Rainbow City

The elderly man who followed along called out to Kwak Soohwan. Despite being a fearless soldier, he didn’t behave arrogantly, nor did he overflow with money, nor did he resort to violence unnecessarily. If he really intended to kill, he would have done so from the beginning and robbed what he needed. As the old man realized this, Kwak Soohwan appeared differently to him.

“But why are you going to Udo? Not just anyone can enter Udo, and if you’re a soldier, you should know that.”

Kwak Soohwan tightened the laces of his military boots.

“I’m going to find my lover.”

The old man blinked his tired eyes.

“Lover?”

“I’m leaving now, live comfortably for a long time.”

“Just a moment, just a moment!”

After saying to wait, the old man went into the house and rummaged for something. With time running short, Kwak Soohwan decided to just leave and walked out into the yard, but the old man came running out. He handed something to Kwak Soohwan. Looking down, it was an old key.

“I can’t use it now because there’s no fuel, but it’s from the old days when I used it.”

“Grandpa, do you even have a boat?”

Kwak Soohwan asked, knowing full well it was unlikely.

“Where would I have such an expensive thing? Even if I did, it would all be owned by Rainbow City. Come here. It’s been a while, but I’ve cherished and maintained it, so it should still work. It’s no use to me anyway; it’s better for someone who needs it to use it.”

The old man grabbed Kwak Soohwan’s arm and headed towards the back of the house.

When he opened the wooden door of the shed, behind the old truck, a jet ski with a shabby paint job was revealed. Despite its age, there were traces of repainting several times on the old product.

“How’s this? Isn’t it great? You’ll have to manage the fuel yourself.”

Kwak Soohwan let out a short laugh. Where would he even fill up the fuel? The army center is far away from here. Nevertheless, Kwak Soohwan quickly checked the fuel tank of the truck. There was still about a liter left.

“Will the fuel in this truck be enough to get to Udo?”

“The distance isn’t that far, so it should be just enough.”

“Grandpa, I’ll give you more money, so transfer the fuel from the truck to the jet ski.”

“Then how will you transfer the jet ski?”

The jet ski was placed on a cart made of iron so that it could be transferred to the truck. Kwak Soohwan grabbed the front of the cart where the jet ski was placed and pulled it. Although it took some effort, there were wheels underneath, so it was easy to pull. The old man was amazed.

“You’re quite strong. Are you a mutant too?”

“I can manage this much.”

Although the weight was easily over 150kg, as Kwak Soohwan said, it wasn’t difficult to move it with a little effort.

The old man emptied all the fuel from the truck and transferred it to the jet ski. In his younger days, before Adam appeared, the old man used to go out to the sea and play with the jet ski several times a day. He hid it to avoid being taken by the soldiers, but it was not what the old man wanted to decay and disappear in the shed.

Kwak Soohwan brought the rope tied to the front of the cart to his shoulder. Gripping the rope tightly with both hands, he started pulling it towards the sea.

“How’s the mainland? Are the Adams still causing trouble?”

“It’s always the same.”

The old man tried to help from behind, but it was no help at all.

“My son was drafted to the mainland, and a few months after he left, he died at the hands of the Adams. I couldn’t even receive his remains. Life is always a war. Only the young ones keep dying.”

The old man’s voice sounded quite distant, as if it were from a long time ago. Kwak Soohwan quickened his pace and headed towards the coastal road, connecting to the concrete road leading to the sea. He pushed the jet ski into the water and stepped onto the footboard. The engine was off, and even the gentle waves made it sway. Kwak Soohwan inserted the key and turned it. Impatient because the engine didn’t start at once, but fortunately, after several attempts, the water jet started working.

“When you press the handle, it accelerates. There’s no reverse function, so just turn the handle sharply when changing direction!”

Before the explanation was over, Kwak Soohwan had already pulled the handle. The body shot forward. Operating the jet ski was much simpler than driving a car.

“I’ll come back to return it later.”

