Former Agent’s Attitude to Dealing with the End - Chapter 123



Only Noblemtl

Episode 123

One thing that animals that live in groups have in common is that they have a leader.

A leader is someone who seeks the interests of the group and sometimes takes the lead for the group.

It is usually the case that a strong or old and wise individual takes on this role.

Like a wolf that is good at chasing its prey or an elephant that remembers where there is water.

But humans, in a truly unique way, sometimes have a complex sociality that becomes the standard.

A sociality that attracts humans to humans beyond things like strength, intelligence, appearance, and capital.

In my view, this middle-aged man is a perfect example of such complex social skills.

‘He looks like a really kind person.’

‘Really? You’re just like a professor.’

He had a basically decent appearance, and his natural-looking smile gave off a sense of kindness.

In addition, the half-opened glasses and clean suit were enough to create an intellectual image.

Of course, it wasn’t just about appearance.

His clear diction and excellent speaking skills made people listen to him naturally.

It was even easy to gather opinions because it had the ability to elicit empathy.

Could we say that he is one of the most ideal leaders chosen by humans as they enter modern society?

At this time, the appearance of a leader seemed enough to change this frustrating situation.

‘The smell of blood.’

But strangely enough, from that kindly smiling expression came the strong scent of blood.

It’s the kind of foul and thick smell of blood that makes you frown without even realizing it.

I pretended to pass by the middle-aged man and secretly examined his hand, wondering if I had taken the wrong one.

‘There are no calluses.’

But his hands were full of wrinkles that came with age, rather than calluses or scars.

It was truly a hand fit for a professor who had taught late in life and then retired, just like his first impression.

How on earth can a human with hands like these smell so strongly of blood?

I felt cognitive dissonance for a while, as if I was chewing a flavorless apple and an onion at the same time.

“hey.”

“… … .”

“hey!”

While I was lost in thought for a while, someone gently shook my shoulder.

When I turned my head, I saw an old lady sitting there with a frown on her face, something I had never seen before.

“It’s your turn.”

“yes?”

“You were introducing yourself.”

That’s right. Right now, in this small room, there were about ten people of all kinds gathered in one place.

They were conducting a meeting with some of the 80 economy class passengers as representatives of each room.

In the short time we took a break, they started with a quick greeting and then started introducing themselves.

Of course, in the middle of it all was a middle-aged man smiling kindly.

“Haha, it’s okay! It’s okay if you’re tired. Since you’re the last in line, let’s just hear your name and proceed with the meeting. My name is Ahn Hyo-ik. Nice to meet you!”

“… … This is Jang Dae-su.”

A middle-aged man, or rather, Ahn Hyo-ik, naturally took control of the atmosphere and extended his hand this way.

Finally learning his name, I skillfully hid my reluctance and shook his hand lightly.

“Hello, nice to meet you.”

“hello.”

Then, people began to look around and awkwardly greet each other.

Perhaps because it was our first time meeting everyone, we were busy trying to figure out the atmosphere around us rather than getting to know each other.

However, Ahn Hyo-ik seemed to welcome this situation and skillfully led the meeting.

“Okay! Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to gather here. I would like to say hello to you more, but unfortunately, we are pressed for time. How about we quickly elect a representative first?”

To decide something, you need a representative who runs the meeting and decides the matter.

People began to nod in agreement and speak one by one.

The first to raise her hand was the lady sitting next to me who shook my shoulder.

“Uh, isn’t it usually the person who brings up something like this first?”

“Are you talking about Mr. Ahn Hyo-ik?”

“Yes, I think you’ll do best… … .”

In fact, the answer to the question of who would be the representative was already decided without even having to vote.

The person who led the people and held the meeting was none other than Ahn Hyo-ik, who is here.

“I think so too.”

“me too!”

As expected, those who had been quietly observing began to quickly raise their hands.

Then, Ahn Hyo-ik scratched his head with an awkward smile, as if he was embarrassed.

It wasn’t like they were bowing down or anything, but the votes were just naturally centered on one side.

But there was someone who suddenly poured cold water on the naturally flowing atmosphere.

“Huh? Aren’t you that person from back then?”

A man who had been sitting quietly in the corner suddenly looked at my face and was startled.

And he clapped his hands in joy as if he had found an old friend.

