Rainbow City

“Business is fine.”“But why the long face?”“Master… is calling.”Kwak Soohwan gripped the cube and narrowed one eyebrow. Could Second Master have sensed my suspicions? It’s still awkward…As Kwak Soohwan moved to return to the Gwacheon Shelter, Commander Cha blocked his path.“What’s up?”“The one who called is not Second, but… First Master.”The square cube piece slipped from his hand.“Where?”“Yeouido Shelter.”“Well, I was wanting to see Dr. Seok anyway, so it works out.”Are they feeling like a weekend couple? Kwak Soohwan chuckled briefly, not feeling particularly pleased.Seokhwa still enjoyed being alone. However, recently there were reports of some nuisance sticking to Seokhwa. Although there was only one photo of that nuisance sticking to Seokhwa, it was still bothersome. If the opponent persisted like him, Seokhwa’s attitude might change…As he gripped the cube tightly, the completely separated pieces fell to the ground with a thud. Kwak Soohwan brushed his hand and walked past Commander Cha.“Not Second, but First.”Muttered Commander Cha, only following with anxious eyes.***“I thought only individuals infected with avian influenza were not contagious, but it seems not to be the case.”“Weren’t the immune individuals those who had been to Jeju Island or were from Jeju Island during the first outbreak?”“That’s what’s known, but even that is not certain. One needs to be exposed to the Adam virus to determine if they are immune or not. It’s not right to inject the virus into people to find immune individuals.”“Yeah. I understand what you’re saying, Dr. Seok. Take your time explaining. Hehe, we still have plenty of time, don’t we?”Dr.Oh handed a mug to Seokhwa, urging him to drink lukewarm water.“But the influenza originally only infects one species, right? Occasionally, when pigs get infected with avian or human influenza, the viruses exchange and give rise to a new virus with different traits. Could it be that a virus mutated from birds, with an unknown identity, is causing a polar reaction with the Adam virus?”“Look here, Dr. Seok. I’m really worried. First, have some water.”Already feeling dizzy, Seokhwa shared the water.In the shelter where they ate well and occasionally fainted, Dr.Oh’s concern was not just idle curiosity. Of course, he only worried about Dr.Oh, while others just frowned, saying he’s doing that again.“….hwa.”Seokhwa rested his chin on a stone, then opened his eyes. Lately, whenever he had time, he would reminisce about memories with Dr.Oh. Kwak Soohwan’s stone, which had pressed under his chin, had caused pain, and he had loosened the sore spot with his hand.“Doctor.”This time, the sound came from nearby.“Me?”“Yes, Dr. Seokhwa.”Choi Hoeon, who had thought of getting closer to Dr. Kim, ended up being more friendly with Seokhwa.Since their previous quarrel, Seokhwa and Dr. Kim had been in a somewhat awkward state. Seokhwa remained unchanged, but it was Dr. Kim who kept a distance.“We just received a call from Gangnam Shelter. They say the vaccine is effective for humans as well. Three citizens of Rainbow City volunteered, and they are receiving the Citizen Honor Award.”Choi Hoeon praised them as people to emulate.Although he was relieved that the vaccine was real, Seokhwa’s main concern was not the vaccine but the cure. Dr. Dr.Oh seemed to have said something meaningful, and Eden Hills must have received help from him. To get more hints, Seokhwa needed to approach Serpent.“Doctor, would you like to have a meal together?”He had probably refused at least five times before. However, this time, Seokhwa nodded his head, as it was time for him to eat. Putting the stone in his pocket and standing up, Choi Hoeon smiled.“I’ve felt it for a while, but it’s an unusually shaped stone.”“Is that so?”“Do you like stones?”Choi Hoeon asked as he exited the open door. Seokhwa had been going through the data he had researched at the Busan Shelter over the past few days and found something a bit peculiar. It seemed that rather than focusing on research related to the Adam virus, he was more dedicated to improving species. He had expertise not only in plant improvement but also in animal modification, even breeding chickens three times larger than normal.“If it’s too much trouble to answer, you don’t have to.”Choi Hoeon laughed casually, saying it’s okay to ignore him.“I like stones.”“I see.”Seokhwa preferred the dining hall at the time when all the soldiers had left. Today, as usual for a late lunch, there were not many side dishes left, and the soup had cooled down.“It seems like Dr. Park has a lot of interest in immune-enhancing products or health supplements. I have ginseng that I grow for research purposes. If you’re interested, would you like to visit sometime?”“Ginseng?”“It’s grown in the Green Zone, so it’s safe. If it’s okay with you, how about visiting this weekend?”He was planning to visit Dr. Dr.Oh’s house over the weekend, so it was a bit awkward.“I’ll think about it.”“Haha, take your time.”With his consideration, Seokhwa added a bit more.“I have a lot of heat in my body, so I’m not sure if ginseng will suit me, but because it’s valuable, I’d like to see it.”At his words, Choi Hoeon looked surprised.