Chapter 219
Chapter 219
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Lotus's First Residents - 1
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Lee Beom-seok and Oh Seung-yeon from the Korean Shelter had come out to the Han River basin.
Their goal was to investigate the pollution in the Han River.
Rumors had been circulating at the auction house that the smell was getting worse as the weather warmed up.
But honestly, they didn't even need rumors—the color alone told the story.
Reconnaissance via Seung-yeon's paper airplane had confirmed it: the Han River water was far worse than before.
"...It's pretty sticky."
Lee Beom-seok scooped up some water and rubbed it between his fingers.
It had a strangely gritty texture—probably due to heavy metals.
The Metal Plague had turned every bit of metal into dust that seeped into the river.
The frozen Han River had looked fine over winter, but now that it was thawing, its true colors were showing.
Seung-yeon asked in a worried tone.
"We can't drink this, right?"
"Considering how much heavy metal is in there... you'd die of poisoning faster than from a monster attack."
"But couldn't we purify or distill it to make it drinkable?"
"Not for over a hundred people."
The biggest problem was, as always, water.
The Chinese group to the west had learned their lesson after messing around with bottled water and getting burned.
The Koreans weren't quite that bad off, but they could feel the water shortage in their bones.
Drinking water was somewhat manageable, but they were critically short on water for daily use.
A human needs about 3-4 liters of water a day just to survive.
For survivors fighting monsters, even 4 liters felt insufficient.
The issue was there was no way to secure that much.
The river water stank too badly to use, and the drought meant no rain for months.
As a result, everyone reeked.
'They seem to have plenty of water over there, though...'
Lee Beom-seok shook off his hands and stood up.
He knew how Sung-ho had handled water in the Great Labyrinth.
He'd borrowed a few large basins and poured water into them generously.
Thanks to that, the people on the first floor of the Great Labyrinth at the time had enjoyed the rare luxury of a wipe-down bath.
Not a full bath, just cleaning off with water, but in the apocalypse, that was high living.
Still, Sung-ho didn't seem interested in supplying daily water long-term.
'Is he just going to sell it at the auction house and call it a day?'
Based on the current situation, his shelter must be overflowing with water.
Lee Beom-seok couldn't understand why he wasn't making use of it.
If you had that much water, you'd sell it or share it—something.
When Lee Beom-seok returned and reported, Jang Won-taek said this:
"Do you know that line from the movies? 'Continued favors are taken as rights...'"
"I get what you're saying, but in the apocalypse, shouldn't we help each other?"
"Sung-ho's already helping plenty. I hear Hyung-jun and Ji-hye recently moved into his shelter."
"So everyone else is nothing to him... Is that it?"
Jang Won-taek gave a hollow laugh at that.
This guy had been in politics for decades and still didn't understand people.
"What I'm saying is, you can't force goodwill. He's like a ball that bounces back harder the more you press. Best to let him do as he pleases."
"But he's still a co-leader of this shelter."
"Just in name. He barely interferes except for that one time."
"...I'm worried about how we'll handle water going forward."
"When the Time Shelter opens in July, we'll get a breather. We can worry about after that when it comes."
Lee Beom-seok was shocked at his superior's irresponsibility.
Normally, he'd have plans mapped out years ahead.
When asked about it, he stroked his white hair with a wrinkled smile.
"The environment's changing too fast for this old brain to keep up. Best to follow Sung-ho's lead and pick up the scraps. Oh, speaking of, I saw some of his crew out and about lately."
"Yes... They said they're moving. I heard it coincidentally through Seung-yeon."
Jang Won-taek leaned forward in surprise.
"They're not leaving here, right?"
Sung-ho technically had lodging in the Korean Shelter.
But he rarely used it.
Because of the shelter inside his dimension gate.
Everyone wanted in, but no one dared ask.
Fear aside, they had to meet him first to even try.
"They're moving their shelter. Leaving the people here and having Sung-ho transport them. Probably using the griffon."
"Storing supplies in the dimension warehouse? The moving companies must be crying."
Their conversation continued, eventually reaching the battle in the Great Labyrinth.
They both knew it had started with the bottled water auction, where a few Chinese got duped by An Geun-seok and ended up dead by Sung-ho's hand.