“That’s right, that’s right! The guy who wiped out all the bastards! I was there too! Oh my, what a coincidence. We meet again here!”

I wondered who it was, and it seemed to be one of the economy class passengers that Park Ki-deok had brought.

The man remembered me, who was covered in blood, and he was delighted and excited.

“That guy is here?”

“I thought I went to first class.”

“You weren’t a soldier.”

Any passenger hiding in the tent village at the time could not have been unaware of the rumors about the gang.

People glanced at me and whispered as if they knew what I was talking about.

Then, the man who had been making a fuss as if he was driving a wedge in suddenly pointed at me and shouted.

“I would recommend this person!”

“……yes?”

“He fights really well, and he even took in children who had lost their parents and took care of them. I watched it all from the side, so trust him!”

The sight was so passionate that it was like someone he knew was pushing for a class president election.

What’s funny is that some people who were watching this nodded as if it made sense.

For a moment, I was taken aback and tried to hurriedly wave my hand to express my refusal.

“Just give it a try, young man! It’ll work out great.”

“Okay, let’s do it for fun.”

But the noisy crowd naturally led to a vote to elect a representative.

in result.

“If this happens… … .”

“Huh? The votes are a bit ambiguous.”

An Hyo-ik gets five votes.

I got your vote.

In the end, Ahn Hyo-ik was chosen as the representative, but everyone had an uneasy look on their face.

That would be the case, because even without my vote, the difference wasn’t that big.

“… … .”

In particular, Ahn Hyo-ik, who was always smiling, only smiled with his eyes but not with his mouth.

The pupils, visible through the squint of the eyes, have been focused on me since a while ago.

As someone who is sensitive to eye contact, I could tell that Ahn Hyo-ik was clearly aware of me.

boundary?

Or annoyance.

Are you annoyed because things aren’t going well?

I thought it was a bit strange, but it turned out that he was hiding a lot of emotions behind the mask of his expression.

“Ugh, that’s too bad.”

“But still, a vote is a vote.”

“Yes, Mr. Ahn Hyo-ik is the representative.”

But that was only for a moment, as people naturally changed their expressions when they focused again.

“Oh my, I wonder if I should step forward… … .”

“Oh my, don’t say that.”

“i look forward to!”

Thanks to the consecutive voting, the awkwardness disappeared and friendly conversations began to take place.

In the middle of it all, Ahn Hyo-ik coughed loudly and quickly straightened his tie as he spoke.

“But since you trusted me and left it to me, I will do my best. If you have any complaints, please let me know at any time. I will try my best to accommodate them.”

Even though it was just a formality, they chose a person to represent the 80 people.

People responded in various ways to the brief and concise inauguration speech and applauded.

The meeting started awkwardly, with some accepting it and others expressing discontent.

“Then let’s talk about the most urgent matter first. Does anyone have any opinions?”

An Hyo-ik, who was carrying the gun, was the first to make eye contact with people and ask for their opinions.

“Um, I don’t really have an opinion right now… … .”

“Ahem!”

But everyone knew that coming forward would be a loss, so they kept their mouths shut and looked at each other’s faces.

At this, Ahn Hyo-ik said with an incomprehensible smile, as if he had known this would happen.

“I was going to tell you first. Actually, I have a connection with one of the staff members in charge of the first class. I got some useful information from them.”

“Really?”

People were surprised and impressed when they heard that he had a connection with the person in charge of the first class.

Being in first class rather than economy class means you have a higher rank than other employees.

Ahn Hyo-ik lowered his voice naturally as if he had heard the information there.

“This cruise. In fact, it was not a direct flight to Jeju Island, but rather a transit itinerary that stopped at several other ports.”

“Huh? Why is that… … .”

“It’s because of the VIPs who haven’t boarded yet. We pick them up directly at each port we stop by.”

“What the fuck, I knew it.”

“How many people are waiting now!”

The rice cake I didn’t eat seems bigger, and the rights I didn’t enjoy seem excessive.

People raised their voices in shock at the discrimination that even changed their schedules.

But some asked with pale faces, wondering what the future might hold.

“Then what happens? We’re barely able to survive with the food that’s being distributed now.”

“I’m so hungry I could die!”

The passengers were already suffering from various diseases and severe malnutrition.

