Red Dot - 73

With complex emotions, Junseong and Hanseo left the apartment, while Changmin returned to the container office. There was a need not only to share information about the situation in the apartment but, above all, because they needed Hwang Gyeong-oh. It wasn’t the last dream but rather some time during the previous chapters when he had assisted in scouting another building. This time, they hoped he would do the same at ‘that place.’

Avoiding zombies and taking the safest route possible, it took them a solid three hours to visit the apartment and return to the office.

In the meantime, Hwang Gyeong-oh finally completed the modification of the drone after several trial runs. Worried about the rain last night and the thick clouds still covering the sky, he had wondered if they might get caught in the rain. However, thanks to Junseong’s weather forecasting skills, who predicted exactly when it would rain and for how long, they could conduct the trial runs with peace of mind.

“We finally finished!”

Instead of the usual greetings like ‘welcome back’ or ‘well done,’ the announcement of completion came first. With an excited expression, Gyeong-oh repeatedly mentioned that they could now send out long-distance reconnaissance drones whenever they wanted.

However, he mentioned that controlling or monitoring beyond a certain distance was difficult. In a remote mountainous area without active internet, they couldn’t expect too much.

Junseong, looking at the drone with clear signs of modification, said to Gyeong-oh, “We need to move as soon as the reconnaissance is done.”

“Are we relocating our base?”

Jian, who had noticed the subdued atmosphere of those who had returned from the apartment, cautiously asked.

“No, not yet. We can’t abandon this place until the drone completes its reconnaissance and returns.”

According to Gyeong-oh, it would take approximately two hours for the drone to complete the reconnaissance and return.

Junseong had originally expected a range of 10km. However, Gyeong-oh decided to remove the distance setting restrictions using ample battery packs, allowing the drone to go even farther. The drone would move continuously until it consumed nearly half of the battery pack’s capacity, then automatically return. Considering this, the estimated reconnaissance time was two hours.

During this time, all Junseong and his team could do was wait quietly for the drone’s retrieval.

Junseong thought it was rather fortunate.

While waiting for the drone’s return, Gyeong-oh had something else to do.

“This time, Gyeong-oh, you need to come with us.”

“Huh? Me?”

Surprised, Gyeong-oh asked nervously. Without realizing it, Junseong was in the middle of equipping Gyeong-oh with protective gear they had taken from the sports equipment store in the department store.

“We’ll deal with the zombies. We’ll protect you as much as possible, so don’t be too scared.”

“I-I’m not scared! I can handle smashing zombie heads too!”

He said with a flustered voice, sounding indignant. However, apart from the fiery words, Gyeong-oh had never actually smashed a zombie’s head even once.

He had shown a considerable ability to fight around the time he had gotten used to it, but that was only in a dream where he had become a colleague for over ten days. He didn’t even wish for that level of physical activity right now.

“Alright. Still, understand that if you’re in danger, we won’t be able to protect you.”

“Well, if you put it that way…”

He responded with a slightly embarrassed tone.

Half relieved and half puzzled, Hwang Gyeong-oh’s face showed a hint of recognition.

Junseong, who had equipped Gyeong-oh with protective gear, looked at Jian, who was silently urging him to give her orders with his eyes.

“Jian, stay here and retrieve the drone. Maybe we’ll arrive before the drone does, but…”

“No, I won’t!”

Before Junseong could finish his sentence, Jian’s face twisted in protest.

“This time, I’m going with you!”

Junseong looked at her with a perplexed expression.

“Retrieving the drone is important too.”

“We’re just heading to the office. There are no zombies nearby, and no one else wandering around, so it shouldn’t be a problem for the drone to be alone for a while.”

“But…”

Junseong, who had intended to leave Jian behind despite other reasons, swallowed his words when he saw her determined eyes.

In truth, Junseong was pondering how to handle Jian. This was the first time he had let someone like Seo Chang-min and Lee Jian become his colleagues.

So, understanding what Jian was good at and what she wasn’t, and grasping her personality deeply, was inevitably slow.

“No, it’s not that I’m just figuring this out now…”

A bitter smile formed on Junseong’s lips.

Whenever he looked at Jian, he couldn’t help but think of his younger sister, Kang Chae-i. Apart from gender and bold eyes, there was little resemblance between them, but whenever he saw her, he couldn’t help but think of his estranged sister.

Was that why?

Although Jian had been like this before, and perhaps would continue to be, he didn’t want to ask her to do anything dangerous. His desire to protect her in place of his distant sister was stronger.

“I want to be helpful to you too, oppas.”

He wondered if his own feelings had unintentionally ignored her. She had always been like a princess protected by heroes in fairy tales.

Junseong, who was facing Jian’s determined gaze, finally spoke after a moment of thought.

“I understand your intention, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ask you to do something difficult.”

“I know. So, I want to help you within my capabilities, just like you said.”

“Refusing to retrieve the drone, which is clearly helping us, is within your capabilities, Jian. Besides, wasting manpower on something the drone can handle on its own is overkill. And leaving you alone here, even though it seems safe, bothers me.”

Even though the last statement was true. At the moment, there were no zombies nearby, and in their dreams, there had been no attacks on the container office around this time. So it seemed safe.

However, this was the first time they had sent a modified drone far away and attempted a proper “retrieval.” If there were any glitches due to prolonged operation, causing noise during its return, it would undoubtedly attract zombies to this location. Moreover, since they had modified a drone model that naturally produced noise, the possibility of such a dangerous situation couldn’t be ruled out.

It would be better to leave at least one more person, but unfortunately, they didn’t have the luxury to do so at the moment. In that case, it might be better to take Jian along. There weren’t many zombies at ‘that place’ anyway.

Jian’s eyes twinkled as if to say when did I ever? This look was similar to the one Chae-i showed when she was full of anticipation, and Junseong found himself smiling gently without realizing it.

“Even if we go together, like Gyeong-oh, I don’t intend to let you fight zombies head-on.”

“Then…”

Patting Jian’s head like a younger sibling while keeping an eye on her reaction, Junseong added.

“Still, if you’re okay with it, let’s go together.”

“Yay!”

Her excited reaction was childish yet sincere, but it wasn’t a bad thing. At least it was better than trembling in fear in front of the zombies they would face in the future.

Recognizing that he needed to make the most of Jian’s ‘skills,’ Junseong, who had been thinking, adjusted his gentle expression and looked at Gyeong-oh.

“We’re leaving right away. But before that, I’ll tell you what we saw and what we need to do next.”

Junseong’s tense voice drew serious looks from everyone.

* * *

Thirty minutes had passed since they sent out the drone and set out on foot.

Having to deal with the minimum number of zombies they inevitably encountered, they came to a halt in front of a building near the Inhan Hospital.

Inhan Blood Center.

It was a common blood center with a modest yet distinct sign. Next to it was a “Blood Donation House” enclosed in transparent glass, and behind it was a rather bleak gray building.

Junseong glanced at the building where the ‘solution’ lay and then turned to the group.

“This place is…”

Junseong, who was about to speak, felt puzzled and closed his mouth.

Hanseo’s gaze was peculiar.

Although he wore the same relaxed smile as usual, there was something subtly sunken in his eyes. It was as if he was gazing at something dark and deep within him, unable to avoid it.