Chapter 61
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: The Gorilla Leader and the Rat
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I quickly descended and activated Shadow Veil to slip into the shadows, closing in on them.
"Man~ We cleaned up good today too."
"Yeah, so you've wiped out all the zombies around here?"
"Probably? I doubt there's any left in the area."
From eavesdropping on their cheerful chatter, it was clear they were operating as a group, hunting zombies together.
While I could've wiped out thousands with a single spell, they were methodically thinning them out bit by bit, and it looked like they'd cleared every last one that had spawned so far.
"Alright, let's head back! Gotta report to the boss."
Sure enough, any group of people naturally ends up with a leader calling the shots. Wonder what this boss guy's like.
"Ugh, guess that means dealing with that rat-faced punk again."
"Yeah, that rat-lookin' bastard who can't do shit but yap, always glued to the boss's side barkin' orders. Makes me wanna put a bullet in his skull."
"His mouth's so foul, it pisses me off."
So the boss had some sidekick hanging around.
But from the sound of it, he wasn't too popular.
"Still, we're alive and kickin' thanks to that rat, so we put up with him. Without his tricks, that prick would've been dead by our hands ages ago."
"True, he turns coins into bullets, so that's how we can hunt like this."
Jackpot—good intel.
This "rat" they kept griping about could produce bullets.
Bullets weren't on my equipment crafting list. Unlikely any technician had outleveled me on skills, so high chance he was a Weapon Crafter.
Or maybe an extra trait that let him make ammo.
Makes sense—if you can crank out bullets, guns become way more reliable than blades. Unlike melee weapons, a gun's useless without ammo, so steady supply is key.
For regular Awakeners, guns would be easier for zombie-slaying than swords.
Especially here—no easy ammo sources, so gunners need a reliable hookup.
Maybe even their guns were crafted by this Weapon Crafter suspect.
Too intriguing not to follow. Zombie hunting could wait; scoping out local groups was smart. I'd just peek and bounce.
Once they figured the hunt was done, they split into teams to scavenge useful stuff—mostly food.
Food's priority one with a crowd. Even huge stockpiles vanish fast with so many mouths. This bunch alone must burn through tons daily.
Time passed. They inspected their hauls, shot the breeze, then piled into their parked vehicles to head back to base. I darted through shadows and hitched a ride.
About ten minutes later, the cars rolled into a building complex.
Zombies couldn't get close—vehicles and buses barricaded the perimeter like a fortress.
Fortress vibe, kinda.
Inside, more armed guards with guns.
Where the hell did all these guns come from?
No way they bought 'em all from the shop—not without my coin haul. Even with everything I'd earned, I might barely cover this arsenal.
Feels like they raided a nearby military base.
Then the convoy stopped at a warehouse-looking building.
"You come with me to report to the boss. Rest of you, get these guys to move the supplies to storage."
"Got it. Good luck."
"Ugh, when am I gonna finish hauling all this?"
The supply crew grumbled as they started lugging crates.
The two heading to report? I shadowed them.
They entered the largest building and went up to a second-floor room where two guys were talking.
"Boss, looks like the team's back safe. We can call this area cleared—mutants aside."
"Good. So, what's next? Push to the next zone?"
Hm... Yeah, I get why they call him "rat" now.
One guy in the room was about 165cm, scrawny build, long face, beady slanted eyes—rat-faced perfection.
The boss? Hulking, ripped muscles, dwarfing the runt. Gorilla material.
"Boss, we're back."
"Yeah, good work. Anything notable?"
"Nah. Cleared the stragglers, grabbed as much food as we could."
The boss nodded with a pleased grin at the report.
Right then, rat-face jumped in.
"Report's done? Hand over the coins to the boss already. How do you always forget? It's not like you're idiots."
Hand over coins?
What the—? The lackey scowled but actually approached the boss and passed them over.
"Hm... Roughly 320 coins today."
"Yes, boss."
"Good. And don't even think about hiding any elsewhere. Got it?"
The lackey's face twisted like he resented hearing that from a rat like him.
"Seo Taeil! Don't insult my men like that. I trust them."
"Ahem... Just checking, boss. Can't be too careful."
Rat coughed and backpedaled. But why hand all earnings to the boss?
Doesn't add up.
"Do we really have to do it this way every time?"
The lackey hit exactly what I was wondering.
"Jeez, how many times do I gotta explain? If you forget, let me hammer it in again. Coins are huge in this world now. If you hold 'em and croak, that's valuable resources wasted on the ground. Better if the boss keeps 'em all safe."
"But! We could use some on ourselves! How long we gonna leave our skills at level 1?"
"Hah! Better to make bullets than waste on you lot? Way more efficient, and you know it..."
Crystal clear now: Rat was a Weapon Crafter, and all group coins went to the boss.
Reason? Prevent loss if someone dies holding coins—pool 'em with the boss at base.
Safe storage means no waste on deaths.
But why no skill upgrades for the grunts? They'd leveled from kills, sure, but coins for skills? All with boss?
Doesn't make sense to hoard like that, but they could check status shares for secret spending.
Normally, hoarding leads to theft, but here? Status sharing shows exact coins and upgrades—no funny business possible.
So unless they mutiny, rules say hand it all over. Why accept it?
Sudden shout from outside.
"S-Smasher sighted! One Smasher incoming!"
Mutant zombie debut here?
Wonder how they'd handle a Smasher. Even Sohee struggled despite her battle sense.
Guns? Snipe it to Swiss cheese from afar? Or tank it up close? No clue.
"I'll handle it. Waste of bullets on one."
Boss volunteered, scratching my itch.
"Be careful, boss."
"No worries."
Gorilla grabbed a greatsword from the room—same model as Sohee's, probably shop-bought—and vaulted out the window to the ground below.
I shifted to a shadow by the window to watch.
They'd just said pool coins to avoid loss on death.
Yet boss risks it all on a Smasher? Contradiction. But rat and lackey said nothing—like it was normal.
Means they trust gorilla to smoke a Smasher easy.
"Haaap!"
He strode toward the Smasher past the gate, bellowing like gathering chi. His muscles ballooned, nearly shredding his clothes.
Then charged, swinging the greatsword full-force sideways.
Smasher raised its thick arm to block—like with Sohee, her strike barely scratched and bounced.
But gorilla's blade hacked deep, lopping half the arm.
- Kieeeek!
Smasher screeched at the near-sever. Gorilla yanked free and cleaved down.
It dodged sideways, swinging its good arm. He sidestepped effortlessly, countering to bisect the torso.
Follow-up barrage finished it.
Gorilla dude fights better than expected.
Rat piped up.
"See? That's focus and investment. We pump coins into the boss so he crushes even Smashers easy."
Focus and investment?
Now it clicks—no coins for grunts because all-in on gorilla.
One uber-strong guy over spreading it thin.
Explains why he seemed too beefy for a regular Awakener—he'd slurped up everyone's coins.
And him holding all coins? Makes sense if he's least likely to die.
Plus, rat churns some into bullets for the crew.
No need for personal stats if you have ammo— just shoot zombies.
Dunno the exchange rate, but they deem it efficient.
Group structure mapped.
Now, choices: Rob gorilla blind, or recruit him as muscle?