---

The streetlights were bustling. People who came to charge and the busy Electric Nomads.

The Electric Nomads were moving their belongings as if they were planning to settle here. They piled bags and boxes in the corners of the street, tied ropes to streetlights and benches, and set up tents.

Even the streetlight that Jeondohyeong had broken was being repaired.

A woman wearing insulated gloves gestured to the people as if demonstrating. She shone a light on the connected wires with her headlamp.

“Watch carefully. This is how you fix it. The wire is just cut, so you can reconnect it.”

“It’s not that hard. I’ll do it quickly.”

“Don’t rush, do it safely and securely. By the way, have you moved all your belongings?”

“I’m in the process of moving now.”

I blinked.

Already moving? This fast? We were just attacked yesterday? And they’re fixing the wires that Jeondohyeong cut?

It was faster than I expected, and their ability to act was impressive. Even though the solar generator in the house was broken, I thought they would take more time.

I was amazed first. They truly are nomads. Their speed of movement is fast.

Soon, the repair of the streetlight was finished. The woman who was fixing the electricity stepped forward in front of the people.

“I’m Gijeon-ah, the representative. We’ll start charging now. Get your number tags over there. But first, let me briefly explain about the raid report.”

She looked about my age. A woman who graduated from college a few years ago. But she felt more like a student than a working professional.

Her eyes, filled with fatigue behind her glasses, her neck sticking out like a turtle, her slumped shoulders. An impression came to mind.

‘A graduate student? Did she major in engineering? An electrical expert?’

From the repair just now, it’s clear. She seems to know how to handle electrical boards.

Soon, Gijeon-ah looked around at the people gathered on the streetlight street and spoke in a clear, announcing tone.

“Currently, the identity of the raiders is estimated to be at least three people. Based on current estimates.”

One person who sabotaged the streetlight, one who sniped the solar panels in the residential area, and one who induced the zombie wave.

They’re already making deductions. They’ve also grasped as much information as possible within the given situation.

“Looking at the alarm clock used, it seems they are from a well-resourced survivor group, and since the bullet that broke the panel was a bolt, it’s assumed they have the ability to make a proper slingshot.”

I pressed down my baseball cap and looked around.

The people who gathered to charge whispered and shook their heads. It was clear they didn’t want to get involved in this.

“It seems like crazy people fighting among themselves. If ordinary people like us get involved, we’ll die.”

“If it’s a slingshot… isn’t it those Hope Community people?”

“Fighting with people who use zombies to kill others is a bit much.”

It’s already a dangerous world. They don’t want to make another enemy unnecessarily.

But on the other hand, because it’s a dangerous world, even a small reward could be worth risking one’s life. Knowing this well, Gijeon-ah offered sufficient rewards.

“Food, masks, charging, repairs, or a chance to join our group. We’ll give you what you want based on the value of your help.”

Silence fell over the street. You could almost hear the sound of people’s eyes darting around. Soon, people started raising their hands one by one, testing the Electric Nomads.

“How much food will you give as a reward…?”

“It will depend on the value of the information, but you won’t feel it’s insufficient.”

Weighing the value of the reward.

“Do you have guns? Real weapons, not those strange spears.”

“We don’t handle firearms. We don’t deal with guns.”

Some people, seeing this as an opportunity to gain firepower, showed signs of being pillagers.

I looked at them all with cold eyes. A survivor group like the Electric Nomads doesn’t exist independently. There are many people connected, knowingly or unknowingly, and those connections can be pulled to move people.

In a way, it was something I had overlooked.

‘People are social animals. I missed the social aspect.’

Moreover, they’re electrical experts, right? With that ability, they can move people from other groups.

But I can do that too. I suddenly raised my hand and asked.

“Can we see the rewards first? To confirm if they really exist.”

If they show it, it can stir people’s greed. It means they can quickly form a pillager group. On the other hand, if they don’t show it, it can sow doubt and reduce people’s motivation to act.

Gijeon-ah pointed behind her.

The belongings the Electric Nomads had temporarily piled up while moving.

“You need to see it to believe it. If you’re suspicious, go and check it out. Anyway, the announcement is over.”

People dispersed and started doing their own things. Those who coveted the rewards went to check the items, those who came to charge got their number tags, and the Electric Nomads continued moving.

I checked the atmosphere and went to the pile of boxes to check the masks.

***

After checking, there were masks among the resources the Electric Nomads had moved. They were packed in an open box on top. Just taking a few of them would be enough for our pillager group to use for a while.

I glanced at the other open boxes as if advertising.

Meat in an icebox, batteries also in an icebox, a pile of unknown electrical boards in a box, tools from cutters to soldering irons.

There were also many resources essential for survivors in the apocalypse.

