Strongest Deliveryman In The Apocalypse

Sharon leaned back in the passenger seat of the truck, her fingers brushing lightly over the edge of her Executive Communication Device (ECD).

I was far sleeker than an RCD and had a lot more functions.

Not only was it secure and connected to the network of the entire Sector, but it also served as an Artifact whose grade was as high as B Rank—a truly impressive piece of technology that greatly dwarfed Sobin's measly RCD.

She typed quickly, her message encoded and relayed through secure military channels:

"To Rider Association HQ, Zone E-46. I will be arriving shortly with a Rider who has been summoned for re-evaluation. Do not disclose my identity during his visit. Conduct business as usual."

A soft ping confirmed the transmission. She let out a quiet breath.

Sharon wasn't sure what to make of the man driving beside her.

His expression was calm, almost too calm, like a worker at the end of another routine day. Yet his presence here, in one of the highest-security areas of the frontier, made no sense.

The hum of the engine filled the silence between them.

Sobin drove one-handed, eyes steady on the road, the other hand resting lazily on the wheel.

"...We'll get there faster if I take the service bypass," he muttered, turning the wheel slightly.

Within minutes, the wasteland gave way to fortified walls and checkpoints, all leading toward the massive core of Zone E-46. Sharon's eyes widened slightly.

"This fast…?"

The HQ was supposed to be at least a two-hour convoy from the patrol strip. Sobin had made it in only a few minutes.

How did this even make logical sense?!

She studied the truck again, suspicion flaring. Was this rust bucket hiding some kind of advanced Rider tech?

Meanwhile, Sobin was only thinking: 'Nice. No traffic today.'

The Rider Association HQ loomed ahead—an immense structure of reinforced steel and glass, banners of the Association hanging proudly along its sides.

Towers bristled with scanners and antennae, while security personnel moved in crisp formation across the grounds. Sobin pulled Bessie right up to the front entrance like he was parking outside a corner store.

He killed the engine, stretched, and turned to Sharon. "We're here. Pretty smooth ride, huh?"

Sharon's lips twitched.

Smooth?

They had cut travel time by more than one-tenth. Either this man had the luck of devils or skill that defied reason.

'Could he actually possess…. An Artifact?!'

Inside, the reception lobby was polished, efficient, and brimming with all the sophisticated pieces of technology that Sobin missed from Earth. The robot clerks, with their display heads showing human footages, worked behind counters, sorting documents and logging mission reports.

Sobin strolled casually up to the front desk.

"Evening. I'm here for a Rank re-evaluation. Name's Sobin."

The clerk, a bespectacled man with thinning hair, blinked.

"Re-evaluation? One moment, please."

Behind him, Sharon's presence drew subtle ripples. Workers and Security officers alike stole glances, eyes widening in recognition—but when she gave the faintest shake of her head, they quickly looked away.

The staff knew better than to expose her identity.

The clerk returned, glancing between Sobin and Sharon with a barely concealed nervousness. "Ah… Rider Sobin, yes. We've been expecting you. Please fill out this preliminary form."

Sobin accepted the tablet, dragging his finger lazily across the screen as he answered questions. Name, ID number, zone of registration.

Then came the line:

"Target Rank for Re-Evaluation?"

He tapped the screen without hesitation.

—D-Rank.

Sharon, who had been observing quietly, nearly lost her composure. "...D?"

Sobin looked up, puzzled. "What? Isn't that the next step? E to D, D to C, and so on?"

The clerk's pen slipped from his hand.

Most Riders were expected to aim at least two or three Ranks higher during a re-evaluation—ambition was the lifeblood of survival here.

For someone escorted by Sharon herself to request only D… it was baffling.

To Sharon, it looked like calculated humility. To Sobin, it was just practicality.

"Ambition isn't really my thing," he said, deadpan, returning the tablet. "I just like steady progress. If I keep being diligent, I'll make it to the top eventually."

The clerk nodded furiously, convinced this was some hidden master's profound philosophy.

They were soon led deeper into the HQ, past security doors and down a hall lined with mission posters. At the end waited a broad chamber where a senior officer in Association black sat behind a desk piled with reports.

The man rose when Sobin entered.

"Welcome, Rider Sobin. I've reviewed your record." He shuffled through his documents.

