In his past life as Yoo Jin Hyuk on Earth, he was the youngest member of a powerful chaebol family. But unlike the typical chaebol who used their status to bend the rules, Yoo Jin Hyuk felt trapped by his family's privilege. He wanted to change the world, not just enjoy the benefits of his position. His dreams of reform were met with the harsh reality of an unyielding system, and he came to realize that change was an uphill battle.
Determined to make a difference, Yoo Jin Hyuk decided he had to leave the familiar confines of his family's empire. He set his sights on America, hoping to find a place where his vision for a fairer world could take root. This decision wasn't just about moving to a new country; it was about breaking away from everything he knew and starting fresh.
As he pondered his past, a blue screen suddenly appeared before him, pulling him out of his thoughts.
[ Mission: Survive for 3 months
Reward: Blue long-sleeve bulletproof overcoat and 50 points. ]
Han Xiao's eyes moved to the digital clock panel, where the date read May 3rd, year 203. The time was 8 AM. The world outside was dangerous, but Han Xiao knew he had to start preparing. He needed to find food and secure his survival, so he decided to explore the shelter's surroundings later in the day.
Inside the lift, Han Xiao looked at the buttons: U-1 for his current location and A-1, A-2, and A-3 for the floors below. He pressed A-1, and the lift descended to the ground floor. When the doors opened, he stepped out into the desolate exterior of the building. He chose a random direction and began his cautious exploration of the eerie environment. As he moved, his futuristic silver bracelet flashed a new notification.
[ Mission: Map the unknown
Reward: 100 points for 1 sq. km ]
Han Xiao activated the mapping feature on his bracelet. It could upload data online or store it in its memory for later synchronization. This flexibility ensured he could keep track of his surroundings, no matter the connectivity. Over the next few days, Han Xiao mapped a 1 km radius around the shelter and survived on safe-looking plants.
On the eighth day, he came across a severely injured dog. Using his bracelet's scanner, he identified the creature.
[ Identity: Mutated Dog
--Attributes--
Str: 3
Agi: 5 ]
With his superior attributes, Han Xiao approached the dog quietly and took it down swiftly. But just as he finished, two men emerged from the direction the dog had come from. They looked haggard but otherwise normal.
Han Xiao, unsure of their intentions, decided to be cautious. He raised his hands to show he meant no harm. "I'm not here to cause trouble. Just trying to survive."
To his surprise, he could understand and speak their language fluently, which was unexpected given his previous experiences. The taller of the two men, Yu Hong, responded, "We're not looking for trouble either. I'm Yu Hong, and this is Yu Xiang. We're just trying to get by."
Han Xiao nodded. "I'm Han Xiao. Can you tell me more about this place and what dangers to watch out for?"
Yu Xiang scrutinized Han Xiao. In the post-nuclear world, trust was hard to come by, and Han Xiao's lack of weapons was unusual for someone who might be a looter. Slowly, his suspicion gave way to cautious acceptance.
Yu Xiang pointed to a structure in the distance. "We have a camp over there. It's safer, away from the mutated creatures and unfriendly survivors. If you're allowed by the mayor's guards, you're welcome to join us."
As they walked through the ruined city, the brothers shared their stories, and a sense of camaraderie formed. They discussed practical matters, like splitting the spoils of their hunt.
Yu Hong said, "We need to figure out how to divide the spoils."
Han Xiao agreed. "We should split it based on what each of us contributed. We all have different skills that can benefit the group."
When they reached the camp, Han Xiao saw a large survivor settlement with over 100 families. Before the war, this area had a stadium, mall, and park. The military had turned it into a temporary refuge for people fleeing Qincheng City. Two hundred years later, it had become a small town.
The mall, now the mayor's residence, was the only building showing signs of repair. Outside the mall's barrier, people lived in simple shelters made from plastic boards, wood, and metal brackets.
Approaching the town's entrance, Han Xiao was met by a stern guard who scrutinized him closely. Keeping calm, Han Xiao explained his journey and offered the mutant dog meat and hide as proof of his skills and contributions.
The guard considered Han Xiao's offer and assigned him a plot of land outside the protective fence, where he set up a simple shelter among other residents. Han Xiao was grateful for the opportunity and prepared to start his new life in this post-apocalyptic world.