Call of Abyss

Chapter 5

Several people wearing bulletproof vests and helmets were walking along a forest path.

It was the middle of summer, so the weather was hot, but fortunately, the shade from the trees blocked some of the intense sunlight.

The sound of waves crashing in the distance was enough to make one forget the summer heat.

Assistant Kim Sujeong was busily maintaining her airsoft gun as she watched her team members walking noisily ahead of her.

The first battle that took place in the forest in the morning had many regrets.

Above all, there were many new recruits on Assistant Kim Sujeong's side compared to the opposing team, which made it difficult to coordinate throughout the battle.

At this rate, it was obvious that they would lose the second battle in the afternoon as well.

"Let's all take a break and have lunch here."

As they came upon a large pavilion and several wooden tables in an open area, Assemblyman Shin Changsoo, who was walking at the front of the line, turned and spoke.

"Jihoon, take out the lunch boxes."

"Yes, Assemblyman. I will prepare the lunch boxes."

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon, who was walking next to Assistant Kim Sujeong with a large backpack, quickly put down the backpack beside the pavilion and began taking out white styrofoam lunch boxes as soon as Assemblyman Shin Changsoo finished speaking.

"Assistant Kim Sujeong, it seems like you regret losing in the morning?"

"No, Assemblyman."

"Winning and losing every day is part of the daily routine for me and Assistant Kim Sujeong, so why regret it so much?"

"Perhaps because I am a former military officer, I seem to be a little greedy about winning in this survival game. I apologize."

Assemblyman Shin Changsoo burst into a hearty laugh at Assistant Kim Sujeong's words and sat on one side of the pavilion.

"Of course, there are times when a single victory is important.

But whether in war or politics, if you get intoxicated with a victory in front of you or shrink from a single defeat, you cannot be the perfect ultimate winner.

The identity of the culprit who caused the Shinyoung Girls' High School terror incident a year ago has not yet been revealed, right?

Since it happened in my constituency, it could have been a fatal blow, but I have continued to criticize the government and the ruling party's people, such as the Minister of Education and the Mayor, who couldn't even uncover the identity of the culprit.

The Minister of Education and the Mayor stepped down, and the general election next year is sure to be overwhelmingly won by our opposition party.

This is how real war is fought."

Assistant Kim Sujeong had a lot to say but quietly closed her mouth and nodded.

Assemblyman Shin Changsoo was a former military officer who was discharged as a lieutenant colonel and a member of the National Assembly.

His military and political careers were far ahead of her, and above all, regardless of Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's thoughts, her usual belief was to unconditionally follow the member of the National Assembly she served.

"Here is your lunch box, Assemblyman, and Assistant Kim Sujeong."

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon handed styrofoam lunch boxes filled with kimbap and bottled water to Assemblyman Shin Changsoo and Assistant Kim Sujeong.

"It's commendable that an intern follows us to such a place. You've worked hard."

"No, thanks to you, Assemblyman, I am having a lot of fun experiences today."

"You're a positive friend. I like you."

Assemblyman Shin Changsoo burst into a hearty laugh again, seeming to be in a good mood.

"Everyone must have received their lunch boxes, right?"

"Yes, everyone received their lunch boxes and is eating scattered around."

"Okay, then Jihoon, sit here and have a meal with us."

"Yes, understood."

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon took his styrofoam lunch box and sat next to Assistant Kim Sujeong.

Assemblyman Shin Changsoo nodded at Assistant Kim Sujeong and Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon and then opened his lunch box to start eating kimbap with chopsticks.

"By the way, Jihoon, who do you think is the culprit of the Shinyoung Girls' High School terror incident that happened a year ago?"

"You mean the incident where over 200 teachers and female students died.

After that, the police conducted a large-scale investigation, but they still haven't been able to identify the culprit.

There are various rumors circulating, such as it being the work of an enemy nation, an extreme right-wing group, or anti-government terrorists.

There are many such talks."

"Who do you think is the culprit among them, Jihoon?"

"Well, I don't think there are many organizations in our country capable of possessing explosives that could blow away a third of a school building.

Although the identity is still unknown, I think it is an anti-government group supported by an enemy nation."

Assemblyman Shin Changsoo smiled and shook his head at Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon's words.

"An anti-government group supported by an enemy nation blew away a girls' high school with such explosives? I don't think so."

