Webnovel Author In The Apocalypse World-Chapter 388: Trading Street Encounters

Then, slowly, someone suddenly took a step back.

Immediately afterward, the entire Haneulsae Safe Zone trading team, which had originally been standing near the front, swiftly retreated, stepping back again and again—until they ended up behind Kim Haru's group of three.

When Go Okrim and Kang Hose turned their eyes toward them, the members of the Haneulsae Safe Zone trading team flashed fawning smiles and even made a "please, go ahead" gesture with their hands.

They dared not speak.

What if their tone or inflection was off and displeased that person?

What would they do then?

So, in the end, just smile.

Smiling would solve everything.

This scene didn't just catch the attention of Go Okrim and Kang Hose; it also drew the gazes of the surrounding ability users.

Here, it was worth mentioning the Haneulsae Safe Zone trading team's original position.

Although they weren't at the very front, they had been near the front of the line.

Furthermore, it was no secret among the surrounding ability users that the Haneulsae Safe Zone had recently replaced its Safe Zone Commander with an even more domineering one.

Most people preferred to avoid trouble and had been keeping a close watch on them.

Some ability-user teams had even considered stepping aside to let the people from the Haneulsae Safe Zone go first.

But who would have thought—they hadn't even moved yet, and the Haneulsae Safe Zone trading team had already made way for someone else!

And they were doing it in such a fawning manner.

Just what kind of big shot was this person?!

Kim Haru and his companions entered the Pyeongseong Safe Zone through the east gate, unfazed by the attention of the crowd.

The area in the district 4 of the safe zone had been transformed into a wide and well-organized trading street.

Shops of various sizes lined both sides of the street, all clearly visible at a glance.

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As long as they met the requirements, anyone could apply for a spot here.

Of course, each safe zone had its share of official shops, and the stalls for unaffiliated traders were allocated within designated areas.

If two safe zones had ongoing conflicts, their respective stalls wouldn't be placed too close to each other to avoid unnecessary disputes during the trading event.

These were all matters that the organizers of the trade gathering had to consider.

Originally, the Safe Zone Commander had no time to deal with these trivial issues and had handed everything over to Jang Dojang, who would then explain and report them to Kim Haru.

However, after listening for less than half a day, Kim Haru firmly stated that he would absolutely not answer Jang Dojang's communication device for the foreseeable future.

"Let Moon Baein and his team handle it," he said. "I'm just a humble farmer with no sense of presence. Don't come to me for market regulations, trading procedures, or any of that nonsense."

The Safe Zone Commander and Jang Dojang: "..."

Now that Kim Haru had entered the trading street, he completely assumed the role of a visitor.

Looking at the dazzling variety of stalls on both sides of the road, he felt as if he were wandering through an exhibition fair.

The residents of Pyeongseong Safe Zone had long known about Mr. Kim's habits.

They understood that he disliked being the center of attention.

So, upon seeing him, they suppressed the urge to greet him.

Instead, they simply flashed bright smiles when his gaze happened to pass over them but never actively approached him, ensuring that he wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

If Mr. Kim was interested in a stall and walked closer, only then would the stall owner enthusiastically started the conversation with him.

This had become an unspoken rule within the safe zone.

To be honest, Kim Haru had initially worried about this very issue.

If not for his curiosity about the trading event, he might have stayed hidden in his little farm and skipped the trip entirely.

However, now, seeing how everyone maintained a respectful distance, he felt significantly more at ease.

Although the street was bustling with people, he could simply treat them as background noise.

Meanwhile, Go Okrim and Kang Hose, who accompanied him, were equally curious about their surroundings.

They had little experience with large-scale trade gatherings involving multiple safe zones.

Go Okrim had mostly stayed within Gokmul County and had never ventured out.

Kang Hose, on the other hand, had previously lived in the Bangnang Safe Zone and had never possessed the resources to participate in such events.

For him, it was always more practical to take advantage of the time when ability user teams were busy at trade fairs to scavenge supplies in their absence.

As a result, both of them were now eagerly looking around.

Kim Haru simply let them explore on their own.

After all, they were inside Pyeongseong Safe Zone—what trouble could possibly arise?

The two of them hesitated for a moment before agreeing that he had a point.

They set a meeting time and place before splitting up to browse on their own.

Now alone, Kim Haru took out a mask and a hat, covering himself up tightly.

Aside from those familiar with him, no one would be able to recognize him.

That instantly made him feel much more secure.

The teams of ability users from various regions had brought an array of strange and fascinating goods, at least from Kim Haru's perspective.

The edible portions of well-processed mutated creatures, which tasted decent, were a standard trade item and didn't surprise him.

There were also practical materials like animal pelts, sharp bones, and fangs that could be used as weapons—always in demand among ability users.

Then there were relics from the pre-apocalyptic world, such as pots, bowls, and clothing that Go Okrim was specifically searching for.

Among them was one of Kang Hose's targets—cat and dog food.

Unfortunately, pet food was no longer just for animals.

Most of it was bought and consumed by people.

Although the taste left much to be desired, it was at least normal food from before the apocalypse, making it quite expensive.