Chapter 5 (1/2)
“We’ve lost contact with the 3<sup>rd</sup> Battalion! The 2<sup>nd</sup> battalion is requesting for retreat!”
“There is no retreat. Hold the ground until the end.”
The makes.h.i.+ft HQ within the laboratory was bustling with the continuous exchange of sitreps and orders. Tension was rising in the HQ as bad news arrived one after another, but some of the last rebel commanders leading the Korean army seemed indifferent to what was happening.
“Urgent news from the 209<sup>th</sup> regiment of the 1<sup>st</sup> Battalion! Airborne troops landing behind them! The front line has collapsed!”
“Fall back to the 2<sup>nd</sup> line! Send in the reserves to help their retreat!”
One of the generals stopped giving orders and turned to face the other commanders who were simply watching the situation.
“What the h.e.l.l are you guys even doing!”
“Huhuhu, you don’t need to be so mad.”
“What!”
“Shall we begin?”
As one of the commanders gave the order, a group of soldiers barged into the HQ, pointing their guns at the generals and officers.
“Are you starting a coup at this point in time!”
“We’ve done all we can. You should know just as much as we do that any further resistance is futile. Now is the time to step back and negotiate.”
“What were you promised by the j.a.panese?! I don’t care what they offered to you, but do you honestly think they will uphold their end of the bargain!”
“Huhu, we’ve received their confirmation. We even have proof so they can’t go back on their words.”
“Traitors!”
The enraged general tried to pull out his pistol, but the commander was faster.
Bang! At the single gunshot, the enraged general grabbed at his chest. His body trembled, but his eyes were still on the surrendering commanders.
“Our ancestors will never forgive you, you hypocrites…”
The general’s body collapsed on the floor, his eyes wide open with anger. The commanders looked somewhat disturbed by it. They didn’t surrender because they wanted to. But the situation was hopeless, and when their last ray of hope crumbled, their survival instincts kicked in.
“Dear oh dear. I guess we’re late.”
“Hm?”
Joon-young entered the room and the commanders were quick respond.
“Who are you? State your affiliation.”
“Affiliation? When everything’s falling apart?”
“That’s insubordination!”
The commanders refuted in anger.
“Tsk, you are the most annoying of them all. If you were going to surrender, you shouldn’t have made such a mess in the first place. How are you going to look at everyone else who died because of your f.u.c.k-ups?”
“How dare you! Shoot him!”
The soldiers hesitantly aimed at Joon-young at the order. Joon-young however, smiled fearlessly.
“Shall we die together?”
Flinch
Joon-young took his coat off, exposing the claymores stuck all around his body. In his right hand was the detonator. At that sight, all of the soldiers lowered their gun and slowly backpedalled into the corners. If those claymores exploded in this confined room, the best-case scenario was a fatal wound.
“A, are you insane? Drop that thing right now!”
With his face pale as paper, one of the commanders shouted.
“How did you know I was insane? With one click I’ll guarantee a spot in heaven by killing all you traitors. I think that’s a net profit for me.”
“s.h.i.+t!”
“Ah! There’s no point in subduing me either. It’s wireless as well. Well, even if that fails, the fellows behind me will happily throw a handful of grenades in here.”
Everyone looked where Joon-young was pointing. Outside the room was a group of soldiers watching menacingly. In their hands were a pistol and a live grenade, primed and ready to be thrown.
Clap!
Joon-young quickly gained everyone’s attention.
“Now! Will you die with me or surrender?”
“You crazy b.a.s.t.a.r.d! Don’t you know that any more resistance is futile!”
“Humans are foolish creatures, you see. They love to do something they are told not to do. Now! Last warning. Drop your weapons! Or I’m pressing the b.u.t.ton!”
“Y, you will die too!”
Joon-young snickered at those words.
“Even better. Three! Two! One! I’ll see you in the afterlife.”
Click!
Everyone inside the HQ dropped to the floor as Joon-young pressed the detonator.
“Huh? What’s going on?”
Click! Click!
Joon-young repet.i.tively pressed the detonator, wondering why it wasn’t going off.
“S, stop!”
“Surrender! We surrender!”
Everyone inside the HQ threw their weapons in fear and raised their hands while Joon-young continued to smash at the detonator.
“Oi. This is a dud. Are you really in charge of the explosives?”
“No s.h.i.+t it’s a dud! I’ve cut the line just in case but I didn’t think you’d really press it.”
At this point, even the soldiers on Joon-young’s side realised just how insane he was. There aren’t many in the world who wouldn’t hesitate to kill themselves with a smile on their face.
“What do we do with them?”
A captain of the air force asked as he watched the commanders shake in fear.
“What do you mean? Wasn’t this the whole point?”
Joon-young reached for one of the rifles and loaded the gun.
Click!
The commanders began to plead for their lives at the sound of the gun.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Joon-young ignored their pleas and hummed as he ma.s.sacred the commanders and everyone who were in their league.
“d.a.m.n, that felt like s.h.i.+t. We’ve really crossed the line now!”
Joon-young grumbled with a cig in his mouth. He just killed multiple high ranking officers, many of them being generals.
“Let’s take that thing off you first. I can’t stand you wearing it.”
As one of the sergeants approach to help Joon-young take the claymores, some of the high ranking officers quickly took command of the HQ.
“Send the word to all the battalions we can! All personnel are allowed to surrender at their own judgement! But all volunteers will gather here! This is our grave! Only those of you prepared to be buried here are allowed to gather!”
The soldiers in the HQ began to move instinctively at the sound of those orders.
“Now! Shall we make a plan? Let’s make them curse our names for all eternity!”
With the surrender of the Korean troops on the frontlines, there was a brief moment of silence and tranquillity. But when they lost contact with the Korean Army’s HQ and received news of what had happened from the surrendered Korean troops, j.a.panese troops initiated an airborne a.s.sault on the research centre. The security forces of the research centre resisted with their utmost efforts, but the sight of the continuous stream of parachutes forced them to retreat into the tunnel.
Bang!
An explosion accompanied by the scorching flames filled the corridor. Many suffered burns from the fire and troops were sent to rescue them.
“Chikusho!”