"You've completed one hundred percent of Independent Client Miriam's bulk contract, fourteen BOTL requests, all within deadlines. Zero damages, zero complaints. Additionally… you were the one who delivered the strike against the Plunderer hideout."

"Just doing my job, sir!" Sobin casually answered with a toothy grin.

His silly smile caught the officer by surprise, causing him to laugh rather awkwardly. "Indeed… indeed."

Behind Sobin, Sharon's expression stayed composed, but her mind spun.

'He's only been a Rider for one week, though. One week and he already has this track record?'

This Sobin guy was definitely suspicious!

Her suspicion about the Deepcrawler King's death didn't kick in yet, however. Even though the two incidents shared the same of occurence, how could she possibly connect the death of an S Rank abomination to an E Rank Rider.

It didn't matter how impressive Sobin was, they were in completely different realms.

The officer continued. "Under normal circumstances, an E-Rank Rider would never be evaluated this soon. But the Association has judged your record significant enough to warrant it."

Sobin nodded simply, as though he'd just been told his shift got extended by an hour.

"So what's the process?"

The officer gestured to a holoscreen.

Five mission profiles unfolded in glowing detail:

1. Secure a resource convoy crossing a monster zone.

2. Eliminate a rogue Plunderer gang in the wastelands.

3. Escort a civilian caravan safely to a mid-tier settlement.

4. Survey and map an uncharted area beyond the frontier.

5. Deliver high-value medical supplies under time constraints.

"Select at leasst one mission," the officer explained. "Complete it within a month, and your performance will determine your new Rank. You will, of course, be compensated for whichever you choose."

The room grew quiet as Sobin studied the screen. His brow furrowed slightly.

"…One month? For one job?"

"Yes. That is the standard time frame."

Sobin scratched his chin. "Seems… wasteful. I could do these in a week if I manage my route properly."

Sharon nearly choked again.

The officer blinked. "Pardon?"

"Well, it says I can choose more than one, right?" Sobin asked.

"Technically, yes, but—"

"Then I'll just take them all."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

The clerk who had escorted them gasped audibly. Sharon's eyes narrowed in shock.

"You… what?" she said flatly.

Sobin shrugged as though it were obvious. "Look, if I've got a month, why waste time? Better to stack deliveries together, plan my route, and clear them all at once. Efficiency matters."

"Efficiency…" The officer dropped his pen. "Rider Sobin, should I remind you that these missions are all above E Rank, and they're each formidable in thier own rights. So choosing more than one could be… dangerous."

Indeed!

Some Riders got too confident and ended up biting off more than they could chew due to their past accomplishments. These people ended up failing Re-evaluation, with some even getting killed.

The official was saying all of this for Sobin's sake.

Unfortunately, the conventional common sense of this world didn't work with Sobin. He genuinely didn't think these missions were too difficult.

"If I'm gonna prove I'm worth more than an E, may as well do it properly."

He spoke with such casual conviction that no one could bring themselves to laugh.

To Sharon, the words carried a chilling weight.

Was this confidence born of ignorance… or the certainty of someone who knew his own strength?

The officer cleared his throat, regaining composure. "Very well. It is irregular, but if that is your decision, we will honor it. Rider Sobin, your re-evaluation will proceed with all five missions assigned."

Sobin nodded, satisfied. "Perfect. I'll head out immediately."

*********

As the paperwork finalized, Sharon stood slightly apart, her arms crossed. Her mask of calm never slipped, but inside, her mind was racing.

'This guy can't be evaluated with common sense, especially if his track record is actually accurate. What in the world is he? Could he have faked those accomplishments? Is he actually a spy that found a way to infiltrate the system?'

Sharon wasn't sure, but she was certain that she couldn't simply let this suspicious person go.

She had to keep observing him!

"I wonder if they have a cafeteria around here. I could use a burger." Sobin wondered loudly as they returned to the lobby. The sheer normalcy of his tone in such a setting nearly made Sharon laugh out loud.

He was simply too absurd!

The others watched him leave with wide eyes, whispering among themselves.

"To think, the leader of Sector E escorted him personally…"

"He must be some undercover prodigy."

"No wonder he's aiming low—it's just camouflage! Could he actually be… S Rank?!"