1979, Manager Kim is Inheriting Dictatorship! - Chapter 80



Only Krnovel

Episode 80

“yes?”

“What is that… … .”

The sergeants looked at me with dumbfounded faces at the unexpected question of whether they were looking for someone.

But that was only for a moment, as he belatedly understood the meaning of the words and asked again in a lowered voice.

“Are you offering to help me now?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I will search for the missing deputy platoon leader on behalf of the platoon member who was tied up with standby orders.

The sergeants all looked at us with suspicious faces at our completely unexpected suggestion.

“Well, first of all, I hope you don’t take offense to what I said. This isn’t a situation where I can make a hasty judgment.”

“I understand.”

“Why on earth would you help me? To be honest, you’re not even in the same unit.”

This is the first time they’ve met each other, and they’re not even in the same unit.

Honestly, there was absolutely no reason for me and my party to help this platoon.

But I, who was secretly drawing a different picture, asked a question that was not an answer.

“Is that deputy platoon leader that you said went missing someone you can definitely trust and follow?”

“If it weren’t for the deputy platoon leader, we would all be dead. One thing is certain: his skills.”

Just because you have a loud voice and strong strength doesn’t mean you can command an entire platoon.

The deputy platoon leader was likely to be a competent and experienced person who could be followed by the entire platoon.

“If the deputy platoon leader returns… … .”

“That little brat will know how to shut up. But why do you keep asking me that?”

Sergeant Lee Chang-wook frowned, his patience slowly running out from the continued questioning.

But I lowered my voice and whispered, as if there was a reason I was asking that question.

“We plan to secure the building.”

“……yes?”

“There are only three Q2s left. If we kill them all and restart the system, we can secure the entire building.”

The sergeants opened their eyes wide and murmured at the news that they could secure the entire building.

I told them, who were already listening, the purpose of my question.

“The problem is that Q2 started to cooperate with each other. We tried to do something on our own, but it seems like it would be a big risk.”

“I see, you mean, please help me here too?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Those who were guarding Biozeneca also had to secure the building anyway.

But before that, it was necessary to remove the obstacle of the platoon leader and bring in the deputy platoon leader.

“Certainly, with this level of power… … .”

“There is plenty of ammunition.”

Only then did the sergeants understand the meaning and they all nodded in agreement.

“If that’s the offer, there’s no reason to refuse. If you just rescue the deputy platoon leader, we’ll take responsibility for the rest and take care of it.”

If the sergeant line, which is the real power in the unit, steps forward, opinions within the platoon can be quickly gathered.

The sergeants and I quickly got together and put our heads together to rescue the deputy platoon leader.

“Have you confirmed life or death?”

“Yes, there was a radio transmission two hours ago. But the transmission was cut off because the reception was poor.”

“Where was it last seen?”

“It was definitely the same underground parking lot.”

Because the building was so large, the underground parking lot underneath it was also incredibly wide and deep.

If radio transmission and reception were not working well, there was a high probability that they had escaped to the lowest floor.

I gathered various clues and racked my brain, making notes of them in my notebook without fail.

Now that the power was back to the building, I had to quickly move downstairs and find the deputy platoon leader.

“Well, by the way.”

“yes?”

At that moment, Private Lee Chang-wook, who had been quietly watching this scene, asked cautiously.

“I heard that you came from a Korean university campus, but I haven’t heard the details. Are you a military member?”

“No, I’m just a civilian.”

“… … Uh, um. You’re just a civilian?”

A civilian carrying a loaded shotgun and hunting the variant Q2?

The sergeants looked at each other with serious faces, probably thinking that I was hiding my identity.

“I used to work in this field.”

“Ah! So you’re a soldier after all.”

But that was only for a moment, as soon as I added the word ‘former job’, he seemed to understand.

Of course, no one but me knew that his former position was as an agent and not a soldier.

* * *

“Sangbaem, we’re exactly like that.”

“subcontract?”

“No, do you really have to say something so fancy? If you’re going to do it, why not something like mercenary?”

“How much is your hourly wage?”

“It went up a bit because I’m a private.”

“I’ve never seen a mercenary get paid less than minimum wage in my life, man.”

Today, we set out on a journey to find survivors, starting with a talk by a familiar military duo.

