I heard your men were quite the opposition. They are not my subordinates; Im just their elected representative. And, yes, there was opposition. The proportion of volunteers has never been so high in external operations, and thats all the armed forces of the Triad. Even if there are U.S. troops, the number is small. To be honest, there are still a lot of people who cant trust the Triad. Actually, it was a pointless worry. As the combat cameras began to be provided to volunteers when they were dispatched, the U.S. military was able to put less manpower into refugee management. This was because the camera also served as a black box. Refugee volunteers who knew that wouldnt do anything to the U.S. military. Lee Ai-ring nodded enthusiastically. Anyway, despite the opposition, youve been loyal to us. S?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Gyeo-ul was looking at her quietly. Whats making you so nervous? The heroine of the Triad closed her mouth. Gyeo-ul wondered why she wanted to confirm his favor with the Triad. [Lieutenant Han. We have secured all compartments. We have arbitrarily arranged three platoon units near the west ramp to monitor the area, but do you have any further instructions?] The radio broadcasted the voice of Sergeant Rivera. Gyeo-ul responded to the communication. You did a great job. Under your judgment, determine the guard area for the rest of the platoon. And the first platoon is a reserve force. Ill keep them. Call the engineers right after youre done deploying your troops. [I see. Rivera Out.] Being familiar with the operational procedures, Rivera did not hesitate to follow Gyeo-uls instructions. The support of augmented reality UI was not all that important. Gyeo-ul had said he would use the first platoon as a reserve because of his unfinished conversation with Li Ai-ring. She had been pursing her lips while Gyeo-ul was communicating. She seemed to regret that shed shown her feelings too easily. Of course, even he should be mindful of the possibility that she was acting. She was the daughter of a criminal, and Gyeo-ul was not willing to trust a woman who was in crime. Ai-ring remained silent even after the communication was over. However, as long as it was clear that Gyeo-ul had been waiting for her words, it was difficult for Ai-ring to keep quiet. Eventually, she spoke. Ill be honest with you. Im afraid the Chinese will be the sacrifices. Sacrifices? Yes, isnt it common to find a sacrifice on which to concentrate discontent when society becomes unstable? It has been said that the Morgellons may have been intentional. Not long ago, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had announced the Morgellons infection path and characteristics, which was all that had been revealed so far. The fact that there was no air infection was already known, so it was not very useful information that infection was only caused by the bumps produced in the mouth of the infected mutant. However, the announcement was meaningful in that it gave people confidence. Gyeo-ul was not without new information. It had been announced that Morgellons was not a single pathogen disease but was actually presumed to be complications of parasites, viruses, and other pathogens that formed symbiotic relationships. A CDC spokesman had said the pandemic might have been artificially created. The disease was a multiform symbiotic relationship in which humans could only exist as hosts. This meant that it was unlikely to occur spontaneously. Gyeo-ul said, I know what youre worried about, but I dont think the United States is going that crazy. Did such a sense of solidarity work in the East in the first place? It was unlikely to happen in a multiracial country like the United States. However, Ai-ring was far different from Gyeo-ul. Its a time when nothing can be the same as before. The same goes for Americans. So I thought, you have to prove the value. To the zookeeper? Ai-ring paused. It was an expression that she had used in the past. She had warned that Gyeo-ul was only a good breed of livestock, and when a better breed appeared, he would be ruthlessly abandoned. It had been an actual threat. Ai-ring hesitated, removed her serious look as if she had lost, and then laughed awkwardly. Its sometimes hard to tell whether Mr. Han has a good personality or a bad personality. Everyone does. Theres a limit. Limit? Gyeo-ul did not explain what he had just said. Ai-ring didnt ask either, as she thought it wasnt important. She just nodded and went back to their broken-off conversation. Thats right. If you dont want to be slaughtered in anger, you have to prove that youre useful livestock. Today, I was so disappointed in myself and my friends. It wasnt enough for my resolution. So, I thought Id find another way. Another way? Is there such a thing? Im not confident right now, so I wont tell you. I may not ever be able to tell you. There was a sudden surge of noise. Corps of engineers and refugees were collapsing unnecessary buildings and digging the ground with heavy equipment on the outskirts. It was not to make trenches but to lay the foundation of the barrier by inserting a steel frame and pouring concrete into it. As the commotion came, the conversation naturally ceased. Chapter 78 00078 #Intermission %26 #Hardened EarthC #Intermission, picking stars from the sky There were people in the world who shone more than others. Everyone loved their outstanding appearance or extraordinary talents, such as a naturally beautiful voice, perhaps. They called them stars. Star. Didnt that word describe them well? It gave a sense of distance. As with real celestial objects, a human star was a beauty that you couldnt touch. Regardless of how pure ones heart was, yearning for the stars couldnt but end with regret. Nevertheless, some people still chose to reach for the stars. They tried to get their hands on them with crooked affection and false obsession. In most cases, their efforts resulted in crimes, often invading the stars private life or property. They then would begin to spread rumors, threaten the star, sometimes even kill them, thinking theyd rather destroy what they couldnt have. Even if one were to get their hands on the stars, there were still problems. Their beauty was a cross-section of a strong sense of occupation. It was pretty hard to live up to the belief that ones bare face was like starlight. In short, they had to go to the bathroom, too! And if starlight was their essence, why did so many star couples wind up getting divorced? Too many stars had lost their reputation for drugs, illegal gambling, military corruption, or sexual scandals. When you picked a star from the sky, would you be truly satisfied? Stars were the most beautiful from afar. That was right. That was the reality. However, this was what the virtual reality business department of Paradise Group said to that: Fuck The Reality. Everything was possible in virtual reality! You could get the starlight as it was in your fantasy. Assuming, of course, that you had enough money. What did this mean? It meant one could purchase virtual reality character products of celebrities who had contracted with their company. The method was simple. Search for the names of your favorite celebrities in the post-insurance DLC store. Then one would see a list of various products. In brief, these packages were as follows: The first was the Skin Package, which was required to purchase a celebritys appearance. You could use this appearance yourself, or it could be overwritten by a specific virtual personality from the virtual reality worldview you used. The only thing that would change was the appearance of the buyer. There was no significant impact on the level of attractiveness as it appeared in the context of the operation; it was all just for self-satisfaction. As such, this package was the cheapest. The second was the Standard Virtual Personality Package. If one were to buy this, they could put the celebrity in their worldview! Depending on your worldview, you would also be given a proper joining mission! You wouldnt have to worry about mission failure because the operation of the control AI itself was an unconditional success. It would feel like the whole universe was helping you when you wanted it. The buyer would also set up the first meeting. It was possible to create a situation wherein you would dramatically save the celebrity from a crisis, leading them to fall in love with you. Haha, wouldnt a fan have imagined it at least once? Unlike ordinary virtual characters, their purchased character would eventually fall in love with them, no matter what process they were to go through. Unlike the Skin Package, the Standard Virtual Personality Package was applied to the celebritys career, personality, specialties, and abilities. A personality was a changeable option, but a separate fee was often applied in the event of cancellation. Last was the Filmography Virtual Personality Package. It was the highest performing, most expensive, and most limited in utilization. This product utilized the fictional characters that the entertainer had portrayed in movies or shows. The personality, background, and abilities were all tailored to the character. As the setting was specific, it was difficult to use this product in a different background. For example, if one were using the Sunset, a worldview set in the western frontier, it would be strange if a character from an SF worldview suddenly popped up. No matter how good the post-insurance control AI was, it was impossible to give credibility to such a situation. The Standard Virtual Personality Package was somewhat more realistic in this case. That was why it was recommended to check the compatible worldviews carefully before purchasing. These products unit price was usually high, but there were cheaper products if one were to look carefully (though customers werent very interested in them). These were the character packages of unpopular entertainers and old stars. In reality, celebrities didnt make a lot of money. Only the top 0.1% enjoyed the glory of the times. The rest they were hard-working day laborers. So they tried to sell their appearance and character products any way they could. Even celebrities who had reached the entertainment industrys peak couldnt sell their images at high prices after a while. Their best days didnt last that long. There were also a lot of stars who fell into the one-hit-wonder category, as well as rookies making their debuts. So stars did have an obsession with success and could always feel the pressure. An old pop song seemed to fit. Will you still love me when Im no longer young and beautiful? I know you will. Will you still love me when I got nothing but my aching soul? I know you will. The singers answer in the song was pathetic. The hot, pure yearning for the stars was but a moment of passion. There was no such thing as eternal love. This was why the discount on character packages was surprisingly frequent compared to the popularity of stars. When you thought that your life as an entertainer was over, there were many times when you would cry. Because of this, one shouldnt be afraid of the high price. The sales protected you. Ive guided you to celebrity character products so far, but what do you think? Do you have a strong desire to buy? Star chasers, shake out your wallets, and let your hands flood with starlight! For your happiness, the virtual reality department of Paradise Group will continue to make the best efforts for your money. Thank you. #Hardened ground, Fort Roberts (1) The Americans respect for war heroes was extraordinary. As the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor in the world, Gyeo-ul had the right to be saluted first by his superiors. Even the president was no exception. It was not an explicit right, but it was a practice that everyone respected. Gyeo-ul was not obsessed with that right. It was his character and intention to look humble. Every American liked Gyeo-ul, so there were a lot of people who wanted to get to know the boy officer. There were also many enthusiastic supporters of Fort Roberts police force. It was not difficult for Gyeo-ul to get acquainted with them. Sergeant Adare and Officer Dawson, who were now accompanying Gyeo-ul, had also recently become acquainted. The two were embarrassed by Gyeo-uls request to go on patrol together but were pleased to accept it. You seem to patrol more often than before. When Gyeo-ul said this, Sergeant Adare responded positively. Thanks to you, thoughts on the refugees have changed a lot. A directive has been issued from the top to strengthen the management of refugee zones. Its true that weve been indifferent. Its just an excuse, but theyre all out of their minds. I think it was inevitable. Youve lost a lot of things, right? These kind words made the sergeant smile. Yes, definitely. Anyway, now that weve come to our senses, well have to get back what we can. We cant return to the way things were in the past. The conversation was taking place right in the middle of the Chinese-style residential district. Outside the boundaries of the Triad, they were busy crossing the boundaries of other organizations. Gyeo-ul looked at the police patrol route. This was the purpose of his going on this patrol from the beginning. The two policemen