After Surviving the Apocalypse, I Built a City in Another World - Chapter 1684

Chapter 1684: Streets of Voumi
(Trigger Warning) This chap and next chap have mentions of drug use and its effects.

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Another week passed by and, while Alterra’s progress was steadily going upwards, while most of the others were dipping.

For example, Voumi Town, which was now experiencing the effects of a mass addiction, and many of its working men were losing themselves to the vice.

Somehow, ‘discounted’ versions of the drug had flowed to the commoner and rich commoner houses, and they came in large amounts as well.

However, this discount was valid only for a limited time, and the next shots required quite a bit of money.

At this time, one of the streets was in chaos as two groups were fighting desperately to receive happy powder again. The single try made them so giddy and unable to forget it, so now they were doing what they could to get another taste.

Some people were either watching with amused smirks or with hearts filled with terror, afraid of being affected as weak bystanders.

For example, there was Rowan’s childhood friend Pasa, and his pregnant wife, Meer, who could only hide in the corner of their house. They could only embrace each other and hope that the fight wouldn’t get to their street.

“Why is this happening?” Meer asked, holding her husband with one arm and her bulging stomach with the other.

“Rowan said there was someone spreading the poison in different territories,” he said. “This must be it.”

Before Rowan left, he visited him while he was going home from work. The redhead had warned him that this was something meant to destroy lives, and he must not touch it.

He cautioned that it could seem like a good thing at first, and people would be happy, but it would only be for a moment. If anyone offered something that could change one’s perceptions, then he must reject it even if it were free.

He said that people above would likely spread it out to earn more money, and not to fall for it, no matter how much he was pressured.

Rowan said they’re trying to find ways to stop it, because it was a risk for their territory, too, but he didn’t mention anything else anymore.

It was good that he was warned because a week after that, a few coworkers got hooked on a mysterious powder, and they tried getting him into it. He escaped using his family as an excuse, though technically it wasn’t really an excuse.

Hopefully, Rowan’s words were true, and he and his territory would get rid of this soon. Those people at the top of his town really didn’t care for them at all!

…

A few streets away, the fights were still ongoing, and only escalating.

Crash!!

BANG!

Slam!!

Several men were punching each other, kicking each other, and strangling each other. Some were pulling another’s hair, and another biting someone else’s ears. Some were even using various weapons, and the street that should’ve been safe was washed with blood.

For the most part, these men only said one thing, or at least a variation of it.

“YOU BASTARD! GIVE ME BACK MY POWDER!!”

“That bag was sold to me, first!”

“IT’S MINE! MINE!”

“RETURN IT TO ME!”

Even the weaker ones who would normally never dare to fight against stronger people desperately fought on, even if they were begging, and even if they had already lost all their teeth from being punched.

“I’M GOING TO DIE WITHOUT IT! PLEASE!!”

“PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE!”

And so on. This sight wasn’t even new or unique anymore. It was something that had been occurring with increasing frequency the past week or so.

For many citizens, they hid and watched on in worry, unsure what to do, and afraid that the fight would reach them, too.

“Sigh, when will it end?”

On one of the balconies abutting the chaos was owned by none other than Eian, one of the ‘free’ slaves of the territory. 1

He was technically still a slave, though he was given enough freedom given his tasks and circumstances, and basically lived as a commoner, except he could be ordered around by citizens.

After all, he represented the territory in many events, including the new Elementalist Slave market, so he had to appear more presentable.

Further, since he bought off Yuki before she could be sold off as a slave, he had rented a small unit in the lower-mid neighborhood of the Town. 1It took him a bit to consolidate his assets to be able to do this, thinking he’d live peacefully with her.

Sadly, even this neighborhood was no longer exempt from what was happening in other parts of the territory.

The two of them looked down at the chaos that happened in these streets every day now.

“This is so disturbing…” the woman said, eyebrows furrowed. “Even with people here, with improved physiques, those things have effects… I didn’t think I’d ever see it.”

She paused, her solemn expression darkening. “Rather…someone decided to make something so potent it could affect strong people from this place.”

Yuki was Terran and had quickly come to the conclusion about what kind of pandemic was spreading in their town. She also told him of its long-term effect, which frankly terrified him.

No wonder Rowan was so serious when he warned him.

He thought it was a conventional poison. It turned out it was worse.

“This is such a dangerous thing, and it exacerbates the worst in people. It is long-lasting and could last a lifetime.

“Such a thing…it could also make power struggles particularly bloody.

“Now… you will be at the center of it,” she said, turning to look at him.

He met her eyes and saw genuine concern on her face. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“This is the perfect time. Mafo had killed so many of his confidantes; it is the best time to infiltrate.”

The Lord became increasingly manic with the arrival of the new variation of the powder, the Pink Dream, and he had made plenty of bad choices, leaving a lot of openings around him.

He had been making his move for a while now, and it was his chance to firmly stand where he was asked to be.

“But that’s precisely why! He is not normal and he only got worse—what if he hurts you?!”

At this, Eian patted her hair and kissed her forehead.

“You believe in your people, the Terrans. Then, I will, too.”