I'm still alive
[112]
The chaotic atmosphere continued for a while, and the self-introduction of the chatter was simply over. At the same time as the head of the group announced the start of the meeting, the executives who got up at the meeting began a week-long progress report. The new executives probably didn't even get a proper hand-over, but they started reporting with a professional force as if they were going to show the difference between a pro and an amateur.
It was an admirable administrative ability for me and the old man. If the existing executives worked like punches, the new executives handled the work like professional administrators. Professional terms have been constantly heard, and the scale and professionalism of work have not been compared.
The group leader smiles as if things are finally working properly. They recited reports like storms to the extent that existing executives seemed incompetent. And by the time all the progress reports were finished, all but us and the new executives were frowning.
There was a sense of shame in the expression, and a sense of uneasiness as if there was an immediate crisis. I slowly put my chin in my mouth and looked at their faces one by one. I don't know what's going on inside, but they reigned like Eden's warlord. But since the rolled stone has been pulled out in less than a month, I am afraid it will look the same to me.
In particular, Kim Yun-sik's face, sitting on one side, was bursting with redness. He reigned like a king on the Wall, but for a moment he became nothing but a cripple, and now even his gun has been taken away. And our stormy performance would have made him even more anxious.
The old man and I always tried to keep an eye on Kim Yun-sik. Not a smart man, but a man with a dangerous ambition like a bomb. I didn't know when and where that stupid-looking ambition would hit our back of the head, and I always had to be on guard against bullets flying in without distinction of pia.
It wasn't that I didn't think about hitting it first before it exploded. However, the problem was that Kim Yun-sik was not active outside and that he was always accompanied by guards. But once I had my limbs cut off in a legitimate way, I was thinking of looking at his reaction for a while.
Sitting in the corner, Kim shook his fist to see if he could not control his anger. At the end of all the reports, the full-fledged meeting topic began to emerge, and the subject was, as expected, the story of the vagrants whose 121 people were killed. Most of them started with the praise of our team and ended with the word "I believe" continuously, but today it was different.
'Middle behavior is dangerous! You have to hit it first!’
Kim Yun-sik, who could not even speak loudly, stood up and shouted at the end of the vagrants' story. For a moment, the eyes of the executives gathered there, and Kim Yun-sik drove us as if only he was a righteous man.
'121 people died, and you wouldn't have noticed anything. The vagrants who originally knew the existence and location of Eden. As soon as we know what we did, Eden is done! The end!'
The old man stroked his chin with admiration. The admiration was for Kim Yun-sik's attempt to raise his position under the pretext of external threats, and the rest was due to his unexpectedly accurate remarks.
Kim's opinion was never wrong. Because we know that, we feel the limits of this hunting method and are thinking head to head. However, the problem is that Kim Yoon-sik, who has been hiding behind the barrier, is not what he should say.
My forehead slowly frowned, and the group leader fixed his face as he looked at me and the old man's face. However, Kim Yun-sik looked around to see if he knew this was the last chance left and asked for tacit help from existing executives.
Then the officials began to make a mess of the conference room, noisily expressing their opinions that they were right. The seemingly explosive atmosphere finally exploded, and a confrontation naturally began to take place inside the conference room. Existing executives defended Kim Yun-sik and new executives defended our way of waging guerrilla warfare.
But only me and the head of the group were watching the situation with my mouth shut. Everything felt pathetic and disgusting. Those who had never stepped outside the barrier were fighting with bubbles in their mouths, saying that they were good. Political friction, the position I have in the group. If they were chased and starved for a day, they would all be dead.
But those who fought loudly didn't know. What kind of guys are they after us like crazy, what kind of vagrants are they? And how the people we rescued from them are following us! Those who just opened their mouths drunk on fruits falling from Eden never knew.
Only the head of the group looked at us with eyes full of sympathy and regret as if he understood me. Then quietly beckoned at the silver-rimmed glasses, and the silver-rimmed glasses bellowed the documents on the desk as if to convey the words of the group leader instead. The cold voice of silver-rimmed glasses quickly crossed the center of the conference room.
Why are you fighting so hard? You have no authority.’
For a moment, everyone shut up and looks at me with silver-rimmed glasses.
That's right. Neither Kim Yun-sik nor Shin executives had the right to say "no" to attack first. It was the right of my party, who always trained hard, and of my other family members who were faithful to their lives day by day.
'Wow, our combat team is always doing intensive training, too! It's a hasty judgment that only the tramp team can do it!'
Silver-rimmed glasses frown and even the group leader sighs. Kim Yun-sik, however, did not stop making desperate appeals, as if he thought the sigh was a step back. And his back was excitedly defended Kim Yun-sik, and all eyes began to fit into my mouth with the deciding power. Is it a concession or a head-butting fight? Choose it.
At that moment the old man breathes out and raises his hand over my shoulder. And the warm touch and firm grip of my hands were as strong as giving me strength. But the fierce gaze was fixed on the old officials and Kim Yun-sik, and even the good-natured dragon-arm was staring at them with fierce eyes like beasts. The old man whispered quietly to me.
