Chapter 4 – General Store Raid Incident

Chapter 4 – General Store Raid Incident

The Observation Probe, summoned with invisible plastic as its main material, was entirely invisible. Even the gears rotating inside its spherical shell were the same.

Its size was about 30cm, which was larger than the current Worker Bug, which was only 20cm, but since the material was plastic, it was much lighter. It had to be light to fly in the air.

These things, flying high in the sky, would clearly not be properly visible from a distance thanks to their semi-invisibility.

Of course, since it was made of plastic, its durability was terrible, but there was no big problem. Plastic was common, and it wouldn’t be attacked if it wasn’t caught anyway.

It would be good if I could give it a Transparency Upgrade later, but for now, this was enough.

“Good. Now go outside.”

At my command, the Observation Probe flew lightly.

Trill-

Through the wide empty cavity next to the escalator in the center of the Abandoned Shopping Mall, which extended to the first floor, towards the entrance on the first floor.

Seeing the Observation Probe flying like that, I concentrated my mind for a moment.

It was to connect with the senses linked to the Observation Probe.

Soon, an image of flying in the sky at about the height of a fourth-floor building came to mind in my heart.

I had successfully borrowed the eyes of the Observation Probe.

Since I hadn’t fully developed my ability yet, the resolution wasn’t high, but being able to scout the surroundings without taking risks was a huge advantage.

“Hmm… Is there no useful place around here?”

I manipulated the Observation Probe, looking around the Shopping Mall.

There were many abandoned houses designated as a Redevelopment Zone, and it was originally a slum where only poor people lived, but that didn’t mean there were no shops at all.

I soon found a small General Store.

“Hmm… This place looks like it hasn’t been closed for long, does it?”

Unlike the bustling City, this area, with few people left, was soon to be abandoned.

That meant no one would notice if I started looting nearby shops earlier than others.

“Alright. Let’s go with this one.”

I instructed all 13 Worker Bugs to head to the General Store. It was a fun shopping trip.

* * *

After waiting for a while, floating in the air with the Observation Probe, observing the surroundings.

My Worker Bugs, moving busily, came into view.

They were moving as carefully as possible, following my instructions to remain unnoticed, traveling through sewers, gaps in walls, and between roofs.

Meanwhile, I had also instructed them to wash off dirt and other filth before entering the Shopping Mall. Since all Magitech Civilization machines maintain cleanliness by emitting a faint mana field, there was no problem with that.

Once all 13 Worker Bugs gathered at the General Store, I instructed them to start working on the back door’s lock.

Busy-busy-

Creak- click! Clank!

The lock was sturdy, but it couldn’t withstand the aluminum teeth of a mana-infused Worker Bug.

Unfortunately, Worker Bugs were clumsy and had limited tooth angles, making them difficult to use for combat.

Thud-!

Soon after, the lock fell to the floor with a heavy sound. The Worker Bugs, as if it were natural, grabbed the doorknob, opened it, and began to head inside.

‘Good. Well done, my children.’

As I watched them with a satisfied expression, four rough-looking men began to approach the front door of the General Store.

“Brother, are you really going to do this?”

“I told you so. Nobody will know anyway.”

It was indeed a suspicious sign.

***

I observed them for a moment. Judging by their attire, demeanor, and conversation, they seemed to be local thugs.

And with the situation being bad, it was clear they had approached to rob the General Store they had been eyeing.

‘I didn’t expect looters to be active already.’

It was only the second day.

It was far too early for marauders to be active.

But this was a Redevelopment Zone.

They weren’t originally well-off people, and the public safety wasn’t good to begin with. In other words, it wasn’t strange for cunning individuals like them to start their activities early.

“It looks like the Man Monsters will be dealt with quickly…”

“Hey, even if it’s the Man, the Police Officers will be too busy with that to notice us here, right? The owner lady of this place went down to her son’s house in the countryside, didn’t she?”

“Even if it’s the Man, wouldn’t it be a bit difficult in broad daylight…?”

“Hey. You’ve been talking back a lot since earlier, haven’t you?”

“No, Gwangjin-hyung! I would never do that…”

The subordinate laughed awkwardly.

He seemed to be the leader. I noticed a long scar between his lip and cheek and pondered for a moment.

‘Hmm… What should I do about this?’

I thought for a moment. The first method that came to mind was the Worker Bug Alarm Trick I used yesterday to shake off the Police Officers.

‘I could shake them off for now, but…’

But there was also a problem. Considering the size of the General Store, it wasn’t an amount that a Worker Bug could carry in one go.

In other words, I would need to go back and forth several times to retrieve the Water.

But what if the alarm rang and they ran away, and then they realized that the Police Officers weren’t coming?

‘It could actually have a counterproductive effect.’

If the thugs, knowing that the Police Officers don’t respond to alarms, get even more excited and start looting the surroundings…

There might be nothing left for me to take.

I can’t just leave them like that.

I thought for a moment.

Should I go out and fight them myself?

That wasn’t not an option.

Even though I had returned to a normal human body, my experience wasn’t just going to disappear.

Before the regression, when I was disappointed with my abilities and went through a period of wandering, I even trained in swordplay.

But the problem was their abilities.

But if they have the ability to escape… it would be troublesome.

No matter how strong I was, my body was still that of a normal person. If someone with an ability advantageous for escape decided to run, it would be impossible to catch them.

Moreover, the society hadn’t completely collapsed yet.