had no clue, but there were things only Gyeo-ul could see. Translucent red oblique lines warned of the sense of survival. Its on and off. Well, you cant be very skilled. The invisible shooters never maintained their aim. The oblique line was shaking. The width was in meters. Bow and sling were very difficult weapons to build up skill with, and there was no space to train long-distance fighters. At best, they would have been training short-range fighters in a tent. The poor quality of weapons was also the cause of low hit rates. How high a level of weapon could unskilled workers make from crude materials? Was the patrol route originally this way? Or are you going to take a different route just for today? It was Officer Dawson who answered Gyeo-uls question. He pointed to the middle of the row house construction site. It used to pass by there. The patrol route has changed since construction began. This route will be maintained until the first round of construction is completed. It was a satisfactory answer. The aim warning, which increased and strengthened every time a particular section passed, suggested a lot. It meant that there was something that had to be guarded and watched, but it was difficult to move away from the changed patrol route. After the construction, it will actually become a city. In fact, the population has long been equivalent to a small city. But then the police will start up the graveyard watch again. Im looking forward to it, even though Im sure Ill get tired. It feels like Im going back to my old life. The sergeants words caught Gyeo-uls attention. Regardless of whether they were inside or not, they were on patrol on the outside, so he needed to blend in with the conversation to avoid making it awkward. Since he had some questions in mind, Gyeo-ul began to ask them. Why do you describe night patrols like that? Oh, you mean the graveyard watch? I dont know if its true or not, but in medieval England, there was a person who guarded the cemetery all night. Thats where the expression comes from. Protecting the cemetery? Were they trying to stop grave robbery? No. At that time, a cemeterys area was fixed, so I heard that when there were not enough new places for burials, an old tomb would be dug up and made into plots. But sometimes, when they took out a coffin and opened it, there was a scratch on the inside of the coffin cover. One in every twenty-five coffins. That means they buried someone alive, right? Thats right. From then on, when burying a body, they connected a string to its wrist and tied it to a bell outside the tomb. They called it the List Bell. The duty of the guardian of the cemetery was to dig out the buried person if the bell rang. I heard this from my senior when I was a beginner, but I thought it was quite plausible. S?a??h th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Thats interesting. Thank you for your explanation. After that, the casual conversation continued. Since friendship with each and every person was an asset, Gyeo-ul faithfully listened to the meaningless words. A city I heard there were barbershops, laundry, and supermarkets in the refugee camps in Syria, and thats whats going to happen here soon. I dont know about anything else, but I want to have a donut shop. Night patrols without coffee and doughnuts feel like something is lacking. Dawsons wish made Adare laugh. The Chinese wont make a doughnut as good as Bakers. Who knows? Theyre good at cooking. Gyeo-ul tilted his head. Do you two like donuts? I heard American police are stereotyped as donut-lovers. Dawson and Adare answered simultaneously. Thats not real. I didnt eat them because I dont like them. But when I went on patrol in the middle of the night, Id go to a donut shop to relax. It was almost a habit; it felt like part of the job. I think thats why I miss them. You can look at it as a generation gap. Some say they eat bagels instead of donuts for their health. Gyeo-ul felt curious. I dont think bagels are much better than donuts At this point, the patrol reached a checkpoint outside the Chinese residential district. The soldiers who saw Gyeo-ul saluted smartly. Gyeo-ul acknowledged them and turned around to observe the construction site. The first round of construction was almost complete. If Im going to do this, it would be better before the patrol route is changed again. At this point, it was okay to quit the patrol. Still, to reduce unnecessary suspicion, later on, Gyeo-ul decided to join the two police officers for a longer duration than had initially been planned. Chapter 79 00079 #Hardened Earth C16:50 #Hardened Land, Fort Roberts (2) A hurricane came at the end of January. According to a warning from the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) in California, Category Four Hurricane Carissa was scheduled to sail off the coast of San Diego to Baja California, Mexico. Carissa was the third hurricane of the year in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the first to cancel all Fort Roberts operations. The previous two hurricanes, Angelique and Beryl, had made little impact on California because they had passed far from the coastline. On the other hand, Carissa was so powerful that Fort Roberts, 460 kilometers northwest of San Diego, experienced strong winds and rain. The NHC also warned of the possibility of a new hurricane before Carissa disappeared. Gyeo-ul recalled part of this story. Formation chance through forty-eight hours high ninety percent. The expected location of the hurricane was thirty-eight degrees north latitude and 127 degrees west longitude. It was about five hundred kilometers west of San Francisco. If hurricanes started there, California would suffer from heavy rainfall and crazy winds. Because of this, flood prevention had become a priority task. They had added new rings and ropes to prevent the tents from flying away and put at least ten additional poles into each tent. They were also building sandbags on the outskirts of the base and using heavy equipment to dig drainage channels leading to low-lying areas. They had to work on both sides of Salinas at the same time. This was to protect a portable airport and a spare car storage facility east of the river. The last flooding of Salinas had been in early 2006. Since then, the record drought had continued in California, so it was unlikely that the river would overflow. However, Colonel Gerald M. Laughlin, commander of the fortress, wanted to prepare for any contingency. We cant be too prepared for a disaster. Gyeo-ul sympathized with his position. And its good for me, too. Standing by the stormy river, the boy officer looked at the people fighting against nature. During the day, under the dim sky, numerous workers had mobilized regardless of nationality, working with one mind. It had nothing to do with gender or anything like that. It was the beautiful scenery. Even though it was just a forged reality, beauty was meaningful in itself. From that point on, accidental skirmishes might take place in the refugee zone. In order not to increase the number of meaningless victims, as many people as possible would have to leave the field of engagement. Therefore, an opportunity like today would not come again. Gyeo-ul pressed the send button on the work radio. Manager Jang Yeon-chul. This is Han Gyeo-ul. Can you hear me? [Yes, sir! I can hear you well! Go ahead!] The sound of the wind on the radio was loud, but there was no problem with communication. I think Ill have to be away for a while. Can you supervise the allies by yourself? [Uh yes, its not that difficult without the other manager. I dont know whats going on with me, but you should go safely.] Originally, there had been two managers at the scene. However, Gyeo-ul sent Min Wan-ki in early. The old scholar was weak, perhaps because of his age. Taking medicine wasnt enough to protect a person from the weather after theyd taken a long time to recover from a cold. He was an important executive who needed to be kept safe. After all, there needed to be someone to control any agitation in the residential area when incidents broke out. While seeing Min Wan-ki off, Gyeo-ul had also emphasized that. No matter what happens, you dont let people get upset. The scholar had grinned through the rain. You always ask for the obvious. Gyeo-ul believed that he would do well on his own. After hearing Jangs reply, Gyeo-ul headed for the police command center in the civilian area. The soldiers guarding the civic checkpoint under the moon-like sun seemed to be soaked to the core, even though they wore waterproofs. As they twisted their bodies with sour looks, they belatedly saw the boy officer and saluted to him. After passing the checkpoint, the police command post came into view. Police officers from various regions and cities, mainly from Sacramento, had been made responsible for the security of Fort Roberts via the restoration of the command system. The large temporary building near the entrance was flooded, but the office and detention center were still relatively intact. The number of police officers in there was small. This was why police personnel had also been mobilized to supervise the work. The policeman at the entrance guard, however, was currently standing upright. What brings you here, lieutenant? Im here to see Sheriff OConnor. Is he here? Willis OConnor was the Chief Police Officer at Fort Roberts. He was also one of the highest-ranking Californian police survivors. This was because the state police headquarters had been in Sacramento. The police commissioner and deputy commissioner had gone missing when Sacramento had fallen. The policemans posture straightened even more. Yes, hes in the office. Did you make an appointment in advance? No, Im here on the spur of the moment because I have something important to do. Yes, sir. Ill put in an e-mail; please wait a moment. The posture was quickly dropped. He grabbed the phone and said a few words, and then the officer nodded to Gyeo-ul. Ill show you to his office. As Gyeo-ul followed behind the officer, the other policemen he encountered showed their respect to him by standing. The occasional smiling people were the ones who had established a personal acquaintance with the boy officer. Gyeo-ul responded to their favor with a light salute. The announcement ended at the door. However, OConnors office was well designed. When he opened the door, the sheriff welcomed the boy officer with another salute. Welcome, lieutenant. What a surprise, a visit from a hero. Im sorry I couldnt contact you in advance. No, youre always welcome for whatever reason. Except when I have a cozy meal with my daughter. You care a lot about your daughter. Im proud of her. Its not easy to reach the level of federal marshal at twenty-five. Glynkos at the top. Shes said she wanted to be like her father since childhood, but shes still firm even now shes older. Itd be unfair to call OConnor an idiot. He was right that she was really good at that much. A large map of Fort Roberts hung in the police office. Future development plans, police patrol routes, and areas in charge were included with the schedule. This was high-level information that was generally unknown. Looking at it, Gyeo-ul wondered why a large, open space had been placed in the middle of the Winter Alliance zone. At this, Willis OConnor fixed his posture. So, whats the point of visiting an old man like me on a day like this? I want to help find illegal weapons in Chinese refugee zones. Gyeo-ul did not mention the drug trade. If he were officially looking for weapons, he would be able to deal with drugs or other problems at the same time. Illegal weapons? Do the refugees have guns? How? It was natural for the middle-aged sheriff to be on edge, as the boy officer would not make a fuss for fun. The possession of weapons by refugees was an important issue directly related to the survival of the fortress. Refugee zones were inferior to civil zones in many ways and were subject to strong controls and discrimination. Many refugees were unhappy with U.S. citizens who lived beyond the barbed wire without any shortages. Currently, their conditions were improving, but this had never been reassuring, given the poor conditions of the refugees and the chaos caused by a lack of security. Gyeo-ul shook his head. No, I dont think its guns. We estimate that most of the phones, crossbows, and slings are of the same kind. How many? Hundreds, at least. This was not an exaggeration. It would even be more than that if Gyeo-ul included refugees of other nationalities. Even crude weapons are threatening to appear in large numbers. If they attack the armory or they could take the citizens hostage. In fact, the concerns raised by the security police were unlikely to be realized. These were crazy things that would never be tried if reasonably thought about. However, at the same time, the security police knew that the current refugee groups were about half made up of criminals. They should not expect them to stick to reasonable actions. How did you find out about this? Ive been speculating for a while. There was an anonymous informant this time. Please understand that I cant tell you the name. Its the snitchs wish. Gyeo-ul had falsely created a snitch. After reading the augmented reality warning by Skill correction, he