But what happened after? No one knew.
Sung-ho's shelter members had all clammed up like they'd planned it.
Jang Won-taek hoped Sung-ho would fill him in, but he was too busy with moving prep to be seen.
Then a message came from the office.
Lee Beom-seok unfolded the paper airplane that flew in through the window and doubted his eyes.
"...This can't be right."
"We're living in a world where impossible things happen. What is it?"
"A woman named Go Ho-kyung is here. She's at the south barricade..."
"Go Ho-kyung? Never heard of her."
"She says she fought Sung-ho in the Great Labyrinth. One of An Geun-seok's subordinates."
Jang Won-taek's face hardened.
"She wouldn't come here to... No, if she wanted to turn the place upside down, there are better ways."
"They say she has no intention of fighting. She wants to see Sung-ho."
That figured.
After some deliberation, Jang Won-taek asked,
"How are we treating her now? Any escorts or monsters?"
"Seems she's alone. Surrounded by guards. Pretty calm about it."
"So no need to worry... Suggest that I'll sit in on the meeting."
"Got it."
Lee Beom-seok wrote instructions on the paper airplane and sent it back.
Moments later, agreement came, and a ghostly woman in a suit entered the shelter.
Lee Beom-seok watched from the window and was dumbfounded.
"A suit and high heels in the apocalypse... What is she thinking?"
"Must be absolute confidence. Though she got one over on Sung-ho, apparently."
Still, guest treatment was in order.
Jang Won-taek turned.
"Contact Sung-ho."
.
.
.
"Didn't expect you'd come in person. Not scared?"
"I've already died by your hand. What's left to fear?"
She said that while stroking her neck.
The mithril blade flashed in my mind, but I held back for now.
I sat in the chair opposite her.
Jang Won-taek had his arms crossed, eyes closed, just listening.
"So, what's the purpose of coming here?"
"No need to waste time. I'm here to pick up the boss."
An Geun-seok, as expected.
Did she know he was a corpse in my dimension warehouse?
"He's dead."
She snorted.
"Don't lie. If he were really dead, I'd know naturally. Right now, the boss is neither dead nor alive."
This wasn't her ability.
Probably Judecca pulling strings behind her.
Maybe Judecca and the executives were mentally linked.
That explained how she got here so fast.
Taking An Geun-seok hostage had been good, but it exposed my ability.
Denying it now would be pointless, so better to squeeze her for all she had...
I gathered my thoughts and said,
"What'll you give me if I hand him over?"
"Name your price."
Jang Won-taek's eyebrow twitched.
Was Judecca secretly a wish-granting fairy?
"Immortality. Possible?"
"Not impossible. But not for you."
She chuckled and slowly crossed her legs.
Her legs were so long it gave off a sensual vibe.
But to me, it looked ridiculous, like tentacles crossing.
"Because I'd have to become a real monster?"
"You get it. Immortality requires accepting everything from the master."
"Everything from Judecca... Hope no tentacles pop out of your eyes."
Go Ho-kyung's eyes flashed fierce, then softened slightly.
"You knew. Well, wandering Lotus like that, it'd be weirder if you didn't."
"Heading to Elderwood Forest soon. Look forward to it. I'll make that damn spring unusable."
"If it were that easy, the world's end wouldn't have come."
Fine, whatever.
I'll see for myself when I get there.
Now, what to ask for...
An Geun-seok was a big catch; I didn't want to let him go cheap.
Skills or items wouldn't cut it. Info was the way...
Yeah.
"Unknown Monsters expansion pack data. You have it?"
Now her eyebrow twitched.
"All of it?"
"All. From Brutes to 4th-tier shops. The whole dataset."
"No issue giving it, but will you keep your word...?"
"Keeping that guy bugs me too. Once I have the data, I'll hand him over for sure. If you don't trust me, forget it."
She stared at the ceiling for a bit, then said,
"Fine. Full data handover. But don't delude yourself into thinking it'll free you from the master's grasp."
"Free? I'm gonna kill him."
"Heh... Good luck. For the exchange... tomorrow, same time, Yeouido Park plaza."
"Why? This place make you nervous?"
Go Ho-kyung's face turned fierce.
"Annoying, drooling idiots who don't know their place. Can you even handle me?"