If it were petty thieves robbing a remote place like this, perhaps, but murder would likely attract the attention of the police. However, if I fought, it was my principle to clean up neatly.

There’s no need to needlessly leave any fire manipulation users behind.

If I didn’t kill them and only earned their resentment, they might bother me endlessly. But if I killed them, the police would be a problem.

I didn’t have any means to deal with guns yet, so it was obvious I would get caught. Of course, escaping from prison wouldn’t be difficult, but I had no intention of wasting time during this crucial period.

Another method was to summon a combat machine and kill them.

But this also had a problem.

If rumors spread that a new monster appeared again, it would attract the police’s attention again…

Moreover, combat machines were still too early.

Right now, it was much more efficient to establish a base, such as securing a residence and increasing the number of worker bugs. After all, I could handle most monsters myself if it came down to it.

No matter what I do, the police are the problem.

Attracting too much police attention was a problem, but more than that, it was happening because the police weren’t coming.

And… in that case.

Ring- ring- ring-

Is that the police?

All I had to do was call the police.

***

After the call, I placed my cellphone on the table.

I gave them the exact street address of the perpetrators’ crime location, their physical description, and even their method of operation, down to the smallest detail.

Meanwhile, the thugs, oblivious to everything, were focused solely on robbing the general store.

“Hey, you try it.”

A thug, holding large bolt cutters, strained.

“Ughhhhh!”

Click-

The padlock on the general store’s front door fell to the floor.

“Good. Let’s go in.”

Slam!

The thugs immediately pushed the door open and entered.

I didn’t need to worry about my worker bugs.

They had already gathered in a ball-shaped defensive formation in a corner of the building, so they clearly wouldn’t attract much attention.

Meanwhile, there was also a guy keeping watch outside. He was casually smoking a cigarette and looking down the street.

“Oh, this pot looks useful, doesn’t it?”

“Take it.”

‘That’s my pot!’

It was just as the guys started slowly taking out items.

Weeeee- Weeeee-

The sound of a police car came from afar.

“Hey, boss?!”

“Calm down. They’re probably going somewhere else.”

Of course, the police car was indeed coming here.

Meanwhile, as the police car’s siren grew louder, the man on guard outside whispered to the man inside.

“Brother… I think they’re coming this way?”

“Damn it! Hey, get inside. Let’s hide for a bit.”

It was Gwangjin, showing signs of panic for the first time.

“If we stay quiet, they’ll pass by without knowing anything.”

The men held their breath and peered outside.

Creak- Clunk.

The men were shocked to see the police car stop precisely in front of the general store where they were hiding.

“Why, why? How on earth did they know?”

“Shhh! Keep your voice down!”

Meanwhile, police officers were getting out of the police car.

It wasn’t just them.

Behind them, there were two more cars.

The two police officers who had guided me yesterday were also with them.

“Hyunsu, is this the right place?”

“Yes, Senior Officer. It looks like the door is open?”

The thugs had already removed the traces of the cut padlock, but the open door of the store looked too unnatural.

The police officers had noticed it.

“Hey, go block the escape route.”

Two officers per car, a total of six police officers, completely blocked the escape route and began to enter.

“Da- Damn it!”

“Gwangjin, Brother?!”

“Run, let’s bolt!”

However, it was already too late.

“Oh? They really are here!”

“What do you mean, ‘oh’? Catch them!”

The police officers had already blocked off the escape route, and the thugs were caught helplessly. Then, one by one, they were bound together like vines with handcuffs and roughly led into the police cars.

“Good, well done!”

Watching everything through the observation probe, I shouted with joy.

“How dare you try to steal!”

It was mine.

***

The next day.

The neighborhood thugs, who had spent the night in the detention center, were eventually released with a warning. It seemed there was no other choice, as the situation was quite urgent.

“Damn it. Which bastard snitched?”

Gwangjin was furious.

“That bastard, I’ll kill him if I find him.”

In front of Gwangjin, his subordinate stood hesitantly and cautiously spoke to him.

“Gwangjin, boss?”

“What is it? Speak.”

“This morning, I went to check on the general store, and…”

“And?”

“Well… it’s…”

“Don’t be so frustrating, just spit it out!”

“The general store… it was empty…”

“What, what?!”

Gwangjin’s eyes widened.

He immediately left his residence and headed for the general store.

“B-boss?”

“Shut up and follow me.”

As his subordinate had reported, the general store was completely emptied, with nothing left. It was something unimaginable to have happened overnight.

“This… it looks like some bastard used their ability to rob it.”

“What?”

“You must have gained an ability too, right?”

“Yes… that’s true, but…”

“That guy was also eyeing this shop, so when we hit it, he must have gotten pissed off. That’s why he reported it. He raided the shop by taking advantage of that opening.”

“W-with an ability?”

“Exactly. Of course, he also made a mistake.”

“What’s that?”

“He messed with me, Seo Gwangjin. Hey. Stop spacing out and gather the kids.”

“Yes, brother.”

…Of course.

I was watching all their actions with an Observation Probe.

“As expected, this is how it turns out.”

I chuckled to myself.

Everything was within the scope of my predictions.

After all, he had barely, and only vaguely, grasped my existence. No matter how much he tried, he was still in the palm of my hand.

“First, I should attach an Observation Probe to him.”

I instructed my Observation Probe to follow Seo Gwangjin, and then I picked up the ramen from the hot pot with my chopsticks.

Slurp-

Ramen really tastes best when eaten hot.