Gained and Lost (2)
Unless fate changes, the three people in front of you will soon be repatriated to Korea.
Then he was moved to a mountain fortress and prison in Pocheon, Gyeonggi-do, where he met a sixteen-year-old boy.
He would have taught a mediocre kid how to survive among criminals, and he would have bolstered a previously failed prison break plan and sent him out.
The future did not change, and if I had been imprisoned like in my previous life, it would have been like that.
However, each other’s position, the surrounding environment, and the parties were all different from before.
Right away, Grandpa’s disapproving look was like that.
“That is an incorrect suggestion.”
“… Is it because there is no price?”
“yes. Transactions without price do not work. Even if you don’t want to receive it, it’s because reality isn’t like that. You will have to pay for it someday.”
He glances at the camp manager, who is standing in the doorway, and continues.
“I don’t know who you are. However, judging from how cautious the Russians are, it doesn’t seem like they have an ordinary status. However, whether you go to Korea or stay in Russia, can that be truly pure kindness? Are they going to let it go?”
“no.”
“… It’s easy to admit.”
“Because it is true.”
I couldn’t deny it.
Aside from being a prophet and a chatterbox, there were plenty of risk factors just dealing with Venetus.
“if-“
“I won’t touch you carelessly. They want something from me. At least for now. It will probably be like that for a while.”
“It’s a very uncertain tone to take a risk on.”
“Maybe. But staying in the camp is not an option.”
“… … .”
As soon as I spit out a firm answer, the wrinkles between my eyes are young.
It’s an inevitable choice for me.
The future has already changed out of control.
Some by my hands, others by the monsters whose activity has increased significantly.
That’s why I actually came with the result decided.
The three had to neither return to Korea nor remain in the camp. Even if they don’t want to.
“Even if you are extradited, you will end up going to prison. I can’t even vouch for your identity. I don’t know if they’re innocent, but if they’re criminals, it’s impossible. So the best… Russian citizenship or local residency guaranteed by the governor of Primorye.”
“this… I see now that it was not an offer.”
“right. It’s just what I want.”
The response to the coercive tone is replaced by men who have been hanging around.
“Old chief, what are you doing without readily accepting it? How are you?”
“I also agree with Jaewon, old man. It’s an offer that’s hard to resist. It takes a day or two to boil and eat porridge with food scraps. At this rate, I am about to hang myself and die.”
Kwon Jae-won, in his mid-20s, uses his unique dialect to urge, and Hong Byung-yoon, who is in his 30s, helps with a calm tone.
Although I raised my middle finger every time I asked him to call me brother.
Even the clumsy little guy was useful.
“… what have you heard so far The choice is not ours.”
And soon after, grandpa, no.
Old man Jongsik Nam lifts his head heavily.
The deep sunken pupils contained an armful of worry and concern, letting me know that he was still mulling over my proposal.
“It’s an offer I can’t refuse, but I have to accept it. What can I do?”
“nothing.”
“Really not? Can we just go outside?”
“… When you leave the camp, there will be a boat to Vladivostok. Don’t forget your ID and go to the capital city hall.”
“What next?”
“The HT Group signboard is hanging on the right side of the main road from City Hall. Go and give your name… … .”
“… … ?”
The word “receive money” is replaced with a gesture of rubbing thumb and forefinger.
It was something Kwon Jae-won liked to do. Sure enough, he gave off a terrible stench and smiled broadly.
The yellow teeth were ferocious to look at.
“How much will you give me?”
“Enough to buy land on the outskirts of the city.”
“… The ruble screen is difficult. Let’s hear my rumors, so I won’t say I caught a terrible guy. Even if it is Guseoke (corner) land, you will be hit hard (on purpose).”
“You don’t have to worry about that.”
“Is it true?”
“yes. Really.”
$25 million is enough money to put up a building on the purchased land and open a watch shop of your dreams.
However, do not forget to warn them that they will run away with the money.
“Sit down and wait. When the time comes, I will come to you myself.”
“… Do you know where we will be?”
“If you’re confident you won’t get caught, run away.”
“Do you know any linkers? He is full of confidence.”
The woman who could detect the person with this ability had left for Eastern Europe, but there was no need to explain.
“Should I only be in Vladivostok?”
“no. It doesn’t matter where the location is in southern Primorye. Pick a place you like, but if possible, make sure it’s in a big city. It would be difficult to die in vain.”
“Why do you hear that you will die when you die?”
“People will die one day. But… It’s not like that, so don’t worry.”
And, of course, they weren’t relieved until the very end.
* * *
Five days later, Busan, South Korea.
As the Kang Gam-chan approached the port, the network of mobile phones for security started to work.
The complicated mind in the meantime is organized to some extent.
Once upon a time, a 16-year-old boy and an old man who had gone through a lot of childbirth had a very good relationship.
However, what I couldn’t accept in my heart was that everything could be distorted by changes in the environment and circumstances.
While I was not as miserable as before, the other person was struggling in muddy water.
The body of a sixteen-year-old was the same, but inside it was a thirty-year-old man.
As a result, even his good intentions were questioned, so he had no choice but to forcibly hand over the gift.
