CHAPTER FIVE: AMBUSH

A half-empty pack of cigarettes fell into in Mike’s hands.

[Name: Cigarettes]

[Type: Miscellaneous]

[Rarity: Common]

[Attribute: Has a small effect on fear and anxiety.]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring out of dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: In face of true fear or panic, it’s better than nothing!]

A second lighter was also there, in addition to the pack of cigarettes.The newly discovered lighter had the same design and details as the ones Mike had previously acquired.

Mike put the new lighter and the cigarettes he was holding in his shirt's pocket after looking at them.

He did not use tobacco.

Firstly, due to his health, and secondly, due to his financial difficulties, he was unable to be.

He kept his distance due to his genetic condition and the fact that a pack of cigarettes can cost as much as two meals in the real world.

However, he would not mind smoking while playing the game.

Naturally, this was not the time.

Mike sat down, carefully examining the body once more. He left after verifying that there were no other valuables to be taken.

Mike didn't want to wait for the robbers to come and raid his house when it was already late at night and so many people were watching.

He needed to look for a safer, more private spot to hide and contemplate his next move.

Mike stopped by the door leading outside after walking the empty hallway and living room. He looked, leaning out his head to see what was waiting for him there.

Stones, fallen buildings, and other debris were all he could see.

They resembled derelict buildings.

In his head, Mike assessed the location.

He crouched down and took a few small steps outside after confirming that no one was present.

He arrived at a collapsed wall quickly.

It appeared to be a house or building's bearing wall. It must have been at least three floors high based on its length. Now, all that was left was a child-sized wall that had been torn down, some stones, bricks, and old pieces of wood.

Mike looked around while remaining shaded by it.

Despite the fact that everything was in ruins already, Mike came to the conclusion that this had been a high-end, wealthy residential area based on the layout and construction of the buildings.

There must have been sewers, a drain system, or even an underground space in a residential area like this.

That meant that Mike wouldn't have to deal with any more survivors for the time being, which was good news for him.

Mike thought that it would be best to stay away from any survivors for as long as possible due to the possibility that they would turn out to be thugs.

He continued to advance while hunched over.

He was looking for a way through the sewers and into the underground he was certain existed.

Mike was able to locate two sewage entrances after the search lasted about thirty minutes.

The bad news was that the first one was covered in trash. Despite the fact that he could clearly see the entrance, it was still closed and impossible to enter.

Not only would he need to remove all of the debris that was on top of it, but he would also need to do so in complete silence in order to accomplish that.

He would be pursued by other survivors and criminals if he made any noise.

He could make out at least two armed individuals patrolling that area.

He didn't intend to draw their attention and challenge them both because they hadn't yet seen him.

In order to continue his search, Mike carefully hid from the patrollers and waited for their departure.

Continuing on with it, he at last arrived at the subsequent sewage entrance, just to figure out that it additionally introduced a similar issue as the first.

In addition, a second issue arose that was even more significant than the previous one.

Mike saw two people arguing with one another.

The other one was holding a steel rod with a mass of concrete on its end, while the first one was holding a wooden stick.

Between the two of them was where Mike had found the sewage entrance.

But his sudden appearance didn't seem to have caught their attention, not because Mike was moving very slowly, but because they were both focused on each other and didn't pay him any attention.

As he looked at them, Mike grinned. He did not intend to interfere or take advantage of them in any way.

Their screams would undoubtedly draw a lot of unwelcome attention in such a large area unless one of them could quietly kill the other or kill the other.

Mike might face not just one or two people, but a whole group of armed criminals when that time comes.

Is it possible for one of them to stealthily eliminate the other?

Mike would have to be extremely fortunate to escape even in that scenario.

After all, the other person would not be an easy target if one of them could kill the other during this confrontation.

After giving it some thought, Mike came up with a solution.

While he was still able to see them, he sank to the ground and slowly retreated.

He made every effort to move quietly to avoid drawing their attention, but all of his efforts were wasted when he slipped and fell on a plank.

c***k!

He froze instantly at the loud breaking sound.

"Bless it!"

Mike bleated quietly. Despite the fact that nothing he said would be of any use now, he had forgotten that there had been a plank on the path he had taken.

The sound's source had already been identified by the two confronters.

Evidently perplexed, they had raised their guard and appeared to be watching.

Mike came out of his hiding place with both hands raised to indicate that he was safe because he didn't want the situation to get any worse.

"That's you!" One of them suddenly exclaimed in a coarse voice.

Mike recognized that person right away.

It was the same woman he'd first met in the house.

The person who was holding the steel rod quickly backed up as she spoke.

They clearly did not want to confront them either, as did Mike.

Their only source of information was the lady's words, which appeared to be sufficient to indicate that Mike and the lady were acquainted.

And that was sufficient justification for their departure.

As he watched it all unfold, Mike shrugged.

He was eighty percent certain that the woman had spoken with intent to use him to solve the issue at hand.

The lady was the first to notice Mike's presence, just like she was in the house.

She had not spoken up to effectively eliminate her pursuer. In order to lure the pursuer into her trap, she had instead taken the initiative and appeared even more terrified.

Mike didn't want to get in her way because she was clearly a very intelligent woman.

Additionally, she had performed a modest act of kindness back there.

He thought it would be worthwhile to talk to her.

In exchange for some useful information from her, Mike would be willing to part with the few possessions he possessed.

“I….”

BANG!

Before Mike could even finish his sentence, a loud gunshot ended his conversation.