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The family, who had been consulting and discussing business for a while, left. They decided to join us on the day we take action. They would guide the way and receive a fair distribution on the spot.

The mercenaries, sensing something, lowered their guns and asked me a question.

“So… the first time is fine, but later on, aren’t we just volunteering for free?”

It was a question befitting profit-sensitive mercenaries. Since they do rough work to make a living, they seemed worried that if the member’s incentive drops to a few tens of percent, there would be nothing left to gain.

It wasn’t a big worry. A solution immediately flashed through my mind.

‘If it feels like we’re giving too much, we can just kill and take it back.’

In a world where might makes right, it’s a feasible method.

But this wasn’t a very good method, and Sajihyeok thought of a more refined approach. After the family left, Sajihyeok, who seemed tired, leaned against the wall and waved his hand with a laugh.

“Haha. That’s a naive thought. Too good of an offer is often poison.”

Honestly, our offer was excessively good. We kill the enemy. In return, we share the enemy’s resources. Even hitmen don’t work like this, getting paid to kill.

Sajihyeok pointed his gun.

“There’s no law, no police. Those who report to us are weaker than us, and even if we talk nonsense, there’s nothing they can do.”

“Scammer…”

Jeondohyeong turned his head in disgust. The mercenaries, recognizing reality again, fidgeted with their guns. It was a world where words were endlessly light.

In a way, it was an easy world for someone like Sajihyeok. No need to deceive complexly or maintain trust.

Sajihyeok lowered his gun and continued.

“Of course, I consider this a real business and have structured it quite meticulously. We just need to increase the number of members. After all, we choose the reports and decide the order.”

If Sajihyeok thought it was a business, it actually meant it was a scam, and the reality was similar.

Increase members in this area. And prioritize reports from lower-tier members. Only the reports that can bring us the most profit.

Change the order of reports, or if multiple members report the same target, prioritize the lower-tier member.

It’s a structure where high-tier members can’t emerge.

“There’s a lot of wordplay. If the distance is far, take the incentive like a delivery fee, deduct if the report information is inaccurate, claim the incentive as medical expenses if we get hurt… There’s no end to the tricks.”

People looked at Sajihyeok in admiration. So did I.

‘People haven’t completely lost hope and turned their backs. We can steadily use people as information sources to find pillaging targets.’

In other words, using members as hunting dogs. Hunting dogs that have tasted meat will constantly move to find prey.

As this was happening, Jeondohyeong objected.

“Isn’t there a limit? If all the people living in this area die, there won’t be anyone left to kill.”

“That’s what scams are. If there’s nothing left to suck, you have to start anew in another place with different people.”

“Ah.”

The goal was different from a normal business. It’s not about properly running a business and maintaining the company. This is the style of an alliance.

The pillagers of the apocalypse are more like nomads, so Sajihyeok’s style suited them better.

Now I understand Sajihyeok’s plan. I clapped my hands and praised Sajihyeok.

“Did you think of this in half a day? Excellent. As expected, professionals are different.”

Following me, the mercenaries also admired Sajihyeok.

Amidst the applause, Sajihyeok shrugged his shoulders. His eyes darkened, but his voice was cheerful and full of pride.

“Hahaha. This is easy. Just leave the thinking to me. …Oh, right. I forgot to mention the most important thing.”

We stopped clapping. Sajihyeok spoke in his usual dull tone, but everyone was focused.

“Actually, the most important thing in a scam is the finish. Getting away safely with the money. So, I’ve thought of two plans.”

“Two?”

As I raised two fingers and asked, Sajihyeok nodded.

“Yes. Dain, you can choose. When the time comes when there are no non-members left in this area, what to do.”

The explanation continued.

The first is a long-term strategy. Keep using members as hunting dogs. Plant them as internal enemies in other areas.

As informants or agents.

“This is a way to truly accept high-tier members into our group. It probably won’t be difficult. They’ve tasted the sweetness.”

“What’s the other method?”

“It’s simple.”

Sajihyeok’s eyes sparkled with an unknown light as he looked around, then suddenly aimed his gun. People jumped in shock.

“What are you doing!”

“Hey, this guy’s at it again!”

Amidst the noise, Sajihyeok spoke clearly.

“Make the members kill each other. There’s no law saying members can’t report each other.”

I understood what he meant.

“So, when there are only a few members left, we kill the remaining few?”

“Yes. This will be easier than the first method. It’s a world where you have to kill to survive.”

Sajihyeok’s voice lowered. I pondered for a moment. Which method is better? But this thought soon disappeared.

“It’s still a long way off. Let’s decide based on the situation later.”

Long-term plans have never worked out properly. This time, I didn’t know what accidents might happen. Sajihyeok’s plan was already a scenario, and the rest was to respond on the spot.

Sajihyeok seemed flustered.

“Even if it’s a long way off, it’s only a few months. It might progress in an instant. You should think about it now.”

“No. It’s plenty of time.”

Sajihyeok’s sense of long and short was different from mine. A few months? Even a month is too long. Plans easily go awry in that time.

‘Even a day’s plan can fail. Forget it.’

It’s better to write a scenario about how to kill the old man landlord or manage the mercenaries.

