Wherever people gather there are problems, that is a rule that holds true even in the apocalypse. The first thing Baek Hyeon encountered after making it back to the station with his party was a bunch of hysterical people screaming about the end of the world, demanding to be protected by those who got a good class or just generally being a bitch. All in all, just the expected.

He kinda expected already the moment when people who got a [Villager (Common)] rune started guild tripping others in taking responsibility for their lives, though a case like that didn’t happen. It might be a coincidence but every survivor so far got a combat class rune, but Baek Hyeon guessed that it was because that was what the world needed the most was strength.

Looking at these people, plenty capable of protecting themselves, refusing to cooperate made him disgusted. He was plenty afraid too, he saw first-hand the monstrosity the size of a building that they would need to kill in a couple of hours, and like everyone sane he was also afraid of death, but what about it? ‘The world has changed and you either change with it or get caught up in the waves. If I don't have the strength to protect myself no one else will in a reality where someone can get stronger by killing, no one tried killing another human yet but it’s obvious it works and that there will be people who will do it.’

One thing he noticed is that the ones acting like that were all people who got rescued, the original survivors of the station already had a sense of duty after the speech and buff from Michael Becking and understood that everyone had their responsibilities to uphold so that everyone can survive.

At this moment the healer turned in second-in-command from the main party came by saying with a warm smile:

“Welcome back, you guys must be tired. One of the buildings in the station got turned into a briefing room. We are gathering every party leader for a meeting. You can give your report there. Ah, and ignore the rabble on the way” Suddenly the warm smile didn’t look so warm anymore.

‘Can’t say I disagree.’

***

Right now, at the meeting table where serious people are very seriously discussing important things.

“I think we should just gather those people who don’t want to help, tie them up and send them first as cannon-fodder” One of those serious people, the leader of one of the parties said.

“Calm down you megalomaniacal tomboy, it has been barely two hours i saw you vomiting from the smell of blood and now you want to comit mass murder?” Another very serious person answered.

“To be fair we already are committing mass murder, just not of our own species” A third party leader with a scholarly look comented.

“You can’t be serious? It is a we or them situation!” Bang—, the party leader punched the table.

“And isn’t a we or them situation now too? they want us to die for their comfort and soo~,i'm just suggesting that they die back!” The tomboy counter argumented.

‘This isn’t going anywhere, it has been 10 minutes and we haven’t gone past the topic of using the ‘rabble’ as cannon-fodder or not, should i intervene in the discussion? but i'm no leader.’ Baek Hyeon thought worriedly.

When the argument was very close to getting physical the savior arrived, Michael Becking came in carrying a rolled up map.

“Guys, we can discuss the people outside at a later date, it’s still barely past the fourth hour on the timer, pay attention to this right now please” Michael said as he unrolled the map on the table.

“I got this map from one of the ‘you are here’ things at the station. I want each party leader to help me draw the areas cleared from goblins and the ones you gave up clearing. Information is power, I’m sure you heard this before” Michael took a bunch of pencil markers from who knows where and started handing it out.

As it was a pretty big map it had space for everyone to bend over the table and start drawing.

“...I cleared this area…this one…there was a horde here that we avoided”

“...I killed a couple ugly goblins here…I think we went this way…Here there was a scary goblin and a scary black portal, I don't want to go back there…”

“...”

Everyone got busy retracing their steps on the map, and after a couple more minutes everyone received a new notification on their status screen.

[You created [Ugly battlezone map (Common)]]

[You received the title [Amateur cartographer (Common)]]

[Amateur cartographer (Common)]

>

Baek Hyeon in particular received another notification.

[‘The Godly Mailman’ says that maps are an important part of being a mailman and that he supports your new hobby]

[‘The Godly Mailman’ blesses you with +1 Agility]

‘Was he watching me the whole time?’ Baek Hyeon got the chills from thinking that he got the attention of a being beyond his comprehension.

“Now everyone, we have the location of the orc, four hordes and a mysterious portal protected by a horde with a goblin chief, thoughts?” Michael Becking pinpointed each area of interest and asked for the party leader's opinions. He didn’t really care about their opinions but he also didn’t want to be called a tyrant again.

“Our objective is in the end the orc boss, he is already surrounded by goblins, if in the middle of the fight the other hordes come to support, the situation might take a turn for the worse” The leader with the scholarly aura pointed out. Indeed, in a situation where the fight was already difficult any weak outside intervention might be magnified to something out of control.

“I was thinking the same thing, we are both so smart, and since that bunch of ugly things with the ugly and scary one is there to protect that other portal they probably won’t move. We can just leave them be for now and come back after we finish the boss and beat them all” the tomboy leader said and started smiling to herself thinking of killing the goblin chief.

“Then it’s settled, everybody pairs up with another party or two to deal with the hordes and we leave the goblin chief for later. Unfortunately one party will have to deal with a horde alone. I think it’s best for Baek Hyeon's party to do it, since he got a rare defensive class on his party” Michael suggested with a smile.

Baek Hyeon narrowed his eyes. ‘What a petty guy, thinking of revenge at a time like this.’

“Can’t we wait for one group to finish so we can deal with the horde with three parties?” Baek Hyeon questioned, even though he knew the answer.

“Unfortunately we don’t have the time, we have little more than three hours to deal with the hordes and rest up for the boss. After the timer reaches zero the orc will start to rampage around until he is defeated and he has a not null chance of finding his way to the station. We got kids here.” When he said ‘we got kids here’ Michael Becking's smile became even brighter, as if he had just made a genius chess move.

“...Got it” ‘Fucker.’