knew he couldnt explain it to OConnor as it was. The Control AI would judge a situation operation error and try to roll back, and if the rollback is repeated, he would be penalized. So what do you want? Do you support the police force? Yes, the higher the number of police, the better. Why dont you ask the Fortress Command for military forces? Because I think that in the future, policing should be entirely the job of the police. I want you to report to the command before you start searching for weapons, but I dont want to use military forces. Having stakeholders inside the military was no reason not to use military forces. They were perfectly favorable to Gyeo-ul. Nevertheless, he would try to mobilize police forces only, in consideration of the atmosphere in the refugee zone. And the U.S. polices fighting power was not low. They had a wide range of firearms, from shotguns to automatic rifles. I see. I see what you mean. Do you want daily life to get back to normal for the refugees? Yes. Its not normal for the military to intervene in policing. Its a martial law situation. I want people to feel like theyre going back to their pre-disaster lives little by little. The problem is that there has been too little police presence, and there have been too many violent people. Do you mean to show off your skills so that we dont take it easy? I think this is a good opportunity. The sheriff, who was stroking his chin, said cautiously, You said the place you were going to was a Chinese residence. I dont doubt you, but I still have to check. Are you trying to solve the battle in the refugee zone with the police? Theres a rumor that youre helping some of the Chinese. It was not a rumor; it was a fact. The police were not active in the rest of the residential area outside the civilian area, so this was information that the security superintendent should not know. During Operation Bradleys occupation, Gyeo-ul had suggested that they only went there as a Triad force. For the police, those who openly used the name of the Triad could not be good. So far, they had not paid much attention to how the refugee zone worked, but the appearance of a young hero had begun to improve the treatment of refugees. Therefore, there was no reason for the police to sit on the sidelines as before for refugees who had created criminal groups such as the Triad and the Black Society. Gyeo-ul nodded gently. Thats true. We promised to help each other. But I dont intend to treat them in any special way. It was a condition. They fought with each other, so I helped them once they promised not to make unfair gains in the future. What else were their weapons being used for? There is no reason for me to hide it. Is that so? Im sorry I asked rude questions. I shouldnt have doubted anyone who risked their life. His expression reflected his regret. This was the effect of Gyeo-uls Medal of Honor, as well as his reputation. Instead of smiling, the boy simply nodded. Willis OConnor then gave his final approval. All right, do it. Ill call the colonel. If you wait outside, someone will come to you. Thank you, sheriff. Gyeo-ul saluted him before leaving the office. s?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 80 00080 #Hardened Earth 17:40 #Hardened Earth, Fort Roberts (3) A mixture of city police, drug control, gun control, SWAT teams, county sheriffs, and federal marshals, among others, made up the members of the State Park Patrol. The Department of Fish and Wildlife had also been included. This strange composition made it difficult for them to act right away. Each teams tactics were different, and their numbers were a weak point. Therefore, they had to clearly define their roles and movements in advance, which meant that a lot of time was wasted. The control of the situation at the command center was simply that important. Before the dispatch, the police in charge of supply opened the warehouse and brought out the necessary equipment. Although they proceeded as quickly as possible, it still took about thirty minutes to distribute the equipment. Gyeo-ul received a pump-action shotgun and ammunition belt loaded with non-lethal bullets in addition to his existing weapons. He also received tear gas grenades, trident rods, a reinforced plastic shield, and handcuffs. The captain of the task force, who was accompanying Gyeo-ul, smiled at the young officer. What a bad day. But its a good one for this operation. The commotion will blow away in the wind. It certainly would. The edge of the typhoon was full of rain, wind, and thunder. A distance of just four or five steps away would interfere with conversation. The police could communicate by radio, but the Chinese couldnt. It was a positive factor in the search, given the size of the Chinese residential area. The SWAT team played the role of reserves. They sat tight in the dark grey bulletproof vehicle (BearCat) and remained on standby. Even though they were waiting to be dispatched, the task force was more interested in Gyeo-ul than in any imminent skirmish. A member spoke up. Lieutenant, in Korea, people get military education from an early age, is that true? I dont understand Gyeo-ul thought before responding, Its not true. Where did you hear such a story? In newspapers and on the news. I heard they get ten years of military service and that its a dangerous country where women are conscripted and sometimes terrorize. Thats a North Korean story. The other Koreans in the refugee zone and I are all from South Korea. Are you sure you can tell the difference between North and South Korea? Oh, the military service law differs from state to state? Thats possible. But who lives in the north? Gyeo-ul explained that South and North Korea were different countries, not different regions within a country, as believed by the members of the group whod asked the question. It was a common American misunderstanding. The United States had several states with different laws, but the Korean situation was much more complex. Its not like that. The two Koreas are different countries. The ideological war between communism and capitalism divided them. That was the Korean War. Have you heard about the Korean War? South and North Korea had already separated before the war, but it wasnt necessary to explain in such detail. The crew member whod asked the question answered with a little embarrassment. I must have said something stupid. I didnt know and thought it was natural. What? You. Youve done a great job. I thought youd been training since you were young. But thats not the case. The crew looked somewhat disappointed. The other members laughed out loud. Perhaps they were nervous. Had they thought they wouldnt be on the move? When Gyeo-ul heard the communication, the report was that most of the search and seizure missions seemed that have gone smoothly. As he listened to the radio, he could also hear the polices embarrassment over the occasional drugs that were being found. [Wow, this would poison the whole of LA.] One kilogram of heroin was enough for 30,000 people. That much was found lying in a bag. It seemed that these were the items that the Chinese drug dealers had left behind when they ran for their lives. However, it wasnt quiet until the end. There was an urgent communication on the radio. [Command Post, George 14188, Code Ten, 73rd Street. One officer injured! A large number of men armed with deadly weapons! Were surrounded! I need your support. Over!] [Check, Code Ten. David, go to 20th and 73rd.] [David 20, copy.] David was the call sign for the SWAT team. The engine noise increased rapidly. Gyeo-ul could feel the spinning wheels while sitting in the car. The car accelerated steadily. The squad members looked outside through the bulletproof glass. However, it was raining so hard that they couldnt see anything because of the flowing water. There wasnt even a wiper on the vehicles windows. Eventually, the crew used the gun holes instead of windows. These had circular covers that allowed them to open and close at any time. Wow. Thats a real arrow! Ive been in a lot of gunfights, but Ive never seen anything like this before. Kang, Kang! The sound of rocks and arrows hitting the car rang throughout. Perhaps they were targeting the gun holes, but that in itself was useless. First, their skills were terrible, and second, the wind was too strong. Arrows were, after all, strongly affected by the wind. Everyone put on gas masks just before they reached their destination. Even if the rain and wind were severe, they could use tear gas inside the tents. After arriving at the scene, Gyeo-ul was the first to get out. Tung! As soon as he did, a stone flew in, and Gyeo-ul deftly blocked it. Stones poured intensively toward the departing troops. Gyeo-ul blocked all of them in a row and then made way for the following crew. One of the riot police warned him, Arrows can pierce the plastic shields. Be careful. Yes, I know. Gyeo-ul took a few steps further, wary of the surroundings. His shield was transparent, so it didnt block his view. Its strength was a little lower, though, so a shot from a strong bow could have penetrated it. The quality of the bows or crossbows that the Chinese had would be bad, but this did not mean that their power would be low. The Aiming Line had been drawn. S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Snap! Taking a step back and avoiding it, Gyeo-ul saw an arrow under his feet. Arrows covered half the ground. That was where the shots had been fired. The Chinese, who protected themselves, would never show up in that direction again. [Injury secured; life is not affected] The injured man was carried on a stretcher to a vehicle. After that, the task force responded systematically. When a person with a shield moved forward, the following two people divided up and stood guard. This was the way to get rid of any blind zone. The shields they carried were far different from Gyeo-uls. Except for a small transparent plastic rectangle to see through, the rest was all black, bulletproof material. Kaang! The man holding the shield stumbled for a moment. There seemed to be an arrow in the corner of it. The shield crew spouted low curses; the muddy, slippery floor was only going to make their endeavor harder. Gyeo-ul calculated how often powerful arrows were flying. There are only one or two threatening shooters. The rest were not special. However, it was still a problem because they were many in numbers. Drop your weapons and surrender! If you surrender, you wont get killed! The warning was accompanied by shooting. However, the hit rate was not as high as expected because of the fog caused by the rain. In addition, the gangsters were also taking advantage of the terrain and cover, walking in and out of rows of tents or lying on the ground at the construction site. The police pushed in with shields, vehicles, and overwhelming firepower. Gyeo-ul also held a rifle. He tilted his shield at an angle and stuck it into the ground, supported it with his body, and then aimed sideways. Next, he tilted his head and saw something strange. The Chinese people were behaving oddly. They were pulling out a wooden shield. It was of a difficult size and weight for them to carry, but they had solved the problem by attaching a wheel to it. It was almost like looking at an old siege weapon. They are crazy. Gyeo-ul knelt down and sought a small gap underneath. Bam! The sound was loud because of the wet air. A scream pierced through the sound of heavy rain. Gyeo-ul aimed at the Chinese members. Bam, bam, bam! The big shield came to a quick stop. Another shield from another direction was smashed by the police, whod hit it with an armored vehicle. Theyd slowed down just before the crash, but for the Chinese gang, it was a tremendous move. Gyeo-ul turned his attention to keeping the threatening snipers in check. At times, he broke only their bows, and at others, he punctured their shoulders. It was an easy fight from the start. The difference between the two sides basic firepower and defenses was great, and the armored vehicles were crucial to the fight. However, it was important to suppress without causing additional damage. Gyeo-ul placed the rifle on his back and pulled the shield out of the ground. The ground, which the rain had softened, was covered with shields. Gyeo-ul did not shake off the soil. He jumped, carrying his shield, in the direction of the most dangerous arrows. Stones flew at him from all sides. Gyeo-ul shielded one person who was in the way, alternately preventing and avoiding hits. Akkk! He felt the vibration of a break in his fingertips. Mud continued to drip down as he calculated that hed broken as many as four of his ribs. It might hurt a lot, but he wouldnt die. Gyeo-ul took aim once more. This time, his shot was off, and Gyeo-ul speculated that this might be due to an accidental boost in power. The Chinese gang members who had seen the boy officer eventually came out from cover. Perhaps they assumed that, with Gyeo-ul there, the police wouldnt dare shoot them recklessly. Their faces were distorted with confidence and a sense of hopeless resistance. Some sped up the slings they were spinning, and the rest picked up clubs or branches. They were coming at once. Because of the gas masks, they hadnt recognized Gyeo-ul as hed