Mutagen

<strong>Day 147 - 12:22 PM - West District, Catanduanes Military Settlement, Codon, San Andres, Catanduanes</strong>

"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.

In the first place, a group able to keep a woman with that kind of beauty meant that they were likely to be strong people. In the state of the world right now, a beauty like that was trouble. Anyone that had even a little bit of it could have been broken by animals in human skin already.

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.

"Let them pass. The Entry and Exit Passes are not needed. Over."

The soldiers looked at Mark's group. What kind of gods were they to have such privilege. Even the Command specifically gave the order.

Mark just shrugged about it, though. He could not help but glance behind. The person sent by the General to tail them should be the one that informed the General about the situation.

In any case, this was convenient.

"Affirmative."

The soldier replied to the radio and with another few words, the communication ended.

"You may pass."

The soldier said as he opened the gate. What he did not expect, however, was that Mark put a bar of chocolate in the soldier's chest pocket. It was clear why. And to say, the soldier was surprised. Chocolates were such a luxury nowadays, even the low-quality ones. The bar of chocolate that he received, however, was obviously imported.

This made the soldier even more confused. Why would this group go out to fish if they had such a luxury item to give out? Even just one bar of this kind of chocolate could be traded for a few meals already.

The soldier could only stare at the backs of Mark's group with the bar of chocolate in his hands. Who would think that being considerate would reward him today? His children would be delighted when he went home with this.

The other soldiers could only stare at that bar of chocolate out of envy. It seemed that they decided to be more respectful the next time they saw that group.

"Nee, Uncle," Emika called out. "I've seen guys in movies and anime, also in manga, giving packs of cigarettes in these kinds of events. You're the only one I saw giving a can of tuna, slices of fried octopus, and a bar of chocolate."

That made Mei, Edzel, and Pearl almost giggle. Even Pefile smiled.

It was true, after all.

"Not everyone smokes, alright." Mark shrugged. "Observe the person you are talking to and give the proper reward or bribe. I also have some packets of cigarettes just in case, you know?"

"Ehhhh..."

Emika tilted her head. Would she be able to do that?

***

Without any hindrance, they reached the coast.

There was no danger in this area since it was frequently inhabited by people. There were even some groups at the beach, looking for shellfish and other edible stuff. If some evolved animals came ashore, the military would be able to handle it. It was because north of the coast was another small village that was turned into a military outpost.

The arrival of Mark's group did not seem to be too welcomed, though. It was not surprising since another group appearing here would mean another competitor for the things that could be found here.

But to everyone's surprise, Mark's group did not go to the shore but picked a flat area near the tall rocks and started to prepare...

Prepare a picnic...

"What in the world..."

A man digging on the sand to find clams could not help but blurt out.

They had been here all before the sun even had risen to find food. It was already noon, and they barely managed to get anything.

And there, a group of people going on a picnic.

What a drastic contrast.

"Bro, mind your own business." Another man spoke to the one digging clams. "Those people might be Mutators. Don't try to offend them."

The man digging clams shrugged. If they could only be Mutators and Evolvers too. Unfortunately, they were just regular people struggling to survive.

The man then shook his head. Instead of getting envious, he better focus on getting more food instead.

It was the same for other people by the shore. They all put their attention into their work instead of getting distracted.

Well, it was until the smell of food scattered everywhere.

For the love of God, Mark's group was grilling some octopus meat heavily marinated for the whole night.

"F*ck, my stomach is growling."

A guy cursed.

Nevertheless, no one tried to approach them. None of the regular people were brave enough.

Yep, regular people.

At the entrance to the beach, an armed group arrived. Seeing the group, the people immediately evaded eye-contact.

"Sir Liden, look."

A skinny man spoke to who seemed to be the leader of the group. He was pointing at the group having a picnic not far from the shore.

"Hmm?"

The middle-aged man called Liden looked in that direction.

"Sir, it seems that those people had a lot of food with them to be this lax." A muscular man with a heavy rifle spoke. "Maybe they will be willing to share."

Of course, that sharing did not mean voluntary.

These people were definitely up to no good.

With a little nod from their leader, the group of ten armed men made their way towards Mark's group.

The other people immediately left the immediate vicinity. After all, this group was filled with ill intentions.

Normally, the Military would stop these kinds of conflicts. Unfortunately, that man called Liden was the brother of a high-ranking officer of the Military.

To be exact, the brother of the leader of the second faction in the Miltary Settlement. Even the other factions would not offend this guy unless they wanted to start an internal dispute at the current situation.