Chapter Text
"Hey, did you hear about the winner that's tried to play the game for the second time? What is his name again.."
One of the pink soldiers asks someone who sits beside them. They have a short break from all the working when the game hasn't started yet. Usually, all of the pink soldiers just try to chill in their own room, but a few decide just to sit around.
"That's not really Our business" Too bad, the pink soldier who happened to be next to them turned out to be a strict man. "Wow, easy man.. you know I just tried to have a normal conversation in this place" the man was silent for a moment, then answered again "this place is not normal" and then leave.
When the man left, someone immediately took his seat. Still wearing a mask with a circle symbol, the person stared. "I heard your conversation. He indeed said this place is not normal. But there's nothing wrong with chatting." like finding a friend to chat with, they bumped shoulders. "You understand too, don't you? So what do you say? Isn't it stupid that someone wants to join that game again?"
"It's not about the stupidity I think, it's the fact our boss the frontman allowed him to come back" Hearing the title came from the person in front of them. They straight away covered the mouth which was basically blocked by the mask.
"What?"
"Are you a newbie? we're not allowed to say something about the higher up" The pink soldier tilted their head slightly, feeling confused. "I thought it was okay? The player sometimes asked about who was controlling us and we just said that title"
"You dumbass it's just for the player. We can't do that here" They began to whisper. The other then nods, understanding the meaning.
"You know what, it's not worth trying to interfere with their business if I think about it. We just do our work, yeah, newbie," they say as they get up from the chair. They pat the newbie on the back and leave.
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"All soldiers, please proceed to your stations" a robotic voice echoed through the pink soldiers' lockers. Everyone lined up neatly according to their number order, not a sound could be heard apart from the stomping of their feet. Maybe because work was about to start, they were preparing to build a wall in their hearts. So as not to feel emotional. Pretend to be like a robot. Most of them were getting used to the feeling.
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Some of the pink square soldiers are already in their respective places, in the controller room where you can clearly see every move of each player. Even paying attention to the subordinates of the Triangle and circle pink soldiers. Photos of the players began to appear one by one and were projected onto the floor in order of their player numbers.
The Frontman stood in the middle of the room while observing the CCTV screen spread wide in front of him. Occasionally the Frontman is seen paying attention to the screen on the floor where he is standing. Not strange, thought the pink square soldier who was stealing curious glances at his Boss's behavior. However, The Frontman only focused on the screen in the corner, he stepped on another player's screen and only focused on one dark screen where the player's photo had not yet appeared.
Suddenly a photo appeared showing the face of the player with back number 456. He didn't smile or pose strangely. This looks like a regular passport photo with no posing allowed. Different from other players' photos, The Frontman, who was seen still looking at the photo for a while, suddenly left. From his body movements, the pink square soldier could tell that he felt disappointed? maybe it's just imagination. Because their visibility is limited. They started to focus on the work again by paying attention to the controller he was handling
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Another pink square soldier who was sitting near the exit saw someone wearing a square mask but with a black jumpsuit also approaching the Frontman saying "We are ready to start the game" then the Frontman nodded slightly then he left and was replaced by that person given the title of Officer. All the pink soldiers had been informed of the substitute leader's position so they obeyed his orders on par with the Frontman in his absence.
"Start"
The officer commands.
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In a quiet and luxurious room, there was a large screen showing a female robot doll which was starting to make sounds indicating that the game was about to start. Then the man sitting on the sofa began to position himself as comfortably as possible. He took off his Frontman mask and placed it on the small table next to him. Beside him was a glass cup he was pouring a bottle of Whiskey to the glass cup.
He began to slowly shake the glass filled with whiskey while focusing on staring at the screen in front of him alone.
Hwang In Ho as Frontman only paid attention to one man in the middle of the crowd of desperate people, his eyes did not leave the face of player number 456 at all, the face of Seong Gi Hun who was trying hard to lead everyone. Even though there was chaos in the game, because stupid people panicked and didn't listen to Seong Gi Hun's words, instead thinking he was crazy. Seong Gi Hun was still trying hard to calm everyone down and give everyone instructions while shouting and covering his mouth
"i'ts cute, he's trying so hard to be a hero"
Hwang in Ho said that while smiling a little. When the atmosphere started to get tense, he grabbed the remote that was on the small table beside him while remaining focused on the screen in front of him. His eyes seemed to be glued and he couldn't look away at all. He turned on a small robot that was playing Jazz, creating a room atmosphere filled only by the sound of the game on the screen.
A few minutes passed, and there were just some seconds left on the timer. Gi Hun trying to help the player that still alive after he was shot in the leg. Hwang In Ho remained calm, he poured the whiskey back into his empty glass. He wondered why the pink triangle soldier didn't kill him immediately. He didn't want to add that problem to the burden on his mind at least for now. However, his fate was determined from the start, so the player ended up getting shot in the head after the game ended.
