The tavern was packed again, the warm light from the fire dancing across the wooden walls as people gathered to forget their troubles for a little while. The air was thick with the smell of stale beer and the sound of laughter, clinking mugs, and low conversation. It was one of those rare moments where the weight of the outside world seemed to lift, if only for a little while.
We sat at our usual spot near the back, a couple of beers in front of us. Daisy had a mischievous grin on her face, the kind that said she was about to drop some juicy gossip. Ethan and I leaned in, curious, while Yabe sat quietly, sipping her drink, always the observer.
"You guys hear about that scrapper crew?" Daisy started, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "The one led by that guy, Chang?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow, setting his beer down. "Chang? Can't say I've heard much about him. What's the deal?"
Daisy leaned forward, her voice lowering like she was about to share a state secret. "Apparently, this dude's been pulling off some crazy shit out in the ruins. His crew's been hitting city ruins all over, bringing back loads of supplies—more than anyone else has managed. He's practically a local celebrity now."
I blinked in surprise. "A local celebrity? In this town? How the hell does that happen?"
Liza, sitting beside Daisy, smirked. "From what I've heard, he's got some kind of magic touch or something. No one knows how he does it, but the guy walks into places other people would call death traps, and he walks out with bags of loot."
Yabe looked thoughtful, her brows furrowed. "That's strange. What makes him so special?"
Daisy shrugged, taking a sip of her beer. "No one really knows. But people are talking. His crew—Cassidy, Kaya—they've been backing him up, too. It's like he's got the golden crew or something."
I snorted, leaning back in my chair. "Sounds too good to be true, honestly. What's the catch?"
Daisy grinned. "No catch. Just that Chang's got this aura about him, y'know? People say he's fearless, confident, like nothing fazes him. And it helps that he's charming as hell, too. You know how people around here eat that shit up."
Ethan leaned forward, intrigued now. "Charming, huh? So, he's just smooth-talking his way through the apocalypse and getting shit done?"
"Pretty much," Daisy said with a chuckle. "But it's not just talk. The guy delivers. You should've seen the stuff they brought in last week. A whole stash of medical supplies, ammo, and even some fuel. The city's been picked clean for months, and somehow, this guy's finding all the good stuff."
"That's insane," I muttered, shaking my head. "How is he even pulling that off? The ruins are crawling with zombies."
Liza chimed in, her voice full of admiration. "That's the thing. I heard he doesn't even seem to worry about the zombies. He walks right through them like they're not even there."
Ethan blinked, disbelief clear on his face. "Bullshit. No one can do that. Zombies don't just ignore people."
Daisy smirked, taking another swig of her beer. "Believe what you want, but people are talking. And let me tell you, this guy's got something going on. People have started calling him the 'Ghost of the Ruins' because of how he just waltzes through the danger zones."
I raised an eyebrow. "The Ghost of the Ruins? That's a bit dramatic, don't you think?"
Daisy shrugged. "Maybe, but the name's sticking. And if he keeps bringing back supplies like he's been doing, he'll probably end up running this town before long."
Yabe tilted her head, her voice quiet but curious. "And his crew? Cassidy and Kaya? What are they like?"
"Oh, they're badass, no doubt," Daisy replied. "Cassidy's always full of energy, and Kaya? She's all business. They're not just tagging along either—they're pulling their weight. Chang couldn't do it without them."
Liza snorted. "Yeah, but let's be real, they wouldn't be half as famous without Chang leading the way."
Ethan shook his head, still skeptical. "I dunno. I just can't buy it. There's gotta be something we're missing. How the hell do zombies just ignore this guy?"
I leaned back in my chair, considering it. Chang... the name sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite place it. I'd heard whispers about him before, but I hadn't paid much attention. Now, though, it sounded like he was becoming someone we might need to know.
"You think there's a trick to it?" I asked, glancing at Daisy.
Daisy raised an eyebrow. "A trick? Like what?"
"I don't know," I said, rubbing the back of my neck. "Maybe he's got some secret strategy or something. Maybe he's figured out how to mask his scent or hide his movements. There's gotta be a reason why the zombies don't go for him."
Liza leaned in, grinning. "Or maybe he's just a goddamn legend. Ever think of that?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, sure. Maybe he's a zombie whisperer."
Daisy chuckled. "Whatever it is, the guy's got skills. And people are taking notice. Wouldn't be surprised if they start offering him bigger jobs soon. Hell, people are saying the mayor's been asking about him."
"The mayor?" Ethan asked, raising an eyebrow. "You think Chang's gonna go from scrapper to politician?"
Daisy smirked. "In this world? Stranger things have happened."
Yabe, who had been quietly listening, spoke up again, her voice thoughtful. "It's interesting. If he's really as good as people say, maybe we should meet him. See what he's about."
I nodded slowly. "Yeah. If he's the real deal, it wouldn't hurt to have an ally like that."
"Or at least figure out how the hell he's doing it," Ethan added.
Daisy raised her mug, grinning. "Here's to Chang the legend. Maybe we'll run into him soon enough."
We clinked our mugs together, the sound ringing out over the noise of the tavern. It was just a story for now, a legend built on whispers and rumors. But if half of what Daisy said was true, Chang was someone worth keeping an eye on.
As the night went on, the chatter in the tavern grew louder, and the legend of Chang lingered in the back of my mind. There was something about the way Daisy talked about him, something that made me think we hadn't heard the last of him.
Q: How do you respond to rumors?