thought. Gyeo-ul held the shotgun hed hung around his waist in one hand. When he pulled the shield toward his body, he could put a gun on it and shootwith the bottom of the shield in the ground, he would have a stable shooting position. He turned the gun halfway around, and the Chinese who were gathering became frightened and scattered. They didnt know there were non-lethal bullets loaded in there. And, regardless, at so close a distance, non-lethal bullets could kill. Two stones shot with slings hit Gyeo-uls bulletproof clothing. He targeted the closest threat. Bam! There was a loud report from his shotgun. A Chinese man whod been approaching from a distance of five meters fell with a groan and gripped his shoulder. An arrow found its way through a gap and shot towards Gyeo-ul. He blocked it with his shield before approaching the shooter and swinging the shotgun like a club. The weight of the loaded shotgun, diagonally raised, broke his jaw. The Chinese were floundering. Gyeo-ul kicked over the shooter, stepped on him, spun around, and shot him in the shin. Kuuuk! The gang member grabbed his shin and yelled in pain. He was now foaming at the mouth. Another gang member approached immediately, and Gyeo-ul lowered his shield and smashed it into his body, shaking even his stomach. The man fell backward, and Gyeo-ul hung his shotgun on the corner of the shield, pushing his weight onto it to reload. Clip. The man, who was only a meter away, turned pale. Instead of shooting immediately, Gyeo-ul shifted his position to the man. This was because the two Aiming lines were fluctuating. He couldnt shoot for fear of hitting a colleague. Finally, he took the shot, aiming below the knee and twisting his targets leg in the wrong direction. There came a terrible scream, and then two arrows flew immediately. One missed; the other flew toward the wrong target. Gyeo-ul took one step to block the arrows trajectory, swaying his shield like a fist. The sound of the arrowhead cutting through plastic was sharp, but then the projectile bounced off into the distance. Thanks to him, the gang, who had saved his life, looked puzzled. Gyeo-ul felt embarrassed when he faced him and kicked him in the groin. He fell over and twitched, so Gyeo-ul kicked him one more time. All the Chinese who had been approaching found that they could not move. They either fainted or had broken a bone. Gyeo-ul looked up at the construction site, and the sniper, who had been shooting arrows, felt embarrassed. Police with shields and riot batons were fast approaching from behind. Without knowing what to do, the gang sniper jumped out of there. He fell from the third floor, from which he wouldnt escape uninjured. After he landed, he rolled around, gripping his ankle. The suppression was almost over. An armored vehicle rushed toward the tent where the gang had hidden. It was pretty easy to suppress the gang members who floundered out of the collapsing tent. The captain of the task force then contacted Gyeo-ul. [Lieutenant, I think youre needed here. We are at tent number one on 74th Street.] Chapter 81 00081 #Hardened Earth #Hardened Earth, Fort Roberts (4) The wind grew fiercer and fiercer as the day eventually turned to dusk. Raindrops sounded like ice, crashing hard against the roofs. Rainwater soaked through sleeves and collars to the underwear and collected in combat boots, too. Gyeo-ul felt a little sluggish as his hands and feet felt soggy. He felt okay overall, but it would be dangerous if he were exposed to the cold for a few more hours. He was concerned about hypothermia and mild frostbite. The road to 74th Street was a scene of excessive suppression. Watery blood was everywhere. Mounted police rushed toward a gang member who had been resisting with a club. The man, who had frozen in the face of the speed and pressure, was eventually run over by one of the horses. His elbow bent backward. A triple rod fell on him, who had been drooling and howling. Thud, thud! The sound of a person being beaten in the rain was terrible. The police then built a wall with their shields. In the dim light, they cast a dark shadow and looked intimidating even to Gyeo-ul. The police didnt offer a surrender to the gang members theyd cornered, instead indiscriminately firing rubber bullets at them. Police carrying a six-shot grenade launcher fired all six at the gang, who fled in the direction of the boy officer. Many of them were hit in the back of the head and went down. Gyeo-ul snatched up one of the fallen projectiles. It was a rubber bullet with no killing power. Still, it could kill people at a close distance. The boy checked his pulse by pressing two fingers to the fallen gang members neck. He wouldnt die. However, since hed been hit on the head, there was the possibility of a skull or spinal fracture or cerebral hemorrhage. The police who had been carrying the grenade launcher were now all hesitating with their handcuffs. Gyeo-ul stepped back and let them deal with him. He didnt know if he should be glad that they hadnt been intending to kill. The resistance to U.S. police with lethal weapons was good enough. Should I call for restraint from excessive suppression? The agitated police would listen to the boy who had become a hero. Gyeo-ul fiddled with the radio and finally let it go without saying anything. He had a variety of things to consider. The first one that came to his mind was a man with a rusty knife. One of the hungry assassins hed encountered during the night while the boy was still a volunteer. Killing him without hesitation had not been something to be looked down upon. The same was true now. A severe crackdown would be a strong warning to criminals in other areas. As a result, the sacrifice would be rather small. Of course, the punishment would not necessarily be right, either. On the other hand, there was a positive attitude towards suppression. To make sure criminals who sold drugs, people, or their lives came to their senses, they had to be severe. They were also people who celebrated with tattoos in prison. After all, it was not that easy to change people. They reminded him of two who had never changed. Father and Mother. Gyeo-ul paused as anger rushed through him. Is this the world you thought was good because you didnt have to hold your temper? For a moment, the boy lost the ability to see properly as he seethed. The pause was not long. Audiences from different worlds found this strange. Usually, Gyeo-uls ideas were sent to the audience in a teletype string, but not now. The boy hastened his steps, recalling that this was not his world. As he walked, he filled the shotgun with ammunition. A group of police was gathered in front of the first tent on 74th Street. The captain of the task force saw Gyeo-ul and hastily got to his feet. Youre here. Ive been waiting. Whats going on? Its a hostage crisis, but The hostage-taker is looking for the lieutenant. Me? Gyeo-ul tilted his head. Through the wind that was howling like a wolf, someone was shouting in poor English. It was a cry to bring in Lieutenant Han Gyeo-ul. Just hearing his voice made Gyeo-ul feel his anger. Gyeo-ul then asked the police officer, Have you talked to him? Ive tried several times and failed. His English is so poor He seemed to have nothing to say but to bring in Lieutenant Han Gyeo-ul. His pronunciation was a mess, so I barely understood it. But that doesnt mean that any of us can speak Chinese. There are some negotiating experts, but theyre useless. The task force leader then further summarized the situation. 3333 The hostage-taker is a Chinese man in his thirties or forties, armed with a pistol. The pistol is cheap and without any safety mechanism. The hostage is a Chinese woman in her twenties. His only requirements are that no one is to come in and to bring the lieutenant. There was nothing else. Its not easy to shoot because hes inside the tent, and even if I try using tear gas, the life of the hostage will be in danger, so I decided to bring you in. I understand the situation. Let me go in. The boy spoke so lightly that the captains response was delayed a little. When he did speak, he tried to dissuade Gyeo-ul from entering. Wont it be dangerous? Ill just be doing what I have to. Its always the case. Risk is the next concern. Well Ive heard so many rumors, but Im embarrassed because you match up to them. Gyeo-ul smiled at him. Then he grabbed him by the collar and pulled him to the side. Thump! A wooden board, flying like the wind, passed through the space where the captain had been, hit the ground, and spun. The police nearby scattered with surprise. When he belatedly realized that he had almost been struck, the captain of the task force looked awkward. Thank you, lieutenant. Youre welcome. Anyway, Ill go in. It may mean nothing, but be careful. Lieutenant, you shouldnt get hurt in a place like this. If youre drawing attention, well find another way. The tent could be lifted at any point. It would be useless if the criminal were wary of all sides, but there was some possibility if he were to induce his carelessness. In that case, in all likelihood, he will be shot dead. The basic way of responding to hostage-takers was to kill. After winking at a police officer, Gyeo-ul went into the large tent. As with any Chinese organization, red-colored decorations stood out to him, a sign that this place was one of the Jikye Tong strongholds. They were in partnership with the Annyang Gongsan Association. As soon as he saw the hostage-taker, a Chinese man yelling for the police to bring Han Gyeo-ul in, he took off his mask. I came as you wanted. Im Han Gyeo-ul. Why did you want to meet me? The man became quiet. His expression was unexpectedly mild. His eyes drooped down, and there were traces of a smile on his lips. Good looks can be a quality of evil. You can fool people easily. The opponent observed Gyeo-ul. Gyeo-ul observed his opponent. He held a very simple-looking pistol; it only had basic functions but was, therefore, more reliable. It smelt disgusting in the tent. The woman who had been taken hostage seemed to have peed in fear. Of course, it would have been rather strange if she was calm since a pistol without a safety device was pressed against her temple. Her lips were blue, her face was white, and her eyes were constantly shifting. All this undermined her natural beauty. The rare appearance and revealing costume gave an idea of how she suffered under the gangsters. When Gyeo-uls eyes met hers, the woman moved her lips. Save me, please. I want to live help me. A scream ensued shortly afterward. The hostage-taker had hit her with the pistols handle. The gunman, who had sweat on his forehead, gave Gyeo-ul a warm smile. I know you, but you dont know me. Nice to meet you, lieutenant. Im Sungsigui from Jikye Tong. Im the leader. Tong was a self-sustaining collaboration of Chinese people living in the United States. Annyang Gongsan was also commonly referred to as Annyang Tong. Their original purpose was to help each other in a strange country, but in fact, they were often criminal organizations. This was all due to the tendency to put the interests of Chinese religion before the laws of the United States, based on an exclusive national consciousness. Without a sense of wrong, they are people who commit crimes, taking them for granted. Gyeo-ul had no good feelings about them. As hed said to the leader of the Damul Promotion Association before, nationalism, which is not a premise of global citizenship, is the devils faith. Lets skip wasting time. What do you want from me? Huh, youre impatient. We are the heads of each others organizations. Lets have a more polite conversation. Polite conversation? Gyeo-ul deliberately looked pathetic. At the same time, he glanced once at the woman. The intention was clear, and the impressive gangster leader sighed. We have different commitments, so I hope you understand this. With tolerance for the weak. This was going to be a really pathetic time. Gyeo-ul dragged a nearby chair over and sat opposite the hostage-taker. With a loaded shotgun on his lap, he looked at his opponent a little crooked. How can I stimulate him in moderation? He worries, decides, and acts. I dont know how much I can stand. Save your time, gangster. Youre very different from what Ive heard. They were cold, quiet words, given as Gyeo-ul fiddled with his shotgun. The gangsters expression hardened a little. Gyeo-uls intention was to give him the impression that he could easily quit the conversation at any time and sacrifice a hostage. Sigui nodded. But when youre leading a lot of people, one face is not enough. You need a lot of faces to respond to the situation. A good man cannot be rich; a rich man cannot be good. Gyeo-ul was still listening. Confronted with the boys silence, the gangsters words accelerated. It was so subtle that it would be hard to notice unless one was paying close attention. However, he did not let his guard down as he looked around constantly. Mr. President, let the police back down for now. Do you think thats possible? You can tell your people to stand down. Listening to Sigui, Gyeo-ul asked calmly, What makes you think I can? I know youre hanging out with the cops these days. Only because of that? It wont work if its not you. Who can ignore you in this form? Youre the only one who can handle this situation. Isnt Captain Markert the one you should ask for? Huh. How can I compare him to you? Hes just a cop now. I didnt trust him from the outset. He didnt take advantage of his loyalty to either side, but he was threatening to help the other side if we didnt offer him benefits. Although somewhat exaggerated, Gyeo-ul seemed to be able to guess what Captain Markert had been doing. The boy raised his chin and asked again, Okay, say I get rid of the police. Hit it. Whats next? Its our turn to pay. Throw away the dying Triad. One of the maxims of the Korean people is that they sell their wives to buy good friends. Jikye Tong is with Annyang Tong. You have more to gain from us than from the leader of the Triad. I dont really understand. S?