'Do as you please.’
Whatever I do, I'll trust you and follow you. The steel-like trust of the old man and the dragon-pal pushes my back. And even though I was not here, I began to feel the warm body temperature of the party that always supported and followed me. I straightened my shoulders, and tapped my finger on the desk.
What answer should I give? A lot of trouble passed through my head and logic spread everywhere began to run like madmen. That's a good method, this is a good one. And in my head came the idea of how to put a leash on these disgusting men and how to deal with the vagrants efficiently.
'Let's do that.’
The moment my answer popped out of my mouth, the conference room was filled with silence. I guess everyone didn't expect my answer. Kim Yun-sik was opening his mouth as if he didn't know he would allow it so easily, and the group leader slowly tilts his head as if he doesn't know my intention.
And a female executive who defended Kim Yun-sik answers like an automatic reflex.
'Yes......?'
Don't you understand? I stopped my finger tapping on the desk and got up from my seat. And once again I told them what I said.
'Let's do that. I won't care what you do. If you want someone, go out and fight with the vagrants anytime.’
My words were like a declaration of abandonment. The Shin executives frowned before the sudden change, and the old executives smiled brightly and celebrated the victory that came in a daze. I made a mockery in front of it, and soon left the conference room beckoning to Yongpal and the old man.
As soon as I opened the door and walked out, the room was as noisy as if a bomb had exploded, and I breathed out as I slowly walked through the hall, where subtle lights rose. And I stopped for a while because I heard the sound of him following me urgently.
'I'm sorry if I offended you.'
Of course it was silver-rimmed glasses. The silver-rimmed glasses make me look upset and bow my head in a hurry. Why should he apologize? I shook my head and raised him slowly, lowering his head. Then the silver-rimmed glasses bit his lips and said,
I wonder if Dong-yoon gave up....... the group leader is very worried.’
Of course, I felt a sense of skepticism. No matter how hard we struggled, the cadres were all the same, trying to exploit or reject me for their own gain. For them, the dignity of man and the amount of rice to be filled in their own bowls seemed more important than the maintenance.
There are many people who live for small happiness and precious people like me. I didn't mean to lose that happiness and life to those who moved simply for desire. Although life has become a rough tide, even the flow cannot be relied upon by others. That's why I'm trying to be tough.
'I didn't give up, so don't worry.'
'But....'
Even though I answered, the silver-rimmed glasses looked down with a look of sorrow. He seemed anxious about my vague answer. I was forced to straighten up and answer in a clear voice to reassure him, who was always running for us and Eden.
'I'm going to hit the main stage while the eyes are on the battle team.’
When I told the thought that I had hidden in my head, the silver-rimmed glasses lifted their heads, and the old man standing next to me began to raise his corners of his mouth and shine his eyes. It was soon his turn to struggle frantically, as he had been scratching the nerves of a dim dragon by touching him.
And now that Kim Yun-sik has volunteered to accept the dangerous footstool, we can go to cut off the dragon's head. I slowly closed my eyes, licking my dry lips, and asked one favor for the silver-rimmed glasses.
'We're going to rescue all the survivors. I think we're running out of people, is there any more people we can trust?’
The silver-rimmed glasses kept their heads up and couldn't continue talking for a while.
The face of the silver-rimmed glasses began to warp with emotion, and soon little moisture began to turn young around the eyes. The silver-rimmed glasses wiped around the eyes with their sleeves, with a strange smile. I waited for a while for him to get his feelings together, and soon I could hear a powerful answer.
'I'll support my immediate expenses. Please, cheer up.’
'Of course.
I nodded, grasping strongly the hands of the silver-rimmed glasses. The silver-rimmed glasses had greeted the head of the group in a bit of a hurry, and I nodded as if I should leave. Looking at the time, the sun was about to set.
'Excuse me, can I get some gas?’
When I asked as I walked down the hall, the old man replied, poking his hand into his pocket.
'I'll get you anyhow.’
The old man will search everywhere in Eden, or in this town for gasoline. I softly closed my eyes, and walked silently through the hall, where subtle lighting came in. The old man and Yongpal just followed me without saying anything.
* * *
Every time I saw Chae-yeon sleeping, I saw her awake for the first time in a while. Maybe it was a pity that she couldn't play with me who came in late at night, but Chae-yeon followed me around like a gum. I had no choice but to embrace the little heavy child and soothe him throughout the evening.
The child speaks well now. And I was slowly finding the things that I lost in shock through classes and treatment. The child was studying hard on the floor with a Hangul study book that was a little out of tune with his age.
I was pleased to see the figure and taught each difficult part one by one. Chae-yeon was exceptionally excited and began to write letters with cute crayons like her. The peaceful night passed slowly, wishing so eternal.
Below it was a letter that seemed to be left by a child. And the paper yard remains exceptionally untouched, as I have opened it many times.]
Dad, Joe, I love you love me.