Magic on the Dead Chapter 123

“It is not comfortable for me to say this either. But there is such a thing as business ethics, is there not? Where in the world is it acceptable to add people at the last minute in such a makeshift manner? Weren’t you the ones who refused to let people on the passenger plane that left earlier because it was full? The very people who were going on and on about safety, huh? To think you’d dangerously cram people into an already cramped helicopter, I’m really, hah… I’m quite flabbergasted.”

The woman, who had been passionately speaking with the veins on her neck bulging, turned her head toward the rest of the waiting people.

“Everyone, am I right? Right?”

As if waiting for her words, discontented voices erupted from here and there.

“Th-that’s right. I’m a little anxious about taking more people…”

“It seems too much to suddenly add two more people when they’re not even letting us take our suitcases because of the weight…”

Just then, a man wearing sunglasses waved his hand dismissively as if it were all a nuisance and responded in a casual manner.

“Good grief, so noisy. It’s not like we have any authority, so let’s just follow what the person in charge says, shall we?”

As soon as his words fell, everyone’s gaze turned to the person in charge in unison. The man called the person in charge was fanning himself with his hand, an annoyed expression on his face. Whoo— He let out a short, deliberate sigh and opened his mouth.

“You all may not be aware, but this gentleman here is the Chief Technology Officer of an American company called Blueworx. This maintenance depot where you are now is a place that our country’s Ministry of National Defense and Blueworx collaborated to build…. Ahem, well, anyway, the transport aircraft you will be riding on was also manufactured by the Director-nim’s company, and he is a very capable person, so you do not need to worry about the cost of the seats. For your reference, you can consider Blueworx to be the world’s number one American defense contractor….”

There was no substance to be found in his rambling words. A middle-aged man shouted at the man who was spewing a long-winded speech like a robot, without any change in pitch.

“If he’s such an amazing person, can’t we just take him alone? You said there was only one seat left anyway!”

“Uhm, that’s…”

The person in charge, who pursed his lips with a troubled expression, ultimately could not find a suitable answer and turned back to Eden.

“Director-nim. I apologize, but may we speak separately for a moment?”

Eden left the clamoring waiting people behind and silently followed the man. The person in charge, who had found a spot in an outdoor corner far from the hangar, eventually took out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket.

“Would you like one?”

“No, thank you.”

Even at the sharp refusal, the man showed no sign of embarrassment and stuck a cigarette between his fingers.

“This may be out of line, but do you really have to put your nephew and friend on this transport aircraft right now? I heard that the remaining helicopter can fly just fine once the assembly is finished.”

“Circumstances have led to this. Is it possible, or impossible?”

“Uhm…”

The man cleared his throat and fumbled through his pockets. He let out a small noise of irritation, seemingly unable to find his lighter. Nowhere in his attitude could a shred of respect for Eden be found.

“It will be difficult to arbitrarily add more people to a helicopter that is already full of waiting passengers. As you can see, the backlash from the passengers is quite severe.”

“I can pay sufficiently.”

“Oh my…. Director-nim, you know that money isn’t the issue.”

The man slowly placed the cigarette between his lips. Eden gazed steadily at the man who was acting condescendingly from start to finish, and recalled his past self, who had once spat out words as venomous as a viper.

‘I’m sorry, but Mr. Do Hajin is of no use to me.’

What was Do Hajin’s expression like when he looked at me back then…. As he retraced his memory, the pale face and the two hands clenched into tight fists were drawn with surprising vividness before his eyes. Yes, he was incredibly desperate. Kneeling before me, saying he was going to save his younger brother….

The man, who had been scratching his forehead as if frustrated, continued to speak.

“Director-nim. You are well aware of how many people is the appropriate number to board a transport aircraft, are you not?”

‘There are two pilots, at least three or more soldiers and medical staff to be mobilized for the transport operation, and the number of people gathered here is eight. Unfortunately, the maximum number of people who can board the Surion, excluding the pilots, is nine.’

“As you saw earlier, the seats are not that plentiful. The safety risk cannot be ignored, and if a situation arises where someone has to be left behind, the priority could become your nephew or your friend.”

‘It means that no matter how hard you run to the rooftop, one or two people are bound to be left behind. It’s a gamble where the person who fails to board will certainly die, but will you still follow?’

