Chapter 11

10. Chaebol (2)

The greatest damage caused by the war was not the nuclear attack but the clandestine ambushes carried out in the cold depths of the sea.

South Korea, which relies on overseas for almost all its resources, is a country that would die if the sea routes were cut off.

When Chinese submarines attacked the trade routes, Korea's shipping routes were paralyzed, and its economy was sentenced to death.

Pawpawdo could not escape its fate of death either.

However, it had a better chance of surviving longer than other groups.

Among its subsidiaries were construction, distribution, heavy industry, and defense companies.

Perhaps that was why.

The equipment mobilized in the operation area was more magnificent than one could imagine.

Five unknown new armored vehicles armed with flamethrowers and 20mm machine guns, three 40kg-class quad drones capable of air support in emergencies, a platoon of foreign mercenaries who seemed to be from the U.S. military, and over two hundred support troops armed with personal firearms.

There weren't many young people.

The youngest were in their late 30s, and most were in their 40s and 50s.

The person in charge of the operation was someone named Choi, who had served as an army colonel, but he had no experience in anti-monster operations.

There was a hunter acting as a consultant, but he was someone I didn't know and wasn't a proper hunter.

By "proper hunter," I mean someone who has received systematic education and training at a school that meets international standards, has gained over a year of practical experience under a verified marksman, has fought for over a year at the gate area set up in front of the rift, and has obtained a C-level or higher rating.

Someone like my mentor, John Nae-nun, who graduated from the school but dropped out halfway, is considered D-level and is treated as non-combat personnel in anti-monster battles.

However, this non-combat personnel was holding the lifeline of a chaebol group that once wielded power in South Korea.

"I am Park Sang-min, a current member of the National Assembly and a hunter. I look forward to working with you."

This man, with an actor-like handsome face, is a member of the National Assembly.

I heard he entered the National Assembly as a proportional representative, touting his background as a hunter, a so-called specialized proportional representative.

I don't know how someone who isn't a proper hunter can represent the entire hunter community, but the mugwort badge attached to his quasi-military uniform collar looked quite impressive.

Nominal command was given to Mr. Choi, but the operation was actually led by Park Sang-min.

"There has been a large outbreak of zombies in this industrial area, but according to research, the lifespan of zombies is one month. After one month, they will starve to death. We postponed this operation to avoid unnecessary battles with zombies."

His handsome face, gentle voice, and trustworthy demeanor made him seem convincing, even if he was just spouting nonsense.

"What do you think, Hunter from the National Assembly?"

For some reason, he kept asking for my opinion, and his intentions were too obvious.

He was trying to undermine me.

Because I was a hunter sent by the National Assembly.

At this point, the National Assembly is just a league of their own with no real power, while the National Council holds the real power.

His animosity towards me had turned into mockery.

I could laugh it off.

At most, this guy's lifespan is three years.

The problem is that Park Sang-min might try to shift the blame for the failure of this doomed operation onto me.

That's not what I want.

I am a person who should live quietly, alone, and cut off from everyone when the time comes.

"In my opinion, it doesn't seem right."

"No, you're the one who's mistaken, Representative."

"I completely disagree."

So, I kept challenging him.

It was hard not to challenge him.

After all, this guy was just spouting nonsense.

"I have a different view."

Even a worm will squirm when stepped on, and after a few times, Park Sang-min started to counterattack.

"Look at it in 3D?"

This was his counterattack.

Since he had nothing in his head, he tried to dismiss my words with sarcasm and nonsense.

I ignored him and continued.

"If the zombies are going to starve to death, they will go into a shutdown state, drastically reducing their metabolism. It's true that they will starve to death after a month of activity without finding nutrients, but zombies that have established a base in the city, where they can avoid the sun, should be viewed differently."

"Oh, right. Turn off AntWiki~."

Park Sang-min was extremely rude, but the expressions of the group's senior members, who were watching our conversation, were not bright.

Especially the chairman's expression changed noticeably.

Even if you're a layman, you can tell who is speaking the truth just by the context of the words.

The climax of the argument was about the method of entering the industrial area.

