Clearing the Game at the End of the World - Chapter 171: Lead and Silver Coins (25)

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Crackle-

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– VariableDice: Someone take me in. 37 years old, has a GG account, can secure a steady supply of shillings, knows how to handle firearms. Anywhere inside the 40s works. Hard worker. From Dome. Any takers for a pickup?

– Rasputin: Lololol [From Dome] just by that, you’re out lololol

– bUllllll: Clearly a Dome livestock who’s done nothing but beg for the past 5 years lololol Who’d use a Dome-born out here? Not specifying his combat position just screams he’s empty-headed.

– Elgor32: Been seeing a lot of these types lately. After the communications blackout in Area 38 got fixed, they’ve all been trying to escape in all sorts of desperate ways.

– VariableDice: Just… take me in, please…. It’s really deadly to stay here. Just yesterday, there were gunshots in the city….

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“Eh…. Area 38…. A surge in civilians wanting to relocate….”

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– Logus: It’s been a month since the last contact. Not sure if I should be happy or start tracking coordinates right away. Yeah, might as well restart the smuggling I had cut off?

– Jack32: Damn it. How many times do I have to tell you! The entire 30s have turned into hell. No one’s coming or going, so the smuggling business is totally wrecked, and we’re almost out of drugs, so riots are about to break out in the back alleys. Can we start using the trade drones now? The mutants and scavengers are almost wiped out, so hardly anyone’s left to shoot down the drones.

– Logus: The route to Area 38 is blocked by those Trihead bastards. They make a living off hijacking drones using accounts from community-banned areas.

– Jack32: Damn it. I don’t care about anything else, but we need to figure out the drugs…. The Investigation Bureau is pretending they don’t see the problem because it’s their ass on fire! If we leave it be, all the drug addicts are going to go insane! Just somehow distribute 3kg of Cool-Jackie….

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Scratch scratch-

‘Area 38 Investigation Bureau…. also involved in the drug business. Inter-Area trading is still impossible. Thought long-distance drone transport might work since most local scavengers got wiped out. Turns out, there was a reason those snakeheads took over that area.’

Crackle-

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– shovelgod: The situation is not looking good. Not to mention the 30s, but even near Area 45, fights break out daily because of Dome operations. We should also relocate.

– Dislam: I applied for Dome residency two years ago. There’s no space, no space at all. And we can’t just move into the Underdome either.

– shovelgod: ….I found a place that’s somewhat safe. Accepts both individual and group relocations.

– Dislam: BDSM? Is that place alright? Aside from being close to Dome, it’s almost a farmed-out area, seems like there’d be no merit in going….

– shovelgod: Apparently, they’ve got some order now. Dome even sent some management personnel over, and they plan to establish their own production system with the money coming in from this expedition trade. Maybe, there won’t be another chance if we don’t take it now, before the foundation is fully laid. You’ve seen the radiation levels in Area 41. This place isn’t a safe zone anymore either.

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This is about our home. They said they’d send people from Dome, and it seems the village is managing somehow.

“Ah, my eyes are gonna fall out.”

Returning to the Area 38 administration after a day of complete rest, Professor, who had been advised to maintain absolute rest, dismissed those clinging to him and sat down in front of the computer.

Dome’s powerful reinforcements could probably make it to Area 35 much faster than us, about a week if they avoid all trouble. For us to go from Area 38 to Area 35, taking all necessary precautions, roughly 5 days. Even leisurely, 6 days. We have a day’s leeway, so in that time, he’s been trying to collect as much information as possible by running the radio tower’s surveillance to its full extent.

Taking off his headset, Professor stood up to stretch his stiff body. Since morning, for six hours, without a single break, he had gathered every message flying in between Area 38 and Area 47, but couldn’t find any information of value. Well, there must be something, but once the communication blackout was lifted, messages poured in as if they had been waiting, leaving no time to check them all.

Of course, both the administrative personnel and our group were clinging to it, trying to check….

“Argh! Can’t do this! How are we supposed to look through all this!”

“Shh. Sit down, Ezel. It’s not dinner time yet.”

“But, that’s the thing! It’s not just one Area, our surveillance covers several, and even communications from outside those Areas into our surveillance area are caught!

As Ezel said, we were severely understaffed.

“….Still, we have to do it. At least under the current circumstances, there’s bound to be at least one contact.”

“The President, you say?”

“Yes. It seems he has more than a few connections here. There was a nuance that he could have contacted us at any time, but I only found out yesterday through my own means that things haven’t been going smoothly. We absolutely must make contact.”

The first thing checked upon waking was whether any messages involving the President had come through overnight.

Not finding a single one meant he hadn’t yet made contact.