It was difficult to survive the remaining time with a ration that was less than half of the standard calories, let alone the standard amount.

Ahn Hyo-ik said, adjusting his glasses as he looked at the earnest gazes people were sending him.

“There is one good way.”

“Huh? What is that?”

“We’re gathering all the supplies we have, and if we distribute them fairly, we’ll have enough to last until things get better.”

No matter how hungry one is, it is human nature to leave at least the last seed behind.

Everyone gathered here will have at least one item hidden deep in their luggage.

“Okay, good! That’s a good idea!”

“I agree!”

Here, the passengers who agree are right, which means that there is not much of that material.

“… … .”

The passengers who remain silent until the end here mean that there are a lot of those supplies.

It was a fleeting moment, but it created a hilarious scene where reactions were split exactly in half.

But at that moment, Ahn Hyo-ik, who had been quietly observing the atmosphere, suddenly pointed at me.

“What do you think, Mr. Daesu?”

“yes?”

“You haven’t said anything since a while ago. I was wondering if you agree with my thoughts, so I asked.”

When asked why he hadn’t spoken since a while ago, people’s eyes naturally turned this way.

I noticed an impure intention in Ahn Hyo-ik’s smiling eyes.

Maybe that’s why my mind, which was originally just going to watch, tilted to one side.

“It doesn’t seem like much.”

“yes?”

“That’s the method that Mr. Ahn Hyo-ik mentioned.”

The warm atmosphere froze over as if cold water had been poured over it.

Everyone’s eyes, including Ahn Hyo-ik’s, were now fixed on me.

“… …What is the reason?”

“Because the premise of fair distribution is not fair supply and demand. How can you distribute fairly when the amount you have is different to begin with?”

Fair distribution of materials is only possible if there is fair supply and demand in the first place.

If this is not established, it is an unfair structure in which someone will ultimately suffer.

Especially for people like me and my group who have a lot of supplies.

Of course, I know people who agree with it.

But they hide their real intentions behind the names of cause, ethics, and community.

It seems that Ahn Hyo-ik was the same, as he asked me for the first time, his face smiling.

“That seems too selfish. I think it’s something that can be easily adjusted.”

“Okay. Then let’s change our perspective and think about it. Is there anyone here who can donate their entire daily ration? If so, I will also donate all the supplies I have. We will do what Mr. Ahn Hyo-ik called coordination.”

He doesn’t know anyone as a fool, and he tries to take the initiative with a silly pun.

I drew the line with sharp words and made it clear that I could not accept anything more than this.

“I think so too.”

“T, this method doesn’t seem right.”

Then, as if this was the moment, those who had been dissatisfied began to join in, one by one.

As the number passed half, Ahn Hyo-ik, who had first expressed his opinion, seemed flustered and his speech became long.

“Wait a minute, everyone. You’re misunderstanding what I’m saying. I’m just saying that we should help each other and join forces… … .”

“I apologize for spoiling the mood. I’ll go up first. Please exclude our room from any future discussions or plans.”

I quietly got up from my seat and packed my bags as if it wasn’t worth listening to any more.

The funny thing is that even the people who had been sympathizing with me started packing their bags while keeping an eye on things.

The number was exactly half that of last time, and the meeting was ruined before it even began.

“Are you just going to leave like this?”

“Hey! Wait a minute!”

The rest of the people were so shocked that they didn’t know what to do and held on to those who were trying to leave.

However, Ahn Hyo-ik, who should have stepped forward and stopped them, was hanging his heavy head.

“… … .”

No, I kept my head down and desperately tried to keep my expression from distorting.

The sight was like watching a snake struggling to get out of a pit.

Finally, I found the source of the smell of blood and left the room as if nothing had happened.

The cruise life that I wanted to spend as quietly as possible seemed to be foreshadowing chaos in the end.

Cheek!

[Brother! Where are you?]

While I was walking down the hallway like that, I received a radio message from Private Lee Hyeon-su, who had gone out to look around the deck.

“It’s a hallway. Why?”

[A guest came to see us and he was looking for my brother. We are meeting him for the first time.]

You’re saying this is your first time seeing someone? Then it’s not Park Ki-deok or Lee Mi-young, who you were friends with.

After saying goodbye to the unexpected guest, I walked to my lodgings.