Rust - Chapter 402



Only Krnovel

RUST [RUST]-402

Maru was dispirited.

If you were going to get into politics, why didn’t you do it a long time ago? Why did you just go out there with the goal of being content with poverty?

Last time, they probably used politics to block people who wanted to go to New York in search of freedom and daily life. No, politics was the first thing that prevented such people from coming.

Why did you build the satellite village? You built it so that you wouldn’t have to worry about tired people.

‘Don’t make a fuss in town, and if you have any complaints, go outside and do whatever you want. I’ll exchange it for you when you get your stuff.’

‘Even if the town is tough, if you live outside, I’ll help you.’

‘It’s dangerous to search? Can you lend me a basic exosuit and a 0.50 machine gun?’

‘We will connect you to electricity, telecommunications, and water supply and sewerage.’

This was the thought.

“You might think so, but creating a satellite village was a political and economic decision in itself.”

So, what I’m saying is that it’s difficult to engage in activities outside of politics and economics, whether you want to or not.

He said that bartering is an economic activity, and at the same time, it is the same as politics that forces the economic method of bartering on people within a territory.

“In fact, it was forced barter.”

As history shows, there was also a compulsion when we moved from barter to fiat money. First barter, then precious metal money, then alloy money, and finally the fiat money that we use today. There was always political and economic compulsion when we decided on the method of exchange.

‘That damn compulsion. Should I tell him to be free and cut ties with the satellite village?’

What about the mines outside? The iron ore and the railroads? Right now, even the water and sewage treatment plants and the thermal power plants are all in trouble.

Cutting off trade meant cutting off electricity, heating, transport and communications, turning the villages around Vladivostok into enemies.

‘It would be difficult to cut it off unilaterally unless we kill them all.’

The relationship had already been formed. Now it was time to make a choice.

Maru couldn’t help but sigh again at the story that he couldn’t escape politics and economics.

“If barter continues for a long time, it will become entrenched. And once barter is established, it will take an astronomical amount of effort to switch back to money.”

It’s been a year since the situation broke out in earnest. If we didn’t fill the currency position quickly and just left it alone, various problems would arise. Just like what the capable people had experienced in the satellite village.

“As we discussed briefly last time, it is dangerous to use dollars as they are.”

“I guess so.”

What the first people who left for New York relied on was dollars and precious metals.

Although it was called freedom and daily life, the meaning contained within it was the desire to use the dollars and precious metals found in Detroit.

So it was clear that problems would arise the moment the dollar was used as is.

“The moment you start using dollars again, there will be a desperate search for dollars and precious metals.”

Trying to find dollars or precious metals rather than necessities and resources was in itself an unproductive activity.

If everyone tried to take the goods with their dollars and precious metals, it was clear that no matter how generous the supplies were, they would quickly run out.

The bigger problem is that using the dollar as it is could lead to economic dependence.

“Forces targeting Vladimir Putin are likely to dig into the dollar.”

“······.”

The best way was to create currency directly. Even if the currency was called the familiar dollar, it was necessary to create currency first.

“Aren’t we too small to create our own currency? Even if we create a new currency, only 30,000 to 40,000 people will use it.”

“I think it makes sense to settle in when the scale is small.”

Maru’s advantage was that he quickly decided and pushed forward when he judged that something needed to be done. If the currency issue could not be avoided anyway, it was right to do it as soon as possible.

“Let’s see if there’s an economic expert in the tower. If there is, we’ll create an economic team and push for currency reform.”

“What if we are short on manpower?”

“If there are no personnel in the tower, we will expand the search to the town. If that is not enough, we will start with the currency side, even if it means mobilizing all of the AI.”

“Let’s proceed right away.”

‘As expected.’ The PD nodded as he answered. Vladimir Kalin was an ideal leader and savior in a world like today.

The more directly and indirectly he experienced many capable people, the more confident he became.

Vladimir Kalin is of a different nature.

Yes, that’s right.

The absolute and qualitative difference was clear.

He was truly the ‘savior.’

That’s why ‘THE HOLLY.’ meant to show respect for him.

Whatever he was, there was some providence attached to him.

The providence of death and survival.