The old man waved as if saying goodbye. Kwak Soohwan exerted force on the accelerator handle and began heading towards the distant island in view. Water splashed on his face, but his clothes didn’t get soaked. With each wave he crossed, the body of the jet ski swayed. Somehow, he felt like if Dr. Seok were riding behind him, he’d see a face brimming with excitement. To achieve that, he’d have to pull both arms around his waist to keep them from falling, but that was just a thought. Perhaps due to impatience, Udo seemed much farther than what was visible.

***

It was said that the seawater was salty because of a man who dropped a magic fan into the sea. Kwak Soohwan remembered the story told by a Vietnamese lady when he was young. Back then, he didn’t even know whether the seawater was salty or not. But now, he tasted the seawater so much that he could curse the guy who lost the fan.

As Kwak Soohwan circled around Udo, he looked up at the mansion emitting a strong light from the top. He didn’t know where Second Master’s mansion was, but it was probably the place where the most electricity was wasted.

Dragging the jet ski to the coast near the rocky coast, Kwak Soohwan turned off the engine. As he pulled up the body, people who were walking by the beach were amazed.

It was Kwak Soohwan’s first time visiting Udo. The benches on the beach, the swings, and the mart where you could get necessities anytime were impressive. The night on Udo was illuminated by several tall lighthouses, constantly surveilling the surroundings.

Over there, a jeep with soldiers came running and stopped at the end of the sandy beach.

Even if it was Second Master’s trap, he had to come. Kwak Soohwan looked down at the pistol hanging on his thigh, then glanced at the jeep. The person who got out of the car was wearing slippers. It reminded him of the day he first saw him with white bare feet in this cold weather.

Kwak Soohwan looked at Seokhwa expressionlessly.

Seokhwa, checking for any wounds or injuries from the fall, walked towards Kwak Soohwan, kicking up sand. Every time the lighthouse light passed between them, their figures were clearly visible, and Seokhwa also stared intently at Kwak Soohwan.

Still, as if he couldn’t believe it, Seokhwa asked cautiously, “Are you really Major Kwak?”

Though he didn’t expect Seokhwa to come running and hug him, it was still a question that didn’t confirm his existence.

“Who do you think I am?”

When Kwak Soohwan responded expressionlessly, Seokhwa’s eyes widened. It was clear that he thought there was a problem with his memory after the fall. Kwak Soohwan felt a subtle guilt for startling Seokhwa so dramatically.

“Are you here to pick up rocks with slippers again today?”

Seokhwa’s eyebrows noticeably furrowed.

“Are you kidding me?”

“Don’t get angry. I came all the way across the rough sea at midnight just to meet Dr. Seok.”

Kwak Soohwan spread his arms. But Seokhwa just stood still as if his feet were buried in the sand. If he didn’t come, Kwak Soohwan would go to him. However, just as he was about to walk up to Seokhwa and embrace him, an interferer came from behind. It was Second Master’s servant, whom he had seen several times before.

“I’ll escort you to Second Master’s residence.”

“You shot down a helicopter telling us all to die, and now you’re doing this?”

“There was a big misunderstanding. It was actually Second Master who requested the cessation of the shootdown.”

Kwak Soohwan stood in front of Seokhwa, blocking his way.

“We still have recordings left from the Army Center, so any misunderstandings can be resolved.”

Since they could create hundreds of manipulations and conspiracies in a single day, there was no trust in recordings. He didn’t even consider taking Seokhwa with him on the jet ski and escaping, but there was hardly enough fuel anyway. Moreover, once on Udo, avoiding Second Master’s clutches wouldn’t be easy.

“Major Kwak.”

Seokhwa tightly grasped Kwak Soohwan’s arm.

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

Only now did Seokhwa realize the person in front of him. Even if the ground beneath his feet collapsed when he said he didn’t remember him, if he was unharmed, that was enough.

“I don’t die easily.”

“Major Lee Chaeyoon and Second Master are waiting.”

