Chapter 73: Bargaining
The car had been driving for less than ten minutes when it stopped directly across from the University of Media Arts.
Just inside the residential complex and around a corner on the left, the first-floor garden of an old building was completely blocked by wrecked cars and ruined furniture. There wasn’t a single gap.
In the yard, a woman in a black down jacket was scooping snow into a bucket. When she heard the cars, she was like a startled rabbit, grabbing her bucket and scrambling upstairs, nearly tripping in the process.
"SCREEE—ECH!"
The two cars slammed to a halt at the entrance to the yard.
Bull was the first to bolt out. He ducked into a hidden corner and waved frantically at Luna Dawson and her group, his voice a harsh whisper, "Quick, over here! This way, hurry!"
Luna Dawson was decisive. "Go!"
With a wave of her hand, she stored the two cars in her space.
Seeing this, Bull’s eyes lit up. In this world of survival of the fittest, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of envy at seeing such a convenient superpower.
"Thank you for letting us go. I hope we can let bygones be bygones and just get through this crisis for now."
Luna Dawson glanced at her people. After a brief, whispered discussion, she nodded.
"Okay."
This residential complex was full of mid-rise buildings. The one they were heading to had two elevators for every four apartments on a floor.
The group had just climbed to the seventeenth floor when an elderly woman hurried out to meet them.
Her face was a mask of wrinkles. "You’re finally back! Are you okay? The whole downstairs is swarming with mutant rats! It’s terrifying!"
Logan Sawyer completely ignored her. He walked straight toward a beautiful, bright-eyed woman, grabbed her, and pulled her into a room.
He slammed the door with a BANG, the force nearly shaking the frame loose.
Kevin Keane and Evan Olson didn’t bother with the commotion, going straight to the window to look outside.
The swarm of mutant rats below had actually turned a corner, bypassing their building and pouring toward the city center like a black tide.
Hearing the noise, about ten people poured out from inside. They stared intently at Luna Dawson and the other strangers, their eyes practically eating them alive.
Taking a quick count, besides the seven men who had just returned, there were four more men guarding the place. The rest consisted of the old woman who had spoken and a few other women.
The men looked reasonably strong, and the old woman seemed to be in good spirits. The other women, however, were gaunt, their greasy hair plastered to their scalps in stringy clumps.
The entire floor reeked of the sour stench of unwashed bodies, mixed with the acrid smell of smoke and something burning that made one’s nose wrinkle in disgust.
The old woman glanced at the closed door, her eyes darting around as if searching for something. She was probably looking for Quentin Sawyer.
Leonard Miller was the first to step forward. He pointed at the women and yelled, "You lot, get the apartment on the left cleaned up, now!"
After speaking, he shot a fawning glance at Luna Dawson’s group, his gaze finally resting on her.
"Ma’am, you all get some good rest."
He had barely finished speaking when the old woman, displeased, planted her hands on her hips and shouted, "Who do you think you are? This place you’re standing in is my home!"
She only took orders from the Sawyer brothers. ’And these people thought they could boss her around?’
Evan Olson explained good-naturedly, "Ma’am, we ran into the mutant rat swarm and just came here to take shelter. We’ll leave as soon as the tide has passed."
The old woman, seeing someone had engaged with her, grew even more belligerent, practically spitting as she spoke. "Take shelter? This is our territory! You think you can just come and go as you please?"
At this, Mrs. Dawson spoke up, her tone calm. "Ma’am, we mean you no harm. We’ll leave immediately once the rat tide passes."
The old woman’s eyes darted around, sizing up Luna Dawson and her group.
Every one of them was neatly dressed and even smelled faintly of laundry detergent. Compared to her own group, they were worlds apart.
Her mind instantly changed, racing with calculations. "Fine, you can hide here. My daughter-in-law is already cleaning out that apartment for you. But if you want to stay, you’ll have to trade supplies for it!"
Bull broke out in a cold sweat. "Granny, Mr. Sawyer was the one who let them stay. You should just keep your mouth shut."
