Chapter 87
Chapter 87
Near Mapo Police Station stood a five-story villa that had once been nothing more than a skeletal ruin.
But now it looked completely different from the surrounding wreckage.
“We completed it according to the design you approved.”
At Design Team Leader Lee Mira’s report, I nodded and looked up at the building.
The entire exterior wall and balconies had been wrapped in 30mm compressed steel plating, forming a black steel fortress with no windows except for firing ports.
“Excellent.”
Just like Mapo Police Station, the building was surrounded by a 2-meter reinforced concrete wall, and in front of that a 1.5-meter-deep moat had been dug to completely block vehicle ramming attacks.
[Atlas Shelter – Standard Model]
This would be the seed of civilization I planted throughout Mapo District.
Creeeak—BANG!
As the heavy steel front gate opened and I stepped inside, a familiar smell from before the collapse greeted me.
Paint.
And disinfectant.
The interior was thoroughly utilitarian.
No wallpaper or flooring.
Gray insulation panels exposed on the walls, and cold concrete floors.
But the zoning was clearly defined.
The first floor contained a communal cafeteria and storage area.
Along one wall stood a large stainless-steel water tank, and next to the washbasin sat a bar of soap.
Hygiene mattered.
Water pipes, the tank, and a rainwater collector installed on the roof were present.
But it was not connected to groundwater.
That would be an additional option.
If they needed water urgently, they could purchase it.
I had seen the ugliness of human nature countless times.
Even kind people changed under pressure.
Sometimes it was necessary to keep a leash tight enough so they wouldn’t get ideas.
“Floors two through four are residential zones. Each floor has bunk beds and lockers, accommodating up to forty people.”
As Lee Mira explained, we climbed the stairs.
The difference from Mapo Police Station was that the fifth floor and rooftop contained a guard post and command center.
Unlike the police station sitting alone on a hill, this building was surrounded by other structures.
With a single mounted machine gun, the surrounding 500 meters would become a perfect kill zone.
“A satisfying design. Good work.”
“Thank you, Director.”
Talking with Picker sometimes felt frustrating.
But Lee Mira was someone who understood ten things when you told her one.
Once she awakened, she would probably become even more impressive.
I had high expectations.
“Good. It’s ready for immediate occupancy.”
Smiling in satisfaction, I turned to Yoon Sungjun, who had been following behind.
He stood there absentmindedly turning the faucet in the shower room.
“Director Yoon.”
“Ah—yes, Director!”
“You remember the conditions, right? This is not charity. It’s a business model.”
Basic provisions were only residence rights, emergency drinking water in the tank, and soap.
But the real deal was the options.
“Fuel for generators, weapons, and food. All subscription-based.”
Like rent.
Every month they would have to pay with cores, labor, or special resources.
If they failed?
Immediate eviction.
“Bring me candidates who can handle these terms and be useful to Atlas. I don’t need dead weight.”
“Understood. I already… have some groups in mind.”
Sungjun’s eyes gleamed.
He had already drawn a mental map of Mapo’s survivor groups.
Ahyeon-dong redevelopment district.
Deep inside the basement of a collapsed commercial building.
Fifteen people lived in hiding by the light of a single candle.
Half of them were children under ten.
“Mmm… hungry…”
Watching the thin limbs of a child tossing in sleep, Lee Sea bit her lip.
She placed both hands on a pile of rotten potatoes.
Hummm—
White light poured from her palms.
If she touched poisoned food or contaminated water, toxins disappeared.
Thanks to that ability, the children could survive eating rotten food without getting sick.
This is the limit.
Purification-type abilities were valuable everywhere.
But without something to purify, they were useless.
After Pig disappeared, finding food had become even harder.
She had asked several shelters for help.
None would accept this many orphans.
They only wanted her ability.
Then—
Knock. Knock.
A steady knocking sound on the basement steel door.
Lee Sea startled and pulled the children behind her.
She gripped a rusty kitchen knife and stared at the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me. Yoon Sungjun.”
Creeeak—
When she cautiously opened the door, a blinding tactical flashlight beam flooded inside.
Lee Sea covered her eyes and stepped back.
“You… you’re alive?”
But the man who stepped out of the light was not the Yoon Sungjun she knew.
His appearance was shocking.
Healthy complexion.
A neatly fitted modern combat uniform and bulletproof vest.
A K-2 rifle slung over his shoulder and a pistol at his waist.
He looked like an elite soldier from before the collapse stepping out of a time machine.
“It’s been a while, Ms. Sea.”
Sungjun removed his helmet and smiled bitterly.
Both of them had once lived in Ahyeon Shelter.
When Ahyeon’s leader Lee Taesung expelled the orphans, Lee Sea secretly left the shelter.
Sungjun still remembered Lee Taesung raging when he found out.
After meeting her again later, Sungjun had agonized countless times about bringing her to the supermarket machine room where he stayed.
But too many children reduced survival chances.
They consumed food and increased the risk of discovery.
So occasionally he eased his guilt by giving her some Beak-Chicken he hunted.
After joining Atlas, he became busy and hadn’t visited in a long time.
“You… didn’t become a raider, did you?”
At Lee Sea’s wary gaze, Sungjun shook his head.
“No. I’m currently serving as a director at a place called Atlas Industries.”
“Atlas? I’ve never heard of—”
“It’s the organization led by the new ruler of Mapo… Bomb Maniac.”
