Apocalypse: I Have A Multiplier System - Chapter 430

Chapter 430: Chapter 430: Kars
The shopkeeper’s heart pounded, but he tried to play it cool. He couldn’t let this “scrawny kid” scare him off.

“Alright, kid, you asked for it!” he shouted, swinging a fist toward Su Jiyai.

But before his punch even got close, Su Jiyai moved—fast.

She dodged to the side like it was nothing, making the shopkeeper look like a clumsy fool.

“Is that all you got?” Su Jiyai asked, a smirk creeping onto her face.

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened in shock. “What the… how did he move so fast?”

Su Jiyai wasn’t in the mood to waste any more time.

She stepped forward, grabbed the shopkeeper by the wrist, and twisted it just enough to make him wince in pain.

“Let me make one thing clear,” she said, her voice low but firm.

“You can’t bully me. I’m not some easy target. So how about you back off before this gets ugly?”

The shopkeeper’s face turned red with anger and embarrassment, but the pain in his wrist made him rethink his plan.

He wasn’t about to mess with someone who clearly knew how to fight.

“O-Okay, okay!” he stammered, trying to pull his hand free. “Just let go!”

Su Jiyai released his wrist, and the shopkeeper stumbled back, holding his arm and glaring at her.

“You’re gonna regret this,” he muttered under his breath. “I’ll make sure you never buy anything in this market again.”

Su Jiyai rolled her eyes.

“Yeah, sure. Like I care.” She turned and walked away, leaving the shopkeeper fuming behind her.

As Su Jiyai was walking away, a rough-looking man with a rugged beard and a scar across his cheek stepped in front of her.

He towered over her, but there was a curious look in his eyes, not one of hostility.

“Hey, kid,” he called out, eyeing her up and down. “You a fighter?”

Su Jiyai raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.

“What, are you here to fight me too? Did the shopkeeper send you or something?”

The man burst into laughter, shaking his head.

“Nah, nah, nothing like that! I ain’t got time for small-time squabbles like that guy. I’m with a mercenary group, and we’re short one member.

I saw how you moved back there. Quick, precise… impressive. I figured you’d be a good fit for our next job.”

Su Jiyai stared at him, not sure if he was joking or serious.

“And what makes you think I’d be interested?” she asked, her voice steady but curious.

The man shrugged, still smiling.

“You seem like someone who’s always up for a challenge. We’re heading to Mount Darkstar.”

He paused for a second as if waiting for her reaction.

“It’s a dangerous place, but the rewards are worth it. There’s something big happening there, and we need all the help we can get.”

As soon as Su Jiyai heard the name, the AI in her mind spoke up.

[Mount Darkstar is exactly where you need to go. All three herbs you’re searching for can be found there. This could be your chance.]

Su Jiyai’s eyes flickered with interest, though she kept her expression calm.

“Mount Darkstar, huh?” she said. “What kind of ‘big thing’ are you guys after?”

The mercenary chuckled.

“That’s something you’d have to find out on the way. But trust me, it’ll be worth your time.”

He looked her up and down again.

“So, what do you say? You got the time for a little adventure?”

Su Jiyai tilted her head slightly, thinking it over. She could feel the AI nudging her to accept. “This is the perfect opportunity. You must go.”

After a moment, she looked the man in the eye and nodded. “Alright, I’ll go with you.”

The mercenary blinked, clearly surprised by how quickly she agreed. “Just like that? You’re in?”

“Just like that,” Su Jiyai replied with a small smirk.

The man let out another laugh, clapping her on the shoulder.

“I like you, kid. You’ve got guts.” He extended his hand. “Name’s Kars, by the way. And you are?”

Su Jiyai paused for a second, then said confidently, “Ragnar.”

Kars grinned. “Ragnar, huh? Well, welcome to the team. We head out at dawn. Be ready.”

Kars led Su Jiyai through the bustling market and out into a quieter alley where his group was waiting.

There were four of them—two women and two men.

They all looked tough, with weapons strapped to their sides and confident expressions on their faces.

“Alright, everyone, this is Ragnar,” Kars said, motioning to Su Jiyai.

