Paying for the Maintenance Service [4]

I slowly approached the girls sitting at the corner. They must have realised someone was approaching them because they raised their heads and looked at me.

It was here I lifted the plastic bags with a smile.

"Are you guys hungry? I bought food. Here, take this and this."

I pulled out the food from the plastic bags and passed it around. Everyone had a share.

"Food? I thought all the stores were already robbed."

"I was just lucky."

"If that is the case, are you sure you want to give us this for free?" Jung Yunhee asked with a curious voice. Was she trying to see what kind of person I was?

"It's only free now. But onwards, you guys have to pay me coins."

"How much?"

"Fifty coins."

"T-That..." Angelica stammered, looking confused. On the other hand, Jung Yunhee titled her head thoughtfully.

"Fifty coins? Isn't that too small?"

"Why? Are you complaining?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"No, I'm just curious. Although I'm not an expert but doesn't the price of goods increase when it's scarce?"

"True. But I'm just giving you a discount."

"I see."

"No, that's not right. I will pay right now." Lee Jongho said, surprising everyone.

"Jongho-ssi..?"

"Jakga-ssi, I'm sorry but I can't take this for free." He said firmly, then turned to the girls. "You two, how can you be so shameless? He risked his life to get this food and you're thinking of eating it for free?"

There was a slight annoyed expression displayed as he spoke. From an outsider's viewpoint, it looked like he was disciplining a stubborn child.

"Ah!" Angelica turned red. "I'm sorry, I was too short-sighted. You're right, we will have to pay."

"I was going to pay anyways. I don't like freebies."

The situation played out the way I expected. Even so, I couldn't help but to be a little surprised.

"Very well. Does anyone know how to exchange coins?"

"Ah yes. You just open the system window and input the amount of coins you want. Like this."

Everyone opened the window and proceeded with the transfer. I started receiving notifications one by one.

[Angelica Thompson has transferred 50 coins.]

[Jung Yunhee has transferred 50 coins.]

[Lee Jongho has transferred 50 coins.]

A pang of guilt hit me, but it quickly faded. Even if it seemed harsh, it was necessary. Nothing was free in this world, just like Minhyuk said.

I sat down on the floor, pulled out a chicken wing from the plastic bag, and took a bite. The taste of cold chicken meat filled my mouth, and I frowned.

"It's cold," I muttered.It couldn't be helped. In the apocalypse, there was no way to heat or preserve food, so it was natural that the food would be cold.

I sighed. It was really unfortunate. I was once again reminded that this was not the world I knew.

"Hey..." I began, drawing the group's attention.

"Tell me everything that happened while I was away."

***

"I see."

Those were the only words that came out from my mouth. Lee Jong-ho had explained everything that transpired when I was away. At the end of the story, I couldn't help but frown.

Reason? It was because of Lee Jongho's words from the start of the story.

Three days?

The group arrived at the safe zone three days ago. It wasn't a big story. The problem was that I was unconscious for three days straight.

How was that possible? It didn't make any sense. Was I injured to the point where it took me three days to recover?

No, that was not right. After the end of the second scenario, all my injuries were healed due to the after scenario healing effect. Meaning, it didn't take me three days to heal.

So Instead of a physical problem, it was more of a mental problem, huh? That was the only conclusion I could reach. Even so, that didn't explain how I was unbothered throughout those three days.

I racked my brain for an answer but came up with nothing. There was a possibility of that person helping me but the chances of that happening was close to zero.

I opened my mouth and asked my next question.

"Tell me, how you guys found the safe zone?"

"To be honest, it was someone that helped us or else, we would have died."

"Someone helped you?"

"Yes. Not just us but the whole survivors here was saved by that woman. What was her name again?"

Her? A woman?

Lee Jong-ho noticed my expression and continued.

"Ah, yes! I remember now. She said her name was Soo Jinyoung."

My eyes slowly widened.

