Chapter 18: Chapter 18- Plan
The Seoul National University's research center is one of the most prestigious research centers in the country. It boasts a history of decades' worth of research in all fields and has a plethora of the greatest minds South Korea could offer.
One of its branches was dedicated to astronomy which launched a satellite a few years ago that was the first of its type.
Naturally, everyone on the campus knew of that which was why Hyun-Jae and Talon thought of the same thing at the same time. If they wanted to make contact with anyone far away, they had to reach that section of the university.
However, even though they knew what to do, the harder part remained a question... How are they going to do that?
"The University is a few kilometers away south. If we want to cross that distance now, it will be akin to suicide." Talon said with a frown.
"The outside is filled with monsters and we don't even know what else could be lurking," Hyun-Jae added with a nod.
The situation outside was completely unknown to them. If they decided to actually go to the research center, it was going to have to be quick and smart so that they don't end up getting stuck somewhere.
Talon and Hyun-Jae sat there thinking for a while before Talon suddenly snapped his fingers as an idea got to his head.
"What if only one or two of us go there? We can just clear a path to the university and then we rush there as fast as possible, get into the research center, and do what we need to do before rushing back. It's better than going as a whole group." Talon said.
"Are you serious? How are we going to fight all those hordes of Dimension Walkers outside alone?" Hyun-Jae squinted her eyes in confusion. No matter how strong they were, fighting hundreds or potentially thousands of enemies was impossible.
Talon obviously knew that, but, he still shook his head. "Who said we will need to fight them? We can simply avoid them. That's why I told you that only one or two should go. If we get in a bad situation, we can run faster and more efficiently that way."
"..." Hyun-Jae opened her mouth to retort but then thought about it again. Their choices at that moment were very few. They can either stay in the warehouse and wait for help that may not come. Or, they can take the risk to seek help themselves.
The outside world might've been completely destroyed, but they doubted that humanity was completely eradicated. The sound of explosions and military jets flying in the sky were still audible every now and then so that means that the government was still resisting.
Hyun-Jae, just like Talon and the others, had loved ones that she wanted to find as quickly as possible. More than that, she wanted to know if they were still alive or not. Her anxiousness was eating away from her sanity and she couldn't hold on that longer.
The more she thought about it that way, the more Talon's suggestion started to make sense.
"If you won't do it. Then you can stay here, I will go myself." Talon added in the end with a serious look.
That made Hyun-Jae look up again with a hint of surprise. "Alone?"
"Yes, my parents live in a different city south of here, I can't keep them waiting for long." He replied.
Hyun-Jae's eyes widened slightly when she noticed the determination in Talon's eyes. She couldn't pick up on a single shred of hesitation or fear in them. For a moment, her breath halted as she took in the profound depth of Talon's black irises.
They were oddly beautiful to look at... Hypnotizing even. For a few seconds, Hyun-Jae's mind stopped working. But, she quickly regained her composure as she shook her head.
'What happened there? Why did I do that?' She asked herself in confusion mixed with embarrassment since she thought she looked at Talon for too long. She tried to erase that thought from her head as quickly as possible.
Hyun-Jae was someone who never hesitated to stare straight into people's eyes and almost all of them would eventually avert their eyes from her because of her strong presence and her beauty. Yet, here she was, flustered because she stared at someone she barely knew for a day.
Talon, on the other hand, didn't notice all of that and was instead looking in a different direction since he saw something. The silhouette of a girl appeared in his vision along with an addictively good smell.
"Where have you been?" He asked as he looked at his companion that just come back.
"Roaming the place since I was bored... This city is not bad-looking. Might've looked better before it got completely destroyed." Acrypha replied as she roamed around Talon casually.
"Yeah, you could've been welcomed as a tourist if you had come a few days earlier." Talon joked.
"If I don't get welcomed with a parade from the corner of this world to the other corner, I will not pay this place a visit," Acrypha said.
"You're definitely not arrogant, my lady." The young man couldn't hold back his sarcasm.
"That's not arrogance... It's called knowing your worth." Acrypha said with a faint smile as she poked Talon's forehead.
The latter touched his forehead before he finally looked away from Acrypha to Hyun-Jae who just stood up.
"I won't let you go alone, two is better than one. And also, you can't really control the satellite alone, we will have to work together." She said with a determined look.
Talon raised an eyebrow at her sudden change of mind before he nodded his head slowly.
"Sure..."
"The others can guard the warehouse until we come back." She added.
"Guard what?"
Out of nowhere, they heard a voice coming from nearby. Looking back, they noticed that Chin-Hwa was there, looking at them. His face was far from relaxed as he had a huge frown on it.
'Oh boy, here he comes.' Talon had a bad hunch about what was going to happen so he simply stood aside as Chin-Hwa approached them.
"We were discussing how to find a signal to contact anyone. We decided that me and Talon would go to the university's research center to get in contact directly with the satellite." Hyun-Jae explained briefly.
"Wait, only you two?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, we need speed more than strength or number so only the two of us," Hyun-Jae explained.
"That's too dangerous, president. I can't let you go alone, let me join." Chin-Hwa tapped his chest gently.
He was deeply worried about letting Hyun-Jae go alone. He has always been next to her to protect her in case anything happened. That was the main reason, at least. However, deep down, there was another reason why he wanted to go with her.
Chin-Hwa's eyes drifted briefly to Talon who stood there silently as he watched the two speak. His irritation spiked a little just by looking at him.
"No, Chin-Hwa, we need you here to guard the place. We aren't the only ones who might be targeting this place as a good shelter. Many would be arriving in the next few days so we need to protect each other."
"But, pres-"
"No buts. Unless you're stronger than him, then he can stay and protect the place instead." Hyun-Jae cut him off as she pointed at Talon. "Me and him are the strongest in the group so if we go together, our chances of surviving will increase while also maintaining some kind of security back here which is your part. You have to protect Soomin and Shin-Il."
"..." Chin-Hwa found himself unable to speak as he stared at Hyun-Jae. Her serious face which he was all too familiar with didn't change one bit. That was the face that she used with everyone and the face that made her who she was, a great leader, a genius, and... Chin-Hwa's role model that he looked up to.
"I understand..." In the end, he gave up and simply agreed.
As much as he hated it, her points were valid. But, his irrational side was boiling with anger, an anger that he couldn't point at anyone.
"In any case, I'm going to rest. We need to assess the situation of the area around the warehouse tomorrow and choose the optimal route."
After that, Hyun-Jae walked away, leaving Talon and Chin-Hwa alone. The two remained in tense silence for a while before Chin-Hwa suddenly looked at Talon. His eyes were deathly cold. Then, he slowly walked toward him till he was barely a few inches away.
"Listen to me. I frankly don't trust you and I certainly don't think you can be someone that can guard Hyun-Jae's back. But, since she chose this, I won't do anything. However, if Hyun-Jae gets harmed or even scratched... I will never forgive you. You hear me?" He said in a harsh, threatening tone.
Talon looked at him silently with a calm expression. He didn't show any reaction to those threats.
Chin-Hwa also noticed that the young man in front of him didn't seem to feel intimidated at all and it made him secretly click his tongue before he turned and walked away.
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