Return To The Building Owner [EN]: Chapter 388

388

“What are you going to do?”

As the truck carrying the two of them arrived at City Hall, Park Min-seok looked at Hyun-sung with a serious expression and asked.

Hyun-sung immediately replied.

“The target is the Mayor.”

“You mean the Mayor?”

“Yes, in this situation, there’s no solution if individuals act alone. There’s only one person who can minimize the damage.”

“So, you’re going to move the Mayor?”

“Of course. That’s the only way. We don’t have time. Let’s go.”

With those words, Hyun-sung immediately got out of the truck.

‘Could the rain really be that bad……?’

Park Min-seok, following behind Hyun-sung, had a worried and doubtful expression. Of course, he was worried because it was said that it would rain a lot, but he couldn’t help but be skeptical.

At first, he didn’t believe it when he heard it would rain a lot. This was because the weather forecast had already predicted that the rainfall would be less than 100mm [millimeters, a unit of rainfall measurement]. However, after hearing Hyun-sung’s dream about the heavy rain, he had no choice but to believe it. The reason was that he had already experienced the accuracy of Hyun-sung’s dreams a few months ago.

The accident during the graduation trip—no one knows what would have happened to him if Hyun-sung hadn’t stopped it in the middle.

‘But, that’s beside the point…….’

The problem is now. He definitely should believe it, but honestly, he can’t help but be skeptical. Even during the monsoon season this summer, it rained a lot, but the Namdae Stream never flooded. So, he couldn’t help but doubt it when he heard that the Namdae Stream would flood this time.

Park Min-seok called out to Hyun-sung, who was walking ahead.

“Hyun-sung!”

“What is it?”

“Ah…… it’s nothing. Let’s go quickly.”

Thinking that there was no point in saying anything now, Park Min-seok shut his mouth. He decided that it would be better to trust Hyun-sung since things had come to this.

The two headed to the duty room.

Knock knock.

“What’s going on? Oh, aren’t you Min-seok? What brings you here at this hour?”

Seo In-soo, the duty officer, was surprised at first by Hyun-sung’s face, but his expression brightened as he recognized Park Min-seok.

Park Min-seok immediately bowed his head.

“Hello, Senior [a term of respect for someone older or more experienced]. Actually, I came because I have something urgent to discuss.”

“Something to discuss? With me?”

“Yes, actually…….”

Park Min-seok began to explain the reason for coming to City Hall. As Park Min-seok’s explanation continued, Seo In-soo shook his head in disbelief. And finally, when Park Min-seok’s explanation ended, he immediately asked.

“So, you’re saying that it’s going to rain a lot tonight and the Namdae Stream will flood?”

“Yes, that’s right. So, we need to quickly evacuate the people in that area…….”

“Hey, Park Min-seok.”

Seo In-soo interrupted Park Min-seok before he could finish speaking. Then, he immediately continued.

“You want me to believe that?”

“Yes, Senior. Otherwise, those people will be in danger.”

“Who says so?”

“Pardon?”

“Who said it’s going to rain a lot tonight? Just a little while ago, the TV said that at most, it would rain 100mm over three days.”

“That’s…….”

Park Min-seok was frustrated. He scratched his head slightly and looked at Hyun-sung.

Then, Seo In-soo immediately asked.

“Who is this friend?”

“Ah, yes. This friend here is…….”

“Kim Hyun-sung. I’m a freshman in Business Administration this year…….”

As Park Min-seok was about to introduce him, Hyun-sung introduced himself briefly and immediately continued.

“Senior, we don’t have time. It’s going to rain heavily in an hour. So, we need to quickly…….”

“Wait a minute!”

Seo In-soo raised his hand and interrupted Hyun-sung. Then, he immediately continued.

“Since you’re a junior from school, I’ll speak casually.”

“Yes, Senior.”

“But no matter how much I listen, I don’t understand. I said it before, but the Meteorological Administration clearly said that it would rain at most 100mm. But now, only you two are saying it’s going to rain a lot, so how can I believe that? Don’t you think so?”

“That’s a mistake. The Meteorological Administration made a big mistake.”

“Hyun-sung, was it?”

Seo In-soo confirmed Hyun-sung’s name once and then continued.

“Everything’s fine, let’s say that’s the case, what do you want me to do now?”

“We need to inform the Mayor of this fact quickly. So, we need to evacuate the people in the low-lying areas quickly.”

“Now even the Mayor…….”

Seo In-soo looked at Hyun-sung with a dumbfounded expression.

Then, Hyun-sung said again in a urgent voice.

“We really don’t have time, Senior!”

“I’m sorry.”

“Pardon?”

“I’m sorry. There’s nothing I can do right now. So, go back quietly. Don’t say any more strange things. It’ll be difficult if you keep doing this.”

Seo In-soo said, picking up the lantern on the table. It seemed like he was going on patrol.

Then, Hyun-sung asked again.

“What do you mean by difficult?”

“Are you really asking because you don’t know the reason? It doesn’t make sense logically, does it? Only you two are insisting on something that even the Meteorological Administration doesn’t know. And as you know, I’m also working for the country and getting paid. I can’t work without principles.”

It was perhaps a natural reaction. But while understanding, he couldn’t help but feel annoyed. That’s why his words came out a bit harsh.

“Do you know who pays that salary?”

“What?”

“It’s the people. And those people are about to be in danger. While you’re sticking to principles and whatnot, the people are dying.”

“You really…….”

Seo In-soo felt a surge of annoyance at that moment. He would listen if they were saying something reasonable, but no matter how he thought about it, it was an absurd situation, so he couldn’t help but be annoyed.

But he couldn’t argue with someone much younger than him.

