Gangs in the store area

The woman answered without hesitation, "The main contributions of each alliance member are assisting the government in emergencies, participating in exploration missions every three days, and paying a daily fee of 10 crystals per person."

Adam's eyes almost widened at the answer. Ten crystals per day?

He quickly did the math in his head. Me, Amel, and Serina... That means thirty crystals every day?

For a moment, his face tensed. Such a high cost would force small groups to hunt mutants relentlessly just to survive.

Adam took a slow breath, calming his thoughts before speaking. "Sorry, but isn't that fee too high?" he asked directly, without any sugarcoating.

Captain Rio, who had been silently observing the conversation, nodded slightly as if he had expected the question. "It does sound expensive," he said with a faint smile. "But if you frequently go outside the fortress, you'll never run out of crystals."

Adam sharpened his gaze. "Outside the fortress?" he repeated, slightly surprised.

"That's right," Captain Rio nodded. "The fortress isn't fully completed yet, but the main defensive line is already in place and strong enough to withstand the current waves of monsters."

Adam slowly nodded, trying to process the information. He had to admit, the government was moving faster than he had anticipated.

Previously, he thought their system would be slower and more chaotic, especially due to internal conflicts and personal interests among military leaders. But it seemed there were competent individuals within—strategists who knew how to allocate resources and build defenses efficiently.

He couldn't underestimate them so easily.

Adam looked straight at Captain Rio and asked, "What about evolution? And... where are all the survivors?"

The female assistant swiftly operated her tablet again before answering, "Only about 60% of the total population has been successfully evacuated. Currently, they are in underground shelters."

Adam nodded slowly. That was a significant number.

"The origins of evolution are still unclear," the woman continued. "At present, the only thing we know is that mutant monsters drop resources that can enhance power—similar to a system in a game. However, the exact process of evolution remains incomprehensible."

So, they were still in the experimental phase.

Adam studied the woman's face, searching for any signs that she was hiding something, but her expression remained neutral and professional.

Finally, after weighing his options, he exhaled slowly. "Alright... I'll join."

Captain Rio smirked slightly. "Good. Give him the form."

The woman immediately retrieved several sheets of paper and a small communication device, then handed them to Adam.

Adam looked at the form in his hands. The first page was a registration form that needed to be filled out—with information about his gang.

He muttered, "Gang name?" then glanced at Amel. "Got any ideas?"

Amel thought for a moment, her eyes sparkling as if inspiration had struck. "Peace Gang! That sounds good, boss!" she said enthusiastically.

Adam stared at her with a blank expression before sighing. "You won't last long with ideas like that," he remarked casually.

Amel grimaced, looking slightly disappointed, but Adam didn't dwell on it. He had already decided on a more fitting name. Without hesitation, he wrote on the form: "Death Angel Gang."

He then filled out other details, such as the number of members, the leader's name, and their abilities. Under the power description section, there was a small note stating that detailed explanations were not required.

Adam simply wrote: "Martial arts proficiency."

After ensuring all fields were completed, he handed the form back to the female assistant.

Without much comment, the woman took the form and returned to Captain Rio's side. Shortly after, Captain Rio and the military personnel climbed back into their vehicles. The engines hummed softly before the convoy slowly drove away, leaving Adam and Amel where they stood.

Both remained silent, watching the military group depart. Adam narrowed his eyes, making sure there were no suspicious movements from them.

As the vehicles moved further away, Adam finally spoke, "Alright, let's head inside."

However, before he could move, something caught his attention.

The military convoy suddenly came to a halt.

Adam's heartbeat quickened. Why did they stop? Were they about to attack?

Countless possibilities raced through his mind—long-range attacks, snipers, even the possibility of them throwing explosives.

His body tensed. "Hide!" he ordered quickly.

Without waiting for confirmation, Adam moved behind the nearest wall. Amel, instinctively following his command, hid beside him.

Holding their breath, they peeked toward the military group.

It turned out they weren't making any suspicious moves.

Instead, they appeared to be doing the same thing as before—stopping in front of another group of people.

Adam squinted, observing more closely. "What? There are others?" he asked, surprised.

Amel, standing beside him, also looked in the same direction. "I've never seen anyone pass that way, Boss. And... I never heard any strange noises from that area either," she said cautiously.

Adam exhaled, his mind piecing together the possibilities. "Yeah, we should increase our vigilance. We don't know if the building next to us is empty or if there are other inhabitants we haven't noticed."

Amel nodded in agreement. Situations like this weren't just about survival; they also had to ensure they weren't caught off guard.

They returned inside the computer store, the place they had turned into their temporary base. Adam gathered everyone, making sure they were ready for their respective tasks.

He turned to Serina, who was holding her baby. "What about you, Serina? Are you going to keep working while carrying your child?" he asked.

Serina looked at Adam, her expression showing a hint of concern. "Yes, Boss. I'll work while carrying my baby. He should stay quiet and won't be a distraction," she said firmly, though there was uncertainty in her voice.

Adam observed her for a moment before nodding. "Alright, but don't overexert yourself."

Serina nodded, though deep down, she knew avoiding exhaustion was impossible. This world had no place for the weak.

Adam then turned to Amel beside him. "Are you ready? We're heading out later tonight," he confirmed.

Amel clenched her fists with determination. "Ready, Boss!"

Adam saw the fire in her eyes. The encounter with the military had clearly left a strong impression on her.

"Good. We leave in five minutes," Adam said casually.

He still needed to prepare himself. Rushing would only lead to recklessness.

Meanwhile, Serina watched her daughter with a gentle gaze, but behind her eyes was a worry she couldn't hide. Amel was no longer a child—she had chosen the path of battle. All Serina could do was support her and hope she was strong enough to survive.

Checking the time on her watch, Serina realized it was already one in the afternoon. She looked at Adam. "Boss, I'll start working now."

Adam glanced at his watch as well, then nodded lightly.

"Mom, good luck!" Amel cheered, smiling as she watched her mother enter the elevator.

Serina returned her smile. "You too, sweetheart."

Before the elevator doors closed, her eyes briefly shifted to Adam, as if entrusting her daughter to him without saying a word.

Adam simply responded with a small nod and a faint smile. Without further words, he turned around and walked toward the shelves at the back of the room, starting to gather the equipment they needed for their exploration mission.