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. How about this? Sigui smiled playfully and touched the hostages chest. He seemed to be showing off his products. Gyeo-ul slowly lifted his gun. The gangster boss, who thought he had a gap, quickly fixed his posture to use the hostage as a shield. However, what the boy was trying to target was also the hostage. The slow aim was because he was scared he would pull the trigger, thinking he was shooting Sigui. Gyeo-ul turned to the hostage and spoke. Im sorry. What? Boom! A shotgun bullet blasted into the womans left clavicle. She didnt even scream but fainted immediately from the pain and the shock. Sigui was surprised. Dont tell me you really didnt think I would shoot the hostage. Before Sigui reacted, before he could realize what Gyeo-ul had just shot was a non-lethal bullet, Gyeo-ul shot again. Bam! Siguis face broke. Ahhh! He spat broken teeth out of his mouth, and tears of blood fell from his ruptured eyes. Gyeo-ul got up from his seat and threw the chair. Thud! Fragments flew everywhere. Sigui ended up dropping his pistol, and Gyeo-ul kicked it away. Having heard the gunfire, the police task force quickly entered. They caught a glimpse of the situation and called in the medical team, who were waiting in front of the tent just in case. However, they wanted to treat the boy officer before the gangster boss or hostage. I was worried when I heard that you went in alone. Im glad youre all right. What are you doing? Take care of the injured first! Oh, yes! Excuse me. Gyeo-ul watched as the task force immediately moved in to treat the victims. Chapter 82 00082 #Urgent %26 #LakeNightC #Urgent (2) Public office: I came to this channel through the portal website something is strange Public office: From the beginning of the broadcast to the present, I have selected and synchronized major sections with Digest, but no matter how hard I look at them, there is no sex scene. Am I weird? Guys, what do you think? Large Pizza: I think so too. Even if you put them in order of satisfaction, they are all for teenagers. Smigol: Hey, who doesnt have sex in the post-insurance? Appgirl: Damn. So there are no sex scenes? Thats my taste. I think hes good at acting and creates a situation where he can be immersed, unlike other hosts. I cant wait to see it. ^_^ SweetMoca: Yeah. He seems nice, but hes not always like that. How should I say this? Half adult? Anyway, he seems to be a double charm. I think hes going to taste like two things ?. [SweetMoca gave 30 stars] Paralympic: Lets ask the people who were watching before. Anyone, come out. Hurricane224: Welcome, Newbies. The new stupidities are always welcome! Paralympic: Something strange has come up. How much of it have you seen? Hurricane224: Ive seen it from the beginning. Call me senior. Paralympic: Stupid. Cant you see my nickname? Do you want to do the Paralympics all night with me? Public office: Thats it. Large Pizza: Hurricane224. If you see the log, you will know what we want. Go ahead and reveal your happy time favorites. If youve seen it from the beginning, youll know the location, right? Hurricane224: Theres no such thing. Large Pizza: Dont tell me Youre kidding, arent you? SweetMoca: Really? Hurricane224: No, there isnt. Hurricane224: Everyone here, dont hope for it. Jessica Regular: Believe it or not, it is true. Ive seen it from the beginning. I dont think the host will play the game. Even if you suggest thousands of stars, he rejects it. Deepdog: Okay. Everyones just giving up and watching. Anyway, its fun. [Deepdog gave 50 stars as a gift] 20retired: Is that so 20retired: Well. I never imagined that an [after the end] worldview could flow this way. I thought it was not the game Id played, so I checked the title again. Public officer: It turned out that the place where I came in to eat instant ramen was a Korean restaurant. Hardgay: Thats a metaphor. LOL. Smigol: Did I watch the last episode too roughly? Im not sure whats good yet. SALHAE: Its better not to know. Smigol: ? SALHAE: Let me give a piece of advice to the newcomers. Dont watch this broadcast. Appgirl: Huh? Why? SALHAE: It will appear in your dreams. Appgirl: What do you mean? Lol. Paralympic: Who the hell is this? So many men who threaten my fame. SALHAE: Im not kidding. Im saying this for you. 20retired: What the hell are you talking about? I dont know whats going on. SALHAE: This show is far too realistic. Each virtual personality feels like a living person. When Im synchronizing with the moderator, I always feel like Im disappearing. SALHAE: The problem is that I want it. I want to be Gyeo-ul, take care of people, and be loved by them SALHAE: Then I feel awful when its time to disconnect. I dont want to go back to reality. I dont want to be someone else. Im just a surplus human. Life doesnt seem to be SALHAE: Fuckfuckfuck. Paralympic: What is it? Isnt that normal game addiction after all? Stupid, lol. Strike: Do I hear something? I can hear it. A burst of inferiority complex. Nitrogenpackage: You think all people are like you? Thats why youre a part-timer. Youre a loser who escapes to virtual reality without any willingness or effort to change reality. Anyway, since the welfare of the country is good, everyone has become lazy. If you dont like a chicken coop, you should try to get out of there. Director Kim: Unsecured credit loan consultation. 0100-8282-**** SALHAE: Yeah. Say whatever you want, you bastards. Paralympic: Yes, I reported you. ޤĤߤ: Everyone calm down. By the way, whats the loan consultation? Dont laugh at other peoples worries! Whatever it is, if a person says he or she is sick, we should ask them if they are okay! 1BillionLoan: Whoa. Calm down, everyone. 1BillionLoan: I kind of understand what hes saying. 1Billion Loan: I never felt it before I subscribed to this channel, but I thought sensory sync might be a bit dangerous. SALHAE is not weird. RageGrape: I agree. Its not like that, but I feel uncomfortable. Mustafa: No wonder SALHAE doesnt talk about sex these days. LOL.] groseillier noir: hmm. The Korean media have been strangely critical of Korean post-insurance until now. I thought it was a waste of money because it was just an economic loss. But looking at you guys, I can vaguely see why youre criticizing it. I cant explain it well yet. groseillier noir: I still like post-insurance. :) [groseillier noir gave 172.25 stars] ݧѧէڧާڧ: Yes. Koreas post-insurance is an artificial paradise created by science and capital. It would have been better without Active X. They decided that it must be introduced to Russia. Except for Active X. BigBuffetBoy86: Oh, Rusky. Youre constantly on this channel. Have you improved your game skills? ݧѧէڧާڧ: Not at all. Rather, they seem to have regressed. I dont understand at all. I played Skirmish a while ago, and even though there was a Korean player on our side, I lost the match. How come? BigBuffetBoy86: Its simple. There must have been two Korean players on the other side. ݧѧէڧާڧ: ! Motsiel: Realization. LOL. Whats this stupid conversation? Lol ޤĤߤ: Russian uncle wwwwwwww ݧѧէڧާڧ: I think I made a mistake. Ive disciplined my subordinates for casting Koreans BigBuffetBoy86: Why, did you throw him to the bottom of the Baltic again? ݧѧէڧާڧ: No, she is the daughter of Russia. I cant waste it so meaninglessly. I just put her on a rather difficult mission. Maybe she wont be able to come back alive. BigBuffetBoy86: Your jokes are always funny. :D ݧѧէڧާڧ: Im not kidding. < >: A viewer quest has been granted by SALHAE.>> Viewer quest: I asked you one time. SALHAE said: Honestly, dont you think Lee Yura is a good girl? Shes nice, innocent, and responsible. I dont need Ai-ling. You dont have to fuck, so make it a bit sweet. Its because my life is tough. Lets just get some consolation. AI Help: The goal of this quest is to have a relationship with Lee Yura by user registration number B-612. At the point of achieving the goal, 1,000 stars will be given to the worldview moderator. <>: Han Gyeo-ul (host) has rejected SALHAEs viewer quest. SALHAE: Whew. It didnt work. Jessica Regular: lol. SALHAE, didnt you give up already? SALHAE: Its not sex, so I thought it would work. But he just doesnt want to be interfered with. Just take a good look. You should have shared a little with me DontPlayWithNick: Well, this is what hyperreality is. SALHAE: Whats that? DontPlayWithNick: SALHAE. Find and read Gilles Deleuzes book when you have time. Something about simulacra. I think it will help you see your condition objectively. SALHAE: Gilles Deleuze? I dont know who that is, but I dont have time to read books or anything. I dont have enough time to watch the show. Living these days is very tough. Im living every day by watching this show. DontPlayWithNick: You are living a poor life, too. Snowfox: . [Snowfox gave 1,000 stars] #lake night, Fort Roberts (1) The old typhoon eventually receded, and a new typhoon came to take its place. Fort Roberts became as dark as the weather. People looked like dark clouds, worrying about many things. Rising rivers, neglected construction sites, increased air transportation and reduced distribution, etc. People hoped that the bad times would end as soon as possible. However, bad weather was expected to continue for the time being. The National Typhoon Center explained that this was the effect of extreme El Nino. Among them, there was something small that was attracting peoples attention. Huh? Is this really usable? Yura asked Gyeo-ul with her eyes wide open. Gyeo-ul merely nodded. Yes, this is a military smartphone. Its still locked, but you can use it as your phone for now. Dont forget your login password, and make sure you read the manual. Only four people had received smartphones from Gyeo-ul: two managers and two combat team leaders. Others had given them very envious looks. Gyeo-ul thought it would be nice to have a few more, but he couldnt help it. Originally it was intended Gyeo-ul would only give them to the supply community. In fact, military smartphones were not common among U.S. soldiers. Now that the manufacturer was gone, there was also a problem with supply. They wouldnt have been greedy if it werent for Gyeo-uls influence. Jang Yeon-chul, who was looking at the terminal, was surprised. I thought it was a familiar design, and when I looked closely, it was made in Korea! Wow, thats true! The case was thick, so I didnt recognize it! Oh my God! Yura held her phone in her hands with tears in her eyes. Min Wan-ki and Park Jin-seok were also interested. Despite the fact that most of the functions were blocked, they were happy to text each other. It was a nostalgic object in many ways; existing smartphones had been out of order for a long time. Yura, who couldnt control her excitement, then asked Gyeo-ul, Can I call the captain? Do it. The boy smiled as Yura pressed the shortcut. The ringtone then sounded after a slight time difference. This would be a face-to-face call. The envious people clapped and laughed this time. Yuras face turned red, wondering if she ought to feel ashamed. However, she was firm. Gyeo-ul thought hed check and cut her off, but she had on a serious face. Why? Is she trying to make a fool of herself? It would be nice if she could get rid of peoples anxiety for a while. Gyeo-ul pretended to answer the phone. Hello? Hello! My name is Lee Yura! Is Captain Han Gyeo-ul there? S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Yes, its me. What are you calling for? The laughter around them was getting louder. Yura shouted, I really want to say thank you! You dont have to thank me, all I gave you today was supplies. Still! Thanks for everything else as well as this! Thank you! Dont mention it. Thank you, everyone. This was the first commemorative call. After their comedic performance, Gyeo-ul called her back. Chief Parks cell phone has more functions than the managers. Theyre mostly useful for combat situations. Make sure you get used to it as soon as possible. Thats an order. Jin-seok asked, How does your smartphone help you fight? Gyeo-ul showed them the manual. As I told you earlier, its best for you to read the manual. But to give you a simple example it has a tactical map that updates each others positions in real-time, and it can calculate distance and wind ballistics, and you can get fire support through coordinates. Huh, thats great. All of these features were implemented via a single app, Android Tactical Attack Kit. He could also add other functions by installing plug-ins on his smartphone. Therefore, Gyeo-uls phone had