Chapter. 13. Hunter, Scavenger, and Swordsman (4)
****
The next morning.
Daae-aeng- Clink- Dae-ae-aeng-
“Uuuuu…. My bone hurts. “I should break that damn bell or something…”
Ian stood up, holding his head at the sound of the bell that woke up the city.
It is a wasteland that does not get very bright even when the sun rises. The sound of the church bell was the sound that signaled the start of the day and was the clock of the refugees, most of whom did not even have a watch. However, for someone who had drunk enough alcohol the day before to intoxicate a small rodent with just a breath, it was a sound no different from torture.
Ian, who habitually checked the small gun around his neck, put on some clothes and came out. First of all, it was an administrative ward, but about half of it was being used as staff quarters, so you could see quite a few people coming out after hearing the morning bell.
There was also a familiar face among them. A young man in disheveled clothes raised his hand and smiled that crooked smile.
Ezel Raiden. This is an Ezel that looks in such bad condition.
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu… good morning hyung Ian…”
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu….. Don’t talk to me dude. My head is pounding. “Do you have any water, Ezel?”
At Aan’s words, Ezel, with a haggard face, threw the leather pouch he was holding at Aan. The water had a strong taste of roasted grains, but it definitely seemed better than plain water.
“Ugh. “I will live.”
“Are you fine? We deal with slightly burned flour. “With people coming from all over, there were a lot of people with interesting skills.”
“Ugh. Because they are all people who have survived until now. There must be something to do. “But why are you like that?”
“huh? iced coffee. “After my brother, it was my turn.”
“…President?”
Nod.
Ian almost dropped the cigarette from his mouth. No, you ate with me like that and then called someone else to eat it too?
“…Wouldn’t compulsory hospitalization be necessary for alcoholism at that point?”
“what. Because the president never drinks alcohol while working. They called me for a report on our BDSM activities. There is someone who is familiar with the inspection department’s administrative forms while working in the field with BDSM, so please come and take a look. Well, they said they called me to see my face as well. “But before I joined the inspection department, we often saw each other face to face.”
“A monstrous human being. “How much did you drink?”
“I don’t remember anything from the fourth bottle. “But I survived thanks to my brother who dealt with me first.”
“Sickness. “Next time I go to see that person, I’ll prepare something like a shot of refined alcohol and stuff it.”
Rattling.
As I was contemplating the fierce battle and defeat that had taken place yesterday, I saw the door to the next room open and Cynthia and Bex with sleepy eyes come out. The eyes were half-closed, but the face was clear, as if Bex had forcibly washed it.
“Hey, two people who don’t meet the standards. good morning.”
“hey. Two drunken uncles. Good morning~ Hmm.”
“Hehehe. The fact that he doesn’t say a word is very similar to that guy. Cynthia, you slept later than the broadcast yesterday too, right?”
“no. “I just washed the vomit that my uncle vomited on my clothes yesterday and then went to bed right away.”
Cynthia plays it off, but instead says something about what happened yesterday. However, seeing Bex next to me raise two fingers, I guess I fell asleep after watching his broadcast for several hours.
“If you don’t sleep like that, you won’t grow taller. “It’s like the Vex.”
“tooth! What’s wrong with Uncle Bex? Not neat, not mannered, quiet and kind. “It’s much better than the gunpowder-smelling beard!”
“[Statistics / Height / Genetic factor 90% / No problem]”
“Yes, yes. Just the two of us, beat the drums and play the janggu and do our best, man.”
Ian shook his dizzy head to wake him up and then roughly ran his hand through his disheveled hair.
“What’s for breakfast?”
“Potato salad and boiled eggs.”
“oh! Eggs as ration? “They say they won’t increase the number of chickens anymore?”
“I heard at school that eggs are now often given as a source of protein.”
“I also heard this yesterday while making a report with the president. “I heard they recently succeeded in breeding a large mutant chicken with a regular chicken.”
“hmm? If it’s a mutant chicken… is it the dinosaur chicken that the refugees from the 50th Division brought in with a reins a few months ago? Is that possible? It also carries people. Him and… a regular chicken? “Isn’t that like throwing a javelin at the Tower of Babel rather than throwing a cicada at an old tree?”
