39-67

EP.67 The Crazy Lizard

As soon as Jin-hye Park’s voice came over the radio, I headed straight for the information desk. I soon spotted Jin-hye Park and an average-sized bespectacled man, whose phone screen immediately caught my attention. On it was something with a black body covered in red spots, drooling from its mouth. Instinctively, I guessed this was the mutant mentioned in the quest.

I led the bespectacled man, Park Jin-woo, to room 101, our meeting place, with Jin-hye Park accompanying us. Soon, the three of us were sitting at a table with coffee.

"Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Minwoo, head of the Exchange. I heard you brought video footage of the mutant we requested..."

"Yes. I filmed it by the Han River yesterday."

Since the meeting was set up to confirm the request, I got straight to business. Park Jin-woo played a video on his phone and started explaining as we watched.

"As you can see, it's about the size of a large dog, but much more muscular and threatening. Even its running speed is faster when hunting."

"Did you film a hunting scene?"

"Yes, you’ll see it soon... Here it is. Luckily, I caught it hunting a cat, which reveals its unique traits."

His voice changed, getting excited as he described the mutant’s hunt. Not only was it done for the job, I could sense the 'fanatic immersion' typical of enthusiasts.

Soon, pointing at the mutant lizard chasing the fleeing cat, he explained with even more enthusiasm.

"This part is really impressive. The mutant chases the cat at high speed, then shoots something from its mouth did you see that? It predicts where the fast-reacting cat will dodge and spits out fluid at just the right spot, hitting the leg and disabling the cat. Then it bites off the acid-burned leg... It’s a rare, precise behavioral trait for a mutant."

By now, he was so caught up in describing the lizard in the video, he wasn’t even paying attention to our reactions a touch of mad scientist intensity showing through. Thankfully, the video ended and so did his nonstop commentary.

"...To know its detailed biology, I’d have to dissect one, but more importantly "

"What is it?"

"It’s about 'territory' and 'population.' Initially they were only around the river, but their area is expanding fast."

"Could you elaborate?"

"Yesterday, they hadn’t left Han River Park, but this morning I saw dozens near the adjacent road and downtown. That’s a sharp increase overnight."

As a veterinarian, Park Jin-woo voiced his growing concern.

"It’s not unusual for territorial animals to expand their range, but coming into dense urban areas like this is rare. And going from under ten to more than thirty in one night..."

His anxiety was palpable, and I felt my own fear spike then it became real:

Bzzz bzzz
[Congratulations! The quest ‘Dangerous Mutants Living by Water’ is complete.]
[Reward: 50 MP and ‘Scanning’ upgraded to Lv.2. Scanning radius now 20m. ‘Acid Lizard’ added to scanning targets.]
Acid Lizard: A mutant about 2m long, resembling a lizard, which hunts by spitting acid.
⚠︎ Further details may be added after more research.
[New Quest: Looming Threat]
Mutants seen by the river are identified as ‘Acid Lizards.’ Now they’re expanding into urban areas.
Study the Acid Lizards in detail by capturing or killing one. (0/100%)
Reward: 60 MP, 5 reinforced riot shields
⚠︎ If Park Jin-woo researches them, quest progress will be faster.

. . .

Now I knew the mutants were branching into the city.
The new research quest made me wary.
‘Big lizards that spit acid from their mouths fast as cats and super strong... That’s terrifying.’

I was only briefly afraid of the combination of highly caustic acid and crazy physical power.
I invited Park Jin-woo, who was packing up the extra 5L of water on top of the promised 15L reward, back to the table not just for this quest, but to recruit him, a vet as skilled as a doctor, for the Exchange.

"Mr. Jin-woo, would you work here as our veterinarian? You’d get a safe room, 5L clean water and food per day as salary."

"Yes! I’d love to!"

In a zombie apocalypse where survival is everything, such an offer was irresistible, and he immediately agreed.

"But... I do have one request."

"Go ahead. If you have dependents, I can increase your salary."

"Oh, I don’t have family. But at my clinic nearby I have equipment and research specimens. Could I bring them here?"

True to his first impression, he wanted to bring his gear and research to the Exchange.
Of course, I agreed.

. . .

That afternoon, Jin-woo’s requests were handled right away, and another quest was completed.
[Congratulations! The quest ‘Tempt the Widow (1)’ is complete.]
[Reward: 30 MP. Follow-up quest begins immediately.]
[New Quest: Tempt the Widow (2)]
You’ve established a ‘good relationship’ with Jin-hye Park. Now it’s time to make her sense you as a man. And there’s nothing better for that than ‘dick rubbing!’
Touch Jin-hye Park’s body with your penis 5 times (0/5).
Touch her body with your fully erect penis 3 times (0/3).
Reward: 40 MP, free skill boost (3pt)
⚠︎ If she shows strong rejection, the count resets to zero.

From simple contact to direct rubbing? Even better.

How will she react if I press my dick gently against the single mom’s butt ‘by accident’?
The only issue was the Exchange counter she’s usually behind during work, not to mention onlookers...

No sooner had I started wondering about a chance to complete the second quest, than my aunt invited Jin-hye Park to dinner as soon as I got home from work.

"Ms. Jin-hye, join us for dinner tonight? We’re neighbors now. Bring Haerin, let her have some meat."

"Are you sure? Then I’ll bring something from home..."

"You don’t need to. Just come over. Food’s harder to stock up these days. Don’t take offense I’m not judging."

"No, I’ve been imposing so much already..."

"Don’t worry, just come at 7. We’ll have a nice dinner waiting."

. . .

8 p.m.
After an hour of dinner with Jin-hye Park and her daughter the rare meat was nearly gone.

"So, Aunt, Minwoo, you and Catherine really did make a movie, huh?"

"Kind of. I mostly stayed home, though. Minwoo and Catherine did everything important."

"Aunt, you did a lot! Your support meant everything. Right, Catherine?"

"Yes, Minwoo is right. Your help was huge."

With ice cream now precious without electricity for dessert, we talked about securing the apartment and opening the Exchange; the three women bonded quickly.
After the ice cream was gone and the table was being cleared, Jin-hye Park stood up, gathered the empty plates, and went to the sink, pulling on rubber gloves to do the dishes herself.

"Please, let me do the washing up tonight."