Woonghee made a few rules. Rules to protect himself, to somehow, by hook or by crook, return to that land.
First. Avoid those creepy humans by any means necessary.
Second. Always handle bathroom business downstream in the valley. Since it’s uncomfortable, don’t forget to wash with the water below too.
If these 8 humans couldn’t control their bowels and bladders and just shit and pissed anywhere, this island would clearly become a shit field in no time. And maybe the beast cubs would smell the humans’ urine and come down here.
After relieving himself refreshingly, he gently rubbed some leaves. Once they softened, he cleanly wiped away the moisture from his groin.
And it was on his way back to the cave with his now-clean lower body.
“I’m telling you, isn’t that bastard really Lee Woonghee!”
The voice saying Lee Woonghee, isn’t it, isn’t it, echoed eerily through the mountains.
‘…Fuck.’
Woonghee cursed inwardly. While trying to follow the second rule, the first one was about to break.
What now, those humans. Woonghee stealthily hid himself. He pressed his back deep into a thick log. So that they couldn’t even see his shadow.
“No, but it’s weird as hell, isn’t it…?”
This voice that sounded like someone had shoved a pitch-black ashtray whole down their throat was definitely Director Hwang.
“Why the hell was there a hole in the lifeboat?”
Why are they blaming me for that? Woonghee felt like jumping out right now and strangling Director Hwang’s neck.
But for now, he had to listen. There was too little information he knew. And not a single human who would kindly tell him.
Just how that huge ship ended up sinking—he hadn’t gotten even a bit closer to the truth.
“And what happened to the captain…!”
Woonghee perked up his ears. The next moment, a low voice pierced his ears.
“No, it’s not Lee Woonghee-ssi.”
His ribs tingled. As if someone had deeply stabbed between his ribs with a knife. It was that man. Managing Director Gi. Who was now avoidance target number one for Woonghee.
“My bodyguards were standing guard in front of Lee Woonghee-ssi’s room, after all.”
As if someone had poured cold water over their heads, the surroundings became completely quiet.
“Then who on earth…”
The assistant director hyung asked with his voice lowered as if creeped out. His small, horizontally slit eyes rolled around anxiously.
“Who could have done such a thing?”
“Well. That hasn’t been revealed yet.”
Managing Director Gi exaggeratedly but smoothly patted his chest twice.
“It’s a feeling of helplessness I’ve never experienced in my life. The guilt is tremendous.”
Now he turned his gaze.
“I can’t even sleep at night.”
Sharp eyes looked into the faces of the people surrounding him one by one.
“…Who could it be?”
He raised one long, thick index finger.
“I did everything, absolutely everything, to ensure the safety of this cruise. I called in the best ship inspectors to examine the inside and outside of the vessel, and created thorough manuals to prepare for all kinds of emergencies. But who on earth dared.”
His eyes darted around. They were cold eyes, as if digging for the truth. Worried that those eyes might discover him, Woonghee quickly hid like a rabbit sticking its head into a rabbit hole. Thump-thump, while his heart pounded as if it would break his ribs.
“Stab my captain with a knife.”
‘What…?’
At the words that came out next, he couldn’t help but let out a scream. Hup, he hastily covered his mouth with his palm.
…The, the captain had been stabbed with a knife? So because there was no one to hold the helm, they got swept up in that massive storm?
The ship got swept away like that, and only after being swept away and crashing into this island as if collapsing did it finally stop.
Because of that, it ran aground on the island, but if it hadn’t been for this island, these people would be in the ocean by now…
After a moment of silence, the man continued speaking.
“And as if that wasn’t enough, did they even tear up the lifeboat we were supposed to take?”
“B-but isn’t that still uncertain?”
What timidly flowed out was the assistant director hyung’s voice. When Managing Director Gi’s eyes turned in that direction, hup, hyung’s shoulders jumped. It’s probably because he’s a human who gives you chills just from a glance.
“Still uncertain?”
Facing Managing Director Gi, hyung continued speaking while clutching and tearing at his crumpled checkered shirt.
“Just, coincidentally, maybe by chance a hole formed…”
“No, those were clearly marks from being torn with a knife.”