The servant spoke firmly, indicating not to delay any longer. Since he couldn’t avoid meeting Second Master, Kwak Soohwan walked with Seokhwa towards the jeep that had stopped.

“Are you injured anywhere?”

“No, I’m not. And you, Major?”

“I’ve just had my share of seawater.”

Getting into the car, Kwak Soohwan noticed a cut on his chin. When touched by the side, Kwak Soohwan smiled softly.

“I got hurt.”

“It’ll get better soon.”

“I thought I wouldn’t see you for a while.”

“That’s why I flew over on the jet ski.”

The servant sitting in the passenger seat narrowed his eyes. The bond between them seemed so strong that it made one wonder if what Second Master said was true. Of course, the servant also had considerable information about Seokhwa and Kwak Soohwan. Seokhwa was only interested in stones, and Kwak Soohwan engaged in light behavior just to conceal his true identity. Seeing the two of them trying to imitate affection made one suspect if they were acting.

Looking back in the mirror, Kwak Soohwan, who had sensed the gaze like a ghost, met eyes with him.

“Second Master was very worried.”

Kwak Soohwan contained an obvious smirk.

“Would such a person issue a wanted order?”

“It was to protect you both from Eden Estate.”

Kwak Soohwan dismissed it as nonsense to the point of wanting to plug his ears.

Seokhwa, sitting on the rear seat on the central bulging seat, held onto Kwak Soohwan’s sleeve tightly. Despite the uncomfortable position, as if afraid Kwak Soohwan would disappear somewhere, he leaned his body against him, seeking warmth.

Unconsciously, Kwak Soohwan struggled to suppress the urge to embrace Seokhwa. Perhaps today’s events had been quite a shock to Dr. Seok…

Seokhwa seemed to have suffered a lot more after meeting him. If he had stayed only in the lab, he would have lived without knowing anything. No, if Choi Hoeon had taken an interest in Seokhwa, it was fortunate that Kwak Soohwan was there. Just thinking about Choi Hoeon shaking Seokhwa in his hands made him want to tear his face and body apart.

“Second Master said…”

Seokhwa quietly spoke while looking at the mansion emitting light.

“He knows that Dr. Choi Hoeon is a Serpent.”

It wasn’t surprising. Second Master could compile various information and could probably suspect to some extent. But if Second Master clearly pointed out Choi Hoeon as a Serpent, the story would be different. At least, there was tremendous power in Second Master’s words.

“Whatever Second Master said, don’t believe it blindly.”

“I only believe in solid facts.”

Although he seemed lethargic and might be easily swayed, Seokhwa was firm in his thoughts and beliefs. Apart from everything else, Kwak Soohwan’s body was wearing out from Seokhwa persistently clinging to him.

He wanted to go somewhere secluded, check if there were any injuries all over Seokhwa’s body, and kiss him. The marks he had left around the nape of his neck were still vivid. Previously, he hadn’t been this impatient, but after mixing his body with Seokhwa’s, his desire had intensified. It was because he knew Seokhwa’s body temperature so well, wrapped warmly around him.

Seokhwa glanced at Kwak Soohwan’s training pants.

“Why are you standing?”

He had to say it out loud. Still, he didn’t say it blatantly but whispered into Kwak Soohwan’s ear. Kwak Soohwan, deliberately mixing laughter into his words, pulled up Seokhwa’s foot. Due to that, Seokhwa, who was pushed towards the door, blinked with a puzzled look. He hadn’t walked much, so the soles of his feet were soft but cold like seawater. Although he knew he didn’t wear socks because he felt hot, he felt a bit sorry for him.

“We’ve arrived. Please get off.”

The servant got out of the car without looking back on purpose. Kwak Soohwan held Seokhwa’s foot tightly with both hands and then let it go again. Seokhwa couldn’t understand all of his actions, but feeling the warmth that touched his foot, he wiggled his toes inside the slippers.

