Strongest Deliveryman In The Apocalypse

The night air at Outpost #47 was thick with dust and the distant hum of defense turrets.

Sobin stood there, one hand on his hip, the other clutching his Rider License like a proud badge of honor. Miriam's gaze didn't waver; her sharp eyes measured him as though she were weighing bullets rather than words.

"An opportunity, huh?" Sobin tilted his head, grin tugging at his lips. "You've piqued my interest, Miss Militia."

Miriam crossed her arms, voice firm.

"My name is Miriam. Remember it. And yes—an opportunity. One that benefits both you and this outpost."

Sobin gave her a slight nod. "Miriam it is. Now, tell me—what exactly are we talking about here?"

Miriam gestured toward the interior of the tunnels.

"Come inside. We'll discuss this where the turrets won't cut you in half if you twitch wrong."

Sobin chuckled but followed.

Inside, the command center was a mixture of concrete and steel, filled with humming consoles, flickering holographic displays, and stacks of crates labeled with everything from "

MED-KIT: TYPE B" to "RATIONS—DO NOT DROP."

Miriam pulled up a projection on her datapad. "Here's the situation. Outpost #47 supplies several bunkers, civilian blocks, and forward scouts. Requests pile up constantly, but Riders are scarce. Delivery Apps like BOTL also don't prioritize us because we're considered 'high-risk zone.' That means every time we send out a request, it takes weeks or even months to get fulfilled."

Sobin nodded, pretending to follow along seriously while muttering under his breath, "Weeks? Tsk, amateurs…"

Miriam shot him a look but pressed on.

"Now, you show up. An E Rank, supposedly fresh, and yet you complete a delivery in hours. Hours, Rider. That's unheard of. Which means I have a chance to change the way this outpost operates. With you."

Sobin tapped his chin. "So you're saying you want me as your personal Rider?"

"Not exactly." Miriam tapped her datapad, and a contract template glowed between them. "This is an Independent Rider Contract. If you sign with us directly, I won't have to route our requests through BOTL. That means no middleman fees, no delays, no bureaucracy."

She leaned in, her expression sharp. "You get your full cut. Straight payment. But—"

"There's always a but." Sobin sighed.

Miriam smirked faintly.

"Correct. We can't pay you as high as BOTL's inflated pricing. But because there's no fee cut, your take-home pay will still be higher overall. More importantly, I can give you bulk orders. Instead of picking up one crate, leaving, and coming back again, you'll leave here with a truckload of requests. You'll hit bunker after bunker in a single run."

Sobin's eyes widened.

"Bulk deliveries?!" His voice echoed through the command center, a mixture of awe and excitement.

Miriam nodded.

"Exactly. More deliveries in less time. You'll make steady profits. And I'll finally be able to keep my people supplied without begging the Delivery Apps' system every time. It's risky for me—I'm trusting you without their safeguards—but if you're half as reliable as you claim, it'll be worth it."

"Hmm…" Sobin crossed his arms, frowning in thought.

For once, his grin slipped into something more serious. He paced in a slow circle, boots clanking against the steel floor.

"This is huge," he muttered. "Bulk requests, more deliveries… faster Quest completions… I could also rise through the Ranks in no time!"

His excitement flickered—then faltered.

He whipped out his RCD, scrolling furiously. "But wait. There's still the problem."

Miriam raised an eyebrow. "Problem?"

Sobin shoved the glowing screen toward her face. "This! BOTL doesn't let me withdraw my money until I've completed five deliveries. Five! I've only done one so far. If I sign with you and stop taking BOTL requests, I'll never touch my current balance. It'll just sit there, taunting me like… like unclaimed coupons!"

Miriam blinked, caught off guard by his vehemence. "That's… oddly specific."

"It's financial torture!" Sobin declared, clutching his chest as though the very thought of inaccessible funds physically wounded him.

For a moment, silence stretched. Miriam pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Then don't stop taking BOTL deliveries. Do both."

"…Both?" Sobin tilted his head.

"Yes." Miriam leaned forward, voice sharp. "While you're out delivering my crates, you can also accept BOTL requests along the route. You're already driving across the wasteland. What's one or two extra stops if it means unlocking your payout?"

Sobin's eyes sparkled. "That's… brilliant!"

[Of course it is. It's literally the most obvious solution.]

The System's dry tone buzzed in his head.

"Silence, System!" Sobin barked aloud, making a passing soldier glance at him strangely.

Miriam ignored the strange outburst.

She already knew Sobin was weird, but her priority was on the service he could provide.

"So, what's your answer? Independent Contract, bulk deliveries, higher net profit. You still fulfill BOTL's quota on the side. Everyone wins."

Sobin's fists clenched.

His mind raced with calculations.

'Bulk deliveries means… more Quests. More Quests means more Rank Points. More Rank Points means… recognition! I'll be able to advance higher than E Rank and take on even bigger requests!' He was practically foaming in the mouth at this point.

[You're spiraling again…]

"Shush, System."

He stopped pacing. His gaze locked onto Miriam's, and for a rare moment, his usual gleeful light dimmed into something steely.

"This is no small deal you're offering. It's trust. In the Apocalypse, trust is rarer than medicine." He tapped the contract hologram. "You're taking a gamble on me."

Miriam nodded solemnly. "I am. I don't know who you really are, Rider, or what tricks you're hiding. But I've seen the results. Results matter more than explanations."

Sobin drew in a long breath. His cap's brim shadowed his eyes.

"…Alright. I'll do it."

Miriam extended her hand. Sobin took it, his grip firm. The contract hologram flared, syncing his Rider License with her datapad.

[Chain Quest Triggered]

{Objectives: Fulfill Miriam's bulk delivery requests while maintaining BOTL quota}

[Rewards: ???]

The System's tone carried a rare weight.

[This decision will shape your future, Rider. Do not underestimate its consequences.]

Sobin's grin returned, slow and unshakable.

"I look forward to it."

Miriam arched an eyebrow. She almost smiled at that, though she quickly smothered it.

"Very well. Welcome aboard, Rider Sobin. Let's see if you can live up to my expectations!"