Hwang in Ho looks at Seong Gi Hun's face which looks so surprised cause the player still got killed in front of him after they both saved him. It looks fascinating. The Frontman right now wondering about something in the distant past. He put his mask back on and pulled up the hood of his robe. He turned off the screen in front of him and got up from the sofa he had just sat on. He already decided from the start when Seong Gi Hun decided to return to playing he's gonna play together with him, that's why he appointed The Officer who would replace him temporarily.
"I hope it's as fun as you said"
Hwang In Ho called his subordinates to get the items he asked for before. A moment later the phone rang again. The only people who can enter the VIP room are him as the Frontman and the VIPs who have not yet arrived. The Frontman left the room and headed to the room that had been prepared for him to get ready.
At that place there were 2 square pink soldiers carrying player uniforms that had been specially prepared for Hwang In Ho to pretend to be a player. The player number on the uniform is 001, the same as the uniform number that Oh Il Nam wore previously.
"You both can leave now"
The two pink soldiers nodded "Yes sir" then leaving their boss after putting his uniform on the table, but when they left. The officer stood behind The Frontman without making a sound.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing, sir. I'm just making sure about your decision" Hwang In Ho has thought about his decision several times. He wanted to see Seong Gi Hun's determination directly, what he felt during the game. What will he do next to stop this game? This made him even more impatient to meet him face to face.
He opened the hood of his robe, and removed his mask. Then he ruffled his hair, which he always styled like before when he was a police officer, something that didn't change when he became The Frontman. He looked in the mirror in front of him and saw The Officer still standing quietly behind him. Then he smiled when he saw his current hairstyle, turning his body to face The Officer.
"What do you think? is he gonna like it."
The officer felt nervous and strange suddenly being asked something like that, Who is he that The Frontman was talking about?. "e-euhm Of Course"
The Frontman smoothed his bangs, "This looks like his friend, maybe he will feel more familiar like this" the things he said sounded like words he said to himself, not to The Officer. Starting to feel awkward and afraid he would be in trouble if he just kept standing there. The Officer started to think of ways to escape from the situation.
Luckily, the Frontman looked directly into the Officer's eyes, even though he was wearing a mask. "I entrust this task to you"
"Yes, Sir"
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At the players' place, the money was being counted which made all the players' eyes stunned, Hwang In Ho slipped when that happened. No one will notice. The players will only imagine what dirty money they will have. Even though that money is the price for the lives of players who die during the game. Of course, no one cares.
Except for him, Seong Gi Hun
When everyone saw money poured into the piggy bank. Hwang In Ho just looked at him from afar. Wondering what reaction he would give when that happened when he saw that no one seemed to care how the money was obtained. He didn't plan to approach Seong Gi Hun for now. Seeing it from afar is already quite enjoyable at this point.
Finally, the voting period arrived, whether the players would give up and only accept such a small amount of money which was not even equivalent to those who had just risked their lives. Hwang In Ho is sure that deep down Seong Gi Hun already knows the answer.
Differences of opinion began to break out when many chose to continue the game and pressed the 0 button, Seong Gi Hun even had to reveal that he was the winner of the Previous Game just to gain the trust of those stupid people, but of course that wasn't enough. They instead use that fact as an excuse to continue the game.
When he saw Gi Hun, who was very fragile at that time, In Ho wanted to step forward to see his face up close. He couldn't wait to see that expressions again, he thought.
When his turn comes, he presses the 0 button. Which means continuing the game because the majority wants that.
He turned towards the players.
There were those who looked very happy, and of course there were those who were desperate. Everyone started to leave where they were standing to return cause they'll already knows the result. Hwang In Ho looked at Gi Hun who was looking down, alone. Still silent in place, as if he didn't understand other people's decisions.
He's smiling a little, maybe cause he's already know human nature for someone who already at the rock bottom, not gonna be so satisfied with the little amount of money.
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The Circle pink soldier who's handling the distribution, feels a little shock when he sees their leader in the uniform. They know about the rumor going around, that he's going to participate in the game. But it's still hard to believe even after seeing him with their own eyes. The pink soldiers didn't said a single word.
The official announcement about the Frontman becoming a player doesn't seem to have been distributed to the Pink Soldiers who run the Voting System. Maybe because he was afraid that The Frontman would suddenly change his mind, that's why The Officer hasn't spoken up about it. But surely he will do it soon. He is happy to be able to lead The Pink Soldiers which makes it easier to distribute organs to the black market because the Frontman is not there. But he still had to carry out his duties if he wanted to continue breathing.
all the assigned pink soldiers finally entered their rooms again, to check and count their members lined up in front of their respective rooms. Don't want anything bad to happen because the game has just started. After the check ended, several pink soldiers slipped away. To assist with organ delivery. In fact, the doctor who carried out the operation to remove the organs complained that many of them were rotting and could not be used because they were not alive. Only a few can still be used and sold.
The pink soldiers who participated in the collaboration to smuggle organs were also an open secret. Most officially recruited and more experienced pink soldiers will not interfere. Because the Frontman himself doesn't care about the player's corpse, as long as none of the pink soldiers conspire with the player and maintain justice and equality between the players.
In spite of that, The Frontman himself maybe have a favorite player that he's willing to breaking his own rules for him.