“I know you guys. There is no subject like the sexual life of poultry in the inspection exam. I guess it worked because I somehow succeeded. It is said that they are used for food, and the old ones brought in from the 50th Division also use them as passenger vehicles. “It doesn’t have much endurance, but it’s pretty fast and best of all, it doesn’t use oil, right?”
“Huh…”
Ian recalled the conversation he had with the president the day before. New era. A new breakthrough. It seemed like they were attempting active change in all sorts of directions beyond simply being a by-product of a mutation.
‘The lifespan of the electromagnetic net is about a year. This probably means that we will accelerate our efforts to find new breakthroughs, as the period to safely strengthen our capabilities is limited to one year.’
As Ian looked at the boiled egg the size of his fist in the administration cafeteria, he thought it might not be as bad as he thought.
Although it was a little sour and had a strange scent, the boiled eggs were still edible.
****
“Jaaaaaaaa! It’s cheap! It’s cheap! A bullet clip for a 12mm machine gun costs 5,000 won! 5,000 shillings per sack!”
“How do people survive by eating only grass? meat! Full of juicy meat! Albany’s rat meat jerky! Professional workmanship is different! Buy delicious and long-lasting rat meat jerky!”
A street lined with temporary buildings made of old fabric, leather, and perforated slate walls.
They hadn’t even arrived at the entrance yet, but each of Ian and his group expressed their admiration as they looked at the noisy street.
“You look very skinny. The black market is freezing to death.”
“what. Even when I was in the inspection department, I did raid the Underdome underground market. “The atmosphere is definitely very different there.”
“Zeus Belly Zeus Belly! Wow, I really wanted to come!”
There were a lot of issues to think about, but anyway, it was my first time returning and my first break.
After finishing breakfast, the group decided to go to the ‘black market’, which is the center of recent controversy and is said to be leading the latest trends in the new Dome Autonomous District encompassing districts 45, 46, and 47.
Unfortunately, Dana wanted to go with us, but today was an important health checkup day, so she couldn’t go.
“It’s just a black market in words, but in reality it’s just a market. Of course, right now, spot transactions, shilling transactions, and barter exchanges are all intertwined, so there is some lack of uniformity, but that is coming together little by little.”
Instead, Levitt, who had been visiting Dana’s hospital room since dawn and chatting with her, followed her. Although it is said that it is boring and that it is to guide important guests and build connections. I don’t know where he got it from, but he came wearing a museum curator-like outfit and glasses and pointed out in detail the changes and lifestyle around the dome, but –
‘A lie that doesn’t make any sense.’
‘You have very unique tastes.’
‘Sister Rabbit? Could it be… really?’
From the moment I left the administration building, I was glued to Bex’s side. Although it was good to build connections, it seemed like there was only one target.
“Before we go in, let me explain first, okay? The valley in front is called ‘Zeus Valley’. Yes, that’s exactly what you know. To the valley where our great Professor Park personally tore down ‘Meyer Zeus’ and melted it along with about 80 chariots-” “[
Help! / Redeemed! / Help!]”
“Due to its geographical characteristics, it is a place where sandstorms rarely come in, so people gather here. As you know, after the refugees invaded, they kicked out all of the underdome’s gangsters and other criminal workers and gave their jobs to survivors from District 47 who were familiar with the dome’s management, right? The place where the delinquent humans who were kicked out at that time and the scavengers who gathered from all over went to hide and do something was Zeus Valley, which is surrounded by this artificial valley-” “[
Applications requested! / Side pressure! / Side pressure!]”
“Oh my. There’s no need to rush like that. “You’re in a hurry!”
Kkooook!
“Uh oh… Uh oh!!”
“anyway! As more and more people flocked to the place where drugs, cheap cigarettes, and moonshine were traded, and the scale grew, it became what is now the Zeus Valley black market. “There are many interesting items and many good items, but don’t forget that the real deal is a black market, right?”
At the place Levitt pointed with his thin finger, there were photos of missing children and a notice from the inspection department asking for contact.
“more! End of explanation! Now Bex? You waited a long time, right? Let’s go quickly. Because there’s a lot I want to show and a lot of things I want to do. You use karambit, right? I learned using military daggers, so it’s difficult to use curved knives like that. Wow, delicate fingers! Oh my, is there a scar in a place like this? “Can I touch it?”
“Uh uhhh… I’m better… Noaa…!”
Green onions! Pabababak!
