Chapter 213
Chapter 213
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 213
Chapter Title: Reason for Becoming a Monster - 2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Scalpers.
They're the ones despised by so many people.
What they do is hoard goods and sell them at inflated prices.
In a normal society, monopolizing essentials like water would be impossible—or if it somehow happened, they'd face the full force of the law.
The aftermath would be too severe.
But the guys buying up water bottles right now couldn't care less about common sense like that.
No matter how many points they flashed, they snapped them up for 30-40 points each, drawing groans from the crowd.
People in the auction house, eager for some clean water for once, started spewing curses.
The root of this mess was the drought.
No rain for the past two months had left everyone's reserves bone-dry.
Some were complaining they hadn't washed in half a month.
Moving around in the apocalypse isn't something you do lightly unless you've got serious experience—it's a gamble with your life.
Battlefields activate everywhere, tanking your abilities hard. How do you even handle that?
With mediocre stats, facing powerful monsters just brings back those grim early apocalypse days.
Anyway, these guys were oddly emphasizing Koreans.
When it's just Koreans together, there's no need to bring up nationality.
But these folks kept mentioning Koreans and Korea.
That last comment was the clincher.
Someone accidentally posted it, then yanked the auction item, but I saw it clear as day.
"These bastards are Chinese."
The ones who'd taken over the west coast cities, still pouring in by boat—they were the hoarders.
I asked why, but got nothing useful back.
"If I just kill off about half of them, they'd stop this crap."
But with their numbers, actually doing it was damn near impossible.
Still, screwing them over? Totally doable.
I called over some folks who weren't busy.
"Bottle up purified water and sell it for 20 points. But don't sell it too fast—just enough to keep them buying. And keep snapping up empty bottles to stockpile."
Yeo-ul caught on quick.
"You're gonna dump their stock later and flood the market, right?"
"Points aren't infinite. Eventually, they'll run dry and stop buying."
"Can't cut demand, so ramp up supply. Smart."
The key was dribbling out water bottles until their points were gone.
If they sniffed out our supply, they'd quit hoarding—so we had to play it close to the chest.
"Yeo-ul, you handle the overall control. Tease the Chinese in the auction chat, gather intel, bump points if no one's bidding."
"Uncle, you're ruthless."
"They started it."
This time, Yu-hyun stepped up.
"But we have to stop people from buying water, right? Looks like plenty are willing even at high prices... How do we hold them off?"
"We'll spread the plan through Da-mi Palace."
The first floor of Da-mi Palace had become a hub for survivors from all over.
Spreading word offline there meant the Chinese wouldn't hear a thing.
Trolls might leak it, but the odds of Chinese buying it were low.
Demand was the issue, but we'd handle that with Da-mi Palace too—borrow big basins, hook hoses straight to the stream, fill 'em up.
Stream water tasted great, so call it a free sample for future customers.
Survivors in smaller cities or rural spots who couldn't reach Da-mi Palace? Tough luck.
No plan satisfies everyone perfectly.
I stressed to the group:
"This isn't about raking in points fast. Sell slow so they buy up all our water. That's the goal."
"And stockpile those bottles, then dump them all at 20 points when you give the signal?"
"Exactly. Mi-kyung, I'll need your help later—not now."
Nobody beats her for getting around.
Mi-kyung hooked her arm in mine with a grin.
"You've been taking me out a lot lately."
"You don't go out to the Korean shelter normally?"
With the second dimension gate open, members could hop over anytime, no points needed.
"I do, but that doesn't count as going out. Technically, it's home."
Fair point.
Anyway, prep done, I borrowed basins from the Korean shelter.
Jang Won-taek gave me a knowing look.
"You're the source of this commotion, Sung-ho?"
"Who else would flood the market like this? Keep it quiet for now."
"Taking big basins to Da-mi Palace for water handouts, eh?"
...Sometimes I think this guy's too sharp for his own good.
I didn't answer, and he nodded to himself.
"That tracks. Got it. We'll block info as best we can. How long?"
"Till their points run out. Can't be infinite."
"Understood. Selling bottled water at 20 points your plan too?"
"Heard a lot about water shortages lately."
Jang Won-taek looked pleased.
"Two months till nationwide time shelters open. Hang in there till then."
Even then, it won't fix everything.
Supplies are finite, and we keep using water.
Humans need 3-4 liters a day, half of it drinkable quality.
Only I can supply that.
Bonus: rack up points too.
Left the office, swung by Hyung-jun's place.
Sis-in-law's belly was noticeably bigger.
Good she could still move easy.
"Sis, think you can quest inside a dimension gate?"
Hyung-jun wasn't worried.
I was—her combat power lagged Yeo-ul's.
She smiled faintly.
"Gotta try."
"Two resurrection scrolls. Bail if it goes south."
Hyung-jun cut in.
"Sung-ho, does it revive the baby too?"
Hadn't thought that far.
We'll avoid needing it.
Into the shelter: guns, items, buff crops galore.
Brought Dingo, Ding-soon, and one Feng-deng too.
Sis grabbed my hand.
"I hated you at first... but this?"
"Water under the bridge. Glad it's settled. Let's crush it today."
Delay too long, baby comes—game over.
Can't quest with a newborn.
Hyung-jun bowed his head, ashamed.
