By Zephyria 
The man strode into the warehouse and stopped in front of Ha-jin. He tilted his head, as if examining Ha-jin’s appearance, and then reached out his hand.
“Ah, right, you can’t shake hands. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
Ha-jin’s eyes narrowed sharply at the hearty apology.
“Chief Kim. Don’t just stand there gawking, go get the handcuff key from outside and release that gentleman over there.”
Chief Kim, with a short sigh at the man’s command, retrieved a handcuff key from somewhere. Eden was soon free, but Ha-jin was not.
“I am Lieutenant Colonel So Jong-tae, stationed at this Misan Ranch. You can simply call me Lieutenant Colonel So.”
The man, who introduced himself as Lieutenant Colonel So, began to untie Ha-jin’s ropes with a leisurely touch. Ha-jin glared at Lieutenant Colonel So, wishing he could beat him to death for deliberately dragging out the time.
Finally, when the ropes were untied, his stiff body collapsed to the floor. His wrists and ankles, which had been tied for so long, wouldn’t listen to him.
“Fucking hell, seriously….”
He didn’t know how many times he had cursed already. He struggled to raise his swaying body and spat out curses fiercely. He nervously avoided Lieutenant Colonel So’s hand, who was trying to help him, and looked at Eden, who was approaching.
Like a ‘newborn giraffe’ he had heard about sometime ago, Ha-jin trembled in every limb.
“Can you stand?”
“Haa… yes.”
“Hold onto me.”
A hand suddenly slipped under his armpit. Ha-jin clenched his mouth, trying not to be conscious of the touching skin, and moved his swollen feet with difficulty.
Following the guidance of Lieutenant Colonel So, who resembled a poisonous toad, he stepped out of the warehouse. Even though it had only been one night, his body trembled as if he were basking in the sun for the first time in a long time.
As he was helped outside, looking like a defeated soldier, he saw men in military uniforms and civilian clothes lined up, waiting. There seemed to be at least a dozen of them. They were all Lieutenant Colonel So’s cronies.
“They were soldiers.”
Ha-jin glanced at Eden, who was muttering quietly. When their eyes met, Eden whispered in his ear.
“Don’t fall behind, stay close.”
“Of course. Don’t you fall behind, Jeong Tae-geon.”
At that moment, Lieutenant Colonel So, who was walking ahead, turned around and laughed with a friendly face.
“You both look terrible. I guess we treated you a bit roughly yesterday. You must be hungry, sit on that bench and wait a moment.”
What was he up to? He had tied them up tightly with ropes, and now the old thug was suddenly offering them a meal and leaving.
Ha-jin and Eden sat on a wooden bench about 100 meters away from the warehouse. Lieutenant Colonel So’s men also took their places near the bench where the two had moved.
Some of them seemed to recognize Ha-jin, and they whispered among themselves. Ha-jin, with his keen hearing, caught the word ‘magician’ and sighed deeply inside.
After a while, Lieutenant Colonel So, who had left, reappeared with Chief Kim. In their hands were round rice balls covered in black seaweed.
“Let’s eat first and then talk.”
Lieutenant Colonel So handed over the rice balls placed on a plastic bag. Ha-jin trembled, unable to control the emotional reaction boiling with anger. Chun-beom’s blood was still dried hard on the back of his hand.
Chief Kim spoke first, addressing him with a prickly attitude.
“It’s been about two days since they were made, but they’ve been microwaved, so they should be edible.”
Eden’s eyes lit up with interest at the word ‘microwave’.
There was food and electricity here.
And in such abundance that they could put on a show of kindness to the hostages.
It had already been three weeks since the city collapsed, and there was no way a complete power system could remain, so they must have their own power generation system. That must be the decisive reason why the military unit was stationed at the Ranch.
Lieutenant Colonel So said kindly to the two who were hesitant to touch the rice.
“It seems there’s a misunderstanding between us. Let’s eat our fill first and then talk.”
