Chapter 61

Chapter 5 Inside Out (8)

***

Despite the professor's earnest prayers, the situation unfolded as he had predicted.

“What about just using HIV? After all, you must have gained some reputation with that name, there's no reason not to use it, right?”

“Ian, as I've said before, we've been operating under that name and we've already messed with the squads sent by the Dome...”

“Are you being too scared? Come on, let's see. In that underground bunker, there were no survivors from the Dome, right? We confirmed that, so it's a solid fact. So, from the Dome's perspective, did their elite squad get taken down by the three scavengers in the wasteland, or by the black reptile friends who stormed in with flamethrowers?”

“Hmm....”

“Obviously, it would make more sense to think they were taken down by the reptiles, right? The reptiles wouldn't bother to correct it, as it shows their strength. If that happens, even if the Dome finds out we're HIV, they'll just see us as some scavengers who got lucky and managed to grab some treasure in a fight between two factions. There's nothing to worry about.”

“Havven, in the wasteland, reputation is really important. Frankly, if a caravan no one knows shows up at your door saying they're selling stuff, even a good group would act defensively first. Of course, being defensive here means shooting buckshot until the other side can't move. In that sense, HIV is known to be a powerful armed group capable of taking on both the reptiles' army and the Dome's elite, so at least we won't be attacked on sight.”

“Damn. It seems both of you already consider HIV as our caravan's name. But... but I don't like it! I have my own dreams! I've been barely surviving day by day, and now that I finally have a decent job, the company name is 'AIDS Virus Caravan'! My parents in heaven would faint if they saw this!”

I needed something to counter with. Their opinions already had some logical basis, so just saying I didn't like it wouldn't make them back down.

‘Think, think....! I'm Professor Park, a man who has survived this treacherous wasteland alone with just my wits....! There must be a way to get through this crisis, there must be....!’

“Hey, Professor. If you have no other opinions, we'll decide by majority vote again?”

Ian's face broke into a triumphant smile. Hold on. Majority vote? Majority vote!!!

“Wait a minute!!!”

The professor stopped Ian just as he was about to start the vote, raising his hand.

“Why? Do you have another opinion?”

“Majority vote... I like it! Actually, I happen to have a voice in the chat room where a lot of people from Sector 47 gather, since I'm a broadcaster. Since we're not a large caravan, our main customers will be the people of Sector 47. Wouldn't it be better to get their opinions? If we spread the word that we're HIV, it will also solve the reputation issue.”

The professor's desperate persuasion began to sway Ian and Vex.

“Hmm.... That's true. Sector 47 is under the Dome's jurisdiction, so if the reptiles show their faces, a war will break out. It won't be a problem to spread the name HIV....”

“Right! And from the Dome's perspective, they might see us as having saved a facility that was about to be taken over by the reptiles. The more we promote it, the better it will look for us, and the more we can operate without the Dome's interference!”

Actually, I didn't think much about it. I just wanted to avoid the name 'HIV Caravan' and was willing to accept any other name.

.

.

.

.

.

I should have been satisfied with just HIV. Human greed has no end, and we always repeat the same mistakes.

- SoySauceGayBar: Hahahaha!

- Jokass: Admirable, very admirable! Our professor, with his big broadcast, can even organize such an event. He's too good!

- SoySauceGayBar: Ah, the name giver was really well chosen, huh? Hahaha!

I definitely regretted it. I had only regretted discussing this with them for less than a month, but why did I rely on them again!

- HonestJoker: Wow, so now there's a caravan in Sector 47?

- takealook: Actually, considering the size of the sector, it didn't make sense that there was no caravan.

- SpeedWagon: Because of the marketplace. Even if it's a caravan, the internal trade volume of the sector can't be ignored, and the Dome's marketplace in Sector 47 handles most transactions. There's no need to buy caravan goods with shipping fees.

- Enden: That's true. But there are items that can only be obtained through a caravan. Once the delivery distance exceeds two sectors, the drone disappearance rate skyrockets. When you see a message like [Your item was stolen during delivery. Sorry.] it makes your blood boil.

- RetiredAccount: A caravan is necessary. Just sell that. 30th sector's HappyBlind masks are hard to get here.

- NamBathThree: Don't sell that crap.

The number of people had increased significantly. It was bustling, and it seemed like everyone from Sector 47 was gathered here. They didn't all watch my broadcast, but it had become an issue, turning the Sector 47 chat room into a meeting square.

More people is good. As a newly formed group, the more our name spreads, the more it will help our business. With more people voting, the chances of getting a good name increase.

.

.

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- I curse myself for thinking that! If I could go back a few minutes, I would have beaten Park Professor to a pulp to stop this!

- SoySauceGayBar: Alright, let's announce the results! Many friends have given great suggestions! Professor, where else but in a graduate school, [Graduate School], since a famous spice shop has joined us, let's call it [Psycho Robbers], and because we're very close to the mutants, let's call it [Umbrella], and LGBT, Carnivores, and so on.... But there were too many great suggestions!

Among them, one name received an overwhelming number of votes.....

The professor's face was drenched in cold sweat as he watched the chat window in real-time.

No, please no! I saw all the chat messages. One name was mentioned a lot, but not that one, not that one....!

- SoySauceGayBar: Introducing! With over 70% of the votes, the overwhelmingly popular name! Unlike the other playful names, this one has a fitting meaning for a caravan! Congratulations! The name of our beloved professor's new caravan is Big Dream Small Margin! A great name with the meaning of supplying big dreams with a small margin!

