CHAPTER 64: INTERACTIONS WITH THE NIGHT PART 23

The pink haired girl crossed her arms. "It’s ridiculous. She’s cozy inside while we’re out here freezing. Who does she think she is?"

Samantha nodded, even though gossip wasn’t her thing. Reina was her best friend.

What are you two talking about? Sounds juicy." Yuna walked over, smiling wide.

By now, she had become like the group’s big sister, making them feel comfortable enough to trust her.

Reina was first to speak "Oh, just reminiscing about how Kana was always the quiet one, hiding behind her books. Now look at her.... Giving herself to the big boss. What a bitch"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yuna moved completely into their circle, her eyes keenly observing the tension.

Samantha looked uneasy. "Maybe we shouldn’t be talking about this."

Reina shrugged, her brow knitted with defiance. "What’s the harm? It’s not like she’s a saint. Honestly, anyone would be pissed—she’s just looking out for herself."

Yuna leaned in slightly, fanning the flames. "It’s true though. Your friend’s the boss’s girlfriend now, but didn’t even try to get you two inside? That says a lot."

Samantha’s face tensed, but she stayed quiet. She couldn’t deny that Kana’s actions bothered her—but what could she do? While she had a crush on him too, it wasn’t strong enough to make her cheat .

Reina let out a short, dry laugh. "Yeah. Acting like she’s better than us just because she opened her legs way too fast. Like that makes her special or something."

Yuna stepped closer, her voice dropping just enough so only they could hear.

"That’s how people like her are. First, they leave you out. Then they act like you were never their friend. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s already badmouthing you two to the boss—just to make sure you don’t steal him from her."

Reina bite her lips in annoyance. "You know. I’ve heard some things about Kana. Like how she used to entertain... older men for cash."

Samantha’s eyes widened "Seriously? I thought that was just a rumor,"

Reina nodded, her voice gaining confidence as she spoke.

"Oh, it’s not just talk. Some of my close friends said they saw her walk into a hotel with an old man in his 60’s. And come on—she caught the big boss’s attention right away. You really think that just happened? She probably knows how to trade favors for benefits."

"Wow, Reina, that’s quite the story. It really makes you wonder her real identity" Yuna let the words hang in the air for a moment, savoring the impact of each syllable.

Samantha looked uneasy, her gaze drifting toward the motel like she expected Kana to walk out any second. "It’s just rumors... I don’t think we should be talking about it."

Reina shrugged, a sly smile crossing her lips. "You know what they say—where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And with her moving up so fast, you have to ask yourself if she really earned it or if she’s just playing the game better than the rest of us."

Yana nodded slowly "And here I thought we were all equals. But if she’s trading favors... well, that changes a lot, doesn’t it?

Before anyone could respond, a familiar voice sliced through the air.

"What are you all doing? Stop gossiping and start helping." Jun’s words were commanding, firm enough to silence the trio instantly.

Reina’s jaw tightened.

This wasn’t the reserved man she once knew—the one who kept to himself and avoided confrontation. Now he seemed transformed into a figure of authority, and it gnawed at her.

"Seriously?" Reina muttered under her breath. "Since when did you care about what we talk about?"

"Since you started badmouthing Kana, I have been listening. Honestly, it’s pathetic. You’re just talking behind her back because the boss likes her? Instead of spreading rumors, why don’t you try being useful if you want to get into the motel?"

Reina snapped, "Hey Jun, we know you’re good at fighting, but don’t you think you’re going too far? Just because you get to stay inside doesn’t mean you’re better than us."

"I am better than you. The only thing that counts now is strength." His eyes narrowed slightly. "You saw what the big boss did, right? He’s on top because he’s strong. That’s it."

Next, he turned to Samantha. "You did the right thing by staying neutral. Don’t let these two drag you into their mess."

Lastly, his eyes landed on Yuna. Something about her always felt off.

"Don’t do anything stupid. The boss might be patient, but he’s not blind. Try anything, and he won’t let it go."

He walked off without another word. He said enough.

The night passed without another wave, which was strange, but none of the survivors complained about the peace.

