Apocalypse Landlord: My Tenants Are All Beautiful Heroines.-Chapter 15: Skill Upgrade: Voice Note

"Refurbished weapons!"

"Ammo! Ammo! Ammo! Free ammo magazine with every set purchase!"

"Exchange your bullets, food, and miscellaneous items for caps!"

James’s bigshot ways only garnered attention for a moment before the market resumed its chaotic nature. Traders were yelling over one another, trying to sell their products.

Then there were people like James who carefully looked at goods without purchasing.

While the others probably didn’t because they didn’t have enough funds, James didn’t because he didn’t know the value of the settlement’s official currency.

"Let’s just go to the stall for some exchange."

Saying so, James headed towards the nearest stall, the one where people were exchanging all kinds of stuff for Caps, the settlement’s official currency.

"Five bullets for two caps? Wasn’t it four last week?" A bald, burly man yelled at the stall owner.

Just from a look, James could tell the guy was an evolver, but a seasoned one, unlike him.

"Times change and so do the deals," the old stall owner scoffed, leaning on his cane. "Take it if you want, or leave. Don’t block others."

The old man was shrewd, making up deals out of his ass. Yet, everyone just agreed to his exchange rates. Why? Because he was the only official way to exchange in the settlement.

"Just because he is the uncle of the chief, he gets to do whatever he pleases."

James heard someone in the line mutter under his breath.

Well, it made sense. Apocalypse or not, resourceful people always find ways to capitalize on the situation. Since the guy was related to the chief, he could do as he pleased.

No wonder no one else dared to set up another exchange stall.

Usually, unfair business practices would lead to more similar businesses popping up.

Yet, that wasn’t the case here. Clearly, everyone was afraid of what the chief would do if someone harassed his relative. The chief was probably involved in it as well.

It’s strange, they could have raised the exchange rates by a lot. Yet, they didn’t.

The reason was straightforward. The settlement survived on active trading. If they raised prices steeply, they would end up alienating both buyers and sellers. No business-dependent economy would want that.

"Next!"

James stepped up, ready to inquire about the exchange rates, when the old man raised three fingers. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

"Three food packs for a cap."

"What!? You just gave the other guy five caps for three candy bars!"

"Candy bars are a delicacy," the old man scoffed. "Besides, you have a bag full of goods. I’m sure you could show this old man some generosity."

The boomerang of wealth James had thrown after entering the market had returned to hit him squarely in the face. He looked around him and noticed that the looks he had mistaken for admiration were full of malice.

It was natural for someone without food to envy someone with loads of it, yet the foolish James couldn’t read into their deep thoughts.

Fuck... have I ruined trading possibilities here?

The only exchange stall was ripping him off. If he left, no one would even barter goods with him, even if it was permissible. However, it wasn’t what James was worried about.

If I fail, I won’t get to see Lily! No, I can’t let that happen.

With no way out, James was about to give in when someone grabbed his shoulder. He turned around to see the guard he had given food and water to.

"Old man, are you trying to screw over the chief?" the guard scoffed, pointing a finger at the old man.

Suddenly, the scene shifted. Unlike the rest, who were seemingly afraid of the old man, the lowly soldier was proudly standing against the wrong, all because of the food he received?

"No need to get into trouble because of me—" James tried interjecting, but then stopped. Something was amiss.

How come a guard, who mercilessly sent a man to the execution ground, suddenly helping him out of goodwill? James might be a fool, but he wasn’t that big of a fool to believe it.

[It’s a setup.]

"Aiden!?"

[Don’t yell, you moron, and don’t ask unnecessary questions. It costs money to send voice messages.]

***

A few minutes ago...

Aiden had just finished drying off when he remembered about the muted notifications. The first prompt he saw was the rise in Alisha’s desire.

[Tenant: Alisha Irwin’s desire rose to 39%]

Good enough, I guess.

[1x Skill Points gained!]

"Eh? What for?"

[Engaging in stimulation with a tenant made her feel safe.]

"Wait, so engaging in intimate acts gives me skill points?"

[As long as the tenant is satisfied and feels safe.]

Aiden wanted to curse the system for not disclosing such crucial information prior, but before he could, some unwarranted notifications flashed before him.

[Tenant: James Irwin’s trust has increased to 57%]

"...what is this guy up to now?"

Aiden was confused because he didn’t think James was delusional enough to sing his praises while being worked like a dog.

He used [Landlord’s Supervision] on James and saw everything. From the slum-like housing to the guard’s ruthlessness. But through it all, something irked Aiden.

Why the hell are they treating James so well?

Aiden couldn’t have guessed in his wildest dreams that it was because of the misunderstanding caused by the knife drenched in his blood.

The more he looked around the camp, the more he realized that the place was pretty much rotten to the core. But instead of wanting to save them, the camp’s design gave him an idea.

He could provide marginally better conditions for the slum-dwellers, wouldn’t they flock over? His class would upgrade, and he could even use them to hunt monsters and bring in some money!

But do I really want to?

Over a year of neglect had made those people prone to diseases and whatnot. Even if he were to take them in, they’d have to be cleaned first, and he only has one working shower.

"Like hell they are getting close to my not-so-humble abode. I am thinking too ahead. First, left focus on getting two more tenants. Two clean and workaholic tenants."

As they went deeper, Aiden approved of James’s actions up until he handed out free food to the guard in the middle of the market.

"What the hell is this moron doing!? Why are you showing off in the middle of starved dogs?"

While James was about to get ripped off, Aiden was cursing him out loud. Thankfully, Alisha and Lily were both asleep, or her desire for him would have tanked hard.

In his frustration, he turned around and saw the guard handing over the things James gave him to someone while chattering on what seemed to be a walkie-talkie.

Unfortunately, James was too far for Aiden to hear a word the guard said.

"Argh! Why can’t I just talk to him?"

[Suggested action: Upgrade Landlord’s Supervision skill.]

Aiden checked the system’s recommendation and realized he could talk remotely with his tenants, but only after upgrading the supervision skill.

"Three dollars per second cost to send a voice note?" Aiden sighed in frustration. "Again with money!? Why call it the Apocalypse Landlord system? It’s the gold digger system!"

[T-That’s not it at all!]

[The system is designed to help you rebuild society through property management!]

[If money happens to be involved, that’s just basic economics!]

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Talk to me once you’ve uninstalled this annoying mod."