637 Going for Brunch, A Picnic By the Western Coas (1/2)
”Gege, what is this place?”
Mei asked Mark as he brought them here after talking about wanting to eat something.
It was not surprising that she would ask. After all, Mark brought them to a place with a lot of people. And to say, A LOT. This place was not any less populated compared to the pier this morning.
Nevertheless, this number of people indicated that Mark brought the group to the correct location.
”This should be the trading area. Remember? Bay City also had something like this. The same for Infanta if I'm correct.”
Mark said, pointing at a few buildings surrounded by military tents. Outside the buildings, there were a few groups of soldiers on guard duty. It was pretty much the same set up that other military settlements initially had with their trade posts. It was where the workers could use their contribution points to exchange for food and other necessities.
But of course, other people also started to trade here. They were bartering their personal belongings in exchange for things they might need. A good example was people that managed to bring more clothes than food. They could trade their extra clothing to other people in exchange for another meal. Another example was survivor groups that could hunt animals from the mountain or fish from the sea. They also went here to trade their items.
They could trade their extra belongings to the military. However, the military had a fixed price for things, and no profit could be obtained by more desperate people and people that wanted more.
”Nee, Uncle. What are we doing here? Aren't we going to eat?”
Emika asked, tugging on the hem of Mark's clothes.
”We're just passing by,” Mark replied. ”We'll go to the west coastal area to eat.”
Emika nodded after hearing Mark's reply. She understood why they would go to a secluded location to eat. If they did not, it was likely that what happened last night would happen again. And this time, it could be much worse.
Along the way, the people's attention was on their group like before. It was even worse because there were a lot of people. New faces, Mei's appearance, and even Emika's hair color, all these were more than enough for their group to be the center of attention.
The most annoying part was when they passed by a group of unruly people, whistling at Mei.
Of course, their whistles suddenly turned to coughs of blood, which horrified everyone around. No one knew what happened. The only thing they understood that it might have something to do with the group that they offended. This also caused the people that witnessed that to mind their own business.
With the regular people staying away, however, the stronger ones appeared.
”That's just cruel, don't you think?” A man that Mark had just passed by spoke. ”There's no harm done with just whistling.”
There was no need to ask who he was talking to as he was staring at Mark. Even so, the man was right. That whistling might be offending, but it did no harm. Mark did not hold back and scarred those men's subconscious. In the future, even if a beautiful woman stripped in front of those men, their Spear Heroes would not rise.
What was surprising, though, was this man talking to Mark could sense that.
Mark glanced at the man.
”Why don't you let them whistle at your wife or girlfriend then. No, you must be single. That's why you think that it's cruel.”
With those words, Mark led his group away. The man they left behind was twitching. He was a little angry and very embarrassed. Mark definitely hit a nail. What was worse was that the man was probably five or more years older than Mark. Definitely a wizard.
Well, Mark was also the same before the apocalypse. He never had a girlfriend, and Mei was his first relationship. But in the least, he understood people's emotions, and he had seen such circumstances before.
That man was just a dense one.
Passing by the trading area under the eyes of almost everyone, it did not take long, and they reached the western border of the settlement. That was when they were stopped by the soldiers guarding the area.
”Where are you people going?”
”Outside, fishing.”
Mark replied.
The soldiers were confused. After all, they had never seen this group among the usual groups that go out by the coast to fish. Nevertheless, there was no need for them to ask more questions than necessary.
”Passes.”
The soldier in front of Mark stretched his right hand out, asking for something.
Mark could not help but look back to his group.
”We forgot to ask for passes, didn't we?”
”Won't our passes in Bay City work?”
Edzel asked. It was a reasonable question since the military belonged to a single organization.
”It won't work,” Mark replied. ”The settlements had different implemented systems.”
Their conversation was heard by the soldiers. One of them could not help but ask.
”Did you all just arrive here?”
”We arrived this morning.”
Mark replied.
”No wonder.” The soldier replied. ”Let me make a call and see if we can let you out.”
It seemed that this soldier was a considerate one. It was not new that anyone arriving in this place lacked food, and the rations from the military would be far from enough to satiate their hunger. And since they were new here, they did not have the contribution points to exchange for supplies. In fact, this was not the first time refugees went out hunting or fishing the very day they arrived.
The soldier was mistaken about Mark's group, though. Nevertheless, there was no need to stop him.
However, before the soldier could make a call on his radio, it made a noise.
”West Guards, West Guards. CC to West Guards.”
The soldier was surprised as their post was suddenly being called on the radio. Furthermore, the call was actually coming from the Command Center. Did something happen?
”This is the West Guard. Over.”
The soldier answered.
”We've been advised about the group currently wanted to pass the gates.”
Everyone heard this. The radio was loud, after all. Of course, the soldiers were surprised. Had this group done something? The soldiers gripped their guns just in case.
But then, the soldiers relaxed, although a bit confused.