Misunderstanding? Ha-jin barely managed to suppress the urge to throw the rice ball at the Lieutenant Colonel’s face. Eden, noticing his surging emotions, gently placed his hand on Ha-jin’s thigh. He patted it a couple of times as if to calm him down.
“Then let’s hear about the misunderstanding you’re talking about. I don’t think I can swallow a bite until then.”
Eden put the two rice balls he had received next to the bench and said. His face showed no emotional turmoil at all, but Ha-jin could also read the barely contained patience in his voice.
Lieutenant Colonel So looked at the hostages, who had not lost their spirit overnight, as if he was surprised. It was also surprising that they did not give in even with food in front of them. Most of those who came here would not hesitate to pledge their loyalty for even one warm rice ball.
The Lieutenant Colonel, scratching his wide cheek at the unexpected turn of events, turned to his men and gave them a small instruction. One of the men, with his back bent at a 90-degree angle, disappeared behind the warehouse.
“About the person who died on the pasture yesterday. I’d like to ask if they were your companion.”
Ha-jin let out a hollow breath at Lieutenant Colonel So, who was asking the obvious.
“Are you seriously asking that now?”
Lieutenant Colonel So looked at him, seemingly displeased with his constant growling.
“I’m asking to make sure we get it right. Geez, the way young people talk… Were you from any unit? Did you serve in the military?”
“Cut the crap.”
Ha-jin, finally losing his temper, lunged at the Lieutenant Colonel. Eden, barely managing to block his lean body, quickly turned him around behind him. In the meantime, the men standing behind the Lieutenant Colonel pointed their guns at the two.
“Whoa, whoa… everyone calm down. How can we have a conversation like this?”
Lieutenant Colonel So, clicking his tongue briefly, put his hands behind his back and got to the point.
“To get to the point, we didn’t kill your companion. The body has been collected and placed in the machine warehouse, so you can check it out later.”
He killed him and then said he didn’t kill him, it was an incomprehensible statement. Ha-jin grabbed Eden’s arm with a complicated expression. Eden glanced at the hand that had reflexively grabbed his body.
Lieutenant Colonel So let out an exaggerated sigh and continued.
“Originally, this place was operated as a shelter for survivors. We were a military unit stationed in Nokwang City, and after the incident, we came here and focused all our efforts on the zombie eradication operation.”
His explanation was that they had secured sufficient supplies and water and were constantly accepting the survivors who were flocking in.
“But wherever you go, there are bound to be seeds of discord, and some residents, greedy for more food, caused a riot….”
As he was speaking, the Lieutenant Colonel cleared his throat loudly, as if he was thirsty, and nudged the shoulder of the slender man closest to him.
The man who was pointed out, with a voice full of energy, took over the story for the Lieutenant Colonel in a familiar manner.
“When the riot occurred, the temporary wall of the Ranch collapsed, and the zombies attacked through the gap. As a result, we lost many residents and some of our members.”
Ha-jin couldn’t hide his increasingly confused feelings. He couldn’t understand their intention of suddenly reciting the rise and fall of Misan Ranch.
“We barely managed to defend the pasture, but some of the residents who survived after the riot continue to be dissatisfied and have been attacking this place frequently in recent years.”
As the dry, emotionless explanation of the situation continued, like an audio guide for a work commentary, Eden raised his hand to stop him.
“So, you’re saying that you mistook us for those Rioters and started shooting… is that what you’re saying?”
At the sharp question, the Lieutenant Colonel stopped him this time with an overly exaggerated tone.
“That’s exactly where the misunderstanding lies. It’s true that we mistook you for Rioters and detained you, but the body lying on the ground has nothing to do with us. Rather, I thought you guys caused an internal shooting. Some of the Rioters looted a lot of our weapons. Besides, no shooting is allowed without my orders. We also need to conserve bullets.”
Ha-jin was speechless at his unexpected claim.
At that moment, the subordinate who had disappeared behind the warehouse after receiving some kind of instruction appeared, catching his breath.
“Commander, I’ve brought the items.”
In his hands were two familiar bags. Eden and Ha-jin’s bags.