- Vargr: Hahaha. I'm embarrassed. I just named it hoping the professor's business would thrive. I didn't expect it to resonate with so many wasteland people!

- Holly: Clap, clap, clap, clap!

- NoruDrug: Congratulations, Professor!

- XingAnBun: Congratulations, Professor. Now you're not just a survivor but a part of the wasteland. You've really blended in. It's a name that fits perfectly with the wasteland.

- takealook: This name was decided through a perfectly democratic vote. If you don't use it, you're a communist.

- Jokass: If you don't use it, you're a reptile.

Why didn't I think of that? No matter how many people gather, in a community, they won't give a proper name!

“Hahaha! This is a masterpiece! I didn't know having a lot of people could be this fun?”

“Havven.... broadcasting in front of these people.... what kind of fight have you been in....”

“No way! This is a dream! My workplace! My first workplace is BDSM!”

Big Dream Small Margin. The meaning is great, but if you shorten it, it becomes 'Bondage,' 'Domination,' 'Submission,' 'Masochism'!

What should I do? Should I back out? The situation has already gotten too big. There are more than half the people of Sector 47 gathered here. Can I still do business after such a public backlash?

- Enden: “Well, then, are you going to have a caravan in Sector 47 now?”

- takealook: “Actually, considering the size of the sector, it didn't make sense that there was no caravan.”

- SpeedWagon: “Because of the marketplace. Even if it's a caravan, the internal trade volume of the sector can't be ignored, and the Dome's marketplace in Sector 47 handles most transactions. There's no need to buy caravan goods with shipping fees.”

- Enden: “That's true. But there are items that can only be obtained through a caravan. Once the delivery distance exceeds two sectors, the drone disappearance rate skyrockets. When you see a message like [Your item was stolen during delivery. Sorry.] it makes your blood boil.”

- RetiredAccount: “A caravan is necessary. Just sell that. 30th sector's HappyBlind masks are hard to get here.”

- NamBathThree: “Don't sell that crap.”

The professor groaned under the rough hands, crying like a passionate patriot. At least it wasn't HIV or BDSM. That's enough. That's... enough.

***

[There's a problem outside, I'll listen later!]

Beep beep beep beep-

“Hmm. Is the new location where they settled a bit dangerous for mutants?”

Delmar, stretching, added [Big Dream : Living in a somewhat dangerous area] to his notes after the sudden disconnection.

“Huuu! Oh, my back aches. Now that I've checked all the new guys, I'll head home—”

“Hey! Senior Delmar! You're still here?”

“Whoa! You scared me! Knock before you come in!”

“Hehe, sorry.”

Delmar turned his head to see his always slightly off-kilter junior scratching his head.

“Are you not going home?”

“Oh, don't even mention it. I thought I'd be having a good time with a pretty secretary and getting my salary, but I'm dying. Just dying. I didn't work so hard to get into the Inspection Bureau for this.”

His grumbling junior held two cups of coffee. Despite everything, he was a likable guy.

“Alright. I'm leaving now, so you drink it. I was just about to leave when I got a tip and decided to record it.”

“Tip? At this hour?”

“Yeah. They said a new caravan has settled in Sector 47. When I compared it with the marketplace records, it didn't seem like a single survivor. The information is quite reliable.”

“I see. But the name... Big Dream? Is that right?”

Delmar, looking at his records, gave his junior a light tap.

“Ouch!”

“Do I look like a rookie who can't record properly? This information came directly from their mouths. It's solid.”

“No, no, of course your records are solid. I just thought the name might have been cut off due to communication issues.”

“Communication issues?”

“Yes! Why don't we use voice chat much in the wasteland? Isn't it because the sandstorms often cut it off? We only use it for collecting player voiceprints because it's inconvenient, right?”

“Hmm. Now that you mention it, he did stutter a bit when saying the name.”

“Absolutely. I know the area very well, and there's something omitted at the end. Big Dream, Small Margin. BDSM.”

At his junior's confident statement, Delmar's expression soured.

“The group's name is that? Really?”

“No matter how light-hearted I am, would I lie about something that goes into the records? Really! They are the BDSM Caravan!”

“BDSM... I didn't notice during the call, but this means there's another crazy person in the wasteland.”

Delmar tilted his head, then changed the new caravan's name in the Inspection Bureau database from 'Big Dream' to 'BDSM (Big Dream Small Margin).'

“Done?”

“Yes! Thank you for your hard work!”

“What hard work? So, are you going home now? I'm leaving too, want to grab a drink?”

“Hahaha! Really appreciate it, but I'll take a rain check. I have something to do at home.”

“This guy always has something to do. Alright, see you tomorrow.”

“Yes! Have a good night!”

Thus, Delmar disappeared down an alley as his junior, wearing a tilted hat, slowly walked in the opposite direction.

Thud, thud.

A white smile formed on the man's lips as he walked down the quiet, well-lit street.

“No, no. Professor's friend, you can't get away with that. As a member of the Dome, representing justice and democracy, I can't allow vote rigging.”

The inspector's hand, holding a small screen, blended into the city's darkness.

While it can't be used for input, the small display allows viewing of the access device's screen. In one corner, the words [Sector 47 Chat Room - 'SoySauceGayBar'] glowed brightly.

***