As for Kana and Luck, they ended up doing it again. After a few rounds, though, he returned to his office. He still didn’t trust her enough to fall asleep beside an assassin.

Although she was somewhat disappointed , she accepted his decision without questioning it.

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Morning came, and the system notification pulled him from sleep.

[Congratulations! You have survived Night 2]

[Survivors 11/11]

[Daily Rewards]

[110 EC - Survivor Allowance]

"System, why are there no stat points?"

[Stat points are only granted on the first day of each week,]

"Tsk, "

He clicked his tongue in irritation, very disappointed.

Still, it made sense—being able to boost a stat instantly was already an overpowered perk. Getting that every day would just be cheating.

Right now, his priority was to gather more survivors before the upcoming week to maximize his benefits.

He glanced around the office, saw that everything was fine, and on a whim, decided to make a proper breakfast.

Luck has been eating room-temperature rations for days, but there was an actual stovetop and a functional mini-fridge in the back, courtesy of the Online Store.

’Might as well use it.’

He popped open a can of chili, poured it into a pot, and cracked two eggs on top. While it simmered, he tossed some bacon on another pan to cook.

Next, he found a chipped ceramic plate, wiped it clean, and set out three forks.

When the food was ready, he called up to Jun and Kana to come and eat.

Neither responded at first, but the promise of warmth and calories had them at the kitchen in under two minutes.

She paused at the threshold, eyeing the place.

Jun, to his credit, just looked surprised. "You have a working kitchen?"

"Yeah, I thought everyone knew that," Luck replied smoothly, setting the food down.

The kitchen felt like a hidden gem amidst the crumbling walls of their base, a rare glimpse of normalcy in their chaotic lives.

Kana stepped forward , her brows raised in disbelief. "I didn’t expect... this. I figured we were just living off whatever we could scavenge. You really know how to surprise us."

Luck chuckled. "I’ll only let people I trust inside, so I expect good things from you two."

"And remember, don’t go blabbing out there. We don’t want them thinking we’re just looking out for ourselves. This is just to make sure we don’t run out of supplies before my crew returns."

The two nodded and began munching on the food. There was some guilt—but more than that, they felt fortunate to be getting special treatment.

As they ate, Luck observed them with his greedy eyes, reminiscent of a farmer preparing pigs for market.

He got some unspent stat points and intended to allocate them once their relationship levels reached 10.

This strategy would ensure he got two devoted allies, powerful enough to defend him if anyone threatened his status.

When they finished their meal, he wiped his mouth.

"Alright," he announced, pacing toward the kitchen exit. "Time to redistribute some supplies."

Jun and Kana exchanged glances, then followed him outside.

"Gather around!" he called out, projecting authority that drew eyes immediately.

The murmurs quieted down as survivors shuffled closer, awaiting instruction. He took a moment to assess their expressions.

"Today we’re doing a proper ration distribution," he continued, leaning against a weathered crate stacked high with canned goods.

"You’ll each get your share—beans, rice, corned beef—enough to sustain you for the next few days. But remember, this isn’t charity; it’s an investment in your potential to contribute to the group."

The crowd looked happy, their faces lit with relief and hope.

"First up—Kana and Jun will help me with distribution."

Everything went smoothly.

Luck’s clever plan to slowly give better food to the outside survivors worked well. It lifted their mood and kept them from growing bitter toward those inside.

It was the same trick used by greedy rich people—give just enough to look kind, while hiding the fact that their own greed caused the unfairness in the first place.

At the same time, by showing he could give them a better life, the survivors would naturally start working harder to stay on his good side.

It was a twisted kind of leadership. He didn’t rule through fear or violence. He ruled through hope—the kind that dangled just out of reach.

The more they struggled to climb up, the tighter his grip became.

’Interesting...’ Luck was surprised to see Yuna’s relationship meter dropped by a lot.

So, she was easy to please—but just as quick to change her mind. That made her dangerous.

Unstable loyalty meant she could turn on him if things stopped going her way.

’This relationship meter is more useful than I thought,’

"Survivors!" Dima shouted from the watchtower.

"I’ll handle this. You all just eat," Luck ordered before walking away.