Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: The Detection Skill
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The Detection Skill was ridiculously satisfying.
It could scan everything in a 50-meter radius around me.
I'd already checked out this residential area once before, but I activated Detection again as I looked around.
No signs of life anywhere. Perfect.
The skill guaranteed complete safety.
I felt like shouting at the top of my lungs.
Now that I'd confirmed the area was secure, it was time to head to the big mart.
Twenty minutes on foot. Back in the old days, it probably would've taken an hour.
Not anymore. I could stroll right down the middle of the street.
Unless someone was watching from a ridiculous distance with binoculars or something, there was no way they'd spot me.
The only possibility would be someone with a higher-level Detection Skill picking me up from outside my own range.
But really... what were the odds of that?
I took the alleys, heading straight as the crow flies toward the mart.
Empty houses everywhere. No need to fear them now.
I walked tall, like I was just popping out to the convenience store before the world went to hell.
About ten minutes in, something pinged on Detection.
A person.
My heart pounded. Excitement surged through me. I could feel the adrenaline rushing. Adrenaline? Dopamine? Whatever.
It was three in the morning. The presence was completely still.
The twelve-second cooldown felt agonizingly long. The closer I got, the stronger the signal.
It was thrilling, almost mystical. Knowing exactly where your target was? That was an insane blessing.
Detection again. The presence was much closer now.
I quieted my footsteps and crept forward. A rundown old apartment building, first floor.
An apartment... even an old one like this wouldn't be easy to breach. But I couldn't just leave it alone.
Dilemma.
Back in the day, I'd have set up an ambush. They'd come out eventually. The moment they opened the door, it was game over for them.
What to do? Simple: make them come out. Actually, I didn't even need that. Just needed to see them.
I knew the coast was clear, so I had options.
Hiding spot... over there looked good. They wouldn't see me when they stepped out, but I'd have a clear view of the door.
I grabbed a long stick and jammed it through the screen door.
Crash!
Impossible on modern apartment windows, but these old villa ones? The glass was flimsy.
I smashed it and slipped into my hiding spot.
Detection. The presence moved. Right at the door. Detection cut out, but I heard the door creak open.
"What the hell... shit..."
Sleep.
Situation over.
He was pretty built. Tall, too. Why live in a dump like this? Plenty of better places out there.
Tank top, shorts, and a parka thrown over it.
What? Was he that confident? Totally exposed.
Hard to believe he'd survived this long looking that pathetic. Good skills? Or just dumb?
Whatever. That carelessness led to this.
Interrogate him? Nah. Nothing I really cared to know.
Didn't look like he had anything on him, so I just killed him.
Whoa. Nice haul. Must've cleared out this whole area.
This guy was a monster in his own right. That many coins meant he'd killed a ton.
I poked around the apartment. Filthy place. Stale smell mixed with that unmistakable dude stench.
I'm a guy too, but I know what it smells like. Can't smell my own, but other guys'? Rank.
Canned goods piled up in one corner, fridge stuffed with food. Flight jacket. Hand axe. Hand axe? Damn, tough guy.
Shorter than my machete, but it had weight. Good for overhead swings. And throwable maybe. Taking this.
Food later. More searching. Nothing much. No laptop? Would've checked the memory.
Smut mags... Hilarious. From jerking off to free internet porn to flipping through dirty magazines.
Fuck. In a world like this, a computer loaded with porn and an external hard drive would be a treasure chest.
Whatever. Not my thing. Porn? Meaningless. I've got Seung-hee.
Nothing else worth seeing. Time to go.
But still... it didn't make sense.
Why'd he come out so sloppily? That confident in his skills?
It was too easy. Made me feel uneasy. Damn. Should've questioned him first.
Ah... so unsatisfying. Really bugs me.
Even leaving the place, the itch wouldn't go away.
Like taking a massive shit and forgetting to wipe. Without Detection, I'd have holed up here for days suspecting accomplices.
