Chapter 10

EP 3 - The Winning Strategy of a New Era (2)

I arrived at the accommodation provided by the military.

It’s a dormitory with a bed, a TV, a desk, and a chair in the middle. The rest of the group was already sprawled out there.

Yeo Doyeon was standing by the window, taking a call.

“Wow, the military has really improved lately. There’s even a bed?”

“Stop acting all military and be quiet.”

“Me? Huh? Special Forces! Oh, really?”

Yang Il-ho and Lee Ho-jeong were sitting side by side on the bed, chatting.

Gangi was lying pale, and Cheon Hwara was tightly hugging Gan Ji-yoon and Gan Seok.

Especially, Gan Ji-yoon couldn’t fly.

Blood, what is this? Anyway, the last student to be rescued was wiping away the tears streaming down his face with a military blanket. He seemed quite tough.

Two soldiers helped me sit on the bed.

Yang Pan-seok sat next to me and smiled.

“Han’s Clinic.”

“Yes.”

“Shall we do some politics?”

* * *

The group waved at us half-heartedly, but we ignored them and continued our conversation.

The destruction of Seoul to capture the monster.

The Ground Operations Command is vehemently opposing it.

“If we break their wrists, the deputy minister will be happy, right?”

“Still, giving up Seoul is too extreme.”

After a moment’s hesitation, Yang Pan-seok gave me a nudge.

“The correctness of the operation isn’t the main issue.”

Right.

That’s a problem for the military, not for politicians.

“What’s important is that the people will hate it. If we take the lead, we’ll be the ones to take the blame.”

“Your expression has become a bit cheap.”

“Be quiet.”

Yang Pan-seok is someone who doesn’t like to make enemies. He would rather give in and be seen as a pushover than suffer personally.

However, he is always aware of what’s happening,

not just a victim of circumstances.

He always has the situation in his sights.

“The important thing is to twist the wrist of the Ground Operations Command, not to defend the operation.”

“...The Ground Operations Command is refusing the deputy minister’s orders because they’re afraid of public opinion. So—”

“Let’s stir up public opinion?”

I nodded slightly.

Yang Pan-seok, who seemed to agree, smiled and spoke.

“I’ve written a script...”

“I have a slightly tough idea...”

The two politicians put their heads together.

*

After about an hour of discussion, Yang Pan-seok left to explain the ‘political’ operation to the deputy minister. You need the commander’s permission to throw a bomb.

I asked the soldier guarding the dormitory door.

“Um...”

“Y-Yes! Sergeant! Han Yong Geun!”

“I lost one leg, so could you bring me two crutches?”

“Ah, understood!”

As the nervous soldier left, Yang Il-ho approached me with a grin.

“First time in a dorm, right?”

“Stop acting all military, do you want to be mean to a disabled person?”

“Hehe, rookie, rookie.”

Lee Ho-jeong hit Yang Il-ho on the back of the head and dragged a chair over, sitting with her legs crossed. Her stockings were torn.

“Mr. Representative. Ah, the title feels a bit awkward. Anyway, where have you been?”

“I met the deputy minister of defense. He’s the real power in South Korea right now. I can’t go into details.”

Lee Ho-jeong didn’t press further. She explained the current situation to me.

“This isn’t just happening in Korea.”

“What?”

“Gates have opened all over the world. Beijing, New York, Tokyo, and other major cities have gates too.”

Damn.

“Is the world ending?”

“I don’t know about other countries, but in ours, everyone is moving south.”

“The road network must be paralyzed.”

Lee Ho-jeong showed me some internet articles.

“The media is causing confusion. North Korean invasion, 1.5 million deaths, the president’s death, the military abandoning Seoul, aliens, rapture...”

It seems the media isn’t just spreading rumors.

Tap. Tap. Someone tapped my shoulder.

“Hey, phone.”

Yeo Doyeon suddenly put a phone to my ear. A familiar voice was sobbing.

- Hey, you! You said you’d call first...!

“Aunt...! I’m sorry. I didn’t have time to call...”

- Really...! You were so busy you forgot about your mother? Is blood thicker than water? I’m not your parent!

“Aunt, we’re related by blood...”

What should I say? I looked at Yeo Doyeon with a pitiful expression, but she just smiled and held out the phone.

Honestly, forgetting to call was my fault. I was a complete mess and didn’t even send a text.

“No, not...! The communication was unstable...”

- Really! Excuses are great, huh!? Some people are heartbroken! What!?

“I’m sorry...”

Ah, damn! My uncle took the phone.

- Seungmun! You’re alive!

“Yes, I’m at the military headquarters.”

- Are you hurt?

“Um, I lost my left leg...”

- What the hell! How can you joke in this situation!

My uncle sobbed.

- What the hell!

"At the military headquarters."

- Oh, right. Anyway! You’re there!

"Since I was rescued, I’m here."

- Oh, that’s good.

"Uncle, you don’t really have anything to say, do you?"

- ...Well! As long as you’re alive, that’s all that matters!

I handed the phone back to Yeo Doyeon as I listened to his loud voice. She smiled wickedly and walked off with the phone.

“Representative Han Seungmun?”

“Ah, thank you.”

“You’re welcome!”

I finally received the crutches from the soldier. Yang Pan-seok also returned to the dormitory.

“It’s confirmed.”

“Ah! That’s a relief!”

“You even got the crutches. Let’s move. Ah, right.”

Yang Pan-seok smiled slightly.

“Can you cry on cue?”

