Chapter 80

Yohan proposed the first plan, but Sweeper argued for the second. He believed any direct contact posed too many risks.

“Isn’t it too dangerous? What if she slips up and says something she shouldn’t?”

“She knows a single mistake means instant death. That won’t happen.”

“And they’re going to come back anyway, right? Wouldn’t it be better to keep them in the dark and ambush them instead?”

Yohan shook his head. Sweeper wasn’t wrong, but his approach wouldn’t solve the bigger problem.

“We need to draw Gae Baek-jeong out now. If we stay idle, he’ll send a second scouting team. If we wipe them out, he’ll recognize us as a serious threat and focus on expanding his forces before attacking. He’s a master at recruitment—if we give him time, he’ll become an even bigger problem.”

Gae Baek-jeong’s faction would never weaken over time. It would only grow stronger.

And Yohan had no intention of marching into Seoul to launch an assault.

Fighting in enemy territory was suicide. If it came to that, it would be smarter to abandon camp entirely and relocate.

But they had already taken out his scouting team—reinforcements could arrive as early as tomorrow.

Yohan had made his decision.

This time, they would force Gae Baek-jeong onto their home turf and end this for good.

That thorn in his side—the man who had haunted his mind across regressions—had to be eliminated.

Only by cutting him down could they truly secure a future for themselves.

“Hmm… so what exactly should we have Kim Seol-hwa say?”

“She needs to report that the scouting team was wiped out and that we’re stronger than expected. Then, she’ll request reinforcements—about twenty-five men.”

“That’s a bit weak. What if Gae Baek-jeong doesn’t come himself?”

“He never lets a unit outnumber him. If he’s sending twenty-five men, that would leave his base with fewer numbers than his field unit. He’d have no choice but to lead them himself.”

Gae Baek-jeong never allowed any of his subordinates to command a larger force than he did.

If the battle required more than half his forces, he would always take direct control.

“Oh-ho.”

“Now, let’s go over it again. Are we missing anything? Any possible variables?”

“What if his numbers increased?”

“Good point. Let’s adjust the bait—we’ll call for at least thirty men.”

Too many enemies could make the battle unmanageable. The larger the force, the greater the risk.

Ideally, they needed to lure Gae Baek-jeong and only the minimum necessary force to accompany him.

A full mobilization wasn’t likely. He still needed people to monitor his enslaved camps.

Yohan unfolded a map, outlining the best routes for up to forty potential enemies.

“There are countless ways to reach us from Yongsan. Since they ride motorcycles, they could take any path. But these two are the most likely routes. If they come this way, these two locations make for the best ambush points.”

Yohan drew two red lines on the map and circled two spots.

The first route was through Beolmal-ro, coming down from Olympic-daero, following Gulpocheon Stream, and cutting through Sangdong.

The second was via Bupyeong IC Intersection, branching off from the Gyeongin Expressway—the same place where they had taken out the first scouting team.

He had chosen these routes for speed and convenience.

Local roads were clogged with wrecked vehicles and crawling with zombies.

But highways and major roads had wide shoulders, making them much easier to navigate. Even if zombies appeared, they could be avoided or outrun.

“We’ll set up an ambush at these two points, plant every remaining Claymore mine, and hit them with everything we’ve got. No holding back. No saving bullets. We treat this like the final battle. If we know their approach and timing, no amount of uncertainty will change the outcome.”

Sweeper nodded.

The key advantage was information.

Even if their forces were evenly matched, losing the intelligence battle meant losing the war.

After rehearsing their conversation with Gae Baek-jeong multiple times, they headed to see Kim Seol-hwa.

She was slumped against the radiator, fast asleep, looking much healthier than before.

Sweeper nudged her awake.

“Rise and shine, princess.”

“Mmm….”

The scent of blood made her flinch. She opened her eyes, exhaling deeply when she saw them.

It was a sigh of relief.

It was laughable.

A Seoul Survival Union officer was relieved that they had won.

But it made sense.

Aside from Yohan and Sweeper, no one else knew where she was.

If they had lost, she would have been left to rot. Survival depended on their victory.

She had no choice but to root for them.

Yohan set the radio beside her and laid out the scenario they had practiced.

“You’re going to call Gae Baek-jeong. Report that the scouting team is gone. That our numbers are greater than expected. Request at least thirty additional men for reinforcements. If you say anything suspicious, you die.”

Kim Seol-hwa hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Yohan walked her through the proper responses—what to say if asked about Gae Baek-jeong’s survival, their current manpower, and other potential concerns.

Once she had the script memorized, he cranked the radio’s volume to maximum and leaned in close.

Her hands wavered.

Doubt lingered in her movements.

But after a pause, she switched the radio channel and picked up the handset.

A burst of static crackled through.

Then a voice.

“Kim Seol-hwa speaking.”

-······Stand by.

The reply was low and icy.

A moment of silence.

Then the radio crackled again.

The next voice was completely different—lighter, more playful, but not careless.