different functions than the combat chiefs. Gyeo-ul had a much broader set of privileges. There was access to closed circuits in the base, a noisemaker control, and access to some of the military intranet. The last one was a little unexpected. There was a reason for it, though. Civil psychological warfare officers at the Pentagon wanted to receive real-time data on Gyeo-uls activities. The data was to be refined and used as propaganda material. This is also a mission. But wouldnt a Combat camera video be enough? He was thinking about this when his terminal vibrated. This time, it wasnt Yura. It was a call from the command and control office. Gyeo-ul answered the phone a little away from people. This is Lieutenant Han Gyeo-ul. [Oh, you responded quickly. I was going to send you a radio message.] It was Lieutenant Colonel Capston. Captain? Whats the matter? [Come to the briefing room immediately. Heres the plan you need.] An operation? Gyeo-ul looked at the sky outside. All outside activities had been restricted due to bad weather, so what operation were they talking about sending him to? Since air travel was not easy, it had to be within walking or vehicle travel. The lieutenant colonel spoke quickly. [Ill tell you the details in private.] Yes, sir. Ill be right there. [Ill see you in a minute.] The call ended. Gyeo-ul had detected anxiety in the lieutenants voice. What the hell was that about? Gyeo-ul quickly walked out of the tent to meet him. In the rain, he walked briskly, pulling the sides of his raincoat closed. Chapter 83 00083 #LakeNightC #On a lake night, Fort Roberts (2) The regiments major executives gathered in the briefing room. Everyone in the room was ranked at least a major, all except for Gyeo-ul, who was the only lieutenant. Despite the difference in rank, those assembled welcomed the boy officers presence. Gyeo-ul sat between Lieutenant Colonel Capston and First Battalion Commander Farrell Ramos on the other side. The commander smiled and said hello to him. This typhoon is still a problem. The regiments operations manager took his chance. There were three aerial photographs on the conference rooms front screen. They all showed reservoirs full of water, which looked dangerous at a glance. Let me get to the point. There are three dams that we need to secure. After zooming in on the first photo, the operations manager dotted one side of it with a laser pointer. Our first goal is the Nacimiento Dam. It is located thirteen kilometers west of the base, and as you can see, the water level is dangerously high. It has a natural drainage structure when it reaches a dangerous level, but now it has more inflows than it can handle. According to the engineers calculations, it is likely that it will begin to collapse tomorrow afternoon at the latest. The regimental commander considered this for a few moments before asking, How long will it take to collapse? Once it starts, itll do so in a flash, the operations manager promptly replied. Its because the Nacimiento Dam is a sand-built system. Its pretty easy to understand if you think of pouring water into sand. If the dam were to collapse, the damage caused would be devastating. The rapids would reach the base in less than ten minutes, with an expected maximum flow rate of about twenty meters per second and a water level of more than six meters. So, we have to open all the floodgates. The murmuring rose at this. However, it was more of discontent than anxiety. An officer then raised his hand. The distance is so short that the occupation itself is a problem. Isnt this warning too late? What have the engineers been doing? The construction and operation of dams in the United States was the responsibility of engineers. Therefore, engineering offices existed near major dams and beams. In the event of a problem with the facility, the primary responsibility was borne by the engineers. However, not all responsibilities could be held solely by engineers. Apart from facility management, monitoring reservoirs and river levels was done in cooperation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Amalgamation and the California Water Resources Administration. The operations manager warned, We should save time. Dont make such meaningless complaints. The person whod asked the question hesitated. He had thought it was an urgent situation. Even if the dam crumbled tomorrow, it was within four hours walking distance if you navigated properly. However, Gyeo-ul could understand. In the worst case, even if the floodgates were fully opened, the water level could still rise. Unless they knew how long the bad weather would continue, it was safest for them to hurry as fast as possible. The briefing then continued. The next goal, the San Antonio Dam, is similar. Its four kilometers north of the Nacimiento Dam, and it is expected to be easy to capture due to its proximity. In order to secure the two goals, we have a plan to deploy a company of engineers and a battalion at the same time. Please refer to the document I gave you. Gyeo-ul looked at the black-and-white map on the document. The two dams were indeed close together. He could see the half-cut for Roberts on one edge of the map. The scale of the map was very largeone grid square was only a kilometer long. It was proof that the distance was short. The regimental commander then raised a question. The entire First Battalion? Do we need that much force to occupy only two dams? The operational manager nodded. If we simply wanted to take control of the facility, we could send one platoon at a time. If they just opened the floodgates and came back, technically, it would be over. But I am concerned about the mutants activities. Theyre intelligent enough to deliberately hide in the base and set fires to disrupt aviation operations. Didnt you recently report that some mutants besides the special types use simple tools? They are unlikely to spend their time quietly when bad weather has made air reconnaissance and bombing less frequent. The regiment commander responded in an embarrassed manner. Do you think the mutants will attack the dam? Its possible. We have to prepare for every case. Think of the Christmas Eve raidwe didnt expect them to use the EMP. He turned to Gyeo-ul. Lieutenant, what do you think? Gyeo-ul was not ready, so he stayed quiet for a moment. In the meantime, all the audiences attention was focused on him. Eventually, the operations manager said, Give me your honest opinion. This is one of the reasons I called you. I certainly think theres a possibility. But it could be the opposite. What does that mean? Ive checked out the Black Mountain several times on transport escorts, and intelligent mutants act as scouts. And, of course, theyre near the base right now. As you said, air reconnaissance has become less frequent, so there may be more of them than usual. And? They can identify the troops going to secure the dam, and they can understand the significance of it. This was a warning for the officers in attendance to be more realistic than the operations manager. Gyeo-ul thought that a Grumble could break a dam. Its power could turn a Humvee into scrap metal and destroy a house at once. It wouldnt take so long to destroy the dam. Perhaps half a day? Small cracks would be more than enough to start the collapse. The rest would soon be achieved by water pressure. When the crowd was convinced, the operations staff changed the screen. It was the third dam. The reservoir looked smaller than the previous two, but this was pretty relative. S~?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. This is the last goal, the Salinas Dam. It is fifty-six kilometers from the base and about seventy kilometers by actual travel distance, and its risk is low. If this collapses, Fort Roberts is not expected to suffer any direct damage. This was all thanks to the recent drainage work, explained the operations manager. But the San Ardo oil field downstream is different. Its attached to the river, so it would definitely be flooded. If the refinery is damaged, it will be difficult to restore it. The regimental commander groaned. That would be a problem. Wed better secure it regardless of the risk. I agree, but distance is the problem. The previous two goals are very close to the base, so sending a battalion is no burden. Because we can install wired networks, they can come back and provide support when things happen at the base and vice versa. But this ones too far. We have no choice but to send a small force. Communication will be impossible because it is far away. It will be a dangerous mission. The operations manager stared at Gyeo-ul. He guessed that Lieutenant Colonel Capston had known this much. After all, he had a mission that required Gyeo-ul. When he chose someone to undertake a dangerous mission at Fort Roberts, he couldnt just leave the boy officer out. It would have been the operational manager whod had them call Gyeo-ul in the first place. The regimental commander asked Gyeo-ul, What is the lieutenants opinion? The staff thought you were the right person to attend the meeting. I will obey your orders. No, I want to hear your opinion. If you dont like it, Ill give it to someone else. You are a valuable asset. I dont want to let you away from the base at a time like this. This was unexpected. Gyeo-ul shook his head after a moment of thought. Id better go. Really? How many troops do you think youll need? One platoon will be enough. Its better than nothing. An embarrassing reaction then spread throughout. Youre pretty reckless. It will be impossible for you to defend the entire dam with one platoon. I wont have to defend it. How come? There are seven cities on the map between the base and the dam. Its that long a distance. We could be exposed to a few of them on the way. But it will be impossible for them to keep up with the speed of the vehicle. So even if were found by mutants when we reach our destination, its very unlikely that theyll realize the relationship between Fort Roberts and the dam. Do you mean that even if mutants attacked, their target would be you and the platoon, not the dam? Yes. Thats if were not tracked down by Trickstersthey can communicate with each other over long distances. But Tricksters arent that common. And on the map, there are no cities, no villages within a ten-kilometer radius of the Salinas Dam. How many mutants will be there? We could get in and out of the way without being seen by them. Gyeo-ul intended to walk from a certain distance. The Noisemaker would not be used, and the rain and wind would erase many sounds, anyway. As usual, Third Battalion soldiers would be sent out to support the boy officer. Gyeo-ul wanted to take the alliances combatants with him, but that would be considered greedy. The command would not grant it; this was too important an operation to use refugee volunteers. The regiment commander instructed Lieutenant Colonel Capston and his military and staff to give Gyeo-ul all the resources he requested. He seemed satisfied with the boy officers confidence. Once their roles were set, the briefing was quickly completed. Before leaving the room, Ramos asked Gyeo-ul to shake his hand. You are always brave. Good luck, Lieutenant. You too. The First Battalion will not be fully staffed yet. Take it easy. Im not as tough as you are. I looked at the records, and you were in all the major operations. If you were inside, I would have forced you to rest. Thank you for your concern. The colonel patted the boy on the shoulder, smiled briefly at Capston, and left the briefing room. Capston then asked, Is there a platoon you want in particular? Well, people who have worked with me a lot would be better. In fact, Id be satisfied if it was just Charlie Company. But just gather people from the applicants. As I told you earlier, Im okay with just a platoon. I dont want to force anybody to do anything dangerous. Especially Jeffrey and his platoon. They wouldnt avoid Gyeo-uls request, but he was worried he used them too often. Capston shook his head. Im worried about it. You wont even be able to use a walkie-talkie. In the event of an unexpected accident, you will not be able to respond. There should at least be backup personnel there. Think about it again. Even if you asked for a whole company, they would approve it easily. He couldnt use the radio because of the captured Trickster, which would detect the radio waves and follow them. Besides, it didnt even go around alone. It had appeared alone on Christmas Eve only because it wanted to be caught by them. Gyeo-ul formed a gentle smile. Thank you for your concern. But its really okay. If we dont want to be found by them, itll be better to have fewer numbers. Most of the eastern part of the dam is forest and under the same conditions, it would be faster for me to find a mutant than for a mutant to find me. Even if I get caught by one, I can easily get away. But if theres a lot of soldiers with me, itll be rather hard for me to handle them. Ill try to find some candidates. Ill get them together in the drill in half an hour. If you change your mind in the meantime, make sure to tell me. After saying goodbye to Capston, Gyeo-ul immediately moved to the training ground. The suppliers who had been instructed to go there first were waiting. With their help, Gyeo-ul