Then, Park Min-seok caught his eye.

“Come here for a second.”

Seo In-soo said, looking at Park Min-seok next to Hyun-sung. He decided that the only way to end this absurd situation was to persuade Park Min-seok to take Hyun-sung away.

After the two went outside, Hyun-sung, who was left alone, glanced around.

It was then.

‘Oh, what’s this?’

Hyun-sung’s gaze turned to the table. There was a file placed there. And the five letters written on the cover.

[Emergency Contact List]

Hyun-sung, immediately realizing what it meant, moved instinctively without thinking.

Sharrrk!

As he turned the first page of the emergency contact list, there was an organizational chart with contact information. Hyun-sung’s gaze immediately went to the top line, and at the same time, his fist clenched tightly.

After a while.

The two who had gone outside came back in.

Park Min-seok’s expression was completely distorted. It was easy to guess what had happened outside.

As he met Hyun-sung’s eyes, Park Min-seok slowly opened his mouth.

“Hyun-sung, let’s stop now…….”

“Hyung [older brother or a term of endearment for a close older male friend], let’s go. I think I overdid it. Senior, I’m sorry. We’ll be going now.”

He had already achieved his goal of coming to the duty room.

In fact, when you think about it, it wasn’t a problem that Seo In-soo could solve from the beginning. It was absurd to make such a request without any objective evidence.

However, Hyun-sung had no choice but to act stubbornly, but at the same time, he felt sorry.

He wanted to apologize to Seo In-soo a little more, but since every second was precious now, he quickly said goodbye and left the duty room with Park Min-seok.

The two came outside.

Park Min-seok asked first.

“What’s going on? What are you going to do now?”

“Hyung, I’m sorry. Just a moment…….”

With those words, Hyun-sung began to look around. Then, he immediately started running somewhere.

Tadadak!

The place Hyun-sung arrived at was a public telephone booth in front of the annex.

Didididik.

Hyun-sung, who hurriedly picked up the receiver and pressed the numbers, hesitated before leaving the last digit.

‘Wait a minute!’

Even if he told an individual, they wouldn’t listen, and if he talked about the situation in his dream, he would only be called crazy. This method won’t work.

‘Then…….’

There’s only one way!

After finishing his thoughts, Hyun-sung started dialing the phone number again.

After the signal rang a few times, the other party immediately answered the phone.

-Hello.

“Please connect me to Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun.”

-Ah, this is the Mayor speaking…… I’m sorry, but who is calling…….

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun tilted his head while answering the phone.

It was past 10 o’clock. There were only two places that would call at this hour. The first was a business call. But it didn’t seem like it. If the duty room had contacted him, they would have identified their affiliation first and then looked for him. But the other party called his name out of the blue. That meant that at least the call wasn’t from the city.

The second place to call would be someone he was close to, but that wasn’t it either. The reason was that the other party’s voice was completely unfamiliar, a voice he had never heard before.

“It’s under Mount Bukak.”

-Mount Bukak?

“Yes, Chief Kim.”

-Chief Kim of Mount Bukak……?

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun tilted his head once more.

‘Under Mount Bukak……? And Chief……?’

While thinking for a moment, a place came to Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun’s mind. A place that could represent Mount Bukak in Korea.

‘Could it be…….’

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun carefully opened his mouth.

-Perhaps the Blue…… House [the executive office and official residence of the President of South Korea]?

“I can’t say that with my own mouth, and what I’m about to say is not my words but his words.”

-Pardon? By him, do you mean…….”

“Then I will now convey his words. From this moment on…….”

Tuk!

“…….”

Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun, who had finished talking for more than 10 minutes, couldn’t say anything.

Something unimaginable had happened. A direct call from the Blue House, of all places. And even his words.

“This is not the time for this!”

Regaining his senses, Mayor Yoon Seo-hyun immediately picked up the receiver and started calling City Hall.

As Hyun-sung came out of the public telephone booth, Park Min-seok immediately asked.

“Where did you suddenly call?”

“To the Mayor.”

“The Mayor? How did you know the number? You didn’t even know it until you went to the duty room.”

“That’s right. But fortunately, it was in the duty room. Actually…….”

Hyun-sung began to explain to Park Min-seok what had happened in the duty room a little while ago. Before Hyun-sung’s explanation was even finished, Park Min-seok asked in a loud voice.

“What? The emergency contact list?”

“Yes, who would have known it would be there? And the fact that Senior Seo In-soo vacated that spot at exactly that time may be heaven’s will.”

“So, in the end, Senior In-soo taught you.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I can’t help but laugh even when I think about it now.”

Hyun-sung’s voice was brighter than ever.

In fact, he was initially despondent. He had to stop this situation no matter what, but he couldn’t think of a suitable method. But he couldn’t just stand still, so he went to the duty room. He acted stubbornly even though he knew it didn’t make sense, but the result was that he was about to be kicked out. Then, the emergency contact list caught his eye, and things progressed smoothly.

That’s why Hyun-sung’s voice couldn’t help but be bright now.

The truck carrying the two was about to leave City Hall.

Flash! Flash!

The lights began to turn on not only at the main gate but also throughout the City Hall building.

“What is it? Suddenly!”

Park Min-seok looked at Hyun-sung in surprise.

Then, Hyun-sung smiled and immediately continued.

“What else could it be? It’s an emergency. Our Mayor’s judgment is quite fast. Our Mayor will have a smooth road ahead.”

Vroom!

Hyun-sung smiled and stepped on the accelerator forcefully.

Since it was raining so much, flooding of farmland and houses was inevitable, but at least no one would die from this rain. That was the best Hyun-sung could do for now.