If he hadn’t heard that Kwak Soohwan was safe, he would have definitely confronted Second Master. Whatever relationship Second Master had with him, he would surely not forgive. Seokhwa had always envied those with perfect bodies, but this time he was grateful that he was sturdy. Today, he painfully realized how precious Kwak Soohwan was to him. Just the thought of losing him made him feel a deep pain.

As they walked through the door opened by the servant, Lee Chaeyoon was standing at the end of the corridor, arms crossed. He was chewing on a sausage without even touching it with his hands.

“Didn’t die, huh?” Even though he said that, Lee Chaeyoon’s eyes betrayed a hint of relief.

“Thank you. You’ve worked hard.”

“Good grief, if it’s about gratitude, I only hear it if it’s from Dr. Seokhwa, you know? Aren’t you lucky? Our household is not easily accessible, yet you come here for food?”

With a mechanical sound, Kwak Soohwan glanced past Lee Chaeyoon’s shoulder. Through the front glass window, there was a cliff along with the coastline, and Oriental paintings adorned the walls of the corridor and living room. And in the center of the living room sat Second Master in a wheelchair.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen your face in person, Controller.”

Lee Chaeyoon, chewing on sausage, briefly turned to Second Master before facing Kwak Soohwan again.

“Major Lee, would you kindly make room for me to talk to the Controller.”

Realizing it took two times for Lee Chaeyoon to understand, he momentarily expressed his surprise, then glared at Kwak Soohwan, muttering insults. “You talk later.” Lee Chaeyoon walked past Kwak Soohwan, growling softly. Seokhwa speculated that even Yang Sang-hoon might not know his true identity from his reaction.

“Dr. Seokhwa will continue the conversation.”

Second Master wiped his wrinkled eyes with his hand. He looked extremely tired, as if he hadn’t slept for days. Kwak Soohwan was more alert than usual, not knowing what tricks the man had up his sleeve. He was the type of person who, if given the slightest chance, would devour any gap in politics and swallow it whole.

“Both of you come here.”

As Second Master wheeled closer to the window, he looked out. He seemed so defenseless that one could almost strangle him right away.

“Dr. Seokhwa doesn’t trust my words. That’s why Major Kwak Soohwan was needed.”

Seokhwa stared at Second Master as if he were an inanimate object. Despite having almost no social experience, unlike Kwak Soohwan’s concerns, Seokhwa didn’t easily trust others. While he formulated hypotheses, he wasn’t one to get caught up in them. Seokhwa always valued only tangible results. Oh Yang-seok often scolded Seokhwa, calling him an inhumane doctor even though he took care of him.

“Dr. Seok is smart, so he filters out Second Master’s words.”

Kwak Soohwan blurted out abruptly. Second Master, laughing with a peculiar sound in his throat, adjusted the wheelchair’s direction towards them.

One seemed flawless like a new species, and the other seemed dim-witted as if a screw were loose, yet he was free from Adam, and as a researcher, he was impeccable.

“The function of religion is quite excellent. Even without clear evidence or material proof, the emotion of faith alone is enough to strengthen a person. So perhaps the original purpose of Eden Estate was good.”

Second Master pressed a button on the remote control lying on his lap under the blanket. At the same time, curtains began to descend, covering the large window.

“Security level 1 will be activated within approximately 30 Second Masters from now.”

Mother’s voice came through the speakers in the living room.

“Now listen to me carefully.”

Only after the curtains completely covered the interior did Second Master speak.

“In the future, Dr. Seokhwa will run for Master instead of me.”

“I… I said I won’t.”

Seokhwa replied bluntly. Although he had suspected that Second Master would pull something, he didn’t expect such nonsense. Kwak Soohwan sighed in frustration.

“I admit that the world needs to change. However, reform is more stable than revolution.”

As Kwak Soohwan lowered his gaze, the round cheek of Seokhwa came into view. Seokhwa stared at the Master with eyes so dark it was impossible to discern his thoughts. Since leaving Rabbit Island and coming here, Seokhwa hadn’t been privy to the conversation between him and the Master, so he couldn’t just dismiss it as nonsense.