Park Sang-min insisted on leading with the armored vehicles, while I argued against it.

"No, Representative. Have you ever seen or heard of zombies shooting guns? Zombies are sensitive to sound and smell. If we bring an armored vehicle with the smell of oil and the noise of the engine, it's like advertising our presence."

"Enough!"

Park Sang-min waved his arm.

A fierce-looking aide stepped in front of me, trying to silence me.

I pushed them aside and continued.

"First, send a seasoned reconnaissance team to assess the situation, and then decide on the entry method. Right? In a fight, planning is 90%. The other 10% is personal skill. If the planning is a mess, can you win?"

"This guy is really asking for it. Damn."

Park Sang-min's patience was running out.

"Does a piece of shit like you think a member of the National Assembly is a joke? Where do you get the nerve to talk back to me?"

The group members separated Park Sang-min and me.

Fortunately, the person who took me away was also the reason I was here.

"Are you Mr. Jee Chang-soo?"

"Yes, that's me."

"I have a request from your daughter."

"From Young-hee?"

Young-hee.

A model name for a woman.

I briefly explained the risks of this operation to Jee Chang-soo, using my knowledge and experience.

As the CEO of a company with over 3,000 employees, Jee Chang-soo seemed to take my words seriously.

I delivered the final blow to dispel his doubts.

"Actually, I'm not D-level. To be honest, I'm in a different league from that parasite."

But an invisible thread held his heart.

"But the chairman..."

"What's the problem with the chairman? Honestly, isn't everything over? Are you still doing business? Is there even any business to do?"

Jee Chang-soo shook his head.

He shook his head, but with a deep and serious look in his eyes, as if he were lecturing a junior.

"Representative Park, you're young, so you might not understand, but relationships between people aren't so easily formed or severed. Especially for people like us who share the same time and experiences..."

"..."

I think I understand what he means.

I've had similar concerns.

"Besides, what can we do if we leave this crumbling group? Honestly, we'd just be ordinary refugees in Pawpawdo, wouldn't we?"

"There are families waiting for you to return safely."

"..."

"I have no family waiting for me."

I left first.

"When I give the signal, run without looking back."

"But the chairman!"

"Don't worry. The chairman will run too."

The outcome of the operation was obvious.

The armored vehicles led the way, and the zombies swarmed.

The momentum was good.

They built a wall of corpses with flamethrowers and machine guns, advancing to the center.

But soon they hit a limit.

The zombies surrounded them, blocking their retreat, and the thing I feared the most appeared.

A 3-meter-tall creature with a grayish-white, lusterless surface floated in the air, looking down at the humans.

It emitted shockwaves that made the surroundings ripple with each breath.

It was more like a statue than a living being.

Or perhaps an idol.

All the humans on the scene were captivated by the creature, each with their own fear and awe.

In the silence, I grabbed Jee Chang-soo's wrist and said,

"Let's go."

It is the enemy of humanity, a monster.

Humanity cannot defeat the monster.

*

Battle results.

Most of the equipment was destroyed, and all the mercenaries were lost.

Mr. Choi also died.

Of the 200 employees who came as support, only half returned alive.

Park Sang-min survived, blaming the failure on Mr. Choi's incompetence and Pawpawdo Group's lack of preparation.

At least it was a good thing.

Jee Chang-soo survived.

"This should have broken the chairman's stubbornness. Thanks for your cooperation."

Kim Da-ram greeted me with a smile, but it didn't look very happy.

She had no choice but to arrange this.

I understand.

In a world where everything has collapsed, it's hard to ignore the claims of powerful individuals.

"It wasn't a pleasant experience. But why did you do it? I can guess the details, but..."

"There were two playgrounds, and one went bankrupt. The best kid from the bankrupt playground came to the other but wasn't included."

"An apt metaphor for a mother."

"Anyway, be happy. I won't bother you anymore."

Kim Da-ram sent me an unexpected gift along with her congratulations.

The gift was a personal identification number.

Now I have a special status in the world of military frequencies.

"But the chairman wants to see you again?"

"I don't want to see him."

"Meeting or not is up to you. That person has lost all his power now. He has no resources left to influence anyone."