“Judging by appearances, I thought your body temperature would be quite low, but it’s unexpected.”“Is that so?”Seokhwa sat down with the plate, playing with his hands and mouth absentmindedly.Creaking, not just one or two pairs, but the sound of several military boots echoed at the entrance of the dining hall. Even with the numerous soldiers at the Yeouido Shelter, not everyone was familiar. However, the restaurant, which had been quite vacant, quickly became packed with the significant number of soldiers in no time. Seokhwa, whose focus was disrupted, hesitated between eating and not eating.“They said Major Kwak was called today?”“Why of all times, Kwak Soohwan?”Seokhwa, stirring seaweed soup with chopsticks, raised his head. The soaked seaweed hung down for a moment before dropping. He didn’t know which soldier it was, but it seemed like they mentioned Kwak Soohwan…“Looks like Major Kwak is here?”Choi Hoeon, observing Seokhwa’s reaction, dropped a hint.“Do you… know him?”Seokhwa picked up the dropped seaweed and asked.“Yes, indeed.”He pushed the ID card, jiggling against his chest, into the shirt pocket.“He’s famous, you know, in various ways.”The eyes of the man with a gentle demeanor stretched long.***The fact that the First Master, residing in Udo, Jeju Island, had come up to the Yeouido Shelter was top-secret information.The First Master, despite having called Kwak Soohwan, sat for a long time with his back turned. Kwak Soohwan also stood motionless in a waiting state. Whenever the breeze from the air purifier brushed against them, only the cape would sway slightly.“I didn’t expect anything from you. As you know.”The Master finally turned his chair around.“Your parents secretly gave birth to you and your sibling, defying Rainbow City’s constitution, hiding it for over a decade. From our perspective, there was no reason to accept you. However, Dr. Dr.Oh elevated your status, promoting you to a citizen, appreciating your abilities.”Woof, woof. Kwak Soohwan mentally translated the Master’s words into dog barks.“However, your actions, although occasionally disappointing, have been surprisingly impressive at times. Can any soldier in our Rainbow City be as strong and wise as you? Of course, you are also at the forefront of breaking military discipline.”When coming up to Yeouido, he had intended to see Seokhwa’s face first, but seeing the immature face under the hat dampened his mood.“You know that you’ve gained the trust of the Second Master, right? You also know that the Second Master has given you a special position. That’s why I’m saying this.”“Yes, Master.”“Now, how about following me instead of the Second Master? If you do that, I can guarantee you a more secure future. Maybe that’s why you went to the Second in the first place.”It was the biggest nonsense he had heard so far, but Kwak Soohwan just raised his lips.“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying, Master. I am loyal to Rainbow City, not just to you.”“Yeah, that’s right. I’m not telling you to betray the Second. Well, it’s not betrayal anyway.”He never pledged loyalty in the first place. What betrayal is he talking about?“The one trying to ruin our Rainbow City that you’re loyal to is none other than the Second.”First Master placed his fist on the desk and trembled.“We can’t leave the Second Master like this any longer. You must have suspected that Dr. Dr.Oh was executed for treasonous acts against us, right?”It was a surprising statement. Of course, there were suspicions, but Kwak Soohwan never imagined that the First Master would utter such words. Kwak Soohwan wondered what kind of leverage the author had to make such important statements to him.“We had no other choice. Dr. Dr.Oh joined hands with Eden Hills like a traitor! But do you know who created Eden Hills? The very center of it was the Second Master. Major Kwak Soohwan, please become our strength to expel the Second, who deceived Rainbow City. Help us by showing our power.”Only then did Kwak Soohwan realize. This was not a request or persuasion; it was a threat. It was a form of pressure that if he did not join their side, they would send him away with the Second. Since the vaccine came out of Eden Hills, it seemed like the feces would hit the fan soon as expected. With the upcoming Master vote, things were bound to get messy.“If you plan to supervise the Second until the end, you can do that, but we don’t want to lose a valuable S-class talent just because we followed the wrong superior. Of course, you can also relay today’s events to the Second Master. We trust Major Kwak Soohwan completely.”Seeing that he could report to the Second Master, it was undeniable that the First Master had evidence unfavorable to the Second. Kwak Soohwan wasn’t one to rashly step forward without evidence.