Savior (1)
"He finally made a move."
Ahn Ki-tae was a newcomer who had received his citizenship just three days
ago.
The reason he could be tailed by Moon Byung-ho the moment he made a suspicious move was because he had been under constant surveillance since the moment he arrived.
Even while managing the aftermath of the Jamsil incident, the watchful eyes of the Absolute never left Ahn Ki-tae and his group.
Initially, they were closely monitored because of their levels.
Ahn Ki-tae's group consisted of six people, and half of them-three individuals were Awakened with fairly high levels.
Ahn Ki-tae himself was level 32, while the other two were level 28 and 27 respectively.
All three had awakened B-rank abilities and must have started at level 25, which meant they had hunted a considerable number of monsters.
That's why they were being watched, and in the process, some suspicious behavior and dialogue were observed.
"They were talking about when to report back.
In other words, they were spies.
""
From the beginning, they had infiltrated the JHS cult with a specific goal in mind.
Then suddenly, the Rapture occurred, and after eating the chocolate distributed by JHS, they were nearly sacrificed as living offerings like the rest of the followers-but were saved thanks to me.
Among them, Ahn Ki-tae was one of the first to regain his senses.
He witnessed the awe-inspiring sight of countless souls returning to their bodies, the catastrophe of the massive landmass falling from the sky…
He saw the loyal retainers risking their lives to stop it, and finally, the transcendent power that managed to minimize the disaster.
"Maybe that's why his loyalty and trust were exceptionally high compared to others."
While the loyalty and trust levels of those who hadn't seen that scene were at rock bottom, Ahn Ki-tae's were both above 80.
It was an ironic situation—a spy, yet highly trusting of me.
Regardless, once it was clear that they were spies from another organization, they couldn't be ignored-and finally today, he made his move.
It was perfect timing, as the Jamsil incident had just been wrapped up, so Moon Byung-ho was ordered to tail him.
Ahn Ki-tae began running along the Line 2 subway tracks from Konkuk Univ. Station.
Though parts of the tracks were damaged, he agilely maneuvered past the obstacles.
After sprinting for about ten minutes along the tracks at full speed, people who appeared to be members of his organization finally appeared.
It was Hanyang Univ. Station, which remained relatively intact compared to the other subway stations that had been thoroughly wrecked.
Two men were guarding the entrance to the station, and surprisingly, they were armed with rifles.
They pointed their rifles at Ahn Ki-tae and shouted,
"Hands up. Move and we shoot. Bamboo."
"Sea."
"Who are you?"
With a calm expression, Ahn Ki-tae raised both hands as if he were familiar
with this process and stated his affiliation plainly.
"Captain Ahn Ki-tae of Unit 303."
After a brief verification, one of the soldiers saluted and stepped aside to let
him pass.
"Loyalty!"
"Unity."
Inside the subway station, uniformed soldiers were frequently seen standing guard.
"It's bigger than I expected."
This was the point where the subway line, previously exposed above ground, began to burrow deep underground-starting from Hanyang Univ. Station.
Upon descending to where the tracks were, he saw a multitude of homeless people.
"6
""
There were easily over a few hundred homeless individuals trying to sleep, huddled in makeshift beds made from tattered newspapers and cardboard boxes they had somehow obtained.
A nauseating stench filled the entire platform.
And not just the platform-endless rows of homeless people continued into the deeper parts of the tunnel.
Seeing their miserable state made him want to provide aid immediately-but doing so would blow his cover and reveal that he was being followed.
"Mommyyy, I'm hungwyyyy…"
"…I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Mommy's sorry…. sob…"
The weak whimpering of a child and the sobbing of a woman pierced his heart.
"Open shop. Purchase chocolate."
Ziiing-
Without drawing attention, he discreetly generated chocolate inside the blanket that the mother and child were using as a makeshift cover.
They would find it eventually.
The tracks continued all the way to Wangsimni, and they were lined with nothing but homeless people.
The situation was dire.
There were more than a few who looked like they were on the verge of starving to death.
Quite a number also showed signs of severe dehydration.
"This is the limit."
They were faced with a limit.
The best course of action was to discreetly scatter water and food at each point without being noticed.
When they finally arrived at Wangsimni Station, Ahn Ki-tae's steps quickened.
After walking through the labyrinthine paths of Wangsimni Station for some time, he arrived at a place where…
With a bang.
Dozens of people in military uniforms, each with deep dark circles under their eyes, were in the midst of a meeting.
The faint light from a few candles on the conference table illuminated the room precariously, resembling an organization on the verge of collapsing.
As Ahn Ki-tae opened the door, all eyes immediately turned toward him, and he spoke.
"Unity. We have found the savior."
***
Commander Lee Hak-gi, who was extremely stressed, shot a glare at Ahn Ki-tae, who suddenly appeared and started spouting strange words.
"Captain Ahn Ki-tae. Are you insane?"
"No, I'm serious. Is it alright if I report right now?"
Commander Lee Hak-gi thought that Ahn had finally lost his mind.
He had sent him to gather information on a cult, and now he was talking about
a savior.
'Has he been brainwashed?'
The commander heightened his sense of tension.
If he had truly been brainwashed, his actions would be unpredictable.
Consciously feeling the rigid sensation of the pistol holstered on his side, he spoke.
"Go ahead."
