Webnovel Author In The Apocalypse World-Chapter 199: The Mutated Grove and New Allies
"Fine, then go with the apple tree. I’ll make a proper nest for you later and bring it over," Kim Haru said, not forcing the matter.
With that, the apple tree and the little hamster followed Go Okrim toward the orchard. Meanwhile, Kim Haru tossed the piglet he’d claimed into the pigpen and addressed his Little Snort, saying, "Here’s a new companion for you. Don’t bully it, all right?"
He also didn’t forget to instruct Little Oakie, "This newcomer is your responsibility. Feed it the same as Little Snort."
Once these tasks were done, Kim Haru collapsed into a chair, utterly drained. Your next read is at novelbuddy
A few zombie-bots still lingered aimlessly in the clearing, awaiting orders, but Kim Haru’s energy had already been completely spent dealing with the sudden revelation of these mutated plants. He didn’t have the strength to handle the melon seeds he got today. Since delaying for another day wouldn’t cause any harm, he decided to leave the task for tomorrow.
Dragging his rocking chair over to the big tree beside the wooden cabin, Kim Haru was just about to close his eyes for a nap when he suddenly realized—this tree was also a mutated plant.
However, Kim Haru remembered that when he had suddenly appeared earlier, this tree hadn’t shown any unusual behavior—no changes in color, no new features. If it weren’t for the fact that it thrived so vibrantly in this nest of mutated plants, Kim Haru might not have even realized it was one as well a mutated plant.
As he walked up to the tree, a light, fragrant scent wafted toward him.
Looking up, Kim Haru saw a few small pale-yellow flowers gradually blooming among the leaves.
It turned out to be an osmanthus tree.
Kim Haru was pleasantly surprised.
When an osmanthus tree wasn’t blooming, he couldn’t recognize it, but he had always been fond of the scent of osmanthus flowers. Before he transmigrated, every time he passed by a blooming osmanthus tree, he would stop to savor its fragrance for a good while before continuing on his way.
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And the food made from osmanthus flowers—delicious.
Cough.
Looking at the osmanthus tree before him, Kim Haru felt his heart settle with the calming fragrance.
"You’re a mutated plant too, aren’t you?"
The mutated osmanthus tree extended a branch about the same height as Kim Haru and lightly tapped his head, as if patting him gently.
Kim Haru felt as though he were sensing the presence of his grandfather. This mutated osmanthus tree exuded the same gentle and kind demeanor that his grandfather had when he was a child.
Feeling increasingly at ease, Kim Haru’s mood brightened. "I’ll make sure you get your own share of water and fertilizer every day. If it’s not enough, just let me know, okay?"
The mutated osmanthus tree didn’t react much, completely unlike the other excitable and rowdy mutated plants.
Kim Haru found this tree increasingly reassuring, like a calm, mature adult who could instill peace in those people around them.
Settling back into his chair, Kim Haru closed his eyes, surrounded by the soothing scent of osmanthus flowers.
...
At the Pyeongseong Safe Zone, when Do Seungjin returned with a truck full of people and black pigs, a crowd of people quickly gathered to watch the scene.
When they heard that Mr. Kim planned to teach the safe zone how to raise normal animals on their own, the entire safe zone erupted in cheers of joy.
The Haneulsae trading team also caught wind of the news.
"It seems that this Mr. Kim is the person we’ve been looking for," someone in the team remarked.
The Haneulsae team began devising a plan to approach this so called Mr. Kim. However, with only a name to go by—not even a full one—and no idea of his appearance, their discussions yielded no feasible solution.
At that moment, someone came to find them.
"I’m from the Draco Virtus Squad," the visitor said in a hushed tone, appealing to the Haneulsae trading team for help. "The leaders of Draco Virtus Squad have been detained by Pyeongseong Safe Zone. Please, save them! By the way, are you looking for Mr. Kim? The Draco Virtus Squad members know what he looks like and have information about him."
The Draco Virtus Squad had been enduring an incredibly frustrating time.
Ever since they instigated trouble at Kim Haru’s vegetable shop, the people of Pyeongseong Safe Zone had treated them politely on the surface. They were invited to the reception area and then promptly ignored. They weren’t allowed to leave either. Initially, the Pyeongseong Safe Zone used various excuses, but eventually, they stationed guards at the entrance, claiming that an important event was happening outside and that, without the Safe Zone Commander’s permission, they could not leave.
This was outright detention, no matter how you looked at it.
The Draco Virtus Squad had considered making a break for it, but somehow, the people of Pyeongseong Safe Zone had placed an ability suppression device outside their room. With their abilities rendered useless, their considerable strength amounted to nothing. Escaping through the heavily guarded checkpoints was simply impossible.
Besides, the Draco Virtus Squad had legitimate business in Pyeongseong Safe Zone. If they dared to flee, they could kiss their chances of ever returning goodbye, and their mission would be utterly ruined.
So, they remained trapped in the reception area, being ignored, for over a month. Then, one day, they keenly noticed a new team arriving at the reception area—members of the Haneulsae trading team!
This discovery thrilled the Draco Virtus Squad to no end. After much effort, they managed to sneak a message to the Haneulsae trading team.
At first, the Haneulsae trading team was skeptical, worried it might be a trap set by Pyeongseong Safe Zone. But their doubts were dispelled when the Draco Virtus Squad messenger presented the team badge—a mark no team would hand over lightly.
"Captain, should we rescue them?" someone from the Haneulsae trading team asked.
Roh Baekjin made a decisive call. "We rescue them."