If you stay with Vladimir Kalin long enough, you will know.

What could be sacred if we did not call the providence of salvation HOLLY?

In this ruined world… in this hell where even the chance to live has disappeared.

If this is called fanaticism, then PD was a prepared fanatic and all HOLLY followers were fanatics. That was neither shameful nor strange at all.

“Even if a large number of refugees come from New York and come here, we will maintain the principle of non-interference in New York. The same goes for the refugee issue. We do not accept refugees because our economy and politics are not solid. We also prohibit accepting refugees from satellite towns.”

If they violated their will and accepted refugees, they would cut off electricity, fuel, water, sewage, and communication services. This was because they were sure that they would ask for more supplies since they accepted refugees, and for additional fuel and electricity.

Maru made it clear that he would not help Vladiak Town at the risk of shaking. He would not be dragged around by the size of New York State with a population of 20 million and New York City with a population of 9 million.

“Do you intend to control the satellite village?”

“Yes. Otherwise I will stop you.”

Maru answered the PD’s question firmly.

“I won’t let you do here what you did in New York.”

If you try to push through with numbers, you will see the miracle of numbers evaporating.

“Let’s take some time to think about how to survive in the future, and how to create a system that can operate stably while expanding our power. We’ll stop here for today.”

The meeting concluded with the decision to prioritize the establishment of a monetary system, reaffirm the principle of non-intervention in New York, and refuse to accept refugees from New York until political and economic stability was achieved. The meeting even decided on a policy of direct control over satellite villages.

“But, Dr. Brain Dungdung. How did you know?”

I thought he had become a bio-terminal without a personality, but it was surprising that Maru responded with confidence that Dr. Noedungdung’s personality still remained.

“I was always checking just in case. But last time, he was glaring behind me.”

“Eyes? My eyes are numb.”

“Not the eyes, but the camera. Diana, show me the CCTV footage from last time.”

As Maru turned around, a red light appeared for a moment. The red camera of the terminal was pointed at Maru’s back.

Ms. Kim opened her eyes wide.

Can that be the criterion for judgment? It’s just a really brief red glow?

“It doesn’t matter how long or short the time is. What matters is that the camera was there and they lied and pretended it wasn’t there.”

The problem was that the sensor was there but they were pretending it wasn’t there.

I don’t know how much of the doctor’s personality remains, but the problem is that he pretends not to exist when he does. You’re going to connect that brainless doctor with the artificial intelligence Tria? What about the aftermath if something goes wrong?

“I kept my promise.”

The promise with AI Tria was to find and save the doctor who had become brain dead. Since the promise was kept, Tria was now Maru’s. Regardless of Dr. Brain Dead.

Likewise, Maru kept his promise to the doctor. He said that if he worked hard and did not lie, he would be able to meet Tria. However, the doctor hid the fact that he had a sensor. So that was it.

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Temperatures hovering around minus 50 to minus 60 degrees Celsius continued throughout December.

“It would be faster to use an airship, but it would be dangerous in this cold weather because of the battery discharge problem.”

The crash of the Homeland Security blimp was likely caused by a rat’s rampage, but it was also suspected that a number of problems with the battery were related to the crash.

“In this climate, it’s impossible to transport by airship. We’ve successfully converted a large trailer into a snowmobile, so we should move it by that.”

A large trailer snowmobile capable of traveling at speeds of up to 50 km/h covered the distance that would have taken three nights and four days on foot in just under two hours, even if it took a long detour.

The things on the airship were the same. The bodies of the ability users who had been killed by wolves and the skinned wolf corpses were all intact. The tear gas they sprayed on the way back was more effective than expected.

“There are traces of rats over here.”

“Here it is too.”

The snow piled up near the airship was full of holes like cheese. There were even bloodstains here and there, suggesting that rats had been fighting each other.

“The rats were running wild.”

“It looks like an argument broke out when they couldn’t get inside the airship because of the tear gas.”

“Even if it mutated and became better, there would have been limitations.”

Hood said that since they must have burned a lot of calories, they must have been cannibalistic. Judging from the fact that they participated in the field even in -55 degree weather, they seemed to be very interested in rats.

