Chapter 160 – Resume Communication (3)
There is a saying that the most important thing in business is not service or quality, but quality.
It’s hard to deny it if you think about the stores in the military guard area or the restaurants in front of the army training center.
The rest area that Director Kim built with his men was perfectly located as a midway point in a world that was destroyed.
It has convenient transportation, can extend in all directions, and is located on high ground, making it advantageous for surveillance of the surrounding area.
There is ample parking space for visiting search teams, and it is convenient to secure drinking water as it is located next to a water source.
In the early days of its establishment, it was treated as a place for people passing by to take a break and fix their cars.
However, now that winter is coming to an end, it is functioning as an exchange that brokers various products through the recognition it has built up over the years. There was a lot more left over here.
The range of products gradually expanded to include luxury goods and spirits that were rare even before the war, medical services, and women who voluntarily sold themselves.
However, the product of greatest value was the information obtained through people coming and going.
Director Kim, the owner, has now stepped away from minor tasks and is only in charge of information trading, and his subordinates are in charge of actual trading.
It is natural for flattery and bribery to be given to his subordinates for better treatment or benefits.
Unlike Director Kim, who was heavily armed with a business spirit, his once friendly subordinates gradually began to become arrogant.
It is not unusual for people to complain after leaving their comfortable resting place and being mobilized for secret work.
When I got out of the car for a moment to urinate, it burst out.
“Brother, do we have to go this far?”
“You bastard, it’s not your brother, it’s the manager!”
Director Kim glared at him, but his subordinates only laughed.
“No, do you care about our names even though we are alone? “I usually don’t say anything.”
“That’s right. If you have any business, we ask you to come find us there. Are you telling us not to come all the way out here just to welcome a VIP?”
They were at a place quite far from the rest area.
The moment one of his subordinates puts a cigarette in his mouth and takes out a lighter.
“Don’t bloom. It stinks. Just wait until this is over.”
Director Kim snatched it and threw it far away.
“Ah, brother! Isn’t this too much? What kind of president are you meeting?”
“I won’t do this even when I meet the president. Have you even met the Pope?”
Is it because it’s dark out? Or is it because my comfortable life has become longer and my mind has become saggy?
It seems that his subordinates did not notice Director Kim’s rapidly becoming grim expression.
“To put it bluntly, aren’t we a big company now? “Is there a business in the south that has a higher transaction volume than ours?”
The subordinates talked endlessly, as if they really thought of themselves as executives of a large company, and not just metaphorically.
“Ah, let’s finish this quickly and then go back. Sujin is waiting!”
“Youngcheol, this guy is lucky. “Why did Sujin come in at that bastard’s turn?”
A woman named Sujin is a new girl selling her body at a rest area, and she was once a fairly famous SNS influencer.
Ladies who wanted to work physically had no choice but to show off to rest area operators in order to get better locations and conditions.
The taste of power given by the reality that women who were difficult to even look at before the war flattered them.
The combined effects of the large and small powers that came after the foundation was established were destroying the discipline of his subordinates more than anyone could have imagined.
Bah!
Director Kim’s fist flew and crushed Youngcheol’s nose.
“Wow!”
It didn’t stop there.
He grabbed Yeongcheol’s neck, who was bending over, spraying her with nosebleeds.
“Hey.”
Director Kim’s cold gaze resembled that of a snake.
The giggling atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
It was truly the first time her subordinates had seen those eyes in a long time.
The eyes he often showed before the war, when he started from the bottom and did not hesitate to do all kinds of disgusting things.
After things went well, and the organization got back on track, we rarely saw each other.
“Tongue, brother!”
Yeongcheol, who had finally realized something, tried to beg for his mercy.
“You still haven’t come to your senses.”
Two punches landed in Yeongcheol’s stomach in succession. The sound of drums and screams one beat late echo in succession.
The moment you are not satisfied with that and are about to plug in the third shot.
“Chief! Sorry!”
Director Kim stopped his fist at Yeongcheol’s hastily shouted scream.
“Wooweeeeek!”
When Director Kim let go of his neck, Youngcheol, lying face down on the ground, vomited out his stomach contents loudly.
“I ate too much.”
Director Kim looked at her callused fist with a confused look.
“Besides, what’s with your belly? Why is it so soft?”
He massaged Yeongcheol’s stomach after he had finished vomiting. I squeezed it so hard that I screamed again.
“Fuck you, I’m afraid you’ll lose your stomach too.”
“Yes, yes!”
After fully understanding the atmosphere, the subordinates all boarded up.
Except for one person, all of them were full of soft belly fat.
The solid body of the past when I used to roll on the floor trusting only my body has disappeared.
Director Kim saw that and lowered his head and massaged the bridge of his nose.
“I let them go because they said they had a hard time following me, but they turned out to be really assholes, right? That’s enough, clean up the dirty stuff, you bastards!”
Her men immediately took down their shirts.
