Chapter 52
A post was made on the Balhut Cult’s community site, likely by someone from the Pohang survivor camp.
The post could only be made on a specific board created for this purpose, and only after entering a particular code, so it was definitely not a trolling post.
To know the password for this post, one would have had to acquire it from the supplies scattered at the Steelworks Triangle.
In other words, the post was most likely made by someone from the Pohang Campus area.
[3:00 PM. Let’s meet at the Steelworks Triangle.]
The post was emotionless and to the point, yet it signified the first step in the Balhut Cult’s conquest of Pohang.
This was a success in establishing contact with one of the three major survivor camps that divided Pohang.
“Pohang is split into three main factions. There’s the Pohang University Campus, which presumably posted this message, the camp beyond the Hyeongsan River to the north, and a naval camp centered around the harbor.”
“Unlike Gyeongju, which is split into North and South, this three-faction structure is quite interesting. It seems that the Navy survived, possibly because they could escape to the sea.”
“If we’re fortunate, we might even have the chance to gain control of the Navy in Pohang.”
After hearing Son Sang-hui’s explanation, Yuna noted that Pohang had a unique three-faction structure compared to Gyeongju, with a subtle expression at the mention of the surviving Navy.
Jung Dong-gun then suggested that if the Navy had indeed survived, there was a chance that the Balhut Cult could bring them into their fold.
“Do you really think the Navy would align with the Balhut Cult, given our reputation?”
“Oh…”
Yuna’s expression turned slightly troubled, as she seemed to be fully aware of the Balhut Cult’s poor reputation outside of Gyeongju.
Jung Dong-gun also sensed the potential for mistakes in this approach.
“Are there any other mid-sized factions besides those three?”
For the sake of his soldiers’ safety, Jung Dong-gun continued to question Son Sang-hui, who was advising him on Pohang, to confirm everything he could.
“There was an attempt to establish a camp of a similar scale at Pohang Airport, centered around Seol-hwa, but unfortunately, it fell apart after Seol-hwa went missing. Thinking back, it’s likely that the mutant spider zombies appeared around that time. Other than that, I don’t think there are any factions worth mentioning.”
“So, along Yeongilman-daero, there are several small to medium survivor camps, not one large camp?”
“Yes, I was at one of those camps myself but eventually fled to here.”
Jung Dong-gun learned that a large faction had tried to form at Pohang Airport but failed.
Son Sang-hui suggested that it would be easier to think of the mutant spider zombies as having overrun that faction.
If her words were true, it meant they couldn’t rely on the cooperation of a large faction by advancing along Yeongilman-daero.
“These smaller factions would be ideal to bring in as subordinate groups under the Cult.”
“Yes.”
“Huh?”
Due to their manageable size, these smaller factions were a perfect fit to be influenced and controlled by the Balhut Cult—an ideal group with whom the Cult could lead and cooperate.
Ultimately, for the conquest of Pohang, the Cult needed support from factions willing to work under its influence.
The large factions Son Sang-hui mentioned could be useful allies, but they might also seek compensation or influence over the conquest of Pohang.
Unlike Do Josoon, who demanded proper rewards, the Balhut Cult couldn’t simply dismiss them, so the Cult would need a champion to face such figures.
“For now, let’s proceed with the meeting. So, I’ll be sending Park Cheol-gon and Han Geun-chul…”
[No. Rather than those two, it would be better for Jung Dong-gun to go.]
“Lord Bahamut?”
As Yuna prepared to send the two political figures for the crucial meeting, Bahamut unexpectedly suggested Jung Dong-gun instead.
Yuna and Jung Dong-gun were surprised that Bahamut himself made a suggestion, but they decided to listen intently.
“Huh? Where is that voice coming from?”
Son Sang-hui shivered with fear at the sudden sound of the deep voice.
It was strange for a voice to suddenly appear in a tent with only three people, and she realized it wasn’t someone joking around outside.
Could it be a ghost? She wondered in shock.
[Originally, I would have sent Park Cheol-gon or Han Geun-chul as Yuna planned, but now, I think it’s more fitting for a soldier capable of showcasing the Cult’s strength to lead at this time.]
“Indeed. Lord Bahamut has spoken.”
“That does make sense.”
The mysterious voice… Bahamut explained his reasoning in detail.
He reasoned that in the apocalyptic crisis, it would be more effective to gain dominance in negotiations by demonstrating power through a soldier rather than a politician.
Yuna and Jung Dong-gun agreed with his logic.
In fact, sending the relatively powerless Park Cheol-gon and Han Geun-chul in a situation where collaboration was still uncertain might be risky.
If they weren’t careful, they could even be taken hostage, so it made sense for Jung Dong-gun, who could protect himself, to take the lead.
[You shall have full authority. Guide them to collaborate with the Cult.]
“I accept.”
“Huh… what?”
Upon hearing Bahamut grant him full authority, Jung Dong-gun nodded without hesitation and accepted the command.
Only Son Sang-hui looked around, confused, as if she hadn’t fully understood the situation.
[…Was it necessary to speak so formally?]
“It’s an impressive phrase, isn’t it?”
[…I can’t argue with that.]
Bahamut playfully commented on Jung Dong-gun’s formal phrasing, but had to admit he had a point.
After all, that kind of phrasing has always held a certain charm for men.
***
The meeting place was set at the Steelworks Triangle.
This was chosen based on the distance between the Balhut Cult and the university campus.
Since the Balhut Cult had already cleared out the zombies around the Steelworks Triangle, it was a relatively safe meeting place.
“Are you the soldier who liberated this area?”
“Yes, my name is Jung Dong-gun.”
“I am Ha Jin-woo, the representative.”
