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Translator: penny
Chapter: 010
Chapter Title: Hanlight Group's Secret
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Dome Performance Hall air raid shelter, Basement Level 2 laboratory.
Dr. Kim wore an expression of pure ecstasy.
The estrogen levels he had been aiming for had finally appeared.
Jeong Executive, seated beside him, brightened up as well.
"So, the chances are higher now?"
"This is the highest estrogen level we've seen from any of our test subjects."
"When can we run the experiment?"
"We need another three or four hours to flush out the contrast agent. She's waiting in the lab for now."
"What about the other woman?"
"Her levels are a bit elevated too, so it'd be good to use her as a test subject."
Jeong Executive immediately called Oh Gwang-seong, the eldest son of Hanlight Group.
"President, we've secured the test subject with the highest chance of success."
- How high?
"Dr. Kim says 70%."
- When's the experiment?
"In about four hours."
- Keep me posted on any changes.
"Yes, President."
Jeong Executive hung up and bit his lower lip hard.
If this succeeded, Oh Gwang-seong had promised to hand over either Hanlight Biologics or Hanlight Space—whichever Jeong chose.
As long as they saved Chairman Oh Han-gwang, that was the deal.
Dr. Kim spoke up.
"What about Yongsan International Hospital? We won't be testing there yet, right?"
"Zombies haven't spread to Seoul yet, so we can't. If we got caught, it'd be a disaster."
"Guess we focus here for now."
"This could change our fates. Give it everything you've got. You should take over a medical center too, Dr. Kim."
"Thank you."
Bang!
The door flew open violently as Oh Jong-seong stormed in.
"I heard you've found an immune? Who is it?"
"It's not confirmed yet. She's just the highest probability out of all our test subjects so far."
Dr. Kim answered cautiously.
"So, how high?"
"We're looking at 70% right now."
"That's pretty high. When can you test?"
Oh Jong-seong's heart raced.
He'd grown up constantly compared to his eldest brother, and to him, Oh Gwang-seong was an insurmountable wall of grief.
The medical and weapons sectors were growing over 10% annually, so no one questioned Oh Gwang-seong as the heir to Hanlight Group.
A faint hope circuit sparked in his mind: If I save Dad, maybe I'll get a shot too.
That was spiking Oh Jong-seong's energy.
"We can proceed after four hours."
"If someone gets bitten by a zombie and shows no changes after 72 hours, that makes them immune, right?"
"Theoretically, yes."
"I have a good feeling about this. Dr. Kim! If we succeed, the next international hospital is yours!"
"Thank you."
"Fuck yeah! We're golden!"
Oh Jong-seong left the lab brimming with confidence.
Jeong Executive watched him go, his face darkening.
"The youngest young master is all hot air. No real power, and he's promising hospitals."
"He did bring us a potential immune, so he's riding high."
"This is tense."
"My gut says it'll work."
Dr. Kim brimmed with conviction.
Her body was clearly different from a normal person's—not just the hormone levels, but the sheer volume of satellite cells.
Satellite cells played a key role in muscle regeneration after damage.
Having that many meant rapid recovery too.
That's why Dr. Kim judged her a perfect immune. He just said 70% to account for any slim chance of failure.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Before the man could draw his weapon from his pocket.
A straight right punch aimed at his philtrum.
Crack!
The force crushed into his middle finger bone, driving under his nose.
Crunch!
The fist shattered his front teeth and shoved deep inside.
I followed with a hard umbrella handle strike to the back of his head, knocking him out cold.
I gagged him with his tie and used his belt to bind his crossed arms and legs.
I dragged his bow-curved body to the corner and peeled off his access card.
Then I sent a group text.
[Head straight to Section E, enter the alley by the gift shop. Turn left for escalator, iron door behind it. Leaving card at the edge.]
I moved behind the escalator.
A thick iron door.
Swiped the card, and it opened.
Emergency exit.
I hid the card at the door's edge and slipped inside.
A text came back.
[Heading out soon.]
Only downward stairs.
Slowly.
Muffling my footsteps.
Dead silence.
The deeper I went, the colder the chill soaked my skin.
The underground air?
B1.
Iron door here too.
Ear to the door—too thick for sounds to pass.
Kept descending.
B2.
Iron door again.
B3.
Stairs ended here.
No card, so I waited.
Debating going back up for it when—
Beep!
The iron door opened, and a man emerged.
I snapped a chokehold around his neck. Carotid compressed—30 seconds later, he went limp.
Tied him with his tie and belt too.
Again.
Beep!
Door opened.
A woman stepped out.
Wearing a white coat.
Doctor?
As the door closed and she placed one foot on the stair, I grabbed her neck from behind, yanked her down, and clamped her mouth.
I needed intel.
"Listen carefully. Answer straight, and you live. Lie, and you die."
Her terror-filled eyes nodded.
I eased my hand off her mouth.
"What is this place?"
"A zombie research facility."
"Where are the two women?"
Her pupils shook.
I tightened my grip on her throat.
"Hngh."
About 10 seconds, then released.
A shallow groan leaked from her throat, voicing her fear.
"No patience for games. Where are the two women?"
