43 Red Necks

As the half a dozen rednecks stood before Alan, annoyance painted their faces. Alan, however, remained composed, greeting them with a friendly smile. "Hi! It's good to see you're all still alive," he said warmly.

The group seemed to be a bunch of redneck brothers and cousins, with the veteran, Merle Rooker, leading the pack as the infamous Crimson Gunner.

Alan knew Merle's real name due to his notorious reputation in the game. The mid-thirties, bulky Caucasian had come with a specific demand – the return of his precious assault rifle.

"You make me lose 2000 points! Now give back my baby, or else!" Merle demanded with a tone laced with irritation.

Unfazed by the demand, Alan repeated casually, "Or else?"

This response only served to further irk the Crimson Gunner. He clenched his fist tightly, struggling to control his anger. Despite the frustration, the players knew that they couldn't inflict harm on each other in this transit area, which limited Merle's options.