Chapter 280: Black Rock City (2)
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
The task’s quick completion left Zhao Yu surprised. However, he remembered his second objective for venturing out, which was to find food.
Glancing at the semi-underground entrance of the internet cafe, Zhao Yu figured that such places might have some snacks stored inside. Thus, he walked in, intending to search the place.
Being underground with no electricity, the internet cafe was pitch-dark.
Using the faint moonlight seeping in from the entrance, Zhao Yu squinted to observe the interior of the cafe.
Soon, he found the bar counter where snacks were typically stored.
Adjacent to the counter was a small room, seemingly dedicated to selling snacks.
Zhao Yu silently hoped there’d be something edible inside.
The shelves behind it had little of value except for a few decorative figurines.
Opening the cash register, he found scattered bills left behind.
In this post-apocalyptic world, money was worthless.
Zhao Yu gave up the idea of searching the counter further and headed to the adjacent room.
As he stepped in, he was. .h.i.t with a peculiar stench.
“What’s that smell?”
Almost immediately, he spotted several skeletonized corpses on the floor. On the shelves, numerous unopened packaged snacks remained.
Food!
Zhao Yu was about to collect the food when a faint voice echoed from one side.
“Don’t move!”
Halting in his tracks, Zhao Yu slowly turned to see a figure, almost blending with the shadows, holding a gun.
Cold sweat dripped down his face, and he remained motionless. He even hesitated to raise his hands, fearing a misunderstanding.
“Who are you?!”
The voice from the shadows sounded again, a slightly hoa.r.s.e female tone.
A woman?
Only now did Zhao Yu realize that the person in the shadows seemed to be a woman.
Yet, he dared not underestimate her, especially with a gun in her hand.
“I’m a resident from nearby. I ran out of food at home and came to the county town to find something to eat…”
The woman remained silent for a long time, seemingly a.s.sessing the truth of his words or perhaps scrutinizing Zhao Yu.
With her concealed in the darkness, Zhao Yu could only make out a silhouette and had no idea of her appearance or stature.
” What weapon do you have?!”
the woman asked again.
“A hand-made spear, an iron rod, and a machete…” Zhao Yu replied without hesitation.
“Throw the things over there, further away!”
The woman tilted the muzzle of her gun and indicated a position.
Zhao Yu was unsure of the woman’s intentions but did as instructed, setting aside the three weapons he carried.
“What a pity! If only 1 had a dagger…”
Zhao Yu sighed inwardly. These weapons were too conspicuous. Unlike a dagger, they couldn’t be concealed for self-defense.
“Turn around…” The woman insisted, making Zhao Yu turn on the spot.
As he completed his third rotation, she abruptly demanded, “What have you got in your pockets?!”
“Uh?!”
Zhao Yu, startled, replied, “Nothing at all?!”
“Strip your clothes off!”
To his shock, she instructed him to disrobe right there.
“Here?!” He asked hesitantly.
“Quickly!” She urged.
Zhao Yu began by taking off his jacket, leaving just a vest, thinking that would suffice.
However, the woman wasn’t satisfied and commanded him to remove his vest as well.
“One more round!”
Bare-chested, Zhao Yu obeyed and spun again.
By now, it was clear that she was ensuring he had no concealed weapons. Though it was that the woman had remained stationary the entire time.
“Your pants!”
Zhao Yu stripped down to his underwear.
“I don’t have to take this off, right?” He asked nervously.
“Take it off!” She was adamant.
“Is she worried I’ve concealed a grenade in there?!”
Given the life-or-death situation, Zhao Yu had no choice. After undressing, he turned again.
Suddenly, she clicked on a small flashlight.
Zhao Yu shielded his eyes. Once adjusted, he finally got a good look at her.
She was dressed in a black special combat suit on her upper body. The bottom…
She had no lower body!
To Zhao Yu’s horror, the woman had lost everything below her waist, as though something had gnawed it off.
A dark, dried bloodstain marked the spot where she sat. Judging from its state, it had been there for some time.
How is she still alive in this condition?!
Zhao Yu noticed several high-end spray bottles next to her.
A hemostatic spray?!
He had seen such a thing for sale at the settlement before.
It was expensive, and though he had given it a cursory look, he had never bought one.
“Ever used a gun?”
Her sudden question left Zhao Yu slightly confused.
He cleared his throat, replying, “Which one are you referring to?”