The Apocalypse Regressor's All-Purpose Shelter

BANG! BANG!

TUTUT! TUTUT! TUT!

The suppressed AR-15 and modified air rifles poured out rounds.

The distance to the target motorboat was a precarious one hundred and sixty meters, right at the edge of the modified air rifles’ effective range.

If they had been wearing military ballistic helmets or even Level 2A body armor, suppressing them with modified air rifles instead of AR-15s would have been difficult.

But the Nami Island looters aboard the motorboat wore no ballistic gear.

Apparently, the police executive who had looted the station armory before joining them had also stolen dozens of stab-resistant vests and riot-control ballistic vests, yet not a single one of the bastards had bothered to wear them.

'Fucking idiots.'

They had probably grown overflowing with confidence after slaughtering and robbing Bukhan River survivors so easily without suffering any real losses until now.

They likely believed themselves invincible on the Bukhan River. To the point that they did not even wear life jackets while riding boats, let alone body armor or stab-resistant gear.

“No movement.”

While Park Deokcheol and Choi Hyunwoo continued aiming their modified air rifles toward the boat, Yoon Seolhee, who was observing it through the drone feed, spoke.

“We got lucky. We spotted them at exactly the right timing.”

Right before the curve leading past Cheongpyeong Lake toward Nami Island, the scouting drone flying several hundred meters ahead of the inflatable boat had detected the approaching motorboat from just over two kilometers away.

They would have encountered each other in a minute.

But fortunately, there had been a small island near the inflatable boat.

Junho immediately docked the inflatable boat at the densely forested island and concealed it.

Originally, he had intended to let them pass.

But after closely observing the motorboat through the drone’s wide-angle camera, he discovered firearms aboard.

Moreover, two of the bastards were wearing Nami Island tourist-site staff uniforms.

That confirmed beyond any doubt that they were elimination targets.

And once that was established, there was only one thing left to do.

“Let’s go, Hyunwoo.”

“Yes sir.”

While Yoon Seolhee and Park Deokcheol maintained firing overwatch from the island, Junho and Choi Hyunwoo piloted the inflatable boat toward the Nami Island looters’ motorboat.

The motorboat drifted slowly with the current.

After bringing the inflatable boat tightly alongside it, Junho lightly vaulted onto the deck.

“Hhk... hhk...”

One looter who had been shot in the chest still had not fully died.

Breathing painfully, he looked up at Junho.

His lips moved several times as though he wanted to say something, but the focus soon vanished from his eyes.

Another man who, before the world became like this, might have lived an ordinary life—but once the world changed, had freely unleashed the malice hidden inside himself and lived splendidly as a villain—died just like that.

“......”

But Junho, an even greater villain and killer than him, merely examined the boat with cold eyes.

After collecting anything useful from the deck, Junho tied the motorboat and inflatable boat together with rope and steered them toward the riverbank.

Then, after hiding the motorboat carefully within the brush, he returned to the island where the others were waiting.

“They really were from Nami Island.”

Although they had judged the situation through the drone feed before attacking, there was always the slight possibility they might have been innocent survivors.

So Junho showed everyone everything he had brought back from the boat.

Seeing the logo-marked plastic bags, life jackets, and air rifles that ordinary survivors would rarely even glimpse, the three nodded.

“So they really were planning to wait for the recon team at that dock earlier.”

At Yoon Seolhee’s words, Junho nodded.

“They probably were. There were traces showing people had been staying at that garden restaurant until recently.”

Most docks along the Bukhan River that could accommodate boats were attached to tourist-packed pensions or resorts.

But the government vessel dock where Junho’s group had stopped the vehicles and launched the inflatable boat had nothing except a lone old garden restaurant.

In other words, for the Nami Island looters, it was an excellent intermediate outpost and staging point they could occupy without much difficulty.

“They built a base like that near a hydroelectric plant where the water route is blocked? That means they were already planning to expand southward.”

If left alone, there was a ninety-percent chance—no, a hundred-percent chance—that they would eventually clash with our shelter or allied forces within our territory.

Rumors about “Paradise” had spread that far. There was no way the bastards would never discover Gahyeon-ri or Yeongho-ri.

“So what now? Are you still planning to approach near Nami Island like originally planned?”

“No.”

Junho shook his head and looked up at the sky.

The river wind was already strong, and thick rain clouds completely covered the sun.

“Looks like it’s going to pour. Let’s prepare camp early today. And grill this too.”

Junho held up the unexpectedly acquired “meat.”

***

The group carried several backpacks and boxes from the inflatable boat onto the island.