“Master, if you have any tasks that need to be done, please feel free to assign them to me anytime. As I mentioned before, I am not a soldier loyal to the Second Master. If there is a valid reason according to the military law and constitution of Rainbow City, I can move at any time as ordered. I have followed the instructions of the Second Master so far. The reason you didn’t utilize me is because you are the First Master.”The First Master nodded slowly. Initially, the First had intended to eliminate Kwak Soohwan before attacking the Second. However, it would be more troublesome if it failed, so he concluded that it would be better to persuade. If he set his mind to it, he could swim to Jeju Island, cut his throat, and look like a fool to others.Even the troops led by Kwak Soohwan had built up strong trust in him. It would be better to use him as a pawn, deal with the Second Master, and then dispose of him. These guys were powerful and physically evolved, but politically, the ones handling politics were far superior. After all, they were soldiers fighting against Adam.“Soon, I will inform Rainbow City that the Second Master has been wrong all along. Before the vote. So think carefully about your actions.”“Yes, Master. However, I also have one request.”“A request?”Although there was an expression of ‘How dare you,’ the First Master gestured for him to go ahead.For the First Master, it was not an unreasonable request, so the deal was easily accepted. Kwak Soohwan saluted the First and quickly left the Panic Room without any lingering feelings.When the First and Second Master would clash in earnest, interesting things would happen. He could just watch and see which side would win. If both of them self-destructed, it would be even better. If they cut off the heads of these fools playing rotten politics, the city would return to normal. If that had been the case from the beginning, he could have at least avoided his brother’s death.Come to think of it, it might be better if the First had the upper hand over the Second. The First probably saw him as an easily manipulable fool. The idiotic things he had done had been quite helpful in times like this.Kwak Soohwan skipped waiting for the elevator and headed to Seokhwa’s research building using the stairs. When he descended the stairs at once, a thud was heard. There was no need to hurry like this. It’s not like Dr. Dr.Oh was running away somewhere.He exited through the emergency exit on the 34th floor instead of waiting for the elevator, and just as he did, he heard a familiar figure. Seokhwa, with slow steps, had both hands deeply in his pockets. The curvature of the hand holding the stone outside the pocket was visible.The guy next to him, I thought he might be Dr. Kim, but his physique was completely different. It was undoubtedly the guy I had seen in the photo. As Kwak Soohwan followed slowly and glanced up and down, the neatly dressed man turned around.“I felt a presence, and who might be here.”Felt a presence? Kwak Soohwan narrowed his eyes slightly. He lowered his gaze to the ID card of the guy with a friendly smile, checking the name.“Kwak Soohwan… Major?”Likewise, Seokhwa turned around, looking at him and calling his name. Kwak Soohwan walked briskly towards Seokhwa, smiling.“Surprised?”“No.”“What? I came, and you’re not surprised.”“I knew you were coming.”Seokhwa looked up at Kwak Soohwan, lips moving discreetly.Seokhwa’s black eyes looked clear and cheerful. It seemed like he had become quite friendly with that doctor, not that it mattered. Anyway, from now on, Dr. Seok wouldn’t be bored thanks to him.“Major Kwak Soohwan, right? I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Dr. Choi Hoeon.”Choi Hoeon interjected between them and extended his hand. Kwak Soohwan also smiled back and shook hands, feeling the other side giving some strength. Similarly, as he reciprocated the strength, Choi Hoeon, who made a groaning sound, withdrew his hand first.“Oh, indeed. Captain, your grip is unbelievably strong.”Exaggeration. Kwak Soohwan vaguely sensed that the guy hadn’t really exerted much strength. It was a bonus that he could feel my presence enough to react.“Are you heading straight to Gwacheon?”“No, I think I’ll stay here for the day. Is it okay if I stay in Dr. Seok’s room?”“I don’t like it.”Having been cleanly rejected, Kwak Soohwan took something out of his pocket and showed it. It was a small, hill-shaped stone, connected by two bumps.“How about this? I picked it up on the field not long ago. Wanna kill it?”With his face bowed as if burying his head in his palm, Seokhwa showed great interest. Then he compared the pebble given to him earlier with the one now in his hand.“You can take it.”Kwak Soohwan tucked a pebble resembling Seokhwa’s chubby buttocks into the opposite pocket of Seokhwa.“What time will it end? Since I gave you that, can I go in first?”“You can’t go in unless I open it.”“Can I go in if it’s open?”Sighing, Seokhwa just breathed out. Only Choi Hoeon, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, looked genuinely surprised.“I’ve heard rumors circulating in the shelter, but it seems like you two are really close. I find it difficult to converse with Dr. Seok, but I envy you, Major Kwak Soohwan.”Kwak Soohwan looked at Choi Hoeon with a puzzled expression, who was speaking with polite speech.“There is one way to become close with Dr. Seok.”“What is it? Should I give him a pebble too?”“Of course not.”Kwak Soohwan smiled charmingly.“Just be as handsome as me.”“Um…”Seokhwa hesitated to speak as if knowing that wasn’t the case. Kwak Soohwan was objectively good-looking, after all.