Jung Dong-gun set up a table and a tent for negotiations first, and soon after, several individuals from the university campus arrived along the road leading to it.
They included a person who appeared to be a university professor and several students. It seemed that the professor was the camp’s representative, as he led the conversation with Jung Dong-gun.
‘They don’t look in good shape.’
Their faces were grimy, and their greasy hair was noticeable, but Jung Dong-gun deliberately averted his eyes.
He wasn’t harsh enough to point it out and criticize them, and he understood that in an apocalyptic disaster, this was relatively well-off.
“That’s strange. That’s not digital camo, is it?”
“Are you really a soldier from the Republic of Korea?”
Nevertheless, the other side pointed out things they felt were suspicious, noting that Jung Dong-gun wore a navy uniform rather than the typical digital camo worn by Korean soldiers.
Since they were aware that every soldier in the Republic of Korea wears digital camouflage, they brought it up.
“Yes, it is suspicious; I can’t deny that. In fact, I am not a soldier of the Republic of Korea but of the Balhut Cult.”
Judging that there was no benefit to deceiving a potential ally, Jung Dong-gun decided to speak honestly.
When he clarified that he was a soldier of the Balhut Cult and not of the Republic of Korea, the reactions among the people from the university campus varied.
The ones who reacted most strongly were—
“The Balhut Cult… Are you from the cult that arose in Gyeongju?”
“Yes, I come from Gyeongju.”
“Is the cult not satisfied with Gyeongju and now coveting Pohang?”
Calling it a “cult,” Ha Jin-woo expressed anger, asking if the Balhut Cult was not content with Gyeongju alone.
“That could be one way to see it. However, you must understand that it’s hard to survive in this harsh world with just Gyeongju alone.”
“Hmph.”
Jung Dong-gun’s words were factual.
It was indeed challenging to survive in this harsh apocalypse with only Gyeongju’s resources.
The resources and industries that could be secured in Gyeongju were limited, so the Balhut Cult, having brought Gyeongju under control, had to expand outward. Pohang, with its steel industry, was naturally their next target.
“Our slogan is simple. We are here to save our compatriots by taking control of Pohang. Although we now belong to different factions, weren’t we all citizens of the Republic of Korea? And we are neighbors. What’s wrong with wanting to help and save our own people?”
“That’s true.”
After all, members of the Balhut Cult were also citizens of the Republic of Korea.
Although they were now affiliated with the Balhut Cult, they were once fellow citizens of Korea and residents of neighboring cities, so wouldn’t it make sense for them to help each other? That was the logic he used.
Apparently, his words struck a chord, as Ha Jin-woo, the professor and representative, as well as the university students, nodded solemnly.
Realizing that he was gradually winning them over, Jung Dong-gun decided to press on.
“And I promise we have no intention of forcing the Cult’s doctrine on Pohang. Our leader has made it clear that there will be no coercion.”
The Cult had only engaged in missionary work in the very beginning when they had nothing, but now that they governed Gyeongju, they no longer actively proselytized.
Even Bahamut himself opposed his own idolization and proclaimed religious freedom, so the Cult refrained from aggressive proselytizing.
This allowed Jung Dong-gun to confidently promise that they wouldn’t impose their religion.
“And don’t you feel that supplies are running low?”
“…We still think we have enough.”
He mentioned resources as a reason why the campus should cooperate with the Balhut Cult.
The university camp, perhaps out of pride or because they genuinely had reserves, stated that they were still sufficiently supplied, but Jung Dong-gun began listing the things he had observed on his way there.
“No, I noticed as I came here that farms outside Pohang aren’t being properly harvested. If you don’t gather any crops that haven’t yet spoiled, they’ll all rot or freeze within a month as winter sets in.”
“Ugh!”
No matter how self-sufficient a city might be, internal resources are limited.
It had already been four months since the apocalypse began, and the season was turning from autumn to winter.
Given Korea’s harsh winters, if the crops outside were not harvested immediately, everything would soon either rot or freeze, as Jung Dong-gun warned.
“But we have rice harvested from abandoned farms, clean water that’s been purified, and even canned tuna, ramen, and kimchi we can provide.”
“Really?!”
At the mention of food supplies, a few individuals from the campus began to react favorably.
In the apocalypse, food was a powerful bargaining tool, and Jung Dong-gun knew how to wield it effectively.
“Hmph!”
Even those initially opposed showed interest at the promise of food.
Not missing this opportunity, Jung Dong-gun began to present his points one by one to substantiate his claims.
“Yes, surely you know how much we’ve scattered resources here at the Steelworks Triangle, resources you yourselves have collected.”
“That’s true.”
Having collected supplies from the Balhut Cult and cooperated with them, they found it hard to dismiss Jung Dong-gun’s claims.
The Cult had an abundance of supplies, suspiciously so, and had scattered these precious resources in large amounts just to make contact with them.
“Each time, we scattered enough supplies for a family of four to eat well for two days.”
And they did this multiple times in succession.
If rationed carefully, the supplies could last three days, and the university campus was able to stave off hunger by collecting what the Cult had distributed.
“As they say, ‘many small streams make a river.’ The fact that we’ve used resources for you, rather than for ourselves, shows that we’re open to negotiating with you.”
“What is it exactly that you want?”
On the other hand, the campus members wondered what the Balhut Cult hoped to gain by trying to entice them with such valuable resources at a time when food was precious.
“Trust.”
Jung Dong-gun answered that he wanted their trust.
“We seek your belief that we can conquer Pohang.”
For when Bahamut descends, everything will be resolved.
Without adding this final thought, Jung Dong-gun spoke with confidence.
—
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