Chapter 75

43. Troubles (2)

"Ah, senior? What's up?"

U Min-hee looked quite cheerful.

"Is something good happening?"

"Ah, someone posted something funny on the internet."

"Internet? How do you do that in this world? Didn't all the internet cables get cut?"

"There's a way. There's a site I use, and there's someone there who uses the same personal identification number as you, senior."

"Skeleton?"

"Yeah. I thought the person was a bit strange, but it's really something. It feels like they're twisted from the core?"

"Ah, I think I know what you mean."

It's you. It's you.

Who has the right to call who strange?

After making some small talk, I got to the main point.

"By the way, is there a job in Incheon? It's getting a bit dangerous here."

"Thinking of coming to Incheon?"

I haven't made a firm decision yet, but it's clear that my bomb shelter is no longer a safe place.

It means I need to think of other options.

The biggest motivation is probably the change in U Min-hee.

My junior, who used to exude madness to the point where no one could touch her, has transformed into something more human-like by her thirties.

Honestly, I never imagined we would be able to communicate so easily, even a year ago.

But on the other hand, other people have changed too.

Who would have thought that Kim Da-ram would change like that?

My soul partner, who worked so well with me, is now casually betraying me, her former senior and team leader.

While she always had a calculating side, the fact that she told Kim Pil-sung my location without any delay was a significant shock to me.

"I'm going to check it out once."

In the struggle between the National Assembly faction and the Corps faction, I chose the National Assembly faction.

That means I'm teaming up with U Min-hee.

"Well, I won't stop you. Thanks to you, I solved a big problem. But I'm not sure if you'll like that job? It's saturated here, you know?"

No matter how much a person changes, their nature doesn't easily change.

Dealing with U Min-hee will be tiring in many ways.

"Can you come alone? Can you make it here by yourself?"

"Are you not sending an armored vehicle?"

"Why would I send one if you're not needed?"

The way he's already showing his true colors suggests that.

Actually, maybe he's in a good mood because he received my call.

"I'll come alone."

"Come to the lab when you arrive. I'll let them know. Do you know where I am?"

"Y-Yeah."

To be honest, dealing with U Min-hee will expose me to a lot of unpleasant things.

But what can I do?

It's for survival.

I want to see it with my own eyes.

What life in a dying city is like.

Can I, who has lived a luxurious life in a bomb shelter, really adapt to it?

"Ah, and senior."

U Min-hee added with a snicker.

"Have you ever borrowed money in the past?"

"Ah, yeah. A little?"

One important point.

"I lost it gambling."

Being a gambler is a secret I should take to my grave.

*

Since I'll be away from home for quite a while, I informed my neighbor.

"What? You'll be in Incheon for a week?"

I contacted Defender first.

"It might be longer."

"What are you going to do? In that crowded place?"

"Well, I'm considering moving. The situation isn't good."

"Did the military mark you?"

"Ah, yeah. The place was good, but now it's not."

"I'm not sure if you need to move. The Corps faction won't send a million troops just to get you, right? You're not a VIP."

The mention of VIP made Defender's brother join the conversation.

"Is Skeleton a VIP? Was he a VIP?!"

When the brother gets excited, the sister follows, which is a characteristic of this sibling pair.

"S-Sir Skeleton?!"

"No, not that great. Just being paranoid. It's a precaution, I guess."

"I understand what you mean. But still."

Defender made a humming sound and trailed off.

After a moment, he asked seriously.

"Can you survive there?"

"It won't be easy."

I said it lightly, but I don't really know.

I've slept in a dying city before, but only as a traveler for a short time. I've never really lived there.

But I know the life in the city is worse than it looks, more miserable, impoverished, and terrifying.

It's just that I didn't want to see it.

Didn't the second sage reveal it starkly?

The fate of the discarded.

Ordinary people can die from just a cold snap.

Food is also a concern.

Even on our bulletin board, posts about food shortages are common. How much worse must it be in the city?

It's almost been a year since dog food bars were introduced.

I don't know how the city manages to feed millions of people.

"Ah."

I don't know.

I don't want to think about it.

It feels like a problem I shouldn't think about.

After telling Defender about my travel plans, I contacted the sniper mother and daughter next.

"Is it okay if we use that house?"

It seems the sniper mother and daughter are in a tough situation.

Considering Rebecca's shameless nature, it's still surprising that they would think of moving into someone else's house as soon as I leave.

Of course, my answer is,

"No, it's not okay."

"Why not?"