Soo Jinyoung. It was a name I didn't expect to hear this early. I see. So she has already began to act.

"Where is she now?"

It was possible. If that person was here, then maybe we can use that route. But Lee Jongho's next words immediately shattered that illusion.

"She's not here."

"Not here?"

"She left the safe zone three days ago, the same day we entered."

Interesting. With this information, I was able to determine alot of things. It seems like she was in a hurry. But why? She must have probably gone to museum to fetch artifacts.

The museum itself wasn't particularly remarkable. Its true worth lay in the historical artifacts it housed, which had the potential to be transformed into special weaponry.

It was unfortunate, really. I would have gone there as well, but the risk was simply not worth it.

"What about Lee Kwangsun? Why did he join the mainframe group?"

"Well, it's not a big story. He received a love call from Minhyuk and he joined their group shortly after."

I could understand why he decided to join their group. Compared to the other survivors, the mainframe group was stronger and possessed better weapons and more food. From a logical standpoint, joining them was a good move. However...

"That's not all, right? Did you all receive a love call as well?"

In terms of strength, the doctor was the weakest in the group. So it will be strange if Minhyuk chose to only recruit the doctor and ignored the others.

"I received a love call as well. But I refused."

"I did as well."

Jongho, Angelica and Yunhee. They all received a love call from the mainframe group, they refused their offer in the end.

The reason?

"I didn't like the way they handled things."

"I care for morals or anything. But I felt something was wrong.

"I don't like them so I refused."

Everyone gave their answe. In the end, it was very simple. They didn't like the members of the mainframe group especially Minhyuk.

It was understandable. The mainframe group looked like a reasonable party. But in reality, they were nothing but lowly thugs.

"Also, there's..."

"Kim Jakga."

Angelica couldn't finish speaking becaude someone rudely intruded. I looked behind and saw Minhyuk. Speak of the devil.

"Minhyuk?"

"Can I speak with you..." He glanced at the rest of the group. "Privately?"

The party was silently glaring at him. Something had definitely happened that I wasn't aware of.

"Alright, let's talk."

I didn't know the specifics, but with the current atmosphere, I wouldn't be surprised if they attacked him.

"Good. Ah! That place seems nice for a chat. Let's go over there."

As Minhyuk casually marched off to the distance, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Lee Jong-ho.

"Jakga-ssi."

"Hmm?"

"Are you sure about this? That man is dangerous. Considering your earlier conversation with him, this could be a trap."

"I already know. You don't have to worry about me."

"But still..."

"Jongho-ssi, I can handle the situation. If I wasn't confident, do you think I would agree?"

"Well, you don't look like a careless person."

"Good. You guys wait here. I'll be back quickly. Just trust me, okay?"

"Alright."

Although he was still reluctant, he let go of my shoulder and allowed me to go. I walked toward Minhyuk, who was sitting on a bench, lighting a cigarette.

Even after all these years, it seemed he hadn't abandoned his bad habit.

When he saw me approach, he smiled.

"Hmm. This reminds me of the old times when we used to hang out together."

"Yes, I remember that time as well. Back then, you were a real troublemaker who caused problems with people from other schools."

Minhyuk looked surprised.

"You still remember that? Even I don't remember much about it. But I do remember beating up a few bastards, though."

"It's easy to forget something when you weren't the victim of that violence. I think they would still hold a grudge against you for that. Well, if they're alive, that is."

I chuckled, and Minhyuk frowned slightly. But that frown disappeared as quickly as it came.

He was a good actor.

He had clearly understood the meaning behind my words, so he chose to say nothing.

I have never seen a more cunning indivythan this person.

"By the way, I thought you stopped smoking."

"Ah, that's right."

Minhyuk exclaimed, feigning surprise.

"Well, I do remember saying something about stopping. Ah, silly me. I just can't help myself. Besides, you know how smoking calms my nerves, right?"

"If you consider damaging your lungs and organs, along with the possibility of cancer, to be calming your nerves, then you must be one huge pervert."

