"Damn… Who is this god-tier survivor? Water and sausages?!"
The regional chat exploded with astonishment.
"Must've spawned in a supermarket! What kind of luck is that while I'm stuck in a public restroom stall?"
"Check what he's asking for! Maybe we can trade!"
"@Victor Cross, Great One, this humble lady is yours to command—just two sausages, please!"
"Ugh… I don't even dare leave my room. I've got nothing to trade. I'm so screwed…"
Lucas Kane sat back, watching the chaos unfold on screen. The desperation wasn't fake—most survivors were in the same boat. Spawn points were randomized. Some landed near food or clean water. Others, like Lucas, had to scavenge every inch, risking life and limb just for a can of meat.
He opened the Trade Channel. As expected, it was a messy digital bazaar of junk.
Women's underwear.
Used stuffed animals.
Empty water bottles.
A coffee mug.
A single chopstick.
A baby's hat.
All these odds and ends—useless in this apocalyptic world—were listed by people hoping some sucker would bite. But nobody was biting. The listings were several hours old and none had been traded.
No one needed knickknacks anymore. They needed calories. They needed hydration. They needed survival.
Lucas filtered the listings: Food and Water only.
That's when Victor Cross's items popped up.
Dozens of listings.
[500ml Purified Water] - 1 Energy Core
[Packaged Sausage] - 1 Energy Core
Lucas's brows furrowed. Energy cores? For basic supplies?
That was a steep price—outrageous even.
Energy Cores weren't guaranteed drops. You had to kill zombies for a chance to get them. Most people risked their lives and got nothing in return. Energy Cores were precious—used to enhance strength, stamina, even unlock new abilities.
But now Victor was flooding the market with food and water, asking for Cores in return.
If he really sells 40+ items and collects that many cores…
Lucas's heart sank slightly. Victor wouldn't just become strong—he could evolve. A few dozen cores could push someone from frail to strong, maybe even to Exceptionally Strong.
He's a threat.
Everyone in the same region could communicate, which meant—Victor Cross wasn't some far-off trader. He was nearby. Maybe even in the same building.
And in the apocalypse, strength wasn't just a tool—it was power.
Power that, in the wrong hands, could be lethal.
Lucas knew better than to assume someone like Victor was a benevolent supplier. The modern world had taught people to avoid strangers. But now? In a lawless, chaotic world where one person with a machete could dominate the helpless?
Don't assume kindness. Assume survival.
He kept reading the chat.
"Victor's prices are robbery! One Core for a bottle of water?!"
"Right? I got lucky and killed two weak zombies for one Core. And it wasn't even guaranteed!"
"Core for water or sausage? That's basically trading your life!"
"Good thing I had a can of luncheon meat and a bottle of water. If not, I'd be starving right now."
"You want resources? Kill zombies. That's the only path forward. No kills, no gear, no hope."
The last comment earned a wave of agreement.
"Exactly! There's a zombie outside my door. If I could just kill it, maybe I'd find something useful!"
"I'm a martial arts coach, and even I don't want to use my fists. You get one scratch, you're done."
"Anyone selling a knife? Or even a hammer?"
"I've got a fruit knife… but I'm too scared to fight. I'll give it away for free—just someone save me from the school's teacher lounge!"
Lucas grinned faintly. Not all survivors were clueless. Some understood the simple truth:
Give a man a sausage, and he eats once.
Give him a knife, and he earns ten.
That was why Lucas had salvaged every knife and blade he found—two butcher knives, four fruit knives—his real wealth.
Now it was time to make his own play.
He opened the auction interface.
Item: Razor-Sharp Kitchen Knife
Trade For: 1x Luncheon Meat + 1x 500ml Purified Water
It was a balanced offer. Not cheap, not too steep. Just high enough to lock in someone's daily needs—water and food—in exchange for the means to survive longer.
He wasn't looking to exploit. He was building leverage.
Two types of survivors would pay that price:
The strong ones—who could already kill zombies but needed better weapons to do it faster.
The clever ones—who had spotted nearby zombies guarding food or water and needed a tool to make the kill.
Either way, the trade made sense. A single day's rations in exchange for future survival.
Even if I'm wrong, I can just delist and try again later. No loss.
Lucas hit confirm.
Ding! Listing created: [Razor-Sharp Kitchen Knife]
Ding! Listing created: [Razor-Sharp Kitchen Knife]
Ding! Listing created: [Serrated Fruit Knife]
Then, as if the dam had broken, others followed suit.
Suddenly, dozens of listings flooded the screen:
[Long Wooden Stick]
[Heavy Brick]
[Ceramic Ashtray]
[Chair]
Weapons… or attempts at them.
Most of them also asked for food or water in return. Some were more modest—only asking for one. Others, more desperate.
Lucas chuckled at the absurdity. A chair? Seriously?
Sure, before Lucas posted his knives, those makeshift items might've had a chance. But now?
Ding! Trade Successful. Sold 1x Kitchen Knife → Received: 1x Luncheon Meat, 1x Water.
Ding! Trade Successful. Sold 1x Kitchen Knife → Received: 1x Luncheon Meat, 1x Water.
Ding! Trade Successful. Sold 1x Fruit Knife → Received: 1x Luncheon Meat, 1x Water.
Within minutes, all his knives were gone.
He checked his inventory:
Luncheon Meat x9
Purified Water x9
Success.
His survival rating had just climbed again. And all it took was understanding human desperation and offering a way out.
He had bet on the right crowd—
And he had won.