"Do you have any guesses, Assemblyman?"

"I don't know the exact identity either. But I can infer a few things.

The first is that this organization or person did not commit the terror to convey a message, but rather their goal was to blow up Shinyoung Girls' High School itself."

Assistant Kim Sujeong nodded at Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's words.

Indeed, after the Shinyoung Girls' High School terror, the culprit did not convey any message through any media.

"They had a grudge against Shinyoung Girls' High School, or they wanted to kill someone by blowing up the school itself with explosives."

"So, in the end, it's not the work of an enemy nation."

"Exactly. Then we can make a second inference here.

The government probably already knows it's not the work of an enemy nation.

So, does the government really not know the identity of the culprit?"

"Are you suggesting that the government already knows the identity of the terrorist group but is deliberately hiding it?"

Assistant Kim Sujeong was surprised by Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's words and spoke.

The difference between the government not being able to reveal the identity of the terrorist group and deliberately hiding it was too significant and could sway public opinion.

"Before jumping to conclusions, let's look at some evidence.

Before the Shinyoung Girls' High School terror incident, there were some mysterious murder cases that were not known to the public.

I think I already asked Assistant Kim Sujeong to investigate this."

"Yes, there were several cases where bodies with holes all over them and blood drained were found before the Shinyoung Girls' High School terror incident.

I will submit a report on these cases soon."

"The government also said it couldn't identify the culprits of those cases.

Such bizarre incidents of making holes in people's bodies and draining their blood have happened more than once, yet the identity is still unknown...

Moreover, I heard that the victims seemed to have been sacrificed in some religious ritual."

"Are you saying that you think the two incidents are connected, Assemblyman?"

"The government already knows the culprits of the mysterious murder cases and the Shinyoung Girls' High School terror incident.

And the culprit is probably a cult group.

So why hasn't the government revealed this fact yet?

Because there's no solid evidence, and the risk of revealing the truth is too great."

Assistant Kim Sujeong briefly thought about why Assemblyman Shin Changsoo was bringing up such stories in front of her and Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon.

The conclusion came quickly.

"Are you going to reveal your thoughts to the public, Assemblyman?"

"First, I should pressure the government.

People are dying in droves, and yet the government, knowing the identity of the culprit, hid it and didn't give any warning to the public. They must take responsibility for that."

"What kind of madmen are committing these terrible acts? What is the identity of that cult group?"

"I don't know, but the true winner of this bloody survival game will be our New Democratic Party.

Because I will make it so.

I will end the incompetent government, the ruling party, and the murder-crazed cult group."

"Hearing your words, Assemblyman, I feel really reassured."

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon smiled brightly and clapped.

At that moment, several people who had finished their lunch approached Assemblyman Shin Changsoo.

"Assemblyman, our team has finished eating.

As planned, we will go to the beach first and prepare the defense.

When we contact you via mobile phone, please lead the attack team and come."

"Yes, do so.

Go over there and prepare first, and we'll wait and then follow."

Assemblyman Shin Changsoo spoke, pointing toward the beach with the chopsticks he was holding.

As soon as Assemblyman Shin Changsoo gave permission, the defense team packed their belongings and left the open area.

"Then shall we hurry up and eat and wait for the defense team's contact?"

"Yes, understood, Assemblyman."

Assistant Kim Sujeong and Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon quickly finished their kimbap and emptied their lunch boxes at Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's words.

Then they cleaned up around the pavilion with the attack team members and waited for the defense team's contact.

Assistant Kim Sujeong listened to the sound of waves crashing and silently vowed to win the second battle that would unfold on the beach.

"How long does it take to walk to the beach from here?"

"It's not far. It takes about 10 minutes to reach the beach."

"Really? It feels like it's already been 10 minutes, but there's still no contact."

Assistant Kim Sujeong sighed at the attack team member's response next to her.

"I think they must have finished preparing by now. How about giving them a call?"

"Yes, understood."

At Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's words, Assistant Kim Sujeong called the defense team's leader who left earlier on her phone.

"Assemblyman, the defense team leader is still not answering the phone."

"Are these people really trying to create a proper battle atmosphere?

If so, we should match the mood. This is quite fun after a long time.

Let's also prepare for an attack and slowly head down to the beach."

"Yes, understood."

Assistant Kim Sujeong instructed the attack team members to form ranks and slowly descended the hillside with their guns aimed forward.