People who came curious about the rewards, though not intending to cooperate with the Electric Nomads, were swayed. I could hear them muttering or talking.

“There’s really a lot here.”

“They said if we help properly, we can join. …Should we take the gamble?”

“Honestly, it’s hard to join a group like this. Most importantly, at least we won’t have to worry about electricity.”

“If we just learn how to handle electricity properly…”

The benefits and losses the Electric Nomads had set up as fences fixed their thoughts in one direction.

The Electric Nomads’ considerable firepower, useful electrical knowledge in the apocalypse, ample food. A chance to join such a group.

On the other hand, the Electric Nomads’ brutal past of killing enemies was a loss. Electric torture, water torture, arson. A fence set up to at least not turn them into enemies, even if they couldn’t help.

Even though this is the weakest timing for the Electric Nomads, they are like sheep in a pasture, unable to think of attacking and only considering whether to cooperate or not.

I gripped the handgun hidden in my pocket.

‘Do I need fame too? To expand my pillager group.’

I feel like I’m reaching my limit. A pillager group made up of a few criminals feels overwhelming. Maybe it’s necessary to transform into a larger organization.

I closed my eyes and sank into thought.

Outright pillager organizations become targets for extermination. It’s not a world lenient enough to leave people who kill, rob, and raid at will.

‘Even the police, armed gangs, act brutally only under the pretext of revenge and gun control. At this point, expanding and operating a pillager group is ambiguous.’

But staying still was also ambiguous.

I opened my eyes. The Electric Nomads came into view again. People utilizing electrical technology.

The chaotic early days of the apocalypse have passed. Everyone is using their skills to the fullest, struggling and fighting to survive.

Simple pillagers without special skills are gradually being pushed out.

A thought came to mind.

‘It’s all because the world is too peaceful. If everyone in the world becomes a pillager, there’s no reason for me to be targeted for creating a pillager organization.’

If pillagers become common, there’s no need to worry about reputation or extermination.

I looked around at the people. Humans trapped in the psychological fences set up by the Electric Nomads. It’s time to set them free.

It’s time to gift them immediate benefits instead of safety.

I put my hand in my pocket and strode over, sitting on the box of masks. The people watching and the Electric Nomads standing guard looked up at me.

“What are you doing?”

“….”

I didn’t answer. Soon, the Electric Nomad’s eyelids fluttered, and he pointed a spear at me.

“Don’t do anything dangerous.”

“….”

I remained silent. I just turned my gaze to assess the situation on the street again. The Electric Nomads’ capabilities were weakened due to the attack on the residential area.

‘The Electric Nomads are scattered because they’re in the middle of moving. The few people here are busy working.’

Setting up tents, moving work tables, preparing for rain with waterproofing, in any case, there are few people ready to fight right now. Most importantly, there’s no spiderweb-like trap.

Gijeon-ah and a few nomads were armed, but they were far from me.

If you focus on the empty space, the escape route was clear. It’s enough to grab a few boxes of masks and run.

“I’ll stab you if you don’t get down in three seconds. One.”

I jumped down. The spear aimed at me also lowered. It was an opportunity. I pulled out the gun from my pocket and shot the Electric Nomad.

Bang, the gunshot rang out. I aimed for the head but hit the chest. The Electric Nomad blinked.

The delay caused by the gunshot and shock. I moved quickly. I stuffed the box containing 25 masks into my pocket, held it in one hand, hugged it, and grinned.

I forced my voice low and cleared my throat, letting out a clumsily modulated voice.

“A report? A reward? Why should I? I can just take it.”

By then, the Electric Nomads and people reacted. The nomads hurriedly picked up their weapons and approached me, while the people were dumbfounded.

I just pushed aside the box full of rice bags and ran towards the escape route I had noted. A path with few people and no puddles.

A rice bag that fell in front of me was stepped on and burst. I cheerfully shouted.

“Black Friday! Free event! Everyone, take it!”

“Get him!”

I heard shouts from behind but didn’t look back. I just shot at the Electric Nomads trying to block me.

Some flinched and dodged, some got close and were hit by bullets and fell.

Just as the escape route opened wide.

An explosion sounded from behind. Screams and cries followed.

“No! Don’t open the boxes carelessly! There are improvised explosives mixed in!”

“Ahhh! My arm!”

“It could cause a chain explosion! Get back!”

I glanced back and opened my mouth wide. A disaster was unfolding.

Traces of the explosion. Blood and flesh were scattered everywhere, and corpses were lying around. Their shouts echoed in my head.

‘Improvised explosives?’

Are they crazy? They mixed explosives among the resources? People trying to steal like me touched them and died?

I felt uneasy and looked down at the box of masks in my arms. It’s good that I can escape well thanks to that accident, but surely this isn’t a bomb, right?

 

---