Rust - Chapter 356



Only Krnovel

RUST -356

Through a video call with the Department of Homeland Security and the director, Na Ju-yeon was able to guess a lot.

The very fact that she could video call across the Pacific meant that America was still America, so she accepted the Department of Homeland Security’s request.

‘So how will it turn out?’

Since I sent Kim Ki-sun, it would be good if the negotiations succeeded, but it wouldn’t be bad if they failed.

‘I thought they would show their sincerity if they sprayed barnacle remover for free here.’

If it weren’t for the barnacle remover, not only the coast but also imports and exports would have been completely devastated. Thinking about that in a big way, I released the barnacle remover, but in return, I was pressured to reveal the recipe for a treatment for anger management disorder and cannibalism.

The same goes for the big companies. They all shut their mouths like clams and kept quiet, perhaps because they didn’t want to see the Ojin Group doing well. Even Charlotte, whose base is Busan, was silent.

The situation became complicated when the Ojin Group revealed their recipe and watched as they were beaten up. Perhaps they thought it was too much, and the major companies each said they would go their own way.

And now, a hot potato has erupted.

The complete withdrawal of US troops was the answer. The Korean government and politicians opposed the withdrawal of US troops, and refused to provide transport ships even though they were required to do so under wartime operational control.

Because it was uncertain whether the ship that had gone to America would be able to return or not.

In this situation, would it be possible to simply hand over a ship that could transport over 30,000 American troops? Assuming that it cannot be handed over, and that it is rejected?

Whatever the reason, the reason why over 30,000 American soldiers cannot return to the United States is probably because of Chairman Charlotte Sim. Will that woman survive?

‘Well. Since Kim Ki-soon is gone, they will figure out the results on their own.’

Na Ju-yeon, who laughed silently, looked at the photo of Maru taken from afar. It would have been nice if it was a solo photo, but there were annoying things nearby.

‘Hmm – even in this world, women still stick around.’

‘No. Rather, is it because this is the world that we stick together?’

I wish I knew more about how you live every day. I need to have a deeper conversation with the Department of Homeland Security about the outcome of this negotiation.

“Ah… Chairman. If the US military withdraws completely, the military and the government may have foolish ideas. How about taking this opportunity to go to the US?”

“No, that can’t be done.”

He went from being a single-minded man to rebuilding a metropolis, starting from a single building. He was soon on the verge of ruling the entire state.

But the woman who was his fiancée started out in a big company and couldn’t do anything, so she was told to run away to America? It was a matter of pride.

“Contact the world and ask them to look closely at governments, politicians, and the military to see if they are having any strange thoughts.”

There were many former intelligence agents and retired soldiers in the world. If you cross-check the information obtained through that line with the information obtained by this line, you will be able to know what they are thinking.

“It’s dangerous.”

Since the confrontation with China, information security has become very strong. In this situation, it is dangerous to touch security.

“It doesn’t matter. If you still haven’t come to your senses, you should die.”

After Ojin Pharmaceuticals disclosed the recipe and stopped producing the treatment due to raw material supply issues, and experienced the spread of intermittent explosive disorder and cannibalism, are you trying to touch it again? Then it will only open up a living hell.

“What are you going to do?”

“Before the government or the military takes action, they will probably play with the media. We will see how they react to that and then decide.”

I got over it once, but not twice.

In a world like this, it’s a waste of resources for those who get fooled twice to survive.

“This time it won’t go well.”

“······.”

Na Ju-yeon suddenly thought of Sim Eun-young. She saw her sudden actions again, even though she was suffering losses. She thought she was avoiding competition with me, but maybe she was avoiding getting involved with stupid people.

When I think of Charlotte taking over Busan, I also think of Maru’s Detroit, a force that started out as a single building and now expands beyond the city and into the surrounding areas.

‘I want to cry, but I’d appreciate it if you hit me.’

Na Ju-yeon’s sunken eyes looked at the Han River with its lights off.

======

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Hotel Charlotte, Busan.

