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Sajihyeok and Jeondohyeong casually mentioned to the members, “What if we just bring cigarettes and a lighter into the gas station and threaten the alliance?”

I also secretly sold a few handguns loaded with non-lethal rounds. To survivors who seemed sharp, those driven by malice, and those who gave off a similar vibe to me.

“I can’t move directly, nor can I order anyone to do it. In the end, I have to create the situation.”

I quietly watched the backs of the survivors as they walked away, hiding the handgun in my arms.

There’s no actor to follow the scenario as I direct. If I do that, I’ll be exposed. All I can do is set the stage, props, and situation, guiding anyone to become the actor.

“Someone will move as I intend.”

The survivors who once gathered and raided Villa Street. I gave them the idea of threatening the gas station and arson, and even distributed handguns to deal with the night-watch riders.

Perhaps a few of them will take action.

Though I’m not sure when they’ll move…

I glanced at my armed companions and spoke briefly.

“For the next few days, go about your business among yourselves. I have matters with the alliance.”

“Yes, understood.”

My companions nodded without suspicion. They probably thought I was going to build connections with the police. After all, I had brought back firearms and ammunition before.

And then, I headed to the survivor zone with my criminal companions.

***

A few days passed. I went to the survivor zone again today. With hungry survivors potentially attacking at any moment, I had no choice but to go there daily and wait.

As I arrived, the Police Officer Leader began to show signs of annoyance.

“Don’t you have anything to do, friend? You don’t seem to be producing anything, so shouldn’t you be running around more?”

“I have companions who will act on my behalf.”

At that, the Police Officer Leader tilted his head, his voice filled with doubt.

“You have companions you can trust? You?”

I stared at him in disbelief. I’m not some paranoid patient. Well, maybe a bit, but I still have companions I can entrust with small tasks.

“They’re not as tight-knit as the police, but they’re still companions.”

“Even your closest people seem untrustworthy… Well, don’t take it the wrong way, friend. I’ve been in the police force for a long time, so I trust my instincts.”

He went on to explain that there’s a type of criminal who trusts no one, leaves evidence to betray at any moment, hides the truth even from their closest allies, and never opens up.

“Why are you treating me like a criminal?”

I still looked incredulous. I’m not a real criminal, am I? I haven’t been convicted in court.

The Police Officer Leader awkwardly averted his gaze and changed the subject.

“You’ve found someone to set fire to the gas station. You’re part of the police family now.”

“Can I trust you?”

I asked sharply for no reason. The Police Officer Leader hugged his shotgun.

“You can trust us. Honestly, among the organizations in the alliance, our unity is the strongest.”

That made sense. In the early days of the Apocalypse, the police banded together against citizens trying to seize firearms. Since then, they’ve consistently acted as one group, with stricter hierarchy compared to riders or scavengers.

Perhaps their own people were far more important to them than the alliance.

“Being part of the alliance is probably just for medical services and electricity. For a better life.”

This is the difference between me and the police. I move for my own dreams, while the police live for their comrades, who are like family, and their real families.

Suddenly, curiosity struck me. What would this Police Officer Leader become if the organization collapsed? If he lost the comrades and family that sustain him, would he become someone like me, living only for the moment?

As a Scenario Writer, I naturally imagined this, but the Police Officer Leader continued speaking, unaware.

“Still, we won’t move if the situation isn’t clean. We’ll avoid anything that could put our family in danger or give others a reason to target us.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I snapped back to reality and tapped the desk with my fingers.

“I also don’t plan to recklessly set fires. If things go wrong, I’d become an enemy of the alliance.”

“Archers, doctors, and those who make explosives—they’re not exactly easy to deal with. It’s best to avoid crossing them, at least.”

As we continued our conversation, discussing people we admired and those we disliked, the door suddenly slammed open.

A police officer rushed in, panting heavily. He glanced at me and reported to the Police Officer Leader.

“Senior, the gas station’s been attacked. A group of armed criminals with handguns. The riders are resisting, but they need backup.”

“Really? Let’s take the team on standby. …Are you coming, friend?”

“Yes.”

I stood up abruptly. So, it finally happened after a few days. I’ll finally get to see Rider Zero suffer.