“I was the ace of the university drama club.”

*

The martial law headquarters was bustling with all kinds of people. Numerous soldiers were running around, each with their own role.

We pushed through the crowd and walked down the corridor.

“There’s no need to gather the reporters. They’re already gathered in front of the building.”

“That’s good.”

Yang Pan-seok, who was leading the way, explained.

“The government hasn’t made any official statements yet. We’re the first, aside from the trivial stuff.”

“I’ll draw the attention well.”

“Attention, what?”

“Focus.”

“Don’t use English. Old people feel left out by such things.”

Yang Pan-seok and I decided to hold a press conference.

“The deputy minister seemed to like it. Did you memorize the script well?”

“When I was a chief secretary, I often wrote speeches for you, didn’t I?”

“That’s true. I believe you’ll do well.”

“Yes?”

Originally, Yang Pan-seok was going to hold the press conference.

He looked at me and smiled.

“You’ll do it.”

“Ah, r-really, is that okay?”

“You were so charismatic before you almost died. Now you’re showing your usual self.”

Yang Pan-seok laughed and walked ahead.

Politicians thrive on attention. And this press conference is a position that all politicians would covet.

A place to etch your name in the history of South Korea. This press conference might be used as reference material for decades to come.

“Well, if I go out, they’ll just say an old man survived. If you go out with crutches, it will look better.”

“Ah, that...”

“I’ll stand behind you.”

Image, gain, persuasiveness.

This was the result of Yang Pan-seok’s various calculations, but that’s not the important part.

He’s giving me the opportunity. He’s trying to nurture me politically. This is a truly valuable chance.

Before I could even thank him, we were already outside the martial law headquarters. Reporters were gathered in front of the iron gate in the distance.

I cleared my head.

I continued to take deep breaths as I moved forward.

I could see the platform we would stand on. Microphones and cameras were already set up.

Reporters were already taking photos as they noticed our approach. The noise was overwhelming.

“Is it true that the president has passed away!”

“What about the military’s evacuation plan!”

“What are the monsters!”

“Just one word! How many people have died!”

Reporters rushed forward, shouting numerous questions, while soldiers pushed them back.

Finally, I made eye contact with Yang Pan-seok. He nodded firmly.

With Yang Pan-seok’s help, I limped up to the platform with my crutches. He stood behind me, and I took the microphone with a solemn expression.

*

“...Greetings, fellow citizens. I am Representative Han Seungmun.”

As I bowed deeply, the camera lights rained down like a storm. I lifted my head, tears welling in my eyes.

“Many citizens have lost their lives. Before I begin, I would like to express my condolences as a human being and my apologies as a politician to those who have tragically lost their lives.”

I limped to the side of the platform, bowing deeply in a pitiful manner. I took a deep breath and began to speak calmly.

“A significant number of representatives have died, and the survivors are scattered.”

That’s not what they’re curious about. I dropped a bomb.

“And, and. President Yoo Jae-gwang has passed away.”

I paused for a moment to take a photo opportunity.

“The Prime Minister, the Minister of Economy and Finance, the Minister of National Defense, the Martial Law Commander, and many other ministers and generals have either lost their lives or are out of contact.”

Reporters began frantically typing on their laptops.

“Currently, the legitimate commander of the military, who is rescuing citizens in this situation, is Deputy Minister of National Defense Cha Jae-gyun.”

This is the result of Yang Pan-seok and my discussion.

If they were afraid of public opinion and didn’t follow orders,

we can light a fire under their feet.

“However, some soldiers.”

From this moment on, anyone.

“Have instigated insubordination for political reasons.”

They must avoid becoming ‘some soldiers.’

“This has led to the failure to execute the evacuation plan for Seoul citizens, as ordered by Deputy Minister Cha Jae-gyun.”

If they don’t want to be destroyed.

“Commanding the military without following the orders of the commander is no different from misusing private armies.”

The camera shutter sounds were getting louder. I raised my voice and sternly said,

“As a member of the legislative branch elected by the people, I sincerely fear the possibility of a military coup taking advantage of this national crisis.”

I cleared my throat again for a photo opportunity.

“The military is prioritizing the prevention of human casualties over property damage and will stop the monster’s expansion by any means necessary.”

I didn’t forget what Cha Jae-gyun asked me to say.

“Currently, the monsters have spread among civilians in the central area of Seoul.

Citizens in the northern part of the city should evacuate north, and those in the southern part should evacuate south. The military is surrounding Seoul.

Additionally, since the monsters’ abilities far surpass those of humans, it is better to seek shelter in a place with narrow passages rather than engage in combat.”

And

“I earnestly request the surviving representatives to form a ‘Special Committee for Monster Response’ regardless of party affiliation, whether it be the Democratic Party or the Republican Party.”

With many representatives dead, the number of unaffiliated representatives has drastically decreased.

“Please contact the military as soon as possible and gather at the wartime National Assembly.”

South Korea has a war-time National Assembly underground, managed as a 0-level secret.

“The National Assembly building may have collapsed, but the National Assembly will continue to prevent military coups, discuss measures against the monsters, and, most importantly, work for the safety of the citizens.”

To prevent the National Assembly from becoming a mere backdrop, they must gather as quickly as possible. A single representative can do nothing,

“Those who command the military for personal gain,脱离法定指挥, will face severe public judgment.”

If they gather, if they are of the same mind,

they can lead all legislation and impeachments.

“I sincerely hope for the endless glory of a free and just South Korea and its citizens. That is all.”