Marauder of the Apocalypse
Chapter 132: Flames

Tensions with the alliance had escalated. The reason remained unclear. Even for an alliance, attacking our raider organization would cause substantial damage, yet they'd deliberately elevated the Delivery Vigilantes' issue to an alliance-level problem.

That's why I called Jeon Do-hyung during dinner and threw out a few words.

"Do-hyung. Been a while since you've seen your girlfriend, right?"

"Yeah, it has. Why?"

Do-hyung, eating his meal at a distance, gripped his spoon like a knife and eyed me suspiciously.

"Nothing much. Just thinking you should visit the survival zone. See what's happening with the alliance."

"In the current situation? What if the police catch me?"

The atmosphere was definitely tense. We'd gone from potential competitors to future enemies. If our companions went there, they might be treated as spies, or the police might immediately arrest them.

But without knowing the alliance's situation, I couldn't formulate a scenario.

"We have too little information. We're isolated right now. No one to use as informants, and the alliance is practically our enemy."

I muttered in a tired voice.

The townhouse on the mountainside was certainly a good stronghold, providing groundwater and defensible terrain, but we'd lost plenty in exchange. The absence of an information network, the loss of connected groups.

"That's all karma, isn't it?"

Do-hyung glanced at me as if I was stating the obvious.

"If we'd brought in the members that con artist created, and cooperated with the townhouse residents instead..."

Perhaps that would have been one approach. A way to slowly consume new territory over time. But that wasn't the raider way.

"It's famine. Planning so long-term doesn't work when the situation keeps deteriorating and resources keep dwindling. ...So, are you really not going? To the survival zone?"

"I can't go. Wouldn't it be better to send people whose faces aren't known?"

Do-hyung pointed with his spoon at people eating casually by the roadside. Specifically, at our companions' families.

I narrowed my eyes and looked at the people eating.

"You're right. Those family members aren't recognizable."

Companions who had worked as mercenaries or criminal associates classified as persons of interest might be recognized by alliance members. But their families were relatively unknown.

Looking around quietly, the atmosphere wasn't particularly good.

Perhaps because they knew about our open conflict with the police sergeant, anxious whispers rippled through the air. Above all, they seemed unable to focus on their food. The conflict with the alliance clearly weighed on their minds.

I turned my head back to Do-hyung.

"Still, you need to go too. You're the only one who can contact the Hope Community and get proper information."

"There's also Mr. Park Yang-gun. ...Oh, are you worried he might get caught stealing?"

Do-hyung made up the excuse himself. I smiled awkwardly and played along.

"You're the only one who can go without causing trouble. Disguise yourself and go. Shop with those people too."

Finally, Do-hyung scratched his head as if he had no choice and sighed.

"Fine, whatever... I'll think of it as a chance to see my girlfriend after a long time."

***

Recruiting people to visit the alliance wasn't difficult. There was a need to barter resources, and they seemed confident they wouldn't get caught.

I also provided them with decent armaments. Pistols taken during raids, Molotov cocktails ready to throw. Weapons that wouldn't put them at a disadvantage in most confrontations.

Or perhaps it was because I'd explained the necessity of gathering information.

"Then I'll be going. Just trade cigarettes and alcohol for food, right?"

"If they seem to be overcharging, only trade a little."

"Alright. See you later."

After the spies departed, I climbed the mountain path. My bag packed with rope and banner strips cut into thin, long strands.

Hiking alone, the sound of leaves crunching beneath my feet echoed peacefully.

'Fire... arson...'

If I'd decided to use the mountain as a weapon, I needed to prepare it just like maintaining a gun. Making it easy for fire to spread and burn vigorously when lit.

I looked at the area between the mountain path and the townhouse, imagining lines connecting them.

Fire traveling along string fuses. How should I install the strings for the fire to spread effectively? It would likely feed on trees and fallen leaves, but to make it spread even better...

'Should I place waste oil at intervals throughout the mountain? Trash also makes decent kindling.'

I stood on the mountain path, lost in thought for a moment.

After roughly identifying where to place the strings, I slowly traversed the slope, tying them in place. From tree to tree with the strings touching the ground, sometimes connecting string to string, sometimes covering them with thoroughly dried leaves.

Working diligently like a spider building its web, I finally reached the escape route above the townhouse.

The steep slope created by the landslide, the path the townhouse survivors had used to escape, and now the potential starting point for a forest fire.

