Chapter 115 Rotten Bonds and Instant Noodles


    After they finished eating, Lucas noticed that Theresa had barely touched her food. He gave her a casual smile. “I’ll take you on a little tour of the market here in a bit.”


    “Sure,” she replied, eager for the chance to learn more about the famous K1 Camp.


    As they left the mess hall, they walked leisurely down the path. Theresa asked, “How many teams are there


    tomorrow?”


    “Should be seven in total.”


    “And the mission… It’s really not dangerous?”


    “The storage depot and the surrounding area are mostly deserted, but there are a lot of zombies on the main road we have to pass through. That part could get hairy. But as long as everyone sticks together, it shouldn’t be too bad. You’ll be with us, so just follow our lead.”


    Theresa nodded in understanding.


    They soon arrived at K1 Camp’s marketce-a bustling street filled with makeshift stalls that residents had thrown together themselves. People sat cross-legged on old nkets and tarps, with piles of clothes, jewelry, trinkets, and even wads of paper money spread out in front of them like treasures.


    Bundles of cash, some still wrapped with faded bank straps,y uselessly in the dirt, a testament to how little currency meant now. Clearly, some desperate tycoon had tried to flee with his riches when the world fell apart-only to find out that money was now worth less than a can of beans.


    Theresa wandered through the market with wide-eyed curiosity. The street stretched long, noisy, and lively in its own rugged way. She was examining a set of mismatched earrings when a loud, familiar voice rang out from up ahead.


    “Food! You think you can just leave without paying? This ain’t a charity! Someone call the guards!”


    The unmistakable bellow of a middle-aged man echoed down thene.


    Theresa turned in time to see a burly man stumbling out of a shack, still hitching up his pants. He barely made it three steps before a limping man in his forties or fifties and an old, filthy woman tackled him from both sides.


    Right behind them, a gaunt woman in her forties with deep lines carved into her face ran out, shouting at the top of her lungs.


    “He didn’t pay! He took the service and ran!”


    “Hey! Somebody stop him! We got a freeloader here!”


    “Freeloader?! You call this a service? You told me your wife was young, fresh-faced-better than a girl half her age! You expect me to pay for that old hag?!” the man barked, furious.


    “She was the best we had!”


    “The best? Hell, why don’t you throw in your old mama next time and see who bites?!”


    The limping man clung to the customer’s leg like a leech. “You’re not going anywhere till you pay up!”


    “That’s right! You took, now you give!” the old crone shrieked, loud enough to draw the attention of the entire street.


    The burly man groaned when he spotted a few Kl Camp’s soldiers approaching. Cursing under his breath. he pulled a squashed packet of instant noodles from his jacket. “D*mn it! What an unlucky day!”


    He hurled the noodles to the ground, shoved past the clinging bodies, and stomped off, grinding the package beneath his boot.


    Immediately, the three remaining figures lunged like starving dogs, scrabbling over the crumpled noodles.


    “Back off! I earned this!” shouted the worn-out woman, clutching the packet.


    “Sweetheart,e on, you can still earn more,” pleaded the limping man. “Give some to me and my mother. We haven’t eaten all day.”


    “That’s right, darling,” crooned the old woman. “I haven’t had a bite since morning.”


    “Get lost!”


    Another man emerged from the shack-a thin, scruffy guy in histe twenties or early thirties. Despite the stubble and gaunt face, he looked far less haggard than the rest. Without hesitation, he yanked the noodle packet out of the woman’s hands.


    ‘Oliver, stop!” the limping man cried. “You already ate today! You even took food from me and your grandma!”


    ‘Yeah, Oliver, sweet boy, don’t forget about me. I always spoiled you, remember?”


    ‘Get lost, both of you!” Oliver shouted and kicked them aside like garbage. “Mom, you shouldn’t still be hanging around these two useless leeches. One’s a cripple who can’t even work a camp job, and the other’s an old hag who should’ve died ages ago. What’re you still doing with them?”


    “You’re absolutely right!” the woman eximed, eyes sparkling as she clung to Oliver’s arm. “We’re better off without them! You and me, that’s all we need!”


    “Exactly. From now on, it’s just the two of us. Screw the rest.”


    She nodded eagerly. “You’ve grown strong, baby. Time to leave the trash behind.”


    The two of them turned and walked off together, noodle packet in hand.


    Behind them, the limping man lost what littleposure he had left. He hurled himself forward, grabbing at Oliver’s leg.


    “Son-Oliver, I’m your dad! You can’t leave me! I carried you through hell, nursed you back when you were half-dead! You can’t just walk away now that you’re fine!”


    “Oliver, baby, don’t forget about me! I raised you myself-don’t leave me behind, please!”


    “Go to hell, both of you! Worthless garbage!” Oliver snarled and kicked them to the ground with brutal


    force.


    !