She must have gotten a lot of stares crossing the shelter.
Some scared, some leering at her figure.
"One personal question..."
"What?"
"Hypothetically—no chance it'd happen, but say... if you captured me, what then?"
"You? Hmm... One's not enough, so I'd grab another high-level woman."
Da-jeong popped into my head—not because I was smitten.
I pressed,
"And? With two purebloods, what's the plan?"
"What do a man and woman do when they meet? Obvious."
Go Ho-kyung's eyes narrowed slyly, and a cough came from the side.
"Love and peace was your plan?"
"Of course not. Details when you join. Won't be bad for you."
"Turning into a monster like you? Pass."
She bit her lip and stared me down.
"Not yet..."
"Tentacles pouring from the stump, and that's not a monster? Would've been a sight in the Unknown Monsters pack."
"My mind's still the same as when I worked the desk. So shut up."
She's emphasizing her humanity oddly.
Even as she turns into a monster, she's still human—for now.
Maybe why she sticks to suits and heels.
Time to poke a bit.
"So how'd a desk worker end up accepting Judecca's power? An Geun-seok seduce you?"
"...None of your business."
Go Ho-kyung didn't like the grilling; she stood, brushing off her butt.
Then warned us,
"It's been tolerable so far. But it'll get much harder. Monsters after Brutes aren't kidding around."
I was prepared anyway, no big complaints.
If it's coming, I'll prep step by step.
Whining and giving up isn't my style.
"Thanks for the advice. Want me to kill you here?"
She hesitated slightly.
"You know I resurrect."
"Joking. See ya."
I waved.
The door creaked as she vanished.
Silent Jang Won-taek finally sighed deeply.
"A lot's happening."
"Not that big a deal... Curious?"
"If possible, yes."
"Eh, nothing much."
I told him about Judecca hiding in the Great Labyrinth and Lotus.
His expressions were quite the show.
.
.
.
I ran into a Golden Goblin at Yeouido Park—not Go Ho-kyung.
It squeaked at me, clueless.
The little pouch it clutched pitifully was precious.
"Delivering the data like this, huh."
Not bad.
I grabbed the fleeing thing and snatched the pouch.
Inside: one hard drive.
No need to meet since An Geun-seok's corpse just needed pulling from the warehouse.
Back at the shelter, I showed Yoo Hyun the drive.
"Can you hook this up?"
"One sec... External case should work."
He connected it to his laptop and displayed the contents.
Oh... Something's off.
Almost no videos—mostly text.
The few videos were just Brutes I knew.
Yoo Hyun tapped keys and turned.
"Looks like this is it."
"Guess they slacked off instead of developing."
"Maybe got swept up in magic while working on it?"
Circumstances suggested high chance.
Still, monster and shop data was solid.
I told him to copy it, then headed out.
Kicked the Golden Goblin's butt, opened the dimension warehouse, and pulled out the sack.
"Bye. Assume you'll die next time we meet."
Moments later, the sack glowed and deflated.
An Geun-seok's body gone.
Wonder what face he'd make waking at the spring.
Definitely not a smile.
Back at the shelter, I moved stuff while Yoo Hyun organized data.
Dimension warehouse was handy, but only I could use it.
Meant doing the heavy lifting solo, but high stats made it easy.
"These guys are the problem."
What to do with 200 cows.
Feed was fine; have Ji-man watch them on Bat Island temporarily.
Same for wild boars. Birds and ducks small, no issue.
Gathered members and explained.
"...We'll move like that, then open the dimension gate. Come out then."
Da-jeong, arms crossed, asked,
"But how do we get there? I don't have the griffon."
"Too far to call?"
"Yeah. Probably circling the palace now. Hard to fetch."
Teleport scrolls one-use, ATVs not ideal.
"Then boat it is."
"Huh? That dinghy?"
"Got a big plastic boat from the Korean Shelter."
Sea monsters worried me, but hugging the coast should be fine.
I clapped to refocus.
"Nothing fancy. Stay briefly at Korean Shelter, then enter and build cabins. Discuss work there. Let's move."
People dispersed. With Hyung-jun's help, I dragged the boat to sea.
Time for unwanted sailing.
Lotus's First Residents - 1 End