After thinking about it, there is no other way.
I still have a cold and blunt personality, but I couldn’t admit the difference in ability and begrudgingly bow down like I did back then.
It’s because I’ve already become stronger than appropriate and have a wealth of experience.
You can’t become close friends by overcoming the same hardships as in your previous life.
＜Give and take is perfect. Instead of gaining a new life, something is lost. Now arrive at the port and see. The Russian ambassador will be on his knees waiting.＞
“… … .”
The introduction was good, but the afterword was full of birdsong.
thump thump.
Just as he was about to bruise the parrot, a knocking sound came over the door and interrupted it. The iron door is so thick that it looks like it was hit with a fist.
Toya, who was staying in the four-person room, opened the door.
“I am entering port. Please prepare to disembark.”
“Toya, I don’t know if you are entering the port.”
“… It means putting a ship in the harbor.”
“Are you getting off the ship?”
“you’re right.”
Soon, Seong-min Lim, Gun-young Park, Seong-han Choo and Toya (Toya slept on the floor due to height problems).
While opening the locker and sorting out clothes and souvenirs, I walk out of the bedroom with nothing to do.
The armor and gauntlets were managed by the HT group’s attendants, so they went out to the deck to catch the wind.
And by the time the familiar smell of the air fills your lungs.
In the distance, I could see a densely packed crowd on the pier.
It’s a bad sign considering the Kang Gam-chan docking at the naval port.
Looking closely, I’m pretty sure they’re all civilians, seeing as they’re full of colorful clothes. There is only one case where civilians can enter the military base.
The downtown area was destroyed by the monster’s attack.
They must be refugees.
＜… Yongsu, are you sick?＞
“… … .”
＜Why are refugees holding bouquets?＞
… And I see.
The way he waved his hand didn’t feel very earnest.
The closer the warship approaches the pier, the more grown up they are, waving their hands and shouting.
In addition, even the banner that caught my eyes belatedly.
[Pride of Korea! Welcome back to Lee Yong-soo hero.]
[Kill the first level 2 monster in 2029, Allamandra.]
[Daehan’s case, Lee Yong-soo. I won again and came back!]
[I am happy thanks to the hero Lee Yong-soo.]
At the time of departure, it was so quiet that it was very cold.
Damn it, it was hard to find anything unobtrusive, from the ‘Congratulations-Congratulations’ words on both sides of the banner to the details.
Wouldn’t it be okay to let something like that hang on a military building?
＜Daehan’s gun! The pride of Korea!＞
“… Noisy.”
It took a while for him to cast cold eyes at the parrot.
The brow twists at the sudden call from the rear.
“Yongsu! Where have you been! You told me to prepare for the return interview! Come quickly, let me touch your hair first.”
“… … .”
I could truly feel that I had returned to Korea.
Russia and Korea are very different.
The bouquet of flowers on each side, the car parade on the way to the welcome ceremony, the level of enthusiasm for the hero and the attitude that changed overnight, and so on.
Apart from the positive and negative aspects, there was definitely an excessive side.
And the most important among them are the reporters who stubbornly ask questions despite the restrictions on coverage.
“I am reporter Choi Hee-joo of ‘Daily N’. First of all, congratulations on completing your mission successfully and returning home.”
“Yes.”
“According to the report of the Daily Mirror, I heard that you had a bloody battle with Alamandra, a level 2 monster. At that time, I heard that he bit the monster’s neck with his teeth. How did you feel?”
“… … .”
The interview site is about 4 kilometers from the port.
The greeting that flew in with a smile soon turned into an absurd question and came back.
I don’t know where to start pointing out.
A bloody battle with Allamandra?
The biting part of the neck with teeth?
“… The Daily Mirror?”
“Yes. It is a British newspaper.”
“Do British newspapers write Russian articles?”
“Because the first confirmed report was from a British correspondent. is not it?”
“… no. It is a false report.”
Unfortunately, no normal questions flew in after that.
“This is OSN reporter Nam Goong-cheol. According to the morgue, there were hundreds of holes in Allamandra’s body. I heard that all of them were penetrating wounds with water-attribute attacks.”
“Yes. So?”
“The fourth specialized ability, right?”
“… … .”
“I know it is not so neatly penetrated by ordinary technology. Aren’t you a level 2 monster?”
That is the awakening period of Venetus.
I didn’t do it, but I can’t deny that this is how I feel.
It wasn’t a loss, but it was strange to feel something unfair.
“… This is Reporter Lee Ki-woong of Press SC. According to reports from Russia Segodnya (Russian media), most of the photos were taken with Andrei Belousov-Russian Deputy Prime Minister. May I ask what kind of conversation you had?”
And finally, on the sixth turn, the right question pops up.
There was no need to lie, and no pressure to make mistakes.
“I said we’d like to be friends from now on.”
“uh… Is that all? If you watch the video, they talk much longer.”
“That was the story. I hope to increase the number of overseas dispatches and come to Russia more often, what do you think about establishing an international attack force at this opportunity… … .”
“… International Raiders?”
But somehow, the reaction was strange.