39-54

EP. 54. Exchange Center Preparation 

After making contact with the survivors of the 5,6 line through the barricade studded with wooden spears, and once word spread that we had secured the rooftop and the other lines, the leader of this survivor group, Yoo Minhyuk, came running in person. Negotiations began in earnest at that point-of course, still separated by the barricade. 

In this way, we subtly showed off our power, having taken control of more than two-thirds of the apartment, and I proposed a deal similar to what I’d offered Park Sanghyuk. 

“…What do you think? If your group joins our community, the entire apartment can be on the same side, and we’ll be able to survive much more stably.” 

“Yes, that’s certainly true… But I’ll need some time to discuss with the others. Could you wait 30 minutes?” 

Unlike Park Sanghyuk’s gruff, older-man voice, Yoo Minhyuk’s voice was soft and sophisticated as he politely asked for time. Sensing that he was already positively inclined toward my offer, I agreed in a friendly tone-after all, investing 30 minutes to gain new manpower was well worth it. 

“Of course. You should definitely gather everyone’s opinions before deciding.” 

“Thank you. Then let’s meet here again in an hour.” 

“Yes. I’ll look forward to a good result after you persuade the others.” 

... 

After resting in an apartment on the 18th floor, we headed back to the barricade at the agreed time. One side of the barricade, which had blocked the stairs completely, was now slightly open, and Yoo Minhyuk was waiting for us. 

Leaning slightly in the opening, he nodded as our eyes met. Behind him, a few men stood, and our first face-to-face meeting and the answer to our “deal” took place. 

“Let me introduce myself properly. I’m Yoo Minhyuk, representing the survivors of the 5,6 line, though I’m lacking.” 

“Nice to meet you. I’m Kim Minwoo. Judging by your presence here, it seems the discussion about my offer went well.” 

We shook hands-a gesture traditionally showing neither side held a weapon. Sensing I was expecting good news, Yoo Minhyuk answered without hesitation. 

“Yes, that’s right. Everyone agreed to your proposal.” 

Unlike the negotiation with Park Sanghyuk’s group, Yoo Minhyuk accepted my proposal without any conditions. For a moment, I wondered if it was a trap, but after learning about their situation, I could only nod in understanding. 

Of the 20 survivors, only four, including Yoo Minhyuk, were able-bodied men; the rest were elderly, children, or women. On top of that, the 5,6 line had a “serious” problem not found in the other two lines: the entire 5,6 line had been without water for ten days. 

I’d forgotten since it wasn’t my building, but due to a botched pipe replacement, water had been cut off for four days, and the zombie apocalypse meant the outage continued. In other words, all the survivors in the 5,6 line, including Yoo Minhyuk, were suffering from severe water shortages. 

“To be honest, we were about to run out of bottled water and were considering searching a nearby mart… Thanks to you, Mr. Minwoo, you saved us.” 

They’d been about to risk their lives leaving the apartment to find water when I appeared like a savior. From his perspective, it was only natural to accept my offer without conditions. 

Instead of raiders coming to kill and loot, I’d offered, “We’ll compensate you appropriately, just provide labor”-and in exchange for the thing they needed most: water. 

If I were him, I’d have waved a welcome flag and signed the contract on the spot. 

Ah… if I’d known, I would’ve made the terms a bit tougher… 

... 

After the deal with the 5,6 line survivors, who had secured floors 1–17, we followed Yoo Minhyuk to the first floor and found a barricade similar to the one on the 17th floor. 

At that moment, my phone buzzed with a quest completion notification, followed by another for securing the entire apartment. 

[Congratulations! Quest ‘Master of the Apartment (2)’ completed.] 

[Reward: 50MP, 9mm automatic pistol, 30 rounds of 9x19mm Parabellum acquired. The pistol and ammo are stored in the temporary inventory, which can be checked in the shop. Once claimed, they cannot be returned to inventory.] 

[Congratulations! Achievement ‘Perfect Base Secured: Complete control of the building or area where your base is located’ achieved. Reward: 20MP.] 

It still felt a bit lacking, but with manpower and the apartment secured, it was time to prepare to open the “exchange center” in earnest. 

... 

The day after securing the entire apartment, preparations for the exchange center began, and two days passed. 

During that time, after nearly ten days, Seoul’s electricity and water supply finally stopped. As a result, the apartment survivors became even more dependent on me, and the sound of gunfire occasionally echoed from the streets. Other survivors who’d been holed up inside, running out of supplies, were finally venturing out to “farm.” 

‘The real problem is the guns the soldiers dropped…’ 

Aside from concerns about survivors-potential customers-getting their hands on guns, preparations for the exchange center proceeded smoothly. 

First, we cleared zombies from around the apartment, and my workers boarded up the windows of first-floor apartments with wooden planks. 

Meanwhile, I figured out how to connect the main entrance of Building 103 (my home) with the complex’s back gate and the 1.6-meter-high wall in front. I decided to use the cars left in the parking lot. 

I had ten cars lined up to connect the ends of the apartment to the wall, then instructed the workers to tip them over on their sides. 

Thud, bang! 

Propping rocks under the overturned cars, we created a 1.8-meter-high steel wall connecting the apartment to the outer wall. 

... 

Late at night, after everyone had gone home, I looked down at the back gate from my living room window and upgraded “Barricade Construction” to Lv.2. 

Then, I installed a gated barbed wire fence at the back gate, creating a sturdy “outer wall” that could stop most zombies. 

I built the same barbed wire fences at each line’s entrance, then returned to the “Shelter” screen and upgraded “Electricity Supply” to Lv.4. 

[Shelter] 

Entrance Reinforcement (Lv.0): Entrance strength increases by 0%. (Lv.1)-25%, 10MP needed. 

Electricity Supply (Lv.4): 3 hours of power to the base. (Lv.5)-4 hours, 30MP needed. 

Water Supply (Lv.4): 3 hours of clean water to the base. (Lv.5)-4 hours, 30MP needed. 

Heating & Gas Supply (Lv.0): Provides heating and gas for a set time. (Lv.1)-30 min, 10MP needed. 

Fence Construction (Lv.0): Builds a wooden fence (2m high) at ground level, 100MP needed. 

Barricade Construction (Lv.2): Builds a barbed wire fence (25㎡). (Lv.3)-barbed wire fence (40㎡), 60MP needed. 

Safe Passage Construction (Lv.2): Builds a tunnel-type passage for safe movement. Barbed wire tunnel (30m). (Lv.3)-barbed wire tunnel (50m), 60MP needed. 

Each function can be extracted for 10–30MP and can be applied to other bases in the future. 

With 41MP left for emergencies, preparations to open the exchange center were nearly complete. 

All that remained was to set up the actual exchange window and train the staff. 

Ah, come to think of it, I hadn’t done the most important thing yet. 

In business, “promotion” is always the most important. 

... 

Right next to the barbed wire fence that had changed from the apartment’s back gate to the exchange center’s “main gate,” 

A space was set up to collect and store visitors’ weapons, and a new exchange window was built, connecting the 3,4 line entrance to the barbed wire tunnel. 

Surrounded by barbed wire and wooden planks, the exchange window had a roughly 40cm square hole in the front. 

Through this hole, customers would hand over their goods and receive “clean water” in return. 

A huge banner was hung from the 20th floor, the top of the apartment, and outside the wall: 

“Exchange Center. Bring something useful and we’ll trade it for clean water.”