What made me meet Jee Chang-soo again?

Looking back, it was probably curiosity.

Who wouldn't want to see the end of a fallen chaebol, especially in Korea?

Jee Chang-soo received me on the third floor of his headquarters.

The construction elevator that used to take me to the 55th floor had stopped working.

The luxurious bathroom reeked of urine.

Jee Chang-soo was waiting for me, having prepared a meal.

The main dish was steak with matsutake mushrooms, and he had also prepared a bottle of Chateau something, a top-tier wine.

The mushrooms and wine were excellent, but his meat was clearly inferior to what I had stored in my bunker.

"Hunter Park."

He greeted me with a bright smile.

His face wasn't much different from what I had seen at the cafeteria.

"I looked into your background. I did some digging. You're quite a big shot."

"I'm a has-been now."

"Just like me."

Jee Chang-soo's eyes sparkled.

"You said that someone like that weird Hoon wasn't even worth dealing with, and that you were on the same team as the legendary Han-min and Na-hye, who are now half-legendary saviors."

"..."

The taste of the wine was ruined.

I heard names I didn't want to hear.

Names I had almost erased from my memory.

"What did you call me here for?"

"Looks like you're going to refuse no matter what I say, huh?"

"You know me well."

"To be blunt, I'm planning to challenge that industrial area again."

"It won't work. You saw it yourself."

"I know it won't work, but sometimes you have to do it anyway."

Jee Chang-soo, with his unusually bright eyes half-closed, gazed intently at the blood-red wine glass, filled with regret.

"I was the child of a mistress."

"..."

"My mother is listed as Jang Mi-sook, but she's not my real mother. My real mother didn't even leave a name. At the point where I was born, the possibility of me inheriting the group was 0%. But I did it."

Jee Chang-soo's eyes darkened.

To be precise, he opened his narrow eyes wide, catching more of the dim light from the ceiling, but I thought his eyes had become more intense.

"I brought down and trampled all the obstacles, making it impossible for my father not to choose me."

He had the spirit to do it.

"I'm 69. It's time to challenge again."

"I won't do it."

"Just tell me the method. The method to bring down that monster!"

I couldn't refuse that request.

After all, I owed him a favor.

A warm bowl of rice soup and a glass of soju.

"..."

It's called a necromancer. As you saw, it raises the dead through mutation, turning them into zombies. When attacked, it creates a reflective field around it, but it doesn't reflect organic matter. It's extremely difficult to approach, but if you can get close, there's a way to deal with it. There's one spot, about the size of a coin, where the field doesn't exist..."

Jee Chang-soo nodded eagerly, taking notes on a notepad as if he had returned to his childhood.

After the conversation, I asked him,

"Why are you so obsessed with it? With your wealth and connections, you could easily prepare. If you settle in a suitable place, you could protect your family and close associates."

"How can I do that?"

He asked, his voice trembling.

"With thousands, even tens of thousands of Pawpawdo employees who trust and follow me?"

Now I understood why his eyes shone strangely.

He was a boss to the core.

Someone who leads people and makes them follow.

Or perhaps, he identified himself with Pawpawdo.

*

Jee Chang-soo's final challenge ended in failure.

The absence of the father of the woman who had spoken to me on the death list was a small satisfaction.

The ambitious cafeteria Jee Chang-soo set up became a den for drug addicts and is now an abandoned eyesore that no one visits.

This is the end of a chaebol I knew.

Thanks to this, I could transform from a perennial unpopular user to a somewhat influential user who wrote a popular post.

However, Jee Chang-soo's story seems to be far from over.

About a year and ten months after the war broke out, a photo appeared on the community.

gijayangban: I found this photo on Failnet. Doesn't it look familiar?

The photo showed a large group of zombies.

They seemed to be active in a local area, forming a super-sized group of thousands.

But the zombie at the front had a familiar face.

No doubt about it.

The zombie in the shiny suit was Jee Chang-soo, the chairman of Pawpawdo Group.

While most chaebols abandoned their groups and settled in small fortresses with a dozen or so family members, this prominent businessman continues to lead thousands of followers through abandoned ruins.