“Well, whatever. See you later. I’ll be waiting.”He gave Seokhwa’s soft hair a firm squeeze before letting go. Seokhwa adjusted his hairline and spun around first.“I’ll head to the lab for now.”Gripping the smooth stone in his pocket, he walked away again.Looking at Kwak Soohwan’s face, Seokhwa felt a slight uplift in his tired eyes since the morning. His outward appearance was quite pleasing, much like his body temperature. In fact, he liked the newly given stone even more than that.Finding a satisfying stone takes me a long time, but it’s fascinating how he manages to find them so well. Since he covers a much larger area than himself, the chances of finding a better stone are probably higher. Seokhwa concluded this on his own and nodded.***[Secret code access granted, opening the room.] As soon as Kwak Soohwan entered Seokhwa’s room, he glanced around with his eyes. Choi Hoeon, the name on the ID card. However, this uneasy feeling had been a long time. It was suspicious, whether it was feeling someone’s presence, turning around on purpose, or even exaggerating. Kwak Soohwan turned on Seokhwa’s computer and immediately connected to the Hyeonbyeongdae server.After entering the unique password, he began to look into information about Choi Hoeon in the Yeouido Shelter.[Age 36, a researcher who recently transferred from Busan Shelter. A family consists of one mother. Recognized as an honorary family by Rainbow City, his mother runs a business transporting specialty products from Jeju and Ulleung Islands to Rainbow City for sale. The profits are considerable, and he pays a significant tribute to Rainbow City every month. Around the age of 5, Choi Hoeon suffered severely from smallpox. No other peculiarities were found from Choi Hoeon.] This was the extent of the data on Choi Hoeon. After shutting down the server, Kwak Soohwan slowly turned his chair around. While looking at the rotating ceiling, he suddenly thought of giving Second a hard time.It seemed like First was trying to send Second away, but Second was by no means an easy opponent. Mutant soldiers often lacked intelligence, and some were even contemptible. However, Second had never shown such signs. Instead, he never revealed any emotions to me.If Second was related to Eden Sanctuary, he might not have known that he was being used in reverse to escape from Rainbow City’s encirclement. It might be a good idea to roughly tell Second the story and step back to observe.Anyway, since the fight between the two whales would intensify, it was better for Seokhwa to stay away from that maelstrom. There was a risk of getting swept away, and shrimp Seokhwa might fly away as it is.Kwak Soohwan got up from his chair, lifted and dropped Seokhwa’s blanket, picked up and dropped the bedsheet. It seemed like the advice had been taken to heart; he wasn’t doing any unnecessary things.Looking around the desk, when he tried to open a drawer, there was only a jingling sound. What did he put in there that he had to lock it?He looked around places where a key might be hidden, but there was nothing conspicuous. If it weren’t for the paper sticking out between the drawers, he might have just ignored it. Kwak Soohwan grabbed one side of the desk and forcibly pulled out the drawer.Inside the drawer, there were papers scattered in disorder. Numerous unreadable numbers, perhaps indicating a researcher, were densely written.01000 10100, 01000 10001, 00111 10010 00001… Pages filled with numbers composed of 0s and 1s.The smile consciously hanging on his lips disappeared in an instant. Kwak Soohwan reached out and took out a pen from the pen holder. Looking at the repetitive and systematic numbers, he rotated the pen in his hand.It was a binary code cipher, something he had interpreted several times during random broadcasts. Kwak Soohwan started deducing the rules Seokhwa used to encrypt, thinking that it might take time, but there must be a reason for encrypting and hiding it in the drawer. Hoping it would be different from what he thought, he moved his hand like solving a cube.***As soon as it became 7 o’clock, he left the lab.Choi Hoeon suggested having dinner together with Kwak Soohwan, and he couldn’t find a reason to refuse. They agreed to meet in the cafeteria by 7:30, so it seemed fine to change into different clothes and come out.He took out the peanuts from his pocket and ate them while walking to his room. This time, when he goes to the cafeteria, he planned to get more nuts.[Room open.] As soon as the door opened, he couldn’t help but widen his eyes.Papers were scattered messily on the floor and desk, and in the center of it stood Kwak Soohwan in a uniform. Although he always wore a light smile, now there was only a chilling coldness.He slowly lowered his gaze to the fallen papers. It seemed unbelievable. No, it was absurd. If the door hadn’t been closed, he might have instinctively taken a step back. He leaned against the cold door.Kwak Soohwan threw the pen he was holding onto the desk and walked towards him, taking slow steps. The sound of his military boots echoed sharply, almost like tightening his breath.“I knew it would come to this.”