***

The gas station we rushed to was filled with noise. Onlookers from afar, police who had been patrolling the survivor zone, firefighters in safety gear running around. Their voices pierced through the air.

“These guys are insane. Doing this here?”

“Senior, should we move in?”

“Hold on. They’ve occupied the gas station and seem to have lighters. Negotiation is the standard procedure first.”

“Just in case, bring all the fire extinguishers! For fuel fires! And evacuate everyone from the surrounding buildings!”

The noise was like a marketplace.

“Move aside!”

The Police Officer Leader skillfully pushed through the crowd. The police following him efficiently blocked the onlookers.

“It’s dangerous, please step back.”

“Don’t watch. Hey, what’s with the phone? There’s nowhere to upload this, so just leave.”

I subtly followed them, entering the gas station area with the fuel pumps. Looking around, a few riders were gathered.

It seemed like most were out during the day, as their numbers were low.

They hurriedly moved parked motorcycles away, muttering with concern.

“Those guys, they won’t really set a fire, right?”

“If they do, so what? We’ve stored fuel elsewhere, and we’ve got plenty of electric bikes.”

“There’s a chick over there! How did they even get it and raise it?”

I grabbed the wrist of a passing rider. The rider stumbled over.

“Chicken, no, who?”

“Is Rider Zero inside?”

“Maybe? She’s probably trying to talk it out. But why are you here?”

The rider, recognizing my face, frowned. I responded with a smile.

“Others’ pain is my pleasure.”

“…”

The rider glared at me silently. The rift between the delivery vigilante group and me had deepened. Even if I openly showed malice, they’d just accept it.

As this was happening, the Police Officer Leader approached and spoke.

“Is that woman inside? Anyone else?”

“Officer, this guy’s an outsider. Aren’t you going to kick him out?”

The grumbling rider. The Police Officer Leader handled it professionally, hiding all malice and approaching with a businesslike demeanor.

“That’s not important right now. Does anyone inside have information? How many attackers, what weapons they have, their purpose, any hostages? Tell me anything useful.”

Standard talk. The rider awkwardly scratched his head and replied.

“I don’t know exactly. I arrived later. There are some outside who got shot while fixing motorcycles, they’ve gone to the hospital.”

“What about the guards inside?”

“I haven’t seen them come out…”

No useful information.

The Police Officer Leader exploded in anger, shaking his shotgun.

“Is this what you call testimony? We’re in a hurry, and you’re just wasting time!”

“Well, those guys are just here for food. They won’t really cause trouble, right?”

Such an optimistic person. Why would they think only hungry survivors would want to cause trouble, to push them off a cliff?

I looked up at the gas station’s second floor. Where Rider Zero would be. What is she doing now?

Under the police’s control, the onlookers retreated, and the noise faded. The sound of police and firefighters working together skillfully.

“First, wait. There might be hostages. Firefighters, evacuate everyone nearby.”

“Most people in the surrounding buildings have been evacuated. We’re also preparing to prevent the fire from spreading.”

“Good, thanks. A fire spreading would be a disaster.”

At that moment.

A gunshot seemed to echo from inside the gas station, and a red light flickered through the window. Not electric light. The color of flames.

“Fire? Why? Now?”

Instantly, the Police Officer Leader and I locked eyes. We seemed to be thinking the same thing. Did you do something?

And then, a few seconds later.

Crash! The second-floor window shattered, and a figure flew out. A woman in a helmet and rider suit. Rider Zero.

“Move!”

Holding something in one arm, she skillfully positioned herself for a landing.

Without thinking, I threw myself forward. As if to catch her fall. In reality, to block her landing and injure her.

Our bodies tangled. My vision spun, and I felt the impact all over. Chirp, squawk, strange bird sounds, and Rider Zero’s short scream.

“The chick!”

I quickly got up and looked down at Rider Zero, who had collapsed. The chicks she had been holding had died from the collision. Red blood stained her body.

I smirked and looked back at the gas station.

I don’t know who started the fire, but it had begun. Behind me, the police were stopping the firefighters.

“Stop! There are armed terrorists inside. You can’t go in.”

 

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