“If possible, I ask for your understanding. I am the only one responsible for the safety of this transport operation, so I am in a position where I must reduce the risks as much as possible….”

‘In the first place, I am someone who cannot guarantee you any safety. Even if the transport aircraft had plenty of seats, there is no particular reason for me to take you. It can’t be helped even if you call me cold. I don’t even attempt things that have a high probability of failure from the start.’

“Director-nim?”

“……”

“Director-nim, are you perhaps finished with what you have to say? If so, I will be on my way…”

“I will explain to Major General Yoo Junsang later. Please add the personnel.”

The person in charge, as if he had no intention of hiding his annoyance this time, let out a forceful puff of cigarette smoke. Whoosh—

“Director-nim. I can only carry out the matters that I have been instructed on by the Major General. It is not as if I can contact my superiors right now, as communications are down. If the waiting passengers were at least cooperative, I would help in some way, but for someone who should know better, why do you keep…”

“……”

“In any case, we will proceed with providing only the dismantled transport aircraft as previously agreed with Blueworx. If you need it, ask the civilian military employees remaining here for help. They are all people with nowhere to go anyway, so for the time being at the maintenance depot…”

“There is someone I have to save.”

As Eden held him back once more, the person in charge checked the watch on his wrist and muttered under his breath.

“This is driving me crazy.”

In that moment, his two fists clenched on their own.

Ah, so this is what it felt like. Knowing you will be rejected, yet folding up the last remaining piece of your pride… trying to save your person, somehow.

Eden, who had only ever known how to wield power his entire life, was feeling powerless for the first time since he was born. A pale smile spread across his face as he came face to face with the arrogance and carelessness that had coiled inside him like a snake.

Gathering his breath, he once again stopped the person in charge who was trying to leave.

“I am asking you for a favor.”

Eden bowed his head deeply to the man, just as Hajin had done to him in the warehouse of the small theater.

“If you just let them board, I will make sure you are compensated handsomely.”

‘If you just give me a role, I will do whatever you ask… Please let me and Miso board the transport aircraft, too.’

A persuasion that would not work, a subservient posture that would not evoke any emotion in an arrogant man of power. And yet, a lingering attachment that he could not give up….

He bowed his head without hesitation, knowing it was a futile struggle. It was an act closer to courage than to submission.

The man, who had been condescending the entire time, stopped the bowing Eden with a somewhat surprised look on his face.

“Director-nim, oh, why are you doing this? Of course, if it were up to me, I would want to help. But you know Jinsu Construction, right? The man with the sunglasses earlier is the youngest son of that family… The other people also have some connections with our Ministry of National Defense…”

The man continued to ramble on and on.

“The person who was speaking out in front is the opposition party’s chief deputy floor… …No matter how much I appeal to them about what an amazing person the Director-nim is… The transport aircraft remaining at the maintenance depot are under our jurisdiction anyway….”

In the end, it meant that no matter how high a status he held with the protection of a powerful distant nation, there was nothing he could do on the land of the Republic of Korea. In addition, the man did not forget to add that even if the relationship between the Defense Acquisition Program Administration and Blueworx were to sour in the future, the Republic of Korea’s chances of recovery were slim anyway.

“In any case, I am sorry about this, Director-nim. I will be leaving first.”

Even after the man left, Eden stood in that spot for a long time, just looking down at the asphalt ground. The heavy smell of fuel wafting from somewhere made him feel nauseous.

A fantasy of splitting the person in charge’s head open with an axe, cutting off the limbs of the struggling waiting people, and hijacking the transport aircraft chaotically swirled through his mind. He knew he should not, but he could not suppress the burning impulse. His fingertips trembled faintly.

It was around the time he was solidifying his plan, recalling the structure and routes of the hangar, and the number of civilian military employees. Suddenly, a familiar voice shook his ears.

“Mr. Jung Taegeon.”

He was only a few steps away. As he slowly lifted his head, a flushed face filled his vision.

“What are you doing over there.”

Hajin’s upright gaze brought Eden’s cruel fantasy to a screeching halt. Under that gaze, which was like a whip, he could no longer continue his thoughts.

“……”

“……”

As silence filled the void, a yellowish sunset cast its glow over their heads. The musty smell of fuel, like a large bundle of banknotes set on fire, still floated in the air.