“Come this way.”

Second Master adjusted the joystick and took the lead. As they followed him, focusing only on his back as he walked down the corridor opposite the entrance, Second Master opened his mouth again.

“I have something to show you, so don’t be too guarded.”

Since they had already entered Second Master’s mansion, it would be more beneficial to take away something. Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa reluctantly followed suit. After passing through a long corridor, they saw a security door leading to the office. After verifying their identities, they walked through the open door and walked for a while, and soon a spacious office appeared. However, the opposite side of the office, where books were displayed, was covered with thick curtains.

On the display shelves in the office were minerals compressed to resemble the sea and obsidian with a flowing black gloss placed at a height reachable by hand. Seokhwa’s gaze was drawn to the obsidian sparkling like glass. The undulations were present, but there were no signs of wear and tear. The obsidian, larger than a fist, was the first size he had ever seen, making it impossible to divert his gaze.

“Shall I steal it for you?” Kwak Soohwan whispered in Seokhwa’s ear. Seokhwa firmly shook his head.

“When lava cools down by touching cold seawater, it turns into smooth glassy rocks like this. In a way, this guy is a child of lava and thawing sea.”

Second Master affectionately stroked the obsidian with his hand.

“Do you not have these things in your house? Showing off rocks like potatoes? It’s annoying,” Kwak Soohwan muttered, feeling uncomfortable.

“Did you bring them here to show off rocks like kids?”

Second Master chuckled as if he found something amusing, scratching his neck once again.

Seokhwa liked the obsidian, but he didn’t want to steal it. The stone that looked like the egg Kwak Soohwan gave him was still safely in his pocket, and if he had to choose between the two, it would be the stone in his pocket. Come to think of it, all the stones in Second Master’s office were minerals.

Unlike rocks, minerals are characterized by regular atomic arrangements, and diamond, a carbon mineral, was one of them. Those composed of a single element generally had high prices. Seokhwa looked at the round mano placed in the center of the office desk. Despite receiving the caretaker’s care, access to the office required Second Master’s fingerprint. In the end, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Second Master’s touch was most prevalent here.

There was not a speck of dust in the spacious room, and the position of the mano was also at the exact center. Moreover, the positions of the minerals placed on each square pillar were evenly spaced without any irregularities. Seokhwa shifted his gaze from the minerals to Second Master. he had liked many stones rolling on the roadside. It wasn’t that he only liked certain minerals.

“What are you observing?” Second Master asked Seokhwa with curious eyes.

“One of them is so obviously hostile, I can tell just by looking,” Second Master said, as Kwak Soohwan was looking around the office in a different sense than Seokhwa.

Because Kwak Soohwan was there, Seokhwa could regain his sense of security, knowing that there was a way out if Second Master’s throat were cut or if there was a panic room somewhere, or if there was a space to build defenses if attacked.

“Why are you nominating me as your successor?”

“Because there are reasons and justifications for it.”

Second Master had said that after receiving the message that Kwak Soohwan was safe. Asking him to become his successor.

“Reasons?”

Kwak Soohwan, standing in front of Seokhwa, asked uncomfortably.

Second Master raised the remote control on his knee again and pressed a button. With the sound of the curtains being drawn, one side of the concealed office began to be revealed. Gradually, the relationship chart spread out in a radial pattern was exposed. At the center was Eden Estate, and from Eden Estate, four rivers spread out. Seokhwa took in the relationship chart at a glance, as if taking a picture.

Each stem indicated that the descendants of Pishon and Gihon were indicated by Kwak Soohwan, and Lee Jinyeon was Seokhwa. And Serpent was the child of Tigris. It was no different from what Choi Hoeon had told him. Seokhwa looked at the inscription hanging at the top of the stem.