Through the Bucheon expedition, Junho had realized something.

When staying outside the reach of our shelter’s influence for an undefined number of nights, preparation had to be even more thorough.

He had simulated it countless times at the shelter based on his pre-regression experience, but reality was still different.

And this time, unlike the Bucheon house, there was no intermediate supply point.

That was why Junho had brought out camping equipment he had purchased long ago and stored in our shelter warehouse.

“Whoa? What is this? It’s different from a normal windscreen.”

When the camping-experienced Park Deokcheol asked, Junho drove low-noise carbon poles between the trees and answered,

“Stealth camouflage netting. Windproof and waterproof tarp too. You can turn lights on inside, and nobody across the river will see anything.”

Junho hung an infrared-blocking tarp on the inside and a blackout tarp on the outside.

Then he covered both with stealth camouflage netting.

Now, not even their silhouettes would be visible from outside.

“Let’s recharge the drones.”

They had also brought two fully charged six-kilowatt portable power banks.

Just in case they ended up staying far longer than planned, Junho had also packed three 200-watt foldable solar panels, but for now these alone were more than enough.

TUTUTUK. SHAAAAAA...

Meanwhile, the raindrops quickly became a heavy downpour.

Listening to the rain pounding against the tarps, the group focused on their work.

Four cots from a company considered the pinnacle of field beds were unfolded.

Sleeping bags were neatly placed atop them.

“Whew, it’s raining hard.”

Yoon Seolhee and Choi Hyunwoo returned after finishing work outside.

Both wore waterproof, windproof Gore-Tex rain gear that had naturally been prepared in advance at the shelter.

“Good work.”

Just like during the camping trip along the Han River, they had once again installed portable thermal-imaging cameras around the island.

Since the devices were waterproof and could operate for roughly twelve hours on a full charge, one night posed no issue.

“Mm. Works properly.”

After checking the laptop connected to the thermal-imaging camera cables, Junho nodded.

The island itself was tiny—barely forty meters wide and around two hundred meters long—so six cameras surrounding the campsite were sufficient.

“Warm yourselves up. Dry your clothes too.”

“Yes.”

At Junho’s words, Yoon Seolhee and Choi Hyunwoo removed their wet clothes and gloves and placed them atop the portable mini dryer.

Wooooong.

The low-noise, low-power dryer spun quietly while releasing warm air.

At the same time, portable equipment equipped with an electric fan and humidifying function maintained the indoor temperature.

“Wow, isn’t this basically luxury itself, hyungnim?”

Choi Hyunwoo had already experienced how obsessively prepared Junho was while staying at the Bucheon house.

But that had still been a house.

He never imagined that even outdoors, in conditions where most people would struggle even during peacetime, Junho would use top-tier premium equipment like this.

“I don’t know about luxury. I just kept thinking about how to maintain condition outdoors for long periods, and somehow it ended up like this.”

Besides, he had ignored cost-effectiveness completely and bought only the products with the best reviews.

That was how things became what they were now.

“Let’s grill the meat.”

A grill plate was placed atop the portable gas stove.

The meat looted from the looters sizzled as it cooked.

At the same time, civilian combat rations that could be eaten within minutes simply by adding water steamed as they heated.

“This seriously feels like we came out camping or something...”

“More like glamping, noona.”

Unlike the Bucheon expedition, which had felt like a harsh field operation, the environment now was completely different.

As Yoon Seolhee looked awkwardly around, Choi Hyunwoo chimed in.

“Helinox Tactical Field Chair? And a Soto regulator? Even a Jetboil...?”

Park Deokcheol, who had extensive hunting and camping experience in the United States, could not stop admiring the equipment Junho had prepared.

“Wha? Whuzzat mean?”

Choi Hyunwoo mumbled through a mouthful of fried rice, and Park Deokcheol nodded while opening his combat ration.

“Yeah. Very expensive. Rich campers use this stuff.”

“I don’t know much about camping, so I just bought whatever people online kept recommending. Anyway, let’s eat comfortably and rest today.”

Unlike the Bucheon expedition, where they had to operate inside a massive city like Seoul, this place was merely a small island in the Bukhan River with no nearby residences.

There was no need to worry about threats from zombies or looters.

And on windy, rainy days like this, nobody launched boats onto rivers or seas.

That was why Junho and the group relied on the thermal-imaging cameras while spending time almost as though they were enjoying luxurious camping.

The pleasant sound of rain.

The smell of grilling meat.

The warmth from the power banks and electric mini fan.

The meat cooking deliciously atop the grill plate.

In the middle of the zombie apocalypse, the four of them welcomed the night on the Bukhan River as though they were living in an entirely different world.

