CHAPTER TWO: SEARCH

He had not forgotten why he had joined the underworld game in the first place: to make enough money to pay for treatment for his genetic disease.

However, he would need to become strong enough to do that.

He could only get more money and good equipment in-game when he was strong enough, and when he had enough of those, he could trade them in for money in real life.

He was now without anything. A lack of character traits, an empty inventory, and no skills or equipment. Even his rating was extremely low. He clearly did not yet meet the requirements.

He would require additional time to become stronger.

However, neither did he have nearly as much time.

In real life, he only had about a year to live.

But in the game itself?

He didn't know exactly how much time he had, but from the virtual game time, it didn't look like he had much more time than in real life.

the reason why he needed to make the most of every chance to grow stronger.

An opportunity of this kind lay right in front of him.

Mike kept his disgust to himself as he got closer to the body.

He was aware that it was just a game, but the complete realism made him feel like he was approaching a body.

He got really sick from the smell of the dried blood.

Mike stayed away from the bloodshot eyes of the body. He was too afraid to even look at its slit stomach. He searched the body with both hands in search of anything.

Mike tilted his head slightly as if he had discovered something, and after a while, his eyes shone brightly.

As a backpack fell off the body, he hard-pulled the strap his left hand had been holding onto as he looked at it.

The way the body had been arranged had effectively concealed the backpack. It would have been hard to see with the naked eye if Mike had not looked carefully.

It had to contain something positive within.

Mike's focus immediately shifted to the backpack in his hands.

The backpack Mike was holding wasn't very big.

It would not have been able to hide so well within the torso of the corpse if it had been.

The backpack, which had two zip locks and two pockets that separated the front and back, was only the size of a typical school bag.

Mike let go of the two zip locks without being able to control himself.

It was disappointing what was inside.

An old book, three cans, and a bottle of distilled water Mike's expectations for money and equipment in-game were definitely not met by this.

But then he came to a different conclusion.

He was currently in the first dungeon, which, in accordance with any typical game rules, basically meant he was in Beginner's Village, despite the fact that he was playing an underground game that was 100 percent realistic.

In Beginner's Village, good equipment was clearly out of reach.

He took a deep breath and continued to examine what he had gotten.

[Name: Can]

[Type: Food]

[Rarity: Common]

[Attributes: Recovers 25 HP and 50 Stamina within 1 minute]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring outside of the dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: It can prevent you from starving. Tastes better when served hot!]

[Name: Distilled Water]

[Type: Food]

[Rarity: Common]

[Attributes: Recovers 10 HP and 20 Stamina within 1 minute]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring outside of the dungeon : Yes]

[Remark: It has more uses than you might think!]

All of this information appeared in Mike's vision as he touched the distilled water can and bottle with his finger. Since he already knew the majority of it, it made little difference.

He concentrated on the previous book.

A message window appeared when he touched it.

[Name: Dell’s Diary]

[Type: Book]

[Rarity: Damaged]

[Attributes: None]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring outside of the dungeon: No]

[Remark: It’s true, the guy just took random notes in a book! You can still try to read it though!]

Mike flipped the old book open unconsciously. The handwriting was messy and rough, and a lot of the pages were covered in dirt, making it almost impossible to read.

As a result, the contents of the diary as a whole were hard to read.

The war has been going on for four months, and it is cloudy on October 21. Medicine, water, and food are all running out. A few shots are fired with guns. Fortunately, the rebels have ceased day and night searches. At the moment, all they do is patrol during the day before returning to their base. Thugs are the worst because they only raid at night, come through like locusts, and steal everything they can.

October 27, Sunny Damn It, a thug has robbed me. That thief took everything I had left in the way of canned food and water. Now what should I do?

October 29th, Cloudy No, I cannot wait for a miracle any longer. I must act while I still have the strength to do so!

Sunny, on November 1st, my luck really is on my side! I've won the lottery! I have not only discovered food but also weapons! From now on, please refer to me as Dell the Lucky!

On November 11th, Sunny Dell the Lucky will perform once more! This time will also be fruitful!

….

The diary abruptly ended there.

Evidently, the man had not been as fortunate as he had believed.

Mike gave the body a second look.

He didn't turn around, even though it was still hard to look at.

In addition to providing Mike with some fundamental information, that disorganized and messy diary offered a hint: The body in front of him must have contained a weapon.

A weapon was necessary for survival for someone as unarmed as Mike.

At the very least, it would provide him with a chance of survival and some sense of security.

He concluded from what he had read in the diary that the area around that one was not safe.

To survive for seven days there would be difficult.

"There is still hope!"

He extended his hands once more, still with that thought in his head, and began to look around the body once more.

He was more thorough and cautious this time than he was the previous time.

He had dried, sticky blood all over his hands. It made Mike sick to his stomach, but it would all be worth it if he found something.

[Name: Dagger]

[Type: Sharp Weapon]

[Rarity: Damaged]

[Attack: Weak]

[Attributes: None]

[Effect: None]

[Able to bring outside of the dungeon: Yes]

[Remark: Lacks maintenance. If possible, you can try polishing and oiling it.]

…..

[Name: Lighter]

[Type: Miscellaneous]

[Rarity: Damaged]

[Effect: None]

[Remark: Do you really need an introduction?]

…..

Without Mike's thorough search, the dagger, which was well concealed beneath the corpse's waist and concealed by the shirt, would not have been discovered.

The lighter was discovered in the body's pants pocket.

Mike rolled the lighter's disc while raising the rusty dagger. A spark emerged after a few rounds.

Mike could clearly see what was on the rusty dagger under the lighter's spark. It wasn't simply rust. A red substance was also on its surface.

What was it?

After reading the diary, Mike was fully aware of its contents.

The famine-stricken inhabitants of this city had lost their daily routine and became dangerous. They were merely civilians who were unable to respond to the rebels; however, when they encountered one another, they transformed into thugs and raiders.

exactly like the body that Mike is looking at.