First of all, the first destination is the second floor of the underground parking lot where the deputy platoon leader was last seen.

It was a difficult journey that might lead to the deepest part, the 6th floor underground.

But the group, accustomed to such things, walked on as if it was no big deal.

Thump, thump, thump.

It is true that during the day when the power is on, the Q2s are not very active.

The inside of the building was extremely quiet, as if everyone was currently holed up in their own nest.

“It’s a shame I can’t see the CCTV.”

“It’s a bit odd to ask you to go up again.”

Currently, it is estimated that two variants of Q2 are active, one between the 12th and 20th floors and the other between the 20th and 35th floors.

The problem was the remaining one, the place where the bastard was most likely to be was underground.

So we brought plenty of ammunition along with floodlights so we could fight at any time.

After so much time had passed, I finally arrived at the basement level where I had found the laptop.

There is no reason to delay.

We went straight to the second basement level.

Sniff sniff.

As we approached the second basement level, a sour stench hit our noses, as expected.

Coco and Volvo also took note and started circling around quickly, wagging their tails.

That’s for sure.

This underground area is the center of Q2’s nest.

We crossed the parking lot, guns aimed, ready to pull the trigger at any moment.

The parking lot still has electricity and is bright, but for some reason it has an eerie atmosphere.

The parking lot lights turning on and off repeatedly were enough to create tension.

“Brother, over there.”

A moment later, Private First Class Oh Chan-il, who was in charge of the left, pointed to the parking lot E area in the distance.

From Area E, which precisely divides the second basement floor, all lights are turned off.

No, to be precise, it would be more correct to say that all Q2s operating here were broken.

As I approached the entrance to the bastard’s nest, I sent a signal to my companions.

‘Use night vision goggles.’

My remaining battery is running low, but I’d rather use my night vision goggles than draw the guy’s attention.

We quickly put on our night vision goggles and slowly approached Area E.

The stench becomes stronger.

The walls and vehicles were littered with Q2’s excrement and bone fragments.

Only the hem of the clothes and the blood stains visible here and there told us who the victim was.

Crunch!

I put my hand into the most recent excrement just in case.

It was still warm and thick, and I was hoping that maybe the military tag would still be there.

“Ugh.”

As I nonchalantly rummaged through the pile of excrement, my companions covered their noses and groaned in pain.

It’s definitely a stuffy basement, so the stench makes my nose hurt.

‘hmm?’

After digging through the pile of excrement for some time, I finally caught something familiar in my hand.

‘wireless set.’

That something was none other than a military radio in an army pouch.

The radio, which had been completely chewed up at the top and was completely dead, looked like it had recently broken down.

Is it the deputy platoon leader’s?

Maybe it’s already happened.

I tried to rummage through the excrement with both hands, hoping to find a military tag.

Growl!

But at that moment, Coco, who had been lying still, bared her teeth and growled.

I hurriedly covered Coco and Volvo’s snouts and sent a hand signal to the group.

‘Can you see it?’

‘No, I can’t see it.’

Judging by the reaction, Q2 is nearby.

But strangely, it did not appear within 100m of the field of vision.

‘Shall we turn on the floodlight?’

‘Not yet.’

Since the floodlight has been used several times, it is obvious that Q2 is also aware of its existence.

I gave orders not to turn on any lights or fire any guns until the bastard attacked.

The group then took up positions using the vehicle as a barricade and aimed their guns.

Exactly.

Exactly.

A drop of water is falling from somewhere.

It’s quiet.

Other than that, no other sound can be heard.

We were stuck in the darkness, swallowing dry saliva and feeling the passage of time.

The situation is dark and tense, with a stinging smell that fills the nose.

The group tried not to lose focus, but it was by no means easy.

I wiped the cold sweat running down the bridge of my nose and sensed that things had changed.

‘They know we exist.’

Q2 is taking its time.

It seemed like it was either calling in another entity or waiting for us to make the first move.

Q2 was learning humans at a rate that was so fast that it was no exaggeration to call it clever.

Should I move first?

No, I still haven’t figured out where the guy is.

However, the group is suffering mentally as they continue to wait.

It would be better if they attacked first, but the longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it is for us.

Ultimately, the only way left was to induce Q2 to attack us first.

‘I will lure you.’

The group quickly left their positions and prepared to project firepower centered around the floodlight.