loaded the vehicle with the necessary equipment, tools, food, and ammunition. In particular, he loaded plenty of food and fuel to prepare for the dams isolation. Its raining a lot. Its not strange when the road is lost. The boy then reached out his hand to weigh the rain. It felt heavy on his gloves. After waiting a while, he heard the sounds of footsteps on the wet ground. He could see Lieutenant Sullivan leading a company. He was the third platoon commander, and after the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Capston, he had been appointed company commander. The company lined up in the rain in front of Gyeo-ul. Gyeo-ul tilted his head. Whats brought you all out here? Sullivan replied, Lieutenant, I heard you were looking for candidates? Are you interested? Well the whole company volunteered for it. You can choose whoever you want. They all wore faces that seemed to hold back laughter. Gyeo-ul had now become a little bit difficult. Chapter 84 00084 #Night at the lakeC #Night at the lake (3) A troop totaling thirty-five headed to Salinas Dam, including Gyeo-ul, twenty-seven soldiers from Charlie Company, a medical officer, three engineers, and four tank soldiers. They rode in nine Humvees and one bus. Despite their troop size, the fortress commands consideration for Gyeo-ul had allowed them to bring such a large number of vehicles. Gyeo-ul had persistently refused to bring tanks, but the commander had forced it upon him, explaining, I want to minimize the possibility of losing you. In the commanders view, this was more of a necessity than a personal favor. At that time, there were only a few Americans who did not know the boy officer. If he ended up perishing in the operation, more than a hundred million people would be upset. Gyeo-ul was sitting in the front seat of a Humvee. The rainfall and fog had reduced vision to an extreme extent. It was quite hard to see a hundred meters with the naked eye. Things were a little better for Gyeo-ul, though, who had received eye correction with personal firearms skill and intuition correction with battle sense and survival sense. The road south was cut off in many places by traces of the bombing. There were many places where the ground had receded and collapsed and, depending on the location, muddy torrents flowed. Gyeo-ul, who had spotted one such torrent, raised his hand. It was a stop sign. The shooter in the vehicle following delivered the signal backward, and the ranks then stopped in order. The gap between cars was narrow, but there was no chance of a collision because they had not been speeding up in the first place. One person got out of each car and came to the front of the line. Gyeo-ul jumped sideways off the roof and pointed toward the torrent. Doesnt that look a little dangerous? The road had collapsed at about twenty meters ahead of them, and the water was passing through it. Several streams were merging, the surface choppy because of them crossing into each other. Even though their ears were full of wind and rain, the sound of water flowing was clear to the soldiers. Jeffrey, the platoon leader, nodded in agreement. It does. The depth isnt a problem, but Im afraid the cars will be swept away. As Jeffrey said, depth was definitely not a problem. By looking at the trees on the side of the road that were still holding up against the current, the depth could be roughly estimated at a meter. Each vehicle had a chimney-like snorkel, giving it the ability to pass through water that would reach its roofs height. The tank had no snorkel, but it could still overcome up to 1.2 meters without any special equipment. However, the current was another thing altogether. Gyeo-ul approached and dipped his open hand into the water to measure how strongly it pushed back. Im not sure. Combining the weight of the number of people on board, equipment, ammunition, and other loads, each Humvee weighed just under three tons. There was a high possibility of them being swept away by the current. It would be better to put the bus ahead here. The U.S. military tank (M1A2) weighed more than sixty tons. It would hold on strongly. Gyeo-ul inquired, Shall we winch each car across, with the tank at the front? I was just about to suggest that. Jeffrey grinned. He couldnt speak as comfortably as before, now that the boy officer was of a higher rank. However, his attitude was generally the same whether speaking casually or formally. That was good for Gyeo-ul. It was much better than some soldiers who froze in his presence every time they met, as if they were seeing a general. Gyeo-ul considered, looking at the bus that was moving to the front with its turbine making a lot of noise. But its worth bringing it here. There was a ring on the back of the tank that was made to be used at times like this. The same went for the Humvees. Gyeo-ul pulled out the lead Humvees winch and hung it on the back of the tank. Soon, the signal came back that the connection had been completed on the last vehicle. Finally, Gyeo-ul signaled the tank commander to move. He saw the tank commander say a few words into the tanks radio; then the ranks slowly began to move. Ten vehicles had been connected, so it should not make a difference in speed. The heavy tank slanted into the water. Rather than going sideways of the current, it was to resist diagonally. The vehicle carrying Gyeo-ul then went into the water. Rough and dangerous vibrations wound around it. It felt like it was being pushed to the side little by little and getting caught. It was proof that it was pulling hard from the front and the back. The water bubbled up, a myriad of drops of water running up towards Gyeo-ul. The dust crumbs remained in the area. However, it didnt last very long, and it was all because of the heavy rain. Can they see? Gyeo-ul wondered about the drivers vision. Sneaking under the turret, he saw the water currently covered half of the cars windows. The soldier behind the wheel stood up from his seat; taking a half-standing position, he was apparently eager to snoop around to see the front somehow. Gyeo-ul ordered loudly, You dont have to look directly at it! Just maintain the direction and drive! If the direction changes, Ill let you know! Oh, yes, sir. Even after sitting down, the driver was on edge the entire time. He must have been trained to cross water in the car, but reality was always different from training. However, it was a quick crossing, and the rest of the vehicles also began escaping the current. However, everyone felt more anxious when only the rear vehicles were left since there was little or no power holding them from behind. In consideration of this, the vehicles that had come ashore continued to pull. Finally, the last vehicle climbed ashore. Although they tried their best to wind the winch, they succeeded in landing without a hitch. The guards from each vehicle waved and cheered. The noise worried him, but Gyeo-ul didnt say anything. Their destination was still far away, after all. Even if there were mutants who followed after hearing the noise, all theyd see would be tire marks. All the vehicles were disconnected and started running again. There was mud all over the place, but the speed did not decrease. This was down to the wisdom of an engineer, whod suggested before their departure that they put snow equipment on the Humvee. Snow equipment in name, anyway, but it would be good for passing through the mud. Gyeo-ul had accepted his opinion, so now they removed the Humvees wheels and placed triangles of Mattracks on them. This way, the vehicles weight was dispersed so that they were less likely to be buried in the mud. Fortunately, they didnt encounter many mutants. Is our average speed about twenty kilometers per hour? Under the sunset sky, Gyeo-ul unfolded the map without any light. It was Gyeo-uls role as commander to determine the tricky paths. Investment inMap reading was inevitable. To Gyeo-ul, it seemed unnecessary. It would be helpful to have, but it wasnt too bad without it. But its much better than going the wrong way. They had accumulated many experience resources so far, so this waste was affordable. It was difficult to identify distant terrain, and the road had now twisted so often that there was no more necessary skill right now. The line of cars soon entered a familiar road. It was the route to the Black Mountain sawmill. An abandoned village could be seen on the front, the name of which was Creston. It was a small residence only three blocks across. Gyeo-ul decided to push through it, though the vehicles following seemed a little surprised when the signal was delivered. Of course, they had expected to take a detour. Still, the radio was quiet. The instructions to keep radio silence were being followed. Instead, a senior-level soldier in the front seat asked, Are you really going through the town? What if the enemy ambushes us? Gyeo-ul replied, There could be mutants, but it wouldnt be an ambush. How would they know we were coming? A few of them could pop out, he thought. The noise of the Humvees and the bus was being washed away by the rain and wind and buried in thunder. The mutants vision would have been reduced, too, so it was as Gyeo-ul expected. The first mutant to discover the line of vehicles saw them only after the leading vehicle had entered the village. The entrance to the village protruded from the first house and then opened its mouth wide. Kya- [Tuk!] It was a cry intended to call another mutant, but the drawn-out sound was broken by the low, dull noise of a shot. The bullet broke the mutants teeth and went into its skull. Before the staggering mutant even collapsed, the leading car had already passed by it. Speed up. Gyeo-ul sent a signal to the driver, and the ranks accelerated, which led to their noise increasing. Fortunately, the number of mutants popping up all over the village proved to be meaningless. Gyeo-ul shot some of them as soon as he could and ignored the rest. The shooters from the subsequent vehicles then dealt with the remaining mutants with their own skills, although not as neatly as the boy. It was a three-point shot and auto shot. Some mutants who managed to chase them to the edge of the village without being killed were swept away by the shallow current. Although the vehicles were heavy enough to pass through it, the mutantswhose weight couldnt be more than a humanswere in a different situation. It was the type of current that was only a few centimeters deep, yet could still kill a person. The mutants fell like someone had grabbed their ankles and floundered down. The soldiers, hungry for laughter, laughed out loud. It was night by the time they came to the entrance of the Black Mountain. A sky without stars and an eight-kilometer mountain path to pass in the dark. Gyeo-ul thought that it would be the tensest part. California Route 229, which ran north and south through the mountainous area, was a narrow, open, one-way road. They knew that the vehicles would need to pass this point carefully. The only condition was that the lights could not be used. The Humvee drivers would have to rely entirely on the narrow vision of their night vision goggles. Meanwhile, the tank was equipped with basic infrared surveillance equipment, but it was hard to say if it was any good. Even if there had been no other enemy, the environment itself turned out to be an opponent. It was okay when there were black forests on the left and right sides, but the tension rose when cliffs and slopes appeared in their place. Even the laid-back Gyeo-ul couldnt relax, and the drivers themselves looked sick. Due to the muddy water flowing from high places, the roads were not properly visible. The road was no longer flat because it was filled with dirt, and the spots that had collapsed now looked flat with water. There was a high possibility of getting stuck in the wrong place with just one mistake. As a result, their speed was far slower than walking. The speedometers needle did not exceed two or three points. The driver stopped frequently, measuring the road before moving on again. They also had to be wary of the possibility of falling rocks. Did I pick the wrong way? Gyeo-ul stopped the entire caravan. He signaled that there was no need for anyone to get out, and when he got off the turret, he tapped the driver on the shoulder. Ill get out of the car and lead you. Follow me. S?