"Thank you."
What followed in Ahn Ki-tae's report was shocking.
"First of all, the JHS cult is finished."
"What?"
The command center, which had placed great expectations on the cult's ability to reliably supply food to over 100,000 citizens, sighed in unison.
"It's all over now."
"There is a solution. If we reduce the size of the organization, most of the food supply issues will be resolved."
"Are you out of your mind? Are you suggesting we abandon the citizens?"
"Then are you suggesting we watch everyone sink together without doing anything?"
"You crazy bastard."
"Crazy? My family and I haven't eaten anything for days! How can anyone not go crazy in this situation?"
"Everyone here is in the same boat!"
Harsh words for survival were exchanged.
The atmosphere in the conference room, now charged with tension, was reversed by Ahn Ki-tae.
"Everyone, please take a look at this."
Something appeared in his hand.
Ziiing-
It was a chocolate bar full of calories.
"This is a skill I gained after joining an organization in Busan.
"
The conference room, which had been quiet for a moment, erupted into noise once the members realized what he was holding.
"Does it have the ability to create food?"
"What do you mean by joining an organization in Busan?"
"How much, how much can it supply?"
A barrage of questions came all at once, and the room grew chaotic. Then, from the center, a heavy voice cut through.
"Silence."
Although he appeared haggard, Commander Lee Hak-gi's eyes were sharply focused as he asked him.
"Can you explain in detail how you joined that organization?"
"Yes."
For a while, Ahn Ki-tae continued his long explanation.
"After infiltrating the JHS cult, something unexpected happened. The entire area of Jamsil lifted into the sky, and the last thing I remember is being sucked into it. After that, I experienced extreme pain, as if my soul was being torn apart. Based on the information I gathered, it seems that the leader of the JHS cult, Jeong Hyun-su, tried to perform a ritual using people's lives as sacrifices. The organization in Busan that I mentioned earlier was the one that stopped the cult leader at that moment."
Commander Lee Hak-gi looked him directly in the eye and asked.
"So? Why did you decide to join that organization without reporting anything?"
"At first, I couldn't help but suspect their intentions since they appeared out of nowhere. Given the timing, I thought they might have been the cause of the disaster that almost cost people their lives, so I decided to monitor them. After observing them for several days, I concluded that they were innocent."
"And the basis for that conclusion?"
"It was right after the ceremony had ended when a huge chunk of land fell from the sky."
At An Ki-tae's words, the expressions of everyone in the meeting room turned very serious.
"Since the entire Jamsil area had been lifted into the sky, if it had simply fallen back down, there would have been unprecedented damage. But those people risked their lives to stop it from happening. Furthermore, they put all their efforts into rescuing the people affected by the aftermath. From their actions, I concluded that they are innocent."
The people listening to his report each spoke up.
"That's ridiculous."
"Did you dream this or something?"
"Did they brainwash you over in Busan?"
The idea that the entire Jamsil area had been lifted into the sky, and that it had been prevented from falling, was far too absurd to believe.
"Quiet."
The atmosphere of mocking An Ki-tae was quickly halted by the voice of Commander Lee Hak-ki.
"Continue."
"Yes. More than anything, the food they were distributing to the citizens they saved was extraordinary. There was an overflow of prepackaged goods like cola and chocolate bars, and above all, they gave everything away
unconditionally. This led me to conclude that I should infiltrate their organization."
"So, what conclusion did you come to? What do you think of the organization?"
"…At first, I couldn't believe my eyes. The scenery there looked as though only Busan had been spared from the apocalypse."
"What do you mean by that?"
As An Ki-tae's explanation continued, a heavy silence descended upon the meeting room.
A land where monsters could not invade.
Residential facilities with electricity, water, and gas supply.
Overflowing food supplies.
They even had a large stockpile of firearms and ammunition.
And then…
"
Finally, this is the smartphone I obtained today. I've been told that phone calls and text messages are possible there."
One of the executives, who had been staring at the smartphone he took out from his coat, burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha!"
His hearty laughter quickly spread through the entire meeting room.
"Ah, really well prepared."
"You went to a land of fantasy, didn't you?"
Only one person, Commander Lee Hak-ki, didn't mock him.
When he raised his hand, the ridicule toward An Ki-tae immediately stopped.
He slowly opened his mouth.
His haggard face looked particularly worn and tired.
"… Honestly, I can't believe your story. But the truth is, right now, we have to stake everything on this unbelievable story. It's pathetic."
The executives, understanding the commander's meaning, each shouted.
"Commander! What do you mean…!"
"You don't actually believe such an absurd joke, do you?"
"If we waste time at this point, it's the end!"
Commander Lee Hak-ki scanned them and said.
"Do any of you have a better plan? I will never accept a plan that abandons the citizens. In the end, that would just be peeing on a cold foot. If that's the case, it's better to sink together now."
It was at that moment.
"Don't worry. What that man said is not a lie."
A strange man's voice echoed from the air.
"Wh- who is that?!"
As everyone in the meeting room reached for their weapons, eyes filled with tension, a loud buzzing sound filled the air.
Ziiing-
Boxes filled with emergency supplies such as food and water began to fill the meeting room.
[T/L: Read extra chapters on my ko-fi page "Pokemon1920" : https://ko-fi.com/pokemon1920 ]