[Free prisoners! / Access not allowed! / Let go!]
“Hmm? Oh no~ I don’t know any military hand signals~ ‘Naaaa… is also good’? Hehe, thank you. Let’s go quickly. The weapon smith here does a really good job, so I’ll just make one knife for him. “At the same time, let’s adjust some other things as well.”
“Uuuuu-!”
There was no chance that Vex, who had not even been in his mother’s arms for long, let alone the attention of women, could withstand the wave after wave of Levitt, who had possessed almost every man in the wasteland.
Bex was almost kidnapped and dragged away by Rabbit, who was whispering sweetly to her side, and
of course Ian and his gang were just watching with interest.
“scent. I heard there is a pair of straw sandals too. “I didn’t know that the rabbit princess would be interested in Brother Bex.”
“A partner. Isn’t that the same level as straw sandals and glass slippers? Even though it’s the turn of the century, it’s still too hip. “Isn’t there some other ulterior motive?”
“Uh… Sister Levitt talked a lot about Uncle Bex. Anyway, since your face is more than 10 people’s prettier, you can crush your spouse. Normally, people like people who have what they don’t have. To be honest, this is the first time I’ve seen someone use dual daggers without learning it through a game… Now that I think about it, it’s a bit weird. “No, I said it all the time.”
“hmm. Certainly, the standards of beauty change depending on the times. If combat prowess is the standard for a spouse, then that guy is also a first-class husband…”
Click click –
Just in case, I sent a luminous signal in Vex’s direction, but instead of Vex, who was distracted by the gentle pressure, Levitt answered. It simply meant to stop paying attention. A very natural and skilled hand gesture that a woman who does not know military signals could never make.
“You don’t know. “It’s not a rabbit, it’s a fox.”
“Let’s leave it alone. Honestly, Bex and Levitt are both adults, right? Brother Bex is not the kind of person who would go somewhere to stay as a guest. To be honest, there are people among the crew who suspect that Big Brother Bex is gay because he always plays Hepburn. “That is much better than that.”
“I’m not the type of person to be a guest, but seeing as you can’t even breathe right now, I’ll do my best if you just hold my hand like that.”
“huh? “What is Uncle Boksangsa?”
“Uh… there is something like that.”
Ian, who had forgotten that Cynthia was there, gave a vague answer and put her on his shoulder.
“Well, from the looks of it, it won’t arrive until tomorrow. “Let’s go have some fun too.”
After leaving the Vex, Ian and Cynthia Ezel entered the black market, Zeus Market. Of course, give a thumbs up to Bex, who sends a rescue request with sad eyes until the end! I also didn’t forget to praise him.
****
Kang! Cough!
People digging up the melted remains of a tank in one corner of the valley.
“300 shillings~ 300 shillings for white, clean paper, not dirty recycled paper~ 300 shillings for stationery that will magically convey your feelings to your loved ones~” The
most viewed video of ‘The Two Wind Wizard’s Letter’ was played on the stall. A merchant who sells stiff paper with messy pulp marks, calling it a “letter conveying my heart.”
“How can two cylinders of a six-cylinder engine cost less than 2,000 shillings? Are you going to do business like that?”
“Uh huh, the price of scrap fluctuates frequently? There are also storage costs here. There are risks involved in finding the right customers. “I can’t give you anything above 1700, so why not go somewhere else and look for it?”
A scrap currency exchange shop set up on a fairly large scale.
Aside from the quality of the goods, it was clear that this black market was full of things to see. Of course there was ‘that’ too.
[Variant by-product treatment plant]
“Plague. Now they are really doing business openly.”
“…You’re so big?”
It was not a stall, but a street with by-product processing companies gathered in an alley.
Ian frowned unconsciously at the familiar smell coming from the entrance. The blood of the variant had a unique sweet scent, so it was easy to distinguish.
“I came out to forget my troubles. It’s as if I just came to visit you. Hey Ezel.”
“ok?”
“Did you bring some tools?”
At those words, Ezel slowly opened his leather jumper. Two favorite pistols. One knife. One signal flare.
“Can I go in?”
“uh. Have some fun with Cynthia. “There may be people who try to manipulate us because we have money, so we stick around.”
“Well, it’s just back alley trash, but you can cover it with one hand tied. “What are you going to do alone?”