I looked around at the mercenaries.

“The day the landlord comes to the river is still ahead. Before that, I want to ask you, any thoughts of moving?”

“Moving?”

The mercenaries blinked in confusion.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to live together with people from the same organization? You can set up night watches more comfortably, and it’s easier to guard the house. Even though the electricity is out, we have a water tank for showers. Gas is also available.”

It’s time to bring people to our Villa Street.

The mercenaries pondered for a moment, then soon accepted the offer.

“We fought together against those soldiers, so, well. No reason not to trust.”

“It’s probably better than where my family lives now. We’ll move.”

***

The mercenaries’ move wasn’t my business. So, I didn’t pay much attention, but the move was done in an instant. They didn’t have much luggage to begin with. The mercenaries just carried boxes or pulled shopping carts.

Few came alone; most came with family. Some brought only their children, some with their wives, or one parent.

Families swept away by the apocalypse. Perhaps those who came alone had lost their families.

As they were settling into Villa Street, the day came to leave for work. Not all mercenaries needed to go, so only a few mercenaries and their families left the villa.

“We’re off.”

“Behave.”

At the entrance, mercenaries armed with guns bid farewell to their families, and the families who came to see them off waved. Park Yang-gun watched them quietly, then turned away.

It was hard to guess their psychology, but if I had to speculate, they all seemed to find solace in seeing others who might lose their families.

I clapped my hands vigorously.

“Everyone, let’s go work meaningfully. It’s not dangerous or hard work, right?”

“Yes.”

And so, we walked diligently to find the previous river. The river was still returning to nature, but this time, there were quite a few people.

In the middle of the day when people are hard to see, many people were gathered around fallen trees blocking the path. The number was considerable.

Our first member, Mom, was waiting alone at the entrance of the stairs leading down to the path. She spotted us and raised her hand.

“Here. And, that person.”

Mom pointed directly to an old man. The old man, sitting on a tree, was skinny. His face, visible above the mask, was red like someone who had a drink.

“That’s a real shotgun.”

I muttered. The shotgun on the old man’s lap. A decent harvest. The more guns, the better.

“It’s a real gun. I’ve seen it fired.”

“It would be nice if there were plenty of bullets.”

I spoke without tension, and the mercenaries were more concerned about profit than danger.

“How do we distribute that gun? And the bullets?”

“Divide it fairly by the number of parts… Just kidding. We’ll stockpile the guns first, and if someone’s gun breaks, they can buy it. By dividing the gun’s price.”

As this was happening, Mom stomped her feet.

“That’s a real gun, right? And why did so few of you come? Not everyone from last time is here.”

I quietly looked at the member. Without blinking, Mom slowly stiffened. I patted her shoulder, telling her not to worry.

“Member. What’s so hard about killing one person that we need to swarm? I can kill that guy alone.”

I brought these mercenaries to carry luggage.

“…Alone?”

Our member seemed flustered, her eyelids twitching, but it’s not my concern. I handed the machine gun to the mercenaries.

“Support me if things go wrong.”

“That’s also a gun, isn’t it dangerous? Shouldn’t a few more go with you…”

A mercenary tried to dissuade me. But I waved my hand in disgust.

“Enough. I’ll do this. And if many go, it only raises suspicion.”

It’s not about taking on the most dangerous task as the leader of the group. It’s more about not letting others take the most enjoyable task.

It’s also standard to let them lower their guard before killing.

I walked down the path, keeping an eye on the old man.

‘He collects river usage fees every few days. If you don’t pay, he comes at night and throws a flashlight to provoke zombies.’

Some tried to kill the old man but ended up being killed by him.

Because of this, people in the area started watching and reporting each other. If you don’t pay the river fee, we can’t use the water either.

Quite a cunning pillager.

The people gathered around the old man handed over their fees without showing any signs of dissatisfaction.

“I managed to get some soju.”

“Good, next.”

I naturally blended into the crowd. Under the gaze of unfamiliar faces, I bowed my head timidly. Step by step, I approached the old man.

A tense voice flowed from my mouth.

“Ah, hello. I’m Dain, just moved here. I heard I need to pay the water fee…”

“What? Can’t hear you. Speak up.”

No, he heard. The old man’s eyes gleamed with malice, and the people around reacted as if this was typical. They were conversing just fine before I arrived.

He’s just tormenting people.

I looked around, feigning panic, then obediently raised my voice, and the old man reacted the same.

“Hello! My name is!”

“Can’t hear. Louder!”

Perfect. This naturally closes the distance. I cupped my hands like a megaphone and approached the old man’s ear as if to shout.

If I shout here, the old man will probably get angry, saying who’s going to burst his eardrums. His eyes said as much.

I glanced at the shotgun on the old man’s lap and whispered in his ear.

“Die.”

I stepped on the shotgun and his knee, pulled out a handgun, and pulled the trigger. Point-blank range. The muzzle touched the old man’s head.

Bang, the gunshot rang out. The old man fell to the side. Blood flowed.

I indifferently picked up the shotgun first. Then I turned to find the member.

“Member, I’ve handled it as requested. Now, just guide me to your house. Of course, 10% of this old man’s resources will go to you.”

 

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