But the man asserted. Everyone fell silent as if their windpipes were being squeezed. That heavy silence seemed to constrict his breathing too.
Damn it…! In this situation, he’d suspect himself too. Wasn’t he the only uninvited guest who crashed that party? On top of that, he’d even threatened to set fire if they didn’t give him money.
Now the secret lifts a little. Just a few minutes ago, it was a curtain completely trapped in darkness.
The person who killed the captain even tore up the lifeboat they were supposed to take. That’s why only these people remained on this island.
But the lifted anchor left a new question mark. Just who? Who did such a thing…
Where did they go now? Surely they’re not mixed in among them?
Soon Woonghee shook his head at that question. No, that can’t be. Why would they do such a thing with a film ahead? The people there have too much to lose to do that.
Then did they fall into the sea and die after all? Or did they escape with the other people?
“I will thoroughly uncover this matter. …But before that.”
Each time he chewed out word by word, everyone’s attention focused sharply. He could feel the power gripped in his hand. Something strange and peculiar.
“We have to get out of here alive, don’t we?”
Managing Director Gi’s long, slanted eye corners were soaked in the whitish dawn light rising.
“Fighting like this over who eats less or who has less is a waste of time.”
Eyes stained with gray shadows gleamed.
“Look, dawn is coming again.”
The faces of people who had been fighting as if they would bite each other to death were filled with gray. That was fear. Vague dread.
“Th-then what do you suggest we do?”
Director Hwang walked out huffing. In the meantime, his beard had grown bushily and was almost covering his mouth.
“We need to distribute food efficiently.”
Managing Director Gi’s thick eyebrows twisted strangely. With an elegant gesture, he slowly brushed off the sand on his pant legs. Director Hwang seemed to have splattered sand.
“Take what you work for, simple and clean.”
“Are you telling me to do manual labor now? I’m a VVIP! VVIP!!”
Even in this situation, VIP talk. Truly behavior befitting a troublemaker.
“We have people we need to protect, don’t we?”
Managing Director Gi frowned as if troubled and tapped his chin with his index finger, tap tap.
“Please help me, Director. We have to produce Season 2 as well.”
Then Director Hwang’s mouth twitched. What the hell is that again, fuck. It looked like he was smiling, or like he was crying.
He’s a damn paternalistic alpha. From his roots, from his blood, power lust boils. Protection and responsibility. What a pleasing title that is.
And Managing Director Gi must have calculated that. With cute gestures and languid speech, he placed sand shaped like ‘power’ into Director Hwang’s grasp.
“I’m counting only on you, Director.”
With sweet whispers and even a smile on his lips, he finally won him over.
“If, if Managing Director Gi says that much, ahem…”
And so the food was placed in the middle of the sandy beach. A system where everyone monitors everyone else. A perfect system built on distrust.
Since they were such arrogant and haughty people, he wondered if they’d listen to others’ orders, but in this frightening situation, people driven to the edge seemed to have their brains paralyzed.
Because he’s the richest here, looks like he’ll eat the most no matter who sees him, and is incredibly strong. People planted seeds of power in Managing Director Gi with their own words.
Moreover, that man wasn’t the type to just spit white bones behind people’s backs and burp.
He even came forward himself and butchered the wild boar with his own two hands. Not a gloomy upper power holder. He’s gripping a knife in those two hands.
Even Director Hwang crawled on his belly only in front of Managing Director Gi, his money line.
“Argh, fuck! Why are these damn fish bastards so quick!”
While showing his dislike to death, he still tried his best to catch fish.
While everyone was busy working their bodies. Only one person was not visible.
Lee Ijun. With that shitty personality, it doesn’t seem like he’d work under the blazing sun, but is that okay? Even if he wants to eat and die, there won’t be any food.
“…Whatever.”
Not my problem. Whether he starves to death or becomes wild boar food, what does it matter?
Woonghee had to keep the rules. He had to remind himself and brainwash himself again to drill it into his head.
The first rule, the second rule, and also the last third rule.
The most important third rule.
Absolutely avoid Managing Director Gi, that man.
However, that very dawn, Woonghee ended up breaking even that third rule.
