Survival of the Poorest

My thin clothes could barely block out the cold, so I had to keep moving to stay warm. Thankfully, I found a blanket in the trash someone had tossed after getting off their flight.

As time went on, the hunger grew intense. At 8 p.m., I wandered over to a bakery. The leftover bread behind the glass display case was giving off a warm, buttery smell.

My stomach let out a loud growl.

Relying on my broke-girl instincts, I figured this was the hour when the bakery would start marking things down.

Sure enough, the bread that was originally 30 dollars cost 15 dollars. However, that still was not good enough. I knew that close to closing time, the discounts would be even lower, maybe even free.

Every dollar I saved was another chance to survive. So, I sat in a chair across from the bakery, resting with my eyes half-closed.

Just then, someone used the public game broadcast and anonymously posted, [Come to the bakery in Section A on Level 3! Everything is half off!]

"Half-off bread?!"

"It's in Section A! Hurry!"

"Don't take it all! That's mine!"

Dozens of players rushed in from every direction, frantically charging toward the bakery. In just seconds, the small storefront turned into a mob scene.

In the chaos, I saw people waving cash while others straight-up grabbed bread off the shelves.

The employees panicked as they shouted, "Please line up!"

However, no one listened.

Within minutes, every discounted item, including the loaf I had been eyeing, was cleared out. The people who managed to buy something looked relieved, like they had just survived a disaster, while those who came up empty were slamming their fists and staring in despair.

The area was filled with other players cursing, complaining, and sighing hopelessly.

My hunger bar rose to 30%.

I took a deep breath, pushed down the cramping in my stomach, and shifted my gaze away from the chaotic crowd toward the massive flight information display screen high up in the airport.

Red flight statuses kept scrolling past.

It was time to show my real skills!

In this airport, players could move freely to any location. Even without a ticket, a person could go to the gates.

I quickly scanned the big screen and locked onto several delay notices marked in bold red. Flights delayed over six hours were my actual targets.

Dragging my weak legs, I headed toward a gate. There, I saw that a small group of people had gathered, and the air was thick with frustration and sweat.

Gate 102 had been delayed for 8 hours, and the stranded passengers had the airline staff completely surrounded.

The staff member was a young woman whose face had flushed red because the passengers' spit was practically hitting her.

"Does your airline even know how to do its job?!"

"My kid is starving and crying! Do something!"

"Compensation! We demand compensation! Give it to us now!"

The scene was out of control, and the poor staff member looked like she was about to break down.

'This is my chance,' I thought as I shoved my way into the center of the crowd.

However, I was not there to break up the fight but to position myself in front of the staff.

"Quiet!" I yelled at the top of my lungs.

The crowd went silent, shocked by this sudden turn of events. I pointed at the mother holding a crying child and addressed all the passengers, my voice rising with emotion.

"Look! Just look at how badly this poor kid is crying! Does yelling help the plane take off any faster? The airline messed up, and they need to take responsibility, but what do we need most right now? We need food, a place to rest, and enough strength to stand our ground!"

I turned to the staff who was on the verge of a breakdown and said, "Everyone's emotions are running high. The priority right now is to calm the passengers down. Meal vouchers, hotel vouchers... Hand them out immediately! Let people get some food and get settled, because if this blows up any bigger, can you handle the fallout?"

The staff mumbled pitifully, "I've been telling them the whole time that meal vouchers and hotel vouchers are available, but they won't take them. Everyone needs to line up and collect them with their boarding passes–"

"You're still worried about procedures at a time like this?" I cut her off, pointing at the mom with the baby. "Look how exhausted she is! She's been holding her child for 8 hours, and now she has to stand in line for your meal vouchers?"

I turned to the mother and said, "Ma'am, give me your boarding pass! I'll get it for you."