The Regressor Only Protects Me [EN]: Chapter 52

#52. Declaration of War (2)

Following the Doan Faction’s provocation, life inside the police station underwent a dramatic shift.

The chief, previously confined to the meeting room, now actively addressed the situation, patrolling the hallways.

07:00 AM, before sunrise.

The police chief’s voice echoed from the podium during roll call.

“This is a direct challenge to our nation. Even as the country faces a crisis, we must eliminate the corrupt elements attempting to exploit it with our own hands!”

The flashlight beam from the podium illuminated the shivering crowd.

The roll call extended an hour beyond its usual duration.

The citizens endured the chief’s address while trembling in the cold.

“As you all know, our police force has its limitations. Therefore, I am establishing an honorary citizen police force, embracing all of you as part of the police!”

The chief’s objective was singular.

To transform the citizens into honorary police officers, bolstering the police’s ranks and suppressing the terrorists.

In essence, he sought to legitimize his command over the citizens by altering their status.

“You are all citizens who have lived under the protection and benefits of the Republic of Korea!”

Contrary to the chief’s impassioned speech, the citizens gathered below the podium responded with apathy.

Despite the Level 2 cold wave alert issued days prior, the chief insisted on outdoor roll call, citing the need to maintain order and discipline.

However, while outdoor roll call served as a means of control for the police, it inflicted hardship on the citizens.

“Now is the time to lend your strength to the nation! Remember the IMF crisis [1997 Asian Financial Crisis]! Help us with the power you, the citizens, used to revive the country through the gold-collecting campaign!”

Thud-!

At that moment, an elderly man listening to the police chief’s speech collapsed from the cold.

Bystanders attempted to assist him and escort him inside, but the police intervened with batons.

“Roll call is not yet concluded. Return to your positions.”

“No…! Hey. A man has collapsed.”

“At least allow our children and the elderly to go inside first. Please?”

The police officer remained unmoved by the citizen’s pleas.

“Return to your positions. Failure to comply with police instructions will result in expulsion from the police station. It’s a rule set by the chief.”

It was a cruel decree.

Expulsion from the police station, the city’s sole refuge with a functioning boiler, meant certain death.

The citizens were acutely aware of this reality.

The police chief’s voice resonated even louder from the podium.

Unlike the others, the police chief, accustomed to warm meals and water, possessed greater stamina.

His voice boomed.

“Tomorrow! We will be dispatched to Doan District. To punish the traitors and restore order! From today forward, all of you will become honorary police officers of the Manan Police Station and follow my orders! All of this is for the Republic of Korea!”

The police chief extended his arms, soliciting cheers.

It was a gesture inviting participation in his cause.

“…….”

“……Cough! Cough!”

“…….”

However, only coughs punctuated the silence; no one echoed the chief’s sentiments.

Instead, the citizens glared at the chief from below the podium.

“…….”

“…….”

“…….”

The chief frowned as he surveyed the silent crowd.

‘These pigs… They don’t even realize I’m protecting them. Do these bastards think the Korean police are a joke? Huh?’

The chief experienced a sudden epiphany.

A decree by the monarch.

The chief feigned disbelief in the terrorists’ system, but he recognized its power.

Manan Police Station Chief, Park Geon-woo.

He was the monarch of the Manan First Faction.

At that moment, the chief shouted, utilizing his Aggravation [skill or ability].

It was an unexpected moment.

“I declare!!!”

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!!!

As the chief shouted, a notification window regarding the decree appeared before the citizens’ eyes.

It was a decree declaration window by the monarch.

The citizens stirred at the sudden sight.

“Article 1, Paragraph 2. All citizens inside the police station become ‘Honorary Police Officers.'”

[Manan First Faction, Monarch Park Geon-woo]

[Decree Declaration]

[Declarant: Park Geon-woo]

[Article 1, Paragraph 2: All citizens inside the police station become ‘Honorary Police Officers’ and are obligated to carry out the orders of Monarch Park Geon-woo.]

The system automatically translated the police chief’s thoughts into formal language.

“Violation!”

The chief intended to expend all his remaining points.

He shouted, consumed by madness.

“Imprisonment in detention center.”

The citizens were shocked by that pronouncement.

It implied that the chief’s words superseded the Constitution of the Republic of Korea.

The detention center itself was a space for detaining criminals based on the Constitution, but if the chief detained people as he pleased, it meant he was ruling above the law.

With these words, the chief was determined to seize all power within the police station and devote himself to avenging the police.

[You have entered a violation.]

[Would you like to declare the stated decree?]

“Declare.”

Flash-!

Once again, golden light enveloped and rippled through the bodies of all the citizens.

It was stored within each individual’s body system.

The chief’s order.

The chief, consumed by madness, immediately descended from the podium.

Sion, who had been observing the scene from the 5th-floor window, checked his quest window.

[Quest: Government Dog]

[Achievement Progress:

●Achieved citizen comfort level of 30% or higher (current level 33%)! Achieved!

●Resolved continuous food supply route (01)

●Achieved 100% of available labor force within the police force (current level 100%)! Achieved!

★ Reward: Achievement Points – 150]

The available labor force reached 100% with the police chief’s declaration.

If only the ‘bridge’ currently under construction on the supply route to Ilbeon Street is completed, the food supply route will also be resolved.

The quest was only a matter of time.

But that was not what Sion wanted.

“Crazy bastard. He’s planning to use the citizens like slaves.”

The boiler supervisor, standing beside Sion, muttered in frustration.

Nevertheless, Sion silently observed the citizens through the window frame.

The citizens slowly began to enter the police station like a calm wave.

“I really don’t know what to do about this… Um, Manager. There’s something I haven’t told you.”