"Oohhhh! Why did you have to say it like that?! Anyways, who cares about cancer when the world is destroyed!? I say freedom is the right answer."

Kim Minhyuk cried out as though his weakness had been hit. Then he put the lit cigarette in his mouth and leaned back against the bench.

This fellow.... he really hasn't changed one bit.

That attitude of his made me remember some old memories, both good and bad, against my will.

Damnit. This guy...

Even to this day, I still don't know the reason why he did that. How could he cause me such great pain?

I shook my head and repaired my cracking poker face.

Foooo!

Kim Minhyuk took a huge puff of the cigarette and exhaled the smoke. The smoke flew, and filled the air with an unpleasant smell.

His voice suddenly became serious as he spoke.

"I will go straight to the point. Join my group, Jakga."

Well, he certainly got straight to the point. Of course, I had already been expecting those words.

In the end, the past was the past. This was the present.

"I can offer you an executive position. What do you say?"

"An executive position? That came out of nowhere. What's the catch?"

"It's very simple. The last food scouts haven't returned for a while now, so I assume they've all been wiped out. In other words, we're seriously lacking manpower."

"You wanted more people, why didn't you recruit the survivors?"

"It's not as easy as you think. I've already tried that, but more than half of the survivors here are utterly useless. Some of them can't even swing a metal pipe properly."

Minhyuk frowned as he looked at the rest of the survivors. The survivors were mostly crying children and elderly people.

Even If you gathered multiple murderers and formed a cult, there would still be an hierarchy among them. The weak and the strong. The problem was that the people here were too weak to be good functioning murderers.

What this person wanted was probably a person that can kill without hesitation or conscience.

"I don't need any random nobodies to join my group. I need people who are willing to kill. I need people who are strong."

I see. I think I understand this bastard's true intentions.

"What you're saying is that you need a hitman."

A creepy smile spread across Minhyuk's face in response.

"That's correct. We need someone with great strength who can lead the people. And you are just the guy I'm looking for."

The translation of those words was clear: [I need a strong person I can control at will.]

Naturally, there was no one human being with the ability to think that would accept such an offer.

What would that person do if they met someone like this?

I imagined the image of the protagonist cutting this guy's neck the moment he started spouting nonsense. Yes, I wished I were that kind of protagonist, but I couldn't act without reason. That would go against my principles.

Unless he made a move, directly or indirectly, that would threaten my life, I had no reason to kill him now.

"Hmm. But why should I join you?"

"It's not a bad offer. You could become the leader of these people along with us. Don't you want to help these people? We never know what would happen in the Third or Fourth Narrative, or whatever that fairy called it, so shouldn't we work together for our fu—"

"Stop, that's enough."

I stopped him before he could finish speaking. I had heard everything that needed to be said.

As expected, it was a hollow offer.

From the beginning to the end, every sentence that left his mouth was nothing but utter bullshit.

"I don't plan on joining your group. I will never become responsible for these people. They are nothing but dead weight."

Those were cruel words, but it was the truth. They were useless people who couldn't even defend themselves. There was no use in nurturing dead weights that would slow me down.

There was no benefit whatsoever.

"More importantly, I don't like the way you guys run things."

I looked over at some healthy members of Minhyuk's group, playing cards while the rest of the survivors were starving. They were obviously hoarding all the resources.

"Is that so? I guess it can't be helped. Not everyone would agree with my methods. I already know as much."

Minhyuk stood up from the bench and tossed the exhausted cigarette aside. I was honestly expecting more of a reaction from him.

"If you change your mind later, you know where to find me."

"You already know that won't happen."

"You never know. What was that old saying again? Even the day after tomorrow, we don't know tomorrow. In any case, I'll see you around."

Minhyuk nonchalantly walked away, while waving his head.

I could only stare at his retreating back. I was thankful he left, otherwise, he would have seen my expression.