People say that money doesn't solve everything.

…… Poor people. The poor say so. ”

—Gold Platinum Diamond, Samulife Magazine interview, June 2034

***

"Hey, bald," I said.

The man turned, and the frown on his face disappeared the moment he recognized me. "Yes?" He asked. He was followed by a group of students, all preppy students. At least most people have put away their phones and stopped fiddling with their eyes.

"Do you know how to shoot?" I pulled Daniel to stop and asked.

He nodded. "I go to the range once a month," he said.

I blinked. I thought he was going to reject me, or reject me. "Oh, uh, that's it." I poked Daniel in the back and he handed the bald man a box. "Have fun."

He glanced at the box, then opened it and took out the pistol. "Do you know how much these are worth?" He asked.

"Ugh. Five points? I replied. We've been procrastinating long enough that the time for small talk is nearing its end.

"It's fox fangs, right?" After I nodded, he continued. "One of them cost nearly 200,000 points."

I looked down at the gun. Killing one Model 3 allows me to buy two. Ha. With 200,000 points, I can ...... Use the money to buy a whole bunch of toys. Is that...... I snorted, trying to refocus. Knowing how many cans of soda I can buy with one of these guns isn't as useful as knowing that someone has my back. Ha

"Cool, cool. Just, attack aliens, and not others, huh? ”

He snorted and tucked the gun into his belt. It doesn't fit his sweater, vest and slacks. "I'm not a fool," he said.

I nodded, and pushed Daniel on. The small groups in the church were arranged in neat rows according to age, with Mary leading the way. "Hey, nun," I said.

She turned around and bowed to me in a quick, shallow bow. "Yes?"

"Do you know how to hold a gun?" I asked.

"I do," she said. "We train to better serve the saints who need our help."

Creepy, I decided. There's one more mark on her record. "Well, it's a gift. Pin any jerk who tries to hurt a child, okay? ”

Daniel smiled and handed her the last box. "Hey, maybe later you and I can uh, talk about religious epiphanies and conversions." He raised an eyebrow.

When the poor girl picked up the box containing the gun and opened it, she looked both disgusted and grateful. "Thank you," she concluded, pretending Daniel didn't exist. I didn't blame her.

"All right, Casanova," I said, pushing Daniel to the back of the room, where Lucy and the kittens were waiting. "Stop flirting, or I won't give you your own toys."

"How do you know my screen name?" He asked. I stared down at him until his face contorted into a-eating smile.

"Cats!" Lucy said as I approached. "We're all ready to go." She pointed to the kittens who seemed to be doing well. Several pairs of eyes were red, and some looked a little shocked, but they were all complete and connected. I'm pretty sure the orphanage's insurance doesn't cover psychiatric help, but I'm obviously going to load up quickly, so that's an issue at other times as well.

"Let's go, then. We're going down two floors, uh, maybe three. Parking is available. I make sure that the kittens who are still looking at me meet my gaze." If you get lost, just find a corner to hide and listen to me, okay? I'll come and pick you up, promise me. ”

"Is it true?" Nose asked. "You're a samurai?"

"Who knows," I said. "Now you listen to Lucy, or you're going to have to deal with me, understand?" I got some nods and that was enough for me. When I looked back at Lucy, someone tugged on my sleeve.

Junior glared at me, but not as enthusiastically as she usually did. "I want my knife back," she said.

"Ah," I said. I patted my pocket and found it empty. I don't remember where I left it. "Oh,. I may have misplaced it. ”

"Really, cat?" She said. "Then get me a new one."

I'm afraid that crafting a knife requires a basic melee weapon tier I, in addition to some points.

"I'll get you a knife later, promise."

She grinned with a fierce expression. "Yes, I believe you. You'd better be a fucking cool guy too. Ha. ”

I ruffled her hair. "Idiot," I muttered. "Lucy, will you sit in the middle with the kittens?"

"That's right!" Lucy said. She pushed the cane into Daniel's lap and hung it on the back of his chair. "We'll be behind you."

"Thank you," I said.

I hurried back to the door of my room and cleaned up as soon as I could. In front were normal-looking schoolchildren, in the back were kittens, then preppy students, and Mary and her children were in the back. With only four guns, you can cover a lot of people.

"Alright, let's go," I said. I walked five steps before I realized I needed Mary's guidance. After a red-faced shuffle, the church group was in front, the kittens in the back, and the rest in the back.

We started along the corridor, away from the route back to the museum. I pulled out my trench from behind and began walking, pointing a gun at the ground in front of me. I felt so stupid to lead a group of kids who were too quiet like a B-class action hero.

We arrived at a stairwell without any problems. A flashing fire exit sign above marks the road.

There was a slight rumble from the building, and even from where we were, in the depths of the building, I could hear a faint explosion coming from outside. Alien? Army? Will some PMCs come to save the world?

The stairwell was clean but only led to the next floor. "Damn," I said.

"Each floor requires a different staircase," Mary explains. "The shape of the building is strange."

"What if the place is really on fire? How can they expect people to evacuate in a panic? ”

Mary shrugged. "I don't know." She licked her lips. "I don't want to be a problem, St. Ka - cat. But the kids. They need to take a break at some point. Do you think we can afford it? ”

"Like going to the toilet and eating?" I asked. I had to balance the dangers the children were facing against making them feel comfortable, and at the same time getting everyone out in time.

Speed is important, but if we are ambushed, we are doomed.

In the end, the opportunity for reconnaissance from the front won. "Yes, well," I said. "Once we find a safe place to stop."