"There's a strange smell."

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon said to Assistant Kim Sujeong.

Assistant Kim Sujeong also felt the fishy smell getting stronger as they got closer to the beach.

It was definitely not the smell of the sea.

"Assemblyman...."

"This is.... it smells like blood...."

Assemblyman Shin Changsoo frowned and looked at the beach with uneasy eyes.

Then he suddenly stopped in his tracks, as if shocked by something he saw.

"What on earth is that?"

Assistant Kim Sujeong also turned her head following Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's gaze and instinctively stopped in her tracks when she saw it.

Standing in the middle of the beach, it had a form that was very alien to be considered a creature of this world.

It had a massive gorilla-like build, with numerous tentacles where its mouth should be and sharp claw-like hands and feet.

"Assemblyman, look behind that monster.

There are people dead."

At someone's urgent shout, Assemblyman Shin Changsoo and Assistant Kim Sujeong finally took their eyes off the monster and looked around it.

Behind the monster, many people were seen dead, with their arms, legs, or heads torn off.

And under the monster's sharp foot, one person was struggling, covered in blood.

It was the defense team leader.

"Sa.... Save me."

The defense team leader reached out pleadingly when he saw Assemblyman Shin Changsoo.

But before Assemblyman Shin Changsoo could give a proper response, the monster picked up the defense team leader with its hand and swallowed his head with its tentacle-filled mouth.

"Let's run away, everyone!"

"Assemblyman, Assistant Kim, we must run now."

As people finally screamed and started running away, seeing the defense team leader being eaten by the monster.

"Assemblyman, let's run. I'll contact the police immediately.

Jihoon, please take the Assemblyman and the people to a safe place."

Assistant Kim Sujeong shouted to Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon while pulling Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's hand.

At that moment, Assistant Kim Sujeong saw Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon giving her a strange smile.

"Even though they're unarmed civilians, to finish off nearly 20 people in 10 minutes....

It's certainly beyond expectations."

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon slowly walked toward the monster that was eating the defense team leader.

His demeanor showed no fear of the monster at all.

"Jihoon, what are you doing? Come this way quickly!"

Assistant Kim Sujeong shouted loudly at Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon.

But Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon ignored Assistant Kim Sujeong's words and continued to approach the monster.

The monster spat out the body of the defense team leader it was chewing and waited for Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon to approach.

"Assemblyman Shin Changsoo, you are indeed a clever person.

Listening to your deductions earlier, I realized that you didn't become a three-term assemblyman just by luck.

If you had used that brilliant mind for social justice and the powerless earlier, today's horrific situation might have been avoided."

As Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon approached the monster's nose, the monster naturally bowed its body and offered its head to him.

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon smiled and stroked the monster's head.

It was as if he was handling a pet.

"This cute creature is called Abyss One.

I tried creating it as a test, and it seems to be more amazing than I thought.

Assemblyman Shin Changsoo, most of your words were correct, but you were wrong about one thing.

The true winner of the survival game is not you or your party.

It is I, Giovanni, the leader of the Medici Family, who will become the ultimate winner of this blood-stained survival game."

Assistant Kim Sujeong felt like she was dreaming.

She couldn't grasp the reality of what Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon was saying.

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon was the leader of a cult? And the master of that monster?

No, how was he even selected as an intern secretary in the first place?

Although Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon had nothing unusual on his resume, she couldn't remember whose recommendation he was selected as an intern secretary in Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's office.

"I'll give you an hour. Run as much as you want for an hour.

This island is quite large, so if you run well and hide thoroughly for an hour, there's a chance Abyss One won't find you."

Intern Secretary Lee Jihoon, or rather Giovanni, laughed with a disturbing sound while holding up one finger.

As soon as Assistant Kim Sujeong heard Giovanni's words, she grabbed Assemblyman Shin Changsoo's hand and started to run away.

There was one place that came to mind.

If there was any place safe on this island, that would be the only one.

"From now on, this is the real start of the survival game!"

Behind Assistant Kim Sujeong, Giovanni's sharp shout was heard.

Assistant Kim Sujeong felt like she had become prey being chased by a hunter.

The fear that wrapped around her whole body was dizzying, but she gritted her teeth and moved her feet.

The lives of the remaining people, including Assemblyman Shin Changsoo, depended on Assistant Kim Sujeong's judgment for the next hour.