"Should've held out... Sorry, Sung-ho."
"It'll be nothing once done. Alright..."
Opened the gate. Sis munched buff crops, eyes widening.
"S-stats doubled almost!"
"Gotta monster up to fight monsters. Touch this."
Moments later, quest gate opened.
Now she needed three Etherstones solo.
Stats boosted, backup solid, but her eyes betrayed nerves.
Hyung-jun soothed her.
"No worries. You'll nail it. You've fought great so far."
"..."
She nodded, stepped in without hesitation.
Dingo and Ding-soon followed.
We waited.
"She'll be fine... right?"
"Probably."
"Ji-hye really wanted in the shelter. Said everyone's so kind."
My shelter folks are pretty chill.
Seok-hyun and Da-jeong bring hellfire vibes, but not to her type.
Seok-hyun was surprisingly polite, actually.
If not for the panty stunt, she wouldn't have fainted.
"Sorry. Need a smoke."
Hyung lit up.
Short on cigs lately, almost quit—but total cold turkey's tough.
Then, unexpected ping.
Checking auction intel, spotted Geom-in's comment.
What the—?
Perfect.
Told Hyung-jun; his legs gave out, he slumped.
"Ha... what are the odds."
Quest spots are pure RNG, but Luat Kingdom pops up.
Right when Da-jeong's griffon scouting? Too lucky.
Veterans on site—no death risk.
Seok-hyun even found Etherstones for her—in some lab-looking building.
Ji-hye cleared in two hours.
Hyung-jun followed suit; both entered my shelter.
"Whoa..."
"This is the place..."
While they gawked at the views, I grabbed Mi-kyung and headed out.
"Time to go."
"Out we go~"
That drawl sounded familiar.
Teleported near Da-mi Palace in a flash.
Lately, Incheon's Chinese crew had a specific directive: farm points by scalping auction items.
Reselling, basically—but limited to essentials with steady supply.
Not many qualified.
Incheon's new boss, Zhao Zwe, zeroed in on water.
"Demand's sky-high, supply's pathetic... Monopolize it, make bank."
Bank meaning points.
Auctions anonymous, no risk, plus chat to troll foes.
Zhao pushed his men: buy every bottle.
"Snap up everything. Don't let the bread-eaters have any."
They mocked desperate Korean bidders.
Points? Numbers win.
Nearly a thousand pooling into a few.
Incheon and west coast Chinese united under Zhao—fear of Koreans glued them.
Especially that big Korean in black, swinging mithril blades.
Hundreds dead by his hand.
Zhao's pleas? Ignored.
He'd keep killing till west coast Chinese were gone.
So Zhao switched tactics.
"Pool points on a few. Hoard bottles; bread-eaters will bow."
Clean water's scarce these days.
Current bottles? Last scraps, he figured.
Koreans seemed to quit; scalping smooth.
Bidders popped up, but folded at point bumps.
A subordinate asked Zhao:
"Prices climbing... 50 points okay?"
"Supply status?"
"Steady trickle. Less than before."
Proof running low.
Zhao smirked.
"Keep buying. Resell high."
But limits loomed.
A thousand folks: just over 120k points.
Not comfy for endless buys.
What if it flops?
Zhao eyed the corner-stashed bottles warily.
'Over 500 already...'
Bidding wars jacked unit prices.
20k+ points burned; grumbles rising.
Need weapons, store bread—can't hog points.
Valid gripes; Zhao made big promises.
"Double back later!"
Fees'd bite, but whatever.
He urged more buys.
1,000, 1,500, broke 2,000 bottles.
Room corner packed—no one dared drink.
Near 60 points each.
One snuck a bottle—Zhao beat him bloody.
"Traitor here! He's the enemy! Beat him!"
Thief tied to pole, stoned to death.
Uwaaa—!
Crowd frenzy till he was pulp.
Zhao eyed the corpse, unease plain.
Flop this? He'd be next on the pole.
'Barely controlling with a few loyalists—when they revolt?'
Dictators turn cowards fast; Zhao's spot shaky.
Didn't trust countrymen, only inner circle.
Ignored most reports.
"I got this—what's with the nagging? Want the pole?"
"N-no, boss."
Threats worked at first, but numbers grew—dozen protesters tough.
"When do we get points back? We're starving."
"Give us water at least."
Zhao snapped awake.
"That's pricey—shut it."
"Then why buy?"
"Resell opportunity."
"...Better come."
"Threatening me?"
People stood firm.
"Kill us, you survive?"
"Think before acting, please."
After, Zhao wallowed in helplessness.
Points drained on bottles; morale tanked.
Win big? Hero.
Fail?
'Pole for me...'
Clinging to faint hope.
2,200+ bottles stockpiled—points zeroed.
Squeeze more? Suicide now.
Zhao masked panic, ordered:
"Sell high now. They need clean water—our only game."
Then disaster.
Hundreds of bottles hit auction.
Zhao's heart dropped.
Where?! Should be gone.
"No way... fakes!"
Sub bought, drank: "Same... water..."
Zhao glared at the 20-point PET bottle.
Theirs? Near 60 each.
Buyers' choice obvious.
'Screwed!'
120k to 40k.
Admit it? Ugly death.
Zhao collapsed, defeated.
Brain screamed: over.
End of [Reason for Becoming a Monster - 2]