“No wolves?”

Kim Yang desperately searched for the wolf, but it was nowhere to be seen. Even if the airship had a small payload, it was only about 150 tons. It was enough to make dozens of round trips on two snowmobiles, but they were in no hurry.

“Put the cover on.”

Before returning to Vladivostok, we covered the snowmobile with a large cover.

“Throw the tear gas canisters under the vehicle!”

“Throw!”

Pung- pushshushishik-

A snowmobile wrapped in a thick cover was soaked in tear gas.

Jeeeeek!

Click!

As expected, there was a rat that took advantage of the gap and hid under the snowmobile.

“I didn’t know that little rat could do this.”

“It’s dangerous. Really.”

PD and Hood were surprised.

Surprise attacks and ambushes were common hunting strategies in the animal kingdom, so it was entirely possible for a smart rat to do so.

It is unlikely that they started by cutting off power and communication and attacking at once. There is room to believe that they learned from clashes with humans.

But what on earth is trying to sneak under the snowmobile and invade? With the EMP and virus outbreaks causing chaos in the vehicles and roads, it doesn’t make sense to say that it was the result of sufficient learning. In the first place, would there be any reason to enter the vehicle’s underbody and neutralize its defenses?

“It’s okay to create a VX gas field under Detroit.”

Still, rat. If it’s the small and cute V’s x, it’s clean. What’s the problem with the abundance of nuclear and biochemical weapons? It’s tiring, but in the end, it’s just a job of removing harmful seawater.

Despite Kim Yang’s confidence, the PD and Hood’s expressions were stiff.

“With this level of intelligence, they’ll find a way to bypass the gas field.”

What if we bypassed the gas field? That is, if we approached it by digging through the accumulated snow instead of moving through the sewers and underground spaces? It was difficult to detect that.

“It’s not something that can be done just by preparing for Detroit and its surrounding areas.”

It wasn’t something that could be done by just protecting Detroit.

“If rats take over the surrounding area, there’s a high chance that they’ll rain down on you. Not just rats, but other mutated monsters as well.”

It was Maru who remembered what happened in Japan. What happened at the Donohue Hospital.

As we fought to stop the wave of infection, a lot of corpses were created. Rats came into the hospital to eat the scattered corpses, and cats followed the rats.

As the number of rats increased, it was natural that the number of mutant monsters that preyed on them would also increase.

“Is there any chance that the rats will eat them all?”

Then all you have to do is catch the rats.

“Even the stolen hospital didn’t do that.”

First of all, there was a difference in defense. The mutant cats could not be stopped by regular rifle bullets, but the rat babies could be caught.

“Even cats have become smarter.”

It wasn’t just mice that got smarter, but cats too.

Snap- Snap!

Take-

“These things are running away into the snow.”

“Even if we dig a hole and escape, the tear gas will follow us through the hole, so it’s okay.”

“Uh- These guys are blocking the tunnel by knocking down its eyes?”

“Don’t worry about it, it’s useless if you get hit by tear gas.”

The discussion was briefly interrupted by the voices of the snowmobile driver and the sentry.

“Let’s create as many VX gas fields as possible. We’ll make sure to clear snow from Detroit and other key areas to prevent rats from digging their way in.”

Maru, who had sorted out the situation, looked at the nurse.

“Did you hear the rats talking at church last time?”

“Huh? The conversation didn’t go well.”

“That’s enough talking. Do you know what they just said?”

“Just run away.”

Maru’s eyes sparkled.

“Okay. Let’s catch some rats and torture them.”

“yes?”

“Are you talking about torture?”

“oh!”

“···surely.”

“You’re smart, so even torture will work.”

“to?”

“···okay.”

“Okay. I agree.”

“It looks possible.”

So, let’s find the rats’ hideout first. Let’s find them and finish them off.

People’s eyes turned to the nurse.

“Huh? Huh?”

Psychometry is a bit out of its mind because of the assassination.

In the first place, I couldn’t even read the crow.

So please, Nanae. Cheer up.

“Huh? Torture? Rats?”

The sound of ‘Eeeeeeeeeet—‘ echoed across the white snowy field.