‘We must find a way. I’ve gathered some information, but what I have now barely scratches the surface of understanding the situation. To proactively respond to events, I need information on those who are moving the chess pieces. I’ll wait. Even if it means making the reinforcements from Dome wait a few days, I must at least confirm the President’s collaborators here!’

Leaving Area 38 would mean no more time to think at leisure. If I don’t want to disappear like a piece on a chessboard, I need to know who’s moving the pieces now.

Digging through my pocket, I found a few calorie bars, tossed one to Ezel, and popped another in my mouth.

“Here’s lunch. Keep working while you eat. It’s not that hard, so let’s muster a bit more strength. You’ll probably miss these times once we’re out there.”

“Uh-huh, even Jesus had a big meal with his disciples before he died….”

Ezel whined, while Vex stared blankly at the screen, and Ian had already given up, head down on the desk asleep.

After emptying my pocket of calorie bars, throwing them towards Ian’s head, I sat back down in front of the computer with a sigh.

Crackle-

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– vorls2020: Living these days….

– TheTasteOfEmiyaWaterIsTerrifying: With the increase in mutant populations, major scrap farming areas…

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“Contact the President. Since things have gone awry, he must be dying of curiosity. Just reach out to him.”

Professor’s eyes gleamed like a hunter’s as he sifted through messages. He would find it. The solid evidence that would turn his speculation into certainty.

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12 hours into surveillance. Even the seasoned administration agents were tiring, and just when Ezel, with bloodshot eyes, started to preach about human rights and my legs were about to bruise from trying to stay awake…

“Hey, Hepburn.”

“….”

“Hepburn? Asleep?”

“Hm! Oh, no. I wasn’t asleep. Something got on my notes, and I was just trying to get a closer look to clean it. Keep going, keep going.”

“No, it’s not that…. I think I found something.”

Clatter!

The chair flew as I bolted upright, the drowsiness vanishing in an instant. Professor rushed to Vex’s side.

On Vex’s screen flickered a message clearly indicating a conversation the President had with someone.

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– ForeverYoung: Why did you do it?

– ForeverYoung: At least from your side. No, in this damned world… I thought there was no one else I could trust and work with as much as you, Mikhail.

– M. Pletnev: I apologize. For this incident, and for what I will have to do in the future.

– ForeverYoung: Does that mean you’ve decided to go our separate ways in the end?

– M. Pletnev: I’m sorry.

– ForeverYoung: Seeing the completed Orpheus, did its power tempt you?

– M. Pletnev: I’m sorry.

– ForeverYoung: So, you abandoned a friend who survived that war with you, vowing to restore the order of the past, and now you want to stand at the top of the world with that power!

– M. Pletnev: ….I’m sorry.

– ForeverYoung: I didn’t contact you just to hear an apology, Mikhail! What I want to hear is the reason! More than anyone else. Even more than this Alexander Young! Why have you suddenly betrayed me, who was thirsting to restore order to this broken world!!!!

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I couldn’t believe that the message in front of me was genuinely from the calm and sharp middle-aged Alexander Young.

“Is this… the correct coordinates for Area 47’s Investigation Bureau? It’s not some similar coordinates or something?”

“I thought I saw it wrong, but no. It’s accurate. ‘ForeverYoung’ is Alexander Young, the Investigation Bureau chief of Area 47.”

“‘M. Pletnev’…. Mikhail Pletnev…. said to be the chief of Area 38’s Enforcement Bureau. To think they were friends.”

The President clearly stated he couldn’t trust me 100%. To see the President, who always hides his emotions behind an immovable mask, is this excited. This Mikhail he’s conversing with must be someone he trusted completely. Someone to whom he could reveal his true face hidden behind the mask and express his true emotions.

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– ForeverYoung: When Dome was first established, and those maggot-like political aristocrats started flocking only to us, kicking out all the civilians trying to band together and somehow trying to cram their families, relatives, and cronies into Dome! When I was watching their disgusting actions with fists bloodied in rage, what did you do, Mikhail Pletnev? What did Mikhail Pletnev do!

– M. Pletnev: It’s all in the past now.

– ForeverYoung: If you’ve forgotten that too, let me remind you. You set fire to what they called the VIP conference room, the pigsty, without a moment’s hesitation! You snatched the flamethrower from your escort and methodically turned those who ruled the world – presidents, United Nations, transnational NGO leaders – into ash, one by one! You answered my question with “It had to be done!” Thanks to you, Dome could become a place closer to the ideal of free democracy rather than a place for the inheritance of past privileges. You, who were always upright even in the storm that burned the world, why! Why!

– M. Pletnev: ….It seems you misunderstand, Young. I haven’t changed, Young. Just as always, I couldn’t ignore what needed to be done right in front of me. That’s all.

– ForeverYoung: ….Explain it so I can understand.