"Inside... in the lab."
"Who's inside?"
"No one's there now, but they'll come soon."
"Other exits?"
"On the opposite side."
Plenty more questions, but "they'll come soon" urged me on.
Tore her coat to gag her, bound her arms and legs.
Snatched her access card.
Swiped it on the reader and entered. A long corridor stretched ahead.
- Grrraaah!
Zombie roar.
"Ugh... guh..."
Even human groans.
The moment Hanlight Group's secret came to light—one I'd never known before.
They'd started virus research early, planning to monopolize vaccines and wealth.
Was Yongsan International Hospital the same?
First, rescue Ye Ji-ah and Bok Su-jeong, then disable this place.
Checking cells one by one, I froze.
VIP cell.
Chairman Oh Han-gwang inside.
'That's why they kidnapped young women for test subjects.'
Puzzle complete.
Corridor about 100m long.
Over 50 cells at least.
- Grrraaack!
- Grrrraack!
Peeked through the glass window of a nearby cell door.
Female zombie leashed by an iron collar fixed to the wall.
Wearing the same uniform as the front desk staff.
Deliberately infected? Or locked up here?
Twisted the handle button and pulled—the door opened.
Outside-only lock.
- Grrraaawr!
Killing intent from the zombie's white eyes.
Bite marks on her neck.
She bared fangs, glaring.
I texted the team: zombie lab confirmed.
Hope they came prepared and fast.
"Please, spare me. I beg you!"
Bok Su-jeong's voice from the opposite cell.
I dashed to it.
Ye Ji-ah and Bok Su-jeong visible through the glass.
Ankles shackled.
"Damn it!"
Remembered the pickaxe and hammer from earlier.
Opened the iron door and entered.
Couldn't let it close—jammed paper in the gap.
"Oppa..."
Bok Su-jeong sniffled.
Ye Ji-ah stayed calm.
"Hang on. Rescue's coming soon."
"We're shackled."
1m chain from wall ring to ankle.
Pickaxe might smash the ring.
Time to fetch it?
Then.
Murmurs outside.
I pressed my ear to the door.
"Experiment in three hours."
"Both women?"
"Better safe than sorry."
"Chairman gets two flavors then."
Footsteps followed voices.
At least four.
The two women meant Ye Ji-ah and Bok Su-jeong—they were heading here.
I braced to shove the door, tensing my upper body.
"Huh? Door's open."
"What?"
Feet rushing to the door.
Bam!
Shoved hard—two tumbled backward.
Two guards beside them.
Whoosh!
Leaped, knee to the left guard's jaw.
Crack!
Followed by a straight punch into the other guard's chest.
Splat!
Ribs shattering under my knuckles.
"Hurk."
Elbow drove into his throat.
Crisp impact.
Guard's head hit the wall, crumpled.
Coat guy and suit guy bolted different ways.
Judged coat as researcher—chased him.
Sliding tackle tripped his legs.
"Agh! Let go!"
Grabbed his collar, hauled him up.
"What's on Basement 2 and 1?"
"Who are you?"
Pressed hard into his Adam's apple.
"Guhk."
"No answer, you die next."
Counted to three, released.
"Hah... hah..."
"No time. Talk."
"Level 2 is labs. Level 1 has monitoring center, cafeteria, dorms."
Beep-beep-beep!
Alarm blared.
Guards incoming soon.
Hope Ma Tae-beom hurried.
Hiss—hiss-hiss!
Acrid gas poured from ceiling vents.
Eyes burned, breathing labored.
Sprinklers spewed tear gas-like fumes.
Held my breath, scanned ahead.
Faint shapes in the haze.
Focus.
Thwack!
Shadow rushed me fast.
Short baton in view.
Dodged instinctively, twisted his wrist.
"Agh!"
Kneed his kneecap.
He crumpled, but gas blasted from behind.
"Kuhk!"
They're hurting too.
But aimed at me—throat ripping pain, eyes hard to open.
Thud!
Baton clipped my shoulder.
Crack!
Impact to my crown.
Thud!
Deep gut stab of pain.
Breath stopped.
Raised arms to block—damage piling.
Yanked a visible arm, punched.
Snap! Thud! Thud!
Cheekbone hit, sharp scream.
Solid connect.
But too many foes.
"Grab him!"
Voice from behind.
Fully surrounded.
I spun and bolted back.
Haze thinning—vision clearing.
Accelerated into a body check.
Front group toppled, but numbers overwhelming.
Zzzap!
Taser to shoulder.
Lost balance—fists and batons rained from all sides.
No room to dodge in tight space.
Protected head, waited for counter chance. Then—
Clang!
Crisp metal scrape.
Bok Cheol-su advanced with pickaxe.
To me, he looked like Darth Vader wielding a lightsaber.
What could an old man do?
But my worry was foolish beyond belief.
Bok Cheol-su wielded the pickaxe like a lifelong partner.
Thwack-thwack!
Crack! Thud-thud!
Bone-crunching sounds chained together.
Like a master chain whip artist, the pickaxe whipped up-down-left-right at blinding speed.
Bok Cheol-su had this skill?
Can't let him slip away.
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