“He’ll be joining us for the mission.”

One of the men, a tall guy with a scar running down his neck, narrowed his eyes at Su Jiyai.

“This scrawny kid? You sure he can fight properly?” His voice was full of doubt, and he didn’t even bother hiding it.

Su Jiyai chuckled, totally unfazed.

“If you’re so worried, we can have a little duel. I’ll show you what I can do.”

She smiled, but there was a hint of challenge in her voice.

The man looked like he was about to step forward, his fists clenched, ready to take her up on the offer.

His expression said he wasn’t one to back down from a fight.

But before things could get heated, Kars quickly stepped between them, raising his hands.

“Whoa, whoa, calm down, both of you! There’s no need for that. We’re all on the same team here.”

Su Jiyai shrugged, her calm demeanor never changing. “Whatever you say.”

Kars turned to the rest of the group, taking control of the situation.

“Alright, let’s get to business. We’ve got a job, and it’s a big one. We’ve been hired by a merchant to find the energy mine on Mount Darkstar.”

One of the women, a tall redhead with sharp eyes, crossed her arms.

“Energy mine, huh? Sounds risky. What’s the catch?”

Kars nodded.

“Yeah, it’s not gonna be easy. We’re supposed to make a route to the mine.

The mountain’s filled with all sorts of dangerous creatures and… well, who knows what else. But if we pull this off, we’ll get paid a fortune.”

The other man, the one who still didn’t look too convinced about Su Jiyai, grunted.

“Fine, but this ‘Ragnar’ better pull his weight.”

Su Jiyai just smirked, not bothering to respond. She knew she could handle whatever was coming.

Kars cleared his throat and continued, trying to keep the group focused.

“Look, we leave tomorrow at dawn. The route to the energy mine is tough. We’ll be crossing dangerous terrain—monsters, unstable ground, maybe even some rogue mercenaries.”

One of the women, a shorter girl with brown hair tied in a messy bun, raised her hand lazily.

“So, how much are we getting paid for this again?” she asked, sounding more interested in the money than the danger.

Kars grinned.

“A lot. More than enough to make this worth your while. Trust me, Mei. We’ll all be swimming in gold when this is over.”

Mei’s eyes sparkled for a second, but she shrugged like she didn’t care that much.

“Alright, sounds good.”

Su Jiyai stayed silent, her expression neutral, but inside, she was thinking about the herbs she needed.

This mission was perfect for her, money or no money.

“Alright, enough of that. We need to rest up tonight. Mount Darkstar isn’t the place to mess around. Be ready tomorrow.”

The group nodded, and Kars turned to Su Jiyai.

“You’ll stay with us tonight, Ragnar. We’ve got a room at the inn down the road.”

Su Jiyai nodded, grateful for a place to stay, even if it was just for the night.

Inside the inn, the group settled in the room was small but enough for all of them.

Su Jiyai found a spot in the corner, sitting down quietly while the others chatted.

The group talked among themselves. Su Jiyai wasn’t too interested in the small talk. Her focus was on Mount Darkstar and the herbs she needed to find.

The brown-haired girl, Mei, noticed Su Jiyai sitting alone and came over, plopping down beside her.

“So, Ragnar, what’s your story?” Mei asked, her tone light, but there was curiosity in her eyes.

Su Jiyai glanced at her, then shrugged.

“Not much to tell. I’m just here for the job, like everyone else.”

Mei laughed softly.

“Mysterious, huh? I like that. But trust me, once we’re climbing that mountain, secrets don’t stay hidden for long.”

Su Jiyai just gave a small smile, not really giving Mei anything more.

Mei raised an eyebrow but didn’t push.

She got up and wandered back to the others, leaving Su Jiyai to her thoughts.

As the night wore on, the group eventually quieted down, getting ready for bed.

Kars gave out instructions for the morning, reminding everyone to be up before dawn.

Su Jiyai stretched out, resting her head against the wall.

She closed her eyes, her mind running through the possibilities of what could be waiting on that mountain.

When morning came, the group gathered their gear, Kars leading them out of the inn just as the first light of dawn broke over the horizon.