Yu Zhiye can see the greed flashing through their eyes.

  But with the powerful system inventory in place, robbery was no longer simply robbery.

  And nobody was stupid enough to commit that crime in broad daylight… at least not yet.

  So once he put away the source of their greed, that was enough to keep everybody civilized.

  Still, their interest in this hot topic wasn’t just going to die out so easily.

  “You—how did you get that stick? We all clearly started with nothing!”

  Yu Zhiye looked at the baldie like he was a dummy. “It came with my blue-grade fishing talent.”

  “Oh? Another rare gift?” Four-eyes Kwan narrowed his eyes in interest.

  “Ohoho! What luck! We got ourselves a fisherman!” Mister Kim slapped his pot-belly excitedly. “I can’t wait to have some fish in my belly!”

  What answered him was Yu Zhiye’s dead-fish eyes. “Find me a fishing spot first, then we’ll talk.”

  “…”

  Everybody gazed out at the desert that only had sand for as far as their eyes could see.

  Then they looked back at Yu Zhiye with part pity, part mockery.

  Four-eyes Kwan smiled and said nothing, but his Lackey B didn’t hesitate to mock, “Heh. So what if you get a rare talent? In the wrong place, isn’t it still useless?”

  “Is that so?” Yu Zhiye didn’t let the attempt to undermine his worth work. “I’m sure you can all see how useful it was just now. Need I say more?”

  That’s right! Everybody understood how valuable a tool that can save lives in this survival game was!

  And the wise won’t give up this chance to win him over.

  The first to step up was the pot-bellied uncle.

  “Ohoho, don’t listen to those who can’t see the big picture. I knew you, young friend, were special when I first saw you! Now, you’ve confirmed it!”

  “By the way, I go by Kim Sungho! You can call me Mister Kim! And you…?”

  “Steve.”

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  “Yes! Steve! What a fitting name! Studied overseas like us? Haha! I’m sure we’ll get along fine! Oh, and let me introduce to you...”

  “This wrestler next to me is my good brother, Kim Taeyong. Our friends overseas like calling him Taylor the Rock. Look at these muscles! Bullyproof!”

  Baldie Tae flexed and scoffed proudly.

  Yu Zhiye dully glanced at the man with rock-hard muscles. Sure, hard power was great for protection and all, but…

  He glanced at the meek doormat behind the baldie.

  Yu Zhiye wasn’t sure if this Mob Character A sought out the strong on his own initiative or got forcefully drafted.

  But just look at the way the loser got treated. Not cool. Minus points!

  Joining this team might keep him safe for a while, but once his value falls into the dumpsters…

  Uwah… unless he had no choice, he would rather not.

  Fortunately, the talented always had more than one option.

  Four-eyes Kwan wasn’t slow in inserting himself.

  “Name’s Kwan Minwoo. I always appreciate good man with talents like yours. Follow me from now on and I’ll help you realize the fullest extent of your potential…”

  “I believe I’ll be a friend you won’t regret making. What say you?”

  A hand stuck out for a handshake, but Yu Zhiye didn’t take it.

  Want to win him over using empty words? Not that easy.

  “Sorry. Let me think about it. I prefer looking around a bit more.”

  At his polite refusal, Lackey B immediately jumped out. “How dare you reject Boss Kwan’s kindness! You—!”

  “Hmm?” A hand blocked in front of the man. “Minho. Don’t be rude.”

  “Huff!” Lackey B shot Yu Zhiye a “watch yourself” glare then stepped back.

  Despite the rejection, Four-eyes Kwan still spared Yu Zhiye a kind smile. “Please don’t mind him. My offer still stands. Once you think it over, come look for me anytime.”

  The pot-bellied uncle also waved to get his attention.

  “Ohoho! Don’t forget about us! We welcome you to come under our wing, always!”

  Yu Zhiye simply nodded politely to both teams then turned to leave.

  Watching Yu Zhiye walk off, Lackey B cursed under his breath. “Really think he’s something just cause he got a stinking rare talent? Pooh!”

  Baldie Tae also sneered. “Che. And he’s not even the only rare talent around.”

  Hearing this, the eyes of Kim Sungho and Kwan Minwoo flashed slyly. That’s right! There’s still others to recruit!

  After dabbing away some almost nonexistent sweat with a kerchief, Kim Sungho patted the baldie on the back.

  “Okay, Brother Tae! Let’s go meet up with the others exploring on the other side. Warn them about the sinkhole we discovered before it’s too late.”

  At first, Baldie Tae was nailed there like a pillar, but when he saw the pot-bellied man hinting at him a wink, he followed along.

  “Dumbo, keep up or don’t blame us for leaving you behind!”

  The meek doormat bowed his head lower and chased after the two.

  Watching the trio walk out of earshot, Lackey B went up to whisper to his boss. “Director Kwan, should we...?”

  “No need.” Kwan Minwoo tugged loose his white collar and smirked. “That other man with a rare talent is quite ambitious. That sly fox won’t succeed so easily.”

  “Then we…”

  “Go call Baewoo. You two will monitor that fisher boy. Do it covertly and report to me if you discover anything suspicious.”

  “Huh? Director, this…” Minho looked at the man picking up rocks in the distant. “He’s just a yellow monkey who got lucky. Is there a need to do this?”

  “Minho. Never underestimate others. You think he’s lucky, but my occupational instincts are telling me… his talent might not be as simple as a mere fishing prop.”

  Kwan Minwoo pushed his glasses up and they flashed white under the sun’s glare.

  “Just do as I say. Even if my guess is wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being too careful. This is… after all, a game of survival. One wrong step and it’s over.”