Chapter 66
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Trading Post
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After Johnson and Emily left, the leader of Shelter A stepped down from his position voluntarily.
Of course, it was voluntary in name only—anyone even slightly interested in the shelter's internal affairs knew it was due to James's coercion.
And naturally, James rose to leadership. It was the moment his long-cherished ambition was fulfilled. Alicia, who had joined hands with him, was recognized for her contribution and took over James's former spot as an executive.
Executive in name, but it was practically the vice-leader position. The other executives knew James was backing her and treated her as good as James himself.
"We've taken this place, which is great... but what now?"
At the black Blader Deshawn's question, Alicia shot back as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"What do you mean, what now? We grow it."
Deshawn shook his head.
"Alicia, instead of digging in like this, wouldn't it be better to head to another region right away?"
"Why are you acting like a dog in heat that won't calm down? We busted our asses to take this place, and now you want to move? Damn it, Deshawn, what's been up with you these past few days?"
"No, think about it. The zombies showing up are getting stronger. Sticking around in a noob zone like this, aren't we the ones who'll end up screwed?"
The number of Chasers appearing in Shelter A was steadily increasing. It started with one or two, but now there had even been times when four showed up.
And naturally, it was they who blocked most of those Chasers. Even with combat classes, handling multiple Chasers wasn't easy.
Just yesterday, they had nearly died. Unfortunately, their party had no Healer. If the zombie virus spread from a bite, it was 'certain' death.
And the one most exposed to life-threatening danger was the Blader who fought up close.
Johnson's party and Emily's support felt especially huge to them—to him, in particular.
Lately, he had even thought that knowing this, maybe it would have been better to stick with Johnson's party...
"It's tough now, but... James assigned us a few newbies. Train them up, and we'll get stronger too."
At Alicia's words, Deshawn grumbled inwardly.
'Why assume only we'll get stronger? If the zombies level up in that time, we're the ones who die.'
By now, Shelter A felt like shackles to him. He shook his head again and turned to Kim Hoon, who was huddled in a corner, muttering to himself.
"Kim Hoon, what do you think?"
Kim Hoon, who had been quiet, shot back with sharp eyes that said 'don't mess with me.'
"What do I think about what, you lanky fuck?"
Deshawn scowled and said,
"Why's this shorty so down in the dumps? Did Emily dump you or something?"
At that, Kim Hoon's face fell even more.
"Looks like it for real."
"Dumped by Emily? Pfft. Yeah, no way a shorty like you could land a babe like that."
"You son of a—!?"
Kim Hoon clutched his head. Before Emily left, he had confessed to her. "I want to sleep with you." In his mind, it was the perfect line.
Of course, all he got back was cold rejection.
-Such vulgarity... I just can't believe you're from the same place as Si-hyun.
Strangely, his rage turned not toward Emily, but Park Si-hyun.
What was he to Emily? Had they already hooked up?
Hearing that Emily was heading to Shelter Apocalypse—Park Si-hyun's shelter—had convinced him. Park Si-hyun, what made that punk so special? A Mechanic weaker than him, no less.
The more he imagined Emily and Park Si-hyun together, the more jealousy and fury filled his head. And Deshawn's remark successfully set it off.
Objects in the room floated up and flew straight at Deshawn. Kim Hoon was attacking him with psychokinesis. Of course, Deshawn took zero damage.
The mutual attack ban had kicked in. But Deshawn scowled hard. He'd put up with minor pranks before, but this was too much.
He drew his sword and growled.
"You think you can get away with this shit because I've been lenient?"
Only then did Alicia grab her gun and intervene.
"Everyone, stop it. I said stop."
But even with Alicia's intervention, they showed no signs of calming down. Just a party of three, yet they were hurtling toward disaster.
That was when it happened. As they glared at each other with vicious faces, a message appeared before their eyes.
「The Trading Post has been activated. Barter trading is now possible through the Trading Post.」
「Would you like to form a trade contract with Park Si-hyun (Mechanic)?」
...What the hell? Confusion filled their eyes.
* * *
「Using Metal Transformation (Lv.8), synthesized Blueprint: Trading Post x1, Trading Post Part A x1, Trading Post Part B x1, Trading Post Part C x1 to create the Universal Trading Post.」
「Metal Transformation (Lv.8) experience has increased dramatically.」
「Metal Transformation level has risen to 9.」
「Universal Trading Post」
Durability: 200/200
Level: 1
Cost: 20% of current AP, 100,000 won
Max trades possible: 2/2 (resets every 24 hours)
Traders: 0/3
Description: A universal trading post created by Mechanic Park Si-hyun. Forbidden alien technology was used.
"Is this the Trading Post?"