The name froze the air.
Even someone as disconnected from news as Lee Sea had heard about the Bomb Maniac who had turned Mapo District into a sea of blood.
Her hands trembled.
“You work under that murderer? Did you come… to kill us?”
“No. I came to save you.”
Sungjun pulled several packs of vacuum-sealed smoked jerky from his backpack.
“Mister, is that food?”
“Yes. Take one each.”
When he shook the jerky packets, the children rushed forward.
“How long will you raise these children in a basement without sunlight? Feeding them rotten potatoes.”
“That’s…”
“Atlas built a shelter. It’s safe. It has water and electricity. Move there.”
Lee Sea’s eyes trembled.
Water.
Electricity.
Safety.
The sweetest words in this hellish world.
But she knew nothing in the world was free.
“As you know… we have nothing. Not even cores or UP.”
Sungjun spoke firmly.
“Your ability is enough.”
“My ability? The one that only purifies rotten food?”
“Purification ability users are rare. Atlas is no exception.”
If they were common, Bomb Maniac wouldn’t be worrying about purifying Mutant Oil.
Sungjun extended his hand.
“Don’t you want to feed the children until they’re full? Let them wash with warm water? Didn’t you say you’d make a deal with the devil if it meant protecting them?”
Lee Sea looked at the starving children.
Then she looked at them devouring the jerky.
There was no choice.
Still, she hesitated.
She had no combat ability.
“At least come see the shelter once. You’ll be able to decide afterward.”
“Just looking is okay?”
“Yes.”
Sungjun sighed inwardly.
Lee Sea is talent Atlas absolutely needs. The Director will probably give her shelter without conditions.
Recruiting a purification user would help Lee Sea—and also earn Bomb Maniac’s favor.
A smile crept across Sungjun’s face.
The next day at noon.
Three survivor group leaders gathered in front of Atlas Shelter – Standard Model.
The first was Lee Sea.
The second was an elderly Collector Group led by Old Man Park—craftsmen skilled at scavenging machine parts.
And the third.
“So this is the shelter, huh?”
A man standing arrogantly with folded arms.
Team Leader Kang, leader of a combat group composed entirely of body-type Awakened.
A small but elite force.
Kang purchased weapons maintenance and ammunition from Park Muryong, providing food in return.
He distributed that food to other groups.
In practice, they controlled much of the food supply network among survivor communities.
“Wow. That’s solid. Even a tank couldn’t break through this.”
Kang clicked his tongue in admiration.
That attitude was exactly why Sungjun disliked him.
“Let’s go inside.”
Creeeeak—CLANG!
The heavy steel door opened.
The group stepped into the first-floor lobby.
The air inside was dry and comfortable—completely different from the damp outside air.
“I’ll turn on the lights.”
Sungjun flipped the wall switch.
Flash!
LED fluorescent lights on the ceiling lit up simultaneously.
Everyone instinctively raised their arms to shield their eyes.
“Ah…!”
Not candlelight.
Not dim lanterns.
Brilliant white light like midday.
The light of civilization after ten years.
Gasps echoed everywhere.
“My god…”
But the shock wasn’t over.
Sungjun walked to the washbasin and turned the faucet.
Shaaah—
Clear water poured out.
Not rust water.
Not muddy water.
Clean drinking water.
“Water… it’s water!”
Greed flickered in their eyes.
Dark, damp basements.
Ruined buildings that could collapse anytime.
Sleepless nights listening to mutant cries.
They could escape that hell and live here—in a place like heaven.
“Beautiful.”
Team Leader Kang licked his lips.
He tapped the wall, unable to hide his greed.
“So what were the conditions again?”
Fifth-floor command center.
The leaders of each group sat around a wide table.
“The Director will arrive shortly.”
Moments later—
Whirr—clank.
With a mechanical sound, a massive figure appeared at the bottom of the stairs.
A giant wearing a black matte mechanical reinforced exoskeleton.
His face hidden behind a grotesque mechanical mask.
The owner of Atlas.
Bomb Maniac — Kang Shinhyuk.
Even Team Leader Kang, who had been acting confidently moments earlier, instinctively shrank his shoulders.
The aura from that giant body was killing intent possessed only by someone who had crossed countless battlefields.
—Boss! That woman! Her mana pattern is very strange!
“Strange?”
—Yes! Completely different from normal Awakened. It feels like the mana has a stealth function attached!
I had been told she was a purification user.
Were purification abilities normally like that?
—No, sir! That woman herself is unusual!
Whatever the case, it seemed Sungjun had brought the right person.
I shifted my gaze and examined the three leaders.
“Let’s begin the interviews.”
Old Man Park and Lee Sea passed Picker’s lie detector easily.
They had known Sungjun for years.
Park’s scavenging ability was increasingly useful for acquiring electronic circuits, while Lee Sea was a purification user—no explanation needed.
The problem was the last one.
Team Leader Kang.
“Your equipment looks good. Are you working as mercenaries?”
“I dislike living drenched in blood. But in this world, those without power are prey. In truth, we are also exiles, are we not? I have always wanted to change this rotten world. It feels like I’ve finally found the proper lord to serve.”
His flattery made me laugh.
The moment Sungjun sent me this man’s information, I had already decided what to do.
His name was familiar.
“Kang Cheolsu. F-Rank Body Enhancement.”
The moment his real name came out of my mouth—
Team Leader Kang’s eyebrows twitched.