The boiler supervisor glanced around and whispered closer to Sion.

“We only talk about this among ourselves, but even our kids know that the world has changed, isn’t it just that crazy chief who’s denying it?”

“…….”

Sion listened to the boiler supervisor’s words without comment.

“Become the monarch. Manager. Our kids all think so. Look at what you’ve changed in the past two weeks. It’s almost a miracle. Other citizens are now celebrating your achievements…”

At those words, Sion turned to the boiler supervisor.

As Sion turned around, he emphasized once again.

“Become the monarch. Manager. We’re all going to die if things continue like this. Because of that stupid chief. There must be a way…”

They regarded Sion as a savior.

And they sincerely supported Sion.

They believed that only Sion could save them in this destroyed world.

But they were mistaken about something.

Sion’s purpose was not to save them.

Sion’s purpose was to build and stabilize a force, then find his brother.

Everything was for his brother, Junho.

The citizens, unaware of this fact, only supported Sion based on the visible results.

But that was what Sion was aiming for.

“No. It’s going well.”

Sion interrupted the boiler supervisor’s words.

Then he walked down the hallway.

The boiler supervisor watched Sion’s retreating figure.

‘Going well…?’

It was an incomprehensible answer for the supervisor.

* * *

I went down to the 4th floor and approached Choi Myung-joon.

The strike team and workers that Choi Myung-joon had gathered were there.

“Hyung [term for older brother or respected male], you’ve arrived.”

Choi Myung-joon bowed to me like a gangster and moved to my side.

I said to him as he approached.

“Gather only the trustworthy people from the strike team, focusing on the special forces. I can pull the strike team out of the arrest team anyway.”

“How many should I gather?”

“As many trustworthy people as possible. No, no, not that. People with a lot of complaints about the police. Yeah. Gather those who were released from the detention center.”

From tomorrow, the arrest team led by the chief will begin searching the Doan District area.

Then many people will be mobilized into the arrest team, and the only people left in the police station will be the workers and the strike team I’ve formed.

‘I’ll catch him as soon as possible.’

The chief has power guaranteed by the system.

That’s why he had to be eliminated before he used that power.

If the citizens have turned to my side, then all that’s left are the police force, the reconnaissance team, and the arrest team.

Since the arrest team has mobilized force, they will have an overwhelming number, so I will take over the police station while they are out on a mission.

And form my own special forces with Choi Myung-joon as the leader.

From the police’s perspective, they won’t be able to suspect the strike team since they are a group that has always possessed weapons.

They also know the internal situation well.

Now all I have to do is ‘shake things up.’

“Two days from now, at dawn. Start then.”

I told Choi Myung-joon, and he immediately obeyed.

* * *

“…….”

Jin Jae-hee reopened her eyes two days after the dungeon raid.

She struggled to open her eyes and got out of bed.

“Ugh…….”

Soon, she let out a faint groan and was in pain.

It felt like someone was poking her ribs from the inside with needles.

Jin Jae-hee wiped the sweat flowing down her forehead and swept it back with her hand.

‘I can’t believe I couldn’t react…’

She knew in advance that the ogre’s weakness was its eyes, but automatic reflexes were unheard of.

The monster moved with a protective instinct to protect its weakness even while taking a nap.

As a result, it attacked Sion, and she barely managed to save him, but ended up losing consciousness.

But it was fortunate that the accident happened after the artifact was opened.

Selected players had the ability to self-heal, unlike ordinary people.

If it weren’t for that ability, she would be dead by now.

Inside the cold ogre’s food storage, becoming an emergency food supply that could be eaten at any time.

‘Sion……?’

Jin Jae-hee, who had regained her senses, began to worry about Kang Sion.

The most important thing to her was Sion’s safety.

As long as Sion was safe, she didn’t care about her own life.

But unlike her worries, Sion was sitting on the opposite bed.

Sion picked up a kettle and poured hot water into a cup of ramen.

“You’re awake?”

His voice was gentle and kind.

No, maybe she was the only one who felt that way.

His movements as he poured water into the cup ramen felt delicate.

Pour, pour, pour.

Sion poured warm water into another container again.

After Sion started the boiler, the citizens belonging to the police station were able to consume warm water.

It was water heated with the heat remaining after operating the boiler.

Therefore, they were able to consume instant foods such as cup ramen.

Jin Jae-hee, seeing Sion’s appearance, took a deep breath as if relieved.

Sion took a sip of warm water, then grabbed the cup ramen and approached Jae-hee.

“Eat. It’s all we have.”

“…….”

Jin Ramen Mild Flavor.

Jae-hee silently held the cup ramen he handed her with both hands.

Sion returned without saying anything and sat on the bed.

The small cup ramen container that fit in both hands was warm.

Jae-hee quietly held the cup ramen container and then said to him.

“Ah, um…….”

“It’s okay.”

But before she could say anything, Sion interrupted her.

Snap.

Sion broke the wooden chopsticks in half and opened the cup ramen lid.

The rising steam from the ramen covered Sion’s face.

“I’m okay. Don’t think about anything and just focus on recovering.”

“…….”

Slurp.

After saying those words, Sion began to eat the ramen.

Jin Jae-hee was silently watching him.

She had lived in the destroyed world for a long time, but the scene in front of her felt alien no matter how many times she saw it.

A boy eating the remnants of civilization in a world where civilization had been destroyed.

A boy sitting on an old bed that she didn’t even know where he picked up, holding chopsticks and eating ramen.

Herself watching that.

When she opened the ramen lid, curly noodles were submerged in red broth.

“Yeah.”

Jin Jae-hee gracefully put the ramen she picked up with chopsticks into her mouth.

(To be continued in the next episode)