The hotel, built in preparation for the War of Succession, still retains its solid beauty.

And now, a crudely-looking bulletproof vehicle has entered the heavily fortified Hotel Charlotte, which is a doomsday shelter and the headquarters of the Charlotte Group’s CEO, Sim Eun-young.

“Whew- This is Manager Lee. It’s been a while.”

Manager Lee Ki-young’s mouth opened as he glanced at Kim Ki-soon’s head, who was whining.

“Are you the guy that’s been circulating about these days?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, but it can’t be me. I really didn’t want to come down just now, but I was pushed down.”

It was Chief Lee Ki-young who was wary of Ki-soon, who was making a fuss saying that outside the bed was dangerous, outside the house was a battlefield, and outside the country was hell.

“That tentacle monster, is that you?”

“I’m not saying that. By the way, I heard that you were a manager in World. So, it didn’t take you even a year to get promoted from manager to director in Charlotte. I think it’s true that people and companies have compatibility.”

So, the atmosphere became heavy as Ki-sun said that she seemed to have improved her life by changing companies. Manager Lee Ki-young clenched his fists and a faint friction sound could be heard on his leather gloves.

“You’ve become a manager in just one year, so next year you’ll be a director or managing director, right? Wow. A director or managing director in your 30s. It’s the myth of a salaryman. But to do that, you’ll need to have a lot of achievements. There’ll be a lot of kids leaving. How will it be changed? Gently? Roughly?”

“······.”

So, when people started to complain that you got promoted because you replaced the kids under you, Manager Lee Ki-young’s fists started to tremble.

A voice flowed from the speaker on the ceiling before the nerves in the corners of Ki-soon’s eyes, which were as if saying, “Hit me, hit me,” were cut off.

[It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long since I last saw you, but your personality has gotten a lot worse?]

“No, Sister. Your voice is still beautiful.”

Sister? What about your voice? ‘Ah, it’s different, and oh, it’s different.’ It was a subtle way of speaking. When Ki-soon’s unique intonation was added to that, the tone that was optimized for making people feel uncomfortable was automatically completed.

[···Okay. Come up and talk.]

“Mr. Chairman, it’s dangerous.”

[Is there anything dangerous? Isn’t there? Mr. Ki-sun.]

“Yes, I know that my life is precious. That’s right.”

The speaker phone hanging from the ceiling became silent at Ki-soon’s joke.

That’s how Ki-soon came face to face with Charlotte’s Sim Eun-young. Sim Eun-young’s eyes looked at Ki-soon’s head for a moment, then turned to Ki-soon’s eyes.

The sight of Ki-soon, who had never dared look straight at him before, staring intently into his eyes. It was definitely different from before.

Eyes that have experienced a lot in a short period of time.

The eyes of an old and worn-out office worker.

Although she didn’t hate this kind of gaze, Sim Eun-young felt a sense of regret when she thought of the bright blue eyes of Ki-sun from before.

“It looks good.”

“······.”

This time, Ki-soon’s stomach burst. He said that she looked good even after seeing her hair. As expected, she was a formidable older sister.

As if responding to Ki-soon’s emotions, her dreadlocks swayed, and Manager Lee Ki-young, who was standing next to Sim Eun-young, took a step forward, but Sim Eun-young stopped him with a hand gesture.

“Okay. Then let’s get to the point. What did Na Ju-yeon say?”

Ki-soon shook her head without realizing it. Whirl, whirl – her dreadlocks rose upwards like a horse’s tail. Ki-soon, who had been feeling sad for a moment, smiled in vain.

It is true that he came as a messenger, and it is not wrong to say that he was captured by Na Ju-yeon.

“The US military is planning to withdraw to their home country, and they need your help.”

“The US troops are withdrawing? All of them?”

“It seems that all of the main force has returned, except for some wounded soldiers.”

“You want a ship that can transport a force of at least 30,000 to as many as 35,000? Is this it?”

Ki-soon shrugged and answered.

“That’s it.”

