Chương 24: Strangers

Jack stopped short.

"Again? Wait, primate mammals… you mean humans?"

"Most likely."

"Then why not just say humans?" Jack snapped. Then he caught himself.

"Hold on. When Cass and the others came earlier, why didn't you warn me?"

"For any lifeform approaching the convenience store, this system issues a maximum of two warnings." Jack paused.

"What happens on the third time?"

"If the same lifeform approaches a third time, it means it has already proven unable to pose an effective threat to the convenience store or to you." The system paused, then added, "If it showed hostility during its second approach and you still failed to handle it, then who exactly would the third warning be for?" Jack: "…" That was really asking to be punched. Unfortunately, he could not argue with it. Jack was quiet for a moment, but he still had one more question.

"What about Elias? This is his first time here, right?"

"When you order a steak and find a small extra piece of meat on the plate, do you ask the chef why you were not warned in advance?" Jack opened his mouth. Then he shut it again.

"I'm done talking to you." He went back to making coffee. Thirty minutes was plenty of time for that. Once the coffee was ready, Jack carried his cup downstairs. He was still trying to figure out how to bring up the approaching stranger without sounding strange. But when he reached the first floor, he realized he did not need to. Under the tent, Cass, Reed, and Vane were already standing together at the front, with Elias slightly behind them. All four of them were looking in the same direction. Jack was surprised.

They had noticed? Jack knew because of the system. But Cass and the others clearly did not need one. The system spoke in his mind.

"Human, do not underestimate the people here. Anyone who can survive in an environment like this naturally has their own methods." Jack looked at the people under the tent and nodded.

"LOSS, you're right." The system: "…" Jack carried his coffee outside and asked as if he had not noticed anything.

"What's wrong?" Vane pointed into the distance.

"Someone." Jack followed his finger, but at first, he saw nothing. Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Then Vane said quietly, "There." Jack looked again. This time, through the wavering heat, he finally caught sight of a tiny figure.

"How did you notice?" Reed answered honestly, "Smell." Jack froze.

"What smell?" Cass turned his head.

"The smell of someone who hasn't washed in a long time." Jack had just lifted his coffee for a sip. His hand almost jerked hard enough to spill it.

"What the hell?" Elias said, "This place is too open. When the wind is right, smells can carry a long way." Jack sniffed the air. Other than the smell of coffee, there was nothing.

"Why can't I smell it?" Cass blinked.

"You can't?" Jack rolled his eyes.

"If I could, why would I be asking?" Cass's eyes lit up, and he leaned closer on purpose.

"So you can't smell us either?" Elias gave a light cough.

"Cass." Vane lowered his gaze, and Reed quietly looked away. Jack gave Cass a suspicious look, then sniffed again. This close, he could pick up a little something.

"Now that you mention it, yeah. A little. But it's not that strong." Then he looked back toward the distant figure.

"But from that far away? How can you smell anything?" Reed scratched his head.

"We don't really know. It's just always been like that." Jack looked at them again, his expression turning strange. Cass shifted under his stare.

"What?" Jack grinned.

"You're mutants, aren't you? You have powers, right?" Elias stared at him for a moment, then shook his head.

"What are you talking about? There are no mutants. No powers either." Jack paused.

"Why not? Animals can mutate. Humans are animals too." Elias sighed.

"Live on this wasteland long enough, and you'll change too. As for why the animals changed the way they did, only God knows." Jack still wanted to argue, but Cass had already leaned in again.

"No powers," Cass said seriously.

"Smells, though? We have plenty of those. Want to check again?" He even raised one arm. Jack immediately stepped away, his face going dark.

"Get lost." Cass laughed out loud. Reed lowered his head with a quiet chuckle, and even Vane and Elias showed faint smiles. By then, the tiny figure in the distance had come much closer. The joking stopped. Jack and the others turned their attention back to the approaching stranger. The person stopped at the far edge of the large pit. Before Jack could ask who they were, the voice came first.

"Elias?"

"Why are you here?" Hearing the stranger call Elias by name, Jack turned to him. Elias looked surprised for a moment. Then recognition crossed his face, and his posture eased. Jack asked, "You know him?"

"An acquaintance," Elias said. Jack grew even more confused, but before he could ask, Elias raised a hand to stop him.

"Let him come over first." Then he called across the pit, "Come over." The person on the other side waved once, then pushed a low flatbed cart along the edge of the pit and started making his way around. As the man came closer, Jack finally got a clear look at him. He looked to be in his early forties, lean rather than strong, with skin darkened by years of wind, sand, and sun. A dark scarf was wrapped around his head, and he wore an old long coat whose original color was impossible to tell.

Under it was a vest covered in pockets. A thick cloth belt sat around his waist, with several small leather pouches hanging from it. Around his neck hung a small metal whistle, worn smooth from use. The flatbed cart he pushed was covered with waterproof canvas, its edges tied down tightly with old rope. The man stopped in front of Elias. When he saw Cass and the others, surprise flashed across his face.

"Why are all of you here?" Elias did not answer right away.

"Why did you come here?" Marlin said, "I was on my way to the settlement to find you. Then I saw a building out here from far away. I thought I'd taken a wrong turn, so I came over to check. Then I found all of you here." Elias understood. He pointed to Jack first.

"Let me introduce you. This is Jack, the owner of this place." Then he said to Jack, "This is Marlin. He's a merchant, and an old acquaintance of our settlement. He's helped us quite a few times before." So that was why Elias had relaxed. Jack nodded to Marlin.

"Nice to meet you. Since you know each other, don't just stand there. Sit down and we'll talk." Then he added casually, "Want something to drink?" Marlin paused.

"Drink… what do you mean?" Cass came over with his coffee.

"This kind of drink." Then he took a loud sip right in front of Marlin. Marlin laughed despite himself.

"I know what drinking means. That's not what I was asking." Jack was amused too. He waved Cass aside.

"Don't mind him. I'll make you a cup of coffee." Elias raised a hand.

"No need. Give him mine." He handed his coffee to Marlin, then asked, "You came all this way to find me. What happened?" Marlin took the cup and paused again.

"My God. Is this really coffee?" He took a careful sip, and the surprise on his face deepened.

"You people are living way too luxuriously." Elias said, "Be surprised later. Get to the point." Marlin nodded, but still took another small sip before setting the cup down. The relaxed look on his face slowly faded.

"I've been to quite a few places on this trip," he said.

"Something's wrong out there."