Ike sighed, feeling some tension release as he lay in bed. He reached out, grabbed a cigarette from a drawer in his bedside table, and lit it. The silver-white ash rhythmically fell into a water bottle as he took slow drags. Ike's gaze carried a hint of red and orange, but it lacked vibrancy, almost like it had lost all its colors. He inhaled deeply, and the scent of crushed gardenia mixed with the heavy, sweet fragrance of tobacco filled the closed room. He smoked three cigarettes consecutively before deciding to save some for later, placing the cigarette case back on the bedside table.
After a brief pause, Ike threw off the quilt and got out of bed. He stretched, exhaled forcefully, and put on a determined smile. It was time to wake Anna up.
"Come on, you can't stay in bed all day," Ike chided as he roused Anna from under the covers.
Anna grumbled and tried to retreat, but Ike persisted, gently tugging her out of bed. "Time to get up, exercise, and not be lazy."
Anna responded with reluctance, "Ugh, it's too early."
Ike, wanting to motivate her, reached for the pink rabbit plush doll near the bed. "How's your training in combat and concealed weapons coming along? Feeling confident about self-defense?"
Anna's eyes lit up at the mention of her training. She grabbed the pink rabbit back and held it protectively, like a mother hen guarding her chick. "Don't talk about being a killer. I'm learning to protect myself."
"So, how's your practice?" Ike inquired with an amused smile.
Anna's tone grew more confident as she answered, "I'm invincible, of course! My master is very strong. Can I be weak as a disciple?"
Anna's master was none other than Nami. Though Nami's dart skills had started as a beginner's, he had honed them through extensive training. He was now a proficient dart thrower, hitting seven out of ten moving targets.
Anna's skills were still evolving, primarily focused on stationary targets. Nevertheless, she held her teacher in high regard, believing that her training would eventually make her unstoppable.
Ike shook his head with a smile, acknowledging her confidence even though he knew she wasn't quite as invincible as she claimed.
Helping Anna pick out fresh clothes and coats from the closet, Ike waited in the hallway, wearing a raincoat in preparation for their departure. Anna changed into her outfit, and once ready, Ike helped her put on her raincoat before they headed for the door.
However, just before they could leave, they heard a knock at the door and a man's voice calling out, "Is Negan there?"
Anna looked at Ike, who remained composed. "You should check it out."
Ike nodded and approached the window. After taking a quick look, he realized there was an unfamiliar man downstairs, peering inside.
Ike headed downstairs with Anna in tow, pausing under the eaves and calling out to the visitor, "Go check."
At the sound of Ike's voice, the man turned to face him. "Is Negan still sleeping?"
Ike did not give an immediate response and watched the man closely. He knew better than to give away information carelessly in these times.
After a pause, Ike confirmed, "Yes, he's still asleep."
The man showed a disappointed expression but then tried to entice Ike. "You should wake him up; I have something important to discuss with him. It's good news for you all."
Regus, who had agreed earlier to take over such interactions, had already discussed this strategy with the group. The idea was that if someone asked for Negan, Regus would engage with them. If someone inquired about Regus, then Negan would handle the situation. Essentially, they would block the enemy at every turn, refusing to disclose sensitive information easily.
"Oh," Regus responded with feigned sadness, "He hasn't been feeling well lately. What do you need from him?"
The man's tone shifted as he tried to persuade Regus further, "Ah, it's nothing. I can't say it out here. Can you wake him up? This opportunity is quite advantageous for your group."
Regus, still unmoved, expressed his disinterest. "Is there a need for business in these times? Surviving is what matters most."
The man continued his persuasion, insisting, "You don't understand. In times like these, we must keep abreast of new opportunities. Survival means adapting to the changing times. Do you think there's ever an era where people can't make money? There are only people who don't know how to make money." Regus felt baffled by the man's lengthy and convoluted speech. He struggled to follow the central idea but managed to grasp the mention of "making money."
"Money isn't much use these days," Regus replied. "Cash has lost its value, and goods are scarce."
The man persisted, "Money might not be the solution, but goods can be. We've set up a trade platform here, making it easier for your neighbors to exchange goods with each other. With the chaos outside, shopping malls and banks looted, you can't stock everything. Don't you always find something missing? You should consider cooperating with us. Share what you have extra, and you'll get what you need in return. It's a win-win situation."
"Does this idea make sense to you?" the man emphasized.
Regus reluctantly conceded, "Well, I suppose it sounds reasonable."
Regus reflected on Ike's conversation from the night before. Ike had mentioned that if the trade system collapsed, the city might return to a barter-based economy. In that situation, they could trade for items they lacked. It seemed that Ike's foresight was coming true.
Nevertheless, Ike had also suggested that they look for opportunities beyond their neighborhood for trading. Regus couldn't help but think of Ike's previous words.
Despite the man's persistence, Regus remained cautious. "I'll think about it. For now, I need to eat."
The man sighed in disappointment, and Regus seized the opportunity to escape further conversation. He signaled to close the window and then locked the door behind him.
As the man realized that Regus wasn't budging, he grew frustrated. "Regus, please wait. Let me explain further."
Regus did not respond, leaving the man outside. He rejoined Ike and Anna inside the house, relaying the details of the encounter.
"What should we do?" Anna asked.
Ike pondered for a moment before responding, "Let's discuss it with Negan and the others. We need a collective decision."
Anna agreed, and they went back upstairs to inform the group of the visitor's proposal.
The group gathered in the living room to deliberate. Regus explained the man's visit and his offer of a trade platform. Negan listened attentively, stroking his beard.
"Trade sounds promising," Negan remarked. "We've been talking about finding ways to acquire resources we lack. This might be an opportunity."
Anna added her perspective, "But we shouldn't trust them blindly. We need more information about who they are and their intentions."
Nami, who had been silent up to this point, voiced her opinion. "I think we should meet with them but remain cautious. We can't afford to pass up a potential source of supplies."
Linda nodded in agreement, "I think that's a reasonable approach. Let's arrange a meeting and gather as much information as we can."
With a consensus reached, they decided to contact the man and arrange a meeting to learn more about the trade platform and assess the situation further.
"Jason is the boss of our area," Jin began confidently, raising his left eyebrow as he continued, "Back in the day, I followed the first elder of Deep Blue City for twelve years. You see, in this world, those without skills don't last long. I may not personally know this man, but I've heard he's quite ruthless. I'm just trying to advise you not to make enemies with individuals like him."
Ike chuckled inwardly, knowing that the so-called "bosses" were often just self-proclaimed titles. Nevertheless, he didn't underestimate this "Jason." In these uncertain times, anyone could become a potential adversary. Ike refused to underestimate any potential threat, even as he remained confident in his ability to handle them.
"Oh," Ike replied with a nod to acknowledge Jin's warning. "So, this Jason is a formidable figure.""Absolutely," Jin affirmed, looking around as if to emphasize his point.
"He's got quite a few people under him." He punctuated his statement with a few emphatic claps of his hands.
"I'm not meddling in your family's affairs. I just want to remind you that strength lies in numbers. Without unity, you won't stand a chance!"
"It's better to lose some possessions than to lose your life," Jin continued earnestly.
Ike couldn't help but chuckle at Jin's advice. He knew that Jin considered him a naïve youth who was unaware of the harsh realities of the world. "I understand," Ike responded seriously.