***

“So you’re telling me you still haven’t found this Lee Junho guy?”

“Yes. We cross-checked every accessible military and police special-forces database. We even ran through the reserve-force database and internal National Intelligence Service special-monitoring personnel records, but there’s no Lee Junho matching the criteria.”

“Same result on the closed network side.”

At the words of the Army Intelligence Director and the Deputy Director of the Second Bureau, the Minister of National Defense’s expression hardened further.

“You’re sure you looked properly? It’s a common name. Couldn’t you have missed him?”

“We directly checked Special Warfare Command personnel records and confidential rosters from subordinate battalions and brigades.”

“......”

“We compared and analyzed everyone named Lee Junho among former special-operations personnel, attached operatives, and converted-service members. We even checked civilian-military hybrid partners. But nobody matches the information provided by the Navy, the Han River UDT teams, and the Jeju recapture forces.”

“Ha. That makes no sense. His firepower, equipment, and skill all scream active-duty or recently discharged special forces. And not just regular special forces—an ace. Could he be on an omitted roster?”

At the Minister’s incredulous words, the Intelligence Director frowned before cautiously speaking.

“...To be honest, Minister. Even our people think someone at that level should at minimum be a Tier-1 operator. But there are no records, and nobody remembers him. Which means he really might not be connected to us at all.”

“His operational patterns are identical to someone who underwent long-term advanced tactical training. According to testimony from the Halla Net forces, he’s absolutely not some ordinary reservist.”

The Deputy Director had personally undergone training with Special Warfare Command, UDT, and even American programs, while also possessing extensive field experience.

Even in his judgment, that man called “Lee Junho” was far beyond ordinary. He was the sort of individual the military itself would have shown extraordinary interest in.

“You said he even designated coordinates for the Navy Lynx helicopters with a laser?”

“Yes. Just looking at the attack on that cult church, he isn’t merely highly skilled. He knows how to draw the entire operational picture.”

“Hmmm.”

The Minister of National Defense tapped the table lightly with his finger, his expression growing even more serious.

“Then there are only two possibilities. Someone deliberately hidden away... or someone who’s been quietly moving while avoiding our eyes. Considering he used an AR-15, there’s also the possibility he’s tied to the American side.”

“Yes. That’s our assessment as well.”

At the Deputy Director’s response, the Minister remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

“Fine. Keep tracking him. Give orders to those UDT boys at World Cup Park. They’re moving toward Jamsil soon anyway, right?”

“Yes. They’ll move immediately after securing Yeouido.”

“Good. Then they’ll reach Guri, Hanam, and Namyangju quickly, right? There should still be some surviving units there.”

“The chain of command has collapsed, so we haven’t confirmed it completely yet, but that’s our expectation.”

“Find the surviving units first and make contact. Use my name if necessary. You said this Lee Junho guy moved by boat along the Han River, right? Then there’s a high probability he departed from somewhere upstream. If there are units entrenched there, they might know something.”

Proving he had not risen to his position through luck alone, the Minister’s prediction was remarkably sharp.

“That’s correct.”

“Good. We have to find Lee Junho and make contact no matter what. Bring him over to our side. In my opinion, we need that Lee Junho bastard if we want to reclaim the Capital Region.”

Even the countless special-forces soldiers and “operatives” had been unable to escape the infection disaster.

Only a tiny number had either descended to Jeju together or retained functioning command structures.

And even they had failed to fully display their abilities in the face of an unprecedented catastrophe.

They still demonstrated abilities vastly superior to ordinary troops, but they could not immediately adapt to a situation that had never existed within doctrine.

But that “Lee Junho,” unlike his extremely common name, was different.

As far as the Minister of National Defense knew, not a single operative or special-forces soldier remaining on the mainland had achieved such undeniable accomplishments.

“A guy like that wouldn’t have stayed quiet all this time and only now become known. He definitely caused trouble somewhere already. Stirred up chaos. And odds are, he’s about to cause something else too.”

It was conviction born from instinct and decades of military life.

And the Minister’s prediction was extremely accurate.

Because “Lee Junho” was currently right on the verge of causing a massive incident at Nami Island.

“It’s fine if you’re a little late. But remember this—under no circumstances can the Emergency Committee reach him before we do.”

“Yes, Minister.”

Reclaiming the Capital Region was the military’s only remaining card in a situation where the nation itself was not merely shaking, but approaching collapse.

And because of that, the Minister of National Defense and the figures directly under his line became increasingly obsessed with Junho—a man who possessed an extraordinarily high possibility of making that happen.