“You bastards with shit on their heads. Do you think we’re on a picnic? Do you think I’m crazy and would be so picky? Please pay attention if things are going strange!”
It was unfair from her subordinates’ perspective.
‘I have a very important schedule, so come to your senses and follow me. Depending on how this matter is accomplished, our future may be different.’
This is because Director Kim did not say anything other than this.
But I couldn’t think about that now. It’s best to just stick your head in.
When I think about it, it was a bit strange.
A man who pretended to be a full-fledged businessman and didn’t even want to do any physical work dared to go far in person.
‘Ladies, put everything away today!’
The fact that he, who treated the ladies at the rest area very gentlemanly, chewed up their complaints and locked them in the basement.
‘There is a parking space over there, but why are they not allowing it?’
The best parking spot was left empty, ignoring the search teams who were complaining.
Director Kim was issuing orders that directly contradicted the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ he always advocated.
Since he was always good at leading the group, his subordinates did as they were told, even though they wanted to know why, but the questions continued to grow.
No matter how much I ask, he says, ‘I’ll tell you later.’ The only answer is ‘Not now.’
In fact, the appearance of the subordinates just shown was close to a kind of protest against Chief Kim.
However, looking at the response that came back, it seemed that the number of cases was larger than what the subordinates thought.
“It’s going to be late like this. Let’s go quickly.”
Chief Kim, who was about to curse some more, looked at his watch and got into the vehicle.
In fact, even if I went now, I would have arrived much earlier than the scheduled time, but no one bothered to point that out.
Everyone was silent for a while, but after a few minutes, they started whispering about whether the liver mass had started to grow again.
‘Who on earth do you want to do business with?’
‘Couldn’t they be Goheung’s military barbarians? If we are unlucky, we will be conscripted.’
‘I’ll just say it calmly. ‘Do you have something to hide from us?’
When we finally reached the meeting place, it was still empty.
Of course. I arrived more than an hour earlier than scheduled.
“Everyone gets down.”
“Yes.”
Everyone quietly obeyed Director Kim, who spoke softly.
Director Kim even went back and forth between his lined up subordinates and sniffed them.
One of her subordinates, who smelled very strongly of cigarettes, was kicked out of the car.
Director Kim, who was paranoid, told me who I would meet in the future.
It was said that the leader of an unidentified force that exists inland, which is no different from a living hell, is coming in person.
“It’s definitely a great opponent.”
Her subordinates wondered if there was any reason to hide it like this.
“Isn’t it the end if we just keep our mouths shut? Just tell me.”
“That is the entrepreneurial spirit.”
“It happened a few times in the past.”
“He was a gangster back then.”
Her subordinates looked at Director Kim in confusion as he spoke clearly.
When the appointed time finally arrived, the subordinates finally understood how big a deal their boss had taken.
Heavy aircraft were approaching from beyond the sky.
The aircraft in the middle was in the shape of a transport helicopter, and it was so huge that it looked like it could easily fit a van.
The aircraft that follow as if escorting you are drones that you have never seen before.
Its size was already far beyond the scope of a drone, and as it got closer, it appeared that it was equipped with a bunch of dangerous weapons at the bottom.
Even the twilight that burned the sky red felt like nothing more than decoration for this imposing fleet.
The sight of all the subordinates swallowing their saliva. Only now are we starting to see the military spirit of the hungry times.
“It’s more than the military?”
As far as they know, no military unit in the South possessed such aerial power.
Chief Kim spoke for the last time in front of his subordinates.
“Everyone, call me manager. Okay?”
The subordinates nodded in unison.
I didn’t necessarily say things like, ‘You’ve said that 10 times.’
Buuuuung.
While large drones were scouting the surroundings as if escorting them, a huge helicopter slowly descended to the ground.
The helicopter’s tail opened as it landed among the wild grass fluttering like crazy in the rotor wind.
The interior was filled with deep red lights, and a group of troops came out from there.
It was twilight, so I couldn’t see it well, but they were all 190 cm tall.
The subordinates lined up behind the chief maintained their discipline with wide eyes in order to avoid being overwhelmed.
But it collapsed right away.
“What on earth is that…”
Someone said inadvertently.
Soldiers standing across from them holding heavy guns that they had never seen before and that looked extremely dangerous.
It wasn’t human.
A face shaped like a demon that could not possibly be seen as a being meant to protect humans.
The black muscle fibers exposed without skin were twisted like dozens of wires.
It was too mechanical to be a living thing, and it had the wild nature of a carnivore to it being a machine.
They were soldiers who gave off an indescribably bizarre feeling.
At this point, I actually felt reassured seeing him holding a gun.
In any case, it means that it is not a monster or something, but a being that originated from civilization.
* * *
[How is the ride comfort?]
Artemis said from inside the new transport helicopter.
“Best ride I’ve ever ridden. “It’s more comfortable than an airplane.”
[That’s an exaggeration.]
Artemis’ voice was full of laughter.
“How much time is left?”
