Chapter 118
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Sweeping the Shops
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With the coins I had on hand, I could buy eight generators and eight purifiers.
I'd love to grab way more if possible, but with only 16,012 coins saved up, there was nothing I could do about it.
"Alright, then hand over all the generators and small water purifiers you have here."
"Yes, understood."
Just like that, 2,000 coins vanished, and two generators and two small water purifiers materialized in front of me.
If I were an ordinary person, I'd have to grunt and strain to haul these around, but thanks to my cheat-level Subspace for storing items, it was no issue at all.
"Put all these in here... By the way, apart from the stuff I just bought, nothing new has come in today, right?"
"No, nothing. The only addition to the inventory was what you just purchased. Everything else is the same list as last time, just with reduced stock."
I'd asked just in case some new items had been added without a system announcement, but apparently not.
Okay, looks like I've checked everything I need to. Time to head out and hit every shop in the area.
As I stepped outside, I locked eyes with Ha Dong-seok's men, who had arrived later than me.
"Ah, you're here? Control the shops like I told you today."
"Yes, sir!"
"Also, I bought all the generators and purifiers from this shop. Someone might barge in wanting to buy one and flip out when they hear it's already sold. If that happens, tell them to mention my name and where they live—I'll come find them."
The easiest thing would be to just direct them to my base, but no need to broadcast exactly where I live far and wide.
It's safer to have them tell the shop controllers their location, then go there myself to make the deal.
If it were just me living in the base, I wouldn't fear a thing no matter what others did, but now that the population has grown, I have to take that into account to some degree.
Both guys seemed to get my instructions, so I quickly moved on to the next shop.
When I arrived at the nearest one, Ha Dong-seok's subordinates were already posted up, controlling access.
After exchanging greetings with them, I went inside and bought every last generator and purifier.
And before leaving for the next shop, I made sure to say this.
"Today, you're bound to get people who'll try storming in without paying the entry fee. They might pull sob stories to tug at your heartstrings and beg you to let them through. Ignore every bit of it. No exceptions—anyone entering the shop pays the fee."
I gave a final warning to the nodding men.
"If you fail to follow my orders... you'll get a truly horrific punishment. The kind that'll have you screaming for death from the pain. Remember that."
Talking like this should snap them into line and make them follow orders.
These guys had already come close to dying by my hand once before—they wouldn't dare disobey.
After hitting about five shops and heading to the sixth, dawn was breaking, and the surroundings were starting to brighten.
"What the hell gives you the right to block us from the shop?!"
"Entry fee? Are you insane? Who the fuck are you to charge us to go inside?!"
"Please, let us through! My kid's sick—I need to buy medicine!"
In other words, the morning risers were starting to swarm the shops.
At the sixth shop, I spotted Ha Dong-seok's subordinate blocking entry ahead of time, with a crowd clamoring to get inside.
"Back off! Come any closer, and I'll shoot!"
Ha Dong-seok's man aimed his gun at the crowd and warned them.
Before the zombie apocalypse, people would've fled at the sight of a gun, but after suffering through zombies and seeing guns plenty of times, they weren't all that scared anymore.
"What? Shoot? Go ahead! Shoot me, I said!"
One guy even stripped off his upper shirt, strutting forward fearlessly right in front of the gun.
Ha Dong-seok's subordinates looked flustered, backing up as the crowd's momentum overwhelmed them.
Guess I need to step in.
I rushed to the shop and wedged myself between the cocky guy who'd just dared them to shoot and Ha Dong-seok's subordinate.
"Wh-who the hell are you?"
"J-Jaehwan sir."
"Bullshit, this is bullshit. Hey, hand over the gun."
Ignoring their startled reactions at my arrival, I snatched the gun from Ha Dong-seok's subordinate.
Chambered a round right away, then pressed the muzzle to the defiant guy's head.
"Wh-what? W-wait a sec!"
"You said shoot? Fine, I'll oblige."
Bang!
The guy who'd been boldly advancing moments ago suddenly realized he might actually die—his bravado vanished as he flailed in panic, only to take my bullet to the head, a hole blasting open as he toppled backward.
In that instant, silence fell over the crowd that had been shouting to enter the shop, all eyes on the dead man.
I turned the gun on them next, and the people who'd shrugged off the gun before now scrambled back in terror.
Of course they'd be scared now that I'd just killed someone with it.
This time, I lowered the gun without firing and handed it back to its owner, then bellowed loud enough for everyone in front of the shop to hear.
"You vermin! Want in the shop? Pay the entry fee to my men first! Don't rebel like that idiot who just ate a bullet and end up the same."
With that, I approached Ha Dong-seok's subordinates.
"And you lot—if you're controlling the shop, do it right. Stammering like idiots against trash like this gets you nowhere. If some bastard acts up, just blast him. They'll shut up quick, like now."
One reason people get cocky in front of a gun is their baseless confidence that they won't get shot.
Show them they can get shot, and the cockiness evaporates.
Ha Dong-seok's men nodded quietly at my words.
"Anyway, do it properly from now on. If you screw up shop control like that again, brace yourselves."
I quietly told Ha Dong-seok's men that I'd be buying everything up and to get the names and locations of anyone who wanted some, then pass it on to me.
Then I entered the shop first, bought the generators and purifiers, and stowed them in my Subspace.
"Hm... these haven't sold out yet either."
One thing I always checked was whether the Base Manager trait had been sold.
If someone bought it, they'd be setting up a base like me, preparing against power and water shortages.
I knew it was unlikely, but better safe than sorry.
If it had sold, I'd need to keep a close eye on folks around there.
Anyone with the coin to spare could become a nuisance later, if not an outright threat.
So far, none of the shops I'd visited had sold the Base Manager trait.
Business done here too—on to the seventh shop.
"Ah, Jaehwan sir. Making the rounds?"
The seventh shop was being guarded solo by Ha Dong-seok himself.
"Yeah, good work. No one's shown up here yet?"
"No, that's not it. When I got here, I saw someone coming out after going in first."
"Someone beat me to it? Hold on."
I hurried inside to check my target items.
"What the—already sold? Damn, fast."
Someone had come in and snagged the generators and small water purifiers from this shop.
Probably a local who saw the system notice and rushed over.
A shame.
I'd planned to buy from controlled shops and trade with needful folks, but now it's a bit off.
With manpower limits, we can only control eight spots properly.
I'd thought it worked out great, but someone already cleaned this one out.
Better hustle to the eighth before it's gone too.
"I'm off to another shop—keep this one locked down tight."
"Yes, sir. Jaehwan sir."
I relayed what needed saying to Ha Dong-seok and moved out.
Unlike his men, he'd follow orders to the letter—no worries there.
At the final eighth shop, Sohee was holding it down alone.
Unlike the others, though, she was in the middle of swinging her greatsword at some guys.
"Hey, you bastard! Think I'm weak 'cause I'm small?!"
From Sohee's pissed-off face and voice, and the men's panicked looks, they'd clearly mocked her size and demanded she step aside.
Now they couldn't even resist properly and were getting pushed back.
No need to worry here.
Soon after, as Sohee shoved the guy away and caught her breath, I approached.
"Hoo... when'd you get here?"
"Just now. My eye for talent's spot on—you fight well."
"Eh, this is nothing."
Sohee's lips twitched up at the praise, clearly pleased.
I briefed her on the situation so far, then went inside—the stuff was already sold here too.
These last two shops are the farthest from my base, but both already snatched up? Kinda curious now.
Who bought them?
Must have... a decent pile of coins.
Maybe I should poke around a bit.