I nodded. Zixuan touched it curiously, her face full of wonder, and said,
"It's cool and all... but how do you use it? I brought a potion to sell."
She pulled a plastic bottle of healing potion from her pocket and shook it. Slosh slosh. The potion sloshed around.
"You need to form a contract to use it. Like this..."
「Trade contract requested to player Zixuan.」
「Zixuan has accepted the trade contract. Continuous trading is now possible.」
A small box floated in front of her.
"You put stuff in here?"
"Probably shows in your info window, but it costs 20% of your current AP and 100,000 won each time."
That's why the way to maximize Trading Post use was to activate it after burning AP. Using at 100% AP costs 20%, but at 50%, it's only 10%.
"I don't have any money..."
Zixuan pouted, so I pulled a wad of bills from my backpack and handed them over. Money I'd collected while farming here and there.
It was plenty for free use of the Trading Post... and if it ran out, I could just farm more from the bank.
Zixuan placed 100,000 won on the box and put her hand on it. The locked box opened and swallowed the cash. She peered inside, but the money was gone.
「Zixuan has requested a trade.」
I accepted the trade request.
"Put the item you want to trade in there."
She placed the healing potion in the box. It sucked it right in.
「Zixuan's offered item: Healing Potion x1」
I pondered what to put on the Trading Post, then grabbed a case from the workshop corner. A diamond ring I'd picked up from the department store before and forgotten about giving to Zixuan.
I put the diamond ring in the Trading Post, and it sucked it in.
「Your offered item: Diamond Ring x1」
"...What's this?"
I'd tossed it in casually, but her face went blank. What's this...
"A gift. From the department store trip last time..."
Suddenly, she burst out laughing with a "pfft."
「Would you like to accept the trade?」
「Zixuan has accepted the trade.」
「Trade accepted.」
A pure white light connected the Trading Post and her box. When the light faded, the potion was in the Trading Post, and the diamond ring case was in her box.
She opened the box, took the case, and grasped the ring with trembling hands.
"It's beautiful."
"Yeah."
She slipped it onto her left ring finger. She kept beaming, giggling nonstop, clearly delighted. Seeing her so happy lifted my mood too.
"Next time, I'll make you something even better."
"Hehe, looking forward to it. But what do I do? I haven't done anything for you."
"Just being by my side is enough."
"A lifetime contract? Well, if it's this kind of lifetime deal... not bad."
She puckered her lips slightly, and I pressed mine to hers. Savoring the soft touch of her lips, I pulled away.
"You know it's always 2% short, right?"
Maybe because I pulled back too soon, she grumbled with a sulky face, and I chuckled.
"I'm always the one shortchanged."
She quickly backpedaled.
"Actually, me too."
Blushing cutely, Zixuan nestled into my arms, and I stroked her soft hair.
'One slot filled.'
One was locked in anyway. The remaining two were the issue. Only three trade contracts possible total.
While mulling over who to fill them with, I used one of the Trading Post functions: 'Request Trade Contract (All).'
Eh, I could always swap if they sucked. Just accept whoever, I thought. And... bites came immediately.
「Johnson has accepted the trade contract.」
「Deshawn has accepted the trade contract.」
Johnson and Deshawn had accepted the requests.
'Who's Deshawn?'
I soon recalled the black guy in Alicia's party was named Deshawn. I'd hoped for Alicia personally, but same party, so whatever.
That was when it happened.
A message popped up for me.
「Johnson has requested a trade.」
In the ruins of the Salvation Church chapel.
Johnson stared intently at the box that had just appeared, assault rifle in hand.
"...So how do you use this box?"
"It says you can use it by paying 100,000 won."
Cheonghan said with keen interest.
"You got money?"
His party members shook their heads. Thinking money was useless in the apocalypse world, they hadn't grabbed any.
"Is that 100,000 won really just any 100,000 won?"
"Search around here first."
Johnson's party rummaged through the Salvation Church followers' corpses. Thinking the devotees might have cash, they found some on one body, just as hoped.
Johnson placed 100,000 won on it. But nothing happened.
"Not this money? Oh, right, needs AP too."
He placed his hand on it. He felt his AP drain, and the box swallowed the 100,000 won.
「You have requested a trade.」
「Trade request accepted.」
「Please place the trade item in the box.」
Pondering what to offer, he remembered the notebook from conquering the chapel.
Sci-Fi Notebook. The info window said it was a hidden item unusable by non-Mechanics.
Useless as kindling to him, but surely valuable to Park Si-hyun. Even knowing that, he unhesitatingly placed the Sci-Fi Notebook in the box.
'That's just how business is. First trade's the most important anyway.'
「Your offered item: Sci-Fi Notebook x1」