– M. Pletnev: It’s nothing much. Just that I’m not suited to be in a position to govern others. I know. If I just endure this once, the justice of Dome could indeed spread throughout the world one day. But as you know… I’m not that person. Not turning a blind eye to wrongdoings. That’s how I’ve lived and why I’ve survived. The moment that man appeared in front of me, I could no longer face your strategy. That’s all.

– ForeverYoung: There’s still… a chance to set things right. The people I sent are staying in your administration. Work with them. Together with the forces I sent and the people from BDSM, we can push back the zealots and secure Orpheus. It wouldn’t be far off from the original plan. I’ll send someone to manage Area 38 too. If your uprightness becomes an obstacle to standing above others, then step down. Stay in Area 47 and maintain order. People like you are needed in this era.

– M. Pletnev: Your indignant face is vivid in my mind, friend. It’s been a pleasure to open up to you for the last time. I’m truly grateful for your existence. In many ways.

– ForeverYoung: Damn it, what’s the problem, Mikhail! You son of a fortress wall! Talk! Speak up!

– M. Pletnev: Perhaps, it’s just fate, Young.

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Crunch!

“….It’s touching, President. I thought you were as emotionless as a rock.”

“I told you! Our President isn’t a dark-hearted person like you guys! He’s a bit cunning, but his heart is at the pinnacle of humanism!”

That was Ian and Ezel’s assessment, who had somehow come over to read the messages.

Ian chewed on a calorie bar with a listless face, while Ezel seemed quite lively, seemingly inspired by President Young’s righteous ideology, almost ready to start singing praises to our revered leader.

Of course, I wasn’t feeling so great.

“So, the Enforcement Bureau is an enemy after all.”

From the direction of the conversation, it was clear that while sympathizing with President Young’s words, it also made it evident that he intended to part ways with him.

[Impenetrable fortress], [Uprightness], [Justice executed without considering the future], [That person]

“He said, ‘The moment that man appeared, I could no longer face your strategy.'”

Mikhail Pletnev. Up until recently, he was working hand in hand with President Young but suddenly changed his mind due to [that person]. Some ‘unjust’ figure that greatly irked him appeared, and Mikhail found that dealing with this figure conflicted with President Young’s strategies, so he let go of the chief’s hand to pursue justice. President Young’s selection. Meaning, among us allies gathered here, someone must be deemed worthy of judgment in Mikhail’s eyes.

‘Who could it be? The unjust villain that irked this morally inflexible man.’

Karel Belmont? Maybe. He seems too dumb to be a threat, though.

The unseen administrative chief? Does he even exist? Seems like he doesn’t engage in any external activities. Let’s put this on hold.

Our kids? We only met Mikhail two evenings ago; what could possibly be there?

‘Then… me?’

Professor Park. BDSM leader. GG ranker. A hero of Dome. Notorious for his lethal efficiency during the Great War, having killed many both in combat and in survival disputes among survivors, and recently turned hundreds of people from Raptor into a metal amalgam using Zeus. Wow. A villain of high caliber, someone Satan would hire without an interview.

‘…Is it really me?’

I suddenly felt chills. The stern-faced man I saw two nights ago, the leader of Area 38’s forces, primarily comprised of A+++ grade snipers. Was I the one he decided to break ties with a friend over, thinking he must kill? Really? For real?

“Uh…. Ian.”

“….”

“Ian?”

“Shh- Oh, dozed off there. What’s up?”

“That…. Do you have a good bulletproof vest? Level 5 or above, something that can stop an anti-tank rifle.”

“I do, but… you said they were uncomfortable and didn’t like them last time? You have a shield, right?”

“Just, just in case! Suddenly felt like I might need it!”

“….Well, I’ll look for it when we go down to the garage later. Seems like we’ll have to stay there till tomorrow anyway.”

It sounded like an absurd assumption… but you never know. Just dealing with local scavengers and caravan snipers felt like dancing the Cossack dance on a tightrope. And now, potentially being the sole target of the old-school sniper rifles wielded by the Enforcement Bureau, who shoot dream shots as if it’s their daily bread. Dammit, spare me.

That night, Professor dreamed of being mocked and battered by snipers on all sides, with a mountainous Mikhail proclaiming “justice’s judgment” as he crushed him.

Whether Professor had nightmares or not, the rest time flew by like the wind, and by the time morning arrived, the group was preparing to leave the peaceful administrative building.

The streets were blatantly filled with snipers who didn’t even bother to hide the reflection from their scopes.

We had to break through that, possibly other bounty hunters lying in ambush outside, and a horde of mutants that had likely grown by now to reach Area 35.

“What are you writing so intensely?”

“A bill.”

Professor, dark circles under his eyes, was adding another zero to the [Bill to Area 47’s Investigation Bureau from BDSM].

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