The Little Prince in the Ossuary
Chapter 48

[The translation quality picks up from Chapter 51+ since that’s when the new team took over.]

00048 — #signs–

# Signs (4), Atascadero

As they found a new mutant, they then needed to make an interim report. They also needed to report that they have detonated claymores. The radio soldier grabbed the radio and struggled with the noise. Interference frequency was usually resolved by changing the frequency, but not now. At this, the radio soldier grumbled. It was a great ability for a monster.

The troops were then briefly divided into two. Jeffrey moved to the vehicle with a radio soldier and a squad, saying he would find a place to communicate.

In the meantime, Gyeo-ul decided to find the key to the quarantine ward with the remaining soldiers. There was a door breaching equipment, but it was not possible to break countless doors and steel windows. The noise level and the time it takes were also problems.

However, they brought equipment anyway. What Gyeo-ul had chosen was Halligan Bar. It was a steel pickaxe with blades on both sides and a crowbar for a handle. It was a good weapon.

“I found it.”

A soldier who was searching the police office then threw a bunch of keys he found over. Gyeo-ul caught it.

“Keep looking. The more, the better.”

The soldiers found three additional packages of keys. Shortly after, the windows shook. It was supported by a noisemaker. Gyeo-ul checked the time. Jeffrey was trying to determine how much he had moved on the Humvee. Based on the distance, it would be able to reverse the output of the monster. It wasn’t easy right now, though.

Jeffrey’s return was later than expected. Gyeo-ul secured an east watchtower and deployed surveillance troops. It was a measure to prevent the special mutant from escaping. Almost 30 minutes later, three Humvees came in in a row. After returning, Jeffrey explained the reason for the delay.

“The health service unit has shown interested.”

The Public Health Service Unit was a paramilitary organization under the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, currently in charge of quarantine of the containment line under the cooperation of CDC and FEMA. It was also responsible for collecting information on infected mutants.

“The desk workers have no sense of reality. One of the doctors was asking a lot. They don’t know the situation is urgent and said they have to write a report according to the procedure. Damn it.”

It wouldn’t be just that. Gyeo-ul asked, “So, what’s the conclusion?”

“Capture it if possible. Kill it or save it, and if you call after you catch it, he’ll send you a helicopter.”

“They are saying very easy. Is there any other support?”

“He asked me if I needed it when I have you. I said it’s okay. It’s already late, and I thought it would take a long time if I wait for support. The monster won’t wait, and that doesn’t mean we have enough to surround the building. That’s what I think.”

The heightened reputation was not good at this time. The more he did for the name, the bigger they would ask for. Jeffrey knew what Gyeo-ul was thinking.

“It’s because they don’t know the lessons of Mogadishu. That’s why you shouldn’t have a stupid head. They call themselves professionals, but they are full of book mold scents.”

The United States, which was involved in the Somali civil war, suffered a devastating defeat at the Battle of Mogadishu. Because they trusted the special forces too much, they left the impossible task to them and thought that they would succeed.

There came a heavy voice.

“Why did you just come here? You should have sworn them at least.”

It was the words of a sergeant who was the only one in the platoon. Jeffrey answered back.

“Hey, he was still a lieutenant colonel. If I go to jail, who will lead?”

“That’s all right. The army’s core is noncommissioned officers. And there’s another lieutenant here. Have a safe trip.”

While saying this, there was no change in tone at all. He wore a calm expression, and so his nickname was Bore. Marvin “Bore” Lieberman. Jeffrey made a ridiculous face.

“Sergeant, you don’t look like a joke because you don’t have an expression.”

“Sure. I’m serious.”

“What?”

The soldiers are giggling. Gyeo-ul cut in.

“I know you don’t want to, but that’s enough. It’s the short daytime season.”

It was a half-joking remark. As always, a joke in fear was proof of veteran. There was a way to control the tension of subordinates. Sergeant Lieberman nodded.

“You’re better than our lieutenant.”

“What?”

This was a joke. Two officers and sergeants unfold the map of the facility and draw up a line of movement. The site was so large that it would run out of time if they moved in a lump.

“For now, let’s not overdo it. It’s greedy to send these numbers and ask for great results.”

Jeffrey nailed it from the start, and Gyeo-ul agreed.

“I think they’re smart. They tested our firepower with infected babies. There’s nothing bad about being careful.”

“We can move by squad, but since there are three corridors, let’s go side by side so that you can connect with support when you need it. It won’t be too much if we relay the communication. He can sense our radio, so it’s a kind of chasing hunt.”

The sergeant suggested, drawing a route. It meant they didn’t have to avoid the necessary radios. Jeffrey nodded in agreement and wrote down the time for each point. Sergeants write down the time and base that corresponds to them, where they gathered in case of emergency, when and where they could go, etc.

Gyeo-ul looked through the map. He relied on memory rather than technology correction, after all.

Right now, it was inevitably efficient to invest in [Map reading]. If you didn’t increase Memorize together, it took a considerable amount of time to update the mini-map.

“Lieutenant Han, you’re the center. No objection, right?

“Of course not.”

He accepted it like it was no problem. Soldiers playfully responded. Jeffrey then stood up.

“Okay, everybody, check on Cam, let’s move!”

The search finally began. The keys were divided by Gyeo-ul, Jeffrey, and Lieberman, and the reserve took the remaining bundles. Since two members of each squad were assigned to the watchtower and lobby, the search team had about nine men, including commanders.

“Is it still in the ward? It might have sneaked out in the meantime.”