’These people all have guns, and they kill without a second thought. We can’t afford to provoke them. If they get angry, one spray of bullets could wipe us all out!’
The old woman shot Bull a look and bellowed, "What about Mr. Sawyer? His brother slept with my daughter-in-law, so he has to take responsibility! These people are on our territory, so what’s wrong with them giving us a little something as rent?!"
’This group has old and young people, and they’re so polite. They must be easy to push around.’
’They’re like fat sheep, ripe for the fleecing.’
Any thought of finding Quentin Sawyer flew right out of her head; she’d completely forgotten about it.
Mrs. Dawson glanced at Luna Dawson, and after receiving a nod, she agreed.
"We can give you some food."
At these words, Bull, Leonard Miller, and the others looked completely shocked.
’When Luna Dawson had pointed that cannon at them and said she was coming to their base, they all thought it was over, that they were about to be completely wiped out!’
’But they never expected that when she said they were even, she actually meant it. Was she really not going to cause them any more trouble and even give them supplies?’
The old woman shot Bull a triumphant look and said, "Good. Each of you has to give us ten pounds of grain. And those clothes you’re wearing? Take them off. We want those, too."
’She had seen how they all had healthy complexions and didn’t seem to fear the cold, even at more than thirty degrees below zero. Their clothes had to be special.’
"CLICK!"
"CLICK!"
The sound of several guns being cocked rang out, all aimed squarely at the scrawny old woman.
Luna Dawson crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "I’m an easygoing person. If you don’t provoke me, I won’t go looking for trouble. But if someone decides to push their luck, then don’t blame me for what happens next."
Faced with the gun barrels, the old woman didn’t flinch. Instead, she started screaming, "The soldiers are killing people! The next time the army comes, I’ll report you! We’ll see how arrogant you are then!"
Luna Dawson scoffed. She leaned in close, pulled out a dagger, and gently tapped the old woman’s cheek with the cold flat of the blade.
Her voice was deceptively casual. "A soldier? Which one of your eyes told you I was a soldier? Besides, if you’re dead, who are you going to report me to? A ghost?"
The cold steel against her skin made the old woman freeze instantly. The people behind her started to rush forward, but Bull held them back, desperately pulling them away.
Everyone saw Bull’s terrified expression, and their minds filled with questions.
’Aren’t these squatters a little too arrogant?’
’Why is Bull so afraid of them?’
’And where did Brother Drake go?’
The old woman swallowed hard but tried to remain defiant. "I... I don’t want the clothes. But you still have to give us the grain, right?"
Luna Dawson glanced at her, her voice flat. "Three cases of instant noodles."
The old woman grew frantic. "Three cases? That’s not even thirty pounds! And there are twelve of you!"
Luna Dawson sneered, "Two cases."
The old woman’s face turned green. She licked her chapped lips, furious. "I already said I don’t want the clothes! And you’re still haggling? You’re going too far!"
Luna Dawson’s voice remained flat. "One case."
"One case?!" The old woman’s shriek went up an octave. "Are you trying to shoo away a beggar?!"
Luna Dawson ignored her, saying lazily, "And now, not even one case."
The old woman was hopping mad. "Fine, fine, fine! Then there’s nothing to talk about! Get out! You’re not welcome here!"
"Keep rambling, and I won’t hold back."
The moment the words were spoken, Miles Dawson raised his gun and aimed it right at the old woman.
The old woman looked at Luna Dawson’s nonchalant expression, then at the gun barrels pointed at her.
She was kicking herself with regret. ’I should have just agreed to the three cases. Now I’ve lost out big time!’
Bull, who was standing nearby, immediately clapped a hand over the old woman’s mouth. He bowed and scraped to Luna Dawson, nodding obsequiously. "Yes, yes, yes! The lady’s right! If she says no, she means no! You can stay, please, stay as long as you like!"
With that, he picked up the old woman as if she were a baby chick and tossed her back into one of the apartments.