Sim Eun-young smiled eerily at Gi-sun’s answer.

“Is it a trap?”

“Maybe so.”

Following the US proposal would risk losing several large ships. At the same time, transporting Japanese refugees would also be disrupted. As a result, Charlotte’s growth would be slowed.

On the other hand, what if we reject it? The government and the political circles that oppose the withdrawal of US troops would like it, but would the US just stay quiet? Sim Eun-young said with a cold smile.

“If this continues, Mr. Ki-sun might die?”

“But what can I do? This is my fate. If I struggle, I’ll just die.”

After a moment of silence, Sim Eun-young nodded.

“If we take away the transport ships currently in operation to transport the American troops, the Japanese refugees will have to wait.”

“······.”

“We are protecting the refugees in Japan, but it is not enough. If it takes too long, it will be difficult. If you help us with this, we will lend you a transport ship.”

“So, is your condition that we protect the refugee camps in Japan until the transport ships return?”

“Yes. It doesn’t matter if it’s the US military, the Korean military, or even Mijin.”

Ki-sun asked a question as Sim Eun-young nodded her head in unison.

“There are a lot of mutant monsters in Japan. What are the refugee camps like?”

“······.”

Ki-sun cursed inwardly at Sim Eun-young’s evasiveness in answering the question.

Before long, a troubled evacuation operation began.

The government and politicians who had been shouting against the withdrawal began to help with the withdrawal only after receiving confirmation that over 2,000 troops, including wounded soldiers and military doctors and nurses to treat them, would remain in Korea.

The Navy kept the large transport ships and landing ships, and decided to send escort ships and fuel supply ships instead. At the same time, pressure was being put on the Charlotte Group. Pressure was being put on them to hand over capable people among the Japanese refugees.

Charlotte claimed she didn’t know and that the rumors were a misunderstanding, but it seemed difficult for her to endure the persistence of the government, politicians, and military for long.

Meanwhile, a unit was dispatched first to support refugee shelters in Japan.

A fleet of eight cruise ships, refueling ships, and escort ships carrying nearly 32,000 U.S. troops set sail for ports on the western coast of the United States, and just a few days later, an urgent communication came in from the unit that had been sent to support the refugee shelter.

[The refugee camp has been raided. There have been many casualties. Please help.]

Japan was still hell.

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New York, the mood at the Department of Homeland Security was good for the first time in a while, as troops stranded in Korea began their journey back home.

“Is San Francisco cooperative?”

“I said I didn’t care as long as I received the weapons and ammunition that I was promised.”

Now all that remained was to get him to New York. Even if he were to be transported diligently by two airships, he would have to make several round trips, so he needed help.

“Contact Vladaak Town. Ask if they can charter an airship.”

Maru denied a lease request from the New York Department of Homeland Security.

“The airship has been modified so its transport capacity is less than half.”

Because the interior was extensively remodeled to accommodate crows.

[I guess there’s nothing we can do. Then what happened to the 105mm gun and shells I requested?]

“800 rounds are ready for 20 questions.”

[That’s right on time. I’d appreciate it if you could send it to San Francisco.]

“San Francisco, not New York?”

Homeland Security Director Dan Brown responded to Maru’s question with a definitive answer.

[Yes, that’s San Francisco. Please send it to that area.]

“Okay, I’ll send it right away.”

Even though the main topic was over, Maru spoke firmly to Director Den Brown, who was hesitating and not hanging up the phone.

“I don’t sell sperm. Don’t even think about it.”

[Hmm-hmm- That’s not it, I was just thinking about the eyewitness accounts of seeing something strange in a Japanese refugee camp, so I paused for a moment.]

“Didn’t they withdraw from Japan a long time ago?”

[A large number of personnel remained to manage the facilities in Japan.]

They said it was a US military facility in the Kansai region.

Just as Maru was about to lose his nerve, Director Den Brown added.

[They say the monster that attacked the refugee camp had black tentacles. I said it because it seemed similar to what you said about what happened in Japan before.]

···what?

whatever.