There was Corporal Elliot in the squad led by Gyeo-ul. It was the result of Jeffrey’s consideration.

“It’ll be in there. There’s still a lot of noise.”

Gyeo-ul answered so and then opened the door to the first section. To prevent a surprise attack from behind, they would lock it again after entering the building. When it was urgent, it was enough to shoot the lock.

The bars dividing the compartments often appeared. Throughout the passage, the soldiers snooped at the locked doors on the left and right sides.

“Lieutenant, look at this. There’s no movement of the trapped men.”

A soldier called Gyeo-ul. The boy officer stood guard against the door in the other direction. Over the glass with wire mesh, he peeps into the room. The appearance of the mutant was like a still screen, standing by the window, not moving.

“Is he dead?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

Gyeo-ul instructed soldiers to stay away. Elliot himself didn’t look very clear.

“It doesn’t look like it starved to death, at least. Is it saving its energy?”

That was definitely the answer. Wouldn’t it be? Gyeo-ul answered vaguely. There was no need to prove it.

The sound of thunder soon emanated. As soon as the rain clouds blazed white, the hardened mutant awakened like a seizure.

With the frightened soldiers holding their breath, the mutant just looked over the window. Then again, slowly, the movement disappeared.

“Wow, what a surprise.”

Elliot’s whispering voice.

After that, everyone tried to be quieter. Soldiers paid attention to each step.

The hallway was similar everywhere. It was dark and desolate. The hospital room was full from side to side, so there was no room for cloudy sunlight. The sound outside proved to be the same. Except for mutants that had seizures every time when there was thunder, the only sound left was breathless boots.

The scenery suddenly changed.

When the third section was reached, the blocking door was open. In addition, every door one would see was open. Gyeo-ul pulled down the helmet’s night vision. The field of vision becomes full of green shading. Importantly, there were faint scarlet stains on the floor.

“There are a lot of footprints.”

“Damn!”

Gyeo-ul warned. “Huey. Keep your voice down.”

“…I’m sorry.”

The soldiers kept looking at Gyeo-ul. This was because they couldn’t see heat (infrared) with their equipment.

Infection mutants had higher body temperatures than humans. And walk barefoot. Even so, it is strange that there are still footprints. It meant that time did not pass long, and as soon as it came out, it moved systematically.

‘Where did these things go?’

Gyeo-ul picked up a radio to announce the situation. There was soon a lot of noise.

“Jeffrey lieutenant. Sergeant Lieberman. Can you hear me?”

Thump, thump, thump. Heavy footsteps passed overhead. From the front, from the back. At the same time, the noise of the radio was momentarily amplified and then returned to the previous level. Everyone then looked up. Gyeo-ul saw that communication was impossible and sighed.

“I think it’s our game that just passed over.”

Elliot asked nervously, “What do we do?”

“Follow me.”

Gyeo-ul ran toward an empty hallway. The soldiers were frightened and followed along.

“He’s gone backward!”

“It’s like a trap.”

He was indeed a smart guy. He would have made a loud noise on purpose. As soon as he tried to communicate, he knew where he was.

At this moment, when everything was uncertain, speed was the key. It must deviate from the prediction.

The sprint reached the end of the hall. As expected, the next section was open.

There were many noticeable traces here. Bloody handprints and footprints were full of walls and floors, and they were all headed for the south aisle. On the other hand, the northern aisle looked very clean.

The soldiers were already worried about Sergeant Lieberman.

Lieberman to the south and Jeffery to the north.

The noise decreased, and the radio cried.

「Oh, it’s working now. Can you hear me? The smell here is weird. All doors are open. I think we need some support. 」

It was Sergeant Lieberman’s voice. Gyeo-ul did not even respond. The soldiers also demanded radio silence.

“Don’t reply. ‘Cause he doesn’t know where we are.’

“But…!”

“This is an order.”

With the soldiers pressed, Gyeo-ul once again pulled down the night vision. After carefully examining the passage of the south and north, he decided to do so.

“We’re heading north.”

There was an immediate backlash. He would not follow without explanation. Gyeo-ul then tapped onto the perspective. “There are more invisible footprints in the north.”

“Huh….”

Those who realized the meaning were half afraid and half embarrassed.

“Oh, my God, it’s really a trap!”

They desperately followed Gyeo-ul, who had already begun to run. After running about 80 meters around the corner twice, Gyeo-ul slowed down.

Jeffrey hadn’t made it to the Gyeo-ul yet. In addition, the gate was still locked. Individual rooms were also closed.

Gyeo-ul opened the barrier door and pushed it to make it look locked. Based on the experience so far, Gyeo-ul thought it looked like a sneaky human being.

‘If you’re going to do a surprise, you’re not going to make your opponent nervous.’

Why would the door be locked only here?

He looked back at the memory of looking at the map. At the intersection in the center of the northern corridor, there was an auditorium that protruded outward. Mutants are good to hide in large quantities.

If there was a surprise attack, it was right in front of him.

He could wait and surprise attack in reverse. If he exposed this side for no reason, he was likely to fall into the other side.

Gyeo-ul spread his finger and put it on his lips. The soldiers had yet to grasp the overall situation. They were here to help, but why didn’t he join right away? However, they followed the instruction obediently. It was because of the confident appearance of Gyeo-ul.

Gyeo-ul turned down the radio volume. Jeffrey’s voice could be heard through the loud noise.

「 Lieutenant Han? Sergeant Lieberman? H-e-l-l-o? Shit. I don’t like this.」

Jeffrey looked at the soldiers around him and sent a silent signal.

「Get ready for battle.」