“Just whatever. “I’m just going to take a look.”
Seeing Ian raising his hand obediently, Ezel suddenly became anxious.
Ian had been looking a bit worried since yesterday. And from what he’s seen so far, the way this guy named Metal Joe deals with his worries is…
“….what kind of sight?”
“Large diameter?”
Slam!
….Because all I wanted to do was quickly and accurately eliminate the problem.
When Ezel, who was mesmerized by the sight of him taking out a gun from the gun case he always carried on his back, rushed towards him, Ian grinned and took a step back.
“Hehehe. It’s a joke, you idiot. “I’m not a crazy murderer. Is it really possible that I would kill all those merchants?”
“Huh?”
“Not now, dude. I just want to see it with my own eyes. “Is this really a natural change that follows the times, or can it only be seen as corruption?”
Yesterday, I talked to the president about so many things that I couldn’t even remember them all, but there were a few things I remembered.
=========
“Crisis oppresses people and unites them, while peace causes freedom and division.”
“Keuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.t…. for… hiccup!”
“It’s a simple story. One year from now. What I’m saying is that while we actively consume bullets and high-tech equipment to ensure safety, there will be chaos that only appears in times of peace. “A typical example would be political chaos.”
“Hehehe. That… sounds like a passing dog laughing. “There is an omnipotent Inspector General, Alexander Young, but a political enemy appears?”
“then. You can easily draw a picture just by looking at the by-product market. As I excitedly dismantled the mutant, I discovered a silver dog tag on its neck. The tragic end of a soldier who devoted himself to the Dom will spread like wildfire through the community. At a time like this, people are divided into those who want to actively use mutant by-products and those who say that they are nothing but monsters, and I have to side with one of them, and agitators and scumbags will take advantage of that opportunity to run rampant. Weakened division, conflict and civil war. “The subsequent raptor attack and destruction.”
“Amy…. Shit….”
“Of course it’s the worst-case scenario, but it’s a scenario so clear that I can’t say that I’m not an honest person like you. Since politicians cannot simply think about the facts in front of them, shouldn’t they calculate all the possible cases as much as possible?”
“That… my head might explode…”
“What can I do? That’s why I sat down where I was told to. We need to somehow alleviate the psychological impact. There are probably some people among them who are trying to deceive people for profit…”
“Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-”
Boom.
“hmm? Look. Desmont. Are you sleeping? Heh heh. It was nice to be able to drink for a long time for the first time in a long time…”
=========
This was the president’s opinion on the by-product market. In the end, we have to endure some change in moral standards. They are just moving to prevent people from becoming too confused during the transitional period of change in perception.
But Ian’s thoughts were a little different. He was once the Raptor Swarm Alpha, and among the numerous human groups, he had to deal with the people closest to the abyss, so he knew very well how ugly humans could become.
In just a few months, the by-product market has taken over the biggest and best streets of the black market.
They are trash who cut people up if they make money.
The change mechanism of Type 3 and Type 2.5 variants known through various communities after the Area 38 incident.
Unlike the president’s worst, Ian’s worst was looking into a much deeper bottomless pit.
‘If mutant by-products are selling so well, there may be people who want to [produce] them themselves instead of [hunting] them.’
Ian felt the heavy weight of the gun case on his back. There was enough gunpowder and weapons.
‘If it really went that far… I’ll clean it up.’
I have no intention of rejecting change. There has always been change, like from arrowheads to lead bullets.
However, if the direction was wrong, I planned to cut it off mercilessly. No matter how many times or how many people. No matter how empty-headed the trash is, if there are corpses piled up in front of it, you will die if you do this! I’ll give it some thought. All you have to do is keep cutting until you find the right direction.
After checking his favorite guns, the triple barrel shotgun and hand cannon, Ian lit a cigarette.
The dome building was shaded by the rising morning sun. Ian, who was putting on his sunglasses, looked at one of them and couldn’t help but laugh.
“I was wondering why you saved someone like me. You use it very wisely. “You’re good at recycling too”
“Huh? what?”
“There is such a thing. Please play nice with Cynthia. I’m going.”
“Come back, uncle~”
“Are you coming?”
Ian waved to Cynthia and walked towards the alley of the by-product market. The last thing he saw reflected in his sunglasses was the cross on a tall church steeple in the distance.
****