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The driver instantly freaked out. What?! Its too dangerous! Didnt you see the mutants earlier? If you get swept away, we wont be able to find your body! You could misstep on a puddle and fall! Dont worry about that. Ill put a winch on my belt. If you think its getting too dangerous, pull it. The winchs motor, which ran on the Humvee, could hold 6,000 pounds (2.7 tons). It wouldnt struggle to pull Gyeo-ul. However, both the driver and another soldier shook their heads. Oh my God, and what are you going to do about the rocks? Ill work harder, just stay inside. Listen to him, lieutenant. At this rate, there will be no problem in completing the mission. I dont think the dam will collapse in just an hour or two. And it cant be helped if it collapses. Between the dam breaking down and losing you, theres a lot more damage in the latter. Its going to be too difficult to persuade them. We need to save time. Gyeo-ul shook his head. This is a decision I am making as a commander. I wont take any counterarguments. The order was absolute. There was no further backlash. However, the senior soldier made a grave expression, entirely out of concern for the boy officer. While feeling good about it, Gyeo-ul got out of the car without saying a word. Splash! The shallow current split around his heel, and about half of his ankle bone was submerged under the water. Gyeo-ul felt a gentle resistance to one side. It wasnt at all dangerous. Gyeo-ul pulled the winch out and hung the hook on the end on his belt, pulling it tight to ensure it was engaged properly. This behavior was not for himself: the soldiers in the two front Humvees were watching. He couldnt see their eyes because of the night vision goggles, but he thought they were probably not blinking, not at all. The boy smiled and waved his hand. The driver hit his head against the steering wheel, and instead of looking at Gyeo-ul, the soldier sitting in the shooter seat stared at the dark sky, shoulders drooping. This was not just a reckless move. If the survival sense reached the realm of genius and the crisis detection of ten grades, the chances of dying in accidents in these places were greatly reduced. Still, it doesnt mean that the risk is zero. However, Gyeo-ul had decided to take the risk. After all, this tense situation would also be good for audiences from other worlds. He stepped through the water and began to move slowly. Chapter 85 00085 #Night at the lakeC #Night at the lake (4) As the night deepened, the temperature dropped. Sharp sleet began to mix with the rain, fogging up Gyeo-uls lenses. However, he was worried about taking off the night vision goggles. Darkness covered the mountain range, and even though the boys eyesight was superior, it also had a limit. His breaths were now turning to white mist in the cold wind. He felt a shortness of breath due to exhaustion. He was only jogging at a light pace but had already been doing it for half an hour. The heavy rain was also a disaster for the non-humans. A body floating in a puddle on the side of the road, swaying in the waves, was not a human being. It was a ghoul that now looked white. Gyeo-ul decided to approach and look at it for a moment. It was necessary to gather information and would give him a moment to breathe. He sent a stop signal to the vehicle and carefully entered the stagnant water. Splash, splash, splash. It was off the road, so the ground was slippery with mud. The water level came up to Gyeo-uls waist. The flow was slow, but there was a slight whirlpool where two streams of water hit the ground. Even so, it still wasnt powerful enough to knock a person down. Gyeo-ul tilted his head and drew his weapon. If he were dragged into a close-range battle, the pistol would have an absolute advantage. He pointed a gun at the ghouls head and carefully tapped it with his other hand. It didnt move. Was it really dead? Gyeo-ul hit it hard with the pistols handle this time. Knock! The blow had enough power to tear the back of the ghouls head. It went down well below the surface and then popped up again due to its buoyancy. Pudududu! The gray monster gave a seizure-like twitch. It swung its arm wildly and hit the surface of the water. Gyeo-ul took a few steps back, raising one hand to stop the soldiers from firing. It was like watching a drowning man, a panicked person who had fallen into shallow water and eventually died. Unlike most animals, humans needed to be trained to swim. If you didnt know how to breathe, you couldnt even float on the water. The same was true of other beings who made humans their hosts. Maybe it missed its footing and couldnt get back on its feet. It was in danger of dying, so it stopped functioning. An infection mutant could quickly put itself into suspended animation. Its muscles would stiffen, and its breathing would stop almost entirely. Then, when it received external stimuli such as touch, vision, hearing, or smell, it would wake up with a strong reaction like this one had a moment ago. This was how the mutants trapped in Atascadero State Hospital had first been found. Originally, it had been assumed to be a way to save energy. However, it could also have been a means of saving oxygen. Of course, as far as Gyeo-ul knew, it couldnt last forever. The need for oxygen had decreased, but it wasnt gone completely. If this ghoul had been left alone, it would have ended up dead. The ghoul, who had spotted Gyeo-ul while floundering, struggled violently. As it snapped its teeth, it began swallowing more and more water. Gyeo-ul, who was carefully observing the pathetic movements, reaffirmed that mutants were still not able to swim for the time being. Gyeo-ul then shot two bullets into the creatures head, the sound of it buried under the thunder. Watery blood flowed out of the perforated head, and the gray body drooped. Another officer was waiting for the boy officer when he came back onto land. Jeffrey asked, What was that just now? It seemed like the dead guy was coming back. Jeffrey, do you remember the guys in Atascadero? Ahh Oh, that was the same as this. Thank you for showing us something interesting. From now on, Ill have to check any drowned bodies. I might die if I mess with them. Thats right. We need to spread the same warning to the other bases. Especially to San Diego North Island. Jeffrey, who had simply accepted Gyeo-uls experiment, stiffened at the last words. Even if he acted frivolous, Jeffrey was a well-trained American officer. Its great that you thought about that right away. I respect you, Lieutenant. San Diego North Island, the last military stronghold on the west coast of North America, used the sea inside the bay as a natural barrier to defend itself. This was because of the belief that mutants could not cross the water. The same was true of American citizens who had fled aboard. However, if the dead floated on the water, and if someone touched a mutant without knowing it, chaos would immediately unfold. Marine refugees were living together in each others boats. When the infection began, the rate of transmission of the plague would be no different from that on the land. Jeffrey seemed very disturbed by the possibilities he was just now realizing. Gyeo-ul reassured him, Dont worry too much. Its already been confirmed that mutants are afraid of water. Theres still time before they plan to use it. With it raining like this, its not strange how many dumb mutants have floated into the water. Im afraid the accident might have already happened, but We cant do anything about that. Someone else might have already warned them. This was a worldview where all living people were wary of mutants. It wouldnt be strange if someone else realized what the boy had realized first. Some people got paid to do just that. Gyeo-ul pushed Jeffrey. Come on, lets not waste time. Lets go. The time requirement did not exceed expectations. Within another half-hour, Gyeo-ul reached the point where the mountain road intersected with a two-lane expressway. From here on, Gyeo-ul no longer needed to lead the way. He had run for almost an hour in the rain. Gyeo-ul unhooked the winch ring from his waist. Seeing the boy officer returning to the vehicle, the two soldiers sighed in a complicated manner. The corporal holding the turret then recommended Gyeo-ul to rest. Thank you for your hard work. Now get some rest. Im not taking a break. Im in command. Get down from your watch; Ill be sitting there, but its inside, so theres no big difference, right? Lieutenant, I cant lie to you that the Humvee is like a hotel, but I think anyone whos just run an hour in the rain should be a little more comfortable and warm. Just grab a bite to eat inside. While you were running, the other cars finished their meals in order. Come to think of it, he hadnt eaten dinner yet. As a second-class commander, Jeffrey seemed to have ordered a meal just for him. He was sure the soldiers would have taken care of it even if he hadnt. Gyeo-ul hesitated for a moment and accepted it. Although the soldiers ability wasnt as good as Gyeo-uls, various sensory modifications would not decrease to that extent even in the car. Ill eat for a moment. The corporal sighed again. You can keep resting. Please sit there for a while. The driver agreed. I never thought Id see a soldier sitting and an officer running. It was my first time seeing it after four years of service. Oh, I could tell for sure that the world was going to ruin. Gyeo-ul smiled lightly. The soldier seemed to want it. The car continued to run steadily. It was only a two-lane road, but it seemed to be well made and lived up to its name of expressway. It must have been well cared for until the disaster occurred on the west coast. It was therefore easy to eat inside the car. At least there was no water to spill. Combat food (FSR) had been much simplified in Atascadero State Hospital. Gyeo-ul was now ripping open something called MRE: Meal, Ready to Eat. Once hed opened the package on his lap, he looked sideways, and the driver began to say something else. It wont taste good, but enjoy your meal. Ill try. Gyeo-uls hesitation wasnt because he sympathized with the soldiers. Whenever he heard that the combat food was not delicious, he thought, No matter how bad it is, the nickname Massive Rectal Exploration (MRE) is an exaggeration. Anyway, it was better than the energy gel that he had eaten a lot of in his life. Gyeo-ul really hated the artificial flavor and chemical flavor of that stuff. Thanks to his sister Han Ga-euls efforts, he had been able to taste real dishes from time to time. If it hadnt been for her extraordinary efforts, Gyeo-ul would have grown up unaware of the joy of eating. Their family had not had a virtual reality account like everyone else did. I dont know. Maybe my parents had an account. He was lost in his thoughts for a while, though he felt he was wasting his time. It was a meaningless memory and a meaningless regret. One didnt have to make the already heavy stones heavier. He decided to concentrate on his meal. Combat food included a heat pack. If you added a little water, the temperature would rise rapidly. You could heat up various foods and drinks that way. It was an easy-to-burn process, but Gyeo-uls eyes were almost forward when he moved his hand. When he opened the cheese spread he had put on the heat pack, the half-liquefied cheese crept out with a savory smell. Gyro-ul spread this on a cracker, waited for the moisture and milk fat to permeate, and bit into it. It tasted delicious. Gyeo-ul smiled lightly. The salt was strong enough to sting his tongue, but just being a warm meal in the cold weather meant it got a high score. The chicken stew had a strong artificial scent. He didnt like it. Still, the texture of the breast, which was close to realistic, was satisfactory. After a bit of chewing and rolling it on the tip of his tongue, the broth-soaked flesh broke down. The bland sweetness of the hot drink also coated his mouth. How come youre enjoying your meal? To the curious driver, Gyeo-ul replied, Because theres no Jeffrey next to me. Upon hearing this, the two soldiers had to hold back their sudden laughter. It seemed that Jeffery had ruined many peoples meals with his poo story. There came a noise from the radio: the incoherent voices of many people. It was a familiar pattern because he had already experienced it. The soldiers held their breath. Gyeo-ul could feel the tension. He then spoke in a calm voice with a sense of security. Never mind. The noise intensity is quite far away. Maybe west, toward Santa Margarita. Theyve been checking that theres nothing around here, so they wont come out for no reason in this weather. Tell the cars in the back not to mind. The shooter sent out a signal as directed. After that, the noise and meaningless transmission continued for a while, only getting cut off after the line of vehicles left the highway and headed south due to the terrain. A peak of 1,200 meters above sea level blocked the transmission. After finishing his meal, Gyeo-ul unfolded the map. Even though there was aMap readingcorrection,Memorizewas low, so it was a good idea to look at the map often. The boy nodded. Were almost there. Theres no more difficult terrain, and its just another eleven kilometers away. The soldier glanced at the map. Its flat land without obstacles. Lets speed up a little bit. Yes. With Gyeo-uls authorization, the driver sped up gradually in order to get the following vehicles to do the same without panic. However, the race did not last long. When they got to the river, the line of cars slowed down again. There should have been a bridge in front of them, but it was nowhere in sight. Only a rough river over thirty meters wide was waiting ahead of them. The tactical map marked it as a dried-up stream called Burrito. The bridge might have been submerged under the water. However, there was no way to confirm it. With the current this strong, it wouldnt be safe to cross, even if there was a bridge. A submerged structure could not be relied upon for durability. s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. What should I do? Gyeo-ul stood at the banks of the raging waters, trying to figure out a way to cross it.