Chapter 215 - Fort Yano (2/2)
'Ever since the zombie apocalypse, most of the food I've eaten was nothing but processed, canned and MREs…'
'I want to eat…'
'But -- I don't have any money!'
'Well, there was that RT that people have been saying…'
An image of Zita sitting alone in the dark at the shabby house he left her flashed inside his head.
He shook his head.
'Now is not the time...'
He glanced at his watch.
7:34 pm.
'It's already been 30 minutes since I left her there...'
'Got to do what I came here to do...'
'First thing I need to do, given that it's already night so the government office must be already closed by this time, I have no other choice but to ask soldiers about Vincent's whereabouts…'
'Sigh… I really don't want to have anything to do with him but he's the only lead I have right now to make things quicker...'
He swept his gaze at the people around and then chuckled.
'I never thought I'll miss seeing a crowd where the majority are brown-skinned Asians…'
'Also, it looks like it's not illegal to wear System items and even carry weapons…'
Most of the people were wearing System items and also carrying weapons, both System and non-System.
He also noticed another thing.
'Their faces looked a bit more relaxed…'
'Maybe it's because of the food and drinks around…?'
'Or perhaps --'
A man approached him.
”Hey bro.”
Nathan glanced at the man.
”Are you looking to trade items for some Ration Tickets? My rate is only 20% less. I also take non-System items, as long as it's useful.”
'Ration Tickets...?'
'Is that perhaps the RT I've been hearing...?'
”No thank you.”
Putting aside the fact that Nathan wasn't sure of the market price, this is Muwin, a brown-skinned Asian country. Even without the zombie apocalypse, there are already full of scammers.
”I also sell some cigarettes. It's 5 RT a stick or 90 RT a pack.”
”No thank you.”
”Alright,” the man said and then walked away.
Nathan swept his gaze again at the people.
'Hmm… Did I make the wrong decision to run away this afternoon…?'
An image of Burning Fighting Fighter and Bones with metal collars around their neck flashed inside his head.
He shook his head.
'No… I couldn't risk it…'
'Especially with Zita with me…'
He looked at the people wearing government and soldier uniforms.
'I think I need to first get even just the basic knowledge of the layout of this camp and how things are being run here first before asking these people about Vincent…'
He left the central to look for a place with lesser people.
*********************************************
Author's thoughts:
Hi, sorry that it's been a while since I've posted. I was regrouping -- reviewing the chapters I've written and also doing research, but mainly the former.
About the chapters I've written, I admit I alienated a lot of my audience due to their racist and s.e.xist nature.
Now, this isn't me trying to justify or downplay that the things I've written in the story weren't racist and s.e.xist. They really were. They were just downright racist and s.e.xist, and I f.u.c.k.e.d it up a lot.
I just want you to know where I'm coming from so please hear me out for a reason.
Just with the racism aspect alone, back at Volume 1: Chapter 123 I think mentioned that I tried to avoid or downplay any racism as much as possible (there was even no mention about brown-Caucasians in Volume 1). But starting from that chapter, I couldn't keep it up anymore because there were a lot of things that didn't make any sense and needed explanation or the story would end up turning into a ”good guys just for the sake of being good and bad guys just for the sake of being bad” kind of thing.
I also couldn't keep relying in shock factor anymore like what I've been doing in the earlier chapters of Volume 1.
Another issue is Nathan himself. And there are two major issues I have with him as an MC:
#1 - His Chosen One power.
#2 - His personality.
Aside from his Chosen One power, he is cautious and selfish. And if push comes to shove, you and I know very well that he will always prioritize his own safety above all others no matter what the cost.
I really shot myself in the foot when I created Nathan and decided for him to be the MC. I really should've gone with Derek as the lead because he's the stereotypical brave, courageous and kind (but not to the point of idiocracy) MC. Or perhaps Ashleigh or Harry.
As for Rose, well, I don't know how to write a character like her as the MC. I think she'll be no different from Nathan. I mean, sure, there will be some differences here and there. But overall, they're the same.
Anyways, so I figured that I really needed to start providing context to make sense of things, why characters or groups are doing what they are doing, and what's influencing their actions and opinions, especially when I get to Volume 3. However, the problem here is that due to my obsession with explaining things or world-building to make sense of things, I overstepped it and a lot of racism came out. There were so many below-the-belt things that I've mentioned and it was just really disgusting.
And the things I've written here, they were really eating up my conscience that more than half of the time the thought about dropping this book would cross my mind because it's really mentally draining and exhausting due to all the negativity I've written.
But basically, what I'm trying to say here is that the reason why I took a break was to learn how to find a sweet spot -- the spot where I'm able to give you, the reader, an understanding of where the characters or groups are coming from or what's influencing their views, opinions and actions without being too racist or s.e.xist while at the same time still able to give a dark story, especially what I plan for Volume 3.
I mean, I don't want to give too much spoilers. But the racist and s.e.xist things I've mentioned in the story, even the boring cultural things, right now, most of them don't make any sense, but in the future chapters, especially in Volume 3, they will make sense. They're all connected. Just trust me with this.
And as cringey as this may sound, it also made me realize why writers need editors or beta readers, or why TV shows and movies hire sensitivity-coaches-or-something (I can't remember the proper job title name).
With that, I think -- no, scratch that. I like to believe that I finally found that sweet spot.
I'm very sorry for offending many people due to the racist and s.e.xist things I've mentioned in the story and also not being able to post these past few weeks. I hope you can forgive me. Thank you and sorry once again.
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Thank you once again Power Immortals and Immortal Patrons. This Lowly Shameless Immortal will see you in the next chapter... *Kowtows 300 times*