I put down the bag I was carrying and walked forward, carrying only the shotgun.

Bam!

No, I was trying to walk.

At that moment, something fell on my head and touched the hat I was wearing.

Crunch!

Startled, I quickly aimed at the ceiling and wiggled my index finger to pull the trigger.

“… … !!”

But it wasn’t Q2 hanging from the ceiling vent, it was a man wearing a military uniform.

He threw a small piece of rock in my direction and put his index finger to his lips as if telling me to be quiet.

The black beret he was wearing with his military uniform had none other than the rank of sergeant attached to it.

This is the deputy platoon leader who had gone missing.

I lowered my gun and exchanged signals with him, quickly assessing the situation.

‘stop.’

The deputy platoon leader pointed in the opposite direction as if he knew of another passage.

I nodded and started moving slowly, very slowly, with my companions.

The deputy sergeant followed us stealthily up the large ventilation shaft.

Phew, whoosh.

A closed space where only the sound of breathing can be heard and darkness where you cannot see even an inch ahead.

The faces of me and my companions, who were moving at a crawl, had long since been soaked in cold sweat.

After some time had passed, the deputy platoon leader on top of the ventilation shaft sent another signal.

‘Over there.’

On one side of the underground parking lot there was a distribution room with an iron fence with a no trespassing sign.

We quickly approached it, passed the half-torn iron fence, and opened the green iron gate.

widely!

At that moment, the deputy platoon leader, who had come in through the ventilation shaft, appeared in the darkness.

He carefully closed the iron door to the distribution room and then gestured for me to follow him.

We followed the deputy platoon leader and walked into a warehouse inside the generator room.

Click!

The deputy sergeant entered the warehouse, turned on the lights, and took off his night vision goggles.

Likewise, when we took off our night vision goggles, he approached us with a frown.

“Damn, where the hell did you guys come from? I almost got caught by that guy.”

The deputy platoon leader who helped us was a sergeant who was obviously very experienced and full of experience.

I first handed him a broken radio, which I assumed was his, and asked him what his affiliation was.

“Are you by any chance a member of the 1st Platoon?”

“1st Platoon? No, how did you… … Wait! Did you meet our kids?”

“Yes, I’m on the 12th floor now.”

“I heard gunshots coming from above. What the hell! This is driving me crazy. So is everyone okay?”

“Yes, everyone is safe. And the platoon leader too.”

When he heard that even the platoon leader was safe, the deputy platoon leader frowned and sighed.

I offered him a cigarette, and the deputy sergeant clicked his tongue and took it.

“But where did our children go and why did you come here? This isn’t a place where civilians would come.”

“I was asked to do so.”

“Please? Where did the kids go… …”

“It was the platoon leader’s order.”

A civilian who was not a member of the same platoon came to see him with a request.

The deputy sergeant bit the cigarette filter and swore, as if he had known this would happen.

“I was able to die from the beginning of this time!

The deputy platoon leader kept spewing out all sorts of curses, as if no amount of cursing would appease his anger.

But that was only for a moment, and soon he let out a deep sigh and held out one hand.

“Let’s get our names straight. I’m Sergeant Park Deok-gu. You can just call me Sergeant Park.”

“My name is Jang Dae-su.”

There were some incidents along the way, but I was able to meet the deputy platoon leader safely.

After shaking hands with him, we finally let out a sigh of relief and leaned back to sit down.

Then, Sergeant Park Deok-gu, who had been standing still with a sullen expression, approached me and said.

“I appreciate you coming to rescue me, but did you know what the situation was like when you came here?”

“I have a rough idea.”

“Oh my, no matter how urgent it is, what are you going to do if you send civilians? Listen, I’m going to explain this to you just this once, so listen carefully.”

Sergeant Park Deok-gu put both hands on his waist and said, dissatisfied with this situation.

“As you can see, there are monsters called Q2s swarming around here. There are five of them, including the one in the basement right now… … .”

“Three maripidas.”

“yes?”

“We caught two of them.”

At the mention of catching two, Sergeant Park Deok-gu asked back with a distorted expression.

“You caught him? You?”

“yes.”

When I nodded, Sergeant Park Deok-gu slowly lowered the hand he had placed on his waist.

“… … What do you guys do?”

“Well, it’s similar to subcontracting.”