But Kwak Soohwan focused only on one place, one particular part. There was another child derived from Lee Jinyeon, Seokhwa’s mother.

Veins stood out on Kwak Soohwan’s back of the hand.

“What trickery is this?”

“Watch your tone.”

“Dr. Seok, didn’t I tell you to reject it?”

Seokhwa had finally reached the bottom of the stem, past the revolution.

The child of Wonho and his mother…

“I don’t believe it.”

Seokhwa said flatly. He knew his mother better than anyone else. His grandmother had said that his mother was weak because he was born prematurely. Because of that, Seokhwa had barely been able to hold onto him.

“I understand if you don’t believe me. We’ve disposed of all the research we did together, and there’s no evidence left to prove it. But Dr. Seokhwa, one thing is certain. Lee Jinyeon was also a researcher who worked with us.”

Kwak Soohwan grabbed Seokhwa’s arm and led him behind him. It was a fact that they were part of the research team. Second Master was even more surprised at the fact that they were not surprised. Perhaps he thought they had acquired more information than he had, being stuck on this island.

“The first immune carrier of the Adam virus came only from Jeju Island. Mother, open the security server.”

Second Master awakened Mother with a heavily encrypted voice.

“Show me the list of confirmed Adam virus immune carriers so far.”

A list of immune carriers, not many in number, appeared, and among them, a familiar face was seen. It was Seokhwa’s mother.

“Rainbow City created variant viruses based on the blood of immune carriers. The one who did that is the First Master line.”

Although there were suspicions that the upper echelons created the variant viruses, no one had thought that the truth would come from the highest level. That’s why Kwak Soohwan and Seokhwa were suspicious. To them, telling such a story seemed like a ploy to exploit them in some way.

“Your mother was an immune carrier?”

“The education center in Rainbow City is not perfect either. They doubt my words, the Master of Rainbow City. But that’s human nature. Doubt is an essential element of evolution, which should neither be discarded nor degenerated. People sometimes trigger revolutions and reforms through doubt, deriving the truth. That’s why Rainbow City suppresses the acquisition of knowledge. Ultimately, it’s about controlling citizens and manipulating them as they please.”

The form where the minority enjoys privileges while the majority is oppressed was a relic of the feudal era. Back then, it was common for numerous serfs to suffer for the sake of one lord, and it was natural for those born as commoners to comply with their fate. However, those who became aware of the injustice spoke out for equality and peace.

For that, humans tirelessly repeated revolutions and sometimes achieved them, but one day, they regressed again with the advent of Adam. And the current Rainbow City was not much different from the world desired by the privileged class.

“So, Second Master wants reform rather than revolution and intends to use Dr. Seokhwa politically as a pawn, is that correct?”

Kwak Soohwan said sharply. It was as if he was saying, “Dream big.”

It was transparent that Eden Estate and Second Master, using Seokhwa as the immune carrier of the 7th variant of the virus, had political intentions. Kwak Soohwan was not someone who would just sit back and let it happen.

“Then, Major Kwak Soohwan, do you want a revolution? Do you want this city to collapse completely? Then it will become a haven for crime. Even though there are soldiers now to control it, what do you think will happen if those soldiers have no one to control them? It will become a state of anarchy where no law applies. Power will become the truth.”

“No revolution in the world has ever become a state of anarchy. After establishing a new government, it would have naturally dealt with chaos.”

“Yes, Major Kwak Soohwan, your words make sense. However, during the time of that revolution, was there an enemy of humanity named Adam?”

This time, Seokhwa stood in front of Kwak Soohwan.

“Do you have plans to make a cure?”

“It’s premature, but if possible,”

Before Second Master finished speaking, Mother sounded the alarm.

If it was the 13 Red Zone, it was where Dr. Oh Yangseok’s residence was. Getting an emergency alert even to the island meant that the number was not just one or two.

As the wall screen brightened, a clear map of Rainbow City appeared. Red dots were being marked endlessly.

Mother’s voice, as always, was unfaltering.