Apocalypse: I'm Bound to a Mobile Lottery Shop

Chapter 155: Chapter 155: Despicable Clown

Finn Lynch guiltily pulled back his left foot. He had no idea how they’d found out, but there was no way he’d admit it!

What if they tossed him out over and over again like that moron from before? It was too humiliating! He couldn’t face that!

Finn Lynch straightened his back, jutting out his chin in feigned anger. "Take what? My basket is right there. What do you expect me to take?"

He pointed to the lone shopping basket next to the front counter, which held only a few scattered items.

Frost Shaw glanced at it, then looked away and repeated, "Take it out. Don’t make me say it a third time."

Seeing him act like this, Finn Lynch figured he was just bluffing, that he didn’t actually know he’d stashed the goods in his space.

This made him even bolder. He stood up straighter and even decided to make a false counter-accusation.

"Everyone, come look at this! This store is outrageous! They look down on us lower-level residents and won’t even let us check out! They said I have to spend at least 100 points to even be worthy!" Finn Lynch hollered.

People love a good scene, so they ambled over, shopping baskets in hand. Their baskets were all filled to the brim.

Finn Lynch saw this and was momentarily speechless. ’Fucking idiots,’ he cursed inwardly. ’Why buy so much? Got too much money burning a hole in your pocket?’

He continued his highly persuasive rant: "Look, look! That’s what I just picked out! And because I don’t have any Crystal Cores in my pocket, they insulted my character, called me poor, and said I was shameless!"

"They told me to get lost if I’m poor! They said if I’m not buying, I should scram and not be an eyesore here! They said seeing poor people like us annoys them! So I was leaving, heading back to the base, and they actually accuse me of stealing without paying? What did I even buy that I need to pay for?"

The more he spoke, the more worked up he got, to the point where he seemed to have brainwashed himself, his voice tinged with real anger.

One had to admit, this guy must have been in a pyramid scheme before all this.

With just a few sentences, he had quickly stirred up the empathy of the onlookers.

What did they fear most? Not having Crystal Cores. That meant not being able to afford food or water, being unable to protect their families, having no power.

No Crystal Cores meant you were poor, a bottom-feeder, someone to be bullied and humiliated.

To come here to spend money only to be slandered like this? It was intolerable!

Immediately, someone jumped out to take Finn Lynch’s side. "Yeah! I think you’re the shameless ones!"

Where there was one, a second and third soon followed. "Exactly! What’s wrong with someone buying just a little? If you look down on us, then don’t come to Spring-Watch Base!"

Frost Shaw pretended to clear his ears, not giving their words a second thought. They were just insignificant buffoons, not worth his attention.

"Enough. Let’s check the security footage," Frost Shaw said calmly, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

Finn Lynch panicked. ’This place has electricity? And security cameras? They won’t expose me, will they...?’

With a feeling of apprehension, he watched the security footage. The camera clearly captured the entire front counter and the two or three people in front of it.

The original, unedited video played.

In the footage, although Frederick Shaw’s tone wasn’t the best, he was speaking the truth. He even suggested Finn Lynch combine his purchase with someone else’s.

He was being decent, actually. He didn’t even swear and was quite patient, answering every question thrown at him.

After watching, the crowd turned to look at Finn Lynch with contempt. "So that’s what you call shameless and looking down on people?"

"It is, but I think he was talking about himself."

"Alright, Finn Lynch. The owner caught you. Just confess already."

Finn Lynch refused. If he confessed, how could he ever get by in the base again? His reputation would be dragged through the mud.

He stubbornly retorted, "Do you have any proof that I stole something? You’re just picking on an honest guy, aren’t you!"

Hearing the words "honest guy" come out of his mouth felt completely wrong, and the residents nearby who knew him couldn’t help but laugh.

Finn Lynch glared at them, then recklessly started trying to prove his innocence by emptying his pockets.

His pants pockets were especially large, and all sorts of junk came tumbling out: Crystal Cores, rocks he’d picked up off the street, half a pack of black jelly he hadn’t finished from lunch...

The items scattered across the floor looked like a pile of trash. Frost Shaw could tell with a single glance that none of it was from the convenience store.

After his pants, Finn Lynch emptied all his other pockets. When he was done, he hadn’t produced anything from the store. He wasn’t a Space Ability User, and he wasn’t carrying any kind of space-related item on him.

He gave a cold laugh and looked arrogantly at the impatient Frost Shaw. "See? I said I didn’t take anything. Now get out of my way!"

Frost Shaw stood his ground, not moving. He looked down and manipulated something on his Light Brain. Suddenly, an alarm blared from a corner of the convenience store, accompanied by a flashing red light.

Finn Lynch turned to look, his face flashing with terror. That spot... He quickly composed himself and feigned nonchalance. "Stop with all these flashy tricks! Just let me out of here!"

"..." Frost Shaw didn’t say a word. He simply walked past him, entered the convenience store, and headed straight for that corner.

Seeing this, Finn Lynch subconsciously wanted to stop him but forced himself to halt. ’No, I have to go!’ He spun around, intending to leave the store.

Just as he took one step out, the store’s alarm blared again.

"Secondary alert: Customer Finn Lynch has not paid!"

Ignoring the alarm, Finn Lynch tried to rush out in one go, but he was thrown back, landing hard on his butt.

Frost Shaw had already reached the spot flashing red. There, in a basket buried under a pile of small snacks, he reached in and pulled something out.

It was a simple necklace. The moment he held it, Frost Shaw knew it was a Space Necklace.

He toyed with it in his hand, slipping it onto his index finger and spinning it. Under the fluorescent lights, it glinted with a silver sheen that caught everyone’s eye.

Frost Shaw walked out as if on a leisurely stroll. His eyes met Finn Lynch’s panicked gaze, and he couldn’t help but snort coldly. The moment Finn Lynch saw it, his face turned ashen. That was his Space Necklace.

Frost Shaw tossed the Space Necklace at him and commanded, "Open it."

"W-what? Open what? This isn’t mine!" Finn Lynch stammered incoherently. The necklace in his lap felt like a hot potato, and he flung it away with a jolt.

One of the residents picked it up and teased, "Not yours? Then I’ll take it~"

Finn Lynch’s eyes widened instantly. His entire life savings were in there... But in this situation, he couldn’t admit it, or he’d really be branded a thief.

’Worst comes to worst, I’ll just have to get it back from this guy later!’

He gritted his teeth. "You—do whatever you want! It’s not mine, anyway!"

Frost Shaw took the Space Necklace from the resident’s hand and said matter-of-factly, "Since it was found in the convenience store and no one is claiming it, I’ll just keep it here for safekeeping."

Finn Lynch: "!!" ’If a normal resident took it, I could just beat them up and snatch it back. But if the store owner takes it, it’s gone for good.’

For a moment, Finn Lynch was caught in a dilemma.

He gritted his teeth, got up, and tried to walk out without a word. He was bounced back again. Now he was angry. He was really angry!

Finn Lynch spun around in a rage and roared at Frost Shaw, "What the hell do you people want?! If you have no proof, then let me go! Do you have any respect for your customers?! We’re the ones who are god!"

Frost Shaw crossed his arms and shrugged. "Go on, then. No one’s stopping you."

’This is what you call not stopping me?!’