That move wouldn't have made sense otherwise. Ugh... what gives?
Fine. Dead idiot was just an idiot. Moving on.
Detection showed nothing else. Had to trust the absolute intel it gave. That's why I picked this skill.
Overdid it maybe? Head's throbbing.
Big coin haul, so I chugged a Recovery Potion.
Refresh. Refresh.
Just think of it as finding money on the road. Aside from the nagging feeling, it was pure profit.
Back on the move.
The dead loser faded from my mind, unease and all.
That's what Detection did. Zero regrets on picking it. For real.
Alley ended.
And there was the apartment complex I didn't want to see.
Back then, it'd have been a nightmare zone. I'd have detoured for sure.
Not now.
Striding right through. Problem was, even if I spotted people, no easy way to take them down from afar.
Luckily—or unluckily—no presences as I cut through the complex.
The world had fallen that far. A massive complex like this, completely empty.
Four years.
Just four years, and the world was like this.
Or... had we held out pretty long?
What's the population now? One percent of what it was?
If this teeming neighborhood kept just one percent, would that match the current density?
Used to have over 300,000 here... One percent is 3,000. Still a lot. Probably less.
300? That'd be 0.1 percent. Plausible. 300 in this huge area? Sure.
From 50 million nationwide, 0.1 percent is 50,000. Only 50,000 left in all Korea? Nice. Real nice. Fuck.
Whatever. With Detection, I'd sweep the area. Make sure no one messed with me around here.
Passed the complex. Big mart right ahead.
0.1 percent felt too low. Hell if I knew.
The place was lit up like crazy. Like a luxury cruise ship floating in a dark sea.
Other houses and apartments were distant stars on the night ocean; the mart was the cruise liner.
Unlimited electricity was great for this. Streets didn't feel so scary at night.
Nothing on Detection, so I approached slowly. How were these bastards defending the mart?
In a world where killing meant instant coins, they were idiots showing off like "come get some."
Numbers probably gave them confidence. And they figured they needed this much to look badass.
Don't overthink. My job: kill, collect coins.
Snap a pic for Seung-hee.
No real need, but... good things are good. Show her the photo, then relax going forward.
Alright... entrance coming up. And the underground parking ramp.
They block the parking? The officetel raiders were smart. How smart were these guys?
Oho. Brains after all. Parking entrance shuttered.
This mart had a shutter on the parking too.
Mart parking probably connected inside. Any external doors?
Get closer? But... why's Detection so quiet?
No visible guys, no pings.
Cameras... where? Forgot where mart cams are placed. Can't spot 'em.
Started circling the mart.
No way they'd skimp on security this much, even cocky.
Fourteen guys inside, no night watch? Even I, who never served, know that's bullshit.
Almost full lap when I finally spotted one.
Long padding coat, smoking. Ha. Indoor no-smoking? That's why he came out?
Smoke inside and trigger sprinklers? Even in this shit world, smokes outside? Impressive.
Hid and watched Long Padding.
Finished his cig and sauntered back in.
Sucks that visual range outstrips Detection. Hate getting closer, feels off.
Observe for now.
Watch and plan the hit. No pings nearby, and they won't expect an attack.
Worst case, torch the place.
Main entrances: two big ones. Plus small emergency doors for fires and such.
Funny part: big entrances had smashed glass. No security value.
Realized they didn't need to guard the doors.
Hmm... think. Mart layout?
Entrance... step in, first-floor sales area right there. Registers... nothing to block with.
Escalators. Marts have those. Elevators. Stairs.
If I held a mart, where? Ground? Basement?
Wait... this one's parking is above ground. So why'd he come down to smoke? Better up top, no?
Means no one on ground level? Ugh... dunno.
Clear my head. No info, no point theorizing. Find a spot to watch comfortably.
Freezing my ass off.
Perfect: fast food joint right across the street. Fast food's always right.
I activated Detection while heading slowly to the fast food place.