My Garbage Collecting Cheat-Skill in Survival Game

Without hesitating, Ray asked about the creator of the air gun, that high-rank forger, the old man, was talking about.

"Even if you wish to find him, you won't be able to reach where he is right now. As for what you want from him, maybe I can help with that."

"Do you have an ice array as well as a fire array?" He hoped that those arrays wouldn't be costly, but the old man laughed at him.

"Young man, those things aren't cheap. Why do you think that air gun costed you so many coins? The price of an air gun isn't much. All the cost I charged you was for the wind array imbued on it."

Ray smiled wryly, "I was hoping to get one, so do you have those? I might drop by later at your shop to buy them."

However, the old man refused, "You can't find those things here. If you want one, then go to the safe city. There you'll find one, but you might die before you even reach there."

'Safe city! I'll eventually find that place, but first, I need to be level 10 so I can escape from this ruined city.'

Ray had read about the safe city, but it isn't easy to find one. One needs to be at least level 10 to even step a foot out of this city, or they might die in the wilderness where zombies, thugs, or mutated beasts roam freely.

Seeing his silence, the old man spoke, "I do have an idea of one of the arrays, but you are too weak to even step in that place."

Suddenly, this gave Ray a path to move on. He asked, "Tell me what it is! And where could I find one?"

"Be patient, young man, here, see this." The old man tossed a piece of paper towards Ray, who opened it and found a map inside.

"The red mark on the northeast mountain, it's the place where you can find an ice array, but whether you can get it or lose your life, it's up to you."

In the middle of the map was the ruined city, where he was right now. Then, just at the borders towards the north, was the mountain covered in white sheets, a place the old man pointed out.

"That's the White Devil Mountain where Ice Elves live, but those people aren't approachable unless you complete their trial. However, once you've completed it, you can ask for one reward from them, and in your case, it will be an ice array."

'Trial! He must be talking about the mini-game.'

"Thanks, old man!" In return, the old man chuckled, "Don't thank me this soon; hope I'm not sending you to your death."

[Map has been unlocked]

Ray then received the notification of the map unlock, and when he saw the Ice Devil Mountain, his eyes widened in shock. "Level 38?"

He needed to be level 38 to reach that place, and going there before that would mean suicide.

The old man heard him. "On the map, that place looks quite near, but with the level of danger on the way, it will take at least two and a half years, or even three, to reach that place unharmed."

Ray nodded.

'With the chances of finding a safe city being 3%, that is akin to a decade or even more. I should better grind and level up fast to challenge that mini-game.'

Then, as he was about to leave the shop, the old man gave another hint but with a warning.

"There is a channel of people who sell shady things, and they might have what you want, but their prices are too high, and dealing with them comes with a risk of fraud and even betrayal. So, young man, beware of that."

Once Ray was gone, the old man's smile vanished, and a doubtful thought came to his mind. "Why is he looking for those arrays? As if he found out how to create the myriad gun, which that baldy couldn't even after wasting his three decades of life."

"Nah… I might be thinking too much. Only two people know about the myriad gun. Me and second, him. So how could such a young man know about something which was just the wasteful idea of Baldy?"

Ray, oblivious to the old man's thoughts, decided to log off, freshen up, and then return to try his new weapon.

[You have logged off]

'This feeling!'

His body felt stiff, and for a second, his mind couldn't keep up with reality. Then, as a few seconds passed, Ray finally felt he could move.

"This is the after-effect of staying in the game for…?" He looked at his phone.

"37 missed calls? 11 messages from Uncle Wush." He decided to call him back, as Ray had been in the game for more than a day, and seeing the calls and messages, he felt there must be some urgency.

Uncle Wush was Ray's landlord but not the type you typically see in movies or novels. Instead, he was a kind middle-aged man.

"Knock-knock!"

"Ray, are you awake?" Just as Ray was thinking of calling him, Uncle Wush began knocking on his door.

Ray ran and opened the door, hoping it wasn't some emergency, but when he opened it, he saw Uncle Wush was in different clothes, and there was even luggage with him.

"Uncle Wush? Are you going somewhere?" Ray asked.

"You brat, I was calling you for two days. Why weren't you answering the calls or replying to the messages?"

Ray smiled and in a polite tone, he answered, "Uncle, I was busy playing the game, but is it something urgent?"

Uncle Wush sighed. "Yes, see this." He handed him a letter. "Eviction notice?" Ray looked at him with questioning eyes.

Uncle Wush explained, "It might have come yesterday. I was calling you for this reason, but you weren't picking up. I have sold this building and am moving with my daughter to another city."

"Others are also looking for new places, so you should also begin finding a new place." Then Uncle Wush took out a paper wrapped around some cash.

"This is for you. I know you are having a hard time, but I didn't have a choice, or I wouldn't have to…" He didn't complete his sentence, just handed the cash into Ray's hand.

"You still have a week before leaving this place, so find a better place with this money." Then Uncle Wush started leaving; however, Ray stopped him and handed back the pack of cash.

"Now I don't need this. I have started earning, and thank you for everything, Uncle Wush." Ray hugged him and bid farewell, then opened a browser to look at local news.

"Selling the house all of a sudden and his tone…" He had a hunch that something wasn't right.

[Dunkun Constructions has bought all the apartments around the mall market. Soon they are going to build a supermarket.]

"Dunkun Constructions? Sounds like some shady construction company. I'll look into it later. Right now, I need to find a place to live."

Ray had a week to move from this place, which meant a week to earn as much money as he could and find a better, stable place for himself.

He freshened up and then logged in again.