“-Ohhh! My darling! How have you been?”

Gae Baek-jeong’s voice.

Yohan felt his blood run cold.

That voice.

Even in his dreams, he could never forget it.

—

-What’s this? You’re calling me yourself? Where’s the second-in-command?

“He’s dead. The advance team was wiped out…”

There was a pause. Then, Gae Baek-jeong responded.

-Oh-ho.

“The resistance here is stronger than we expected. We need reinforcements.”

-That so? How many people are there?

“Over twenty armed fighters. We need at least thirty more men to secure the area.”

-Got it.

“When will you send them?”

-I’ll be in touch. Wait.

“Understood.”

—

The transmission ended just like that.

No interrogation. No skepticism. No cross-examination.

Just acceptance.

It wasn’t the reaction Yohan had anticipated.

His mind raced.

Every simulation they had prepared was now useless.

Why didn’t Gae Baek-jeong ask more questions?

Why did he accept it so easily?

Yohan slowly set the radio down, frowning.

—

Meanwhile, Gae Baek-jeong slowly lowered his radio, grinning.

Completely naked, as if in his most primal state.

His muscular body, riddled with scars, was laced with bulging veins.

The moment he set down the radio, he let out a mad laugh.

A subordinate, who had been waiting to take the radio, hesitated.

“What’s wrong, sir?”

Gae Baek-jeong grinned, his narrow eyes crinkling into crescent moons before widening into something sharp and dangerous.

“That venomous bitch just betrayed me.”

“Kim Seol-hwa…?”

The subordinate looked stunned.

She was a Seoul Survival Union officer.

More than that, she was his mistress.

“She must have been forced into it. Whatever. I’m sick of this. Do it properly this time.”

A woman, kneeling before him, lifted her head. Her face was void of expression.

“Properly.”

The woman hesitated. Then, she lowered her head again.

“No, higher.”

She trembled. Her lips inched upward, moving toward a grotesque scar.

The scar on his body was unmistakable—a zombie bite wound.

And everyone in the camp knew what that meant.

“What are you waiting for? Get started.”

Her hesitation was brief.

She had been trained for this.

Her conditioned loyalty had stripped her of fear, disgust, and resistance.

She began tracing the jagged wound with her lips.

Gae Baek-jeong closed his eyes, savoring the moment before abruptly shoving her away.

“Enough. Get up.”

She wordlessly gathered her clothes and exited the room.

Gae Baek-jeong leaned back, still grinning.

“What should we do with that sly little bitch?”

He tapped the radio absentmindedly, laughing.

—

At the same time, Yohan also tapped the radio, his face twisted in a frown.

Something wasn’t right.

It was too easy.

This wasn’t the kind of situation Gae Baek-jeong would just accept.

Yohan’s voice came out low.

“Gae Baek-jeong knows.”

“What?”

Sweeper and Kim Seol-hwa responded in unison.

“He figured out that Kim Seol-hwa betrayed him. If he hadn’t, there’s no way he would’ve let it go this easily.”

“But how?”

Yohan fell silent for a moment before speaking.

“We don’t know what the advance team told Gae Baek-jeong before we wiped them out. If they reported that they lost contact with Kim Seol-hwa… and then she suddenly called to report their deaths, he’d immediately suspect a trap.”

“Hmm…”

The fact that she survived when the rest of the team was slaughtered was suspicious on its own.

They had prepared plenty of excuses, expecting this skepticism.

But none of that mattered.

Gae Baek-jeong hadn’t even asked.

The mere fact that she was alive had already confirmed his suspicions.

And perhaps…

He had even figured out she was being held hostage.

Then, the radio buzzed again.

Kim Seol-hwa’s eyes darted to Yohan, full of fear.

Yohan nodded. “Answer it.”

Kim Seol-hwa picked up the receiver with trembling hands.

“Y-Yeah?”

-Put the guy next to you on.

Her pupils shook violently.

Like an earthquake had erupted within her.

Just as Yohan had predicted.

Damn it… He really does keep surprising me.

Yohan grabbed the receiver.

“Speak.”

-So, how’s the taste of the woman you stole from me?

Laughter crackled through the radio.

“Wouldn’t know. I’ll only be satisfied when I kill you myself.”

-Oho. You’re quite bold, aren’t you?

“You started this fight. Time to finish it. Come here. If you don’t, I’ll tear her apart and feed her to the zombies.”

-Hah. You’re a funny guy.

“If you don’t come, we’ll come to you.”

Gae Baek-jeong burst into laughter.

-Hah! What a joke.

But the laughter didn’t stop.

Even as he spoke, he kept chuckling.

-Do whatever you want. If you come here, I’ll make sure to break you myself and rip out your guts. Oh, and while we’re at it, send me a little parting gift, yeah?

Yohan remained silent.

-Why don’t you film that backstabbing bitch’s execution and send me a copy? That’d be quite the treat. Thrilling, even. What do you think? Should I send over a camera?