[1 minute and 10 seconds until arrival. The person you made the appointment with is already there? It seems like a fairly well-trained group that lines up and waits without the slightest hesitation.]
“I guess so. “If you look at the business, he is not usually resourceful.”
Heavily armed stalker robots were sitting on chairs on either side.
“I don’t think they’ll panic and point a gun when they see their faces.”
[Oh, no way.]
“If you look at it in the dark, it’s a face that wouldn’t be surprising if you were to mistake it for a mutant infectious agent.”
It seems Artemis didn’t have anything to say about that either.
[No hazards nearby. I’m going to land.]
Beyond the small window, you can see the waves of wild grass swaying like waves.
“Now, everyone, stand up. It’s dispatch time.”
[Roger!]
The robots stood up and lined up with movement without an inch of error.
What we will do from now on is different from the previous expeditions aimed at acquiring technology.
“It reminds me of the old days.”
[Once upon a time?]
“When I was deployed.”
In a hostile environment where everything was unfamiliar, the priority was always securing connections with useful local people.
The presence or absence of people who can trade local information is like the lifeline of a unit member.
“The level of difficulty is much easier this time, though.”
They speak the same Korean, are not crazy about a particular religion, and the other person is quite trustworthy.
Yikes!
After landing, the tailgate opens, and I feel the outside air and the smell of grass coming in.
Through my improved vision, I could see the faces of very nervous men.
To ensure safety, the four advance units disembarked first, and then I and the robots following me disembarked.
“Hello, how are you? Nice to meet you.”
I approached first, waving my hand.
“Are you here? “This is Director Kim!”
A sharp-looking man in the front row greeted me politely in a spirited tone.
Is his age around mid-40s? He had the face of a salesman busy trying to feed his family. The impression seems harmless. Just an impression.
“Before we talk in earnest, let me hand you the item I promised you.”
At my gesture, stalker robots brought cargo from inside the helicopter.
“What power…”
Just looking at it, the men were shocked to see them carrying luggage that should have taken four or five men alone.
Cargo is placed between us and the people at the rest area.
“Please check.”
Director Kim, who was unable to move willingly, finally removed the cover placed on the cargo when I suggested it.
“Oh…”
Admiration spread among them as they checked the contents.
The first box contained combat uniforms.
A closed bulletproof helmet reminiscent of a pilot’s helmet. The goggles that occupy the front third are made of bulletproof glass, providing both visibility and defense.
A 9 mm pistol bullet cannot penetrate any part of the helmet, and the area surrounding the skull can also block a 5.56 mm rifle bullet.
The body armor top and bottom completely protect the entire body. Knee pads, elbow pads, and even groin areas that are not normally covered.
The tactical gloves were covered with bulletproof pads, right down to every finger joint.
“Whether you wash it in the washing machine or by hand, you can just wash it. It won’t rust or come off. “It was designed to be easy to maintain from the manufacturing stage.”
Some of the men standing in the back looked surprised. He seems to have quite a bit of knowledge in this field.
“You can try it on.”
Director Kim looked like there was no need for it, but when I suggested it, she ordered one of her subordinates to do it.
“Wow, this is.”
Voices of admiration came from all directions.
Have you ever said that the clothes you wear determine a person’s worth? This is even more so in times of destruction than when the world was in good condition.
There was no trace of the gangster-like appearance of the man dressed in full gear.
The individual’s individuality disappears, and only the energy of a highly trained elite soldier flows out.
If armed guards dressed like this walked around the rest area, that in itself would raise the level of the rest area.
No garrison, not even the army on Jeju Island, is equipped to this extent.
Looking at Director Kim’s shining eyes, he seems to know this fact better than anyone else.
The second box contained weapons.
US military service rifle M27 IAR A5 captured and reverse engineered by Terracorp. We don’t need it anymore.
“This is my first time seeing something like this.”
One of the men said.
The rifle in his hand was fully equipped with a heat detection scope, silencer, and grenade launcher. The same goes for the rest of the guns.
The third box contains ammunition and grenades.
The fourth box contains electronic equipment such as a footrest rechargeable generator, a laptop, a shoulder cam, and a second-generation field scope.
Among the equipment captured by the robot exploration team, these are things we do not need.
The fifth box is filled with medical supplies, the sixth box is filled with premium brews, the seventh box is filled with premium spirits, and the eighth to tenth boxes are filled with cigarettes.
I extended my right hand towards the director.
“Think of this as a down payment and a gift. Depending on future transactions, the amount we can give will increase. “Whether it is quantity or type.”
The manager’s face is trembling.
His gaze shifted from the boxes to the stalker robots lined up behind me and to my outstretched hand.
“It’s an honor! “I will serve you with all my loyalty!”
I was asking for a handshake, but he held my hand with both hands.
I couldn’t see his expression because he was bowing so that he could touch my hand.
“I will take you there!”
The men standing behind all bowed together.
Such a businessman beyond the communicator! Businessman! Director Kim’s tone and attitude as he spoke suddenly turned back to that of a gangster.