"It's dangerous here. You saw the helicopters and fighter jets, right?"

"Ah."

"Are you having a hard time lately?"

"Very hard."

"Y-Yeah. I'll think about it when I come back."

As I was about to end the call, Su pushed Rebecca away.

"Skeleton!"

"Yeah."

"We're fine. We can hold on."

"Really?"

"Yeah. But bring something juicy when you come."

"Juicy, you mean?"

Su, the kid.

Does he know?

That coming out like that could move my heart more.

If he knew, he might be a born fox, unlike his stupid mother.

But that's unlikely...

Actually, Seoul and Incheon are about the same distance for me.

For transportation, I chose a bicycle for the first time in a long while.

I prepared a simple travel kit with a Chinese-made rifle, a pistol, and an axe, along with some food, a few sausages made from roe deer meat for bartering, and some alcohol and cigarettes.

I split the cigarettes with Defender, as I found some in Kim Pil-sung's gang.

For protection, I considered wearing a bulletproof vest but decided against it due to the season.

I believe maintaining good physical condition and health is more important personally.

As usual, I waited for nightfall and set out on a familiar path.

My territory has been vacant for a long time.

With Chinese troops patrolling and the area being hit by nuclear bombs, the government has abandoned it, and few people have entered.

In fact, the government has intentionally neglected the vulnerable western side.

But at this point, about two and a half years after the war started, people occasionally live in my territory.

They are pioneers.

Some of the pioneers who survived last winter have formed their own communities in the hills, hills, or abandoned apartments and are surviving.

Their behavior is on the line between raiders and civilians.

They generally act friendly, but if the other party is weaker and they need something, they turn into raiders and take what they need.

Therefore, the safest way is to avoid humans as much as possible until reaching a place with law and order.

On the familiar path, I discovered at least three pioneer camps.

One was a small camp of four or five people, and the others were groups of at least twenty.

All were armed with guns and had sentries posted for night watch.

Their camps were so close to the road that I had to cross a stream.

Fortunately, the season made crossing the water not too burdensome.

After crossing the river, the half-ruined city formerly known as Siheung appeared.

From here, it's under the jurisdiction of the Incheon City government.

Refugee camps have been set up on the devastated land due to Chinese naval bombardment and nuclear attacks, and they are systematically engaged in agriculture and minimal industrial production under military supervision.

As I approached, I saw soldiers guarding the area.

Following U Min-hee's instructions, I gave her name and mine.

"Please wait a moment."

One noticeable thing as I approached the government-controlled area is that the soldiers are using cell phones.

It means the signal is working.

Out of curiosity, I took out my phone.

Sure enough, the signal bars appeared.

While waiting for orders from the higher-ups, I approached a soldier and offered him a cigarette.

"Do cell phones work well here?"

"Pretty well."

"Better than when I was in Seoul."

"Yeah. With fewer people and less land, the communication network has been expanded."

"Really?"

"Considering how many strange things appear these days, right?"

"True."

"Everyone has a phone, and with the signal working, each of the many people gathered in Incheon can be an information source. Plus, the government has even set up places like Failnet, so it's a win-win."

This soldier seems to think Failnet was created by the government.

Who would think that such a great site was created by one person's dedication?

Soon, an order came from the higher-ups.

"Please leave your bicycle here. You're to be escorted by a jeep."

The soldier smiled, and I felt relieved.

I won't have to deal with the envious and greedy looks I get when riding a bicycle.

From there, I arrived at the lab comfortably.

By the time I reached the dock with the sea breeze, it was still late at night.

A night shift staff member assigned me a room in the lab.

The room had a bunk bed, but no one else was there.

I took a short nap and waited for morning.

After the sun came up, my workday began.

I took a shower at someone else's house for the first time in a while.

The shower facilities were quite good, so I could wash comfortably.

For some reason, there was baby powder, and I used a lot of it.

Baby powder is something I don't have.

Feeling fresh, I was resting in the room when someone who claimed to be U Min-hee's subordinate came to find me.

It was a different man from the one who guided me before.

"Sorry, but Director U is out on a trip."

The man, dressed neatly in a white lab coat, seemed to have a condition where he couldn't make eye contact and looked away while relaying U Min-hee's message.

"Director U said you were a former hunter, right?"

"Yes."

"Director U recommended the freelance hunter side. I'm going to guide you to the freelance hunter dormitory now."

"Is there a freelance hunter dormitory?"

"Yes. Actually..."

The man finally made eye contact with me and started