"Starting a fire here would spread well."

No matter how cold it got, moving your body makes you hot. Wiping my sweat-soaked forehead, I tied the final knot in the fuse.

Now, if necessary, I could light this fuse. The flames would travel along the strings, setting the mountain ablaze.

Just then, I heard the voice of a companion standing guard at the escape route.

"What are you doing there?"

Turning my head, I saw two companions sitting leisurely in chairs at the bottom of the slope, staring up at me blankly.

"Just walking around the mountain setting traps."

"Why not call some people to help?"

"It's not that complicated. By the way, I've installed strings on the mountain, so tell the firewood collectors not to disturb them."

The companions nodded at my words. Then, suddenly looking around, they lowered their voices to ask:

"So... is the situation with the alliance okay?"

"I think it's fine. If a fire spreads from here, the alliance would be in danger too."

The companions gulped as they looked at the strings I'd hung down the slope.

"Are you really planning to use a forest fire as a weapon?"

"I'm just preparing so they think I might. If we actually start a fire, we'd all have to leave the city, wouldn't we?"

It was just preparation for threats. After my explanation, the companions nodded, but their eyes trembled slightly.

"A forest fire... The alliance probably won't touch us..."

"But what if they attack first because it's too dangerous? Sneakily, with a surprise attack, bombing us with drones?"

I smiled faintly as I completely descended the slope and met the eyes of the companions on guard.

"Don't worry about surprise attacks. If they attack by surprise, their target would be me alone. They'll try to eliminate me."

Just assassinating me would transform the raider organization into an ordinary survivor group. Perhaps the alliance was planning to assassinate only me. It would be efficient.

Thinking I should be careful even while sleeping from now on, I waved to the guards and walked toward the house.

"Keep up the good work with the watch."

"Yes, sir."

***

The spies returned before sunset. They staggered back with bags full of various resources.

I looked for Do-hyung first at the townhouse entrance. His face appeared somewhat grim.

"Did you learn anything?"

"Well... let's talk at home. It's a bit..."

Bad news? Strange information from the Hope Community? Usually, he could speak in front of everyone.

I looked around, but the companions who'd finished bartering were happily pulling what looked like meat from their bags. Meat that the alliance had probably obtained by hunting pigeons or dogs.

"We traded for meat. We have vegetables too—how should we cook this?"

"Grilled meat is the basic way. Or boiled might work for the gamey flavor? Using plenty of spices should remove the wild taste."

Their expressions, which had been anxious and downcast, brightened a bit.

In this, I noticed the disparity between Do-hyung and the other survivors. The surface situation of the alliance differed from its true state.

The information Do-hyung had obtained by contacting the Hope Community was deliberately being kept from public knowledge.

I turned and walked heavily.

"Is the situation bad?"

"It seems bad in many ways. Actually, the evangelist elder from the Hope Community didn't tell me everything either."

So they had problems and deficiencies, which was why they were hostile toward us. And when faced with problems and deficiencies, the alliance would try to solve them with force.

Quietly entering the house, I sat in the living room and motioned to Do-hyung.

"Tell me now."

"I heard there are several problems. Water shortage. It barely rains, and when it does, it's just a drizzle. They say it's difficult to maintain indoor farming."

Water shortage was an obvious problem. Perhaps even the groundwater would soon dry up.

"And?"

"Zombies. Whether they're learning from observation, or still possess some intelligence, they're becoming more cunning. I heard the scavengers have already suffered major losses from several zombie attacks."

Zombies... Indeed, the virus generator had proven their potential. Cunning and shrewd hunters. There were also zombies who had learned siege tactics, both offensive and defensive.

I tapped my thigh with my finger and muttered.

"Still, zombies shouldn't be a major threat to the alliance."

"Apparently there are zombies who know their saliva is toxic. Groups of zombies actively trying to infect people..."

"..."

That was frightening. Virus generators becoming self-aware and using the virus as a weapon.

"Still, that's not enough reason for the alliance to come after us. Any other problems?"

"There have been several fires too. Firefighters and other survivors managed to suppress them early, but they've had many incidents where fires spread and wasted water. Oh, and one of the alliance's food warehouses was destroyed."

The problems were numerous. If there had been just one or two, the alliance might have endured somehow, but with so many complex issues...

"They have good reason to target our resources."